Musings Newsletter

celebrating 40 with friends

My dear friend Nancy hosted a 40th birthday party for me a couple days ago and I had such a great time! My friends Bonnie, Linda and Jane were there too and everyone made me feel so special. Thanks ladies! I love you all! We drank adult beverages, ate wonderful food (Papa Murphy’s pizza, watermelon…

six senses saturday

~seeing~ about 25 bald eagles flying overhead and My family enjoying dinner out on the deck… ~hearing~ Alexi Murdoch on the iPad ~smelling~ fresh spearmint-infused iced tea ~tasting~ Romanian basil-beef kabobs after my son-in-law-to-be showed me this yummy recipe! ~feeling~ happy, grateful and exhausted after a long day ~knowing~ that this is a good match…

the languid step of spring

The house needed a little TLC both inside and out and because it was gorgeous over the long weekend I decided to start outside. I cut at least 30 oak tree saplings out of our front bulb/fern garden… cut back the MAMMOTH ROSE BUSHES without too much bloodshed, which was a first. One year I…

a walk in the woods

There’s a beautiful trail only a block away from our house that we can access at the base of  Sorin’s Bluff. It’s a great place to take a walk through the woods, and a fantastic workout too! We decided to hike it over the weekend. Next time we’re going to pack a picnic and bring…

mother’s day

“Whereas the service rendered the United States by the American mother is the greatest source of the country’s strength and admiration; and Whereas we honor ourselves and the mothers of America when we do anything to give emphasis to the home; and Whereas the American mother is doing so much for good government and humanity,…

rain rapture

I’ve decided to spend the day in my kitchen, listening to my favorite radio shows, watching this movie on my little DVD player, and baking a special cake for a tea I’m attending tomorrow. I did a LOT of baking over the winter, and I sort of thought I’d be sick of it come spring,…

Six Senses Saturday

~Seeing~ Breakfast at Tiffany’s on the little DVD player in the kitchen We watched while we cooked we sipped pinot… A relaxing Friday evening and a sweet date night   photographs by Melissa Placzek ~Smelling~ This coffee brewing in the French press… Thanks Jana! ~Tasting~ This… ~Chop Salad~ 4 large handfuls fresh spinach, chopped 3…

mercury rising

photograph by Melissa Placzek The weather has finally taken a turn for the better in Minnesota. We’ve been grilling out every chance we get, and will probably be out on the deck again this evening. I was just thinking about all the things we’re looking forward to this spring and summer and decided to make…

Six Senses Saturday

~Seeing~ These new-to-me books by one of my favorite authors Helen Hoover ~Smelling~ Imagine Perfume by Lollia… smells like spring! ~Hearing~ This album, by The Tallest Man on Earth I am in love with this music and expect to be listening all weekend… Like the Wheel The Gardener ~Feeling~ This poem by Mary Oliver ~Tasting~…

Six Senses Saturday

~Tasting~ Bistro Scrambled Eggs & Asparagus ~Smelling~ another loaf of no-knead bread baking ~Hearing~ Agnes Obel sing this and this ~Seeing~ paints, paper, and pens ~Feeling~ inspired ~Knowing~ “You can stand tall without standing on someone.  You can be a victor without having victims.” ~Harriet Woods Have a beautiful day! ~Melissa