ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8TH, 2016
12 DAYS UNTIL WINTER
16 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS
Sunrise: 7:42 am
Sunset: 4:58 pm
Life is a Special Occasion!
Hallmark
Today is National Christmas Tree Day. With Christmas right around the corner, it’s time to celebrate one of the most iconic symbols of the holiday season. It really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
Picking out the perfect tree, stuffing it in the trunk or tying it to the roof of the car, dragging it inside the house and decorating it with tinsel, ornaments and lights, has been a beloved American tradition for years. But the question remains, will it be real or artificial. About 33 million real trees and 9.5 million faux trees are sold in the United States each year.
Live Christmas trees have been sold in America since the 1850s. While only two percent of Americans head to the local woods or forest to chop down a tree, most of today's Christmas trees are grown on farms. The best selling trees are Blue spruce, Scotch pine, White pine, Noble fir, Fraser fir, Douglas fir and Balsam fir.
O ChristmasTree,
O ChristmasTree,
Your branches green delight us!
They are green when summer days are bright,
They are green when winter snow is white.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us!
If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
The smell of pine needles, spruce and the smell of a Christmas tree - those to me, are the scents of the holidays.
Blake Lively
I’ve got two of my little artificial table top trees out and lit up here at my house so I guess I’m allowed to celebrate today. I’ve not had time to do much decorating. Usually I’d have it done by now, but this year is different in so many ways.
I do love to look at the tree lights twinkle and listen to Christmas music. I loved the smell of a fresh cut tree in the house too, but that hasn’t happened here for many years now. I’ve resorted to the smell of pine radiating from some Christmas candles burning here at my house.
I’m back in the basement today with the sorting and the shuffling of stuff that’s been stored down there for years. Wonder what treasures I’ll find today?
I hope you all have a GREAT day. Happy Thursday!
WHAT’S NEW IN THE KITCHEN
There is a food holiday to celebrate every day of the year!
Today is National Brownie Day! Take some time to relax and enjoy a rich, fudge brownie in honor of the occasion. Many sources say that brownies originated in New England during the early twentieth century, but there are many variations to the tale.
One story says that a Boston chef mistakenly added melted chocolate to a batch of biscuits, thus creating the first brownies. Another version claims that a housewife in Bangor, Maine was making a chocolate cake but forgot to add baking powder. The cake did not rise properly and, instead of throwing it out, she served it in flat pieces.
One of my families favorite desserts is Chocolate Brownies so I took time out to find a new recipe to share.
Loaded German Chocolate Brownies
1 package German Chocolate Cake Mix
½ cup PLUS 2 Tbsp. butter, melted
½ cup sweetened condensed milk
1 egg
1 cup toasted pecans, chopped
1 cup toasted coconut
½ cup white chocolate chunks
½ cup warm water
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 13 by 9 inch baking pan.
Combine cake mix with ½ cup melted butter, sweetened condensed milk, egg, toasted pecans, coconut, dark chocolate and white chocolate chunks. Evenly spread into prepared pan.
Bake 25 to 27 minutes or until golden brown and set. Cool completely on wire rack.
Combine remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter, warm water and small ingredient pouch from cake mix. Spread onto brownies and cut into 32 squares.
COUNTING MY GIFTS
Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love!
Hamilton Wright Mabie
Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for. There is truly is always something to be thankful for.
4459. for Christmas trees,
4460. for brownies, chocolate is best
4461. for more things to give away, DD took another truck load to Salvation Army Tuesday.
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
He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree
Roy L. Smith
A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone dear…
Love,
ma
4 comments:
My basement has become my attic also. I try to weed things out from time to time but then I get engrossed in memories and it is hard. I'm not eating brownies but looks like a good recipe. Have a good Thursday all.
I hope you find a lot of great treasures today, Ma! We were at a hardware store the other day and they had their live Christmas trees out. I went by them to see what a tree costs these days and enjoyed smelling the pine scent from them :)
betty
I love the picture of the star hanging on the tree and the quote with it! So true!! I don't have a basement. All my treasures are in the garage That will have to wait for a good cleaning as the temp today with wind chill factored in is only 6*
German Chocolate is one of hubby's favorite desserts. I don't do much cooking/baking except during the holidays; and this just made the list! (Looks far easier than a g/c cake.)
How I miss the smell of fresh pine! Except the last time we had a real tree, by the time it was due for the landfill there were hundreds/thousands of pine needles left behind ... which promptly ko'd my vacuum cleaner.
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