Sunset Walk with Charlie, Mars, PA 11/21/2016
The bright blessed day,
the dark sacred night.
And I think to myself…
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
And I think to myself…
Photography
Simple yet Complex
North Park Lake, Wexford, PA – November 18, 2016
Life can be so simple
yet so complex.
Much like nature.
And either way…
it is a beautiful thing!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
The Clock Ticks
sunset on cranberry twp, pa 11-14-16
The sun sets
The moon rises
The earth turns.
The heart beats
The eyes see
The ears hear.
The clock ticks
The calendar flips
Time flies.
The hands touch
The nose smells
The mouth tastes.
The wind blows
The trees sway
The birds sing.
The soul feels
The brain thinks
The human being loves.
Experience every second
Appreciate every minute
Cherish every moment.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Super Moon over Mars (PA)
Super Moon over Mars (PA) November 13, 2016
Oh the mysteries of the moon and earth
You never realize how quickly our earth is actually rotating
until you try to pause long enough to capture a photo of the moon.
From afar, I always see a face…
the “man on the moon” I called it as a child.
As I look at this photo I took late Sunday evening,
it almost appears as if the moon is a large mirror
reflecting back the earth it sees.
The beauty of nature
It makes you feel small and insignificant
and large and important
all at once.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Endings and Beginnings
The wind has picked up a determined strength.
And the cheerful orange leaves are all but lost.
The hours of daylight have grown shorter in length.
The morning’s dew has turned into frost.
Autumn’s time is growing near her blissful end,
And winter is waiting for her turn to shine.
Snowflakes and icicles will soon impend.
and warm crackling fires under woolen fleece blankets will be so divine.
One season’s sad retreat
makes room for the next’s joyful beginning.
Goodbye Autumn – it’s so bittersweet
as we prepare to welcome winter’s first inning.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
The Color of Bliss
If I had to choose
a color
to describe
Bliss,
I believe it would be
the color of maple leaves
in the Autumn sunshine
dancing in the breeze.
They delight my senses
with their bright
and joyful display.
Until Spring…
when the color of Bliss
is again the color
of the maple leaves
even though that color has changed.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Focusing on peace.
Open your Eyes and look with your Heart
When I look at this photo
I snapped along my walk the other day,
I realize how grateful I am
to have such a place of beauty
so close by
to be able to walk by
every day I can.
There is so much beauty…
so much to be grateful for…
if only we open our eyes
and look with our hearts.
Do you see the possibilities?
Do you wonder about the mystery
that is just a few steps further
along the path
and around the bend?
Open your eyes
and look with your heart.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Spring or Fall? A Seasonal Paradox
Red Autumn Leaf on Rusty Spring – Mars, PA
Spring or Fall?
The things you find on an Autumn walk
that resonate with your thoughts….
Like the old rusty box spring
that has been sitting for years
against a pile of well seasoned cut and split firewood
on a path I pass frequently on my walk.
It sits there as if its purpose
is purely to create artistic beauty
A paradox…
a contradiction.
Just like a crazy 74 degree November day
in the little town of Mars, PA.
Is it “Spring” or is it Fall?
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Roasted Butternut Squash & Spinach Lasagna
Roasted Butternut Squash….
Fresh Baby Spinach…
Spicy Pepperoni…
Cheese, Cheese, and just a little more Cheese….
O. M. G!
This might seriously be the most delicious thing I have ever made…
Roasted Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagna.
(Either that or I was just totally craving butternut squash…. which I was… but still…)
When I saw one of my blogging buddies, Jenna at The Painted Apron, share this recipe a few days ago, I could not resist making it that same evening!
I may have added a bit more cheese (because… well…. just because…) and Jodi’d it up a teensy bit, but Jenna totally gets the credit for sharing this amazingness!!!
This is one of those recipes where you kinda moan in delight after each bite. (Well – at least I did!) Hubby absolutely loved it too. A LOT!
And when I shared some with my son, Nick – he called it “ridiculous!”
I think this might just be my absolute favorite lasagna recipe ever, and I can’t wait to make it again and share for company or a potluck or party.
Okay – I think I’ve told you enough how much I loved this. Now – please – go make it – and tell me it isn’t so!
Roasted Butternut Squash & Spinach Lasagna
Ingredients:
- 6 Barilla Oven Ready Lasagna Pasta Sheets
- 1 Butternut Squash, cubed
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt & Pepper
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup chopped pepperoni slices
- 2-3 cups fresh baby spinach
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 6 oz (4 thick slices) fresh Mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
Parmesan Cream Sauce
- 3/4 cup half and half
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 2 Tbsp flour
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
Directions:
Place cubed butternut squash on a baking stone/sheet and sprinkle with salt, pepper, ginger, and minced garlic. Roast at 425 degrees F for 20 mins.
Place chopped pepperoni slices on a paper towel or napkin lined plate and microwave on high for 20 seconds to render the fat.
Prepare sauce by combining butter, milk and wine (or water) in a small sauce pan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil. Briskly whisk in flour until incorporated and thickened. Stir in 1 cup Parmigiano Reggiano.
Spread about 1/4 sauce on the bottom of 9×9 square baking dish. Place two lasagna sheets side by side on top of sauce. Layer half of the roasted butternut squash on top, followed by half of the fresh spinach, half of ricotta, a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and half of the pepperoni. Top with another 1/4 of sauce and repeat layers.
Top with remaining 2 sheets of lasagna and spread with remaining sauce. Add sliced mozarella cheese and a few reserved pieces of pepperoni. Finally top with 1/4 cup Parmigiano Reggiano.
Bake in 350 degree F oven uncovered for 30 minutes, or until hot and browned and bubbly. Let set for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Above the Clouds
One day last week
I got to fly
in a small plane
that took me
8,000 feet in the air
above the clouds.
Though it is beautiful
to see the world below,
it is magical to float in
the cottony wonderland
and imagine the mystery
in the masterpiece above.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 