I love this time of year.  The leaves changing colors and the air is crisp and clear.  I was at my cabin this past weekend, what a joy and a blessing to have a place to go to in the woods. The colors of the tress and the wind blowing them, watching as they dance to the ground, simply beautiful.  What I love the most about my cabin is the quiet, the sound of the trees when the wind is blowing, sounds like a waterfall, peaceful. Did I mention how quiet it is.

Also entertaining up there as we bring up family and friends and I cook for them all, on my wood stove, totally loving it. My husband Jack and his chainsaw, well you could imagine huge grin and off he goes up the hill, releasing testosterone.

We all need to ‘get away’ to refresh, restore, renew, relax and rejuvenate.  This time of year seems to be the time to plan and prepare and do.  Which is really exciting and exhilarating.  But, we tend to go, go, go and may loose our momentum. So, we need to take time to ‘nourish’ our soul and you don’t need a ‘cabin’ to get away.  I would like to share some practical tidbits for you to help ‘nourish’ your soul:

if your a bath person this is a great one – is sure works for me – a hot bath in the pm adding epson salts with essential lavender oil, very relaxing, light some lavender candles

getting fresh air –   go walking for a good 20-30 minutes, briskly

take a trip around Stanley Park, this time of year is quiet and while walking around the area take time to listen to the woods, the crunch of the leaves beneath your feet, breathe in the ocean air

get up to Seymour mountain take some lunch with you and enjoy the amazing view, hike or just sit and eat and look up at the clouds

take the water taxi from Science World go to Granville Island

get your favorite book and sit by the ocean or lake and just read while you enjoy the cool crisp air

have a picnic in the park

go to a corn maze

circle farm tour

wine tours – my favorite one is Fort Wine Company

one of all time favorites things – invite a few friends over connecting and unwinding while enjoying a meal that either you cooked or have a potluck, nice glass of fine red wine, lots of candles and great conversation – make it a pj party too!

At our cabin, we had some friends up there and I cooked bison chili, yummy.  Below is the recipe for you to enjoy, don’t have to have a wood stove to cook this 🙂 you can even put it in the oven slow roasting it if you like.

Chili:  

Ingredients:

1-2 tbsp coconut oil

1 pound of ground beef, turkey, chicken or bison

1 red onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, chopped

1 jalapeño or other hot pepper like cayanne or fresno (optional)

1 zuchinni, chopped

handful of mushrooms, chopped

1 tsp red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, chili powder, smoked paprika or regular

Sea salt

4-6 tomatoes or 1 can diced tomatoes

1 can kidney beans drained and rinsed or 2 c soaked beans or a mixed blend of beans

2 tbsp molasses

Water or broth – depends on how thick you want your chili – I like mine thick

½ c red dry wine (optional)

Greens – spinach, kale, arugula

Method:

Heat oil in large pot add onions, saute a bit add spices and jalapeno if using add more oil if needed add garlic

Add meat, cook till no pink

Add rest of ingredients

Simmer for about 30 min or so

Adjust seasoning

Add greens just before serving

Top with cilantro and limes and avocado

Enjoy 🙂