Inspiration

I learned… that inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic, energetic, striving, but it comes to us slowly and quietly and all the time, though we must regularly and every day give it a little chance to start flowing, prime it with a little solitude and idleness.

— Brenda Ueland 

A Perfect Summer Day

Be Courageoous

“Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love.” - Rainer Maria Rilke

Through The Looking Glass

It's in the Giving

"The measure of your life
will not be in what 
you accumulate,
but in what you give away." -Wayne Dyer

It Won't Be Boring

Jig Saw Puzzle Time

What the World Needs

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” - ― Howard Thurman

Sisters

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As they talked about
life,
about marriage,
about theresponsibilities of life
and the obligations of adulthood,
the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter.

" Don't forget your Sisters,'
she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass.
'They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them.''Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women...your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other women relatives too. 'You'll need other women. Women always do.'

What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman thought. Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!' But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, Sisters are the mainstays of her life.

After more than 50 years of living in this world,here is what I've learned: THIS SAYS IT ALL:

Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don't do what they're supposed to do.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.
BUT.........Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach.When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on,praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers,Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life!The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other. Every day, we need each other still.

Happy 32nd Anniversary to Us!

August 23, 1981 

Life is a great and  mysterious adventure.  I'm so glad we are travelling this road together.  It's been a wonderful and magical journey.  Happy Anniversary to my dear and special husband Mike!

“We two make banquets of the plainest fare

In every cup we find the thrill of pleasure... 

For us life always moves with lilting measure

We two, we two, we make our world, our pleasure” 
― Ella Wheeler Wilcox

La Dolce Vita-A Persian Feast By The Sea

Had a really wonderful time with friends this week on Tuesday evening.   Our friends Mitra and Fred hosted a wonderful Persian bbq on a warm summer night at their home. It was "La Dolce Vita" the sweet life just as depicted on Mitra's apron.

Mitra had been working hard all day cooking food and setting a lovely table for us on the patio overlooking the beautiful blue Pacific ocean.

 A warm and inviting atmosphere greeted us.

  Barb, Mitra and Marion   the "tre stagioni" ( three seasons is what we call our little italian study group)  We always have so much fun together.

Our husbands have a chance to have some fun with us this time. Here's Mike, Johnny (Marion's husband) and Fred (Mitra's husband).

The beach looks so calm and beautiful at sunset

Soon all the friends are here

Barb, Marion, Mitra, Isa and Judy (my wonderful italian classmates)

Here's our friend Isa

and here's our friend Judy

Time to toast our hostess Mitra

"Salute Mitra e grazie mille!"

Guys time to bbq!

While the girls relax

As the sun sets it's time to eat!

And what a feast Mitra has prepared

tomatoes, onions and mint

a fresh green salad

Persian chicken kebabs 

Here's the special persian flatbread and a wonderful eggplant side dish

roasted tomato halves

Bbq'd filet mignon steaks

Persian rice dish with saffron

Beef kabobs

What a fantastic meal!

After the meal time to relax and after the sun set we marvelled at the full August moon.   

Time to go inside for dessert  and 

lots of good conversation and laughs.

Mmmmm so many treats.

Many thanks to our dear friends

Mitra and Fred 

It was such a lovely evening!

Definitely  "The Sweet Life!"