Good Morning – though it will be afternoon by the time I get it posted – and Happy Weekend to you! What a beautiful day! There is so much to do that my mind is spinning, but at least the sun can come in while I’m doing it! I have a weekend of cleaning everything inside and out, partially for Thanksgiving but mainly because it really needs to be done. It is easier to do with the sun coming in. The cold temperatures are a bit of a negative when working outside, but at least it is invigorating. Most of the groceries are purchased, just a few last minute things to get fresh on Tuesday, and we’ll be ready to bake and cook our way to a feast with family and friends.
Moments with Moose –
It’s been getting pretty chilly around here the last few days. The low to mid 30’s may not sound cold to people who live in the Midwest, but that’s pretty nippy around here. Last night after work Moose and I went for a walk, and of course since it was dark, we had a flashlight. Moose has never seen his breath on the air like he did last night, so he didn’t know that the clouds swirling around his face couldn’t be caught. He spent most of the walk leaping and snapping at his own breath, then getting startled by his shadow, then leaping for his breath again. It was pretty cute and he got some extra exercise doing all of the gymnastics along the way.
Saturday – November 21st
Beaujolais Nouveau Day – Beaujolais nouveau is very young wine from Beaujolais — a region to the south of Burgundy, in France — where the reigning grape is Gamay, which tastes a little bit like Pinot Noir. What sets nouveau apart from regular Beaujolais Gamay is that it is not made with traditional fermentation, with yeast, but by carbonic maceration — a winemaking technique in which grapes begin fermenting inside the berry, catalyzed simply by their own weight. The conversion of sugar to alcohol happens so quickly that a wine whose grapes were picked this season is already ready to drink — and results in a light, extremely fruity-tasting wine. (Most Gamay wines fermented conventionally would not be released to market for at least another year.) This is as close as wine ever comes to instant gratification.
False Confession Day – This is another one of those that I just read it with a big question mark floating around in my head. WHY? I would love it if someone could tell me WHY? Whoever started this one thought – for whatever reason, that it would be fun to encourage people to make false confessions. Did you do it? Didn’t you do it? If you did, shhhh, but if you DIDN’T do it, then today is your day to offer up that false confession. I’d suggest being cautious if you wish to participate in this one – a false confession could land you in a bunch of trouble, so think carefully about exactly what you may be confessing to! For example: Do not falsely confess to a crime. Do not falsely report someone lost, killed or injured. Do not falsely confess to having an affair. I think I’ll pass on this one myself.
Family Volunteer Day – As we head into the Christmas season there’s a lot of wish lists being made, kids dreaming of what they want for Christmas. Some kids are pretty realistic about their wish lists, and others have a gimme gimme mentality. They come by it naturally if their parents have always given them everything that they want. Family Volunteer Day is a day when we take the focus off of ourselves, and put it onto other people. This is a day to volunteer together, support our neighborhoods, communities and the world. It is held every year the Saturday before Thanksgiving as a kick-off to the holiday season, and is a day filled with giving and service. Everyone, young and old alike, should always be aware of others before themselves, and know the importance of giving over receiving. It is what love is all about!
Guinness World Record Day – Today marks the 10th annual Guiness World’s Record Day, and had 1000’s of people around the world doing everything they could to break the current world’s record in a huge variety of events! I cannot possibly do it justice, so I’m attaching the link for the Guiness page so you can see a few of the records broken for yourself. Very cool! http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2014/11/guinness-world-records-day-2014-live-blog-61729/
National Adoption Day – Did you know that there are thousands and thousands of children waiting impatiently for a forever family? They crave the love and happiness that comes with a permanent family surrounding them – something every child deserves and so many never get. Shuttled from foster home to foster home, they live their lives in a perpetual state of instability, dreaming and hoping, giving up hope as each year passes. If you have ever wanted to be a parent, and either aren’t able to have a biological child, or have enough room and financial stability to welcome a new family member, please consider it. Look inside your heart, and please consider giving a child a home, love, stability and security for their future and yours.
National Day of Play – The 3rd Saturday in the month is National Day of Play. This day was created to celebrate imaginative play by children, with the imagination being a child’s most powerful tool. Using the imagination plays an important role in the development of a child’s social and cognitive skills, their emotional abilities and with abstract thinking. The first time this was celebrated was in 2010, sponsored by Playmobil, with events scheduled at several retailers across the country. Today children and adults are all invited to take part in hand-on play time. What could be more fun than that? I know that when I was a child, as many of us did, we spent far more time playing than hanging out on the computer, watching TV or doing video games, and I believe that we were healthier for it! I remember hours of fun playing dress-up with my friends, building “roads” in the woods with my brother, creating little communities amongst the trees and spending hours out there, until Mom called us in when it started getting dark. I remember exploring the beach near our house for shells, wading in the creek looking for pretty rocks, and setting up cities with blocks in the house when it was too rainy to be outdoors. If we tired of all of that, then we’d curl up on the couch and read to each other, or more often than not, he’d be doing something else, and I would lose myself in a book until I was nearly bleary eyed from it. I still do that when I have the opportunity. Make today a beautiful day of play.
National Survivors of Suicide Day – The Saturday before Thanksgiving is a day designated by the United States Congress to be a day for the family and friends of those who have died by suicide to join together for healing and support. Statistically someone in the United States attempts to commit suicide once every single minute. Someone succeeds once every 17 minutes. Pause for a moment to let that soak in. It’s so incredibly sad! And for every single one of those successes, there are people who are left behind to grieve and try to make sense of the loss of the person they loved. Yes, there are groups and organizations set up to help prevent suicide, but if someone truly has made the decision to take that step, no group is going to stop them. Watching for the signs and getting help for the people we love who appear that they may want to do this is wonderful, always reaching out to them and loving them can definitely get through. Praying for them and giving them reasons to live is exactly what we should be doing, but that number hasn’t decreased. It actually seems to be increasing. This day is for the people left behind, the people grieving and trying to make some sort of sense out of the people we love leaving us, to heal and move beyond the pain and live our lives again. I have never lost someone I love to suicide, though I did have a young relative try, and a friend called me once on the verge of taking pills to just end her misery. Both had their reasons, but thank God neither succeeded and have moved forward with productive lives. It would have been so horribly senseless for either of these two lights to have been put out, and that can be said of so many who just can’t seem to make sense of it all and choose instead to end their lives in an attempt to end what they perceive to be a horrible existence. In my opinion, suicide is the most selfish act someone can commit. It makes me angry to think of someone taking what they think is the easy way out, rather than fighting to make their lives better and asking for help. This day is for the victims of that selfishness. May you find help in your grief, and may you find peace in your heart.
Sunday – November 22
Go For A Ride Day – I love going for a ride – it’s always a lot of fun, especially if the day is sunny and bright. As we head into the holidays things can start being a big chaotic, and even stressful. Today is probably the last chance we’ll get before everything gets really busy, to take a break and go for a relaxing ride. There doesn’t even need to be a destination, just get out and have a great time enjoying the sights. If we weren’t spending the day cleaning and decorating, we’d probably be out for a fun ride in the sun. I wish we could though – it’s a great day for it! A ride can mean many things to many people, but it’s all fun – it can be a car, a sleigh, a horse or horse-drawn carriage, snowmobile or even a bicycle! Go for a ride! Let off some of that steam before you get too busy to be able to.
Humane Society Anniversary Day – The Humane Society is quite a wonderful organization, dedicated to finding homes for homeless pets around our nation. Today is the anniversary of the day they started up on November 22, 1954. According to their website, 11 million Americans support the organization, advocating for a safe and sustainable world for animals, celebrating the furbabies of the world, and confronting the cruelty that so many of them face. The Humane Society doesn’t just stand for a cause – which is easy – they act for a cause by providing animal rescue and care, and advocating for animal welfare legislation, offering training and care to local shelters and rescues. They rescue 1000’s of animals each year, sponsoring free spay/neuter clinics and help pass laws strengthening protections for animals. We can all help in a variety of ways. We could consider adoption – I adopted my Tibbi girl from the Humane Society nearly 17 years ago, an event that I haven’t regretted for one single moment since she joined our family – even those middle of the night potty breaks while she was training and now with the geriatric moments and accidents that are happening now. If you have the time and money to support a pet, then giving one a loving home is one of the best and most effective ways to support animal welfare at a local level. You could volunteer your time at a local shelter. There is always something to do – cleaning cages, walking the dogs, snuggling the kitties, and giving baths . . . the needs are endless and the time well spent. Of course the Humane Society always needs funding, so making a donation is a welcome any time of the year.
This Day In History –
Nov 22, 1963 – President John F. Kennedy, the youngest person to become a U.S. president, is assassinated in Dallas,Texas as his motorcade travelled through the city.
Food Celebration of the Day –
November 21st –
National Cranberry Day – This is a brand new one this year, and a very worthy celebration indeed. I love cranberries for so many things! Here are some interesting facts I thought you might like to read about cranberries.
Another name for cranberries is “bounceberries” because they bounce when ripe.
Some Native Americans called the cranberry ibimi which means “bitter berry”
Native Americans and Pilgrims used cranberries as a red dye.
Wild cranberries were probably part of the first Thanksgiving in 1621.
Today, cranberry sauce is an essential part of American and Canadian Thanksgiving celebrations.
National Gingerbread Cookie Day – Nobody really knows who first created Gingerbread Day, people have been enjoying this delicious sweet treat for centuries. Legend is that Gregory of Nicopolis, an Armenian monk, tought priests how to make gingerbread in the year 992. Whether it’s a crisp cookie or soft cake, or a big house you can make, now is the perfect time to whip up a brand new recipe if you’re a gingerbread fan.
Gingerbread Recipes
Gingerbread Pancakes – These delish pancakes call for buttermilk, flour, dark brown sugar, molasses, butter, spices and ground ginger.
Quick Gingerbread – Bisquick makes it quick!
Gingerbread Loaf – This recipe, which includes molasses, low-fat milk, dark brown sugar, golden raisins, walnuts and prune baby food, looks moist as can be!
Pumpkin Gingerbread – This moist gingerbread recipe sounds amazing!
Big Soft Ginger Cookies – This recipe for big and soft cookies has over 3,000 reviews!
Grandma’s Gingersnaps – This popular recipe calls for margarine, white sugar, an egg, molasses, all-purpose flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.
Gingerbread Man Cookies – Cute!
Gingerbread Ice Cream Sandwiches –You better make plenty – this recipe looks fab-u-lous!
Gingerbread Cobbler – This simple recipe calls for apple pie filling, light brown sugar, butter, pecans, a package of gingerbread mix and vanilla ice cream. Yum!
Gingerbread Pear Trifle – This layered dish, with pears, vanilla custard, gingerbread and whipped cream, would be perfect for any tablescape.
Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies – Fair warning – these pictures are guaranteed to make your mouth water uncontrollably!
Lemon Ginger Cheesecake – This recipe, from Bon Appetit, calls for gingersnap cookies, sugar, ginger, unsalted butter, 4 packages of cream cheese, eggs, sour cream, whipping cream, crystallized ginger, fresh ginger, lemon juice and peel.
Gingerbread Cheesecake – Now we’re talkin’! This recipe, adapted from Martha Stewart, calls for cream cheese, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, butter and gingerbread cookies.
Gingerbread Cocktails
Gingerbread Cookie Cocktail – This recipe, from Betty Crocker, calls for molasses, fresh ginger, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, brown sugar, vanilla vodka, half-and-half and coffee liqueur.
Gingerbread Martini – This drink looks delightful! You’ll need vodka, Bailey’s Irish Cream, Kahlua, gingerbread syrup, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream!
Gingerbread Martini – Here’s another martini recipe but this one calls for gingersnap cookies, ginger liqueur, coffee-flavored liqueur, vanilla-citrus liqueur, coffee-flavored rum, honey and whipping cream.
Bronze Autumn Cocktail – Shawn Cox won the Walker Gingerbread Cocktail Competition with this fabulous concoction that calls for apple vodka, gingerbread liqueur and a splash of dry champagne. Winning!
Gingerbread Cocktail – This 5-star cocktail, from Giada de Laurentiis, calls for espresso powder, hazelnut liqueur, Kahlua, fresh ginger, whole cloves and cinnamon sticks.
Gingerbread Apple Cocktail – This drink calls for Domaine de Canton ginger and cognac liqueur, vanilla vodka, apple cider, honey or agave syrup, lemon juice and orange zest.
Pumpkin & Gingerbread Cocktail – You’ll need dark rum, gingerbread essence, pumpkin molasses, chilled coffee, gingerbread cookie and Kahlua for this cocktail.
November 22nd –
National Cranberry Relish Day – Believed to have originated in the New England States during the early 1900′s, Cranberry Relish is a traditional part of many families Thanksgiving dinner. There are many different recipes and combinations that make up cranberry relish and people have their favorites. The common ingredient, of course, is cranberries. Other ingredients may include: apples, oranges, pineapple, sugar, salt, pecans, orange zest, lemon juice and brandy. Here is a simple recipe that may help you if you haven’t ever tried making it from scratch. http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/homemade-cranberry-relish
National Cashew Day –Did you know that cashews are a relative of poison ivy? When removed from their shells they won’t cause you to itch – good thing, since they are so delicious. Here are some recipes you can make with cashews, followed by some interesting facts about cashews.
Honey-Roasted Cashews
Colorful Cashew Curry
Brussels Sprouts With Cashews
Sweet & Spicy Cashew Chicken
Mexi Cashews
Cashew Golden Rice
Spicy Cashew Pork
Pistachio, mango, cashew and poison ivy are in the same family.
Cashews are native to Costa Rica and most of Central America.
The fresh cashew nut has a substance inside that produce a highly valuable and highly toxic product known as Cashew Nut Shell Liquid or CNSL.
Cashews in Costa Rica are harvested during March and April.
A freshly picked cashew nut is highly flammable and can even be explosive.
I have had quite a time getting this all together today! My computer froze up many times, I have NO idea what is going on with it, and it just took FOREVER! It’s done now – WHEW! I’ll fight with it again tomorrow night for Mondays post. Hopefully it will resolve itself by then. God Bless You, have a wonderful weekend and I’ll see you Monday!