Pay it Forward

"By how do we define a human being? There are a number of traits that distinguish human beings from other forms of life. One of the distinguishing features is that man has the ability to do chesed (acts of loving-kindness). Man can do for others even at the cost of his own comfort. With the exception of pets who may adopt human traits, animals are incapable of sacrificing themselves for the benefit of others. No tiger has ever left over a carcass so that a hungry jackal might have food.
All living things act in their own interest. Man can be unique in one of two ways. (1) He can sacrifice his personal comfort in order to help others. (2) He can alter his character so that other people's discomforts become his own. Even if one does not achieve the latter, the minimum criterion of humanity is to be able to set aside one's own comfort for the benefit of others."

Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski published these words in the Jewish World Review
His words brought me back to a Friday afternoon right after the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina. At the time I was the editor of community newspaper "The Windmill". Diamond Bar High School Counselor Tisa Shavers asked if the paper could be at the school the following Monday. Members of different groups on campuses within the Walnut Valley Unified School District would be phoning over the weekend. They hoped to raise $20,000 for the American Red Cross.
There was no one available to assign, so I took on the story myself. Arriving at the high school late that morning, it was clear that expectations had been exceeded. The "press prop" check tallied $51,000. However, by the time it was presented, the check was outdated. Over $68,000 was raised by the time the story was written later that day. In the words of Tisa Shavers, " Americans are the most generous people on earth."
The photo above was taken at the lunchtime pep rally. The joy is palpable. Not from anything those kids received. From what they gave. They "paid it forward".

Pay It Forward Challenge.
So it was a happy circumstance when on one of my favorite blogs- http://sitteninthehills64.blogspot.com/ was posted: "Here's a chance to get a surprise from me, on a surprise date, in the next 365 days. I'm responding to this through Rachel's Blog: Sliding Through Life....Some lovely surprise will be coming from her to me in the next 365 days....!"

And now, I offer the same chance to you. The first three bloggers who let me know they want "to play" Pay it Forward: send me a note and offer the same opportunity to their readers, and sometime in the next 365 days, I will send the first 3 responders who follow these simple "rules" a gift- from me. If I don't know the contact info needed for me to do my part- you can send a note over as "anonymous" and I will read it without posting. Have fun!

Flavor Begins With Color

In March, thousands of kumquats hang from the tree. Not much bigger than quail eggs, their bright orange shapes fill the tree like stars in the Milky Way: too many to count.
I sometimes leave the window nearest the kumquat tree open so even inside I can enjoy the chattering of hummingbirds enjoying a rest within the protection of the kumquat’s twiggy branches. They chirp in auditory dashes and dots. In this avian Morris Code, they sing out an hallelujah chorus. The search is over. No need to wander in search of Eden. Food, water, shelter: all their needs are abundantly met here.
These darting darlings are not just beautiful winged acrobats. They are as practical as they are ornamental. They eat aphids and fruit flies. As they swoop in to flowerbeds to drink in sweet nectar, they pollinate the flowers they visit. The tiny hummingbird comes by this tenant of a very good life without effort. It gives back, without thought of reward, at least equal to what it receives.

The kumquat tree is an excellent choice for home gardens in temperate zones. Situated in a narrow side yard, mine thrives despite benign neglect. It doesn’t need more water than the red apple on the adjoining neighbor’s yard. Their bougainvillea frequently reaches up across the property line fence. The thorny stray arms embrace the fruit laden branches. It is a colorful lesson that some rules are wonderful when broken, Who knew hot pink goes so well with orange. It does in nature.
For many years, we picked the kumquats and popped the oblong fruit whole in to our mouth, never certain when we bit down, if the squirt would be predominantly juicy sweet or vividly sour. No matter, this fastest of food always delighted as it nourished.
And this single tree, which as it reaches towards its 30th birthday is only one story tall, always provides more than enough to share both with visiting wildlife and neighborhood children.
Kumquat Marmalade is not the fastest of recipes to make. But it is a worthy way to slow down. There is a gift that comes from being intimately more involved in the process of actually making the food eat. It slows us down so that we can appreciate the details that prove effort is rewarded. The clarity of color in homemade marmalade promises a fresher taste, without the unappetizing bitterness associated with what is found on the supermarket shelf.
While the instructions on the pectin read that marmalades can take up to two weeks to thicken, I have made this version three times and been able to use immediately and for months afterwards with equal success.
Kumquat Marmalade


Sterilize jars and new 2 part lids by running through the dishwasher. Try to time the cycle so they are still warm when the jam is ready to go in the jars. The preparation and cooking takes about an hour.
2 cups chopped kumquats

Wash fruit. Cut in quarters, removing seeds. Rough chop until you have enough. Set aside.
2 oranges
Wash. Grate the zest.
Remove the pith from fruit and chunk up the segments
Add oranges and zest in to the kumquats.
1 cup orange juice
6 1/2 cups sugar
1 pkg. Certo Liquid Pectin
In a large pot (6 quarts or so) stir in the fruit mixture, juice, sugar and Certo Jell. Over medium heat, stir until the mixture comes to a boil that cannot be stirred down.
1 Tbsp. Butter
1/8 tsp baking soda
Stir in. Lower the heat and simmer for twenty minutes, stirring occasionally. Ladle in to sterilized jars up to level or slightly above with the bottom of the thread marks on the jars. Wipe the rims with a clean damp cloth or wet paper towel so that any drippings will not affect the seal, which is very important to prevent dangerous spoilage.
The pot to sterilize the jars must be full of boiling water deep enough to cover the jars plus an inch or so. Put the lid on and allow the jars to simmer for 10 minutes.
The jars at this point will be vey fragile. Lift carefully and place on the counter where cold drafts won’t break jars as they cool overnight. As the seals compress, you will hear a little popping.
Here are the warnings that while rare, you need to be aware of. Any jar when touched after it has cooled where the lid does not suck down tight needs to go in the refrigerator to use right away as this indicates the seal is not airtight. If a lid on a jar you open has any “give” before breaking the seal, toss the whole thing in the trash.
In 25 years of jam making, I have only had to refrigerate a couple of jars right away and only had to toss one. So it is rare, but worth noting.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOE

Moe turned 42 today. A Chimpanzee, he isn't with the couple he loves most: Jim and La Donna Davis. He's living in an animal preserve near San Bernardino.

Moe can't be with Jim and La Donna Davis because in the summer of 2005 other chimps mauled Jim. In the attack, the renegade chimpanzees ripped off his nose, an eye, most of his fingers, both testicles and much of the flesh from his buttocks and face and left foot, leaving him near death when he was rescued.

It wasn't expected that he would survive. But he has. That was the first miracle. Another miracle:his mind is clear. But unable to return to work, the former stock car racer and auto body shop owner racer have fallen on very hard times. Left badly disfigured, Jim and his wife have been grateful to the doctors and staff of Loma Linda Hospital who have often volunteered their services. However, as anyone who has had their life so critically interrupted will tell us, medical expenses are not the only expenses one has to meet at such times.


This Saturday, March 8th at 2 PM, a benefit concert featuring Eleanor "C-Pass" Jones will be held at the Dean's Swim Club, 1010 Overlook Ridge Rd, Diamond Bar, CA 91765. 100% of proceeds will go directly to help Jim and La Donna with their daily living expenses.

The cost of the event is only $20. Checks can be made out to Jim or La Donna Davis and may be paid at the door. If you would like to make a donation in lieu of attendance, please make checks or money orders payable to Jim or La Donna Davis and mail to C-Pass Enterprises, Inc., P.O Box 2418, Inglewood, CA 90305.

For a preview of the talented Eleanor Jones- please go to www.c-pass.biz

Hugs and Thank yous to Al Rumpilla for the information on this event. Jim and La Donna are lucky to have you as a friend.

Invocation

Our Father in Heaven,
We dedicate these words to those who make this gathering tonight possible in the most special way. To those who have volunteered to serve in our military. Past, present, future.
Bless this gathering of Your children. Be with us, our families, our elected and appointed officials tonight. We pray that we all honor You in how we choose to participate in the political process in this free nation.
We are humbled by Your generous blessings to us, the people of these United States. Tonight we choose to especially thank You for the great fortune that we live in this great Country, where individual freedom is normal. A land where we can assemble to worship freely, or not, according to the convictions of our conscience. Where the exercise of intellect and political convictions is encouraged. Where education is guaranteed. We thank you that we are alive now, in this great time when the content of our character is more important than the color of our skin. A time when men and women alike have equal opportunity to excel. We pray that we never take this for granted.
Lord Grant all of us wisdom as we consider thought, word and deed during these historic times. Guide us to the courage to do what is right when it is not the same as what is easy.
As is the custom of my faith, I offer this prayer in the name of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

This is the text to the invocation given at the Diamond Bar Republican Women Federated earlier this week. More important than it embodies what I believe, these few paragraphs, woven together the last hour before the gathering, express what is so good in this nation and the gratitude I pray is in the hearts of my fellow countrymen. It isn't bad that there is a great divergence of political opinion in the people of this nation. It is bad if there is not goodwill for each other and for the Nation.

Magnolia Soulangiana

The maiden landscape of the still virgin year slumbers at the end of its winter’s nap. Dark with life-giving moisture, the heavy gray flannel clouds are tucked in at the horizon until nature’s alarm, the storm, startles spring awake by first unleashing her frigid dank breath.
The wind shakes apart the blankets that separate earth from sky. The rain is snapped loose in torrential sheets. Swirling currents of air rip branches bare of stubborn leaves that clung on past their beauty.
Undressed by the storm, the blandly colorless branches of Magnolia Soulangiana quiver in their nakedness. Her branches reach upwards, spread wide in supplication for mercy from the nighttime’s winter chill.













The necessity of stripping away the old accomplished, winter’s temper immediately gives way to its nurturing soul. At the moment the tree is denuded of last year’s encumbrances, the promise of springtime is born. On every finger tips of newly bared branches sprout cabochons of darkly royal amethyst buds. From these a constellation of tulip shaped 4” blossoms explode in velvety shades of magenta.
For the next month, the regal presence of this single moderately sized tree will hold court over the awakening garden. Then the flowers will begin to fade then fall. Along the nubby knuckles, smooth ovoid leaves that tender shade of yellowish green which appears when branches are young and supple, will color in the tree’s silhouette. By summer densely packed leaves will lushly shade the interior branches from the harshness of the summer sun.
Throughout the year, a scattering of blossoms will peak over the ends of verdant branches. But it is now, when the glorious pinks and purple blossoms are displayed in one glorious and extravagant welcoming gesture, in contrast to foreboding skies displayed when this tree declares itself as a reminder of the awesome grace of God.
Even on darkest days, He provides beauty, hope and home.


Look in the branches. Tucked in out of reach of predators is a nest. Try as I might, never will I be able to decorate a home more beautifully than He did for these creatures of His.

Do What you Love

According to hairstylist Shannon Morris of Jose` Eber Salon in Beverly Hills, Brooke Hogan is "soo sweet". Here, Brooke models the hairstyle created for her by Shannon for the 2008 Grammy Awards. The style is elegant and classic, a dramatic accompaniament to Miss Hogan's statuesque beauty and the old Hollywood glamour of the deep purple mermaid dress she wore for the evening.

The satin dress was made in Florida for Miss Hogan, but a mix up in shipping delayed its arrival until the day of the event.

Shannon was always interested in the beauty industry. It was no surprise that after graduating from high school, Shannon chose to go to beauty college. Her talent landed her an assistant's position with an established hairdresser in Beverly Hills.

An unfortunate event- a fire where she was working- turned in to a opportunity- when she then moved to work in the famed Jose' Eber Salon. That level of success only happens when you love what you do, have a passion to be the best and have a grateful heart.

Shannon can sometimes be seen here in the greater Los Angeles viewing area as part of the Good Day LA Knock Knock Makeover team. I'm not a big fan of television, but there is something charming about a team of top beauty experts donating their time to make an every day person in to Cinderella.

Shannon is easy to spot when she's on-camera during the segment. She's the one who looks like a movie star.

Sunsets and Roses

"When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator"
Mahatma Gandhi



"One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon- instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today."
Dale Carnegie



The first two photographs are courtesy of my husband, Gerry Plunk. All were taken in our backyard.