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A Hint of What's to Come

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As I awaken each morning, I notice that the sun is rising just a few minutes sooner than the day before. Such a small thing that makes rising to start the day a little easier. Although it has been a fairly mild winter here in the northeast, for those of us who are not fans of this season, winter always seems to last far too long. The short, dark days are difficult to get through, and the cold temperatures seem to sink into our bones and settle in. For months we seem to force ourselves out of bed to move forward with the day. Many days it feels that we are just going through the motions until we can return home, take care of necessary chores, and once again snuggle under a blanket for the evening. During these long dark days this can be our saving grace of safety, warmth and security. In the past few weeks we have begun to see signs of what lies ahead. The longer daylight hours that have recently appeared at the end of the day, have now begun to grace us in the early morning hours. It i...
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Daydreams

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  Daydream - Noun - a series of pleasant thoughts that distracts one's attention from the present. In the world we are currently living in, it would be a good thing if more of us spent time daydreaming. Indulging in daydreams can drive out the noise and chaos that we encounter on a daily basis and bring us to a much calmer state of mind. Something all of us can use as we face so much discord. Between the non-stop news cycles and negativity on social media, it is difficult to find much peace and solitude. Learning to tune much of it out can take time and practice since we have been conditioned to look for these things for so long. Not only does it have an impact on our frame of mind, but eventually on our physical health too. I remember a time when it was easy to lose myself in random thoughts and daydreams. True, in our more youthful days it seemed effortless to let ourselves drift and fantasize. Dream of places we would go, things we would do, and the people we would meet. Imagini...
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Appetizers for a Special Occasion - Avocado Deviled Eggs

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 Recently I was looking for something different to bring to a party as an appetizer. In my search I came upon a recipe for Avocado Deviled Eggs, so I decided to give it a try. As we all know, people will either love it or hate it. Turns out they are very good and were a big hit. These deviled eggs would also be an excellent addition to your Sunday brunch. Easy to make and your company will be asking for the recipe. Avocado Deviled Eggs   12 Extra- Large Eggs 1/2 cup Mayonnaise (I used Lite Mayonnaise) 1 tablespoon Dijon-style Mustard 1 teaspoon caper juice or sweet or dill pickle juice 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Dash of bottled hot sauce (or a bit more if you like things spicy) 1 ripe Avocado, peeled and seeded Snipped fresh chives (optional)   1. Place eggs in a single layer in a large saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover the eggs by at least 1 inch, add 4 tsp. white vinegar and pinch of salt (will make eggs easier to peel). Bring to...
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These Hands

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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.
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Prioritize Self Care

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 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...
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Let's Have Brunch - Blueberry Scones with Sweet Clotted Cream

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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...
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Far Beneath the Bitter Snow

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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...
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