Summer's Final Reflection Photos

With Summer steadily winding down, comes the climax of many beautiful reflections. I hardly know where to start with my own. First my bountiful vegetable garden has yielded many lovely treasures. I layered my perfections on metal skewers pictured above, creating a splendid barbeque feast for our dinner tonight!

Mouth watering cherry tomatoes, zucchini, green bell peppers, pearl onions, and carrots, were all my garden veggie delights surrounding chicken breast chunks. I used a special dry rub sent to me by my good friend Nazarina, paired with a terriyaki marinade. To say the least, I couldn't grill them fast enough to fill my families plates.

I've had an abundance of greenbeans, which are still coming strong! I've frozen a good bit of these vegetables for my soups, sauces, ect for the Winter months ahead. I started drying out my sunflowers to make sunflower seeds as in the past.


My daily walks with Sierra dog has given me wonderful solitude, gazing along the countrysides of my farmer friends farm. Isn't the view just breathtaking? The corn is about a good 6 to 7ft, ready to harvest shortly. This farm goes on for miles, carrying into another farm.


The sun was setting on an evening this past week, when I shot this photo at a different angle. The soybean field directly in front of me, and the rolling hills that Pennsylvania is know for far off in the horizon. Farming is a unique and beautiful art in itself, these great folks work hard to keep this farm looking immaculate as it does.

My flowers seem to always look their most beautiful at the end of Summer, and through most of Fall. The flower plants are at their fullest and most brilliant color. My hotpink petunias just light up my flower garden with their elegant and delicate presence.

I only had one set of my purple coneflowers come back this year. These beauties are one of my favorite flowers. The birds love pecking and eating the centers out of the daisylike flowers.

School is starting in a couple days, and the nights are growing cooler. It's been a hot and humid summer, and I look forward to cooler nights walking with Sierra dog.

Soon the flowers will fade, and the leaves will start turning. But I won't rush a moment, not too fast or hastily. I'll take them as they come and revel right here Literally in the moment!!

Stunning Minature Rose Photo & Haiku

A real stunning photo of a minature rose from my beautiful flower garden!!

Animal Lovers Urgent Funds Needed For Lilly Beagle!

Update 8-26-10: Lilly has found a wonderful home here in Pennsylvania. Thanks to the Lewisburg Veterinary Hospital and Dr. Loving for taking Lilly into their rescue, giving her the vetting she needed, and finding her a good forever home with a wonderful family! A great ending for a dog who traveled so far, to be saved from a kill shelter!! Thanks to all involved for helping to get Lilly rescued! It was truly worth it!!

URGENT CRISIS! After all it took to get Lilly pulled and transport set up to
get her to her foster, this beautiful girl has tested NW+ PLUS has lyme. She's not doing well at all and needs to get treatment started NOW! Anyone wanting to donate towards Lilly's care can call the vet's office and contribute using a credit card over the phone to them. You can also send a check like I did by mail to:

Lewisburg Veterinary Hospital
829 Fairground Road
Lewisburg, PA 17837

C/O Kim Shuck and make sure to note it's for Lilly!
Phone Number: 570-523-3640 to inquire about her status or
treatment!

Due to the high cost of Lilly's treatmet and urgent medical needs we're grateful
to the Lewisburg Veterinary Hospital for taking over Lilly's care!

I'm thankful for all who were involved in Lilly's rescue, and I'm so sadened that Lilly despite all the vet work she did have is really so sick. Lilly needs our help to get better, any amount will help her new rescue. We're still hoping for a happy ending for this special beagle!

Lilly was in a kill shelter, and I had networked her to help find rescue. Here is a post on facebook I posted previously everyone worked so very hard to rescue Lilly!

SAFE!!!Undate 7-31-10 Lilly Dog IS SAFE!!! Lilly is now in transport with her foster mom Robin!!It's been a busy week, from transport networking California to Virginia, and finally here to Pennsylvania for a lovely hound who needed rescued for over a month!! Thanks to Lilly's Rescue Julie from Forever Home for pulling Lilly, Katrina Transport Coordinator for putting together a transport in less than two days, Courtney from Bonnie Blue Rescue for pulling and boarding Lilly In Va, Transporters Kate, Eric, Ariel and Robin for transporting and Fostering Lilly, Melissa at New Kent Shelter, and to my buddy Linda who helped me to rescue and keep our Lilly dog Safe!! Robin promised updates. Thank you all for Networking Lilly!!

Anyone willing to donate to Lilly's urgent medical care please do so, no amount is too small! Thanks Kindly Jo ~

The End Of A Swimming Era!

Sadly our Esther Williams pool of 16 years has bit the dust! All my beautiful memories are going to the scrap yard! I was pregnant with my first child when we purchased this pool. It's been through 2 generations of dogs, and most recently my nephew and great nephew. We enjoyed many wonderful summers in this pool, and I'm certainly going to miss our favorite summer recreation right in our own backyard. We were going to purchase a new liner, and upon examing the walls my hubby found a bunch of pin holes all through them.

It couldn't of happened at the worse time, as we're experiencing one of the hottest summers here in PA. We've spent a lot of the past month, driving over to my sister's house to swim in her pool. Though it's been really nice to go there, it's not like swimming right out our own back door! Winter took it's toll on our roof, so we had to have all the shingles replaced this Spring. So purchasing a new pool is quite out of the question.

I've been having a run of bad luck for the past two weeks. I fell one day while walking Sierra dog, along a country field and almost broke my arm and wrist. The ground was so hard, it might as well have been cement. My wrist is still black and blue almost halfway down my arm. Of course I didn't go to the doctor, and have been nursing myself. Still walking Sierra 5 days a week, very gently I may say. Still doing all my chores slowly and gently! To say the least my spirit has been broken, and I know I must be very careful in my footing from now on. I push myself very hard always, and most things can't bring me down. But the pain has gotten to me this time!!

Our luck changed today when a friend of ours stopped over. It just so happens he had an extra pool, and he decided to give it to us. He had moved and thought he lost some pieces to it, and bought another pool. In the meantime, he found the lost pieces. It's a round pool not like our oval, but we'll still be able to swim. My hubby went and picked up the pool this evening.

I'm not sure if we'll get the pool up this Summer, because we want to move it to another location. Where we had the pool before, the leaves would always come in and make it turn green!! Too many trees, shedding too many leaves, especially during thunderstorms!! Plus with my bum arm, I'm limited to how much I can help!! Yet I sure would like to have the pool up and running, as the temps don't seem to be going down anytime soon! Unfortunately Summer is halfway over already.

Time sure flies, how's your Summer going so far! Our vegetable garden is coming along, with beets, zuccini, onions, radishes, and garlic. My flower garden is blooming beautifully too, and those glorious Sunflowers are back! Still working hard on the animal front. A reminder to keep all your pets cool in these hot Summer months!!

Stay right here Literally In The Moment with more updates to come!

We Deserve The Chance To Live ~ Poem For Urgent Dogs On Death Row!!

We Deserve The Chance To Live ~ (Poem for Urgent Dogs On Death Row)

Who will love me when I’m abandoned,
when all my hope is stripped away?
Where do I turn when I feel lonely?
Begging to live just one more day.

Who will embrace the sorrow in my eyes.
Speak out all the words I cannot say.
Hear my silent, frightened cries.
Begging to live just one more day.

Who will finally come to my rescue,
during my last dying hour I pray..
My worthy cause will not be forgotten.
Deserving to live just one more day.

Who will mourn my undue passing?
Never knowing the love I had to give.
Show me great miracles can still happen,
Because we all deserve the chance to live.

©Jo A. True-Burkholder 2010


In Memory of Missy tan dog pictured and all shelter dogs who are euthanized everyday. I’ve been networking Mystery aka Mister for the past two weeks, her momma Missy was euthanized on June 18, 2010. I was so affected by this beautiful and vibrant dog's death, that I decided to make them the poster dogs for my mission to bring awareness to the plight of Death Row Dogs. I was determined that Mistress would not have the same fate as her momma. I feel I let Missy down, her face will forever haunt me and remain on my pages, because I found her link a day too late.

Be a miracle~ please help me save Urgent Dogs On Death Row!! To bring worldwide awareness to their untimely plight, and ultimately to help save their lives. Did you know that one dog or cat is put down every 8 SECONDS according to the HSUS? This is an astonishing amount of dead dogs and cats littering our shelter trash bins!! Most like Missy are young, healthy and would make a great family pet!!

Join me in my passionate mission to save literally millions of beautiful healthy dogs and cats waiting desperately to be rescued, fostered, sponsored, and adopted!! So many of them go unnoticed like Missy and her baby Mystery. Their faces get lost because there're so many urgent dogs and cats filling our shelters daily.

Missy’s daughter Mystery has been rescued and given the chance, that both of them truly deserved. I had the pleasure of networking out this adorable pup only 4 months old. Contacting close to 60 rescues, a wonderful rescue has committed to taking Mistress and not a day too soon. I'm learning so much about what goes on behind rescue scenes and have profound respect for all involved. We had a circle of rescue ladies from 5 different states, hustling to make Mystery’s rescue possible including her shelter. She's now safe with her foster mom in Georgia, soon to be transported by ARF to her rescue in Minnesota!

Please make your sponsor donations, or help with transport or medical costs. Most shelters just simply don’t have funds to pay for all these costs. Some dogs simply need medical treatment to make them available for rescue or adoption. A large majority of shelters need funds to cover medical costs, and like Missy may be put down for an oversight cost of medical attention!!

We can’t let this happen to such beautiful souls, who have so much love to give us. Your dollars can be the only difference, between their life and death. Mystery is one lucky pup, and we almost didn't make it to save her. We couldn't help to save her momma, but I can rest knowing her sweet orphan puppy lives!!!


Thanks to some very special rescue ladies, her shelter coordinator, and foster mom, Mystery is SAFE!!! Mystery is a temp name, until she reaches her rescue!!

View 8 Rescued Dogs I helped to feature on my blog and facebook!

Marriage Twenty Years In The Making~ Photos Then And Now!

June 2, 2010 marked our twentieth wedding anniversary. Time sure flies, and so much has happened in twenty years. We were a stunning young couple back then, working hard for our future together. I can't say it has been total bliss, or a storybook marriage. There were times I thought to leave, but stayed because of my deep love for my husband and child. I couldn't survive in a loveless relationship, or one which lacks passion and intimacy. I think most couples go through rough times, and if they're lucky come out together even stronger and closer.

If I can say one thing we lacked was taking time for ourselves to nourish our relationship. Helping family, kids, and work always came first. It was almost if we eventually didn't have real time for each other.

If I could share a word of wisdom it would be make time, before it's too late. Before you just become friends, and not lovers anymore! That doesn't mean just sex either, although intimacy is very important too.

It's just the little jestures I miss, like the long French kisses, a hug now and then, and just plain hand holding! Yes I did marry my best friend, but I can find a friend anywhere. Like the Lady Gaga song goes "I want your love, I don't want to be friends!"

I want it all, just like so many other women out there, alittle bit of the fairytale dream wouldn't hurt!! No one is perfect and I'm far from it. It takes a lot of patience and love to stay commited to each other. True love will always prevail, and you must work at it!! I always like a good fight, making up is the ultimate pleasure!!

Still the love of my life even after twenty years. There is no other man I'd rather be with.

Before we left, I wanted to venture back to our special day at the church, where the wedding photos above were taken by the fountain. As you can see the water is not running! The Mother Mary statue is still as beautiful as it was then. I hope to rescan my wedding photos at a later time, as my scanner is getting old and my bigger photos came out distorted. The reason I had to use smaller images than usual. The photos have a special finish to preserve them, and my scanner picked up on the coating!

We celebrated with a long awaited romantic weekend last weekend. We took a long drive into Pittsburgh and stayed at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel where the Gateway Clipper tours up and down the three rivers.

It rained so hard the whole time we were there, and we were under tornado watches. We worried about home, as we're putting on a new roof!! The shot above taken from our hotel room dark clouds looming! The beds were very comfortable, and the room was very nice. We had dinner at McCormick & Schmick's, of course I had seafood, and the food was fabulous! My honey surprised me with a beautiful tiger ring, that I had wanted!

The Pittsburgh Pirate game was sold out, so we went to check out the new Rivers Casino.

The casino was beautiful inside, and part was still under construction. We needed a players club card to play the slots, and the line was at least an hour wait. So we just looked around and left!

We took a wrong turn on the highway and I saw my life flash before my eyes as we crossed three lanes of traffic. So glad to be back at our hotel, we decided to drive no further. We walked around Station Square, and the fireworks at the Pirate Game were lighting the sky. The Hard Rock Cafe was just down the block from our hotel, so we walked there! A band played Fleetwood Mac, and they were good, but the Doors tribute band wasn't so hot. We left and called it a night, after a couple drinks.

The weekend seemed to go so fast, just like the flash of the last twenty years. Glad to be back where the parking is free, and not $3.00 an hour. The city is beautiful to visit, but we don't belong there!! I belong here on the beautiful countrysides walking Sierra dog, along this beautiful dairy farm above. I'm older now, enjoying the peaceful life, here where natures view is always beyond breathtaking!!

Giddy Gastronome Finest Homemade Food And Fragrant Handmade Soaps!

Are you searching for different recipes to prepare for your family meals today! Look no further than Giddy Gastronome. I’m elated, I found a good friend, in meeting Nazarina, owner and founder of Giddy Gastronome.com . We met through our love of homemade ethnic food, and our deep love for animals. Both of us have a profound respect for the women in our families, who have passed down generations of great recipes. We take family recipes and add our own twists to make them even greater!! Nazarina takes her recipes to a whole other level, with her stunning presentations of her masterpiece food creations.

Not only can Nazarina whip up an ultimate meal, she creates handmade soaps, sews, and speaks African fluently. Using only the finest and natural ingredients in both her recipes and wonderful soaps, Nazarina will enlighten your day with her humorous, skilled dialogue posts!!

Curious to know more about this sensational multi talented young woman, here is my interview with my special friend Giddy Gastronome herself.

Where were you born and what is your ethnic background? How does your background tie in with your unique tasting recipes?

I am of Malaysian descent and born in South Africa. My parents emigrated to Miami and this is where I attended college and made the best friendships! My Grandmother owned a pastry shop in South Africa, so we were practically raised in the bakery, surrounded by all kinds of good confections and the best culinary dishes to boot! However, my mother broke away and decided to study fashion designing, but still had to put in her time at the bakery. She would always say that she felt extremely blessed to have been enriched by both the fashion and the culinary worlds. I shall always be grateful to both her and my Grandmother for engaging us in all of their endeavors. It is this “creative metamorphosis” if you will, that has given me the insight in all that I do! Their mantra was that almost anything can be accomplished by commitment, diligence and with a “big fat smile on your face.”

Where did you come up with the name Giddy Gastronome!

I have a truly jovial & vivid personality and can sometimes be very naïve …..thus “giddy”, ( people always say that I am the life of the party), but on the other hand very anal about my food source. I care very much where I buy my ingredients and particularly love all of it organic and locally grown. I would rather resist the temptation of buying a sixty dollar pair of shoes, only to splurge on the very best organic ingredients! I love for flavors to explode in a dish and I care very much about the presentation. What can I say, I love to cook and entertain! Beside my passionate love affair with the culinary realm and people, I have a soft spot for destitute animals, that is why I fell in love with your blog!” I think the world of you!!!”

Do you have a favorite recipe?

I do not have a favorite recipe except maybe for my handmade roasted garlic & fennel spicy kosher beef sausage which I make twice a year from scratch. It is very time-consuming! Someone in Miami wanted this recipe for their butcher shop but my sister advised me against the idea at that time and prompted me to include the recipe in my cook book.

Last but not least, I can’t wait for Nazarina’s book to come out!! Don’t forget to check out the wonderful and taste tempting recipes already featured on Giddy Gastronome too!! As one of Nazarina’s biggest fans, and I’ll be sure to feature her new cookbook here on Literally in the Moment the minute it’s off the press!! As always stay tuned to Literally In The Moment.

I heard there's a cook book in progress, what will you be featuring in your new book?

My cook book is still a work in progress and quite a labor of love. This is almost the hardest endeavor I have attempted! This book will include pictures , step by step instructions of food and desserts, my secret tips and tricks, personal stories, ( most of them…funny), and poetry. I want the reader to experience hospitality like they would if they were in my home! My Grandmother and Mother really never did something like this,( though people will never forget their creativity), so therefore I feel the need to do so. I have so many recipes from them written down in their handwriting , so the prudent thing to do is to document them in a cook book and in a way share their legacy with everyone!

How did you get into the art of making handmade soaps?

I started the soap-making endeavor about three years ago. I would make them and give them away as gifts until a friend in Miami ordered 70 bars for a bridal shower. Now people, I hardly even know, orders them from my blog and by referrals. I love making them for people! The pictures that I attached below are two of the more detailed ones I make!


Chocolate and raspberry cupcake soap.


Speed boat, polo fragrance.

Notice all the delicate details and time Nazarina puts into her art of her handmade soaps. I was the lucky winner of Nazarina’s Spa Basket giveaway for April. From experience I love her goats milk and honey soap. I use it on my face everyday, it never dries my skin and leaves it feeling soft and toned!!! I highly recommend her soap especially if you have drier skin! You’ll be amazed at the aroma of Nazarina’s lily of the valley soap, you simply must try them all!! You’ll find many different soap designs, and great soap fragrances featured on Giddy Gastronome! Don’t forget you can order these gorgeous soaps, to add a classic touch to any holiday or any special party occasion.

Lastly but not least, I can’t wait for Nazarina’s cookbook to come out!! Don’t forget to check out the wonderful and taste tempting recipes already featured on Giddy Gastronome too!! As one of Nazarina’s biggest fans, I’ll be sure to feature her new cookbook here on Literally in the Moment the minute it’s off the press!! As always stay tuned to Literally In The Moment.