Houston We Have a Snow Problem

After seeing video footage of the blizzard that hit New Orleans, I'm not going to complain about the 3 inches I had at my home.

This was the scene that greeted me yesterday morning at 8AM when I stepped out my front door.

Yikes. Where did all that snow come from?

Guess what, it's still here today on our roof and patio, but the snow on the garage melted.

This is so weird. It was 18° F. this morning, and I'm about 70 miles from the Gulf.

Supposedly, we will now have 6 days of rain. This weird weather makes me think of a Stargate SG-1 episode from years ago when a planet's weather device that kept it normal and regulated was stolen which brought on cataclysmic weather changes that made the planet uninhabitable.

I think someone stole our weather gizmo, and they need to bring it back!

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Best thing to do in this weather? Read, read, read. If not my book, then another author's.

STILL THE ONE, on sale for 99¢.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising

designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon.

 If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive

 a small commision—at no extra cost to you.

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Review - Back in Action on Netflix

Fair Use - Poster by impawards

I hope you're staying warm and staying safe. Here's a movie you should watch if you're stuck indoors.

Most of the streaming services are now doing original movies. Unfortunately, many of these movies fall short because the stories range from ho-hum to ridiculous—especially the romcoms.

It's as if the screen writers and power people have never seen a captivating romantic comedy movie.

Fortunately, an exception to that is the new hybrid romcom/action movie Back in Action, now streaming on Netflix.

Starring Cameron Diaz, Jamie Foxx, and Glenn Close, the movie is entertaining and fun with believable chemistry between Diaz and Foxx.

I think moms and dads of a certain age who want to be seen as cool but who are too "parental" to achieve that goal will find the movie delightful

They will love Diaz's dialogue as she tries to dilute the shock on her daughter's face after beating the crap out of an adversary.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

All in all, if you're looking for a fun movie to take your mind off the winter storm or other aspects of life you can't control, then watch Back in Action. 

Or read a book like STILL THE ONE which is on sale for 99¢.

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

Love to read? Sign up for my free Newsletter, I LOVE READING. Once a month, you'll receive exclusive content and news about giveaways, bargains, and new releases.  

Pomp, Circumstance, and Patriotism

Darling Hubby and I watched today's Presidential Inauguration Ceremony.

The setting for the ceremony was inside the beautiful Capitol Rotunda which is absolutely breathtaking with the huge patriotic paintings illustrating historical milestones in our country's history lining the walls.

Add to that the music, and my patriotic heart swelled with pride. The music was deeply stirring as the U.S. Marine Corps Band played in the background and also as  accompaniment to the singers.

A prelude was sung by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln combined chorus. Opera singer Christopher Macchio, billed as America's Tenor, sang "O, America" and Carrie Underwood sang "America" a capella which was amazing.

However, for me, the muical highlight was the United States Naval Academy Glee Club who marched in while singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."

U.S. Capitol Rotunda

The Inauguration of a President is a momentous event in our country because it represents the peaceful transfer of leadership.

That alone makes today worthy of respect and celebration.

PRAYERS AND SPEECHES

After all the introductions, prayers, the Oaths of Office sworn by Vice President J. D. Vance and President Donald Trump, the newly-sworn in President gave his inauguration address.

The speech summarized what he promised in his campaign, and I'm sure it will be analyzed, dissected, criticized, and admired according to what one believes.

Personally, I think a President should give an "America First" speech just as a French President should think France First, an Italian President should think Italy First, etc. For a leader and a citizenry to feel otherwise is puzzling.

If one does not have the interest of his/her own country first and foremost in a list of priorities, then he/she should not be the leader of his/her country. 

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

To all Americans I say, whatever your political persuasion, it's time for everyone to join together for the good of our country. God bless America.

Sunday Thoughts - Presidential Inaugurations

Tomorrow is the Inauguration of our 47th President Donald J. Trump, and it's going to be a cold winter day.

Yes, ice dripping from trees and shrubs, but the ceremony has been moved inside the Capitol Rotunda to the relief of everyone I'm sure.

Presidential Inaugurations are special occasions in our country, but I realized I didn't know a lot about them beyond the obvious.

For instance, did you know that he presidential oath of office is written into the U.S.  Constitution? It's in Article II, Section I.

Here are some facts I learned about this prestigious ceremony.

INAUGURATION FIRSTS

1. The first inauguration to be photographed was that of James Buchanan, March 4, 1857.

2. The first to be filmed was William McKinley in 1897.

3. The first to use loudspeakers was Warren Harding in 1921.

4. The first to be broadcast on radio was Calvin Coolidge in 1925.

5. The first to be broadcast on television was Harry Truman in 1949.

6. The first to be broadcast in color was John F. Kennedy in 1961.

7. The first to be streamed online was Bill Clinton in 1997.

WHIMSICAL FACTS

1. John F. Kennedy was the last President to wear a top hat to his inauguration.

2. Nothing in the U.S. Constitution requires the Chief Justice to swear in a president. The practice was established by Chief Justice John Marshall, the longest serving chief justice in our history, who administered the Oath of Office 9 times. The first was to Thomas Jefferson in 1801, and the last to Andrew Jacson in 1833.

3. Lyndon Johnson was the first President to have his wife hold the Bible upon which he placed his hand to swear his oath.

4. The coldest Inauguration Day was Ronald Reagan’s second one on January 21, 1985, when the temperature in Washington at noon was 7° F. (-14° C.).

Reagan took the oath of office indoors at the U.S. Capitol, just as President Trump will be doing.

5. Presidents were always inaugurated in March until Franklin Roosevelt's second term.

He was inaugurated on January 20, 1937, which thereafter became the official date.

6. The first inaugural ball was held for James Madison the day after his March 4, 1809 inauguration. Tickets to the ball were sold for $4.00.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Regardless of your political opinions, tomorrow is a day to celebrate and honor our democratic process of transitioning from one President to another without violence.

That's something worthy of respect.

Saturday Share Recipe - My Mom's Biscuits

When I was growing up, toast wasn't on our breakfast table. 

My beautiful southern Mom, an amazing home chef, made biscuits every morning. 

She had it down to a fine art, and it took at most 25 minutes from the time she started until she pulled the golden brown flaky delights from the oven.

We ate them every morning and sometimes in the evening if they went with what she was serving, and we were always healthy and never overweight.

Making biscuits is a southern art that seems to have died away in this era of frozen or fast food restaurant biscuits. That's a shame because they're easy to make and better than any you'll get elsewhere.

I AM MY MOM'S BISCUIT-BAKING DAUGHTER

I make biscuits too, but usually as an occasional treat or special request since Darling Hubby and I are usually the only ones at the breakfast table. 

My daughter who discovered biscuits which she called "bikkits" when she was a toddler often asks me to make them for when she and her husband join us for breakfast.

She's said, "They're delicious, but not as good as Nanny's."

I'm okay with that because I think the same thing even though I know that's just because I miss my Mom.

Let's make my Mom's biscuits today! 

I have a cast iron round griddle that I use to bake biscuits. It's similar to the one to which I linked, but mine is probably heavier because it's about 50 years old. I use it only for biscuits.

However, you can use any heavy baking pan. Just make sure it's thick enough on the bottom that the biscuits won't burn. Butter or spray Pam on the pan you intend to use.

Ingredients

2 cups self-rising flour

1 cold stick of butter (That's half a cup. Mom used shortening. I use butter which is healthier than hydrogenated shortening.)

3/4 cup milk (I use whole milk as did Mom.)

2 tablespoons melted butter

Directions

1. Turn on the oven to preheat to 450° F. (232° C.)  Using a box grater, grate the stick of butter into a mixing bowl. Do it quickly so the butter doesn't soften or melt and stick to the grater. Get all the bits into the bowl.

2. Sprinkle the self-rising flour over the butter. With a spoon or your very clean hands, gently mix the flour and butter until butter seems evently dispersed into the flour.

3. Add the milk and use a spoon to stir the mixture together. You want to combine it but not compress the dough too much.

4. When you have a dough ball, dump it onto a floured surface and pat it out into a circle using your hands. You want it to be about a half an inch thick.

Using a round cutter like the one shown or a glass dipped in flour, cut out the biscuits.

5. Place the biscuits into your baking pan so their sides are touching.

6. Depending on the size of the round cutter you use, this makes 10-12 biscuits.

7. If you have any odd fragments left, use your fingers to shape them into a smaller biscuit that is the same thickness as the others and place it in the pan. This is what my Mom always called the Baby's biscuit and would be for the youngest child present in the house.

(This is from an old Mother Goose nursery rhyme of which there are variations. My Mom's version was: "Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man, bake me a cake as fast as you can. Roll it up, roll it up, throw it in the pan, and mark it with a B for baby and me." That's what I sang to my daughter when I made biscuits.)

8. With a pastry brush or a teaspoon, brush the melted butter over the biscuits or spoon it over each before baking them.

9. Bake 10 - 15 minutes depending on your oven. It takes my gas oven 12 minutes. The biscuits should be golden brown on top. Since ovens may vary, if you need to put the biscuits under the broiler to get that golden brown look, keep watch on them and make a note of the time required in your oven for the next time you make biscuits.

10. They should be crusty and golden on the bottom and the top and fluffy in between. 

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Take the biscuits out and place them in a napkin-covered basket or bowl. Serve them to acclaim. Let me know if you try these and like them.

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

Love to read? Sign up for my free Newsletter, I LOVE READING. Once a month, you'll receive exclusive content and news about giveaways, bargains, and new releases. 

Friday Facts About Creativity

January, the coldest month in the Northern Hemisphere, is also known as International Creativity Month.

I think that might have something to do with the energy of the New Year.

Since this is the coldest part of winter, people spend more time indoors. I suspect that more people are engaged in creative pursuits since it's too cold outside to do much.

In case you've always thought creativity was a trait with which one is born, I must tell you that's not true. Creativity can be a learned trait if one has the desire to learn it.

FRIDAY FACTS ABOUT CREATIVITY

Creativity is the ability to form unique and valuable ideas or works using one's imagination.

1. Creativity comes from education, sharing knowledge with others, and by repetition and work.

2. Creativity is a process using a combination of slow, deliberate toughts coupled with quick, unconscious thoughts. That's a combination of learning and inspiration.

3. Those who are open to new experiences, who can persevere ance, and who are self-motivated are more likely to be creative and/or be willing to display creativity.

4. Just as good health can be maintained by exercise, stress management, and good sleep, so can creativity. Lack of those can kill or cripple creativity.

5. Unlike intelligence, creativity actually improves when thinking slows down.

6. Creative ventures help fight anxiety because they activate the parts of your brain that process emotions. 

For example, art and music help calm brain activity. That enables a person to feel emotional harmony.

Do you have a creative outlet? Have you ever wanted to try a creative pursuit like painting, drawing, writing, tying fly fishing lures, learning a musical instrument, woodworking, cooking, or anything else in the creative world? 

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

The sky is the limit when it comes to creative pursuits. This is the month to give it a go. You may discover a passion that will enrich your life and improve your health.

Love to read? Sign up for my free Newsletter, I LOVE READING. Once a month, you'll receive exclusive content and news about giveaways, bargains, and new releases. 

Happy Fig Newton Day!

I saw in my special days email that today is FIG NEWTON DAY.

Wow! I can get behind this celebration of the cookie that's not a cookie—it's a Newton.

Fig Newtons are my second favorite cookie—after oatmeal raisin pecan cookies.

Oddly enough I sometimes have difficulty in finding them on the grocer's shelf.

That's when I turn to Amazon that usually has every variety of Newtons in every quantity from snack packs to big boxes. My fave is the Whole Grain Fig Newtons. I'm leaving to run up to Kroger's and see if they have these in stock today.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Why not have a mini-celebration today with your favorite cookie and a cup of your favorite beverage? Sounds like a great afternoon snack to me.

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

Love to read? Sign up for my free Newsletter, I LOVE READING. Once a month, you'll receive exclusive content and news about giveaways, bargains, and new releases.