Fourth of July

It is near that time of year, again, when the smoke from barbecues start clouding the sky, mothers are busy making delicious foodstuffs for the planned picnics and parties. Evening falls and excited children anticipate the fireworks. Oh, and yeah, it is a national, patriotic holiday . . . but that seems to go by the wayside for the most part. Just to bring some of our history back into play, I found the entire lyrics of the Star Spangled Banner. The last verse is especially poignant given the fight for religious freedom imposed on us by our current administration. Our country was founded because people were looking for freedom and the Star Spangled Banner is a great reminder of that.

Lyrics, by Francis Scott Key:

First Verse
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say, does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Second Verse
On the shore dimly seen, thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines in the stream;
'Tis the Star-Spangled Banner, Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Third Verse
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Fourth Verse
Oh, thus be it ever when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto, "In God is our trust"
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Avocado Bread - Really?

My husband has access to library book sales and is always kind enough to bring me home odd and interesting cookbooks. There was one from Translyvania that had a wonderful recipe (?) for bear paw. Thinking it was a cute name for some kind of dessert, I read it and knew it was the real thing when it said it was necessary to remove the nails and fur between the pads of the paw. I can usually find at least one, good recipe in a cookbook. In this one book, the nearest thing to that was the bear paw  and only from a standpoint of interest! I sent the book back to the sale with my husband the next day.

This recipe sounded unusual but  the primary ingredient is more available than a bear paw. Besides, I keep envisioning a three-pawed bear knocking at my door! As soon as avocados go on sale, this bread is going into my oven!

Lemon Spice Avocado Bread
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Freshly grated zest from one lemon
1 2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups thoroughly mashed avocado
1/2 cup toasted and ground walnuts or pecans
1 cup dried cranberries

Place all the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Stir in everything else and mix well to combine. Spread into three vegetable-oiled sprayed loaf pans.

Bake at 325 degrees (preheated oven) for approximately 45-60 minutes our until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out without any wetness.

Cool in pans about 20 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack. You can glaze the loaves with a tart lemon icing, if you like.

We can always turn to our Mother . . .

“Hear me and understand well, my son the least, that nothing should frighten or grieve you. Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear that sickness, nor any other sickness or anguish. Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything.” ~Our Lady of Guadalupe

Where have all our freedoms gone . . .

You have to admire the current administration in horror over the obamacare fiasco. When they tried to assure us that there wasn't any tax involved and we had a choice about coverage, we wondered as we were dealing with the money-grubbing government that likes to spend OUR money for THEIR agendas. When push came to shove, the Supreme Court decided to call the cost of universal healthcare a tax . . . about which we have no choice. A win/win for the money-hungry administration once more. And, now that they can make us pay by calling it a tax, what other 'goodies' do they have in store for us for which they can make us pay by calling it a tax and turning over the collection of such tax to the IRS. Freedom of choice is in jeopardy. Was this part of obama's employment tactics because word has it that a lot of new IRS agents were added to the payroll! An unthinking popularity vote in 2008 may have cost everyone a great deal of their freedom in 2012 . . . unless November 2012 shows that people have finally caught on to what is happening.

Political comment through quotes . . .

"One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny, and is likely to interfere with happiness in all kinds of ways."
-- Bertrand Russell

"The only difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is that the Democrats allow the poor to be corrupt, too."
-- Oscar Levant

Prayer for the United States of America

God our Father in Heaven,
you chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters;
Holy Spirit, you overshadowed Mary at the Annunciation;
God the Son, you became incarnate
in the womb of Mary, your Mother.
In union with Mary, we adore you,
the Most Holy Trinity and acknowledge that you,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
hold eternal dominion and authority over all nations.

Most Holy Trinity,
we place the United States of America into the hands
of Mary Immaculate in order that
she may present our country to you.
Through her we wish to praise and thank you
for the great resources of our land
and for the freedom, which has been our heritage.
Through the intercession of Mary,
have mercy on the Catholic Church in the United States.
Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president
and on all the officers of our government.
Grant us a fruitful economy born of justice and charity.
Raise up and protect all of our families.
Through the intercession of our Mother,
have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, sinners—
on all who are in need.
Above all, we ask Mary to intercede on our behalf
that you would protect our conscience rights and religious freedom,
upon which our country was founded.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin,
Our Mother, Patroness of our land,
we honor you and give ourselves to you.
Wrap your mantel of protection around each of us
and all our fellow citizens.
Protect us from all evil and harm.
Pray for us, that acting always according to your will
and the Will of your Divine Son,
we may live and die pleasing to God.