For Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 22ND,  2011

O King of all nations

and keystone of the Church;

Come and save man whom

you formed from the dust!

It's THURSDAY!  

WINTER BEGINS

The winter solstice is one of the two times each year that the Sun is at its farthest point from the equator and appears to stand still.  Winter occured today at 12:30 a.m. EST.  The word solstice is derived from the Latin sol, or Sun and stitium, stoppage.

It is also the shortest day of the year, which means that after today, every day gets a little longer. As the days lengthen, the cold strengthens. So of course we haven't seen our true winter yet

Around Jan. 23 to 26 is typically when, of all the days during the year, we reach the lowest temperatures.  January is typically the coldest month, and we won't really begin to notice the days getting longer until about February.

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire:  it is the time for home.  

Edith Sitwell

MY WINTER PRAYER

I don't know who wrote this little prayer, but I like it because so often I find it hard to be thankful for winter.  

Thank you, Creator God

for the gift of Winter...

for cold frosty air

simmering icicles,

frozen lakes and rivers,

and most of for snowflakes

each one so beautiful

so special

so one of a kind.

Let them remind me

that I am like this

 in your eyes--

so beautiful, 

so special.

so one of a kind.

Thank you God

for snowflakes,

Thank you, God 

for me.

Amen

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

NATIONAL HAMBURGER DAY

On this food holiday, go all out and make gourmet hamburgers. Stuff them with blue cheese and top them with pepper bacon, slices of avocado, and flavored mayonnaise.  Actually this food holiday was celebrated yesterday but I decided to use it for today's recipe which sounds pretty good but I've not yet tried it out..

HAMBURGER STUFFED FRENCH BREAD

1 loaf French bread
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb ground beef, browned with onion and garlic
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese, any type
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped, optional

In a skillet, sauté hamburger with minced garlic, chopped onion and (optional) parsley.Preheat oven to 350°F.
Carve top in a circle, leaving a cap that you will replace on top later, out of French bread and hollow out the middle. Break up the bread innards into small pieces and set aside in a medium bowl.
To these bread crumbs, add the browned hamburger mixture, condensed cream of mushroom soup, and seasonings to taste.
Mix ingredients well and restuff this mixture back into French bread shell.
Top with cheese and replace the top, hopefully you saved it
Wrap in aluminum foil and bake in 350°F oven 20 minutes. This will melt the cheese and help the flavors to combine. Slice and serve. Individually wrapped slices freeze well and make a quick and yummy take to work lunch.

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

Like snowflakes, my Christmas memories gather and dance - each beautiful, unique and too soon gone. 

Deborah Whipp 

Today's coffee is from the Holiday Coffee Collection

Green Mountain Gingerbread.  The flavors and aroma of fresh baked gingerbread. 100% Arabica coffee

Most anything warm is great these cold damp days. We've had a lot of rain, but we just may see the sunshine today. And I'm probably drinking more coffee than usual.  So far the forecast is not good for seeing snow for Christmas.  They haven't ruled out a chance for that white stuff, but I think it's more wishful thinking than not.

I got out for a little grocery shopping yesterday.  We went to a farmers market for some fresh fruits and veggies and also some of my favorite Amish pecan rolls.  Then we went to a new to me grocery store that has one of the best meat departments I've seen in a long long while.  I stocked up the freezer a bit and even splurged on a half pound of Lake Erie Perch. I'll be going back there to shop for sure.  I have so much food around here that if it decides to snow, I will be stocked up here.  Might as well eat good when there is little else to do.

COUNTING THE DAYS

Today is Santa Claus Clearance Day, the day the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration usually clears Santa Claus for his annual flight. The FAA says Santa’s sleigh is equipped with an in-flight de-icing system for polar routes, a Terrain Avoidance Warning System required for low-altitude flights, and a special seat belt extension for a rotund pilot.

IT'S WINTER

3 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