We are halfway between spring equinox and summer solstice, a time traditionally considered to symbolize fertility. A time to be celebrated! A time for frolicking, dancing, and enjoying the sensual pleasures. Like luscious food.

If you’re inspired, wear clothes that make you feel beautiful. Yes, that means you men, too. Expose a little skin!

As always, RSVP for the address and so I know how many people to prepare for. More details below -

Food Mandala

Community event
Second Saturday with
The Cook Awakening
New Life Paleo Potluck
In some traditions this is the time of celebrating and inviting fertility – of the earth, our bodies, our passions, and our creativity. Let’s celebrate that! Bring food that makes you feel sexy and creative, or that reminds you of new life. I’ll be making chocolate. Think sensual and fun – artichokes and garlic butter, asparagus, avocado, honey, ginger, vanilla, wine, basil, eggs, rare steak… and feel free to dress the part, too!

Saturday, May 11th, 11 am – 2 pm
Fee: One potluck dish to share
Portland address given upon RSVP
Contact Durga for suggestions, no one turned away for lack of imagination
Durga@TheCookAwakening.com
503.422.8346

My mother has been on my mind a lot recently. Our birthdays are two days apart in early April, and last year she and I traveled from California to Oregon together on the day between our birthdays.

She loved flowers. I see the tulips blooming in our back yard and I remember her noticing them as she walked toward her little cottage for the first time that day. “Oooohh!” she said. “Look at them!” The blooms this year come from the same bulbs that lay hidden under the earth since then.
Read the rest of this entry »

Freshly harvested nettles – three bags full.

It’s been a long time since I posted – time to get back on the horse. In the interest of keeping it simple and therefore possible, this is just an announcement and some pretty pictures. More articles will be coming, as I can. Step by step, my energy is returning, matching the return of the light. And the flowers! The greenery!

Life is good.

And, the potlucks have been growing in so many ways – more regular potluckers, more fun, great conversations, and my older boy is even doing a little child care to keep the younglings occupied. I surprise myself by having a better time every month!
Read the rest of this entry »

My mother passed away on August 23rd. I know some of you may be wondering. I’m slowly coming out of a fog of grief and exhaustion. I know I’ll be writing more soon, but all I can seem to muster so far is a recipe. I’m so grateful for cooking, it’s very healing.

I’ve been trying to figure out a clever name for this, but “Caulummus”, or “Humiflower” don’t quite work for me. Actually, “Hummiflower” is kinda cute, but I don’t think anyone would know what I mean.

Kalamata-cauliflower hummus with garden picked tomato and lemon cucumbers

I wrote this post a few weeks ago, and am just now getting around to posting it. Things have changed rapidly here, and hospice is with us now, caring for my mom is what is looking like her last days. I’ll wrote more soon. Blessings.

I’m chronically self-sufficient. A bit of a control freak.

I talk a good talk, I know the drill—it takes a village. We can’t do it alone. I know it’s okay to ask for help, in fact, it’s important to! I practice it in small ways with my husband. (Sometimes.)

I’m getting better at saying no when I’m asked to do something that I know will push me over the edge into abject Stressville.

But, I haven’t really learned how to ask for help. It’s even hard for me to recognize when help is offered. I tend to give a reflexive, “No, thanks, I’m fine! I can handle it.”

In my last post I wrote about my mother moving here. She finally has a diagnosis of gastritis, duodenitis and esophageal constrictions (which were stretched successfully). That’s basically a lot of inflammation in her upper digestive tract. So, eating and drinking is not much fun for her. The good news is it’s not cancer. Although what’s going on at the other end of her digestion is still an unknown, she opted not to let anyone take a look. Which is her right.
Read the rest of this entry »

My 76-year-old mother moved to Oregon 3 months ago. It was time. She was handling the details of life adequately, but just barely. So, my husband and I decided to build her a little mother-in-law unit in our back yard.

And since then… aiyiyi! I’m hearing stories of acceleration like this from friends, from clients, and I’m experiencing it at home.

For some it’s happy things like a marriage and a new house. Another (few!) are having babies.

But for many the changes are harder. Deaths or illnesses. Old griefs deciding to surface now.

For me it’s a mixed bag.
Read the rest of this entry »