Elizabeth's Lexington

I actually made it myself. Pretty chuffed. Here is the recipe. Super good & pretty easy, considering it's homemade bread.

I'm sitting here waiting for my big trip to begin. I'm fortunate in that I am waiting at my sister's really super cool house smack-dab in the middle of a horse farm in Lexington, KY. Literally I am sitting in the middle of a field, horses all around. Friendly horses that eat my apples. There is a tiny one, a baby mini-horse so very tiny indeed, named Peaches. Apparently this is referring to his 'peach' fuzz as his mane, but actually I've determined its more readily referring to his hirsutism signs on his face! gross.

Including the plethora of horse farms and whisky, I seem to be very fond of Kentucky. It's a nice place to be as I wait.

I'm leaving on Monday for literally a semester at sea with .... wait for it....Semester at Sea. Creative geniuses.
I will again be the Nurse on board this voyage, which will circumnavigate the globe East to West. Pretty cool experience, to say the least. We dock in 14 countries & little 'ole me can receive mail. (No subtle hints necessary)

My Side of the Mountain

                                     My Side of the Mountain (A Newberry Honor Book)

Jean Craighead George

Thanks, Brent!

I have a special love for children's books. In fact, I have a story brewing in my head to write my own. I love their message; I love their simplicity. Neither of these were not present in the beautiful story of My Side of the Mountain.

My friend, Brent, and I were in a conversation one day about books. I love to get the "Top" recommendations from people -- "Instead of your Top 10, tell me you're Top Top Top book. That's the one I want to read." In this conversation, it turned to our favorite children's books. I got overly excited telling him all about my favorite book as a child. It was about a squirrel who made a house for herself high, high up in a tree...and how she collected food to store...and fought off ants who climbed up...and...and....The pictures were beautiful and it was my most favorite book in the whole world. I probably read it 1,000 times as a child. It still stands as such a vivid memory for me.

In response, Brent offers me this title as his favorite, citing: "If you love me, you'll love this book." And in the end, I still love Brent and I did love this book. It was nice to have a break to read something a bit easier and with such a warm, positive story. It would be perfect for anyone age 10 and up to read.

The story is about a small boy, unhappy with his overcrowded life in New York City, who decides to take up residency in the woods. He goes with only the bare necessities--a penknife, a ball of cord, some flint and steel, and the clothes on his back -- and escapes to the Catskill Mountains. There, reliant only upon himself and the abundant resources of nature,  he survives and lives a life amongst the animals and trees.

Not only is the story enticing in many secret ways, but I learned so many practical new ideas about ways to use what nature readily supplies. For example, he journaled on white birch bark. I didn't know you could write on any bark, but you can. And, how to make a willow whistle. Even illustrations throughout! He taught me many lessons, if not inspired me for a more self-sufficient life myself.

I would highly recommend this, especially if there is a 10-15 year old you know that needs to be inspired. 

Similar adult reads would be Into the Wild by Jack Krakauer and The Last American Man by Elizabeth Gilbert.

BAYSUL or BAAHSUL. You decide.

Pesto is one of those things that just makes sense to me. 

Call me cheap, Call me an opportunist ....

but, why?? would you spend $5 for a tiny jar of the stuff

at the grocery vs. making mountains of it at home w/ end-of-the-summer basil?

Even novice gardeners seem to be able to grow basil.

It's easy to buy early in the summer and grows 

pretty quickly w/ plenty of water and sunshine. Basil can easily become an herb staple. ...

At least it is when I'm around because I seem to easily get obsessive over caprese appetizers in the summer.

So...

With several very tall basil plants staring at me daily and audibly (no kidding.) begging to be saved from the scorching MS sun,

I did what any righteous Southern woman would do: I made perfect end-of-the-summer-Pesto.

(This happened despite the fact that I had absolutely no time. I was rushed and stressed and had not even packed yet...but I was fixated on pesto!)

And not just any pesto: This time I capitalized on our finest local nut: the pecan

and was quite happy w/ the outcome. 

Pesto is so so so so easy. (It is easy)

and no one should shy away from making it, freezing it and enjoying it on the cheap.

(Price it next time you're in the grocery and you'll see...)

Nor should you let all that precious basil go to seed.

4 simple ingredients:

Basil

Parmesan

Olive Oil

Pine Nuts (but I've also used almonds, pecans and walnuts, all w/ tasty results)

 

 

Voila'. You're done. 

I tend to not use a recipe, but some good ones I'd recommend are 

from 101 Cookbooks

or

Animal Vegetable Miracle (w/ or w/out the tomatoes). 

Once you've done it once, you'll see how easy it is to just throw the ingredients 

together and come out successful every time.

And, while we're speaking of basil, there are so many good recipes I'd recommend.

I cook w/ it profusely and love the aromatic nature it adds to the room when doing so. 

One of my staple summertime desserts, which may or may not sound like a weird combination. I usually 

mix whatever berries I have on hand. 

And this recipe I posted a few days ago. I think I've told everyone about it! so good.

Geography of Bliss: I want to now go to Iceland

Geography of Bliss

Eric Weiner

(Thanks, Jill)

I have to admit, this book came as a big disappointment to me. Hailing as a top recommendation by a good friend/ a good travelogue per a quick glance, I was very excited when it found its way into my hands via a second hand book shop in Darwin. I was convinced it was the best way to help me pass the time waiting on my plane to leave...and it was, for the fact that I focused on why I wasn't in love with the book.

While it was interesting and certainly covered several countries': The Netherlands, Switzerland, Bhutan, Qatar, Iceland, Moldova, Thailand, Great Britain, India, and America, varied cultures of collective happiness, in the end, I just couldn't get past the authors grumpy attitude. Interestingly, he is a self-confessed grump, someone who has struggled with negativity and pessimistic perfusions his whole life. Why then, I wondered, is he the leading expert on happiness?? oxymoron; fail.

I did learn, however, that the Dutch are happiest because of their tolerance (not that their legal drugs, prostitution and avid cycling don't hurt!); the Swiss are happiest because of their contentment; the Qataris are falsely happy due to the excessive-make-you-sick materialism that comprises all of their country; the Thais are happiest because they are laid back; the Icelanders have no right to be happy but overwhelmingly are...

"...And then there is Iceland: a country that has no right to be happy yet is. Iceland gets the balance right. A small country but a cosmopolatin one. Dark and light. Efficient and laid-back, American gumption married to European social responsibility. A perfect, happy arrangement. The glue that holds the entire enterprise together is culture. It makes all the difference." P. 406

Unsurprisingly, the author ultimately finds that people make the difference. As I like to say: "It's not where you are, it's who you're with."

"Of all the places I visited, of all the people I met, one keeps coming back to me again and again: Karma Ura, the Bhutanese scholar and cancer survivor. "There is no such thing as personal happiness," he told me. "Happiness is one hundred percent relational." At the time, I didn't take him literally. I thought he was exaggerating to make his point: that our relationships with other people are more important than we think.
But now I realize Karma meant exactly what he said. Our happiness is completely and utterly intertwined with other people: family and friends and neighbors and the woman you hardly notice who cleans your office. Happiness is not a noun or verb. It's a conjunction. Connective tissue." p. 408 

Another thing I learned was the recent phenomenon, in the scheme of human history, of our ability to choose where we live. Over the centuries, most people grew where they were planted. It took some catastrophe -- flood or famine or the marauding hordes of Mongols who moved in next door -- to prompt a relocation. With the exception of the very rich people, people didn't move for kicks. Adventure, in the good sense of the word, is a modern concept. For most of history, adventure was something inflicted upon you, not something you sought out and certainly not something you paid for. p. 394

This, of course, spoke directly to me: someone who has not lived longer than 2 years in any one place for the past 13 years. I move alot -- for alot of different reasons. There are ginormous positives to these decisions, but also ginormous negatives (that I'm only just recently seeing and truly understanding). This about sums up how I feel: ...

"It is home 'for now', she says, And that, I realize, is the problem with hedonistic floaters like [girl] and with many of us Americans and our perpetual pursuit of happiness. We may be fairly happy now, but there's always tomorrow and the prospect of a happier place, a happier life. So all options are left on the table. We never fully commit. That is, I think, a dangerous thing. We can't love a place, or a person, if we always have one foot out the door." p. 400

And that, my friends, is the truth I've learned the hard way. 'One foot out the door' has given me an incredible myriad of adventures, people, places and lessons, yet left me with no home. I struggle with this, wrestle with this and am motivated by this --- but am somehow, despite it all, still deeply and thoroughly happy. I guess in the end, I am who I am because of my backpack.

Dying in Mississippi

In a recent read, the question was posed: "Where do you call home?" .... and instead of it being the place you were born, the author considered it more the place you want to die. Hmm...I don't often think about dying, so that was a bit difficult for me to immediately answer. However, after musing on it for several days, alas....I am confident that Mississippi is my home. At least for now; most likely in some respects, forever.

As my cousin's Facebook page proudly displays:

"Growing up Southern is a privilege. It's more than where you're born, it's an idea, a state of mind that seems imparted at birth. It's more than loving fried chicken, sweet tea, baseball, bibles, and country music. It's being devoted to screen porches, magnolias, coca-cola, and each other. We don't become Southern, we're BORN that way."

Despite the soaring heat and the humidity, I love being home now. I am so lucky that coming home each and every time still feels like the first time (at least for me, not for everyone who is now 'over' my comings and goings) and the excitement is always there.

In true fashion, I was welcomed this time with a remarkable Mississippi summer -- hot as hell! The moment I stepped off the plane, to even be able to catch my breath, I was forced to inhale deeply to compensate for the invisible bucket of humidity that floated in the air. That, on top of the soaring temperatures, made for a rude awakening home. It's all quite ridiculous really and certainly a factor I consider as I am actively thinking 'where I want to live' (Do I really want to live in a cauldron?).

I immediately relate the heat to increasing global warming, siting the fact that it was never this hot when I was a child & point out the same to my mother as she thinks back on her childhood two generations ago. Also, in true fashion of the South,  I was immediately shot down for being the 'green hippie' : "No way! I don't believe in global warming", I was told. (what the?!)

Anyways, aside from the weather, home has been fantastic. I arrived at the height of the garden so nutrition has been the least of my concern (which is often a worry in this fat laden state). Daily consumption of our tomatoes, cantaloupes, watermelons and berries -- not to mention fresh pesto, creative basil concoctions, plus okra, peppers & the like have satisfied me to no end. Somehow Southern summers always pair good food with good friends in a we're-so-hot-so-we're-just-going-to-sit-here-sort of way, so enjoying porch sitting, cooking out and just sitting around talking has comprised most of my days. It's been great! and as per usual, I already hate to think about leaving again soon. .....

What I Ate Tonight...

Heirloom Tomatoes with Fresh Peaches, Goats Cheese and Pecans.

And it was oh so good....so good that I'm actually blogging about it!

Awesome.

Find the recipe here!

I'm in Love.

There is nothing better in the whole wide world than sweet puppy dog kisses. The Holcombe's officially have acquired two more -- Onyx & Sampson -- and I couldn't have had a better welcome home gift! Officially I'm now in love. (again)

My Next Latest Initiative: Domestic Violence Shout Out

After living in such tight knit communities and witnessing first-hand the atrocious domestic violence cycle that most of my patients were in, I was beyond motivated to bring attention to the subject. I knew no better way than to send it to the media, as well as International and National bodies for Indigenous Affairs.
Here is the short list who heard from me:
UN Human Rights Committee
Australian Council of Social Service
Aboriginal Social Services/Affairs
Australian Human Rights Committee
Aboriginal Families Support Services
National Aboriginal Committee for Community Controlled Health Organizations
International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs,
plus a couple of magazines and newspapers.

I guess in this instance, I way over used my freedom of speech, but I hope I'm at least heard!

You can read the whole document here.



 

Starving Children in Remote Australia

This might give some perspective on where I've been living/working....

Read this!

Leaving? Coming? Home Again

My bags are packed and my provisions are loaded. I am now to the end of my remote Aussie adventure. In 5 short hours, I will board my 4^th trans-Pacific flight this year, which will ultimately be the last to take me away from the country that has become my second home. Since 2005, as a very naïve Graduate student and now as a Remote Area Nurse, I have spent about 3.5 years in this place. Which, given my transient record, is quite a feat in SJH’s world. I feel very comfortable and confident now in all things Aussie -- the land, people, culture and place & I dearly hate to go. However, I leave with a huge smile, even if ultimately I have no idea when I will return. I am smiling because after saying for so long that I wanted to work in Aboriginal communities, I can finally chalk the experience up as on of the greatest in my life thus far. And so, on this balmy Darwin evening, I sit here now reflecting on what the last 10 months of being in remote Australia has meant.

It’s meant that I ….

1. am comfortable with silence
2. and have grown to love terrible coffee!
3. have experienced a kick-ass sunset (if not also sunrise) every day
4. and have been profoundly educated on a culture far different from my own
5. have often been one of only a few ‘whitefellas’ anywhere within a six hour radius
6. and have seen massive amounts of desolate landscapes, only the scrub and the cattle to account for
7. witnessed births and deaths and violence and tears … and been solely responsible for rectifying each
8. understand even more so how precious a letter or package addressed to me actually can be
9. am accustomed to living with the basics, eating very blandly and being extremely happy for the small things
10. was blessed to get to share 6 weeks of it with my sister when she came over for a medical rotation. Aside from her, I’m pretty confident that no one will really understand this job and what I’ve been doing this year
11. am a better person for having to deal so intimately with a people and place where I am the outsider & the ‘whitefella’ which embodies so much negative history
12. will forever smile when I think of special people who have generously taken me under their wing to teach me about their culture and their land…and gently directed me when I made my mistakes
13. am extremely comfortable with my own company
14. have achieved my goal of working here, affording me to not have to work for the rest of the year
15. have been able to visit lots of friends and new places, such as the Great Barrier Reef with my sister, Devils Marbles and Brent & Paul’s hobbit home
16. have a deep respect for the community members who have made a positive life for themselves despite the odds
17. have grown tremendously as a clinician, having now been thoroughly exposed to all things tropical medicine across the entire life spectrum
18. trust myself and know my boundaries when it comes to what I am capable of and what I need
19. feel a bit slack on creating videos and slideshows and posting snapshots and such. No matter my desire to share my experience, I don’t feel like I maintained my steam.
20. have met some really incredible people, notably being Peter, Prue, Dallas, Emma, Sonia, Mat and Martin. I think I have gained lifelong friends from many, if not all, of these people… 
21. am a stronger, more resilient, less sheltered human being. I have been exposed to an incredible amount of ‘new’ that has filtered through me and left it’s mark. Forever, I have been touched by this land and these people

Aboriginal Australia from Stephanie Holcombe on Vimeo.

Made For Goodness

Made for Goodness

Desmond Tutu & Mpho Tutu

In preparation for the Fall voyage with this man, I thought it only appropriate that I read his latest book. This way I can be geared up to ask him why he doesn’t support condoms in a country that has one of the highest rates of HIV than anywhere in the world (this, I’m quite confident, will probably be one of the first things out of my mouth to him, regardless of how I realize it might not be the best ice-breaker…)

It’s a good book, don’t get me wrong…just a bit too Christian focused for my tastes. It’s a very positive portrayal of the true nature of humans: goodness. And, for a man who was the head of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee after South Africa’s apartheid, this is quite a profound conviction that he has. I can’t say that I disagree with him, I just have not witnessed near the amount of evil he has, hence my opinion comes from quite a safer place…

Ubuntu recognizes the interconnectedness of life. My humanity, we say, is bound up with your humanity. One consequence of ubuntu is that we recognize that we all need to live our lives in ways that ensure that others may live well. Our flourishing should enhance the lives of others, not detract from them.  P. 47

What does it mean to be at home in our own lives? Ideally, our physical homes are the places where we shed all striving and pretense. They are the places where no artifice is required in our self-presentation. Being at home in our own lives is a kindred experience. When we are at home in our lives, thought and action are all of a piece.  P. 53

I often say that God would rather we go freely to hell than that we be compelled to enter heaven. P. 67

Life is more than breath and a heartbeat; meaning and purpose are the life of life. P. 75

We help people to construct a life that they can inhabit from the mosaic tiles of their experience. P. 75

In the Bible, depravity does not enter creation in a tidal wave of wrongness. It comes in as a slow, silent leak, drip by quiet drip, until the earth is flooded. P. 89

The practices of goodness—noticing, savoring, thinking, enjoying, and being thankful—are not hard disciplines to learn. But they are disciplines, and they take practice. P. 92

Sometimes things are not right of wrong; they just are! P. 149

We can choose goodness no matter the circumstances. We can always ask, “What is the answer my best self would give? What is the action my best self would take?” p. 190