32: 365

“It is strange how we hold on to the pieces of the past while we wait for our futures.” ― Ally Condie, Matched

I love to spend my lunches wandering around Alan's Antique store. The is something nostalgic about looking at items from the past and imagining the people who once owned them.

31: 365

False friendship, like the ivy, decays and ruins the walls it embraces; but true friendship gives new life and animation to the object it supports." ~Richard Burton

Ivy on the garage behind my building at work. Ivy is one of those plants that is beautiful to look at, but it does great damage as it tries to climb up to the sky.

30: 365

"If wishes and buts were clusters of nuts, we'd all have a bowl of granola!" ~ Strangers with Candy

My most favorite of treats. Cocoa, Dried Cheeries, Almonds, steal--cut oats.........home-made granola.

Sprinkle over greek yogurt and I am in heaven!!!

Ingredients

 ½ cup honey

 1  Vanilla Bean, split and scraped.
 Reserve the bean
 3 cups rolled oats (not quick cooking or instant)
 ¼ cup  Baking Cocoa
 ¼ cup vegetable oil
 ½ cup shredded, unsweetened coconut
 ½ cup almonds
½ cup pecans
 Dash salt
 1 cup dried cherries
Directions
·  Preheat oven to 300°F.
·  Pour the oil into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Heat in the oven for about 10 minutes.
·  In a small pot, heat the honey, stirring in the vanilla seeds and the reserved bean. Simmer lightly for 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and let sit while preparing the oats.
·  Thoroughly stir in the oats and cocoa and bake until toasted, about 10 minutes, stirring often.
·  Stir in the coconut, almonds, pecans and salt and bake for 5 minutes.
·  Remove the vanilla bean from the warm honey and pour over the oat mixture. Add the cherries and thoroughly toss to coat the mixture.
·  Bake for about 10 minutes, stirring once or twice. Remove from the oven. Cool on a wire rack, stirring once or twice until cooled.
·  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Will keep indefinitely

29: 365

ummmmm.....do you smell that?

"When baking, follow directions. When cooking, go by your own taste". ~Laiko Bahrs

My Nana's Banana Nut Bread

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, well beaten [important]
1 tsp vanilla
3 large or 5 small banana's
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped nuts [I use pecans or walnuts]
1 cup raisins


Cream together butter and sugar. Add well beaten eggs. Mash the bananas and add. Mix together well. add flour, salt and soda [I mixed well together first before adding to the cream mixture]. Add chopped pecans and raisins. Place in loaf pan [I use a four small loaf pan]. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour [in the four pan, Iit usually takes about 30 to 35 minutes]. Cool and wrap in waxed paper.

28: 365

“You cannot be wimpy out there on the dream-seeking trail. Dare to break through barriers, to find your own path.” ~Les Brown

and after the midst was lifted the sun broke through the remaining clouds.

27: 365

"As with a heavy fog on a road, what lies ahead on the path of life is never completely clear, but the choices we make can help shape out the shadows." ~- Bryson Staley

26: 365

Let us go in; the fog is rising." ~Emily Dickinson

This is the mist rising off the Delaware River today. An incredible day....started with rain, then a magical fog lifed off the river......to sun and wind and brilliant clouds.

A day of dreams

25: 365

"If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it 'Chuck Berry'."
-- John Lennon

Yup, that is all I got for Berries.

A very stressful week, not feeling it at all.

24: 365

“The most introspective of hearts tends to be the most sentimental. We cling to the smallest moments from our past because we fear that emotion will never come our way again.”
― Shannon L. Alder

For my Birthday I was given the gift of promise from my dear friend Pakini. She is from Tailand and she is such a kindred soul. She gave me a pot, some dirt and a doment bulb. She gave me a gift of promise.

I planted the bulb and set in in an old window at work.......and time has revealed the promise. A flower that has been captivating me for the last week.

23: 365

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature -- the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” ~ Rachel Carson

My favorite tree at the end of the lane.


I can not drive by it [or run by it] without pausing......as its wavy branches beckon me to stop and breath deeply and cherish the moment of the day.

I call this my Buddha tree.