Happy Labor Day

Each morning sees some task begin,
Each evening sees it close;
Something attempted, some done,
Has earned a night’s repose.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Good morning, everyone.  Can you believe it?  It's Labor Day already, the unofficial end of summer.  Personally, I am not sorry to see it go this year.  It has been a rough one.  Perhaps if I lived in the country I would feel differently, but it can be brutal here in the city where we spend our day on concrete and tall buildings block the breeze.  I've not tried nor personally seen, but I have heard that when it is hot enough, you can fry and egg on the sidewalk.  

Labor Day, the first Monday in September was first celebrated on September 5th, 1882, in New York City as a means of showing respect for the American worker. It was a day of picnic and parades, and although not much has changed in that respect, to most of us, Labor Day is nothing more than a three-day weekend to enjoy.  We engage in picnics, head for the beach to enjoy the last official day it is open, and travel to our summer homes.  For some of us, it is a day of sales, and we anxiously head out to the malls to see what kind of loot we can find. Wasn't always that way, though.  When I was going up, we never even thought of shopping on Labor Day. Anyway, stores remained closed on holidays, even if we wanted to shop, we couldn't.  Boy, times sure have changed haven't they.?

After fifty years of toil, this is my first year that I am not out there in the workforce, and what I am wishing on this day is that our government and those who run it to honor us who did our time as well.  Take Medicare, for example. Almost fifty dollars a month was taken out of each of my paychecks to pay for Medicare.  So, why should I have to pay almost $200 for medical insurance now while those who have never worked are handed medicaid and don't have to pay a cent?  But, I am not going to get into that now.  

Saturday was a stay-in day.  Dusted, swept, mopped, and slept.  Sunday morning I headed out to Church and then headed to the fruit stand.  Not doing anything special today.  I've planned an in-house barbecue with ribs, macaroni salad, potato salad, tossed salad, and for hubby, gondulas and rice.  I figured I'd better put my George Foreman to use.  It's become one of those items that I so badly wanted...until I finally got it.  Then it became just another item taking space on a shelf.  I'd use it more often, but it is such a pain in the butt to clean.  Anyone have any suggestions to make it easier?

Speaking of tips. One thing that saddens me is that the time of summer fruits is almost over, and I am not too keen on the winter fruits.  And, I am doing so good getting fruit into my diet.  I don't want to stop now. Anyone have any tips about freezing fruits such as blueberries and strawberries? Unfortunately, they didn't have any of those little black table grapes I love so much. I guess once this summer is all I will see of them as extra tables were set up for apples of every kind imaginable, a sure sign that fall is on its way.

(My evening snack.  Gone are the days when I'd have a huge bowl of ice cream or an enormous piece of cake)

Wishing you all a very happy Labor Day.

Under the spreading chestnut tree
The village smithy stands;
The smith a mighty man is he
With large and sinewy hands.
And the muscles of his brawny arms
Are strong as iron bands.
He earns whatever he can,
His brow is wet with honest sweat,
And looks the whole world in the face,
For he owes not any man.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow