Keeping a Grateful Heart ❤

So it's the day before the start of the Holiday season and I am sure some of you are wondering where I have been. 
Well we had a State wide power outage leaving some Mainers without power for 5-7 days and I am sure there are people like myself still feeling some of the storms effects.
In a strange way being without power made it easy to conserve because we only had what we had. No water at first because without power the well can not be pumped and no wi fi or an abily to charge your phone unless you use your car but even what gas you have is precious because without power a gas station can not pump gas. And if you have to evcauate and who knows how far you want to make sure you have enough gas. Social media and checking in with friends becomes secondary to let's prepare for the worse but ride it out like it's nothing..
Belive me storms like that make you greatful because you know with 79-90 mile winds it could of been worse for us and it was for many Mainers across the state. That storm also hit hard in New Hampshire. 
That storm has taught me many lesson in which I promise to put into practice and share with you as life here on the Ridge gets back to as normal as it can be with winter on the way. I still look around my land with trees down knowing that next summer this city girl might have to learn to use a saw. Stay tune that might be pretty funny, wearing my flowered overhuals..
I have many stories to share and even hopefully some good news over these holiday and into 2018.
So Happy Thanks for giving day and may you really take the time to be grateful for what you have. We have more than enough, let kindness lead the way this Holiday because we are all one storm away from being homeless or devestated by one. Weather man made or mother nature.
Spread a little Joy, reach out and tell someone your grateful they are in your life because everyday is precious and we should be thankful were in each other's lives because when social media is cut off you really are living in the present moment by moment.
And the silence will either be deafening or will bring peace.
Me, I found peace and my purpose in a pomegranate pucker and haven't stopped thinking about it since.
So I am grateful to you for reading this blog and putting up with my sometime absences from this format. Understanding that I speak through pictures more then words but I am building back my confendence and soon I will be blogging consistent again.
So until I blog again take care of the ones you love and reach out to those you normally don't and have a wonderful Hoilday weekend.. ❤

Finding the Connection

I have suspected for years the connection between Allegies and Illness. I still feel the reasearch in this area is lacking. The public and medical field perception of Allergies and Intolenace is archaic compared to the symptoms that I see in my own life and the lives of others around me struggling everyday to figure out what is wrong with them when Western medicine tells them that they're is nothing wrong.
The Question is were they trained in watching for Allergie signs and symptoms beyond Seasonal and the Six top Food Allergies??? What about the child allergic to apples?
Whose mother is told to give him apple juice in his bottle from the very doctor she took him too because he was ill? Do you think either one knew they were in strong terms poisoning him everyday.  Leaving the babies immune system comprimsed, then vaccinated  him with a virus in a vaccine shot all never known what medical problems will lie ahead. That's my story but with eggs.  I didn't find out I had allergies until I was in my 30, that was a lot of eggs. Everyday unknowing slowing killing myself and damaging my brain...
There are more of us out there that the connection hasn't been made or even considered.
Please if you suffer and the doctors can not find a reason. Ask to see a Allegist and start at there basic test. What is it going to hurt and for me it could of meant a completely different life one without all the emotional and menatly suffering that comes from being sick and not being able to do anything about it. Not because you won't but because you were never told you had another option to look into
There are more to Allergies then what you have been taught but even more research needs to be done!!

Life is more Fragile then you think but your Dreams are within Reach...

I have heard it said, it is always the first step that is the hardest and I do believe that's the truth.
Many a journey was started with that first step but many dreams are lost because of barriers we create in our own minds and we never take the first one. I know mine has kept me from following my dreams, I am not ready, I cant do it perfect or right, I have no money, what if I fail...
but what if I succeed should be what I tell myself.

These past two weeks have been hard with the passing of a Friend and the thought of losing two more and me having to go to the ER again over allergens has me thinking about how life is to short to not shoot for my dreams, do the things that bring me joy and passion. Instead of waiting for things to get better or until someone else comes around. The lesson has been there for years it just now watching my friends pass as one is accepting her fate since they have lived such a full and rich life and the other fighting inner battles that make it hard for them to live long enough to see their dream come true has inspired me to live mine before I pass. 

No one is guaranteed a after life no more then heaven could never be compared to our experiences here. There has been to much War, Violence and Pain and senseless acts of Hate and Theft. If I want to be part of the change I have to start somewhere and I have. Yesterday, I took more then the first step. I got out of my comfort zone to accomplish it and I am just going to keep moving forward.

I have always had a calling to help others growing up in a family whose life work and career were involved in Charity work so it is only natural that I would turn out a humanitarian but more then that it made me aware of how fragile humans and life really are but also how amazing this life and they can be. 

I have lived my Life without regrets but I fear the one I might have is if I never tried and I am not about to give up yet...   

Starting To Knock Some Dominoes Down

So this morning I decide to do some computer journal style writing to get my creative juices flowing again after many starts and stops only to have the computer shut down before I saved what I had written. This I must say was more then frustrating but an example of  the distractions that keep me on the hamster wheel I seem to keep finding myself.

As I had written earlier that I had heard it said that why people seem to have problems starting new projects are that they look at it like a domino effect. That you can not do one thing until you do an other. I have been telling myself that and even using that term. So needless to say it hit home. 

Even in starting up my blog again I had many road blocks mentally to open expression and sharing my thoughts again.

In taking a minute to really think about where I have used that term in my life I only have to look no farther then this blog.
First my writing skills and the time it takes me to write, read and post has tripled since I first was writing a online journal in early 2000 and before two viral attacks. So I would tell myself I will write when I am better. Then my ex took me to court over custody of my son and I had to guard my words and thoughts carefully so they wouldn't be used against me and the last excuse was that my computer is not a perfect fit for what I want to do. I am sure the list can go on. Those are just a few excuses and some are even legit that I give myself.

My time on my mat since my foot and wrist surgeries has been limited and not daily and I am still unpacking my house after a year because I secretly are still waiting for those who said they would help. I have decided no more. The dominoes must start falling, even if its just one by one.

Winter is coming again and it wont be long before another year will have passed and still things will sit undone unless I start to knock down those dominoes, excuses and all. It has been a great summer and now it's time for me to get back to the job of living my passions and joys and not waiting for the perfect day, perfect time or someone else to come help me.

I am at the age now where my friends are starting to pass away, some before they have had a chance to live and others are living while they are dying...

I do not know how much longer I have to share my perceptions and insights about this wonderful journey I call my life but damn it I am going to share it with the world and if it makes one person think and another not feel so alone then my words have been worth it. Not only that but because it is my passion, my desire and my creative gift and it would be a shame to not share what talents have been gifted and earned by me..

This mornings computer set back almost got in the way of this post but no more, I am taking down those dominoes one at a time. 

There is never a time better than the present to start to live those things I cherish most or haven't been giving enough time in my life. 

Never to late to watch the dominoes fall and when they do it sure is a beautiful thing to watch and an amazing task to complete..

One I plan on not missing out on anymore. 

I love playing in the kitchen

I will say that spending time in the Kitchen has always been a passion but it also has been a saving grace.

Even when I was dying to be able to make a meal for my son and I felt like a huge accomplishment. Well it was, for me then and sometimes even now.

To think that I once had to relearn simple tasks that my brain once took for granted now makes every stir, every chop, every taste  one of pure pleasure. So these days mean more to me than just cooking and experimenting. They're a reminder of just how far I have come.

I love experimenting in the kitchen, it really can be so much fun and rewarding for your taste buds!!

Okay, so I am off experimenting with making Pineapple Salsa. The basics seemed easy, chop up some tomatoes and pineapple and some juice, then what?
I of course pull out a couple books, check out a few sources on the web and on I move.
Adding first some red onion, followed by some cilantro, then a little jalapeno closely followed sea salt. Still needed something so I added a dash more of sea salt and organic sugar.

Oh my, did it turn out tastey!! 

Can't wait to see what flavor developes after it marinates for a bit..

Like I said nothing better then homemade!! 

Sauce is Done!! Onward to Salas...

Yum, with a side of yum!

So the Kitchen is smelling good and pretty much done except a slow simmer, so on to some more salsa..

This time I will be making a pineapple and tomato base and after that who knows. Guess we will have to wait and see!!

Another Day in the Kitchen..

So the only thing getting me off the couch today is experimenting with these tomatoes.

I've really enjoyed the last couple days making salsa, tried my hand at tomato soup base but yet still there are tomatoes that are calling my name.

I think I will try making a more vegetable based sauce adding a little mushrooms and a little more of a whole cut bell pepper texture to my base and of course more local tomatoes, along with mine and see what I get...

Plus making a dish I can put on low gives me a chance to rest in between.

Nothing like lazy Sunday cooking to go with a nice Fall day like this.. 🍁🍂🌿🍃