Changing the routine

The place where I work has a very tumultuous schedule. My boss tries to give us something set in stone, but there are new people cycling in constantly, and my days off are never the same. I may have Monday and Saturday off one week, and that could change to Tuesday and Wednesday the next. And yet, even this small variety feels like a cycle.

Each evening is always a quick exchange of:

“What do you want for dinner?”

“I don’t know… I guess we should run by the grocery store.”

“Want to go on another bike ride tonight?”

“Yeah! Want to watch another episode of that new show tonight?”

“Sure.”

And the things that we do are certainly not dull. Or bad. But they are usually the same. I have come to appreciate routine and constancy. I love coming home at the end of every day to the same person, the same cat, the same kitchen with the same food in the fridge. I could eat (and have eaten) the same breakfast of fried eggs and toast with strawberry jam each morning, with a cup of hot water and lemon to drink.

But there’s also something to be said for changing the pace a little. For trying something new in the evening after another long day at the same job.

The other night, the boyfriend and I went to our local indie movie theatre. They play a lot of movies that don’t run in the popular film circuit (think My Neighbor Totoro over the new Avengers movie), so we try to keep up with the films they’re showing because there’s usually something new we haven’t heard of or something we’ve been meaning to watch that definitely won’t be at the other theatres. We recently watched The Big Sick there and loved it!

So the night before last, we did a quick search and saw the film Lucky was showing, and after reading a brief synopsis and checking Rotten Tomato’s review, we decided to give it a try, and we were not disappointed. It was a sweet film with a very likable main character named Lucky on a journey of spiritual self discovery, grappling with the realities of age and loneliness. It reminded me a lot of my own grandfather, so it was an immediate success with me. With minimal dialogue and no action scenes, it caters more towards someone looking for an introspective film.

Changing our usual evening routine was as simple as picking the movies over a bike ride down our favorite greenway, but I think it made a big difference. The boyfriend and I have both been feeling like our routine had gotten in the way of our own enjoyment, so it was a nice reminder that it doesn’t take a lot to switch things up a little.

Another Inktober Post

My October Reading List

I’m sure you all have noticed that I love books. And ever since I got my library card, I’ve been reading a lot of new books, particularly ones that I probably never would have picked up at a book store. This all stems from the majority of the conversations I’m having these days – about future plans and how I can make those dreams into a reality starting small and starting now. I envision a healthier, more holistic lifestyle for myself.

So I thought I’d share some of the books I’ve been reading because they make a lot of sense to me, and it’s been refreshing seeing my thoughts written out in someone else’s words. Like I’m not the only person who is questioning the things I’ve been told and taught. I promise I’m not one of those “crunchy, granola hippies.” I just want to be able to support my local community and in turn, supplement my own well being in a way that I can feel good about.

• The Roots of My Obsession: Thirty Great Gardeners Reveal Why They Garden, edited by Thomas C. Cooper
• Farmacology: Total Health from the Ground up, by Daphne Miller
• Honeybee: Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper, by C. Marina Marchese
• Compost this Book!, by Thomas Christopher and Marty Asher
• The Wildlife Garden: Planning Backyard Habitats, by Charlotte Seidenberg
• The Backyard Homestead, edited by Carleen Madigan
• Herbal Tea Gardens, by Marietta Marshall Marcin

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey Teriyaki Sauce

No one turns down Brussels sprouts in my house. I know they often get a bad rap, but I think these tiny green sprouts are making a well-deserved come back, and with this recipe, I think you’ll see why they’re becoming one of my favorite things to make.

Ingredients:

• 1 package of Brussels sprouts (about 2 heaping servings)
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 3 tbs unsweetened peanut butter
• 3 tbs honey
• 2 tbs rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar, or tarragon vinegar, etc)
• 3-4 tbs olive oil (separated)
• 3 tbs of your favorite teriyaki sauce
• 1/4-1/2 c dried cranberries
• Half an orange, cut into small pieces

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Rinse the Brussels sprouts, then cut into halves. Toss in 1-2 tbs of olive oil and arrange on a roasting pan. Flavor with salt and pepper, garlic powder, and chili powder to taste. Roast in the oven for about 20 minutes, or until tender and golden brown.
2. Fill a small bowl with hot water, and place the dried cranberries in the water to re-hydrate while the sprouts are cooking. Cut up your orange and set aside.
3. In another medium mixing bowl, whisk the peanut butter, honey, vinegar, the remaining olive oil, and the teriyaki sauce until combined.
4. When your sprouts are done, drain the cranberries. Toss the sprouts, cranberries, and orange slices in the bowl with sauce. Serve hot and enjoy!

Inktober 2017

I decided to try and keep up with Inktober this year. I’m not really following along with the official prompt list, but I just treated myself to some beautiful Prismacolor markers the other day, so I am sticking to a certain color palate all month long. I also started a day late… but better late than never right? 

Past is past

I think there are certain lessons in this life that can be difficult to accept or learn. There are some that seem unfair or unjustified. There are others that leave us feeling sheepish because we really should have known better. 

I am dealing with the former at the moment. And my only peace comes from knowing that justice will be served correctly. I feel pretty confident about that. 

I think the most important take away from this whole ordeal is that everything has its consequences, sometimes years after the fact. 

But I know that I am stronger than this. I have a huge support system around me, and I think that the right thing will happen in the end. I’m certainly looking forward to getting this part of my life behind me. 

If only the past could always remain in the past.