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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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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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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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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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.

Dont Forget The Potatoes : Augratin Potatoes Light and Regular Recipes

Makeover Au Gratin Hash browns
1 pkg (30 oz) frozen shredded has browns potatoes, thawed
2 cups (8 oz) shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chopped onion
3/4 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 ½ cups reduced-fat sour cream
1 can (10 ¾ oz) reduced fat reduced sodium cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 ½ cups cornflakes, lightly crushed (I used whole grain Total flakes)
1 tablespoon butter or stick margarine, melted (I only used spray “butter”)
1 Tbl minced fresh parsley (I used dried)

In a large bowl, combine the hash browns, cheese, onions, salt and pepper. In another bowl, combine the sour cream, soup, and soup. Pour over the potato mixture and mix gently to combine. Transfer to a greased 3 qt. baking dish coated with nonstick spray. Toss cornflakes and butter (or just spray “spray butter” on them); sprinkle around the perimeter. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle the middle with parsley Yield 12 servings

Nutritional analysis- one serving (3/4) cup equals 190 calories, 8 grams of fat, (5 saturated fat), 28 mg cholesterol, 492 mg sodium, 23 grams carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 9 g protein Diabetic exchange: 1-1/2 starch, 1 lean meat, 1 fat

Regular Au Gratin Hash browns
1 pkg (30 oz) frozen shredded has browns potatoes, thawed
2 cups (8 oz) shredded cheddar cheese
¼ cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
2 cups (16 oz) sour cream
1 can (10 ¾ oz) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
½ cup butter or margarine, melted, divided
2 cups cornflakes, lightly crushed

In a large bowl, combine the hash browns, cheese, onions, salt and pepper. In another bowl, combine the sour cream, soup, and ¼ cup butter. Pour over the potato mixture and mix gently to combine. Transfer to a greased 3 qt. baking dish. Toss cornflakes and add remaining butter; sprinkle over the top. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes or until heated through. Yield 12 servings

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Easter Jelly Bean Prayer

 

The Jelly Bean Prayer

Author: Unknown

Red is for the blood he gave,

Green is for the grass he made.
Yellow is for the sun so bright,

Orange is for the edge of the night.
Black is for the sins we made,

White is for the grace he gave.
Purple is for his hour of sorrow,

Pink is for our new tomorrow.

An egg full of jelly beans, colorful and sweet, is a prayer, is a promise, is a special treat. May the joy of Christ's Resurrection fill your heart and bless your life

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Make Your Own Easter Candles

This super cute Easter candles made out of dyed egg shells would be awesome on your Easter table. Check out the how tos at Paint Cut Paste

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Let The Light Shine In

These beautiful crosses that you can easily make with your family will help let the light shine in. Perfect for Easter display

You will need
Old file folder (to create a cross template)
1 sheet of 9"x12" construction paper in a BRIGHT color per student
2 sheets of contact paper per student (at least 9"x12" in size)
 lots of tissue paper squares in BRIGHT colors (1 to 2" in size)
Scissors
Permanent marker
Make a Template

I used a file folder to create a cross template. Easy to make: Fold the folder in half "hot dog" style, draw half of cross, cut out, and you're ready to go. My template has a border that is about 3/4" wide.

Trace

Folding the pieces of construction paper in half "hot dog" style. Trace 1/2 the cross onto the paper. Make sure you are tracing along the fold so the cross will stay connected when it is cut out. You will need to keep the paper folded in half to cut out the cross. If you teach kinders, DO THIS STEP FOR YOUR STUDENTS.

Cut

You can do this one yourself or leave this task to the students. After receiving very careful instructions, my kids did it in class and it was an experience! Great opportunity to teach the importance of following directions. Some children had an easy time. Others had lots of pieces when they were finished. We made it work. If your time is limited, you have a challenging class, or you just don't want a headache, let a volunteer cut out the crosses.

Frame

Peel the contact paper and place it sticky side up on the table. CENTER THE CROSS ON THE CONTACT PAPER FOR YOUR STUDENTS. If this kids attempt this one themselves, you will end up with  a lot of wrinkly, folded crosses stuck to a wad of contact paper. Kinders are great at turning a clean sheet of contact paper into a wad!

Decorate

Now the fun part. Let students fill in the cross with the tissue paper squares. Have them avoid touching the actual contact paper. Some will, but the fewer kids with contact paper stuck to their hands, the better off you will be!

Cover

Use the 2nd sheet of contact paper to "seal" the cross together. This step is optional, but I don't like to have loose pieces of tissue paper blown off by the wind. The simplest way to do this (and avoid wrinkles in the paper) is to place the new sheet of contact paper sticky side up, then flip the cross page onto it.


Trim
Use scissors to cut excess contact paper from edges and crosses are ready to hang.

craft source here

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National Stress Awareness Day

What is stress?
Stress and anxiety are the body and mind's way of communicating that it is feeling overwhelmed. Stressors can include problems with work, family, finances, life events, illness, loss and sometimes even perfectionism. Usually this reaction builds up over time and if you are used to coping with a lot of stress and demand you may not recognise what the limit is until it overflows. This is why it is important to recognise your early signs of stress.
What is good and bad stress?
Everyone is different and can cope with varying levels of pressure and demand. Some people even thrive on it. In fact, not all levels of stress are harmful. Athletes, for example, need a good level of excitement and adrenalin to perform optimally.
Stress and anxiety are our innate reactions designed to keep us safe. During the primitive hunter gatherer times our bodies evolved to cope with the dangers they faced. Today's stressors are somewhat different but the body can still react in the same way as it did back then which can leave us feeling demoralised, frustrated and exhausted.
Understanding your own stress levels and how they impact your energy and performance will help you to manage it better and use it to your advantage.
Stress and physical health
If stress is ignored it can lead to physical health problems such as headaches, backaches, sleep problems or an impaired immune system. Links have also been found between stress and coronary heart disease. Psychologically it can potentially, but not in all cases, lead to more severe forms of anxiety, such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic attacks, social anxiety or health anxiety for which professional help is advised.
How can you reduce stress?
Sometimes people turn to unhelpful strategies such as drink or drugs to cope with high demands. These are quick fixes but can exacerbate and maintain the stress or anxiety in the longer term. Here are a few healthful tips to combat stress and anxiety:

• The first step is recognising you are becoming stressed and taking a step back to identify its causes.
• Write a stress diary logging your stressors, how you coped with these, and how you would prefer to cope in the future.
• Enlist support from others - it can be lonely with stress as your companion.
• It is important to find time to relax and unwind. Balance stress with relaxation and pleasurable activities - without the guilt!

information source here

Easter Cheese Balls

easter egg cheese ball::

 

 

1 small package strawberry cream cheese

colored sugars

graham crackers

 

Make sure the cream cheese is cold and pinch off an egg-sized hunk and roll it in your dry hands to shape.  Then roll it in colored sugar on a plate.  Make sure to keep cold, or it will sweat and melt the sugar.  Spread on graham crackers (I used cinnamon grahams).  Easy and fun!

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Jelly Bean Bark

1 tablespoon butter

1-1/4 pounds white candy coating, coarsely chopped

2 cups small jelly beans

 

Line a 15x10x1-in. pan with foil; grease foil with butter. In a microwave, melt candy coating; stir until smooth. Spread into prepared pan. Top with jelly beans, pressing to adhere. Let stand until set.

Cut or break bark into pieces. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 2 pounds.