Ah, disappointment

M&M's have a lot of different varieties: mint, peanut butter, crispy, and pretzel, in addition to the usual regular and peanut varieties.  Late last year, I read on Facebook that they would be coming out with a caramel version and my heart skipped a beat.  That sounded like a match made in heaven!  But, I would have to wait until this spring.

My wait ended on Tuesday, when I spotted a bag in Walmart.  So I decided to bring them home and let everyone try them.

I don't know what everyone else thought of them, but since the bag is now gone, I suppose my kids didn't totally hate them!  However, I must confess I was disappointed.  I am not exactly sure what I thought they would be like.  They are the size of peanut M&M's, kind of bulky looking, and the filling, well, they taste like candy coated Milk Duds.  I envisioned the filling to be creamier, more liquid, and smaller, but perhaps that just isn't possible.

Oh well, I guess I can go back to one of the other versions.  But I think this will be a one and done purchase....

Is it 2017 yet??!!

2016 has been a rough year, in many ways.  A lot of activity, a lot of change, a lot of loss.  It's been a year that has pulled many through the wringer emotionally.

 

We had a presidential election that left much to be desired.  I can't think of another election like this past one that left people so disillusioned and disgusted.  "Is this the best we can do??" was voiced by many. 

 

We lost so many people in popular culture.  Some deaths were not totally unexpected, but sad nonetheless.  Some just threw us for a loop.  Many names that I grew up with, from my childhood and teenage years, were taken from us way too soon.

 

And the violence.  So much of it.  Hate crimes. Terrorism.  Here and abroad.  So many senseless actions.  Lives destroyed, sides drawn, and no answers.

 

The dictionary defines the word "malaise" as "a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or uneasiness whose exact cause is difficult to identify."  I think the word malaise sums up 2016 perfectly. 

 

2017 can't come soon enough.  Here's hoping it's a gentler, kinder year!

 

Birthday musings

Today is my birthday; I turn 48 today.  So far, I have had a good day: enjoyed some texts, emails, phone calls, and Facebook postings wishing me a happy birthday; went to the library and picked up some new books; got some lovely cupcakes from a local bakery; and even wrote a blog post (I know-two blog posts from me in a day?? What's up with that??)!

So now I sit here, with college football on the tv in the background (go WVU!) and I think about what it means to be 48.  I know I have chronologically been on this earth for 48 years.  I don't "feel" 48, mostly because I don't know what 48 is supposed to feel like.  I certainly don't feel old mentally, although my body is always ready to remind me that I'm not as young as I used to be.

When I was a kid, I was terrified of getting old.  Getting older just seemed like a steady progression towards death.  That scared me so bad that I had panic attacks from age 10 to about age 30.  I can't explain why I was so fearful; I guess I thought my life would fly by and I would feel like I didn't have enough time to live my life and then it would be over.  Death seemed so final; I don't know why I developed such a fear at such a young age, but at times the panic attacks were simply overwhelming.

When I was 29, I lived on the island of Guam.  I just had our second son.  In December of 1997, Super Typhoon Paka hit the island and took down power.  Even though the Navy base we lived on got power back on fairly quickly, we still didn't have cable back and the Internet at the time was a bit primitive (I mean-dial up!).  So believe it or not, when I had free time, I started re-reading the Bible.  While reading through the Old and New Testament, the epistles and the psalms, a feeling of calm came over me.  I realized that I didn't have control over things like death and the passage of time and that was okay; there was nothing to fear from that.  From that point, my panic attacks stopped and very rarely have they resurfaced.  Letting go and having faith that I would be okay no matter what made a huge difference in my life and brought me peace.

When I was 42, I started working at St. Leo Catholic Church, the church my family and I have attended since we moved to West Virginia.  I had volunteered in different ministries, but now I was in the office during the week and in contact with many different people.  Many different and wonderful people who have taught me so much.  Alot of the people I come into contact with every day are at least 20 years older than me.  They have made me look at age differently.  So many of these people live vibrant lives.  They volunteer their time, they travel, they have wonderful outlooks on life, no matter what life may hand them.  They do not buckle when there are challenges in their path; they deal with them and keep on living.  I am so grateful to have examples of human beings living such full lives in front of me every day.

I have grown into myself as I have aged.  I don't care as much about what people think of me.  I don't care as much about making mistakes-they are learning tools.  Every day I am learning to not let fear hold me back from living my life.  I am grateful for all of the experiences that have gotten me to where I am today.  Maybe my life has not turned out quite like I thought it would, but in many ways, that is a good thing.  I have realized it is better not to have expectations-that is the quickest way to get disappointed.  Every day I learn new things, about myself and the world around me and I am committed to keeping an open mind.  Nothing is truly impossible.

So I look forward to the road ahead and hopefully it is a long one.  I intend to keep improving my outlook, expanding my horizons, and learning as much as I can about myself and the world around me.  I will do this one day at a time.  

Happy Birthday to me :)

Book Challenge 2016

A book challenge you say?  But the year is 3/4 over, you say?  Challenge accepted!

So I started with "a biography or memoir" and my selection was "So That Happened" by Jon Cryer.  I have been a fan of Jon Cryer since seeing him play Duckie in Pretty in Pink many moons ago.  I had heard great things about the book on Twitter and decided to add it to my Amazon cart.

It is less of a biography and more of a memoir about his time so far in show business.  Some of it was very interesting and insightful.  Jon has experience as an actor in theater, movies, and TV, as well as a writer, director, and producer.  He does a great job explaining the difference between the various genres and giving you a taste of the ins and outs of show business through his experiences, all with a healthy dose of humor.  You can really sense the respect he has for certain people in the business and his frustration with different aspects.  He touches on different areas of his personal life, but does not delve too deeply.  He does have a chapter on his experience with an old girlfriend and talks about his relationship with Demi Moore when they filmed "No Small Affair" together.  He doesn't really bash anyone, although after his description of working on Pretty In Pink, I get the sense that Molly Ringwald was a stuck up snobby bitch and Andrew McCarthy was a condescending prick (my words, not his).  Even though he brushes off some of their actions and words, I think he was a little hurt at their behavior towards him, both on and off camera.

The one section of the book I had a problem with was when he spoke about Charlie Sheen, specifically when Charlie went off the deep end.  There was just a little too much detail about the whole scenario.  I really didn't need to know the specific text messages Jon and Charlie exchanged.  I know "Two and a Half Men" comprised a large part of Jon Cryer's professional life and Charlie Sheen was a big part of it; I know Charlie Sheen's behavior was all over the media at the time and fodder for TMZ and the tabloids; and I am sure Charlie's behavior really hurt and pissed off Jon.  But I wished that Jon focused a little less on the circus that was Charlie Sheen and stuck more to his show business experiences or talked more about his relationship with his family or being a father.  The last third of the book is mostly about Charlie Sheen and it should ALL be about Jon Cryer.

All in all, I enjoyed the book and if you are a fan of Jon's, give it a read!  I own the book, so if you would like to read it, let me know and I will be happy to send it to you!

Adventures in Fine Dining

Anyone that knows me knows that I am a bit of a foodie; I also enjoy a good cocktail.  So when my husband asked me if I wanted to attend a special Grey Goose diner at Ruth Chris steak house-a 5 course meal pairing Grey Goose cocktails with each course-the answer was a resounding YES!

This event was held at Ruth Chris restaurants around the country; we attended the one in Gaithersburg, MD.  The dinner was held in a private dining room in the restaurant; there were about 25 of us altogether.  There was a "master of ceremonies", who explained how and where Grey Goose vodka was made and described each course and cocktail.  There was a short video presentation all about Grey Goose vodka before the meal began.  We had 2 servers for the room as well as a bartender, who explained how each cocktail was made and what went into each one.

The first course was a salad of thinly sliced duck breast, black mission figs, apricots, greens, and thinly sliced crispy potatoes with a light elderflower vinagrette.  This was paired with Le Grand Fizz, a cocktail of Grey Goose vodka, St. Germaine elderflower liqueur, lime juice, and garnished with lime.  This was easily my favorite course.  I loved the salad (figs are one of my favorite foods) and the cocktail was very refreshing.  I could have drank them all night!

.

The second course was dry chili rubbed salmon with baked fennel.  The salmon was very moist and flavorful.  The fennel looked like a small potato cake.  It was also very good.  What I was surprised about was that my husband ate all of it.  This was not a combination I would have ever imagined him trying a year ago.  I guess that's a testament to how good the food is at Ruth Chris!

The drink paired with this course was a pear and cardamom collins.  I don't know all of the ingredients, but there definitely was Grey Goose vodka and cardamom syrup.  It was garnished with a thinly sliced pear.  It was wonderful!

The third course was chicken breast stuffed with dried fruit and thyme with roasted fingerling potatoes.  This was not a full chicken breast-that didn't make it any less delicious.

The drink paired with this course was Le Melon Mule.  Grey Goose Melon vodka with ginger beer and lime.  I have never been a huge fan of mules (the drink, not the animal; I have no experience with the animal) and this concoction was no different.  For me, it was too sour and too strong. I have decided I am not a fan of ginger beer.  I did, however, eat the cantaloupe ball and piece of candied ginger it was garnished with-that I liked.

The entree course was a petit filet with parmesan crusted cauliflower, served with sides of chevre & bleu mac and cheese and fire roasted corn.  I'm picky about corn and this rendering of it was not appealing to me, but my husband enjoyed it.  He also loved the mac and cheese and he does not like mac and cheese; again, a testament to the chefs at Ruth Chris.  I liked the mac and cheese, but it was nothing earth shattering.

The steak, however, was fabulous.  Perfect medium rare, melted in your mouth.  Hey, this is a well known steak restaurant-they better know how to do steak!  The cauliflower was very good as well.

The drink paired with this course was a big ass martini.  That's my description, not theirs.  Because it was!  It was Ruth Chris' famous dry martini, with Grey Goose vodka, olive juice, and a big olive stuffed with bleu cheese.  Very big, very strong.  If I had this drink at the beginning of the meal and could sip it throughout, I would have liked it.  But after a little more than 2 drinks, I could have taken a nap on the floor.  So I took a few sips, ate the olive, and left it at that.

The dessert course was probably the most disappointing.  It was a small chocolate cake with almonds and chocolate almond bark.  No real wow factor and the bark was just simply too dense for me.  It did have almonds and dried fruit in it; the cake was just chocolate cake with chocolate whipped cream.

The drink paired with it was, honestly, awful.  I think it was called Francois' coffee.  It was Grey Goose Cherry Noir vodka, kahlua, coffee, and maybe something else.  I thought the coffee would be hot; I was wrong.  It was just....blecch.  And we weren't the only ones who thought so.  As we looked around the room, we noticed the dessert drink going largely untouched.  Sean said it tasted like cough syrup-I think that's a pretty accurate description.

All in all, it was a wonderful dining experience.  Don't worry-my husband did not drink all of his drinks, so he was perfectly fit to drive home.  And luckily there was a Starbucks across the street.  The dinner cost $95 per person plus tip (which they added in for us) and that may seem expensive, but the food was delicious and these were full sized drinks, so I would say it was totally worth it.

Our servers and bartender were wonderful-very professional, very friendly, very accomodating.  The master of ceremonies....I can't say I was impressed with him.  He admitted he was more of a "wine guy" and didn't know that much about vodka.  He was reading off of a tablet device, so it couldn't have been that hard.  But he put no enthusiasm into the descriptions and stumbled over the presentation somewhat.  Worse, when he joined a table to dine, he positioned his chair that almost totally cut off a major walkway for the room.  That's bad enough for a large person like me; it's terrible for the servers that have to squeeze through with trays of food and drinks.  And the gentleman really did nothing to get out of the way-very unprofessional in my book.

I look forward to the next Ruth Chris dining extravaganza!  Might I suggest....tequila? ;)

Humbled

If you live in and around the state of West Virginia, you have surely heard about the terrible floods that have devastated over 40 counties in the state.  The people in many areas have lost everything and insurance, if they have it, cannot even begin to cover what they have lost.  Add to that the toll this has taken on people mentally and emotionally, and you have a crisis.

I live in Martinsburg, which is in the eastern panhandle of the state, about an hour and a half north west of Washington D.C.  The past two weeks I have witnessed something amazing.  Local businesses and churches have become staging areas for a relief effort and ordinary folks have responded to the call for help in droves.  I work for and am a member of St. Leo's Catholic Church in Inwood, WV.  Carla Hopkins, one of our parishioners, is an angel here on earth.  She has worked tirelessly to get the word out for what is needed, has coordinated with other volunteers in the area, and has driven all over Berkeley County helping to deliver donations.  Today (Saturday) she and her husband Charlie were at St. Leo organizing, with the help of volunteers, all of the donations that people had been bringing to the church all week.  This situation has touched her heart so powerfully that anything she can do to help she has done.

Other angel is Marti Hersom.  She is a member of Mt. Zion Episcopal Church and very active in the community.  She has also put the call out for what is most needed in the affected areas, used her church as a staging area, and she and her children have gone down to some of the affected areas to help out in whatever way they can.  She shares her stories and photos on Facebook when she can.

Both of these women, and countless others all over West Virginia are true life heroes in my book, motivated only by their love and concern for their fellow human beings.  These are not government agencies or large charitable organizations.  These are simple folks all over the state that want to help in whatever way they can.  Whether it is donating money to buy ice, bringing cleaning supplies, baby items, or whatever else is need to a staging area, or driving down to the affected areas to distribute items or help clean up, so many people have been moved by this disaster to help in any way they are able.  It is truly humbling to see this response from so many people.

If anyone would like to donate towards the relief effort, please visit: http://catholiccharitieswv.org/  The front page describes the devastation and has a simple Donate button so that you can help.

To read about and view some photos about the relief effort, you can like this page: https://www.facebook.com/blessclaycounty/?pnref=story.unseen-section  or you can go can like the page I manage for our church: https://www.facebook.com/stleoinwoodwv/.  I try to share stories when I can.


Thank you for reading this.  And thank you to everyone who has helped in any way.

Simple Pleasures

-light streaming through a stained glass window

-the smell of fresh basil

-music, always music

-cool, fresh morning air

-a pet curled up beside you

-a clear sky full of stars

-deep red cardinals, bright blue jays, and glimpses of hummingbirds

-a rainy afternoon, and a good book (or 3)

-a long talk with an old friend

-a long stretch of highway and some good tunes

-naps

-the scent of hyacinth

-a freshly mowed lawn

-remembering all your passwords on the first try

-a quiet day at the beach

-hugs

-road trips

-peace and quiet and a fresh cup of coffee

-a perfectly poached egg

-flowers in full bloom

-finding a forgotten $10 in a pocket

-people that know how to merge

-fireflies

-climbing into cool crisp sheets at night


What are some of your simple pleasures?

Fly Robin Fly

Yesterday evening, I was sitting on my back porch when I heard chirping very close by.  Our yard is home to a variety of birds and they are always coming and going.  This chirping, however, was so close that I knew the bird had to be somewhere on the porch, but I couldn't see it.  Finally, I spied the noisemaker-a young robin that had somehow flown onto the bottom part of a table.  He seemed a bit confused as to where he was.  I walked over and got just close enough to take a picture.  He just kind of stared at me; I was reminded of the book, "Are You My Mother?" by P.D. Eastman :)

It was after I took the photo that I spied Momma Robin.  She was perched on the fence, dinner hanging from her mouth, looking intently at the situation going on.  She couldn't chirp to her youngster because if she did, she would lose the big fat worm she had in her beak.  

So I encouraged the little guy to fly back to his mom.  He hopped around a few times and finally made it to the latticework that wraps around the porch.  But he was still unsure.  I edged ever closer, telling him to go fly back to his mom, and finally he took flight and landed in the yard.  Instantly Momma Robin was at his side and off they went from there.

It made me think: We all need encouragement from time to time, especially if those closest to us are not able, for whatever reason, to give us that encouragement.  There is no need for judgment.  A positive word here or there can make the difference between falling flat or taking flight.

apology

Oh my poor neglected blog.  What did you ever do to deserve this?  It's not that I'm ignoring you; in fact I think of you quite often.  I think of all the silly thoughts in my head, all the topics that could grace your pages, all the words that could fill the screen. 

However, I don't want to ramble on with complaints, or abstract thoughts, or inane ideas.  I want words that form substance, opinions that matter, posts that engage whomever happens to read them.

And therein lies my problem.

I think too much about who might read you, when I should just post something, whether it be a long inspiring essay, a poem, or just a picture with some brief explanation.  I should not care if anyone reads you.  I created you, I breathe life into you.  Even if no one visits you or reads you, you still exist.

You are a reflection of me; your content is as varied as my life.  There are times when you are overflowing with enthusiastic ideas.  Other times, you are more reflective and pensive.  And of course, there are times when you are silent and still.

I will be more willing, less stringent.  I hope to fill you and share you, make you come alive.

I promise.

Focus

If you have an account on any social media platform, you have seen the meme proclaiming that 2015 was the year that everyone was offended by everything.  Whether it was politics, race relations, religion, celebrities, daily life, the weather, everyone seemed to have a bone to pick with someone or something.

Why is focusing on the negative so easy for human beings?  We latch on to what we don't like and give that all of our attention and energy.  We get consumed by lamenting what is wrong with that person, that group, that thing, that idea and we use our talents and time to fight against something....or at least spend a lot of time complaining or being sarcastic.

What if, instead of railing against that which we detest, we instead used our time and talent to focus on what we believe in and love?  You don't like a particular politician?  Then promote the one you do like.

Don't like a certain situation you see in the news or at work?  Then put your focus and energy towards a solution.  Better yet-just don't complain.  That is a Herculean feat in itself, trust me!  

Don't like a certain celebrity or roll your eyes at a particular lifestyle?  Then don't give them free publicity by talking about them at all, even if it's to point out what you think is wrong or annoying, etc.  It would be far better (and more positive) to give time to the things you do enjoy and like.  

Sarcasm has become an art form in this society, especially since most people can remain fairly anonymous, hiding behind computer screens and online identities.  But I have to admit, the constant snarkiness gets wearying.  Does everyone need to make snide comments about the Kardashians, President Obama, Donald Trump, etc?   Does everyone need to hear your lamentations about the weather, Mondays, or that person on Facebook that drives you crazy with their posts?

Just because something dominates the news, popular culture, or your timeline or Twitter feed doesn't mean it deserves your attention.  Those things are popular because we choose to give them attention.  Imagine what would happen if we didn't.  They would fade away, at least from our consciousness.  You wouldn't feel the need to put in your two cents or make a witty comment.  

One of my favorite moments from the Simpsons is in an episode where giant logos and mascots have come to life and are destroying the town.  Lisa Simpson discovers that if you stop giving the monsters attention, they lose their power and die:

https://youtu.be/SlKao_Pox5A

What if we all did that-just not give our attention to the things and people that annoy us, bother us, and instead focus on what gives us joy?  

What an interesting prospect.....

Truths

A few things I've learned...and continue to learn....along the way....



Let go.  You don't need to be in charge of everything.

Practice lovingkindness.  Start with yourself.

Slow down!  What's the rush?

Mistakes are ok.  They are how we learn and grow.

Pay attention.  Whether you are washing your face, balancing your checkbook, eating a pear, driving your car-put all your attention into each and every action.  Multitasking is overrated.

Give, often, until you have nothing left.  If you have the right mindset, you will never reach that point.  And everyone has something to give.

Before you communicate (speak, write, etc), consider-is it true?  Is it kind?  Is it necessary?

Quiet time is essential for everyone.  Empty your mind once in a while.  It gets cluttered in there.

You can live in this world and not be of it.  You do not have to follow the crowd or conform to society.  Everyone does not have to agree with you, get you, understand you, like you.  As long as you do no harm, follow your own path.  Be who you are.

Try a little tenderness.  Some patience too.  Everyone is fighting their own battles.

Always read through something twice before hitting "Send" or "Post".  Trust me.

Everyone knows how to talk.  Few know when to stay silent.

Giving advice is easy.  Practicing what you preach, not so much.

Only the truly powerful need never show their might.

Add as much positive energy to the world as possible.  Promoting what you love is just as, if not more, important as opposing what you don't.

You are beautiful.  Every bit of you, inside and out.  And the world is a better place because you are in it.

Little Treasures

I have been looking at the Japanese maple in my front yard the past couple of days.  I finally snapped this photo this afternoon after I got home from work.  I'm sure the photo does not do the leaves justice.  The leaves are a vibrant red, redder than they have been all fall.  If I zoomed out from this particular shot, you would see that the state of the tree, which is almost completely empty of leaves, makes the ones that are still clinging to the branches stand out even more.  

In the last hour or so, I have been thinking how this picture, these few branches of leaves, are a metaphor for a few things:

Life doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful.  When this tree was full, I passed by it every day, never giving it a second look.  Now that we are at the end of November, most of the tree is bare, surrounded by most of its finery on the ground, And yet this remnant, this far spot of the tree, captured my attention more than the entire tree itself.  I didn't need all the leaves to appreciate the beauty this tree produced.

Life is often like that.  I am very guilty of not appreciating things because, in my mind, they aren't perfect, whether that's a person, a thing, a situation.  We get so bogged down by the enormity of our situations that we fail to see the fine details that bring that pop of color, that note of happiness, that slow smile that spreads across our face.  The beauty, the wonder, is there if we just give it a chance, if we just give ourselves a chance.

Live in the moment.  We are surrounded by beauty every day, no matter where you live.  We are all guilty of rushing around, getting to what we think is important and sometimes what we need to do is just stop for a moment and gaze at something right in front of us.  That's what I did when I saw these leaves.  They are so red they just stopped me, just like the color red is supposed to do!  I couldn't remember when they had turned from a dull maroon to a vibrant firecracker red.  It probably happened in the past couple of days for all I know.  And in a couple of days, they could be all gone (and they probably will, with the cold snap that's supposed to move into our area this weekend).

And that's the point.  Life can change in an instant, for better or for worse.  Or...just change, period.  If you don't stop occasionally to appreciate what's around you, you might miss it.  How many moments have we let slip by because we had to rush to an appointment, or clean the house, or look at our phone?  Just stop once in a while and look around and see what you are missing.

Sometimes simple pleasures suffice. Often in life, it's the simple pleasures that bring us the most joy.  A single flower.  A beautiful sunrise.  A gentle touch.  Happiness, joy, wonder, need not come in an elaborate package.  It's these simple moments that I really appreciate-they take me out of the hustle and bustle of my life and give me that moment of zen, that touch of grace.  And then I go back to the grind, but mindful, grateful for that brief respite of beauty.  If I stopped more often, I would probably find these little treasures more often.

Pema Chodron, an esteemed author and Buddhist nun, suggests that people bring "gaps" into their daily routine.  Gaps are pauses, three small breaths, where you stop wherever you are, whatever you are doing, and just be, putting your full attention into the immediacy of your experience, of your existence.  Imagine what little miracles we would experience, what beauty we could encounter, if we all could just incorporate a few gaps in our busy lives.

Social Media Challenge

Ah, November.  The month of gratitude, by virtue of containing Thanksgiving within it.  There are a few challenges going on this month-gratitude challenges, writing challenges.  Let me add another....

The Internet is a fascinating thing.  We get our news from it, use it to stay connected with loved ones, entertain ourselves in various ways.  More often than not, the messages we get from it are negative, whether it's bashing someone in politics or entertainment, venting our frustration with something or someone, or posting snarky or sarcastic comments.  It is so much easier to give in to the negative-it captures our attention quickly and draws us in, permeating our attitudes towards people and situations.  And we are bombarded by images and information that constantly draws us down into that black hole, individually and as a whole.

What would happen if we consciously fought the impulse to growl, grumble, and complain?  Instead of protesting something we despise, what if we promoted what pleased us instead?  It is true that there is much in the world to scorn; there is also much that can make us smile, if we choose to focus on it.

So, my challenge is this: every day in the month of November, I challenge people to fill whatever social media portal they use, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc, with positive messages, whether it be a quote, a photo, a news story, or a positive personal experience.  Doing so will not take away the bad that surrounds us, but perhaps, by focusing on the positive, it will be easier to keep the dark clouds at bay and let the sun shine through.

Gorp balls

I'm always trying to find something easy and tasty for a portable snack or quick breakfast.  Granola bars always seem too sweet for my taste.  Nuts and/or fruit on their own don't usually satisfy me,  

I was flipping through a magazine I got from a recent trip to Wegman's ( LOVE that store-why is there not one in this area???) and I saw a recipe for granola balls.  A light went on-dimly, but it went on-"Hey-I can do that!".  Of course, the recipe in the magazine called for Wegman's products but this is simple enough and you can tailor it to your tastes.  So I threw these together and called them Gorp balls, in honor of my father-in-law's favorite hiking snack.  They consist of:

Toasted oats-you can use any kind.  Spread them out on a cookie sheet and pop them into a 350 F oven.  Stir them every 5 minutes or so.  Should take about 15 minutes before they become golden brown.

Nuts-I used a container of mixed nuts.  You can use whatever amount you want.

Dried fruit-The combinations can be endless.  I used a mixed berry blend I found at TJ Maxx.

Nut butter-Again, I have to thank TJ Maxx for the peanut spread with chia seeds I used.  Seriously, if you have not been in the Home section of TJ Maxx, you need to check it out!

I threw in the rest of the Qi'a packet I had, which is hemp, buckwheat, and chia seeds mixed together. You could also add some baking chips or other sweet stuff if you want.  Again, these are easy to personalize.

Mix everything up in a bowl and form into balls,  Note: I wore kitchen gloves to form the balls which made life a whole lot easier.  If you don't mind messy, gooey hands, have at it!

Place the balls on a cookie sheet and pop into the fridge to set so they are easy to handle.  One or two of these at the size I made them should make a substantial snack or a quick breakfast.  I'm going to guess they would freeze well too.

I'm going to play around with different combinations.  Let me know your creations too! Happy snacking!

A Poem

Let us welcome Fall
In all its colorful display.
The third act of the year;
When Nature puts on a wild display
Of sights, of smells, of sounds.

A time of gathering;
When all creatures, great and small,
Catch a whiff of the chill in the air
And prepare to hunker down
For the long, cold, deep sleep ahead.

A time of celebrations:
Harvests and holidays.
When families come together
Sharing the bounty of the earth,
Giving thanks for such abundance.

Do not mourn the passing of summer;
It will return before long.
Do not fear the advent of winter;
It will be here soon enough.
Simply embrace the wonder of autumn
In all its splendor and glory.

Who is Target targeting?

There has been some buzz this year in the media and in the blogosphere about Target not carrying much in the way of plus size clothing for women.  I don't normally shop for clothes at Target, so this wasn't something I gave much attention or thought.

Until this week.

My son had a class at the local community college.  Since the class was a little over an hour and since there is a shopping center close by, I decided to engage in some retail therapy while waiting for him to text me.  I went into a few stores, one of which was Target.  

I was browsing through the "Intimates" section.  I came across some bras, made by Hanes, that looked very comfortable-something that's hard to come by when you are my size.  I checked the tag to see if they had a sizing chart and according to the Hanes chart, these bras were made in sizes up to 2X.  Perfect, since that was the size I was looking for.  Since Hanes sold the bra in that size, I expected to find at least one somewhere on the racks.

Wrong.

Hanes sold a few different styles of these types of bras, and each style came in a few colors.  Every time I looked through the rack, the sizes stopped at XL.  Now, it's possible that some smart gal came through and bought every single 2X bra that was stocked, but I highly doubt it.  Given all of the flack plus sized women have been giving Target about their lack of variety in plus sized women's clothing, I would suspect those sizes were never stocked in the first place.

One response I have heard through the media was that Target explained that more sizes were available online.  Which is fine, except I happened to be in the store at that particular moment.  Stores like Target that sell a variety of items, from groceries to books to clothing, usually rely on customers' impulse buys.  You go in for paper towels, and hey, while I'm here, I'll buy this purse.  In order to meet that kind of demand, you should anticipate that your customers will have different tastes and be different sizes.  I would have happily bought a few of those bras, an unexpected find, if they had my size.

I'm not trying to be an advocate or an activist.  Target has always had a woefully small "Women's" department, kinda smushed in with the Maternity clothes.  And the quality of the clothing is barely above Walmart's standards.  So I don't expect much when I go there and I rarely go clothes shopping in Target.  But if a brand makes a particular item in a larger size, then why wouldn't the store stock it? I guarantee that women would buy it-why wouldn't we, when it's that convenient?

I don't expect Target to change its marketing strategy.  Thankfully there are a decent amount of stores out there, both physically and online, that have plenty of variety for plus sized women of every fashion sense.  It's just too bad that a big box store like Target doesn't realize there's a whole demographic out there willing to give them money if the store would only accommodate them.

As for me, I will go online to look for my size in those bras.  Only I will go directly to Hanes.  Your loss, Target.

Reflections on Freedom

On this Independence Day, I reflect on how lucky I am to live in this country.

I detest politics.  However, I am grateful that every American has the right to express their views, whether anyone agrees with them or not.  I am also grateful that Americans have the right vote for those they wish to hold political office.  We may bitch and complain about our government and those in office, but we can do so without the fear of being imprisoned or worse.

We are truly blessed that anyone may profess and practice whatever faith they believe in, even if they choose not to believe in anything.  I often think many Americans take this freedom for granted.  So many people around the globe are persecuted for their faith or lack of it.

This is truly a land of plenty.  So many choices, so many opportunities. There are grocery stores everywhere, carrying a myriad of items.  There are malls and stores a plenty....and that's not counting the vastness of the Internet.  Imagine having to stand in line for food and hope that by the time you get to the front, they have anything left.  We take certain things for granted: clean water, reliable electricity, garbage removal.  We get frustrated when there's a brownout and we have to reset the clocks in the house.  Imagine the electricity going out....for months.

And yet, with all the advantages we have, there are still many in this country that are disadvantaged in one way or another-hungry, homeless, sick and unable to receive care, straddling the poverty line.  We must be grateful for all that we have and are able to achieve and mindful of those that struggle every day in our country.  Do not take prosperity for granted.

This nation has its flaws; it's far from perfect.  There is much to improve, some issues more important to others than to me or you.  But we have the freedom to act, to dream, to travel, to stand up for what we believe in.  Whenever I dare to pay attention to the news, to what goes on in some other countries, I am grateful to live in the United States.

Happy Birthday America.

Amongst the Weeds

Nobody likes pulling weeds.  It's often a thankless task.  One does it so the yard or garden doesn't turn into a jungle.  Well, more often than not, my yard/garden looks like said jungle.  Actually, I don't have a garden-more like aspirations of a garden.  But today I was blessed with the perfect ratio of time and nice weather, so armed with my gloves, tools, repurposed toboggan which serves as a kneeler, and required Pandora app (set to the Styx station), I headed out to the jungle.

One of the reasons I like weeding is because it gives me time with my thoughts, which are many and all over the place.  They can be as mundane as what to do about dinner or as abstract as spirituality.  But they are usually uninterrupted because no one likes scaring the crap out of anyone with headphones on.  It's also one of the few times I can listen to music uninterrupted too, sometimes realizing that I've had the lyrics to a song wrong for decades or finally understanding the meaning of a particular song.

When the weeds get really bad, as they are now, I am always amazed at what I find among them: a spade and a trowel I thought previously lost; a ridiculous amount of broken roof flaps (and we had our roof replaced two years ago!); a Pokemon toy which surprised me-my kids haven't played with Pokemon toys for a while and I'm not THAT neglectful of a gardener! (well, maybe a little bit......)

Some observations while weeding:

Baby praying mantises (?) are cute:

Baby crickets not so much, especially when they fly out in all directions.

I would much rather pull a hundred of huge weeds with spikey leaves than ten of those spreadable ones that cling to the ground. They suck.

Disturbing an ant nest is both fascinating and frustrating.  I am sure I would freak out too if someone pulled the roof off my house and started rearranging everything.  Then again, I don't have a million people living in my house, who would swarm the neighborhood.  Once you disturb an ant colony, best to regroup and call it a day....which I did.  I just thank God it wasn't a fire ant nest like the ones we dealt with in Georgia *shudder*

Two things: when working in the garden on a hot day, when you have sweat running down your face, there is nothing more blissful than a sudden, perfect cool breeze.  Heaven.

And lastly, there is no more refreshing shower than the one you jump into after getting filthy and funky pulling weeds.  Aaahhhh....

I foresee a weekend of this.  Bring it on.

Butterfly

Elusive and ethereal,
Gossamer wings,
Flights of fancy,
Kaleidoscope of colors.
Fleeting beauty, so delicate,
Alighting for a moment
To drink in sweetness
And bask in warmth.
Then away again,
Fluttering off into a daydream.

(image found at svetikya.com)

Spring is for experiments

Okay, I've done a woeful job keeping up this blog.  But my friend Maria has inspired me to write more (go read her blog-http://spanishviews.blogspot.com/2015/04/bookstores-i-miss-you.html), so I figure I have to start somewhere....

After a miserable winter, it would seem that spring is finally upon us.  That means sunshine, plants in bloom and birds, at least for my backyard.  Every year I aspire to have some form of a garden (or at least a weed free area for plants to grow) and bird feeders.

I love the variety of birds we get in this area.  Back home in Boston, I usually only saw pigeons and seagulls.  Here in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, I am visited by robins, sparrows, mourning doves, grackles, starlings, blue jays, cardinals, finches, and the occasional hummingbird.  As much as I love birds, I don't want them nesting on my house, which is something we battle every spring.  This year, we had a problem with sparrows perching on the fan on my back porch and using my patio table as a toilet.  I came across an article on the internet that claimed that gardeners and farmers used CD's on their fruit trees because birds don't like reflective objects.  So I decided to give that a try.  I taped a CD to each blade of the fan (reflective side up, of course) with double sided tape and waited.

  Three weeks later, it's a success!  No one has seen any birds on my fan and my patio table is grateful.  Of course, my husband thinks once we turn on the fan, the CD's will fly off and decapitate someone.  I think that's a bit extreme, but I'll let you know....

Experiment #2 involved growing plants from seed.  I have always enjoyed trying to grow different plants from seed.  When I am successful, I don't enjoy trying to transfer seedlings to the ground or a pot.  Big box stores do sell mini pots that you transfer to the ground or a bigger container, but I thought there had to be a better way.  Solution?  Eggshells.  Most everyone has eggs in their house.  You either compost the shells or throw them away.  So I saved a carton and filled them with rinsed half shells, put some dirt in them, some sunflower seeds, and water.  And waited.  After a week, I was rewarded with this:

Once they get big enough, I'll plant them in the ground.  Here in this area, I've always been told to wait till Mother's Day to plant anything in the ground.  That is usually when we're past the danger of frost and hopefully that holds true.


Experiment #3 started this morning.  Again, I've read online (probably on Pinterest) that it is very easy to grow root vegetables from cut ends.  I was cutting up some celery for chicken stock and ended up with an end from the bunch of celery.  So into a clear custard cup it went with a little water.  I will keep you updated on how this experiment goes.

Have any experiments you've tried around your garden or home?  Let me know how they have turned out!