There She Goes: Slovenia Part II
Happy Wednesday and Happy June!
Today I am writing to you from Munich, Germany! It’s my first time to Germany and I am excited to see some highlights and to simply get the feel of the city. The past couple of weeks in Slovenia were nothing short of spectacular. From reconnecting with an old friend, to pack-rafting the Soca, to needlepointing in the mountains, I departed with a heart filled with gratitude and an intention to return!
As we enter the month of June, it feels like a natural time to realign ourselves and do a little refreshing. Our uplifting Soul Stitching With Sheila will help get you there ❤
Captured while driving to Burlington, VT for a bridal shower- Brooke
Songs To Stitch To, Sing To, Get You Through The Week
Sunday Vibe - Cisco Adler, G. Love & Special Sauce
Sound and Color - Alabama Shakes
Untitled - Bedon
Forget Me Nots Blooming at Starlight Farm- Brooke
Set Aside Some Time This Week For Some Self-Care
Inspired this week by Alex Toth, who posted on Instagram about his self-work on anxiety and depression. He shared 10 things that have helped him throughout life, and I pulled three of them to share with you.
I. Dancing in front of the mirror: really, when is the last time you did this? Toth says “the stranger dance moves the better” and I am in full agreement. Set aside some time to get weird and, who knows, even make yourself laugh.
II. Gratitude list: I personally love integrating this in either first thing in the morning or as part of my nighttime routine. Toth suggests listing 5 things, though I always go by threes.
III. Light candles: Show a little love for the environment that you are in and light a candle or a few. Toth says that he feels like when he does this he is “giving myself a hug.” If you want to go the extra mile, create your own soy candles!
Uplifting Things Happening Around The World
I. The sound of butterflies migrating. YouTuber and tropical entomologist, Phil Torres, released a video documenting the moment when millions of migrating butterflies take off after winter. Listen in here! Torres also noted that monarch butterflies numbers are up 140% compared to last year.
II. Britain is in a two-week coal-free record, which means that the country has not used coal power plants to generate electricity since the 17th of May. Instead, power is being generated from solar, wind, nuclear, gas and some hydro-generation. It’s pretty amazing to consider this, in contrast to the coal dependent years leading up to the Great Smog of 1952.
III. People are becoming more empowered to be a fix-it (wo)man! Have you heard of Repair Cafe? Other than the online presence, there is a growing network of cafes worldwide in which you can learn how to fix up old/broken possessions. See if there is one around you! This is perfectly timed for spring cleaning.
Fresh Lilacs in the garden- Brooke
Sunday Salutations:
Below are three mantras to meditate on this week:
“You say, good fortune used to meet you at every corner. But the fortunate person is the one who gives themselves a good fortune. And good fortunes are a well-tuned soul good impulses and good actions.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 5.36
“We should take wandering outdoor walks, so that the mind might be nourished and refreshed by the open air and deep breathing” Seneca, On Tranquility of Mind, 17.8
“When I see an anxious person, I ask myself, what do they want? For if a person wasn’t wanting something outside of their own control, why would they be stricken with anxiety?” Epictetus, Discourses, 2.13.1
There She Goes
I spent another week in Slovenia and I kid you not when I say it rained 90% of the time. I know that many areas of the world are experiencing atypical spring storms, so this rain was nothing to complain about. Instead, we made the best of it. We visited museums, worked on our backlogs of creative projects, ate some delicious food, and did things like turn the studio apartment into a gym. Hoping the next week brings better weather as we explore Germany and Switzerland! Here are some more Slovenian highlights:
Sights that have made me say “WOW”
The sun in Ljubljana. On Friday we experienced a sighting of SUN and it was truly remarkable! After a week of clouds, there is something inexplicably wonderful about feeling the sun kiss your face and give you energy for the day you forgot you were capable of. Above you can see my (candid!) reaction.
The Slovene Ethnographic Museum, specifically the temporary exhibition called “Where bees are at home”
Did you know that Slovenia has the most beekeepers per capita? The country has a long history of beekeeping and and it is no secret that the country boasts exquisite honey. This exhibition featured past and present apiaries and a diverse range of hives. My favorite part was walking through a hive designed to human scale. They had even covered the siding with a honey, which I loved breathing in as I absorbed the experience of being a bee.
Bolder Scena, which is a rock climbing gym in Ljubljana and it is BEAUTIFUL. It was certainly the cleanest rock climbing spot I’ve ever been to and apart from the bouldering walls, the gym featured three mixed-exercise rooms and a full bar. Yep, apparently alcohol and fitness are almost always paired together here.
Destination Fun Facts
Not only do students in Slovenia receive a free education, they also receive discounted food! My friend told me about “student coupons,” which students can cash in at restaurants all around Slovenia. The government subsidizes meals to take some pressure off of those working toward an education. Pretty cool, huh?
Wine is a big part of life in Slovenia. There is one vineyard for every 75 people and Slovenia apparently is home to the oldest vine in the world that is still producing grapes. The photo above shows a vineyard in Eastern Slovenia that is famous for its heart-shaped road.
There are nearly 50 different dialects in Slovenia! As it’s a country of 2.3 million people, I was very surprised to learn about the diversity within the Slovene language.
Good Eats
Buckwheat pancakes, two ways! Yes, these were both homemade and yes, they were delicious. As mentioned in the last newsletter, we try and make our own meals more than we go out. We typically visit the local farmer’s market and supermarket, and get creative with what we whip up! This week we focused on buckwheat flour, as we tested out a sweet buckwheat & oat recipe (for breakfast), and a savory buckwheat & arugula twist (for dinner).
EK Bistro is an awesome spot to checkout if you find yourself in Ljubljana. I was impressed with their menu of thoughtful small plates (like toast with roasted cauliflower and one with marinated salmon) and their drink selection (delicious coffees and homemade sparkling teas). There is seating both inside and outside along the river, and both offer a wonderful ambiance.
“Cold drip” in a wine glass at Cafe Čokl. I love testing out the different ways that cultures, and different cafes within those cultures, prepare their coffee. Cafe Čokl was a favorite stop of mine when I visited Slovenia in 2017, and it did not fail to impress James and I this time around! The cafe imports raw, unprocessed fair-trade coffee beans and roasts them at their location. They take pride in the presentation of each order, such as presenting their cold drip in an elegant wine glass.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and listen with us today!
We hope you have an excellent week filled with lots of happy stitching.
Be well,
Brooke & Sheila