We live in the best country in the world; we are people of many talents, diversities, religions and nationalities. But the best of all, we are a nation of people who care for others. We are the first to help those in need. Remember all those who came to the aid of 9/11 victims? Not only firemen and policemen, but the man down the street, who rushed to give aid to a fleeing victim of the Twin Towers and the lady living in the nearby apartment building who saw the disaster and went out of her safe home to immediately help others. There are also those times in major disasters, such as hurricanes, fires, floods and mudslides, tornados, when we offer assistance in the form of money, food and clothing, and prayers to those who lost everything.  Read more...

Going grocery shopping is one of my favorite activities.  It is almost a hobby for me to go into a grocery store, walk the aisles, check for new items and read the labels on products. Needless to say, this is time consuming, but when you’re retired, what better way to spend time educating yourself on nutritional facts and watching for the latest items out there?

I spend most time concentrating on foods that are on my menu plans for the week.  Read more...

I have truly enjoyed entertaining house guests these past two months.  Since we live in Florida near the water, we have guests who look forward to a change in scene and for some, to get away from frigid weather up north.  Our guests have included my son and daughter-in-law and our two precious grandchildren, also a best friend from cold, snowy Ohio and a celebrity with his sister and personal assistant.  It was fun and enjoyable simply because of the pre-planning and organization that I enjoy doing.

This is how I take the hassle out of entertaining overnight guests:  Read more...

Are you getting ready to watch the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, February 9th-10th at 9:00p on CNBC?  I eagerly wait for those shows as football fans wait for the Super Bowl.  There’s no tailgating here, but there’s munchies for Freddie and me. Freddie, my three year old Maltese loves Wysong’s Dream Treats (non-cooked freeze-dried chicken) and it’ll be popcorn for me.  Read more...

My Mother was very inventive when it came to preparing meatless dishes.  Being raised a Catholic, I remember meatless meals prepared during our Lenten season and for Fridays when we did not eat meat or poultry. Mom’s stuffed peppers is one that I remember and enjoyed.

The dish is not only delicious, but also easy to prepare and can be served hot from the oven, or room temperature and even cold.  Mom did not buy deli lunch meat for sandwiches, whatever leftovers she could put into a roll or between two slices of bread is what we took to school for lunch.  Read more...