"All right Mr. De Mille, I'm ready for my close-up!"

Salad from the garden

We grow the most beautiful and nutritious greens in the garden. Most get fed to Chopper but about once a week we put together a big salad with low fat dressing to share over dinner.

Radishes

Here are the radishes that I picked from the garden today. Love that purple one! Most of what we harvest is given to family, friends and coworkers. Today's bunch is going to Patrice. Chopper will be eating radish tops for dinner along with some red bell peppers. It's much cheaper to grow our own greens for him and I know they are organic.

Backyard Visitors

Now that the weather is warmer, the animals like to spend time on the porch watching the birds at the feeder and bird bath. Sometimes they get a visit from a friend. Chiquita stopped by to say hello today. She's a bit camera shy. Chiquita's mom is our neighbor Stephanie.

Updated Dump Cake

Dump cake made with yellow cake mix and cherry pie filling has been around forever and it's certainly a favorite in our home. (Although it's so high in fat and sugar that we don't get to enjoy it very often!)

I'm cleaning out the freezer this week and I found 2 bags of frozen wild blueberries that I needed to use up. I wanted something quick and easy and Dump Cake was the first thing that came to mind. French Vanilla cake mix was the closest thing to yellow cake mix that we had in the pantry. It turned out to be wonderful.

Updated Dump Cake

1 large can crushed pineapple, undrained
1 can cherry pie filling
3 cups frozen wild blueberries
1 box French Vanilla cake mix
2 sticks of butter (1/2 cup) chilled and cut into small pieces
1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (325 for glass baking dish).

Dump undrained crushed pineapple baking dish 9X13" pan or glass baking dish and spread it out evenly.

Top with cherry pie filling, spread with a spoon. Dump frozen blueberries on top and spead them out evenly.

Sprinkle cake mix over these payers and dot evenly with butter pieces. Top with nuts.

Bake for 50-60 minutes. Let it cool a bit before serving.

A Chopper Runs Through It

Chopper runs through the house with his favorite toy, the wrapper from a tube of Ritz Crackers. Last night we had a 2 hour game of "keep away" between Chopper and the kittens. Somehow the wrapper managed to survive intact. I have $$$ worth of animal toys and THIS is how they entertain themselves!

Novena for the Salvation of Souls and the Conversion of Sinners

NOVENA FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS
AND THE CONVERSION OF SINNERS

O JESUS, Thou didst suffer and die
that all mankind might be saved
and brought to eternal happiness.
Through the Agony of Thine Crown of Thorns
I offer it to Thy Eternal Father
that Thou wilt hear our pleas
for further the grace of final perseverance
for the just and mercy on sinners:

My dear parents and grandparents,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

My brothers and sisters and other near relatives,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

My godparents and sponsors of Confirmation,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

My spiritual and temporal benefactors,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

My friends and neighbors,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

All for whom love or duty bids me pray,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who have offended me,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who will offend me,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who have suffered disadvantage of harm through me,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those whom I, still a sinner, will offend,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who are especially beloved by Thee,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those whose death is near at hand,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who desire most to be united to Thee,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who endure the greatest sufferings and trials,
especially spiritual torments,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those whose death is most remote,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those sinners have no one to pray for them,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who are most deserving
on account of their services to the Church,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

The rich who do not need Thee and are thus the most destitute,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

The mighty who spurn Thee,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

The spiritually blind, that they might see their folly,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

The frivolous, who spend their time in idleness,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

The poor, who do not seek the treasures of Heaven,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

The tepid, who devote little time to prayer,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

The indolent, who neglect to perform good works,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those of little faith,
who neglect the frequent reception of the Sacraments,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

The habitual sinners,
who require for their salvation to a miracle of grace,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Parents who fail to watch over their children,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Superiors who are not solicitous
for the salvation of those entrusted to them,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who strive for worldly riches and pleasures,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

The worldly minded,
who fail to use their wealth and talents in the service of God,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who witness the death of others,
but do not think of their own,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who blaspheme and commit sacrilege,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who violate the dignity of the human body
and mind through impurity,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who sin because of my sins and bad example,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who do not provide for the life hereafter,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those whose judgment will be severe
because of the great things entrusted to them,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

The pope, kings and rulers,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

The bishops and their counselors,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

My teachers and spiritual advisers,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

The priests of this diocese,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

The priests and religious of the Catholic Church,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

The defenders of the holy Catholic Faith,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who die on the battlefield,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who fight for their country,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who will be buried in the sea,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who are to die suddenly, in accidents and from other causes,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who will die of heart attacks,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who suffer with cancer,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who suffer with AIDS,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who shall die without the last rites of the Church,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

Those who shall die within the next twenty-four hours,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

For Catholic apostates, heretics, and other unbelievers,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

For Catholics who hold Masonic membership
or in other secret societies,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

For the conversion of the Jews, Thy chosen people of old,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

For abortionists and those who aid them,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

For women who seek abortions,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

For those who promote or practice contraception,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

For those who give scandal, especially to children,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

My own poor soul when I shall have to appear before Thy judgment seat.
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

PRAYER

Final perseverance and pardon grant unto all of these, O Lord;
and let Thy graces through these petitions
flow unto them and be fruitful.

Amen.



http://www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/novenas/p04340.htm

http://www.catholictradition.org/Christ/thorns1.htm

New Find For The George Foreman Grill

Many thanks to fellow Jersey Sister LadyDee who told me about all the flavors of Mrs. Dash. I was under the impression that there were still only two types of Mrs. Dash, salt and salt free. LadyDee set me straight! My new favorite is Onion and Herbs but I like all the grilling varieties as well. (Steak, Chicken, and Hamburger)

Since I am trying to lose weight, I love boneless chicken breasts on the George Foreman Grill. I usually make up different kinds of low fat marinades and let the chicken sit overnight in the fridge. Sometimes, it's too much of a hassle or I need a meal in a hurry. Now I throw on some Mrs. Dash.

Sadly, I can't find any on these newer flavors in the Valley. Thanks to my mom, who sent me a box from New Jersey over the holidays, along with the Lipton Ginger Twist Tea that you can't find here either.