Backyard Sunrise, Mars, PA – December, 2017
At Sunrise Each Day.
Your luminous rays
wake me from slumber.
Disturbing my dreams
and coaxing my eyes open.
But how can I deny
the bright, shining gift you bring.
Renewal and promise
at sunrise each day.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
December Joy!
December just might be
my favorite month
of the entire year.
December is
anticipation
and hospitality.
December is
glowing lights
and homespun ornaments.
December is
warm, crackling fires
and glowing candles.
December is
fleece blankets and hoodies
and flannel sheets and shirts.
December is
hope and dreams
and sweet and indulgent.
December is
traditions and family
and magic and memories.
December is
carols and hymns
and elves and angels.
December is
my favorite month.
December is JOY!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Cranberry Jalapeno Holiday Dip.
When I was asked to bring an appetizer to my new Daughter-in-Law, Liz’s family Thanksgiving, I knew I had to make this after being told by my BFF, Jill that everyone was “jonesing it” when she made it for a party.
First I had to laugh at our 50+ year old selves using urban slang, then I had to make it and see if it was so!
Well – Yep! It was a hit! One sister asked if the recipe was on the blog, because she wanted it (here it is Laura!), and another said she normally doesn’t like salsas, but she really liked it.
It is sweet, and it is spicy. It is crunchy, and it is creamy. All of this in a bite!
Thumbs up from all, except for hubby, who said it was… meh… He preferred the other appetizer I made – Pumpkin Pecan Baked Brie – which was pretty amazing too!
But will you make this and let me know and prove him wrong? <wink>
So secret revealed here. I did not take pictures of the batch I made for Thanksgiving, so I made it again this past week just to get pictures <whistles and rolls eyes… not owning up to the fact that I ate a quarter of it for lunch one day…..>
And guess what else I did with it this week? I made a leftover cold turkey sandwich and slathered some of this on the Smart Bun first. YUM! Who knew it would make a great turkey sandwich spread too??!!
This will be a hit at any holiday gathering, and it is so easy and pretty! Here is the recipe as I slightly tweaked from a recipe I found through Pinterest:
Ingredients:1 12oz. bag fresh cranberries
Directions:
Chop cranberries (I used the Pampered Chef Food Chopper, and it worked wonderfully, but you can also chop by hand. Do not put in a food processor as they will become too mushy), and place in a medium bowl. Add chopped green onions, jalapenos, cilantro, lemon juice, salt, and sugar, and stir gently, but well.
Cover, and let refrigerate overnight.
When ready to serve, strain or squeeze liquid from cranberry relish.
Spread cream cheese in bottom of a pie plate or serving dish. Top with cranberry relish mixture.
Serve with crackers, tortilla chips, pita chips, celery sticks, or your favorite “dipper.”
Enjoy, and let me know if you and your friends are jonesing it too!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Dear Music,
Thank you for lifting my spirits.
Thank you for reminding me of sweet memories.
Thank you for speaking to me when all other words fail.
Thank you for making me dance – even if only in my heart.
Thank you for making me sing – even if off key.
Thank you for taking me places I might never go.
Thank you for expressing the inexpressible.
Thank you for your healing power.
Thank you for letting me hear the voices of angels.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Getting Ready for Christmas in Mars.
Where else can you find a 40 foot Christmas tree
ready for lights and balls and tinsel and a star…
next to a spaceship and across from Mars Bank
in town square?
There’s no place like home
in Mars, PA…
where celebrating Christmas
is “out of this world!”
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
For the beauty of the earth… For the Glory of the Skies
A Hymn of Grateful Praise.
For the beauty of the earth…
For the glory of the skies.For the beauty of each hour…
Of the day and of the night.For the joy of human love…
A hymn of grateful praise.
Sometimes there are just no better words
than those of classic hymns.
On this Thanksgiving Day,
I am grateful for all of this and more.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Ceilng Light, Omni William Penn, Pittsburgh, PA
When I look into your eyes,
I see your heart…
and that is where
the beauty is.
It’s deep in your soul.
It’s past the superficial.
When I look into your eyes
nothing else matters.
I wonder what you see
when you look into mine.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
First Snow – 11/19/17 – Mars, PA
First Snow.
There’s just something
about the first snow of the season…
That first snow that sticks to the ground and trees –
even if just a briefly passing dusting.
Especially when it happens on
a late Sunday afternoon.
And when it appears suddenly –
as if it wanted to be a special surprise.
And when you are settling in by a warm, crackling fire
in comfy home sweet home.
Cherish the Moments.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Sunset, Mars, PA – Autumn 2017
Every Sunset.
May every sunrise
fill you with hope.
And every sunset
bring you peace.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Goldfinch in the Rain – Autumn, Mars, PA
Let the Rain Fall.
I watched you as you sat proud and beautiful
while the rain fell on and around you.
You didn’t need
the sun to make you shine.
In fact,
you stood out even brighter in the cloudy drizzle.
And I was reminded
true beauty comes from within.
It can’t be soaked or drenched
or washed off.
It can’t be dampened or doused
by the storms of life.
Let the rain fall.
Let the storms crash.
And continue to shine
your authentic beautiful self.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 