Kindness

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. ~Leo Buscaglia

Beachcombing Finds

I've always loved beachcombing, but it's sea bean "season" now in my neck of the woods and I'm determined to make up for how lax I've been about searching for these treasures the last few years.  These are pics of some of my recent finds.

In the top photo are a pile of coin vine pods (top left); sea coconuts aka golfballs (top right); sea glass and a "sea hero" (bottom left); shark's eyes, white mangrove, and seagrapes (middle); tropical almonds, hog plums, and a couple I have yet to positively identify.

In the bottom photo (clockwise) are sea coconuts aka golfballs, a penshell with striped acorn barnacles, crabwood, hamburger beans (1 brown and 1 red), blister pods, sea coconut in husk, starnut palm, and one I have not yet positively identified.

Peace, Love, and Chocolate Chip Cookies

Domestic goddess I am not.  I have accepted that fact.  But.......

I used to find such peace and happiness in baking.  Whipping up a treat for my family was fulfilling and restful.

What happened?  I honestly don't know.  It's been months since I've ventured into my kitchen to bake any of the goodies my family and I enjoyed.  I found every excuse possible.  All that stopped today.

My youngest child begged for homemade cookies.  I could have used a variety of excuses ... the weather's too hot plus the kitchen ceiling fan is still not working, I'm too tired because I didn't get enough sleep last night (yowling cats at 4am are such a delight), I really should be preparing homeschool lesson plans ... but I didn't.  I'm so thankful I didn't.

The cookie dough preparation took mere minutes of my time.  My children made me laugh as they oohed and aahed over each ingredient while hovering excitedly by the mixing bowl.  We dove into the cookies as they came out of the oven, savoring each bite of warm goodness and gooey chocolate.

It's a step in the right direction.