food for thought

i received this from a friend and thought that i would share with all of you.

If you will take the time to read these. I promise you’ll come away with an enlightened perspective. The subjects covered affect us all on a daily basis:
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> I’ve learned…. That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.
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> I’ve learned…. That when you’re in love, it shows.
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> I’ve learned…. That just one person saying to me, ‘You’ve made my day!’ makes my day.
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> I’ve learned…. That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.
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> I’ve learned…. That being kind is more important than being right.
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> I’ve learned…. That you should never say no to a gift from a child.
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> I’ve learned…. That I can always pray for someone when I don’t have the strength to help him in some other way.
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> I’ve learned…. That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.
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> I’ve learned…. That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
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> I’ve learned…. That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.
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> I’ve learned…. That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.
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> I’ve learned…. That we should be glad God doesn’t give us everything we ask for.
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> I’ve learned… That money doesn’t buy class.
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> I’ve learned…. That it’s those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.
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> I’ve learned… That under everyone’s hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
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> I’ve learned…. That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
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> I ‘ve learned…. That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.
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> I’ve learned…. That love, not time, heals all wounds.
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> I’ve learned…. That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.
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> I’ve learned… That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
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> I’ve learned….. That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.
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> I’ve learned… That life is tough, but I’m tougher.
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> I’ve learned…. That opportunities are never lost, someone will take the ones you miss.
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> I’ve learned…. That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.
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> I’ve learned…. That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.
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> I’ve learned…. That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.
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> I’ve learned…. That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
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> I’ve learned…. That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you’re hooked for life.
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> I’ve learned…. That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.
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> I’ve learned…. That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

fresh fruit and spinach

tastes really good!

The blender helps with making sauces and makes a great soup too. Here are a few dishes I made that whipped up in no time, the last photo is a raw foods brownie that I learned to make at Turquoise barn, I’ll include the recipe for this one, it is sooo good with chocolate sauce and berries.

Rachael Ray's Veg. sauce & Penne

almost Gen.Tso's Pork

mixed greens and pasta

raw food brownie

NO BAKE BROWNIES:  In a food processor blend until smooth

1 cup waluts/pecans or both

1 cup dates  cut-up few grains sea salt splash of vanilla

1/4 cup cacao or carob

CHOCOLATE SAUCE: Mix all ingredients til smooth

1 T coconut butter or oil (optional)

1 T cocoa few grains of sea salt

1/4 cup raw agave splash of vanilla serve sauce over brownie topped with your favorite fruit

enjoy!

What I have found, is a new way of looking at what I eat, how I feel and what I do about those things. I’ve always been a believer in alternative medicine, therefore, it was the first place I looked for answers. The mind, body and soul connection, as I refer to it, held all the answer’s for me. I have been slowly transitioning into a plant based diet at least 30% of the time right now. To do this I needed some guidance and I found a women who has been doing this for twenty or more years  and holds classes  in her home. What I need are enzymes to protect my liver and kidneys that are filtering the meds I am hoping to protect  my other organs and intestines. I received a Vita mixer for mother’s day, something I wanted because it is a strong blender that turns fruits and veggies into delicious drinks, and because they are raw, I get all the plant based enzymes directly from the plants.I feel really good, and feel I should share some of what I learn along the way, right here. I will start a new category  called “Raw foods and Scleroderma”.

Here are some pictures of my visit at the Turquoise Barn with Michelle, her website is www.turquoisebarn.com

Turquoise Barn

Her home and classroom

Michelle preparing a meal

Zucchini pasta, sauce and salad

In the meantime, our bird Garfunkel ( his brother’s name was Simon) got a new cage. He loves it!

Garfunkel's new home

A new view too!

I have saved the best for last! some cutie pictures of Jacob…

Hanging out and cooling off

cute! mickey mouse diapers

Well it doesn’t end there,  we went to the nursery and watched as they took his foot prints and started to clean him up when they noticed he was not getting enough oxygen. They tried for the longest time to get some of the fluid out so he could breath normally but his breaths were very rapid. They decide to take him to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) , there, they were able to give him more oxygen and watch him closely. By day three, Missy was beginning to feel depressed, she was not able to hold Jacob at all since birth and she could not spend much time with him either. Finally, Jacob started to improve on day 4, they were now able to feed him one ounce of mother’s milk of which he took down with no trouble.  What a relief, they said it could take up to two weeks or more, and now they could hold and feed him. He is still in NICU as of today but doing much better. Here are some of the photo’s taken during this time…

moments after birth

7lbs 3oz, 21 1/2 inches long

signs of trouble

In NICU getting oxygen

Finally, mommy can hold me!

real food, not sugar water

hat on...

hat off...what a cutie!

very proud daddy!

We're doing great!

BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES OF THE EASTER BASKETS….

Later, Little Julian showed up with John and Samantha and he got all his goodies. The hit of the day was a bubble gun that all the kids got a turn shooting at each other, the air was filled with lots and lots of bubbles, and then there was no more bubble solution! next was super hero time, Greggy came prepared with his costumes, he even shared when a neighbor kid  joined  in on the fun, I just had to ask,  “what holiday is this?” Haloween maybe? oh ! it’s just superhero’s to the Easter party, hey batman, spiderman Happy Easter!

AND HERE IS LITTLE SABRINA, she really was such a good baby! Next year she will be running around  with her soon to be little cousin, Jacob.  Sabrina gave John the look while Missy was holding her, as if to  say, your next Uncle John….

We had a great time, now for summertime to arrive!

Everyone had a great time and Missy and John received beautiful and much needed baby items. I think they are ready for baby Jacob to arrive, since he is expected to come earlier then planned.

A BEAUTIFUL GIFT …. I received the most beautiful gift from Fr. Mike of the Holy Cross Monastery on Long Island. He had traveled to the Republic of Georgia recently and had brought back a hand made wooden cross necklace for me. I was double thrilled to receive this because Georgia has a history attached to St. Nina, my mother’s name. I will be adding more information in my next blog about the Monastery which has a retreat here in Downsville. Thank you Fr. Mike!

Last year I came up with the idea to make my own Rosary beads. I wanted my rosaries to be personal, so I thought I would use birthstone beads for each of my children. Since they are now having children, I think I may attach side beads attached to their string of beads. Now when I say the Rosary, I have them included.

The end of March, March madness! we found our cat Cosmo chasing birds on the roof, he managed to climb the ladder but couldn’t get down it. John had to go up and get him before it got dark! crazy cat.

And finally, after having 50 and 60 degree weather, we woke up to 2″ of snow yesterday!!  Sidney was so happy, he was running out of snow patches to lay on.

Icicles,

Formed after a winter’s snow

Hanging from the roof’s ledge,

I watch as you grow.

How beautiful and perfect

And simple in shape.

In front of my window

Like a curtain you drape.

Across the roof’s edge,

More icicles formed.

Now the snow is melting,

And the weather has warmed.

Out comes my hubby,

With broomstick in hand,

Down come the icicles,

On the ground they all land.

C.Hubner

The snow is melting fast, now the floods begin! Rain is coming this weekend, so my neighbors who live in the valley and in town will feel the effects much more than we will, there are benefits of living on a mountain. My son lives in town but he is on higher ground, thank God for that because a few years ago the whole town  flooded out.  Saturday, we are having a baby shower for John and Missy, and I am really worried about the flooding. My daughter will be traveling in from the city where they are expected to get a lot of rain too. We will just have to cross our fingers and pray it doesn’t come down so hard and heavy that it creates problems for travelers.

This weekend I was able to get to Dawn’s to see the baby! she is beautiful and I was thrilled that she actually smiled at me! Kim, Glenn and Ella came over too so we had a real family get together…

I will add more pictures from Dawn’s camera as soon as I get them. Gramps had  fun holding her too.

My daughter Kim, who knew I had this appointment in Albany, sent down the most beautiful hand bag that she made especially for me! I love it! and inside I found two issues of  ‘Art Doll’ magazine which is my favorite magazine in the world along with ‘Artful blogging’, both expensive , both worth every penny. Since we haven’t got together for our Christmas yet, she also sent some very nice outfits including sweaters that give you a nice pulled together look, I love you Kim!

After all this, I got SICK!  A terrible head and chest cold, thought I was going to die. The first week I took the Z-pack that they normally give out for this sort of thing, but it only had a mild effect on me. So, I managed to get myself to the doctors and hoped I wouldn’t catch anything else flouting around the waiting room. I didn’t think anyone could have so much mucus in their body and the coughing, it was horrible. I ended up with a much stronger antibiotic and  a nebulizer machine and a box of Albuterol  to inhale. My daughter Dawn called to see how I was doing, she felt so bad she couldn’t be with me to help me feel better (imagine, she just had a baby). The next day, I received a package from California from an organic company filled with organic made chicken  and minestrone soups and three large blueberry muffins, what a surprise! and they were delicious! I have the best kids!!!!  Love you Dawn, it hit the spot.

SOON AFTER, A NORTH EASTERN HITS! this means more SNOW, 30 inches on top of the foot of snow already on the ground. I am so snowed out! I bet Samantha, cleaning off the car’s and hubby plowing will be glad to see the snow go too…

PRAY FOR SPRING!!!!

Jerry was 15 years old, and the oldest of our cats. He came to us through our daughter Dawn, who found him and his brother living in the basement of a Veterinary’s office. They had been taken in by the vet when the cat’s owner, an elderly women, had died. When they came to us they were both five years old and very over weight, so we named them after the fattening ice cream, “Ben and Jerry”.

After a few weeks of the cat’s learning to explore the outdoors, we lost Jerry to the woods. I thought for sure he would never find his way out. Everyday we would go into the woods and call for him and after three tearful and agonizing days, we heard a meowing coming from the woods. He made it home in good shape, except for some fur missing in the form of a circle on his back. He never took off again and always stayed close to the house. His brother on the other hand, was a hunter and liked to roam, one day a few years back, he never returned after going out after a rain storm.

Within that time, my other daughter came to live with us after moving from Boston and she brought along her cat named Max, who is pictured above with Jerry. Max was an apartment dweller and needed Jerry to show him how to stay safe while living so close to the woods. As our little tribe of cats began to grow, Jerry always was the father figure, the head cat, the teacher. Jerry did love his cat naps though, you could find him almost anywhere napping….

When Miss Kitty arrived, Jerry became her surrogate father while she spent the winter indoors.

We will miss you so much, but you will always live on in our memories and in our hearts, I am sure Ben has already found you in heaven.

YOU JUST HAVE TO LOVE THIS DOG!