Tag: – Just sayin

On Being Religious, Or Not

    A friend once told me she wasn’t religious, even though she is prolific in her sharing of the Word of God and pretty quick to judge others who don’t live by “The Good Book”.  Well, a general description of the word “religious” is as follows: relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity.    I’m thinking she qualifies… not that there’s anything wrong with that,  but it was a perplexing answer.  When I asked another how she came to be of such strong faith, she simply replied – I have to believe there is something better than this.  Well that’s just sad, never mind perplexing. 
      The whole subject of religion is perplexing, I’ve always been curious as to it’s origins, why so many people can have  blind faith in something or someone they’ve never technically seen or heard.  But even that sentence is tricky.   I am not a religious person, so who am I to say what your interpretation of communication with  God might be?   Indeed, it’s a very personal experience or belief.  We can’t ever know for sure whether there was a divine intervention in any particular situation, and so we are left to interpret in the many ways it’s possible with an event, a story,  a feeling, an intuition, a healing or a damning, even.

      It’s absolutely true that  religion brings peace of mind and comfort to those who find respite and joy in their faith, in their shared beliefs with fellow worshippers.  It gives many a sense of community, a belonging.  There is comfort and safety in a belief that there is something greater than us that created and loves us, that is watching over us and will guide us now and when we leave this world one day, as we all do, and hopefully – join another, free of pain and suffering if we earned it.  Religion  has often given order and moral code where there wasn’t any and for some it  gives meaning or attempts to make sense of what is sometimes a senseless world.

    If I’m being completely honest, when my daughter was in a coma years ago,  despite my non-religious status, I visited the hospital chapel daily – knelt before the altar and prayed.. and prayed.. and prayed, that my child up in that ICU hospital bed be saved, be healed, recover. I also complained – why do this to such a good, young, caring soul?  Why?  I was mad, I was scared, I was begging just in case there is indeed someone listening.  What eventually happened was – my daughter recovered.  Was it an answering of my prayers? Or good medical care and her own young body’s healing ability?  Maybe both?  We just can’t know.

     Religion has it’s dark side too, of course.  There are those who abuse their power because they are a representative of the deity and are adored and obeyed by trusting followers. There are those who justify hideous actions in the name of their  God. There are those who use their followers adoration and devotion for profit.  Look at the mega churches and the mega mansions they live in.  What comes to mind when I see those particulars is… think of all the good that money could have done, instead of these massive shrines and mega mansion lifestyles.  Not. very. charitable. A bit hypocritical! Sleezy even.  We all know how terr*rists use their religion as an excuse or justification to do some horrible things.

     There are approximately 4,200 religions in our World,  and that number astounds me.  Some share the same basic theories for the most part, others are a different concept all together.  If you believe absolutely in just one – then all 4, 199 of the others are just plain wrong?.. doesn’t seem right.    For me, I’ve had no trouble believing in evolution.  It’s proven, how we evolved, beyond a shadow of a scientific doubt.  But even with that belief, the concept of the human spirit, the conscience, the soul – has not been explained – and it is truly a miraculous thing, I can’t deny it.  Sometimes I wish I truly whole heartedly believed that when we die,  those who are worthy ( Well, now there’s another issue – what determines worthiness?  Church attendance?  Good deeds?  Confessional attendance? Donations? Kindness and charity?  )  are united with those we loved  who have passed before us, and go on to a heaven to be at peace with those we love and our creator in a pain-free other existence.  The hard parts of life would be easier if I had that belief, for sure.  But the reality of science and just this feeling that we need to make the most of this life is a bold thread that runs through the fabric of my belief system.   I try to do just that, knowing that we simply don’t know for sure what comes at the end of mortal life, regardless of our chosen beliefs.

    Here’s where the concept of  religion bothers me. I was raised a Catholic, but I don’t practice that religion.  I found it to be a bit hypocritical on several fronts and so I choose something different that I’ll describe below.  I read a very popular blog, and what initially attracted me to it is the incredible journey of a  young woman who was severely burned in a plane crash, a small plane her husband had been piloting. An instructor friend died in that crash.  Her story of survival and how she has moved on to raise her (now 5) children is powerful. I mention this now because she is a very devout M*rmon and it’s a strong theme throughout her blog. In her writing, one can’t help but get the sense that the M*rmon faith is more of a cult than anything else.  Much is demanded of it’s followers.  Some very big changes have occurred in the family’s life in recent years and she repeatedly refers to decisions they’ve made as having been sent by God.  I went for a walk and God told me selling this house and moving to the ranch was the right thing to do.    They did… and eight months later they are moving again, because even their readers could see it was a big mistake from the beginning for so many reasons.  When things like this occur,   it’s described  as a test God must have planned and they had to endure, they learned so much, it was part of the plan.    I don’t know… how about… you made some poor choices,  you learned from it, you’re moving on.  Did God really speak to her and tell her to sell the beloved family home and move to an isolated ranch in literally  the middle of nowhere where her kids wouldn’t see other humans for days on end, leaving all they knew and loved behind?  Did he send a note or was his voice in the air or coming from behind a burning bush on that walk?

    I know that sounds harsh – I’m not making fun of her, here  – I believe what she wrote is what she believes happened, however she interpreted the “message”.  But for a person like me, that’s not living in reality.   Through her writing it’s also clear that M*rmons believe only through their way of worship can you live a good and proper life.  Her husband once implied (in different words) in an article written for a local paper that a single mom and child was not a real family.   The M*rmon church seems to  have a lot of demands of their members, and are not warm to the outside.   That attitude is  probably true of many religions, to be fair.. and I have never practiced it, I don’t know all there is to know about being a M*rmon.  But I don’t find it to be very charitable – and isn’t that what religion is supposed to be made of  most of the time?   One more example…  M*rmon worshippers are segregated into wards. Districts, if I understand correctly.  If you are a M*rmon you are assigned to a ward, and you are expected to go to that temple, even if there is one a heck of a lot closer to your home that you would prefer.  If you weren’t assigned to that closer temple – you’re not supposed to go there.  The members will let you know that you are not welcome if you start to make it a habit. Stay in your Ward.   Again – not .. very.. charitable.  So much of organized religion is about control.

  There are those who say our current President brought God back into the White House.  Well.. if the reason behind that  thinking is because he now claims to be pro-life, anti-abortion – Let it be known that  until he decided to run on the Republican ticket, he was pro-choice for 69 years.  The flip was just another tool, another lie he used to get to where he is. He knew what his base wanted to hear.   If all his lies since election day, if his three marriages and many affairs and pussy grabbing lingo and mega-ego aren’t enough of an indication that God did not send D.Tr*mp to the White House,  well I’m stumped as to how that conclusion was drawn. Enough said on that subject.

    Then there is my friend, Vicky – who endures living with Stage 4 Breast Cancer.  Her faith is unwavering, and she finds much courage and strength in her beliefs. I find her references to her beliefs uplifting, encouraging.   It gets her through some very hard things, some very difficult days and nights – there’s no denying the power of prayer and a strong faith that brings much to her life, and many others.  She’s still here, longer than was expected.. and I do believe her faith has something to do with that.  I hope with all my heart she eventually resides in the Heaven she so deserves and we all hope for.

    So where does that leave me?  I call myself a spiritual person, and even that description has different interpretations.   For me it means I live and feel connected to and am responsible for the care and keeping of  myself, my people and  the natural world.  I feel connected to all people of this world  and I try to leave things better than I found them.  I exercise kindness to others and charity where I can afford to give it.  I don’t always get it right, but I right the wrongs and move forward.  If there is a God, hopefully he is not as impressed with  weekly pew sitters, some of whom live hypocritically once they leave the church on Sunday, as he is with those out there doing what they can where they can for the betterment of this world.   Hopefully there is a heaven where I may some day be reunited with all those I’ve loved, family, friends and animals.  And if there is not, I’m doing the best I can where I am now, here among the living.

   I know this is a difficult  and sometimes offensive subject because there are so many beliefs and they are often strongly held.  I welcome your views, similar or differing,   if you would like to join in the conversation.  Respectful conversation and an open mind, especially when opinions differ, are how we learn and grow, so I will always encourage the practice.  The above is just my opinion and how I choose to live and share my life.  By no means do I think I have all the answers.

Thank you for stopping by –

     

Mom says it best

     Lately I’ve tried to stay out of the political fray because I am so very tired of the bickering amongst we the people, let alone our governing forces.   Who would have ever thought we’d see such a polarizing POTUS….or that he could get away with so much utter crap.  (how about that forged doctors letter! – that is just bizarre).    One small comfort I take is – our government needed a shake up.  It needed a reality check – we the people were not being represented in our best interests for a variety of reasons and in several big arenas.  TR*MP isn’t wrong in calling out some of the very big issues we have faced for years and have not fixed.  The following came up and I want to share it, even though I’ve been enjoying the hiatus – which I’m returning to after this post, lol.  I welcome opposing views as long as comments are respectful.   
  I’ve spoken here before about living in a house politically divided.  I’m not affiliated with a particular party because I’m one of those who walks the middle ground in my views on a lot of issues, so that helps just a smidge.  Until the election of  DT – because TR*MP.      So, in order to avoid World War 3 on a small scale up here in this house,  we don’t talk politics often. The other day, the Mr. thought Dr. Charles Kra*thammer shared an opinion that should please us all and he sent it to my mother and I.  Turns out the piece is falsely credited, the author was actually another political columnist.   If you’re interested in that piece.. you can find it HERE.  with the snopes correction.
   Since he threw down the gauntlet and started the conversation, we both replied politely (really!)  on what we thought  of the piece.  My mom said it best – and I’ll share it here with you.  In it’s simplest form, the piece calls TR*MP a pragmatist, not a republican or democrat,  who is just what this country needed. It was clearly written by a conservative republican, because while it lays blame on both parties for the ills of our society today (I agree!!) it labels  Cl*nton and Sanders as Crazies trying to out crazy each other and speaks of being liberal as if it’s a disease. While I didn’t agree with Cl*nton and Sanders on all points, nor do I think Cl*nton was a stellar choice for President, they certainly aren’t lunatics in any sense of the word and being liberal is no more a disease than being a conservative republican.  There’s another little blurb about those of us who haven’t achieved greatness or -done anything ! –   we  apparently can’t understand  or appreciate true greatness and  the confidence 45 displays because we haven’t achieved anything –  (wow, dude). 
    Anyway –  my mother’s response to the piece in the link above……
I agree that Trump is not a Conservative. He is a pragmatist  in the 
sense that what is good for him is what he wants. He is also a 
pragmatist in the sense that he will keep on the issues that he feels 
will keep his base loving him.  There is no question in my mind that 
both established parties have left the mass of the people behind, 
sometimes out of ignorance, sometimes out of arrogance,often just to 
ensure they got rich.

 We need a new paradigm for the new age we are 
facing. Globalism is not going away unless there is a planet wide 
catastrophe. I see that as being a viral or bacterial pandemic, nuclear 
war, or the more gradual effects of unaddressed global warming. 
Pragmatism and straight talking is helpful, but that is not what we are 
getting and I think the author of the piece  knows that. What we’ve got is a bull in 
a china shop thrashing around. He may break some things that need to be 
broken but he is not discriminating. Breaking the Justice Department and 
the FBI will have consequences. Encouraging the dog whistles of racism 
will have consequences. Hyper-divisiveness will have consequences.

  We are hopefully in for a sea change in our political life over the 
next decade and if it is more pragmatic, transparent, and genuinely 
aimed at strengthening the economic position of the middle and working 
class, then we will all be better off. The other possible changes of 
which there are signs  around the world are less democracy and more 
fascism. We are at a tipping point and could go either way. Trump by his 
very nature leans fascist.

     
   Well said, mom.  Thank you – 

We’re all in this together

          Opinions – I certainly express mine here,  everyone’s got them and they’re nothing new.  Back in the day, it was prudent to express them with some level of respect for whomever might be in earshot and might think differently, because more likely than not, you were in their presence or you felt responsible for your words and their impact.  What we have now with facebook and other forms of social media is a free for all of opinion, attitude, respect or disrespect  within the relative safety of being behind the screen and even anonymous if we so choose.  Much easier to bully and degrade from that vantage point.  The things I see posted on some of those feeds are just horrible communication between people who would never dream of talking that way to each other in person.  Also much easier to spread false information and have folks buy it hook, line and sinker.  
      While I have been riveted to the news surrounding this last election of the 45th President of the United States because of the very nature of it,  I’m finding it’s no longer accomplishing anything good.  I’ve done what little I can to support what I feel is just and decent.  Following the circus now just feels futile.  Not my circus, not my monkeys.   That’s what I want to say, anyway…. and yet it’s not completely true.   What discourages me most is  that it feels like we are all being dragged down the rabbit hole in this ever worsening political climate as we feed off the various sources of spin, the biased news sources (all of them at this point, and if you’ve found an unbiased news source, please share it here in the comments)  the back biting, the name calling, the lies and deceit, the arrogance…among ourselves.   And it is being promoted by all the moving parts of our government, not just one party, either. 
    It’s no secret I  am appalled by Tr*mp for a myriad of reasons, although I don’t disagree with him on certain key points, like the need to fix our health care system, our infrastructure, immigration policy and practice, tax overhaul, fair trade.  Those are big ticket items and he is right, they’re broken.  For that reason I understand to an extent why people stood behind him, those issues and our lack of ability to fix them were real.   What’s a crying shame is this man, after pulling off a truly remarkable election win,  had a huge opportunity.    If it were his intention, he could have used it to bring a divided nation back together, he could have attempted to heal the gaping rifts, uniting the parties on some  basic level, at the very least, so that they can work together and apart for the GOOD of the country.  He could have used language in his rallies, his speeches, his demeanor, that encouraged unity despite differences, because any intelligent being knows there will always always be differences.  He repeatedly does the opposite.    He cried Drain The Swamp…. and many rallied to the call –  they’re still rallying while  the swamp bubbles over with more lies and deceit and rifts that grow ever wider on all fronts.  It’s amazing and disheartening and even horrifying to see… he can’t get out of his own way with his arrogant Twitter feed and bold lies and egotistical speeches and slamming of anyone and everyone who doesn’t see things exactly as he does.  The FIRED and LEAVING POSITION list goes on and on and on partly  because those with integrity that find themselves under his thumb can’t stand the wrongness of it all and they finally break from it, whether by choice or the President’s ax for non-compliance.  The simple fact that hate groups feel emboldened in recent months is very telling.  They are being given permission by the powers that be.  Sad deal for all of us. 
   So many things I have typed and untyped here… but it really comes down to this –  I hope, I pray and I wish on every star in the universe that something good comes of all of this….  That we find our way through this discord and the weaknesses of these people in power and  realize that we’re all in this together and unity is the only way we are going to come out of it alive. Most of us with a thread of decency running through our souls want the same things – freedom, peace, prosperity, good health, good will toward all.   I’m gonna hold on to that, and try like hell to let go of the rest.
  Thank you for lending an eye and your time to my opinion expressed here today.   Onward… 

  

     
     

From a distance

     I took some shots of the moon at 5:30 a.m. this morning, almost full, incredible orangey peach hues.. all three of these shots taken in the same 60 second window, just different settings on the camera.  
    As I stood out in the cool morning air gazing at this gorgeous moon, I thought of all the other people around the world who look up and admire the very same.  We live in such a beautiful, miraculous place in a myriad of ways. Why we can’t all get along at least in the most basic sense of the word so that we each live in comfort and harmony is heartbreaking.  It’s absolutely possible, totally obtainable.. we just can’t get out of our own way to get there.   
    
    I love this song, performed by Bette Midler…  In these turbulent times it’s more fitting than ever… 
     From a Distance 
From a distance the world looks blue and green
And the snow capped mountains white
From a distance the ocean meets the stream
And the eagle takes to flight
From a distance there is harmony
And it echoes through the land
It’s the voice of hope
It’s the voice of peace
It’s the voice of every man
From a distance we all have enough
And no one is in need
And there are no guns, no bombs and no disease
No hungry mouths to feed
From a distance we are instruments
Marching in a common band
Playing songs of hope
Playing songs of peace
They are the songs of every man
God is watching us
God is watching us
God is watching us from a distance
From a distance you look like my friend
Even though we are at war
From a distance I just cannot comprehend
What all this fightings for
                                                                        Till soon, friends… 

Because I care

     I’m teased often because of my open expression of opinion on Facebook and I’ve received criticism for it here on this blog via e-mail.  I’m not bothered by that because it’s based solely on the fact that I care, and that care encompasses all. I care about my country, the safety of our children, our impoverished, our diversity,  our rights, our freedoms, our hard working citizens on all economic levels, our struggling population on so many levels, and our decency in our government and toward each other. If the fact that I care bothers you, that’s your issue, not mine.
     That being said- a piece I agree with whole heartedly, and believe it encompasses much of what we are dealing with in this deeply troubling divide of the people of this country…
     One of the biggest sources of bullshit today is the proliferation of “If you’re this then you’re automatically that” and “You’re either with us or you’re against us” politics. These are emotional lines that we hear invoked by everyone from elected officials and lobbyists to movie heroes and villains on a regular basis. They’re effective political moves; however, 95 percent of the time it’s an emotional and passionate rendering of bullshit.
     No matter where we stand in any given issue, let’s all stop the bullshit.  Let’s be honest, let’s be real, let’s share what we know to be true, not just things that align with what we want to believe. 

     Let’s be decent to each other, regardless.


Snapshots from the future


   With each new decade of my life, my perspective on various issues changes. Have you found this to be true as well?  The things we focus on and fret over when we’re younger seem so frivolous,  and the things we didn’t realize were so important, really are.   Kinda makes me wish I could have sent my younger self a note or two or 100.   I sit here now and wonder – if I am lucky enough to live to be 85, what notes would I send myself now? 


    About eleven years ago when my daughter had been lying in a hospital bed in a coma for about two weeks. I took a half hour break from searching for any signs of her coming back,  the whirring of the machines, the reading of the respiration and heart rate numbers, the squeeze of a hand. I left her room in the ICU and sat on a low wall outside, watching people come and go as they bought food from the  trucks parked in front of Yale in New Haven.  I couldn’t ever imagine life to be “good” again for  any of us. I was horrified, I was angry, I was absolutely in some form of shock.  I remember my whole body feeling as if it were in fight or flight mode every second of every day.   Besides the hundreds of silent prayers I recited over and over again for a restoration of my daughters health, the one recurring thought was – if only I could have a snapshot of our life five years from now… with my daughter in it, whatever that would mean.. I would be OK, we would be ok.

    Thankfully, thankfully… everything would be ok in the long run.  We are not exactly what we were before, but in some ways perhaps we’re better for the hard work and triumphs we’ve achieved as a result of that horrific accident. 

   With the Orange Scream in office, on a different level  I am once again absolutely horrified at this place we have come to in our political environment.  I find myself sitting on the proverbial wall looking out over the sea of people, wondering how we could have possibly elected  a man with his history and temperament and wild ego to such a position of power.  His latest tweets in the new year (just three days in!) are so alarming, he could be destroying a 70 year era of relative peace.  That he doesn’t see how destructive his words are, that his supporters don’t see how erosive on so many levels his mentality is, well….   Once again I long to see that snapshot five years from now. 
   I mentioned the  HBO series, Game of Thrones, in my previous post.  Throughout the series, there has been a distant threat to the known world of the seven kingdoms.   The threat has become more prominent as the series progressed. They are called white walkers – dead people reanimated by their ruler – the Night King. They were initially created as a means of protection by well meaning creatures, but with their numbers now in the millions, they are a significant threat.    They show no emotion, they have no goals or apparent motives other than destroying what lives.  They are simply a force of nature, the equivalent of a natural disaster.  How many countless threats do we face in the real world, how many could we overcome through mutual cooperation? Think about it – Two big threats to all of our well being – we could collaborate to stop climate change or nuclear proliferation, which has the potential to destroy us all.  This is absolutely obtainable. The problem lies in our own petty squabbles. We lose sight of the big picture as we’re consumed with our various greeds.  
   Right now, as season 8 is filmed for Game of Thrones, the setting is a version of this conflict where the characters will have to work past their deep-seated grudges and work together to defeat their common enemies or they’ll die.   I believe we are coming to this place in our history.  If you don’t think what’s going on out there is that serious, then you haven’t truly been paying attention or you’re blinded by a party affiliation, whatever that may be.  
  Oh, for that snapshot five years from now… or even 20.. to know that we will be OK. Not exactly what we were before,  but in some ways perhaps better.  I pray the good people will keep doing the hard work it will take to get us to that better place across all party lines.  I’ll do my little tiny part to contribute to the betterment of our society  – each salty drop of water contributes to the vast sea, after all.   I hope you’ll join me in doing the same. 
 It’s a new year, folks.  Let’s make it a good one.  

Decency Matters ….and a few more holiday recipes

   Lately I’ve tried not to dive  daily headfirst into the current political mess we’re all in. There’s no question the stress flares the fibromyalgia,  and it’s so not worth it over something I have  little control over (like zero).    What I can say today is that I was so happy when I woke up a few mornings ago to the news that a pedophiliac racist bigot who so hypocritically hides behind a religion  like R*y More-or-Less was sent a very clear message – Decency Matters.  I want to shout out to the world so that Alabama can hear – THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALABAMA.  
  Onward!   I’ve got all my shopping done and wrapped, been trying some new recipes too.  It’s hell trying to avoid gluten at this time of year, and although I’ve given it a sincere effort, baking those favorite recipes with gluten free substitutes just.. sucks.  SO… I’m making and baking as I always do, and I’m not eating it myself.   Have you ANY idea how difficult that is?  But I have to acknowledge my truth – while I am not a celiac,  gluten makes me feel yuck and flares the fibro.  *sigh.  
 
  Making this for our celebration with mom on Sunday
Eggnog Cheesecake 
 Recipe HERE
   Spinach Dip Breadstick  Christmas Tree
Recipe HERE

 
This is the scene right this minute outside my little office window here at the farm. 
Light snow falling on a stand of pine trees – 
my favorite spot at This Old House. 
The nature that surrounds us, the saving grace. 
Till soon, friends – 

It’s Raining Men

  … that simple line is  immediately what came to mind as I tuned in to the news the other day and saw yet another sexual harassment shoe drop – it’s happening almost daily lately.  And ya know? … I believe we have  NotMyPresident Tr*mp to thank – because once that disgusting tape came out with his own pussy grabbing “she was married but I went in on her like a bitch” talk… and then that same guy was elected POT*S…. I believe it was a catalyst and folks finally got angry enough and found the tremendous courage it takes  to say enough is enough.  
    In a related conversation, someone said “It’s not just men who abuse, you know…. is this male hunting season? Maybe all men should just move to Montana and leave you women to fend for yourselves“.   Hmmm.. well..   Clearly we live in a masculine and emasculating society, no?   It is absolutely not just men who abuse… and I think more men don’t stand up because they fear backlash, jeers from their peers (what’s the matter with you, can’t defend yourself from a woman? or worse, a gay man? ) … and so on.  There are many many good and decent men in this world who wouldn’t lay an inappropriate hand on another human being.  But clearly.. there are many, especially those in power, who do, and have since the dawn of time.   If your’e not a sexual predator – why are you moving to Montana?  And why Montana… are they more accepting of sexual abuse in big sky country?  I’m thinking not. 
    A male friend of mine said… after yet another was announced… “jeez, so basically just anyone can accuse anyone now and they’re guilty?”    It’s never right to wrongly accuse someone of a crime.  There are false accusations out there for every crime.  Why are we assuming the accusations by women are false?  It takes tremendous courage to stand up and call out this kind of behavior.  Many women  (and men) have not done so over the years for fear of losing their jobs,  and leaving a job is not such a simple thing to do when you’re supporting yourself and possibly a family and the job market is less than stellar.  There’s the fear  (and reality!) of not being believed  and then the possibility of being harassed further because you did stand up.  All those issues factor in and lead people to remain silent more often than not. 
  I , for one, am so glad to see people finding the courage to speak out.  At the very least it will give people in power pause before abusing again. 
   

I’m sharing a simple and  sinfully delicious chocolate butter cream icing 
recipe here with you because WOW, it’s the best we’ve had.
It’s so good you’re gonna want to eat it with a spoon 
out of the mixing bowl. 
(yes I did) 
CHOCOLATE BUTTER CREAM FROSTING
3 sticks butter, softened
1 cup unsweetened cocoa
5 cups confectioners sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon expresso powder (it makes the chocolate pop)
Mix all together in mixing bowl with hand mixer
and frost your favorite cupcakes or cake. 
***********************
Another holiday recipe I found on facebook and will make today – it looks easy and delicious.
Photo and recipe credit momontimeout.com 
Practically Perfect Peppermint Fudge

Print
Prep time
5 mins
Cook time
2 mins
Total time
7 mins
Tis the season for peppermint and sweets! You can have the best of both with this Practically Perfect Peppermint Fudge! Just a handful of ingredients and five minutes are all you need to make this pretty and festive fudge!
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
Serves: 64 candies
Ingredients
  • 24 oz white chocolate chips
  • 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp peppermint extract
  • 1 cup crushed peppermint candy or candy canes, divided

Instructions

  1. Line an 8 or 9-inch square pan with non-stick foil and set aside.
  2. Combine white chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk and salt in a medium bowl.
  3. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.
  4. Stir in the peppermint extract.
  5. Stir in ¾ cup of the crushed peppermint candy canes.
  6. Pour the fudge into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
  7. Top with remaining crushed peppermint candy canes.
  8. Refrigerate for 2 hours until set.
  9. Cut into bite size pieces if desired. 
 Till soon, friends – thanks for stopping by. 

Taking a knee, those ugly tweets, and a magical night on the water

      Oooh boy…. If you still come by here often enough, you know how a feel about most things I’ve covered in posts.   I don’t shy away from expressing my opinion on a subject, and that may irk a few people now and again.  That’s OK by me, as long as we’re civil in how we discuss our differing views.  I’m open to learning something from another’s viewpoint, although I don’t count on ever swaying another in my direction and vice versa.  Communication is a must, regardless.. or nothing ever gets accomplished – that’s just a truth in all things.  So I communicate, often, for better or worse.  Hopefully more better than worse. 
     The *Take A Knee movement has gained momentum and perhaps even gained a new purpose thanks to 45’s  juvenile tweets on the subject.  He bellowed “I’d Fire those Sons-of-Bitches”…. These words spoken to a crowd regarding NFL players  who have taken a knee while the Anthem is played and the flag displayed.   That obnoxious speech and the accompanying tweets led all NFL teams to kneel and stand with arms locked together on Sunday, a show of Unity in the league after being attacked by their, our, yours my.. President.
  *Sigh. 
    How do I feel about the *knee movement?   My opinion differs greatly from most of my Democrat or Liberal friends and they have let me know this very vehemently on social media. My republican friends are cheering me on, happy to finally! be in agreement on something.  
  Jeez… it’s not about that, folks.   
    No kidding – because of my opinion on this particular thing, I was accused of being a traitor to my “party” because I don’t  agree on this issue … and what that right there is to me is the colossal failure of all parties, especially in recent times.  We tend to separate ourselves into the party our beliefs align with, and we shut out and vilify all others.  We close our eyes and ears to listening to another avenue, another way, another take and then when we do that, we are blind to our own failures or pitfalls or oversights.   That’s what our government is doing, anyway. 
     I have never fully committed to a party affiliation myself, as I want to hear all sides on the issues according to the various crisis we currently face ( where do we start??)  and I don’t want an affiliation to own me.    I see strong and valid ideas on both sides of the isle, amid the corruption and usual bullshittery. When I vote, I vote for the person I feel will have the most positive impact in the current political and social environment for the greater good.  Admittedly, that’s been more Democrat than not.  Mostly.  Almost All.  Last summer and fall  I did lend an earnest ear to what the Republicans had to say – and the lead horse in the end was just not one I could ever stand behind and feel good about.   We’ve all witnessed why that is by now.   If you voted for 45 and still feel good about it, well you’re amazing.  I congratulate you on your stoic resolve to see it through.  I hope you know something special that I don’t, really not kidding here, I mean this. 
     Racism is an ugly, ugly thing –  most of us know this.  What will turn the hearts and minds of those who are so ingrained with that hatred is beyond me, for it should be crystal clear in this day and age how very wrong the act.  While I sympathize with those in our culture who still deal with racism, injustice and inequality, and it is not just the black population, there are many forms of racism and injustice, prejudice and inequality – I wish Colin and his comrades in arms (or knees) chose something other than the symbol that for many represents our patriotism, our love for our country, the symbol and song that brings goosebumps and tears to my eyes every time I hear and see it in a public display – The symbol that for me and many others represents – Home of the Free Because of the Brave.  Because of those men and women, many of whom lost their one sacred life defending our freedoms (indeed, including freedom of speech)   and were buried with a flag draped over their coffin.  I am of the opinion that  it was a really poor choice to carry the racism message.  Others are thrilled because it’s a peaceful protest.. and the issue is huge, real, and needs to be addressed.   I  see their point.  ….. and I still stand behind my opinion that  they should have picked another way. This way will be taken as unpatriotic, ungrateful, by those who won’t sympathize with them anyway.  Why give them grounds to do so? 
    So what will happen now?  When will the kneeling stop and some positive action begin?  Well we are all talking about it… but most of “we” aren’t the problem.   In their spare time and with the multiple spare funds they have gained as very successful athletes in this country..  I hope those men will head out into the communities that need them, will meet with the press and talk out the issues, will meet with law enforcement and inner city families, build some bridges, community centers, promote work ethic and education,  keep the conversations going so that something will actually come of this taking of the knee, shunning the flag and the anthem.  
    Since I posted that opinion, I have been called a traitor, I have been accused of not fully understanding or sympathizing with the black man’s experience because I am of white privilege.  I have been told I have gone to the other side because I side with 45.  
      I was frustrated that some of the folks I still consider friends were so aggravated by my opinion on this knee taking stance. I saw their point, why couldn’t they see mine?  We both want the same things in the end.   And then I said that thing I often need to say to myself, …. maybe it took six times but still…. This isn’t about you, Karen. 
    True, this – we don’t need to defend ourselves and shouldn’t take offense to other points of view. That’s not an easy pill to swallow for someone like me.  Nevertheless…    I know who I am, what I stand for and what I do not, I trust my own intelligence, I am fair and honest.  I believe in  equality and justice for all.   If you and I meet up in a dark place and you desperately need the last of something I’ve got, I’ll share it with you or hand it over whether you’re black, white, orange or red, voted for Hill or Tr*mp or RumpleStilskin.   That’s going to have to be good enough for anyone who wants to stick around.   
     Well… now that the heavy is dumped… let me share a little light with you.   Last night the light on the cove was nothing short of magical – water smooth as glass with little breeze, mellow gorgeous silvery blue and then golden pink light as far as the eye could see.  I wish I could pour it out to all of you so that you could feel the joy and peace I felt last night as I paddled through that quiet water.  It took the edge off my day. 
 That and a gin and tonic with a lovely twist of lime made by my sympathetic mother.  

Till soon, friends – 

What he said.

     

     I’m glad someone in Washington is willing to stand up for what’s right, regardless of party affiliation. We’ve all gotten so wrapped up in finger pointing at the Democrats, the liberals, the Snowflakes, the Republicans, the Conservatives, the Alt-rights… the assholes! (whomever you currently think that is)… but the real bottom line? The government, all of them.. are supposed to be working for US, no matter what category you think you fall under… we are all THE PEOPLE. Not the lobbyists, not their party pals, not their supporters only. The collective group of ALL OF US.

      The ACA needs to be fixed. FIX IT.. don’t keep throwing shit policy out there to see what sticks. FIX IT.. TOGETHER. Congrats to Senator McCain for calling a spade a spade. Perhaps more will follow in his footsteps and grow a conscience.  Sad reality – Why does it have to take a swan song for this to happen…