On My Mind Today

When traveling today it's easy to get stressed out with all the crowds, constant noise and delays. If we aren't careful it's easy to fall into a foul mood, and even become short with people we encounter along the way. With this in mind, here are some things to remember as you embark on your next journey. Everyone has a bad day from time to time. If you run into someone who appears to be ready to go off the deep end, try to be the calm in their storm. Sometimes all it takes is a smile and a calm, kind voice to get them centered and back on track. If your kindness is not welcomed, then move on and don't let it affect your day. Have a sense of humor as you navigate your way through the airport. You will run into people who travel all the time and have little patience for the occasional traveler. There will be some who are extremely nervous about flying and will be scurrying around trying to find where they should be; they will be impatient in this endeavor. Help if you

After having these at my mother's over the summer I knew it was a recipe I wanted in my collection. It can be ready in less than an hour so it's great for a weeknight dinner, or you can double it for a large gathering. A great dish to take to a pot luck. Vegan Tacos 1 teaspoon oil 2/3 cup finely diced onion 1 clove garlic, minced 2/3 cup dried lentils, rinsed 3 Tablespoons reduced sodium taco seasoning 2-1/2 cups vegetable stock 2/3 cup salsa 12 - 8" tortillas Toppings: shredded lettuce, diced tomato, diced onion, diced peppers, guacamole, shredded cheddar cheese 1. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion and garlic until tender, about 5 minutes. Mix lentils and taco seasoning into onion mixture; cook and stir for 1 minute. 2. Pour vegetable stock into skillet and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover the skillet and simmer until lentils are tender, 25 to 30 minutes. 3. Uncover the skillet and cook until the mix

We live in a society where the mindset is to throw things away if we feel we no longer have a use for them. Our landfills are overflowing with things that should not be there; much of it toxic to the ground, and some of it tossed when it still may have a purpose. Many years ago, the trend turned to manufacturing things for a single use - plates, utensils, paper towels, diapers and so much more. Marketers convinced everyone that these new and innovative items made our lives so much easier; no fuss, no mess. Nobody thought about the consequences to the earth. There were times, such as during the depression or during war, that people were very cautious about what they used, and didn't throw things away needlessly. There always seemed to be something else they could do with an item after its initial purpose was done. Out of necessity came many innovative and creative ideas on how to use a "used" item. Growing up we were taught ways to reuse everything from paper bags to

 Living on the lake offers the opportunity to watch wildlife not only on land, but also on the water. One could spend hours observing as they go about their business on sunny summer days.There is something peaceful about nature; it's as if their beauty and sounds are speaking to your soul. In the backyard the trees are filled with a multitude of colorful birds flying from one place to another; all the while singing their songs or chattering about some hidden danger. Hummingbirds swoop down to take a long drink from the feeder and quickly dart back to their nests. Chipmunks scurry around checking out the garden for any treats of interest; in the end preferring the neighbor's berry bushes. The front flower bed plays host to the honey bees and butterflies. These later days of summer they are in their glory with all the blossoms bursting with pollen. The bird bath is a busy gathering place for the birds as they quench their thirst, or linger to splash in the water to cool off.

With the zucchini coming fast and furious these days, I am always looking for new ways to use it. I don't remember where I found this recipe, but the combination of lemon and zucchini topped with a sweet lemony glaze is delicious! It's a great after dinner treat, and can also be served for breakfast.  Lemon Zucchini Bread 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup sugar 1 cup finely shredded , unpeeled zucchini (do not squeeze or dry shredded zucchini) 1/4 cup cooking oil 1 egg 2 Tablespoons lemon juice 2 Tablespoons lemon zest Glaze: 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1 Tablespoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon lemon zest 1. In a medium mixing bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside. 2. In a separate mixing bowl combine sugar, zucchini, cooking oil, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Stir to combine. 3. Add dry ingredients to zucchini mixture; stir just until comb

Moral Compass: a person's ability to judge what is right and wrong and act accordingly. Everyone needs a moral compass. The time to instill these morals is childhood; teach them the difference between what is morally right and wrong. Without this, what guide do they have to steer them away from doing the wrong thing? The primary source for teaching morals is parents. As the leaders of the family, it is their responsibility to teach their children right from wrong; to make them understand there are consequences, not only for them, but for society if they choose to do the wrong thing. Another source would be from religion and going to church. Although there are those who don't embrace religion, if you believe you must answer to a higher power, it can keep you from making a bad choice. It doesn't matter what religion you choose to follow as long as the values they teach are morally sound. Others who can contribute to reinforcing moral values in our youth are schools, s

Our days seem to be filled with never-ending chaos which makes for a very weary mind. Many times amidst all of this it's almost impossible to feel a sense of calm. We need calmness in order to reduce our stress levels and feel at peace, or at least rested. On days I feel the most stress, I find that there comes a point where I need to stop looking at what I think "needs" to be done. Usually I will realize that much of it can wait; then I decide what I want to do at that moment to regain balance. There are many things that some would consider chores, but in reality they help to clear the mind of worrisome thoughts. It's amazing how busy hands can have this effect. Some of the activities that I find most effective include:  Cleaning - it doesn't matter if it's doing the bathrooms, dusting, vacuuming or mopping, they all work to calm the chaos in my mind. When I'm done I feel relaxed with an uncluttered mind, and the clean house at the end is a bonus.

If you are looking for something different to serve your family or brunch guests, try these breakfast burritos. They are full of flavor and have a bit of heat. Maybe your guests would enjoy them served with a spicy Bloody Mary. Of course if you are less adventurous you can replace the spicy sausage with regular. Either way, they are sure to enjoy them! Breakfast Burritos   2 tablespoons butter  1/2 red onion, diced 1/2 green bell pepper, diced   8 oz. uncooked spicy breakfast sausages   6 large eggs   4 10-inch flour tortillas 1 c. shredded Mexican-flavor cheese blend  1. Melt butter in large nonstick skillet over medium heat; add onion. Cook, stirring often, until onion is translucent. Remove from pan; set aside. 2.  Add sausage to pan and cook thoroughly, stirring and breaking up sausage into small pieces. Remove from pan; drain on paper towels to remove excess grease. Pour out all but 1 Tbsp. drippings from pan. Add eggs to pan and cook, stirring lightly

Compassion: Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.  Understanding: Sympathetically aware of other people's feelings; tolerant and forgiving.  Tolerance: The ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with.  Acceptance: The quality or state of being accepted; the act of accepting something or someone. Although we have our differences, we all should expect these values to be practiced when dealing with one another. It's called common decency and respect for others, and these should not be compromised for any reason. In our ever-changing world we need to take time to step back, acknowledge, and learn to accept our differences. Just because we have contrasting lifestyles or opinions, it doesn't give us the right to criticize one another. We can live in harmony if we learn to be accepting, and if we mind our own business. Somehow over the l