On My Mind Today

The last two days of vacation would be in Seville, Spain. Our Airbnb was a beautiful apartment a short distance from the historic center of Seville and was along the section of the Walls of Seville known as the Macarena Wall. The Walls of Seville are a series of defensive walls that surround the Old Town of Seville. The city has been surrounded by walls since the Roman period, and they were maintained and modified throughout the successive Visigoth, Islamic and finally Castilian periods. The walls remained intact until the 19th century. At that time, they were partially demolished after the revolution of 1868. Some parts of the walls still exist, especially around the Alcázar of Seville and some curtain walls in the barrio de la Macarena. On our one full day in Seville, we drove into the historic center to explore. After a wonderful breakfast at a sidewalk restaurant, we walked to the Seville Cathedral for a tour. The Catedral de Santa María de la Sede, better known as Seville Cathedra

Zucchini, zucchini, zucchini - so much zucchini and what to do with it all? After making several types of sweet zucchini bread, I decided to look for something that had a savory flavor. This recipe comes from Erin at thealmondeater.com . It has an abundance of flavor from the chives, zucchini and cheddar cheese, and can be ready in a little over an hour.  Savory Zucchini Bread 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 eggs 1 cup almond milk (or milk of your choice) 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted (I used grapeseed oil) 3 tablespoons chives, chopped 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese 1-1/4 cups zucchini, shredded Preheat oven to 350℉. If using coconut oil, melt and set aside. Wait for oil to come to room temperature before using it. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and garlic powder in a bowl. Then, add eggs, milk, oil and chives and stir until combined. Last, stir in the cheese and grated zucchini. Grease a loaf pan with coconut oil or non

After two weeks of traveling through Italy, and spending precious time with family, we would be taking the last week to relax and see a bit of Spain. Warm, breezy and beautiful, El Puerto De Santa Maria would a wonderful place to spend some time alone. On our way to El Puerto De Santa Maria, I was quite taken with the countryside along the highway. Field after field of Sunflowers were a beautiful sight. Some not yet blossoming, others in full bloom and now and then fields of flowers fading away. Colorful flowering bushes separated the north and south lanes of the highway which made for a calm and peaceful ride. Our Airbnb had a wonderful outdoor patio with a view of the coast, and we spent many hours relaxing and enjoying the view. There was a pool at the complex and we were surprised how cool the water was considering the hot temperatures (90 and above) in Spain. We were within walking distance to the main street along the waterway and took some time to explore a bit and enjoy some gr

We warmly embraced lazy summer days, believing they would never end. Early September filled with such warmth, gave no clue of what was to come. Changes occur at such a slow pace, we hardly notice as they arrive. Suddenly daylight hours diminish, and cooler nights are at our door. Shorter days bring dark mornings, and evenings begin far too soon. Each day passing by reminds us, of what the next chapter will bring. Before we arrive at November's door, there will be wonders for us to see. Mother Nature will cast her magic spell, and show us her magnificent display. Slowly we notice a stray leaf here and there, giving a sneak peek of what's to come. Showing off ahead of the other leaves, very proud to be the first to the show. Then one day everything changes, as brilliant colors cover every tree. Red, orange, and golden yellow, filling senses with beauty and warmth. Give thanks to Mother Nature, for her magnificent and colorful display. These visions we can take with us, when the c

Sometimes there is nothing better than a nice hot cup of coffee and a fresh baked cookie. This recipe combines two of my favorites - pumpkin and chocolate. Now that we have moved into fall, it's a great time to fill the house with the aroma of cookies baking in the oven. These are sure to become a family favorite! Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies 1-1/2 cups canned pumpkin 1-1/2 cups white sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 3/4 cup vegetable oil 3 cups flour 1-1/2 teaspoons milk 3 teaspoons baking powder 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1 - 12 ounce package chocolate chips 1 teaspoon salt Mix ingredients in the order given. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes on a greased cookie sheet. Enjoy!

Seven years ago, I wrote this blog with great hopes that society would take steps forward in the years to come, recognizing that we are all in this together and unity is the only way to a better world. Unfortunately, as witnessed by world events over the last several years, that is not the case. Sadly, things are worse so once again I will share this with a hopeful heart that three years from now our world will look a little brighter. "If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?" ~ William Shakespeare - The Merchant of Venice Strip away race, color, religion, politics, gender, etc., and underneath it all we are the same. We are human beings. We have the same needs, wants and desires. We want a good life for our families; a good community to live in; friends and neighbors we can trust. We want to be treated with dignity and respect, and to feel comfortable voicing an opinion, without the threat of being attacked by some