I've been thinking about how many women in history have worn strings of pearls.  Jackie O., Princess Diana, Grace Kelly, Coco Chanel, and the list goes on.  Why?

 Recently I had a strand of pearls that were a gift from my husband many years ago break.  It has such good memories surrounding it I did not want to leave it broken. I have worn it over the years and always receive such warm compliments and reminds me of the great memories I have with my other half.  

Single pearls are lovely but a strand of them is classic.  Life's ups and downs are often like a strand of pearls. Each one is unique and beautiful but together it is and elegant and strong. It makes a statement. Sometimes the down's in life feel like the broken strand.  Maybe if we start too look to closely at the individual pearls we might see chips or blemishes or flaws.  We do this too often to ourselves when we hurt or life has pushed us to it's limit. We all have chips and blemishes but, it isn't until we step away and start to see that all of the pieces can be put back together and be made beautiful again that our hurt begins to heal.  

 No doubt it is difficult, after all the hole might be small and at first the string might be weak but with time we learn to buy the strongest cord and we ask for help to put it back together again.  In fact most of the time we need help stringing back together the little pieces.

 In life we need help too, from others that's what makes us a stronger person.  We need those who are experts to teach us how to thread the pearls, or make the knots, or even just to tell us don't worry, it can be fixed, and it will be beautiful again.

 I  chose to pick up the pieces and have a friend help me put it back together. It's stronger and more beautiful to me now than before.  Why? Because I stopped looking at the little flaws and started looking at the big picture.  

Now I can look in the mirror and see the strand of pearls together lying flat against that little black dress and say I love your Beauty, every little flaw and every little blemish, because together you make Me shine.

Speaking of Pearls...Tapioca Pearls make Delicious Eating.  

Enjoy!

Recipe from:  Slightly Adapted from Bob's Red Mill classic Old Fashioned Tapioca Pudding

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup Small Pearl Tapioca
• 3/4 cup Water
• 2 1/4 cup  Whole Milk
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 2 eggs,separated
• 1/2 cup Sugar,divided
• 1 Vanilla bean, sliced in half and scraped or 1/2 tsp Vanilla Paste

Instructions

Step 1

Soak the 1/3 cup pearls in 3/4 cup water making sure it is large enough saucepan. (Around:  1 & 1/2 quarts can hold) DO NOT DRAIN TAPIOCA AFTER SOAKING!

Step 2

Add milk, salt, 1/4 cup sugar and lightly beaten egg YOLKS to Tapioca pearls and stir over medium heat until boiling. Then turn down heat and simmer uncovered over very low heat for 10-15 minutes.  Stir often and do not let come to  a boil again.  

Step 3

In a mixer using a whisk, or whisking by hand beat egg WHITES with remaining  1/4 cup sugar until soft peaks form.  Fold about 3/4 cup of HOT tapioca into egg whites slowly and then gently fold mixture using a spatula.  Fold mixture all together into saucepan slowly.  Stir over low heat for about 3 minutes.

Step 4

Cool 15 minutes then add Vanilla Bean or Vanilla Paste.  Serve warm or chilled with Fresh Berries of your choosing. You can also top with a little whip cream if you would like. 😋