A NON-LINEAR LIFE

A NON-LINEAR LIFE

As is wont to happen, all my weekend good intentions decided of their own accord that a far better use of time was to celebrate. I agreed and a wonderful time was enjoyed by all. 

This got me to thinking about life and the plans we make. I also considered the direction that the blog is currently taking me. If, indeed, there is any direction.

Life is not linear. Sometimes it takes one completely off the road into forests, fields, ravines and rivers. Some of the diversions are pleasant, yet others fill one with anxiety. Is it possible to embrace oddness amid the inexplicable? Is it possible to look into each day with a sense of wonder and joy, even if the day has not turned out to be what was expected?

A glimpse into how nature itself deals with the unexpected may give a clue on how to navigate each day. Last night when I went to bed, the wind was so strong that I was concerned that a storm was imminent. I prepared everything for heavy rain. We had not one drop. This morning, the wind has died down completely and the day is calm as the plants try to survive the intense heat. Some leaves are curled inwards to conserve moisture as others turn the face of their leaves and flowers away from the path of the sun.

As for me, I've decided that I will not stress about timings or changes unless they are fully within my control. Otherwise, God's got this and I'll go along for the ride.

Last night, I made the granadilla (passion fruit) sorbet that I had intended to make over the weekend. Just in time to quench thirst during this heatwave. It's beyond delicious. I'll never buy store-bought sorbet again. I'm going to be experimenting with other fruits as well to see which fit the recipe and where I have to make adjustments.

Granadilla sorbet

Here's a quick and easy recipe on how I made it. The trick to making good sorbet is to ensure that the fruit-water-sugar ratio is correct. The correct amount of sugar gives the wonderful sorbet texture and the process helps to make it light and fluffy.

RECIPE - GRANADILLA SORBET

Ingredients:
2 cups strained fruit pulp 

2 cups sugar

1 3/4 cup water

Method

Heat water and sugar together until the sugar is dissolved. 

Remove from heat and cool completely.

Add strained fruit pulp

Pour mixture into a large, shallowish baking pan

Place pan into the freezer 

After half an hour, use a table fork and mix the sorbet gently to remove crystals

Do this three or four times until the sorbet is fluffy

Scoop the almost solid sorbet into a container/containers with a lid/lids and place in the freezer

Freeze overnight

If the ratio is correct, the sorbet will be light and not too solidly frozen.

The poem to match my mood of embracing a non-linear life.

ABSTRACT SYMMETRY

I stared down at the fabric of the road ahead of me
Hypnotised by the stitches binding the tarmac into one
Mile after mile my eyes were drawn along
The stitch upon stitch of the meandering line

My thoughts converged with my vision for a while
As before me ran that perfectly formed line
Converging at points and fading at times
The line upon line in an abstract form

I raised my eyes to the distant streaming ties
Blinked twice or thrice to clear my errant thoughts and mind
Back to the ever present road ahead of me
The black upon black of wheels on newly laid tar