image-in-ing

A few things blooming around the homeplace

Carolina wild petunia

Magnolia

Passion flower vine

Nandina

For some reason it seems the original InLinkz link for this week's party ended prematurely. Here's is the extended version so we can party on:

Happy Independence Day, U.S.A.

From the archives - a few shots from a visit to Washington DC.

Washington Monument

Vietnam Memorial

Martin Luther King Junior Memorial

Metro station - great way to see the sights

Korean War Memorial

Jefferson Memorial

FDR Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Now THIS is a tasty dinner!

I have to say this is one of the easiest and tastiest recipes I've found in a while. I found it on this web site, and I'm looking forward to poking around there to find other gems they may have. It was very easy to make although I did increase the amount of veggies and substituted the chicken I had on hand for the thighs specified in the recipe. (I think there's a chicken thigh shortage based on my last visit to our local grocery store.) I believe it's versatile enough that it could be varied by swapping some or all of the veggies for another. And next time I believe I'll reduce the oil a bit. But believe you me, it was tasty!

Here are before-and-after photos for your viewing pleasure.

Greek Sheet Pan Chicken Dinner

Ingredients

1/2 cup olive oil
1 lemon, juiced (about 3 tablespoons)
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 chicken thighs, bone-in, skin-on
1 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped into 1-inch pieces
1/2 large red onion, thinly sliced into wedges
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted
1/4 cup feta cheese
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425 F (220 C). In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, thyme, Dijon mustrd, salt, and pepper.
Place the chicken thighs in a bowl and pour 2/3 of the marinade on top, then use your hands to toss the chicken in the marinade and make sure it's well coated. Marinate the chicken for 10-15 minutes.
While the chicken is marinating, spread the veggies onto a baking sheet and drizzle the remaining marinade on top. Toss together to coat the vegetables.
Add the chicken thighs to the baking sheet, nestling them in amidst the veggies, and bake for 30 minutes.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven, add the olives and feta, and then place it back in the oven for another 10-15 minutes, or til the veggies are softened and the chicken is cooked to 165 F.
Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

YUMMY!

Gumbys on the mound

Even if you don't like baseball, you have to acknowledge that pitchers are supremely flexible!

Feeding time at the NCSue Zoo

It's party time!

This is blog post # 500!

Thanks to all of you who have visited, followed, commented, and shared your photos here.

I'm truly grateful!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two cats, two different approaches to requesting food.

First, Tommy's approach:

Forrest has a more laid-back method:

So glad we got to Gogh!

We went to Immersive Van Gogh recently and I highly recommend it.

Happy 50th Anniversary, my love!

You've been gone from earth for 147 days. You remain in my heart.

Happy Anniversary!

If you came for this week's linky, check the next post. But for those of you who are grieving, here are some of the things I've learned in the past 147 days:

· After the death of a loved one, emotions can be all over the place – from sorrow to rage to numbness and everywhere in between. Allow yourself to feel the feelings.

· In the days immediately following your loss, avoid looking too far ahead. There are plenty of tasks to take care of just to get through the first few weeks. Trying to figure out the future can be overwhelming. The fact is, we can only live one day at a time.

· “Widow brain” or “widow fog” is real. After a devastating loss, it is common to find oneself forgetting even the simplest things. Carry a small notebook and pen with you to jot things down or use an app on your phone as a memory aid until the fog clears. It gets better.

· Create a list of things you need help with. People often want to help but not know what you need.

· Things may seem overwhelming. Keeping a to-do list – and crossing off tasks as they’re completed – can help you stay organized. And crossing things off the list can give you a sense of accomplishment.

· Don’t forget to take care of yourself. Stay hydrated, try to eat healthy, get some fresh air, and keep your routine medical and dental appointments.

· Avoid making major changes for a year after your loss if at all possible.

· Consider journaling. It can help you clarify your thoughts.

· Don’t narrow your focus solely to what you’ve lost. Remember also what you had together, and what you still have to be grateful for. Start a gratitude list; write down 3 things (big or small) that you have to be thankful for each day.

· Often people who haven’t experienced grief are unable to understand, but find someone you can talk to honestly.

· Many people find that participating in a grief support group or speaking to a counselor or spiritual advisor is extremely helpful.

· Be patient with yourself in early grief, but if the rollercoaster persists or you get “stuck” in an emotion, consider seeking help.

· There is no way around grief; the only way out of grief is to go through it.

· Do things when you’re ready, and trust yourself to know when the time is right.

· We all grieve differently. There is no perfect path to healing from loss.

· At some point, you will smile or laugh or have an enjoyable experience. Don’t apologize for having a good moment, or even a good day. This is something to celebrate.

· Even after you are on the road to recovery, you will most likely experience “ambushes” or “flashbacks”, when something – a song, a memory, an anniversary - triggers a wave of emotion. Ride it out. They get less overwhelming and less frequent with time.

· If you anticipate that a birthday, anniversary, or holiday may be challenging, make a plan. This may be a great time to get together with friends, do something creative, head to your “happy place”, take a class, or volunteer for something that has special meaning to you or your loved one.

· One of the best ways to brighten your day is to do something kind for others. Walk across the street and visit the lonely old lady who lives there. Compliment the harried cashier at the grocery store. Make a batch of cookies and take them to the police department. Offer to cuddle a young mother’s baby for an hour so she can take a nap or go for a walk.

· As time goes by, you may find that some of the things you did together aren’t as much fun without your loved one. You may even find new interests.

· Grieve what you've lost, but allow yourself to move forward when the time is appropriate. We only get one life. It's ok to eventually be happy again.

· It is impossible to honor the life of a loved one by refusing to live.

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