New beginnings

Each day brings the promise of renewed hope. This Christmas hearts will be broken, our faith in others challenged and it will seem that nothing will ever be the same again. The sun always rises and sets, a reminder to ourselves that everything passes good or bad.

Photo copyright SvD.

The Secret Language of Trees.

 

 

 

 

 

I have written before on this blog about the secret language of trees which exists in their bark. We can tell their age, their health and the species of tree by looking at the bark. What captivates me is the pattern that defines the tree's personality. As an artist, I see a weave for a carpet here or brushstrokes of oil paint on a canvas. Imagination. It's the one thing you either have or refuse to cultivate. Let your mind roam and think about something else besides the hum drum of life. Go for a walk in the woods and look at the trees.

Photo copyright SvD.

Food to heal

Tomorrow will be three weeks exactly since I got the winter bug: sore throat, lethargy, coughing. Oh joy! Antibiotics which I last took more than 20 years ago have helped clear the chest infection and food has also made a huge difference. I dragged myself to work though which set me back quite a bit hence coughing and spluttering still. I should add that the love of a good man has been wonderful too.

This recipe, reminiscent of my childhood which my late mother made often, has the right balance of peppery kick to clear the lungs. Groundnut stew, chicken simmered in a thick peanut sauce over boiled rice went down a treat and it takes less than an hour.

Photo copyright SvD.