Life with Cherie

Faith, Family, Friends

Giving Thanks on Labor Day

I don’t know about you, but I am ready for a break!  That’s how I’ve come to think about Labor Day.  But is that how I want my kids to experience it?

As someone who has continuously held a job for more than 30 years, the same someone who is currently “enjoying” unemployment, it’s hard for me to understand why I’d feel the need for a break this weekend.  And worse, why I’d feel entitled to enjoy this holiday for myself.  But I do!  I’m tired.  Worn out.  Ready to rest.

That’s what got me thinking; Labor Day isn’t just a celebration for employees.  It’s also for the self-employed, the under-employed and the un-employed.  At first, I thought I would offer a devotion, thanking God for the gift of our brothers and sisters who help us get through life.  But then I realized a blanket thanksgiving wouldn’t capture the importance of what I learned today – to lift everyone up for the good that they do.  All of us contribute.  All of us are necessary.

Instead of that blanket prayer, I’d like to call out a few people who might be surprised to hear how important and appreciated they are.

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Photo by Carl Attard on Pexels.com

Ladies at the Des Peres Licensing Office, you are at the top of my list.  Man, you have a tough job!  Most of us, myself included, walk in ready for frustration and a fight. I’ve lived in Missouri for just about ten years.  We’ve moved a few times and, after experiencing other locations, I drive an hour to go to Des Peres instead!

I’d also like to give thanks to the “creative” people out there.  The ones who look at the world, see its needs, and come up with some wild inventions – like blowing hot gas through a tube, running it through some fan blades and creating cold air.  Who thought of that?  Or the light in the refrigerator?  Running water?  Oh, and hot water!  There are so many things we take for granted because they’re common place. Well, it wasn’t always that way.  So this Labor Day, I wanted to thank the people who are “out there” dreaming up the kinds of solutions most of us don’t understand, but will look back on one day and wonder how we ever survived without them.

For those who inspire our minds; teachers, preachers, missionaries, public servants, volunteers…  You’re often the last to be recognized and, considering the hours you work and the importance of your jobs, you need to know – Our minds are indebted to you, our hearts are grateful and our future is in your hands!

Always, we need to remember our service men and women, whether on active duty, retired or deceased.  Not many of us have had to experience what life would be like without the freedom to express ourselves and the opportunity to become whoever and whatever we want to be.  You are often recognized for fighting and protecting us from harm.  This year, I want to be sure we’re also considering that you have given up your own choices in order to preserve ours.

Is there anyone in your world who would be surprised to hear from you this weekend?  Someone who makes your life easier or better for the work that they do? Add to this post and we can look back on this Labor Day as the year we joined together to begin thanking the unthanked.

 

Weekly Workout: Week 2:

Burn fat and tone your body in half the time

There are so many benefits to strength training. Whether you are trying to increase the power and endurance of your body, lose weight, control cholesterol, build bone density, or look good in a bikini… even a 30 minute, weekly session is well worth the effort.

Links: Printable PDF & Full Article

This workout doesn’t require a gym membership,  you can do it at home whenever its convenient, AND it targets several muscle groups in a single move. If you are just beginning to exercise, are over 40 or have a medical condition, talk to your doctor before beginning any exercise.

A few tips on this particular workout:

  1. Completed in circuits NOT rounds – there are three exercises in each circuit.  You should perform each three-exercise circuit three times before moving to the next circuit.  That means you will do three sets of the three exercises in Circuit 1, before you move to Circuit 2.
  2. Pick the right weight – your muscles should be tired by the third set in a circuit, but not to the point where your form suffers or you can’t finish all the reps.
  3. Choose form over speed – these are combination moves, so go slow.  By maintaining good form, you will target the entire muscle and amp up the benefits – including longer, leaner looking bodies.
  4. Focus on your core – with each of these exercises, imagine pulling your belly button backwards towards your spine, and up about an inch.  Breathe normally, but try to keep your abs contracted throughout all reps in each exercise.

Some of these combinations were new to me, so I studied the pictures and focused on the written directions in the Full Article.  If you have a tough time with anything, try it without hand weights or drop one of the two moves in each picture. For example, picture one is a reverse lunge and an overhead press. Choose either the overhead press or the lunge.

Another great workout from Susi May!

 

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Grow an avocado tree from a pit

I can’t believe it worked!! We have an avocado pit that took root.

My husband looooves avocados.  They can be kind of pricey when you live in the middle agriculture-avocado-close-up-997390.jpgof the Midwest, so I got the bright idea of trying to grow our own tree.  If you’ve looked into this, you know there are tons of Pins out there offering advice.  Well, six pits into the effort, we finally got one to take root. Yes, I have a brown thumb, but come ON!  These articles make is sound like it’s so easy.  Ha!  Read on if you want to find out what did work…

Before we go any further, if you are interested in this article because you want to grow your own avocados, you can probably stop right here.  Sadly, I found out that it takes an avocado tree anywhere from 5 to 13 years to begin bearing fruit.  And it also sounds like grocery store avocados aren’t your best bet.  (If you want to know why, feel free to add a comment below.)  For the rest of us, let’s just say it’s not impossible to get an avocado pit from a grocery store to bear fruit, but it is improbable. Oh, and it will take a very long time.

Why I am so excited to have an avocado pit with an itty-bitty root?  Well, for one, it was such a challenge!  Someday, I’m going to look at my little (indoor) avocado tree and think, “Yes, that’s right – even people with brown thumbs can do it!” If they’re willing to try hard enough, that is.  Second, I’m excited because God has blessed me in so many strange and unexpected ways.  Who’s to say that this little pit isn’t a gift?  One that’s meant to remind me that all things are possible through Him.  And besides, you never know! There could be little avocados to come from this someday.

So what’s the secret???  How did we get this pit to root?  Three simple steps:

  1. Take your pit and wrap it in a wet-but-not-dripping paper towel;
  2. Put it into a plastic sandwich bag (leaving the top open); and
  3. Let it rest in a dark cupboard.

Yep.  That’s IT.  From there, just check in on it every two weeks or so to be sure the paper towel is moist.  In just a few months, you too could have your very own avocado “rooted pit.”

Here’s our budding, baby avocado tree next to its temporary home.  Isn’t it cute?!!  Just 10 weeks (and 5 other failed attempts) to get to this point.

IMG_0427-2 IMG_0429 OK, I’m joking about the “cute” thing.  It’s kind of slimy and reminds me of Audrey II, the Venus Flytrap from Little Shop of Horrors.  Feed me, Seymour!  LOL

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Making Cold Process Soap at Room Temperature?

Yes, this can be done and it is actually easier than the usual way of making cold process soap!  Check out the tutorial here.

I’ve been wanting to try some new techniques, but couldn’t settle on what color or scents to use.  Never one to take things one step at a time, I have combined several things in this one tutorial.  As the title says, it covers how to make soap at room temperature.  This is a great idea for those who want to use cold process, but don’t have a way to measure its temperature throughout its cooking time. I’ve also been wanting to make goat’s milk soap, but was intimidated by the need to be extra-careful with temperature control.  Violà, one recipe that allows me to try both techniques at the same time! AND… who can stand waiting 6 weeks to find out how his/her soap turned out?  Not me!!  I’d been reading up on Oven Processing, to speed up curing time. It’s easy to do, but complicated to determine whether its right for a particular soap’s content and style.  Anyway, you guessed it, this recipe will let us try all 3 of these techniques in one batch of soap.

How did I pick the color and scent of the soap we will use?  Well, I have a few friends sampling my Fall Soaps. Someone asked why the pumpkin soap wasn’t orange…

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(it’s the soap at the top left of the picture.)  To her, it looked green.  You probably don’t want me to get into the “why,” but it made the perfect excuse to try out another pumpkin spice recipe!

Want to see how? You don’t have to scroll to the top, the link to the tutorial is copied here.

Happy Soaping!!

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P.S.  Did you want to know why the first soap wasn’t orange? Good question!  And an easy answer… I use organic ingredients in my soap.  The olive oil is extra virgin olive oil, which tends to have a green tinge.  Why?  Because it isn’t processed and it’s as close to the natural olive as any oil you can get.  Given this is soap, there was a LOT more olive oil in the soap as pumpkin purée (5 times, actually).  I’m not surprised she could see the greenish tinge come through.

Luckily, there are a number of techniques to add color to soap naturally.  Sure, they won’t be as bright as the commercial soap we can buy, but that’s because we’re not using artificial ingredients.  😉  And since I wanted to test making soap at room temperature, this was a great opportunity to add some of those natural ingredients to create an orange-er pumpkin soap too!