For Friday, August 5th, 2011

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

AUGUST 5TH, 2011

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

It's FRIDAY!

WORK LIKE A DOG DAY

Work Like a Dog Day honors and recognizes the hardest working among us. Some people skate by, doing as little as possible. Others, do only what they have to. Others still work like a dog. While work is to be done, they dig in relentlessly. They seldom take a break until the task is completed.

Spend today appreciating the people you know who work their tails off day in and day out.

The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.

Steve Jobs

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

National Waffle Day

Have you ironed your food lately? Waffles are pleasing to eat and to look at, There are many varieties for people to enjoy: traditional, Belgian, and even tiny and frozen and bound for your toaster. On National Waffle Day, put your foot down and say Let go my waffles to anyone who comes close to your helping of this sweet or savory hot cake.

A waffle is like a pancake with syrup traps!

CHOCOLATE WAFFLES

7 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 1 1/2 cups
1 3/4 ounces sugar, approximately 3 tablespoons
1.5 ounces cocoa powder, approximately 1/2 cup
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 whole eggs, beaten
2 ounces unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
16 ounces buttermilk, room temperature
4 ounces chocolate chips, approximately 3/4 cup
Vegetable spray, for waffle iron

Preheat waffle iron according to manufacturer's directions.

In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. In another bowl beat together the eggs and melted butter and vanilla, and then add the buttermilk. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir in the chocolate chips just until combined. Allow to rest for 5 minutes.

Ladle the recommended amount of waffle batter onto the center of the iron. Close the iron top and cook until the waffle is crispy on both sides and is easily removed from iron. Serve immediately or keep warm in a 200 degree F oven until ready to serve.

If the first waffle seems too runny, add more flour to your batter. Personally I would add more chocolate. What a surprise?

You can add strawberries, bananas, nuts, etc, on top--whatever you like with your waffles, or serve these plain.

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

I've been working so hard you just wouldn't believe,
And I'm tired!
There's so little time and so much to achieve,
And I'm tired!
I've been lying here holding the grass in its place,
Pressing a leaf with the side of my face,
Tasting the apples to see if they're sweet,
Counting the toes on a centipede's feet.
I've been memorizing the shape of that cloud,
Warning the robins to not chirp so loud,
Shooing the butterflies off the tomatoes,
Keeping an eye out for floods and tornadoes.
I've been supervising the work of the ants
And thinking of pruning the cantaloupe plants,
Calling the fish to swim into my nets,
And I've taken twelve thousand and forty-one breaths,
And I'm TIRED!

Shel Silverstein

The little work I do these days is rather like the poem above. Especially on the days spent at the camper. Today is one of those days and I'm thankful that there is little to do. Next week my days will be quite different as there will be many hours spent with the two youngest of my grand children. That's a job I love so it won't really be work but I will be busy for sure.

Happy Friday!

I hope these last couple of months of the summer season are wonderful ones for everyone!

COUNTING THE DAYS

National Chigger Week begins today.

Your chances of being chigger chewed are greater this week than any week of the year

48 DAYS UNTIL FALL

Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.

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

Love,

ma