Example of A Disappointed British Parent

When you read this letter, you feel glad that a father spoke up but you cannot help but wonder if he had noticed this trend toward irresponsibility back when the kids were entering their teens. And if he did notice, what did he do about it? Is he partly to blame...in some small way?

I once heard a short maxim:

It's your parent's fault: the way you are. 
But it is YOUR fault if you stay that way.


 I hope the kids rally and do all they can to make their lives commendable.

I would love to follow this story...see what happens in the future...

http://www.glennbeck.com/2012/11/30/epic-letter-from-%E2%80%9Cbitterly-disappointed%E2%80%9D-brit-dad-to-kids/

My Best Xmas Presents to Give

I love flax pillows...and I love making them to give to others...here is the note I usually attach...

Here is a Flaxseed pillow I made for for you!

Flax is a grain crop grown in northern USA. The periwinkle blue flowers mature to tiny pods filled with these brown seeds. When warmed or chilled, these little seeds hold HOT or COLD temperature. Flax seeds move in the pillows to conform to all contours of your body. These seeds provide a therapeutic weight that provides compression and acupressure over tender areas. The thermal effects and weight will help increase circulation and help improve lymphatic efficiency and provide pain management and comfort.

Always avoid getting Flax wet as the outer shell of the seed will create a 'sticky-goo' that will dry caked and hard. Flax Pillows can be warmed hundreds of times over the years, but eventually they will 'wear out'. Store in plastic bag when not in use.

Directions for a hot pillow: Heat in clean microwave oven on high for about 40 seconds. Open microwave and shake bag. Put back in microwave about 30 more seconds or so. You can microwave it a bit more to get it hotter. Whatever you choose. Do not overheat. Stay by microwave while pillow is being warmed in it.

For flax pillows that are 1 and 1/2 to 2 lbs. or more, go  ahead and set the microwave timer for 4 minutes and pause it after the half way point shake up the pillow and then continue microwaving.

Note: When warming your pillow, place in center of microwave so pillow never touches wall of microwave and the pillow rotates freely. Every microwave has ‘hot spots’ and if your pillow cannot move freely during warming, fabric or contents might easily become ‘scorched’ and you will damage your pillow. Also, microwave plate needs to be clean of food and grease. These act as hot spots and will create burn areas on pillow.

Please note that Microwaves vary in power from 500 to 1400 WATTS. Heating time will vary according to the power of Microwave used. Sometimes these pillows become scorched... a 'hot-spot' may occur in a microwave that has been used without problems. Pillows warmed according to directions, will last for a couple years or so, depending on how much you use it.

Store your pillow in a cool dry place. Never allow your pillow to get wet.

Follow the warming instructions very carefully as to not "over– warm".

Reduce time for Powerful Microwaves (800 watt and above).

~ When RE-Warming a pillow that is still warm, only do so for a fraction of the initial warming time.

~ When chilling your pillow in the freezer, protect from moisture by placing in a sealed plastic bag.

~ If mishandled or pulled, this pillow may rip. Monitor children during use to prevent rough treatment.

I like to just put this on my chest while I watch TV...or sometimes

I warm it up and take it to bed with me. It stays warm quite a while…most of the night.

Store in heavy plastic bag (freezer food bags like this one are great) when not in use. If you do not store it in a plastic

bag, the seeds will dry out and your pillow will lose the power to retain heat.

This bag has some chopped up eucalyptus leaves in it for fragrance.

~ Merry Christmas!

Ice Candles Day 10

I love to make ice candles. Just fill a balloon with water and set it in a bowl (the flat bottom of the bowl will make the ice globe flat on the bottom, too, so it will be stable on your table). Put in freezer. Then watch it in the freezer, checking on it...in a few hours, it will have a hard shell....with sloshy water inside. Take it out of the freezer, and peel the balloon off and put your globe under the faucet and run some water  on the top so it makes a howl. This is where you insert the votive candle. My ice candle below got almost all solid so I had to use warm running water to carve a middle space in it to place my votive candle in it. Make several ahead of time. Put in a plastic bag in the freezer. You can even reuse them if they do not melt completely during your meal (and they won't). Kids love to look at these and touch the cold ice and enjoy the flickering candle light.

Day 9 Christmas Smells

OK..here I am a year later...endeavoring to publish some posts, to carry on with the days I have started to number. Boy, did this year go by fast. I am thankful the blogspot company did not delete this blog after so very many months of inactivity!

Mmmmm...the smells of Christmas! I always have a Christmas Spice potpourri simmering on the stove in December. This is composed of tangerine peels, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, some allspice, a touch of ginger.
MMMmmm...also..the smell of sweet cookies baking, and fudge cooking on the stove top.
Warm fragrant smells from the kitchen lifts the spirit and delights the body.

Also...the smell of a Christmas tree....a real Christmas tree, whether it be fir or pine. That smells makes my heart leap!

DAY 8 The Great Musical Masterpieces of Christmas

DAY 8 THE GREAT MUSICAL MASTERPIECES OF CHRISTMAS

To me, it isn't Christmas unless I listen to The Nutcracker Suite a few times! To read about this history of this great story, musical score and ballet, click on these links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nutcracker_and_the_Mouse_King gives a synopsis of the elaborate tale of the Nutcracker aand the Mouse King, which is the original story of The Nutcracker Ballet that Tchaikovsky composed the music for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpwuTiURwOM is a sample from the ballet!

The other great masterpiece...Handel's Messiah !

Here is an excerpt...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS3vpAWW2Zc

In keeping with this particular post..today's song is The Hallelujah Chorus

Day 7 Christmas and Charles Dickens

DAY 7 CHRISTMAS & CHARLES DICKENS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol

When you go to this site, you will realize what an impact Charles Dickens had on society in England and in how Christmas is celebrated!

Dickens needed money because his wife was again pregnant and so he began writing the book in October of 1843. It was finished 6 weeks later and finally published on 19 Dcember 1843 and was an instant hit! Please find the time to read this wikipedia selection. It will enlighten you!

There have been many movie versions of A Christmas Carol...pictured here are my 2 favorites.

Today's Song: God Bless Us Everyone by Andrea Bocelli (which is the ending song to Walt Disney's A Christmas Carol starring Jim Carrey) hear a sample at this site:

http://www.amazon.com/My-Christmas-Andrea-Bocelli/dp/B002L430KK

Charles Dickens also wrote a great essay entitled "What Christmas Is as We Grow Older"..which can be found on this site:

http://www.sheeplaughs.com/scrooge/whatchristmasis.htm

happy reading!

Day 6 ~ Happy St. Nicholas Day

DAY 6

Happy Saint Nicholas Day! Did you put your shoe out last night?

This tradition is honored more in the Midwest and probably the East (of the USA). Not many folks here in California do this. I brought this tradition into the Hulihan houselhold because it was done in our house when I was growing up: You put your shoes by the front door (inside, not outside.) on the evening of dDcember 5th and in the morning you will find little treasures in your shoes...left there by St. Nicholas.

When I was a kid, we would get a couple new pencils, some gum, a candy bar.

I am happy to report that our kids, now married with families of their own, continue the tradition. And Kelsy, the unmarried one (so far) always seems to get her shoe filled, too.

You can go to this site to learn more about St. Nicholas Day. http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=76

Today's Song:

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
What I love about this song is the verse:

"As for me, my little brain, isn't very bright,

choose for me Dear Santa Claus, what you think is right."

To me, it means, sometimes we think we want something, but really it isn't right, so let

someone older and wiser choose it...it is like submitting your will to a higher power.