Two photos and a poem about a train and a city…

7:25 
The Train was scheduled for 7:25am
I arrived early
The train was late
Really late
Two hours late
Finally we board, at various points
More than 200 souls
Passing through the state
New York
That’s where it pulls us
We ride
Then it stops
We ride
Then it stops
And so it goes
Eight hours turns to twelve
But finally
We arrive
Into the night, we are thrust
From our train cocoon
Into the New York night
Into the chaos that is New York City
Beautiful chaos
Divinely orchestrated chaos
The train was late
Really late
But I no longer remember

[more] Photos from a moving train…

So as mentioned in my previous post, I was out of town for the weekend. And I’ve posted similar photos as these in the past, but whenever I go the month is different and so is the weather and season, which of course changes the view. Sorry if you are growing tired of these views but I haven’t. Anyhow, they were taken from the window of a moving train (the top two were taken Friday and the below four were taken today). The train from Buffalo to NYC hugs first the Erie Canal and then turns south at Albany and follows the Hudson. Click any for a slightly larger view.

Urban Simplicity.

[more] Photos from a moving train…

So as mentioned in my previous post, I was out of town for the weekend. And I’ve posted similar photos as these in the past, but whenever I go the month is different and so is the weather and season, which of course changes the view. Sorry if you are growing tired of these views but I haven’t. Anyhow, they were taken from the window of a moving train (the top two were taken Friday and the below four were taken today). The train from Buffalo to NYC hugs first the Erie Canal and then turns south at Albany and follows the Hudson. Click any for a slightly larger view.


Urban Simplicity.

Sometimes this is all I want for dinner…

Rice-and-beans. Yup, one of my favorite meals. And like pasta (which is my other favorite) the variations are seemingly endless. I had been away for the past few days and had eaten in restaurants the entire time. So today–after an 8 hour train ride that stretched into 11 hrs–I was famished when I came home and all I wanted was comfort food. So this is what I made. I ate a big plate of it with an apple on the side (yum). The only difference between this and the basic recipe below is that in the recipe pictured I also added green bell pepper and a couple tablespoons of curry powder.

Brown Rice-and-Beans

 

Serves four

 

 

3 tablespoons olive oil

 

1 small onion, diced

 

2 cloves garlic, minced

 

1 cup brown rice

 

2 ½ cups broth

 

½ teaspoon salt

 

1 (15 oz.) can beans, rinsed

 

 

Heat the oil in a small sauce pot. Add the onion and sauté for a few minutes, then add the garlic and cook it for another minute or two. Stir in the rice, then the broth and salt. Bring to a boil then lower to a slow simmer. Cover the pot and simmer simmer the rice for about 30 minutes. Add the beans (just lay them on top of the rice; do not stir at this point). If it looks as if too much liquid has evaporated add more. Cover the pot and simmer for another 10 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat—leaving it covered—and allow it to rest for another 5 minutes or so. Remove the lid and gently fold in the beans.

Sometimes this is all I want for dinner…

Rice-and-beans. Yup, one of my favorite meals. And like pasta (which is my other favorite) the variations are seemingly endless. I had been away for the past few days and had eaten in restaurants the entire time. So today–after an 8 hour train ride that stretched into 11 hrs–I was famished when I came home and all I wanted was comfort food. So this is what I made. I ate a big plate of it with an apple on the side (yum). The only difference between this and the basic recipe below is that in the recipe pictured I also added green bell pepper and a couple tablespoons of curry powder.

Brown Rice-and-Beans

Serves four


3 tablespoons olive oil

1 small onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup brown rice

2 ½ cups broth

½ teaspoon salt

1 (15 oz.) can beans, rinsed

Heat the oil in a small sauce pot. Add the onion and sauté for a few minutes, then add the garlic and cook it for another minute or two. Stir in the rice, then the broth and salt. Bring to a boil then lower to a slow simmer. Cover the pot and simmer simmer the rice for about 30 minutes. Add the beans (just lay them on top of the rice; do not stir at this point). If it looks as if too much liquid has evaporated add more. Cover the pot and simmer for another 10 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat—leaving it covered—and allow it to rest for another 5 minutes or so. Remove the lid and gently fold in the beans.

The cardinal is back, and also a quick note…

Well, the cardinal is back…or at least he’s showing himself to me again. And he’s letting me get closer to him…I really think he knows or remembers me and knows that I mean no harm. I’m not sure where his mate has been though. Maybe she’s sitting on a nest of eggs. I also didn’t realize there was a spiritual significance to cardinals until someone mentioned this to me (but isn’t there a spiritual significance to everything). Anyhow, if you’re interested in seeing some of the info about them, click here or here.

I also wanted to mention that I will be away from my computer for the next four or five days so it will be a few days before I post again. Until then, Peace.

Urban Simplicity.

The cardinal is back, and also a quick note…

Well, the cardinal is back…or at least he’s showing himself to me again. And he’s letting me get closer to him…I really think he knows or remembers me and knows that I mean no harm. I’m not sure where his mate has been though. Maybe she’s sitting on a nest of eggs. I also didn’t realize there was a spiritual significance to cardinals until someone mentioned this to me (but isn’t there a spiritual significance to everything). Anyhow, if you’re interested in seeing some of the info about them, click here or here.

I also wanted to mention that I will be away from my computer for the next four or five days so it will be a few days before I post again. Until then, Peace.

Urban Simplicity.

Encore plus de neige

For some reason Mother Nature will not release her snowy grasp on much of our country this year. There has been talk of an impending storm for days and last night it was upgraded to a blizzard. Today the Governor declared Western NY under a state of emergency. So far we have well over a foot of new snow. It’s difficult to capture in the pictures the wind. I had to brace myself against trees or firmly plant my feet before trying to snap a photo. Today when there was a brief respite in the heavy snow I went to a local food store (which was closed) and took my camera. Shortly after taking these photos it started to snow so hard I could not see more than a city block ahead. But as ferocious as the weather can be, I still find it beautiful. And no, I was not on a bike.

Urban Simplicity.

Encore plus de neige

For some reason Mother Nature will not release her snowy grasp on much of our country this year. There has been talk of an impending storm for days and last night it was upgraded to a blizzard. Today the Governor declared Western NY under a state of emergency. So far we have well over a foot of new snow. It’s difficult to capture in the pictures the wind. I had to brace myself against trees or firmly plant my feet before trying to snap a photo. Today when there was a brief respite in the heavy snow I went to a local food store (which was closed) and took my camera. Shortly after taking these photos it started to snow so hard I could not see more than a city block ahead. But as ferocious as the weather can be, I still find it beautiful. And no, I was not on a bike.

Urban Simplicity.

Things that can be carried on a bike (#573), the view from my handlebars, and a brief comment…

 On the bike…groceries, sundries, dog food, a gym bag, and an order of moo shoo vegetables.

So the weather was just beautiful today and this evening…40F which feels like a heat wave after the past few months. And I was particularly enjoying this sunset as I rode (and pulled of to the side of the road to snap a photo) because the day after tomorrow we are supposed to get another foot of snow. Good thing I still have snow tires on my other bike.

Urban Simplicity.

Things that can be carried on a bike (#573), the view from my handlebars, and a brief comment…

 On the bike…groceries, sundries, dog food, a gym bag, and an order of moo shoo vegetables.

So the weather was just beautiful today and this evening…40F which feels like a heat wave after the past few months. And I was particularly enjoying this sunset as I rode (and pulled off to the side of the road to snap a photo) because the day after tomorrow we are supposed to get another foot of snow. Good thing I still have snow tires on my other bike.

Urban Simplicity.

Five Quotes and a Poem from Mary Oliver

Photo credit: Rachel Giese

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.”

“Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.”

“Listen–are you breathing just a little, and calling it a life?”

“Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable.”

When Death Comes, by Mary Oliver

When death comes
like the hungry bear in autumn
when death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse

to buy me, and snaps his purse shut;
when death comes
like the measle-pox;

when death comes
like an iceberg between the shoulder blades,

I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering;
what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?

And therefore I look upon everything
as a brotherhood and a sisterhood,
and I look upon time as no more than an idea,
and I consider eternity as another possibility,

and I think of each life as a flower, as common
as a field daisy, and as singular,

and each name a comfortable music in the mouth
tending as all music does, toward silence,

and each body a lion of courage, and something
precious to the earth.

When it’s over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was a bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

When it’s over, I don’t want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened
or full of argument.

I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.

More Five Quotes.

Urban Simplicity.

Five Quotes and a Poem from Mary Oliver

Photo credit: Rachel Giese


“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.”

“Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.”

“Listen–are you breathing just a little, and calling it a life?”

“Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable.”

When Death Comes, by Mary Oliver

When death comes
like the hungry bear in autumn
when death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse

to buy me, and snaps his purse shut;
when death comes
like the measle-pox;

when death comes
like an iceberg between the shoulder blades,

I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering;
what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?

And therefore I look upon everything
as a brotherhood and a sisterhood,
and I look upon time as no more than an idea,
and I consider eternity as another possibility,

and I think of each life as a flower, as common
as a field daisy, and as singular,

and each name a comfortable music in the mouth
tending as all music does, toward silence,

and each body a lion of courage, and something
precious to the earth.

When it’s over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was a bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

When it’s over, I don’t want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened
or full of argument.

I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.

More Five Quotes.
Urban Simplicity.

Seven is the lucky number…

This is one of my favorite loaves of bread and it is so easy to make. The beauty of it is that it only has seven ingredients, and–unlike most supermarket breads–all of the ingredients are easily recognizable and understandable. If you want to get real bare-bones you can pare this recipe down to just four ingredients (click here for that recipe) but with the addition of honey, olive oil, and gluten the yield is much more to my–and likely your–liking. Anyhow, the easy and delicious recipe is below.

100% Whole Wheat Bread

Makes 2 loaves

 

6 cups whole wheat flour, divided

 

2 tablespoons vital wheat gluten

 

3 cups water, divided

 

4 teaspoons instant yeast, divided

 

2 teaspoons kosher salt

 

1/4 cup olive oil

 

1/4 cup honey

 

 

Separate the ingredients in two bowls using this ratio: In one bowl combine 4 cups of flour, the vital wheat gluten, and 2 cups of water. Stir it just until combined; cover with plastic wrap and set aside. In a second bowl, combine the remaining 2 cups flour and 1 cup water and 2 teaspoons of yeast. Stir it just until combined; cover with plastic wrap and set aside. Allow the bowls to rest for at least an hour. After the ingredients have rested and have begun to ferment, combine the contents of both bowls to an upright mixer that is fitted with a dough hook. Also add the remaining ingredients: the salt, olive oil, honey, and remaining two teaspoons yeast. Knead the dough on medium speed for about 8 minutes, then cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for one hour. Transfer the dough to a work surface, cut it into two pieces, gently shape it into loaves, and place them either on a baking sheet or in loaf pans. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 45 minutes. Preheat an oven to 425F/218C. If making free-form loaves, slash them with a razor just before they go into the oven. Bake the bread for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on. As the bread bakes rotate the loaves in the oven once or twice to ensure even baking. Remove the bread from their pans and allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing.

 

Urban Simplicity.

Seven is the lucky number…

This is one of my favorite loaves of bread and it is so easy to make. The beauty of it is that it only has seven ingredients, and–unlike most supermarket breads–all of the ingredients are easily recognizable and understandable. If you want to get real bare-bones you can pare this recipe down to just four ingredients (click here for that recipe) but with the addition of honey, olive oil, and gluten the yield is much more to my–and likely your–liking. Anyhow, the easy and delicious recipe is below.

100% Whole Wheat Bread

Makes 2 loaves

6 cups whole wheat flour, divided

2 tablespoons vital wheat gluten

3 cups water, divided

4 teaspoons instant yeast, divided

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup honey


Separate the ingredients in two bowls using this ratio: In one bowl combine 4 cups of flour, the vital wheat gluten, and 2 cups of water. Stir it just until combined; cover with plastic wrap and set aside. In a second bowl, combine the remaining 2 cups flour and 1 cup water and 2 teaspoons of yeast. Stir it just until combined; cover with plastic wrap and set aside. Allow the bowls to rest for at least an hour. After the ingredients have rested and have begun to ferment, combine the contents of both bowls to an upright mixer that is fitted with a dough hook. Also add the remaining ingredients: the salt, olive oil, honey, and remaining two teaspoons yeast. Knead the dough on medium speed for about 8 minutes, then cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for one hour. Transfer the dough to a work surface, cut it into two pieces, gently shape it into loaves, and place them either on a baking sheet or in loaf pans. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 45 minutes. Preheat an oven to 425F/218C. If making free-form loaves, slash them with a razor just before they go into the oven. Bake the bread for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on. As the bread bakes rotate the loaves in the oven once or twice to ensure even baking. Remove the bread from their pans and allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing.

Urban Simplicity.