An Imaginary Life; Girl’s Gotta Do

   “I imagine………”

My Mom used to talk to me about the power of positive thinking – she was sort of a devotee of Norman Vincent Peale.  I imagine she employed this concept often in her life.   I doubt she ever had much time to decide whether the details of his doctrine made any sense or were otherwise controversial.  I guess she decided that, on the surface, this idea was a good one to employ.  I guess that I have been thinking about her a lot this past week – it was 7 years ago yesterday that she went to her great kitchen in heaven……   I imagine it’s a good time for me to try this idea out – I owe it to her, don’t I?  –  maybe with just  a little twist…..

Lots of people have imaginary lives, right?  Kids have imaginary friends. Psychologists actually think this is healthy.   Adults engage in all sorts of fantasies and imaginary thinking – some healthy, some not.  Whether or not mine is actually healthy is up for debate, but I think it’s basically benign.  For sure, it’s not exactly commonplace, at least I don’t think so.  But, a girl’s gotta do…….. What I am fantasizing about these days is physical beauty – but, it’s not the kind you’re thinking of,  and other sensory diversionary techniques.

Honestly, I don’t think there is anything wrong with trying to focus on the things which truly make you feel happy when you’re doing them, especially when the conditions out-of-doors aren’t cooperating – and you’re a person who’s entire being is influenced by the conditions out of doors.  I engaged in a Facebook chat today with my cousin, Carol who is in Costa Rica right now.  She’s posting beautiful pictures and making lots of people drool over them.  I commented to her what I know to be true:

“those of us who have evolved from Mediterranean cultures belong living in Mediterranean climates” AMEN.

Anyone care to argue with this proclamation?

Truth be told, I was hoping we would now be having a few days here and there where the temps would be hovering in the upper 40s or 50s and I could actually sit outside in the sun. (sort of signing on with my husband’s prognosticating about how by President’s Day it’s nice-thing)  Ha!  Again, the joke’s on me.  I engage in this fantasy thinking just about every day – like, well, maybe tomorrow, maybe next week, it might actually WARM UP!  Well, since there is actually no sign of this happening in the foreseeable future, I got to work on a couple of other coping mechanisms.  Either I can buy a plane ticket or I can try something else.

Ok, so you no one is interested in hearing me complain about the weather any longer, including me!   I literally can’t stand myself.  I’m going to bed tonight with the book, “Mood Cure” – after I re-watch Downton Abbey.  I’ve actually come to thinking that if I could watch successive episodes of Downton for the next 4-6 weeks or so, I could forget about what time of year it really is.  This series has the power to transport me elsewhere.  But, I digress.

Suffice it to say my carb situation, aka self-medicating with food thing went into high gear last week and is pretty much out of control – baked potatoes with sour cream, pasta, toast and jam, chocolate cake – UGH………  Tonight I’m trying a Mediterranean dinner – perhaps it’ll transport me to Taormina – where it was in the 60s today!

Today, I awoke determined to strategize some short-term relief mechanisms.   I decided I would do what I love to do – photograph life and color and all the things I do when it’s nice outside.  That is food, flowers, wildlife and natural beauty.  Granted, I’d kill right now to be on 7 mile beach in the Caymans!  Next best practical notion for this morning?  Drive to where I can feast on color and some live green things.

I’m not going to go down the road discussing other people’s fantasy lives.  Everyone is entitled to their own.  Mine might be a little out of the ordinary and even perceived as odd by some.  Like this morning…….”I imagined” a beautiful head of lettuce just picked and stuck into a pretty bowl, spanning the top like a fan.  “I imagined” I was outside on my patio in shorts and hands covered with dirt……

It’s too early to go to the Farm and ogle plants………. One thing led to another and  I got inspired by this idea. “I imagined” that if I drove over to Whole Foods where “I imagined” I’d find a riot of flowers, I’d buy myself some tulips, “imagine” I was at the Farmer’s Market (outdoors, of course)  and take pictures of all the beautiful produce.  “I imagined” that if I saw some beautiful GREEN things, it would make me feel better!  I did get some good shots, but I have to tell you, I thought the flower offerings were meager and the produce section underwhelming.  Seems like the cold and bad weather, not to mention the drought in California is affecting the offerings, even at the Green Grocer.  Considering we are due for another big storm on Wednesday/Thursday, I’d better get a big strategy ready for the whole week!  Actually, today felt a little better to me – was “I imagining” that?

Here’s what I did get:

   

   

     these made me feel a little bit better

I even saw some Heirloom Tomatoes  and “I imagined” for a second that they were local – but since I knew they came from somewhere far, far away, I didn’t shoot them.  Then, I found myself “imagining them” for the rest of the day.

   Chocolate Cake from Saturday – “I imagined” that if I made and ate this, I’d feel better…….hmmmmmmm

   this is definitely an “F” presentation cake in Pastry School but it tastes sooo good!

Sunrise on Saturday and it’s reflection in the window:

   

Yes, I was disappointed in the tulip selection I saw.  How I’d “imagined” I’d find some beautiful parrot tulips like the ones I saw at the Frick last month.  I must search some out.  They really would have cheered me up a lot.

I’m making Ina’s Roasted Pear and Applesauce right now and I used blood oranges – the fragrance is amazing!  “I imagined” I was in her beautiful barn, cooking with her and it was Summertime.  (Wish you were here – I’m on the other side of the house and I can smell this deliciousness!) 🙂

Tonight I’m roasting a Leg of Lamb and Asparagus…… “I’m imagining” it is Summer and I’m grilling outside……  perhaps if I cook a Summer Menu every night for awhile, it will magically turn to Springtime ………..  Considering I had to shovel the snow off the grill on Saturday night in order to get it to light, I guess that’s a little while off……..

Well, Girl’s Gotta Dream……. guess I’ll keep on “imagining” happy thoughts (like I’m at the beach) until they become real……….

thanks again, Mom! Miss you so much.  You were the best!