7 Sunday Thoughts About January

JANUS Image by beauty_of_nature from Pixabay

Most of you probably know that January takes its name from the Roman god Janus because he has two faces, one that looks back to the year before and one that looks ahead to the New Year.

In today's pop culture, we'd call that Janus's super power.

Looking back can help you learn from what worked and what didn't work.

Looking forward can help you replicate your successes and avoid last year's mistakes.

Here are 7 Fun Facts you may not know about the month of January.

1. Separations and divorces happen more often in January than in any other month.

2. The Rose Parade on January 1 has been held every year since 1890.

3. Speaking of the Rose Parade, it's now broadcast worldwide and has viewers in more than  100 countries.

4. The Anglo-Saxons called January Wulfmonath, which means month of hungry wolves.

5. Charlemagne called this month Wintermanoth, which meant of course Winter Cold Month.

6. Winter Cold Month makes sense if you live in the Northern Hemisphere because January is usally the coldest month of the year.

7. Are you an Anglophile, a person who loves all things British? If so, you might want to adopt the practice of Dry January, a movement in the UK to promote public health that encourages people to quit drinking alcohol for the month.

Takeaway Truth

Make the most of the first month of the New Year. 

Cold winter days are perfect for cuddling on the couch with someone you love.

They're also great for reading. Pick up a good book. Enjoy!

MY JANUARY RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY IS ONGOING—ENTER TODAY

CLICK TO ENTER JOAN'S JANUARY GIVEAWAY

Prize: (1) $10 Amazon Gift Card by random draw. Enter today!

(NOTE: I don't know why the FB option to sign in is not working. I'll have to trouble shoot it, but the email option does work.)

Several ways to win. Enter often. Good luck!

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Saturday Share Recipe: Cranberry Pecan Coffee Cake

The holidays are gone, but I still had a bag of fresh cranberries in the produce drawer of my refrigerator.

I wasn't going to throw them out so I decided to try making a Cranberry Coffee Cake.

I washed and culled the cranberries, placed them in the food processor to finely chop them.

I ended up with 2 cups of minced cranberries. When Darling Hubby asked what I was making, I said a fresh cranberry coffee cake. Of course, he said, "Add pecans."

You see, his grandparents owned a commercial pecan orchard. He grew up eating pecans in everything from salads to desserts. He also said to put a glaze on it like on cinnamon rolls. Here's the final recipe I ended up creating.

Cranberry Pecan Coffee Cake

Ingredients

1 egg

3/4 cup milk                                   

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 cup chopped fresh cranberries

3/4 to 1 cup sugar (if cranberries are really sour, use 1 cup)

1 cup chopped pecans or other nut of your choice (I buy pecans from Costco. Kirkland Pecans are usually $10 to $14.00 a bag. I was surprised to find them on Amazon, but at a higher price.)

2 cups self-rising flour (or 2 cups AP flour + 3 teaspoons baking powder + 1 teaspoon salt)

Directions

1. Prepare the baking pan of your choice by spraying it with Pam ot other baking spray. I used a sheet cake pan.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

3. In a mixing bowl, beat the egg, add the milk and mix well, add the cooking oil and mix well.

4. Add the cranberries and sugar and mix well. Blend in the chopped pecans.

5. Stir in the flour and blend well.

6. Pour into the baking pan and place in preheated oven.

7. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in middle comes out "clean."

8. Drizzle a glaze over the top and cut in squares.

Photo not good, but I remembered to take a pic.*g*

Glaze

This is a simple glaze that I make in batches and store in the refrigerator so I always have some on hand.

4 tablespoons melted butter

1 cup of powdered sugar

tablespoons of warm milk

Using a mixer makes this easy, but I usually don't want to get the mixer out so I mix by hand. Blend the melted butter and powdered sugar together, and add tablespoons of warm milk until you get a smooth "pourable" glaze. 

If you want a richer glaze, add a little more melted butter. Store any leftover in a closed container in the fridge or freezer.

Takeaway Truth

This is good warm from the oven or at room temperature. My hubby likes it warm so the next day, I nuke a square of it in the microwave for about 10 seconds. 

REMEMBER MY JANUARY RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

CLICK TO ENTER JOAN'S JANUARY GIVEAWAY

Prize: (1) $10 Amazon Gift Card by random draw. Enter today!

(NOTE: I don't know why the FB option to sign in is not working. I'll have to trouble shoot it, but the email option does work.)

Several ways to win so enter often. Good luck!

Joan participates in Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click links in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

If you also love Reading, subscribe to I LOVE READING, Joan's FREE newsletter. 

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January Rafflecopter for Amazon Gift Card

Welcome to my January Giveaway for one (1) $10.00 Amazon Gift Card.

It's easy to enter. Just click the Raffllecopter link and do the tasks to enter. There are several tasks so you can enter often.

No purchase is necessary because any question asked can be obtained by reading something online that's free.

One winner will be chosen by random draw within 48 hours of the closing date. All entries will be checked to verify eligibility.

This is my first time using Rafflecopter for a giveaway so I'll be checking hourly to make sure no problems crop up. If I find any, I'll take care of them asap.

I plan to sponsor Giveaways of varying value every month this year so get ready for some fun and games and rewards.

Sale Book for January

Brianna's Season for Miracles is on sale this month for only 99¢.

It's on Kindle Unlimited until January 21 after which it will be removed from KU and be published wide. Until then, get it on sale or read on KU.

If you're looking for a heartwarming, second chance at life romance, this book is for you. If you enjoy a heartwarming journey of self-discovery, you'll love Brianna's Season for Miracles.

Read a book that will make you smile—read Romance, the optimistic genre.

CLICK TO ENTER JOAN'S JANUARY GIVEAWAY

(NOTE: I don't know why the FB option to sign in is not working. I'll have to trouble shoot it, but the email option does work.)

Takeaway Truth

Good luck!

Joan participates in Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click links in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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How NOT to Succeed in 2024

You are probably awash in advice about how to succeed, achieve your goals, and generally become the person you want to be.

I have a different outlook on how to be more in 2024. I think you probably know what you want. You also know what you've done in the past to get what you want.

My advice is to look backward and assess how you lived your life last year.

How NOT to Succeed in 2024

10. Binge watch all the popular series and movies you've heard about because entertainment is important.

9. Stay up late every night and sleep late every morning.

8.  Avoid drinking water. Drink soda, wine, and beer instead. It's just as good, isn't it?

7. Eat a lot of processed foods because they're conveniet and saving time is important, right?

 

6. Love sweets? Who doesn't? Be sure and include sugary treats every day because they taste so good.

5. Stay indoors as much as possible because you don't need the sunshine vitamin, do you?

4. Avoid exercise whenever you can. Who wants to sweat and get sore muscles?

3. Don't interact with successful people because you might feel bad by comparison.

2. Never try something that's out of your comfort zone because you might feel uncomfortable.

1. Never learn anything new. You're an adult. You should already know everything you need to know, right?

Takeaway Truth

In other words, keep doing what you've always done, but expect a different result. No! Wait! That's the definition of insanity, isn't it?

My January Giveaway Rafflecopter begins Friday, January 5, 2024. The prize is One (1) Amazon Gift Card for $10.00. Drop by on that day to get the Rafflecopter link. 

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Review, The Silencing

When I watch a movie like The Silencing, now on Netflix, I always wish there were 3 ratings one could give: Like, Don't Like, Okay.

With the kind of "star" power this flick had, I was disappointed that it wasn't an unequivocal Like for us on this movie.

The plot is a good one. 

"A reformed hunter and a female sheriff get caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse when they set out to track a killer who may have kidnapped his daughter five years earlier."

The cast is good.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau—yes, Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones—as Rayburn Swanson.

Annabelle Wallis as Sheriff Alice Gustafson, and Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Brooks Gustafson, her younger brother.

Shaun Smyth as Dr. Boone; Zahn McClarnon—an actor I especially like in everything he does—as Karl Blackhawk, Tribal Police; and Melanie Scrofano as Debb.

The storytelling isn't executed as well as it could have been, and the twists seem contrived rather than organic. Still, it's worth watching if you're tired of scrolling. 

Takeaway Truth

If there were an OK button, I'd be clicking it.

My January Giveaway Rafflecopter begins Friday, January 5, 2024. The prize is One (1) Amazon Gift Card for $10.00. Drop by on that day to get the Rafflecopter link. 

Still not a Subscriber? Click here to signup.

Think About This - Part 1

I've changed the word man to human in this bit of wisdom spoken by the actor Mel Gibson.

I believe this quote by him comes from dear experience because he's certainly made his share of mistakes in life.

“It’s a wise human who understands that every day is a new beginning, because boy, how many mistakes do you make in a day? I don’t know about you, but I make plenty. You can’t turn the clock back, so you have to look ahead.” —Mel Gibson

Takeaway Truth

Don't look back. You know where you've been and what you did. Look ahead and use the wisdom you gained from the past. Carpe annum! (Seize the year.)

My January Giveaway Rafflecopter begins Friday, January 5, 2024. The prize is One (1) Amazon Gift Card for $10.00. Drop by on that day to get the Rafflecopter link. 

Still not a Subscriber? Click here to signup.

Happy New Year 2024

 

I welcomes the New Year with watery eyes, a stuffed up nose, and a sore throat, but I'm still feeling good about the New Year—a blank slate on which to write about the Life I create. 

In my last 2023 post, I asked you to check back today for details about my January Giveaway, but, frankly, I didn't get it finalized. If you come back to visit Friday, January 5, you'll find all the details.

Takeaway Truth

I wish you Joy, Prosperity, Good Health, and Happiness in 2024. Carpe annum!

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