For Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

FEBRUARY 2^ND, 2010

It's MONDAY!

AND IT’S GROUND HOG’S DAY!

The legend of Groundhog Day is based on an old Scottish couplet: If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, there'll be two winters in the year.

Every February 2, people gather at Gobbler's Knob, a wooded knoll just outside of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Residents contend that the groundhog has never been wrong.

The ceremony in Punxsutawney was held in secret until 1966, and only Phil's prediction was revealed to the public. Since then, Phil's fearless forecast has been a national media event.

Approximately 90% of the time, Phil sees his shadow

If Phil comes out of his burrow into sunlight on February 2nd and spies his own shadow, he's said to jump back down underground -- dooming us all to six more weeks of winter

We in Ohio have come to accept the fact that there is 6 more weeks til Sping arrives. Just about 6 more weeks til March 20^th the official date on the calendar anyway.

THINKING

If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas bring clouds and rain,
Go winter, and come not again

Candlemas Day is ancient festival which marks the midpoint of winter, halfway between the shortest day and the spring equinox. In olden times, many people used to say that the Christmas season lasted for forty days - until the second day of February. Take down your Christmas greens if you haven't already. Burn them in the fireplace, compost them or use them as mulch.

Candlemas, like other winter holidays, is a festival of light. In fact, the day takes its name from the early Christian custom of blessing candles on February 2

Candlemas is a time of new beginnings, so this is the day to launch those piano lessons you've been meaning to take, to welcome a new puppy to the family, or to make those New Year's resolutions you didn't get to on January 1.

One of my favorite things…candles and candlelight

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

The Groundhog Day cupcake is an easy treat to prepare for your family and a great one to use with kids, too. A delectable devil's food cake cupcake serves as the frozen ground and a smear of white butter cream mimics the early February snow. Plop in an Almond Joy candy bar adorned with eyes and a little smirk right in the center to replicate Phil's first peek out from the snow.

Even if the groundhog does see its shadow on February, these cupcakes will keep you warm for the next six weeks

1 box devil's food cake mix (or your favorite scratch chocolate cake mix)

Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box

Almond Joy candy bars

White jelly beans or other chewy candy

Pink jelly beans or other chewy candy

Black decorator's gel

Brown M&M's minis

Recipe for buttercream (see below)

Buttercream Frosting

1 (1 pound) package powdered sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

3 to 4 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine in large bowl, with mixer at low speed, confectioners' sugar, butter, milk and vanilla.

Beat at medium speed 1-2 minutes until creamy. If desired, add more milk until frosting is spreading consistency.

Makes enough to fill and frost 2-layer cake, 13-by-9-by-2-inch sheet cake, or 24 cupcakes

Prepare cupcakes according to cake mix box directions. When cupcakes are cooled, remove a piece of cake about the width of an Almond Joy candy from the center of a baked cupcake. Stick the candy upright in the hole, then frost thickly with butter cream.

For the groundhog's eyes, trim the ends from a white jelly bean, and secure in place with frosting. Use decorator's gel to make the dots in the eyes. Add a tiny piece cut from a pink jelly bean for a nose, attach brown M&M's Minis for ears and cheeks, and frosting or a piece of white jelly bean for teeth. Crumble the cake from an extra cupcake and spread around the groundhog.

PRAYERS

Dear God, thank you for your great love for us. Challenge us to demonstrate your love to all we meet

Amen

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AMEN

AROUND HOME

The American Heart Association recognizes February as American Heart Month

Some exercise is always better than none. If you can’t find time for fitness before or after work, here are some tips to help you squeeze fitness into your workday

Go for a walk during lunch.

Stretch occasionally while sitting at your desk or leave a light pair of weights at work and do some upper-body exercises.

If you live or work in a multilevel building, stairs are the most readily accessible exercise tool. Make it a point to climb up and down them an extra five times each day.

FAMILY

By working faithfully eight hours a day you may eventually get to be boss and work twelve hours a day

Robert Frost

Congrats to DS#3 on his new job. I wish you the best!

COUNTING THE DAYS

Did you know a ground hog’s borrow can be 5 feet deep and 30 feet long.

46 DAYS UNTIL SPRING !

73 DAYS UNTIL CAMPING SEASON BEGINS

58 DAYS UNTIL MA RETIRES

Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.

A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone near…

Love,

ma