What makes you stand out
amidst those that all
seem exactly the same?
You stand tall
You stand proud
You proudly proclaim
You are beautiful
Life is beautiful
You are more than just one in the crowd.
This is your life
Make the most of it.
Don’t be just one in the crowd.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Rainy Spring Sunday Rhododendron Blossom – 5/22/16
Rainy days
cancelled plans
messy beds
messier hair
muddy paws
dampened feathers
thunder cracking
steaming coffee
comfy jammies
old movies
new books
paint splashing
afternoon naps
nourishing the plants
feeding the streams
brightening the green
slowing us down
refueling our engines
washing the world clean
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Are you looking at me?
What……Don’t you like to roll on your back and chew on sticks in the warm, soft Spring grass?
I LOVE Spring!
I forgot how wonderful it is to hang out in the yard with the birds and squirrels and rabbits and chipmunks and deer. There is so much going on, I can hardly believe how much time I spent sleeping through winter!
There are so many sticks to chew, so many things to smell and taste and chase.
And there is so much room to ZOOOOOM! I sometimes just start running – in circles or straight lines – whatever suits my fancy – but I love to RUN…. as fast as I can… and make my ears flap and my eyes squint from the sheer force of the wind!
Running, rolling, smelling, tasting, chewing, zooming…. it’s all in a day’s work – hanging out. A dog’s life. My life. There’s nothing like a dog’s life in Spring.
Jealous? Sorry! But don’t be…..take some time to hang out outside yourself… even for a little bit. I bet you’ll want to thank me. (doggie wink)
Woofs & Wags,
Charlie
PS My “assistant” is on vacation, so if I don’t respond right away – just know I’m hanging out until she returns.
The Old Dogwood Tree, Mars, PA
You are a late bloomer,
and I worry every year
if you will make it through
and blossom and bloom.
Such a welcome site
on brittle branches,
your fragile flowers
make their appearance again.
Welcome Spring
from the Old Dogwood Tree.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Is anything better
than a walk to the park
on a sunny Saturday Spring afternoon?
Little brother and big sister
sharing the joy.
The fountain is finally on,
the tire swing is out.
—-
Every day may not be good,
but there is something good
in every day.
Look for the good –
and Cherish the Moments!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Spring in Mars
is a little confused.
The beautiful Japonica
that yesterday looked like
it was playing the harmonica
now thinks it is time
to celebrate Hanukkah
with Veronica
and drink a gin and tonica!
Just a little silliness
to cherish the moments
that nature throws our way
each and every day.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
PS – How many words can you think of that rhyme with Japonica ?
Japonica – Mars, PA
It’s a perfect day
for a perfect day.
What do you say?
Happy Saturday!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Sittin’ on the dock of the bay
watching the……
geese and birds and fishermen and rowers,
cars and bikers and joggers and walkers.
Soaking up the early Spring sunshine after a fun little field trip day with hubby on Saturday.
We stopped by the Three Rivers Rowing Association Youth Boathouse in Pittsburgh.
As I snapped photos, I was drawn to this beat up ole’ beauty that sat alone
amidst all the sleek and shiny new sweep and sculling boats.
It’s beauty caught my eye the most.
Kind of like people.
Youth is sleek and shiny and new and beautiful,
but the real beauty that more often catches my attention
is the kind that emanates from the wrinkles on the face of the older woman
who has spent decades loving and smiling and laughing
with her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
or the rough and calloused, knotty, sun-spotted hands of an old man
who worked hard all his life to support his family.
Hands with map-like veins protruding as if telling a story of the places he’d gone and the things he’d done.
Hands that hurt, yet gently stroke his wife’s cheek, guide his children’s path, and cradle his grandchildren.
Yep – sittin’ on the dock of the….. river….
wasting time?
Maybe not.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Photo submission for the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Half-Light: Share a photo inspired by a poem, verse, song lyric or story. Also in loving memory of “Poops” Pap McKinney, who we remember lovingly today on his birthday.
Forsythia…
for bursting buds,
for warm sunshine,
for bright blue skies,
for puffy clouds,
for greener grass,
for gentle breeze,
for birds singing,
for longer days,
for Easter’s near.
First signs of Spring.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Yesterday was the first day of Spring…
and it snowed here in Mars!
So I decided to make something bright and sunny and lemony…
to dunk in my steaming cup of coffee by the warmth of a fire.
I’ve never made biscotti before, so decided it would be fun to try. I love poppy seed, and it is so wonderful with lemon.
I found and slightly adapted a recipe from Lynn at FreshAprilFlowers, and I really enjoyed it.
This would make a wonderful Easter or hostess gift for coffee and tea lovers.
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Place sugar in a medium bowl and add the lemon zest. Using your fingers, rub the zest into the sugar until all of the zest has been incorporated and most of the sugar is pale yellow. Whisk in the butter, oil, egg, vanilla extract, and 2 teaspoons of the lemon juice.
In a large bowl, toss together flour, baking powder, salt, and poppy seeds. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, and mix until combined.
Turn dough out onto baking sheet and pat dough into a rectangle about ½” thick ( approximately 6″ x 7 ½”. The dough will be a bit dry and crumbly, but can be pressed together.
Brush egg wash on top and on sides of the dough. Bake for 20 minutes or until the top and sides are lightly browned. Remove from the oven, but do not turn off the heat.
Place baking sheet on a wire rack and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Once the dough is cool enough to touch, cut into 1″ thick slices using a sharp knife. Cut these 1″ slices in half, making a horizontal slice down the center. Set slices cut sides up on the baking sheet. Return to the oven to bake for 6 minutes. Remove from oven, turn biscotti over, and bake the other side for 6 more minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 3 minutes on the baking sheet (cookies will become crunchy as they cool). Transfer biscotti to a wire rack to cool completely.
Store biscotti in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks or in freezer for up to 3 months.
Enjoy dunking this delicious treat in a cup of your favorite coffee, tea, or hot cocoa!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 