TUESDAY TUNES: SHE'S A MIRACLE

 This TUESDAY TUNE A MILLION DOLLAR BABY got me working in exercise class with the help? of this extra body cheering me on while trying to take over my rug workout space. You give these guys an inch they take a mile... He knows I am worth a million dollars recognizing a miracle when he sees it! LOL.

Enjoy Ava Max and the lyrics and music of Million Dollar Baby as she IS a miracle.

 Turn up the volume and enjoy. I have included the video link and a link for the lyrics too... Totally.

SHE'S A MIRACLE

LYRICS

 

MONDAY MUSINGS::A DIFFERENT KIND OF WEALTH

Rolling in dough was part of my Sunday mornings in 2023.  Seriously, but don't report me to the IRS because it actually wasn't dollar bills but cookie dough.

 My job was to roll out the correct dough thickness and then use a glass to cut out circles to make the traditional baked good called hamentaschen. 1000's were made by numerous volunteers. Each Sunday different fillings were used and the last batch was gluten-free. 

Hamentaschen is a triangular-filled pastry associated with Purim's  villain, Hamen, who wore a triangular-shaped hat.  Fillings can include chocolate kisses, poppy seed, strawberry, apricot, prune, raisins,etc..

One of Purim's tradition is to give the gift of food to friends.  This gesture helps create "a feeling of closeness and hope in the community at a time of year when we are often still burdened with the bleakness of winter."

At a time when we could be isolated, we have a means of being part of community and that's the best kind of spirituality, isn't it? 

FOTO FRIDAY: IF PHOTOS COULD RELEASE a SCENT...

 

FOTO FRIDAY: The tulip poplar at my childhood home was in its full magnificence and before leaving, I grabbed some scissors to snip a couple blossoms from the very base of the trunk at the height of the daffodils.

With no exaggeration within moments the car filled with such an incredible aroma that now welcomes visitors to my home's entry...

If only photos could release a scent...

In case you missed it last week's pic was PERSONAL GROWTH

TGIF...

TBT: A DAY TO REMEMBER

 

A DAY TO REMEMBER… chaseburgmama  Uncategorized  January 22, 2020 2 Minutes

Monday was a super full day and rest assured it will be returned to over and over again to fill in the stories…

Lunch was inspiring as we dined and visited with the MLK celebration’s key note speaker, Lynda Blackmon Lowery.

Committee Members,Past and 2020 recipient award winners and some spouses…

FYI Lunch stories will be shared in other entries…

The weather had cooperated and 7 members of the Twin City family made it in to share the evening with us… Our 21 requested seats were filled and as in years past our community showed up to fill the Viterbo Fine Arts Center’s main theatre for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. La Crosse Area Celebration.

As customary the program began with an insightful welcome from Richard Kyte, Viterbo University’s director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership. Included in his welcome was the sharing of  a worldwide survey of the most influential person of the 20th century. It came as no surprise that Dr. King would be in the top three who shared the common thread of Love.

We were treated to a soulful invocation by Rev. Dr. Calvin Morris delivered in the rendition of Precious Lord, Take My Hand by Colorful Roots.

L to R Dr. Calvin Morris along with Colorful Roots :
Dodie Whitaker, Denise Christy-Moss, Terrence Chester, La Kisha Hudson, Keonte Turner

The Mistress of Ceremonies once again was Carolyn Bostrack whose comments besides introductions explained Dr. King’s Drum Major Instinct. King’s 1968 speech in Atlanta’s Ebenezer Church was the inspiration for the Legacy recognition my Natureman would be receiving.

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Last year’s recipient of the Dr. MLK Jr. Leadership Award, Shaundel Spivey introduced and presented Drum Major Legacy Award. (Hopefully a family member will create a youtube video link to share/ at least the acceptance speech transcript will be posted.)

The plaque’s inscription speaks for itself…

Tracy Littlejohn

The prestigious 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award went to Tracy LittleJohn, an activist who advocates for many in our Native American community and she also serves as home school coordinator for the Ho-Chunk Nation La Crosse Youth and Learning, co-advising the U-WL Native American Student Association along with educating others regarding racism, oppression and its impact on marginalized peoples. Her tearful speech pulled at all our heartstrings.

The Viterbo choir followed her singing a traditional spiritual ‘Bound for Canaan Lan’ and would return to close the program with everyone singing Lift every Voice and Sing.

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But first it was time for our keynote speaker Lynda Blackmon Lowery whose messages regarding History: Past, Present and Future were manifold but hinged on the importance of the Vote. The very reason she was marching on the Edmund Pettus Bridge at 14 years old. The Black vote was and today once again is being suppressed along with others’s constitutional right to vote. We must speak out, not just registering but going to the polls on election day and voting. (Come back in future blog entries for her story of crossing that bridge on Bloody Sunday. )

Ms. Lowery followed her speech presenting the award named after her to Jonah Harlan, a sophomore at Onalaska High School who spoke words of maturity in his acceptance and role in helping his peers understand their white privilege and the importance of social justice. It’s just what the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King wanted us to do work together to make this world more just.

Let us Lift Every Voice and Sing…

SHARING THE LOVE

OOPS today's entry disappeared- if only the past month could also have been erased. It has been an extra emotional time with Natureman's 2nd anniversary of passing being within a month. Self-imposed positivity was the main emphasis of all my therapies.

Of course, music played a part. You may have noticed extra sentimentality on Tuesday Tunes...

Retail therapy always works for me and helped declutter some shelves and clothing racks as for every new piece 5 old items are replaced. I look forward to going places to wear the new stuff. Friday night will be a night of music.

Consistency of blogging daily improved and there was help with the LifeQuest courses of Important Trials and also viewing and discussions of the miniseries of White Lotus. 

Greenhouse work for Master Gardeners and transplanting to improve my own landscape gave me happy places to play in the dirt. 

Being back in the kitchen became a priority baking/ cooking for others which always brings me joy.

Lentil soup is melding and tonight friends will also try a new Artichoke Chicken dish atop rice, with a salad with all the fixings, green beans and bread.  

                     Just glad to be able to share the love...

 

 

TUESDAY TUNES: WHAT IF I WANT IT NOW?

 Today's TUESDAY TUNE has been haunting me for a week and people are so talented from a very young age. Haven Madison is one of these and her lyrics and musicality pulled the rug from under me. Her mere 15 years mean she has a wonderful musical future ahead. I'll be quiet now because I have to share this... here's the song entitled 15. It speaks to me as much today at almost 69 as it would have at 15. 

ENJOY: 15

what if I want it NOW?

MONDAY MUSINGS & WHITE LIES

 

If somebody told you they wanted transparency, what would you think that meant? 

Sometimes we take a class and actually learn something that wasn't the objective of that lesson. Here's my 'case' re: one of the Great Trial lectures given by a local lawyer re: Alger Hiss, a bright 1930's young government official who was convicted eventually of leaking documents to the Russians. We will talk about him another day because remember, I am supposed to be musing...

Words used included perjury and a discussion of the word lying. Along with the term 'white lie'. Hmm, is this part of transparency?

So is it a lie when it is said to avoid a problem?

Examples: 

Santa Claus.  

Parents tell their children Santa Claus brings Christmas presents.  Is that the truth? 

How does the child feel when they learn there is no Santa?

The Stork:

Storks bring babies. Is there a difference? 

Well, according to the lawyer, only if the parents believe it is true.

So can people feign/ profess innocence by omission, not telling you something knowing that it will upset you? 

My friends know what I am asking for in transparency and that I am not going to be happy when I find out otherwise...

It's a deal breaker. Guilty as charged.

FOTO FRIDAY: PERSONAL GROWTH

FOTO FRIDAY: We all have the capacity to continue to grow both mentally and physically... Perhaps that's why I enjoy my time in the greenhouse. 

Plants also change, perhaps not detectable mentally although studies have shown they do like being talked to/hearing music.  Physically we can see their growth. Look how some of my efforts are faring.

Last week's FOTO FRIDAY was OUR VALENTINES

SELF LOVE & SELF WORTH

 I am at an interesting juncture in this phase of grieving as I approach the second anniversary of Natureman's death. My feelings are more intense. Tears form in seconds.  Messages of positivity are clearer.  So when this videoclip came across my screen, its timing seemed perfect. Maybe it will speak to you too.

How can I not share its important message regarding blessings and lessons of the people in your life?

 I'll leave a link but also include the script in case you can't open it.. 

SELF LOVE & SELF WORTH

Meeting the right person at the wrong time is a myth,

it's not true.

Why?  Because we never meet a wrong person in our lives.

There is a purpose for every person that we meet.

They're either a blessing or a lesson.

Either way, they were the right person at the right time.

Maybe they were the right person to hurt us,

 for us to raise our standards,

for us to know our boundaries,

our nonnegotiables.

Maybe they were the right person

 to leave us,

for us to know we could stand on our own feet.

Maybe they were the right person to break us

so we could build ourselves up

on our own.

Maybe they were the right person

but for a different reason than we expected...

Always remember:

Life doesn't give you the people that you want

but it gives you the people that you need...

TUESDAY TUNES: BE MY VALENTINE :BEST PART

TUESDAY TUNES: NetFlix's recent release of the movie You People gifted me Canadian singer Daniel Caesar and H.E.R. with his enchanting melody and lyrics... 

It's not every day I get inspired enough to take out my guitar, sit down, tune it and figure out the chords of a song. This song did that for me. 

What kind of Valentine would I be if I didn't share the: BEST PART

                         Happy Valentine's Day...

MONDAY MUSINGS: MENDING THE PIECES

MONDAY MUSINGS mark Little Rock's 13th year to participate in Global Jewish Learning with 400 other communities. 

As the invite stated 'this year's theme is Rebuilding and how Jewish tradition helps us reconstruct our lives, communities and families after loss. These are not just lectures but meant to spark discussion.'

Of course,  these sections can just scratch the surface of what could be very in-depth lengthy discussions but are only allotted a little over an hour.  We could choose 2 session preferences. 

This past Sunday morning was divided into 2 time periods with 4 different presentations with 2 moderators each. 

-Picking Up, Dusting Off and Bouncing Back

-Rebuilding After the Loss of a Loved One

-Rebuilding Family Relationships

-Rebuilding the Past, Envisioning the Future

The first two topics spoke to me as I continue down this path of grieving. 

"  While it is true that life can never be exactly the same as it was before the experience of a loss, it can have a transformative power, providing an opportunity to rebuild a 'new' life that is informed by one's life before the loss, as well as by the loss itself."

Scripture shared yesterday included the story of Moses receiving the stone tablets with the 10 commandments. Remember when the golden calves were worshipped and those tablets were smashed. New ones eventually replaced those but the broken pieces of the first set were also placed in the ark. Why would these be lugged around when there is a new set?

Recently I also learned the Japanese story of Kintsugi where broken pottery is mended with melted gold. This image sticks with me as I am hoping to become whole again with perhaps a different, yet better version of myself.

Hope and reconnection may be aided by one's religious traditions such as saying the mourner's prayer ( the Kaddish) /Shiva, the mourning period even in COVID times gave me great solace being surrounded by friends and family during the week on Zoom.

Reparation is not an easy, quick task and discussions like this program regarding loss remind us of the resilience of our People throughout history. We persevered and it's up to us to take the steps to move forward and make our world a better place both individually and within our communities...

                                      

FOTO FRIDAY: OUR VALENTINES.

 

FOTO FRIDAY: One of the blessings of life is to have people that share our hearts. Thank goodness for family and friends to occupy that space. Each month I change up my entryway table to reflect seasonal holidays but a constant are those family pics. 

Happy Valentine's Day to you all....  I would love your updates.

Sarah now transplanted to the D.C. area added this from her Valentines...

TBT: DOG GONE

 TBT: I used to say the dog doesn't understand why I was talking so much to him but now the dog is gone...

 

STATE OF THE UNION VS YOU PEOPLE

 

I don't know about y'all but I just didn't want to get more depressed listening to President Biden speak about the State of the Union so I opted for Netflix's new release. 

" You People." with a star-studded cast including  Eddie Murphy and Jonah Hill.

 It had to be funnier, right?

 I am not a gambling soul but my choice definitely did have more laughs and I enjoyed the one-sided characters as well their racism.  What could possibly go wrong with a Muslim - Jewish relationship?Yep, some uncomfortable moments for sure. 

Family members knowingly and unknowingly threw obstacles to hamper the new couple. What else are friends and family for but to undermine love in the name of love? 

Listen, I had some much-needed good belly laughs and I really can't say this NetFlix-produced movie created a 'good' movie but I liked it as a spoof and each of us deserves to smile during such serious times.  If two people fall in love,  heck let's celebrate with them and have a Hallmark moment. It was just what the doctor ordered. SWAK...

TUESDAY TUNES: BONNIE RAITT

TUESDAY TUNES with the grammys this past Sunday reflected back 50 years on hip hop but I am not choosing a tune out of that genre. 

 Imagine taking a grammy home when you are in your 70's. 73 to be exact for Bonnie Raitt and her 2023 Grammy winning song  of the year - Take a listen:JUST LIKE THAT. ( CLiCK ON HIGH LIGHTED LETTERS)

MONDAY MUSINGS:: INEQUALITY FOR ALL

 Last Thursday night I had the opportunity to join a local zoom talking about erasing racism. The economic reference reminded me of a Netflix film I had watched almost a decade ago by Robert Reich's : Inequality for All and the formula 1 Can of Soup =1 Yacht.

Reich, may be a man short in stature but with very big ideas regarding inequality and

his documentary certainly poised a passionate argument for the middle class in "Inequality for All."

Here's one fact listed on this film's site:

A CAN OF SOUP FOR A BLACK OR HISPANIC WOMAN, A MANSION FOR THE BUSINESSMAN

"That’s literally true. For every one dollar of assets owned by the typical single black or Hispanic woman, a member of the Forbes 400 has over forty million dollars.

Minority families once had substantial equity in their homes, but after Wall Street caused the housing crash, median wealth fell 66% for Hispanic households and 53% for black households. Now the average single black or Hispanic woman has about $100 in net worth. "

No matter what political bend you are, we are all in this country together and seeing this flick helps one understand what is going on economically and why.  Do invite your friends to see it/ rewatch it with you.  I never studied economics but it doesn't take an economist to figure out that something has gone terribly wrong in the middle class family's bank account. 

Reich takes us through the semester course he teaches at Stanford University with his standing room lecture hall, packed chock-full of our future generation of leaders, businessmen and community members. I sure hope they were listening all semester so they can help us back on the path to become the best middle class in the world. 

Thumbs up for a very important flick.

Here's a link for the trailer: Inequality for All

FOTO FRIDAY: WHAT'S GOING ON?

 

FOTO FRIDAY perhaps illustrates that art is in the eye of the beholder and as Mother Nature has demonstrated this past week in Arkansas and the States she has different mediums...

Do you have any pics to share? You can even add on to previous requests... Go for it.

Here's my newest temporary yard art.  And some music just cause it's the weekend ... Remember to also click on the colored type to listen... a lot of you couldn't open TUESDAY TUNES this week. Remember at

What's Going On?

Last week's FOTO FRIDAY was CUBBY ADDITION

TBT:FEBRUARY AN UNSUNG HERO?

 An Unsung Hero?

I have to admit to being critical that we have to have to mark a month to celebrate Black History Month as our history textbooks should include this part of our country's history. Yet as an adult I am learning something new all the time. So thank goodness that PBS shared a documentary in honor of Black History month  The Powerbroker: Whitney Young's Fight for Civil Rights. I learned about Whitney Young who played a major role in mobilizing the Civil Rights  Movement.

Whitney Young used humor to make change palatable to the white community.

Mr. Young's work with the Urban League brought capital investment to the inner city. "He turned a relatively passive civil rights organization into one that aggressively fought for equitable access to socioeconomic opportunity for the historically disenfranchised. "

Below of some of his famous quotes which sum up the essence of his being and his lifelong work.

"Every man is our brother, and every man’s burden is our own. Where poverty exists, all are poorer. Where hate flourishes, all are corrupted. Where injustice reins, all are unequal."

"I am not anxious to be the loudest voice or the most popular. But I would like to think that at a crucial moment, I was an effective voice of the voiceless, an effective hope of the hopeless."

"You can holler, protest, march, picket and demonstrate, but somebody must be able to sit in on the strategy conferences and plot a course. There must be strategies, the researchers, the professionals to carry out the program. That's our role."

"Black Power simply means: Look at me, I'm here. I have dignity. I have pride. I have roots. I insist, I demand that I participate in those decisions that affect my life and the lives of my children. It means that I am somebody."

"Liberalism seems to be related to the distance people are from the problem."

"I'd rather be prepared for an opportunity that never comes than have an opportunity come and I am not prepared."

"Pride and dignity come when you reach in your pocket and find money, not a hole."

He was criticized by many as selling out but his feeling was that you had to work from within the system to affect change.  What a smart man who accomplished so much and to whom we all owe a great deal ... Better to sing his praises now than to never have sung them at all...

FEB 2013

WARM THOSE INNARDS...

It has been a while since I shared a recipe but with this recent ice storm and cold nothing sounds better than a nice hearty soup. AND what beats an easy to make potato soup? 

You'll need :

Stock pot / Dutch oven I used my large electric fry pan.

Immersion blender, optional

Ingredients:

4-5 lg potatoes, peeled

2 sticks butter (1 c) –  cut butter in half  and use 1/2 c

1/4 c flour

6 c milk,  either 2%/ whole

2 c shredded cheddar cheese + some for sprinkling on top

*12 slices of bacon (turkey bacon/ none) cooked + 2 T of its grease

4 green onions, diced

1 c sour cream

salt and pepper to taste

Bread bowl, optional

*I didn't add meat

Instructions:

Peel potatoes

Cook potatoes in microwave  (microwave potato settings usually between 1-3 minutes per potato)

Cut taters into 1″ cubes, set aside

*Cook bacon to your preferred crispiness, set aside, crumble once     cooled

Dice 4 green onions, set aside

In a large pot, melt butter  low-medium heat

Add flour and whisk together with butter until smooth and bubbly. Cook for 2-3 minutes

Increase heat to medium and gradually whisk in milk. 

Cook until slightly thickened, ~ 14 minutes ***continued whisking is so important here! (Otherwise milk'll burn) 

Add potatoes and onions, stirring occasionally, until soup begins to bubble. Reduce heat, simmer gently 10 minutes.

*Stir in bacon, bacon grease reserves, and sour cream

Add in cheese and stir well

Use an emersion blender to blend everything up if you'd like. I like to do a couple of pulses so I have some chunks along with creamy potato!

Dish and serve. Top with crumbled bacon, cheese and diced green onions. 

Serve in a bread bowl if you’d like!

 Easy peasy and certainly hit the spot. I had plenty to share... 

If you make it , tell me what you think!