Happy New Year, everyone!

Hello to my wonderful blog readers!

Another year has come to an end.  The sun is setting on 2011.  We must say good-bye to this year and all its ups and downs, its joys and sorrows, its celebrations and quiet times.  But a new year awaits us!  A brand new, fresh, sparkling year.

We have a fresh slate….    It’s time to start writing in the sand!

sunset on Lake Superior in the Keweenaw Peninsula, Upper Peninsula, Michigan

The Keweenaw Peninsula is known for its beautiful rocks, many with red
colors, due to the iron in the area.

sand reflecting the sunset, Keweenaw Peninsula, Upper Michigan

Happy New Year to all my blog readers!  I hope you have your best year yet in 2012!

❤ Judy

All images are copyright © 2005-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Candle Lighter Award!

❤ Goodness!…..I just don’t know what to say!  I have been honored again by my peers and it feels wonderful! ❤  

    

 ❤ This time it’s the Candle Lighter Award, given to me by jakesprinter (Time After Time) Thank you so much jakesprinter!  I am very honored and delighted that you bestowed upon me this lovely award.  I will do my best to live up to the meaning of the award.

❤The Candle Lighter Award was created by Kate Kresse (Believe Anyway).  I would like to explain to you what the Candle Lighter Award is, using Kate’s words. 

“I call my award The Candle Lighter Award. What does it mean? Whenever I see a post or blog that I think brings light to the world, I will put a copy of this post and give them The Candle Lighter Award. What does the recipient have to do to accept it? Just accept it. They can copy and paste the photo (of my candle etc) on this post onto their blog.  What else do recipients have to do? Nothing. If they do think someone else is a Candle Lighter, they can surely give them the award anytime they want and as often as they want. [i'd love it if you could send me the links for the blogs you do find worthy of the award, because I'd love to see their blogs, too! But it isn't required]. There is no limit to how many blogs you award The Candle Lighter Award to and no limit to how many times someone can receive it.”

“Why am I doing this? I think people that are going through the efforts to be positive and make the world better through their efforts and blogs deserve to be recognized. I am always looking for encouragement and ‘light’. I want my faith, my optimism, and my love for life to help to set the world ablaze. Hence: The Candle Lighter Award.”

Thank you again jakesprinter!  Your blog is amazing and creative!  ❤    Judy

❤ I know I don’t have to name anyone, but I want to name a few.  As with every award, it is extremely hard to name people.  I know many bloggers who deserve this award.  I will start with a few and then name more in the future.

 Subhakar Das (FicFaq)

Khushbu (Million Minds in my mind)

Elyas (Kweshn!)

AnaLuciaSilva (1001 Scribbles)

Amira (MindBlur)

If you do not know these blogs, check them out!

The Versatile Blogger Award!

I can’t believe I was nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award!
Thank you so much Subhakar Das!  I am humbled and honored to receive this award nomination from you!

There are rules I must follow after being nominated, so here we go!
❤  The Rules ❤  

These are the rules that every nominee must comply with:

1. Thank the award-giver and link back to them in your post.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass this award along to 15 recently discovered blogs you enjoy reading.
4. Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know about the award.

I’m not following the Rules in order!  I’ll start with my Nominees.
Each one of these blogs is unique, entertaining, and upbeat.  They are writers, photographers, poets ~ all teachers of life.   They show care for others and the environment, present teachable moments and provide thought-provoking material.  They give us glimpses of places we have not seen,
 immersed in color or stark black and white, images that tell stories even without words.  Without a doubt, each blog writer’s chosen topic or image will remain in your heart for a long time.

❤ The Nominated List ❤   

amira
becomingmadame
bindu
Elyas
Kerry129
LauraLeighGoyer
lifeintheblueridges
mjmonaghan
plaidoak
readingwithmrsendsley
sartenada
suehealy
toddmaterazziphotography
urbanbuda 

There is my nominated list!  I am proud to know each and every one of these blog writers!  Please click on their links…..and visit their blog.  You will be amazed, as I am.  And tell them who sent you!    ❤

Oops, I almost forgot.  I need to tell you 7 things about me.  I’m not sure you really want to know???    
1.  I’m like a fish out of water.  I love to swim. I swam competitively in my youth.
2.  I love to read.  I finished Washington: A Life, by Ron Chernow.  900 pages. whew!
3.  I love my cameras: I have a Nikon D-80, and a Nikon S-8000.  I also have 3 extension tubes for the 80, as I’m trying some macro photography, without incurring the expense of a macro lens just yet.  But I am an amateur……still learning.
4.  I love being in the mountains, although my fear of heights keeps me far from the edge!
I crave the feeling of majesty and awe the mountains provide.
5.  I like to snowshoe in the winter.  The woods are so peaceful and quiet.
6.  I love to travel.  There’s so much more of the world I want to see.  (think: bucket list!)
7.  Peace~I will strive for peace in our world, and equality for all~forever.  Food, clothing and homes for those who do not have them, also.  And so important….I believe no one should have to live with daily fear for their lives.   ❤

❤ Thank you, once again, Subhakar Das for this nomination,  and Elyas, for my first nomination.  You both are very kind, and also great bloggers!

“Anniversary Roast”~ from my daughter, guest blogger.

Hello good friends…..
My daughter, Kara, is taking over tonight.  She made a delicious roast when she was here over the holidays.  Before she takes over, I’m going to be a “mum” and post her new blog!
She’s a reading specialist and teacher~and she has a blog reviewing books for kids, parents and teachers…and all of us really.  Many of the books for young adults make good reading for adults too.  Check out her blog….and pass it along to others.  Thanks!  Here’s the link:  “Reading With Mrs. Endsley”.

*Kara’s Anniversary Roast*

Kara's Anniversary Roast

Hi everyone!  I took the “Awesome Red Wine Pot Roast” recipe from allrecipes.com,  adapted it to my taste and renamed it.  Here it is:

Kara’s Anniversary Roast

Ingredients

1. 3 1/2 pounds boneless beef chuck roast
2. 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3. 2 tablespoons olive oil
4. 1 cup water
5. 1 cup red wine (merlot)
6. 1 1/2 Tablespoon Herbs de Provence* can be purchased, or see below
7. 1 teaspoon salt
8. 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
9. 1 onion, sliced
10. 6 carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch disks

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Sprinkle the roast evenly with the flour and set aside. Heat the olive oil in an oven-proof Dutch oven with lid (or heavy pot, such as cast iron/ stainless steel)  over medium-high heat. Brown the roast on all sides, about 10 minutes total; remove from the heat. Pour in the water and wine. Sprinkle with the Herbs de Provence, salt, and pepper. Arrange the onion slices on the roast.
3. Replace the cover and bake in the preheated oven for 3 hours. Add the carrots and continue baking covered until the roast pulls apart easily with a fork, about 1 hour longer.   Enjoy!!! Yum!

**Herbes de Provence~ if you don’t have this in your cupboard, here is a recipe for it.

• 3 tablespoons oregano leaves
• 3 tablespoons thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon basil leaves
• 1 teaspoon sage leaf
• 3 tablespoons savory
• 2 tablespoons lavender flowers  (if you have no access to these…I’d skip them)
• 1 teaspoon rosemary

1. Combine and mix well.
2. Store the mixture in small airtight jars in a dark cool location.

 Thanks to: www.food.com~Mama’s Kitchen (Hope) for the Herbes de Provence recipe.

I hope you enjoy this recipe!  It’s been fun to blog for mom today!
Bye!
Kara 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nature and a new vase……

My children gave me a sleek, black leather vintage vase for Christmas.  Of course I had to play with it….so into the vase went:
Red Osier Dogwood branches  (Red Twig Dogwood)
Weeping Birch branches
Wild Rose branches with rose hips on them……..

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The branches are tangled after two seasons in my house; going into and out of different containers.  There’s another reason they are tangled.  Do you know what it is?   It’s those thorns!   Wild Roses have lots of thorns!  ;)

But actually, I don’t mind the thorns.  I love the roses that come in the spring and summer, with their delicate scent wafting across the yard.   They are small and white with a tiny yellow center.   And they are very delicate, like fine bone china.   In the fall, when the rose petals drop,  I look forward to the rose hips~ first green, then turning red, and finally reddish-orange.  I never thought they were edible, but recently I read about Rose Hip Jam and other items made from them.

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So how could I be angry with the thorns, when the Wild Rose bush gives me so much joy?

I found a quote that mirrors my thoughts:
“You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses.”

Then my thoughts turned to life.  There are thorns in each of our lives…those things that irritate us, make us upset, sad, or angry.  But if we look around we should be able to find something that brings us happiness, love, serenity or joy….and helps us weather the storm.
In every cloud there is a silver lining…..we just need to look~

Good night my friends~
Judy

Silence and thought~

As I sit alone in the darkness beside the tree with the sparkling lights, and gaze upon the beautiful, gaily wrapped presents, I think of all the thought my children have put into the presents they purchased.  Tomorrow morning we will laugh and be surprised, hug and say thank you.  We will enjoy a breakfast together and then they will be off to their other families.  I am so thankful we have this time together; we are so fortunate to be able to celebrate this way.

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But I also think about those who cannot afford gifts… those who have nothing to celebrate.. those who are separated from family members….those who live with daily fear…..those who have no home…those for whom a bowl of rice is their holiday~or even worse, no food on this day of days.   And my heart aches.

I am one person, and I give what I can, but it is not enough.  It will never be enough.

I have a favorite quote, attributed to Winston Churchill: “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.”   To me, it is such a powerful quote, and one I truly believe in.

This year I started a new tradition at home.  I have a very small, undecorated tree.  There are no presents under this tree.  It’s our Thankful, Grateful tree.   I have blank tags and pens available.  When one of the family is inspired, they write something they are thankful or grateful for on the tag and hang it on the tree.   I was gone for a while today and when I came home…..the tree was “lit” with tags.  Blessings!

It’s good to remember what gives our lives true meaning, and have that same wish for others.

My wish for you, my friends, is that you enjoy your holiday, however you celebrate it, and that you are able to feel thankful, grateful and blessed too….
Judy

Christmas at the Durham ll ~

Holiday greetings to my blog reading friends~
I have a few more photos of the decorated tree from the Durham Museum in Omaha, Nebraska.

 

 

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Good night my friends,
Judy

Peace~

photo credit: Daniel H. Johnson

❤  ”If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”    ~Mother Teresa

Good night,  my fine readers…..
Judy

Sour Cream Coffee Cake~

Hello good readers…..
I have a traditional recipe to share with you.  It’s a popular recipe; it’s easy to make and nice to give to others.  Sour Cream Coffee Cake has sour cream, butter, sugar, eggs, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and flour in it.  See…..not many ingredients!  In fact, tonight, while I was making the first coffee cake, I set out the ingredients for a second one.   We gave the first one to friends and we’ll use the second one for our family during the holidays.

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Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Oven: 350 degrees.

Ingredients:
1 cup (or 1/2 pint) sour cream (I used lite)
2 cups flour
1/2 cup  (one stick) butter or margarine
1 cup sugar (white granulated)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder

Mix together in a small bowl and save until later:
1/2 cup sugar and 1 Tablespoon cinnamon

Directions:
Grease a tube pan, bundt pan or 9″ x 13″ pan.  Turn oven on to 350 degrees.
Mix together the sour cream, margarine, sugar, and eggs.  Then mix in dry ingredients: flour, baking soda and baking powder.  When all is well-mixed, spread 1/2 the batter in the greased pan.  Then sprinkle 1/2 the cinnamon/sugar mixture over that layer.  Using a knife, swirl or twist knife through batter so cinnamon/sugar is cut into the batter.
Add the rest of the batter, spreading over the first layer, and then add the rest of the cinnamon/sugar.  Repeat with the knife, twisting it back and forth to mix the cinnamon into the layer.  This will give a bit of a marbling effect to the cake.

Bake:
Bake cake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  However….if using a 9″x 13″ pan, cut the time to about 35 minutes…..and check the cake.  If a toothpick comes out clean, cake is firm to the touch, and cake is pulling away from the sides, take it out to cool.  Tube pans, bundt pans and deeper pans will need to go the full 45 mins.
Additions can be pecans, walnuts or almonds, mixed in with the cinnamon/sugar topping.
FYI: I used a 9″ x 13″ pan.

Enjoy!!
Judy

 

Christmas quote~

Good night, dear readers….
Judy