Spinach Day March 26, 2016

DIANE'S CORNER ... Celebrate Spinach Day

It’s not just Popeye who will be strong to the finish on Spinach Day, but everyone who chooses to celebrate the day by consuming some of this leafy green plant will get to join in the health benefits as well!

Packed with nutrients such as Iron, Vitamin A and Calcium, spinach is known for being a healthy part of a balanced diet – but do we eat enough of it? If not, why not try a new recipe on Spinach Day? Sauté it in olive oil and a little bit of garlic – or what about a baby spinach salad with mozzarella cheese, avocado slices and crispy bacon crumbled on top? Delicious!

You can purée spinach up and hide it in soups and pizza sauces for the finicky eaters in your life who might not eat it straight up. So, no excuses – get your leafy greens down you on Spinach Day!

Word of the Day

libelous
Definition:	(adjective) Harmful and often untrue; tending to discredit or malign.
Synonyms:	calumnious, defamatory, denigrating, libellous, slanderous
Usage:	The article, being libelous, had to be returned as impossible; and I had to renounce my dream of dragging its author into the limelight.

Idiom of the Day

code of silence  — The practice of not disclosing important or vital information by members of a group, as due to the threat of violence, reprisal, being branded as a traitor, or an inherent sense of honor

History

Robert Frost (1874)

Perhaps the most popular and beloved of 20th-century American poets, Frost wrote of the character, people, and landscape of New England. Rooted in the New England landscape, yet deeply symbolic, his work is concerned with human tragedies and fears, the complexities of life, and the ultimate acceptance of one's burdens. Frost was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry four times—in 1924, 1931, 1937, and 1943.

Ancient Scrolls Give Up Their Secrets
	Metallic ink was used to inscribe scrolls regarded as an archaeological wonder, according to scientists. The discovery pushes back the date for the first use of metallic ink by several centuries. READ MORE:http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35865470

1780 - The British Gazette and Sunday Monitor was published for the first time. It was the first Sunday newspaper in Britain.



1885 - Eastman Kodak (Eastman Dry Plate and Film Co.) produced the first commercial motion picture film in Rochester, NY. 



1898 - In South Africa, the world's first game reserve, the Sabi Game reserve, was designated. 



1937 - Spinach growers in Crystal City, TX, erected a statue of Popeye



1953 - Dr. Jonas Salk announced a new vaccine that would prevent poliomyelitis.



1969 - The TV movie "Marcus Welby" was seen on ABC-TV. It was later turned into a series. 



1982 - Groundbreaking ceremonies were held in Washington, DC, for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. 



2000 - The Seattle Kingdome was imploded to make room for a new football arena.




DAILY SQU-EEK



If You Were Born Today, March 26

You are hard-working, energetic, security-minded, and determined. You tend to go it alone in your work, or take on more than your share. You are ambitious, and while you do enjoy instant results, you are able to outlast others through any trials and tribulations life has to offer, simply because you so quickly get back on your feet after a fall. You enjoy a big challenge. Famous people born today: Robert Frost, Leonard Nimoy, Tenessee Williams, Keira Knightley, James Caan, Sandra Day O'Connor, James Iha, Martin Short, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Grey, Diana Ross.

Picture of the day

Walt Whitman (1819–1892) was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse. His work was very controversial in its time, particularly his poetry collection Leaves of Grass (first published in 1855, but continuously revised until Whitman's death), which was described as obscene for its overt sexuality.

When Lightning Strikes

Photograph by Mike Leske, National Geographic 

While on a beach in Thailand’s Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, Mike Leske received a visual treat. “A single cloud passed the remote island ... sending lightning bolts to Earth in two-minute intervals,” he writes. The park covers 150 square miles.

knit, EASTER

http://www.allfreeknitting.com/Easter-Knits/Topsy-Turvy-Bunnies

knit

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/inside-outside-hat-2

knit

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/florences-chair-back-cover

knit

Knitted multicoloured shawl

				Knitted multicoloured shawl The geometric pattern of this shawl is easy to memorize, which makes it an enjoyable knitting project.
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knit, 2 - 6 yrs

Too Cool Boy’s Cardigan pattern by Lorna Miser

crochet, EASTER

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/chickadee-easter-basket

crochet

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rose-soap-cozy

crochet

Heart & Sew: Little Cupcake Pincushion - Free Crochet / Amigurumi Pattern

				Heart & Sew: Little Cupcake Pincushion - Free Crochet / ... Yum! This cheery little cupcake looks good enough to eat (but please don't!) I designed this little guy based on a felt pincushion I made last Christmas for my...
				View on www.heartandsew.co.uk	Preview by Yahoo

crochet

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/stacked-shells-floppy-sun-hat

crochet
Cozy Chevron Cowl

undeniableglitter

This chunky cowl only takes a few hours, and is that perfect accessory to keep your neck warm. The zig zag pattern adds interest, and is not at all difficult to work up. 

I used two skeins of Loops and Threads Cozy Wool in Caribbean Sea with an N hook. 

In row 2, work in back loops only, and throughout the entire project. 

Ch 32

Row 1: 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each of next 5 ch, 3 sc in next ch, 1 sc in each of next 7 ch, sk next 2 ch, sc in each of next 7 ch, 3 sc in next ch, sc in each of next 7 ch, turn. 

Row 2: ch 1, sk 1st st, sc2tog next 2 sts, sc in each of next 5 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in each of next 7 sc, sk next 2 sc, sc in each of next 7 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in each of next 5 sc, sc2tog in last 2 sc, turn. 

Repeat row 2. 

Fasten off, seam together with one twist, and weave in ends. 

I love the ribbed chevron texture of this chunky cowl! The finished cowl is 10"x30". 

RECIPE, EASTER

EASTER CRUDITES BASKET with SPINACH DIP

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/easter-crudites-basket-with-spinach-dip.html

CROCKPOT RECIPE

French Toast Casserole

French Toast Casserole

				French Toast Casserole Slow Cooker French Toast Casserole is perfect for weekend breakfast or brunch.
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CRAFTS

raindrop pillow | One More Mushroom

				raindrop pillow | One More Mushroom I like to make pillows and softies for my kids, I think it’s one of the ways I let them know that I love them.  I made this raindrop pillow for my son a few weeks ...
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CHILDREN'S CORNER ... craft

DIY Hanging Bird Treats • Craftwhack

				DIY Hanging Bird Treats • Craftwhack These DIY birdseed feeders are quick and messy and easy as pie.
				View on craftwhack.com	Preview by Yahoo

PUZZLE

Daily Jigsaw

QUOTE

CLEVER

thanks, helen

http://knitting.about.com/od/ecofriendlyyarn/ss/How-to-Make-a-Magic-Ball.htm?utm_content=20160201&utm_medium=email&utm_source=exp_nl&utm_campaign=list_knitting&utm_term=list_knitting

thanks, shelley

EYE OPENER
thanks, patty

A Man Recreates A Van Gogh Painting With Plants 

In A 1.2-Acre Field

by elyse wanshel, littlethings

Every piece of art is rare. After all, all art is an expression of its creator, and no two people are completely alike. Yet what makes some pieces truly unique art is when an artist uses a creative medium to make it.

For instance, some render masterpieces out of trash, like this imaginative artist who made a beautiful American flag out of bottle caps. Others create food art, performance art, and even plant art. Artist Stan Herd, for instance, has been using grass, dirt, flowers, and other vegetation to create art on large fields for decades. It all began in 1981 when he physically carved an amazing 160-acre portrait of the Kiowa Indian chief Satanta, into a Kansas prairie. He has crafted dozens of what he calls “earthworks” since, and his latest piece is the most impressive by far. He was commissioned by the Minneapolis Institute of Art to create a replica of Van Gogh’s Olive Trees, which is something so spectacular you just have to see it to believe it…

Before he could embark on this massive project, 64-year-old artist Stan Herd had to plan out how he was going to pull this off. First, he printed out a copy of Van Gogh’s piece, then drew a grid over it and made a plan.

Then he got to work on a field in the Eagan, Minnesota, near Thomson Reuters campus.

The field, or his "canvas," measured 1.2 acres across.

The project took him six months of mowing, digging, and planting to complete.

Sponsored by the Minneapolis Institute of Art, his special project can be seen from the air near the Minneapolis airport.

“It never looks like I want it to,” Herd told Star Media.

“I bit off a lot here, to try to pull this off."

“A few of the plants were eaten by deer, and a few were blown over. But that’s the dance of nature,” he told MPRNews.

Though it was difficult, he persevered — and good thing he did!

The end result is unbelievably stunning!

Here is what Van Gogh’s original 1889 painting looked like:

In the end, Herd admits he enjoyed the process. “The opportunity to engage with one of my favorite artists in the world was pretty unique for me”