For Friday, September 30th, 2011

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

SEPTEMBER 30TH,  2011

It's FRIDAY!

ADDRESS ROUND UP DAY

You all know I'm counting down the days till Christmas and today's challenge to make sure you have all the addresses needed for your Christmas cards this year.  No, it's not to early.  If we want to enjoy the holidays, it's time to start now..

Check your address books, pull up whitepages, search on Google or even call your mother if need be.  It's time to find the addresses of friends and family that you have either lost touch with or have moved.  This way you will have a general idea of how many cards you'll need to buy or make.

Make that list and check it twice!

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

NATIONAL MULLED CIDER DAY

There is nothing more New England than the cinnamony scent of hot mulled cider simmering on the stove   Here are instructions for how to make Hot mulled cider at home.

Pour one gallon of fresh cider into a large pot on the stove or into a crockpot or slow cooker

Add a half cup of brown sugar

Place 1 teaspoon of whole cloves, one teaspoon of whole allspice, and 3 cinnamon sticks in a square of cheesecloth and tie it up

Heat the cider to a boil.  Leave the pot uncovered so that you and your family or guests can enjoy the aroma

Once the cider has boiled lower the setting to simmer to allow for the infusion of spices.  Simmer for at least 15 minutes.  Stir occasionally.

Remove the spices from the pot and ladle into mugs

Note:  If you don't have cheesecloth a coffee filter will work.

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

In truth, I am no closer to getting things made for Christmas than I was earlier in the month when I started my Christmas countdown.  I'm finding it very hard to let go of summer.  But it is definitely time.  My craft room is such a jumble right now that the first thing I have to do is clean it up so that I can work in it.  One of the huge shelves I have in there decided to let loose from its brackets in the wall and everything fell down.  What a mess.    I had too many things on the shelf and it just couldn't hold the weight any longer.  I guess my poor attic will be seeing some of it.  

I'm hoping to leave for the camper, baring a rain storm today.  There is a good chance of rain and the days will be cool this weekend but there are so few camping weekends left that I'm going to go.  I surely do miss my little place in the woods when winter comes.

Have a Happy Friday everyone!

COUNTING THE DAYS

The fire is the main comfort of the camp, whether in summer or winter, and is about as ample at one season as at another.  It is as well for cheerfulness as for warmth and dryness.

Henry David Thoreau

83 DAYS UNTIL WINTER

87 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

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, September 29, 2011

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

SEPTEMBER 29TH,  2011

  

It's THURSDAY!

Today is Make a List of the Top Ten Happiest Days in Your Life Day. 

Jot down details (while you can still remember). Do it, it'll be fun

Here is my TOP TEN HAPPIEST DAYS list

1. I remember with great happiness the day I met my DDH. We went on a blind date to the circus

2. Even greater was my happiness on my wedding day. That is something I’ll never forget. The man I married was everything I’d ever hoped for and more. We had a lovely life together.

3. The day I discovered I was pregnant with my first child. We were married a long time before that and I was beginning to think I would never be able to have one.

4. Happiness #4, 5, 6,7,8, 9 and 10 came with the birth of each of my children.
I was so thrilled to be a Mom. I loved every moment of it all. Course I’m still a mom and a grand’ma of 16 now. 

My happiest days all center around my family. I never really had any desire to be anything else but a wife and a mom and my wishes were fulfilled.

Even though I now live alone, I still find many reasons to smile, but the ones of above are my 

TOP TEN.

Today I ...

Poet: Unknown

Today I smiled, and all at once things didn't look so bad.

Today I shared with someone else, a bit of hope I had.

Today I sang a little song, and felt my heart grow light,

And walked a happy little mile, with not a cloud in sight.

Today I worked with what I had and longed for nothing more,

And what had seemed like only weeds, were flowers at my door.

Today I loved a little more and complained a little less,

And in the giving of myself, I forgot my weariness

Smile!

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

National COFFEE Day

Lots of places are offering a free cup of coffee today, but I don't go out for my coffee.  I brew it fresh every morning right here at home.

I recently discovered that Starbucks now offers a coffee named Morning Joe.  It's pretty good and the bag holds more coffee than the other breakfast blend that I had been buying.  Cheaper price more coffee and it's good.  What more could anyone want.

I'm always trying out different kinds and flavors of coffee.  I even tried out one made by White Castle and it was really good too.

My flavor for this month is Neumann's Own Vanilla Caramel.

Perfect first thing in the morning, as a midday pick-me-up, or capping the evening alongside a sweet dessert, there's never a bad time for a coffee break. Use these tips to get the next pot started!

Use filtered water: the fewer impurities in the water, the less competition for the true flavor of the coffee

Correct proportions: regardless of machine-type, use two tablespoons of grounds per eight ounces of water, and then adjust to your taste from there.

The right grind: it differs by machine, but generally the more time coffee grounds spend in contact with water, the courser the grind--and vice versa.

I don't know about you, but I think every day should be Coffee Day!

Another perfectly good reason to SMILE!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

Please pray for God's protect

ion 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

When you SMILE, the world SMILES back...

Smiling is a very natural response that shares our happiness with others. But did you know that smiling also triggers activity in your brain? Yep, there's a serious mind-body connection there, in your left frontal cortex to be exact, which is not surprising, the area of your brain that registers happiness. 

Smiling can make you happy even when you're not  The simple act of smiling sends a message to your brain that you're happy. And when you're happy, your body pumps out all kinds of feel-good endorphins. 

Even if at this moment you do not feel you have anything to smile about, smile anyway. When you do this enough, you will soon find that you have plenty to smile about

Smiling as you speak on the phone will enrich your conversation. A smile indicates a certain trust and confidence that no matter what is going on, you are in touch with the goodness of life. You have something to smile about.

You never know the comfort a smile may offer to a person immersed in their troubles. A miserable wet day is a great time to smile, as you dodge by others huddled under umbrellas on the street.

I hope by now you all are SMILING!

COUNTING THE DAYS

September 29, Michaelmas Day
If St Michael brings many acorns, Christmas will cover the fields with snow

84 DAYS UNTIL WINTER

88 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

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 Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

SEPTEMBER 28TH,  2011

  

It's WEDNESDAY!

NATIONAL GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY

Not so long ago, the world felt like a smaller place, and everybody knew everybody else in their neighborhood. Now, many of us aren’t familiar with our neighbors, and only speak to them in passing. Good Neighbor Day. It's definitely a good thing. Being good neighbors is an important part of the social fiber that makes this country so great. Therefore,  it seems only fitting that one day a year honors good neighbors.  This day is to truly recognize and appreciate your good neighbor. Hopefully, one of those good neighbors is you!

While the spirit of neighborliness was important on the frontier because neighbors were so few, it is even more important now because our neighbors are so many.  

Lady Bird Johnson

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

NATIONAL STRAWBERRY CREME PIE DAY!

 Did you know that 70% of a strawberry cream pie’s weight comes from the strawberries themselves? That's a lot considering that the fruit isn't even in season in September!

When you set out to find the perfect strawberry cream pie there are many variations from which to choose. Some recipes use cream cheese in the filling while others call for whipped cream or custard. Crusts can be sweet or savory, strawberries can be whole or whipped into a mousse, and there are dozens of different toppings.

This recipe for Strawberry Cream Pie is easy and can be made ahead of time to save you time. You may also use frozen strawberries as long as you thaw them out and drain the excess liquid.

STRAWBERRY CREAM PIE

1 ½ cups crushed cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookie (you know the one)

2 tablespoons white granulated sugar

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons white granulated sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste

1 cup mashed fresh strawberries

1 cup heavy whipping cream

2 tablespoons confectioner's sugar

Combine the cookie crumbs, sugar and butter and press into a 9-inch pie plate. Bake at 375F degrees for 8-10 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.

In a medium mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Stir in the strawberries. In small mixing bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken.

Gradually add confectioners' sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Fold into the cream cheese mixture. Gently spoon mixture into prepared crust. Refrigerate for 4 to 6 hours or overnight. Serves 8-10

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

It's a Lovely Day in the Neighborhood

When Mr. Rogers asked, Won’t you be my neighbor? at the end of every episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, we knew what he was really asking was, Won’t you be my friend? If every neighbor were as kind and open-hearted as he was, we’d have no problem cultivating relationships within the neighborhood.

Today in my neighborhood it is really beginning to look like fall.  The leaves are falling from our tree in the curb lawn.  It seems it is a little later than usual turning colors but slowly the leaves are changing.

Leaf raking time will soon be here.  Here at my house we have a mulching mower so many of the leaves are mulched up.  We try to put them around the bushes for protection through the winter.  Some leaves are best left where they fall, like under trees where they will compost and feed the roots.

Raking the lawn isn’t only about aesthetics. It’s actually the healthy thing to do for your grass. Wet clumps of leaves left on a dormant lawn can result in brown spots when the lawn grows again in spring. But, it’s important not to rake too soon in the season or it will become the chore that never ends.

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!

COUNTING THE DAYS

Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door  neighbor ... Let no one ever come to you without leaving better or happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile; kindness in your warm greeting.

Mother Teresa

85 DAYS UNTIL WINTER

89 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.

 

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

Love,

ma