My Autumn

I've been out and about taking photos and walking a bit.  There isn't a more beautiful time of year on Long Island than autumn.  The weather has been perfect the past two weeks and the colors are in high gear. 

    I have hundreds of photos and  I'm still experimenting with different photo programs.  Here I attempted to blur a photo to achieve an impressionist painting effect.  If you click on the photo, you can get a closer look at the effect.

   My poems keep flowing out of the photography and the walks.  I am working toward poems and images that compliment each other indirectly. Ideally, the relationship between the image and the poem is a subtle one. 

    Below is the actual photo, right out of the camera with no enhancements or changes.  The colors are so vivid.  It was a stunningly beautiful afternoon.

  My recovery from surgery is now complete and I can finally begin a real exercise program.  It is a bit discouraging to have lost so much ground in such a short time but - I begin again.  I will be posting- hopefully - about my progress in the future.

  My plan is a simple one.  I have to regain strength which I lost over the past several months.  My legs are weak and I can feel the weakness every time I walk up stairs or stand up.  I have a weight -lifting regimen I will be doing three times a week.  On the other days I will walk.  I am already able to walk a leisurely 2 miles so next I will concentrate on speeding up and then gradually increasing my mileage. Can't ask for better weather for walking!

Thought for today - Seize the Day! Or Carpe Diem as they used to say in the really olden days!

Octoberfest!

  Did I ever mention that October is the best month of the year? 

  Where I live, October is usually day after day of perfect weather with birds of every description and color coming and going. There is nothing to complain about where October is concerned! (Well, maybe one thing, but I'll get to that later.)

With  the bluest  of blue skies and  a slow dance of color marching across the woods, October is the most photogenic month!

I am so inspired at this time of year... to walk in the woods or at the beach....to take a gazillion photos...... and to write poetry.

October you could be a heartbreaker but I won't let you do that to me!  Where the coming cold weather is concerned, I have adopted Scarlett O'Hara's philosophy......'I'll think about it tomorrow!'  Nothing can spoil this for me. 

(The first haiga is for my mother, who is forgetting everything.)

Delicious Ratatouille

*****

My interest in cooking has returned with the cooler weather but lucky for me, there are still plenty of summer veggies left for me to make one of my all time favorite recipes - ratatouille. My CSA box contained all the ingredients I needed for this wonderful eggplant dish.

 I've adapted a Molly Katzen recipe from my dog-eared copy of "The Moosewood Cookbook.'  My latest version involves grilling the veggies and boy, am I glad I tried this! Even The Admiral, who is not a huge fan of eggplant, loved this version!  

Here is my recipe:

* Dice a good sized eggplant and 2 zucchinis, coat with olive oil  and grill on a cookie sheet in the oven on 400 for about 20 minutes.

* While the veggies are grilling, saute an onion, several cloves of garlic and a few dark red peppers in olive oil for a few minutes.  Add 2  chopped tomatoes, a bay leaf, some oregano and marjoram, a dash of rosemary, 2-3 tablespoons of tomato paste and a few splashes of red wine (1/4 to 1/2 cup) Cook for a few minutes.  

*Add the roasted veggies, salt and pepper to taste and cook for about 15-20 minutes.

* Just before serving, stir in a handful of parsley and some chopped black olives. Pass the grated Romano cheese.

I served this with small baked  fingerling potatoes and some wild salmon. 

It is also good on polenta or over rice. The leftovers can be served cold with a splash of vinegar.  Enjoy!

Ratatouille

Delicious!

You may also enjoy :What Time Is It? It's Soup Time!
    

                               Chili For a Crowd                             

*****

The Color of Solitude

I just can't be lonely as long as the birds are around to keep me company.  Solitude seems to be something one grows into, like the new clothes we got to start school many years ago.  

When I was younger, I craved the company of others. I always had the radio on, and for years, the music was there, whether I was doing housework or baking bread. 

Now, I don't listen to music as often, and when I do, it tends to be something classical.... and soothing.  No, I much prefer the sound of silence, punctuated by an occasional bird. 

In autumn, the crickets continue their scratching until the temperature drops and they too, embrace the silence. The birds are quieter, perhaps conserving energy for the harsh weather to come.  

The wind, still gentle, spends the day caressing the trees. Together they dance and sing a melody that I could listen to for hours. 

And, after solitude and quiet, I appreciate, all the more, my family and friends when I hear their sweet voices again!

Thought for today:  
            
   "I live in that solitude which is painful in youth, but delicious in the years of maturity." 
               - Albert Einstein

Embracing and Letting Go

This has been a long summer for me, a summer of  letting go of what  no longer  is and embracing what, very much is!  I have been recovering from abdominal surgery....had to let go of a large chunk of my insides which was putting me constantly under the weather. Thankfully, I don't have any diagnosis which would necessitate further treatment or worry!

 I learned, first hand, from the patient's point of view, about what it means to be kind to yourself and allow the healing to take place, slowly, in its own time.  I learned to let others care for me and I learned to trust in God that I was right where I should be. 

And I also learned that walking really IS the best exercise no matter what your pace or distance.  It brings strength and lifts the spirits. I am still not back to my daily four miles but I am slowly getting there.  My legs have lost a lot of strength and regaining it, at my age, IS HARD WORK!

I've had lots of time to think, to meditate, pray and write.  My book of poetry is coming along and most of my poems still hide out on my other blog (so far, my secret blog.)

A Walk in the Woods - Altered Photo and Text ©2013 BK

 I am experimenting with a new art form, altering my photos with a program Daughter Artist shared with me, called PicMonkey.  I have never fancied myself an artist, but I am having fun creating or rather recreating my photos.  The camera goes everywhere with me. (One advantage of a slower pace - I notice more of the Creation.)

At the same time this summer brought me the singular joy of grand-parenthood- a second grandson.  This is where all the embracing comes in.  Michael arrived three weeks early (on July 11) surprising his parents and everyone else too! I am, of course, in love again. After the stress of the NICU for eight days, his Mom and Dad brought him home. He was a tiny one but his mother put her mind to nursing him and he quickly caught up and now looks like the healthy two month old he is! 

Every morning, I thank God for him, for his wonderful parents,  and for all of my blessings.  



Thought for Today : My cup runneth over!