For Saturday, January 8th, 2011

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

JANUARY 8th, 2011

If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side

It's SATURDAY!

BUBBLE BATH DAY!

Today is a fun day to relax and enjoy the warm and soothing pleasures of a bubble bath. Best of all it can be enjoyed by kids and adults. For kids it is playtime, for adults it is soothing pleasure.

For years I've said that my bubble bath is like my mini trip to the beach. And the beach is my favorite place to be...

Oh, and don't forget your rubber ducky!

THINKING

Life is now.

If you are 40 years old, you have already lived 14,965 days. What have you done with this time ? You can't get the days back. You only have today. This moment... to live fully. To make a difference. To celebrate life. Every single minute counts. Right here, right now.

Life is rather like a tin of sardines - we're all of us looking for the key

Alan Bennett

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

NATIONAL ENGLISH TOFFEE DAY

National English Toffee Day is meant to remind you of the rich, buttery flavor of North America's favorite type of toffee.

ENGLISH TOFFEE SQUARES

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Preheat oven to 275F.

In large bowl with an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Separate egg, then beat yolk into butter mixture; cover and reserve the egg white.

In another bowl, stir together flour and cinnamon; add to butter mixture.

With your hands, spread dough evenly over bottom of a greased 10 by 15-inch rimmed baking pan. Beat egg white lightly, then brush over dough to cover evenly. Sprinkle pecans over top; press in lightly.

Bake for 1 hour or until firm when lightly touched. While still hot, cut into 1/2-inch squares. Let cool in pan on a rack. Store airtight.

PRAYERS

Dear God, bless us with imagination and vision, so that when we dream, we might see ourselves as more than we are, and maybe see what we might become; bless us with ambition and encouragement, and strengthen us to pursue our dreams.

Amen

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU!

AROUND HOME

If you know anything about me, you know that my life's taken a few unexpected curves and crashes along the way. But hey, at least I can say I took the scenic route

Naomi Judd

Our curves are a little slippery today as we are expected to get another 2-5 inches of snow today. I certainly hope there are no crashes. It's the weekend so hopefully no one has to be out early before the snowplows take care of the roads. They say the snow will continue through Sunday so it sounds like a good weekend to stay in.

It has been below average temps outside too and week after next they are saying it could get a lot colder here. We'll be praying everyone stays warm and safe.

Take good care all!

COUNTING THE DAYS

There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day

Alexander Woollcott

71 DAYS UNTIL SPRING!

100 DAYS UNTIL CAMPING SEASON BEGINS

Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.

A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone near…

Love,

ma

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

JANUARY 7th, 2011

If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side

It's FRIDAY!

Today is OLD ROCK DAY!

Old Rock Day is an opportunity to enjoy and appreciate old rocks and fossils. Perhaps you can start a rock collection. You can go out on a field trip in search of old fossils (the rock kind). Or, if you choose, you can just play with old rocks.

There are a lot of fun-filled, yet ill-defined, wild and wacky holidays. This is one of them.

By definition, fossils are old rocks. Jewelry stones are old rocks. And, coal is an old rock, too. You can celebrate any or all of these old rocks today.

THINKING

Start by doing what’s necessary, then do what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible

St. Francis of Assisi

Today: Do something you can do easily tomorrow.

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

January 7th is National Tempura Day

Tempura is a basic yet popular dish in Japanese cooking. Seafood or vegetables are dipped in a thin batter of flour and water and deep fried in oil. Typical tempura can include shrimp, squid, yams, mushrooms or okra.

While you can find tempura in virtually any Japanese restaurant, it's a little known fact that the dish was originally introduced to Japan by Portuguese traders and missionaries!

Tempura Batter

2 egg yolks
1 cup cold water
1 cup flour

Break egg yolks into bowl. Gradually stir in cold water beating with fork and slowly beat in flour. Batter should be slightly lumpy.

PRAYERS

Lord, Help us to live each with a positive attitude, looking for the best in people and situations.

Inspire us to live in your presence every day so that we may share your outlook and do the ordinary things of life in an extraordinary way.

Amen

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU!

AROUND HOME

Resolve to see the world on the sunny side, and you have almost won the battle of life at the outset.

Unattributed

The snow has returned to northern Ohio. Our bare ground is now white again. The snow started coming down yesterday and continued through out the evening. I think we may have more today too.

Mr. Wonderful is spending this last day of the week with his other grandma. I'll be seeing him again at the beginning of next week. Today I'll probably head to the basement to continue my sorting out down there. There is a lot to be done and it's a good day to stay inside and keep warm.

Take good care everyone!

COUNTING THE DAYS

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive the week.

If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank or in your wallet, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not

Author Unknown

72 DAYS UNTIL SPRING!

101 DAYS UNTIL CAMPING SEASON BEGINS

Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.

A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone near…

Love,

ma

For Thursday, January 6th, 2011

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

JANUARY 6th, 2011

If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side

It's THURSDAY!

AND it is Cuddle Up Day

Cuddles are great and actually good for you.

Cuddle Up Day is an opportunity to snuggle up to someone on a cold winters' day or night. Chances are it's cold outside. So, cozy up to a special someone, and enjoy the warmth and love. This day is enjoyed by both young and old.

• Cuddling up in your easy chair is a great idea

• Cuddling up to a pet is rewarding.

• Cuddling up to a stuffed animal is quite secure and comforting.

• Cuddling up with a good book is enjoyable.

• Cuddling up by the fireside is warm and cozy.

• But, nothing will beat cuddling up with a special someone.

THINKING

I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve

Albert Schweitzer

Today: do an act of service, big or small.

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

January 6th is Shortbread Day

Shortbread is a delicious combination of 3 powerhouse ingredients: sugar, butter, and flour. The biscuit recipe originated in Scotland and holds much cultural significance, including the tradition of breaking a decorated shortbread over a bride's head as she enters her new home. Fortunately shortbread crumbles quite easily so she doesn't get totally clobbered.

1/2 cup confectioners sugar

1 cup butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Work butter with spoon or fork until fluffy; add sugar gradually. Stir in dry ingredients. Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut in desired shape and place on ungreased cookie sheets or press dough into an 8x8-inch ungreased baking pan and score dough in size squares you prefer. You can also use a special shortbread pan if you have one (usually round with decorations indented in bottom; the finished product is flipped onto a plate after baking for cutting as marked on pan). Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for approx. 20-25 minutes until delicately browned. A mixture of cinnamon and sugar or colored sugar may be sprinkled on top before baking.

Store in a tightly covered tin for maximum shelf life. This keeps well over a week and may also be frozen

PRAYERS

I thank you God for being my guiding light that will never burn out. Although I may not always show it, I am grateful for all you have given to me, my family, my friends, my blessings, everything. Sometimes I simply forget how lucky I am and how grateful I should be. I just get carried away with life and forget. But not today and all I want to say is thank you for everything.

Amen

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EM

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

AROUND HOME

He who is waiting for something to turn up might start with his own shirt sleeves.

With my new schedule Thursdays and Fridays were to be open as Mr. Wonderful should be spending these days with his other grandma but today they were running a special, one time offer for this week only so he'll be with me today.

The good thing is that my schedule is flexible and I'm free to do whatever. Retirement is wonderful.

COUNTING THE DAYS

The shortest day has passed, and whatever nastiness of weather we may look forward to in January and February, at least we notice that the days are getting longer. Minute by minute they lengthen out. It takes some weeks before we become aware of the change. It is imperceptible even as the growth of a child, as you watch it day by day, until the moment comes when with a start of delighted surprise we realize that we can stay out of doors in a
twilight lasting for another quarter of a precious hour.

Vita Sackville-West

73 DAYS UNTIL SPRING!

102 DAYS UNTIL CAMPING SEASON BEGINS

Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.

A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone near…

Love,

ma