Coach - Facilitator - Trainer
Studies show that paying attention to the moments that bring you joy can ease depression, improve overall health, and contribute to longevity. Sounds good to me!
I've found that capturing these moments with my always-handy phone camera makes this practice an easy one to incorporate. If you start a collection of your own, please let me know!
Here are a few of my favorite "Happy Snaps."
So, the other night we had friends over for dinner. They, very thoughtfully, brought an amazing chocolate cake and ice cream to go with it.
And we only ate about a quarter of it.
And they left the extras behind.
Sooooo, Ned Andrew brought me a bowl, you know, so it wouldn’t go to waste.
He’s a good boy.
Edna is always quick to point out that her cane does not indicate anything about her age or her vigor.
Then she highlights, in divine detail, its 101 amazing uses — her favorites being:
By the time she arrives at the end of her list, you’ve begun to wonder how, exactly, you have survived even a single hour without one of these essential thingamajigs.
There are days when you I really want comfort food. Today was one of those.
Good thing Ned Andrew was in the mood for comfort food, too, because after my baby sister put the idea in my head I got a hankerin’ for a good ole batch of butter beans and cornbread.
The cornbread recipe is my Grandmother Walker’s. I’m pretty sure she picked it up in North Carolina back before phones were cordless. It’s a doctored up version of a Jiffy mix (we like our cornbread sweet) with cream corn, sour cream, eggs, and oil. It’s baked in a cast-iron skillet that requires two hands to lift.
The butter bean recipe is a concoction I’ve made up over time. It has the basics, though — beans, onion, butter, pepper, salt, and “flavorings” as my Granny called them. Some folks like pork in their beans. I don’t eat pork, so I put dry mustard, parsley, marjoram, paprika, a little Tony’s if I want some heat, and keep adding stuff until I like them.
I was in the mood for some chow chow, but we didn’t have any. So, I flavored this batch pretty high. Ned Andrew came to the table with his hot sauce and mustard but never opened them. These beans had some kick.
I have to say that there’s nothing more satisfying than a bowl of hot butter beans and cornbread. Sure, I like fancier fare, too. But tonight? This and only this would do.
Clicking this recipe will make it bigger.
Clicking this recipe will make it bigger.
Just as she was about to attempt to catch a falling star — and perhaps swing from a chandelier while she was at it — Edna remembered herself.
Taking a deep breath and regaining her composure, she yelled, “Waaaahoooooooo!” at the precise moment of take off.
Edna is a trained professional. Please do not try this when you visit Taco Mamacita — regardless of how much you love their sky decorations. Have some risky sweet potato fries and a dangerous mango taco instead.
Okay, fine. Yell, “Waaahooooooooo!” but please don’t hurt yourself.
Champ is happy to nap just about anywhere, but his favorite spot is under our apple tree. Sometimes he even puts his head up and barks at stuff, but only if it’s really important stuff.
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