What would you do? Paint Party Friday

 This is my contribution for Paint Party Friday!

Two weeks ago a  local hero died at fifty seven years old. A seemly fit man my same age, who'd already had two hip replacements. One who gave decades of volunteer service and saved many lives! We can only hope one day this man who once spent two nights and three days in a gully with an injured man who snow shoed over an embankment until he was brought to safety is one day revered in a movie. 

We were teens together, but I only knew  him from afar. Still his death took me by surprise, I found myself grieving all last week. For his family, and all the community that loved this paramedic, volunteer search and rescue leader! There will be a huge void now that he's gone. I miss his face on our local News channel.  Sadly no one knew Sunday morning this beloved man would be gone that night!  It has propelled people to give generously to his cause.

I watched the intense video stream of this interesting mans epic memorial six days later. Admirable tributes from friends and coworkers only a true hero would receive touched me immensely.  I broke down when his adult children courageously spoke lovingly behind their tears. Revealing how dear their father was as a man in his community and  to their family! There is  now a campaign to name a peak of a local mountain after him! He truly deserves this and much more for his tremendous selfless service!

It was the passing of Princess Diana that motivated me to wrap up my divorce and move ahead many years ago. I wonder how many others will change direction because of the passing of this dear man.  I can't help but wonder what people would do  differently if they knew they only had a short time left! 

I think I need to get crackin that's for sure...because I have several things I want to accomplish, now I just need to figure out how to control interruptions, self sabotage and physical ailments! 

So what do you think you would  do differently if you knew you only had five years left? 

Here are a few photos cupcake took of the dinner I recently made. I scavenged the fridge for the tail end of our veggies some left over teriyaki pork to make this scrumptious chow mein dish in order to celebrate Chinese New Year! I thought it looked quite pretty!

I wanted to share the beautiful dish my dear friend recently sent me. It was made years ago in her glass blowing days! It now houses my rings! Yes I wear all three rings at once! Nothing says artist more than a bunch of big silver rings

Now if only it were this easy to change my wall colors as it is to digitally change this dish color, I'd be in my glory! Much love to all those who need it this week!! Hug your loved ones, tell them that you love them, and have  a great weekend! Don't forget to take lots of photos of them too!!

Five of My favorite things in the kitchen!

My Thai Salad

Five Things I value most in my kitchen in order of my favorite!

My really good very small paring knife….I’d be lost without it! Cost about nine dollars!

My t-fal wok pan, or any t-fal frying pan Does anything from a great omelet, to a wonderful stir fry, I also use it to cook my veggies for a fabulous thai salad too!

My blender is a must as we throw fruit in it daily to make healthy drinks.

The coffee pot is on at the very least once a day as I revere great cup of coffee with freshly ground beans in my little coffee grinder!

Of course my six month old fridge, because mine was on the fritz for so long!

What do you Value in your kitchen?

Five of my favorite food staples for cooking with

1) Fresh Garlic goes in almost everything!

2) Onions can’t live without them; they also enhance almost every dish!

3) Mayonnaise…..I can make any salad dressing or sauce as long as I have mayo as a base

4)Kraft zesty Italian dressing, for Greek salads, you can marinade anything it, enhances flavor with it as well!

5) Cheese, medium cheddar, Monterey jack, and Parmesan are always in my fridge….

What are your favorite staples!

First Thursday Thirteen

Ribs I had Christmas eve, I'd not had them in years!

Cheddar Cheese Perogies

Chicken dinner Ava had on Peppers wedding day!

Thursday Thirteen Thirteen things I cook in rotation, the first six regularly, the next five once a month or two months, and the last two for special occasions!

1) Chicken Wraps with vegetables

2) Cheddar Cheese perogies with fried onion, and Greek salad

3)Baked skinless chicken breast, either Asian dressing or, baked potato, Greek salad, asparagus

4) Spaghetti with hot Italian sausages, Caesar salad

5) Stir fry Chicken breasts, with every vegetable imaginable and rice

6) Pizza

7) Spinach stuffed pasta with salad

8) Sweet and sour pork with rice and Greek salad

9) Homemade macaroni with cheddar cheese salad

10) Roast beef, potatoes, zucchini and garden salad or carrots, or broccoli

11) Home made oven baked breaded chicken strips, and jojo potatoes, Greek salad!

12)Curried shrimp, or chicken because Pepper doesn’t like shrimp with Greek salad

13) Special occasions Shrimp fettuccini, (heart attack on a plate) very rare occasions