Intentions and Peacefulness
At the beginning of this week, I started a 30 day vegan workshop offered by Heather at Beauty that Moves. My intention is to be open minded and to try new dishes along with being mindful of how I feel during the day. I participated last year and felt like I "failed" because I was only 100% vegan for four days. My approach is completely different this time around. I'm facing each meal as it presents itself and making choices. I'm being flexible and kind. So far I've been successful. I love the retreat feeling of the workshop and eagerly await the daily postings. It would be lovely if this new plant based diet would have a positive impact on my arthritis.
My days have been fluid almost suspended with peacefulness. My son is home for a few weeks before he starts his summer research program, so we've fallen into a quite easy routine-just the three of us. It's nice having him home for a bit. The dorm room messes have been tucked into various corners of the house. So unless I walk into the dining room, guest bedroom or his room I cannot see it. That makes me quite happy. Conversations have centered around potential grad schools for a Math PhD program for Fall 2014 admittance. So many to choose from! Funny, as a mother, I pick the ones that are within a days drive ;)
Spring has been for me:
-salads and homemade dressings
-bits of dark chocolate
-sandal wearing
-trees in the fine greenery
-rainstorms and rain clouds
-no alarm clocks
-knitting outside on the swing
-opened windows with breezes
What has spring been for you?
Have a lovely long extended weekend :)
Enjoy that time...I'd opt for one closer myself ;) Can't wait to hear how everything goes with the workshop. I've often thought about trying it but just can seem to commit. I do love Heather's blog. There is a definite serenity to it. Have a wonderful weekend!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your time with your son. The vegan challenge sounds fun (and hard!). Hope it helps with your arthritis. Have a great weekend Karen!
ReplyDeleteI can not imagine trying to do "vegan" right now - mainly the dairy is what would be hard to cut out. The girls and I don't eat much meat.
ReplyDeleteI so admire you and want to hear about the journey. I've heard a lot about her program. All good things.
XO
interested in hearing more about your workshop! i'm too into eggs and cheese i'm afraid to successfully do a vegan lifestyle---vegetarian? I'm probably almost there anyway. Fingers crossed for positive arthritis results!!! Such rather idyllic---your spring right now. Hope it carries through into summer.
ReplyDeleteI hope your vegan approach works well for you. Enjoy the time with your son. I'm looking forward to a visit with our son soon. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI'm yearning for this kind of fluid peacefulness.... Seems we run full throttle into battle each day. ;) I'm going to take a note from you today, Karen. blessings ~ tanna
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness...this sounds like bliss. Enjoy your lovely time with your son. And that picture. Your header. Those sweet purple flowers. LOVE. Happy weekend! XO
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are taking the right approach with the course. Enjoy it and enjoy having your son home :)
ReplyDeleteI really like cheese, have you discovered a good vegan option? Your spring sounds wonderful so far!
ReplyDeleteI have not found a good substitute. I do eat veggie slices that mimic cheese but they do not taste like cheese at all. I just avoid the cheese, I'm lactose intolerant so it doesn't agree with me anyways.
DeleteI like your springtime list : ) And your photos!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that you are enjoying this time with your son and experiencing peaceful, happy days.
I need to find a way to take better care of my self and improve my diet. I agree that it is easy to get into a rut.
Good luck with your diet. You've inspired me to eat more healthy, although being a vegetarian or vegan in france is difficult! xxx
ReplyDeleteThat just sounds so lovely ... knitting, chocolate and no clocks! I'd be picking those same day-away schools. Three of my four are still at home with us or local, one is now a mere two hours away, but it still feels like she's on the other side of the world.
ReplyDeleteI have arthritis too and CFS and my self care, with so many sick parents to care of - my mother in law now has cancer as well as my mother - is just so poor, I need to take a leaf (if you'll pardon the pun) from your book and get my diet under control.
Self care is extremely important especially with your stresses. I hope you have good health to help your sick parents :)
DeleteThanks for your review of The Midwife in your last post. I am going to look for that one. Sounds like such a nice week. It is so fun to have kids home from college. That bring back memories for me. In a couple of years when my youngest graduates from high school, I guess we will go through that again. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteOne more thing - be sure to keep us posted on how your new diet affects your arthritis. I also suffer from that and have recently read that cutting out glutton can have a positive impact but I don't know if I am ready to do that right now. We have cut way back on meat consumption but will be very interesting to know what the impact of your vegan experiment is.
ReplyDeleteSpring for us here in southwest Virginia has been unusually cool and cloudy, all the way through from April to now. Thank goodness I knit...that helps with the cloudy days. Spring is also: open windows, fresh air, more sun, more energy, and a trip to the beach already. And taking lots of pictures of flowers. Knitting outside sounds like a good idea!
ReplyDeleteWe finally have a spring here in Colorado. Things are greening up quite nicely. Flowers are planted, veggies are almost all planted, the patio furniture it out. It's all good.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to hearing your vegan journey and how it affects your arthritis. I'm not sure I could do vegan. Vegetarian yes, but to cut it all out...not so sure. Good luck.
Jen
Sounds lovely! Good luck with the vegan cooking, it sounds like a great experience!
ReplyDeleteThis spring has been more of an extended winter - I didn't wear sandals once yet! :( Today at least we got short sleeves out, maybe spring is coming after all (fingers crossed!)
I'm glad you are enjoying the vegan challenge. I'm curious to hear about the difference you feel. Our spring is busy with another move - local this time, but taxing nonetheless!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your time together!!
ReplyDeleteSpring has been wonderful, although the mosquitoes are out and active already, and some days are too humid to air the house out.
Other than that I've enjoyed the warmth, sunshine, and growth spring has brought to us!
Very cool about trying a vegan meal plan! I think most of the things we eat are vegan (haha, I am eating yogurt as I type this!). I make a lot of soups with veggies and herbs, and one of my favorite lunches is just beans and grains sautéed with some veggies and fresh herbs. Very easy, one million variations to try, and very filling. Hope it goes well and you find some things you like!
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