Look for an Evergreen Day - December 19, 2019

DIANE'S CORNER ... 

Celebrate Look for an Evergreen Day

Every year one thing remains the same around the holidays, people everywhere have to decide at what point before the big day they’re going to go out and hunt down a Christmas tree· Look for an Evergreen Day is about the last opportunity you have if you haven’t already gotten yours to ensure you have a tree for the Holidays

Even if you’ve already got your tree for this year, this is a great opportunity to go out and familiarize yourself with the other types of Evergreens in your neighborhood, and discover that these regal giants are around you all year round.

History of Look for an Evergreen Day

Look for an Evergreen Day was originally established by the National Arborist Association to create a day to appreciate the beauty of these trees outside of the confines of merely being bedecked with glittering lights and ornaments· Even in the depths of winter these noble trees keep their foliage, providing that wonderful green and white contrast that is so representative of deep winter.

Evergreens have played an important role in many societies throughout the ages, selected for religious observances due to their seemingly eternal nature even in a season of death· But that’s not the only place they’re represented, the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest were entirely reliant on the red cedar for multiple aspects of their culture· Whether they were making clothing, fishing line, ropes, or building their homes or canoes, the red cedar was vital a vital part of their lives.

Going back even further, most people have heard about how Socrates was made to drink a glass of hemlock tea, which he did with his normal unflinching nature· Hemlocks are a shade tolerant evergreen with short striped needles· As you can tell, knowing the difference between your evergreens could one day save your life!

Joke of the Day

PHYSICAL FITNESS CLASS

During my physical fitness class, I had everyone lie on their backs with their legs up as if pedaling a bike. After several minutes, one man suddenly stopped.

"Why did you stop pedaling?" I shouted.

"I didn't stop," he said, wheezing, "I'm coasting."

Word of the Day

logodaedaly

MEANING:

noun: Skill in using or coining words.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin logodaedalia, from Greek logodaidalia, from logodaidalos, from logos (word) + daedalus (skillful). Earliest documented use: 1727.

USAGE:

“No, I think that Burgess, a consummate practitioner of logodaedaly, chose ‘atomy’^* for deliberate ambiguity, implying that the love borne for Roxane by Cyrano had started out as a skeletal friendship but later became a grand Herculean passion.”
Jeff Aronson; An/Atomy; BMJ: British Medical Journal (London, UK); Oct 14, 2000.

^*In his translation of Cyrano de Bergerac:
“But the tough atomy I thought to seize
And crush, turned out an infant Hercules.”

Idiom of the Day

KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE

To achieve two things at once
I could pick up the dry cleaning on my way the doctors. That way we’d be killing two birds with one stone.

This Day in History

1732 - Benjamin Franklin began publishing "Poor Richard's Almanac."

1843 - Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" was first published in England.


1871 - Corrugated paper was patented by Albert L. Jones.


1903 - The Williamsburg Bridge opened in New York City. It opened as the largest suspension bridge on Earth and remained the largest until 1924. It was also the first major suspension bridge to use steel towers to support the main cable.


1917 - The first games of the new National Hockey League (NHL) were played. Five teams made up the league: Toronto Arenas, Ottawa Senators, Quebec Bulldogs, the Montreal Canadiens and the Montreal Wanderers.


1918 - Robert Ripley began his "Believe It or Not" column in "The New York Globe".


1959 - Walter Williams died in Houston, TX, at the age of 117. He was said to be the last surviving veteran of the U.S. Civil War.


1960 - Neil Sedaka’s "Calendar Girl" was released.


1972 - Apollo 17 splashed down in the Pacific, ending the Apollo program of manned lunar landings.


1984 - Ted Hughes was appointed England's poet laureate.


1990 - Bo Jackson (Los Angeles Raiders) became the first athlete to be chosen for All Star Games in two sports.


2003 - Images for the new design for the Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center site were released. The building slopes into a spire that reaches 1,776 feet.



DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, December 19

You are an attractive and magnetic person with a flair for the dramatic and exceptional creative powers. While you come across as gentle and patient, you can also be very determined and wilful. Once you find the path that feels right, you put your heart and soul into whatever you do. Perceptive and intuitive, you are a people watcher--forever curious about the world around you, and sometimes self-centered in your restlessness for new experiences. Your imagination is highly developed, and sometimes overly so! Famous people born today: 

1902 Ralph Richardson, English actor (Anna Karenina, Doctor Zhivago), born in Cheltenham, England (d. 1983)

1915 Édith Piaf, [E Giovanna Gassion], chanteuse (Little Sparrow), born in Paris, France (d. 1963)

1972 Alyssa Milano, American actress (Who's the Boss, Charmed) and activist, born in Brooklyn, New York

1980 Jake Gyllenhaal, American actor (Donnie Darko, Jarhead), born in Los Angeles, California

thanks, Riley

READERS INFO

1.

(Not So) Totally Useless Facts of The Day:

Are you a groaker?  Are you guilty of groaking? If you stare at someone while they eat, hoping they offer a nibble or two of their food, then you are a groaker. Groaking is more commonly found among household pets and college students living away from home. (Hey, we’ve all been there.)

On December 08, 2013, the heavy metal giants known as Metallica became the first band to set foot and play a concert in all seven continents. They performed a 10 song show at the Carlini Argentine Base in Antarctica. Because of the icy and fragile conditions in Antarctica, sound amplification was done differently for this show. The amplifiers were enclosed and members of the audience all listened while wearing special headphones. The show was titled (appropriately so), “Freeze ‘Em All.”

Professional Dice Swallower! If you were alive and kicking in 18th century England, then this could have been your calling. The gambling casinos (or dens as they were called) would hire someone whose sole purpose was to be ready to swallow the dice in case of a raid. Definitely not a job I’d want.  Good thing a 20-sided didn’t come along till later.

2.

1958 -

President Dwight Eisenhower delivered the first message from space via a communications satellite. The communications satellite was known as SCORE (Signal Communications by Orbiting Relay Equipment). Only a small group of people knew about the mission when it launched into space. In the pre-recorded message, Eisenhower said, "This is the president of the United States speaking. Through the marvel of scientific advance, my voice is coming to you from a satellite circling in outer space. My message is a simple one: Through this unique means, I convey to you and all mankind America's wish for peace on earth and good will to men everywhere." The message represented an important step forward in the space race even though the signal was fairly weak and could only be picked up by high-power radios. The president's message of peace was later rebroadcast on radio and television.

3.

Gilbert Riparian After Dark 2019

Dec 6 - 21, 2019 | Gilbert, AZ 

Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch Lake|2757 E Guadalupe Rd

Luminaries fail every poor schmuck who finds himself in a Christmas-themed horror movie. Not to worry here, festival-goer, because the blackened trail at Water Ranch Lake will be adequately lit after dark. Each bag along the way emits a calming glow that leads to singing carolers, the voices of the local school choir and other holiday entertainment.

further information: Riparian After Dark - Holiday Lights Along the Trails - Free Family Event

4.

Austin Trail of Lights 2019

Dec 10 - 23, 2019 | Austin, TX 

Zilker Park|2100 Barton Springs Rd

Austin Trail of Lights began in 1965 and has grown to be one of Austin’s most loved holiday traditions. The two-week event takes place at Zilker Park and includes 1.25 miles of lights, fun, food and entertainment for the entire community. Whether spinning under the Zilker Tree, satisfying your sweet tooth at Candy Land or browsing the local retailers at Zilker Village, there is fun for the whole family.

further information: Austin Trail of Lights - Austin's Largest Holiday Tradition - Austin Trail of Lights

5.

Armadillo Christmas Bazaar 2019

Dec 13 - 24, 2019 | Austin, TX 

No matter the season, there’s always an authentic Austin experience just around the corner. Couple it with warm holiday cheer and you’ve got yourself one of the most magical events of the year. The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is one of Austin’s longest-running art and music festivals, with the first edition taking place in 1976 at the legendary Armadillo World Headquarters (AWHQ). This storied venue was a breeding ground for creative talent from all walks of life, which helped shape Austin’s current cultural identity as a musical powerhouse. 

further information: Armadillo Bazaar

Pictures of the day

Minnie Maddern Fiske (December 19, 1865 – February 15,  1932) was an American actress, producer, director and  playwright. She started her acting career at the age of three,  was taking on leading roles at sixteen, and was widely  considered the most important actress on the American stage  in the first quarter of the 20th century. She married the  journalist and newspaper owner Harrison Grey Fiske in March 1890, and he directed almost all her plays thereafter. This  picture shows Fiske in 1896 in the leading role of Love Finds  the Way, which opened on Broadway on April 11, 1898. She  played an unhappy young woman, alienated from her family,  who sought romance.

Birmingham, England

Red noses have appeared on Banksy's Birmingham homeless reindeer mural on a railway bridge wall. 

knit ... Chanukah

thanks, Wendy

Israel Flag Challah Cover pattern by Bubbie Knits

knit ... Christmas
thanks, Karen

Children’s Scarf: Christmas Tree

knit

thanks, Leah

Ruffle Tuffle Raglan

knit

Fishtail Braided Headband

knit

Straightforward Mitts

Crochet Pattern of the Day: 

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

Easy Peasy Hooded Jacket

Easy Peasy Baby Overalls

crochet ... Christmas

thanks, Karen

Tree Pot Holder

crochet
thanks, Jessica

Sleepyhead Amigurumi

crochet

thanks, Helen

Quick Gift Cowl

crochet

Pansy Throw

crochet

Down on the Farm Playmat pattern

RECIPE

thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

Mushroom Bread Pudding Recipe

CROCKPOT RECIPE
thanks, Jane

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

SWEETS

thanks, Carol

Spicy Chip-Chocolate Bark

ADULT COLORING

CRAFTS ... Christmas

thanks, Hazel

Christmas Tree Garland

CHILDREN'S CORNER ... Chanukah

thanks, Ruth

Spinning Origami Dreidel

PUZZLE

Star on Pine Jigsaw Puzzle



WORD SEARCH

begin block bonus breaks dollar extend group

hull logs longing notify offense opportunity overdo

pickup point preview price rest river

second short sicken smart smoke snuggle squad stream

tell tight unable unwilling viking whistle

SUDOKU ... medium

solution:

QUOTE ... Christmas

Rosemary Wells

CLEVER ... Chanukah

Make the easiest latkes ever with frozen tater tots or hash browns.

THE IDEA: Latkes can be kinda tedious to make, and grating potatoes on a box grater can be a bit of an arm workout. The easiest alternative? Tater tot latkes. You can use frozen tater tots or hash browns instead of fresh potatoes to make latkes. Just heat them up according to package directions and then mix them with cream cheese and some chopped scallions. Fry them in a skillet per usual, and you'll supposedly have delicious latkes the lazy way.

EYE OPENER 

How to Shovel Snow Without Hurting Yourself

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

And the evil is done in hopes that evil surrenders / But the deeds of the devil are burned too deep in the embers / And a world of hunger in vengeance will always remember. -Phil Ochs, folksinger (19 Dec 1940-1976)

OPTICAL ILLUSION

See the glass rod in the photo above? Although both of the liquids in this glass are transparent, you can only see the glass rod through one of them.

This illusion happens because light passes through oil at the same speed that it passes through glass. Light passes through water at a different speed, so the glass rod is visible at the bottom of the cup. Science is weird like that.