Fudge – Anticipation and fulfillment of a comfort food!

April 29, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 24 Comments

Homemade Fudge

So I made fudge today.

It was one of “those days”. You know the kind, where something a little extra is needed and I do admit to loving chocolate. Homemade fudge is one of my favorites. There is something absolutely wonderful and soothing about fudge, but not just eating a piece (or two).

The whole experience is wonderful. The chocolate aroma that lingers not just in the kitchen, but throughout the house and of course the anticipation of …

Spoon Full of Fudge

… eating the fudge left on the mixing spoon (Emma called dibs on the spoon) notice she’s enjoying her fudge while she listens to her favorite tunes.

Enticement of a pan of fudge

… to cleaning out the fudge left in the pan (Jordan called dibs on the pan.) Notice she even stopped her conversation on her iphone while she enjoyed scraping the pan for every morsel of the delicious chocolate.

Fudge – Have a piece, or two!

As for me … Well I had a few pieces of fudge with a glass of milk while I sat down and wrote this blog. I’d share the fudge with you if I could. Just know I’m thinking of you even as I finish the last little bite!

Mmmmmmmmmm! It is so yummy, yes definitely a comfort food! I feel very comforted right now.

Hope your week is going well for you, thank you for stopping by,

~ Penny

Good Morning, Afternoon, Night and Zzzzzzzzz!

July 22, 2013July 22, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 29 Comments

“After the basics, it doesn’t matter what you don’t have in this life.

What matters is what you do with what you have

… and how you do it!”

~ Penny L Howe, 2013

Depending on the time of day, (where you live) I wish you a good one. It is still Monday for most of you and I’m hoping the beginning of your week is shaping up to be a positive and productive one.

My “quote”, something perhaps to contemplate on this first day of the new week.~

Each day we wake, whether the sun is shining or not, we still wake and are here living and breathing! Today let’s show gratitude, leave the “numerous others” to point out (and give opinions about) other people, what they do that we don’t like, and what’s wrong with everything. Let’s remind ourselves how lucky we are and pass along caring and loving comments (about what’s right) that will make a positive difference for you and others.

Thank you for stopping by, may your day be blessed and filled with good things for you and yours,

~ Penny

Happy Weekend Bloggers,

June 1, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 34 Comments

I’m hoping that everyone is having a wonderful, relaxing and enjoyable weekend!

My plans include relaxing, and more relaxing (well besides some work in the yard – a good workout and the yard thanks me)!

– a field trip for sketching, nature calls to me (fun)!

– a few hours of the written word (addiction)!

– happily reading, lost in someone else’s words!

– playing and enjoying the family!

– some quiet time, music and reviewing solitary thoughts!

Mostly reminding myself to take care of me (not being selfish,

here just reminding myself of my own self worth –

A reminder to each of you!)!

“Nurturer ~ nurture thyself! You can’t be there for others

if you’re not there for you FIRST!” ~ Penny L Howe, 2013

That sums it up, how about you?

~ Penny

The True Meaning of the infectious giggle

May 22, 2013May 22, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 43 Comments

The following words were spoken to me this morning by the oh-so-wise eleven year old young lady living in this household!

“Everything is alright – inside of us – when we laugh!” Emma L.B. 2013

self portrait (cartoon style) by Emma L.B., 2013

Now that’s a quote I can really get my arms around, both figuratively and literally! Children do have a way of reminding us of what is truly important in life. And they are always the most simple of things. So why are our lives so complicated? How come we lose this awareness when we grow up, and why?

I recently visited one of my blogging friends, Doris who posted (with great photos) that a fun way to “escape” is to spend time with children. Check her post out, just click on her link! She’s right!

The talented and delightful Emma was recording her laughter for a video she is making (both her and her brother are into movie making). Emma’s area of interest is making moving cartoon videos from her original characters that she draws. Jack – two years her senior is also into Stop Motion videos, lego pieces and people (he has one of the sinking of the titanic), and also racing/crashes with hotwheels cars. (The process is laborious and takes hours). They both do their own uploading and editing including voice overs of their videos!

So Emma has been recording her laughter and giggles and playing with it for the voice over for her latest cartoon video. She just came into my writing room and asked me to listen to her laughter. We both ended up laughing for 5 minutes. So naturally I had to share her “giggle” and her reason why laughter is a good thing, with all of you!

Essence of the infectious giggle as demonstrated by Emma!

Make the best of your day, even in the most difficult of circumstances. Laughter does help! So do children!

~ Penny

The Art of being Playful -101!

April 11, 2013April 11, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 17 Comments

Has anyone noticed that life can be a little … TOUGH!!!

Life comes at a person fast and furious (on some days). Or dreary and overwhelmingly dull and even (should I use the word … depressing) on other days. Scary, Frightening, Sad, Miserable, Hectic, Cruel, Too much, too much, too much …

There you go. That’s us humans for you. We’re a very reactionary bunch aren’t we? We think and emote over almost everything. Maybe we’re too stationary. Or not stationary enough (mentally speaking)!

I think we need more “playful” breaks. Tickling and giggling are good. Just running with a burst of energy for no reason at all is good. Singing a fun song just for the heck of it.

“If your happy and you know it clap your hands.

If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands.

If you’re happy and you show it then the whole wide world will know it,

it you’re happy and you know it clap your hands.”

Happiness is a state of being. It doesn’t “fix’ the problems of the world. But it certain puts us in a more positive productive mode (mood also) which can in fact change how we approach the problems of the world. Change your attitude and things don’t appear quite so untenable.

Saying I love you for no reason at all except you just want to in the moment (children do that spontaneously, you know).

And being sensual … as in my last post. That’s being playful also. On a list of top ten playful things for adults to do … Being openly sensual is right up there towards the top because we need each other and we need to let each other know this. A very good and “playful” reminder for you today.

It’s Thursday, a work day for many, still take a little bit of time today and be playful,

thanks for stopping by,

~ Penny

Just why I will have a great weekend! 3 expert opinions (well 2 for sure)!

January 25, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 30 Comments

Well I figure I’m small cute and cuddly so even if I’m grumpy I’m going to get a lot of love!

And I’m thinking that even though it’s colder than a … on a …., I can still throw out a pretty good tune. You know sing a pretty bird song which should be a pretty cheerful and happy thing to do!

And as for me, the Penny of it all, Well looking around me I’m thinking I’ve got everything I need for an absolutely perfect weekend!

If the weather were a little better I’d go for a walk by the river, hang out with the geese and the ducks or take a nice hike up in the hills, but it is winter so a good book seems to beckon.

I hope your weekend is a good one for you, enjoy, relax and embrace the moment, it’s your life after all!

~ Penny

Life is Short …

December 7, 2012 / Penny L Howe / 22 Comments

Going for it!

Live Wide, my friends … Live Wide!

Journal Entry ~

The thought crossed my mind today that if we enjoyed what was right in front of us, in the moment, each day, we would probably be much happier instead of constantly searching for and coveting the next newer, better, bigger, greater thing. Only to remember to enjoy each of these moments with great gusto!

End Journal Entry – plh, 12-07-12

The actual quote “Live is short live wide” is by one of my favorite science fiction authors, Robert Heinlein. I have always thought it an excellent quote for how we embrace each day with our thinking and actions. Hope yours is filled with such happy thoughts and that your weekend is a special one. Thank you for visiting me,

~ Penny