On My Mind Today

In just a couple of months I will enter full retirement; partly out of a desire to do so, and partly out of necessity. Although I have dreamed of reaching this milestone, it does not come without some apprehension in regards to finances. My part-time work has allowed for additional cash flow to do a bit more and I would be lying if I said I would not miss this money. The feelings of excitement regarding retirement relate to having more time for us to spend together enjoying one another’s company, and doing things we have not been free to do. Perhaps we will finally get to play golf more often and get beyond the beginner stage. There will be time for day trips to the many places we have talked about for so long, and we can spend more time with our friends who retired before us. I truly look forward to tackling the multitude of projects I have set aside for more years than I care to remember. So many things that I have told myself I would do next week, next month or even next year. When

From Julieseatsandtreats.com , this breakfast crescent ring is not only easy to prepare, but also delicious. It is a great weekend breakfast for your family, or sure to impress guests at your next brunch. It has great flavor with the bacon and cheddar, but it would be easy to add your own favorite ingredients. Next time I will put some chopped onion and peppers in the eggs, and try some ground sweet Italian sausage and Asiago cheese. Breakfast Crescent Ring 4 slices bacon cooked and crumbled 4 eggs beaten 1/3 c. milk 1/4 tsp pepper 1/2 tsp salt 1 c. cheddar cheese 2 tubes refrigerated crescent rolls (8 oz. each) INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a mixing bowl combine eggs, milk, pepper and salt. Whisk until combined. Pour eggs into skillet and scrambled over medium heat. Unroll crescent dough and separate into triangles. Arrange triangles on a 14 inch ungreased pizza pan with points toward the outside and wide ends overlapping at the center, leaving a 4 inch opening in the c

We all have hopes and dreams of a world where everyone is accepted for who they are; a world where we are one global community that will have no need to label one another. As we go through life, people attach labels to us which reflect how others think about our identities, as well as how we think about ourselves. Although some of the labels are not negative and can reflect positive characteristics, often the labels that we use to describe each other are based on assumptions and stereotypes. Many of us have a tendency to apply labels to people whom we barely know or have never even met, and they do the same to us. Frequently these labels have caused more harm than good; rather than bringing us together, it has led to separation and prejudice. For some reason humans have always felt the need to label others to describe them. Yes, we are a mix of many things, but do we need to use a person’s ethnicity, color, religion, or sexual orientation when describing them? We are all proud of w

Apparently when people my age were younger and raising children, we had it easy, or so it seems when listening to many parents today. We were never tired or overwhelmed, never wanted to run away, and everything went smooth as silk each day. Our children were a delight every moment and never tested our patience; everything was roses and sunshine. Okay, you can stop laughing now. I guess every generation thinks that the one before them (or after them) had it a bit easier than they did. There is no doubt that there were times I thought my mother had it easier being a stay-at-home mom, but I did not stop to take into consideration she was the mother of six – not an easy task for sure. Perhaps there were times as she looked at my life as a mother, she might have thought how great it was that I was able to go out each day and work outside the home. A respite from motherhood where I was able to have adult conversations each day. Perception is reality as they say, but we all know that what we

I love soups and stews that taste great and can be put together in a minimal amount of time, or that can be put in a slow cooker to simmer all day. From Food Network Magazine this soup has great flavor without all the work of lasagna. From start to finish you can have this ready for your dinner table in about thirty minutes. Serve with crusty garlic bread and enjoy! Lasagna Soup Kosher salt   8 ounces lasagna noodles, broken into pieces (about 10 noodles)   1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling   1 onion, chopped   1/2 pound hot or sweet Italian sausage, casings removed   3 cloves garlic, chopped   1 teaspoon dried oregano   2 tablespoons tomato paste   4 cups low-sodium chicken broth   1 15-ounce can crushed or diced tomatoes   1/2 cup chopped fresh basil, plus thinly sliced leaves for topping   1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese (plus more for sprinkling, optional)   1/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half   Ricotta cheese, for topping Directions Bring a large pot of

"Take patriotism away, and the nation's soul has fled." ~ Edward Mark Deems We all know people who believe flying or displaying the American flag makes them a patriot; that this symbolic gesture is proof of their patriotism. Then others will bellow and boast of their love of country and patriotism, but what their words are truly exhibiting is prejudice, conceit and hatred.  Yes, true patriots fly the American flag. However, the flag does not belong to one person or group, and it certainly does not belong to a political party. It represents the freedom, dignity, and true meaning of being an American, and it belongs to all of us. Having pride in our country is commendable, but true patriotism is recognizing that your welfare is deeply intertwined with the general welfare of your fellow countrymen. If you are to prosper, then everyone else must also prosper. In difficult times it is more important than ever to come together. Standing alone while spouting about your rights an

Compassion, patience and forgiveness, three simple words – three simple acts. All of these should be easy, and yet, at times they can be the most difficult. When life is good and things are going along smoothly, finding compassion and patience for those who are struggling seems effortless. We have no difficulty understanding what they are going through and can be patient with them as they struggle. Our capacity to forgive is plentiful. Then there will be times when the road gets bumpy and obstacles will be put in our way. Out of nowhere life will change and our patience, compassion and forgiveness will be tested. As much as we try to be one who can handle any situation with ease, we will stumble as all humans do. In order to accept and adjust to life changes, we must gain an understanding of the issue at hand. Without that knowledge we can become impatient and short with others without even being aware of it. Time will teach us to have the patience and compassion to respond in a

With a hint of the warmer weather to come, it's time to find light and cooler desserts for family and guests. I recently came across this one for Watergate Salad. It was developed and published by General Foods (now Kraft) originally as Pistachio Pineapple Delight in 1975, which is the same year that pistachio pudding came out. According to Kraft, there are several urban myths regarding the name change, but they can’t substantiate any of them. This dessert salad is made from pistachio pudding, canned pineapple, whipped topping, chopped pecans, and marshmallows. It is very quick and simple to prepare; just mix, chill and serve.  Watergate Salad 1 can (20 oz.) crushed pineapple in juice, undrained 1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Pistachio Flavor Instant Pudding 1 cup Miniature Marshmallows 1/2 cup chopped Pecans 1-1/2 cups thawed Cool Whip whipped topping In a large bowl, mix pineapple and pudding mix until mix has completely dissolved and the pineapple is thick. Stir in the other ingredien

As the old saying goes, “you only get one chance to make a first impression”. From the moment we come into contact with others, what we say and do will give them an immediate impression of who we are and what our values are. It is more important than ever to remember this with the prevalence of social media. We should be very cautious and protective of our social media presence. Although we may think that only our family and friends can follow what we do, the reality is it goes much further than that. Prospective employers, current employers, and co-workers may have the ability to see what we say and how we interact with others. A joke that we find amusing and share with our contacts, the casual acquaintance or stranger may not necessarily find humorous. They may misinterpret what they see on social media and take it as a very literal representation of who we are. When we meet others in person we have a tendency to behave differently. There is something about being seen that compel