Saturday April 30 2016  MULTI-TASKING:  THE ART OF THE YOUNG

I will be the first to admit that I don’t multi-task as readily as I was able to you when I was younger.  I’ve only recently noticed in the last year or so that it is a bit more difficult.  But, I want you to know that as of this moment, while writing this blog, I am MULTI-TASKING in a big way.

Lots to do today so I must put all gears in motion.  Right now I am writing, chewing a mouthful of lunch, as I sit at the kitchen counter, keeping watch over a pot that is cooking with rice for tomorrow night’s dinner, as well as keeping an eye on the clock to make certain I am prepared to wrap things up in one hour so I can get ready to see a live musical production this afternoon.  We then leave from there to pick up our grandsons which we will have as our guests for the rest of the weekend.  We plan to take them out to dinner and then have a quiet story time and conversation before bedtime.  Now that might sound interesting to a couple of old fogies like us but I am skeptical as to whether or not the boys will think it will be “fun”.

By the way, the lunch that I am eating consist of my famous AMBROSIA with black angus beef patties scrambled into it.  It is delicious.  I also have a beautiful salad (beautiful because I say it is), topped with avocado and feta cheese.  My two prunes snuggle in close to my three delicious strawberries.  How do I know that the strawberries are delicious?  Because I just ate about 4 or 5 right out the cleaned bowl full.  They actually have a true strawberry flavor!

Dave and I spent time perusing Michael’s Craft Store looking for just the right something for the boys to do as a gift for their mom.  I can’t say what it is, I don’t know how it will go over, nor do I know whether my house will survive the potential mess, but I think they will have fun doing it.  We’ll do that Sunday after church.  I just hope it takes a bit of thought on their part and they are not finished in five minutes or less.  More about that after Mother’s day.

Tomorrow may be my first day in months and months (sans the night I was sick and Dave wrote my blog for me) that I will not write a blog.  You may want to check just in case.  Our day tomorrow will be even more packed than today.  The boys have a way of keeping us both busy and occupied.  However, do check to see if one is there because if I have time after publishing this one there is something I would like to get ready and will go ahead and publish my concoction tomorrow just so you know I’ll be thinking about you.  I really do appreciate all of my readers who check in every day and I even appreciate all of my readers who check in every once in a while.  I know I write a lot and people’s schedules are busy and hectic.  But hey, it might be worth it, because every once in a while I actually write something pretty good.  I just have fun doing the writing.  I hope you enjoy reading what I write.

I just discovered that writing a blog while I am eating actually makes my lunch last a very long time.  It seems there are advantages in most things.

 

WHEN YOUR ATTITUDE IS RIGHT

By Kathleen Martens

April 30, 2016

 

No matter how busy

Or how hectic my day

Life is so awesome

Whether at work or at play.

 

I look forward to living

Regardless what’s to be done,

When your attitude’s right

Whatever you do is fun.

 

And I find satisfaction

In whatever the task

Because my body still functions

And does what I ask.

 

I never take it for granted,

For each year strength wanes,

So I’ll do all I can

Until I’m riddled with pain.

 

And perhaps then

I’ll just sit around.

And if you can find me

I’ll be writing something down.

 

But in the meantime

I thank God for His grace,

And for my daily strength

I will seek His face.

 

For however long I can do

And for how long I can think

I will thank God for all the words

He allows me to capture in ink.

 

Lord thank You for this day of life.

God thank You for creating strawberries.

Thank You Father for the knowledge I read in Your Scriptures.

Thank You God for all the words You have put in my heart.

Thank You God for the fact that I was born and was introduced to You at a young age.

Thank You Lord for holding me close and never letting me go.

Thank You for grains that You have created.

Thank You that I was born into a country that was fashioned to be a country of freedom.

Thank You God for all that will not be allowed in heaven.

Thank You God that there will be no more death in heaven.

Thank You God that there will be no more darkness.

Thank You God that there will be no more pain.

Thank You God that there will be no more disorder or chaos in heaven.

And thank You God that You have given me peace in my heart while I am still here on earth.

Thank You God for chickens.

 

HAVE A BLESSED DAY, EVENING AND NIGHT.  REMEMBER THAT GOD LOVES YOU AND WANTS TO HOLD YOU CLOSE EVERYDAY IF YOU BUT ALLOW HIM TO.

 

 

 

 

 

Friday April 29 2016  DEAR ELDERS, I’M SORRY

Interesting title to say the least, but I thought it worth repeating.  Dave asked me to listen to a message on U-Tube with this title.  And I am going to pass on that suggestion.  The web address is too complex so just google “Dear Elders, I’m Sorry, U-Tube” and it should come up.  Several come up.  This one was the first on the list when I googled it.  The speaker is a young woman with blond hair, sitting behind the wheel of a car.  If you listen I think you will be amazed at what she says.

Now the question regarding this blog is if I can write it by the time Dave gets out of the shower.  I just arrived home from a doctor’s appointment and he just arrived home from the gym.  We have an exceptionally busy day ahead and the only blog I will be able to write is in these few moments.  Tonight, our night out ends later than usual and I know I will need to get to bed.

It looks like everything shows fine with the mammogram I had today.  There was some suspicious areas of concern so they scheduled an ultra sound immediately following the mammogram.  The ultra sound showed nothing suspicious so I received a good report.  If you know my history you will know that this is good news.

Today I am still basking in my great accomplishments over the past two days (remember the freezers).  I feel liberated from that job for another year.  Now Dave and I have the freedom to go and gather all that is needed to sustain our household for the next couple of weeks.  In order to save money and not have food products expire, we choose to shop more often for exactly what is needed, instead of stocking ahead.  It is actually more fun that way because I then tend to cook up all the food I buy as I have all the spices and ingredients I need for that specific recipe.  I discovered a lot of new recipes today as I was waiting and perusing a magazine.  I took a few pictures of the recipes I wanted to try.   If they turn out great I’ll let you know.

I just heard the shower water go off.  Must hurry!

 

I REALLY DO LIKE THIS RETIREMENT THING

By Kathleen Martens

April 29, 2016

 

This poem is just a hello

As well as a quick good-bye.

Today is gone before it’s begun

So quickly away I must fly.

 

All is well on the home front.

My mind is full and spinning.

My list is long of places to go

So thus my early beginning.

 

Here and there and everywhere

To get all the little things done.

But when we do it together

It is always a lot of fun.

 

I really do like this retirement thing

Of planning my day as I choose.

So I try to plan my time wisely

For I no longer have an excuse…

 

…Not to finish what I begin

For each day is at my heeding.

I can plan according to what must be done

And spend the rest of my time just reading.

 

Lord, thank You for the time I have every day to live life.

Thank You that my mammogram had good results.

Thank You for books.

Thank You than I can read.

Thank You for the love you put in my heart.

Thank You for the lovely spring we are having.

Thank You for yesterday’s rain.

Thank You for paper.

Thank You for a bathroom that is all put back together.

Thank You for wash cloths.

 

HAVE A GREAT DAY!  AND GOD BLESS YOU.

 

 

 

Thursday April 28 2016  ANOTHER DAY DONE

I truly did not believe that so much could be packed into one single day.  Which is a good thing because it makes my days seem very long, thus, it makes me feel as if I am living longer.  And on the flip side of the coin, it seems as if my days fly by every time I write the date on a new blog.  I know the months disappear with the bat of an eye (not to mention the years).  You may just have to get old to experience such a malady.

Again today we packed a full one.  Yesterday and today are days I am glad have passed.  Two freezer defrosts in two days!  That is a bit much.  And I have one more small one to do tomorrow (maybe).  It may need to wait until next week due to how packed our tomorrow is.  The freezer left to do is the one in the kitchen under the fridge compartment.  It is packed full and needs some purging.  I have a little bit of space left in the outside freezer I defrosted today.  And as much as I hate to admit it, I think some of the inside foods may be too old to eat because I never dig deep enough to see what is under the top layer.  I would never choose to have an “under drawer” freezer again.  Nor a side by side. 

All that is left to do is to wash all the towels I used to sop up the melted ice.  Both freezers are repacked in order of what to use first.  I don’t think I will need to make more soup this year.  We’ll just need to eat all the produce up as we receive it.  I need to use up about 150 quarts of soup before making more.  It is one of my favorite breakfast meals.

One last worker had to show up today to fix our self-closing magic drawers in our bathroom vanity.  He spent quite a bit of time re-working them and tightening some screws in order to make them function properly.  The drawers are now working fine, for the time being.

Tomorrow is prep day for our boys coming to spend part of the weekend with us.  Court has finals this weekend and Amy needs a bit of a reprieve on occasion.  We are glad to have any excuse to have them over.  Court will come over after work on Sunday (yes, he works most Sundays) and Amy will meet him here for dinner.  Guess what we’re having for dinner?  YEP!  SOUP!  I’ll set the jars out on Saturday and have them defrosted by Sunday.  I’ll add a salad to it and put fresh chicken breast in the soup when I heat it up.  It is a vegetable medly so I will also add a rich hearty grain to it also.  It will be yummy! 

Dave and I have come up with a unique weekend for the boys.  I hesitate to write anything in the blog, perchance Court and Amy may read it and mention it to the boys.  If they knew what we planned the boys might not want to come.  I’ll let you know how it turns out.  It should be an interesting experiment because it is totally opposite of what they are used to.  But, we think it will be fun once they realize we are serious about our endeavor.

Time is passing all too quickly and I still have hopes of getting to bed early.  I must leave the house in the morning by 7:00 a.m. as I have a 7:30 a.m. doctor’s visit scheduled.  Then I’ll go to the gym, then Dave and I have a myriad of other forays that must be accomplished before the setting sun.

 

A DAY’S END

By Kathleen Martens

April 28, 2016

 

Oh the sweetness of a job well done,

Especially one you didn’t want to do.

And what makes it even better

Is that I had to do two.

 

Now evening yawns offering solace,

And my bed offers promised rest.

Such a good feeling it is to know

That today I did my best.

 

Whatever I do, I do unto the Lord,

For He gives me strength for each day.

I’m just thankful I can work so hard

And that God is with me all the way.

 

Someday I may not be so able to work

Or do things for another.

That is why I put in my years

To be the world’s greatest mother!

 

And I say the last, all in jest,

Hoping these words my kids will read.

So they can get ready to work real hard

When it is them that I will need.

 

Uh Oh, I hope they hear my smile in the last two stanzas above.  I couldn’t resist writing them because I needed something to rhyme with “another”.  I love you Court and Amy!  I love you Rebecca and Neil!  AND JUST FOR THE RECORD…THEY ALL WORK REALLY REALLY HARD!

So…do I send the poem or not?  If this last sentence gets printed, it means I sent it.

 

Thank You Lord for my children.

Thank You for our grandsons.

Thank You God for my extended family.

Thank You for this day of hard work.

Thank You that my feet are doing well.

Thank You for my shoes.

Thank You for the sermons I found to listen to from Southland Christian Church in Lexington Kentucky.

Thank You Lord for bringing to me the messages I need to hear at such appropriate times.

Lord, Thank You for soup.

Thank You God that I like soup.

Thank You God for electricity.

Thank You for lilacs.

Thank You for my nose.

Thank You God for loving me so much.

Thank You for words.

Thank You God for ideas.

Thank You Lord for BLANK ANGUS HAMBURGERS.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!

 

 

WEDNESDAY APRIL 27 2016  IT IS OVER…ALMOST

Christmas day, December 25^th, 2015 was a delightful day…ALMOST.   It was delightful up until my shower time when I decided to take an early shower so I could get to bed early after all the celebration of the week.  Oh, if I could just have a do-over of that evening it certainly would have simplified my life a bit.  But…it is over…almost.

That was the night I left the sink water on while I was showering, only to discover when I was finished showering, I had created a flood. And what a mess it was.  And what a mess it caused for all these months.  A lot of clean up, weeks of professional cleanup with loud water suction machines emptying our walls and floors of water.  Lots of high powered blowers (on two floors) going nonstop with one bathroom vanity moved to an uninvited location, the very middle of our dressing room. 

We have walked around displaced pieces of furniture, been totally inconvenienced, had sawhorses in our dressing room to protect us from falling through the floor that had been removed, had a myriad of people coming and going from our house on many occasions, all doing their specialized skill, and taking the time to order a new vanity, a light fixture, and paint. 

We had to leave parts of our house in somewhat disarray while on our trip only to come back to the final makeover.  Everything was ready to be assembled the week we were leaving but it didn’t work out with the rebuilders to do so, which was fine with us.  We knew when we came home we would be facing what we have just finished today.  ALMOST finished that is.

We have had people in our home all week and today was the end…almost.

The carpet stretcher came today (we once again have a floor), the light man came today and reconnected our light fixture in the bathroom below our master bath, and then the plumbers showed up for the afternoon.  Yeah!  We have water again in our sinks (water was turned off Monday morning) and all three sinks in two different areas are once again hooked up and working.  Today in the midst of all the mess, and the coming and going of so many people (on my day off), I was also concentrating on defrosting one of our freezers in the garage.  That in itself was time consuming and exhausting.  But it is done!  And the house is done…ALMOST.

The house is even put back in order.  Everything reassembled where it should be.  The guest room is emptied of its burden of all the bathroom and toiletry overflow.  Dave even vacuumed the stretched carpet, beat out the throw rugs, I have scrubbed mirrors and counters, dusted furniture, replaced all the linens to their rightful home, as well as cleaning supplies, and I am all set to take another shower tonight.  However, I WILL NOT LEAVE THE SINK WATER RUNNING WITH THE STOPPER PLUGGED.  ACTUALLY, I JUST WON’T LEAVE THE SINK WATER RUNNING AT ALL…E V E R!

Now, to fill you in on the “ALMOST” of what is not yet done.  Now we must write the check.  Fortunately for us the insurance has covered the expenses.  We just wonder if we will still be insured when this year’s policy expires.  And we still have one last physical thing that must be done.  The insurance also covered to have our carpet cleaned.  We chose to just take an allowance for that because we are picky when it comes to who cleans our carpets.  We will choose who will do it rather than allow the builders choose for us.  It will cost us more but it will be worth it because we know they use less water and we always have good results.  What we don’t need is more moisture in the house

So that was my day.  Just a final word on the fact that I did finish getting the freezer reassembled with all the food stuffs and it looks so much better. I do not have frost free freezers.  Nor do I want them.  Tomorrow I plan to defrost freezer #2 before I chicken out.  It is a lot of work and tomorrow I must go and work out.  It was nice to do it today on my day off when I did not need to go anyplace at all!  Defrosting a freezer is an all-day affair so it won’t be too difficult to duck out a couple of hours while the ice melts.

 

THE DAY IS DONE…ALMOST

By Kathleen Martens

April 27, 2016

 

A quick blog, a quick poem

After a long and tiring day.

So soon night will come

So to bed I am on my way.

 

But to know a job’s well done

Is a great and inspiring feeling.

It was worth the hours of toil

From which I am now reeling.

 

And tomorrow comes all too soon

Another day with a full plate.

So many things that need to be done

Which absolutely can no longer wait.

 

So I’ll suck it in and finish my tasks

And be thankful for my frozen food,

Knowing I’m eating summer’s bounty

Puts me in such a grateful mood.

 

And I am so thankful I have energy

To fulfill the tasks at hand.

Other than leaving the faucet running

My brain I usually command.

 

Lord, thank You for all my frozen soups.

Lord, thank You for electricity to keep my food frozen.

Thank You God for the energy to do what I did today.

Thank You too that our house is back together.

Thank You that I have the guest room emptied out so our Grandsons can come for the weekend.

Thank You for the gentle rain that is falling right now.

Thank You for space heaters.

Thank You for our dehumidifier.

Thank You for insurance.

Thank You for plumbers.

Thank You for honey roasted peanut butter.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU.

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday April  26 2016  A NOSTALGIC MOMENT

Well, now I know how to get responses from my readers.  Just write a long blog like I did yesterday!  Sorry readers, I promise to keep them shorter.  Let’s just say I heard from some who follow me daily.

Okay here goes.  I have one hour before I am needed so I plan to make this short and sweet but still with some meaning.  It is easy for my desk to become overcrowded quite quickly.  I have moved my laptop down to my office due to the issues I was having with the computers.  It was easier to have the equipment all together so I could work with the Geek Squad.  I just now decided to tidy my desk and came across a poem that was written by my daughter Rebecca twelve years ago.  She gave it to me as a birthday gift.  It touches my heart each time I read it.  I share it with you so you can see the heart of my daughter.  She and our son have been the greatest gifts that God could have ever given us.  Having been with Rebecca and her husband so recently made me feel all the more nostalgic as I read the poem again.  Rebecca and Neil were so good to us while we were guests in their home.  They lavished us with great meals, treated us to dinners out, bought tickets to some amazing attractions and escorted us to see beautiful sights in the Palm Beach area.  But there is nothing that they could ever do that would be held as dear to my heart as this poem written for me twelve years ago.  Words create a powerful picture filled with memories.

 

MY MOTHER’S ARMS

By My Daughter

February 2004  (Presented to me on my Birthday in 2004.)

 

My Mother’s arms have held me through

The best of times and when I’m feeling blue.

They held me when I was newborn,

They picked me up when my heart had torn.

My Mother’s arms gave me such love,

Always at my level, never held above.

Her loving arms and such soft hands

Clapped as I sang or at marching band.

My mother’s arms are always open,

No matter how I acted or how poorly I’d spoken.

Her arms reassured me as they held me tight,

They even played doctor during asthma and wasp bite.

Those arms gave love without any lack,

How those hands could sting when I deserved a smack.

My Mother’s arms are a special place

For me and my brother, and don’t forget Papa’s space.

How lucky am I than her arms are around,

One wrapped tight to my Papa, their strength does abound.

They’ve taught me so much, and so much I have learned,

The most import would be, where in trials to turn.

Your arms your hands have always spoken volumes

When they turned to the Lord, quietly folded, you sought Him.

 

So Mother, dear Mother, I thank you today

For the gift of your arms and the roll that they played.

 

Happy Birthday Mom!

I LOVE YOU!

R.A.

 

Never underestimate the power of your words!  Her beautiful words I will carry with me forever!

Is there someone in your life with whom you would like to share special words of love, filled with memories?  If so, take the time to sit down and write them.  Someday it may be too late.  They may not be around or it may be you who will not live long enough to write them.  Reveal to those who are special to you just how much you love them. 

Since I do not know how long I will be here to watch our grandsons grow I write them letters to read on special occasions in the future.  If I live to go to their graduation and engagement and wedding and the birth of their children then I can give them the letters myself.  But if I am not here the letters will be tucked away in their secret treasure box I have for them, to be read on the events specified on the envelopes.  I want them to always remember and know how special they are to me and how much I love them, and especially how much God loves them.  Who is to say what a powerful influence it could be to receive such a letter written so many years ago from a “Gramma” who loved them and prayed for them?

God has given you a language.  Use it to enhance someone’s life.  The words you say might mean more to someone than you could ever imagine.

 

WORDS ARE BUT LETTERS

By Kathleen Martens

April 26, 2016

 

Words are but letters

All strung into words.

And sentences are words

Spoken to be heard.

 

What you speak is mighty

When it touches a heart.

What you say might give them

Courage for another start.

 

Words spoken with a love,

Received like a butterfly kiss,

Soothes the spirit and the soul,

Creating internal bliss.

 

So choose your words carefully,

Especially those you write,

That they are a lamp to another

Spreading warmth and light.

 

Long after you are laid to rest

Your written word may resound in hearts,

As if your voice still speaks,

For the written word does not part.

 

And if you can’t write your thoughts

Let your loved ones hear them spoken.

Kind and gentle words of encouragement

Can often mend what might be broken.

 

Thank You God for two such important little men-in-the-making.

Thank You God that I am a Gramma.

Thank You God for words. 

Thank You for the beauty of the spoken language.

Thank You for giving me the idea to write words of encouragement for grandsons to read when they reach the milestones of their lives.

Thank You for butterfly kisses.

Thank You for doing such a GOOD job when you created the world.

Thank You for creating a way for man to be reconciled to the God of the universe.

Thank You for this day, even with all the unexpected that has happened.

Thank You for all the good food I purchased today.

Thank You for pineapple.

Thank You for sea shells.

Thank You Father that You have spoken to me through Your Written Word.

Thank You that I can read.

Thank You for all the people in the world that do their jobs in order to make our world function.

Thank You Lord for my precious daughter.

 

GOOD AFTERNOON AND GOD BLESS EACH ONE.  I SO HOPE THIS BLOG IS SHORT(ER)…

Proverbs 16:24  New International Version (NIV)

 ^“Gracious words are a honeycomb,
 sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

 

 

 

 

 

Monday April 25 2016  A RAVE REVIEW

What would I do without my husband?  He is always so helpful when it comes to my blog.  Today he gave me an interesting suggestion along with a “Rave Review”!  He reminded me of the times when my mind is just blank and I haven’t a clue as what to write.  That happens more often than not.  Oh believe me, I always have lots I want to say but to stop long enough to put it into a semblance of a story or factual reporting, is another thing.  Well, while we were having lunch today he suggested that on the days I lack for something to write that I choose a recipe to discuss, share, and tell about why it is so good for you.  Has he morphed into a believer or what?  I know I like to talk about food and I have really tried not to over discuss it because I am really not a website for cooking or recipes.  But…how can I pass up such a good idea?

Today I made Dave’s favorite dish.  He once asked me the name of it and since I did my best to copy it from something I ordered at a fine dining restaurant, I didn’t really have a name for it.  I can’t even remember what it was called on the menu.  It was a “FLATBREAD” something or other.  I can’t remember what the something or other was.  However, it was so delicious with such a unique flavor that I asked the waiter if he could ask the chef what the special ingredient was that gave it its unique essence.  Not only did the chef give me a verbal recipe via the waiter he even told me the brand of that “something special” that made it taste so good.  And I am going to share it with you.  Except I can’t remember the brand name but I have found something that taste just as satisfying and about 1/5^th the cost.  And of course I don’t have the kind of flatbread he used but I have found a couple of things that made it even more delicious (according to me). And since I didn’t have a name for my recipe I asked Dave to name it.  He calls it “AMBROSIA”.  What makes it even more interesting was that when I ordered it in the restaurant he wouldn’t even sample it.  I made it at home for a long time and ate it all myself until I one day I talked him into sampling it.  That was all it took!

I have made Ambrosia for many different people and so far I believe about 99% loved it.  There is always that 1% that just doesn’t have a palette for such exquisite tastes.  Their loss.

Now, after saying all that, I will tell you that it is nothing more than a glorified pizza.  But it is what is in the pizza, how you make it, and what you put on top that makes it so stunningly delicious.

Now, for my version of Ambrosia.

For the crust I use Naan bread.  Two egg shaped slices of bread come in one packet.  I try to buy the whole grain.  The grainier the better.

INGREDIENTS

2 or 3 TABLESPOONS of good olive oil poured into a very large skillet or wok-like cooking skillet.

About 4 heaping TABLESPOONS of jarred chopped garlic. 

1 very large red onion.   Peel and cut in half side to side and then cut each side into about 8 or 10 wedges.

1 very large red bell pepper cut into strips and then cut the strips into thirds

2 very large Portabella mushrooms.  Wash and then slice into strips about ½ inch wide and then cut those long strips into four equal parts.

4 or 5 Roma tomatoes.  Cut in quarters from top to bottom and then depending how tall the Roma tomato, cut the quarters in half or thirds.

About 1/4 cup of Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar

 

DIRECTIONS

Pour the oil into the cold cooking skillet.

Add garlic to cold oil and heat slowly for three or four minutes warming the garlic with the oil.  This was one of the secrets the chef at the restaurant told me to do because it allows the full richness of the garlic to come out.  Start cold and heat slowly while gently stirring.

Then add the cut up onions to the now medium hot skillet (I set my electric stove on about 6).

Stir for another three or four minutes.

Add the red peppers.  Again stir for two or three minutes.

Add the portabella mushrooms and stir for about 4 or 5 minutes until you can see that they start cooking.

Then add the Roma tomatoes and heat while stirring.  When it comes to a simmer, about 3 or 4 minutes later you add the Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar.  I estimate using at least a quarter of a cup or more.

After the vegetables have simmered in the hot vinegar drain the liquid using a colander and bowl to collect the juice. 

To prepare the Naan bread place it on a cold pizza stone and spread ¼  cup of marinara sauce on each slice.  I then put a tiny little covering of sharp cheddar cheese on the sauce.  Use the cheese sparingly.  Then I use a slotted spoon on the drained veggies and spread one thick layer of cooked vegetables on the bread.  Adjust your ingredients to the size of bread you use.

Top the pizza with crumbled Feta Cheese.  I use that liberally.  On my slice of pizza I put a layer of pickled jalapeno peppers and sprinkle with a bit of a hot pizza spice.  I leave the peppers and spice off Dave’s piece.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and bake pizza for about 12 minutes.  Check every two minutes or so until the feta cheese begins browning.  Once cooked to my liking I turn the oven to about 300 degrees and slide the pizza onto the bare rack, stand beside the closed oven door and check the bottom of the bread every 30 seconds until it becomes a bit hardened but not burned.  Slide the pizza back onto the pizza stone and remove from oven. 

Each piece of pizza is cut into three equal portions.  We now have three separate meals prepared.

END OF RECIPE

 

If you are not ready to use the recipe right away you can leave it on the stove for a while to steep in the juice.  Though you drain the vegetables for the pizza make certain you save the juice because it is used for another recipe later.  This recipe freezes well.

The restaurant’s vinegar cost right around $100.00 per bottle.  I looked it up on the website and now I can’t even remember the exact name of it.  I decided not to buy it.  Instead I used what I love the most of the balsamic vinegar that I buy.  You may have a favorite that you would like to experiment with.  My vinegar cost considerable less than what the restaurant used..  AND IT IS DELICIOUS! 

I have also made it with the Balsamic vinegar that Costco sells.  It is their Kirkland Balsamic and it too was excellent.  But for me, there is just something a little bit special about the Raspberry Balsamic.  My friend Carolyn picks it up for me in Door County when she and her husband visit there.  I have her buy me a year’s supply at a time.  It taste delicious on a lot of things.  To be truthful (said in all humility), I think my recipe tastes better than what I ate at the high priced restaurant.

Each piece of pizza is cut into three equal portions.  We now have three separate meals prepared.  I served it today with a large fresh garden salad, a slice of cantaloupe and three crackers for each of us. We also had two prunes each.  Remember, we are diligent when it comes to balancing carbs with proteins and fruits.  We also had two slices of rotisserie chicken breast equaling about two or three ounces of protein.  We were so full that we each have half of our salads left over for dinner.  What we don’t eat at one meal we just save it for the next.  Tomorrow we’ll have another piece of pizza and a half of a cup of soup with it.  I will also include some kind of protein along with fruit. 

This pizza freezes well.  I freeze the slices on a cookie sheet then package the frozen slices in a freezer bag so they do not adhere to one another.  To reheat it I simply set it in the oven toaster on the bare rack, allow it time to defrost naturally and then BAKE it for 10 minutes on about 250 degrees.  The pizza tastes as fresh and crispy as the first day I made it.

I hope someone will try the recipe and let me know how you like it.  When I make it I cut up everything first and put each item on a separate plate.  It is so quick and easy to cook when all you must do is reach for the next plate and stir it in.  I probably use about ¼ cup or more of the balsamic.

Now, for the leftovers.  One batch will easily make three packages of the bread into pizza.  Sometimes I assemble them all at once and sometimes I just freeze the vegetables in the juice and assemble more pizza later.  But our favorite recipe as a leftover is to heat a Costco, Black Angus precooked hamburger, scramble it, add some dark, crunchy,  already cooked grains I make each week, and then pour the Ambrosia, juice and all, over the meat and rice.  It makes an absolutely company worthy dinner.  Serve with a small salad and a piece of fruit and you have a healthy beautiful, tasteful dinner.  I cook for leftovers because it makes life so much easier.

So, how could one recipe take up so much space in a blog.  Let me tell you, I just have a way with words.  I can make them last a long time.  I hope my directions make it easy for you to try.  It is very simple and doesn’t take must time.  It probably took me longer to write about it than it would for me to make it.

A lot has happened in these past hours of my life.  I was up until 1:00 a.m. last night with computer problems and they still weren’t resolved when I went to bed.  Today I again pursued to find the answer through the Geek Squad team that works with me when I run into brick walls.  I really do not like computer problems.  Well, today it was resolved.  It all had to do with my router and modem needing to be reset so my computer would “speak” to my printer.  I am believing that all is well! 

We also had the demolition of our beautiful bathroom vanity today.  What a shame.  We will not have full use of the bathroom until Wednesday night.  At least the toilet and shower still work.  I will be so happy when it is all behind us.  Not only is it disruptive to our schedule but it is very noisy and causes a lot of dust.  The workers are respectful and about the cleanest crew you would ever want to find.  Unfortunately we have had to use them several times for other situations but we are fortunate that they are so conscientiously tidy.  We had one builder that remodeled our lower level a few years ago who was so messy and haphazard with his equipment that we knew we would never use him again.   Not only was our place a mess, it was actually dangerous.

 

GOD CREATED THE FIRST FAST-FOOD

By Kathleen Martens

April 25, 2016

 

There just seems to be

Something so refreshing

When handling real food

Of God’s bountiful blessings.

 

Food that is real

Not processed or altered

Eaten fresh and alive

Without man to falter.

 

To touch the skin,

A red pepper so smooth,

And inhale its aroma

As it simply sooths.

 

And to feel the touch

Of an avocado’s skin

Before it is cut

To eat what’s within.

 

The bounty God supplies

Is alive and flourishing

So we may partake,

Filling and nourishing.

 

If only others knew

What’s in those boxes and bags

That add on the pounds

And makes the skin sag.

 

For there is no life

In that which one eats

If it is processed to death

Before your tummy it meets.

 

Peel a banana or an orange.

To encourage your mood,

Just like apples or grapes,

God’s original, fast-food.

 

Thank You God for Balsamic Vinegar, especially Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar.

Thank You for oranges.

Thank You for pizza stones.

Thank You for all the things You provide when I don’t really even need them.

Thank You for the Geek Squad.

Thank You for dogs.

Thank You for teaching me new things every day.

Thank You for this day.

Thank You for the book “THE LAMB”

Thank You Lord for a kind heart.

Thank You Lord for the love You lavish over me every day.

Thank You for the green paint on my office walls.

Thank You for the comfortable chair I am sitting in.

Thank You for my office desk.

Thank You for my computer and printer working together.

Thank You Lord for being with me all the time.

Thank You for songs.

Thank You for dirt.

 

GOOD NIGHT FRIENDS.  THANKS TO THOSE WHO SEND ME THEIR COMMENTS.  I ENJOY HEARING WHAT MY READERS SHARE WITH ME. 

GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Sabbath April 24 2016  LOST AND FOUND

I am so good at hiding things that even I can’t find them when I go to look for them.  And I guess that is not really anything to laugh about.  Either I must quit hiding things or perhaps write myself notes as to where I hide them.  However, I did that once and then I couldn’t remember where I put the note.  Oh well, all I can say it is that it is a good thing that I have God to help me along the way.  So I just do a lot of praying.

Now, just so you know, it is not my normal behavior to “hide” things.  I only do that when I am leaving town for a while and decide I should not leave my hard drives available to be found by possible intruders.  The hard drive of which I speak is the one with all my family photos on it from the past eight years or so.  I also have some big projects I am working on that are included on the hard drive.  So I pick a spot, tuck my hard drive away, and promptly forget where I put it.  I have not been down to my office since we returned home this week.  I realized that on-line back up of the computer was overdue and I needed to hook up online so any changes could be downloaded.  I was receiving email reminders about this saying:  “ALERT: YOUR BACKUP IS OVERDUE!”  That’s when I noticed my external hard drive was not yet hooked back up.  I immediately started looking for it and could not find it.

So, what did I do?  I prayed.  Then searched.  And then I prayed some more.  And after looking some more, I prayed some more.  And then I looked some more.

I decided to give up, knowing in my heart of heart that I would someday find it because God already knew where it was.  A sentence fleeted quickly through my consciousness saying, “You haven’t looked everywhere yet”.  EVERYWHERE in this house means about a million places.  So I looked one more place.  And lo and behold I found some things that I had totally forgotten about.  These were things that I put there several years ago and promptly dismissed them from my mind.  Well, they may be very useful at this point in our life so I took them all out (the mystery is what were they?).  I set them aside to show Dave and decided that I would quit looking for my hard drive. I knew it would show up when the Lord was ready to remind me where I put it.  (I know most of you are probably thinking by now that Kathleen has really gone off the deep end.)  Just as I was turning to abandon my treasure hunt I believe it was that quiet whisper of God in my thoughts that told me exactly where my hard drive was.  I truly believe I was meant to find the treasure I found just the moment before.  Once I discovered it, I was given the “all clear” sign to go and fetch my hard drive.  I went right to it and there it was.  See, God knew where it was all the time.

All’s well that ends well!

Next time I hide something I wonder if I’ll have learned my lesson.  Maybe I’ll call my sister and tell her where I hide the next item.  Oh, on second thought, maybe I shouldn’t do that either because it might just be an age thing and she is 9 years older than I am.  Remember what I recently said, “aging comes with its own challenges”.  By the time I learn about all these challenges and try to overcome them I’ll probably be dead.  But that’s okay, because when that day comes you’ll know where I am!   Remember, ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL!

THE WAGE OF OLD AGE

By Kathleen Martens

April 24, 2016

 

Oh dear the dilemma of age.

Because of living a long life,

Forgetfulness our wage.

 

And so are the bones

That creak and groan,

And aged muscles without tone.

 

As is eyesight that dims with years,

And we crank the volume louder

For those who don’t hear.

 

Yet it is true we do have bliss.

We forget that we don’t remember,

And what we’ve lost we don’t miss.

 

Sometimes a bit of “tongue in cheek” (even in poetry) is a good way to release tension.

 

Lord, thank You for directing me to my hard drive.

Lord, thank You for protecting my hard drive while I was gone.

Thank You God for the positive outlook on life that you have given me.

Thank You God for our friends that came over for lunch today.

Thank You God that we can still worship freely at our church.

Thank You God for such a great husband. 

Thank You God for this room I am sitting in.

Lord, I thank You in advance for the rain that you are going to bring to our dry and thirsty land.

Lord, thank You for Your Living Word, the Holy Bible.

Thank You Lord that I have lived a long time.

Thank You Lord that someone invented ONE STEP CORN REMOVERS! 

Thank You Lord for door knobs that open with handles.

Thank You for bananas.

Thank You for the ingenuity of clear glass.

Thank You that I can walk.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU ON THIS DAY OF REST!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday April 23 2016  NATURE’S EASE

My topic tonight comes from a statement Dave said to me earlier this evening.  We were sitting outside in the back yard enjoying the 60 degree weather.  Dave has worked so hard in the yard these past few days and we were just relaxing in the warmth of the day as we looked out over all the new spring growth.  Most of our yard is natural habitation with only a portion carved out that we keep weeded and manicured.  We have planted hundreds of hosta plants of many varieties that border our lawn areas.  We have several other flower garden areas, fern gardens, shade gardens, and a small area where full sun loving plants can grow.  And the ubiquitous hosta plants scattered throughout. 

The part we cultivate is backbreaking, time consuming, and beautiful to look at.  Just beyond the garden areas (which are so easily overrun by weeds) is a beautiful natural setting of wooded land.  As we sat in our bouncing, rocking patio furniture looking at the contrast, Dave said, “Nature’s natural growth is just as beautiful as what we have done but without all the work.”  It gave us both pause to stop and wonder why in the world we added all the “frills” in the first place.  It was (and still is) a lot of work, and expense.  Thirty years ago we were a lot younger and felt it would take less work to have the border than it would to always fight the encroaching woods.  Whatever you leave un-mowed allows the woods to relentlessly march forward and reclaim new territory.  We learned that lesson the hard way and we have never been able to reclaim the area we chose not to mow for a season.  We recently had several trees cut down which sprang up, towering and leaning over our house.  So I guess the moral of our dilemma is that either way, a big yard is a lot of work.   We again are taking a closer look at whether or not we would like to stay or leave.  We both realize that the older we get the more difficult it will become to acclimate to  new surroundings.

If I could go back 30 years and relive these past 30 years knowing all I know now, I wonder how different my decision might be.  That is not possible of course, but an interesting thought.  I wish I had been a lot wiser, a lot sooner.  But then again, who’s to say I am wise now?  DON’T ANSWER THAT QUESTION!

 

WE CANNOT LIVE IN THE PAST

By Kathleen Martens

April 23, 2016

 

Oh to be wise

Sooner than later

Without need

Of life to cater.

 

To buy a house

That is the best

Regardless how long

We stay and nest.

 

But alas,

Not to be

For the future

We cannot see.

 

Each decision

We make today,

For a time

Will serve our way.

 

We cannot live

In the past,

Yet today’s decision

Will not last.

 

As time marches on

We each will change

Though our choices

Have far reaching range.

 

So we do the best

For what we need,

And as time moves forward

New decisions we’ll heed.

 

I guess my poem sums it up quite well.  The decisions we made 30 years ago served us well for that time.  Now is another time and we must look forward, not behind us. 

 

Thank You Father for the hours we have to look forward to.

Thank You Lord for being with us every single day.

Thank You Lord for helping us make the best decisions for our future.

Thank You Lord that You are our strong shield and help in time of trouble.

Thank You Lord for our two little Kia Souls.

Thank You God for my toe socks.

Thank You too for my shoe inserts that help my feet feel good.

Thank You God that spring is here.

Thank You for the beautiful sunset I see out my sunroom window.

Thank You God for sisters.

Thank You Lord that my oldest sister wrote a poem and sent it to me.

Thank You for my eyeglasses so I can still read and see to type.

Thank You for my pillows.

 

Below I will close with a poem my sister sent me a couple of days ago.  It touched my heart to know that she too gives thanks to God for all that He provides for her.

Below is a sentence describing when this poem came to my sister.  Let me explain what she means by “court cats”.  My sister lives on a small court with 4 houses on it.  When a neighbor moved away they left their cat(s) behind.  I think other cats have joined their cat and my sister’s tender heart could not bear to know that the cats were hungry so she started feeding them after the neighbors moved.  That was a long time ago.  She still goes up a couple of times a day to make certain they are fed.  And yes, she buys it all.  One more comment from me regarding this sister.  Growing up she was always very special to me and a role model I looked up to.  She is truly about the most generous person I have ever known.  I have been recipient to her generosity more than on one occasion.  Thank you Sister.  And thanks for the lovely poem.

“I have a prayer/poem that came to me tonight giving the court cats a second helping of food.

 

THANK YOU LORD

 

Written by my sister VFM

4/21/16

 

Thank you Lord for trees

Thank you Lord for cool breezes

Thank you Lord for sneezes,

that clears the nasal ,

Thank you Lord for the green leaves.

 

Thank you Lord for all of my bountiful

Blessings

 

Thank you Lord for my sister to care for

and all the people I have cared for.

Most of all Lord I thank you for the means,

the energy, the patience, required to do so.

 

VFM 

 

GOOD NIGHT TO ALL MY READERS AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU WITH MANY BLESSINGS FOR WHICH TO GIVE THANKS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday April 21 2016  A QUICKIE BLOG

This is the day we leave early to go to be with the grandchildren for the evening.  Gramma and Grandpa to the rescue!  It is so wonderful to be retired so we can do just that!  Our schedules have always been too full, too tight, and too stressful to allow much time in the evenings to watch the boys.  Now we can.  Even in the daytime!

Rather than take my computer over there and be busy writing, when I’d rather be playing ping pong or air hockey with the boys, I decided to type off a quick little hello to my faithful readers. 

Just as I said about last year that everywhere I went it seemed as if God was teaching me something.  There was no difference on this trip.  Everywhere I went I learned new lessons and received new insights about myself as well Dave’s and my relationship.  I’d like to speak briefly about one such learning experience.  It is something that was brought to my attention when I was staying with David and Carole.   Carole is a stay at home mom and grandma, as well as the true example of homemaker.  She has an easy spirit about her and makes what most of call “work”, look easy.  Nothing seems too hard or difficult for her to do.  She is an excellent cook, makes the best muffins you would ever want to taste, and moves from one task to the next with a gentle spirit resting upon her.  Now if she reads this she may not agree but that is how she came across.  David is a self-employed music composer. 

What I noticed is that due to the fact that they have the freedom to create their own schedule they do just that.  They sleep until they want to get up.  They go and do what needs to be done without the pressures of outside forces and rules and regulations.  They are responsible and take charge of what must be done, handle time much easier than I find possible, and seem stress free in all the areas I mentioned.  It made me realize that I am still living by the clock as well as self-imposed deadlines I try to live up to.  I realize I am still living under the “driven mentality” of always having deadlines to meet, obligations to fulfill, places I must be (self-imposed), when all I should really be doing is taking time to heal from the years of always living on the edge as far as time goes.  I lived under deadlines and then more obligations would crop up that would usurp the original deadlines.  Being a self-employed photographer was really a daunting feat.  I AM SO HAPPY TO BE RETIRED!  Now I just need to realize I no longer must push myself the way I do.  I have far too many deadlines and time frames that I have put upon myself. 

I think there is a fear factor involved in my above reasoning.  The fear is that I will not complete all that is left ahead of me to finish.  I have a fear of becoming a “couch potato” if I become too comfortable watching television.  I have a fear that I will let myself down in some way.  As irrational as it sounds, that is what I learned about myself as I examined my heart as we traveled home on the last long car ride.  Perhaps it is time for me to stand back, regroup my plans and ambitions by looking at my current situations, and realize that it is time for change.  I need to be easier on myself.  Maybe I don’t even need to accomplish all that is on my bucket list.  Unfortunately my bucket list is not all fun and games.  It is taking time to sort out the past 43 years of accumulation, and business paraphernalia, and records from two businesses I have had in this home.  It is time to downsize just about every aspect of our lives.  It is time to need less and want less.  I want more freedom to do what God wants me to do.  I want to go from one task to the next in a beautiful rhythm without hurrying or putting guilt upon myself if I do not accomplish my list.  Maybe I just need to get rid of “LISTS”!

When I think about what I just wrote above (it surprised me that I said all I said), I think what I am really saying is, that I am just ready to be the “older me”.  Take from that statement what you will because I am not even going to worry about explaining it. 

 

PONDER ON WHAT TO ENSUE

By Kathleen Martens

April 21, 2016

 

It is so good to finally find

The inside of you that was lost.

All those years of deadlines

And I’m still paying the cost.

 

So now that my mind is clearer

I’ll do something about it.

Instead of always rushing around,

I think I’ll just meander a bit.

 

I’ll sit and contemplate my future

And the differences in how to live.

And when I get rid of accumulated stress

To myself more pleasure I’ll give.

 

No need to always be so driven

With seeing how much I can do.

I think it is time to sit back and relax

And just ponder on what should ensue.

 

Hmm…much left unsaid.  Much more I could say.  But for now…I think I’ll just do some deep thinking.  Maybe I am finally getting the hang of this “thing” called RETIREMENT!

 

Thank You God that I have lived long enough to retire.

Thank You for the hours you have numbered for me.

Thank You for all the learning experiences You bring my way.

Thank You for neighbors.

Thank You for giving me new insights about myself.

Thank You for avocados.

Thank You for two special grandsons!

Thank You for this evening before us.

Thank You that our salads are already made.

Thank You God that I am aware that Your Holy Spirit lives within me.

Thank You for safety pins.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU.  Early blog.  YEAH!!!!