ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
SUNDAY, JUNE 12TH, 2016
8 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER
Sunrise: 5:54 am
Sunset: 9:02 pm
Life is a Special Occasion!
Hallmark
Today is Red Rose Day which is a time to enjoy and appreciate America's favorite flower… the red rose. A red rose signifies love. A June setting for Red Rose Day is very appropriate, as this is by far the most popular month for weddings. And, they are in bloom in the gardens across America this month.
In addition to being the most popular cut flower, roses are also the most popular flower in flower beds and around foundation of houses, garages and sheds. They are easy to grow, producing a bounty of sweet scented flowers from June up to the first frost.
If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses.
Proverb
I am blessed to have a beautiful rose bush growing here right outside my back door and it has just started blooming. It’s a wonderful sight to see. DDIL#4’s mom gave this plant to me as a gift many years ago and I’m thankful for it.
Over the years I’ve tried to grow different kinds of roses and never had any success until this rose bush. It’s grown and grown and never ceases to amaze me. One winter I almost lost it due to the severe cold we had, but thankfully it came back and is now just as beautiful as ever.
There are countless myths and legends in which the rose appears and in almost every country in the Northern Hemisphere we find examples of it on coins, coats of arms, flags, banners, seals, paintings and objets d’art.
It has often been said that, in the beginning, roses were without thorns and that these only appeared through the wickedness of mankind, after the Fall and the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.
One tale tells of a young maiden that was to be burned at the stake in Bethlehem. As the flames reached up around her, she prayed for God’s help and at once the flames were extinguished. From the embers sprang red roses and from the unfired sticks, white roses.
And it is said that the very word rose originated when Flora, the Goddess of Flowers, in pain upon being struck by Cupid’s arrow, was unable to properly pronounce the word Eros but made it sound like ‘ros'. From this the word rose becomes a synonym for Eros; both in Rome and in Greece it is the symbol of youth, of vitality, love, beauty and the fruitfulness of nature.
We’re to have some lingering morning showers here, but the rest of day is to be sunny and cooler too. Yesterday was in the lower 90’s which was much too hot for me.
I hope you all have a RELAXING Sunday !
WHAT’S NEW IN THE KITCHEN
There is a food holiday to celebrate every day of the year!
It’s Peanut Butter Cookie Day
Most people are familiar with peanut butter for use on sandwiches, while peanut butter cookies are yummy snacks that can be enjoyed any time but especially on Peanut Butter Cookie Day.
I do love Peanut Butter Cookies and have shared the recipe I use before so today I thought I’d share a recipe for some cookie bars that uses peanut butter as one of the ingredients.
PB & J Bars
1 package yellow cake mix
1/2 cup Butter, softened
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 Egg
1 1/2 cups uncooked quick cooking oats
1 cup strawberry or grape jam
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
Heat oven to 350°F. Combine cake mix, butter, peanut butter and egg in bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Stir in oats. Reserve 1 1/2 cups; set aside.
Press remaining oat mixture evenly into greased 13 by 9 inch baking pan. Spread jam over oat mixture; crumble reserved oat mixture over jam. Top with chopped peanuts.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until top is golden brown and set. Cool completely. Cut into bars.
COUNTING MY GIFTS
The roses under my window make no reference to former roses or better ones; they are what they are; they exist with God today. There is no time to them. There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of its existence.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for. There is truly is always something to be thankful for.
3943. for roses, mine are a gift
3944. for peanut butter, good and good for you too
3945. for legends which tells some great stories
Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!
PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS
Please pray for God's protection of
our troops and HIS wisdom for their
commanders.
Almighty and eternal God,
Protect our military
as they discharge their duties
with the shield of your strength,
may the power of your love
enable them to return home in safety
that with all who love them
they may ever praise you for your loving care.
AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters
and Paramedics and EMT’s
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
ADVICE FOR TODAY
You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses.
Tom Wilson
A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone dear…
Love,
ma
3 comments:
Yum on the peanut butter cookies. Those bars sound good too! How pretty with the red roses. I didn't know much about them so it was fun to read about the different fables or beliefs around the rose and its thorns.
betty
Beautiful! That's such a neat, living gift to have received ... a thoughtful giver.
Whenever I see red roses, I think not of love but the Kentucky Derby and that cool song, "Run for the Roses."
I love peanut butter cookies
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