Dogwood Tree Blossom, The Other Side, Mars, PA
As you stretch and reach
and open yourself
to the sunshine
after the rain
I admire your beauty
from underneath
And wonder if its really much different
on the other side?
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
If only closing our eyes
and blowing fluffy white
dandelion seeds to the wind
could make our wishes come true.
The world would be filled
with buttery yellow “flowers”
instead of pesty “weeds”
and “pretty” lawns would look much different.
It’s all about
perspective.
Go ahead.
Make a wish.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Fresh Brussels Sprouts are so divine – especially when sauteed with bacon and onions and garlic and rosemary and splashed with balsamic vinegar.
If you are looking for a knock-out vegetable dish for a special occasion or a simple veggie side dish for Sunday supper or a weekday dinner, this recipe rocks it all around.
It takes a teensy bit more time than throwing a bag of frozen corn in a pot, but it is OH SO WORTH it!
I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of anything Brussels sprouts can’t go with!
Hope you get a chance to try and enjoy this recipe.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. If sprouts are very small, cut in half; otherwise cut into quarters. Cook the sprouts until barely tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain.
Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring, until just crisp, 5-6 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to drain on a paper towel. Pour out all but about 1 tablespoon bacon fat from the pan.
Add olive oil to the pan. Add green onion and garlic and cook, stirring often, until soft but not browned, about 4 minutes. Stir in rosemary, salt and pepper. Increase heat to medium-high, add the Brussels sprouts, and cook, tossing or stirring occasionally, until tender and warmed through and beginning to brown, about 3-5 minutes. Add the bacon and balsamic vinegar. Stir an additional minute. Pour into serving dish and enjoy!
*adapted from this recipe at Eating Well
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Goldfinch Watercolor Doodlewash for Draw A Bird Day
Some of you may remember the darling little goldfinch I captured in a photo recently as his family has become a regular in our backyard and at the feeders.
I decided to do a quick little watercolor and doodlewash him for today’s monthly #drawabirdday.
I am out of town today, but he is flying by to wish all the Moms out there the happiest of Mother’s Days!
Being a mom has unequivocally been the greatest privilege of my life and has provided me with such joy and love.
Thank you Jake and Nick for all you have given me. My life would not be nearly as extraordinary if it weren’t for what each of you has given me since the days you were born.
Now that you are grown men with lives of your own, I thank you even more for still allowing me the honor of being a part of your lives and being your Mom. And thank you for the beautiful ladies in Colleen and Liz that you have allowed me to “mother” too.
I am the luckiest Mom of all!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Dogwood Tree Blossom, Day Dreaming in Monochrome, Mars, PA
Dreaming of
far away places
that are soft
and light
and free.
Maybe I’ll go there.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Up Close & Personal with Flowers/Weeds in My Lawn, Mars, PA
“Weeds are flowers too…
Once you get to know them.”
— A. A. Milne, Author of Winnie the Pooh
May you see flowers in all of your “weeds.”
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Earth
My mom heard that birds love peanuts.
and BOY am I glad she heard that!!!
When she puts some out on the deck railing…
for the birds…
I slither out when she’s not looking
and nibble my way along the deck railing.
She doesn’t know any different.
She thinks the birds ate them.
Please don’t tell her – let’s let this be our little secret.
Peanuts are not just “for the birds!”
Woofs & Wags,
Charlie
This past weekend, I found a little time to splash in some paint, and I recreated an original watercolor of tulips in a jar. Tulips lend so well to impressionistic, loose painting. I adore tulips, and I adore painting this way.
I say “re-created,” because I recently sold a similar original painting in our Etsy Shop.
The funny thing was… when I painted it, I sort of liked it, but was hesitant to share it. I had it tucked away for a few weeks. Then last week, the little cash register dinged on my phone alerting me it had sold. When I dug it out to ship, I looked at it again and really liked it. I remembered how much fun I had painting it, and I longed to do it again.
So this is the latest version. It is its own original. The painting is 9×12, and I stuck a little white mat around it just to see what it would look like.
I kinda like it, and it’s kinda fun to say that. 🙂
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
This painting is now available at McKinneyx2Designs
This past Sunday, my son Nick took over the kitchen for dinner and made us his amazing Chopped Chicken & Veggie Wraps.
Nick likes anything chicken and anything that can be wrapped up in a tortilla and eaten by hand.
This recipe requires a bit of chopping ahead of time, but throws together quick and easy and tastes so delish!
Starting with marinated grilled skinless, boneless chicken breasts and adding your favorite veggies makes for a healthy, quick, and oh so yummy dinner or lunch or anything in between!
The secret is in the double chopping. Once you pile all the chopped ingredients together, you chop again.
And the thing that really kicks this wrap up for me is the Peach Mango Salsa! OOOOO LAA LAA!
Throw in anything you like, but here is how Nick made these for us.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Marinade chicken in Italian salad dressing for approximately 24 hours in Ziploc bag in refrigerator. When ready to eat, grill chicken and chop. Chop all veggies and ingredients you plan to use.
To assemble, heat flour tortilla in microwave for 20 seconds to make more pliable for wrapping and prevent cracking. Heat George Foreman Grill or Grill Pan.
Place all ingredients together for each wrap, top with a heaping spoon of salsa, and re-chop all together. Mound in center of warmed tortilla and wrap tightly.
Place on grill to heat, crisp, and seal.
Hope you enjoy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Once upon a time
a little girl was born
to the best Grandma
in the entire universe.
As time passed,
the little girl grew,
but her admiration
for the best Grandma
in the entire universe
never waned.
The grandma knew
she wouldn’t be able
to stay forever
and share her love
with the little girl
who became a woman, a wife, and a mother
who she still so greatly adored.
So she gave the woman
a plant to remember
her everywhere she would go
wherever she went
for as long as she lived.
And every May
the little girl
who is now
soon be a Grandma herself
remembers the love
from her special Grandma.
The gift of life
The gift of love
the gift from the heart
A bleeding heart.
A heart that knows
A heart that understands
A heart that consoles
a little girl, a grand-daughter,
a mother, a soon-to-be grandmother.
With admiration
beyond compare,
with love and a bleeding heart
from one little girl, mother, grand-daughter, grandmother
to another.
I love you, Grandma
now and forever.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
(My Grandma gave me this Bleeding Heart plant before she passed away many years ago. I have moved it twice. Every Spring, I shed a tear of joy, of sorrow, of love, of loss when it blooms and reminds me of one of the greatest ladies , role models, “mothers,” I have ever known. I believe it to be the most beautiful flower on the entire planet.)
the creative life in between 