[Laghail]

I'm so here for philosopher-librarians! 

[Darciana]

I do hope you can recover/restore some stamina and strength to see you through. I am glad, however, the realization that one day is simply part of the recovery process.

Here to bolster you by neutral energy your way to use however you see fit ❤️ 

[Sepherina]

I’m sorry you are not doing well and wish I could squirrel some excess energy to you via the internet. Following.

[Heidi]

10 hours ago, Laghail said:

I'm so here for philosopher-librarians! 

 

5 hours ago, Darciana said:

I do hope you can recover/restore some stamina and strength to see you through. I am glad, however, the realization that one day is simply part of the recovery process.

Here to bolster you by neutral energy your way to use however you see fit ❤️ 

 

3 hours ago, Sepherina said:

I’m sorry you are not doing well and wish I could squirrel some excess energy to you via the internet. Following.

 

 

Thanks, y’all.

I’m still pretty depleted, but I picked up the Farm Share after work, and that’s a solid win.

There was a pie pumpkin this week, and so I rinsed it, patted it dry, and set it in the oven at 450F (232 C) and walked away.

I read one of the four essays for meeting with James next week, also solid.

After the pumpkin had baked for an hour or so, I took it out of the oven. I sliced off the top, then cut it in half and scooped out the seeds and stringy bits. I left it to cool, since the peel will contract and pull back on its own.

I just kind of sat around after that, scrolling through the news haphazardly; I don’t remember a thing of what I read.

 

I got up to make tea and while I was downstairs, I decided to make an odds and ends soup of some of the vegetables. There was bok  choy (let me tell you how many times I had to edit this because autocorrect is the devil) from last week that I’m not too keen on, generally, and a daikon radish that I only ever enjoy cooked, preferably in soup. I had half an onion that needed using, and a tomato that was on its next-to-last day. You see where this is going. I chopped the bok choy and onion and set them to simmer while I chopped the tomato and daikon radish and added them in, added half a cup of lentils and two cups of broth, and then set about scavenging through the salad box. I found some small carrots and those went in along with a handful of cherry tomatoes. I set the whole thing to simmer. 

 

I peeled the pumpkin and put the baked flesh in a large glass container and set it in the fridge. I might make a pie with it, which is my favorite thing, but that has a bunch of steps, so I might just eat it tomorrow as though it were squash. 

 

I let the soup simmer for about an hour. I didn’t add much in the way of seasoning because the daikon radish has such a powerful flavor. I started accepting daikon radishes into my diet a few years ago when I realized they’re a superfood with anti inflammatory properties. Okay, Universe, I hear you. I still don’t like them raw, though. Blended with lentils, tomatoes, and greens, they provide a nice peppery zip that comes together nicely, and this soup was an exemplary batch. I used the small French oven, and it was full to the brim. Making full-flavored soup in small batches is an art that took me decades to learn, and continues to serve me well. After simmering for an hour, it needed more space in the 2.5 quart pot, so I ladeled out a pint or so into a bowl and set the lid back on the French oven to cover the whole thing while it cools. It will marry up nicely. I might add some torn up fresh kale from the farm bag to a bowl tomorrow as a hearty pre-game dinner. 

 

I hadn’t eaten anything yet today, and the late-night soup was Just Right, especially with a dash of freshly ground black pepper on top. 

I thought I would watch an episode of something while I ate, but it turns out I really don’t have the energy to pay attention to a story line just now. I’m glad I spent what mental capacity I had on the essay. 

 

I might read a bit, but I doubt it.

I’ll probably play solitaire and then be done.

Goodnight, Nerds.

❤️

[Heidi]

I am pleased to report that I slept well last night and woke up well too.

 

I wasn't exactly energetic,  but I could tell that as long as I allowed all the time needed, I would get to the gym. The sauna is a lure for me, and I'm glad that I'm attracted to what is most helpful. This is the Way.

I thought about how grateful I am for a sauna right next door and a great gym staff to maintain it while I made my bed. There's something about making the bed that seems to ground me enough to face the day. I don't understand it, but it's still true.

 

I went downstairs and made tea, and unloaded the dishwasher while the kettle heated, then loaded in the dishes from the Rinsed Zone from last night's late-ight soupmaking. 

I poured the water into the pot and then put the mound of dirty clothes into the washer while the tea steeped.

I fetched out the Game Night bag (stored next to the washer) and set it on the dining table to be packed up for later.

I poured tea in my travel mug, put on my trainers (silver stars for not grabbing the slippers!) and walked out of the building. 

This is the Way.

I knew I probably wouldn't go a whole mile, but that's okay. I still walked around the block enjoying the Autumn air before going into the gym, where I did a couple turns on the track to bring the tally to half a mile, and then said YEP and went directly to the locker room to hit the steam room and sauna. By the time I was toweling off from my shower, I felt like a Real Person again, able to meet the day and not feeling like it was going to run me over (or that it already had done so, like yesterday).  Huzzah, I love this. ❤️ 

 

At home, I moved the laundry to the dryer and pushed play and logged in. 

Today is housekeeping day, and then after work I'll probably read another essay since I don't have an acupuncture appointment until next week. 

Then new-client meet and greet before heading to the game. I'm looking forward to seeing the band peeps.

Happy week 1, Nerds.

 

[Artemis Prime]

Your soup sounds like it's everything that soup should be, feeding the soul as well as the body. French oven was a new term for me, and now I'm diving down the cookware rabbit hole.

[RES]

Finally caught up! That soup does sound amazing.

It must be the time of year or something (or maybe lack of sleep in my case), I've had very little energy lately and almost have to force myself to do the needed things. ❤️ 

[Heidi]

  

54 minutes ago, Artemis Prime said:

Your soup sounds like it's everything that soup should be, feeding the soul as well as the body. French oven was a new term for me, and now I'm diving down the cookware rabbit hole.

A French oven is a bit shallower than a Dutch oven, but still deep enough to get the steam convection going on when covered with the lid. It's my go-to for smaller batch cooking that still has deep flavor.

This is mine:

 

looks like they are on sale right now, and while they are expensive even on sale, they are absolutley a lifetime piece.

I have this one, a 4.5 qt soup pot, and a 6.75 qt wide dutch oven, and these three meet all my cooking needs (bonus for being able to use them in an outdoor kitchen on actual coals if needed, which I don't really see in my future ever again). 

 

10 minutes ago, RES said:

Finally caught up! That soup does sound amazing.

It must be the time of year or something (or maybe lack of sleep in my case), I've had very little energy lately and almost have to force myself to do the needed things. ❤️ 

It was really good.

I was so wiped out yesterday that I was flattened. 

I think the soup was some significant medicine (as was a healthy dose of acceptance). 

I hope you are feeling better. If we lived closer, I'd bring over soup.

[We need an NF Collective.]

[RES]

1 minute ago, Heidi said:

[We need an NF Collective.]

Definitely agree!!

[Darciana]

I love the soup as medicine and glad it seemed to help restore you a bit today. May that continue to be the case ❤️ 

[Sovalis]

Your soup sounds amazing, Fren. I am so glad you had the spoons for this part of the self care. I am also grateful for your sauna tending crew and the work they do to make sure that is available to you. Yay for elastic webs of support. 

[Snarkyfishguts]

3 hours ago, Heidi said:

I felt like a Real Person again, able to meet the day and not feeling like it was going to run me over (or that it already had done so, like yesterday).  Huzzah, I love this. ❤️ 

this is wonderful! And very descriptive, I understood your feeling very well from this phrasing 💜💜💜

[Heidi]

Good morning, Friends,

Went to the new client meet and greet after work, and it was lovely.

Came home and had a bowl of soup and just kind of fell asleep on the spot. I woke up after ten, realized I had missed the home game, brushed my teeth and went to bed. Okay, Universe, I hear you.

 

I slept soundly and well, and woke up around 6:30, another 12-hour sleep episode.

I clearly am in the throes of depletion, here, and I’m taking it seriously.

 

Today is Festival Of The Bands, and I am part of the crew to work the concession stand from 10-4. I’ll be doing that because it’s important to the band, but nothing else today, for certain. 

 

I am glad I went to the gym yesterday and felt restored. It’s simply not happening this morning, and that’s okay too.

I’ll likely get ample steps at the Festival, and then the gym is still open afterwards, so I might hit the magical steam room and sauna on my way home. 

I’m hoping to catch up on your threads this evening.

 

For now, there is tea and an hour or so of just being.

❤️ 

[Ranger Hal]

3 hours ago, Heidi said:

For now, there is tea and an hour or so of just being.

❤️

Lovely!

[Sovalis]

Being is so important. Sending you stamina. 💜

[Heidi]

1 hour ago, Sovalis said:

Being is so important. Sending you stamina. 💜

Thanks friend.

I made it through the concessions stand and had a good time actually, and then drove home on complete autopilot, missing the window to go to the gym.

My feet screamed at me and my hips protested as I walked through the parking lot — whew, this is a lot.

 

I made a bowl of soup and poured a glass of milk and now I’m just sitting quietly with that.

I might go back for the final couple of performances, but the likelihood is really dropping by the minute.

 

I am glad I was helpful and that the band is hosting competitions.

🎺🥁❣️

[Heidi]

Last night was a really good sleep.

Thank you, Universe.

 

Today is a Slow Sunday™ and much needed.

Might do nothing more than try out a new knitting stitch on some stash yarn and watch murder mysteries.

 

Life is good.

❤️ 

[Snarkyfishguts]

Oooh doo tell about the knitting stitch!