Saturday was game day in our State (Utah). The BYU Cougars and The UofU Utes met in Provo for the battle for the Beehive Boot. That's a big deal here. Rivalry week can get pretty intense as the media whips the public into a frenzy. My Daughter and husband are season ticket holders at the Lavell Edwards Stadium (BYU). Friday night my grandson decided he didn't want to go--so they had a an extra ticket and immiediatly thought of me since I am a die hard cougar fan and have never, NEVER been to the big rivalry game (tickets are almost impossible to get). So this information sets the background for my letter of regret.
Mom
from the house
Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009
Dear Daughter and Son-in-law,
I was so excited to be considered as a candidate for your extra ticket to the big Utes vs. Cougars game. I have never been to the big game so I was extremely excited at the opportunity presented.
It is with regret that I inform you that I must decline the offer. As you recall I have recently been afflicted with Bell's Palsy. Travel, sunlight and cold weather aggravate the condition. I hope in two years time when the Utes again meet with the Cougars at Lavell Edwards stadium you will once again consider taking me along.
This weeks topic is . . . What would you like to see made into a Documentary?
I like documentaries. So does my youngest daughter. Late at night we often watch the Discovery Channel, or the History Channel, Animal Planet and the National Geographic Channel. Of course you already know that anything can be a documentary. My favorites are the "How does that work?" films. But I also enjoy Historical Documentaries. My daughter likes the medical ones--the bloodier the better. (I cringe and shut my eyes). Currently I guess I'd like to watch a documentary about "Bell's Palsy--what causes it and how to deal with the symptoms".
I had a rough weekend with it so I haven't blogged or visited any blogs since Wednesday (I scheduled posts for the weekend on Wednesday). I'm feeling a little better this morning so hopefully I'll be able to get around and see how you all did over the weekend.
Some people will do anything for true love — even if they have to fake it.
Jen Maitland had no use for handsome guys with easy charm — until she met Zach. He's the perfect fake date to end her mother's matchmaking scheme before it starts. Besides, he'd probably just use her and leave her like her ex-fiancé did. At least that's what Jen tells herself. The only problem is that Zach isn't as predictable as he appears...
Zach Coxwell hates commitment, but loves a challenge. Like the pretty bar waitress who turned him down flat for a date — only to invite him to her family's Thanksgiving dinner. Zach knows he can make Jen smile — and he's betting that he can unravel her mysteries — even if he has to do it over candied yams.
A tofu turkey, a sister who threatens to have Zach's love-child, the untimely appearance of a knitted avocado — and Zach's discovery of her real motive — combine to turn Thanksgiving dinner into Jen's worst nightmare. Zach, on the other hand, has the time of his life.
And when he makes Jen smile, he finally finds a commitment he's willing to make...but persuading Jen to believe him will take everything he's got.
I enjoyed this book. It is a sweet little holiday romance. The reading is light--the plot a no brainer. One knows how the story will turn out just by reading the jacket. But if you're in the mood for a relaxing holiday read, this book will fit the bill.
This summer we visited Hill Air Force Museum. They had a learning center for children. The grandchildren got to try on flight suits, conduct experiments, try their hand in a flight simulator and play in the cockpit of an airplane. They learned a lot about aero-space technology and had fun while they learned.
Flying Tigers was the popular name of the 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Chinese Air Force in 1941-1942. Arguably, the group was a private military contractor, and for that reason the volunteers have sometimes been called mercenaries. They were mostly former United States Army (USAAF), Navy (USN), and Marine Corps (USMC) pilots and ground crew, recruited under Presidential sanction and commanded by Claire Lee Chennault. The group consisted of three fighter squadrons with about 20 aircraft each. It trained in Burma before the American entry into World War II with the mission of defending China against Japanese forces.
The Tigers' shark-faced fighters remain among the most recognizable of any individual combat aircraft of World War II, and they demonstrated innovative tactical victories when the news in the U.S. was filled with little more than stories of defeat at the hands of the Japanese forces.
The group first saw combat on 20 December 1941, 12 days after Pearl Harbor (local time). It achieved notable success during the lowest period of the war for U.S. and Allied Forces, giving hope to Americans that they would eventually succeed against the Japanese. The Tigers were paid combat bonuses for destroying nearly 300 enemy aircraft while losing only 14 pilots on combat missions. In July 1942, the AVG was replaced by the U.S. Army 23rd Fighter Group, which was later absorbed into the U.S. 14th Air Force with General Chennault as commander. The 23rd FG went on to achieve similar combat success, while retaining the nose art and nickname of the volunteer unit.
My Mother-in-law makes the best Chicken Noodle Soup for Thanksgiving. We eat it over the mashed potatoes instead of gravy. There is no recipe--it's one of those family traditions handed down from mother to daughter. You have to learn to make it with her and then you store it in your own head and heart and pass it on to your daughters with love. These pictures are from a day my daughter and I spent with grandma learning how to make the soup.
Word of the day: Thanksgiving Day; a day set apart for giving thanks to God
The "word of the day" is chosen by me and usually has something to do with my day. This is an "increase your vocabulary activity" Play the game like this: Open up a thesaurus on-line. Type the word of the day in the search bar. Using the generated words write a sentence, paragraph, poem, story; anything you choose using at least one of the generated words.
On this day set aside for giving thanks to God for blessingsbestowed during the year, I hope that I have found favor in the sight of God. And may He bestow upon you his approval also. I hope I will remember to be grateful each day of the year and be found worthy of his grace. This is my humble invocation on this Thanksgiving Day.
For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the beauty of each hour,
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.
Text Follisott Pier Point 1833-1917
Music Conrad Kecher 1766-1872
(copyright-the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Hymn #92) This music may be copied and downloaded for incidental, noncommercial church or home use.
The Acrostic poem is a fun poem you can use to really define your subject.
How to Write an Acrostic Poem Tips:
Choose a subject.
Brainstorm for material that relates to the subject.
Write the title vertically on the page, one letter per line.
Make sure each line starts with the corresponding letter.
Every line must relate back to the subject.
Cranberry
Cranberries grow on tiny vines Rooting in shallow beds of sand Applications of nitrogen help the berries grow New blossoms are lightly pink Busy bees pollinate the flowers Early berries are pearly white Reddening as they mature Ripe berries float on flooded beds, gently harvested Yielding mouth-watering compotes, jellies, and juices
I love Thanksgiving dinner, My favorite part of the meal is actually the cranberries. I love them with the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and even spread on a piping hot dinner roll. Here is my favorite Cranberry Recipe. I make it up at Thanksgiving--filling glass jars and refrigerating them. It lasts all through the holidays and I can enjoy the fresh cranberry flavor again and again.
Ingredients:
1 pound fresh cranberries
1 cup water
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 whole orange, seeds removed, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 cup peeled and chopped apple
1 cup peeled and chopped pear
1 cup golden raisins
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans
Directions:
In a medium heavy saucepan combine cranberries and water and cook until berries burst, about 10 minutes. Add all other ingredients except pecans and cook, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens, about 25 minutes. Add nuts, stir to combine, and allow to cool. Transfer to a nonreactive bowl or jar and refrigerate, covered, for up to 2 weeks. Conserve may also be frozen in plastic food storage bags for up to 1 year. Alternatively, you can process hot mixture in sterilized jars and keep in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.
The first movie that popped into my head was about a scruffy little horse ridden by a has been frontier man in "Hidalgo". They take on the finest horses of the world in a race across the arabian desert and come victorious narrowly escaping death.
Naturally the second movie I thought of was "Sea Biscut" The story of another scrappy horse that takes on the triple crown winner in a match race. He wins giving a nation hope during it's darkest hours of the depression.
As far as human sports the first movie I thought of was "Remember the Titans" a story about a newly hired black coach who has the responsibility of overcoming racial segregation and creating a champion team with both black and white players. Denzel Washington stars as the coach--so you just know it's a good film.
Gene Hackman likewise stars as a coach in Hoosiers. I don't remember it very well--but I like Gene Hackman and I remember the movie was good.
A few months back I watched "We are Marshall". I cried. It was an inspiring film about a football team that is killed in a plane crash devastating the town in its wake. The movie is the story of recovery, rebuilding a team and winning against all odds. I loved it.
I likewise loved "8 seconds" the story of a champion bull rider who dies at the end. So sad. I cried at that one too.
So let me end with three comedies about victorious sportsmen
"Cool Runnings" a champion bob sledding team from Jamaica
"Heaven Can Wait" a story about a famous football player who is wrongly taken in death and given a second chance at life when he is placed in a different body--very sweet and very funny
and my favorite movie about champions would be "The Sandlot" a story about boys kickin' it up in a vacant lot.
Over the weekend . . .
I went to "New Moon" (yes I did). It was better than Twilight. A bigger film company made a difference in the quality of the film. No winners in this film though just losers involved in the most bizarre love triangle ever written about (werewolf loves human who loves vampire). Jacob the werewolf was in fine form. Edward the vampire was skanky looking. Thankfully Bella the human didn't whine near as much in this film. It was a little choppy in it's transitions and pretty slow. So if you haven't read the books I would suggest skipping it. But I went with all my kids and it was fun. Afterwards we did some Christmas shopping and took the little ones to see Santa.
(sorry no linking today, I think I overdid it on the weekend and the eye is a little dry this morning)
That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.
To make the turkey: Position the rack in the lowest third of the oven and preheat to 400* F
Rinse the turkey and pat it dry with paper towels. Place the turkey on a rack set inside a large roasting pan. Place the orange and lemon wedges, onion, and 2 sprigs of each fresh herb in the main turkey cavity. Tie the legs together to hold the shape of the turkey. Stir 2 tablespoons of butter, the herbes de Provence, oil, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of each the salt and pepper in a small saucepan over medium heat just until the butter melts. Rub the butter mixture all over the turkey and between the turkey breast meat and skin. Place the turkey neck and giblets in roasting pan. (Recipe can be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before roasting.)
Cover the turkey breast with foil. Roast for 20 minutes. Pour 3 cups of broth into the pan and stir to scrape up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Add the remaining sprigs of fresh herbs to the pan. Roast the turkey for 40 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Remove the foil from the turkey; pour 1 more cup of broth into the pan. Continue roasting the turkey until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F to 175 degrees F or until the juices run clear when the thickest part of the thigh is pierced with a skewer, basting occasionally with pan juices, about 1 hour and 30 minutes longer. Transfer the turkey to a platter and tent with foil. Let stand 30 minutes while preparing the gravy.
To make the gravy: Strain the turkey pan juices from the roasting pan through a sieve and into a 4-cup glass measuring cup; discard the solids. Spoon off the fat from atop the pan juices. Add enough chicken broth, about 1 to 2 cups, to the pan juices to measure 4 cups total. Melt the remaining butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the flour and whisk for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the broth. Simmer until the gravy thickens slightly, whisking often, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the turkey with the gravy.
PS. I've found I can make a post--if I wear sunglasses while looking at the screen--but visiting blogs is very difficult because of the flashing lights as each blog closes and opens. So I'll probably post, but not visit for the next few weeks. Hope you'll be patient with me!
Word of the day: Bell’s Palsy; suddenly occurring paralysis that distorts one side of the face, caused by a lesion of the facial nerve.
The "word of the day" is chosen by me and usually has something to do with my day. This is an "increase your vocabulary activity" Play the game like this: Open up a thesaurus on-line. Type the word of the day in the search bar. Using the generated words write a sentence, paragraph, poem, story; anything you choose using at least one of the generated words.
Yesterday I was stricken with Bell’s palsy. The word Palsy is actually a verb that means to paralyze. Yesterday I woke with a tingling in my mouth along with a metal taste to all my food. I tried to blog but by the time my picture was posted my eye was in an agony. I spent most of the day applying heat to the aching muscles of the left side of my jaw, neck and shoulder. My eye continued to feel irritated so I moistened it with some eye drops. Company came for dinner and my daughter came to assist me in the preparations. As we worked in the kitchen she said, “Mom, do you have Bell’s Palsy again?” (Yes I’ve had it before, on the right side of my face). I went to the bathroom and peeked in the mirror—and yes the left side of my face had ceased to move. We laughed hysterically as I pulled faces. The grandchildren all came running to see what was so funny. Funny, funny grandma. Last time I was affected for about a month. Unfortunately looking at the computer causes serious eye strain, so alas I’m forced to take a break from my blogging circles. I’ll try to at least get to Monday Missions, and a picture or two—but if I don’t, have a Happy Thanksgiving.
P.S. Painted Maypole--I think that sleep mask is going to come in handy right about now :)
this week I'm handing out the "you made a difference award". I've participated in the Wordless Wednesday Post for a whole year. I've met many wonderful people through this meme. I appreciate those who regularly stop by and visit my blog. You've made a difference in my blogging experience.
Here are the rules:
You don’t have to accept it if you don’t want to. You don’t have to post it anywhere on your blog unless you want to. You don’t have to mention where you got it or link back. You don’t have to pass it on unless you really want to. The only requirement for passing it on is that you give it to someone who has really made a difference in your blogging experience. In other words it’s just a way to say Thanks.
