Reflection worth the tears . . .

 
"When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.

Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?

I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her!

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month’s notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month’s time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.

This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that every day for the month’s duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.

I told Jane about my wife’s divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.

My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don’t tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.

Suddenly it hit me… she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.

Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it’s time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.

But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy. I drove to office…. jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind…I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore.

She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won’t divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away. At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I’ll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.

That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed -dead. My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push through with the divorce.— At least, in the eyes of our son—- I’m a loving husband….

The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves


So find time to be your spouse’s friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. If you are not in a relationship now, remember this for the second (or third) time around. It's never too late.


If you don’t share this, nothing will happen to you.


If you do, you just might save a marriage. Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. ?



Credits: Prince (NBBC)

Country Captain Chicken

I discovered this recipe, years ago, and even with the interesting ingredients, my children loved it, especially over hot, buttered rice. I thought about it, today, and wanted to share it with the more adventuresome of my readers!

Country Captain Chicken
2 chickens cut into serving pieces
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil or oil of your choice
1 large onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
4 cloves of fresh, peeled garlic, smashed and chopped
3 teaspoons curry powder
1- l pound can of diced tomatoes (approximate so a little more or less is okay)
1/2 cup raisins (It works, really!)

Combine the flour, sale, and pepper in a bag. Shake the chicken in the mixture until all are coated. Brown the chicken pieces in a large skillet with the vegetable oil. Remove to a platter. Do not wipe out the skillet! Add onion, bell pepper, garlic, and curry powder to the skillet. Saute until the onion is softened and transparent. Add tomatoes, raisins, and return the chicken to the pan. Simmer, covered for one hour or until chicken is tender.

Serve chicken over rice and spoon sauce over the top.

Questions That Shouldn't Need Asking in a Civilized Society . . .

I was reading the latest posting from Catholic Advocate and they presented three questions that should make compassionate people think:

Why did a Pennsylvania judge  throw out three of seven first degree murder charges against Kermit Gosnell, an abortion doctor accused of killing seven infants after they were born alive?

How does President Obama justify headlining the Planned Parenthood annual gala and accepting their support during his election?

Is it a tragedy only when an innocent life is lost from a bomb or explosion, but not when an innocent life is taken from the womb by a monster like Gosnell?

Fresh Cranberry Bread

Nothing like having a fresh loaf of fruit bread for breakfast. You can grab a slice and slather it with butter or cream cheese or toast it and go from there. A cup or hot coffee or tea and you are read to enjoy the morning paper or check on your e-mail. During the holidays in November and December, I always buy and extra bag of fresh cranberries and freeze them for treat like this during the years.

Fresh Cranberry Bread
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup fresh or frozen orange juice
Freshly grated orange or lemon zest
1 large egg
1 cup fresh cranberries, roughly chopped
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Vegetable oil spray a 9x5-inch loaf pan.

Mix togehter the dry ingredient. Cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles crumbs. Add the juice and egg to the dry ingredients and mix just to combine and moisten. Fold in the cranberries and nuts. Bake in prepared pan at 350 degrees for approximately one hour.

Another way to bake it is in muffins tins using either cupcake liners or sufficient vegetable oil spray to insure you get a clean release. Reduce the baking time for the smaller breads.

Feeling really creative? A drizzle of lemon or orange icing over a warm loaf or muffins never hurts!

No Fish Eggs Caviar!

The same old dips and salsas can get boring which is why I'm always looking for something new and different for parties. I recently discovered this recipe and am looking forward to trying it. The ingredients are all healthy so less guilt over dipping tortilla chips into it or loading up on a crisp slice of sour dough toast!

No Fish Eggs Caviar!
1/2 pound black-eyed peas
1 medium onion, diced
4 cloves of peeled garlic, smashed and chopped
1 cup diced red onion
1 cup finely diced green or red bell pepper (or a combination of both!)
1/2 cup finely chopped green scallions
1 tablespoon finely diced peeled, fresh garlic
1/4 cup finely chopped Jalapeno chilies
1 cup your favorite Italian dressing
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.

Rinse and soak peas in cold water overnight. The next day, drain and rinse. Cover with fresh water, add the medium onion and four cloves of chopped garlic. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until black-eyed peas are tender - approximately one hour. Be careful and do not overcook.

Drain, rinse, and place cooked peas, onion, and garlic in a large mixing bowl. Add red onion, bell pepper, scallions, fresh garlic, Jalapeno chilies, and dressing. Mix well and season with salt and pepper to taste. Makes about 3 1/2 to 4 cups.

To Report or Not to Report, the Liberal Press is in Charge . . .

Unless you are up to date on what it happening in the pro-life world, many might not be aware of a major trial going on right now in the United States regarding abortion doctor, Kermit Gosnell. In the United States it is legal to abort the unborn babies and in specific cases to employ the partial birth abortion procedure. In Dr. Gosnell's case, he went  above and beyond the 'call of duty' and delivered full-term, living babies and then stabbed them in the back of the neck and killed them. You would think this would be front page news and be on the world news circuit given the horrendous nature of the crime against human life. So why isn't it?

There are many trains of thoughts on why. My personal thought on the matter is that once you expose the actual brutality that is a part of the abortion mind set, you might jeopardize the legality of it. The news probably takes the excuse that it is too gruesome and gory to report, yet they will go into avid detail about 'real' murders and mayhem to sell a paper. What Dr. Gosnell has inadvertently done is expose the absolute horror of killing the unborn by allowing a baby to be born and then killing it. It blurs the line of 'difference' between what the pro choice people consider a baby and not a baby. It might start more people thinking if they realize the seconds between being a partially delivered baby having it brains sucked out and a full-term baby delivered and having it's spinal cord snapped.

But, is there a difference? No and that is why the media would rather not go that route and cause confusion in the legality of murdering our future.

I read an article about a woman doctor who was pregnant with her first child. She talked about aborting a baby that was just about the same age as the baby she was carrying. She said she was fascinated to see the fetus she was killing and observing first hand where her baby was in the gestation process. Even as she cut apart a living child, she was thinking ahead to when she would wrap her baby in a soft blanket and hold him or her to her heart. Her 'heart', however, seemingly had no compassion for the murder taking place at her hands.

Yes, if the trial of Dr. Kermit Gosnell was reported as it should, minds might be changed and the convenience of picking and choosing what 'fetus' you want to keep and turn into a baby would be gone. When you make atrocities like abortion legal, you open the door to people who harden their hearts to the awful nature of the procedure and, possibly, the medical respect that should be allowed to every human being no matter how small.

The reason the media isn't covering this news is fear that the unknown might become known and then they would have to report the real truth.

Battle of the Wills - the Cat Won!

The computer screen is behind the cat and the cat, as usual, has plans to bathe and sleep in front of said screen . . . even if I can't see the screen to do my work. After all . . . what is more important. Frustrated, as I did have letters to write and other work to do, I warned the cat that if she didn't move, I was going to get the camera and take her picture. Guess my threat fell on deaf cat ears and she didn't move but I got a couple of really great pictures of the cat.

Strawberry Poke Cake - Gluten-Free Style!

I'm a terrible mother. I have children with December birthdays within two days of each other and I just realized that we were so busy finishing off my daughter's December Birthday Cake that I forgot to make another one for my son . . . two days later. I have been much forgiven as we had fun having a very, very late birthday dinner and cake for him over the weekend. He is a good-natured kid and didn't even realize the omission himself! Strawberry Poke Cake was his choice and I even found a gluten-free cake recipe that turned out great even without the gluten.  It was topped off with homemade whipped cream and my son managed to get two large slices down without a problem! Anyone was a recipe for an easy but very good gluten-free cake, let me know.

How to Build a Pope - Embroidery Machine Style!

 As I mentioned before, I discovered a great photo stitch design of the Pope for my embroidery machine. It takes six changes of thread color to complete and over two hours. Thought I'd show you the start to finish of what the process looks like. The first time I used this pattern, I was sort of worried by the fourth frame and wondered if it would, in fact, turn out to look anything like our Holy Father. As you can see, trust the pattern and the machine as it turns out with a very good likeness.

Summer Salad

Our first weekend of really warm weather has let us know the heat of summer is definitely on its way. In honor of the weather, I composed a cold grilled meat salad for dinner last night. Needing a third salad for the plate, I came up with this one and wanted to share. It was surprisingly good considering the ingredients were very simple.

Celery Apple Corn Salad
2 Gala apples (or your favorite!) diced
5 ribs of celery, diced
1/2 cup frozen corn, defrosted and drained
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (lime is good, too)
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
Good pinch of dried Tarragon leaves
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
 Salt to taste
Just a dash of cayenne pepper

Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir together to incorporate the mayonnaise and spices into the diced ingredients. Taste for seasoning. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. If you make it ahead of time, the flavor meld together even better. Goes well with slices of cold, grilled chicken or beef.

Long Live the Pope!

 The minute the new Pope made an appearance, I wondered if anyone would be putting together a machine embroidery pattern. A quick Google search found one that was only okay and they were charging five dollars. I didn't need one that badly! Today, I was browsing embroidery sites and came across this pattern . . . for free! My kind of discount. Of course, I had to immediately download it to the sewing machine and give it a try. It was a dense pattern with over 76,000 stitches and took two hours. Naturally, I didn't have to sit there while the machine did its work. I always try to second-guess the machine and if I sit there and watch it work, I'm sure to yelp with dismay when it seems the machine doesn't know what it is doing . . . but it always does once the project is finished. I'm happy with my first attempt. I'm thinking of doing another one only with sepia tints to give it that old photograph look.

Haunted bobbin box . . .

 Since I started my new hobby of machine embroidery, I've needed quite a few more thread colors to make the designs and, of course, corresponding bobbins for the sewing machine. My husband got  the handy bobbin boxes in hopes of me keeping them untangled. It has worked . . . sort of!

Today, I had some free time so got out my sewing machine and threads to spend the afternoon creating. I set the two bobbin boxes on the kitchen table and walked the two or three steps to the sewing table. I sat down and stretched my foot out to press the pedal to get the sewing machine going. Behind me, one of the bobbins rattled loudly in the box . . . all by itself. Startled, I soon figured out that one of them might have been set in it's slot at an angle and just fell into place.

I continued sewing then got up to get another bobbin. Again, I sat down to sew and one of the bobbins popped up and rattled as soon as I started using the pedal on the machine. Earthquake? That only affected one bobbin? I shrugged and continued my work.

I finished the task at hand and had to go into the entry way where my spools of thread are stored. The moment I got past the sewing machine, the same pesky bobbin jumped up into the air, rolled off the table and rattled off into a corner . . . seemingly, by itself! Since it was broad daylight without dark shadows lurking, I went after the bobbin and picked it up. It had unrolled itself of a length of it's thread so I started rewinding it as I walked back to the kitchen table. I kept winding and winding as a huge amount of thread has escaped the captivity of the bobbin. Suddenly, I felt a pull on my shoe. I looked down and saw that the end of the thread was caught in my shoe lace. The answer to the 'spirited' bobbin! Every time I walked around the kitchen, it would pull the thread and jiggle the bobbin but when I walked further afield, it yanked it right out of the tray. Whew! Glad to discover the bobbin had no other abilities than being a handy, plastic item to hold my sewing machine thread!

Christmas, already?

 Not to worry, there are still a bunch of shopping days until Christmas. I've just started getting embroidery patterns done now so I can dedicate a day for turning them into tote bags for gifts or selling during the distant holiday season. I liked the primitive effect of the artwork for this design. Hey, sometimes a cute Nativity scene works, too!

Fast Italian Chicken Bake

For a fast meal that looks like you fussed, this is super easy and very tasty, too. Since it bakes in the oven, you have time to prepare some hot buttered noodles, a big green salad, and a basket of warm garlic bread.

Fast Italian Chicken Bake
4-6 boneless chicken breast halves, skinned
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Vegetable oil spray a shallow baking dish.

Combine the cheese, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in the melted butter. Dip both sides of the chicken in the mixture and arrange in the prepared baking dish. Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until chicken is tender and lightly browned. If chicken seems a bit dry, brush with some more melted butter towards the end of the cooking time.

The Boston Marathon - April 15, 2013

Hurt, death, and disaster are a tragedy in any event but when the mayhem visited on innocent people is deliberate, you can only shake you head in disbelief and wonder at man's inhumanity to man. Such was the horrible finish of the Boston Marathon yesterday afternoon. A bright, beautiful day bringing crowds of people out to enjoy the annual marathon was shattered by the cowardly bombing of innocent people. Three people, one a young child, started off the day in happy anticipation and will never return home. More than a hundred people will bear both physical and mental scars after surviving the attack. While most of us cannot be there in person to help, we can pray. I found this prayer for healing on the Catholic Relief Services site and it seem to address many of the needs in our world, today,  including the hateful attack in Boston yesterday.

Awaken Us

Lord of hopefulness, awaken us.
Show us the meaning in our labor,
That we may ever rejoice in the promise of the
seeds we sow.

Lord of righteousness, awaken us.
Show us the good path,
That we may walk in confidence in your wisdom
and understanding.

Lord of hospitality, awaken us.
Show us that our refuge is found in you,
That we may always provide shelter in times of
storm.

Lord of freedom, awaken us.
Show us the courage that called our forefathers
out of bondage,
That we may always stand with the bound and the oppressed and be their champions.

Lord of all peace, awaken us.
Show us the heart that stills even raging waters,
That we may still angry hearts and reconcile warring neighbors.

Lord of charity, awaken us.
Teach us of the unending return on our sacrifice,
That we may rejoice more fully in giving.

Lord, you have eyes for the just and ears for the cry of those who suffer.
Awaken in us a heart of justice,
That you may count us among their number.
Amen

Loving to cook and cooking for love . . .

I was listening to an interview with a chef and the question asked was what gave him his inspiration to invent and cook such interesting foods. He said that first and foremost, the main ingredient for success was . . . love!

I thought that was interesting because I know that I love to cook/bake but never fully realized that I do it because I love my family. I care about what they eat and the only way to control a good deal of their nutritional intake is to spend time in the kitchen cooking and baking.

Yes, we enjoy fast food on occasion but it is a treat. Many times, too, they say 'thank you' and venture that it would have tasted better done at home.

We've all heard it said that we raise our children as we want them to be as adults. If you don't raise them on a variety of foods and the necessity of actually eating one's vegetables, will they pass it on to their own families?

I knew a wife/mother who thought it was hilarious that she had married someone that came from a restaurant/gourmet background while she couldn't cook well. After their 25-plus years of marriage, I would have thought she'd have been past the amusement and learned to cook better instead of finding it funny that her husband didn't have really good meals.

Mothers who don't want to cook for whatever reason might take a moment to consider this: If your child or husband were in danger, would you rush to save them? Taking the time to to feed them healthily and properly goes along those lines, too.

Gluten-Free Success!

 Being relatively new to the gluten-free lifestyle, I'm still experimenting. I found a recipe on-line that looked interesting and contained no weird ingredients I'd have to go hunting for in order to accomplish the end result. As you can see from the picture, I managed to bake a reasonably presentable lemon cake with lemon curd filling. As we enjoyed our dessert, we suddenly realized that we had missed having cake and this one felt and tasted like cake . . . without the gluten.

Although we ventured into trying the gluten-free diet for the sake of interest, really, we have discovered that my husband has been having less digestive issues which leads us to believe he is one of the purported one in 133 that actually have some problems with celiac. In any event, he doesn't want to go back and as long as I am able to produce cakes like this, he sees no reason to venture back to the land of wheat and gluten.

Catholic Trivia Question!

My husband asked me about this the other day and although we know this saint by his first and famous name, who knows who Saint de Veuster is? I had to look it up, too!

Our Temporary Cat . . .

 There is a long saga around why this cat is hanging around our house. I will have to share it someday but, in the mean time, this kitty just loves being our temporary cat until we can find a good home for her. She is full-grown but on the small side with the most delicate of paws. She is, however, a hunter and we often find the remains of her hunting on our front porch and in the garage. Let's just say that we haven't found a single mouse or rat since she came on the scene.

She is a very loving, friendly little beast. She loves to be petted but lets you know with a firm pat on the hand when she has had enough. If you persist, you get the soft paw with a hint of claw. Uh, we haven't dared go beyond that as we assume the result might be a tad painful.

Today, she discovered the tree and all the fun she could have in it. She likes watching dogs go past underneath her not knowing there is a lurking cat observing their every move.

The First Day of Summer . . .

 It is often difficult to determine a separation of seasons in California but, according to the Old Farmers Almanac, the first day of summer for 2013 is on June 21st this year. Although I am not a hot weather person, there is something about the initial warmth of sunshine on one's face, the sounds of the bees buzzing about their business, the heat bringing out the scent of the flowers, and the butterflies. I really like butterflies. It is sad, however, that seeing one is an event these days. Too many people, houses, and cars seems to have chased these flying masterpieces to other places. It is, however, the one benefit of having any kind of flowers or garden going as the few that seem to flutter around usually appear to show off their pretty colors and intricate designs before heading off to safer abodes.

Cats Prowl Across My Quilting Fabric!

To date, this may be my favorite download for embroidering on my sewing machine. The usual cat designs verge on the cartoon variety but these show up as more realistic. They look even better in 'person'! The pattern called for an entirely different color palette but I decided I wanted a black cat and an orange one for the tote bag I'm working on right now.

Successful Afternoon!

 I love my embroidery/sewing machine but have had days when I've wondered if the feeling was reciprocated! It seemed that every project was beset with broken threads and tangles. Not one to give up, I tried the small paint palette . . .It went smoothly from start to finish. I was suspicious! I tried the little butterfly and the same thing. Our Lady of Guadalupe had some broken threads to redo but went smoother than the last time I tried this particular pattern. Went for THE test and did a full hoop pattern that took an hour and 15 minutes. As you can see, the three, little kittens seem very happy with out  mittens. Either I got enough sleep and did everything perfectly right or the sewing machine realized it is stuck with me now! :-)

Non-Fattening Easter Treat!

 Although I didn't receive these flowers until the day after Easter, I was more than thrilled to receive them! My husband claimed he had an errand at Costco and came home with this huge bouquet in hand.

Fox Spirits?

My new, favorite radio station is Radio Taiwan International. The programs I listen to are in English. I've been following Occidental Tourist for a couple of months and enjoy learning about places in and around the beautiful island of Taiwan. Today, the topic was "Fox Spirits" which was very informative about how the reputation of the fox has changed throughout the centuries in Asian folklore and every day feelings about the little beast today.

http://english.rti.org.tw/programalertinfo.aspx?tid=8335B8F750D4364F

Just  'click' on the small, multicolored square to the left to access the program.

Time of Prayer . . .

More and more there are rumors about bad things happening in the world. Regardless, we always have great power in prayer, which is even more powerful than anything.

Let's all pray the daily FAMILY ROSARY for peace in the world and for peace in our own hearts.

Our Lord is holding us in his arms as His children no matter what. And we have such a loving Mother! They will never refuse us!

Please pass this on and join other Catholics in praying the rosary, and with the family if possible.

Thank you and God bless!!

Reading Labels . . . Doing Research . . .

The more modern and advanced we get in this world, the more it seems we have to be vigilant in making choices. It is seriously important in just purchasing food for our families. This appeared in an e-mail today and made me realize that we have to look way past the packaging and surface information when we buy food.

 Lies That Food Manufacturers Tell

Olive Oil: Many brands of olive oil aren't what they seem. Manufacturers may dilute extra virgin olive oil with lower quality olive oil. Or they may dilute it with another oil entirely, like corn oil or soybean oil. Peanut oil and hazelnut oil are also popular choices for cutting olive oil, which puts people with nut or peanut allergies at high risk.

Milk: That gallon of milk may be pure, wholesome milk from the cow, or it might be a mix of fresh milk and reconstituted milk powder. There was also information about the milk producers wanting to add aspartame to milk, too.

Coffee: Ground coffee and instant coffee may both contain roasted, ground grains like corn and barley. Some ground coffee contains roasted parchment paper, ground up to match in texture. In instant coffees, experts found chicory, starch, malt, and even ground figs.

Pomegranate Juice: This tasty juice is considered to be very good for you. But, you may actually unwittingly be drinking a blend of other juices and sugar water.

Honey: Raw, natural honey tops the list of my favorite health foods. But when you buy honey at the grocery store, it's possible it's been cut with high-fructose corn syrup to increase the sweetness and reduce the cost. And much of the honey imported from other nations contains nasty things like heavy metals and antibiotics.

Tea: Some tea manufacturers add leaves from other plants or even lawn clippings to their products to cut costs.

Orange Juice: Few things seem more healthful than a glass of orange juice. But frankly most brands are so packed with sugar they are anything but. Beet sugar, paprika, and high fructose corn syrup have also been found in "pure" orange juice products.

Turmeric: Some unethical food manufacturers mix in less expensive spices and other fillers with their ground turmeric.

Chili Powder: Ditto for chili powder.  I like to buy dried chilies and grind them up in a blender so I actually know what I'm using.

Fish: How well do you know your fish? Well enough to tell wild salmon from farm-raised salmon? Well enough to discern the difference between escolar and white tuna? These are two of the most common fish swaps done by food processors and restaurants.

Maple Syrup: In today's food market, it's hard to know if you're getting pure maple syrup or maple syrup cut with high fructose corn syrup.

Black Pepper: This is another spice that's commonly cut with less expensive spices. So, when you're buying pure ground black pepper that may not be what you're getting at all.  Buy a pepper grinder and use pepper corns. You won't have to guess what else might be in your black pepper.

Crazy Quilt Progress . . .

 I love making crazy quilts and some black and white fabric got me to thinking . . . I decided to go through my fabric scraps and do a Dresden Plate pattern that would stand out from the background but still 'agree' with the background. I've gotten the circles sewn down to their background and am just thinking about what like of backing I'd like for it. I keep saying that I won't continue on this one until I get a half completed one finished. So far, two incomplete quilts!

Guilty as Caught and Charged!

 Caught in the act! The cat showed some taste in disliking our old and ugly drapes but took matters into her own paws and turned the floor-length drapes into cafe curtains! Just the look on her face shows she knows she might not have done the right thing. We were planning on replacing the aging drapes with blinds . . . The cat just gave us some premature encouragement!

Mission Accomplished or Crocheting Project Completed!

 My crocheting time is limited to an hour or so before bedtime so this baby blanket too a bit of time to do. I love to use thin, fine yarn but soon realize how long it takes . . . about row three of the project! I did not give up, however, and the blanket is now completed. Just waiting for an address from my friend so I can mail it to her daughter. It's the first grandchild for my friend so I wanted to make the gift special.

Now, I need another crocheting project as I don't like idle hands. Hey, I need an excuse to sit there and watch television!