Go Off Road Today

Inspired by one brave cook who went off road with a pair of calf's feet.

   This weekend I was flipping through an old cookbook and came across a recipe that both amazed me but also turned my stomach a bit.  Beyond my reactions to this slightly odd recipe, I was in awe.  In awe of the person who creatively came up with such a recipe.  Some brave soul said, why not, let's try this.  It may be out of the box, unusual, weird, unconventional, etc but what the heck, let's give it a try anyway.
 
     The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.  Trying something new, no matter how unconventional takes your life off road.  Off road is where there is fresh energy.  We need to go off road.

  Today, do something out of the blue, raise eye brows and shift your day.  Our lives are meant to be explored not set on auto pilot.  Go play- shock your friends, wear white after Labor Day.

If you are wondering what wild recipe got me going, read on...here it is word for word:

      Calf's Foot Jelly

A set of calf's feet:  Boil them in four quarts of water until reduced to two.  They should be simmered, not boiled.  Set the jelly away after being strained until the next day.  When the grease must be taken off carefully, and the jelly boiled with the juice and rind of three lemons, one pint of wine, a little cinnamon, a pint of sugar, and the whites and shells of four eggs for twenty minutes.  Then pour it into the jelly strainer and allow to drip without disturbance.

 Nebraska Pioneer Cookbook by Kay Graber

I told you!  After I got over my shock about this recipe, I thought, this is actually kind of healthy- a little like bone broth jelly.  Hummm, I don't think I'll try to make it but if given the opportunity, I would try it.  

Wishing you many days of sanity, off road adventures and living outside the box,

       Denise 

Walking into conversation

Sometimes you need to go off road.  My hubby, Dallas and I have discovered when we go out of our kitchen and into the woods our communication lights up and starts flowing.  After being married 26 years and in business for 25 years we have naturally developed patterns, habits, a sort of relationship dance.  This summer we got a new dance-a woodsy two step.

 A few years ago I got to travel to Iona, Scotland.  The folks on this little island had a great tradition.  They held tough or important conversations at what they called the crossroads.  That is literally what it was- two little dirt roads crossing. The wise residents would go to the crossroads to settle disputes, differences or come up with creative ideas.  They left their personal homes, their comfy chairs and went outside.  Standing in nature, fresh air - sometimes very fresh - they would talk on this neutral stetting until they came to some solution.  I remember thinking this was a brilliant idea but never thought to use it in my own life.

Fast forward to this summer, Dallas and I started going to the Dash Point State park to walk/run the trails.  A funny thing happened along the way...our chats started flowing.  We found our conversations got deeper, lighter, easier and more productive all with less effort.  Movement gets you unstuck- just like de-cluttering does.  Movement of any kind creates flow.  Gone are the meetings at the kitchen table, we are now outside, walking talkers.  

How great is this?  So if you find yourself needing to conduct a business meeting, solve the world's problems or just open up a new flow of communication with someone- take it to the woods, or to the beach!  

Yesterday afternoon, Dallas and I were on such a walking/jogging/talking journey.  Here is a picture Dallas took on our walk!  Maybe it is the beauty that makes conversation so easy...

Wishing you beauty and joy in your daily conversations, 

                                   Denise