On My Mind Today

These hands once young and smooth, now carry the scars of time. Some days I gaze upon them, and wonder whose they are. Once the hands of a child, that loved to play in the mud. Never a thought or worry, as to how these hands looked. As years passed priorities changed, and these hands became important. Lotions, potions and painted nails to show off their natural beauty. Then arrived the child raising years, keeping these hands so busy. Carrying babies, then chasing toddlers, playing and enjoying precious moments. Laundry and cleaning, meals to cook, making a house a home. Ensuring that all within the walls, feel safe, secure and loved. Years of working took their toll, slowly these hands transformed. Once smooth and blemish free, small changes began to appear. Now the senior years have arrived, and time has left a trail. As I think of all these hands have done, I welcome every scar, wrinkle and flaw.

 Why is it that we can give so easily to others in our life and treat them with gentle kindness, but we seldom can do so for ourselves? Why do we not feel that we deserve the same level of care? The people in our lives are important and making them a priority seems simple. Doing for them can bring us immense joy, and we would not consider putting them last. Doing so would make us feel selfish, but the real question we need to ask is why is it acceptable to put ourselves last? No matter how strong we are, and how big a burden we can carry, nobody is capable of doing so all the time. At some point our shoulders will begin to bend from the weight, and we will feel like we can no longer go on. Our mind and soul will be weary and in need of rest and rejuvenation. There are people who are exceptionally good about self-care. However, many of us find it extremely difficult to put ourselves ahead of those around us. Even if we are aware that we need to take care of ourselves, in our mind we...

Recently fresh blueberries were on sale, so I decided to make blueberry scones. From the pages of Taste of Home this recipe is easy and makes enough to put a few in the freezer for a special treat later on. To go along with the warm scones from the oven, I've included the recipe for a sweet, clotted cream that I'm sure everyone will love. Blueberry Scones 4 cups all-purpose flour 6 tablespoons sugar 4-1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons cold butter 2 eggs 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk,  divided 1-1/2 cups fresh blueberries*   1. In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a bowl, whisk eggs and 3/4 cup milk; add to dry ingredients just until moistened. Turn onto lightly floured surface; gently knead in the blueberries.   2. Divide dough in half. Pat each portion into an 8-inch circle; cut each into eight wedges. Place on greased baking sheet. Brush with re...

Although we have had bitter cold temperatures, it is a joy to wake up to a bright sunny sky. It has not been a terrible winter in New England terms, but it has been a cold one. These bitter temperatures are  more  difficult to deal with than warmer ones filled with several feet of snow. Since we are more than a month beyond the shortest day of the year, each day brings us more daylight hours which makes winter more tolerable. Longer days and sunshine  give  us hope for what will come in the next several weeks. Although we will inevitably get more snow before all is said and done, the warmer days ahead will prevent it from remaining for an extended period of time. Each milestone lifts the burden of winter a bit more. In just four weeks we will turn the clocks ahead for daylight savings time making the weight on our shoulders feel a bit lighter. Two weeks after this the first day of spring arrives making our soul feel brighter and hopeful for what is to come. Then East...

I have been trying to prepare meals that are healthier for my pasta loving Italian. This recipe is from the GLP-1 Weight Loss Accelerator Cookbook by Christina Dick. She uses ground turkey in this, but I did substitute lean ground beef as I knew he would not eat the ground turkey. If I had not told him, he never would have known that I used cauliflower rice instead of white rice. Definitely delicious and it will be added to my recipe collection. The recipe listed ingredients per servings, so I adjusted for 4 servings. Stuffed Bell Peppers with Ground Turkey & Cauliflower Rice 4 large bell peppers, halved and seeded 16 oz. lean ground turkey 1 cup cauliflower rice 4 tablespoons tomato paste 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon dried oregano 4 teaspoons olive oil salt and pepper, to taste Preheat oven to 375℉.  In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onion and turkey until browned. Add cauliflower rice, tomato paste, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook 2-3 more mi...

There is magic in the wind,  and her wings bring enchantment as they fly. Some days they will envelop us in warmth, and others the bitter cold will cut through us like a knife. March winds come in cold from the north, and become gradually warmer as spring arrives. As they rush through, they cleanse away the weariness of winter, preparing us for new growth to come. Summer days her wings will feed our soul with a warm southerly breeze, bringing much needed contentment. Its warmth reaches into our bones and eases daily worries for a time. We cling to this warmth for as long as we can, as we know these days will be shorter than our heart desires. The magic of fall arrives on cooler winds that still have a hint of warmth. Her wings carry that distinctive smell of autumn, a mix of drying leaves, wood fires, and spices from homemade apple pies  awakening memories from the past. As fall begins to fade, the wind whirls falling leaves for one final dance. Winter winds can be so harsh an...