Linked 2013 - Comfort

Comfort means different things to me at different times of the year..

When I get home from work in the Spring or Fall, the first thing I want to do is get some fresh air.
The clean air outside (certainly cleaner and fresher than the lab air) almost makes me giddy with
excitement. I feel sooo good after filling my lungs with outside air, and no matter how bad a mood
I may be in, after my walk, I feel much better.
I quick change my clothes, make a pit stop, fill up my water bottle and put on my walking shoes.
I call for Annie, stick a few dog treats in my pocket, clip on her leash, make sure my phone is in my pocket and we are off, down to the walking path by the Mississippi river.
Annie gets bored with this routine, but she's walking with me, and I like the path better than the streets, it's pretty by the river, I don't have to worry about getting hit by a car, I feel safe, and I have a better chance at seeing my eagles (we have two adults and one youngster)
I'm down here so often, I'm thinking of taking a weekly "from where I stand" photo of the same spot,
to show the change the river goes through.
The river changes even now, in February, two weeks ago, the river was almost completely iced over, last week it was almost completely clear and yesterday a lot of the ice was back again.
I really never took much notice of the changes the river goes through, until Instagram allowed the Android market...and I got my pretty new Canon 7D, now it seems like all I see is light and color and mood.
Thank you photographers for helping me to see the light!

During the summer, I usually wait till my hubs is off work and we've had dinner, then it's usually a little cooler
to walk and I don't worry as much about Annie overheating.

During the winter, I only walk when it's not really cold and windy because the only part of my face that I can't cover, (the bridge of my nose where my glasses sit) gets too cold and I guess I'm just turning into a wimp with my old age. I also tend to read more in the winter and once I'm engrossed in a book, that's all I want to do. So unless there is some errand I have to do after work, once I get home, I let Annie out,
change clothes, make a pit stop, make a cup of flavored coffee, let Annie in, stoke the fire, make sure I have my coffee, water, phone and book or tablet, sit in my chair, cover up with a blanket and read for an hour or so, until it's time to start dinner.

These things mean Comfort for me, see what Comfort means for these ladies...

Andrea, Amanda, Carla, Hanne, Heather, Heidi, Janet, Jean, Jenn, Kristin, Rhonda, Tracey and Tracy

Linked 2013 - Fresh

fresh

vegetables
fruit
flowers
eggs - if i had chickens
chickens - if we were allowed
bread - grinding my own flours

for the past few years, i've been planting herbs in a large pot that i sit out in the garden
(they are extremely easy to grow) along with other vegetables and fruit.
i can't wait to have fresh lettuce again, there's nothing like tearing off a handful of different
lettuce leaves for a fresh salad...yum.
once all the other vegetables have produced and are dying, i clean off the herb pot and bring
it indoors for the winter, so i can then have fresh herbs for cooking until approximately april..
they just won't last any longer than that, at least for me.

well, this past summer, instead of planting herbs in a pot, we planted them directly into the ground
great idea - they grew like weeds - but we ended up having nothing to bring indoors to savor over
the long cold winter

for me, january is a fresh new month of a fresh new year and i find myself cleaning and purging and
simplifying my surroundings. i make plans for the much anticipated spring and summer, usually
while soaking in the tub ( i do my best thinking and planning in the tub). i look for new recipes
and call my son for help making those recipes taste good when i need inspiration, and i love
to use fresh herbs in those recipes. i've usually been able to find already potted herbs at
bachman's, the home depot or cub foods, so now that i've got the craving...
you got it, there are NO potted herbs to be found, except for a few rosemary and sage.
i bought one of the rosemary, don't want the sage and basil isn't out yet. i'm hoping there
was a run on fresh basil and by next week, one of these places will have more in stock

i could certainly plant them from seeds, but right now i want instant gratification

visit these ladies and get some fresh ideas...

Andrea, Amanda, Carla, Hanne, Heather, Heidi, Janet, Jean, Jenn, Kristin, Rhonda, Tracey and Tracy

Arise, shine...

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you,

Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

Arise, arise, and shine like the sun

and all nations shall come,

and all kings will be drawn

to the brightness of your rising.

The sun shall no longer be your light,

nor the brightness of the moon by night.

But the Lord shall be

your everlasting light,

your God will be your everlasting light.

Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

Arise, arise, and shine,

and all nations shall come,

and all kings will be drawn

to the brightness of your rising.

Arise, shine for your light has come.

The song our choir sang today...