And mine looks like this...

My creative friend at Hearthwhich has been pondering the benefits of creative spaces this week. This is mine - or rather - it is the most frequently used of mine. I have the bonus of a little outhouse which attempts to be (when it is warm enough) a little studio, but for these cooler months, I have been spending my hours at this desk... and at the dining room table... and on the floor in front of the fire, atempting to complete projects. The wonderful irony is that I found a drawing the other day of my 'ideal workspace' - a little intention that I set last year, whilst battling to find a suitable workspace for my PGCE work. It is nearly identical - how blessed I have been to have found where I am. Add to that synchronicity the fact that I found the desk under a pile of books at the same garage sale as the dining chairs, and that it fits so perfectly into the alcove I had for it...well... it was meant to be.

Blessings abound in my life at the moment. I am reading another of Gill Edwards' books, which is helping me to appreciate just how much abundance there is. I am finding it particularly important on a week like this, when I am struggling to get used to being back at school, and still struggling to find myself living alone. A good and healthy move no doubt, but not without its challenging moments. To be thankful though, is all.

::This week I am thankful for::

The sun shining through the skylights in the morning

The goodnatured children at school

The engagement of my wonderful sister and her wonderful Dan

The space to begin my vegetable patch
The hands that came to help

The nourishing books that I have to read

Spring, Projects, and another wonderful engagement

Way back when, October time I think, I went to a garage sale and picked up two nasty-looking dining chairs. I painted them that very week, but only today did I finish reupholstering them. They now sit proudly around my dining table with some other odds and ends. Rather satisfyingly, the chairs came to a total of £4, the fabric was £2 from a fair in Cirencester, and the paint was the dregs of a pot I had, had for a while. Bargain Chic.

It was definitely the end of the year 11 study camp which left me feeling productive - I really am on hols now! And the sun did help too, of course!

This is where I am going to sit and chat to my friend Ellie, when she returns from a romantic trip to Rome, where her lovely boyfriend has proposed. Congratulations you lovely people! xxx

A Blessing

A ring, a mountain top, a very dear friend and her wonderful new fiance. God bless you.  

xx

Is that an 'Anna Special'?

'Ummm, yes' came the reply. This dish makes an almost weekly appearance at my table, for its easiness, its deliciousness and for the fact that it is really quite a frugal meal. It also appears to be sort of ayurvedic, and as I am feeling the push to overhaul my eating habits it is a relief that some old favourites can stay. I present to you Butternut Squash and Lentil Salad with Rocket, Feta and Walnuts...and olive oil... oh, and balsamic, or a squeeze of lemon juice...

You will need:
1 butternut squash
3 cloves of garlic
250-300g puy lentils (or lentils verte are fine too)
Half a red onion
Rocket
Feta cheese
A handful of walnuts
Olive Oil
Balsamic/lemon juice
Salt and Pepper

Chop the squash into small cubes (see above) and put into a roasting dish with the garlic cloves (skins on so that they don't burn), plenty of olive oil and season to taste. Roast in a pre-heated oven (gas mark 5) for 35 - 40 minutes, or until soft and beginning to crisp on the outside.

Meanwhile pour the lentils into a saucepan, cover generously with water or stock (be careful not to let the water evaporate away when boiling) and cook according to the packet instructions.

Chop the onion and fry slowly in olive oil.

When the lentils and squash are ready, mix together, along with the onion. Add the rocket, dress with olive oil and either vinegar or lemon juice.

Put the mix into your dishes, crumble both the feta and walnuts on top, season to taste. Enjoy!

Ready.

The rain was falling hard on Saturday morning, but the house was full of smiles as we prepared ourselves for a day of yoga and ayurveda. I had friends and family down on Friday night for various reasons, and on Saturday the friends and I headed to the yoga studio for a workshop with the Ayurvedic Yogi. The workshop was well-timed for all, and heralded a new beginning at the spring equinox. As the morning began, there was a general acknowledgement that at this time of year, just before spring really gets underway, we may well be feeling sluggish (yes), uninspired (yes), tired (yes) and a little overweight (umm...that too). Our workshop was just the remedy we needed.

Picture from Lilypodyoga.com

Ayurveda is to the body what yoga is to the mind. The Ayurvedic Yogi believes that our bodies are in need of as much love and attention as our spirits, in order to maintain full and healthy equilibrium. In order to meet your body's needs you must first discover your own natural dosha or constitution; Vata (predominantly air and space elements), Pitta (fire and water elements) or Kapha (earth and water). Whilst we all have a little of each type, and sometimes different parts of our bodies are predominantly different dosha, there is usually one which stands out. In order to maintain your natural doshic balance, different types are advised to make careful choices about what they eat and drink, as well as what they choose to put on their skin.

My dosha is predominantly Pitta but with quite a few Vata elements. My body type fell quite neatly into the Pitta type - average build, strong constitution, pale skin and prone to overheating; the Vata elements appeared to be linked more with my emotions - prone to anxiety and creativity in equal measure, occasional skin irritations or digestive problems when overwrought. In order to balance the overheating I should really be avoiding coffee, hot foods and alcohol and in order to balance the occasional dryness of my skin I should be using naturally nourishing ingredients such as milk powder, oatmeal and ground almonds.

We spent our morning in a long yoga session, then settled down together in Charlotta's kitchen for an Ayurvedic lunch. Our lesson was in the afternoon and we had the chance to make our doshic beauty products which really are good enough to eat; if you wouldn't put it in your mouth, don't put it on your skin.

The day was truely restorative. And today, the rain had gone. Spring has sprung and now, I am ready for it.