Stripping away the rose colored glasses of denial concerning my reality. Getting in touch with truth. Reaching out to others in empathy concerning their reality and their walk to truth.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

St. Patrick's dessert and blessing ~ for you.






















Tomorrow is Saint Patrick's Day. Are you Irish? Do you like the color green? I offer a dessert recipe. Feel free to add a drop of green food coloring!


Key Lime Pie Fudge

Ingredients:
¼ cup sugar
1¼ cups graham cracker crumbs
⅓ cup butter, melted
16 oz high quality white chocolate, finely chopped
14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 Tbsp butter
zest of one lime
3 Tbsp key lime or lime juice

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375.
Line a 9 x 9 inch pan with aluminum foil and grease with butter. Set aside.
In a bowl, combine the sugar and graham crackers crumbs and stir to combine.
Add the melted butter and stir until crumbs are all moistened.
Spread evenly into the baking pan and press until even. Bake at 375 degrees for 4 to 5 minutes or until edge is lightly browned.
Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack.
Once crust has cooled, add the white chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, and 1 Tbsp butter to a saucepan.
Cook on low heat just until chocolate is melted and and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the zest and juice.
Spread mixture evenly over the crust. Cover and refrigerate for 12 hours.
Remove fudge from the pan using the foil and cut into pieces.
Lift the fudge from pan using edges of foil. Use a damp kitchen towel to cleanoff the knife after each cut for a clean cut.

Irish or not, I leave you with a song.  Have a great week!


Monday, March 14, 2016

Enjoying Spring but then...

Spring in my yard is an amazing time - life as I love it - returns. So how did I miss the "Daylight Savings Time" notice? Aw, yes! I was busy taking notice of the yard. So when the time changed on the 13th, I wondered why my studio wall clock had slowed... exactly one hour? Or had my laptop and cell phone made mistakes, by advancing... exactly one hour? 

Laugh, if you want. I spent a half day looking for a battery for the wall clock. I was not looking forward to purchasing batteries... boo... awful prices!! I had the best laugh at myself for such a silly oversight... I hope everyone adjusts well to "DST".



My Japanese Tulip Tree


















 My Forsythia Bush















Daffodils













Tomorrow is my "battle of the bands" day. I'll be playing two different versions of the same song. 
Feel free to stop over and vote for which song version you like. dcrelief ~ Battle of the Bands participant

Closing out today with a thought for Spring Rain - I love that too. Here's one of my favorite composers and artist - Yanni...

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Child of Sunlight













Are you familiar with violinist, Lindsey Stirling? Today I am posting a song I enjoy very much. It is uplifting to me. I hope it will be so for you. Enjoy!

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

A simple request ~














It's hard to type when one hand doesn't want to work. Yes, I'm having some difficulties, but trying to keep going.  Currently the sun is out, here and it is a gorgeous day. I long to be out there digging in the ground, playing in my yard but it's not possible yet.

Thursday I return to the doctor for a check up. I really hope he can help me get past this moment of physical trouble. Please keep me in your thoughts, please. Thank you.

Sunday, February 14, 2016

From Us to You




















Happy Valentine's Day!!!

~ dc and Teddy

Sunday, February 7, 2016

What a crock!

In the fridge... all the right fixings for super soup. All I had to do was clean, peel, and chop all the veggies. Then pop it into the crock pot for a long simmer's night. Set my cook timer and go relax... right?! But, oh no! An hour went by and the timer went off, but guess who left the crock pot unplugged. Midnight came and I felt like I was "Moonlighting". That feeling when you can't go to sleep yet... there's work to be done.

If I'd thought a bit longer, I'd have left it off and instead, started cooking in the morning. But no... wouldn't that make sense? I'm such a night owl. Early morning is too much for this happy cook.

Oh, what the heck... the song came to mind and it's a favorite. I'll call you when the soup is ready.


Thursday, February 4, 2016

Peanut Butter Cookies for a day without Sunshine















For many of us, it's Winter time. Many days, that means gray skies and a colder air temp. I get up, get dressed but wonder why? The morning looks the same as sunset.

I keep glancing out the window, waiting for the sun... and it's so dreary... I drift off... If you're one of those people who can fall asleep while on 'Facebook', you'll know what I'm talking about. Either that, or I'm no longer easily entertained.

Yes, that sleep thing gets you, and you find yourself wanting a wake up activity - right? Or do you return to the pajama and slipper mode and call the day off?
Ho-hum, I decided to make cookies. My favorite Peanut Butter cookies. Thank goodness for timers that wake me up to take the cookies from the oven. So far, I've never slept through a timer bell. That baby is loud!

What do you like to do on sunless, Winter days? Do you like cookies, and if so, what's your favorite? If you could, would you stay in pajamas all day?

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Only the shadow knows















Welcome to another "Groundhog's Day"... you know the day when the groundhog comes out from his burrow, and attempts to predict when Spring will arrive. A feat most meteorologists cannot accomplish, right?

Oh well, the day is still celebrated, in some parts of the world more than others. Wait! Do all countries have groundhogs? Hm, if you don't have one, don't worry... we'll let you know what happens here.

Some people really worry about this. Here's a song for them.


Sunday, January 31, 2016

Gramma's truckin' luck




















Grandma was a mobster
her truck was painted pink.
She'd haul a load of lobster
and clean them in her sink.

Everyone knew Grandma
Better listen for her horn!
She sadly ran down Grandpa
Left him lying in the corn.

She cried all night and day,
until she bought that mink.
Insurance paid her way
for piercings and some ink.

A ring went in her nose
a diamond in her tongue
A tattoo of a rose...
She'd only just begun...

Hey! Monday I'll be at my 'Battle of the Bands' blog

dcrelief ~ Battle of the Bands participant

I'm also participating in the 'Lost and Found  - Valentine's Edition' Blogfest.

















Feel free to stop by, read my short story, and then listen to my battle song choices. Vote for the song you like the best. Have a great week.

Saturday, January 2, 2016

Directed















Directed by the world to live for days, times, and seasons.
Am I a citizen of the world without my choosing?
Every month has a holiday or disaster to worship.
Must I participate? Must you?
Of course we must.
It's unacceptable not to do so.
Right?
What rights do I really have now?
Will 2016 be different?

Friday, January 1, 2016

Happy 2016! ~ or "Turn the Page"




















This invisible blogger stopped by to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Lots of sounds outside tonight. In spite of the rainy week, people still celebrate. They are out there making a new day, a new year... they're turning over a new leaf... they're turning the page... Well, that reminds me of an old song. Here you go.

 

Sunday, December 6, 2015

All Aboard!

Today I'll begin arranging the Holiday village that consumes my living room. It all began in 1994 with tiny ceramic houses and buildings. Today I'll be adding some, that I've made from cardboard templates, and then painted. I like the rustic simplicity of the handmade ones. Might as well throw in some cardboard trees.

The big item is my train. I have to lay the tracks carefully before arranging the village. 

The one in this video is really nice but it takes a lot of room, and extra building. You'll notice a wall shelf with tracks. Maybe in the future, when I figure out how to do something like that. (maybe). 

I hope you enjoy the video, and the music!  

Is there a special hobby you entertain during the Christmas season?

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

A gift to myself ~













I had clothes and household items I no longer need or use.  Everything was boxed or bagged and waiting for a destination for delivery... but where to send these things? I did not want them to go to a place where they get resold. I wanted the items to be given away. Thus I began a search for a home.

In my town there's a place called "The Free Store." They had a drop off in front, under a weather protecting canopy. Wow! That would work. I loaded my van and set off. It was easy to find, and there were ready hands to help me unload.

The ready hands were thanking me, but I felt I should thank them instead. After all, weren't they doing me a favor by taking these things?

The ride home was interesting. In the beginning it was to clear out some clutter, and stop hanging onto things that had no value to me. The impact of what one person can do ~ had simply gone over my head. Suddenly I felt as if I had given myself a gift. I hope you understand this. I hope you'll consider doing this... it's a great feeling.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Thanksgiving song
















Thank you for bearing with my absence. I feel better but it's slow going still. I hope to return soon. Today I want to post a song for you. Here are the lyrics.

Grateful for each hand we hold
Gathered round this table.
From far and near we travel home,
Blessed that we are able.

Grateful for this sheltered place
With light in every window,
Saying welcome, welcome, share this feast
Come in away from sorrow.

Father, mother, daughter, son,
Neighbor, friend and friendless;
All together everyone in the gift of loving-kindness.

Grateful for whats understood,
And all that is forgiven;
We try so hard to be good,
To lead a life worth living.

Father, mother, daughter, son,
Neighbor, friend, and friendless;
All together everyone, let grateful days be endless.

Grateful for each hand we hold
Gathered round this table.


Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Tuesday's The Phil Review: a hare raising moment




























Leaves a-blowing in the wind
I take my feet out for a spin.

Here I sit out in the grass
Fall is near and coming fast.

The sun is bright in a sky of blue
Perfect photo for Phil's review.

Keep these moments close to heart
As warming lights for Winter's dark.

Dear Readers ~ 

Some folks are affected by the changing of the seasons. Changes that might bring mental sadness, lack of motivation, or other paralyzing thoughts. If you're affected like this, try to store up some happy moments for those times. Maybe you have a suggestion that would help, please feel free to share (smile).


~ Phil

Thursday, October 15, 2015

The Phil Review for Thursday, Oct. 15th

Welcome to Phil's Thursday review!!

The dcrelief song competition post can be found here >  Battle of the Bands.  If you are interested, or like music, she's got two Halloween songs. Listen to both and vote for the one you like.

Is your Halloween spooky or cutesy? Let's do pumpkins:






































Let's do ghosts - spooky, cutesy, or maybe raunchy?



































Do you have a favorite candy that only comes out at Halloween?





Tuesday, October 13, 2015

The Phil Review - Tuesday, Oct. 13th.

Hello! I am Phil -  not to be confused with the Pennsylvania 'groundhog,' named Phil. We're very different, though we're both related to the Queen of England :) Now days, who isn't somehow related, as a distance cousin, or possible enemy?

My favorite/favourite thing is the alarm clock on my cell phone. Naps are vital to an old hare like me, so a quick snooze is refreshing. I have a profound admiration for the snooze button... it can be reset up to seven times. 

Is this the month for big beginnings of, "who's running for President?" Now we'll go forward a whole year, yakking about one person after another.  There will be lots of dirt flying - get your safety glasses now! 














Here's a candidate with issues already:

















This month is the season for 'all things spooky' or Halloween related. I feel the need to post my own warning photos:




































Questions for you: Are you related to the Queen of England? Do you nap? Are you a snooze button user?  Do you own safety glasses? Do you like pumpkin flavor? Are turnips decorations spookier than pumpkins??

See you next time!

~Phil

Thursday, October 8, 2015

New feature for Tues. and Thurs. : The Phil Review ~















Philanthropist Phil
is helping us chill
by writing a blog or two

On two days per week
Our dear, Phil, the geek
Will take on the job of glue

To hold the blog intact
and hopefully impact
The reader's point of view.

Teddy and I really need more down, and alone time. Let's see how it goes - every Tuesday & Thursday!
Be here or the Hare gets canned!

dcrelief & Teddy