Eyes Wide Open.
We must keep our eyes wide open.
Sometimes we will see good and happy and beautiful things.
Other times we will see horrific, sad, disgraceful, reprehensible things.
Blinders don’t change the truth.
The only way to change
the things we don’t want to see
is by keeping our eyes wide open,
so we can face what needs changed.
Hugs,
Jodi
Grieving for the victims and seeking justice: https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/14/us/pennsylvania-catholic-church-grand-jury/index.html
When Timber Makes One Feel Small.
When I awoke yesterday morning,
I squealed like a elementary school girl anticipating a snow day.
We had our first measurable snowfall,
and this is the beauty I get to behold from my back deck.
As I took in the bright sunlight, the tall trees, and the long shadows they cast,
I felt very small realizing the expanse of nature and our world.
And it reminded me of a quote from a sweet little book I just read
and have been itching to share, because I think about it every day now.
If I got to talk to
me when I was little.
I’m not sure who
would be smarter.
Little me telling me
what not to forget.
Or bigger me telling
little me ‘if only I’d
known.’
What do you think? Which one of you is smarter?
Colleen is also a blogger, who shares little bits of insanely insightful wisdom with simple, adorable illustrations that really draw you in. Check her out at The Chatter Blog.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Conneaut Lake, PA Christmas Light Tour on the Barbara J
Christmas Light Reflections after Braving the Wilderness.
This past weekend was a gathering of The Best Book Club Ever, where we talked about one of my newest favorite books, “Braving the Wilderness” by Brene Brown.
So I already told you how much I love this book. Remember?
I couldn’t wait for our book club discussion about it, and it did not disappoint. In fact, it empowered. It really connected me with a special group of family and friends in a meaningful way.
There is so much I could say about it…
About how I connected right from the start when Brene talked about “not belonging” to her own family.
This paragraph sucked me in:
“Even in the context of suffering—poverty, violence, human rights violations—not belonging in our families is still one of the most dangerous hurts. That’s because it has the power to break our heart, our spirit, and our sense of self-worth. It broke all three for me. And when those things break, there are only three outcomes, something I’ve borne witness to in my life and in my work: 1. You live in constant pain and seek relief by numbing it and/or inflicting it on others; 2. You deny your pain, and your denial ensures that you pass it on to those around you and down to your children; or 3. You find the courage to own the pain and develop a level of empathy and compassion for yourself and others that allows you to spot hurt in the world in a unique way. I certainly tried the first two. Only through sheer grace did I make my way to the third.”
But there is so much more…
About authenticity, vulnerability…
and dehumanization.
About the paradox of things like love, the NRA, politics and religion (just to name a few).
And though there was and always will be great differences in opinion among the group on these important issues and values, everyone respectfully listened to each other share, and we grew closer for it.
So after three or four hours of powerfully connecting conversation and breakthroughs in belonging, our gang bundled up in parkas, knit hats and woolen mittens and boarded the infamous Barbara J Paddle Wheel Boat on Conneaut Lake to set sail at 10pm and spend an hour touring the lake and the homes surrounding it lit up with Christmas trees and colorful lights.
25 degrees. Snow flurries. Dark night. Bright lights. Even brighter spirits.
These are my Christmas light reflections after Braving the Wilderness.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Misty Morning – Mars, PA – January, 2017
Oh misty morning…
with your subtle and mellow beauty,
You are like a soft veil creating the illusion
of a world that is blemish and scar free.
You are a gentle beginning
to the realities of the day.
Oh misty morning…
will you please just stay?
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
On New Year’s Day, Hubby and I canned the homemade sauerkraut we made this year at Krautfest about 12 weeks ago.
In past years, we froze it in Ziploc bags, but we decided to can it this year, and I’m so glad we did. It tastes so much better this way, and no freezing and thawing.
It was really quite simple to do. We “cold-packed” it – meaning we did not heat or “cook” the sauerkraut first. We simply packed the cold sauerkraut in warm, sterile jars and processed them in a hot water bath for 25 minutes.
Easy instructions can be found HERE.
Pork or kielbasa and sauerkraut is a New Year’s dinner tradition in our home and in our area. Eating it on New Year’s Day is supposed to bring good luck and fortune in the new year.
So eat it we did! Did you eat yours?
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
What a fun evening we had with friends this weekend when we had the privilege of enjoying a private dining experience at Merante’s special upstairs kitchen where “Mamma” Maria and her long-time assistant, Linda, made us feel like family around the Sunday supper table!
What a unique experience this was! Merante’s is a quaint Italian gift shop in the Bloomfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where beautiful gifts from pasta bowls and fine ceramics (and even the game of Italy-Opoly) are sold and cooking classes and Italian-themed events are hosted.
My sweet, long-time (Italian!) friend, Mary, found this little gem and invited a group of friends (several months in advance, which is necessary due to its popularity) to bring a few bottles of wine and dine Italiano style (complete with clear plastic covered dining table cloth!).
Are you ready to see all the amazing food?!
A special thanks to Mary and Jill for sharing their iPhone photos with me to feature here.
I may have forgotten to bring my camera…
my iPhone may have been down to 3% battery…
and I may have been a bit too tipsy on red wine and sweet red sauce to take clear photos, but they were awesome to share!
We arrived at 6 pm and climbed the stairs to the “apartment” above the shop. We were escorted to the parlor where wine glasses and cork screws awaited our unloading of a “few” bottles of BYOB wine.
An amazing array of appetizers was served…
Seriously enough for a meal, and we could have been done!
There were stuffed mushrooms…
and stuffed tomatoes (MY FAVE!).
There was succulent shrimp…
and there were spicy meatballs.
There was a cheesy quiche…
And the most divine version of Caprese with sweet roasted red peppers and plump mozzarella.
But this was only a teaser of what was to come!
After a few cheers and intros, we moved into the kitchen where we began with the most amazing bowl of Stracciatella – an Italian soup that is made from a simple but flavorful chicken stock kept at a delicate simmer until a creamy mixture of eggs, Parmesan cheese and Italian parsley are whisked in to form the “little threads” that take the place of pastina. Grandma’s polish version was called “Egg Drop” soup.
This may have been my favorite course, if it weren’t for the next, which was the pasta course! Gnocchi alla Sorrentina is Maria’s handmade ricotta gnocchi gently turned with her creamy, dreamy red sauce and topped with tiny bits of fresh mozzarella and fresh basil. THIS was absolutely my favorite course!
As if we weren’t absolutely full-bellied by now, the main course was served next. Mary chose the juicy, tender roast tenderloin of pork, which was surrounded by a ring of seasoned roasted root veggies. My favorite was the fresh beets!
And because you get to also pick a vegetable (since cauliflower, beets, butternut squash and green beans are not enough!), we also had rosemary roasted potatoes.
In true Italian style, the salad was served next (last before dessert), which is completely opposite of how most American restaurants serve salad first. And this salad…. OMG…. if I weren’t so full, this may have won for my favorite course! We had the most amazing Apple, Pecan, and Gorgonzola Romaine Salad with tart dried cranberries drizzled with tangy balsamic vinaigrette – a perfect combination of sweet, salty and crunchy…Yum!
It was then time for dessert.
First, Maria placed an overflowing tray of Italian cookies in the center of the table.
And, as if that wasn’t enough, a beautiful parfait of chocolate hazelnut gelato, shipped fresh from Italy, was served to each of us with a cup of freshly pressed and sweetened Espresso.
I still can’t believe we ate all that food…
I can’t believe how sweet Maria and Linda were…
I can’t believe how reasonable the whole experience was!
And all of the leftovers were packed up in “to go” containers for us to continue to enjoy!
I couldn’t even bring myself to each a cookie that evening, but oh how glorious did the chocolate dipped biscotti taste the next morning with my coffee!
The only thing better than the amazing food was the wonderful fellowship of friends! If you live in, or are ever planning to travel to the Pittsburgh area, what a treat it is to enjoy this special dining experience at Merante’s!
One day, I will actually get to visit Italy…
Until then, I will visit Maria at Merante’s and experience a little taste of Italy in the “Burgh!”
Cheers and Ciaos,
Jodi
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The Rusty Old Bridge
Your shiny metal has weathered to shades of orange and brown
like skin that has worked and played and laughed in the sun.
Your concrete pillars are beginning to crack under pressure
like wrinkles of worry from the stress of supporting such a heavy load.
You connected two sides – one with the other
as if you had open and outstretched arms.
And now,
though your original purpose is abandoned,
you still serve,
but in subtler ways.
a shady spot for respite from the heat
or a lazy day of fishing.
It’s time to rest Rusty Old Bridge.
You’ve earned this time.
Enjoy it
while I admire you.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Christmas baking time is in full swing around here.
And those of us that live in and around Pittsburgh make thumbprints our own special way. With icing! and Sprinkles!
So for my Cookie Swap Party this coming weekend, Christmas Pittsburgh Thumbprints it is!
If you’d like to give them a try and share something different with your family and friends, try a few new thumbprints – like last week’s Twix Chocolate Caramel Shortbread version and these tasty Pittsburgh favorites.
Cookie Ingredients:
Directions:
Icing:
Stir together all ingredients until smooth, then drop a spoonful into each cooled cookie.
Enjoy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Pittsburgh, PA – The City of Bridges – 12/5/15
Let’s build a bridge
that will float above the fog,
that connects confusion,
destroys division,
fastens friendship,
links love,
joins jurisdiction,
unites understanding.
Let’s build a bridge
of peace.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
McConnells Mill State Park, Lawrence County, PA – 101715
Rocky trails,
a rushing creek,
earthy smells of Autumn pines.
A churning mill,
a covered bridge,
sunshine, clouds, a slushy sleet surprise.
Laughter and love,
reminiscing and remembering,
moments to cherish always.
An Autumn weekend afternoon
wandering with
one of the besties of bestie friends.
Nothing is ordinary
nature is EXTRAordinary
when we cherish life in between.
McConnells Mills State Park, Lawrence County, PA 101715
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 