On My Mind Today

  "Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever. It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything." ~ Aaron Siskind For years I have promised myself that I would go through all my photos; to sort, label, and make albums for my children. More years than I care to admit have passed by, and this project never seemed to get started. Yesterday I decided to dive in and take a trip down memory lane. I could not have imagined the range of emotions that I was in for on this journey. The flood gate of memories was thrown open, and several hours later I cleared the floor to continue another day. The plethora of pictures from my children's lives, from the first moment they arrived in this world, through childhood, and into adulthood. So many memories that brought smiles, laughter, and tears. Long forgotten photos that took me back to moments of extraordinary joy, and times when they had accomplishments t...

From the tried-and-true Betty Crocker Cookbook, this peach crisp is decadently delicious. A quick and easy dessert, you can have this ready for family or guests in less than an hour. Although it is good cold, it is best served warm. Top it off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or whipped cream. This recipe serves 6. Peach Crisp 4 cups sliced fresh peaches (or 1 - 29 oz can sliced peaches, drained) 2/3 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup oats 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1/3 cup butter, softened Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a square 8 x 8 baking dish. Arrange peaches on bottom of the baking dish. Mix remaining ingredients, sprinkle over peaches. Bake until topping is golden brown, and peaches are tender, about 30 minutes.

These last several weeks I have felt the urge to travel solo on back country roads to seek some peace and solitude. There is nothing better for the soul than to escape the everyday chaos and take yourself to another time, even if only in your imagination. With that in mind, I once again share this blog from several years ago that brings me back to one of those days. "I shall be telling this with a sigh - Somewhere ages and ages hence; Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." ~ Robert Frost ~ In the last few weeks, I have traveled to the southern NH/MA border several times, been to Andover, MA, and most recently to Boston, MA. Being on the highways with such a high volume of traffic can be a bit overwhelming and stressful. It's no wonder people feel exhausted if they are dealing with this on a daily basis. Not something I have any desire to do. Today when I headed out, I decided to take a more peaceful ro...

It is time to let go of what weighs us down, before it buries us like a million grains of sand. Perhaps we need to turn into a class clown, and make people laugh to forget the day's woes. As a child it was easy to be carefree, to run, jump, and play without a moment of unease. Life was so simple, and our hearts were light, we never thought it would change with time. The games we played filled us with joy, and all were welcome to join in the fun. Some passed down from generations before, and others created from our endless imagination. Along the way we lost this innocent view of life,  and how easy it can be to enjoy each day. Grown up responsibilities clouded our thoughts and took away our ability to just live and let go. Once again, we need to be like a child, and learn to let go every once in a while. Play a game, tell a joke, or dance to a favorite tune, to smile and laugh until we fall to the ground. When we choose to welcome this back into our lives, the daily responsibilities...

For all the bagel lovers who want the great taste without the high carbs and calories, this recipe from Eating Well may become a new favorite. They are grain-free and have the great garlicky everything bagel taste. Prepare in about an hour, let cool slightly and smear with cream cheese. They may become your new favorite breakfast treat. Cauliflower Everything Bagels 6 cups cauliflower florets (about 1-1/2 pounds) 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1 large egg, lightly beaten 2-1/2 teaspoons everything bagel seasoning Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place cauliflower florets in a food processor. Process until finely chopped. Transfer to a microwave-safe bowl. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and microwave on high for 3 minutes. Let cool slightly. Transfer the cauliflower to a clean kitchen towel and wring out excess moisture. Return to bowl and stir in the Cheddar and egg until thoroughly combined. Divid the mixture into 8 portions on the p...

It has been an exceptionally long time since anything has seemed normal. Is it any wonder that it feels like we are totally out of sync? After the past two years, and the passing of the holidays, I have been trying to get back into the groove of a normal life. What is normal is still in question as we both retired during this time, and I am having great difficulty finding my new groove.  There was a time when I had several hours, if not an entire day, where I could indulge in immersing myself in creative endeavors. Or, if I were feeling a bit more ambitious, I would tackle one of the many projects on my list. There was order in my days and I had no problem staying on top of daily life. Now that we are both home every day, I am fortunate if I can find a few hours here and there for peace and solitude. The limitation on alone time makes it difficult to get into any sort of rhythm or routine. Hence, many things have suffered in this chaotic non-schedule; most of all my ability to sett...

Why is it that we can give so easily to others in our life and treat them with gentle kindness, but we seldom can do so for ourselves? Why do we not feel that we deserve the same level of care? The people in our lives are important and making them a priority seems simple. Doing for them can bring us immense joy, and we would not consider putting them last. Doing so would make us feel selfish, but the real question we need to ask is why is it acceptable to put ourselves last? No matter how strong we are, and how big a burden we can carry, nobody is capable of doing so all the time. At some point our shoulders will begin to bend from the weight, and we will feel like we can no longer go on. Our mind and soul will be weary and in need of rest and rejuvenation. There are people who are exceptionally good about self-care. However, many of us find it extremely difficult to put ourselves ahead of those around us. Even if we are aware that we need to take care of ourselves, in our mind we tell...

Relationships with our partner go through many phases over the years. They ebb and flow through good times and bad, and depending on the circumstances, each one will have moments that they lean on the other for support. There is great comfort in knowing there is someone we can turn to during troubled times. Whether it is just a difficult day or week, or a more significant event, knowing that there is a shoulder to lean on can minimize the stress or sorrow. Sometimes we are the rock of support, and other times we will be the one seeking comfort. In a perfect world this sharing of life's troubles, and the giving or taking of support, would flow seamlessly back and forth for as long as we were together. However, we know nothing in life is perfect and there may come a time in our lives when the one we have been able to lean on can no longer be there in that capacity. Through no fault of their own the support they once so easily gave, they are no longer capable of giving. This change us...

From Joanna Gaines's Magnolia Table, these Lebanese meat pies are warm, savory, and buttery. The fatayer are very easy to put together since she uses refrigerated Pillsbury Grands for the pastry. After sautéing a few ingredients, just roll out the biscuits, fill them, and press closed. The recipe makes 24 fatayer (8-10 servings), so there will be plenty leftover to reheat during the week. Serve with a side salad for a full meal. Fatayer 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 cup minced white onion 2 pounds ground beef (80% lean) 2 cups thawed frozen shredded hash browns 2 cups grated cheddar cheese (8 ounces) 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon garlic salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 - 16.3-ounce cans refrigerated Pillsbury Grands Southern Homestyle Original Biscuits All-purpose flour, for the work surface 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) salted butter, melted Position racks in the top third and middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets wit...