2015 Brings The Cold

Arctic temperatures through Wednesday this week. It feels like winter now, but the sun is shining and the ground is dry. If the snow doesn't find us here in Oz, it won't be for lack of cold.

I rise in the mornings at 6:00am to do yoga. From my studio this morning I had a view of the gaggle of Canadian geese that call the Finley home. They were still curled up in oval shapes waiting for the sun to rise. A most curious sight.

Geese on the river before sunrise.

The eagles I wrote about several weeks ago are still here. Mark woke me up the day before yesterday when he spotted the male putting on a show over the water. I was so happy to see him again, but even more happy that he made an appearance for Mark. I wrapped myself in a blanket and we went out into the cold and watched him until he took off south following the river. 

The variety of birds on our patch of paradise is many. Right outside our bedroom window is the tiniest, most cute little nest. It has fluff springing out of it in the most adorably schizophrenic way. 

Tiny bird's nest at Chigger Chalet.

My sister Sara and her brood were here for the New Year. All of us went to dinner one night and we came away with a photo of the sisters.

Sara, Dallis and Leanne. Photo by Simon Ball

Sara and I also got a chance to get away for a girl's lunch with the old school crew. The six of us grew up in the hood together. 

Cynarra, Sara, Charmagne, Leanne, Christa and Alicia. Photo by random employee guy on his break. 

Group selfie! 

My brother-in-law also caught a sweet moment between me and his daughter Mallory after the belated family gift exchange.

Leanne and Mallory. Photo by Scott Cisco

Penny got a new present too!

Penny and her Christmas bone. That thing didn't last long!

I have so much on the to-do list for January! I have much to accomplish before we leave for Ireland next month. The year of The Sheep could prove to be my most productive yet. Sheep can only move forward, (seriously, the can't go backward.) and they are tough and resilient. Mark and I were both born in October of 1979, making us both Sheep according to the Chinese zodiac. This year is so ours!!!

~ Love & Light ~

Survive The Holidays With Ashwagandha

Feeling the stress of the most wonderful time of the year? Well, don't feel bad, so is just about everybody else. Today we will take a look at Ashwagandha and I will fill you in on how it can help you power through the holiday season.

Ashwagandha plant.

Ashwagandha is an herb popular in Ayurvedic medicine. It is known for its restorative effects and helps to strengthen the immune system, making it the perfect remedy for holiday stress and protection against the colds and flus that circulate this time of year. It would also be helpful on January 1st after a late night on New Year's Eve. The easiest way to add ashwagandha to your diet is with powder made from the roots.

Ashwagandha roots.

You can add ashwagandha powder to soups and stews, a pot of rice or beans, but I'm going to show you how to make a simple warm beverage that takes a few minutes to make. It is insanely easy and will warm you on those cold winter nights while imparting its strength and protection to you. The following is taken from Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs.

Cinnamon-Ashwagandha Milk Recipe.

First, gather the ingredients.

Never seen ashwagandha powder before? Get a closer look. 

Warm the milk over low heat and then add the powders.

Add a little honey and stir until blended. Really it will never be totally blended and when you are drinking it you might find it gets chalky towards the bottom, so beware. I personally like to drink the mud in the bottom of the cup because I feel like that is where the most healing part of the drink resides. 

Here's to your health this winter! 

~ Love & Light ~

Deck The Halls

I swore I wouldn't do it. I promised myself. No posting holiday decoration photos. And yet here I am.

Sorry.

Behold, the tree! Somehow this blurry photo is the only one I took of the tree by itself.

The Christmas tree 2014

Isn't our new woodland Santa adorable? I love his soft scarf. I didn't plan to buy any new Christmas decorations this year, but when I saw him I just couldn't resist!

Woodland Santa.

The mantel already looks a bit different since I took this photo. It is now filling up with the Christmas cards coming in the mail. Also, the framed print of the basset hound putting out cookies for Santa has its own spot in the kitchen now. ( Thank you Amber! I love that basset hound print!).

Christmas mantel.

Some of my crystals and a whimsical tree.

Arrangement of crystals and tree.

I absolutely love this holiday tray I found at Target a few years ago. It has purple in it!! Perfect for the living room coffee table.

A hard to find Christmas decoration with purple in it!

Below are some photos I spruced up with Instagram. This first one is my winter centerpiece on the kitchen table. I think it looks much better in person, it was hard to photograph.

Winter centerpiece.

This next one was meant to show what I have done on top of the kitchen hutch, but I ended up keeping it because I like how it shows the new green paint and a peek of the purple hallway.

The new wall colors.

We had some extra lighted garland and used it to dress up the windows over the couch.

Lighted garland.

We found this cute little Santa at Susan's Christmas Shop in Santa Fe. He is actually a painted New Mexico chile.

New Mexico chile Santa.

The fire is so much more cozy with stockings and garland.

Toasty fire.

In 2012 when Mark and I celebrated our first Christmas together, we started a tradition of adding one ornament per year with that year's date. This year we added this little gem to our collection. The perfect way to always remember our Southwest Adventure of 2014.

That is all of 'em folks! I will leave you with a tune I've been enjoying this month. 

~ Love & Light ~