My Favorite Morning Smoothie

So, I'm a whole foods fan and not-so-much a smoothie fan, but sometimes for a change of pace I love this concoction I put together this summer.

6-8 ozs. plain. lo-fat, organic yogurt
handful of blueberries
4 or 5 strawberries
1 tblspn of flax seed freshly ground
1 tsp of cinnamon ( I use Penzy's Vietnamese)
1/4 cup of walnut pieces or halves
a couple of handfuls of greens (baby spinach, kale, any "super foods")
6-8 ice cubes (this makes it better tasting than without)

I blend the first 5 ingredients, then add the walnuts and blend, then the greens and blend (may need to use a spatula to push them down), then add the ice cubes and use the "chop" selection on my blender. The color is purple because of the berries, not yucky green:)

If you like your smoothies a little sweeter tasting here's some alternatives:
Flavored yogurt (but still use a low fat one)
A good local honey or stevia

Enjoy!!!!

The berries are not in the photo because I used them all up!

First Thoughts of the Day- Oct. 20, 2011

I will myself to push the covers off and sit up and pull myself up out of my warm bed. I instantly note how my body warmth stayed in the cocoon I am leaving and my present body temperature is dropping quickly.

It’s still dark out and it’s after six in the morning.

I squint as I come into the kitchen in the lights Fred already has on and smell the coffee he’s just made and accept the freshly poured mug from him full of the rich aromatic warmth swirled with cream.

Pulling my warm sweater more tightly around me, I step outside onto the side deck and the chill air instantly does its job of awakening my senses.

I thought it was still going to be cloudy this morning and I am stunned by what I gaze upon as I lift my eyes skyward!

It’s still plenty dark enough to see a strong scattering of stars and the crescent moon nestled in among them all trying to stay ahead of the imminent sunrise.

The breezes are cold in the forty-degree air, but also clean and crisp and refreshing.

I love that I can see Mars trailing behind the moon just to its east. Way to the west Jupiter is like a beacon or distant lighthouse in the ocean of the retreating night sky. All around them are unnamed stars and multiple constellations, more and more appearing as my eyes adjust.

I am thankful that you got me out of bed this early Lord!

Thank you for waking me and saying, “Look what I’ve left up in the sky for you to rest your eyes and soul upon before the start of another day.”

Ummm Summer's Over?!?!?!

Well, how time flies! I have been so inconstant in this blog that I doubt there's anyone out there even checking in anymore...
I know I don't hardly go to other blogs, but I love it when I know there are folks following mine. So there you have it!
I am going to make a list of Creative (and some not so creative) acts of kindness that either I have done for others or been the recipient of. I started a Pinerest Board with this, but this may be a  better venue...we'll see. Any way, I would love others to share ideas as well so we can inspire one another and encourage and be encouraged as we are challenged to do in God's word.

1. Pay someone's parking meter if it is about to expire or has expired.
2. Smile at the grumpy-looking person
    a. On the street
    b. In the elevator
    c. Who's your checker at the store
    d. The drive-thru attendant
    e. Who's just cut you off or worse in traffic (this takes resolve)
    f. With your voice ( you know what a "voice smile " is) to the telemarketer on the phone
3. Ask a friend or acquaintance how they're REALLY doing when you sense their answer of "Alright" is      not accurate.
4. Pay for the person's order behind you at Starbuck's or wherever...It's such a blessing either doing it or receiving it!!
5. Offer to help that person reaching for an item out of their reach or trying to stoop to reach or pick up something when it's obviously hard for them.
6. Help the mom with the screaming baby/kids get her cart to her car at the grocery store...instead of wishing that baby would settle down or thinking "Why don't they quiet that poor baby down".
7. Bring a spontaneous gift of flowers, an inspiring book, food item, or whatever fits to a new mom, stressed mom, someone who's grieving, or "just because"...better than sunshine and Vitamin D!!!
8. Note the date that a friend lost a relative and on the anniversary of their loved one's death remember to email, call, or send a card that you are thinking of them and their loved one. Also remember to check in on how they are doing when birthdays and holidays arrive, especially the first year!
9. Let the other car go ahead even if you have the right of way at a four way stop. Then be ready to wave and smile in your mirror at the impatient driver honking behind you:)
10. When you feel out of sorts or sad or tired...treat yourself to a walk, sit down and drink a tall glass of ice water, or hot tea, or if time's limited, close your eyes and stretch your arms and legs and breathe deep...you need to remember to show small kindnesses to yourself throughout your days as well.

If anyone else has ideas or wants to share a story about this I for one would love it!!! 

Happy Autumn!!!

Summer...

I'm here, I just got back from almost two weeks away with the family and friends.
First 10 days with fam in the Grand Lake area of Colorado at about 9000-10000 feet. WONDERFUL!!!!
Then a couple of days in Denver with Jessi.
Then a couple of days with the Macs in KC.
Anyway, I will post more about our vacation once I have sorted through some of the photos!!  I even have some great shots of the young buck that charged Fred and I on our leisurely 6 mile hike from where we were staying on Shadow Mountain Lake to the village of Grand Lake! And we were concerned about bears, moose, and pumas!! Silly us!
I will also post a long overdue blog of our time last fall up in the mountains with Jessi and Kurt that he asked me about on THIS family vacation.
My bad.
Stay tuned....

Big Happenings This Summer

!. Jessi Graduated from her one year nursing school program and passed her boards and has a job starting soon at the hospital she wanted in the unit she wanted!!!!!

2. I am determined to learn how to "Be still and know that (He) is God.

3. I've been to Des Moines (a first) with my friend, Marti, and we rode some of the amazing bike trails there AND ate at some wonderful restaurants! (I am also determined to not worry so much about what I eat and how I look...don't ask me how I'm doing.)

4. Fred went to the Cornerstone Festival in Illinois SOLO this year. He came home one day early due to sleepless nights in the heat and because of his left side being sore. (Uh...yeah, the first day he went biking after being released by his physical therapist for his back, he hit a patch of mud on a turn and wiped out again! Very sore side and ribs, but he's still able to bike and do stuff.)

5. This was my first year during his time away as a solo act, no out of town friends coming to stay over, and I wasn't too shabby, I must say.

6. Took an evening of salsa dance lessons. The owner of the studio said I was doing the samba, that I had too much hip movement...uh, DUH, how does one dance withOUT that?!?!

(Yes that IS a stuffed moose above me, ask Sonya about it...the point is look at my cute, fun top I went dancing in!)

7. Erin interviewed and obtained a position at an Aveda Salon close to their home! Now if they will only let her offer a deep discount to her family members, I can go 10 minutes away to have my color enhanced instead of 30-45 minutes!

8. We started hiring out our lawncutting when Fred's back was out and I think we will continue, at least for this summer. It IS really nice to just have it done and not be all sweaty and try to figure out when to get it all done ourselves!
THEREFORE,  we have more time to go to Cardinal games. For the FIRST time ever we sat in the bleacher seats at a Cards/Cubs game with the Macs. It was a gazillion degrees, but FUN!!!

9. Our sweet friends, the Clowers, moved back to the Chattanooga, TN area and we are a bit lost here in St Louis without them:(

10. We are planning an extended family vacation with all three of our children, their spouses (also our children:), and the grandkids to...COLORADO to see Jess and Kurt and hang out in the mountains in a big house together and according to Sonya...

"We're going to ride horses!" Boy will  we be sore if that's all we do!

She's a Nurse!!!!

Jessi graduated from Regis School of Nursing May 8th and we could not be prouder! She completed the accelerated BSN program thanks to her hard work, resolve, and an amazing husband!
WE were blessed to get to go out to Denver and witness her pinning, graduation, and celebrate with her, Kurt, Kurt's mom, and her classmates and their families. It was an amazing, joy-filled time!
If anyone has the ability to be holistic in their approach to caring for the medical needs of others, it would be our J!

Yeah that's Our Girrrlll!!
(Please note the boots.)
And this one are three of her close buds in the program, what an amazing group of women!

More Photos to follow, just wanted to get this posted as it's been a month!!!!!!

Thanksgiving List June 1, 2011

This week I am listing the foods of summer that I am thankful for:

1. Anything grilled or better yet barbecued.

2. Fresh Fruit especially when the peaches and strawberries come in locally!

3. Vine Ripened tomatoes grown OUTDOORS!!!

4. Ballpark food. Mmmmmm! Kosher dogs with "the works".

5. Caprice salad with the vine ripened tomatoes.

6. Snow Cones (what happened to Hogabooms?)

7. Occasional iced cold beer when outside with friends or "fun beach-type" drinks once in a while.

8. Corn on the cob (Locally grown sweet corn or the bi-color corn)

9. Pretzels at the Webster pool and a diet coke :)

10. Ice Cream...Sernedipity or Drewes!
What's some of you faves for summer "cuisine"?

Happy Birthday Sonya Catherine!!!!

Today marks the 4th anniversary of the arrival of our first grandchild! Yes Sonya is 4! We have been so grateful to God for her in all of our lives and her sweet fun personality and curiosity that never ends! She is a delight as a granddaughter, daughter, sister and I am sure as a friend! There's no "boxing her in". She loves Star Wars , the Disney Princesses, The Wizard of Oz, trains of any kind, and a host of other activities and entertainment that is as broad as her imagination. She is creative and her motor skills and language skills are at that point where they are growing in giant leaps. 
Below are some pics from a couple of recent times we enjoyed with her. The Butterfly House was on St. Pat's, "Trader Joe's" Playground and nacho Mama's lunch was a play date that TR was supposed to come on too, but he got sick, and one or two from last week when she and I dyed Easter Eggs. So fun!!

On our way to the Butterfly House on St. Pat's (Oh, we stopped on the way for the traditional Irish lunch of HOT DOGS!!! )

This girl loves her Poppi!

This is what we went for...The Giant Blue Morpho Butterflies. Sonya's favorite color is blue!

Having someone who loves your jokes is so special! I'm talking about Poppi's jokes. 

Such a delight!

 Note the green tongue. Sonya and I had green water for St. Pat's day back at our house:)

A Kiss for the Poppi. She does these spontaneous eruptions of affection to us and we love it. A Sonya quote at one of these times, "You're cute Poppi."

At the playground we dubbed "Trader Joe's Playground, because of it's proximity to the Brentwood Trader Joe's.

"I get by with a little help from my friends."  

One of her favorite things are the "monkey bars".

Slides and Swings are next in line...

Such a gift from God!

 Favorite Game of her's and Teddy's "Chase or be Chased!"

Favorite places to eat are Woofie's (Hot Dogs) or NACHO MAMA'S

Back at our house it was flower-picking time. The girl loves flowers!

Do you even want to know what this is?

Sonya's favorite "Oh My Goodness " concoction!

On the way up to her door, she tripped and skinned her knee. Here she is safe in Mama's arms with a fresh fun bandaid on!

So, last week So and I created many combinations of colors and I have to say, she was so easy to do this little project with. We finished with a quick plastic Easter Egg hunt outside with Poppi several times over.

New grownup haircut complements of Aunt Erin!

Happiest of Birthdays sweet girl!