Fed up of going out to work every day to earn a crust, while your dog, cat, rabbit or budgie lounges around the house? Well, Pet Owners Independence Day aims to change all that. The idea of this wacky holiday is that we owners get a turn at lying on the carpet, while our fluffy friends try out their talents in the workplace.
Admittedly, there could be just a few drawbacks to this holiday… For one thing, will the average cat or dog be up to taking a letter, let alone a phone call? For another, just how good is a typical owner likely to prove at catching mice, gnawing bones or keeping a scratching post in trim? All that remains to be seen – but it’s a great idea, anyway, and should add a touch of animal magic to the day!
Word of the Day
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| Definition: | (noun) A state of alarm or dread. | ||
| Synonyms: | apprehension | ||
| Usage: | With trepidation, the children approached the haunted house. | ||
History
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 | One of the first flying aces in history, Roland Garros was a French aviator and WWI fighter pilot. Early in the war, Garros fitted a machine gun to the front of his plane so that he could shoot while flying and soon downed three German aircrafts. While on a mission in 1915, his fuel line clogged, and he was forced to land behind German lines. He was captured and held as a prisoner of war until 1918, when he managed to escape and rejoin the French army. | ||
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 | Widely considered one of the greatest distance runners in history, Haile Gebrselassie is an Ethiopian long-distance track and road running athlete. Over the course of his career, he has set more than 20 records and won numerous Olympic and World Championship titles, achieving major competition wins in outdoor, indoor, cross country, and road running races as short as 1,500 meters and as long as full marathons | ||
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 | A team of researchers in England has discovered how a worm with no mouth or stomach may have messed with the ocean's fossil record for millions of years. | ||
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How ancient 'zombie worms' screwed up valuable fossils -...
A team of researchers in England has discovered how a worm with no mouth or stomach may have messed with the ocean's fossil record for millions of years.
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1506 - The cornerstone of the current St. Peter's Basilica is laid.
1838 - Wilkes' expedition to South Pole sails
1868 - San Francisco Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals formed
1902 - Denmark is first country to adopt fingerprinting to identify criminals
1923 - 74,000 (62,281 paid) on hand for opening of Yankee Stadium
1925 - World's Fair opens in Chicago
2013 - Two earth-like planets are discovered orbiting the star Kepler-62
69 Today
Hayley Catherine Rose Vivien Mills
British actress Hayley Mills played teen twins in the 1961 Disney film
“The Parent Trap”. She received a BAFTA Award for Most Promising
Newcomer for her performance in the 1959 film “Tiger Bay”. She was
discovered at the age of 12. Hayley is the daughter of actor John Mills.
“The Parent Trap”. She received a BAFTA Award for Most Promising
Newcomer for her performance in the 1959 film “Tiger Bay”. She was
discovered at the age of 12. Hayley is the daughter of actor John Mills.
Born Today
William Holden (born William Franklin Beedle, Jr. in O’Fallon, Illinois)
(April 17, 1918 – November 12, 1981)
Holden was considered one of the finest actors of his time, and starred in
“Sunset Boulevard” (1950), “The Bridge on the River Kwai” (1957), and
“The Wild Bunch” (1969).
“Sunset Boulevard” (1950), “The Bridge on the River Kwai” (1957), and
“The Wild Bunch” (1969).
He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in “Stalag 17” (1953)
and for his part in the 1973 film, “The Blue Knight”, earned him a Primetime
Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor.
and for his part in the 1973 film, “The Blue Knight”, earned him a Primetime
Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor.
If You Were Born Today, April 18
Your life is connected to change, and as a result, you are an interesting, knowledgeable, and perceptive person. You are good at communicating, humorous, and sociable, yet you have a distinct private streak. Others can find you baffling at times, not always knowing what to expect! You are creative and are happiest when you are creating something original. Routine career positions should be avoided. Famous people born today: James Woods, Conan O'Brien, Melissa Joan Hart, Rick Moranis.
Lavender Avenue
Photograph by Jeff Berkes, National Geographic
While traveling in Tuscany last summer, Jeff Berkes wanted to experience the culture and vibe of each of its small towns. “I came across this bicycle in Montepulciano, Italy, and the color palette was the first thing that caught my attention—the yellows and purples just stood out to me,” he writes. “I also loved the difference in the type of light there, the direct light on the bike, and the cooler color temperatures of the shaded corridor in the background.”
(double) knit
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DF-Topflappen Krebs 2 pattern by maku flo
Die Anleitung gilt nur für das Motiv ( 45 Maschen und 72 Reihen ). Es kann ein Spüli oder in DF gestrickt werden.
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knit
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Knitted Ice Cream Sandwiches pattern by Ilana R. Marks
This week on DrFrankKnits Free Pattern Fridays, I present a small knitted ice cream sandwich soft toy! In addition, these toys are designed to double as na...
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knit
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Sleeveless Yoke Sweater pattern by Patons UK
“Need a beautiful sleeveless sweater for hot summer days? This stylish top knit with Patons yarns is an eye-catching outfit.”
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knit
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Spiral Socks No. 214 pattern by Bernhard Ulmann Co.
A sock pattern from WWII, consisting of a long tube of spiral ribbing with toe shaping but no heel.
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knit
crochet
crochet
crochet
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crochet
crochet
RECIPE
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CROCKPOT RECIPE
stephanie o'dea
Balsamic Chicken with Spring Vegetables CrockPot Recipe
It is officially spring over here, and one of my favorite things to do during the spring and summer months is to walk to the neighborhood farmer's market or to our local produce stand. I love seeing piles of fresh fruits and vegetables ripe in all their glory. Most of the fruits and vegetables featured are organic and are grown by local farmers---I like the idea that I am helping a family by buying their offerings. Try to score some locally-grown vegetables.
The Ingredients.
--4-6 boneless skinless frozen chicken thighs
--1 whole head of garlic
--2 zucchinis
--2 yellow squash
--1 orange bell pepper
--1 yellow bell pepper
--1 red onion
--1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
--2 t Worcestershire sauce
--salt and pepper
The Directions.
salt and pepper your chicken pieces. Mine were still frozen, so a lot of it fell off, so I had to just dump it on top.
put the chicken into the crock.
Wash and cut all your vegetables and put into a mixing bowl. Peel the head of garlic, but keep the cloves intact.
toss the vegetables with balsamic vinegar and Worcestershire sauce.
pour the vegetables on top of the meat.
cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
I cooked this for 8, and then clicked it over to warm for another hour.
We ate this on top of quinoa.
The Verdict.
This was very tasty! I was happy with the sweetness of the red onion, and the roasted flavor of the garlic. The chicken was nice and tender, and the zucchini and squash soaked up the balsamic flavor nicely. The kids weren't impressed, but ate what they were supposed to before asking for popsicles.
CRAFT
Branch Weaving
free people blog
The art of weaving is one of those things that takes time and patience. There’s so much detail and color that can be incorporated into a weaving – they can really add a lot when decorating a space.
For my first attempt, I created my own loom using a branch and gathered up a variety of yarn and string. There’s really no right or wrong when it comes to weaving in my opinion–the flow of colors should happen naturally as you see fit. Once I started, I just created the pattern as I went along.
I really like that branch weavings can be created on any scale depending on the size of your branch. Whatever your choice, big or small, here’s how to create one!
First you need a branch. It’s best to use one that has a good “V” formation. I found this one outside while I was taking a walk, but try scouting the beach or woods for some, too!
You also need:
String (I used a combination of yarn, twine and embroidery floss for different textures in my weaving.)
Scissors
Needle
I used a large needle to help navigate my string in between the loom. I found this easier than just weaving in and out with my fingers. Some of my string was too thick to fit through the eye, so I just tied it around the body of the needle.
To start, create a loom by tying string across the width of the “V” that the branch creates. Secure with double knots on both sides, and make sure your string is tight!
You can make the loom as large as you want, but I went about half way up.
Next, choose the color of string you want to start with. I wanted to keep my weaving more neutral, so I started with an off white yarn. Tie this string to either the top or bottom of your loom, (wherever you want to start), and tie the other end of the string around the needle (or through the eye if it fits!). I started from the top and worked my way down.
I did a basic over-and-under weave throughout my entire weaving. When you reach the top or bottom of the loom, just loop the string around and continue the over-under pattern back up (or down) the loom.
I found that weaving is pretty intuitive. As long as you have an idea in your head on where you want certain colors, you can use the same over-under technique and go in any direction.
When you want to add in another color, tie off the previous one to the loom, and then tie on the next one. It’s best to snip off the little excess ends so they don’t get in the way of weaving as you go along. I added in some deep red and dark brown to mine.
As long as you have the over-under trick down, weave away!
Using this smaller stick was actually harder than using a bigger branch because you’re working with a smaller space. I love how cute it looks though, and it takes a lot less time!
It’s so exciting to see the end result! I love the way these look hung on a wall or placed on a shelf.
Have fun!
CHILDREN'S CORNER .. craft
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Book on a Stick on crayola.com
Ever bind a handmade book? It's a snap with a rubber band and a stick! Great for a journal, travel notes, sketching, a diary, or a gift.
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PUZZLE
Gas Gallons Jigsaw Puzzle
Gas Gallons Jigsaw Puzzle, 67 Piece Classic. Antique red gas pump display showing amount of sale, gallons, cents per
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QUOTE
ADOPTED CHICKS
In Qingdao, China an owner left his birdcage open and his cat jumped in. But instead of doing anything malicious, the cat made some new playmates! This isn't unheard of, but it sure is both rare and adorable…
…every time.
'where's the bathroom?' in Samoan - O fea le fale ta'ele?
CLEVER
bathtub with storage
EYE OPENER
Good looking chicks
I'm sharing the good news about this day with our pets right this very minute! Portrait in yellow and purple is spectacular. The St. Bernard with the kitten reminds me of our first Saint who also was a good friend to many a kitten in her day. I couldn't believe how many animals were snoozing in today's pics. Must be they didn't get the word!
ReplyDeleteWarms my heart to see the cuddling pets. Brings me great pleasure to see good in pets. We surely do "LOVE" ours.
ReplyDeleteWarms my heart to see the cuddling pets. Brings me great pleasure to see good in pets. We surely do "LOVE" ours.
ReplyDelete