I, literally, took this picture over 3 years ago, put it in my “positive quotes” file, and I just realized that maybe there was a reason!? I’m about to move, AGAIN, for the 6th time in 11 years, but I’m feeling really good about it and the “unexpected gains that are likely” (not that I wasn’t positive about the other moves, but this feels different for some weird reason … and, thankfully it’s right next door). Maybe I should play the lottery with those numbers?! LOL!!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
My friend, Leigh, made this delicious pasta for our book club gathering a while back and I’ve made it numerous times since. It’s a winner!
4 to 5 Italian sausages (casing removed) 2 large shallots … minced several cloves of garlic … chopped olive oil 1 stick of butter (yeah, it seems like alot, but you’re using a lb of pasta too) 2 cups fresh spinach (buy you could probably use frozen/squeezed dry) 1 cup (or more) fresh basil (more is better!) 1 lb Giglia pasta from TJ’s (or trumpets) … cooked 2 lemons
Make the pasta according to package directions (al dente) Cook sausages in a large pan and set aside Saute shallots and garlic in the oil from the sausage (same large pan) Add a healthy portion of olive oil and butter and turn off the heat Finely chop the spinach and basil and add to the shallots … saute Add the sausage back into the pan and stir Add the pasta and stir Squeeze two large lemons (or to taste) and add to pasta over high heat stirring until everything is incorporated
appreciate this moment. this moment! stop and look around you. be thankful and grateful for all you have and where you are, because this time next year it could all be different (for better or worse).
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Imagine all of the past versions of yourself standing right in front of you, smiling, overflowing with so much pride looking at how far you’ve come. They are so inspired by you. Keep flying higher. You are your biggest motivator!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
I traveled to NY a couple of weeks ago, anticipating the arrival of my 5th grandchild. While we waited for the big event, the older girls were at camp and I had a few days to go into the city. I primarily wandered and read in Central Park, but I found a couple of things that I wanted to share, in case you’re going to NY in the next few months.
Public art is described as a reflection of how we see the world – the artist’s response to our time and place combined with our own sense of who we are. I love public art because it’s just randomly placed where you might stumble upon it as you go through your day. New York has an “arts in the park” divison, a collaboration with the parks dept and various organizations. You can check out a list/map of places to see current exhibitions here. There’s an exhibition by artist Willie Cole on Park Avenue at East 69th and 70th Streets that I thought was so cool. Cole contructed “four monumental chandeliers made of thousands of plastic water bottles as a way to draw attention to single-use plastics.” What an interesting juxtaposition to the mansions in the area that, most likely, contain enormous, expensive chandeliers. They are on disply until November 5th. Here you go ….
“3000 Buddha Chandelier” imprinted with little Buddhas on each bottle
“Soul Catcher”
“Dirt Devil”
…and my favorite “Liberty Lantern” with the statue of liberty imprinted on each bottle.
I continued my stroll a few blocks over to Central Park where I stopped at Bethesda Terrace to read … and of course enjoy some, only in NY, people watching. As I was sitting there I overheard a dad talking to his kids. He seemed to be a native New Yorker and he suddenly said to his kids “… look at those intricate pictures carved into the columns. I’ve never noticed them before!” So, of course, I turned my head and, sure enough, the colums had the coolest pictures carved into them. I walked around and checked out the other columns and found these six …
look at this cool “Halloweeen” theme
owl and bat
reading
a little fairy garden
a pigeon? a rooster?
landscape with sun
The Central Park Conservancy website states, “On the Terrace’s upper level, piers have scenes representing night and day. The grand staircases leading to the lower level, as well as additional piers, are adorned with carvings that depict the four seasons with detailed renderings of fruit, flowers, plants, and birds.” I didn’t see all of them, but loved these.
The moral of this blog post? Don’t forget to look around, keep your ears and eyes open, and look up from your phone, to stumble upon random, interesting details that are right in front of you.
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
