Just for Today...

The hardest arithmetic to master

is that which enables us to count our blessings.

Eric Hoffer

In Friendship

Joy

A Poem or Two

SECRET OF HAPPINESS
We think Life owes us Happiness ...
we think it is our due -
but often we forget that there are things that we must do -
to earn it; like all precious things there is a price to pay -
we weren't meant to waste our lives in pleasure and in pllay ...
but to discover what it is that God would have us do -
to help; to serve; to seek the best, the beautiful, the true...
To bring a little good into the world before we die - and make -
not Self - but others happy - as we're passing by.

THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND
Thank you for being a friend to me when needing someone there -
my failing hopes to bolster and my secret fears to share...
Thank you for being so good to me when it was hard to know -
the wisest course to follow, what to do and where to go.

Thank you for giving me confidence when I had lost my way -
speaking the word that led me through the tunnel of the day ...
thank you for all you did and said to ease the weight for me -
Never intruding, but there in the background, helping quietly.

Thank you not only for sympathy in times of grief and stress -
but for all you have meant to me in terms of happiness...
Many a lovely day we've known and many a laugh we've had -
Thank you for being the kind of friend that shares the good and bad.

Take care till next time
Joy

Some interesting flower remedies for you!

Living in the past; being nostalgic or feeling homesick - try the Honeysuckle flower remedy.
Feeling fatigued and drained of energy - try Olive
Unable to adjust to change try Walnut
Feeling proud and reserved or wanting to be alone - try Water Violet
Feelings of apathy - try Wild Rose
Experiencing resentment - try Willow
Anxiety and shock, claming and reassuring - try the famous Rescue Remedy which is made up from Cherry Plum, Clematis, Impatiens, Rock Rose and Star of Bethlehem)

First Day of School

World, take my son by the hand - he starts school today.

It's all going to be strange and new for a while

and I wish you'd sort of treat him gently.

You see, up to now he's been King of the Roost.

He's been the Boss of the Backyard.

I have always been around to repair his wounds and

I have always been handy to soothe his feelings.

But now .... things are going to be different.

this morning he is going to walk down the front steps,

Wave his hand and start on a great adventure

That probably will include wars, tragedy and sorrow.

To live in this world will reuire faith and love and courage.

So World, I wish you would sort of take him by his young hand

and teach him the things he will have to know.

Teach him ... but gently if you can.

He will have to learn that all men are not just.

That all men are not true.

Teach him that for every scoundrel there is a hero;

That for every crooked politician there is a dedicated teacher

and that for every enemy there is a friend.

Let him learn that bullies are the easiest people to lick.

Teach him the wonder of books. Give him quiet time

to ponder the eternal mysteries of birds in the sky,

Bees in the sun and flowers on a green hill.

Teach him that it is far more honourable

to fail than to cheat. Teach him

to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone

tells him he is wrong.

Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd,

when everyone else is getting on the band wagon.

Teach him to listen to all men, but to filter all

he hears on a screen of truth, and to take only

the good that comes true.

Teach him to sell his brawn and his brain to the highest

bidder, but never to put a tag on his heart and soul.

Teach him to close his ears on a howling mob...

and to stand and fight if he thinks he is right.

Teach him gently World, but don't coddle him.

Because only the test of fire makes fine steel.

This is a big order World, but see what you can do.

He's such a nice little fellow.....

Just for Today!

Just for Today
- smile at a stranger
- listen to someones heart
- drop a coin where a child can find it
- learn something new then teach it to someone else
- tell someone you are thinking of them
- hug a loved one
- don't hold a grudge
- don't be afraid to say 'I'm sorry'
- look a child in the eye and tell them how great they are
- don't kill that spider in your house - he is just lost - show him the way out
- look beyond the face of a person into their heart
- make a promise and keep it
- show kindness to an animal
- stand up for what you believe in
- smell the rain, feel the breeze, listen to the wind and enjoy the sun
- use all your senses to the fullest
- cherish all your TODAYS
Great advice for today, any day and everyday!

Black cherry cheese cake!

CRUST
200g packet of Tennis Biscuits
30ml Castor Sugar
100g Melted Butter

FILLING
500g Smooth Cream Cheese
125g Castor Sugar
2 eggs, separated
125ml sour cream
30ml flour
5ml Vanilla essence
5ml finely grated lemon peel

TOPPING
420g Stoned Black Cherries in syrup
5ml lemon juice
30ml cornflour
5ml castor sugar

CRUST: Place biscuits in a food processor and process until fine. Mix in sugar and gradually blen in melted butter until fully absorbed by crumbs. Cover base and sides of a well-greased flan dish and refrigerate for about 2 hours.

FILLING: Blend cream cheese with sugar and add egg yolks one at a time. Stir in sour cream, flour, vanilla essence and lemon peel. then beat throoughly until mixture is smooth and glossy. Whisk egg whites until stiff but not dry and fold them carefully into cream cheese mixture, using a metal spoon. Spoon filling into chilled pie shell and bake at 180 deg C for 1 hour. Leave to cool at room temperature.

TOPPING: Place cherries in a pan with their juice. Add lemon juice and cornflour, stirring until smooth, then bring to boil over gentle heat. Continue cooking until mixture boiles, thickens and clears, stirring constantly. Add castor sugar to taste. Allow cherries to cool slightly before spreading them over cheesecake. Chill well before serving.

Enjoy!