Pompei
Celebrate The Last Day of Winter
This has been my least favorite winter of all time. I’ve struggled with inconsistent weather, persistent and long power cuts, evacuating to escape the southern California fires, repeated admonitions by public figures that our democracy is in jeopardy, and the death of Kismet, my 15-year companion Border Collie.
In spite of that, the sun is shining today in Calabasas, and my eight-year-old granddaughter is coming to visit, so my heart is light. I am enjoying the daffodils blooming on my patio and looking forward to tomorrow, the first day of Spring.
And the First Day of Spring
But before that, how are YOU doing? Really, how are you doing? Nearly everyone I have talked to recently is having trouble sleeping, trouble focusing, trouble keeping up with household chores. It’s difficult to dig in to real life when the national and international news is so negative, so dark, so frightening. I tuned in to the local news this morning, mostly for the weather report, and stayed for the economic news (no, the Fed will probably not lower interest rates today). The economic reporter had some great advice for all of us:
“Don’t spend time worrying about things you can’t control,” she said. “Focus on what you CAN control.”
She was talking about the stock market, but her advice can be applied to our lives as well.
Recently a reader pointed out that my Landing Page, which you may never see if you just follow my blogs, but that is the first page visitors see when they click on www.marlenebumgarner.com, was terribly out of date. Ok – I can control that, so I spent an hour today reviewing the page and updating it. Which was two hours less than it took me to add an external account to my Chase credit card. That process was out of my control.
Another reader asked why I haven’t posted a recipe here for a while, nor explained why it is taking so long for the revision of my 1982 book, Organic Cooking for (not-so-organic) Mothers, to see the light of day. Unfortunately, I can’t hurry my publisher. But I CAN post a recipe.
Cream of Celery Soup
Cream of Celery Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- 4 cups celery, chopped
- 1 cup celery leaves, chopped
- 1 large onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 cup potatoes, scrubbed and chopped
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
- 1 - 2 tblsp coconut milk
Instructions
- Saute celery, celery leaves, onion and garlic until soft and translucent.
- Add potatoes, broth, salt, and pepper and stir.
- Bring to a boil, then lower to simmer for 30 minutes, or until the potatoes and celery are soft. (or close and lock the lid of your Instant Pot, select high pressure and set the timer for ten minutes. Release pressure using the natural release method).
- Use an electric hand mixer or blender to puree the soup, adding the coconut milk at the end. Can be served hot or cold.
What Else Can I Control?
I also say on my landing page that I will post photos from my travels in my blog/newsletter, and I haven’t done that for either my Ensenada cruise or Christmas in Sorrento, my December adventure with Road Scholar. Again, that is something I can control. You can look forward to a couple of pictures today, and a couple more in my next post.
Meanwhile, consider the economist’s advice: Don’t spend time worrying about things you can’t control. Focus on what you CAN control.
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Marlene Anne Bumgarner writes primarily about food, family, and traditions. Her 2020 memoir, Back to the Land in Silicon Valley, is about raising children, animals, and vegetables on a rural plot of land in the 1970s. Organic Cooking for (not-so-organic) Families will be out soon, and she’s working on an update to The Book of Whole Grains while also crafting a cozy mystery, Death on a Sunny Afternoon – a Harriet Palmer Mystery.
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Thank you, Marlene, for the reminder of celery soup. Funny, that used to be on the menu often when I was cooking with Husband #3…hmm, maybe #7. We loved it with grilled sandwiches of cheddar cheese and garden tomatoes slices in fresh, thick-sliced sourdough.
A.T. – I love the idea of pairing celery soup with grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches on sourdough!
I was very sorry to hear about the loss of your dear Kismet.
With the good feelings well already pretty depleted by world news, can only imagine that this must be taking a toll. But you still write! And so positively.
Thank you for your beautiful blog.
XOXO
Joyce,
Thank you for your kind thoughts. I miss Kismet every day, and writing is actually helpful.
Marlene
Nice blog! Will take your advice (about attitude, though the soup looks delicious!)
Smiles, Vivian
Thanks, Vivian!
Love the message here. I will try!
I’m so glad the message resonates with you, Rachel.