Two scoops please!!

Two Scoops please!

I don’t think there has ever been a time in my life where I walked in an ice-cream store and ordered just one scoop. There are many flavors to choose from which makes it almost impossible for me to decide. I love Cliffs ice-cream in Ledgewood. It has been there for as long as I can remember and always has the best ice cream and flavors. When I was pregnant with my second daughter I frequented them often as I just couldn’t get enough at the time, it was one of the better pregnancy cravings I had! Ordering ice-cream can sometimes be a painful experience for those with me cause it takes me forever….I guess if I liked chocolate and vanilla then it would be easy, but I am deeper than that, I’m just not a vanilla type of gal......and definitely no frogs!

Pairs seem to be the thing. You wouldn’t go buy one sock you would buy a pair, you wouldn’t get one lens in eye glasses you would get a pair…….pair of gloves pair of jeans, pair of shoes, partridge in a pear tree, (oops wrong pair!)  Noah had the right idea…”get a pair of everything on this ark!” More pairs….shampoo and conditioner, peanut butter and jelly, better yet…….peanut butter and chocolate. Then there is of course bread and butter, salt and pepper, wine and wine…….another blunder, I meant wine and cheese! Remember the doublemint gum commercials? “Double your pleasure double your fun” Its all about doubles!!

Considering the pairing, double thingy it wasn’t odd for me when going to bring home my new puppy that my gut feeling that day was “I need to bring home a pair!” I actually sprung this gut feeling on my poor unsuspecting husband an hour before we were leaving the house. My ever so patient husband listened as I carefully and delicately broached the subject and agreed if we could work something out with the breeder that we could consider another puppy. I had picked the name Fergus for my little boy puppy that I had already selected a few weeks prior and it took no time at all with this “gut” feeling I had that his sibling, knowing that she had a couple of female puppies available her name would be Fiona. It felt comfortable, it felt natural, it felt right and I just knew that it had happen.

I always listen to that inner voice inside of me that tells me something is right or something is terribly wrong. Most times I am glad that I listen to that intuition or gut feeling and because I do things seem to work out the way that they are suppose to be.

Thus, I have a pair of puppies! Fergus and Fiona joined our home on February 18^th. I am so happy that I did what my heart led me to do.  They keep each other happy, secure and content. They have slept through the night since their homecoming and they are training easily and happily.

Having two puppies is a lot of work. I would have never even entertained the thought if I had a 9 to 5 job, but I am fortunate to devote most of my day with the raising,loving and training my precious babies. It is most definitely like having twins, (minus the diaper changes) but everything is in double. Double leash walking,double feeding,double trouble,double fun,double entertaining,double kisses, but mostly double the love!

Like anything new it is an adjustment. When they wake at 6:30 in the morning with the whining and crying I keep saying to myself "you wanted this", well you must know that I am NOT a morning person. After the initial walking and feeding,massive puppy kisses and wagging tails I soon find myself  not regretting a moment of bringing these two loves to their forever home.

With each day as they grow so does my heart. I look forward to a full and active life with these sweet hearts.......  two scoops of love sprinkled with a huge dose of cuteness, yes that is my kind of double scoop!

As my husband said to me before we got married, "we are better together than we are apart" and those couldn't be any truer words said.  For so many reasons I am a very lucky girl.

"Tis Better To Have Loved And Lost..."

Tennyson wrote: "Tis better to have loved and lost / Than never to have loved at all." I am sure that we have perhaps paraphrased this at least maybe once in our lifetime if not more. What does this really mean? I am certain that I have used this phrase as if it was common knowledge like the phrase "If you really love someone set them free, if it's meant to be they will come back" Its almost as if these phrases/quotes have been instilled in us and they contain some mysterious code that we should know how to unlock, as if speaking it we are suddenly going to feel some sense of relief or calm or deep understanding as to why we this has happened in our lives....nice theory but so inadequate. I am not disputing the quotes nor dislike them but I honestly think that it goes so much deeper than trying to explain away hurt,loss,sorrow,grief or internal emotion with such a common phrase as if it were to be acceptable to say just that.

I have loved with passion,determination and courage and yes there are people/animals in my life that are no longer there, either by circumstances of relationship or sadly by death. I however do not look at this as a loss. If I have loved then it was always my heart that led to it first,my head fighting with the logical/ practical factor and ultimately my choice to allow that love in, nurture it and abandon all my vulnerabilities in order to allow it to grow.  

When expecting each one of my children and long before I even laid eyes upon my babies I can tell you that love was there long before they even were born to me. I honestly can tell you that I loved my children fully and completely long before they were even a thought or an idea a possibility and a person! So I question if that is simply human nature or do we really have a choice in the matters of the heart? I believe that love/loving/receiving love is a gift that we are all given and ultimately is our choice to accept. In addition to our hearts we have been given a brain.....we have the ability to think,prioritize, analyze ,scrutinize and examine all of which in reality  our hearts automatically know what to do. I feel that quite often as a result we do not listen, we miss opportunity and mostly we miss out on love.

I have had loss in my life, I have had much love in my life, I have opened myself freely to it and have also lived with the scars of hurt,betrayal,rejection,grief and pain. Should I regret my decisions? Should I question my heart? Should I disregard that sadness I have felt and perhaps the heartache, sadness and pain I may feel in the future to preach to my heart to never allow love in again? I will never allow that to happen to me, through all of that and what I have been through has made me who I have become.........love,happiness,joy,sorrow,regret,guilt,hope,remorse,jubilation......words, just words and still they are indescribable to what the heart really can and does feel. A dictionary full of adjectives and words to describe what we think,how we should feel,but it is always there deep inside if you listen.

So the question? "Tis Better To Have Loved And Lost..." no it is better to have loved, to keep loving, to allow to be loved and to give your heart permission to bestow and be bestowed upon one of the greatest gifts that we have been given......love. For I feel when that is no longer a priority and we close our intellectual minds to the possibility of what comes from the heart, then humanity is lost. For I feel that it is better to have loved and be loved and give love all that you can for as long as you are able...................love is never lost it and can be found if only you keep your hearts open. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grandma-I see them bloom

Grandpa-I see the lights

Nana-in every smile

Alain-always a butterfly

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Delilah, my little girl.....I miss you so much and my heart has been aching for you. I know that you could no longer be with us and that will always make me sad but I am so grateful that you freely loved me as I have loved you. I haven't closed my heart because of your untimely passing but opened it up to the possibility of offering love to another. You gave me so much and taught me more and I will always be thankful that we had each other to love. RIP Angel

                                                           

To Everything there is a season

Oreo

For many of us who have pets we eventually must face the agonizing day when we are forced to say goodbye. In the many years of being a pet lover and owner I have been in that situation more than once with the heart break and sadness that this brings.

Recently my 15 year old Shih Tzu had to make her journey to her days of final rest.

My pets are my fur babies, and I take the responsibility of their care and well being as a priority. My pets have always offered to me unconditional love and understanding as well as the moments of laughter, joy and happiness. I have often joked that I have a stronger connection with animals then I do with most people. Animals don't judge or criticize and are faithful companions when they are being treated with love, respect and kindness.  When there seems to be no one that will listen or lend a shoulder I can count on my pets to be there even if I soak their fur with my tears. They have never abandoned  me and their energy alone gives me strength in some of my weakest and  emotional moments.

I rescued Oreo from a pet store nearly 15 years ago.  I don't believe in Pet stores and always feel badly for the animals who have to endure living in those cages,sometimes for a very long while waiting for someone to take them to their forever home. My children were very young at the time and we wandered into the pet store where we saw this adorable ball of white and black fluff! I knew the moment I held her that she belonged to our family. Previous to Oreo my only experience was with large breed dogs.  I had a tri color collie growing up as a child and then went on in my adult years rescuing a yellow lab named "Dixie" and a black lab named "Sketch". I had always thought how wonderful it would be to have a small lap dog to tuck under the sheets at night and curl up with while reading a good book or just be able to pick up and cuddle with. We brought Oreo home on a dark stormy November evening and she settled into her new environment and family. The interesting thing about animals as with people is that they have uniquely their own personalities and attitudes.  Oreo as it turns out was not a cuddly, affectionate dog.  She didn't want to be picked up or kissed and smothered with affection but enjoyed being stroked and talked too and she did like to cuddle up at the end of our bed each and every night.  She was playful at times and enjoyed to kick her heels up and romp around the yard but never was really interested in toys.  We lovingly called her our "SAP" Shih Tzu American Princess!!  She was a small dog not more than 15 pounds but she certainly had a big dog mentality.  There were times that her larger sisters and brother dogs were intimidated by her and kept a healthy distance she was the leader of the pack! 

Last March my six year old Golden Retriever, Buster tragically died.  He developed a fast growing cancer and could not be cured.  We made the agonizing decision to let him go with dignity and not suffer as he would while the cancer kept growing. His death was and still is difficult to accept as his life was tragically cut short.  With Oreo I have the same sadness and grief however unlike Buster she lived a long and healthy life with us for fifteen years. 

I will and have already missed her and somehow the dynamics in the house have taken a shift,but she left me with wonderful and loving memories and there is a permanently  stamped paw print on my heart with her name that will be there forever.

I picked up her ashes today, it was difficult, but now I know that she is home with us where she belongs.

Thank you Oreo for the love.....until the day we meet at the bridge, rest in peace my little girl.

Bring out your inner child

The chalk picture above is art work by my grand daughter, Paetynn.

She is four years old and if you ask me she is brilliant! I have 3 grand children in all and each one has a unique talent and personality!

Becoming a Nana has been by far my most treasured life moment,and I have been blessed three times over!

It is true what they say about becoming a grand parent........it brings out a love in your heart that you never imagined possible. I believe it is partly due to the fact that you don't have to do the raising parts, just the fun parts!! I can babysit, or have them for a sleep over,spoil them beyond imagination but they eventually need to go back with Mom and Dad.

In having grand children it has brought back a lot of the things that I used to do as a child and did with my own children. 

Clover is great fun in the summer! I remember many a summer when I was a child playing with my friends making clover necklaces.  We would have a competition to see who could make the longest one,which meant of course it would take forever to find and pick the clover! When I was a kid we were outside whenever the weather would allow. We didn't have computers or hand held games, or dvd's to watch,we had our friends. In fact I have very fond memories of my friends and all the things we did to occupy our time.

I forgot how much fun it was to go to a park and go down a slide!  As you can see my grandson, Landon loves it too!!

I also remember asking my Mom for bread so that I could feed the birds and at times if we went to a lake or pond and had the opportunity to feed the duck or geese. 

When I lived in Nebraska and was in kindergarten I had a friend whose name I never forgot, Michelle and she actually had two pet ducks! She had a male and female and I only remember that the female duck's name was Violet. I always made sure to bring a snack for them whenever I rang her doorbell to come outside and play!

There are so many endless things to do without having to open up your purse!

Hopscotch, jump rope,hula hoops (do they even make those anymore? LOL)

Bicycles, blowing bubbles,collecting butterflies,lightening bugs........one of my favorites was laying on my back in the yard with a friend and pointing out the different shapes and pictures that the clouds made! 

In becoming a proud Nana it takes me back to some warm and wonderful childhood memories of my own. I love when the grand kids are with me and I can play with them.  I may not run as fast as I used too especially when playing hide and seek, but it reminds me that there is still a child within myself and I really need to let her out to play more often!

What is your fondest memory of play when you were a child?

When was the last time you let your inner child out to play?

Nana and Delaney happy at the park!

Summer

Trees swaying wistfully to a summers gentle breeze-

butterflies swoop gracefully winged flight dipping with ease.

Crickets chirp hidden in grass they do lay-

singing a tune they welcome the day.

Birds gather twigs building nests for their young-

boasting words of their species melodic instrument theirs sung.

Grass green and lush barefoot children at play-

eager to repeat it come the next day.

Trees stand in splendor leaves sprouting from each branch-

natures gift of the season a rightful passage not chance.

Flowers in blossom displaying hues of vibrant color-

each petal unique appearing like no other.

As the dawn turns to dusk,as the day turns to night-

fireflies like the stars waltz the dark with their light.

Hush is the children laughter tucked dreamed as they sleep-

continue memories of summer for each one to keep.

Skabootch

August 9,2009

Cucumber Water

In the summer I like to mix up a pitcher of water and sliced cucumbers. It is easy and refreshing,obviously calorie free (always a plus!) and an alternative to having a plain glass of water.

I let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours to allow the flavor of the cucumber to thoroughly mix through the water.

Keep it cool!!



Satisfy that Sweet Tooth!

Every now and again I gotta satisfy that sweet tooth! At my age when you look at sugar it seems to automatically plant itself in places that have already succumbed to gravity!

So not fair! Although I am weight conscience and limit myself with the intake of "empty calories" the baker in me needs to get down and dirty with flour! Being a Nana I feel it is almost my duty to provide my little munchkins with some good, homemade delicious treats!

Usually when I buy bananas they don't last long as it is a quick and easy food to grab on the way out the door, (they are also a 0 point food on weight watchers) but occasionally they ripen all too quickly so I use that opportunity to make bread.

There is nothing like the scent of a baking banana bread to fill the senses. Face it there are so many substitutes for that aromatic  scent....candles and airfreshners, but c,mon it doesn't really come close to the real thing!

I use a recipe that uses sour cream and my bread is always moist and delicious. I also dust my loaf pans with butter and cinnamon sugar and it gives the baked bread a sweet,crispy outer layer.....yummy!

So indulge your senses and your pallet and make a couple of loaves. My recipe makes 2 very large loaves or 4 smaller and it freezes well.

Banana Sour Cream Bread

1/4 cup white sugar

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

3/4 cup butter

3 cups white sugar

3 eggs

6 very ripe bananas, mashed

1 16 oz. container sour cream

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 tsps. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

3 tsp. baking soda

41/2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees

Grease four 7x3 inch loaf pans (I use 2 very large loaf pans, sorry not sure of the size!)

In a small bowl stir together 1/4 white sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon,dust pans lightly with cinnamon and sugar mixture, set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter and 3 cups sugar, mix in eggs, mashed bananas sour cream, vanilla and cinnamon.

Mix in salt,baking soda and flour. Stir in walnuts.

Divide into prepared pans.

Bake for one hour until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

If you are using two large loaf pans it will almost take an hour and a half to cook, check after one hour and set additional 15 minute intervals until toothpick comes out clean.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I!

Happy baking!

(Whew so glad I am done typing as I gotta get a fresh cup of coffee and a large slice of banana bread!!)

What's For Dinner?

Since I can remember from the time I was just a little girl the first question I asked my Mother was "What's for dinner?" My Mom is a great cook and I was brought up having delicious and balanced meals every night for dinner. I feel that I am the cook I am today because of the way she cooked for us.  My Mother did not cook the same things each week and there was no set schedule.....Monday is meatloaf, Tuesday is pasta, Wednesday is hamburgers and so on, you get the idea! She enjoyed cooking and was always willing to experiment and try different recipes and dishes. In raising my own children I wanted to cook the same way. I always prepared a balanced meal and made certain I introduced a new food every week especially in their most youngest years.
It is a family joke that when I was very,very young and our family would go out to dinner I would be the one always ordering a hot dog when my other siblings were trying new and exciting foods. I loved hot dogs then and now I might eat one twice a year! Looking back I was missing so many wonderful food opportunities. Naturally as we grow we develop different and more mature tastes and I soon discovered that if I don't at least try it once I will never know. I have since tried weird and wonderful dishes and if you told me 30 years ago that I would eat a snail I would have told you how crazy that thought was...alas today I love escargot!!
In all my cooking years I have yet attempted to make stuffed peppers.  It's not that I don't like them it was just never something I thought to make. In the grocery store yesterday in the produce section I saw some beautiful, huge green peppers and that's when the light bulb went off in my head.... I will make stuffed peppers for dinner!! Not knowing really how they were made, I just logically thought of the ingredients I would need. It didn't seem that complicated and thought I would basically wing it.  It seemed also that I had most of the ingredients home.
I started with 2 lbs of lean ground beef
Brown rice
2 large yellow onions, chopped
Worchestire sauce
Italian seasoning
Garlic powder
2 large jars of medium salsa
Mozzarella cheese
10 green peppers (yes I cook for a family of 7 even though many have flown the nest, but it is a habit of many years feeding many mouths...besides it makes for great leftovers!)
I browned the beef and onion, drained the fat, added my rice and seasonings to taste, added the salsa to desired consistency and mozzarella cheese.
After cutting the tops off of the peppers and scraping out seeds and rinsing I then filled with my mixture. I put them in a deep baking pan and poured tomato sauce over the tops of the mixture and peppers.  I placed them in a preheated 350 degree oven and baked them for about an hour basting them with the tomato sauce as they cooked.
The result was phenomenal!! It was a hit....yay!! The salsa gave it a kick and the peppers were perfectly cooked...neither mushy or too crisp....ahhh just right!
I am so happy that my first attempt without a recipe was such a success.  After so many years of cooking I suppose that the thought of ingredients and dishes and how you prepare them come a bit naturally......but it is nice to have a finished product that is delicious and edible!! 

Healthy and Hearty Meals

Healthy and Filling Summer Dinner Option

Tilapea fillets brushed lightly with olive oil and sprinkled with lemon broiled in oven

Rice and freshly steamed brussell sprouts.

For the healthy conscience of those on a restricted diet this dish is refreshingly light,delicious to the pallet and low in calorie.

For any Weight Watcher members this is an 8.5 point meal.

Brussell sprouts are a free food and require 0 point value. Having a serving of 3- 3 oz tilapea fillet's are 2 points per each fillet  and a 1/2 cup of white rice is 2.5 points. 

Eating fish can provide an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals that benefit your general health, The American Heart Association recommends at least two servings of fish per week to help prevent heart disease, lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

For those reasons I am incorporating more fish and less red meat in our diet.

Ocean

Ocean breeze caresses my being-sand smooth beneath me

 yellow grains pumice kneading.

Smell of refreshment my nostrils inhale-sun's ray on my body bronzing the lightness of pale.

Salt spray flushes over skin dampened and glisten-roaring water methodically it's rhythm I listen.

Tidal waves consistent lapping of motion-only God our creator provides us music from the ocean.

Ann Marie

Skabootch

8/06/09

These are a few of my favorite things

Living, Loving, Life in Jersey

I am an Air Force brat and proud of it!

My father served all his life until his retirement in the 70's.

As a child we moved around several times and lived in many states. I am one of four children and all of us were born in different states, I was born in Texas. I get a good laugh when I mention my birth state to others and they say they detect a southern accent. The ironic part to that is that I was 3 months old when we moved on to another state! 

 My memories begin when we lived in Nebraska. We moved to NJ when I was in 7th grade and have been here ever since.

I love New Jersey! As a state we are safe from natural disasters. We don't have tornadoes,hurricanes,mud slides,earthquakes or volcanoes and mother nature is generally fairly kind to us. Like most people I do my fair share of complaining about the weather but I do enjoy and take advantage of what each season has to offer.

 Where I am located we are 70 miles from NYC making it great to take in a Broadway play,museums,shopping and experiencing the night life and endless dining experiences. We are 20 minutes from the border of Pennsylvania,and 2 hours away from the Jersey shore. Our location allows endless opportunities for day trips and excursions and there is always something to do.

Yesterday as we took our canoe trip on the Delaware we were discussing just how much we loved living in New Jersey for all that it offers to us. As we had a lazy, relaxing,scenic day I had a great sense of gratitude for the state in which I live in.

So if you visit New Jersey and land at Newark airport don't be fooled.......rent a car and go exploring and you will be amazed and marveled of this beautifully scenic state.

Keeping it Cool!

Its a scorcher out there today with temperatures reaching 100 degrees +
Keep it cool and hydrated, plenty of water for people and pets.
I keep reminding myself that I would take this heat any day over shoveling ice and snow, but if I could bury myself in a snow cone today I would do it! I will settle for water, air conditioning and an easy paced day all the while looking forward to a frosty Corona later this afternoon...hmmm possibly a Corona in a blender with ice??