Staring Over

What have I learn from my own experiences? What should I have done different if I were to start my life allover again?

1- I would  love my family more. I will let then know I love then, not to take then for granted

2- I would  laugh more. The first duty on life is to be happy and to make others happy.

3- I would be a better listener. We are busy with the burden of life tired with the daily routine. We want to forget obligations, We are obsorbed we our own interest We have little time to listen.

4- I would seek to be more honest. I’ve always considered myself honest in the sense that I wouldn’t keep a nickel that didn’t belong to me. I would I knowling tell a lie. I would not purposely misrepresent anything. Yet I know from personal experiences that there is certain type of dihonesty that pretend perfection.

5- I would re-direct my prayers. Often in the pass, i pray for my sons, for my grand children, for my mom, for friends and family in general. Then one day I realize that I most stop praying  like that, instead I must redirect my prayers. “God make us fit to live with love and kindness”

6- I would try for more togetherness. If I have it to do over I would spend more time with my family. Do you know what I’m giving my grandson for Christmas one hour every week to do as he wish. So he can remember the time we had together.

7- I would be more encouraging. Probably there is nothing more encouraging than sincere praise and honest complement.

8- I would pay more attentions to the little things. Little things make or break good relationships or shatter the sense of Oneness and love.

9- I would seek to develop feelings of belonging. When a sense of belonging is absent, a felling of loss and loneliness and lack of love pervades.

I would seek to share God more intimately. When I love God more, I love life more. the more I love God, the more intimate I love everyone.

ART **** INSPIRATION

If you take away the Windows, the wall, and the doors, you are left in the open, with the sounds and the smells. The light surrounds and reflects from any angle. The winds move every blade of grass, and every leaf.
Nothing stand still: everything it is in constant transformation.
This is the inspiration

Winter State Of mind.

I woke up early this morning feeling rested. Like other mornings lately, it was rather dark and cold. Still lying in bed, I turned over to my side and  try to warm myself snuggling in the blankets.    I stretched my legs down towards the foot of the bed and cracked open the window to feel the chilly winter air gush in  brrrrrr! Too cold. I stuck my head under the covers and fell back asleep.
I finally opened my eyes, and smiled. I could recognize the type of light coming through the blinds still down. I know that today is the day; I could sense it everywhere.
Snow is on its way.
I try to remember what is it  like about winter, I know I often complaint about it. I even wrote about the winter Blues and how so many days of gray sky and dark cold afternoons  drag me down.
But I am trying to be optimistic here.
Here is what I love about winter
I closed my eyes, I imagine going out for a walk in the snow and noticing the marks left by my long footsteps; feeling the snowflakes gently brushing my skin and melting within seconds; I imagine the smell of the healthy brisk air that turns my nose and cheeks pink red,  I mainly, pay attention to the stillness around me. I imagine what if… I weren’t able to feel all that ….ever! And then I though How lucky am I.
I am looking forward to baking, drinking hot chocolate, making large pots of hearty soup, and then…. I will  do all of that.  Let it snow!

WINTER IS A WONDERFUL TIME FOR SOUP

African Sweet Potato soup

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped (about 2 cups)
• 2 cups chopped cabbage (to save time, use packaged slaw mix)
• 3 to 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 18-ounce can sweet potatoes, drained and chopped
• 1 14 1/2-ounce can tomato wedges or diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 1/2 cups tomato juice
• 3/4 cup apple juice
• 1 to 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger root
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Directions

1. Heal oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add onion; Cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes.
3. Mix in cabbage and garlic; Cook, stirring, until cabbage is tender-crisp, about 5 minutes.
4. Stir in sweet potatoes, tomatoes, tomato juice, apple juice, ginger, and red pepper flakes.
5. Reduce heat to medium-low; Cover.
6. Simmer until hot and bubbling, about 6 minutes.
7. Serve stew with crusty bread and a salad, or spoon it over rice or mashed potatoes.

Blogged with Flock

FOR THE LOVE OF PHOTOGRAPIC

Teach an Old Dog New Trick
In the top picture I curl a corner on one of the layers, to add effect to the photo
Let not forget that photography is my real interested. Even though you have seen me in many different faces.
Katya the Artist (or want to be)
Katya the Publisher (or want to be)
Katya the Cook (want to be chef)
Katya the armature Photographer (want to be professional)
With that last one in mind, I created a new Photo scale just for you

On this photo of the garden I fatten Two different angle of the same scenery .

This picture was taken in Milwaukee Down town are. The garden is located between two sky scrapers . It feel very relaxing, and I guest a breath of fresh air for the white collar workers.

THE BARN

On this photo after adding sepia colors I wanted to show the Original picture. Just trying to show Katya the Graphic Artist
one beautiful thing about Wisconsin is that once you leave the city all around are farm land. It make it so easy to step in and out of the country.

I think this is a very unusual court house.

Here I wanted to show, detail how the balcony look at closed and also show the out side of the court house. I went a bit fader and added some text as well.
In Photo show You do that by opening all desired photos and tile it. you will get a view of all photos. After selecting the one you like to use as a back ground pick and drop of the photo into the selected back ground. resize to desired size and group then, flatten all to created just one layer, this is important to reduce the large and heavy size of the picture for easy load. Unfortunately I am not using Photo show but paint shop, to work paint shop is more complicated than photo shop. My personal experience, working with paint shop is like having Illustrated and Photo shop all in one.
But course used what is easy and more convenience for you.

Hello world! “MY LIFE ON EARTH”

  Celebrated Life

 

Why settle for just another day? Why not make this day a better day. Please don’t take this like an evangelist speech, It’s about making each day count, and not letting it slip like yesterday or the day before. I am graceful for this day, at lease am alive to see another day.
Friday, My daughter in law and I went up to Campbell Sport, on the way there, we saw a big accident involving 2 cars and a semi-truck, one of the car was under the truck, I was sure some one was dead. In a reflection I though about it. When those people wake up that morning not even for one slip second they though that anything like that, will ever happens to then.
Life could end, just like that. We wake up every morning with the uncertainty of what will happen to us that day. And we go to sleep without knowing if we will wake up the next morning. Make this day a wonderful day, celebrate life. Be happy for each day your get up alive weather that day is a Monday or a Tuesday, a Friday or a Saturday.
Get up and look Around if you do is because you have eyes that can see. Smell the aroma of the coffee if you do is because you got a nose that can smell. Hug you child and if you do that means you got arms that can feel, some one you could love. Take out those old picture and remember better time, old time and if you do is because you have mind that can remember, a mind full of memories, a mind that works.
I have meet people with terminal illness, living making the best of the time they have and others that have their health full of misery. Don’t let that be you.

LIFE AS IT FIT RIGHT NOW

I HAD TO TAKE A BREAK I just want to take a moment to remind you of the beauty of nature and the reason why I came to Wisconsin. Even though I write recipes my blog is about love, about my friends, about you.and the beauty of living in the MID-WEST. I post recipes but they must be associated with my friends, my life and my won experiences. I also want to thank you for the good response I have on my friend page and recipes. If you are on my friend list is because I love you and I hold you dear. Yes I have deleted may people, but part of loving is letting go, Those I let go were people collector that did not love and feel like I do.
Wow we are having the Fondue Festival it is about chocolates and cheese this is Wisconsin you know. The smell of chocolates is killing me I could smell it right here at my house.
Celebrate Autumn in Wisconsin
On Sept. 22 and 29, Celebrated the beauty of autumn with a walk Wisconsin’s magnificent natural areas. Explore the woods and waters of the Wild Rivers Legacy Forest (don’t forget to bring your camera) Listen to The stories from the
heart of the land. Listen to the sound of the water, to the bird singing, listen to the sound of silence. and fall in love with nature.

Cry Me A River
That was yesterday, For some reason my Yahoo did not want to work and keep me invisible all day, that is what I call it when my counter is gone, and nothing on my page move, I get not messages, not comment and my friend page stay the same, then I presume I must be invisible.
We went to the festival and we had fun, until Asheera got bit by a bee in two parts, I walk in the pharmacy and the pharmacist give her Benadril and cortisone. After that she was not a happy camper. I think they try to fit everybody in Fondy town, on a 10 blog radius, the place was pack. Next week we’ll have the Apple festival, they will be apple pie, caramel apple, bake apple etc. Are you ready I am.
Yesterday, Well I saw it today, my 360 friend Tara gave me a wonderful news an script she was working on is going to be a movie. Wow I got Celebrity in my friend list, how cool is that? She was gone for almost a year, Now I now the wait was worsted. Tara like they said in Hollywood “BREAK A LEG” Go Tara, Go Tara, Go Tara, You’re the man!!! I HOPE I DON’T GO INVISIBLY TODAY. Even though it was on for a bit it is gone last time I check. If you see me let me know. “SORRY FOR YESTERDAY ABSENT”

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Dora Queen Of Malaysia and nothing could be more Asia than Malaysia.
How do I got to meet the queen well it was through another blog, where I give advices in Matters Of The Heart. she then mane The Queen of Heart. I invited to my blog here WE ARE
Word will be short,to express my feeling for this girl. It is the love that has developer between us, that make this so special.
Don’t expect to much cooking from the queen, but expect a lot of eating, this Queen love to eat.
This is the recipe she send me. LOVE YOU MY QUEEN. Wow it looks good! My Queen ..this is one of my fav. dish .. Curry Mee…it is very popular in Malaysia .. It’s often referred to as “Laksa” or “Curry Laksa” elsewhere. It is a simple noodle soup that you can get anywhere . It’s basically a bowl of yellow noodles and bee-hoon (vermicelli) infused in rich and spicy coconut curry , cockles, Tau Pok (fried tofu puff), shrimps, cuttlefish, fish cakes and/or fish balls. Curry Mee also comes with a spoonful of roasted chili paste. If you like your food hot and spicy, ask for more chili paste to kick it up a notch. I have so much satisfaction whenever I eat Curry Mee, it’s one of the most satisfying food in the world. The taste is simply divine…Yummmmyyyy

Curry Mee Recipe
Ingredients :
300g 150g 4 2 2 2 tablespoons 200g   For the curry 300g 1 cm 1 cm 1 cm 2 3 4 8 1 cm 4 cloves 4 cups 2 tablespoons 1 teaspoon	Yellow noodles (Hokkien Mee), wash and drained well. Bean sprouts, blanched Pieces of bean curd, sliced Red chilies, sliced thin Limes, cut into 4 pieces Fried shallots slices Chicken pieces/beef/prawns     Grated coconut, extract 2 cups of thick milk Fresh turmeric Fresh ginger, sliced Galangal, sliced Lemon grass (white part), sliced Candlenuts Dried chilies, blanched Shallots, peeled Shrimp paste Garlic, peeled Water or stock Cooking oil Salt
Method : Use a food processor to grind the turmeric, ginger, galangal, lemon grass, candlenuts, dried chilies, shallots, shrimp paste and garlic into a fine paste Heat the oil in a pot. Fry the curry paste until fragrant. Add in chicken pieces. Fry for 2-3 minutes. Add water or stock and bring to boil. Add bean curd, coconut milk and salt. Simmer the curry over low heat. Keep warm To serve Put some bean sprouts, noodles and ladle the hot gravy in. Garnish with sliced chilies, shallots and a piece of lime

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• Torri…

This is not just about recipe but mainly about friendship. There are some friends that are new, others no so new and must of then have been with me seen the beginning. I Thank those friend that have been with me since all my ups and downs, those faithful friend that even though I had change my posting style so many times they still here, proved that they are here for me.

Who is Torrie, A loyal friend, a passionated woman. Speak her mind and respect others opinions, a mother and a wonderful person. Thank you Torrie for being here all this time and put up with me. Her page has style and good taste. I love you Torrie. If you haven’t done so please check her page.

IT JUST STRIKE ME THAT THOSE RECIPE THAT ARE EASY TO MAKE ARE ALSO EASY TO EAT.

Here is the recipe Torrie send me it is easy, funny and fun.

Recipe

Hi LK 😀
I thought of a recipe we love here in my house and make often. It’s so easy we don’t have to even write it on a recipe card, which is a good thing since I left all my recipes in storage when we moved. I got the recipe from my brother who got it from his then wife who got it from… hm, I don’t know where she got it.

Cuppa Cuppa Cuppa
One cup of flour
One cup of sugar
One cup of milk
One egg
One stick of butter or margarine (1/2 cup), melted

Empty 3 (15 ounce) cans of sliced peaches into an 8″x11″ baking pan including juice from only 2 of the cans.
Pour the batter over the fruit and juice.
Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour.

Voila’! The best peach cobbler I’ve had. The batter can also be poured over other fruits for different cobblers. I like it over apricots or blackberries, too.
Sure cures a sweet tooth.
Enjoy

Today I think God was re arranging the furniture in haven. even in my sleep I hear the collimation up there, I wake up the a raining day, maybe god is cleaning the floors.

Rainy day and Fridays? That does not sound right,.

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MY FRIEND JAMES ROBINSON “MR: PIG”
I can think about Mr pig without think of Gossie, they came one day at the end of January like a package. The grow on you and boy they had grow.
This Britisher friend that live in Kentucky (what a change, what we do for love) is funny and charmer is a real package. He is a great photographer check his flikr page, and you’ll what he does.

J “mrpiggy001” Robinson

J “mr pig

A quick salad type recipe.

Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Summer Salad

3 cups sliced home grown tomatoes
2 cups sliced fresh mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup whole leaves fresh basil

 

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Dressing.

 

1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
2 tablespoons minced shallots
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/8-1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, to taste
salt and black pepper

(yes I got ideas and tips before doing this)

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MY FRIEND Ursula
I want to thanks all the friend that has send me recipes. the respond I been having on my friend page and recipe have been enormous. I can do this with out you. My hit counter when up. Even though you may not see many people commenting on your recipes a lots of people are looking at it.
What do we share? We share our love for nature, photography and beautiful flowers.

My friend USCHI

For some people we don’t need much, we know right-a-way, its like magic or love a first site. We may not not the reason why, but it is there. USCH is one of those wonderful person.
Uschi give my friend a visit and see for your self why she is my friend.

Uschi

send me this recipe I hope you guys enjoy it.

• Ursula Ghosh

Hello Katya

Here is my recipe:

Tortellini Casserole

1/4 cup butter

1 clove garlic (chopped or grated)

1 small diced onion

1/4 cup flour

2 cups milk

1 cup tomato sauce (750 ml diced tomatoes)

1/2 tsp. each of thyme, basil, oregano, pepper

1 tsp. salt

1 lb tortellini (cheese or meat or mix of both)

1 bunch broccoli

2 cups grated cheese

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

1. Mix butter, garlic, onion and cook for 3-4 min.
Add flour and cook for 3-4 min.
Whisk in milk and bring to boil.
Add sauce and herbs and cook for 5 min.

2. Cook tortellini for 3 min. add cut up broccoli and cook 5 min.
then drain.

3. Mix all together including cheese and sprinkle top with
Parmesan cheese.

Bake at 350 degree for 45 min.

Hope I’m still early enough..enjoy my friend!
Lots of love.
Usch

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