This past week I have resolved to spend more time outdoors; just being with nature. Listening to the world around us was a recent CTWW challenge. Each day I have set aside 15 -30 minutes to walk around our praça (park) and then to just sit and observe.
For example a few days ago before we had a two-day cold snap, the air was full of dragon/damsel flies (I couldn’t tell which while they were on the wing) fascinating, I have never seen a swarm like it before.
We have a beautiful tree in the middle, it was in flower.
I have no idea what sort of tree it is. It’s just nice.
Following comments, I discovered it was probably an acacia tree.
So many people today are in such a rush, their lives are stressful, they don’t have a moment to stop and enjoy what is around them. I find it so peaceful to just sit and observe.
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There isn’t a CTWW challenge this week.
Small has done a bunk.
I suspect it is for good reason. So she has left us freelance and will be back on 8th Oct.
Until then, please continue with last week’s challenge, choose a challenge from THIS PAGE, create your own challenge, or … take a break!
There’s heaps of ideas in her list of past challenges, but this week, I am not going to rummage through it. I’ll prepare something for next week.
In the meantime I am going to claim that my resolution above is my answer and post for this week. Make it a daily ritual to take time out, get off my chuff and get outside. My life is mainly sedentary, due to my need to use a walking stick for security to walk longer distances; whereas around the praça I don’t need it. I work on the basis that if I fall over, the locals know where I live and will get me home.
Nigris and makimonos
Actually, there is an extension to the freelance nature of the challenge. This week I have decided to learn how to make sushi. I love sushi, I can’t always afford sushi, so I am going to make sushi at home.
I am a chef, but sushi has not previously been a part of my repetoire.
I am quite familiar with the eating aspect of of sushi and therefore know many of the terms, but research googling over the last week has enhanced my knowledge.
Did you know that the term sushi doesn’t actually refer to the fish, it means the vinegared rice used in the art. Many people wrongly call nigris, sushi.
This morning I am going exploring. A student from last night’s group told me of a shop where the makings and accoutrement for sushi are cheaper than the locally recognised oriental supply store.
California roll
Now there are two reasons why I mention my sushi making endeavour here.
Firstly, I am looking at making more vegetarian type things, makimonos with fruit and vegetables, mostly called California rolls. California rolls generally have kani (a processed crab meat stick) in them. I don’t like that stuff, I am dubious about the contents; a bit like ‘pink slime’.
So I am going to steer away from the processed aspects of making sushi.
Secondly, I am going to look at making my sushi techniques as green as possible.
I doubt whether my first attempts will look as glamorous as these photos, but they say practice makes perfect.
So there you have it. I have two answers to the CTWW challenge this week.
See you all next week.
Eco-Crap 
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