Cathy Burnham Martin's Blog, page 45

Flag Waving

This week, National Flag Week in the USA, is a time to pause and recognize the greatness of this nation and its people. The 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies, and the 50 stars represent the 50 states. The color red stands for valor and bravery. The white stands for purity and innocence. The blue stands for vigilance, perseverance, and justice. Our flag represents all our people and all our political ideologies.

There are some who would scoff and shriek that our flag should not be celebrated. Thankfully, there are many more who understand, appreciate, and respect the dedication, hard work, and sacrifices that have built and defended our rights to live as free Americans. Despite the blatantly negative political climate and pervasively ongoing divisiveness, I am still a believer in this little American experiment in democracy.

While some Americans fear our best years are behind us, far more are unwilling to simply give up and give in to the status quo. These are the courageous. These are the patriots. These are the often-everyday heroes… those who are willing to stand up in the face of threats, lies, and social injustice to call on us all to do better… together.

Millions continue to flock here, not because we are falling, but because hope still lives here, despite our drastic imperfections. Even in our toughest times, freedom shines more brightly here than in many other nations’ best days, never mind current times of struggle. Though I hold the highest respect for those who have made the sacrifices necessary to come here legally and put in the work to become US citizens, I also understand the plight of the millions who desperately scramble to enter illegally. However, sympathizing does not mean their pathway should be hastened nor smoothed.

We are a nation fully built by wave after wave of immigrants. People hoping for a chance or an opportunity. People seeking a hand-up, not a handout. When we listen to the words of immigrants, we learn that when they earn the right to become citizens, they will proudly vote for the ideals that make us strong. Permitted to think and act freely, they will shock naysayers and defiantly vote against anything that even smacks of socialism. They will vote to reduce the powers of government and to preserve sanity in our constitutional republic, rather than fall in line with alarmists who point at patriots as democracy destroyers.

Immigrants have often escaped from nations that standardly weaponized judicial systems, canceled freedoms of expression, and rigged opportunities to feather their own nests. These are people who rightfully abhor powers that manipulate and force people into whatever convenient “boxes” the leaders choose to keep people dependent upon the very government that restricts them. These are people who believe in America and are proud to be here, even if all they have is the clothing on their backs. We are these people.

What made our nation strong were overwhelming beliefs in God, family, community, and work ethic. Neighbors helped neighbors, but we shunned government handouts like the plague. We may have had no money and often no country to which to return, but we refused to surrender our dignity, passion, and belief in positive possibilities for the next generations that will follow us.

We learn to gratefully celebrate what makes this nation the historically amazing country it is.  We rightfully cherish our citizenship and never take lightly the citizenship process nor its responsibilities. We respect others’ right to agree or disagree with our beliefs, just as our Founding Fathers did with each other, as they stood together strongly and proudly for what was right.

We believe in America. We come here to be Americans. We are proud to be Americans, even before we earn our American citizenship. We are rightfully leery of democracy destroyers who point accusatory fingers at democracy defenders. We thank our veterans, first responders, and all who have sacrificed and all who continue to sacrifice in the name of freedom and liberty. We honor our flag and all that the “Red, White and Blue” represents. May we all have a thoughtful and proud National Flag Week.

Making Life Beautiful

June 11th is National Making Life Beautiful Day. This is a day to celebrate people who make life beautiful by building relationships or helping others achieve success. This is also an opportunity to put a smile on someone’s face.

 

“If we’re not meant to have midnight snacks, why is there a light in the fridge?”— Unknown

“Always remember that you are unique – just like everybody else.”      — Unknown

However, some days it’s not as easy as others to smile at ourselves, never mind laugh. Maybe you could use a little boost of encouragement today. So, here are some words of wisdom from tennis great, Serena Williams.

“A champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall.”

— Serena Williams (1981 – )
American Champion tennis player

Try to have a beautiful day by making it a bit more beautiful for someone else.

 

Faithful

 

“It is better to be faithful than famous.”

— Theodore Roosevelt (1858 – 1919)
26th U.S. President

Play Time!

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.”
— George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)
Irish playwight

Soulful

“The most beautiful people wear their hearts on their sleeves and their souls in their smiles.”

— Mark Antony (Marcus Antonius) (83BC – 30BC)

Roman politician & general under Julius Caesar

Ahhhh, Compassion

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

— Dalai Lama (1935 – )
14th Buddhist spiritual leader

See the Beauty

 

“I don’t think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains.”

— Anne Frank (1929 – 1945) Celebrated German-born Jewish diarist,
noted for documenting life in hiding from the Nazis with her family in an Amsterdam attic

National Cheese Day

For National Cheese Day, you can celebrate with your favorite cheese and crackers or a charcuterie board, or a great grilled cheese sandwich.

I will also suggest a terrifically tasty Roasted Cream Cheese. (Yup… BBQ grill or oven.) You can serve it up in soooo many ways, you will love this for the summer and beyond.

 

 

Roasted Cream Cheese
1 pkg cream cheese
Olive oil spray or melted bacon renderings
Favorite BBQ dry rub seasoning

Open the cream cheese block, keeping it on the foil wrapper. Spray oil (or brush bacon fat) on top and all 4 side edges. Then liberally sprinkle the seasoning over the fat. Use the foil wrapper to invert the cheese, seasoned side down, onto an oil/fat coated spot in an oven- or grill-safe container (such as a pie plate). Use a sharp knife to cut ½“-deep, angled slices across the top. Turn the pan a bit and cut another row of slices, creating a crisscross pattern. Spray or brush oil or bacon fat on the cut side of the cheese and liberally sprinkle with BBQ seasoning. Bake in 275°F oven (or closed grill) for 30-45 minutes.

Use this as a base for a fabulous bacon-caramelized onion jam, or drizzle it with a favorite Thai sweet chili sauce or a hot sauce, or simply serve it as is with crackers, warmed Naan dippers, or anything else! You can also totally mix this up by replacing BBQ seasoning with blends that deliver a totally different taste treat…. Try an Italian herb blend, or Asian spiced sea salt, or Everything Bagel Seasoning. Ooh-la-la! You can also garnish the roasted cheese with toppings that work with your seasoning, such as warmed marinara for your Italian herb blend. Another treat is a favorite chutney and a generous sprinkling of crumbled, cooked bacon. The options are endless!

Steak Out!

 

June is National Steakhouse Month… ooh-la-la!

 

 

 

 

I can taste a perfect steak right now. Bits of crispy yumminess on the outside and tantalizingly tasty succulence inside. Little is more mouthwatering than the intoxicating aromas that waft from the sizzling steaks on a great steakhouse grill.

For the very best flavor, texture, and healthy beef, choose your favorite place that serves top quality, grass-fed, hormone- and antibiotic-free steaks. Welcome to summer… a perfect time to celebrate the art of the great steak!

Ahhh, Truth!

“The trouble with too many people is they believe the realm of truth always lies within their vision.”

— Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
American statesman; 16th President 1861-65; assassinated following Civil War