DIANE'S CORNER ...
Celebrate Belly Laugh Day
Belly Laugh Day is a day for having a good chuckle at anything at all. Did you know that laughter has been know to causes the tissue lining our blood vessels to expand increase blood flow? This in turn makes you feel more positive, boosts your immune systems and generally just makes us feel happier! Even just looking forward to something in advance has similar positive effects as the act itself! It reduces stress and increases chemicals that help relaxation. Let’s get people laughing anywhere and everywhere!
thanks, Patty
Mikel Casal (b. 1965) is an artist and illustrator from the Basque Country in Northern Spain. He’s produced work for a wide range of publishing and editorial clients around the world, including The Guardian (UK), Tatler (Hong Kong), Courrier International (France), El Comercio (Peru), The Boston Globe (USA) and Media Vaca (Spain).
Word of the Day
postiche
MEANING:
noun:
1. A hairpiece.
2. An imitation or sham.
USAGE:
“America that forgot the lessons of Vietnam, plunging ever recklessly into a protracted Iraqi conflict, notwithstanding the electoral postiche of a Middle East democracy.”
Rotan E. Lee; Press Must Be Free to Expose the Muck; Philadelphia Tribune (Pennsylvania); Feb 11, 2005.
1. A hairpiece.
2. An imitation or sham.
Rotan E. Lee; Press Must Be Free to Expose the Muck; Philadelphia Tribune (Pennsylvania); Feb 11, 2005.
Idiom of the Day
Couch Potato
A couch potato is an extremely lazy person who spends most of their time on the couch / sofa watching the TV and eating junk food.
Example: All he ever does is watch TV; he's become a real couch potato.
This Day in History
1848 - James W. Marshall discovered a gold nugget at Sutter's Mill in northern California. The discovery led to the gold rush of '49.
1899 - Humphrey O’Sullivan patented the rubber heel.
1908 - In England, the first Boy Scout troop was organized by Robert Baden-Powell.
1922 - Christian K. Nelson patented the Eskimo Pie.
1935 - Krueger Brewing Company placed the first canned beer on sale in Richmond, VA.
1952 - Vincent Massey was the first Canadian to be appointed governor-general of Canada.
1955 - The rules committee of major league baseball announced a plan to strictly enforce the rule that required a pitcher to release the ball within 20 seconds after taking his position on the mound.
1965 - Winston Churchill died at the age of 90.
1985 - Penny Harrington became the first woman police chief of a major city. She assumed the duties as head of the Portland, Oregon, force of 940 officers and staff.
1986 - The Voyager 2 space probe flew past Uranus. The probe came within 50,679 miles of the seventh planet of the solar system.
2003 - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security began operations under Tom Ridge.
DAILY SQU-EEK
If You Were Born Today, January 24
Multi-talented and diverse, you are an interesting person who can draw upon both creative and logical sides of the brain equally. Others find you funny, great for advice, and extremely perceptive. Always interested in how people tick, you are a natural psychologist. You are security-minded but although you don't like too much change, you do require stimulation in your day to day affairs. Many of you hold more than one job. Famous people born today:
76 Hadrian, Roman Emperor (117-138, builder of Hadrian's Wall), born in Italica (d. 138)
1862 Edith Wharton [-Jones], Pulitzer prize-winning novelist (Ethan Frome, House of Mirth), born in NYC, New York (d. 1937)
1917 Ernest Borgnine, American actor (Ice Station Zebra, McHale's Navy, Marty), born in Hamden, Connecticut (d. 2012)
1925 Maria Tallchief, American prima ballerina, born in Fairfax, Oklahoma (d. 2013)
1941 Neil Diamond, American singer-songwriter, born in Brooklyn, New York
1943 Sharon Tate, American actress (Valley of the Dolls), born in Dallas, Texas (d. 1969)
READERS INFO
1.
Once upon a time, Susie and I were neighbors in an apartment building in Brooklyn. We ate dinner together every night (she being a great chef and my last husband was a good cook). I later became the godparent of her chocolate lab (she had had a black lab and would later get a yellow lab), Duncan, as we drove to the breeder together and spent the entire car ride home thinking of names for the dog. By the next day, she selected a name which is wonderful but wasn't mentioned once in that long car ride! lol
When she returned to Los Angeles, she suggested I buy a computer as that would be cheaper than phone calls. She also asked me to visit. I couldn't (obviously). She is the person who gave me my email name since I couldn't fly to vacation and visit with her.
She writes a blog of her experiences. She is articulate and very smart. Visit her blog and enjoy yourself!
Susie is a contributing co-writer of The Corner.
2.
1848 - James W. Marshall discovered a gold nugget at Sutter's Mill in northern California. The discovery led to the gold rush of '49.
1899 - Humphrey O’Sullivan patented the rubber heel.
1985 - Penny Harrington became the first woman police chief of a major city. She assumed the duties as head of the Portland, Oregon, force of 940 officers and staff.
1986 - The Voyager 2 space probe flew past Uranus. The probe came within 50,679 miles of the seventh planet of the solar system.
2003 - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security began operations under Tom Ridge.
DAILY SQU-EEK
76 Hadrian, Roman Emperor (117-138, builder of Hadrian's Wall), born in Italica (d. 138)1862 Edith Wharton [-Jones], Pulitzer prize-winning novelist (Ethan Frome, House of Mirth), born in NYC, New York (d. 1937)1917 Ernest Borgnine, American actor (Ice Station Zebra, McHale's Navy, Marty), born in Hamden, Connecticut (d. 2012)1925 Maria Tallchief, American prima ballerina, born in Fairfax, Oklahoma (d. 2013)1941 Neil Diamond, American singer-songwriter, born in Brooklyn, New York1943 Sharon Tate, American actress (Valley of the Dolls), born in Dallas, Texas (d. 1969)READERS INFO
2.
Denton Black Film Festival 2019
Jan 23-27, 2019 | Denton, TX
Campus Theater |214 W Hickory St
A film festival can offer top-notch entertainment as well as a riveting cultural experience. The Denton Black Film Festival has the best of both worlds with quality filmmaking talent in the black community. There are many excellent films to be seen here, but take note of who is in front of and behind the camera. This is an experience that aims to inspire filmmakers of color to pursue their art without hesitation.
Afro-Latin Vegas Bachata & Kizomba Festival 2019
Ap 26 - 28, 2019 | Las Vegas, NV
Harrah's Las Vegas Hotel & Casino|3475 S Las Vegas Blvd
The Afro-Latin Vegas Bachata & Kizomba Festival, held in Las Vegas, is a three-day dance festival featuring various styles such as Bachata, kizomba and salsa. In addition to the various performances held throughout the event, guests can attend workshops led by industry professionals to hone their technique and learn new steps. The event also caters to dancers of all experience levels, so anyone and everyone can join in the festivitites.
Hyperglide is the name given by cycling component manufacturer Shimano to a sprocket design in their bicycle derailleur tooth cassette systems. The design improves on their earlier Uniglide design (which used beveled/twisted gear teeth instead of ramps), and was introduced as part of a commercially viable index shifting system. The individual sprockets on a Hyperglide cassette or freewheel are designed specifically to work with their neighbors. In order to ensure alignment of each sprocket with its neighbor, the freehub has a narrow spline at one position, and each sprocket has a corresponding wide tooth on its inside face.
Rehearsing “The Four Temperaments.”
Claire Kretzschmar, 24, a member of the New York City Ballet corps.
knit
thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent
knit
knit
knit
thanks, Helen
Temperature Blankets and Scarves morehousefarm
There are many inspirations for blankets and throws, and even more for scarves – but what if you could record a whole year in one project? That’s the idea of a Temperature Blanket! By knitting one row per day with a color that corresponds to the high temperature where you live, you’ll have a brilliant display of the year.
Here’s how it works:
Start with your palette of yarns. We like 12 because that gives us a wide range of colorways, and we’re working in our 3-strand worsted weight yarn.
Choose a temperature range. For our climate here in upstate NY, we can see temperatures below zero in the winter and every once in a while it will get over 100 degrees in the summer. So we’ll make ranges of 10 degrees Fahrenheit. You can do ranges of 5 degrees if you live in a climate with less variation in temperature or if you prefer to measure in Celsius. If you live in a place with really big swings, you might want to do 15 or 20 degree increments.
The Pattern:
Decide if you’d like to work in garter or stockinette stitch.
Using US #5 or #6 needles, cast on 35 stitches and work in the pattern of your choice (garter or stockinette) for 25 rows.
Measure your gauge (both number of stitches per inch and number of rows per inch). You’re aiming for 4 stitches and 5 rows to the inch.
For a 4′ (5′) wide throw, you’ll need to cast on 192 (240) stitches. (It’s only 48 stitches for a 12″-wide scarf).
Work one row each day in the pattern of your choice, using the color that corresponds to your color and temperature chart. When you finish December 31, complete the project with a stretchy bind-off. Darn in ends and block if desired.
Tips: If you’re working in Stockinette, consider slipping the first stitch on every row to minimize the edge curl.
Instead of breaking each yarn when you switch, you can leave it hanging and bring it up the side, catching it in the yarn for the next row.
Download our handy worksheet to keep track of your daily temperatures!
Weather Underground has a historical weather reference tool which you can find here if you miss a day.
Optional: You may like a neutral color (like black, or natural soft white) to add a border. The amount of yarn you’ll need will depend on the final size of your blanket and the thickness of your border.
Yarn needed: 12 skeins of yarn makes a good-sized throw, but expect to need more yarn based on the variation of the weather. Where we are, there are a lot more 30-degree days than 100+ degree days! So which colors will you need the most of? We won’t know until those days happen, so your guess is as good as ours! Not to worry, though, you can always order more. There’s no need to worry about dye lots, because if you need more yarn it will end up in a different row.
Using US #5 or #6 needles, cast on 35 stitches and work in the pattern of your choice (garter or stockinette) for 25 rows.
Measure your gauge (both number of stitches per inch and number of rows per inch). You’re aiming for 4 stitches and 5 rows to the inch.
Instead of breaking each yarn when you switch, you can leave it hanging and bring it up the side, catching it in the yarn for the next row.
Download our handy worksheet to keep track of your daily temperatures!
Weather Underground has a historical weather reference tool which you can find here if you miss a day.
crochet
thanks, Sasha
crochet
thanks, Violet
crochet
Easy Crochet Shrug
crochet
crochet
RECIPE
thanks, Shelley
Spaghetti and Drop Meatballs With Tomato Sauce
CROCKPOT RECIPE
thanks, Jane
SWEETS
thanks, Helen
Chocolate Angel Food Cake
ADULT COLORING
CRAFTS
BOOKMARK MY KITCHEN!
CHILDREN'S CORNER ... crafts
thanks, Iris
PUZZLE
| animal assist burglary came caper careless catch change contention | dare dependent exhausted expend fence found gate goddess | heist keepsake miner odious price prison | reel relief sear smash sneer sole solve sons | sorry spouse stale taxes useful vixen wrong |
SUDOKU ... medium
solution:
QUOTE
ME:
YOU?
EYE OPENER
Where to Travel in 2019 According to Your Astrological Sign
afar
Looking to find the perfect travel adventure in 2019? We asked an astrologist for the very best destination matches, based on your sun sign.
For tens of thousands of years, we humans have looked up to the night sky in hopes that some meaning, some reason for being, might be reflected back to us. For travelers, cosmically checking in means breaking out of our immediate sphere and risking the bumpy metaphorical ride through the asteroid belt to find Jupiter. The largest of the planets, Jupiter represents that which helps us to expand beyond the familiar. Hope, mission, meaning, and purpose are just a few of Jupiter’s astrological themes—and how can we reignite hope, define our mission, clarify meaning, and find our purpose back on Earth? By traveling! Indeed, travel allows us to break free of the familiar and to expand our experience by seeing new places, engaging in different cultures, and entertaining other points of view.
Jupiter spends about a year in each sign due to its 12-year orbit. Significantly for 2019, Jupiter is traveling through its Sagittarius “home” for much of the year, making for more enriched travel experiences. Sagittarius is the partygoer, the student traveling abroad, and the learned, wise philosopher—which, in turn, cosmically encourages us, on our own travels, to more fully enjoy life at the party, search for a more meaningful and sustainable joy as the traveling student, and integrate and share what we have learned in our travels as the wise philosopher. With that in mind, here are some astrologist-sourced destination suggestions for finding the absolute maximum joy in travel in 2019, based on your sun sign:
Capricorn
December 22–January 19
You work so hard. And you have been so noble and diligent that it is high time for some reward to flow back to you. You must now attend to your more spiritual and reflective side. Get ye to a mountaintop retreat or isolated ocean cabana (Treebones Resort
in Big Sur, California would be a perfect fit), or find your own Walden Pond or sacred cathedral and just sit and breathe. Amid all of the responsibility you have in the world, remember to care for you, too.December 22–January 19
You work so hard. And you have been so noble and diligent that it is high time for some reward to flow back to you. You must now attend to your more spiritual and reflective side. Get ye to a mountaintop retreat or isolated ocean cabana (Treebones Resort
Best months to travel: Travel in March and September.
Aquarius
January 20–February 18
While the collective IQ of a group generally goes down as more people join it, you, dear Aquarius, have genius and wisdom to add (and receive) in those situations. Tap into the group setting with a trip to Washington, D.C. for a protest or to New York’s Hudson Valley for a group yoga retreat at the Omega Institute. Sometimes it can be a prickly area, I know, but surrounding yourself with like-minded people on an adventure to a spot such as Machu Picchu might just help you make your very own evolutionary leap.
Best months to travel: April and October are the best bets for Aquarius.
January 20–February 18
While the collective IQ of a group generally goes down as more people join it, you, dear Aquarius, have genius and wisdom to add (and receive) in those situations. Tap into the group setting with a trip to Washington, D.C. for a protest or to New York’s Hudson Valley for a group yoga retreat at the Omega Institute. Sometimes it can be a prickly area, I know, but surrounding yourself with like-minded people on an adventure to a spot such as Machu Picchu might just help you make your very own evolutionary leap.
Best months to travel: April and October are the best bets for Aquarius.
Pisces
February 19–March 20
Get work to pay for your travel! Wishful thinking, yes, but traveling for work or traveling to gain more mastery in your profession is highly recommended. You may be working more this year, so celebrate it. Give lectures on the opposite coast! Teach seminars in foreign lands! Throw a day or two on either side of the work trip and call it an enrichment program. Plan on at least two to four mini-trips in 2019. And be sure to check out the views while you’re there, whether your business takes you near to the Empire State Building , Willis Tower
, or Burj Khalifa
.February 19–March 20
Get work to pay for your travel! Wishful thinking, yes, but traveling for work or traveling to gain more mastery in your profession is highly recommended. You may be working more this year, so celebrate it. Give lectures on the opposite coast! Teach seminars in foreign lands! Throw a day or two on either side of the work trip and call it an enrichment program. Plan on at least two to four mini-trips in 2019. And be sure to check out the views while you’re there, whether your business takes you near to the Empire State Building , Willis Tower
Best months to travel: May and November, followed by February and August.
Aries
March 21–April 19
Do it. Just get out there and go. For Aries, the “where” truly doesn’t matter, as long as it is far, far away from anything you have ever known. If you’ve never left Kansas, get yourself to India. If you travel the globe, try rural Kansas! Perhaps try WWOOFing, wherein you can travel to, and work on, several different farms. Astrologically speaking, you have been undergoing a confrontation with how you define yourself compared to the “demands of the world.” Engage in the greatest personal quest possible, whenever it is possible in 2019, and you may find precisely what you’ve been looking for: yourself.
Best months to travel: June and December to maximize adventure.
March 21–April 19
Do it. Just get out there and go. For Aries, the “where” truly doesn’t matter, as long as it is far, far away from anything you have ever known. If you’ve never left Kansas, get yourself to India. If you travel the globe, try rural Kansas! Perhaps try WWOOFing, wherein you can travel to, and work on, several different farms. Astrologically speaking, you have been undergoing a confrontation with how you define yourself compared to the “demands of the world.” Engage in the greatest personal quest possible, whenever it is possible in 2019, and you may find precisely what you’ve been looking for: yourself.
Best months to travel: June and December to maximize adventure.
Taurus
April 20–May 20
Take a deep breath and relax; it’s some of the best advice offered by surfers. Bend your knees and feel your feet. As the waves churn, crescendo, calm, and roll back again this year, your best travel experiences in 2019 are those in which the journey lies within. Healing-themed and even shamanic retreats are highly recommended; just be sure to take along someone you trust. Google “shamanic healing retreats” to find what suits your personal journey best.
Best months to travel: January and June are suggested travel months.
April 20–May 20
Take a deep breath and relax; it’s some of the best advice offered by surfers. Bend your knees and feel your feet. As the waves churn, crescendo, calm, and roll back again this year, your best travel experiences in 2019 are those in which the journey lies within. Healing-themed and even shamanic retreats are highly recommended; just be sure to take along someone you trust. Google “shamanic healing retreats” to find what suits your personal journey best.
Best months to travel: January and June are suggested travel months.
Gemini
May 21–June 20
The 2019 crystal ball for Gemini reveals wine glasses clinking and dear friends calling you toward adventure. Surprise offers of magical mystery tours in the Amazon or back roads of the state where you went to college? Island hopping in the Caribbean, perhaps? Comparing the wines of Sonoma and Napa? If you are married, this is the year for a second honeymoon, and if you are not and want to be, travel with friends and perhaps that will lead on a path toward a first honeymoon?
Best months to travel: February and July are your best travel months.
May 21–June 20
The 2019 crystal ball for Gemini reveals wine glasses clinking and dear friends calling you toward adventure. Surprise offers of magical mystery tours in the Amazon or back roads of the state where you went to college? Island hopping in the Caribbean, perhaps? Comparing the wines of Sonoma and Napa? If you are married, this is the year for a second honeymoon, and if you are not and want to be, travel with friends and perhaps that will lead on a path toward a first honeymoon?
Best months to travel: February and July are your best travel months.
Cancer
June 21–July 22
On the one hand, your greatest adventure lies within the rhythm of daily life, as if simply “being here, now” will offer you the most meaningful journey. On the other, the need to explore other realms is paramount. Perhaps now is the time for that yoga retreat you’ve been eyeing (El Sabanero Eco Lodge in Costa Rica is one good bet), while a voluntourism outing building homes in a third-world country could be meaningful and fun, as well. Travel to better yourself in 2019 because, looking ahead, the cosmic scene in 2020 will require your mastery.
Best months to travel: March and September are best.
June 21–July 22
On the one hand, your greatest adventure lies within the rhythm of daily life, as if simply “being here, now” will offer you the most meaningful journey. On the other, the need to explore other realms is paramount. Perhaps now is the time for that yoga retreat you’ve been eyeing (El Sabanero Eco Lodge in Costa Rica is one good bet), while a voluntourism outing building homes in a third-world country could be meaningful and fun, as well. Travel to better yourself in 2019 because, looking ahead, the cosmic scene in 2020 will require your mastery.
Best months to travel: March and September are best.
Leo
July 23–August 22
Lucky. This really can’t be said for anyone else in quite the same way as it can be for you, Leo; wherever your adventure takes you this year, it’s time to par-tay! Roll the dice because luck is on your side: Monte Carlo or Vegas could easily satisfy. Set out dancing, game-playing, and just letting out a big sigh of relief after a tough year. (But don’t get too wild!)
Best months to travel: Your best travel months are April and October.
July 23–August 22
Lucky. This really can’t be said for anyone else in quite the same way as it can be for you, Leo; wherever your adventure takes you this year, it’s time to par-tay! Roll the dice because luck is on your side: Monte Carlo or Vegas could easily satisfy. Set out dancing, game-playing, and just letting out a big sigh of relief after a tough year. (But don’t get too wild!)
Best months to travel: Your best travel months are April and October.
Virgo
August 23–September 22
Back to basics this year, Virgo friends—keep it simple and sweet like grandma’s apple pie. In fact, retreats to the farm, the deep woods, the lakeside cabin, or wherever the family reunion is are bound to be rejuvenating and joyous. Silence is your call this year, so remote spots in nature like Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness or anywhere else far away from other humans is highly recommended.
Best months to travel: Your best travel months are May and November.
August 23–September 22
Back to basics this year, Virgo friends—keep it simple and sweet like grandma’s apple pie. In fact, retreats to the farm, the deep woods, the lakeside cabin, or wherever the family reunion is are bound to be rejuvenating and joyous. Silence is your call this year, so remote spots in nature like Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness or anywhere else far away from other humans is highly recommended.
Best months to travel: Your best travel months are May and November.
Libra
September 23–October 22
Long adventures can teach us so much. We can break out of the routine and truly find what we need for our inner peace and happiness. But fortunate are those who can take many shorter adventures, too. Dear Libra: Can you slip out on an adventure a month? At least four mini-vacations, please? You can see and learn something new each time! Find the best spots 200 miles to the north, south, east, and west of you and set out to discover them.
Best months to travel: Head out in March, June, September, and December.
September 23–October 22
Long adventures can teach us so much. We can break out of the routine and truly find what we need for our inner peace and happiness. But fortunate are those who can take many shorter adventures, too. Dear Libra: Can you slip out on an adventure a month? At least four mini-vacations, please? You can see and learn something new each time! Find the best spots 200 miles to the north, south, east, and west of you and set out to discover them.
Best months to travel: Head out in March, June, September, and December.
Scorpio
October 23–November 21
Don’t you dare underestimate what you are capable of, Scorpio! Always wanted to skydive, but lacked the gumption? To sail the seven seas, but never had the nerve? This is the year to fall in love with yourself again, so do something you’ve always wanted to do just for you! You know what you have to do more than any astrologer could tell you—go for it in 2019.
Best months to travel: February and August rank tops.
October 23–November 21
Don’t you dare underestimate what you are capable of, Scorpio! Always wanted to skydive, but lacked the gumption? To sail the seven seas, but never had the nerve? This is the year to fall in love with yourself again, so do something you’ve always wanted to do just for you! You know what you have to do more than any astrologer could tell you—go for it in 2019.
Best months to travel: February and August rank tops.
Sagittarius
November 22–December 21
Jupiter is your “ruling planet” and maintains its greatest affinity with Sagittarius. As mentioned above, Jupiter is at home in—and at its most powerful—in Sagittarius, for 2019. With this once-in-12-year position in its orbit, 2019 is your best bet for many years to come to claim an adventure at every moment. It’s your choice, so spin the wheel! No matter what you decide on, it is bound to expand your life, broaden your horizons, and open a whole new chapter.
Best months to travel: Go anytime and all of the time; for Sag, there are no rules and no boundaries.
November 22–December 21
Jupiter is your “ruling planet” and maintains its greatest affinity with Sagittarius. As mentioned above, Jupiter is at home in—and at its most powerful—in Sagittarius, for 2019. With this once-in-12-year position in its orbit, 2019 is your best bet for many years to come to claim an adventure at every moment. It’s your choice, so spin the wheel! No matter what you decide on, it is bound to expand your life, broaden your horizons, and open a whole new chapter.
Best months to travel: Go anytime and all of the time; for Sag, there are no rules and no boundaries.
Mikel Casal
No comments:
Post a Comment