My Cozy Corner

Seeing With New Eyes

Hello and welcome to My Cozy Corner. Pull up a comfy chair and let’s chat a while. It’s finally beginning to warm up a bit here. I hope it is where you are too. 

I am currently reading a book called “Contemplative Gardening” by Pamela Dolan. She encourages seeing things in a new light. Really looking and contemplating the things we see every day. I’m trying to incorporate that into my life. Though at the moment I can only dream of gardening, there is so much even in my small little cottage to see with new eyes; to contemplate and appreciate.

Now that I am in the second half of life as are most of you; I can take the time to look inward and spend more time caring for my soul. There is no longer a job to take up my time, but more importantly, there are not diapers to change and lunches to fix. There is no more homework to supervise. Most of my time now is spent on me. Yes, there is still a house to care for; yes, I still have obligations; but for the most part I have much more time to spend by myself taking care of myself and caring for my soul. This is all very new to me, and I am still learning how this all works. I hope you will spend some very rewarding time just being. You will love yourself for taking the time for you.

What did you do for yourself this week? What fun things did you work into your days? I spent Saturday reading and working on craft projects. My house ended up being a disaster, and I don’t even care. I will spend the week fixing that. (Clutter does make me anxious!) Someone in my past convinced me that everything had to be done before you could enjoy yourself with fun activities. You know what, that’s simply not true.

Did you enjoy the granola bar recipe that I shared last week? I know that at least one of you is planning on making them to eat on the way to work in the mornings. I used a combination of nuts, seeds, and dried cranberries in my last ones.  I managed to work in a cooking day this week. I would like to make that happen every week, but it doesn’t seem to. I made another batch of granola bars, this time with pecans. I made a batch of peanut butter. I will share that recipe with you. Once you try it, you will never go back to store-bought. I have a batch of yogurt in the insta-pot now. 

                                            Peanut Butter

1 12 ounce can of salted peanuts

2 Tbsp. honey

Cooking oil (peanut oil is best but canola oil works too.

Place the peanuts in the food processor. You can add the honey at any point. Process the peanuts until they are finely chopped. While the processor is running, slowly add about 2 tablespoons of oil. Continue to add oil a little at a time until it is a good spreading consistency. Place the peanut butter in a container and keep it in the refrigerator. If it separates at all you can stir it back together. 

I hope you are having a good week and remember to do something nice for you. 

Until next time,

Helen

My Cozy Corner

Memories

Hello and welcome. It’s a snowy day out there! Grab a cuppa and settle into a cozy chair and let’s chat a while.

We are the sum total of our experiences and our memories. I believe that we choose what memories we want to hold close. You know that I am an avid reader. In addition to the books that I have shared with you, I read two magazines, cover to cover, every month as well as a number of blogs and Facebook pages. I think I could probably read every waking hour for the rest of my life, and still not get caught up. Those of you who have heard me complain about Mr. M’s stash of books, are probably rolling your eyes right now. But it brings me to my point; some of my happiest memories are being read to. If you want your children and grandchildren to be readers, read to them. Of course, there are other events that have shaped me, but this is one of the best habits that came from my childhood. I encourage you to take a little quiet time and explore some of the memories of things that make you who you are today.

What are you doing to pass these cold, gray, January days? I am itching to get back into the gardens, but since all good gardens begin with a dream, I will take this time to dream. It is my habit at this time of year to get out the graph paper and begin to diagram how I want the gardens to look. I’m also working on some projects inside my house. There is painting and wallpaper that will need to be done later in the spring, but I have a lot of preparation that needs to be done now.

There is a puzzle on the dining room table, for just such days as this. I have been knitting for the homeless shelter and doing some paper craft projects. All of this is in the hope that it will make the dreary winter days pass faster.

What have you done just for you? I have had the good fortune to have lunch out twice this week. One of my favorite treats! Do something nice for yourself every week, because I’m going to keep asking!

Winter food is the best! I love the smells coming from the kitchen on a cold winter day. I made granola bars this week. These are so simple to make and so friendly for those of us with food allergies. The bananas are all the sweetening they need, so they are healthy too. 

Gluten free, Dairy free, Egg free Granola bars

2 bananas

1 1/2 C. Old fashioned oatmeal

Added goodies to your taste: nuts, seeds, raisins, other dried fruit, chocolate chips.

Place the bananas in the food processor and process until smooth. Add the oatmeal and whatever else you would like and fold in or process again. place in 8-inch square pan prepared with cooking spray. Bake 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Cut bars (8) while they are warm but place them in the refrigerator and do not attempt to remove them from the pan until they are thoroughly chilled.

I’m not a big fan of breakfast so one of these is perfect with my morning coffee. 

Make it a good week! Thank you for the gift of your time. 

Until next time,

Helen