DIANE'S CORNER ...
Celebrate Eat a Peach Day
Chocolate’s okay, but I prefer a really intense fruit taste. You know when a peach is absolutely perfect… It’s sublime.Kathy Mattea
Peaches are quite possibly the world’s perfect fruit, they are rich and delicious and even their flesh has an amazing texture. The aroma they fill the air with is enough to turn one’s stomach to rumble, and there’s little that can compare to a nice cold peach tea in the summer heat. Eat A Peach Day reminds you that it’s never a bad time to spend a little quality time with this perfect fruit.
History of Eat A Peach Day
Like many of the world’s most delicious foods, the peach tree finds its origins deep in the NW region of China in a beautiful area in the foothills. Nestled in between the Tarim Basin and Kunlun Shan mountains this tree is the origin of what are arguably two of the world’s most delectable fruits, the peach, and the nectarine. What few people know is that the nectarine is actually the same species of fruit as the peach!
Peaches botanical name is Prunus persica, which tells us something interesting about its history. You see, the persica name comes from its widespread cultivation in Persia, but as we mentioned that isn’t actually where the peach comes from. It quickly spread throughout Europe and the Mediterranean, and eventually found its way to America in the 16th Century by way of the Spanish Explorers.
By the 19th century cultivation had begun in the Americas, and now it can be found and enjoyed all over the world in infinite varieties, from white peaches to nectarines. Oh, how is it that nectarines and peaches are the same fruit but nectarines are furless? Well now, that’s just a recessive trait in the peach tree that’s been selectively bred for by nectarine farmers. Every year nectarines appear on peach trees as a result, and Eat a Peach Day is the perfect opportunity to enjoy either one!
Word of the Day
dewitt
The De Witt Brothers in Prison (detail)
MEANING:
verb tr.: To kill by mob violence.
ETYMOLOGY:
After brothers, Johan and Cornelius De Witt, Dutch statesmen, who were killed by a mob on Aug 20, 1672. Earliest documented use: 1689.
NOTES:
Today’s word has a better-known synonym: lynch. While the word lynch is coined after the perpetrator of such extra-judicial killing (Captain William Lynch), the word dewitt is coined after people who were the object of such violence.
USAGE:
“As Lockhard in his papers says, ‘Had Mr. Campbell himself been in town they had certainly dewitted him.’”
Constance Russell; Three Generations of Fascinating Women; Longmans, Green; 1905.
Constance Russell; Three Generations of Fascinating Women; Longmans, Green; 1905.
Idiom of the Day
BLOW OFF STEAM
To do something that helps you get rid of stress, energy or anger
After my meeting with the boss, I went for a run to blow off steam.
After my meeting with the boss, I went for a run to blow off steam.
This Day in History
1762 - Ann Franklin became the editor of the Mercury of Newport in Rhode Island. She was the first female editor of an American newspaper.
1851 - The schooner America outraced the Aurora off the English coast to win a trophy that became known as the America's Cup.
1862 - Composer Achille-Claude Debussy was born.
1865 - A patent for liquid soap was issued to William Sheppard.
1902 - In Hartford, CT, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt became the first president of the United States to ride in an automobile.
1906 - The Victor Talking Machine Company of Camden, NJ began to manufacture the Victrola. The hand-cranked unit, with horn cabinet, sold for $200.
1911 - It was announced that Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" had been stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris. The painting reappeared two years later in Italy.
1938 - Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers appeared on the cover of "LIFE" magazine.
1950 - Althea Gibson became the first black tennis player to be accepted into a national competition.
1956 - Elvis began work on his first movie, "Love Me Tender." The film was originally entitled "The Reno Brothers."
1973 - Henry Kissinger was named Secretary of State by U.S. President Nixon. Kissinger won the Nobel Peace Prize in the same year.
1989 - Nolan Ryan became the first major league pitcher to strike out 5000 batters. (MLB)
1998 - "The Howard Stern Radio Show" premiered on CBS to about 70% of the U.S.
2004 - In Oslo, Norway, a version of Edvard Munch's "The Scream" and his work "Madonna" were stolen from the Munch Museum. This version of "The Scream," one of four different versions, was a tempera painting on board.
thanks, Abby
DAILY SQU-EEK
If You Were Born Today, August 22
One of your most distinguishable traits is your common sense – you are grounded and logical, and although you are a dreamer, you prefer to imagine realizable goals. You have a straightforward manner, and you are magnetic and intuitive. You can be quite determined, independent, and some might call you stubborn. You value some level of routine and structure. You are practical, yet also enthusiastic when you see something you like. Your people skills are strong, but you are also able to be direct when necessary. Open to new ideas and visions, you also have your feet firmly planted on the ground, always considering the viability of any endeavor carefully. You are filled with quality advice for others, and others turn to you for your opinion often. You are attracted to youthful, confident, and dynamic lovers. However, you might often find yourself attracted to people who resort to trickery or other dubious activity. Famous people born today:
1862 Claude Debussy, French composer (La Mer, Clair de lune), born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France (d. 1918)
1893 Dorothy Parker, American short story writer (1958 Marjorie Peabody Award), born in Long Branch, New Jersey (d. 1967)
1908 Henri Cartier-Bresson, French photographer famous for 'The Decisive Moment', born in Chanteloup-en-Brie, France (d. 2004)
1934 Norman Schwarzkopf, US Army General and commander of coalition forces in the Gulf War, born in Trenton, New Jersey (d. 2012)
READERS INFO
1.
(Not So) Totally Useless Fact of The Day:
Female cicadas have been known to confuse the roar of power tools for mating calls, sometimes swarming people using lawn mowers.
2.
1920 -
Ray Douglas Bradbury (August 22, 1920 – June 5, 2012)
Ray Bradbury was an American author and screenwriter. He worked in a variety of genres, including fantasy, science fiction, horror and mystery fiction. Widely known for his novel Fahrenheit 451 (1953), and his science fiction and horror story collections The Martian Chronicles (1950), and The Illustrated Man (1951).
3.
1762 - Ann Franklin became the editor of the Mercury of Newport in Rhode Island. She was the first female editor of an American newspaper.
Female cicadas have been known to confuse the roar of power tools for mating calls, sometimes swarming people using lawn mowers.
3.
Minnesota Renaissance Festival 2019
Aug 17 - Sept 29, 2019 | Shakopee, MN
Minnesota Renaissance Festival Fairgrounds|12364 Chestnut Blvd
Shakopee, Minnesota, is home to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, a merry gathering of Medieval sprites and knights. This old-world festival runs every weekend from August to October and has fun activities for kids, adults and adults who want to be kids! Check out the real live mermaids at Mermaid Cove, or go fairy chasing in the Fairy Wing Forest. Catch the daily live jousting matches, or try to charm one of the princesses at the Princess Court. For the kids, there is the magic wand and fairytale princess party, knighting ceremony and a pirate hat decoration event. There's also plenty of pub crawling, brat-chewing fun to be had at the live shows, taverns and food stalls.
further information: Minnesota Renaissance Festival
4.
Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival 2019
Aug 17 - Sept 22, 2019 | Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival|112 Renaissance Ln
If the current year isn’t treating you so well and you’re stumped on your time machine project, the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival will gladly take you back to 16th century life. You’ll frolic around the land with royalty and peasants alike as you witness ancient life through original handcrafted work, interactive theater including jugglers and lance-wielding jousters, good food and much more so you will enjoy a magical six weekends late this summer.
further information: Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival takes you on a magical tour through time and legend!
5.
Michigan Renaissance Festival 2019
Aug 17 - Sept 29, 2019 | Holly, MI
Michigan Renaissance Festival Fairgrounds|12600 Dixie Hwy
Celebrate the traditions and culture of the 16th century at the annual Michigan Renaissance Festival. In true Renaissance fashion, the event features jousting matches, theater, live musical entertainment and a Queen’s jubilee. The festival invites guests to join in the festivities and completely immerse themselves in the experience by dressing in their finest 16th century garb, roaming the 17-acre village and mingling with the populace. Guests can also browse numerous vendors who offer jewelry, glassware, crafts and a range of delicious food and beverage options.
SMS Arcona was a member of the Carola class of steam corvettes built for the German Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy) in the 1880s. Intended for service in the German colonial empire, the ship was designed with a combination of steam and sail power for extended range, and was equipped with a battery of ten 15-centimeter (5.9 in) guns. Arcona was laid down at the Kaiserliche Werft (Imperial Shipyard) in Danzig in 1881, she was launched in May 1885, and she was completed in December 1886.
Chhat Puja in Kolkata, India
A Hindu devotee holds offerings during a religious festival.
knit
thanks, Sheri
knit
thanks, Stella
knit
knit
He Loves Me Blanket pattern by Katherine Eng
Crochet Pattern of the Day: Valerie, Canadian Correspondent
crochet
thanks, Violet
crochet
thanks, Tara
crochet
crochet
crochet
Row Count I
RECIPE
thanks, Anita
CROCKPOT RECIPE
thanks, Shelley
SWEETS
ADULT COLORING
CRAFTS
thanks, Zoey
CHILDREN'S CORNER ... crafts
thanks, Iris
PUZZLE
| abuse accept adversary atmosphere celebrity chocolate chopper cliff cover | decent delight efficient first focus | loft lucky manipulate match package prefer propose puppy | real search select share silent sober steep submit | talent vogue watch |
SUDOKU ... hard
solution:
QUOTE
thanks, Jenny
CLEVER
DISPLAY FLOWERS PRESSED IN WAX PAPER
Choose favorite blooms from your garden or a cut bouquet, and press them with wax paper.
The simplest way to press flowers is the one we all experimented with in grade school—the waxed paper technique. Take two sheets of waxed paper and place your flowers between them.
Cover the waxed paper with a thin cloth and press with a warm iron on a low to medium setting. The cloth prevents the iron from acquiring a waxy residue. Waxed paper today is not as waxy as it used to be, however, so you might need to add some melted paraffin. You can use dried or fresh flowers. Flat flowers and foliage are easier to press.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
"Do you ever read any of the books you burn?" "That's against the law!" "Oh. Of course." -Ray Bradbury, science-fiction writer (22 Aug 1920-2012)
OPTICAL ILLUSION
If you look away, it will seem to stop spinning.
It’s all in your brain…. The repeated patterns and lines trick your brain into thinking that there is movement as it tries to make sense of the image. Pretty cool, huh?
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