Cristina Jill

Late Ripeness “Not soon, as late as the approach of my ninetieth year, I felt a door opening in me and I entered the clarity of early morning. One after another my former lives were departing, like ships, together with their sorrow. And the countries, cities, gardens, the bays of seas assigned to my brush came closer, ready now to be described better than they were before. I was not separated from people, grief and pity joined us. We forget - I kept saying - that we are all children of the King. For where we come from there is no division into Yes and No, into is, was, and will be. We were miserable, we used no more than a hundredth part of the gift we received for our long journey. Moments from yesterday and from centuries ago - a sword blow, the painting of eyelashes before a mirror of polished metal, a lethal musket shot, a caravel staving its hull against a reef - they dwell in us, waiting for a fulfillment. I knew, always, that I would be a worker in the vineyard, as are all men and women living at the same time, whether they are aware of it or not.” ~ Czeslaw Milosz ~ My name is Cristina Jill Mosqueda Cooper. I pause looking at my name, and think about how much there is to explain with those words alone. My mother gave me a name to use in each of my worlds, Cristina for my Cuban life, and Jill for the American life. I suppose it is there were the paradoxes of my life began. I have been many things in my life, from a housekeeper to a high school history teacher; but no matter what else I did, I was always a writer. I love words and the power and passion which they can be used to create. I love reading words, writing words, speaking words, and listening to words – especially words from people that I love and respect. It is my desire to live life on my own terms, and willingly or not, I have paid the price demanded, by the world, to be myself. I share my life with Kate, with whom I have lived for the last 23 years, and Miss Merry Margaret, our little mutt who really is the world’s most perfect dog. I also travel, cook, garden, sculpt, and make large messes doing all of the above. Welcome to my world, that is all for now.

Web Site: http://thatisallfornow.com


Favorite Books

November 18, 2017

Sitting By My Bedside     “One sure window into a person’s soul is his reading list.” ~ Mary B. W. Tabor ~ What are you reading?  Are you looking for your next great read?  Here is a look at what is sitting by my bedside, and which I am pleased to recommend. Let...
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Public Square

November 16, 2017

Fort Pitt Museum at Point State Park     “Courage on Trail” Nat H. Youngblood   “The Fort Pitt Museum, located in historic Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh, is a two-floor, 12,000-square-foot museum that presents the story of Western Pennsylvania’s essential role during the French & Indian War, the American Revolution, and as...
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Food

November 13, 2017

Spicy Cranberry – Orange Relish     So many of the foods that we gather to enjoy together, on Thanksgiving, must be prepared either the day of our dinner or the night before, to be at their optimal; however, that is not true with this delicious spicy cranberry-orange relish, which can be cooked head...
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Holiday’s

November 11, 2017

Veteran’s Day “Now that you are a U. S. soldier, I know you will do your level best and allow nothing to tarnish your good name, and I sincerely hope and trust you may come out of it perfect in form and health.  Richard, I am proud of you.  You aunt Kate and Lyndora...
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Perfect Post Cards – Picture and a Thousand Words

November 11, 2017

Writing Home     I imagine that writing home is no longer a group activity for our men and women, in the armed services; but I feel certain that this post card, from World War I captures one of most important moments in these men’s lives.  The black and white picture feels a bit sorrowful...
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A View from the Road

November 4, 2017

Picture Perfect     Driving along the coast, in Massachusetts, I happened to spot this man, standing on the rocks; positioning himself to take the perfect picture – of course, to me he was picture perfect!
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From the Editor

November 1, 2017

Maybe Change Has Come     “Don’t know if you have power yet….I don’t . . . but the church does. We’re open if you and Kate need it at all and…we have a shower!!! :)” ~ My Pastor~ As I made my way into my bedroom to get ready to shower and go...
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Food

October 21, 2017

Baked Apples With Apple Cider Carmel Sauce And Whipped Cream       Have you ever thought about the fact that we have an emotional attachment to foods that directly correlates to when it is harvested? For example, in the spring, especially for Easter dinner we think of eating tender asparagus, just like the...
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In the Wild!

October 17, 2017

The Fox     Last month, I shared my neighbor, Lois Robertshaw’s photograph of an eagle in her backyard, that then flew into ours.  This month, I want to show you our mutually shared fox! We have all spotted him; he has been coming around for awhile, but this is the first picture I...
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The Dialogue

October 15, 2017

Vamos Todos a Leer Cartilla     In oh so many ways, I am my Mother’s daughter. I was going through some of my Mother’s books, and I ran across this booklet, that I remember her using to teach various people Spanish, since I was a child. I soon decided that I should share...
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Art


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