Soul Full Sunday

I have not really blogged much recently....for a reason.  A BIG reason.  

I have been doing some BIG work on myself and with myself.  I didn't really set out for all this reading and listening and thinking and praying.  This perfect storm has sort of settled in and the universe is tossing wisdom and shift at me from all directions.  And it is welcome, pleasurable, peaceful and clear.  

I am reluctant to even press the letters on this keyboard because I could bleed all over this blog post...but I am not sure I am ready to share...or am afraid to over-share, maybe?  My thoughts are pretty much a jumbled mess right now so trying to get anything coherent on the page might be an exercise in futility anyhow.  

However, I do want to share a bit of what the universe has gifted me, recently.

 Flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and gentleness.

1 Timothy 6:11

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There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in. -Leonard Cohen

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....intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of life, where histories of all people are connected, and we are able to know everything, because it is all written there. 

-Paulo Coelho

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The river is a river not a line

My love is the water and it's stronger and deeper than time.

-Patty Griffin

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To be nobody-but-yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody but yourself-means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight-and never stop fighting.

e.e. cummings

A spring afternoon at Rancho de Bearden

An interview with this man....

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Lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

1 Timothy 2:2

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Last, but certainly not least, I have had some PROFOUND conversations with the women in my life.  The conversations have been real, soulful, deep and honest.  I have been allowed the opportunity to listen to what they see from the outside looking in and the wisdom they have shared will carry me, forever, I assume.  You all know who you are...I honor the divine in you!  

I am ultimately shooting for "wholehearted living" which is scary, scary, scary...but the gifts of imperfection, as allowed by Brene' Brown, are COURAGE, CONNECTION AND COMPASSION. And THAT is the life I WANT to live!

Now to go on and cultivate it!  

I am worthy.

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Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

These are the things that remind me of my sweet mother!

1) Ballet Sweaters

2) Memoirs of a Geisha

3) Uggs

4) Chandelier Earrings

5) Sir Elton John Nest Candles

6) Toms

7) Fendi

8) Pilates

I love you, mom!  I hope we have a wonderful day together!

A Fish Tale: Part II

As promised...my recipe for fresh black drum!

This is mostly a chance for me to use what I learned in Tasteography 101...but sadly this picture does not at ALL capture how cool this looked in my kitchen (despite all the doctoring).  I challenged myself to only use my cell phone for this shoot because you can do so many things with different apps.  Sadly, I was in a rush and didn't end up liking too many of the images.  Oh well, better luck next time!

Essentially, I salted two fillets.  I then (heavily) spritzed them with fresh lemon juice.  I added a few pats of butter across the top.  I gently and mindfully tossed a bit of paprika on them for some color and a bit of smoky pepper-i-ess.  

I baked them for 20 minutes at 375 degrees.  

Now...here is where the seafood purists will probably have ME de-boned!  I popped the Pyrex out of the oven and grated a TINY bit of Parmesan cheese on the fillets.  I also took two scallions and laid they across the fillets.  I tossed it back into the oven and set the broiler on for 4-5 minutes.

Garnish with parsley and there you have it!  DEE.LISH!

You know when "they" say fresh fish should smell like nothing...it really did smell like nothing.  I can NEVER say that for anything I purchase up here.  

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A Fish Tale

My friends Rebecca, Jenni and I have an annual tradition of getting out of dodge during FIESTA weekend!  We each get Friday off for Battle of Flowers and we use that extra sweet opportunity to pack our beach gear and head south-ish....more south and east-ish.  

This year I was particularly craving a long escape to the water.  As I pulled out of my garage I promised myself I would not think about a) work, b) the kitchen ceiling disaster or c) the new termite family procreating behind  d) a new wall with moisture behind it.  What I allowed myself to consider was a) the excitement of the new car waiting for me upon my return, b) my first pole performance choreography (I must have listened to November Rain 100 times on the way down), c) Carry On, Warrior by Glennon Melton Doyle and d) Garden & Gun and Country Living.  And a boat ride...a sweet, sweet boat ride I gently (debatable) coerced and old friend into providing for me!

I would LOVE to take 100% credit for these two friends...I mean fish...sitting in front of me...and while Facebook allows me the forum to COMPLETELY fib...the truth is my friend, Chris caught these two fish (for me).  And then he did some other things to them that I won't get into...but in the end I was able to come home with black drum filets, vacuum sealed for freshness!  

I grew up in South Texas so fishing was a readily available activity which I learned to enjoy early on.  Well...let me back up...I enjoyed the boat ride more so than the act of fishing.  However, when Dad invited, I was eager to participate.  Plus I also learned early on fishing in the morning and frying at night was a pretty damn good way to spend the day!  (Yes...my mom allowed FRYING...outside the house.)

I ran into Chris at a wedding in November and 100% invited myself onto his boat on my next Port A trip.  He was incredibly accommodating and willing to entertain us during our weekend of respite and reward!  Chris is one of these expert angler, hunter, commune with nature people...and like knows where the wind is coming from by feeling one breeze and identifying tracks in the soil and knows how to shoot arrows with some crazy strong bow which requires the upper body strength of The Rock.  You know...one of those highly attuned individuals...who ULTIMATELY respects nature and works to conserve it.  I don't know...you have to meet him...it works.  He's not the type of hunter/fisher I am mad at (bleeding heart liberal) rather the type I am awed by. 

Anyhow...we go out fishing.  The boat ride was DI.VINE!  The oxymoronic fragrance mixture of fuel and salt water excited my senses and I was ready to let my hair FLY!  So...drop anchor...ankle deep water.  "We are sight casting," he proclaims.  Here's whats going on in my little head..."Is that 'site' like a website, or 'cite' as in 'cite your references' or is that 'sight' as in looking."  Really, Patty?  How could the first two be possible.  I just shut my mouth and smiled.  So...here's the deal.  You look at the shallow water shadows...and cast straight to the shadow and catch a fish.  Yeah!  Just like that. 

So this was a new experience for me.  BUT...what I will say is that was the MOST enjoyable method of attempting to fish (he did it all) I have ever participated in because I was sort of like "one with it."  Not me...in a boat...lording over the sea...wondering if there is anything out there.

This was "sport."  And it was fun!  Except when he says, "Stay quiet (yeah, right...has he met me?), shuffle your feet so you won't upset a sting ray (uhm....Steve Irwin?) and oops...watch out for the jelly fish."  

Oh...it must be noted, though, Chris was at a HUGE advantage because he has superhero sunglasses.  I just have regular people sunglasses.  Perhaps my next investment?

Lorelai: Hello sailor, bait your hoooooook for you?

Luke: You look ridiculous.

Lorelai: I look adorable! No one ever told me that if you fish, you get to buy an outfit. I'll do just about anything if I can buy an outfit!

Stayed tuned for Part II where I share my recipe for black drum.  (Plus that gives me an opportunity to do some food styling and photography!  Woo hoo Misha Hettie and Amanda Raba Gentis!  So inspired!)

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