DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

    La Mercè, Patron Saint of Barcelona     The legend goes that on the night of 24 September 1218, the Virgin appeared simultaneously to King Jaume I, Saint Pere Nolasc and Saint Ramón de Penyafort. She asked all three to create an order of monks dedicated to saving Christians imprisoned by the Saracens. It was the time of the wars of religion.     Centuries later in 1687, Barcelona suffered a plague of locusts, and placed itself in the hands of the Virgin of La Mercè. Once the plague had been overcome, the Council of the City named her patron saint of Barcelona. The Pope did not ratify this decision until two centuries later, however, in 1868. The Origins of The Annual Festival    After Pope Pius IX declared the Virgin of La Mercè the patron saint of the city, Barcelona began to celebrate a festival in the month of September. La Mercè really took off in 1902, when under the impulse of Francesc Cambó, the festival became the model the those that are currently held all ov

Sweet And Salty: Salted Caramel Chocolate Fudge Cake 201 I’m starting to notice that I have become a wee bit of a chocolate enthusiast these days: dark chocolate, extra-dark chocolate, and sometimes even-more-than-one-kind-at-a-time chocolate. I know that sounds like a stating of the obvious, but, in the big scheme of things, that’s a new thing for me. I have always been a vanilla, or even white-of-any-kind dessert girl, and would never think to eat chocolate anything, if there was a vanilla, or the like, option. A cake girl, though, well that I’ve been since birth, so, of course, vanilla cake with vanilla icing was always on the top of my list. But I remember things like white cheesecake (never chocolate), carrot cake, lemon & poppy seed cake, apple cake with fresh whipped cream, crepes, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, strawberry pie, sugar cookies, shortbread, bread pudding, cruller and even white powdered donuts (I know, I know . . . but I was a kid, and it’s an obligatory

    In Irish folklore, the Banshees are known as the ancestral spirits of the Fairy world. Their history extends way back into the dim and mysterious past.     Banshees are among the oldest Fairy folk of Ireland, associated as strongly as shamrocks and potatoes. Banshees, also known as Bean-Sidhe, were appointed to forewarn members of Irish families of impending death. Her prescence alone brings no harm or evil, but to hear a Banshee in the act of keening is to have witnessed the announcement of the death of a loved one. The Banshee's wail pierces the night and its notes rise and fall like waves over the countryside.     It is said that Banshees never appear to the one who is to die but to their loved ones. In times gone by she was seen washing human heads, limbs or bloody clothing until the water was dyed with blood. Over the centuries this image changed. The Banshee now paces the land, wringing her hands and crying. Sometimes she is known as the Lady of Death or the Wo

Peanut Butter & Marshmallow Sandwich Cookies If you are PB lover then you need to add this peanut butter cookie into your repertoire. Seriously. what’s better than a one bowl cookie? How about a four-ingredient, 20 minute peanut butter recipe, to include, making the cloud of marshmallow frosting to float at the center as well. And since it is flourless that makes this a gluten-free peanut butter cookie. What the freak? The holiday cookie marathon just ended and here I am proposing cookies? Well, you’re talking to someone who sort of feels the same way about cookie baking right now, but trust me, grab your bake sheet. As I mentioned these are fast and easy but along with that—holy bee-jezus, these were a hit. My little guy who has no sweet tooth devoured this with his buddy. And I tend to believe kid-approved recipes are the hardest to come by, you know with all their picky-ness and such. I’m fortunate my little guy isn’t picky, but he’s doesn’t have a swee

   This was found at  www.marthastewart.com  .  Pretty cool!   For that person who doesn't want to wear a costume or even something to wear at work without all of the makeup and dressing up.  It's sure to get a cool reaction. Rib Cage T-Shirt   A few strategic cuts transform a simple white T-shirt into a skeleton-inspired Halloween costume. Complete the look with spook-tacular  Exposed-Bone Jeans . Tools and Materials Front rib cage  and  back rib cage  templates Scissors or craft knife Tape White T-shirt Cutting mat Repositionable adhesive spray Small (18 mm) rotary cutter Fabric scissors Black T-shirt Rib Cage T-Shirt How-To 1. Print  front  and  back  rib cage templates. Trim first page on solid line and match to dotted line on second page; tape together. 2. Pinch front of white T-shirt at center of neck and pull forward, lining up sleeve and side seams, to create a fold down center front of shirt. Lay T-shirt flat on a

   Every October, carved pumpkins peer out from porches and doorsteps in the United States and other parts of the world. Gourd-like orange fruits inscribed with ghoulish faces and illuminated by candles are a sure sign of the Halloween season. The practice of decorating “jack-o’-lanterns”—the name comes from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack—originated in Ireland, where large turnips and potatoes served as an early canvas. Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America, home of the pumpkin, and it became an integral part of Halloween festivities. The Legend of "Stingy Jack"    People have been making jack-o'-lanterns at Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed "Stingy Jack." According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn't want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin tha

I need to know something…how come when our kids are little and they tell us “no” we find it unacceptable.  I shouldn’t presume to think that you are the same way, so please forgive… But, when MY children don’t want something…say  lasagna  for dinner, they say, “no, I don’t want that”.  Or if I ask them if they want to wear the blue shirt for school and they say, “No”… I get agitated.  I want them to say yes..to be agreeable…but when kids don’t want something they don’t hesitate to let you know. I am sure that I was the same way as a child. But somewhere along the way I, as I am sure many of you, turned into a “Yes” person. Would you please bake 3,000 cookies for a  school  function?  Umm, sure yes. Can you coordinate this event that is going to take you weeks and weeks and hours and hours? Sure, why not! I need someone to practice my knife throwing skills at, can you help? Ok, I’ll be right over. Now I should say no, no and hell no.  But I say yes.  And comp