Yum Yum.
The recipe is from my husbands Grand Mother (his father's mother) who came to this country (along with her husband) from Northern Italy. They both became US citizens during the first part of the 20th century.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Homemade Ravioli that we handmade for Christmas.
A real labor of LOVE!
This is my dining table (it seats 10) covered with handmade ravioli that my husband, I, and some of our children and grandchildren, (and a friend) made to enjoy over the holidays. Hand making ravioli is a 2 day process and very labor intensive but worth all the effort!
Yum Yum.
The recipe is from my husbands Grand Mother (his father's mother) who came to this country (along with her husband) from Northern Italy. They both became US citizens during the first part of the 20th century.
Yum Yum.
The recipe is from my husbands Grand Mother (his father's mother) who came to this country (along with her husband) from Northern Italy. They both became US citizens during the first part of the 20th century.
Learning Life Lessons, sometimes happen by surprise.
Each year my husband and I try at Christmas to give back somehow, someway more than we usually do throughout the year. In years past we have picked friends of friends who we knew where struggling, bought toys for toy drives, adopted a tree angel, gave to food drives, etc. But this year we let time slip up on us until it was Christmas Eve and we had to make a decision right away. Feeling a little frazzled by our last minute decision making, we decided just to put a larger than usual amount of money in a Salvation Army bucket anonymously, no tax credit, just giving to be giving. But to our surprise, Salvation Army does not “ring” on Christmas Eve, or at least they don’t in our town. So we were left yet again to decide what to do.
We decided to walk among the Christmas Eve shoppers and just pick out 3 different people to help. Walking around looking at shoppers, wanting to help someone who we really thought could used what little help we could offer turned out to be and adventure. We started out in our local Mall, but then decided that maybe we should try Wal-Mart, so we left the Mall and headed that direction. We had walked almost the entire store before we walked past an older man who seemed to be going through a cart of trash. After we passed by him I turned around and went back to where he was standing. He was dressed in many layers, was unkempt, and quite a bit older probably in his 60’s or older. I asked him…’excuse me do you work here?’ Once I spoke to him he looked up from his endeavor and smiled saying “no, I’m sorry I don’t work here.” I then told him, ‘well then, I want to give you something. Merry Christmas!’ and I handed him a fifty dollar bill. He looked down at my hand, and immediately back up at me and said, “Thank you!” and took the money. I turn away back toward my husband and we began to walk down the aisle as the man spoke out...”God Bless you!” And our first Christmas Eve gift had been given definitely to someone in need.
Onward we go and my husband suggest that we go to the local Goodwill store and find someone buying toys to help out. When we arrive the store was all but abandoned (this was Christmas Eve afternoon) with only just a very few shoppers. We head back to the toy area and there was no one there. Feeling yet again distraught we made our way back toward the front of the store when we see a fairly young man with two little girls sitting in his cart. I point them out to my husband and he immediately moves toward them. My husband speaks to the man in a friendly way and then asked how old his children are, the man replies that they are 7 & 5. My husband says to the man; “I would like to give you a gift.” then handed him a fifty dollar bill. The man looks perplexed, but grateful, accepting our small gift.
Again we felt good about helping someone but we still had one gift left to give. We had an extra $50.00 Wal-Mart gift card we had bought. We buy several every year to give out to some of our family members. It was getting late on Christmas Eve and we were running out of ideas. As we began to drive back toward our home we saw a lady standing at a bus stop all alone, I thought she was the perfect candidate. I know she can use this gift card so I pull over to the side of the road. We try to offer it to her, but she just shakes her head repeatedly NO, and will not look us in the eye, so we drive away. WOW, I could not believe it. Had I embarrassed her, insulted her, did she not understand, was she deaf, or mentally challenged, or just frightened of us? Either way it sure made me feel bad, and all along I thought doing this would make me feel GOOD. So onward we go, and we are just about to give up when we see one of our favorite vacation places…Waffle House! Now in my opinion, no one works harder when busy than a waitress at Waffle House, so we decided to stop in there to have a cup of coffee and leave the gift card as a tip. But as we pull into the parking lot there is a waitress (a young woman) standing out back by the dumpster having a smoke break and frantically typing on her cell phone. We decide to just give our last Christmas gift to her as she stood outside of Waffle House on Christmas Eve.
All in all, I am very glad that my husband and I had this experience. The experience itself was mixed with different emotions. I believe that whatever anyone can do to help someone else is always a good thing. We ended up feeling good overall, but also with a greater understanding for charities and what they do every day, without prejudice. I am fairly certain that next year, we will certainly give to one of those fine organizations and do so early in the season! A lesson learned the hard way for me, yet again.
Friday, January 24, 2014
Untitled Poem
Some of you may know and others know not.
To break the stigma may be all I’ve got.
A broken heart belongs to them and to theirs.
This can only be mended with honesty not despair.
It is what it is, and I love them so.
Life on the edge is the way we will go.
Just like with me, all have their ups and their downs.
As long as there’s life, hope always abounds.
We can help each other without malice, no hate.
Millions and thousands wrangle this fate.
It is easy to judge and think you have all the answers.
Take my advice that only leads to disaster.
Let go and Let God. Have you heard that before?
It can help you hang on for just one day more.
Let go of the answers, the anger, the hate,
Let go of the sadness, the heartache, but wait…
Hold tight to the Love, the hope, and the day,
Maybe Addiction won’t win if we don’t give up on today.
To break the stigma may be all I’ve got.
A broken heart belongs to them and to theirs.
This can only be mended with honesty not despair.
It is what it is, and I love them so.
Life on the edge is the way we will go.
Just like with me, all have their ups and their downs.
As long as there’s life, hope always abounds.
We can help each other without malice, no hate.
Millions and thousands wrangle this fate.
It is easy to judge and think you have all the answers.
Take my advice that only leads to disaster.
Let go and Let God. Have you heard that before?
It can help you hang on for just one day more.
Let go of the answers, the anger, the hate,
Let go of the sadness, the heartache, but wait…
Hold tight to the Love, the hope, and the day,
Maybe Addiction won’t win if we don’t give up on today.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Squirrel Mama
This past Sunday morning I sleep in till about 8 am and then began my morning routine. My husband had gotten up ahead of me, he had made the coffee and was already beginning to work on our tax box. [On a side note...our tax box is a huge box that we stuff all year long with any and all paperwork and/or receipts. Then in January we sit down and go through the entire box, separate, organize, stack, review, and determine what we will need to use for our income tax return. Every year 'the tax box' is an ordeal that we dread and which usually takes several days-but it works for us.] After I enjoyed most of my first cup of coffee feeling a coolness in the house, I decided it was time to check the stove. Often we have embers left over from the night before that I can use to restart the stove. The photo above shows the stove door open, which is a rare occasion. This morning as usual the door was closed from the night before. I asked my husband as I headed toward the fireplace if he had a chance to check the stove yet, in which he responded "Nope, I decided I needed to get on this tax box first thing." So on to the stove I go, bending down I touch the stove to see if any heat is left which is always a good indicator, the stove was very cool to the touch. I squat down with coffee in hand and open the stove door up about half way when I see........... HIM!
A little grey squirrel looking right at me and twitching his tail. Now, I am not sure in what order exactly the screams and shutting the stove door took place, but I feel certain they were quite simultaneous. As soon as I had secured the stove door shut and locked mind you, I immediately took off running toward the den where my husband was sitting in the floor sorting out the tax box. Wild eyed and quite upset I scream out...
"SQUIRREL!!!!
A. LIVE. SQUIRREL. IS. IN. THE. FIREPLACE!!!
I CAN'T TAKE THIS AGAIN, NOT ANOTHER SQUIRREL,
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO????"
Upset would be an understatement! Also, the term "WE" that I screamed out really meant YOU (to my husband).
This is not the first time a squirrel has fallen down our chimney or been an instrument of great stress for me. About two years ago another squirrel had fallen down into our fireplace while we were gone for the weekend. Unknown to us when we returned, he had managed to escape into our home by clawing his way out against the flashing. I discovered him as he ran up the curtain past me as I walked into our home, and again I was screaming about a squirrel! And then, one afternoon while I was outside potting plants into planters a squirrel dropped out of a tree absolutely right next to me. I looked at him and he at me...he darted off in one direction and I in another. The fact that this squirrel could have landed on my head just as easily as it did right next to me was something that I have yet to forget! And several other times over the past few years the squirrels and I have had run ins.
With trees comes squirrels, I know, but this is getting out of hand. My husband does not want to put a screen on our chimney due to ash build up, but I am afraid that we are going to have another discussion about that again, and I must insist. He affectionately calls me 'Squirrel Mama', or 'The Crazy Squirrel Lady', but I just do not think my ticker can take another squirrel event in my home! Thankfully this time the squirrel was still contained in the stove. The previous event, the squirrel was free ranging in our home and all I can tell you is; if you have ever seen the scene in Christmas Vacation where the squirrel is in their home... that scene is pretty true to life! With one exception, the dog chasing the squirrel around. At the time, I had two Golden Retrievers who were absolutely NO help whatsoever, mainly because I was so upset, they could not focus on anything but ME! All in all those little rodents are quite the spastic creature!
Both, cases ended in death to the squirrel because any attempt at capture and release by MY husband is not about to happen. And quite frankly I am in NO position to suggest anything other than what HE is willing to do, because I am marked useless from the initial point of discovery!
My husband travels some for his work, and I swear if this ever happens while he is gone; I will be forced to get a hotel room and possibly new clothes. All of that will depending on where and how I discover the little tree rat in my house!
Did I mention that my husband feeds these guys during the winter months corn and sunflower seeds on our back patio? He has not always cared about feeding squirrels, I think he does it just to mess with me so I can be his Squirrel Mama!
Monday, January 13, 2014
January Dreams
Living life with addiction you often have to take things one second, one minute, one day at a time, because life can become unmanageable otherwise.
With the beginning of the NEW YEAR in the past I liked to set goals, make resolutions, reminisce, and look ahead which in my opinion is in complete contrast to my One Day at a Time mentality. I make tentative goals that I work toward for each day, but I try not to look too far ahead when it comes to goal setting. I have “dreams” and hopes for many things, but I am also realistic and live to enjoy today, and whatever may come in today.
The first month of the New Year comes January when our nation celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (officially Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.)[1] is an American federal holiday marking the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around the time of King's birthday, January 15.
So today in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. and January 2014- I have decided that I wish to express my “Dream”.
I dream that one day all those who struggle with addiction will find and hold on to the ability to work at recovery and sobriety within themselves, and also within society without prejudice or manipulation, with love and understanding, everyday.
I dream that the children of addicts will not blame themselves. That they will find understanding, love, and help within their families and society in dealings with all those emotional issues.
I dream that the parents and families of addicts will be able to always feel love in their hearts for their addicts, but not enable them and come to know the difference between those two things.
I dream that science will find a way to ease human physical suffering without chemicals that react upon the brain.
I dream the all nations and populations will find compassion in their hearts for their fellow man.
I dream that addiction will be eradicated so that no new soul will come to suffer that fate.
I dream that love will overcome the hearts and minds of all people today and every day.
With the beginning of the NEW YEAR in the past I liked to set goals, make resolutions, reminisce, and look ahead which in my opinion is in complete contrast to my One Day at a Time mentality. I make tentative goals that I work toward for each day, but I try not to look too far ahead when it comes to goal setting. I have “dreams” and hopes for many things, but I am also realistic and live to enjoy today, and whatever may come in today.
The first month of the New Year comes January when our nation celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (officially Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.)[1] is an American federal holiday marking the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around the time of King's birthday, January 15.
So today in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. and January 2014- I have decided that I wish to express my “Dream”.
I dream that one day all those who struggle with addiction will find and hold on to the ability to work at recovery and sobriety within themselves, and also within society without prejudice or manipulation, with love and understanding, everyday.
I dream that the children of addicts will not blame themselves. That they will find understanding, love, and help within their families and society in dealings with all those emotional issues.
I dream that the parents and families of addicts will be able to always feel love in their hearts for their addicts, but not enable them and come to know the difference between those two things.
I dream that science will find a way to ease human physical suffering without chemicals that react upon the brain.
I dream the all nations and populations will find compassion in their hearts for their fellow man.
I dream that addiction will be eradicated so that no new soul will come to suffer that fate.
I dream that love will overcome the hearts and minds of all people today and every day.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
In with the NEW
With a tick of the clock, a new year rushed in. My husband and I sat on the couch for several hours going back-in-forth between stations watching the different celebrations taking place on television; (happy to be at home I might add) all for a quick second to arrive, a kiss, a toast of champagne, and then it was over.
All in all we had a wonderful day together. New Years Eve is our anniversary and we always manage to have a fabulous meal and a day dedicated to US! Every other year we try and go somewhere to celebrate, which was brought on by having kids every other weekend due to our blended family. We have been married for 9 years now, and this was our year to stay home. Over the past years we have been to Clarksdale MS, Ashville NC, New Orleans LA, Key West, FL, & Memphis TN,
I have read many blogs and thoughts about the “New Year” and the different approaches to it’s coming. Just like every individual there is a different opinion and attitude. Some of us are happy and excited about a New Year coming, some of us are sad, some of us do not know what to think, and then others of us are just ‘so- so’. There is no right or wrong to it, I think what matters the most is what you happen to be feeling at that particular moment and at that time. For instance, I had no preconceived notions about the coming new year, but my daughter was adamant that she could not wait for the new year, as 2013 had been less than kind to her. She felt good about saying goodbye to a year she did not want to remember. Others I know had fantastic things transpire in 2013, like the healthy birth of their second son and they will forever remember 2013 in joy! So with us all just as in everything, we all have our different experiences that shape us and our mood and outlook.
None of us know what the coming year will bring but, I believe firmly that trying to keep a positive outlook can only help you to deal with whatever happens in a positive manner.
I myself had very sad things happen during 2013, but over all I also have so much to be thankful for. I have a mantra that I want to live; to find the “good” in whatever challenges me. This sounds like such a small thing, but this will be difficult for me I know. I project and worry without realizing how I get to those places in my mind sometimes. For example, on my anniversary as I thought about the love that I feel for my husband on our special day, I found myself projecting about how sad and alone I will be if my husband passes away before me. He is my best friend, and we hardly do anything apart from each other. My husband and I have a very small and intimate group of people that we call “friends”. We do not see them on a regular basis, but we do manage to get together from time to time. They are mostly couples, and I was thinking how if I become a widow, not only will I miss my husband, but none of them will want to “hang” out with me anymore, and I will surely become a hermit. Talk about projecting! I do not know where these crazy thoughts come from, but before I knew it I was sad and crying as I was driving home! I cried for a while (maybe 3-4 minutes) and then I began to think … Ok then… you had better enjoy today and be sure and let him know how much you DO love him! And I immediately felt better and went on to have a fabulous day with my husband! Yes I got sad for a few minutes, yes I projected a real possibility of the future, but I also turned that around and something wonderful came from that!
For me, a “New” year is something new and unknown. Who knows what will come. It is a “starting over” option if you want. A new beginning, if you so choose. A surprise if you like!
Having a loved one (my son) who is a (self professed) heroin addict, I have to believe in the possibility of new beginnings that can happen at any moment. A new beginning is a wonderful wonderful thing to have happen!
So I say…bring on 2014. I will keep hope alive and enjoy any and every wonderful thing to come. And if a not so wonderful thing comes, then I will search for whatever good in that I can find and hold on tight!
Happy New Year!
All in all we had a wonderful day together. New Years Eve is our anniversary and we always manage to have a fabulous meal and a day dedicated to US! Every other year we try and go somewhere to celebrate, which was brought on by having kids every other weekend due to our blended family. We have been married for 9 years now, and this was our year to stay home. Over the past years we have been to Clarksdale MS, Ashville NC, New Orleans LA, Key West, FL, & Memphis TN,
I have read many blogs and thoughts about the “New Year” and the different approaches to it’s coming. Just like every individual there is a different opinion and attitude. Some of us are happy and excited about a New Year coming, some of us are sad, some of us do not know what to think, and then others of us are just ‘so- so’. There is no right or wrong to it, I think what matters the most is what you happen to be feeling at that particular moment and at that time. For instance, I had no preconceived notions about the coming new year, but my daughter was adamant that she could not wait for the new year, as 2013 had been less than kind to her. She felt good about saying goodbye to a year she did not want to remember. Others I know had fantastic things transpire in 2013, like the healthy birth of their second son and they will forever remember 2013 in joy! So with us all just as in everything, we all have our different experiences that shape us and our mood and outlook.
None of us know what the coming year will bring but, I believe firmly that trying to keep a positive outlook can only help you to deal with whatever happens in a positive manner.
I myself had very sad things happen during 2013, but over all I also have so much to be thankful for. I have a mantra that I want to live; to find the “good” in whatever challenges me. This sounds like such a small thing, but this will be difficult for me I know. I project and worry without realizing how I get to those places in my mind sometimes. For example, on my anniversary as I thought about the love that I feel for my husband on our special day, I found myself projecting about how sad and alone I will be if my husband passes away before me. He is my best friend, and we hardly do anything apart from each other. My husband and I have a very small and intimate group of people that we call “friends”. We do not see them on a regular basis, but we do manage to get together from time to time. They are mostly couples, and I was thinking how if I become a widow, not only will I miss my husband, but none of them will want to “hang” out with me anymore, and I will surely become a hermit. Talk about projecting! I do not know where these crazy thoughts come from, but before I knew it I was sad and crying as I was driving home! I cried for a while (maybe 3-4 minutes) and then I began to think … Ok then… you had better enjoy today and be sure and let him know how much you DO love him! And I immediately felt better and went on to have a fabulous day with my husband! Yes I got sad for a few minutes, yes I projected a real possibility of the future, but I also turned that around and something wonderful came from that!
For me, a “New” year is something new and unknown. Who knows what will come. It is a “starting over” option if you want. A new beginning, if you so choose. A surprise if you like!
Having a loved one (my son) who is a (self professed) heroin addict, I have to believe in the possibility of new beginnings that can happen at any moment. A new beginning is a wonderful wonderful thing to have happen!
So I say…bring on 2014. I will keep hope alive and enjoy any and every wonderful thing to come. And if a not so wonderful thing comes, then I will search for whatever good in that I can find and hold on tight!
Happy New Year!
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