DIANE'S CORNER ... Celebrate Stay Home Because You’re Well Day

Isn’t it a shame to waste your day off feeling sick? When you finally get some time away from the monotony of the office, isn’t it better to actually enjoy it? Of course it is! And that’s the thinking behind ‘Stay Home Because You’re Well Day.’

Thomas and Ruth Roy created Stay Home Because You’re Well Day under the name of Wellcat Holidays and Herbs. They have stated that it exists so that, “we can all call in “well,” instead of faking illness, and stay home from work.” The point of this holiday is to take a moment to just slow down and enjoy life, seeing as how it has become so very hectic over the recent years, what with the endless barrage of phone calls, text messages, emails, voicemails, etc. that we are face with on an everyday basis. And who can argue with that?

One of the more important things to remember when deciding to celebrate Stay Home Because You’re Well Day is to be careful and use good judgment when announcing this to your boss. Some bosses are understanding enough to not take issue with you honesty and your need to just get away from it all every now and then to recharge your batteries, but some could become very agitated. And you wouldn’t want to get in trouble with your boss or lose your job now, would you? So before you decide to participate, think about whether this day is right for you, your line of work, and your boss’ temperament and tolerance for new ideas. If you do indeed decide to celebrate Stay Home Because You’re Well Day, think ahead about what you will do on that day. Do you feel tired, like you have not been getting enough sleep lately? Take a large part of the morning to finally get a good sleep. Have you been eating takeout or TV dinners for weeks or even months because you haven’t had the time to cook properly? Ask you mother or grandmother for a simple, healthy dinner recipe, and treat yourself and your family to something that is both nutritious and delicious. Have you been neglecting exercise? Go for a bike ride in the park or a long walk with the dog, or hit the gym or the swimming pool—whatever you do, make sure it helps you feel rested and refreshed, and ready for another day.

Word of the Day

remunerate

Definition:

(verb) To pay (a person) a suitable equivalent in return for goods provided, services rendered, or losses incurred.

Synonyms:

recompense, compensate

Usage:

John carefully weeded his neighbors' gardens, aware that they would remunerate him for a job well done.

Idiom of the Day

good for nothing

— Entirely without value; of no use whatsoever. (Hyphenated if used as a modifier before a noun.)

History

Ken Jennings's Winning Streak on Jeopardy! Ends (2004)

In 2004, Jennings won 74 consecutive games on the television game show Jeopardy!—the longest streak in the program's history. His extensive knowledge of trivia earned him more than $2.5 million. Ratings for the show during his unprecedented streak increased by 22 percent. On his 75th appearance, the final answer was "Most of this firm's 70,000 seasonal white-collar employees work only four months a year."

Shirley Chisholm (1924)

Chisholm was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1968, becoming the first African-American woman to serve in Congress. During her 15 years in the House, she was known for her strong, liberal views, including her opposition to US involvement in the Vietnam War and her advocacy of employment programs. As a candidate for the 1972 Democratic presidential nomination, she won 152 delegates before withdrawing from the race.

St. Andrew's Day

St. Andrew, the brother of St. Peter, was the first apostle called by Jesus, but he is primarily known today as the patron saint of Scotland. St. Andrew's association with Scotland didn't come about until four centuries after his death, when some of his relics were brought there. Scots continue the custom of wearing a "St. Andrew's cross" on November 30, which consists of blue and white ribbons shaped like the letter X. The tradition for this form of a cross began no earlier than the 13th century

The World's First Known Farmers Weren't Humans, but Fijian Ants

Three million years ago, the first farmers began carefully sowing seeds, fertilizing them, and waiting for them to grow into plants. These first farmers, new research suggests, were Fijian ants.
READ MORE:

The world's first known farmers weren't humans, but Fijian ants

1782 - The United States and Britain signed preliminary peace articles in Paris, ending the Revolutionary War.

1858 - John Landis Mason received a patent for the first pepper shaker with a screw-on cap.

1875 - A.J. Ehrichson patented the oat-crushing machine.

1954 - In Sylacauga, AL, Elizabeth Hodges was injured when a meteorite crashed through the roof of her house. The rock weighed 8½-pounds.

1971 - ABC-TV aired "Brian's Song." The movie was about Chicago Bears' Brian Picolo and his friendship with Gale Sayers. i 'accidentally' watched this show with my kids. every one of us cried and cried (i wont ever forget).

2004 - In Stockholm, Sweden, the Carl Larsson painting "Boenskoerd" ("Bean Harvest") was sold at auction for $730,000. The work had been in a private collection for more than a century. The Larsson work "Vid Kattegatt" ("By Kattegatt") sold for $640,000 at the same auction.

DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, November 30

You have the ability to light up a room when you enter it. Others gravitate to you naturally because you are very easy to like. Your charm is multi-layered. One of its main ingredients is your versatility. You love people and can easily imitate others, and your many faces appeal to many! As multi-talented and multi-faceted as you are, you are also very shrewd and determined. While you may seem to have a finger in many pies, you are not scattered in focus. Bored easily, you need movement and activity in your life in order to keep stimulated. The good news is you are capable of creating it, and don't rely on others to entertain you. Famous people born today: Ben Stiller, Clay Aiken, Bo Jackson, Billy Idol, Dick Clark, Jonathan Swift, Mark Twain.

READER'S INFO

Wednesday, November 30 after sunset -
Young Moon Meets Mercury and Saturn
at Sunset

In the western sky after sunset on Wednesday, November 30, the young crescent Moon will make a triangle with the planets Mercury and Saturn. The Moon will be 7 degrees to the upper left of Saturn and 7 degrees to the upper right of Mercury. The grouping will be a terrific, but challenging binocular target in the still-bright sky.

Pictures of the day

Self-Portrait with a Friend is a painting by the Italian High Renaissance painter Raphael that dates to 1518–1520 and is held in the Louvre Museum of Paris, France. It is generally held to depict the painter (left) with an unidentified friend; suggestions for the other sitter's identity include Polidoro da Caravaggio, Giulio Romano, and Giovanni Battista Branconio.

Seeing the Forest for the Trees

Picture of the Day: Seeing the Forest for the Trees

Above the canopy in Meenikunno Nature Park, Estonia

knit - christmas

Reindeer Finger-Puppet pattern by Barbara Prime



				Reindeer Finger-Puppet pattern by Barbara Prime A simple little toy that makes a great addition to any child’s stocking. The knitting is fairly basic, and the toy works up in just a couple hours. The antlers can ...

				View on www.ravelry.com	Preview by Yahoo

knit

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/boneyard-shawl
knit, 5 - 6 yrs

http://www.pickles.no/easy-peasy-sweater/
knit

Nurmilintu pattern by Heidi Alander



				Nurmilintu pattern by Heidi Alander Thank you MJinBarcelona for the Spanish translation!

				View on www.ravelry.com	Preview by Yahoo

knit - christmas

Bright Hats and Mitts Garland Knitting Pattern | Red Heart
Image result for thank you gif with waving water

crochet - christmas

http://amigurumibb.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/angel.pdf

crochet

We Love Cozy : All year round challenge: The D from Dog



				We Love Cozy : All year round challenge: The D from Dog Free crochet poodle dog slippers

				View on welovecozy.blogspot.ca	Preview by Yahoo

crochet

http://web.archive.org/web/20011224114913/http://members.aol.com/lffunt/icicle.html

crochet

Crochet Cowl Neck pattern by Lisa Richardson

crochet - christmas

http://www.yarnspirations.com/patterns/winter-princess-lily-doll.html

RECIPE

Quesadillas with Olives and Goats' Cheese

CROCKPOT RECIPE

Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple French Toast | Dizzy Busy and Hungry!

Image result for a hook full of yarn makes the anger go down

SWEETS - christmas

Chocolate Covered Microwave Peanut Brittle

Unbelievably easy to make, these chocolate covered microwave peanut brittles are irresistibly light with satisfying crunch. No candy thermometer, no fuss!

Image result for Microwave Peanut Brittle for Chocolate Lovers

yield: 1 POUND

Ingredients:

1 cup dry-roasted peanuts
1 cup (200gr) sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
½ cup light corn syrup
1 tablespoon margarine*
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
¼ cup white chocolate chips

Directions:

First check your microwaves power. The time directions in this recipe for microwaves with 1000Watts.
Measure and prepare all the ingredients before moving forward.
Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray.
In 1-quart microwave-safe bowl with a lid, combine peanuts, sugar, salt and corn syrup.
Cover the bowl and microwave the mixture for 3 minutes**. (Leo's tip: if you don’t cover the mixture, it’ll get burnt.)
Take it out and give it a nice stir.
Then cover and microwave for another 3.5 minutes.
Take it out and stir in margarine and vanilla extract.
Cover and microwave again for 2.5 minutes.
Take it out and add baking soda.
Quickly stir, as the mixture foams.
Pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet.
Using 2 forks, spread it out into even layer.
Sprinkle semi-sweet chocolate chips over the hot brittle and let it stand for a minute. Then using a spatula, spread it into even layer. If you want swirled look, sprinkle white chocolate chips and let it stand for a minute, or until softened. Then using a toothpick, swirl white chocolate chops into semi-sweet chocolate layer.
Let it cool and harden, about 30-45 minutes. Store in a ziplock bag for up to a week.

*You can't substitute butter for margarine. I tried and got rock hard brittle. ** The time directions are for 1000 Watt microwave.

ADULT COLORING

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland Movie poster

CRAFTS - christmas

Christmas Tree Pop Up Card

robertsabuda

Step 1:
Click on the link to download the .pdf template for the pop-up Christmas Tree:

Christmas Tree

Step 2:
Print out both pages from the template onto heavy paper, such as card stock or construction paper.

Step 3: Lay the card that has the outline of the tree on a flat surface. Take a ruler and line the edge of it up against the center fold line of the card.

Step 4: Use the rounded end of a paper clip (or a ball point pen that has run out of ink) and press it along the dotted line carefully scoring the card all the way from top to bottom. Score all the other dotted lines on the card as well.

Step 5: Cut the card out carefully following the solid, black lines around the edges.

Step 6: Begin to fold the card in half, keeping the outline of the tree on the OUTSIDE so you can always see it.

Step 7: Fold the card completely in half with the outline of the tree still visible.

Step 8: Carefully cut along the SOLID black line of the first segment at the top of the tree.

Step 9: Fold the first segment at the top to the tree back against the card, along the dotted line, and crease with your thumb or finger.

Step 10: Put the first segment back in its original position.

Step 11: Open the card like a tent, and push the first segment through to the other side.

Step 12: If you turn the card over, this is what it looks like.

Step 13: Turn the card over again and carefully cut along the SOLID black line of the second segment at the top of the tree.

Step 14: Fold the second segment at the top to the tree back against the card, along the dotted line, and crease with your thumb or finger.

Step 15: Put the second segment back in its original position.

Step 16: Open the card like a tent, and push the second segment through to the other side.

Step 17: If you turn the card over, this is what it looks like.

Step 18: Turn the card back over again and repeat the same process of cutting along the solid black lines, folding the segments and pushing them through to the other side. When you have done all five segments the card will look like this.

Step 19: Set the Christmas tree card aside and lay the second print out, the backing card, on a flat surface. Take a ruler and line the edge of it up against the center fold line of the backing card and score down the center with your paper clip.

Step 20: Cut the backing card out carefully following the solid, black lines around the edges.

Step 21: Fold the backing card in half with the dotted line on the INSIDE. Set this card aside.

Step 22: Take the Christmas Tree card and turn it over so the dotted outline is visible. Put a thin line of glue along the right side of the card from top to bottom.

Step 23: Put a thin line of glue along the left side of the card from top to bottom.

Step 24: Take the backing card, with the dotted line facing down, and carefully position it on top of the Christmas tree card. Take your time, making sure the edges of both cards match up.