Sweet Baby James

It was a waiting day,
a working day,
a day of wishes and wonder.

It was a labor day,
a loving day,
a day of listening and life.

It was a birthday day
a baby day,
a day of breathing and brilliance.

It was a family day,
a fruitful day,
a day of feelings and faith.

It was a precious day,
a perfect day,
a day of pushing and pink toes.

It was a terrific day,
a touching day,
a day of texting and treasure.

It was a magical day,
a miraculous day,
a day of meaning and memories.

It was a sweet day,
a supportive day,
a day of strength and softness.

It was a jubilant day
a journey day,
a day of joy and James.

James Bowman Shannon
November 18, 2010
7lbs. 10oz. 20" long

My Birthday Gift This Year

Last Tuesday was my birthday. I've been sick since the day before and am finally beginning to recover. It may not seem like a good birthday present, but I've found that being sick really does hold gifts.

Sound crazy?

...ya, I understand how it does - but...

there is such a shift in how we view life, experience our bodies, interact with our family, and move through our daily life when we are sick. I know, I know, it seems like such a "Pollyanna" perspective. But give it just a teeny chance for a moment...

Next time you are sick, on the couch with your blanket, snot dripping every 2 seconds, coughing, ache-y, not feeling at all well, take a moment. Take just a moment to look inside at what it is that makes you, You. Take a moment to look at how your daily life and interactions with friends and family are experienced. Take a moment to feel what it is to be well, even in the midst of illness you can know wellness... that feeling of knowing wellness that not even a seemingly sick body can touch. That part that is beyond space and time, beyond matter and physicality. I know, some of you might be asking "what the heck!?" But there is that place when you are sick that allows for an amazing shift in perspective.

Not the perspective that you would normally think. Not that place that says, "Am I ever going to feel well again? Am I ever going to be able to catch up with life after this set back?" But instead the place that says, "What we think matters in daily life isn't all that important." "What we forget to put at the top of our list IS that which matters most." We get to become very clear when we are sick. We get to see the reasons why self care is so important, we get to take the time that allows for quiet and introspection (even if it is seen through a haze of snot). We get to appreciate our family and watch how they interact without our interference. (Not that we are always interfering, but there is a difference in how we view life when we are watching versus putting in our two cents.) We get to be the slightest bit more okay with asking for help, letting others do things, dropping expectation and perfection.

So my birthday present this year came in a package that may seem very odd to most. It came in the form of being on the couch, hacking and sneezing. But it also came in the form of getting to experience a husband and son who deeply care about me, who are deeply capable without me and who show their love in numerous ways. It came in the form of a "time out" that allowed for the precious appreciation of stillness and quiet. It came in the form of gratitude for the wellness that I so often engage in. It came in the form of support from so many friends and distant family who sent words of wellness and lifted me up. It came in the form of knowing that no matter what, I have a recognition, that no mere body can get in the way of this spiritual life... though I appreciate the things this body facilitates, it does not take away from the limitlessness of me just because it is sick.

These gifts and many more were mine this year. My friends say I get a birthday "do-over". I say I have been blessed beyond measure.

Life is amazing.

Dress Up

There's something about dressing up. It somehow seems so...

natural.

Candy at Halloween was always a great bonus, but the dress up part was always my favorite. I can remember the feel of my Mom using an eyelash curler on me for the first time and the thrill of my princess dress - even if I did have to wear long underwear underneath it.

It doesn't matter if you are a girl or a boy - slipping out of your own skin and into an alter ego has great appeal.

It doesn't matter what your age - a costume makes you ageless.

It doesn't even matter if you are human - we love to dress our pets as well!

Here's to the art and wonder of dress up...

Halloween Hand of Horror Cake

Chocolate fudge cake with chocolate mint ganache filling, covered in chocolate ganache and cookie crumb "dirt". The hand is chocolate covered rice crispy treat with gel frosting "blood".

Happy Halloween!

Impromptu Poem on October 27th

It was a gray day,
a fall day,
a day full of color
and of sleeping dogs.

It was a yummy day,
a chocolate day,
a day full of cake
and of joyful creation.

It was a cold day,
a clear day,
a day full of leaves
and of sweet smells.

It was a loving day
a typical day,
a day full of light
and of impromptu poems.

I Remember...

I remember when rolling down a grassy hill was pure bliss.

I remember when a baton was as good as a magic wand.

I remember when roller skates were way better than shoes.

I remember when lemonade stands were big business.

I remember when the top bunk was another world.

I remember when I'd rather sleep on the bottom bunk,

because it was with with my sister.

                      I remember when trees held my secrets.

I remember when warm summer days smelled like squash.

I remember when seat belts were optional,

and you could stick your hand out the window.

I remember when a new lunch box brought glee.

I remember when the back yard was a secret hide-a-way.

I remember when rainbow snow cones were the best.

I remember when new crayons were a prized treasure.

I remember when snow angels seemed like real angels.

I remember when riding my bike was freedom.

I remember when mud pies were better than real pies.

I remember when seeded grapes were better than seedless,

because they were picked right off the vine.

I remember when the bath tub was a magical play-land.

I remember when the compost pile at night was a fright.

I remember when dress up was more real then real life.

I remember when the joy of childhood was mine.

Profound Gratitude

I feel such profound gratitude for my little family. My husband and son, my 3 cats and 2 dogs... they bring such inspiration and joy to me. There may be times of challenge, but the joy, romance, peace, light, fun, and over-all gifts, outweigh the challenges by far.  

It is such a pleasure and a gift to have such amazing companions on this journey through life. I am able to remember so much about "Who I Am" through the experiences that they bring to me and support me in. I get to see the light of the Divine in each of them and I am truly blessed.







The Romance of Days

There is such romance in every day life. You always hear talk of it being "the little things", but how do we recognize those little things  when we have gotten into the habit of living them without feeling them?

I am not going to try and tell you all of the ways to change this, I will share some of the ways I experience and feel my life more now than I used to. Would I like to feel even more? You bet'cha! Am I taking each day as it comes and letting myself practice? You bet'cha!

Here in lies one of the first keys for me to actually see and feel "the little things" - feeling the joy and romance of life just a wee bit more in the ordinary moments of my day... practice.

Letting go of my all or nothing thinking has helped enormously. My habit in the past was to give up or get frustrated when I wasn't perfect at accomplishing what I wanted to right away. If I couldn't recognize all of "the little things" and feel them, or at least a large portion, then why bother - and what was wrong with me anyway? This kept me stuck in a pattern of frustration and self judgement.

I have come to realize that recognizing "the little things" means taking little steps of practice. It means the consistent practice of being present. Of stopping to inhale, to know the present by knowing that it will be here only a moment. This practice then allows us to come back to our own awareness of our feelings and the romance of days.

I would love to be even more proficient at this recognition and feeling of the little moments of life, but for now I am content knowing that my practice is adding up, and as it adds up I actually feel the romance and joy of my life that much more. Little steps, little things... BIG JOY!

Herbed Quinoa Salad

Okay, so this is one of my FAVORITE salads. The recipe is courtesy of my sister Cecily. I am grateful to her for allowing me to share it. You can choose to skip the homemade dressing if you like and use a good quality organic balsamic vinegarette, but I highly recommend making your own.

Quinoa is loaded with protein, is gluten free and is very easy to work with. (If you have any questions about it, feel free to comment or join the Luminous Residence Facebook page annd comment there... I will be sure and get back to you.) I highly recommend adding the optional feta... SO yummy!! 

Herbed Quinoa Salad

via Cecily Underwood

Serves 4-6

1 cup quinoa, thoroughly rinsed and drained *

2 cups water

1/2 teaspoon salt1/2-2/3 cup finely chopped parsley (I use a food processor)

1/2-2/3 cup finely chopped cilantro

1/3-1/2 cup finely chopped mint leaves

1 cup seeded and finely chopped tomatoes

2/3 cup thinly sliced scallions

1/3 cup chopped yellow or purple bell pepper

1/4 cup grated carrot (optional)

1/3 cup seeded and peeled cucumber, I like to use lemon cumber (optional)

3/4-1cup cup Basil Vinaigrette (see below)

*Rinse quinoa VERY WELL. Run under water in strainer for several minutes, and make

sure water runs clear before putting into pot to cook. Although quinoa is very healthy, it

contains a natural outer coating which can be upsetting to the stomach. I often use

about half or two-thirds regular quinoa, and about one half to one-third RED quinoa.

They have the same basic flavor, but it makes the saladprettier.*

In a saucepan, combine the quinoa, water, and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to

low, cover and cook for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for 10 minutes. Fluff

with a for and place in a large bowl and let it cool COMPLETELY (I usually make the

quinoa a day ahead of time & refrigerate). Another trick is to add just a small splash of

olive oil at boiling time- it helps the quinoa to fluff easier when cooled.

Add the parsley, cilantro, mint, tomatoes, scallions, pepper, carrots, and cucumber.

Pour the dressing over and mix well. Cover and chill about an hour before serving.

**You can also add optional feta cheese or pine nuts/pistachioʼs too.

***The herb portions can vary according to how much you like that particular flavor. My

cooking generally tends to be spice & herb heavy.

 
Basil Vinaigrette
2/3 cup olive oil

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup lemon juice
Large bunch of basil leaves (20-30+ leaves?)

1/2 teaspoon mustard powder

5-7 cloves of garlic

1/2 teaspoon salt (more to taste)

In a blender combine all ingredients. Process for at least 1 minute. Store in a tightly

covered container in the refrigerator if not using right away.

**note: I often use a combination of Orange Muscat Champagne Vinegar (from Trader

Joes) with either the cider vinegar or lemon juice. Go with your own personal

preferences.

Photos by Sheamus Vaughan-Warde

Pumpkin Spice Cake with Buttermilk Glaze

Preheat oven to 350*

Cake:

1 15oz can pumpkin

1 1/2 c sugar (I use unrefined cane sugar)

1/4 c molasses

1/2 c oil

3/4 c applesauce (unsweetened)

4 lg eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 c whole wheat flour

1 1/2 c flour

3 tsp pumpkin pie spice

(OR

1 tsp cinnamon

3/4 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp allspice

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp cloves)

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 c buttermilk

Glaze:

1/2 c buttermilk

1/3 c sugar (unrefined cane sugar or maple syrup)

3 tsp cornstarch

1/8 tsp baking soda

pinch of salt

Grease and flour tube or bunt pan thoroughly. Spread canned pumpkin over 2 layers of paper towel and cover with additional 2 layers of paper towel, let stand until needed. In mixing bowl cream butter, sugar and molasses for about 2 minutes.

Add eggs 1 at a time and mix well after each addition. Beat in pumpkin and vanilla. In a small bowl combine and mix flour (don't overpack your flour when measuring) baking powder and soda, salt and spices. Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk to the batter until incorperated.

Spoon batter into prepared pan and bake for approx. 55 minutes... I like to take it out when I can smell it and it is done being "jiggley". ; )

Cool for a couple minutes, remove from pan and then cool on wire rack until you can't stand it anymore and you have to glaze and eat it. (About 20 minutes in my house.)

For the glaze:

Stir together all the glaze ingredients in a small pan. (Will be lumpy at first.) Over medium heat, wisk together until glaze comes to a boil, cook 1 minute more or until thick. Drizzzle cake with glaze.

YUMMMM! Enjoy!

All photos by Sheamus Vaughan-Warde

The Spirit of Home

The spirit of home
is where my heart resides.
Warm bread, laughter,
the smell of coffee and cats.
Under my roof is love
and I am wrapped in it.
Hot chocolate, listening
the sound of voices and guitars.
Within these blessed walls
the moments make up memories.
Sweet treats, candle-light
the site of laundry and books.
The light shines brightly
from our windows and eyes.
Fresh herbs, hugging
the feel of comfort and fur.
The spirit of home
is luminous with life.