The Little Elder

I've been under the weather, as they say, for the past dozen days. After a non-stop "holiday" weekend, and several weeks if not months prior of one thing after another, I finally succumbed. It started out as mild congestion with a hint of a sore throat, and evolved into an exhausting sinus infection replete with full-on toothache, which may or may not be due to an actual abscess deep in the root of my one front tooth: the one that took an elbow all those years ago, during the lover's quarrel in A Midsummer Night's Dream...anyway, it was a miserable weekend, between the pressure in my head, the throbbing in my face, the sneezing and the blowing and the withdrawal from nicotine for what I hope will be the last time under such circumstances, and the reckoning with all that's brought me here, to where I am now... I might have been marginally more comfortable if I'd had the courage to take something for the pain, but having broken out in hives after taking a moderate dose of ibuprofen for a seriously sprained ankle way back in July (which has only just recently stopped hurting almost constantly, after some good therapeutic tramping around in the mountains of Idaho a couple weeks ago), I chose not to, what with still being somewhat uninterested in testing the limits of my apparent allergy to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs while not having someone at hand to drive me to the emergency room after administering an epi-pen to stop the anaphylactic reaction, potentially. Gesundheit.

So I toughed it out, consulted my inner wise woman, made a visit to my personal apothecary and, with the assistance of many and diverse allies from the plant and animal kingdoms, I have been recovering, albeit slowly. In the course of doing so I've concocted some strongly healing and truly delicious teas, made of peppermint, lemon balm, nettle, lavender, hibiscus, orange peel, calendula, red clover, peach twig, red raspberry, and yarrow, among other things, and in various combinations. In addition, out of the necessity for some modicum of analgesia, I created my own version of the curative cocktail, which is not only medicinal but also a pleasure to imbibe. This one may be on the books already, but if so, I've not seen it...so if I can't take credit for this, at least I can claim ignorance. In any case, here's the recipe, and do give it a try:

1 cup peppermint tea (or a nice blend of peppermint, spearmint and a pinch of tarragon, as marketed by a major brand who's name starts with T followed by azo)
1/2 tsp honey or even better, raw honey or better yet, Manuka honey
1 tsp elderberry syrup or concentrate
1 jigger (1.5 oz) mild rum or bourbon whiskey
1 slice (crosswise) of fresh lemon, squeezed

To make: Brew the tea. While it's still warm, stir in the honey and syrup, add the lemon and liquor. Stir, sip, relax, feel better.

I'm calling it a Little Elder, for now.

The Other Side of Here

This is a rock I saw on a hike I went on a few weeks ago. I'm just going to look at this rock, this picture of a rock, until I can replace my current thoughts and feelings with something better.

 

which was somewhere around here

 

 

which led up to here

 

 

which was on the other side of here

 

which is still there



Use Your Noodle

So, here's something good for a change...

Well, really, I have a lot of good things to share, which I've done or had or been or experienced or thought or said recently, but first among them will be 

Noodle pancackes!

How could I not have tried this sooner?

There are Chinese and Japanese variations, and many others I suppose (I've also heard that pasta omelets are tasty), but the basic recipe is just veggies, optional meat, noodles, and eggs.

I used:
2 oz rice spaghetti (any skinny noodle of your choosing will do)
1/2 tsp toasted sesame oil
1/2 tsp or more canola oil
1/4 c ham, in 1/4 by 1 inch slices
1/4 c green cabbage, julienned
1/4 c carrot, shredded
1/2 tsp minced fresh ginger
1 green onion, sliced thinly
a good semi-coarse grind or three of black pepper
some soy sauce or perhaps Bragg's aminos
2 eggs, beaten

To make:
Cook your noodles in salted water
Heat the oil in a large skillet
Saute the cabbage, carrot, and ham for a couple minutes over med-high heat
Add the ginger, black pepper, green onion, and maybe a splash of soy sauce
Remove from heat and mix in the noodles 
Pour on the eggs and give everything a few love pats
Cook over medium-high heat until the bottom starts getting browned
Flip the whole thing over if you can, or 
Put it under the broiler until the top is crusty
Devour with gusto

Serious yum...and endless possibilities!  Next up: Okonomiyaki! And ramen!!

P.S. If you'd like a proper recipe to follow, you might try this one, which you can also watch being prepared. 

Do we all feel better now?

We have received reports that

We are being told by officials that

We have been informed that

We are being lied to.

At least it's raining

I woke up in tears this morning, listened to the storm, then the alarm, then a downpour...

I thought of this:

I drew three cards: Two of Coins, Knight of Coins, Ten of Cups

This, too, shall pass.

Dream of the Baby Woodpeckers

I was on my way home from a much needed massage, this evening, when I heard this song on a radio station that I inadvertently yet serendipitously stopped on.

I dub it: Dream of the Baby Woodpeckers.

Or: Once Upon a Time in the West, if you will...




Particularly haunting if you have it playing in two separate instances, one behind the other, but I wouldn't recommend that unless you're going to bed.

You know what?

I need some fresh air and real water.

I'm tired.