What Have You Done For The Love Of Your Life

 

 

In just a few months my youngest daughter will be marrying the love of her life. She must realize and I believe that she does that just like in life there may be moments of loneliness and unhappiness and my prayer for her is that these feeling will be overweighed with happiness and moments of security.

 

 

 

I must say that I believe the man that shares her love is also her best friend. They know each other in and out. One benefit of marriage means that her best friend will always be with her. In hopes that her partner will also be always supportive and understanding and be there always ready to listen and help

 

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If they make sure to keep lines of communication open and respect each other with love and thoughtfulness then marriage should be filled with love. If however they don't care for the marriage or take care of the relationship it may suffer. The beautiful act of gaining a marriage license and the amazing ceremony do not guarantee living happily ever after. Marriage is so much better than single people think but it does take work and that work comes from both. Wives can not expect the husband to know exactly what she wants without communication and husbands should listen to what is being shared. It also works the other way both must listen and share the skill of listening and helping the other.

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 "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you" (Colossians 3:13).

What is one thing you can do today to make your spouse's life better?

 

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Arbor Day

Today April 25, is the day that many of us celebrated by planning a tree. My nephews each brought home a tree from school. The schools are encouraging students to plant trees and teaching students how to care for trees.

The first arbor day was hosted by a small Spanish village of Villanueva de  la Sierra in 1805. The local priest used his enthusiasm to make it an exciting event for all.

The first American Arbor day was hosted by Nebraska City Nebraska on April 10, 1872. On this date one million trees were planted in Nebraska. The coordinator of the event Birdsey Northrop was inspired by his trip to Japan in 1883. The American Forestry Association made Northrop the Chairman of the committee to campaign for Arbor Day nationwide.

In 1906 it was in Pennsylvania that conservationist Major Israel McCreight campaigned for youth education and a national policy on conservation education. On April 15, 1907 he was a major force to persuade President Roosevelt to speak to the school children about conservation and also an Arbor day proclamation to U.S. school  children.

Other places that Arbor Day is celebrated

Australia has celebrated since June 20, 1889 last Friday in July for schools and National Tree Day last Sunday in July. Victoria celebrates an entire week.

Belgium celebrates the international day of Tree planting around March 21st. It is not a public holiday but used to educate.

Brazil celebrates Arbor Day September 21st. It is celebrated in schools with environment related activities and tree planting.

British Virgin Islands celebrates on November 22. The celebration is hosted by the national parks there and activities include an annual national arbor day poetry competition and tree planting ceremonies.

Cambodia celebrates a national tree planting day on June 1st and an arbor day on July 9th

Canada celebrates Maple Leaf Day on the last Wednesday in September during national forest week. Ontario celebrates Arbor Week from the last Friday in April to the first Sunday in May. Nova Scotia celebrates Arbor Day first full week in May on the Thursday during National Forest Week

There are many other countries that celebrate in one way or another of planning the tree.

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Best of the Weekend

Gluten Free Zucchini Bread

Food Philosopher’s®Gluten-Free
ZUCCHINI BREAD
Makes three 3 x 5 inch loaves
2 cups Brown Rice Flour Mix*2/3 cup granulated sugar1 tablespoon baking powder1 teaspoon baking soda3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum1/4 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon cinnamon, or to taste1 1/3 to 1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts1/2 cup milk1/2 cup canola oil2 large eggs1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extractCinnamon sugar (optional, see instructions in cooks note) 

1.  Preheat oven to 350ºF. Position rack in center of oven. Grease three 5 x 3-inch loaf pans with cooking spray.
2.  Put shredded zucchini in a small bowl and pat dry with paper towels.
3.  Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum, salt, and cinnamon in large mixing bowl. Add zucchini and nuts; stir to coat evenly.
4.  Combine milk and oil in small bowl. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add liquids to zucchini nut mixture and stir until just blended.
5. Fill loaf pans with batter. Sprinkle top with cinnamon sugar, if desired. Bake 35-40 minutes until light golden and toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 8 minutes on a rack and then remove from pan. Cool completely before serving or wrapping for storage.

*Find my Brown Rice Flour Mix in the recipe section of this blog.
Cooks Note:Store bread covered tightly with plastic wrap in refrigerator for up to five days. Can be covered with plastic wrap and then with foil and stored in freezer for up to six weeks. Best when eaten within four days of baking.To make cinnamon sugar, combine 2 tablespoons sugar with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

recipe source here

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Need a Hug, Find a Plumber

I simply love this picture and why not it envelopes three reasons April 25 is as great as it is.
World Penguin Day, Hug a Plumber Day, and Red Hat Society Day.

Grown Up Pig In Blankets

I love fun easy to make recipes that can be made by young or older hands. Recipes like pig in blankets find their list on our favorite list. They have been around for quite some time. The version I share today have a sort of adult variation flavor to them hope you enjoy

1 (8 oz.) can refrigerated crescent rolls
3 Tbsp. whole cranberry sauce
3 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
8 weiners (cut into thirds)

Cut each crescent roll in thirds, lengthwise. Combine and cranberry sauce and mustard. Spread on crescent rolls. Place piece of wiener on wide side of crescent roll and roll up. Place on a ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375° for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

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Fantastic Thursday

Garden Memories and Container Garden TIps

When I was a kid I spend lots of time at my grandparents. I had two sets of them, I was lucky, they both lived within a short distance of our family home. Each of my grandparents were farmers and were proud of it. My moms mother loved her garden. It was very similar to this picture. It was surrounded by a white picket fence with a little gate. In the garden she would grow veggies that the family would use year round as well as flowers She loved her flowers. My grandmother would work in her garden daily and for hours at a time.

Perhaps you would love to garden and don't have the room needed to have a garden like my grandmother had. Then try a container garden. Here a few tips to help you get your garden growing

First decide what container to grow your garden in. The tip here is bigger is better, large plastic containers with good drainage that is there or that you make by drilling holes in the bottom. Metal containers are not great because the can get to hot.

Second is to get some good potting soil to put into the containers. It should be well  aerated, lightweight and be able to drain well.

Now what to grow in containers
Tomatoes
Potatoes
Peppers
Zucchini
Salad greens
Spinach
Radishes
Peas
Carrots
Bush beans
Broccoli
Almost all herbs

 

Containers should be placed in an area that has at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. Water once a day and when hot you should water 2 times a day.

 

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All Things With Purpose

Jelly Bean Sugar Cookies

Is there extra jelly beans hanging around your house? Have you went to the store to get some great buys on Easter candy and was able to score some jelly beans as well? Then check out this awesome recipe I found here

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, very soft 1/2 cup sugar 1 large egg yolk 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled) About 35 jelly beans

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place butter and sugar in a medium bowl; beat with a wooden spoon until combined.
3. Beat in egg yolk, vanilla, baking powder, and salt.
4. Add flour, and mix until a dough forms.
5. Scoop out level teaspoons of dough, and roll into balls (chill dough briefly if it becomes too soft to handle). Place balls on baking sheets, 2 inches apart.
6. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until edges are firm and cookies are dry to the touch (do not let cookies color), 10 to 12 minutes.
7. Remove from oven; gently press a jelly bean into center of each cookie (surface of cookies may crack slightly). Cool on sheets 1 minute; transfer to a rack to cool completely.
8. Notes: I used my hands during the final mix, otherwise they seemed to not stick well. Also, press the jelly bean in lightly, the cookies tend to crack. I used and leveled off a teaspoon to get 35 cookies, otherwise if you make normal size cookies you will probably get about 12 -18 cookies in the batch.

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BLT Dip

Spring is in the air and as of yesterday we had our first cookout of the year. With more cookouts, summer time get together, and reunions coming up you may want to snag a great recipe or two. Check out this great dip recipe perhaps it will be one of those great go to recipes.

 

 

 

 

1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup chopped seeded tomatoes
6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
1 tablespoon chopped green onion, optional
Assorted crackers

In a large bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, cheese, tomatoes and bacon. Refrigerate until serving. Garnish with green onion if desired. Serve with crackers. Yield: 3 cups.

recipe source Taste of Home

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Busy Monday

Easy Paper Craft Mothers Day Gift

Mother's Day Craft

This is a fun and easy craft for Grandma's, Aunts, or day care providers to help children make to give their Mom's on Mother's Day.

 

 

construction paper or card stock

pot scrubber (approx. 90 cents)

brad or other type of fastener

glue (I used stick glue)

scissors regular or scrapbook scissors

computer to print off the little verse

 

cut out leaves and glue down to piece of construction paper

glue the verse directly to the paper or put on a backing like I did

attach the scrubber to the paper with the brad

 

 

 

craft source here

 

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GIngham  and Roses

April the Month for Frogs

 

 

April is the month of the frog. Being the country girl that I am it should come as no surprise that I love frogs. The beauty in their colors and the sounds that they make. Oh to be in the country or down by the river and hear the sounds of the frogs, the tree frogs and the bullfrogs as they join in a song.

 

 

One of my favorite frogs Kermit, the song he sings is lovely as well I fell in love with Kermit when I was a little girl and would watch him on T.V.

But his song its not easy being green I have found more fonder over the years.




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Word of the day Think

Just found this cute little sign and thought that we could all use this little reminder. Hope you have a great day and enjoy life and I hope that you always think.