Tell a Fairy Tale Day - February 26, 2020

DIANE'S CORNER ... 

Celebrate Tell a Fairy Tale Day

Gather round the fire, and make yourselves comfortable… Tell A Fairy Tale Day is all about exploring myths and stories, old and new. From grim(m) tales to urban legends, tap the dark corners of your subconscious and see what you find…

Joke of the Day

DOESN'T EVEN NEED GLASSES

John: "My grandpa is 98 years old, and he doesn't even use glasses."

Jack: "Wow, that is incredible!"

John: "Yep, he drinks straight from the bottle."

Word of the Day

natheless

MEANING:

adverb: Nevertheless; notwithstanding.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Old English na (no) + the (this, that) + laes (less). Earliest documented use: 11th c.

USAGE:

“A mossy ship’s skipper -- any ship’s skipper -- is, as I have said, a small god, but a god natheless.”
Harry Turtledove; The Quest for the Great Gray Mossy; Analog Science Fiction & Fact (New York); Jan/Feb 2020.

Idiom of the Day

SPILL THE BEANS

To reveal information that was secret
We are throwing David a surprise birthday party, but please don’t spill the beans!

This Day in History

1870 - In New York City, the first pneumatic-powered subway line was opened to the public. (Beach Pneumatic Transit)

1907 - The U.S. Congress raised their own pay to $7500.


1916 - Mutual signed Charlie Chaplin to a film contract.


1919 - In Arizona, the Grand Canyon was established as a National Park with an act of the U.S. Congress.


1929 - U.S. President Coolidge signed a bill creating the Grand Teton National Park.


1933 - A ground-breaking ceremony was held at Crissy Field for the Golden Gate Bridge.


1954 - A U.S. Congresswoman introduced a bill to prohibit the distribution of "obscene, lewd, lascivious or filthy" recordings.


1955 - Billboard reported that the 45rpm single format was outselling the 78s for the first time.


1998 - A Texas jury rejected an $11 million lawsuit by Texas cattlemen who blamed Oprah Winfrey for price drop after on-air comment about mad-cow disease.


2008 - In North Korea, the New York Philharmonic performed a concert for the nation's elite.


2009 - The Pentagon reversed its 18-year policy of not allowing media to cover returning war dead. The reversal allows some media coverage with family approval.



DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, February 26

Your intuition rarely fails you, especially when it comes to quickly, fairly, and accurately sizing up someone you meet. This does not mean you are immune to wishful thinking, however, as you are a dreamer. However, you are also a dreamer who believes in hard work to achieve your goals. There are many times in your life that your personal life takes a backseat to your career, as you are ambitious and have something to prove, if only to yourself. You need a partner who can keep up with your varied tastes and talents. Famous people born today:

1802 Victor Hugo, French author (Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Miserables), born in Besançon, France (d. 1885)

1829 Levi Strauss, German-born American clothing designer, born in Buttenheim, Bavaria (d. 1902)

1866 Herbert Henry Dow, American chemical industrialist (Dow Chemical), born in Ontario, Canada (d. 1930)

1928 Antione "Fats" Domino, American rhythm & blues star of the early rock ’n’ roll era (Blueberry Hill, Blue Monday), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 2017)

1932 Johnny Cash, American country singer (I Walk the Line, Ring of Fire, A Boy Named Sue), born in Kingsland, Arkansas (d. 2003)

1950 Helen Clark, New Zealand Prime Minister (Labour: 1999-2008) and Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (2009-17), born in Hamilton, New Zealand

READERS INFO

1.

(Not So) Totally Useless Facts of The Day:

The revolver was first created by Samuel Colt when he was 16 years old. It was patented in 1935.

The word 'brand' dates back to Old Norse, from which modern Scandinavian languages derived. 'Brand' originally referred to a piece of burning wood.

The hippie generation did not discover pot. But, the drug's true origins remain a bit murky.

Many believe the first Emperor of China, Shen Nung, was the first to discover and use the plant for medicinal properties.

2.

1993 -

At 12:18 p.m., a terrorist bomb exploded in a parking garage of the World Trade Center in New York City, leaving a crater 60 feet wide and causing the collapse of several steel-reinforced concrete floors in the vicinity of the blast. Although the terrorist bomb failed to critically damage the main structure of the skyscrapers, six people were killed, more than 1,000 were injured and the World Trade Center itself suffered more than $500 million in damage. 

After the attack, authorities evacuated 50,000 people from the buildings, hundreds of whom were suffering from smoke inhalation. The evacuation lasted the whole afternoon. 

City authorities and the Federal Bureau of Investigation undertook a massive manhunt for suspects, and within days several radical Islamic fundamentalists were arrested.

3.

San Jose Jazz Winter Fest 2020

Feb 14 - Mar 1, 2020 | San Jose, CA

Various Locations in Downtown San Jose|374 S 1st St

San Jose Jazz Winter Fest is a concert series that focuses on emerging jazz artists who are exploring the genre in new and innovative ways. In addition to the musical performances, the fest emphasizes the importance of education and features master classes with industry professionals. The event strives to create a platform for young artists to showcase their work and progress the genre further. Check the San Jose Jazz Winter Fest website for performance dates and venues.

further information: San Jose Jazz Winter Fest

4.

Portland Jazz Festival‎ 2020

Feb 19 - Mar 1, 2020 | Portland, OR 

As music-lovers drown in a sea of harsh guitars, auto-tuned nonsense and overproduced pop anthems, the Portland Jazz Festival brings class and quality back into the equation. World-class talent of the jazz genre will play many mesmerizing concerts over the next week and a half. That's a lot of music to digest, but when artists of this caliber are on the schedule, it's nearly impossible to resist.

further information: PDX Jazz Festival 2020

5.

Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto 2020

Feb 18 - 28, 2020  Richmond Hill, ON

The Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto features continuous classical music from a concoction of kids ranging from grade school through high school age. The Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival attracts tens of thousands of participants of all ages to compete in a variety of classical music categories, from piano solos and duets, to vocal solos and concert recital songs.

further information: Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival

Pictures of the day

The Cape ground squirrel (Xerus inauris) is a medium-sized  rodent native to South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. They live  in social groups of up to three adult females and several sub-adults.  The species mainly inhabits arid or semi-arid areas, preferring velds  and grasslands with compact soil, and can also be found in scrub,  on floodplains and in agricultural areas. Males live independently,  only joining groups when there is a female in estrus. Ever alert to  danger, they can drive off predators such as snakes by engaging in  mobbing behavior. This picture shows two Cape ground squirrels  photographed in the Namib desert near Solitaire, Namibia.

thanks, Heide   

The other day, Mother Nature waved back

at the Mt. Washington Observatory, NH!

This most interesting-looking cloud is called Kelvin-Helmholtz wave clouds which form "when a large increase in winds occurs over a small vertical distance within a cloud."

knit ... Easter
thanks, Ethel

Rabbit pattern by Susan B. Anderson

knit
thanks, Connie

Winding Mitts

knit

Round Neck Baby Cardigan

knit

Boho Pet Bandana

knit

Moss Diamonds Cabled Blanket Pattern

Knit Pattern of the Day: 

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

Arni Baby Romper

How to Knit Children's Slippers

crochet

thanks, Marsha

Easy to Make Crochet Hand Puppet

crochet
thanks, Helen

Sunshine Free Crochet Pattern Kawaii Cuddler

crochet

Grey Sparrow

crochet

Baby's Cardigan

crochet ... Easter

Ducky Egg Cozy

RECIPE

thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

Pea Pesto Crostini

CROCKPOT RECIPE
thanks, Sue

Mississippi Pot Roast 

{The BEST EVER Pot Roast}

This Mississippi Pot Roast is the most delicious pot roast you will EVER eat! Made with just five simple ingredients and slow cooked in the crockpot, you are going to fall in love with this!

• 1 (3-4 pounds) chuck roast
• 1 packet ranch dressing mix
• 1 packet au jus gravy mix
• 1/4 cup butter
• 4-5 pepperoncini peppers
• 
  

• Place roast in the slow cooker and sprinkle the top with the ranch dressing mix and the au jus mix. Place peppers on top of the mixes, and add the butter.
• Cook over low heat for 8 hours. Serve with noodles, rice or mashed potatoes. Enjoy!

Notes

• Do not add any water or broth to this! It will make enough liquid as it cooks.
• This tastes delicious with potatoes and carrots! I like to add a few quartered russet potatoes and a large handful of baby carrots to the crockpot when there is about 1-2 hours left of cooking time

SWEETS

thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

Thick-and-Gooey Chocolate-Chip Cookies Recipe

ADULT COLORING

CRAFTS

thanks, Kathy

DIY Jewelry Holder Tree made out of wire

CHILDREN'S CORNER ... Easter

thanks, Iris

DIY String Easter Eggs

PUZZLE

Cactus Crowns Jigsaw Puzzle



WORD SEARCH

audience beats better circles computer

empire enemies everything female fore grasp hopeful

images increase litter meant might miles mite

peer perfect please puppet really respect rotate

sees slave spend table torso unison watch words

SUDOKU ... easy

solution:

QUOTE

thanks, Nora

CLEVER 

thanks, Frances

DIY Fingerless Gloves    

New York Mets catcher Tomas Nido catches a ball in the bullpen during spring training baseball practice in Port St. Lucie, Florida. 

EYE OPENER 

thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

How to Stock a Modern Pantry

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Knowing exactly how much of the future can be introduced into the present is the secret of great government. -Victor Hugo, poet, novelist, and dramatist (26 Feb 1802-1885)

OPTICAL ILLUSION

Paper and Marker