4th of July, A Day of Celebration for many reasons

This will be the first 4^th that I will spend with my sister since we were kids in Rural Southeast Missouri. For the past 20 years, I have spent the 4^th holiday with my Florida Family.

As families gather together across the country for their 4^th of July events, we will be doing the same.  Paul and I will be joining my sister and her Women’s Softball teammates and spouses. We will be having the typical gathering of food, drinks and watching fireworks.  It will be a great time I am sure but the best part is spending time with my sister.  Although Paul and I will miss our Florida Family, just being with Family is what is most important.

We hear so many opinions in the world today as to what constitutes a Family.  I have read that originally the word family meant a band of slaves. That even after the word came to apply to people affiliated by blood and marriage, for centuries the notion of family referred to authority relations rather than love ones. (Stephanie Coontz, The Way We Never Were, pp. 43-44)

Webster's Dictionary offers twenty-two definitions. The Census Bureau defines a family as "two or more persons related by birth, marriage or adoption who reside in the same household". There are cultural differences all around the world that defines a family. There are political, economic, legal, sociological and religious interest bound up with the definition of family.  Pet owners and their pet owning friends may view Dixie and Pixie as "family"--and Dixie and Pixie have been known to inherit the bulk of their deceased owners' estates.

My question is what difference does it make how "family" is defined? 

My definition for family will be as different as the person reading this entry. What person, government or religion has the right to say my definition or your definition is the correct one or the only one.

The most important thing in my life is my family. My family is those here with me as much as the ones that are elsewhere in this great country. Family are those in your life that you protect, you encourage, you support, you love.

So as usual this July 4^th I will being doing what I have done so many times before, celebrate the birth of this great nation with MY FAMILY.  It should be a day of celebration for a country where we have the freedom to celebrate whatever we, each define as family.

So have a fantastic 4^th of July with your family and show your pride and support for this great country, The United States of America.

National Catfish Day

It's a day to enjoy some tasty, fried catfish. Or, enjoy catfish cooked to your favorite recipe......yummy.

You should have no doubt what to do today. Enjoy a plateful of catfish, cooked anyway you want. Chances are, you will eat farm raised catfish, which supplies the vast majority of catfish to the U.S. market. But, wouldn't it be much more fun to fish in the morning, and catch the catfish you will eat?

There was nothing like fresh Catfish on the weekends for the family cookouts. As a teenager, Catfish Farms became very popular and it was a fun weekend activity to sit along the pond banks and catching your limit. For me there is nothing like catfish when it comes to a fish dinner.

My Mom and I could sit down and eat nothing but fish till we were both so stuffed, it hurt to move. The first time Paul saw Mom and me sit down to eat Catfish, I think we scared him. He was amazed at how we ate no side dishes but kept asking for more fish to be delivered to us both.

The Origin of National Catfish Day: Yes, today is truely a National day!

On June 25, 1987, President Ronald Reagan began a presidential proclamation with the words "More and more Americans are discovering a uniquely American food delicacy — farm-raised catfish."

Proclamation 5672 -- National Catfish Day, 1987

June 25, 1987

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

More and more Americans are discovering a uniquely American food delicacy -- farm-raised catfish. In 1986, catfish comprised the third highest volume of finned fish consumed in the United States. Ninety-nine percent of all these catfish were farm-raised. Between 1975 and 1985, production of farm-raised catfish increased by 1200 percent. Most observers expect that production will continue to increase in 1987. Production costs of catfish farming, which have averaged only 65 cents per pound over the past 8 years, have resulted in a stable income for growers and an economical food product for consumers. The accompanying growth of the catfish processing industry also has created thousands of permanent jobs.

Farm-raised catfish have come a long way from their bottom-feeding ancestors. The catfish that are available today, fresh or frozen in markets nationwide, are products of state-of-the-art methods of aquaculture. They thrive in clean freshwater ponds on many American farms, where they are surface-fed soybean meal, corn, fish meal, vitamins, and minerals. Farm-raised catfish not only furnish American consumers with a tasty delicacy but also provide a nutritious, low-calorie source of protein that is also low in cholesterol.

In recognition of the value of farm-raised catfish, the Congress, by House Joint Resolution 178, has designated June 25, 1987, as ``National Catfish Day'' and authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in its observance.

Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim June 25, 1987, as National Catfish Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and eleventh.

Ronald Reagan

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 4:13 p.m., June 25, 1987]

Peanutochocoholic Cake

If you are like me, Chocolate and Peanut Butter are two of my favorite pig out foods. It came to me while having a secret meeting with my favorite candy Reese's Peanut Butter cups.  Why not create a dessert that combines my two favorites.  I originally created this recipe over a year ago as a treat for my own birthday. I recently tried it again but made a few changes to the recipe. After Paul and Cindy both agreed it was delicious and a winner. I received lots of request just from my picture of the final cake on face book for the recipe. Here is the final recipe.  Enjoy.

Take any Chocolate Cake mixes that you prefer. I recommend one with the pudding already in the mix.

Follow the cake recipe on the box but add ¾ bag miniature Reese's Peanut Butter cups chopped to the mix... two 8 inch cake pans prepared as cake box recommends.

Bake the cake as recommend and set aside to cool

Peanut Butter cream cheese filling

1/2 cup Powder Sugar

8 oz. of cream cheese soften to room temp

1/2-3/4 cup of Peanut Butter

Whip till nice and creamy

Fold in 1 cup of cool whip

Put this filling in between the two cakes

Cake icing

8 oz. cream cheese room temp

3/4 cup Powder Sugar

½-3/4 cup chocolate syrup(you can also melt chocolate chips)

Whip till creamy

Fold in 1 cup of cool whip

Blend the powdered sugar, cream cheese, syrup and cool whip till creamy, I recommend taste test to adjust to your level of sweetness.

More Unique Holidays!

I got into looking up these Unique days of the year, when I was operating Surprise Arrivals. For those that do not know what that is, we operated a Web based Unique Gift and Giftbasket site for several years.  Today June 8 is Best Friend Day. This day is a time to enjoy and appreciate your best friend. It's a day to honor and cherish the relationship.
If you're lucky, you have a best friend. If you are real lucky, you have a number of best friends. Best friends are very, very special people. You spend countless hours with your best friend going to events and activities, or just hanging out. You share secrets, hopes, dreams, aspirations, and disappointments with your best friend.

Some folks say you can only have one best friend. I totally disagree. You can have a couple at the same time, or several over time.  I am fortunate because I have several Best Friends, not only do I share my life with my number one best friend. I have friends that I consider family and have been in my life for more years that we really want to admit. These are friends that have share my ups and downs and probably know me better than my blood family.

I will say that I don’t miss Florida, I miss my friends. Friends come and go for a variety of reasons. It's the result of many things, including moving, changing schools or jobs, and more. I hope that you are lucky enough to have a number of best friends over the years.

With the official start of summer just a few days away, the timing is perfect for National Iced Tea Day on June 10th.

In 1904, English tea plantation owner Richard Blechynden set up a booth to sell hot tea at the St. Louis World Fair. It was a sizzler of a day, and fair visitors didn't want anything hot. Rather, they needed something to quench their thirst... something cold. He dumped some of his hot tea into ice and served it cold. It was an immediate hit. This was the first known use of iced tea.

Chances are, it is already hot in your area. Today may serve as a good reminder to make and enjoy your first (of many) Iced Tea drink of the season. Have it plain, add a little lemon, or sweeten it with sugar. Iced Tea is certainly a favorite summer cooler of millions of Americans.  

It takes no imagination to decide how to enjoy this great day: Grab an Iced Tea and head out to the hammock strung under a shady tree.

Till Next Time, LB

National Bubba Day

Yes, June 2, 2012 is National Bubba Day. This day honors anyone named or called Bubba. To qualify to be honored today, your name can be formally, or informally "Bubba". You can even take on the name "Bubba" for just the day. That way everyone can celebrate this day.

There's a lot of ways to celebrate National Bubba Day. Acting like a "Bubba" is your starting point. Cards, parties and other celebrations are definitely in order. Gift giving is optional.  My co-workers know if an email comes from Bubba or Billy Bob, I am not a happy person and mean business but that is another story.  I have been Bubba to my sister for years and love every time she calls me Bubba..

On Friday, June 4th it is Hug Your Cat Day. Go ahead and give your cat a big, furry hug.

Cat lovers can really get into this day. If you're a cat lover, you can really appreciate the warm, cozy feeling you get when you curl up on a couch or chair, and hug your cat. The only problem is, your cat will most likely only allow a brief hug before sauntering away. If your cat is a true hugger, count your blessings.

Dog lovers...sorry, giving hugs to our kids will not suffice.  If you are going to be "into" this day, you simply must hug a cat...your cat.  Don't have a cat, don't fret, June is "Adopt a Cat Month".

I close this entry with June 5, World Environment Day.  The day focuses attention on important environmental issues. According to the United Nations, "World Environment Day is commemorated each year on June 5th. It is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action."  World Environment Day was created by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972.

So remember to plant a tree, clean up some trash you see and let’s make the world a better place.  Till next time LB