AUGUST - INSPIRING AND SOLEMNLY GRAND

 AUGUST, the eighth calendar month, the last full month of summer season - "The Dog Days of Summer", back to school, and those final vacation days.  August also brings the best bounty of the season, ripened tomatoes, juicy watermelon, sweet corn and perfect zucchini!  Try some new recipes - my mother's favorite - pickled watermelon

August National Holidays:

• August 1, Lammas Day, was a traditional festival marking the annual wheat and corn harvest. Lammas also marked the mid-point between the summer solstice and autumn equinox and was a cross-quarter day.
• August 10 St. Lawrence’s Day. “Fair weather on St. Lawrence’s Day indicates a fair autumn.” 
• August 11 marks the end of the Dog Days of Summer, which began on July 3.
• August 17 is the beginning of the Cat Nights, this bit of Irish folklore legend led to the idea that a cat has nine lives.
• August 19 National Aviation Day, the birthday of Orville Wright who piloted the first recorded flight of a powered heavier-than-air machine in 1903.
• August 24 St. Bartholomew Day. “At St. Bartholomew, there comes cold dew.”
• August 26 Women’s Equality Day, which celebrates the 1920 ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment and, with it, women’s right to vote in the United States.

August FUN Celebrations:

• Aug. 1–7: International Clown Week
• Aug. 3: National Watermelon Day
• Aug. 8: National Sneak Some Zucchini Upon Your Neighbors’ Porch Day 
• Aug. 10: National S’mores Day
• Aug 12: Vinyl Record Day
• Aug. 13: International Left-Handers Day
• Aug. 20: International Geocaching Day
• Aug. 20: World Honeybee Day
• Aug. 25: Kiss-and-Make-Up Day

August Astronomy

August’s full moon, the full Sturgeon Moon, will reach peak illumination on the night of Thursday, August 19 and a seasonal Blue Moon this year. The Sturgeon Moon is named for the giant sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain that were most readily caught during this part of summer. It’s also the final supermoon of the year!

August Moon Phases

August 4: New Moon 

August 7: Venus near Mercury 

August 12: Perseid meteor shower peak 

August 14: Jupiter near Mars 

August 19: Full Moon, Blue Moon, Supermoon 

August 21: Moon near Saturn; lunar occultation of Saturn 

August 27: Moon near Jupiter

August Folklore

• ​​​As August, so February.
• Observe on what day in August the first heavy fog occurs and expect a hard frost on the same day in October.
• If the first week of August is unusually warm, the winter will be white and long.
• So many August fogs, so many winter mists.
• When it rains
  in August,
  It raises honey
  and wine.

Watermelon Salad

The hot summer days of July and August are a perfect time to make Watermelon Salad.  The refreshing combination of sweet watermelon, cool cucumbers, and salty feta with a sprig of fresh mint means this watermelon salad recipe is easy to make and delightful to enjoy with friends and family.

This watermelon salad is refreshing and packed with sweet and salty flavors. The fresh herbs and zesty honey-lime dressing is another level of deliciousness. You can also add chopped red onions, diced creamy avocado or Aleppo pepper flakes.

To choose a juicy watermelon, look for one with a yellow field spot that indicates it ripened on the vine. Inspect the stem that it is dry and brown. The color should be darker green with lighter stripes.

Enjoy this recipe!

1-small watermelon cut and cubed

2-large English cucumber cubed

15 leaves of mint chopped 

15 leaves of basil chopped 

1/2 C crumbled feta cheese

Dressing:

2 Tbl honey

2 Tbl EVA olive oil

Juice of one lime

Pinch of Kisher salt

Toss all together and enjoy the delicious, combined flavors of this refreshing summer salad!!

Good Friday

A Good Friday Prayer

Jesus,

I grieve that the torture and sorrow You endured on the cross were necessary to save humanity.

Because You didn’t want me enslaved to fear, anxiety, or sin—You sacrificed Yourself so that Love could win.

It’s Love that hung upon the cross and gave up everything to rescue me. “It is finished” was a cry of victory, because You defeated everything that held me in captivity.

Because of Your sacrifice, I can experience intimacy with You forever. Thank You! 

Help me to know You more, and to reach people with the hope found in You.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

RAIN RAIN RAIN

Today in my region of the United States it is raining.  Many regions are experiencing flooding and loss of electricity.  Rain is nature's way of creating balance by providing moisture that promotes growth.  Unfortunately, too much rain in a short amount of time can leading to flooding and unwanted destruction.

The rain cycle begins when warm air rises and cold air rushes in to replace it.  This lifting of the warm air creates an area of low pressure causing the moisture in the air to condense and form clouds.  As the clouds grow larger, they can no longer support the weight of the water droplets and the rain falls to the ground.

The water then flows into rivers and lakes, eventually returning to the ocean.  This cycle begins again as the sun evaporates water from the surface creating more moist air that will eventually rise and form new clouds.

The end-product of liquid precipitation from the sky that falls down to the Earth is a vital part of life on earth, from the water we drink to preserve our bodies, to its cooling effect and providing the water and nutrients necessary to grow our food.  Regardless of how we feel about it, rain is an integral part of our lives and will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Although rain may seem like a destructive force, rain is essential for life on earth.  Rain is the primary source of fresh water for all living things.  It helps to replenish the groundwater supply that plants and animals' use.  It also helps to keep the air clean and refreshed washing away dust and pollutants from the atmosphere.  Rain helps to moderate the earth's surface temperature making it suitable for all life forms.

We can see rain as a sign of hope, love, happiness, loneliness, sadness, despair, blessedness, warmth and comfort.  Others might find rain to be calming and reassuring providing a sense of comfort during stressful times.  Then there are some who simply enjoy the physical sensation of raindrops falling on their skin, making them happy, especially on those hot and sunny days.

"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down.                                                      Without the rain, there would b no rainbow."

 

The Season of Lent

 This week we was Ash Wednesday which begins Lent season.  It is a holy day of prayer and fasting in preparation for Easter Sunday. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ's sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days. Lent is marked by fasting, both from food and festivities.  Abstinence from meat, which represents flesh, on this day, honors the sacrifice Jesus made in the cross for our sins.

The three traditional pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Through the three pillars of Lent we journey to develop a closer relationship to God. The 40 days of Lent should be filled with reflection, service and prayer.

Some United Methodist churches refrain from singing "alleluia," "hallelujah" and/or "gloria" during Lent. This practice, sometimes called "Burying the Alleluia," is a way of recognizing the solemnity of the season and anticipating the glorious praise to be sung in celebration of Jesus' Resurrection on Easter Sunday!

During Lent the only alcohol allowed is Wine.  As we know, it is our spiritual food, which symbolizes the blood of the Lord. That is why often on our Christian dinners – the so-called agapia, the consumption of wine is allowed. So, wine is allowed during Lent, and all other drinks are forbidden

Passion Week, or Holy Week, is the week between Psalm Sunday and Easter Sunday.  It is referred to as Passion Week because Jesus Christ truly revealed His passion for us in the suffering He willingly went through on our behalf. What should our attitude be during Passion Week? We should be passionate in our worship of Jesus and in our proclamation of His Gospel! As He suffered for us, so should we be willing to suffer for the cause of following Him and proclaiming the message of His death and resurrection.

During Passion Week we observe:

Holy Monday - the day Jesus cleansed the temple and began the triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey

Holy Tuesday - when Jesus was issued various challenges by the Pharisees and Sadducees 

Holy Wednesday - or Spy Wednesday when Judas conspired to betrayJesus

Maundy Thursday, which commemorates the Last Supper between Jesus and his disciples. Maundy Thursday is the last day of Lent. 

Good Friday - the sacrifice of the Lamb of God on the cross for our sins

Easter Sunday - the day of resurrection of Jesus

Hallelujah! He is risen!! He is risen indeed❤️🙏✝️

NUMEROLOGY

Oftentimes a quick glance at a clock may cause one to pause, especially when noticing a pattern of the time - 7:11, 9:11, and 3:11.  We may notice the same number pattern when looking elsewhere - perhaps on license plates, telephones, appliances, or commercials over a period of hours or even days.  Once we accept that these are not coincidences, we are open to the realization that there is a message in the numbers for us, and we know to pay attention to the repeating patterns and search for their true meaning

Numerology’s origin dates back to the Ancient Greek world and teaches us that each number carries its own vibration and symbolic significance. The stages of our soul’s evolution can be marked numerlogically as we move from one stage to the next. Repeating number patterns in our daily lives may cause us to focus on certain aspects of our lives and approach them from deep within us. Once we recognize there is something we need to look more deeply into, we can then trust that we will be guided to the correct people and places that holding the answers for us.

Numbers, as symbols, can carry personal meanings as well. We may have our own lucky number that has served us well throughout our lives and another that reminds us of certain events of significance. My daughter's significant number is 4:44, the time of her firstborn and the same time of the arrival at the hospital for her second born.  If these lucky numbers are the numbers that are currently appearing, it may be a push from the universe to delve into the past for clues about how to handle a present situation. 

Many people indicate they are seeing 11:11 right now, which can indicate an energetic gateway has opened for you and is available to manifest your thoughts into reality. Whatever explanations you receive about the numbers that are appearing everywhere you look; the most important aspect is to trust your own guidance as to what the numbers are telling you. 

For me, my Spirit Number is 4 (adding up my birthday digits to a single digit).  My Master Number is 22, which is believed to possess great potential for manifesting positive change in the world, which I haven't knowingly tapped.  Perhaps I have limited my brain by keeping it tethered to my samskara.  I had a beautiful sister-n-law, Judi Scanlon, whose personal moto was always "whatever will be, will be" (Que sera, sera)!  I often envied her refreshing and spiritual freedom in acceptance of life.

Every culture attaches different meaning to the numbers, so a Chinese interpretation may be different than a Kabbalah interpretation. It is up to each of us to use our own intuition to see which is the best fit for us. If someone has an explanation that just doesn’t feel right, then this is not the answer for you but may be just a clue to keep you moving on your path. By giving our attention to the numbers around us, we are able to use them as tools to improve our connection to the universe and our awareness of our choices in life.

ARTICHOKE

 The globe artichoke is the immature flower bud of a thistle, which is part of the sunflower family. They are one of the oldest known foods to man.   An artichoke's blossoms are blue violet in color and can measure up to seven inches in diameter.  One artichoke can produce up to 20 blossoms per year!

Artichokes are ranked number one over all other vegetables for antioxidant levels that help prevent cancer, cardiovascular disease, as well as having a positive effect on the liver and digestive health - not to mention high in vitamin C, A, K and more.  To top it off, artichokes also taste great taste and are versatile in recipes too, including both low-carb, keto and air fryer recipes. Artichokes can be stuffed, grilled, steamed or braised. 

When purchasing fresh artichokes, look for dark green orbs with tightly closed leaves that are heavy for their size.  Artichokes are best eaten right away but can be stored in a plastic bag in the fridge for up to four days.

INGREDIENTS

• ▢2 fresh artichokes

Dipping Sauce:

• ▢1/3 cup mayonnaise
• ▢1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• ▢2 cloves garlic, minced
• ▢1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves or 1/4 teaspoon ground thyme

Optional Toppings:

• ▢olive oil
• ▢ground black pepper and sea salt
• ▢dried thyme leaves

INSTRUCTIONS

• Prepare Artichokes: Rinse artichokes. Snap off and discard any small outer leaves on stems. Snip off any large thorns on leaves using kitchen shears. Cut off and discard top-third of leaves (inedible leaves furthest from stem) using a serrated knife. Cut off and discard lower part of stem, leaving at least 1 inch attached to artichoke.
• Cook Artichokes: Add artichokes to a large pot, add water until they start to float, and cover. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil covered for 30 minutes, adjusting heat as needed to maintain a medium boil. Uncover, and using tongs transfer artichokes to a colander to drain, stem side up. Check for doneness: artichokes are done when a leaf can easily be pulled out using tongs. Let them cool for about 45 minutes.
• Dipping Sauce: Whisk together all dipping sauce ingredients in a mixing bowl until very smooth. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Serve: Slice cooled artichokes in half, down the stem, handling carefully to avoid breaking off tender leaves. Use a spoon to scoop out and discard fuzzy needle-like white centers and purple leaves from each artichoke half. Arrange artichokes on serving plates. Lightly brush cut surfaces with olive oil, and season with pepper, salt, and thyme. Serve with prepared dipping sauce and extra plates for discarded leaves.

• How to Eat Artichokes: 

  The bottom third of the tough outer leaves can be scraped with the teeth after a good dunk in melted butter or dipping sauce—there’s a fair bit of meat there.  Use a spoon to scoop out the heart or center of the sunflower—less any fuzzy choke. Enjoy!