the only right thing

on a cold and windy day is soup. the left over from the cauliflower and leak soup with a few brussel sprouts and parmesan. at least if you ask me. the kids don't like soup. as in any soup. i cannot wrap my mind around that... how did that happen?

this soup was a spur-of-the-moment thing. cauliflower and the white part of the leak cooked with some water and tarragon leaves til it's all soft, then added the green parts of the leak and a bit of cream. taste with salt and pepper. and off course, you can add brussel sprouts if you're in to those like me.

it's almost as good as this one. and pretty perfect with this bread on the side.

happy sunday to you.

the beach, again

it was a beautiful day and we went to the beach all of us wearing more or less pj-like outfits. always makes the world so much better. the beach that is, but a day in pj isn't so bad either :)

J was a leopard. he's got a thing with animals. always had. and he's really good at imitating their moves. he can run full speed like a little lion, or whatever it is he is that day.

tomorrow starts a new week. let's have a good one, shall we?

outside :: inside

last night was stormy with thunder and rain. still this morning. i baked the bread and had some left-over cauliflower and leak soup for lunch. the sun came back and we went for a walk in the fields and the puddles with the boys. no ninjas on this little trip, but a spiderman and a batman. not sure what's up with the dressing up. maybe they are warming up to purim.

the sick ninja woke up from his fever sleep early evening yesterday and was all good. which was strange (high fever for 6 hours, then fresh as a fish, completely awake till we went to bed around 11pm), but awesome (well, because no sickness in the house is always awesome).

we've got two movies to choose between tonight. hangover II (yes, i really thought the first was funny. i'm that immature) and tree of life (which i'm really looking forward to - see i'm a little bit mature too).

i also asked our movie dealer for drive with ryan gosling and carey mulligan as well. that one i really look forward to see. the director is danish. in fact we went to high school together, but i can't brag that we were friends. i thought he was weird. well, he was. completely obsessed with horror and splatter movies. but i'm glad he turned his obsession into awesome film making.

one ninja down

got a call from the kindergarten teacher. one of my ninjas went down with a fever. picked them all and put one to bed. he's still sleeping, not too hot, but he definitely needs to rest and be spoiled.

did i tell you how much i love that tiny bracelet from dear friend in denmark? well, i love it. and those japanese rice paper fish i bought in paris. love them too (and you might think they hang in one of the boys' room.... but no, they're mine).

we have weekend now. and i ran 12k, cleaned the house, worked a bit and got a new washing machine installed (meaning i'm now working my way through mount ever-laundry-rest that piled up while waiting for new machine to arrive). all before the ninja called in sick, so now i can feel good about just being there.

hope you got around to do what you planned for too

getting started

i was about to write about starting a new year, plans, goals and all that. but then i just couldn't get my mind around it. truth is i feel a little exhausted emotionally. not sure why, cause i really didn't have anything special happening. it's just like i'm not ready to wrap my mind around it, to put my pen to the paper of that blank page that is a new year.

but still, i'm thinking about what i want to do this year. like running a marathon. still didn't make up my mind. my mind is full of things i might want to do, but i still need to make up my mind. which is to be honest always the case. it's just very up front right now, this beginning of the year.

i'm not much of a list maker. but i'm thinking i should make a list of things to get started on, figured out or changed. this year or whenever. they say if you put it down on paper you can stop worrying and move on. and that is what i need. to move right on and get started on twenty twelve.

something about food

i had such an amazing seafood meal with an old friend back in copenhagen. it made me long for more so new years eve D and i made seafood dinner. it was good, but not as good as i had hoped it would be. i will definitely go back to that place when in denmark again.

today has been a strange day. after i went running i felt so tired and heavy. i couldn't take a nap, as i had a schedule and for some reason ended up with the house full of kids all afternoon. but i feel like i was in a bit of a daze, disconnected. and tired. without really getting anything done, except feeling hungry and eating crappy unhealthy snacks all the time to keep me going. so much for a new and healthy diet...

nothing to do but start all over again tomorrow. so, a good night from me to you.

like, right now

i like the season. i like the colors, the gray tones mixed with colors of new beginnings. it's winter here, but here in the middle east it means colors of autumn that instantly mix with the green fresh tones of spring brought by the rain and the sun that is the middle eastern winter.

i like the beginning of the new, the freshness and the lightness of a new, blank page.

i like the quietness of home, the little moments in between when the i notice the light pouring through the windows.

i like the tastes and smell of the season, hot chai and already fading memories of last year.

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i'm thinking of things i wish to accomplish in the new year. dreaming of a marathon, a better diet to support this dream, more creativity and being in the moment. simplicity, coming to terms with certain things and follow up on what needs changing.