Apricot Day, January 9, 2017

DIANE'S CORNER ... Celebrate Apricot Day

Apricots ripen in the early summer, but they’re quite commonly dried so that way we can enjoy them year round. The word ‘apricot’ in Latin purportedly means “precious”, but further investigation reveals that while this moniker is appropriate, it actually comes from Arabic ‘al barqūq’ (“early ripe”) via French ‘abricot’. “Early ripe” is appropriate because apricots tend to ripen earlier than most summer fruits. Drying apricots has been a common preservation practice for centuries. Most store-bought apricots retain the bright orange colour that the fruits have when ripe. Organic dried apricots would be more brown in colour and the bright orange is a sign that the fruits were treated with sulphur compounds.

From what we could find on the matter, the apricot tree was domesticated in China some 4,000 years ago. From there, apricots made their way across Asia to the Mediterranean region. The Spanish Conquistadors introduced apricots to the Americas back in the 16th century, planting the trees all over what is now the west coast of the United States. Today, while the US is not among the top producers of apricots globally, 95% of the apricots grown in the United States come from the San Joaquin Valley in California. Apricots are tasty, healthy, and should be eaten whenever possible. Therefore you should enjoy apricots in celebration of these wonderful golden fruits.

Fresh apricots are tasty, refreshing, and should be eaten whenever possible. Dried apricots are almost as delicious and can be had throughout the year. Apricot Day doesn’t seem to fall in apricot season, but we still suggest that you go and indulge in some apricots in celebration.

thanks, virg

The English surrealist painter Richard Saunders uses thick shrubs and trees to create his enormous cat-shrubs! 

Once he saw trees cut in the shape of clouds on a picture and got the idea to turn shrubs into sculptures of cats. The prototype that served him is his cat Tolly, (deceased) the Russian Blue. We can see these cats in many corners of England, and are much appreciated by the population.

Word of the Day

sassaby
Definition:	(noun) A large South African antelope; considered the swiftest hoofed mammal.
Synonyms:	Damaliscus lunatus, topi
Usage:	Our jeep sped across the terrain, but we still could not keep up with the sassaby.

Idiom of the Day

hog (something)  — To take or use something all for oneself; to not allow others to have or use something.

History

Davy Lamp Tested at Hebburn Colliery (1816)

The Davy lamp was an early safety lamp used in the mining and quarrying industries. It was designed by English chemist and physicist Sir Humphrey Davy to prevent the accidental ignition of flammable gases. This was achieved by enclosing the flame of the oil-burning lamp in wire gauze that distributed heat over a large area and brought its temperature below the ignition temperature of methane.

Richard Milhous Nixon (1913)

After serving as vice president of the US under Dwight D. Eisenhower, Nixon ran for president but lost to John F. Kennedy in 1960. He was elected president in 1968 and 1972, but his second term was cut short by the Watergate scandal, which involved the burglary and wiretapping of Democratic party headquarters. Likely facing impeachment, he became the first president to resign. Although never convicted, he was pardoned by his successor, Gerald Ford.

Agonalia

In Roman mythology, Janus is the god of beginnings and of doorways. The worship of Janus is believed to have been started by Romulus, one of the legendary founders of Rome. Usually depicted with two faces, one looking forward to the future and the other looking back to the past, his image appeared on an early Roman coin with a ship's prow on the reverse side. During the festival in honor of Janus known as the Agonalia, the rex sacrorum or officiating priest sacrificed a ram. Offerings of barley, incense, wine, and cakes called Januae were also common. 

Living Close to a Major Roadway Could Increase Dementia Risk, Study Says

Living close to a major roadway could increase your likelihood of developing dementia, according to a new study. Researchers found that people living within 50 meters (164 feet) of such a road had a 7% greater risk of developing dementia.

READ MORE:

Living near a major road could be linked to higher dementia risk

1793 - Jean-Pierre Blanchard made the first successful balloon flight in the U.S. 

1788 - Connecticut became the 5th state to join the United States. 

1886 - Birth of Ida Cohen Rosenthal, co-founder of Maidenform

Ida Cohen Rosenthal, co-founder of Maidenform, the first company to make modern bras, was born on January 9, 1886 in Tsarist Russia. Shortly after immigrating to New Jersey in 1904, she married William Rosenthal. With little money in her pocket, she bought herself a Singer sewing machine on the installment plan and began working as an independent seamstress. Her daughter, Beatrice, inherited the multimillion dollar family company. Maidenform is now run by Ida's granddaughter, Elizabeth Coleman.

1902 - New York State introduced a bill to outlaw flirting in public. 

Morris Frank, the first American to use a Seeing Eye dog, with Buddy, the first Seeing Eye dog.

1929 - The Seeing Eye was incorporated in Nashville, TN. The company's purpose was to train dogs to guide the blind. 

1937 - The first issue of "Look" went on sale. Within a month, "Look" became a biweekly magazine. 

1951 - The United Nations headquarters officially opened in New York City. 

1969 - The supersonic aeroplane Concorde made its first trial flight, at Bristol.

1984 - Clara Peller was first seen by TV viewers in the "Where's the Beef?" commercial campaign for Wendy's. 

2003 - Archaeologists announced that they had found five more chambers in the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor. The rooms were believed to cover about 750,000 square feet. 

2006 - Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane received stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in a dual ceremony. 

DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, January 9

Although you can be impatient when things are not turning out according to plan, you are very patient with people overall. Forever curious about how others "tick", you are a natural psychologist and extremely observant. At times, you are restless and certainly thrive on change more than the typical Capricorn. You are extremely committed to what you do, however, and you can most certainly be counted on. You are able to look at the big picture, which is very comforting to others. Famous people born today: Simone de Beauvoir, Richard M. Nixon, Dave Matthews, Bob Denver, Joan Baez, Jimmy Page, Joey Lauren Adams.

READER'S INFO

1. YESTERDAY: 

Elvis Aaron Presley, born January 8, 1935

2. christmas in toronto .. one of my sister in law's guests told stories as she was Michael Jackson's baby sitter when he was 10 years old (in Detroit, i believe)

3. This occasion is unique, in that it’s the largest knitter run event in the world. Each local event is put together by a volunteer or a group of volunteers. 

Registration is now open!

Home - World Wide Knit in Public Day

4. STAR GAZING LECTURE

Exoplanets: The Quest for Strange New Worlds
Eric Mamajet, NASA Exoplanet Exploration Program
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California
January 12, 2017, 7 p.m. 
Free admission

5. Mardi Gras New Orleans

Jan 6 - Feb 28, 2017 | New Orleans, LA

Location

Throughout the French Quarter and Other New Orleans Neighborhoods| New Orleans, LA

About This Festival

Mardi Gras New Orleans is the city’s defining festival – stretching from the Twelfth Night through Fat Tuesday, it feels like more of a season than an event, with the most visitors coming over the extended weekend before its culmination. Mardi Gras offers a diverse lineup of cultural celebrations, uninhibited interactions and family-friendly parades for all to enjoy (in case you’re not into the outright raucous revelry). Music fills the streets 24 hours a day as local artists play on street corners and big-name performers fill stages throughout the city. Parades range from family friendly to decidedly adult in nature, and many events can be quite exclusive. Each event brings a different element of entertainment to the landscape of the gigantic carnival atmosphere, so grab your beads and get ready to celebrate at one of the world’s grandest festivals.

6. 

Full Moon Party - Haad Rin Beach, Koh Phangan, Thailand

Full Moon Party Dates 2017
Thursday 12, January
Sunday 12, February
Sunday 12, March
Tuesday 11, April
Thursday 11, May
Friday 09, June
Monday 10, July
Monday 07, August
Tuesday 05, September
Friday 06, October
Friday 03, November
Sunday 03, December

Haad Rin is home to the Full Moon Party and also houses about 3-5000 rather mad people; it is the island’s nightlife capital and has Koh Phangan’s biggest concentration of beach clubs that collectively put on the ultimate travellers get together. Within this transient crowd of party animals some highly talented DJ’s pass through, banging out their wares to the raging lunar explorers that have landed on planet party. ITS A PARTY GONE WILD! So if you're a party animal..this is your place to be.

Pictures of the day

Toompea Castle is a castle on Toompea hill in the central part of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. Though the castle is located on an ancient stronghold site in use since at least the 9th century, much of the current building was constructed in the 12th century by the Order of the Brethren of the Sword. Today the castle houses the Parliament of Estonia, which meets in a building designed by Eugen Habermann and Herbert Johanson.

Spewed From a Volcanic Eruption

“Tephra” is fragmental material produced by a volcanic eruption regardless of composition, fragment size or emplacement mechanism

knit

thanks, susan b.

Celtic Cable Detailed Mid Calf Socks

https://web.archive.org/web/20121004034743/http://www.patonsyarns.com/newsletters/aug2009/KroySocks_CableSocks.pdf?utm_source=ravelry&utm_medium=forum&utm_term=CableSockPDF&utm_campaign=august2009

knit

Cuddliest Kitty Slippers pattern by Janine Peter

				Cuddliest Kitty Slippers pattern by Janine Peter These cuddly little kitties are the sweetest of companions, keeping you both cozy and entertained during those chilly moments when you need a friend the most.
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knit

Cable Lap Blanket

knit

Mother Nature knitted doll

knit

thanks, helen

undeniable glitter

CHEVRON LACE COWL

This pretty lace chevron pattern is knit into a lovely cowl. The cowl is light and drapey, matching the delicate lace perfectly.  I used two skeins of Knit Picks Palette in French Lavendar with size 9 needles.  CO 60, longtail. If you wish, place a marker between sts 47 and 48. This marks where the lace edging pattern starts.  Row 1: k47, k3, (yo, k2tog) 4x, yo, k2 Rows 2,4,6,8,10,12,14: k across Row 3: k47, k4, (yo, k2tog) 4x, yo, k2 Row 5: k47, k5, (yo, k2tog) 4x, yo, k2 Row 7: k47, k6, (yo, k2tog) 4x, yo, k2 Row 9: k47, k7, (yo, k2tog) 4x, yo, k2 Row 11: k47, k8, (yo, k2tog) 4x, yo, k2 Row 13: k47, k9, (yo, k2tog) 4x, yo, k2 Rows 15,17,19,21,23,25,27,29,30: k across  Rows 16,18,20,22,24,26,28: k3, (k2tog, yo) 3x, k2tog, k to end.  Rep rows 1-30 until the desired length. BO loosely, or using JSSBO, and then fasten off. I blocked this to make the points sharper and more defined, and the open up the lace.  finished cowl is about 15" wide at the points, and 46" long.  Enjoy!

crochet

Irresistible Crochet Puppy pattern by Michele Wilcox

				Irresistible Crochet Puppy pattern by Michele Wilcox This cuddly little fella is a perfect gift for a child or for a person of any age that needs a comforting gift. Crochet him in two colors of Fur for a playful look ...
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crochet

Thumb & Finger Mitts

crochet

thanks, sharon

Pearl River Wrap pattern by Doris Chan

				Pearl River Wrap pattern by Doris Chan Crochet design diva Doris Chan never disappoints. Just take a close look at her Pearl River Wrap, crocheted in bamboo-blend Spa. She masterfully combines broomstic...
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crochet

Open Heart Pocket Hot/Cold Drink Sleeve

				Open Heart Pocket Hot or Cold Drink Sleeve- Crochet patt... This is a basic drink sleeve with heart applique that can be attached to form a pocket for your favorite sweetener or a few bucks to make a complete gift ;)
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crochet

thanks, clara

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/granny-cocoon-shrug

RECIPE

thanks, shelley

Vermont Cheddar Mashed Potatoes Recipe

CROCKPOT RECIPE

thanks, sara

Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

SWEETS

thanks, heide

Almond Butter Oat Bites

ADULT COLORING

CRAFTS

thanks, kathy

Coffee Can Storage

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CHILDREN'S CORNER ... practicing

PUZZLE

Knitting a Sock jigsaw puzzle

				Knitting a Sock jigsaw puzzle Knitting a Sock puzzle in Handmade jigsaw puzzles on TheJigsawPuzzles.com. Play full screen, enjoy Puzzle of the Day and thousands more.
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QUOTE

CLEVER

i have to admit, rosko helped me with number one. 

he whispered the right answer to me .. shh!

ok, i got two out of 50 wrong. but the quiz continues! i didn't cause it takes a long time to do!

Only Hardcore Dog People Can Pass This Quiz

Richard Saunders

EYE OPENER

Ways to Fade Your Raw Denim Faster – Guide

heddels

1. Sleep In Your Jeans

Image courtesy: vwc.edu

How can you expect fast fades if you’re neglecting up to 8 hours of potential wear per day? Sleeping in your jeans lets you dream about fades while you create them, plus if you do it often enough you’ll get a free pair of indigo-dyed sheets! For extra fast fades, be sure to keep them on during any “nightly activity”–now you know why most raws come with a button-fly instead of a zipper.

2. Wear Your Jeans Inside Out

G-Star’s waaaay ahead of the curve! Image courtesy: upscalehype.com

Raw denim fades based on friction, the majority of which happens against the weft of your jeans with your legs. This is the same reason crotch blowouts happen. Wearing your jeans inside out will allow you to turn 100% of the the natural friction your body creates and into fading gold, plus how else can you show off the full length of that selvedge ID?

3. Rub Coffee Beans on Your Jeans

Image courtesy: bluejeansandcoffeebeans.com

Coffee is naturally acidic so it should be no surprise that the beans possess fading properties. Take the beans by the handful (green beans are best but roasted will also work) and rub them throughout the targeted areas. After you’ve applied enough, pour near boiling water over the top of your pants. Collect this water in a mug for a refreshing indigo-mocha beverage.

4. Move to Thailand

Really, anywhere in Southeast Asia works. The super high humidity and hellish temperatures makes for the best environment to fade your jeans and the worst environment to wear them at the same time. Just look at these amazing fades. If your family and your boss don’t understand your need to relocate to achieve the fades you need, then you don’t need them.

5. Microwave your Jeans (i don't see how this would work)

Image courtesy: archiexpo.com

The key to your unlocking your fades has been living in your kitchen the whole time. The indigo chemical (C16H10N2O2), is based in Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and Oxygen–the same elements that make up our food. Applying a light amount of microwave radiation to your jeans will break down the indigo bonds, letting them separate from your jeans more easily, and thus fade faster. We recommend 45 seconds on maximum power or the baked potato selection if your microwave has one.

6. Urinate on Your Jeans

Image courtesy: Universal Pictures

You may be worried about the odor, but if you’ve already gone for several months without washing then covering your jeans with piss won’t make them smell any worse. The ammonia and potassium nitrate present in your urine will dissolve the indigo’s bond with your denim–it’s even endorsed by renowned jeans expert Ruedi Karrer. Bonus points for being able to write your name in the fades!

7. Deep Freeze your Jeans in Liquid Nitrogen

Image courtesy: gizmag.com

Many companies starch their jeans to make them more rigid and thus more likely to develop creases for fades. There’s no better way to get a rigid pair of jeans than to bathe them in liquid nitrogen at temperatures as cold as -346 degrees Fahrenheit. This method guarantees any pair of jeans will be able to stand up on their own in seconds, but be careful not to shatter them or get frostbite when putting them back on. This option may be limited to chemistry students and trendy ice cream workers.

8. Talk to Your Jeans

Marilyn Monroe reads her jeans a nice bedtime story.

Numerous scientific studies have shown that talking to a plant will help it grow faster, and we’ve found the same results with fading raw denim. Tell your denim encouraging things like, “you’re a good jean” and “you’re going to be on Fade Friday some day”. I’ve also found success in reading bedtime stories.

9. Keep Baloney in Your Pockets

Image courtesy: wikipedia.com

Don’t ask us how, but it works!

10. Bleach ‘Em

Rorschach blot patterns are hot, hot, hot! Image courtesy: denimblog.com

They may not be the fades you want, but it’s undeniably the best way to achieve high-speed fades.