I Love America and My Freedom, How about You?

So how are you?  I mean really?  I saw something recently posted by a cousin on social media that had said “ It feels like Americans are in divorce court and just waiting to see who gets custody of us”. It hit the nail on the head.  Whatever side you were hoping to win may have you now feeling elated or feeling just the opposite with yesterday’s announcement.   For the most part, I see as a nation that we are weary from COVID, racial issues and a contentious presidential race.  Our emotions are upfront and center and for many, they are very vocal about where they stand.  I get it. There are so many factors out of our control but yet they affect us. I imagine there are many things in play that we may and may not know about and I for one feel a bit over-whelmed with so much emotion swirling all around. 

Either way, there were things I liked and didn’t like about each of the presidential candidates and their respective parties.   I’ve listened to conversations from some that worry about American becoming the next “socialized nation” and I have to admit that scares the you know what out of me and is there someplace else better than America to live in?  I ponder for a few minutes and think, no there isn’t anyplace else like the U.S.A.   I love my freedom and all that comes with this amazing  privilege that I think so many take for granted.  Or at least I have.  It comes down to the fact that there isn’t anywhere else I would rather live than in America.  I am going to put my trust in something bigger than who is our next president.  Tonight, as always, I will get down on my knees and spill my soul to our Creator and then ask for divine guidance for you, me and all of America.

As I write this, it is basically a snow globe outside my window and it beckons for comfort both physically and spiritually.  

Sharing a beautiful winter sunrise from my farmette

Today I will be do the things that help calm my soul, for one – it helps me when I write to you, next I will bundle up and take a long walk outside which is another place to talk to God.  Then later on I will be baking Oatmeal Cranberry cookies that have been dipped in chocolate. Recipe is here. I will save a few for my Mr. Right when he gets off work, but the majority will be taken to my fav law enforcement office with sincere thanks for all they do.  Giving helps me and it feeds my soul.

And as you navigate through your day, I wish you well, truly and sincerely.  My hope for you, me and the rest of America is to move forward as we work towards keeping our freedom and realizing how fortunate we are. There will always be differences and I hope we all realize we can’t change anyone but ourselves.  We can choose how to navigate our everyday life and it is up to us.  And my choice will be to follow our Creator’s words of wisdom as best I can.  I am human, I fail and then I get back up and try again to do better.  This quote says it perfectly to me…..

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.  

Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you

2 Chronicles 20.17 

Wishing you and your family all the best.  As always, thank you for stopping by and sharing part of your day with me. As always, feel free to post a comment and by all means share the post if you so feel inclined.   All my best, Gayle

The Kindness Box

My fav outdoor Christmas decorations - Reason for the Season

Yesterday my almost 9 yoa grand-angel Miss M pondered what to give Santa for a present. And here is what I had told her, I said the absolute best present you can give Ole St. Nick is a year’s worth of kindness. More on that in a bit ….

Gratitude Meter

Oh my gosh…. It’s Sunday evening and the end to a quiet week-end.  I was going to turn on the news ….. and thought yuck!!!  I didn’t want to see or hear about any of the negativity that would be reported on.  So instead I propped my feet up by the fire, poured myself an adult beverage, put on a play list of music, Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli and Adele…. blissful!  And decided to write to you instead.

Food, friends and gathering around the table

With the beginning of the New Year I’ve been mindful to take ( and make) the time to spend quality time with family and friends.  Here’s a quick overview, Thursday evening a gathering occurred that was a reunion of work pals and their spouses.  We were a band of very different kinds of people who were either hired (my case) or elected to Executive Officer positions (my guests) and through the good and sometimes not-so-good times at work, we forged a genuine affection for one another.  And after a few years apart, the idea had been put out by a fellow colleague to have  a “reunion” and he suggested going to a restaurant.  While I do love going out to dinner, this event just begged for a quieter setting. And with that,  I suggested that I host a dinner to encourage lingering at the dinner table where we could  enjoy each other’s company in a relaxed fashion.  The other’s eagerly adopted the idea and an impromptu dinner party came together.  It was glorious…I have to admit.  I have some very basics on food that I can fall back on and the menu consisted of Dijon Pork Lion,  Gourmet Mac n’ Cheese,  Apple-cider cranberry sauce, and the guests brought a salad, bread, dessert and wine.  We gathered, shared stories, poked fun at each other and laughed a lot.  It was a beautiful evening.  As everyone was leaving, one said, let’s do this more often…..  it seems as a whole, that we fail to set aside time to celebrate friendships forged by shared experiences.  Alas… another resolution for me!

On Friday, I took the leftovers and shared them with my mom, we played Scrabble and I got beat by my 82 year old mom…..she gloated over the winning.   Lol

Saturday I baked and baked.  I called my daughter Jen and asked if she could take a few photos of me to help submit to a magazine I’m trying out for.  After the quick photo session,  a heart-to-heart chat over coffee with my beautiful girl.  Mom and daughter time is always a blessing.

Chocolate Shortbread, Espresso Chocolate Cake,  Nutella Bread,  Cinnamon roll bread (a few successes, a couple of need to work on the recipes)

My other fav place to write when I'm not parked by the fire

This morning on my way to visiting a new church,  I dropped the yummies off to the Sheriff’s office (they were excited). It’s my way to show my appreciation for their dedication and something that I’ve been doing for several years now. Truth be told, I’m not sure who gets more excited, me getting to bring “baked with love” yummes to them, or them when they see my arms laden with baked goods.

And after church, a cup of tea with some dear friends.  Then a nice phone chat with my sweet man.  Can it get any better….?

And I have to tell you, that connecting with friends and family keeps my “Gratitude Meter” fully charged. The beauty of taking the time to spend with those you care about are the kinds of memories that warms this girl’s heart on a cold winter day.  

I hope your first week-end of the New Year was meaningful and that your Gratitude Meter is fully charged as we begin the new year.

All my best, Gayle

P.S. I’ll be getting the recipes up on the website soon – Good Farm Food ( the Espresso Chocolate cake is already on the Cake of the Month page.)

                                                                                        

Planting Seeds for a Good Life

Today while on Facebook I saw I had memories to look back on, and so I took a moment to look.  The images were of the usual cast of suspects that I call my family celebrating  Thanksgiving, and while some are no longer here either by death or by choice, it was a poignant reminder of how vastly different my life is today from just three short  years ago.  That period  in my life was probably one of the most painful to go through, but I’m actually grateful for those hard times because it forced me to take stock of my life. 

Changes, some voluntary, some not made me decide that I needed to live life like a “Friday night instead of a Monday morning”.  I had forgotten somewhere along the way that life was special and to give myself permission to enjoy it.   And I was determined to start embracing the magic in life again and celebrate each day. When you start at ground zero, it forces you to slow down and assess what is important and what is not.   Funny thing is, living life is a lot like farming, you have to plant and sow the right kind seeds which will grow and yield and be bountiful.  Seriously, farmers can only grow certain crops that are best suited for the climate and conditions of their land, and so it is the same for a person.  You have to decide what your own landscape is going to look like and then roll up your sleeves and get to work.  Is it easy? Hell no! But eventually the sun breaks out of the storm clouds and you get a glimpse of something great in the making. And that is why as Thanksgiving rolls around it is more (to me) than just a holiday of food, family  & football, it’s time to take stock of where you have been and if what you are growing in the garden of your soul is thriving.  If it is, then keep on doing  what you are doing; if it isn’t then you have some work ahead of you.  For me, I am still planting good things, sometimes I have to dig up what wasn’t working and of course, always be on the lookout for weeds.  Cuz just like gardening, if you let the bad seeds start, they will try to overtake all your hard work. J

On the farm front, the winter wheat is beginning to show a tint of green due to the welcome moisture we’ve been getting.  The equipment has been put away until Spring and it’s quiet on the farm.  This is the time that those in the Ag industry get to slow down and recharge their batteries.  I wrote more about that in the magazine called Home and Harvest and I invite you to check it out. It’s a wonderful publication.

My kitchen is one of my favorite places to putter. create and relax

Today I’m trying my hand at a vegan, gluten free pumpkin pie for my baby brother, Barry. Of course, I’ll be making the regular pumpkin pies too.  And just for my sweetheart, Randy – well he’s coming over tonight and we’re going to whip up a batch of banana/blueberry muffins for his work mates.

After the holidays, I’ll post pictures on the At Home on the Farm page, and if the vegan gluten free pie is good, I’ll post that recipe on the pumpkin page.  Good thing my brother is always a willing guinea-pig for my baking experiments…..

As always, thank you from the bottom of my heart that you took time out to stop by.  I wish for you  a blessed Thanksgiving.  And before I conclude, here’s a wonderful quote:

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings”   › William Arthur Ward

Blessings to all, Gayle