i’ll rise up

these words have been on my heart this morning…

“all we need
all we need is hope
and for that we have each other
and for that we have each other.
and we will rise
we will rise
we will rise
WE’LL RISE.

and we’ll rise up
rise like the waves
we’ll rise up
in spite of the ache
we’ll rise up
and we’ll do it a thousand times again.”

I urge you to focus on the good around you…
because in spite of what the media hypes up,
there is more good in all of this than bad.

I believe in the well-being of this planet.
I believe in health and vitality.
I believe in calm and peace.

I am thankful for…
selflessness
healthcare workers
compassion
generosity
truck drivers
stamina
determination
shop and restaurant owners and workers
kindness
thoughtfulness
mindfulness
creativity…

I am thankful for…
people who think positively
people who help one another
people who have faith…
I am thankful for love.

I am thankful for…
scientists
doctors
leaders…

I am thankful for…
communities
ideas
and abundance.

I am thankful for today.

I am confident…
because we as a people,
have always
ALWAYS
risen up and faced the battle together in challenging times.

and we’ll do it a thousand times again.

lyrics: andra day ~ “rise up”

hello from the other side

where have i been and why do i have this handbasket?

well, i guess it all starts with grand plans…
i love them.
i love having them.
i love doing them…
ok… at least STARTING them.
and then i remember…
i really stink at planning.
and grand planning?
um… note to self.

anyhow, i am good at revamping…
and vamping.
which means i am good at adapting.
which means i am growing.
which really is the grandest plan of all.
note to self.




lyrics: adele ~ “hello”

word to your mother

my mom passed away before texting was a thing.
even though we would talk frequently on the phone,
she would still send me notes and postcards through the mail.
they were always filled with words of wisdom, words of encouragement,
and often an article she would rip from a magazine because she thought it would interest me.
and even more often, it would only be part of the article, because she would forget to rip out the second page.

i am so thankful i still have some of her handwritten messages..
because a girl always needs a word from her mother.

lyrics: vanilla ice ~ “ice ice baby”

you don’t need anything after an ice cream

two days after starting the “no-churn blueberry graham cracker ice cream,”
it is finished!
it was actually very easy and worth the wait on freezing time.
(and worth the wait the car fiasco caused!)

no-churn blueberry graham cracker ice cream
(1 3/4 qt)

3/4c fresh or frozen blueberries (i used fresh)
1/4c sugar
1T vanilla extract
2c heavy whipping cream
1c sweetened condensed milk
4 whole graham crackers, coarsely crushed (i eyeballed what i thought we would like)

make your blueberry stuff (i called it syrup) ~
combine the blueberries, sugar, and vanilla in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. reduce heat and simmer until mixture begins to thicken, about 5-6 mins, stirring frequently. cool completely in the pan, then refrigerate until chilled. (and due to unforeseen delays, i chilled this for 2 days and it was perfectly fine.)
now for the cream~
in a large bowl (i used my stand mixer), beat the cream until soft peaks form. this took 7-8 mins with my mixer on medium speed. add condensed milk and beat until mixture thickens, about 3-4 mins, again, on medium speed. gently fold graham cracker crumbs into cream mixture. transfer to a freezer container, allowing headspace for expansion.
drop blueberry stuff by tablespoonfuls over ice cream and then cut through with a knife to swirl.
freeze for 8 hours or overnight.
(i chose the 8 hours because i had waited long enough, and the consistency was a little firmer than soft serve, but not hard.)

i will tell you, this was deliciously creamy and rich. some of us liked the fact there were whole blueberries still intact, and some said if the blueberries were mashed a bit, they would have enjoyed it more.
however, all the bowls were empty, so success!

lyrics: adam and the ants ~ “car trouble”



I found my thrill on blueberry hill

the beginnings of “no-churn blueberry graham cracker ice cream.”
i say the beginnings because this had to chill, so while chilling, i went to pick my daughter up from work…
decided to run into the store for much needed q-tips,
came out, car wouldn’t start…
called daughter #2 to pick up daughter #1
called daughter #1 to give change of plans
called husband…
who called mechanic
who came to give me a jump start
who then concluded it was my starter
who then drove me home…
to then find daughter #2 hasn’t left to pick up daughter #1 due to a low tire and the fear of driving on it.
leave with her
call daughter #1 (we’re coming!)
put air in tire
pick up daughter #1…
home in time to
feed dogs
feed chickens
throw together some ravioli for dinner
eat dinner
and check to see if, indeed, the blueberry syrup was still chilling away.
i then decided coffee was more important to my sanity than finishing the ice cream recipe…
and so the syrup chills
i chill
and tomorrow’s a new day.

lyrics: fats domino “blueberry hill”