BUTTER GIRL GOES ORGANIC

(Written for The River Current publication; Thursday, January 31, 2013) Yesterday I set aside some time to spend the day with my parents.   Their situation is difficult in that my mother now resides in an assisted living facility and my father remains at home, still proudly waving his ‘banner of independence’.   It is very difficult seeing them in two separate places; both alone and without each other.   Typically when I go for my visits, I feel I quickly buzz through giving them each only an hour or two of my time.   Because it is becoming increasingly difficult for my father to get around on his own, yesterday I suggested I would pick him up and together we would go spend some time with my mom.   Deciding to make a day of it, I set about planning and preparing a meal that I could share with my father after returning from our visit.   I prepared for him a meal that was quite similar to what my mother would have typically made for us as a Sunday meal.   A fork-tender

Hooray...my Butter Girl Goes Organic blog has finally had over 1000 views!! It has been a slow, lonely climb for my Butter Girl blog. In contrast, my Marital Status: W blog has now had over 5,000 views...people reading my story all over the world. As it seems, Russia continues to be my most frequent readers on Marital Status: W . I wish I knew what that meant. Perhaps I have somehow connected with a group of people there....so far away, but still connected for a reason I shall probably never know. How amazing and incredible is that? I often ponder the contrast in readership between the two blogs. Could it be true that people are more drawn to my sad little story than they are to better health and nutrition? I hope not. I shall continue with my Butter Girl . That is where I belong now and I hope that others will eventually join me in my journey there. I don't write as much on the Marital Status: W blog anymore...because most often, it makes me sad. I

(Written for the River Current publication, Thursday, January 24, 2013) I have another breakfast recipe that I wanted to share with you; a recipe that Zach and I enjoyed over his winter break from college.   Most mornings I would ramble off a list of options for his breakfast consumption; always including a smoothie as an option.   Making a smoothie is fast and the cleanup is even faster, which would of course make it one of my favorite choices!   He however, was not always in the mood for a smoothie.   One morning he agreed, and the results were a winner.   I know it isn’t brain surgery to make a smoothie, but often it is a matter of finding that ‘right combination’ of ingredients to throw into the blending pitcher.   I have made a few that he has not always been so thrilled with.   Our creamy Strawberry Symphony Smoothie was a hit.   Webster’s describes a symphony as a harmony of sounds.   Our smoothie concoction was a true harmony of flavors and texture.   I chuckled as I wa

(Written for The River Current Publication January 17, 2013) My youngest returned to college yesterday.   As I sit here at my laptop, I am still in awe of the utter silence that now surrounds me!   He was home for over a month.   During that time, it was a whirlwind of friends, food and laughter; make that lots of laughter.    I shall now reluctantly re-adjust once again to my empty nest. Most days I busied myself in the kitchen; because for me, love is something I can share through my culinary offerings.   When you are cooking for teens, you must be aware that the hour of their rising will not often be any sooner than 10 a.m.…at least when they are home for a holiday break.     So for me, that meant whirling into the kitchen around 10:30 a.m. to start the preparation of a very late breakfast (rest assured I had been sipping on coffee for hours before their awakening and was always ready to roll out the pans).   The joy of presenting a very late morning meal is that you c

(Written for The River Current Publication December 27, 2012)   I recently read an article which said that 2013 is being called the year of optimism; the year of hope, heart and happiness.   All I have to say to that is…”Bring it on!”   After a difficult year, I shall embrace the New Year with the hope of good things ahead….not just for myself, but for us all.        The start of the New Year is often the perfect time to turn a new page in your life, which is why so many people make New Year's resolutions.   Researchers have looked at success rates of peoples' resolutions: The first two weeks usually go along beautifully, but by February people are backsliding. And by the following December most people are back where they started—often even further behind.   According to research, approximately 50 percent of the population makes resolutions each New Year. Among the top resolutions are weight loss, exercise, stopping smoking, better money management and debt reduction.