On My Mind Today

Early morning as daylight is breaking through; silence envelops us in peace and solitude. Savor these moments you quietly say,  before the beginning of the day. The sun slowly rises on the horizon, filling the sky with rays of heavenly light. The beauty takes your breath away; savor these moments you quietly say. Mother Nature's creatures begin to stir; birds chirping, loons calling, and fish silently sending ripples across the water's surface. Take in her beauty as they set about their day; savor these moments you quietly say. Full daylight arrives to break the spell; people arise and homes begin to stir. We filled our soul with peace and joy, to bring with us as we go. Savor these moments you quietly say, until the beginning of another day.

Greek salad is also known as “Horiatiki or Xoriatiki” which means village salad. This actually means that it is a rustic dish, made simple with a few good quality ingredients. If you have been looking to make Greek salad like the ones served in Greece, then you will want to try this authentic Greek salad recipe from www.mygreekdish.com . With our gardens filled with fresh vegetables it is the ideal time to enjoy a delicious salad! Traditional Greek Salad (Horiatiki/Xoriatiki) Author: Eli K. Giannopoulos 3 tomatoes, cut into wedges 1 medium red onion, sliced into rings 1 cucumber, sliced into thick half-moons 1 green pepper, sliced 16 black or green olives 7 ounces block feta cheese 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon dried oregano sea salt Cut the tomatoes into wedges, slice the onion into thin rings, cut the cucumber in thick slices, slice the green pepper, and place everything in a large bowl. Add the olives. Season with sea salt (be careful not t

"The groans of nature in this nether world, Which heaven has heard for ages, have an end. Foretold by prophets, and by poets sung, Whose fire was kindled at the prophet's lamp, The time of rest, the promised Sabbath, comes: Six thousand years of sorrow have well nigh Fulfilled their tardy and disastrous course Over a sinful world; and what remains Of this tempestuous state of human things, Is merely as the working of a sea Before a calm, that rocks itself to rest; For HE, whose car the winds are, and the clouds The dust that waits upon his sultry march, When sin hath moved him, and his wrath is hot, Shall visit earth in mercy; shall descend, Propitious, in his chariot paved with love; And what his storms have blasted and defaced For man's  revolt , shall with a smile  repair ." Cowper's Task. Humans have spent thousands of years abusing the earth; stripping her natural resources, dumping trash into her waters and onto the land, and spewing toxins into the air. And

Throughout life we find ourselves facing difficult times and can become overwhelmed. It is easy to lose focus and feel like there is no path forward; it is at these times that we need to take a breath and find our way back. Today I found myself looking back at my blog from several years ago, which I embrace as a sign that will lead me back to solid ground. Spirituality: the quality or state of being spiritual. of or relating to religion or religious beliefs of or relating to a person's spirit When I think of spiritual the second definition comes to mind. I do believe in God, but I do not think of myself as a highly religious person; one who follows a specific religion. However, I am a very spiritual person. Spiritual in the sense that I try to remain connected to the earth and nature. I do believe we are linked far more than many may think. Those outside the Native American culture often confuse religion with spirituality. Native American spirituality includes a strong reverence fo

With several more weeks of summer fun and family cookouts ahead of us, these burgers are sure to impress. I found this burger recipe many years ago and they have an amazing combination of flavors. The prep time is about 20 minutes then another 10-15 minutes on the grill. After grilling top with bleu cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion and enjoy! Bleu Cheese Pecan Burgers 1/4 cup butter, at room temperature 6 tablespoons chopped pecans 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion 6 slices bacon (cooked) 1-1/2 pounds ground beef wooden toothpicks 6 hamburger buns, toasted 6 tablespoons crumbled bleu cheese lettuce leaves, sliced tomatoes, sliced red onion prepared French-fried onion rings, optional Prepare grill for direct-heat cooking, or position oven rack so that top of meat on rack in pan will be 4" from broiler; preheat broiler. Combine butter, pecans, parsley, and onion; reserve. In skillet over medium-high heat, cook bacon until lightly browned but st

 I, like millions of other people, loved Calvin and Hobbes, and was disappointed when the comic strip came to an end. No longer would we see the world through their eyes as they went on their adventures sharing their wisdom along the way. Several months ago I discovered this last conversation between Calvin and Hobbes written as a final chapter by a fan. It deeply touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes. One more time they have shared their words of wisdom with the world. In The Final Minutes of His Life, Calvin Has One Last Talk With Hobbes “Calvin? Calvin, sweetheart?” In the darkness Calvin heard the sound of Susie, his wife of fifty-three years. Calvin struggled to open his eyes. God, he was so tired and it took so much strength. Slowly, light replaced the darkness, and soon vision followed. At the foot of his bed stood his wife. Calvin wet his dry lips and spoke hoarsely, “Did… did you…. find him?” “Yes dear,” Susie said smiling sadly, “He was in the attic. “ Susie reached i

Sixty-seven, another year soon will have passed, and I will arrive at sixty-seven; seems like such a random and peculiar number. I find it hard to believe that I have gone far past sixty and am creeping closer to seventy as each day and month go by. Looking at my grandchildren I am reminded of how many years have passed; this year they will be turning 11, 13 and 18. Where did so many years go? It is humbling when they start to look you in the eye or become tall enough so you must look up to them. You begin to think of their future and hope that you will be there to see them graduate, go to college, get married, and maybe, even have children. Most days I do not even think about my age. I am in good health and make sure I get regular exercise, so I don’t “feel” my age. Having hobbies certainly keeps me moving and busy, which is key to maintaining good physical and mental health. Don’t get me wrong, there are days I may be a bit tired and slower to get things done, but overall, I have

During the summer months, cool and refreshing desserts are a treat on a hot and humid day. This recipe comes from Taste of Home contributor, Sarah Gilbert in Beaverton, Oregon. Although it calls for 2 sheets of refrigerated pie crust, you can make them more quickly using store-bought phyllo tart shells (24). Very simple, yet a beautiful dessert to impress family and guests. Lemon Cheesecake Tarts 2 sheets refrigerated pie crust Filling 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 jar (10 ounces) lemon curd, divided 1 container (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed 1 cup fresh blueberries Confectioners' sugar, optional Preheat oven to 450°. On a work surface, unroll crusts. Cut 24 circles with a floured 3-in. scalloped round cookie cutter, rerolling scraps as necessary. Press circles onto bottoms and partway up sides of ungreased muffin cups, smoothing edges. Prick bottoms generously with a fork. Bake until light golden brown, 5-7 minutes. Remove from