Winter

As I watch the beauty of the falling snow, I am reminded of the ebb and flow of the forces of nature.

For with these short days, we become more aware of living our lives defined by the cycles of the sun and the moon.

The forces that heal, that comfort, that center the soul. And the forces that bring change, upheaval; storms that call on us to exemplify strenth, fortitude and patience.

A forced opportunity to evaluate our Blessings-family, friends, our own heartiness and fortitude as Mainers that define who we are are at our very core.

The need to reach out to our neighbors to offer comfort and support. For that which tie us together in community and brings us peace. Today I reflect within this quiet space as Mother Nature shifts our reality to one of gathering resources to ride out the storms, and take solace in our ability to overcome obstacles.

I am so grateful to be surrounded by the love of my special people, and the community which supports me to thrive and be creative.

And within that reality I eagerly plan with anticipation and gratitude the inevitable slow unfolding of Winter into Spring. And with that trasformation of the melting snow and longer days, the birth of Rooted.

In the Spirit of the new hope and onset of the growing Season, I am inspired by the visions of souls gathered around the table in loving community. The comfort garnered from the pure energy of ingredients nurtured by the intentions and fortitude of local farmers and growers.

For this is what we celebrate. Rooted was created to honor the gems that take root in the Spring and bloom forth to fulfill their destiny of providing comforting nourishment.

This cycle of life of which our Ancestors were so closely tied is worthy of the highest praise and gratitude. Eating close to the earth, low on the food chain, with intention.

Rooted in the Earth, Rooted in resilience. Rooted in history.

I welcome you to gather around the table in celebration of these gifts from Mother Nature. Gifts that are an honor to partake in. Lessons in gratitude.

Giving thanks to the bounty from the land that we call Hone.

This land that nourishes our body, or Spirit, and our Soul.

Cheers! Annalisa

Shifting Seasons

As the inevitable external shifting of the Seasons nudges our consciousness, the rhythm sparks an awareness of the internal shifts.

An awareness of our own transitions, our journey forward, where we have been, what we hope to grow towards.

The Seasons serve as a source that guides us to build something meaningful. A sense of place. An energy that carries us from one reality to the next. The unfolding of life in Maine, inevitably defined and guided by change. We are called to be conscious, imbedded in the present, moving out any stagnant energy. In this light, although Autumn brings some foreboding of tougher elements to maneuver, it is also a Blessing bringing awareness to our lives.

Awareness of the past, Hope for the future.

The past always serves as that spark that balances and Roots us in our manifestations.

At Rooted, history defines the space, the feeling, the vision. And that shared sense of history unites us in our present. Being present. Mindful. Aware.

In this building, perseverance and fortitude hunkered down for the Winter until building could resume on the main house. A young family armed with grit and determination weathered the Seasons to create a life that would feed their Souls and nurture their dreams.

The Smith family entrusted me to be the next caretaker of this land. My gratitude overflows. My neighbor Ingrid’s family worked this land before them with love and grounded Roots.

These ancestors built upon the energy of those who came before them, working the land, creating their home, and planting the seeds of intention. I am beyond honored to be part on this lineage, honoring the ancestors, and focusing on their perseverance when the going gets tough.

Let’s face it, despite the romanticism, a rural existence, especially alone, can see some tough days. Endless tasks defined by the Seasons demand attention and energy. And they certainly wait for you if you don’t get to them.

And with this comes a deep connection to the rhythm of nature that defines one’s life. A connection to the cycle of life, defined by natural systems, plants, animals, the sun and the moon, defining our place as humans living in harmony with all other life forms.

For me, this moves me on a cellular level and creates the blueprint for how I live my life. How I breathe. How I respect and honor the entire ecosystem in which I live, survive, and thrive.

Rooted. Consciously. Respectfully. Fully.

From which I create. And share.

This experience.

Fully defined by this land. This homestead. These Values.

I look forward to sharing these values as you gather around the table. In celebration. Making memories.

These dinners at Rooted are intended to be limited. To be special and intentional.

Gifts from Nature. Perpetuated by generations.

Much Love and Light. Cheers!

Annalisa

Sustainability

Food sustainability isn’t always at the forefront of many peoples’ minds when the ultimate goal is to tame the grumbling tummy and get food on the table—quickly and efficiently.

I get it. Life doesn’t always lay out the red carpet for perfection. Life is challenging. Eating is challenging.

But…when we have the luxury of looking ahead, and being mindful of making small changes, super awesome things can come to fruition. Especially in Maine. We are so lucky to be Blessed with a myriad of family farms rocking the local vibe, growing organic food, and being super mindful of the environmental, ethical and social outcomes of growing amazing food. Yup, we’re awesome.

What’s inspiring about thinking ahead, and making conscious choices, is we can take the time, and commit to mindfulness and create ‘better.’ Being mindful of what we use to feed our body and our soul comes from setting the intention of focusing on how we really want to live. A big part of how we live centers on the food choices we make…food that inspires us. Food that defines us. Food that just plain feels good.

Taking the time to plan ahead allows for aligning one’s values with what food goes on our tables. Our table for one. Our table for friends and family. Our table we share with our fur babies. Yes, some of us must dedicate some time for gathering food for our furry family members. Especially if you have very discerning rabbits, ( I’m looking at you Barley and Hops), but I digress.

Operating with a sense of alignment to one’s higher values has so many rewards; mainly it just feels amazing. It is always wonderful to hold certain thoughts and behaviors in high regard, but to then actually set those higher sense of purpose ideals into action, and act on those principles, creates a whole different perspective.

You know that flowing feeling when what you want aligns with what you create…yeah, that feeling! When you commit to sustainable food sourcing, both in your daily lives and when planning an event, super awesome groovy vibes can flow to make you feel fantastic!

So in light of running the risk of being much too wordy, ( I know my ADD has shifted into overdrive now that I spend way too much time at the computer-working waaaaaay too many things at once), I am going to call it enough for today, and dive into what Sustainability really means next time…and then what you can do to embrace the concept when planning your eco-friendly event, wedding, or any given day of the week.

If you’re in New England at the moment, enjoy this absolutely dumping snow, and, as always, Feed Your Soul, in whatever way that means to You!