For Friday, June 30th, 2023

 

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE 

FRIDAY, JUNE 3OTH, 2023

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.

Slightly adapted from one of my morning devotionals

86 DAYS UNTIL FALL

In Ohio

 Sunrise:   5:58 am

   Sunset:  9:06   

pm

  

Goodbye June 

Life is a special 

occasion!

Hallmark!

Today is Meteor Day which is a day to do some star gazing.  The word meteor refers to a visible streak of light that is produced by debris falling to the Earth from space.  We call this beautiful phenomenon a shooting star or falling star.  The tradition of wishing on a shooting star can be traced all the way back to 127 AD. 

 Potolemy, the Greek astronomer, hypothesized that the Gods occasionally liked to peer down on  Earth from up above.  From time to time. a star or two would slip past them and fall through the heavens.  Anyone who saw a shooting star knew that the Gods were paying attention, so it was the perfect time to make a wish.

Shooting stars are actually quite small.  The average size is about that of a pebble.  Around 15,000 tons of meteoroids enter Earth's atmosphere every day, but very few of them actually reach Earth, they are called meteorites.

To celebrate today you could spend some time looking at the night sky or find out when the next meteor shower is going to happen.  If you see a shooting star, remember to make a wish.

If you cannot see the bright side, polish the dull side

 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY 

Someday I’ll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me. Where troubles melt like lemon drops . Away above the chimney tops that’s where you’ll find me.

Eva Cassidy

The brightest stars I’ve ever seen was when my parents lived on a hilltop in West Virginia.  We went outside one night and you could see your shadow from the brightness in the sky.  The stars seemed so close you could almost touch them.  I didn’t see a shooting star that night but still I’ll never forget it.  I did see a few shooting stars when we were camping.  My oldest son had a telescope and we did a lot of star searching.  It was easy to mistake a falling star, the space stations can look like one when they go by.  We used to sit outside for hours and were never bored.

Today is my day to cook and on the menu is:

Salmon Rice Bowl

Makes 2 servings

4 oz salmon

1 cup brown rice

1 cup water 

2 Tbsp. mayonaise 

1 1/2 tsp Sirracha, if desired

1 1/2 tsp. soy sauce

1 tsp mirin or rice wine

1/2 tsp. ginger

1/8 tsp crushed red pepper

1/2 ripe avocado, chopped

1/2 cup chopped cucumber

1/4 cup spicy kimchi, or chopped pickled beets

12 sheets roasted seaweed

I didn’t have seaweed so I omitted this from my recipe and added some sesame seeds instead. 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a small rimmed baking pan with foil. Place salmon on prepared pan.  Drizzle with oil, bake until a thermometer reads 125 degrees.  About 10 minutes.

Meanwhile combine rice and water in a pan and cook according to package instructions.  Mix mayonnaise and Sriracha in a small bowl; set aside.  Whisk the say sauce, Mirin, ginger and crushed red pepper in a another bowl. Set aside.

Divide rice between 2 bowls.  Top with salmon, avocado, cucumber and chopped pickled beats.  Drizzle with the soy sauce mixture and the mayonaise mixture.  Mix the bowls, if desired top with the sesame seeds.

I used canned salmon and already prepared brown rice so I didn’t have to cook those and made it easy on my self using what I had on hand.  All I had to do was warm them up. I don’t do much Asian cooking so I had to do a lot of substitutes.

I also don’t like things hot so I didn’t use the sriracha or crushed red pepper.  I like my food mild. I only used mayonnaise.

We are to have a mixture of clouds and sunshine today, we have a Air quality alert from all the smoke in the air from the fires in Canada. Please pray they get them under control and stop their forests from burning. Meanwhile, I’m staying inside and not going outside much at all.

I hope you all have a FANTASTIC Friday !

COUNTING MY BLESSINGS 

All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them.

Walt Disney

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

11,437. for shooting stars to wish on

11,438. for a new type of food to try out 

11,439. for the firemen fighting the forest fires

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 EMT’s.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

ADVICE FOR TODAY

When I wish upon a star, makes no difference who I am. Anything my heart desires will come to me.

Walt Disney 

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Thursday, June 29th, 2023

 

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE 

THURSDAY, JUNE 29TH, 2023

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.

Slightly adapted from one of my morning devotionals

87 DAYS UNTIL FALL

In Ohio

 Sunrise:   5:57 am

   Sunset:  9:06   

pm

  

Life is a special  

occasion!

Hallmark!

Today is National Waffle Iron Day which is an important celebration for all breakfast lovers of the world.  Homemade waffles are one of the cornerstones of a delicious morning meal, and the waffle iron makes it all possible. 

Waffle irons were originated in Belgium in the 14th century.  These early contraptions consisted of two metal plates hinged together.  The plates were attached to a long pole. which allowed the cook to hold the iron over an open fire.  In 1869, a man named Cornelius Swarthout patented the first American waffle iron.  This device was designed for cooking waffles over the burner of a wood or gas stove.  Fifty years later, General Electric began producing the first electric waffle irons for everyday use. 

To celebrate today whip up some waffle batter and have breakfast for dinner.  Top your homemade waffles with syrup, whipped cream, fruit, chocolate or even fried chicken.  Bon appetit!

If you cannot see the bright side, polish the dull side

 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY 

You should eat a waffle!  You can’t be sad if you eat a waffle!

Lauren Miracle

I often have breakfast for dinner and do love waffles, but my favorite waffle would have to be the kind I get at the county fair every year.  They are made by dipping batter in an iron and then plunged into a deep fryer and then sprinkled with powdered sugar.  Of course these are a definite no on my present diet, but I have great memories of eating them.  I used to eat lots of sweet things. 

I love the ease of making waffles in an electric waffle iron.  I no longer have one as I gave it away, but I used one the last time I had breakfast provided by a hotel I was staying in.  They had a waffle iron for guests to use and some waffle batter already mixed up too .  It was very easy and I enjoyed a delicious warm waffle for breakfast. I usually put butter on them then pour syrup over mine.  Maple syrup is the best! 

Now that I’ve made myself hungry, I should make breakfast which is usually oatmeal these days.  I don’t put any sugar on mine, but it is still good. 

I hope you all have a GREAT day! Happy Thursday !

COUNTING MY BLESSINGS 

A waffle is like a pancake with a syrup trap.

Mitch Hedberg

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

11,434. for delicious waffles from the fair

11,435. for our county fair that is in August.  

11,436. for waffle irons that make it easy to make waffles.

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 EMT’s.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

ADVICE FOR TODAY

We need to remember what’s import in life: friends, waffles, work. Or waffles, friends, work, it doesn’t matter.  But work is third. 

Amy Poehler 

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Wednesday, June 28th, 2023

 

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28TH, 2023

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.

Slightly adapted from one of my morning devotionals

88 DAYS UNTIL FALL

In Ohio

 Sunrise:   5:57 am

   Sunset:  9:06   

pm

  

Life is a special    

occasion!

Hallmark!

Today is Paul Bunyan Day which honors one of the best know heroes in American folklore.  This legendary lumberjack and his faithful companion Babe the Blue Ox starred in many of the tall tales in the Midwest during the 1800s.  According the stories, Bunyan was a huge man with amazing strength..  He single handled founded the logging industry, cut down whole forests in North Dakota, created Lake Superior with his bare hands and even trained carpenter ants to help him with his tasks.

A young women named K. Bernice Stewart was the first person to document the original Bunyan tall tales while studying at the University of Wisconsin in 1914.  She gathered the stories from local loggers.  Today Paul Bunyan is mentioned in more than 1,000 books and has become one of the most widespread icons of American culture. 

To celebrate today read one of the original Bunyan tales.

If you cannot see the bright side, polish the dull side

 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY 

Greet deeds give choice of many tales. Choose a slight take, enrich it large and then let wise men listen.

Pinder 

I grew up listening to a lot of tales told of yesteryear.  Folklore has always been a favorite of mine.  There is a lot of history to be learned in a good folk tale.  

People in my family have always liked to gather around the table with a cup of coffee and talk for hours.  I’d listen and learn.  I knew a lot about my ancestors from their tales.

But my first experience with Paul Bunyan was probably in a cartoon featuring this legend.  He was honored in his day! Later on in school I learned about tall tales and legends. 

I like to tell stories myself and often treated my children to what I heard as a child.  We need to keep on telling the stories so our history can be passed on.

Today is my day to cook and also to make a new menu for next week.  I do my grocery shopping from this list. Thankfully we’re to get a sunny day today, so it’s perfect to get out and shop.  I don’t need many groceries as I’m stocked up, but I do need  purified water for my coffee maker, so I’ll probably go to Target, they’ll have what little I need. 

On the menu for next week is:

Monday - No Cook Black Bean Salad 

Wednesday - Sheet Pan Chicken Fajita Bowls 

Friday - Cod Fish Tacos

Weekend - Pork Paprikash with Cauliflower Rice

On the menu for today is:

Lemon Chicken Pasta

Makes 6 servings

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

1/4 tsp plus 1/8 tsp. pepper divided

1/2 cup flour

8 oz. uncooked angel hair pasta 

3 Tbsp. olive oil divided 

1/4 cup peeled and thinly sliced garlic cloves.

1 cup white wine or chicken broth

2 Tbsp lemon juice

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/3 cup plue 3 Tbsp minced fresh parsley, divided

Lemon wedges, optional

Pound chicken breasts with a mallet to 1/4 inch thickness. Sprinkle with 1/4 tsp pepper.  Place flour in a shallow bowl.  Dip chicken in flour to coat and shake off any excess.  

Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente.  Meanwhile in skillet, heat 2 Tbsp oil over medium heat.  Add chicken and cook 3 minutes on each side or until no longer pink. Remove and keep warm.

In same pan, heat remaining oil , add garlic, Cook and stir one minute or until garlic is lightly browned.  Add wine to pan; increase heat to medium high .  Cook stirring to loose browned bits from the skillet, until liquid is reduced by half.  Stir in lemon juice. 

Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.  Place in a large bowl.  Add cheese, 1/3 cup parsley, half the garlic mixture and pepper. Toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water to moisten pasta.  Serve with chicken.  Drizzle with remaining garlic mixture, sprinkle with parsley if desired, serve with lemon wedges.

This is a quick and delicious dinner to make

I don’t have any pictures to show of Paul Bunyan but I do have lots of my family sitting around a table.

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!

COUNTING MY BLESSINGS 

What I find interesting about folklore is the dialogue it gives us with story tellers from centuries past.

Terri Windling

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

11,431. for folklore stories that tell about history

11,432. for family stories to share 

11,433. for a beautiful day outside 

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 EMT’s.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

ADVICE FOR TODAY

Folklore used to be passed by word of mouth, from one generation to the next; that’s what makes it folklore, as opposed to say history which is written down and stored in an archive.

Jill Lepore 

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma