Friday, June 27, 2008

depressed!

when i started this blog, i hoped to fill it with all the wonderful spiritually uplifting insights that God would show me.

But lately instead of leaping on the mountains spiritually speaking I feel more like I'm slogging through a swamp. The occasional glimmers of light turn out to be swamp gas instead of a lasting breakthrough.

Not sure what the trouble or more importantly what the solution is. Maybe just patience and time and allowing myself to rest. I have been battling infections and fluctuating hormones (sorry guys). Pushing past my feelings and getting stuff done helps a little, but only momentarily.

Maybe I should get out more, see some friends and do something fun. I have been feeling lonely and disconnected. Yesterday I went into the office (I usually work at home) I found myself not wanting to leave. It was good to be around people and to be out of the house for a while.

I am glad for God's grace and that Jesus is (still) holding me together.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Jesus holds us together

Check out this amazing short video: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_e4zgJXPpI4.

In it Louie Giglio talks about God's incredible love for us. We can trust Him because he created us and is holding us together. Louie tells about an amazing molecule called laminin that is like the glue that is holding our bodies together. He shows an image of the molecule. It's incredible. You have to see this!!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Recently I made Pesto

My basil's been doing really well. To help use it up, I found this recipe for pesto . Since I already had roasted almonds I substituted those for the pine nuts (too expensive) or walnuts (I'm allergic). It was tasty. I only had enough basil to make half the recipe, but it made enough pesto to flavor a large pasta chicken salad.


It can also be used as a topping on meat, fish, poultry, boiled potatoes, toasted baguette or similar bread; or mixed in soup or other sauces--basically, any way you like!


Over the several days that I had to eat my pesto pasta chicken salad [Next time I’ll make less pasta :-)] I found myself wondering, is pesto real food? Some people love it and say they could live on the stuff; gourmet shops sell it in cute little jars; and purists argue about the “proper” way to make it. But is it nutritious? And who first thought of it ? Was it first created by a poor Italian peasant who had nothing else to make a sauce with?

So I did a little research.

The history of pesto is uncertain. It’s believed to have originated in the city of Genoa in the Liguria region of northern Italy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pesto

I didn’t find much about the nutritional value of basil pesto. “The French are said to use basil to treat constipation” http://possumsal.homestead.com/constipation.html
So depending on your perspective that could be one benefit! The cheese and almonds I used would have had a bit of calcium and protein; I don’t know about pine nuts. Olive oil is considered healthful, as oils go.

But basil pesto is not the only type of pesto. I found recipes for pesto made with mushrooms, spinach or sun dried tomatoes:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_27249,00.html
and even one for broccoli pesto:
http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/broccoli-pesto-fusilli-pasta-recipe.html

You can make pesto with anything that suits your fancy.

So depending on what you make it with I’d say the answer is, yes, it’s real food.

For more on the history of pesto: http://parco-basilico.provincia.genova.it/eng/Pesto_PBP.html
And uses of basil: http://www.gardenguides.com/howto/tipstechniques/herbs/indespensiblebasil.asp

Sunday, June 8, 2008

A new "guest"?


We may have a possum visiting us. At least I hope it's only visiting.

I saw it's back end disappear into the ivy by our patio this morning. That could explain why Sonya, the cat, was staring intently into the ivy yesterday.

Did you know that opossums, or 'possums' as I call them, are marsupial? My Australian friends probably knew that. One website I looked at said they are the only North American marsupial. Webster's said they are one of several American marsupials. Anyway, normally we would be glad to have an Australian visitor, but in this case...

You might think with two cats living here it would have picked somewhere else to live. Maybe it wanted to hang out with a fellow 'Ozzy'. They're both nocturnal too ;-).

No doubt it's hoping to feast on my tomatoes and squash! Speaking of squash, it's partly revived, though alot of the leaves died. (I cut off the dead ones for this picture.)



I'm happy to say that I'm also more revived. It's amazing how much better I felt after I finished writing the report my boss last assigned me. I wasn't sure I could do it, but with God's help and my Mom's prayers I did.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Burnout



I guess the heat yesterday was too much for my squash plant.


This is a good picture of how I've been feeling lately. Burnt-out.


A few weeks ago everything seemed great.

What happened?

In the case of the squash, the heat plus the small size of the container may be the trouble.


For me, it may be partly because I've been letting bitterness and discouragement creep in. I tend to believe I have to perform perfectly to be accepted--by God and everyone else. Of course I can't so then I get discouraged.

But I don't have to. God, at least, loves me and accepts me even when I'm not perfectly brilliant at everything all the time (or any of the time).

Thank you God for your GRACE! I don't have to perform to be loved by you!!


Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Comments

I just learned something.

If you don't have a Google account already, [or don't know if you have a Google account already; or forgot your password; or don't know what I am talking about] and want to leave a comment, then you can just select the "name/url" choice and enter your name. Your first name or a nickname are adequate. The "url" part is optional. It's super easy. I just tried it :-).

Thanks Alyson for asking.

I'm new to this blogging thing too!

p.s. or you can select "anonymous" if you prefer. But then I won't know which one of my very nice friends left a comment...