Wednesday 22 October 2008

Everyday Epiphanies




“Today a new sun rises for me; everything lives, everything is animated, everything seems to speak to me of my passion, everything invites me to cherish it.” ~ Anne De Lenclos

When I was a girl I used to be afraid of graveyards. A good friend of mine lived in an old farm house, just beyond the edge of town, about half a mile away from my own home. In order to get to her house, I used to have to pass by a graveyard that seemed to stretch forever on both sides of the roadway. My heart would quicken and I would race past on my bicycle as if the hounds of hell itself were after me. This was in broad daylight. I would never have dared to attempt it at night!!

As a adult, I love to wander through graveyards. They are so peaceful and restful. Funny how that goes. Time and experience has taught me that the dead cannot hurt me and I love to walk on the pathways amongst the headstones, reading them and pondering on the people that lay beneath them . . . what sort of lives did they lead, were they rich or poor, happy or sad, did they achieve all that they started out to achieve, or did they leave this plane of existence too soon without having ever reached their goals . . . Life here on earth has lost it’s meaning for them. The toils, and struggles and joys from this lifetime are gone and over.



“For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn/or busy housewife ply her evening care . . . The paths of glory lead but to the grave.” ~Thomas Gray

How many days of our own lives slip away from us, unnoticed and un-appreciated? Some days it seems that we are aware of our inner poet and take note of every precious moment we experience, but then again other days we allow to rush by in a tumult of activity and frenzy, never stopping to appreciate or even register the special little moments that are only ours for the taking. And still yet again, it takes the risk of losing something that we hold dear, to jolt us into awareness, to make us take note of all that we have been taking so very much for granted. These are everyday epiphanies. These little awareness’s of all that we have and should be grateful for, of tragic near misses, a myriad of blessings not counted, these little things that go un-noticed until we risk losing them, or have already bid them farewell, these are the true treasures of our life.



Let us take holdof them before it is too late. Let’s give thanks for each morning that we wake up, and for the rain that sometimes falls. Let us never forget that “there but for the Grace of God go I,” and take hold of the blessing that is simply to be found in being, and in being healthy and alive. Lets us give thanks for our work and for our play. Let us rejoice in the accomplishment of a task completed and the tired feeling that comes at the end of a day, and for a day well lived and used.

In short . . . let us cherish our lives for what they are, every little scrap of them, the good and the bad, for they are only ours to cherish and they all too soon pass away. Let us live as if each day were our last. I think if we thought it could all end tomorrow, each of our today’s would be full of more of a sense of all that we hold dear . . . the flowers would smell a little sweeter, birdsong would dance upon our ears with more breathtaking beauty. It should not have to take our losing it for us to appreciate it all . . . take hold of today and live it, enjoy it, cherish it . . . make it count.



My Todd likes him some meaty porkchops once in a while. He's a real meat and potatoes man. Myself, I am happy with a piece of chicken, but I do like to make my Todd happy and he would rebel if I tried to serve him chicken every night of the week! (What man wouldn't!) I made him these delicious pork chops the other day and they went down a real treat!




*Pork Chops Romano*
Serves 4

Crunchy, spicy and delicious these are real family pleasing pork chops. Really quick to make as well! You can easily cut the recipe in half if there are only two of you, as I did, or you can double it to make more!

4 boneless pork loin chops
1 cup grated Parmesan Reggiano Cheese
1/2 cup dried bread crumbs (I use Italian ones)
2 tsp Cajun seasoning
1 tsp freshly grated lemon zest
1/4 cup flour
2 eggs, beaten
2 TBS vegetable oil for frying
lemon wedges for serving

Take your pork chops and trim all the fat from the edges. One at a time place them into a large plastic baggie and pound them with a mallet or the edge of your rolling pin until they are about 1/4 inch thick, being very careful not to tear the meat.

Take three shallow pie plates. In one put the flour. In the next, beat together the eggs. In the third, mix together the cheese, bread crumbs, Cajun seasoning and the lemon zest.

Coat each pork chop in the flour, patting it in and shaking off the excess. Then dip it into the beaten eggs, again letting the excess drip off. Finally, dip it into the crumb mixture, coating each side well and pressing the crumbs in to stay. Set aside on a plate until you have them all coated.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Fry the chops in two batches, turning once, until golden brown, about 3 minutes on each side. Keep them warm in the oven until you have them all browned.

Serve hot with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over. Yummy!

16 comments:

  1. i really enjoy graveyards also. for the same reasons your do.
    take care and have a great day

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  2. HI, Marie! Lovely post--as always! Has me thinking here this morning...Life is a precious gift. And we should enjoy unwrapping each day as if it's the only gift we'll get...Everyday Epiphanies, indeed! Part of the daily gift is food...and your recipe today is one my hubby would really love! Hope you are having a good week. Chance of a chat today? Love you heaps!! ((HUGS))

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  3. BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE TODAY MARIE..I AM FINDING THE BEAUTY IN ALL MY DAYS LATELY AND IT MAKES A 100% DIFFERENCE...

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  4. Each day is such a gift, and we too often let the minutes slip by without filling them with meaningful activities, thoughts or actions. Russell's favorite is pork chops. He will love your recipe! Sunday dinner, here we come! I love the flower in the pictures today. What are they called?

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  5. Thank you for teaching me a lesson I forget all too often...how precious a gift life is. I work hard at embracing my life and giving thanks in all aspects, but your words have me redoubling my efforts. Thanks again!

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  6. i agree-cemetarys really do make me wonder about the people who have passed before me, what kind of a life did this person have? was he/she happy? did he/she accomplish all they wanted to? did they love? were they loved? and cemetaries also they remind me of how i need to cherish every minute of life i have and try to enjoy and soak it all in while i can. life is so short. thanks for the reminder this morning to live my life to the fullest!

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  7. Great message today! I especially am grateful for each day I wake up on this side of the earth instead of under it! I'm a 7.11 year breast cancer survivor and 28 of melanomia skin cancer.

    Cemeteries...graveyards, oh so many many memories as I grew up across the street from our town's main cemetery. As a child, my brother, cousin, and I would always go over when the grave diggers came...we didn't ask questions about who died but did enjoy talking with them. About half a mile away on a small knoll at the end of a long dirt lane there is a Civil War cemetery. It was spooky because of the tales we had heard and also because it wasn't maintained very well. We would go up, place tin cans on the brick wall and practice target shooting with be-be guns! Of course, we had competitions and I must say I did rather well! In our country, the USA, often you would find families that had men serving in both the Confederate Army and the Union Army depending on which neighboring state they lived in and which cause they supported. Imagine all the hurt feelings and family feuds. Just think Marie, of all the memories your message and the word, 'graveyards,' have evoked in many of your readers today! I always enjoy your writings as they get me thinking and remembering or wishiing! Oh, I left out the best word...TASTING! Thanks for the memories this morning! Have a great day!
    Blessings and Hugs,
    Winnie

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  8. You know we walk round graveyards too especialy old ones and the are a haven for bords too. Your chops look yummee. Love Joan.

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  9. Graveyards freak me out. I'm incredibly superstitious and I hate the idea I'm walking over dead people rotting away below me...I can't go into them at night. I'm too terrified of who is there.

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  10. Oh how true your words are....how precious each day is... and how special if we take time to appreciate all that is around us.

    Today is my dear Mindy's birthday. She is my second born and a joy.

    I appreciate having her ... and having you in my life.... I appreciate this day.

    We love pork chops,... thanks for another good recipe.

    Have a good day. Love, Lura

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  11. Oh Marie, if only you knew how often your words of wisdom help put a smile on my face when I am feeling so depressed and feeling like God has forgotten all about me. If you have a chance will you read my latest post and give me advice on my predicament?

    Thanks for writing such a wonderful blog! xxx

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  12. I needed that post. Whether I'm a mother or not, this is my life and I need to live it to the fullest.

    Thank you for the reminder!

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  13. What a wonderful post Marie. We went to the cemetary this past weekend to leave flowers at my husband's parent's graves and it was a pleasant visit. Made me do lots of remembering. Your post was very timely for me. blessings, marlene

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  14. Yes Marie, I believe in this, but sometimes we dont see, you know, many times we are tired to make the things again and again, but I really in this, Hugsss!!!! Gloria

    Beauty post dear!! and yummy food!

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  15. oh marie
    there is a cemetery a few houses away from the kids. the girls and i walk there every day.
    It dates back to the late 1800's. I notice all over in theses little towns and villages and am certainly intrigued.
    catie

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Your comments mean the world to me, and while I may not be able to address each one individually, each one is important to me and each one counts. Thanks so much!