Hugging Day - January 21, 2020

DIANE'S CORNER ... Celebrate Hugging Day

Hugging, one of the simplest ways to show affection, is something people do with their loved ones all the time. However, it is not something that’s done enough these days! Hugging Day aims to encourage people to hug more, whether they know the person or not.

Hugging Day also helps people understand their emotions, as hugging makes feeling a more accepted practice and allows people to connect with one another on a more intimate level.  

History of Hugging Day

First celebrated in 1986, Hugging Day became a popular holiday through the fact that people just like the idea of it. Founded by Kevin Zaborney, he thought of the idea for the holiday after noticing how in between Christmas time, New Year’s and Valentine’s Day, people tend to be in low spirits despite how positive the holidays are.

In the United States, studies have shown that people tend not to show their emotions in public, and with Hugging Day, it aims to change the way people look at emotions. Hugging has many benefits; it helps reduce stress by showing support, helps boost the immune system, improves heart health, and produces oxytocin, a brain chemical associated with happiness. 

On this day, people take the time to hug their loved ones. On the Hugging Day official website, competitions are held to see who gives the best hugs, with contestants coming from all over the world.

Hugging is a form of sharing support; it makes people happy, it shows compassion and understanding, and hugging shows that emotions are okay to feel because they’re normal.

Kids especially love this holiday, as they are generally the ones who hug people the most and aren’t afraid to show their emotions. In a society that appears cold and uncaring, there are a lot of places that have a lot of hope in them; Hugging Day is just one example of that hope. 

Joke of the Day

SPENT TOO MUCH ON A BELT

I spent $80 on a belt that didn't fit...

My wife said it was a huge waist.

Word of the Day

errant

Feline-errant

MEANING:

adjective:
1. Traveling, especially in search of adventure.
2. Erring, straying, or moving aimlessly.

ETYMOLOGY:

For 1: From Old French errer (to travel), from Latin iterare (to travel), from iter (road, trip).
For 2: From Old French errer (to err), from Latin errare (to wander or to err).
Earliest documented use: 1400s.

NOTES:

How in the world can a word have so many different meanings? Blame homographs, two different words having the same spelling (lead, the verb & lead, the metal). In the case of today’s word, two Latin words (iterare and errare) evolved into the Old French errer. This homographic confusion continued when the words traveled to English. As if this weren’t enough, the word errant has morphed into another word resulting in further confusion: arrant.
Only the first adjective form is used postpositively.

USAGE:

“For all my lady-errant escapades, I still hold the proprieties in respect.”
Robert Barr; The Charm of the Old World Romances; E-artnow; 2016.

Idiom of the Day

OFF THE TOP OF ONE’S HEAD

From memory, without a lot of thought or consideration
Off the top of my head I think we’re expecting about 18 guests for the party, but I’ll check to make sure.

This Day in History

1789 - W.H. Brown's "Power of Sympathy" was published. It was the first American novel to be published. The novel is also known as the "Triumph of Nature Founded in Truth".

1846 - The first issue of the "Daily News," edited by Charles Dickens, was published.


1853 - Dr. Russell L. Hawes patented the envelope folding machine.


1908 - In New York City, the Sullivan Ordinance was passed. It made smoking in public places by women illegal. The measure was vetoed by Mayor George B. McClellan Jr. two weeks later.


1927 - The first opera broadcast over a national radio network was presented in Chicago, IL. The opera was "Faust".


1954 - The Nautilus was launched in Groton, CT. It was the first atomic-powered submarine. U.S. First Lady Mamie Eisenhower broke the traditional bottle of champagne across the bow.


1970 - The Boeing 747 made its first commercial flight from New York to London for Pan American.


1977 - U.S. President Carter pardoned almost all Vietnam War draft evaders.


1982 - B.B. King donated his entire record collection to the University of Mississippi's Center for the Study of Southern Culture. The collection included about 20,000 rare blues records.


1987 - Aretha Franklin was inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame. She was the first woman to be inducted.


1994 - A jury in Manassas, VA, acquitted Lorena Bobbitt by reason of temporary insanity of maliciously wounding (severing his penis) her husband John. She accused him of sexually assaulting her.


2002 - In London, a 17th century book by Capt. John Smith, founder of the English settlement at Jamestown, was sold at auction for $48,800. "The General History of Virginia, New England and the Summer Isles" was published in 1632.



DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, January 21

You are an exceptionally fair person, and others appreciate you for this trait. They know they can count on you to be objective and reasonable. You are charming, talented, and a little moody. Money and security are important to you, and you do appreciate all that is associated with the “good life”, but you are never one to ruthlessly pursue these things if it hurts other people. Inventive and original, you are frequently dreaming up new and creative ideas, most of which can be quite profitable. Famous people born today:

1905 Christian Dior, French fashion designer (New Look), born in Granville, France (d. 1957)

1922 Paul Scofield, English actor (A Man for All Seasons, Train), born in Hurst, England (d. 2008)

1940 Jack Nicklaus, American golfer (18 major titles, 73 PGA Tour titles), born in Columbus, Ohio

1951 Eric Holder, American lawyer and judge (1st African American US Attorney General 2009-2015), born in The Bronx, New York

1953 Paul Allen, American business magnate (co-founder Microsoft, owner Portland Trail Blazers, Seattle Seahawks), born in Seattle, Washington (d. 2018)

1963 Hakeem Olajuwon, Nigerian-American NBA center (Houston Rockets, Olympic gold 1996), born in Lagos, Nigeria

1976 Emma Bunton [Baby Spice], English singer (Spice Girls), born in London

READERS INFO

1.

(Not So) Totally Useless Facts of The Day:

In 1992, Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” became the first animated film to be nominated for an Oscar in the Best Picture category. Since then, only “Up” in 2009 and “Toy Story 3” in 2010 have been able to earn a nomination for Best Picture. Unfortunately, all three movies came up short in their bid to win the biggest award of the Oscar evening. Ten years later, in 2002, the Academy Awards introduced a separate category for Best Animated Feature.

If you plan on doing a little singing while hanging out at the beach in Sarasota, Florida, you may want to rethink your itinerary. For reasons we may never truly understand, the law books of Sarasota make it illegal for someone to sing in a public place while they are wearing a bathing suit. And go figure, it’s also frowned upon if you choose to shower naked. While these are laws that are not actively enforced anymore, they are real and they are still out there.

When the 1967 Boston Marathon rolled around, women were not allowed to participate in it. Determined to proved that a woman could run the course, Kathrine Switzer registered for the race, under the name K.V. Switzer, runner #261, and became the first woman ever to run and complete the Boston Marathon. In the picture above you can see where an official ran onto the course and tried to pull Switzer out of the way. He was not successful. She finished the race in 4 hours 20 minutes. In 2017, 50 years after she first ran the course, Switzer (at 70 years old) returned and once again ran the marathon. Wearing the same #261, she finished in 4 hours 44 seconds.

2.

1985 -

TODAY: American chef and cookbook author James Andrews Beard dies.

.

3.

ChocolateFest PDX 2020

Jan 20 - 22, 2020 | Portland, OR

Oregon Convention Center|777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd

Chocolate has found its way into just about every holiday, notable movie and store you can think of. ChocolateFest invites you to sample this dreamy, melt-in-your-mouth stuff from a selection of Northwest vendors and others from around the world. While you're busy snacking on chocolate in all its glorious forms, you'll be supporting the World Foresty Center to educate others about environmental sustainability.

further information: ChocolateFest

4.

Boston Wine Festival 2020

Jan 22 - 24, 2020 | Boston, MA

Boston Harbor Hotel|70 Rowes Wharf

The Boston Wine Festival is a three-month celebration of wine and food with multiple events presented each week. Held annually between January and March at the Boston Harbor Hotel, the festival holds the honor of being the nation’s longest-running food and wine festival and boasts over 75,000 bottles of wine opened and 3,000 different dishes served. For each festival event, participating winemakers are encouraged to provide their most exclusive wines to pair with extravagant multi-course meals for guests to enjoy. Please note: Check the festival schedule for specific event dates.

further information: Boston Wine Festival - America's Longest-Running Wine & Food Festival

5.

Arizona Vegetarian Food Festival 2020

Feb 15 - 16, 2020 | Scottsdale, AZ 

Scottsdale Civic Center Ampitheater|7380 E 2nd St

Interested in a healthy, eco-friendly lifestyle? Head to the Scottsdale Civic Center Amphitheater to hear fascinating speakers put on thought-provoking presentations about all things related to vegetarianism and veganism. The festival is complete with endless amounts of delicious food, Health and Wellness doctors, chefs, authors, yoga instructors, animal welfare specialists and more. Yoga classes, raffles and other activities are available. See you there!

further information: Home



Pictures of the day

Scissors are hand-operated cutting tools consisting of two  blades, each sharpened on one side, joined at a pivot that acts as a fulcrum. Scissors cut material by applying local shear  stress that exceeds the material's shear strength at the cutting location. The earliest known scissors appeared in Mesopotamia some 3,000 to 4,000 years ago; they were of the "spring" type,  the blades being connected at the handle end by a thin, flexible strip of metal. These spring scissors continued in use in Europe until the 16th century, but were then superseded by scissors  with a central pivot, which had been invented by the Romans  around AD 100. Modern scissors, with holes in the handles for  finger control, come in a range of types designed for various  purposes, with left-handed scissors being designed for use with the left hand. Larger tools tend to be called "shears".

Blast furnace

Lava has been spewing from Kilauea on Hawaii’s Big Island since 1983, and is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. When the 1,000˚C lava hits the water below, it steams up and creates salty, acidic mist or rain

knit
thanks, Sheri

Curling Sweater

knit

thanks, Phyllis

Sula Slippers

knit

Spike Scarf

knit

Sundance Lunch Sack

knit

Cute Cables Beanie

Knit Pattern of the Day: 

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

TWO NEEDLE SOCKS (middle of page is in English)

Носки на двух спицах Турецким способом вязания

crochet ... Valentine's Day
thanks, Marsha

Heart Coaster

crochet
thanks, Tara

Mitered Reflections Dishcloth

crochet

Mop Top Mascots

crochet

Lacey Scallops Demystified pattern by Maria Merlino

crochet

Coffee Tapestry Square Afghan Project – Square 3 -



RECIPE

How to Make Everything Bagel Tater Tots

CROCKPOT RECIPE
thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

Chicken Parmesan Soup

SWEETS ... Valentine's Day

thanks, Nina

Red Velvet Puppy Chow

ADULT COLORING

CRAFTS

thanks, Zoey

Fabric-Covered Journal

CHILDREN'S CORNER ... crafts

thanks, Hazel

Dog Finger Puppets

PUZZLE

Plant with Snail Jigsaw Puzzle



WORD SEARCH

announcement brought deluge early error feint front fuse

gale great harbor inland local mosquito

nape nature naval oppose path pattern personality place

proper public purr reason refresh river sheer shore silent

since storm story strong tight towns truth wine

SUDOKU ... very hard

solution:

QUOTE

thanks, Helen

CLEVER 

thanks,  Violet

 Keeping Track of Bind Off

EYE OPENER 

thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

50 Things to Make with Bacon

foodnetwork

1. Bacon Guacamole Mash 2 avocados with 1/2 cup each chopped tomato and cilantro, 1/4 cup each chopped onion and crumbled cooked bacon, 1/2 minced jalapeno, some lime juice and salt.

2. Cheesy Bacon Popcorn Drizzle 4 cups hot popcorn with 1 tablespoon bacon drippings. Toss with 3 tablespoons crumbled cooked bacon and 1/4 cup each grated Parmesan and cheddar.

3. Warm Bacon Slaw Cook 6 slices thick-cut bacon in 1 tablespoon olive oil; drain and crumble. Add 1/2 sliced red onion, 1/4 cup each cider vinegar and water, 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon celery seeds to the drippings. Toss with 6 cups shredded cabbage and the bacon.

4. Bacon Kraut Cook 8 ounces diced Canadian bacon and 1 chopped onion in olive oil. Add 3/4 cup each beer and water, and 1 pound rinsed drained sauerkraut. Simmer 20 minutes.

5. Bacon Reuben Spread Russian dressing on rye toast. Top with Bacon Kraut (No. 4) and Swiss cheese. Broil until melted.

6. Bacon-Apple Sandwiches Spread a split baguette with honey mustard. Fill with cooked bacon, sliced Brie and apple, and lettuce; add salt and pepper. Slice.

7. Cobb Club Spread 3 slices toast with soft blue cheese and mayonnaise. Layer with grilled chicken, cooked bacon, avocado, tomato, romaine and hard-boiled egg to make a double-decker sandwich.

8. Bacon Butter Cook 2 slices bacon in a skillet; drain and chop. Blend 1 stick softened butter with the drippings and 2 tablespoons maple syrup. Stir in the chopped bacon.

9. PB&B Sandwich peanut butter, banana and cooked bacon with white bread. Cook in a buttered skillet.

10. Croque Monsieur Spread Dijon mustard on sliced challah; sandwich with Canadian bacon and shredded Gruyère. Whisk 1 egg with a bit of milk and nutmeg; dip the sandwiches in the egg mixture and fry in butter.

11. Bacon Quiche Cook 6 ounces diced slab bacon in a skillet; drain. Cook 2 sliced leeks in 3 tablespoons drippings. Spread the leeks, 2/3 cup shredded Gruyère and the bacon in a prebaked 9-inch tart crust or pie crust. Whisk 2 whole eggs, 2 yolks, 1 cup cream, and salt and pepper; pour over the cheese. Bake at 375 degrees F, 25 minutes.

12. Clams Casino Mix melted butter with lemon juice, minced garlic and parsley. Drizzle over littleneck clams on the half shell; top with crumbled cooked bacon and breadcrumbs. Broil 4 minutes.

13. Stuffed Mushrooms Mix 1/2 cup each grated Parmesan and breadcrumbs, 4 slices crumbled cooked bacon and 2 tablespoons each parsley and olive oil. Stuff into mushroom caps, drizzle with olive oil and bake at 350 degrees F, 20 minutes.

14. Bacon-Wrapped Scallops Wrap bacon around scallops; secure with toothpicks. Broil, turning, until crisp, 8 minutes.

15. Bacon-Wrapped Dates Stuff pitted dates with blue cheese and wrap in bacon. Secure with toothpicks. Broil, turning, until crisp, 5 to 6 minutes.

16. Spaghetti Carbonara Boil 1 pound spaghetti; drain and reserve 1 cup pasta water. Meanwhile, cook 1/2 pound diced pancetta and 3 sliced garlic cloves in olive oil. Whisk 2 eggs, 1 cup grated Parmesan, 1/4 cup chopped parsley, 1/2 to 1 cup pasta water and some pepper; toss with the hot spaghetti and pancetta.

17. Pasta Frittata Beat 6 eggs with 1/4 cup milk. Stir in 4 cups leftover Spaghetti Carbonara (No. 16) and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan. Cook in an oiled nonstick skillet over medium-low heat until set, 8 minutes per side.

18. BLT Pasta Cook 8 slices bacon; drain and chop. Cook 1 chopped red onion, 3 sliced garlic cloves, some red pepper flakes and 1 teaspoon salt in 3 tablespoons drippings. Add 5 cups grape tomatoes; cook 12 minutes. Add 1/3 cup cream; cook 2 minutes. Toss with 12 ounces cooked penne, 4 cups arugula, the bacon, some basil and a splash of pasta water. Top with Parmesan.

19. Pasta Amatriciana Cook 4 ounces cubed pancetta in olive oil. Add 1 chopped onion and cook until soft. Add a 28-ounce can whole tomatoes (crushed by hand), a pinch of red pepper flakes and 1 cup water; simmer until thick, 20 minutes. Toss with 1 pound cooked spaghetti.

20. Bacon-Wrapped Trout Stuff whole trout with lemon slices and thyme sprigs; season with salt. Wrap in bacon and cook in a skillet over medium-high heat, 4 minutes per side.

21. Bacon Nuts Beat 1 egg white until frothy; toss with 2 cups mixed nuts, 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning, 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 4 slices crumbled cooked bacon. Bake at 325 degrees F, 10 minutes.

22. Bacon-Beer Mussels Cook 1/4 pound chopped slab bacon in a pot with 1 sliced onion. Add 3/4 cup beer, some thyme sprigs and 3 pounds mussels. Cover and cook until the mussels open, 5 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons each chopped parsley and whole-grain mustard.

23. Bacon Burgers Pulse 1 pound chopped bacon in a food processor. Form into four thin patties; cook in a skillet over medium heat, 10 to 12 minutes per side. Serve on buns.

24. Bacon-Sage Patties Make Bacon Burgers (No. 23), adding 1 tablespoon chopped sage and 1/2 teaspoon pepper to the mix.

25. Bacon Pizza Top a round of pizza dough with tomato sauce, shredded mozzarella, thinly sliced onion, crumbled cooked bacon and salt. Bake at 500 degrees F, 10 minutes. Drizzle with olive oil.

26. Bacon Meatballs Pulse 6 ounces pancetta in a food processor. Add 1 cup breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup each chopped onion, chopped parsley and grated Parmesan, 4 garlic cloves, 2 eggs, and salt and pepper; pulse to combine. Form into small balls. Brown in a skillet with olive oil, then simmer in tomato sauce until cooked through.

27. Bacon-Wrapped Steak Rub 1 1/2 pounds beef tenderloin with minced garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper. Wrap with bacon. Sear on all sides in an ovenproof skillet, then roast in a 400 degrees F oven until the meat registers 125 degrees F, 20 minutes.

28. Bacon Fried Rice Cook 1/2 cup chopped bacon in a skillet. Add 1/2 cup chopped scallions and 4 cups cooked rice; stir-fry until hot. Add 3 beaten eggs and 1 teaspoon each sesame oil and grated ginger; stir-fry until the eggs are set.

29. Bacon Buns Mix 1/4 cup each diced ham and crumbled cooked bacon. Place 1 tablespoon in the center of 8 refrigerated biscuit dough rounds; fold over and crimp. Bake at 350 degrees F, 15 minutes.

30. Tomato-Bacon Gravy Cook 6 slices chopped bacon in a skillet; drain. In the drippings, simmer a 28-ounce can whole tomatoes (crushed), 1/4 cup water, 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar, and salt and pepper, 20 minutes. Add the bacon.

31. Hot Bacon-Crab Dip Mix 8 ounces each cream cheese and crabmeat, 1 cup crumbled cooked bacon, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 3 chopped scallions and the juice of 1 lemon. Spread in a baking dish; top with breadcrumbs. Bake at 350 degrees F until bubbly, 30 minutes.

32. Bacon Muffins Make corn muffin mix as the label directs; add 1/4 cup crumbled cooked bacon and 2 tablespoons chopped chives.

33. Bacon-Corn Sauté Cook 1/2 cup chopped bacon in a skillet; pour off half of the fat. Cook 1/2 each chopped red onion and jalapeno in the skillet until tender. Add 3 cups corn; cook 4 minutes. Add chopped cilantro, lime juice and salt to taste.

34. Bacon Brussels Sprouts Cook 6 ounces diced slab bacon in a skillet; drain. Separate 1 pound Brussels sprouts into leaves; stir-fry in the drippings. Add 1 minced garlic clove, 2 tablespoons each teriyaki sauce and water, a pinch each of sugar and red pepper flakes, and the bacon.

35. Warm Bacon Vinaigrette Cook 4 slices chopped bacon in a skillet; drain and crumble. Whisk 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar and 1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard into the drippings; add salt, pepper and the bacon.

36. Spinach-Bacon Salad Make Warm Bacon Vinaigrette (No. 35). Toss with baby spinach, sliced mushrooms and sliced red onion.

37. Bistro Salad Make Warm Bacon Vinaigrette (No. 35) but cook 2 minced shallots in the skillet before whisking. Toss with frisée and top with a poached egg.

38. Tuna–White Bean Salad Cook 1/4 pound diced pancetta and 1/2 chopped red onion in a skillet until the pancetta is crisp. Stir in 1 can each drained white beans and Italian tuna. Add chopped parsley and red wine vinegar to taste.

39. Pancetta Caprese Arrange fresh mozzarella and sliced tomatoes on a plate. Drizzle with olive oil and white wine vinegar. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, crumbled cooked pancetta and torn basil.

40. Pancetta Chips Sandwich sliced pancetta between 2 baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees F, 25 minutes.

41. Sweet Bacon Press both sides of bacon slices in brown sugar; place on a rack set on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees F, flipping once, 18 to 20 minutes.

42. Spicy-Sweet Bacon Make Sweet Bacon (No. 41) but sprinkle with ancho chile powder before pressing in sugar.

43. Bacon Grits Simmer 2 cups each milk and water with 1 teaspoon salt in a saucepan. Stir in 1 cup grits; simmer until tender, about 35 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons butter and 1 cup each grated cheddar and crumbled cooked bacon. Top with chopped chives.

44. Bacon Quesadillas Cook 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms and 1/4 cup chopped onion in butter until soft. Add 2 slices chopped Spicy-Sweet Bacon (No. 42). Spread on tortillas with grated cheddar, then fold in half and cook in a skillet.

45. Bacon-Apple Pancakes Mix 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 cup buttermilk, 1 egg, 1 grated apple and 1/2 cup crumbled cooked bacon. Cook in a hot buttered skillet.

46. Bacon Banana Bread Stir 1/2 cup crumbled cooked bacon into your favorite banana bread batter before baking.

47. Bacon-Potato Pancake Cook 2 slices bacon; drain and crumble. Shred 2 peeled russet potatoes; squeeze dry. Mix with 1/4 grated onion, the bacon, and salt and pepper. Cook in the drippings until crisp, 8 minutes per side.

48. Bacon-Egg Sandwich Fry 2 slices bacon, then fry 2 tomato slices and an egg in the drippings. Sandwich with buttered crumpets, adding a slice of cheddar.

49. Bacon Oatmeal Stir 2 tablespoons each maple syrup and crumbled cooked bacon into 2 cups cooked oatmeal.

50. Bacon Brittle Boil 2 cups sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan, without stirring, until 340 degrees F, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in 1 cup peanuts, 5 slices crumbled cooked bacon, 1 tablespoon butter and a pinch each of cayenne and cinnamon. Spread on a greased baking sheet to harden.

the first signature Ellen ever made us!

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Walking is also an ambulation of mind. -Gretel Ehrlich, novelist, poet, and essayist (b. 21 Jan 1946)

OPTICAL ILLUSION

Keep your eyes center of this picture.What you see?

The picture was waved!