The Gift of Abundance

September is a strange month. So often, as this year, it begins with the promise of endless warmth only to change its mind mid-way and shift abruptly into the cool, damp days of autumn. It has an air of melancholy about it: grieving the loss of summer and filled with foreboding for the harsh months to come. Yet, like a capricious god, it takes pity and leaves us the gift of abundance.

Even while so many plants and trees are retreating and paling into their autumn hues, the garden is filled with produce. Apples continue to ripen and grow as do squashes and corn and spinach and chard. The exuberant rocket carries on colonising every inch of earth not already taken and there are still raspberries and tiny, wild strawberries to be had. This month’s generosity always makes me glad. Despite the fact that the supermarket has everything I need, some primal part of me loves to see the harvest in and to preserve as much of it as I can for the rest of the year.

Apples

Cookers! Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Like last year, I am awash with apples. (My beautiful crop of pears were all eaten by the squirrels.) I’ve picked all the eaters. What aren’t consumed are being dried for snacking. My cookers continually drop from the tree. I seldom pick them, since I can scarcely keep up with the ones I have. Two trugfuls have been prepared and stewed and put in the freezer. Several more await the same fate, but I must also get on with my apple vinegar and perhaps some fruit leathers.

Greens

Managing my greens has also become a race against time. It goes against every fibre of my being to waste them, yet there is a limit to how much one can eat. Both the spinach and rainbow chard have become like plants from the Jurrassic period – positively gargantuan. A trug of spinach is cooked and frozen and much more needs to be attended to. Unlike supermarket vegetables, they need a lot of washing and inspecting for tiny snails. I do not care for any extra protein.

Rocket does exactly what its name suggests and bursts through everywhere. (We’ve even found some in the front lawn!) But I love it and going to pick one’s salad is a real pleasure. As some of the rocket goes to seed, we are rewarded by their gorgeous flowers: a colourful addition to any salad giving a lovely, peppery hit.

Providing a touch of sunshine to salads Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

The herb garden

My herb patch is looking a rather bare and forlorn at the moment. Something has eaten my lovely dill flowers and my mint has struggled in the dry weather. Sage, lavender, bay and rosemary continue unabashed and usually merge into next year’s crop. Since they are truly perennial, I need do nothing. What I have done is harvest my marjoram while the flowers are still pretty. It dries really well and once truly desiccated will be stripped from the stems and stored in jars. It makes a delightful herb addition to so many dishes and the hints of purple flowers always makes me smile.

Marjoram drying in the sun Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

This year, I have also dried mint and lemon balm to make tea. Let’s hope that it tastes as good as it smells.

Soft fruits

Unlike those superb gardeners who have bushes groaning with soft fruits, my attempts are rather more amateur. Just as my very healthy crop of blackcurrants ripened perfectly, they were decimated by pigeons or squirrels or both! My gooseberries made no effort at all. My raspberries have been a joy though. There are never many fruits – but enough for a little snack and added sustenance as I try (and fail) to get rid of the omnipresent bindweed. My tiny, wild strawberries are doing well too and I love searching for the fairy-sized fruits, which though tiny, are packed with flavour. I am hoping they will spread like the rocket – with sweeter results!

Looking ahead

With the days shortening, it is time to look ahead to planning next year’s garden. After our new fence was installed, I realised that the bed adjoining it is going to need some attention. Tall blooms like foxglove, hollyhocks and wall flowers are planned. Perhaps I will think of some slender shrubs (it’s a very narrow bed) to join them.

Despite the ravages of the hungry birds, the sunflowers gave me plenty seed for next year. Though on a friend’s advice, I shall plant them out the front to nod amiably at the passers-by.

The vegetables will need to be rotated and those that failed to thrive supplanted by the ones more forgiving of my inexpert gardening. The fruit bushes will need pruning and the fruit trees given a little tidying. But these are jobs for another day. Today, I made a spiced apple cake (thank you Lys for the brilliant recipe) and put a few more apples to good use. I plan to make more as we move into darker, colder days. And what better way to celebrate the bounty of September than in cake?

No Access

Travelling with disabilities is a far cry from the care-free exploring I was able to do as a younger person. There is no doing star jumps on the beach like you see in the adverts (obviously); or setting off at the last minute because of a special offer; or simply because you feel the urge. Even though I am fortunate to have only the mildest of disabilities, any form of travel feels more like organising military manoeuvres than taking a break.

No access Image: Kyle Glenn on Unsplash

That said, my thirst to see all the world has to offer has not abated. My dream of spending time on a lake in Sweden has yet to be fulfilled and, with both children Stateside, a few more trips there are inevitable. Those of you who read my last blog know that we had a brilliant visit to the Highlands. We saw and experienced so much and truly cherished the kindness and hospitality we were given. However, I realised that it was a Facebook edition and didn’t really tell the whole story. Within that wonderful holiday were endless frustrations and hurdles to be crossed and for the sake of honesty, I would like to clarify that here.

The best laid plans

If you are planning to travel with any mobility issues or other health concerns, being prepared is absolutely mandatory. We booked our hotel months before we left and established that our room was on the ground floor and had a walk-in shower. Though I can manage stairs, I can’t do it too often and getting into a regular bath is absolutely beyond me.

Our hotel in the Highlands was fine, but it did have some stairs (to my ground floor room!) and lots of little steps to make life interesting. One of the modern hotels we booked without checking, however, had a giant flight of stairs and no lift. Arriving exhausted after a long journey, it took all my energy to haul myself up them and I certainly wasn’t going to tackle them again until I descended for breakfast and stayed downstairs, the next day. It also had the most slippery shower I have ever encountered and no grab rails. For me, it was like showering on an ice-rink.

And I’m lucky. These experiences only served to remind me of how fortunate I am. I don’t need medication that must be kept refrigerated (as most MS sufferers do) nor are a few steps going to cause me problems. Were I fully wheelchair bound however, almost everywhere we went would have been inaccessible.

Driving in my car

Stuck in traffic Image: Nabeel Syed on Unsplash

Driving for most of us equates to freedom and I loved to drive and would always take my turn on any long journeys. Now I am dependent on my husband to drive me if the journey is likely to take much more than thirty minutes – by which point my legs become exhausted and my concentration fuzzy. Clearly, the very long, stop-start drive to Scotland rested entirely on him.

We encountered more roadworks, congestion and traffic jams this trip than I have ever before. At one point, we were stuck on the closed M25 motorway for the better part of two hours. (Though this ironically was a pleasant interlude in our trip with fellow motorists treating it more as an unexpected street party than an irritating delay.)

Though we were perfectly able to entertain ourselves, we were not able to use any facilities. My bladder is not the most reliable at holding on for long periods, so it was borderline miraculous that I made it to the next service station. My anxiety, as you can imagine, was seriously high.

And I feel terribly guilty at making Jeff do all the work. No-one likes to feel dependent and generally useless. No matter how well you are treated, disability reduces your sense of self-worth. (I cannot imagine the horror of being treated unkindly.)

Going off-road

Perhaps if we stayed in urban areas, our lives would be easier, but I adore the country-side and being outdoors. To enable me to enjoy the natural world, I bought an off-road scooter. It is my best, mechanical friend. With it, I am able to travel all over lovely gardens and on quite uneven ground. The downside is that one is shaken about like a pair of maracas. It also requires a strong person to assemble and disassemble and a car large enough to transport it.

A pretty, uneven path Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Yet even these sturdy vehicles have their limitations. After going on a beautiful lake-side walk at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, we discovered that the place where we were to exit was obstructed by a small boulder – easy enough to step over but impossible for me to pass. A friendly passer-by helped my husband take it over the obstacle, yet it seemed like another sign that said, ‘Disabled persons not welcome here.’

Just about managing

Much as I’d love to have a vacation from my MS, that is not going to happen. In fact, without divine intervention, things are only going to get harder as my condition progresses. Mobility issues aside, I suffer from other invisible symptoms, one of which being anxiety. It is hard not to feel anxious when you cannot be certain how your body will behave from one day to the next or even hour to hour. This anxiety has been compounded by over a year of shielding during lockdown. We had not long started to see a few friends when I was thrown into the chaos of motorway service stations. I confess to having quite a few wobbles and had to steel myself to do what everyone else did without thinking. I am a great believer in aversion theory and though I know I will still be anxious about any adventures outside my home, this trip’s baptism of fire showed me that I will survive.

Fatigue, usually my most annoying symptom was not too bad on our travels. (I think all the extra adrenaline helped.) But I suspect the main reason that I could function almost normally was because I was required to do absolutely nothing. At the hotel and out and about, I didn’t even need to exert myself to make a cup of tea. Being thoroughly pampered and chauffeured throughout allowed my body to keep all the energy it needed to enjoy our stay. Our financial situation makes such holidays a possibility, but for many, disability brings with it a significant loss of income.

Being able to stretch regularly and often meant that my leg pain was kept to a minimum. For those unable to do this, the discomfort of sitting in one position or of tight, contracted muscles can be quite severe indeed.

Still some way to go

This year has been marked by calls for equality on the basis of race and sexual orientation and I welcome the removal of barriers for these groups. I would ask though, that perhaps we try harder to remove the very real barriers facing those with disabilities. The exceptionally talented paralympians aside, we are often hidden in the background. Sometimes tokens of inclusion are just that: the disabled toilet located at the top of a steep, zigzagging ramp was a perfect example.

Getting it right. A smooth board walk to the beach. Image: David Knudsen on Unsplash

I am acutely aware of how fortunate I am, but my situation has forced me to see how utterly impossible things often are for those who are less able. I live in one of the most sympathetic and generous countries in the world. More and more places are making their venues disabled friendly. More and more people are becoming aware of the challenges the disabled face. But there is still a very long way to go.

I also know that we are often our own worst enemies. We don’t speak up when we ought to; we try not to complain. Pride makes us understate our difficulties; embarrassment not to mention them at all. This post is trying to overcome that.

It will be a long time before the disabled will be able to enjoy a larger portion of what the able bodied take for granted. Until then, let us be kind to those less able and not begrudge them a parking place or any other ‘perk’. They are struggling with a great deal more than you think.

Into the Woods

Last week you would have found me in the Highlands of Scotland. It is a magical place of ancient woodland; purple, heather-clad mountains and water everywhere. I lost count of the lakes and clear running streams we came across and saw enough mini waterfalls to satiate even my appetite.

While there, we ensured that we filled our days with culture and nature. Often both were intertwined as at the inimitable Clava Cairns. We drove down tiny lanes to discover perfectly preserved Pictish standing stones; saw a ruined cathedral and explored the Highland Folk museum to experience first hand what it would be like to live in a tiny, crofter’s cottage. But the highlight of our trip was without question the ancient woodland that borders where we stayed in Grantown on Spey: the Anagach Woods.

Almost every day, we took a walk (or in my case a scooter) through its other- worldly landscape and it got me thinking about why woods are my happy place and how forests are vital to our well-being.

A walk in the woods Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Woods and the mind

As an archetype, woods represent our inner landscape. To psychologists like Jung, they were seen to embody, metaphorically, the unconscious. They are dark and impenetrable, easy to get lost in and a little dangerous.

When we explore our unconscious – perhaps through therapy or perhaps our own contemplations – we are forced to face our darker thoughts and fears. It is often a rather scary and even unpleasant experience. However, if we can hold our nerve until we are ready to return, it is an exceptionally enriching one.

Just as Hansel and Gretel and Snow White must face the dangers of the forest to return mature and triumphant, so too must we find courage and cunning to negotiate our world. Wandering through real woods inspires contemplation in a peaceful cathedral of trees. It unites mind, body and spirit without the price tag of an expensive spa day.

Forest bathing

Many of us are familiar with the Japanese concept of forest bathing. In Japan it is called shinrin-yoku, which translates as ‘making contact with and taking in the atmosphere of the forest’. What I did not know was that it was an idea promoted by the Japanese government from the 1980s to improve its citizens’ health. Researchers had discovered that meditative immersion in the woods had significant health benefits – lowering blood pressure and stress while simultaneously heightening cognitive abilities – particularly concentration and memory.

As a further bonus, they discovered that trees release chemicals which had a positive effect on the human immune system. If you would like to learn more about forest bathing, I would head to the source I used. It has a handy guide to how to make the best of your woodland adventures, too. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lists/a-beginners-guide-to-forest-bathing

A gateway to health Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

An abundance of flora

From a distance, woodland can seem a little monotonous – tree after tree with very few hues other than shades of green and brown. But if we enter into the wood, alert to all it has to offer, we are rewarded with an abundance of plants and colour.

This year has been especially wet in Scotland, as well as most of the UK. As a result, fungi have been having a particularly good year. I have never seen such a variety of mushrooms from the fairy like red spotted to the tiny purple ones. Equally abundant were the tiny flowers that skirted the tracks where there was a little more light than the interior.

Planted in 1765, this pine forest is unusually old. Some of the trees are so tall that only craning your neck skyward allows you to see the tops. As is usually the case in nature, the pine were not going to have all the place to themselves. There were plenty others: rowan trees heavy with berries; willows by the water and birch and beech taking up what ground they could.

The undergrowth was thick with moss and ferns and some of the of the old trees were festooned with strands of hanging moss similar to the Spanish moss you find in the southern states of America.

But perhaps most prolific of all were the wild blaeberries – a kind of blue berry that was laden with fruit. The berry was more bitter than the commercial blueberry, but tasty all the same. We even found some wild raspberries. It was a forager’s paradise.

Sensual pleasures

In addition to the delicious treats we found on the trail, all our other senses were satisfied too. There are few places more quiet than forest and this silence is a real balm after the hubbub of modern life. After a while, the peace is broken by bird song or simply the sound of one’s own footfall. These noises provide no irritation, however, only a counterpoint to the stillness.

Hardly any scents are more refreshing than that of fresh pine and the air was full of it. Even the slightly damper, earthy smell of the ground and leaf matter was pleasant, reminding me of days exploring the woods near my childhood home. They were not expansive, but full of mystery and adventure to a ten-year-old child.

Touch was satisfied not by the jolting journey via scooter but by the exquisite velvet of the mosses and the prickly delightfulness of pine cones. The ground cover was lush and soft with pine needles and moss. I could think of worse places to make my bed.

Of sights, there were too many to tell, but our favourites included the wild animals that peeked shyly from the foliage.

Animal magic

The Highland woods are home to several elusive creatures: the red squirrel, the roe deer, the endangered capercaillie (bird) and the pine marten. We were lucky enough to spot three of the four – though the pine marten was crossing the road on the way to Elgin!

Two roe deer fawns were our first encounter. They peeped out from behind some trees and shrubs and seemed as interested in us as we were in them. We watched them for as long as we could before Hermione realised there was anything to see. We had no desire to frighten them.

The red squirrel, that I had only seen in captivity before, eluded us until almost our last day. Coming across a group of people looking up, we did too. And there he was scampering at astonishing speed between the trees. Later on, I found my own squirrel who was rather more still and we admired him for a long time. It was one of those rare moments in life when time slows to no-time, as one is held rapt in a capsule of absolute attention.

The rare red squirrel Image: Dusan Veverkolog on Unsplash

Living deliberately

Like Thoreau, “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.’ (Walden) Woodland has always been precious to me. There is something ancient and elemental about it, something magical. In the woods, the imagination can run free and your are forced – unless you wish to lose your footing or your way – to pay attention to everything around you.

Perhaps it is this slight frisson of danger that makes it thrilling. Perhaps it is being surrounded absolutely by nature’s beauty and mystery that makes it inspiring. Perhaps it is a combination of all these plus childhood memories that make a woodland walk so satisfying. The science tells us it is good for us; I think we already knew.

Gathering Seeds of Hope

I once heard that a true gardener always grows from seed. Not only that, but they will gather their own or swap with friends. Despite the fact that I am not an expert gardener, I am intrigued by this approach. And once I’m intrigued, I feel compelled to try. So this last month, I’ve been carefully collecting all the seed heads from the vegetable patch and flower beds that I would like to sow again next year. Since I’m a novice, I’m starting with the easy ones, but I suspect this might prove a little addictive.

Starting simple – poppies Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

It has taken me the time to collect them (minutes) plus about half a day to prepare them. If my experiment fails, I lose almost nothing; if it works, I gain a great deal in beautiful blooms and crops.

Collecting your own seeds or swapping with friends has a number of advantages: you know exactly what you are planting; that it will thrive in the local soil and of course, it’s free.

Wildlife friendly gardening

My husband and I are currently reading an excellent book called The Garden Jungle or Gardening to Save the Planet that was recommended by a nature loving friend. And if I was starting to waver in my resolve to gather my own seeds, this book put me right back on track.

A book every garden lover should read
Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Suffice to say that growing from seed beats every other option if you are trying to live a greener life. First, it is absolutely efficient in terms of energy costs. You buy a tiny packet of seeds and it is sent to your door, or you gather your own. Second, you do not inadvertently add pesticides to your garden. Those blemish free plants at the garden centre look that way for the same reason that apples in the supermarket are unnaturally perfect. They have been doused many times with a cocktail of chemicals, which are lethal to bees and a myriad of insects.

We garden pesticide free and yes have loads of little beasties. But the great news is that they all sort each other out. Pesticides, on the other hand, tend to wipe out the good and the ‘bad’ insects – with the annoying ones having a tendency to recover more quickly. So you have to spray again and again.

Do I lose plants to slugs and other pests? Of course I do, but I hardly need my flowers or even my vegetable bed to survive and I am happy to share this little patch of earth with my tiny neighbours.

Learning through trial and error

Perhaps there is a YouTube video or guide to all of this, but if there is, I forgot to consult it. Instead, I happily muddled along and worked out a few kinks on the ways. Some plants are ridiculously easy. My wild poppies, once dried*, were eager to spill their bountiful seeds with only a shake of their little heads. Others, like my purple sprouting broccoli, were more coy and required a bit more brute force. I began, initially, carefully prying the pods open over a large cloth. It was very Zen, but likely to take me an eternity. My husband politely pointed out that the old fashioned way was threshing, but how was I to do that? I didn’t have a threshing machine. But I did have a rolling pin and that worked just fine.

Threshing! Image: Jeff Costello-McFeat

Using a large tea towel to gather the seeds was ideal and then I folded up the corners and tipped them onto a folded piece of A4 ready to be poured into their envelopes.

Packaging

As a compulsive envelope maker, I was delighted to find a use for all my origami projects. This was most satisfactory. I could sort my seeds, place them in pretty containers and label them so that I would be able to easily identify what was what. (Our of their pods and seed heads, they all look disconcertingly similar.)

This was the fun part. Using the folded paper, I tipped what I thought was a useable amount into an envelope. I then added a label and voila! Seeds for next year. Some I will use for sprouts and if they succeed, I’m sure the ones I plant will too.

Jolly packages for spring Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Share

As you can see, I have plenty to use and plenty to share. If all goes well; next year, I will try to gather even more. And as summer comes to an end, I encourage you to collect some seeds of your own. Placing the ones I’d garnered into their pretty packaging took away some of the sadness one feels at the passing of the season and sowed instead a little hope.

*When drying plants for any purposes, you want to hang or stack them (like a little sheaf of corn) to allow the maximum circulation of air and store in a warm, dry place. Only when they are absolutely dry should you attempt to remove the seeds within.

The Year of the Dog

This week marks the anniversary of our acquiring Hermione. It’s certainly been an interesting year with our new arrival and moving from lock-down back to something resembling normal life. Hermione, of course, has been unaffected by world events. This is one of the main advantages of being a dog. So this post will be about all things doggy – her impact on our lives and how our little furry companions have much to teach us.

Who could resist such a face? Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Early days

I would be a terrible liar if I were to suggest that obtaining a puppy is a rational or even sensible thing to do. There is a reason that they are this cute. It’s so that you don’t drop them back off at the breeders and run away as fast as you can 24 hours after you have purchased them. Puppies are like small babies, but squirmier and without the advantage of nappies.

The first weeks of ownership were a constant round of cleaning the floors and rushing to get her outside. At one point (and Jeff was the star here) we were taking her every fifteen minutes to half an hour. It paid off, because in a matter of weeks, we could walk barefoot on the wooden floors again without being in danger of standing in a puddle or worse.

The hyperactive child

Another significant difference between puppies and babies is that they come fully mobile. She would catapult around the garden and dig as many holes as she could before being caught and pulled away. In addition, she had an unfortunate habit of having spurts of even greater hyperactivity, rushing around in circles before rushing up and lunging her very sharp puppy teeth in your leg. This was a little distressing both from the point of pain and the fact you had been attacked by something as innocuous looking as a Furby.

Naughty? Me?

Fortunately this phased passed, though not her desire to make the garden look like the Somme. We’re still working on that one.

Teething

As Hermione matured and her adult teeth came though, we both sighed with relief. Teething for dogs, like babies, gives them the urge to chew and for dogs that means blankets, your clothes, shoes and if you let them, the furniture. We escaped from the horrors of the last on my list (though I have friends who were not so lucky) and my sewing skills extended to repairing the bite-size rips and holes her tiny teeth had made.

Teething over, we were on to greater things.

Growing up! Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Bedtimes

We decided to keep Hermione in a crate at night – not least because she sheds a great deal and spends most of her days covered in mud. And did I mention that dogs are squirmy?

Needless to say, Hermione was not best amused at being left downstairs in the evening, so we adopted the same strategy as we used with the children. We told her bedtime stories and sang lullabies. Yes, I know it sounds crazy, but it worked perfectly. The soothing sound of our voices calmed her and sent her off to sleep almost immediately. It also served as a good wind-down for us before bed too. Bedtimes stories, whether they be from a book, Kindle or voice are all excellent ways to prepare us for entry into dreamland.

Finding a routine

A little unfortunately for us, Hermione contains quite a lot of working Cocker, so in addition to added intelligence (read capacity for mischief) she needs a fairly huge amount of exercise, which she does not like to do alone. Fortunately, we have quite a large garden and much of the winter was spent supervising her there from the shed or from the muddy and rather windswept puppy park. This all worked fine while Jeff was on furlough or mainly working from home, but now he’s returned full-time, it’s back to mainly single parenting.

I’m working on a new schedule with a half hour walk with Jeff before work, an hour or so in the garden with me, an hour at the puppy park and a final walk with Jeff in the evening. So if I look a little wan the next time we meet, you’ll know why.

The puppy park is a wonderful place though and a great addition to the day. It is full of boisterous dogs and friendly owners. It is a sociable activity, which makes the obligation of another exercise a pleasure rather than a chore.

All grown up

Hermione, though still rather small, is now fully grown. Her puppylike disposition remains and I suspect will until she is quite advanced in age. She still digs holes, upturns flower pots to eat the plastic pots within and whirls like a dervish around the lawn.

A ball, a hole and a flower pot. Puppy heaven Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Clearly, she is hard work, yet if she has taught me anything, it is not to shy away from obligations. There have been plenty times – especially on days I am not so well – that I am less than thrilled at the prospect of heading out into the cold and rain to entertain her. Last week was a classic example. Despite a certain amount of optimism on my part, the weather was not going to get any better. A light drizzle didn’t seem too much of a deterrent, but as we arrived at the park, the heavens opened and the rain tumbled down. There was no way she as going home, so we hunkered down under the trees and played ball. It was magical. Once I accepted my fate, I came to enjoy it. The tympany of rain on the leaves; the childlike joy of finding shelter and in having a huge expanse of space all to oneself.

We arrived home wet and tired, but not disappointed we had persevered.

A dog’s loyalty and forgiving nature is well documented and, in all my experience, true. What is less commented on is a dog’s joie de vivre. No sooner are they awake than their tales are wagging. Meeting up again after a night’s rest is a great reunion full of joy. In a world where misery rather than its counterpart is focused upon, such exuberance provides a very necessary balance.

Dogs live, as we should, absolutely in the moment. All my hours of meditation, reading and thinking have barely brought me within an inch of Hermione’s ability to do that. When I answered the door to the delivery man the other day and she greeted him as a long, lost companion, we both agreed: If we hope to make a better world, we should be more dog.

Hermione having a moment’s rest Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

The 500 Day Challenge

Everything these days seems to be about speed: dating, weight-loss, ways to transform your life. It is as if life is running away from us and if we do not act fast, we shall have missed the opportunity. Yet, we are living longer than ever and have more free time than our ancestors would have dreamed of. If there were ever a moment in history when time really was on our side, it would be now.

Further, easy gains, like fast food, only give us a quick fix. They do not satisfy and they certainly do not endure. For those making these products, this is the whole point. You will keep coming back for more: always hungry, always eager for ways to fill that empty space. We know in our hearts that it won’t work, can’t work, but it just all seems so much easier.

It may fill you up, but does it satisfy? Image: Brett Jordan on Unsplash

What do you want to achieve?

So what I am proposing is this – that in one area of your life, where you would like to explore your creativity or to achieve a particular goal, you give it a real shot at success. The 500 day part is somewhat arbitrary and I’ll explain it in a moment, but 500 days of regular practice of absolutely anything is bound to bring very satisfying results.

According to the European Journal of Social Psychology (2009) it takes between 18 and 254 days to form a habit. The wide variation depends on the person and the new habit that you wish to form, but it suggests that absolutely anyone could achieve a good habit within this time frame.

So what would you like to do? Learn the cello? Paint? Write a book? None of these things can be tackled in an afternoon. They take a life-time. Yet, if we do not start now, when will we?

There is one waiting for you! Image: Mak on Unsplash

All my life, I’ve loved the cello, but I played piano and never thought to ask to add another instrument. I must have mentioned this once too often and my husband called my bluff. For my 45th birthday, he gave me a cello. It was a thing of great beauty and I knew then that I would have to organise lessons and start practising!

My days were crammed with teaching, corralling my teenage sons and running a household. When on earth would I find time to practise? But I did, and I made very good progress until, unfortunately, back problems forced me to stop. Was it worth it? Absolutely. That half hour or so a day puzzling out the intricacies of fingering and bowing and music were often the most peaceful and happiest.

500 days

Which brings us to the 500 day part. As those of you who have been following this blog know, I have been learning Swedish. Why? Because I love all things Swedish and hope one day to spend a good long time in that country. Equally, I know that learning a language is my best defence against the ravages that MS wreaks on my brain. Not the most sexy of reasons, I know, but I am quite certain that it is working: reducing brain fog and increasing my mental acuity.

This week, I shall reach my 500 days of learning through Duolingo. It also coincides with my finishing the course, which I am pleased to say, I now have. Needless to say, I am hardly fluent, but I certainly have at least a basic understanding of the language. Reading Pippi Longstocking in the original will hopefully involve only a foray into the diction every sentence or so rather than every other word.

Sweden here I come! Image: Axel Antas Bergkvist

Having completed my 500 days, I shall continue to learn the language, but the goal of finishing the course was what set me on the right path. If I am honest, I am only just beginning, but now that the habit is formed and I have made such progress, it won’t be difficult to continue.

Commitment is the key to happiness

If I have learned anything in life, it is the above. What brings us real and lasting joy needs to be earned, to be maintained, to be nurtured. Think of your dear friends. They are the ones we have known for many, many years, who have witnessed and supported us in joy and sorrow. We keep them because they are precious and we know committing to that friendship will require a little effort on our part. Yet, I doubt any of us would view it as hard work. The same applies to all our endeavours whether they be in relationships or skills. The time and effort we put in will match the rewards we take out.

It is hard to kick the trend. It is hard to go against the grain of a society in which the disposable is ubiquitous, cheap and so easy. It is hard to say that spending time caring for a garden every day is as scintillating as visiting different ones and certainly is less Instagrammable. But it is (and I love to visit new ones too!)

When we can ignore the hype of the latest, next thing and focus on what our hearts really crave, we will find a joy much deeper and more enduring than any instant experience. So I urge you to join me in committing to a goal you have long deferred. Give it the space and time it needs. 500 days is approximately 16 months, a tiny portion of our lives.

Let me know how you get on. I’m planning to try to play the cello again and hoping my back will cooperate. I will have to return to the beginning and will no doubt make a lot of unpleasant screeching, but I got there before and I can get there again. It will take time, as all good things do. And as we all know, Rom byggdes inte pa en dag. (Rome wasn’t built in a day)

Flowers, Feelings and Friendship

A flower a day keeps the blues at bay. While so many of us are struggling with our mental well-being at the moment, isn’t it good to know that a non-invasive solution is at hand? The power of flowers to dispel low mood and enhance well-being has been well documented. Studies conducted by the University of Vermont, Rutgers and Harvard all came to the same conclusion: flowers lead to an increase in happiness; boost creativity; foster greater compassion and more positive social behaviour. With so much to gain, it’s time to bring some floral healing into our lives and to share it with others too.

Sunflowers always make me smile Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Flowers at home

According to a Harvard study, having flowers in the home for even a few days can reduce anxiety and lead to a more positive mindset. Flowers are wonderful anywhere, but if you are really needing a bit of a lift, the study recommends you keep some in the kitchen when you will see them at the beginning of the day. Starting with the beauty and serenity of flowers is bound to set you on the right track.

Personally, I like to have flowers everywhere – in my kitchen (where I also have several flowering plants), in the bathroom, the lounge etc. That way, if I can’t spend much time in the garden, I can bring its beauty to me.

Do they require a little attention? Of course they do, but they are the least demanding of residents. Fridays are for flowers, so I check that everything has been watered well, vases refreshed or new flowers chosen on that day. At most, it requires half an hour and I am rewarded with beauty for the rest of the week. Is it expensive? Not at all.

Garden flowers Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Almost all my flowers are gathered from the garden and others have been generous in giving plants as gifts. I also have a lovely friend who gives me a miniature bouquet when she visits – often made up of wild flowers or tiny blooms from her garden and bound with a pretty ribbon. She uses grasses and seed heads and combines them with her artist’s eye into something exquisite. A stunning posy needs cost you nothing but a little time.

Support flowers

We’ve all heard of support animals, but what about support flowers? Personally, I think they have been overlooked. The same friend that brings the Lilliputian arrangements sends a daily picture of a flower to a number of friends via WhatsApp. Since she lives alone, it is an imaginative way of letting us all know that she is fine. It also gives her an opportunity to express her artistic flair.

When my friend in the States, who works as a court reporter, told me she was working on a grisly murder trial, I thought I would adapt the virtual flower message as one to give her cheer in what would be challenging days. So each morning, I select a joyful flower and email it with a brief note. This way, I can let her know I am thinking of her and I hope these images help erase the rather more gruesome ones she is forced to witness.

Rather more appealing than a crime scene photo
Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

The gift of flowers

I read recently (I have no idea where) that flowers are the one gift that invariably brings a genuine smile to the recipient. So often we spend ages looking for exactly the right present only to discover that they have one already or they no longer favour that colour or design. With flowers, it is always a win. If you are feeling flush, delivered flowers have that extra level of excitement. And with excellent on-line choices, you can send them anywhere and in minimal time. During the first lock-down, when I was unable to go to the shops or post office, online flower services were my gift solution.

Now I am happy to go to the market or garden centre, my choices have expanded proportionately; though since it is summer, I would generally choose to go to my own garden first. The old fashioned and scented flowers I have there are seldom available in the shops.

And if I am just going for a coffee and want to bring a little something, miniature bouquets of the sort my friend brings are always an appropriate thank you. That is if I have no homemade cakes available!

A tiny thank you Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Flower power

I hope this post inspires you to display, grow and share more flowers. A little natural beauty in our lives; the joy of creativity in arrangements and the flush of success when our flowers thrive and bloom again cannot be beaten. I’ve even started saving seeds to share or even guerrilla garden in neglected areas. Whatever flowers you choose; whichever way you present them, they will always raise your spirits – and I for one am often in need of that.

Close up of a cornflower Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

They think it’s all over…

This week, almost all legal restrictions for Covid-19 have been lifted in the UK. Unfortunately, this is coinciding with cases rising exponentially across the country. So what do we do? Those of us who were vulnerable are still vulnerable. Many will feel compelled to go back into self-isolation. But together, I think we can all allow each other a little freedom.

To mask or not to mask?

So much has been made of the simple wearing of a mask. I know they are uncomfortable and hot, but it doesn’t seem such a great effort to potentially save another’s well-being.

Nurses and therapists show their love. Image: Rusty Watson on Unsplash

Personally, I don’t wear one when out and about outside or even meeting with friends I know have been vaccinated, but I am more than happy to wear them at the dentist (before treatment!) and the hairdresser’s. By maintaining their safety protocols, I am comfortable getting the services I need.

In removing restrictions, the government is essentially saying that we are adults and capable of making sensible decisions. I think that is a little over optimistic, but the choices we make will either further or curb the virus.

Vaccination concerns

While out at a picnic on Sunday, I was rather shocked to see lots of graffiti urging people not to get vaccinated. Of course, whether you choose to be vaccinated or not is entirely up to you. But for me was an absolute gift – allowing me to escape the confines of my house with a modicum of confidence.

No, I don’t like needles either. But a little discomfort seemed a small price to pay for freedom.
Image: Hakan Nural on Unsplash

Vaccines – as with any medical intervention – have a tiny element of risk. When Edward Jenner first immunised a young boy against small pox in the 18th century, his brave subject could not have been certain of the outcome. But, with the hope of avoiding a common and devastating disease, he went ahead anyway. The success of this led to mass immunisations and the eradication of smallpox globally by 1979.

Despite what social media may lead you to believe, vaccination is not new. The Chinese were vaccinating against small pox a century before Jenner and any number of life-threatening conditions have been avoided throughout the last century including: TB, polio, and tetanus. None of these mass immunisation programmes were designed as a tool for governmental control and I’m surprised that anyone (considering all the nations world-wide are doing the same) should think that it is so.

All the other stuff

Perhaps more tricky now, is the decision regarding what constitutes sensible social distancing and how often should we wash our hands etc. I have hugged my mother and a few friends, though I’m not nearly as demonstrably affectionate as I used to be. I have on occasion hesitated to hug my husband!

A safe hug! Image: Marco Bianchetti on Unsplash

Again we are left with indecision and uncertainty. Cases where I live are extraordinarily high, but life is much as usual, with the beaches packed and cafes overflowing. Choosing, therefore, to not join in, seems perhaps a little churlish.

As for personal hygiene, my sanitizer is always available and washing one’s hands regularly is always a good thing. Covid-19 is not the only germ out there with ill-intent.

Which brings me to the heart of this post and the request that we be tolerant. The pandemic has raised blood-pressures and debate to a shrill and disturbing level. They say that the first victim of war is truth; I would say the same for a pandemic. Theories and conspiracies swirl around us until we find it hard to find our bearings. We are all frustrated and anxious and worn out. We would all love to do the things that we normally enjoy. We would all love to be alive and well when this ends to experience life’s great riches.

And the key word in all of this is WE. So often I hear I, but in society one person’s I is another person’s you.

I want to party too – but now may not be the best time. Also, I couldn’t stay awake.
Image: Kajetan Sumila on Unsplash

Scenes like that above seriously give me the wibblies. Is one person’s desire to go to a nightclub more important than keeping another well? I’ll let you decide.

But what I would like, is for everyone to simply accept that whatever choices we make are based on our own best assessment of the situation. If someone comes to visit and doesn’t want to come inside, that’s fine. The summer house is warm and dry even with the doors wide open. If someone wants to keep their distance too, they should and I should not mock them for it. Sometimes people seem overly paranoid. Well, I just try to remember that I don’t know the reason for that: perhaps they are caring for an elderly relative; a sick child or have medical conditions invisible to me. Whatever they decide that does no harm to anyone else, is simply what I should respect.

Trust

And from here, in order to live any semblance of a normal life, I simply have to trust. If someone is unwell – even if it is not obviously Covid – I trust that they will stay at home or at least warn me beforehand and let me assess the risk. If someone has been in contact with someone who has been asked to isolate, I would expect the same. We all want to party and to enjoy ourselves, but sometimes, we just have to wait a little longer.

Wish You Were Here…

Postcards have rather gone out of fashion. When I was younger, no holiday was complete without the obligatory buying, writing and sending of postcards. It was a wonderful opportunity to give a taste of your vacation. Now we tend to send a WhatsApp or Instagram message. More pictures, fewer words and although these are always welcome, I miss the joy of a postcard clattering through the letter box; the professional shot of the location and the quirky stamps.

With our busy lives, I think it is a great time to reinstate the postcard. They only take moments to write, yet have a similar impact to a letter. They are colourful and pretty and make great temporary decorations to mantlepieces and fridges. An image, a few words and a stamp are all you need to show someone that you are thinking of them, and wishing they could join you.

Paperback writer

This one has been taken from the excellent volume, Playing with Books by Jason Thompson. Most of my books end up in the charity box, but occasionally, I keep them for the papers inside to use in craft projects. To make them into postcards, simply remove the front cover (or interior one) and cut so as to contain a complete image about postcard size. Curve the edges if you wish. If possible, find titles or images that relate to the recipient.

From cover to card Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Art for art’s sake

Art cards can be a wonderful way of remembering a special exhibition – a pictorial souvenir. They are also perfect for short messages to a friend – matching their artistic taste with the card. For a cheap but elegant greeting card, glue the postcard onto card stock.

These are keepers! A wonderful exhibition of Henry La Thangue at my local gallery; a visit to Macau and a poetry/art collaboration

Zen postcards

Few activities are better at stilling the mind than a bit of colouring. No longer the preserve of five-year-olds, colouring is now for grown-ups. Intricate designs and beautiful illustrations are available as colouring-in postcards. I particularly love Johanna Basford’s whimsical designs.

These cards take some time to complete, but the act of colouring is itself a mindful, stress reducing exercise. Since you also get a gorgeous card to send, this is a win-win. One friend, who is particularly adept at these, uses the cards for birthdays and thank yous. I have several adorning my kitchen.

An enchanting activity Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Miniature watercolours

For those wanting to go a step further and to create their own works of art, watercolour postcards are available at the National Trust shops and other art outlets. I love that this gives you the opportunity to play artistically and to send the result rather than having it languish in a sketch book. As it’s only a small postcard, if it all goes wrong, little is lost. If it goes well, you have a little piece of original art to send.

Whilst drying my poppy heads, I noticed they had a perfect flower shape on the top. What better stamp could I find? I added a wash of colour for the background and then stamped away. I hope you like the result.

Floral recycling! Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

The traditional

The pandemic has rather curbed our travels, but many of us are exploring our own countries and those close by instead. Sending a card from your destination allows us to do a little virtual travelling and to discover what is on offer. If you do manage to move beyond your borders, share the adventure.

New places to explore Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

And after the postcard has been read? Like all cards they can be displayed for as long as you wish or kept as bookmarks or perhaps you can find a more exciting use for them. If you do, get in touch. Answers on a postcard, please!

My Vegetable Love – Part Two

As promised, I’ve made a post (with recipes) showing you how you can make a feast in certainly less than an hour or in fifteen to thirty minutes per dish. Putting vegetables at the centre of your diet need not be boring. The sheer variety on offer ensures that you will never be lost for something new and flavourful. What I’ve given here are dishes that are both easy to prepare and, I hope, appealing to even the most picky eater. They can all go together or be combined with your favourite foods. You are the chef- you decide!

A rainbow of flavour

When starting on a plant-based diet, it is important to ensure that you get all the nutrients you need. If you are uncertain if this is for you, ask a health professional. Some folks like to take a multi-vitamin and or iron supplements. Personally, I don’t take either. Through taking in a broad spectrum of foods, you should get everything you need.

Introducing a large volume of vegetables into your diet all at once can unsettle the tummy a little bit. (I once tried the Wahls’ diet that recommends six cups of vegetables per day and it had serious consequences for my digestion!) If your body is complaining, cut back, and take it slow.

Once you start to enjoy more vegetables in your diet and explore the fairly endless way to prepare them, you will not look back.

Soup for starters

Soups are the perfect place to begin for introducing more vegetables into your diet. They are quick and easy to prepare and are often even better the second day. (You can also freeze them.) All my soups start in the same fashion: saute an onion in water or oil; add the vegetables you like and saute for a few minutes; add 750ml or so of vegetable stock and bring to the boil. Turn off the heat and allow to cook through. Season to taste. Frozen vegetables work great too – think peas and corn. For a creamier texture, add dairy-free milk or cream. Blend if you like. Grains like oats, barley and lentils can be added to make an even heartier dish.

Since dark leafy greens are perhaps the hardest to get into your diet, the recipe I’ve given here is for spinach soup. My children, like most kids, were not impressed with the idea, so I renamed it alien blood soup and it was a hit!

Ingredients

1 large onion, chopped

250 g of spinach, washed and woody stems removed

800ml of boiling water and two teaspoons/cubes of vegetable stock

Juice of 1/4 lemon

1 tablespoon of corn (maize) flour

Salt and pepper

Dairy free yogurt and nutmeg to garnish

Method

Saute the onion in a little water/oil until soft. Add the spinach and cook gently until wilted. Add the stock, bring to the boil and then turn off the heat to cook for about 10 minutes. Blend with a hand blender or liquidiser till smooth. Return to the pan, if liquidising, and add the lemon juice.

In a small tumbler, add the cornflour and a dribble of water, stirring in more water until you have the consistency of thin cream. Add this to the pot of spinach and heat until bubbles appear at the side. Stir throughout until you feel the soup thicken. Lower the heat and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serve with a swirl of natural yogurt and a sprinkling of nutmeg.

Serves 4

Spinach soup Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Mushroom for mains

Almost everyone enjoys burgers and you can make fabulous vegetable ones, but they take a little time to prepare. Since my mission here was to make everything as easy as possible, I thought I would show you how to make a real mushroom burger. These take barely ten minutes and accompanied with good bread and lettuce are a great alternative to a McDs.

Ingredients

1 large portobello mushroom per person – sliced horizontally

Olive oil

Sesame seeds

Salt and pepper to taste

Bread or rolls

Method

Wash and slice your mushrooms horizontally, to make two ‘patties’. Place on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Bake at 180 C or gas mark 4 for about 8 minutes until cooked through. Remove from the oven, brush with a little olive oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Salt and pepper to taste and serve between bread with lettuce and vegan mayonnaise.

Would you like fries with that?

If a burger on its own is looking a little bit frugal, make some spicy oven chips to go with it. Prepare these first and they can be cooking away in the oven while you make your mushroom burgers. These fries are made with sweet potatoes and carrots, both highly nutritious and low fat.

Ingredients

1 sweet potato and 1 carrot per person

About 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil per person

Seasonings – Cajun spice, salt and pepper and chilli flakes. Adjust according to personal taste.

Method

Wash and scrub the potatoes and carrots but do not remove the skins (where many of the nutrients reside.) Cut into wedges and place in a mixing bowl. Add the oil and seasonings and coat well. Tip onto a large baking sheet and bake in the oven at 180 C or gas mark 4 for twenty + minutes. When they are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, they are done. Serve piping hot!

Spicy fries Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

And a side salad?

Nothing completes a meal like a delicious side salad. A green salad would be perfect here, but since I’m in Midsummer mode, I thought I would share my absolute favourite – beetroot salad. Added to the above, it supplements our five a day and adds a little extra colour to the meal.

Ingredients

1 small jar or 1/2 large jar of sweet pickled beetroot, drained and cut into chunks

2 dessert apples – cored and cut into chunks

2 stalks of celery – cut into bite-sized pieces

1 heaped tablespoon of vegan mayonnaise and 1 heaped tablespoon of vegan creme fraiche or natural yogurt. (You may like more!)

Method

In a large mixing bowl, add the beetroot, apple and celery and stir to mix. Add the mayonnaise and creme fraiche and mix so that all is coated in the creamy dressing. It will become a wonderful bubble gum pink. Chill until ready to serve.

Makes 4 generous servings

Fresh, crunchy and delicious! Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Over to you…

This post is only a taster of all the possibilities of a plant based diet. I hope that it has given you some ideas that you can take and make your own. Recipes are wonderful things, but we should only really use them as the springboard from which our own interpretations can soar. My greatest resource for ideas is almost always other people sharing what they have enjoyed and what worked for them. I love reading cookery books, but I love receiving tips from friends even more. So please, if they appeal, take and adapt these recipes, pass them on and let your vegetable love grow.