food & foto

ahh, i missed out on posting an autumn beer journal in 2021. oh well… you can see some samples on these blogs – usually my indulgences in the months of fall consist mostly of oktoberfest and brown ales.

and this post is a wee late, considering it’s already march! {yay spring!}

but anyway, here are a few of my favourite winter beers that i tend to enjoy and have explored between the months of december and february… mostly browns, porters, and stouts… many of which are rich in flavour and paired beautifully with notes of peanut butter, chocolate, and sometimes even hints of barrel-aged bourbon.

YES please!

what are some of your favourite winter beers?!

i hope y’all well and healthy and finding joy in the little things.

with all the changes happening for so many of us over the last almost 2 years, my green thumb has been turning slightly brown as of late. what i mean by that is, i have not had access to a regular garden setting in two seasons. {*gasp!*} which, as many of you that know me well truly understand, felt like a hole in my soul. nothing brings me more joy than getting my hands in the dirt, growing food, and being in touch with the earth – mind, body, and spirit.

this season, i plan to get back into the swing of things {see previous blog about my new plot!} and i have lots of exciting opportunities sprouting at this time. {see what i did there?!}

flashback to the only time i ever successfully grew cabbage… late fall of 2019. that seems like a lifetime ago. anyway, i’m planning to try to grow it again this year. probably in the fall versus the spring… but since i have so much space, one can never be sure what farmeraudrey will try 😉

happy new year, y’all!

it’s a numerology 6 year, and i feel good about that. i like things in triples and/or threes. 😀 also, the number 6 represents love, unity, creativity, health, consciousness, empathy, and completion. and we totally need more of all of those things in our world, don’t we?!

how’s the weather been where you are? here in the northeast, it’s been up and down and back and forth. we had some 60-degree days in december, and then we just recently had our first snowfall shortly after the holiday. admittedly, snow is still not my favourite, but i’m cool with the “hibernation mode” that winter offers.

at least once or sometimes twice a year, i try to do a little “cleanse” – as in intermittent fasting and eating predominately raw or steamed veggies and fruits, along with plenty of liquids, lots of yummy homemade soups and broths, little-to-no sweets, and zero caffeine or alcohol. i started doing this in 2012, and you can read all about my first experience here.

i have been saying to myself for months that i wanted to do a cleanse, but i simply wasn’t feeling motivated. around the holidays, people are always giving out cookies and candy and drinks and snacks and all the things. perhaps it’s a comfort thing, but it’s hard to deny myself much of anything during the holidays. although at one point {in 2012} i cleansed for like 27 days right in the middle of christmas. i honestly have no idea how i persevered through that – haha! anyway, i knew from experience that a big part of sticking with a cleanse is totally mental. i knew i had to have the right mindset, and i knew at some point i would get there, so i didn’t pressure myself too much. i just kept sort of waiting for the right moment when i just knew i was ready.

that moment arrived in unison with the new year, and i suddenly felt super inspired and motivated… and above all, ready to do it! honouring the new year and new beginnings, etc. seemed like a good collaboration and it just feels appropriate and synchronistic for me.

i usually try to cleanse for about 6 days. sometimes more, sometimes less… again, i try not to put a lot of pressure or stress into it because that will basically negate any other positive benefits. i tend to feel better overall and my head is clearer, etc. my skin looks better, my body trims down, and i tend to have a lot more energy in general when detoxing. one thing that was different for me this time around is that i didn’t have to give up coffee {mostly because i don’t drink it regularly anymore}, and so there has been less of a “detox” feeling {fatigue, headaches, etc.} that i have experienced in the past when doing this type of cleanse.

so, here is a little glimpse into what I’ve been experiencing this week.

thanks for reading 😉

i start each morning with warm lemon water and a green smoothie… usually with tons of fruit and spinach and healthy herbs…

in lei of coffee, i drink this stuff now… it’s super yummy and extra good for your liver and kidneys…

tons of fresh and steamed veggies… Continue reading →