Light and Blooms

What a delightful morning gift...the sun just peeking up over the hill as I headed to the kitchen for coffee. What a delightful inspiration to keep my eyes open the rest of the day for the simple wonders of everyday life. Here's to what is around the next corner in the gift of "today". Enjoy yours...I am already enjoying mine.

   These are the very best brownies ever. Simple and sweet. I will be making these many many times over the holiday this year. Try them and see if I am telling the truth!   Best Brownies Ingredients 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 eggs 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional) CREAMY BROWNIE FROSTING (recipe follows) Directions 1 Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 9-inch square baking pan. 2 Stir together butter, sugar and vanilla in bowl. Add eggs; beat well with spoon. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually add to egg mixture, beating until well blended. Stir in nuts, if desired. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. 3 Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Prepare CREAMY BROWNIE FROSTING; spread

Great Moments in Kindness from History   1967   Cicely Saunders, MD, founds the modern hospice movement in London in an effort to provide comfort to people during their final days. "I once asked a man who was dying what he needed above all in those who were caring for him.  He said, "For someone to look as if they are trying to understand me."  Dr. Saunders said, explaining the movements mission, "I never forgot that he did not ask for success, but only that someone should care enough to try."     (June 22, 1918–July 14, 2005)       Moments in Kindness Observed Today   I had to dig a little deeper today to find some kindness around me. It seems that arrogance, selfishness and apathy dominate some lives when they bump up against another.   Yesterday I experienced three people doing what one might consider less than the American dream job, yet, they were pleasant and joyful. And kind.   Today I experienced folks that by the

Kindness Moments from History       1950 Having committed herself to a vocation as a nun, Mother Teresa has divined a "call within a call" to devote herself to the world's most destitute. Refusing to be daunted by the enormity of world poverty, she chips away at her goal, insisting, "I never look at the masses as my responsibility, I look at the individual. I can only love one person at a time." She gets Vatican approval for the Missionaries of Charity, formed with just 11 other women, which by the 1990's will blossom into over a million workers carrying out her mission in orphanages, hospices, and charity centers worldwide.   A sacrifice to be real must cost, must hurt, must empty ourselves. The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace. Mother Teresa       Moments of Kindness Observed Today   I r

Moments of Kindness from History     1947 Former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who believes that "the basis of all good human behavior is kindness" is elected as head of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and begins what will become her most powerful legacy-drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, based on the principle that the "lack of standards for human rights the world over is one of the greatest causes of friction among the nations."   “No matter how plain a woman may be,  if truth and honesty are written across her face,  she will be beautiful.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt     Moments of Kindness- Observed Today   I am reading a book called "7" by Jen Hatmaker. She is a woman that has discovered the joy of looking outside herself and knowing that each of her actions affects another. The book is written from her experience of taking 7 months and redefining the necessities in her life and taking action

Kindness in History       1896 After risking her life to personally usher  dozens of slaves to freedom and safety. Harriet Tubman pours her meager earnings into buying a home for poor elderly African Americans in Auburn, NY, where she ministered to the needy in the final years of her life. “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you  the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars  to change the world.” ― Harriet Tubman CURRENT KINDNESS OBSERVED We participated in a pot luck dinner last evening at church. Nothing fancy. No "theme", no fancy dishes,  not even printed paper products. Just white on white; white paper plates on white plastic table covers. But what I witnessed amongst the group was a kindness that does not take much effort or time, but is much appreciated by those that receive the kindness. You see, this is a congregation of folks that have  passed the ag

      GREAT MOMENTS IN KINDNESS I recently came across an article in the Good Housekeeping Magazine dated July 2012.   The article was chronicling kindness moments in history.   I decided to highlight one a day from history and  observe a kindness in my own life each day to chronicle alongside it.   1881 At age 60, Clara Barton heads the American Red Cross. Its mission is to aid victims of war and natural disasters. Since then, as one of the world's leading relief organizations, the Red Cross has ministered to millions of tsunami, hurricane, and tornado victims, and it supplies about 40 percent of the nations blood. Current Kindness Observed I am reading through the book All That is Bitter & Sweet by Ashley Judd.  She is writing of her discovery of the purpose of her life  to bring meaning  to her personal struggles,  the recourses she has,  and the help she can give.  While we cannot always do what others can,  we

      Success! Alphabet Chicken Soup       This recipe was a real winner. It made a full pot of a hearty, flavorful soup.   We have eaten it for several more meals and I have a container in the freezer.   It heats up well and the flavors become more bold with time.   This one is in my soup file.       

  Even though I don't have any little ones in the house anymore,  I still love the simplicity of A, B, C's.   But we can always do it in a grown up version.  Add a little  sophistication to the simple.   Which brings me to Day 2 soup.   Alphabet Chicken Soup   It is already on the stove simmering. Easy ingredients, easy prep. No mess, unless you want to make one.   Below is recipe and source. Tomorrow...Results.           Alphabet Chicken Soup   http://www.myepicureanadventures.com/2013/05/homemade-alphabet-chicken-soup.html Ingredients: 12 cups water     5 tsp bouillon (Use Herb Ox , which is MSG-Free) 2 cups chopped up chicken, cooked 1/2 cup letter pasta, uncooked 1/4 cup barley, uncooked 1/4 cup rice, uncooked 1/2 cup diced carrots 1 onion, diced 1/2 cup broccoli slaw, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tsp salt Directions: Fill a large pot with water. Add all the ingredients i

Results of Day 1 Beef Barley Soup     A winner for  Day 1      If you are not a big mushroom lover, either skip the mushrooms or dice them up.  I love mushrooms so I used sliced ones.  The family, not so much.  I will dice them next time.   This recipe is copied and in my file.   Let me know if you try it and what you think.   Enjoy!!          

  I would love to say that I could focus enough  to do a whole year of something, everyday, but I cannot.  I like too much variety.  I enjoyed watching Julie and Julia, and was inspired by it.  To have the focus and determination  to keep cooking a new recipe a day  for a whole year is awe inspiring.  Just not something I aspire to do.   I do however love the idea of trying new things and learning.  So I am going to take things down a few notches  and say I will do something new  for  30 days, everyday. One day at a time.   And to break it down even further,  I will do a category a week for 4 weeks  until 30 days is complete.   Which brings me to my first day, today. My first week, my first category.   Soups. Soups you say?  In the middle of summer in Florida? Yes, soups. It seems like a good idea to me.  At the end of a week, I will have 7 new soups  in my recipe file all ready for the winter months.  And lets face it, I am in air-conditioning!  

I have been enjoying gathering up all my paper crafting supplies and getting them into an environment that says "CREATE". I have been spread out all over the house and garage these past four years and have found it to be disjointed and cumbersome to be creative when I don't have my supplies handy. I have taken my time to evaluate my supplies and see what I do use and what I can live without. It has been an adventure to uncover some long forgotten once favorite tools. It has also been an adventure to find some long forgotten tools that never did the job. Good bye to them! I have also taken the time to read some good magazines and books on organizing craft spaces and have found it helpful to see what others do. I think I have made this space reflect me and am looking forward to spending some good time  there creating. It is also a nice space to share with Jackie, my daughter and paper crafting partner. Let the creating begin!!

    This is one magazine that I choose to keep most past copies of. Paging through this magazine is a calm oasis in the busyness of days and is a source of inspiration to do things a little bit nicer, a tad more elegant, with a little more style.    It does not mean complicating things with cumbersome details or busywork in the midst of a simple project.    It does mean looking at the details through an enjoyable process of creating. Whether it is making a  meal, making a bed, setting a table or walking through a thrift store, it is about doing it with simple style and grace.   The photography and writing in this magazine are done with excellence and each contributor is a delight on their own for their efforts.   If you come across a copy of this magazine, or begin your own subscription, enjoy it from cover to cover and be prepared to come back to each issue time and time again.   Enjoy!        

I may not be totally content with my creative work space, but I am getting there. As I explore what I like, my resources to create it and the desire to be in a space that reflects who I am and what I create, I am getting closer to my ideal. I suspect there will always be a sense of "almost" and "not quite yet" in the space I create, for it is a space to me that is ever evolving as I evolve. This book is a peek into the lives and creative spaces of many women, beautifully written, expertly photographed and inspirational on every page. As I am reading this book, one woman at a time, I find myself running in and out of my creative space and adjusting my things as I am inspired to do so. Putting things in place, adjusting the light, providing inspiration, are what makes creating a unique, one of a kind experience. In reading through this book, I may not find myself all wrapped up in one woman's experience, talent or style, but put together, I see glimpses

Not especially light hearted reading material, but full of great insights and ideas on how to understand the people around you. Full of detailed stories form the pages of real life, the author explores the questions we all have when we walk away from a conversation and do not understand what went wrong, or what could have gone right given the opportunity. This is a book not of "fix it" material, but one of compassion that sheds light on the dark trail we find ourselves on with some difficult people to understand. Between the covers, the pages give hope to the human race to get along, tools to help make it happen and clear understanding that living and working with people of all kinds is sometimes not a naturally rewarding process, but one that is worth exploring and sticking to. Reading this in small sections is easier and having another lighthearted book going is better than this being the only book on your nightstand. But you will enjoy, as I have, gaining insight

  This book series is absolutely engaging if you like people with intertwined lives and of coarse beautiful handiwork like quilts.   It is a book series that starts in the current time and takes you back and forth through history, all the while proclaiming the beauty and importance of recording that history through quilts and preserved memories through storytelling.   The book series has 22 books to it, beginning their debut in 1999 by this very talented author.   This is my second time through this series and am looking forward to the journey once again through fresh eyes, with a hint of knowledge of what is to come as I turn familiar pages, but intrigued enough by the details I may have missed the first time around.     So whether you decide to read this in traditional paper book form or an electronic version such as Nook or Kindle, you will be transported into the lies of some real characters. You will find yourself in the middle of a story that keeps pulling

So I was going to start a series of new blogs on FOCUSING, but I got distracted by this new book I just started reading. Isn't that always the way? But I am going to enjoy this little turn in the road and take you all with me over the next week as you get to peek into my current reading list. I really did not need another book to read, I already have quite a few started that I am enjoying. But one cannot have too many good books in their life. Am I right? So this book "Falling in Love for Life" is written about a marriage of 73 years. How they got there, what kept them going strong and what is being passed on for the future. Just a few pages in and I was hooked. Transported back in time when things may not have been so much simpler, but the choices were defined and not as plentiful. Sometimes that is a good thing. Not too many choices. In fact, I like only having a few choices sometimes. Less second guessing and more time to actually do the thing, enjoy the thi