Off to Alaska tomorrow to cool my heels and to get a grand perspective on life! I hear Alaska's beauty and awe makes you wonder about your own significance. We shall see, won't we! We are only a small glimmer on this earth! I will post images upon my return! Off to a much needed break....

Harvest

Food!

Some of you know me and know that I love food, especially organic and a plethora of ethnic foods! I feel that if you feed your body, you feed your soul. Good, healthy, wholefoods are all around us these days! We have more to choose from than ever before. We have farmers markets springing up all over! We have wonderful farms from which to pick your own or become a member of CYA, such as Great Country Farms. I have been a "chef" since I was about 12 when my mom taught me all about food. We lived in Ithaca, New York where the famed Moosewood was born. I learned about "Bread not Bombs" and food in bins! I am very appreciative of my mother introducing me into this world, tho I felt a bit like a hippy at the time! I cook with my children making anthing from beignets (our tradition the morning I'm taking them to camp) to homemade pasta cranked out on a pasta machine! I've introduced their friends when on a sleep over to artichokes, homemade ice cream, and edamame! Cooking with kids is sometimes calming...and one to get you out of the everyday seriousness because when making beignets or pasta, flour ends up everywhere and on everyone!

My mother is an avid gardeners and has instilled the love of gardening into my son! When we visited a few years ago, she showed him her okra stalks that were over 7 feet! This made an impression upon him. My neighbor is a fabulous gardener and has put his love and passion into a garden of his very own! It takes a village! I love nothing more than being able to go out into his garden and pick a pepper or a tomato for dinner that evening!

Be daring! Try a new recipe this week! Search out a farmer's market! Buy more organics! Be daring and adventurous!

Summer and My Mom!

Summer is grand! Even though it is a juggling act for most parents, I feel that it is well worth it as you can spend more leisurely time with the family on vacation or just having the time to wake up late and make homemade waffles. It's a time to see family members that you ordinarily who don't live nearby. I am just so very thankful for my children, my family, and my friends. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful, caring, loving people. Because I was unable to go see my family this summer, as I usually do, my Mother decided to come up and see me. She has taught me a lot in life. One of her main premises is to try and "understand first" before making your own understanding of a situation. Another, be kind to everyone as you never know what someone is going through. There are many more, but these last too have been my life raft in some of the most difficult times in my life! It takes a strong person to try and understand someone when you just might not want to: and someone always has it more difficult than you. It gives you a lighter heart when you put others first, try to understand them, and when you are kind; which in turn makes your little light shine and draw wonderful people to you!

My mom is my hero! Tell me about your hero/s!