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.
THURSDAY, JUNE 8TH, 2017
Sunrise: 5:55 am
Sunset: 9:00 pm
Life is a Special Occasion!
Hallmark
Today is Best Friend Day which is a time to enjoy and appreciate your best friend. It's a day to honor and cherish our relationships.
If you're lucky, you have a best friend. If you are real lucky, you have a number of best friends. Best friends are very, very special people. You spend countless hours with your best friend going to events and activities, or just hanging out. You share secrets, hopes, dreams, aspirations, and disappointments with your best friend.
Friends come and go for a variety of reasons, even BFFs are sometimes not forever. It's the result of many things, including moving, changing schools or jobs, and more. It’s hoped that we are lucky enough to have a number of best friends over the years.
If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
The only way to have a friend is to be one.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Thankfully I’m blessed to have a some great friends and I’m very thankful for them. They are always there for me and over the years we’ve had many good times. It’s true, to have a good friend, you must be one. If you don't value your friendships, they'll eventually disappear.
In the news this morning I saw that one of the big department stores in our area is going to close. Our Sears store will be a thing of the past soon. Sears is like one of those old friends you hate to say goodbye too. I cannot remember when it wasn’t a part of my life. When I was young it was located downtown then they moved to our local Mall when it was built. Now the Mall is half empty. Things keep changing.
On the bright side it’s looking like we’ll be warming up some in the coming days. By the weekend we may be in the 90’s. With summer just a couple of weeks away now, it’s time. Looking at the long range forecast we may even have some sunshine. It’s about time. We’ve had far too many rainy days.
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!
It’s Beef Jerky Day which celebrates one of the processes by which we created a way for meat to last and be saved for the long months and be easier to carry, all without losing its flavor.
Beef jerky has never been on of my favorite snacks but several of my children and grandchildren love it. So I looked for an easy homemade recipe to make and the following is what I found.
BEEF JERKY
4 pounds lean beef, sliced into 1/4 inch strips
1/2 tsp hickory or mesquite smoke flavoring
1/4 cup soy or teriyaki sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp cracked black pepper
pinch of cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons molasses or brown sugar, optional
1/2 cup barbecue sauce or ketchup
Choose lean beef only, as fat goes rancid when making jerky. Remove all fat from meat.
Beef top round, flank steak and rump work well. To make jerky that isn't hard to chew, slice across the grain no more than 1/4" thick and don't overdry it. If you freeze meat for a short time, not until it is frozen solid, but just until ice crystals form and meat can still be pierced easily with the point of a knife, then it will be easier to slice thinly. You can also use an electric slicer.
Combine ingredients and marinate meat in a ziploc bag in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours, stirring occasionally. Be sure marinade gets between the slices and covers the meat.
Drain liquid and place in smoker, oven, or food dehydrator at 160 to 180 degrees. Turn when dripping stops. They are ready when jerky is dry enough to easily break off a portion, but still has enough resilience to crack when bent, but not break, 4 to 8 hours. It should not be tough and leathery.
It's important to store jerky away from humidity. Let cool completely before packaging. Seal up in Food Saver bags, canning jars or aluminum foil to keep away air and humidity. If you won't be using right away, store in the refrigerator to preserve freshness longer, but jerky can be kept without refrigeration.
COUNTING MY GIFTS
I have learned that to have a good friend is the purest of all God's gifts, for it is a love that has no exchange of payment.
Frances Farmer
Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for. There is truly is always something to be thankful for.
4963. for my family that are friends and friends that are like family
4964. for warmer days ahead
4965. for beef, some say jerky is good
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
A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be.
Douglas Pagels
A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone dear…
Love,
ma
5 comments:
I did read that Sears was closing a lot of stores, sorry they are closing the one near you, Ma. It is so true about malls being half empty these days. I think retailers are trying to get people to buy more online than at stores. Seems like the selection at some places is less these days but you can always find more things online.
Glad to hear it is starting to warm up a bit with sunshine your way!
betty
The same is going on with our mall. Sears left a couple of years ago and now Penny's is closing. We lost our Dillards too. It is sad but I think it is the online ordering that has closed these stores. I know I would rather order online. So much easier. Have a super day!!
I can truly say I lost my best friend when my former DH passed away. Nevertheless, I've Debbie in Florida. No matter how many miles separate us -- Plus the fact we've little-to-nothing in common (lol) -- her friendship's like a beacon.
I used to love jerky treats, but the sodium got to be too much.
I wonder...was Sears & Roebuck good friends?
So sad that Sears is closing down stores, I saw that some were closing in Georgia too.
Did you have a Sears catalog when you were a kid? They even called it a Wishbook, because that is what it was for most people, like my family!
I love the quote from Emmerson. It is very true. You do have to be a friend to have one. Friendship is very much give and take. I am sad to hear about Sears stores closing. They were a huge part of my childhood. Everything we wore came from the Sears catalogue! My sister makes her own beef jerky. Jerky isn't something that we eat mostly because of Todd's dentures. Thanks for all that you share with us Pam! xoxo
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