Hello dear ones. I wish I could reach through my computer screen tonight and hug each of you so tight.
It’s been a rough few weeks for me and I feel wrung out like an old dishrag. My dear friend died, my Grandpa is dying and will leave us any moment, my uncle is in bad shape in the hospital, and I’m just trying to soldier along as I recover from the ravages of Ecoli.
Sometimes it really does seem like too much to bear.
As I was thinking of what to post tonight, I spent a while scrolling through pictures until I found these beautifully peaceful ones in Ireland. Just looking at them made me relax.
I started thinking of the Irish, of the terrible things they have gone through: civil war, famine, poverty. That sent me on a search for Irish poetry and I found this beautiful Funeral Prayer that made me teary and smiley at the same time. I think it was actually written by an Englishman, but we’ll just keep that between us.
Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Everything remains as it was. The old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no sorrow in your tone. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without effort Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is unbroken continuity. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before. How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting, when we meet again.
Whatever you are going through today, I hope your heart is comforted, your spirit strengthened, your body restored.
Hi dear ones. My heart is sad today because my Grandpa had a massive stroke and is not expected to recover. He has lost the use of his left side and does not recognize anyone.
I’m glad I promised you forest pictures today because Grandpa has always loved being outside, exploring, canoeing, and farming. He would like these.
Love you all and wish you a most beautiful weekend with people you love.
It’s been quite the week, dear friends, and I’m so glad for Friday and sunshine and fried potatoes with sausage and apple vanilla tea and a movie night with dear friends and naps in the sun and the hope of getting better.
Doc told me yesterday that I was dying before they got the right meds in me this week. It was a sobering thought. Made me sit quietly and do a lot of thinking.
I have a park down the road from me that is a good place for thinking.
I wandered through the trees and looked up into a glowing canopy of green.
I rounded a corner on a little trail I found and discovered this lovely perch. I clambered aboard, found a good sitting spot among the moss and ferns, closed my eyes and just sat. The trickle of water over stones, birds singing merrily, sun warming me up beautifully, it was just what my heart needed.
And I thought you might like it too, so I took a shaky little video. If it makes you seasick, just close your eyes and listen, the creek sounds wonderful. 🙂
I woke this morning to SNOW!!! I could hardly believe it. So of course I had to listen to Christmas music and sip hot apple vanilla tea and nibble on dark chocolate. It just had to be done. 😉
How are you today? How was your week? Are you oh so ready for some down time this weekend?
I’ve been so wretchedly sick this week but there have been such bright spots along the way that I can’t stop grinning when I think of them.
Like an afternoon spent by the creek, admiring the new leaves and brilliant yellow blossoms, and watching a muskrat busy himself. He scrabbled about for foliage on the creek bank, secured a wad of leaves in his mouth, then slid into the water and paddled across to his home under the forsythia. If I had to live on a creek bank, I’d be pleased as punch to have a bright yellow forsythia guarding the entrance.
I’m not a fan of tagging in nature, but I had to smile at this cheery heart spray painted on the side of a tree.
I’m avoiding too much sugar these days, so I’ve been concocting all sorts of fresh juices like mango, apple, and clementine, and mixing them with soda water to make drinks that feel like something special. My favorite one this week was Pear Ginger Soda made with bright green pears, fresh ginger and several glugs of club soda. Served in a fancy-shmancy glass it made me feel quite spoiled.
What little thing are you going to spoil yourself with this weekend?
PS – I’ve been upgrading my blog and all sorts of things this week. Those bright colored buttons to the right will link you up with all of them should you be interested in connecting through places like Flickr, Tumblr, and YouTube. I’d love to join you there. 🙂
Pear Ginger Soda
Ingredients:
1 pear, washed and cored 1 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped 1 cup club soda, chilled
Hello luvs. 🙂 I can’t thank you enough for your kind comments, emails and messages you flooded me with yesterday. You mean so much to me and your words and love have helped me through this overwhelming and daunting time.
A good sleep does wonders and I’m feeling much better about things today. Life is still scary and unknown but my heart is at rest. I don’t know what the future holds for me but I’m excited to find out. Big hugs to you and thanks again for your kindness.
I came home from work this week to find the bush outside my door absolutely covered in these cheery yellow blossoms. They were such a sunny contrast to the incessant rain we’ve had lately, and brought my neighbor lady out for a chat and a tour of her latest blossoms. 🙂
My doctor said it will take another week or so for me to recover from this Ecoli business, so this weekend will be one of naps and resting. I’m looking forward to it so much. I stopped by the library and have audio books (Rainbow Valley and Mrs. Pollifax), old movies (Zorba the Greek and Monkey Business), and a few new books (The Dragon’s Apprentice and King Zog) to make my recovery delightful.
I will also have this decadent Dark Chocolate Mocha Tart with a lovely Maple Crust to celebrate being a few days closer to getting a whole lot better. In the past I’ve made it with regular cocoa, but this time I tried Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa and ohhhh mercy!! The filling is silky smooth and melts on your tongue with a lingering finish of rich, dark chocolate and a hint of coffee. Bliss!
What are your plans this weekend? What is your ideal dessert to spoil yourself with?
One more big hug and much love to you.
Dark Chocolate Mocha Tart with Maple Crust
Ingredients for Crust:
1 stick butter, melted 1/4 cup sugar pinch salt 1 tsp maple flavoring 1 cup whole-wheat flour
Ingredients for Filling:
1/4 cup Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa 1 cup coconut milk 6 Tbsp sugar 1 1/4 tsp instant instant coffee or espresso powder 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1 large egg, lightly beaten
Directions for Crust:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Mix butter, sugar, salt and maple flavoring in medium bowl. Add flour mix until just blended. Don’t worry if dough seems too soft.
Press all of the dough evenly into bottom and sides of 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom.
Bake 20-25 minutes, or until crust is deep golden brown.
Directions for Filling:
While crust is baking, place butter, sugar, cocoa powder and coconut milk in a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring, until mixture is blended, smooth and begins to simmer around edges.
Remove from heat and stir in espresso powder and vanilla.
Just before crust is ready, whisk egg thoroughly into hot chocolate mixture.
Directions for Tart:
Pour filling into hot crust and return to oven. Turn off heat.
Leave tart in oven until it quivers like soft Jell-O in the center when the pan is nudged, about 10-12 minutes. Cool on a rack.
