Sweater Day - February 4, 2020

DIANE'S CORNER ... Celebrate Sweater Day

Who doesn’t love pulling on a cozy sweater on a cold day? It’s like getting a hug from the universe when you feel the weight and comfort as the sweater settles around you. You even hug yourself when you put it on… don’t hide from it, you know you do! Ladies, is there anything better than swiping your man’s sweater? That oversized, cologne-scented, hug of warmth keeps him close when he isn’t there! Guess what? It is Sweater Day! You have a great reason to dive into his closet and pick your favorite without feeling guilty!

History of Sweater Day

Beginning in the early 2000’s Sweater Day has been a great tool to get people thinking and talking about energy conservation. This holiday not only lets us show off all the gifts we get from Granny, but lets us dig deeply into our closets. Remember, this isn’t Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, but Sweater Day. What’s the difference? I’m glad you asked! While Ugly Christmas Sweater Day is a great time to get goofy, Sweater Day is about being serious.

It reminds us that when we don our sweaters, we can turn the thermostat down. We can lower the amount of fuel that is needed to keep us toasty in the wintertime. Do you hate it when those winter fuel bills show up? Does it make you feel like you need a fourth job? Have you taken the time to think larger than that and wonder what your fuel use does to the environment? This is the day to think about all of that.

Even the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) supports this holiday as the earth and all the animals on it are heavily affected by the various uses of fuel. Pollution sickens the sky and water. Overpopulation increases the amount of fuel needed and therefore makes it more difficult for the land based animals as well. But it is not all doom and gloom on this day I assure you!

thanks for Maxine funnies, Julie

Joke of the Day

TOOTH FAIRY

Bob: Last night I put my tooth under my pillow. This morning I found a dime there instead.

Joe: When I put mine under my pillow, I got a dollar.
Bob: WOW! You must have buck teeth!

Word of the Day

bezoar

Bezoar from unknown animal

MEANING:

noun: A stone-like mass formed in the stomach or intestines of some animals, formerly believed to be a remedy for poison.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Old French bezahar/bezoard, from Arabic bazahr, from Persian padzahr (antidote), from pad- (protector) + zahr (poison). Earliest documented use: 1597.

USAGE:

“Other objects will seem familiar to readers: a bezoar, a stone taken from an animal’s stomach, like the one Harry used after Ron was poisoned; an 18th-century orrery, a model of the solar system, with tiny, movable planets, ...”
Jennifer E. Smith; Even Harry Potter Has a Past; The New York Times; Oct 5, 2018.

Idiom of the Day

PULL ONESELF TOGETHER

To regain control of your emotions after you’ve been upset, to calm down
You need to pull yourself together! Stop worrying about work so much.

This Day in History

1824 - J.W. Goodrich introduced rubber galoshes to the public.

1895 - The Van Buren Street Bridge opened in Chicago, IL.

1932 - The first Winter Olympics were held in the United States at Lake Placid, NY.

1952 - Jackie Robinson was named Director of Communication for NBC. He was the first black executive of a major radio-TV network.

1957 - Smith-Corona Manufacturing Inc., of New York, began selling portable electric typewriters. The first machine weighed 19 pounds.

1968 - The world's largest hovercraft was launched at Cowes, Isle of Wight.

1974 - Patricia (Patty) Hearst was kidnapped in Berkeley, CA, by the Symbionese Liberation Army.

1977 - "American Bandstand" celebrated its 25th anniversary with an ABC-TV special hosted by Dick Clark.

1997 - A civil jury in California found O.J. Simpson liable in the death of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. Goldman's parents were awarded $8.5 million in compensatory damages.

1997 - Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) scored his 600th National Hockey League (NHL) goal during his 719th game. Lemieux reached the milestone second fastest in history. Gretzky had reached the plateau during his 718th game.


1999 - Freddy Fender received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was the 2,129th star to be dedicated.


2004 - The social networking website Facebook.com was launched.



DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, February 4

You are one of the most hard-working and productive of birthdays. Your attention to detail is excellent, and your ability to organize and prioritize is admirable. Determined and practical, others love your reliability as well as your sound advice. You are proactive, and procrastination only makes you nervous. You seem to have to work harder than others, not because you are undeserving of lucky breaks, but perhaps because you don't ask for much help. That's fine because you are perfectly capable of methodically and determinedly going after what you want. Famous people born today: 

1893 Raymond Dart, Australian paleoanthropologist (Australopithecus africanus), born in Brisbane, Queensland (d. 1995)

1902 Charles Lindbergh, American aviator who was 1st to fly solo across the Atlantic, born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 1974)

1913 Rosa Parks, American civil rights activist who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger, born in Tuskegee, Alabama (d. 2005)

1921 Betty Friedan, American feminist and writer (The Feminine Mystique), born in Peoria, Illinois (d. 2006)

1940 George A. Romero, American-Canadian director (Night of the Living Dead), born in The Bronx, New York (d. 2017)

1948 Alice Cooper, [Vincent Furnier], rocker (School's Out), born in Detroit, Michigan

1959 Lawrence Taylor, American NFL player who is considered the greatest linebacker in history (NY Giants), born in Williamsburg, Virginia

thanks, Ida

READERS INFO

1.

(Not So) Totally Useless Facts of The Day:

Idaho may be the US capital for potatoes, but the South American country of Peru is the original hometown. Potatoes were first grown by the Inca Indians of Peru around the time of 8000 BC.

Why do your lips have that natural reddish/pinkish tint to it? That is caused by the blood capillaries that are located just under your lips. The lips are a thinner layer of skin that reflect the color more.

Most animals (and humans) have no more than two kneecaps. However, there is one animal that has four kneecaps. The ostrich takes that honor having two kneecaps in each leg.

2.

1869 -

One of the world's oldest known copies of the Bible, the Codex Sinaiticus (Sinai Bible), was found in the Saint Catherine's Monastery in Sinai, Egypt, in the mid-19th century by German biblical scholar Constantin von Tischendorf. The bible dates from the 4th century, probably between 330-360 AD, and is written in Greek.

3.

Art Palm Springs 2020

Feb 13 - 17, 2020 | Palm Springs, CA

Palm Springs Convention Center|277 N Avenida Caballeros

The Palm Springs Fine Art Fair is an elite boutique fair in the desert that showcases works from only the finest galleries exhibiting post-war and contemporary art. The event features a speaker program in addition to art across a variety of styles and media, including impressive installations and remarkable visual works.

further information: Art Palm Springs

4.

Cripple Creek Ice Festival 2020

Feb 8 - 16, 2020 | Cripple Creek, CO

Bennett Avenue|E Bennet Ave & 2nd St

Stroll the streets of Cripple Creek while sipping hot cocoa and gazing at intricate ice sculptures. This family-friendly event showcases top ice sculpting work while providing the kiddos a fun time. Vendors will be present to sell hot food and wonderful gifts.

further information: The Annual Ice Festival in Cripple Creek, Colorado

5.

Exhibitors Association Ceramic & Doll Show 2020

Feb 14 - 15, 2020 | DeLand, FL

Volusia County Fair & Expo Center|3150 E New York Ave

If you can get past the fact that horror movies employ dolls and other creepy art for cheap scares on the regular, you just may enjoy yourself at this ceramic & doll show. From the hands of many manufacturers, artists and teachers come the finest quality in ceramic arts and doll-making. You can join in to learn from several demonstrations, explore new ideas or just to appreciate good art.

further information: Home

Pictures of the day

Rosa Parks (February 4, 1913 – October 24, 2005) was an  American activist in the civil rights movement, best known for  her pivotal role in the Montgomery bus boycott. On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Parks rejected a bus driver's  order to relinquish her seat in the "colored section" to a white  passenger after the whites-only section was filled, inspiring the  African-American community to boycott the Montgomery buses  for more than a year. Her act of defiance and the boycott became important symbols of the civil rights movement and resistance to racial segregation. After her conviction for disorderly conduct, her appeal became bogged down in the state courts, but the federal Montgomery bus lawsuit, Browder v. Gayle, succeeded in  overturning bus segregation in November 1956. Upon her death, Parks became the first woman to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol  rotunda. California and Missouri commemorate Rosa Parks Day on the anniversary of her birth. This photograph of Parks being  fingerprinted was taken on February 22, 1956, when she was  arrested again, along with 73 others, after a grand jury indicted  113 African Americans for organizing the Montgomery bus  boycott.

Slovenia

The first cold winter morning after the snowy day. Still lake, beautiful pink/purple morning tones, snow on the trees and some fog for mystic atmosphere.

knit ... Valentine's Day
thanks, Rose

Valentine Dishcloth pattern by Rachel van Schie

knit
thanks, Helen

Got Milk? pattern by Donna Mason-Svara

knit

Vanilla Frosting pattern by Christy Houghton

knit

Headband Norwegian Rose pattern by Kristin Myrmel

knit

Electricity pattern by Sarah Ellis

Crochet Pattern of the Day: 

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

Dimensions Stitch

crochet ... Valentine's Day
thanks, Laura

Valentine's Day Envelope pattern by Becky Ferris

crochet
thanks, Tara

Simple Shower Caddy

crochet

Two-Toned Women's Slippers

crochet

Chain Link Necklace

crochet

Throw-back Granny Chevron pattern by Ellen Gormley

RECIPE

thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

Best Tomato Soup Ever

CROCKPOT RECIPE
thanks, Shirley

Slow Cooker Chicken a la King

SWEETS

thanks, Sandy

Black Cow Cake - 2 ingredients

rachaelrayshow

Ingredients

1 box chocolate cake mix

1 12-ounce bottle root beer 

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350°F.    Grease a 9-inch cake pan. In a medium bowl, mix together cake mix and root beer. Pour batter into prepared cake pan.   Bake for 35 minutes. 

ADULT COLORING

CRAFTS ... Valentine's Day

thanks, Kay

Easy Valentines Day Decor (DIY Lipstick Art)

CHILDREN'S CORNER ... Valentine's Day

thanks, Iris

VALENTINE SHAVING CREAM HEART ART WITH KIDS

PUZZLE

Green Hose Jigsaw Puzzle



WORD SEARCH

answer breeze bullish carry comfort conditions desire

escape flesh glory guide hoof impose joint

lose lunch meeting mire nasty needless network nobody

peer performance promise raise reef remind require secure seer

slipper sole stank think toes trial trust upset

SUDOKU ... easy

solution:

QUOTE

thanks, Lori

CLEVER 

thanks, Gabby

Use club soda to make pancakes and waffles fluffier

If you like your pancakes and waffles on the fluffy side, substitute club soda for the liquid called for in recipes. You’ll be amazed at how light and fluffy your breakfast treats turn out.

EYE OPENER 

thanks, Michelle

This Is Where Your Wool Comes From

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

There comes a point when a man must refuse to answer to his leader if he is also to answer to his own conscience. -Hartley Shawcross, barrister, politician, and prosecutor at the Nuremberg War Crimes tribunal (4 Feb 1902-2003)

OPTICAL ILLUSION

Vanity Fair Illusion

Hint*: Check out the left side. That is where most of the action is.  Oprah looks good for her age. 

Here is a more zoomed in photo.  See it yet?

Reese Witherspoon has three legs apparently.  Oprah also has a mutated hand. 

The photo editor must have done this easter egg to help boost the publicity of Vanity Fair.  As the saying goes, “Bad publicity is good publicity.