Picnic Tea Time

National Picnic Day - Last Saturday in June every year

Happy Leon Day

Happy LEON Day!

Have you ever heard of "Christmas in July"?
The actual date is June 25th. It's 6 months until Christmas

LEON is NOEL spelled backwards. 

It is a great reason to start making all those home-made gifts and decorations so you can be done by Christmas. 

Riddle:
What did one snowman say to the other snowman?
Do you smell carrot? 

Happy Crafting!  

Anything and Everything in Pink

I love pink and roses.

My old date gave it to me.

Now, in my closet

Cross-stiches. My friend gave it to me for my birthday. She knows I love pink and roses.

Summer Solstice

Are you ready for the summer?

Summer Solstice, sometimes known as Midsummer, occurs in the middle of June. It is a celebration of the longest day of the year and the beginning of Summer.

Notice: teacups and saucers. Too hot to drink!

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Treat Sunburn Like a Dermatoligist?

by Virginia Sole-Smile

1. Make a cooling compress: Steep two chamomile tea bags in 8 ounces of hot water for 15 minutes and refrigerate until cool. Saturate a washcloth and apply it to your burn for 10 to 15 minutes.

2. Moisten your skin with aloe vera gel or a moisturizer containing soy or oatmeal-both of which are cooling. If yur burn is really painful to the touch, try an OTC cortisone cream.

3. Take cool, short showers and moisturize regularly until the burn fades (about a week). And remember to use sunblock! If you've burned once, it means you're prone to burning-not to building a base tan.

Hallmark Magazine Summer 2008

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Classic Lemonade
From Real Simple
August 2005


1 ½ cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 12 lemons)
½ cup sugar
6 cups water Lemon slices (to garnish)
Ice

Place the lemon juice, the sugar, and 1 cup water in a large pitcher. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then add 5 more cups water, a few slices of lemon to garnish, and plenty of ice.

Celebrate Power of a Smile Day

 
Power of a Smile Day - observed June 15 ever year

On June 15th, smile at everyone you see all day long, find ideas for crafts, games, and other activities.

Crafts to make:
- Make a collage using pictures of smiles cut out of magazines.
- Create some Happy Face Beaded pins you can wear or give.
- Make smiley face masks using yellow paint and paper plates.
- Draw faces with different expressions.
- Make yourself a Smiling T-shirt.
- Try make a Happy Face Ring.


Other Things to do:
-Talk about how you feel when someone smiles at you and when you smile.
-Have a smile-off. See who can smile the longest. To make it harder, see who can smile the longest without laughing!
-Talk about emotions and facial expressions.
-Have a Biggest Smile Contest.

Gray skies are gonna clear up,

Put on a happy face!

Brush off the clouds and cheer up,

Put on a happy face!

Take off that gloomy mask of tragedy,

It's not your style.

You'll look so good that you'll be glad ya decided to smile!

Pick out a pleasant outlook,

Stick out that noble chin,

Wipe off that full-of-doubt look,

Slap on a happy grin!

And spread sunshine all over the place,

just Put on a happy face!

Put on a happy face!

Put on a happy face!

revised 15 June 2008

Flag Day

Flag Day - June 14th ever year.

Flag Day, is a day for all Americans to celebrate and show respect for our flag, its designers and makers. Our flag is representative of our independence and our unity as a nation.....one nation, under God, indivisible. Our flag has a proud and glorious history. It was at the lead of every battle fought by Americans. Many people have died protecting it. It even stands proudly on the surface of the moon.

As Americans, we have every right to be proud of our culture, our nation, and our flag. So raise the flag today and every day with pride!


Properly Display Our Flag
There is a right way and a wrong way to display the flag. The American flag should be held in the highest of regards. It represents our nation and the many people who gave their lives for our country and our flag. Here are the basics on displaying the American flag:

-The flag is normally flown from sunrise to sunset.
-In the morning, raise the flag briskly. At sunset, lower it slowly. Always, raise and lower it ceremoniously.
-The flag should not be flown at night without a light on it.
-The flag should not be flown in the rain or inclement weather.
-After a tragedy or death, the flag is flown at half staff for 30 days. It's called "half staff" on land ,and "half mast" on a ship.
-When flown vertically on a pole, the stars and blue field , or "union", is at the top and at the end of the pole (away from your house).
-The American flag is always flown at the top of the pole. Your state flag and other flags fly below it.
-The union is always on top. When displayed in print, the stars and blue field are always on the left.
-Never let your flag touch the ground, never...period.
- Fold your flag when storing. Don't just stuff it in a drawer or box.
- When your flag is old and has seen better days, it is time to retire it. Old flags should be burned or buried. Please do not throw it in the trash.



Famous Flag People:Betsy Ross was a seamstress who made clothes for George Washington. In June, 1776, Washington approached her to make the country's first flag and the rest is history.

Francis Scott Key Inspired by the British bombardment of Fort McHenry, Francis Scott Key penned the lyrics to our national anthem as he witnessed the event as British rockets whizzed in the air while our American Flag flew in the breeze

Did you Know?

- There is a very special ceremony for retiring the flag by burning it. It is a ceremony everyone should see.Your local Boy Scout group knows the proper ceremony and performs it on a regular basis. If you have an old flag, give it to them. And, attend the ceremony.

- If you like to study flags, then you are a Vexillologist!

More information:

Learn how to fold a flag - USFlag.org: A website dedicated to the Flag of the United States of America -

Flag - Flag Day in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

June Rose

The rose was designated the official flower and floral emblem of the United States of America in 1986. The rose has been around for about 35 million years and grows naturally throughout North America. The petals and rose hips are edible and have been used in medicines since ancient times.

Language of Roses – the different rose colors

Discover the best

Discover the best way to express your love, affection, friendship, thankfulness, joy and all the other important emotions that make life so rich and rewarding by sending the appropriate rose color bouquet...and let that someone special in your life know exactly how you feel about them, be they wife or husband, friend or lover, mom or dad, grandma or grandpa or perhaps your favorite hero of the day...there are no limitations when sending roses...
Learn The Meaning of Rose Colors

RED roses show love, passion and respect. Red roses of any color say "I love you"; deep red roses imply unconscious beauty.

PINK roses communicate happiness, appreciation, admiration, friendship, sympathy.

LIGHT PINK roses denote grace, joy, gentility and admiration.
DARK PINK roses are to signify thankfulness.

LAVENDER symbolizes love at first sight and enchantment.
WHITE roses signify spiritual love and purity; but of the soul; bridal white means happy love. White roses can also signify secrecy reverence humility, innocence, or charm.
YELLOW shows "I care"; friendship, joy, gladness or freedom.

CORAL roses imply desire.
PEACH roses indicate modesty.

ORANGE display a feeling of enthusiasm, desire and fascination.

WHITE and RED roses mixed together signify unity.

RED and YELLOW rose together say "Congratulations!"

YELLOW and ORANGE in combination imply passionate thoughts.

Other Messages from Roses
Delicate and Beautiful, the rose is the principal messenger of love.

A single rose denotes "I still Love you"
Two Roses of any color taped or wired together signify a commitment or forthcoming marriage.
In general, pale-colored roses signify friendship.
12 Roses - Gratitude
25 Roses - Congratulations
50 Roses - Unconditional Love

With roses and flowers, there are no limitations as to what can be expressed. The colors and aromas of the different types of roses all have their unique place the history of human expression. Knowing the specific meaning of a rose only enhances the experience of sending and receiving rose and flower bouquets.
Now that you have found the best rose color to express your feelings head on back to our Rose Bouquet Selection and pick out one of our beautiful Rose Bouquets that we will deliver to that someone special in your life.
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I have not try. If you try these, please let me know what you think, OK?
Rosy Iced Tea
Carole Braden
From Every Day with Rachael Ray August 2007
MAKES ONE QUART
Prep Time: 15 min Cook Time: 20 min
2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons rose water
1/4 cup Ceylon or Earl Grey black tea leaves
4 to 5 green cardamom pods
Ice
1. In a small saucepan, bring 2 cups water and the sugar to a boil, stirring occasionally. Lower the heat and simmer until clear, about 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, then stir in the rose water and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, in another small saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil, remove from the heat and stir in the tea leaves and cardamom pods. Cover and let steep for 5 minutes. Stir again, then strain through a fine sieve.
3. In a large pitcher, combine the strained tea with 2 cups cold water. Serve over ice and sweeten with 1 to 2 tablespoons rose water syrup.

June Weddings

"June Wedding" is known for marriage that occur over the entire of the month.  June is named after the Juno. Juno was the goddess of marriage and a married couple. Some consider it good luck to be married in this month."

June Pearl

History
When cultured pearl were first produced in the early 1900’s, pearl fever caught on with the common folk as well. They are just as beautiful as natural pearls, because they are cultivated naturally, after receiving a helping hand from man.

Cultured pearls were invented in 1906 by Kokichi Mikimoto, the son of a noodle-maker in Japan, when he patented a way to induce oysters to make perfectly round pearls on demand. His company, Mikimoto, is still famous around the world for its quality pearls.

Pearl Education

Color:

The typical pearl colors are white, white rose, black, silver, gold and pink.

Shape:

Pearls found in jewelry have a tendency to be the roundest while Freshwater pearls can be off-round. The shapes are round, off-round, oval, teardrop and semi-baroque.

Size:

The size of the pearl depends on the type of pearl. Size from 13 mm to 5-5,5 mm.

Care:

-Carefully store your pearls in a special pouch or jewelry box to keep them safe from scratching.

- Keep your pearls far away from hairspray, cosmetrics and perfumes.

- Necklaces should be removed while playing sports. (However, you may keep those pearl earrings in.)

- Before putting your pearls away, wipe them with a soft cloth and store them separate from other jewelry to avoid scratching their tender surfaces.

National Iced Tea Month

June is National Iced Tea Month

In this month,  I will share about iced tea to help you celebrate and enjoy warm weather! 

So get out your tall glasses and ice cubes and celebrate the warm weather by pouring yourself a home-brewed glass of iced tea!

National Iced Tea Month

HAPPY TEAtime.

June is National Iced Tea Month.
As many of you know my heart does the happy dance.
I love iced tea.

June Pearl

Birthstone of the month is Pearl. It is the birthday gem for June.

Pentecost Sunday

Happy Feast of the Pentecost! May the same Spirit that descended in the Apostles stir a fire in our hearts today! Praise Him!

 Happy Birthday to the Catholic Church! Since 33 AD.

 

FIreworks Safety Month

Fireworks Safety Month (June to July 4th)

 

 

They are loud, beautiful, stunning, amazing, exciting and so much more! Fireworks are a part of many celebrations every year but it's important to remember -- fireworks should only be handled by professionals. Be sure to know the rules:

Common Sense Fireworks Safety Tips

-Always use under adult supervision
-Read and follow instructions
-Always keep water and sand nearby
-NEVER light indoors use only OUTDOORS
-Never try to make your own fireworks
-Never relight fireworks that appear to have gone out
-Only light one at a time
-Never allow small children to go near fireworks
-Store in a cool dry place
-Never lean over top of fireworks to light them
-Tie hair back, wear safety goggles and no loose fitting clothes
-Sparklers should be immersed in sand once they appear out
- they are still very hot and can burn
Enjoy the show and stay safe around fireworks!
Fireworks Safety for Kids

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To help you celebrate safely this Fourth of July, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Council on Fireworks Safety offer the following safety tips:
-Always read and follow label directions.
-Have an adult present
-Buy from reliable sellers.
-Use outdoors only.
-Always have water handy (a garden hose and a bucket)
-Never experiment or make your own fireworks.
-Light only one firework at a time.
-Never re-light a "dud" firework (wait 15 to 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water). -Never give fireworks to small children.
-If necessary, store fireworks in a cool, dry place.
-Dispose of fireworks properly by soaking them in water and then disposing of them in your trash can.
-Never throw or point fireworks at other people.
-Never carry fireworks in your pocket.
-Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers.
-The shooter should always wear eye protection and never have any part of the body over the firework.
-Stay away from illegal explosives.
National Council on Fireworks Safety
http://www.fireworksafety.com/safety.html

Vehicle Temperature for Pets

Catch up on Facebook

The joys of tea, family, friends, and facebook ... need I say anymore? ♥ 

*Sipping my tea and reading FB's news feed* c(_) *click*

Sun Safety

It's natural to enjoy all kinds of outdoor activities! The Sun Safety Alliance (SSA) encourages you to be safe by following these sun-safety tips year-round to help prevent serious skin damage—and possibly skin cancer—later

• Keep in mind the sun is strongest between 10 am and 4 pm.
• Wear clothing that's dark and tightly woven.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
• Remember that UV rays bounce off sand, snow, concrete, and water.
• Do not use sun tanning beds.
• Keep very young children (6 months or less) out of the sun.
• Sunscreens need to be applied liberally and evenly over all exposed areas.
• Apply a sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or higher whenever you're outdoors.

To achieve adequate UV protection you should use products that provide broad spectrum protection, which means protection against both UVB and UVA rays. For broad spectrum protection, look for products that provide an SPF of at least 15 and contain ingredients like Avobenzone (Parsol 1789) or zinc oxide.

• For children, the SSA recommends sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher.
• Apply sunscreen before going outdoors and reapply often.
• Reapply sunscreen after swimming, perspiring, and toweling off.
• Provide complete sunscreen coverage for your skin (including neck, ears and lips!).
• For people with thin or thinning hair, apply sunscreen to the scalp as well.
And remember stay in the shade whenever possible

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Blessed be the Most Precious Body and Blood
of Jesus Christ...
The Heart will see, if it believe and loves...
At the celebration of Mass;
at every Mass as this very Mass,
the past and the future become the present moment.

 

"Let us ask ourselves this evening, adoring the Christ truly present in the Eucharist: do I let myself be transformed by Him?" Pope Francis

The Latin words ‘Corpus Christi’ mean ‘Body of Christ’. On this solemn Feast of Corpus Christi, we proclaim our belief in the Real presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. As we receive the Body and Blood of Christ, we are not only entering into a deep and intimate relationship with Him, but we are also being built up into the living mystical body of Christ.

"The Solemnity of Corpus Christi - The Body of Christ - is an annual liturgical celebration, for centuries accompanied by a procession, whose purpose is to enable the faithful to draw new strength from the Eucharistic source of life and to proclaim Christ's Real Presence to the world.  This is one time when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, not just to faithful Catholics, but to all the world as we honor Him in a very public way and show our love for our neighbors by bringing Our Lord and Savior closer to them.  Whenever Our Lord is taken outside the confines of His sanctuary home, He changes the lives of all who look upon Him, even those who meet Him for the first time.  As eyes behold Jesus Christ, souls make a connection with the Wellspring of Eternal Life."

When we go before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament we represent the one in the world who is in most need of God’s Mercy." We "Stand in behalf of the one in the world who does not know Christ and who is farthest away from God and we bring down upon their soul the Precious Blood of The Lamb." - Pope John Paul II
"If I can give you any advice, I beg you to get closer to the Eucharist and to Jesus... We must pray to Jesus to give us that tenderness of the Eucharist." -Mother Teresa of Calcutta