For Monday, December 13th, 2010

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 13th, 2010

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

It's MONDAY!

Violin Day is today. Violins date back to early Greek times when they were plucked instead of being played with a bow as they are today. Sometimes called a fiddle, violins are the smallest and highest-pitched member of the violin family. The violin is a classy musical instrument.

I've a granddaughter who plays the violin so today is her special day to celebrate.

THINKING

Okay people tomorrow morning, 10am, Santa’s coming to town.

Santa! ... I know him. I know him.

Elf

Today: Bring excitement to something those around you deem ordinary

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

December 13th is National Cocoa Day

Chocolate is possibly the world's favorite food. And this time of year, cocoa can be found in drinks like hot chocolate, cakes, cookies, and Holiday candies.

It's time to snuggle by a fire and drink a cup of hot cocoa. Here’ a recipe I like for making your own hot cocoa mix

4 cups nonfat instant powder milk
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup non-dairy coffee creamer
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 (4 ounce) package instant chocolate fudge pudding

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl. If a finer consistency is desired, you can pour the mix into a blender or food processor and run it through that. Store in an airtight container. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup (depending on your cocoa preference) of the mix to an 8 ounce mug of boiling water.

I love stirring my cocoa with a Candy Cane to give a peppermint flavor to it too.

PRAYERS

Be there, Lord, in that instant before every thought, that I may choose wisely my thoughts and my attitude, my words and my actions, so that I may grow in friendship with those who become part of my life.

Show me, too, how best to encourage others to reach their potential.

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

SNOWFALL TOTALS OF 8 TO 12 INCHES WILL LIKELY OCCUR ACROSS MUCH OF THE WARN AREA.

We here are in the WARN area...they also say our temps will be from zero to 15 degrees and winds will be causing a lot of drifting. We have what is known as a SNOW DAY here today. Winds make it difficult to tell how much we have. There is a lot of drifting. Roads are snow covered even though they've been plowed and traffic is moving very slowly. Take good care everyone!

COUNTING THE DAYS

Today is also Count the La's in Deck the Halls Day, so you can tell everybody you know how many la's there are. Be careful: don't count the fa's.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yule tide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Follow me in merry measure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
While I tell of Yule tide treasure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Sing we joyous, all together,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la, la la la la

8 DAYS UNTIL WINTER!

12 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

126 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