Saturday, August 15, 2015

HITCHING A RIDE ON THE WIND; DRIFTING ON A DREAM




Afloat on anticipation; buoyed by probability; heartened by hope; inspired by possibility, let’s harness the moon and lasso a star. Come sail away with me; aloft on fairy floss fractostratus above a fluorescent ocean. Together we’ll frolic on a sunbeam. We’ll soar like gossamer-winged butterflies. Embraced by the sun’s splendent glow let’s dance.

In a perfect world to do so wouldn’t be a frivolous, light-minded, carefree daydream, it’d be possible and probable.

A merry band of troubadours, we’d be freewheeling vagabonds; wayfarers strolling to the rhythm of our own upbeat melodies; causing harm to no one; inviting everyone we meet to join us in our joyous roving. (I was going to say “rambling”, but I’ve got lengthy digressing covered).

If you’re feeling lighthearted and have an urge to throw caution to the wind; if you’ve a hankering to toss negativity out the window (making sure, of course, the window is open); if you choose to accompany me on my fanciful, wondrous wanders together we’ll be the allied Pied Pipers of whimsical happiness and goodwill on the hill.  I’ve previously admitted, without qualm or regret, I’m an incompetent trumpet blower so I’ll leave the pipe playing to everyone else. 

Now that’s settled, I nominate myself to be the bearer of drinks as well as fun.  I volunteer to be in charge of the snacks, if you’re of the same mind, of course. If asked I’ll sign a guarantee the snacks provided will be tasty, but I assure you here and now they’ll suit all gustatory sensations.

Out the back in the garage area I have a large esky gathering dust and cobwebs.  As well as being huge, it’s too heavy for me to carry when loaded. I’ll put it onto a flat-bed trailer so I can pull it along behind me.  A skateboard would be too small; too narrow.  When push comes to shove, as it will, I could motorise the trailer.

For my own pleasure and at my leisure, I’ll jump aboard, and then I’ll blithely cruise along handing out refreshments while traversing the route. No GPS navigation device or road map is necessary.
Trust me! I’m not taking you for a ride; you join at your own free will (peril).

My chosen course is along the Path of Happiness. It runs parallel to Winsome Way on the one side, with Beautiful Boulevard on the other.

Remember – it’ll be a perfect world we’ll be discovering; one alive with wonder and amazement; not a world burdened by shock and horror. It’ll be an extraordinary world miraculously minus of contradictions; one in which living is easy, with no complications; a world devoid of conflict, grievances, hate, poverty and diseases; free of prejudices and negativity; a world overflowing with positivity; one filled with love.

Isn’t that enticing? 

We humans create most of our own contradictions. If they are so easy to create, surely, if we put our minds and daydreams to work, it should be as easy to uncreate the contradictions. 

Rose gardens in full bloom will border our paths. They’ll be necessary for when we to pause to take time to smell the roses as we’re frequently advised to do. 

As we travel my imaginary happy highway, while we snack and sip, we’ll plant myriad rose bushes.

Sign up today - become a wandering minstrel!  It’ll be more fun than any of the rides you’ll find at theme parks – cheaper, too! 

When asked, “Where is fun to be had?”  

Reply with:  “Hitching a ride on the wind; frolicking on a sunbeam; lassoing a star – that’s where!” 

Here Down Under we live in the Land of Oz; we just need to find the Yellow Brick Road, some stardust and an active imagination. 

Stuffin’ Muffins: Preheat oven, 190C. Heat pan over med-heat; add 2tbs olive oil and 1 large chopped onion; cook 3-4mins; add 3 small apples, chopped and 4 chopped celery stalks; cook about 5mins, until softened; add 3/4c dried cranberries, salt, pepper. 1/4c chopped parsley, 2tbs each chopped sage, thyme and rosemary. Remove from heat. Cube 1 stale sourdough loaf; place in bowl; pour the vegetable-apple mix over bread; add 2-1/2c veg stock; mix gently. Lightly grease muffin tin; fill with mixture; bake 20-25mins, until golden.

Quinoa Pizza Bites: Cook 1c quinoa in 2c water; cover; bring to boil; simmer 20-25mins. Preheat oven 175C. Combine quinoa, 2 large eggs, 1c chopped onion, 1c shredded mozzarella 2tsp minced garlic, 1/2c fresh basil or 2tbs dried, 1/2c diced cherry tomatoes or 1/2c diced pepperoni, 1/2tsp salt, 1tsp paprika and 1tsp dried oregano. Fill cups of greased mini-muffin pan to top; press down gently. Bake 15-20mins; cool, 10mins; remove from pan; serve with tasty pizza sauce for dipping.

Fruit-Oat Bars: Preheat oven 180C. Grease 16cm x 25.5cm slice pan; line with paper, extend 2cm above edges. Mash 3 large ripe bananas until smooth; add 3c rolled oats, 1/4c each finely chopped dried dates, finely chopped dried apricots and slivered almonds. 1tsp cinnamon and 1-1/2tsp vanilla; combine well; spoon into pan. Use back of spoon to press into pan; bake 30-35mins or until golden; cool completely; then cut into small bars.

Maple Nuts: Preheat oven 148C; grease 9x13 inch pan. Place raw nuts (macadamia, pecan, walnut etc) in bowl; drizzle over 2tbs maple syrup; stir to coat; sprinkle with 1/4tps ground ginger, 1/4ts curry powder and 2tbs brown sugar; spread on pan; bake 15-20mins. 

36 comments:

  1. I like the idea of floating on a fluorescent ocean under that moon, lassoed to a star. Will there be lightly sparkling mineral water in that giant esky?

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    1. Sure, River...as well as champagne....and/or anything else your heart desires! Your wish is my command! :)

      Thanks for swinging by. :)

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  2. What a beautiful, heart warming post, Lee. I will join your minstrel band! On our trip, could we please have at least a little angst or face some places/people who might need our help or our positive input? Otherwise, we who have been rowing against the tide for all our lives might get excessively bored with nothing to protest or no one to help. When do we leave this polluted, warring, racist, uncaring place for your beautiful world?

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  3. p.s. I am going to try the Quinoa Pizza Bites for lunch! Yum!

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    1. Hi Mountain Thyme...Glad to have you aboard. No angst allowed...it will dissipate as soon as we come into view. Resistance is pointless and boredom is not a word nor a feeling.

      The journey has already started....it's just up to you as to when you join in. No ticket required!

      Thanks for joining in. :)

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  4. Thank you Lee ~ I probably needed to read this post right now.

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    1. You're welcome, Carol...I'm glad you enjoyed my fantasy and it lightened the moment.

      Happy to have you along for the ride. :)

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  5. Sign me up right away! It sounds Magical!

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    1. Hey Naomi...here...let me give you a hand to climb on board. It'll be our magical mystical tour...never ending unless we choose it to be.

      Thanks for joining in with my madness. :)

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  6. A perfect world - huh - Heaven - love your photos.

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    1. G'day Sandie...jump on board...the more the merrier! Thanks for coming along for the ride! :)

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  7. Oh count me in.
    Mind you, I will probably set off the path from time to time and grub in the garden. Roses are well and good - but I want more. Much more.

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    1. Jump on board, EC. You most certainly can be the gardener...I know you never promised me a rose garden...but I know with your green thumbs and with the help of River's green thumbs we'll have roses all the way!

      Hold out your hand...I'll help you climb on board. :)

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  8. Sounds like you've been nibbling some funny mushrooms up there on your hill Lee ! or have you invented a delicious new cocktail ?
    "I'll have what she's having !"

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    1. Never the mushrooms, Helsie. When I was living in Glenden back in the early 90s, I accidentally mistook the "funny mushrooms" for the normal, edible field mushrooms! Thinking they were the safe old mushrooms, like the ones we'd gathered from the paddocks when we were kids, I included only three (thank goodness) into a main dish I'd prepared....wow! Never again! That was the scariest trip I've ever been on.

      I promise this one will be much calmer...and safer. There is nothing scary about the trip on offer! We'll be surrounded by clarity, beauty and colour, though...without the help of "funny" mushrooms. :)

      However, a few cocktails won't go astray. I'll have all the ingredients in my esky.

      Thanks for joining my adventure! :)

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  9. I was just thinking today that when people in your family make mistakes, it is best to forgive them and not to dwell on negative emotions. And then, I read this post!
    It really is best to look on the bright side,
    I will join you on the Path of Happiness. And it doesn't hurt that you might be carrying some Stuffin Muffins too!

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    1. But all too often, Kay, it's difficult to look on the bright side, isn't it? We try, but we don't and can't always succeed. We'll toss that all away when we skip along the Path of Happiness muffins in hand!

      Thanks for coming along with me. :)

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  10. A perfect world for me would include some of those fruit-oat bars. They sound delish.

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    1. Consider it done, Arleen...a perfect world it is with as many fruit-oat bars as you desire...and loads of ice cream, too! :)

      Thanks for popping in. :)

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  11. Sounds like this garden could use some Stargazer lilies as well! I'll get gloriously grubby planting them in, then grab a tall glass of ice cold lemonade and toss my inner tube (and self) in your fluorescent ocean for, what else... star gazing!

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    1. Okay...that's sounds great, Jacqueline! Jump aboard the Starlight Express!

      Thanks for joining in. :)

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  12. What a nice, fanciful post! I've love to wander with you like that - especially if some of those maple nuts were available. :)

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    1. G'day there Lynn...It seems everyone wants to jump aboard. We're all of the same mind and want some fanciful fun.. It sounds like a pretty good idea to me!

      And yes...bowls and bowls full of maple nuts and whatever other tasty tidbits your heart desires...or taste buds desire! Thanks for enjoying my daydreaming. :)

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  13. Those tablets the doctor gave you, did he give the right ones...?

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    1. G'day there Adullamite...Has the world reached the stage finally that it's impossible to dream...to daydream; to imagine all things beautiful without the help of pills?

      Oh! Dear! Mr. Ad-Man....jump aboard...I think you'll enjoy the ride...no...I know you will. You can even wear that lairy jumper of yours, too, if you like! Not that you'll need it...the weather will be perfect with a just-right temperature!

      I'll have jars and jars of Jelly Beans for you to pop...they're far more fun than popping pills!

      Come on! Toss aside your inhibitions....jump aboard! You're quarter of the way there...thanks for coming by! :)

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  14. Oh...that'd be okay, too. The man of my dreams would definitely come along for the ride! If you know what I mean! ;)

    Thanks for dropping in RK. :)

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  15. Is there a doctor in the house???

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    1. No doctor here, Mr. Ad-Man! I don't know any doctors. Surely you have one closer to you. I hope you found one!

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  16. The bars look sooooo yummy!

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    1. G'day, KB..you're a newbie to my blog...welcome! Thanks for popping in. :)

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  17. I must admit that I hadn't thought of using bananas like that.

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    1. Hey Cosmo....long time, no see. I hope all is well in your cosmos! Thanks for coming by. :)

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  18. Well I am happy to join you on that happy journey Lee, as soon as I have taken this LSD tablet. I had to look up "esky" - a portable cooler with a slang name that is surely offensive to native Canadians!

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    1. For your information, Yorkie.....

      "Esky is an Australian brand of portable coolers. The term "esky" is also commonly used in Australia to generically refer to portable coolers or ice boxes and is part of the Australian vernacular, in place of words like "cooler" or "cooler box" and the New Zealand "chilly bin".

      The Esky was created by Malley's, a Sydney refrigeration business. Though inaccurate, some historians have credited Malley's with the invention of the portable ice cooler.

      According to the company, the Esky, was "recognised as the first official portable cooler in the world." The company's own figures claim that by 1960, 500,000 Australian households owned one (in a country of approximately 10 million).

      Outdoor recreation company Coleman Australia bought the Esky brand from Nylex Ltd after the company went into administration in February 2009. Esky has been producing coolers since 1952. Coleman still produces most of the Esky line in Melbourne, Australia.The sale was seen as symptomatic of the decline of Australian made goods due to cheaper imports being available." End Quote/Lesson

      No apologies are necessary to native Canadians or any igloo dwellers.

      I'm sure you don't need any chemicals to kick-start that imagination of yours, Yorkie. Just jump aboard...you know you'll have fun without any pills or pipes! :)

      Thanks for dropping in. :)

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    2. I still think it would be more politically correct to change the name of those coolers from "Esky" to "Inuit".

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    3. Lee ~ I can't believe you actually taught the Yorkshire Pudding something new. Wow ~ esky was the thing he had to google?

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