They Also Served – US Coast Guard Merchant Marines

Ask someone to name the branches of the U.S. armed forces, and you will most likely hear, “Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines”. Many overlook the fifth and smallest branch, the US Coast Guard,… Continue reading →

Blurs and Unsharp Photography – Guided Play

Blurs and Unsharp Photography – Guided Play 2016, Final Plus Post Graduation Album

You are beautiful

You are beautiful

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Be Careful not to slow dance with your Skeletons

Your past is a skeleton walking one step behind you, and your future is a skeleton walking one step in front of you. Maybe you don’t wear a watch, but your skeletons do,… Continue reading →

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On Purpose

Disclaimer: this post is going to be a little wordy. In 2009, I returned home to Jacksonville, Florida to spend a week at the beach with my old friend Libby. Libby and I… Continue reading →

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Farewells

Remembering Daddy The things that he did to show us he cared. The sound of his voice. The wisdom he shared. A piece of advice I’ll never forget. The way that he lived,… Continue reading →

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Passages

I said some Goodbyes today… I completed a mission…. I did it with some lifelong friends, and for that, I’m grateful. Soak it all up, every single second, and simply Be. Right Here,… Continue reading →

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Sandy’s Tree

I first climbed this tree 45 years ago… Still, it stands…Concord Circle in Lake Forest, Jacksonville, Florida. It brought me great peace to find it still stands in the yard of my first… Continue reading →

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On Passing

We must not weep at an end for there is no end. We are not what we were. We cannot lose what we have gained. We have met, we have touched each other… Continue reading →

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On Blossoms

How does the Meadow flower its bloom unfold? Because the lovely little flower is free down to its root, and in that freedom bold. ~William Wordsworth

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Empty

Harry Chapin’s music fans will always remember him for his hits “Taxi,” “WOLD,” “Cat’s In the Cradle,” “Sequel,” and hundreds of other songs. Others will remember him for co founding Why Hunger, (formerly… Continue reading →

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Dad’s Refrigerator Bran Muffins

On a visit to my parents last week, I discovered these amazing Bran Muffins that my 86 year old Dad has been making recently.  He’s always cooking something special, making homemade jams from… Continue reading →

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Perfect Poached Eggs

A photographer friend of mine, Jason Joseph, shared this recipe for a fast, easy, nutritious, DELICIOUS breakfast. I tried it this morning, and will most definitely make this a recurring meal on my… Continue reading →

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Respect Your Elders

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you’ll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and… Continue reading →

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Discovery

You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself. ~Alan Alda

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Brunswick Chicken and Pork Stew

Brunswick Stew 4 oz. Salt Pork, diced 2-3 lbs. shredded chicken parts 8 cups water 3 russet potatoes, diced 3 small or 2 large Vidalia onions, chopped 2 large Garlic cloves, minced 28… Continue reading →

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Collard Greens, A Southern Tradition

Collard Greens, A New Year’s Day Southern Tradition… served along with our traditional black eyed pea’s or Hoppin’ John, and corn bread… It’s on the menu tomorrow. As southern tradition and superstition dictates,… Continue reading →

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Hold On

The best thing to hold onto in life is each other. ~Audrey Hepburn

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Shadows

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Florida Low Country Shrimp Boil

Here’s what I consider the best Florida Low Country Boil ….I stick with this recipe, and it’s awesome every time. About 10-12 small red skinned potatoes 6 ears of corn Water to Cover… Continue reading →

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Free Spirit

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Together

Earlier this year, on a cold day in late January, I received a call from a Telemetry Unit Nurse who works at the Southern Illinois hospital where I trained to become an R.N.… Continue reading →

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Free Spirit

“My life is like a stroll on the beach…as near to the edge as I can go.”   ~Henry David Thoreau “I am you; you are ME. You are the waves; I am the… Continue reading →

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Chocolate Sour Cream Cake, by Hans the Drummer!

I have a wonderfully vast variety of friends…no matter what walks of life they come from, we all have one thing in common.  We Eat.  We love our food.  And, when we’re lucky… Continue reading →

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Trinidadian Oxtail Stew

I have had the fortune of meeting and befriending a fantastic Trinidadian Chef via Google+ hangouts and have proudly been able to work with him.  Larry Fournillier is an Amazing Person and an… Continue reading →

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Vegetable Soup (just like Grannie’s)

No one could make a pot of hearty, healthy, vegetable soup like my Grannie could.  More than just a ‘soup’, her pot of delicious fresh veggies was a meal in itself.  And served… Continue reading →

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Broiled Gretel Eggplant Fingers

Gretel Eggplant are a smaller, egg-colored, tender skinned early garden vegetable. Serves two .. maybe. (I could eat them all if no one was looking.) 6 Gretel eggplants, cut in half lengthwise Olive… Continue reading →

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Be Like Water

 “Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way round or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid,… Continue reading →

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Stuffed Bell Peppers with Quinoa

Ingredients          4-6 Medium/Large bell peppers, tops removed, seeded          1 pound ground turkey (optional)          2 tablespoons olive oil        … Continue reading →

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Lobster Souffle’

3 tbs unsalted butter 3 tbs flour 6 eggs, separated 1 lb lobster meat 1 onion, chopped 1/2 lb mushrooms, chopped 1 cup milk or cream 2 oz Parmesan or Gouda cheese Melt… Continue reading →

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Serenity

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DRAGONS

Jordan Page is a passionate American singer/songwriter spreading a libertarian global message of peace and freedom. His 2011 album release “Liberty” captures the protesting spirit that is missing in mainstream music in the… Continue reading →

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On Simplicity

Complexity often breeds chaos and misunderstanding, while Simplicity seeks to find both understanding and Peace

~morning shower thoughts

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Salt Life

All of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in… Continue reading →

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1976

Hello world!

Rediscovering myself again, through reflection. What I’m learning, is that other than identifying with  the Nurse, Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Friend, all those labels I’ve allowed to define me for my entire… Continue reading →