All
proceeds from this e-book during Spring will be donated to the Haiti Relief Fund.
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Celebration
Calendar
March
[American
Red Cross Month, Irish-American Heritage Month, National
Cheerleaders Safety Month, National Colorectal Cancer Awareness
Month, National Craft Month, National Frozen Food Month, National
Nutrition Month, National Poison Prevention Month, National
Spiritual Wellness Month, National Women's History
Month]
1
Peace Corps Birthday
Dr. Suess
Birthday
2
NEA's Read Across America Day
5 World
day of Prayer
8 International Women's
Day
14 Daylight Savings Time Begins
12 Girl
Scouts Day
16
Well-Elderly Day
17 St. Patrick's
Day
American Chocolate
Week
19 Swallows return to San Juan
Capistrano
20 First Day of
Spring
Great American
Meat-Out
National Quilting Day
Maple Syrup Day
22
World Water Week
27 Earth Hour 8:30 - 9:30
pm
28 Palm Sunday 29
Passover
30 Doctor's
Day
April
[Alcohol
Awareness Month, Autism Awareness Month, Celebrate Diversity Month,
National Pecan Month, National Poetry Month, Childhood Prevention
Month, Global Child Nutrition Month]
1
April Fool's Day
2 Good
Friday
Reconciliation Day
4 Easter
5
White House Easter Egg Roll
7
ASPCA
United Nations World Health Day
8 Buddah
Day
10 National Love Our Children Day
15 Income
Tax Pay Day
16 National Wear Your PJs to Work
Day
17 Husband Appreciation Day
19 Boston
Marathon
22 Earth Day
23 National Secretaries
Day
24 Arbor Day
25 Red Hat Society
Day
May:
[Family
Awareness Month, ALS Awareness Month, Jewish- American Heritage
Month, National Mental Health Month, Motorcycle Safety Month,
National Navajo Code Talkers Month, National Physical Fitness Month,
National Smile Month, National Family Month, Clean Air
Month]
1
May Day
2
Join Hands Day
National Scrapbooking Day
2
Motorcycle Mass and Blessing of the Bikes Day
4
National Teachers Day
5
Cinco de Mayo
6
National Nurses Day
National Day of Prayer
8
World Red Cross Day
10
Mother's Day
15
International Day of Families
National Chocolate Chip Day
Armed Forces Day
16
NASCAR Day
21
National Bike To Work Day
25
National Missing Children's Day 28
Sierra Club Day
30
Memorial Day
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Inspirational
Quotes
"For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I
travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move."
- Robert Louis
Stevenson | |
Letter to
Readers
It is almost Spring! I am so ready to
sweep away all the winter clutter caused by El Nino this
year! As the nation digs out of the snow and
floods, it is an opportunity to embrace a time of renewal and
rebirth! A time to clean out the old and take a
deep breath! It is a coming-of-age of
sorts. Spring is all about possibility as the
soil gives birth to the coming bounty, and my body looks for the sun
to fill my days!
Life is full of passages and transitions that have a
spiritual and physical rhythm. Featured this
month in Threads of Wisdom is an exciting Coming-of-Age
adventure! Follow a family of men as they scale
the Inca Trail in honor of the young man turning 13 years
old. It is a celebration of generations and the
transition to adulthood. This story is also
timely after the devastating effects of El Nino in the Andes of
Peru. The Gaviria men remind us that we can
conquer our struggles with the support of others!
As Spring emerges this month, we have the opportunity to do
great things, from reordering our schedules and creating peace in
our home, to organizing a fund raiser for Haiti and the earthquake
victims. Let's not let this season pass without
giving great thanks for what we do have to celebrate, and then
extend a helping hand out to those who need the strength of hope and
rebirth.
So, bake up a delicious batch of this amazing Dark-Chocolate
Ginger Biscotti recipe, pour a cup a tea, and invite a friend or
neighbor over to discuss the possibilities!
Peace begins at home!
~ MJ
Chief Inspirational
Officer |
Recipe
Double
Dark-Chocolate and Ginger Biscotti *
 Makes 2 1/2 dozen
Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled 1/3 cup
unsweetened cocoa powder 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4
teaspoon salt 1 large egg, plus 1 large egg yolk 1/2 cup
sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 cup canola oil 1/2 cup
walnuts, coarsely chopped 3 ounces dark chocolate, coarsely
chopped (1/2 cup) 1/4 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking
sheet with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together
flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt until well combined;
set aside. In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat egg, egg
yolk, and sugar until light and fluffy; beat in the vanilla and oil
until well combined.
With the mixer on low, beat in dry ingredients
until combined. Fold in walnuts, chocolate, and ginger with a rubber
spatula (dough will be stiff).
With moistened hands shape the
dough into 2 logs, each about 9 inches long and 2 1/2 inches wide.
Bake until set on top, about 20 minutes. Cool 10 minutes in pan.
Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.
Transfer logs to a cutting board and, with a
serrated knife, cut each log on the diagonal into 16 slices, each
1/2 inch thick. Bake until crisp, about 20 minutes, turning the
biscotti over midway through. Cool 5 minutes on a baking sheet, then
transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight
container for up to a week.
* From Body+Soul, Jan/Feb
'07 |
Celebration
Oh! Machu Picchu
A Legacy For Mauricio
By Edgar Gaviria Sr.
 The "Chaman" made us tremble, full of
unbearable emotions, when he asked the "god sun" to shine over us
through the dark angle formed by two tall mountains at 6 am on that
frigid day in the Peruvian Andean ranges. It was the solstile winter
day, June 21st . We were standing on one of the huge carved stones
of the Ollantaytambo Fortress, making promises, renewing vows,
changing attitudes and looking inside our souls. My grandson
Mauricio, suddenly said, with his eyes humid with tears, "in four
more days I will be twelve... If I celebrate my birthday in Machu
Picchu, the Inca gods will bless me forever"...
Read the
rest | |
