life

Truths from the Tree

/ Jodi / 52 Comments
truth from trees nature lessons maple tree mars pa

Maple Tree, Mars, PA

Truths from the Tree

Stand tall and proud,
and reach for the sunlight.

Grow deep roots where you are planted,
and you will be braced and secure from threatening winds.

When those winds do blow,
bend and be flexible, and you will survive.

Stretch out your arms far and wide,
and welcome those that rest in your shade.

Delight in sharing with nature’s creatures
with nests and burrows and nourishment.

When your life is over,
give back to what gave life to you.

This is in follow-up to yesterday’s post – Reflections from the River – and a continuation in Lessons from Nature.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Pure

Reflections from the River

/ Jodi / 60 Comments
Kiskiminetas River lifeinbetween.me

Kiskiminetas River, Pittsburgh, PA

Reflections from the River

Still water grows stagnant…
keep moving.

Enjoy the journey…
it’s not always about the destination.

A single rock thrown…
can cause a ripple effect far beyond its initial target.

Sometimes what is reflected back from us…
is bigger and better than we are – so shine on.

It is hard work to traverse against the current…
but it is possible, and it is often worth it.

Hubby and I took a little boat ride Friday evening down the Kiskiminetas River – a peaceful little body of water that flows into the Allegheny River near Pittsburgh, PA.   With the sweet scent of honeysuckle still in my nose, I’ve been reflecting on the many lessons we can learn from the river.  Nature has so much to teach us if only we take the time to listen.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Pure

Life and Hope

/ Jodi / 64 Comments

Lane

My son snagged this amazing shot with his iPhone down the lane to our home one evening this week when the clouds were rolling in.

I love the beauty of the lush green “life,” the bright blue sky of “hope,” and the looming “sadness’ in the darkness under the puffy white clouds.

It reminded me of a dear friend who has been on my mind constantly lately who is going through a difficult period while she tends to her parents’ needs at her father’s journey at end of life.

It made me think of life and hope and sadness and how we all deal with all of it every day – –  often every moment of the day.

The lyrics of one of my all-time favorite songs came to mind, and I want to share them here for my sweet friend, Bub:

If the sky above you
Grows dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind begins to blow
Keep you head together
And call my name out loud
Soon you’ll hear me knocking at you door
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running to see you again

 

May we all find cherished moments of life and hope in times of darkness and sadness.
And may we all find comfort in friendship to get us through.

We may not be close enough in geographic proximity to literally always show up and knock on the door, but we can reach out in so many other ways to be there for each other.

Be life and hope in someone’s darkness today.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

More or Less

/ Jodi / 42 Comments
coconuts

Jean’s Famous Fresh Coconuts, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

On a beach
far from home this past week,

I marveled at how different
and yet how the same we all are.

And I wondered…
which is better?

More
or
Less?

 

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

A Little Birdie Told Me

/ Jodi / 62 Comments
goldfinch

Male Goldfinch, Mars, PA

A Little Birdie told me….

Stop waiting

for tomorrow,
or the weekend
or a rainy day,
or a sunny day.

Joy is found

when you stop waiting,
and start realizing
the joy in the moments
of every day life.

Cherish the moments

of a gentle breeze,
a warm smile,
a soft embrace,
a kind word.

A little birdie told me

life is short,
grief and hatred and sorrow exist,
but love conquers all,
joy exists,
happy moments must be grasped.

Cherish the moments.

A little birdie told me.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Bloom Where You are Planted

/ Jodi / 50 Comments

bloom where you are planted

Bloom where you are planted.
There’s no better place to be.

Right exactly where you are
is where you’re meant to be.

Bloom where you are planted
for all the world to see.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Castles

/ Jodi / 33 Comments
squires castle

Squire’s Castle, North Chagrin Reservation, Willoughby Hills, OH

Some build castles
of stone and mortar
and brick and clay
on top of hills
overlooking fields and valleys and streams.

They want to tell the world
they are rich and powerful
and should be looked up to
and should be seen
and should be honored and admired and revered.

But the very best castles
are the ones that are built
with love and compassion
with respect and dignity
with humbleness and grace.

They are built in the fields and the valleys and streams.
The everyday experiences of life.

They are life.

They are the good life.

The life well lived.
The life well loved.
The best castle of all.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

The above pictured castle was one I visited this past weekend with a few “princesses” that I love.  Thanks for showing me the true meaning of castles… of life… of friendship… of love…. Pam, Anna,  and Joan… ❤

Learn more about Squire’s Castle here.

Seasons

/ Jodi / 36 Comments

icy branches

Your outstretched branches reach far and wide
as you bear the harsh, cold winds
and weight of frozen snow.

You wait,
and you withstand the torture.

Then,
when the breezes become gentle again
and the sun shines bright and warm,

you peek out
with little buds

that become leaves
and bear fruit and flowers.
You provide beauty and nourishment and shelter.

And when you can take no more,
you let go.

You drop your leaves,
and you welcome the chill.
And the cycle of seasons starts over again.

There’s a New Bird in Town

/ Jodi / 53 Comments

breakfast bird wings

There’s a new bird in town visiting our backyard feeders these days.

The wintry colors and spots and the delicacy of the bird’s wings remind me that

life imitates art…

and art imitates life….

that life is art…

and art is life.

breakfast bird chatter

What do you think these two were chatting about over breakfast?

breakfast bird

They are the new bird in town.  Looks to me like it could be the European Starling?

Any experts out there know?

They sure are bringing joy and beauty and artistic inspiration.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

My Happy Place

/ Jodi / 72 Comments
Nick Winston CJ Zach

Nick, Winston, CJ, Zach

Look at these handsome guys!

Could I be any happier than to have the opportunity to have them over and cook for them?

Does that make me a little strange?… unusual?…. old-fashioned….?

I was really looking forward to – and totally enjoyed – the opportunity to cook and bake for my youngest son, Nick (far left in the photo above) and a group of his old college buddies (Winston, Zach, and CJ – two of whom are married already!), who decided to get together for a Saturday afternoon of basketball and an evening of pool and poker, with a short break in between to be nourished by Momma ME!

In talking with my friend, Tracy, on our Sunday morning walk yesterday, I remarked upon reflection that it is good to be 52 and not so worried about what is the right or wrong way to be a woman today.

For a while, I tried to be a “modern” business woman – one who enjoys working as much as the rest of “the guys” and has no time for such silliness as cooking and baking….

But I can’t help it….

It is my happy place.

It is in my DNA.

When I was a young girl, if asked what I wanted to be when I grow up, I most often would say, “A Mom.”

Being a mom is a job that should be as equally admired as those that serve as doctors and lawyers and teachers and executives.

It really is a tough job.  Little training is provided.  Little recognition is provided.  The monetary rewards are quite minimal.  The days are long.  Then nights are short.  The worries are many.

But the rewards…..

especially when looking back and knowing you raised your kids to become amazing adults….

well – there really is nothing greater.

So the chance to cherish moments with my “kids” (who aren’t really kids anymore)…

is pretty darn great.

I am most happy when I am cooking or baking or having guests in my home.

I TRULY love my work too.  Don’t get me wrong.

I am extremely fortunate to have a work-life balance that allows me to work as passionately at my job in corporate communications for home health and hospice and enjoy it as much as I do my “life in between” activities.

I also truly and equally admire women who don’t choose to be mothers, but dedicate their lives to noble careers because that is their passion.

But put me behind the kitchen counter with pots steaming and cookies cooling and bread kneading…..

kitchen

with Charlie by my side napping as the Autumn sunshine streams in the window…

charlie sleeping in the sun

and life is perfect.

I baked some classic chocolate chips cookies,

chocolate chip cookie

and made Zach’s favorite – good old-fashioned peasant food – Haluski.

halushki cabbage

I made some yummy rosemary roasted butternut squash that they all surprisingly LOVED, some freshly baked rustic crusty bread, and some dry rubbed pork tenderloin (recipe in tomorrow’s blog!), as well as some mini pumpkin pies….

mini pumpkin pies

served up with a side of dreamy, creamy whipped cream.

single mini pumpkin pie bite

In the midst of it all, with dishes piled high in the sink…

flour all over the counter….

dough in my hair…

Nick asked,

“Do you REALLY ENJOY doing this?”

“Oh YES!,” I didn’t even hesitate when I replied…

“This is my happy place.”

Thanks, guys, for the wine!
Thanks, girls, for the surprise visit!
Thanks, Merv, for being the grill master and my “partner in crime” through it all.
Thanks for allowing me to nourish your bellies as much as you nourish my heart! ❤

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi