Trying to Write

Lately I have been stumped. It seems like I cannot think of what to write, is it too boring? is it something that I really need to get out of my system? Why do I over think so many things? I am going to work on just writing whatever I am thinking at the time, whether it is all connected or not.

When my best friend Anita was visiting, she had asked me to try some color therapy. She gave me some crayons and told me to color how I was feeling. At the time, all I could do was grab the black and just press down hard on the paper, coloring it fiercely, not all inside the lines, and rather loud looking. I was actually surprised at the response because whether it seems like it or not, I do have a bit of trouble verbalizing feelings sometimes, but evidentally not expressing them. So tonight I thought about it again and decided to color how I was feeling by the end of my very hectic day. I was surprised that I picked orange and yellow, a little black around the edges, but mostly soothing warm colors. Maybe it is because I was so encouraged by the blogspot of Ann Voskamp called http://www.aholyexperience.com/ . The gratitude list is something I am really going to strive to do: 1000 gratitude gifts. I suppose I will keep it at home in a journal, not really sure if I will be able to write every day, but at least attempting to be grateful, like my mom always encourages me to do, so I can experience the joy I know I have in my life.

I am Grateful for the beautiful sunset again this evening, and as the sun went down the full moon was amazing and bright, like a happy face. God loves to give us such beauty all around.

Tomorrow is a new day!

Paint the World

life

is a train of moods like a string of beads;

and as we pass through them they prove to be many colored lenses,

which paint the world their own hue,

and each shows us only what lies in its own focus.

~ ralph waldo emerson ~

Quiet Sunday

“We need to find God,

and He cannot be found in noise and restlessness.

God is the friend of silence.

See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence;

see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence...

We need silence to be able to touch souls.”

~

Mother Theresa

Blank

It has been awhile since I have blogged. It seems I am more secure lately, just reading others posts and gleaning a bit from what they have written flowing from their fingertips. I am not sure why, maybe I have been feeling blank. Not depressed or sad, just not having anything to say.

I am hoping that in the next few days I can get re-energized and become a color again... maybe green ~ soothing and cool; or maybe a steady friendly blue like turquoise . Who knows. A different perspective is always nice.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY delicioso mama !!!!!!

Birthdays are ordinary days sprinkled with stardust.

May yours be extraordinary.

Summer Pasta

Today was a scorcher! It was at least one of the hottest days we have experienced so far this year. When that happens, I am usually a fan of "sun pasta". The way it works is you make angel hair pasta, throw in basil, tomato, garlic, buffalo mozzarella, and olive oil. Salt and Peppa to taste... and you sit it on the sunniest part of your counter while you set the table etc. The flavors meld together and it is light, fresh and all together wonder-full. It is a caprese salad on pasta. When we served it, my #1 food critic (eldest boy 16...) said "I need some balsamic vinegar"; a kid after my own heart. . . needless to say I had to stop eating even though I was full; it was delicious. Serve it with a baguette and fresh fruit... you have the makings of summer.

Off to dreamland - thinking of Italy tonight!! Ciao!

Vicarious Living

Cafe with Eiffel Tower, Paris www.allposters.com



What is it about looking at photos and pictures that gives us the greatest joy? I am sure it is in part, the memories that they conjour up. But I believe it is also something about looking through the eyes of someone else and seeing a bit of their vision, their joy.

Lately I have been looking at so many of the Daily Photo Blogs. Paris Daily Photo, Glimpses of South Pasadena just to name a couple. There are so many places I want to travel to and just by getting a glimpse of the cities, it is almost like I know these places, and have made new friends. It is interesting, if I know someone in that particular city that I am looking at, I somehow feel closer to that person, as if I can say I know where you go and see what you see!

What a wonderful way to connect and share. Someday I hope to take my own pictures, in wonderful far away places, but for now I will just live through the camera who takes them.

Thought for Today

When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives, but are grateful for the abundance that's present... we experience heaven on earth.


~Sarah Breathnack


Thought Of The Day

Every day we all have the same opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of others. We can choose to mope about our lot in life, or we can decide to live in awe, touching hearts along the way. We all know ducks who make lots of noise, quacking and complaining about their problems in life. And then there are eagles, who go about their business and consistently soar above the crowd.






Today's message comes to you from THE POWER OF ATTITUDE

www.motivationinaminute.com

Static

When we have so much going on in our lives and things are going on all around us, it sounds like static. Life's pressures, depression and all negative thoughts invade making the sound deafening. THEN we get used to it and forget what it sounds like to hear stillness. Today we can find a quiet place, unload the static and listen for the quietness. Be still.

FoodBuzz

I have been enjoying my back and forth blogging on www.foodbuzz.com and the recipe is from my site over there. At the risk of repeating myself, I will probably put this blog on that blog and then we will be a linked blog! So this is how I posted the recipe:



I usually have menu plans written out and I buy groceries based on them. Then on any given evening I can pull something depending on what is going on. Last night was a harried one so by the time I got back home, I was accosted at the door … when is dinner!?? My kids enjoy the usual quick fix: Pasta . . .

1 package fresh ravioli – cooked al dente

Lemon Alfredo

2 TBSP flour
2 TBSP butter
1 1/2 C milk
1/2 C cream
1 1/2 C fresh parmigiano reggiano
Zest of one lemon
Scant 1/4 C lemon juice
dash nutmeg
salt & pepper to taste

In medium saucepan whisk the butter and flour until lightly browned. Add milk, cream, dash salt and pepper and stir until it becomes thickened and bubbly (about 5 min). Add cheese until smooth. Stir in the lemon juice and nutmeg. Pour over cooked pasta. Add lemon zest and more cheese if you like.

I serve this with snap peas and carrots sauteed with garlic olive oil. The salad is basically spinach, avocado and caesar dressing. A fresh baguette is a great “dipper” for the extra sauce.

In the Kitchen

So I was surfing around different food blogs and found some amazing recipes. I am quite sure that this blogspot is somehow going to turn into something food related. Among my many interests, food is at the top of my list. I love going into a really nice grocery store and just looking at the produce section. One of my favorites is a local grocery called the Nugget. Beautiful polished cement floors, every section like a picture. That is a slice of heaven for me. Dean & Deluca in Napa is another place I love to just meander through. So many food options, so many tasting options, almost like a kid in a candy store ~ literally!

Since the kids can sleep in, I plan on making good use of our late evenings. One night during the week (usually a Friday) I have one of the kids pick out something they want to cook. I have them make me a list and I get all of the ingredients. The plan is for them to prepare and cook the meal for the rest of us. I have three boys and one girl, and I am training all of them to learn to cook !! So far the two oldest boys have done their dinners; they were wonderful. One of the most refreshing summer fruit salads was created by one of them. It is cool, summery and very easy.

Summer Fruit Refresher

1 seedless watermelon, cubed
2 baskets strawberries, stems removed, sliced into thirds, longwise
2 C red grapes, rinsed, sliced in half optional
2 grapefruit, no white on sections, cubed
Assorted berries - raspberries, blueberries, boysenberries,

Mix all the above fruit. Serve in ramekins garnished with mint. Delicious!

I am sure the road to foodville is going to be a great trip - good experience and fun memories. Bon Appetit!

Out of Sorts

What exactly does that phrase mean? According to the dictionary it is "somewhat ill; grouchy; irritable". This past week was the first full week of summer vacation. It is a time where everyone should be excited, no school!! But it seems that everyone, including me, was "out of sorts". So today I woke up with a new outlook: I know that first I have to try to be positive, but consistency will be the key. I set the tone for our home and I think that it was reflected last week. A very humbling thing to see and acknowledge, but there it is. I was "somewhat ill". Bummer.

One of my favorite daily newsletter www.motivationinaminute.com. It has great reminders, stories (that tend to be a bit mushy) that we have the power to be positive. We as people tend to hear more negative statements than positive!

So, today I plan on making it a positive day. We are going to a friends house, fabulous food, great fellowship and hope to kick off this next week on a not so ill note. Stay tuned for pictures!!

Nourish the soul

Dillon Beach, CA

I am looking forward to the next time I can get away and get to the beach.

Weather Pattern in Life

What a cliche to talk about the weather. But it is the subject for the day. On Wednesday night (early morning actually ) we had a thunderstorm, complete with lightning, huge drops of rain, cool wind. It was such a beautiful sight to see - I was able to open the blinds just to watch the show. So unusual for rain here in Northern Cali in June, let alone a thunderstorm. I remember as a kid waiting for lightning, then counting " one tomato, two tomato" and when the thunder hit you knew how close the storm was! So of course I did that and wouldn't you know it was right in my backyard! It did take me back to when I was little, living in Wisconsin. I remember one Saturday afternoon a thunderstorm came up quickly - the sky was so dark and a little scary. My brother and sister and I stayed in our garage counting the seconds until the thunder crashed. And it CRASHED. It lasted only about 15 minutes, and I clearly remember the smell of the rain coming off of the blacktop as the sun came back out and you could see the water sparkling everywhere. That is one memory that rain, sun and thunder all at once bring back to me. I wanted to call them and say "hey remember ..."



I hope that we can all remember that you never know what is going to happen; the most unusual things and they come when you least expect it. Thunderstorms in June. How quickly our days turn into weeks etc. It reminds me to notice every little thing that brings us joy. How are you spending your weekend?

Random Observations

There are so many visuals for us to appreciate. Like yesterday morning, I discovered a brand new walking trail. Picture some beautiful redwoods along the path, every plant is marked by its name and it loops around a pretty little lake. How long have I lived so close to this and NEVER even knew it was there? Lots of little ducks with their heads tucked in, looking like little footballs. It struck me as rather funny, all of a sudden a head would pop up, quack and roll away. Or the visual of a plane coming in for a landing - that little bird literally "flying" across the lake, its little orange feet descended like wheels and whooosh, perfect landing. Cheerful is the word I use to describe it. Bright. Perky.

Then today I observed another very visual thing. I was leaving a parking lot and there was a truck pulling out in front of me. Not just a truck, but a big electrical one. You must have seen them, usually a big dog hanging out with the driver. Not so this time. . . There was a CAT hanging out across the back of the seat. A big orange cat, climbing around this man's shoulders. He (we will name him Felixx) looked very comfortable and not at all embarassed that he wasn't a tough guy... I thought that cool cat was so comfortable in his own space - why aren't we comfortable being who we are?

So two different visuals that stuck out in my mind; both made me stop and think. I will now go to bed with a gratefulness that there is so much out there to observe - if we just pay attention.

By the way, did anyone pause and watch the sunset?

Today was our day

Today was Saturday. I ended up having just one of the kids with me and we decided to make it his day. You know how it is when it is just you and one child. No distractions, no arguing; the day is just amazing. Well, we made it more so.


There is a "hike" that I do at one of our local parks. It is about 1 1/2 mile up to the top and mostly uphill. Once you reach the top it is an amazing view , you can see for miles. So I did the only right thing one could do, I dragged him along with me. "Are you doing ok? " he asked, "you seem to be breathing hard". I was fine, though a little winded. He, on the other hand was having quite an easy time. He was so proud of himself for running part of the way. Along the way the die-hard runners were passing us and he was sure he could challenge them to a race as well. I am always amazed at the self confidence and assurance this one of mine has...where did that come from? We reached the top, explored a little, chased lizards and then it was the easy part: DOWN. On the way down, he decided what we were doing next - rockclimbing

But I had to do it too. What could I say? So off we went to the indoor rock climbing gym. I must admit it was so much fun, but more so that we were sharing something like this together. I love watching him grow into such a kind and compassionate young man; he was so concerned that I enjoy myself too. I felt encouraged as I reached the top and was afraid to repel down (you never know if that auto rope is going to let you crash) and he would just say "come on - you can do it! let go" . By the end of the afternoon I was not such a novice!! He took me to lunch and we had a wonderful time just wandering around downtown. Of course, we had to go back to the gym and do just a couple more climbs. Tired and sore, we were ready to head home. We got everyone back, finished dinner and settled in for the night. As everyone said goodnight, I said for him to go up to bed too. His sleepy response "our day is not over yet" and I thought I wish it could just start over again. What an awesome way to end our Saturday.

Writers Beach Block

When I started surfing around the blogging world, I wondered what in the world would I write about? These blogs I come across are wonderful, interesting etc. I am not a writer and who would really be interested in anything that is going on in my day, I thought? Well, my mom ( who is one of my best friends) said just write what you know. She is an amazingly creative being who truly believes in any creative expression as a way to figure things out. Call it cathartic, therapeutic, whatever: it usually works. What do I know? I am not sure, but I do think that this is a great place to figure it out . So here I go...

Sandy Flip Flops? The beach. My closest friends usually figure if they can't get me on my cell phone, I am probably at the beach. Looking forward to that salty smell as soon as you are close enough to roll down your windows and feel if the air is cool. The excitement when you finally get there. You know, when you find that perfect place on the vast beach before you , just close enough to the water to hear the crashing waves and feel a little mist. You lay out the familiar "beach blanket" and set up the umbrella, position the cooler close enough to get to the licorice and settle into your chair. "Don't get sand on the blanket " you call out to the kids. "See all that space next to me?? Lay your towels there!!" And so you settle in to watch the sun dance on the water and listen to the music of the surf. Your flip-flops get covered with sand and your world is perfect.