Lesson from a Cardinal.
You stand out so bright and beautiful and bold.
Do you realize the joy you bring to the cold?
You teach us life lessons without even trying.
May we be bright lights without even trying.
Help us to see
how easy it can be.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Smack in the Middle of Winter
The sunrise was beautiful
that mid-February day
when Charlie and I went
on an early morning walk.
And the sun just shone brighter,
and the sky turned bluer,
and the air grew warmer,
until it reached a sunny 68 degrees!
A record was set that caused
the robins to sing and the breeze to gently whisper.
It encouraged the daffodils to pop out of the ground,
and the earth smelled like Spring.
Charlie snoozed on the porch,
and we opened the window
while we painted and pounded
wearing light t-shirts.
It was a beautiful Spring day…
smack in the middle of winter.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Creamy Cauliflower Soup.
Does anything warm you up more wonderfully on cold winter days than a steamy, creamy bowl of soup?
I made this yummy creamy, cheesy cauliflower soup one day this past week, and we absolutely loved it.
When hubby, who typically prefers to eat lunch out during the work week, asked for a serving to take for lunch the next day, I knew I had a real winner on hand!
It is chock full of delicious vegetables simmered in broth and then creamed by adding an easy cheesy roux and blending a bit. You could completely cream it if you like, but I like to cream about half and leave plenty of hearty chunks of the cauliflower, celery, carrots and sweet red peppers.
Fresh thyme really adds a fabulous fragrance and taste, and hot sauce is a great way to kick it up just a bit!
Imagine serving this with some crusty french or chewy ciabatta bread to dunk in it or alongside a sandwich or salad.
Hope you’ll give it a try, and hope you enjoy it as much as we did!
Ingredients:
Directions:
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
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
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
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
loose-wintry-watercolor-landscape-11.5-x-16.5-140lb-arches-cold-press
“The sun did not shine.
It was too wet to play.
So we sat in the house
All that cold, cold, wet day.”― Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat
For those of you dealing with this cold, cold weather, stay warm and dry.
Wishing you a Dr. Seuss kind of day.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Goldfinch – Winter – Mars, PA 01-06-17
When you love what you have,
you have everything you need.
(Oh to be so pretty AND so smart!! 😉)
(author unknown)
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Front Yard, Mars, PA December, 2016
December snow
is the brightest snow.
It makes the sky bluer
and tree trunks browner.
December snow cleanses the earth
and also the soul.
It evokes memories
and fills us with anticipation.
December snow…
I love your Christmas spirit.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
“Those of us
who are warm and dry
and safe and well-fed
must show up for those
who are cold and wet
and endangered and hungry.
That’s a rule of life.
Every ethical and religious and spiritual
tradition in the world
agrees on that rule.”
-Elizabeth Gilbert
thecompassioncollective.org
The true spirit of the season is not in simply buying gifts,
but in giving and doing what we can for those in need.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
#RealMeaningofChristmas
the creative life in between 