For Wednesday, May 31st, 2017

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

The moments of our lives may be bright with possibility, dark with fear or sadness, or even plain everyday gray, but God's glory never fades.  May God's glory shine into the exciting lights, upsetting darks, and boring grays of your every day.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31ST, 2017

21 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER

Sunrise: 5:57 am

 Sunset: 8:54 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

Today is What You Think Upon Grows Day.  

Today we celebrate the power of positive thinking, while knowing that action and determination are just as important. We've all experienced the effect of a negative attitude, just as we've experienced that of a positive attitude. Your outlook on situations greatly impact their effect. 

A positive thought is the seed of a positive result.

Author Unknown

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

If we try to see something positive in everything we do, life won't necessarily become easier but it becomes more valuable. 

Author Unknown

Every day I’m looking for the bright side of life.  It’s always there if we take the time to look for it.  A positive out look on life helps us to look for the possibilities in every day.   When you focus on the positive things in your life and the negatives will melt away.  

I’ve learned that happiness is a choice and its up to me to choose how I want to feel.  I try to focus on the positive things and let go of the negative ones.  Life is too short to be anything but happy.  We are told that we are to rejoice in every day and be glad in it.

There is a bright side to everything, we just need to find it and appreciate and be thankful for the good things in life.

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!

WHAT’S NEW IN THE KITCHEN

There is a food holiday to celebrate every day of the year!

It’s National Macaroon Day

 EASY COCONUT MACAROONS

16 oz. bag coconut flakes
14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. almond extract
Cherries for top, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix coconut flakes, sweetened condensed milk and almond extract together in a large bowl. Mix until well blended and all the milk is absorbed. Drop mixture from spoon on ungreased cookie pan. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until bottom of cookie turns light brown. Cool on rack. These cookies stay soft and chewy. Put on 1/2 slice cherry if desired.

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Look for something positive in every day, even if some days you have to look a little harder. 

Author Unknown

Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for.  There is truly is always something to be thankful for.

4939. for the bright side of life, it’s there if you look for it

4940. for coconut and cookies

4941. for sunier days

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

Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don't count on harvesting Golden Delicious. 

Bill Meyer

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Tuesday, May 30th, 2017

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

The moments of our lives may be bright with possibility, dark with fear or sadness, or even plain everyday gray, but God's glory never fades.  May God's glory shine into the exciting lights, upsetting darks, and boring grays of your every day.

TUESDAY, MAY 30TH, 2017

22 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER

Sunrise: 5:58 am

 Sunset: 8:54 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

Today is Water a Flower Day, which is a reminder that in order to keep your flowers alive, you have to water them. It’s an opportunity to give them an extra sip of water to thank for their wonderful colors. Flowers make the world a brighter and sweeter place.

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but, scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable. 

Joseph Addison

There is certainly no need to water flowers here with all the rain we’ve had, that is unless they are indoors.  We continue to have more than our fair share of rain for sure. Trying to get the grass mowed is becoming a challenge with everything so wet.  We need a few dry days to dry out.

Just like the flowers that need some TLC, tender loving care, we shouldn’t forget those people in our lives that also need extra care too including ourselves.  After a busy holiday weekend it’s good time just to stop and smell the roses .

The pictures today are from this past Sunday.  DD and DS#6 and their children spent the afternoon with me.  I also put in a picture of the pool here which will open up this coming Friday.  It looks very inviting.

I hope you all have a TERRIFIC Tuesday!

WHAT’S NEW IN THE KITCHEN

There is a food holiday to celebrate every day of the year!

Mint Julep Day is here!

Mint julep originates in the southern USA and still counts this area as its heartland. This is especially true of Kentucky where the annual Kentucky Derby horse race sees around 120,000 juleps served each year. 

There are as many variations of the mint julep as there are thoroughbreds that have run in the Kentucky Derby.  The recipe I’ve chosen today is a nonalcoholic one and very refreshing.

Mint Julep

1 1/2 cups sugar

 Mint leaves to taste

Juice of 4 lemons

 Juice of 6 oranges

7 Up

Combine sugar and mint leaves with 1/2 cup water in a saucepan. Boil until slightly thickened. Strain and cool. Add fruit juices. Refrigerate until serving time. 

Place crushed ice in a tall glass. Add 1/4 cup syrup mixture. Fill glass with 7 Up; stir until mixed. Serve immediately.

Makes 6 servings

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine to the soul. 

Luther Burbank

Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for.  There is truly is always something to be thankful for.

4936. for flowers

4937. for a little TLC, we all need it

4938. for mint, it makes any drink refreshing

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

The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life. 

Robert Louis Stevenson

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

for Memorial Day, Monday, May 29th, 2017

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

The moments of our lives may be bright with possibility, dark with fear or sadness, or even plain everyday gray, but God's glory never fades.  May God's glory shine into the exciting lights, upsetting darks, and boring grays of your every day.

MONDAY, MAY 29TH, 2017

23 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER

Sunrise: 5:58 am

 Sunset: 8:53 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

Today is Memorial Day which is dedicated to service men and women who gave their lives for freedom and country. It is also a time to remember loved ones who have passed away. The roots of Memorial Day observance, goes back to 1865 and the end of the Civil War.

Memorial Day was traditionally held on the 30th of May. In 1971, Congress changed it to the last Monday, in order to afford a three day holiday weekend. Regardless of the date, we  are encouraged to  follow Memorial Day tradition: attend a parade, and visit a cemetery to honor and remember our serviceman. 

Memorial Day also marks the beginning of the gardening and summer seasons, even though summer will not occur until a few weeks later. This day usually includes the first family picnic of the year.

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

In memory of many,

In honor of all,

Thank You 

I’m thankful for and do honor all those that gave all for our country.  Past, present, and future.  Freedom is never free and they paid the ultimate price for all of us.  

 It’s to be a sunny day for a change.  We’ve had so much rain here that there are big puddles in my yard.  The picture above shows the recent visitors I had.  I think it’s time for the rain to stop.

They are saying we’ll have a couple of dry days in a row now so hopefully things will dry up soon.  

I hope you all have a GREAT start to this new week.  Happy Monday!

WHAT’S NEW IN THE KITCHEN

There is a food holiday to celebrate every day of the year!

 It’s International Coq Au Vin Day! 

Coq Au Vin is French for rooster with wine. It is a popular dish made with braised chicken that is slowly cooked with red wine, mushrooms, pork fat, and various spices. 

Coq Au Vin became popular in the United States thanks to Julia Child, who featured the dish in her cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking. It also appeared many times on her TV show, The French Chef.

Coq Au Vin

4 slices Bacon, Cut Into Small Pieces

1 whole Fryer Chicken

1/2 whole Medium Onion, Diced

1/2 cup Carrots, Washed, Peeled, And Roughly Chopped

5 cloves Garlic, Minced

2 Tablespoons Butter

1 pound White Mushrooms, Sliced

2 cups Burgundy Wine

1 pound Pasta, egg noodles or Fettuccini

2 Tablespoons Butter

Parsley, Fresh, Minced

Salt And Pepper, to taste

Saute bacon pieces in a large skillet over medium low heat until fat is rendered. Remove bacon from the skillet and set aside. Increase heat to medium.

Salt chicken pieces, then place chicken in skillet and cook in bacon grease until both sides are nice and golden brown. Remove from pan and set aside in a 2 quart baking dish, skin side up.

Saute onions, carrots and garlic in bacon grease until onions are translucent, about 3 minutes. Remove from grease with slotted spoon and set aside.

In a separate skillet, saute mushrooms in 2 tablespoons butter until golden, about 3 minutes. Set aside.

Layer half of the bacon pieces, carrot/onion mixture, and mushrooms in pan with chicken.

Drain grease from the large skillet, then place over medium heat. Pour in 2 cups Burgundy wine, using a wire whisk to scrape loose all the burned/brown bits. Lightly salt liquid and allow to cook for 3 minutes. Pour over chicken and vegetables. Cover and bake in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 1/2 hours.

Cook pasta until al dente. Drain and toss with 2 tablespoons butter.

Serve chicken in a pasta bowl with noodles, sprinkling minced parsley over the top. Spoon juice from baking dish over the top of everything.

Serves 6

COUNTING MY GIFTS

We must remember how freedom cost, and we must be thankful.

Thank those serving.  Remember the lost.

Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for.  There is truly is always something to be thankful for.

4933. for our fallen heroes

4934. for a few dryer days ahead

4935. for a new week, another chance to get it right

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!

  

  

The end of another school year pictures of a few of the grand babes 

ADVICE FOR TODAY

Always remember:

We live in Land of the Free because of the Brave

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma