Uphill idealist

Image found at enewyork blog Each step on this path has a purpose. So why do we have to take detours to get to the place we started out for? My head feels fuzzy, like I've just woken from a dream. I need to know what are specters and mist, so I can navigate reality. Help me not to forget my way there. The directions should be memorable. Some of these landmarks look and feel familiar. But they are scattered and strange, like fragments of broken pottery. Bring the shards together in a new way. Maybe you could throw a brand new piece of greenware and fire it till it's shining. Renew this wineskin to carry the contents to its intended vessel. There is a thirst to be quenched. Maybe this clay jar can help once again. Probably. With your help, yes. T.L. Eastman  Copyright August 2012

For the last 12 years, my family and I often visit a local gem of a restaurant  to enjoy their pizza, wings and salads. Ashville General Store is one of my favorite places to take out-of-town friends because of the amazing variety on the menu, the small town charm of the store, and the wonderful staff.  The owner, Jackie, was kind enough to give me the breakdown of one of my favorite salad treats they serve there: Broccoli Garbanzo  Salad. Here is my first at-home attempt in making this tasty dish. It's easy and good for you. If you like, grilled chicken breast can be added to it to become a dinner entree instead of a side dish - but I've been happy having this salad any day of the week for supper! Here's what's in it: Broccoli Crowns(Either steamed fresh or from frozen), garbanzo beans, green onions, feta cheese, green onions, fresh basil or pesto mix, chopped garlic, sunflower seeds - sesame seeds - black olives (if you like them), lemon juice, virgin olive oil

When I was about 10 years old... I remember my Mom coming home from a church activity with a jar of batter that was called 'Herman'. For the next several months, my mom baked many loaves of 'Herman" for me and my siblings to eat. Herman made a big impression on me. How could something so small make so many loaves of bread? How exactly did 'Herman' grow and regrow itself with very little involvement or fuss?  As a child I began to think of 'Herman' as having his own personality. Herman was: Smart, giving, easygoing, self sufficient, mysterious, smelly (like yeast), resourceful, and patient. The more I think about 'Herman' as an adult, I think his/her personality are ones I'd like to claim for my own. (Minus the smelly part of course.) For the last several weeks, the gospel lessons for the lectionary readings have been about Jesus being "the bread of life".  ( John 6: 51-58 ) I thought about the ingredients of bread, th

Recently, I learned that on the liturgical calendar that "Mary's Assumption" or feast day is August 15th. About a week ago, I painted this watercolor of the Madonna as a sample  idea for my friend Archie's current writing project. Somehow it seems right that this  work "arrived" just in time for Mary's Day.  I hope this mixed media work brings some beauty to your heart. Thank you Mary for the gift of faithfulness and beauty you gave to the world. Grace and Peace, T