Choose Wisely Grasshopper

Song - Fix You by Coldplay covered by Jamie Lim

I have been pondering what my "One Little Word" for the upcoming year might be.  I have a list of about 20 words taken from a long list of suggestions and for now, I have the list where I can see these words often and try to get an idea of how they feel-resonate for me during the next few weeks.  Usually one pops out for me!

In the past my words have been:

Intention 

Balance 

Light 

Thrive 

Simplify 

and 

Grace.  

If we own the story then we can write the ending. 

--Brene Brown

Gobble Gobble

Song -Thanksgiving Theme by Vince Guaraldi Trio

Mr. B and I are busy in the kitchen preparing a Thanksgiving meal for our family.  Mr. B takes on the tough stuff - the turkey (or turkeys), the stuffing and gravy.  I get the side dishes and set the table.  We have guests bring appetizers or desserts.  Luckily all of our boys like to cook just like their dad!

This is a photo of me in front of our Ponderosa house.  That was when Walnut Creek had Walnut trees and California had water!

We were probably getting ready to go to my grandparents home in Oakland where Grandma Sophie cooked for her four daughters (Grandma was Italian and no one else knew how to cookjust like her!), their spouses and the twelve grandchildren - my cousins!

Just wanted to say that I am so very thankful for FAMILY....little do you realize how important it truly is when you are young!

Enjoy your day, the food on your table, the family and friends around you and the love that is there!

“Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal.  It's a way to live.”  ~Attributed to Jacqueline Winspear

Grace

Song - Amazing Grace by Jeff Campbell

Each year I choose One Little Word on which to focus for the upcoming new year.  It is more relevant for me to have a word to focus on than to have a New Year's resolution which I usually blow within the first month and then I feel bad about myself.

In December my word came to me for 2016 and it was Grace.

Not the kind of Grace where I have to walk and act "graceful"......nope, that wouldn't be me!  But the kind of grace that you don't see but you feel.

Looking back on the month of January, my dad was the perfect example of Grace.  He was a quite man who loved his family and home.  Dad worked hard and loved the simple things in life - his garden, going for a ride with mom, fishing, and good friends.

Calvin Kenneth Crawford

1927 - 2016

"I do not understand the mystery of grace - 
only that it meets us where we are
 and does not leave us where it found us." 
-- Anne Lamott

Light and Grace

Song - Musica Zen

"Your spiritual journey is

 whatever light and grace

 you bring to 

whatever you do." 

- Elizabeth Gilbert

What if?

What if we could change our planet one person at a time?

 

 Song - It's Not Easy Being Green - Kermit

Chive flower

I have a friend, Taya -  who just began a blog about composting, cooking and giving back to the earth.

http://meandmygreenbin.blogspot.com/


Hope you will check it out and say "Hi" to her for me!

A little friend on my tomato stakes

Meanwhile, I have had several friends and family members dealing with various surgeries and healing.


So last week Mr. B and I did up a few dinners to try and help out.

Mr. B marinaded flattened chicken overnight and then grilled it the next day. It was super moist and tasty.  Here is the link for Ina Garten's Tuscan Lemon Chicken

I made a Orzo Salad with Asparagus and tomato.  It was good but needs some livening up.  I would probably add more garlic and some Champagne Vinegar next time.

Orzo Salad with Tomatoes and Asparagus

I also found these cute little candle holders just that morning and they added a "Tuscan" feel with some garden Lavender and Lemons. 

So to bring it full circle....Taya inspired me to start composting again!

Go world!

 

“Grace is available for each of us every day - our spiritual daily bread - but we've got to remember to ask for it with a grateful heart and not worry about whether there will be enough for tomorrow.” - Sarah Ban Breathnach

Simple Joys

I know it has been awhile.

I have felt the emptiness inside of me.

It is sunny today 

and I brought home some

lovely pink primroses for our garden.

A very tough project has been completed.

Sigh....

A friend is battling cancer,

...with Grace.

I painted all day 

just for myself.

Pure joy.

Plant

So that your own heart

Will grow.

Love

So God will think,

"Ahhhhhh,

I got kin in that body!

I should start inviting that soul over

For coffee and

Rolls."

Sing

Because this is a food

Our starving world

Needs.

Laugh

Because that is the purest

Sound.

--Hafiz