I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you soon.
Melinda
Category: Fun
Neelakurinji (the of rare flower of India) By Guest Blogger
The Neelakurinji flower is one of hte most beautiful flowers I’ve ever seen. The flower grows in a specific area of India and needs conservation now before it becomes extinct.
The flower you’re referring to is the Neelakurinji (scientifically known as Strobilanthes kunthiana). This rare and beautiful flower blooms once every 12 years in the Western Ghats, particularly in the hills of Munnar in Kerala, India. When in full bloom, the hills are covered in a carpet of blue, creating a stunning visual spectacle. The … Continue reading Neelakurinji (the of rare flower of India)
LIVE BY CHOICE NOT BY CHANCE!!!!
Melinda
The Treasures On My Bookcase
The bookcase in my office holds many treasures including travel finds, books, photos, candles, and an antique camera. The items bring me joy, and memories of travels and adventures. Here are a few photos.
#Weekend Music Share-Peter Gabriel In Your Eyes (Secret World Tour)
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
I’m glad you joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
What’s Your Mood Today?
I hope this post finds you healthy and happy. Today I’m feeling a mix of frustration, and fatigue, yet I’m happy. I’m feeling okay and the day looks promising.
Take good care of yourself.
Melinda
Wordless Wednesday-White & Orange Floral Surprise
I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you soon.
I don’t know what type of flower the are but the color combo is perfect. On Sunday they will have lasted two weeks. I do change the water and add a nutrient packet every three days. It makes flowers last so much longer. Oh, I also trim a small amount off each flower.
Melinda
A Special Thanks To The Countries Who Have Visiting My Blog: Czechia, Ireland, Serbia, The Seychelles And Ghana
Thank you for visiting my blog and allowing me into your life. I appreciate you and get a fix of my desire to travel from your visit.
I hope to see you again soon and appreciate your comments and follows.
Melinda
#Weekend Music Share-Ambrosia – How Much I Feel-One Great Tune
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
https://youtu.be/_KZv6olUa1A?si=46l0hWO75Sc2MeBa
I’m glad you joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Wordless Wednesday-Philadendrons
I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you soon.
This one is called Philodredon Brasil, I love the two-tone leaves and the dash of yellow. It will eventually spread out with trails.
This one is called Philodendron Micans and is already spreading its limbs. It has lightly reddish, green, and line-green leaves. It looks perfect in the bunny planter.
Have a great day.
Melinda
Blogger Highlight-Teleportingweena
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight Teleportingweena.
Teleportingweena
wandering through life in my time machine…you never know where it will stop next~
Hi! Thanks for checking out my ‘about me” page and my blog!
My name is Barbara aka ghostmmnc. I’m a writer. I write all kinds
of things which you will see on here. I like to try all forms of
the written word, including fan fiction, original short fiction,
poetry, and of course blogging about whatever I’m thinking about.
I have a wonderful family… husband, two daughtes, two sons-in-law,
two grandchildren, and four cats. (update = we only have one cat now, as the other three have now crossed over the Rainbow Bridge). Sadly our last kitty is gone now, too.
I live in Texas, but have lived many other places in the world, as
we are a retired Army family. I will be writing about these experiences
on here, too.
Some of my interests to write about are about my true ghost stories, every
day happenings, pets, books, music, arts & crafts. Some are quirky, like me,
and hopefully you will enjoy reading my musings, as much as I enjoy writing
about whatever comes along.
I have had poems published in magazines, and I have a diploma from the Institute of Children’s Literature.
This photo is from a recent post and I love the colors.
Barbara participates in many weekly prompts and poetry challenges. Be sure to stop by and check out the wide range of topics she writes about.
Melinda
From Family Cookbook-Jeff Davis Pie
The family cookbook contains recipes, my Granny’s & Gramps used often and is the type of food I grew up on. Many with veggies and tomatoes from their garden. Good ole Southern food like my Gramps dumplings, to Grannies pecan pie.
I don’t know who Jeff David was but know that he was related to Granny’s mother, Carrie Bell whose maiden name was Davis. The pie sounds yummy with its 3 cups of sugar!
What you need
3 cups Imperial sugar
1 cup butter
2 TBS flour
1/4 TSP salt
1 TSP vanilla
4 eggs beaten lightly
1 cup milk
How to make
Cream sugar and butter
Blend flour, salt, and vanilla into the mixture and beat well
Add eggs then stir in milk into the mixture
Line 2 9-inch pie pans with pie crust
Pour the filling and bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes
Then reduce heat to 350 degrees for another 30 minutes or until pie filling is firm
I bet it tastes even better with some homemade vanilla ice cream on top.
Melinda
#Weekend Music Share-Roberta Flack – First Time Ever I Saw Your Face 1972
This is the most beautiful love song and her voice moves me to the bone. She is one of a kind!
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
https://youtu.be/d8_fLu2yrP4?si=FBsRsK-UdKVsd1AW
I’m glad you joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Wordless Wednesday-Red Roses In Antique Ball Canning Jar
I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you soon.
This was one of my Grandparent’s canning jars and it’s the perfect size for flowers. I have all of their canning jars even though we have done very little canning. There’s something special about them, they hold memories of my canning green beans with my Gramps and of course, eating out of the jars year round. They also canned lots of tomatoes, okra with tomatoes and jelly. There is no comparison to the taste of food out of a canning jar, a can food will never measure up.
Melinda
A Cherished Peice Of Art By Wyland
I bought this piece in Hawaii while vacationing with some friends. It was gallery night and many had their doors open, serving drinks and welcoming people in to see the art on display. I was already familiar with Wyland and the thought of owning a piece of his art had my blood racing. Most of the pieces on display were way out of my price range but I fell in love with his signature whale tail tucked in the back. I could not wait to get home and hang the amazing piece. It’s one of my most treasured even though it’s not the most expensive.
“The value of art is not in the price, it’s what the piece means to you” Me
About World Renowned Artist Wyland
Over 40 years ago, marine life artist Wyland exploded on the scene with his rich, majestic murals of marine life. The timing couldn’t have been better – the environmental movement was in full swing and ocean-themed art was in high demand. Today, the art is as vibrant as ever and the message of showcasing the beauty of nature is even stronger. But Wyland’s mission has expanded in entirely new ways. With new art, a new emphasis on families and education, and a broader view of our relationship to the beauty of our entire blue planet – from our oceans, lakes, and rivers, to our streams and wetlands.
Wyland has inspired millions of people worldwide about marine life conservation thanks to his life-sized paintings and images ranging from the sides of sports arenas and cruise ships to installations at the U.S. National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Wyland’s mission of engaging people through nature-themed art and a more environmentally friendly lifestyle has touched hearts and minds, and led to strategic alliances with the United States Olympic Team, United Nation Environment Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service, Toyota, and Walt Disney Studios, to name a few.
Large-scale, inspiring public artworks, beautiful art galleries, and award-winning community service projects. In a career spanning more than four decades, Wyland’s art and commitment to conservation has made him one of the most influential artists of the 21st Century, with artwork in museums, corporate collections, and private homes in more than one hundred countries.
Since 1993, the non-profit Wyland Foundation has set the standard for environmental outreach, using art, science, and community events to inspire children and families around the world to become caring, informed stewards of our ocean, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and wetlands. With traveling science exhibits, national art programs, and innovative outreach events, the foundation helps people everywhere to be more creative, positive, and solution-oriented. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and has worked directly with more than one million children since its inception in 1993.
You can find his breathtaking art at https://www.wyland.com
You can still see my desk in the background of the photo, I could not get the right light and haven’t perfected my photo apps. This piece hangs in my office and is a treasured piece and a great memory of being in Hawaii with my friends and finding his gallery.
Melinda
From Family Cookbook-Saucy Beef Over Rice
The family cookbook contains recipes, my Granny’s & Gramps used often and is the type of food I grew up on. Many with veggies and tomatoes from the garden. Good ole Southern food like my Gramps dumplings, to Grannies pecan pie.
This recipe was a staple on the days Granny worked. She cleaned new houses with her Sister-in-law for construction companies. Granny did it to buy me clothes that were more in line with what my classmates were wearing until I could work myself to pay for my clothes. She would leave early in the morning and arrive back home in time to make the dish for supper.
What you need
Reynold’s Wrap Oven Bag Large size 14X20
2 TBS flour
1 can 14 1/2 oz stewed tomatoes
1 envelop of onion soup
1/2 cup water
1/4 TSP pepper
1 pound beef sirloin steak, cut into thin strips
2 cups hot cooked rice
Set oven to 350 degrees
How to make
Shake flour in a bag and place it in a 13x9x2 inch baking pan
Add undrained tomatoes, soup mix, water, and pepper.
Squiggle bag to stir all ingredients
Add beef strips to bags
Arrange the beef strips and ingredients evenly on the pan
Close the bag with a nylon tie
Cut 6 slits in the top of the bag
Bake for 40-45 minutes until tender and serve over rice
Yummy!
Melinda
Blogger Highlight-Nutsrok
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their blog with you. This week we highlight Nutsrok.
Nutsrok
The humor and humanity of storytelling
Now that I’m done with the bothersome business of the workday world, I am free to pursue my passion, capturing the stories I’ve loved all my life. The ones you’ll read on my blog are good old Southern stories, a real pleasure to relay. Here in the South, we are proud of our wacky folks. I’ve preyed shamelessly on my family, living and dead, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances, often changing names to protect the innocent and not-so-innocent. My mother illustrates my blog. I come from a rollicking family of nuts, hence the name of the blog Nutsrok Enjoy.
We’ve been following each other for a short time but we became fast friends. We have so many things in common and our families were poor and raised in tough conditions. Linda is hilarious, she makes me laugh daily and she is attentive by replying to her comments. She is part of the community, and her writing and professional life are impressive. She wrote her first book in 2016 and her mother illustrated it, she was 96 years old. What a treasured memory. Be sure to check out both of her books.
by
Born to a struggling farm family in the deepest of The Great Depression, Kathleen enjoys a colorful childhood, enhanced by her imagination, love of life, and the encouragement of her family.
She’s determined to build a better life for herself, getting herself into hilarious situations all along the way. Distinguishing herself in school and the community, she never takes her eyes off her goal.
Just as she’s about to get started, she meets Bill, the man who is going to help her on her way. Everything changes. And then changes again. The true story of a remarkable woman who will inspire you, make you laugh, and see life from a new perspective.
About the Author
Linda Swain Bethea grew up in a family with a strong story-telling tradition, and she always knew she had stories that needed to be told. Writing called to her, even while working for thirty years as a Registered Nurse.
I ask Linda to share her favorite post and you will like this one.
Awful Christmas
Melinda
A Favorite Piece Of Art By Andy Warhol
Even though I have paperwork on this piece I can’t say for certain that is a Lithograph because there is not a number on it and there should be. I purchased it in 2014 because the piece spoke volumes to me. My mother always told me I was stupid growing up even though I knew it wasn’t true. It was more of her mental torture. When I saw this piece I had to buy it. A young girl with good grades at school and getting a goodies bag for and being called So Sweet. It was a sweet revenge for me. It hangs in my office and I get great satisfaction looking at it daily. If it is real, that’s a bonus.
Do you have a favorite piece that calms your inner demons?
Melinda
Apricot Fruit and Chamomile Infused Custard Clafoutis By Guest Blogger The Sifted Field
Yummy!
A summertime indulgence, filled with fresh fruit and flavors of fragrant vanilla and calming chamomile, this clafoutis dessert is a French country classic! Bake this up tonight for a simple and sweet ending to a summer meal. Click thru to try this inspired dessert tonight….
Melinda
Friday Quote
Thank you for joining me for this week’s Friday Quote.
Melinda
#Weekend Music Share-Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls on Top Of The Pops 05/12/1985
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
https://youtu.be/oLTbWPYf2A4?si=67vFhqTHJLLgyOur
I’m glad you joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Daily Writing Prompt
What’s the story behind your nickname?
This is a fun prompt. I have only had a few nicknames, but I enjoyed them; one is precious to me. My Gramps called me Pud all my life, it was an endearing one, not sure if it came from pudding or was an old-time term but I miss his voice calling my nickname. No one else called me that, it was special between us.
My younger step-brother had a horrific life, their mother was a drug addict and would leave them at home alone for weeks at a time. No food, no water, and P lived in the same diaper. It’s disgusting to think any mother could treat her children that way. Both of my step-brothers had regressed in age and P had gone back to being a baby from the trauma. My step-father gained custody of them and they came to live with us, the discovery of two children was a shock to my mother’s system. P had to learn to talk again, which was very difficult for him. My mother always called be my my middle name, Melody and P had problems saying so he called me Mody. He was a precious soul and his life ended tragically just as it had started.
I may have had other short-term nicknames but I don’t recall them. Of course, I’ve been called many things, and not all of them nice but when you speak your mind that is going to happen.
Any nicknames from the past you a particularly fond of?
Melinda
Wordless Wednesday-Purple Orchid
I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you soon.
Melinda
Homemade Pink Peony Sugar Scrub Recipe with Bramble Berry
You may recognize Bramble Berry from the pages of Willow and Sage! We are so thrilled that they are sharing one of their latest and greatest skin-care recipes on our blog today. Learn how to make this nourishing and beautifully-scented Pink Peony Sugar Scrub below.
Pink Peony Sugar Scrub Recipe
This Pink Peony Sugar Scrub leaves skin feeling soft and smooth. Skin-loving cranberry butter and champagne extract are whipped together with Foaming Bath Butter to create a smooth base for the sugar. Foaming Bath Butter lathers with water, so the scrub washes off the skin without an oily residue. To use, apply the scrub to wet skin, gently rub in circular motions, and wash away.
A touch of Hot Pink Mica gives the scrub a lovely pink color. It’s made with Pink Peony Fragrance Oil from Bramble Berry’s Soirée Collection. The fragrance is a modern floral mix of lemon, rhododendron, honey, peony, and white musk.
Find all the ingredients here
Three 8 oz. Bail Jars
10 oz. Foaming Bath Butter
2 oz. Cranberry Butter
2.5 oz. Champagne Extract
15 oz. Sugar
1/16 tsp. Hot Pink Mica
Watch how to make it at https://www.youtube.com/embed/KJ6NpMIg8MA
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, add 10 ounces of Foaming Bath Butter and 2 ounces of cranberry butter. Using a hand or stand mixer, whip until they’re completely combined and smooth.
Add 2.5 ounces of champagne extract and 8 mL of Pink Peony Fragrance Oil. Whip the ingredients until smooth.
Add 15 ounces of granulated sugar and about 1/16 teaspoon of Hot Pink Mica. Use the mixer to thoroughly incorporate.
Spoon the mixture into jars.
To use, apply a small amount of the scrub to damp skin, gently rub in circular motions, and rinse off. Enjoy!
Bramble Berry offers high-quality handcraft supplies sourced from around the world for all your skin-care project needs! Visit their website at: brambleberry.com
Related Posts
The Art of Candle Making A Glimpse Inside Willow and Sage Autumn 2019 A Glimpse Inside Willow and Sage Winter 2020 Q&A with a Skin Care Expert Previous Post Next Post
Enjoy
Melinda
Repost from 2021
International Self-Care July 24th
This is definitely one of the most important awareness days in July and year-round for the matter. Our mental health plays a key role in how we function daily and in our relationships. If we are happy, life is better and those around us enjoy the benefits too.
International Self-Care Day is celebrated on July 24. It stresses the importance of self-care as the cornerstone of wellness. On this day, individuals throughout the world are encouraged to make self-care a part of their everyday routines and turn it into a priority. It is a milestone, and an opportunity to raise further awareness of the benefits of effective self-management of health.
Self-care has become incredibly important as people realize the need to take care of themselves and put themselves first. This has made people talk about it and increased the interest of others to take control of their health and wellness by prioritizing themselves. Today, we urge you to practice self-care, even if all you do is take a walk.
There are so many ways to give yourself a self-care break every day, it doesn’t just mean a long bath. Self-care comes in many forms and meets everyone’s needs for a mental health break and a treat for yourself. The breaks can be small short time outs you fit in when you can, it’s not always some big deal to fuss about. Yes, I like to fuss about occasionally but what’s important to me is the breaks I can fit in throughout the days that make me happy.
Some Ideas
Cup of your favorite coffee or tea to enjoy without multitasking, just taking in the flavors and smells.
Driving a clean car, one that is not full of fast food bags and dusty with mirrors you can barely see out of.
Cooking yourself and maybe someone special a great meal to enjoy without the TV on. Have some real conversation.
Burning your favorite candle.
Hanging Fresh Eucalyptus and Lavender in your shower.
There are millions of things you can do, the key is to take a break, for 10-15 minutes and focus on enjoying yourself. Clear your mind and be in the moment for that short period of time. I also suggest taking self-care one step further by taking longer breaks to relax and enjoy yourself. A long hot bath is great but for some, it’s a long run or working in the yard. Do what makes you feel good and allows you to free your mind.
Melinda
Sending A Special Thanks To Denmark, Guatemala, Australia, Chile and Bosnia & Herzegovina
Thank you for visiting my blog and allowing me into your life, it’s a great joy. Every country is different in the best of ways, each offers something special to travelers and the people who call it home. I have been to Sydney, Australia, and would go back in a heartbeat if I could fly via Air Emirates. The people were warm, very much like Texas, very helpful and courteous. Here is a photo of the Sydney Harbor Bridge.
You color my world.
Melinda
Blogger Highlight-Popsicle Society
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight the blog Popsicle Society. I have followed Ribana for years, vicariously through her delicious recipes and awesome food photography. One thing about her cooking that I love is that she makes good food by taking the freshest ingredients and making them yummy! I would love to be a guest at her table. She and her husband made a recent move to Phuket and have expanded their marketing business into a full-time effort in paradise.
POPSICLE SOCIETY
My journey of food, travel and inspiration
Hi, I’m Ribana!
I am a nutritionist, pastry chef, recipe developer, food writer, and ultimately a passionate home cook. I curate and develop recipes that are high on nutrition. I develop and test cost effective, nutritious meals using quality ingredients to help people improve their everyday eating experiences.
I love traveling, cooking and enjoying this beautiful nature. We have a wonderful world.
Life is not always easy but give us the opportunity. It is a continue experience, a journey with no map and no rules.
We’ve engaged in this never ending adventure! Let’s enjoy the trip and see where will take us.
Check out Ribana’s free book, PASTA, MY FOOD JOURNAL.
Here are a few of my favorite photos from Ribana’s blog.
Here’s one of my favorite recipes.
Homemade Gluten-Free Italian Almond-Orange Cake Recipe
If you love life, you have to check out her site.
Melinda
Look Who’s Eating My Birdfood
We put up a Squirrel feeder a month ago and they loved it. I would see them on there eating the food and the corn cobs every day. This morning after a good rain shower, I see this one having his feel of the bird food with no mind to me taking the photos.
Melinda
Daily Quote
Melinda
#Weekend Music Share-Toto – Rosanna (40 Tours Around The Sun)
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
https://youtu.be/S-CXfoveDFw?si=zboJcgLCzLhVZwIv
I’m glad you joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Join Me For The Party of 2024, It’s Everything You Can Dream Of
I want you to think of a party for everyone including the kids. It’s a huge party outside of town with the perfect weather and tents that are all different depending on your desires. Each is catered with the finest foods and is made to order, Anything you want it’s on the menu. Drinks flow freely and are handled by the finest wait staff who can handle your every request. Outside there are so many activities, a race track for car lovers, axe throwing, chess, and card games. Fun circus games with nice prizes, of course all free. There are all types of activities for kids like scrapbooking, jewelry making, legos, you name it, it’s available for the kids to have a great day. There will be live entertainment from a variety of bands and everyone will hear the music they like.
The party is September 4th, 2024, and starts at dawn and goes to who knows when. After the sun goes down it’s more adult-focused and no doubt the kids will be worn out by then.
Some of the tent ideas are:
Spa tent
Cat tent
Massage tent
Tantric Tent
Infinity Tent
Floating Tent
Time Tent
What I need from you is more ideas for tents, what is it that you would like to indulge in?
As I gather more information about the tents I’ll be explaining what is inside of them. I’ll do this in another post. This is a huge party for the Blogosphere so I need help quickly to continue planning. It’s a worldwide party and everyone is invited. The party is inviting to everyone, we’re all there to enjoy ourselves and not judge others. It’s about peace and harmony, enjoying each other’s company as human beings, and being civilized. No weapons are allowed as this is a harmonious event.
This is the first image I created to give you a look at the layout and the massive nature of the party. The only difference is the tents will be closed not open air as in the image.
So start firing ideas off to me so I can plan for everyone.
Melinda
lookingforthelight.blog 