Quote

Trying to define yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth. 

~Alan Watts

photo by spbm

Delicious Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Shells

I found this Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Shells on Pink Basil Blog.  I can hardly wait to make this again, we LOVED it. I made my own marinara sauce. It almost seemed sinful that this was so easy and so delicious. I'm weaning myself off meat. Even though I do not eat much meat, only two - three times a week, but the more research I do on my disease, the more convinced I am that I do not need or want to eat meat any longer. I will continue to eat fish every now and then. And if I have company I will cook meat, but for myself on a day to day basis I'm giving it up.

My marinara sauce is so simple, saute some chopped onion in olive oil, add 2 -3 garlic cloves, minced, a couple cans tomatoes, Italian seasoning, dried basil, couple bay leaves, fennel seed. cook it down to the consistency you like. I then use my hand blender to puree it. You can used crushed tomatoes, doesn't really matter.

I followed the recipe exactly, except added more fennel seed to the filling, we like fennel.

So easy! So Delicious!

Recipe here.

Trees and Strawberry Jam

I did quite a bit of walking today, more than I have done since my surgery last August. I better get used to it, my car quit this week and it's quite a chunk to get it fixed. Since it is going to cost more to fix it than it is worth, not to eager to have it fixed. Not sure what I am going to do, had to cancel all of my appointments for the month and David's. Not sure how I will get to the pharmacy to get our meds, but I must believe the universe is working out the details. Fortunately, the grocery store is within walking distance, just a bit of a hassle if I need several items or heavy items, but can manage. 

The trees were so pretty today, even if they are still bare. Something about trees that comfort me. I couldn't help myself, had to snap a picture. And then there were these two friendly geese that paid no attention to me at all. 

 Strawberries are arriving and they are really juicy and sweet this year. I made one batch of freezer jam. I love that stuff. It is good on just about anything and taste just like fresh strawberries. I have made only freezer jam for several years now, got hooked after making it the first time. And, it is easier and quicker to make.

Made one of my favorite summer desserts, meringue topped with whipped cream and berries, drizzled with some homemade dark chocolate syrup. I could eat this every day. I sometimes use other berries and kiwi, didn't have either, so just strawberries today. 

Well, it's time to treat David's feet and take my meds. Hoping for a good nights sleep tonight. 

Shine like

the whole

universe

is yours.

Rumi

Happy New Year !

Don't...

This quote showed up on Pinterest earlier and it was one of those that reached out and smacked me, which I was needing. I try very hard not to post things that are depressing but sometimes, I feel like I am playing a game when I pretend that everything is OK when it's not. No matter how much meditation I do or how positive I try to stay, something will happen and it feels like a wave of fear has knocked me to the depths of the ocean of fear. 

                             photo by spbm

So here's a message to myself and to anyone else who might come along and need a little bit of encouragement.

DON'T LOSE YOURSELF IN YOUR FEAR!

Some beautiful music by The Piano Guys:
A Thousand Years

How can summer be gone?

I am still trying to come to terms with summer being gone. My mind and body is fighting the arrival of winter...but I am convinced with such a cool fall that winter does not care whether I am ready or not. It is coming.

The colors outdoors are just amazing! So...I am trying to soak up the beauty while it last.

photo: spbm

The Possibilities...

I'm trying to reach beyond my small ideas of what looks possible to my limited human vision, and view the possibilities of miracles from a spiritual vision.

Photos by spbm

Had to have some cornbread to go with my bean soup tonight - made it in the waffle iron, quick and easy.

tasty fried green pepper rings

Honestly, I hardly ever fry things, but every now and then, especially summer time, I like my fried green tomatoes or in this case, fried green pepper rings. I was making eggplant parmesan a couple of nights ago, had some egg left and decided to fry up some green pepper rings.

I worked at my brother-in-law and sister's cafe while in my teens, fried green pepper rings were on the menu. I LOVED them. Never had I made them, but I may now and again, since these turned out so tasty and delicious. And, they were super easy, always a plus factor.

I just cut the pepper in rings, dipped them in flour seasoned with salt and pepper, then in egg and back into the flour and fried them in a little bit of oil. I am going to add some other herbs next time, give them a little zest.

They were so good!!! Thought about making a dip, but I don't have to have a dip to enjoy them. They would be good just dipped in ranch dressing.

 photos by spbm

On another note, I saw a "for sale" sign in this cute little mini last Sunday at the Home Depot parking lot. I was sure I would win the power ball that night, with the "one" ticket I had purchased to allow me to buy my dream car. The Universe did not get the message quick enough. Next time. :)

photos by spbm

How cute is this!?

craving for beets

My body must be craving some nutrients that are in beets, I can't get enough of them. They have appeared on my dinner plate twice already this week.

 

I just started cooking beets almost a year ago. As a kid, I ate a lot of pickled beets. Dad grew them in the garden and mom canned them. Seems like they were always on the table at dinner, and I ate my share of them. I don't know why I never started cooking them? Perhaps because I have always thought of beets as exotic, something hard to cook. Well, trust me, they are one of the easiest things to cook I have ever cooked. I'm planning on canning a few jars, pickled ones, if I can keep them long enough without eating them before the process is complete. Seriously, I LOVE these things. Something so brilliant in color just has to be totally wonderful and healing for the body.

photo by spbm

One of my favorite way to fix is so simple, I steam the whole beet long enough for the skin to come off easily, slice or cut in cubes, toss with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt, fresh pepper, and a little rosemary and cook in a 400 degree oven until beets are tender but not too soft. Result: DELICIOUS!!!

I hope everyone is doing well and having a great week.
xoxo

change

photo by spbm

 

If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

Dr. Wayne Dyer

bravery

photo by spbm

“To be brave is to love someone unconditionally, without expecting anything in return. To just give. That takes courage, because we don't want to fall on our faces or leave ourselves open to hurt.”  ~Madonna

monday night quote

photo by spbm

The Universe Responds and Works with You to Manifest ... into a Physical Reality." ~Wayne Dyer

wayne dyer quote

                                                                                                photo by spbm

it's true

photo by spbm



lost time

photo by spbm

Lost time is never found again.

~Benjamin Franklin

how do you shut down the brain?

It's a New Year! YAY!!!!
I'm hoping and expecting good things this year, for me and for you.

Night before last, I wrestled with my sheets, my pillow, and my mind ALL night long. I was ready to throw things. If I could have found a switch any where to shut my brain off I would have. My thoughts were drunk on worry, I guess. It was a long and miserable night.

Last night was quite a bit better. I need my sleep anymore. I want sleep!!! When I don't sleep, I don't feel like anything the next day, really crappy and cranky, actually. What happened to the days when I seriously could go for 2-3 days with no sleep???

Photo by spbm

Wishing everyone a beautiful weekend ahead!

xoxo

old things...new story

“Old things are better than new things, because they've got stories in them, Ethan.”
― Kami Garcia Margaret Stohl

I love old things...

Everything in my house is old and has a an old story...and I like the idea of giving it a new one. There is something about rescuing an old item that appeals to me in a big way.
I'm not so good for helping the economy grow - I restore and recycle and I never replace an appliance until the old one has died and is beyond the ability to be brought back to life. A few of my favorite things:

photo by spbm

Some old cameras.  Love these.

photo by spbm

An old travel poster I purchased while living in Germany. It's huge.

photo by spbm

I am not a collector of chickens, but I love this one. He is extremely heavy, not sure what he is made of.

photo by spbm

How cute is he!? He is so old and has so many worn spots. I wonder about the child or children who have loved him - where are they and what was their story. He was found while I was digging through an old box at a flea market in Germany. There could be some interesting tales this little guy could tell...if only he could talk.

photo by spbm

This is not so old, but one of my favorite things from France. I bought this while floating the lochs and we stopped one morning and rode our bikes into a little village to get breakfast. This was in a little shop that was similar to a tiny general store. I use it when I go to the grocery store. I get tons of compliments on it. When I first came back from Germany I would get a lot of looks carrying it at the store. Not so much anymore, people in Missouri are starting to use more reusable bags and totes. I love it!!! I cringe every time I see someone carrying their groceries out in those "nasty" plastic bags.

'

photo by spbm

I have a light fixture from Germany that I really do want to replace this one with, but for now...I do like this one.

photo by spbm

Love old books!

photo by spbm

A old 1861sign I purchased in Germany. I don't think it is German? I was told it was a tavern sign? It's extremely heavy wood.

photo by spbm

Old Tom's Peanut Cabinet full of children's books.

photo by spbm

These are definitely not old, but I have a hard time throwing bottles out. If I can use them for anything at all, I recycle them. Spent a couple of hours yesterday taking off the labels and then ran these through the dishwasher. Some will work great for flavored oil and vinegars.

happiness...

photo by spbm

“Happiness is an allegory, unhappiness a story.”

― Leo Tolstoy



the bird flies

photo by spbm

“The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings.”

― J.M. Barrie, The Little White Bird

every choice

photo by spbm

“The problem, simply put, is that we cannot choose everything simultaneously. So we live in danger of becoming paralyzed by indecision, terrified that every choice might be the wrong choice.”

― Elizabeth Gilbert