Photo by Lian Lianna
Begett
“I shall never stop fighting. I mean this country to survive, to prosper and to be free…I haven’t fought the destructive forces of socialism for more than twenty years in order to stop now, when the critical phase of the struggle is upon us.”
— Margaret Thatcher (1925 – 2013)
Stateswoman & Leader of the Conservative Party
1st woman & longest-serving British Prime Minister
Thatcher stood fast for freedom and against Socialism and Marxism.
Photo by Rosie Sun
“Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.”
— J. R. R. (John Ronald Reuel) Tolkien (1892 – 1973)
English writer, poet & scholar
Laugh it up and munch on National Animal Crackers Day.
“I think animal crackers make people think that all animals taste the same.”
— Mitch Hedberg (1968 – 2005)
American comedian
“As long as you have the opportunity to breathe, breathe.”
— Johnny Depp (1963 – )
American actor
(in Rolling Stone p. 78, Issue 1186/1187, July 4-18, 2013
“The enjoyment of life would be instantly gone if you removed the possibility of doing something.”
— Chauncey Mitchell Depew (1834 – 1928)
American attorney, businessman, & politician
“A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.”
— Irish proverb
For National Pecan Day, enjoy a yummy & easy snack!
Super Simple Sweet and Spicy Pecans
1 lg or x-lg egg white (save yolk for another use)
½ tsp each: rum and pure vanilla extract
¼ c sugar, coconut sugar, raw sugar, or granulated monk fruit
¼ c brown sugar (or favorite substitute)
1 tsp salt
2 tsp ground ginger
½ tsp each: ground cumin & ground ginger
4 c (1 lb) pecan halves
In a large bowl, whip egg white and extracts till stiff peaks form. Stir in sweeteners, salt, and spices. Then fold in pecans, stirring till well coated. Spread in single layer on parchment paper-lined 10×15” sided baking sheet. Bake at 250-300°F for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, and store airtight at room temperature.
KISS Tips: You can add more sweeteners, as your taste buds prefer. These are also great on salads, charcuterie boards, or even ice cream. Get creative and have fun.
Photo by Anita Austvika
“The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.”
— Thomas Jefferson (1743 – 1826)
3rd US President (1801 – 1809)
American Founding Father
& primary author of the Declaration of Independence
On National Thomas Jefferson Day, may we learn from the downhill paths of other nations, because once liberty is lost, regaining it is nearly impossible.
Photo by Vladislav Babienko
“Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”
— Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
American statesman
16th US President (1861-1865)
Assassinated following the Civil War
“A good friend is like a four-leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have.”
— Irish proverb
Image by Alex Shuper
“When terrorism strikes, divisive anger is a natural response.”
— Mohsin Hamid (1971 – )
British-Pakistani novelist & writer
“Work saves us from three great evils: boredom, vice and need.”
— Voltaire (pen name for Francoise-Marie Arouet (1694 – 1778)
French philosopher & writer
Photo by Jonathan Castaneda
“What soap is for the body, tears are for the soul.”
— Jewish proverb
“When I play with my cat, who knows whether I do not make her more sport than she makes me?”
— Michel de Montaigne (1533 – 1592)
French philosopher & essayist
“When two elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled.”
— African proverb
Celebrate National Deep-Dish Pizza Day with a decadent slice of Chicago-style scrumptiousness.
Super Simple Deep-Dish Pizza
This is always best with a home-made crust and sauce, but this Super Simple twist on Chicago-style pizza is yummy!!!
Butter, for greasing pan
1½–2 lbs prepared pizza dough balls, thawed, if frozen
½ c yellow cornmeal
1 lb sweet or hot Italian sausage, removed from casings if in links
24 Pepperoni Chips (see below)
14-oz favorite bottled pizza sauce
14-oz can crushed San Marzano tomatoes
1 tsp mixed Italian seasoning
¼ tsp oregano
½ tsp sugar
12-oz low-moisture (NOT fresh) Mozzarella cheese, shredded
½ c freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Generously butter bottom and sides of a 12” cast iron skillet. Roll pizza dough in cornmeal, pressing down and kneading to mix in the cornmeal. Transfer dough to prepared pan, pressing evenly across the bottom and 2” up the sides. Cover and let rest 10 minutes before filling. Meanwhile, cook, crumble, and drain the sausage in another skillet; set aside.
Make Pepperoni Chips by placing 24 pre-sliced pieces of pepperoni in a single layer on a triple thickness of paper toweling. Top with a single layer of paper toweling and microwave for 45 – 60 seconds. (This is to remove most of the grease, rather than make the crispy chips to serve independently.) Then prepare sauce in a bowl by combining pizza sauce, tomatoes, seasonings, and sugar.
Fill pizza by sprinkling Mozzarella cheese evenly in the crust. Then sprinkle the cooked sausage over the cheese. Spoon the sauce over the top, using the back of a spoon to press it to the edges. Top with a layer of Pepperoni Chips and sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese. Place in oven that has been preheated to 425°F for 30 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing with a sharp knife and serving with a spatula.
KISS Tips: Check pizza after 15-20 minutes to be sure crust is not browning too quickly. If it is, tent loosely with foil. You can individually wrap and freeze slices and then reheat for 10-12 minutes at 375°F (never in a microwave).
Photo by Rowan Heuvel
“To know and not to act is not to know.”
Wang Yangming (1472 – 1529)
Minister of War of Imperial China
(also attributed to Chinese philosopher Lao Tse and repeated by many other people in more recent years)
Graphic by Alex Shuper
“You can’t make me what you call me!”
— Alfred Fleishman (1905 – 2002)
American businessman, Army veteran,
& special consultant to US Secretary of Defense during the Holocaust
Photo by Andrej Lisakov
“Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.”
— Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955)
German-born theoretical physicist & Nobel laureate
“When people tell you how young you look, they are also telling you how old you are.”
— Cary Grant (1904-1986)
American actor
Ahhh, Mom often says that growing old is not for sissies. As she approaches turning 96 years young in June, we are blessed with her good health and vibrant spirit. A huge fan of lobster, we recently took her to lunch at Dunedin’s Lucky Lobster Company in Florida. Loved the Connecticut-style lobster roll, sans bun. Fully living every day possible is the only way she ever taught me to face Life.
For National Oysters on the Half Shell Day, go ahead and slurp down a few raw ones, if that’s your thing. If not, roast them, make a stew, or try my Super Simple Oysters Rockefeller recipe.
Super Simple Oysters Rockefeller
Keep this Super Simple by having the seafood department of your grocery store shuck the oysters for you, keeping half the shells, of course. You can now serve a fancy-looking appetizer without the fuss.
1/3 c butter, divided
1 shallot, peeled & finely minced
¼ tsp finely minced garlic
2 T dry white vermouth or pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc
2 c baby spinach leaves (stems removed), coarsely chopped
Ground black pepper (to suit your taste)
4 T heavy (whipping) cream
¼ c grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
3-4 sliced cooked & crumbled bacon (optional)
½ c panko breadcrumbs
24 raw oysters, shucked (and 12 half shells)
Lemon wedges, for serving
Rock salt, for baking/serving (optional)
Melt ¼ c butter over med heat in skillet; sauté shallots for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and let cook 1 minute; stir in the Vermouth and let cook 1 min before stirring in the spinach and seasoning with pepper. Stir in the cream and cheese, along with half the bacon. Remove from heat. Melt remaining butter and stir in the panko. Lay 1 oyster in each of the half shells in rock salt (if desired) or in baking pan, top with a couple T of spinach mixture, sprinkle with buttery crumbs and remaining bacon. Place in preheated 375-400° F oven for 7-8 minutes. Serve hot with lemon wedges. Makes 24.
KISS Tips: For cheese fans, add 6 oz Gruyère cheese, shredded along with the grated Romano. If needed, when not using rock salt, you can also support oysters on bits of crumbled foil on your baking pan. If preparing ahead, simply cover the tray of unbaked, stuffed oysters with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate till just before needed; add 1-22 minutes to baking time. Make this a meal by adding some warmed, crusty French bread and a green salad.
“When we fail to be tolerant of others, we fail.”
I have spoken these words often, when speaking, whether for business groups or graduation ceremonies. I said it again in my 2019 book, “Encouragement: How to Be and Find the Best.” The words could/should be heeded by us all… yes, I know… some even more so than others.
“Don’t let life discourage you. Everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was.”
— Richard L. Evans (1906 – 1971)
American writer & radio producer
“The question is not what a man can scorn, or disparage, or find fault with, but what he can love, and value, and appreciate.”
— John Ruskin (1819 – 1900)
English polymath & writer
Celebrate the peaceful and universal beauty of the active arts on World Theatre Day.
May the thrill of live theatrical performance forever live in our hearts and on stages everywhere.
Photo by Cosmin Ursea
“Courage is the price that Life extracts for granting peace.”
— Amelia Earhart (1897 – 1937 disappeared)
American aviation pioneer
For National Chocolate-Covered Raisins Day, I have just one word… Yum!
We all have days when we’ve simply “had enough.” No matter how resilient we may seem, regardless of the happy face we may put forward each day, despite how perfect our lives may appear to others, there are times when reality chokes hope in even the most positive thinking among us. The depths of our despair can feel like an Edgar Allen Poe bottomless pit. Our hearts can weigh mercilessly heavy, laden with unspoken burdens and loneliness. Have faith. Believe. Do what we must do. Wipe away the silent tears. Put one foot in front of the other, recognizing this is the way forward. Remember that light will follow the dark. We are never alone.
“Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can’t, and the other half who have nothing to say and keep on saying it.”
— Robert Frost (1874 – 1963)
American poet
For World Poetry Day, I share a news clipping that provided my first published writing. True… age 10, with several of my classmates… David Kehas, Sandra Robinson, Bonnie Mace, and Robert Lamy (not Lang, as in the paper).
Beneath a Tree
I like to sit beneath a tree
So I can tell you what I see.
First I see, running by,
A little mouse chasing a fly.
Then came a big fat, rollie dog,
Carrying some ham – that fat dog.
Oh, here comes a pretty bird winging,
And listen to others gaily singing.
Listen to the bees
Buzzing in the trees.
It’s nice out here beneath a tree,
So, please, won’t you come and join me?
It surely must have been a slow news day to publish such writing. I broke all the rules. (Hmmm… not much has changed.) Now I write books… Aren’t you glad I now skip the rhyming!?!
“Let us know the happiness time brings, not count the years.”
— Ausonius (c310 – 395 AD)
Gallo-Roman poet, rhetorician & imperial tutor
“When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies. And now when every new baby is born its first laugh becomes a fairy. So there ought to be.”
— James Matthew Barrie (1860 – 1937)
Scottish novelist & playwright
Creator of Peter Pan
Photo by Kent Weitkamp
“Minds are like parachutes — they only function when they are open.”
— Lord Thomas Dewar (1864 – 1930)
Scottish distiller & humorist
‘Tis National Irish Food Day, so you may want to celebrate with yummy, traditional Irish foods.
Corned beef and cabbage need not be your preference, and there are many other options. Shepherd’s Pie, Irish Stew, Guinness Beef Stew, Mushroom Pot Pie (for vegetarians), and Seared Sausages with Apples come to mind.
Beef Wellington, though British, is named for the Duke of Wellington, who was born in Dublin.
You may prefer Oysters or Fish and Chips.
Perhaps a side of potato pancakes, some Irish Soda Bread, or a Barmbrack sweet bread. A Super Simple appetizer of sharing dish would be a Cheese Fondue made with Guinness.
Or try some Irish soup, like potato, roasted parsnip, or leek.
Naturally, you’ll want to wash it down with a green Guinness or savor an Irish coffee. Whatever you choose, may the luck o’ the Irish be with you today and always.
Photo by Igor Omilaev
“Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities — always see them, for they’re always there.”
— Norman Vincent Peale (1898 – 1993)
American Protestant clergyman and best-selling author
Photo by Suzanne D. Williams
“What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly.”
— Lao-tzu (aka Laozi) (circa 571BC to around 5th century BC)
6th-century Chinese philosopher, founder of Taoism
Photo by Suzanne D. Williams
Tell it! Your story matters. For National Write Down Your Story Day, let us put our insecurities and modesty aside. There is something in the story about each and every one of us that matters… deeply… and likely to far more people than we might imagine. When I finally told my Armenian family story, I was literally shocked by the heartfelt responses that poured in and filled my heart to overflowing. Now, my Destiny trilogy has been sold in more countries than I ever imagined. Destiny of Dreams: Time Is Dear (Book 1: 2021) and Destiny of Daring: Never Forget (Book 3: 2023) come with a violence warning. Reality is like that, and history reflects both the wonders and horrors of the human experience. And yet, it is the love, faith, family values, and strength that rise above, sparkling as the memorable story.
I never knew my family’s story could have such a profound impact on so many different people. Ah, especially in these troubled times, perseverance can build immensely impactful foundations. Among the most precious lessons I learned from my Armenian Grandpa, Hrant Gulumian, are those that help me stay calm and rise above the divisiveness, even when slanted or downright nasty expressions from people who seem to have closed their minds to any thoughts or ideas that appear to be outside their comfort zones. He lived lessons he taught, including that promoting distrust and hatred of people who are different is never a good thing.
My Grandmother, Marjorie Gulumian, also taught me to stay strong. I was honored to publish her journal in a 2014 book, and I also quoted some of her journal notes in Book 1 of the Destiny trilogy in 2021. “The destruction of a civilized society by a jealous, violent one is never a good thing for anyone involved.” So, true… the same now as in 1915, the times to which she referred.
Those who seek the total obliteration of people who differ from themselves are not civilized. They do not and will not negotiate or bargain in good faith. From the ever-ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflicts to the religious leaders of Iran calling for death to all who believe differently, we repeatedly learn just how slow we humans are to evolve.
We can all learn powerfully grounding truths from those who came before us. So, even if you do not know your story, seek it out. Learn it. Then share it. Write it down, both for future generations and for those who just may need to hear your words and the foundational strength gleaned from our families’ experiences. Start today.
(The entire Destiny trilogy is available everywhere books are sold… in digital and paperback formats, with Books 1 and 2 also already released as audiobooks.)
Photo by Don Patterson
Salute our 4-legged heroes on National K9 Veterans Day… and every day! Founded by Joe White, a Vietnam War veteran and K9 handler, March 13 was chosen because it marks the official establishment of the US Army K9 Corps in 1942. Thanks for your service, woofsters and handlers, both in and out of combat.
“Bees are not your enemy if honey is your friend.”
— Matshona Dhliwayo (1982 – )
Zimbabwe-born, Canadian-based philosopher & author
They are buzzing on our weeping cherry tree!
Peach Tree starting to blossom!
And our peach and pear trees are starting to blossom, too.
Pear Tree starting to blossom!
More bees will come.
“Fame or integrity: which is more important? Money or happiness: which is more valuable? Success or failure: which is more destructive? If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never truly be fulfilled. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”
— Lao-tzu (also Laozi) (circa 571BC to around 5th century BC)
6th Century Chinese philosopher, founder of Taoism, from Tao Te Ching