Warm Hearts Blog Award

Eileen at Umma's World has generously offered me this award.

Created By Sandy at beachgirl77 this very beautiful Warm Hearts award is in memory of her son Jonny and it is a tribute to all the wonderful characteristics Jonny portrayed.

This award should be passed on to those who are bolstering, uplifting, reassuring, soothing, calming, cheering, consoling, and encouraging to those around them.

I feel privileged to have had this offered to me. It is my pleasure to offer this award to some who have touched me in every way nearly everyday.

Lisa at Are We There Yet

Bernie at On My Own

Therese at Aussie Coffee Shop

Marcie at Blessings Each Day...

Laura at Catholic Teacher Musings

Abbey at ABBEY'S ROAD

Wishing all who visit here today blessings, joy and love through God the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit who guides us.

~~~^j^~~~
~Thanks be to God~

As an aside, I am playing I Left My Heart In San Francisco because it was one of my dad's favorite songs.

A Study in Clouds

I just could no resist the wonder of these clouds. They had such character, depth, color. I cannot paint or draw well, so I am in awe of such beauty. This is only a few of the glorious pictures on the this palate in the sky. All this took place on the 4th of July as we drove across South Dakota.

Have a grand day!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Just Got Home

Rocky Mountain National Park, July, 2009

We just arrived home from one of our most enjoyable trips to visit Mom. Usually we fly to Montana, but this year we chose to drive. As a result we got to visit with her, brother Phil and his family, Deb and Megan and Ron's family, Linda and Norm and Rhonda and John.

The route took us from Indiana through Iowa, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas and Missouri and back home. By the grace of God we had glorious weather and delightful interaction with all our family.

We went to the Little Big Horn National Battlefield (by-passed Mount Rushmore this time/really crowded for the 4th) and visited once again Rocky Mountain National Park in all its grandeur!!! Will have soooo many pics to share, but just wanted all to know I'm back and that an auto trip is still one of the best ways to see this wonderful nation!

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God

Continuing The Adventure...

We're off to CO today on the next leg of our journey. Must say good-bye to Mother and the rest of the family. It's always sooo hard for I won't see them for another year. Perhaps, that is why I appreciate these gifts of family sooo much.

Wishing you all wonderful visits with your families!!!

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!

Christmas In July

Melting Chocolate
Originally uploaded by oreolla

It's July. I'm on vacation. You all know that!!! What you may not know is that I am behind in my reading. For Christmas I love to read a good "Christmas Mystery." The truth is I got two books this year and only got to read one of them. So, since we are on the road and I have time to read I decided to read the one I hadn't finished. So here is a partial review of my "Christmas in July" mystery.

It's called The Chocolate Snowman Murders by JoAnna Carl. (She is also the author of The Chocolate Jewel Case.) Though it's certainly not close to the season mentioned above, there is never a season or time of year when CHOCOLATE or a GOOD mystery is not appropriate.

I will not tease you with the plot...but I will tease you with the chocolate trivia!

Really Ancient Chocolate

Among the big anthropological news of the early 2000's was the report that scientist had proved use of chocolate by humankind began five hundred years earlier that previously thought.

An analysis of ancient pottery from Honduras found traced of chocolate at least three thousand years old. This is five hundred years earlier than any earlier evidence of the use of the heavenly substance.

A professor of anthropology at Cornell University, John Henderson, and his colleagues made chemical analyses of residue on bits of broken pottery dating from 1100 B.C., pottery found in the Ulua Valley of Northern Honduras. The scientists discovered theobroma, and alkaloid present only in cacao.

Scientists speculate that the vessels had been used to drink a fermented 'beer' made from the pulp that surrounds the cacao beans used to produce chocolate.

The pottery was of the type used for important ceremonies, the researchers said."
So there you have it.

Today have your chocolate and PARTY! Perhaps more trivia tomorrow!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

If you love a good mystery and chocolate Diane Mott Davidson has also written a book called Dying for Chocolate.

The lovely picture is by oreolla.