For awhile I put off writing on here because, well, life happens. But, honestly, the last 4-6 months have been out of sheer embarrassment that it had been so long and had no idea how to start writing on here again. What is there to say that would be that monumental? Well, nothing that big has happened; life has continued in its normal course.
So here I am. To sum up my life: last year was very difficult. I suffered from a really weak immune system and was getting sick every three weeks on average--even got shingles! I was also exhausted and just generally worn out. Because of this, I got over-medicated and at one point was taking four prescription drugs at the same time, which made me feel even worse. And, then I discovered on my own that what I really had was a vitamin deficiency and once I dropped the drugs and took a good multi-vitamin, I was fine. The upside of all this, is I've really been pro-active about my own health and have really gotten into eating really nutritionally dense food (like the roasted beet and kale salad I made the other day). But, the whole thing has made me a bit wary of our medical system. I wish there was more of a balance between natural medicine and scientific medicine.
Other than that, things are good. We are half-way through remodeling our kitchen. Whew! (We got an Aga stove, with 6 gas burners and 4 electric smallerish ovens--it's amazing and will be really nice for retreats--and it's green and cute!) The garden, after being cleaned up yesterday (stupid grass patch!), looks decent. So far we've grown lettuce, peas, swiss chard, rhubarb, asparagus, and tomatoes. In a few weeks, I'll plant brussels sprouts. I also planted red currant bushes and maybe this Saturday will get plants for divine black raspberry plants. Blueberries are ripening like crazy on our bushes. I still love cooking and am most proud when 90% of our meal comes from local ingredients. I've been knitting like crazy too. Apparently every one I know got knocked up this year, so there's a whole list of baby sweaters to be made. Fortunately, baby sweaters are kind of instant-gratification. Quickly a pile of yarn turns into a real-live sweater. And someday a cute little baby will be wearing it--that part is fun too!
We're up almost up to the 1960's in our history of film thing we've been doing. Alfred Hitchcock is amazing, but then, you probably already knew that.
Most of all, in the last week or so, I've been meditating on D.H. Lawrence's
A Propos to Lady Chatterley's Lover (kind of like an introduction to the work). I can't get over his words on sacraments. It's about 20 pages, and you can read it apart from the book. It is amazing. Sometimes I need remindes to reflect on holiness. But slowly, it is becoming a part of the hours, days, seasons. It is June and everything is just so alive and I can't help but marvel at how amazing that is. It doesn't quite matter where we are, there is no getting away from these cosmic rhythems of time and we all experience them together. I like that. Somehow, it makes God and the Body feel that much nearer.
Comments (4)
Hey Kara, it's good to hear from you on this thing. I've got a friend in Chicago and another in Minnesota, and I keep dreaming of a road trip to visit them and then further to visit you and Brad. someday...
What's a good multi-vitamin? My summer has been kinda similar to your last year, so maybe i should be doing the same.
Anyway, good to hear that you are doing well. "
Cheers,
Steve
Kara!
I'm almost never on here anymore, but I'm happy to see that you wrote. I'm jealous of your garden - I'm growing three tomato plants, mint, parsley and basil, but they are all growing out of their planters. And we only have brick/concrete in our back "yard". Oh well. You like Brussel Sprouts?! Sorry to hear about your Year of Ailments.....I often dream about natural and mainstream medicine converging. I'm slowly taking pre-requisite science courses for the option of going to Physician's Assistant school. So maybe one day I will be able to recommend, with authority, a multi-vitamin!
Well, it's crazy to think of how long it's been since seeing you. The next time you do an East-Coast visit or something, maybe I'll get to see you too!
love, charis
p.s. I wish you were here to teach me how to knit the baby sweaters...everyone really really IS having babies and I don't know how to knit!
Wow, I think it's been two years since I got on xanga.
And Kara, your post is where I ended up.
As always, a pleasure reading your thoughts.
Would enjoy sitting in your being-remodeled kitchen with tea to talk about them. (your thoughts, that is)
No baby here. ;)
Have a lovely July 23rd.
this is a xanga phenomenon. like we were all drawn by some deep magnetic power to return. it's pretty cool. kara, i love that you are harvesting blueberries. and i am going to have to finally read lady chatterly's lover.