Wednesday 31 December 2014

New Years Eve

New Year's Eve 1992
A blast from the past















It's New Year's Eve and we are about to embark on the threshold
of yet another good year.

I pray we are all blessed with the very best.


Very soon my darlings 



I love this song


For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~ T.S. Eliot

..
Happy Anniversary Erica and Scott




A new year is beginning to peak through
softly beautiful and different like new falling snow,
each day unique and shaped just for you.
Your life adding something as each day does grow.
My wish for your new year is beauty
and softness with surprises thrown in for delight.
Love for each day bringing happiness to you,
making your life a scene of sparkle and shining sunlight.

~ Author Unknown...Happy New Years 



✻ღϠ₡ღ✻
(¯`✻´¯) 
`*.¸.*✻ღϠ₡ღ¸.✻´´¯`✻.¸¸.Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ.. Counting down!!!! Are you ready for 2015?
The countdown is near. Hope this year has brought you some joy and that you will see dreams come true in the coming year.



New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights.  ~Hamilton Wright Mabie


For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"

Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past.  Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go.  ~Brooks Atkinson


You cannot have too many reminders of love, health, hope and magic
May 2015 bring it to us all....................Only the best of blessings in 2015.





Justin relaxing at his friends place with his family for New Years Eve



Memories take us back
Dreams take us forward

Goulash soup

Easy Tuscan Bean Soup
author: 
Serves: 8-10 servings
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 2 medium carrots, diced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 1 medium zucchini, diced
  • 1 yellow summer squash, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, pressed
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 quart vegetable (or chicken) broth
  • 2 (14 ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (14 ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes with juices
  • 3 cups chopped kale, ribs removed
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon white sugar
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
Instructions
  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a 6 quart or larger Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onions, carrots, celery, zucchini, and squash. Saute for 4 minutes.
  2. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, thyme and rosemary. Cook 30 seconds.
  3. Stir in the broth, beans, and tomatoes. Bring the contents to a boil, then turn the heat down to low and add the chopped kale. Cover the pot and simmer for 15 minutes.
  4. Use an immersion blender* to partially puree the soup, leaving some chunks of beans vegetables for texture.
  5. Add the salt, pepper, sugar, and vinegar. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
  6. Serve topped with Parmesan or Dubliner cheese and a side of crusty bread.
Notes
*Alternatively, transfer small amounts to a counter top blender and puree as desired.



Make A Wish!
⁀) ✫ ✫ ✫.
`⋎´✫¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•✫
..✫¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.✫
☻/ღ˚ •。* ˚ ˚✰˚ ˛★* 。 ღ˛° 。* ° ˚ • ★ *˚ .ღ 。
/▌*˛˚ ░M░A░K░E░ - ░W░I░S░H░ ˚ ✰* ★
/ \ ˚. ★ *˛ ˚* ✰。˚ ˚ღ。* ˛˚ 。✰˚* ˚ ★ღ ˚ 。✰ •* ˚ for a great 2015


"And now we welcome the new year,
full of things that have never been..."~ Rainer Maria Rilke


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.……… .• . • . •°•.*.•°• . • . • .
..…(¯`•.¸.•°*°•. ✿ .•°*°•.¸.•´¯)

..•°•.•*~*.✿... happy .. ✿.*~*.•°•.•
.......………(¯`* new year *´¯)
……•. • . •° ••°• •°•.º.•°••°• . • . • .
………………....° º ✿ º °
…………………...(¸.•´¯)
…………………... .¸.•´
…………………....(.*

Thursday 25 December 2014

Merry Christmas

•¤❅¤•.•°˚˚°•. From My House To Your House .•°˚˚°•.•¤❅¤•.
˜”*°••°*”˜ To You and Your Family and Friends ˜”*°••°*”˜
.,-,*´`'*°☆ WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS ☆ : ❄ °❅ 
/.(  ❄° : ❄ AND A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!!! ❄  ° ☆ 
\ {  ° ★ : .︵ . ❅   ❄┊ . * ❅● ¸ .   ° : ❄. •  ❅  ★ 
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( ( `´︶´¯`︶´`´︶︶´*★  ^v^  ┊❅  °☆ .   ☆ :. ☆  
  ) )  ⦅‖ ͇͇ ͇͇▃▇͇͇͌̿̿⌂͇͇▌..* ★  ☆ .   ★ ^v^  °  ┊❅   . ☆
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││∩│ ▓ ║∏ 田║▓ 田田 ▓ ∩║ ii--ii--ii LoVeii--ii--ii—ii⏃☃⏃
☸„„„„„„„„„☸„„„„„„„„„☸„„„„„„„„„☸„„„„„„„„„☸„„„„„„„„☸„„„„„„„„☸
.........................____{.\..*** ../.}
.........................___{.*.\..._.../.*.} 
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.......................___ /*_*_*_*_*_*\_
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...............................(( *+* *+* ))
........................ ((_,»*¯*«*»*¯*«, _))
..........((_,»*¯*«*»*¯*«,_)) ((_,»*¯*«*»*¯*«,_))
((_,»*¯*«*»*¯*«,_))(_,»*¯*¯*«,_)((_,»*¯*«*»*¯*«_))
((_,»-✫ •°*”˜❄.•°*”˜•°*”⏃☃⏃”*°•˜”*°•.❄˜”*°• ✫-«_))
((_,»*¯*«*»*¯*«,_))(_,»*¯*¯*«,_)((_,»*¯*«*»*¯*«_))
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.........................((_,»*¯*«*»*¯*«, _))
..............................(( *+* *+* ))
.....................(`'•.¸(` '•. ¸* ¸.•'´)¸.•'´)..
...................« †GOD bless you always †.¸»
.................. (¸. •'´(¸.•'´ † * † `'•.¸)`'•.¸ )

The heart like the mind has a memory and in it are kept the most precious keepsakes.

Thank you for the food before us
The friends beside us
The love between us.

So this is Christmas, the spirit of kindness, a joyous and blessed journey into imagination en route to the magic world of toyland for children and a reverie of hope and desire be at your command on this lovey day as we celebrate a global retreat called Christmas.

⊰✿░M░E░R░R░Y░⊰✿░C░H░R░I░S░T░M░A░S░⊰✿

❥˚•.¸ʚ✶ɞ ԼOƔЄ



“Engrave this upon your heart: 
Love is the magic key to life
Kindness, compassion, caring, courage
strength, and enlightenment are behind the door 
that love unlocks...
All the best things in Life are never easy
but always worth the effort."






Thank you for the food before us
the family and friends beside us
and the love between us
Cookies baked for us by our sweet neighbors

Thank you everyone for everything
especially your love







´¯)¸.❉´¯) 
(¸☆´ (¸.´´¯`•.¸¸.❉☆ It's important to remember that not everyone is surrounded by large, wonderful families. Some have problems during the holidays and sometimes are overcome with great sadness when they remember the loved ones who are not with them. Many people have no one to spend Holiday times with and are besieged by loneliness..They all need caring thoughts and loving prayer right now. May I ask my friends wherever you might be, to kindly share this post to show support to all those who have family problems, health struggles, job issues, worries of any kind and just need to know that someone cares. Do it for all of us, for nobody is immune. I hope to see many shares just for moral support. Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support. Don't forget someone close by you who may need a friend around these holidays! Merry Christmas!! ´¯)¸.❉´¯) Much Love   as read on Facebook Motivating Inspiration to inspire you 


Christmas Confetti Soup courtesy of Chin Deep


christmassoup
“The Sisters love to serve this soup at Christmas time. It is beautiful in the bowl, and the star croutons remind us of the real meaning of Christmas.” ~Bonnie Tracy, author of Tasty Recipes from the Sister’s Kitchen
The Christmas commotion continues! ;) I took a few pics of this yummy soup to share with you just in case you’re still looking for something cozy and easy to cook for your holiday celebration.
I first had this soup at a tearoom where I was employed for close to 10 years. The darling proprietress, and my dear friend, Bonnie would make this when the Christmas rolled around. We hosted several holiday events, Christmas teas and Nutcracker teas among them, and everyone always oohed and ahhed over this gorgeous, colorful soup!
Tonight we’re enjoying bowls of this for our Christmas Eve soup supper. I hope you and your family love this as much as we do. My recipe is slightly different than the original. I use extra virgin olive oil in addition to the butter and more bell pepper, in multiple colors, instead of just red.
for the soup:
1 cup chopped bell pepper (I use red, orange and yellow)
1/4 cup butter
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup all purpose flour
6 cups homemade chicken or turkey stock (or pre-made broth)
1 (10 oz.) bag fresh spinach, chopped
2 cups cooked chicken, chopped
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
top with star shaped croutons (recipe below)
In a large, heavy bottomed stock pot, heat the butter and olive oil. Once hot, add the chopped bell pepper and flour. Reduce heat to low and stir constantly for 2 to 3 minutes. Mixture will be very thick, stick to the pan a bit, and turn slightly amber in color. Once this happens, add your soup stock. Stir and scrape the bottom of the pot thoroughly. Stir constantly and cook until soup is thickened and bubbly. Add the spinach, chicken and nutmeg. Salt and pepper to taste. Heat through (don’t boil.) Ladle into bowls and top with star croutons.
for the star croutons:
Using a 1 inch, star shaped, cookie cutter (and other sizes, if you wish) cut stars from sliced bread. Brush with melted butter and/or olive oil. Toss with a little onion and garlic powder. Toast in a 350 degree F. oven for 6 to 8 minutes, turning once. Croutons are done when golden and no longer soft.

Enjoy!

"You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give."
--Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

┈░ M░E░ R░ R░Y░┈┈┈░
┈░░▄▇█████████▇▄-░░ԼƠƔЄ
┈▄█▉▀░╭▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀╮░❤░▒
╭▀╮░░░╰┬─▄───▄─┬╯❤░ԼƠƔЄ░❤▒
╰─╯░░░▄┴┐╭─└┘─╮├┐░░❤▒
┈┈▒▒▄█▌░└┘╰──╯└┘▐▄░ԼƠƔЄ░❤▒
┈▒▒▒█▉▉▄░░░░░░░░░█▉▒❤
┈░ C░ H ░R░I░ S░ T░ M░ A░ S░░
☆*'♡..*❤.¸.☆*'♡..*❤.¸.☆*'♡...*❤.¸.☆*' .



✻.•*˚ ❄•*˚❆ .•*˚ * ✶. • * ˚❅
"Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart."
~ Washington Irving




http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=5261240769168&source=jlfb&cont=2&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=pickup


✫¸.·´¯`ʚ✶ɞ "Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, ☾⋱‿✻`and behold, everything is softer ◔◔ and more beautiful. "~Norman Vincent Peale ₎‿ノ• 


══════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ════════
✿C░H░R░I░S░T░M░A░S✿
.......✿B░L░E░S░S░I░N░G░S✿
══════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ════════

✿•*¨`*•.(ღ˘v˘ღ)

Wednesday 24 December 2014

Christmas Eve

*_██_*。*. /★\ .˛* .˛.*.★* *★ 。*
˛. (´• ̮•)*..˛°*/.♫.♫\*˛.* ˛_Π_____. * ˛*A Merry Christmas
.°( . • . ) ˛°./• '♫ ' •\.˛*./______/~\*. ˛*.。˛* ˛. *。
*(...'•'.. ) *˛╬╬╬╬╬˛°|田田 |門|╬╬╬╬ .
¯˜"*°••°*"˜¯`´¯˜"*°••°*"˜¯` ´¯˜"*°´¯˜"*°••°*"˜¯`´¯˜"*




It's snowing for the Christmas season in Seoul
This photograph as seen on Facebook


This photograph taken by my Son
Christmas 2014 in Seoul 

≧^◡^≦Merry Christmas Eve my sweet & gorgeous one ≧^◡^≦
Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.
~ Norman Vincent Peale ~


My niece Danielle and her husband's two precious children
enjoying the magic of Christmas
I love this photograph


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Mommd2TJME

I love these Gregorian Christmas songs

Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart...filled it, too, with melody that would last forever.
~ Bess Streeter Aldrich, Song of Years

Christmas my child is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas. Dale Evans


“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.”  Merry Christmas Eve

★•.¸
¸☆´.•)´
(✶`*. Live, Laugh, Love 
*.*★☆* Love¸.★and*☆*Shine!*✶*´☽
☆*´What is Christmas?❥´*★.¸¸¸. •°´.✶¸☆
❥˚•.¸ʚ✶ɞ It is tenderness for the past,
courage for the present, hope for the future.
It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow
with blessings rich and eternal, and that
every path may lead to peace.` ~Agnes M. Pahro



Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart...filled it, too, with melody that would last forever.
~ Bess Streeter Aldrich, Song of Years