MINDFUL MOMENTS

  As you look back on the first month of the year, does anything stand out? For instance did you make a New Year's Resolution? Did you snowboard or ski? Did you make some plans for the future? I never used to like January but that all changed about there years ago when I witnessed the beauty and serenity of a northern winter where the landscape is covered in snow, the animals are resting, the days are short and calm, and sitting near the fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa is oh, so comforting.  This past January was the hardest I've ever had. I was dealing with one setback after another; mourning the loss of my Mother, hurting my eye, dealing with an UTI and being put on an antibiotic, excruciating pain in my lower back that made it difficult to stand up, bend, or even walk. Then there were the days that I couldn't leave home because of hazardous weather and road conditions. I was unemployed too, eating my troubles away, and now have extra weight on me that I never di...

CAN YOU GUESS WHERE AND HOW BROWNIES WERE INVENTED? In 1870, Bertha Palmer married Potter Palmer a successful businessman and Chicago millionaire who owned a vast portfolio of properties. Mr. Palmer built Palmer House (a hotel) in 1871. In 1893 Bertha Palmer chaired the Board of Lady Managers for the World's Columbian Exposition. She asked her hotel pastry chef to create a new dessert that would be easy to box and transport to the World's Columbian Exposition and he came up with a unique recipe. The new invention wasn't called brownie but its introduction in Chicago made it famous. Today the Palmer House makes their popular brownies using the same recipe from 1893 and it can be enjoyed at the restaurant Lockwood Express in Palmer House or in a to-go box tied with a ribbon.   It's winter where I live and and there's an abundance of snow and frigid temperatures. Hard to resist some comfort food, including desserts. I usually make everything from scratch but a friend ...

When I walked out of my condo and down the steps to head to the bus, the raindrops were fogging up my eyeglasses. I took off my eyeglasses and managed to walk a few yards with blurry vision. The driver Margaret saw me and opened the door. We greeted each other and I put  my wrinkled dollar bills through the payment slot. It was a cold and wet January day and I was on my way to the picturesque town of Northport. The drive along the bay was pleasant. At last I arrived in Northport. I thanked the driver and admired the large Christmas tree in the center of town. It certainly was magnificent. Feeling a bit hungry, I decided to hold off on eating and stop at a few stores before heading to the public library to do some research. An hour passed by and I decided to get a bite to eat. I knew of four places to get something to eat, the supermarket, a gasoline station that served pizza and Indian food, a bar/restaurant with a bowling alley that had a diverse menu, and a coffee cafe ...