Christmas Busyness ...

I've been busy ... but not completely with all-things-Christmas. I've been crocheting a lot, making little gifts that I want to give people (and not really intended for Christmas, just because I wanted to do it.) And there have been some errands to run, lunch with friends, and yesterday I spent baking cookies for my sweet hubby to bring in to work.

There have been cards to write and trips to the post office. And phone calls. Lots of phone calls (some to friends and others to figure out why I'm running low on funds in my mom's checking account and trying to make address changes obviously not made when we moved.)

Yesterday was a phone day. I spent 3 hours (yes, 3 as in three) on the phone with an old friend who was feeling kind of down. Truth was, I was feeling a little down too. Sometimes all the merriment of preparing for Christmas can get to you. I'm hoping she felt better when we got off the phone -- I know I did!

One thing that she said that really brightened my day came up when I was relaying a story about how my father had picked up a man stranded in the Blizzard of '77 and drove him as far to his house as the roads would allow. The man didn't really have good protective weather gear on and was going to have to brave the blizzard to make it up the road the rest of the way home. I had recently given my father a scarf I had made -- my first ever crochet project and it seems my father cherished it. He gave the man his scarf but insisted on exchanging contact information and asked that the man return the scarf. When he didn't (in a timely enough manner apparently) my father went to his house and got it!

We laughed about how I was so into crocheting then (I must have been telling her that I had a few projects going now) and I told her that on Thanksgiving my brother had sent me a picture of himself in the woods where he was hunting. I think I had sent him a text wishing him a Happy Turkey Day and encouraging him to stay warm. He replied, "All is well, have hat sis made me." And on his head was a hat I had made him for Christmas some 30 years ago. I couldn't believe he still had it -- and wore it!

Well, my friend then shared that her husband (we've all been friends forever) still wore the hat I made for him some 30 years ago each and every day! She said he often puts it on and says "Thanks Barbie! Warm again today." I was flabbergasted. He still has that hat? Again -- I couldn't believe it.

I guess what struck me is how some gifts stay with us. I'll be honest, I don't remember giving the hats to my brother or our friend. I know that I've made a zillion hats and slippers over the years and liked to give them as gifts. It just really has touched my heart as I'm finding myself getting back into crochet that things I made years ago are still around and still being used!

Now the whole reason I wrote this post was not to talk about crochet or gift giving. It was because I felt guilty not having written anything in the past few days. The truth is that I rather like coming to my blog and seeing the pictures of my Christmas ornaments first thing. They make me happy (I made all the ornaments that are shown in the pictures -- well, except the balls.) I realized I love handmade things and especially like to see handmade things USED year after year.

So for the moment I'm giving up seeing pictures of my Christmas tree on the upper fold of the blog. Maybe later today I'll get a chance to take some pictures of ornaments we've picked up during our travels this year ... they make me happy too!

Moral of the post: Make gifts from the heart and with your hands ... as they bless others you just might find yourself blessed as well. Merry Christmas!

Wordless Wednesday -- The Tree Is Up!!

Winter Day Smoothie

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but my smoothie's so delightful ...

Yes, even on cold blustery days there is nothing quite as wonderful as a nice cold smoothie to jumpstart my day. Today I mixed it up a bit and mixed tropical with earthy for a truly yummy combination.

Now it might not look like much ... brown is not the color you'd expect for a "green" smoothie but the blueberries and blackberries mix with the green to make a rich brown color -- but let me assure you, it's delicious.

Give it a try when you're in need of a pick-me-up!




Winter Day Smoothie

1 medium banana
1/2 cup chunks of pineapple
1 cup frozen blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries
2 handfuls baby spinach
splash orange juice
1 cup of crushed ice

Start out putting the banana, pineapple and berries into blender and blend to to a smooth consistency. Add the spinach and continue to blend until all ingredients are creamy. Add a splash of orange juice and the ice and blend to a smoothie/milkshake consistency. Pour into a glass and pop in a straw to enjoy!

There Are No Knit Sweaters In My Future ...

I'm trying to learn to knit. Now a pair of wrist warmers may not seem like much of a challenge to most but it represents (to me anyway) hours and hours of focused frustration. LOL.

Seriously.

I got together with a woman I met through the internet (via Meetup Groups) who gave me a few pointers and helped to get me started with this knitting project. I've only done crochet prior to this and to be honest, these wrist warmers represent my second attempt at knitting. I have made a dish cloth prior to this ... which I refuse to use since it's such a prized trophy of my accomplishment! (It's stuffed in a bag under my bed.)

I made so many mistakes the first time around with this that I ended up ripping it out and starting over. In fact, I probably started over at least 10 times. I realized that with crochet, I'm comfortable with what the end result should be -- I have a pretty good sense of how to tweak my stitches if need be, how to detect mistakes early on, and how to rip out only that which needs to be ripped out if it should come to that. With knitting, I don't realize I've made a mistake until it becomes blaringly obvious. I don't know how to fudge to get back on track virtually unnoticed, and I don't know how to rip out and then get the stitches back on the needle without going back to the very beginning.

I wonder how long I'll stick with knitting.

For the moment, I am at least going to try to finish up these simple wrist warmers. I'd like to give them to my mom (maybe for Christmas.) They really are just rectangles of ribbing. The long sides get stitched together next to the wrist and then again above the thumb to make for "fingerless gloves."

Here's what I've got so far. I really do love the colors although the picture doesn't really show it off well. This one is close to being done (maybe another inch or so left to knit before starting on the second one.) I would like to get this project finished up in the next day or so as I've got crochet projects going that I'd also like to finish (and start!)


Note: I used Red Heart Yarn "Aspen Print" medium weight worsted yarn. Size 7 Needles. The pattern was a simple ribbing stitch ... CO 32 (or 38 for a larger hand/wrist) and then K2, P2 across for each row until the desired length is reached.

Wordless Wednesday -- Reflections of Boston at Night

Homemade Chicken Vegetable Soup

With the weather getting colder, there's nothing like a pot of soup on the stove to make you feel all warm and fuzzy (inside and out.) I've been playing around with this recipe for a while now and think I've finally tweaked it enough that it's just the way I like it. My sweet hubby says it's perfect and so I've decided it's time to post it.

I'm going to be trying it "Vegetarian" style next time around -- white beans instead of chicken and low-sodium vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. I might also add some escarole at the end instead of spinach. And actually, I'm not sure if I'll keep the orzo or not since it might be a bit much with the beans. Maybe I'll try it once with beans and once with orzo and see which we like better ... hmmm. Lots of potential variations here!

Anyway, without further ado ...

Homemade Chicken Vegetable Soup

2 – 3 boneless and skinless Chicken breasts (cut into bite-size pieces)
1 teaspoon Olive Oil
4 stalks Celery, sliced on diagonal
1 medium Onion, roughly chopped
4 Carrots, cut in thin slices
1 package sliced Mushrooms, chopped
1 Tablespoon Parsley Flakes
1 teaspoon dried Thyme
1 teaspoon dried Rosemary
½ teaspoon freshly Ground Black Pepper
1 teaspoon Balsamic Vinegar
1 cup Orzo (wheat preferred)
64 ounces Chicken Broth (low-sodium, fat free)

Heat olive oil (or use spray oil) in sauté pan and add chicken, cooking until no longer pink. Remove from heat and set aside.

Place celery, onions, carrots, and mushrooms into a large pot. Add just enough broth to cover. Cover and cook over medium heat until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.

Stir in the remaining broth, spices, and balsamic vinegar. Bring to a boil and add orzo. Cook until pasta is tender and then stir in chicken. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until chicken is heated through.

Serves 6

Notes: I often add a handful of chopped spinach at the end when adding the chicken. Will probably need to add more broth to leftover soup as pasta soaks up the moisture.

My Mom's Stuffing

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and it's going to be a little different for us this year. Instead of hosting and doing the cooking as I have for the past 30 years, I'll be traveling to New York to spend the day with my daughter and mother-in-law (and to visit with my mom who's in a nursing home.) I won't be doing the cooking this year -- I'm leaving that to Wegmans.

While I'm so happy that despite moving to Massachusetts we are still able to be with family on special days, there is one thing I'm really going to miss -- my mom's turkey stuffing. She made it for as long as I can remember and when I took over the cooking duties many years ago, there was never a question as to what kind of stuffing to make.

I still remember mom telling me that she got the recipe from her good friend, Ruthie Kern, when she was a young bride. The recipe was attributed to Ruthie's Great-Grandma Colgrove and mom told me that while we use regular store bought saltines in it these days, back then they actually made the crackers to put in the stuffing.

I thought that since I won't be making this tomorrow, I should at least share the recipe. (I did buy a turkey today to put in the freezer and was thinking maybe I would make this for Christmas Eve ... so all is not lost!) And my son mentioned to me last week that his wife now makes this stuffing as does her mother and all her aunts ... long live Grandma Colgrove!

Mom's Turkey Stuffing

Single batch (enough for small turkey):

1 loaf fresh Bread
1 stack Saltine Crackers
1 medium Onion
2 cups Milk
2 sticks Margarine
Sage
2 Eggs

Double Batch (enough for large turkey):

1 ¾ loaves fresh Bread
2 stacks Saltine Crackers
1 large Onion
3 cups Milk
2 ½ sticks Margarine
Sage
3 Eggs

Cube bread and crumble crackers. Chop onion. Mix together in large bowl and set aside. Meanwhile, heat milk and margarine over low heat in saucepan until margarine is melted and milk is hot. Pour over bread mixture and let stand for 5 minutes. Add sage to taste.

Beat the eggs until fluffy and fold in. If too soupy, add more crackers. If too dry, add another egg. Salt and pepper to taste.

Stuff turkey. If baking stuffing separately, place in greased casserole and cover. Bake at 325 for about one hour.

Wordless Wednesday -- Remembering The Cape

From Down In The Dumps To Smiling Again ...

It seems like I've been on an emotional roller coaster since moving in May. I don't know if it's just been such a stressful year (dealing with the decision of whether to accept the transfer offer my husband received, totally cleaning out our house and then packing and moving) and now that we're finally here and somewhat settled I feel like I can finally exhale ... or what? Whatever the case, suffice it to say I find myself up and down a lot these days.

We've had a lot of company recently and while I love spending time with our friends and family, it can be a little stressful. I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds that when guests are visiting there is a need to be "on" all the time. And that means when the company leaves I'm not only sad to see them go, I'm exhausted. This time it's taken me almost a week to recover!

Anyway, after spending a couple days moping around I feel like I'm bouncing back. I'm diving into a few new projects and interests and I'm excited to be busy.

First -- I just picked up a book from the library that I've been dying to read. It's called Stay and it's written by Allie Larkin who hails from Rochester, New York (my hometown!) I'm told the book has many references to local landmarks (such as my beloved Wegmans) so I'm anticipating some snuggle time by the fire as I devour it.


Second -- I have a new crochet project that I'm very eager to start. My little William LOVES owls (as does his mommy) and I found this great pattern for an Owl Hat at RAKJ Patterns. I went to Michaels this afternoon and picked up all the yarn I'll need to whip it up. I can't wait to get started on it. I might even make a matching hat for his mommy :) All I need now are some measurements to make sure I'm making the right size.


Third -- I also just picked up Liberty! The American Revolution (it's a PBS Video Series DVD set) that we're really looking forward to watching. We've been doing so much exploring of historical sites here in Massachusetts lately that it's piqued my interest in learning more. We've watched a few documentaries on George Washington and Concord, and now I'm hoping this series will kind of tie it all together for us. Very excited about that! (and especially that I was able to get it through our wonderful library system here and didn't have to buy it!)


Well -- that's it for the moment. I'm looking forward to a fun weekend that will start tomorrow when I meet my friend Kay (we went to college together and happily ended up living in the same neck of the woods after all these years!) for lunch.

Things are looking up.

Wordless Wednesday -- I'm A Big Kid Now!

So Much Company ...

Since we've just moved to Massachusetts, we've had a lot of company who've come to see our new place and help us to explore Boston and all the other sweet spots close to us. We're getting down into Fall now and the beautiful leaves are gone and it's starting to turn cold. Still, we had friends come visit last weekend and family here with us since Thursday.

It's been wonderful -- despite a plumbing problem last Sunday morning that left us with water pouring through our first floor bathroom ceiling and, subsequently, some frayed nerves as we waited for the plumbers to arrive with the builder on Monday morning (at 7:20 a.m. no less!) All is well now -- there are repairs still to be done and it will mean having someone in to re-paint but the pipes were good to go before the next round of guests arrived.

Yesterday we spent another day in Boston and visited Quincy Market again. We love it there and it's always fun to go. We went to Dick's Last Resort for lunch and were properly insulted.



And we watched as workmen started putting up the Christmas decorations.




This included a 70 foot tall tree brought in from Nova Scotia. Fascinating to watch that going up and a worker climbing up the boughs and cutting the ropes that kept it all pulled together -- and then watching them fall into place. We're hoping to go next week for the lighting of the tree (we hear the Celtics and some of the Patriots are going to be there so it might be fun) so I'll hold off with pictures until then.

Today is an early Thanksgiving dinner. I was up early getting the stuffing made and the turkey in the oven. We're planning for an early dinner and then a trip into Natick Mall so William can cruise the aisles at Toys R Us and give Grandma and Grandpa lots of fun ideas for gifts!

I love having friends and family visit ... but I'm looking forward to getting back to eating healthy and spending some time with Dave and the pups. We are hoping to decorate the house a bit (we didn't even put a tree up last year as we were trying to get ready to move) and we'd like to see what festivities are going on around us that we can enjoy.

For now, I'm off to enjoy some time with my sweet grandson ...

Wordless Wednesday -- Durgin Park

Time To Make A Home ...

Since moving to Massachusetts, I've found that I need to be my own best friend. I'm grateful, of course, for my husband and the time we are spending together but most of the time, it's just me here with the pups.

It gets a little lonely.

While I won't get into it now, I kind of like being by myself. I like to put on my favorite music and just putter around. However, I waste a lot of time. I could be accomplishing and doing so much more each day.

Today I realized just how true that statement is. I was invited to have lunch with a few of the wives who also moved to Massachusetts when our husbands were transferred here. We all came about the same time. The difference is that they all moved onto the same street in a nice area about 40 minutes from where we decided to live. So they see each other a lot -- they go for walks every day and have had a lot of fun helping each other plant shrubs, put in lawns, and decorate their houses. You get the idea.

Back to how much time I waste ... Reality hit me right between the eyes when I walked into Sandy's front hallway. I was greeted by a beautifully decorated home (I don't mean just pretty -- this place is Better Homes and Gardens gorgeous.) I hope my jaw didn't make too much noise as it dropped to the floor. I knew Sandy liked to shop and had great taste but ... OH. MY. GOODNESS.

I oohed and ahhhed as I got the tour, all the while thinking about how silly I'd been to be so thrilled just to get blinds up on my windows. I still don't have any curtains up. I have barely hung any pictures. And (head hanging in shame ...) I've lived here six months already!

So OK ... I just pushed aside my thoughts of inadequacy and focused on enjoying the company of the ladies as they arrived to have lunch. We laughed and talked about boxes that we still unpacked (I suspect they were being polite ... I'm quite sure I'm the only one with boxes stacked in the extra closets) and then went for a walk before having dessert.

The first stop was the empty house for sale next door. It was fun to go through it. As it turns out it was the same model as Lori's house. As we continued our walk, Lori offered to show me her place ...

So can I say OH. MY. GOODNESS. again? Lori's place is just as fully decorated, just as ... perfect ... as Sandy's. Different decorating styles and taste but equally as lovely. In both cases all the furniture came from their previous homes yet it fit perfectly in their new places -- if I didn't know better I would have thought each piece was purchased for their new home after arriving here.

Again, back to the topic of wasted time. I'm kicking myself a bit, realizing that part of the reason I perhaps don't feel like Massachusetts is "home" yet is because I haven't really allowed it to be. I haven't fully unpacked. I haven't dared to hang pictures on the walls and get out shopping for new pieces that will complete our home. I've hidden behind the "I'm not really sure what I'd like to do with the place" excuse for much too long. In short, I've been wasting a whole lot of time.

It's time to start changing things around a bit. First I'm going to go through each and every box still unpacked and -- you got it -- unpack!

Next I'm going to go through each room, one at a time and make a plan for what I'd like to do with that room. Time to get some color strips, some fabric swatches, and break out the decorating magazines. Time to look through decorating blogs to get some ideas.

It may take a bit but I'm done feeling like a guest in this house. It's time to move in and make it MY home.

While I probably won't be inviting the ladies for lunch at my place anytime soon, I'm hoping that maybe by spring time I'll have the place looking like a home.

Expect to see a few posts that are asking for suggestions and ideas!

Wordless Wednesday -- Stone Wall at the North Bridge

Wordless Wednesday -- Boathouse at The Old Manse, Concord MA

A Whirlwind Week ...

It's been about a week since I've posted and no wonder. I have been busy, busy, busy with family here helping us to explore sights and tastes of New England.

I'll be sharing several posts over the next couple of days ... we were going non-stop and had so much fun. I haven't even had a chance to go through my pictures and have yet to really jot down thoughts about all the fun we had. There were a few unexpected treasures I want to be sure to include -- I'm just hoping that in the moment I thought to take pictures!

There's also been some revelations about foods I can (and certainly about what I can't) eat that have come to light. I think I've narrowed things down even further about what my new eating plan will be like. I have to say, seeing how Meghan managed her soy allergy has given me a lot of encouragement that I *can* work around what appears to be food sensitivities and well, just plain changes that I want to make in my diet all around. I'll be sharing about that in the near future too.

AND -- I have happily just downloaded Photoshop and am planning to really start to focus on learning how to edit photos using this software. I've also signed up for some beginning digital scrapbooking classes and couldn't be more thrilled. I believe that this is the hobby I've been looking for! It combines my love of photography with my love for computers and will be a perfect excuse for learning to use Photoshop. I also think it will give me the skills I need to pursue blog design.

So while I haven't been posting much in the past week, I've had a lot going on. And through all this I've also discovered some new blogs and tried new foods too that I'll be sharing about.

Lots of posts to come ...

Can't Wait, Can't Wait, Can't Wait

Yes, it's almost "family time"! Daniel and Meghan are due to arrive this evening and to say we're a little excited is an understatement.

Oh, all the fun we're going to have. Dave and Daniel have to work on Thursday and Friday so I am expecting that Meghan and I will be doing a little exploring -- there are several places we'd like to visit, shopping we'd like to do, coffee shops we hope to stop and relax in. And then there is always Barnes and Noble. It's our goal to visit every store within a 50 mile radius of where we are planted.

The weekend will most likely involve a trip into Boston and Salem ... it IS October after all. There is bound to be some fun brewing in Salem this time of year. And if nothing else, the leaves seem to have hit their peak just in time for our southern family to arrive.

I should be cleaning the house. In fact -- I'm finishing up this post right now to get back to it. But once it's clean -- that's it! No more Windex or Pledge or vacuuming until after they leave next week. And I obviously don't want to even think about that.

So -- my camera batteries are charged and memory cards are empty and ready for action. The beds are made, bathrooms are cleaned. Now it's just the last minute stuff and a trip to the store before heading off to Logan.

Oh I can't wait to hug them.

Friday Thoughts ...

I'm gearing up for the weekend (well, not really ... I haven't given it much thought yet beyond tonight's dinner) and am SO looking forward to some time with my hubby. As I was sitting here I thought I'd share a few of the thoughts that are running through my mind at the moment.

1. I need to get out and take some pictures of the beautiful leaves. I'm so hoping the weather holds out and we can squeeze in some time for that over the next couple days.

2. I have great kids. I just talked to my southern boy and love that he called to get my thoughts on the direction he should have one of his projects go. Mom's opinion must still be worth something!

3. I am SO excited that southern boy and his sweeter-than-sweet-tea wife are coming to visit us -- in just 5 (FIVE!!!) days. FIVE days! YAY!!!

4. I really think it's time to either vacuum or move the vacuum cleaner back into the closet.

5. I totally think I'm going to get the fajita quesadillas at the Mexican restaurant hubby and I are trying out for dinner.

6. It's driving me nuts that I can't find a book that I'm almost CERTAIN I own. I can't imagine that it was a library book. But I can't find it anywhere. (Note to self: Remember when you couldn't find the Amy Grant CD? You were certain someone must have stolen it from your car? Almost bought a new one ... and then, lo and behold it showed up in the pantry between the pages of a cookbook? Yeah. Keep looking girl.)

7. I'm going to try making Apple Betty this weekend as a special treat.

8. I picked out a camera that I would LOVE to buy ... but it's way too expensive at the moment. Still, I'm going to print out a picture and put it on my wish board.

9. I'm making a WISH Board for inspiration!

10. I'm hoping that this is a lazy weekend filled with sleeping in, yummy breakfasts and a whole lot of yo-yo meals, some snuggling on the couch watching movies with popcorn ... with some time for exploring (with camera in hand!) and maybe a few little projects that I'd like to get done before the kids arrive on Wednesday.

Yep -- that was the two minute tour of what's rattling around in my head!

When Did October Arrive?

I've been so very wrapped up in cookbooks, birthday planning, a quick trip to New York, and indulging in some fun reading that I barely noticed October has arrived! It became abundantly clear over the past couple days as we drove along the Mass Pike and through the Berkshires ... the colors are beautiful! Not quite peak, but gorgeous just the same.

And then there's the rain. Yes, as much as I love October, it typically comes with a bit of rain. We've had more than typical amounts and I'm hoping that things will dry up soon so I can get out with my camera and get some pictures of the more beautiful spots I've discovered ... especially before they're gone!

In the meantime, I've finished up a couple of books on my reading list! The School of Essential Ingredients was just ... well ... heartwarming. What I liked about this book was that each chapter held a story in and of itself. The author uses the background of a cooking class to introduce us to the different lives of the class participants, sharing with us what motivated them to take this class, what they hoped to get out of the class and even how the class changed them. It started, however, with the story of Lillian, who taught the class and believed that food and cooking could heal even the saddest soul.

I found myself liking each and every character and my only worry was that the story would just abruptly end once the author ran out of class members! No worries ... the final chapter brought it all together and I absolutely loved the ending.

I'm so glad I read it ... it's not my typical fun read fix where I'm looking to sit on the edge of my seat and find out what happens next. It was instead like being snuggled up in a warm blanket drinking a cup of herbal tea. I found the book a comfort I didn't know I needed.

When I turned the last page of The School of Essential Ingredients, I found myself yearning for more "fun" reading and happily The Wicked Witch Murder by Leslie Meier had just arrived for me at the library. Perfect fall reading ...

And I loved it. This was my first dip in the pool with Lucy Stone ... the journalist who lives in Tinker's Cove Maine and gets involved in all sorts of mysteries. As I read, the writing made me think of "Murder She Wrote" -- it was that kind of story. Lucy is just this very likable character that gets involved in everyone's business, finds clues where you least expect them, and has a knack for putting them all together ... and in this story, getting herself in a little hot water and a burning situation as well.

Once thing I will note -- the story line involved witchcraft and Wicca and, while typically I wouldn't be interested in reading that kind of story, I felt it was almost a nice introduction to what the Wicca religion is about -- without having to delve too deeply.

What can I say? It was a quick, fun read and soothed my itch for a story with a mystery to be solved. Nothing too deep here which, truth be told, I sometimes really enjoy. I closed the book wishing there was just a bit more ... so I quickly went to the computer and requested two of Meier's other books, Trick or Treat Mystery and Turkey Day Mystery to stay in the feel of autumn.

So -- that's what I've been up to. I am anxious to start blogging more about my adventure into vegetarian eating and what I've been cooking up. And now ... I'm off to exercise with a new Leslie Sansone Walk Away The Pounds recording.

Wordless Wednesday -- Deep In Thought

Letting Go And Rejoicing

I'm in the process of realizing that there are a few things in my life that have become ... well ... toxic for me. One is a lifestyle choice and the other is a friendship.

It's amazing to me that I've struggled with both of these "things" for a long, long time now. Both have given me a somewhat uncomfortable feeling inside whenever I allow myself to come face to face with their ugliness, yet I haven't known how to deal with them. I wanted to make what I knew were necessary changes -- but I didn't know how. I didn't want to create anxiety for anyone else that might be affected by my decisions and for whatever reason, the timing just didn't feel right.

Recently, it's become apparent to me that both of these particular problem areas have kind of worked themselves out -- without any assistance on my end. It just happened.

"God's timing" as a friend said to me. And oh, she is so right.

Ultimately, I didn't really need to do anything except acknowledge that what was once a part of my life no longer had a stranglehold on me, was no longer significant, no longer mattered to me one way or another. It didn't take any effort on my part. I simply knew it was time to let go.

And I believe I have been able to do just that. Effortlessly. Without worry. Without sadness. Peacefully. Content that these changes are what is best for me.

The freedom that comes from the release is just ... exhilirating.

Thank You sweet Jesus ... for your perfect timing. For knowing me better than I know myself. For keeping me in your care and comfort during the struggle. And for being with me as I rejoice in my newfound freedom.

The LORD will keep you from all harm — he will watch over your life. -- Psalm 121:7

September Is Winding Down ...

It occurred to me this morning as I was looking at my calendar that September has practically FLOWN by and here I sit with two blog posts talking about how I'm going to accomplish all these wonderful things each month.

And I realized I only have 4 days to finish up the book I'm currently reading (The School of Essential Ingredients) and to learn the basics of Photoshop.

Hmmm. The book I can finish. I'm about half way through and if I put my nose to the grindstone (read that -- goof off enough) I can easily reach the end with a few days to spare.

Besides, I'm itching to read my October selection (The Wicked Witch Murder) ...

However, it's the goal of learning the basics of Photoshop that has me nervous.

There really isn't any way that's going to happen. I have barely started on that project. I'll have to spend the next 4 days focusing solely on watching videos at Lynda.com in order to make that dream come true.

So -- while I'm going to give it as much time as I can, I suspect I'm going to be carrying over the "Learn Photoshop" goal into October. And somehow I'll try to accomplish the October goals by Halloween as well.

Should be interesting. If nothing else, it will be a lesson in time management (which I desperately need!)

My 12-in-12 Reading List

Ahhh. It's not just limited to learning new things (see my previous post) ... it's about making sure that there is some fun reading happening on a regular basis.

Yes -- I am guilty of reading way too many non-fiction, educational or health-related books. And cookbooks. I love cookbooks and well, they really aren't the same thing.

So this list is being created in an effort to make sure that I'm challenging myself to read at least one book every month that is purely for pleasure. Chick Lit, Mysteries, Historical Romance ... whatever. It just should be that kind of book.

I actually already started on this and am just getting around to blogging about it. I'm also planning on using the creation of a Reading Challenge the theme of an Excel spreadsheet I'm planning to create as part of my Learn MS Office 2010 program. But I digress. Here's what I have planned for the coming year.

August: A Vintage Affair (Done. Loved it. Suggested by Meghan. Not my typical read and I loved the change.)

September: The School of Essential Ingredients (In progress. Another suggestion of Meghan's that I'm thoroughly enjoying.)

October: The Wicked Witch Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery)

November: The Penny Pincher's Club

December: Fever Dream

January: A Reliable Wife

February: Home Safe

March: Little Women (Yes -- this will be the first time I've read this classic. I'm embarrassed to admit it but hopefully it will just be the first of many classics that I'll be reading in the future.)

April: The Shack

May: The Art Of Racing In The Rain

June: Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal

July: These Is My Words

Most of these books I either already have sitting in my "To Read" pile next to my bed or they are downloaded onto my Nook and are ready any time I can get to them. I'm really hoping that I will have read all these books well before the month they have been slotted to. Really my goal in having this list is to keep these books at the forefront of my mind so when I'm thinking, "Hmmm. What next?" I will have a go-to list to refer to. It's so easy to forget about all the great books waiting for you when you step into Barnes and Noble and see all the new releases.

Just a note to self -- there are several other books that I'm hoping to get to as well -- Broken Into Beautiful (Gwen Smith), Mosaic (Amy Grant), Born To Run ... just to name a few.

My plan is to do a quick book review after I complete each title. Keeping my fingers crossed about that one!

Update 9/28/10: Add Merle's Door: Lessons From A Freethinking Dog by Ted Kerasote to the list!

My Learn 12 in 12 List ...

A few weeks ago I came across a blog that was challenging readers to learn something new every month. They called it "Learn 12-in-12" (I think. I apparently didn't bookmark the site and now can't seem to find it! Argggg.)

I thought it was a great idea ... there are SO many things I'd like to do or accomplish and/or learn that I never seem to get around to or that I put on the back burner (with all the other pots) for "someday" when I have the time.

Maybe if I make it a point to make it a focus point it'll happen? Worth a try.

So -- even though I can't find the original site to link up to I decided to make up my own "Learn 12-in-12" list and give it a go.

Here's what I have planned:

September: Learn the basics of Photoshop

October: Learn some jewelry making techniques and try out polymer clay AND learn to use Microsoft Office 2010

November: Learn the basics of Illustrator

December: Make quilt for guest room. This will mean learning to machine quilt.

January: Learn the basics of Cardmaking

February: Learn how to create a photo cookbook to put on CD

March: Learn how to do basic dog grooming

April: Start a running program

May: Start a container garden

June: Make plans to attend a Blogging Conference

July: Learn about lighting techniques in Photography

August: Start to learn to speak Italian (I'm dreaming of a trip there some day.)

That should be a year's worth of learning. But it really isn't enough. I already know that I won't be able to hold off learning a few of these things. Like photography techniques ... ideally I would like to break it down and focus on learning different aspects of photography each month -- perhaps focusing on pet photography one month, outdoor photography another, portraits in yet another,

I guess I'm saying that I'm expecting this list to change. And I think that's OK. The goal isn't really about accomplishing each of these things in a one-month period of time, it's about getting started. (Maybe I should have chosen easier things to learn -- some people listed things like learning to crochet or knit, learning to make bread, etc. I think the problem there is I've done all the easier stuff. I'm getting to the bottom of my "learn to" list and everything is time consuming now!)

For now -- I'm focusing on learning Photoshop. I've signed on with Lynda.com to get some great visual training and I've downloaded a trial version of Photoshop CS5 to work with. My goal isn't really to learn photo-editing techniques (although I'm very interested in that too!) -- right now I am trying to learn the graphic design end of things so I can pursue blog design.

Which is really what I should be working on now ... so ... I'm off!

You've Got To Be Kidding ...

Like most everybody else, I like to have an inkling of what's going on in the world. I'm not a CNN fanatic, nor do I buy a copy of STAR or The National Enquirer when I'm checking out at the grocery store. I am happy to know just enough to keep me in the loop and be somewhat conversational -- if only to be able to ask, "Yeah, I saw something about that ... what's it all about?" (sometimes a good social strategy if you're trying to make conversation but really don't have a clue -- let the other person do the talking and be the knowledgable one ...)

But every now and then I glance at the entertainment module headlines that splash across my Google reader and my mouth drops. I mean ... seriously ... how stupid can these people be?

*  Paris Hilton pleas guilty to a lesser charge to get out of a felony cocaine conviction. With all the legal troubles this girl has had and all the privileges that her family's fame and fortune have provided her, does she really need cocaine? And after getting detained for questioning about pot and who knows what else just a month or so ago, is she really stupid enough to have cocaine (and that much) on her person? And not for nothing, did she really think the cops were going to buy her "it belongs to a friend" story about the purse? What is WRONG with that girl?

*  Lindsay Lohan. This girl is just a perpetual train wreck. She failed her drug test which now puts her in violation of her parole (and basically just threw yet another stint in rehab out the window.) Did she not see this coming when she decided to imbibe? I get so tired of hearing "It's a disease and it takes time ...." and that she's worried this might be damaging to her career. What career? About the only thing she's famous for these days is getting arrested and doing drugs.

*  Randy Quaid gets arrested for living in the guest house of the place he used to own without the owner's permission? After getting arrested last year for refusing to pay up on a hotel bill (about $10,000 wasn't it?)

When I read this stuff (and this is just the headlines -- I'm sure you can tell from my lack of details that I don't delve too far into the articles ... ) my heart just wants to scream. These people have all been given privileges that most of us would give our wisdom teeth for. Who wouldn't like to have money be a non-issue, list shopping (and buying) as your favorite hobby, live in a home that someone else keeps clean and that's been professionally decorated, be able to travel and stay at the nicest places, get tickets to your favorite events and concerts, etc.

And yet it just seems that it's not enough. What a waste. What an abuse of privilege. What foolishness ...

I am so very happy to be just little 'ole me ... with bills to pay, windows that need drapes, and a car on its last legs. I'm blessed beyond measure to have a Lord and Savior who thinks I'm just perfect, a husband who adores me, and a family to love.  You won't be seeing my name in the headlines anytime soon ... and I'm very thankful for it.

Enough said. Back to real life!

Wordless Wednesday -- Lessons For People

I Want HER Life ... I Want To Be THAT Girl

I'm not sure if this post will ever see the light of day but for now, I just feel I need to get some of this down in writing (or print as the case may be.) Sometimes my mind is just so filled up with a gazillion thoughts that it's hard for me to sort them out. Writing helps.

I'm inspired to write this because I just went on what I like to call "my a.m. blog cruise." Just about every morning, I check out several of my very favorite blogs and find myself almost feeling like a stalker (which is why I'm not going to list the blogs I actually visit every day -- sometimes more than once. It makes me feel a little creepy!) To continue ...

I find myself wishing I could be that person. I seem to think that their lives are so much more interesting than my own life is. I admire the posts they write. I am in awe of the wonderful projects they are involved in ... their graphic design ability, their photography skill, their cooking or crafting abilities -- the fact that they are so passionate about what they do that they have hundreds (perhaps thousands) of readers just like me anxiously awaiting the next thing they are going to tell us about. I follow their blogs, I'm one of their Facebook Fans, I even check their Twitter accounts (and I don't Twitter.)

Yep. That's me. The gal on the sidelines wishing I was living someone else's life. And today I couldn't help but wonder what it would actually be like to be that person. What it would be like to be THAT Girl.

(Image of Marlo Thomas found on Google Images.)

Who would I be? What would I be passionate about? What kind of business would I be involved in that I would love unconditionally -- with the only reason that I'm even doing it being because it just brought me so much joy? What would be THAT important to me?

These are the questions I'm going to ponder today. I have several interests (obviously the blogs I follow are a reflection of those interests and the inspirations that I'm drawn to) but what really ranks on top? If I could narrow it down to just a couple of hobbies (maybe interests is a better way of putting it) what would they be? And what is it about these women that I find so intriguing? So compelling? So ... fascinating?

And I'm wondering that once I've discovered this about myself -- how do I BECOME that person?

So now I'm off to begin some thoughtful self-inquiry ...  especially since I see it's already 11:00 a.m. and I'm still in my PJ's and the house is a mess. I can assure you that the women who write the blogs I follow are up at the crack of dawn, have exercised, showered, had some quiet time for devotions, are dressed in something other than jammies and are now ready to spend their day in the pursuit of inner bliss (doing whatever it is that makes their heart sing) -- all by 9 a.m.

If nothing else, I already KNOW I want to be THAT Girl.

What I Tell You?

Well, I'm laughing ... and I was in need of a good laugh.

The story is one only I will probably appreciate because I'm the grandma and well, we grandmas just think everything our grandbabies do is just adorable and sweet, and we get great pleasure thinking about our little grandbabies clever antics over and over again. Especially when we're missing them. So please indulge me this little memory.

Giggles are the best ...

Here's the giggle.

When we were visiting last weekend Josh told us how he had been playing with William and he picked up one of his toy cars and smelled it. (Don't ask me why he smelled it. I can only imagine.) And William said, "Don't smell car Daddy."

So Josh, being the antagonist that he can sometimes be, smelled it again. And again William said, "Don't smell car Daddy."

So of course Josh smelled it once again. And with that William took the car from him and said, "What I tell you?"

Now he just turned 2 a couple days ago so that kind of conversation just had us roaring with laughter. William was there as Josh was telling us about it and we could see the delight in his face as he listened and realized that his antics had us all laughing hysterically.

So now -- every so often -- when an appropriate opportunity arises, my wonderful hubby will say to me, "What I tell you?" He just sent that to me via a text when I let him know that the fix he suggested to get my computer's volume working again was a success.

And I laugh and smile all over again. Life can be so sweet.

Planning Our Weekend -- Will It Be The North End?

Image from Google Images -- Boston's North End)

One of the changes that I really looked forward to when we moved was having weekends to ourselves. That might sound selfish but back in New York where we had a house (with a BIG yard) and family it seemed that our weekends were always filled up with yard work, house work, babysitting, visits to see the mothers ... and not a whole lot of relaxation and adventure time devoted just to US. It always seemed like it was busy, busy, busy right from the get-go. We'd find ourselves looking at each other on Sunday evening and wondering where the weekend had gone.

(Image courtesy of Google -- Boston's North End)

Another problem was that we failed to plan. We just waited for the weekend to arrive and figured it out as we went along. I'd find myself hanging out waiting for Dave to get up and let me know what he wanted to do (did he have yard work he wanted to get done? Maybe a house project to work on ... which might mean a trip to Lowes?) And inevitably, there would be a phone call that would rearrange any plans we did make.

Frustrating.

I have a friend who plans out her weekend from start to finish. Typically when Saturday morning rolls around she already has plans to meet a friend for coffee and bagels before she does her grocery shopping and errands. She might make plans to attend some sort of exhibit or event in the afternoon (after stopping off at a new place she's heard about for lunch.) There is most likely a special dinner planned (at home or out with friends) and then a music concert in the evening or perhaps a movie playing at the theater she wants to see. She might have agreed to have her grandbabies overnight (which would mean special fun and breakfast planned for Sunday morning ...) You get the idea ... not a moment wasted. She might even just plan an afternoon of lounging on the couch with a good book and a pot of soup on the stove.

My point is that before the weekend even started she knew what she was going to do. There would be no waffling come Monday morning when coworkers asked what she did that weekend ... she could rattle off all the fun ways she chose to enjoy and relax during her time off from the grindstone.

(Image courtesy of Google -- Paul Revere Statue in Boston's North End)

I want to be like that. We just never seemed to take the time to plan and it seemed as though our weekends were mostly spent taking care of something or someone. "We" were never really a part of the weekend equation.

Now we are in Massachusetts. We live in a townhouse and the yardwork is done for us. While we have projects we want to work on around the house, there is a whole lot of time for doing fun things. Like exploring, relaxing, cooking, discovering new hobbies (or just getting back into the ones we'd kind of abandoned when we found ourselves spending Sundays visiting our mothers.)

It's time to start planning our weekends. No more waking up *whenever* on Saturday and spending 2 hours trying to decide whether to have breakfast or hold off for lunch. No more spending half the day trying to decide what fun adventure we'd like to embark on (only to realize after finally making a decision that the place was closed or there now wasn't enough time) ...

Admittedly, so far it's been so rare that a weekend comes along that we're home that when one does, we're just thrilled to be here and haven't really made plans. But we have a fairly long stretch of weekends ahead without company or travel that we can really start having some fun. I really don't want to fall back into the "what 'cha wanna dooooo?" habit so it's time to start making plans.

So far, we're thinking of taking the train (which we've never done) into Boston and exploring the North End, finding someplace to stop for lunch (I already have a list of possibilities.) And we heard there's an AppleFest in Northborough that sounds like fun. And Dave just sent me a text saying there's a Seafood Festival in Hampton Beach (New Hampshire) that has the promise of great food.

(Image courtesy of Google -- an eatery in Boston's North End)

Now it's just a question of logistics. What are we choosing and when do we go? THAT'S our Friday night activity!

Sometimes Our Best Laid Plans ...

(Image from Google Images)

Today my heart is sad. A call last night brought news of yet more upheaval in the life of a someone I love dearly.  It doesn't seem fair and I hate that I can't be there to show my love and offer support in person.

So -- today isn't going as I planned, certainly not as I had hoped, but I'm still rather certain that our good Lord is going to turn it all into something marvelous. I believe it with all my heart.

I've asked some dear friends to pray along with me as this situation finds resolution. Isn't it a blessing to know that there are people in your life that you know will stand beside you and pray with you when you need it most? I find it most comforting. And I am grateful for each and every one of you.

xoxo

I Promise That Tomorrow ...

* I will get up early and exercise BEFORE getting on the computer
* I will get the office organized and functional BEFORE getting on the computer
* I will work on my lessons BEFORE I get on the computer (well, lessons are on the computer but I won't check my email and Facebook)
* I will eat healthy and stick with it ALL. DAY. LONG.
* I will not worry about Bree -- I will lay it all at His feet and then I will let it go.
* I will be thankful and grateful and appreciative for my many blessings. I'll be happy with all I have instead of wishing for what I have not..

* I will resist playing Bejeweled. Really. No Bejeweled.

Tomorrow is going to be a very hard day!

Thinking About Yoga ...

I've often thought about trying yoga. I've read so many articles where it was *briefly* mentioned as part of some very slim and totally fit person's fitness regimen and wondered if there was more to it than just exercise for days when you need a break from the really physical stuff.

I've  also considered it *thin person* exercise ... you have to be thin and agile to be able to stretch and bend and move around like yoga demands right?

(Image courtesy of Google Images)

Apparently I've got it all wrong.

I was checking out a recipe posted at Simply Real Food (yes, the post for Roasted Corn and Poblano Pizza which I won't be making because all the dairy in it will just take me over the edge but oh, it looks so yummy!!!) and I scrolled down a bit and saw a post about yoga for weight loss.

I have to admit the opening comments about yoga being great to reduce stress, which produces cortisol which leads to weight gain caught my eye. It made sense.

So I continued on ... well ... I'm not going to rewrite the whole post ... check it out ... yoga for weight loss.

I'm thinking maybe I should pull out a few of those yoga DVDs and VHS tapes (yep -- I still have a VCR and tapes ... why throw them away when they can still be used? I've started watching some of my old favorite movies that I have on VHS while working out on my elliptical machine!) that I've been holding on to for all these years waiting to get thin enough to give them a try. And maybe I'll give them a try even though I'm not thin (YET!)

And now, back to Simply Real Food to see what other real food recipes Chanelle might have lurking about in her archives!

Wordless Wednesday -- Quiet Time

I'm Home ... With A Busy Week Ahead!

Sigh. A wonderful weekend with family. I was able to visit with my mom three times. 3! And saw my mother-in-law twice. Saw my daughter twice. Saw my brother and his wife once. Saw my son and his wife and WILLIAM three times.

Yes. It was wonderful. :)  BUT NOW ...

I'm home and have had a (somewhat) good night of sleep. It's time to get serious. No travel plans on the horizon and nothing in the way of success. That means:

* my office is going to get organized this week
* I am going to start my Photoshop lessons
* I am going to work on my blog design class lessons
* I am going to order a new mattress set
* I am going to take my sewing machine in for a tuneup/overhaul
* I am going to exercise every day
* I am going to plan a healthy menu for Dave and I

AND I AM GOING TO STICK TO MY LIST!

Progress reports will be posted throughout the week. Along with recipes and photos from the weekend.

It feels good to be home!

Note:  9/7/10 -- I'm off to a good start ... the new mattress set is now ordered!

We Are Off ...

We are heading to New York for the weekend -- and it should be loaded with fun. I'm anxious to see my mom, my daughter (who's getting ready to move to a new apartment!), my son and his wife, and of course, Cheeks. The birthday boy. He's going to be 2 this coming week and we're having a party on Sunday!

I can't wait to see this sweet face ...

Sigh ... It's All About Choices ...

This morning I stood in front of the pantry and grumbled. Yes, I grumbled. "Where are the cookies, the potato chips, the crunchy munchy yummy foods that I want to devour?" me said to me.

Oh yeah. I threw them out.

So I ate my fiber bar (it was yummy by the way) and then I snagged a couple of cashews (which, in truth, I really shouldn't be eating either ... they are roasted and salted. Raw almonds would have been much better for me.) And I made a cup of chai tea.

(No -- not me! Image courtesy of Google.com)

Still feeling a little miserable that I couldn't find anything worthy of a food cheat, I opened my email and read my Postcard From Gusto, which, as usual, spoke directly to my inner-most self. It said:

"If there's any part of your life that isn't as you want it to be, you don't have to accept it as is. You can always, in some way or another, do something about it.

The first step is remembering that you have choices. Always. In every situation. No exceptions.

The second step is taking action. Do one thing. Take one step. Make one small adjustment ... "What once was" will immediately change into something else.

Your number-one fan,
Gusto

And oh ... And if you want to create a shift really quickly, then in addition to step one and two, decide "This is going to be easy."

I love when that happens. A little kick in my pants sent my way to remind me where my head needs to be.

Who cares about cookies? What once was ... has become something else. Like an intention to care about my health.

And it's on with my day. :)

About The Diet ...

(No that's not me! Image courtesy of Google Images!)

I have been putting off writing this post for way too long, trying to formulate in my mind exactly what I want it to be. Should I list the do's and don'ts I plan to follow? Should I go into detail about the lifestyle changes I want to make? Should I explain why I feel the need to eat the way I plan to eat?

Well, I should probably get all of that information down in writing to some degree but really it boils down to this: I want to be healthy. I want to lose weight. I want to feel good about myself. And I want to be fit (meaning I want my body to work the way it should -- without aches and pains during or after movement!)

So that about sums it up. Right now, I'm overweight. About 50 pounds overweight (as much as it just KILLS me to admit that.) I know that I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high liver enzyme levels (thanks to a really crummy SAD diet that is loaded with fat and toxins), and I'm bordering on having diabetes. Yup, I'm kind of out of whack. And I hate it. Hate it. HATE IT!!!

But happily, I know I can turn all this around. All of the health issues I am facing can be reversed and actually managed quite naturally if I change my diet and eating habits and start exercising. SOOOOO -- that's what I'm going to do.

So what's my "Plan"? I'm going to start eating real food. Mostly plants. Not too much. (Yes, I'm borrowing that from Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food and Food Rules ... a very wise man.) In addition to that I'm going to eliminate sugar from my diet (as much as possible anyway ... mostly I'm just planning to give up eating stuff like cookies, cake, and other just about every condiment going.

(Nope, not me either! Image courtesy of Google Images)

It means staying away from processed foods as much as possible. You know, all the stuff that comes in a box. The whites -- sugar, flour, pasta, rice, potatoes, salt.

I'm giving up dairy. And I plan to limit the fats I use to cook to olive oil.

As much as possible I plan to follow the guidelines promoted by Dr. Joel Fuhrman in his book Eat To Live, Mostly what I plan to eat are fruits, veggies, lean proteins (beans and some meat and eggs), and some whole grains. That's about it.

As for exercise -- well, yeah. I need some. Daily. Since I'm not much for going to a gym and putting myself on display for all the world to see when I look my absolute worst, I'm opting for the home gym routine. I have a treadmill (albeit, a dusty one!) and an elliptical machine. I have an area set up in our basement that has a TV with a DVD player and VCR so I can exercise along with Leslie Sansone's Walk Away The Pounds routines. I also have some hand weights and a rebounder. So I think if I can just get myself down there once or twice a day, I've got the exercise covered. (I will admit though -- I like to get outside and walk too and I have aspirations of becoming a runner. Someday. Someday. But I digress.)

(Maybe someday this will be me ... Image courtesy of Google Images)

So that's my plan. Eat nutritionally dense food, Stay away from the processed "white" stuff. And exercise. I would love to be at my goal weight by my birthday at the end of February, so I have that timeline kind of wedged in the back of my mind, but I figure I'm in this for the long run. Even after I reach my goals, I'm going to continue on with leading a healthy lifestyle so it really doesn't matter. I know my weight, health, and fitness levels will all get to where they are meant to be if I just stick with it.

I'm planning to share my progress. And recipes. And frustrations (which are sure to come.) And I would love some encouragement! Support is so important!

There it is.

Fabulous Lemon Chicken Soup with Orzo!

As we are gearing up to healthier eating I've been going through cookbooks looking for recipes that are appealing and yet fairly simple to make. Last night I decided to try this recipe for Lemon Chicken Soup with Orzo from Ellie Krieger's The Food You Crave cookbook.

(image courtesy of Google Images)

Oh. My. Goodness.

It was a hit. It was MORE than a hit. It was fabulous. Company-worthy. Simply delicious. I'm having a bowl of it for lunch and am watching the clock tick away just waiting for noon to arrive.

Yes it was that good. And I'm just so delighted to have found a recipe that I can add to my new Healthy Go-To Recipes binder. I'm sharing it here with preparation notes and variation ideas.

Lemon Chicken Soup with Orzo

4 teaspoons olive oil
8 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into small chunks
Pinch of salt (to taste)
1 medium onion, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
2 stalks celery, diced (about 1/2 cup)
1 medium carrot, diced (about 1/2 cup)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup orzo, preferably whole wheat
2 large eggs
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

(Note: Changes I made include eliminating the pinch of salt, adding more celery and carrot than recipe calls for, using 8 cups -- or 2 containers - chicken broth, and adding a large handful of baby spinach that has been roughly chopped a minute or two before serving.)

Heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a soup pot over medium high heat. Add chicken (season with salt if desired) to pot and cook about 5 minutes -- just until cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a dish and set aside.

Add the remaining 2 teaspoons oil to the pot. Add the onion, celery, carrot, and thyme and cook, stirring, over medium-high heat until he veggies are tender, about 5 minutes. Add 5 cups broth and bring to a boil. Add the orzo and let simmer until tender, about 8 minutes. Turn the heat down to low and keep the soup hot but not boiling.

Warm one cup broth in a small saucepan until it is hot but not boiling. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs. Gradually add and whisk the lemon juice into the eggs. Gradually add the hot broth to the egg-lemon mixture, whisking all the while. (Note: I now added 2 additional cups of broth to the soup in the pot to further cool it down as it was still almost simmering) Now add the egg-lemon mixture to the soup, stirring well until the soup is thickened. Do NOT let the soup come to a boil (it will cook the egg). Add the cooked chicken to the soup. (Note: I also added spinach at this point.) Season with ground pepper and serve.

Now -- my additional notes. I felt like this recipe was the perfect base for a veggie soup. The chicken was delicious but probably wouldn't be missed if other ingredients were added -- such as zucchini, broccoli, or green beans (or even white beans instead of the orzo?) We loved the addition of the chopped spinach. I didn't feel the need for adding the salt and left it out, however my husband added salt to his bowl at the table. This soup was very filling -- and made enough for us to have two meals plus a cup or two for lunch.

This is going to be a regular at our house ... easy to make, lots of opportunity for advance prep (cook the chicken ahead of time and chop up the veggies and bag.) Not sure how well it would freeze with the egg in it -- so I'll plan on serving twice when I make it. Would be great with a nice side salad!