Ash Wednesday

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In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent,

the season of preparation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.

During Mass, the ashes which give Ash Wednesday its name are distributed.

The ashes are made by burning the blessed palms that were

distributed the previous year on Palm Sunday.

The distribution of ashes reminds us of our own mortality

and calls us to repentance. In the early Church,

 Ash Wednesday was the day on which those who had sinned,

and who wished to be readmitted to the Church,

would begin their public penance.

The ashes that we receive are a reminder of our own sinfulness,

and many Catholics leave

them on their foreheads all day as a sign of humility.

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Have a Blessed Lent Season.

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Marching into March

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Then one day warm wind starts blowing.

Long and black winters come to an end.

The hard snow melts and birds begin to whistle in their silvery voices.

Their songs are broken and uncertain.

 They are still in the cruel grip of fatal cold.

The change is always difficult and painful.

 This change from certain death into a new life has made them miserable.

 We welcome the new season which is full of joy,

 hope and life we are ready to forget the disastrous cold and snow storms.

D.H. Lawrence
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Ive been waking up before my alarm clock lately and I know Spring is coming because i can hear all the little birds outside my window, along with a very loud woodpecker. 

Ive been wearing short sleeve shirts under my winter jacket thinking that maybe today will be the day it will go from 30 to 70 degrees in one big swoop.  Im so hopeful.

  I  found little buds sprouting out of the ground this past weekend, I cant wait for my kitchen counter to be covered in bouquets of daffodils.  Such a perfect and simple flower.  

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"What always happens. Life."

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 "There are things that we don't want to happen

but have to accept, things we don't want to know

but have to learn, and people we can't

live without but have to let go."

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Certain events and people happen in your life for a reason? For better? worse? Even if it was described as an unending circle of mingled mangled confusion. A very unhealthy cycle that eventually leads to the end.  You ask yourself what was it for.  Why was all this necessary? What lesson had to be learned so badly that you end up plaguing people you love with misery? WHAT'S THE POINT!

 I was staring in the mirror this morning and fixated on my eyes.  I noticed the sign of ageing and puffiness that not enough sleep brings.  I found stress and exhaustion.  I found laughter too.  To be insanely happy?  Is this a real emotion?  I cant remember this feeling. Maybe I was trying to find her again, me, I was talking to myself which happens more then I will share.  When you are uneasy or apprehensive about something and your looking for some kind of clarity that your making the right decision, you want to feel like you had a hand in the outcome. When you tell God I give these problems to you, It’s almost impossible to fully do this.  Because if we fully gave our distresses’ to him there would be no need for the heartache or unending days of depression that help you feel you participated in the final destination of the dilemma.  People are placed in your path for a reason.  Maybe this is true, No, I know it is.  We take the wrong road, path, bike trail or whatever it is sometimes, so we need these people to help us learn what he wants for our lives.  Someone very dear and very special to me said I am destined for great things.  I will come into my own one day then just take off.  Maybe he just meant one day I’ll be fulfilled and satisfied with exactly what I am doing, no matter how complex or simple it might be.  Maybe I need to just be happy and OK with right now.  Maybe I am Summer wishing I was Autumn.

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A Thought on Housewives

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Because without housewives, there would be no next generation.

My mother was and is a housewife, I find that it's one of the most important link of any society and ultimately the country.

My Mother would have made an amazing career women,

but a home and family was something she wasn't going to sacrifice.

Being there to raise us and assuring our proper upbringing and education was imperative to both my parents. 

Some of the most Brilliant women I know have chosen to be housewives and this I assure you is a never ending 24 hour & 7 day a week job.

There is no retirement but there are constant rewards.

Quote from Mona Lisa's Smile:

Joan Brandwyn: Do you think I'll wake up one morning and regret not being a lawyer?

Katherine Watson: Yes, I'm afraid that you will.

Joan Brandwyn: Not as much as I'd regret not having a family, not being there to raise them. I know exactly what I'm doing and it doesn't make me any less smart. This must seem terrible to you.

Katherine Watson: I didn't say that.

Joan Brandwyn: Sure you did. You always do. You stand in class and tell us to look beyond the image, but you don't. To you a housewife is someone who sold her soul for a center hall colonial. She has no depth, no intellect, no interests. You're the one who said I could do anything I wanted. This is what I want.

   

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"Ireland I am Coming Home"

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Well It's been 9 years since Ive been back to the beautiful Ireland. 

I leave in 1.5 days, February 9th.  I'm so excited to get out of NY for awhile and immerse myself in simplicity and beautiful scenery.  I have a lot of memories from this amazing place but so many of them have disappeared. So I'm going to try to remember to take photo's,  I get so excited I forget to. 

 I have a great raincoat and an umbrella, I realize it's very rainy there during this time of year, but anything is better then this crazy NY snow we've been getting.  I cant believe it's already here.

Here's to a wonderful adventure.

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"Never be afraid to trust an Unknown future to a known God"



Smile, Breath and Go Slowly...

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The One thing that really holds me back from pursuing my dreams is fear of failure …It’s something we all face, to some degree, I think. how do you overcome that fear?
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One of the Greatest articles I found on this is by a Leo Babauta. 
It's called the 25 Killer Actions to Boost your self Asteem.
  http://zenhabits.net/25-killer-actions-to-boost-your-self-confidence/
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1. Groom yourself
2. Dress nicely
3. Photoshop your self-image
4. Think positive
5. Kill negative thoughts
6. Get to know yourself
7. Act positive
8. Be kind and generous
9. Get prepared
10. Know your principles and live them
11. Speak slowly
12. Stand tall
13. Increase competence
14. Set a small goal and achieve it
15. Change a small habit
16. Focus on solutions
17. Smile
18. Volunteer
19. Be grateful
20. Exercise
21. Empower yourself with knowledge
22. Do something you’ve been procrastinating on
23. Get active
24. Work on small things
25. Clear your desk
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chili macaroni cheese

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I found this recipe on a blog called  
What Katie Ate.

a Ton of hungry boys and girls came home to the house early from school to sled and play touch football,
so what better to fill them with but with great winter comfort food.

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1/4 cups macaroni pasta

1 1/2 cups milk

20g butter

1/4 cup cream

1.5 cups cheddar cheese (I like to use a good, bitey vintage cheddar)

1/2 cup Pecorino cheese

1/4 cup chili cheese

Salt & Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Olive Oil

Preheat your oven to 250˚C (480˚F)

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1. Cook the macaroni pasta as per the packet instructions. I prefer to slightly under cook it by one or two minutes as I feel once fully baked, the texture is nicer. Drain and toss in a tablespoon or two of olive oil and keep warm.

2. In a saucepan, gently warm the milk, cream and butter and bring to a slow simmer, seasoning well with a good pinch of salt and pepper.

3. In a bowl, mix all cheese varieties together, then add half into the milk and butter mixture, combine well and add into the cooked pasta, making sure the pasta is well coated.

4. Grease the inside of a baking dish with butter and into which add the coated pasta, then pour in the remaining milky cheese mixture.

5. Sprinkle the top of the dish with the remaining cheese.

6. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes until browned and bubbling. I like to add a further handful of grated cheddar cheese and place under the grill for 5 minutes until crispy.