Widow's Endorphins: How Do You Like Your Eggs?

Widow's Endorphins: How Do You Like Your Eggs?: In this time of physical isolation, I've noticed many of my friends turning to storytelling, partly out of a need to entertain one ...

How Do You Like Your Eggs?

In this time of physical isolation, I've noticed many of my friends turning to storytelling, partly out of a need to entertain one another, and partly as a way to share and preserve family history. With everyone in the family at home, feeding the multitude is another preoccupation. Have you noticed how many of your friends are learning to bake bread?

Our fridges are fully stocked with eggs - a protein which has a much longer shelf life than meat, unless of course, the meat is frozen. This morning, while cracking open the most beautiful, richly coloured eggs for our breakfast, I couldn't help but laugh, thinking of my Grandma, who was such a fabulous cook, she could cook in her sleep!

Way back in the "olden days", before self defrosting refrigerators, people had to manually de-ice and scrape the freezer every two months. My Mum would boil a pot of water on the stove, and while she was waiting for it to boil, she'd remove all the frozen food from the freezer. Then, she'd hoist the heavy pot full of boiled water into the empty freezer compartment, close the freezer door, and wait for the great melting. It was a watery mess, which usually involved four kids sliding around on the kitchen floor, a mop, and numerous towels.

Years later, my Grandma - a creative genius - had the brilliant idea to use the electric kettle, and place it inside the freezer to work its magic. She sat down at the kitchen table...and R-E-L-A-X-E-D. She woke up in a steam bath! There was water all over the floor of her steamy kitchen. Even more shocking, the kettle had boiled dry. It not only melted the ice, it melted the industrial plastic lining of the freezer!

A few days later, she was preparing a meal, and took an egg from the fridge. She cracked it open, only to discover that it was hard boiled. She cracked open another one. Then, another one. She had hard boiled all of the eggs! Grandma is the only person I know, who could have hard boiled eggs in her refrigerator! She was also gifted with a sense of humour, which allowed her to see the chaotic world as sunny side up.

Many of my friends have been sharing how, during this time of self isolation, they are reading aloud to their children, and spouses. One of the best memories I have of Grandma living with us, was of her reading aloud to my friends and me, as we gathered around the kitchen table every day. My Mum was in hospital, recovering from a near fatal brain aneurysm. That Summer, Grandma started reading lighthearted books to us, "Please Don't Eat the Daisies", and a book by a Pacific Northwest writer, "The Egg and I". Just a chapter or two each day, and all was well with the world. May all be well in your world!

 Photographs Copyright of: Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Widow's Endorphins: Cocooning Butterflies

Widow's Endorphins: Cocooning Butterflies: All over the world, people are cocooning, waiting to emerge like butterflies, into a new dawn. For those of us blessed with great heal...

Cocooning Butterflies

All over the world, people are cocooning, waiting to emerge like butterflies, into a new dawn. For those of us blessed with great health, who are not essential workers, we are granted an introspective and creative time. There's been a shift in consciousness - a transformation.

The initial fear, panic, and climbing the walls over the COVID-19 virus, has given way to a quiet resolve to do our part to protect ourselves, and everyone around us, by self isolating for two weeks. We are not the heroic front line doctors, nurses and healthcare workers, pharmacists, and grocery store workers, putting their own lives at risk, each time they care for a person with the virus, or engage with a customer. Yet, with every mindful action we take - frequently washing our hands, standing six feet apart in the grocery store, staying home - we help ease their burden.With every action we take, we do not spread the virus.    

In our homes, connected via our phones and the internet, we are apart, and yet together, everyone sharing the same experience. With almost everyone home from work, and entertainment and sports venues, shopping malls and restaurants closed, families are rediscovering each other. Parents and children are playing board games, going for long walks, learning to bake bread, having family meals together, and sharing conversation. Children kinda like this virus thing.

Musicians have risen to angelic heights, gifting us with music and song. There's been an outpouring of soulful, joyful music from all around the world. I love the spontaneous "block parties" which have burst through open windows, and spilled out onto balconies in Italy, and Spain, and Canada. 

Here in Vancouver, we have held nightly ovations for front line healthcare workers. At 7 o'clock every night, people stand on their balconies and porches, and clap hands, shout, bang pots, ring cowbells, honk car horns, blow ship's horns, and even set off fireworks for the hospital workers. It's heartfelt and exuberant.

Have you noticed the collective shift in the conversation? People who may have been anxious about being isolated at home, are now talking about what kind of world they want to create. There's wisdom in this quote I found on Facebook, "in the rush to return to normal, use this time to consider what parts of normal are worth rushing back to."

    

When this is over, emerge from your cocoon, spread your wings, and fly like a butterfly! I've been creating new clothing collections, and adding to old collections (Monarch Butterfly, Monarch Butterfly Orange Flower, Monarch Butterfly Blue Sky, and Climbing the Walls). Here are a few butterfly inspired designs for lingering and lounging a little longer at home, heading into town, or flying away!  

All clothing, lingerie and totes are found here, in my Art of Where shop:
https://artofwhere.com/artists/ruth-adams-widow-s-endorphins-photographic-images-inc-/clothing
 

Photographs Copyright of: Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Widow's Endorphins: When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

Widow's Endorphins: When Irish Eyes Are Smiling: " Laughter is wine for the soul - laughter soft, or loud and deep, tinged through with seriousness - the hilarious declaration made...

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

"Laughter is wine for the soul - laughter soft, or loud and deep, tinged through with seriousness - the hilarious declaration made by man that life is worth living." Sean O'Casey

It's hard to imagine, a world without St. Patrick's Day parades and parties. The virus with the same name as a famous beer, has poured the Irish green beer down the sink this year. There'll be no pub parties, or street parties in Ireland, or anywhere. As one Manhattan Irishman mourned, it's like taking away our Christmas. You can't take away that Irish sense of humour. 

Paddy steps out of a bakery, and bumps into his buddy Mick. He says to Mick, "If you can guess how many doughnuts I have in this bag, you can have both." Mick laughs, and says, "Paddy, if it were raining soup, you'd be out here with a fork!"

If you're like me, you deal with stress through humour. In the words of Irish playwright, Sean O'Casey, the Irish (and I am half Irish), "treat a joke as something serious, and something serious, as a joke." It's not that we lack intelligence, compassion, reverence, or sensitivity, it's just that laughter helps get our breath back, after we've been punched in the gut. Being able to see things from another perspective, and being able to pull emotions out of a downward slide, are two great survival skills. 

It takes more than a couple of extra rolls of toilet paper and a cupboard filled with food, to keep nerves calm when everyone around you is talking about a worldwide pandemic. Who's really prepared for a crisis like this? Another O'Casey gem comes to mind, "all the world's a stage, and most of us are desperately unrehearsed."

Canada's Prime Minister and his wife have been in self isolation since last week, when it was confirmed that Sophie Gregoire Trudeau had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. With schools, recreation centres, entertainment centres, movie theatres, and restaurants all closing across Canada this week, many people are self isolating, because...what else are they going to do? Well...there is talk of a mini baby boom in about nine months (and the emergence of "quaranteens" in 2033). 

My favourite Facebook quote of the day, "actually, it's only quarantine if it comes from the Quarantine region of France; otherwise, it's just sparkling isolation." What a great way of describing it! I hope by day three, of a 14-day self-isolation course, everyone still feels sparkly!

While being in quarantine means staying indoors, those who are self-isolating can get out for fresh air, sunshine and exercise. If you can't take in the sunshine, take Vitamin D (recommended by the government of Canada). I swear by Oil of Oregano. I haven't had a cold or flu in three years! Most of all, wash your hands - frequently! 

I was reading about the latest trend, which is spreading globally. Rather than scaremongering, people are caremongering. At a time of social isolation, social media is a way to keep in touch with those who are isolated, and provide friends and strangers with food and supplies to get them through the days ahead.

Paddy says to Mick, "Where were you going, when I saw you coming back? I ran after you, but by the time, I'd caught up to you, you were gone." The very definition of a Dubliner's parade! In the absence of a St. Patrick's Day parade, the Irish have started an on-line parade of photos, jokes, stories, music and song...sort of a St. Patrick's Day party around the computer screen. We in Canada, call that a kitchen party!

Did you hear about Murphy? He lost one hundred dollars on the Melbourne Cup horse race. Poor dear, also lost another hundred on the television replay!

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Widow's Endorphins: March Forth

Widow's Endorphins: March Forth: March 4th! One of my favourite days of the year! It's a declaration! March 4th is the only day of the year, which when said aloud, i...

March Forth

March 4th! One of my favourite days of the year! It's a declaration! March 4th is the only day of the year, which when said aloud, in English, is a call to move forward - to get the job done!

Yes, in two months time, we'll all be channeling our inner Yoda's, and wishing one another well, saying, "May the fourth be with you." Some, will reply, "...and with you, as well." Today, however, is a complete statement in and of itself. March forth. Go forward. Take action.

For those of us who march to the beat of a different guitar (you can drum on a guitar), it's a day for boldness. Step into those Flamenco heels. toss your head back, and go for it.

Every risk I have ever taken, has been worth it. March 4th was the beginning of many of them. Transformation and transition are not always smooth. Sometimes, you have to stomp your heels, and clap your hands.     

Flamenco originated in Southern Spain's Andalusian region. Moors, from North Africa ruled the area from the 8th to 15th Centuries, bringing Arab Muslim culture, art and music to Spain. At first, Flamenco was simply voice, and the rhythmic clapping of hands. Dancing, and later - much later - guitars were added.  It wasn't until the late 1800's that the word Flamenco was used to describe the passionate music and dance.

     

These Oriental Lilies have filled home with their spicy fragrance for nearly two weeks! Of all the cut flowers, they are wildly sophisticated, and economical, too! Their scent fills a large room, yet, it's natural, and not as cloying as a chemical room fragrance.

They're wonderful to photograph! They're floral dancers, with so much movement in every curve of a petal, in every undulation of a leaf. I love their freckled faces!

Happy March 4th! Snap your fingers, and click your heels!

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.