“Do as adversaries do in law. Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.”
— William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616)
English playwright
“Do as adversaries do in law. Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.”
— William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616)
English playwright
“A single rose can be my garden… a single friend, my world.”
— Leo Buscaglia (1924 – 1998)
American author, speaker, and professor
My love and deepest gratitude to you.
A man is not old until his regrets take the place of dreams.
— Yiddish proverb.
“Often the test of courage is not to die but to live.”
— Vittorio Alfieri (1749 – 1803)
Italian dramatist
“The world is full of willing people, some willing to work, the rest willing to let them.”
— Robert Frost (1874 – 1963)
American poet
“I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.”
— Douglas Adams (1952 – 2001)
English writer
“The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible.”
— Arthur C. Clarke (1917 – 2008)
English science fiction writer
“Every cloud has a silver lining, but it is sometimes difficult to get it to the mint.”
— Don Marquis (1878 – 1937)
American humorist, journalist, and author
Three wildfires continue to burn in our little western NC county. Firefighters are working tirelessly… yet again… to protect lives and property. (We are safe.) Some homes have been lost. The air is at times challenging to breathe.
And yet, when the breezes blow in the other direction, our sky is bright blue. Hope is in the air. Our peach trees have blossomed.
And the first iris blooms are joining us. Hope. May we never let it go.
“People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”
— Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
American statesman; 16th President: 1861-1865;
assassinated following the Civil War
At 5:01 this morning, we officially bid farewell to Winter and hello to Spring! Hope springs eternally, as do our daily front-yard deer.
“I feel like a little kid who just walked into a candy store. I think that’s something to smile about.”
— Brandon Boyd (1976 – )
American musician
Celebrate National Chocolate Caramel Day by smiling… indulging… and tossing away the guilt!
“True friends are never apart, maybe in distance but never in heart.”
— Unknown
Our dear friends from Canada just visited us. Thanks to Beverly and Jeremy Moody for all the sharing, silliness, and sage moments. We treasure our times together and always keep you in our hearts.
Photo by Dustin Humes
“May your troubles be less and your blessings be more.”
— Irish blessing
“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”
— John Wooden (1910 – 2010)
American basketball coach
Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse 03-14-25 over western NC
“Enjoy yourself — it’s later than you think.”
— Guy Lombardo (1902 – 1977)
Canadian and American bandleader
Spring makes me soooo happy… I’m loving the temps in the 70s.
The Helleboros (Lenten Rose) have been blooming all winter.
Both pink and white blossoms have made me smile, as I didn’t see these in New Hampshire till the snow melted.
They are now gleefully joined by other blooms.
I LOVE how spring in the western NC mountains dances gleefully for 3 months.
Even my baby orchard is waking up with blossoms.
Hello plums, peaches, pears, and apples. Can I hear a Hallelujah one time!!!
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)
American social activist & stateswoman
US First Lady (1933-45); Ambassador to UN
“The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.”
— Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1936)
Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court
“You have to have confidence in your ability and then be tough enough to follow through.”
— Rosalynn Carter (1927 – 2023)
Former First Lady of the US
The first Friday of March is World Prayer Day. Express the spirit of worship, solidarity, and shared faith with this year’s theme, Psalm 139:14: “I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.”
The Lord made each one of us with great care and skill. May we remember and celebrate that, especially in times of challenge. Have a blessed day.
“There is a tendency for things to right themselves.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882)
American essayist & philosopher
National Grammar Day is observed annually to encourage correct grammar in both verbal and written language.
“Texting has reduced the number of waste words, but it has also exposed a black hole of ignorance about traditional – what a cranky guy would call correct – grammar.”
— Richard Corliss (1944 – 2015)
American film critic
With more than 175 fires burning across the Carolinas and elsewhere, we are reminded to count our blessings.
200+ homes were evacuated as some 500 acres are burning in our county, sparked by a tree blown down by the wind onto power lines on Saturday.
But with winds softening yesterday, firefighters from multiple counties attained a bit of containment yesterday and up to 30% today.
With this being another day of calm winds and rain expected late tomorrow, I pray their success continues, and everyone can go home safely very soon. Huge thanks to all the first responders helping protect homes and lives.
“Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.”
— Langston Hughes (1901 – 1967)
American poet and social activist
“An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made in a very narrow field.”
— Niels Bohr (1885-1962)
Danish physicist & Nobel Prize winner
“Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.”
— Lewis Grizzard (1946 – 1994)
American writer & humorist
I deeply appreciate temperatures dancing in the 60s & 70s. Trees and shrubs are all fully dotted with sweet buds, and flowering bulbs have sprung up, announcing hope and happiness for the new season. Thank you, sweet Lord!
“Substitute damn every time you’re inclined to write very; your editor will delete it, and the writing will be just as it should be.”
— Mark Twain (1835 – 1910)
American author and humorist
There are times where the written word may be just the life that we need to conquer some hurdle we are facing. Thanks to a friend who reminded me how much one of my books helped in challenging times. (Okay… shameless promotion now… “Encouragement: How to Be and Find the Best” is available in paperback, digital, and audiobook formats.)
“Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods.”
— Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955)
German-born theoretical physicist;
developed the theory of relativity
“It has to be dark for the stars to appear.”
— Warren W. Wiersbe (1929 – 2019)
American Christian clergyman & writer
Happy 75th Birthday to Sir Ronald!
We got to do one of those bucket list trips to Australia and New Zealand.
Sooo many memorable moments! Here’s lookin’ at you, kid!
“I am an optimist–it does not seem to be much use being anything else.”
— Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
British statesman, soldier & writer;
former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.”
— Warren Bennis (1925 – 2014)
American scholar & author
“Patience is also a form of action.”
— Auguste Rodin (1840-1917)
French sculptor
At 12 noon on February 15, 1965, Canada’s red and white maple leaf flag flew for the first time on Parliament Hill. 1 year later, February 15th officially was deemed National Flag of Canada Day, reflecting Canadians’ common values of democracy, inclusion, and equity.
Of course, Canada became an independent, self-ruling nation as the Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867. Prior to 1965, however, the primary flag flown was the Canadian Red Ensign, including the Union Jack and Canada’s coat of arms. We LOVE our friends and neighbors to the north. Happy National Flag of Canada Day!
“To the world, you may be one person, but to one person you are the world.”
— Unknown
Our own value is often unknown to us unless we dare to let ourselves be loved and feel love. Special courage is needed when we have lost love, but we must always remember the importance of caring for and encouraging others, especially when loneliness is a challenge.
“Nothing is too high for a man to reach, but he must climb with care and confidence.”
— Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875)
Danish poet, novelist & writer of fairy tales
Beware the messages of people who point fingers and rant about other’s hatred, when they are the ones repeatedly spewing hatred and negative attacks. Hmmmmmm….
“Hatred is the anger of the weak.”
— Alphonse Daudet (1840-1897)
French author
National Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day started with the Greek storyteller Aesop (620 – 564 BC), who said, “Don’t cry over spilt milk.”
Since then, many people have repeated his philosophy and added their own spins. For example, Greek tragedian Sophocles (496 – 406 BC) questioned, “Why bemoan what is done and cannot be recalled?”
English writer W. Somerset Maugham (1874 – 1965) thought the reason was “because all the forces of the Universe were bent on spilling it.”
British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay (1966 ) noted he’s not going to cry over spilled milk because he’s “too busy looking for the next cow.”
Whatever “take” you like on the ol’ saying, at least don’t do it today. As American humorist Evan Esar (1899 – 1995) observed, “A creature that never cries over spilt milk is a cat.”
Purrrrrfect!
“My way of joking is to tell the truth. It is the funniest joke in the world.”
— George Bernard Shaw (1856 – 1950)
Irish playwright & critic
This is National Pizza Day, so have one delivered, go to your favorite pizzeria, or whip one up at home.
Pizza on the Grill
What? No pizza stone? No problem… you CAN make great pizza directly on the rack of your barbeque grill. This recipe is a Super Simple way to make pizza dockside or in the backyard.
8 oz refrigerated pizza dough
2 T cornmeal
Toppings, such as crumbled sausage, pepperoni, bacon, sliced mushrooms, sliced sweet onions, etc.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 12” oval. Spritz 1 side with cooking oil and place oil side-down on grill preheated on high. Grill 2-3 minutes. Spritz the top of the dough with oil, then sprinkle with cornmeal. Turn dough over.
Add sauce, cheese & toppings, keeping a ½” border on edges. (This should take about 2 min.) Close the cover & shut the heat off directly under the pizza or turn it to low, leaving it on high on the burners that are not under the pizza.) Grill another 3-6 minutes (if kept burners on low) or 5-8 minutes (if shut burners off) till cheese is melted. Cut into slices and serve with grated Parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper, and garlic powder for guests to add, as desired.
Joining the nation in 1846, the 29th state is also known as the Hawkeye State.
With corn fields and farming often getting top billing, Iowa has much more to offer.
Its oldest city is Dubuque, founded in 1788 as one of the first settlements in the entire Midwest. Dubuque is also home to Iowa’s oldest standing church… the St. Mary’s Catholic Church, built in 1833.
With the wild rose as its state flower and the eastern goldfinch as its state bird, Iowa’s motto is “Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.”
With its population of 3.2 million people, Iowa has 400 bowling alleys, giving it the highest number per capita in the US, along with more golf courses per capita than any other state.
The National Hobo Convention is held annually in the town of Britt, complete with a hobo parade, hobo queen coronation, and a hobo museum.
The Iowa 80 Truckstop is the world’s largest and hosts the Trucking Museum in Walcott, dedicated to the history of trucking and vintage trucks.
Iowa also claims the 3rd highest motorcycle ownership in the nation.
Museums don’t stop there. Indianola is home to the National Balloon Museum, which offers hot-air balloon rides.
Noted as the safest state in the US, Iowa also leads the US in wind energy, producing the highest percentage of electricity powered by wind, at over 57% of its electrical power. Iowa also has the highest literacy rate in the US, setting a nationwide literacy and academic excellence standard.
In 1869, Arabella Mansfield (1846-1911) became the first female lawyer in the United States.
Known for friendly communities and farmers’ markets, Iowa holds the first Caucus in every Presidential primary election.
Iowa has also produced nearly 20 Olympic athletes in multiple disciplines. In swimming, the butterfly stroke was invented by David Armbruster, head coach of the University of Iowa Swimming in 1935.
Also developed here in Davenport was the first single-loaf bread-slicing machine in 1912.
The Red Delicious Apple variety originated here in the 1870s as a chance seedling growing on Jessee Hiatt’s farm in Peru, Iowa. Thinking of it as a nuisance, he tried to chop the tree down several times, but it repeatedly grew back.
Iowa is also the only state bordered by two navigable rivers… the Missouri and the Mississippi.
In the Native American tongue, “Iowa” means beautiful.
Maquoketa Caves State Park welcomes visitors to tour one of the highest concentrations of Iowa’s hundreds of prehistoric underground caverns.
Another attraction is the Effigy Mounds National Monument, home to ancient Native American earthworks in the shapes of animals, including bears, birds, and deer.
As the nation’s largest producer of corn, eggs, and pork, it’s little surprise to note that hogs outnumber people 7 to 1.
On the yummy side, Le Mars, Iowa was officially designated as “The Ice Cream Capital of the World” in 1994 by the makers of Blue Bunny® brand ice cream.
Little-known facts include that Snake Alley, between Washington Street and Columbia Street in Burlington, Iowa was named the Crookedest Street in the World by Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Iowa is also home to the world’s largest Strawberry Shortcake. Created in 2009 as part of the annual Strawberry Fest in Strawberry Point, the cake measured more than 10 feet in diameter and featured more than 5,000 servings of berries, cake, and cream.