Garden Glory

"Gardening is cheaper than therapy and you get tomatoes."  ~Author Unknown

I admit to being a city girl, but many years ago, my father-in-law got me started on planting a garden. My coupon loving, thrifty side gets so excited to see what a $1.50 packet of seeds can produce. Admittedly, my husband does the largest share of the work in the garden, from preparing the soil in spring, pulling the weeds, planting the seeds, and faithfully watering it daily. I, on the other hand, get to swoop down as it begins to give its largess and, like the queen surveying her kingdom,  pick the beautiful results and bask in the praise when I share with friends and neighbors. Little work ~ large glory...I like it!!

While out there on this fine, summer day, I made a wonderful discovery. We have pumpkins, and I mean A LOT of pumpkins! Look how big this one is and it's only the end of June!! We have tried for many years to produce pumpkins because we knew the grandkids would think they were cool. Last year was our first success. We got about three tiny ones and one medium sized one. Never have we had them so early in the season. I know they take a long time to mature and the vines sure take up a lot of space, but, hopefully, it will be worth it in September when I want to have them throughout the house for decorations. By today's count, there is at least ten out there already that are the size of a baseball and dozens of yellow flowers that mean the potential for more. They are choking out my cucumbers! But, then, how much cucumber salad can you eat, anyways?

Take It

So often, we are admonished to "FIND joy in each day". I recently came across an article that said, "TAKE joy from each day." This made me stop and think about the difference between the two. 

I think the difference lies in the attitude behind the two verbs. "Find" means, I need to wade through the daily crap, frustrations and every-day-ness that make up life. It requires the task of searching through this stuff to try and see (find) something for which I can be joyful. Some days that can be a daunting task! It forces me to keep looking even when it appears there may be very little to label as joy.

Whereas, "take" indicates that there is automatically joy everywhere and I merely need to take it and not search to find it. It means the joy is already guaranteed in every day and is mine for the taking.  It means I don't have to find it as it finds me. Like flowers in the garden, all I have to do is pick from the possibilities and pluck any one of the many right in front of me.

Funny how one little word can change everything. For me, I plan to TAKE joy from each day. How about you? There's plenty to go around.

Summer!

It's the first day of summer and, already, we are overwhelmed with zucchini! Boy, can one small plant produce a mountain of it. Yes, we saute it, grill it, eat it raw with dip, but I was determined to find something new to do with it this year.
I came upon this wonderful recipe for zucchini and corn quesadillas. It might not be the one the kids will choose over their stand by cheese quesadilla, but the adults may enjoy something a little different. I plan to make these, cut them small and serve as an appetizer at our next event.You can use the oven method described here, or stove top.
I even had the cilantro growing in the garden...til the darn bunnies ate all of it...AGAIN!!! 
Corn and Zucchini Quesadillas

• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, coarsely chopped
• Salt
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 medium zucchini (about 1 pound), halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels (4 ounces)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
• 4 flour tortillas (8-inch)
• 2 cups grated Pepper Jack cheese

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large skillet, heat 3 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Add onion and 1 teaspoon salt, cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, cook 1 minute more.
2. Add zucchini and frozen corn kernels, cook, stirring occasionally, until zucchini is soft and corn is tender, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in cilantro, if using.
3. Brush one side of all tortillas with remaining 1 tablespoon oil; lay 2 tortillas, oiled side down, on a baking sheet. Place half of the filling on each, and sprinkle with half the cheese. Place remaining 2 tortillas on top, oiled side up; press down gently with spatula to seal.
4. Bake until cheese has melted and tortillas are golden brown, turning once, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven; let cool slightly. To serve, slice each quesadilla into wedges.

   Corn and Zucchini Quesadillas

   Serves 4
   
5. 4 tablespoons olive oil
6. 1 onion, coarsely chopped
7. Salt
8. 4 garlic cloves, minced
9. 2 medium zucchini (about 1 pound), halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
10. 1 cup frozen corn kernels (4 ounces)
11. 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
12. 4 flour tortillas (8-inch)
13. 2 cups grated Pepper Jack cheese

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large skillet, heat 3 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Add onion and 1 teaspoon salt, cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, cook 1 minute more.
2. Add zucchini and frozen corn kernels, cook, stirring occasionally, until zucchini is soft and corn is tender, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in cilantro, if using.
3. Brush one side of all tortillas with remaining 1 tablespoon oil; lay 2 tortillas, oiled side down, on a baking sheet. Place half of the filling on each, and sprinkle with half the cheese. Place remaining 2 tortillas on top, oiled side up; press down gently with spatula to seal.
4. Bake until cheese has melted and tortillas are golden brown, turning once, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven; let cool slightly. To serve, slice each quesadilla into wedges.

Mark/Dad/Pa

This little girl, turned this man into a father way back in 1980. Doesn't it just look like they are discussing life in this photo? They have continued to discuss it, often heatedly, for the last three decades.

Two years later, his son came along and changed him again. Both kids have, at times, been exasperated by him, embarrassed by him, thought he was the dumbest guy on earth (but then, doesn't this sound like all kids?!) and yet, they have ALWAYS known he will be there for them, no matter what. His love for them has remained a constant in their lives. Often, quietly standing on the sidelines, he is ALWAYS there.

Today, his steadfast ways continue with the next generation. He started as Grandpa. Maddy turned it into "Pa", and by the time number three got a hold of his heart, it had evolved to "Papa". No matter the name, they all know he's the guy to go to no matter what! Part of it is, he never tells them no, but the other part is he genuinely cares and is interested in what they have to say. He's the guy that, not only shows up at the sporting event every time, but is often the one who also shows up at the practices as well. Pushing one on the swing or pitching baseballs for an hour is not a burden. He truly would rather be with them than any place else.He often reminds me that soon they will have a bigger life with friends, etc and be around us less and less. Why miss any moment you can grab for now?
He is a smart man. Happy Father's Day, Big Marko!

Saucy Sisters

Take one part silly, one part confident & one part pure joy and you get these two. Not always, not every day, but enough to remind ME to be sillier, act more confident & find more joy ~ each and every day.
Thank you, girls, for being patient with me while I learn these lessons...over and over and over again!

Dumpster Diving Dog

Since I rescued my Callie dog from the shelter last December, I have to admit that she has really not been much trouble. In fact, she has been a true source of joy for me. HOWEVER, there is a habit, newly developed that is just plain awful!!!
Usually, when we leave, she is confined to the office and causes no trouble. A few weeks, ago, Mark was home and working outside so she had run of the house. When he came in later, he couldn't find her any where. After searching, he heard a noise coming from the trash can in the laundry room. Now, mind you, this trash can measures four feet high with a flap lid. Somehow, this darn dog did a vertical leap high enough to make it inside the can. She smelled the tossed out food and decided it was worth the risk of the jump to partake in the leftovers. Bad dog!!!

A few weeks later, she did it again. This time, I had tossed out the old taco meat. As you can see from this photo, she continued to enjoy the flavorful meat covering all the hair around her mouth! Capturing this photo with her tongue licking away is priceless! Bad, bad dog!!!
She has shown less and less interest in her dog food lately. She figures it is only a matter of time until she can "dumpster dive" again and enjoy gourmet, human food. My husband says, "There are no stupid dogs, only stupid owners." I've got my eye on you, Callie!!!

Simple Fun

Yesterday afternoon, It was proven, once again, to me, that you don't need fancy electronics or the latest gadgets for kids to have fun. The Riley 3 & 2 neighborhood boys made their own fun in the sand out back.

Life lessons learned...

 Make something beautiful in the world.

 Help each other and carry the load for someone else, now and then.

 Find beauty everywhere you look each day.

 Be proud of your achievements.

Perhaps the biggest thrills in life, are in the smallest moments.

 

CDM Run

Last Saturday, I ran the Corona del Mar Scenic 5K. After running so many half marathons, I always feel like I need to apologize when I say I ran a 5K. Frankly, 3.1 miles is not difficult for me any more. Even when I am not running regularly, I feel pretty confident that I can get through 3 miles without too much worry. I seem to have slowed a bit in the last year, probably never going to achieve a new PR (personal record), but that it okay. I am just happy to be out there running. My mantra when I run is, "I am awesome, I am strong. I can do this. I GET to run on a ___________morning, injury free & healthy. Thank God. Thank you, Lord." I say this on every run I do, whether it is around the neighborhood or in a race. Sometimes, I even say it out loud. I wonder if anyone in a race has heard me?! No matter, I will continue to use this mantra every time. It somehow centers me and keeps me going. Running, like life, has its ups and downs. The trick is to never give up. Keep moving. Always be curious about what is around the next corner. Expect it to be something good!