I have to give them credit, even without liking the whole process, but spiders are nothing, if not persistent. They see a place they want to spin a home and they just do it No matter how many times it gets ripped down, I can just imagine their little spider sigh – or if they are anything like humans, a major temper tantrum – and they start over. I opened my door to take Moose out this morning and there was a spider in the medium size range lounging on my door frame, and in front of the doorway, shining in the morning sun and zigzagged back and forth from ceiling to about waist height, was the early stages of a full doorway sized web. Um. No. Not happening. I’m sure he is out there yelling and screaming over having to start over, but he should count himself lucky that I was without anything to squish him, drown him, poison him or trap him. Being barefoot and bleary eyed from sleep, I was not capable of carrying out the murderous thoughts that were in my head at the moment. His time is coming – oh yes, it truly is. Build away spider, you won’t be on this earth long enough to catch anything in it – especially me.
Today is the last day we have to get everything ready for family to arrive tomorrow! My son’s birthday is Wednesday, but since he and my lovely daughter-in-law will be on a vacation somewhere too scorchingly hot for anyone or anything other than them, scorpions, snakes and enormous spiders (I just don’t GET it!), we will have a little birthday celebration for him when they stop to drop off Miss B. From here they take Big Brother E to his other grandparents for the week, and they fly off to their sizzling skillet style vacation while I wonder at their sanity. I always want to go on vacation to somewhere that makes me comfortable, not somewhere that sizzles the skin off my body just from the heat in the air. Blech. To each their own though. Doesn’t matter because we have a week with Miss B! Woohoo!
Verse of the Day
August 18, 2018
To me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
The truth is often as simple as it is sweet — if Jesus is our life, then our lives have no end. Death does not strip life from us, but ushers us into life in Jesus’ very presence!
August 19, 2018
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
This statement is both a reminder of God’s glorious grace and also of our need to share that grace with others. Life is such a precious gift, it would be a shame for anyone we know and love to miss out. God gave up the life of his Son so that in finding him, we too could share in his life.
www.verseofthedaycom
Food for Thought
If you are person, like I am, who pays attention to what is going on in the news, the latest idiocy should concern every single one of us who takes Freedom of Speech seriously. President Trump rightfully calls out most of the mainstream media on their propensity for spouting fake news, which is anything that could POSSIBLY be said to undermine all of the good he is doing for the country. You can’t believe a word that they say – even the weather most of the time. Across the nation each and every news station is spewing the same vitriol day in and day out, as if they are scripted (which I have no doubt they are) to say the same stories in the same way. That is not journalism. That is not news. It is story time with the story being created by those who hate our nation and wants to destroy it. The news stations have decided to all speak out against the President at the same time – um. Do they hear themselves? He is speaking out AGAINST Fake News. By protesting this they are admitting to BEING the fake news! In our house we watch the local news for weather, OAN for REAL news, and alternative news sites online for everything else. I’m sick to death of mainstream taking heads telling me what I should think, feel and do based on what their puppet masters dictate.
Saturday – August 18
Bad Poetry Day – is a day to create some really bad poetry, and it appears to be for no other reason than “just because”. The good thing about BAD poetry is that we can better appreciate GOOD poetry, right? The people who created this day – www.wellcat.com – intended it to gather a group of old high school friends and write some really bad poetry and send it to your high school English teacher. I can’t even remember WHO my high school English teachers were, and don’t see the point, but if this floats their boat . . . my job is to just share it with you!
International Geocaching Day – The first time I really heard anything about geocaching was a few years ago when I first start researching it for a post. I’d heard the word on movies or TV shows, but it never really was enough of an interest to me to find out what it was. When this celebration popped up and I looked into it, I have to admit that it sounded like fun! I wouldn’t mind trying it someday. Now for those of you who are hearing of this for the first time let me enlighten you as to this modern-day scavenger hunt, and what it is all about. For those of us who love maps – you know, the old-fashioned papers folded into impossible to re-fold packets that show all of the streets, rivers, streams and mountains in intricate and colorful detail – the transition to GPS may in some ways feel that maneuvering the world has been dumbed down. I will never give up on maps entirely, I love them too much, but I have to admit that having the GPS has been a good thing for me, considering how directionally challenged I am. No, seriously, I can get lost in no time flat. Now it’s not just for getting directions on a road trip, but you can use it for fun with the family! One such activity is geocaching, and it is popular worldwide. Geocaching is sort of like a scavenger or treasure hunt, using GPS systems. People who participate are actually playing an enhanced version of “hide and seek”, where some people hide “caches” or hidden containers with something inside, and others try to find them. The caches are sturdy containers that usually contain a small logbook, along with the date and time that they were placed there, and for the finder to leave their name to say when they found it. The cache is then returned to its hiding spot. Some are small and hard to find – like maybe a 35 mm film canister, while others are quite large. The larger ones often have toys or trinkets inside, traded out for new ones for the next person to find. The caches are usually logged on a variety of websites where geocachers can post the approximate GPS coordinates for the caches they leave or find coordinates of other people’s caches. Though the GPS coordinates are enough to get close to the location of a cache, they don’t show the exact location, and that’s where the seeking comes in. Exposing the hidden location of a cache is considered to be quite rude, because it ruins the fun of other seekers. The sport is so popular because of the challenge, so taking away that challenge just messes it up. Caches can be located in any part of the world, but places like parks are very popular. If something is going to be hidden in a high traffic area, then extra evasive hiding tactics must be used. Some popular locations for high traffic areas would be theme parks, stores or shopping malls, colleges, etc. And though the contents of a cache are generally cheap little trinkets, it’s the finding of the treasure, not the treasure itself that is the goal.
Mail Order Catalog Day – I love catalogs. I always have. I remember as a kid looking forward to the Sears and JC Penney’s catalogs. I’d look at every single page, even if it wasn’t anything I was interested in. By the time I was in high school I would make lists of everything I wanted and write down the price. I needed to be filthy rich to get everything I wanted. I never just liked a dress. I wanted that dress in every color. Same with shoes. When I was newly married and expecting my first child I’d sit with the catalog and dream of the furniture I’d love to someday have, and the nursery being set up the way I wanted it to be. And again, I would have had to be really wealthy to do it all. So, when did these magical books for wishful shoppers start being published? Well, on August 18, 1872, Aaron Montgomery Ward published the first mail-order catalog, which ushered in a booming business trend for consumers who were looking for convenience. The Sears catalog followed about 16 years later. Now it feels like, especially the closer we get to Christmas – so right about NOW, that marketers and merchandisers begin mailing out their catalogs and promotional fliers earlier each year, getting ready for all of the happy shoppers. I suppose with the economy being what it is, planning ahead is pretty important. We started an experiment this year at work. My boss’s Mom must be on every single list known to the marketing world, and the amount of mail she gets every year is amazing. So, on January 1st we got out a big box for her office and every catalog she gets, when she’s finished looking at it, goes into that box. I don’t know if we are going to weigh it, or count the catalogs after the year is over, but we are going to see just how much mail she’s gotten. It’s a LOT though!
International Homeless Animals Day – I love my pets. I take my responsibilities as a pet owner very seriously, for these furry little critters are part of our family. I make sure they get regular vet care, I cuddle and love them, take care of their needs and they repay me with unwavering love, devotion, loyalty and sweetness. So, celebrations like this really bum me out – that they are even necessary at all. You see, every single day animals are abandoned or placed into kennels, dependent on charities and the goodwill of other people for their very lives. These organizations are strained beyond their ability to cope, and they are desperate to raise awareness to the plight of homeless and abandoned animals. Homeless Animals Day aims to educate people about pet abandonment, feral animals and the benefits of spaying and neutering your pets. Many people think that it would be fun to have a dog, cat, bunny, etc. but when the reality of it hits – the daily feeding, cleaning up, vet care, needing a babysitter when they need to leave town, etc. – they decide it is too much trouble and just drop it off at a shelter. Or they decide to move for whatever reason, the pet is no longer convenient, and they just get rid of it. This animal is NOT garbage. It has feelings, emotions, fears, sadness, etc. When it comes to depend on, and love, its human, then is suddenly just dropped off in a scary place, or worse left to die on its own, it is so confused and scared! This pet will watch for its human for a very long time and it will always be sad. Dogs especially show these emotions – cats may feel them, but they hide it better. Don’t do it. If you get a pet, make sure it is part of your family. You wouldn’t just take your child to a shelter because moving into a smaller house would just make things too crowded. If you need to move, make arrangements to take your pet with you! If you can’t promise to love and nurture this loving creature for the duration of its lifetime, just don’t do it in the first place. Obviously, emergencies happen. People get sick, they die, etc. Make arrangements for such an occurrence, just like you would for a child. And for goodness sake – GET THEM FIXED! Stupid, irresponsible people are the reason there are so many homeless animals today.
Serendipity Day – What IS serendipity? It means a “happy accident” or “pleasant surprise”; a fortunate mistake, but very specifically, the accident of finding something good or useful while not specifically searching for it. This word was voted one of the 10 English words hardest to translate by a British translation company, but because of its sociological use, the word has been exported into many other languages. So how would you celebrate this one? Well . . . Dare to Dream, Expect the Best, Celebrate Life, and to live expecting miracles. Sounds good to me!
Sunday – August 19
Aviation Day – Today we celebrate National Aviation Day, and today was chosen because it is the birthday of aviator Orville Wright, who was born on August 19, 1871. The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, were forward thinking pioneer aviators in the United States. Orville was the first person to successfully fly an airplane. Now I know if that had been me, not knowing if it would actually work or not, I would have been extremely scared. Makes me wonder how bit the butterflies in HIS stomach were on that historic day of December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, NC. This amazing inaugural flight was to change the skies forever. I know that none of us today can even imagine life without being able to get from one side of the country to the other in just a few hours. We are able to do it because of the Wright Brothers!
God’s Preeminence Day – This is a new one . . . actually this is the 2nd time it’s been celebrated. The third Sunday of August has been set up as “God’s Preeminence Day” and is a specific day set aside from all other holidays, designed to pay tribute to God and Holy Spirit. I’m not sure how I feel about this one, since nowhere in the description that I read mentioned The Son. However, I will include the meaning of this day for any who wish to know about it. This is a day that is intended to make us contemplate how we approach and speak to God, paying tribute to Him and giving Him all glory. Since this is actually a federal holiday, I guess I couldn’t have expected them to get it right. They are at least recognizing Him as the Creator of all.
*** My own personal and instinctual response to this one is that it’s a pat on the head for people of any and all faiths and is intended to somehow be all inclusive, so nobody has their feelings hurt. I could go on a long diatribe about this, but I won’t. I’ll leave everyone to come up with their own conclusions on their own. Suffice it to say that I feel that not even mentioning the Son in this one, makes it null and void, for without the Trinity you have empty words and nothing of any spiritual value.
World Honey Bee Day – This one used to be known as Honey Bee Awareness Day and was put together by the beekeepers in the USA. They petitioned the USDA in 2009 for an official day to honor honey bees and beekeeping. A few years later, people across the world are holding a date of observation every year – and such an observation is much deserved and very important. This day isn’t so much to honor bees in general but to promote sustainable farming and preserving the honey bees that are so important in our lives! WE NEED BEES! They pollinate our gardens, which in turn gives us the food we need to survive. Click the link here for a very eye-opening article that was done in 2008 as to the damage done to our honey bee population by GMO crops (Genetically Modified Organisms) Celebrate this day, and the entire future of our local honey bees, by planting lavender, borage and marjoram in your gardens – they are pollinator lures! Bake some wonderful goodies with honey today and celebrate all the hard work of the bees with the fruits of their labors. Most important, be aware of what you are using on your gardens, that the pesticides are natural and not detrimental to bees. We need them for survival, so put your awareness on high alert so we can save as many as we can.
This Day in History –
August 18, 1938 – The 1,000 Islands bridge, connecting the US and Canada is dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
August 19, 1909 – Indianapolis Speedway holds its first auto race.
Food Celebrations of the Day –
August 18 –
National Ice Cream Pie Day – It’s hard to top the joy of a bowl of cold, creamy ice cream, but with a little imagination (and lots of delicious toppings), a pie makes it possible! One thing I used to do when the kids were younger and bringing home friends often – and I found myself running out of snacks – I’d make ahead ice cream pies and have them in the freezer. There was always something ready for kids. Due to my own personal weight loss issues and the ongoing effort to achieve better health, I stopped doing that, but it might be a good idea to be prepared and have a couple on hand for special occasions. If I have time I may have to try this recipe from All Day I Dream About Food! She actually has several of them that all look really good.
National Pinot Noir Day – I did not know this about Pinot Noir but is apparently is quite temperamental, subject to disease, rot and infestations, which makes it a very difficult wine to make. When it is done correctly though, it is said that there can be no better wine – it has amazing color, is rich and complex all at the same time. Pinot Noir grapes are grown in the cool regions of France, Napa and Sonoma Valleys in California and Oregon. I wouldn’t mind sampling some for all of those regions.
August 19 –
Hot and Spicy Food Day – Today is a day to indulge in some hot and spicy food. None of the celebration calendars list which particular types of hot and spicy food would be good, just so long as they are both hot AND spicy. Yeah, my taste buds are sissy, so I’ll have something slightly spicy and a teensy bit hot. Doesn’t THAT just take a bit of the scorch out of the intent of the celebration?
National Potato Day – I love potatoes. Not just a little. I love them a LOT. Now, starches and I don’t get along on a dietary level – as they cause my weight to increase after one tiny serving, but oh my goodness, they taste good. I don’t care HOW they are fixed, baked, boiled, fried, potato chipped or mashed. I’ll take them any way I can get them – which may be RARE, but each time I do have some, I enjoy every single bite. Did you know that Americans eat more potatoes than any other kind of vegetable? On average, each person downs a 1/3 of a pound per day!
National Soft Ice Cream Day – Soft serve ice cream, I love it. It brings back many happy childhood memories. My Grandpa K LOVED soft serve. Sometimes when we went to visit he would take us to Artic Circle (a drive-in burger place) to get soft serve and French fries. I remember sitting in the booth, neither of us talking, happily licking our ice cream cones with the fun curly bit on top and eating our salty fries. I’m pretty sure I remember happy, yummy sounds too. Soft serve ice cream is made by air being put into the cream mixture during the freezing process. Makes sense, since when I have my ice cream maker going, it is spinning around, and air is being circulated through the cream while it is spinning. When I stop it early enough in the process we get soft serve.
So much to do and so little time. I’d better get to it! Have a fantastic weekend! God bless you and I’ll see you on Monday.
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Celebration list sources:
www.verseoftheday.com www.brownielocks.com www.holidayinsights.com www.thenibble.com www.foodimentary.com