I Believe

I Believe

I believe in unconditional love - for a child, a spouse, a grandchild.

I believe there is something after death - but I'm not sure if it's heaven or hell, maybe a combination of both.

I believe in one great creator - but who really knows if it's God or Goddess or Ali or Who?

I believe in happiness - even though sometimes it may be very far from my life; I do have happy moments to look back on.

I believe in romantic love - the kind I feel for my hubby; it may not always be sizzling hot, but it is comfortable and just for us.

I believe in time because I see it marching across my face, I see it in my collection of daily journels, I see it in the progression of my children.

I believe in the constant seasons - though changing as they may; from fall to winter, spring to summer, they always come back again.

I believe in the moon to guide my lonely nights - the same continual glow and company my ancestors did enjoy.

I believe in the stars above for they have forseen the way - long before the lowly race of humans was a twinkle in someone's eye.

I believe in the sun who keeps us all alive - providing warmth and growing energy, the sun will see us through.

I believe ...

I really believe ...

Musing Monday - what's on your childhood bookshelf?

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about your bookshelf -

What books did you read while in school? Were there any that you particular liked, or even hated? Did any become lifelong favorites?

I read mostly fiction when I was in school, so I guess this is the reason I've had a life-long addiction to fiction reading. Some of my favorites in school were:

A Wrinkle in Time
The Betsy Books (B is for Betsy, Betsy's Little Star, etc.)
The Trixie Belden series
The Wizard of Oz series (the original books by Frank L. Baum)
Alice in Wonderland
Through the Looking Glass
Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret
The Three Investigators series
Little Women
The Lord of the Rings series


Most of these books I still love as an adult. When my girls were younger, these are the first books I bought for them, and although they may not still enjoy them now, they still hold a place in my heart.

The Dark Dragon

THE DARK DRAGON

The dark dragon has me again,
clasped tightly in his steely claws.
Why does he invade my life at this festive time of year,
dragging me down to the depths of hell
where my life passes before my eyes
in a neverending stream of sorrow?
I've known the good and joyous
and my heart beats daily for my cherished loves.
I know my life is rich and blessed
and there is so much more to come,
but the dragon has other plans
and although he only owns a tiny piece of my soul,
this tiny piece can grab and hold
with determination and perseverance.
I try to be strong,
but I'm oh so weak,
so I end up in the mire,
wallowing in self-pity,
too may locked doors to escape.
I want to be free to smell the clean air
and absorb the love of my family,
but the dragon's thick hide has been transferred to me
as I sink ever deep to the pit below.

Mrs. Greenhands - keeping Valentine's flowers fresh

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, women all over the Bluegrass Region will be expecting flowers from that special person in their life. Here are a few ways to keep your Valentine’s Day flowers fresh and help them last longer.

• Add floral fresh to the water to help the blooms last longer
• Change the water if it becomes murky and add more floral fresh.
• Look for fresh green leaves, but make sure the leaves stay out of the water in the vase. Leaves in the water will cause mold and shorten the life of the flowers.
• Keep vases away from extreme temperatures. A cool room is the perfect place to keep your blooms happy and healthy.
• If your roses start to wilt, submerge them in cold water for 30 minutes, re-cutting the stems at an angle.
• As the flowers start to wilt and die, remove from the arrangement. It may be necessary to use a smaller container to keep the bouquet looking proportional.

Mrs. Greenhands - Dandelion Salad

Happy Groundhog Day - a gardeners indication to see if spring will make an a early appearance. During the winter, not much is growing and gardeners are chomping at the bit to get started. Gardening catalogues are flooding in and you are planning your fantastic garden for summer 2016. However, you can probably find dandelion leaves poking their heads up and this is one of the plants that blooms very early in the spring. Here is a recipe using dandelion leaves ... afterall, 

weeds are in the eyes of the beholder.

Pick tender young leaves for salads - before the flowers bloom - they're great mixed with other pungent greens such as cress and arugula, and dressed with a good vinegar. Since the dandelion part of this recipe is so easy, I will also include directions on how to make great vinegar (although this takes 4 weeks to get the full flavor).

Ingredients:

• Dandelion and other pungent greens
• 2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
• ¼ onion, chopped
• 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 tsp of your favorite mustard
• 1/2 tsp mayo
• 1-2 cloves of fresh garlic
• handful of pine nuts or sunflower seeds
• salt and pepper to taste
• Garlic croutons (optional)

Directions:

Put all the ingredients, expect greens and eggs, together in a bowl and whisk vigorously until emulsified. Put greens and eggs in large salad bowl and pour mixture over your fresh greens. Gently mix salad until greens are lightly covered. Garnish with garlic croutons if using.

Monday Musings - Ted E. Bear

TED E. BEAR

The first day I saw him,
smiling at me from the shelf,
I knew he could be mine,
Ted E. Bear,
that cute little charmer
with brown fur and eyes.
I knew I was a grown woman,
long too old for childish toys,
but Ted E. was different
and I longed to hold him tight.
And once in my possession
I knew he was the right fit,
but little did I know that Ted E. had a mission.
As if by magic,
I was smiling and laughing again
and I felt like a child once more;
and I owe it all to a teddy bear my hubby bought,
Mr. Ted E. Bear, my friend.