Bloom Within This Lonely Desert

To see your face again, resembling the warm radiant sun.

After a long, dark, cold and lonely winter, holding you in my arms again.

Soothes and heals my damaged heart.

Since you departed, my life became an empty arid desert.

But, now your here, and blooming in my lonely desert.

 

Winter Wildflowers and Desert Plains

A riot of color, revealing the plain as you drive the vast ways in the High Desert.

Vivid and broad, the landscape evolved, painted in hues of the flower. Viridian and gold, violet and blue, the dirt itself reflects a golden sun, sets off a contrast, a vision of hues, no other place on Earth. The California Golden Poppy, occupies the space as the everlasting colors transform, the majestic camouflage of winters embrace, defying the rules of the cold winter norm. Deprived of water, for the desert's their home,they challenge the grace of the source, emitting small buds against the parched loam, life's promise, a powerful force. Life will out, and new beginnings begun, a testament to hold in wonder, for winters drought, under our burning sun, cannot deter these flowers.

 The Parting Cup

Of all the money I ever had,

I spent it good company.

And, all the harm I have ever done,

Alas, it was none to, but me.

And all i have done, for lack of wit,

To memory now, I cannot recall.

So fill me the parting glass, 

Good night an joy to you all.

Of all the friends I have had,

They are sorry for my going away.

And, al the sweethearts that I have ever had,

They want me to stay one more day.

But, since it fell unto my lot,

That I should rise and you should stay.

I gently rise and I’ll softly call,

Good night and joy to you all.

THE GUEST HOUSE

 

This being human is a guest house.

Every morning a new arrival.

 

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

some momentary awareness comes

as an unexpected visitor.

 

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,

who violently sweep your house

empty of its furniture,

still, treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you out

for some new delight.

 

The dark thought, the shame, the malice.

Meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

 

Be grateful for whatever comes.

Because each has been sent

as a guide from beyond.

-- Jelaluddin Rumi,

  translation by Coleman Barks

 

When I think of Panama, this is what I see:

Blue skies, ocean, river and streams,
     The dark green jungle, fields, and plants,
          The heavy rains and dry season breeze,
               And big fluffy clouds,
                    and the ships that would slowly glide by.

Nothing remains sweeter to me

     Than the sound of being alone.

For there, I find solace and tranquility,

     Vanquishing my fears and doubts.

Emerging, like a butterfly from its cocoon,

     To face the sun's warmth, 

          And, humanity's embrace.

Dipped my brush into black water colored paint.

Shades of grey and black arced across the canvass.

Where are the colors `` the vibrant hues of life?

They remain inside of me.

Awaiting my return to clarity...

     to sanity...
          
          ...to calm.

He put the stars inside of me,
     I made the entire universe from his smile.

His caress grounded me within the earth,
     Connecting me to all living organisms within the soil.

I am, now, one with everything, and
     Everything, living or deceased, resides within me.

I am whole, and free.

Zhug – The Recipe (Yemenite Green Hot Sauce with Chili Peppers, Herbs and Oil)

Zhug is a spicy green hot sauce from Yemen made with chili peppers, fresh green herbs and lots of aromatic seasoning. Here is the recipe. Great as a finishing sauce or a condiment.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon ground black peppercorns

• ½ teaspoon cumin seeds

• ½ teaspoon coriander seeds

• ½ teaspoon cardamom seeds

• 1 cup loosely fermented cilantro

• 1 cup loosely packed parsley

• 5-6 serrano peppers chopped

• 4-5 jalapeno peppers chopped

• 4 cloves garlic crushed

• Juice from 1 lemon about 2-3 tablespoons

• ½ cup avocado oil

Instructions

1 Grind the peppercorns, cumin seeds, coriander seeds and cardamom seeds in a mortar and pestal into a coarse powder. Alternatively, start with powdered versions of these ingredients. Add them to a food processor along with the salt.

2 Add the remaining ingredients except for the olive oil to the food processor and pulse until the ingredients are chunky but combined.

3 Drizzle in the avocado oil and pulse/process until the oil is emulsified and the remaining sauce is thick and chunky.

4 Adjust for salt and use as needed.

Recipe Notes

Makes about 1.5 cups. 

Heat Level: Medium-Hot, because of the use of jalapeño and serrano peppers. Store your zhug in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep a couple weeks easily.