Conversation 24

PASSOVER BEGINS

Every year, the spring festival called Passover is celebrated for 8 days. Traditionally known as a major Jewish holiday, many Christians have also begun to take part in celebrating Passover. The date of the festival is in accordance with the first full moon in the Hebrew calendar month, Nissan. For this reason, the date changes every year.

The Hebrew word for Passover is Pesach. The holiday is also called the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The roots of this Jewish holiday can be found in the Old Testament of the Bible. The main purpose of the holiday is to commemorate the Biblical story of Exodus. This is when God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

The book of Exodus recounts the historical event. A leader named Pharaoh wanted to control the number of Jews living in Egypt. To do this, he ordered the killing of all male Jewish babies. The mother of Moses put him in a basket on the Nile River. Pharaoh’s daughter found and adopted Moses. When he grew up, Moses fled to the desert where God told him to go back to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of slavery.

When Moses asked Pharaoh to let his people go, Pharaoh told him no. Each time, God sent a plague on Egypt. Finally, the Lord commanded the death of all the firstborn in Egypt, including Pharaoh’s household, but excluding the Jewish people who had the blood of the lamb on their doors.

The Lord told Moses, however, that he would pass over any home that had the blood of a lamb on their doorposts. It was after this final plague that Pharaoh finally let the Israelites go. Because they had to leave in a hurry, there wasn’t enough time for their bread dough to rise. This is why Passover is also referred to as the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

NATIONAL JELLY BEAN DAY

Who can resist a handful of sweet jelly beans on National Jelly Bean Day? Well on April 22nd each year, you really don’t have to resist at all. As a celebration, enjoying them is a must!

While candies made in a similar manner existed before the jelly bean, Boston confectioner William Schrafft made them popular during the Civil War. With their firm exterior, jelly beans were the first candies sold by the pound. Schrafft encouraged his customers to send them to Union soldiers.

In the 1930s, jelly beans became closely associated with the Easter holiday thanks to their egg-like shape. However, confectioners make jelly beans available all year long now. So, there’s no excuse not to enjoy them if you have a craving at any time of the year.

The 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, enjoyed jelly beans so much that they were present at his inauguration. He started eating them when he quit smoking years before. The Herman Goelitz Candy Company supplied red, white and blue jelly beans for the 1980 event. At the time, the company didn’t produce blue jelly beans. They created a blueberry jelly bean for the first time, especially for the inauguration.

NATIONAL EARTH DAY

Each year on April 22nd, National Earth Day campaigns around the globe promote ways to keep the Earth healthy and our planet livable.

Since its inception, the organizers promote events educating the public about a variety of subjects including:

climate change
air pollution
water pollution
erosion
recycling
composting
renewable fuels and power
carbon footprints
efficient cars
rain forests
ecosystems

As citizens of the world, we can take action to protect the Earth, its creatures, and its habitats. Greener living can include more fuel-efficient vehicles or windows. It can also include landscaping for your climate reducing the amount of water required.

Numerous green campaigns launch events around the globe each year. Join one near you or organize one that fits your community’s needs.

@shoelady60,

I have had a very busy day I am about to jump in the shower and use my Perlier/Korres
bath products. I love how my skin feels and smells. 🌹✨

Lady you had me LOL in your post I hope your meal was great. My husband would have
loved it. 😎✨

Tonight OZ is cool and calm I am loving it. The animals are fed and safe.

Here is to a great night. ✨

@oodiebom,

Good evening to you and I am so glad you had some good rest. I hope all goes
well tomorrow. Oodie you are a good wife. ✨🌹

Your food sounds so healthy and delicious. Hubby should be on his feet in no time.

My husband and I got a lot done today in the yards. I think the hard frost is over.

Colorado had snow yesterday and they were in the low 30’s all day. I am back and forth
feeding the animals they can be picky. ✨

Wishing you a good Passover week my friend. ✨🌹

Peace Out Peeps enjoy your evening.

@sheba2011

I was home yesterday and today and did not see hubby. After shopping yesterday, I ventured into the den to look at the lake. In so doing I noticed one of our roof areas was hanging by a nail. Rather than contact the roofers who initially repaired our roof, decided on someone new to us. This business comes well recommended and has over 30 years experience. I tried to reach this group when we lost our lanai and an area in our den became a skylight. This group had a waiting period and I chose to find someone else. Long story short, they had an email and I sent a note stating our problem. I hope to hear something by tomorrow. Guess the story when it rains it pours. The new homes being built in Florida today will be able to withstand hurricane strength winds up to 200 mph. Of course, nothing really can withstand the winds of a tornado., unless, maybe, concrete.

Hopefully, I will be able to be with hubby most of the afternoon tomorrow. I have some real good food items for him and they are all low in calories. I have a parfait of fruit mixed in with yogurt, fresh fruit bowl which is soft. I also picked up cheesecake which I will cut into a sliver and then add ice cream on top. He has also asked for my winter melon soup. I thought I would make some tomorrow, but, alas, I forgot to purchase the winter melon. That I will do on Tuesday before getting the van. There is something actually called winter melon. It is in the squash family and has no real taste.. You can purchase this in any Asian market. I found that honeydew works better and actually adds a sweet taste to the soup. Also, our Asian markets are able to cut the pork ribs into bite size pieces. Unfortunately, I will need to do that part myself. I remembered the carrots, bok choy, and dragon fruit. By the way, I use the whole stalks of t he bok choy. That includes the leafy part. Nothing goes to waste. I usually cut two or three stalks of the bok choy into bite size pieces and I do the same for the lettuce part of the stalk. When I was a youngster (that was yesterday) I asked the owner of an Asian restaurant what the green part was in the wonton soups. I thought it was a spinach leaf, but when he mentioned what it was, I’ve been using it ever since. The one thing Asians do is use the whole veggie and that includes the tops and the roots. And for people who do not use pork, chicken, fish, or beef can be substituted. I use a chicken broth as a base. Hubby also asked for homemade spaghetti with meatballs. I will be trying to get him out and about this week. If it succeeds, I will be doing this a few times during the week. Someday he will get a surprise when i bring him home permanently. First, though, he needs to take off a few pounds so that the therapy can resume again. I am also thinking that the YMCA may be able to help as well and I will be contacting them about therapy in their pool. I think they may be equipped to take a person from wheelchair to pool using a sling. I just have a feeling that this may help with his mobility.

The weather here has been in the low to mid 80s during the day and in the 60s at night. We are expecting some thunderstorms tomorrow and as yet have no idea if any will be serious. I know there will be wind which means sinuses will be at the forefront. My headache was awful today and that is the result of a low forming. Also the main reason for not venturing out. Hope you had a beautiful Sunday. I would take a look at the weather for the next ten days before planting. Have a great walk with the moon and Poppy. Stay safe.

@sheba2011

Good day busy yard worker! That’s what my husband did yesterday. I will handle the flowers next month.🌻🌺🌼 Weather is about the same as yours but cloudy. Sun should be here tomorrow.🌞 My azalea is getting ready to bloom and I was worried about a freeze last night. I hope the 30’s are done for a while.

Making some sweet sausage with peppers and onions, that should keep me in the bathroom tomorrow.😂 But I don’t have to go anywhere so I should be safe.

Hubs is flipping from hockey to golf to baseball this afternoon.🏒🏌️‍♂️⚾ Yes, he has a glass of wine in reach. My house right now is a sports bar.

Relax tonight after your busy day. Sending hugs to you and Poppy.🤗💖