CHOCOLATE SERENDIPTY: March 2015

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Pretty Please

It was here when I go home... can I keep it?

It's Time...

It's time to go over the River and through the Woods!
I love it!!

Things I Like...

Fat Happy Cows in the meadow and Piggies Field Trips!

Monday, March 30, 2015

Quote of The Day

Learn from yesterday,
live for today,
hope for tomorrow.
The important thing is not
to stop questioning.

~Albert Einstein

Thought of The Day

If you want happiness for an hour: take a nap.

If you want happiness for a day: go fishing.

If you want happiness for a year: inherit a fortune.

If you want happiness for a lifetime:

Help Someone Else.

—Chinese Proverb

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Yesterday I spent part of the day and had dinner with a friend. She is planning a life change. She has lived her entire life in one spot, and is ready for an adventure!
My first reaction is that she is crazy!
Yet I am sure so many people thought the same of my life change.
She is leaving on June 1st! Just like I did a year ago.
I set out on my adventure alone, she is taking kids.
I moved from the big city to a little farming town. She knows only this little farm town and is planning on moving to PHX.
I brought my home with me and set it up in a little farm house.
She is selling it all to start from scratch.
We went over the map of the Phoenix area, and I showed her places and things. She says she wants to move away from the cold. I now understand that, however I don't think I will ever want 90 degrees for the first week of spring ever again.
So I wished her well. I doubt I will see her again before her adventure begins. I will send positive thoughts out to the universe for her.
I may have been a little crazy to start my adventure in a corn field in the Midwest. But it is safe here, the air is clean, it's green and beautiful here, and the neighbors are friendly. Peace, nature and spiritual connection are abundant here. What I have found so far on my adventure, is what I had dreamed of my whole life.
I hope the same for her!
But I still think she is crazy!!

ARIZONA STORMS

Two friends sent me pictures of last weeks storm in PHX. I do so love a Perfectly Wicked Storm!

Thought of The Day

Welcome Home

My boy sent me a video of their new home! I love this sweet couple! I love their home!

(Sorry, I'm not sharing the video)

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Thought of The Day

Monday, March 23, 2015

WAITING FOR A TRAIN

I was somewhere in Indiana when I saw this train station.

I was thrilled!

Growing up in AZ you only see freight trains.

This little platform just looked magical!

I wanted to wait for the train, but realized

I could be waiting for days!!!

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Winter Lessons

I have learned a lot this winter.
1) Deer literally come out of no where so you can hit them with your car. 2) When something bad happens don't assume you are safe from something else bad coming your way. 3) Being under insured is never good. 4) No matter how slow you drive, once you hit black ice, you are no longer in control of your vehicle. 5) Seat belts really do save lives. 6) Even if there was no one on that little country road for miles and miles, once you flip your car, the entire county is there to help.

The morning this happened was the first snow in the area. It was early for snow, and they hadn't treated the roads. One of the scariest things ever. I'm grateful there was no one on the road with me. I'm grateful for everyone who was there for me, that morning and after that as well.
It's taken me months to post this. I hit the poor deer just a couple miles from this spot one week before. I am scared every time I drive that road now.

(Glad I couldn't find the deer or I probably would have blogged it too.)

Friday, March 20, 2015

The FIRST DAY!!!

TODAY IS...

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Quote of The Day

a NO smoking sign

in a restaurant

*****

is equivalent to

*****

a NO peeing

in the pool sign

Thought of The Day

Some people cross your path,
And change your whole dirrection.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

The Yellowstone Cafe

This little place is wonderful.

The food was good,

the service was top notch

and the atmosphere was delightful!

Our server, Jen, was a real treat.

She grew all the ingredients

in her garden,

right down to the croutons

that she grew on the crouton vines

that are indigenous to the area!!!

She was fun!!

This little place is located in

"The Lamp and Lantern Village

Shopping Center"

I have had dinner in the area before,

and it is simply charming!

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Tonight's Sun Set

My Living Room

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Quote of The Day

Lack of motivation
Is not a lifestyle
It's a poor life choice
~sjs

I LOVE YOUR BEARD

Quote Of The Day

Friday, March 13, 2015

QUOTE OF THE DAY

If it's both terrifying

and amazing, then

you should

definitely

pursue

it!

~Erada

THE BUZZ

Honey bees, which are a critical link in U.S. agriculture, have been
under serious pressure from a mystery problem: Colony Collapse
Disorder (CCD), which is syndrome defined as a dead colony with
no adult bees or dead bee bodies but with a live queen and usually
honey and immature bees still present.No scientific cause for CCD
has been proven.

But CCD is far from the only risk to the health of honey bees and the
economic stability of commercial beekeeping and pollination operations
in the United States. Since the 1980s, honey bees and beekeepers have
had to deal with a host of new pathogens from deformed wing virus
to nosema fungi, new parasites such as Varroa mites, pests like small
hive beetles, nutrition problems from lack of diversity or availability in
pollen and nectar sources, and possible sublethal effects of pesticides.
These problems, many of which honey bees might be able to survive if
each were the only one, are often hitting in a wide variety of combinations,
and weakening and killing honey bee colonies. CCD may even be a result
of a combination of two or more of these factors and not necessarily the
same factors in the same order in every instance.

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS), USDA's
internal research agency, is leading several efforts into possible CCD
causes and striving to enhance overall honey bee health by improving
bee management practices, as well as studying honey bee diseases and
parasites and how best to control them. In addition, a number of other
Federal agencies and State departments of agriculture, universities,
and private companies are conductingstudies to seek the cause or
causes of CCD.

http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=15572

On a GOOD NOTE

A San Francisco hotel installed
four beehives in its 1,000-square-foot onsite culinary garden in June
2010. 200,000 honeybees living in four beehives produce around 600
pounds of honey per year.

The rare "Melipona" bees,
which produce a type of honey that's known for its medicinal purposes, are
native to the Yucatan and are stingless. About 5,000 Melipona bees living in 1
beehive produce approximately 2 pounds of honey per year.

European Honey Bees were
introduced to Bermuda in 1616, and local folklore says a teaspoon of Bermuda
honey taken with tea is a powerful aphrodisiac.

http://www.beesource.com/resources/usda/the-different-types-of-honey-bees/

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

NUTTY NEWS

Pistachios
(Approximately 49 nuts per 1-ounce serving)

Contain antioxidants, including lutein and zeaxanthin.

Eating in-shell helps slow consumption. Bright color

makes for great addition to salads, grain dishes and as a

coating for meats. Native to the Middle East, home of

favorites like baklava, halvah and ma'amoul,

a shortbread pastry.

Almonds
(Approximately 23 nuts per 1-ounce serving)

Excellent source of vitamin E and magnesium, also

provides calcium and folate. Versatile ingredient,

can be used whole, sliced, blanched to remove skins,

and as flour, paste or butter. California provides

80 percent of world’s supply, but almonds are enjoyed

in savory and sweet dishes globally.

Cashews
(Approximately 18 nuts per 1-ounce serving)

Excellent source of copper and magnesium. Soft

consistency with delicate, sweet flavor. Native to

South America, but introduced by colonists to Africa

and India. Commonly eaten as a snack, raw or roasted,

but often used in Asian recipes and to make a rich,

creamy nut butter or vegan cheese.

Macadamias
(Approximately 10-12 nuts per 1-ounce serving)

Native to subtropical rain forests of Australia, this nut

is high in fat, but 17 of the 22 grams are

monounsaturated. Excellent source of manganese.

Unique rich, buttery taste and smooth texture lends

to eating as a snack raw or roasted.

Often baked into cookies and coated with chocolate.

Hazelnuts
(Approximately 21 nuts per 1-ounce serving)

Also known as filberts, they are rich in

monounsaturated fats and an excellent source of

vitamin E, copper and manganese.

Available in-shell, whole, diced, sliced and as

a meal for gluten-free baking. Pairs well with

savory, citrus and sweet flavors, particularly

chocolate, and commonly used in confections.

Pecans
(Approximately 19 halves per 1-ounce serving)

Rich in antioxidants and heart-healthy

monounsaturated fats. Sweet, mellow flavor and

meaty texture lend well to a variety of dishes,

including salads, as a coating for fish, and in

sweets such as pralines and pecan pie.

Walnuts
(Approximately 14 halves per 1-ounce serving)

Integral part of Mediterranean diet, contributing to

health benefits of this style of eating. Rich in

antioxidants and excellent source of alpha-linolenic

acid (ALA), the plant-based form of omega-3.

Grooves hold onto flavors well and are delicious

when seasoned sweet or hot. Oil can be used in

dressings and sautés.

Brazil Nuts(Approximately 6 nuts per 1-ounce serving)

Largest nut commonly eaten. Grows wild on

trees in Amazon rain forests. In addition to

polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats,

contain more than 100 percent of the daily value

for antioxidant selenium. Rich, creamy texture lends

well to snacking, raw or roasted, and confections.

Pine Nuts(Approximately 167 nuts per 1-ounce serving)

Soft nut found inside the cone of several varieties

of pine trees. Good source of vitamin E and phosphorus.

Standard ingredient in Italian cuisine and most known

for its use in pesto. Light, delicate flavor also lends well

to pastas, salads, sautés, breads and other baked goods.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Thought of The Day

I need reminded of this often!

My Boys

LOVE IT!!

A big thank you to all my GOOD MORNING texters!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Start marching forward,
even when into the new and unknown,
and don't be deterred by obstacles.
Daphne Koller co-founder of Coursea

O’Connell’s Pub

http://www.saucemagazine.com/oconnells/

This was the perfect place. It was everything you ever thought an Irish Pub should be. It was old and charming. The windows were leaded, diamond paned, the atmosphere was dark and the furnishings were aged with loving patronage. The service was good and the locals were loud. The burger and onion rings were the best I have had! I had a great time! My only complaint would be the lemonade, I wont order it again, maybe something stronger!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND O'CONNELL'S PUB