Outdoor Pots 50% off – Soergels, Wexford, PA
Upside down…
Why?…
when “outdoor pots”
are half off
in the middle of winter…
do I admire
and not buy?
Yet four months later…
I must have,
but that darn sale
is over!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Upside Down
Photography
Warmth
Warmth…
A crackling fire glowing in the fireplace,
A steaming bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup.
The eyes of your child when they know you are sad,
The hand of a friend whose always by your side.
The fur of your four-legged best friend whose always by your side,
A soft, chenille blanket from a special lady who goes by the name of Mom (II),
An unexpected text with a photo of your grandchild,
A handwritten letter in the mail from a favorite aunt.
The first sip of coffee on a cold winter morning,
A glass of red wine after a long day at work.
Favorite fuzzy slippers you accidentally wear out of the house,
A well-worn hoodie with threadbare elbows.
Memories from a special song,
A tight hug that lasts longer than a pat on the back.
The ringing of the phone at the same time every morning,
and the sound of a Dad whistling while he patiently waits.
An air kiss blown while rolling over in the middle of the night,
An “I love you” on the way out the door,
A smile that greets you when you enter the office,
The privilege of introducing your future daughter-in-law.
The distinct squeak of the door opening at the end of the day,
The comforting sound of a snore you’ve loved for 35 years.
Cheers & Warm Hugs,
Jodi
Don’t Blink
Broccoli Slaw with Vinaigrette Dressing
Broccoli Slaw with Vinaigrette Dressing.
YUM! Another wonderful way to enjoy one of my favorite vegetables!
Hubby said we are going to turn into broccoli this week! We’ve had broccoli sprouts, steamed broccoli and broccoli slaw over the past few days. I think I could eat it every day.
This recipe is so easy – especially if you buy the pre-packaged broccoli slaw mix Green Giant makes.
Have you tried it yet? What do you like to mix into your slaw?
Here’s how I made it:
Broccoli Slaw with Vinaigrette Dressing
Ingredients:
- 1 12-oz bag Broccoli Slaw Mix or 6 cups shredded broccoli stems, shredded carrots, and shredded red cabbage
- Dressing
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup cider vinegar
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp seasoned salt
- 1/2 tsp dill weed
- 1/2 tsp celery seed
- Optional Add-ins
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- Sunflower seeds
- Soy nuts
- Craisins (dried cranberries) or golden raisins
- Broccoli sprouts
Directions:
Whisk dressing ingredients in a small bowl.
Empty broccoli slaw mix into large bowl. Drizzle dressing over top and mix thoroughly to combine. Add any optional add-ins you like. Refrigerate at least one hour before serving to allow flavors to meld.
Enjoy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Black and White
snowy front yard in FULL COLOR
“The world is black, the world is white
It turns by day and then by night”*
Nature
inspiring
Nurture.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
* Three Dog Night, 1972 – first recorded by Peter Seeger, 1956
Crockpot Honey Balsamic Pork Roast
Crockpot Honey Balsamic Pork Roast.
Oh my dear programmable crockpot – how do I love thee?
Let me count the ways….
All kidding aside, I do love cooking in the crockpot, and I love this new one I got that is programmable and then keeps dinner warm once its done cooking. They have come such a long way since the first one I got oh so many years ago as a newlywed. I use it at least once a week – especially in the colder weather months.
This past Sunday was a bit of a cold, lazy day, so this Honey Balsamic Pork Roast was just the ticket for dinner. That hubby of mine is going to make a pork lover out of me yet!
A tender white meat pork loin with a full flavored simple sauce that turns into a rich, easy gravy warmed up and filled our tummies – especially with a dollop of mashed potatoes and healthy serving of steamed broccoli.
Just look at that yumminess! I am beginning to think pork is the “other white meat” Hubby keeps trying to convince chicken-lover me into believing.
Here is the simple, yet hearty and flavorful recipe I slightly adapted from SixSisterStuff. Hope you’ll give it a try.
Crockpot Honey Balsamic Pork Roast
Ingredients:
- 2-3 lb. pork loin roast
- salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 cup beef broth (I made using 1 cup water and 1 beef bouillon cube)
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar (I realized I was out, so used Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing – I am the queen of improvising!)
- 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
- 1 large sweet onion, sliced (optional)
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup flour
Directions:
Place pork roast in crockpot and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Drizzle honey over top of roast. Add rest of ingredients except for the last two (butter and flour). Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-6 hours.
When ready to serve, remove roast to cutting board to rest. In a small saucepan, melt butter, then whisk in flour to create a roux. When thickened, pour juice from crockpot into roux, and stir to incorporate and thicken into gravy. Slice roast and serve with gravy.
Enjoy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
These Little Piggies
These Little Piggies
When I kiss them
and rub them
and tuck them in
her little jammies,
I think about
the first wobbly steps they will take and then the walks that will follow holding mommy’s or daddy’s hands and later with a beloved friend or pet or me.
I think about
the times she will stand tall and proud on them for important things she believes in.
I think about
the times when she will vehemently “put her foot down” about something important to her.
I think about
her skipping on a hopscotch game chalked on the pavement or into the house with her heart fluttering from her first kiss.
I think about
her jumping rope in the playground or jumping off a diving board or from a plane.
I think about
her dipping them in and splashing at the edge of a pond or kicking them in the vast ocean.
I think about
her marching in a band like her mommy and daddy or in an important protest that could change the world.
I think about
her putting them gingerly on top of her Daddy’s trusting, sturdy feet learning to dance.
I think about her slipping them gracefully into delicate ivory wedding shoes to dance with the love of her life.
But for now,
I just kiss them
and rub them
and tuck them in her little jammies.
And I am thankful
for these little piggies.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Freedom
Freedom
Remember when
freedom was
being able to pump your legs
on your own
instead of being pushed
so that you could swing so high
you felt you could kick the sky?
You felt the wind
in your face
and butterflies
in your stomach
and you felt
like you were flying.
It was freedom.
And then you would choose
just the right moment
when you would leap
and let go
and truly fly
if only for a moment.
It was freedom.
My hope…
my prayer…
my wish…
my longing…
my yearning…
to the world
and to the universe
is that everyone…
no matter your
gender,
race,
religion,
sexual orientation,
or ethnicity
is afforded the right
and the privilege
to recall that feeling
and to achieve
the reality
of that freedom
we all deserve.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Foggy
Foggy
When life gets foggy,
and my thoughts are foggy,
and my eyes are foggy early in the morning,
I step outside
and look to nature
and listen to how she handles it.
And I hear the owls hoot
and the turkeys gobble
and the birds tweet,
and everything
seems much more
clear.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Look Closely
Look closely.
Look deeply.
Is it pretty?
Is it beautiful?
Does that matter?
Do you care?
When you look closely,
and when you look deeply,
Do you feel something?
Does it stir your soul?
Feel it,
Embrace it.
Look closely.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 