Mushrooms and avocado

Dear friends, Cooked some finely chopped mushrooms in olive oil and served it with sliced cold avocado. delicious. will try again tomorrow and will add marjoram and parsley and a squeeze of lemon. I always like to try the basic ingredients on their own and then add things later. lots of love from susan JOY

First adventures with cod

Dear friends, A friend the other day mentioned cod and I thought I haven't had cod since my breakdown 10 years ago. I loved cod so bought some and did it plain with some vegies including mashed potato. a friend shared his recipe where you cook onion, garlic, oregano and cumin, tomatoes, green pepper and break up the cod into pieces in the mix and cook. it was delicious and have had a couple of meals. of course I had to have it with mashed potato. lots of love from susan in australia

Good eating

Dear friends, I have been doing a discussion about my cooking on my favourite site CoachCreativeSpace. I started this blog because I had trouble traveling and wanted to get to New York. Instead I am traveling by chauffeur to different places around Melbourne. Now I am on an adventure teaching myself to cook again since losing my ability when I had a breakdown. A friend on CCS said...Susan have just looked through your thread and love your descriptions of food and cookery. You have a way of describing things which is very fresh , clear and sensual which is perfect when it comes to talking about food! Your notes are mouth watering and are making me hungry. Thank you! :-0 This has inspired me to share my journey of cooking here as well. didn't do the cooking this time but went to the National gallery of Victoria in melbourne..international part and to the restaurant and tried my first truffles. 56 and only just now having truffles. they were delightful. also had cherry tart for the first time served with chocolate sorbet and homemade dark chocolate and cherry jelly and little flowers. what a great meal. what is your favourite restaurant meal? I have had a few lots of love from susan JOY

"Make visible what, without you, might perhaps never have been seen'. Robert Bresson Makes you feel special doesn't it lots of love from susan JOY

My own best friend

Dear friends, since my breakdown 10 years ago I have found it hard to trust myself. Now I can honestly say I am my own best friend. I can seek my own counsel and feel strong and confident with myself. I am so pleased. I may have said all this in another blog post but I say it again as I am at another phase of my life where I am needing to be strong and centered having just lost a close friend to life's journey. I miss her daily company but know it is for the best and Divinely anointed so on I go. It is so nice to have my own company and to feel great in my own skin. Having said that the doctor and dietician are both really pleased with me and my weight and how I am going. I am so pleased even though I would indeed like to be thinner. I'd also like to travel the world and have a heated pool in the back yard and a large garden. there are a few things on my wish list. meanwhile I visit a local motel to swim in their pool. I am grateful I am the size I am and not larger. I can travel to Napoleon exhibition on monday. yes indeedy life is good....great...... lots of love from susanJOY my best friend

Playing with children

Dear friends, the other day I visited a friend and her little granddaughter at her sons place. I don't have many children in my life and not being a mum or grandma have very little contact with children in my life. it was such a joy to be sharing my time with a 13 month old. they are so curious about the world. I look forward to my next visit lots of love from susan JOY

Little things

"The little things? The little moments? They aren't little" jon Zabat-Zinn I try to remember this in life and respect all the little baby steps I make in my life that add up to the whole. I try to see how special my life is even though I do simple things and don't travel far lots of love from susanJOY

Gratitude

Dear friends, Perpetual gratitude toward people around us initiates habits of thankful prayer. it also starts a chain reaction of giving thanks, till our friends and loved ones and our world become imbued in grateful living. Edward Hays The great escape manual I live with gratitude every day of my life since discovering its blessings and my life has been all the better for it. WHat about you? lots of love from susan JOY

Beauty

Beauty seen makes the one who sees it more beautiful David Steindl-Rast I always feel good seeing beautiful things. it does make me feel more beautiful lots of love from susan JOY

Simple things

Dear friends, The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life. Robert Louis stevenson this means a lot to me as I live a very simple life and love the daily routines that help me to feel safe and joyous. lots of love from susanJOY

health

Dear friends, My back and shoulder have been troublesome when i walk for quite some time now. I stopped walking for 6 months but I mentally need to walk. it clears my mind particularly if I have been sitting and talking for the afternoon. I also love the beach. My hip is also out and I am scared I may need a hip replacement in the future. at least I can walk far with my hip. only able to walk about 20 minutes. i am glad i made the most of my hour to hour and a half walks in the past. always make the most of things lots of love from susan JOY

faith

Faith is the courageous confidence that trusts in the Source of all gifts. David Steindl-Rast My faith helps me get through every day. it's gifts are limitless lots of love from susanJOY

Loving God

Refuse to fall down. If you cannot refuse to fall down, refuse to stay down. If you cannot refuse to stay down, lift your heart toward heaven, and like a hungry beggar, ask that it be filled, and it will be filled. You may be pushed down. You may be kept from rising. But no one can keep you from lifting your heart toward heaven. Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés Sometimes when I can't see anything more I can do with a situation and I feel overwhelmed and down hearted I chat to God. it always helps me feel better. lots of love from susan JOY

Life's little surprises

Dear friends, A group moderator friend on one of the sites I am on has just told me I am now officially on the list of contributors on the main page and I am so thrilled. life is full of wonderful surprises. I knew I could never promise to contribute once a week which was required for the official list so never imagined being on the official list and a place of importance to the site. just shows you to be yourself and not try and compete with others and surprises will come your way. they sure do for me lots of love from susan JOY

Thought for the day

"The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves; banish the word 'struggle' from your attitude and vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred way and in celebration. We are the ones we've been waiting for." — Hopi Elder, Oraibi, Arizona lots of love from susan JOY

Away overnight

Dear friends, Can't remember the last time I stayed overnight in a motel which I have enjoyed so many times before. finally got my act together and stayed at motel near my brothers and had swims in the pool, sat in the spa, journaled, read, wrote, rang my mum and generally had a good time for the afternoon and the next morning. visited my brothers family in the evening and both my nephews were there so it was a real family affair. really nice time. I am hoping to do this on a regular basis but have said this before. time will tell. I need to be able to do it regardless of my moods. lots of love from susanJOY