Category: Humor

Holidays · Home · Humor

Valentine’s Day…through the years

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Valentine’s Day is a day we cherished as children, exchanging Valentines with our classmates, carefully choosing cards for each person. We would spend what seemed like hours on our Valentines for our parents.

Our Mothers would bake cookies to bring to class and we would have a big ‘sugar high’ before our sweet teachers would  watch us leave the classroom for one crazy ride home on the bus. Cathys Valentine 1969

As I got older, Valentine’s Day became more about romance, setting expectations of what we should give and receive of this day full of cupid, hearts and roses.  More often than not, this day was a let-down. This week on CBS Sunday morning I saw one of my favorite comedians, Jim Gaffigan, share his thoughts on Valentine’s Day. He captures it well!

With children, Valentine’s Day would bring me back to my childhood, helping the girls pick out their favorite cartoon-themed Valentine’s, baking heart-shaped cookies, and often receiving the precious Valentines from their sweet little hands.

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Today, Valentine’s Day is a day to show love by sharing a gift of food with family and friends, calling a lonely friend, and being thankful and full of love for this precious gift of life….today!

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

 

Humor

Cold Induced Senility…microwaved phone?

cathysmahaLeave a comment

I’m convinced that every time I get sick, I lose a few more brain cells.  This past week I was sick with a cold…not a big deal, right?  Wrong! This cold packed a wallop and put my mental capacity on the level of a 3-year-old.  I honestly thought, I’m ready for the home…

I couldn’t remember what I did 2 minutes ago and wandered aimlessly around the house trying to remember why I got up in the first place.  I would sit or lie down and would instantly be in a deep sleep.  Thank goodness that never happened in the bathroom!

The most idiotic thing I did during this adventure was to microwave my iPhone. I know you are asking yourself, how in the world…well let me tell you…

I have a wonderful aromatic blanket that can be heated in the microwave.  When you are cold or down with a bug, it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread.  After a long, but cold, afternoon nap, I warmed the blanket and put it on my lap. Evidently, I also put my iPhone on my lap and when the blanket had cooled, I wrapped it up and put it back in the microwave to heat again.

Funny thing, my iPhone was nowhere to be found.  I looked everywhere, even resorting to going through the garbage.  After a long period of hunting, I was worn out and decided to sit down with the warmed blanket.  Guess what was stuck to the blanket…the micowaved iPhone.

microwave iPhone

My humbling trip to the AT&T store was greeted with comments by the staff of ‘that’s one for the books’.  Now I’m known by my very friendly and kind AT&T store staff as ‘the microwave lady’.

Today, I feel like the majority of my strength and some of my brain cells have returned.  At least that’s what I’m telling myself…now where is my iPhone?

Post Update 1/18/14:

I would like to thank my neighbor and good buddy Maribeth for making me a special microwaved appetizer last night. So glad I have friends and family to laugh with!

Ha!
Ha!
Family · Gluten Free · Holidays · Humor

Almond Flour ‘Cornbread’…Gluten Free Treat

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I love traditional cornbread but for those trying to avoid gluten, it isn’t a fit. Last night I made a big pot of beef stew with cornbread for the family but needed a gluten-free version. The Almond Flour Cornbread is delicious with the slight sweetness of honey. Yummy!

While I was writing this post today my good buddy, Jan, sent me a link to a ‘Today’s Dinner Party‘ that brought a smile to my face, given all of the dietary restrictions we all face.

Enjoy!

ALMOND FLOUR ‘CORNBREAD’

1 1/2 cups almond flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup honey
4 eggs, beaten

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Place the flour, baking soda and salt into a bowl and whisk to combine.
  • Add the honey to the beaten eggs and add to flour mixture. Stir until fully combined and no lumps remain.
  • Pour into a well-greased 8×8″ baking pan and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean.
  • Let cool for 5 minutes.

Recipe from Preppy Paleo and Angel’s Homestead

Family · Holidays · Home · Humor

Aunts and Uncles…storytelling…treasures of the family

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Aunts and Uncles are a bit like Grandparents.  They get to spoil the nieces and nephews, shower them with affection and love, and leave when they are amped up on sugar and fun.  It’s a good gig! I was an Aunt at age 7 and grew up with my niece and two nephews. It was wonderful having playmates and helping out my older sister and brother. A highlight of every year was when they came to stay with us and go to Bible School at the rural Carlton Brethren Church, a half mile from our house. There were sticker charts, ice cream, indoor picnics, dress-up (sorry Jeff and Duane), and so many stories!

Aunt Cathy and Sherri
Aunt Cathy and Sherri

sherri duane and jeff christmas about 1969

After college I moved out-of-state and was always sad not to be closer to my family but treasured each of the visits back to see everyone. I was very fortunate to have wonderful Aunts and Uncles as well.  Not all of them lived close but my siblings and I always knew we were loved with the hugs/kisses that went with their visits.

At this state of my life, I have 3 Aunts and 1 Uncle.  Uncle Jack will be 90 this month and planning a big celebration.  Aunt Joyce (Jack’s wife) turned 86 in February. Aunt Lora (also my Mother’s BFF in school) turned 94 this year. Aunt Wilma will turn 100 next June.  From these wonderful people I learned the importance of family/loyalty, laughter, music, traditional dishes prepared for holidays and family gatherings.

Several years ago, when camcorders were new to the market, we traveled to Iowa with our newborn daughter to celebrate Christmas.  Christmas Eve day several of my family members were visiting at my Mother’s House.

Cathy and Uncle Jack
Cathy and Uncle Jack

We turned on the camcorder asked our family members ‘what is your favorite Christmas memory?’  I tear up just thinking about it.  The heart-warming, loving, funny, and sarcastic stories were great at the time but are true treasures now.

Stories
Stories (Photo credit: Enokson)

This holiday season let’s spend our time BEING PRESENT and sharing stories for our children and grandchildren to treasure.   Break out the smart phone and make a video, perhaps the best PRESENT of the season!

What’s your story?

Family · Holidays · Humor

How to cook a turkey…with a smile!

cathysmaha1 Comment
English: Oven roasted turkey, common fare for ...
English: Oven roasted turkey, common fare for Christmas and Thanksgiving celebrations. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I’m back but you may see more humor, sarcasm and random topics above and beyond food. Understand, food is one of my passions, but so is laughter. When I saw this post on Facebook, it brought a smile to my face. While I don’t cook with a glass(es) of wine, typically, the humor of it all just got to me.

Credit:  Paleo Cupboard/Facebook

Don’t stress out about the holidays and cooking. It’s truly a time to be grateful for every precious moment we have on this earth. Look for the humor and blessings in every moment.

Happy Thanksgiving!