March 20, 2012

This evening we are celebrating both the first day of Spring and Naw Ruz  (Baha'i New Year )with a gathering I am hosting in my apartment house. I am the only Baha'i living here so I appreciate when residents turn up en masse for this annual event. Well at least I hope a large number of them will attend tonight. Last year almost all did, but I know it was the novelty, the anticipation of good refreshments and the opportunity to meet my visiting family.  


Happy Naw Ruz to Baha'is celebrating around the world and Happy Spring to everyone!

Readings

In the hills where I live are many famous writers. I often go to their readings, times when they  talk about how their books have come to be written. Most recently it was Alexandra Styron with her book "Reading My Father; a memoir about William Styron."  His most famous book may have been his "Sophie's Choice." Last time I saw any of the Styrons was at a poetry reading given by  his wife, Rose Styron,  several years ago Her husband was in the small intimate gathering that evening and he was allowed his privacy.  The evening was about Rose and her poems.  

Book Mania

So why do I want to blog? Ain't I got enough to do? Keeping up with my Words and Conversation group; the women's journaling group I facilitate; the Food for the Soul, Food for the Body group that focuses on world religions, doing research for my own writings;  and my reading mania.  Once I was content to read one or two books a week, but the mania has progressed so that now it is often a book a night. And I am insatiably curious about what others are reading,  try to see the titles of books people are reading on the plane, in doctors' offices. So please tell me about the books you are reading and what you think about them.

St. Patrick's Day

I'd never seen a purple shamrock until this week. Best thing about his plant is that it can be kept fairly dry (so if I forget watering) and flourishes well in a sunny window.  Today a friend and I went to a local restaurant for the traditional cabbage and corn beef dinner. The corn beef was excellent but we each agreed we can do a better job on cooking the veggies. They served not enough cabbage, too much  of huge chunks of very mature carrots, and they were so busy we did not dare ask for the cider vinegar we would normally use at home. She is Italian and I cannot claim to be Irish, but we do have Irish friends, whom we salute on this holiday. Happy St. Patrick's day to all.

March 15, 2012

Happy today to find saffron strings in my supermarket. Costly item! But it makes me feel rich to have it. I need it for the Morrocan soup I am making on Sunday. Since I am cooking for vegans I have to eliminate the lamb, but am putting in black beans for protein, using veggie broth, tons of fresh veggies and counting on the saffron and tumeric for flavor.

The Paradox of Techonology

Each morning as I stumble towards the coffee pot just as dawn is breaking, I greet my loyal live-in companion, the computer.  Soon I am reading e-mail, catching up with Facebook friends, and depending upon the time in other time zones, converse face to face on Skype with some of my loved ones who are thousands of miles away. No, this is not the same as being with family. I miss having them near and sometimes feel their absence acutely, in a heart wrenching spasm of loneliness. But. . . I do feel blessed that despite the distance in miles, I feel emotionally and spiritually close to them. and greatly enjoy videos of the great-grandkids, three beautiful little girls in the U.S. and a grandson who lives with his parents Down Under. I am glad that I live in this time of technology.