Firefighter Friday

Other than being a writer, I am also the Treasurer for my township. I share a building with the Police and Fire departments. Every day I watch as the vehicles rush out of "the barn" to someone's aid.

Today, my hat (if I wore one) is off to honor firefighters. They put their lives on the line everyday to save property and lives. They are every day heroes, but will always humbly state, "I'm just doing my job."

Thank you!

(Note: these are none of my township firefighters - they are a bit camera shy and their wives don't like to share.)

Thursday Thirteen - 13 Movie Quotes

I'm a sucker for a good movie... can't help myself. Here's a list of some of my favorite great lines.

1. "Death can not stop true love, it can only delay it for a little while."
- from the movie "The Princess Bride"

2. "I want you to get swept away. I want you to levitate. I want you to sing with rapture, dance like a dervish."
- from the movie "Meet Joe Black"

3. "The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return."
Christian, - from the movie "Mulan Rouge"

4. "I'd rather die tomorrow than live a hundred years without knowing you."
John Smith, - from the movie "Pocahontas"

5. "A name makes no matter to me, as long as I can call you my own."
- from the movie "A Knight's Tale"

6. "When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with a person, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."
Billy Crystal, - from the movie "When Harry Met Sally"

7. "I would rather spend one lifetime with you - than face all the ages of this world alone."
- from the movie, "Lord of the Rings"

8. "Love is that can't eat, can't sleep, reach for the stars, over the fence, world series kinda stuff...."
- from the movie "Angels in the Outfield"

9. "Never knew I could feel like this, like I've never seen the sky before. Want to vanish inside your kiss and I love you until the end of time."
- from the movie, "Moulin Rouge"

10. "It's a wonderful thing, as time goes by, to be with someone who looks into your face, when you've gotten old, and still sees what you think you look like."
- from the movie "The Bachelor"

11. "A woman's heart is an ocean of secrets."
Rose Dawson; - from the movie "Titanic"

12. "The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more; that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds."
- from the The Notebook

13. "The hardest thing is loving someone and having the courage to let them love you back."
- from the movie, "Wedding Date"

Happy TT!

Poetry Corner - The Moon

In this busy week, take a moment and enjoy the world around you. I love the day, but I prefer the night and the midnight sun. My favorite is when I can see the moon during the day. Sit back and enjoy my rambling.

The Moon

I looked up from the cement world

and saw the moon today.

What a pleasant surprise!

He may have even looked my way.

I stood in my white cloak

Made of angels small.

I wanted to find my voice

But my body headed the call.

Every night I look to him

Wondering if he looks back at me.

Perhaps when I turn around,

He casts a glance to see.

Did I give him a smile?

Did my heart jump on my sleeve?

He graciously walked away,

Oh, the webs that we weave!

My mind tells me that he is dead,

My heart calls out to him.

I pray for him each day,

My hope never grows dim.

Only at night to I stand to gaze

In my cloak of white.

The small angles sleeping

Hidden from sight.

I speak in soft whispers

I’m sure he never hears.

I just wish for him to know

How I hold him so dear.

He loved me once then

Cast me to earth.

But my love remains,

And admiration grows from this dirt.

Memories of tenderness come

Rays of moonlight caress my skin.

Emotions never forgotten

But hidden within.

With my arms, I reach to the moon

Embracing the light cast below.

I’m sure he does not see me,

To him I am only a shadow.

I was surprised to see the moon

In the daylight, alive and well.

Tonight I will send him a smile

And in the shadow’s I will dwell.
                                                                      - Mary Quast

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

#TastyTuesday - Banana Bread

Grandma always said, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach."

When you are cleaning the kitchen don't throw those brown bananas away!

I found a super easy banana bread recipe.

Heat oven to 350'. Grease 9"x5" loaf pan.
1/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups Jiffy or any baking mix
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (2-3 medium)
1/3 cup chopped nuts - optional

Cream shortening and sugar. Combine remaining ingredients and mix until well blended. Pour into prepared pan. Bake about 55 minutes. Cool on a rack before slicing.

While cleaning the kitchen this morning, I found several bananas left over from last weekend's camping trip. Ewe! I don't like throwing food away and this is a great recipe to use. It's simple and my family loves it. For fun I add a little nutmeg and brown sugar on the top before placing it into the oven.

I like to use farm fresh eggs. They run $2-$3 a dozen.

Visit your local Farmers' Market or watch for signs along country roads.
A farm near me has a large wood sign by the road advertising "Chicken Butt Nuggets".