Barbara Lenier

I’m a wife, mom, holistic wellness coach. an aspiring plant based chef and yogi 🌱🙏🏻

[barbaralenier]

Summer in the Sierras 🩵

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Growing food at home doesn’t have to be complicated.

My Tower Garden has 3 kinds of cucumbers, 3 kinds of tomatoes, 5 lettuces, 8 herbs, 3 types of kale, 8 herbs, 2 squashes, 2 peppers, Swiss chard, arugula, all with no soil & very little space.

If you’ve been thinking about growing your own food, this is an easy to start. 🌱

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Basically the same view, a month apart 💔

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Happy Winter Solstice 💫 ❄️ 💖

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🎄

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Be. The. Light. 💫 ❤️⁣ ⁣ “From within or from behind, a light shines through us upon things, and makes us aware that we are nothing, but the light is all.” Ralph Waldo Emerson🎄 🕎 ❄️ 🎅🏻 🕯️ ⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ ⁣ #bethelight #love #inspiration #takeabreath #enjoy #slowdown #winter #december2022 #family #christmas #happyholidays #tree #wintersolstice #longestnight #hanukkah #candle #eightnights (at Riverside, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmky4_hL6tJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[barbaralenier]

This time of year can be incredibly difficult. 🎄 It’s absolutely okay to NOT be okay. You are not alone, there’s lots of us that are struggling. Reach out to your “strong friends”, the ones that always seem happy. You never know what battle someone is fighting. Be kind. There is hope. The tiniest of light can make a difference. 🕯️ Text 988 if you or someone you know needs help.⁣ 💫 .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #mentalhealth #anxiety #support #depression #youarenotalone #love #mentalhealthmatters #selfcare #holidays #december #reachout #suicideprevention #twitch #bekind https://www.instagram.com/p/CmN1hh0LsJs/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[bitesizedliving]

Corn Chowder

Every time I went to Mimi’s Cafe, I’d order the corn chowder. It’s warm, sweet, savoy, basically the perfect comfort food. I’ve had their recipe for several years and love to make it at home but like everything else I’ve modified it to make it plant based.

Ingredients ¼ cup vegan butter ½ cup onion chopped 1 cup celery, large dice 3 cups hot water 2 ½ cups raw potatoes, peeled and cut into ½ cubes 16 oz bag frozen corn (white or yellow) 1 Tbsp sugar 2 tea salt ½ tsp white pepper 5 Tbsp flour/gluten free flour 5 cups of plant milk (I use hemp milk) Fresh ground pepper

Directions: In a large pot or dutch over, melt vegan butter. Add onion, celery, simmer until softened but not browned. Add water potatoes, corn and seasonings. Cover and simmer 30 minutes or until tender. Whisk flour into 1 cup of plant based milk and stir into soup. Add remaining plant milk, adjust seasoning if needed. Simmer 15 minutes, until soup thickens. Add salt and pepper. To thin add a little more milk, to thicken simmer 5-10 more minutes. Serve with fresh ground pepper. Enjoy!

[barbaralenier]

We got away for a few days this month for our birthdays 🥳 ⁣⁣🎂💕⁣ It was wonderful to get up in altitude again. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ While we were in Big Bear we went to Pebble plains. What an amazing place! Left over from the Pleistocene age…it’s 1 of 2 places on earth where pine trees and cacti grow side by side. 🌲🌵 There are 17 protected plants & 4 rare butterflies that are unique to pebble plains. ⁣⁣🦋⁣ 🌎 ⁣ We stayed in an adorable Airbnb, ate great food, went site seeing & enjoyed each other’s company 💕 . . . . #augustbirthdays #getaway #bigbear #pebbleplain #unique #emptynesters #travel #wanderlust #ecosystem #california #leos #livingthedream #love #entrepreneurs #airbnb #findyourhappy #getoutside #travel #nevertoolate (at Pebble Plains, Big Bear Lake) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch8l0t0rQq5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[barbaralenier]

I took a much needed break earlier this month. ⠀

Sun, rain, wind, sand, green plants everywhere, glorious sunsets, good food and time with loved ones…the best things in life. 💫

It’s so important to do things that “fill your cup”. I wish someone had told me that when I was young. Instead I was praised for having nothing left to give and giving anyway. That is a recipe for disaster, trust me. You can’t give from “an empty cup”.

Asking for help isn’t weak, it’s one of the bravest things you can do.  ⠀

Taking time for yourself isn’t selfish, it’s necessary.  ⠀

Take time to breathe deeply, feel the sun on your face, smell the flowers, put your feet in the sand, enjoy the meal. ☀️🌺

Your mental health depends on it. 💕

[barbaralenier]

Earth Day 2022 🌎 

 

Earlier this month we went to Joshua Tree. Where 2 very distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave & the Colorado, collide.🌵🌸 🌼 

 

Joshua trees look like something straight out of a Dr. Suess book!  

 

Visiting Joshua Tree national park became much more popular after U2’s album Joshua Tree in 1987 (fun fact, that was my very first cd. Yes, I said cd). 💿 🎶  

 

Joshua Trees will be all but extinct by 2070 without swift climate action. That’s very sad considering they’ve survived 2.5 million years in an extremely inhospitable environment. 🌵

Most live up to 200 years. 

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#earthday #climatechange 

#california #desert #deserthotsprings #joshuatree #extinction #drsuess 

#nationalparks #desertflowers #mohavedesert #desertdandilions #roadtrip #u2 #bono #savetheplanet #stillhaventfoundwhatimlookingfor

[barbaralenier]

Happy 23rd birthday to this stunning young woman that I get to call my daughter. 💖 I’m so proud of you and the incredible work you’re doing. I hope this year is full of all the magic you deserve 💫🎂💕💐 . . . . #happybirthday #babygirl #october20 #birthdaygirl #fullmoon #loveyoutothemoonandback #allgrownup #youngest #calgrad #libravegetarian @sustainableandjustfuture https://www.instagram.com/p/CVQhLVppoMY/?utm_medium=tumblr

[barbaralenier]

⁣Summer is winding down but here in Southern California it’s still in the upper 90’s & 100’s. 🔥 Tomatoes and cucumbers are full of water and electrolytes and gazpacho is perfect on hot days. 🍅🥒🌶🍈 .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #gazpacho #summer #tomatoes #cucumbers #delicious #food52 #homegrown #wfpb #farmersmarket #shoplocal #inseasonnow #foodphotography #healthyfood #feedfeedvegan #homemade #lunch #soup #veganfood #veganrecipes #usewhatyouhave #bitesizedliving (at Riverside, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CT0zntlljRQ/?utm_medium=tumblr

[barbaralenier]

So. Much. Peace. ⁣ ⁣ I feel like I’m home.💙⁣ ⁣ I know I’ve brought my dad home. 💫 🦣 ⛷🚠 🌎 🎥 🙏🏻 💚 .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #beauty #mountains #adventure #art #beautiful #california #family #love #ski #hike #lakes #mammothlakes #mammothmountain #finalrestingplace #photography #travel #damatogirl #daddysgirl #home #visitmammoth (at Lake George Camp Ground, Mammoth Lakes, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSs4mJTrHEr/?utm_medium=tumblr

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These are taken exactly 1 month apart. I was tempted soooo many times to pick it, because patience is not one of my virtues! ⁣ Mother Nature is truly amazing, I love growing my own food, even if sometimes it takes forever! ⁣ 💚💜🧡❤️ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #growyourownfood #hydroponics #organic #towergarden #eatwhatyougrow #foodie #gardening #sustainable #beauty #eattherainbow #eatallthecolors #greenthumb #homegrown #organicgardening #vegetablegarden #bitesizedliving https://www.instagram.com/p/CSprngXhk3J/?utm_medium=tumblr

[barbaralenier]

This is 50 (1) 😉    I had the perfect birthday. 🎂 (Anything would’ve been better than last year 🙄)    Having the Tchaikovsky Spectacular at the Hollywood Bowl fall on my birthday & being able to go was amazing. Doing something I love, with people I love….it doesn’t get much better than that. 🥰 💫 💖 🦁   The 1812 Overture is always my favorite. The piece before it had a cello solo by Sterling Elliot @celloster Incredible! He’s a very talented young man.     Thank you for all the kind wishes. Thanks mom (& dad) I wouldn’t be here without you 💕 . . . . #august7 #leoseason #hollywoodbowl #Tchaikovsky #laphilharmonic #happybirthdaytome #uscmarchingband #conductor #bramwelltovey #losangeles ⁣#concert #laphil #cellist #laphilharmonic100yearanniversary #thebowlisback (at Hollywood Bowl) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSgBad-LLXD/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Sadie. ⁣ ⁣ The sweetest dog I've ever known & my best friend for the last 11 years, took her last breath in my arms last night. ⁣ ⁣ I'm lucky I was her person. ⁣ ⁣ She loved to eat my cucumbers straight off the vine. She brought me “treasures”. She could dig a hole under even the most secure fence. She was a light when I was in a very dark place. I treasure the time I had with her and I’m completely heartbroken 💔 .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #dog #cute #love #family #doggy #sadie #sadiemama #sweetgirl #carinterrier #alldogsgotoheaven (at Riverside, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPo-_k_rg1X/?utm_medium=tumblr