FOLLOW YOUR BLISS

Thought for the Day:

If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there the whole while, waiting for you, and the life you ought to be living is the one you are living...
Joseph Campbell*

I recommend to you
 Joseph Campbell interviews with Bill Moyers. 







Pleasant Dreams, Esmee

CRAZY HEART

Thought for the Day: 
"Nothing can bring you peace but yourself." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

We went to see the movie Crazy Heart today.  It was a depressing movie although there was a thread of hope running as an undercurrent throughout the story.  The main redeeming thing that came out of the movie moves into the real life of the star, Jeff Bridges.  I am not a regular movie goer, but he definitely, in my opinion, deserved/earned the Academy Award for which he has been nominated. 

I am not sure this is a movie that will linger in my mind for 
years to come.  It is too early to tell.  Right now it is only Jeff Bridges' performance and the music that has me thinking of the movie.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Thought for the Day: 

Love is: The ability and willingness to allow those that you care for to be what they choose for themselves, without any insistence that they satisfy you.

How do I love thee?

-Elizabeth Barret Browning to Robert Browning

How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways.  
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday's

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,-I love theee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!-and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

Summum Bonum

-Robert Browning about Elizabeth

All the breath and the bloom of the

       year in the bag of one bee:

All the wonder and wealth of the mine in

       the heart of one gem:

In the core of one pearl all the shade and the

       shine of the sea:

Breath and bloom, shade and shine,-wonder,

      wealth, and-how far above them-

            Truth, that's brighter than gem,

            Trust, that's purer than pearl,-

Brightest truth, purest trust in the universe-

      all were for me

      In the kiss of one girl.

Have a very Happy Day!

Esmee Lynne

THE WINTER OLYMPICS!!!!

Thought for the Day:  Do not say things:  What you are stands over you the while and thunders so that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary.

It is that time...Winter Olympics.  We pick and choose which events we want to see...on TV, that is.  My favorites are the opening ceremony and ice skating.  (Of all of the things I have done in my life...ice skating is at the top of the list.)

Uh oh..a commercial...it is time to surf.  Ah! Samantha Brown on the Travel Channel. 

Back to the Olympics and time to sign off.

Pleasant Dreams...Esmee Lynne

A NEW FEATURE

Thought for the Day: 
Even God cannot change the past...Aristotle

Book Synopsis:  I have been wanting to do this for a while so here goes.  When I was working in the "real" world and not the "retired" world, I would often get an assignment from my boss...please read this book/article over the weekend and give me the "bottom" line on Monday.  I found out from these assignments there were a few "real" insights to be carried away from the book by me that were meaningful to me and my life.  From that time on I would narrow down the content to its most important thought(s) and record them in a journal.  The first book I am going to share with you was recorded in my journal on December 20, 2004.  I recommend you read the book and see what meaning it as for you and your life. 

The Four Agreements
Miguel Ruiz, 1997. 

Be impeccable with your word:  Speak with integrity.  Say only what  you mean.  Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others.  Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.


Don't take anything personally:  Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream.  When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

Don't make assumptions:  Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want to communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama.  With just this one agreement, you can transform your life.

Always do your best:  Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick.  Under any circumstance simply do your best.  You will avoid self-judgment, self -abuse and regret.

(If you want more information about this book and its author, refer to this website: Miguel Ruiz)

Pleasant dreams, Esmee Lynne

ANOTHER SNOW DAY

Thought for the Day: 

To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven...Ecclesiastes 3

Another day at home.  This is the season for blogger.  I am trying to change my blogger template with some success.  It changed but not the way I wanted.  Now I have to find out how to get the old one back. 

Arggggg!!! from a frustrated Esmee

PS  I finally figured it out...so not so frustrated.

PPS Valentine's Day is almost here!

IT'S SLEETING! IT'S SNOWING! IT'S RAINING?

Thought for a Snow Day: 

A Poem...

Opportunity

They do me wrong who say I come no more

When once I knock and fail to find you in;

For every day I stand outside your door

And bide you wake and rise to fight and win.

Wail not for precious chances passed away!

Weep not for golden ages on the wane!

Each night I burn the records of the day.

At sunrise every soul is born again. 

...Walter Malone

Snow same time ten years ago...

...February, 2000

Have a good day in the snow...

Esmee Lynne

CBS SUNDAY MORNING

Thought for the Day: 


"Marriages are made in heaven and consummated on earth."---John Lyly

CBS Sunday Morning...Our favorite way to spend Sunday morning.  The best show on TV.  It is all of the good news and just a brief moment of of the sad.  If you have an hour on Sunday morning, give it a try. 

 Some friends introduced several years ago and we have rarely missed a Sunday morning with CBS.  We are thankful for that.  It gives us smiles and sometimes tears of joy.


Find out more at:  http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/sunday/main3445.shtml

Then, relax, watch and enjoy!


Have a nice day...Esmee Lynne

THIRD TIMES A CHARM

Thought of the Day:  Thinking: the talking of the soul with itself. --Plato


There is a phenomenon that occurs when you are wanting something and have to request it from someone else. You ask one time and are turned down. Wait a while...you ask for the second time and you get a "maybe". Then, the "third times a charm"...you ask for the third time and guess what? You get a "yes".


In our home we use the "three times" rule to help us curb our spending.  When we see or think we might want to buy something, we count that as our first time.  Then, we go home and think about it.  The next time we are in the store we see the item and think "We still want it can list the reasons why we need it."  We still are not sure.  Now, this is the test.  We go back again.  Guess what?  The item is no longer there.  We now know that it wasn't ours.  However, if it is and we still have the same desire and need, it is ours.


With that thought...Pleasant Dreams, Esmee Lynne

CHICKEN FINGERS

Thought for the Day:  When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.  CONFUCIUS

OR...Whatever we find "true" about the people and things around us, is also true about ourselves...LIFE 101


Tonight I cooked Fried Chicken Fingers for dinner...supper?...Yum!  For the best ones here is a:


Cooking Tip:  When defrosting chicken, put into a large container, fill with water and add a lot of salt.  (The salt provides extra heat and helps speed the defrosting process.) 


Frying the chicken fingers:
1. Beat an egg and milk in a large bowl.  Sloush (a good Southern word) the defrosted chicken fingers around in the mixture.  I have used just milk and it works out ok...just not as fluffy (another good Southern word).


2. Put several scoops of flour into a "ziploc" bag with a genorous amount of seasoned salt and a little pepper.  Add the chicken fingers and shake until thoroughly coated.  Remove and set on a rack over a piece of paper to catch any flour that may have escaped from the fingers.  Let them set for 15 or 20 minutes while you are preparing your side dishes.


3.  Heat oil...I use canola oil...until it sizzles when you sprinkle water in it.  Add fingers one at a time.  They cook really fast so you have to tend them...you can't be distracted or you will have "burned" chicken fingers.  If your hot grease is deep enough, they will float when they are done.  If it isn't, just make sure the batter is brown and crispy.  Remove to a plate with paper towels to soak up extra oil.


4.  I serve with baked or boiled buttered...really buttered...potatoes and whole green beans (Delmonte is the best brand for this application).  If you put the undrained green beans in a pan with a teaspoon or so of salt, bring to a boil and let simmer while the chicken is resting, they will taste like home-grown beans that have been canned in glass jars.


Now it is time to rest on my laurel, read a while and then,


Pleasant Dreams, Esmee

MY DAY...AGAIN

Thought for the Day: "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.  Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!"  Goethe


Well, it's Wednesday again and my day for me...it worked this week.


I am still trying to figure out what the focus for my blog will be.  Maybe this one will be just for me...a journal for me.  I might have to set up a separate one for specific topics?  I am still trying to decide.


I spent the day at home.  I did some housework as well as practiced on the embroidery module of my new Brother sewing machine.  I am working on a journal for Valentine's Day.  I am incorporating the Valentine's cards that I have saved over time; especially those from my husband.


I finished an "ATC" (Artist Trading Card) and began another for the month of February. It is already February...where did January go?


Now it is time to say....


Dream, please do...Esmee