On My Mind Today

 In our adult lives we will find our circumstances changing many times based on what stage of life we are in. Events that change circumstances include marriage, having children, career obstacles or health issues. We all have a tendency to get very comfortable with the status quo in our daily lives. Because of this comfort level we may not be conscientiously aware when are teetering on the precipice of collapse. This lack of recognition can leave us feeling unsettled and unable to move towards potentially positive changes. It can be difficult to see when we have reached the end of our purpose in different areas of our lives. If we cannot stop long enough to analyze where we are and what is causing our lives to feel out of control, then we cannot contemplate what needs to change. There are times that we fight change out of fear of the unknown. What if where we are headed is not an improvement from where we are now? What if we can’t adapt? What if we fail? All legitimate fears that ca

We are fortunate to have access to recipes for anything we may be searching for through the internet. I am thankful that so many people are willing to share even long held family secrets. Whether it's a main course, side dish or dessert, with a couple of clicks of the mouse you will find what you need. This recipe comes from wannabite.com and couldn't be any easier. If you and your family members are pumpkin lovers, then this is going to become a family favorite. Ready in a matter of minutes, rich, creamy and delicious. Pumpkin Fluff 1 can of pure pumpkin (15 or 16 ounce) 1 - 8 ounce container of Cool Whip 1 - 3.4 ounce package of vanilla pudding 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice 1. Combine all ingredients. Refrigerate or freeze. 2. Serve topped with whipped cream, and sprinkled with more pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon. Enjoy!!

The vegetable garden has been a test of our patience over the summer. There have been times that I wondered if we would reap anything from all of our hard work.   When it finally warmed up enough in the spring we carefully planted our vegetables and herbs hoping that all chances of frost were behind us. Since it was a cool spring things were not quick to flourish and it seemed that we would never see vegetables. As the first blossoms appeared we were filled with hope and anticipation. The first obstacle we encountered was a woodchuck; one morning I ventured out and the tops of my lettuce had been devoured. Ugh!! So we set out the Havahart trap, and once he had been captured we drove him a great distance away so he could find a new home. A sigh of relief and hope once again for the garden. Unfortunately it was false hope…within a few days a woodchuck struck again. Setting the trap once more we found that this one was not so quick to be fooled. It took quite some time to be rid of

Humans instinctively have a need to belong to small groups that have a purpose and understanding – a “tribe”. Although this tribal connection has been almost lost in much of society, bringing it back may be paramount to our intellectual and emotional survival. Perhaps we should look at the Navajo Nation for inspiration. Many Native American tribes have decreased their numbers, disappeared or lost their homelands, language or culture. The Navajo Nation has done the opposite, and now have over 300,000 members. Their geographical isolation and cultural flexibility have played a large role in this, making them the largest American Indian tribe in the United States. When the Navajo reservation was established in 1868 it consisted of roughly 3.3 million acres of land. By acquiring more land over the years their reservation now covers over 17 million acres in Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. They have retained their identity, and been selective about adopting new practices which has allowed th

I recently started using Lakanto Organic Monkfruit Sweetener as a replacement for sugar. I was very impressed as I could not distinguish any difference in flavor or sweetness from sugar. Works well in coffee or tea, and also in baking. They have recipes on their website  https://www.lakanto.com/ , and I decided to try this three bean salad. The only adjustment I made was to reduce the sweetener to 3/4 cup, and it was plenty sweet. We both loved it, and I shared some with my mother who also enjoyed it.    Three Bean Sweet Vegan Salad 1 can red kidney beans 1 can black beans 1 can pinto beans 1 medium or large red onion 1 cup Lakanto Golden Sweetener (I used the Lakanto Organic Monkfruit Sweetener) 2/3 to 1 cup extra virgin olive oil, or avocado oil (depending on how much dressing you like) Fresh cracked pepper, to taste Granulated garlic, to taste 1 bunch fresh cilantro, for a garnish (optional) Note: This recipe is easy to double for larger gatherings or families. INST

 As the last vestiges of fall’s colorful display begins to wane so many other changes are on the horizon. The long summer days have passed us by, and darkness is the unwanted friend that is quickly taking over. There are too many months ahead that we will have to endure more black skies than light. It will take all of our strength to find the things that will keep our soul filled with brightness, and we desperately need the light these days more than ever. If I am fortunate, over the next several weeks I will still hear the haunting call of my Loons in the early morning or twilight hours of the day. I hold tightly onto this sound in hopes that my memory will bring it forth after they make their journey to float on the ocean for the winter. I look forward to this beautiful music each spring and wish that it would last the year through; serenading me into a calm, peaceful place. The sun does not rise as high in the sky as it did during the summer months, nor does it feel as hot on

“Ours is a society in which secrets of private life that, formerly, you would have given nearly anything to conceal, you now clamor to get on a television show to reveal.” ~ Susan Sontag Our private lives have become far too public today. With the instant gratification one can get from social media, it seems that people are in a rush to share every minute detail of their life. Are they trying to live a life like the Hollywood rich and famous they follow, or are they just desperate for attention? The ones I truly do not understand at all are those who share the most tragic, personal details of their lives. I was raised in a time when we were taught to keep these things to ourselves. What went on in our personal lives was not to be shared in public. It isn’t just on social media; go into any public place and you will hear people sharing the most intimate details of their lives. At the register both customers and employees speak freely as if the whole world is interested in what the

From Claudia Lamascolo, this stuffed meatloaf called Polpettone is the gourmet version Italian style meatloaf. This version comes from the region of Bari, Italy, and is her mother's recipe which is stuffed with hard boiled eggs. I used a mix of ground beef and ground sweet Italian sausage, prosciutto in place of the Capicola, and did not use the spinach. I asked the Italian in my house if it was as good as his mother's, and he said it was actually better. Couldn't ask for a better compliment than that!! Polpettone Italian Stuffed Meatloaf 4 or 5 hard boiled eggs, or enough to place across the size of your meat mixture spread out 1 - 10 ounce bag of fresh or frozen spinach sauteed in olive oil or boiled escarole drained and seasoned with salt, pepper, and fresh garlic (1 minced clove) grated Romano cheese 6-7 slices of Hot or Sweet Capicola (or use prosciutto, soppressata) Slices of mozzarella or provolone 1-1/2 to 2 pounds ground beef 4 slices of day old bread, crust cut of

It seems like only yesterday that we left for our journey through Italy, and yet another year has passed. There are times that the memories seem recent, but then there are days that it seems so long ago. I never would have imagined that we would be forced to endure so much in the year since we returned. Arriving home we were filled with such wonderful memories of driving from Austria to Sicily, the amazing family adventures we were blessed with, and spending time in so many places along the way. Just a few short months after our return all of our lives would be changed forever by COVID-19. Not only here, but in every country around the world. The family we spent time with in Italy would endure months of lockdown, and see many deaths in their country. Fortunately they all were spared losing any family members, and were even able to welcome a new life into their fold. Such a beautiful bright spot in such a terrible time. By mid-March and early April our schools would close their do