That's how I roll now...

Gratitude

It's been a long time...but I'm here. Just wanted to express some gratitude. I have so many things to be thankful for. First of all, I'm so thankful for this wonderful place which I live in. Everyday I wake up and look outside and I'm speechless. The smell of trees, the green, the sound of birds chirping...I love it here so much!  I'm thankful for my husband who works hard so I don't have to and also for all the things he does for me. I'm thankful for my son Danny for thanking me after every single meal I prepare for him. He comes and kisses me on the cheek and says Mae, thank you for this food. I'm also thankful for my son Andre who watches movies with me, who goes to the supermarket with me to carry all the heavy stuff that I can't carry. My kids teach me so much. I'm incredibly grateful for my two wonderful pets who make my life so full and made me realize how important animals are in our lives. They stood by me in difficult times, they showed me love when I was despaired, in return I volunteered countless hours in my local shelter and soon I'll foster pets in need. It was in my time of need that I painfully realized who my real friends are. It was then that I saw the true nature of people.  Now I'm grateful for seeing things in a different way for having my eyes wide opened. I'm grateful for my health even though I have some back issues ,overall I'm ok. I can take my dog to the dog park and go on long walks, and to me this is therapy. Tomorrow, I'll start the day cooking a marvelous meal for my family, I'll go on a wonderful walk with my loyal and loving dog and I'll thank God for my life. My inner happiness is coming back.

At the farmer's market

I love this place!

I'm at the weekly farmer's market where i buy tons of fresh and organic fruits and veggies.

This is so amazing to me.

New life

I'm so relieved to be here in this new place! A well deserved beginning. Time to rethink my life , my beliefs and who I really am. I feel like I was in a bubble and couldn't get out... It's when you go through really hard times in your life that you find out who really matters and who are the people who love you. People reveal themselves. You see the real and the fake. I'm very disappointed at a lot of people but it's all part of life. Masks fell off. Life is hard and we're here to grow. I'm growing. I'm grateful for this new opportunity. God is looking out for my family and I can see his hand on my life. I hope I can make a difference here, that my life means something. I have a purpose and I know why I'm here. I'm awake!

Tia Neuza em Utah

Mes passado eu tive o prazer de receber a Tia Neuza na minha casa, foi bom ter a visita dela. Nos passeamos, conversamos muito, demos muitas risadas. Aqui estao umas fotos dos nossos passeios pelo supermercado e tambem nosso almoco no Red Lobster. Beijos Tia!

My son Danny

This is my genius son Danny, he teaches me lessons everyday.

He is so far ahead from where I was at his age. 

It amazes me how his generation is different.

They will not tolerate prejudice, they fight for what's right.

They won't tolerate arrogance or self righteousness.

I'm thankful for my wonderful son, for opening my eyes about so many things.

I am a better person because of him. Love you son!

Even with all the grumpiness of your teenage years. 

Bacalhau da Vo Landa

Eu chamo essa receita de Bacalhau da Vo Landa porque a Vo sempre me mandava receitas que ela recortava no jornal. Uma vez eu perguntei se ela tinha uma receita boa de bacalhau que fosse suave e as crianças gostassem. Um dia ela me mandou uma cartinha com essa receita, nao tinha nome nem nada mas parecia muito boa. Eu fiz e desde aquela época, uns 20 anos atras, eu ainda faco essa mesma receita. Desculpem o meu português precário...
Vai ai então os ingredientes:
1 kg de files de bacalhau sem espinhos, de-molhado
1 cebola media picadinha
1 copo de azeite de extra virgem
1 maco de salsinha picadinha
1 vidrinho de creme de leite fresco
 4 copos de leite
4 colheres de sopa de farinha de trigo
4 colheres de sopa cheias de manteiga sem sal
pitada noz moscada
2 copos de batata palha
1/2 copo de farinha de rosca
sal a gosto
opcional: 2 cenouras raladas

Cozinhar o bacalhau de-molhado em uma panela com agua fervendo ate amolecer. Escorrer e desfiar. Separe.
Numa panela grande coloque o azeite, cebola picada e e doure. Acrescentar o bacalhau e cozinhar por mais uns 10 minutos em fogo baixo.  Se quiser pode cozinhar junto as cenouras. Retire do fogo e adicione a salsinha picada, mexer bem.
Faca separadamente um molho bechamel com a manteiga, farinha, leite e noz moscada epor ultimo o creme de leite fresco.
Junte o bechamel ao bacalhau, adicione a batata palha e misture bem. Coloque num refratario e cubra com a farinha de rosca. Coloque no forno medio e asse ate dourar. Sirva com arroz e salada verde.
Aqui vai as fotos que tirei enquanto preparava essa maravilha:

Ai que saudade do meu filhote!

So pra matar a saudade...

My sweet Zoey

I missed my dog so much! She is such a great companion that I felt kind of empty without her. I think she was wimping for an hour after I picked her up from the kennel.

The wisdom of Rumi

"One day you will look back and laugh at yourself.

You’ll say, “ I can’t believe I was so asleep!

How did I ever forget the truth?

How ridiculous to believe that sadness and sickness

Are anything other than bad dreams.”

Rumi

Thank you Rumi for such kind and wonderful words. 

I'm glad I found this today.