*Life is in the journey!* ~ Three Pines in a Sunbeam

 ♥

Life's Inspirational Valiant Endeavors

~ Three Pines in a Sunbeam ~

 Dad’s Colorado
1946 ~ 2012

For several months now I've been pretty quiet here in this space; not knowing how to speak of Life's Inspirational Valiant Endeavors. Not a clue where to begin. And so I've done simply what my spirit and my body have encouraged me to do... Just be. We go about the business of living caring for our children, our homes, our careers, ourselves. And when change happens, we adjust. Well, hopefully we adjust. Our only other option is to wither away... and that is not living.

This past October my childhood fantasies brutally clashed with reality. In one surreal moment, I learned that my dad had taken his own life. There would be no last great rumble with a man-eating bear in the wilds of Alaska, nor would the ocean swallow him up and spit him out onto a tropical island somewhere to live out his days as a castaway, an adventurer, a man among men.That was my dad, after all... Robinson Crusoe. Bigger than life! As a kid, the myth was just easier to live with. Reality was too... well, too real. 

The reality was my father suffered his entire life with, what I believe was, undiagnosed Bipolar Disorder. As anyone who's lived with a family member who has this disease knows ~ If one suffers, all suffer. I don't know firsthand how medication or therapy might have worked for my dad. Though he absolutely knew he was suffering from severe depression throughout his life, he refused to acknowledge that he had a problem he couldn't fix on his own. His life choice tore apart, piece by piece, what he might have held onto with those he loved; and ultimately even the relationship with his children. I loved my dad dearly, but if I've learned anything from my experience it is that misery loves company, and to save a drowning victim you lend a hand, most certainly your pride... but not your life by jumping into deep water after them, no matter how desperately one wishes to do so. My own happiness rode on my discovery that I am worth more than that. 

My dad was life in fast forward; always searching for that one thing that would make him feel more alive and less alone with his own thoughts. His journey was ripe with enthusiasm, adventure, a passion for spirituality, and... an overwhelming fear of loneliness and boredom. Though painful at times, I am incredibly thankful for the love he was willing to share with me. There are some lessons in this life, whether we think we needed them or not, that are simply too precious to ignore. 

I joined my brother on a mountaintop in Colorado just before Christmas to spread our dad's ashes among three pines in a sunbeam. Saying good-bye wasn't the hardest part for me. It was heading back down that mountain. That last step in the grieving process doesn't come easy. I guess that's where I am now... trying to find acceptance. Let me just say, it sucks. Everything is not alright. Opportunity is missing. But I know from experience that that too will change. I no longer have the luxury of debating whether or not I should try again with my dad. What's done is done. The question I ask myself now is, Was I true to myself, as only I can be?  And that my friends is a path we must all eventually take. 

*Don't give up on yourself*

"In the path of our happiness 
shall we find the learning for which we have chosen this lifetime." 
~ Richard Bach, Illusions

Love My Friends

... and happy learning!

“The best way out is always through.”

~ Robert Frost

*I Cook Barefooted!* ~ Spinach Lasagna

Barefoot Love!

Years ago, 

I started searching for ways to get my kids to eat their vegetables!

The rule was always the same in our house:

Take it or Leave it.

But, if you take it...

Green always comes first!

And... No Gagging, Squalling, or *Fake Choking Allowed.

* Real Choking, of course, would earn you a one way ticket to the Heimlich...

followed by a stern lecture to use more sense when stuffing your green beans into your mouth.*

So began, the infamous Green Bean races.

My husband, I admit, did his best to play along.

His nostrils may have flared, 

(probably always will)

his eyes may even have watered... on occasion,

and he may follow anything green with his milk glass...

But, he ate them! 

He ate them because he knew little eyes and brains were watching.

 But really, he ate them because he's awesome!

At the start of supper, 

after *Thanks* and *Thoughts* were given 

for what we were about to receive,

green bean-thirsty forks hovered over our plates waiting to dig in!

Some finesse was necessary here.

I mean, the whole point of the game was, in fact, 

to get the green beans past the taste buds 

and into their stomachs 

without them catching on to our manipulation techniques. 

What can I say?

It worked.

And the kids...

Well, let's just say this was one race we Always let them win!

*For the record*

No Child or Adult was harmed in any of The Great Green Bean Races.

All were willing participants... 

Because that's just how we roll. 

Eventually, we graduated to eating "trees" (Broccoli florets)

and the occasional green salad, 

most often loaded with sugar-rich dressings for the kiddos 

(gotta start somewhere)

and a boiled egg, for good measure.

However, it was pure genius, on my part,

(Thank you, Thank you very much!)

the day I first substituted Spinach in one of our family's favorite dishes.

They never noticed the beef was gone.

And they're still coming back for more!

It doesn't get much easier than this recipe.

It's not overly loaded with sodium and sugar and preservatives, 

like most pre-prepared frozen dinners (depending on the sauce you use).

And it's Oh, so yummy...
with a loaf of French Bread and a nice Salad on the side.

***

☮

Spinach Lasagna

3 cups Ricotta Cheese

3 cups shredded Mozzarella

3/4 cup Parmesan

2 Eggs

1 (48 oz.) jar Your Favorite Spaghetti Sauce

1 pkg. Frozen Spinach, thawed and drained

Lasagna Noodles

Cook noodles to desired tenderness.

Mix Ricotta, 1/2 cup Parmesan and eggs.

Thaw Spinach and add to cheese mixture.

Layer in a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish:

Spaghetti sauce, noodles, cheese mixture, mozzarella.

Repeat layers.

Bake at 400 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes.

Let stand to cool and thicken.

Enjoy! 

*I sometimes use Large Curd Cottage Cheese, in place of the Ricotta, 

when I want to cut down on the fat and cost of the Ricotta. 
Not quite as rich, but still very good!*

*I also tend to use whatever form of spinach I happen to have in my fridge. 

When I have fresh Baby Leaf Spinach I just stir in, roughly 3 cups of uncooked spinach, to the cheese mixture.*

***

You want reviews?
    How 'bout,

"I'm Popeye the Sailor Man,

I'm Popeye the Sailor Man.

I'm strong to the finich

Cause I eats me spinach.

            I'm Popeye the Sailor Man!"  ヅ

 How 'bout You?
Have a recipe you want to share on 
*I Cook Barefooted!*?
Show some Barefoot Love and...

Send it here:  scarlettcolleen@yahoo.com 
Want to include a photo? Fun!

What's on your table?

“Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions.

All life is an experiment.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

 *Barefoot Love*Airbrush By, Colleen 
2012

*Life is in the journey!* ~ "You Can"

 ♥

Life's Inspirational Valiant Endeavors

~ “You Can” ~

 

This is the story of Rick and, his father, Dick Hoyt.

Born without the ability to move or speak, Rick is the inspiration that has moved his father to run for him for over two decades. Among the oldest, out of thousands they have competed against, Dick Hoyt has pushed, pulled and carried his son in over 950 races, 60 marathons… and 6 iron man competitions (That’s a 2.4 mile swim, carrying his son along with him, a 112 mile bike ride with his son leading the way and a 26.2 mile run, ending only when they crossed the finish line.)   

“I may be disabled, but I live a very fulfilling life.”

~ Rick Hoyt

Hero, defined by Merriam-Webster, might lead one to believe in fairy tales.

a: a mythological or legendary figure

often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability

b: an illustrious warrior

c: a man (or woman thank you very much) admired for his/her achievements

and noble qualities (Okay, getting warmer.)

d: one who shows great courage (…warmer still)

 I like to think it is the man, woman and child who show great love, respect and devotion every day for their son and brother. 
Dick Hoyt is a Hero by most standards.

He loves his son.

So he runs.

What defines this father as, Hero, in my heart is this…

Rain or shine, he shows up.

Life is in the journey!

You Can!

~ Life is in the journey! ~

 

Joy My Friends!

"The best way out is always through."

~ Robert Frost

Oh, Boy!

I once heard my son, our first born, emit a deep throaty noise (maniacal laugh, maniacal laugh) as he posed for a Father’s Day photo shoot – wielding his dad’s chainsaw, his dad’s blow torch, his dad’s chair, his dad’s truck and even his dad’s Beloved Ibanez, and live to tell about it.

This is his Dad's chainsaw.

This is his Dad's blowtorch.

This is his Dad's chair.

This is his Dad's truck. (Yes, licking it)

This is his Dad's Beloved Ibanez...

... Up Close and Personal.

 

 

THIS is his DAD.

 

 

 

A chuckle,

A growl,

A sigh,

A “sweeeeeet!”

I’ve seen and heard it all.

This Thanksgiving I, a boy’s mother, witnessed the joy of ownership…

...in a giggle.

Oh, Boy!