recipe of the day

Here is my recipe and unsolicited advice for the day!

Get a bunch of healthy foods 

and throw them all together on one plate.

Eat!!

Enjoy!

You're welcome!

Fresh spinach greens with tomato, avocado, four bean salad, grilled asparagus and basil pesto scallops

accentuate the positive

I seem to be much more the observer these days. I tended toward advice-giving in my earlier years. I still have strong opinions but have learned that giving my opinion if it's not asked for really does no good... and is a waste of time. If someone wants my opinion I guess they'll ask.  I think most people learn things by doing and often making mistakes.  I grew weary of thinking it was my responsibility to help people with their choices (thank goodness) and having to live with the consequences of bad ones. I remember my mom saying, "People do what they want to do". Though I still think it's wise to ask for advice I think I'm understanding what she meant by that simple statement.

Most days there is an abundance of complaining. Especially with social media, like Facebook, where people are given a voice of sorts.  Instead of seeing the good in a situation happening in the world... or the positive implications... someone often points out the negative. I'm certainly not a pollyanna, I see pitfalls to growth and change too, but I don't feel like I have to go around stating it all the time.  It seems it's usually the same people who are experts at being the killjoy in most situations. It's an attitude that spreads like wildfire. A friend recently posted something and then got all sorts of opinions and advice thrown her way. She commented.... "I'm 55 years old and still everyone wants to give me advice on how to live another day." I smiled... and thought that was pretty interesting!

I vaguely remembered a phrase or saying about accentuating the positive so I looked it up and ran across an old song written in the 1940's. Though before my time I knew the tune and some of the lyrics. It has been sung by many artists.... Johnny Mercer, Sam Cooke, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Willie Nelson.... the list is long. And the words are great!

We should do it more!

You got to ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive
E-lim-i-nate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister-in-Between.

You got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
And have faith, or pandemonium's
Liable to walk upon the scene. 

good medicine

Sitting outside in the sunshine right now... with sunscreen on of course. The Texas sun is strong and powerful and I'm sure I'd have a nasty burn in just a few minutes without it.  But the breeze is cool and the warmth of the sun feels wonderful.

I've been achy with hurting joints for such a long time now and it doesn't seem to improve. I push through though not letting it stop me most of the time, but it's a challenge. I trimmed a few hedges in the backyard and then raked and did a little more planting. Included in that is dragging out the ladder, trimmers, and lifting heavy leaf-filled bags... and then putting everything away. I can't do everything every day, but can always do something. My body feels used and exercised which I tell myself is a good thing. The truth is I feel a combination of happy and incredibly grumpy and irritable at the same time today. Norman's barking at neighbors doing their own yardwork on the other side of the fence was enough to make me want to scream profanities. I feel restless. Sigh.

I made a salad for lunch with fresh greens... some spinach, lettuce, and mustard. Sprinkled in some four-bean-salad, tomato, avocado and a little feta. Also used my juicer and made a wonderful concoction using spinach, parsley, kale, cucumber, pear, apple, lemon and ginger. A yummy combination. Though I know something is going on in my body to make my joints hurt I can use fresh air, exercise, sunshine, and nutritious food choices as medicine!

As the sun moves my shade increases and so does the coolness I feel. I'm not dreading the summers here in Texas as I used to. I've learned to adapt.... as life teaches us to do.....

the gift of today

Every day is a gift but some seem extra delicious.

Like today.

I'm taking a little break from my chores sitting on a comfortable rocker in the bedroom. A hearty breeze is blowing through my open door. The breeze is cool and refreshing .... and sunshine is streaming in along with it. I just changed my bed sheets and put on a clean quilt after tossing the one with morning coffee stains into the washing machine. My loyal little dog is enjoying his patch of sunshine on the carpet but mindful of what is going on outside as well.... and ready to dart if a squirrel dares to step foot into his yard from the trees.

Summer is approaching although today is just the first official day of Spring. I savor days like today. It seems the cool breeze which occasionally whips through the wind chimes is blowing away all my cares and creating a little joy all its own. It is certainly refreshing the air in my home as well as my spirit.

As I sit I also pray and meditate and ask my heavenly father to handle the challenges and hurts in my life and in the lives of those I love....  as well as praising him for the many joys each day brings....

feeling lighter already

I've been on a mission to simplify... and rid my life of items I no longer use. I'm making great progress.

I sold an old truck that was no longer worth its keep making more room and a pleasing look and feel to the garage. It was Edd's and it was used to the max and it served many people well! But alas it had mechanical issues and high mileage and just took up space. That led to going through more and more storage places. Weeks earlier I opened closets and drawers, looked into the attic and on shelves, in boxes and cabinets knowing so much was just "stuff" with no use anymore or much meaning. It seems the more I get rid of the more peace floods my spirit.

And I've been slowly going through my wardrobe.

I just returned from Goodwill.

Today I donated scads of jeans and dress pants. I quit counting at about 30 but I'm sure there were over 40 pair. Most I didn't bother to try on first because I knew they wouldn't fit comfortably. Some I did try on and was pleasantly surprised. They will go into my "I will wear this" pile.

But I am getting too old and smart (finally) for the nonsense of keeping a bunch of clothes around that are no longer of any use to me. I have been choosing style and comfort lately over stuffing myself into a tight pair of jeans. Unfortunately I have done the latter ALL MY LIFE. Which is honesty why I believe I have arthritis in my hands now. Oh, how foolish I've been....

Sigh.

I didn't lose a pound today and can't fit into that size 8, but I feel lighter already!

a nice day...

Today was a little different... but good.

I couldn't sleep this morning so I had breakfast at 4:30 a.m. That caused lunch to be at 10:30 a.m. and I was hungry for dinner at 3:30 in the afternoon! 

When you live alone you can do things like that so in some ways it's nice. Norman sure doesn't mind. He likes to do whatever I'm doing so if breakfast begins at 4:30 in the morning, that's fine with him! And coffee sure tastes good at that time!

And the day was full! I did a wonderful yoga routine, helped a neighbor by watching her baby so she could have an anniversary lunch out with her husband, did tons of inside and backyard work and finished my taxes! Also did volunteer work with the dachshund rescue organization I work with. Going to end the day with a hot jacuzzi for my tired body.... and hope tomorrow doesn't begin quite so early!

a little vase from long ago

I remember well this little vase. I used to pick wildflowers for my mom in the woods near our home. We called them Mayflowers and they bloomed wild in the spring. She would always put them in this little vase and thank me profusely... as a good mom does.... 

Don't you just love wonderful memories!