Don’t be surprised if I blog and chat a lot more on Bower’s Museum.  I finally took the plunge and became a member.  Then, I inquired about becoming a docent.  My application just arrived and I must fill and send it out immediately to make the deadline.  Orientation is in mid-August and training begins in September.  I hope to be a docent in training this year.  It is a six month wealth of learning experience and probably a great place to meet like minded people.  I am truly excited about this possibility and will keep you posted.

Just an example of what is displayed in the permanent Chinese exhibit spanning the Han to Qing dynasties, over 20 centuries of small artifacts and informative groupings.

What kind of attitudes or attributes are you attracted to?

I love someone who is solution oriented, uplifting, happy and funny.

I enjoy people who are spiritual but are grounded, practical and generously donate helpful guidance.

I am attracted to those who live in an attitude of gratitude and exude kindness.

Persons who are open, willing and have a broad definition of the world feel like gifts to me.

“…the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances.” – Martha Washington 

And so it is

Any misperception of others is first – a misperception of ourselves.

I am grateful for the awareness and the reminders that this is so.  I need to remember – I am just here to help – not fix, not control, not add more fuel to the fire and certainly not to live someone else’s life.

It is very simple; I just choose to respond, act or think anew.  When I have fallen, failed or forgotten –  I choose again.

With empty hands and an open mind, I remove the blocks to my teachings.  I forget about everything in meditation and find the stillness of my mind so peace can reign.

When I am resistant, resentful or full of ego – that’s the time to let everything go and RELAX, Breathe and Be Still.  No but’s about it.  I must drop control, expectations and allow obstacles to just fall away.  Only then will I :

1. Be Ready to Listen

2. Be Willing to Learn and

3. Be Able to Do.

True empathy does not mean I join in the suffering nor should that be expected of me.  True empathy means I stand by you when you are suffering. I help you walk through it, not replace it or carry it.

When we have a sense of lack instead of abundance, we don’t grow.  When we have a victim mentality or abandonment issues, we cannot grow. We build 1000 reasons, relationships and invest in 1000 ways into material goods and yet none of it makes us content.

But with a sense and knowing of love and who we really are we do not require special treatment, instead, we grow automatically.

The light is always shining on us.  Don’t block or distort it.  When you let the Love in, you will witness miracles to the right and left of you.  You will listen to, follow and expand your heart.  No human, animal or thing can be your boss because Love will rule.  And, Love is content, not form.  Forms separate and bind you.  Forms are behaviors, techniques and anything external to the Mind.  Like appearances or how you want to look to others, how you want others to look, etc.  Comparisons, disguises, fantasies and judgments all hide, confuse and obscure our brilliance.

The content or significance of Love is freedom.

Are you governed by the ego or Love?  Good question in any given situation.  Am I acting out of Fear or Love?

Let us keep it simple.

And so it is.

Don’t Settle for less of yourself – Be the Light!

“It is funny about life:
 if you refuse to accept anything but the very best
 you will very often get it.” – 
W. Somerset Maugham

An array of Patriotic flags and my daughter’s 2nd grade framed award winning poem amongst flowers and perennial potted plants under our shady patio.

Black Bean Brownies with Swirled Caramel

The great thing about these vegan brownie treats is that they have no added oil or butter, except for the addition of caramel made with vegan butter and sugar and a pinch of salt.

• Black Bean Brownies
• •1  Can of black beans, 15 oz.
• • 1 1/2 cups white whole-wheat flour
• • 1 tsp. salt
• • 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• • 2 1/4 cup sugar
• • 1 1/4 cup cocoa
• • 4 tsp. instant coffee powder
• • 2 tsp. vanilla
• • 1/2 cup Chocolate chips, Optional but highly recommended, it adds gooey pops of  flavor.
•    1/2 cup chopped nuts, also Optional and highly recommended if you love nuts and crunch in everything like me.

Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Open the can of black beans and drain.

Fill the can (with the beans still inside) with water. Drain it again. Repeat the process until the water is mostly clear.

Fill the can with water one last time and puree until smooth in a blender.

Combine beans, vanilla and another cup of water with your dry ingredients. Mix dry and wet ingredients thoroughly.

Fold in chocolate chips and/or nuts if using.

Spread mixture into a greased 9’x13′ baking pan or 8′ X 8′ for fudge like squares.  If you are getting fancy or decadent and swirling in peanut butter or caramel, this is the time to do it.

Bake at 350 degrees until the edges of the brownies start to harden –  20-30 minutes.

Cool and cut into squares.

These were one of the top desserts at our party and no one was the wiser about all the extra fiber or lower fat count, amazingly.

“The most important ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” – Teddy Roosevelt

The kitchen was a work horse this holiday and much action took place in it.

There were potatoes, cabbage, onions and peppers being sliced and shredded, there were ovens and gas burners heating up the air, there were spices sprinkled, herbs chopped and creams whipped, there were pies baked, ice creams freezing and chocolates melting, there were dishes washed, pots scrubbed and floors cleaned, there were breads rising, vegan sausages rolled and steamed and the very best – there was -taste testing throughout.

I literally gained three pounds licking batter bowls, trying sauces and determining to correct or validate seasonings for the chef (my daughter V).

Wonderful party – great to be with family and our girls.  Cindi was a hit and endeared herself with everyone.  She enjoyed getting a few table scraps and her walks with guests. She watched fireworks atop and secure on my husband’s or my lap for two hours.  

Delirium was our favorite fireworks display.

We are working the grill and playing and eating and serving and cleaning and conversing and swimming and feeding and listening and celebrating and hugging and watching fireworks today.

Keep your pets inside and safe!

Last weekend we were delighted to have son and girlfriend down from Nor Cal.  We decided to have brunch at the scenic Orange Hill Restaurant.  One of the best views in So. Cal and a very classy place.

I was lucky to have David, our understanding, ex-vegan waiter, cater to my dietary needs and bring me a huge plate of fettucini with marinara and mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, broccoli and spinach – no cheese.  Then I had a special salad prepared and it was so delicious, I ordered another one.  Mixed greens with blackberries and candied pecans with a sweet citrus vinaigrette.

Went to Free Soul Cafe today with vegan daughter who landed late last night in Long Beach Airport.  Then we hit the Farmer’s Market in Tustin, Costco and Sprouts in Anaheim Hills.  Everywhere I went, I tasted.  Yum.  Getting ready to prep and decorate and start our Fourth of July blow out!

To start the day, I had an Affogatto and V had an Americano.  We shared an order of Buckwheat Walnut Pancakes with maple syrup and raspberries.  We went across the street to the Farmer’s Market and returned to get our take-out lunch – a Panini Poulet (vegan chicken, cucumber, pickled daikon and carrots, hatch chili, cilantro and sriracha aioli) and a Truffle Burger (mushrooms with caramelized onions on a flax seed bun) plus Peanut Butter Blondie Brownie with Chocolate Chips.

VEGAN TREATS!!!!!