For Friday, October 1st, 2010

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

OCTOBER 1ST, 2010

If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side

It's FRIDAY!

Here we are with a new day and a new month in which we can enjoy to the fullest.

October's birthstone: opal or tourmaline.

October's flower: calendula or cosmos

October is Adopt-A-Shelter Dog Month, Celebrating the Bilingual Child Month, Children's Disease Awareness Month, Children's Magazine Month, Church Safety and Security Month, Class Reunion Month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, National Crime Prevention Month, National Go On a Field Trip Month, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, National Cookie Month, Roller Skating Month, Positive Attitude Month, and National Chili Month

We've got a couple of October birthdays in our family to celebrate this month too. It looks like it is going to be a great month!

THINKING

There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October

Nathaniel Hawthorne

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

October gave a party;

The leaves by hundreds came-

The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,

And leaves of every name.

The Sunshine spread a carpet,

And everything was grand,

Miss Weather led the dancing,

Professor Wind the band

George Cooper

Pudding Season begins today.

This is a fabulous bread pudding to serve in the cool fall months. A pumpkin bread pudding, delicious with vanilla sauce or with brown sugar sauce

8 ounces French bread, torn into small pieces, about 5 cups

2 cups half-and-half, or half milk and half cream

3 large eggs

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup brown sugar

1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree

1 cup dried cranberries and / or chopped pecans

3 tablespoons melted butter

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon vanilla

cinnamon sugar, optional

Butter an 11x7-inch baking dish. Heat oven to 350°.

In a bowl, cover the torn bread with the half-and-half; set aside.

In another bowl, combine eggs, sugars, pumpkin, cranberries, melted butter, spices, and vanilla; blend well. Pour pumpkin mixture over soaked bread and stir to blend.

Pour mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle top with cinnamon-sugar, if desired. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until set.

Serve with a vanilla dessert sauce or brown sugar sauce, whipped cream, or vanilla ice cream.
Serves 8.

Brown Sugar Sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

2 tablespoons corn syrup

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce to medium-low and let boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Sauce will thicken as it cools. This sauce is delicious with bread pudding, plain unfrosted cakes, ice cream, or other desserts

PRAYERS

Father, may my eyes be opened to see the beauty in all that is ordinary, yet special, around me. May the glory of all that you have made remind me of your presence and lead me closer to you. I ask for the power of your Spirit that I may remain positive throughout all that is ordinary in my daily life.

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.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU!

AROUND HOME

ANOTHER WARNING...

For those who use social networking sites such as Facebook, a word of caution. Be aware that if you see a message suggesting you update Flash player, do not follow the offered link. Instead navigate on your own to the Adobe website and download the latest Flash player. Such helpful messages sometime contain links that only seem to go to the Adobe site but instead download malware.

The so called Koobface strain of malware has targeted surfers on Facebook and other social networks for months. Prospective marks are typically encouraged to down load malware disguised as Flash update or similar content from a third -party website, which is under the hackers control.

Another thing to beware of is that it is easy for hackers to fake an email to appear as though it were one of the messages from Facebook, warning you that your account has been accessed. And if you clicked on a link to that bogus email you might be taken to a phishing site. This approach is also used when hackers phish on-line games such as World of Warcraft. If you get a communication complaining about something to do with your account, contact the business involved on your terms not by proffered links and then verify.

As always never give any personal information online or by telephone. Be safe and be careful.

FAMILY

October's the month
When the smallest breeze
Gives us a shower
Of autumn leaves.
Bonfires and pumpkins,
Leaves sailing down -
October is red
And golden and brown

Tomorrow evening DS#1 and family should be coming in for the weekend. It's going to be a chilly one. We are almost out of firewood for the campfire but some is supposed to be delivered this weekend. I sure am hoping it is. We'll be needing some warmth here in the evenings.

COUNTING THE DAYS

Today is World SMILE Day, dedicated to good works and good cheer worldwide. Do an act of kindness and help one person smile.

SMILE!

81 DAYS UNTIL WINTER!

85 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.

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

Love,

ma