Lightening Safety Awareness Week: June 24-30th

With an estimated 25 million cloud-to-ground lightening strikes each year here in the U.S. it seems prudent to share some facts from NOAA as it kicks off its 12th annual Lightening Safety Awareness Week. 

 

 

 

Each year, approximately 54 people die from lightening strikes in the U.S.  NOAA shares these demographics from data collected over the past few years:

• 100 % were outdoors
• 76% were men
• 34% were standing under a tree
• 24% were either on or near the water
• Tampa Bay area of Florida is the "lightening capitol of America"

If you can hear thunder, you're in danger of becoming a victim of a lightening strike.  Lightening strikes can occur as much as 10 miles away from the rain area of a thunderstorm.  So, if you've always believed that you're safe as long as you are not out in the rain while it's lightening, you are wrong -- you could be DEAD WRONG!

Here are a couple of other facts you might want to consider:

• If no suitable building structure is available, seek shelter in an automobile with a metal roof.  It is the metal of the car NOT the rubber of the tires that keeps you safe!
• It is safe to touch someone who has been struck by lightening.  Call 911.  Administer CPR and/or first aid as required until the paramedics arrive.

So, while the summer weather is inviting, don't fall prey to a potentially lethal encounter with lightening... BE SAFE !!

Keeping a Weather Eye

While friends and family along the Florida Gulf Coast wait to see where Tropical Storm Debby is headed, other friends in Colorado wait and watch as wildfires destroy the areas they know as home.  My heart goes out to those in the path of fires as well as those who are going through the all-too-familiar hurricane preparation drill. 

Having lived in Soutwest Florida for more than 30 years, I am no stranger to the anticipation of fires and tropical storms.  I am also no stranger to the worry-factor that comes with living in those areas as well as that which comes from knowing others are dealing with the very thing I've left behind.  It was, in part being weather-weary that caused me to seriously consider getting out of Florida's hurricane alley.

Tonight I am keeping a weather eye out... and praying [and worrying] for my friends and family in Florida and my friends in the Colorado Springs area of Colorado.  Most days I am "liking" facebook posts made by those who live in these two areas.  Mother Nature gives them a wide sweeping pallet for their photo-art.  But today, I can't like the photos I'm seeing... I can only send my prayers and keep a mindful weather-eye pealed for any needs that might arise.

Stay safe my friends and family members!  And please do join me in keeping a weather eye -- so that you can remain safe in the path of Mother Nature's fickle ways.

Back In Business !

Okay... I know....
It's been months and months since I last posted here on my blog.
Blame it on the stuff of life.  Blame it on working too much.  Blame it on not sleeping enough.  Blame it on anything you like.  Bottom line, I have been gone from here for far too long.  And it's time to correct that situation.

Therefore, effective today, Lee and Her Muse are officially back in business!  Blog posts will become a regular event once again.  I've missed sharing with my friends and family.  I've missed writing and researching.  I've missed the simple FUN of working a blog on a daily or almost daily basis! 

So, stay tuned... there's more to come !

A Post with a Twist

I'll just bet that you thought I was going to post something about this being Friday the 13th, didn't you?

Well.... I've got something far more interesting than that to share today!

On this day in 1962, Chubby Checker's "The Twist" became a number 1 hit for the second time in two years!  Therefore, today is "Let's Twist Again Day!"  Checker's hit first topped the charts in September 1960. 

Can you name the other hit that managed to log two times on the number 1 hit list? 

Did you dance "The Twist" back in the 60's?  Can you still?  Click here to see it done the way it was meant to be done - by none other than Chubby Checker himself!

Oh!  And by the way.... the other double number 1 hit was Bing Crosby's "White Christmas"

King Cake

King cake has come to be a component of the Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans.  It was introduced by the first French settlers to the area.  But, before that, it's history is rooted in early European tradition.  From the very beginning, king cake meant a sweet treat with a hidden surprise to celebrate a special time of year.  Tradition at that time mandated that the one who found the trinket in the cake would be "king for the year" but then he must sacrifice his life to insure a successful harvest.

Enter religious history and interpretation of the king cake tradition... since the 12th-centry French history, the very same type of cake with a hidden trinket brought only good luck to the trinket's finder.  While some believe the round shape is meant to represent a king's crown, many state that its shape depicts the circular route the Three Wise Men took to find the Christ Child in an effort to fool King Herod.

Generally, the trinket most noted is a tiny baby - intended to represent Baby Jesus.  However, in some cultures, manytrinkets are hidden in the cake.  Here is a sampling of the possibilities along with their meaning if found:

Baby - King or queen who is in charge of the following year's Epiphany Party.
Pea - Secretly you are a prince or princess
Dime - You will be rich
Penny:  You will be a pauper
Thimble:  You will be an old maid
Button:  You will be a bachelor
Ring:  You will marry
Raisin:  You will have wrinkles
Chocolate:  You will be a sweet person
Clove:  You will lead a spicy life

And, if you find nothing in your piece of king cake, well.... Remember God loves you, "blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."  (John 20:29b)


Interested in making your own king cake - either for Mardi Gras or next year's Epiphany Celebration?
Here is one of many recipes you might try:

King's Cake Brioche Dough:         1/2 cup lukewarm water, 110 to 115 degrees 2 packages dry yeast 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 C sifted flour 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind 1/2 cup lukewarm milk 3 eggs 4 egg yolks 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, softened 1 egg, lightly beaten with 1 tablespoon milk dime, dried bean, or miniature doll Sugars: green, purple, and yellow food coloring, pastes 3/4 cup granulated sugar (12 tablespoons) Icing: 3 cups confectioner's sugar 1/4 cup lemon juice, strained 3 to 6 tablespoons water 2 candied cherries, halved Soften yeast in water. Combine flour, sugar, nutmeg and salt in mixing bowl. Stir in lemon peel. Make a well in center and pour into it the yeast mixture and milk. Add eggs and egg yolks, and with a large wooden spoon gradually incorporate dry ingredients into liquid ones. Beat in butter and continute beating until dough forms ball. (Mixing of the dough can be done in a food processor.) Place ball on floured board and incorporate more flour if necessary, by sprinkling it over ball by the tablespoon. Knead until smooth and elastic. Brush inside of large bowl with 1 tablespoon softened butter. Set dough in bowl and turn it so as to butter entire surface. (At this point you can refregerate dough overnight.) Cover bowl and set aside for 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in bulk.  Brush a large baking sheet with remaining butter. Punch dough down on lightly floured surface. Knead, then pat and shape dough into a cylinder about 14 inches long. Place on baking sheet and form into a ring. Press bean or doll into dough so that it is hidden. Set aside again to rise. When ready to bake brush the top and sides of the ring with the egg-milk mixture. Bake King's Cake in middle of oven at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Slide cake onto wire rack to cool. Prepare the colored sugars by squeezing a dab of green paste into the palm of one hand. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of sugar over the paste and rub your hands together to color the sugars evenly. Set aside and repeat process with green, then twice with purple and yellow. (Do not mix sugars.) When the cake has cooled prepare the icing. Combine the confectioner's sugar, lemon juice and 3 tablespoons of water in a deep bowl and stir until the icing mixture is smooth. If too stiff to spread, beat in 1 teaspoonful water at a time, until desired consistency is reached. With a small metal spatula, spread the incing over the top of the cake, allowing it to run down the sides. Sprinkle the colored sugars over the icing immediately, forming a row of purple, yellow, and green strips, each about 2 inches wide, on both sides of the ring. Arrange 2 cherry halves at each end of the cake, pressing them gently into the icing. .

Epiphany - January 6th

Today is "Epiphany"... "Three Kings Day"...

It is the day the Christian church celebrates the vist of the three wise men - Caspar, Balthazar and Melchior.

Epiphany means "manifestation, or clearly made known."  Christians believe that on the day of the wise men's visit, it was manifested, or clearly made known, to the three kings that the baby was, indeed, sent by God.

Christians celebrate Epiphany in many different ways - some listen to Christmas music (especially the carols and hymns that tell the story of the bright star of Bethlehem or the three kings.)  Some attend worship services, while others celebrate "Epiphany Sunday" on the first Sunday after January 6th.  Some choose to spend time with family and friends and do something special for those folks each day.

Some people remove the shepherds from the creche and put in the wise men for Epiphany.  Oft times, the wise men are placed far from the manger before Christmas and moved a little closer every day until at last on Epiphany they reach their destination.

Do you celebrate Epiphany?  If so, how?  On Wednesday night, our church had an Epiphany Celebration.  We enjoyed a lovely dinner together and then learned of many of the traditions that surround the day.  Christmas songs such as The 12 Days of Christmas, We Three Kings and Go Tell It On The Mountain were sung by all.  The Italian Legend of Old Befana was reinacted with a very convincing portrayal of Befana by one of our members.  Three Kings in all their glorious robes and carrying the gifts of gold, franchensence and myrrh processed through the room to draw all who were present into the celebration.  When Befana refused to give them lodging for the night, they headed off, following the bright star in the night sky.

The Blessing of the Chalk which comes from the Catholic Church traditions was ceremoniously performed.  This was something I'd never heard of before and found most interesting.  Small pieces of chalk wrapped with green yarn are placed in a basket and blessed by the clergy.  Then, parishoners take home a piece of the blessed chalk so that they can write the year and the initials of the three kings each number or letter separated by a cross over the entry way.  This year, the inscription looks like this:  (+20+C+M+B+12+).  Not only does it stand for the current year and the three kings, but also for the Latin Christus Mansionem Benedicat (May Christ Bless This House).

Lord God of heaven and earth, you revealed your only-begotten Son to every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless this house and all who inhabit it. Fill us with the light of Christ, that our concern for others may reflect your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Befana

So....  last night (January 5th) was "Twelfth Night" - the night before Epiphany.  Based on an old Italian legend, Twelfth Night is the night that Old Befana visits the children of Italy.  Traditionally, almost all Italian children expect to find a lump of coal - "rock candy" made black by caramel - because they've surely been bad at least once during the year!

Popular tradition tells that if one sees La Befana one will receive a thump from her broomstick, as she doesn't wish to be seen. This aspect of the tradition may be designed to keep children in their beds while parents are distributing candy (or coal) and sweeping the floor on Epiphany Eve.

In the commonly told Christian legend of la Befana, the story starts at the time of the birth of baby Jesus.  Befana spends her days cleaning and sweeping. One day the magi, also known as the three wise men, came to her door in search of baby Jesus. Befana turned them away because she was too busy cleaning. Befana notices a bright light in the sky; she thinks this is the way to baby Jesus. She brought some baked goods and gifts for baby Jesus in her bag and took her broom to help the new mother clean and began her search for baby Jesus. She searched and searched for Baby Jesus, but never found him. Befana still searches today, after all these centuries. On the eve of the Epiphany, Befana comes to a house where there is a child and leaves a gift. Although she has been unsuccessful in her search, she still leaves gifts for good young children because the Christ Child can be found in all children

Another Christian legend takes a slightly darker tone as La Befana was an ordinary woman with a child whom she greatly loved. However, her child died, and her resulting grief maddened her. Upon hearing news of Jesus being born, she set out to see him, delusional that he was her son. She eventually met Jesus and presented him with gifts to make him happy. The infant Jesus was delighted, and he gave La Befana a gift in return; she would be the mother of every child in Italy.