Open your eyes.
Close your narrow views.
Open your ears.
Close your inner negative thoughts.
Open your mind.
Close your ignorance.
Open your heart.
Close your hate.
Open your arms.
Close them in a hug.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Photography
A Pansy for your Thoughts
Can you remember
who you were
before the world
told you who
you should be?
Be brave
and be that person.
It is undoubtedly
the best you
you can be.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Spring in Mars
Spring in Mars
is a little confused.
The beautiful Japonica
that yesterday looked like
it was playing the harmonica
now thinks it is time
to celebrate Hanukkah
with Veronica
and drink a gin and tonica!
Just a little silliness
to cherish the moments
that nature throws our way
each and every day.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
PS – How many words can you think of that rhyme with Japonica ?
Perfect Day
Japonica – Mars, PA
It’s a perfect day
for a perfect day.
What do you say?
Happy Saturday!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Beauty in the Cracks
The other evening
after dinner,
I went outside
to breathe in
the gentle fragrance
of the Spring air
and dig my fingers
into the warming earth
to clear the leaves and twigs and “weeds”
in preparation for planting
flowers and herbs and vegetables.
In the crack of the stone wall
in the landscape where nothing should grow
and where I tend to pull out things
that do not “belong,”
I decided to leave this tender
flowering plant
that added life
and its own kind of beauty
when you look at it for what it simply is.
Like life in between,
where I cherish the moments,
I cherish the beauty
in the cracks of life.
The crack in the chip
of an heirloom antique cow creamer,
or the crack in the humor
of a “dig” or a joke from one of my guys.
The crack in the corner of the lips
of a friend’s smile when they see me,
or the crack in the voice of my Dad
when we reminisce
about times we’ve spent together
or the times we sadly missed.
The cracks in the corners of
hubby’s (and even my) eyes
that show we have lived and loved and laughed
throughout the years.
(not to mention another cute crack
when he bends over without a belt!)
There truly is beauty
in the cracks of life
if only we open our eyes to see
the tiny little joys
in the cracks in between.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Be Kind
Why does there have to be
So much fighting…
So much hatred…
Politics.
Religion.
In a world where
you can be anything,
Be Kind.
It’s really not that hard.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
(pink rose from my anniversary bouquet)
Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay
Sittin’ on the dock of the bay
watching the……
geese and birds and fishermen and rowers,
cars and bikers and joggers and walkers.
Soaking up the early Spring sunshine after a fun little field trip day with hubby on Saturday.
We stopped by the Three Rivers Rowing Association Youth Boathouse in Pittsburgh.
As I snapped photos, I was drawn to this beat up ole’ beauty that sat alone
amidst all the sleek and shiny new sweep and sculling boats.
It’s beauty caught my eye the most.
Kind of like people.
Youth is sleek and shiny and new and beautiful,
but the real beauty that more often catches my attention
is the kind that emanates from the wrinkles on the face of the older woman
who has spent decades loving and smiling and laughing
with her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
or the rough and calloused, knotty, sun-spotted hands of an old man
who worked hard all his life to support his family.
Hands with map-like veins protruding as if telling a story of the places he’d gone and the things he’d done.
Hands that hurt, yet gently stroke his wife’s cheek, guide his children’s path, and cradle his grandchildren.
Yep – sittin’ on the dock of the….. river….
wasting time?
Maybe not.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Photo submission for the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Half-Light: Share a photo inspired by a poem, verse, song lyric or story. Also in loving memory of “Poops” Pap McKinney, who we remember lovingly today on his birthday.
Forsythia
Forsythia…
for bursting buds,
for warm sunshine,
for bright blue skies,
for puffy clouds,
for greener grass,
for gentle breeze,
for birds singing,
for longer days,
for Easter’s near.
First signs of Spring.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Waiting and Watching – A Charlie Guest Post
Waiting and Watching…
for Dad to come home,
or Cliff the mailman,
or Mike the UPS man,
or Jake or Colleen or Liz to come visit.
Waiting and Watching…
for Pippa and Twiggy (the doggie girls next door) to come out,
or a deer or a turkey or a squirrel or a chipmunk to scamper by,
or a bird or bee or butterfly to flutter by,
or maybe the Easter Bunny!!
Waiting and Watching…
for Mom to say it is time for a walk,
or for dinner,
or a treat,
or an ear scratch or belly rub.
Waiting and Watching…
until my eyes grow weary
and close for “just a blink,”
which is rarely more than two minutes.
It’s a dog’s life.
It’s a good life.
It’s my life.
Woofs and Wags,
Charlie
Jodi’s Mediterranean Crockpot Chicken
I love chicken, and I love easy crockpot recipes – especially for days you know you are going to be busy, but want a nice, healthy meal at the end of the day.
Crockpot recipes are often thought more about in the winter and often with heavier, creamier sauces, but I love how light and healthy this recipe turned out that was born out of simply searching the pantry one morning last week for what to throw together.
I daresay this is good enough for company, yet simple enough for any ole’ weeknight dinner.
Best of all, you can throw it together in about 10 minutes in the morning and forget about it until dinnertime.
Hope you give it a try and enjoy!
Jodi's Mediterranean Crockpot Chicken
Ingredients:
- 6 frozen chicken breasts (or your favorite cuts – thighs, legs, whole cut up parts)
- 1 12 oz. jar Marinated & Quartered Artichoke Hearts ( I used DeLallo)
- 1 12 oz. jar Sweet Roasted Red Peppers (I used Mancini)
- 3 oz. (1/4 cup) Capers (I used Roland Capers in Sherry Vinegar)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning (oregano, basil, parsley, thyme blend)
- 1/2 cup white wine (I used a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc that was open, but any kind would do, or you could substitute chicken broth)
Directions:
Layer all ingredients in crockpot in order listed above. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Serve alone or over pasta, rice or with a side of new boiled potatoes. Garnish with some fresh basil leaves minced and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Easy – Right?!
Delicious? You’re going to love it!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 