Creating

I've figured out what I want to do with my life. I know, I know, I'm a thirty-two year old woman and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up? It's a big decision. Some people are destined for a particular career or path and they know it from, you know ... birth. But, the rest of us struggle to figure it out, or in some cases just move along down the path letting the universe push us around. Well, my struggle is not completely over, but I do know that I want to "Create".

I know, I know, what the hell is that supposed to mean? Well, it means that I want to stop envying and start doing. If no financial windfall comes my way from doing what I want to do then so be it. And, again, what is it that I want to do when I grow up? Create? Well, I've always had a fascination with photography, writing, exploring, and more and more I'm enjoying cooking and gardening. I spent time this weekend chopping up veggies and using the stove to cook up a meal and I LOVED IT! I spent time putting together a selection of music to play at my wedding reception and loved it. I spent time editing photos and loved it. I want the space to grow a garden. I know I'll love it. My hands may get raw and my back may feel painful, but I want to use this body and brain that I have to create and produce not only things that please me, but things that nourish and inspire others.

You could say that I have been doing this all along. When you work in public service as I do you are destined to create opportunities for others. But, it's a machine. There is much creativity in the environment that I work in, but there is also much regulation.

I want freedom.

I NEED to create.

I'm nothing if I stay stagnant and allow the universe to tell me what to do.

Weekend Cooking

I have been on a cooking kick for the longest time. Sometimes I just like to gawk at the culinary creations of others, but in the past couple weeks I have really had the cooking bug. I bought The Pioneer Woman Cooks cookbook by Ree Drummond and I have been venturing into her world of Oklahoma ranch recipes. I've collected oodles and gobs of cookbooks and recipes over the years, but this one is definitely the epitome of country cooking. Last weekend I made the Pioneer Woman recipe for "Migas", a tex-mex version of eggs with veggies and tortillas. It was tasty. However, the breakfast potato recipe was the best.

For dinner and lunches this week I made my mothers recipe for vegetable soup. I change the recipe a bit every time I make it. I like to experiment with different ingredients, but somehow it always ends up tasting about the same. Yum!

I found another recipe for chicken salad that involved the use of curry. Alejandro wanted to try it so I made the salad for our lunches this week. On Monday I took it to work and ate half of the salad before I gave up. It was a blend of chicken, grapes, apple, almonds and a couple other ingredients including curry. The flavors of the salad were just too varied and didn't really jive with my stomach. I blame the curry for putting me over the edge. For some reason I have never been able to consume this Indian spice without having a slight heart palpitation or yuck reflex. The chicken salad is Alejandro's to eat.

We have so much laftover food from last weekend's cooking that I don't think we have much room left in the fridge for more. That won't stop me though. I want to cook! It's an adventure.