Every Day a Food Day

Not that we need a reason to have a picnic or some pie ala-mode, but in case you would like one to ease some guilt, here are the official national culinary days for July. hmmm, I wonder who proclaimed these. Well, good job!


National Baked Bean Month
National Culinary Arts Month
National Hot Dog Month
National Ice Cream Month
National July Belongs to Blueberries Month
National Picnic Month (my personal favorite)

July 1 National Gingersnap Day
July 2 National Anisette Day
July 3 National Chocolate Wafer Day
July 4 National Barbecue Day
July 5 National Apple Turnover Day
July 6 National Fried Chicken Day
July 7 National Strawberry Sundae Day
July 7 National Macaroni Day
July 8 National Milk Chocolate with Almonds Day
July 9 National Sugar Cookie Day
July 10 National Pina Colada Day
July 11 National Blueberry Muffin Day
July 12 National Pecan Pie Day
July 15 National Tapioca Pudding Day
July 17 National Peach Ice Cream Day
July 18 National Caviar Day
July 20 National Ice Cream Day
July 20 National Lollipop Day
July 21 National Creme Brulee Day
July 22 National Penuche Day
July 23 National Vanilla Ice Cream Day
July 25 National Hot Fudge Sundae Day
July 26 National Bagelfest
July 28 National Milk Chocolate Day
July 28 National Hamburger Day
July 29 National Lasagna Day
July 30 National Cheesecake Day
July 31 National Raspberry Cake Day

Blueberry Time!

As I weeded the side yard this morning I saw ripe blueberries that I know were green yesterday. Amazing how fast fruit ripens. They are no more, as I popped them all into my mouth.

This will be the first of many gallons of blueberries this summer. The bushes (we have over fifty) are packed with huge berries this year. We'll have a berry picking party with friends, but there will still be plenty for preserves and freezing to use the entire year. With such an abundance of blueberries, we are always looking for some good recipes. Here are two from other friends/bloggers that you will enjoy.



Red, white and blueberry cones from "The Pretty Bee"

To-Die-For Muffins by "Life is Sweet"

Happy Birthday America



Saturday I visited the Willamette National Cemetery with my husband. When I stood alone by our country's flag, surrounded by hill upon hill of graves with veterans that have served to keep our country united and free, I thought how easy it is to not fully realize the cost we have paid to have such a great, powerful nation.



Today we gather to celebrate the birthday of our country.

Little, local parades on Main Street show small-town spirit while larger cities have extensive fireworks and festivals. Most of us will see our flag displayed somewhere today. I hope that will be a moment of nostalgia and pride.





Becoming so global and "open minded" through the media, whether through television or social networking on the computer, seems to have placed questions, or worse yet, complacency, in the minds of many citizens. You would think it would be the opposite. We have young soldiers fighting for us now in the middle east, yet even with all of today's instant electronics we don't hear much of this war or the men who are losing their lives to keep our country free from terror and destruction.


 We hear of illegal alien protests, gay pride and Gaga. We don't hear of Terry J. Lynch, Jason R. Watson or the thousands of other soldiers who have lost their lives recently for us.

Updated this 4th of July morning, there have been 2,553 casualties in Afghanistan of our US and coalition troops. There have been 4,786 casualties in Iraq.

Here is an excellent link that keeps updating how many soldiers have died in our current war in Afghanistan and Iraq. http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/casualties/index.html

If you click your mouse over a dot on the map, it tells of the soldier who died. Are their any from your town?





Fourth of July should be happy and celebrated; it is what our soldiers are fighting for.





I wish you all a fun, safe, patriotic 4th of July.