On My Mind Today

With age, the desire to tackle big projects is not what it was in our youth. There is no urgency as we have learned it will always be there tomorrow. Also, we recognize that it is not really that important. There are many other things that deserve our time, such as being with family and friends enjoying life. Things still get done these days, but it is done in smaller pieces and at a slower pace.  This past week I decided it was time to clean the windows that had been left untouched for far too long. I could not imagine going through the winter looking through hazy windows. Approaching this project, it initially felt like an enormous task, and I wondered if I was up to it. What once seemed so easy now appeared to be a major undertaking. There was a time in my life that something like this would be no big deal. Not only would I clean the windows, but also clean the walls and wash the curtains in one day. There seemed to be no end to the energy needed to complete big projects. Time c...

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 you can 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 center. ...

 As the last vestiges of fall’s colorful display begins to wane so many other changes are on the horizon. The long summer days have passed us by, and darkness is the unwanted friend that is quickly taking over. There are too many months ahead that we will have to endure more black skies than light. It will take all of our strength to find the things that will keep our soul filled with brightness, and we desperately need the light these days more than ever. If I am fortunate, over the next several weeks I will still hear the haunting call of my Loons in the early morning or twilight hours of the day. I hold tightly onto this sound in hopes that my memory will bring it forth after they make their journey to float on the ocean for the winter. I look forward to this beautiful music each spring and wish that it would last the year through; serenading me into a calm, peaceful place. The sun does not rise as high in the sky as it did during the summer months, nor does it feel as hot on ou...

These hands once young and smooth, now carry the scars of time. Some days I gaze upon them, and wonder whose they are. Once the hands of a child, that loved to play in the mud. Never a thought or worry, as to how these hands looked. As years passed priorities changed, and these hands became important. Lotions, potions and painted nails to show off their natural beauty. Then arrived the child raising years, keeping these hands so busy. Carrying babies, then chasing toddlers, playing and enjoying precious moments. Laundry and cleaning, meals to cook, making a house a home. Ensuring that all within the walls, feel safe, secure and loved. Years of working took their toll, slowly these hands transformed. Once smooth and blemish free, small changes began to appear. Now the senior years have arrived, and time has left a trail. As I think of all these hands have done, I welcome every scar, wrinkle and flaw.

Fall is here and it's time for the comfort foods for cooler days. This Posole is very easy to make and has great taste with a bit of heat. I add sliced Andouille Sausage for an extra kick. If you and your family like foods with some spice, then this is sure to be a favorite. Homemade cornbread is a great side. Zesty Bean Posole   2 each 15–16-ounce cans hominy, rinsed and drained 2 each 15–16-ounce cans red beans, rinsed and drained 1 - 32-ounce container chicken stock 2links of Andouille sausage, sliced 1 - 16-ounce jar thick and chunky salsa (I used medium for a little heat) 2 teaspoons dried oregano, crushed 1/2 cup half and half 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour sliced scallions shredded Cheddar cheese   1. in a slow cooker combine hominy, beans, broth, salsa and oregano. Cover; cook on low-heat setting for 7 to 8 hours or on high-heat setting for 3-1/2 to 4 hours. 2. With 30 minutes of cooking time remaining, increase to high heat setting if necessary. In a small bowl stir...

A very dear friend presented me with a copy of  Gift from the Sea  by Anne Morrow Lindbergh several years ago. I have read it twice since receiving it and am grateful for this gift. Lindbergh wrote  Gift from the Sea  in 1955 while taking a short vacation at the ocean and found inspiration from the shells on the shore. Her insights on a woman's life are both interesting, and so familiar in many ways. An excerpt from the  Oyster Bed  chapter: Many people never climb above the plateau of forty-to-fifty. The signs that presage growth, so familiar, it seems to me, to those in early adolescence: discontent, restlessness, doubt, despair, longing, are interpreted falsely as signs of decay. In youth one does not as often misinterpret the signs; one accepts them, quite rightly, as growing pains. One takes them seriously, listens to them, follows where they lead. One is afraid. Naturally. Who is not afraid of pure space - that breath-taking empty space of an ope...

The world has become harsh and cruel, human compassion absent in too many. So quick to look down on others, without stopping to truly see. Do they ever think about how it might be, to spend time in another's shoes? One wonders as they observe the less fortunate, do they believe it could never be them. Rushing to judge and criticize, to target and ridicule in public, As if by pointing a finger at another, makes them look superior in some way. Unexpected things happen in our lives, that we never believed could be. Plan as we may events occur, that we could not have foreseen. None of us are immune, from the twists and turns of life. In the blink of an eye all could change, and take our blessings away. The next time that you want to look down upon those less fortunate than you, Take a lesson from the old adage which says, "There but for the Grace of God go I". 

Although I follow my Betty Crocker Apple Pie recipe, like many people I adjust ingredients to make it my own. I find that most recipes call for far too few apples, and not enough spices to give it the flavor I love. I have been using this apple pie recipe for years and always have great results. If you like a pie with plenty of apples and spice, make it with the adjusted ingredients (marked with a *). Bon Appetit! Apple Pie Pastry for 9-inch two-crust pie (make your own - see recipe below - or use a refrigerated pie crust) 3/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (*1 teaspoon) 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (*1 teaspoon) *I also add 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice dash of salt 6 cups pared and sliced tart apples (*I use 8-10 cups of McIntosh for fuller pie) 2 tablespoons butter Heat oven to 425℉. Prepare the pastry. Mix sugar, flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, apple pie spice and salt. Stir in apples. Turn into pastry-lined pie plate, dot with margarine. Cover with top crus...

3 a.m. is the hour of writers, painters, poets, musicians, silence seekers, overthinkers, and creative people. We know who you are. We can see your light on. Keep on keeping on. ~ Iheart Intelligence ~ I came upon this quote some time ago and it settled deep into my soul as I read it over and over. The longer I write, the more I fully understand its meaning. Whether you are a writer, poet, or musician you must feel deeply about something to make it come to life. The story or poem that has simmered slowly in your mind, or the lyrics and melody vibrating through your veins, eventually take on a life of their own and they must be shared. Creativity in any form needs the right environment and time to develop and flourish. I suppose there are some who thrive with chaos around them, but for many, they need silence to allow their minds the freedom to go to places that chaos does not allow. When creativity must take a back seat to what is done to earn a living, the random thoughts that may lea...