Alright friends! Here is your first chance to win a pair of tickets to the John Brown’s Body show this weekend at Highland Brewery. An Asheville, NC show!
Click on the screen shot below. Follow the instructions. Get yourself to the show!
Good Luck!
ONE LOVE-
When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous “yes.”
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
“Now,” said the professor as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things–your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions–and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.
The sand is everything else–the small stuff. “If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
“Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Go to the river. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first–the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked.
It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.”
As I was on the phone with my mother receiving a boost of confidence I heard the soft ding of my email. It was from my husband. He was also sending me a boost. This is the motivation I needed this morning. The best part is not once did I ever verbalize the need. The people that are important notice and offer without being asked…
ONE LOVE-
(photo from google images search, Bald Eagle in NC)
Ok. So you are totally not going to believe me but I swear we saw ANOTHER Eagle on Sunday. Different location, different water source, different bird. Still in North Carolina. This time, our little gal witnessed the beauty of the expansive Eagle flight. Pretty darn cool. Quite extraordinary.
We are rolling this week right into preparation for Saturday Nights show. The buzz is out and the vibe is high! We are choosing our outdoor activity for the day, making plans for load in, singing the tunes in my head and tasting the Razor Wit on my lips as we speak!
We are also heading into the last week of school so my head is twirling with ideas of fun things to do with RCB. We’ll start off the summer with real swim lessons and taking Kaya to the top of the mountain for some leg stretching and fresh air. We will visit with family, welcome a new baby (Erin is due in June!!) to the brood, sink our toes into the sand and introduce whitewater kayaking. (Yes, we got a kiddo kayak for the soon to be 5 year old!!! We’ll start slow but she is going to be siked!). We also plan to do some rocking on the front porch, drinking sweet tea and watching the fireflies at night! What things do you have up your sleeve this summer?
As I head out for the night I will leave you with another JBB tune to get you in the mood. I will make sure to keep you in the know for the event this weekend. I will say that I did hear as the wind crossed my ears today that there will be some free tickets up for grabs this week so make sure to tune in to find out how and where! Otherwise, be outside my friends!
ONE LOVE-
Are you in one of these areas? Did you know that there is a threat to your livelihood, your clean water and your clean, beautiful rivers? Check out this list just released today of the top 10 threatened rivers in America. If you are here, help take action, do what you can do. I will help where I can and when I can. I want to keep our rivers clean for my child and grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all the generations to follow. Click the photo to take action!
ONE LOVE-
Remember this? Well, I had a similar experience this weekend, except my husband and two of our friends were there to witness it. WE saw an Eagle! The four of us went for a friday afternoon, knock off of work and paddle down the French Broad sec 9. A great way to start the weekend and shed any frustration from the week!
We were slowly floating just above a rapid called The Maze when suddenly MRB, in a clear calm voice, said “There is an Eagle. Looks, there is an Eagle.” After about 3 times of him saying it we caught sight of the magnificent, clear as day white headed bird. This is no mistake my friends! We have a resident Eagle at our local river.
Mind you, we are not located in the wide open spaces of Colorado or the PNW. We are in North Carolina. The southeast. This is a luxury and something to admire!
No, no photos. We were so still, and stunned by its flight that we bypassed technology and breathed in the moment.
ONE LOVE-
I think these would be absolutely adorable as added decoration in any child’s room!!
Find the art here.
Happy friday friends! Make sure to get out, enjoy what ever element comes your way this weekend!
ONE LOVE-
…slathered on the sourdough. Dee-lish!!
Did not miss the opportunity to purchase extra strawberries this week for the sole purchase of strawberry jam! More strawberry recipes to can next week! This particular recipe is easy and so rewarding. Great for the newbie. I think this jam slathered on a biscuit with the lemon curd we canned a while back sounds pretty dang good!!
Doing the jiggy dance! So thrilled the season is upon us!
ONE LOVE-
The truth is, reality bites sometimes. What matters though is how you take the bitter and deal with it. Our reality of a seriously bad diagnosis for our Vizsla, the money to get the diagnosis and to buy us a little time drained the coop and landscape fund. It’s okay, it happens. It is worth it, no doubt. What we have to do at this point is take a step back and refocus. We are completely positive and moving forward everyday!
Back to the basic plan A we have turned. No, not as grand but just as exciting. Raeglan and I plotted out a spot in our flower beds last fall and built a small rock wall to frame it. We have cleaned the weeds out several times, with a final cleaning yesterday. We’ve got some seedlings growing of Oregano, Thyme, Basil, Rosemary and a few tomato plants. We will be getting the soil to fill it this weekend and some compost from the bin to mix in. It is going to be beautiful! It is going to smell heavenly at the bottom of the deck. Our lavender is already radiating its essential scent throughout the yard. The chives are rooted and happily at home. Something to grow. A way to get our hands dirty. Motivation and inspiration toward our other landscaping projects.
So, for now, we will put the plans on the middle burner. Making sure not to push them too far back. We have accepted that this is just what happens sometimes. Life. We will continue to wait and build on our plans! Happily with our healing pup and joyful kiddo!
Here’s to a plot full of happy herbs and healthy dogs!
FYI- The Chocolate Lab, Cassidy, who was close to her own death bed has decided she IS NOT going anywhere. She has fully recovered from what we know was a Seizure (one or two a spring for the past two years. While those will not kill her, the toll they take on her is intense and hard on those old bones. After all, she did just turn 13 on the the 2nd) That dog has more lives than a cat! They are welcomed, adored, appreciated and I am grateful!
ONE LOVE-
This early in the season we end up with a scrumptious load of greens. The challenge, keeping the greens from wilting too fast. We try to make several meals out of our box and this time of year makes it a welcomed scramble!
Firstly, we cut the bottoms of all the greens and place in a cup of water. Our fridge looks like a bouquet of green! Then, I begin to plan each piece of vegetables future. Of course, the lettuce will become a large dinner salad topped with radishes, strawberries and other such garden sundries that appear in the box. The kale becomes the kale salad, etc.
Sometimes though we end up with an abundance of the same green. We then have to become creative as to not eat the same thing over and over again. Although what we make is by no means boring to the palate, it is simply fun to find new and different ways to please it! And this week we ended up with quickly wilting swiss chard and an extra bunch of kale.
So we decided to do pesto! Traditionally pesto is made with basil but did you know that you can use any green, really. Same base ingredients of garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper. Add in the greens and presto, you’ve got a rich, powerful, mouthwatering pesto. I love the flair that swiss chard brings to the sauce and the kale adds (beyond its nutrients) a thicker texture. We use the pesto with cheese and crackers. Tonight, we will ornate our orzo pasta with avocados, onions, black olives and now, the pesto. Very versatile. Very Good! I have no measurement, nor a recipe I follow. I go by look and taste! So have fun with it!
Also, here are a few other recipes we have tried this week. Take the time to try them out. You won’t be disappointed!
Can’t believe the turnip gratin! Simply Amazing!! And the Carrot Cake was the best birthday cake EVER!
Happy Eats my friends!
ONE LOVE-
