Sunday, December 29, 2013

the in-between

how quickly 
that time does pass
from the cookie making
and packaging


to ornament decorating
and personalizing


the guests arriving


beautiful girls
in pretty dresses



gift giving
family dining
to
the in-between


when the home landscape
remains
frozen in time
waiting


with drinks 
on ice


furniture
rearranged
welcoming one to 
sit...
rest a bit


decorations
shining brightly
in a holding pattern


for the coming
eve.
Until that day we
will enjoy the pause
and bake some more cookies


today
a breakfast bar
because...
well...
shouldn't every day of the
in-between
start out sweet?

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

making way


Yesterday
 we found this package
nearly buried in snow...
saw the footpath of the one who
delivered it
and we,
well me,
decided that the walk needed
to be cleared
(not nearly as much fun
as plowing the drive with the quad!)


Loving the changing landscape
at my back door
as I
bundle-up in my lined jeans
snow boots
gloves


and
woolly-acrylic-non-itchy hat
before discovering
the mild temperatures
the morning did 
bring

no wind

really a perfect day to 
work outside


the walkways are shoveled
the boxes and bags
can now find their way
safely to our 
door.

Back inside
with coffee in hand
 weather channel on
hearing
 the sad, sad news
of warmth
and rain
that is heading our way
I become that little girl
wishing for a snow day 
with fingers crossed
and
 a prayer on her lips
that some of the white
will stay
for that 
one special day.

Won't you join me? 



Monday, December 16, 2013

morning moon

There are those 
days
when necessity dictates
 the alarms be set
earlier than usual
as was the case with our
4:45 a.m.
wake-up call


During the coffee shift
I became enamored with the
setting moon in the
western sky

I want to learn how to
capture that orb
in an attempt to explain
why it woos me so


With the determination of one
who was denied her rightful sleep
I bundled-up for the single digit morning 
camera in hand
but alas
 this was the best
of the bunch
which is a far cry from 
the marvel
I was witness to.


And so I turned my attention
to the shifting light
as 
night 
gave way to 
day


As blues
gave way 
to
violets

and thoughts of returning
to bed
gave way to
the promise
of a beautiful day


filled with snow
twinkling lights
and
sunshine...
and a second cup of 
cafe latte.

Hello, Monday!

Friday, December 13, 2013

this moment

always 
looking up


joining soulemama and friends
in celebrating
the
now.

:)

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

to be or not to be (____)?

in this space
i am often faced with
that very
question
where the blank takes many different directions
dependent upon what is happening
in my life.

and i ask myself if
i should open that particular door


to be or not to be
vulnerable?

to share my fears 
and deepest concerns
 insecurities


or will i only show
the sharpest images 
those that are focused and crisp
often feeling 
the deleted tell a clearer story
and are a better reflection of how i feel

even if my worry is one that
i know connects us all
today's,
 the passage of time
remembering when i ordered a Christmas
stocking for my sweet newborn babe
or having all my boys with me
under the same roof
all the while
knowing how quickly my now will
change

to be or not to be
confessional?



when i am so hyper focused
on the newest
curve ball
of life

should i use this blog to tell all?
does discretion block me
 from helping others who may need to know
they aren't alone
maybe...
just maybe 
i could
find a hand to hold
with words from
a been there...done that
perspective.

not alone
but together 
can we sort through
the stuff of
life
that touches us all
disease
aging
divorce
death
messy life
stuff
?

to be or not to be
honest?

 will i present a still life
rather than show the
complexities 

i always strive to be genuine
because i know my readers are smart people
and would see right through
anything less
but
am i strong enough to boldly proclaim
that which is important to me
things
like
my faith
or will i
in an attempt to not offend
to not turn people off
to be politically and socially correct
check
and double-check my wording?

keeping things positive and
up beat
in a world where
negativity flows rampant

a balancing act that 
has me feeling
wobbly
struggling to find the right footing

questions
that i am
fearlessly
authentically
honestly
boldly
opening the door on
if only but a crack

Monday, December 9, 2013

jolly

Are you finding yourself
wondering what that
looks like?


Funny how this season
can have you feeling both
overwhelmed
and 
underwhelmed...
almost simultaneously.

Due in large part to
the list


which began slightly
before
Thanksgiving
and is gaining speed and momentum
with each passing day.

I don't know if you heard
(are you from planet earth?)
but Thanksgiving landed late
this year
robbing us of
shopping days
and 
needed weekend time
precious time
to get
the
list done.


there are garlands to
be hung


decorations
to unpack
crafts
to complete


wreaths 
to adorn windows


and doors
trees to trim
cookies to bake
cards to send
yeah...
that list.

So
back to the original question...
what does jolly look like?
Well,
slap a smile on your face, baby
hum a Christmas tune
nibble on some of those cookies
say yes! to the eggnog


enjoy the snow
catch a snowflake on your tongue
stick your nose in close and breath in the Frasier fir
get some holiday hand soap
(just do it)
dance like no one is watching...
at the work party!
buy a flavored coffee with every outing
or better yet
pack a thermos of hot cocoa
suck on a candy cane
because in the midst of
all this hustle and bustle
that I will go out on that precarious limb and say is
hugely self-induced
you will find yourself
smack dab in the middle
of
jolly.
That's right...
it's all in the attitude.
Once again...
it isn't about the destination
which somehow always
arrives
right on time
the joy is in the journey.

Hoping and praying
we each find 
jolly 
as we busy our days
preparing
the
way.


Thursday, November 28, 2013

with a thankful heart

table is set
turkey's in the oven
I've reached that moment
where I can relax
because I know it will all be ready
by 2 p.m. as planned
and now my heart can swell
with all that I am thankful for
simple things like
waking to a snow flaked world
holiday music filling the house
nibbling on the most delicious
chocolate chip cookie
that a friend recently shared with me
there was something different 
about that cookie
I insisted
and she shared
willing to tell me her secret
(thanks friend)
milk chocolate chips
and oh what a wonderful dance
it does play on the tongue
thank you, Jennifer!
remembering my yesterday
James helping with the cleaning
 mom helping in the kitchen
chopping and laughing and storytelling
together
what fun the preparations can be
when there is someone there to talk to
she washed as we went along
we taste-tested
and shared a coffee
at the pauses
with those warm buttery cookies 
sister Sue joined us
and stayed for a pizza dinner
that Joey drove to get
love those young...eager...I'll do it drivers
had some holiday cheer
Rudy and James willingly went to get
the necessary ingredients
Crown Royal and Vernor's high ball
 more talking 
more laughing
Hallmark watching
first thing this morning
I got a phone call from my baby sister, Mary
asking for the turkey hot-line
with a turkey too big for the roasting pan
together we came up with solutions
look for another pan
un-tuck the wings and make that bird fit
just cut those dang things off
shared a good laugh
across the miles
commiserated
like only sisters can
and once again
with each passing year
I clearly see
it truly is the simple things
that make my heart 
sing.

Enjoy the symphony!

Happy Thanksgiving.


Monday, November 25, 2013

grateful











sometimes...
words just get in the way.

:)

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

November Soup

I know...
I had you at soup!

With a kitchen full of 
fresh vegetables
after a recent visit to 
Toledo's Farmer's Market
it was

time to get busy.

Creamy Cauliflower and Broccoli Soup
fresh
broccoli
cauliflower
carrots
it's all in there
but wait!
to make it extra special
whipped up some biscuits 
that had my boys
thinking I stopped at
Kentucky Fried...
psych!
it's all vegan.
it's all so good.


biscuits 
warm from the oven
that you tear in half
sniff the wafting steam
dollop on the Earth Balance
 drizzle a little honey
yummy


plated for the photo op
and for easy transport 
to the living room
where I'll sit by the fire
watch tv
enjoy
with lots of
  mmm's


two of the major players
What?
Does that say chicken seasoning?!
Yes. 
but wait...
a quick look and I found
chicken "style" seasonings...
no chicken.
All the flavor...no meat...
perfect.


All my family-favorite recipes
gathered
altered
made into vegan goodness.

Share worthy stuff.
(click to enlarge and read)


the flip side
for directions.


serve 
AND
enjoy.

almost forgot the biscuits
which trust me
will make any meal better.

6-Ingredient Vegan Biscuits
1) 2 cups unbleached flour
2) 4 teaspoons baking powder
3) 1 tablespoon sugar
4) 3/4 teaspoon salt
5) 1/4 cup coconut oil (room temp)
6) 1 cup almond milk

Preheat oven to 450.
Whisk dry ingredients.
Cut in coconut oil.
Stir in almond milk.
Knead gently on floured surface, 8-10 times.
Pat dough into 3/4 inch thickness.
Cut into circles with top of drinking glass.
Arrange on baking sheet.
Bake 8-10 minutes.

seriously.
 good. 
stuff.

Now go to your local market
and get your soup on.
(you can thank me later)