a cooking pot and twisted tales
Thoughts and Tales…A Lifestyle Blog with a Zing.
In a World that has been increasingly hectic with ugly and disturbing news, I make it a point to look out each day that I’m opportune for that little thing that makes me smile. It may not seem like much, but these little things warm my heart.
Watching this dad adjust his daughter’s tie, rearrange her hair and hold it up with a scrunchy, is one of such smiley moments for me.
Find something to smile about today 🙂
Who says that you’ve got to be rich to love the beautiful things of life?
Nope! It’s not a prerequisite.
Richness can be fed through the eyes without spending a dime. I love browsing through shops (new and antique), appreciate the things that I see and stoke my imagination.
I stumbled upon this setting during my weekend photo hunting walkabout. The table is a bit crowdy, but the scented candles had a wonderful fragrance.
Enjoy feeding your eyes with the beautiful things of life.
Jacqueline
I walked past these flowers two days ago, I noticed the unfurling buds, I took a photo and went on my way.
I walked past the same flowers yesterday, I saw that they had bloomed prettily, I took another photo and went on my way.
I went on my way with a thought about these simple blooms. I recalled the phrase "bloom where you are planted." It didn't matter how scorching the sun has been; it didn't matter how dry the season is in the desert; the plant didn't have to go to the Tropics to try and grow; it stood where it was planted and brought forth its beauty! What matters is that as long as you push the boundaries of comfort where you are, In your time and in due season, you'll bloom wherever you are.
Shalom!
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
One of the decisions I made earlier this year is to reduce as much as possible, my families consumption of fizzy pops, KoolAids, Caprisun, Tang and all such drinks and to replace them with fresh, healthier options.
Initially, it was not an easy sell to the children and Dear Himself.  I heard a lot of moans and groans to start with, but it caught on right  after the first trial run. Now, we bulk purchase a variety of fruits, juice them, mix them, make smoothies out of different blends and bottle to freeze.
The children participate in doing this, from washing the fruits, to peeling, to juicing with the electric juicer….
The process is fun since they get to eat the sweet pulp from the fruits and to label their hard work. Each school morning, a bottle of frozen homemade juice is tossed into their lunch box (it retains its freshness from freezing and would have melted by break time) and they bring back the bottles, rinse it out with warm water and reuse.
The interesting thing is that when we eat out these days, the kids compare the drinks they get outside to the one that we make at home and their verdict is that our’s is better 😉
How do you get your children to assist in the house? I love to learn from others.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
I saw the beautiful, interesting vase standing alone in a quiet corner of the mall as I nosed around. I noticed a chipped bit around her neck, but the questioning poem came to my mind. I wondered who the sculptor had in mind when he/she was creating this.
Have you been clicking your camera recently? Any interesting finds? Enjoy your day.
Well, who says that if we can’t go to the exotic Island of Hawaii, that we can’t bring Hawaii to the desert and possibly have a good Luau while at it 🙂
Aloha!
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I went to buy a bit of ground cinnamon and found myself buying a few curious blend of spices that I’ve never tried before.
I also bought some Chickpeas that I’ll use to prepare Hummus and I’ll share the recipe with you later 🙂
This is mango season and the delicious fruit abounds in the fruit stalls right now.
Taking advantage of its sweetness asides from juicing them and making smoothies, they can be used in fresh salads as well.
I made this platter yesterday evening and you have to take my word for it that it’s yummy and of course, you are welcome to give it a try 🙂
Quick Recipe
2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil
1 lemon, juiced
1/4 flat leaf parsley leaves, chopped
1 long red chilli, deseeded and chopped (optional)
1/2 of a tomato, deseeded and chopped (optional)
1 stick of cucumber (optional)
2 – 3 cups of chopped roasted chicken – remove the skin
2 mangoes, peeled cubed or sliced into small bits
150g of mixed salad greens
Preparation Steps:
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
The bright and shiny pink door beckoned to me to step inside. Of course, I had to satisfy my curiousity and took a peek.
Everything inside is pretty, shiny and smells good too and would possibly dent my account. I solidly resisted the whispered encouragements of the bottles of Arabian night perfumes and walked away with my plastic intact 😉
a cooking pot and twisted tales 