elcome
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xpressWide variety of personalities, interests, backgrounds, and ages ... a group of friends that spans the decades - from the youth to great - great - grandparents and everything in between."
Online Newsletter
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- How are you?
- Everything all right?
- Like to hear from you.
- Love to see you soon.
- Obviously I miss you.
The Florida Itinerary is starting to take shape -- here is our Calendar of Events so far:
- Friday Evening - March 17 - Dinner at Whistle Junction Buffet & Grill in in Polk County, Florida. Polk County is strategically located in the center of the Florida peninsula, about equal distance from the east and west coast and half way between the Georgia-Florida border and the Southern tip of the peninsula.
Now this is no ordinary restaurant. I understand that it has a railroad theme and from the first "All Aboard," be prepared as you're not going to taste it all on one visit. There is too much food. Walk around and scope out the choices. Have a taste of what looks good to you, then go back for more of what you really like. Labels are handwritten on the sneeze guards, and some are difficult to see, but keep looking. Dinner features steak and another meat that varies, carved fresh while you watch as well as other special dishes. Picture a carver taking slices off a large ham, and diners spooning hot fruit sauce from a hollowed-out half pineapple. That alone puts Whistle Junction a foot or two above the average buffet. Now let's back up to the beginning and taste our way around the tables. The salad bar has spring mix -- that's a variety of premium greens -- regular greens and a bunch of made salads, including chicken and crunchy noodles, and BLT salad, plus all the fixings you could want. Cottage cheese with a cherry in canned pear halves is a nice touch. Servers bring a slab of hot cornbread slathered in butter. Save some to go with the lean, meaty chili that has a hint of a kick. It would work well with the thick, creamy broth clam chowder, too. The steak at dinner is sliced to order. Mushrooms in au jus go nicely with the beef. Be sure to stop for a piece of fried fish on the way to the steak station but be warned ahead of time that you will have trouble finding a small fillet. Have the fish, steak and ham on separate plates, otherwise you wind up with pineapple fish and beefy ham. Just as you have a tough time finding a small piece of fried fish, you have to dig for a small portion of fried chicken. The falling-off-the-bone rotisserie chicken is great ... there are dumpin's too and bliss potatoes in butter sauce and corn bread. For something a little more unusual, try a chicken breast bearnaise. The sauce brings a plain chicken breast to a new level. You don't see brussels sprouts on buffets often. Whistle Junction serves this adult vegetable perfectly; with a little chew left in it. There's meatloaf and you will love it. Cut as much as you want off the solid but tender loaf. And while at the specials buffet, have a try at the shrimp scampi pasta if it's on. A touch of lemon put life in deveined one-bite shrimp and tender pasta. How about Teriyaki salmon?
Ready for dessert? There is enough fresh and canned fruit to make a meal, not just end one -- melons, pineapple, grapes, apples, peaches. That and a few inches of soft-serve ice cream and hot fudge or caramel sauce on top and you might not want any of the cakes, pies or cookies that keep appearing on the bar. The ice cream makes a good topping for warm, peachy bread pudding, too. If you have to avoid sugar, you can still enjoy their sugarless pies and cookies. The attention from staff and management definately makes Whistle Junction a cut above the average buffet.
- Saturday, ALL DAY, March 18th is the Reunion at Peachy Marie's and the Memorial for Claudia. This festive day starts at 9 am with breakfast followed by crafts and fellowship. At noon we will break for lunch. The afternoon activities will only be interrupted for dinner at 5 pm and after dinner we will continue long into the night playing games, enjoying music -- uninterruped FUN FUN FUN!!!
- Sunday morning March 19th some members will be attending church.
- Monday March 20th has been set aside for Disneyworld.
- Tuesday, March 21st -- Dayton Ocean Mall and Boardwalk -- This four-story, 110,000-square-foot shopping and entertainment complex includes two hotels, a state-of-the-art movie theater and Adventure Landing waterpark, and provides access to the area's only traffic-free beach.
- Wednesday March 22nd will find us out scouting out the Flea Markets.
Be sure to join our new WWWCOF Google Group and post a message today!
Does anyone want a free gmail email account -- email me, Sharon and I will send you an invite.
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Bigsis Pat's Report Page for February
Wondering about who our members are .... check out the updated Meet the Members pages .
Do you have some contests or free samples that you would like to share with the members. Be sure to let us know!
Pami from New York ... our Queen of Free!
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Be sure to visit our Circle's Planet Awareness site. Take a look and tell us what is happening (or not) in your area
The Circle's Planet Awareness site is continually updated so do check it out and email your thoughts to
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Take a moment to email those celebrating their special days and share in their celebrations!
Be sure to check out our WWWCOF's Celebration Calendar! If your special days are not listed let Bigsis Pat know and she will be sure to get them included!
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What's new over at our Google Group? Have you been over to check it out yet .... do be sure to do that today and post a message.
VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Our MSN communities are being phased out and replaced by our Google Groups.
Please advise of any broken links.
We are celebrating the WWWCOF's 5th Birthday in March. We have managed to reach across the globe to touch each other's hearts and souls. Congratulations to each and everyone of you for your contributions no matter how big or small, and Happy 5th Birthday.
Bigsis Pat has created an awesome WWWCOF Birthday Site. Please take the time to enjoy it and do be sure to sign the guestbook!
Friendship is one of life's grand fundamental principles. It revolutionizes and civilizes the world, and causes wars and contentions to cease. It is a time-honored adage that love begets love. Let us each pour forth love - show forth our kindness unto all mankind. In friendship, it is the little things that matter. The small things like a smile, a hug, or a few minutes of time. The thank-you card, a surprise gift, a rose, or anything that lets people know you are thinking about them. Little things get us to move away from our comfort zone and think about others instead of ourselves. Little things really do matter.
Looking for more pictures of other members and their families?? Take a moment to visit the WWWCOF Photo Albums and enjoy! Would you like pictures of your family published in our albums ... email it to Bigsis Pat our Department of Vital Statistics Director and she will be happy to incude it.
HELP WANTED
We need members to set up and run a craft section for the World Wide Web Circle of Friends. Please can you help us?
Please be sure to email Jayne and Loretta with thanks for all their efforts over these past several years with our Craft Corner.
Do be sure to take a moment to email them and say hello from your corner of the globe!
- My husband David & I have a new Web site. Thought you might like to take a look. While there check out Lindalou's Corner. I have my family photos there.
If you like out site please recommend it to your family and friends.
Your friend
Linda from Tallassee, Alabama USA
Hope you have had a chance to check out our exciting new project .... our very own Pursuit of Excellence challenge. No time like the present to get started and here is what some of the members are up to already.
- I have already decided on what I am doing for the physical challenge. My husband and I need to have a physical fitness program. He has a weight problem and is border line diabetic so he needs this. I had a heart valve replacement in 2000 and have let myself become lax in my eating habits and physical active. So I am going to set goals for us in both areas and work hard at them .......
PHYSICAL CHALLENGES
My goal is to participate in the State Street Fun Run/Walk mile held
every year in August here in Rockford, IL.
To achieve this goal I will start walking every day. I want my husband
to join me so I will have to start out slow. I am thinking for the
first two weeks we will work on walking a city block. Then we will
gradually increase the distance we walk.
I hope that my husband will be able to do the State Street Fun Run/Walk
mile with me, but I am not sure that is possible for him. We will work
on that.
We will also be working on eating healthy also. I don't need to loose
weight, as I only weigh 98 lbs. and am 4'11" sorry guys.......but I
need to eat healty anyways. My husband does need to loose weight and
that is our goal to do this for him.
INTELLECTUAL CHALLENGE
I would like to participate in a book-reveiw group on a regular basis.
I would like to invite members of WWWCOF to join me in an on line
book-review group ........
ANYONE INTERESTED IN DOING THIS??????
I don't have all the details worked out as of yet ....... Any idea or
suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Barbara from Illinois, USA
- INTELLECTUAL CHALLENGES
My intellectual challenge is something that I've been developing over
the past year. As many of you know I've been creating and maintaining
numerous websites for sometime now. What I'm doing is improving on my
knowledge & skills. Trying out new things; searching the net for help
and so on. Truthfully, I don't know who, or how many folks actually
visit the sites that I publish. What I do know is I get tremendous
satisfaction out of creating them. I also get a wonderful feeling of
accomplishment when they are finished and turn out well (at least in my
own eyes).
PHYSICAL CHALLENGES
One of the other things I enjoy doing is my crafts. I'm always trying
out new things. Sometimes I accomplish them easily, and continue
making them (like my Father Christmases, stuffed dolls and animals and
plastic canvas). Others, I try, and either don't gee the hang of it or
they just turn out awful (like cross stitch). In any case I love new
challenges and am not afraid to try new things.
CHARACTER CHALLENGES
I've always been a great believer in keeping your word. When someone
asks me for a favour, or to do something, I do it immediately. I also
believe in the work ethic. To me it doesn't matter what you are doing,
or who you are doing it for, or how much you are paid, or even if you
are paid at all. The important thing is if you take pride in a job
well done. The personal satisfaction far outweighs any praise or
compensation from others.
SERVICE CHALLENGES
Over the past while I have helped many folks using the computer, both
family and friends, and of course fellow COF members. What are skills
and knowledge worth, if you don't share that with others? (NB On that
note I'll be happy to help with the HTML 101 anytime)
The other thing that I do has to do with recycling. I am a moderator
for our local FreeCycle organization. The other thing is, whenever I'm
getting rid of something, unless it is broken or destroyed beyond
repair it gets donated to our local thrift shop. In the past year,
I've probably donated hundreds of dollars worth of household items &
clothes.
SPIRITUAL CHALLENGES
I have always had a strong faith, and great believer in the power of
prayer. I do not belong to, or participate in any organized religious
group. Although I was baptized, confirmed and a good member in standing
in the Anglican Church for many years.
But not attending regular services does not make me less a Christian.
I will continue with this way of serving the Lord, until something or
someone comes along with a strong case for something different.
Bigsis Pat from Ontario, Canada
I am thinking of have our WWWCOF Pursuit of Excellence printed .... if you are interested in receiving a printed copy of the website please let me know .... shouldn't cost anymore than $10.00 to print, package and mail.
Barbara from Illinois, USA is going to start a online book review google group under the name WWWCOF Book-Review Club. She was thinking everyone could read a book and review it there for the other members. Such fun! Email Barbara for all the details.
PEN PAL CLUB
How are things going with you and your penpal. Are you getting to know them a whole lot better? Is there anything you would like to share with us about them? My penpal is Barbara from Illinois. She is one busy lady which she says is the secret to staying young. She works for Rockford School District #205 in Food Service as head cashier for a Middle School and she and her husband have one grown daughter, Angela, who is an April baby like my Kendra and twin grand daughters, Megan and Brittany who are 16 years old -- same age as Kendra. She was married January 8th which just happens to be Elvis Presley's birthday and has been married for 38 years! She enjoys enjoys flower gardening when the weather in her corner of the globe agrees with it. Barbara and her husband own American Motors show cars, and belong to a local club and they spend most of their summer months going to car events and cruisin nights! Her husband has a 1971 Javelin AMX and she has a 1974 Javelin. She is very much a family person and enjoys doing things with her daughter and grand daughters. They have a family picnic once a year. Her favorite color is country blue and she likes to collect Pillsbury Dough Boy, collector tins and snowmen.
I am so happy to have Barbara as my penpal; she is such an inspiration to me. YOUR TURN tell us what you have learned about your penpal!
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure, a blessing of duty and love.
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Check out Charla's Prayer Request Page. You can click on the Prayer button, to go there now. Charla has an email link on her page for you to send in your Prayer Requests. Email addresses are included for those requesting prayers. So please take a moment to visit. Do be sure to send any updates as to needing prayer or changing prayer or thanking God for his healing directly to Charla from Florida so she can make the necessary changes to her Prayer Request site.
In this issue...
- Ruby
- Department of Vital Statistics
- Reunion News
- January Report
- Planet Kryzys
- Google Group
- Pursuit of Excellence
- WWWCOF Book-Review Club
- Cookbook
- Messages from Members
- Crafts
- Prayer Requests
- Food Evolution
- Member Celebrations
- Friendship Anchors
- Free Samples
- Bragging Rights
- Pet Corner
Pets of Billie Simmons from Byhalia, MS.
Bear, her black chow.
Boo Boo - Gone to heaven 2-2000
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So much to see and do in Florida so be sure to mark down the dates for Reunion 2006 on your calendars. This historic event will take place March 17th (St. Patrick's Day) to March 20th, 2006. Can't wait to meet you there!
Please never get so busy that you do not have the time to dream! Listen to your heart ... follow your dreams ... enjoy the journey!
The other day at work I was reading an article in the local newspaper entitled "Tracing the Canadian Menu Evolution: what we ate and why". This got me to thinking. What would a typical supper in your home consist of today and what a typical supper would of consisted of for your grandparents, 50, 60 or more years ago .... as far back as you like.
For example some interesting things come from our First Nations people. The Algonquin cuisine on the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg reserve north of Ottawa in the 1920's and 1930's would of consisted of beaver grilled on a stick over the open fire served with boiled potatoes and fried bread called bannock topped with pin-cherry jelly and maple syrup.
Then I read about a law that had been passed in 1926 requiring Montreal milk to be pasteurized. Milk seemed to emphasized in menus of that day. A typical supper in a working class family in the late 1920's in Montreal often would of consisted of a soup made of beef on a bone and vegetables, bread pudding made with milk, and a glass of milk. It was also noted that Beef was the cheapest meat; chicken was a luxury.
In the 1960's Canadian menus became influenced by both new convenience products and the food tastes of the many immigrants from the Middle and Far East. In the 1970's Canadians were becomming health conscious and multicultural and there was a great desire developing to spend as little time in the kitchen as possible and "voila" the popularity of the microwave oven commenced.
Daphne has taken on the challenge of adding this information to our WWWCOF Cookbook. She tells me that she already has an extensive article on bannock for example that she has included in the Kitchen help section.
So many recipes these days call for ready made, preprocessed or frozen ingredients, so how did our grandparents manage? Daphne's husband Leo hates anything bought ready-made food wise; he would be very happy to go back to his childhood eating terms.
Charito was at Daphne's for a visit recently mainly for help to work on a few details for her daughter's 8th birthday next week. The subject of the Circle cookbook in general came up and this food evolution in particular. Charito had quite a tale to tell about how her grandparents ran a tiny hamlet general store and stop-over with their own bit of vegetable garden, chickens, and other livestock .... if they didn't have it it didn't exist. They killed their own animals to feed the family and any "guests", -- made their own sausages, cured the skins, etc etc. It went on to transport, schooling ......... She is going to ask her mother how food was preserved, although I have pretty good idea, as the very first time I visited Leo's mountain village, I remember seeing llamas coming in carrying another, opened up and salted, drying as it travelled, And strips of meat hanging on wires to dry, and that was ONLY 24 years ago. Now everyone there has fridges.(And that meat, by the way, is absolutely delicious and tender.) And how Leo's Mum used to cook jams or stews in an iron pot over an open fire ... even though he had a cooker installed for her, she rarely used it.
Isn't that just so interesting. Love to hear your stories. So come on everyone, share a food related walk down memory lane. This is going to be one awesome cookbook ... be sure to be a contributor to it! Email Daphne today!
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The WWWCOF Cookbook consists of the following sections:
- Main recipes from our Recipe Circus and members
- About 200 of those and others put into Spanish
- Members special favourites, Seasonal or Regional recipes (dedicated to Claudia)
- The kitchen help and tips section
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Ruby's Coconut Surprise
Ingredients
- 250 mL (1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 125 mL (1/2 cup) shredded coconut
- 125 mL (1/2 cup) chopped nuts
- 1 L (4 cups) Rice Krispie cereal - crushed
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- Line 2 8" square baking pans with foil or waxed paper; lightly grease bottom and sides.
- In large mixing bowl combine crushed cereal, chocolate chips, coconut and nuts.
- Bake at 180 C (350 F) for metal pans or 160 C (325 F) for glass pans for 25-30 minutes or until top is just golden (do not overbake).
- Cool 10 minutes.
- Turn out and remove foil or paper.
- Completely cool on rack.
- Cut into bars or use cookie cutters for interesting shapes. Wouldn't teddy bear shapes be fun?!
- Store covered at room temperature.
Yield: 24 (2" x 1") bars.
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Ruby must be really busy "back home" with Jeanette in Melbourne Australia but soon she will be heading off to Florida for the Reunion. In the meantime check out her site. You can leave messages for Ruby and /or get on her visiting list on her site Daphne has also put in a translator in the pages in both Spanish and Portuguese.
Ruby has her own games section where you can play countries and capitals hangman, tic tac toe, a variety of Ruby's own jigsaw puzzles among others, and Ruby would love you to stop by for what she calls her "chocolate milkshake break time". Have fun!
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I hope you have enjoyed this week's issue.
Have an awesome day; take a moment to think of one of the members you have not met yet and take the time to email them and say hello and know that someone is thinking about you today too.
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ORLD
IRCLE
OF 
RIENDS
