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Japanese curry soup

Oh dear, I hesitated on posting this, but the soup turned out to be so delicious… I thought why not. Coming from a culture that loves its soups (Chinese)… my Mom was a wiz at pulling together a soup for almost any occasion, and usually it involved left overs and of course always rice. After my trips to Japan, I developed a taste for Japanese Curry. Since I am currently dealing with a mild concussion, I don’t feel like cooking or eating even, but being the mature .. responsible adult I am… I know I have to eat. So for the last many days I have had a soup going on the stove.

My first soup was a rice, mushroom and chicken soup, it was cooked up much like a congee… and would take from the pot a bowl every time I felt I should eat. That was eaten up… and I needed to come up with another easy peasy soup..

I found a cabbage sitting forlornly in my fridge… I chopped it up with a lonely carrot that was in the crisper and put it on the stove to simmer while I got ready to go to church… ( my symptoms were such I never made it to church, I got about 2 miles away from home and turned back.)

I turned the burner under the pot of cabbage soup back on.. and looked around for what to do with it so that I could let it cook and have myself a tempting cuppa when I got hungry. I spied box of Japanese curry in the pantry. (it comes in flat squares) I had one square left. The Japanese curries come in mild, medium and spicy, This was a mild piece. I added it to the broth.

I also found a couple of small pieces of pork liver that I had cooked a few days ago, that got chopped up and added along with what was left of the Tim Horton’s chicken noodle soup a friend brought me yesterday. I cut up a nice fresh potato into thin strips and added that too.

Letting that simmer. I came in to my office to do the blog, the aroma of the soup called me back to the kitchen. It is delicious. I took a picture of it after I realized that it was yummy and really hit the spot. It was so good that I almost demolished what was made this morning… so … I have now put in what is left of the congee and added a chicken garlic broth (Campbells) so that I will have enough to dip into for the rest of the day,

When I made the congee I had also used dried beancurd sticks.. So there will be some sticks in this new batch, can’t wait to try that later.. I’ll let is simmer for awhile.. the flavours will be richer in doing so, In the congee there was also dried chinese mushrooms and shrimps…that had been soaked and added… it will be a whole new taste delight for me to enjoy later,. Especially combined with what is left of the Japanese Curry broth. .OOOH OOH YUMMY.

Because of the way we make up our homemade soups… they never come out the same way each time, that is what makes them soooooo wonderful.

Make the best use of materials and money. You can do different things as materials and money play their roles. How to make them work is important.

Perfect Liberty 2023.16

the little green bits you see .. fresh garlic shoots cut up into tiny bits so that you get that tangy hit of garlic, you put it on (if you like garlic) fresh as a topping when you serve.

I added no salt.

silent scream

The heat, the unbearable heat, the flames, licked and tore at every inch of my Being

I screamed into the night, calling for help

The scars, the death of my offspring, tender young branches

forever etched into my lifeless form

I am no more

yet the shell of what I was, remains.. a sight for all to see….

life will go on around me….

new growth will sprout, nourished by my remains

as I fade into history, back to where I began

life will evolve… it always does…

death and life are intertwined, where one ends, the other begins.

Q

Be true to yourself. No matter how you try to make yourself appear differently, you can’t alter your self worth. Just be yourself, and freely express yourself without hesitation

Perfect Liberty 2012.31

S o S

Good Morning … how are you today? Please I would like you to take a moment … sit back and listen.. Can you hear silence? Do you recall the ” Sound of Silence.” When did you last hear “silence”?

Let me explain, the other night, the dog barked to go out, it was something like 2 a.m the house was dark, I didn’t even think to turn on a light I made my way to the back door, opened it and let them out. Velcro is very good and letting me know he needs out… Keeper being the smart whippet she is, knew to take advantage of the situation and join him in his outing. I let them back in, I still have not turned on any lights, we are moving around with the light from the back veranda and the moonlight.

I tripped and fell, I heard the dog dish clatter and the sound of my head hitting the wooden banister and the wooden gate we had installed to keep the dogs out of the kitchen when we needed them out of the way. After that I am aware of lying there taking inventory of my body, my situation. I knew not to move until I was sure nothing was broken etc. (if you are new to this blog, I am what is known as a mature individual, I can get senior discounts at some stores =^_^=)

Obviously I did get up, and I went back to bed, pulled up the blankets, snuggled down and went back to sleep. That was a couple of days ago. I woke the next day, a tad sore, but went about my daily routine and “business”…BUT of course the body was not simply going to snap back into “all is well”….so for the last 24 hours or so, I have been doing a lot of sitting, lying down, and when I can sleeping.

I lay there this morning realizing that I am surrounded by a constant “hum” “noise” whether the ceiling fan, the air purifier, the central air, outside noises, AND my own AI (artificial intelligence) “stuff”… iPad, cellphone, television, desk top…refrigerator, also known as “white noise”

When you are lying on your back just doing nothing (or trying to) it is amazing the “stuff” that runs through your gray matter. I also had read a fellow bloggers post on the summers in NY city back when there was no such thing as air conditioners, fans, and the like. People had to try to find somewhere, or place they could sleep the heat was so oppressive. You can see, being quiet, having to be still… was having an affect on me. I began to think back… and of course all the while I am aware of the whirling of the ceiling fan, the constant whirring of the air purifier, etc etc…

My audio from the iPad was droning on about the need for us to find silence in our lives (Alan Watts, philosopher).. darn… I thought.. I must be feeling better, I’m awake and hearing all this noise.. for the last while I hadn’t cared. my body was bruised and just wanted to heal. Now, this must be I’m feeling better..

I got up and turned off the air purifier.. and the fan on my bureau.. NO I didn’ t turn off the ceiling fan.. Daft I’m not.. nor is my brain fried… but I did hear the difference and it got me thinking.

So here I am.. asking you for your input, should you wish to join me in this exercise. Do we have access to quiet, real quiet…? What is quiet to you?

Today’s calendar…

Others are others … I am I … If you force your values on others, it can be self-righteous. don’t be overeater and have a sense of “Others are others, I am I”

Perfect Liberty 2023.13 English translation was done (quote) in Japan

Calling for rain for the next 3, 4 days… stay dry and enjoy your week-end it is just a day away,

Ancestors’ Day

Ancestors’ Day – the 11th of each month. Through this ceremony we express our gratitude for the love and virtues of our ancestors … MAKE TODAY A “GIVE BACK DAY” We can live our daily lives owing to our ancestors, our elders and the work of our predecessors. Above all, kindness for others is the best way to give back.

Perfect Liberty 2023.11

July 8

Young family out for their morning stroll and breakfast

“Thank you” again and again.

It feels great if someone tells you “thank you”. even many times. By repeating this, become a person who comes up with the word “thank you” naturally. (PL 2023.8)

July 6

This doorway is to the Abby Saint Benoit in the Eastern Townships (Canada) … Many moons ago when I was touring through Old Montreal, and Quebec city lookin for interesting architecture, I came across an old Abby that was actually open, it was years ago .. church doors were open, you could walk in to meditate/pray… it was always an awesome experience… to be able to sit on an old sturdy well worn and polished bench… depending on the time of the day… you could even smell the wood polish used to clean and polish the pews.

Sadly such times have come and gone, seldom can you walk up to a church door and just walk in. (Sundays and church days are exceptions) This Abby is in the Eastern Township south of Montreal going towards the American border…. this is a much visited area by avid readers of the Canadian mystery writer Louise Penny, who uses the charming community as a backdrop for her murder mystery series (Chief Inspector Gamache Novels)

To see more doors, visit Dan’s No Facilities site for doors from all corners of the world. https://nofacilities.com/2023/07/06/iowa-beer-club-doors/ ( A Thursday feature)


Make Happiness with willingness. People who like to make an effort can enjoy anything. Those who spare no effort for anything and anyone know the joy of making art. Make an effort with willingness.

Perfect Liberty 2023. 6

Abby picture taken by Bonnie H.

7-2

Sitting in silence, I sometimes get a visit from voices from the past. Always when I am on my computer at my work station, I get unwanted ads and visuals about – aging and how to look younger, … I ask myself, what is the obsession with looking younger, we are born to grow and unfold into the beautiful energies we become. In nature, the fruit trees, the flowers, perennials, they come back in the spring looking young and fresh, they blossom with beautiful flowers, then some share/ give us their bounty, visuals can be breath taking, and the taste delight on our tongues… hmmmmmm.

Have you lost “simplicity” in your life?

Are you still trying to “find” your”Self”?

What do you see when you look in the mirror? I greet the “me” I’ve become most mornings when I begin my day, and again at night when I say “goodnight”… Have you taken stock of “YOU” today, Do you “like” the person that looks back at you when you face a mirror.

Be big hearted. In fact, what you are concerned about might be something you don’t need to be concerned about. Interact with people without worrying too much

Perfect Liberty 2023.02

new day, new month

I found this one day, simply staring up at me as I carefully picked my way along a deserted part of the beach. I have a vague idea of where i was… if I close my eyes I can still hear the water washing up along the shoreline. I had taken a “road less used”, it was far from the area that was usually crowded at this time of year with people seeking a bit of nature. (this was an area easy enough to reach within the city, but where i had gone was behind the building that wasn’t open cuz it was a holiday) I notice that people will tend to stay where the “majority” of visitors gather. The road I took was used by “service” personnel, or trades people who come to work on the buildings. You know the kind of areas that during working hours it is busy with a lot of in and out of people working at what needs doing, they are not there for the view.

So no tourists, birders, nature lovers here, just me, myself and I, wandering along a baron beach, where the bleached driftwood and I shared the afternoon sun and lazy meanderings of the small birds that flew past. I remembering being treated to the sight of ducks floating down past me towards the open water of the lake. When I come across one of the pictures I’ve taken of the “personalities ” I meet in my travels, it is always a happy memory.

Today in PL we have service – 1st of every month, Day of Peace. Through this ceremony we pray for World Peace and dedicate ourselves to live as peaceful human beings in our own worlds, which includes our home, schook, work and community. Service today is at 10:a.m.

In Canada it is also Canada Day, there will be festivities all across and around the city. Celebrate, enjoy .. stay safe.

Yes,there will be service tomorrow Sunday as well.. 10:a.m.

finding solace

photo Chris O’keefe, USA (Milford St. Blog)(2012)

Chris took this back in June 2012, or at least that is when I first encountered this find of his. when I saw it, I was so taken with the creativity of the artist’s sculptures he’d found. I remember thinking at the time, that the artist had to have had vision.. the picture has always stayed with me, I often see trail bike riders enjoying the woodland trails, wondered if I would love the feeling of traveling through the woods with the canopy of trees overhead and all around.

The idea appealed to me, yet at the same time, I love the slow wander through the various endless vignettes I find when I am enjoying the calm of an unpreoccupied mind when I give my mental faculties a rest as I tune into my surroundings while practicing mindfulness exercises.

Get things started with grit. If you work on things in daily life with the attitude of “let’s do it” you will feel a power to accomplish things. People around you will rely on you

Perfect Liberty 2023.

Tune into your surroundings. Try narrowing your attention to something very small, i.e the woodgrain on the bench where you are sitting, a blade of grass….. acknowledge just how being in the outdoors bring you peace of mind – disconnect from the hectic world you are often surrounded by.. find yourself . try the exercise for 10 minutes. find the sense of true calm.

Doorways

Today I’m starting with doorways of places visited by friends Nick and Mel who are travelling/exploring and visiting with family in Europe. We see similar impressive entrances in our older buildings here in Canada when we visit bigger cities, and/or ones that have been around for a very long time.

This group of doors I took while on a scenic tour of a tourist destination in Ontario, about an hour plus from where I live. Out of interest, which doorways would draw your attention, the big wooden doors in huge impressive fortress type buildings, or the colourful and charming doors in older commercial buildings in small towns.??

Discover something new today. Have a willingness and an interest, start your day with excitement.

Perfect Liberty 2023.22

For more doors visit Dan’s No Facilities site… where you will find doors from all corners of the globe. This feature happens very Thursday (most anyway) https://nofacilities.com/2023/06/22/june-leftovers-2/

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