Favorite quote of the day . . .

The only difference between men and boys is the spelling!

Prayer from Catholic Advocate . . .

In view of the government rulings that have come down this past week, it is a time for people of faith to redouble their prayers. Our country seems to have lost sight of the reasons we became a nation and prayer is our recourse.

A Prayer for Religious LibertyBlessed are you God and I praise you for the gift of freedom.
This day, I pray especially for government leaders -
the men and women elected or appointed
as the stewards of our rights and the overseers of our needs.
Grant them true discernment so that they may never stray from the duties
with which we citizens have entrusted them
to uphold our religious freedom and care for our well-being.
Give me the power to touch with your truth everything and everyone I meet.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Okay, who will tell our current administration/government??

"When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe ."
-- Thomas Jefferson

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
-- Thomas Jefferson

"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world."
-- Thomas Jefferson

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."
-- Thomas Jefferson

"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government."
-- Thomas Jefferson

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."
-- Thomas Jefferson

"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."
-- Thomas Jefferson

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
-- Thomas Jefferson

"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."
-- Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.

If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."

 

--

Contraception is reaffirmed by the president . . .

There is something wrong with a country that forces everyone to provide contraceptive care in any manner through their company insurance programs. There are faiths in addition to Catholicism that hold fast to the truth that life begins at conception and prefer to not be a part of fetal death at any stage of development. Supposedly, the United States is a free nation that supports every one's right to their own beliefs and opinions . . . yet the current administration ran their last campaign with a firm platform of abortion and contraception and are now enforcing it.

The world is taking a downward turn in morality these days and having a government that not only promotes it but condones it, is pushing our moral demise even faster. Seems to me that freedom of choice is only for those in line with the contraceptive mind set. Those of us who don't chose to curtail our reproductive freedoms, who would never abort a child for any reason, and want to live a godly life are refused our choice in how our businesses and companies are insured.

Although many of our bishops and cardinals are now coming out more strongly on the subject, it is an uphill battle because of the silence that allowed Roe v. Wade to become law.

It seems simple to me. If you are a Catholic, belong to the Catholic Church, then adhere to the teachings and rules of the Catholic Church which are very much in compliance with the Ten Commandments. If you don't like the rules, find another religion to suit your wants. Find a faith that you can adjust to your needs rather than adjust your soul to the Grace of God.

You see politicians, etc. like Biden, Pelosi, Sibelius sporting the outward signs of Catholicism like ashes on Ash Wednesday yet supporting the wholesale slaughter of the unborn citing women's health. I think Jesus touched on the subject of whitened sepulchers.   They flaunt their 'faith' while calling abortion 'sacred ground'.

The hierarchy of the churches may fear the loss of their tax-free status which might account for the lukewarm discussions of matters of Faith. Perhaps, both religion and government should review the fact that separation of church and state means that government cannot interfere in how a religion is run not that a religion has to be in line with the wishes of the government.

There are five non-negotiable points a Catholic voter has to take into consideration when voting and one of them deals with abortion/contraception. Politics came first in the last election that brought us this current onslaught of  mandatory taxpayer funding of abortion/contraception with religion coming in second or third in many Catholics' list of priorities. We are now living through and dealing with the fallout from their selfish vote.

Budget Candy

Although I've shared this before, with the holiday coming up, it seemed like a good reminder. When you are having guests, you often need to stretch the dollar and this is an easy and good way.

When my children were very small, we didn't always have the extra money for special treats. Fortunately, I liked to bake so something could always be managed and the children never really knew when we were struggling financially. A favorite was a simple candy recipe that only required melting, stirring something into it, and letting it harden.

Although you can use your choice of chocolate chips for this, I watch for the sales of the chocolate melts at the craft stores. Besides chocolate, it came in a variety of colors. It is easy to gently melt in the microwave and you can stir in just about anything to come up with a crunchy treat. You just add enough so it holds together when you drop tablespoons onto some waxed paper to harden.

Some ideas . . .
Peanuts and raisins.
Candied fruit.
Chow Mein noodles (the dried, ready-to-eat variety)
Coconut.
Crisped rice cereal.
Tiny marshmallows and nuts.
Pretzels

As you can see, the list is as long as your imagination. Just make sure you don't use any 'wet' ingredients as it will seize up the chocolate and turn it into a grainy mess. Also, there are candy molds available if you want to be really fancy and, as they are reusable, it is a great investment of a couple of dollars.

In Congress, July 4, 1776 - The Declaration of Independence

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

---

The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:
Column 1
Georgia:
   Button Gwinnett
   Lyman Hall
   George Walton
Column 2
North Carolina:
   William Hooper
   Joseph Hewes
   John Penn
South Carolina:
   Edward Rutledge
   Thomas Heyward, Jr.
   Thomas Lynch, Jr.
   Arthur Middleton
Column 3
Massachusetts:
John Hancock
Maryland:
Samuel Chase
William Paca
Thomas Stone
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia:
George Wythe
Richard Henry Lee
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Harrison
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Carter Braxton
Column 4
Pennsylvania:
   Robert Morris
   Benjamin Rush
   Benjamin Franklin
   John Morton
   George Clymer
   James Smith
   George Taylor
   James Wilson
   George Ross
Delaware:
   Caesar Rodney
   George Read
   Thomas McKean
Column 5
New York:
   William Floyd
   Philip Livingston
   Francis Lewis
   Lewis Morris
New Jersey:
   Richard Stockton
   John Witherspoon
   Francis Hopkinson
   John Hart
   Abraham Clark
Column 6
New Hampshire:
   Josiah Bartlett
   William Whipple
Massachusetts:
   Samuel Adams
   John Adams
   Robert Treat Paine
   Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island:
   Stephen Hopkins
   William Ellery
Connecticut:
   Roger Sherman
   Samuel Huntington
   William Williams
   Oliver Wolcott
New Hampshire:
   Matthew Thornton

Words of Hope from Pope Francis . . .

Do not be men and women of sadness: a Christian can never be sad! Never give way to discouragement! Ours is not a joy born of having many possessions, but from having encountered a Person: Jesus, in our midst; it is born from knowing that with him we are never alone, even at difficult moments, even when our life’s journey comes up against problems and obstacles that seem insurmountable, and there are so many of them! And in this moment the enemy, the devil, comes, often disguised as an angel, and slyly speaks his word to us. Do not listen to him! Let us follow Jesus! We accompany, we follow Jesus, but above all we know that he accompanies us and carries us on his shoulders. This is our joy, this is the hope that we must bring to this world. Please do not let yourselves be robbed of hope! Do not let hope be stolen! The hope that Jesus gives us.

~Francis I, Homily, March 24

Declaring Independence . . .

Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence, the document that declared that the colonies no longer wanted to be under English rule but wanted to become a nation of free men. It sounds a simple thing to put one’s signature on an important document. There were, however, prices to pay for taking a stand and meaning it with all one’s heart. What happened to the signers of the Declaration of Independence once the ink was dry and the independence was declared? First of all, this incited war and there were ramifications.

Five of the signers were captured by the British, declared traitors, and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.
Two of the men lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army. One had two sons captured.
Nine of the 56 signers fought and died, either from wounds or the hardships of the Revolutionary War.

All these brave men signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. Who were these men?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.
Eleven were merchants.
Nine were farmers and large plantation owners, men of means, well educated.

But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He  urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson, having lost everything, died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart.

Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.

These were the sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't fight just the British.

We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government!

The modern world has, in many ways, lost the sense of liberty and sacrifice. We are a self-centered country putting many of life’s pleasures before everything else. We have lost a sense of morality and dignity in many respects. Our future citizens are being destroyed in the womb before they can become a part of the freedom of this country.

Some of us take these liberties so much for granted. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid. Freedom is never free! We currently have a government who is bending and reshaping our Constitution and freedoms. If we truly care about being a part of a great country and not just a citizen looking for a government handout, we might start being a part of a change for the better by reading The Declaration of Independence as a part of our Fourth of July to teach and remind our families how this holiday came into being and be grateful.

Patriotism is not a sin. Wearing a red, white, and blue tee shirt proclaiming our country is not a sin any day of the week. Yes, the Fourth of July is a day to celebrate as long as we learn about and remember the blood, tears, and sacrifice that brought it to us. When you see the ‘rockets red glare’ in your holiday celebrations, take a moment to think about the deadly serious battles that won this freedom for us.

It is time to defend our Church . . .

I'm constantly amazed at the lack of knowledge about their own Church by many Catholics. I had a relative who thought abortion was only wrong after three months. I see people giggling and whispering greetings and grins with people on their way to receive Communion. An in-law told me that memorizing the Baltimore Catechism was too 'boring' for children and we should keep things 'light' and interesting in CCD classes. Obviously, the last election proved to us that many Catholics are totally uninformed about their Faith or perceive their political party to be more important than their Faith.

What has amazed me the most, however, are the politicians that claim to be Catholics yet adhere to all that is not Catholic. They are a bad example. They are writing their own religion and making it more political than spiritual.

Recently, Father Pavone Challenged Nancy Pelosi to come out of her self-made religious comfort zone and face the truth of the Church as it should apply to her. He spoke the reality of what it is to be a real Catholic and she came back with this ignorant retort:

My faith is very deep and has been my whole life. I love my faith and my faith has nothing to do with whoever he is. The arrogance of it all! It’s like something ancient, medieval…The Church taught me as I was growing up that every person has a free will and has the responsibility to live up to a moral standard. And I respect women’s judgment and values to do that.

 

Whether this priest thinks his judgment should be another woman’s judgment is absolutely ridiculous to me. But nonetheless it’s what they say. I grant the Church where they are on abortion. That’s where they are, that’s where they have to be. But my faith isn’t about what their position is. My faith is about, Christ is my savior, the church is his church, and has nothing to do with Priests for Life…I wouldn’t even dignify whatever it is they said. It was a highly emotional statement that they made. If it were more intellectual I might have paid attention to it. He was acting hysterically.

 

In her first paragraph, she is correct that we do have free will but the free will should be exercised within the rules and guidelines of our Faith. It doesn't mean we have a right to go against the precepts of our religion in order to have life as we want it. There is nothing Catholic about claiming free will in order to sin. If you say you respect a  woman's judgment and that judgment is in favor killing her unborn baby, you are not defending your Faith. It is interesting . . . She claims her free will gives her license to promote sinful behavior but she is in full support of the rules of being a staunch Democrat. Guess being a Democrat doesn't have the same free will!

A priest is trained in the Church to support what the Church stands for in all matters. A priest can judge and say when something is blatantly sinful like killing an unborn baby. The Ten Commandments are pretty straightforward on that score ' Thou Shalt Not Kill'. Didn't notice any translations saying 'except as Pelosi deems it inadvisable.

You can't have a well-formed Catholic Faith without knowing the Faith. If, as she says, her faith is what it is and Christ is her savior, then you would think she would want to abide by all that Jesus came down to earth and died for in our place. If anyone is hysterical, it is her retort to common sense and what the Church is actually about. Christ founded the Church. God gave us the Ten Commandments. Jesus died for our sins. Ms. Pelosi is trying to advocate everyone living according to their comforts rather than conforming to the Word of God.

Strangely, the voices of reason in our Church, today, are few and far between. This woman has been a 'catholic' with roots in a church of her own making for years. God bless, Father Pavone for finally pointing out her errors. Her own pastor hasn't seen fit to do so for years and has been distributing Communion to her without question. Either she doesn't truly believe in the Real Presence or her pastor doesn't to bestow the Body of Christ knowing in his heart that she is not obeying the laws of the Church.

When do the Ten Commandments not apply . . .

We can all acknowledge that our world has gone off the skids in many ways concerning morality, crime, selfishness, etc. It doesn't start off in a huge way but in many small infractions that gradually turn into the norm. In sunny California, I'm beginning to agree that our drivers are getting to be among the worst. These days, when the light turns green for me, I subconsciously and automatically wait about 30 seconds because I know that the cars that have since gone from the yellow warning light to the red stop light will still be coming through. And they do so without a second thought. Defensive driving has taken on a whole, new meaning. The rules of the road are viewed according to each and every egotistical, personal view and if you are in someone's way because they are amiss in their knowledge of good driving, it is you that had better watch out.

One time, I was in the left-hand turning lane waiting for the light. There were three lanes for going straight ahead to my right. The light turns green and before any of us can move, a car in the far right lane decided to make a left turn past the three lanes and my left-hand turning lane!

This morning, the infamous crossing in our town was at it's usual law-breaking best. The light went green for my left-hand turn but so many cars from the previous green light (not red!) kept going that by the time I could make my legal left-hand turn with the green light, it turned yellow when I was only halfway through.

Cell phones! The law says so hand-held cell phones while driving in California. A good law but seemingly, it doesn't seem to apply to the majority of drivers. A light had turned green as I was approaching the intersection. Several cars had already crossed. As I prepared to follow through, a car on the right of the intersection decided to make a left-hand turn on the red in front of me. She didn't even notice as they was gabbing and laughing on her cell phone.

One of the left-hand turns I take almost on a daily basis is into the street leading to our church. A good many of the people making the same turn are also heading to Mass. A good many of them run through the stop sign. A good many of them are on their cell phones. A good many of them have no problem cutting you off from your legal turn in order to get there three seconds faster.

There is a commandment among the ten that says we should honor our father and mother. I don't think it stops at that. I think it applies to respecting and honoring authority. Seems to me that many of these 'good' people might be surprised to know they are not being obedient to God's commandment even as they break traffic laws on their way to church. At another point in time, when tested, Jesus did say we should honor the things that are Caesar's and honor the things that are God. Doesn't that apply to laws that are for the good of everyone?

Clint Eastwood . . .

 

Good old Clint.  May he live a long life. 
 
                
 
CLINT EASTWOOD AND A ONE SENTENCE EDITORIAL
 
This one-sentence editorial appeared in the Peoria Journal Star recently. . .
 
"A pen in the hand of this president is far more dangerous than a gun
in the hands of 200 million law-abiding citizens."
 
Then Clint Eastwood added these words . . .
 
"We Americans are so tired of being thought of as dumbasses by the
rest of the world that we went to the polls this past November and
removed all doubt."
                                            ---  Clint Eastwood

 

Summer . . .

 It has been a hectic and busy summer so my poor husband hasn't had the time or energy to put all his efforts into his favorite pastime, gardening. Still, when you wander through our backyard, there are signs of growth and the hope for some fresh tomatoes and peaches on the horizon. Even my beloved pomegranate tree might actually produce some fruit this year. Both orange trees are doing their best. One of them provided oranges from November until April of this year.

The garden out back, such as it is, inspired me to try out a new pattern on my embroidery machine which it turn inspired me to take a moment here.

We do have a relatively new dog, however, that takes a reprimand very well and when he chewed up one hose, was very sorry and avoided it after that . . . except he chewed up another hose. We now know we have to point out each and every thing that he may not chew. Not all garden varmints are of the bug and creepy crawler persuasion!

News from the Vatican . . .

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/06/19/pope_adds_name_of_st._joseph_to_eucharistic_prayers/en1-702859

Tipsy Beer Cake

Here is my take on an interesting recipe. I like cooking/baking with beer as it adds an interesting level to the finished product. Just make sure you use a good brand so the outcome is just as tasty!

Tipsy Beer Cake
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup shortening
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
12 ounce can of beer
1 cup mashed banana
1 cup finely diced dates
1/2 cup toasted walnuts, finely chopped
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Vegetable oil spray an oblong baking pan or pans to accommodate batter. Batter should fill the pans 2/3rds full.

Stir together the salt, soda, spices, and flour together in a separate bowl.

Cream together sugar, shortening, and eggs. Add beer, bananas, dates, nuts, zest, and vanilla to creamed mixture. Add the dry ingredient and mix to combine well.

Pour bather into prepared pan(s). Bake for approximately 45 minutes depending on size of pans used. Use a toothpick to test for doneness - no wet batter should be evident.

Let cool and ice with a lemon glaze. Keeps well . . . if it lasts that long!

Choice is a selfish choice . . .

Conservative talk show host, Rush Limbaugh seems to be either loved or hated. The love part comes from people who want the truth. The hate part comes from people who find the truth irritating to their entitled way of life. In his program, last week, he hit on a very controversial topic - abortion. According to him 'much of the cultural and economic decay facing America can be traced to the more than 50 million abortions performed since 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.'

Although the anti-life faction consider abortion merely a woman's right to choose (forget about the females in the womb), Rush Limbaugh stated that "It's had an impact on crime. It's had a profound impact on our politics. It is a the root of our cultural rot and decay."

It isn't just about a woman's choice, Rush said. "I'm talking the overall effect of a society having literally no problem with eliminating 52 million of its citizens." In other words, few people want to take responsibility for what they do, what they want, and how they get it.

I found it a thought-provoking comment when Rush Limbaugh noted that ‘Americans still feel guilt over slavery, yet aren't bothered by abortion.’ The fact is that more minorities abort their children.

This remark summed up what is so wrong with our country today: "Why is our society so permissive, anything goes, the more ribald, the better? The more honorable, the more boring it is said to be."

A Prayer for Father's Day

God, bless all the fathers in the world.
Guide them to be good role models
and loving to all their children.
Help them to be a father like You are.
Give them grace and patience
to handle situations in a loving way.
Amen!

Father's Day!

It is kind of sad that Father's Day doesn't quite get the response that Mother's Day enjoys. Yes, mothers are totally important but, in many cases, it is the father who is going out into the world to support the family. Perhaps, we have too many single-parent households these days. Anyway, Father's Day is a day that should be revered and our dads and husbands should be spoiled!

Since we went gluten-free for my husband's health, cooking has been a challenge but I'm taking up that challenge in a new avenue for Father's Day. I'm making him an Asian dinner without the use of gluten. Fortunately, I have a fantastic cookbook that is dedicated to cooking Asian food gluten-free. My menu is lined up and we went to the Asian market, yesterday, to get the ingredients. I decided to make three 'nibble' dishes - small items for tasting rather than actually filling up on. I decided on roasted pork meatball, steamed dumplings, and pot stickers. The main dish is a rice noodle/chicken dish with peanut satay sauce and lime. Dessert, we go all-American with a big cheesecake with strawberry topping. In deference to Father's Day, I'm using full-fat cream cheese. Me, I prefer non-fat and can't tell the difference but my husband declares that he can tell the difference and he wants all his calories on his holiday.

I was very good at making pot stickers pre-gluten-free lifestyle so I'm looking forward to renewing my 'fame' with a gluten-free recipe.

I hope everyone is thinking about their male parents today and planning on providing them with a great Father's Day. Don't forget to pray for all the fathers who have already passed on from this world, too.

US Support of Christian Massacres?

This is a sad commentary on the mind set of our current administration. It sends a message that should be totally alien to what our country and Constitution should stand for in this day and age. Helping people who take time out to persecute innocent people because they have different beliefs is not what our country was founded on and we shouldn't support it in another country. Where is the headline news on this sort of thing? Why are the actions of movie stars and celebrities more important than reporting the real news to people? Candy-coating the events of the country and world won't make the bad stuff go away.

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2013/06/obama-backed-syrian-jihadists-massacre-christian-village-population.html

Donut Frenzy at Our House!

 I recently acquired one of those mini-donut baking machine gadgets. Initially, I thought them a frivolous idea but once I tried it, I was hooked. It baked up six mini-donuts every three to four minutes. It actually helps to avoid binging on warm donuts because the first few bites of most anything are enough to cure the munchies . . . and, mini-donuts are just that amount. Have to admit, however, I did feel I had to try one of each kind I made.

Oh, and if homemade donuts weren't enough, these were gluten-free donuts!

Here are a few links to cookbooks I like for cooking/baking gluten-free along with one for that handy donut baking gadget.

http://www.amazon.com/Gluten-Free-Shoestring-Quick-Easy-Love-Fast/dp/0738215937/ref=pd_sim_b_1 This cookbook has the donut recipe in it both plain and chocolate.

http://www.amazon.com/Gluten-Free-Bible-Editors-Favorite-Recipes/dp/1605537233/ref=pd_sim_b_3 Great, overall cookbook for making gluten-free food.

http://www.amazon.com/Gluten-Free-Shoestring-Recipes-Eating-Cheap/dp/073821423X Check on Amazon as you can get all three of these cookbooks for around $35.

http://www.amazon.com/Babycakes-DN-6-Doughnut-Maker-Yellow/dp/B005PO9TT4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371052492&sr=8-1&keywords=baby+cake+donut+maker Perfect for making gluten-free donuts. I use a pastry bag for putting the batter in neatly.

 

My secret for the cinnamon donuts? While they are still warm, I brush/dip them in melted butter and then roll them in a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, and a minute dash of cayenne.

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus - Friday after the Second Sunday after Pentecost

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Friday After the Second Sunday After Pentecost

Solemnity

“…an unending spring of life, giving hope to every person, has streamed precisely from the Heart of God’s Son, who died on the Cross. From the Heart of Christ crucified is born the new humanity redeemed from sin. The man of the year 2000 needs Christ’s Heart to know God and to know himself; he needs it to build the civilization of love.”
Today is the solemnity of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The feast dates back to the 11th century, but prior to the 17th century the devotion was embraced mainly by mystics such as St. Bernard of Claivaux and Gertrude of Helfta. In 1673, Margaret Mary Alacoque, received a vision of Jesus’ compassionate heart, pierced by the sins of the world, which gave impetus to the devotion. In 1899, Pope Leo XIII consecrated humanity to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He explained the Sacred Heart as both, “a symbol and living image of the infinite love of Christ.”

Wonderful Story . . .

This was a happy ending thanks to a dog!
http://www.lifenews.com/2013/06/06/family-dog-saves-abandoned-newborn-baby-brings-infant-home/
Seems like 'man's best friend' cares more about life than many of the human 'masters' do!

Life Adjustments . . .

Although everyone has to take a driving test in order to get a permit to operate a car, it seems that many forget all they learned the minute they legally get behind the wheel of their own car. It used to be that when a traffic light turned green, I would immediate proceed across the intersection. After many near misses, I have learned that the traffic that previously has the green light are not about to forfeit their right to keep going through the intersection . . . even if they are doing so on the red. These days, I observe the light has turned green, look both ways to see what the other drivers are contemplating, and only then move into the intersection. I don't want to get hit and getting hit even when you are going on the green light, is a daily possibility.

Today, I was coming down our residential street which sports a double-yellow line indicating that there is no passing on the street and it can only be crossed if turning into a driveway. The speed limit is supposed to be 35 mph because there are children and joggers in the area. I had come to my home and had my directional signal going to indicate that I was turning into the driveway. Just as I was half way turned towards my driveway, a car tears past me on the left side just missing hitting me directly on the driver's side. A speeding car and a illegal passing maneuver and near accident which would have resulted in serious injury. The car practically drove up on the curb - not to actually avoid hitting me so much as to not have to reduce his speed in going on his way. No respect for human life and total disregard of basic driving rules.

These problems are encountered often and I have learned to be extra careful. This morning, I was making a left-hand turn on the green arrow and a woman comes zooming in front of me. Her green light had long turned red but she kept driving anyway. Since she passed so closely in front of me, it was plain to see that she was chatting away on her cell phone (against the law in California while driving) and seemingly oblivious to her infractions of the law. I also noticed she was dressed for work as a nurse. This cause me some reflection. I had to wonder if she observed all the safeguards and rules required for good nursing and medical practice. It might sound like a silly thought but if she doesn't care about rules of the road that are n place for a reason, it is scary to think that she might also take shortcuts, etc. in her treatment of patients.

Discipline and obedience are not usually in play on only parts of our life. A person who cares about their job, their family, their children, should also care about every aspect of their being in this world. Yes, this was kind of an offbeat way for me to make this observation.  I know that for myself, that if I let one aspect go undone or ignored, the laziness and disrespect eventually creeps into other situations or obligations. Given the self-centered world we life in, today, I think my thoughts just might have a lot of veracity.

Tolerance vs. Loving . . .

The Devil's Plan For DestructionWritten by Guy Finley

The chief devil calls together every possible evil entity that is in range of his magnetic voice and says, "How can we interfere up there in the world that dwells between ours and the Light we despise? What can we do to further deceive human beings? We must keep them living in the dark, unaware of the Light that wants to release them from our influence. I want something so evil, so sinister, that no one will know what happened. Who's got a good idea?"

That instant the flames of all the little imps gathered there in the smoldering dark go dim; they're afraid of their leader, who will fry them for failing. A day later, as planned, they all return with a few ideas, although nothing spectacular. Then, out of nowhere, one tiny imp hops on the shoulder of the chief devil and whispers something in his ear. A second later, and *kaboom* flames shoot out of every pore of the chief devil as he shouts, "Ah! I have the plan in hand!"

He looks around at all of his lieutenants, each of whom is assigned to certain individuals on Earth, and gleefully instructs them: "I want you to go up there and slowly spread among the sleeping masses the idea of 'tolerance.' Do whatever it takes to succeed. Convince them that this idea is their own, and that they should start teaching that learning to tolerate each other is the same as loving one another. Oh yes! This is my best deception yet! It's a real killer!"

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Gluten-Free and Suffering? You think? :-)

When I mentioned to a friend that we were trying a gluten-free menu, her first explanation was, "You are going to starve!"

As I try to type and munch on a warm oatmeal cookie from the oven, I don't feel deprived of anything! It seems that eating gluten-free has exploded on the scene and just about any 'normal' recipe you have enjoyed, can now be worked into a gluten-free format. No, bread will never be exactly like the wheat version but we are finding a lot of bread recipes that actually appeal to us more. The challenge adds a lot to my interest in baking and no one around here has lost any weight over the gluten-free lifestyle. When we decided to try going gluten-free, my husband started rattling off the favorite Christmas cookies he looks forward to each year and wanted to know if I could still make them. So far, I have either adjusted recipes or found gluten-free versions - some of which we have liked even better.

Today, I tried a gluten-free version of oatmeal raisin cookies. As you can see from the pictures, they worked out very well. Since the first batch is almost gone, I'd venture I could pronounce them a success. The recipe can be found here: http://glutenfreeonashoestring.com/thick-chewy-oatmeal-chocolate-chip-cookies/ The only changes I made to the recipe was omitting the chocolate chips and adding some freshly-grated lemon zest and two tablespoons of chia seeds for some added fiber.

I have a small collection of gluten-free cooking/baking books on hand now and have found recipe keepers in each of them, however, my favorite author has to be Nicole Hunn. She has written two cookbooks to date : Gluten-Free on a Shoestring and Gluten-free on a Shoestring - Quick & Easy. I like her books as she does, indeed, simplify gluten-free recipes with basics. If you follow her advice, you will actually save money rather then feel like you are putting out more money to do this. She also has a Blog that I highly recommend as there are even more recipes listed there.

A sideline to our adventure into gluten-free eating is that less than a month into it, my husband realized that he does have a mild case of celiac. Once we got the gluten out of the house and his system, he had been able to put aside all the digestive medications he has been taking for years. It was by mere accident that I picked up a book on being gluten-free. It was amazing that my husband said to go ahead and see how it goes. Looks like God sent the message and, for once, we listened!