Early Afternoon Brunch

Crepes filled with raspberry jam

Given my propensity for the delicious and savory, I therefore must admit to having a bit of a sweet tooth. You do not need to eat more than two of these wondrous treasures. They are quite easy to prepare and only take about ten minutes to mix, cook and assemble.

A fantastic pairing would be tall glasses of Mimosa’s to drink, or even a dark burgundy wine. Add crispy bacon alongside fluffy, swiss cheese scrambled eggs. To balance the meal might I suggest a lightly tossed salad with balsamic vinegarette, sprinkled with toasted pecans? A bit later serve a piping hot cup of chocolate, which has been infused with cinnamon stick. Enjoy.

Danish Brioche Swiss II

Danish Brioche Swiss II, originally uploaded by Theresa111.

Danish - Sweetened Brioche` rolled up and placed into a bottom layer of brioche`. Baked and then brushed with hot apricot, rum & 10X icing. Finished by sprinkling lightly toasted, sliced almonds on the top.

After it is a tiny bit cooled, you actually tear off your portion, instead of using a knife to cut. The rough appearance only lends to the beauty of this tasty morning delight.

Dessert and Good Conversation

Jaconde` Chocolate Mousse` Teardrop, originally uploaded by Theresa111.

Whenever I have the opportunity to gather friends or family round the diner table I always look forward to sharing good times, catching up and finding out what is going on in our lives. This time shared is a fundamentally important part to me and when the dessert is brought round, everyone is relaxed and open to discussing the topic of the day.

The dinner table is not filled as it once was. Most everyone these days is on the run, each having his or her agenda to take care of. We seem to have turned into a nation of “See you later,” and with a quick peck on the cheek or a wave, we are off.

I have decided to purchase a dark wood dining table, large enough for 8 - 12 guests. Last year, I saw the one I wanted at Pier 1 Imports, but I got side-tracked and didn’t go back to get it. Many times I like to think about a purchase for a long time before I actually shell out the funds.

Because it is a major purchase, perhaps not to Donald Trump … in fact, most certainly not to him, I want to be certain I will be content with the style and feel of the wood. It will be a place to be used almost daily and I have found, to my chagrin, that in the past, I have been guilty of impulse buying. This is a meaningful purchase and because I anticipate many good meals being shared, I want to make sure I will be happy with my choice.

Thankfully, I wrote down the name of the set and I will attempt to track down the artisan who created it. In my minds-eye, I imagine the delicious meals and good conversations to be shared.

Peek-A-Boo … I See You

207797main_jupiterio_newhorizons_big, originally uploaded by Theresa111.

This is so descriptive of me and my husband. He is big and strong and protective of me. I get to float around on my own, but under his close watch I feel safe and not so vulnerable. We are opposites. However, one without the other would always be missing that important ingredient.

I am glad that in this great big universe that we are all traveling through, we are always moving, the fact that there is such a partner to share this journey is helpful and comforting.

Today’s Daily Word is “Pray For Others.” I will do so and pray that you may have the same joy in a partner as I have in mine.

Original Painting Oil on Canvas

Original Painting Oil on Canvas (C) Theresa H. Hall, originally uploaded by Theresa111.

Anyone out there have a good recipe for making the glaze that I should put on my canvas? Please comment here or in my shout box on Blog Catalog. Thanks.

Do not copy this. Copyright 1994

I’ve Decided To Move

29-Space Lab, originally uploaded by Theresa111.

Having come from a family which moved from state to state and house to apartment to townhouse and back, I thought it was a normal process. Clearly I have been made to see how the other half lives. We have been living in our present home for eighteen years. I have been trying to move for at least ten.

We decided we were not to leave the Washington, DC metropolitan area while our parents were still alive. Well they have gone to a better place and left us here. Amid torrential rains, flooding, close-call lightening strikes, nearby earthquakes, tornado’s, tropical storms and hurricanes. I have drawn the conclusion that it is time to find a better geographical spot.

The recent cyclones, volcano eruptions, earthquakes, pollution, damaged crop yields, loss of bees and tainted water (560 billion tons of raw sewage into our estuaries) has convinced me we had better find our new fortress quickly.

While uploading photographs today, I came across an interesting piece of real estate. I am certain that some of my family’s tax dollars went toward the construction and upkeep of this beauty.

It is with great excitement that I announce our impending move to this space lab. Once we are settled in, we will not have any weather to speak of and since we have solar panels there won’t be any electric bills. As you can see, there is plenty of room for storage and I suppose a party would be fun. We can offer our guests a breathtaking view.

It appears quite safe to me and I am glad I can relax now that I have made my choice. When Joe gets back from across the big pond, won’t he be surprised that I figured out where our new home will be.

What Gives Them The Right!

As child and growing up in our great nation, I learned about the world through my teachers, history books and by viewing the globe, which depicted the terrain of our earth in all her glory and mystery. I was always fascinated by the perfection and beauty of it all. I learned by the example of The Golden Rule. Love Thy Neighbor. Peace was the word of the day.

One of the subjects that kept coming up throughout my formative years was of men fighting, battles and wars. The subject seemed far away and in the past. We would watch movies about WWI and WWII, ancient battles of the Romans, The Wild Wild West, The Korean War. I was told that they were battles fought and won, which made my American life freer and better … to make me safe. Civilized. Barbarians were a thing of the past. One of the finest things to do was travel around to the different cities and continents. The world was rich, mysterious and everything was bountiful and plentiful.

Wrong! Hate, Greed and Jealousy is the name of the game.

Today a rude awakening of the atrocities, brutality, greed, hate and power over less fortunate peoples is a daily notice in the Newspapers, TV News, The Internet and through Web Log Writers. Yes. Bloggers who feel the time has come to join together to speak in loud voices.

Evil doers need to be eliminated. Once and for all. What gives them the right to intimidate, starve, hit, beat, torture, detain, in-prison, maim or kill another? These bullies need to be removed from their self-imposed power and put down, like the curs they are. I never have compassion for those who take it upon themselves to do these dastardly deeds. I believe in justice and freedom for all innocent people.

Human rights are for every man, woman and child. Karma is a given and in cases such as these, what goes around … comes around seems apropos. But in the meantime we can give by the use of the penned word, our time to those less fortunate, our money for charity, our prayers for their plight.

But imagine for a moment, these terrible things happening to someone you care deeply for. Realize that in some small part, it is already happening to we, the free ones. It is unpleasant to dwell on this for even a few moments. But I hope you will do something to help. Stop being self-centered and do something to insure the Human Rights of us all. Time to put a stop to all the bad before it really infringes upon we the people.

This EMail Made Me Cry!

214570main_print, originally uploaded by Theresa111.

Am I a fireman yet?

 In Phoenix , AZ , a 26-year-old mother stared down at her 6 year
 
old son, who was dying of terminal leukemia.


Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong

feeling of determination.


Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up & fulfill all his dreams.


Now, that was no longer possible. The leukemia would see to that.


But she still wanted her son’s dream to come true.


She took her son’s hand and asked, ‘Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted 

to be once you grew up?

Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?’

Mommy, ‘I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up.


Mom smiled back and said, ‘Let’s see if we can make your wish come true.


Later that day she went to her local fire department in Phoenix ,

Arizona , where she met Fireman Bob, who had a heart a s big as Phoenix .

She explained her son’s final wish and asked if it might be 

possible to give her 6 year old son a ride around the block on a fire engine.


Fireman Bob said, ‘Look, we can do better than that.


If you’ll have your son ready at seven o’clock Wednesday morning, we’ll make

him an Honorary Fireman for the whole day.


He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards!

And if you’ll give us his sizes, we’ll get a real fire uniform for

him with a real fire hat - not a toy one - with the emblem of the

Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots.


They’re all manufactured right here in Phoenix , so we can get them fast.


Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his

uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck.


Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station.


He was in heaven.


There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls.


He rode in the different fire engines, the

Paramedics van, and even the fire chief’s car.


He was also videotaped for the local news program.


Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that

was lavished upon him, so deeply touched Billy that he lived three

months longer than any doctor thought possible.


One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and

the head nurse, who believed in the hospice concept - that no one

should die alone - began to call the family members to the hospital.


Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a Fireman, so she

called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a

fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition..

The chief replied; ‘We can do better than that, we’ll be there in five minutes.


Will you please do me a favor?

When you hear the sirens screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system 

that there is not a fire?

It’s the department coming to see one of its finest members one

more time, and will you open the window to his room?

About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the

hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy’s third floor open

window——–16 fire-fighters climbed up the ladder into Billy’s room.


With his mother’s permission, they hugged him and held him and told

him how much they LOVED him.


With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the Fire Chief and said;

’Chief, am I really a fireman now?’

’Billy, you are, and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand,’

the Chief said.


With those words, Billy smiled and said, ‘I know,

He’s been holding my hand all day, and the angels have been singing..’

He closed his eyes one last time.



My instructions were to send this to at least four people that I
wanted God to bless and I picked you.


Please pass this to at least four people you want to be blessed.


This story is powerful and there is nothing attached.


PLEASE do not break this pattern; Uplifting stories are one of the best gifts we receive.


 There is no cost, but a lot of rewards, let’s continue to uplift one another