by Krista | Apr 28, 2011 | Plucky Thursday
Hello luvs!
It was a gloriously sunshiny day when my friend Jenny came out to visit me last weekend. The whole world seemed to come out of hibernation, birds singing madly, fish flopping in the creek, and folks emerging from their heated homes to bask in the first real spring day of the year.
Jenny thrilled me to pieces by bringing the most gorgeous strawberries, plump, red and perfectly ripe.
On such a scrumptious day we HAD to go for a walk, more of an amble really, stopping often to sniff blossoms and lift our faces to the sun. I’ll tell you more about that tomorrow.
When we got back we were thirsty, ravenous and ready for a rest, so we filled blue bowls with yogurt and fruit, gathered up blankets, and went out to the creek bank for a strawberry picnic.
We stretched out on our blankets and snoozed happily, rousing ourselves now and then to try and identify various birds or catch a glimpse of the big ol’ fish that kept splashing about in the water. The sun blazed down but lovely cool breezes from the creek kept us from roasting.
It was the best of days filled with great talks and peals of laughter, luscious berries, and that wonderful, healing sunshine we’ve missed so much this winter.
What is your ideal simple day?
by Krista | Apr 21, 2011 | Plucky Thursday
Good morning, dear ones! 🙂
I write to you with a grateful heart today because at long last I know what’s been causing me such pain the last three months: an obscure virus from the Ecoli family. I am on the right treatment now and each day I’m getting better and stronger. 🙂 I’ll have to do a lot of resting for the next while, but I’m so happy to have answers and the hope of getting back to my old self in the near future.
Thank you SO much for all your wonderful notes and phone calls and texts and emails through this painful time. You’ve made a dark time so much easier to bear. 🙂
Today I’m celebrating beautiful things, like these lovely views from inside Bled Castle in Slovenia. 🙂
How are YOU doing today? What beautiful things are making your heart happy?
by Krista | Apr 14, 2011 | Plucky Thursday
Hello dear ones. 🙂
Yesterday I had a good day, a beautiful day, all sunshiny and happy with an extra long lunch hour. I was finally well enough to get out a bit, so I drove to one of our city parks and found a bench right near the creek. I just sat for a good, long while, grinning my head off as I basked in the feel of sun on my face and the sounds of gurgling creek, kids dashing about, and wind rustling through the trees. It was so good to be part of the world again.
Pink was the color of the day with profusions of cheery blossoms everywhere, their papery petals so striking against the vivid green and velvety leaves.
Even the magnolias were out, the tightly wrapped buds reaching up for the sun, just waiting for one more day or two before they burst into bloom. Who would think that such thick fuzzy husks would hold such glorious blossoms. They remind me of rich ladies shedding their fur coats to reveal gossamer evening gowns. 🙂
With all that lovely fresh air and sunshine I was happy to dig into my lunch, a scrumptious hodge-podge of a quiche I had thrown together with leftover bits and bobs in my fridge: 5 eggs, oven-roasted tomatoes, crispy roast asparagus, flaked salmon, and creamy chevre. Mmm, mmm, good! Add a few drops of green Tabasco and it’s a perfect spring-is-really-here celebratory meal.
What is your favorite thing to eat after an afternoon at the park?
Gluten-Free Asparagus Roasted Tomato Quiche
Ingredients:
5 eggs
8-10 oven-roasted tomato halves (click here for recipe)
handful roasted asparagus (steamed will work just as well), chopped into bite-sized pieces
1/2 cup salmon, flaked
1/2 cup Chevre, chunked (feta would work well too)
seasoning salt
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Beat eggs with seasoning salt. Set aside.
- In greased pie plate layer tomatoes, asparagus, salmon and chevre.
- Pour beaten egg over ingredients, jostle them a bit to let the egg get in all the cracks.
- Bake for 45 minutes.
by Krista | Apr 7, 2011 | Plucky Thursday
Hi dear ones!
I was overjoyed to drive home from work this evening in full blown glorious sunshine!! I got home and pulled open my blinds, letting every spare bit of that sun into my house. Oh, it was so lovely! I closed my eyes and smiled in sheer bliss at the warmth and cheer of it.
I’m not doing so well these days. The Ecoli is knocking the stuffings out of me and I just can’t seem to get better. I do have a cry now and then, it hurts so bad, but I’m plugging along and finding things to make me smile.
- Like the blood orange tart I made that somehow turned garishly, marvelously purple.
- Randomly winning 250 packages of crackers. (Makes me laugh when I think of it. Most people win trips or shopping sprees. I win an obscene amount of crackers. :-))
- Crammed on the couch with my friends as we each told our own story about our very favorite sunset.
- Dressing like Pippi Longstocking because it’s so darn cheerful.
Tonight though, I’m most happy about sunshine, and how it makes everything better.
It made my mango juice look like a golden elixir.
Turned my pillow cover into a dazzling thing fit for a princess.
And made my book extra-specially interesting to read.
Most of all though, it made me happy as it flooded my room with light and warmth. I tucked my aching self in bed and had the best rest I’ve had in ages.
What made you smile today?
PS – I recently interviewed my grandparents about their adventures immigrating from Denmark to Canada by boat in the 1950’s. I wrote an article and it is now published at The Travel Belles. Click Here to read their story.
by Krista | Mar 31, 2011 | Plucky Thursday
I’m going to pretend that you and me are tucked up on a couch somewhere, a soft squishy couch, mugs filled with something hot and delicious warming our hands as we settle in for a good visit.
I’m in need of a friend like you tonight, and a hug, and a good long talk.
A door I was told would stay open for me was slammed shut this week and I’m rather weepy. I’m not sad because of what I lost behind that door, but because now it seems I’m left without any door at all, and the darkness is scary.
I’ve had my cries, my little (huge!!) inner panics, and now a lovely sort of hope is creeping up, lightening my spirit, and the darkness isn’t so bad. I “know” another door will open somewhere.
My friend Effie posted something that made me smile:
“Something better is coming . . . you’re allowed to be excited!”
I love that. 🙂
So tonight I’m celebrating closed doors – some of my favorite doors ever are the closed ones – and keeping my eyes peeled for the first crack of light that tells me the next door is opening.
Thanks for hanging out with me on our imaginary couch. I’m feeling better already.
“Hope is a good thing – maybe the best thing, and no good thing ever dies.” S. King
by Krista | Mar 17, 2011 | Plucky Thursday
My grandfather was in line at the grocery store the other day when a woman in a red coat barged in front of him, plopping a large package of toilet paper directly on top of his groceries.
Startled, he looked up and saw by her animated gestures to the clerk that she was deaf. Not understanding sign language he had no idea what she was saying, but being the gracious soul he is, he let her cut in front of him without a word.
Soon it was his turn. The clerk rang up his few groceries and as he reached for his wallet she smiled and informed him that his groceries had already been paid for.
By the woman in the red coat.
It happened a week ago, but my grandparents still talk about it, smiling broadly as they shake their heads in disbelief.
It makes me smile too.
These days when it seems like the only news is bad news, it’s lovely to think of the lady in the red coat and know there are still beautiful people in this world showing love and generosity without a thought of reward or thanks.
Have you ever received an unexpected kindness from a stranger?
