(Published on surfKY News on December 8, 2011)
This is quickly turning into one of the busiest times of the year. We are rushing around trying to find that perfect gift, planning our family get-togethers and planning our holiday menus, not to mention dealing with the growing excitement of the little ones around us.
Back before my life schedule became super busy, I used to plan for months the gifts that I was going to give my family and friends. I was a lot more “crafty” in my younger years, having more time and better eyesight for things like needlework and any craft that involved a glue gun. Several years ago, I put away my crochet needles and traded in my heated glue gun for a bottle of Gorilla Glue. But this year, I feel my crafty side itching to drag out my craft boxes, my ribbons and of course, my hot glue gun.
(Published on surfKY News on November 30, 2011)
T-minus 24 days and counting. Ask any person under the age of 12 and they will tell you exactly what will be in 24 days. This is also the time of year that you can get your child to jump up and do just about any chore that needs to be done. They know this is the time of the year that Santa is making out his list of who is naughty and who is nice.
I can remember the excitement that would be brewing in my home when my JoJo was little. It was so exciting. We would put up the Christmas tree as soon as the turkey was put away and we always made a chain out of colored construction paper. Each day, we would remove a chain and each day, we would get closer to the arrival of Jolly St. Nick. There is just something magical about the Christmas season when you have a child to celebrate it with. But as we grow older, we must keep the magic going. We must continue to believe.
(Published on surfKY News on November 23, 2011)
“Black Friday” is the name given to the Friday following Thanksgiving day and was first used by the Philadelphia Police Department. The PPD used the term to describe the massive traffic jams and over-crowded sidewalks as the stores were mobbed from the time they opened until the time they closed.
Tomorrow is Black Friday, but many retailers have decided that this year, they will start their sales on this side of midnight. Many turkey-stuffed people believe it will be much easier to go out late Thanksgiving night than to get up early the day after Turkey day.
(Published on surfKY News on November 17, 2011)
Last week, I told my friend that on Thursday, November 17, we would be celebrating National Homemade Bread Day and asked if he minded if I shared their recipe for those wonderful rolls. I saw him yesterday and he asked me if I knew that today (Thursday) was National Homemade Bread Day. “Uh...well...yeah. I'm the one that told you.” He had arranged for many people in the office to bring in some homemade bread so they could celebrate. Only problem was, I was not going to be in that office today. So, I provide the information about the day and he made arrangements for the celebration that I do not get to attend. He knows I'm just picking on him, like I always do. But trust me; he gets his jabs into me also.
(Published on iSurf News on November 10, 2011)
Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen were repeatedly turned down by publishers when they wrote their first “Chicken Soup” book. Today, over 200 titles later and over 112 million copies in print, the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series is one of the best-selling paperback series of all time.
"Changing The World One Story at a Time" is the mantra of the writers who chose the name of the books because of the use of chicken soup as being “good for the body”. Their inspirational stories were meant to be “good for the soul”. Many of the books are targeted to certain groups and have been known to be great gifts. With the upcoming holidays, consider giving one of these books for your favorite pet lover or teacher. Everyone loves a book with stories about their passion.
(Published on iSurf News on October 27, 2011)
Earlier this week, special guest, Hugh Sweatt, was talking about how, when he was a kid, he knew which houses to go to and which houses to skip on Halloween. He talked about how people used to hand out homemade candy and popcorn balls rather than the pre-packaged, bite-sized candy people hand out today. Now, keep in mind, he was talking about a time when children could safely roam their neighborhood and people watched out for each other’s children. Trick-or-Treaters would create their costumes out of items from their parents’ closets and their mother's make up bag, and then they would grab a pillowcase and set out on their mission. They would spend hours hanging out with their friends, knocking on doors and getting great treats only to come home, empty out their sugar treasures and go out for more.
(Published on iSurf News on October 20, 2011)
Since October 24 is National Bologna Day I figured we would just talk about a lot of bologna for this week.
Bologna sandwiches are so much better when someone else makes them. I'm not sure why, I just know they are. I recently shared with you that my Granny Goldie always made the best bologna sandwiches in the world. There was just something about the way she slapped that piece of meat between two pieces of bread. Since she has been gone for many years, I only have the memories of those scrumptious sandwiches.
Last week, a friend of mine brought me a bologna sandwich. There was bologna, tomato, lettuce and mayo loaded up on two pieces of fresh white bread. I could not get it out of the sandwich bag fast enough. I will have to admit, my friend Angie makes a mean bologna sandwich. But was it better than Granny Goldie's?
