For Monday, December 9th, 2024

 

ON THE BRIGHT 

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9TH, 2024

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

12 DAYS UNTIL WINTER 

In TEXAS

 Sunrise:    7;16 am

   Sunset:   5:33  

pm

Sorry I cannot find any pictures to share today !

Life is a special  

occasion!

Hallmark!

Today is National Brownies Day which celebrates chocolate baked squares or bars developed in the U.S. at the end of the 19th century. The brownie is a cross between a cake and a cookie in texture. 

Brownies do come in a variety of forms.  They are either fudgey or cakey depending on their density, and they may include nuts, frosting, chocolate chips or other ingredients. A variation made with brown sugar and no chocolate is called a blondie.  My mom used to make those a lot.

Brownies are common lunchbox fare, typically eaten with milk or coffee.  They are sometimes served warm with ice cream and whipped cream on top.  They are popular in restaurants where they are served with whip cream and sprinkled with powdered sugar.  They are often found on dessert menus. 

Celebrate today and enjoy a batch of brownies of your own!  

If cannot see the bright side,

 polish the dull side

THOUGHT  FOR TODAY

Feeling downie, bake a brownie!

After a busy weekend, my goal today is to make a big dent in my Christmas cards.  I also have some packages to wrap for Gifts that I must get in the mail.  It’s going to be busy so I doubt I’ll make brownies, but I do have some Christmas chocolate candy here to enjoy.  That will have to make do for now.

The pictures today are of brownies I have enjoyed before.  We had a great time yesterday when both of my Texas families got together.

Today we are supposed to warmup into the 80’s.  I’m so thankful for that.  I spend a lot of time on the porch and it’s going to feel heavenly.

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

COUNTING MY GIFTS

One bite and you’ll be in chocolate heaven.

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

12,938. for delicious brownies to enjoy!

12,939. for a fun day with family yesterday.

12,940. for a warmer day today!

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!

ADVICE FOR TODAY

All you need is love… and lots of brownies. 

Anonymous

a smile,a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019

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, JANUARY 22ND, 2019

58 Days until Spring

Sunrise: 7:48 am

 Sunset: 5:31 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

Today is National Blond Brownie Day which is a special day set a side to eat or bake blond brownies.  They are an alternative way to make brownies for those that don’t like chocolate or wish to bring some variation to their brownie plate.  They do not contain chocolate as brownies usually do, but brown sugar instead.  You can add nuts or fruits and decorate them with frosting just as you like it.  

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

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals like chocolate.

Sandra Boynton

I do like blond brownies and I use a recipe that was passed on from my mom using semisweet chocolate chips and walnuts. So they may not be chocolate brownies but they have some chocolate in them.

Toll House Blonde Brownies

2 1/4 cup flour

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 3/4 c. packed brown sugar

3/4 c. butter, softened

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

12 oz semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped walnuts, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 15 X 10 inch pan.  

Compine flour, baking powder and salt in a smile bowl.  Beat sugar and butter n a large mixing bowl until creamy. Beat in eggs and vanilla: gradually beat in flour mixture.  Stir in chips and nuts if desired and spread into prepared pan.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until top is golden brown.  Cool and cut into squares. 

Winter a good time to turn on the oven.  It’s when I do more baking than any other time.  I’m sure to be putting on more than a pound or two before it is over.  But I figure they’ll come off when Spring comes and I can get outside more.

Yesterday we had a high of 15 degrees with windchills in the double digits below zero.  but today we are to be some warmer.  Tomorrow we’re to have rain. After being in the deep freeze, a couple of warmer days are very welcome, but they won’t last but a day or two.  

I’ve had no reason to venture out here and have been staying in and getting a lot done.  I have, however,  gone out to start the car as extreme cold is very hard on the battery.  Mine is over 3 years old now and they say the maximum life is about 5 years.  We’ll see….

I hope you all have a TERRIFIC Tuesday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Nothing says lovin’ like something from the oven.

Pillsbury Doughboy

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

6724.  for brownies, good anyway you fix them

6725. for an end to the deep freeze

6726. for a car that still works

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

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for a touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire; it is the time for home.

Edith Sitwell

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Saturday, February 10th, 2018

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.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH, 2018

38 DAYS UNTIL SPRING 

Sunrise: 7:29 am

 Sunset: 5:56 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

Today is Umbrella Day which honors one of the worlds most invaluable inventions.  Umbrellas come in all sorts of sizes, colors, shapes and designs.  The smallest umbrellas fit inside a purse or glove compartment.  Golf umbrellas are popular sizes.  Then there are lawn and beach umbrellas.  There is one or two made just for you.

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

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Let a smile be your umbrella on a rainy day.

As strange as it seems we may need an umbrella at some point this weekend.  With temps warming to above freezing, we are expecting a wintry mix of snow and rain.  It’s nice to be warmer but snow and rain can make for dangerously slippery conditions.  Slipping and sliding around is not good whether you are walking or driving.

Of course my favorite kind of umbrella is a beach umbrella and I’m looking forward to summer days when they will be needed.  We have a nice pool here with tables, chairs and umbrellas all around and that is what is in the pictures today.  

Umbrellas just aren’t for keeping you dry, they shade you from the sun too.  Right now some sunshine would feel very good.  Although we can’t bottle it up and pull some out when we need it. I do have a bottle labeled sunshine, where you are to put slips of paper in with sunny moments for the year written on them.  It’s sort of nice to pull one out on a dark and gloomy day and remember a happy time.

I hope you all have a SUPER Saturday!

WHAT’S NEW IN THE KITCHEN

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

It’s National Cream Cheese Brownie Day.  The brownie is America’s favorite bar cookie.  There are hundreds of different brownie recipes but today we celebrate the sweet, rich and creamy flavors of a cream cheese brownie.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Brownies

1 c. butter, softened

1 small 3 oz. pkg. cream cheese softened

2 c. sugar

3 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup flour

3/4 c. cocoa

1/4 tsp.baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 c. nuts chopped

Heat oven to 325 degrees.  Grease bottom of 13 by 9 by 2 inch baking pan

Beat butter, cream cheese and sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually add to butter mixture until well blended.  Stir in nuts.  Spread batter in prepared pan.

Bake 40 to 45 minute until brownie begin to pull away from sides of pan.  Cool completely.  Prepare frosting, spread over brownies. Cut into bars.

Brownie Frosting

3 tbsp. butter, softened

3 tbsp. cocoa

1 1/3 c. powdered sugar

3/4 tsp. vanilla

1 to 2 tbsp. milk

1 tbsp. light corn syrup, optional

Beat butter and cocoa in small bowl until blended.  gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating well.  Add 2 tbsp. milk and corn syrup, if desired.  Beat until smooth and of spreading consistency.  Add additional  milk, 1/2 tbsp. at a time, if needed.  

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Prayer is like an umbrella

in the storms of life 

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

5701. for umbrellas, a wonderful invention

5702.for chocolate, brownies are good

5703. for warmer days, we’re out of the deep freeze

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 mind is like an umbrella - it functions best when open.

Walter Gropius

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma