Animal Cruelty Month

April is animal cruelty month. It is a month to bring awareness to a growing problem. Whether it is pitting dogs against each other in dog fights or over populating because of not spading or neutering your pet animal cruelty is wrong. Our family loves animals and in fact we have 2 dogs that we consider family members. We have been given the job to protect the earth and those that live on it.


"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." (Genesis 2:15)  

Apple Bacon Coleslaw

Apple Bacon Coleslaw
recipe source here

Dressing

• ¼ Cup cider vinegar
• 01 Cup mayonnaise
• ⅓ Cup honey
• ¼ Cup orange juice
• 02 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 02 teaspoons kosher salt
• 01 teaspoon ground black pepper

• 01 head of green cabbage, shredded
• 01 bunch green onions, chopped
• 04 small, green apples, chopped
• ½ pound bacon, fried crispy and cut into small pieces

Oh Yes!!! That Is Right Bacon. Makes it all better all the time (or at least that's how I feel)

• In a large bowl, whisk dressing ingredients
• Add cabbage, green onions, apples and bacon
• Stir until combined well
• Refrigerate 01 hour to overnight to let flavors combine

Note

This dish really benefits from letting it set a few hours to let the flavors meld and the smokiness from the bacon infuse into the other ingredients!

Celosia

Notice the celosia and their "rooster comb" plumes. That is what makes them so very showy, unusual and a great display as borders and edging. Celosia aka Cockscomb come in the colors of red, yellow, orange, crimson, rose and purple. They make beautiful bouquets and look great both fresh and dried. Cockscomb are easy to dry just simply make into a bunch and hang upside down in a cool dark and dry place for about 2 months. Celosia will grow up to 30" tall.

I have personally seen Celosia grown from seed or plants. As seed they can be directly seeded into your flower garden or you can give them a head start by seeding indoors and transplanting later. If you choose to start seed outside be sure to do this after soil has began to stay warm for spring. Plants desire full sun and rich soil with lots of compost. They produce big, brilliant plumes when planted in moist not wet soil. In dry periods they should be watered routinely. 

Summer or Fall makes no difference as cockscomb will bloom in either. After the first plumes appear pinch them back so they will continue to produce more plumes. While it may delay your excitement of early blooms you will be rewarded later.

While Celosia possess a resistance to insect and disease they can still be affected. Aphids enjoy the leaves and stem. If a problem does occur treat early with organic or chemical insect repellents and fungicide.

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National Scrabble Day and a Treat to Spell on

The history of scrabble is one that has its own ups and downs. Much like the game itself the struggle to find the right path is a crisscross kind of situation. Alfred Mosher Butts invented the game of Scrabble in 1933. It was during the great depression when Mr. Butts invented the game based on the concept that popular number games at that time. The key to scrabble then and now was to get points. Butts worked on the game for more than a decade before parterning with James Brunot in 1949. Brunot was a game loving entrepreneur. The partnership worked and in 1949 Burnots made 2,400 sets and lost $450. Scrabble did start to gain in popularity slowly.

In the early 1950's the president of Macy's was away on vacation when he discovered the game and loved it. He ordered some to be sold at the store. Scrabble soon became the "must have" and soon the games were being sold around the country. Now, the game has it's own holiday.

The game of Scrabble is an addictive, brain busting game that delights word nerds and language lovers every where. The U.S. host an annual National Scrabble Championship each year. The group at the top then competes in the world Scrabble Championship. In our area many organizations host scrabble nights to help raise money for special causes.

Meyer Lemon Sugar Cookies
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup superfine sugar
1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
2 tsp fresh Meyer Lemon juice
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
finely grated rind of 1 Meyer Lemon
salt

Put the butter and sugar and mix well with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon. Then add the egg yolk and juice and beat in. Sift the flour and salt into the bowl and stir until combined. Add the lemon rind and combine once more.

Divide the dough into 2 disks and wrap in plastic wrap. Place in refrigerator to chill until firm, about 30 min to an hour.

Preheat oven to 375F degrees. Line baking trays with parchment paper. Unwrap the dough, roll to 1/8 inch thick and use a chef's knife to make straight cuts. (A pasty wheel dragged my dough to skewed it, find out what works best for you. If the dough becomes too warm or soft to be transferred to the baking tray, return dough in the refrigerator to chill, 5-10 minutes.

Bake for 6-7 minutes, or until edges turn light brown. Transfer to wire racks to cool.

To frost the cookies, I used royal icing thinned with a little water. Letters were written using edible markers. 

Oral Cancer Awareness

April draws awareness to Oral Cancer. As always early detection is important. Early detection offers a bit more power to fight back. There are approximately 43,250 people in the U.S. that will be diagnosed with oral cancer just this year (Oral Cancer Foundation). Bringing awareness to oral cancer will hopefully help educate and stop the higher mortality rates than other cancers. The reason for the higher rates is because it is often found in the later stages. By detecting oral cancer early it can be stopped before it spreads. The current rate of infection oral cancer kills one person every 24 hours or one a day. 

• Oral cancer often occurs on the tongue, gums, floor of the mouth and tonsils. The major risk factor for oral cancer is smoking and tobacco use. The combination of heavy alcohol consumption with tobacco use makes the development of oral cancer 15 times more likely than those who abstain from tobacco use.
• Age is also a risk factor. People over 40 are more likely to have oral cancer. The fastest growing segment of population that is being diagnosed with oral cancer are nonsmokers under the age of 50.
• The human papilloma virus or HPV has also been known to cause certain types of oral cancer. The risk is not as high as others though as out of 200 strands tested only 9 are risky. 

Oral cancer is hard to detect in early stages as the mouth is very sensitive. White or red patches in your mouth or small ulcers like canker sores are early signs that one should take note of. An abrasion in your mouth that does not heal within 14 days then it is time to see a dentist. 

Symptoms of pre-cancer:

• A change in the way the teeth fit together
• A color change in the oral tissues
• A tiny white or red spot/sore anywhere in the mouth
• Any sore that bleeds easily or refuses to heal
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving the jaw or tongue
• Lumps, thickenings, rough spots, or crusty areas
• Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips

Kite Flying Weather

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Inspire Me Tuesday

BLT Dip

BLT Dip
recipe source here
- 1 package of bacon cooked & chopped up
- shredded lettuce (to taste really, but about 2 cups)
- 2-3 vine ripened tomatos (to taste really)
- 1 & 1/2 cups of mayo (to taste)
- 1 & 1/2 cups of sour cream (to taste)

Mix sour cream & mayo (I used fate free sour cream & light mayo).  However much you use of one, just make sure you use the same of the other.  So, equal parts of mayo & sour cream.  Mix in the bacon.  Mix in 3/4 of the tomatoes & 3/4 of the lettuce.  Sprinkle the top with remaining lettuce & tomatoes.  Serve with your favorite crackers.

This is super easy, but really it's all about what you like- more or less tomatoes or lettuce or bacon or sour cream or mayo..... you be the judge.  Either way it is super yummy


Serving Suggestion: 
Today is soft pretzel day so why not serve this dip up with a serving of soft pretzels. 

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dishing it and digging it 
wonderful wednesday

Music For Today

Today allows us to celebrate the song that has been called the best party song of all time. Louie Louie has been recorded more times than any other rock song in history. Washington came close to having it as their official state song. April 11 is the birthday of Richard Berry the man who composed Louie Louie. April 11 1957 was also the first time that the song Louie Louie was recorded by Richard Berry.




The Tennessee Waltz was one of my daddy's favorite songs. He first sang it to me as a child when I was traveling with him on a road trip. This would not be the only time and in fact there would be many more times that I would hear these lyrics.

The popular country music song was created by Redd Stewart and music by Pee Wee King in 1946 and released in 1948. It was a multimillion seller when in 1950 Patti Page recorded the song. In 1974 the version would become the biggest selling song ever in Japan. The Tennessee Waltz is also the fourth official song in the state of Tennessee.

The story in the song shares a situation where a victim has introduced their partner to a friend when the friend waltzes away with the love of their life. The victim can be male or female as we can all have broken hearts.

Take Care of our Animals

April 11, today is National Pet Day. Often our pets are more like our furry, feathered or scaled family member. Today, sadly is also a day to remember all those pets taken to shelters where many are put to sleep before they find their forever homes. National Pet Day celebrates the joy that our lovely furry friends bring into our lives.

National Pet Day founders are Celebrity pet lifestyle expert and animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige. It is a day to raise awareness about the importance of pet adoption.

National Pet Day in the U.S. is April 11. The day is all about appreciating the wonderful pets in our lives. From gerbils, birds, turtle, fish , dogs, cats or whatever pet you love. Most pets come to their new homes through family members and around 29% of cats and dogs are adopted from shelters. More than 35% of cats were strays before finding their forever home. 

Sadly there are around 16000 pets dying in the US shelters on daily basis. That figures up to 667 animals an hour. One thing that you could do to help these shelters out is to donate money to help these poor, helpless animals.

April is also the month to help draw awareness to Animal Cruelty. Adults and children are both guilty of animal cruelty. Teaching our chldren to be compassionate toward animals from a young age should carry on into adulthood.

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Manic Monday

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. It is the duty of each of us to ensure the social and well being of children and families in our communities. To help raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month, blue ribbons will be worn These ribbons are symbol of a happy carefree childhood and the belief that getting it right for kids early is less costly than trying to fix problems after things go wrong. Everyone has a role to play in preventing child abuse and supporting families in our community.

April 1983 was the first National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Since that time many groups including family advocates and child welfare groups hae joined together and hosted educational programs. THey have also raised both awareness and funds to help make the public aware of the fact that child abuse is present and what to look for

There are several forms of child abuse. They include emotional , neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse and verbal abuse. Each of them holding the power to be devastating to a child. The movement of the blue ribbon was started by a grandmother from Virginia. Her grand-son at the age of 3 years old was found dead after enduring abuse by his mother's boyfriend. She tied a blue ribbon on the antenna of her car as a tribute to the young boy. The ribbon was to symbolize the black and blue bruises worn by her grand-son The idea caught on and more and more individuals started sporting blue ribbons.

Your neighborhood or one close by may also hold a candlelight vigil during the month of April to remember all children who were afflicted by child abuse.

  

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Mommy Monday
color crafty

Thank You

"For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister."  Hebrews 6:10 

Have you ever thought about being a sunday school teacher?? Do you feel called to help guide lives??






If you are one who gives or has given your time to help our Children or anyone learn about Jesus and his love I applaud you and thank you as well. It is a time that I feel blessed to have had and watch these young individuals grow. I was just a blink in the eye as a first grade Sunday School teacher but I was given the chance to help these young lives learn how to read God's word and hopefully help them love to learn the stories in the bible.

Have stories to share about your sunday school teacher or one you had as a child? How about the stories from teachers. Would love to hear your stories Please feel free to leave them in comments.

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A bit of Frog Humor

April is perfect for puddle jumping and lilly pad jumping. It is full of fun and frogs. I decided to share a bit of frog humor.

That's right. This post is all about frogs, no toads to be included But exactly what are the differences between a frog and a toad???

There is more information out there in fairy tales about frogs than the toad as well. It seems that the old toad is not as popular

So go ahead get ready to dance as you have some frog fun on our blog Annies Home

By the way you may want to check out a few more great post here and see exactly what recipes, tips and the rest we have to share

Crescent Cinnamon Rolls (sem-homemade recipe)

Crescent Cinnamon Rolls

source here

Prep time:  5 mins

Cook time:  10 mins

Total time:  15 mins

Serves: 4

A semi homemade cinnamon roll made easy with a tube of Crescent Rolls

1 tube (8 count) Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, unrolled and separated

Filling

• 4 tablespoons butter,softened
• ¼ cup white sugar
• 2½ teaspoons cinnamon

Glaze

• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons powdered Sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 
  

Preheat oven to 375 Place the unrolled and separate crescent rolls on an un greased rimmed cookie sheet(one with sides).

Filling

1. In a small bowl, mix together the butter, sugar and cinnamon

Assemble

1. Evenly spread the cinnamon butter over the crescent rolls and roll up tightly.
2. Place tip side down on the cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Glaze

1. In a small bowl, mix together the butter, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
2. Place in a zip lock bag and snip a tiny corner off.
3. Drizzle the glaze over the cinnamon rolls.

Notes

Some cinnamon butter will leak from the crescent rolls while cooking. This will not affect the taste.

Just So you Know

A safety pin is a pin in which a simple spring mechanism and a clasp are both included in the same pin. Common use is to fasten pieces of fabric or clothing together. Safety pins are also commonly used with cloth diapers. Jewelry makers have also been known to use safety pins when making earrings, chains and wristbands.

Walter Hunt from America is highly regarded as the inventor of the safety pin. It was invented to make money to pay off a debt. April 10, 1849 the patent for the safety pin was sold to W.R. Grace and company for $400. Hunt paid off the $15 owed to a friend. He would have been smarter to have made the safety pins himself and profited from the invention.

So I would simply love it on this day the day of the invention if you would consider pinning this recipe.


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