On My Mind Today

When I wrote this back in 2012, I never imagined that in the next ten years we would be subjected to so many more horrific tragedies in our country. Over and over, we seem to just be replacing the name of the city or town where these tragedies occur. It is apparent that this not only has to do with mental health issues, but also the easy access to weapons.  How many more innocent people have to die before we stand up and do something about it? This is not about the 2nd amendment. I don't know anyone who wants to take guns away from people, and nobody is going to go into your home and take them away, but the majority of Americans do want sensible changes to gun laws. It is not unreasonable to expect thorough background checks for all gun sales, including private and gun show sales,  and it is only sensible to have a waiting period while a background check is completed.  There is no reason for any private citizen to have assault rifles, a weapon of war. There is no reason that there

Always on the lookout for healthy dessert recipes I stumbled upon this one from https://gimmedelicious.com. True to its name, this banana bread is very moist and filled with great flavor. Although I would prefer it with chocolate chips, I made it without for my partner. It is great as a dessert or also as an added item for your Sunday brunch. Healthy  Moist Banana Bread Makes 12 Slices 2 eggs 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup 1/4 cup milk or Greek yogurt (I used a lemon yogurt) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2-3 medium) 1-3/4 cups white whole wheat or regular whole wheat flour (or plain all-purpose flour) 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (or chopped walnuts, raisins, optional) Preheat oven to 325F. Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat eggs, oil, honey, milk and vanilla for 2 minutes. Stir in the bananas, flour m

After months of cold and anticipation, brighter days are here to stay. Our bodies welcome the sunshine and warmth that has been lacking for too long. Gardens that lay barren for months, are once again ready to receive our gifts. We gently place each plant carefully, and with each one our soul is fed. Summer schedules begin to fill with plans, so much that we want to fit in. New England gives us such a short time to make memories with family and friends. We will watch as everything blossoms and grows, and enjoy the beauty and bounty. We will soak up the sun, and laugh and play  with weekends filled with the season's events.  New England please be gentle this year, let summer linger for as long as you can. Don't go by too fast we whisper to her, our souls deeply need the warmth, fun and joy.

  Such a small word, but one that has a definition that leaves no doubt to the user’s intent. It is used so freely, and most times without thought to its impact. If one thought before using it, I wonder if they still would.   We are not born with hate in our hearts, but with the capacity for love and joy. Yet there are those who teach their children to hate from the time they are born; to hate someone for their religious or political beliefs, or because they look different than they do. Each generation being taught this hatred even if they don't understand why or how it even started so long ago. And there are always those who want to exploit that hatred and push it to the point where people lash out at one another. The instigators and rabble rousers who create explosive environments.   I accept that not everyone will have the same beliefs I have and not everyone will look like me. It would be a very bland and boring world if that were the case. However, I also believe that it is no

From BettyCrocker.com   this creamy soup is perfect for a cool day. Prepare in about 15 minutes, then just simmer all day in the slow cooker. When you arrive home the air will be filled with the aroma of this delicious soup. Mix up some homemade biscuits and you will have a meal your entire family will enjoy! Slow-Cooker Creamy Ham and Wild Rice Soup 2 cups diced cooked ham 1 cup purchased julienne carrots 3/4 cup uncooked wild rice 1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup) 1-3/4 cups chicken broth (from 32-ounce carton) 1 can (10-3/4 oz) reduced-sodium cream of celery soup 1/4 teaspoon pepper 3 cups water 1 cup half-and-half 1/4 cups sliced almonds 2 tablespoons dry sherry (optional) 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley Spray 3-to-4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In cooker, mix all ingredients except half-and-half, almonds, sherry and parsley. Cover; cook on low heat setting 7 to 8 hours. Stir in remaining ingredients. Increase heat setting to high. Cover; cook 10 to 15 minutes longer or unti

Each day we are hit with an onslaught, of all that is wrong in our world. As impossible as it seems we gather our strength to rise above it and see the good. Narcissistic leaders unleashing evil in their incessant need for power. With no heart or compassion, they bomb the innocent never looking back with as much as a hint of remorse. Some of our fellow countrymen strive each day to spread hatred, fear and lies. If said often enough their hope is they will eventually turn friends into foes. Misogynistic men calling out like the pied piper, hoping to pull in those easily led. In spite of this we will stay strong and rise above it all, knowing in our hearts that we will triumph in the end. Be diligent and recognize the ones, that try to persuade you to buy the evil they sell. Always remember if we rise above it all, Our love, hope and acceptance will always win.

Mother's Day is a celebration honoring mothers and motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated in many parts of the world, most commonly in the spring. First a little history from Wikipedia: The modern American holiday of Mother's Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother in Grafton, West Virginia. Her campaign to make "Mother's Day" a recognized holiday in the United States began in 1905, the year her beloved mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, died. Anna’s mission was to honor her own mother by continuing work she had started and to set aside a day to honor mothers, "the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world." Anna's mother, Ann Jarvis, was a peace activist who had cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the Civil War and created Mother’s Day Work Clubs to address public health issues. Due to the campaign efforts of Anna Jarvis, several states officiall

For corn bread lovers, there is nothing better than a warm slice with creamy butter. From Eatingonadime.com  this delicious, sweet honey corn bread will go great with your homemade soups and stews.  With the added honey flavor, it is sure to be a favorite with your family. Sweet Honey Corn Bread 9 Servings 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup yellow cornmeal 1/2 cup white sugar (I used Monk fruit Sweetener) 1 teaspoon salt 3 teaspoons baking powder 1 egg 1 cup milk 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup honey Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray 9 x 9 pan with non-stick spray. Combine all ingredients into a bowl. Stir well. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the corn bread is a golden brown. Allow to cool, and then cut. Serve with butter and enjoy! Store any leftovers in an airtight container for 2-3 days. Since my corn bread was gone before I could take a picture, the picture below is from eatingonadime.com .  

It saddens me that women feel the need to fight what is a natural progression of life. No cream, lotion or potion is going to stop the aging process, and I am tired of celebrities getting rich trying to convince us that they will. When I look in the mirror, I see the lines that have increased since last year. And, as my sister would say, "Do we look good for our age? Yes, but we look our age." She is right - the majority of us look our age, and our gene pool plays a big role in whether we age faster or more slowly than others. Every day we are bombarded with the never-ending commercials for numerous facial products that supposedly slow down or reduce the signs of aging. Celebrities with their shiny tight faces who lead you to believe that you can look as youthful as they do just by using their product, which will cost you a fortune if used as suggested. Years ago, they would have called them snake oil salesmen. Their claims are an insult to our intelligence. Anyone over the a