It's International Asteroid Day & National Meteor Day & Social Media Day

Many people think everyday is Social Media Day.  That's nothing special.  This should be No Social Media Day - now that would be a challenging celebration.

Now for a little science lesson - it's short.  I hope you find it interesting, I did.

An asteroid is a small rocky object that orbits the Sun.

A meteoroid is a small piece of an asteroid that enters the Earth's atmosphere.

When meteoroids enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up, they are called meteors aka shooting stars.

A meteoroid that doesn't burn up when it enter the Earth's atmosphere and hits the ground is called a meteorite.

But how to celebrate?  You can put in your location at https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/ to see when a meteor shower is expected in your area.  For Raleigh, it's Aug 11-12 & Oct 7-8, 2020.

There are a few movies about asteroids and meteors.  My favorite is Deep Impact.  Did you know that the traffic jam scene at the end of the movie was filmed on VA State Hwy 234?  It was under construction at the time so no real traffic was on it yet.  There were approximately 1,800 vehicles in that scene and most of them were people living in Manassas, VA who took the day off and volunteered to sit in traffic.

(I'm not saying this would be the result of a meteorite hitting the earth)

Revelation 6:12-14  I watched as He opened the sixth seal.  There was a great earthquake.  The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.  The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

It's National Waffle Iron Day & Hug Holiday

Guess it will be an air hug holiday today since we are supposed to social distance.  This is not a good year for this one.

Solomon was the wisest person who ever lived and his advice still applies.

Ecclesiastes 3:5b  ..a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.

There are so many different kinds of waffles to make, this can be a very fun celebration.  Waffles can be made from sweet or savory and can be eaten for any meal or snack.  I made a grilled cheese sandwich in my waffle iron a couple weeks ago - I don't recommend it; it didn't cook well.  I would like to cook cake mix in the waffle iron;  that sounds so yummy.

How will you celebrate today?  Will you be making any waffles?

How will you celebrate National Tapioca Day & Log Cabin Day?

The temple had lots of wood in it but definitely was NOT a log cabin.

1 Kings 6:14-18  So Solomon built the temple and completed it.  He lined its interior walls with cedar boards, paneling them from the floor of the temple to the ceiling, and covered the floor of the temple with planks of juniper.  He partitioned off twenty cubits at the rear of the temple with cedar boards from floor to ceiling to form within the temple an inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place.  The main hall in front of this room was forty cubits long.  The inside of the temple was cedar, carved with gourds and open flowers.  Everything was cedar; no stone was to be seen.  

What does log cabin make you think of?  I won't put my suggestions yet.  I look forward to hearing yours.

Do you use tapioca?  If so, in what?  Is tapioca outdated now?  I haven't used it in decades.  

Let me know our thoughts.

Happy Sunglasses Day & National Onion Day & National Ice Cream Cake Day

It's a great day for a blooming onion made in the air fryer or French onion dip with chips or veggies.

If Katherine was going to be around, I'd make - ok, I really mean buy - an ice cream cake.  She used to like those but that may have been replaced by cookie cakes.  Good thing I won't see her today, I don't need to eat either one.  I'm in the group that has put on weight while in quarantine and am glad I don't have to get dressed in restrictive clothes to go out to work right now.

Make sure to wear your sunglasses while you can.  I understand when the latest plague reaches us, we won't need them; the dust cloud will be our shade.

Deuteronomy 4:19  And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars - all the heavenly array - do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.

It's Beautician's Day & National Chocolate Pudding Day & National Food Truck Day

We are all grateful the hair salons were allowed to open again.  We gained a greater appreciation of our beauticians and celebrate that today.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Nothing wrong with making the outside pretty but let's not neglect the inside too.

1 Peter 3:3-4  Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

Take your beautician some chocolate pudding or think of them while you eat it today.

I refuse to eat from a food truck.  I think it's a generational thing.  I have very fond memories of buying ice cream from the ice cream truck but that's the only food I've bought out of a truck and I intend to keep it that way.  I've heard the food is usually good.  I've read books and watched Hallmark movies about food trucks but I still have no desire to eat from one.  But y'all go ahead and celebrate without me.

Hair Undone, Wake Forest, NC

Celebrate Color TV Day and National Strawberry Parfait Day

Tonight, watch The Wizard of Oz and see the movie transform from black and white to color.  Unless you enjoy old movies, everything you watch will be in color.  

Imagine what the temple of God must have looked like when it was completed.  I think no TV or picture could have captured its beauty.

1 Chronicles 29:2  With all my [David] resources I have provided for the temple of my God - gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble - all of these in large quantities.

Enjoy a nice Strawberry Parfait while you watch TV.  Food Network has an easy Strawberry Parfait recipe.  The recipe is so short, I've included it here as well as the link.  

Hull and quarter 1 quart of strawberries.  Toss with 1 tsp sugar in a large bowl.  Sprinkle a layer of gingersnap crumbs or graham cracker crumbs (or granola) in the bottom of parfait glasses.  Top with the berries.  Mix 1 cup Greek yogurt with 2 Tbsp honey and 1/2 tsp cinnamon, then spoon over the berries.

It's Museum Comes to Life Day & Celebration of the Senses Day & Swim a Lap Day

I don't know if museums are open so we will settle for watching Night at the Museum tonight.

Celebrate Senses Day by surrounding yourself with pleasant sights, smells, and sounds.  Stop and smell the flowers or the coffee, depending on your preference and the time of day.  The point is to take time to be in the moment and be aware of the things around you.  Seek out the pleasant things in your life.

Revelation 3:22  Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Swim a Lap Day is a week too early for us; we will be on vacation next week.  If you have access to a pool today, take a refreshing dip and swim a lap and enjoy the cool of the pool.  Abbie takes Leah and Aaron (and several neighborhood kids) to our development's pool almost every day.

Happy National Pink Day and National Hydration Day

Color psychology says pink is a calming color and makes us think of love and kindness.

Easy clothes choice today if you own anything pink.

I have lots of pink nail polish so I'll have pink digits today.

Look for some Pink Panther movie to watch.

Pick some pink posies.

Eat strawberry ice cream or cherry pie.

Celebrate National Hydration Day with some pink lemonade but drink water too.

John 4:14  [Jesus said] whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

Happy National Onion Rings Day & National Chocolate Eclair Day

Celebrate almost opposite sides of the spectrum today - onions and chocolate.

The Spruce Eats has an easy Air Fryer Onion Rings recipe.  I bought an air fryer and used it yesterday for the first time.  I made broccoli.  It was easy, in spite of my nervousness, and turned out well.  I'm looking forward to trying more air fryer recipes like this one (just in case the link doesn't work):  https://www.thespruceeats.com/air-fryer-onion-rings-4771524

It's been a long time since I ate a chocolate eclair.  I remember they are delicious - a light pastry with cream inside and chocolate on top.  I looked at some recipes and they seem like a baker could do it but it's too much work for me.

2 Chronicles 26:4a, 5c  He [Uzziah] did what was right in the eyes of the Lord...As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all you fathers out there and to the fathers in my own family.

It's also National Selfie Day, National Turkey Lover's Day & National Peaches & Cream Day

Take some selfies with Day today.

Start a new Father's Day tradition by fixing a turkey.  Why should it be relegated to 2 Winter holidays so close together and be missed for the rest of the year?

Dad may not be a peaches & cream kind of guy but maybe he would like peach ice cream or vanilla ice cream atop a bowl of peach cobbler.

John 6:40  For My Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son [Jesus] and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.

Now THAT's a father that really loves his family!  (2011)

It's Summer Solstice Day & National Vanilla Milkshake Day & National Seashell Day

Celebrate the Summer Solstice today.  It's finally Summer!

It's also National Vanilla Milkshake Day.  Go to your favorite ice cream place and enjoy a milkshake today.  Or go to McDonald's and pretend a pineapple mango smoothie is a vanilla milkshake.  Katherine and I like to get pineapple mango smoothies when the weather is warm.

If you can't be at the beach, daydream about walking on the beach and finding seashells.  Maybe you'll find a pearl of great price in one.  Dream big!

Psalm 74:17  It was You [God] Who set all the boundaries of the earth; You made both summer and winter.

It's International Picnic Day & Go Fishing Day

If the rain ever stops long enough for the ground to dry out, a picnic might be enjoyable - for some.  I have never like picnics.  They're outdoors and it seems like a lot of packing and carrying and sitting on the ground with bugs.  Definitely not my thing.  the closest I get to a picnic is eating in the van.

I have a similar opinion of fishing.  It's outdoors and hot and boring.  My favorite fishing memory is when my Dad took me to a place on Maryland's Eastern Shore and they had a HUGE one room building full of comic books - stacks of them.  I spent a lovely day reading inside and he spent a lovely quiet day fishing.  

Do you like picnics or fishing?  What's your best memory?

Jesus liked both picnics and fishing.  There are several stories in the Gospels about Jesus feeding people outside and about fishing and fishermen.

Matthew 4:19  "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."

Celebrate Eat Your Vegetables Day

I am so excited; I ordered an air fryer and it should be here today.  I'm looking forward to air fried veggies!  My friend, Chrissy, makes them all the time and they are so good.  Denny is looking forward to air fried potato wedges - they count as veggies too.  We still have half a dozen mini ears of corn frozen that can also be done in the air fryer.  Or, how about making a low country boil?  All this talk about veggies is making me hungry for a good old comfort-food Shepherd's Pie; we use a bag of mixed vegetables in ours.

So what's for dinner at your house today?

Daniel 1:12, 13a, 15  Daniel said, "Please test your servants for ten days:  Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.  Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food...At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.

It's No Orange Clothes Day & Fresh Veggies Day & National Vinegar Day & National Fudge Day

I think it's funny that yesterday was Smile Power Day and today is Vinegar Day - just thinking of the impression our facial features give.

I'm not sure how you can celebrate Vinegar and Fudge Days together, obviously not at the same time.  I guess it's a good day to have salad (for Fresh Veggies Day) with a vinegar-based dressing and later - much later - have fudge for dessert.

The easiest thing to celebrate today is No Orange Clothes Day, especially if you don't have any orange clothes anyway.

How will you celebrate today?

Proverbs 15:17  Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.

It's National Electricity Day & National Smile Power Day & National Lobster Day

As you are out and about today and maybe at the pool, remember to wear sunscreen and be aware of time in the sun.  you don't want to look like a lobster.  The preference is to eat lobster, not look like one.

I'm so thankful for electricity.  Life would be so different without it.  When I think about it, electricity plays a big part in my life - lights, laptop, chargers, air conditioning.  Smile Power is also today and even though smiles have the power to soften situations if they're genuine, they can't hold a candle to electricity.  😎  Use some of your natural smile power today.  Let the wattage shine!

Revelation 21:23  The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

This is what Katherine's scary smile looks like - eyes and all.

It's National Strawberry Shortcake Day & International Bath Day & National Children's Day

Today, tire the children out at the pool, on the playground, running around the outside of the house (not the inside), races in the yard...whatever it takes.  Then, after dinner have strawberry shortcake for dessert followed by baths and bedtime.  Sounds like a nice plan to me!

How will you celebrate today?

Psalm 103:13  As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him;

Celebrate National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month

Abbie, Denny, and I all bought celery recently.  Abbie bought buffalo chicken dip to go with hers.  She and I can celebrate with that.  I may put peanut butter or cream cheese on some celery too.  Denny is going to have to eat his plain because he doesn't like any of these combinations.

My friend, Chrissy, has been using the air fryer accessory to her instant pot to air fry vegetables.  They are delicious, as good as chips.  I believe an air fryer is in my future; Chrissy keeps tempting me with the yummy things she makes.

Denny bought a watermelon that we can eat this weekend too. 

Guess we were more prepared for this day than I expected.

Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.

It's National Peanut Butter Cookie Day & National Marriage Day & Red Rose Day

This is a good day to give your loved one a red rose or a peanut butter cookie.

Or make some tea using Red Rose tea bags.

Practically Homemade has a Super Easy 4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies with a Cake Mix recipe that sounds easy and yummy.

Proverbs 12:4  A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.

Enjoy National Corn on the Cob Day

Yummy corn on the cob!

Spicy Southern Kitchen has an easy Best Way to Cook Corn on the Cob.

Psalm 70:4  But may all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who long for Your saving help always say, "The Lord is great!"

Enjoy National Iced Tea Day & Ballpoint Pen Day

When I think of iced tea, I remember visits to my Aunt Joyce's house.  She always had a huge Tupperware container of iced tea.  I don't think hers was as sweet as Southern iced tea (we did live in Maryland after all) but it was so good - still a little warm around those frosty iced cubes.  That's a memory close to comfort food.  I love you, Aunt Joyce!  

Now, living in North Carolina, we do love our iced tea.  If you're buying it at a drive-thru, I prefer McDonald's because their drinks are $1 for any size.  However, nobody makes iced tea like Bojangles.  If you're at Bo's you might as well get some chicken and fries and make that a free iced tea!

Scribbling on...I love pens.  My favorite ballpoint pen is Pentel's R.S.V.P.  I used to journal and it HAD to be in purple ink.  (Yes, I was an adult.  Sometimes adulting just needs to be in colors.)  I tried using other colors but I found my thoughts and written words turned into a discourse on how much I didn't like using this color that was not purple!

How about you?  Do you have a favorite pen or favorite color for writing?

1 Corinthians 10:31  So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Here's a picture of my ballpoint pens.  I can't resist picking them up when they're free.

Celebrate Dairy Month today

Have some cereal with milk, coffee or tea with cream.

Enjoy cheeses as sandwiches, hors d'oeuvres, and coverings for pizza, lasagna, and chips.

Open up a carton of ice cream and indulge.

Go out looking for COWS!

Isaiah 11:7  The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

It's Best Friends Day & Jelly-Filled Doughnut Day

I don't usually buy doughnuts because I will eat them but I just may have to make a trip to Dunkin' Donuts this morning.

Contact your best friend today.  Best friends are few and far between so if you have one, you are indeed fortunate; not everyone has one.  David and Jonathan are great examples of best friends.

1 Samuel 18:3  And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

It's National Chocolate Ice Cream Day & National Frozen Yogurt Day

Head to your favorite ice cream or frozen yogurt place and enjoy a cone or cup or banana split today.  I have family members that rave about the Moo Thru in Remington, VA.  That's a must stop if you're ever in that area.

What's your favorite ice cream place?

James 1:5  If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, Who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

It's National Applesauce Cake Day & National Pineapple Day & National Trails Day

Here are a few applesauce cake recipes to help you celebrate today.

Applesauce Cake by All Recipes

Applesauce Cake by Easy Good Ideas

Anne Byrn's 1917 Applesauce Cake by Budget Bytes

Applesauce Cake with Cake Mix by cdkitchen

Applesauce Dump Cake (with crushed pineapple) by Food.com

How about celebrating National Pineapple Day with one of these?

Virgin Pina Colada by High Heels and Grills

Easy Pineapple Upside-Down Cake by Tablespoon

Or watch Psych and see if you can find the pineapple hidden in each episode.

Take some trail mix to snack on if you go walking on some trails.  Or watch a movie; there are lots of old westerns with Trail in the title.  Roy Rogers used to sing Happy Trails at the end of his TV show too.  If westerns are not your thing, see if you can find Trail of the Pink Panther (7th in the Pink Panther series).  You could play the Oregon Trail game and see how far you get.

Read about the Israelites' wanderings in Exodus as they looked for the Promised Land.  

Happy National Doughnut Day & Hot Air Balloon Day

Enjoy some doughnuts for breakfast or snacks today.  Dunkin' Donuts is offering a free doughnut when you buy a drink.  I understand that's been their usual Friday deal lately, so nothing new there.  Krispy Kreme is offering 1 free doughnut, no strings attached.

I can't think of any references to celebrate Hot Air Balloon Day except watching Around the World in 80 Days.  

So today might be a better day to celebrate National Dairy Month by having milk with your doughnut or celebrate National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month by having fresh fruit with your doughnut breakfast and salad for lunch or maybe taco salad for dinner.

Proverbs 15:17  Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.

Happy National Cheese Day

This is an opportunity to get all your cheesy jokes out.

Eat some cheesy goodness too.  Here are some suggestions.

Bagels and cream cheese for breakfast.

Grilled cheese for lunch.

Cheese and crackers for snack.

Philly cheese steak subs for dinner.

Or try one of these recipes featuring cheese.

Easy Cheese Bomb Bread by Averie Cooks

Crescent Cheese Danishes by My Incredible Recipes

Queso Blanco by Eating on a Dime

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese by Build Your Bite

Cheese-Crusted Quesadilla by Delish

Proverbs 4:26  Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.

Happy National Egg Day

Wake up to an egg-citing day!

 

Scrambled eggs for breakfast or over medium so you can dip toast into the soft yolk.

Egg salad sandwich for lunch (not something I would EVER eat) or egg drop soup.

Deviled eggs with dinner.

I won't be having any of these because I really don't like eggs, unless they're in bakery items.  I wish I did because they're so good for you; I wonder if that's why I don't like them.

I tried to get some egg recipes for you but I dislike eggs so much, I just couldn't do it.

However, I did discover an egg-cellent YouTube video by Tasty entitled, "I Made Only Egg Recipes For A Day."  You have to watch this!  I'm so impressed with his one-handed egg cracking skills.

See how many egg references you can make today but don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Hope your day is egg-straordinary.

Luke 11:11-13  Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?  Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

It's National Leave the Office Early Day & National Rocky Road Day

I don't plan to leave the office early since I'm working from home.  I enjoy driving when the weather's good but It's so nice to skip my over 2-hour round-trip commute.  I love being able to quit work and start dinner (when I cook) so it's ready before 7 pm.  No one's starving (like me) so I don't feel pressured or rushed.  It's so much more relaxing being home. 

Speaking of dinner, or after dinner really, it's National Rocky Road Day.  When I think of Rocky Road, I think of ice cream but Rocky Road is also a fudgy-type dessert.  I found two easy Rocky Road dessert recipes.  One is on Tastes Better from Scratch and the other is on Spend with Pennies.  There are slight differences in ingredients and how they're put together but they both sound good. 

If you're not into chocolate or dessert, you can craft your own rocky road with rocks or draw a setting with a rocky road.  Where does your rocky road lead?

Which type of rocky road do you prefer?

Exodus 33:21  Then the Lord said, "There is a place near Me where you may stand on a rock."

It's National Olive Day & National Nail Polish Day & Say Something Nice Day

I can't believe it's the beginning of June.  I was so secluded during the Spring months that I feel like I missed them.

Proverbs 17:27  The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.

Were you ever told, "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all?"  That's actually good advice.  Where there is an abundance of words, foot ends up in mouth.

It's National Olive Day.  I like olives, that's why I put it on the calendar.  I only like black olives on Subway subs but I like green olives anytime.  You know the ones that are pitted and stuffed with minced pimento, that comes in a jar?  It's an acquired taste, I think.

It's also National Nail Polish Day.  Nail polish and books are 2 things I have a hard time resisting.  I like to watch Kelli Marissa on YouTube and she likes to review nail polish  She has really been tempting me lately with gorgeous new polishes.  I feel them calling my name.

Remember, say something nice to someone today.