One little word
One something that made your day
One little word
One kindness that kept the moment
One little word
One special day, one little word becoming three
Happy Mother’s Day
pamela 5.7.16
Brodie here. A Golden Commentary and Contemplation 5
What’s happening out there?
Remember, I’m an observant golden retriever who is giving you food for thought. Consider these possible solutions for both parties….. the R group, if necessary, could be nominating their presidential runner at their coming convention through…rock, paper, scissors, shoot and the D group could use…red rover, red rover send it’s all ready been decided over? 
Hey, these problem solving strategies have settled many battles, time and time again on thousands of elementary school playgrounds throughout the world. I’m just saying… What is a lyin’ narcissist? Is that someone who lays down in the bed at night and becomes dishonest, two-faced, deceitful and double-dealing while clicking selfies??…What is going on out there? OK…Superdelegates love themselves, doing exactly as they please…regular delegates do what the state peeps say and pledged delegates promise not to stay out past 11:00 pm on week nights…some of these delegates are bound with their hands tied behind their backs, and according to party rules, they cannot play “Pin the Tail on the Donkey or Elephant at the conventions…bummer.
Is a minimalist like someone who drank from that little blue-bottle in “Alice and Wonderland” and as a result became very tiny??…was that bottle blue???… great novel but…I’m confused…Prom people please be safe. Dog hugs to all of my followers and those who like and say so 🙂
This is exhausting. Remember, when you pay attention and listen, you usually get a treat.
Go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/12/opinion/campaign-stops/the-not-so-super-delegates.html to get information about the Superdelegates.
Brodie Here. Commentary and Contemplation 4… What’s happeing?
What’s happening out there?
I’m a confused golden retriever
…..when it’s over, it’s not over? suspending… then another suspension, sounds suspicious to me..it’s not over..$27.00 checks are still “berning” through the mail. …Finally no more pachyderms permitted under the big top…no more elephant tricks finally! Wanting peace for all elephants worldwide. …flipping Pennsylvania like a pancake soon???… (I love the great State of PA and flapjacks as well)… narcissistic policy disorder…Don’t know what that is but it sounds contagious. What is the White House Daily Briefing? Is that when reporters, correspondents and some select politicians gather in the Press Room and as soon as they are all assembled, windows are flung open so rafts of the hot air can escape? I truly don’t know. Dressing up like a panda in public places is dangerous…unless it’s Halloween…be safe out there people …. I’m confused. 1209 North Orange Street in Wilmington, Delaware is brimming over with 285,00 businesses and firms, all of which are under the same roof?! Are these penniless people who are seeking a shelter? How do these people co-exist with each other, living in such close quarters? I’m guessing that they all agree to jump through big gaps that are throughout this house and they always stay out of each others way. loophole..now what is that?.. A compound word? Somebody call a lawyer please… Garage Sales?… Is that when people get up early, especially during the summer months, get road coffee, then drive around looking for handmade signs and connecting with Tweets that advertise a garage for sale??? just the garage??? what about the house?……suspending and not conceding in the preliminary race for the presidency?…what ever happened to conceding…how about saying congratulations over the phone to the other candidates?..Can’t answer my question… then something is up…Pharmaceutical corporation liars still continuing with their pants on fire;…hug a dog, don’t hug a dog?
..very interesting…pay attention and think on this because we are learning everyday…Coal Country, I love you West Virginia…stay away from those voter controller people…. The woman card?..playing the woman card?…is that like playing 52 pick-up with one of the queens missing?…Politicians continue playing this vacuous game. I’m confused….a new type of driver’s license that detects the sex of the driver….cards will be utilized to gain entrance into the appropriate public bathroom?….I know?!… I don’t think so because the chip might change? Do classes exist for politicians to learn how to “know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em…know when to run card tricks?…word of the day is “trick”…those political tricks with a whack-a-mole twist… keep cropping up…. The homeless deserve respect and need a safe space. Are synonyms something you eat? I’m confused…. I think I had some of them the other day but they all tasted the same. Big horse race coming up…bet on the gray even if there isn’t one racing…they usually win.
What is going on out there? This is exhausting. Please be sure to breath, stay cool and most of all, ears up.
Support information provided regarding the departure of circus elephants, tax shelter in Delaware and hug a dog/don’t hug a dog:
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey/ Center for Elephant Conservation https://www.ringlingelephantcenter.com/
On-shore….Delaware serving as a tax haven/tax shelter for large corporations.. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/30/business/30delaware.html?_r=0
Hug or not to hug a dog…..http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/
My Honeysuckle Grove
There are days when I wish I were somewhere else, somewhere other than my usual place. You know, like being in a gondola in Venice or sitting in the natural spring baths in Iceland or maybe even Giant Stadium, catching the California sun-rays or perhaps back in New Orleans eating gumbo & listening to street jazz. But today, when Brodie, my golden retriever and I were walking through the woods behind our house in Virginia, I thought… this is exactly right for us. When I told myself that I was content with walking my dog and noticing nature at its spring best, I became mindful of my surroundings. I got into the moment, and into the Honeysuckle grove that surrounded us with sweet fragrance and lush green.
The bouquet of the honeysuckle blossoms wafted lightly in the air. I remembered back to when I was a little girl. I thought of my kind grandfather showing me how to suck the sweet nectar from the inside of a honeysuckle blossom. I could see his huge but gentle hands delicately sliding the stamen out of the body of the flower while dragging the delightful honey out to meet his tongue. There was an art to this and I was a good student. Granddaddy preferred the yellow blossoms, saying they were sweeter. I agreed. He was right.
So in honor of our honeysuckle grove and in celebration of becoming mindful with little effort, we harvested some of the blossoms. The next day I remained content being exactly where I was, as I sipped my homemade Honeysuckle & Spearmint Iced Tea. My liquid refreshment was a simple and sweet memory drink.
Honeysuckle and Spearmint Tea
Pick about 3 cups of honeysuckle blossoms
Sprigs of Spearmint
Pick fresh blossoms, removing all leaves and stems.
In a container with a lid, add the blossoms to about 3 cups of boiling water. Add a few spearmint leaves. Cover the container and steep for at least 6 hours in the refrigerator.
Strain the liquid through cheesecloth. Enjoy over ice and with a sprig of spearmint.
Mindful Moments
Walk and think
Walk and dream
Walk and realize
The Honeysuckle memories
Pamelalucas 5/1/16
Let the beets be with you
From red to purple to yellow to orange to gold, the beet is a sturdy vegetable that has come into its own. Beets are popular. Beets are adored by foodies and seen on menus in down home cooking spots and found on the finest haute tables.
If the beets can be with you they will.
When I was a kid growing up in Virginia, this cool weather crop was seasonal at best and not what you would call popular. They made me frown. However, beets were easy to grow and a healthy, hardy vegetable to feed to a family. Beets were often served at our familial table.
Today, my family members remain divided. You either let the beets be with you or not. We like to joke about “Who’s going to eat that?” The very sight of a newly prepared version of these lovely roots is enough to clear some of them from the room, while the rest of us gobble up the beets as a treat.
Simple to prepare, here’s one of our favorite beet recipes:
Roasted Beets with Garlic & Rosemary
For 4 of us:
Number of beets to roast vary based on size of the beets
Garlic cloves cut in half
Rosemary sprigs (for roasting & for garnish)
Your favorite olive oil
Salt and pepper
Crumbled Feta Cheese or Goat Cheese
Cut the greens off and thoroughly wash the beets, leaving little stems. (The greens are enjoyable, but we do not partake of them.) Put the whole beets on a large piece of foil along with the garlic, rosemary sprigs, season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with olive oil. Top this with another piece of foil, sealing the edges. Place this sealed packet on a baking sheet/cookie sheet. Roast in the oven at 400 degrees for about an hour or until just tender. Let cool for handling.
Peel and cut the beets into wedges. (I wear gloves to avoid staining my hands with the beet color.) Plate beets on a platter for a showy presentation, drizzle with olive oil, scatter with crumbles Feta or Goat Cheese, garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs and let the beets be with you.
For Golden Brodie
Beets look so strong
Beets look so healthy
Beets can be a favorite
Beets can be despised
Beets are luscious beauties in disguise
By pamelawlucas 4/28/16
Brodie here. All is swell that ends well.
Yesterday was 10 days post-surgery of my “snip-snip”. The procedure was simple and mine was “textbook.” Whatever that means. I came home on drugs and had them to ease my pain for 5 days. I tell you I was doing some California Dreaming on Tramadol, even though I was smack dab in the middle of Northern Virginia. Laying low was the vets order and believe me, those pills made that all possible. Further, I never had to wear that silly thing, the “ZenCone, Soft Recovery Collar” because I left myself alone. I sailed through all of that.
So 10 days later, Sheshe took me to the vet for the removal of my stitches. The vet said that I was healing nicely, just one thing. Swelling of the scrotum. What?
I was aware of different feelings back there but I did not know what to call this. The vet recommended warm compresses several times a day to alleviate this little complication. Sheshe does this for me and I cooperate. When sickness comes or surgery is necessary, we all want and need an angel to care for us. Animals especially need help because they cannot help themselves and must rely on caring humans. My wish is that all animals great and small have angels surrounding them when they need them. I am grateful for my support people, including my skilled & caring vet and for St. Francis of Assisi.
Just wanted you to know that all is swell.
Go to: http://www.arksciences.com/News/complications-dog-neutering.html to learn more about common complications after surgically neutering your dog.
Brodie here. Commentary and Contemplation 3… What’s happening?
What’s going on out there? Collusion, collusion, collusion …no one seems to know the definition…Siri, the Apple lady voice…is sick of repeatedly answering the question…Trending …Geo-fencing…go ahead… Google it. Trending…coming soon precast wall sections easy to assemble, available in heights up to 30 ft., free shipping within the United States (just kidding, but how far-fetched is this?) Fetch, did I hear fetch?
What’s going on out there?
Is a Super Pac a backpack brimming with tons of money that flies out of control, cannot be caught, found or tracked? Imagine a backpack that tells the person wearing the pack what to do and where to go? I’m confused. Trending…the family dog’s bucket list; Why not? Cats are next. 1237…close to 1237…what’s in a number? Should it not be 1234? Drone-selfies flying around; Ears up for the good while ignoring the bad stuff…Bathroom bill…bathroom policies…bathrooms banned…bathrooms creating anxiety…public bathrooms out/holding it…. is in…
What’s going on out there?
Around for millions of years, Pink Himalayan salt touted as being the purest salt in the world…all of a sudden…really…after millions of years? Question: What is a political camp? Answer: A fluid group of like voters in upscale tents that never run out of shenanigans while eating the other camps s’mores? (Would love to put my lips on some warm marshmallows.) Headlines read… Seeking VP…first qualification…candidate must carry own personal Hot Chili Sauce; (I personally enjoy a little spicy Bern (sp?) While still another VP got the job but has no job….as yet.
This is exhausting. Remember…. Sleeping in is good, just be sure you can get out.
Dandy Weeds – Lion Face Flowers –Dandelions
I grew up with dandelions. Each spring my father would get out the push mower and sharpen the blades. Then, by hand, he’d start digging up the dandelions. Attack weeds, cut, attack the dandy weeds. This was his thing all spring and summer.
There were dandelions in my grandmother’s yard. She allowed dandelions. She lived in the country. She’d pick the young leaves from underneath the yellow flowers and make dandelion salad throughout the spring and summer.
Easy recipe: dandelion greens, topped with a light dressing of white or apple cider vinegar (no balsamic then) and a pinch of salt and some sugar. The bitterness of the greens was complimented by her simple dressing. Bitter greens and homemade biscuits worked.
Time moved on. Dandelions are all but gone, thanks to the spreading of pesticides & weed killers. Suburban dwellers want and pay for well-manicured landscapes and solid green grass lawns. I get that.
It’s the end of April. We have a few healthy dandelions growing here and there along the fringes of our suburban community. I took pictures of these lovelies before the lawn service arrived for the first killer application. I’m emotionally attached to dandelions.
I am a Dandelion
I am a flower disguised as a weed
Upon your lawn I will stampede
I am a weed disguised as a flower
My leaves and roots have medicinal powers
I am 3 celestial bodies in one
I awaken each morning to greet the sun
I sleep in the evening and dream of the moon and stars
Which are 2 of my other avatars
Upon the wind my seeds are blown
Carried for miles around
But on this lawn I cannot hide
And I’ll soon succumb to pesticides
By Joseph May
http://www.poetrysoup.com/poems_poets/poems_by_poet.aspx?ID=29278
Google search offers many of today’s foodie versions of Dandelion Salad.
Brodie here. Commentary and Contemplation 2… What’s happening?
What’s going on out there? Bound and unbound delegates?…Is someone going to untie these people? No more “Purple Rain”? We all needed those musical and meaningful water drops. In baseball a team can “sweep” another team? How do they sweep with a bat? What happened to the broom? What’s the opposite of trans fats?…trans skinny? “Spot-on” as opposed to “spot-off?” Where is Spot? Question: What distinguishes the front of the new $20 dollar bill from the back? Answer: She’s on front. He’s on zback?
Have you tried a donut sandwich?…be honest now. Question: What’s the difference between rye and whiskey and bourbon? Derby day is coming up… will you care?
What’s going on out there?
Some are going on a sea-cruz while others choose to run the table with the trump card. Still don’t forget the people that are adding kasha, (Is that the correct spelling?) to their diets, hoping for some unbinding…just kidding. Question: What is a “Brokered Convention?” Is that when the release of red, white and blue balloons is not permitted and no cake is served? If that’s the case, then count me out.
What’s going on out there?
Why is Earth Day only one day? Should it not be everyday? robot vacuums flying off store shelves; phone Robo Scam Caller liars with their pants on fire; forget the bad people; remember the good that surrounds us all. 1.5 million cars on recall for driving away once the human driver leaves the car…good luck on getting those cars back…try shouting “Puppy, Puppy Cookies…that gets me back every time I try to bolt. Pronouns…are they superior in knowledge and ability when compared to simple nouns? That pro part is disconcerting.
Thinking about this is exhausting. What’s happening?
Brodie here. Commentary and Contemplation…What’s happening?
What’s happening?
Bathrooms that advertise “Everybody” (good for families); kindergarten becoming the new first grade; cute little kindergartners flunking out, not being allowed to matriculate to the for real first grade; super delegates crowning the queen or maybe a king; independents excluded here & there; aioli appearing in just about every food concoction in hipster/foodie restaurants; (I love dog friendly establishments.) exquisite taste equating to how long one waits in a line; meme litter everywhere…rhymes with team…what is a meme anyway? Teachers needing to secure 1 maybe 2 part-time jobs so they can pay their bills and taxes while still finding the time to multi-task at home late at night, baking cookies for their students while searching through Teachers-Pay-Teachers for those exciting and engaging lesson plans. (Love to the teachers.) Hard root beer taking off; (Is that opposed to soft root beer?) Airlines permitting, you name it animals from turkeys to pot-belly pigs to be on board, in flight, sitting in a passenger seat with the intention of calming their seat mate/owner during flight (therapy animal house.)
Seriously, what is happening?
Car-manufacturing liars with their pants on fire; supercilious car drivers taking it easy in the passing lane while texting or perhaps clutching a fast-food cheeseburger; Question: What is the 4th of July? Answer: We have a parade & then a hotdog picnic? (Love the hotdog.) Barbers who need to take handwriting courses so they can skillfully buzz names on kid’s heads (block print of course, cause cursive is out.)
What’s happening?
Dog poop that lives where it was deposited & remains through the deteriorating process of becoming dust. Question: “What is Mount Rushmore? Answer: A water park?” (I want to go to the great state of South Dakota.) “Feeling the burn” once referring to a cardio workout now refers to a certain person who frequently displays the pointer finger; (I feel the heat.) Needing to practice ordering java prior to ones arrival at “S Coffee” less one presents like a fast food flunky coffee drinker. (Hold the java for me, please.) gluten free gluten; restaurant macaroni and cheese with everything in it but the kitchen sink; the possibility of drinking two crafted beers with an alcohol content so high that it could put one under the table or have one throwing up in the kitchen sink; “The House of Cards” looking more and more each season like a reality show; social media headlining ad nauseam processed foods being retrofitted into something other than what “it” was intended, pop-it, cut it, add real food ingredients, add herbs, then layer it with something like shredded cheese or melted chocolate, bake it or slow cook it & finally plate it “foodie-it”. Why start with an it? (I would, however, definitely eat “it” if given the opportunity.)
Commentaries are exhausting. What’s happening?
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