On My Mind Today

"Legends say that Hummingbirds float free of time, carrying our hopes for love, joy and celebration. The Hummingbirds delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that laughter is life's sweetest creation." ~ Unknown A few Hummingbird facts: They are native to the Americas, and are among the smallest birds measuring 7.5-13 cm in length. Their name comes from the fact that they flap their wings so fast (about 80 times per second). They can fly right, left, up, down, backwards and even upside down. They can hover by flapping their wings in a figure-8 pattern, and fly at speeds up to 49 mph. They live for 3 to 5 years. Their bright radiant color comes from iridescent coloring like on a soap bubble or prism, and are used to attract mates. Out of the more than 300 species, 12 of them summer in North America and winter in tropical areas. Hummingbirds migrate individually and only during the day. Their mig

Each morning as I travel to work I see a large American flag flying in the wind. At times this beautiful flag will be flying at half-mast; as if it is weeping with sadness. Flying the American flag at half-mast is a sign of respect for deceased officials, dignitaries and heroes. It also shows empathy to those dealing with tragedy. Although it doesn't carry the force of law, the United States Flag Code, signed in march 1954 by President Dwight Eisenhower, provides guidelines for the process and duration. The number of days spent in mourning with the flag at half-mast corresponds to the rank of office a person held. For Presidents, it should be at half-mast for 30 days; for the vice-president, the Chief Justice or retired Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the number of days is 10. This is done at all federal buildings, grounds, and naval vessels through out the United states and its territories. There is a federal

Every year when the holiday season arrives, I go in search of new holiday sweet treats. I don't remember where I found these recipes, but knew they were worth a try. I haven't decided if I have a favorite as it seems to depend on how sweet a treat I am looking for. They are no bake and very easy to make, although rolling the chocolate balls can be a bit messy. This would be fun to do with your children, so have a great time creating some holiday sweets! Dark Chocolate Orange Marmalade Truffles 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream 1-2/3 cups (10 oz.) Dark Chocolate Morsels Orange Marmalade Toasted, sweetened flaked coconut Finely chopped walnuts Fresh orange zest 1. Line baking sheet with wax or parchment paper. 2. Heat cream to a gentle boil in a medium, heavy-duty saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate, and stir mixture until smooth and chocolate is melted. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until slightly thickened. 3. Drop chocolate mixture by rou

E very now and then I will republish a blog from the past. This one was first posted in 2014 as I was being hit with an onslaught of commercials telling me to buy, buy, buy. Over time the commercialism has gotten much worse, and it's difficult to even watch television. It has made me think of Linus' speech to Charlie Brown regarding the true meaning of Christmas, which is something we all need to remember...so without further ado: A Charlie Brown Christmas was released on December 9, 1969. Even after 45 years I have not tired of the simple story of everyone getting caught up in the commercialism of the holiday, and Charlie Brown's struggle to find the true meaning of Christmas. It warms my heart each time I hear Linus explain this to Charlie Brown. Below are his simple words that mean so much..... Linus on The True Meaning of Christmas: Charlie Brown: Isn’t there anyone, who knows what Christmas is all about?! Linus: Sure Charlie Brown, I can tell you what C

Recently, in view of current events around the world, I have been thinking of history lessons from high school. So much of what I see and hear today reminds me of what transpired prior to World War II. The events that led to this war, and the atrocities that took place, should have been enough to ensure they wouldn't happen again. Sadly, I fear that if we don't wake up and recognize the propaganda being spread by world leaders, we will be doomed to repeat them. I'm not sure what history classes include for today's youth, but I question whether the true depth and damage caused by world wars is clearly laid before them. Have we become so concerned about frightening them that we have homogenized the past? Even as adults we have a tendency perhaps not to forget the past, but to bury it deep in our memories. None of us care to dwell on unpleasant events. However, every now and then something is put before me not only to remind me, but to teach me about another piece of

As I browsed through my back issues of Food Network Magazine looking for something new for dinner, I found this gem. Being a big fan of scallops and lemon it was an easy choice to give it a try. The blending of white wine, lemon, butter, herbs and parmesan cheese with risotto and scallops is heaven in your mouth. A great dish to prepare for guests during the holiday season. Hope you enjoy this as much as we did! Lemon-Herb Risotto with Scallops 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 small leek (white and green parts only), halved lengthwise, thinly sliced and rinsed Salt 3/4 cup Arborio rice 1/3 cup dry white wine 8 medium sea scallops (about 8 ounces), patted dry ("foot" muscles removed) freshly ground pepper 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese grated zest and juice of one lemon 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives 1. Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a

As I write this it is a gray, rainy December day; a far cry from visions of a snowy winter's day in New England. The kind of day that can dampen your holiday spirit. We all know that our emotions can run high and low this time of year. The stress of preparing for the holidays can overwhelm even the cheeriest soul from time to time, but only if we allow it. When gray skies, or a too long "to-do" list are presented to us, we need to dig deep and push away the urge to feel down. This is when we need to delve into our memories to brighten the day. Go back to your childhood and let the visions take you to your favorite times; sliding down a hill or making snow forts. Remember the aroma of your mother's fresh baked Christmas cookies and the joy of eating them with a cup of hot chocolate. Let your mind play a movie from Christmas morning when your children were filled with excitement; their eyes wide with anticipation as they waited to see what Santa brought them. At

Gardening It grounds us...gets us out of our busy heads and back into our bodies. Alone there on our knees, we can breathe. With our nurturing hands duly occupied, while gardening we allow ourselves the time and space to truly feel ~ peace, pride, satisfaction , joy. ~ Jodee Stevens ~ Only a few months from summer's end, and I miss my gardens. My soul and my senses feel numb with the snow covered ground, and gray gloomy days. The sad remnants of sage, chives and oregano are peeking out of the wet snow; uncovered by a day of cold winter rain. At times it's as if they are asking when their roots will once again feel warmth. As one who loves to feel the earth in her hands and the sun on her face, I understand how they feel. It's difficult to feel fully alive when stunted by the cold temperatures and cloudy skies. Sometimes I envy their ability to go dormant during the cold winter months. Looking out the front window I see ice forming on the lake, and a b

Christmas morning can be chaotic with young children anxious to open gifts. We all want to watch the surprise and joy of our family as they remove the holiday wrappings. This delicious French toast can be prepared the night before and refrigerated. On Christmas morning just place it in the oven to bake while you enjoy your tree. The aroma will certainly bring them to the table. This recipe comes from the McCormick website - courtesy of Nicole Shoemaker from Cooking for Keeps. We tried this over the weekend and it was amazing!! Holiday Morning French Toast 1 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided 3 tart apples, such as Granny Smith, peeled, cored and thinly sliced 1/2 cup dried cranberries 1 loaf Italian bread, cut into 1 inch slices 6 eggs 1-1/2 cups milk 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract 1. Mix brown sugar, butter and 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon in a 13x9 inch baking dish. Add apples and cranberries; stir