Beyond Words

Happy Birthday America!   Today is the start of a celebratory three-day weekend for most Americans with trips to the beach, neighborhood bar-b-cues, and the shooting of fireworks.  Did you know Americans spend nearly $600 million on fireworks every Fourth of July and that all those flashes in the sky have actual names?    Here’s a primer to help you look like a fireworks genius tonight:

The Willow

Normally produces trails of silver or gold stars that leave weeping willow-like lines floating down.

The Peony

Often the most common firework, this sphere of colored stars and dots is easy to spot.

The Palm

Aptly named, this boomer looks just like a palm tree when it bursts.

The Spider

My favorite, the spider is fast-burning and shoots stars and lines straight out and in a very powerful manner.

The Chrysanthemum

A virtual “flower in the sky,” this gorgeous firework looks just like the flower it’s named after.

I love watching big displays of fireworks, but I’m not keen on the kind that people set off in streets and parks.  I do remember always playing with sparklers as a little girl though, and I still like them.   I will be thinking of my “little girl” as she “celebrates” the Fourth in Spain with her fellow Americans!

AMERICA THE INTERESTING

We all know the famous landmarks of our nation…the U.S. Capitol, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, etc., but today I thought I’d share some lesser known but just as interesting points on the U.S. map.

Four Corners

This is the only place in the country where four states converge…and I’ve been there!  Nestled where New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, and Colorado meet, Four Corners is actually managed by the Navajo Nation and is depicted by a bronze disk embedded in granite.  You can stand on top of that disk, making it fun to put each hand and foot in four different states!

The Geographic Center of the U.S.

Two miles northwest of tiny Lebanon, Kansas you’ll find a trapezoidal stone structure and a 10-foot podium that mark the geographic center of the contiguous 48 states.  Toto you are in Kansas and you’re smack dab in the middle of the U.S.!

The Mason-Dixon Line

Often thought of as a Civil War battle line, the Mason-Dixon Line was actually drawn up nearly a century before the War Between the States.  It all started with a feud between the Penn family of Pennsylvania and the Calvert family of Maryland.  Following a court order, the two clans hired English surveyors Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon to mark the border of their disputed lands with stone markers beginning in 1763.  The markers were placed every mile and crown stones bearing the coasts of arms of both families were placed every fifth mile.  Volunteers have today located nearly 200 of the original 230 markers and some 250 years later, the work remains along borders separating Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Southernmost Point

Key West, Florida is home to the country’s southernmost point and a painted concrete buoy marks the spot.  Our family visited Key West one Christmas and saw this famous landmark, which draws a million visitors a year.  Lines form for photos and nearby sunsets are famous.  Amazingly, the buoy sits just 90 miles from Cuba and is located where a Western Union cable once connected the U.S. to Cuba.

THE RIGHT TO BE PROUD

However you celebrate today, try to remember what you’re celebrating and how great a country we are fortunate to live in.  Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from England and guaranteeing certain inalienable rights.  As written by our forefathers, these rights cannot be taken away or changed and don’t come from man, but from our creator.  It’s important to remember that the government does not create rights, it creates laws.  Despite our many conflicts and differences, we are all Americans and we should all be grateful for our many freedoms and rights and to call this country home.

Happy Independence Day everyone and God Bless America!

Today’s the day. The day when much of America will stand still at around 3 p.m. CST. That’s when our newly beloved U.S. soccer team will take on their counterparts from Belgium in a win or go home World Cup match.

Never in a gazillion years did I ever think I’d be watching, much less writing about, soccer. I remember watching endless matches of my two nephews but the soccer bug just never bit me. Not even during the World Cup four years ago. Yes, every Olympics I’m there rooting for the U.S.A. but for some reason this year’s World Cup is different. I love seeing the throngs of people gathering in cities across America and I love watching all the YouTube videos.

Yes, I may not be a tried and true soccer fan, but I am a sports fan and I am an American fan. That’s why I’ll be sitting on the edge of my living room seat during today’s game and that’s why I find a new Pew Research Poll appalling.

Not Proud to Be American?!
How can the same country that is boasting more fans in Brazil than any other country have so many citizens who say they aren’t proud to be American? That’s the results of the exhaustive poll, in which an amazing 44 percent of all respondents said they didn’t often feel proud to be American. Ouch.

Here’s how it all came down. Pew divided their samples into right-wing/left-wing categories and when asked if they “often feel proud to be American,” 60 percent of liberals said no while 80 percent of conservatives said yes. I find this shocking, alarming, and actually quite puzzling.

It all brought to mind Michelle Obama proclaiming back in 2008 that “For the first time is my adult lifetime, I’m really proud of my country.” Really? You weren’t proud when we landed on the moon, when we won the “Miracle on Ice,” or when Sandra Day O’Connor became the first ever female Supreme Court Justice? Double ouch.

What do these people want? They have the White House and the Senate. They got their nationalized health care, gay marriage is being ratified state-by-state, and legalized pot is more and more popular in places besides Colorado. The southern border is virtually open and the national media is firmly planted on their side. What’s scary is that experts says these disgruntled Americans aren’t moving to countries they could maybe be proud of, but instead are hurting America even more by being less willing to do the hard work necessary to make things better. I don’t get it. You think they’d be so thrilled with the state of our country and that conservatives would be the ones upset. Go figure.

I will admit I’m not always proud of  America, but I am always proud to be  American. In a matter of hours I will be chanting “I believe that we will win” and screaming “U.S.A., U.S.A.” as our boys take on Belgium. Win or lose, I will be proud to be an American.

I was so happy to recently see a photo of a door in a favorite blog I follow. I love doors and windows myself and often photograph them. Great bloggers think alike!

The front door of your house is a visitor’s first impression of you and your home so it’s important to take the time and effort to make the entry to your house a pleasant and inviting one. It’s also worth the money, as doors can be so very expensive!

A clearly defined entry point is paramount. No one likes to have to wander around and wonder where the front door is. A guest should be able to quickly identify a main entrance upon pulling up to your house. The phrase “curb appeal” is suggested in more than just a real estate way. You literally want the front of your home to be appealing. Landscaping should be maintained and your front porch should be considered an extension of your home. Clean it just as you would a kitchen or bathroom.

Spring and summer are the times of year that you can really spruce up your front entry with flowers, seating, and décor. Just be sure to not project the feeling that you are “spilling” out of your house by junking up your front porch. A couple of rockers, a small table, and some plants are suffice.

Lighting is also important. I’m obsessed with lantern-style lights but as long as your choice is functioning and tasteful, you should be good to go. Two other guaranteed front door facelifts include unique house numbers and a decorative doormat. I love changing my out with the seasons!

Now for the physical door itself. I adore painted doors. I’m not a big fan of double front doors but and I tend to lean toward a traditional look. Go with what you like, just be sure the door you choose matches the style of your home.

Here are some of my favorites:

It’s also fun to decorate your door for holidays and change things out for different seasons:

An appealing entrance is both welcoming and attractive:

I’m still working on a new summer wreath, but here’s my home front so far this summer:

I wish you luck and I wish you fun but most of all…

Last Sunday I wrote about hope and the fact that it’s often easy to lose your faith and abandon all hope. I had no idea that a true test of hope and faith in God was going to face me head on in the coming days, and in many ways I failed.

My daughter Kristen left to study in Spain last Wednesday. Me, being the perpetual planner that I am, have been organizing the details of her doing so since…forever. I worked with an expert travel planner at AAA to ensure her flight was booked correctly and was the best one out there. She and I bought her travel items and Googled till we were blue in the face. I’d finished my novena to St. Ann and had friends and family praying.  She had a non-stop flight from Dallas to Madrid.  Everything was set.  Easy peasy, right?

Wrong.  The morning of her flight thunderstorms decided to deluge Dallas. Her flight out of Austin was delayed more than two hours and making her connection was in serious jeopardy.  Just when I was about to totally lose it, she called and said they were taking off and Dallas-bound.  Still, barring a miracle, how would she ever land, taxi, depart her flight and somehow make it to her internationally-bound gate…in 45 minutes…at an airport bigger than the island of Manhattan?!

All I could do was hope.  And pray.  And swear.  And cry.

In the meantime I knew Plan B had to be arranged.  I had British Airways on my cell phone and American Airlines on the landline trying to figure out what their plans were should she miss her connection. It’s not like there was another flight leaving for Madrid in 40 minutes. This was going to be a big deal.  (For the record, I never spoke to an AA operator after being on hold for more than 30 minutes, but during this same 30 minutes, I was helped numerous times by BA representatives.  #nothappywithAmericanairlines!)

I was also on the phone with my dear friend Kathy in Dallas for both support and to ask if she could pick Kristen up should she miss her connecting flight. Did I mention I was balling every time I spoke with Kathy? She, however, was a rock. She assured me all would work out and all would be fine. I can never thank her enough.

Long story short, Kristen arrived Dallas (after taxing for what to me seemed like forever as the flight waited for a gate to open up!), hopped on the Tram, and made it to her departing gate. She called me from inside the plane and told me in Spanish, I’m on the plane! She was so calm and collected the entire time. I cannot say how impressed I am with her.  My girl is all growed up.

Now back to me. Did I mention I was a mess???? Let me also add that Smitty was in Chicago so I was solo…doing this all on my own…save for Kathy. At one point I was literally on my knees begging God to perform a miracle and to please let her make her connection. I lit my St. Jude candle and implored upon St. Ann and dear sweet Mary. I was scared and I was angry. I have faced some tremendous challenges and disappointments  in the past few months and weeks and I felt like, “Why God? Why now and why me, again?” Even more importantly, why Kristen? All I asked for was for her to be safe and secure. Was that too much to ask?

No, not of God. She made her connection in a most miraculous fashion and was safely on her way to Spain.  And, thanks to a snazzy website Kathy told me about, I could literally “follow” her flight path all the way to Madrid. I was in and out of sleep all night doing so but each time I awoke, there was my St. Jude candle, glowing supportively. Never give up it seemed to be saying. God is here.

Yes He was and yes He is.  I am still thanking Him.

“Do not worry about anything and have no anxiety. Instead, tell God your needs and thank Him for His answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest.” Phil. 4:6-7

Home of the original Whole Foods, Austin is chalk-full of health food stores. In my own little area of town, we are getting a brand new Sprouts in the coming months…right across from Randall’s!

Before I continue, I need to come clean in that I dread going to the grocery store and do not get excited about a Sprouts, Whole Foods, or even a Trader Joes. And, even among people I know who do anticipate a new store’s opening, their main complaint about these types of stores is that they are so much more expensive than your average HEB. It’s no secret that eating healthy and deliciously on a budget can be hard to do. “Readers Digest” recently ran a list of what to “splurge on” and what to “save on” and I found it interesting and educational. I hope you do too!

Splurge On
Honey. Cheap honey may be cute in its bear-shaped container but it’s also probably full of corn syrup.

Coffee. “Consumer Reports” says Gloria Jean’s and Newman’s Own coffees may be more expensive, but are hands down better tasting then other supermarket brands.

Pasta. You don’t have to spend a whole lot more for chefs’ picks like Barilla or DeCecco and by doing so you will avoid the often mushy mess you end up with when buying cheaper brands.

Extra-virgin olive oil. Always check for a regional seal of certification on the bottle and keep in mind that 50 percent of the olive oil sold in the U.S. may be full of cheap filler oils.

Vanilla extract. True vanilla, with its 200 flavor notes, is your best bet. My favorite isn’t from any store, but from Mexico!

Chocolate. Opt for real dark chocolate and avoid the tempting dollar bars that often combine 20-plus ingredients to make their bar-shaped amalgam of brown chemicals.

Save On
Ground beef. Avoid those “time saving” ready-made frozen burgers, as E. coli is more prevalent in them then in ground beef. Besides, is it really that difficult to form your own patties?!

Cheese. Are you melting or mixing your cheese? Then go cheap! They melt better and you’ll save money.

Everyday oil. When cooking with oil you can usually substitute vegetable or regular olive oil for the much-more expensive extra-virgin olive oil, which isn’t recommended for high heat cooking anyway.

Wine. In a blind taste test, both consumers and wine experts liked more inexpensive wines as much as, if not more so, their pricey counterparts. The Bogle line is one of my favorites.

Baking mixes. A “Consumer Reports” study showed that Duncan Hines brownies from a box are just as good as ones made from pricier gourmet mixes.

Bottled water. Don’t be fooled by the foreign or natural sounding name. Nearly half of all bottled water in the U.S. comes straight from purified municipal tap water, not some natural spring in Oregon or France. You can feel safe buying a store-brand label or better yet, avoid on all that plastic waste and use a simple in-home filter.

Frozen produce. It’s cheaper than out-of-season fresh produce and is often higher in nutrients and better tasting. Frozen broccoli is said to have 35 percent more beta-carotene by weight then fresh broccoli. Here’s a short list of what’s in season when:
Spring:  apricots, artichokes, asparagus, strawberries, sweet peas and watercress.

Summer:  berries, cherries, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, figs, melons, okra, peaches, peas, plums, rhubarb, summer squash, tomatillos, and tomatoes.

Fall:  apples, cranberries, dates, figs, mushrooms, pears, pomegranates, sweet potatoes, winter squash.

Winter:  Brussels sprouts, fennel, grapefruit, kale, limes, radicchio, tangerines, turnips.

BOUGHT.  NOW WHAT?
Once you get home with all your groceries, where’s the best place to put them to ensure maximum life?

Cheese, covered butter, and all dairy products should go on your refrigerator’s top shelf.

Cooked meats and leftovers should go on a middle shelf.

The bottom shelf, which is the coldest, is ideal for eggs, raw meats and poultry, and seafood.

The door of your refrigerator is its warmest part so use it for less temperature-sensitive items like condiments and salad dressings.

Drawers are best for produce, but not all produce, and it does matter what you put in the same drawer, as some emit a gas that may accelerate the ripening of other produce next to them. In general:

Refrigerate
Apples, berries, broccoli, carrots, celery, cherries, grapes, leafy greens, and zucchini.

Don’t Refrigerate
Avocados, bananas, garlic, kiwi, lemons, limes, melons, oranges, peaches, pears, pineapple, potatoes, tomatoes, and onions…although…I do refrigerate my onions because it prevents them from making you cry when you cut them!

SELL BY & USE BY
How long does food stay fresh? Dr. Oz’s “The Good Life” warns readers that terms like “use by” often aren’t regulated and even the “sniff test” isn’t reliable because many illness-causing germs don’t always have a scent. Here’s a guide to go by:

In the fridge
1-2 days – raw ground meat

3 days – opened salsa or pesto

3-4 days – roasted chicken, Chinese takeout, cooked veggies, prepared chicken or tuna salad

3-5 days – raw steaks, chops, or roasts; opened deli meat

1 week – cooked rice

3-4 weeks – opened hard cheese, eggs (if they float in cold water, they are old)

5-7 days past “sell by date” – milk

1-3 months – butter

In the Freezer
1-2 months – hotdogs, lunch meats, bacon, sausage, fully-cooked ham
6 months – butter, hard cheeses, nuts
1 year – steaks, chops, roasts

In the Pantry
2-4 days – fresh bread

1 year past expiration date – dry and unopened dry pasta, crackers, and cereals.

1.5-2 years – solid chocolate

20 years – canned soups and veggies

Wow! That’s a lot of info coming from someone who hates to go grocery shopping! Let me know if you have any other tips or tidbits. Happy listing, shopping, bagging, unloading, and putting away! See why I detest grocery shopping!  Can’t I just have this guy shop and cook for me?

Do you ever feel like you’ve done all you can and you’ve prayed in earnest and yet your hope is gone?  Trust me, I’ve been there.  I found this prayer by Helen Smith today that made feel just a tad hopeful though:

Dear God:

As I begin this day let me turn my thoughts to you

And ask your help in guiding me in everything I do

Give me patience I need for my peace of mind

And with life’s cares I hope Dear God, some happiness to find

Let me live for today not worrying what’s ahead

For I trust that you will see I get my daily bread

Give me courage to face life’s trials and not from my troubles run

Let me keep this thought in mind:  “thy will not mine be done”

And if some wish I do not get though I have prayed to Thee

Help me to believe and understand You know what’s best for me

I’ve failed many times I know, but when tonight I rest

I hope that I can kneel and say “Dear God I’ve tried my best.”

I know it’s hard to “keep calm” and to “keep the faith,” but when all else fails and I’m feeling neglected or alone, I try to remember that God loves me and that’s all that really matters.  Whatever today, tomorrow and life holds for me, I will let Him have control.

I love my bed. I actually look forward to climbing into it every night. Not only is it comfy and cozy, next to it are books I’m reading, my TV remote for late-night viewing, and Boomer. Sometimes it even includes my daughter or my husband too!

Still, as hard as I try and as much as I buy, falling into bed at home never lives up to doing so in a high end hotel.  What gives?  Well, I’ve researched and dug, and here are some tips for duplicating that five star bed of your dreams. I hope the result will be sweet dreams for everyone, wherever you are!

The first thing you probably notice about a dreamy bed are its many layers. Much more than just sheets and a comforter, the perfect bed consists of sheets, a duvet, a coverlet, mattress cover, matress pad, and an abundance of fluffy pillows. Notice I didn’t say anything about the physical bed or actual mattress.

That’s because most experts (Who is a bed expert anyway?!  Sign me up!) agree that putting your money into great bedding rather than into an overpriced mattress is the way to go. It’s amazing what good quality sheets and the right topper can do for a the quality of your sleep and comfort.

Your first step is to invest in sheets. To get that crispness we all love, look for 100 percent natural fiber sheets like cotton and a thread count of 200-350, any higher thread counts really don’t make a huge difference.  As for pillows, buy new ones regularly and don’t be afraid to spend some money on them too.  Consider how important they are to a good night’s rest and how much time you spend on them, and opting for higher-end ones won’t seem so outrageous after all. I prefer goose down pillows, which are fluffier than duck down, but if you have allergies or favor foam, there are so many options from which to choose.  January is the best time to invest in new bedding, as annual White Sales offer deep discounts on most items.

Okay, now for the mattress. I sleep on a Tempurpedic, but I do feel they are slightly overrated. What I most love about it, is the feather mattress topper I bought that lays on top of it!   A word of caution though: always put a feather mattress cover under both the mattress cover and the fitted sheet so as not to feel feathers poking out of just the sheet! I learned this the hard way.

What goes on over the top sheet is entirely up to you. I love my down duvet and comforter but my mom still prefers bedspreads. I also love quilts.  Blanket-wise, I’m not as crazy about them as my mom, but even in the heat of a Texas summer, I like the weight of both of them on me and use them year round.

I recently watched a popular YouTube commencement address during which the speaker instructed graduates to make their beds every morning. I confess, I don’t. I do sometimes, but not always. I know, I know. Shame on me! But, when I do make it, I follow the standard rule of placing the top-sheet “upside down” so when folded over the duvet, the folded flap is right side up. I like having a contrast of pattern and/or coordinating colors among my bedding. If my sheets are solid, the comforter has pattern. Any shams and throw pillows will have a mix of both.

The comfort of your bed doesn’t stop at the mattress and bedding though. Your goal should be to make your entire bedroom a sanctuary of peace and comfort. Don’t have anything next to your bed that doesn’t delight or relax you and try to make even the most utilitarian items pretty. I love the idea of live plants in a bedroom and I much prefer table lamps as a bedroom’s lighting of choice.

Finally, how should you take care of all that bedding you’ve invested in? I’ve always been one to wash my sheets in hot water and use fabric softener so they smell yummy, but my friend Ann recently told me she learned just the opposite. Apparently hot water is not the way to go, nor is fabric softener, if crisp sheets are what you want. You decide.

I leave you with everyone’s “how to” question: how do I fold a fitted sheet? Here is an easy guide I found in Woman’s Day magazine. Good luck and good night!

“God cares about the relationship between fathers and their kids. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” Malachi 4:6

Happy Father’s Day!  Even though my dad passed away years ago, I’m blessed in that I get to celebrate the day through Smitty and Kristen.   Sadly my dad never met Smitty, as he passed my senior year of college.  Maybe that’s why this is one of my favorite collage pics:

My dad was a handsome and proud man who worked hard til the day he died.  He proudly served our country and supported our family.  He and Smitty would have gotten along great.  In fact, in many ways I married my dad.

Photos are all I have left of my dad.  I love taking photos and I cherish so many of them, my personal ones and others I come across.

I love this photo of a bride stopping to kiss her dad as she walks down the aisle after her wedding:

I also love this photo of a solider with his baby:

Let’s not forget all those dads who can’t be with their children today.

In our house, Father’s Day couldn’t fall on a better day for, as Kristen calls him, Pops.  He has the U.S. Open, NBA Finals, and World Cup soccer to choose from all day on TV.  In some households this might drive the women nuts, but in ours, it’s “dad’s perfect day, and mom and daughter are so down for it all too!”

As many of you know, I love quotes and sayings.  One of my favorites about dads is when, in the movie “The Descendants,” George Clooney’s character says, ““Give your children enough to do something but not enough to do nothing.”  Hollywood, yes but also so true.

Here then, are some more funny and philosophical thoughts about dads:

And from one of TV’s wisest and funniest dads:

Happy Father’s Day Smitty!  Enjoy your day and your daughter!

Don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow. Live one day at a time. Matthew 6:34