Lookout Mtn. Tennessee

It is absolutely freezing here in the Chattanooga area.  Winter feels like it has come with a vengeance.  The wind is howling outside my window and the biggest fluffiest yellow-brown leaves are everywhere on the ground in my backyard.  Last night was Halloween and the marker for cold weather finally being here in Tennessee.

I didn't want to miss the last few days of fall and all the pretty colors so I took a drive up Lookout Mtn just outside of Chattanooga earlier today.  It was hard to stay long out of the car in the cold but it was exactly what I needed today.  Everyplace has it's magic and Lookout Mountain definitely has it's own.  A world within a world.

 

Dear JC.

     I would like to thank you for being the funny one, the most cheerful and bigger picture one.  For that lovely little poodle picture that you sent me making me chuckle as I sit reflecting the hugeness of things.  You've always been able to take the most serious of circumstance and without negating the depth therof, produce a layer of, "this too shall pass".  I am grateful for that.  I find I might stick this part of you in my pocket and carry it with me wherever I  go because people really need this ability.  It's your super power.  

     I am grateful also that you feel so compelled to hear others, share and heal them all along the way.  All the bad people in the world could learn a thing or two, and if they could laugh a little, feel a little and move in such a way that who cares how much time we have here lets just do...what our purpose is, where our roads take us and hold all the people in our lives no matter how we think they suck at the moment.  You do this so well JC that you must be like a magnet for others.  I am left hoping that somehow, someway you get every bit of that in return for your hugeness of heart and playful spirit.  I wouldn't have wished you any other way than exactly how you are.  As your mother I can say that I am super proud of the person you choose to be on your own accord, cause I know it was hard sometimes and lonely sometimes and still no matter what you smile.  So for a young man 24 years on his journey, your off to an amazing start and I love you forever. 

Xoxo 

-mama

Country Garden Chicken Recipe

Hi everyone.

It's a Monday for sure.  I needed a quick and easy recipe and this one just hit the spot.  It's so easy to make your gonna love it.  

First you take (4) Chicken Breast  with bread crumbs and fry them up then place on platter.  Once they are done you take 1/4 c. of diced Tomatoes, Green Peppers and Onions and throw them in the pan and sauté them until the onions are translucent.  You then put in a packet of .7 Country Gravy Mix and a cup or so of water slowly.  Once done you just pour over the chicken.  Then you just add a veggie of your choice.  All done!  Simple as pie and you can also find this recipe available at Publix.  Hope you like it.

Shhh, it's morning at my house.

Good morning everyone.  Charlie woke me up this morning bright and early.  It's so still and not a sound in the house other than his grunt for his walk.  Jupiter our cat has adopted dog-like ways and makes the same grunt sound for her food instead of meowing.  I have actually very rarely heard her meow.  So this is morning at my house. 

Somebody has to say it..

Anyone that knows me well knows I'm dealing with a major Saturn opposition Saturn transit right now. (Sarcasm) anyone that doesn't like sarcasm should just go read something else because this post is full of it centered around all my life's lessons.  May the courageous in heart carry on...

A Saturn opposition is by far one of the hardest transits that an able mind and body can brave in this lifetime.  It's the mid-life crisis where you look around at how you've always done things and it just pisses you off.  You start to see in your early 40's what you did a certain way for 40 years was insane and got you absolutely no where doing it.  Everything you feared or danced around for others just becomes out and out bullshit at this point.  The best part is you can't control the change that's coming.  Yet, whatever comes is needed change and sets the course for the rest of your life.  Sort of a pause if you will to stop climbing, doing and being and assess your life situations, relationships and any other thing that Saturn decides to shift.  BTW, this will go on for about (2) years give or take.  

So, before this opposition I was the doer, the sacrificer, the martyred and the one that made sure everybody else was ok.  Oh I would fight for a cause but never my own.  So I have jotted down some quotes that just pop in my head as I free think about where I am today in my head and heart.  I'm sure something amazingly fabulous will be birthed at the end of these two years.  (Say your prayers for me plz)

It's not that I don't like kids, it's just that I'm "over" kids.  Next obsession please....

When someone assumes leaving my life out of some petty argument or jealousy is a punishment..."where is the logic in that?"  Trash that takes itself out???  Think about it...

She turned out to be fierce, speak her truth and has a mind of her own. 

Sure life is hard, as long as your looking at it according to the needs of everyone around you more than your own dreams.  Then it's fucking hard!!!!

I never thought I'd be ok without a man, without my kids and without my family.  Now there is an assurance that the sun will shine again and I will create a new.  There will come a tomorrow with completely new characters to dance on my stage. 

People will always hate you for the truth no matter how you say it because life says everything is supposed to be hidden and squashed...never addressed. 

If all your enemies, haters and evil doers in your life suddenly ended up in the same town, would that be a blessing or a curse?  I say blessing because like attracts like and good character doesn't hate someone so fabulous! 

I don't travel because I like spending money.  I travel because I like not thinking about it for a week.  "Lay that shit down!"

At her worst, life-changing moment full of betrayal and chaos she was the calmest she'd ever been.  Put on her lipstick and turned to flick the music up!

I used to carry regrets around in my pocket.  They seemed to define me.  Now they are against my religion.  I simply don't believe in them. 

There is so much freedom in making up my own mind about a thing without the influence of any other thing or person. 

I leave you with this..." Friends that sparkle are all that's allowed here and kuddos to my husband who's left standing with me when this is all said and done!". 

Time to cook!

Happy Wednesday everybody!

It's that time of year again for the Dillard's yearly collectable cookbook.  This cookbook benefits the Ronald McDonald house also.  I love this cookbook because this year it's not just Christmas Recipies but also year round celebrations.  Check it out and be sure to pick yours up for 2014