Ever taken part in a ”Burning Bowl” ceremony?  The Unity Churches do this at year's end. It's a wonderful way to let go of whatever you'd like to release. Any thought, habit, situation, illness, place or person . . . which you feel brings negativity to your life.  

Make a list of what you want to let go of and burn it over a flame. Watch it turn to ash as you visualize those things leaving your life. 

Then make a list of what you want to accept into your life. Put it away to read at the end of 2015.

I've done this at a church service and as a family -- I highly recommend it! 

Wishing you a safe and very Happy New Year!!!

Anyone else feel humbled / overwhelmed / somewhat annoyed by technology?

In the past six months I've learned how to create an ad on Facebook, create a FB fan page, schedule posts and create this blog with gadgets and links and buttons.  That feels pretty good, but Twitter and Pinterest still seem beyond my grasp.

I think part of it is my own inner conflict -- as much as I recognize that social media is the new normal, I don't want to spend my time trying to figure out how to spend more time on the computer or on my phone.

So, how to create an identity that feels authentic and really represents me and build a network of people who want to follow me and care what I have to say?

I'm open to suggestions on how to be in the social media realm without it taking over my life!

Comments welcome!!!

Florentine Meatballs

This is a recipe from Rachel Ray and the Food Network

It's one of my son's favorites, and my husband, who doesn't like cooked spinach, raved about this the first time I made it!

Ingredients

1 box frozen spinach, defrosted in the microwave (I've started chopping fresh spinach instead)
1 1/3 pound (1 package) ground turkey breast
1 medium onion, finely chopped, divided
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 large egg
1 3/4 cups milk, divided
3/4 cup bread crumbs, 3 handfuls
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, 2 palm fulls


Coarse salt and black pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling


Sauce -- (cut the amount in half, it makes a lot -- sometimes I don't even make the sauce)

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup chicken stock
1 (10-ounce) sack shredded provolone or blend of Italian cheeses, available on dairy aisle
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, eyeball it


1/4 cup parsley leaves, chopped


Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Wring defrosted spinach dry in a clean kitchen towel. Place turkey in a bowl and make a well in the middle of it. Add the spinach, all but 3 tablespoons of the onion, all of the garlic, 1 large egg, about 1/4 cup milk, bread crumbs, grated Parmesan, salt and pepper. Mix well. Form into 12 large balls and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Arrange on a nonstick cookie sheet and roast 20 minutes, or until cooked through.

While meatballs are in the oven, heat a small sauce pot over medium heat. Add a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter. Melt butter, add remaining finely chopped onion and cook 2 minutes then whisk in flour. Cook flour 1 minute, then whisk in 1 1/2 cups milk and 1 cup stock. Bring liquid up to a boil then stir in shredded provolone or blended Italian cheeses. Season the sauce with salt, pepper and nutmeg, turn heat to lowest setting.

Place 3 balls on dinner plates and top with sauce, garnish with parsley.

Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray

Have a milestone birthday coming up or just past?

Recently visited friends from over 25 years ago, to celebrate a 50th birthday.  I'm humbled and awed by the people they've all become, honored to have been invited, and still dumbstruck that I'm now in the '50 and Over' group.

I thought I'd have more things figured out. I thought I'd feel more grown-up. I thought 50 seemed so much older than it does now that I'm here.  

And yet, I feel more centered and willing to say what I think. Better at being sorting out what's important and letting the rest go. I'm more tolerant and less needy, more relaxed and feeling fit -- really the best shape of my life.

What have you found as you've hit milestones?  What do you notice about yourself as you age? Yes, all those physical issues -- eyes, joints, hearing . . . but from a personal standpoint, what are you experiencing?