I’m late to the weekend celebration party again, but it’s hard to be upset about it. I’ve needed a little time to not hurry up and do anything I don’t feel like doing. I don’t know if anyone realizes it or not, but as much as I love doing these celebration posts, they take a LOT of time, so when my computer is acting up – like it has been lately – it’s hard to muster up the patience to deal with it. I just shut it down on Friday night and didn’t bother getting back to it until Sunday. And that’s OK, right? I have laundry going, I’m taking it easy, and resting. I’m feeling that foggy, weariness that goes along with hypothyroid issues, and pushing myself won’t help anything. There are definitely things I need to be doing, but at this point, I don’t feel like rushing to do them. They’ll get done . . . at some point.
I have to say, and this may seem silly to many of you, but I am pretty excited right now. On Friday I posted a recipe for low carb banana cream pie by blogger and author, Kim from www.lowcarbmaven.com. SHE MADE A COMMENT ON MY POST! I have no idea how she knew I’d posted – she must have some sort of a tracker, but she commented! I feel a little like a teenager who gets to meet their favorite singer or actor. Seriously, it’s sort of silly at my age, but I can’t help it! How much fun is THAT? Well, maybe not to you, but definitely to me!
Verse of the Day
March 3, 2018
“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
No matter how hard we try to perceive the awesomeness of God, he is still God and we are not. We must forever remember that the original, and still primary, sin was to try to become like God in terms of knowledge and understanding. We are to know God, but we can never fully know everything about him. We are to take on his character, but we cannot approach his majesty, righteousness, or holiness on our own. This is both exciting and frustrating. But, the promise remains that one day we will be like him and see him as he is (1 John 3:1-3) and know fully even as we are fully known (1 Corinthians 13:11-12).
March 4, 2018
Have not I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
Never alone! What a promise. God will go with him, and us, through all the seasons of life, through all our ups and downs, through temptations and triumphs, even through death (cf. Psalm 139). So we can take courage and feel his strength. We are not alone!
March 5, 2018
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
We are to begin each day with God. Every breath we take should be a powerful reminder that our Father has granted us another day of life to serve him. Each heartbeat is God’s drumbeat of love, reminding us that we are blessed with another minute to offer him our best. This blessing is so easily forgotten. We best remember these truths when we teach them and show them and live them with and before our children. But, let’s not leave their learning these truths to our example alone. Let’s find teachable moments to explain our faith, to praise our Heavenly Father, and to teach God’s truth.
Food for Thought
No matter what else is going on in our lives, under God, family is what is most important in this world. Whether it’s biological family, or adopted, by gathering the ones we love around us whenever possible, we do honor to the gift that God gave us when He put these people into our lives. Last night, as I sat at the table with my husband, parents, daughter and her family, watching Baby R grin and be his usual adorable, happy self, I felt nearly complete and whole. The only thing missing was my son’s family, and my world would have been complete. I went to sleep happy and content, the hugs and love from my family forefront in my heart and mind. Hold them close and appreciate them. I can’t say enough how important this is in our lives.
March 3 –
Iditarod – This is actually MORE than a week. The Iditarod starts today and will last between 9 and 12 days. There really isn’t any way to predict when the last sled will cross the finish line. So, what IS the Iditarod you ask? Well, allow me to tell you! It’s actually quite fascinating!
In 1925 the small city of Nome, Alaska and the surrounding communities was suffering a near epidemic of diphtheria. A team of 20 mushers and about 150 sled dogs took diphtheria antitoxin the 674 miles by dog sled across the U.S. territory of Alaska in 5 and a half days, saving the city. This became known as the 1925 Serum Run to Nome, or the Great Race of Mercy. Both the mushers and their dogs were heroes and received headline coverage in newspapers across the country, and talked about on the newly popular medium of radio! The lead sled dog, Balto, became the most famous canine celebrity of the era after Rin Tin Tin and his statue is a popular attraction in New York City’s Central Park. The publicity also helped spur an inoculation campaign in the U.S. that dramatically reduced the thread of the disease. The sled dog was the primary means of transportation and communication in subarctic communities around the world, and the race became the most famous event in the history of mushing. The first aircraft in the 1930s, then the snowmobile in the 1960s nearly drove the dog sled into extinction, but the resurgence of recreational mushing in Alaska since the 1970s is a direct result of the tremendous popularity of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race, which honors the history of dog mushing with many traditions that commemorate the serum run.
Good luck to all those who are racing. May God protect them and their dogs along the way, and may everyone reach the finish line safely and in good health.
I Want You to be Happy Day – What an unselfish thought to start out this beautiful Sunday morning. This is something we wish upon the people we care about and love. To celebrate today, do something to make someone happy, something that will put a smile on someones face. There are endless ways to do this. Sending someone an E-Card that can make a loved one smile, a phone call to a relative or friend you haven’t talked to in a long time, making positive comments or compliments to bolster someone up, or making a special meal. Be creative, but keep focus on the the thought that you want to make that person happy today!
National Anthem Day – The Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem of the United States of America. It was written by Francis Scott Key. Today we celebrate this song, and the rich history behind its creation. The song became our National Anthem on March 3, 1931.
Many people think that The Star-Spangled Banner was written during the Revolutionary War. It was actually written during the war of 1812 (1812-1814). In August of 1814, the British army detained Dr. William Beanes as a prisoner of war. He was a friend of Francis Scott Key. On September 13, 1814, Francis Scott Key and a U.S. negotiator boarded a British vessel where Beanes was being held. He negotiated his friends release. At that point Francis Scott Key was detained, along with the negotiator. They were held until after the attack on Fort McHenry, which guarded the harbor and the city of Baltimore. He watched the bombardment of the fort from the ship. This historic event inspired Francis Scott Key to write The Star-Spangled Banner the following day (September 14, 1814).
There has been some confusion throughout the years, as some people incorrectly assume that National Anthem Day is September 14, the day the song was written. National Anthem Day is every March 3rd, in celebration of the day that congress made The Star-Spangled Banner our national anthem.
Today fly your flag proudly, and perhaps listen to – and even sing – The Star-Spangled Banner.
National Frozen Food Day – How many of us have a freezer stocked with frozen goodies? From veggies and fruit, meat and sweet treats, everything we eat can be purchased frozen so we have it at our fingertips when we want it, without the worry of it going bad if its not used immediately after we buy it – of course that is provided there isn’t an extended power outage – but that’s another blog.
You may not know this but frozen food has a history dating back as far 1000 BC, when the Chinese used ice cellars to freeze foods for the winter months. In more recent times, the line of frozen foods was introduced in the United States in 1930 by Clarence Birdseye. Today, as more people use microwaves, frozen foods are relied on heavily for many meals. Frozen foods allow us to take advantage of foods that are packed at the peak of seasonal perfection because of several processes used in the processing plants. We can also do that at home – we can stock up on fresh seasonal foods while they are on sale, or harvest them from our own gardens, cook meals in bulk, then using a vacuum sealer, we can remove air and moisture that will spoil our foods with freezer burn, and keep them in our freezers 5 times longer than we wold otherwise. What a wonderful thing frozen food is! Saves us time and money, and gives us peace of mind that we always have something delicious to eat at our fingertips. Definitely something to celebrate!
Sock Monkey Day – Sock Monkeys have been popular for years, with the popularity waning for awhile, but in recent years making a comeback. Have you ever stopped and wondered where the cute little Sock Monkey originated? Well, it goes back to when the stuffed animal craze swept across Europe and the United States during the Great Depression. Money was scarce and people could not afford something as frivolous as a stuffed animal, so the American Mom, being ever creative and resourceful, started making stuffed monkey dolls made out of socks, filling them with whatever happened to be on hand – paper, rice, even old pantyhose. In 1932, the Nelson Knitting Company in Rockford, IL invented a work sock with a trademarked red heel. They became the most popular work sock of their time, and the basis for one of the most popular and long lasting toys. When they are made into a doll, the red sock heel makes a distinctive red mouth. The Nelson Knitting Company became aware that their socks were being used to make what was becoming a very popular toy. They made the decision to patent the pattern for the Sock Monkey doll and use it in their advertising and promotions. They even put a pattern in with every pair of their socks that they sold! The sock monkey has taken on new forms and faces, but the original is still very popular and well loved. There is even an annual Sock Monkey Festival held in Rockford, IL where visitors can enjoy a museum honoring this wonderful little guy that has brought so many smiles to so many faces for over 100 years. The Sock Monkey is as all American as apple pie! If you don’t have one of your own, think about either getting one, or making one today! My daughter LOVES sock monkeys and for birthdays and Christmas I try to at least find one thing with sock monkey’s on it to give to her for her collection.
Soup it Forward Day – This is wonderful! I love it and cannot believe I’ve never heard of it before. Soup nourishes the body and the soul – how many times have we had a beautiful cup of flavorful chicken noodle soup when we aren’t feeling well? Or a steaming bowl of beef stew on a cold day? Seriously, every bite just makes us feel comfort and love, right? So what could be better than bringing this into someone else’s life who is feeling down and out, needs encouragement or a hot meal? Maybe this is what Soup Kitchen’s are all about? A HUGE pot of soup can warm a lot of cold, hungry people up, and make them feel the love that goes into every part of it. A great way to celebrate this one would be to make a big pot of your favorite soup and share it with someone in need. It doesn’t get more beautiful than that, right?
What if Cats and Dogs Had Opposable Thumbs Day – what would happen if . . . One thing that sets humans apart from other species on the planet is that we have opposable thumbs. Our thumbs allow us to do many things other creatures can’t do, so imagine what it would be like if your dog or cat had thumbs! Can you get a clear picture in your head of your pet with thumbs? Can you see your pet doing things with their new thumbs? If so, then you are one with the spirit of the celebration! Now, if you happen to have a pet monkey, you already know what it would be like, but I’m running through my mind what it would be like if my dog Moose could do whatever he wanted because he had thumbs. The food in the refrigerator wouldn’t be safe! If my cat Itty Bitty had thumbs I’m fairly certain my house would look like a herd of raccoons had run through it every single day! Oh my, the mayhem. As nice as it would be if Moose could open the back door and let himself out (no, we don’t have a dog door because the cats aren’t allowed outside and we truly DON’T want the local raccoons to come in), it would be a much bigger problem in the long run, so I’ll just keep dragging myself out of bed to let him out in the night if he needs to go. It sort of gives us a moment to appreciate the furbabies being dependent on us though and a relief from the chaos that would ensue if they did indeed have thumbs. Now, as to the REASON someone felt it was a good idea to celebrate this flight of fanciful imaginings? I have absolutely NO idea.
March 4 –
Academy Awards (Oscars) – Don’t care. Sorry, if you get excited about this, that’s awesome for you! However, I don’t want to see overpaid people, dressed up in clothing that cost more than my car, spewing hate and discontent about our President and country. I’ll spend my time watching something else – anything else. Even paint drying would be a better viewing experience.
Holy Experiment Day – So many people pay lip service to believing in God, and sadly enough more and more people are either denying that God exists, or say they aren’t sure, and if this makes me sad, it must be breaking the heart of God. Look at how much He does for us each day! So this holiday is a day to try something religious. It’s a chance to go out on a limb and try something you may not have done for awhile, or maybe ever. This is a day to experiment and talk to God. It’s OK to talk to Him, you know, and He will listen. You can keep it as simple as thanking Him for the new day, for something you appreciate in your life (after all EVERYTHING we have is because of Him – that won’t change just because you may not believe it), ask Him for something important to you – maybe that someone ill feels better, maybe for a positive change in your job, or that you can have peace in a troubled world. Say grace and see if others join you – that’s always a good one to do. God may grant you all, or none of your desired results. One very important thing to remember is that God is not a vending machine – the prayers go in and what you want comes out. He may decide that what you have asked for is not in His plan, or won’t be for your good. You may not understand the outcome, but it will all work out in the end because He is in control. Holy experiments are good as long as you remember that our very human limitations in no way limit God. The best result from this celebration? That at the end of the day you are closer to God and feel His presence in a way that perhaps you didn’t before.
Hug a G.I. Day – This celebration is one that is very close to my heart, as are several this month. The men and women who serve in our armed forces are incredibly special. They put their lives on the line for us, they love our country, they put their lives on hold to serve this nation and have vowed to defend her, even if means their own injury or death. All they want in return is to be appreciated for their service – not disrespected. Disrespect is the least of what some of our troops suffer. It means more to them to be thanked for their service than you will ever know – so when you see one of our armed forces in town, or wherever you are – thank them! If they will allow it, give them a hug! (ask first, if they suffer from PTSD – a hug may make them uncomfortable). Let them know that their service and their sacrifice has not gone unnoticed and is appreciated each and every day. God bless our armed forces!
March Fourth – Do Something Day – The fourth day in March is the only day of the year and is expressed as an imperative sentence given as a command. I never thought of it that way! March Forth as a celebration was created by Deborah Shouse, who is a noted writer, speaker and creativity coach. This unofficial holiday invites people to March Forth into their lives, try new things and to celebrate their accomplishments. March Forth fine readers, and let me know what new things you find to try today!
Namesake Day – This day encourages us to explore the roots our our names, to find out if we were named after someone or something in particular, and to research and connect with people who share the same name. I can tell you who I was named for – my name is a combination of my parents names. My mother’s name is Karen – they changed the “e” to “i” and added an “a” to come up with Karina and my middle name is Dawn. Since my father’s name is Don . . . well that connection is pretty obvious. Once in awhile I run into someone with a similar name – often a different spelling though. A quick Bing search found that my first name, Karina, in Greek means “Pure”, In Swedish means “Dear Beloved One” and my middle name Dawn means exactly what we’d think it would “sunrise or daybreak”. Perhaps do a search for your name today – it’s pretty interesting finding out what your name means!
National Grammar Day – Today we honor our language and its rules, which help us to communicate clearly with each other. If you are anything like me, and I know many of you are, improper grammar drives you nutty. I spend quite a bit of time reading posts and emails, newspaper articles and ads that just torture our written language. It’s horrible! I have to laugh a bit . . . when we were looking for a puppy on Craigslist three years ago it took some to look because, quite honestly, there were a LOT of scam artists, puppy mills, and the like on Craigslist. You CAN find wonderful things on there, including bargains like our new dog Moose. While I was searching though, I was dying over some of the ridiculous spelling and grammar in the listing! Seriously, this is a direct quote regarding pure bred pit bull puppies . . . ready for this? “per bread pit bulls puppies”. Admittedly, this is more spelling than grammar, but I laughed about that for a couple of days. “Per Bread”? Oh my! There are so many times I have been tempted to print out someone’s email, correct it with red pen and return it to them! Focus on your grammar, today and every day. Pay attention to everything you read and see how many mistakes you find . . . then try not to make them yourself.
March 5 –
Multiple Personalities Day – This isn’t a condition to make fun of – since it is a very serious psychological disorder, however, I’m sure we have ALL known someone who you can swear has at least two distinct personalities, if not more. In many ways many of us do . . . we have one personality at home, one at work, one with friends, another in church . . . the list goes on and on. It would be wonderful if we could all be exactly who we are no matter who we are around, but reality is we all put on a show for anyone outside of our homes, at least from time to time. Today is an opportunity to get in touch with ourselves. Just in case you really do run into people celebrating this day – be prepared to be around people talking to themselves, or maybe talking to someone only they can see. You might even find yourself talking to yourself! If you wish someone “Happy Multiple Personality Day” you may find yourself saying it to them several times, once for every personality!
Saint Piran’s Day – Saint Piran is the patron saint of Cornwall, and is said to have landed at the sandy shores of Cornwall at Perranporth. Legend says that Piran, who was originally from Ireland, was cast out to sea, tied to a millstone, on the orders of the Irish King, who was suspicious of Piran’s miraculous powers. Piran survived the stormy seas and arrived at Perranporth, where he built an oratory to promote Christianity – his first disciples were said to be a badger, a fox and a bear. This oratory is now preserved in the sand dunes at Perran Sands. It is interesting that Piran is famous for accidentally discovering tin. There was a black stone on his fireplace that got so hot that a white liquid leaked out, it was the first tin smelting! It was this discovery that earned Piran the title “Patron Saint of Tinners”, with tin mining being the backbone of the Cornish industry. According to the legend, Saint Piran was fond of a drink or two, and that in spite of them, he lived to the age of 206. Celebrations of Saint Pirin’s Day are growing in popularity, with the annual Saint Piran Play on Perran Sands being a highlight, with hundreds of people making a pilgrimage to this site and other landmarks. Saint Piran’s Day started out as one of many tinner’s holidays observed by the tin miners of Cornwall. I can’t find much in the way of specific traditions connected to this day, except for the consumption of large amounts of alcohol and food are done during what is called “Perrantide”, which is the week leading up to March 5th. The modern day observance of Saint Piran’s Day as a national symbol of the people of Cornwall started in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when Celtic revivalists wanted to provide the people of Cornwall with a national day that is similar to those observed in other countries. Since the 1950s the celebration has become increasingly observed and since the start of the 21st century almost every Cornish community holds some sort of celebration to mark the event. Some of the celebrations that take place in the Cornish towns and cities are: parades, speeches, children’s performance, rugby matches, singing and dancing . . . and of course WAY too much drinking and eating.
This Day in History –
March 3, 1931 – The Star Spangled Banner becomes the National Anthem.
March 4, 1789 – The Constitution of the United States of America goes into effect.
March 4, 1930 – Mrs. Charles Fahning of Buffalo N.Y. is recognized as the first woman to bowl a perfect 300 game.
March 5, 1770 – The Boston Massacre occurred.
Food Celebration of the Day –
March 3 –
Cold Cuts Day – We have all probably had cold cuts of one sort or another in our fridge to put onto our sandwiches. They make things simple and tasty. What are they though? Well, cold cuts are sliced, precooked or cured meats, often sausages or meat loaves. They are usually served on sandwiches or on platters with cheese and crackers. Most commonly we find them in packages at the grocery store, or in the deli case, ready to be sliced to order. Most pre-sliced cold cuts are higher in fat, nitrates and sodium than the ones that are sliced to order. I admit, we do love the pepperoni from the deli case to us on our homemade pizza on Fridays. Since we often have pepperoni pizza on Fridays, and I wanted to have this celebration ready for the post, I went a step further and made a Low-Carb Cold Cut Pizza! Yum! It was amazing! I used the Magic Mozzarella Dough from Carolyn Ketchum’s book Everyday Ketogenic Kitchen with Tuscan Herbs and Garlic added to the dough, and topped it with cold cuts I found at Trader Joe’s (Calabrese Salame, Del Duca Prosciutto, Capacollo and Pepperoni), mozzarella cheese, tamed jalapeno slices, black olives and marinated artichoke hearts! My taste bud were happy and cold cuts were celebrated for dinner!
National Mulled Wine Day – Mulled spirits (that is, wines and liquors that are heated and spiced) have long been a go-to balm against winter colds. Whether it heals or not, a cupful can’t hurt. These sound good, but I admit, I did “deconstructed mulled wine” – meaning I just poured wine into a glass from the bottle and drank it. *hehe*
March 4 –
Pound Cake Day – Pound cake has come a long way since its original formula: a pound each of butter, sugar, flour and eggs. Now, clever cooks add their own creative mix-ins. I found a great looking recipe on www.alldayidreamaboutfood.com by Carolyn Ketchum for Low Carb Almond Crusted Butter Cake that I may try if I get enough time today. Not sure I will, but it’s worth a shot, right? If not, then later on this week.
- Buttermilk Pound Cake
- Green Tea Pound Cake
- Blueberry Pound Cake
- Sour Cream Pound Cake
- Amanda’s Cheese Pound Cake
- Pound Cake Cookies
March 5 –
Absinthe – I am going to start this one out with a bit of an EWWW. I am NOT a fan of anything that tastes of licorice, so to me, Absinthe isn’t something that would appeal to me . . . at all. There are a lot of people who DO like it though, so I’ll explain what it is (I had to look it up because honestly, I’d heard the name but didn’t really know what it was). Absinthe is an alcoholic beverage that is high in alcohol content, with a chemical compound called thujone, which is believed to cause psychedelic effects from consuming the beverage. It was a very popular drink up until the 20th century, at which point government agencies took note of the drink’s popularity and promptly banned it in the United States in 1912, then in France in 1915. The government was worried that drinking absinthe would create a generation of reckless drunks, and they may have been right, except for one small thing – there’s not enough thujone in most absinthes to cause its rumored mind-altering properties. It is likely that the people who appeared to be having an alternative experience were just really drunk! Absinthe is an “overproof” alcohol, and having too much is likely to freak people out a bit. It doesn’t much matter what the alcohol is, so it doesn’t have to be Absinthe to have that affect. So, what IS Absinthe? It is a neutral spirit with a variety of botanicals, including fennel, green anise and wormwood. Wormwood? Seriously? I wouldn’t think of that as something I’d like to ingest! Anyway, it is these botanicals that give the drink its distinctive licorice taste. Absinthe isn’t banned in the U.S. any more – it was lifted in 2007, and it isn’t as regulated as something that was previously banned as you would think! Now, keep in mind, there is no legal definition of absinthe, so that bottle you buy from your local liquor store might not be absinthe at all! Do your homework before buying this particular drink. There are brands that are well respected and known for a high quality product. Once you’ve made your purchase, it’s good to know that there are two ways you can drink it. Hardly anyone does a straight shot of absinthe – because it is so strong, it burns a LOT. Traditionally, an absinthe spoon with a sugar cube is placed over a glass of absinthe. Cold water is slowly poured over the sugar cube until it dissolves. The absinthe becomes cloudy and is ready to drink. The other method is a bit different. The sugar cube is soaked in absinthe, set on fire and dropped into the shot glass. Cold water is poured over the slotted spoon to douse the flames. This results in a stronger drink that is more intense than the original version. This may not be a drink that everyone would enjoy, but when done right, IF you like anise, it will give a clean, crisp, anise-flavored taste.
Cheese Doodles – There may not be many recipes that call for a product called “cheez” but if you are hungry for a junk food filled cheesy crunch, this is the place to be right now! Today is the annual celebration for the cheddar cheese coated, puffed or crunchy, fried or baked snack food. There is some debate over who the actual inventor of the Cheese Doodle was. One source said that they were invented in the 1940s by a man named Morrie Yohai who had taken over his family snack food company called Old London Foods. Other sources say they were invented in the 1930s. The debate continues because in the 1930s there were two competing accounts, one from Wisconsin and one from New Orleans. No matter how they came to be here, they are here, they are crunchy and quite honestly, as hard as it is for me to admit, they are addictively delicious. Everyone knows when we’ve gotten into them . . . the orange fingers give it away. OK, I admit it, I didn’t think when I did a search for low-carb cheese doodles that I would find a recipe, but I did! hahaha check this out! Low Carb Cheetos by www.YourLighterSide.com! I won’t have time to try them out today, but they seriously look like fun.
Well, I finally got this done, after jumping up and down to do laundry and run around the house doing the odd thing here and there! It’s time to test my last recipe for the upcoming book for Carolyn Ketchum, make the banana cream pies by Low Carb Maven (mini’s of course), and get a few things together for the work week! God bless you and I’ll see you on Tuesday (since Monday is included here today!)