Decaffeinated Coffee

Photo: August 27, 2016

A cup of coffee after a meal is about taking time.
Time for conversation.
Time to digest - not just the meal but the events of the day.
Lingering
Sipping
Slowing down

At the End of a Day

A long day of being mired in paperwork - preparing all my papers for tax time. It's enough to put knots in anyone's belly. I made good progress, but dinner followed by a decaf cappuccino was a fitting end to the day. Time to forget about numbers and details and just relax.

Coffee

A post dinner coffee
Finer than dessert
The frothy milk
Feels like decadence
An end to a meal
With time to linger

A morning jolt
To start the day
I like mine dark
Corse and bitter
Fair trade
Rich taste

No hundred mile
Diet for me
My coffee needs to travel
Its aroma fills my kitchen
One of life's simple pleasures

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for an ode to coffee, listen to Bach's Coffee Cantata
and here are the lyrics with English translation

Coffee Window

Coffee Window, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

This tiny coffee shop lives under a staircase. Window service only - I did not try their wares, but I cannot imagine working in such a small space all day!

Cafe au Lait

Cafe au Lait, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

Brunch is made better with a big bowl of café au lait. Mine came with a surprise. After I took this photograph I realized that the swirl looked like a bird.




Serendipity  - it was definitely an accident. But so much in life is like that. It's those unexpected surprises that brighten a day.

Fair Trade Shelves

Fair Trade Shelves, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Shopping with a conscience - I like to buy fair trade coffee and chocolate. It assuages my guilt at eating these life enhancers that travel such a long distance. At least I know the workers are properly recompensed, and in many cases, the items are also organic. It's hard to walk gently on this earth, both in terms of our environmental footprint and our social footprint. While I live in a country of plenty, so many live from hand to mouth. I stopped in Dix milles villages (Ten Thousand Villages) to look for some espresso coffee. This display of goods was in that store. They also sell a variety of gift items, all made by small co-ops where people are paid a fair wage for what they produce. I have often bought gifts there - a small act to make this world better.

May 27: Reflections on Coffee

Reflections on Coffee, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Daily Shoot: Shiny things attract attention. Make a photograph of a shiny object and post it today. Focus in on the reflections.

I would gladly reflect on coffee - in fact, sitting, sipping a cup of coffee is a great time for reflection. It's odd how a drink that can rev you up can also be a source of relaxation and quiet time. There is something to be said for a quiet weekend morning and the time to slowly sip that strong espresso and just savour the taste.
I like coffee that tastes like coffee - that intense flavour and aroma is part of the pleasure. Dark roast coffee (fair trade, of course) is a must. It's the quality not quantity of coffee that enhances the whole experience.

Mar 6/10: List

Mar 6/10: List, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Daily Shoot: Lists guide an eye in a linear way: menus, recipes, etc. As you're out and about today, find a list and make a photo.

The older I get the more conscious I am of the importance of eating right. I try to make sense of the lists on packages to see if I am making good choices. One thing puzzles me - vitamins and minerals are listed as a percent of the daily recommended allowance. I can't believe that my daily recommended quantities (I am about 5' or 152 cm tall) are the same as for a tall man. I do know that demands for calcium change with gender, age and physical condition, so how could this milk carton state that 250 ml provides 30% of your daily calcium? I wish they would be specific about quantities. I try to get my alphabet full of food from vitamin A to zinc (with the help of some vitamin supplements) but do indulge in some of life's more important nutrients such as caffeine and chocolate.