No reason

Don't you think there's something wonderful about smoke from a chimney? I never drew a house without a smoking chimney when I was little. Nor does my daughter now.

It says it all, says enough. That there's life in that house there. Maybe a fireside with a real fire. Toasty toes in scratchy socks. Things drying. A stew on the hob. It's cold outside, but not in that house with smoke from its chimney.  

D took two days off work. Just like that, no reason. That's the best reason of all; when it's time taken just be to be at home doing something something, nothing nothing.

We went for walks and fed the ducks and had a pizza by the river. We read books, toes touching. We took the training-wheels off Chotto-Ma's bike and watched her wobble and tip. It's funny how her nervousness made her hum all the way, the tune rising sharply in pitch every time she tipped.

It was kind of wonderful. Like smoke from a chimney, with a stew cooking under it.

Adzuki beans, carrots & chorizo stew


1 1/2 cups adzuki beans
2 ripe tomatoes, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 onion, sliced
4-5 carrots, diced in circles
4-5 inches chorizo, diced in circles
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp cumin powder
Some feta, crumbled
Olive oil
Salt

Soak the beans overnight. Boil the next morning with bay leaves, garlic, tomato and salt.The beans should be simmered till soft.
Heat olive oil in a pan with a lid, and saute the onions, carrots and chorizo.
Add the boiled beans, pepper and cumin. Add more salt if needed and let is simmer till the carrots are cooked.
Take it off the heat. Let it cool a little and sprinkle the crumbled feta on top. Drizzle with olive oil.

We had ours with couscous.