Holidays

Eva is on holiday, and while I am officially working, in between clients I feel like I am on holiday too.
Not the 'lets go out and do fun things' holidays, but the 'lying in bed reading' ones.

All the Easter decorations are still in the cellar, and not a single egg has been colored...
So, in lieu of an Easter project, here some more pics from the last couple of days:


What my brother eats for breakfast:

Bonding with the uncle:

The plumbing in my old house has been playing up for a while now. As a healing facilitator I often tell my clients that
water issues always have to do with emotions. Looks like mine are a bit stuck :-).
Despite our best effort, the drain is still blocked:

On the way to gymnastics, clouds are pulling in :

Getting ready:

Waiting for the teacher. She is from Romania and participated as a gymnast in the '72 Olympics in Munich. She is also rather direct. Last week I watched for a bit, and after Eva had done her routine on the beam she said: 'That wasn't bad...
That was horrible!'

But for some reason Eva really likes it :-):

The cats, having perfected the art of relaxation:

Beautiful evening light:

Lots of love, and have a gorgeous day!

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This week

Eva is on holiday, my brother is visiting, and I am alternating between feeling really good and feeling really worried.

I worry about money, spending too much and earning too little.
And I worry about Eva. How is she handling her parents' separation? Have we scarred her for life? Will she find a
loving partner, or will she re-create our ups-and-downs?


For me, the best way to get out of worrying is to pay attention to the little things. That always always always makes
me feel so much better :-).


Some little-things impressions from this week:


Dad,

and offspring Harry, named after

this obsession:

Animals everywhere:

 

 

Still life with my brothers' laptop:

 My brother, who is unfortunately leaving again tomorrow:

 

And another obsession, shared by mother and daughter:

 Have a great weekend!



Lots of love,

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Honesty and color

At the moment, my blog is like Frankfurt airport. Closed because of snow, with planes (I imagine) circling overhead.

 

Like those imaginary planes I am also circling without coming in to land. It is unfamiliar terrain down there.

Changing the blog url is a fresh new start, and I do not know how to jump in.  

But this Saturday morning it is quiet. Eva is at an Indian Holi festival organized by some classmates, and I finally 
have time to write down some thoughts.

After the festival

I do know what I want for the blog. 

I want it honest, I want it raw, I want it beautiful, not because it is aesthetically pleasing, but because it is true. 

Resonating. Touching, with the realization that some truths are the same for all of us, no matter what we look like on the outside. We all have to deal with life being unpredictable, being brutal, being tough. With making mistakes, with having regrets, with coming short of our own expectations.

With hurting others, deliberately or through being blind and unaware.

And still we have to go on, every day. And still there is so much beauty, so much grace, such goodness.

We are all in this together.

So the idea is that whatever I experience will be of value to you if I am uncompromisingly honest about it. 
Because such honesty always touches that part in us that knows. 

Knows we are ultimately the same. 

We all want to find our own truth, live out our own uniqueness. Contribute ourselves.

In my work as a healing facilitator, I love my clients so much when they start to open up. Even if they have done things 
that are not nice at all. If it is truthful, it is beautiful, and I can understand. Being that honest, opening yourself up with 
such vulnerability has to touch. I can’t help but love this incredibly courageous soul.

And maybe this is why I want to do be so honest myself. 

Because I want to be loved.  For the real me. For the person full of flaws, full of shortcomings, short of money. For the impatient, angry, snappy bitch I sometimes am. For being insecure. For hiding. Behind books, behind smiles, behind 
being nice. 

And because coming out of hiding is an act of self-love, of acceptance. And hopefully of inspiration. 

We all struggle, let’s do it together! Becoming gentler and more real in the process.

A wonderful weekend dear friends!

Lots of love,

Ps: After a swim, a shower and a bath, my child is still colorful. So is her bedding, her t-shirt and the wall....

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Delicious, healthy, vegan, gluten free bread

Self-care is still quite a priority for me.

I have to watch it, because I am such an all-or-nothing person. Which is pretty good when I am in healthy
living mode, but can deteriorate and turn into all things sweet, fatty, salty and alcoholic very quickly.

After living with this pattern for many years, I finally had a little 'aha' moment. How about finding food that tastes
like it is bad for you (that delicious, yummy, want-lots-more taste!), but at the same time actually supports and
nourishes your body.

One favorite such recipe is still the healthy sweets.
I also discovered a brilliant, quick, raw chocolate mousse (recipe coming soon).

And now I have found a bread that is really, really good for you :-). AND it tastes divine!

And as an added bonus, it is very easy to make.


Here is what you need (recipe from My New Roots):

145 g (1.5 cups) rolled oats
135 g (1 cup) sunflower seeds
90 g (0.5 cups) flax seeds
65 g  (0.5 cups) whole hazelnuts or almonds
4 Tbsp psyllium seed husks (if you are using psyllium husk powder, use only 3 tbsp)
2 Tbsp chia seeds
1 tsp sea salt
350 ml (1.5. cups) of water
3 Tbsp melted coconut oil or ghee
1 Tbsp maple syrup or honey, or a pinch of stevia

If you have, use a silicon loaf pan. I didn't have one and the bread turned out just fine using my glass pie dish.
Mix all the dry ingredients together in your pan.
Then put your water into a measuring cup, add the oil and syrup, and whisk.
Add the wet mix to the dry mix and mix very well, until everything is soaked. Smooth the top.
Let stand for at least two hours (or over night). This gives time for the seeds to soak.

Preheat the oven to 175 ° C (350 ° F)
Place the pan on the middle rack and bake for 20 minutes. Then take the bread out of your pan, and put it
upside-down directly onto your rack. Bake for a further 50 minutes (the original recipe says 30 to 40 minutes,
but mine wasn't ready yet). Your bread is done when it sounds hollow when you tap it.

Let cool completely before slicing and enjoy!

I ate mine with some self-made hummus. Just put a can of chickpeas into your blender, add lemon juice, salt (and
1 glove of crushed garlic if you like that) 2 Tbsp tahini and a bit of olive oil, and blend until smooth.


Enjoy a wonderful day of caring well for yourself!


Lots of love,

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Retreating in style

Some impressions from the Yoga and Pilates retreat my friend Birgit and I ran on the weekend.
I am way behind on the washing, the cleaning, the admin and (as always) the answering of emails, so I leave you
for now with some pictures.


Luxury tents with a view. Our accomodation was beautiful. And every time we left the tent, somebody sneaked in
and cleaned up:

The view while doing early morning yoga:

 

 
We got checked out by the local wildlife:

 

And in turn watched the rosy-cheeked love birds (on the dead tree in the background), the dassies and baboons, and
the stunning landscape:

 

The part of the group that actually got up for the 6h30 morning class:

 

Parts of breakfast. Whenever I sat down, somebody came and offered me some food. No cooking, no shopping, no
'but I don't like salad'.... Heaven!

The lodge, nestled in amongst the rocks:

 

Sundowner with a view:

 

 

Cheers!:

 

 Hugs my dear friends, wishing you a wonderful start to the week!

 Lots of love,

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