Little Valentine and Assorted Yummies

One of the fun things I do is hang out with my little Valentine baby Penelope, who is 7 months old.  She now has two
teeth on the bottom.  She squeaks instead of laughs, crawls backwards and in circles.  When I’m not editing or writing, she brings unparalleled joy into my life.

I was driving home from the day job the other day and realized that too many people wait until they retire to pursue the things they really love.   Many years ago, a friend of mine named Vivian wanted to go home to Scotland.  I had been to Scotland and brought in the photos to work.  She looked at them for a long time.  Vivian told me they made her feel homesick.  A few years later as her retirement approached, she told me she had made plans and was very excited.

Vivian was killed in a car accident the day after her retirement.  The plane tickets for Scotland were in her purse.

All I ‘m saying here is don’t wait.  Joseph Campbell was on the ball, when he said, “Follow your bliss.”  I’m just saying
that waiting for retirement to follow your bliss may not be the way to go.

As a writer, I follow my bliss everyday.   I get to research and find the most extraordinary things out and learn about wonderful places and people.   The internet has been the writer’s blessing.

I’ve discovered some handy things I want to pass along.

Even though it’s winter, I’m already thinking summer especially when I saw this.  So many people on Pinterest repinned this that I could not find the originator.

An Ice Lick for Dogs:  In the summer time, fill a bowl or bucket with chicken broth, water, chew toys, doggy treats, and veggies and freeze it. The ice lick keeps your dog cool and relieves doggy boredom!

Some people did a smaller version of using an ice tray and filling it with chicken broth instead.

Peanut butter ice cubes was another variation.  I know my dog Pete loves peanut butter.

I don’t know why Valentine’s Day makes me think of treats and hungry.  We’ve taken care of the dogs, but what about us.

There’s a wonderful blog called Veronica’s Cornucopia  http://veronicascornucopia.com/2010/07/22/oreo-cookie-or-cookies-n-cream-cake/  She has the most delightful recipe for Oreo Cookies and Cream Cake.  So yum, it hurt.  Rather than repeat the recipe here and her exact directions, I’m giving you the link.

Now it’s important that as you follow your bliss, you take care of yourself and eat right.  You can’t live on cookies and cream cake alone, no matter how yummy.  So I’m telling you about another food blog called One Perfect Bite.   This is a picture of Baked Portobello Parmesan.  Yes, it uses those wonderfully large Porobello mushrooms.   My family has a similar recipe only we replace the mushroom with toasted English muffins.

The recipe for Baked Portobello Parmesan can be found at http://oneperfectbite.blogspot.com/2010/01/baked-portobello-parmesan-dieters.html

Even though the blog says it’s a good diet meal, I consider only one thing–is it a good meal?
Our version is wonderful.  I will have to try this new version.

When the weather is cold and I’m following my bliss, I think of food.  I also think of all those wonderful people I have in my life to enjoy it with.

Thanks for being here and thanks for being part of Nights of Passion.

–Susan
Susan Hanniford Crowley
http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com