Hat Day January 15, 2017

DIANE' CORNER ... Celebrate Hat Day

“That season we were loaded with pizazz. Earrings of fuchsia and peach. Mind you, peach. And hats. Hats, hats, hats for career girls,” – This quote from Too Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, perhaps defines one of the most amazing things about hats. They enable the person wearing them to be absolutely anything, and to bring a sprig of style to an outfit, and truly round it out. From protecting your head from the cold or heat of the day, to just expressing who you are to the world, Hat Day is a great day to sport your best headwear!

Hats have been in the world since at least 3000 BC, as an image of a man wearing a hat of straw was discovered in a mural from that time. Since then, hats have served some incredibly diverse purposes, from simple protective wear to help those stuck out in the rain, cold, or hot sun, to indicating status and rank. Who doesn’t recognize a crown as the ultimate mark of royalty? Hats have undergone an immense amount of changes, with varieties appearing all over the world in every possible culture.

Whether for the soldier protecting his skull from incoming damage, the lieutenant making sure that his troops know where to look for direction, or the dapper gentleman in the Top Hat on his way to the opera, everyone has a love and use for hats. Hat Day is the best time for you to break out your favorite head wear, and use them to make a huge impression.

It would be impossible to list every possible use for hats here, but Hat Day is your time to really dig in deep and find out what all hats have to offer. Some of the most popular hats these days are animal hats, fuzzy animal head style hats that have long arms that dangle down to warm the ears, secure the hat to your head when tied, or just be adorable.

Baseball caps are available that display far more than just team affiliation, they can share a message of spirituality, fandom for a particular franchise, or even display your favorite sport. How many fisherman do you know are out there on the banks of their favorite rivers, sports fishing with a hat that denotes their favorite brand of tackle?

Get creative today, and celebrate the diverse history of Hats!

Word of the Day

nightstick
Definition:	(noun) A short stout club used primarily by policemen.
Synonyms:	truncheon, billy, billy club, billystick, baton
Usage:	The policeman ordered the loiterers to disperse, tapping his nightstick for effect.

thanks for the unusual clouds and storm pics, barbara

Idiom of the Day

be left holding the bag  — To have responsibility or guilt for something foisted upon oneself; to take the blame for something. Primarily heard in US.

History

Mihai Eminescu (1850)

Eminescu is considered Romania's greatest poet. His first poems were published when he was just a teen, and a few years later he joined the literary circle Junimea and began contributing to its journal, Convorbiri literare. His lyrical, passionate, and revolutionary poems had a profound influence on Romanian letters. Eminescu suffered from periodic attacks of insanity and died shortly after one such attack.

Day of the Black Christ of Esquipulas

For many people in Central and South America, the pilgrimage to the Black Christ of Esquipulas begins well in advance of the January 15 festival. Quite a number make the journey to Esquipulas entirely on foot. Many don wide-brimmed straw hats, to which they attach gray Spanish moss and chiches (breasts), a yellow fruit that resembles a gourd; those making the journey from Quetzaltenango blacken their hands with the juice from a special fruit. Ceremonial sites resembling altars, built from rocks brought by pilgrims, are scattered through the hills surrounding Esquipulas. 

How mice use their brain to hunt

Messages from the brain’s amygdala help mice chase and kill prey.

How mice use their brain to hunt



1777 - The people of New Connecticut (now the state of Vermont) declared their independence.



1844 - The University of Notre Dame received its charter from the state of Indiana. 



1863 - "The Boston Morning Journal" became the first paper in the U.S. to be published on wood pulp paper. 



1870 - A cartoon by Thomas Nast titled "A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion" appeared in "Harper's Weekly." The cartoon used the donkey to symbolize the Democratic Party for the first time. 



1892 - "Triangle" magazine in Springfield, MA, published the rules for a brand new game. The original rules involved attaching a peach baskets to a suspended board. It is now known as basketball. 



1936 - The first, all glass, windowless building was completed in Toledo, OH. The building was the new home of the Owens-Illinois Glass Company Laboratory. 



1943 - The Pentagon was dedicated as the world's largest office building just outside Washington, DC, in Arlington, VA. The structure covers 34 acres of land and has 17 miles of corridors. 



1953 - Harry S Truman became the first U.S. President to use radio and television to give his farewell as he left office.



1961 - Motown Records signed The Supremes. 



1967 - The first National Football League Super Bowl was played. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League. The final score was 35-10. 



1967 - The Rolling Stones performed on TV's "Ed Sullivan Show" and were forced to change their lyrics of "Let's Spend the Night Together" to "Let's Spend Some Time Together." 



1974 - "Happy Days" premiered on ABC-TV.



1986 - President Reagan signed legislation making Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday a national holiday to be celebrated on the third Monday of January. 



2001 - Wikipedia was launched. 

DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, January 15

 You are a practical person but at the same time highly creative--a rare combination! Others quite naturally respect you. With so many talents and interests, it can be hard to choose only one path. Many of you have quite a few sideline hobbies. Most of you are very good with words. The key to success is focus which might come a little later in life. You are a little temperamental, and others don't always know what to expect from you as a result. Famous people born today: Martin Luther King Jr., Lloyd Bridges, Gene Krupa.

READER'S INFO

1. January 27

Westman Communications Group Place

2. 

Attendee Information - TNNA - The National NeedleArts Association

3. 2017 Sunday Funday Arts and Crafts Market
Mobile, AL

Date of Event

January 22, February 5, March 5, 19, April 2 

Event Location

Cathedral Square
301 Dauphin St

Mobile, AL

There will be a variety of artists and craft-makers selling their handcrafted goods. Hours: 1 PM to 5 PM

2017 Sunday Funday Arts and Crafts Market - Mobile, AL - Fairs and Festivals FairsandFestivals.net

Pictures of the day



A view of the Taj Mahal from the south, featuring the Charbagh garden. The mausoleum complex also includes subsidiary tombs, waterworks infrastructure, the small town of Taj Ganji, and a "moonlight garden". Its origins and architecture have been extensively documented, covering both the circumstances of its commission and the cultural and historical influence of the Islamic Mughal Empire in India.


Microbiologist Takes Handprint of Her Son After Playing Outside and Incubates the Results

Microbiologist and teacher, Tasha Sturm, recently took a hand print of her son after he had been playing outside and incubated and photographed the results.

knit, toe up

thanks, helen

Flying North pattern by Maria Montzka

knit, 3 mths - 10 yrs

Side to Side Stripes Pattern

knit
thanks, linda

Double Knit Bird Dishcloth HotPad Lessons pattern by Margaret MacInnis

knit

Knit Mice Socks - PRETTY IDEAS

knit

SCRAPPY SKI HAT

letesknits
I have lots of leftovers lying around the house. I keep collecting them in small bags according to yarn weight – maybe I’ll use them for a project in the future. Yesterday when I was watching something on TV I unconsciously cast on for a hat. It was totally unplanned. This is what I made – sort of a ski hat :-) I don’t ski, but this is what my Hubby called it and added “Oh you’ve made a hat just like the hats we used to wear when we were kids”.

You will need the following:
– yarn: scraps of aran weight yarn “Drops NEPAL” in various colors. Altogether about 150 meters/165 yards, pompom included, but this may vary among knitters.
– needles: 3.75 mm/US#5 and 4.5 mm/US #7 circular needles or dpns, or size needed to obtain correct gauge.
– notions: stitch marker, darning needle, pompom maker (optional).

Size
The hat should fit an average adult’s head with circumference of 52-56 cm/21-22″.

Gauge
18 sts over 10 cm/4″ in Stockinette with bigger needle (the hat was not washed!)

Brim
Using smaller size needle, CO 88 sts. Join for working in round making sure not to twist the stitches. Place BOR marker.
Work 5 cm/2″ in 2×2 rib (k2, p2).
Increase round: *k11, m1r*, repeat around = 96 sts.

Body
Change to bigger size needle and begin working stripe sequences. If you look closely you will see that each 2-color sequence is worked like that:
Rounds 1 and 2: knit around in C1 yarn.
Round 3: *k1 (C2), k1 (C1)*, repeat around.
Round 4: knit around in C2 yarn.
Next you will repeat the sequence with a new pair of matching colors. And so on, and so on…

Work as established until your hat measures about 16 cm/6.5″ from CO edge, or desired length.

Crown Shaping
When working crown decreases on round 4 of the 2-color sequence you will notice that sometimes it’ll be better to use ssk instead of k2tog. It will allow you to keep the continuity of the blend between C1 and C2 (in other words you will not have one-color stitches next to each other).
Round 1: *k10, k2tog*, repeat around = 88 sts.
Round 2: knit around.
Round 3: *k9, k2tog*, repeat around = 80 sts.
Round 4: knit around.
Round 5: *k8, k2tog*, repeat around =72 sts.
Round 6: knit around.
Round 7:*k7, k2tog*, repeat around =64 sts.
Round 8: *k6, k2tog*, repeat around = 56 sts.
Round 9: *k5, k2tog*, repeat around = 48 sts.
Round 10: *k4, k2tog*, repeat around = 40 sts.
Round 11: *k3, k2tog*, repeat around = 32 sts.
Round 12: *k2, k2tog*, repeat around = 24 sts.
Round 13: *k1, k2tog*, repeat around = 16 sts.
Round 14:  k2tog around = 8 sts.

Cut yarn and pull through remaining live stitches and then pull thread closing the hole. Weave in ends and block the hat lightly (if you wish to – I didn’t :-).
That’s it :-)

Oh, one more thing. Make a pom pom using your favorite techinque and enjoy :-)

thanks for sharing these 'eternal truths,' helen

If walking is good for your health, then postman would be immortal.

A whale swims all day, only eats fish, and drinks water, but is still fat.

A rabbit runs, and hops, and only lives 15 years, while a tortoise doesn't run,
and does mostly nothing, yet it lives for 150 years. And they tell us
to exercise? I don't think so.

Now that I'm older, here's what I've discovered:

1.  I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.

2. My wild oats are mostly enjoyed with prunes and all-bran.

3. Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded.

4. Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded.

5. If all is not lost, then where the heck is it?

6. It was a whole lot easier to get older, than it was to get wiser.

7. Some days, you're the top dog, some days you're the hydrant.

8. I wish the buck really did stop here; I sure could use a few of them.

9. Kids in the back seat cause accidents.

10. Accidents in the back seat cause kids.

11. It is hard to make a comeback, when you haven't been anywhere.

12. The world only beats a path to your door, when you're in the bathroom.

13. If God wanted me to touch my toes, he'd have put them on my knees.

14. When I'm finally holding all the right cards, everyone wants to play chess.

15. It is not hard to meet expenses... They're everywhere.

16. The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth..

17. These days, I spend a lot of time thinking about the hereafter...
      I go somewhere to get something, and then wonder what I'm "here after".

18. Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded.

19. It is a lot better to be seen than viewed.

20. Have I given you this message before...or did I get it from you?


crochet
thanks, clara

3-Pronged Square and Ripple Blanket pattern by Rik Gillette

				3-Pronged Square and Ripple Blanket pattern by Rik Gille... I found the original version of this pattern in December 2013 and fell in love with it. I made a baby afghan for my sister’s new granddaughter using that pat...
				View on www.ravelry.com	Preview by Yahoo

crochet

Pussy Cat pattern by Michele Wilcox

				Pussy Cat pattern by Michele Wilcox Gauge 14 stitches and 10 rows = 4 inches in stitch pattern
				View on www.ravelry.com	Preview by Yahoo

crochet

Wrap crochet pattern free

				Wrap crochet pattern free Wrap crochet pattern free.
				View on knitted-patterns.com	Preview by Yahoo

crochet

spoke mandala - a creative being

crochet

Quick Tip: Make a Set of Cool Crochet Buttons

RECIPE

DIY Dog Treats

sparklypolliwog

 Have you ever looked at the ingredients of most dog treats?  

 Is there a way to have cheap and healthy dog treats?  YES!

Here are two great recipes to make for "(wo)man's best friend".

Sweet Potato Chews

Only 1 ingredient- SWEET POTATO

I used three sweet potatoes I got from the farmers market.  Tell them you are making dog treats and see if they have any sweet potatoes that aren't "pretty" enough to sell. You can usually get them a lot cheaper.  

 1.  Set oven to 250*

2.  Peel your SP

3.   Slice your SP.  I used my food processor to slice the SP about 1/3 inch thick.  It was VERY fast this way, but if you don't have a food processor then just use a knife.  

3.  Put SP slices on baking sheet covered with parchment paper

4. Bake for 3 hours.  Turning once.

5.  Let cool and then put in refrigerator for up to three weeks or freezer for up to 4 months

Recipe from:  http://www.dogtreatkitchen.com/sweet-potato-dog-chew.html

Sweet Potato and Apple Dog Treats

Ingredients:

-  1 sweet potato

-  2 1/2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour

-  1/4 Cup Unsweetened Applesauce ( I just used a peeled apple that I put in the blender)

-  2 Eggs

1. Cook your sweet potatoes.  Prick with a fork and Microwave until tender, about 6 mins or cook in oven at 350* for about 45 min.

2.  Scoop out about 1 cup of sweet potato and put in bowl and mash.  You can feed the skin to your dog as a treat while you're cooking.  

3.   Mix the applesauce, flour, and eggs in with your sweet potato.  I just put the applesauce, sweet potato and eggs in my blender and then added it to the flour. 

4.  Form a ball and roll out 1/2-inch thick on a floured surface.  (I have mats that I used instead of the floured surface)

5. Cut out shapes using cooking cutters.  Arrange cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet.

6. Bake until crisp, ~35 to 45 minutes. 

These are even safe for your kids to eat!
My older boys thought they were gross, but the youngest liked them.

CROCKPOT RECIPE
thanks, carol

Slow Cooker Cauliflower Chowder

SWEETS

Egg Custard

http://www.atasteofjoyandlove.com/egg-custard-recipe/

ADULT COLORING

CRAFTS
thanks, ellie

FOLDED NOTEBOOK

design love fest

While traditional bookbinding is complicated art form, making this little notebook is nothing but easy. You need little more than a few sheets of paper and a pair of scissors.

what you’ll need:- 10 sheets of 8 1/2 x 11 paper
– a sheet of decorative paper (12 x 12 or larger)
– ruler
– exacto knife
– pencil
– double sided tape

the steps:
– cut paper in half to make 20 sheets of 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 paper (I have my local copy shop do it so that they are perfect)
– fold all of the pieces in half
– make a mark on the fold 1 inch from the top and bottom

– on half of the sheets cut in between the marks (these are called slots), on the other half cut from the edge to the mark (these are called tabs)- take two sheets of tabbed paper and gently roll one side from top to bottom and insert through two sheets of slotted paper. (see our handy gif below for reference)

- continue to make pairs and place in a stack with all of the tabbed sides up (these pairs are referred to as signatures). you should have a stack of 5 when you’re done.
– using the same method now connect each signature to each other by feeding the top 2 tabbed pieces into the bottom 2 slotted pieces of the signature on top of it. So the top tabbed sheets of your second signature will feed into the last slotted sheets of you first signature and so on. When you’re done all of your pages should be connected to each other.

for the cover:- for the cover,  cut 2 pieces of decorative paper that measures 5 1/2 x 12 inches.
– draw a line 3 1/2 from the edge and cut one sheet as a slot and one sheet as a tab.
– attach the covers sheets just as you attached each signature to each other.
– lastly wrap the remaining cover paper around the two pieces of paper on top and bottom and secure with a piece of double sided tape.
– get out your pens and pencils

the great thing about this notebook is that you can easily add more pages if you like. I usually keep mine anywhere from 20-30 pages, but it’s as simple as just adding more signatures to your stack.

CHILDREN'S CORNER ... winter fun

thanks, sally

PUZZLE

Polo Mallets Jigsaw Puzzle

QUOTE

thanks, lyn

THE LEAVE ME ALONE SWEATER

thanks, shelley

CLEVER

How to Use a Muffin Pan to Cook Hard Boiled Eggs

ehow

Next time you find yourself craving a hard boiled egg, don't worry about setting a pot of water on the stove. This recipe will teach you how to cook hard boiled eggs in a muffin pan. In just 30 minutes you'll have perfectly cooked eggs that practically peel themselves.

Things You'll Need

• One dozen eggs
• Muffin pan

• Ice 
• 2 cups cold water
• 
  

Step 1

Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F). Place each egg in the mold of a muffin tin, to ensure they don't roll around too much. Bake for 30 minutes.

Step 2 Prepare an ice bath by adding the ice and about 2 cups of water to a large bowl. Once the eggs are done baking, plunge them in the ice bath and allow them to soak for 10 minutes. This helps stop the cooking process.

Step 3 Peel the eggs and serve at once, or place them in the fridge, prior to peeling, for up to 7 days.

EYE OPENER

care2

Toothpaste: it whitens, brightens, deodorizes, removes stains, and restores and protects enamel. But toothpaste’s cleaning capabilities work wonders on many things besides our teeth. The same ingredients that help polish our pearly whites can also soothe some common ailments, make household items sparkle, and even get rid of stains and pungent smells. Try out these fifteen tricks with a white, non-gel toothpaste (unless otherwise noted), and watch that cavity-fighting, breath-freshening tube of wonder work its magic.

1. Relieve irritation from bug bites, sores, and blisters. These skin irritations all tend to weep and, in the case of bug bites, often itch. Apply a drop of toothpaste to a bug bite or insect sting to stop the itching and decrease any swelling. When applied to sores or blisters, it dries them up, thus allowing the wound to heal faster. It’s best when used overnight. 

2. Soothe a stinging burn. For minor burns that don’t involve an open wound, toothpaste can deliver temporary cooling relief. Apply it delicately to the affected area immediately after a burn develops; it temporarily relieves the sting and prevents the wound from weeping or opening.

3. Decrease the size of a facial blemish. Want to speed up the healing of a zit? Apply a tiny dot of toothpaste to the affected area at night before bed. Wash it off in the morning.

4. Clean up your fingernails. Our teeth are made of enamel, and toothpaste is good for them, so it stands to reason that toothpaste would also be good for our fingernails. For cleaner, shinier, and stronger nails, simply scrub the underneath and tops of fingernails with a toothbrush and toothpaste.

5. Keep hair in place. Gel toothpastes contain the same water-soluble polymers that many hair gels are made of. If you’re looking to style and hold an extreme hair creation, try gel toothpaste as your go-to product if you’re out of regular hair gel. (This is also a great trick for making baby barrettes stay in place.)

6. Scrub away stinky smells. Garlic, fish, onion, and other pungent foods can permeate the skin cells on our hands. Scrubbing hands and fingertips briefly with toothpaste removes all traces of smelly odors

7. Remove stains. Toothpaste can make tough stains on both clothing and carpets disappear. For clothes, apply toothpaste directly to the stain and rub briskly until the spot is gone, then wash as usual. (Note that using a whitening toothpaste on colors can sometimes bleach the fabric.) For carpet stains, apply toothpaste to the stain and scrub it with an abrasive brush, then rinse immediately.

8. Spruce up dirty shoes. This tactic works great on running shoes or scuffed-up leather shoes. As with carpet stains, apply toothpaste directly to the dirty or scuffed area, then scrub with a brush and wipe clean.

9. Remove crayon stains on painted walls. Rub a damp cloth with toothpaste gently on the marked-up wall and watch the Crayola marks disappear.

10. Make silver jewelry and other silver pieces sparkle. Rub toothpaste onto jewelry and leave overnight. Wipe clean with a soft cloth in the morning. Make diamonds shine by giving them a gentle scrub using a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a little water. Rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of toothpaste. Do not use this method on pearls, as it will damage their finish.

 

11. Remove scratches on DVDs and CDs. This remedy has been used with mixed success rates, but it seems to work fairly well on shallow scratches and smudges. Apply a thin coating of toothpaste to the disc and rub gently, then rinse clean.

12. Tidy up piano keys before tickling them. Piano keys retain oil from the skin, which then attracts dust and dirt. Clean away grime gently with a damp, lint-free cloth and toothpaste; after rubbing in the toothpaste, wipe the keys clean with a second lint-free cloth.

13. Deodorize baby bottles. If baby bottles develop a sour-milk smell, a good cleaning with some toothpaste and a bottle scrubber will clean away residue and deodorize. Always make sure to rinse well.

 

14. Remove the burned crust on irons. For those of you who still use an iron, you may find that after time, the plate of the iron develops a burned crust. The silica in toothpaste gently grinds away this rusty-looking layer.

15. Defog goggles. Scuba divers, swimmers, and triathletes may already know about this handy little trick: Rub a small spot of toothpaste into each lens of your goggles, then rinse thoroughly, and voila! There’ll be no need to ever buy expensive defogger gels again. Avoid rubbing too vigorously, though, as the abrasive ingredients in toothpaste could scratch the lenses.