For Friday, December 31st, New Years Eve, 2010

DECEMBER 31st, 2010

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

It's FRIDAY!

New Year's Eve is when all the fun and festivities are. We see out the old year and ring in the new. While it is often thought of as a time to drink and be merry, many people take it as an opportunity to eat and be merry. Drinking is not as much a part of the event as it was decades ago, if only because of tougher drunk driving laws.

And Today is also National Check the Smoke Alarms Day.

Here's wishing you all a New Year full good things: Endless joy and satisfaction for you, and the people you love !

THINKING

The sixth day of Christmas is New Years Eve.

While the beginning of the year has no direct connection to Christmas, it is, traditionally, a time of celebration and hospitality, themes which are familiar and entirely appropriate to the Twelve Days. The traditional English drink for this season was Wassail from the Saxon Was haile, meaning to your health. When your friends and family come wassailing, whether on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day, have a bowl of this traditional punch ready for them, to drink to their health and yours.

Wassail is a mulled cider type drink, and is a holiday tradition in many countries. This hot, spiced punch is most popular at Christmas. It usually contains fruit juices, cinnamon, cloves and other spices

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

It's no coincidence that today is National Champagne Day. This sparkling wine imported from the Champagne region of France is a luxury item that is the traditional first taste of the New Year for many people. You can call it sparkling wine or you can call it bubbly. But you can't call it Champagne unless it comes from France!

Did you know that a raisin dropped in a glass of fresh champagne will bounce up and down continuously from the bottom of the glass to the top.

Christmas Wassail

1 gallon apple cider
27 whole cloves
8 cinnamon sticks
1 quart pineapple juice
1 can (6 ounce) frozen orange juice concentrate

Mix all ingredients in a large crockpot and simmer. Serve hot.

Serves 12

PRAYERS

Today I want to thank you all for the prayers offered for DS#4 who had lost his job. The prayers have been answered and he has accepted a new position which is much better than the one he had previously. Not only did he get this job offer but he also had another offer too. He'll be starting his new job in the New Year and I know he is thankful for all the prayers. Thank the dear Lord for His many blessings!

Dear Lord, thank you for the blessing of each sunrise and sunset, a mountain breeze, the sound of a rushing waterfall, the warm sand underfoot along a beach. Thank you for family, friends and companion animals. Thank you for all the doors you open for us; even the ones we might not see at first. Thank you for the many blessings you bestow upon us this year and every year.

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 ALL!

AROUND HOME

The sun came out,
And the snowman cried.
His tears ran down
on every side.
His tears ran down
Till the spot was cleared.
He cried so hard
That he disappeared.

Margaret Hillert, January Thaw

The snow is melting here but although we had some sun earlier in the week, we are to now have rain instead. I got out and took some pictures on the sunny day. I even sat on the back step and soaked up some sun for awhile. My rocker on the patio was still snow covered so that left me with the step to sit on.

The birds were loving the warmer day and flocked to the feeders outside. I even heard some of them singing. That is something I've not heard in a long while.

The cold will be back this coming Sunday they say, so we just have to enjoy the little bit of warmth while we have it.

COUNTING THE DAYS

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Alfred Lord Tennyson

79 DAYS UNTIL SPRING!

108 DAYS UNTIL CAMPING SEASON BEGINS

Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.

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

Love,

ma