Coloring Book Day - August 2, 2019

DIANE'S CORNER ... 

Celebrate Coloring Book Day

A box of new crayons! Now they’re all pointy, lined up in order, bright and perfect. Soon they’ll be a bunch of ground down, rounded, indistinguishable stumps, missing their wrappers and smudged with other colors. Sometimes life seems unbearably tragic.

There is magic between the covers of a coloring book, a type of magic that can take us away and walk us into a million worlds. Further, coloring books make artists of us all, whether we decide to be Rembrandt with his realistic colors and patterns, or Picasso with his odd cubist designs and surreal colors. Coloring Book Day encourages us to get back to the days of our youth, and dive between the pages of a coloring book.

History of Coloring Book Day

The first coloring book was established in the late 1800’s by the McLoughlin Brothers when they first released ‘The Little Folks Painting Book’. From that point forward they continued to produce books of this sort right up until the 1920’s, when they joined forced with the Milton Bradley Company. Coloring Book Day encourages the recognition of this long history of coloring books and the joy they can bring to children and adults alike.

That’s right, adults can color too! There are highly detailed books specifically designed to be used by adults. No, these books aren’t pornographic in nature (well, not all of them), but they are definitely intricate and beautiful, and that’s before you start applying color to the page. Coloring books have been used for everything from educational purposes (coloring books are in every school), to aiding in therapy and health. There are even special coloring books intended to help a child what is going to happen to them during surgery, a little understanding can assuage a large amount of fear.

thanks for the pics, Joan

Word of the Day

pedantic

“Speed limit 15 miles. No cut-outs in village limits” - A historic New Hampshire speed limit sign

MEANING:

adjective: Characterized by an excessive, narrow adherence to rules without practical judgment.

ETYMOLOGY:

From French pédant or Italian pedante, perhaps from Latin paedagogare (to teach). Earliest documented use: 1607.

USAGE:

“And another cleric, William Gilpin, the father of the Picturesque movement, drew up a list of pedantic instructions on how to view the landscape. He quickly became the subject of satire.”
The Heart with Pleasure Fills; The Economist (London, UK); Apr 3, 2010. 

Idiom of the Day

Wooden spoon -

Meaning -  Imaginary prize for the last person in a race.

Example - We won a wooden spoon at the fashion show.

This Day in History

1791 - Samuel Briggs and his son Samuel Briggs, Jr. received a joint patent for their nail-making machine. They were the first father-son pair to receive a patent. 


1824 - In New York City, Fifth Avenue was opened. 


1858 - In Boston and New York City the first mailboxes were installed along streets. 

1887 - Rowell Hodge patented barbed wire. 


1892 - Charles A. Wheeler patented the first escalator. 

1926 - John Barrymore and Mary Astor starred in the first showing of the Vitaphone System. The system was the combining of picture and sound for movies. 

1929 - The classic song "Ain't Misbehavin'" was recorded by Fats Waller. 

1938 - Bright yellow baseballs were used in a major league baseball game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals. It was hoped that the balls would be easier to see. 

1962 - Robert Zimmerman legally changed his name to Bob Dylan. 


1983 - U.S. House of Representatives approved a law that designated the third Monday of January would be a federal holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The law was signed by President Reagon on November 2. 


1995 - Peggy Lee gave her final major public performance. George Shearing and Mel Torme also performed at the show at the Hollywood Bowl. 

thanks, Riley

DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, August 2

You are witty, charming, creative, and independent, although you thrive when in partnership and love the security of a long-term relationship. You are especially talented at the art of persuasion. This is a good birthday for entertainers and salespeople, although there is always a need or craving for downtime – a simpler life. Your ability to get what you want can lead some of you down the wrong path, but rarely for long, as you are also good-hearted and prefer not to take advantage of others. You are both materially and spiritually inclined and will do what it takes to live as free from restriction and control as possible. Famous people born today: 

1754 Pierre Charles L'Enfant, French-born American architect who laid out Washington, D.C., born in Paris, France (d. 1825)

1834 Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, French sculptor (designed the Statue of Liberty), born in Colmar, France (d. 1904)

1905 Myrna Loy [Williams], American actress (The Great Ziegfeld, Thin Man, Vanity Fair), born in Helena, Montana (d. 1993)

1923 Shimon Peres, Israeli Prime Minister (Labor), President (2007-14) and Nobel Peace Prize (1994), born in Wiszniewo, Poland (d. 2016)

1924 James Baldwin, American novelist (Go Tell it on Mountain, Another Country) and playwright (The Amen Corner), born in Harlem, New York (d. 1987)

1942 Isabel Allende, Chilean-American author (The House of the Spirits, City of the Beasts), born in Lima, Peru

READERS INFO

1.

(Not So) Totally Useless Fact of The Day:

Bones found at Seymour Island indicate that, 37 to 40 million years ago, penguins stood at a formidable 6 feet tall and weighed 250 pounds.

2.

1923 - 

 

It was on this day in 1923.

 

Warren Gamaliel Harding (November 2, 1865 – August 2, 1923)

3.

Brown-Pusey House Tavern in the Garden 2019

Jun 6 - Sept 26, 2019 | Elizabethtown, KY

Brown-Pusey House|128 N Main St

Make your way to the garden for a beautiful night filled with melodies and brewskies. Weekly performances take place throughout the summer at the Brown-Pusey House. Catch the live music and grab a bartender's attention at Tavern in the Garden.

further information: Tavern in the Garden

4.

Lincoln Square Summer Concert Series 2019

Jun 6 - Aug 29, 2019 | Chicago, IL 

Giddings Plaza|4731 N Lincoln Ave

When it comes to the World Series, only one team wins. But when it comes to a concert series, everybody wins, from the bands playing to the concertgoers in the way back. The Lincoln Square Concert Series, which takes place on the North Side of Chicago, features live music every week while in season. It features music from a variety of local bands that play everything from jazz to swing.

further information: Summer Concert Series - Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce, IL

5.

Milwaukee Jazz in the Park 2019

May 30 - Aug 29, 2019 Dates Unconfirmed | Milwaukee, WI

Cathedral Square Park|520 E Wells St

Remember Woodstock’s outrageous prices? No one can get down with $4 bottles of water. Milwaukee Jazz in the Park is packed with several evenings full of funky music and affordable deliciousness. If you rock out more effectively on a full stomach with excellent drink specials, an entire hour before the show is dedicated to satisfying these needs. Your favorite reggae, blues, jazz and funk bands come from the neighborhood and all across the nation.

further information: Jazz in the Park

Pictures of the day

The Portrait of Doña Isabel de Porcel is an oil-on-canvas painting by Spanish painter Francisco Goya, produced around 1805. The portrait depicts Isabel Lobo Velasco de Porcel, who was born at Ronda around 1780 and was the second wife of Antonio Porcel. Isabel's husband was 25 years older than she; they met when she was 20 years old. Antonio Porcel was a liberal and an associate of Manuel Godoy, Prince of Peace, who was a friend of Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, who in turn brought him in contact with Goya, who lived nearby; the painting is said to have been a gift from the artist in return for hospitality. The half-length portrait depicts a young woman dressed in typical Spanish attire, a white shirt and a black mantilla. In spite of her "maja" attire, the richness of the textiles and her ladylike appearance give the picture an aristocratic elegance; at this time, wealthy Spanish "people of fashion" often wore the styles of lower class urban dandies and their female equivalents, as seen in Goya's famous clothed version of La maja. The painting is now in the collection of the National Gallery in London.

LIUWA PLAIN AT THE END OF THE DRY SEASON

When the rains finally arrives thousands of Wildebeest migrate to the area. Positioning a remote flash in front of the herd and using a flash to back-light the rain, it was a challenging shot.

knit
thanks, Violet

Sydney Top - knotions

knit
thanks, Leah

Pattern: Due North

knit

Garden Grows Dishcloth

knit

Striped summer top

knit

Peppermint Booties

Knit Pattern of the Day: Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

Jack Russell Clutch

crochet
thanks, Leah

Trailing Flowers Beach Cover

crochet
thanks, Helen

Granny Mile-a-Minute Afghan pattern by Vicki Mikulak

crochet

Ballet Slippers
crochet

Alyssa's Shawl

crochet

Refreshing Throw

RECIPE

thanks, Julia

Grilled Summer Squash and Red Onion with Feta Recipe

CROCKPOT RECIPE
thanks, Jane

Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken Tacos

SWEETS

thanks, Lesley

Blueberry Cheesecake Egg Rolls

ADULT COLORING

CRAFTS ... sewing

thanks, Zoey

DIY Sleep Mask

CHILDREN'S CORNER ... 

thanks, Lucy

Colorful Squirt Gun Painting

PUZZLE

Light 3 Orange Jigsaw Puzzle

WORD SEARCH

SUDOKU ... easy

solution:

QUOTE

CLEVER

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

Valerie acknowledges that she (and most of us): "Are already there!"

“Twice this week, I have watched an elderly individual, fade into the busy life in which we all live. One man just needed Panadol for his wife but the shop assistant simply said it’s in aisle ‘6’. But he struggled to navigate the supermarket and as I watched him go in the wrong direction, I left all my groceries and took him where he needed to go.”

“Today, I watched an elderly man struggle in the heat, who had obviously had a fall with a huge scrape and blood on his leg. He walked past people in the cafe, while he slowly made his way to his car. Not one person stopped. Or looked. Or acknowledged him. I took him to his car and checked he was ok. He told me he had a fall and wasn’t sure how the air con worked in his car so he just didn’t use it. I sat with him, until his air con kicked in and heard him talk about the old frail body that he is in, that fails him now, every single day.”

“When you see an elderly person walking down the street, searching in the supermarket or struggling to their car, take a minute out of your busy schedule and ask them if they need a hand. Think about your grandparents and your parents and how upset you would be if someone didn’t stop to help them. But more, think of them as you.”

“Once upon a time they were you. They were busy, they had work, they had children, and they were able. Today, they are just in an older body that is not going as fast as it used to and this busy life is confusing. They deserve our utmost respect and consideration. One day it will be you, it will be us. I wish more people cared more about them and acknowledged them for their admirable existence and jeez I hope someday, not that far away, someone does it for me.”

Thanks to the author, Adele Renee.

EYE OPENER

thanks, Cindy

Moving With A Dog: 

How To Help Your Pet Get Through The Process

Photo via Pixabay by Seaq68

Moving is almost always an exhausting process; there’s just so much to consider, and all too often, things don’t work out exactly as planned. This can lead to stress that makes the move much more difficult, and when you have a pet, it’s important to try to reduce that stress for both of you. Many pets suffer from anxiety just like humans do, especially when change occurs, so if possible, it’s a good idea to involve your pet in the house-hunting process. You can also plan for moving day in order to keep your pet safe and happy.

One of the keys to reducing stress during this time is to remember to stay patient. Many animals begin to show changes in their behavior when they’re anxious, which can lead to accidents, damage to your belongings, and interruptions in his sleep patterns. In order to help him stay calm, you can learn some simple commands and training tips that will allow him to remain on his best behavior. 

Keep reading for some great tips on how to move when you have a dog.

House-hunting

When you’re looking for a new home, there are several things to consider, from the neighborhood to the price to the amount of square footage. As a pet owner, you’ll need to think about how much space there is for your dog (both outside and inside), whether the yard is fenced, and what the neighborhood offers as far as parks and pet-friendly restaurants and businesses. If you’re planning a long-distance move, you will be doing some research online before making the trip out to look at homes, so make the most of your internet resources when it comes to scouting out the community. While you won’t want to bring your dog when checking out houses, you can make plans to bring him to the home you choose before the actual move; this will allow him to explore and get used to the new sights and scents in the area before you settle in.

Keep in mind that a move can be very difficult for animals, especially if they were rescued and have anxiety about being separated from you. Try not to make any big changes during the house-hunting process, and keep his routine the same as much as you can during the move itself. This will help to ease his worries about all the action taking place around him. If he becomes unruly or starts to exhibit new behaviors during this time, you can help to keep him calm by using a training collar (Amazon has training collars for under $40). Look online to research all the different models available, and read up on how you can use one in conjunction with simple commands to help him be on his best behavior when you move in. 

The move

Planning for moving day is essential, since you’ll want to remain organized to keep stress levels down for both you and your pet. Booking the movers early, asking friends or family to help, and packing well will all be helpful in making the transition a smooth one. If you’re moving to a local area (a local move in NYC averages $1,236), consider asking someone you trust to look after your dog on moving day so you can ensure that he’ll be safe and happy during the activity. If this isn’t possible, create a safe, closed-in area where he can stay during the move so he won’t be underfoot. 

Once you get to the new house, help him get used to the new space; try to keep your pet’s food and water bowls, bedding, and toys in similar spots to where they were at the old place. Once everything is moved in, walk him through the home on his leash, and allow him to get used to the new scents and furniture placement. Keep your tone upbeat and talk to him as you go; this will help him associate the new house with excitement. It’s possible that your pup may have an accident in your new home due to the stress of the move. In order to neutralize the odor of urine, clean the spot with a solution of vinegar and water. 

Moving with a dog can be a stressful process if you aren’t prepared, but with a good plan, you can ensure that you and your pet will both be happy. Think about what will make things easier on both of you during the process, and don’t forget the details, such as updating your address on his tags. With a little forethought, you can make your move go as smoothly as possible.

 

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually. -James Baldwin, writer (2 Aug 1924-1987)