You can find additional content by clicking many of the images and photos below as well as the underlined links.

Wayne Dyer's Butterfly Story

Wayne Dyer, who I have always greatly admired, calls this the signature story of his lifetime in connecting with spirit. It's the tale of his encounter with a monarch butterfly and it literally blew his mind...I stumbled on it this morning while roaming around youtube and it was a great story to wake up to. Hope you enjoy it too.

Longevity Soup

I don't know if you do but I've decided I do want to live to be 100. So when I came across this soup, I thought I might give it a try...There are many versions of it so feel free to improvise. This particular recipe is courtesy of Dan Buettner of Blue Zones fame and Toni Scaglione.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup of black beans
1 cup of kidney beans
1 cup of navy/white beans
1 cup sweet corn
7 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 cup chopped white or yellow onion
3 medium peeled and chopped carrots
4 medium chopped celery stalks
1 cup chopped fennel
2 slided leeks
5 sliced mushrooms
4/5 chopped cloves garlic
8 medium tomatoes (or 1 can crushed)
1/2 cup italian flat parsley leaves
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
6/8 cups vegetable broth/water
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 bay leaves
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. tumeric
or any other italian seasonings
top with cilanto or avocado

DIRECTIONS
(Soak beans overnight if using dry and then rinse).
Sauté garlic and onion in olive oil. Add celery and carrots and cook for approx. 5 more minutes. Add fennel, leeks, tomatoes and any other vegetables you have and the beans.
Add 6-8 cups stock/water and add herbs and salt.
Bring to boil, then simmer for 40 minutes to an hour.

Sweet Animal Story

I grew up with dogs and know the meaning of love one can have for an animal. And that love definitely goes both ways.

This nine minute video captures that love and tells the sweet story of a dog, its owner and the pandemic...

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”
--Anatole France

“I don't believe in 'ownership' of a sentient life - I think we undertake volitional guardianship and that this bringing forth can be one of the most rewarding and reciprocally loving relationships that a human being can ever experience.” ― Noel Fitzpatrick, Listening to the Animals: Becoming the Supervet

"You can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
--Immanuel Kant

Painting of the Week

Charity of the Week:

About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.