Serendipity is the term for a “happy accident” or a “pleasant surprise.” Thus, Serendipity Day encourages people to look for and notice those unexpected good things that are always out there, if we have the eyes to see them. In fact, the creators of this holiday believe that serendipity is no accident at all, but an attitude or a lifestyle in which you are always reaching for those unexpected things and expecting happy surprises to occur.
The word serendipity was coined in the mid 1700s by a man named Horace Walpole. In a letter to a friend, he explained how he had created the term from a Persian fairy tale known in English as The Three Princes of Serendip. The story tells of three princes who were banished from the kingdom of Serendip (another term for Sri Lanka) in order to prove their worth. As they wander the world, “serendipitous” moments occur to them time after time, in a rather unbelievable amount, much like some children’s stories, where they just happen to run across the perfect place or the clue to solve the mystery, or old, corny superhero movies, where they just happen to have the antidote lying around.
In other words, it seems like Walpole first created the word serendipity as some mild ridicule of these “happy accidents” and now the term is a favorite inspirational line everywhere: “seek serendipity!”
thanks for sharing 'typewriter' art, Barbara
Paul Smith was an American artist who, although suffering from severe spastic cerebral palsy, created beautiful typewriter art.
Word of the Day
| |||
| Definition: | (adjective) Easily deceived or duped. | ||
| Synonyms: | fleeceable, green | ||
| Usage: | Molly was a gullible young girl, and we easily convinced her that our homely history teacher was actually a runaway princess in disguise. | ||
Idiom of the Day
not know (someone) from a bar of soap— To be completely unaware of or know nothing about someone; to have never met the person indicated. |
History
Genghis Khan Dies (1227)
Though infamous for slaughtering entire cities and destroying fields and irrigation systems, Genghis Khan is admired for his military brilliance. The emperor-warrior consolidated nomadic tribes into a unified Mongolia and led them to conquer much of Asia from the Pacific coast to Eastern Europe. He died on a military campaign in China, and the empire was divided. The circumstances of his death are unclear.
Antonio Salieri (1750)
Italian composer and conductor Antonio Salieri moved to Vienna, Austria, in 1766 with his music teacher, imperial court composer Florian Gassmann. When Gassmann died, Salieri took his position and went on to become Vienna's most popular opera composer for the remainder of the 18th century. Beethoven, Schubert, and Liszt were among his most famous students. Though Salieri and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart were rivals, the story that he poisoned Mozart is likely untrue.
Chief Seattle Days
| This three-day inter-tribal festival honors Chief Seattle (1786-1866), for whom Seattle, Washington, is named. He was head of the Suquamish and Duwamish Indian tribes in the Puget Sound area of Washington. Besides featuring traditional Indian dances and drumming and dancing contests, the festival has a distinctive northwestern flavor, with salmon and clam bakes and canoe races. Other highlights are a horseshoe tournament, storytelling, and the election of a Chief Seattle Days Queen. The festival closes with the blessing of Chief Seattle's grave. |
Scientists Discover 91 Unknown Volcanoes Beneath Ice Sheet in Antarctica
| Scientists have identified 91 volcanoes beneath an ice sheet covering Antarctica's west coast, a study shows. |
Scientists discover 91 volcanoes beneath Antarctica's ice
1587 - Virginia Dare became the first child to be born on American soil of English parents. The colony that is now Roanoke Island, NC, mysteriously vanished.
1916 - Abraham Lincoln's birthplace was made into a national shrine.
1938 - The Thousand Islands Bridge was dedicated by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The bridge connects the U.S. and Canada.
1958 - Vladimir Nabokov's novel "Lolita" was published.
1962 - Ringo Starr made his first appearance as a Beatle.
1963 - James Meredith graduated from the University of Mississippi. He was the first black man to accomplish this feat.
1966 - The first pictures of earth taken from moon orbit were sent back to the U.S.
1981 - Herschel Walker of the University of Georgia took out an insurance policy with Lloyd’s of London. The all-American was insured for one million dollars.
1992 - Larry Bird, after 13 years with the Boston Celtics, announced his retirement.
1997 - Beth Ann Hogan became the first coed in the Virginia Military Institute's 158-year history.
1997 - Patrick Swayze received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1.
Exhibitors Association Ceramic & Doll Show 2017
Aug 18-19, 2017 | Waukesha, W
Waukesha County Expo Center|1000 Northview Rd
If you can get past the fact that horror movies employ dolls and other creepy art for cheap scares on the regular, you just may enjoy yourself at this ceramic & doll show. From the hands of many manufacturers, artists and teachers come the finest quality in ceramic arts and doll-making. You can join in to learn from several demonstrations, explore new ideas or just to appreciate good art.
further information: Home
2.
Lone Star Gourd Festival 2017
Aug 18-20, 2017 | New Braunfels, TX
New Braunfels Convention Center|375 South Castell Avenue
Put on by the Texas Gourd Society, the Lone Star Gourd Festival in New Braunfels, Texas, is a festival that promotes and celebrates the artistry of gourds. This multiple-day festival takes place annually at the New Braunfels Civic Convention Center. Lessons on making gourd art are given by educated instructors, and a display of competition gourds to be judged can be viewed during the festival.
further information: Texas Gourd Society
3.
Atlanta Tattoo Expo 2017
Aug 18-20, 2017 | Atlanta, GA
Sheraton Downtown Atlanta|165 Courland St NE
The annual Atlanta Tattoo Expo showcases the work of tattoo artists from around the city and the country at large. The three-day event features live tattooing of varying techniques and styles, tattoo competitions in a number of categories, seminars for ink-smiths, a bikini contest, a pool party and the latest in tattooing products.
further information: Atlanta Tattoo Expo - August 2017
The House of the Blackheads is a building in the old town of Riga, Latvia. The original building was erected during the early 14th century for the Brotherhood of Blackheads, with major work completed in 1580 and 1886. In 1941, the original building was bombed by the Germans; the ruins were demolished by the Soviets seven years later. The current reconstruction was erected from 1995 to 1999.
thanks, Adele
knit, must register
thanks, Marilyn
knit, 2 yrs
knit, must register
knit
| This pattern can be adapted to circular knitting by knitting all the odd numbered rows. |
| Repeat rows 1 - 4. |
| Row # | Side | Begin Row | Repeat | Repeat From * | End Row |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | W | * | purl | * | |
| 2 | R | k1* | (yo, ssk) twice, k1, (k2 tog, yo) twice, k1 | * | |
| 3 | W | * | purl | * | |
| 4 | R | K2* | yo, ssk, yo, sl 2 knitwise-k1-p2sso, yo, k2 tog, yo, k3 | * | k2 |
thanks, Leah
Crochet animal slippers
crochet
thanks, Helen
crochet
thanks, Sheri
Chicken Tortilla Lettuce Wraps
YIELD: SERVES 4, RECIPE DOUBLES, TRIPLES, ETC. EASILY
TOTAL TIME: 10 MINUTES
PREP TIME: 5 MINUTES
COOK TIME: 5 MINUTES
averiecooks
I worked some Mexican flair into what’s normally an Asian dish. Soft butter lettuce (or romaine) cradles taco-seasoned chicken, juicy tomatoes and corn, crisp red peppers, and cheese. The wraps are topped with bright cilantro and seasoned tortilla chips. There’s so much flavor and texture in every bite. You can customize the wraps by incorporating ingredients like black beans, guacamole, salsa, sour cream, or your favorite taco fixings. The wraps are a perfect easy party appetizer and people love creating their own. Or make them for a fun, fast, and healthy dinner or lunch. They’re ready in 10 minutes and a crowd favorite.
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning (I use reduced sodium, medium heat)
- 1 head butter lettuce
- 1 medium tomato, diced small (I used Roma, vine-ripened or cherry tomatoes may be substituted)
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced small
- 1/2 cup corn (I used frozen, fresh may be substituted)
- 1 cup shredded cheese (I use a Mexican blend with monterey Jack and cheddar)
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, finely minced
- 1/2 cup seasoned tortilla chips, crushed (I crush Doritos in my palm)
- 1/2 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed, optional
- 1 medium Hass avocado, peeled and diced or make into guacamole, optional
- salsa, optional for garnshing
- sour cream, optional for garnishing
DIRECTIONS:
- To a large skillet, add the olive oil, chicken, and cook over medium-high heat for about 4 minutes, flipping and stirring intermittently so all sides cook evenly. After the chicken has cooked through, evenly sprinkle with taco seasoning and stir to evenly coat. Cooking time will vary based on thickness of chicken breasts and sizes of pieces. Allow chicken to rest in pan off the heat while you prep the remaining ingredients.
- Peel off the leaves of the butter lettuce from the core and stack them on a plate.
- Place 2 leaves of butter lettuce on a separate plate (I like to double up the leaves so the wraps are sturdier) and add about 3 tablespoons chicken, 1 tablespoon tomatoes, 1 tablespoon bell peppers, 1 tablespoon corn, 2 tablespoons cheese, a pinch of cilantro, and sprinkle with tortilla chips to taste. Optionally add black beans, avocado or guacamole, salsa, or sour cream for garnishing. Fold up and enjoy immediately. Repeat until chicken and remaining ingredients are gone. Wraps are best fresh.
thanks, Gloria
Detail of Mona Lisa
SWEETS
thanks, Shelley
| ahead alarm alert arrow below clay collapses crews denote | employ engage flames fully gavel grain guide hall hark important | linen meaning middle part peace rant root roster ruse | satyr scene single slash smoke sole sort still storey | tends theme third token under value weight west |
SUDOKU ... medium
solution:
QUOTE
thanks, Tina
EYE OPENER
Choosing and Evaluating a Nursing Home
elderlawanswers
Can there be a more difficult job than finding a nursing home for a parent or spouse? No one wants to live in a nursing home. They serve as institutions of last resort when it's impossible to provide the necessary care in any other setting. And, typically, the search takes place under the gun when a hospital or rehabilitation center is threatening discharge or it's no longer possible for the loved one to live at home. Finally, in most cases, finding the right nursing home is a once-in-a-lifetime task, one you're taking on without the experience of having done it before.
That said, there are a few rules of thumb that can help you:
- Location, location, location. No single factor is more important to quality of care and quality of life of a nursing home resident than visits by family members. The quality of care is often better if the facility staff knows that someone who cares is watching and involved. Visits can be the high point of the day or week for the nursing home resident. So, make it as easy as possible for family members and friends to visit.
- Get references. Ask the facility to provide the names of family members of residents so you can ask them about the care provided in the facility and the staff's responsiveness when the resident or relatives raise concerns.
- Check certifying agency reports. Medicare's Nursing Home Compare is a free site that allows consumers to compare the quality of the nursing homes they're considering, using Five-Star Quality Ratings, health inspection results, nursing home staff data, quality measures, and fire safety inspection results. Also, CareScout is an unbiased source for ratings and reviews of eldercare providers nationwide. Detailed nursing home reports are available for a fee.
- Talk to the nursing home administrator or nursing staff about how care plans are developed for residents and how they respond to concerns expressed by family members. Make sure you are comfortable with the response. It is better that you meet with and ask questions of the people responsible for care and not just the person marketing the facility.
- Tour the nursing home. Try not to be impressed by a fancy lobby or depressed by an older, more rundown facility. What matters most is the quality of care and the interactions between staff and residents. See what you pick up about how well residents are attended to and whether they are treated with respect. Also, investigate the quality of the food service. Eating is both a necessity and a pleasure that continues even when we're unable to enjoy much else. It is also advisable to try and get a tour of the facility that is not prearranged. While this is not always possible, it does give you the opportunity of seeing an unrehearsed atmosphere.
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