The Happy Place

It is no secret that my son, Garrett, and I love Starbucks. If you aren't aware of that, then it's only partially for the coffee (MommaRita, me) and for the tea (Garrett), it's for the people and all the regulars, friends and church family that come through to visit with Garrett on the two afternoons a week we spend at our local Starbucks. If I am lucky, a friend will stop by and spend a bit of time with me, otherwise, I get a lot of Bible study, planner work, etc done during our time at the coffee shop.  To be far, I have to share that one afternoon a week, he also lunches at the local Target with his best friend and I with his best friend's mom. These little blessings are treasures for both of us.

A week ago, the local free standing Starbucks closed for remodel, it happened to be the afternoon of Garrett's birthday too. For the past five or six years, Garrett has sat in the small nook of a corner in Starbucks at a small bistro table with two chairs. He called it his "happy place." Garrett would get a Raspberry tea which was actually a Passion tea with raspberry syrup changed a bit, sit in his happy place, play the only thing on his tablet, a bowling game and wait as the visitors rotated in and out of the accompanying chair. They talked football, weather, the sermon from Sunday or other sports. I sat "within eye shot" as Garrett would say, me moving a bit further from his security to give him more and more independence. Sitting close to the door, he greeted every guest, "Hi, how are you?" to which the person might be taken back or know it was a Monday or Wednesday and thus the reason for not going through the drive-thru, they had to get their "Garrett greeting." Then there was the "Y'all have a good day now," as they left with their favorite treats. He watched the clock to see when it was time to leave for bowling, golf or to go for our mileage run. They loved my son from the staff to the regulars. It made my momma heart soar.

So, on the Sunday morning they closed for the remodel, I went by to show my support to the staff, letting them know I would be praying for them during the three-weeks they were off, too if they needed anything they could call, and to get my last coffee as well. The manager told me that they were giving me Garrett's "happy place!" I began to cry. Putting the pieces in the car, I took the set home and placed it in the living room in front of the big window. The perfect happy place to wait the anticipation of visitors coming, have a cup of coffee or a glass of tea, read a book or the Bible, enjoy the sun or light of day, and spend time being thankful. The living room is now called "The Happy Place."

How blessed that a place has grown to be such a part of our lives that it has come home and now is a part of us. That is what the feeling is to be when people are around us, to be loved and felt that we are hugged, loved and cared for. A moment in time can be that by creating a place, a nook somewhere in your home or a bag of small things and going to the park. Take a notebook, a pen and the Bible or book. Go to the park or a pretty place and make a list each time you go of three things you are thankful for if not more and just soak up the light, the sun and the moment. God has blessed us with happy moments to be thankful and grateful. I am thankful for our happy place, here and there.

Thank you Starbucks for bringing it home.
Rita

We are Girlfriends! The no excuse of taking time.

 It is rather funny when the generation gap is totally broke, not with the lines cut with a sharp blade of a pizza cutter, but with the teeth of a little bitty girl who ate the center of her cheese pizza totally avoiding the outside edges of the crust. When I looked around the table at her great-grandmother's individual cheese pizza and this, great aunt's pepperoni pizza, I couldn't help but laugh in my typical "y'all, Rita is in the building" laugh! All three of us had at the center out of our pizzas, but this little girl was the only one that put it back in the box in such an organized fashion. Too cute!

 We were out for a girlfriend day and it was five hours of fabulousness at Target. We were shopping for clothes, backpack, lunchbox, books and, of course, snacks. Mamaw Hutty wanted to spend time with her great-granddaughter so we picked her up for lunch and enjoyed the afternoon shopping. Mamaw had so much fun especially with the clothes. I was thrilled when the three of us were shocked that I could wear the extra large little girl clothes, trying on a denim jacket! Oh My!

The gifts we share weren't all just from the center cut of the pizza, we all love to talk, like the color red, putting our phones down (she didn't once ask or pick up her devices...I was impressed beyond belief even though her family sent one with her), chocolate, and...I was out of the loop, but they both love shopping, I am converting which my best friends is excited to see that happen I am sure. I loved shopping for the cute little clothing. Why do they not make cute clothes for us to wear like we found for her? We got two other moms and their little girls in on the fun, trying on clothes and modeling hats...only to find out from a "teacher" hats aren't allowed in school! What? Anne of Green Gables, please...seriously, cute straw hats have to be in the manual people...

 So, we shopped and shopped. I must admit, I had to get online once to find Translucent Backpacks, but then she spotted the Barbie Doll Backpack. Thank, God, seriously! I was back in my childhood. This helped in heading to the lunchbox section, even though we had to settle for a cute fluffy kitty lunch box and thermos, we did coordinate in the book and toy section with Barbie when we found Ms Barbie Backpack a friend...oh dear, just wait...

 When did we get to reality and Barbie puppy could have puppies? Is this a good thing for a child to have? This is when the great-grandmother and the great-aunt cough up to the shrug of shoulders to pretend to know nothing and buy it anyway! It is the cutest thing and think the baby puppies will either get lost or stuck inside the mommy dog's tummy and never be born. Oh dear, I am in so much trouble with the mother ship I just know it. ((Update: I wasn't!) We gave her a price range on shopping for the toy section but know a couple of things she might want for Christmas. This was a good thing for sure.

The best part of all is that Mamaw Hutty got the best day of all spending quality time with her great-granddaughter, making a memory that will last and last for both of them. I think we created more than that and it wasn't bought with money either, we created the opportunity of time. When Ms M was picked up, her mom said something that I think we all need to remember, she was talking about another child who didn't get to spend time with family, I can't remember why, but spending time shouldn't be judged by quality or quantity, but in just doing it. There just needs to be no excuses. Kids don't understand. They will never understand. Just give them time with no end. We had no agenda, just a starting time beginning with lunch. As a popular ad says, just do it. The no excuse of taking time. 

Hugs, Rita  

Vegetable Rice Dip made with (You Guessed it!) Leftovers!

The late evenings isn't a time we usually eat calorie items or make dishes consisting of calories, but we do have a protein before bed and probably hot tea or sugar free apple cider. However, this particular night, we all wanted something sassy, cheesy and a bit of salt. So, I saved the salt for corn tortilla chips and made a hot dip baked in the oven.

 This dip had vegetables from a neighbor's garden and leftovers from the fridge. I took leftover refried beans and spread it evenly in a 8" baking dish. Then I sprinkled Parmesan cheese on top of the beans. Laying over ripped tomatoes on top of the beans and cheese. Next I took leftover brown rice, mixed vegetables, and chopped peppers and spread over the top of the tomatoes. Finally, I baked the whole thing at 350 degrees until it was warm through the dish, topped it with shredded cheese and backed until cheese was melted and bubbly. Served warm with corn tortilla chips. Amazing!

Evenings at home are the best for us. We come together, regardless where we have been in our day, and knowing that we can relax, live in such remarkable peace that is only found in the love, hope and serenity God has to offer.  Although food isn't to fill any emptiness or void, nor are we to let it be the comfort we seek, it can give us the substance Seeking to eat healthy can lead to healthy snacks. Seeking to be grateful can lead to a peace and happy life. What will you make tonight to create a relaxed happy home to begin your family's journey to sleep and dreams.

Hugs, Rita

This Leftover Chicken Pot Pie Warmed our Wednesday

 When you want something to sooth the soul, warm the heart and heal from the mid-week slid from Sunday, you want the comfort from a soup, salad or something like a chicken pot pie, or a chicken salad, which we are having tomorrow night. My traditional chicken pot pie recipe, I have made for years and years; however, tonight's version was one that I threw leftovers in and added a surprise in the bottom. It takes maybe twenty-minutes to pull things from the fridge and pop this baby together, then bake for one-hour. In that wait time, you can make the next day's lunches, put the coffee on or water for bedtime relaxing tea.

For this Leftover Chicken Pot Pie Recipe, I took 2 cans, 16oz each, of mixed vegetables, rinsed, 2 cans of gluten free cream of chicken soup, chopped up leftovers of baked chicken breast plus the vegetables of steamed squash, onion, broccoli, cauliflower and added them all together. Then 1 teaspoon of cilantro, Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/4 cup of finely shredded Parmasan cheese.

Spread the crust in a 9" pie plate, sprinkle the bottom of crust...then, ready for it? I took leftover fried okra, which was the bottom of the bowl (somebody in our family leaves a cup maybe of crumbs which is perfect for this) and laid a single layer of fried green tomatoes before pouring the mixture in the crust. I added the top crust, trimming the edge, then baked at 400 degrees for one hour. Simple. You can also add a bit of butter slivers to the mixture if you are too concerned for drying out.

The blessings of friends and neighbors this summer has been so tremendous. One of our newest friends at Starbucks has kept us in unique fun vegetables like lemon cucumbers to homemade vegetable soup. Our neighbors have left on the front porch okra, tomatoes, and corn. A class member has given us homemade bread, watermelon, peppers and cucumbers as well. I have been so thankful because, as you know, every bit of us cultivating and helping each others makes grateful hearts, helping hands and loving others. I for one am so very thankful because after putting things together, we had an amazing pot pie.

My challenge to you is to open your refrigerator and pantry, see what you already have that you can create something fun and nourishing for your family. Instead of making supper a dread and the midweek hard, take a deep breath and take three items from your fridge and see what you can create from those main ingredients. I bet the main seasoning will be love. Stir, y'all, stir!

Hugs from the #KitchenWithAHouseAttached! Rita