Yesterday we had lunch again at my new favorite restaurant, Mangetout, pictured above. I had Potato, White Bean & Swiss Chard Soup (yummy!) and Tim was pleased with his Tempeh Reuben Wrap.
Two years ago today I started writing this blog. To mark the occasion I’ve adopted still another new theme, Twenty Eleven, and installed a new and improved email subscription widget, in case any readers are still not receiving notifications. Keeping my fingers crossed! I’ve been self-hosting since September with lots of assistance from my computer wizard son, Nate, even though he moved a thousand miles away from me in November.
This winter has been a no-show. After last winter’s record snowfalls I’m not sure if I’m relieved or disappointed…
Make your own Bible. Select and Collect all those words and sentences that in all your reading have been to you like the blast of trumpet…
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
(Journal, July 1836)
The past year I’ve been concentrating more on ‘making my own bible’ here. I love posting words that have been ‘like the blast of a trumpet’ to me, and then reading all the delightful comments my friends leave about how they were inspired by or disagreed with the sentences I’ve chosen on any given day.
But I’m itching to get out on more nature walks soon, to see what I can do with our new camera!
I finally got all of the data transferred from my old family history site to Rodgers Family History – that was a big project. The site is now buzzing with activity and distant cousins as far away as Australia have found us and connected with us. It’s wonderful!
(Jeff Child/Rudy Arias)
Another big change this past year has been our becoming a vegan household and me finally learning to enjoy cooking.
Didn’t see that one coming!
She runs up into the light surprised
Her arms are opened
Her mind’s eye is
Seeing things from a better side than most can dream
~ Dave Matthews
♫ (Best of What’s Around) ♫
This picture of Dave Matthews was taken at a concert I went to with Fran in Virginia in 2006. Thankfully we were under the pavilion roof – there was a tremendous thunderstorm and the driven rain reached us 35 seats in from the edge! The folks on the lawn were soaked to the skin.
I cannot believe that was almost six years ago! Before all the heart attacks, falls, broken hips, femurs and ribs, diabetes, biopsies, dementia, diverticulitis, hypertension, osteomalacia and outrageously expensive prescriptions… Phew! Let’s hope the new diet, walking, and careful sunbathing brings an end to most, if not all, of these problems.
Haven’t been to Dave Matthews Band concerts recently and am missing the spiritual high. But I’ve seen a couple shows streaming online and one once in a movie theater – much more comfortable than fighting the rowdy crowds and jammed parking lots. Still, while the music is playing live under the stars and the words are floating through my very being… there’s nothing quite like being there.
CONGRATULATIONS on your two-year milestone!
LOVE the new look!
APPRECIATE the new subscription widget because I receive notifications!
Thank you, Laurie! And I’m so glad the subscription widget is working! 🙂
Way to go, Barbara! Two years now! Can you imagine how fast time passes? Wonder what we’ll be doing two years from now. I love that you’re eating a mostly-vegan diet and learning to cook it. I am always envious–in a good way–when you share the restaurants and meals you get to sample. Lucky you.
Time does seem to be speeding by us, and life keeps happening…
I did a search at Happy Cow for a vegan or vegetarian restaurant near you and came up with nothing! 🙁 You have my sympathy. There is a growing market for vegetarian restaurants, though, so maybe one will come your way soon.
As for Mangetout, it will have to find a bigger place soon. There is only enough seating for 12 people and when we went on Saturday we were lucky to get the last two seats. Definitely a market for more!
Who says things slow down as you get older?!?
As for a DMB concert, I suggest you get a move on before all the tickets are gone!
Mansfield, MA: June 5 & 6 — Saratoga Springs, NY: June 8 & 9
Are you free any of those dates? Tickets on sale March 9!
Congratulations on your two years! Awesome!
Much of that I have been part of, and I am grateful for your presence… you have informed, and inspired me…
Thank you, Jeff! I am grateful for your presence, too, and hope you will remain an inspiring part of my world for many years to come…
Hi,
Congrats on your 2 years blogging, that is great. I have really enjoyed your posts since I have been coming to your blog, and always enjoy the great pictures/photos that you share. 🙂
Thank you, Mags! I know I can always count on a visit from you and very much appreciate your thoughtful, honest comments. 🙂
Congratulations, Barbara! I hope to be celebrating my 2nd this May, though life has cramped my blogging style. Love the new look, and, speaking of looks, I love the walls of Mangetout! I don’t know how much vegan food he’s blogged about in his neck of the woods in CT, but it just occurred to me that you might find my friend Thomas’ blog interesting: http://mofongoman.blogspot.com/
Thank you, AA!
I took a look at your friends blog and he has two vegan restaurants in Connecticut reviewed. One of them is It’s Only Natural Restaurant in Middletown, which is 45 minutes away from us. We’ve actually eaten there a few times when Tim’s brother used to live in Middletown. Wish we had an excuse to go there more often!
http://www.ionrestaurant.com/
I’ve never been to this restaurant, though I’ve heard it’s very good (my children were born at Middlesex!). I bet you’ve been to Claire’s Corner Copia in New Haven – yum!
Thanks for the tip! Never heard of Claire’s Corner Copia before, but we will be in New Haven to pick something up at IKEA this weekend, so we will see if the GPS can get us there to try it out! 🙂
I love how you embrace life with so much joy, enthusiasm and positivity. Like the music you enjoy, your words inspire us all. Beautiful post. Happy Valentine’s Day….wishing you all the love and happiness my friend.
Thank you, my friend, for your kind words and well wishes!
Congratulations Barbara! I am very grateful for the lovely, always inspiring space you have created here. It’s meant a lot, to be able to come and spend a few peaceful moments. Much appreciation for what you do here and for you.
Thank you, Colleen! I appreciate your visits here, and on Facebook, too… 🙂
Congrats Barbara on the 2 years of your great blog! It’s always inspiring to visit, here’s to another 2 years!
Thank you, Tracy!! Looking forward to the next two years of your blog, too!
“Make your own bible”…I live that. Ralph Waldo Emerson is one of my favourite ‘quotees’, but I haven’t read that one before.
Isn’t family history a door-opener? It’s fantastic when you make contact with distant cousins. It’s happened a few times for me too and I constantly thank the world wide web for bringing the world so much closer. 🙂
Joanne, your comment sent me off check on the Emerson reference. Whenever I use a quote I find outside of my own readings I try to find a source for it in a book, but sometimes books can attribute a quote incorrectly and the error is passed on. I went to Google’s book search and found this quote in slightly different words in a book called *Heart of Emerson’s Journals.* It looks as if Emerson wrote this in his journal on July 21, 1836:
“Make your own Bible. Select and collect all the words and sentences that in all your readings have been to you like the blast of triumph out of Shakespeare, Seneca, Moses, John, and Paul.”
So there we have it! 😉
I am grateful to the world wide web for bringing the world so much closer, too. A noble, connecting, use of technological tools!
Congratulations Barbara! I’m lighting a candle on your vegan cake at this very moment! Ha! Ha! Seriously though, I think that’s terrific. I wish you continued success. Also, I just love your picture of the Mangetout Organic Cafe! The decor looks great and the food must be awesome. By the way, I have been camped out at your blog tonight. I needed to catch up with reading your posts, and I’m sure glad that I did. Thanks for a wonderful evening/night my friend. Best wishes to you and your family!
Thank you, Donna! I’m hoping that vegan cake is gluten-free as well – sheesh – so many diet peculiarities to accommodate, but it’s worth all the fuss to feel better spiritually and physically.
I’m tickled pink and feeling SO lucky to have Mangetout so nearby, where I can indulge in local gluten-free vegan organic selections that taste amazing! I love the idea of eating what is fresh and in season. They’re going to have to expand as there is only seating for 12 people and it is full on the weekends. I suspect there is a growing market for this kind of restaurant.
So happy you enjoyed your visit here – I always appreciate your comments whenever they arrive!