Thursday, December 22, 2011

This Christmas...

...may you find Jesus in life changing ways and may his presence restore you!
Blessings!
Lisa

Saturday, December 17, 2011

She's making a list and checking it twice....

Cookies are baked, out-of-town gifts mailed, Sunday school lesson is ready, trees are up and decorated, shopping is 95% completed. So what is left on my list?
1. Clean house
2. Wrap gifts
3. Schedule delivery of a large-sized gift
4. Get clothes ready for the week ahead
5. Check stocking stuffers
6. Double check list for missed gifts
7. Serve at the school Christmas banquet
8. Touch up paint in guest bedroom
9. Make meal list
10. Remember whose birthday this is and get into the Word.

What is on your list for this week?
Blessings!
Lisa

Thursday, December 1, 2011

'Tis the season...

...for trying new recipes!

When the weather gets colder and the sun sets early, I move my creative urges indoors. One of the easiest ways to warm the house, the tummy, and feel like a darn successful is to pull out the stored recipes and try something new.

Today, I let my husband pick the two new recipes I will make this weekend from the stack of clippings and recipes I printed from favorite sites on the Internet.

The two he selected?

Tomato and Cheddar Pie 

Ham, Spinach, and Mushroom Pasta with Walnut Pesto

Will let you know how they turn out!

Stay warm!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

A speck of light...

I have been having a dry spell in terms of my creative work. I often feel like I am pushing forward, trying to move it ahead, but meeting with some brick walls. I was thinking this through before church last night, noting at that time how dark the stained glass windows appear on the inside of a church at night. It is similar to how dark aspects of our lives seem sometimes when we are "inside ourselves". 

As I was mulling this over, I noticed a strange red, small light glowing in one of the stained glass panels. Somewhere outside, a beam of light reached the glass and caused a small circle of red glass to glow amidst all of the blackness. So, even though I could not see the colors in the window, they were there, of course. The window just need to be illuminated.

It reminded me of how we sometimes don't feel faith in what we are doing, and yet that faith is still there, residing in our souls, even as a small ember, ready to burst into flame, never completely extinguished. It just needs a bit of flame.


So, it is back to my creative work, in spite of not feeling the faith in what I am doing or the hope that it will come to fruition. I am going where I believe God is leading me, and until He shows me differently, I walk on faith - not feeling. And, perhaps like that small circle of light, a bit of the feeling soon will return!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Those Little Touches...

When I leave town, I always miss home. Yes, I miss the biggest parts of "home" - my husband, children, the house itself - but I also find that I miss the little things - the things that perhaps I don't appreciate as much as I should when I am surrounded by them.


What do these "little things" include? Here are just a few:


1. My fireplace(s) - we have a gas fireplace, a wood-burning fireplace, and one that simply isn't safe (one of my dreams is to purchase a gas insert for that one!). There is something about a fireplace, when lit, that warms the spirit with the room. Our gas fireplace can be seen from outside, and my husband always comments how he loves to pull into our driveway and see the fire blazing.


2. My kitchen - if you love to cook, your kitchen start to reflect your taste - in both decor and in food. I love puttering in my kitchen, making peppermint tea, trying new recipes, even making homemade dog biscuits. In many respects, the kitchen is my playground.


3. Sunsets - Okay, these don't come exclusively with my house, but I do live on top of a hill, and so the sunsets over the valley are fantastic. My husband and I love to spend those last moments of daylight, watching the sun creep below the horizon, and then the array of colors the clouds reflect until everything becomes shades of blue, gray, and black. It is our favorite time of day -"our time". When I am out of town, I miss those moments a great deal.


4. My gardens - during the spring, summer, and fall, I love to "play" in my garden, trying new herbs, flowers, and veggies each year. Last year, for the first time, I grew white pumpkins. I put in a bed of asparagus. I am already making plans for next year. And, that is the beauty of gardening - there is always next year!


What small things do you love about your home???


Blessings~
Lisa

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Taking Advantage of Opportunities...

Okay, I admit it. I frequently don't take advantage of the opportunities that come my way. I pick up a newspaper or read a local news blog and discover that an event, speaker, writer - something - is coming near my hometown -- and I don't go. I can come up with a million reasons why I can't go - I am too busy, I have other plans, it is too cold, I haven't been home all week, etc. 


This year, one of my pledges to myself was to stop finding reasons to say "no" and instead find reasons to say "yes". One of the events to which I recently said "yes" was a dinner with P. Buckley Moss. I have always enjoyed her art that features many people, scenes, and aspects of prairie life. She is absolutely delightful! She visited with anyone who wanted to talk, signed the artwork those in attendance had brought, and related so well with the audience, you would think she was a "hometown girl"


Saying yes is often rewarding - don't let life pass you by!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Changing of the seasons means...

...breaking out the new feeders! The hummingbird and oriole feeders now sit in our spare bathtub, waiting to be cleaned and put away. We put out the winter feeders, filling the finch socks with Niger seed, the hanging bird trays with black sunflower seed, and suet feeders (as seen above) with fresh fat.

The prairie is still ripe with seed, so we aren't seeing many birds yet. But soon, as the cold winds continue to drive the seed to the ground, and the snow and ice fall, our feeders will be abuzz with activity.

On my Christmas list this year, I have placed a heated bird bath. One of my good friends told me that it is the best way to attract and keep winter birds at the feeders.

So, a bit of our prairie dream: watching the feeders as fall fades and winter makes her appearance.

What are you doing to mark the season's changing?

Lisa

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Procrastination....

I hate to admit it, but I can procrastinate with the best of them. There are times when I am on a roll - I check off every item on my to do list, and it feels so good! But there are times, especially when I have very tedious projects or projects that make me nervous to begin, and I can find a hundred reasons not to sit down and just do it!

That happened to me tonight. I have to edit a paper, and yuck - I don't want to. So, I have found all sorts of meaningless tasks to fill my night - and now, four and a half hours later, it is almost time for bed, and I feel the same lethargic feeling I have when I have eaten too many dove candies. Yuck!

What tasks do you try to avoid? How do you kick yourself into gear?

What am I going to do? Make myself stay up and at least get started! Often that is the hardest part!

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Keeping track....

Yikes - I flipped the calendar over this week, and realized that the "Day of Reckoning" in terms of my 2011 plans/ goals/ dreams was almost at hand.

So, how have I done so far? I decided to take an inventory of some of my goals/ dreams (I won't catalog them all here, because as my kids would be happy to tell you "Her resolutions take pages!"), but here are a few:

1.  Lose 25 pounds - I have lost 9 lbs. My goal is to lose 3-4 more pounds before the end of the year to reach my halfway point.

2. Finish writing my book and send it off to an editor- this is one of my "dreams" - I define dreams as goals straight from the heart. I was successful in completing my book, and it is in the hands of three editors. This goal is right on track.

3. Move my two nonprofit organizations ahead - I have made small progress with one, very little with the other. This is a new goal for 2012.


4. Develop a new friendship - this goal was achieved in surprising ways. An old friend from the past and I reconnected and have been corresponding, now making plans to have dinner.  A surprising way to make a "new friend".


What are your dreams and goals? What success have you had in moving them forward? What are your plans for 2012?
 

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Simple Dreams....

We all have dreams.. big dreams, long range dreams, seemingly unobtainable dreams. I have those dreams, too. But today I want to focus on a small dream - it was a longstanding dream, and yet a small little dream. The dream of owning a Maltese puppy.

I had been raised with yorkies - and I love them! They are feisty, small in stature - but large in personality. They will take on the world. We have always had a yorkie in the house, until my daughter got married this summer and took "her" baby to her new home. And with that, I lost two kiddos!

I found our next dog (actually she found me) when someone dumped my part Golden Retriever, part Irish Wolfhound - and part many other breeds - on the side of the road with her puppy. Someone was kind enough to take the two orphan dogs to the vet. The puppy was adopted immediately, but not mamma dog. Our vet knows I am a soft touch, so the office called to let me know that this dog was going to be put to sleep if no one wanted her. Needless to say, she has been part of our household ever since.

My husband was raised with Boston Terriers - and has passed on this tradition to our sons - so we have had a Boston in our home for over 10 years. Even with all of these canines, I never gave up my desire for a Maltese puppy - soft and silky, with jet black eyes, these gentle, quiet lap dogs worm their way into your heart. They are the babies that just want to be held. And with my kiddos one by one exiting my home, I was ready for my new "baby". I did not want to go to a breeder to get the perfect puppy. I have always liked the underdog. So, I searched the rescue dog sites and found a Maltese puppy that a breeder turned over because it needed surgery. After a sixteen hour drive (there and back) through the backwoods of Missouri - we had "Pepper" the new baby of our household.

Dreams - even small dreams - do come true!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Smile - You have Choices!!

Happiness is not about how much cash you have - it is about whether or not you have the ability to realize your dreams - in other words, having choices = happiness.

Researchers from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand analyzed questionnaires from 420,000 people in 63 countries and found that individuals who were able to make their own choices - to open a bookstore for example - claimed the highest levels of well-being.

"So while wealth can provide you with more choices, it's really having the ability to realize your dreams that leads to greater happiness," says study coauthor Ronald Fischer, Ph.D.(Source: AARP magazine).
 
I will remind myself of that this week as I choose to edit my book instead inside of going outside and enjoying this gorgeous weather and the autumn-laced trees.... I am happy.... this is my choice...:)

How are you progressing on your goals? Do you feel you have choices - or do you feel stuck?

Let's talk!
 

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Saying "Yes" and remembering then to say "No"....

The road to achieving your goals can be full of potholes. One of the biggest potholes I find, unfortunately, we dig ourselves.... we say "yes" to a new project, a new obligation, a new commitment - and dig a hole. What we forget - and I am so guilty of this - is that each time we say "yes" to something new that requires our time, we don't say "no" to something that equally (or preferably) consumes more of our time. "Yes" digs the hole in our time - "no" helps fill the hole.
Yesterday, I said "yes" to another position on a community board. I am now searching my obligations to determine what I can let go of - if I don't, I know I will have even less time for my dreams, my prayer life, my family, my de-stress time - the parts of my life that matter most - that I need - in which I find fulfillment. Say "yes" too often - and you push your dreams even further into the future. Say "no" to things that don't matter - and you will enrich your life, find time for your dreams, and bless those you care about with that special, priceless gift: time!

Sunday, October 9, 2011

When we get "stuck".....

I read this poem on the blog: Seasonal Soundings and liked it so much, I thought I would share it here. It is a good reminder of what we need to do when we are "stuck" or when we can't find our momentum. The message: Do the next thing - take that next step. I am reading this today as I tackle the edits on another chapter and as I set forth my goals for this coming week. Enjoy!

From an old English parsonage down by the sea,
There came in the twilight a message to me;
Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,
Hath, as it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.
And on through the hours the quiet words ring
Like a low inspiration-Do the next thing.

Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity, guidance, are given.
Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus,
Do the next thing.

Do it immediately; do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence, tracing His Hand,
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing,
Leave all resultings,
Do the next thing.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
Working or suffering be thy demeanor,
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing,
Then, as He beckons thee,
Do the next thing.

-Author unknown

Friday, September 30, 2011

Keeping Dreams Alive....

I think that one of the most challenging parts of making dreams a reality is keeping dreams alive. This is especially true during times when I am overwhelmed with work -or when I am in a down period and just find it plain hard to move my dreams forward.

During these times, I find my lists invaluable. If I can't make progress on my dreams, I can at least make progress organizing my space and my time to work on them. I can take my big dreams and break them down into bite-sized pieces and schedule them in. I can sit down over tea or a glass of wine with my husband and strategize on how to get back on track.

I admit - it isn't easy to keep trudging ahead -especially with dreams that years of planning. But, having achieved several of them - I can you that tell that they are worth the plodding.

As fall begins to settle over the prairie, and the fire grass is starting to blaze its brilliant orange and red hues, I am starting to shift gears and am thinking more of my indoor goals and dreams. As I am closing up my gardens for the year, picking the pumpkins and the last of this season's squash, I am dusting off writing projects and recipes, pulling out the knitting needles and planting indoor herbs.

The dreams that went dormant in summer are stirring with new life!

What are your dreams for the winter months?













Friday, August 12, 2011

Another "Dream" Realized...

I rarely leave work early - so rarely, it is hard to remember the last time I did it. But, I realize now that when opportunity knocks, if you don't answer that door, it just may not knock again.

 So, when my neighbor and good friend Betty called and asked if I would finally like to learn how to make jelly, I absolutely jumped at the chance.

I told all my co-workers, "I am leaving at 2:30 p.m. - I am going to make jelly!!!" Okay, I got a few strange looks, but when they heard the "I'm fulfilling a dream" tone in my statement, they were all there, helping me get out the door.

There is nothing like having a professional for a teacher - and Betty is just that. From artisan bread to canned beef, from an heirloom garden, to pottery - Betty can do it all. I follow her around like a groupie - amazed at what she can do.

Who knew that if you blanch peaches for 1 minute, the skin rolls off? That sugar should not touch the sides when you are adding it to the fruit? That a rolling boil is needed before you start to time the final phase? 

It is so nice to have a teacher right at hand - not doing your work, but talking you through it - and I learned that the fruit "foam" is one of the most amazing parts of the jelly!

Thanks, Betty - another dream fulfilled!

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

The First Fruits of Summer!!

During the past two weeks, the road side stands have started to fill with homegrown produce - or produce brought in from neighboring states. From tomatoes to peaches, from zucchini to gorgeous melons, this is the time of year to indulge! 

Turn off those ovens and enjoy the riches of summer!


Make BLTs with juicy, ripe tomatoes.
Each fresh peaches on vanilla ice cream.
Pressure cook fresh corn and serve it with butter, salt, and pepper.


Simple eating. Simple Pleasures.
Ah! The Joy of Summer!



Friday, July 22, 2011

Leaving the City for a Country Acreage....

Twenty-one years ago, I left my city life to move to an acreage in the country. The closest town to my home consists of 37 residents, mainly artists and craftspeople. At the time I left, my mom gave me three months, knowing I would miss my lattes, bookstores, plays, and Cardinals baseball team. And I did and still do.

But, I what has kept me here on this hilltop acreage is that I have gained more than I have lost. I have gained horse and cattle (not mine) grazing around my home. Instead of spending my time in traffic after a long day at work, I watch deer, turkey, hummingbirds, and sunsets. 

I won't tell you that this city girl doesn't miss her roots from time to time, but the view from this hilltop is breathtaking... and for now, it's mine.


Saturday, July 9, 2011

What is your dream? Here are a few of mine...

Now that my nest is emptying, I am disciplining myself. Yes, through the years of raising children, working, paying bills, I have had many dreams - started many projects and then set them aside. But, with my nest ready to dust out, I am focusing on these projects and disciplining myself to get them completed-- all the while indulging in those small endeavors (new recipes, travel, reading) that I love. I am developing and building on my faith life -- seeking to be fruitful.

What are your dreams? The winds are blowing.. before this world "knows us no more" let's jump in a seize the day! Here are a few of the projects I am working on:
  - two writing projects
  - straw bale gardening
  - exercising on a regular basis
   - cooking new recipes
   - meeting new friends

What are some of your goals/ dreams??