It Isn't Over Yet!

Sunday I decided that it was finally time to see the movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.  To say that I enjoyed it would be and understatement!  It is a marvelous movie about the lives and choices of a bunch of individuals.  They are not OLD people in spite of all the trailers that would lead you to believe that is the case. 

In fact, one of the central characters in the movie is a very young hotel manager and his very young girlfriend.  Everyone in this picture seems to learn something about himself/herself as the story progresses. 

In the beginning of the movie you are very briefly introduced to six senior adults, all coming from different backgrounds and circumstances.  Each one of them brings to the movie a set of choices.  It is fascinating to watch as they are transported to a culture which is so very foreign from anything they have ever experienced.  There is a Civil Service retiree and his wife of forty years.  There is a Judge.  There is a newly widowed woman who has never struck out on her own in her entire life.  There is a lady who is English and going to India to get a hip replacement after finding out her wait in England would have been six months.  Then there is the little guy who is the hotel manager/owner who is trying to build something beautiful and exotic and wonderful in memory of his father. 

Each of the characters has a different way of handling their new set of circumstances.  To say the least the Most Exotic is not exactly what ANY of them expected. Upon arrival they immediately have to make a decision of whether to stay or go.  For some of them the decision is easier than others. 

This movie will make you, no matter what age you are, examine your direction and priorities in life.  I felt saddened that about 90% of the people watching the movie on Sunday were over 50.  This is NOT JUST A MOVIE FOR SENIORS!  This movie has valuable life lessons for each and every person out there.  One of my favorite lines of the movie was "Everything will be alright in the end, and if it isn't alright, it isn't the end yet!"  What a marvelous way to think! 

This is a movie about learning to take risks and step out and make the best of the situation you are in, no matter what.  It is a movie which states you are NEVER too old to learn something new or to take a risk.  Without taking a few risks, you will miss ever so many wonderful experiences in life!

I used to sail in the Bahamas with a friend of mine for 2 to 6 weeks at a time.  It was just the two of us out there on a 37 foot catamaran in that great big Caribbean.  Oh, there were times we were nervous or scared, but I wouldn't trade those marvelous, exhilarating experiences for anything.  There were risks for sure, storms for one...pirates for another!  But that time soaking up the sun, sailing on the winds and dodging storms are priceless memories. 

I have a new friend in China who I talk with every day now on SKYPE.  China...huge, mysterious and entirely foreign to anything I have ever known.  The desire at the top of my "bucket list" now is a trip to China.  I am not afraid to go alone.  I am not afraid to experience a completely different culture and learn from it.  How about you?  Have you worked on a bucket list?  Do you have things you would like to do during this short span of your lifetime?  Plan for it.  Dream about it.  Make it happen!

I recommend The New Exotic Marigold Hotel to anyone who wants to see great acting, colorful and exotic backgrounds, culture different from their own.  Heck, it's a great movie, just go for it!  I promise you will not regret it!

God Bless - Peace, Love and Joy

Seasonal Traditions

Dyeing Easter Eggs has been a tradition for me since.....well, since I can ever remember.  I can remember the wonderful Easter Egg Hunts we had as children with all our cousins.  Oh my, what fun!  We didn't used to get our Easter Baskets until Monday.  Easter Sunday was the day we went to Church to Celebrate Easter.

Easter Monday was the day the kids had Easter fun.  The Egg Roll on The White House Lawn is still held on Monday.  So, although some of the timing of the tradition has changed (many Churches and other organizations now have egg hunts on Saturday) we are still celebrating Easter by dyeing and hunting those brightly colored eggs. 

I hate those plastic eggs they use now for egg hunts.  There is nothing like those real dyed eggs and all the mess that led up to the hiding of them.  First the boiling, then the mixing of all those colors.  I can remember when it was just food coloring and vinegar and it worked just fine.  Now, there are all sorts of tablets, and transfers and stickers and marbelizing and glitter.  Oh My!

Yesterday I boiled four dozen eggs for the grandchildren to color today.  I picked up the three youngest for a Pizza lunch and then took them to the house to carry on our traditional egg coloring event.  They just love it.  I got tickled by my sixteen-year-old grandson who accepted pizza but respectfully declined egg dyeing.  I think that is a sign of the times.  I can remember one very special Easter so many, many years ago when I and my seventeen-year-old boyfriend blew out eggs and dyed and painted them.  His Mother was delighted and we had a wonderful time!  I wish I still had those special eggs.  I will never forget that day.

CJ, Ashlyn and Alivia really had a great time dyeing eggs today.  They used colored dye, marbeling dye and crayons.  They actually managed not to get any on themselves or the house, and the only person who broke an egg was Granma!  We giggled, and colored the afternoon away and shared memories that I hope they will carry long into their own adulthood.  Memories that I hope they will share with their own children and grandchildren. 

I hope that all of you have a wonderful Easter, and on this Holy Weekend between the egg coloring and the cooking, please focus on the real meaning of Easter and the Sacrifice which gave us life everlasting. 

A SPECIAL EASTER RECIPE

BeDeviled Eggs

You can use yellow pepper pieces for the beak, capers for the little eyes, dill for the sprig on his head and carrots or orange peppers for feet!

(for all those boiled eggs)

12 Eggs, boiled and peeled
2 TBSP Yellow Mustard
1/4 cup Mayonnaise
2 Tablespoons sweet Pickle Relish
1/3 cup ham salad (can use canned deviled ham if you wish)

Peel and slice eggs in half, scooping out yolks into medium mixing bowl.
Add Mustard, Mayonnaise, Relish and Ham Salad and mix thoroughly.
Fill Egg white shapes with the mixture, using a pastry tube or spoon

For a Cutie Pie of an Easter Egg, you can make "chicks" out of them by cutting the eggs as they are illustrated above.  Too cute and even your little ones will eat them when they look this good!!

God Bless - Peace, Love and Joy

Christmas Children and Puppies!

This is what Christmas is about...the children.  Sharing Christ, sharing Joy and making Memories!  We went to see the Nutcracker last night at the Opera House. It was beautiful.  Liv, who is five was just ecstatic about the dancers and costumes!  She had a running commentary going.  It wasn't Ashlyn's first time, but she really enjoyed it too! We had such a nice time, but the girls were so tired by the time it was over (9:42 PM).  I was glad to see the Opera House filled to capacity last night.  It is such a lovely, old historic building and everyone seemed to be having such a wonderful time.  Last night was the first performance and it was absolutely wonderful.

This is my "Buddy Dog" toy .. a gift from Ashlyn which sings Jingle Bells!

This is the REAL Buddy dressed as Santa!  I am not sure whether he will forgive me for this one!  But, the little jacket is actually quite warm, and he doesn't like to be cold!  He is such a sweet little guy that he let me put this on and he didn't try to take it off.  I just love this puppy.  He makes life just a little more joyful.

I did a little more Christmas shopping today.  I was looking for a specific thing which Liv had requested. They are called Fidgits. I found the Newbie Fidgits, but I didn't find the original larger one...everyone is sold out.  Seems this is one of the hottest toys out there this Christmas.  It normally sells for $39, but people are actually e-baying them for $70...Oh My!  Seems like every year there is at least one of those kind of things.  Remember the Tickle Me Elmo thing? And I remember when that happened with Cabbage Patch Dolls!  Like I said, every year it seems like there is at least one of these items.

Wish I were smart enough to come up with the next big toy craze.  I don't know what the economy is like where you are , but things here must be getting better, because EVERYONE is out there shopping and not just looking, but buying.  It is kind of nice to see.  It really seems like people are hoping for an upswing in the economy and they are trying to help it along!

Well, I am taking Lucille tonight to the annual Christmas Program at Ingleside.  I have heard the music is fabulous and I am really looking forward to it.  I hope she will stay alert enough to enjoy it, but I never can be sure how things will go with her these days.  She does seem to be enjoying all the Christmas lights and decorations.

Well, no recipe today, but I have some great cookie recipes coming up this week.  Talk to you later! Merry Christmas!

Bring On The Caffeine

Sleeping at the wheel is a good way to keep from growing old.

Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday starting today! If you are driving, watch the traffic and be extra careful out there. I would love to be heading for the water, but it just isn't going to work out right now. Perhaps for Thanksgiving. Between grandparents day, doctors appointments and upcoming eye surgery, I have got to stay close to home this weekend.

Although I am not planning on going anywhere special for this Holiday, I am planning on making brats and kraut for my hubby...his idea of celebrating Labor Day. We are celebrating at home by firing up the grill and having the little ones over. I have already made some potato salad to go along with the dogs and will make some special pasta salad later. I have a friend in Florida who would rather have my home made potato salad than ice cream. In fact, every time I visit, I make it and it isn't unusual for me to find her having it for a bedtime snack. We laugh about it and she just says, "they call me Tater Salad." It is the small memories that are so much fun.

I am planning on stealing a nap sometime today. My little roommate woke up at 4 AM this morning, and was in the kitchen banging cabinet doors and such. I think she was actually trying to wake me up so she would have company. She knew we were planning to go out to breakfast, and she was ready! Sigh... I have just got to find a way of getting her to stay up later than 8:30 at night.

Ashlyn work up at 6:30, and we are off to Denny's for our Breakfast with Ashlyn ritual, but I am not sure I am quite awake enough to eat at this point! Bring on the Caffeine!!

It's going to be a long day.

RECIPE FOR THE DAY

Here's a nice fresh tasting salad which is great for a picnic or barbecue!

SPINACH, TOMATO, AND FRESH MOZZARELLA PASTA SALAD WITH
HOMEMADE ITALIAN DRESSING

2 1/2 cups multigrain rotini pasta (you can use any pasta you like)
Italian Dressing *recipe follows
2 cups sweet grape tomatoes
1 6 ounce package fresh baby spinach
4 ounces FRESH mozzarella cheese, cubed (the quality of your cheese is important)

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat, rinse with
cold water, and drain.
2. While pasta is cooking prepare Italian Dressing. Combine dressing and tomatoes
in a large bowl. Add pasta and spinach; toss well, and top with cheese.

Makes 4, 1 1/2 cup servings.

Calories 450 per serving


Italian Dressing

1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 TBSP chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
1 TBSP chopped fresh oregano or fresh basil
2 TBSP extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 Cloves garlic, minced

1. Combine all ingredients, stirring with a whisk.
Yields 4 2 TBSP servings.

Calories 67 per serving