Little Lights & Vegetable Soup

Someday I'll take care of myself. Maybe not today.

When Paul is worried about stuff, he can't sleep. He's got stuff to worry about. He woke me up in the middle of the night, asking me if I was okay. What a funny question. I love sleeping. Of course I am okay. Are you?

I wonder why Megan doesn't sleep with any covers on. She looks cold. Her legs peek out from underneath her cotton pants. It worries me, especially with winter coming.

I have the most odd spider bite on my side. Sometimes that happens out here in the mountains. It's not very comforting. Some spider's been crawling on you in your sleep.

I'm so shaky and jittery in the morning. My hands are not very steady. Maybe my body is still waking up. Maybe it's dehydrated. I should probably drink some water. Not right now.

I am getting my hair cut today.

I put oil in some of our food for dinner. It totally wasn't even worth it. No, it didn't even taste better. The kids didn't even like it. I won't be making that recipe again.

I need to go clean my kitchen. What relentless work. I am relentlessly cleaning my kitchen. That sounds very repetitive. Not very fun to read. Oh, well. My brain thought it.

Essie didn't finish her homework yesterday. But it was totally worth it. I am such a kid still. I don't like homework, and sometimes that rubs off on Essie. But we had fun.

This was our fun.

Alana is like a little light.

A glowing light we held in our hands, talked and cooed with. It was like holding a piece of heaven.

I wish she were mine.

Mother's aren't supposed to want more children. Squelching.

So many little hands want to touch. My children love this baby. But she is beautiful. She talks so much it makes me giggle. Do you want to hear me giggle?

Push play.



We get to have Alana today, too. I could have her every day. I know it wouldn't be right. She needs her Mommy. But I miss that light she brings into my home. My heart. It is tangible, almost. I never felt so much peace.

Did you know that it rained last night? I wish I could take a picture of the smell of rain for you. Take a big, long, drinking breath. You can smell it. Pine needles. Fresh rain. Wet earth. God is awake.

I get nervous about hair cuts. Petty little salons where girls walk around so made over they aren't even human anymore. No, I shouldn't say that. But they are so hard to talk to. Relate to. They are Moms too, I guess. Sometimes I am able to penetrate their marble shell. Sometimes they open up and tell me what is really going on in their hearts. Usually it is pain.

I have a lot of errands to run after my haircut. I don't like running around with freshly cut hair. It always feels wrong after someone else styles my hair.

That doesn't matter.

My blender is broken. Take that back to Costco. No yogurt yesterday at Trader Joe's. Check again today. If only I weren't so dependent on their delicious yogurt. Baking. Kids. No, don't bake your kids. That's not even funny!

Blatant questions from a woman at Trader Joe's. "Are these ALL your children?" Oh, no. Am I about to get it. "Yes." And then in a Dang, Girl! voice, "You look incredible!" I smiled too big. It showed. My excitement showed.

How do I even fit this recipe into this post?

It powered me yesterday. It powered Paul. Helped us survive when all the kids and I could think about was baby Alana. Did you know she is my namesake?

Her name is Alana Ashlee. I am still in disbelief about that. But when I let it sink in, it makes me giddy.

That didn't fit the recipe in very well.

But when you want to veg up.

When your feeling kinda' heavy. I suggest a good vegetable soup like this one. I wouldn't have been as happy yesterday without it.

Loves.

Hugs.

I should cook more out of this cookbook. It always makes me feel so healthy and energetic. Yes, I will cook more from this book.

Vegetable Soup
Modified from Mary McDougall's New Cookbook.

But you can shake it up however you want, and add whatever veg is in your fridge. I do did.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup water
1 large onion, chopped
1-3 cloves of garlic, crushed and chopped
1 cup cut celery
One 14 oz can diced tomatoes, with their liquid
2 quarts of water (if cooking on stovetop) (if using pressure cooker, 1 quart water)
2 tsp vegetable chicken-like base concentrate (totally optional, just adds flavor)
1 cup (about 4) coined carrots
2 cups coined zucchini (last time I used butternut squash, didn't have zucch.)
2 cups shredded cabbage
2-3 cups quartered and thinly sliced potatoes (I like gold potatoes, leave skins on)
1-2 cans beans (garbanzo and black are my favorite)
2 tsp. oregano
1 tsp basil
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup green beans (I left these out)
1 package frozen, chopped spinach, or 3 large handfuls of chopped, fresh spinach

Directions:

Place the 1/4 cup water in a large soup pot. Add the onion, garlic, and celery. Cook, stirring, over medium high heat for five minutes.

Add the carrot, zucchini (or butternut squash), potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, spices and beans. Add the water and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes. You can add cooked pasta at this point, if you want. I don't.

Add the frozen vegetables (if using fresh spinach, wait to add until next step). Bring to a boil and simmer, uncovered, for about 15 minutes. Stir in the fresh, chopped spinach.

Or if you are like me, throw it all in an electric pressure cooker, on high, for 8 minutes, and then eat about two massive bowls of it. Yummy. Filling.