Monthly Archives: January 2017

A Little Bit of Everything

The Road Ahead

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Aloha,

I usually publish this blog at the beginning of the month. However, this month is special and I wanted to hold off on this post until we closed on the sale of our Scottsdale condo. That closing took place on January 9th. We are now on the entrance ramp to the road (or should I say the ocean) ahead to Maui, Hawaii.

We have been working on our dream of returning home to Hawaii for the last three years. It has been a long haul and a heavy lift but all of the planning is now bringing things together. I will post more on this journey as the months and years unfold.

One of the things we acquired to help get us going when we get settled is a 2017 Ford Edge Titanium which I will review on a separate  page. There is also a section for some favorite inspirational quotes and sayings that helped keep  morale up while setting this plan in motion. And once again we included a favorite recipe that we hope you will enjoy.

Whatever awaits you and yours on the road ahead you choose to take, may the journey be safe and fruitful.

Peace, love and happiness in 2017!

In This Month’s Issue

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live-your-dream

Gadgets & Tools

2017 Ford Edge Titanium

High Tech On Four Wheels

With a little bit of trepidation we traded in our F-150 pickup for a 2017 Ford Edge Titanium SUV. Our needs changed and so it goes.

We had an Edge back in 2011 but this year’s model is a whole different animal. It has more technology than I usually like but after living with this SUV for a few weeks I have come to appreciate some of the cool features.

One of the features that I  initially liked the least was the “Intelligent Key Access System and Push Button Start.” I now like this feature the best. Your digital key can be in your pocket. But if you are within 2 feet of the door you can open it and once you enter the driver’s cabin you can start up with the push of a button and go.

edge-interior
Ceramic Leather Interior

Our Edge also has a towing package with the extra heavy duty stuff that comes along with that option and 20″ wheels for extra height.

The 3.5 liter V6 produces about 280hp which is plenty for this type of SUV.

3.5L V6
3.5L V6

The handling is firm but not harsh and the new “Synch3” touchscreen is a big improvement over previous versions.

Synch3 Touchscreen
Synch3 Touchscreen

So far this ride has exceeded our expectations.

For more info go to: www.ford.com

Visit our online store at: www.etsy.com

Contact us at: [email protected]

Uncategorized

Our Favorite Inspirational Quotes

 These Souls Made A Difference

  • I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.  Maya Angelou
  • I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.  Michael Jordan
  • The mind is everything. What you think you become.  Buddha
  • Your time is limited; so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.  Steve Jobs
  • You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.  Christopher Columbus
  • Whatever you think you can or you think you can’t do, you’re right.  Henry Ford
  • People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing.  That’s why we recommend it daily.  Zig Ziglar
  • There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.  Aristotle
  • Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.  Martin Luther King Jr.
  • If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.  Booker T. Washington

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Contact us at: [email protected]

Peace

 

Recipes

Sausage With Peppers & Onions

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A Classic!

This delicious Brooklyn dish is easy to prepare and very satisfying. It is not necessarily a side dish but a meal in and of itself. Makes a great brown bag lunch!

What you need

  • 4-6 Italian sausages. Hot or sweet, you decide. If you live near a Costco, they have some of the best Italian sausage anywhere. Johnsonville is also very good. If you live in an Italian neighborhood then you’ll want to go to a local pork store.
  • A large frying pan
  • Grill
  • Olive oil
  • 2 Green or red bell peppers
  • 1 Medium sweet onion
  • 2 Garlic cloves chopped medium fine
  • 1/2 Tsp salt
  • 1 Tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 Tsp oregano
  • 1/2 Tsp basil
  • 1 Long loaf of Italian bread or crusty French baguette

First

Core and clean the peppers so that there are no seeds and no white rind. Cut them lengthwise into 1/4″ strips.

Second

Cut the ends off the onion and then cut it in half lengthwise and slice so that you have half rings.

Third

Heat the frying pan over medium heat until you can pop a drop of water then add about 1/8″ of olive oil. When you can pop a drop of water in the oil you are ready to fry up the peppers and onions.

Fourth

Saute the garlic on medium heat for about 30 seconds and then add the peppers and onions. Add the salt, black pepper, oregano and basil. Stir everything around often until the peppers and onions are tender. This will take a bit of time.

Fifth

While the peppers and onions are cooking , throw the sausage on the grill and cook them until they are done and have uniform black grill marks all around. Some people like to fry the sausage, I don’t. Frying them is O.K. but it does change the character of the recipe.

Sixth

Take the sausages off the grill and let them cool for a few minutes. Cut them lengthwise and add them to the peppers and onions for about 1 minute. Place the contents of the frying pan into a bowl lined with paper towels to absorb the excess olive oil. You are now ready to serve it up.

This makes a great sandwich and can be served with a side salad and a nice bottle of Chianti.

Enjoy!

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