Read the original post "Heart Shaped Cherry Hand Pies" on A Modern Homestead. These precious heart-shaped cherry hand pies are perfect for Valentine's Day dessert‚ lunch box treats‚ or just because. The sweet and tart cherry filling pairs perfectly with the buttery‚ flakey crust for a delicious treat everyone will love. I have to admit I love hand pies of all sorts. Whether it's a pile of pumpkin... Read More The post "Heart Shaped Cherry Hand Pies" appeared first on A Modern Homestead.

A kitten hiding in a wall decided to trust when a kind person spent an hour with her in the rain. Arya the kittenKristenAlli‚ an animal rescuer‚ received a call from a local cat colony carer who spotted a kitten coming in and out of a wall at a strip mall.The kitten had taken refuge in the corner where there was a missing brick. When Alli arrived‚ she found the tabby hidden away in the hole and too afraid to come out."It was going to be so cold that night‚ so I went right away and spent an hour in the rain coaxing her out of the wall‚" Alli told Love Meow. The kitten was seen coming in and out of a wallAlli"She would mew at me and reach her paws out to me‚ so I knew I just needed to give her time. She wanted so desperately to be out of the elements."Through words of encouragement‚ the kitten began to warm up to her rescuer. Slowly‚ she wriggled her way towards Alli. After an hour‚ she mustered the courage to make her tentative steps out of the wall. Arya hid in the spot where a brick was missingAlliAfter a few pets‚ the wariness in her eyes melted away. "I had a carrier with me‚ but all she wanted was to be held and loved."The kitten begged for attention‚ crawled into Alli's arms‚ and held her tight with both front paws. She switched on her purr engine and leaned into her rescuer for comfort. After an hour of coaxing‚ the kitten came out from hidingAlli"She purred and made biscuits in my arms the whole way home. This tiny girl has a huge heart and wants nothing more than to get pets and love."The kitten named Arya didn't have a family and had been fending for herself on the streets. Alli got in touch with Kristen‚ a foster volunteer for St. Francis Society Animal Rescue‚ who didn't hesitate to take her in. All she wanted was to be held and lovedAlliShortly after arriving at her foster home‚ Arya was on Kristen's shoulder‚ nuzzling against her cheek. She felt so content that she stretched her toes on her foster mom with purrs rumbling in her chest."She was sweet immediately and wanted and still wants nothing but love. Pets‚ kisses‚ cuddles - she wants it all‚" Kristen shared with Love Meow. AlliAt first‚ Arya was guarded around other kittens‚ hissing and growling at them. She was starved of human affection and demanded attention from her foster family whenever she could.When Kristen walks into the room‚ Arya greets her with whiny meows. Her purr motor starts running the second Kristen looks at her. "She is such a love bug." She loves people and is an attention-seekerKristen"Every day‚ she is getting more and more comfy with her fellow kitten foster friends and is even eating with them now."Arya loves nothing more than to purr and cuddle. She's affectionate‚ gentle‚ and always ready for a hug. She fawns over her people and follows them on their heels if she is not snuggling in their arms. Kristen"Her purrs are the sweetest music you'll ever hear."The tabby girl is fond of her comfy beds and soft blanket fort‚ where she sleeps like royalty. She enjoys sitting on a cat tree by the window‚ watching the day go by while soaking up the warm rays. KristenArya is ready to look for a forever family who will love and cherish her endlessly‚ a dream home where she can be the center of attention‚ the princess of her castle. KristenShare this story with your friends. More on Arya (in FL) and Kristen's fosters on Instagram. More from St Francis Society Animal Rescue on Instagram and Facebook.Related story: Two Kittens Seek Help Together‚ One of Them Appears Blind but Days later They Discover He Can See

'Take My Sanctuary City...PLEASE!'

Kamala Harris granted a softball YouTube interview to Katie Couric‚ who delighted in her abortion advocacy and asked her to explain just how reporters allegedly aren't talking up Biden's accomplishments. What? We're in another cycle of reporters complaining that the economy is doing great‚ and the voters just aren't accepting their spin. It began with several softballs on abortion. Couric noted Kamala was embarking on a Reproductive Freedoms Tour "to highlight the harm caused by abortion bans and restrictive laws" after Roe v. Wade was repealed. Kamala then answered for more than five minutes. That's an obvious sign of a softball interview. The answers go on as long as the subject wants. Couric also told the vice president "I also think there's a lot of disinformation about late-term abortions‚" mostly that they happen. Liberals will also say the issue is phony because the late ones are a small percentage (but there are still thousands). They assume that every one of them was very serious and based on terrible medical deformities. The questions about immigration and Israel were tougher‚ but then it shifted back to a sales job. Couric cited the big-spending legislation passed -- like infrastructure -- and touted how Biden was responsible for "low unemployment‚ millions of jobs created‚ inflation down‚ the stock market up. You don't hear that from reporters‚ do you?" Actually‚ you do. Many of them are wrong for claiming "inflation's down." The rate has slowed‚ but prices continue to go up. Bill D'Agostino made a video montage of all the TV journalists touting a "fantastic" economy and lamenting that voters are apparently too stupid to realize it. CNN host John Berman even suggested last summer that voters just "like being unhappy." That was less embarrassing than Stephen Colbert putting on sunglasses and playing the bongos and claiming "you're drowning in dough‚ but you don't feel it because it's not yet...bread!"  Enjoy the podcast below‚ or wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Texas state officials rejected demands from the Biden administration to allow federal agents access to a border crossing area where the state has been setting up razor wire to stem the flow of illegal alien border crossings. The letter sent to President Joe Biden Friday was the latest in a feud between the federal government and the right of Texas to defend itself from illegal immigration. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling said that the federal government had the right to take down the razor wire. Ken Paxton‚ the attorney general of Texas‚ refuted the government's claims to deserving access to Eagle Pass. "As I said before‚ this office will continue to defend Texas's efforts to protect its southern border against every effort by the Biden Administration to undermine the State's constitutional right of self-defense. You should advise your clients to join us in those efforts by doing their job and following the law‚" wrote Paxton. "Your request is hereby denied‚" he added. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott laid out his rationale for defying the federal government in a statement made Wednesday. "The federal government has broken the compact between the United States and the States. The Executive Branch of the United States has a constitutional duty to enforce federal laws protecting States‚ including immigration laws on the books right now. President Biden has refused to enforce those laws and has even violated them. The result is that he has smashed records for illegal immigration‚" wrote Abbott in part. "That authority is the supreme law of the land and supersedes any federal statutes to the contrary‚" Abbott continued. "The Texas National Guard‚ the Texas Department of Public Safety‚ and other Texas personnel are acting on that authority‚ as well as state law‚ to secure the Texas border."Many Republicans have rushed to back Abbott's defiance while some on the left have called on Biden to federalize the National Guard of Texas in order to reassert federal power. Paxton's letter Friday reiterates the claim that the actions of the government of Texas are made legally. "Once again‚ I respectfully suggest that any time you might spend suing Texas should be redirected toward enforcing the immigration laws Congress already has on the books‚" he wrote. Here's more about the feud: The federal government has the 'upper hand' legally over Texas: Jonathan Turley www.youtube.com Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

President Joe Biden posted on Friday what he called a bipartisan deal on new border security measures‚ but it was immediately criticized by politicians and commentators on the right. "For too long‚ we all know the border's been broken. It's long past time to fix it‚" read Biden's statement. "That's why two months ago‚ I instructed my team to begin negotiations with a bipartisan group of Senators to seriously‚ and finally‚ address the border crisis." He went on to say that the bill would give him emergency authority to shut down the border when it becomes "overwhelmed‚" and he would use it on the first day of receiving those powers. "Further‚ Congress needs to finally provide the funding I requested in October to secure the border‚" the statement continued. "This includes an additional 1‚300 border patrol agents‚ 375 immigration judges‚ 1‚600 asylum officers‚ and over 100 cutting-edge inspection machines to help detect and stop fentanyl at our southwest border." The proposal was lambasted by many on social media. "Extraordinary dishonesty. Suicidal politics‚" responded Charles C.W. Cooke of National Review. "If Biden is asking for the deal you know there's no border security in it. The last 3 years prove that‚" read a missive from Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas. "Biden’s actions prove his words are lies. Biden’s 3 years of open borders policy has incited a historic invasion of the US of estimated 10 million illegals &; he’s actively fighting to stop Texas from defending our borders. His 'deal' allows 1.8 million more illegals per year‚" replied Jim DeMint of the Conservative Partnership Institute."No. SHUT IT DOWN until we have a President who will actually secure our border. Biden wants us to green light his border policies into law by ok-ing 1.8M migrants per year. We must do better‚" responded Sen. Rick Scott of Florida. Former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger saw an upside for Biden if Republicans reject the proposal. "The President has a real opportunity to flip the script on the Republicans if they reject this and he keeps hammering and negotiating‚" he said. At least one liberal activist called the plan evil. "Democrats are trying to beat Republicans by out-evil-ing them and it’s created a more grim and dangerous and hostile environment than I ever imagined possible‚" said Alycia Castilo of Equity Action. Also on Friday‚ Texas officials continued to defy the Biden administration by setting up razor wire at the border in order to keep migrants from crossing despite a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court that backed the federal government. Here's more about the deal: Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has relased data showing a staggering amount of southwest border encounters during December."In December 2023‚ the U.S. Border Patrol recorded 249‚785 encounters between ports of entry along the southwest border. CBP's total encounters along the southwest border in December were 302‚034‚" CBP reported.In a statement issued on Friday‚ President Joe Biden used the term "border crisis" twice."For too long‚ we all know the border's been broken. It's long past time to fix it.That's why two months ago‚ I instructed my team to begin negotiations with a bipartisan group of Senators to seriously‚ and finally‚ address the border crisis‚" he said in the statement. "If you're serious about the border crisis‚ pass a bipartisan bill and I will sign it."GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah tweeted‚ "If this deal has already 'been negotiated‚' why can't senators see it?" Lee then added‚ "'Democracy dies in darkness.'"Border security is critical to public safety. For example‚ U.S. Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens recently posted about two child sex offenders who were apprehended by authorities."USBP agents in Del Rio‚ TX &; Rio Grande Valley‚ TX nabbed two child sex offenders with prior felony convictions. These subjects were caught trying to re-enter the U.S. illegally. Agents being out on patrol is what stopped them from getting to your communities‚" Owens noted. — (@) Drug trafficking across the U.S.-Mexico border‚ including the smuggling of the dangerous drug fentanyl‚ is also a major issue. The Drug Enforcement Administration says that the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels are behind much of the fentanyl flowing into the U.S. "The cartels purchase chemicals from companies in China‚ mass produce the fentanyl in Mexico‚ and then traffic and distribute finished fentanyl widely throughout the United States‚" the DEA has noted.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

An aspiring world-class dancer died suddenly after eating cookies that were mislabeled. The attorney for the deceased professional dancer said her sudden death was "100% preventable and avoidable."Órla Baxendale moved to New York City from the United Kingdom six years ago "to pursue her dream career as a world-class dancer‚" according to a statement released by the attorney representing the grieving family. However‚ tragedy struck on Jan. 11‚ when she suffered a fatal allergic reaction to eating cookies that were mislabeled. Baxendale was reportedly performing in Connecticut‚ where she consumed a cookie purchased from a Stew Leonard's grocery store. Baxendale allegedly suffers from a severe nut allergy‚ so‚ she is said to have checked the ingredients of the cookie before she ate it. "Made sure there wasn't anything in terms of peanuts on the label. There wasn't‚ so safely‚ she thought‚ she had a bite or two of the cookie‚ and within a minute started to go into anaphylactic shock‚" said Marijo Adimey — an attorney representing the family. Baxendale purportedly ate vanilla Florentine cookies from Stew Leonard's — which are said to have peanuts in them. On Thursday‚ Stew Leonard's — which is working with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — announced that approximately 500 Florentine cookies sold had been recalled. The cookies were allegedly only sold between Nov. 6 and Dec. 31‚ 2023‚ at the Stew Leonard’s grocery stores in Danbury and Newington‚ Connecticut. "The cookies contain undeclared peanuts and eggs‚" Stew Leonard's said in a statement. "People with an allergy or severe sensitivity to peanuts or eggs run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. One death has been reported that may be associated with the mislabeled product." Stew Leonard Jr. said‚ "We're just devastated‚ very sad. It was a holiday cookie... we bought it from an outside supplier‚ and unfortunately this supplier changed the recipe and started going from soy nuts to peanuts."Baxendale's allergy to peanuts was so severe that she allegedly "carried EpiPens wherever she went.""Órla's family‚ devastated by this unimaginable loss‚ wishes to express their gratitude for the outpouring of support and tributes from around the world‚" the lawyers said‚ according to WNBC-TV. "She was a radiant and brave soul who pursued her dreams relentlessly‚ leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of those who knew her.""Our thoughts and sympathies go out to the family‚ friends‚ and the global dance community mourning the loss of this extraordinary individual‚" the statement added. The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Manhattan said in a statement on Thursday: The Ailey School is deeply saddened by the untimely passing of alumna Órla Baxendale. Órla was born and raised in Manchester UK and moved to New York in 2018 to join the Ailey family as a Scholarship student. Since then‚ she had become an integral part of the New York dance world‚ pursuing her passion‚ shining her bright light‚ and doing what she loved most. She danced with numerous companies and choreographers‚ most recently as a member of MOMIX. Her loss will be profoundly felt by her friends‚ colleagues‚ and all who knew her. We will remember her for her joyful spirit and boundless talent. Our thoughts are with her family at this devastating time.The family said‚ "She was a radiant and brave soul who pursued her dreams relentlessly‚ leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of those who knew her."Officials from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection and the Connecticut Department of Public Health are investigating the fatal incident.DCP Food Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli stated‚ "This is a heartbreaking tragedy that should never have happened. DCP Food Investigators are working hard with the Department of Public Health‚ local health departments‚ officials in New York State and New Jersey‚ the Food and Drug Administration and Stew Leonard's to determine how this error happened and prevent a similar tragedy from occurring in the future. Our condolences go out to the family affected by this incident.""Correct labeling so that people who have food allergies can appropriately protect themselves is of utmost importance. I am devastated to learn of this incident and will work with partners to ensure that we can protect people with food allergies. I cannot stress enough the importance of food allergy awareness so that an avoidable tragedy like this doesn't happen again‚" said DPH Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani. "We will continue to work with all our partners — including restaurants and retailers — to provide education on the dangers of food allergens so that best practices are being followed for the safety of the residents of Connecticut."Adimey said‚ "Her death was completely‚ 100% preventable and avoidable. It's why packaging is so important. Her death was completely‚ 100% preventable and avoidable. It's why packaging is so important." Death of dancer who ate mislabeled cookie called "100% preventable" www.youtube.com Like Blaze News? Circumvent the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Chris Cillizza Practically Herky Jumps In Excitement Over Joe Biden's 'Be Best' Tweet

'LITERALLY an Infringement': Latest Gun Control Bill in Maryland is About as Popular as You'd Expect