I’ve had a busy few week and not much time to write so I decided to launch my very first ever BEST OF from past Things We Love entries…Hope you enjoy revisiting them or seeing them for the first time if you missed them before.

Michael Singer Living Untethered

Click image to see a review of this book.

Just finished Michael Singer's book Living Untethered--it made a really big impression on me. If I had to summarize it (and I might massacre it, I am warning you), I would say that it is very clear account of what it is to be inside of you, why the mind does what it does, how the heart opens and closes and why we have such trouble "being here now." When we encounter an interaction that is uncomfortable, we push it away in order to protect ourselves instead of letting the experience come in and go out again--i.e, if we have a bad encounter with a snake, we then associate every time we see something snakelike (i.e., a piece of rope, a big worm) to that bad experience and it brings up the past trauma over and over again even though it is not the reality in front of us. When we store up these past experiences, they compound and become a mess of blockages that inhibit our energy flow, prohibit us from our natural state of wellbeing and affect our spiritual growth. Singer attempts to shed light on this by illustrating how the moment in front of us is not bothering us but we are bothering us. He shows us that we have the capability of freeing ourselves from this scenario, leaning away from the noisy mind and changing our focus to what is right in front of us, the reality as seen clearly in the stillness. Away from worldliness into spirituality. A lot to work on but being clear and aware is the first step...

The Secret Life of Four, Five and Six Year Olds and the Documentary Chasing Childhood

Click image to see the very important documentary Chasing Childhood: a must see for any parent of young children…

So much for me these days is trying to find some distraction from what is going on in politics and the world...and it is a struggle because I know that looking the other way is what enables the status quo to exist--I suppose there must be some kind of balance between burying my head in the sand and seeking joy in other things.

This entry is in the category of seeking joy: The Secret Life of 4, 5 and 6 Year Olds is a heartwarming and often humorous, sometimes distressing, British television show that gives us amazing insight into the emotional and social development of children. A specially designed playroom is the setting of the show where we can observe, through hidden cameras, a group of children in the midst of their free play. As viewers, we have the opportunity of watching them make friends, communicate with each other, juggle leadership roles and behave and navigate life in a group setting... The show's expert psychologists offer commentary on the children's behaviour, providing insights into how they are developing and offering advice for parents and educators. This is one of many episodes of The Secret Life of 4, 5 and 6 Year Olds which can be found on youtube.

This is a good follow up to my recent post on Chasing Childhood, the documentary I recently wrote about in a previous blog post and one no parent of young kids should miss-- it accentuates the importance of free play in childhood.

My Mother's Prized Linzer Torte

My beautiful mom and daughter, many moons ago!

This recipe is my mom’s crown jewel. She made it for every special occasion and it was anticipated and beloved by every member of our extended family and friends alike. It is my great pleasure to share it with you right now. She would be happy to spread the word…

EDITH SMILOW'S LINZER TORTE

1 stick and 1 tbsp. butter

2/3 cup sugar

2 egg yolks

1 cup all purpose flour

1 1/3 cups ground almonds

2 squares semi-sweet or unsweetened chocolate, grated

Dash of Kirsch (optional)

Dash of cinammon

Three types of jam mixed together (for later)

Mix/Beat sugar, butter, egg yolks together--can be done in a food processor. 
Add the rest of the ingredients except for the jam until everything is mixed together. 
Place dough in refrigerator for 1 hour or more wrapped in plastic wrap.

Divide dough in two parts, one slightly bigger than the other. 
Roll out each part between two pieces of lightly floured wax paper. 
Place the bigger half of the dough in a greased spring formed pan about an inch up the sides as well. 
Spread a layer of the (mixed together) three jams on top (my mom used raspberry, strawberry and blackberry but the type of jam is your choice). 
Use the other smaller half of the rolled dough for the lattice work by cutting into 1 inch wide strips and arrange in a lattice design over jam layer. Don't worry if it breaks--you can just press it together. 
You can also fill the spaces between the lattice strips with a little more jam if you would like. 
 Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until bubbly and crust is browned. 
Cool completely. 
Dust with confectioners' sugar if desired.

Painting of the Week

My latest commission for a wonderful couple in New Harbor, Maine.

Charity of the Week:
Unicef Aid to Gaza

About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.