Month: November 2012

ANGELS

I’m a big believer of angels.  I know I’ve had angels around me at various times in my life.  Some I could feel and some I could see.  Angels are all around us, especially during difficult times.  I know a couple who desperately need an angel  right now to help them through a very difficult time.  Even though I’m positive an angel has found his/her way to this couple, if there are any angels that can hear my thoughts, please find your way across the country to a very special couple who need you way more than I do at this moment…

A few word about angels:

THE ANGELS

The existence of angels — a truth of faith

    The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls “angels” is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition.

Who are they?

     St. Augustine says: “‘Angel’ is the name of their office, not of their nature. If you seek the name of their nature, it is ‘spirit’; if you seek the name of their office, it is ‘angel’: from what they are, ‘spirit’, from what they do, ‘angel.'” With their whole beings the angels are servants and messengers of God. Because they “always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven” they are the “mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word”.

     As purely spiritual creatures angels have intelligence and will: they are personal and immortal creatures, surpassing in perfection all visible creatures, as the splendor of their glory bears witness.

YOGA FOR THE SOUL

“In many shamanic societies

if you came to a medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed they would ask one of four questions.

When did you stop dancing?

When did you stop singing?

When did you stop being enchanted by stories?

When did you stop finding comfort in the sweet territory of silence?

Where we have stopped dancing, singing, being enchanted by stories, or finding comfort in silence is where we have experienced the loss of soul.

Dancing, singing, storytelling, and silence are the four universal healing salves”

—Gabrielle Roth,

 

A SILHOUETTE….

      I saw you

in the darkness,

I know you didn’t see me,

you were

standing against the brick wall,

I saw the silhouette of you and

your shopping cart

against that wall,

you had a bag of some sort

maybe your meal for the day,

and it looked like you had no concerns

on this day,

I live in a warm house

with lots of food in my keep,

but my walk is full of concern

my friend

for the future of my children,

yet there I see you

with your back against a wall,

and I feel such remorse for having any

concerns at all,

my concern as I continue

to drive in my big fat

ridiculous truck,

is now turned to you and the many

like you

that you may have a warm

place to sleep

on this cold and dreary night,

all we can do is keep pluggin

away

every single one of us

with the hope

that one day

 all will

be with shelter and food

in a place that serves their loved ones

 with dignity, hope

 and

a smile at the end

of each and every day,

I pray for

you my friend

that I may never see your

silhouette again,

but

you never know

we may

meet again,

and it may be my silhouette

that

you see against that brick wall.

momwhearingloss

STILLNESS

at the start of the day,

my world is so quiet,

soundless and soothing,

allowing me to focus

on the stillness inside,

slows my breath,

 so my being can

absorb

the simplicity of life,

attuned to the stillness,

 the house takes on

a different,

dimension when you have  to

rely

on sight and smell,

everything has a way

of slowing to a halt,

and breathe, if you will,

the simplicity

of time,

before the chaos

of the hearing

world,

drowns your soul,

deafness has

benefits

that no other

can relate,

the simplicity of stillness,

down deep

in

one’s soul.

momwhearingloss

GREAT TASTE BUT SO LITTLE TIME….

I love to cook and I love the whole concept of food.  The cooking, the gathering, the laughing and the comfort that comes with everything to do with food.   Unfortunately, there is no time for the cooking or the gathering, especially during the week.  For quite  a while I’ve needed some inspiration for my weekly meals.  I seem to do the same thing and I’m bored, but the things that I’m cooking are healthy and the key word here – fast.  Grilled chicken, salad and potatoe wedges, omelettes, veggie burgers,pasta – all good but I’m bored and there are times the thought of another piece of grilled chicken makes me want to scream.  Last week I was shopping at Costco when I came upon a cookbook.  I  gave up on cookbooks a long time ago, I don’t buy them because they just get stored on a shelf  and collect dust while I take to the internet for my recipes.  The chef is pictured on the cover of the book and having seen the chef on the food network made me stop and take a browse.  “Chef Michael Smith’s 110 simple speedy recipes, fast flavours.”  In a word  – awesome!  The ingredients are simple, the meals are quick and nutritious.    The average time for a recipe is 25 minutes and the results are delicious.  I’m going to include one recipe here, but you’ve got to go out and buy the book.  For all you busy moms or dads you will feel inspired and refreshed in your cooking.

Pork Chops with balsamic cherry tomatoes

1 tablespoon or so of beget                                          2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar

4 bone-in pork chops                                                    1 teaspoon (5ml) of dried oregano

1 onion finely chopped                                                  1 teaspoon of salt

4 cloves of garlic, chopped                                            Lots of freshly ground pepper

1 pint(500 ml) of cherry tomatoes, cut in half

Step 1 – Match your favourite large skillet with a tight fitting lid and set it over medium high heat.  Splash and swirl in enough vegetable oil to evenly cover the bottom of the pan.  When the oil is hot, add the pork chops.  Sear the first side until it’s golden brown and crusty, 2 or three minutes or so.  Keep an eye on the pan’s heat and adjust as needed, high enough to keep the chops sizzling but not so high that the oil smokes.

Flip over the pork chops and give the other sides the royal treatment too, until equally golden brown and delicious looking.  Add a splash more oil if you think the pan needs it.  The goal here is not to fully cook the meat but just to add lots of brown flavour to the works while the pan temperature is high.

Step 2 – Reduce the heat to medium.  Stack the pork chops on a plate and cover loosely with foil.  Add the onions and garlic to the pan.  Saute, stirring, sizzling and jumping the flavours for  a few moments.  Add the tomatoes, vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper.  Adjust the heat much lower, just enough to maintain  a slow, steady simmer.

Return the chops to the pan along with every drop of their juices, nestling the meat into the stew.  Cover tightly and simmer until the meat is cooked through and the tomatoes are stewed.  5 minutes or so.   Place the chops on plates.  Spoon on the delicious balsamic stewed tomatoes.  Serve and share.

Tip from  chef Michael:  “Liquid is a much better conductor of heat than air alone.  The combination of the pan’s heat, a tight lid, and the internal moisture dramatically speeds up the cooking time for the pork chops.  Best of all, any juices released from the meat blend into the pan stew.  Not a precious drop is lost…”

Tip from chef moi:  I cooked a few extra chops and the next night I cut all the meat off the bone in a shredded style with the stewed tomatoes and sauce. I then heated the meat in a frying pan with barbecue sauce – I warmed up some corn tortillas and layered the tortillas with meat, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, salsa and sour cream – very good – check the pic below!

If you enjoy this recipes – I guarantee you will love this recipe book – great flavours, simple ingredients and best of all fast and delicious!   If you don’t find the book – double click on “Chef Michael Smith’s Website”

MAGNIFICENT CREATURES – FRIDAY’S PHLOG FOR NOVEMBER 9TH, 2012

Several years ago we flew to Ontario to visit family.  We spent some time in Niagara Falls and we visited Canada’s Marineland.  I’ve always had a fascination with whales and I’ve been whale watching several times to watch the Great Grey Whales and Orcas in the wild.  I hate to see whales, or any animal for that matter, in captivity.  Can’t get these kind of pics in the wild – about the only bonus of seeing the whales up close and personal.  The other bonus my children would never get this chance to see Orcas up close and personal either.  However, I would rather see these magnificent creatures in the wild  – my nephew kept calling me Mrs. Greenpeace the whole time we were at the park because I kept stating the obvious like the tank wasn’t big enough, the deer have been left out in the open, the bear den was too crowded……the whole family got tired of listening to me but it’s true.  That’s what happens when animals are used to make money and put on display..

BIRTHDAY BOY – FRIDAY’S PHLOG FOR NOVEMBER 2, 2012

All week I’ve been thinking about my baby’s birthday, thinking about what we’ll do, the dinner he wants.  This morning I had to drive my oldest son to the rink by 4:45 am and then come home and get my birthday boy and drive him to another rink by 5:30 am.  I think I was stunned tired this morning because after birthday boy’s hockey practice he said “I’m so happy today” and then it dawned on me, I hadn’t even wished him a happy birthday!  We stopped at Timmies and had a celebratory blt bagel before school.  Can’t believe my baby is 11 years old today.  His smile is just as beautiful today as it was when he was a wee one.  Love every minute of this motherhood thing!