Tangerine beginnings and a recipe

The early morning skies, accompany a space that allows me to set my own direction. I love that. This picture is the view from my window, after the sun has risen, and the light is just beginning to paint the world into existence. I think It’s going to be a sunny blue-skied day today.

I thought I’d share some of my joy dots. I know I do this a lot, it’s because they are such a simple and effective way, of exercising the positive neural networks in the brain. This leads to those feel-good chemicals that make life enjoyable. The more you read, think about and write joy dots, the more powerful their effect. Perhaps you will share yours in the comments, so that we can benefit from reading each other’s.

Joy dots

Turquoise silk cushion

Empty breakfast bowl

Perfect blue sky

Washing machine humming

Sunlight on the ceiling

Old wooden apple crate

Tulips in the sun

Petals blowing in the wind

Green leaves against blue sky

Painting on my wall

Another thing I love is food. Simple ingredients with good tastes, and eating in rhythm with the seasons. Enjoying the excitement of what is about to be harvested, especially as we move into the new growth of spring. Wild garlic, asparagus and purple sprouting are the stars in the U.K. at the moment.

I made a simple soup that’s full of spring goodness. It was a spur of the moment thing and I didn’t make a note of exact quantities, but I thought I’d share it to show how easy it is, to cook simple tasty food without exact quantities.

Simple spring soup

Put about a tablespoon of good quality unsalted butter, in a heavy based pan on low. Slice some leek and add to the pan. As the leek is softening slice some asparagus, wild garlic and potato however you like. Add these to the pan. Saute for a minute or two, then add peas and stock, enough stock to let the vegetables simmer away for 10 minutes or so, until cooked. Finally season with good quality salt, black pepper and fresh lemon or lime juice. I added a dollop of ricotta then blended. I served with some of this pesto.

I’ve started to write some fall asleep stories for my clients. For those who are new to my posts, I’m a hypnotherapist and I help people who are navigating stress in their lives. Sleep is often effected by stress, so I thought I would record some fall asleep stories to help with this, drawing on my understanding of how the voice can be used to calm the brain.

The first series is for children and adults. So many of our children are stressed at the current time, helping their brains to relax as they sleep can support them. When adults are stressed, we also benefit from a simple innocent storyline.

The one I’m currently writing is called The Sam Series. I thought I’d share a little of the first episode with you in written form. Once I’ve understood how to use the recording equipment that arrived recently, I will pop up the whole of the first episode as a recording for you, so that you can soothe yourself to sleep.

The three dots indicate where to take a pause, to create a reading pace that soothes the brain.

The Sam Series — Tangerine beginnings

….When Sam gets up it’s early and silent, everyone is still asleep…only Sam and one of the cats are up. The cats name is Tiger, she stretches, arches her back, and yawns… then starts purring as she brushes past Sams legs…

When Sam was 6 this stripy cat came to stay, and Sam named her Tiger. A few months later Tiger gave birth to 3 kittens, and they all stayed.

On this morning of tangerine serenity…the kittens are still asleep, cozy in the kitchen, curled up by the warm stove.

Sometimes, in the evening, as Sam lies on one of the sofas in the attic room…looking through the skylight at the stars twinkling, Tiger lies across Sams tummy purring, and all the little kittens join her, lying across Sams tummy in neat little lines, all purring to different rhythms…Sams whole body filled with all the different purrs, somehow, all in balance…and soothing…Sometimes Sam will fall asleep like that.

This morning, Tiger is stretching her front legs, in the tree dappled tangerine morning sunlight, as the day gently…comes into being…It is like a painting when the paint hasn’t quite dried, and changes can happen, good changes…so many good things… can come into being…Sam knows that tiger, and the trees, and the dappled tangerine sunlight, are all ready to paint something really good…to weave some beauty that will deeply nourish…and relax…every moment of this, beautiful…day….

Till Sunday, warmest wishes,

Lucy x