Flox in the Morning Sunshine on my Walk – Mars (Pittsburgh), PA – May, 2019
I went far,
and I came home.
And I realize
I am experiencing
the same sun
and the same earth,
the same sky
and the same air.
And the world
feels more like home.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
The Simple Scent.
You stop me
in my tracks,
and I realize the sight of you
is only a small part of your beauty.
I close my eyes,
and I inhale slowly… deeply.
I let your scent
completely fill me.
It is full of hope
and new beginnings.
It is fresh
and brimming with life.
Happy memories
fill my soul.
Appreciation of the present
warms my heart.
All from the simple scent…
the sweet sniff
of the Lilac.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
#mbpreset
Bleeding Heart.
Every Spring
you show up
and you remind me
of Grandma’s love.
You remind me of her presence
and influence on my life.
Thank you
Bleeding Heart!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Many years ago, my Grandma gave me this bleeding heart plant. I have transplanted and moved it. It will always be where I am. Grandma will always be a part of me. There is likely not a day that passes where something doesn’t remind me of her or make me think of her, but this plant is an extra special reminder. It makes my heart soar and swell each Spring when it blooms. Just like her love for me did and still does. With Mother’s Day approaching, I remember Grandma with love and the deepest admiration. May I be even half the Grandma to my grandchildren that you were to me. ❤
PS – I will be taking a blogging break for a week or so. See you when I return.
After the Rain.
After the rain,
we walked at the park.
The grass was greener,
the air was fresh and clean.
The sun warmed,
and the blossoming trees popped
almost as if they were
smiling with the joy they knew I felt.
My heart swelled a wee bit more
like it so often does
in moments spent
with my grandie girls.
Mommy told Grandie Girl 1
about the time she spent playing ball on this field,
and asked her if she thought she
would want to do the same some day.
The sweet, high-pitched voice
in the miniature, but too-fast growing body,
responded so excitedly
and affirmatively
like she most always does,
wanting to be just like mommy.
And I smile at both of them with their muddy shoes
from the stop we made along the walk to float dandelions in the creek.
I steal a glance at Grandie Girl 2,
who is grinning and squealing with delight
as if to affirm her agreement
and wanting to be just like her big sister.
These are the moments…
the sweet precious moments.
After the rain.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Black Bean & Corn Salsa.
One of my favorite new healthy snacks is black bean and corn salsa.
It makes a wonderful “scoop” with tortilla chips.
It is also great all by itself as a salad or piled on top of a grilled chicken breast or fish.
It is light, healthy, crunchy, tangy, low-calorie, high-fiber, and absolutely DELISH too!
Here is how I make it, but you can surely tweak to your liking. It would be great with a bit of fresh cilantro, which I didn’t have on hand when I made this batch on Sunday. You could also switch it up with any other kind of bean you like or other veggies like cherry tomatoes or cucumbers.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Combine all vegetables in a bowl. Stir to combine. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle with Balsamic vinegar to taste.
Serve as a salsa for tortilla chips, as a salad, or as a topping for grilled chicken or fish.
Store well in airtight refrigerator container for several days.
*TIP: When we buy fresh corn on the cob in the summer, we always buy a full dozen, though we never eat all of that for the two of us. We cut the leftover off the cob, throw it in a Ziploc freezer bag, and toss it in the freezer for the winter months or times when fresh corn is not available. It is so much better than canned corn.
Enjoy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Right before dawn from my back window. Mars, PA March, 2019
Right Before Dawn.
The trees stretch their branches
and wiggle their trunks
and spread their roots
right before dawn
as if to say,
“Wake up!
It’s a wonderful new day!”
I sip my coffee
and stretch my arms
and wiggle my toes
and gaze outside
wondering how I earned
this undeserved privilege
to be right here right now.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Spring has Sprung!
Today is the first full day of Spring, and oh how ready I am to welcome it!
It may still be a little brown and chilly outside, but I put the snowies away and brought out the flowers and bunnies and birds.
I got this sweet tray and floral and bunny from my friend Anne’s Farmhouse Primitives shop at Berry Vine Gifts.
The amazing candle is from Antique Candle Co. in the most luscious fragrance of Country Pear by Cotton Stem. It is one of the most wonderful smelling candles I have ever had!
These little bunnies are from a recent trip to Hobby Lobby.
And I love this Springy green wreath I also found in Anne’s shop at Berry Vine Gifts. It replaced the cotton stem wreath I had here for Winter.
And what do you think of this fun little stack of books I made? I’ve been seeing them on Instagram on a few feeds I follow, and it turns out I had everything needed to make them myself. In fact, I might be making more to sell at Berry Vine Gifts and through our McKinneyX2Designs Etsy shop. So many possibilities of quotes and personalized messages can be made. For my first try, I did my favorite life message, “Cherish the Moments.”
Welcome Spring!
Breathe in the fresh air.
Soak in the warmth of sunshine.
Bloom and blossom like the flowers.
Whistle a happy tune with a spring in your step.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Abundance.
Abundance to some
is about wealth and possessions.
A truly abundant life
is about love and joy and peace and contentment.
It is about knowing
We are enough.
We have enough.
We do enough.
It is about cherishing the moments
that ultimately add up to an abundant life.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Bold Pink and Peach Spring Tulip 11×14 Original Watercolor
Painting Spring.
It is March,
and the temperatures
are still
below freezing
where I live.
But we are
“Springing” ahead
this weekend
to daylight savings time.
Longer days,
warmer temperatures,
birds singing,
flowers blooming….
But for now,
all I can do is
paint
Spring.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Young Fern in Spring, Mars, PA – May 2018
Unfurl.
Spread out your arms
and show your true beauty.
Open up your heart
and show your true love.
Unwind your mind
and show your creativity.
Unpack your burdens
and feel the lightness of hope.
Uncover your inhibitations
and welcome the unknown.
Reach beyond the tightness
and ease into peace.
Unfurl.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 