Just Browsing - November 9, 2016

 

This evening is a perfectly quiet evening to enjoy a few moments of image browsing on Google. 

The thought that came to mind was "THANKFULNESS"

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Yes, I can certainly see the truth in that....

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It really comes down to this ~

.....even if that means some days I work harder at it than others. 

I am healthy. 

I am alive.

Everything else is just icing on the cake!

~ ♥ ~

So It DOES Matter To Them

....To my children, that is! As any parent will tell you, there are many, many moments when we speak to our children, and we're sure they haven't cared a fig about what we've just said! 

As a matter of fact, when Becca and Charlie were younger, there were days when I was so frustrated for all the talking I had done, only to hear them burst out in uproarious laughter over something I had apparently said or done that was funny to them. Some of those moments they still talk about today, and of course, now I can laugh at them, too! 

The other evening, I actually had an "ah-ha" moment during a family discussion around the dinner table. And boy, you could have blown me over with a feather, I was that surprised at what I had heard coming out of the mouths of my two!! I thought, "Wow, they actually have been paying attention!!"

Apparently, while at a friend's house, Charlie had been asked a question by their mom that was simple enough to answer, but he knew that being truthful might have brought about some offense. So he relayed to us that in those brief seconds following, he hesitated and was contemplating just how he should answer. Then he gave pause, and we were all waiting to hear the outcome, when his sister laughingly piped up, "So you wondered, what would Mom do in this situation?!" To which Charlie immediately replied, "Yeah, and I was thinking to myself, Mom would NOT want me to say that!" laughing along with Becca. Whoa! Did I really just hear what I heard??! These are the golden moments in life; when you realize that something you've taught your children really did sink into their heads!! 

 I was so proud to know, now that they are older, there are more times when "Mom's wisdom" echoes in their minds as they are making decisions from day to day. 

And, as any parent would, I like that! It makes my Mom heart happy! ☺

A Mother's Love

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Memories In The Making

When my husband was young, he remembers pressing his nose against the metal screen of his bedroom window on many a sunny summer morning or warm summer night. The smell of the air, mixed with the scent of that metal screen, to this day, is a memory that is etched in his mind. 

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Likewise, I remember the sound of the creaking screen door of our summer cottage when I was a girl. It instilled such a fond memory in me, that when my father and I built our screen  house, I insisted on having a creaking screen door! Every time I went in or went out, I was greeted with the lovely sound that gave a happy lift to my heart.

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 For a time, my folks owned a cottage tucked in amongst several acres of pine trees. When Becca was still a toddler, we went there quite often. As she has grown, she has mentioned many times over the years of there being a certain smell in the air similar to that of the cottage in the pines. As young as she was, that memory will last her for as long as she lives. 

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The older I get, the more I realize that memories are not moments of time that we consciously determine to always remember. In fact, those things that I've vowed to always remember, have now become vague and elusive to me. There is nothing I can find that determines a surety for the making of a memory. Rather, memories are hidden in the everyday moments of life that, somehow, unexpectedly, in the picture of our mind, have become indelible. 

From Florida, With Love

Dean's work has taken him to the balmy, sunny (much warmer than here, even on it's coldest day) state of Florida lately. Knowing the fact that I'm a sunshine and warm weather loving girl at heart, he's enjoyed sharing pictures with me of the views he's seeing, even if they are just views that are out and about around his place of work. 

I love the surprise of receiving these pictures at any given moment, on any given day. It really helps to keep us connected, and often they turn our conversation to quite enjoyable discussions of our future hopes and dreams. But what I think I like best of all, is that every picture is always sent with the caption "I love you", and those 3 simple words remind me of all that is left unspoken, yet what I know lies between us, even though we are miles apart....

You know what, Babe? "I love you", too!

Happy 18th Birthday, Beautiful Girl!

Last week, we celebrated my daughter's birthday. The tiny, precious baby I once knew is now a lovely young woman. Where in the world did the years go? Some days I wish there was a replay button.... Some days memories of her childhood tumble around in my mind.... Some days I look at her and see a resemblance to that little girl she once was.

Lately, I have moments of pride as I reflect on the challenges she is taking on, the responsibility she is learning and the accomplishments she has achieved. I'm proud for her courage, inquisitiveness, happy exploration and growing maturity. I think it takes a certain amount of bravery to come to the realization that you are no longer a child. For the last year, her steps have slowly, gradually been leading her to the beginning of adulthood. The long awaited, so anticipated milestone that every young person longs for! I remember clearly that time in my own life. 

I look on with tears in my eyes, a lump in my throat and happiness in my heart for all that lies ahead of her.....I'm excited, I'm hopeful, and sometimes, yes, I am anxious for her. I want for her what every parent surely wants for their child - love, happiness, safety, blessings, security, prosperity and a deep seated sense of well-being. I want what I know sometimes life does not always give. But I do know that every step of the way, no matter where she may be, no matter what the journey of life holds for her, I will be there.....I will always be there for her because that's just the way it is for this one mother's love. 

HAPPY, HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY MY MOST SPECIAL GIRL!!!

A popular saying comes to mind, and this, my darling girl, is what I wish for you ~

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields and....

may God hold you {always} in the palm of His hand.

A Family Tradition

From the time I was young, making homemade sausage has been a tradition in my family. Some time ago, I inherited the meat grinder used by my paternal Italian grandparents for years. I was so thrilled to have this part of our family history handed down to me! In light of that fact, I thought it would be nice to start off the New Year with a day of doing this memorable tradition with my family. 

This is a bowl of gorgeous pork butt roast cut into chunks.

Next, it was seasoned with the spices our family likes in our sausage. A simple homemade sausage recipe is easy to find on the internet so you can get an idea of the typical spices generally used.

This is what the chucks of meat look like once they have gone through the grinder.

Now my father, my husband, Dean, and I run the meat through the grinder (notice it's a hand crank one!) a second time, this time into the casing that will hold it in the sausage shape.

The tray is getting full of our delicious homemade sausage!

My father cut the very long sausage link into smaller links just like you see them packaged in the store.

My mother, my daughter, Becca, and Dean are in charge of packaging the individual links into meal size portions. The sausage is then put into the freezer for safe keeping until we're ready to pull some out for a meal!

 I can tell you, there's just nothing like the taste of fresh, homemade sausage. We had a great time tasting the delicious results and making fun, family memories that will last a lifetime!

~ ♥ ~ 
What tradition is passed down in your family from generation to generation?

A Recent Outing

On the trail at a beautiful, local park

A sweet smelling, inviting meadow alongside our trail

This hallowed out tree is amazingly still standing!

Makes you wonder how long it took to get like this

Berries for the birds

A bench along the trail for resting, and perhaps, quiet reflection....

Dean checking out all that was around us

This picture is totally natural - no enhancements whatsoever! This was just the bright, gorgeous sun shining through the leaves above and it was spectacular!

A second hallowed out tree

Another trail walker taking a moment to sit and enjoy the beauty of nature

Deer right along the road, unafraid of humans, just eating apples that fell from the tree!

A painted turtle that was trying to cross the road. My stepdaughter put it back into the safety of the woods.

This fawn was about 150 yards away with its mother along our trail. My stepdaughter took this picture with her amazing camera!

We had a great family excursion on this day that we headed out together. What peace and enjoyment I get out of being with my family, drinking in the beauty of nature all around us, hearing the cicadas high in the trees and listening to the chirping of birds here, there and everywhere!