While it may be winter and there aren’t a lot of crops in our fields now, we are reaping the benefits of last year’s hay season and the work of grain farmers from across the country. Long days and late nights produced a tremendous amount of hay to be stored in our barns last summer. As the grass has frozen and dried up this winter, the cattle and horses have been able to continue to grow and find comfort in those bales. The turkeys and calves are able to eat and develop thanks to the feed made from the harvest of American fields. We aren’t growing crops or animals; we are creating a place for them to flourish in spite of winter’s harshness.
Farmers aren’t the only ones creating places for people and things to produce. We all are creators of environments that allow for safety and growth. We are all cultivators of children, pets, food, products, and emotions. Each and everyone has a hand in growing something.
Hey, Bloggers! Hello, anyone considering blogging or creating a website! Join us for Bloggers BeLOnG on Monday, February 8th 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. CST!
If you have ever thought about blogging or already have a blog and would like to network with others, sign up for this free, digital discussion. We will talk about organizing your ideas, building readership, and answering questions about blogging.
Thanks to Missouri River Regional Library, Blogger BeLOnG will meet monthly so as to help grow our blogging network and create opportunities for sharing and development of sites.
I’m no Robert Frost, but I am an admirer of hearing “the only sound’s the sweep, of easy wind and downy flake.” I’m not an enthusiast of freezing precipitation and the havoc it wreaks on roadways, but I am a fan of the peaceful nature of falling snow and an even bigger admirer of Fridays. Fridays are the highlight of the week, but a Friday in a world that looks like a snow globe is a special treat.
The peaceful nature of today’s snowfall felt like a call to drop all the worries and stressors that have been weighing me down. The dance of flakes in a symphony of spiraling, soft landings seemed to lower my stress level and reminded me to just let go of the silly stuff that I can’t control. (Hopefully I don’t sound too much like the Frozen soundtrack.)
If you are not in a place where you can see or hear the snow, I hope you will enjoy this clip from my front porch.
The sights and sounds as the snow began to fall harder this morning
The Intentergy message for today is to let the falling snow be your call to peace. Even if for only a minute or two, taking in the frosty scene can help you forget what’s wrong with the world and the blanket of white can be a clean slate allowing you to find calm.
See the world for the beautiful and chaotic snow globe that it is.
Let the simple pleasure of flakes falling be the counterweight to your worries and find some balance between stress and serenity. While we are like Robert Frost in that there are probably miles and miles to go before we sleep, we can be grateful for the opportunity to watch these woods fill up with snow and empty our emotional overloads as we enjoy the sights and sounds of this wintery season.
By: Melanie A. Peters
P.S. If there’s enough snow, you can throw some snowballs to get frustrations out as well. A very peaceful practice!
P.P.S. My allusions to Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” do not have to stop here. I am so glad we are past “The darkest evening of the year,” and the day light is blissfully growing longer.
Each morning as I check turkeys, I am amazed at how much they have grown and how their looks change from one day to the next. The funny thing about turkeys is the older they get the prouder they are of their looks. As their plush, yellow fluff is replaced with fine, white feathers, the birds make it their business to hold their heads higher when they pass by. When their fully white plumage is in place, turkeys seem to spend all their time admiring and admonishing their tails and wings, and flaring their feathers as they strut around. Pride in their maturity seems to be the opposite of what we humans do. We lose confidence in our appearance as we age. This loss of self-esteem is tough emotionally and isn’t very attractive. So while turkeys are definitely not the most beautiful of creatures, I think we need to be more like them.
5 Days Old
21 Days Old
As we begin this new 365-day trip around the sun, many of us are focusing attention on our appearance. The most common New Year’s Resolution is to lose weight or exercise more. So while, many of us are counting our calories and watching our weight, I want to encourage you to fluff your good stuff. Don’t let love handles or belly rolls be what you purposefully draw attention to. Single out your best qualities and draw attention to what makes you feel good about yourself.
There is nothing wrong with being proud of a personal quality or physical trait. There is tremendous benefit to knowing what you are good at or what makes you beautiful and unique. So, if you’ve got it, fluff it!
“Sign here, please.” – Words that strike fear into hearts every minute of every day.
“Sign here, please.” – What do these words imply?
They imply agreement, sacrifice, and worst of all – commitment.
When I think of blank terror, I always remember the scene in Disney’s The Little Mermaid where Ariel is so desperate to become human that she signs away her voice in exchange for a chance to meet Prince Eric.
Everything in her body language says, “I really don’t want to do this,” but, if you’ve seen the movie, you know in her heart she felt like she HAD to sign it.
Welcome to the first Monday’s Message for 2021. I hope you are ready for a new year full of Intentergy!
After four days of ice, snow, and dense fog here, a lot of folks are ready for some brighter, warmer weather. While I’m not sure what you have experienced recently, I am certain we are all grateful for those who work out in the elements to keep food on our tables, heat in our homes, and the roadways safe for those who have to travel. Be sure to say thanks so all those in agriculture, utilities, first responders, and road crews for all they do to keep the world moving.
For this week in Intentergy, the January Positivity Challenge is coming! It’s all about forgiveness and was inspired by a quote that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE from my 2021 Vision Board. Be sure to check out the post or the Monthly Positivity Challenge page in the next day or so. On Friday, I’m sharing my entry for the #BlogBattle, hosted by Rachael Ritchey. The #BlogBattle is a monthly challenge for writers to create a story or post based on a one-word prompt. This is a great challenge because it connects writers while tying their work with just one word.
I’ve set some great goals for 2021 and many of them are related to my writing and the work I do on my blog. I hope you will continue to check out my Intentergy posts and share the positive purpose that I try to bring to each day. Please be sure to comment or like posts and share with others the work you enjoy.
Here’s wishing you a very happy and successful 2021!
By: Melanie A. Peters
P.S. My old year’s resolution is now part of my New Year’s resolution. My guitar will be played.
For three years, I have said I was going to create a Vision Board in the new year. I vowed to decorate a board with my brightest wishes and most lustrous resolutions.
The first two years I failed to make my Vision Board.
2021 is the third year, and the year my Vision Board WILL BE made!
I have poster board, adhesive, decorations, and lists of ideas for my goals and what I want to see happen in the next year. So as to keep myself dedicated to the cause, I’ve enlisted my friends Andrea, Erin, and Jody to police my attempt. They, too, will be making their own 2021 Vision Boards. (Nothing like peer pressure to keep a project on track.)
Being a Pinterest fan, I shared a number of idea pins with my gal pals organizing Vision Boards, but it was my friend Erin who came up with the coolest idea. She suggested that we add a vision or positive idea to each other’s boards for 2021. Wow! Nothing says, “May you shine!” like putting a positive prediction on display in support of another person.
Welcome to the official first day of winter and Christmas week! After a few weeks of not feeling well, I’m ready to get back in the real and proverbial saddle. I visited with Atticus this weekend and he was not at all happy that I’ve been missing in action. With the sun shining, I am certain to get in at least one little adventure with Atticus today.
My kids have mastered the Christmas countdown so the excitement continues to build in our home and I’m certain Jesus’ birthday bash is going to be a good one, even if we are just celebrating here at home. In my message video today, I talk about the grace and blessings that come from a simple holiday at home. Special thanks goes to my friend Molly for sending this friendly reminder meme about the first Christmas and reassuring us that simple is good, especially this time of year.
As always, I wish you a week of positivity, peace, and success. Keep Intentergy in your giving and receiving and that energy will carry you into the new year with an optimistic outlook and plenty of possibility.
As I made my way through the recipe box, I wanted to share a variety of recipes that would appeal to diverse tastes and cooking abilities. These last 10 recipes range from appetizers to Thanksgiving centerpieces, but all are dishes that showcase turkey and its versatility.
21st Way: Turkey and Vegetable Tetrazzini
Turkey and Vegetable Tetrazzini
Ingredients: 16 oz. linguine pasta, 2 Tblsp vegetable oil, 1 lb. turkey breast cut into 1″ pieces or shredded, 2 cups broccoli chopped, 2 cups carrots sliced, 2 cups mushrooms sliced, 2/3 cup milk, 1 can cream of chicken soup, 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste
Steps:
Cook linguine according to directions on package.
Heat oil and cook turkey until done.
Set turkey to side. Add broccoli, carrots, and mushrooms to pan and cook on medium for 3-5 minutes.
Add milk, cream of chicken soup, parmesan cheese, and turkey. Cook until heated through.
Stir in cooked linguine and cook till hot.
***Left-over baked turkey works great in this recipe.
22nd Way: Turkey Asparagus Risotto
Ingredients: 1 lb turkey shredded or cubed, 1 lb asparagus, 3 cups mushrooms sliced, 1 shallot, 4 cups chicken or turkey broth, 1 cup Arborio rice, 2 Tblsp olive oil, 2 Tblsp butter, 1 cup white wine, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
Steps:
Cut asparagus into 2 inch pieces.
2. Sauté the asparagus and mushrooms in non-skillet. Cook just until the vegetables are soft. About 7 minutes. Stir in salt and pepper. Cover and keep warm.
3. In a large pot, heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. Once butter melt adds shallots and cook just until softened.
4. Stir in the Arborio rice and mix until coated in butter. Toast slightly but do not brown.
5. Pour in wine and cook until wine absorbs.
6. Pour one cup of broth over the rice and stir consistently until the liquid is absorbed. Repeat process, one cup at a time, until all liquid is absorbed by the rice.
7. Add the shredded turkey and sautéed vegetables to the risotto, heat through. Mix well. Serve immediately.
***Left-over baked turkey works great in this recipe.
23rd Way: Turkey and Bisquick Dumplings
Ingredients: 2 cups turkey shredded, 2 1/2 cups Bisquick, 2/3 cups milk, flour to roll dough, 6 cups chicken or turkey broth, salt and pepper to taste
Steps:
Mix Bisquick and milk until in tight dough ball.
Coat rolling pin and rolling surface well with flour. Roll dough as thin as possible. Use butter knife or pizza cutter to cut 2 inch dough squares or strips. *Works best if you allow dough to dry out a bit before trying to pick up to place in broth.
Bring broth to boil in a large soup pan.
Add turkey and return broth to a boil.
Gradually add Bisquick dumplings to boiling broth with turkey.
Simmer for 7-10 minutes, stirring often to make sure dumplings are not sticking to bottom of pan.
Salt and pepper to taste. Serve in bowl.
***Left-over baked turkey works great in this recipe.
24th Way: Short Cut Turkey Pot Pie
Ingredients: For filling: 2 1/2 cups cooked turkey shredded or cubed, 2 Tblsp veg oil, 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables, 2 cups pre-made poultry gravy or poultry gravy mix, 1 15 oz can black beans, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper For crust: 2 1/2 cups Bisquick mix, 2/3 cup milk, flour for rolling crust or use pre-made pie crust
Steps:
Preheat over 350 degrees.
In large skillet heat oil. Cook turkey until done.
Drain and rinse black beans.
Add frozen vegetables and black beans to turkey and set to side.
Heat gravy according to directions on package.
Mix gravy, salt, and pepper into turkey and vegetables.
Mix Bisquick and milk. Once dough is mixed, use rolling pin and flour to roll dough flat enough to cover 9×13 baking dish.
Pour gravy/vegetable/turkey mixture into 9×13 backing dish.
Cover dish with crust and tuck edges around inside lip of pan. Use knife to cut two or three slits in center of crust.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
***Left-over baked turkey works great in this recipe.
25th Way: Fancy Turkey Pot Pie
Ingredients: 2 Tblsp butter, 1 onion chopped, 2 stalks celery chopped, 3 carrots chopped, 4 Tblsp flour, 4 cups chicken or turkey stock, 2 potatoes peeled and diced, 2 cups shredded turkey, 2 Tblsp chopped parsley, 1/2 cup frozen peas thawed, 1 prepared pie crust (*or use Bisquick trick from Shortcut Turkey Pot Pie Recipe), 1 egg lightly beaten
Steps:
Preheat over to 350 degrees.
Melt butter in sauce pan and cook chopped onion until tender.
Stir in celery and carrots and cook for 2 minutes.
Stir in flour and cook for 2 minutes.
Add chicken or turkey stock and bring to a simmer.
Add potatoes and simmer until tender.
Stir in turkey, parsley, and peas.
Pour mixture into 9×13 baking dish.
Top with pie crust and brush with egg.
Bake 30 minutes unit crust is golden.
Remove from over and let set for 5 minutes prior to serving.
“In Japan, broken objects are often repaired with gold. The flaw is seen as a unique piece of the object’s history, which adds to its beauty. Consider this when you feel broken.”
Wouldn’t it be great if every time we had a heartache, made a mistake, or lost someone we loved our pain was commemorated in gold? We’d each be a walking Fort Knox.
While I don’t think adding gold to our bodies when we break something is always plausible. I do think there is merit in finding value in our flaws.
When I was in kindergarten, I was in a contest to see who could swing highest the fastest against a girl in my class. I was winning. She was not. She kicked my swing and I landed on my head and suffered a concussion. I spent the night vomiting in the hospital and experiencing my first CAT-scan. (So much for winning that race.) Here I am 35 years out of kindergarten and I still feel that fracture when the weather changes. I know if it’s going to snow or if a big storm is coming. The pressure front splits right down the middle of my cranium. It’s not something that stops me in my tracks, but it is helpful when considering if I should make plans for a snow day or if I should get laundry off the clothesline soon. My cracked cranium is something that I have come to appreciate in times of severe weather. (It may also explain some things about my extreme personality.)
Intentergy 