Where does all the stuff come from?

This is a frustrated entry. I only have little pockets of free time to get things done around the house. I feel as if I'm constantly going through things, throwing out, reorganizing and trying to make less of clutter. However, I do not feel I am making progress. One problem is that I'm given a lot as gifts. I'm very lucky because of this, but I am essentially someone who does not like things, so I find it ironic that I receive a lot of gifts. Many are for my children.

My children decided to remove everything from my built in bench. Instead of becoming angry, I took this as an opportunity and threw most of it away. It was old magazines, paper, etc. Why was I keeping it?

After I purged, this is what my bench looked like

 Here is a longer shot of the bench.

Here is one view of my dining room.

  
And here is the other side.

It just felt great to get rid of all that junk, and my dining room felt more serene.

Simplicity

I've always loved the serene feeling in a church or monastery. When I saw these images from the Novy Dvur Monastery in the Czech Republic in an issue of Vanity Fair, I never forgot it. Simple lines, white atmosphere. Awesome.

I've always loved the melding of old and modern architecture.

The arches are probably 17th century

Check out this alter

This monastery was designed by Architect John Pawson

I was searching for the meaning of white, and came across this explanation:

It stands for wholeness and completion. In many cultures it represents openness and truth. It can provide clarity as its energy is complete.

White has purification vibrations and can be used to clear blocks from your path.

Put some white in your life when you want:

• to clear clutter and obstacles away
• to start a fresh beginning
• to bring about mental clarity 
• purification of thoughts or actions

Interesting... it kind of goes with the detox, purge, purification theme this season.

Two weeks into cleanse and purge

Today it has been two weeks since Ash Wednesday. Two weeks since I stopped drinking coffee. Two weeks since I've been drinking lemon water in the morning and cran-water all day. 

I had no intention to "give up" anything for Lent, but with my spring detox, I chose to give up coffee. It just happened to correspond. Giving up coffee is no easy task for me. I LOVE coffee. It is a joy for me, I look forward to it every morning, and love its aroma, taste, color, texture, everything! 

Here is the regime I've undertaken, in addition to my greens, to cleanse:

1. Juice of one lemon and water every morning, right when I wake up. I've also added a bit of fresh ginger and cinnamon stick for flavor.

2. Light breakfast. I've been having raisin bran with organic soy milk, an orange or grapefruit.

3. I drink a hot coffee substitute called Cafix, which you can find in your health-food store. It is made from chicory and some other ingredients. I drink that with organic soy milk. It satisfies the craving. sort of.

4. I drink 32 - 48 ounces of unsweetened cran-water between meals. 1 ounce of unsweetened cranberry juice per 7 ounces of water. I actually bought condensed cranberry juice and mixed up a large container and keep it in my refrigerator.

5. I'm eating vegetarian. I had stopped eating meat some time ago, but thought I'd add this to the list.

This is what I noticed:

Stopping the coffee was hardest the first three days. I had a serious headache and then it went away. My craving for coffee is dissipating. 

I am not tired. You would think that stopping coffee would make you tired, but I'm so awake at night that I cannot sleep. Maybe I just have a case of insomnia. Maybe it is the time change. Whatever it is, I feel great.

I've lost some weight.

Other than that, I haven't felt I've made any sacrifice or big change in how I used to eat. 

Parsley

I love parsley. It is so fresh, and you can do many things with it, not just garnish a plate. Whenever I go to my local health-food store, I gaze at the beautiful salads and always want to eat the chickpea salad with parsley. When I spent time in Turkey, I noticed they used much more parsley than they did other ingredients in their salads.

I have begun my spring detox. Did you know that parsley, among other nutrient rich spring greens, is a classic food used in a spring detox? Neither did I.  Now I do. It has medicinal qualities historically thought to destroy poison, thus the detox, right? I am trying to eat as many greens as possible, such as the above mentioned.

 

Chick-pea salad with parsley

1 bunch fresh flat-leafed parsley chopped in food processor or by hand

finely chopped purple onion

1 can organic, or 16 oz. home cooked, garbanzo beans

Olive Oil

Lemon

Salt

Pepper

Here is a lovely photo of a botanical print of parsley. It looks so good you could eat it, right?

Kitchen Alter and the Season of Lent

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Even though I am not a practicing Catholic, I still find meaning in this season. Although most people think of abstinence during Lent, I like to think of it as a time of soul-searching and repentance, for reflection and taking stock. I could not think of a better description of where I am in my life right now, and not only because it is Lent.

As I work towards simplifying my life, which includes purifying the mind and the body, as well as decreasing the material aspects of my life, I will use this season to do so in a very mindful way.

What will I release? What gives me joy? What poses a challenge?

Here are some snapshots of my kitchen alter. It is right above my sink, so when I wash, I contemplate.

I like to decorate it with seasonal clippings. Currently I have a snippet of my boxwood bush, which has just been freed from the last layer of snow (I hope!). My Buddha reminds me to keep it real.

There is a design firm in L.A. whose website I frequent for inspiration. They are called Indah Bulan. Here is a picture of one of their alters that they designed.

Do you have an alter in your home or garden?