Wear Blue Friday March 4th

This coming Friday -- March 4th is Dress in Blue Day... Dress in Blue for Colon Cancer.  The entire month of March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.   

Wear BLUE on Friday and tell everyone you meet why you're blue!



Me, Myself & My Books



The Night Bookmobile



I just submitted an review to the Story Circle Book Review site for The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger ( The Time Traveler's Wife).  I just happened upon this book while browsing at the Kingsport Public Library this past week.  I was intrigued by the title and the premise as well.  If I delve into that too much, I'll spoil it for anyone who wants to read it - and I hate when someone does that to me!  So, I won't divulge any information that even hints at the story line in the book.

Let me just say that it is about one girl and her life-long relationship with books.  It started me thinking about the role books play in my own life.  My Gramm used to tell me that "books are our friends" - and she was oh-so-right about that.  Books inform, illuminate, entertain, excite... books take me to places I've never been or help me to revisit places I only dreamed of seeing more than once.  Yes, they are my friends.

Simple Joys of the Amish Life

That being said, I guess you could say that I spent my afternoon with some good friends -- books!

I submitted two book reviews to the Story Circle Book Review for books I'd recently finished. (The Night Bookmobile and Simple Joys of the Amish Life) And then I was faced with an almost impossible choice:  which one next?  or perhaps which ones next?  Rarely do I have only one book going at any one time.  And I do have several books awaiting reviews - so they have to be first on the list.  But I also have a couple of library books, a huge stack of books on my nightstand, and a long list of downloaded Kindle books that are calling my name as well.  What's a gal to do?

In the final decision, two of the books for review won out... The Heroine's Bookshelf:  Life Lessons from Jane Austen to Laura Ingalls Wilder by Erin Blakemore and Dragon Fire:  Ocean Mist by Yvonne Palka.

The Heroine's Bookshelf

Dragon Fire:  Ocean Mist

Stay tuned for more reviews and more book-hints in the days and weeks to come!

Funny Ladies

I guess I really showed my age the other day at work.  I had three days in a row and a different assignment each day.  Not my favorite way to have things happen but, I cannot speak to the "why" of it all.  Just that that is what I was given as an assignment.  Usually, when I have the same assignment for the three days in a row, things go smoother on day 2 than they did on day 1... and very smooth on day 3 as compared to somewhat smoothly on day 2.  But on day 1, it generally takes me several hours to get a handle on the things that have been left over from previous shifts, the things that are in need of immediate attention, and the idiosyncracies of each patient and their family members.

Part way through day # 3, one of the girls asked if I was doing okay.  My reply was "Yes, but I feel like Carol Burnett at the end of her show where the little cartoon maid comes out and mops things up."  My co-worker looked at me with a blank stare and I knew immediately that she had absolutely no clue who Carol Burnett is.  When I called her on that, she readily admitted I was right - and I tried to tell her about this amazingly funny lady.  But, I guess you have to see her in action to know what I am talking about.

Because day # 3 ended up being such a bear of a day, I needed something to get me through to the end of my shift.  Not surprisingly, I chose my favorite funny ladies as that which I would use to help me make it through the day.  I mused about some of their sketches and characters.  And when I was feeling as if I was drowing in my "to dos" I simply envisioned me as that cartoon maid mopping up the cares of the day.

In my humble opinion, the three funniest women ever to have graced our homes via the t.v. set are
Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett and Gilda Radner.  Not only do they make me laugh every time I have the opportunity to see clips of one of their shows, they have left some wise words of wisdom.  When I ponder the fact that while they are able to make me laugh they are also capable of inspiring me, I am in awe of these incredibly strong women. 

Lucille Ball:  "I would rather regret the things I've done than the things that I have not."

Carol Burnett:  "Only I can do it myself.  No one can do it for me."

Gilda Radner:  "Life is about knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next."






How about you?  Who is your funny lady? What one scene in a movie or tv show has brought you to tears of laughter by the talents of once such woman? 

An Artist's Date

In her acclaimed book The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron guides readers/writers through the process of realizing their creative strengths and improving upon their creative weaknesses.  One of the techniques suggested by Cameron is going on "An Artist's Date" -- going somewhere and doing something that nourishes your creative spirit, something that lifts your spirits, something that inspires you.

Well... taking myself on an artist's date is exactly what I've been doing these past two days off.  We've had large amounts of much-needed-rain the past two days.  But that didn't deter me!  Yesterday I went to a wonderful place called The Homestead.  It's a huge building which houses all sorts of wares -- an antique mall of sorts.  I could get lost in that place.  And get lost is basically what I went there to do!  For it is in browsing through the overwhelming number of items that I begin to hear my muse's voice. At first she whispers softly "Ohhhh !  Look at this!"  "I haven't seen one of these in forever!"  and so on...

By the time I am ready to leave, my muse is practically out of control.  She is filled with ideas for the many faceted creative life I enjoy leading... And, these ideas are not put to rest simply by leaving.   Today my muse has been nudging me this way and that - trying to get me to commit to at least one of the many ideas she has come up with ever since the visit to The Homestead.




Then, today there was lunch with a friend - someone who is creative and well-read - more talk of books and ideas for stories.  After lunch, I paid a visit to The Carriage House - a charming little shop filled with wonderful gift items (including Laurel Burch and Life Is Good products) but more importantly, filled with FIBER!   Knitting, Rug Hooking, Punch Embroidery, Crochet.... you name it... if you can use yarn or embroidery thread, this is the place to go!  Here I browsed for a good while before making my purchase.  So many choices so little time ..   New sock yarn project in hand I headed home. 

I've spent the rainy afternoon reading, napping, knitting, napping, cutting for the quilt project, napping, cooking, napping... did I mention that I successfully napped a couple of times today?  It's been a delightful day -- a creatively inspiring day -- an artist's date that began yesterday around noon and hasn't ended yet!

"Most of us have no idea of our real creative height. We are much more gifted than we know."                                      ~    Julia Cameron

Ms. Do-It-Herself Strikes Again

It's just not in my nature to think that I need a "man around the house" for things like rearranging furniture, hanging pictures, changing light bulbs in the ceiling fixtures, etc.  But after today, I guess that I should reconsider.

First hurdle for me?  Climbing up on a ladder.  I can do it but I hate it.  I just don't trust my footing or the knees that wobble while I work.  But, today I invested in a sturdy one that I felt would make me feel more secure.  And, after purchasing it and the necessary light bulbs for the various lights that have been blown for weeks now I headed home with a renewed "can do attitude."

It took a few tries before I had the ladder situated "just so" but I finally changed the light above the washer and dryer.  Once that was done, I moved the ladder to the middle of the kitchen floor where I would be able to change the bulbs in the ceiling light near the sink.  Once up on the ladder, intent on undoing the old bulbs, I was taken completely off guard when I heard the sound of shattered glass... 

Oh dear!  The globe over the bulbs I'd changed in the laundry area must not have been as secure as I thought.  Now I had a shattered globe to clean up.  Drat! 

But, not to be deterred from the job at hand, I proceeded to finish the job on the kitchen lights and made doubly sure that the globe was, indeed, secure before moving on to the next chore:  cleaning up the glass fragments and shards. That was about as much fun as climbing up on the blasted ladder in the first place. 

Satisfied that I'd gotten up all of the broken glass, I moved on to the third and final ceiling light fixture - the one in the hallway.  Now, this one has three of those small "flame" shaped bulbs.  One by one, each of the three went out over the past week or so.  There was no ignoring it - this light needed new bulbs.  The first two came out quite easily and I proceeded to place new ones in the sockets.  But, alas, it wasn't meant to be an easy task afterall.  While unscrewing bulb number three, there was a loud "pop" and then everything went black in the kitchen, bath and hallway..... The bulb detached from the base.  The bulb in my hand, the base in the fixture and a blown fuse had placed my newly placed bulbs into pitch black! 

So much for restoring lights in my ceiling fixtures!  Ms. Do-It-Herself  has done more than her fair share for one day...  Tomorrow, it's back to the hardware store for a new globe for the laundry room, more bulbs to replace the ones that blew when the circuit breaker was tripped and... ??? some hints on how to get the base of the old bulb out of the remaining socket. 

This is why I'm a nurse and not an electrician!  And, this is why I should stick to writing, reading and knitting on my days off!! 

What a Three Day Stretch!

Hello Friends, Family & Blog Followers

I've missed you ... I've missed being here:  here at Lee and Her Muse Make the Most of Each Day.  The ideas for posts have been swirling in my head but the physical energy required to sit here and post after working the sorts of days I've worked this Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. 

And so, now that I am home from my third and final twelve hour shift for this week, I am tired but I am ready to switch gears ... ready to resume regular posting to the blog...  My body and mind need sleep right now but tomorrow, those ideas that have been percolating for a few days are going to begin to take the form of blog posts right here...

The Rest of the RAK Challenges

Well, it's the end of the Random Act of Kindness Extreme Challenge Week.  As promised, I am back to share what the last four random acts of kindness were....

1.  Bring a treat to work...  just ask any of my co-workers and they'll tell you that they are regularly the beneficiaries of my love for cooking (for more than one)!  So, this one was an ongoing "doing what comes naturally" sort of thing for me.

2.  Carpool or pay someone's fare... hmmmm now here I find my own personal stumbling block.  I live two blocks from work - so I walk!  There is no carpooling or public transportation fares or toll booths to deal with.  Guess I'll have to see what I might do in place of this one from here on out... Any ideas? 

3.  Donate to a cause - donate goods, money, time, talent..... Here's another that comes very naturally to me... How about you?  What church or civic causes do you support with your time and talents? 

4.  Show kindness to your neighbor.  The site commented on the fact that in this day and age there are many people who don't even know their own neighbors... Are you one of those?  Or do you see the neighbor only in passing on rare occasions?  Or, are you one of the fortunate ones who has a neighbor you see often and enjoy spending time with?  No matter what, the challenge is to do something nice for your neighbor whether they are your best friend or worst nightmare! 

 How many of them come naturally to you?  How many would be a real challenge to you?  What might you do instead of what's proposed.... Are there other things you can think of that would constitute random acts of kindness?  Do share!

National Hoodie Hoo Day!

Today is  Hoodie-Hoo Day!  That's right... Hoodie-hooooo ! 

Always celebrated on February 20th, Hoodie-hoo Day is a day to chase away the cabin fever and winter blahs.... Never heard of Hoodie-hoo Day?  Well, neither did I until the 11 o'clock news/weather report Saturday Night... The weatherman announced it's approach and proceeded to give the forecast for noontime Sunday as "a perfect day to hoodie-hoo" ~  To learn more about Hoodie-Hoo Day, click on the link above.

So, I'll be outside at High Noon today.  Will you?

UPWARD

Today, "Nan" (aka me, myself & I) went to Sevierville to watch Caleb play basketball - Upward Basketball.  This is Caleb's third season playing Upward Basketball.  With each season, he and his team mates show more enthusiasm for the game and ever-increasing sportsmanship. 

Upward Sports is a faith-based sports program sponsored by churches throughout the country.  A variety of sports as well as cheerleading are made available to children of the community in an environment where sportsmanship and faith abound.

Each game is played by the rules - fair and square.  Every player is recognized for his positive contributions, game-spirit, and efforts.  It is so refreshing to sit in the bleachers and see family members and friends cheer for both teams, applaud everyone's efforts and genuinely care about the kids out there playing. 

Once the game ends, each team huddles and every member of the team earns a star (of varying colors) for their part in the game that day.  "Best effort,"  "Best offense,"  "Best defence,"  "Best overall player," "Most Christlike,"  "Sportsmanship,"...  Much like the badges of scouting, these stars are added to the uniform and proudly worn by each of the players.

Next week is the last week for this season.  Caleb has mixed feelings about that -- He loves playing but he also likes his Saturdays to be open so that "Nan" and he can spend more time together.  "Nan" has mixed feelings about the end of the season approaching -- She loves to watch Caleb play but, just like him, she loves to have more time with him on the weekends. 

I can only hope and pray that as all of these kids grow and move into school and community based leagues, they will not lose that innocence and love of the game for the game's sake.

It's a Good Tired

I'm absolutely exhausted.  But, it's a GOOD TIRED! 
Last night, I couldn't get to sleep because I was so excited about going to work on the oncology unit. 

I have just finished my first shift in my return to oncology nursing.  It felt so good to be there.  Oncologists, staff members ... even the oncology unit volunteers all made me feel so very welcome there.  It was a totally uplifting and freeing day! 

The people I worked with on the other unit were great!  I have made some very good friends who will remain good friends whether I work on their unit or not.  But the oncology unit is an entirely different world - it is MY world.  It is where I belong.  I've known that for a long time... and at last everything has come together.  Like a butterfly that has emerged from its cocoon and been given permission to take flight, I have stepped out of the confines of a workplace that does not nourish my soul and into one that does that while allowing me to care for my patients.

Tomorrow is another day -- another work day -- on the oncology unit that is now my "work home."
Tomorrow is another day to really feel like I am making a difference in the lives of others.

Random Act of Kindness Week

February 14 - 20 is Random Act of Kindness Week.  If you visit the foundation's site,  you'll find that they are posting a new RAK challenge each day and then encouraging  folks to post on twitter or facebook about their experience trying to fulfill the day's "assignment."

Here's what they've suggested so far:

Day # 1:  Write a note of appreciation to someone you love.

Day # 2:  Smile at 10 people you don't know

Day # 3:  Hold the door open for someone every chance you get.

So, I ask you .... are these things that come naturally to you or do you need these daily challenges to do so?

Do you hold the door for others any and every day?  Or would you smile at strangers as they passed you?  Do you write and share a note with someone 'just because'?  How do you measure up to the Random Act of Kindness Foundation's challenges?

If you are interested in seeing what others are encountering as they try to go here: http://www.facebook.com/therandomactsofkindnessfoundation

And, if you'd like to join the challenge, go to The Random Acts of Kindness Extreme Kindness Challenge .

I plan to check the site daily and see what they are posing as a challenge -- and implementing it if it isn't  already something that comes naturally to me.  I'll report back to you, dear readers, as to what the other four challenges are...and whether or not they became "missions accomplished" for me. 



Goody Goody Gumdrops!

February 15th is National Gumdrop Day!  Seriously, I wouldn't kid about such a sweet thing!  When you hear the word 'gumdrops' what image comes to mind?  Is it the box of sweet confections that you bought at the Saturday matinee when you were a kid?  Is it the trimmings on a gingerbread house you constructed with a child or grandchild?  Or is it Gumdrop Mountain on the board game CandyLand?   For me, it is any   -  or all   -  of these.

After much investigation, I still cannot be certain how long these sugary sweet things have been around.  Some reports say since the 1800's.  Others dispute that.  One thing's for sure - since Milton Bradley introduced its CandyLand game in the 1940's they've been around for at least that long.

Does all this reminiscing about gumdrops have you craving them?  Well.... now you can make your own!

They really aren't difficult at all to make!  This particular recipe starts with real OJ - not artificial flavoring.   And by altering the juice, you can make a variety of flavors right in your own kitchen.

Homemade Gumdrops 

Prep Time: 25 minutes                                                               

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Ingredients:Vegetable oil

1 cup sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

3/4 cup orange juice

1 package (1-3/4 ounces) powdered fruit pectin   

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 drops red food coloring, if desired

Sugar

Preparation:Line loaf pan, 9 x 5 x 3 inches, with aluminum foil. Brush with oil.

Heat sugar and corn syrup to boiling in 1-1/2 quart saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Cook, without stirring, to 280 degrees F. on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into very cold water separates into hard but not brittle threads.

While cooking sugar mixture, heat orange juice, pectin and baking soda to boiling (mixture will be foamy) in 2-quart saucepan over high heat, stirring constantly; reduce heat.

Slowly pour hot sugar mixture in a thin stream into orange juice mixture, stirring constantly (this should take 1 to 2 minutes); remove from heat.

 Stir in food color. Let stand 2 minutes. Skim off foam.

Pour mixture into pan. Let stand, uncovered, at room temperature 24 hours. Lift foil from pan and remove foil from sides. Cut into 3/4-inch squares with knife dipped into sugar. Roll squares in sugar. Let stand uncovered at room temperature 1 hour.

 Store gumdrops in airtight container.

Yield: About 72 gumdrops, 28 calories per gumdrop

Grape Gumdrops: Substitute grape juice for the orange juice and blue food color for the red.

Apple-Cherry Gumdrops: Substitute apple-cherry drink for the orange juice and use red food color.

Recipe Source: Betty Crocker's 40th Anniversary Edition Cookbook (MacMillan)

I'll Do It Gilda's Way!

Gilda / SNL

"The goal is to live a full, productive life even with all that ambiguity. No matter what happens, whether the cancer never flares up again or whether you die, the important thing is that the days that you have had you will have lived."  Gilda Radner 





Funny lady Gilda Radner lost her brave battle with ovarian cancer in May of 1989 at the age of 42.  Her philosophy and humor have helped many people cope with their own cancer experience ever since.  Gilda's Club was founded in her memory by husband Gene Wilder.  Her legacy lives on in each of the Gilda's Club locations worldwide.  I was a much younger oncology nurse when Gilda was going through her own cancer journey.  She faced the days between diagnosis and death with dignity and grace and left words of wisdom for all those who would experience the cancer journey after her. 

Today, I spent the day in a classroom refreshing my chemotherapy knowledge.  It's been years since I worked in an oncology setting and gave chemo. The passion for oncology nursing has always been there.  Today, I realized that most of what I learned about chemotherapy is still there as well.  And Gilda's words kept running through my head...


Gilda Radner



I officially became a member of the oncology unit yesterday, February 13th.  Today and tomorrow are chemo refresher class days and then I can get down to the real art of oncology nursing.  I am so anxious to get on the unit and begin to do what my heart loves most. 



If Gilda's goal was "to live a full and productive life" then my goal is to help my oncology patients to find a way to do just that with grace, dignity and hope.  "No matter what happens."



Entrance to one of the Gilda Club Locations



Happy Valentine's Day To All



image by Vintage Holiday Crafts



We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.

Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.

We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love's light

we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.

~  Maya Angelou

Laughter Yoga - Sign me up!

"the most wasted of all days is one without laughter." – e. e. cummings  



We've all heard that "Laughter is the best medicine"  but did you know that it is more than a claim?  It's a fact!  It's true, the simple and free act of laughing is some of the most powerful medicine we have.  And, sadly, we often forget about it...

Laughter is a natural part of life -- it's innate, inborn.  Babies prove this!  They start to smile during their first few weeks of life and begin to laugh at a few months of age.  Some say laughter is our birthright!  And, did you know that you are in control of how much or how little you laugh each day? 

One source recommends that if laughter isn't already a natural part of your day-to-day experience, you should start to practice incorporating it for a sense of well-being, improved relationships, and yes your physical and emotional health.

Not sure how to begin living a life full of laughter?  Here are some suggestions:

Smile!   It's part of laughter and both smiling and laughter are contagious.  You can (and should) practice smiling at even slightest pleasure.

Count your blessings!  Whether you write in a gratitude journal or simply make a mental list each day of the things for which you are thankful and the ways in which you've been blessed, you are placing a speed bump in the road of negativity that humans tend to focus on so often.  You can't count blessings and dwell on negativity at the same time!  There's no way to do both simultaneously!

Move toward laughter when you hear it!    Go ahead, ask what everyone else is laughing out - invite yourself to become part of the laughter!

Spend time with people who laugh easily!  People who laugh at themselves and at life... especially those who find reasons to laugh in the midst of everyday happenings.

Create opportunities to laugh!  If you're like me, you sometimes purposefully read a book that you know will end on a sad note or go to a ten Kleenex movie "because you need a good cry"...  Why not be just as purposeful when you need to laugh -- which should be on a daily basis?   Need some suggestions?  Read the comics, get together with friends who are playful and fun to be with,  make time to play a favorite game or participate in a fun activity, spend time with children or pets.  

My daughter, Tara, knows the way to brighten up my day is to 

share a bit of my grandson Jesse's laughter with me.  She is so good about sending me photos of him, or calling to let me eavesdrop in on his own commentaries about programs or toys... His is truly an infectious childhood-belly-laugh.

You can even participate in laughter yoga if you need help finding a way to put more laughs into your own life.  Tonight's NBC Nightly News ended with laughs and smiles -- a rare find in this time of so much depressing, negative news.  The Laughter Guru and his Laughter Yoga were the proverbial "breath of fresh air" as the broadcast aired its final piece for the night.  

I'm ready to sign up right now!  How about you?  Laughter Yoga, anyone? !!

 

Tomorrow, Churches Go Red

This Sunday, February 13th churches across the country are "Going Red" to raise awareness of the women's heart health issues.  This is not the first year the American Heart Association has sponsored "Go Red Sunday."  Here in the Northeast Tennessee area, media coverage has been calling attention to women's heart health risks on a regular basis.  It is so refreshing to watch local news and see time and energy being spent on worthwhile, informative and proactive initiatives that could improve the community at large.

Is your community Going Red?  Are you going red?  I am and I hope you'll join me!

To learn more, click on the link below:

http://www.wellmont.org/Medical-Services/Cardiovascular/GoRed/Go-Red-TV---news-coverage.aspx

Let's Do Lunch!

I've had some very pleasant days off in the past few weeks.  But today has been the most pleasant of all since the new year!  Why, you wonder?  Because I had a delightful lunch with four very dear friends.  

While it is true that I savor my quiet time alone, it is also true that I love to spend time with good friends.  Recent days off have been for reading and writing and relaxing.  Today was for connecting with friends - which is just a different way to relax.  

At noon, the five of us met at a quiet, little, locally owned and operated restaurant.  It's a very inviting, cozy place where you can sit and visit without being hurried.  It's the perfect place for a few friends to spend part of the afternoon enjoying good food and the company of one another. 

Of the five of us, I am the only one who still works full time but the other four are equally busy with various volunteer, community, family and church commitments.  That being said, it is always a challenge to come up with a day that suits everyone's schedule.  It was especially sweet that we were all able to be together today

I look forward to another such day -- hopefully in the not-too-distant future!   

I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for
    that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy.
    Let's face it, friends make life a lot more fun.   
                                                                         - Charles R. Swindoll 

Heading Into The Final Lap

Some days, I feel as though I am running a marathon at work.  Or, as my Gramm used to say, sometimes it's  "The hurrier I go, the behinder I get."  Yesterday was a particularly grueling shift.  I kept getting "behinder and behinder."  The patients were so sick, the turn over from a discharge to a new admission was so rapid.  There just was no relief in site - or so it seemed.

As I wearily made my way to the time clock to swipe my badge and kiss the shift goodbye - three hours later than my shift's end - I wondered if I had it in me to even make it home.  I was physically, mentally and emotionally spent.  Too tired to post to the blog last night, Lee and Her Muse went straight to bed. 

But, this morning, it dawned on me that I was about to embark on my final lap so to speak...
I have just one more shift to work on the med/surg floor -- this coming Saturday -- and then I return to my heart's true calling:  oncology nursing.

Just realizing that fact made yesterday's difficult day worth it -- it brought me one day closer to being back in the oncology department -- at last!

Let Them Eat Cake!

I admit it, I have an unrelenting sweet tooth!  So, when a friend shared a piece of cake made by her mother-in-law I just had to have the recipe.  The only condition to getting the recipe was that I had to agree to make it for said friend --- as she loves to partake but not to bake!  This recipe is SO good that I was only too happy to agree to the terms!

If you like a yummy and easy cake made from scratch... this one's for you!

OATMEAL CAKE

Cake:
2 cups boiling water
1 cup minute oats
2 cups self-rising flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup Crisco oil
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 Tablespoon cinnamon

Boil water and pour over oats.  Stir and then let set.
Measure all other ingredients in a medium size bowl & mix.
Ad oats & mix well.
Grease & flour a 13" x 9" baking dish or pan.
Pour into pan.  Bake @ 350 egrees for 30-40 minutes.

Icing:
1 cup light brown sugar
1 stick margarine
1 small can of evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup coconut
Optional:  1 cup chopped nuts

Mix sugar, evaporated milk and margarine into a saucepan.
Boil until thick. 
Add vanilla, coconut (and nuts if using)
Spread on the cake while still hot.
You may choose to use a fork to poke holes in the cake before pouring the icing - to allow it to seep down into the cake.

If this isn't one of the most yummy - and moist - cakes you've ever had...well, then I need your recipe!  Because this one is a real keeper! 
Enjoy!!

What Did You Do When You Were Ten?

Gretchen Rubin of "The Happiness Project" recently posed this question on her blog - "What did you do to make yourself happy at age 10?"  Hmmmmmmm - now there's an interesting thought to ponder.  As I watched her YouTube video introducing this particular project, I learned that it is her belief that whatever we did as ten year olds may hold a key to what we can do as adults to bring happiness.  I've been thinking about this for a few days now. 

I've searched the back burners of my memory and have come up with a list of  "a few of my favorite things" at age 10:

•  1.  read
•  2. spend lots of time at the library
•  3.  sew clothes for my dolls
•  4.  write in my diary
•  5.  sing in the choir
•  6.  take long walks
•  7.  help/watch Gramm cook and bake
•  8.  help Gramm with her African Violets
•  9.  arts and crafts, paint, color, draw
• 10.  play house where my dolls were my babies

Then, I turned my attention to the things that are some of my favorite activities as an adult:

•   1.  read
•   2.  spend lots of time at the library
•   3.  knit, quilt, sew items for my home
•   4.  write, write, write - for Story Circle Network, for my journal, for my blog
•   5.  listen to music
•   6.  take long walks enjoying Mother Nature's gifts
•   7.  cook, bake, collect and try new recipes
•   8.  grow African Violets
•   9.  mixed medium art work for soul collages and for altered books
• 10.  spend time with my grandbabies

It is important to note that I did not set out to make a correlation between 10yrs of age and now- but look at what I listed!  Without much thought to what went into each list I have a mirror image of  the things I enjoyed then and the things I enjoy now. 

I wonder how many others would find the same to be true?  Do you have similar lists for age 10 and now?

To learn more about this phase of the Happiness Project, you can watch Rubin's YouTube presentation: What Did You Do When You Were Ten?  And while you are on the Happiness Projet site, check out the other information and links there.

Bow Tie Pasta Recipe

If you're looking for an easy, relatively inexpensive, nutritious and yummy meal have I got a recipe for you!
Now, I can't take the credit for creating this one - it was shared with me by a friend.  But, what I can do is turn around and share it with more friends!



BOW TIES WITH SAUSAGE, TOMATOES & CREAM

1 - 12 oz. package bow tie pasta
2  Tablespoons olive oil
1  lb. sweet Italian sausage - bulk or links with casings removed and meat crumbled
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 - 28oz. can Italian style plum tomatoes drained/chopped or buy diced instead
1 & 1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 tsp salt
3 Tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Cook pasta until al dente ( approx. 8 - 10 minutes)

Drain when cooked.

While pasta cooking,

Place oil in skillet over medium heat.  Cook sausage and pepper flakes until evenly browned

Stir in onion and garlic

Cook  until onion is tender. 

Stir in drained tomatoes, cream and salt

Simmer until mixture thickens  ( approx 8 - 10 minutes)

Stir cooked/drained pasta into sauce and heat thoroughly.

Sprinkle with parsley just before serving.


ENJOY !!

An Unexpected "Web-Find"

I grew up in a place where Carlisle and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania were part of my backyard.  Whether it is that or some other force deep within, it's no mystery to me that my favorite period in American history is the Civil War Era.  It's such a strong influence in my life that I have incorporated that era into the novel that I've, admittedly, been limping along with for quite some time now.

 Since 2011 begins our nation's sesquicentennial commemoration of the Civil War, I was checking out some possible places to visit during the celebration.  There are planned events, activities and re-enactments in almost every state - even ones that didn't see any actual battles.  But here I am, in Tennessee - a state that was divided as much as the country itself.  Being in Tennessee puts me right in the center of all sorts of Civil War sites, battlefields, trails, etc.  During the years  2011 - 2015 there will be any number of opportunities to travel near and far and partake of a variety of learning and sightseeing opportunities that are being planned. 

But today's blog entry is not about the sesquicentennial.  It's about an unexpected "find" while surfing the web.  For some unknown reason, I did something I rarely do -- I clicked through the pages of "hits" for my search entry into the" teens and twenties pages."  There, I found a most welcomed surprise - a link to a blog about  Civil War Women .  The first entry I read there contained excerpts from the Civil War diary of Caroline Cowles Richards.  Caroline's diary was published in 1913 as Village Life in America 1852—1872, Including the Period of the American Civil War as Told in the Diary of a School-Girl.    And there are so many more entries for me to savor!  The blog's creator has posted the following: 

"The history of many American women has been so poorly preserved that I must tell their stories through the lives of their husbands or ignore them altogether."

   

My gratitude to Caroline Cowles Richards for leaving her diaries for all to read and to the creator of the Civil War Women's blog for caring enough about the women of the Civil War Era to be their voice.

The Day The Music Died

AP Photo

Today is "The Day The Music Died" --

A day of remembrance for the legendary Buddy Holly who perished in a plane crash on this date in 1959.  His career ended after only a year and a half.  But the legacy he left behind lives on more than 50 years later.  As one who paved the way of rock-and-roll, Buddy Holly's music took roots with the likes of Elvis, Johnny Cash and Ritchie Valens.

At the age of 22 Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and "The Big Bopper" were on a chartered plane that crashed due to bad weather  - just five minutes from its destination. 

Long after his death, generations know his songs - songs that have been performed by The Rolling Stones, Norah Jones and a host of other musical artists throughout the years.  He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.  His original works include "Blue Suede Shoes," "Peggy Sue," "That'll Be The Day"  and my favorite Buddy Holly song (because it makes me smile every time I hear it) the Classic Buddy Holly - ''Everyday" .
Click on the link to experience some of Buddy Holly's pure genius.  A man who died far too young but left a lasting gift for all.

And - at least for today - the music isn't dead - because Lee and Her Muse are listening to "Buddy Holly:  Greatest Hits!"

What's It Gonna Be, Phil ?

Winter storms couldn't keep Phil from his own celebration this morning!

So, what's it gonna be, Phil?  Six more weeks of winter or an early spring?

Click here to watch the official 125th Punxsutawney Phil Groundhog Day Celebration

Phil's prediction for 2011