Live, Laugh, Love

By LJ Smith

by: LJ Smith

Where does this saying come from? The phase comes from a poem written by Bessie Anderson Stanley in 1904. “He achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much.”

https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/a7206/where-did-live-love-laugh-come-from/

Success

by: Bessie Anderson Stanley

He has achieved success
who has lived well,
laughed often, and loved much;

who has enjoyed the trust of
pure women,

the respect of intelligent men and
the love of little children;

who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;

who has left the world better than he found it
whether by an improved poppy,
a perfect poem or a rescued soul;

who has never lacked appreciation of Earth’s beauty
or failed to express it;

who has always looked for the best in others and
given them the best he had;

whose life was an inspiration;
whose memory a benediction.

This poem is in the public domain.

Bessie Anderson Stanley (1879 – 1952), a resident of Kansas, wrote this for a magazine contest that asked, “What constitutes success?” Her entry won first place. Bessie’s words are often erroneously attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson and Robert Louis Stevenson, and often paraphrased, but this is the original version.

https://www.yourdailypoem.com/listpoem.jsp?poem_id=2394

Making time to “Live, Laugh, Love” is great advice. Thanks Bessie!

About Me:

Life is precious, capture its beauty. I am lucky to have a loving family, and wonderful friends. Like everyone, I have good days and bad days, happy days and sad days, patient days and crabby days, beautiful days and ugly days, etc. I try to “hold the bright side up” as much as I can because it makes me feel better, and I think it helps others feel better too. I am so far from perfect, but I try to be kind and respectful. I truly believe that life is precious and that there are so many extraordinary ordinary people and moments in life. I want to share and celebrate the “extraordinary ordinary” through my writing and photography. Please check out my photos at Fine Art America Photography https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/35-laura-smith; at Adobe Stock at https://stock.adobe.com/contributor/207669601/Laura%20Jean%20Smith or at Shutterstock https://www.shutterstock.com/g/LauraJSmith. Perhaps you will find something you would like to have as your own?

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, 1904, Art, benediction, Bessie Anderson Stanley, Earth, Fun, heart, inspiration, intelligent, laugh, laughted often, life, life is precious, live, lived well, love, Minnesota, Photography, poem, poppy, Precious, public, pure, soul, trust

Art Mindfulness and Health

In the Spirit of “Life is Precious” Check Out This Book – Coming Soon!

By LJ Smith

You're currently a free subscriber. Upgrade your subscription to get access to the rest of this post and other paid-subscriber only content.

Upgrade subscription

Flowers Memories

Flowerful Meanings: Lilacs

By LJ Smith

“Now that lilacs are in bloom. She has a bowl of lilacs in her room.” – T.S. Eliot

One of my favorite flowers is the lilac. Where I live, in Minnesota, it typically blooms in May or early June. It is a tough plant that produces a lovely flower, with a beautiful scent, but, unfortunately it doesn’t bloom long.

Throughout history flowers have been considered to be a language of their own. Many countries throughout Europe and Asia have given flowers a specific meaning. Nearly every sentiment imaginable can be expressed with flowers.

Early Victorians used flowers as a way to express their feelings—love or grief, jealousy or devotion. In the Victorian era flower were used to deliver messages that could not be spoken aloud. Plants could express positive or negative feelings, and how the flowers were presented could also relay a message. For example, if the flowers were given upside down, they conveyed the opposite meaning of what was typically meant.

What meaning does the lilac have? Because they are early bloomers, lilacs are often a symbol of spring, renewal and confidence. The Celtics thought lilacs were magical because they have such a sweet scent. They were a symbol of “old love” during the Victorian age. Russians believed lilacs held over a newborn baby would bring the child wisdom.

The color of the lilacs matters in terms of its meaning. For example, a white lilac represents purity and innocence, while a purple lilac represents spirituality. Magenta lilacs symbolize love and passion.

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/g2503/surprising-flower-meanings/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=arb_ga_ghk_d_bm_g2503&gclid=Cj0KCQjwz7uRBhDRARIsAFqjulk46o8E28uonwgmv9ZFpDSn7deDXBAR7PZ5oYVG-mFNoTm2EoiH8_QaAvG2EALw_wcB

https://www.almanac.com/flower-meanings-language-flowers

About Me

Me in the Black Forest of Germany in 2019

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, Art, communication, confidence, heart, innocence, life is precious, Photography, Precious, purity, renewal, spring

Love One Another Memories Mindfulness and Health

“Lets make the most of this beautiful day…”

By LJ Smith

One of the people who has impacted my life positively is a person I have never met “in person” or “face to face”. I know him through his TV program Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. His name is Fred Rogers. In addition to being a T.V. personality, he was a writer, minister, activist for kids and as best as I can tell, a really awesome human.

The reason he influenced me so positively is I always felt when I watched his program that he was looking right at me and speaking to me. He always said and made me feel like I was special and that I matter.

I love to revisit things he said or wrote on a regular basis – they lift me up.

I will leave you with a wonderful Fred Rogers quote:

“Our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each of us has something that no one else has – or ever will have – something inside that is unique to all time. It’s our job to encourage each other to discover that uniqeness and to provide ways of developing its expression.” – Fred Rogers

I thank all the people in my life who helped me realize my value and one of those people was Fred Rogers.

ABOUT ME

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, Art, Fun, heart, life, life is precious, love, Minnesota, Photography, Precious

Food Ukraine

Is Chicken Kyiv from Ukraine?

By LJ Smith

I was first introduced to Chicken Kyiv [Kiev] when I was in my 30’s. I associate it with special occasions. What is Chicken Kyiv and did it originate in the Ukraine?

cooked chicken with brown sauce and green vegetables on white ceramic plate — Photo by Katarina Pjatakova on Pexels.com

What is Chicken Kyiv [Kiev]?

What is Chicken Kyiv? This dish is simply a pounded chicken fillet that is rolled around cold butter and coated with egg and bread crumbs. It can be fried or baked.

eiffel tower of paris — Photo by Boris Ulzibat on Pexels.com

Its Origin

I always assumed that Chicken Kyiv was created in Kyiv, Ukraine, but I recently learned that there is there is not documentation that proves that is the case.

The authentic recipe for Chicken Kyiv most likely originated from France.

In the late 1840s, the royalty of Russia sent chefs to Paris to learn. They returned from Paris with a dish called “Mikhailovska Cutlet”. In Paris the dish was made with veal, but in Moscow it was made with Chicken. Back then, chicken was more expensive than veal, and therefore, was considered to be more fancy.

Chicken Kyiv was served in elegant restaurants back then. American immigrants deserve credit for making this dish well known. After WWII, some American restaurants started putting this dish the menu. In order to attract Russian and Ukrainian immigrants it was renamed “Chicken Kiev [Kyiv]”.

This dish did not become common in Kyiv until tourists started asking for Chicken Kyiv in the late 1960s.

white ceramic mug with butter — Photo by Monserrat Soldú on Pexels.com

Authentic Chicken Kyiv

It is my understanding that the “official” Ukrainian version of the dish only has butter inside. Cooking to perfection includes ensuring that a small amount of butter is not melted inside. Cheese, garlic or parsley are not considered to be “authentic”.

The Ukrainian way of serving Chicken Kyiv is with a small bone sticking out (it keeps the butter inside).

So, the recipes below would likely not be considered authentic Chicken Kyiv [Kiev}, but they they still taste great!

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/01/29/170595236/classic-comfort-dish-chicken-kiev-got-its-start-in-france

Recipes

Support for Ukraine

Finnebrogue renames its vegan ‘Chicken Kyiv’ and pledges 50% of profits to support Ukraine

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10566567/Coles-Woolworths-shoppers-urge-change-chicken-Kiev-Kyiv.html

About Me

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, authentic, bread crumbs, chicken, chicken kiev, chicken kyiv, cutlet, egg, expensive, fancy, fillet, france, garlic, heart, immigrants, life, life is precious, love, mikhailovska cutlet, parsley, Photography, Precious, recipes, ukainian, veal, vegan, wwii

Art Memories

“F” is a 4 letter word for Fxxx! 👀

By LJ Smith

“F” is the 6th letter of the modern English language and basic Latin alphabets. The word I would like to explore is not the nasty version of the “four letter word” (the one that would get you in trouble with your mother if you said it in front of her as a child). It is also not the words “fact”, “fame”, “fast”, “fall” or “fart”.

The word I am thinking of is one that was extremely popular in the United States around 1924 and remained very popular until 1955. It is a word that was extremely popular in the UK before the 1920’s and through 1934, and it reemerged in popularity again for a short time during 2012.

What word could that be? It is the name “Fred”!

He or She?

“Fred” as a name is of German origin. It means “peaceful ruler”. While most popular as a male/boy name, “Fred” is considered a unisex – gender neutral name. Fred is a form of the female names Alfreda, Freda, Frederica and Winifred. As for the male’s, Fred is a form of Fred, Frederick, Frederico, Freddy, Fredek, Frederich, Freed, and Fryderyk.

Famous Real People “Freds”

There are several famous people named “Fred” in the world. My favorite “Fred” is Fred Rogers of “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood”. As a child I watched him often on television and it always felt like he was talking just to me. He reminded me that if you can be anything in this word you should “be kind”. Mr. Rogers told me that I was special just the way I am. In addition, he pointed out that when bad things happen look for the helpers. I can truly say that I love him and I have never met him. Crazy huh?

Another famous “Fred” is Fred Astaire, born On May 10, 1899 in Omaha, Nebraska as Frederick Austerlitz. He was an American actor, dancer, singer, choreographer, and television personality. Some people consider him to be one of the greatest dancers in the history of film.

A few other famous “Freds” include:

Fred Armisen, Cast member on “Saturday Night Live” for 11 years (2002-2013)
Fred Savage, Played Kevin Arnold in the American television series “The Wonder Years”
Fred Durst, Frontman of Limp Bizkit (rap rock band)
Fred Willard, Played role in “This is Spinal Tap” (Rob Reiner mockumentary film)
Fred Dryer, NFL football player, actor and radio host
Fred Gwynne, Roles in 1960s sitcoms “Car 54, Where Are You?” and “The Munsters” (Herman Munster)
Fred McGriff, MLB first baseman
Fred Grandy, Played “Gopher” in the sitcom “The Love Boat” and served in the US House of Representatives
Fred Brown, Professional basketball play with the nickname of “Downtown Freddie Brown”
Fred Couples, American golfer, played on the PGA Tour

**Fred Gwynne, Play Herman in the 1960’s Sitcom, “The Munsters”**

Famous Fictional “Freds”

Fred Jones from the cartoon series “Scooby Doo”
Fred Weasley from “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”
Fred Flinstone from the cartoon series “The Flinstones”
Freddy Krueger from “Freddy’s Nightmares”
Fred (an animated vehicle) in the movie “Cars”
Freddy Rumsen in “Mad Men”
Fred from “Sponge Bob Square Plants”
“Imaginary Fred”, book by Eoin Colfer and Oliver Jeffers
Fred from “Big Hero 6”
Coconut Fred from “Fruit Salad Island”

**Fred Flinstone from “The Flinstones“**

https://www.amazon.com/Imaginary-Fred-Eoin-Colfer/dp/0062379550

**Coconut Fred from “Fruit Salad Island”**

Who are your favorite “Freds” – non-fictional or fictional?

Links to Additional Information

https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-people-named-fred/celebrity-lists

https://www.babynamespedia.com/meaning/Fred/f#:~:text=The%20baby%20girl,Freda%2C%20and%20Freddee.

https://nameberry.com/babyname/fred

https://myfirstname.rocks/baby-names/fred#:~:text=Is%20The%20Name%20Fred%20Popular,data%20(ssa.gov).

http://www.babynamescience.com/baby-name/Fred-boy

https://www.names.org/n/fred/about

https://www.ukbabynames.com/boys/fred

About Me

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, actor, Amazon, athelete, Baseball, Big Hero 6, Car 54, Coconut Fred, comedian, dancer, Downtown Freddie Brown, Eoin Colfer, F, famous, fictional, fred, fred armisen, fred astaire, Fred Brown, Fred Couples, Fred Dryer, Fred Durst, Fred Flinstone, Fred Grandy, Fred Gwynne, Fred Jones, Fred McGiff, fred rogers, Fred Savage, Fred Weasley, Fred Willard, Freddy Krueger, Freddy's Nightmares, Fun, Golf, Golfer, Gopher, Harry Potter, he, heart, Herman Munster, Imaginary Fre, letter, life, life is precious, Limp Bizkit, love, male, MLB, Mockumentary, Mr Roger's neighborhood, mr. rogers, NFL, nonfiction, Oliver Jeffers, peacful, PGA, Photography, Precious, Rob Reiner, ruler, Saturday Night LIve, Scooby Doo, she, Spinal Tap, The Flinstones, The Love Boat, The Munsters, The Wonder Years, united kingdom, US House of Representatives

Food Mindfulness and Health

“E” is for Exxxxxx!👀

By LJ Smith

Here is a riddle for you…

What green thing starts with the letter “E” and is 2 inches long?

What is green, starts with the letter “E”, is high in fiber and protein, rich in several vitamins and minerals and delicious?

What green thing starts with the letter “E”, reduces cholesterol and bone loss, as well as certain types of cancers?

Magical?

Any guesses?

question mark on chalk board — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The answer is … “E” is for Edamame!👀

What is Edamame?

Edamame is pronounced ed-ah-MAH-may. It is basically a young, hairy soy bean.

Edamame is picked when it is green and not fully mature. This is why they are so sweet and tender. Some say they taste like a sweet pea (or snow pea), with a bit of hazelnut.

The edamame pods have been popular in Asia for centuries. Most people in the United States that know edamame were introduced to it in a Japanese restaurant.

green edamame plant — Photo by Fredox Carvalho on Pexels.com

Where is Edamame Grown?

If one looks solely at soy bean production, the United States was the world’s top soy bean producer for many years. In 2020 Brazil took over that title from the United States.

Close to 95% of edamame is imported from China to the United States. It has been a very strong, established industry in Asia for more than 30 years. While the United States produces a very small amount of the edamame for domestic consumption, Arkansas has emerged as its leading edamame producer.

person pouring seasoning on green beans on bowl — Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Health Benefits

As mentioned in the introduction, Edamame is a healthy food.

It is high in fiber and protein (over 18 grams of protein). Edamame is also low in fats, carbs and calories. A cup of edamame is only about 180 calories.

Several studies have linked edamame to bone health, blood health and heart health. In addition, some feel that it reduces the risk of breast and prostrate cancer.

Recipes

How does one prepare edamame? A quick search on the internet will easily get you many recipes to consider.

A common way to prepare edamame is boiled/ steamed and seasoned. But, you will find a variety of recipes out there. It is a very delicious and it is clear why it is a popular appetizer / snack. I have included a recipe created by Caroline Phelps below. You will also find a link to her site called “The Pickled Plum”.

Links to Additional Information

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/soybeans#nutrition

https://www.ricardocuisine.com/en/articles/the-ingredient/780-5-facts-about-edamame

https://www.verywellfit.com/edamame-nutrition-facts-4583022

https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-secret-of-edamame

https://www.kobejones.com.au/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-humble-edamame-bean/

About Me

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, appetizer, Arkansas, Art, Asia, bone health, Brazil, Caroline Phelps, china, delicious, eat, edamame, fiber, Fun, healthy, heart, life, life is precious, love, minerals, Photography, Precious, prepare, protein, question, reduce cancer, reduce cholesterol, riddle, seasoning, Soft, soy beans, The Pickled Plum, vitamins

Art Cars Memories

“Drive My Car” – Legally?

By LJ Smith

In the United States some parents (including me) have told their children “Driving is not a right, it is a privilege”. I recently learned that this slogan is debatable, and has been brought to the U.S. Supreme Court for review.

I would imagine that there are various opinions about driving being a “right” versus a “privilege” vary widely throughout the world. Until June 2018, Saudi Arabia was the only country that did not allow women to drive.

The most common legal driving age among countries is age 18. The Bahamas, Canada, Israel, Malaysia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, United States and Zimbabwe have the lowest driving age (17 or younger).

“Easy Peezie”

According to Vroom, Vroom, Vroom, Mexico is one of the easiest countries to obtain a driver’s license because you don’t need to take an exam. Honduras is also known for its ease of becoming a driver, also because some say you do not need to take a written or driving test. Reputations for the ease of getting a license also belong to the Philippines, South Korea, Pakistan, Egypt and India.

active man jumping over rocky formations — Photo by Dmitriy Ganin on Pexels.com

Most Challenging

Vroom, Vroom, Vroom also reports that it is most challenging to obtain your driver’s license in the United Kingdom, Finland, Singapore, Japan, South Africa, Germany and Saudi Arabia. The reason it is so challenging to earn your license in these countries is because these countries have extensive requirements and/or they are very strict about doing certain things “per the book”.

For example, in Japan if you exceed a certain speed you fail immediately. In South Africa you need to perform well at parallel parking and alley docking in order to pass your test. In Germany if you do not pass your behind the wheel test after three tries you must enroll again in Fahrschule (driving school). Finally, in Saudi Arabia your license is valid for 10 years and then you need to retake the test.

Additional Information and Links

https://www.stressfreecarrental.com/en/australia/minimum-driving-ages-mapped-across-the-world

https://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/49004/cars/is_the_legal_driving_age_the_same_for_all_countries.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_to_drive_movement#:~:text=Until%20June%202018%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia,forbidden%20from%20driving%20motor%20vehicles.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/24/world/middleeast/saudi-driving-ban-anniversary.html

https://blog.vroomvroomvroom.com/

https://blog.vroomvroomvroom.com/2018/04/hardest-drivers-license-test.html#gsc.tab=0

blue volkswagen beetle — Photo by Fredrik Rubensson on Pexels.com

About Me

Food Memories Uncategorized

Frivolous Friday – How “German” is German Chocolate Cake?

By LJ Smith

With all the seriousness in our world right now I thought it would be refreshing to take a moment for a “Frivolous Friday Fun Fact Journey”. I am very interested in almost everything German, so lets look into the German Chocolate Cake.

Originally German’s chocolate cake, is a layered chocolate cake filled and topped with a coconut–pecan frosting. How “German” is German Chocolate Cake?

The German Chocolate Cake has been a “thing” for over 60 years. Because of its name, I always assumed this recipe hailed from Germany. It turns out that with this assumption I have reinforced Albert Einstein’s intelligence and how right he was about many things – including assumptions. He said, “Assumptions are made and most assumptions are wrong.” This is so true!

Image of German Chocolate Cake (Source: https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/german-chocolate-cake/)

Origin of German Chocolate Cake

A gentleman by the name of Sam German, an American or English decent, invented a sweet baking chocolate in 1852. His baking chocolate contained more sugar than other baking chocolates. Walter Baker, the owner of Baker’s Chocolate Company bout the recipe from German for $1,000 and sold it as “Baker’s German’s Sweet Chocolate”.

It took over 100 years from the time Sam German invented his sweet baking chocolate for it to become well-known. Thanks to Mrs. George Clay, who sent her cake recipe to the Dallas Morning Star newspaper in 1957 the German Chocolate Cake became a “thing” . She orginally called the recipe German’s Chocolate Cake, but over time the apostrophe was not used. Her recipe became very popular. The recipe was published in several newspapers across the company, and Baker’s Chocolate Company’s German’s Chocolate sales skyrocketed in just one year.

Seven years later, in 1964, Baker’s Chocolate Company included Mrs. Clay’s recipe for German Chocolate Cake on the wrapper. Today Baker’s Chocolate products.

Links to More Information

https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/is-german-chocolate-cake-from-germany#:~:text=George%20Clay%20Created%20the%20Recipe,using%20Baker’s%20German’s%20Sweet%20Chocolate.

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11331541#:~:text=Transcript-,This%20year%20marks%20the%2050th%20anniversary%20of%20the%20German%20chocolate,depending%20on%20what%20you%20read.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker%27s_Chocolate#:~:text=Baker’s%20Chocolate%20is%20a%20brand,chocolate%20in%20the%20United%20States.

https://www.10best.com/interests/food-culture/german-chocolate-cakes-dirty-little-secret-its-actually-from-texas/

https://wordpress.com/read/blogs/163175374/posts/1128

https://wordpress.com/post/lifeisprecious.blog/2111

An American Dessert – Not German

So, again, I learn at least 1 thing new everyday…today I learn that German Chocolate Cake is an American dessert, not a German dessert. I read that I am not the only one to make this mistake, and history notes that even President Lyndon B. Johnson, and his wife, Ladybird Johnson, made my mistake. Back in 1963 they served German Chocolate Cake to German Chancellor Ludwig Erhard at a state dinner because they thought it was a German dessert.

Don’t forget….June 11th is National German Chocolate Cake Day in America.

The Recipe

It is safe to say, after searching the internet for German Chocolate Cake recipies, there are hundreds (and maybe thousands or more) of recipies for this cake. They each vary slightly from one another. I wanted to find the “original” recipe. I don’t think I actually found the “original” recipe, but found many that claim that status.

https://yesterdish.com/2013/03/11/germans-chocolate-cake/

https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/german-chocolate-cake/

About Me

Memories

Kxxx or Kxxx? K is for Kxxx?👀

By LJ Smith

To be or not to be? That is the question! To spell it Kxxx or Kxxx?

closeup photo of assorted color alphabets — Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com

How should one spell the capital ciry of Ukraine? Is it Kiev or Kyiv? Why?

The Answer Is……………………………….

Kyiv

The link the the Time Magazine (Time.com) article below can explain much more, but at a high level, the spelling “Kiev” is the way the Russian’s translate it from their Cyrillic (Russian) alphabet to the Latin alphabet. Ukrainians changed their official city spelling in the Latin alphabet to Kyiv.

This is because they feel that using the Ruaaian spelling reinforces what Ukrainians believe is the Russian government’s condescending view of Ukraine. They do not want others to fall into the “Russian frame of mind” as quoted by Taylor in the Time.com atricle.

black typewriter — Photo by Valerio Errani on Pexels.com

Ukraine (with out the “the”): https://wp.me/paEFjB-Aq

Difference Betweeen Ukraine & Russia’s Alphabets

According the Babbel.com (link below) both of the alphabets consist of 33 letters and are Cyrillic.Ukraine does not use the Russian letters Ёё, ъ, ы and Ээ. Ukraine has Ґґ, Єє, Іі and Її. How certain words and letters are pronounced also varies, for example И in Russian is pronounced like [ee] in the words “seed” or “meet”. In Ukrainian “И” has a short [i] sound (“kill” or “live).

Also interesting is the fact that words written the same between the 2 languages could mean totally different things. The Babbel article uses the example of ” приклад which means “rifle butt” in Russian, while Ukrainian it means “example.”

https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/differences-russian-ukrainian

motherland monument among green trees on embankment in kiev — Photo by Max Vakhtbovych on Pexels.com

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, alphabet, Babbel, Babbel.com, capital, capital city, condescending, country, Cyrillic, heart, k, Kyiv, language, Latin, life, life is precious, love, Magazine, Photography, Precious, Russia, time magazine, time.com, Ukraine, view

Memories

Ukraine without “The” ?

By LJ Smith

I have to thank my cousin, Cher, for pointing out my recent “faux pas”. I learn something new everyday, and she taught me how to refer to Ukraine in a more respectful way. Thanks Cuz!

neon signage — Photo by Ivan Bertolazzi on Pexels.com

Respectful – “Please Call Me…”

Most of us want to be respectful to individual preferences, especially when it is associated with their name. Many of us have “preferred first names” – “instead of Jim, please call me James”, “instead of Susan, please call me Suzie”, etc. Our society is becoming more knowledgeable about the importance of gender pronouns and how hurtful using the wrong one may be to someone. I am learning the word “the”, an article which is frequently used in the English language to define a noun, is not to be used iin reference to Ukraine: “instead of the Ukraine, please call me Ukraine”.

the national flag of ukraine by the arc de triomphe in paris — Photo by Mathias P.R. Reding on Pexels.com

Love For Ukraine: https://wp.me/paEFjB-zZ

Why Nix The Word “The”?

Why? Why should the little 3 letter word “the” not be used in reference to Ukraine? I have provided a Time Magazine (Time.com https://time.com/) link that explains why Ukraine should be referred to without “the”. https://time.com/12597/the-ukraine-or-ukraine/

In summary, Ukrainians prefer that we refer to their country as Ukraine (without “the”) because it is a deliberate exclusion to emphasize their independence. Before their indpendence the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was their official name. Dropping “the” is a way to send a message that they are an independent country. Tamara Gallo Olexy, of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, said: “We correct anybody that we’re speaking to,”… “It’s this feeling that you’re part of another country, that you are a territory of somebody else.”

https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine

a person wrapped in the national flag of ukraine — Photo by Ahmed on Pexels.com

Remember…

So, especially during this time that Ukraine is fighting to maintain its status as an independent country lets remember it is Ukraine (NOT the Ukraine).

Ukraine

Slava Ukraini! https://wp.me/paEFjB-z2

paper flag with peace sign — Photo by Santiago Sauceda González on Pexels.com

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, Art, britannia, call me, differently, faux pas, fight, heart, independence, life, life is precious, love, love for ukraine, name, peace, Precious, slava, slava ukraine, slava ukraini, the ukraine, think, time magazine, time.com, Ukraine, ukrainian

Art Memories Mindfulness and Health Ukraine

Love for Ukraine

By LJ Smith

Love for Ukraine

https://folkways.si.edu/olga-pavlova/vesnivka-a-spring-song/world/music/track/smithsonian

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, #Ukraine, Art, care, heart, Hugs, life, life is precious, love, music, peace, Photography, Precious, slava ukraine, Song, support, Ukraine, war

Art Mindfulness and Health Ukraine Uncategorized

Ukraine’s National Anthem

By LJ Smith

A national anthem is a musical composition of a patriotic nature that symbolizes the history and traditions of a nation. The words and music combine as a shared pride, strength and sense of unity.

We are all holding the Ukraine at the top of our minds and close in our hearts. This war that Russia is forcing onto the people of the Ukraine is horrible. On Facebook this morning I saw a post that said “If Russia stops fighting the war ends. If the Ukraine stops fighting then the Ukraine ends.” So true. It all makes me feel so sad.

a kid protesting against the war in ukraine — Stop War in the Ukraine. Sign held by a Ukranian child. The wisdom of children is great. Photo by Matti on Pexels.com

The History and Origin of Ukraine’s National Anthem

The national anthem of the Ukraine was formally adopted less than 30 years ago. It was adopted after the Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. It is known as the “State Anthem of Ukraine”, but also as Shche ne vmerla Ukraina’, which translates into English as ‘Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished’. The melody of today was officially accepted by Ukraine’s parliament in 1992. The lyrics are from Pavlo Chubynsky’s patriotic poem, which originated in the 19th century and was titled “Ukrain Is Not Dead Yet”. The music set to the poem for the anthem was composed by Mykhailo Verbytsky.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavlo_Chubynsky

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mykhailo_Verbytsky

hands holding a no war sign — No More War: Photo by Santiago Sauceda González on Pexels.com

SLAVA UKRAINI !

The Lyrics, The Tune, The Heart

The lyrics of the anthem remain relevant today, especially as the Ukrainian people do their best to fight back Russia’s attack on their nation.

The Ukrainian National Anthem’s lyrics, translated into English:

Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished

Ukraine is not yet dead, nor its glory and freedom,
Luck will still smile on us brother-Ukrainians.
Our enemies will die, as the dew does in the sunshine,
and we, too, brothers, we’ll live happily in our land

We’ll not spare either our souls or bodies to get freedom
and we’ll prove that we brothers are of Kozak kin.

Beautiful violin music – the melody of the Ukranian National Anthem. https://www.youtube.com/

https://www.youtube.com/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ushome/index.html

The Ukrainian National Anthem in Ukraine is:

Shche ne vmerla Ukrainas

Ще не вмерла України і слава, і воля,
Ще нам, браття молодії, усміхнеться доля.
Згинуть наші воріженьки, як роса на сонці.
Запануєм і ми, браття, у своїй сторонці.

Душу й тіло ми положим за нашу свободу,
І покажем, що ми, браття, козацького роду.

Rally to show support for Ukraine after Russian invasion, Times Square, Manhattan, New York City, started 12:00 noon, Thursday, February 21, 2022.
People singing Ukrainian National Anthem.#Ukraine #nyc nyc

THREAD
1/ pic.twitter.com/oMNNfhcArl
— DataInput (@datainput) February 24, 2022

Protests in New York City

Praying for Peace & Freedom for the Ukraine

peace word carved in wood — “Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me….”
Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

Posted in: #nyc, #Ukraine, 1992, 19th centruy, Anthem, bodies, bombing, clean up, composition, daily mail, dew, enemies, fighting, glory, happlily, hearts, Kozak kin, land, luck, Lyrics, Manhattan, melody, minds, music, Mykhailo Verbytsky, National, National Anthem, New York City, ourland, patriotic, Pavlo Chubynsky, Pexels, Photography, poem, pride, Rally, Russia, Shche ne vmerla Ukrainas, Song, souls, spare, State Anthem of Ukraine, time Square, traditions, Ukrain Is Not Dead Yet, Ukraine, Ukraine's Parliament, unity, Versus, violin

Uncategorized

SLAVA UKRAINI !

By LJ Smith

What does Slava Ukraini mean?

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, city, flag, Freedom, heart, kiev, life, life is precious, love, Photography, Precious, slava, sunflower, Ukraine

Art Memories Mindfulness and Health

D is for Gxxxxxx!👀

By LJ Smith

It is magical! It is a mystery! It is true! If you don’t know this already you are about to learn something new. How can D be for Gxxxxxx?

D is for Deutschland, or Germany in English.

According to Babbel Magazine, https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/why-is-germany-called-deutschland, the word Deutschland has been used by Germans to refer to their country since the eight century. The word “deutsch” means “of the people” and the word “land” means land. So Deutschland literally means “the people’s land”. Pretty cool, huh?

For some reason, I have always been fascinated by Deutschland (Germany). Perhaps it is because some of my ancestors hail from Deutschland, or that it was the one foreign language my small town school offered and I first learned or maybe it is because I love to dance and I love to dance to Polka music.

I have only visited Deutschland once. It was a wonderful trip that went way too fast. During that trip spent time in der Schwarzwald (the Black Forest), on the Rhein (Rhine River), Heidelberg and a day in Köln (Cologne). I would go back again in a heartbeat, and hope to see more of the beautiful country of Deutschland very soon.

Links to More Information About Germany

https://www.tripsavvy.com/guide-to-the-black-forest-4775203

http://www.loreley-info.com/eng/rhein-river.php

https://www.germany.travel/en/cities-culture/heidelberg.html

https://www.cologne-tourism.com/https://theplanetd.com/facts-about-germany/

https://theplanetd.com/facts-about-germany/

https://takelessons.com/blog/fun-facts-about-germany-z12

Merchandise sold in a little inner city market.

A Few Facts About German

👀Germans are the second largest beer consumers in the world, after the Irish (of course).

👀Gummy bears candies were invented by a German. https://www.haribo.com/en-us/products/goldbears

👀There are 1,000 kinds of sausages in Germany.

👀Germany has the world’s largest cathedral (in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)

👀Germany has thousands Of unexploded bombs (from WWII)

👀Germany’s beer drinking age is 16 (but you must be 18 years old to drink spirits)

👀Germany has more than 400 zoos

👀1/3rd of Germany is forests

👀1/3rd of Germany is powered by renewable energy (solar & windmills)

*Köln* (Cologne) Cathedral, *Köln* (Cologne), Germany

About Me

A very happy “me” in the Schwarzwald, Germany

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, Art, beautiful, bombs, cathedral, Clock, cologne, deutschland, drinking age, Fun, Germany, gummy, gummy bears, haribo, heart, heidelberg, kohl, largest, letteres, life, life is precious, love, Photography, Precious, renewable energy, sausages, solar, the black forest, the rhein river, windmills, zoos

Art Memories

C is for … Cxxxxxx!👀

By LJ Smith

In the great words of Sesame Street’s Cookie Monster: “C is for Cookie that is good enough for me!”

Many Meanings

C is for Cookies! Even a simple word like cookie can have so many different meanings. Life cannot be too simple, right?

For example, the word “Cookie” can be a term of endearment or affection (a synonym for dear or sweetheart). It might be used as a slang word for descibing the character of a person, i.e. “tough cookie” or “smart cookie”. Or, sometimes it is cused to refer to a very attractive woman, i.e.”French cookie”. And then there is the meaning technology gave the word cookie…the cookies that are files or part of files on your computer that read information and contain personal information about the user. A cookie helps a site remember information about your visit and makes it easier for a user to visit that site again. Finally, there is the fun game called Clicker Cookie https://cookie-clicker.co/.

Now, the older I get the more I realize, even the most useful and innocent of terms can also be repurposed by creative humans into “adult only” type meanings, i.e. a name for female genitalia or a euphemism for a woman giving sex to a man.

https://youtu.be/Ye8mB6VsUHw

Call me old fashioned, but my all time favorite definition of “cookie” remains its original meaning: a small sweet cake, typically round and flat and having a crisp or chewy texture. Namely, chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies, shortbread, butter cookies, sugar cookies, molasses cookies, …… Russian tea cakes, spritz cookies, lebkuchen, etc. Or, even boutique cookies from Crumble Cookies https://crumblcookies.com// or Insomnia Cookies https://insomniacookies.com/menu or Cheryl’s Cookies https://www.cheryls.com/?r=ccogoobr&camid=472_13888062125_kwd-320264619058&g_acctid=3079168627&g_campaignid=13888062125&g_adgroupid=125666000838&g_adid=546325377086&gclid=Cj0KCQiApL2QBhC8ARIsAGMm-KGlJ3-ic6ChE4OHg3bC_ZEW-kAWFPZswWkS281wWf4l2l3O2ad7VvcaAqstEALw_wcB or a Minnesota State Fair favorite, Sweet Martha’s Cookies https://www.sweetmarthas.com/.

All these are the kind “cookie” the Cookie Monster and I love!

Something very interesting about the word “Cookie” is that this word, including its spelling, is shared by over 15 different languages including: English, Czech, Danish, Luxembourgis, Maltese, Norweigen, Tatar, Georgian, Burmese (Myanmar), Uzbek, Kurdish (Kurmanji), Shona, Somali, Cebuano, Filipino, Javanese, Maly and Sudanese. https://www.indifferentlanguages.com/words/cookie#region-6

7 Cookie Quotes from Cookie Monster

About Me

Art Memories Mindfulness and Health Uncategorized

B is for … “Xxxx B”…. 👀

By LJ Smith

man sitting on chair beside dining table

B is for “Plan B”! What is “Plan B”? Well, like most things in life it can be multiple things. “Plan B” is another term for “The Morning After Pill”, an emergency form of post sex contraception https://planb.ca/en/what-is-plan-b . But, I am not talking about that “Plan B”.

The “Plan B” I am talking about is the one defined in Merriam Webster’s on-line dictionary

Plan B (noun): an alternative plan of action for use if the original plan should fail

plan%20B#:~:text=Definition%20of%20plan%20B,the%20original%20plan%20should%20fail

We have all had to go to our “Plan B” at some point in life – some are little “Plan B’s” and some are HUGE “Plan B’s”. Sometimes our “Plan B” takes us to wonderful places we never imagined we would go! And sometimes “Plan B” gets us back to our “Plan A”, just a slightly different way than originally planned. It is important to remember that “Plan B’s” are not stop signs or road blocks, they are, as stated in the dictionary, alternative plans fo action.

In my life sometimes I draft my “Plan B’s” as an insurance policy before I need to put them into action, and sometimes I have had to just stop and develop my next plan as I needed it. The important this is you get yourself one [a “Plan B”] when needed.

As I said, sometimes your “Plan B” will bring you down roads you never imagined you would go down and bring you to places more beautiful than you ever imagined. I thank by “Plan B’s” for introducing me to my wonderful husband, bringing me my beautiful daughter and son, presenting me with the opportunity to live in South Africa for a year, discovering a new restaurant, meeting new friends, etc….. I could go on and on and on with the gifts I received thanks to my “Plan Bs”.

How about you? What wonderful things came to you as a result of you following “Plan B”?

Life is All About How You Handle Plan B. - Life.Simple.Perspective

I found an interesting perspective from a blogger and author by the name of Allison Fallon. She shares 13 Lessons from a Life that Did Not Go as Planned https://allisonfallon.com/did-not-go-as-planned/.

Hardcover Life Is All about How You Handle Plan B Book

Suzy Toronto writes about how to handle the “Plan B”s in our lives. She does it in a fun and comforting way.

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/life-is-all-about-how-you-handle-plan-b_suzy-toronto/9646247/item/12581475/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA3rKQBhCNARIsACUEW_bXc_JOmxgZMteZXe3O7v-a5vBFd-D-XeePAxWE2ARHadfXYQ44kIgaAup-EALw_wcB#idiq=12581475&edition=9047761

About Me

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, A, Allison Fallon, Art, B, Contraception, Dictionary, Fun, Goals, Health, heart, Insurance Policy, life, life is precious, love, Meaning, Merriam Webster, mindfulness, Minnesota, Noun, Photography, Plan, Plan A, Plan B, Precious, Rolling with the Punches, Suzy Toronto, The Morning After Pill

Art Memories Mindfulness and Health Uncategorized

“A” is For … Axxxxx!👀

By LJ Smith

In some ways, life is very simple…as simple as the “A, B, C’s”.

A is for … Apples!

Besides being delicious, there is lots of meaning and symbolism represented by apples. Apples can be given to a a teacher as a jesture of appreciation or respect. Offering an apple can also be a declaration of love. In ancient mythology, the apple is one of the most sacred trees and symbolises good health and happiness. Apples are a symbol in a dream, indicating harmony, fertility, pleasure and sexual desire. An apple can also represent youth or immortality. In the biblical tradition the apple is considered to be an image of paradise, a symbol of joy, or in the biblical story of Adam and Eve – sin.

Today my image and thoughts are inspired by the wisdom of children and Robert Fulghum, the author of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. In addition to learning our “A, B, C’s” and “A is for Apple”, Fulghum reminds us…

“These are the things I learned (in Kindergarten):

1. Share everything.
2. Play fair.
3. Don’t hit people.
4. Put things back where you found them.
5. CLEAN UP YOUR OWN MESS.
6. Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
7. Say you’re SORRY when you HURT somebody.
8. Wash your hands before you eat.
9. Flush.
10. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
11. Live a balanced life – learn some and drink some and draw some and paint some and sing and dance and play and work everyday some.
12. Take a nap every afternoon.
13. When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
14. Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
15. Goldfish and hamster and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup – they all die. So do we.
16. And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned – the biggest word of all – LOOK.”
― Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

“I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge. That myth is more potent than history. That dreams are more powerful than facts. That hope always triumphs over experience. That laughter is the only cure for grief. And I believe that love is stronger than death.”
― Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

About Me

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, apple, apples, appreciation, Art, balanced life, clean, death, dick and jane, don't hit, dream, experience, facts, fair, fertility, flush, friends, Fun, greif, Happiness, harmony, Health, heart, history, hit, imagination, immortality, joy, Kindergarten, knowledge, laughter, life, life is precious, look, love, mess, Minnesota, mythology, paradise, Photography, pleasure, Precious, red, respect, Robert Fulghum, sacred, sex, sexual, sexual desire, share, simple, sin, sorry, tree, trees, triumphs, youth

Art Memories Mindfulness and Health Uncategorized

Sharing The Good Work of Others – Control Your Thoughts … White Bear and Blue Dolphin?

By LJ Smith

How can we control our negative thoughts? A piece written by Inc.com’s Justin Bariso (see link below) has ideas as to how to gain control of how long thoughts, especially negative ones, stay at top of mind. I love the tags they have given these thoughts: White Bear Problem and The Blue Dolphin Rule.

The White Bear Problem refers to when we tell ourselves, or others tell us, not to think about something. It turns out that this increases the frequency of such thoughts. For example, if someone says “Don‘t think about the white bear.“, you most likely will have a difficult time getting the white bear to leave your thoughts. Or, if someone says “Don‘t be nervous.“, your anxiety will remain, and often increase.

Conversely, the Blue Dolphin Rule refers to trying to replace an uwanted thought with a new thought, a distraction thought. This is very effective in making unwanted thoughts go away. This reminds me of the movie, The Sound of Music. and the song “My Favorite Things”. “If I simply remember my favorite things then I don’t feel so bad….”

https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/emotional-intelligence-ironic-process-theory-white-bear-how-to-control-thoughts.html

Well, I am going to give it a try! I think it may work.

About Me

Art Memories

Sparks of Joy! New Phone Wallpaper!

By LJ Smith

Life is precious! There are so many things in our life that bring us a spark of joy. This talented artist is one of them.

I just bought an awesome February phone/iPad wallpaper graphic from this shop. Only $1! There are lots of other super cute things too. I recommend you check it out!

https://ummmheather.com/

About Me

Posted in: Art, bright, clouds, colorful, February, Fun, green, heart, joy, life, life is precious, little, love, Minnesota, pink, Precious, purple, red, shop, simple, spark, support, UMMMHEATHER, vlog, wallpaper, youtube

Art Memories Uncategorized

Throw Back-Thursday

By LJ Smith

Go back, go back, go wayyyyyyyyyyy back!

Remembering my grandparents playing piano together before leaving their wedding anniversary celebration with family. True love lasts forever!

About Me

Me and my Dad
Black and White Photo Booth Days

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, anniversary, Art, Bernice, black, black coat, Blue, celebration, curly, curtains, Dad, dark wood, family, farm, farmhouse, fingers, flowers, Fun, glasses, Grandparents, hands, hat, heart, keyboard, keys, life, life is precious, little girl, love, me, memories, Minnesota, music, nostalgia, Photo, Photobooth, Photography, piano, pink, Precious, red, red coat, remembering, remembrance, sitting, smiles, standing, stripes

Art Uncategorized

Ummmheather – My Niece!

By LJ Smith

I am very proud to say Heather is my niece…She is super talented,creative, smart, kind, and beautiful. I recommend you check our her YouTube channel, her other social accounts and store.

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, Artist, circle, colorful, create, December, dog, edit, entertaining, family, February, Fun, graphic design, Graphics, Healther, heart, holiday, january, library, life, life is precious, love, Mall of America, Minnesota, North, phone background, Photography, procreate, rainbows, refine, round, Show, sketch, stickers, tap, tools, UMMMHEATHER, video, vlog, wallpaper, youtube

Art Memories Mindfulness and Health Uncategorized

Wordle…Wordle…Wordle…It is so Fun!

By LJ Smith

I have come to the newest internet word game craze late. I tried Wordle for the first time a couple days ago. It is fun! Now that the New York Times acquired this viral puzzle game, I am not certain it will still be available me in the future, BUT I plan to enjoy it daily until then.

I and many share the same words sentiments about this game “It is so fun!”. I am wondering what makes it fun from so many of us. Pehaps is it because:

Scarcity/Rare – Only 1 chance a day; Only a limited number of tries
Limited time commitment
Ability to share successes with others easily
Similar to a jigsaw puzzle, only with letters
Helps us remember that we are smart – we know stuff
Required focus, and in a world that demands multi-tasking all day long that can feel refreshing and good

The famous puzzle company Ravensburger sites studies about puzzles making us happy.

https://www.ravensburger.org/uk/discover/family-friends/why-doing-puzzles-makes-you-happy/index.html#:~:text=But%20psychology%20is%20aware%20of,we%20achieve%20the%20perfect%20balance.

Ravensburger sites Dr. Stephen Lermer, a Communications Psychologist, “We humans feel stressed if we have a task that we don’t succeed at and are bored if we are competent at something but have no task,” … “By doing puzzles, we achieve the perfect balance. It is where competence meets challenge. It means we have a task that we are capable of doing, but are not sure how long we need to complete it and whether we will be successful at it, on the first try. That is the charm of doing a puzzle.”

https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/thank-you-wordle-its-been-fun/

So, I guess I need to be reminded that all types of puzzles and challenges bring us joy and Wordle won’t be the last little quick fun puzzle game that will cross my path.

Looking for ideas for my next “Wordle Type” adventure. Please share!

About Me

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, 2022, acquisition, all ages, application, Browser, capable, charm, cnet, commitment, Communications, Dr, Dr Stephen Lermer, Facebook, February, focus, Fun, game, Games, Happiness, heart, jigsaw, joy, kauft, Letters, life, life is precious, love, mystery, New York, New York Times, NY, NY Times, old, one a day, Photography, popular, power language, powerlanguage, Precious, Psychology, purchase, Puzzle, Puzzles, rare, ravensburger, refreshing, renouwned, scarce, scarcity, shared, Spiel, success, task, uk, viral, Wordle, Words, young

Art Memories Uncategorized

Put On A Happy Face!

By LJ Smith

Studies show that smiling is great for your health!

https://www.sclhealth.org/blog/2019/06/the-real-health-benefits-of-smiling-and-laughing/#:~:text=When%20you%20smile%2C%20your%20brain,endorphins%20come%20into%20play%20too.&text=There’s%20been%20some%20evidence%20that,your%20mood%20and%20happiness%20level.

About Me

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, beautiful, better, Face, Fun, happy, Health, life is precious, love, Minnesota, Photography, Precious, smile, teeth

Art Uncategorized

Sharing the Good Work of Others: World Snow Sculpting Championship

By LJ Smith

Snow sculptors are amazing. This is in Stillwater, Minnesota.

Photos courtesy of @discoverstillwater, Stillwater Chamber of Commerce.

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, amazing, Art, artists, champion, championship, cold, community, Fun, heart, life, life is precious, love, Minnesota, Photography, Precious, river, sculpting, sculptors, Snow, stillwater, winter, World

Memories

Sharing the Good Work of Others: Art Shanty Projects

By LJ Smith

One of my favorite Twin Cities, Minnesota events is Art Shanty Projects. It is a celebration of art and creativity on a frozen Minnesota lake. For the past few years it has taken place on Lake Harriet in Minneapolis. In this post I have included a link to their website and some picture from my past visits. It is so much fun!

Visit

Visit

About Me

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, 55 older, Art, artists, bicycles, bike, bottles, butterfly, cat, cold, competition, costume, cow, creativity, dragon, drawings, festival, fluffy, Fun, gathering, heart, ice, kick sled, kites, know, lake, life, life is precious, love, Minnesota, people, Photography, pills, Precious, pretend, sauna, shanty, skate, sled, witty

Memories

Think Warm!

By LJ Smith

On a cold winter day it is fun to “think warm”.

“The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money.” – Thomas Jefferson

Posted in: cold, mind over matter, Positive, summer, warm, winter

Uncategorized

Hearts – My Favorite Shape

By LJ Smith

The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart. – Helen Keller

Widely recognized as a symbol for love, affection and caring, the heart shape has always been a shape I have found endearing. How this shape got to be associated with all these good things is somewhat of a mystery and its origins and history has many potential stories. Varied theories associated with the origin of the heart shape abound. Today it is one of the most used emojies.

https://www.history.com/news/what-is-the-origin-of-the-heart-symbol

https://www.artandobject.com/news/history-heart-shape

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_symbol

How did the human heart become associated with love? And how did it turn into the shape we know today?

Wherever you go, go with all your heart. **– Confucius**

*“The heart’s memory eliminates the bad and magnifies the good.” –* **Gabriel Garcia Marquez**

*It is quite rightly quoted “***You are not rich until you have a rich heart.”** – **Roy T Bennett**.

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. **– Ralph Waldo Emerson**

*“Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with those who are reckless with yours.”* – **Mary Schmich**

*“A good heart ‘is worth gold.” –* William Shakespeare

*“If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.” –* **Maya Angelou**

Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye. **– H. Jackson Brown, Jr.**

“Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.”
― **Roy T. Bennett,** The Light in the Heart

*“A great smile is a wonderful asset, but a good heart is pure gold.” –* **Dolly Parton**

About Me

Posted in: adoration, attachment, care, caring, companion, companionship, dating, devotion, doting, endearment, fondness, heart, intimacy, life, love, marriage, passion, Photography, Precious, shape, tenderness, ticker, warm, worship

Memories

Glass More Than Half Full!

By LJ Smith

About Me

Posted in: beer, coffee, coke, cold, cup, Drink, glass, hot, hot chocolate, Jennifer Lopez, life, love, pop, Positive, quench, refreshing, smile, soda, specialty drinks, Wine

Memories

Live Every Day Like it is Taco Tuesday

By LJ Smith

Taco Tuesday ….

The History of Taco Tuesday

Yum

Grand Marais, Minnesota

About Me

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, fair, food, Fun, Grand Marais, heart, history, la Mexicans market, life, life is precious, love, mexican, Minnesota, nicos, Photography, Precious, St Paul, st peter, statw fair, taco, taco johns, tuesday, yum

Memories Uncategorized

A Few of My Favorite Things – 2: Time…Lots of Time

By LJ Smith

“Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.” – Harvey MacKay

“**Time is what we want most,but what we use worst.**” – William Penn

**“The way we spend our time defines who we are.”** – Jonathan Estrin

**“Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.”** – Theophrastus

**“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.**” – Leo Tolstoy

**“Time is money.”** – Benjamin Franklin.

**“Regret for wasted time is more wasted time.”** – Mason Cooley

“**Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.“** – William Shakespeare.

**“The time you enjoy wasting, is not wasted time”** John Lennon

**“The time for action is now. It’s never too late to do something.“** – Antoine de Saint-Exupery

**“How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?“** – Dr. Seuss

**“We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they’re called memories. Some take us forward, they’re called dreams.“** – Jeremy Irons

“**Time is the longest distance between two places.“** – Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie

**“There is always time for coffee!”** – Unknown

“**It takes a long time to grow young.**” – Pablo Picasso

**“What did the digital clock say to the analog clock? A. Look, No hands!”** – Sheri Powell

About Me

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, 1836, accordian, age, benjamin franklin, Big Ben, black forest, Clock, clock tower, coffee, cooking, Dr. Seuss, europe, friends, Fun, german, ghost, good and bad times, halloween, heart, historic, john lennon, kids, kitchen, landmark center, life, life is precious, love, Minnesota, money, numbers, o'clock, old friends, park rapids, parliament, patience, penn, Photography, Precious, precious time, quotes, roy rogers, schwarzwald, scoreboard, small town, spooky, The Time of my life, time, tomy, toy, Wabasha, warriors, waste, watch, william penn, wood, worst

Memories

A Few of My Favorite Things – 1

By LJ Smith

I simply remember my favorite things … snow people!

Me and my snow people!

Posted in: #lifeisprecious, Art, bright, celebrate, cold, creative, enjoy, frozen, Fun, good, Happiness, heart, hope, images, joy, joy to the world, kindness, life, life is precious, love, magic, magical, minneapolis, Minnesota, nature, North, park, people, Photography, Positive, positivity, Precious, silly, smile, Snow, snow people, snowmen, St Paul, time, Twin Cities, warm, whimsy, white, winte4 fun, winter

Memories

Summer ….. and Fall

By LJ Smith

The sunny, sunflower wilting as the seasons transition from summer to fall.

While I enjoy all the seasons I have to say that my favorite seasons are spring and summer. I kind of dread the transition from summer to fall. Lots of people I know think I am crazy because fall is their favorite season. Once we get into a season I enjoy it, but the anticipation of spring and summer is much greater for me than thinking about fall and winter.

Summer means flowers, being outdoors with family and friends, eating outside in our backyard or on restaurant patios, dandelion wine, raspberries, farmers markets, long walks, long days, warmth, festivals, outdoor music, fresh produce, long road trips, kayaking, bicycling, waving at neighbors, spontaneous conversations outdoors, sandals, shorts, sundresses, time in my backyard hammock, cleaning the garage,……fun!

What is your favorite season? What does it mean to you?

One of my favorite spring flowers – lilacs

Deer shedding its winter coat and looking for food in our front yard

Making dandelion wine in memory of my grandmother – Dolly

Another favorite spring flower – peonies

Summer sunset on a northern Minnesota lake

Outdoor brewery and winery visits with friends

Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) Lake, Minnesota in August

Tettegouche State Park, Minnesota – High Falls in August

We should enjoy every season – especially your favorite seasons.

About Me

Posted in: 4th of july, beer, BWCA, canoe, child, colors, daisies, dandelion, deer, dragon fly, enjoy, fall, farmer, farmer's market, favorite, flowering trees, flowers, friends, Fun, happy summer, hummingbird, kayak, lake, life is precious, life love, lilacs, Minnesota, nature, Outdoor, outdoors, paddle, pansies, peonies, Photography, relax, Seasons, summer, sun, sunning, sunset, warm, water, Wine

Memories

Life Is Precious – Especially the Friends We Make Along the Way

By LJ Smith

25+ Quotes to Help You Get Through a Death of a Friend | Cake Blog

Chris passed away on December 25, 2020. He is survived by his husband Anh Quang Nguyen, as well as several siblings, nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Chris had a long and distinguished career on Capitol Hill. He was also a strong Hamline booster: planning alumni events in Washington DC; welcoming students, faculty, staff, and alumni to his office in the Rayburn Office Building; returning to campus during Homecoming and Alumni Weekend to celebrate and speak to political science classes; and more.

In honor of Chris’s relationship with Hamline, we are raising funds in Chris’s name with the goal of creating a scholarship fund. This legacy will be a tribute to our friend and provide Hamline students with the opportunity to live their passions as Chris did. Questions may be directed to giving@hamline.edu.

https://www.givecampus.com/schools/HamlineUniversity/chris-hoven-memorial-scholarship?fbclid=IwAR3V7Z8wNejstclzoW12CbO41lg5emAkv5fri6w3Evmc1ldBQ4-7yQZqt_8

Please consider a contribution to Chris’ scholarship – even a small donation will make a world of different in us being able to meet the required $50k to make it a perpetual scholarship.

Posted in: Adam Schiff, alum, booster, Chris, Chris Hoven, donation, Friend, friends, friendship, generosity, learn, life, life is precious, love, memory, Minnesota, Precious, scholarship, St Paul, study, washington dc

Memories

An Image No Words – #2

By LJ Smith

Please share in the comments below the word or words that come to mind when you look at this picture.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About Me:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

What is Chicken Kyiv [Kiev]?

Its Origin

Authentic Chicken Kyiv

Recipes

Support for Ukraine

About Me

Share this:

Like this:

He or She?

Famous Real People “Freds”

Famous Fictional “Freds”

Links to Additional Information

About Me

Share this:

Like this:

What is Edamame?

Where is Edamame Grown?

Health Benefits

Recipes

Links to Additional Information

About Me

Share this:

Like this:

“Easy Peezie”

Most Challenging

Additional Information and Links

About Me

Share this:

Like this:

Origin of German Chocolate Cake

Links to More Information

An American Dessert – Not German

The Recipe

About Me

Share this:

Like this:

The Answer Is……………………………….

Difference Betweeen Ukraine & Russia’s Alphabets

Share this:

Like this:

Respectful – “Please Call Me…”

Why Nix The Word “The”?

Remember…

Ukraine

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

The History and Origin of Ukraine’s National Anthem

The Lyrics, The Tune, The Heart

Praying for Peace & Freedom for the Ukraine

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Links to More Information About Germany

A Few Facts About German

About Me

Share this:

Like this:

Many Meanings

Cookie Monster’s Favorite

Different Languages Sharing the Same Word, Same Spelling and Same Meaning

About Me

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: