Earl's Blog

The start of a new year is a great time for an annual home safety check. Below is a list of items that should be checked at least once a year to ensure that your home remains safe and everything is working at peak efficiency:

• Ensure smoke alarms are present in all bedrooms and common living areas, and that the batteries are charged and working.

• Check electrical sockets and outlets for safe operation (if you have small children, equip with safety covers).

• Check light fixtures and home appliances for fraying cords or exposed electrical wires.

• Replace old light bulbs with the new energy-efficient bulbs that use a fraction of the electricity and last up to ten times longer than regular light bulbs.

• Make sure doors and windows lock properly, and that they are sufficiently insulated.

• Replace your heating system's air filter.

• Make sure your home is certified as fire-safe; if not, have it certified.

• Have your chimney cleaned an inspected.

• Ensure that you have one or more functional carbon monoxide detectors installed in your home.

Now is a great time to clean and organize your home. Below are some tips for getting a handle on clutter and getting rid of the excess "stuff" in your home. You'll find it takes significantly less time to organize your clutter than to repeatedly sift through it looking for lost items.

• Break down large tasks into smaller "chunks" of work. For example, instead of attempting to clean out an entire overflowing closet, clean one shelf every Saturday morning. By the end of the month, you will have completed the entire job!

• Decide that everything that enters your home goes into one of the following three categories: Your "To Do" basket, another family member's "To Do" basket or the garbage. Apply this technique to mail to prevent pile-ups.

• Assign each family member a room or area in your home to clean and organize, and pick a specific date and time for a "Home Cleaning Day." Together, you clear out the extra stuff throughout your home, transforming it in a single day!

Irish Beef Stew

Mardi Gras -

Masks, Music & Mayhem Heat oil in large heavy pot over medium-high heat.  Add beef and sauté until brown on all sides. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute. Add beef stock, tomato paste, sugar, thyme, Worcestershire sauce and bay leaves. Stir, bring mixture to boil, reduce heat, then cover and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, melt butter in another large pot. Add potatoes, onion and carrots and sauté until golden, about 20 minutes. Add vegetables to beef stew. Simmer uncovered until vegetables and beef are very tender, about 40 minutes. Discard bay leaves. Tilt pan and spoon off fat. Transfer stew to serving bowl, sprinkle with parsley and serve.

So many times we go through life just surving, not even thinking about what it takes for us to live in the country of the free.  There are so many people behind the scenes, that help to keep our quality life what we are use to.  When you look at how people live in other countries, we are very fortunate to be here.  Often we think of our military, but you also have:  firefighters; police; teachers; business owners; crossing guards; assistants; etc...This list goes on and on.  Everyday we have tons of people that we run into, that would appreciate our appreciation.  My wife just sent me this video, and I wanted to share.  I thank you all for helping make our world a better place.  God Bless.

http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/fullmovie.php

Earl The Pearl Sorrells

THE LAST FEW MINUTES ARE GOING BY
AND THIS YEAR WILL BE GONE SOON.

SO WHY AM I ACTING LIKE A LITTLE
CHILD WHO JUST LOST HIS LAST BALLOON ?

THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL YEAR,
SO MUCH I AM THANKFUL FOR.

TO ME IT'S BEEN THE BEST OF ALL,
THAT'S ONE THING YOU MUST KNOW.

FOR ALL THAT I AM THANKFUL FOR,
THERE IS ONE THING I HOLD DEAR.

IT'S NOT THAT I HAVE NEW BALLOONS

TO REPLACE THOSE NO LONGER HERE.

BUT THE SIMPLE FACT ABOVE ALL ELSE
THIS YEAR WE BECAME FRIENDS.
"I COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR MORE"

2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR MY FRIEND !

http://www.wepraisehim.com/Christmas14pdw.html

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http://www.funlaugh.com/Christmas12ag.html

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http://www.funlaugh.com/reindeer.html

http://www.wepraisehim.com/putJesusbackinChristmasjcc.html

http://www.funlaugh.com/reindeercrash.html

http://www.wepraisehim.com/myChristmastreejcc.html

http://www.wepraisehim.com/remembrance.html

"Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.  Henry Ford.

"Ability may get you to the top--but it takes character to keep you there. --John Wooden-

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. Nelson Mandela

The secret of happiness is not in doing what one likes, but in liking what one does."- Jas. M. Barrie

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. --Helen Keller

Worry is interest paid on trouble before it falls due. W.R. Inge

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the area, whose face is marred by dust and sweat valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotion, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."- Theodore Roosevelt

I don't like work... but I like what is in work -- the chance to find yourself. Your own reality -- for yourself, not for others -- which no other man can ever know. Joseph Conrad

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. T.S. Eliot

I've learned that recognizing employees-doing right by those who do right - is one of the best things I can do for my elves and reindeer...and for myself as well.--Santa Claus

Cauliflower "Mashed Potatoes"

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Nutritional Information:

As many of you know, my wife and I have lost over 25 lbs each using the Kimkins lifestle plan.  I just came across this receipe and wanted to share.  The food is great and the weight just melts away.  Merry Christmas. 

Earl The Pearl Sorrells 

Fast Stuffed Peppers

There isn't anything you couldn't add to these delicious peppers.  Whether oven roasted or nuked for a few seconds in the microwave, a tasty treat is just minutes away! 

Ingredients

8 small green peppers (jalapeno) or
4 medium green peppers (anaheim)
2 oz skim mozzarella cheese (2 sticks string type)
4 oz cooked chicken or pork loin, finely chopped
4 oz salsa salsa
2 tbsp cilantro, finely chopped (optional)
salt & pepper to taste

Using jarred salsa, blend until smooth (spreads easier). Split peppers through the top, remove seeds, leave stem. Divide cheese and chicken evenly, stuff into peppers. Do the same with the salsa and cilantro.  Place into baking dish (use nonstick spray to make clean up easier). 

Bake at 400 for 15 minutes or until fork tender and serve!