Spinach and fetta fritters

Ingredients

250 grams frozen chopped spinach
410 ml buttermilk
1 egg
25 g butter (or olive oil)
2 cups SR flour (or rolled oats)
1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate soda
100 g fetta (crumbled)
Olive oil spray

250 g cherry tomatoes
2 tblsp basil pesto
1 tblspn olive oil
1 avocado (stoned, peeled, diced)
2 tblspn small basil leaves

Method

1. Use your hands to squeeze excess moisture from spinach
2. Whisk milk, egg, butter in jug, sift bi carb and flour
Make a well and add milk mixture and whisk
Stir in spinach and fetta
3. Spray non stick frypan and heat on medium
Spoon portions into pan and cook for 2 minutes
Turn over and cook a further 2 minutes
4. Grill tomatoes till skin splits
5. Combine pesto and oil in a small bowl

Serve fritters and tomatoes with avocado sprinkled with basil

Edge of darkness

All is dark and cold 
No light shining in
Living this earthly life 
Filled with sadness; sin
Dear Jesus has already given 
His body; his blood; everything 
Yet here we go on struggling...
Can we not accept his mercy?
Can we not see the light?
The battle has been fought well
We are promised heaven not hell
As he drifted to the edge of darkness
As he battled such pain within
Cried out unto his dear Father 
Know you not that he would rather 
Have not needed to sacrifice everything 
But without our saviour to deliver 
Without this scapegoat for our sin
We could never hope to see heaven 
For it is only through Him
That we may be delivered 
From our each and every sin

24 hours

The phone rang; wasn't surprised
Knew this day would come
Mum's getting weaker; please draw near
Her time is finally here; is come

On auto-pilot I set off
Covering many miles
Like an automaton I simply flew
Tyre noise going on and on

At last I crossed the final bridge
Lights of Berri 
Across the River Murray

The air conditioner has kept me 
Cool...
The air outside no longer cool
Berri; hot and humid
Unbearably so
I suddenly felt so tired
I'll let you know
My brother's words offended
"What took you so long?"
"Have you been to the hospital yet?"
I was trying to call them; no luck yet
"Yes; come and stay the night beside mum
Sleep beside her till she's done"

Mum was asleep; dreaming on
Did she even know that I'd come?
I listened to her breathing
I heard her muffled cries
Each time I was ready
To jump up; comfort her; my dear mum
In the morning I was beside her
As soon as she was awake
Held her thin fingers; just as I'd always done
She kept reaching out her tired fingers
Grabbing a hold of the rail
I aided her efforts without fail
My fingers held hers closely; my dear mum
I fed her a few morsels
I gave her drink in hr great thirst
I guess dear Lord; your answer 
To my question is...
When I ask you dearest Father
"Did i do enough?"
I covered her when she was cold
I wiped her sweating brow
Now I finally know dear Lord
Your answer is "Yes"

27th  28th December 2016

The last few months

The months drew on
Stress came; was gone
Up and down: my mind broke
No matter if I slept; awoke
Underlying all that activity
Acknowledged; bitterly
Mum was growing weaker
Her time was coming; bleaker
Doing all I could physically do
Of dear mum; how I miss you!

I watched you falter
My heart was pained
For I knew; none could alter
Your end; soon ordained
You ate like a little bird
Growing thinner all the while
Your body weight; lost a third
Ah; in the end; you couldn't even smile
Each time I left you behind
Until that last day; your energy dipped
In hospital; at least i know
There was someone taking care of you

The last 24 hours

I sat in church and cried Lord
I asked you if I had done enough
Did I live this life of mine?
With honour and with love
Did I love enough to satisfy
All the needs of my family?
Lord?
Did I do enough to aid my mum?
While I yet had the chance to try
Did I truly do enough?
In those last 24 hours before she died...

As the tears poured forth from within
I asked and you heard my pleas
Ah dear Lord I asked you; I did plead
Did I do enough to repay her?
For the dearest mother; who gave me birth
Did I come close enough to repay her
Was my life and love of any real worth?

In those last 24 hours 
I was there
Right beside her
Stroking her dear old face
Giving her sips of water
Feeding her tiny morsels
Yes; holding her tired old hands
Covering her with a blanket
While she shivered...
Aiming the fan at her
When she was hot...
My hands held with her tired fingers
As she grasped for mine
I felt the warmth of her loving touch
I gave what little comfort I could
Oh Lord 
Was it enough?

Then as she drew her last breath
I was afraid...
Not knowing what to do
Not knowing her end had come
Ah dear Lord...
As her eyes rolled back 
As she took her very last breath
I was afraid...
I was so afraid...
That I had let her down...

Ah dear Lord you gave me answer
In the simplest of ways
Telling me that we were covered
In Jesus' precious blood
For my Lord showed me then
"I did this for you my child
I gave my life for yours
Now as you have repaid me
Now you have given back your pain
Know you that when you give
To any in my name
It is as if you have done it for me
It is as if you have done it to me
Rest easy sweet Rose
I have gathered her into my arms 
As I will gather you one day 
And take you home again
Rest easy my sweet daughter
All is well my love
Know that you are covered
In my precious healing blood...

28th January 2017

Am I enough

Was it enough?
The things I said and did
Was it enough?
Did it make a little difference?
Did it change your life?
In some little way...
To this very day
I ask myself
Was it enough?

Is it enough?
To love unceasingly
To give and not take
To withdraw from anger
To step away from hate
To this very hour
I ask myself
Is it enough?

Am I enough?
This soul within me cries
Did I love you as much
As I possibly could
Did I continue long enough?
To try to bring you in from sin
Ah Lord; this question echoes
Within my very soul
All my life; so far
Have I done enough?
Am I enough?

28th January 2017

Lord forgive me

Lord; forgive me
I am a sinner; it's true
Like the publican; I see
There is much sin; in me
Like the Pharisee; I sought 
Once upon a time to be
Lifted up; adored...
It is to you I now vow...
I understand your plans
I am humbled
I am glad
That you have thus 
Chosen me...

11th February 2017

Missing Zecarias

Missing you my darling boy
My Zecarias; my joy
You hugs always drew me
Your boisterous noise
Your shy little grins
Ah my sweet little lad
Bruises upon your shins
I often thought there was no-one
Like me when I was a kid
But now I see I was wrong 
For you take all the gongs
You fall over constantly
Just like I always did
Ah truly you are just like me
When I was a little kid...

Here in my heart

That last night we were together
That last night I held you so close
Ah my darling Santiago I miss you
Your honest tears hurt me the most
Passion and pain you revealed then
The love from your dear precious heart
It hurts me to miss you so much when
I know we are destined to remain apart
Across the deep oceans you travelled
Flying so far away from me
Ah how our life has unravelled
If only I could keep you close by me
If only I could take you deep into my heart
As we looked into each other's soul dear
Holding each other closely sweetheart
I know that no matter how far you wander
You will always remain here in my heart

For Santiago

Thoughts of you Elfy

Almost bought a pretty thing
Almost bought it for you
But then it hit me
Like a lightning bolt
You are gone from me
You are no longer here
Ah Elfy how I miss you
How I miss your precious smiles
I miss your dark curling hair
The way you used to laugh out loud
The way your squeals filled the air
All of these make me think of you
Pretty pink ribbons upon Easter eggs
Pink dresses made for princesses
Ah my precious little girl
Wish you weren't across
The other side of the world

Family love

Family; means love; we ought to
Take care of each other
It's true; blood should be
Thicker than water
Yet sometimes; as we commiserate
There is way too much hate
We should be taking care of
Each other; like sister and brother
Instead of reviling each other
God help us live up to it all
Let us be real; stick to the deal
Love one another...

Truth is

It takes courage to stand up
It takes a lot of guts to explain
Truth is stranger than fiction
I feel the need to abstain
From anger and retribution
From spilling harsh words forth
For though it hurts beyond measure
Though it irks me beyond mere pain
What am I supposed to do? Say it again?
Truth is: exactly as I told you
Doubt me; yes; as you proclaim
Call me deceitful; selfish liar
It is you who caused all your own pain
I merely gave until I could no longer
Give? I gave! I gave! I gave! I gave!
Yes; truth is...
I gave till I was empty
I could not give to you again...

It breaks my heart

It breaks my heart to hear it
It tears my soul in two
That you should be so hurtful
After all I've done for you
How could you say such things?
How could your lips be so untrue?
To utter such words behind me
After the love I've always given you
Ah it breaks my heart to hear it
Ah; my heart is torn in two
How could you be so spiteful?
After all I've given you...

Life is too short

Life is too short for anger
Life is too short for hate
Just say "I love you"
Before it's too late

Life is too short for troubles
Life is too short for strife
Just get out in nature
Get up and enjoy your life

Life is too short for regrets
Life is too short for bitterness
Make up your mind honey
Just face up to your life's test

Losing you

I'm losing you
Just like I did mum
Though it's not as final
Still I'm feeling glum
Over the seven seas
You will go
God help me
I do not know
When we'll meet again
But this I will say
No matter how far apart
We may be my dear heart
I will always be with you

Blackberries

Picked some blackberries today
Beside a very busy highway
Fingers purple with their juice
I enjoyed the tangy taste upon my lips
Made me think about our lives...
Do we stop picking blackberries?
Because the thorns get in the way
Or do we get on and accept the pain
Gong back time and time again?
Tasting the sweetness life has to bring 
Along with the bitterness of life's sting

As I sucked the juice from my fingertips 
This much in my life was very clear
I will seek the sweetness of happiness
Though I must accept sadness too...
Nothing comes to us without some pain
No joy can ever be so entertained
With the balance; without the chains

Does the bear not seek for honey in the tree?
Knowing full well that it is never free
Stinging bees will surely find their way 
Making him, for that sweet honey; pay

Miss you days

Missing you mum
It's been three months
Since I lost you 
Since I held your hand
Kissed your brow
Gave you water
Like a loving daughter
Thought about you today
Remembered your frailty
Your pain in those last days
I'm glad you no longer struggle
No longer hurt; my love
I'm thankful that you've left
All your pain behind
Yes; I miss you 
My darling mum...