When all else fails, a Black woman writes about hair:)

Yup,

I haven't been blogging much lately. Twitter and Facebook have taken much of my Internet time. A trip to Puerto Rico for a month over the winter holidays diverted my focus. Details about my continued unemployment have also been a distraction. A few other obstacles have popped up- but going on would be TMI:)

I have been writing offline in bits and pieces with the nudging of writing workshops. Fragments are coming together.

I did submit a little comment about being happy to be nappy on MrsGrapevine's blog. The inspiration were "I love my Hair Sesame Street T-shirts." As a chocolate brown girl in the 60s I too had my issues about hair and how to wear it.

Here is the link, enjoy!

http://mrsgrapevine.com/2011/02/sesame-street-i-love-hair-t-shirt-daughters/

Big Mouth Recognition from Global Exchange...

Last week, I was recognized by Global Exchange, People to People Blog, Giving Thanks Series. The acknowledgment was for my social media work re social change and justice.

Glad to be called a big mouth!

http://www.globalexchange.org/blogs/peopletopeople/2010/11/17/giving-thanks-part-3-big-mouths-deserve-big-thanks/

How to Cure- free write from A Sea of Prompts

My writing instructor Stefanie Freele encouraged me to post this free-write. Blogger has been on the fritz all week. Glad I am finally able to post.

How to Cure

Thin your life neatly into short pieces. Keep some edges rough, some smooth. Season lightly with salty tears, pepper with wisdom. Toss in chopped hopes, filagreed dreams and secret wishes. Saute over a low flame. Let some pieces carmelize, others braise and a few soften. Lightly turn and spread over life rice. If a few pieces fall on the ground, no worries. There is always more to grow, to harvest to cook.

Remember it is good to save some in an open vessel to let the light and air keep it all fresh.

Eats well sometimes as snack, often as a meal. Great to nibble on after a long fast or a short nap.

Serves one well.

Enjoy!

Sonoma Scribes

Today I attended the first Meet-up for Sonoma County Scribes,http://www.meetup.com/Sonoma-County-Scribes/ in Santa Rosa. I met a group of interesting writers working in diverse genres. All had a passion for writing.

Some of us shared our writing. I shared two poems in progress. Also managed to scribble down more short lines in my "Print" and "Writing Journals."

Excited that I have found a new group of friends who love words.

My favorite writing teacher, Stefanie Freele,http://www.stefaniefreele.com/ sent out announcements for her next writing workshop in October in Healdsburg. Workshop is called "A Sea of Prompts." I am ready for more nudging and inspiration to write.

Next week, going to Redwood Writers http://www.redwoodwriters.org.

Recipes and more coming soon!

NaBloPoMo

Just found out that September is National Blog Posting Month http://www.nablopomo.com/ .
Also just noticed that my last blog posting was 7/15/10. Crap! Where does the time go?
I have been working on recipes, writing snips in my longhand journal and idea book (my writing teacher Stefanie Freele calls it a print book). Somehow nothing is getting onto my blog page.

Time to start... even if it is day 3:)

Oh Lawdy Mz Clawdy Apple Gingerbread

Here is my long awaited recipe- story to follow

I just made a batch this morning for Susan (where I housesat the last 8 days), my significant other MC Drummer (formerly known as Sweet Honey Man) and Boyd owner of Santa Rosa Bad Ass Coffee Company (twitter name SantaRosaBACC)

OH LAWDY MZ CLAWDY! Apple Gingerbread

Makes two loaf pans of the most chewy delicious sweet bread to hit your palate.

Ingredients

2 cups hand grated fresh apples
3 inches hand grated ginger root (approx 1/8- 1/4 cup)
3 large eggs
3/4 cup canola or walnut oil
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups unbleached flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Set oven to 325 F
Lightly oil/grease 2 loaf pans (I use spray canola or olive oil)

Grate ginger and apple- place in small bowl and mix- set aside

In another bowl beat eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla together set aside

In another bowl mix all dry ingredients- mix thoroughly! Add dry mixture to liquid mixture. Mix thoroughly. Add ginger and apple mixture to rest of ingredients- fold in but mix thoroughly.

Pour batter into two greased loaf pans. They will be about half full. Place loaf pans in center rack of oven. Cook for at least 45 minutes (some ovens take up to an hour). Bread is done when fork is clean when put into middle of bread. Take out of oven , cool on a rack.

Now get ready to say, Oh Lawdy Mz Clawdy! This bread makes a wonder breakfast bread- taste great with a bit of melted cheese or butter or jam. Cut it thicker to go with savory soups.

Eight Winds at Gale Force

C-c-changes happening. So much so I have been neglecting my blog.

In April, completed the Women's Initiative Simple Steps program. I now have a formal business plan for my start up- Indigo Lotus Navigators. Indigo Lotus Navigators is a integrative health navigation and advocacy program for children/adolescents with special mental health care needs, behavioral problems and learning differences.

Three weeks ago I had nasal septum reconstruction surgery to repair my nose broken by my son 18 months ago. It is a revelation to be able to breathe through both nostrils. I have much less facial pain and headache-still a bit due to recalcitrant sinuses. It was an inside job- I am not a MJ wannabe. My singing voice has come back- nice to have a voice without the froggy muco sound:) I am also in the middle of physical therapy for my silly back. Amazing how the pyriformis muscle can misbehave. It brings a whole new meaning to PITA. I hope to be back to Tai chi, Escrima and dancin' very soon.

I am back to writing my memoir cookbook and will start posting a few vignettes/recipes. Oh Lawdy Mz Clawdy Apple Gingerbread will be the first entry.

Been domicile deficient of late- currently housesitting and looking for new digs in Northern Sonoma County. I had two days of homelessness last week- slept in my car one night, a church shelter the next. Thank goodness for Episcopalians and wonderful friends of choice. I much prefer staying in a space without wheels where one can take an afternoon fiesta.

Not so short human is doing well at his residential school. Basketball continues to be his favorite sport. Lately telling me he wants to become an EMT and a chef like Bobby Flay.

Significant other becoming less significant- we shall see if Sweet Honey Man gets a clue:)

From Nichiren:

"Worthy persons deserve to be called so because they are not carried away by the eight winds: prosperity, decline, disgrace, honor, praise, censure, suffering, and pleasure. They are neither elated by prosperity nor grieved by decline. The heavenly gods will surely protect one who is unbending before the eight winds. But if you nurse an unreasonable grudge against your lord, they will not protect you, not for all your prayers." Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol 1 page 794