SEPTEMBER DAZE

DID YOU KNOW THAT SEPTEMBER IS:
    Classical Music Month
    Hispanic Heritage Month
    Fall Hat Month
    International Square Dancing Month
    National Blueberry Popsicle Month
    National Courtesy Month
    National Piano Month
    Chicken Month
    Baby Safety Month
    Little League Month
    Honey Month
    Self Improvement Month
    Better Breakfast Month

OR THAT SEPTEMBER HAS SO MANY DAILY HOLIDAYS, SPECIAL AND/OR WACKY DAYS? 
Here are September 2013 DAZE at a glance:

1 Emma M. Nutt Day, the first woman telephone operator
2 Labor Day First Monday of month
2 National Beheading Day (this should just be for France, right?)
3 Skyscraper Day
4 Newspaper Carrier Day
5 Be Late for Something Day
5 Cheese Pizza Day
6 Fight Procrastination Day
6 Read a Book Day (REALLY!! Read a book & Fight Procrastination - all on the same day? Either someone has a great sense of humor or wires got crossed somewhere!)
7 Neither Rain nor Snow Day
8 Grandparent's Day - first Sunday after Labor Day
8 International Literacy Day
8 National Date Nut Bread Day 
8 Pardon Day
8 National Pet Memorial Day -second Sunday in September
9 Teddy Bear Day
10 Sewing Machine Day
10 Swap Ideas Day
11 911 Remembrance
11 Make Your Bed Day
11 No News is Good News Day
12 Chocolate Milk Shake Day
12 National Video Games Day 
13 Blame Someone Else Day - first  Friday the 13th of the year.
13 Defy Superstition Day
13 Fortune Cookie Day
13 National Peanut Day
13 Positive Thinking Day
13 Uncle Sam Day - his image was first used in 1813
14 National Cream-Filled Donut Day
15 Make a Hat Day
15 Felt Hat Day - On this day, men traditionally put away their felt hats.
15 National Women's Friendship Day - third Sunday in September
16 Collect Rocks Day
16 Step Family Day
16 Mayflower Day
16 Mexican Independence Day
16 National Play Doh Day
16 Working Parents Day
17 National Apple Dumpling Day
17 Citizenship Day
17 Constitution Day
18 National Cheeseburger Day
19 International Talk Like A Pirate Day
19  National Butterscotch Pudding Day
20 National Punch Day
20 POW/MIA Recognition Day - Third Friday of September
21 International Peace Day
21 International Rabbit Day - Fourth Saturday in September
21 Miniature Golf Day
21 Oktoberfest, begins, date varies
21 World Gratitude Day
22 Business Women's Day
22 Elephant Appreciation Day
23 Checkers Day
23 Dog in Politics Day
24 National Cherries Jubilee Day
25 National Comic Book Day
26 Johnny Appleseed Day
27 Crush a Can Day
27 Native American Day - fourth Friday of the month
28 Ask a Stupid Question Day
28 National Good Neighbor Day - Always September 28, previously the 4th Sunday in month
27 Native American Day - fourth Friday of the month
29 Confucius Day - Try your luck. Get a Fortune Cookie.
30 National Mud Pack Day

Yes, there's a lot of fun to be had in September!

So, be Savvy, Be Serene, and be Successful!

SIMPLE & SCRUMPTIOUS HOMEMADE KETCHUP

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU HAVE TOMATOES COMING OUT OF YOUR EARS???

When the freezer is full and the neighbors are begging, "ENOUGH!" ???

What do you do?

Why, you make KETCHUP, of course!

This is a WONDERFUL recipe. Mum has made 3 or 4 batches so far - the tomatoes are still producing... The kitchen smells AMAZING when the ketchup is cooking!

KETCHUP

2 1/2 quarts sliced tomatoes (15 - 17 medium sized)

3/4 cup chopped onion

3" piece of cinnamon

1 large garlic clove, chopped

1 tsp. whole cloves (or powdered and added when the vinegar is added to the tomatoes)

1 cup vinegar

1 teaspoon paprika

Dash cayenne pepper

Simmer together tomatoes and onion for about 20 - 30 minutes; press through a sieve. Put the cinnamon, garlic, and cloves loosely in a clean, thin, white cloth or tall tea ball; tie top tightly; add to vinegar and simmer 30 minutes. Remove spices. Boil sieved tomatoes rapidly until one-half original volume. Stir frequently to prevent sticking. Add spiced vinegar, salt, paprika, and cayenne pepper to tomato mixture. Boil rapidly for at least 10 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened to desired consistency. Pour into clean, hot sterilized jars. Seal. The catsup will also freeze well in small containers.

Process for 10 minutes in boiling-water bath. Remove from canner. Complete seals if necessary. Cool on a wire rack.

If you want a somewhat sweeter ketchup, you can add honey just before you seal. Your taste is your best guide here, so add and stir in honey until the taste pleases you.

Daddy and I aren't huge ketchup eaters, but we LOVE our barbeque sauce! Mum just goes a little heavy handed on the spices and this is the BEST barbeque sauce ever!!!

ENJOY! 

AND BE SAVVY, BE SERENE, BE SUCCESSFUL

6 TIPS FOR ATTAINING PEACE

Here are some tips for attaining PEACE through unconditional love. 

1. Each time you perform an act of love you refresh yourself with positive energy. Make it a part of your life to do something loving every single day. 1 Corinthians 13 says that WHATEVER you do, if it is without love (Amplified says, "God's love in me") I am only noisy..., I am nothing, and that I gain, or have, nothing.

2. Work to attain oneness in soul and spirit by practicing unconditional love. I tend to agree with the Bible scholars who say that the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) is love and that the following list is a list of the attributes of love: joy, peace, longsuffering/patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control. How often do we, or do we not, react to those nearest and dearest in love?
 

3. Set aside some quiet time each week to meditate on your life, your intentions, and thoughts. Consider each area of your life and decide what will bring you  peace. Reflect on how you can change aspects of your life by filling your days with unconditional love.
 
4. Set aside daily quiet time to renew your spirit in God's Word. Speak to the Prince of Peace and leave your burdens at the Throne of Grace.

5. Keep in mind that you do not have to love the personality or the actions of others. Try seeing those around you as God sees them, and loving them as He loves them. I love both versions of Amy Carmichael's poem, 'Love Though Me, Love of God'. This is from her book, 'IF'. 

Love through me, Love of God;

Make me like thy clear air

Through which, unhindered, colors pass

As though it were not there.

Powers of the love of God,

Depths of the heart Divine,

O love that faileth not, break forth,

And flood this world of Thine.

6. Thinking one way and acting another creates discord in your heart and your mind. Be true and congruent within yourself. Your thoughts and actions need to agree. In other words, practice what you preach -- even to yourself.

What do you do to bring peace in your life? How do you handle chaos? Please share below!

BE SAVVY, BE SUCCESSFUL, 

AND BE SERENE

JUST PEDAL-A LESSON OF LIFE

JUST PEDAL

    At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like the President. I know He was out there, but I did not really know Him.

    But later on when I recognized God, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that God was in the back helping me pedal.

    I do not know just when it was that He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since. Life without my God, that is. God makes life exciting!

    When I had control I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points. But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, through rocky places, and at breakneck speeds! It was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness, He said, “Pedal!”

    I worried and was anxious and asked, “Where are you taking me?” He laughed and didn’t answer. I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into adventure. An when I’d say “I am scared,” He’d lean back and touch my hand.

    He took me to people with gifts that I needed - the gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey - our journey, God’s and mine. And we were off again. He said, “Give the gifts away. They’re extra baggage, too much weight.” So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.

    I did not trust Him in control of my life at first. I thought He’d wreck it. But He knows bike secrets. He knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, jump to clear high rocks, fly to shorten scary passages.

    And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I am beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, my God.

    And when I am sure I just cannot do any more, He smiles and says, “Pedal.”                                                                                   -SOURCE UNKNOWN

BE SAVVY, BE SERENE, BE SUCCESSFUL, 

BUT MOST OF ALL, BE SWEET!