Photography

Sticks and Stones

/ Jodi / 43 Comments

img_3999

Sticks and Stones…
can break our bones.
But bones can heal.

Words…
can harm us deeply.
And they can be hard to heal from.

As I looked at this photo I took last week
of a charming old building made of stone
and covered with twisted, tangled sticks,

it reminded me of the old childhood adage
“Sticks and stones may break my bones,
but words will never hurt me.”

And I realized how absurd that is…

I have suffered through
my share of broken bones in my life,
but they have healed.

There are words, however,
that have been spoken
that have changed my life forever.

Choose your words carefully…
Consider their power.
Words can seriously hurt.

But also know
words have the power
to love and heal.

They have the power
to build up
rather than tear down.

They have the power
to create positive change
now and forever.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Let’s Teach our Children

/ Jodi / 62 Comments

clara-10-days-old-2
Let’s teach our children…

to be kind to those who are not kind.
They need love the most.

to offer help to those who struggle.
It is in giving that we receive the most.

to be a friend to the lonely.
They are often the best friends.

to sit with those sitting alone.
They have much to share.

to look for the good in others.
That is when we learn the most about ourselves.

These are the ways we can teach our children
to change the world.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Best Ever Pecan Pie

/ Jodi / 31 Comments

pecan-pie-2

If you have it with coffee, it counts as breakfast.
Right??
Confession – I ate a slice of pecan pie for breakfast the day after Thanksgiving.

There.
It’s out!

And O M G – was it delicious!

pecan-pie-1

I made this pecan pie for Thanksgiving, and I have to admit,  I was too full of turkey and stuffing and much too busy holding my new granddaughter to even give a second thought to dessert that day.

pecan-pie-3

But the next morning (while decorating for Christmas 😉  ), I decided to have my piece.

This recipe is simply divine.  If you’ve never tried making a pecan pie, you really should try this.  You won’t be sorry!  MMM MMM Good!

Best Ever Pecan Pie

Ingredients:pecan-pie-2

Pie Crust:

  • 1 cup flour
  • Heaping 1/3 cup Crisco shortening
  • Dash of Salt
  • 1/3-1/2 cup cold water

Filling:

  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 1/2 cups light corn syrup
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 cups whole pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Prepare pie crust by blending flour, shortening and salt with pastry blender until fine crumbs form.  Add cold water and mix just until dough comes together and can be formed into a ball.  Do not overwork dough – this makes it tough.  Place ball on floured surface and roll out to fit into 9″ pie plate.  Fold dough in half and then in quarters.  Life and unfold in pie plate.  Pinch edges to flute.

Prepare filling by boiling brown sugar and corn syrup in a saucepan for 2-3 mins.  Set aside to cool slightly.

In a large bowl, beat eggs lightly.  Slowly pour the syrup mixture into the eggs, stirring constantly.  Stir in butter, vanilla and pecans, and pour into crust.

Bake for approximately 50-60 minutes or until set.  Cool completely.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving

/ Jodi / 26 Comments

happy-thanksgiving-2016

So very much to be thankful for…

Warm fires.
Full bellies.
Joyful laughter.
Tight hugs.
Soft candlelight.
Growing family.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

And I think to myself…

/ Jodi / 32 Comments
Sunset Walk with Charlie, Mars, PA 11/21/2016

Sunset Walk with Charlie, Mars, PA 11/21/2016

The bright blessed day,
the dark sacred night.

And I think to myself…

What a Wonderful World.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

The Clock Ticks

/ Jodi / 33 Comments
pink-sunset

sunset on cranberry twp, pa 11-14-16

The sun sets
The moon rises
The earth turns.

The heart beats
The eyes see
The ears hear.

The clock ticks
The calendar flips
Time flies.

The hands touch
The nose smells
The mouth tastes.

The wind blows
The trees sway
The birds sing.

The soul feels
The brain thinks
The human being loves.

Experience every second
Appreciate every minute
Cherish every moment.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Super Moon over Mars (PA)

/ Jodi / 30 Comments
Super Moon over Mars (PA) November 13, 2016

Super Moon over Mars (PA) November 13, 2016

Oh the mysteries of the moon and earth

You never realize how quickly our earth is actually rotating
until you try to pause long enough to capture a photo of the moon.

From afar, I always see a face…
the “man on the moon” I called it as a child.

As I look at this photo I took late Sunday evening,

it almost appears as if the moon is a large mirror
reflecting back the earth it sees.

The beauty of nature

It makes you feel small and insignificant
and large and important

all at once.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Golden Sparkle

/ Jodi / 23 Comments

frosty-oak-leaf

The golden morning sunlight
on the frosty fallen oak leaf
sparkles more beautifully
than any diamond I’ve ever seen.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Endings and Beginnings

/ Jodi / 32 Comments

autumn-leaf

The wind has picked up a determined strength.
And the cheerful orange leaves are all but lost.

The hours of daylight have grown shorter in length.
The morning’s dew has turned into frost.

Autumn’s time is growing near her blissful end,
And winter is waiting for her turn to shine.

Snowflakes and icicles will soon impend.
and warm crackling fires under woolen fleece blankets will be so divine.

One season’s sad retreat
makes room for the next’s joyful beginning.

Goodbye Autumn – it’s so bittersweet
as we prepare to welcome winter’s first inning.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

The Color of Bliss

/ Jodi / 34 Comments

autumn-leaves

If I had to choose
a color
to describe
Bliss,

I believe it would be
the color of maple leaves
in the Autumn sunshine
dancing in the breeze.

They delight my senses
with their bright
and joyful display.

Until Spring…

when the color of Bliss
is again the color
of the maple leaves

even though that color has changed.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Focusing on peace.