On My Mind Today

Of all the seasons in New England, fall is my favorite. The warm days and cool nights of early fall breathe life into my soul and energize me. Then October arrives and Mother Nature puts on her fall foliage show with a breathtaking display of red, orange and gold. Truly a vision unlike any other. When late fall arrives the days and nights get cooler; leaves fall from the trees and November arrives. November, one of my least favorite months (with March being the other); gray days with little sunshine to warm our bones and brighten our spirits. If it were not for Thanksgiving at the end of the month, and Christmas in December, it might be extremely difficult to get through the darkness. November can bring gloomy moods if we allow it to, so I try to find some fun and enjoyment even on these days. When my oldest daughter was around two, we happened to be looking out on a cool, gray November day. The wind was blowing hard, and the leaves were falling from the trees. ...

Although it is not always a perfect life, it has been filled with love, hopes and dreams. Places we have gone and things we have seen, forever memories that can be recalled. Years go by giving time no thought, with so much in our future to do. We take for granted the life we have, never imagining what road lies ahead. One day things begin to slowly change, a memory lapse from time to time. Written off as not paying attention, or listening to what has been said. As time passes it is too much to ignore, and a search for an answer ensues. The words they speak too difficult to absorb, will overwhelm and take your breath away. Far too young for this to be true, disbelief at what you have been told. The only thing that can be done, is to try and slow it down. The long goodbye they call it, you have no understanding of what this means. The journey you are about to embark on, is far more than you could ever surmise. At first the changes are minor, everyday life remains much the same. We go and...

From the always reliable Betty Crocker, this variation of apple pie is absolutely delicious! Think caramel apples and you will know how great this combination is. Prep time is only about 25 minutes, and it's easy enough to make with your children. I know this pie will be one that is made often in our home, and it's sure to be a hit with your family also. Caramel-Apple Pie 1 box prepared, refrigerated pie crust (2/box), softened as directed on the box, or you can make your own pie crust. 1/2 cup butterscotch caramel topping (I used sea salt caramel topping) 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 8 cups baking apples, peeled, cored and sliced 1/2 inch (6-8 apples) Fresh McIntosh work well. 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon milk 2 teaspoons sugar 1/2 cup butterscotch caramel topping Vanilla ice cream , if desired 1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Place cookie sheet on bottom rack. Make pie crusts as directed on box for two-...

Life can be exhausting at times. There is too much noise, too much chaos, and an overabundance of negativity coming into our days. It's not surprising that people look back at different eras and think that life may have been easier, or at least simpler with less stress. In thinking about this, I decided to look at a few different eras of days gone by to see what they were like. I wonder if anyone might choose to go back to any of these times? 27 BCE-14 CE: The Roman Empire - a period in Roman civilization that was governed by emperors and large territorial holdings around the Mediterranean Sea in Europe, North Africa and West Asia. There were secure borders and a stable central government, and they enjoyed a period of prosperity and technological advancement. If you were a Roman citizen you were entitled to education, military pensions, democracy and welfare for the poor. A non-citizen received protection from invaders, free passage for supplies, and engineering advancements for a ...

Seven decades have passed, which has made me pause and look back on my life. I have a good life and over the years have had few regrets. The one question I do ask myself is "where did that young woman go?" The younger woman had many dreams, goals and ambitions, excited about life, fun and carefree. Dreaming of adventures that she would embark on when stepping out on her own, she was willing to take risks to get there. In her mind were visions of traveling the world and becoming a famous writer or photographer. With a heart filled with joy and wonder, she would share her experiences with everyone so they could imagine being in all of the places she had been. Along the way, life got in the way, and these dreams and adventures ended up at the end of the list. Adulthood brought work, marriage and children, and somehow, she got lost; lost amongst all the daily tasks and routines; lost amongst all that she did to care for those she loved. Prior to this some of my own fears kept me ...

My daughter shared this recipe from  tastefulventure.com  with me, and I figured it would be a nice change from our usual dinner menu. Living with a Sicilian, I wasn't sure how he would react to spaghetti squash. I did add ground sweet Italian sausage as he doesn't feel it's a meal without meat. Much to my surprise, he actually thought it was great. Filled with a mix of great flavors, it is a dish that will grace our dinner table again in the future. Italian Spaghetti Squash Boats 1 large Spaghetti Squash 1/2 Red Pepper chopped 1/2 Sweet Onion chopped 4 cloves minced Garlic 1/4 cup chopped fresh Basil 2 1/2 cups of Marinara Sauce 1/2 cups shredded low fat Mozzarella cheese 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 Tablespoon Olive Oil 1/4 tsp sea salt 1/4 tsp black pepper Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wash and cut Spaghetti Squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds. Place squash halves cut side up on foil lined baking sheet. Brush 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil over insides of squash. S...