ADDING KINDNESS TO OUR DAILY LIVES

So many folks believe being on the computer is a waste of time. While the computer can be overused there are many posts that definitely add to one's life. 

This week Nancy, one of my favorite people, announced she would no longer be posting. I respect her decision but will miss her positivity. So just in case she really drops out of my daily reading, I wanted to share one her most recent shares from the Random Acts of Kindness Blog. 

Do me a favor and pass it along...
  We all can be a little kinder in 2016. 

"The world needs more people who are willing to step out and have the courage to be kind. Here are 16 ways you can be that person in 2016  By Kelsey Gryniewicz

1. Year of Kindness Box: Create a New Year's tradition. On the first day of the new year, start a Year of Kindness Box. Throughout the year, fill up the box with: compliments you received, thank you notes, moments of kindness you witnessed, acts of kindness you did, inspiring quotes, etc. Then after the year is over, review the contents!
2. Smile: According to an article from Psychology Today, "Each time you smile, you throw a little feel-good party in your brain. The act of smiling activates neural messaging that benefits your health and happiness."
3. Create a Gratitude Journal: "A five-minute a day gratitude journal can increase your long-term well-being by more than 10 percent. That's the same impact as doubling your income!" From Happier Human
4. Three Compliments: Each day, compliment the first three people you talk to.
5. Send a Letter to Your Future Self: Go to futureme.org and write yourself a letter. Pick a date in the future... a week from now, a month from now, even ten years from now and write an encouraging note to yourself. The site will send you your letter on the date you specify. Congratulate yourself on losing weight or finishing that homework assignment. Tell yourself that everything is going to be ok. Remind yourself that you are awesome and you make this world a better place just by being you. Maybe even give yourself a cool new nickname?
6. Set a Kindness Reminder: Schedule a daily kindness reminder on your phone. When it goes off, think of a random person. Then, send them a positive message (text, email, social media post, phone call, letter, etc.)
7. 52 Thank You Notes: Express your gratitude for the people in your life, write one thank you note every week to a different person: Need a quick thank-you note format? Check out The Five Minute Thank You Note.
8. A Kind Twist on Happy Hour: Invite a group of people you know (friends, family, coworkers) to the happiest of happy hours and spend one hour doing acts of kindness for others. Need ideas? Check out this list of 50 Pay-It-Forward Ideas.
9. Positive Sticky Notes: Carry a stack of positive sticky notes with you wherever you go. Post them when you're somewhere that needs a little bit more kindness.
10. Morning Kindness: Before you get out of bed, focus on kindness. Think of a kind motto for your day or text a positive good morning note to a friend.
11. Volunteer: Each year, think of one cause you care about or a group in your community that could use some help. Schedule a day on your calendar to volunteer or help that cause. Bonus: Volunteering has some serious health benefits!
12. Beautify Your Surroundings: Spend 10 minutes picking up litter in your neighborhood, park or other commonly visited locations.
13. Kind Body Image: Place positive body image sticky notes on dressing room mirrors.
14. Coupon Fairy: Save unused/unwanted coupons and put them next to relevant products next time you're at the grocery store
15. Self-Kindness: Do one kind thing every week for yourself. Enjoy a treat you love, exercise, eat a healthy meal, or do something you love and rarely have time to do.
16. Be Kind to the Earth: Research ways to be kind to the environment and reduce your carbon footprint. Here are seven ideas to get you started."
    For more ideas you can always visit: RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

INFLUENCIA LATINA

 The Arkansas Arts Center has always been a happy place for me to enjoy the arts and their present Smithsonian exhibit did not disappoint. Our America THE LATINO PRESENCE IN AMERICAN ART/ Nuestra America, LA PRESENCIA LATINA EN EL ARTE ESTADOUNIDENSE will be in Little Rock until the 17th of January. 

72 Latino artists with Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban and Dominican roots were chosen to exemplify contemporary and modern art. The Civil Rights movement of the  60's and 70's served as a catalyst to create the collective term 'Latino' throughout our country.

Included in the exhibit are examples of abstract expressionism; activist, conceptual and performance art; and classic American genres such as landscape, portraiture and scenes of everyday life." 

Amalia Mesa-Bains
 An Ofrenda for Dolores del Rio, 1984 

Although we weren't allowed to photograph the work, the Art Center's pamphlet provided these photos of works with topics of tradition, labor, acculturation, immigration, emotions, neighborhoods, etc...

This modern ofrenda (altar) is done in pink with a sand floor dedicated in memory of a famous actress, Amalia Mesa Bains. The ofrenda concentrates on her likes and desires. Photos are traditionally included in an 'ofrenda.' 

Scherazade Garcia's Dominican York treats the difficulty of immigration and being accepted and dreaming of a different less violent world. 

 Chavez's
el Tamalito

Roberto Chavez felt this young fellow's looks mirrored the look of so many youth in the barrio.  

Xavier Viramontes

                                                                                                                        Chicano labor was the backbone of the California growers. I remember the cost of produce skyrocketing as laborers  demanded safe, fair working and living conditions.  Gracias a Dios for the United Farm Workers movement. ¡Viva la Raza!

Joseph Rodriguez's Carlos from Spanish Harlem, indigenous roots of Judithe Hernandez' Reina de la Primavera,  Emilio Sanchez's portrayal of the neighborhood grocery store along with many others added to the latino fabric all of which gave the visitor glimpses into the latino presence and its importance in our  lives.

The Arkansas Arts Center also provided related opportunities to attend a Tertulia (Party), lecture, UALR film series and interactive projects.  A big Gracias and kudos for bringing these important cultural additions to its community.

If you haven't had the opportunity to visit, there's still time and
 ADMISSION is free. It's a win win...

S'NO DAY like a SNOW DAY

As they say there's no day like a snow day and it's time for yours truly. LITERALLY snow has impeded me from returning to the End of the Rainbow Valley as scheduled. Perhaps a foot of that white stuff will cover the Coulee region and be awaiting my return from Arkansas sometime this week. In the meanwhile I am taking advantage of the inclement weather and staying where it's warmer and less white. 

BUT the real reason I am taking a 'Snow Day' to celebrate is that I surpassed 75,000 views yesterday on this blog Life in the End of the Rainbow Valley. Thanks for taking the journey with me whether you are a daily visitor/ just an occasional visitor.

Can't wait for another day off when I reach 100,000 views! 

KEMURI

As I've previously mentioned I really appreciate good, fresh food, especially food I wouldn't normally prepare/have at home. So when Little Rock friends suggested a new contemporary addition to Little Rock's Asian dining scene, (owned by Jerry Barakat who I remember from many moons ago from his original middle eastern food endeavor, The Terrace in west Little Rock's Breckenridge Plaza)- Anyhow, I was stoked to join my friends at

located in Little Rock's Hillcrest neighborhood on Kavanaugh. I am assuming the namesake is after the ska band of the 90's known for its positive lyrics.
One can never have too much positivity these days...

The restaurant offers an upscale ambience where the diner can choose to sit at the long Sushi bar and watch dinner being made/be seated in the main dining area. We opted for the latter.

Our gregarious waiter suggested we take advantage of the Bloody Mary/ Mimosa bar. Not a huge fan of tomato juice (must be all the tomatoes we grow) I was the only one of the group to go Mimosa. The server brought a flute of the bubbly to the table and off we all went to the drink mix island of possibilities.

Bloody Mary Bar

Not being well versed in drink mixing, I was at a bit of a loss and could have used some quantity and combo suggestions for my Mimosa. The red of the raspberry and pomegranate sauces looked good with a cherry for good measure. Did I have to add orange juice? 

Sundays offer a brunch menu (the tea pancakes sounded interesting) in addition to robata, slowly grilled charcoal foods and of course, sushi. Our table decided on two appetizers, a well seasoned battered calamari with mango and cilantro and steamed mussels with lemon grass in a thai basil chili coconut sauce. 

Kemuri Roll

I opted for the Kemuri Roll after having read a couple reviews on line highly recommending it. 
You know me being about presentation so   aesthetically this choice was way too busy for me. I am not a purist but Japanese to me is about simplicity.

Kemuri Roll piece

The Kemuri roll consisted of tempura tuna, blue crab, cream cheese, mango, jalapeño avocado, crab stick and 3 sauces. The sushi pieces were not mouth size bites. Easily adjustable for the chef.

We added a tasty variety with the Kemuri combo (pictured below) and the brunch omelette.

Our table's dessert of choice was a Capucchino Jar. I wish I had had room for it. 

So, would I go back and give it a second chance?

Absolutely, creativity for the palate offers a new dining experience and the conversation time with old friends always adds to the positivity of that experience. Give it a try and let me know your favorites.

FOTO FRIDAY: GAME ON

FOTO FRIDAY this week involves our  friendly challenge with our neighbors.  You may remember the neighbor's 6 ft Babes in Toyland guard figure who's been changing outfits for the seasonal holidays thanks to an overzealous prankster, yours truly. 

Well, last week I received notice that by dusk that day there would be a new outfit for the Valley Guard and to think "Nutcracker Suite. "

Since we had just had our mile walk that day to the mailbox we waited until sunlight the next day to check out the transformation. 

Well, let's just say the neighbors outdid themselves. Actually I was told the Mrs. con-curred the outfit idea and it was the Master of the house who was the designer. Feast your eyes on "Mary" Christmas.

Honey , you never looked so good!

Her garland boa even lights up at night. Now that's impressive. I can only imagine what January playoffs will inspire...

So have you ever had friendly antics with neighbors/ friends?

       Always awaiting you to share and add.  

Last week's FOTO FRIDAY:THE UNEXPECTED PACKAGE 

ANOTHER ANGEL GOT ITS WINGS

Angels walk among us every day but a very special one in our family received her real wings late Tuesday afternoon. They say you can pick your friends but you don't pick your family. Well if you were able to pick in-laws (mishpocha) my brother Marc lucked out and so did we when he married into the Cohen family. 

Matriarch Leaine Cohen, 91 years young went into hospice just a couple of days before our Mom and even shared the same hospice nurse. Leaine was fortunate to be able to stay in her home and daily be visited by her caring children, grandchildren and friends.  Sonny, her loving husband of 60 years passed a year ago and his caretakers continued Leaine's daily care. 

This photo was taken mid August when my daughter Lori invited Leaine, who she called her 'Bonus Grandma', to be among the family girls to go wedding dress shopping. Leaine would lean over towards me and compliment her favorites. That's the way she was, always concentrating on the positive.  Every time I saw her she would say, "I sure hope I can be at Lori's wedding. I would love to be there." 
We all knew May was a long way off...  
Leaine was the perfect Grandma exuding unconditional love. She always filled me in on the grandkids's going ons. She never hesitated to add what a 'good' kid they were. 

Grandchildren surround Leaine last Father's Day at Honor Thy Father
photo courtesy of Ben Lewis

She would say the very same thing about her 3 children, Jerry, Perry and Terri. And you know what? She was right. They had learned by her caring example and were always there for her too.   

Below are beautiful insights by Leaine's two daughter-in-laws recently shared on FaceBook. 
Perry's wife Jana wrote:   She was a sweet mixture of Southern, German and Jewish. Her Southern soul loved her fig trees, persimmon trees and country steak and yellow rice. Her German work ethic kept her working with her family at the Little Rock Foot Clinic well into her 80's. Her Jewish spirit was passed with pride into all of her children and grandchildren.

Jerry's wife Susan: "How lucky am I to have someone, that makes saying goodbye so hard."Winnie the Pooh
Even though you were 91 years young, we simply did not have enough time. We love you, we will miss you and we will take care of each other.  Good-bye Leaine Cohen

Amen to that. Thankfully she has left such a lovely legacy in all of her family. And we all shall say,  "May her memory be a blessing."

SOLSTICING...

It's not the first time I've returned home SMOKY from a bonfire but it was my first time to celebrate the Winter Solstice doing so and purposely standing out in 20 degree weather. Hey, I was raised in the South, we hibernate when it gets in the 40's. 

You see another another couple invited us to join them and journey across the river Saturday evening to the Minnesota side of the Mississippi to enjoy the solstice celebration on an organic farm, Hoch Orchard & Gardens on this 'crisp' evening. We bundled up in our winter gear and off we went to see what we would see...

I have to admit we were really the only ones that enjoyed the bonfire for any length of time as the additional two dozen hardy smart souls stayed inside the operations building which houses a kitchen area and distilling equipment along with walk in storage. 

Inside the operations building there awaited us an amazing home cooked local dinner buffet provided by the Hochs and their staff.

Duck, stewed wine venison, buttered baby potatoes, baked squash, cabbage with horseradish, pork and for dessert apple crisp and a mulled wine. 

Another first-cabbage with horseradish

We ate at communal tables and sat on chairs and crates. Across from me sat a Dad and his second grade son from La Crosse who I might add highly recommended the apple crisp.

20 yrs organic farming experience, Jackie left the Med Tech world

Jackie Hoch welcomed us to not only eat and taste test their orchard wines and ciders but most important of all 'visit.'

 I'll admit I spent time visiting with their international interns from Spain and France whose desire to improve their English and further organic farming knowledge intrigued me. They came on student visas and take an Ag course at the U of Minnesota as part of their internship in addition to working on the farm. Fascinating to come across continents to study organic farming, huh?

Hoch wines and cider were not only available for tasting but purchasing as well.  Their orchard fruit trees include apple, apricot, cherry and plum in addition to growing blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries.  Honey, juice, vinegars, jelly and sauce also fill their cooler cases.

The original fruit trees were planted in the 40's but very few of them are still around. High density planting of some 50 varieties of fruit trees has taken place in the last 15 years. About half of the 90 acres is dedicated to the orchard with about 10,000 trees.

aerial pic courtesy of web site

 Hoch Orchard has been a family farm since the 50's but it was in '97 when their present owner, grandson of the hobby farmer,  returned with Ag degrees to convert the farm practices to a real organic sustainable orchard, not an easy feat in our Midwestern climate.

How organic are they? Apples are cleaned and packed on the farm. No ripening agents, growth stimulants, waxing, shellac nor post harvest pesticides are used. To help with pest control chicken, duck, geese and pigs are also raised and rotated through the garden beds and orchard. 

We had a great time being introduced to Hoch Orchard and look forward to an open house visit/tour during a warmer season. This is a working farm and one needs to call ahead, not just drop by as the deer gate will most certainly be closed. Hoch products can be found at area farmer markets and CSA's are also now a possibility.

I have to admit the sky was beautiful, great local food and company and most important of all we came home with a piece of Hoch Orchard, Ice Cider to commemorate the Winter Solstice of 2016.

*To learn more about the Hoch Orchard and Gardens you can click on their site:HOCH ORCHARD & GARDENS