This Perfectly Imperfect Life

Because #FreedomIsntFree and because not all who serve come home. #RememberandHonor today all those who made the ultimate sacrifice and paid the ultimate price protecting our Freedom. #MemorialDay  #honorandremember #memorialdayweekend #allgavesomesomegaveall #attitudeofgratitude #myperfectlyimperfectview #thisperfectlyimperfectlife  (Taken during one of our Veterans Day parades in the last few years from our float - I adore this photo of the Flag!)

What a fantastic Independence Day so far!  Cool, mostly cloudy, some rain most of the day. Now it's turned into the perfect Summer late afternoon! Clear, sunny, not a stitch of humidity to be had and a refreshing on-shore breeze. Did I mention the Quiet?! Quiet days here at the Portable Homestead are rare and downright lovely, and the weather has only enhanced the peacefulness of the day, so we don't mind one bit that it hasn't been not hot and sunny on this 4th of July. A lazy morning spent sleeping in, then venturing into town for breakfast just ahead of the shore crowds. More lazing around once we returned home, watching tv, watering and tidying up in the garden, even a load or two of laundry, then hot dogs on the grill with fresh tomato onion cuke salad for lunch. Reading Dollbaby by Laura Lane McNeal, set around Independence Day. So glad Hubbs has been able to relax today after a busy day off yesterday! He doesn't get too much relaxing ...

To all who are celebrating today, I hope you are having a lovely and safe holiday! This is my favorite Irish Blessing, which hangs in our hallway. I got a later start this morning than I planned on, thanks to waking up with a migraine, but dinner is finished and ready for 5pm with a few hours to spare. The corned beef brisket I buy doesn't have a spice packet, but that's alright because I use my own seasonings anyhow. I cover the brisket with water and add a few bay leaves, lots of fresh ground pepper, two dashes of mustard seeds, a dash of garlic powder, and a tablespoon of minced garlic. Once the pot comes up to a boil, I skim off the foam (and re-add some pepper if a lot came out with the foam), and then I simmer the corned beef for 3 hours, turning it over every so often if any of it is sticking out about the water line so it cooks evenly. Corned beef and cabbage, with potatoes and with or without onions and carrots, is traditionally served to celebrate Sain...

In my family, and here at The Portable Homestead, Saint Patrick's Day is not an excuse to get snockered.  It's a holiday. Like Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter. Always has been.  A celebration of my heritage and food, a celebration of my Nana, and a day to remember her, although not a day goes by that I don't. 

I hope you have a lovely day, no matter the weather! 

Blessed for this reason and many more! Happy Saint Patrick's Day! "May you always be blessed With wall for the wind, A roof for the rain, A warm cup of tea by the fire - - Laughter to cheer you, Those you love near you, And all that your heart might desire." -An old Gaelic Blessing Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

For newer friends who don't know: My parents divorced when I was 6 months old in 1976 and my father died before I turned 4 years old in 1979. To say he didn't treat my mother well is an epic understatement. To say he was abusive is an epic understatement. His 'tough' city fire fighter co-workers were afraid of him. He drank heavily, another epic understatement, from a very young age and, for all intensive purposes, drank himself to death. He had his first heart attack at the age of 36. He died shortly after his 3rd heart attack at the age of 44. It was a case of Doctor Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, but Mr. Hyde was in control more often than not, whether he was sober or not. And despite everything he did to her, had she known he was lying in a FL hospital bed dying, she would have gone to see him to say goodbye. But my grandparents didn't want her to know. That's another story for another time. Grandmother eventually told my mother his ashes had been scattered in...

To my beloved Father.in.law, the wonderful man who has blessed these last 8 years by making this day mean something positive to me for the first time in my life! Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

I awoke to find this beautiful Morning Glory blooming on the arbor this morning. What a lovely way to start a Saturday! The gusty breezes and low humidity are making this a fine day indeed. I was able to have my morning cuppa tea on the patio, something I really enjoy. Hurricane Earl missed us completely and while we're all grateful in this area, we could have used some of his rains with this drought we've got going and not another chance for rain for at least 7 days according to the weather this morning. We haven't had a hot & dry Fall in many years and I'm afraid we're due. (Hopefully Mother Nature flips a weather pattern switch with the official arrival of Autumn this month and we get out of this). What are your plans for this holiday weekend? We're heading to our place up north later this afternoon until Monday while one of our nephews has his daughter over here for the weekend. (Didn't I mention we have another nephew staying with us? No? He...

A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That courageous act alone is worthy of our respect & appreciation. Please take some time to remember those who've Served our Country & gone before us and thank a Vet for his or her Service if you know or see one this Memorial Day. We Walked Among The Crosses We walked among the crosses Where our fallen soldiers lay. And listened to the bugle As taps began to play. The Chaplin led a prayer We stood with heads bowed low. And I thought of fallen comrades I had known so long ago. They came from every city Across this fertile land. That we might live in freedom. They lie here 'neath the sand. I felt a litt...

A Happy Mother's Day to all of the Mother's of Angels on Earth and to all of the Mother's of Angels in Heaven.

When this day arrives, I cannot help but think of my Nana. When I was young, still in grammar school, I remember going with her to an (early) evening Holy Thursday Mass. It must have been fairly warm as I remember wearing a blue windbreaker I had back then. The Mass was unlike any Mass I had been to at that point or since. No organ with Mr. Fitzpatrick, our school's music teacher, leading the Hymns, but a man with an acoustic guitar, the father of a classmate. There was something less forced, less routine and more uplifting & peaceful about that Mass. The Church was bright, the colors in its' murals more brilliant than they appeared during the day. Those there were there because they wanted to be (I wasn't sure I wanted to be there at first but was soon glad I went). It started and ended with the few who attended praying the Rosary aloud. It was beautiful. I don't recall going to a Holy Thursday Mass prior to or after that one with my Nana and I can't ...

"May you always be blessed With walls for the wind, A roof for the rain, A warm cup of tea by the fire- - Laughter to cheer you, Those you love near you, And all that your heart might desire." ~An Old Gaelic Blessing Did you know? Irish actually ate cabbage and thick, cured bacon on this day. (They didn't have corned beef). Also, blue is the "National color" of Ireland. An interesting site in keeping with the day: Irish Cultures and Customs . How I miss my Nana on days like this! She came to America, by herself, in 1919, at the age of 19, on a ship (which didn't go through Ellis Island as she had a "sponsor" here already). Forced to leave a life, the land and the people she loved as a replacement for her sister because her sister was sent back to Ireland because of a punctured ear drum. Nana always talked about going back to Ireland and taking me with her. We never made that trip and I truly hope that before I pass on someday,...

My color choice in honor of the day.

A Happy Valentine's Day! And remember to celebrate love in all its' forms every day. It doesn't have to be February 14th on the calendar for it to be a special day.

Photo taken with Palm Centro December 5, 2009 I'm nearly done and better photo's are coming soon!

"May you always be blessed With walls for the wind, A roof for the rain, A warm cup of tea by the fire- - Laughter to cheer you, Those you love near you, And all that your heart might desire." ~An Old Gaelic Blessing Did you know? Corned beef is English! Irish actually ate cabbage and thick, cured bacon on this day. (They didn't have corned beef). Also, blue is the "National color" of Ireland. A link in keeping with the day: http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/