Friday is the Day!!!

Holton's Heroes are working hard, behind the scenes checking blog links, and participation. I am so ready!










Friday is the big day. The A-Z challenge begins. Best of luck to all participants. I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines this year. I will not be participating. Instead I'll work behind the scenes as a minion; a rewarding job in itself. Hope everyone has fun. 

Thanks to Arlee Bird and Alex J. Cavanaugh for hosting this event!!

A-Z Job opportunity

It's almost time for the 2016 A-Z Challenge to begin! The seventh year, and going strong. 

I had a lot of fun doing the 2015 challenge. This year my only participation will be as a "minion worker" for John Holton. If you'd like to help, click on John's link and leave him a comment. His group of minions are called "Holton's Heroes." I love the cami look, (smile).

The Sound of One Hand Typing

Today is "Theme Reveal Day," but some might post a day or so later. Be looking for themes that peak your interest.

I'm including the A-Z Badge in my sidebar, in case you'd like to join in the fun this year.

Memories ~ full circle

Once there was a ride ~
Swallowed by the tide;
Would childhood memories disappear?

Memories of fun ~
Laughter in the sun.
Replacing my joy with future tears?

~dcrelief

Memories are etched in my mind, free to relive any time I like. Then again, I wondered: "what happened later, long after my visit? Did this place remain the same? Does this 'now time' still reflect the goodness I took into my mind?" (Sigh)

Have you ever had a similar experience? 

Image information:


Workers on lunch break watch the removal of the Jet Star roller coaster May 14, 2013. The structure has been in the ocean for six months after the pier it was on collapsed during Superstorm Sandy in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. The Casino Pier has contracted Weeks Marine to remove the Jet Star roller coaster from the Atlantic Ocean.

The Season of Children's Flowers ~

They're only inches tall, 
with blossoms that are small.
You may not see this treat,
They're underneath your feet.
Adults don't notice anything,
This very special gift of Spring.
But little ones play for hours,
during this 'Season of Children's Flowers.'

~ dcrelief

Bonus!! Rumors run amok. Today I offer the scoop on the new President. Hold on to your hat!

You are kidding me, right?

Like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy... this is all wrong, right? Has anyone ever met a leprechaun?

St. Patrick's dessert and blessing ~ for you.

Tomorrow is Saint Patrick's Day. Are you Irish? Do you like the color green? I offer a dessert recipe. Feel free to add a drop of green food coloring!


Key Lime Pie Fudge

Ingredients:

¼ cup sugar

1¼ cups graham cracker crumbs

⅓ cup butter, melted

16 oz high quality white chocolate, finely chopped

14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

1 Tbsp butter

zest of one lime

3 Tbsp key lime or lime juice

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375.

Line a 9 x 9 inch pan with aluminum foil and grease with butter. Set aside.

In a bowl, combine the sugar and graham crackers crumbs and stir to combine.

Add the melted butter and stir until crumbs are all moistened.

Spread evenly into the baking pan and press until even. Bake at 375 degrees for 4 to 5 minutes or until edge is lightly browned.

Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack.

Once crust has cooled, add the white chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, and 1 Tbsp butter to a saucepan.

Cook on low heat just until chocolate is melted and and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the zest and juice.

Spread mixture evenly over the crust. Cover and refrigerate for 12 hours.

Remove fudge from the pan using the foil and cut into pieces.

Lift the fudge from pan using edges of foil. Use a damp kitchen towel to cleanoff the knife after each cut for a clean cut.

Irish or not, I leave you with a song.  Have a great week!

Enjoying Spring but then...

Spring in my yard is an amazing time - life as I love it - returns. So how did I miss the "Daylight Savings Time" notice? Aw, yes! I was busy taking notice of the yard. So when the time changed on the 13th, I wondered why my studio wall clock had slowed... exactly one hour? Or had my laptop and cell phone made mistakes, by advancing... exactly one hour? 

Laugh, if you want. I spent a half day looking for a battery for the wall clock. I was not looking forward to purchasing batteries... boo... awful prices!! I had the best laugh at myself for such a silly oversight... I hope everyone adjusts well to "DST".

My Japanese Tulip Tree

 My Forsythia Bush

Daffodils













Tomorrow is my "battle of the bands" day. I'll be playing two different versions of the same song. Feel free to stop over and vote for which song version you like. dcrelief ~ Battle of the Bands participant

Closing out today with a thought for Spring Rain - I love that too. Here's one of my favorite composers and artist - Yanni...

Child of Sunlight

Are you familiar with violinist, Lindsey Stirling? Today I am posting a song I enjoy very much. It is uplifting to me. I hope it will be so for you. Enjoy!

A simple request ~

It's hard to type when one hand doesn't want to work. Yes, I'm having some difficulties, but trying to keep going.  Currently the sun is out, here and it is a gorgeous day. I long to be out there digging in the ground, playing in my yard but it's not possible yet.

Thursday I return to the doctor for a check up. I really hope he can help me get past this moment of physical trouble. Please keep me in your thoughts, please. Thank you.

From Us to You

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

~ dc and Teddy

What a crock!

In the fridge... all the right fixings for super soup. All I had to do was clean, peel, and chop all the veggies. Then pop it into the crock pot for a long simmer's night. Set my cook timer and go relax... right?! But, oh no! An hour went by and the timer went off, but guess who left the crock pot unplugged. Midnight came and I felt like I was "Moonlighting". That feeling when you can't go to sleep yet... there's work to be done.

If I'd thought a bit longer, I'd have left it off and instead, started cooking in the morning. But no... wouldn't that make sense? I'm such a night owl. Early morning is too much for this happy cook.

Oh, what the heck... the song came to mind and it's a favorite. I'll call you when the soup is ready.

Peanut Butter Cookies for a day without Sunshine

For many of us, it's Winter time. Many days, that means gray skies and a colder air temp. I get up, get dressed but wonder why? The morning looks the same as sunset.

I keep glancing out the window, waiting for the sun... and it's so dreary... I drift off... If you're one of those people who can fall asleep while on 'Facebook', you'll know what I'm talking about. Either that, or I'm no longer easily entertained.

Yes, that sleep thing gets you, and you find yourself wanting a wake up activity - right? Or do you return to the pajama and slipper mode and call the day off?
Ho-hum, I decided to make cookies. My favorite Peanut Butter cookies. Thank goodness for timers that wake me up to take the cookies from the oven. So far, I've never slept through a timer bell. That baby is loud!

What do you like to do on sunless, Winter days? Do you like cookies, and if so, what's your favorite? If you could, would you stay in pajamas all day?

Only the shadow knows

Welcome to another "Groundhog's Day"... you know the day when the groundhog comes out from his burrow, and attempts to predict when Spring will arrive. A feat most meteorologists cannot accomplish, right?

Oh well, the day is still celebrated, in some parts of the world more than others. Wait! Do all countries have groundhogs? Hm, if you don't have one, don't worry... we'll let you know what happens here.

Some people really worry about this. Here's a song for them.

Gramma's truckin' luck

Grandma was a mobster
her truck was painted pink.
She'd haul a load of lobster
and clean them in her sink.

Everyone knew Grandma
Better listen for her horn!
She sadly ran down Grandpa
Left him lying in the corn.

She cried all night and day,
until she bought that mink.
Insurance paid her way
for piercings and some ink.

A ring went in her nose
a diamond in her tongue
A tattoo of a rose...
She'd only just begun...

Hey! Monday I'll be at my 'Battle of the Bands' blog

dcrelief ~ Battle of the Bands participant

I'm also participating in the 'Lost and Found  - Valentine's Edition' Blogfest.

Feel free to stop by, read my short story, and then listen to my battle song choices. Vote for the song you like the best. Have a great week.

Directed

Directed by the world to live for days, times, and seasons.
Am I a citizen of the world without my choosing?
Every month has a holiday or disaster to worship.
Must I participate? Must you?
Of course we must.
It's unacceptable not to do so.
Right?
What rights do I really have now?
Will 2016 be different?

Happy 2016! ~ or "Turn the Page"

This invisible blogger stopped by to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Lots of sounds outside tonight. In spite of the rainy week, people still celebrate. They are out there making a new day, a new year... they're turning over a new leaf... they're turning the page... Well, that reminds me of an old song. Here you go.

 

All Aboard!

Today I'll begin arranging the Holiday village that consumes my living room. It all began in 1994 with tiny ceramic houses and buildings. Today I'll be adding some, that I've made from cardboard templates, and then painted. I like the rustic simplicity of the handmade ones. Might as well throw in some cardboard trees.

The big item is my train. I have to lay the tracks carefully before arranging the village. 

The one in this video is really nice but it takes a lot of room, and extra building. You'll notice a wall shelf with tracks. Maybe in the future, when I figure out how to do something like that. (maybe). 

I hope you enjoy the video, and the music!  

Is there a special hobby you entertain during the Christmas season?

A gift to myself ~

I had clothes and household items I no longer need or use.  Everything was boxed or bagged and waiting for a destination for delivery... but where to send these things? I did not want them to go to a place where they get resold. I wanted the items to be given away. Thus I began a search for a home.

In my town there's a place called "The Free Store." They had a drop off in front, under a weather protecting canopy. Wow! That would work. I loaded my van and set off. It was easy to find, and there were ready hands to help me unload.

The ready hands were thanking me, but I felt I should thank them instead. After all, weren't they doing me a favor by taking these things?

The ride home was interesting. In the beginning it was to clear out some clutter, and stop hanging onto things that had no value to me. The impact of what one person can do ~ had simply gone over my head. Suddenly I felt as if I had given myself a gift. I hope you understand this. I hope you'll consider doing this... it's a great feeling.

Remember the dishes!

Things to avoid for Thanksgiving