The violin is an incredibly versatile musical instrument, allowing for music of great passion and incredible delicacy. Violin Day salutes violinists, and encourages you to listen to music featuring violins. If you’re feeling particularly brave, why not try to learn to play?
thanks, shelley
Word of the Day
| |||
Definition: | (noun) A confused mass; a jumble. | ||
Synonyms: | clutter, jumble, mare's nest, muddle, smother | ||
Usage: | Surrounded by a welter of papers and magazines, Susan began work on her scrapbook. |
History
| |||
After appearing in television variety shows during the 1950s, Van Dyke made his Broadway debut and earned his first Tony Award starring in Bye, Bye Birdie. He won several Emmy Awards for the successful television comedy series The Dick Van Dyke Show and also danced and sang in the films Mary Poppins and Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang. |
| |||
In Japan, many people choose to give their houses a thorough cleaning at year's end. Worn or broken furniture and utensils and items that have been lost are replaced. New tatami mats, the thick straw mats on which people sit and sleep, are brought in, and damage to the paper sliding doors in traditional Japanese houses is repaired. In some areas, it is customary to tie pounded rice cakes (mochi-bana, "rice-cake flowers") to the branches of willow trees as an offering to the gods. Friends and co-workers may also throw "year-end forgetting parties" known as bonen-kai. |
| |||
While cheerleaders have a low injury rate compared to other high school sports, accidents that do occur may be more likely to result in a concussion, a new study found. |
1642 - New Zealand was discovered by Dutch navigator Abel Tasman.
1809 - The first abdominal surgical procedure was performed in Danville, KY, on Jane Todd Crawford. The operation was performed without an anesthetic.
1884 - Percy Everitt received a patent for the first coin-operated weighing machine.
1918 - U.S. President Wilson arrived in France, becoming the first chief executive to visit a European country while holding office.
1928 - George Gershwin's musical work "An American in Paris" was premiered by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
1961 - Anna Mary Robertson Moses, "Grandma Moses," passed away at the age of 101.
1989 - South African President F.W. de Klerk met for the first time with imprisoned African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela, at de Klerk's office in Cape Town.
thanks, susan b.
DAILY SQU-EEK
If You Were Born Today, December 13
You are a very versatile person with an adventurous spirit, yet you have a very grounded outlook and a practical streak. Material success is likely in your life time, as you are hard-working and proud. As well, you are filled with ideas, and they're usually quite marketable! A true problem solver, you love to find answers and help others to do so as well. There is a distinctly private element to your love life. You are often attracted to all that is forbidden. Famous people born today: Jamie Foxx, Ted Nugent, Dick Van Dyke, Christopher Plummer, Cathy Rigby, Taylor Swift, Steve Buscemi.
Picture of the day | |
Cliff Dwellers is a painting by George Bellows completed in 1913. It shows a crowd on New York City’s Lower East Side, with people spilling out of tenement buildings onto the streets, stoops, and fire escapes. The work was first displayed at the 1913 Armory Show, and is currently in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
|
Flock of Dust
Photograph by Abdullah Metin, National Geographic
A group of herders tend to their flock of sheep on the dusty roads near Nemrut Mountain in Turkey. “I took this photo on a hot summer day,” writes Abudllah Metin. “It was definitely a breathtaking atmosphere … I did not want to miss this moment.”
knit, CHRISTMAS
knit
knit, CHRISTMAS
Cat and Dog Holiday Ornaments
crochet, CHRISTMAS
crochet
crochet, CHRISTMAS
crochet
crochet, CHRISTMAS
RECIPE, CHRISTMAS
CROCKPOT RECIPE
stephanie o'dea
CrockPot Hickory Smoked Brisket
This makes your house smell like you're in the middle of a National Forest----one that allows campfires. I finally got a bottle of liquid smoke. Way back in August, I used some mesquite chips to turn the crockpot into a smoker, and while that worked, this was much easier. I was a little freaked out that liquid smoke contained a bunch of cancer-causing chemicals, and the bottle did not list the ingredients. But it did say "All Natural" on it, and we all know that means that it must be good for you, right? Liquid smoke is gluten-free.
The Ingredients.
3-4 pounds beef brisket, or chuck roast
1/2 cup hickory liquid smoke (or not this much. Maybe 1T or 2T? read comments...)
1/4 cup A-1 steak sauce
1 T celery salt (see note below, I'd stick with a 1/2T)
1/2 T garlic powder
1/2 t pepper
The Directions.
Use a 4 quart crockpot. I used a 6---if you only have a big guy, put a layer of foil down on top of the meat to create a smaller steaming space so your meat doesn't dry out.
Put the meat in your crockpot, add spices to all sides of it. Add A-1 and liquid smoke.
Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or on high for 4-6. Slow and low is better, the meat will shred nicely when cooked for a long period of time. I cooked ours on low for 10 hours, then it was on warm for another 3. I got up WAY too early yesterday...
Serve over mashed potatoes or polenta.
The Verdict.
This tastes like wet beef jerky. It's very smoky, and next time I'll cut the celery salt in half. The smell was amazing in the house after only about 30 minutes, and I found it actually kind of hard to get my work done. The kids ate a ton, and Adam liked it a lot. This is very good, and I am happy that I did finally use liquid smoke.
The Ingredients.
3-4 pounds beef brisket, or chuck roast
1/2 cup hickory liquid smoke (or not this much. Maybe 1T or 2T? read comments...)
1/4 cup A-1 steak sauce
1 T celery salt (see note below, I'd stick with a 1/2T)
1/2 T garlic powder
1/2 t pepper
The Directions.
Use a 4 quart crockpot. I used a 6---if you only have a big guy, put a layer of foil down on top of the meat to create a smaller steaming space so your meat doesn't dry out.
Put the meat in your crockpot, add spices to all sides of it. Add A-1 and liquid smoke.
Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or on high for 4-6. Slow and low is better, the meat will shred nicely when cooked for a long period of time. I cooked ours on low for 10 hours, then it was on warm for another 3. I got up WAY too early yesterday...
Serve over mashed potatoes or polenta.
The Verdict.
This tastes like wet beef jerky. It's very smoky, and next time I'll cut the celery salt in half. The smell was amazing in the house after only about 30 minutes, and I found it actually kind of hard to get my work done. The kids ate a ton, and Adam liked it a lot. This is very good, and I am happy that I did finally use liquid smoke.
CRAFTS, CHRISTMAS
CHILDREN'S CORNER ... CHRISTMAS game
PUZZLE, CHRISTMAS
QUOTE
PLANE MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING DUE TO 2,000 FARTING SHEEP
PILOTS WERE STARTLED BY A SUDDEN ALARM THAT THE CARGO HOLD WAS ON FIRE.
BAAAAD SHEEP
A plane traveling from Australia to Malaysia had to make an emergency landing because the 2,186 sheep in their cargo bay farted too much.
Pilots were startled by a sudden alarm that the cargo hold was on fire. The smoke identification went off and the plane was grounded for 2.5 hours while flight officials investigated.
They were unable to find any indication of fire, heat, or smoke.
In 1992, Wisconsin spent $19 Million investigating animal flatulence.
Officials concluded the the fumes of the manure and the sheep passing gas set off the alarm.
After being cleared of sheep gas, the plane took back to the skies to finish delivering the sheep to their new homes.
"Welcome" in Kapampangan (Philippines) - Maligayang pagdatang
CLEVER, CHRISTMAS
Use Ice Cream Cones to Turn Cupcakes into Christmas Trees
EYE OPENER, CHRISTMAS
11 Dogs Who Look Downright Dashing In Their Cozy Seasonal Sweaters
thedodo
It’s that time of year again when the weather outside can easily take a turn toward the frighteningly frigid — but just like humans, beloved animal companions feel cold too.
So, when the mercury drops, pet-size sweaters are often the best solution for keeping canines cozy, comfortable and chic to boot.
While some dogs come naturally equipped to handle falling temperatures with thick coats of dense fur, there are a few in particular who could certainly benefit from a bit of extra protection during the coldest months.
Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker told The Dodo which types of pups make the best candidates for winter wear:
“When it comes to cold-weather clothing for dogs, I recommend that owners of three kinds of canine consider sweaters or other clothing: small dogs, dogs who are elderly or ill, and greyhounds, whippets or dogs with similar body types that carry very little fat, especially if they have short hair.”
“All these types of dog may have a tough time generating and maintaining body heat, and a little help keeping warm outdoors is a good idea. They may need to wear a sweater or pajamas indoors, too, if you've got the heat turned down to save on heating bills,” says Becker.
But keeping pets too bundled up unnecessarily can pose problem of its own, particularly if the weather doesn’t call for sweaters.
As Dr. Mark Johnston, of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association, points out, “Dressing [dogs] in a coat diminishes the animal's ability to regulate their own body temperature and could be detrimental if the animal gets too hot. Too high a temperature is more of a risk to the dog's health than too low a temperature.”
Pet owners who have their dogs donning sweaters and jackets are advised to keep a close eye on their dog for signs of discomfort — like excessive panting, or the animal scratching at the clothing itself.
In addition to the occasional sweater, the Humane Society suggests dogs should be kept safe from the cold in other ways as well — for example, when the worst winter chills strike, make sure your best friend's indoors.
Both of our pooches are looking longingly at these sweater-ed canines. Nope, not happening here, guys. You'll have to ask Santa.
ReplyDelete