DIANE'S CORNER .. Celebrate Nat'l Milk Day

While drinking a glass of milk might seem like the most natural thing to do, did you know that this small action supports the livelihoods of one-billion people worldwide?

Milk is enjoyed in all kinds of ways by various people who live all over the world! Some people choose to drink it with a meal while others choose to warm it up for a bedtime sleep aid. Any way you like it, 24 hours are dedicated to celebrating this venerable beverage on National Milk Day!

History of National Milk Day

It is generally thought that National Milk Day was created to celebrate the first time milk was delivered in glass bottles, beginning in the US. Some people think it dates back to a time around the year 1915. Prior to this, conditions for milk delivery were fairly unsanitary, but the new bottles enabled safe and clean storage.

However, it didn’t take long until National Milk Day grew to be a day dedicated to all aspects of milk. Whether it is celebrating the health benefits of drinking this nutritious liquid, to the farming industry that produces it, the day can be used to honor and enjoy the wonders of milk.

Now, milk products are stored and brought into homes in many more ways than only in those glass bottles. No matter how the milk arrives, whether in cardboard cartons or plastic jugs from the grocery store, or still delivered the old-fashioned way in glass bottles on the porch by the milkman, it’s a delicious and nutritious treat for the family.

thanks for the smile pics, Bev

JOKE OF THE DAY

WORD OF THE DAY

lame duck

MEANING:
noun:
1. An elected official soon going to be out of office due to losing a re-election bid, not running again, or being ineligible to run again.
2. Something or someone weak, unsuccessful, ineffectual, disabled, helpless, etc.
3. Someone who cannot fulfill their contracts, especially one who has lost a great deal of money in stocks or other speculations.

ETYMOLOGY:
The term originated in the London Stock Exchange where a stockbroker who lost a lot of money and defaulted on his debts was called a lame duck. Other animal metaphors used in the financial world are bull and bear. Earliest documented use: 1761. The term came to be applied to politics about 100 years later.

NOTES:
When employees are fired, they are typically escorted out soon after. This is also how it’s done after elections in most places. As soon as the victor is confirmed, the old prime minister is out and the new one takes over.
In some places, such as the US, there’s usually a transition period. For example, elections are held in the first week of Nov and the new president doesn’t take over until the next Jan 20. The outgoing president is a lame duck during these 2.5 months. The system was designed with smooth transition in mind and it works, assuming people follow the norms. As we saw on Jan 6, 2021, sometimes even a lame duck has enough time to cause chaos. Going forward, maybe it’d be better to have security escort the loser outside the White House gates as soon as fired by the people.

USAGE:
“‘The country needs leadership not a lame duck PM who has lost the faith of his MPs and cabinet ... ,’ Jenny Chapman said.”
Denis Staunton; Tory MPs Warn Johnson He Is Running Out of Friends; Irish Times (Dublin); Dec 20, 2021.

TODAY'S ARTIST
thanks, Natalie

Constant Permeke (31 July 1886 – 4 January 1952)
was a Belgian painter and sculptor who is considered the leading figure of Flemish expressionism.

IDIOM OF THE DAY

What does 'Behind the times' mean?

Meaning: Someone that is behind the times is old-fashioned and has ideas that are regarded as out-dated.

thanks, Patsy

(Not So) TOTALLY USELESS FACTS OF THE DAY

When stagecoaches were standard in the 1880s, the driver would typically assign his passenger seat to an armed partner whose duty it was to keep thieves away. Hence, the expression "riding shotgun".

When written in English, every number shares a letter with its neighboring numbers. Ex: "One" shares an O with "Two" | "Two" shares a T with "Three" | "Three" shares an R with "Four..." and so on forever.

A single banana is called a finger, and a whole bunch is called a hand.

READERS INFO
Coronavirus Style by Sylvia, CAN DO Correspondent
Egg-Free Mayo
1/4 c. Milk (3-5% butterfat)
1/2 c. Salad oil (not olive oil)
2 t. Apple cider vinegar
1/2 t. Mustard
1/2 t. Sugar
1/4 t. Salt
1/8 t. White pepper

With a stick blender, blend the milk while slowly adding the oil, then the rest of the ingredients.

This will keep a week in the fridge.

COFFEE
thanks, Ella

PICTURES OF THE DAY

A dragonfly is a flying insect characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body. Dragonflies typically eat mosquitoes, midges and other small insects like flies, bees, and butterflies. They are usually found around lakes, ponds, streams, and wetlands because their larvae, known as "nymphs", are aquatic. Dragonflies do not bite or sting humans. In fact, they are valued as a predator that helps control the populations of insects that do.

SS Thistlegorm was a British Merchant Navy ship that sank in the Red Sea during the Second World War. The wreck is slowly becoming part of the local coral reef.

knit
thanks, Sheri

Cedar Hill Scarf pattern by Alexandra Tavel

knit
thanks, Charlotte

Méabh's Cardigan

knit

Bosnian Slipper Socks

knit

Pieceful Cardigan

knit

Lambie

CROCHET PATTERNS OF THE DAY

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

Gulls and Slips Cowl

Aspen Fingerless Mittens

crochet

thanks, Helen

Cozy Ears Hat pattern by Vicki Mikulak

crochet
thanks, Gabby

Woven Potholder

crochet

Elephant Square pattern by Chassity Oquendo

crochet

And Some for Me Too

crochet

Little Bigfoot Elephant

RECIPE

thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

No-Knead Bread Recipe

PANTRY RECIPE

thanks, Debbie

Cinnamon Applesauce Muffins

CROCKPOT RECIPE

thanks, Mindy

Harissa White Bean Stew with Turmeric Yogurt Recipe

VEGAN/ VEGETARIAN RECIPE

Both vegetarian and vegan diets may provide health benefits, including reduced body weight, lower cholesterol levels, and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, it is important for vegetarians and vegans to ensure that they are meeting all of their nutritional requirements.

thanks, Alice

Root Vegetable Soup [Vegan]

COPYCAT RECIPE

thanks, Jenny

Copycat Applebee's Wonton Tacos Recipe

RETRO RECIPE

thanks, Ann

Orange Creamsicle Jello Mold Salad

SWEETS RECIPE

thanks, Gloria

Perfect Moist Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

ADULT COLORING

FUN

answer:

CRAFTS

thanks, Laura

Plastic Canvas Floral Clutch

CHILDREN'S CORNER .. Valentine's Day

thanks, Kay

Easy Rose

PUZZLE

Pink Hangers Jigsaw Puzzle

WORD SEARCH

against
alcohol

candy
census
coach

dandy
dangle
determine
dispute

evidence

fern
funeral

gleam
glee

headquarters
holder

lair

maple
more
mortar

origin

perm
pins

really
repressive

smoke
sponsor
support
surrender
syrup

unique

vans

weird
windows

SUDOKU .. very hard

solution:

ICE BREAKER

thanks, Kris

You can use 'ice breaker questions' to build a rapport, enabling strangers to engage in back and forth conversion. With a little practice and possibly a beer or two, you’ll be breaking more ice than the Titanic.