Fairy Day - June 24, 2019

DIANE'S CORNER ... Celebrate Fairy Day

Whether you see them as small winged tenders of the deep natural places of the earth, or as tall stately figures with fair skin and hair, there’s one thing for certain. The world has been absolutely captured by the Fairy Craze. These creatures appear on everything from mugs to t-shirts and have been the subject of children’s fairy tales and even supernatural romances. Fairy Day celebrates these incredible mythological creatures that have captured the imagination of people everywhere and their diverse history.

History of Fairy Day

Fairies have existed in just about every culture over the world, though they may have been called by different names. What they have in common, no matter where you go, is that they are spirits that inhabit the world around us and often operate by strange and often odd laws. That’s about where the similarities end, and where the amazingly diverse concepts begin.

We’ve all heard of the winged fairies that flit around flowers and are always drawn like butterfly winged cherubs of slight form, but did you know that Dwarves and Gnomes are also part of the fae family? These creatures were common among the Germanic folk, and especially those who worked in mines and mountains. Knockers were a form of fairy that lived in mines and would ‘knock’ to warn miners of pending cave-ins and danger, hence their name.

The red-hatted gnomes that occupy so many people’s gardens were fashioned after creatures from the far north. These quiet and unassuming creatures were part of the dark northern forests and spent their time living near the homes of humans, which they’d sometimes help out.

There’s even fae that lives in the oceans like the Irish Selkie, dark of hair and eye, these creatures were able to turn into humans. Turn into humans we say? Yes! They started lives as seals and would take off their skin when they came ashore and take the form of beautiful women.

If one were lucky enough to steal their skin they’d be able to take a Selkie wife, so long as they didn’t let the skin be found!

Word of the Day

hippodrome

A chariot race in a hippodrome in Puy du Fou, a historical theme park in France

MEANING:

noun: A stadium for horse races, chariot races, horse shows, etc.
verb tr.: To manipulate or prearrange the outcome of a contest.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Greek hippos (horse) + dromos (running). Ultimately from the Indo-European root ekwo- (horse), which also gave us equestrian and equitant. Earliest documented use: 1549.

NOTES:

Match fixing has been around for as long as humans have been having matches. Today’s word shows it going as far as ancient horse racing.

USAGE:

“The smaller fairs were the backbone of the IMCA [International Motor Contest Association] schedule and these were routinely hippodromed.”
Don Radbruch; Dirt Track Auto Racing, 1919-1941; McFarland; 2004. 

Idiom of the Day

Cake not worth the candle -

Meaning - Refers to something in which result vs efforts are too less.

Example - He worked very hard to organize the party but very few guests walked in. The cake wasn't worth the candle.

This Day in History

1497 - Italian explorer John Cabot, sailing in the service of England, landed in North America on what is now Newfoundland. 

1509 - Henry VIII was crowned King of England. 

1664 - New Jersey, named after the Isle of Jersey, was founded. 

1869 - Mary Ellen "Mammy" Pleasant officially became the Vodoo Queen in San Francisco, CA. 

1896 - Booker T. Washington became the first African American to receive an honorary MA degree from Howard University. 

1940 - TV cameras were used for the first time in a political convention as the Republicans convened in Philadelphia, PA. 

1947 - Kenneth Arnold reported seeing flying saucers over Mt. Rainier, Washington. 


1953 - John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier announced their engagement. 


1964 - The Federal Trade Commission announced that starting in 1965, cigarette manufactures would be required to include warnings on their packaging about the harmful effects of smoking. 


1986 - The Empire State Building was designated a National Historic Landmark. 


1997 - The U.S. Air Force released a report titled "The Roswell Report, Case Closed" that dismissed the claims that an alien spacecraft had crashed in Roswell, NM, in 1947. 


1998 - Walt Disney World Resort admitted its 600-millionth guest.

KISS auctioned off memorabilia from their touring days. The items brought in $876,000 on the first day of the two day event. 


2002 - A painting from Monet's Waterlilies series sold for $20.2 million. 


2003 - In Paris, France, manuscripts by novelist Georges Simenon brought in $325,579. The original manuscript of "La Mort de Belle" raised $81,705. 



DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, June 24

There is a gentle element of your charisma that is unmistakable, and yet your quiet strength is also obvious. You have a real homebody streak in you. Work and home life are two very strong drives. Security is important to you, more than most, and you don't make big lifestyle changes easily. Your love life is often laced with drama. Famous people born today: 

1842 Ambrose Bierce, American writer and satirist (Devil's Dictionary, Nuggets & Dust), born in Meigs County, Ohio (d. 1914)

1895 Jack Dempsey, American boxer (world heavyweight champion 1919-26), born in Manassa, Colorado (d. 1983)

1947 Mick Fleetwood, rock drummer (Fleetwood Mac-Go Your Own Way), born in London, England

1987 Lionel Messi, Argentine soccer striker (5 FIFA Ballon d’Or, FC Barcelona), born in Rosario, Argentina

READERS INFO

1.

(Not So) Totally Useless Fact of The Day:

In a 1970s experiment, a Stanford Psychologist and 7 other mentally healthy participants got themselves admitted to 12 different psychiatric hospitals across the US by pretending to hear voices. Once inside, they began acting normally, but all 12 hospitals diagnosed each of them with disorders, forced them to take drugs, and required them all to admit they had a disease before they could be released.

2.

FestivALL Charleston 2019

Jun 16 - 30, 2019 | Charleston, WV 

The mission of FestivALL Charleston is to create, produce and present vibrant arts experiences and entertainment opportunities and serve as a catalyst for others in the community to do the same.

further information: Home | FestivAll

3.

River To River Festival 2019

Jun 18 - 29, 2019 | New York, NY 

The River To River Festival in New York City is an art project that focuses on the landscape of lower Manhattan. The 11-day event features over 90 NYC artists and projects inspired by the area and taking the form of exhibitions, performances, talks, installations, walks, previews of works-in-progress and music.

further information: River To River Festival

4.

Logan Square Arts Festival 2019

Jun 28 - 30, 2019 | Chicago, IL

Logan Square|2304 North Sawyer Avenue

The annual Logan Square Arts Festival is a community arts event that gathers residents and local artists to transform their neighborhood into a living gallery. The festival spotlights a great array of artwork spanning several media and genres. It is well known for hosting dozens of art installations throughout the neighborhood, both indoors and outdoors. Festivalgoers can enjoy great visual and experiential artwork as well as live music performed by local bands, craft beers from local breweries and a cadre of delicious eats served by neighborhood restaurants.

further information: Logan Square Arts Festival 2019



Pictures of the day

The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is a hypercarnivorous bear whose native range lies largely within the Arctic Circle, encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. A boar (adult male) weighs around 350–750 kilograms (770–1,650 lb), while a sow (adult female) is about half that size. Polar bears are the largest land carnivores currently in existence, rivaled only by the omnivorous Kodiak bear. Although it is the sister species of the brown bear, it has evolved to occupy a narrower ecological niche, with many body characteristics adapted for cold temperatures, for moving across snow, ice and open water, as well as for hunting seals, which make up most of its diet. Although most polar bears are born on land, they spend most of their time on sea ice. The species's scientific name, which is derived from this fact, means 'maritime bear'. Because of their dependence on sea ice, polar bears are categorized as marine mammals. Due to expected habitat loss caused by global warming, the polar bear is classified as a vulnerable species. For decades, large-scale hunting raised international concern for the future of the species, but populations have rebounded after controls and quotas began to take effect. This picture shows a polar bear on an ice floe north of Svalbard, Norway, feeding on a bearded seal.

Fight

Praying mantises in Kahramanmaras, Turkey.

knit
thanks, Patty

Sunnyside Market Tote

knit
thanks, Amber

How to Knit a Bra Top

knit, July 4th

Stars 'n Stripes Dish Cloth

knit, July 4th

American Flag Socks pattern by Rae B. Creedle

knit

Knitted Pocket Gnome

Wow! impressive!!!!

Knit Pattern of the Day: Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

Sialia Shawl

crochet
thanks, Tara

Newborn Diaper Cover Single Button pattern by Jessica Z

crochet
thanks, Helen

Zoey's Baby Blanket

crochet

Ladies White Top with Mesh Accents and Matching Purse pattern by Donna Collinsworth
crochet, July 4th

American Flag Placemat and Napkin
crochet


Baby Gnome Twins


Wow! What a size comparison!!!

RECIPE

thanks, Shelley

Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits Copycat Recipe

CROCKPOT RECIPE

thanks, Cora

Slow-Cooked Lemon Chicken

Who cant do that? 😉

SWEETS 😋

thanks, Abby

Salted Caramel Shortbread Cookies

What a betrayal 😋

ADULT COLORING

This is what I think of your new way to 

slow down the way I eat

CRAFTS

thanks, Kris

Seashell Candles

CHILDREN'S CORNER ... crafts

thanks for the Polymer Clay for Crafters recipe, Sylvia

How to Make Polymer Clay Covered Pens.

PUZZLE

Brugmansia Pink Beauty Jigsaw Puzzle



WORD SEARCH

SUDOKU ... easy

solution:

QUOTE

thanks, Cher








CLEVER

Homemade Big Dog Food

An individualist!

EYE OPENER

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

A Short Tale that Will Remind You of 

a Person’s True Worth

From time to time there are people who don’t want what’s best for you, and manage to shake your self-confidence, causing you to feel unappreciated, especially during difficult times. For children who are still developing their personality, this can be devastating, so it is important to remind them how much you value them. The following short story will remind you of your true value.

One morning, Mr. Johnson entered the classroom where he teaches, holding a $100 note. After a few moments, when the students finally quieted down, he raised his hand that was holding the note up and asked his students: “Who wants this bill?” Of course, all of the children raised their hands, each hoping to be the lucky winner.

Mr. Johnson lowered his hand and proceeded to fold the note several times, and asked: “And now, who still wants the bill?”. Once more, all of the children raised their hands. Next, Mr. Johnson threw the note on the floor, stepped on it, then picked it up and scrunched it into a dirty little ball. A few seconds later he cleared his throat and asked: “And now, who still wants the bill?”. All of the students laughed, as they were surprised by the teacher’s behavior, but all of them still raised their hands.

Mr. Johnson then asked the class: “And what did you learn from this?” None of the students answered, as they didn’t understand what it is that they were supposed to learn. Mr. Johnson stood in the middle of the class, holding the wrinkled note and said: “You, my dear pupils, are like this $100 bill. Sometimes people will hurt you, step on you, crush you and mock you. You must remember then that each of you has value, each of you is special and unique, and just like this bill didn’t change its value when I folded it or stepped on it, no one else can lower your value either.