It is Time to Fire up the Grill!!!!

Today is Memorial Day and the start of all things summer. It means pools are opening, school is winding down and everyone is thinking about cookouts! I love just about anything cooked on the grill. It just seems like it all tastes better over an open flame. Here are a few of my favorite grilled things:
Corn on the cob is wonderful on the grill. Place it right on the grill, with just a little husk left to protect it and Voila!!! Spray on some butter and dig in.
Kabobs are easy and quick to fix for impromptu grilling. Chicken, Shrimp and Pork are fast and delicious. You can add any vegetables you like to your skewers. I like to use, green peppers, onions, grape tomatoes and red potatoes.
Burgers are a staple of any cookout and the great thing is, there are burgers for everyone. Turkey burgers are leaner, and so is pork. If you have Vegan friends they can try black bean or Portobello burgers.
Fish is also great for grilling. I love salmon, but any fish will do. All you have to do is wrap it loosely in tin foil with spices and butter, and set it on the grill.
Like I said, everything tastes better on the grill. So go round up some friends and throw together some food to throw on the Barbie, and enjoy!!
While you are enjoying your fire roasted goodies and spending time with family and friends, don’t forget to remember those who have served and fought for our country and the ones who are still doing so today!!! Happy Memorial Day!! God Bless America!

What price do YOU pay for Beauty!

I’ve become my mother. I’m sitting around in the house in curlers!  If my children were outside playing, I’d have to walk outside in my housecoat and curlers and yell at them like a good mom should.  I’m waiting in curlers for the all day, air dry perm from Ollie Grayson’s!  Even with curly hair like mine, the best part of the perm is that it creates controlled waves, not the usual frizz of summertime!  How nice and manageable my hair becomes after this perm is the reason I sit in my chair, curlers in my hair getting work done.

Of course, I had to go and get gas and my favorite gas station owner came out to say hello.  He stopped looked at the curlers, figured he was committed to coming over so he came over anyway.  After a quick hello and a hug, he smiled and said, “your hair smells funky.”    I explain that it’s the perm solution, that I have to keep these rollers in all day.  He shrugs and replies, “It’s the price you pay for beauty.”

I’m flattered that he can even mention the word beauty with me standing in pink rollers, then committed to waiting out my perm because the result will make my summer.  Beautiful, lasting curls that behave and don’t frizz to enhance that beach tanned body.  Look out world, I may be acting like my mother but it’s so worth the end result.

Thanks Ollie Grayson, couldn’t do it without you!   What price do you pay for your beauty?

Do you have YOUR family prepared?

National Hurricane Preparedness Week!

Do you know what to do in the case of a Hurricane?  As we move into the severe weather of the summer, take a few minutes and prepare your family in the event of an emergency!

Did you know that since records have been kept, dating back to 1806, 70 tropical systems have made direct landfall on the North Carolina Coast.  Even more disturbing is that around 100 tropical storms have impacted the state without actually making landfall along the coast of North Carolina.

Get informed!

• • Know the specific hazards that threaten the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County community.
• • Know how local authorities will alert you to a pending disaster.
• • Know the disaster plans of your community, schools, childcare centers and places of employment.

Make a Plan!

• • Work with your family, as a team, to review and practice emergency plans and drills.
• • Have an out-of-town and a local emergency contact that each family member can call in case of separation.
• • Decide where you will meet.
• • Ensure that every family member knows the best escape routes out of your home as well as the safe places in your home for each type of disaster.
• • Plan for those with disabilities and other special needs.
• • Remember to plan for your pets.
• • Make sure you have adequate insurance coverage.
• • Keep vital records and documents in a safe location.

3 days supplies of food in case of power outages.  This includes: 

•  Three-day supply of nonperishable food and manual can opener
•  Three-day supply of water (one gallon of water per person, per day)
•  Portable, battery powered radio or television, NOAA Weather Radio and extra batteries
•  Flashlight and extra batteries
•  First aid kit and manual
•  Sanitation and hygiene items (hand sanitizer, soap, bleach, moist towelettes, and toilet paper)
•  Matches in waterproof container
•  Whistle
•  Extra clothing and blankets
•  Kitchen accessories and cooking utensils
•  Photocopies of identification, insurance policies and credit cards
•  Cash and coins

“Feel Good!” Boxes

Have you ever heard of a Feel Good Box? Do you have a Feel Good Box? Perhaps you have another name for this special place of tranquility. A Feel Good Box is a box where you keep things, papers, selected pictures, a gratitude journal or other items that bring a smile to your face and/or remembrance of good times. It is a nesting place for thankfulness, gratitude, appreciation and good memories. It is not just for past, but for present and future. (More on memory boxes in a future blog)

A Feel Good Box is similar to a treasure chest. It is not so much the things that are in the box, as what the things represent. Feel Good Boxes are great for children as well as adults. A child’s Feel Good Box might have a few selected school drawings, a special book, a card from a grandparent or notes from parents, siblings or a special teacher. A child’s Feel Good Box might be a shoebox that they have decorated. An adult’s Feel Good Box might have a note from their child or parent; it might have a little “sit around” from an early time in their life or a variety of other things.

Hatboxes and Decorative boxes are great examples of Feel Good Boxes because you can display them in your home and even the sight of the closed box brings about a warm feeling, treasured memory, and a sense of well being or simply a smile. Do you have a Feel Good Box? What would you put in your Feel Good Box?

LOST and Found

So I admit it… I am a Lost fan. I started watching from day 1 and I have enjoyed every convoluted minute of it. My husband came aboard in the middle of the first season. He is way hard core. I am taking podcasts, websites and any article that was written. One of the best parts of Lost is that it was something my husband and I could enjoy together and talk about for 6 years!!! We never grew tired of adding our thoughts and interpretations of what was happening on Lost.
So before you think I am going to bore you with details, I just wanted to summarize MY interpretation of the ending, which I think was very relevant and something everyone can relate to as we go about our lives.
Life is a test and we have to live it to the best of your abilities and hope we pass in the end.
The time between when you die and when you move on, is made up of all the moments in your life. You have to go through all those moments and remember all the people who were important to you and who you loved.
I think surrounding yourself with people you love and care about and trying to live your life by helping others and doing good is not a bad message and a very fitting end.
Any comments?

Update Roller Coaster of Life

It is with a sad heart that we report Kathylyn’s mother, Jane passed away Friday May 21st at 9am.  She took that Stairway to Heaven and is now dancing in her tutu!

Eskimo Legend

Perhaps
they are not
stars in the sky,
But rather
openings
where our
loved ones
shine down to
let us know
they are happy. Rest In Peace Jane Eldridge.

Stairway to Heaven

by Kathylyn Barnhill

Yesterday I had a dream during one of my “power snoozes” here @ Hospice.  I dreamt that Mom walked over to me, tapped me on the shoulder and waved goodbye to me.  She was smiling, glowing, standing tall and had all her fingers. Mom lost her index finger years ago and she was very self conscience of it; so her waving to me was very significant.

 I’m now at her bedside writing this.  I told her I have one last blog to write, stairway to Heaven, she didn’t have a problem with it.  She has been nick named “Wonder Woman”.  I told the staff that when I’m here @ Hospice in 40 years or so, they had better write on my chart “Beware, Jane’s daughter” expect the unexpected.

 Right now I’m at peace, but that doesn’t make the waiting any easier. I believe her spirit is in Heaven already and it’s just a matter of her body catching up(she has been in a coma for a week). I imagine her knocking at the gates of Heaven… “Hi honey I’m home”  and Jesus laughing and fondly replying “Jane’s here, Heaven will never be the sameJ”

 I know that the next few weeks/months will be challenging for both me and my family but God has given us the strength to come this far, he will get us through the grieving process as well.

 Thanks for riding along with us on this Rollercoaster of Life,

A Delicious Treat For Any Occasion

Yesterday I attended a wonderful shower for a sweet teacher friend of mine. My good friend Monica hosted the event at her house. We had cake and games and presents were opened, but the one thing that stands out was the incredible appetizer I gobbled down. Before the games started, all of these delicious treats were gone. What were these tasty delights you ask? They were asparagus wrapped in phyllo dough. These light tidbits would be wonderful for any occasion of gathering. Her recipe came from Paula Dean, and when I did a search I found many options available. Here below is a recipe from recipetips.com:

- 1 bunch asparagus, ends trimmed
- 1/2 package (16 oz) frozen phyllo dough sheets, thawed
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1/2 cup asiago cheese, or parmesan, romano blend

Preheat oven to 375°.
Snap off the tough ends of the asparagus.
Unwrap phyllo and cut the stack in half lengthwise.
Wrap 1 stack back up and place in the refrigerator.
Keep the other stack that you will be working with covered with a damp towel.
Take 1 sheet of phyllo, lay it out flat, and bush it with melted butter.
Sprinkle asiago or blend of cheeses down the strip.
Take 2-3 asparagus and lay them perpendicular to the strip at one end.
Roll up gently, the tops and ends of the asparagus will be showing.
Place the roll, seam side down, on a baking sheet.
Brush the top with more melted butter and sprinkle with more cheese.
Repeat until all of the spears are used up.
Place in the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.

I tell you these treats are good and tasty. Make them for your next occasion, or heck, just for the fun of it. They are that good! Let me know your opinion!!

5 tips on taking a good picture with your phone…

We’re all enjoying sharing ourselves with the world using the camers built into our phone.  I’ve been to many a scenic overlook and heard, “Did you bring the camera?  No?  Well, I’ve got my phone!”  Here’s some tips on taking THE RIGHT picture with your phone:

1. Clean the lens.  We’ve butt dialed with your phones so heaven knows where they’ve been, clean out the dust and debris from the lens before taking your picture-WOW it is a LOT clearer isn’t it?
2. Avoid tight focusing, camera phones excel where everything is required to be in focus, take a scene type picture rather than focusing in on one item then trying to make the background out of focus.
3. Avoid bright reflections as this will cause the camera to underexpose the rest of the shot.
4. Set your phone to the highest picture quality.  This is different on all phones, check yours to make sure it is set correctly.  This will also increase the file size of the pictures, word to the wise.
5. Avoid the “mirror shots” or taking the pictures at arms length, not only does it give you the double chin but also will add the pounds due to the close proximity of the phone.  Break down and ASK someone to take a picture of you!

 Have fun and totally ignore all the advice above if it stops you from taking a picture.  Send that shot out into the world proudly – it’s your work of art!

Can Mothers and Daughters be friends?

Can mothers and daughters be friends? What do you enjoy doing with your mother or your daughter? (This is a continuation of an article in the May 2010 issue of Forsyth Woman.) I spoke with my daughter, Jillian (age 25) about the subject and she said she thought mothers and daughters could be friends, but not until after the daughter became a young adult. During a daughter’s younger years, they need a mother more than a friend. Daughters need someone who nurtures them. There is a distinct difference between the way a mother nurtures her daughter and the way friends nurture one another. Nurturing by mothers involves discipline and discipline is vital in teaching a child how to become an adult. (Now my daughter thinks discipline is vital! )

Probably the most important thing my daughter said was that as a daughter gets older there is a gradually loosening of authority over the daughter. The mother still gives advice and wisdom, however it is no longer given in an authoritative way, it is now given in an assisting and nurturing way. Both of my daughters have brought great joy in my life and it is my hope that I will be able to bring joy, friendship and appropriate support to them especially now as they enter the challenging years of establishing careers and their lives as adults.

What do you enjoy doing with your mother or daughter? How would you define friendship between you and your mother or daughter? What do you treasure most about your relationship with your mother or daughter