World Donkey Day - May 8, 2019

DIANE'S CORNER ... 

Celebrate World Donkey Day

When fishes flew, and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born.

G.K. Chesterton, The Donkey

World Donkey Day is a show of respect for one of the most enduring and respectable animals in the Equidae family. Throughout history, it has served throughout the world as both a mount and a beast of burden in some of the most challenging terrains and forbidding climates, and has done so with pride and endurance. It’s unsurprising that these beasts success is due in part to their stubborn nature, and World Donkey Day honors them for this along with their other, perhaps more laudable, traits.

History of World Donkey Day

Two subspecies of the donkey, the Somalian and the Nubian, were bred together to produce what we think of as the modern donkey. Available evidence points to the donkey having been working alongside humanity since 4000 BCE, most likely in Nubia, as a more versatile and resilient pack animal than the ox they were presently using. Since then they have been bred and transplanted all over the world as cultures moved, and the world expanded, and can now be found just about everywhere.

They’re also the progenitors of the sterile mule, a cross-breeding of horse and donkey that results in a breed with the strengths of both. Sadly mules are almost entirely sterile, and the exceptions so rare that no breeding stock of pure mules has ever been able to be achieved, in part due to there having yet to be recorded a case of a breedable mule stallion. Strangely, there have been cases where female mules have birthed what are, for all appearances, pure horses when bred with a horse.

Regardless, these animals have played an essential part in human history and are worthy of World Donkey Day celebrating their history and their heritage.

Yarn artist Liisa Hietanen has embarked on a really ambitious project of knitting and crocheting sculptures of her fellow villagers in Hämeenkyrö, Finland. One such sculpture is an absolutely amazing life-size replication of one such villager named Raija. Hietanen captured every detail of Raija’s clothing, her expression and her little dog to near perfection.

Word of the Day

carny or carney or carnie

MEANING:

noun:
1. A person who works in a carnival.
2. A carnival: a traveling amusement show.
3. The jargon used by carnival workers.

ETYMOLOGY:

Short for carnival, from Italian carnevale, from carnelevare (removal of meat), from carne (flesh) + levare (to remove or lift). A carnival is named so because it was a period of merrymaking before Lent (a season of fasting and penitence before Easter). Earliest documented use: 1931.

USAGE:

“I’m the huddled masses.
I’m the amber waves of the green.
I’m the toothless carny in the shooting gallery at the county fair.”
Roy Zimmerman; I Approve This Message; 2008.

Idiom of the Day

Xerox subsidy -

Meaning - Using the office photocopier for personal use.

Example - The office now has a strict policy about xerox subsidy.

This Day in History

1541 - Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River. He called it Rio de Espiritu Santo. 


1794 - Antoine Lavoisier was executed by guillotine. He was the French chemist who discovered oxygen. 

1847 - The rubber tire was patented by Robert W. Thompson. 

1886 - Pharmacist Dr. John Stith Pemberton invented what would later be called "Coca-Cola." 

1914 - The U.S. Congress passed a Joint Resolution that designated the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. 

1915 - H.P. Whitney's Regret became the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby. 

1921 - Sweden abolished capital punishment. 

1933 - Gandhi began a hunger strike to protest British oppression in India. 


1954 - Parry O'Brien became the first to toss a shot put over 60 feet. O'Brien achieved a distance of 60 feet 5 1/4 inches. 


1956 - Alfred E. Neuman appeared on the cover of "Mad Magazine" for the first time. 

1958 - U.S. President Eisenhower ordered the National Guard out of Little Rock as Ernest Green became the first black to graduate from an Arkansas public school. 


1961 - New Yorkers selected a new name for their new National League baseball franchise. They chose the Mets. 

1972 - Billy Preston became the first rock performer to headline at Radio City Music Hall. 


1984 - Joanie (Erin Moran) and Chachi (Scott Baio) got married on ABC-TV's "Happy Days." 

1985 - "New Coke" was released to the public on the 99th anniversary of Coca-Cola. 

1997 - Larry King received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

1998 - Johnny Winter was inducted into Hollywood's Rock Walk. 

1999 - The first female cadet graduated from The Citadel military college. 

thanks, Heide

DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, May 8

You are a playful, witty person who is also success-oriented and determined. You can be changeable in your manner, despite being solid and focused overall, so that others are not sure who they are going to meet from one day to the next! Light-hearted and personable many days, you can also be serious and withdrawn at other times. You are mentally quick and have a unique perspective on life. Famous people born today: 

1737 Edward Gibbon, English historian (The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire), born in Putney, England (d. 1794)

1753 Phillis Wheatley, American poet who was both the second published African-American poet and first published African-American woman, born in West Africa (d. 1784)

1884 Harry Truman, 33rd US President (D - 1945-53), born in Lamar, Missouri (d. 1972)

1919 Mordecai Anielewicz, Jewish commander of Warsaw ghetto uprising, born in Wyszków, Second Polish Republic (d. 1943)

1926 David Attenborough, Naturalist, TV producer and host (BBC "Life" Series), born in London, England

1932 Sonny Liston, American heavyweight boxer, born in Sand Slough, Arkansas (d. 1970)

1940 Peter Benchley, American novelist (Jaws, The Deep), born in NYC, New York (d. 2006)

1975 Enrique Iglesias, Spanish singer-songwriter and King of Latin Pop (Bailamos, Hero), born in Madrid, Spain

READERS INFO

1.

1886 -

 

It was on this day in 1886.

The Coca-Cola logo was created by John Pemberton’s bookkeeper, Frank Mason Robinson, in 1885. Robinson came up with the name and chose the logo’s distinctive cursive script.

2.

Historic Rural Life Festival 2019

May 9-10, 2019 | Nashville, TN 

Tennessee Agricultural Museum|404 Hogan Rd

Held each year in May, the Historic Rural Life Festival provides a window into Tennessee’s past. Guests can enjoy demonstrations in butter churning, blacksmithing, weaving and woodworking to gain insight into what daily activities looked like before the invention of electricity. Open to guests of all ages, this festival is a fun and educational opportunity for the whole family.

further information: Historic Rural Life Festival

3.

Appalachian Festival 2019

May 10 - 12, 2019 | Cincinnati, OH 

Coney Island|6201 Kellogg Ave

The annual Appalachian Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio, celebrates the region and the old ways of life. The three-day event features traditional and contemporary Appalachian folk music, educational exhibits, artists and crafters using old techniques for new works, a look back at how things were in the 1840s, take home jars of sweet sorghum syrup and flame-grilled eats.

further information: Appalachian Festival

4.

Bankra Caribbean Folk Festival 2019

June 8, 2019 | Queens, NY 

York College|94-20 Guy R Brewer Blvd

Folk culture with a Caribbean twist, this festival packs a lot of family fun into one evening. Full of colorful and exuberant island costumes, Caribbean cuisine and exceptional choral music performances, longtime fans and newbies alike will have something to look forward to. The lineup includes popular folk musicians such as the award-winning Braata Folk Singers, which means you’re guaranteed an authentic experience while you’re here.

further information: Bankra Folk Festival



Pictures of the day

The Japanese yen (denoted by the ¥ symbol) is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market, after the United States dollar and the euro; it is also widely used as a reserve currency. The concept of the yen was a component of the Meiji government's modernization program of Japan's economy, which postulated the pursuit of a uniform currency throughout the country, modelled after the European decimal currency system. Before the Meiji Restoration, Japan's feudal fiefs all issued their own money, hansatsu, in an array of incompatible denominations. The New Currency Act of 1871 did away with these and established the yen. The Bank of Japan was later founded in 1882 and given a monopoly on controlling the money supply. This picture shows the obverse (top) and reverse (bottom) sides of a one-yen banknote of the Meiji era constitutional monarchy, dated 1873, which was the second year of issue for yen banknotes. The banknote was engraved and printed by the Continental Bank Note Company (later part of the American Bank Note Company) of New York and is now in the National Numismatic Collection of the National Museum of American History, part of the Smithsonian Institution.

Baiana in yellow and blue

“The picture was taken in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, spontaneously, after a truck drove by. The woman with traditional clothes of a “baiana”, was looking after the truck, during her work break.”

knit, Mother's Day
thanks, Eve

Mother's Day Badge
knit
thanks, Vicky

Garudasana Yogo Socks

knit

Cool Cropped Top

knit

Star Wars Ewok pattern by Holly's Hobbies

knit

Margaux

Knit Pattern of the Day: Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

Picot Edge Dishcloth

crochet, Mother's Day
thanks, Tara

Yarndale Flower Brooch

crochet
thanks, Lois

Crochet Yoga Mat Bag

crochet

Brigida Pullover

crochet

Crochet Owl, S8647

crochet

Puff Stitch Trivet pattern by Kozy Komforts

RECIPE

thanks, Shelley

Zucchini Parmesan Recipe

CROCKPOT RECIPE
thanks, Sally

To Die For Crock Pot Roast Recipe

SWEETS

thanks, Jane

Cream Cheese Cake

ADULT COLORING

CRAFTS

Embroidered Cork Jewelry

CHILDREN'S CORNER ... Mother's Day

thanks, Cindy

Artwork Candles

baby becomes a big girl
PUZZLE

Leaf Symetry Jigsaw Puzzle



WORD SEARCH

SUDOKU ... very hard

solution:

QUOTE

thanks, Amy

CLEVER

THE BEST SEED STARTING TIP ... EVER

Gather seed starting supplies (planters, soil, variety of seeds). Grab your jar of cinnamon from the pantry and set aside.

Fill your seed starting trays with your choice of soil, place seeds, add another layer of soil and top with CINNAMON! Water in until the soil is moist. Update: Cinnamon is an anti-fungal and antimicrobial. It will help to prevent fungus growth and issues with dampening off.

Place your trays in a east or south facing window for winter seed starting or in a north or west facing window for summer seed starting. Place your filled seedling trays on the shelves and keep moist, watering only from the bottom of the watertight shelf. When you see your seedlings emerge, rotate your seedling tray twice per day, continuing to water from the bottom.

Watch and enjoy your new seedlings emerge. No issues with fungus, no issues with dampening off.

With the use of cinnamon and the right seed starting containers you will have many years of seed starting bliss ahead of you. Happy Growing!
~ Chrissy Rex

EYE OPENER

ASTONISHING PICTURES

This dog is smart enough to not mess with a skunk, which is a mammal found in North and South America. It uses a special technique to keep its predators away by, spraying a strong smelling liquid from its gland. Seems this dog was the victim of the same smelly spray sometime in the past.

This photo is of an aggressive and a massive tornado, in Oklahoma City. Someone was definitely ready with a camera to capture this alluring view, in May 1898. In the picture, it seems these two gentleman are engaged in storm chasing.

This is an incredible picture depicting nature as a destroyer. This was the last photo clicked by Japanese-born Michigan Hosshino who won a wildlife photographer award. It was in the year 1996 when his life was taken by the bear, while he was in his tent working on an assignment in Russia.

The picture depicts Hermit Crab which doesn’t have their own shells like other creatures. They take shelter in shells or bone skeleton of dead animals or humans.

This picture is of a unique creature that belongs to rodent class and has 22 pink twig like structures surrounding its nose. These sensory organs are known as Elmer’s organ. With the help of these, they can smell, touch, experience temperature changes and do other things.

Liisa Hietanen