For Saturday, December 31st, 2011

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 31ST,  2011

It's SATURDAY!  

NEW YEAR'S EVE

New Year's Eve is when all the fun and festivities are. We see out the old year and ring in the new. To many Americans, the ball dropping at Times Square in New York City signals the start of the new year in this country. The ball was first dropped in 1908

Today is also Make Up Your Mind Day. All during the year, you've put on hold, many issues and decisions. Eventually, they need to be resolved and decided upon. Well, today is the day. It's not a day to procrastinate. It's not a day to put off making a decision. If you are going to make up your mind this year, you'd better do it real soon. And, when you think about it, isn't it a great idea to clean the slate in advance of the new year!?
You may want to begin, by making up your mind whether you will make New Year's resolutions. Then, make up your mind just what those resolutions will be.  

Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past.  

Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go.  

Brooks Atkinson

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

National Champagne Day

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. While there won't be any Champagne around my house this year, I did find this recipe to share with you that sounds wonderful.

Festive Raspberry Champagne Floats

10 ounces frozen raspberries in syrup, thawed

3 1/4 cups dry white champagne

2 cups raspberry sherbet, softened

In blender container, puree raspberries until smooth, add 1/4 cup sugar to raspberries in blender.  
 strain to remove seeds. In large pitcher or punch bowl, combine raspberry puree, champagne and sherbet; stir until frothy and well blended. Serve immediately in champagne glasses or punch cups. 

When using frozen raspberries in light syrup 

Makes 12 servings

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

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 chief beauty about time
is that you cannot waste it in advance.
The next year, the next day, the next hour
are lying ready for you,
as perfect, as unspoiled,
as if you had never wasted or misapplied
a single moment in all your life.
You can turn over a new leaf every hour
if you choose.

Arnold Bennett

Although we have had some light snow this December, it has truly been a month to enjoy as we've had several days of milder temps and traveling for the holidays was a little safer this year due to dry roads.   All that is to change in the New Year though.  The weather man is saying we could have some substantial snow fall the beginning of next week.  We'll see...

The cold snowy months of January, February and March are my least favorite of the year, still I am looking forward to the days ahead.  There will be many family celebrations for us and even though I won't be able to attend many of them,  I'll still be there in spirit as I do love celebrating with my family.  For me the months ahead will be spent here inside where it is warm and cozy.  

I've put the days until camping season begins here in my newsletter not only because I do look forward to camping but also because I know that by then warmer and sunnier days will be here.

Speaking of warmer weather my, newest grandson will be making an appearance in May this coming year!

Yes, they found out yesterday that the baby is a BOY!  DD and the baby are both doing just fine!  Thank the dear Lord for His many blessings!

MY NEW YEAR WISH FOR YOU

Here's wishing you all good things: 

Endless joy and satisfaction for you, and the people you love 

Peace and harmony, within and with others.

 Relationships that are vibrant sources for celebrations, 

and a life full of meaning, growth, and purpose.

Happy New Year!

COUNTING THE DAYS

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

Robert Burns, Auld Lang Syne

81 DAYS UNTIL SPRING

112 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

For Friday, December 30th, 2011

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 30th,  2011

It's FRIDAY!  

FESTIVAL OF ENORMOUS CHANGES AT THE LAST MINUTE

This holiday seems to be for those who think New Year's resolutions are supposed to be put into action 2 days before the New Year actually begins. Whoever you are, we salute you. We'll just be here enjoying life as usual.

I think the biggest change here at my house is the fact that the reindeer are put away and the snowmen have taken their place.

I hope  your Friday is a fantastic one!

A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. 

Author Unknown

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

NATIONAL BICARBONATE SODA DAY

More commonly known by the less fancy sounding, baking soda, bicarbonate of soda has a million and one household uses. Like absorbing nasty odors in your fridge or substituting for tooth paste in dire emergencies.  Put your baking soda to use today and make some delicious baked goods.

SODA BREAD

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 tablespoon sugar

4 cups flour

2 1/3 teaspoons salt

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

2 cups buttermilk

1 tablespoon butter

Thoroughly combine baking soda, sugar, flour, salt and cream of tartar. Make a well in the center. Add buttermilk and mix lightly and quickly with a fork.Turn out onto a lightly floured board and knead for one minute. Shape into a circle, about 1 1/2 inch thick. Place on a greased cooke sheet. Slask a large cross in the top.
Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 40-45 minutes.
Cool on a wire rack. Brush top with butter while still warm. Cool before slicing to serve.

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

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

Write on your heart that every day is the best day of the year.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

I don't make resolutions for the New Year anymore.  I try to make every day one that is the best that it can be.  Every day is a new beginning and another chance for us to get it right.

I know from years of experience that I'm not perfect and life is not perfect either. With all the ups and downs we have, it's like riding on a roller coaster, we can only try to enjoy it and hang on for the ride.

This New Years weekend will probably be a very quiet one for me here at my house.  All of my family are busy with their own celebrations so I'll be having some very ordinary days here.  I love ordinary days and won't complain at all.  Some of the most wonderful times of my life have been ordinary days!

On the BRIGHT SIDE, I received some wonderful news yesterday from DDIL#4.  Her Dad is now cancer free!  What wonderful news !  Thanks for all your prayers for him and Thanks be to God for His many blessings!!

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, 1850

81 DAYS UNTIL SPRING

112 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

For Thursday, December 29th, 2011

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 29th,  2011

It's THURSDAY!  

TICK TOCK DAY

There are only two days left until the end of the year; have you achieved everything you set out to do, upheld your new year’s resolutions and made a difference? Tick Tock Day puts the pressure on you to cram in some last minute work before the end of the year to achieve your goals!

As every thread of gold is valuable, so is every moment of time.

John Mason

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

PEPPER POT DAY

Also known as Philadelphia Pepper Pot, the soup is a thick stew of meat, tripe, vegetables, seasonings, and -- first and foremost -- pepper. According to lore, during the grueling winter of 1777 to 1778, George Washington's army was down to only basic supplies and in need of hearty nourishment. The cook pulled together the dish using the scraps of remaining food, tossing in some peppercorns for spice, and named it after his Pennsylvania hometown

PEPPER POT SOUP

Note: while tripe was a main ingredient of this soup, you can substitute with chicken or beef.

1 pound honeycomb tripe
5 slices bacon, diced
1/2 cup peeled, chopped yellow onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
3 leeks cleaned and chopped
1 bunch parsley, chopped
2 green sweet bell peppers, seeded and chopped
2 quarts beef stock, canned or homemade
1 tsp whole thyme leaves, or more to taste
1/2 tsp marjoram
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 bay leaf
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 large potato, peeled and diced
4 Tbs each butter and flour, cooked together to form a roux

Place the tripe in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil and turn off the heat. Allow the tripe to cool in the water and then drain and rinse. Cut into 1/4 inch diced pieces

. In a large heavy kettle, saute the bacon. Add the onion, celery, leeks, parsley, and green peppers - saute until tender. Add the remaining ingredients except the potato, flour, and butter. Bring the kettle to a boil and turn down to a simmer. Cook, covered, until the tripe is very tender, about 2 hours. Add the diced potato and cook about 20 minutes. Prepare the roux by stirring the flour into the melted butter and cooking for a moment on the stove. When the soup is done, stir in the roux and simmer, stirring constantly, until the soup slightly thickens. 

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

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

Life offers two great gifts--time, and the ability to choose how we spend it. Planning is a process of choosing among those many options. If we do not choose to plan, then we choose to have others plan for us.

Richard I. Winword

Every day we do have a choice to make.  We'll either have a great day or a bad day depending on what we choose to do.  Believe me when I say that time does go by faster as you age.  My days have a way of being over before I hardly know they have begun.  So what ever I do, I make my choices wisely.

Life is way to short to dwell on anything negative.  There is a lot of that around, but it's not for me.

Life is not always fair, but we do have a choice to make something wonderful happen each and every day!

Tip for today:  Buy Forever Stamps, before January 22nd.  Stamps will increase from 44 cents to 45 cents after that.  Forever stamps are good forever.

COUNTING THE DAYS

Every morning you are handed 24 golden hours. They are one of the few things in this world that you get free of charge. If you had all the money in the world, you couldn't buy an extra hour. What will you do with this priceless treasure?

Anonymous

82 DAYS UNTIL SPRING

113 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

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 28th,  2011

It's WEDNESDAY!  

CARD PLAYING DAY

Card Playing Day is the perfect time to spend an hour or so playing cards with family and friends. And, it arrives at just the perfect time of year........ a few days after Christmas. The holiday hustle and bustle is over. The kids are getting bored of their new toys. It's time to turn to card games for a calmer, relaxing, and more slow-paced form of fun and entertainment.

Spend the day playing cards with family and friends.  You'll find its quality time that will create many warm memories.

The perfect family board game is one that can be played each time with fewer pieces.  

Robert Brault

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

National Chocolate Candy Day

If Santa was nice enough to include some chocolate candy in your stocking this Christmas, you better hurry up and eat it because candy goes bad on January 1 .

Chocolate Chip Mint Candies Cookies

3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 packages, 4.5 ounce size, chocolate covered thin mints

In a saucepan over medium heat, cook the sugar, butter and water, stirring occasionally until melted. Remove from heat, stir in the chocolate chips until melted and set aside to cool for 10 minutes. 

Pour the chocolate mixture into a large bowl, and beat in the eggs, one at a time. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt, stir into the chocolate mixture. Cover and refrigerate dough for at least 1 hour. 

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease cookie sheets. Roll cookie dough into walnut sized balls and place 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. 

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, be careful not to over-bake. When cookies come out of the oven, press one mint wafer into the top of each cookie and let sit for 1 minute. 

When the mint is softened, swirl with the back of a spoon or toothpick to make a pattern with the green filling of the mint wafer. For smaller cookies, break mints in half.

Makes approximately 3 1/2 dozen cookies

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

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

We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.

George Bernard Shaw

We did get snow yesterday !  But we also got to spend some time in some very tropical temps too as I went to the Rain Forest with DS#5 and DS#6 and their families.  It was nice to get out of the cold and feel really warm.  Of course the humidity inside the Rain Forest is also very high so that felt good too as it is beginning to feel a little dry here at home with the furnace on.   Today will be a quiet at home day with the normal everyday things to do.  

Ordinary days are good...I'm not complaining

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!

COUNTING THE DAYS

Our minds need relaxation and give way

Unless we mix with work a little play.

Molier

83 DAYS UNTIL SPRING

114 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