H – appy Hearts – In this blog, I wish to keep it light and positive… there is too much doom and gloom out there already; I will leave that to the NEWS stations! So, in this section I will concentrate on the things that make you smile as well as myself! I realize life has its ups and downs, so in saying that – I know life is not always ‘ROSIE’, but I love stories that have a happy ending, and we can learn from one another’s stories as well. So I would love some feedback and would love to hear your stories, or it doesn’t have to be ‘a sad thing turned good’, but simply something that will make us, (me and you as my readers) SMILE and be HUMBLE! We all love a good ‘tear-jerker’ for sure, but just something fun and light is welcome too. I will be happy to hear about anything positive, of course I may not be able to use them all, but will do my best!
So, one thing I will start off with was one experience I had being a ‘stepmom’. It was not easy that is for sure! I had to try hard to win them over, and I didn’t think I did, not at all. We had our fun moments and teaching moments and of course when I would make them a special birthday cake in the shape of ‘Garfield’ or things like that, oh boy! I was the greatest!!! But when I tried to discipline them… I was the big ‘_itch’, if you get my drift! But one time I recall, was when my husband said to me – ‘I don’t think the kids even like me and I am their Dad’! He was referring to them having the run-of-the-house when they went back home to their real Mom’s house, and then when they came here, they just weren’t themselves at first! I just said to him ‘Not to worry honey. They will come around. One day they will see that all we try to teach them is for their own good, and they will love you even more for it’!!! And, low and behold… that day came full circle… The girls were 18 and 19 years old now, and I was having a sad moment. To my surprise, they both came up to me to console me, and also said ‘You know, we were such rotten kids growing up, but we just want you to know that even though we didn’t show it then, we really loved that you taught us all those things. It made us grow up to make good choices. We really love you, ya know’! WOW! I was so amazed at how they grew up to be such smart and wonderful young ladies; and I have ‘me’ to thank for having a hand in that! What a wonderful reward!
I am sure some of you can relate. Maybe you are the Stepdad instead – could be the flip-side of the parenting roles for sure. I don’t mean to leave anyone out, that was just my experience, and we don’t have to stay on that topic… happy things can be a wide-variety of topics. So let’s hear what some of your ‘Happy hearts’ have to say; I want to hear! And thank you!
E – ager Eagles – In this section, I would like to concentrate on how we have overcome obstacles and learned to use them to our advantage or how we maybe found ways around them, to prevail! I will leave this one up to you. I have had to overcome many obstacles just by creating this blog, business aside (that is a whole other feat in itself)! I actually learned a lot about myself, and that ALONE is achieving; and feels great! So, I will leave it at that – by simply TRYING, it is amazing what you can do! Let’s hear what your achievements are and how you had to RISE above your impairments to succeed. We can all learn from each other, and mostly; have more in common with one another than we think. Cannot wait to hear your story!
A – rtistic Abilities – Now that we have the serious sections out of the way, let’s have some fun! This section will focus and offer some ways to create and learn to appreciate art, even in its simplest form, such as finger-painting. This all in itself can be a form of meditation and therapy… incase you didn’t know! The feeling a person gets when their hands get all mucky with paint and all the while applying it to paper to see the cool designs they come up with, as well as how the simple act of ‘creating’ can be gratifying!
But today I will begin this topic by giving you a challenge. This is one I find fun, as well as beneficial to our open-mindedness as young and fresh artists, and anyone who needs ‘calm’ in their life! We all have artistic bones in our bodies, even if we don’t think so. Art can be anything we want it to be. It is in the ‘eye of the beholder’ and has different effects on each and every one of us. So, I am hoping to teach as well as encourage you to put yourself to the challenge of ‘CREATING’ even if you think you can only draw ‘stick-men’. We all need to start somewhere! It will be beneficial, mark my word. It simply has healing and refreshing qualities, if you just ‘let it’!!! So, let’s start by getting a piece of paper and pencil. Close your eyes and BREATHE. Deep breathing is a simple but effective way to acquire an open mind. Empty your mind to make room for a picture to come to light. Whatever the first image is that you see, I want you to focus on. Let it become vivid, and start to draw! But the challenge is to keep your eyes closed at all times and keep breathing with all focus on your image, keep the image clear in your mind. Now apply it on paper. Never lose sight of what you see in your mind and simply start drawing, shading and let it evolve, all on it’s own. Once you feel satisfied that it is complete, open your eyes. You may be surprised and it will actually look like something neat and resemble what the image was in your mind… or a total disaster hahaha! This alone will cause you to laugh and want to do it again – just for fun to see what the next one will look like! Now, remember how it has made you feel and stick to that state of mind. Almost every time you will feel a sense of relief and satisfaction, and in one way or another, it will have a positive effect on you. Do not start to judge the job you did; rather keep in mind the very first feeling you get when you first see it, and laugh!!! I can just about guarantee that it is a positive and beneficial way to change your original state of mind. You can even use it at work for stress relief! Even myself as a seasoned artist, will use this exercise as a method of clearing my mind of clutter! The kids can do this as well. As a family, this is a way to shift everyone’s way of thinking when things may be a little ‘out of control’. You will find that all of a sudden they will direct their focus on this, and before you know it, they have forgotten what they were whining and crying about. In no time, you will have peace and they completely have clamed down and want to keep doing it. It will create giggles, and a fun and interesting scene in your household… really! Try it! Those of you who are alone will get a lot out of it just for yourself, for serenity! You may just surprise yourself and wish to keep creating. There is a magnitude of ways to create. We are not all capable of doing the same things, but you may decide to begin a new craft and find your niche in art. It is very rewarding!
Every monthly issue will have a craft for the upcoming holiday!
For Easter, we will do some cute Bunnies with arms and legs that dangle! Here is how…
- For each bunny, buy a styrofoam ball (image is baseball size but any size will do). Buy some shorter pipe cleaners. You can cut longer ones in half if you need to. You will also need little eye screws, a tiny flower, white pom-poms, and paint of course (I use a bigger tin of white acrylic to dip the whole ball into, to get a nicer finish). To do this, I drill a screw through a 3″x3″ piece of plywood and screw on the ball. Once I have dipped it into the paint, I turn it upside down to let it drip dry. While still wet, poke in the eye screws so they dry into the acrylic paint. Insert them where the arms and legs will be attached.
- Once it is dry, paint on the details. Get creative and do your own style. Do the eyes and teeth with felt pen and the rest with the coloured paint. You can use googly eyes instead.
- Glue on the pom-pom at the back, where the screw hold is, for the tail.
- You can use an eye screw for the top so it can be hung! And there you have it! You can also create ornaments for Christmas or Halloween or for any holiday!!!
R – elic Recipes – This section will develop a whole new way of participating in learning how to cook! And eventually become a new addition to your recipe files from all over the world! I am hoping I can get some participation from my readers who will offer old recipes that you wish to share. For example, grandmother’s way of boiling eggs that makes them easier to peel as well as her unique ingredients that make her devilled eggs different from everyone else’s! Maybe a different spice to give a special taste! Or her famous sauce, or comfort food and so on! I will publish the recipes that ‘stand-out’. Don’t forget to tell a bit of a story to make the submission unforgettable! People love old stories and of course ‘relic recipes!!!
I will begin by offering my ‘Aunt Lilie’s Twists’, we used to call them (real name is Khrustyky)! After we would make perogies, the egg yolks would be leftover. We would use them by making a Ukrainian cookie (or a kind of pastry) called Khrustyky. They are so simple, but delicious! My Aunt Lily gave my mother the recipe, and although we never got to see her very often, I loved to make them. It made me feel close to her. I would always tease her, because she had long, chubby earlobes (funny things we as kids remember). I assumed she got them from those old, darn clip-on earrings she used to wear. I always joked and said ‘I have Aunt Lillie’s lobes! And although I don’t wear those kinds of earrings of course… I still acquired her LOBES’!!!
Try these out, they are simple and delicious! The recipe is as follows:
You will need:
- 1 tbsp whipping cream
- 1 tbsp. white sugar
- 3 whole large eggs
- 3 egg yolks (maybe leftover from making perogy dough)!
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract (or use a different flavor; like lemon extract or what you wish)!
- 2 cups flour
- Icing sugar for sprinkling!
- In a medium bowl, beat eggs and yolks together until light.
- Add sugar and keep beating.
- Add whipping cream.
- Add salt.
- Finally, your vanilla… mix well.
- Stir in 1 cup of flour until dough is smooth; then turn onto counter and knead.
- Keep adding up to an additional 1 cup of flour while kneading until smooth and dough is soft and elastic. You will most likely need all 2 cups, but use your judgment!
- Cover and let stand in fridge for 30 minutes.
*** It’s important for the dough to be chilled as it is easier to handle and make bow-ties!
Place dough on floured surface, use parchment paper so it doesn’t stick!
Roll very thin, ¼ inch thick.
Cut into strips about 4 inches long, and 1 and a 1/2 inches wide, and cut little ‘slits’ in their centers.
Open ‘slit’ wide and turn one end into it and pull out to make a ‘BOW-TIE’
*** Deep fry (350 degrees) and when they float, turn it over and do the same to the other side. They should be golden brown and puffy, about 1 minute only!!! They should have doubled in size.
Place on paper towel and cool slightly, then dust with icing sugar… eat and enjoy!!!
*And there you go! Aunt Lilie’s Twists!!! Don’t forget to enjoy Christmas a little longer and enjoy these awesome treats at Ukrainian Christmas. It is on January 7th!
So, as you see, I not only gave you a new recipe, but a little story as well! The story alone, tugs on your heart-strings, and makes you want to share Aunt Lilie’s Twists with your family and friends. Happy eating!!!
T – ender Tips – Remember to be kind to everyone you meet. It goes a long way and this world can use all the kindness it can get! Remember; POSITIVITY breeds a positive response in return!!! And LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!!!