Leap or Limp?

All growth is a leap in the dark, a spontaneous unpremeditated act without benefit of experience. 

- Henry Miller

Well, if you haven't looked at today's calendar yet ... look! It's not March 1. ... it's February 29 ... the day we all call "Leap Day." A day, when traditionally, a women can ask a man to marry (even though that's just a bunch of silliness!) 


I would prefer to consider today a day when we decide to leap or to limp. Which one? Do we take the leap into new territories, onto new paths or even eating something new ... OR do we just keep limping along?


Don't get me wrong. Sometimes we need to "limp" ... to heal. I'm still limping in many, many areas and some of my leaps will have to be Herculean when the time arrives.  This blog is my "leap" and I'm finding it to be just what I need right now. Its not an Olympian leap, but its a leap! 


What matters is that when we leap ... we're almost flying ...  doing something different ... something that we must put forth effort, momentum and lift ourselves above the same old landscape.


See that guy above? He really was leaping ... no Photoshopping here! Rodney Smith (who is probably one of the best B/W photographers around) had to take many shots before they could get the right image.


It's the same with us. It starts with a limp ... then a hop ... then a jump ... then that unbelievable, breathtaking leap!  


Simple Sacred Steps: 

• Limp
• Hop
• Jump
• LEAP!

How do you approach "A Leap?" 


Remember earlier, that "even trying something new to eat is a leap!" How about this recipe? To celebrate Leap Day ... I'm going to call this recipe "Leap Neeps." My Scottish Uncle Angus (Bill Smith) makes this dish perfectly! At first, I wasn't too sure, but when I tasted it ... I just couldn't pass it up.

LEAP NEEPS

  Cut off the outside of the Turnip or Rutabaga. Remove the skin to a depth of half an inch. This ensures the stringy, tough outer parts are not cooked.
  Chop the turnip into one-inch cubes.
  Boil in plenty of water for about 45 minutes.
  Drain of the water and mash the turnips through a colander.
  Return the turnips to the pot and warm them with butter, white pepper, and salt to taste. 

(Recipe from: Margaret Dods, The Cook and Housewives Manual, 1829.)

www.goodtoknow.co.uk

Simply put, Jeanne

How to Stare Down a Gorilla!

When I think of brave, I don't think of any lame superheroes! I think of my niece, Super Genevieve! This 2 almost 3-year-old girl (on Saturday) found herself face-to-face with a huffing, puffing, bully of a gorilla! 

~ YOU DON'T SCARE ME! ~

Genevieve just stood there looking straight at this magnificent, strong and formidable creature. She was mesmerized! Not one bit scared!


Since the beginning of the New Year, I've been faced with some pretty big "gorilla's." Now, I must admit, I haven't stood tall against some of them. I've withered in sadness; not wanting, nor able to face up to the pain and confusion. Yet, human nature kicks in and, at this very moment we are given a choice -- face up or run the other way.


How do we react when the "big, hairy, huffing and puffing" challenges face us? 


How will the Simply Sacred strength rise up in each of us? 


Will we be able to stare each challenge down? Somehow find the challenge interesting -- one which we can observe with new, brave eyes? 

Simple Sacred Steps: 

• Use your "eyes" of perspective. Is the challenge really as big as it looks? 
• Use your heart. What is it telling you? To stand still and just listen. It will tell you what you need to do!
• Finally, just STAND and KNOW YOU ARE STRONG enough to face your "gorilla's!"

How do you stare down your "gorilla's?"

If all else fails ... MAKE COOKIES ... GORILLA COOKIES and EAT THEM (well, not all of them!)


Gorilla Cookies

(There's many variations on this recipe. This one looks pretty healthy and yummy, too!)


½ c. honey
½ c. oil
1 egg, beaten
¼ c. milk
2/8 c. powdered milk
1 tsp. vanilla
¼ tsp. salt
¾ c. whole wheat flour
1½ c. rolled oats
¾ c. sesame seeds
½ c. coconut
½ c. raisins
1 c. chocolate chips or butterscotch


Measure honey and oil into bowl. Add ingredients in second group and mix well. Add dry ingredients in order. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto oiled sheets. Bake at 350 for 10 min.

Simply put, Jeanne

My "Ralphie Moment" or MSG + PMS = Potty Mouth

Right now I'm not feeling very "sacred." In fact, I'm feeling rather "simple" ... like a Simpleton! My potty mouth was in full flow as I tried to figure out why my blog site suddenly wouldn't recognize my email account and blog admin. 


Thank goodness for my laptop that was still open to the blog site and the admin rights! I got in and calmed down.


Sometimes the everyday sacred suddenly becomes the everyday secular or even profane. I had just come in from a wonderful family dinner at China King. Then BAM ... computer Twilight Zone and the screaming started! Well ... I think I'm going to blame my tizzy fit on the MSG served in the Chinese food! 


So, I had my "Ralphie Moment" I am not perfect. Decided against the soap in mouth.  I just turned off my iMac and hope that tomorrow I will be able to access my account.

Simple Sacred Step: Calm down, watch your words, make sure you don't eat Chinese while you're PMSing. Most important ... everything is better after a good night's rest.


What do you do to calm yourself and bring you back to that everyday sacred?

Simply Sacred and the "Big Sister Bunny"

Tonight, we had a knock at the front door and there stood a couple who just had a baby. They were returning the container in which chicken soup I had made for then had been delivered.

In delivering the soup, I also included a stuffed bunny named, "Big Sister Bunny" for their daughter, who was having a bit of a rough go with a new little brother in their home. Now ... that "Big Sister Bunny" is the only thing she carries around the house!


The soup offered comfort for the new parents and the bunny offered comfort for a little one unsure of her place in her family. 


Comfort.  We all need it at different times in our lives ... don't we. Comfort can take the form of a hug, a squeeze of the hand, chicken/barley soup, chocolate chip cookies and even a "Big Sister Bunny!"  It's free and just feels just plain old good! Comfort comes straight from our heart. In giving it, we are connecting heart to heart and soul to soul. 

Simply Sacred Step: Look around you. YOU can give comfort. You will never know just how important this can be to someone else or, perhaps, even to you!

Below, Elmo knows exactly what to do! Watch and smile ... then pass some comfort on!

Below, in the comment area, share what sort of comfort you've received or have give to someone in need. Were you even aware you were giving it or the recipient of comfort? Share, share, share!

Simply Put, Jeanne  

Passion and Potatoes!

What's been bugging you lately? For me, it filling my time with productive activities. Photography ... my writing ... social networking ... even trying to improve look of my blog! I am one of those people who have never been happy with my accomplishments

Its a mystery to me ... and actually, I love a good mystery. I know somewhere deep inside lies that gem. My heart still goes back to the "Tree of Life." I want to collect as many renditions of this symbol and fill every inch of the walls with paintings, tiles, textiles and other mediums of this symbol. This image was painted by my husband and I cherish deeply!

Some find their's early on and others later in life. I have a friend, in her 30's who started beekeeping and now its become a passion of her's!

I guess it all lies in passion. Finding it! Stumbling upon it! Taking hold of it and making it a part of your soul. Once in your soul, ALWAYS IN YOUR SOUL!

Simply Sacred Step: Take a moment. Think. Go back to your childhood ... what did you love to do? This is where it all starts!

Simple recipe: Not only do you need food for the soul ... but for that "bod" of your's!

Fingerling Potatoes Iron Skillet

Style

This recipe is so easy, you will think you've achieved Nirvana! Amounts can vary according to how many you'll be serving

1. Fingerling potatoes - Make sure you buy red, purple and brown. (Makes for a great presentation)

2. Get that iron skillet out (or any other pan) and add four tablespoons of olive oil.

3. Wash potatoes and add whole pieces to skillet.

4. Slice Vidalia or any sweet type onion (as much as you think you want) and add to potatoes.

5. Wash asparagus and add

6. Add mushrooms

7. Season to your liking.

8. Cover skillet. This will steam the potatoes, asparagus and onions.

9. Make sure you keep adding small portions of water to keep the dish steaming.

10. Check potatoes and asparagus with fork. When soft, you dish is done!

11. Most important. **** I love comments!

12. You may want to compliment you dish with a recipes from www.dancingcarrots.com

The recipe is call Karma Curried Dipping Sauce

http://www.dancingcarrots.com/appetizer/karma-curried-dipping-sauce/

This One is for all the “Ellen’s” Out There!

A few weeks ago, I had the great fun of meeting up with some high school classmates. Some of them I knew well … others … not so much. However, the many years blurred the our differences and gave each of us a chance to reacquaint.

At the night’s end, “Ellen” gave me a hug and with that a friendly mandate said, “Keep writing. I always read and love what you post!”

As I drove away, the “why’s” and the “wondering’s” moved in and out of my mind. Here was someone who I barely know, barely knew seeing in me a gift, talent that I’ve always felt I had in me … but was caught up in that “all or nothing” rut. Being, if my written words are exactly right, then just forget it!

Well, as you can see by the dates of my last blog … I did “forget it!”

Purposely.

I even forgot the passwords. Yet, at 4 a.m. this morning, I was frantically trying to remember passwords, usernames that would get me back … back to my words.

Well, Ellen (and all you other wonderful people who had faith in me and my gifts) I’m back and blogging!

Simply Sacred Step: Listen to “Your Ellen’s!”