On My Mind Today

As I get older it's the small things that bring me joy. With warmer weather I am truly enjoying the awakening of nature with her beauty and sounds. Early in the morning, or lying in bed at night, listening to the haunting call of my Loons is something I wait all winter to hear. If you have never had the opportunity to hear this, there is nothing else like it and it reaches deep into the soul. Being fortunate enough to watch a Bald Eagle fly over the lake from time to time - so beautiful and majestic. We are not sure where they are nesting but feel blessed to have them on our lake. On an early morning walk the only sights and sounds are those of nature. Out on the lake you might see one boat in the deeper waters with a lone fisherman enjoying his solitude. The lake's only sound is that of the gentle waves as they come up against the shore. The birds are all awake and you can hear their chatter as they start their day. Even if you don't know one bird's song from another t...

"Friends are kisses blown to us by angels...Author Unknown"  Over the years I have been blessed to meet some wonderful, amazing people that I am lucky to call my friends. It takes time for me to let someone in and share my life, so these precious people are lifelong friends. We have been fortunate over the last few months to spend time with a few of them. It does not matter if we saw each other recently, or if it has been several months or a year, it always seems like it was just yesterday. There is no awkward silence, or any lull in the conversation, we seem to pick up right where we left off. Hours are spent bringing each other up to date on our families and how they have grown. Our children are no longer children, and our grandchildren are growing into adults. Where did the time go? So much time filled with reminiscing of days long ago. Stories that bring much laughter, and sometimes a tear or two. Every one of them a precious memory we are fortunate to keep with us for a...

I have had this recipe for many years, but do not remember where it came from. It is very easy to make and ready in less than an hour. Filled with flavor and a nice kick of spice from the andouille sausage, it is a delicious meal for those who love spicy food. Serve with hot sauce and a side salad or crusty rolls. Cajun Chicken & Sausage with Red Beans and Rice   6 oz. Andouille Sausage, sliced  1 Onion, quartered and sliced 2 small bell peppers, sliced 8 oz. cooked chicken cut up 3 scallions, sliced 1 pkg. Carolina or Zatarain's Red Beans and Rice    1. Prepare Red Beans and Rice as directed. 2. Heat large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and onion; cover and cook for 3 minutes          stirring occasionally until sausage is lightly browned. 3. Add peppers and sauté 2 minutes. Add chicken and sauté until hot. 4. Add sausage/chicken mixture to Red Beans and Rice when done. Stir in scallions. Serve with hot sauce.

So many things have been gathered over the years, and so much if it has been forgotten. Open a drawer or closet door to discover long lost collections. Too many pictures, some just a blur, that never made it into albums. If left like this no one may ever know which family members are reflected? Oh, the fashions we tried from young to old, so many we could not just let go. Whether too big, too small, or no longer our style, we have hung onto them as if they were gold. Those times we felt we did a good cleaning, we were only fooling ourselves. The minimal space we seemed to free up was quickly stuffed full again. We think our belongings are priceless, and want to pass them onto those we leave behind. The truth of the matter is in front of our eyes, to our children they don't seem to shine. Clear things out, let go of what doesn't matter, and leave them the precious memories. Let them spend time reminiscing over old photos, and not sorting through what you did not.

Our daily lives are filled with constant noise and images. Something is always "on"; whether it be television, computers, phones, radios or noise surrounding us in public spaces, our ears and eyes are bombarded for hours every day. Not only does all of this make us feel we need to engage with these things, but it takes time away from our families and gives us no peace. Being surrounded by all of this it's no surprise that people feel stressed or depressed. Their senses get no down time; some of it by choice and some by circumstances of their daily life. Either way, it's not healthy. Our brains and our senses need time to regroup and recharge. If we don't give them time to heal from the relentless mayhem in our chaotic environment, our stress level will continue to increase and lead to negativity and depression. Both of these have a way of spreading to those around us. We need to find time to be still in our lives; to embrace total silence. We need stillness, for i...

Give your brunch a bit of Mexican flare with this Fried Egg Tostada from Food Network Magazine. You can prepare this with a lot of heat, or not so much for those faint of heart. Use mild salsa if your family and guests prefer or kick it up with the hotter version. I used medium salsa, sliced jalapenos and feta cheese. However you decide to make them, they are delicious! Fried Egg Tostada Serves 4 4 tostada shells 1 tablespoon Butter 4 eggs salt and pepper Iceberg lettuce, shredded Lime juice Salsa Sriracha Cilantro Cotija cheese, crumbled Lime wedges 1. Heat butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Crack eggs in pan and cook until the white is set, but the yolk is still runny, 3 to 4 minutes. 2. Top tostada shells with shredded iceberg lettuce; season with salt and a squeeze of lime juice. Top with 1 to 2 tablespoons salsa and fried eggs. 3. Drizzle with Sriracha and top with cilantro and crumbled cotija cheese. Serve with a lime wedge.