Every year one thing remains the same around the holidays, people everywhere have to decide at what point before the big day they’re going to go out and hunt down a Christmas tree· Look for an Evergreen Day is about the last opportunity you have if you haven’t already gotten yours to ensure you have a tree for the Holidays· Even if you’ve already got your tree for this year, this is a great opportunity to go out and familiarize yourself with the other types of Evergreens in your neighborhood, and discover that these regal giants are around you all year round.
Look for an Evergreen Day was originally established by the National Arborist Association to create a day to appreciate the beauty of these trees outside of the confines of merely being bedecked with glittering lights and ornaments· Even in the depths of winter these noble trees keep their foliage, providing that wonderful green and white contrast that is so representative of deep winter.
Evergreens have played an important role in many societies throughout the ages, selected for religious observances due to their seemingly eternal nature even in a season of death· But that’s not the only place they’re represented, the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest were entirely reliant on the red cedar for multiple aspects of their culture· Whether they were making clothing, fishing line, ropes, or building their homes or canoes, the red cedar was vital a vital part of their lives.
Going back even further, most people have heard about how Socrates was made to drink a glass of hemlock tea, which he did with his normal unflinching nature· Hemlocks are a shade tolerant evergreen with short striped needles· As you can tell, knowing the difference between your evergreens could one day save your life!
Obviously, if you haven’t gotten your tree yet, then Look for an Evergreen Day is when it should happen· By understanding the difference between Blue Spruce, Douglas Fir, and the dozens of other varieties of Christmas Tree available, you’ll know which ones will have the most even spread, which ones will be the most dense, and will best compliment your home and decorating scheme.
thanks, heide
Word of the Day
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| Definition: | (noun) A severe scolding. | ||
| Synonyms: | castigation, bawling out, chewing out, dressing down, upbraiding, earful | ||
| Usage: | When he was caught chewing gum in class, he knew he would have to endure a going-over from the teacher. | ||
thanks, shelley
History
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 | The World Cup has been held every fourth year since 1930, except during WWII. The international soccer tournament's original prize was officially renamed the Jules Rimet Trophy in 1946 in honor of the former Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) president, who stipulated that the first team to win the World Cup three times could keep the trophy in perpetuity. Brazil earned this right in 1970, but, in 1983, the trophy was stolen while on display there. | ||
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 | Encouraged by her father, a circus acrobat, Édith Giovanna Gassion began singing in the streets of Paris at age 15. She was eventually discovered by a cabaret owner who gave her her first nightclub job, taught her the basics of stage presence, and suggested she change her name to Piaf, Parisian slang for "sparrow." As her popularity grew, she began performing in clubs across Europe and the Americas and appeared in several films. | ||
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 | This Ancient Roman Winter Solstice festival began on December 17 and lasted for seven days. It was held in honor of Saturn, the father of the gods, and was characterized by the suspension of discipline and reversal of the usual order. Grudges and quarrels were forgotten; businesses, courts, and schools closed down; and masquerading or change of dress between the sexes often occurred. The festivities were characterized by various kinds of excesses—giving rise to the modern use of the term "saturnalian," meaning "a period of unrestrained license and revelry." | ||
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Cancer May Be More Within Our Control Than We Tho...
Some cancers may be due to 'bad luck.' But even more of the risk may come from the choices we make every day.
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1732 - Benjamin Franklin began publishing "Poor Richard's Almanac."
1843 - Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" was first published in England.
1871 - Corrugated paper was patented by Albert L. Jones.
1903 - The Williamsburg Bridge opened in New York City. It opened as the largest suspension bridge on Earth and remained the largest until 1924. It was also the first major suspension bridge to use steel towers to support the main cable.
1917 - The first games of the new National Hockey League (NHL) were played. Five teams made up the league: Toronto Arenas, Ottawa Senators, Quebec Bulldogs, the Montreal Canadiens and the Montreal Wanderers.
1918 - Robert Ripley began his "Believe It or Not" column in "The New York Globe".
1959 - Walter Williams died in Houston, TX, at the age of 117. He was said to be the last surviving veteran of the U.S. Civil War.
1984 - Ted Hughes was appointed England's poet laureate.
1990 - Bo Jackson (Los Angeles Raiders) became the first athlete to be chosen for All Star Games in two sports.
DAILY SQU-EEK
If You Were Born Today, December 19
You are an attractive and magnetic person with a flair for the dramatic and exceptional creative powers. While you come across as gentle and patient, you can also be very determined and wilful. Once you find the path that feels right, you put your heart and soul into whatever you do. Perceptive and intuitive, you are a people watcher--forever curious about the world around you, and sometimes self-centered in your restlessness for new experiences. Your imagination is highly developed, and sometimes overly so! Famous people born today: Robert Urich, Edith Piaf, Jake Gyllenhaal, Alyssa Milano.
| Picture of the day | |
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SMS Odin was the lead ship of her class of coastal defense ships built for the German Imperial Navy. Named for the Norse god, Odin was built by the Kaiserliche Werft Danzig shipyard between 1893 and 1896, and was armed with a main battery of three 24-centimeter (9.4 in) guns. She served in the German fleet throughout the 1890s and was rebuilt in 1901–1903. She served in the VI Battle Squadron after the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, but saw no action. Odin was demobilized in 1915 and used as a tender thereafter. After the war, she was rebuilt as a merchant ship and served in this capacity until 1935, when she was broken up for scrap.
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Stone-Cold Remarkable
Photograph by Daria Chuvaeva, National Geographic
While on a trip to Portugal, Daria Chuvaeva “heard from a local barman [about] an unusual stone house located in the Fafe Mountains,” she says. Chuvaeva decided to journey to the offbeat dwelling, known as the Casa do Penedo, and this image is the result of her effort. “Even if I got lost a few times, I can say that it was definitely worth it,” she writes. “There was something mysterious in that boulder house, [and] I [took] photos of it for a few hours.”
knit, CHRISTMAS
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Christmas Elf pattern by Rebecca Danger
Gauge 26 stitches and 40 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch in the round, blocked
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Preview by Yahoo
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knit
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Lerwick Roofline pattern by Plucky Knitter Design
The picturesque town of Lerwick sits amidst rolling green hills dotted with hardy sheep and bold, stocky ponies. After a day spent wandering the hills of Shetland, ...
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knit, CHRISTMAS
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Knubbelchen pattern by pezi888
…kann kuscheln, trösten, Mut machen oder einfach ein Lächeln aufs Gesicht zaubern…
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knit
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Robins in a Row pattern by Ange Smith & Sally McCollin
Sizes available Finished bust: 35.5, 39, 42.5, 47, 49.5, 54 / 90, 99, 108, 119, 127, 137
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knit, CHRISTMAS
crochet, CHRISTMAS
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Snowman Infinity Scarf pattern by Kim Guzman
Gauge 13 stitches and 9 rows = 4 inches in stitch pattern
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crochet
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Mini Panes of Change pattern by Frank O'Randle
This is a written Tapestry crochet pattern that is relatively easy to do once you get the hang of switching back and forth between your color and black.
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crochet, CHRISTMAS
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Christmas Tree pattern by CreativityClaudia
hook it! add to faves to queue About this pattern Christmas Tree by CreativityClaudia average rating of 3.0 from 1 vote average difficulty from 1 rating 5 pro...
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crochet
crochet, CHRISTMAS
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Posh Pooch Designs Dog Clothes: Freebie Friday - Posh P...
Freebie Friday! Posh Pete Elf Doll Crochet Pattern By Sara Sach I designed this pattern last year. I like the Elf on shelf idea, but I found the Elf to be a little...
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RECIPES, CHRISTMAS
Meringue Candy Canes Recipe
tasteofhome
TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. Bake: 50 min. + standing
MAKES: 48 servings
Ingredients
- 3 egg whites
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
- Red paste food coloring
Nutritional Facts
1 cookie equals 13 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 3 mg sodium, 3 g carbohydrate, 0 fiber, trace protein. Diabetic Exchange: Free food.
Directions
- In a large bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Add cream of tartar; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high until stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved, about 6 minutes. Beat in peppermint extract.
- Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry bag; insert star tip #21. With a new paint brush, brush three evenly spaced 1/4-in. strips of red food coloring on the inside of the bag from the tip to three-fourths of the way to the top of the bag. Carefully fill bag with meringue.
- Pipe 3-in. candy canes onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake at 225° for 25 minutes; rotate baking sheets to a different oven rack. Bake 25 minutes longer or until firm to the touch. Turn oven off; leave cookies in oven with door ajar for at least 1 hour or until cool. Yield: 4 dozen.
CROCKPOT RECIPE, CHRISTMAS
The Frugal Girls
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Ingredients
- 2 pkgs. Hillshire Farm Beef Keilbasa {13 oz. each}
- 1 bottle Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce {18 oz.}
- 6 oz. Coca-Cola
Instructions
- Slice Kielbasa into round pieces approx. ¼ inch – ⅓ inch thick
- Place sliced Kielbasa pieces in Crockpot
- In small mixing bowl, combine BBQ Sauce and Coke, and stir well.
- Pour sauce mixture over Kielbasa in Crockpot.
- Cook on LOW for 2.5 hours, or until hot.
- Serve with toothpicks as a delicious appetizer or party treat! YUM!
CRAFTS, CHRISTMAS
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CHILDREN'S CORNER ... CHRISTMAS
Frozen Inspired Snowflake Ornaments
White snowflakes embellished with turquoise and translucent white glitter add a beautiful touch of color to the Christmas tree. This snowflake ornament exercised fine-motor skills and gave my boys some practice with patience. (They wanted to get right to painting, but the glue was still too wet!)
Materials Needed:
- Mini Craft Sticks
- Glitter Sample Pack, Winter
- Tacky Craft Glue
- Glossy White Acrylic Paint
- Turquoise Ribbon
Directions:
1. Invite your child to glue 4 mini craft sticks together into the shape of a snowflake. Allow the snowflake to dry completely before painting.
2. Paint the snowflakes. Sprinkle turquoise and translucent white glitter over the wet paint. Allow the snowflakes to dry completely.
3. Use the glue to attach a loop of ribbon onto the back of each snowflake.
PUZZLE, CHRISTMAS
QUOTE
