Meditation

Lake Superior

I am in the middle of a 21-day Meditation Challenge.  A friend told me about this online guided meditation sponsored by the Chopra Center and suggested it is best if you participate with someone to share the experience.   I have truly enjoyed the practice.  I wake up each day looking forward to my "quiet spot" on the porch.  Comfortably sitting on my my fern print pillow in the summer breeze -  the world melts away for twenty minutes.

The experience has been relaxing.  It has been spiritual.  It has been thought provoking.

I truly like the idea of beginning my day with intention.  It brings focus.  One of the more challenging thoughts so far has been the idea of suspending judgement.  I feel I have become less judgemental over the years, and most would probably say I am a positive person -  but one of the meditations brought me to thinking of sending "love and understanding" when I catch myself judging (=negative thought.)  Suddenly I noticed I was judging alot.  Soon I found that sending these mental valentines really did make me feel different.  Better.  It worked.

If you are not up for 21 days or are already a master, you might enjoy the individual guided meditations also found on the Chopra center website.

Peach Cake

It's August, and that means it is time to celebrate meteor showers, the last days of summer vacation and Colorado Peaches!

If you missed it last time, make sure and check out the Whole Peach Pie Recipe posted last September  - it is the BEST!  I would have to say this peach cake from my mom easily ranks second of all peach recipes.  When I first saw it, based on the ingredients alone I couldn't image why the cake was special - but it is.  The sour cream and cinnamon must be the secret.

1 c butter
2 c sugar
4 eggs
2 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 c sour cream
2 tsp vanilla
6-8 peaches - peeled and sliced
1 tsp cinnamon with 1 tsp sugar

Cream the butter and sugar, add eggs one at a time.  Sift the dry ingredients and add alternately with the sour cream and vanilla.  Mix but do not beat.  Spoon in to a greased 9x13 pan.  Top with peaches and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.  Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes.  This cake astes great with a bit of whipped cream on top.

I am thinking of other peach recipes that might be good - peach salsa???  If a good peach recipe - send it my way!

The Best of Red Wing..So Far

We have hit the two month mark.  I can say that calling Red Wing home has come easily.  Our house is beautiful.  Living on the edge of downtown makes it possible to walk everywhere.  Our neighbors are friendly.

For what it is worth, here is my take in the best of Red Wing:

Antiques - I tend to like shops with more furniture but the Pottery Place Antiques (three floors, more then a hundred vendors) is simply amazing.  There was so much though, I was overwhelmed and didn't get a thing.
Bread - Hands down Jenny Lind Bakery has the best baked goods and I think the top lunch in town.
Eating out?  -   I have already mentioned Jenny Lind for breakfast or lunch.  If a nice dinner is in mind, it is worth the half hour drive along Lake Pepin to the Harbor View Restaurant in Pepin WI.  I haven't tried it yet but I hear the Pizza Farm in Stockholm on Tuesdays is worth the wait.
Front porch - I can't explain it, but there is something so peaceful sitting on the front porch.  I have lived on beautiful lakes and been able to walk the beach of lake Michigan from my front doors - a porch isn't quite the same but I find the same peace.  I have been meditating on the porch most mornings - I guess it is my new temple!
Groceries - Buckanen's is a fab grocery store with fresh salmon and more, New French Bakery baguette, fine condiments and cheese, filo, and they even ordered my favorite Greek God's yogurt for me.  Add to that a delightful Farmers Market on Saturday morning and vendors on the street every day of the week and we are eating well.  The Riverbend Food Co-op is opening this fall.
Music, music, music - We have free concerts in the park on  summer Wednesdays.  The 100+ year old Sheldon Auditorium has a variety of concerts fall, winter and spring.  Hobgoblin Music is just ten minutes down the road and has amazing folk concerts along with a barn full of stringed instruments.  Just a half hour away in Zumbrota, The Crossings at Carnegie is a impressive art center with items for sale, classes and amazingly well known artists in concert each week.
Trails - We have three favorites.  I love the three mile loop uphill walk along East Avenue into Oakwood Cemetery with it's beautiful Oak Trees.  I can't believe I had never been up Barns Bluff as it is a pleasing goat prairie overlooking the Mississippi - a gradual mile-and-a-half uphill loop.  The Cannon River Trail is a flat 20 or 40 mile round trip bike ride from Red Wing, graced with Trout Scream Cafe (read: good ice cream) at the 10 mile mark in Welch.  I can't wait to see how the cross country skiing is.  We already have downhill ski passes for Welch Village.
Urbanity - Give me an hour and I can be at the Minneapolis airport, Trader Joe's or most any other shopping experience in Minneapolis/St Paul.  And no worries, Red Wing has a Target, so one needn't spend a whole day shopping for basics.
Well Being - There are two Aveda salons and I was pretty pleased with the services at Indigo.  I had a fantastic Shiatsu massage at Body Kneads and I look forward to Yoga classes this fall.  The YMCA has alot to offer as well.

I will try to begin posting a little more frequently - and follow up with photos and details of the places mentioned above.  Moving always makes one hold their breath a bit.  I am beginning to exhale.