On My Mind Today

The dreamers of the world believe that this is not the only time they have been here on earth. Their imagination has the freedom and wings to take them to another time and place. There is that feeling of déjà vu, and they wonder if perhaps it is because they have been here in another life. We have to wonder if they might be right. When we hear music from many years ago and it feels warm and familiar like arms wrapped around us. Did we once dance with a lover to these melodies? When we are deep within ourselves, and our thoughts take us to a memory that surely did not happen in the life we are currently living. Memories that may take us across oceans to another country, another time and another life. An aroma that triggers both visions and emotions. Perhaps creating a strong image and a physical response, and we try to tell ourselves it is just our imagination. Or is it? There are many who believe in past lives and are certain they have experienced at least one, if not more. And then th...

Our journey in life takes many paths and we never know where we may end up along the way. What we envision is not always what happens as we know all too well. There are many times of great joy and exhilaration that we encounter. Our first day of school, our first kiss, learning to drive, going to college, getting married, the birth of a child and so many other firsts that if we lined them all up, they would reveal what a good life we have had. The times of our life that we are forever grateful for and wouldn't trade for anything. There are also times of sadness and pain that we would like to forget, or wish may not have happened at all. The small things like falling off our bike, the bully at school, and our first broken heart. Or something much larger that we think we will never recover from, like the loss of a loved one. Life goes along quite smoothly most of the time, but just when we think our life is on track and figured out, we are thrown a curve. We've all heard that old...

If you are a lover of Snickerdoodle cookies, then you will be a fan of this quick bread recipe from  The Cookin Chicks . Filled with cinnamon-sugar flavor, this sweet treat will be great for dessert, a snack or any special occasion. It is so delicious you may need to make two loaves if you are having company. Snickerdoodle Bread 1 cup butter, softened 1 1/2 cups sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 3 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3/4 cup sour cream 2 1/2 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 cup mini chocolate chips (or cinnamon chips) 3 tablespoons sugar 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease 5 mini loaf pans or 1 large pan. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Add in the eggs, vanilla, and sour cream. Add in the flour and baking powder stirring until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chips (optional). Pour batter (it will be thick) into the prepared loaf pan(s), filling about 2/3 full. In a smal...

It is difficult to believe that another year is coming to an end. The question going through my mind recently is, how did we arrive here so quickly? Funny how time passes so much faster as we age. Sometimes I dream of going back to when I was younger, and it seemed as if time moved at a more leisurely pace. Of course, we did not have the worries and responsibilities of our parents, which made it easier to enjoy whatever life brought our way. As I look back to the beginning of 2021, I recall being optimistic about what the new year would look like. Never would I have imagined that we would still be held captive by a pandemic that started almost two years ago. And yet, here we are. In spite of this virus, and the limitations it has put on our lives, we have endured and continued to push through. The human spirit is amazing and resilient. Regardless of what we are faced with in life, we have the tendency to search for the things that make our days brighter. As I focus my attention on 2022...

Holiday season is upon us again, stirring memories of years gone by. Our senses of sight, sound, and smell awaken so much that our mind had left in the past. Early years with wide-eyed wonder,  and belief in the miracles of Christmas magic. Cookies and milk left out for Santa, all the while wondering what he will leave under our tree. Waking Christmas morn' with excitement and anticipation of what we will find once Mom and Dad arise. Squeals of glee as we discover flying saucers, sleds, trucks, or the latest baby dolls. Although we still are still eager for Christmas to arrive, the teen years take away our awe and wonder. Our desire for the latest and greatest takes hold, and we are unable to see our parent's sadness as they grieve our loss of believing in the magic of the season. Then we become the parents with children, and they are filled with the same wide-eyed wonder that we once felt. We encourage their belief in the magic of the season, hoping it will last a lifetime but...

For a recent gathering I needed an appetizer, so I went in search of something that would be different from the usual offerings. Taste of Home contributor, Roxanne Chan from Albany, California had shared her Tuscan Truffle recipe which had an interesting mix of ingredients, and her description of melt-in-your-mouth creamy made it the winner. These truffles are very easy and filled with an amazing mix of flavors, and truly melt in your mouth. Impress your guests with these easy Tuscan Truffles - they will be a winner at your gathering. Tuscan Truffles 2 logs (4 ounces each) fresh goat cheese 1 carton (8 ounces) mascarpone cheese 6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 3 garlic cloves, minced 1-1/2 teaspoons olive oil 1-1/2 teaspoons white balsamic vinegar 3/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) chopped prosciutto 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) chopped dried figs 3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 cup pine nuts, toasted and chopped (I used cashews) Directions...

There is magic in the wind,  and her wings bring enchantment as they fly. Some days they will envelop us in warmth, and others the bitter cold will cut through us like a knife. March winds come in cold from the north, and become gradually warmer as spring arrives. As they rush through, they cleanse away the weariness of winter, preparing us for new growth to come. Summer days her wings will feed our soul with a warm southerly breeze, bringing much needed contentment. Its warmth reaches into our bones and eases daily worries for a time. We cling to this warmth for as long as we can, as we know these days will be shorter than our heart desires. The magic of fall arrives on cooler winds that still have a hint of warmth. Her wings carry that distinctive smell of autumn, a mix of drying leaves, wood fires, and spices from homemade apple pies  awakening memories from the past. As fall begins to fade, the wind whirls falling leaves for one final dance. Winter winds can be so harsh an...

  "If it were all truly known and planned and determined, life wouldn't be worth living, just a giant to-do list waiting to be crossed off." ~ Helen Mirren Fear of the unknown is probably the biggest reason we don't take chances.  How many opportunities have been put before us, and how many have we taken over the years? I'm sure that most of us would say that we let many pass us by due to fear of taking that chance. Not knowing if it will make our life better can leave us frozen and unable to move in a different direction than we have always gone. There are so many times in our life that we zig instead of zag. The zig is the choice that keeps us on our current path; the zag is the alternative choice that would have led to a different outcome.  The reward for taking the unfamiliar path might be well worth it. I have always enjoyed taking photographs of nature and dreamt of one day sharing these with the world. Trying to find the right opportunity to do so is not ea...

A frittata is one of the simplest breakfast foods to master, and uses ingredients that are normally in the fridge. From Southern Living, this Hash Brown Frittata transforms plain eggs and hash browns into one tasteful dish. Once you are comfortable making frittatas, you can make them your own using additions such as bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach and cheese. No matter what your preference is, be sure to watch the eggs carefully as they bake as overcooking can make them chewy. Hash Brown Frittata 5 large eggs 1/2 cup half-and-half 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion 1 (20 oz.) package refrigerated shredded hash browns 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill Preheat oven to 375°F. Whisk together eggs, half-and-half, pepper, and ½ teaspoon of the salt in a medium bowl. Set aside. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a 10-inch nonstick oven-safe skillet over medium-high. Add onion; cook, stirr...