HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

                              HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

                                                           Taps: Meaning and History

Taps first sounded in July of 1862 and many have put words to the music. The first were very simply "Go To Sleep, Go to Sleep." There are no official words but these are some of the popular words put to the beautiful and solemn melody.

Day is done, gone the sun,

From the hills, from the lake,

From the sky.

All is well, safely rest,

God is nigh.

Go to sleep, peaceful sleep,

May the soldier or sailor,

God keep.

On the land or the deep,

Safe in sleep.

Love, good night, Must thou go,

When the day, And the night

Need thee so?

All is well. Speedeth all

To their rest.

Fades the light; And afar

Goeth day, And the stars

Shineth bright,

Fare thee well; Day has gone,

Night is on.

Thanks and praise, For our days,

'Neath the sun, Neath the stars,

'Neath the sky,

As we go, This we know,

God is nigh.

Happy Memorial Day, honoring all those who have served and are serving, and especially in memory of my grandfathers, Walter H Loncosky, WWI; Dana Thorp, WWII, My father-Walter B Loncosky, Korean Conflict; my niece who is on the USS San Antonio in the Navy in Norfolk, and to lost friends like Lt. Robert Scheetz, who died in Iraq.

While spending time with your family today, I do have a couple of picnic recipes for you. But today is NOT national BBQ Day as so many seem to have forgotten and I wanted you all to remember that. BTW--I'm mounted on my old guy I lost last fall at 30 yrs of age, Morgan Horse Sebastian Cabbot.

BACON RANCH PASTA SALAD

1 lb pasta small shells, rotini or bowties, colorful is better

1 lb bacon (pepper crusted really rocks it) cooked until crispy

1 can sliced black olives

16 OZ fresh diced tomatoes

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

garlic to taste

pepper to taste

salad topping with sesame seeds etc

1 lg bottle of your favorite ranch dressing

Cook pasta as directed, drain, crumble drained bacon into pasta. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Chill. Best if you can let it sit overnight. This is always a hit and so easy.

STRAWBERRY PIE

1 baked graham cracker shell

1 qt sliced strawberries

1 sm box of strawberry jello

2 c water

1 c sugar

3 tbs corn starch

splash lemon juice

1 tub cool whip

In a 2qt pan or larger bring water, corn starch and sugar to low boil, stirring until it thickens. Add jello packet and mix in and cook a little longer until thick, add lemon juice and stir in. Pour over sliced strawberries in the baked shell. Chill until set and then top with cool whip and berries as desired. To make this almost guilt free, replace sugar with splenda, use sugarless jello, and fat free cool whip.

Deviled Eggs---

Folks always love my eggs and I make a few different versions. A favorite though uses spicy mustard, mayo, wasabi horse radish mayo, paprika, and bacon bits. They are gone every time!

Have a safe Holiday weekend and happy cooking!