Refugia is a term used in ecology referring to amazing examples of life re-emerging out out disasters such as volcanic explosions because there were small areas of life which held on. The concept of Refugia Faith first struck me as potentially isolationist and I worried that we may all start sinking into a fear of caring only for "our own". However, the voices and examples of how we can learn from nature's exemplars of resiliency helped me see our particular work with LRC as critical even amidst systematic and economically powerful evils. Lifting up and leveraging each other's learnings doesn't just make us feel good - it works - in the long run.

• Phoebe

--Henry

https://open.spotify.com/track/7if42bWRZ9x0xofHy4EMtV?si=1T2iNYBiTd-QDwrq-1vlJg&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A0db5o1FtmNXhIfxi3gXs51

"This is the fountain at the DeQuattro Cancer Center in Manchester, CT where I sometimes meditate between appointments."

-- Sent via Phoebe from her daughter, Thea 😁

Advent Calendar, written by Janet Cooper, a member at All Saints Lutheran in Blue Springs, Missouri.  Each day is dedicated to a creature or plant that lives in the diverse ecosystems of Missouri, and her reflections help build relationships and understanding about the interconnections of all life. It is a fresh and delightful way to reflect during Advent, and Janet gave me permission to share it with all of you. In addition to the written reflections, a calendar of pictures for each day provides a visual connection as well.

1 oz orange juice

2 oz club soda

5 drops vanilla or vanilla extract

Shake orange juice and vanilla together with ice, strain into a chilled coup glass, and top with cold club soda. Tastes like a creamsicle!

Non-Alcoholic French 75 (more investment)

1/2 oz lemon juice

2 oz club soda

1 oz tonic water

1 oz Sweet-Bay Peppercorn Shrub*

Lemon Twist

Shake lemon juice and shrub in ice-filled shaker, pour into a chilled coup, top with club soda, tonic water, and lemon twist.

* Shrubs are flavor-packed mixers which are generally non-alcoholic. Most liquor stores will have options—look for something with citrus and herb flavors—or you can make your own with this recipe (feel free to cut in half)

5 medium lemons, peeled, fruit reserved

1 small grapefruit, peeled, fruit reserved

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

1 1/2 tsp ground black peppercorns

1 tsp flaky sea salt

3 sprigs of thyme

3 cloves, crushed

2 bay leaves

In a medium bowl or large jar, add citrus peels, sugar, peppercorns, salt, thyme, cloves and bay leaves.

Muddle (crush with a muddler or the end of a mixing spoon), making sure the sugar is worked into the peels and the peels express their oils and start to get flattened out. Set aside at room temperature for six hours or overnight. The sugar should be mostly dissolved.

Juice the reserved fruit and add to the mixture after it’s set. Stir to dissolve sugar and salt, strain through a fine mesh strainer or a few layers of cheesecloth, press the solids to get the last juice out, and store in an airtight container.

This recipe was in House Beautiful magazine featuring an excerpt from a cookbook written by Pamela Anderson. She is not famous for cooking, but this recipe is outstanding. I modified it a little and get rave reviews. It will go well with Baird’s mocktails.

Vegan Artichoke Dip

Here are my changes:

1. I skipped both the overnight and 1-hour soaks. Instead I covered the cashews in boiling water and microwaved them at full power for 8.5 minutes. Every microwave is different, so start with 5.

2. I cut the onion in half, thinly sliced it, and then caramelized it.

3. When the onions were almost done, I added 1 lb. fresh spinach.

4. I used roasted garlic.

5. I didn’t add lemon at the end.

6. I used avocado mayonnaise.

   
   

Water

1/2 bag cranberries

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

2 cinnamon sticks

1 orange/cutie, sliced

Rosemary/Christmas tree needles

Instructions

Stick everything in a pot with water and let simmer on the stove or in a Crock pot! It will make your home smell wonderful. You can also experiment with how much you want of each ingredient- more cranberries for sweetness, rosemary/pine for sharper smell, more cinnamon for a spicier scent, etc.