The Art of Backroad Travel

“Travel does what good novelists also do to the life of everyday, placing it like a picture in a frame or a gem in its setting, so that the intrinsic qualities are made more clear. Travel does this with the very stuff that everyday life is made of, giving to it the sharp contour and meaning of art.” – Freya Stark

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From the Country Roads of Iowa

Even the brown fields of Iowa are beautiful right now - in their own way. There is something calming about the drive up and down the country roads. The numerous (and I do mean exceedingly numerous) little prairie cemeteries are much more visible when not hidden by crops and leafed out trees. It is a stark reminder of just how difficult life was for the early settlers of this land.  We owe these pioneers so much!

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National Raisin and Spice Bar Day

Today, April 5th, is National Raisin and Spice Bar day.  Here again, as posted last year, is my favorite Raisen Spice Bar recipe.  Perfect with a glass of cold milk or fresh coffee.  Enjoy!

Raisin Spice Bars
· 1 cup raisins
· 1 cup water
· 1/2 cup shortening or veg oil
· 1 cup sugar
· 1 egg, slightly beaten
· 1 3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
· 1/4 teaspoon salt
· 1 teaspoon soda
· 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
· 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
· 1 teaspoon ground allspice
· dash ground cloves
· 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

PREPARATION:
Combine raisins and water in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in oil; cool to lukewarm. Stir in the sugar and beaten egg. Sift together dry ingredients; with a wooden spoon beat into the raisin mixture. Stir in chopped nuts. Pour into a greased and floured 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Bake at 375° for 18 to 24 minutes. Cool in pan then cut into bars. If desired, dust with confectioners' sugar. Makes about 24 bars.

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Happy Easter!

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Saturday Morning Coffee

Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world.
~Virgil A. Kraft

We're taking to the road today – heading south into Iowa just to see what is in bloom down there. We will drive the country roads and the narrow streets of small towns checking gardens and trellises for any show of spring.  Should be a nice Easter weekend.

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Google and the 205th Birthday of Hans Christian Anderson

Today Google is celebrating the 205th birthday of Hans Christian Anderson by using 5 different very neat  doodles from the story of Thumbelina.  Even if you have nothing to search for, go to google.com to see these doodles.  Click the doodle to move through all five of these sweet little scenes. 

H. C. Andersen was born 205 years ago today on April 2, 1805 in Odense, Denmark. He passed away on August 4, 1875.

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A Prayer for Good Friday

"We thank Thee for the knowledge of Thy love that forgives our sins; may we reflect it today, seeing only the best that is in others, that we may be kind all the day through.  Enable us to 'serve' and to 'give'. -- for Thine is the power and the glory forever.  Amen.

From God's Minute - A Book of 365 Daily Prayers Sixty Seconds Long for Home Worship (Copyright 1916 by L.M. Cross)

Morning Coffee

Strange how a cup of coffee can represent at the same time

the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company. ~Unknown

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