Blessings, affirmations, grace, and reflection

C onsidering the fact that I grew up eating these monsters in my mom's gumbo, what would make one think that I could settle for those little blue crabs they catch out of the Atlantic? That reminds me of my time in D.C. My friend Ty from Arizona invited us all over for his birthday. This boy swore he could make gumbo. Now, being my folks are from Louisiana, I held him to that. Ty liked to, how shall I say, "feel good", so by the time we got to his place he was passed out! We went into the kitchen and the gumbo was WHITE!!!! Needless to say, we didn't eat any of that mess. Anyone who knows anything about gumbo knows that the first thing you make is make a roux . He didn't even know what roux was. Case in point! He had thrown some scallops and other stuff up in that mess. It was the funniest thing ever. We had a good time though even though he was out cold most of the night.

T aking a queue from this blog and this one I thought about the things I would do if I could be a kid again for a day. Go to the playground and swing as high as I can. Run just to be running. (Rev. Run, 2005) Ride my Big Wheel like a maniac. Roll down the grassy hill as fast as I can. Play jacks and marbles as if my life depended on the outcome. Swing on the monkey bars. Spin the merry-go-round then jump on and ride until I was too dizzy to stand. Fight with my best friend then make up like nothing was wrong. Eat ice cream cones anytime I wanted. Drink milk and make that "ahhhhhhh" sound afterwards. Play kickball with the boys. Go trick or treating and eat all the mini chocolate bars first. Play dress up in my mom's closet. Get kisses and cuddles from my mom. Go the beach and collect shells. Climb trees. Watch cartoons while eating sugary cereal every Saturday morning. Draw pictures on the program in church while...

I long to fall into your love like a freshly made bed. I want to sink into your arms the way I sink into my freshly washed sheets. I want you to wrap your love around me the way I wrap a blanket around my body on a cold November morning. I need you to be the pillow that I can cry into when times get rough. I want your arms to be the comforter that engulf me and wrap me in warmth. I want to snuggle deep inside of you and feel wholly and completely loved .

Inspired by Vegetarian Planet , by Didi Emmons (Harvard Common Press, 1997). When the autumn weather turns cool and crisp, our thoughts turn to hearty, one-pot meals that simmer invitingly on the stove, filling our homes with warmth and delicious aromas--and this chili fills the bill! Find out how tasty beans and chiles, peppers, corn, pumpkin seeds, and fresh herbs combine to make a flavorful, nourishing, wonderfully satisfying vegetarian chili. This is one recipe that will see us through the cooler months, beautifully: INGREDIENTS 1 pound dried navy beans 6 Anaheim peppers 4 poblano peppers 3 jalapeno peppers 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 medium onions, chopped 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 tablespoon ground coriander seed 2 pounds tomatillos, husked and chopped 2 cups corn kernels, either fresh or frozen 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced 1/4 cup pumpkin seed kernels, chopped 2 tablespoons tequila (optional) Juice of 1 lime 1 1/2 teaspoons salt Freshly-grou...

H ave an enjoyable, thankful and restful holiday! Click here for a special holiday treat. I saw this business featured on the news. Folks from the south know about fried turkey...now you can get them up north without setting your apartment on fire! Visit Jive Turkey in Brooklyn and support a sister. >>>Listen: Holiday Slow Down

1) My uncle once : played pro basketball for the ABA . 2) Never again in my life : will I allow a stranger to enter my inner sanctum. 3) When I was five : I lost my sense of security. 4) High School was : the best time in my life! 5) I will never forget : how much my mom loved me. 6) I once met: Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee, Harry Belafonte and Eartha Kitt . 7) There's this girl I know who : no longer blogs. 8) Once, at a bar : I got so drunk that I can't remember the rest.... 9) By noon I'm usually : getting hungry. 10) Last night I : was so tired I slept like a log. 11) If I had only : followed through on the things I started when I was younger.... 12) Next time I go to church : I will let the pastor anoint me with oil. 13) What worries me most : -is my health and the health of my family. 14) When I turn my head right, I see : my candle flickering. 15) When I turn my head left, I see : my sofa piled with stuff that belongs elsewhere. 16) You know I'm lying when: I ...

This quiz was too cute ... I couldn't pass it up! BEYONCE: Family and love. You treasure both as much as you do your Popeye's fried chicken. You are blessed with many talents and are not afraid to utilize them. You are an emotional person, falling into love dangerously. But you are truly Bonnie to your man's Clyde and are down enough to watch a basketball game with him. Your girls love your playful personality and know that whatever happens, you got their back. Which female R&B artist are you? brought to you by Quizilla