Under The Sea

Whenever I need to remember what is at stake I dive deep under the crest of the waves. Far beneath the blue skies is a magical place made especially for these tiny sea creatures. See how very beautiful they are? It’s as if an artist molded them first, painted them and blew a whisper of breathe into their tiny nostrils. I know they breathe underwater using gills of some sort, but their little noses are so pronounced that it seems as if they would breathe the way a horse does. They are incredible and a wonder to behold.

My advice to myself and to anyone listening is to take just a few minutes, find something wonderful and appreciate it.

Gently Scrambled

There is something so sexy about food. If one looks closely it is either raw or transformed into something delicious and warm. Who wouldn’t want to lift a fork and taste these beauties? they are moist and flavored with a hand that knows subtlety. Never overpower that which has given the very essence of it’s life. Appreciate food … that’s what I believe.

Earth Hour 2011

Tonight is the night I have waited for since last year. Earth Hour 2011 I believe that this global attempt to bring people’s attention to  look at what they are doing and to save some energy is very effective. I changed my habits over the past year, I am happy to report, and I am excited to join in and turn off my lights very shortly now. If you care to join in come over to Half Hour Meals and you’ll find us in the Community Discussions.

Also, check out Bloggers Unite and sign up for some of their very worthy events!

Endless Argument

Why does it always come down to money? Even my parents never struggled this much! They had four children and my Grandmother, which is seven. Things continually go up, but at this rate the whole world will end up bankrupt! If they’re not taxing us like crazy, they’re taking away perks and subsidies. Jobs are scarce and people are finding their once lucrative stash of cash is just about gone. The failing housing industry did that to us, along with millions of other Americans. We had our houses as our safe haven of cash. We were lured into believing our homes were savings accounts … or nearly as good as. Gasoline prices keep going up, up, up. The price of food is ridiculous. I cannot fathom the idea that chicken wings, once neglected (good for me as they were my favorite pieces of chicken) and shunned pieces are now over $6.00 for a package of 6-8 wings! A pound of butter is $4.00 and the  cheaper foods they keep pushing are pastas which are usually on sale … but they will make you fat, if eaten disproportionately. It’s enough to make me want to holler. Marvin Gaye sang that in one of his hit songs. It’s was true then, but it is scary now.

The Sunday Paper

Over the past decade our Sunday newspapers have been reduced in size and the once fat parts, like that of the Jobs Section is as thin as can be. Most of the pages are filled with strategically placed employers ads or head hunter’s ads. The real jobs are already taken and many thousands of jobs have been wiped out, or downsized, until it makes one wonder if there are any job openings out there.

Since the housing demise the Real Estate Section is most likely opened by investors, very wealthy people, or by those who want to daydream for a little while.

The funnies or Comic Section was always a favorite with me. From the time I was a kid, and Dick Tracy talked to people on the moon, with his camera phone on his wrist watch. They are even running Charles Shultz’s, Peanuts, from the beginning. This commenced sometime last year. It’s nice to know that Snoopy, Lucy, Charlie Brown and Linus still have a place in today’s society.

Mega Moon

Tonight there will be a Gigantic Moon for the whole world to see. This photo shows the Washington Monument in the foreground, on February 18, 2011. Here is Earth Sky where you may read all about tonight’s exciting event! You definitely won’t want to miss this.

Saint Patrick

Saint Patrick was a young man when he was taken away to Ireland. He was born in nearby Scotland and forced into servitude when he was a young boy. He learned the language of the Irish people and it is said that he prayed a lot. When he was older he climbed a tall hill and he wore no shoes. He fasted forty days and at the end of his observance, legend has it that he rang his bell and cast out all the snakes from Ireland, banishing them to the sea.

Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle and is so breathtakingly beautiful. Last night PBS offered “Visions of Ireland”, during one of their channel fund raisers. I am so glad I watched it. I felt a longing for this land that has hitherto gone unnoticed. Now I have to go there and see it for myself. I want to experience Ireland.  this place has a haunting melody that one can hear not just in the mind but also in the heart. 

Oogavé … We Like!

I received a message one day, about a month ago, from a young lady representing this company, Oogavé. She asked if she could ship me an assortment of soft drinks to try in return for my opinion on how they tasted. I decided to agree since I really needed to find a way to wean myself from all those high fructose beverages I loved to drink.

They arrived two weeks ago and between my husband and I, we drank them up in about ten days. They make these flavors: Grapefruit, Root Beer, Ginger Ale, Key Lime, Watermelon and Cola. I liked the four flavors that I got to drink. I did not try the Key Lime or the Cream, as I had packed them in my husband’s lunch.

Pull Out The Green

Time to pull out the green and those fun recipes for Saint Patrick’s Day this Thursday. This is a friendly reminder to get out those green hats, shamrocks, tablecloths, food coloring and practice your Irish jigs.

Did you know? The reason the Irish gig is danced rather stiffly from the legs up, is because a very prudish priest dictated that the good people of Ireland were to be circumspect while dancing. Thus, the torso was to remain non-provocative.

All I can think is the Irish sure have good dance imaginations, because I love to watch a good jig (check out River Dance), as the spirit of these beautiful people shines through no matter which dance they choose to do.

Read my post on Half Hour Meals!

Telling The Future

I knew way back then I had a gift. I could see into the future and even though I got to borrow this costume (there was another little girl sharing duties for the Muscular Dystrophy Carnival), I was especially glad to tell Laura’s Mother’s fortune. We were delighted when asked if we would pose for the camera. This is one of those memorable moments in time that I love to visit. My summer days were nearing the end, and I was about to start sixth grade. What an innocent time that was. I am such  a lucky girl, but I knew that way back then.

It’s Nice To Be A Winner

Last week I stopped by my friend’s site, Cooking With Anne, as she was a blog hostess for a live-feed video being taped at Prevention Magazine headquarters. I enjoyed watching it very much, because I learned some new facts, and felt a part of it because they even offered a chat box for their viewers.

I won these lovely books! Tomorrow I plan to start reading  them. Truly, I consume too much sodium. After peeking into “The Salt Solution”, I have already given serious consideration that a lot of my sodium intake needs to decline … drastically. There is an education waiting for me as soon as I don my reading glasses, and cozy up on my comfy sofa for a good read. I’ll be sure to report on my findings and am ready to recommend these books to my readers. The recipes I glanced at in “The Salt Solution Cookbook”, are pretty and look to be full of flavor. I’ll willingly use them to help me change my eating habits.

I want to thank Anne Coleman for inviting me over to watch the video, and also to thank the ladies at Prevention Magazine for their generosity. Here’s to a healthier lifestyle with a whole lot less salt.

Waffles Are Cool!

 

Today is National Oatmeal-Nut Waffle Day. I made these for our brunch and we had fun tearing them apart and piling them up. We’re still such adult/children. It brought a little romantic kisses into the kitchen. It was a nice way to enjoy good waffles and playful laughter, too. My recipe is on Half Hour Meals.

Pasta Revelry

Pasta is fast, inexpensive, has a ton of varieties and is delicious. There have been some pasta dishes I have tasted and even eaten that I have not enjoyed. There is now a huge choice of recipes one may prepare. Once the initial dishes have been cooked they are easy to interchange. These are just three I have made lately and none of them took more than fifteen minutes to make.

For many recipes search here on my site, and also visit Half Hour Meals where you can find lots of authentic Italian and Sicilian pastas to try. You will be delighted by the recipes and by the members who created them.

Symbols Of Tradition

Today is Wednesday. Today is Ash Wednesday. Today is also my parent’s wedding anniversary. I’m usually glad for Wednesday to arrive because it’s a clear indication that we are nearing the weekend. Sometimes it’s called Hump Day, for those needing to get over the hump … to be on the downward slide toward Friday. Wednesday is a booster day to push us through the work week.

Ash Wednesday is a symbol of my deep-rooted faith. It is a day when I celebrate Mass, receive the mark of ashes upon my forehead, and also reminds me that I am to return to ashes upon my death. “From ashes we came and to ashes so shall we return”. The smudged cross of charcoal is an outward sign to any who see it that I admit to being a sinner and that the Season of Lent has arrived. This is an important time for me and other Christians around the world. During this time we will focus on what it means to be a follower of Christ. It is a time when we deny ourselves some of those things we love to eat, do, or waste time thinking about. Why I do this is pretty cool.

Over the next forty days I will control cravings or longings for the foods I have decided to give up. I will avoid watching, reading about or viewing anything that might also be on my list of things I have decided to forego. Instead of being unhappy about my choices I shall not wear the expression of gloom, no one will know I am fasting. On Fridays I will allow myself fish, not seafood, which is as grand as meat or poultry. I will remember the values I was taught as a child and spend time meditating and praying. Why pray?

I pray because it is a way to talk to God, from whom all good things come. In the quiet I am in a special place and I sometimes hear His voice. That happens when we become quiet and are very thankful. I pray because I can focus on the Kingdom of Heaven. I examine my mind and get back on track. I do receive emails of the Daily Word and it is a tremendous help to me in my daily life. It teaches me to train my mind on the possibilities and who I AM, rather than intense prayer. When I pray I become more than what others see. At once, I am transformed and linked with the oneness of our Creator.

Forty days and forty nights of contemplation, cleaning out, organization of myself, my thoughts, my household and my heart. I examine who I have become and why I do things. I look for ways to improve my thinking and ask myself hard questions. I cannot hide from my questions. I must be frank and honest. Little sacrifices, tithing, donating of money or time, prayer, confession and attending Mass, are all important aspects of my personal Lenten Season. It is a personal matter and anyone who wants to do the same can join in to become closer to this religious heritage. I do not seek to change or improve anyone other than myself.

Lenten Season is also important because we focus more on the journey of Jesus, the Holy Family, the way Jesus chose the apostles, His wonderful teachings and many of the miracles He performed. It is a time to remember what sacrifice Jesus made for us. He taught us about love. Love your neighbor as yourself. Love your enemy, too. Jesus taught in parables and was willing to pay the ultimate price of dying on a cross for our salvation and for our sins. Yes, I have a lot to contemplate and consider. The most important will be during Holy Week, Passover, Good Friday and Easter. I feel blessed to have these things to guide me for without them, I would be lost and have no spiritual direction.

Today marks the wedding day of my late parents. March 9th. It’s a day written in my heart. These two beautiful people had a family and I, their youngest, love them so very much. Theirs is a good long story that I will share another day. Just know they are the two people I owe everything to, for giving me a life worth living, and teaching me to love God.

In My Kitchen

 

The say silence is golden but I think bread is golden as well. Eat some of my bread and you might not talk but you will make Mm Mm Mm sounds!