signs of spring

SOX slaughtered the Cubs yesterday, 15 - 3.  It was lovely to watch baseball on TV again.  Quentin set the tone right from the beginning and they never looked back.  Way to go, boys,  but let's save it for the season, when it counts. I watched most of the game, but it has a tremendously soothing affect on me and usually lulls me to nap, so I kept it on and made myself useful by completing Dan's FAFSA application.  Anyone who ever did this knows it is very long and detailed so I am quite relieved to accomplish same.  I need most information from our tax form and our accountant finished it just in time.  Thanks, Steve!

Tonight we watch the Oscars.  This is my least favorite awards show for those voting are not the average viewers but rather people who have connections in the industry, so their methods of choosing the winners don't necessary reflect what the general public thinks.  I do like picking my favorites just like everyone else and watching all the glam on the red carpet.  It's a traditional conversation piece and my cue that spring will arrive shortly.  I'm rooting for Jeff Bridges in Crazy Horse, Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side and Kathryn Bigelow for her contributions in The Hurt Locker. This movie really captured my attention and brought out many honorable feelings for our soldiers. I have a dear friend who is serving our country and he relays his realities quite often. He reminded me of one of the actors and my heart grew twice its size for him and his fellow soldiers.  I have a feeling Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds will be honored, for it was loaded with entertainment.  Brad Pitt really did a great job, but the Jew Hunter stole the show. Avatar is an epic masterpiece and James Cameron will surely win something for his creation.  Clooney and Streep are always fun to watch and their talent should be appreciated, but they are the type who just love acting and don't need an award for doing what they love. That makes them tops in my book.  I viewed the audition trailer featuring Gabourey Sidibe in Precious and she is fantastic but after reading the book, but not seeing the movie, I still have a hard time with this storyline.  Mo'Nique's role as Precious' mother just plain irks me. Same for Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones.  Acting is acting.  We shall see this evening how they are rewarded for their talents.

This week I spent most of my time running errands for my boys, especially Mike.  He is remodeling his condo with a huge project of replacing the fairly new carpet with wood floors.  He and his buddy, Anthony, have been frantically working all week and I must say, it is beautiful.  Two bedrooms and a huge closet grace the new flooring.  He painted both bedroooms and finished his hallway all last week, mostly evenings after work.  We shopped for a new washer and dryer at ABT but after precise measurements, he realized the set he purchased would not fit through the doorway so he will table those appliances until he finishes remodeling and tiling the bathrooms.  We bought him a new grill for outside and he already cooks on it.  It is so cute to see Mike and Margarita planning their remodeling venture when they come over.  They are so excited and work well together. Anthony is amazing with his creative talents and it shows in his work.  He has done many projects for us between our house and especially the one on Sawyer. 

 Wayne spent his spare time at home repairing various computers for two of our friends due to virus damage.  Note to clickers everywhere: just as cars need timely oil changes to preserve their productivity, computers need antivirus and backup security.  If you are a Comcast customer, they offer free Norton Security Suite which covers both features.  It is integral for maintaining proper function without damages and loss of data.   After this busy week, we found notes all over the house and on my car saying you are appreciated.  Steve probably knew of our efforts and wanted us to know they did not go unnoticed.  Mike and Dan left text messages with their gratitude. It's these little touches that make it all worthwhile.  Thanks, sweeties.  

Meteorologically we have entered the spring season.  The warmer, sunny days have forced the snow to melt dramatically.  How wonderful it is to finally see green grass again.  The air has a lighter feel to it and the birds chirp a little sweeter. The downside is we have to pick up all the poo in the back.  Wayne attempts to collect the nuggets during the season, but with so much snow it was impossible until now.  I already notice people are more friendly and spend time outside more often.  I always say Midwesterners appreciate the seasons more than anyone, for we endure so many changes.  Nothing is constant but change and we live it via our weather.

Prayer:  For the glory of all the gifts of creation and for all creatures great and small, may I give you praise and thanks, great God.  I give thanks in all I say and do, remembering that every good gift, talent and treasure in my life comes from you.  For the light shining in the eyes of my spouse and children, for smiles and hugs and the love of family and friends (through whom you praise me abundantly), I thank you, God.  Amen.

and the award goes to.... xo

happy 5th birthday pontiac

Our darling bagle, Pontiac, was born five years ago today.  He was the oldest of 10 pups in Thumper's litter.  One did not survive, but nine did thanks to the mama dog persevering from 6:30 in the evening until 4:30 the next morning.  This was one of the most beautiful experiences I ever had.  A bagle is a mix of bassett hound and a beagle.  The year prior, Mike bought his girlfriend a beagle for Christmas (Freckles) and two days later she returned the favor and bought him a bassett, Thumper.  The next year we took care of Freckles while the family vacationed in Florida and what are the odds, Thumper was in heat?  They really went for it that week and when Wayne would catch them and knock on the window, they went behind our pool so as not to be seen.  Determination.  Animal instincts.  After confirmation of her pregnancy, I learned how to take her temperature and prepare her for the birth.  Our friends, the Blocks, bred laboradors for 20 years and came over to assist in the birthing.  Good thing, too, for the ninth pup was stillborn and Gina suggested we take her to the emergency room.  They delivered the pup and thought she would need a Cesarean to deliver the last pup, but all of a sudden, Gina jumps up and down announcing she saw two paws, so the delivery continued and my exhausted Thumper came home to begin her job as mama dog.

Thumper was only 18 months when she became a mom.  How she knew what to do was pure instinct and I was repeatedly amazed at how she knew how to clean them, feed them, school them and when to stop feeding them.  I would make sure she got a break and brought her upstairs so she could not hear them crying for her 24/7.  She was so tired, but when a pup whimpered, she offered her nipples faithfully.  We named each pup and fell in love with all of them.  They each had their own personality and our family grew fond of the female, Moo Moo (her markings looked like a cow) and I fell in love with Pontiac.  He was originally going to be named Oscar as the Academy Awards show was on that week, but Mike noticed the Pontiac sign on his forehead and being carboy, that was it.  Pontiac was named.  He was the firstborn and came out breech, so we assisted.  We really did not have to, for dogs know how to give birth, but we removed the bag and snipped the cords each time for her.  It was a remarkable miracle with each delivery.

Thumper was very protective of her pups but she trusted us so much and let us show off her babies to anyone who visited.  We had people in and out for weeks because there is something special about puppies, let alone nine of them.  Their smell, their sounds, their softness are just delightful and bring out so much love and affection.  We took a ton of pictures to remember them and it tugs at my heart when I see them again.  They were very messy so it was a lot of work keeping them clean and warm.  They loved when I placed a blanket over their little crate so they felt secure.  To this day, Pontiac loves when we put one on him and just lies there under his tent.  I remember clipping all their nails and some acted as if I was torturing them, others, just flinched a little. They woke up a lot at night but after a feeding, fell back to sleep.  I had plenty of practice with my three sons and knew it would only last a couple of months, so I did not mind.

I helped Thumper with the feedings by calming her down at times and making sure she rested herself.  She was so dutiful and I had to make sure she had enough rest and food to sustain her.  Gina helped make sure the pups had their shots and I prepared the cereal for them as they got older.  I think Thumper was grateful to be relieved from the feedings after a month of nurturing.  I remember crying so hard when we had to find homes for them.  I would hide Pontiac when people came to see my little darlings.  The boys wanted Moo Moo, but after watching them interact, I knew she was too dominant and two dominant females would not work out so well.  She ended up in Homer Glen with a wonderful family who treats her as a queen and we keep in touch with updates on how she's doing.  We were told she runs the house.  Just as I suspected. 

Pontiac was firstborn and is our big slug.  Then came Gifka (girl in Polish), Cassanova, Moo Moo, Hercules, Rocky, Apollo, Jenna and Angel.  Our neighbor and friend of our sons, Gerald, fell in love with Rocky, and we have him over when they travel to the Philipines.  It is so funny when he escapes from his house sometimes, he dashes right to our garage door.  He knows our house and who lives here; Thumper and Pontiac have so much fun together when he drops by.  I call him my Shadow dog for he stays right by me all day long and cuddles with me when we relax at night.  A fellow co-worker of Wayne's acquired Cassanova for his teenage daughter; she renamed him Oliver and every Christmas they send pictures.  I feel happy that all the pups have good homes and bring joy to so many others. 

Since the pups were born in pre-spring, we were able to let them play outside and get sunlight when they were a month old.  They would frolic and some would hide under the deck or between the stones and evergreens.  Thumper always found them and made sure they did not stray too far.  I got a kick out of her method for schooling them into submission.  She put their hind leg in her mouth and flipped them on their backs.  Pontiac was so compliant that when he saw her approaching him, he just fell back on his own. That sealed his becoming a part of our family once and for all. Moo Moo, on the other hand, barked all the time and bossed the others around.  She would not fall into submission with the Mama and it was comical to see her strong will play out. 

The joy we get is indescribable when we bond with our doggies.  We relax by the fireplace with them and they love to look out the front door and must have their daily walks and neena bones.  Pontiac demands I service him by scratching his trigger parts and makes sounds to remind me to do so.  Thumper is all about food.  She stares at the alter where the treats are kept and squeeks until we deliver them.  When we leave to go shopping or run errands, it is inevitable we will be greeted with excited tails wagging upon our return. There is no shortage of love between us.  It is a fact that dogs emit seratonin when petted, so it is no wonder people want to be around them.  Who needs happy pills when we have Thumper and Pontiac?  We spoil them, but I made it a point to train them a little more after watching It's Me or the Dog.  Everyone comments on them as I take them on their walks for they look so funny together. 

Happy Birthday, Ponti, pillow pup.  xo

Prayer:  Jesus, thank you for the good things you do for me, especially for guiding me toward God.  May I always praise and thank God as you did, in all I say and in all I do.  Open my eyes, please, to the many gifts and blessings God gives me and help me to be aware of the good works God does through me.  Amen.

hi, helen!

Today it has been two years since Helen passed on to a better life.  She had so many friends and family members to welcome her.  Helen had not one, but two husbands awaiting her hugs.  Enough time has passed where our family can let go of the intensity of the last few years taking care of her and we find ourselves laughing out loud at the funny comments she made.  Fittingly, last night's episode of Undercover Boss featured her beloved White Castle stomping ground.  She was there all the time and loved that porcelain palace so much.   

This was her entertainment, dining area - morning, noon and night - and home away from home that kept her in touch with the outside world.  She was literally a hop, skip and a jump away.  While watching this episode, we just knew they would feature the exact location she frequented and they delivered.

Nothing like a slider.

March has finally graced us with her presence.  Hope for renewal has arrived.  We watched Inglourious Basterds with Brad Pitt.  It was quite entertaining.  I read the book Precious in four hours on Saturday.  That was a rough one.  I don't see what all the hype is about and why they are glamorizing this storyline.  The movie has already won 40 awards and the Oscars will surely follow suit for some of the categories.  It is a horrible story and the book kept reiterating the tragic abuse.  I understand we should embrace stories of victims overcoming their ordeal, but this was too heavy and over the top for me, anyway. 

I am now reading a book written by my son which, so far, is blowing me away.  He is so talented and I am glad he is utilizing his gifts in constructive and creative avenues.  Good for him.  I still have to read The Blind Side and Diary of a Call Girl; the latter I will save for our upcoming trip to Texas. I will continue enriching my mind with new thoughts and discoveries.  As I am enlightened, I will share.  xo

Prayer:  Jesus, beloved and chosen of God, speak to my heart today that I might know what you are asking of me.  How might I fast and pray and share from my abundance?  How might I be a better person at home, at work and in all my dealings with others.  Let me know, please.  Amen.

mop it up!

Today I made lots of food.  I always prepare a meal, except for once a week we order pizza, on Friday, always.  The above is  potato and cheese pierogi with scallions and bacon. 

My sides today are teryaki rice and taco rice and the pierogi is complete.

These are salmon patties which include scallions, seasoned pine nuts, celery and onion.

This is how they look after frying in olive oil.

I wasn't sure they would go for salmon patties so I made meatloaf with mango salsa barbeque sauce and finished it off with corn and peas.  The veggies make is so colorful. 

Mop up, my boys!

I am still fasting since Ash Wednesday, so can't say how it tastes, but it looks good enough. xo

smudging

Smudging is the common name given to the sacred smoke bowl blessing; a powerful cleansing technique from the Native North American tradition.  Smudging calls on the spirits of sacred plants to drive away negative energies and restore balance.  It is the art of cleansing yourself and your environment using simple ritual and ceremony.  For thousands of years smudging has been a part of Native American tradition but now its power of cleansing is available to everyone. 

When we frequented Delavan, every summer the Indians performed ceremonies at a  local mound.  I participated in a few of their rituals and they happened to use tobacco as well as sage.  I took note of the ceremony and its after effects and decided to include this in my healings.  Before my sessions, I smudged the person receiving, the room and myself.   When I spring clean my home or office, I always smudge the entire vacility, room to room, corner to corner.  If I feel too much negativity in our lives, I smudge.  It is a simple, yet powerful ritual that works for me, hence, I share.

Homes and bodies are not just made of purely physical matter, they also vibrate with quiet, invisible energy.  Cleansing a space or our bodies with smudging clears away all the emotional and psychic garbage that may have gathered over the years.  It is like a spiritual spring cleaning.  The effects are swift and dramatic.  It banishes stress, attracts love, soothes you and gives you energy. It brings families closer and lets you adjust to the healing seasonal rhythms of the year.  Above all, it can turn any space, however humble, into a soothing sanctuary - a place of renewal and happiness.

When you light a smudge stick, you are connecting with a spiritual tradition that originates from the depths of time. It is impossible to say for certain when smudging began.  Perhaps early civilizations came to realize, through sheer trial and error, that the smoke generated by setting alight particular herbs had beneficial effects for humanity.  Many cultures have an old tradition of driving animals through smoke to kill off pests and diseases.  We have become aware that smoke ascends to the heavens - to the world of spirits - almost as if it were acting as a spiritual messenger.  The Catholic Church burns incense during the Holy Mass Ceremony and at certain Sacramental Blessings and the Hindu burn incense to their gods.    The idea of purification through smoke is certainly not the sole preserve of the Native North Americans.

Originally, mixtures of sacred herbas and resins were burned in a special bowl.  Smoke was then wafted around the person or place need purification and cleansing.  Smudge sticks (bundles of dried herbs tied together with colored thread or a strip of hide) offer an easier way of smudging that is just as effective.  The herbs most often used in smudge sticks are sage and sweet grass.  Sage salvia officinalis drives out negative thoughts, energies and spirits.  Salvia is Latin for 'to heal'.  Sagebrush, mugwort and cedar are good for driving out the influences. Cedar is burned while praying aloud and the smoke is a carrier to the Creator. Sweet grass is used to attract positive energy after all the negative energies have been banished by sage. It is the most sacred and brings in good spirits and influences.

Get a shell, abalone is what I always use.  Any small, flat, heat-proof container will do.  Light the sage and let it flame for a minute.  Extinguish the flame so the sage is smoldering and smoking.  Take the smudge container and using circular clockwise motions, encircle yourself with the smoke, asking that all negative energies be cleansed away.  You can do this for the whole room and even the whole house.  Try and finish off the smudging process by ending up at an open door towards the most northwesterly part of your home.  I say a little prayer and affirmation over and over as I smudge.  Ask the powers that be (spirit of the sage) to remove all negativity and unwanted energies.  It works! At first you may feel a little agitated or uneasy and not sure why.  It is because you are clearing with the help of the smudging.  This would indicate there is a lot of negative energies in your environment.  Smudge as often or as little as necessary. 

Prayer: Teach me to forgive, Jesus, by letting old hurts go. I'm not sure how to do this; it's that difficult.  Give me the grace I need this Lent to pray for my enemies and even to love them.  Give me the courage to try to love "everyone without exception."  Then may my love and forgiveness continue to grow.  Amen.

got to have faith

Faith is like the air in a balloon.  If you've got it, you're filled.  If you don't, you're empty. Peggy Cahn

Great men are they who see that spiritual is stronger than any material force, that thoughts rule the world. Ralph Waldo Emerson

We all have angels guiding us...They look after us.  They heal us, touch us, comfort us with invisible warm hands... What will bring their help?  Asking.  Giving thanks. Sophy Burnham

Faith is more than an asset of the intellect; it involves our whole being, head to toe.  It means saying yes to the teachings of Jesus in their entirety and trying to live them out.  Jesus says that He came to offer God's healing and forgiveness.  Say "yes" to that as often as you can today.

Prayer:  Jesus, I believe that you are my spiritual healer.  Give me ever deeper faith that I might call on you often this day and this Lent for spiritual healing.  Show me how to share with others your healing gifts of love and care.  Amen.

xo

sharing joy

It's not easy to feel joy, especially if we do happen to be carrying crosses in our lives right now.  But today is a good time to practice joy, to act on the belief that Jesus is on this sacred path with us.  A smile, though a small thing, can be a powerful sign to others that we have faith and that we believe He can fill us with joy.  So smile a lot today.

In your joy, you offer joy to the world.  In your pain, you offer pain to the world. Esther and Jerry Hicks

You see beauty where you desire to see it.  You see ugliness where you are afraid to see beauty. Neale Donald Walsh

Forgive me, Jesus, for not tapping more often into your gift of joy.  Help me to rejoice because you are with me.  I am not alone; I do not walk by myself on this sacred path through Lent or at any other time.  Fill my heart with joy and help me to truly celebrate today just because you are here with me.  Amen.

Joy is not the same as happiness.  We can't always be happy because life by its very nature delivers difficulties and burdens as well as good things.  Joy is a deep-down gift from God that helps us to be grateful and content even when we feel pain or disappointments.  Pray for the gift of joy this Lent and try to radiate it today.  Let is shine through you in all that you do.

To the dull mind all nature is leaden.  To the illuminated mind the whole world sparkles with light. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Joys divided are increased. Josiah Gilbert Holland

There are only two ways to live your life.  One is as though nothing is a miracle.  The other is as though everything is a miracle.  Albert Einstein

Dear God, please teach me how to focus on the gifts and talents in my life, rather than on my mistakes and disappointments.  Help me to focus on the positive and to genuinely rejoice in my blessings.  May this be my message today for everyone I meet:  God has given me light and I am going to let is shine.  Amen.

joy to the world xo