Growing older gracefully. - “And the beauty of a woman, with passing years only grows!” ― Audrey Hepburn

 

Virna Lisi 

1965

Virna Lisi 2007

Lana Turner

Sofia Loren1954

Sofia Loren 1958

Sophia Loren in June 2009 at 77 yrs

Raquel Welch 1970

Raquel Welch 77 yrs

 

Funny Story. Student too smart for first grade.

 

MUSHROOM STUFFED POTATO CAKES

 

Makes – 8-10 cakes

Ingredients

1 kg potatoes, peeled and diced
3/4 cup gluten-free plain flour. Regular plain flour will also work
Salt & pepper to taste

For the mushroom filling

250g mushrooms, finely diced
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
15g dill, roughly chopped
1 tbsp oil
2 tbsp lemon juice
Salt & pepper to taste
Pinch of chilli flakes
More oil for frying

Method

Add the diced potatoes to a large pan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and leave to simmer until cooked through (20-30 minutes). Drain, mash and season well with salt and pepper. Leave to cool while you make the filling.
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a frying pan and sauté the onions for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, mushrooms, lemon juice, chilli flakes and season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook for about 15 minutes or until the mushrooms and soft and most of the liquid has evaporated. Take off the heat and fold in the chopped dill.
Mix the flour into the mashed potatoes and start shaping. Take a couple of tablespoons of the dough and flatten them out into flat patties. Add about a tablespoon of the mushroom mixture in the middle, then top with more of the potato mixture and shape into round potato cakes.
Heat some oil in a frying pan on high. Once the oil is hot, add the potato cakes and cook on each side for about 2 minutes or until golden brown.
Enjoy!

nadiashealthykitchen.com

A NYC Taxi driver wrote:

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but inst

ead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard
box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'

'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive
through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice..'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired.Let's go now'.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut.It was the sound of the closing of a life..

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day,I could hardly talk.What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.....Wishing you all a wonderful weekend...

Vintage lace and ribbon embroidery

 

Something to ponder over - “It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness.”

 

1. “Someone will declare, “I am the leader!” and expect everyone to get in line and follow him or her to the gates of heaven or hell. My experience is that it doesn’t happen that way. Others follow you based on the quality of your actions rather than the magnitude of your declarations.” ―Bill Walsh

1. “Courage is like a muscle. We strengthen it by use.” —Ruth Gordo

1. “Relentlessly prune bullshit, don't wait to do things that matter, and savor the time you have. That's what you do when life is short.” —Paul Graham

1. "More is lost by indecision than wrong decision.” —Marcus Tullius Cicero

1. "If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship, he would keep it in port forever." —Thomas Aquinas

1. "You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there's still going to be somebody who hates peaches." —Dita Von Teese
2. 
   
   
   
   
3. “Keep a little fire burning; however small, however hidden.” ―Cormac McCarthy

Words of Wisdom for Women

 

1. Women challenge the status quo because we are never it.” — Cindy Gallop

1. We don’t just sit around and wait for other people. We just make, and we do.” — Arlan Hamilton

1. 
   
2. “The strongest actions for a woman is to love herself, be herself and shine amongst those who never believed she could.” — Unknown

1. “Whenever you see a successful woman, look out for three men who are going out of their way to try to block her.” – Yulia Tymoshenko

1. “Some women choose to follow men, and some choose to follow their dreams. If you’re wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn’t love you anymore.” — Lady Gaga

1. “The thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it. ” ― Roseanne Barr

1. “A witty woman is a treasure; a witty beauty is a power.” ― George Meredith

1. “When a woman becomes her own best friend life is easier.” – Diane Von Furstenberg

1.  “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.” – Margaret Thatcher

1. “We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women’s voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored.” – Sheryl Sandberg

1. “It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.” – Madeleine Albright
2. 
   
   
   
   
3. “Women must learn to play the game as men do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

1. “I swear, by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.” — Ayn Rand