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Gorgeous Fall trees line this country road.
I love just about everything associated with Autumn. The chilly weather, pumpkins, the colors of the Fall foliage, Fall-scented candles, decorating for Halloween and Thanksgiving, putting away my summer clothing and getting out my favorite lightweight sweaters, long-sleeved shirts, boots and my scarves. Fall is my favorite time to cozy up with a warm fire, warm food, warm drinks and a good book.
Autumn is one of the most gorgeous times of the year. The falling leaves are truly breathtaking. When I drive down a street and there is a riot of deep oranges, reds and golds at the top of the trees, I just want to stop and admire the beauty of Mother Nature.
The sights and scents of Fall feel like a warm embrace. The candle scents of Fall just make me feel happy, like Apple Cinnamon, Pumpkin Spice, Vanilla Latte and my most favorite scent of all, Grandma's Kitchen, which is a blend of Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie and Pecan Pie. I love it when my home and workspace smell like fresh baked pies.
This tree looks like a fireball in the Fall.
One of the main reasons I enjoy living in Louisville is the beauty of the four seasons. Everything comes alive with vibrant colors in the Spring and Fall. I never tire or fail to be taken aback by the colors of nature when the seasons change. It symbolizes hope, new beginnings, renewals and change. And the glorious power and beauty of God.
As I drive around the city, I am in awe of the gorgeousness of the Fall leaves. If I find a street with a bunch of strikingly beautiful trees, I will drive down that street as often as possible. I am stunned by the deep saturations of the colors of Fall. I feel like it's a slight to God to not marvel at the beauty He has created for the enjoyment of our eyes.
After being in this city for nearly three decades, I still marvel at the wonderous colors of Autumn each and every year.
THE COLORS OF FALL
When I was a little girl growing up in Los Angeles, my dad wrote me weekly letters from Chicago.
In some of those letters, he would write, " there's a whole different world beyond those mountains, baby. A world where there are changing seasons." My Dad would send me fall leaves in the mail so I could see all the colors of Fall.
In southern California, there aren't many deciduous trees. It's pretty much the same year-round. The palm trees do not change color or shed their palm fronds in the Fall. There is no explosion of colors in the trees. It wasn't until I moved to Louisville in my mid 20's that I finally experienced a true Fall and all the wonder that it brings. So, let the pumpkin-carving, apple-picking and most especially, the leaf-peeping, commence.
Happy Fall, ya'll!
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Purple, plum, and red leaves adorn these lovely Fall trees.
DAVID JAMES 11/18
GEOFF WOHL 11/30
HAPPY WORK ANNIVERSARY!
1. Where do turkeys go if they want to dance?
Answer: The Butter Ball.
2. Can a turkey fly higher than an ostrich?
Answer: Yes, because ostriches don't fly.
3. What is the favorite food of mathematicians for Thanksgiving?
Answer: Pumpkin Pi.
4. What would you get if you crossed a turkey with a ghost? Answer: A poultrygeist.
5. Why was the Thanksgiving soup so expensive?
Answer: It had 24 carrots.
6. Why didn’t the cook season the Thanksgiving turkey?
Answer: There was no thyme.
7. Why did the farmer run a steamroller over his potato field on Thanksgiving Day?
Answer: He wanted to raise mashed potatoes.
8. What do you get when you cross a turkey with a banjo?
Answer: A turkey that can pluck itself.
9. What kind of weather does a turkey like?
Answer: Fowl weather.
10. Why did the scarecrow win the Nobel Prize?
Answer: Because he was out standing in his field.
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly is a Council Chronicle series that offers a glimpse at unusual stories in the news around the world. They are intended to provoke thought, inform and elicit a range of emotions from joy, outrage, anger, amusement or hope. These are a summary of stories worth knowing. Each month we will feature a story of the Good, the Bad & the Ugly around the globe. If you come across a news item that falls into any of these categories, please email it to me for possible inclusion in the monthly e-newsletter.
THE UGLY
MOM WITHDRAWS FUNDING FOR STEPSON’S CAMP AFTER HE INTENTIONALLY DESTROYS HER DAUGHTER’S PRIZE POSSESSION
A woman shared an incident in her household involving her daughter and stepson that she found unsettling. She lives with her husband, her 12-year-old daughter, and her 16-year-old stepson. Her daughter is disabled and the only thing that she truly enjoys is collecting stickers since the child has limited mobility. The mom also wrote that her stepson has been really looking forward to summer camp. For this reason, the woman had been saving up the money and already gave 80% of the amount needed while her husband added 20%.
The stepmom changed her mind about funding the little creep’s stepson’s camp after he got mad at her daughter and took revenge on the disabled child over a misconceived notion. The stepson asked his stepsister to borrow her camera to take to camp. The little girl said “no.” The boy became angry and complained to his parents but was told that if his stepsister didn’t want to lend him her camera, he would have to accept her decision.
The teenager was incensed and decided to retaliate against the younger, disabled stepsister by ruining the most precious thing that she owned. He and his friends stole the girl’s sticker collection, doused them with motor oil and burned them. After his stepmom found out what he had done to her daughter, she told the boy that she was withdrawing her funding of his summer camp, so he wouldn’t be able to go. The boy was devastated, cried, and apologized, but the stepmom did not waver in her decision. The husband found out about all of this and said that his wife was overreacting.
The dad said that this would ruin the relationship between his wife and his son. He wanted to punish the little $#%& by taking away his electronics for three days. The woman’s daughter was devastated by the purposeful destruction of her beloved sticker collection. The poor little girl was inconsolable. She cried for days and refused to talk to anyone.
The mom asked readers in the online forum if they think she overreacted in the way she handled this unconscionable behavior by the entitled stepson.
I find so many things disturbing about this incident: 1.) A 16-year-old boy who exhibits emotionally abusive behavior toward a younger, weaker, disabled girl. Who’s to say this abuse has not or will not escalate to physical abuse? 2.) The teen obviously has entitlement issues because he felt that he deserved to use his stepsister’s camera and even asked the parents to make her give him the camera. 3.) I’m sure that this is not the first time he has bullied this child. His reaction was too extreme. He’s spent a considerable amount of time thinking of the best way to make that little girl suffer.
The stepdad’s nonchalant reaction to his spawn son’s abhorrent behavior should be cause for great concern on the wife’s part. The mom should be worried about her daughter's and her own safety with that boy under her roof. It's probably just a matter of time before he retaliates against them both in a bigger, far scarier way. When that happens, his dad is likely going to minimalize his behavior again and refuse to discipline him in a significant way.
That kid needs to get some therapy before he progresses to physical violence when he doesn't get his way. He needs to learn that there are repercussions for your actions, you don’t always get what you want in life, and no one is entitled to anything in this world. Prisons are full of people who react the way he did to being told “no.”
Lastly, the mom should make a plan with a lawyer for her daughter's care, in case something happens to her. This incident illuminates the fact that her daughter shouldn't be left in the care of her husband or his son because it's evident that the child won't fare well with them as her caregivers. Perhaps a trusted family member or friend who will treat this child in the loving and thoughtful manor that she deserves?
What are your thoughts on this incident? How would you respond to this type of egregious behavior from a teen in your home?
Photo taken on this pup's 2 year "Gotcha Day" Anniversary.
Before & After Rescue Dog Transformation
Who can resist a heartwarming makeover, especially when it involves a sweet dog? Whether they were abandoned, lost or mistreated, these down-on-their luck dogs were in dire need of a loving presence in their lives. That's where caring animal shelters, pet rescues and foster parents come into the picture. With lots of love and much-needed TLC, these rescue dogs started thriving — inside and out. These before-and-after transformation pictures speak for themselves. Hopefully, it will inspire you to adopt a rescue pup of your own.
BEFORE:
This poor puppy was in very bad shape before she was rescued and adopted into a loving home. It's painful to look at the picture of this fur baby in this condition but knowing that there's a happy ending in her future helps lessen the pain.
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Her coat began to fill in nicely after a bit of time and care. This is the day she was adopted into her forever home.
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Now, look at this sweet girl and her gorgeous mane after finding her forever home.
Love, nourishment and care have transformed this baby into a healthy, happy, and beautiful puppy.
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Please consider adopting a pet from your local animal shelter or a pet rescue if you have room in your home and heart for a new furry family member. Trust me, you'll be so glad that you did. 🐾❤️
In the last few years, we have all experienced new challenges that have affected our mental, physical, and social well-being. Many of us have felt tired and stressed, which is why wellness and self-care are more important than ever before. Our wellness journey is an ongoing one, and we have to prioritize our emotional and physical health. Here are some ideas to care for the many dimensions of wellness, so we can nourish our bodies and nurture our minds.
WEEKEND WARRIOR EXERCISE LOWERS THE RISK OF PREMATURE DEATH
We all know how important exercise is for good health, but with our busy schedules, finding the time to work out is often difficult. For many of us, the weekend is the only time we can get to the gym, go for a run or meet friends for a brisk walk.
Exercise guidelines suggest that adults should do at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise (or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise) a week for good health. But debate is growing around the issue of whether or not you can still get the benefits of exercise if you squeeze it all in on a weekend (weekend warrior) instead of spreading it throughout the week.
Weekend warrior exercisers had a 30 percent lower risk of premature death from all causes compared to inactive people. Risk of death from cardiovascular disease was also around 40 percent lower, while risk of death from all types of cancer was around 18 percent lower compared to those who were inactive.
Of course, regularly active people have the best health overall and have a five percent lower risk of premature death from any cause compared to weekend warriors. Research suggests that the more exercise you do, the more beneficial it is to your health. But this is only true up to a certain extent because studies show that doing more than five times the minimum recommended weekly activity, about 12.5 hours of moderate exercise, or six hours of vigorous activity, has no added benefits.
Establishing healthy habits is a challenging but important part of maintaining your wellness. Small actions and simple activities like these can make a big difference in your holistic health. The holistic approach to health care focuses on the health of the entire body and mind and not just parts of the body.
Side-Eye Pics are a series of photographs of people or animals behaving strangely or annoyingly. They are doing things that make one pause and take a second look. Their actions are perplexing enough to those observing them to earn them the side eye.
Gobble, gobble! This has to be on a NYC subway train.
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS, 11/6
ELECTION DAY, 11/8
VETERANS’ DAY, 11/11
WORLD KINDNESS DAY, 11/13
THANKSGIVING DAY, 11/24
DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING (METRO HOLIDAY), 11/25
BLACK FRIDAY, 11/25
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY, 11/26
CYBER MONDAY, 11/28
GIVING TUESDAY, 11/29
NATIONAL DIABETES MONTH
LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH
NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
1. The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted for three days.
2. There was no turkey served at the very first Thanksgiving with the colonists and Native Americans.
3. In 1939, Thanksgiving was celebrated on the third Thursday in November.
Majestic Turkeys
4. Americans prepare 46 million turkeys each Thanksgiving.
5. 88% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving.
6. Only male turkey's gobble.
7. The Butterball turkey talk line gets 100,000 calls each year at Thanksgiving.
Thanksgivng Dinner
8. The typical American eats 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving Day.
9. An estimated 50 million pumpkin pies are devoured every November in this country.
10. More than 32 million people go Black Friday shopping.
Black Friday Shoppers
Chicken Marsala with double mushrooms
In celebration of the start of the Fall season, the Council Chronicle will feature meals that will warm you up from the inside out on a chilly evening. These recipes are guaranteed to satisfy your craving for cozy weather comfort food and keep the whole family happy and well-fed this Autumn.
CHICKEN MARSALA
This Chicken Marsala recipe has double the mushrooms for mushroom-lovers, like me. Serve with creamy polenta or mashed potatoes for a delicious fall dinner.
INGREDIENTS
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1/4 cup flour
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1 teaspoon salt
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1/2 teaspoon pepper
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1 3/4 pounds chicken breasts, boneless & skinless
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2 tablespoons olive oil
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1 tablespoon butter, more as needed
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1 lb. mushrooms (cremini, portabello, shiitake, button), sliced
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1 large shallot, finely diced (or sub 1/2 a red onion)
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3 cloves minced garlic
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1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or thyme (or both)
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Salt and pepper
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1 cup chicken broth
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3/4 cup dry Marsala wine
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1/2 cup heavy cream (or half and half)
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Flat-leaf parsley for garnishing
INSTRUCTIONS
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Mix the flour, salt, and pepper in a bowl (or place in a large zip lock bag).
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Cut the chicken in half widthwise, so each piece is no thicker than 1/2 inch thick. You can also pound the chicken down to under 1/2 thick, then cut in half.
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Heat oil and butter in an extra-large skillet over medium-high heat. Cast-iron works great here. Dredge each piece of chicken, shaking off excess, and carefully place in the hot skillet, searing each side until beautifully golden, 3 minutes on each side. Don’t worry about cooking the chicken through, just focus on getting a nice golden crust. Set aside on a plate.
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Lower heat to medium. Add one more tablespoon of olive oil and butter to the pan. Add the mushrooms and sauté 5-6 minutes. Add the shallot, garlic, oregano, thyme and season with a five-finger pinch of salt and pepper. Keep sauteing until the mushrooms release their liquid and begin to brown slightly.
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Add the chicken broth, Marsala wine and heavy cream, scraping up any browned bit. Simmer gently uncovered for 12-15 minutes, over med or medium-low heat, letting it thicken and reduce, deepen in color. It won’t be thick sauce- just thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
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Taste and adjust salt and pepper to your liking.
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Add chicken to the Marsala sauce and simmer another 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
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Sprinkle with parsley and serve with mashed potatoes or polenta. Enjoy.
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YUM!
PLEASE.
TRUTH BOMBS are described in the urban dictionary as surprising but true statements. A fact or piece of knowledge that, when told to a listener, is devastating to the listener's argument or world view.
New Yorker Seth Phillips has gained a cult following for his truth bombs that protest anything from loud engines, phones that shatter easily, “x” in espresso, and other very specific, small things that add up to our daily lives. He has a whopping 7.5 million followers on social media. Phillips has gone mainstream enough that the fast fashion giant Zara has capitalized on his popularity by selling "Dude With Sign" shirts in their summer collection.
And, of course, there’s always something new to protest. Such as, hot coffee in summer or verifying you’re not a robot online. The Council Chronicle will now feature these truth bombs in each edition. Those of us who have had enough of everything will get a chuckle out of this series.
Gratefuls
Start a "Gratefuls" tradition if you have not already done so. Have each person at the dinner table share briefly what they are most grateful for, especially the children. You will learn a lot about each other and what you all hold dear. This is an opportunity to share vulnerable moments that will be remembered and cherished forever. You can also teach the kids to be grateful by example and inspire some meaningful conversations this Thanksgiving Day.
Thanksgiving National Dog Show
Not everyone is big on Thanksgiving football, but luckily there's another option for dog lovers. The National Dog Show famously airs on Thanksgiving Day and is back this year. Watch your favorite breeds strut their stuff in the show, pick a favorite and the family member who picks the winner correctly will get first pick of dessert or leftovers.
Giving Back
Gratitude is an integral part of Thanksgiving, and one way that can be expressed is by giving back. Have each member of your party collect the canned goods in their pantry or buy canned goods and bring them to your gathering. Together you can make a donation to a food pantry that makes a difference in the lives of others who may be struggling to feed their families this holiday season.
Take a Fall Foliage Tour
During some holiday downtime, take a fall foliage drive to see the gorgeous colors of nature that surround you. Get the kids out of the house, off their phones and electronics and drive around admiring the leaves before they fall to the ground.
Make Mulled Cider
Cool November days call for something hot and sweet to warm you up. Try making mulled apple cider. It's the perfect cold weather drink and can be made with or without spirits.
Share Family Stories
Ask the eldest members of the family to share old family stories. It's a nice oral tradition that keeps the memories of your ancestors and their legacy alive.
Bring Out the Old Family Photo Albums
Check out those old family pictures of holidays long past. You can all laugh at the outdated clothing and hairstyles in the old photos. Marvel in the changes time has brought to everyone's appearance. Look at photos of family members who are no longer physically with you but are there in spirit.
Put a New Spin on Turkey Leftovers
A tradition my family enjoys is gathering the day after Thanksgiving to all work together to transform the leftovers into a completely different meal. We make the most delicious Turkey Tacos with the leftover bird. Instead of reheating the same boring turkey dinner all week, consider making something new and different with those leftovers.
LOL
KEVIN TRIPLETT 11/4
CHERYL WOODS 11/6
CHARLES WEATHERS 11/7
SUSAN HUGHES 11/9
RICK BLACKWELL 11/19
DAVID JAMES 11/22
SCOTT REED 11/22
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL OUR NOVEMBER BABIES!!!
Stephen and Becky Ott.
What makes you happy? Is it a person, place or thing? A group of people, a pet, a home, a beautiful sunset, a favorite flower, favorite color, favorite song, etc. What one thing never fails to put a smile on your face and happiness in your heart? What makes you feel grateful and blessed?
"Spending time with my best friend and wife for 38 years is what brings me joy and happiness," Stephen Ott says.
Thanks for sharing with the Council Chronicle this photo and the source of your joy, Stephen.
'WOULD YOU RATHER' QUESTIONS ARE GREAT CONVERSATION STARTERS AND JUST PLAIN FUN.
1. Would you rather work 80 hours one week and have the next week off or work 40 hours for the week (spread across seven days including weekends) for two weeks?
2. Would you rather be the CEO of a company or another executive?
3. Would you rather do something you love and make just enough money to get by or do something you hate but make billions of dollars?
4. Would you rather work in a big city or a small town (if you could have the same job both places)?
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5. Would you rather bike or drive to work? |
6. Would you rather work for a very small company or a very large company?
7. Would you rather get paid your entire salary plus benefits all at once for the year or get paid little by little throughout the year?
8. Would you rather have way more work than you could ever accomplish in a day and be stressed or have hardly any work at all and be bored?
9. Would you rather have an office where you could wear pajamas to work or work in a really fancy office?
10. Would you rather have a constant supply of the best coffee in the world at your office or a constant supply of the best snacks in the world at your office?
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PRAYER FOR EQUALITY, PEACE & UNITY
I pray for equality, unity and peace in every city in our country. Equality for all people in every country. I pray for justice for all those who have lost their lives needlessly and unjustly. I pray that all people, regardless of race, religion or socioeconomic status be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. I pray for change so that healing can begin in this country and around the world.
Amen.
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