Lunch With Love

Nothing is sexier than a man who cooks, except for the food. 

Hubby grilled some chicken breasts for me to use as my work lunches.

Deliciously seasoned breasts served on a bed of mixed greens, dried cranberries and shredded parmesan cheese...yum!

I'd rather have a glass of white wine, but water with a slice of lemon will make to do.

#SoulFood Morning

 Soul Food. Yes, it truly is good for the soul. Comfort. Family.

I've been on a Southern Dish kick lately and my poor family is enjoying the new recipes they are tasting. Today was a simple but hearty breakfast Grandma would have been proud of.

Grits slow cooked on the stove. I added half & half for a creamy texture then tossed in a bit of shredded cheddar. (Here's a simple grits recipe.)

While the grits simmered, I used up some leftover roasted veggies to make an omelet. Gram's logic of bacon fat makes everything better, I placed a dollop of bacon fat in small cast iron pan before adding the veggies & eggs. The fat browned nicely, adding a smoky flavor.

For serving, I scooped some of the cheesy grits into a bowl. Chopped up the omelet and placed it on top of the grits. 

Oh, yeah!

I left for work with a happy feeling deep in my soul. Thanks, Gram!

#TeaTime - Breathe Easy

 I keep a variety of teas at work. Today's #TeaTime is Breathe Easy.

My asthma is acting up and I'm busy typing letters so I grabbed a favorite "feel good tea".

This floral tea has a minty start with a licorice ending. It relaxes me, soothes an upset tummy from coughing and eases my throat.

I love the #TeaTag tells me to SMILE today.

#BehindTheStory - Crow Magic

Crow Magic, is about a Native American shape shifter. I was asked how I attained my interest and knowledge of Native American legend and lore. My response became a story.

After the Civil War, my great-great grandfather, Gardner Avery, left his New York regiment to settle with his wife, Helen Greenleaf Kern, in a rural area near Grand Rapids, Michigan, named Jamestown. He kept a diary, which remains in the family, of his daily activities and expenses. On the land he purchased to farm, a tribe of Native Americans resided. The couple let the Potawatomi continue to live and hunt on the land.

Potawatomi Warrior

Over time they developed close friendships with many of the tribal folk. My great-great-grandmother became very close to the medicine woman of the tribe who taught her the use of herbs in food and healing. The Avery’s interest in the art of the tribe eventually led to them learning how to make the Native American pottery. Through stories shared around meals, they learned the spirituality of the Native Americans.

At the time, Grand Rapids was one of the first large scale trading posts used by the Ottawa, Potawatomi and the Chippewa. My ancestors learned valuable information from their relationships with these tribes, which lead them to have a successful farm and healthy family. Despite the Avery’s wishes, the government forced the tribe off the land and into a reservation. According to family legend, Helen and her dearest friend spent the last days together. After hugs and many tears, she stood in a field and watched the tribe travel until they were out of sight.

The information, stories, and traditions my ancestors learned have been passed down through the

generations. I grew up listening to the stories my grandmother told of visiting the farm and her grandparents. She also shared aspects of the Native American spirituality and showed us how similar it is to Christianity.

 In the 1950s, my grandparents purchased property and build a cottage on Coldwater Lake, not far from Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. We spent many summers at the cottage, where we collected arrowheads we found in the local sand pits. A Chippewa family owned a cottage near ours and “Indian Dave” would share their stories, dances, and traditions with us while we sat around a bonfire.

I could say the knowledge of herbals and spirituality lives in me because of the ties of my family with the tribes of Michigan and beginning embraced by each generation of my family.


To add to my family history, my cousin’s father was from a Seminole tribe and my brother-in-law is a descendant of a French Trader and Blackfoot Indian woman. Funny, how a person with the Welch/Swedish/German heritage I have, can be neatly blended with Native American legend and lore. Grandmother used to tell us that our legacy isn’t only family blood but also the land we live in.



Indian Dave

Eagle Dance is Book 2 in the Legend of the Spirit series and features another Native American shifter from the Chippewa tribe who is looking for a special woman who will love him for who and what he is. Indian Dave's spirit makes an appearance.

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#CoupleFun – Make a Wish Jar

 Couples often look for ways to entice a partner to expand his or her perspectives on the possibilities in or even out of the bedroom. Often planning a special romantic evening as a surprise for your honey often doesn’t go as arranged. Kids, pets, families, work… so many things may interrupt. It would be much easier to plan something with your partner rather than planning a surprise.

I found a unique and fun idea.

Pick out a couple of cute jars from a craft shop or dollar store, decorate yourself.

Keep two “wish” jars in the kitchen, one for each or you. 

Take some index cards and cut in half. Stack the cards next to the jars. Whenever something comes to mind that would be fun to do together, it gets written down on a card and dropped into the appropriate bowl.

Create a ritual for the “big drawing”. At the beginning of each month, sit down at the end of the day with a glass of wine and some cheese. Pick five cards at random from each other’s jar. Read them over, talk about them and maybe even negotiate a bit.  The only rule is you have to agree on two activities to be done during the next month.