Berries and More

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Tuesday, February 17, 2015....

Today is Mardi Gras. That is French for "fat Tuesday." Some call today Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent begins (Ash Wednesday). The celebration on this day brings to an end a long carnival season that began on Epiphany. It actually goes back to an ancient Roman custom of merrymaking before a period of fast.

Not intending this to be a history lesson, I will get right to the matter at hand - Mardi Gras King Cake!

Now, this recipe came right off the Internet, so you will be able to find it readily, if you wish to try baking it.

Ready to spend an hour in the refrigerator.

After an hour on "cold storage."

Braided and ready to rise an hour.

Out of the oven and ready to cool.

At this point, I varied from the recipe suggestions. As The Husband is going to be eating most of this, and he is not fond of glaze topped with colored sugars, I sprinkled powdered sugar on top, then adorned it (for picture purposes) with the traditional purple, green, and gold.

There is a gold crown "plopped" down in the center, and there is also a plastic baby tucked somewhere in the cake.

The colors have significance. Purple indicates justice, green is for faith, and gold represents power.

This was a good project for a day that looked like this out our front door at 2:00 p.m. -

That is an accumulation of sleet/ice - NOT snow!

At 9:00 a.m. this morning, this is the same view -

There was a bit of snow overnight on top of that sleet/ice. This is the first winter weather we have had here.

I send wishes for a happy Shrove Tuesday!

Monday, February 16, 2015

Monday, February 16, 2015....

Presidents' Day....the day we honor two outstanding presidents in our nation's history.

We probably see more of this one -

- and it is true that a dollar doesn't go as far as it once did! :)

George Washington was the first president of the United States, a position he wasn't really excited about holding. He was happiest when he was at his beloved Mount Vernon.

In only four years, Abraham Lincoln brought about much positive change for the United States, though it was a time of war and turmoil.

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was only two minutes long, and he had no idea his words would be remembered for all the succeeding years afterwards. Sadly, he was not to live long enough to really be able to evaluate his presidency.

Lincoln's birthday was on February 12, and Washington's birthday comes on February 22. Today we honor them and their accomplishments for our nation.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Sunday, February 15, 2015....

From Ephesians 4:23-24, we read these words:

"Renew the thinking in your mind by the Spirit and clothe

yourself with the new person created according to God's

image in justice and true holiness."

From the United Methodist Women 2015 Prayer Calendar, the Mission Focus for today is the Community United Methodist Center, St. Croix, Virgin Islands.

May this day be one in which you experience love, joy, and peace.