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Running on half steam

Submitted by tired_gardener on Thu, 03/10/2011 - 20:49
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I've not written in a while. As I've said before, I'm a teacher and that takes first priority. I feel bad that I've not put any energy into the blog, but I'm running low on steam. It takes a lot of energy to put into my class. I also have been working on a freelance web development gig. I don't normally do web development anymore, but I needed the money and they needed the help. Unfortunately that also took a lot of energy (more than I expected).

Anyway, if you are running low on steam, like me, just remember that God is there with you, helping you through it. He will be your light. He will lead you. Let Him be your guide and you will be on your way in no time. I say this as much as a reminder to me as anything. I forget sometimes to let Him lead the way. I want to lead myself. I can do it. I know I can.... I may be able to do it, but He can do it better.

Have a good day, and God bless.


Free Cholesterol Screening

Submitted by tired_gardener on Sun, 09/26/2010 - 10:12
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On some Cheerios boxes, there is a code that you can enter online and Cheerios will donate $1.00 to help people in need get cholesterol screenings for free. I just entered one from the box I finished today. Be sure to enter yours if you have them!

Autumnal Equinox

Submitted by tired_gardener on Thu, 09/23/2010 - 00:24
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Today is the Autumnal Equinox, or one of two days a year when the sun is in the same plane as the equator. It is also the day when both day and night are about the same length. It is becoming more popular to refer to this day as the September Equinox, as it is not autumn in all parts of the world. In the Southern Hemisphere this is actually the spring or Vernal Equinox.

Stating the day and night are the same length during and equinox is not technically true. Day is defined as when the sun's rays are seen hitting the Earth. On the equinox the center of the sun is over the horizon for 12 hours, which means that the disk is over the horizon for more than that. So the day on an equinox is actually about 14 minutes longer than night. The equilux is actually a few days off from the equinox and depends on what latitude you are at.


Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement

Submitted by tired_gardener on Fri, 09/17/2010 - 19:18
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Today is Yom Kippur (וֹם כִּפּוּר). Yom Kippur is the tenth day of the Ten Days of Repentance (עשרת ימי תשובה) known as the High Holidays, 10 days after Rosh Hashanah. During the 25 hour period of Yom Kippur, one is supposed to fast and pray the entire time. It is also called the day of atonement, and this fasting and prayer is to atone for sins. After Yom Kippur, one is absolved of sins.

Yom Kippur is established in Leviticus 16:29, the third book of Moses, in which God decrees that the 10th day of the 7th month (of the Jewish calendar) will be a sabbath of sabbaths. As well as fasting and lots of prayer, one should also follow these edicts:

  1. No eating and drinking
  2. No wearing of leather shoes
  3. No bathing or washing
  4. No anointing oneself with perfumes or lotions
  5. No marital relations

50% off at Michaels

Submitted by tired_gardener on Sun, 09/12/2010 - 08:00
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Michaels is once again offering their 50% off a single item coupons. I got them at the register yesterday and I got one in my email from them. If you want to use more than one, bring someone with you "One coupon per customer per day." Valid Sunday September 12 through Tuesday September 14. They do limit what you can buy, and the list is long:

Excludes clearance, buy and get items, special order custom floral arrangements, special order custom frames and materials, Brushstrokes Portraits at Michaels, books and magazines, Gypsy brand, Yudo machine, Brother, Sticks and Stones, and all Cricut and Slice products.
I don't know if this will work, since it is only available through e-mail, but here is the link to print the coupon.

Tzom Gedaliah - Fast of Gedaliah

Submitted by tired_gardener on Sun, 09/12/2010 - 06:45
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Today is the Fast of Gedaliah (צוֹם גְּדַלְיָּה‎). On The third day of the seventh month in 582 BC, the governor Gedaliah was murdered by Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal (2 Kings 25:25). After the fall of the first temple, King Nebuchadnezzar, drove out the conquerors and appointed Gedaliah to rule over the Hebrews which remained in the area. After the death of Gedaliah the people were dispersed across the land. For more on this story, read Jeremiah 40-42.

This fast is “to teach us that the death of a righteous man is like the burning of the house of God”. The people fast from sunrise until the stars appear at night. If the third day of Tishrei falls on Shabbat (Saturday), it is postponed until the fourth (as it was this year) as fasting is not allowed on Shabbat, save the Shabbat of Shabbats, Yom Kippur.

Happy Grandparents Day!

Submitted by tired_gardener on Sun, 09/12/2010 - 00:47
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Today is grandparents day in the United States. Thanks to all the grandparents out there and to all the seniors who have not become grandparents too. In 1978 the first Sunday after labor day became a day to celebrate grandparents. The official flower of grandparents day is the Forget Me Not.

Other countries celebrate grandparents on other days. In Canada they celebrate grandparents on the second Sunday in September, which happens to also be today. The UK celebrate grandparents on the first Sunday in October. The French celebrate it on the first Sunday in March.


Shabbos Shuvah - Sabbath of Return

Submitted by tired_gardener on Sat, 09/11/2010 - 00:42
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Today is a special sabbath in Jewish tradition. The only sabbath to occur between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, Shabbos Shuvah or Sabbot of Return is a day to return to the Jewish way of life. One should reflect on the last year in preparation for the day of atonement of Yom Kippur which is coming in a few days.


Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year

Submitted by tired_gardener on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 19:35
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Today is Rosh Hashanah (ראש השנה) or head of the year. It is often referred to as the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah falls on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. In the third book of Moses, Leviticus 23:24 we read "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest unto you, a memorial proclaimed with the blast of horns, a holy convocation."

Rosh Hashanah is the first day of the 10 days of Repentance (עשרת ימי תשובה), known as the High Holidays and lasts for 2 days. This year Rosh Hashanah starts at sunset on September 8th and ends at nightfall on September 10th. Rosh Hashanah is believed to be the anniversary of the creation of the Earth as described in Genesis. Shofar, or the blowing of ram's horns is mandated by the Torah in Leviticus 23:24 and Numbers 29:1. Other customs include Tashlikh or the symbolic casting off of sins into a river, sea or ocean, eating of symbolic foods, wearing white robes and reciting certain prayers and poems.


Rose Hips

Submitted by tired_gardener on Fri, 08/27/2010 - 00:51
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Green Rose Hips

Welcome to Food Friday. Today we are going to talk about a little known food item: Rose Hips. Yes, rose hips do come from those rose plants you have planted in your yard. After the flower blooms and dies back the fruit appears below the flower. It will be green at first and then turn red. This berry is very high in vitamin C, even higher than oranges. Rose hips were a staple item in many cultures throughout time, but in recent years they have become more know for their beauty than their flavor and health benefits.

Several culinary uses are found for rose hips. You can make jam, jelly and syrup from them. You can also make tea, soda or wine. There are also recipes for bread, soup and pie. But where do you find them?

At many stores you can get rose hip pills, but if you want the actual rose hip for cooking with, it is harder to find. I've never seen rose hips at Freddies or Safeway, but I unexpectedly found rose hips on Amazon. You can also find them at many natural food stores. The best bet might be to grow it yourself or harvest them from the wild.

You are not going to get the best rose hips on every rose you plant. Your hybrid tea roses in your yard may well produce hips (mine are pictured) but they are not as good as their wild brethren. Wild roses (Rosa rugosa) produce the best and most prolific hips. You can often find them in the wild, but you can plant them in your yard as well. The hard part for me is to let them grow long enough for the fruit to ripen. They will turn red when ripe. If you can keep yourself from cutting them back, harvest the berries and see what you think.

On preparing them. The seeds have tiny hairs that are used in itching powder. You don't want to eat that part. Dry them a little, split them open, and remove all the seeds. Once the seeds are removed, dry them for later use. You can eat them as is, or use one of the above recipes. Enjoy!