Happy Halloween…and the 1,2,3’s of Food Allergy Safety!

Have a great time tonight Trick or Treating and be Safe!!!!

The Swedish Farmer's Daughter

Halloween fun of trick or treating can become a real life horror story very quickly for a child with peanut, nut or other food allergy.  Food allergies are life-threatening.  It only takes a very small amount of an allergen to start a dangerous allergic reaction. For example, shaking hands with a person who has just eaten shrimp, or someone who has nut oil residue on their hands can be a trigger. Yes, kissing someone who has just devoured a Snickers Bar, can  kill a person with a peanut allergy.   Even smelling brewing hazelnut coffee can cause a deadly reaction.

I saw on television that there is food allergy awareness and safety campaign involving teal pumpkins. Bully!!!   I hope many people will participate and have provided some useful tips to help you keep all of those little treat or treaters and party guests food allergy safe.

1.    For a food to be in fact “safe”…

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Just Saying: Obituary for Decency….Meanness Runs Amok!

Decency died the week of June 17-23, 2018 from neglect and abandonment.

Sadly, its long decline and demise went unnoticed by those who profess to love it the most.  The cause of death is communicable and was determined to be from gross impoliteness.  This contagious epidemic is most often found in the not able to mind my own business, because I know what’s best for everyone divisive and nihilistic ideologies.

Decency is survived by hypocrisy, self-absorption, arrogance, grandstanding, rudeness, hate, meanness, mob violence and many bullies and ideologues.

It was preceded in death by respect, kindness, acceptance, tolerance, selflessness, manners, polite conversation, open exchange of ideas, and patriotism.

Decency will be missed by all who cherished its memory.

Behavioral change in lieu of excuses and escalation is requested.

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For those of you who do not read Grandma Pat’s Thor Stories, you will find that each creative action story is used as a teaching moment to encourage young people become good humans and not just another animal in the jungle.

The latest story,

Thor Stories: The Fence….Nothing Is Harder to Defeat Than Grandma and Minnesota Gophers

 

provided rules for acceptable behavior so simple children can understand them.

So, help bring decency back from the dead!  Learn about it and teach it to your children.  You will be amazed at the difference it makes at home, school, work and in public.

Grandma’s Rules of Acceptable Behavior:

1.  Treat everyone just like you, yourself would like to be treated.
2.  Be respectful of your elders and others.  Always say please and thank you.
3.  Kindness like cleanliness pays.
4.  Be responsible and take responsibility.
5.  Always be honest with your words and actions.
6.  Don’t use bad words, unless you like the taste of soap.
7.  If it isn’t yours, it is not yours.
8.  When you want something, work for it.
9.   Don’t pick your nose.
10. Be thankful to God and count your blessings.
11. Never, ever, pull Grandpa Walter’s finger in grandma’s presence.

Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Just Saying: Freedom is More Important Than Feelings….Defending Bill Maher and Free Speech

Well the train for tit for tat destruction of free speech is barreling full steam ahead this today.  Yesterday, Roseanne Barr and the entire cast of her show lost their jobs over words.  Today, it is Bill Maher.

Yes, Roseanne’s tweet was disgusting, hurtful, childish and racist, but that should really not surprise anyone as the woman has made an entire career out of having a big mouth and using it.  Roseanne could be the poster child for what James wrote in the Bible about an uncontrollable tongue.

James 3: 4, 5,7 

^“4 And look at ships! They are so big that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the helmsman directs.

⁵ In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it can boast of great achievements. A huge forest can be set on fire by a little flame…..For all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be or have been tamed by humans, ⁸ but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil filled with deadly poison.”

Roseanne has apologized for her tweet, but, in the interest of eternal victim outrage and a total lack of social graces, apologies no longer mean anything.  They have become merely an admission of guilt, not evidence of a contrite heart and mind, or acceptance of the responsibility of fault.  Today, punishment with no forgiveness or redemption is the penalty for offending the non-judgmental.

It seems to me, that if Roseanne had been the Biblical woman at the well under sentence of death by stoning, when the Lord asked the crowd that whoever had no sin to cast the first stone, instead of the mob recognizing their own imperfection and dispersing, they would have rapidly fired stones at both the poor woman and Christ.

To be perfectly clear, Roseanne Barr is a role model for no one.  I do believe there are consequences for actions.  I do not feel sorry for her losing her job, but I do for the rest of her show’s cast.  They are not the first people whose jobs were unjustly lost because of words in a country governed by a constitution that protects free speech.  They won’t be the last. Many other people have been in the headlines for job loss due to speech. A few years ago it was Bill Maher.  This morning’s headlines of people wanting him fired are deja vu all over again.

I do on occasion watch the Bill Maher’s show.  I think he is a smart man.  I do not think that Bill Maher and I would ever be friends.  We are very different people. Should I ever meet Bill Maher, I have every reason to expect that we would both just stare at each other with a raised eyebrow as we slowly shake our heads.  I know that if he ever read this blog, my quoting of Biblical scripture would irritate him

I also know that he called President Trump an orange orangutan.  I know for a fact, that the president has been called far worse.  I really doubt that Bill Mahr’s colorful ape reference is the insult that is going to get the President’s undies in a bunch.  My outrage is not whether or not Mr. Maher likened the president to a primate, but that anyone would even think Bill Maher did not have the right express himself, or would try to punish him for stating his opinion.

I rarely agree with anything that Bill Maher says or thinks.  However, where Bill Maher has my unequivocal and total support is in his right to and defense of freedom of speech. I have seen him, on his show, defend the free speech of people he cannot stand and that have opinions with which he vehemently disagrees.

Bill Maher understands that it is an absolute necessity for free-speech to be protected for a society to remain free.  You protect your own freedom to speak when you stand up for everyone’s freedom of speech.

So, to all of those folks who are all hot to take away Mr. Maher’s job, because Roseanne Barr lost hers, I ‘d just like to say…hold on there!   If you really truly believe that Roseanne unfairly lost her job, I have to ask, “Since when do two wrongs make a right?”  How is taking away anyone’s freedom of speech going to protect your own?  The Bill Mahers and Roseanne Barrs of this nation have every right to say what they want whether me, you or the man in the moon like or not.

I cannot help but think that stupidest quote ever from any movie, “Love means never having to say your sorry” has become the communications goal for our nation.  The freedom of speech baby has been tossed out with the politically correct bath water, and a civil right came in a distance second to hurt feelings.

Self reflection is good for a person and for a nation.  So now would be a great time to ask whether feelings are more important than freedom?  The answer is a resounding….NO!

And remember:

1.  Never write, email, text or tweet anything that your grandmother could not read.

2. Sticks and stones may break your bones, but names will never hurt you!

Just saying….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Careless Words–Deadly Consequences

I was cleaning up my blog and reorganizing some posts today and stumbled across this post. After re-reading this blog, I have come to the conclusion that times do change only to remain the same.

Every time I hear a supposedly “peace-loving” human talking about starting or joining any type of “revolution”, I just shudder!

Yes, careless words have deadly consequences. Revolutions are the are the deadliest spillers of blood in human history.

Revolution has nothing to do with peace, or social justice. It is the very definition of tyranny. People that shout for revolution are declaring that they have no wish for dialogue with anyone with a different viewpoint, their minds are closed, and that they support cultural, social and physical genocide. For that is what a revolution is…cultural, social and physical genocide. Revolutions = massive bloodshed.

When people shout “Revolution!” they are not in any way shape or form “cool”, mature, loving, rational champions of the peaceful ideals of Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement, or a nonviolent supporters of peace and reconciliation. For a call for revolution is always a call to hate and hurt. These folks are not leaders that anyone should follow. Obviously they are dumber than rocks about the history of revolution and have no respect for any opinion or life other than their own.

A person that calls for revolution has no interest in de-escalation or in bringing people together. While they may have never heard, they certainly have never learned that, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1)  However, they have proved that, “The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.” (Proverbs 15:2).  

Bringing people together is the only way to successfully implement commonsense solutions to so many of the challenges that face our nation and world. Including protecting the lives our fellow citizens of every age, race, gender and creed from violence.

The people that stand before television cameras calling for revolution remind me of one of my former students…she was three-years old.  She wanted her way and I said no. She stomped her foot and crossed her arms and began to have a wonderful tantrum. She then threatened that if she did not get her way, she was going to hold her breath!

As the adult in the room her threat made me grin. Then, in a very quiet calm voice I looked her in the eyes and explained that if she wanted to hold her breath, that would be fine, but here’s what will happen. She’d pass out and when she woke up, the first thing she was going to see would be me and I would still be telling her no.

What our nation needs right now is far-fewer revolutionaries and many more adults.

Just saying…..

The Swedish Farmer's Daughter

Words can be loving, tender, soft, kind, gentle, calming, peaceful, truthful, false, wise, foolish, heated, cruel, offensive, hurtful, hate-filled and violent.   Words motivate, educate and manipulate.   Words are powerful things.

No great revolution or societal upheaval in history began with weapons and guns…they began with words. Divisive and dehumanizing words.  Words that lifted up some at the expense of others.

Obviously, we have not learned that lesson from history, for today words such as: hater, godless, nazi, racist, bigot, thug and any number of racial terms including propaganda based phobias are constantly being used to bully and shame.

Furthermore, we live in an age where truth, as defined by God in the ten commandments as not bearing false witness, and the truths revered by our nations founding father’s as self-evident, “that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of…

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What Is On My Mind Today? The Obama Portraits….Where’s Waldo and the Many Shades of Grey

 

What is on my mind today? The portraits of Michelle and Barack Obama.

The President’s reminds me of a where’s Waldo picture and I have to find the one cannabis leaf. I haven’t found it yet. Still looking, because I bet there’s one there.

This quest of mine is more of a reflection of my sense of humor and myself as an artist than the former president.

Michelle’s makes me mad. Here is a woman who was our nation’s first lady of African decent and who has the most gorgeous brown skin and she’s painted grey. Grey!  What an awful thing to do to a wonderful strong role model for young black children. Especially, when so many young girls spend their entire lives trying to escape being many shades of grey.

It has not escaped my notice that white skin has taken a beating lately, but since when did black cease to be beautiful?People, it’s a sad thing when you lose your colors….especially the really bright vibrant ones….It is a shame when the only color on a portrait of a woman of color is the yellow, pink and red stripes of her dress…..just saying…..

What Is On My Mind Today? Happy Birthday Abraham Lincoln!

 

Yeah, it is Lincoln’s birthday! I know you all have special plans to honor this tall dark quiet man who put country before self and despite all odds, won the Civil War, kept our nation whole and took a bullet to the head because John Wilkes Booth, knew that Lincoln would eventually give the vote to former slaves.

Maybe we could use him as an example of a hero instead of the Kardashians. Just saying…..

Lincoln, Lincoln I’ve been think’n you’re so sad and I’ve been drink’n…..

Just saying: There Is No Such Thing As Humanity Without God and The True Meaning of Christmas

 

Humans are as unique in the animal kingdom as Christianity is among world religions. Evidence strongly suggests that humans are fundamentally different than other animals. I believe that our very uniqueness as a species indicates the existence of God.  It seems to me that humanity as a concept for higher moral behavioral traits can only exist if humans were created in the image of a higher power. Without God there is no humanity.  For we would no longer be a unique creation, but would be no better, no worse, no more special than any other animal. We would not understand mortality.

Without a moral soul from God there would be no right or wrong…only survival of the fittest.  Our sole focus would be to do whatever it takes to obtain our next meal and propagate the species. Nothing would deter the violent methods needed to be successful at either of these two tasks.

There would be no such thing as a conscience.  You couldn’t afford to have one anymore than a lion, tiger or shark can afford a conscience.  The softer human traits like love and kindness would have been evolutionary death sentences.  Just like any other animal on this earth, we would merely be another link in a food chain where only the strong survive.

Of course, if here is no God there would be no need for religion. However, even the earliest humans sought out gods and practiced forms of religious rites. They had burial ceremonies for their dead and offered sacrifices to either win favor or appease gods. So seriously did they seek out gods, that not only human, but child sacrifice was commonly practiced throughout the world. In some cultures on a massive scale. A rather counter-productive evolutionary trait.

Generation after generation, culture after culture, religion after religion, humans have sought out gods.  In all of the other religions of this world people seek God. Only in the Christian faith does God seek people.

The God of Christians does not ask for sacrifice, he asks for obedience.  What does he require of us? Jesus summarized all of the commandment’s into two.  To love God with all of our heart, soul and mind, and to love one another as we would like to be loved.

The Christian God does not ask for sacrifice from us, he sacrificed for us.  In the birth of his only son Jesus Christ in Bethlehem over two millennia ago, God sought to save us, just because he loves us.   John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

God seeking us is the true meaning of Christmas. Sadly, if you don’t learn about the birth of Jesus the Christ and ask him into your heart you are missing out on the only part of the holiday season, and life, that brings real joy and peace.

Jesus is the Christ in Christmas.  Without him all you are doing is having one big commercial gift exchange.  Great for the economy, not so great for our world or your soul…..just saying.

 

 

 

Beware and Be Warned: Food Allergy Alert!!!…Peanut and Nut Contamination in Cookie Sprinkles

Food allergies can be and are sometimes fatal.  They are a life-threatening health problem for millions of people and must be taken seriously.

As a person with severe allergies myself including a peanut and nut allergy, I always read labels.  When I began my Christmas cookie baking this morning, to my surprise, many of the decorative cookie sprinkles, some brands I have used for years, now carry a nut warning.  Yes, a “tiny”  exposure to nut-contaminated sprinkles could be life-threatening to the severely allergic!  This includes multi-colored round beads and all of the sugar sprinkles made by Wilton and several off-brands.

 

As you bake and decorate goodies this holiday season remember the 1,2, 3’s of food allergy safety:

1.    For a food to be in fact “safe”, it cannot contain, been manufactured, prepared with or come in contact with other foods that contain the allergen. That, would include a person distributing  treats having their hands touching candy or cookies containing the allergen, then providing an allergen-free treat without first thoroughly washing their hands. This includes just touching the candy wrappers.

2.   A treat is not “safe” if it is packaged with “unsafe” treats.  Safe treats cannot be in the same package or combined in the same bowl with unsafe treats.  For example, if you purchased a bag of miniature candy bars and separated them into bowls of those with nuts and those without nuts, you have failed in your mission to provide a safe treat. They were potentially contaminated when packaged and are unsafe for the allergic person.

3.   Read labels!  Excellent label reading skills have prevented many a trip to an emergency room or worse.  When purchasing or baking a treat, if the label says , “Made in a factory with nuts,” even if the food item itself does not appear to contain nuts, it cannot be safely consumed by anyone with a nut allergy, and that includes peanuts. Never be offended if a guest, family member, friend, child or parent asks to see a label or recipe. They know what they are looking for and are only interested in enjoying their time with you and avoiding a health emergency.

4.   Know what is in the treats you are distributing and any foods you are serving. This rule applies to both home and professional cooks. Many baking ingredients, such as chocolate chips, are made in factories that also process nuts.  Even some frozen pizzas come with a warning that they may have been contaminated with nuts.  Also, check out what types of hygiene products you provide for your guests or customers. There are nut oils in many lotions, shampoos, hair sprays and soaps.

5.   Ask!  Waiters, waitresses, chefs, hosts and hostesses need to ask if their guests have any allergies to food. Pay attention and take it seriously. Remember that not only are they allergic to the food itself, but anything that food has touched…your hands, pots, pans, utensils and counter tops.  Dishes and silverware used for someone with food allergies should be washed separately from those that for example have peanut butter residue on them.

6.   Your best friend…is your Epi-pen!  Anyone that has a severe food or bee sting allergy needs to keep their Epi-pen with them at all times!  It does absolutely no good, to leave it at home.

7.   When in doubt….do not eat it!  There is not food product on this earth that is so delicious that it is worth risking your life for it.  If you do not KNOW that a food item is safe, DO NOT eat it.

Nobody wants to kill or be killed by Christmas cookie.  Well, maybe if they are of a murderous intent to begin with, or have no self-control and take overindulgence to an entirely new level, but definitely not from Anaphylaxis.  I hope that everyone has a happy, safe and food allergy reaction free holiday season!

For a more detailed blog on food allergy reaction prevention read:
Cooks Take Food Allergies Seriously!

 

Recipe: Noodle Knocking, Nursing Home Romancer and a Whole Lot of…Sugar Cookies

After reading today about Matt Lauer and Garrison Keillor getting fired for sexual harassment, I have decided that what this country needs is a whole lot more uncompromising grandmothers, hat pins and canes!  Or, as was the case in our family when a young woman reached dating age, a Great Uncle Ed that would make her a “noodle knocker”.

This device was a small oak baseball bat that could fit into a purse or backpack and was used to knock upside the head (the noodle) any male that crossed the line. If you did not have a “noodle knocker” a well aimed fist could and should be substituted.

Grandma Esther strongly insisted upon hat pin, noodle knocker and cookie baking expertise. This recipe for sugar cookies is really the best.  Actually, I made them yesterday.

Day before yesterday, my little three-year old neighbor boy asked me over the backyard fence, very politely, if he could have some cookies. He is a brave little lad as both of my hundred plus pound German Shepherds were barking him. They wanted to be petted through the fence.

It was then, to my horror, I discovered that Grandma Pat was out of cookies. I couldn’t even find my emergency child stash in the freezer. (My husband later confessed to having found and eaten them.) I did give my little neighbor some homemade bar cookies, but that is just wrong for kids. Kid cookies require either sprinkles or chocolate chips.

This generational family recipe for sugar cookies is always a great Christmas favorite. They look wonderfully festive when covered with bright holiday sprinkles.

Enjoy!

The Swedish Farmer's Daughter

Aunt Esther, known as “Little Esther; Grandmother Esther and Aunt Hilda

For a while when I was in college I lived with my Great Aunt Doris.  Aunt Doris was a very kind soul and spent many hours each week voluteering to care for patients in our local nursing home where my Grandmother Esther resided.  One day Aunt Doris came home just chuckling.

It seems that in her youth my grandmother had garnered quite a bit of interest from young fellows and had more suitors than just grandpa.  As it turned out one of those fellows, who had been sweet on her so many years ago, was also a resident at the same nursing home. He was quite happy to see her and had been chatting her up and frequently tried to secure a seat at the same dining table during meal times.

Grandmother Esther was a very polite woman blessed with…

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Just Saying: Another Open Letter To Senator Al Franken…Hugger vs Groper!

Dear Senator Franken:

I have read your “full statement” as printed in the Pioneer Press responding to multiple sexual harassment and abuse complaints.

Senator Franken’s full statement:

“I’ve met tens of thousands of people and taken thousands of photographs, often in crowded and chaotic situations. I’m a warm person; I hug people. I’ve learned from recent stories that in some of those encounters, I crossed a line for some women — and I know that any number is too many. Some women have found my greetings or embraces for a hug or photo inappropriate, and I respect their feelings about that. I’ve thought a lot in recent days about how that could happen, and recognize that I need to be much more careful and sensitive in these situations. I feel terribly that I’ve made some women feel badly and for that I am so sorry, and I want to make sure that never happens again. And let me say again to Minnesotans that I’m sorry for putting them through this and I’m committed to regaining their trust.”

Your statement is another attempt to defend your actions, while offering excuses for your inexcusable behavior choices. You did not “hug” these women…you groped them.  This is not a warm heart issue, but a warm wandering hands issue. There is never anything appropriate about any greeting or hug that ends with uninvited hands on a woman’s butt cheek, breasts or anywhere else on her person. This is not about “some” women’s perceptions of “encounters” with you.   It is about your abusive actions.

Please, please let this be photo-shopped.

After having posed for that picture where you are feeling up the breasts of a sleeping woman, it is time to ask yourself if you really can continue to be a respected and effective member of the United States Senate.  For example, should the people from Alabama elect Judge Roy Moore to the United State Senate, and the sexual abuse accusations against him prove true, would you accept a statement mirroring your own from him?  I would hope it would be rejected. However, as an a adult male who, only two short years before running for the U.S. Senate, abandoned all common sense and the moral high ground for a quick laugh at the expense of a sleeping woman, you have forever forfeited any right to question anyone’s maturity, sense of judgment or to condemn others regarding sexual harassment and abuse of women.

It seems that you are a bit like Scarlett O’Hara, in the movie, “Gone With the Wind.” In the scene where Rhett Butler finds her drunk and feigning grief over the death of her second husband.  Scarlett didn’t fool him for a second.  She didn’t care a wit that her actions resulted her husband’s death, but cared a whole lot about what was going to become of her.  Rhett sums up Scarlet’s performance by telling her, “You’re like the thief who isn’t the least bit sorry he stole, but is terribly, terribly sorry he’s going to jail.

After so much dishonor, any redemption of your reputation lies not in a legally-approved public relations statement, but in doing the honorable thing. It is time to take complete responsibility for your actions and set a powerful example for other sexual harassers and abusers to follow by actually putting the welfare of your victims before personal ambition.

Senator, you have been caught with your hands on the “cookie jar”, and it is time to pay the piper.   Resign!

Just saying…..