god bless america

As we gather for one of my favorite holidays, I am awed by our right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Do we even begin to understand what that really means? With a daughter in South Africa and a son-in-law in Cambodia, Independence Day takes on renewed meaning to me.

On the 50th anniversary of our independence Thomas Jefferson wrote, "Let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them." It was the last letter Jefferson ever wrote. He died 10 days later on July 4, 1826, on the same day within hours of his old friend, fellow Founder, and fellow former President, John Adams of Massachusetts.

As we celebrate with 41 family and friends I quietly thank our founding fathers for their foresight, intelligence, devotion and sacrifice. It was a high price they paid for this amazing country that we live in. God Bless America.

chicken leg

4th of July Oven Fried Chicken

Make ahead so you can enjoy the picnic!

1 beaten egg

3 Tbls milk

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup dry bread crumbs

1 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp paprika

2 1/2 lbs meaty chicken pieces

2 Tbls butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine egg and milk in a bowl. Combine Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, oregano and paprika in a shallow dish Dip chicken pieces into egg mixture; coat with crumb mixture. Arrange chicken in a greased 15x10x1inch baking pan so pieces don't touch. Drizzle with melted butter.

Bake for 45 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Do not turn pieces while baking. Serve within 1 hour or cover and chill chicken. If serving later, reheat slightly just before serving.

twenty-two

Florida 1990

Happy Birthday to my youngest son, the one most like me and the child of my heart. I remember the exact moment when I knew we needed one more child to complete our family circle. It is a joy to watch him become independent and find his way but I do miss the days when he counted on me for everything and I always knew where he was. I tried to prepare him for the world and then had such a hard time sending him off. This has been the hardest one to let go - my fourth and my baby. Now he is out there in the world - I pray for him to have a joyfull life. I hope he knows how much he is loved.

a special friend

I agree!

Thanks for the pillow Debby, my special friend.

loss

Our community has lost a dear friend who influenced our children as an educator, principal and superintendent. The circle of his influence was vast and we will truly miss him. Michael C. O'Laughlin died on May 23 after a brief illness. I want to post an inspirational message that both of his children shared at his funeral. Words we should all live by.

Good, Better, Best,
Never let it rest,
Until your good becomes better

and your better becomes your best.

island get-away

We were SO lucky to be able to spend the weekend at the Islands with our "Wine-on-Wednesday" group. V's brother and his wife own this amazing summer home and were very generous to let us stay there and celebrate another outing with our good friends. These friends and these get-togethers enrich our lives more that I can put into words.

paper napkin holder

I subscribe to Martha Stewart's Craft of the day. While I find most of the ideas too difficult or something I would never use, this one intrigued me so I gave it a try. The challenge was to find a plain square 8" cake pan. The ones at discount stores all had handles but I finally found one at a thrift shop. For the aluminum pipe I used a piece from a wind chime that we no longer use.

Martha Stewart's Directions

Breezy afternoons are ideal for lunching outdoors, but they can make a mess of stacked napkins. To create this windproof holder, use a hacksaw to cut a 3/8-inch-diameter aluminum pipe 1/4 inch shorter than the width of a galvanized tray (our tray measures 8 inches square). Dull the cut edges of the pipe by rubbing them with fine-grit sandpaper. Coat the tray and pipe with spray paint, and let dry overnight. Measure the tray's perimeter; cut a piece of elastic cord 2 inches shorter. Slip the cord through the pipe, and tie the ends together; conceal the knot inside pipe. Fill the tray with napkins, and fit the holder around the tray.

porch sit

One of my favorite times of the day is our morning "porch sit". Today was the first day this season that it was warm enough to sit on the porch. A cup of coffee, the NY Times crossword and a magazine - it doesn't get much better than that! This year I may even get up 30 minutes earlier on work days to enjoy this relaxing start to the day.

mother's day

July 4, 1991
Can the fierce, protective, primal love of a mother ever change?

. . . . . Because long afterward (forever in fact), you will carry your children as you did in the months before their birth. They are still there, just under your heart, a constant beloved presence, a burden and a delight.

Roxana Robinson: "Mother, Once Removed"

Real Simple Magazine June 2006

choosing your word

Set in the suburban town of Willow Grove, Calif., Debbie Macomber's Thursdays at Eight follows the friendship of four women who meet at the Mocha Moments cafe every Thursday morning. For the new year, they decide to choose a word that will help them realize their New Year's resolutions.

Clare (recently divorced ) chooses the word faithful

Liz (a 57-year-old hospital administrator) focuses on the word time

Julia (has everything her heart desires) chooses the word gratitude

Karen (a 20-something who desires to become an actor) chooses the word acceptance

We have decided to choose our word each year during our Spring break and reflect upon it the next year. I'll be back to post our words later. What would your word be?