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. As I stood staring out t...

When I started this letter writing adventure in 2012, little did I know I would still be writing them almost fifteen years later; and that they would still look forward to receiving them. As they have grown into young adults, our written "conversations" have changed, as have my words of wisdom and advice. When distance keeps you from spending time together, this is a wonderful way to keep a close connection. If you have grandchildren, start writing letters to leave a legacy for them to enjoy long after your time with them is over; it is a gift that keeps on giving. Below is my original blog. Technology is great, but there is something to be said about writing a letter. Not only can it bring a smile to the recipient's face but also allows the author of the letter to share their thoughts, hopes and dreams with someone they care about. To release all the things that have been running around in our minds just waiting to be shared with a confidant. I remember growing up how ex...

There are many recipes for whoopie pies, and many companies out there today selling them. None of them have compared to these. This recipe was given to me many years ago by a good friend and they are truly made the old-fashioned way. They are easy to make and absolutely delicious! Old Fashioned Whoopie Pies   1-1/2 cups Sugar 1/2 cup shortening 2 eggs 1/2 cup sour milk   Combine: 1/2 cup cocoa and 1/2 cup hot water 2-2/3 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda   Drop on a cookie sheet - size of a tablespoon. Bake at 350 degrees (10 to 15 minutes). Remove from cookie sheet and cool.   Filling: 3 tablespoons flour 3/4 cup milk Cook until thick and lumpy. When cool beat until smooth and then add: 3/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 3/4 cup shortening Whip until creamy.   Put filling between two cookies; repeat until all cookies are used.   

 As the last vestiges of fall’s colorful display begins to wane so many other changes are on the horizon. The long summer days have passed us by, and darkness is the unwanted friend that is quickly taking over. There are too many months ahead that we will have to endure more black skies than light. It will take all of our strength to find the things that will keep our soul filled with brightness, and we desperately need the light these days more than ever. If I am fortunate, over the next several weeks I will still hear the haunting call of my Loons in the early morning or twilight hours of the day. I hold tightly onto this sound in hopes that my memory will bring it forth after they make their journey to float on the ocean for the winter. I look forward to this beautiful music each spring and wish that it would last the year through; serenading me into a calm, peaceful place. The sun does not rise as high in the sky as it did during the summer months, nor does it feel as hot on ou...

Recently it seems to have been more difficult to find faith in many aspects of my life. Life changes, among other things, have left me with little energy to stay the course and believe all will work out as it should. This led me to visit my Faith Box to take stock of the worries I placed in there, and to see what should remain. A few have been resolved; however, I left them there for good measure. Others are still in need of resolution. A few new ones have been added today.  This seemed like a good time to once again share this blog about the Faith Box. Perhaps it will help some of you with your own struggles and hopefully will lead me back to finding faith once again. Each one of us have burdens we carry with us every day. Most people shoulder them well and live their daily life so that others would never suspect what they might be burdened with. Regardless of what we carry with us; we all do the best we can to persevere and push through to better days. Often, we spend too much ti...

Now that fall has arrived, we all turn to our collection of soups and stews for the cooler days. This one has a wonderful combination of flavors and is a hearty meal to warm you on a cold evening. From the kitchen of Woman's Day this will become one of your favorite comfort foods. Pork and Cider Stew 2 medium Sweet Potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch pieces 3 small Parsnips or Carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices 1 cup chopped Onion 2 lb. boneless Pork Shoulder, cut into 1-inch pieces 1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped 1/4 cup Flour 3/4 teaspoon Salt 1/2 teaspoon each dried Sage and Thyme 1/4 teaspoon Pepper 1 cup Apple Cider 1. Layer sweet potatoes, parsnips (or carrots), onion, pork and apple in a 3-quart slow cooker. 2. Stir flour, salt, sage, thyme and pepper in a small bowl to mix. Add cider; stir until smooth. Pour over meat and vegetables. 3. Cover and cook on low 7 to 9 hours or until pork and sweet potatoes are tender when pierc...