Happy New Year 2020
Saturday, December 28, 2019
To Be Positive, And To Live A Positive Life,
Means That I…
Live with love, compassion and respect in how I treat myself, others, animals and the environment.
Have gratitude for whatever blessings I have in life.
Prioritize self-care (holistically – mind, body and soul) to honor the life I’ve been gifted.
Acknowledge that it’s human for me to have difficult thoughts and feelings, and choosing to live consciously – by each day practicing being my best self with how I manage my thoughts, feelings, actions and interactions.
Be present and calm in the face of difficult people and situations, choosing how I respond.
Look for the most empowering perspectives and effective actions available to me in any situation, no matter what life brings.
Cultivate self-belief and confidence by remembering that I am stronger and more capable than I realize.
Be open minded and understanding with people who are different – remembering every person is unique, on their own journey in this life, with their own goals, dreams and challenges.
Practice forgiveness and letting go of the past in order to be truly free within myself and in my life.
Proactively contribute to life in the ways I am able to, no matter how big or small (a simple smile goes a long way!)
Wholeheartedly accept life is a journey with both highs and lows, enjoying the ride and making the most of my time here.
from The Daily Positive
Thursday, December 26, 2019
I love this tiny cabin in the woods. A special place for a short getaway, just for 1 or 2. I picture a lovely spot, and sitting on the porch reading a book. Some simple comfortable furnishings, a place for a campfire. A comfortable and peaceful tiny home, made for rest and relaxation. A wish of mine....
.............Orange Cranberry Bread
I made this recipe today! Wow! It is so good! AAA+ If you need to bring something to a potluck, or to family event this is really good. Maybe, you like to bake some for gifts. I baked mine in two smaller pans...rather than one large pan. I also put some extra cranberries on the top of the batter before it was baked. It is from Pinterest.
ORANGE CRANBERRY BREAD
yield: 1 LOAF
prep time: 20 MINUTES
cook time: 70-75 MINUTES
total time: 95 MINUTES
INGREDIENTS:
FOR THE BREAD:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- Zest of 1 large orange
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs, slightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
FOR THE ORANGE GLAZE:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray a 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder. In a small bowl, combine sugar and orange zest. Rub together with your fingers until fragrant. Whisk into the flour mixture. Set aside.
- In a separate medium bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, orange juice, and vanilla.
- Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Stir until just combined. Fold in the cranberries. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
- Bake for 70-75 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. If your loaf starts to get too brown drape a piece of foil over the top to finish baking. I did this during the last 10 minutes of the baking time.
- Remove bread from oven and place on a cooling rack and cool for 15 minutes. Loosen the sides of the bread with a knife. Carefully remove loaf from pan. Let cool completely on wire rack.
- While the bread is cooling, make the orange glaze. In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, orange juice, and orange zest. Whisk until smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the bread. Cut and serve.
Note-store the bread, wrapped, on the counter for 2-3 days.
All images and text ©Two Peas & Their Pod.
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
You know what helps? LOVE. It just does.
Dear Wonderful Girl,
Being a person is a hard job. There is so much that must be learned . . . so many mistakes get made. Sometimes people get hurt and sometimes things fall apart. Sometimes we go down the wrong road and sometimes we are careless and don’t think through things. Sometimes it takes a few times to learn something. Sometimes it seems that all is lost.
Good thing we get lots of chances, isn’t it, dear friend?
You know what helps? LOVE. It just does. Most things in the world are helped by loving . . . and loving some more. And then even more. We choose the things that are most sacred to us and give them all the love they need . . . and then with all the love we have left . . . we spread love wherever we go.
When we make mistakes, we can show up in love to make them right. When others make mistakes . . . we can show up in love and let others make it right . . . we can show up in love even if they don’t make it right. We can love ourselves enough to let the bitterness go. We can love ourselves enough to forgive ourselves. We can love enough to admit when we are wrong and we can love enough to do whatever it takes to make it right. We can love enough to hear each other out . . . and we can love enough to try to understand each other.
When in doubt, do the most loving thing. Still in doubt, love more. Going down a path of hate or self-hate will just hurt everyone involved . . . especially ourselves. Love is the magic medicine for just about everything that ails.
It’s hard to be a human. Let’s give each other some grace. Let’s give ourselves some grace.
You are so very loved. Always, forever, and no matter what.
xoxo
Sunday, December 22, 2019
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Saturday, December 21, 2019
I recently completed reading this book. A tremendous read, and I recommend this book if you have interest in the WWII concentration camps for women, and all the horrors of life inside one. The post war story continues with their survival and lives after the horrors.
This cover is distracting, at no time do these 3 women ever walk arm in arm. Never, it doesn't happen.
This book is a can't put it down, and made me keep reading it all weekend.
Friday, December 20, 2019
I want to share a few vintage Christmas Cards from Pinterest. These are pretty fun with the glitter on them. I put glitter on cards myself, it just adds a great touch for the recipient. The card with the pine cones on it is my favorite.
I love this card with the bells. The artwork has wonderful use of color...and the glitter of course.
This card featuring a city scene in the fog and snow is beautifully done. I love how the glitter was used in the snow and rooftops.
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
I found this recipe on Pinterest. It is so simple and I am going to give it a try. I think that this recipe would make a nice gift, and along with a jar of our honey.
Citrus-Herb Seasoning Salt
Citrus-Herb Seasoning Salt
3/4 cup coarse salt (Coarse Kosher Salt)
2 Tablespoons lemon zest 4 teaspoons dried rosemary 3 teaspoons dried thyme 3 teaspoons dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Store in an airtight container, up to 3 months. Makes 1 Cup
Ideas & Uses
○ sprinkle on chicken, pork or fish before baking/cooking
○ add to balsamic vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil dipping sauce for bread ○ sprinkle over popcorn, pasta, cream cheese dip & garlic bread
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recipe source: Martha Stewart Everyday Food Magazine, December 2011
This is a different recipe to try. I think that I like this one better. It just appeals to me.
Orange Rosemary Sea Salt:
When infusing salt, it's best to start with dried ingredients, or the salt will clump. So, if you are using citrus rind or fresh herbs, they will need to dried first. If you happen to have a food dehydrator, this is the best tool for the job, if not click here for instructions for oven drying. The basic ratio for flavoured salt is 1 teaspoon of dried ingredients to 1/4 cup coarse sea salt. Add the dried ingredients to a tablespoon of the salt in your mortar and pestle and grind until fragrant, then add the rest of the salt and stir to combine. Package in a pretty jar, and you are done. For this one, I used 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary and 1/2 teaspoon dried orange peel. It would make a nice finishing salt for roasted potatoes, chicken, or pork.
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Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Dear Lovely Girl,
You are the only one on earth who knows exactly the battles that you have had to fight, the dragons you have had to slay, the muck you have had to walk through, the pain you have had to endure, the strength you have had to build, the wisdom you have had to earn.
You are the only one who knows the depth that is behind your own eyes.
For this reason, beautiful friend, it is so important that you give yourself the kind of respect that you would give to someone who has lived through all you have lived through.
It is so important that you are compassionate with yourself, that you are gentle with yourself, that you are patient with yourself. It is so important that you continue to remind yourself that you have made it through tough things and you will continue to make it through things. It is so important that you give yourself credit for what you have learned so far instead of comparing yourself with others. It is so important that you cheer yourself on, instead of putting yourself through the wringer.
It is so important that you are fair and kind with this sacred information that you have about yourself. No one, aside from our Creator, knows what we know about ourselves, and so we must be careful, responsible, and a noble guardian over these things.
Listen to your heart, listen to your dreams, listen to the things that hurt and take care of them. No matter how much someone else loves you, they can not know what it means to BE you, and so you must do the work of BEing you and taking care of you.
You are so very loved.
xoxo
Sunday, December 15, 2019
I am always looking for unique enamelware at flea markets, thrift store, etc. I have not found any in a year or two. Then, in the last 2 weeks, I purchased 4: 2 small bowls, a larger bowl, and this tray. The truth is that I prefer the items made in Poland and that area. I think that the items are pretty, and very attractive.
This is a piece of Bumper Harvest Enamelware, Made in China. If you search these items on the antique or collector sites on-line, you will find pieces listed anywhere from $20.00 to $90.00. A paint spraying technique (similar to using stencils) was used. This enamelware was a huge export from China in the 1950's. This piece, a 17 1/2" tray is in excellent condition.
A little history: The 1950's in Hong Kong began after the Japanese rule ended in 1945 with sovereignty returning to the British. However, the Nationalist-Communist Civil War was renewed in mainland China. It prompted a large influx of refugees from the mainland, causing a huge population surge. The government struggled to accommodate these immigrants. Unrest in China also prompted businesses to relocate their assets and capital from Shanghai to Hong Kong. Together with the cheap labor of the immigrants, the seeds of Hong Kong's economic miracle in the second half of the 20th century were sown. In early 1950's the early industrial centers turned out anything that could be produced with small space including this type of enamelware.
Friday, December 13, 2019
I think that these small bits of art are very sweet, and so fun to craft. I got 3 of the doll heads from old Christmas ornaments from thrift stores. The actual ornaments are in rough shape, but the heads are salvageable for art dolls. I especially like the middle pic, using old silver shakers. I think that small silver candle sticks could be used.
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
I have been finding these wonderful pewter angels at thrift stores over several years. They are beautify made, so pretty that I use them year around. Today I found two more, and each one (6) that I have is different. So...I decided to find out about them.
The Serenity Angel Collection is an assortment of ornaments with serene sentiments that inspires reflection. The artist, Ceal Bialobrzeski, inspired by her childhood guardian angel, pairs uplifting messages with the strong and soaring spirit found within every woman. Her wish is to bring massage's of hope, strength and inspiration to you with the engraved inspirational quotes.
The artist says - The Serenity Angel collection pairs the spirit and grace of the feminine spirit with the power of words. I've designed these angels as spirited messengers of goodwill and inspiration for you.
The Serenity Angel Collection is an assortment of ornaments with serene sentiments that inspires reflection. The artist, Ceal Bialobrzeski, inspired by her childhood guardian angel, pairs uplifting messages with the strong and soaring spirit found within every woman. Her wish is to bring massage's of hope, strength and inspiration to you with the engraved inspirational quotes.
The artist says - The Serenity Angel collection pairs the spirit and grace of the feminine spirit with the power of words. I've designed these angels as spirited messengers of goodwill and inspiration for you.
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Sweet orange bread dotted with fresh cranberries and drizzled with an orange glaze! This bread is perfect for the holiday season!5