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Where Were You, Remember 9/11

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Where were you at 8:45 am ET, September 11, 2011?

Were you going to work, in school, or having breakfast on that fateful day?

 

Where were you on 911? Tell your story, never forget, always remember Septemeber 11, 2011 nd the brave men and women who saved others and those that died. As we as a country and a world remember 9/11 let’s not ever forget what happened.  Many years have gone by since then, but I can’t help but get a chill and tear up as I remember that day.

No, I wasn’t at the Twin Towers, I didn’t live in New York, or know anyone at the Pentagon. I didn’t know anyone that died. But, to me, a Mother with three small children it was a pivotal turning point in realizing the world would not be the same.

9-11: A TRIBUTEThe Stories They Tell: Artifacts from the National September 11 Memorial Museum

I’m sure it was the same feeling my parents had when they first heard of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The world and their lives were never the same.

Remembering 9-11

For me, it was a morning like every other. I was getting ready for work and paused to get on the computer and check my email. In the background, the TV was tuned to Good Morning America. I glanced at the TV just in time to catch breaking news right after the first plane hit.  My heart stopped when I watched the second plane live and I felt as though I couldn’t breathe.

I went to work at Oxbow Pet Products and we huddled around a small TV we brought into the office. The phones were silent. No calls were coming in, no orders being placed. Nothing mattered. No one wanted to go home, we cried silently at what this meant as the towers fell.

Planes were grounded, and then news of the Pentagon. What was next? After lunch, we shut off the phones, closed the doors early and went home to hug our families.

Past Tense, Forever Present: Remembering 9/11Remembering 9:11 in Bible Verses

No, I will not forget that day.

 

Remember 9/11 Tributes & Memorials

Every year since that day I take time to pause, say a prayer, and honor those that lost their lives that day. There are many 911 memorials across the country and I’m sure there are some in your local area.

At the Strategic Air Museum in Ashland Nebraska, they place 3000 flags as a memorial on the lawn.  On each flag is the name of each person who died that day. As the sunlight streamed in from the east, I couldn’t help but think of that day and where I was, when the World Stopped Turning.

I’m from Connecticut and had been to the World Trade Center and gone up in the Towers. Since then I’ve visited the site in 2002, 2004, 2010, and 2011. They say time heals all wounds. But the scars remain. Let’s never forget

Let’s never forget some never made it to work that day. Some never made it home. Let’s never forget those who died, those who lost family and friends, and all the countless fireman, police officers and volunteers who gave of unselfishly gave of themselves.

“Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)”

Lyrics by Alan Jackson

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Were you in the yard with your wife and children
Or working on some stage in L.A.?
Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke
Risin’ against that blue sky?
Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry?
Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don’t know?
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below?
Did you burst out with pride for the red, white and blue
And the heroes who died just doin’ what they do?
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters?[Chorus:]
I’m just a singer of simple songs
I’m not a real political man
I watch CNN but I’m not sure I can tell
You the difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Were you teaching a class full of innocent children
Or driving down some cold interstate?
Did you feel guilty ’cause you’re a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone?
Did you call up your mother and tell her you loved her?
Did you dust off that Bible at home?
Did you open your eyes, hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep?
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Or speak to some stranger on the street?
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Or go out and buy you a gun?
Did you turn off that violent old movie you’re watchin’
And turn on “I Love Lucy” reruns?
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers
Did you stand in line and give your own blood?
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love?[Chorus x2]
And the greatest is love.
And the greatest is love.

Where were you when the world stopped turning

on that September day?

So where were you on that day? What do you not want to forget? Leave a message at the bottom, a comment where you were and what the day means to you.

Proud Mom of Two Marines, and Counting

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I’m the Mom of two Marines, strike that, THREE Marines.  I have the “Proud Parent of a Marine” sticker on my back window. However, I want to tell the world that I’m the Mom of TWO Marines.

In 2010 I couldn’t find Marine gear on the “official” sites. So I created my own.Mom of Two Marines Pinback Buttons

I understand trademark control. The Marine Corps wants, and needs, to control their image and how their logos are used. CafePress  there are guidelines for developing branded USMC products including which images you can use, which images can not be manipulated, where the text can be located etc.
If you have an idea for Marine gear that you haven’t been able to find let me know and let’s see what I can come up with for you. I’m envisioning a shirts, line of buttons, bumper stickers, cards, mugs, canvas bags, key chains and even iPhone covers. I’m so excited about this I often stay up until the wee hours of the morning designing.
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Have Extra Tomatoes? Make it Salsa Time

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I have an abundance of of tomatoes. So what am I going to do? Make Salsa!  I’ve made salsa for many years now and I’ve pretty much guessed at the recipe. This year I’m using a recipe my friend Beth has used for years. Her family gave it high marks, so I’m using it now. The tomato paste makes it thicker and not watery, which was my original problem.

Tomatoes, peppers and jalapenos
Garden Fresh Tomatoes, peppers and jalapenos

Salsa Recipe

Many people will say don’t mess with a salsa recipe, but I can’t leave well enough alone. I mean think about it, even if you always put in the same ratio of onions and jalapenos they are going to be different in spiciness every time. For example the longer jalapenos stay on the plant the hotter they get. I learned this the hard way.

Ingredients

  • 10 cups peeled tomatoes, chopped, seeded and drained
  • 5 cups chopped onions
  • 5 cups sweet green peppers
  • 1/2 Cup chopped celery
  • Large can of tomato paste
  • 8 cloves crushed garlic
  • 2 TBSP chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 TBSP salt
  • 1 TBSP Cumin
  • 1 TBSP Chilli powder
  • Powdered Citric acid per instructions ( I use less than required as I don’t like the tart taste)
recipe for homemade salsa
Cooking the salsa, getting it ready to can

Directions

  1. Prepare canning jars by washing thoroughly and sterilize in dishwasher or boiling water
  2. Chop the first six ingredients and mix together in a large pot
  3. Add tomato paste and stir
  4. Add salt, cumin, and chili powder as desired to taste and preference
  5. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer.
  6. Cook on simmer for at least one hour until desired thickness
  7. Place lids into water and bring to boil. When water boils turn off heat
  8. Pour salsa into prepared jars, screw on rings
  9. When lids pop the jars are sealed and ready for storage.
Mexican salsa recipe
Finished canned salsa for the year

Do you have a favorite salsa recipe? Do you prefer yours mild or spicy? Me I like a mild salsa, my husband likes it hot, in fact the hotter the better, just like his chili. Here are a few more salsa recipes below, remember don’t be afraid to experiment.

More Salsa Recipes

Salsa Recipe – Allrecipes.com

In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine tomatoes, onion, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, tomatillo, and salt to taste. Mix well. Add 1/2 of the jalapeno pepper, and taste. If you desire your salsa with more of a kick, add the remaining 1/2 jalapeno.

Life Tastes Good: Homemade Tomato Salsa Recipe

Homemade Tomato Salsa Recipe | by Life Tastes Good is about as simple to make as it comes and uses all fresh ingredients for maximum flavor #Mexican #Appetizer.

Mango Salsa Recipe – Allrecipes.com

This spicy, fruity blend of fresh ingredients will turn any dish into an exciting new favorite!

Garden Tomato Salsa Recipe | Taste of Home

I grow almost all of these ingredients in my garden. This recipe makes a large batch, but it’s always gone in no time. —Barbara Mundy, Radford, Virginia.

Salsa II Recipe – Allrecipes.com

This is a very good salsa recipe. Simple ingredients are boiled and blended to created a flavorful, spicy mixture that’s great with tortilla chips and on Mexican-style foods. The amounts of onions and jalapenos may be varied; canned crushed …

My Favorite Homemade Salsa Recipe

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Tomatoes are in season and ripening at an amazing rate. Time for me to break out the stew pots and start cooking up some homemade salsa, stewed tomatoes and chopped tomatoes for future recipes.

Prepping tomatoes for homemade salsa

One way to process tomatoes is the hot-cold water bath method. This is how my Mother put up tomatoes and I did this for years.

  1. Clean tomatoes in sink, cut off the stems and bruised spots
  2. Dunk in boiling water for about 30 seconds until the skins start to wrinkle
  3. Remove from boiling water and dip in a bowl of cold water
  4. Skins should then easily slip off the tomatoes

I can’t tell you how many hours I have stood over a hot stove during the summer slipping skins off tomatoes. Years ago Beth and I bought a BOGO deal at the state fair for the Salsa maker and I have used it to chop onions, peppers, and tomatoes for years. I love this thing, it works absolutely great for small batches of salsa and the mandolin slicer attachment is perfect for zucchini.

Manual Food Processor – Chop, Blend, Whip, Mix, Slice, Shred, Julienne, and Juice – by Kitchen Plus

A Better Way to Process Tomatoes

However, when I’m make a LOT of salsa or spaghetti sauce, there is a better and faster way to prepping tomatoes and I don’t know why I haven’t listened to my friend Beth before, she kept telling me to get a food mill. This tomato press will take off the skins and either chop for salsa or process for spaghetti sauce.

NapaStyle Italian Tomato Mill Press

How to Make Homemade Salsa

All you have to do is a search on Pinterest for salsa and you can find more recipes than you can handle; everything  from hot and spicy to sweet and mild, even recipes for watermelon salsa and mango salsa. My hubby likes traditional chips and Mexican salsa and just about everything you need can be found in your garden: tomatoes, sweet peppers, jalapeno peppers and onions. Since I don’t like cilantro, I don’t grow it.

Hot Salsas: 40 Simple, Quick, Easy and Spicy Authentic Mexican Salsa Recipes (The Mexican Food Cookbooks Book 8)Salsa: The Ultimate Guide for making homemade salsa

Homemade Salsa Recipe

Remember, cooking is not a science it’s an art, so use the following as a guideline, don’t get hung up on exacts. experiment and if you like spicy and hot, add more jalapenos, if sweet is your thing, add more sugar. Before preparing your ingredients sterilize prepare your jars. I like the dishwasher the best.

Ingredients (makes 4-5 quarts)

  • 10-15 lbs of tomatoes (chopped fine, skins removed)
  • 4 large sweet peppers
  • 2 large onions
  • 6 jalapenos
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup vinegar (or lemon juice)
  • 3 TBSP canning salt
  • 3 TBSP cilantro (optional)
  • 2 TBSP cumin (optional)
  • 3 TBSP ground garlic (optional
  • 14 oz can Tomato Paste (for thickening)

Instructions

  1. Chop your tomatoes, onions, and peppers with the tomato mill or salsa maker food processor
  2. Add to large stock pot and stir together
  3. Stir in sugar, vinegar, salt and seasonings
  4. Add tomato paste, enough to thicken to desired amount
  5. Bring to boil on med high heat, stirring often
  6. Reduce heat to simmer (low) and cook for another 15 minutes
  7. PREPARE lids now by placing in about an inch of water and bring to boil, then turn off and let sit
  8. Lay a towel on the counter and place warm clean jars from the dishwasher on towel
  9. Place funnel in jar and using a large soup ladle spoon hot salsa into jars leaving 1″ of space at the top
  10. Use magnet stick to remove lid from water and place on jar, screw jar lid tight

The jars will be very hot, remember you just poured boiling tomatoes into glass, use the rubberized jar holder found in the canning tool set below to hot jars and a pot holder to tighten the lids. Now wait for the popping of the lids to assure the seal.

 

Ball Canning Regular Mouth Half Pint Canning Jar 8 oz. 12-CountTattler Reusable Wide Mouth Canning Lids & Rubber Rings – 12/pkgBellemain 6 Piece Canning Tool SetSalsa Picante Small Peppers Lime Fabric

Because tomatoes are acidic a hot water bath or pressure cooking the salsa is not necessary. Since I really don’t follow a recipe when I cook, and I don’t measure the amount of vegetables I use my stock pot as a gauge of how many quarts of salsa I will be canning. I have a 5 qt pot so that when it’s full to the top I have 5 qts of salsa.

I can a variety of sizes some for home use (quarts) and pints (for gifts), I also always use wide mouth jars, but that is a personal preference.