Viva la Vida Coldplay

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"

One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People…

Woodland Animals Straight from a Fairy Tale

 If forests and woodlands are your thing, and you grew up reading books by Beatrix Potter and believing that fairies possibly (probably) dwell in the forests, have a look at the photos below. They are beautiful photos of the animals that live in woodlands, and these nature photographers really captured the magical feelings of the forests.

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Whippet Style

By Darren M. Grine

One of his pastimes is to lounge all day

On his master’s bed is where he loves to lay

Start a game of chase, this whippet comes to play

He’s the one that’s somewhat mild

Far from the ones that are usually wild

His demeanor is that of a prince or royal child

With a rich origin dating back then

From Pharaoh to Cleopatra way back when

Surely roaming at will in a servant palace pen

Having an esteem of a newly crowned king

Food and drink is what’s expected for all to bring

Living like a monarch becomes his personal thing

He likes to be admired from afar

Posing as if he was a famous movie star

Given a chance, he’d be driving a fancy luxury car

Many times he prefers his own space

At a wink of an eye, he acts like he’s off to a race

Whether slow or fast, this whippet sets his own pace

Whatever he does, always goes

He’s a worthy whippet and it shows

Living life to the fullest is all he knows

With an ego that’s wide as a mile

His charming appeal will make you smile

Ideally, this is part of living a whippet style

Artist Stephen Hanson

You and 1.4K other

Picnic salad recipe

 

Just Add Mushrooms

The first of our Spring recipes with

Melissa Hemsley

is this delicious Za’tar roasted chestnut mushrooms salad Served with sweet potato wedges, fried halloumi and a chilli honey lemon dressing for an added kick! This really is the perfect everyday seasonal salad to be enjoyed on its own or as a tasty side dish.

Ingredients

400g Organic

Sainsbury's

Chestnut Mushrooms

2 tbsp ghee or olive oil

1 tbsp pomegranate molasses or balsamic vinegar

2 medium sweet potatoes, scrubbed but unpeeled

1 handful of pistachios or pumpkin seeds

250g pack of halloumi, sliced into 12, patted dry

Handful ripe cherry tomatoes, halved

4 handfuls rocket or your favourite salad leaves

2 handfuls fresh herbs like basil & mint

Sea salt & pepper, to taste

The method

1. Preheat the oven to 220C. Roughly chop the mushrooms into quarters and slice the sweet potatoes into thin wedges (not too thick so they roast quickly with the mushrooms). Take a roasting tray and tumble the mushrooms and sweet potato wedges onto the tray then toss in oil (or melted ghee) with sea salt & pepper then spread out into one even layer (which helps them roast rather than steam) and roast for 20 minutes.

2. Remove the tray from the oven, drizzle over the pomegranate molasses and sprinkle over the za’atar plus the pistachios, toss again, spread out again and roast for another 10 minutes until the sweet potatoes are tender and going golden at the edges.

3. Meanwhile make the dressing by finely grate the garlic into a clean jam jar then add the rest of the ingredients, pop the lid on and shake until combined. Alternatively whisk in a small bowl. Season to taste.

4. When you’re ready to eat, on a large serving platter, scatter over the rocket, cherry tomatoes and the fresh herbs, tearing larger ones and keeping smaller herb leaves whole. Distribute the hot mushrooms and sweet potato wedges and drizzle over half the dressing

5. Halloumi of course is best eaten straight from the pan so finally cook the halloumi by heating up a large frying pan and fry the halloumi on each side for about 90 seconds til nicely golden on each side. Then transfer to the salad platter and drizzle over a little more dressing and finish with the rest of the herbs and pistachios.

The Heirloom Gardener - John Forti

Happy Full Pink Moon!

The Full Moon in April is the Pink Moon (from the pink flowers – phlox – that bloom in the early spring). Other names for this Full Moon include Sprouting Grass Moon, Fish Moon, Hare Moon, and the Old English/Anglo-Saxon name is Egg Moon. It is also known as the Paschal Moon because it is used to calculate the date for Easter.

Artist ~ Sue Wookey

It takes 66 days for a new behaviour to become automatic.

According to the experts.

It takes 66 days for a new situation to become your reality.

We have lived in a pandemic for way over 365 days.

Your psyche has been altered.

You’re a different person now.

You have different expectations, different routines, different thought processes and different needs.

You have a different view of life, the world and your priorities have definitely shifted.

Please do not expect to bounce back into your old life, your old self after this.

Not straight away.

Not without some adjustments.

It’s just too much pressure after all you’ve been through,

You will need time, patience, kindness, understanding and you may find this hard to believe but you will also need some down time at home.

You’re a different person now and that’s ok my friend.

That’s ok.

Just please get to know the new version of you before the locks truly lift, that way you can pave a better road out. A kinder road out.

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to go back to the old you.

The old you has seen so much more now.

Change was inevitable.

Donna Ashworth

Author

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08BDWY9CP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_

Art by Stephanie Guzman

#lockdownlifting #restrictionseased #roadmapuvechanged #donnaashworth #tothewomen #poetry #pandemicpoetry #women #quotesforwomen #womensupportingwomen #wordstoliveby