July is National Ice Cream Month

photo credit ruffin_ready (CC BY 2.0)

July is National Ice Cream Month (USA)
National Ice Cream Day is 3rd Sunday in July

“We dare not trust our wit for making our house pleasant to our friend, so we buy ice cream.” ~~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Vanilla continues to be America's flavor of choice in ice cream probably because it is the most versatile, mixing well with toppings, drinks and bakery desserts. According to the International Dairy Foods Association, America's top five favorite individual flavors are vanilla, chocolate, cookie 'n cream, strawberry and chocolate chip mint.

“My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy the ice cream while it’s on your plate.” ~~Thornton Wilder

Want to know how to healthy up your favorite frozen treat:  Just because it's dessert doesn't mean it has to be unhealthy - check out these nutritious additions perfect for summer.  Healthy Ice Cream Tips

What are your favorite ice cream flavors?

Memorial Day Lantern Floating in Hawaii

Lantern floating is an Asian spiritual tradition that beautifully symbolizes the wish for all beings to live in peaceful coexistence....in remembrance of loved ones, or as symbolic prayer for a harmonious future...40,000+ residents and visitors who cast afloat lanterns...hope that Lantern Floating Hawai`i brings you a sense of peace and warm remembrance of your departed loved ones.

The following video is part of the 2010 ceremony featuring Keola Beamer and R. Carlos Nakai.

Lantern Floating Hawaii in 2010 

at Ala Moana Beach Park, Honolulu, HI

 

The following video is a brief history of the journey of lantern floating ceremony to Hawaii.

Break Out The Bagpipes And Drums!

It's National Tartan Day! How do you celebrate? It's important to celebrate one's cultural heritage. In the United States and Canada, people with Scottish heritage celebrate the legacy of our shared heritage every year during March and April--Tartan Week! Tartan Day Read More...

And for some great Scottish Music check out Arvel Bird, Celtic Fusion Recording  Artist

Winter Solstice Haiku

winter solstice

with it a reckoning
in falling snow
~William Sorlien
poemshape.wordpress.com

More info for the Winter Solstice

photo by  Christine Johnstone [CC-BY-SA-2.0 

(www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Updated 12/21/14

Celebrate ONE LUCKY PENGUIN!!

Posted with the video: bclark142/November 10, 2008
"Penguin jumps into boat to escape Killer Whales. I have been in contact with the guy who was driving the boat. He said the whales were just playing with it and traning a younger member of the pod and that they could have taken it at anytime. He also said they were never in any danger from the whales. And I did NOT ADD THE MUSIC!"