New Adventure

Finally the day is here. Joy's plane has landed and I'm waiting for her in the Atlanta airport. Then an overnight flight to Madrid. I love to travel and am ready for another grand adventure.

Hello Again

It has been quite a few years since I have written a post. In fact I thought I had quit blogging. But I have a new adventure coming up and I want to share it with family and friends. My Seattle friend, Joy, and I are going to walk across part of Spain to Santiago de Compostela. It is a pilgrimage people have been making for centuries. Supposedly the bones of James are enshrined in the cathedral. Everyone has different reasons for making this trek. I don't really care about old bones. Except mine. And I am hoping they will take me there.

 

Summer Fun

He just flung himself out, without fear, fully committed, with abandon. Papa was waiting at the other end, and he trusted. Love it!

Mourning a friend

"A ship sails and I stand watching til she fades on the horizon and someone at my side says,' She is gone.' Gone where? Gone from  my sight, that is all; she is just as large as when I saw her.
The diminished size and total loss of sight is in me, not in her, and just at the moment when someone at my side says, “She is gone’, there are others who are watching her coming, and other voices take up a glad shout, “There she comes!” And that is dying."

 
Dedicated to Bob and Shirley and the many great years they had together.

Recipe Review

I don't usually put recipes on here, even though I love to look at foodie sites on the web. But on the 4th of July I tried a new, so easy, so delicious recipe that I just have to share. 

Now, this looks like just a plate of fruit, right? But if you look closely you can see that there is another ingredient peeking out from underneath. One of my new favorite foods, quinoa. Technically it is a seed. It cooks quickly, like cous cous, and is delicious hot or cold, savory or sweet. It comes in a creamy white or this "red" variety that I used. And it is high in protein. Anyway, so simple. Cook your quinoa (don't be afraid). You can buy it in a box in just about any big grocery store. Follow package directions. Dress it with your favorite dressing. I used a sweetish one to go with the fruit. (And actually doubled it because I had used a big portion of quinoa).


Dressing
2T maple syrup
1 t balsamic vinegar
1T lime juice
salt to taste

(optional: sliced toasted almonds, fresh spinach, feta cheese, whatever you can think of...)

Put the quinoa on your serving platter, pour the dressing over it pile on the fruit, almonds, spinach, cheese, and serve to your admiring. What is prettier than a platter of fresh fruit?

Strength

One of my favorite quotes (well, paraphrased quotes) is ,"I am a woman of strength. I wish I'd known sooner". My daughter and her friend received this "pearl" from me today. Both going through a hard time, both not fully knowing their own strength. The strength to follow through with their convictions. The strength to know what their hearts and minds tell them is right for them. It is harder right now to be strong than to go with the flow and then live with the results. I certainly didn't know how strong I was when I started out. They are way ahead of me. Both of them have shown their strength today. And I'm proud of them!

I love this photo of my daughter. Her face shows confidence and strength. And of course there is a cute head in the sand :o)

Peace

Yesterday as I was in the middle of my birthday dinner (much noise and chaos) I closed my eyes and said, "Peace". It was what I really wanted. But then I realized that as the old saying goes "Sometimes God calms the storm, sometimes he lets it rage and calms the child." That is what he did for me yesterday. I need PEACE so I am grateful.

This photo of my grand-daughter and the swans speaks peace to me.

Birthdays

Tomorrow is my 63rd birthday. We complain about getting old but let me tell you there are some really good things about it. For one thing, it beats the alternative if you know what I mean. There are grandchildren, social security checks, being able to wear purple flip flops with a dress, surprising everyone when you can perform a physical feat, hair dye, and of course the joy of waking up in the morning and realizing you survived the night :o) So, let's celebrate our ages! STAY ACTIVE!

Trying Again

Hi Everyone
Do we get second chances? I know I'll need to start all over again to get anyone to want to look in on my blog. I got overwhelmed by my busy life. I still have a busy life but am trying to do a few things to slow it down and smell the roses along the way. 

Old Stones of Provence

It is Mosaic Monday once again. Boy, do the weeks go by quickly! Please join Mary at Her Little Red House to see more lovely mosaics.

Pathways

I guess you are getting tired of postings about France. I have a years worth of photos I could post but will stop soon. Around every corner of the hill villages of Provence there are paths to take and roads to follow. I will never stop being enchanted by the possibilities that are promised by these unknown roads not traveled. They can't possibly all be followed, but they are there and I guess that has to be enough...

Colors of the Earth

Roussillon is one of my favorite of the French cities I visited. The colors of the earth were amazing. Sometimes it felt almost as beautiful as southern Utah :o)

Mary at Little Red House is hosting Mosaic Monday once again. Check it out.

Joy

 "A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you've forgotten the words."

             

 This is Joy. She and I have been friends for a long time.  We like to travel together. We get up at the same time, we like to eat a lot and are always hungry at the same time, and it doesn't take either one of us very long to get ready in the morning. She is my travel companion of choice. She pushes me just a bit to get out of my comfort zone and makes me see things I might be to lazy to make the effort for. I really love her for that. And I just plain love her. She is a woman who knows the song in my heart. And she often sings it back to me.

Halloween Birthday Boy

Today is our sweet son's birthday. He doesn't like to have his picture taken but I do have a bunch of when he was young. He is a great person and a wonderful son. I just wanted to tell him happy 35th birthday :o) We love you, Mark!

Bee Still...

 While taking photos of these beautiful berries I spied this little guy. He just sat there without moving so much as a wing for the whole time. He never did move. I don't know if bees hibernate or if he was sick or just what his deal was but it gave me a chance to get up close and personal for a clear shot.

Maybe he was just a very trusting bee. But he sat still and sun shone upon him...

Home Again, Home Again

I'm home from France and needless to say had a wonderful trip. Who cares if the wind blows and the temperature drops. Not me. France is a lovely country with gracious, people. And you know what? They don't hate Americans. They may not like our foreign policy, but they have been nothing but wonderful to me. They want to learn about all kinds of people, just like we do. 

I learned something that I have been wondering about. I have tried to drink  wine for years now. And I just haven't liked it. I decided to get an expensive glass and see if my opinion was a result of the relatively cheap (I know, I know) wine I have usually chosen. Well I went to a really nice (expensive) restaurant while on my trip and ordered a $20.00 glass of wine. I really did. And guess what. I didn't like it either. So I guess I just don't have the taste buds for it. Give me a bottle of beer any time...

The End is Near

Only a few days left here in France and we'll be headed home. I am trying to take the advice of my dear friend, Lin, to breathe it all in...

Wish you were here

We have been having a lot of wind. They call it Le Mistral. It comes in from the northwest and it is said to drive men mad. Since buying two sweaters and a turtleneck or two I am fine with it. Alas, my biggest problem right now is that my pants seem to have shrunk in the suitcase. It has happened to me before... But we are seeing a lot of beautiful sights and eating well :) But then when do not eat well...

Surprise

Hello from France. This trip has been planned for a long time. I've been here a few times before and am really a Francophile, meaning I love it here! I'm at an internet cafe writing. The keyboard is different so it is slow going. Next time I'm going to figure out how to put a photo on :o) But for now I'll just say bon journee.

Mosaic Monday - Zen

I'm feeling the need for a bit of zen right now. I'm trying to get ready for a big trip. I'm on my way to France. Can't wait. But Daughter has been sick with the flu for a week, we've been trying to get Son's condo ready for a renter and then there is the day to day stuff that isn't getting done while I have the kids. Not to mention that I am spending large amounts of energy "willing" myself not to get sick too. Since I am the type of person who gets stressed when too much is going on at once I chose to make "zen" the theme of my mosaic this week. These photos make me feel peaceful. If only for a moment...

Head on over to Mary's Little Red House for more Monday Mosaics.