For Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

February 2nd, 2011

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

It's WEDNESDAY!

GROUND HOG DAY

Groundhog Day is celebrated in the U.S. each year on February 2nd. On this day in mid-winter, the groundhog awakens from a long winter's nap, and goes outside of his den to see if he sees his shadow. This tradition is big on an otherwise cold and dreary mid-winter's day.

According to legend, if the groundhog sees his shadow (a sunny morning), there will be six more weeks of winter. He then returns to his den and goes back to sleep. If however, he does not see his shadow (cloudy days), he plays around outside of his hole for a while. If he does not see his shadow, spring is just around the corner.

The Groundhog's Day tradition comes from German roots. German immigrants brought the tradition with them from Germany. As they settled in hills of Pennsylvania, they began the tradition of using the Groundhog to predict the the arrival of Spring. The tradition is based upon Candlemas, the day that is the midpoint between Winter and Spring. A famous Candlemas poems goes:

If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Winter has another flight.
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Winter will not come again.

Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania is the site of the annual Ground Hog event. Our little rodent friend (yes, Groundhogs are classified as rodents) is called Punxsutawney Phil. There are a few other "predictors" around the country, but they all pale in comparison to Phil's ability to predict the remainder of winter.

For the Record Phil sees his shadow about 9 out of 10 times

THINKING

Let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write.

John Adams

Today: Embrace the written word by finding a topic you find fascinating and either write a paragraph about it or spend an hour reading about it.

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

HEAVENLY HASH DAY

If you like chocolate mixed with chopped nuts and marshmallows, today is your perfect excuse to pig out! I mean, how else should you properly observe Heavenly Hash Day

2 pounds milk chocolate chips
4 tablespoons margarine
1/4 cup whipping cream
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
8 ounces almonds
8 ounces pecans
8 ounces walnuts
16 ounces marshmallows
20 ounces maraschino cherries, chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla

Prepare pan by greasing or buttering really well. Chop the cherries and set aside. Melt the margarine, whipping cream, sweetened condensed milk, and milk chocolate chips over medium heat, stirring constantly until completely melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla until well blended. Add the marshmallows, nuts, and cherries until well covered. Pour immediately into prepared pan and cool on wire rack. Then cool completely in refrigerator until set.

PRAYERS

A Mid-Winter Prayer

From the rising of the midwinter sun to its setting
Scatter the darkness with the light of your love, O Shining One.
Make me short on mean thoughts, long on offering words of comfort
Make me short on being driven, long on paying attention
Make me short on focusing only on my own, long on looking beyond
Make me short on obsessive lists, long on spontaneous acts of kindness
Make me short on mindless activity, long on time to reflect
Make me short on tradition as a habit, long on re-discovery and re-owning
Make me short on rushing and tiring, long on walking and wondering
Make me short on false festive jollity, long on stilling and rooted joy
Make me short on guilt, long on being merciful to myself
Make me short on being overwhelmed, long on peaceableness as I set forth this day

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

There was no school here yesterday and plenty of snow to shovel. Today there is no school due to freezing rain ...Many roads were snow covered, icy and dangerous yesterday and they say today the icy part may be worse. Take good care everyone!

COUNTING THE DAYS

An Irish Friendship Wish

May there always be work for your hands to do;

May your purse always hold a coin or two;

May the sun always shine on your windowpane;

May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;

May the hand of a friend always be near you

May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

46 DAYS UNTIL SPRING!

75 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