Breathe.
Pottering in my parents’ kitchen, nuts toasting, sugar pillowing up into glossy meringue, singing Baby Mine from Dumbo and wishing that a baby giraffe tied up in a bundle would miraculously drift through my window too.
Breathe.
Counting down the minutes for the coffee to infuse, carefully placing three different types of chocolate into three different bowls for Mama Wayfaring Chocolate (chilli), Papa Wayfaring Chocolate (fancy fruit and nut), and me (whatever remains after reviewing).
Waking up to quiet and solitude while the housemate is away, making a soft cocoon of cascading covers with my nose peeking out, and reading myself into another world.
Breathe.
Biting my lip, closing my eyes, and standing veryveryvery still to hold back the crying. Or shaking my hands and jumping up and down, quicklyquickly.
Breathe.
Cradling a toasted English Muffin, tahini and rhubarb jam melting on top.
Overflowing gratitude for the friends who pop up just when I need it, offering words that make my heart soar, words of advice and support and love, words beyond words.
Breathe.
Making a new version of my Jewelled Maple and Coconut Granola, and finding that using coconut oil, a teaspoon of cinnamon, glossy plump dried pears, and tart ruby dried cherries makes the granola taste better than ever before.
Breathe.
*hugs*
ps. the English Muffin, tahini and rhubarb jam combo has me intrigued
Thank you Lisa. Oh, you must try it! I’m mildly addicted to toasted English Muffins right now. Just pick your current favourite jam
Such beautiful words, but they tug at my heart so…many hugs to you darling Hannah. Keep breathing. And keep up the English muffin with tahini and rhubarb, the chocolate bowls, and this granola. All 3 would lift my spirits and I hope they lift yours too xo
Thank you Kari. Spirit lifting things will start having an effect soon, I’m sure. Thank you for the hugs.
Just going to cut through the seriousness to squawk “GRANOLA SNAP!” at you in a most ungainly manner. (I just blogged about granola too.)
Once the aftermath of our all-the-truffles party has cleared, let’s have a whole lot of granola for breakfast the next day, okay?
Till that beauteous time, hugs from afar, and as someone who woke up this morning, turned on the computer, and suddenly felt all anxious and hot and bothered: yes, breathe. Good to remember.
Reminders of our intertwined selves, loves, desires, and friendship is just like breathing too, Laura
Oh yes! Raw truffles then a breakfast buffet of granola. And then lunch of vegetables, because I do adore vegetables too.
I think, next time we find ourselves trapped within whirling grey/red, we should imagine holding hands and skipping through a field of daisies… towards Ron Swanson.
<3 <3
Forever back at you, dear heart.
That looks delicious
*hugs you*
Tough times.
Thanks love. You stay strong too. xo
Know that I – and many – love you. For now, ignore all else.
xx
Thank you Lizzi. And for being there last night, and today. xo
Hugs, and deep breaths. And, also, english muffins. Yum.
The triad of calmness-making.
Fall is so pretty!! If it makes you feel better it just snowed here after a dazzling weekend of summer. Literally snowing on my parade.
That’s your Fall, in Monticello, so I’m not surprised you think so
You make snow sound wonderful! (Luckily, I know better
)
Hugs and hugs and hugs (and a couple of puppy snuggles too).
I want all of those things. xo
Sometimes there is nothing quite like slowing down and just remembering to breathe. When it is all happening, that simple action is a lifesaver. Another beautiful post and amazing granola.
Thank you Lisa. I really appreciate your words. xo
I would like to cradle this jewelled maple pear granola. Precioussssssssssssssss…………
Trade you for the box of Reese’s Puffs in your cupboard?
Such a poetic post. I hope you are doing ok. Having love, support and quality granola always helps, even if just a little, and sometimes a lot.
Oh, thank you! And yes. Love and support and, sometimes, a bit of a cry. Then deliciousness
I’ve been feeling a lot like this at the moment too
. I hope things get better soon xx
Oh, I’m sorry to hear that Helena. But at least there’s comfort in knowing we all go through such times, and that things will get better. Hugs to you xoxo
Oh darling, are you ok? *Spay lady hug*
The best kind of hug
Thanks darling. xo
Squeezy gooey hugs coming your way… that last photo is beautiful
That photo is from a visit to Monticello with a friend whom I very much miss, so it’s beautiful in several ways to me
Thank you Lou.
beautiful post, making the mundane and ordinary and not so happy seem beautiful – love that last photo and am impressed at your granola dedication – maybe I need to try a spoonful of coconut oil in mine if I get around to making it again
Thank you Johanna. That gives me strength.
Definitely try switching the oil in any granola for coconut oil! It creates such wonderful crispiness
Keep breathing, babe. And keep making things that are both beautiful and delicious.
Thank you dear friend. I will. xo
anything redux is my type of food. i’ve never heard of rhubard jam + tahini together. must try this new pbj rendition!!!
*laughs* I didn’t grow up eating PB&J, so this is just as “normal” to me
I’ve been eating no less than 3 toasted English muffins a day. Sometimes I eat one while deciding what I want to eat. My preferred topping? Lately, whipped cream cheese and raisins. Tahini and rhubarb jam sounds very interesting… though I’m not quite sure where I’d find rhubarb jam. Perhaps I’ll make some this summer when my parents have rhubarb growing like weeds in their garden.
Breathe is my mantra too, every.single.day. Thinking of you lady.
Oh dear heavens, are not English Muffins the greatest thing in the world? It boggles my mind that the texture is so unpleasant untoasted, and yet so perfectly crispy and pillowy when toasted. Alas, cream cheese and raisins are no-gos for me on account of dairy and squidgy-no-no, but I believe we can support each other’s muffin habits.
Homegrown rhubarb! Oh how wonderful!
Thank you, Shannon. I hope you’re taking care of yourself too.
I love anything and everything with Granola
A nurse once told me that whenever things get crazy (like a patient suddenly crashing…), she always takes a deep breathe– and things get a little slower, and she thinks a bit clearer.
Love the granola! I wanna make milk with that.
It’s a very, very good coping technique.
You want to make milk with it? Do you mean, like, granola-flavoured milk? Colour me intrigued!
I can vouch for the original granola. Meantime, Hannah, if you want all those virtual hugs translated into the real thing you know where to come (and your beautiful Mum is not far away so you can get a double dose). Anyhow, we will translate them on Sunday and add a few of our own if not before. Keep smiling.
Thank you Grandma. This was the granola you got for Christmas, as I’m sure you can tell from the container
I am so very, very much looking forward to those hugs on Sunday. xoxo
oh! my sweet lady. Well first up I hope you’ve been able to breathe some soothing, fresh, fulfilling, clean and inspiring air these past few days. If yes I hope this weekend is the same. And every day, actually. Secondly, this recipe looks gorgeous. Thirdly, “reading myself into another world” = beautiful.
Love love love xo
Thank you darling. I’m sure this weekend will be better. My brother’s now coming up for Easter, so I’m looking forward to that.
xo
Breathe, relax and fulfil yourself with this granola. I like that idea
It looks fantastic – you are so inspiring
Happy Easter!
Choc Chip Uru
Oh golly, thank you! You’re too kind xo
I’m so glad it was a still day when you took that photo or Gma Sydney may not have had a Christmas present.
And keep breathing – deeply and slowly. It works wonders.
Bahaha! Not going to lie; I was slightly terrified and snatched it back as soon as I could. Desperate [photo]times call for desperate [photo]measures!
Thanks Mum. xo
I wouldn’t mind a baby giraffe over here either!
It’s so lovely that you get to go home and cook in your parents’ kitchen. Your granola looks delicious. I have heard that coconut oil makes the world of difference! xx
I do love there big kitchen, dishwasher, and backyard with natural light for photos. Oh, and I suppose I love them too
Coconut oil is magical in granola!
This combination of flavors makes my heart sing! Dried pears used to be my favorites, but now I can only find the really leathery, tough, totally dried-to-death kind, and not the soft and juicy ones I so love. They’re key to this recipe, I’m sure. Sigh, maybe I’ll bite the bullet and just order some good ones online. I really do miss them. And, I could write it off as a blog expense if I make the recipe, right? Yes, a good excuse is all I need….
Oh, I have a packet of the soft and juicy ones in my fridge right now; I wish I could give them to you! They’re like candy, so glossy and sweet
Hmm… would dried fruit get through customs? 
A blog expense, or a happiness expense. It’s all good.
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Hugs from over here. Things are bound to get better.
Thank you.
Now that I know where you are in all this I am sending you huge spring hugs Hannah. Breathe breathe. You’ve already got me crying. Xxxxcat
Oh Catherine, please don’t cry. There’s too much of that going around right now. But the hugs – they can stay. xo
Oh I do hope that you’re feeling better now! Is everything okay? Please feel free to talk to me ~ you can always drop me an email if you need to.
*Hugs* xox
Thank you Daisy
Oh dear, I’ve been away from my computer, and I fear that I have missed much. Oh dear, hugzzzzzzzzz xo hug xxxooo hug hug hug hug.
Hug.
Hugs are most welcome whenever they arrive. Particularly from you.
I do realise now that you’ve been some recent turmoil, but I’m still not sure that that either excuses or explains the tahini/rhubarb situation. Sadly I suspect that you might have done that anyway. I just can’t understand how you peer in the fridge and that happens. Your muesli looks lovely. I haven’t made any in ages. I do have some coconut oil that I could use. Did you do anything with the dried pears? When I used them I found that they made the muesli go soggy- never a good thing.
Bahahaha!! Oh Louise, I love that I can always trust you not to pander to me, and instead make me laugh out loud. In truth, that happened because I peered into the fridge and was out of peanut butter, saw tahini, knew that tahini is a bit too “tacky” and plain by itself for my tastes, so rummaged out the jam I’ve had in the pantry for months (because I don’t normally care for jam). And hey presto! Magic! Particularly when you grill the muffin with the jam and tahini already on, so that it bubbles up and burns your mouth to buggery.
Hmm, no, I didn’t have to do anything to the pears; they functioned just as the apricots did in my previous version. Were your dried pears… really gooey to begin with?