Weekends are wonderful always, even when they are filled with chores and projects, but they are EXTRA wonderful when we go camping and I can sit in our campsite by the fire, sipping at a delicious beverage while I talk to you. Some people desire elaborate, fancy vacations to exotic places, but me? I’m more than content sitting in the woods, watching the flames and being quiet in nature. I was so busy running around packing the RV Friday morning that I didn’t have any time to get a post ready, so this includes those celebrations with the others.
Verse of the Day
May 3, 2019
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
Far from being a vindictive God looking for some reason to condemn us, God wants all people, of all races and languages, to come to know him, to turn to him in repentance, and follow his Son as Lord and Savior. That’s why Jesus came (cf. John 3:16)! That’s why Jesus’ return has not yet happened. So, if our desire is to do the LORD’s will and please him in what we do, shouldn’t we be doing something to bring all the people of the world to a knowledge of simple truth about Jesus? Shouldn’t we do everything we can to help them know his grace and call them to repent and follow Jesus as Lord?
May 4, 2019
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
Grace is given to us as a free gift. It cannot be earned or merited. But salvation that does not move us out of our self-destructive and rebellious ways is counterfeit. Repentance is a life change. It is a realization that we have been going the wrong way on a one-way street. It is an acknowledgement that trying to guide our own lives is always going to end in disappointment, disaster, and death without Jesus being Lord of both our lips and our lives. We know that God’s grace is marvelous, but let’s also learn that his will is gracious. As we do, we will change our behavior to reflect the character of the Father who sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins!
May 5, 2019
Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed and get a new heart and a new spirit… Repent and live!
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
God reminds us to turn away from our own self-seeking ways. He calls us to turn to him with a willingness to obey his will. If we refuse, we must know that we are walking the road that leads to death. God longs to do the work of rebirth and renewal, but he asks us to turn from our destructive ways and offer our hearts to him to be made new by his Holy Spirit. Repentance is to turn off the road leading to destruction and onto the road that leads to the Father’s house, the place of life.
Finding Peace in Simple Moments
Listening to the crackle of a fire in a campfire pit, sipping a cold drink, listening to the birds sing and just breathing in and out. Perfect example of peace in my world tonight.
Friday – May 3
Garden Meditation Day – I’ve always wished I was good in the garden and with plants. I’m not. I start the whole process with a lot of enthusiasm, get seeds planted or plants into the ground . . . and there’s where my enthusiasm ends. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I love the end result of fresh lettuce in my salad, but the desire to keep the weeds gone just isn’t there. My Grandparents – both sets – were incredible with their gardens. Grandma K used to tell me that she felt peaceful when working with her flowers, and I know that Grandpa K took a lot of pleasure from his fruits and veges. My Grandma H grew hers not only for pleasure, but she canned a LOT of food from her garden – to this day her peaches go down in my mind as the best and tastiest canned peaches in the world. Today was set up to focus on the peace and calm that come from gardening – whether it is planting, weeding or just “watching it grow”, as my Grandpa K used to say. Work on your garden slowly and thoughtfully today, focusing on each small task and taking peace from it. I’ve been working on getting the straw bales ready to go for planting and will show you pictures when it is ready. I’m excited to see how it does! Today will be a beautiful day, so if you are inclined to get out and work on your garden, it’s a wonderful day for it!
Lumpy Rug Day – We probably take our rugs/carpets for granted. After all, we put them on the floor and except when we clean them, we forget about them. That is until one gets lumpy. A rug should be smooth, even and definitely not have any lumps. I know that this is a big deal because when we moved into this house the rugs were great . . . but they weren’t stretched properly and developed lumps. We needed to replace them for years but decided that since we had an elderly dog that was prone to accidents, we waited until she wasn’t with us any longer. The new carpets are AMAZING, and I don’t miss the old, lumpy ones at all!
National Special-abled Pets Day – Pets, like people, are individuals. Their personality traits vary from pet to pet, whether they are purebred, or a mixed breed mutt. Today we are celebrating the special ones, the ones that are weak, perhaps handicapped in some way. These are the animals that would be rejected in the wild by their parents, because that is just how nature works. Sometimes special-abled pets are the best ones. It was about this time a few years ago that my daughter sent me a text. She was pretty excited. She had been looking for a new critter to love, and after researching them she decided that a hedgehog would be the perfect addition to her household. As she was browsing breeder sites, she came across a local one that had a young female that had been born without a right eye. The breeder had been having a hard time finding a home for this little girl because people who called about the babies perceived her to be ugly or unacceptable for only having the one eye. As my daughter explained to the breeder, this was a household that was just waiting for this hedgehog to come live with them. The breeder not only called her back, she decided that this would be the perfect home for the little one-eyed baby, and even made her a good deal. The moral of this story is that different animals, like people who are different are JUST different! Not better, not worse, just different. People can be just as cruel and indifferent to animals that look different, as they are to people who are different. It isn’t fair or right, no matter the species. Rejection is always a bad thing, especially when it is over something that cannot be helped. If you have room in your heart and in your home, perhaps consider adopting a specially-abled pet – it will be a blessing for you as much as for them. Oh, and by the way, Peek-a-Boo the Hedgehog was a happy part of my daughter’s household until she was about as old as hedgehogs get.
National Two Different Colored Shoes Day – Do you have a style of shoes you love so much that you have two pairs of them, in different colors? Yes? Well, then you are all set up for celebrating this one! You can do it with different styles of shoes, but seriously it would be uncomfortable that way. This one is lighthearted and takes you outside your normal routine to do something different. I remember when my daughter was about 8 years old she was preparing for a runway show (she modeled on the runway from the time she was 4 until about age 12) and the theme was “Back To School” showing different styles for kids getting ready for the new school year. That year the colors teal and purple together were very popular. We had already done our school shopping, and in her closet were boxes of canvas tennis shoes in different colors, all the same sizes. There had been a HUGE sale, so we got these shoes for just a few dollars each. She happened to have teal and purple shoes that matched the fashion show outfit perfectly. We had to provide our own shoes for these shows and on the day of the show she came out in the outfit in the shoes she had chosen . . . one purple shoe with a teal sock, and one teal shoe with a purple sock. It was pretty awesome! The fashion show director LOVED it and let her go on that way. Kids started wearing their outfits that way in her school after she started doing it every day. Some days it would be one white and one black shoe, with opposite socks, some days, one orange with one yellow. When everyone started doing it, she changed it up and started something else that was new, but for a few months we saw a lot of Two Different Colored Shoe Days at our house. Of course, it’s cute when it is kids, but be careful with this one. If you have these two different colored shoes next to each other in your closet you may accidentally wear one of each pair to work one day when it ISN’T Two Different Colored Shoes Day! That would be slightly embarrassing.
Paranormal Day – Today is the day when everyone who believes in paranormal activity are encouraged to share their experiences with other people. The question though is, what exactly IS paranormal activity? Well, it has been described as “phenomena and manifestations which lie outside of normal experience, which can neither be scientifically explained, nor proven.” If you believe in the paranormal, then you don’t need to feel alone. 45% of Americans believe in ghosts. Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, if you believe in angels or in miracles, then you can actually say that you do believe in the paranormal! My personal opinion is this – there are too many things we cannot explain to just brush off the notion of paranormal activity as nonsense.
Saturday – May 4
Bird Day – always May 4th. Because birding is so popular, there are three different bird days each year, PLUS birdING days! National Bird Day is January 5th, and International Migratory Bird Day is observed on the 2nd Saturday in May. Why are there so many? Well, because people love birds! Bird watching is a favorite pastime of millions of people. As a matter of fact, it is the most popular of hobbies. I’m sure a big reason for this is that it can be enjoyed by everyone, no matter their age. With the popularity of bird watching, it really isn’t surprising that there are this many days to celebrate it after all! To take some of the confusion out of the number of different bird days, here’s a little explanation. Bird Day is the oldest of the days set aside to recognize birds. According to the U.S. Library of Congress, Bird Day was first observed on May 4th, 1894. By 1910, Bird Day was widely celebrated, often in conjunction with Arbor Day. Both events focus on conservation training and awareness. National Bird Day was started by bird activists. It asks people to recognize the plight of captive birds, and draws attention to exploitation of birds in the U.S. pet industry. International Migratory Bird Day celebrates the amazing journey that migratory birds take each year. They travel 1000’s of miles between breeding grounds in North American, and their winter homes in Central and South America. Organizers say that this is a day to support and increase awareness of conservation efforts in support of migratory birds. No matter when, where, or how you decide to observe birds, please do so with respect for nature, respect for the birds natural habitat. It’s a fascinating hobby, so enjoy! *** This morning we had a Mourning Dove hanging out on the deck for the first time! This isn’t a picture hubby took, though he did get some awesome shots – but it takes so long to load up our pictures that I grabbed one from offline instead. This is just what it looked like though! ***
Bladder Cancer Awareness Day – Before we can be aware of Bladder Cancer, we must first know what it is. The bladder is a balloon-shaped organ in your pelvic area that stores urine. Bladder cancer most often begins in the cells that line the inside of the bladder. It typically affects older adults, but it can happen at any age. Most bladder cancers are diagnosed at an early stage, when it is highly treatable, but even early stage cancer can recur. Because of this bladder cancer survivors go through follow-up tests to look for bladder cancer recurrence for years after they are treated. So what are the symptoms? Here are some things to look for:
* Blood in urine (hematuria) — urine may appear dark yellow, bright red or cola colored. Or urine may appear normal, but blood may be detected in a microscopic examination of the urine * Frequent urination * Painful urination * Back pain * Pelvic pain
If you have any of these symptoms, please make an appointment with your doctor. It isn’t always clear what causes bladder cancer, but it has been linked to smoking, parasitic infections, radiation and exposure to chemicals.
Today has been set aside to raise awareness of this cancer, raise funds for research and nudge people to go see their doctor if they have any concerns at all regarding any symptoms they may have. It may not be too late to participate in a local event! The day is young!
Free Comic Book Day – Do you remember getting comic books as a kid? I was allowed to have the fun comics, the ones that didn’t have the violence and weird pictures – I admit, that type still sort of creep me out. I had Little Lotta and Little Lulu. I had Richie Rich and a variety of the Archie comics. I have a few still – very well worn (if only I had known they would one day be collector items!) that have a price marked on them of 15 cents! One thing I had never realized as a kid was that comics are really loved by adults too! And here’s where Free Comic Book Day comes in – there are a lot of people who don’t read comics and the distributors really want to keep attracting new customers – which makes perfect sense. To that end, on the first Saturday of every May there is a huge event across North America and around the world where participating comic book stores give away free comic books to draw in new customers and entice people to explore this venue for reading material. If you’re interested, give your local comic store a call and see if they are participating today! How fun! Free is ALWAYS better, don’t you think?
Intergalactic Star Wars Day (May the Fourth Be with You!) – A play on words is how this celebration got its start, with the creation of it being a complete fluke. In 2005 a German News TV channel N24 interview erroneously translated this famous Star Wars quote. In German “May the force be with you” was incorrectly interpreted as “We are with you on May 4th”. We do believe that if this error had not occurred, someone, somewhere would have created this day.
- Watch any of the great Star Wars movies
- Better still, have a Star Wars marathon, and watch two or three (or 4) of them. (shoot me now – I don’t think I could deal with that many in a row)
- Get out your laser sword and practice for the next invasion from the Evil Empire.
- Send a Star Wars day Ecard- of course they have them!
- Have a Star Wars costume party. (Um, no)
- Learn some Star Wars Trivia, there’s no shortage.
This may not be popular with some folks – and that’s OK – we all have different taste in movies. If I had to choose a space type series of movies, I’d pick Star Trek over Star Wars any day of the week. Quote honestly the Star Wars movies bore me to tears, and some parts actually annoy me. I know, probably an unpopular opinion. I have always loved R2D2 and those fluffy little guys in the forest though. You can find something good in anything!
Join Hands Day – This is another one I had never heard of until 2013, but what a wonderful celebration! All this week service organizations across the county will celebrate this event that brings people from all walks of life together to make a difference in their communities. It is the brainchild of a group called the American Fraternal Alliance, which represents fraternal orders like the Modern Woodmen of America. In some communities free meals are organized for a local mission, where volunteers prepare and serve a meal. In others, people get together and go help shut-ins with work in their yards, on their roofs, cleaning homes, etc. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring people of different ages together, to work side-by-side, interact and learn from each other. It leaves a lasting mark on all the participants. What a rewarding and wonderful day!
Kentucky Derby Day – This is a huge one! I’ll try to make it brief . . . mostly because I really want breakfast. Truthfully this is very interesting, but the big ones usually are. The Kentucky Derby is a “Grade I stakes race” for 3-year old Thoroughbred horses that is held each year in Louisville, KY on the first Saturday in May. There is a two-week long Kentucky Derby Festival leading up to the actual race day. The race itself is 1-1/4-mile-long and is held at Churchill Downs – a race track best known for hosting the Derby each year. The horses have weight limits on how much they carry in the race, which means that the jockeys must be very light weight – which accounts for why every jockey is very small. Colts or geldings carry 126 pounds and fillies carry 121 pounds. See? VERY light! That leads to a whole new post about possible eating disorders for jockeys – which I have heard is a problem. Anyway, the Kentucky Derby is known in the United States as the “Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” or “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports”, which is about how long the race lasts. It is also called “The Run for the Roses” because of the blanket of roses that is draped over the winner of the race. The Derby is the first of three races known as the US Triple Crown. The 2nd race is called the Preakness Stakes, and the 3rd is called the Belmont Stakes. A horse must win all three races to win the Triple Crown. I thought that it was interesting to read that there have only been 11 Triple Crown winners since the very first Kentucky Derby was run in 1875, and of course I have to brag about a local horse winning one of them – Seattle Slew in 1977. I remember the big local to-do that went on because of the win. All of these horses are magnificent though – they’d have to be to run so fast in such a short amount of time. One thing that has developed as a bit of a side note on the Derby – is all the fancy hats that women wear to it! I have to laugh at some of the pictures of them I’ve seen. What is THAT all about? Well, in England hats were a big fashion deal seen at the Ascot horse racing track. The tradition jumped over the “pond” and started up here at the Kentucky Derby. As the fashion of wearing hats in daily life faded it became a big deal to wear an elaborate hat to the race each year. The tradition stuck and high fashion is something you’ll see at the track. If you want a bit of excitement today, take a look at the Kentucky Derby – it’s only 2 minutes of your time! If you want to make it a big deal in your home you could host a Kentucky Derby Party, and ask all the women to wear fancy hats, serve Mint Juleps (I tried making one once – a bartender I am NOT), and watch the races together. Fun!
Martin Z Mollusk Day – I laughed so hard when I was reading about this! This is the seas version of Groundhog Day! Oh my gosh, this is funny! Martin Z. Mollusk goes out for a creep at the beach each year. If he sees his shadow summer will be a week early. Bands show up, and lots of people, food booths, etc. JUST to see if this hermit crab sees his shadow today. (I just saw some conflicting information on several different sites – some say this celebration is today – which would make sense so families could come out and have fun together on a weekend, and some say it’s on the 1st Thursday of May)
National Scrapbooking Day – I’m not a scrap booker. It’s not that I have any negative feelings about scrapbooking, I don’t! I am just not creative in that way. I’ve been to scrapbooking parties and even took a class . . . I’m really a bummer when it comes to creating something wonderful out of all the bits of paper and stickers that some people take and make the ultimate masterpiece. Mine looks like a rejected pre-school project, so as is my typical response to something like this, I throw in the towel and leave it to the experts. My pictures never seem to make it to albums anyway – they are either tossed into a box to be gone through like little hidden treasures once in a while, or on flash drives scattered around the house. It’s a different type of treasure hunt! I do admire people who collect all the necessary papers and do-dads and actually sit down to make something wonderful for posterity. My Mom is one such person. Her craft room is amazing, truly it is! I wish I could show you! She has more cool scissors, pens, papers and stickers than anyone I’ve ever seen. And they are all organized! Each type of paper has its own space – whether it has food, sports, animals, etc, it has a spot. She can find anything she’s looking for at any time without any issues. I really wish I had inherited her sense of organization from her. I didn’t. I throw stuff in a drawer or box and dig for what I want when something comes up that I require it. Sad, I know. Anyway, for all of you who do love to scrap book – go for it today. Create to your heart’s content! Have an impromptu party and invite your friends and relatives who love doing this and create together while munching on fun snacks and sipping at cool drinks. Now THAT I can get into! Have fun!
World Naked Gardening Day – This one always seems like a joke to me, but it isn’t! All over the world, especially in Europe, advocates of the bare-naked lifestyle will be stripping off their clothes and heading out into the garden to hoe the beds, plow the fields and trim the shrubs. The organizers of this celebration are quote as saying “All that’s involved is getting naked and making the world’s gardens- whatever their size, public or private – healthier and more attractive.” For all of our forward speaking, Americans have an international reputation for being prudes. Are we too shy to try naked gardening? Some places aren’t – there are cities around our country – I know for sure of Portland, OR and Seattle, WA who host naked bike rides (Ouch!), but most of us do have a bit of shyness in us, and don’t want to appear in public naked. Another question would be, is it legal? According to a police Sergeant in Portland there is a city code about indecent exposure which states: “It is unlawful for any person to expose his or her genitalia while in a public place or place visible from a public place, if the public place is open or available to persons of the opposite sex.” He adds that if someone calls about a naked neighbor pulling weeds in their own yard, the police probably wouldn’t get too worked up about it. Not that you couldn’t get arrested under City code, he adds. But, he admits, “…we don’t deal with it very much. Most indecent exposure arrests happen when people are urinating in public.” I personally don’t wish to see my neighbors – any of them – out working naked in their yards. There’s just something disturbing about the thought of someone weeding in their nothings! I’ll opt for regular gardening clothes, but for those of you with a HUGE sense of adventure and not a bit of shy in you – go for it. Just don’t send pictures please. I truly don’t wish to share in your celebration for this one.
Sunday – May 5
Cartoonists Day – I remember when I was little, I had to wait until my father was finished with the newspaper before I could look at it. At that time, nothing in it mattered except for the comics, and I remember them as being truly funny! I loved Family Circle, Dennis the Menace and a few others. Lately, the funny seems to be gotten lost somewhere so I don’t bother any more, but back then, it was something to really look forward to – especially in the Sunday paper. Today is Cartoonists Day, which is in celebration of the very first color comic strip, published on May 5th in 1895. It was called The Yellow Kid. Gradually the comics became a staple in every newspaper in the country and that’s why we celebrate this today! Cartoonists do far more than the papers though, they do animation, greeting cards, kids’ books, illustration – even toy and game design are heavily saturated with the work of talented cartoonists. As someone who can barely make a recognizable stick figure, this is pretty impressive.
Childhood Stroke Awareness Day – A common initial thought when someone mentions childhood stokes is that they had no idea that babies and children have stokes! That sort of initial reaction is exactly WHY this type of an awareness campaign is necessary. The stories are so heart breaking that I had a difficult time even considering writing about them. I have linked this site for your information, should you wish to read for yourselves. I didn’t think I could do the topic justice. It’s just too serious an issue to doing half way.
Cinco de Mayo – When you think of, and celebrate, Cinco de Mayo, do you have any clue what it is you are actually celebrating? It’s an awesome day in Mexico’s history, but it would be nice if everyone who celebrates it would at least have an idea of WHY they are! It’s not just food, margaritas and more food. On May 5, 1862, the Mexican army defeated the French army at the Battle of Puebla. This single military battle dignified the defeat of a European colonial power and was a great victory for the Mexican people. This single battle is the root of Cinco de Mayo. Many believe that this is the celebration of Mexican Independence, but it isn’t. That comes on September 16th. Cinco de Mayo has come to be more than just one battle in the history of Mexico, it has come to signify Hispanic and Mexican pride and a time to celebrate their rich culture. It is a time of song, dance, partying and in general a time to be proud of their history. As for why we celebrate it here in the U.S.? Well, we do have a large Hispanic population, but it seems it is a good reason to enjoy good food, great beverages and friends or family.
Lemonade Day – This is awesome! This day was created by Prepared 4 Life, a Texas 501C3 organization, as fun way to teach kids how to start, own and operate their own business through starting a lemonade stand. There are two separate components of Lemonade Day. There is a month-long learning experience through which a child/youth and a caring adult do a step-by-step process of how to start a business. This process has been proven to have a profound impact on a child’s understanding of how to be an entrepreneur in any industry. The second part is the actual starting up of the business, which happens on Lemonade Day, held each year on the first Sunday in May. Thousands of children open their lemonade stands for business with support from their communities. In the years since this the start of Lemonade Day, the program has grown from 2,700 kids participating, to 54,000 participating in Houston alone. In 2011, over 65,000 kids in 30 other U.S. cities took part in the Lemonade Day experience. The main objective of Lemonade Day is to teach youth to take ownership of their lives and become productive members of society – the people who will be the business leaders, social advocates, volunteers and forward-thinking citizens of tomorrow – and God knows we NEED those in this “Give Me Something Free” mentality of today! Each child that registers for Lemonade Day gets a backpack with an Entrepreneur Workbook and Caring Adult Guide that teaches the 14 lessons of Lemonade Day, which includes how to set goals, develop a business plan, secure an investor, create a product, make a profit and give back to the community. These aspiring business owners and their mentor are guided step by step with the keys for success. They learn that if you set a goal, make a plan and work that plan, that you CAN achieve your dreams! These lessons bear fruit on the day that all the youth across the country open for business, with the best part being that after they cover their expenses and pay back their investor, they are encouraged to open a savings account and “spend a little, save a little and share a little” by donating a portion of their profits to the local charity of their choice. “It is important that we teach future generations the importance of responsible business practices and instill the entrepreneurial spirit at a young age – an age that allows them to have hope and vision to excel in the future,” says founder, Michael Holthouse, “Our goal is to reach kids as a critical stage in their lives – that time when they are at a crossroads between a very good or bad path.” This is a FANTASTIC program and quite honestly, I think I will be encouraging my Grandchildren to be participating when they get old enough to understand what it all means!
Motorcycle Mass & Blessing of The Bikes Day – When I saw this one for the first time, I did chuckle. Seriously, Motorcycle Mass and Blessing of the Bikes? It struck me as funny! However, my husband has a motorcycle, and my son has a couple, and they do ride them back and forth to work when the weather is decent. Knowing how people just do NOT pay attention to motorcyclists, I am changing my giggle to thinking that this isn’t a bad idea at all! I am not Catholic, and don’t have the first clue about patron saints and all of that, but I do think the blessing is an awesome idea. So, here’s what the deal is with this celebration . . . for some, getting out on the open road equates to something like a spiritual experience. The connection becomes deeper as the bikers gather for a special Mass to have their bikes blessed. Apparently motorcycle riders even have their own patron saint! S. Columbanus of Bobbio lived from 540 – 650 AD and was known for being rugged, handsome and irresistible to women. He even had quite an appreciation for beer. It is said that one of his miracles involved creating more bread and beer for a gathering. Put it all together and it makes it sound like he’s a good choice for Patron Saint for motorcycle riders. I found two great bike blessing prayers so even if you aren’t near an actual gathering for the blessing, maybe you and a couple of friends can do the blessing on your own. Enjoy – and be safe out there!
“May God in Heaven fulfill abundantly the prayers which are pronounced over you and your bikes on this occasion of the Blessing of the Bikes. May God bless your going out and coming in; May the Lord be with you at home and on the road. May He accompany you when you start on your many journeys: May He fill your lives abundantly with many blessings; May He keep all your rides safe. May His mercy, grace and love shine upon your every path. In Christ Name, Amen”
“May God bless you and keep you safe on this machine. May you meet and encounter the risen Lord in your travels, in the freedom of the open road, the fellowship of other bikers and in each person you meet. May the Lord be with you at home and on the road. May he accompany you when you start on your many journeys; May he fill your life abundantly with his many blessings; May he keep all your riding safe. May his mercy, grace and love shine upon your every road. Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”
Go with God and may your journeys be blessed.
National Infertility Survival Day – Ask a woman who is affected by infertility what the hardest holiday of the year is for her, and chances are she’ll tell you Mother’s Day. It’s not that infertile women hate mothers, or hate honoring them, but it is a very painful reminder that they may never be able to celebrate it herself. Everywhere you look on or around Mother’s Day are the reminders – the loving tribute cards, the beautiful spring bouquets, the Facebook tributes about how mothers are the most amazing people in the world. So where does that leave infertile women? Which is where this celebration comes in. National Infertility Survival Day is celebrated the Sunday before Mother’s Day and is a chance for women affected by infertility to be remembered and paid tribute to as well. It is a chance for personal reflection, pampering, relaxation and for raising awareness. It’s a chance for friends, family and partners of women “surviving” infertility to show how much they are loved and appreciated for who they are – mothers or not.
Revenge of the Fifth
Totally Chipotle Day – Wooooweeee! Hot one comin’ through! May 5th is Totally Chipotle Day – conveniently coinciding with Cinco de Mayo, to honor the uniquely Mexican heritage of the chipotle pepper. Chipotles are a very popular kind of smoke-dried jalapeno chili that are found frequently in Mexican and Mexican-American cuisine. Today we pay tribute to this flavorful chili and cook chipotle-inclusive meals in its honor. The unique smoking process lessens the burn you may have had with other jalapenos, so maybe you won’t need to drown the flavor in water. If spicy sauces are something you appreciate, please include them in your meals today – after all, what better day than Cinco de Mayo, right?
Food Celebrations of the Day –
May 3
National Raspberry Tart Day – Well, doesn’t this sound delicious? I cannot begin to tell you how hungry I suddenly am for a raspberry tart! Traditionalists may demand that tarts only have a shortbread crust. But we won’t tell if you want to make yours with graham crackers or chocolate cookies! Here’s a recipe for a Frozen Raspberry Tart from All Day I Dream About Food that sounds DELICIOUS – low carb and refreshing. I won’t have time to make it today since we are camping, but maybe soon!
May 4
National Orange Juice Day – The idea of drinking OJ in the morning stems from the 1920s when California and Florida fruit growers started touting the health benefits of vitamin C, a newly discovered vitamin, in their promotional campaigns. I admit I usually buy my orange juice in jugs from the refrigerator section at the store. The brand Simply Orange is delicious and often on sale. However, when we went on our Alaska cruise a few years ago I was absolutely LOVING the fresh squeezed orange juice every morning at breakfast. Absolutely DELICIOUS!
National Candied Orange Peel Day – is dedicated to…wait for it…. candied orange peels! I know that as a chef or a baker candied orange peels may be very important to you, but for the rest of the population it may mean absolutely nothing. So, how about a little info about what IS candied orange peel? And is it edible? Yes, it’s edible. You have likely enjoyed candied orange peels in seasonal baked goods without even being aware of it all of your life. Candied orange peels are a boiled, sliced, sugar added treat. They can be eaten by themselves, but are most often used in holiday cookies, snacks and fruitcake. I do a LOT of baking, but I can honestly say I’ve never had a reason to use these. I am curious enough to find a recipe that requires them this upcoming Christmas season and give them a try! My biggest curiosity is WHY someone loved them so much that they put a celebration dedicated to them in May, rather than closer to the time when they would most often be used. Hmmmmmm . . .
May 5
National Hoagie Day – The Hoagie sandwich goes by different names, Hoagie, Sub and Hero. This big sandwich is a regular part of many diets in America. They are eaten for lunch, dinner and even as a late-night snack! It’s a perfect on-the-go meal for people who are running from one place to another. The popularity of the Hoagie sub is partly due to its versatility. It can be hot or cold, made with lunch meat, or meatballs. It can have cheese, or not, and be loaded with veggie . . . or not. Depending on the person making or eating it. What’s not to like about that?
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Celebration list sources:
www.verseoftheday.com www.brownielocks.com www.holidayinsights.com www.thenibble.com www.foodimentary.com