On My Mind Today

Children are born innocent, and come with no preconceived ideas of jealousy, distrust or hatred. Children arrive in this world with love, acceptance and a wide-eyed curiosity of the world; eager to greet new people with an open heart and accept them as their equal - no more and no less. Unfortunately, as they grow and are exposed to the negative ideas and feelings of the adults they encounter, their innocent views are torn apart. They are not born with hatred and jealousy in their hearts; these are things that are taught. Even if only one child lived in a home filled with this behavior, it would be just a short time before it spread to their peers. When we observe young children, who have been taught acceptance and kindness, we can see the innocence that still remains. They have no fear of someone who may be different than they are and are truly happy to welcome them as a friend. They have trust, which spreads just as quickly as the negative; only the good behavior makes for a much...

With the summer gardens producing great fresh veggies, it's nice to use them in new recipes. This one comes from the Pillsbury website. If you are a lover of spinach and feta combos, then this easy recipe will be a great addition to your brunch menu. If you don't have your own fresh veggies then you can purchase them at a farmer's market or at the grocers. Spinach, Feta and Egg Bubble-Up Bake 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper 1-1/2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic 5 ounces baby spinach, coarsely chopped 1 - can Pillsbury Grands Homestyle refrigerated Buttermilk Biscuits (5 biscuits) 10 eggs 1-1/2 cups half-and-half 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper 1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) crumbled feta cheese Sliced green onions or chopped chives 1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13x9 (3 quart) baking dish with cooking spray. 2. In a 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper; cook 3 to 4 minutes, st...

After weeks of hot, humid, stormy weather, what a joy it was to wake up to bright, blue, sunny skies and a gentle breeze. Seems like we have been slaves to air conditioning forever. After a while the air feels stagnant and you hope and pray for a breath of fresh air. As nice as air conditioning is on the hot, humid days, having it running for an extended period is stifling. The open windows welcome the sound of birds singing, and gentle waves lapping against the lake's edge; sounds that have been hidden for too long. To once again hear the haunting call of the Loons, their music reaching down into my soul, bringing a sense of peace. Boats that have been sitting idle through the storms once again are cruising across the water. Where there has been so much silence, the echo of children's laughter as they play brings a smile to my face. Coming into the second half of August we know it won't be long before things start to change. That warm, sultry summer weather we wait f...

I am completely perplexed when I see how obsessed people are with someone rich and famous; whether it's movie stars, sports figures, millionaires or someone in a powerful position, there are those who spend far too much time following them. They are voyeurs watching through tabloids or social media, as if every move made is of great importance. So many who are the object of this voyeurism encourage it. They engage via social media (Facebook, Twitter or Instagram) and are constantly checking to see how many followers they have. As if this alone makes them far more famous or important than they were yesterday. Such fragile egos that always need stroking. In many ways I feel sorry for them. However, I have even more sympathy for the ones who don't believe that their own lives are as important as someone famous. They couldn't be more wrong. They are someone's mother, father, daughter, son, grandchild, aunt, uncle, grandparent or friend, and being any one of these is ver...

Summer is coming to an end soon, but there is still plenty of fresh fruit to enjoy. If you love peaches and coconut, then this fruity pizza-style dessert from Taste of Home is one you will enjoy. The crust is made a day ahead so it can be refrigerated overnight; then you can easily make the topping for your fruity pizza. Coconut Peach Dessert 1-1/3 cups sweetened shredded coconut 1/2 cup chopped almonds 1/3 cup sugar 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/8 teaspoon salt 2 egg whites, lightly beaten 1/2 teaspoon almond extract Topping: 2 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped 4 cups sliced fresh peaches 1/2 cup sugar or honey In a small bowl, combine the coconut, almonds, sugar, flour and salt. Stir in egg whites and extract. Line a baking sheet with foil; grease foil well. Spread coconut mixture into a 9-in. circle on foil. Bake at 325° for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate overn...

We all know that no matter what our summer plans are, we are at the mercy of the weather. It would be nice to think that we could control things and just tell Mother Nature "you can turn on the sunshine and warmth today - we are going to the beach". However, we all know that she will not listen for she has her own agenda that day. We have had the pleasure of my grandson's company since Wednesday evening. He will be 15 in a few short days, and it's been fun observing how he has become an adult in some ways, but still a boy in others. So different from the small boy who has come each summer for a visit since he was only two. Although I miss the small boy, it is fun to be around the young man he has become. We always try to fit in as much as possible in a few short days, so inevitably there will be some events that hit a snag with a rainy day (or two). Fortunately we had at least a couple of good days before the rain arrived. One of the things on his list was to ...

I am a big fan of tarts; they are easy to make and you can either fill them with veggies, cheese or meat for dinner, or fresh fruits for dessert. I came across this recipe in Food Network Magazine and it comes from Ally Phillips, a food blogger from Murrells Inlet, SC. Filled with fresh heirloom tomatoes, onions, cheese and great seasoning, this is one that is sure to please your family or friends. Total prep time is about an hour and a half, and it serves 4. Upside-Down Tomato Tart 2 tablespoons bacon drippings 4 cups heirloom cherry tomatoes 1/2 large sweet onion, sliced into thin half-moons 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes cooking spray juice of 1/2 lemon 1/2 cup grated Asiago cheese 1 -  9 inch square piece frozen puff pastry (half of a 17 ounce package), thawed chopped fresh basil, for topping 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Microwave the bacon drippings for 8 to 10 secon...

I try to stay away from certain subjects, but as I watch things transpiring in the world it tends to stir up many emotions. With these emotions come observations and opinions that I find hard to keep to myself. So....forgive me while I share what has been on my mind. Megalomaniac: A person who is obsessed with their own power. A person who suffers delusions of their own power or importance (grandiose delusions). Grandiose Delusions: A Greek word "megalo" meaning very large, great or exaggerated, and "mania" meaning obsession; combining to convey an obsession or preoccupation with one's own need for grandiosity (fame, popularity, wealth, political power, social influence or all of these). A megalomaniac is a dictatorial person who is a control freak. They crave power, wealth, status or genius and believe they are extremely powerful. Some of the well known megalomaniacs from history are Caligula, Adolph Hitler, Napoleon, Benito Mussolini, Alexander the Great...

In a few short weeks I will once again be celebrating the day I was born; another year passing in the blink of an eye. However, my inner struggle between acceptance and denial over the number of years I have experienced is something to contemplate another day. Today my thoughts are focused on the relationships that have been established over a lifetime. So many people who have helped to shape who I have become; some still a part of my life and others who have come and gone. A few lost to age or illness, and then the ones who came into my life for a reason and departed like a ship in the night. We all have these people in our lives. Parents, siblings, children, grandchildren - our family. Each one of them is an integral part of our life. Our parents provide us with love and safety; along the way teaching us right from wrong. Their ultimate goal is to help us become the best person that we can be. Our siblings - as children we tend to argue with them; sometimes out of jealousy, or pe...