Substance of Living

Thank you, dear readers, for sending us thoughtful emails such as this one below. I believe in angels and that once a parent, always a parent. A drunk man in an Oldsmobile   They said had run the light   That caused the six-car pileup.   When broken bodies lay about   And blood was everywhere,   The sirens screamed out eulogies,   For death was in the air.   A mother, trapped inside her car,   Was heard above the noise;   Her plaintive plea near split the air:   Oh, God, please spare my boys! She fought to loose her pinned hands;   She struggled to get free,   But mangled metal held her fast   In grim captivity.   Her frightened eyes then focused   On where the back seat once had been,   But all she saw was broken glass and   Two children's seats crushed in. Her twins were nowhere to be seen;   She did not hear th...

Buffet Table Setting as seen on Divine Dinner Party This has to be one of my more politically correct, non-offending party ideas.  You may already know this, but in case you forgot or are new, I'm 99% vegan, my oh-so-fabulous husband is pretty much 95% vegetarian, and our family and friends are probably 100% meat eaters (with a vegetable or two thrown into the mix).  Oh!  I'm also gluten-free.  I'm overstating this but I think you get my point. In the eyes of our family and friends, we are the non-normal ones out of the whole bunch of bananas. It used to scare our family and mostly our friends to come over and eat at our house in fear that they may have to eat seaweed and tofu.  lol What DH and I like to do is come up with a theme for the party / event / dinner and work from there.  So, say we are going to have a Father's Day buffet, a Mystery Murder Buffet, or a Theater Buffet.  Once we figured that out we would decide on a bunch of food...

I'd like to start with a personal note by saying , "Happy Father's Day, Dad!" Father's Day is a time to reflect on the men who have made us who you are today.  These men may not have been our dad and they might not have even been a dad.  They did, however, play an important role in our life.  Sometimes we are molded by a smile or a few words of encouragement.  Sometimes it is a hug. Who are fathers?  Are all fathers dads?  No.  They can be Coaches, Teachers, Big Brothers, Supervisors, Neighbors, Uncles, Strangers.  They teach us through love and support.  They instill in us honor, pride, honesty, self-respect, and inner strength.  They show us how to give our children and future generations a chance. Have you been looking at your dad and wondering who he is or what he even enjoys?  Remember back a few (OK, maybe more) years and think about how you spent time with him.  Were you in the garage working on engines?  We...

The next time you set the table, whether eating take out or entertaining, try dressing up your table with one of these folded napkins. Jessica Jones , a graphic and textile designer, has a super easy tutorial over at How About Orange to add a special touch for the man in your life or how about paying homage to Dad this Father's Day.  If you use bright floral napkins, this shirt could also be great for a luau or beach party. Napkin Shirt Nancy of Nancy Creative shows us how to create this beautiful napkin bow.  Can you see this on your table for a special evening? The Bow Fold Nancy, but this time from Nancy's Daily Dish sets a beach table and uses a simple knot for her napkin fold.  So easy and very elegant. Knot Napkin Fold Mrs. Brown (Patti to her friends) and Abbie from Blossom and Posies show us how to create a pocket to hold our utensils.  Some other uses for the pocket might be to hold a photo of each person so they know where to sit...

Day Menu Item Shopping Sunday Grilled Stone Fruit Peaches Plums Nectarines You might also like to try Yogurt, Granola Monday Grilled Cheddar-Jalapeno Eggs in Peppers 2 large red bell peppers 6 large eggs 1/4 cup whole milk or cream 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons shredded sharp cheddar cheese 2 tablespoons minced jalapeno peppers Tuesday Orange Cupcakes Unsalted Butter Vanilla Sugar Baking Powder Vanilla Bean Paste You might also like to try Using a Cake Mix Wednesday Brunch Bake Turkish Bread (Focaccia Bread) Chipolata Sausages (Short Breakfast Sausage) 2 Red Capsicums (Bell Peppers) 4 Tomatoes Fresh Flat-Leaf Parsley Leaves Thursday Bloody Mary Tomato Juice Celery Salt Worcestershire Sauce Fresh Lime Juice   Vodka You might also like to try Horseradish Sauce Friday Breakfast Burrito 1 Russet Potato Cherry Tomatoes 1 Fresh Ear of Corn 6 Green Onions 1 Jalapeno Pepper Fresh...

Although I look more like my mother, I am truly my father’s daughter.  He taught, and continues to teach, me to believe in myself and fear not what lies ahead.  One of his favorite quotes is “I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today” by William Allen White.  Not only is this one of my dad’s favorites but he also lives his life in this manner. Daddies should be every little girl and boy’s hero. My dad is still my hero.  I remember my dad removing a splinter from my finger and all the while talking to me so that I didn’t even know he was done.  I still smile at this memory.  As a teenage girl, my dad was the one that I went to when I needed advice about boys. These days there are a few miles and a phone between us but I still run to my dad when I need advice or to discuss my bountiful load of ideas.  I am very fortunate that my father is still alive and very much a part of my life.  “I have...