Monday, December 14, 2015

Monkey Day DECEMBER 14, 2015

DIANE'S CORNER ... Celebrate Monkey Day

A day for monkeying about, Monkey Day is celebrated across the world by acting like monkeys, but has a more serious undertone about raising awareness of the theory of evolution, medical research and animal rights.

thanks, patty

Word of the Day

pellucid 


Definition:(adjective) Admitting the passage of light; transparent or translucent.
Synonyms:transparent, crystal clear, limpid, crystalline, lucid
Usage:The water in the fountain, pellucid as crystal, was alive with myriads of gold and silver fishes.


History

World's Tallest Vehicular Bridge Formally Dedicated (2004)


The Millau Viaduct is the world's highest road bridge, peaking at a height of 1,125 ft (343 m) and stretching across 8,071 ft (2,460 m). Designed by British architect Norman Foster and French structural engineer Michel Virlogeux, the cable-stayed, multispan steel structure crosses the Tarn River near the town of Millau in southern France. After more than a decade of planning and construction, the bridge was inaugurated by French president Jacques Chirac in 2004

Tycho Brahe (1546)


Kidnapped by his uncle when he was a toddler and raised to be a scholar, Brahe went on to become the most prominent astronomer of the late 16th century. After inheriting his father's and uncle's estates, he built a small observatory and, in 1572, discovered and studied a supernova. Funded by Denmark's King Frederick II, he built a larger observatory and accurately charted the positions of some 777 fixed stars.

Halcyon Days


The ancient Greeks called the seven days preceding and the seven days following the Winter Solstice the "Halcyon Days." Greek mythology has it that Halcyone (orAlcyone), Ceyx's wife and one of Aeolus's daughters, drowned herself when she learned her husband had drowned. The gods took pity on her and transformed them both into kingfishers. Zeus commanded the seas to be still during these days, and it was considered a period when sailors could navigate in safety. Today, the expression "halcyon days" has come to mean a period of tranquillity, often used as a nostalgic reference to times past.

In Smog-Choked China, Drivers Check Out Electric Cars


The heavy smog shrouding Beijing this week has proved to be a boon for China's nascent electric car market, with some dealers saying inquiries about all-electric models are up by almost a tenth.
READ MORE:

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1503 - Physician, astrologer and clairvoyant Nostradamus was born at St. Remy, Provence, France. 

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1900 - Professor Max Planck of Berlin University revealed his revolutionary Quantum Theory. 

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1911 - Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first man to reach the South Pole. He reached the destination 35 days ahead of Captain Robert F. Scott. 

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 1984 - Howard Cosell retired from the NFL's Monday Night Football. 

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1985 - Wilma Mankiller became the first woman to lead a major American Indian tribe as she formally took office as principal chief of the Cherokee Nation of OKlahoma. 

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1995 - AIDS patient Jeff Getty received the first-ever bone-marrow transplant from a baboon. 

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 1999 - Charles M. Schulz announced he was retiring the "Peanuts" comic strip. The last original "Peanuts" comic strip was published on February 13, 2000. 





 DAILY SQU-EEK





If You Were Born Today, December 14

You are a spirited, sensitive, and intelligent person who has a true spirit for adventure, yet a down-to-earth side to you that is unmistakable. Enterprising and ambitious, you are also very versatile, sometimes to the point of leaving a trail of unfinished projects and endeavors behind you! You need to experiment and mix things up a little in order to feel like you are truly living. Intensely curious, you never stop learning. Because you are easily bored, there are times that you have the urge to stir up a bit of controversy just to get some sort of debate started. Others find you fascinating and multi-talented. Famous people born today: Patty Duke, Nostradamus, Margaret Chase Smith, Jane Burkin.



Picture of the day
Lee Remick
Lee Remick (1935–1991) was an American film and television actress. She made her film debut in 1957 with Elia Kazan's A Face in the Crowd, and went on to appear in more than twenty films, including Anatomy of a Murder(1959), Days of Wine and Roses (1962), and The Omen (1976).


Picture of a monk walking along a corridor in Myanmar

Staircase of Light

Photograph by Joe Leung, National Geographic
While visiting a temple in Myanmar, Joe Leung caught this moment of reflection. “While we were waiting to enter the temple, a monk walked slowly toward the temple,” Joe Leung writes. “Suddenly, he looked back to us. I instantly felt that he seems to be looking back at his life.”




knit, CHRISTMAS
Holiday Heart Ornaments

knit

knit, CHRISTMAS

knit
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Cowichan Squirrel Vest pattern by Pierrot (Gosyo Co., Lt...
Both English and Japanese versions are fully charted using standard knitting and/or crochet symbols. Japanese version available here.
Preview by Yahoo
 


knit, CHRISTMAS
 
 
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Jingle Bells Door Hanger pattern by Katherine Eng
Crochet a festive door hanger to welcome guests with the happy sound of jingle bells! Whatever colors you use, it is sure to add a happy note to your holidays.
Preview by Yahoo
 



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crochet, CHRISTMAS

crochet
Sc Patience Shawl pattern by Weihnachtsfreak Daniela

crochet, CHRISTMAS, 3 - 12 mths
Santasuit_small

crochet

crochet, CHRISTMAS
Dancing Snowmen Throw




RECIPES
thanks, shelley

HOMEMADE MUSHROOM SOUP

artandthekitchen

This Homemade Mushroom Soup is so exceptional you’ll never want to eat canned again.
Homemade Mushroom Soup
On a recent trip to the grocery store I came across an amazing variety pack of mushrooms. Tucked away in my binder full of recipes I had saved this delicious looking recipe for Homemade Mushroom soup from Season with Spice. These mushrooms were perfect for trying this recipe. The recipe exceeded my expectations and is now, by far, my favorite mushroom soup recipe. A hint of  nutmeg adds incredible, but subtle flavor. This recipe serves 2 so be sure to double or more, for second helpings or to feed the family.
homemade mushroom soup
A exotic variety of mushroom added delicious flavour to my soup.
Homemade Mushroom Soup
HOMEMADE MUSHROOM SOUP
 
PREP TIME
20 mins
COOK TIME
20 mins
TOTAL TIME
40 mins
 
Author: 
Serves: 2
INGREDIENTS
  • 2 cups (300g) fresh mushrooms assorted variety
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic (very finely chopped)
  • 1 tbsp. butter
  • 1 tbsp. fresh thyme chopped or 1 tsp. dried
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup chicken or vegetable stock
  • 1 tbsp. flour dissolved in 1 tbsp. water
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup milk
  • dash of nutmeg
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • fresh parsley or chives for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Heat olive oil in sauce pan. Add butter and lightly sauté garlic on medium heat.
  2. Add mushrooms, thyme, bay leaf and worcestershire sauce.
  3. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes or until moisture from mushrooms has evaporated.
  4. Add in chicken broth, stir occasionally until broth boils, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
  5. Add diluted flour, stirring constantly until soup thickens.
  6. Season with salt and dash of nutmeg.
  7. Add cream and milk, bring to slow simmer for another 5 minutes.
  8. Serve with fresh ground pepper and garnish with chopped parsley or chives.

 


CROCKPOT RECIPE
stephanie o'dea

Broccoli With Toasted Garlic and Hazelnuts 

CrockPot Recipe

This is a lemony broccoli that is such a nice change from heavy winter-ish vegetables. The garlic adds a great depth of flavor, and hazelnuts provide a nutty burst. These are some yummy veggies. 

The Ingredients. 

2 pounds broccoli florets 
1 cup large raw hazelnuts 
1 head garlic, peeled (12 cloves)
2 tablespoons olive oil 
2 lemons, juiced 
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 
1/2 teaspoon pepper 

The Directions. 

Use a 4 quart crockpot for best results. Wash and trim broccoli, and add tocrockpot. Peel garlic, and add with salt and pepper. Add hazelnuts. Squeeze lemon juice evenly over the top. Toss with wooden spoons.

Cover and cook on high for 2 hours, or on low for about 4. This is finished when broccoli has reached desired tenderness. I like my vegetables al dente. 

The Verdict.

This was a great side dish. The lemon is the predominant flavor, and complements the hazelnuts, broccoli, and garlic wonderfully. The kids picked out just the broccoli pieces.

CRAFT, CHRISTMAS

Christmas stars from string


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handsonworkshop

Hand made Christmas decorations in neutrals add a smart artisanal look to your Christmas decorating. Here’s an idea for making craft-inspired decorations from string or jute twine. They look lovely on a tree, a branch, and even hanging in a cluster.
You could try choosing three colours (including natural) and making lots in three or four shapes and just covering your tree with those for a simplified crafty look. You can also try bunching them together for a centerpiece or table decoration. In another tutorial to come we’ll show you how to added them to a Christmas wreath to hang on your door.
This technique came from Lynn Pavey and uses very simple materials you most likely have on hand – jute or cotton twine and a cornflour and water paste. The secret is to wrap them around a frame which creates the shape and let them dry. The frames can be made with toothpicks plugged into a corkboard, or by wrapping the string around jars (covered in a strip of baking paper first).

Materials you’ll need

  • Cotton string, jute twine or wool in your preferred colours
  • 1 sheet of paper for the shape templates
  • Baking paper wrapped around jars and taped closed
  • A pastry brush, or brush with wide head
  • Ruler
  • Pencil
  • ¼ cup cornflour (see recipe)
  • water
Recipe for cornflour mixture: mix ¼ cup of cornflour to ½ cup of water to make a paste. In a small saucepan add this mix to 1 +1/2 cup (375ml) cold water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 3 – 4 minutes until mixture turns translucent. Stirring continuously. Take off heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Don’t leave too long as a surface skin will form. This keeps for a week in the fridge. Gentle rewarm slightly and remove any skin that has formed.

DIY Tutorial – Christmas String stars





























CHILDREN'S CORNER ... CHRISTMAS craft
thanks, ara


PUZZLE, CHRISTMAS


QUOTE
There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship. - Thomas Aquinas








Michael Phelps has won more gold medals than 97 of the countries that have ever competed in the Olympics! A rare albino wallaby was spotted in Northamptonshire, England—nearly 9,400 miles from its native home of Australia! The chocolate river in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory was made from 15,000 gallons of water, chocolate, and cream!





"Welcome" in Karaim (Trakai Lithuania) - Choš kiel'di







CLEVER, CHRISTMAS

thanks, patty



EYE OPENER
thanks, susan, west coast correspondent





Image result for see you soon




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