I’ve been going through quite a bit of therapy for this brain injury: occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy. Soon I am supposed to start vestibular therapy and vision therapy. It is quite a lot to do. However, in the 6 weeks of therapy, a great deal of progress has been made. I still have good days and bad days, but my bad days are more like my good days used to be. There is definite upward momentum in my recovery.
My speech therapist has given me assignments. Those assignments are to blog. If I write more, my language skills will continue to improve. I think she has a point there. I know that my thinking isn’t as clear as before, but I think if I work on putting words onto paper, or screen, as it may be, the words and thoughts may become clearer and easier to place. She has a specific question that I am currently mulling over, and will write about soon.
It has been an interesting experience to live in this head injury. There were many times, actually, much of the time early on, that thoughts would form in my head, but I struggled to get those thoughts from brain to my mouth. Now I am getting words out more clearly. At times I experience what we call “Yoda talk.” My sentences will develop in an interesting fashion: “Yogurt, you must eat.” I am working very hard “de-yodify,” but it does creep in from time to time. When I was unable to communicate clearly, I struggled greatly. It was depressing to have thought and not be able to express yourself, or to hear the thoughts which were clear in my mind come out jumbled and upside down. What was in there simply wouldn’t make sense.
This has forced me to examine myself. I am not able to do my profession at this time. Many of us in our society identify ourselves with what we do or with what we accomplish. I know that I did that. After months of being physically unstable (i.e. walking alone equalled falling over), needing help with simple tasks (like making coffee), and being unable to communicate effectively, I was forced to look at myself and ask the hardest question: Who am I?
This question is not about what I do or what I accomplish, or my role in this society. It is much deeper than that. “Who am I” asks those deeper questions about my likes, my dislikes, my hopes and desires, my wishes and dreams, my fears and insecurities…. “Who am I” changes the focus from my role in that big fast world to the deep vast universe of the inner me. I asked this question of myself everyday. “Who am I?” And would record what came to mind. In the beginning it was as simple as writing my roles of mother, wife, farmer, etc. Later it became deeper and searched hopes and fears. And later I felt peace as I realized that simply, “I am.”
This brain injury has been a blessing in disguise.
Who are you?
The amazing Sharon Astyk has a new book, Making Home: Adapting Our Homes and Our Lives to Settle in Place coming out soon. She asked me to create illustrations for the book. Of course, I accepted!
Fortunately, these were created pre car accident, as my eyes and hands still need a little time learn how to coordinate.
Here is a preview of a few of the images. There are 21 images in total.
|
Yesterday I had my first appointment with an occupational therapist. It was a good time for the therapist to see me at my worst. If I could see her on Sunday of a non-kid week, she would see me at my best. We had had a week of kids, a sugar-hyped bunny running Sunday, and the general chaos that ensues when 4 children are running around. I was at one of my worst points as far as fatigue, memory, and speech are concerned. The weeks that the kids are here are hard — my brain feels like it is slowly becoming pudding. Over all, the kids are good and considerate. The 5 year old reminds me that I have a “cussion” and that he needs to learn to read (to help me) or that he should explain how to do something (pour cereal). They are all pretty good at reminding one another to be quiet or to go outside, but it is still a lot of noise and chaos. By the end of the weekend, I am drained. Even before this accident, I was drained as soon as the weekend was over, but now it is greatly magnified.
The therapy went well. We talked about what I have trouble with and how we were going to work on things. I have homework, which included getting a pill box, a daily planner, and using a pain journal. The pill box will help me remember to take my meds. I often can’t remember if I took them or not, so if I can’t remember, I simply don’t do it. The pain journal will help me manage my own headaches — I will start to journal pain and write if I took meds for it. I will also be learning how to organize and manage. We will be using the daily journal for simple tasks. I have to relearn how to do a lot. Fortunately my spouse was with me, so I could remember and understand everything.
I will be seeing a speech therapist to help with some of my language function. It was explained to me that the pathways for oral and written speech are different. It explains some of the reasons that I get confused, struggle for words, stutter, etc while writing is often easier. It was so relieving to understand. I am here, stuck in my head, and there is an explanation.
Following the appointment, I had one with my doctor, who is wonderful. I think it is very important to have a practitioner that you can trust. We had a good laugh when I asked if I could drive again. I wasn’t serious, of course. I also learned that only time will help the ringing in my ears. It drives me crazy at times
Following everything I ran into a few friends. It was wonderful.This has been very lonely for me – and at times depressing. I am stuck with this brain that doesn’t work the way that I’m used to it working. It is like falling asleep with a Mac operating system and waking up to OS DOS. I have to find new ways to work around and get to various places. The places that I am getting to are not actual places, but they are folders of skills that are locked in my brain (like making coffee). My brain is learning new ways to get to that coffee making skill. I have thoughts in my head that can only really come out if I write. Speaking is one of those faltering skills. If I speak clearly, I often get confused or make strange conversations. I told my spouse that we had chickens for milk (when I meant eggs). For days we have wondered how one milks a chicken. If I speak clearly, it is often with starts and stops as I search for words and sounds. I just want to yell at my brain, “Brain, meet Mouth.” It’s all right there. I can feel it, I can sense it, but I can’t get it to work.
As wonderful as the day was, and as excited as I was about learning things about my brain and seeing old friends, I wound up over-stimulated. Over-stimulation is not a good thing for my brain. I spent the evening in a spinning room and hanging onto the porcelain in the bathroom. Today the room continues to spin and my eyes shift things from the right to the left. I almost feel as bad as I did 2 months ago. I am laying low and focusing on recovering for my next OT appointment tomorrow.
I guess I am making progress reports. It is nearly 8 weeks since the accident. I still have horrible headaches and ringing in my ears. Dizziness/vertigo is still here. It almost feels that “Captain Jack Sparrow” has taken over my body — I walk like I am on a moving ship. It may not appear that way to everyone, but it certainly feels that way. I am more stable than I was, but I can still not be trusted to walk without the possibility of falling over. It is not as bad as it was a week ago. That is progress! I am trying to read a little. The most that I can read are quick facebook posts: a sentence or two in sequence: after that it gets fuzzy. I tried to read a book the other day. I got about halfway down the page and was lost. My eyes jump up and down and all around. Simply reading was exhausting and I couldn’t follow. I don’t remember what I was reading, anyway.
Yesterday I successfully, in one try, made coffee. This was a huge step for me. I make coffee every day, but usually I forget some part of it. I forget to add the water or the coffee or the filter. I forget to turn it on. Or I forget that I made coffee. Yesterday I made it successfully. Today I forgot the grounds, but at least I have done it once. I can do it again.
I also made granola yesterday. Homemade foods are a part of my life. I even recently wrote about making granola. Yesterday, in an effort to learn new coping skills and to make me more independent in the kitchen, I tried to make it. I took out every ingredient and put them into order on the table. I placed two bowls, one for wet ingredients and one for dry ingredients, on the table. I went through each ingredient and placed them into the bowls. I then mixed the wet into the dry and baked the granola. The concentration it took to do that was exhausting. I was wiped out for hours and didn’t feel like “myself” until nearly 6pm (really, I haven’t felt like “myself” since the accident, but now I’m talking about the post-accident “myself”). That is what I am dealing with. I struggle to cook or to follow instructions. Although it doesn’t always look like it to outsiders, almost everything that I try to do takes a lot of effort.
This is not me. I have been a baker in a restaurant and could easily make dozens of breads, pastries, pies, desserts without much thought. When I was making one item, another would be rising or cooling. I could manage so many items in the kitchen at once. Now I struggle to manage one. It makes me want to pull my brain out of my head and stomp on it for a while. Of course, that would be counterproductive and I would end up much worse than I am now. (grin). I am fortunate that my spouse is a chef and my teen daughter is an amazing cook. I can’t be counted on or trusted in the kitchen yet. I know that these things come with time and that we will work on other relearning/coping skills. I know that we have to make connections in the brain and that healing takes a long time. I also know that I can’t push it or fight it. That goes against my nature and my desires. I want to be done with this. I am reminded that I can push it and be better in 10 months or relax and be better in 3 (random numbers — no one knows how long this will take). Every brain is different. Every injury is different. We can’t control how long it takes to heal.
My spouse and I have been talking a lot recently. I can’t always remember what we talk about. We may have a great discussion, but then I don’t remember what was said at the beginning or what the entire conversation was about. I may only recall a word. I wouldn’t be surprised if we end up having the same wonderful discussion 3 times a day. It may be exhausting for her, but I think that I would rather enjoy it. Of course, we also may end up having the same argument 3 times a day and I wouldn’t remember that either. I do remember the feelings surrounding a conversation, but not the actual conversation.
It’s quite frustrating to be able to write, but not speak well. I know I make sense (albeit with editing and time) in writing. But do not function well when speaking or remembering spoken words. I try to analyze everything — why is one easier (besides the ability to use a backspace/delete on the computer — which doesn’t seem to exist outside of the screen). I am told to stop thinking about it. I have noticed in my writing, when I go back to edit, I will miss a lot of words or have major typos or mixing of senses. For example, I may intend to write that “my idea is not clear” but it is orginally written, “me idea no clear.” I will most often miss: am, be, is, are, etc. Thnk goodness that I can go back and check.
I’m best in the mornings. In the afternoons and evenings, we never know what we will get. I have to remind myself that any progress is progress. The slightest, smallest step forward is progress. Rest is progress. Good days and bad are progress. I’m still here. That is what matters.
I adore early spring and the time to gather the freshest and newest gifts of spring. We are still gathering nettles as we wait for dandelions to grow. Nettles, along with dandelions, are some of the safest herbs to use. However, like all herbs, a doctor should know about all of the herbs you use.
Nettles are a wonderful treatment for seasonal allergies, such as hayfever. A simple tea made of dried nettle leaves drinken daily before pollen season can reduce allergic reactions.
Nettles are a natural diuretic, which is helpful in PMS symptoms. However, because of nettles strength as a diuretic, it is important to counter the use with the addition of potassium rich foods such as bananas and fresh vegetables. Nettles should not be used during pregnancy.
We are now collecting nettles to eat fresh cooked (like spinach) as well to use dried in tea, and to make as a tincture.
A Beverage tea
1 teaspoon of dried herb or 3 teaspoons fresh herbs
1 cup boiling water
cover and steep for 5 minutes.
To make a nettle tincture, we place nettles into a mason jar and cover with vodka. Shake the jar every day for 2 weeks. At the end of 2 weeks, strain the nettles through cheesecloth, keeping the vodka/tincture.
Resources:
The New Healing Herbs: The Essential Guide to More Than 125 of Nature’s Most Potent Herbal Remedies by Michael Castleman
The Book of Herbal Wisdom: Using Plants as Medicines by Matthew Wood
The Herbalist’s Way: The Art and Practice of Healing with Plant Medicines (Chelsea Green) by Michael Phillips and Nancy Phillips
This information can not be used as medical advice. Do not start a new herbal regimin without speaking to your doctor. Always speak to your doctor!
I am a generally quiet person, but if you know me, you know that I tend to be a little OCD. I like to have control, to fix, to have timelines, to keep going until it all gets done, and then go a little more. I have a hard time sitting without doing something. I’m always moving. Now I sit.
Being stuck in my brain has been a very frustrating place to be. Being stuck without that ability to move and think and run and fix and plan and go go go has pushed me to a new level of frustration. I couldn’t move, as with a brain injury, my balance limited my ability to do much. I was stuck sitting. I was stuck sitting without ability to have clear thoughts — my brain could not follow a conversation with another person or even with myself and talking to a dog did not provide much relief. I couldn’t read and retain information. So I sat. And sat. And sat. I cried and howled and wanted to throw things and run away from home — run away from this brain and body. The frustration of my limitations — externally and internally wore on me. I had to limit all auditory, visual, and brain stimulation. I was stuck to my own inner workings — at least those I could follow or understand.
When the rumblings of the anger and frustration of my limitations and isolation subsided. And the flashbacks of the accident subsided, I was left with me. Learning some coping skills, I realized that I needed to write things down in order to make sense of my brain and my world. I learned that the more I fought to return to the go go go of my former self, the worse I became. The more I wanted to fix and help and talk and work, the worse I became. The more I felt sad and lonely, the worse I became. The more resentful I felt at the world, the worse I became. I wanted it to be broken bones rather than a brain injury — broken bones heal with a set time. Brains don’t. Brains heal in their own time and way. No two people heal the same — I was stuck with me. No magical plan, no set of directions, no timeline. It was open-ended.
When I realized that, I knew that I needed to stop and let go of it all — let go of drive to go 100 miles an hour. I needed to accept my new self. I needed to realize that this brain is part of me now. This slower thinking and being is a part of me. The new ways of coping are a part of me. Slow pieces of progress are a part of me, just as lapses and confusion are a part of me. I needed to learn to simply be. Be one with myself and the process of healing. I return to this thought, with deliberateness. In my brain healing, it is easier to want the previous, the more familiar. Again, I resolve to “Be one with myself and the process of healing.”
My spouse and I had a conversation and only one word is remembered, “lesson.” The universe seems to be teaching me an important lesson in this injury. At this moment, I can only touch the outsides of the lessons. I know that there is much more to learn in the inner layers. My brain can’t grasp at it, but I am realizing that the slow healing process is forcing me to understand the lessons slowly — how I can understand them. My former self would never slow down enough to see or to understand. This may be a blessing in disguise.
Homemade yogurt is very easy for the home dairy. Looking at all of the stuff that is in commercial yogurt makes me happy to make homemade yogurt even more. Yogurt is a simple process of heating, cooling, adding culture, and maintaining temperatures. I often do this at the end of my granola making. The oven is heated, and then I turn it off to cool and I turn on the oven light. This maintains a warm temperature in the oven. When using a wood cookstove, I make yogurt in the warming oven. It is also possible to use a thermos, or wrap a towel around the pot. Some people even use a crockpot. I like to put it in the oven — as I was already using the oven and want to take advantage of the heat. There are numerous ways to make yogurt. I don’t think that one way is better than another. This is how I make mine — and I get good results and many thumbs up from my children.
Homemade yogurt doesn’t use the chemicals in store yogurt, doesn’t waste packaging, is less expensive, and you can control the sweetness.
Needed items:
- 1 Half gallon of milk
- 2-3 Tbs of plain yogurt (as a starter)
- 1 4-5 Qt pot with lid
- 1 Metal or plastic spoon
- thermometer
- cheesecloth (if desired for thicker yogurt)
We heat 1/2 gallon of milk to 185F to prepare the milk proteins for yogurt culture production. If you do not have a thermometer, this is also the temperature at which milk begins to froth, like in a latte.
Cool the milk
110°F is the temperature at which the yogurt cultures will consume the lactose in the milk, and reproduce themselves. When it has reached 110, we add culture. This can be purchased yogurt starter, commercial yogurt, or leftovers from your own homemade yogurt. You only need about 2-3 Tablespoons.
Stir the yogurt into the milk well. Cover and then keep warm. This is where I use the oven with a light on. You can also put your pot on a warming pad and cover with a towel., pour the mixture into a thermos, etc. The goal is to maintain a temperature.
Wait for seven hours! Seven hours at a warm temperature produces a yogurt that is thick and tangy. The longer you let it ferment, the thicker it will get, but the more tangy it will become. You may adjust the time to find the flavor and thickness that you like. My children don’t like a yogurt that is quite as tangy as other might. I like to thicken my yogurt and make more of a “greek style” yogurt by putting my yogurt into cheesecloth and allowing the liquid to drain. This can take up to 30 minutes — but you will get a very thick yogurt. 
We have now made a batch of plain yogurt. At home we add fruit to our own bowls of yogurt. You can also add honey. I always keep back 2-3 Tablespoons of yogurt for the next batch.
Happy yogurt making!
I may look normal, but i suffer from post concussive syndrome following a traumatic brain injury from an accident. I walked away with only a few bruises and scratches from flying glass. I still have one spot on my skull that is painful to the touch. At the time I was diagnosed with a concussion and told to take it easy for a few days. I slept for most of that first week. Weeks later I was having problems with processing, walking, and with communication. I was diagnosed with post-concussive syndrome. The healing time is unknown.
I wake up in the morning with a feeling that I am falling to the right. My gait leans to the right. It feels that the earth beneath my feet is leaning the wrong way. I stumble to the bathroom and to get dressed. All while feeling like I will fall to the right. This is my norm. I can finally walk some distance without assistance. For the first 3 -4 weeks I was bed ridden. I could make it to the bathroom without help, but could not walk further than that unassisted. At times I would attempt a jaunt downstairs, but that was exhausting and I would have to return. I can now walk outside alone. I can actually make it to the end of my driveway.
Immediately upon waking I have a dull aching headache that bands from one temple to the other. The headache goes behind my eyes and eyebrows. This headache rarely leaves. Nausea is often, but not always, the dreaded companion of these headaches. Bright lights can bring on an extra dose of high octane headache.
The ringing in my ears is my constant companion. I turn on noise of any type (music generally) to tune it out. I have to be careful, howevver, as too much noise causes other problems. I also have an uncomfortable feeling in my ears. They feel “full” like wads of cotton balls are stuffed in my ears. The cotton balls don’t muffle any sound, but fill the space. When this feeling is in my ears, my ears also feel painful, like they are bleeding. I can’t handle loud noises. This includes banging or loud chatter. It physically hurts my ears.
I struggle to read. Looking at words on a page for much time will force the words to start melting off of the page. It’s okay – I won’t remember anything that I read, anyway. I can look at a room and pieces of furniture will suddenly move left or right. Today I woke, blinked, and my left eye remained dark — like a curtain had pulled down. I blinked again and my sight was back.
Believe it or not, in some ways it is easier for me to write. It is much different than speaking, as I can take your time with what I write, and edit thoughts, spellings, and phrases. Finding words and putting together takes time, which is what I don’t have while in a conversation. Spell-checking helps me a little, although spell checker can’t always pick up on the words I intend to write. I seem to add letters or completely obliterate a word. I have to delete and try again. Of course, I can’t spend much time at a time writing. More concentration than that will send me to bed for hours or days. So, I limit myself and then return to the piece again and again. Sometimes I glance back over it (and notice all of the red underline spelling errors).
Moments of clarity come and go. I may seem like I am doing well. I may hold a great conversation. A conversation can only last 5-10 minutes before I am completely exhausted. We can have a beautiful in-depth conversation and in a short time I will have no recollection of the conversation — what we talked about or even that it had happened. I have to write things down so that I remember anything — even if it means remembering that I can’t remember. My conversations are interesting. I can either hear things backwards (my spouse said it was going to go get feed and I heard, “feed the get go” or I say things backwards, “put your sink in the spoon”, completely lose words (it took me a long time to remember the name of a “cock-a doodle-doo”), or stutter as I try to force words to come out of my mouth. Sometimes I resort to just pointing and saying “that.” At times I don’t have an “edit button.” I have been known to say strange and socially unacceptable things. Phone conversation? Don’t even try. I can’t follow. It is extremely frustrating for someone with an academic background to need to search for words or to attempt to construct a thought or a sentence. Sometimes I think that what is coming out of my mouth makes complete sense, but later learn that I am simply a ball of confusion. I feel that my brain power is at the level of my 5 year old child’s. Actually, i’m sure that his works better.
I have good days and bad. There are days that I seem that I am the most “normal” person in the world. I will write and read and talk and laugh. Then it is usually followed with a bad day. (Or a good moment is followed by a bad). It all indicates that I have done too much.
Please don’t ask me to do anything. I will forget. I have taken a shower and stepped out to only realize that I had forgotten to rinse my hair. I recall very little from the day before. If I’m lucky, I might remember that someone stopped by, however, I may not remember who it was, and certainly not what the conversation entailed. As strange as it may seem, I can remember strange little details about one thing, but completely miss something else. I will repeat one image or phrase in my head all day so that I can remember what it was, and not remember it until I am told about it. I will also tell you the same thing over and over, each time forgetting that I had already told you. Frustrating? Yes. For everyone involved.
The kitchen has become a dangerous struggle for me. I used to cook. I loved to cook. However, the mere act of turning from my right to my left can cause the room to spin. Remembering the timing of putting items together is more than a challenge. Directions? Forget about it.
I have also found that I do at times struggle with hand-eye coordination. I have to intentionally think about doing some simple tasks — like directing a glass or fork to my mouth. I struggle to draw and make the pencil go where I want it to go. Often it feels that it is not my hand, but belongs to someone else. Sometimes my mouth feels the same. I feel that I slur all of my words, I am told that I don’t, but I do have the physical feeling of slurring my words.
A room full of people can be completely overwhelming. It takes a great deal of concentration and is exhausting.I get confused following one person speaking, how can it be with multiple people? Forgive me if I excuse myself to some dark corner. I do miss people, I miss my friends. I wish I could see them. They may have stopped by, but I wouldn’t know. I wouldn’t remember.
I have never struggled with depression, but the frustration of my brain and the feeling of isolation (no way — I can’t drive and going to a store is more than difficult — too many images for my brain) is very hard. I do get into depressions and sometimes wonder if it’s worth it. If it is worth it to have people have to attend to me. If it is worth it for people to have to help me. If it is worth it to struggle so much with basic thoughts and functions. And how long do I have to go on like this? How long until I’m back to normal?
Please don’t feel sorry. I just want you to understand that if we speak or visit that I may not remember anything about it. I may not remember your name (truly) and may mention the same thing 3 or 4 times. I may seem “normal,” but it does take every bit of effort simply to have a conversation. It is how things are right now. I will decline invitations to various events — too much happening will cause confusion and can set me back.
Writing this took place over many days (and referring to previous notes). Now I’m going back to bed.
We like to greet the day with a bowl of homemade granola and homemade yogurt. The kids devour it and often request it for breakfast. Our granola is a wonderful, natural, and easy breakfast. We make a pan of it and then store it. Homemade granola does not contain all of the strange preservatives that are found in commercial varieties. It is also much more economical to cook from scratch. The children love this granola so much that it is difficult to keep it around. The wonderful thing about this breakfast is that it is versatile and you can play with the ingredients as you like. If you want dried fruit added, that can be added after the baking. If you want shredded coconut or nuts, they can also be added.
preheat 250 degree oven
3 cups oats
1 Tablespoon Chia Seeds (optional)
1 Tablespoon Hemp Seeds (optional)
1 Tablespoon wheat germ
1 Tablespoon flax meal
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
(mix these dry ingredients together)
In another bowl, combine the wet ingredients:
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup maple syrup (or honey, molasses, sorghum or a mixture of them).
The various flavors will give a sweeter or heavier taste. I like to experiment.
Mix the wet ingredients into the dry
spread onto a cookie sheet and bake at 250 degrees for about 1 hour. I let it cool on the cookie sheet and then break into bits.
We calculated the cost per serving is about 52 cents (using organic oats — nonorganic ingredients would bring down the cost).
We often top with milk or with homemade yogurt and fruit (fresh or preserved). Of course, you can also add various dried fruits and nuts as you like. We often make one big batch and then will add fruits and/or nuts to individual servings.
| Tall nettles cover up, as they have done These many springs, the rusty harrow, the plough Long worn out, and the roller made of stone: Only the elm butt tops the nettle now. This corner of the farmyard I like most As well as any bloom upon a flower I like the dust on the nettles, never lost Except to prove the sweetness of a shower. |
|
|
– Poem by Edward Thomas. 1878 – 191 |
I love spring. I love that the young “weeds” of spring are some of the healthiest for us. The nettle and dandelion, the bane of many a garden, have wonderful properties for us and can supply many minerals in early spring when little else is growing. Nettles are high in calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, trace minerals, Chlorophyll, and B vitamins.
There are numerous medicinal uses for nettles, including use during childbirth and heavy menses. It is renowned because of its astringent, expectorant, tonic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic properties and is often used as a remedy for arthritis, and renal issues. It is also good for diabetics, as it reduces blood sugar. Stinging nettles can react with medications, so be certain to talk to a health care provider when using nettles.
Nettles have been used to make cloth, paper, fishing nets, sails, tablecloths, ropes and textiles since the Neolithic times. They were woven for the cloth of uniforms for German World War I soldiers.
When harvesting nettles, it is best to wear leather gloves, a long sleeved shirt, and use a pair of scissors or knife. These are called stinging nettles for a reason!
The nettles leaves should be placed in warmwater in a sink and allowed to soak for 10 minutes. This washing process will remove some of the sting. It is the stinging silica hairs that inject you with formic acid and cause the sting. Blanching will fix it.
Gloves or kitchen tools are recommended for removing them from the sink. Transfer to a pot and simmer in hot water for 10 minutes. This will remove the remainder of the sting.
Nettles can be dried for future use in tea. They can also be used green as a tea or cooked and put into soup, quiche, pesto, or other foods as a spinach replacer.
Nettle Pesto Pasta
After blanching, nettles were placed in a food processor with oil, garlic, salt,pepper, oregano, and pine nuts (for a more local recipe, we would use sunflower seeds). These are blended until the desire consistency. It is easier to add a little more oil if necessary. Start with small amounts of oil and add to your desired consistency.
Top over your favorite pasta. We used quinoa pasta here and we topped with a little local feta cheese.
