What’s wrong with weeds? Natural environments, gardens, parks and public places are home to huge varieties of plants and flowers, and weeds are an important part of that ecosystem. On Weed Appreciation Day, consider how much fun you had with dandelions as a child before you pull them up; and consider how many of these weeds are in fact edible (make sure to check it’s safe!), and unsurprisingly very easy to grow!
Word of the Day
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| Definition: | (noun) Insincere or grossly sentimental pathos. | ||
| Synonyms: | mawkishness | ||
| Usage: | The opera's conclusion was emotional to the point of bathos, with the soprano dying heroically to save her lover. | ||
History
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 | Both mechanical failure and human error contributed to the 1979 failure of a nuclear reactor cooling system at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Pennsylvania, which led to overheating, partial melting of the reactor's uranium core, and the release of radioactive gases. Though it caused no immediate deaths or injuries, the incident increased public fears about the safety of nuclear power. | ||
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 | Maxim Gorky was the pseudonym of Aleksey Maximovich Pyeshkov, a Russian writer considered the father of Soviet literature and the founder of the doctrine of socialist realism. Gorky's works include Mother, which became the prototype of the revolutionary novel, and his final, unfinished work—often considered his masterpiece—The Life of Klim Samgin, a panoramic, four-volume novel of Russian social conditions from 1880 to 1917. | ||
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 | March 28 is the birthday of Jan Amos Komensky (or John Comenius; 1592-1670), a noted educational reformer and theologian in the former Czechoslovakia. Komensky was the first person to write an illustrated textbook for children, used for teaching Latin words; he was also a proponent of compulsory education. It has been traditional for children to honor him on Teachers' Day, or Komensky Day, by bringing flowers and gifts to their teachers. The day is also observed with lectures, music, and educational activities. | ||
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 | Ford is to sell a car that can read road signs and adjust its speed accordingly to ensure the vehicle is not driving too fast. The speed-limiting tech can be activated via the steering wheel and briefly overridden by pressing firmly on the accelerator. | ||
1797 - Nathaniel Briggs patented a washing machine.
1908 - Automobile owners lobbied the U.S. Congress, supporting a bill that called for vehicle licensing and federal registration.
1917 - During World War I the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was founded
1963 - Sonny Werblin announced that the New York Titans of the American Football League was changing its name to the New York Jets. (NFL)
1969 - Joe Cocker played his first American concert.
1986 - More than 6,000 radio stations of all format varieties played "We are the World" simultaneously at 10:15 a.m. EST.
1990 - Jesse Owens received the Congressional Gold Medal from U.S. President George H.W. Bush.
2002 - The National Museum of American History put a cornet that had belonged to Louis Armstrong on display.
Reba Nell McEntire is 60 today.
“Groovin" became a number-one hit in 1967 and one of the Young Rascals'
In 1972, Elvis Presley recorded "Burning Love” at the RCA Studios in Hollywood,
California. It would turn out to be his last major hit.
If You Were Born Today, March 28:
You are determined, independent, and possess a style you can truly call your own. Seemingly fearless, you find your own way in life and determinedly achieve what you set out to do. Your sincerity wins you respect, and your spontaneity and enthusiasm are infectious. You are a pioneer and your vision is big. Insecurities and worries are often well hidden. Famous people born today: Reba McEntire, Vince Vaughn, Lady Gaga, Karen Kain, Julia Stiles.
Top of the Ladder
Photograph by Adam Schierberg, National Geographic
Cincinnati Fire Department recruits participate in a morning drill. The assignment? Climb to the top of a hundred-foot aerial ladder. Adam Schierberg, also a firefighter, positioned himself at the top of a drill tower to get this shot. “My intention was to capture the intensity of the climb by taking a vertical approach that also captured [the] anxiously awaiting candidates,” he writes.
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Dolores - Cup Cosy, Bracelet pattern by Jessica Wirthig
This pattern started out as very quick and simple pattern for a bow shaped cup cosy in… ahem… honour of Dolores Umbridge.
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Preview by Yahoo
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Dino Baby Booties pattern by Anna Meier
The pattern is designed with a bit of positive ease around the foot to fit on rompers, but the booties is not as big as the baby shoes may be.
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Crochet block: Homestead pattern by Luise Roberts
hook it! add to faves to queue About this pattern Crochet block: Homestead by Luise Roberts no projects, in 8 queues More from Luise Roberts Rocky 10 r...
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Crochet Purse pattern by Cutey Patuty Crochet
I was inspired by this bag I found at the website of MANGO I love the ribbon detail. So It inspired me to design my own crochet version of it. This is an easy ...
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Spring Inspired Tote Bag - Free Crochet Pattern pattern ...
hook it! add to faves to queue About this pattern Spring Inspired Tote Bag - Free Crochet Pattern by Rhea Papellero 1 project, in 4 queues More from Rhea ...
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Henry's Blanket pattern by Sara Elizabeth Kellner
Henry’s Blanket is a simple pattern comprised of three easy stitches (seed, basket weave, and stockinette) along with an optional Fair Isle leaf pattern and a...
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PASSOVER RECIPE
RECIPE
By Misty Nicole Roberts
All Natural Cough Syrup Recipe
Natural Cough Syrup! Not only is this blend all natural, it costs merely $0.50 per bottle!
Prep Time
5 min
Total Time
5 min
Ingredients
- The juice of 1 lemon
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 Tablespoon cider vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons water
Instructions
- Start by mixing all dry ingredients in a bowl.
- Set aside.
- Next, in a small storage container, mix the vinegar and water.
- Now, dissolve the spices in the vinegar and water
- Add honey and shake it up.
Notes
- When dispensing, use 1 teaspoon every 4-6 hours to treat scratchy throats, and naturally alleviate season allergy symptoms. This blend also works well for sore throats due to post nasal drip, colds, and flu. You can also add 2 tablespoons of syrup to one cup lemonade or cider, served either hot or cold! Also note, the cayenne pepper is added as a natural decongestant to this blend. Please note, this blend will last refrigerated, for up to one year.
CROCKPOT RECIPE
stephanie o'dea
Walnut and Sage Potatoes AuGratin CrockPot Recipe
This was our Easter contribution this year. I followed a recipe for this that I found on Gluten-Free Bay, an excellent website for the gluten-challenged.
The Ingredients.
--6 medium potatoes
--1/2 yellow onion, diced
--1 stick of butter
--1 t salt
--1/4 t black pepper
--2 1/2 cups milk or cream (I tried to do a mixture of both, but discovered the milk had expired. So I used all heavy cream. I'm sorry, mom!)
--1 t dried sage
--1 1/2 cups of shredded gruyere cheese (swiss could work)
--1-2 handfuls of walnut halves (could be optional, but then you'd have to change the name)
--tell your husband to peel and cut the potatoes in 1/4 inch slices. Marvel at how exact he is. Make a mental note to have him do this more often.--have him dice the onion too.
--melt butter in a microwaveable bowl, and slowly whisk in flour until there aren't any lumps.
--add the milk/cream to the butter and milk bowl.
--add all of your spices to the butter and milk bowl.
--spray the inside of your crockpot stoneware with a bit of cooking oil
--begin layering the potatoes, onion and the milk mixture in the crockpot
--layer until everything has been used up.
--shred all of the gruyere and dump on top of the potatoes, flattening if need-be with your hand.
--sprinkle with a bit more sage
--add a handful or two of walnut halves
--cover and cook on high for 3-5 hours.
I used my mom's 4 qt round Rival for this and it took exactly 4 hours, with perfectly tender potatoes.
The Verdict.
I only ate a bite or two of this, because I wasn't feeling very well. The reports from the family was that it was very good, very rich, and very buttery. I thought it needed a bit more salt; they thought not, but suggested less butter next time.
CRAFT
Sock Dog and Sock Dragon
I found this cute pattern for a sock dog at Little Black Teapot and I had to have a go. Fortunately I have a set of stripy socks I managed to buy for Tim in the wrong size and lost the receipt so I’ve several socks to play with. She also has a pattern for a dinosaur very cute too, but not quite what I wanted so I decided to experiment a bit and so created a Sock Dragon!
The Dragon takes two socks, buttons or beads for the eyes, small piece of white felt and a larger piece of felt to match the sock in this case I used a piece 8 x 10″ but there’s plenty left. Exact sizes will depend on the size of your socks! So there’s no hard and fast rules here.
The first step is to cut the socks up using the cutting guide.
Body and Head
Take the body (and this is the head too) section, turn inside out, put a row of running stitches round the end which was nearest the sock’s toe (left hand side as you look at the cutting pattern. Pull tight and knot off leaving one long end on thread. Turn the sock the right way out and if necessary add a few more stitches across the join to smooth out, it doesn’t need to be perfect as it will be hidden by the button nose later. Stuff until soft and squashy, try to make two separate sections of stuffing for the head and the body at this point. Run another line of running stitch around the end to close, taking care to tuck the raw edges in and add some stitches across if required, again doesn’t have to be too neat as the tail will cover later.
Put a line of running stitches around the neck and pull tight, this should sit between the head and body stuffing sections and create a neck. I also added a short row of running stitches on the top of the head just below the eyes to make a more defined head shape.
Legs
The legs are cut as per the cutting guide. For each leg turn inside out and stitch round the side and bottom. Turn the right way out and stuff until almost full. I then added some thicker wool to make paws. repeat until all legs are done. Sew in place on the body turning the raw edge of the sock under so you get a neat edge.
Wings
Cut the wing shapes from the area shown on the cutting guide. I choose to have three scalloped edges on mine. Then cut two pieces of felt to match. Place wrong sides out and stitch around leaving edge open to stuff. Turn through and stuff very lightly then if you wish stitch lines from the tip to the edge of the wing for more definition. Turn the edges under and sew to the back, behind the upper legs.
Tail
With the tail you want to turn inside out, sew along the edge, turn through and stuff. Sew over the join on the bottom, position so that the dragon will stand upright with the lower legs. As with the legs turn under the raw edge of the sock as you stitch on.
Ears
The ears will have a slight curve at the bottom edge where they are cut from in the sock, this is fine. Cut two pieces of felt the same size, sew wrong sides together leaving gap to turn through. Turn the right way up and then whip stitch the gap closed. Sew in place on the head, using the curved edge at the back to shape the ears slightly as per the finished pictures.
Eyes and Nose
Cut two pieces of white felt slightly bigger than your beads or buttons, sew in place with the bead/button just above the line of stitches from earlier. Add the button for the nose across the join at the front.
Spikes
Measure from the tip of the tail to the neck and cut a piece of felt to this length (mine was 8 1/2″) and about 7/8″ wide. This will vary dependent on the size of your socks. Cut the felt so you have a line of spikes. Starting at the tip of the tail sew in place. For the head spikes I measure the rough length I wanted spikes on. Then cut a curve in the felt to match the contour of the head. Once happy with this I cut the spikes and sewed in place.
I found this cute pattern for a sock dog at Little Black Teapot and I had to have a go. Fortunately I have a set of stripy socks I managed to buy for Tim in the wrong size and lost the receipt so I’ve several socks to play with. She also has a pattern for a dinosaur very cute too, but not quite what I wanted so I decided to experiment a bit and so created a Sock Dragon!
The Dragon takes two socks, buttons or beads for the eyes, small piece of white felt and a larger piece of felt to match the sock in this case I used a piece 8 x 10″ but there’s plenty left. Exact sizes will depend on the size of your socks! So there’s no hard and fast rules here.
The first step is to cut the socks up using the cutting guide.
Body and Head
Take the body (and this is the head too) section, turn inside out, put a row of running stitches round the end which was nearest the sock’s toe (left hand side as you look at the cutting pattern. Pull tight and knot off leaving one long end on thread. Turn the sock the right way out and if necessary add a few more stitches across the join to smooth out, it doesn’t need to be perfect as it will be hidden by the button nose later. Stuff until soft and squashy, try to make two separate sections of stuffing for the head and the body at this point. Run another line of running stitch around the end to close, taking care to tuck the raw edges in and add some stitches across if required, again doesn’t have to be too neat as the tail will cover later.
Put a line of running stitches around the neck and pull tight, this should sit between the head and body stuffing sections and create a neck. I also added a short row of running stitches on the top of the head just below the eyes to make a more defined head shape.
Legs
The legs are cut as per the cutting guide. For each leg turn inside out and stitch round the side and bottom. Turn the right way out and stuff until almost full. I then added some thicker wool to make paws. repeat until all legs are done. Sew in place on the body turning the raw edge of the sock under so you get a neat edge.
Wings
Cut the wing shapes from the area shown on the cutting guide. I choose to have three scalloped edges on mine. Then cut two pieces of felt to match. Place wrong sides out and stitch around leaving edge open to stuff. Turn through and stuff very lightly then if you wish stitch lines from the tip to the edge of the wing for more definition. Turn the edges under and sew to the back, behind the upper legs.
Tail
With the tail you want to turn inside out, sew along the edge, turn through and stuff. Sew over the join on the bottom, position so that the dragon will stand upright with the lower legs. As with the legs turn under the raw edge of the sock as you stitch on.
Ears
The ears will have a slight curve at the bottom edge where they are cut from in the sock, this is fine. Cut two pieces of felt the same size, sew wrong sides together leaving gap to turn through. Turn the right way up and then whip stitch the gap closed. Sew in place on the head, using the curved edge at the back to shape the ears slightly as per the finished pictures.
Eyes and Nose
Cut two pieces of white felt slightly bigger than your beads or buttons, sew in place with the bead/button just above the line of stitches from earlier. Add the button for the nose across the join at the front.
Spikes
Measure from the tip of the tail to the neck and cut a piece of felt to this length (mine was 8 1/2″) and about 7/8″ wide. This will vary dependent on the size of your socks. Cut the felt so you have a line of spikes. Starting at the tip of the tail sew in place. For the head spikes I measure the rough length I wanted spikes on. Then cut a curve in the felt to match the contour of the head. Once happy with this I cut the spikes and sewed in place.
PUZZLE
CHILDREN'S CORNER ... construction paper art
LOOK AT THE PURTY FLOWERS
The Malaysian Orchid Mantis just might be the biggest trickster of the animal kingdom.
This bug mimics real orchids so well, it deceives pollinating bugs into stopping by for a visit. Instead of collecting pollen and nectar, the bugs become a meal for the mantis.
The Malaysian Orchid Mantis was discovered in 1879 when an Australian journalist took a trip to Indonesia and returned with stories of bug eating flowers. What he actually saw was the orchid mantis.
The Malaysian Orchid Mantis
BETTER THAN THE REAL THING
For over a century, it has been assumed that the orchid mantis is a master mimicker, but no one ever put them to the test…. until now.
In recent experiments, scientists have discovered that the mantis is not only an experienced camouflager, but they impersonate flora better than the real thing!
The fakers don’t even hang around the real thing. Orchid mantis are so confident in their ability to mimic flowers, they just hang out on leafy greens and let the prey come to them.
SO MANY COLORS
The orchid mantis comes in a variety of colors … from white, to yellow, to pink and purple.
Whatever their color, bees and wasps of the world beware! It’s not a flower … it’s going to eat you!
QUOTE
'where's the bathroom?' in Italian - Dov'è la toilette?
CLEVER
FAMILY TREE OF VINCENT VAN GOGH
His dizzy aunt ------------------------------------------------ Verti Gogh
The brother who ate prunes--------------------------------- Gotta Gogh
The brother who worked at a convenience store ------Stop N Gogh
The grandfather from Yugoslavia ----------------------------- U Gogh
His magician uncle -------------------------------- Where-diddy Gogh
His Mexican cousin ---------------------------------------- A Mee Gogh
The Mexican cousin's American half-brother ------------ Gring Gogh
The nephew who drove a stage coach ----------------- Wells-far Gogh
The constipated uncle ---------------------------------------- Can't Gogh
The ballroom dancing aunt ---------------------------------- Tang Gogh
The bird lover uncle ---------------------------------------- Flamin Gogh
An aunt who taught positive thinking ------------------ Way-to-Gogh
The little bouncy nephew ------------------------------------- Poe Gogh
A sister who loved disco --------------------------------------- Go Gogh
And his niece who travels the country in an RV --- Winnie Bay Gogh
I saw you smiling . . .. there ya Gogh
The brother who ate prunes--------------------------------- Gotta Gogh
The brother who worked at a convenience store ------Stop N Gogh
The grandfather from Yugoslavia ----------------------------- U Gogh
His magician uncle -------------------------------- Where-diddy Gogh
His Mexican cousin ---------------------------------------- A Mee Gogh
The Mexican cousin's American half-brother ------------ Gring Gogh
The nephew who drove a stage coach ----------------- Wells-far Gogh
The constipated uncle ---------------------------------------- Can't Gogh
The ballroom dancing aunt ---------------------------------- Tang Gogh
The bird lover uncle ---------------------------------------- Flamin Gogh
An aunt who taught positive thinking ------------------ Way-to-Gogh
The little bouncy nephew ------------------------------------- Poe Gogh
A sister who loved disco --------------------------------------- Go Gogh
And his niece who travels the country in an RV --- Winnie Bay Gogh
I saw you smiling . . .. there ya Gogh
EYE OPENER
thanks, helen
Living with Gotlands |
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Hop over to Woolful to read my guest post on lambing season. Tomorrow, we begin our watch here for our 2015 lambs to arrive. For now, we savor and remember the sweet moments from last year’s lambing season with this one picture which captures a single moment in time to cherish. (Join Soulemama to share your moment to remember.)
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Henry's Blanket has always been a favorite of mine. Love the Golden Retriever--he looks dressed to take on mud-season on our dirt road.
ReplyDeletefrom winter-white VT,
the Vermonster