Saturday, August 31, 2019

Agreements

I use this as a handout at work every few weeks.  I always recommend the book " The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel.  It's a small but powerful book.  If you haven't read, I urge you to do so.  I hope tomorrow, the first day of September by the way brings you kindness.  I hope you share that kindness with others.


Friday, August 30, 2019

Purple Beauty

This is when I know fall is coming, when I see the beauty berries in all their purple splendor I have hope.  Purple is my favorite color, and their purple is the most beautiful shade .  This bush is behind the barn and it is huge.  We had dinner with friends tonight and I am just giddy with joy.  Nothing like great conversation to make you feel alive.  Enjoy your Saturday.  Be kind ya'll.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Thursday Thoughts

Tonight's menu was take-out.  Rick is a genius when it comes to picking up food on Thursday nights.
He knows by the time I make it home on Thursday evening, I am drained.  My day starts with almost two hours with the Pain Management group.  Next up is First Responders/Military and then the women's group.  I am emotionally and physically spent by the time I get home.

Tonight we had Chinese and a tv show.  I put leftovers in the fridge, he cleans up the kitchen and we are good.

For our friends on the Florida coast heed your weather folks and for our friends in the PanHandle and Alabama Coast don't let your guard down.  We all know hurricanes are fickle and can have multiple lives.  We will all be watching the weather stations with baited breath the next few days.  Even for us, we have been in the midst of the eye of a hurricane, flood waters and horrific winds.

Labor Day weekend starts tomorrow, enjoy your holiday and these last days of summer.  The days are getting shorter and this morning was downright cool.  But I know it could be 90 degrees tomorrow.

Be kind, spread joy, be safe.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Cherry Tomato Pasta

Continuing with recipes tonight.  Tonight's dinner was one of our summer favorites, fresh cherry tomato pasta.
1 pint of cherry tomatoes
half cup of chopped basil
half cup of sliced black olive
cup of mozzarella pearls
tablespoon of finely chopped onion
cooked pasta of your choice, 4-6 servings, tonight I used mini penne
make your favorite vinaigrette,  tonight I just mixed extra virgin olive oil with balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper
mix everything together and enjoy

Right now our cherry tomatoes and basil plants are prolific and I am using them as much as possible.
I promise I won't bore you with recipes every night, but I did want to mix things up a bit.

Last week of August, September awaits in the wings.  Enjoy your Thursday.  Show some kindness to all you meet.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Another Recipe

Since breakfast for many of us, can be an iffy meal I thought I might share another recipe with ya'll tonight.  We both love big southern breakfasts, but we know those are a treat not a daily meal.
Something that I enjoy in the mornings is a cup of plain yogurt with chopped walnuts and a small chopped apple with a drizzle of honey.  The yogurt and walnuts give you protein, the apple, fiber and a healthy fruit and of course as bee keepers, we love the nutritional value of honey straight from the hive.  If plan yogurt is not your taste, vanilla yogurt is tasty in this combination.

We all seem to live such hectic lives, but eating healthy is vital to our well being.  Food can taste good, be good for you and easy to prepare.  In the coming weeks I will try to share more of my recipes and tips for eating healthy.  This blog is called Transformation Information and transformation comes about in many different ways including our diets.

Rain and storms today.  Several trees near us were blown down, thankfully we didn't lose power.
Enjoy your Wednesday, I am going to see the acupuncturist tomorrow.
Spread joy, be kind.


Monday, August 26, 2019

Blueberry Smoothie



Almost every morning we have a blueberry smoothie.  Rick suggested that I post my recipe.

1 cup of blueberries
1 banana
1 small apple
1 small carrot
half cup of greek yogurt
half cup of coconut water
'cup of almond milk
t tablespoon of honey
small scoop of protein powder ( we use pea protein)
blend until smooth, if you like frothy and cold, throw in some ice cubes
makes 3 smoothies


Hope you enjoy.  If Jordan is with us, I might use frozen pineapple or mango instead of the apple.
About a half cup.  He loves the pineapple or mango version.

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Rain Drops

Rainy days.  I told Rick a few days ago, I could not remember the last rainy day we had.  I am talking rain all day, rainy day.  Looks as though we might get one tomorrow.  The rain started this afternoon, it's still raining and there's a rumor of rain all day tomorrow.  I think I may be getting my wish.

All the plants look healthy and happy with raindrops on them.  Now if we could just send rain to the Amazon and put out those fires.

I hope your Monday brings joy.  I hope your Monday brings kindness.  If you're driving on rain slick roads, be safe.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

"Off Day"

I rarely take an "off day."  But today, well this afternoon, I took an "off day."  I spent most of the afternoon reading.  At first I felt a bit guilty for not doing something,  after all there is always something to be done.  But after awhile, it felt right, to just sit and read.  I had longed for weeks for a rainy day.  The rains came in this afternoon and Taz and I took advantage of the sofa.

I hope your Saturday has been a day of value for you.  If you worked or played, spent time with family or friends, whatever the day has given you I hope it has been good.  Be kind tomorrow, to yourself, to friends and family, to strangers and to the earth.  We are all in this together.

Friday, August 23, 2019

Gravel Road Art

Glad to be back on line tonight.  We are getting rain and it has been glorious.  The woods around us have come back to life and it's exciting.  There are tiny teasers of the coming of a new season.  The beauty bushes are starting to show glimpses of their purple berries and here and there you see a bit of orange or yellow.  Our temps have dropped a bit, not much but just a few degrees makes a difference.

Be kind this weekend.   I read about a challenge that the singer Pink sent out to her fans...go a day without being critical of anything or anyone.  I'm trying.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Rain

It rained within a mile of our house this evening as I drove home.  I could smell its sweetness.
When I got home everything was still bone dry.  I made dinner and as we settled in to eat we heard thunder.  We held our breaths.  In a few minutes Rick looked at me and said "It's raining!"
We ran out on the screened porch and laughed with delight.  That was an hour ago, and it's still raining.

We are so grateful for this rain.  It will take several inches to get us out of the drought, but this is a start.

I hope your week is going good.  I hope that someone, somewhere has shown you kindness.  I hope that you have shown kindness to someone as well.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Grace

Sharing what I think is a most beautiful quote with all of you tonight.



"Grace is like a blanket of hope that covers you at night, when you think you don't have what it takes to get up in the morning."
-Caroline Wyss

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Myrtles


Around here, they are everywhere, in every yard, pinks, reds, lavender and white.  They are crepe myrtles and they range in size from small bushes to large trees.

Several years ago, many of the small towns planted them along streets and down medians.  In the heat of summer, they offer bursts of color when most flowers are starting to fade.

My mom had a lavender one in her yard.  When she passed, my oldest sister dug it up and planted it in her front yard.  It is a beauty now, a full grown tree.
Ours are the watermelon pinks and they are perfect for our tree covered yard.

I worked on card designs today.  I will paint them this week and then start submitting samples for orders.  I am excited. 

I hope your Monday brings joy and kindness. 

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Drought, Rain and Christmas Cards

Rick had gotten new glasses yesterday and he was so excited.  When we came home, he took out his contacts and put on his new glasses.  I heard, oh no.  I looked at him and he said look through these, do you see a round spot?  Yes, I dd.   Our eye doc and her team are awesome.  Rick called and this morning he took his glasses back to be redone.

While he made his early morning trip to Birmingham, I cleaned house, did laundry, watered all the plants outdoors, fed the dogs, the birds and had lunch ready when he got home.  We drove down to the local produce market this afternoon.  All the trees and plants look so sad and wilted.  With daily temps hitting 100 and no rain in weeks, our world is wilting.  All the fruit dropped off our trees and now many of the trees are dropping leaves.  Hoping and praying that rain comes soon.

I know this sounds a little strange, but tomorrow I will start designs for Christmas cards.  There are a couple of gift shops interested in selling them.  I will paint the samples and hope for big orders.

May your Sunday be peaceful, may you find joy and may you be kind to yourself and those around you.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Friday Update

There were no clouds in the sky today.  We drove into Birmingham around 10:00am and drove home around 1:00.  Not a cloud to be seen, nothing but blue skies.  That is a rarity here.

Have you seen the full moon this week?  It has been a beauty.  I would love to have seen the meteor showers, but the light of the moon has been so bright, the stars dimmed in comparison.
Last night I thought Rick had left lights on, but when I got up to check, it was moonlight filtering through the windows of the great room.

Jordan came over to check on the chickens this evening.  He does that every day.  He is taking this chicken farming as serious business and doing a great job.  He wants that 4H blue ribbon. This weekend is his swim party for the summer season.  It's the final gathering of the team until the fall season starts and medals are awarded, including those won at state competition.  I can't wait to see what he gets.

It was almost 100 degrees today, more of the same for the next several day and no rain to be seen.
This is similar to the weather we had last summer.  It seems our summers are getting hotter and drier.

I hope your Saturday brings you joy, rest and fun.  Spread some kindness while you are out and about.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Long Day

Neither Taz nor Calliou wanted their picture taken today.  I think they thought their pictures should be first.  They are so full of themselves.

Long day at work.  Thank goodness Rick picked up dinner.  I think someone suctioned the energy right out me today.

Hot tea and bed are calling.  Be kind tomorrow.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Hook

Now our dogs want their time on my blog.  Well, I think they probably do.  Hook is our quirky dog.  He is deaf, so communicating with him can be tricky.  He's big, at almost 100 pounds and he is a Pitt mix which makes some people nervous.   He is just a big old teddy bear, he loves kids and loves to roll around in the grass.  We knew if we didn't take him in, he would be put down.  He has a been an awesome addition to our crew.  I can't imagine life without Hook.

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Lady Daycare

Jordan and Samantha's dog, Lady appears at our front door every morning as we drink our coffee.
She comes to our house for "doggie daycare" while her folks are at school and work.

Our dogs love her.  She plays with Calliou and Hook and they always have an adventure or two.
Taz thinks she is the leader of the pack and follows her everywhere.  Even on the weekends Lady wants to visit each day.  We have decided we are actually co-parenting.

Lady never likes to get her picture made, but this  morning she posed for me.  I love this shot of her by the fireplace.  Lady was a throw-away dog.  Sam and Jordan found her as a puppy with two siblings in a ditch on the side of the road.  Lady's eyes always look so wise and kind.  We all love Lady.

Monday, August 12, 2019

Heat

Almost a full moon tonight.   On the way home, to my right was the moon rise and to my left the sunset was burning across the horizon.  It was a surreal experience.  And the blazing heat just added to the ride.

Walking across the parking lot at work today, the smell of baking asphalt and the heat of the sun beating down was about as unpleasant as it sounds.   Never been a summer girl, never will be.

May kindness spread like this heat wave has.

Sunday, August 11, 2019

Another Beauty

It has been a productive weekend.  Another honey harvest, the chicken pen is finished, chores done,
and ready for the new week to begin.  The dog days of summer continue to rage, but that is typical August weather here in Alabama.

The butterflies are now competing for photo shoots.  This afternoon this beauty kept hanging around as if to say, yoo hoo, look at me, take my picture please.  I swear he waited for me to get my phone and then when I said something about a better angle...there it was.

Another week, let's continue with kindness and living by the Golden Rule.

Saturday, August 10, 2019

Red Barn

The old farm house on our farm is beautiful, but so is the barn.  I have always loved red barns.
The entrance to the door is moss covered.  On one side of the barn is an ancient cotton wood whose purple blooms smell like nothing you have smelled before..  On another side is a giant beauty bush which will soon be covered in purple berries.  At the back is the entrance for the tractor and hay loft.

When my parents lived here their chickens and cow resided in the barn.  When we first moved here, we had a dark room in one of the rooms.  I can't tell you how many photographs we processed and printed there.  At one point a giant chicken snake lived up in the loft and often wrapped itself around the rafters.  There is an old photograph of us and seven or eight friends holding his skin that he once shed.

Occasionally an owl will take up residence in the barn.  There are field mice aplenty.  This summer wasps tried to build a nest there, but they were removed.  They chose an inconvenient place to build.

Every morning when we walk we circle the barn.  The dogs always run in to check things out.
I just love walking by it.  There is something about that old barn and farmhouse that is reassuring.
Knowing those structures have withstood storms and humans since 1926 gives me hope that some things do last.  They have passed the tests of time.

Enjoy your Sunday.  Continue to be kind, it is more important than ever.

Friday, August 9, 2019

Dragon Fly Welcome

When I got home from work last evening, the sun was starting to drop in the western sky.  The lighting was amazing, rays of dazzling light filtered through the trees in our front yard.
As I walked down the walk I saw my dragonfly welcome flag looking like an abstract piece of art.
I hurriedly snapped the picture knowing how fleeting those magic moments of last rays are.  Did I mention how much I love dragon flies?

Today has been acupuncture and chores, yin and yang sort of day.  I checked in with most of our great nieces and nephews who started back to school yesterday and it seems they all had a good day.
What  more could I ask for?

More chores tomorrow including the harvest of honey.  It truly does look like liquid gold in those Mason jars.

Enjoy the weekend,  Be kind.

Thursday, August 8, 2019

Dahlia Exuberance

Last year my dahlia only had one blossom.  This year she has bloomed all summer profusely.
My sister Nell gave her to me last year for my birthday.  I love getting plants as gifts.  They keep on giving.  I look at this dahlia daily and feel the exuberance of life she emits.

A long day, back to back classes filled with emotions.  There has been tears, laughter, anger, anxiety and everything in between.  I cannot wait to crawl into my bed.  My friend at worked talked about our job stress today.  It is difficult to deal with other's emotions and then go home and be open for your friends and family.  Alone time is imperative.

Enjoy your Friday.  I am going to the acupuncturist and then we harvest more honey.  I wish you all great kindness tomorrow.

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Knock, Knock



My old friend vertigo has been trying to visit me.  Not the severe bouts I once had, but still he is knocking, along with the migraines.  Trying to figure out the triggers is difficult, I know that stress and fatigue are biggies, so are weather changes.   I have experienced all three this week.  I know it is a strange picture to post, but that fungus reminds me of how scattered I feel or really  more how my head feels tonight.

Thankfully tomorrow is my Friday.  A long weekend of rest should help a great deal.
May we all spread kindness tomorrow.

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Madam Butterfly

Jordan and I had just walked out on the deck this afternoon to check on the chickens.  As we crossed the deck to the steps, I told Jordan I had to get my phone.  There by the steps was Madam Butterfly.
She was rather coy at first and flitted from flower to flower.  I begged her to be still so I could take her picture and amazingly she did.

This has been our summer for butterflies.  Every day we have an abundance of the beautiful creatures.  We have already had Monarchs.  The bees, the butterflies, the dragon flies and even tiny little yellow birds have spent day after day in our field of flowers.

I hope your week started with kindness, I hope it continues.

Monday, August 5, 2019

Music

Today's quote on my board.  Enjoy!


"Music gives a soul to the universe,
wings to the mind,
flight to the imagination,
and live to everything."     -Plato

Sunday, August 4, 2019

Feel Better

Rain, glorious rain!   It has been raining for over an hour and we are almost giddy with delight.
I swear I think our little universe is singing.  We sat on the screen porch for a while and breathed in the clean fragrant air  as the drops danced on the tin roof.

Of course there was thunder and lightening and Taz and Calliou have been upset, but things have calmed down.  I read an article about different cultures a few days.  Many indigenous cultures believe that when the earth is sick, humans become sick as well.  I believe it too.  Our heat and oppressive humidity and drought these past few weeks seems to have solidified that thought for many who live here.  Everyone I talked with has said something like, " if the weather would just change, I think I would feel better." 

Tonight our spot on earth got a big drink of water and relief from the heat.  I feel better and I think Mother Earth does too.

I hope this week brings healing, peace and kindness for all of us.

Saturday, August 3, 2019

Remember

We met our friends Kaye and Jamie for lunch today.  Kaye has been my best friend my whole life.
We have been through the good, the bad and the ugly together.  It is always good to spend time with friends, to laugh, to talk honestly together and know that you have each other's back.

I grilled dinner this evening, lots of veggies and smoked sausage and a loaf of crusty bread.  Simple earthy food, nothing better on a hot summer's evening.

We keep waiting for rain.  Each day it rains east of us, west of us, north of us and south of us, just never on us.  Maybe tomorrow.

May your Sunday be peaceful and somehow, some way may we humans remember what kindness is and show it to each other.

Friday, August 2, 2019

Bougainvillea Bouquet

It has been a busy Friday.  Jordan was here early, so eager to finish the chicken pen and watch his chicks in their spacious new abode. 

Laundry and chores have filled my day.  I always cut fresh flowers for the house on Fridays.  I started to walk down to the zinnias but the bougainvillea called out to me.  She has been producing an abundance of flowers this summer.  Never have I been able to cut a bouquet for the house of bougainvillea but I was this morning.   They are beautiful and the  color is stunning.

I hope your weekend is off to a good start.  Enjoy this last month of summer.  Spend some time outdoors, eat fresh food and have some fun.  Oh yeah, be kind.

Thursday, August 1, 2019

August 1

August 1....the middle of dog days and yes it is hot and humid.

August 1...our schools start back next week

August 1...this is the month for meteor showers

August 1...never have I seen so many butterflies in our wildflowers

August 1...the hummingbirds are in a feeding frenzy

August 1....I have a new great-great niece born this afternoon

August 1...days are getting shorter

August 1...our tomatoes are blooming again, a second crop to come

August 1...figs are plentiful, more preserves to be made soon

August 1...it is hard to see fall and transitional clothing when it's 90 degrees

August 1...the shorter days, regardless of the heat, bits of orange and yellow appearing in the woods

August 1...8 months into 2019

August 1....crickets are starting to chirp and maybe a tree frog or two