Adoption Day - November 18, 2019

DIANE'S CORNER ... Celebrate Adoption Day

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to adopt a child? Videos on social media report all the time about children and the surprising reveal of their finalized adoption to a new family. However, this doesn’t always occur. It takes approximately 3 years for a child to be finalized for an adoption. Because it doesn’t happen often enough, Adoption Day is a day created to bring awareness of these facts. So, let’s now learn about Adoption Day and how it helps children all over the world find new families.

History of Adoption Day

The creation of this holiday was made through a coalition of multiple organizations back in 2000, which include the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, The Alliance for Children’s Rights and Children’s Action Network. From there, in 2004, over 3,400 children were adopted from foster care in 200 events in 37 states once courts finalized the adoptions, and in 2011, more than 300 court and community events were held on National Adoption Day. Since then, The annual event works with policymakers, practitioners, and advocates for adoption to create beautiful families for orphaned kids.

According to the National Adoption Day website, there are over 110,000 children waiting to be adopted, and this day gives opportunities to over 65,000 children to be adopted. This holiday is also aimed at debunking the myths of adoption, such as a tedious process, not enough families, and the expenses of adoption. Adoption is a choice that some families consider as an option, but since it is normal to give birth to children, adoption is generally the second choice in mind. This holiday helps to raise awareness for the children who don’t have families, and for potential families to consider the option of adoption as a more humanitarian choice.

NEW CRAZY GADGETS

Melon Slicer Tool

Joke of the Day

LATE AGAIN

Teacher: "Why are you late this morning?"

Student: "Its my alarm clock. Everyone got up except me!"

Teacher: How did the alarm clock make you the only one not to get up?"

Student: "There are eight of us in the my family and the alarm clock was only set for seven."

Reusable Shoe Covers

Word of the Day

gongoozler

Gongoozlers at Foxton Locks, UK

MEANING:

noun: An idle spectator.

ETYMOLOGY:

Of uncertain origin, perhaps from Lincolnshire dialect gawn and gooz, both of which mean to stare. Earliest documented use: 1904.

NOTES:

Rubberneckers gawk at highway accidents, trainspotters spot trains, and gongoozlers goozle gons. Well, no, language doesn’t work like that. Originally, a gongoozler was a person who liked to hang out around canals watching passing boats. Over time, the word has evolved to refer to anyone who likes to stare at some activity. 

USAGE:

“To get rid of a gongoozler, stare at him through binoculars.”
Terry Darlington; Narrow Dog To Carcassonne; Bantam; 2005.

Floating Wine Glasses

Idiom of the Day

GO THE EXTRA MILE

To make more effort than is expected or necessary
Frank is a great asset to our team as he always goes the extra mile.

Tea  Socks

This Day in History

1477 - William Caxton produced "Dictes or Sayengis of the Philosophres," which was the first book to be printed in England.

1820 - Captain Nathaniel Palmer became the first American to sight the continent of Antarctica.


1928 - The first successful sound-synchronized animated cartoon premiered in New York. It was Walt Disney's "Steamboat Willie," starring Mickey Mouse.


1951 - Chuck Connors (Los Angeles Angels) became the first player to oppose the major league draft. Connors later became the star of the television show "The Rifleman."


1959 - William Wyler's "Ben-Hur" premiered at Loew's Theater in New York City's Times Square.


1966 - U.S. Roman Catholic bishops did away with the rule against eating meat on Fridays.


1966 - Sandy Koufax (Los Angeles Dodgers) announced his retirement from major league baseball.


1969 - Apollo 12 astronauts Charles "Pete" Conrad Jr. and Alan L. Bean landed on the lunar surface during the second manned mission to the moon.


1990 - Paul McCartney's birth certificate sold for $18,000 in an auction.


1995 - The Rolling Stones become the first act to broadcast a major concert on the Internet.


2001 - Nintendo released the GameCube home video game console in the United States.


Coffee Art Stencils
DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, November 18

You are passionate and loving, and very dedicated to those you love. Your sense of drama is large, and you are extremely perceptive. Love and companionship are especially important to you. Your motivation on the job is often fuelled by your sense of fulfillment in your personal life. If you are feeling loved and wanted, your productivity is at its peak, and vice versa. You easily absorb the emotions of others and the atmosphere of your environment. Famous people born today: 

1787 Sojourner Truth [Isabella Baumfree], African-American abolitionist and feminist, born in Swartekill, New York (d. 1883)

1787 Louis-Jacques Daguerre, French inventor and photographer (daguerreotype), born in Cormeilles-en-Parisis, France (d. 1851)

1836 William Schwenck Gilbert, English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator (Gilbert & Sullivan), born in London, England

1901 George Gallup, American survey sampling pioneer and inventor of the Gallup poll, born in Jefferson, Iowa (d. 1984)

1906 George Wald, American physiologist and biologist (Nobel Prize 1967, vitamin A in retina), born in NYC, New York (d. 1997)

1909 Johnny Mercer, American lyricist (Moon River, Old Black Magic), born in Savannah, Georgia (d. 1976)

1939 Margaret Atwood, Canadian author/poet, born in Ottawa, Ontario

1968 Owen Wilson, American actor (Meet the Parents, Zoolander), born in Dallas, Texas

Blooming Birthday Candle

READERS INFO

1.

(Not So) Totally Useless Facts of The Day:

ROCKY BALBOA'S TURTLES

For all the Rocky fans out there, you know who Cuff and Link are!  At least you should. After all, they were Rocky’s turtles in the original Rocky movie as well as in Rocky Balboa (#6 for those keeping count). Even more interesting is the fact that they were played by the same turtles. That’s right, the same turtles were brought back 30 years later to be in the 6th installment. Cuff and Link, both female and both red eared slider turtles, were about 5 years old when the original movie was filmed.

The Mona Lisa, also known as La Gioconda, is a portrait by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci and is one of the most valuable paintings in the world. 

The Italian name for the painting, La Gioconda, means "jocund" ("happy" or "jovial"), or literally "the jocund one", a pun on the feminine form of the sitter's married name Giocondo. The model, Lisa del Giocondo, was the wife of wealthy Florentine silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo. The painting is thought to have been commissioned for their new home, and to celebrate the birth of their second son.

No, it wasn’t Enter the Dragon. It wasn’t the Chinese Connection. It wasn’t even The Game of Death. Before Bruce Lee became the martial arts legend that he [still] is today, he was doing movies from a very young age.

How young?  How about 3 months old. That’s right, when Lee was just an infant himself, he was cast as a stand-in for the 1941 film titled, Golden Gate Girl. We’ll go ahead and assume he had no fight scenes in that one.

2.

2003 -

 

Massachusetts High Court rules gay couples can marry on this day in 2003.

3.

Horseshoe Bay Resort Wine & Dine Festival 2019

Nov 24, 2019 | Horseshoe Bay, TX

Horseshoe Bay Resort|200 Hi Circle N

Whether it’s to class it up or to chill your innards thanks to the Texas heat, the Wine & Dine Festival is for you. Because the Hill Country Wine Region continues to flourish, a celebration is in order for all wine and food enthusiasts in Texas. Pair a dish specially prepared by the celebrity chefs with a chilled glass of wine while you take in the festival’s mellow live music.

further information: Horseshoe Bay Resort Wine and Dine Festival

4.

Beaujolais Festival 2019

Nov 22, 2019 | Charlotte, NC

Hilton Charlotte Center City|222 E 3rd St

The Beaujolais Festival in Charlotte, North Carolina, is an authentic French tradition that celebrates the first grape harvest of the season, usually around the third week of November. The one-day annual event features wines from the region of Beaujolais, France as well as art exhibits, raffle prizes and gourmet pates, saucisson, cheeses and ham dishes from a decorated area chef.

further information: Beaujolais Festival

5.

GrillsGiving 2019

Nov 23, 2019 | San Antonio, TX

Mission County Park|6030 Padre Dr

GrillsGiving is a BBQ competition and music festival held right around Thanksgiving each year. Grilling aficionados can compete in categories including chicken, ribs and brisket, with an award given out for People’s Choice. Live music from local and regional artists contributes to the festive atmosphere, and there are a variety of fun activities for the kids. All proceeds benefit the community-wide Residential Energy Assistance Partnership, REAP.

further information: CPS Energy presents GrillsGiving: A Celebration of Meat & Music

Grape Cutter
Pictures of the day

"William" is the nickname of a faience hippopotamus statuette from the Middle Kingdom of Egypt, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, where it serves as an informal mascot of the museum. Found in a shaft associated with the Upper Egyptian tomb chapel of "The Steward, Senbi", in what is now Meir, William dates from c. 1961 BC – c. 1878 BC during the reigns of Senusret I and Senusret II. This small figurine in Egyptian faience, a clay-less material, has become popular not only for his endearing appearance but also because his defining characteristics illustrate many of the most salient facets of craft production in ancient Egypt during this time.

An autumn leaf falls ... 

from a tree in Kaufbeuren, southern Germany.

Pants with Built In Socks
knit
thanks, Eve

Audrey Shawl

knit
thanks, Marcy

Lattice Knit Stitch Plant Cozy

knit

Varsity Hoodie

knit

Flower Tea Cosy and Coasters

knit

Afghan Knitalong Square 18 - Nupp Beginnings

Flashlight Glove

Knit Pattern of the Day: 

thanks for designing this cowl for us, 

  Valerie, Canadian Correspondent
"Here's my latest creation of a cowl in grey tones. Yarn is called Moda Vera 'Ombre Delights'" 
CO 200 sts on 4.5mm long/circular needles 

BUT NOT JOINED....YET!

Row 1: knit - set up row
R2: k2 * yarn over, k2tog. ..to end
R 3 & 4: knit across all stitches 
Repeat rows 2 to 4 to width required 
NOW sew ends together to form a cowl.

Acupuncture Slippers 
crochet
thanks, Mary

Easy to Make Cluster Slippers pattern by Souma Crochet

crochet ... Christmas
thanks,  Tara

DIY: Festive Crochet Bracelets

crochet

Mystic Morning Wrap

crochet

Stella Lovey Blanket pattern by Willow Yarns Design Team

crochet

Diagonals for Days C2C Crochet Top


Pet Lover Rolling Pin
RECIPE

thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

The Bobby Flay Burger

Bun Hair Scrunchies

CROCKPOT RECIPE
thanks, Anna

Crock Pot Pepperoni Chicken! {Better Than Pizza} 

Cactus Candles

SWEETS

thanks, Lesley

French Onion Soup for One

Massager for Neck and Back

ADULT COLORING

Lazy Mop Slippers

CRAFTS ... Christmas

thanks, Kathy

DIY Embroidered photo ornament tutorial

Dog Backpack

CHILDREN'S CORNER ... Christmas

thanks, Jill

DIY Christmas Ornaments with Pom Pom Gnome

Space Projector Lamp

PUZZLE

Cat Looking Back Jigsaw Puzzle


Exfoliating Slipper Brush

WORD SEARCH

abhor adjust approve bold break broke

canal carve check creek disgrace email feed fence

gate house litter mercy metal niche

obsess overthrow paddle peace plank ready rebellion renegade rights

separate sinus stick swore teach trust

Light Bulb Planter
SUDOKU ... hard

solution:

Food Slicing Tool
QUOTE

thanks, Lori

Cat Groomer Brush

Molecule Necklace

CLEVER 

"Indestructible" Dog Toy: 4 Steps (with Pictures)

Grateful Thankful Blessed T Shirt

EYE OPENER 

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

WINNERS ANNOUNCED OF THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2019

We have a winner!!!  That's right, the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards  are proud to announce that the Overall Winner of the 2019 competition  is.......Drum Roll please.... Sarah Skinner with "Grab life by the ...."

A massive hats off to Sarah, who wins a beautiful hand made trophy from Tanzania, a THINK TANK camera bag and an amazing one week safari with Alex Walker's Serian in the Maasai Mara, Kenya.  All the other fabulous Category Winners and Highly Commended Winners can be found here on the website, and they look pretty spectacular - Well Done All!

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Physicists are made of atoms. A physicist is the atom's way of knowing about atoms. -George Wald, scientist and Nobel laureate (18 Nov 1906-1997)

OPTICAL ILLUSION

thanks, Debbie