Tuesday Tasty Tip of the Day

There is no love sincerer than the love of food.~George Bernard Shaw

**************

Who doesn’t love food? Some people don’t like to cook or bake, but I love both. If you are cooking  and preparing food for four hundred or just for yourself, I think the number one rule should be 1.) Make the meal look pretty or fun. Fun food is always more appetizing. 

Even when preparing a simple salad for myself, I make it look pretty. This one happens to be silly and made me smile. 

  
Admit it, you’re smiling right now, aren’t you ? Or, at least you think I’m a nut. I see faces in my food. (Spinach salad with cheese hair, cherry tomatoes, and some left over chicken.)

  
Today, I made a pretty tostada. Under this creation is a crispy flour tortilla than I crisped in a dry pan, a few table spoons of black beans, topped with tomato, jack cheese, a few dollops of plain Greek yogurt, surrounded by baby spinach. I’m not a vegetarian, but I prepare this all the time. Pretty and delicious. 

  
  
Here’s a funny brownie mix face just for good measure. 

Food should be fun!!!

Monday Morning With Michele:) Happy Birthday!

The year you were born marks only your entry into the world. Other years where you prove your worth, they are the ones worth celebrating.~Jarod Kintz

*********

Today, the TOTS (Table Of Talented Sisters) met for breakfast to celebrate Michele Bernard’s birthday. Michele has been “burning the candle at both ends” lately, and it’s difficult for her to find time to visit with girlfriends. But, a brief birthday breakfast was arranged, complete with handmade or thoughtful presents. Gotta love girlfriend gifts !

   
    
    
 “You’re kidding, Sherry ! You started these succulents from cuttings? ”

We love you , Michele !!!

  

Sunday Sermon and Some Thoughts from the Pope

The Lord wants us to belong to a Church that knows how to open her arms and welcome everyone, that is not a house for the few, but a house for everyone, where all can be renewed, transformed, sanctified by his love—the strongest and the weakest, sinners, the indifferent, those who feel discouraged or lost.
Pope Francis, The Church of Mercy

***********

I had the pleasure of greeting at  9 am Mass again this morning. I really enjoy starting my day smiling and saying “Good morning ,” to the many cheerful people entering the double glass doors. “A house for everyone .” It really is invigorating. 

Today’s Gospel made me think about how we all can serve God in our own way. You don’t have to sit in a pew or kneel in solemn prayer.   If you “perform a mighty deed,” or help your fellow man, you are following His teachings. 

Gospel MK 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

At that time, John said to Jesus,”Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”

Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him.There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my namewho can at the same time speak ill of me.

For whoever is not against us is for us.Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drinkbecause you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward…

  
Pope Francis seems to be winning the hearts of all faiths with his sincere and humble words. And, the truth is, leading and teaching by example,  is the most effective way.

  

Saturday on the Square:Oktoberfest

“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”–Benjamin Franklin 

*********

Downtown McKinney has been celebrating Oktoberfest this weekend. The weather has been unseasonably warm and dry. I guess it makes for more beer drinking. 

I drove over to the square this afternoon, but it took me  45 minutes to get there because of some crazy traffic on 380/University. I wasn’t in a hurry, didn’t want to get stressed, so I just cranked up my radio and belted out some tunes. Great stress relief ! Then parking was next to impossible, so I ended up parking somewhere near Oklahoma. Just kidding. But, it was 6 or 7 blocks, but I like walking. No stress. 

I bumped into friends and did a lot of people watching. 

   
   
  
Lynda Kingsley was all cute in her costume. 

  
Kathy and her sister, Donna, entertaining outside of Sweet Spot Bakery. 

  
Paramedics on hand to help a young boy with a bee sting. 

It was a lovely day on the square. I didn’t drink any beer,  “my no drinking and driving policy,” but I had fun. Tomorrow is the last day if you want to check it out. 

Friday Night Light…of the Silvery Moon

It’s always difficult to keep Fridays confined within themselves..they tend to spill over..~Kai Sinclair

***********

Fridays not only spill over, they get jumbled tumbled and all mixed up with all the other days. 

Traditions and rituals are important. When the boys were little, we had a Friday night tradition of having pizza and watching the TV show “Dallas” and marching around the area rug in the family room to the opening theme song. Do you remember that song? 

Now, the boys are grown and gone. “Dallas” is gone. The lying cheating husband is gone. No more pizza tradition. I have my own ritual. Black Russian Friday!  Kahlua, vodka, and chocolate ice cream. It’s not the same, it’s not as special, but it’s mine. 

   
 
Oh yes , I’m doggie sitting this weekend for a friend, so I have some company tonight. 

   
Friday night lights and a cloudy moon. 

 
Evening sky by the pond. 

Theme Song Thursday: Sunrise…Sunset

Sunrise paints the sky with pinks and the sunset with peaches. Cool to warm. So is the progression from childhood to old age.~Vera Nazarian

************

The sunset this evening was beautiful with peaches and orange glowing bursts. 

  
But, the sunrise this morning was a glorious knock your socks off spectacular vision. 

  
 Thus, another theme song Thursday… “Sunrise, Sunset.” In honor of my beautiful new daughter- in-law and my handsome son. To Joe and Lindsay!

  

  

Amen!

Wednesday: Wow! What a Night With Garth!

When you are joyful, when you say yes to life and have fun and project positivity all around you, you become a sun in the center of every constellation, and people want to be near you.Shannon L. Alder

***************

As promised, a few pictures from the Garth a Brooks concert last night. I took an awesome video of the openning that I posted on YouTube ,  but when I went to check it today, it said copyright infringement and deleted. Do you mean those hundreds and hundreds of people taking videos, none can be posted on YouTube ? Hmmm?

But, I did take a few pictures and so did my friends. It was a great concert. Although, I probably was the only one in the entire place that didn’t know all the words to every single song. 

   
    
 Thanks Margie. Margie , me and Sherri. Kim took the picture. 

Now, for a few stage shots. Far away, but you’ll get the idea. 

   
    
  A good time was had by all. 

  

Tuesday Tune of the Day

Time becomes a stutter-the space between drumbeats, splintered into fragments, and also endlessly long, as long as soaring guitar notes that melt into one another, as full as the dark mass of bodies around me. I feel like the air downstairs has gone to liquid, to sweat and smell and sound, and I have broken apart in it. I am wave: I am pulled into the everything. I am energy and noise and a heartbeat going boom, boom, boom, echoing the drums.

Lauren Oliver, Hana 

***************

Being born and raised in Chicago, I never really acquired a taste or appreciation for country music. I’m more of the Sinatra, Oldies, and show tunes from broadway musicals  kinda gal. 

I never thought I’d ever be saying these two things. I like country music, and I own a pair of cowboy boots. I’ve been in Texas over eleven years now. It grows on ya. I  don’t do the big hair thing, but I love the fun jeans and glitz combo. 

  
Exciting evening with Margie, Sherri, and Kimmie. Margie invited us to go to the Garth Brooks concert. 

I’m so pleased that “I have friends in low places.” Actually, all my friends hold the highest of places in my heart. I’m sure I’ll have plenty of pics tomorrow. 

   
   

Montage Monday

In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.Robert Frost

**********

Another week flew by. Had fun with old friends, made some new friends, and was excited about having over 1,000 consecutive blog posts. Busy, buddies, and blogging. Life is good!

  
A week in a peek. 

   
 

Sunday Sermon: Some Old Friends and A New Friend

It takes a long time to grow an old friend.
~John Leonard
***********

A great weekend with old friends, a lot of walking, running, visiting. Saturday our writing group got together after missing several weeks. Then, my friends Lynne and Charlie surprised me with a wonderful dinner at Rick’s Chophouse.  The waiter made a special request from the bar for my Black Russian  with chocolate ice cream. Cheers !

 
Today, I went to church early, as I signed up to be a greeter for. 9 am Mass. Easy job…open the door, smile, and say hello. I can do that. 

Here’s my sermon. Be a good friend many and you’ll have many good friends. Virginia and Joe always save me a seat at church. Today after Mass, the Knights of Columbus had a pancake breakfast. 

  
Joe and Virginia. Aren’t they a sweet couple !

After church I went over to the square and chatted with Elizabeth , Kathy, and the gals at a Sweet Spit Bakery.  It was so nice out this afternoon. 

Over at Snug, I met a very charming lady from Prosper who was having breakfast, her dog by her side. We starting chatting. You know how that goes. We exchanged phone numbers and are now Facebook friends. 

  
Hi Rena! Great meeting you and chatting today. 

I had already had a busy day , so I came home and decided to go for a run. It was actually a cool afternoon for a change. I was saved by the bell. About 2 miles into my run, Sherri called and asked if I wanted to go to a movie. (Screeching halt) I ran home, changed, and off I went. 

Now, that was a fun Sunday with some old friends and a new friend.