DIANE'S CORNER ...

Celebrate World Orphans Day

Tragically, millions of children all over the globe have become orphaned for many reasons: war, famine, displacement, disease or poverty. To make sure that they are not forgotten, once a year there is a special day dedicated just to them: World Orphans Day, which falls on the second Monday of each November.

This special day has been put in place in order to draw attention to the plight of the world’s orphans, and so on this day, people are encouraged to actively participate in helping raise awareness, support, and funding for motherless and fatherless children worldwide. A noble cause if there ever was one!

The History of World Orphans Day

The first people to officially care for orphaned children were the Romans, who opened the first orphanage in history in around 400 AD. Long before them, however, both Jewish and Athenian law required that orphans be supported until age 18. The great philosopher Plato once said, “Orphans should be placed under the care of public guardians.

Men should have a fear of the loneliness of orphans and of the souls of their departed parents. A man should love the unfortunate orphan of whom he is a guardian as if he were his own child. He should be as careful and as diligent in the management of the orphan’s property as of his own or even more careful still.”

Later, in Medieval Europe, orphans were cared for by churches. By the early 1900s, a number of orphans in England had reached truly alarming proportions, not to mention the conditions in which the orphaned children lived, which were often appalling and abusive. Charles Dickens’ most famous novel, “Oliver Twist”, depicts perfectly the hardships orphaned children had to endure in orphanages.

In modern times, researchers are almost unanimous in their claim that orphanages are the worst possible care option for children, as they do not receive the right amount of attention or physical contact to develop properly.

This has caused many people, usually, Westerners, to decide to adopt children from impoverished countries to give them a chance at a better life. Sadly, this trend has also lead to a large number of scams being perpetrated on unsuspecting parents-to-be, many of whom have paid enormous amounts of money to adopt children who had been bought from their parents for very little.

World Orphans Day was created by The Stars Foundation to raise awareness about the number of children in this world who lack something most of us take for granted: parents. The Stars Foundation’s wish was for this day to motivate people to do anything they can to help.

thanks for the pics, Julie

Joke of the Day

thanks, Bev

YOU CAN TELL 'EM IN CHURCH......

At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs.

Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and she said, 'Johnny, what is the matter?'

Little Johnny responded, 'I have pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a wife.'

Word of the Day

anemious

Vowels by Bernard Johnson

MEANING:
adjective: Growing in windy conditions.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Greek anemos (wind). Earliest documented use: 1879.

USAGE:
“By late afternoon the light that washed over the garden turned it into a lake of gold, with islands of shadow; the blown lilies, the long tendrils of roses and the anemious grasses streamed like plants that grow in water.”
Edith Pope; River in the Wind; Scribner; 1954.

Idiom of the Day

What does 'All in a day's work' mean?

If something is all in a day's work, it is nothing special.

This Day in History

1857 - The "Atlantic Monthly" first appeared on newsstands and featured the first installment of "The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table" by Oliver Wendell Holmes.
1911 - George Claude of Paris, France, applied for a patent on neon advertising signs.

1961 - Major Robert White flew an X-15 rocket plane at a world record speed of 4,093 mph.

1963 - "Louie, Louie" was released by the Kingsmen.

1965 - The great Northeast blackout occurred as several states and parts of Canada were hit by a series of power failures lasting up to 13 1/2 hours.

1967 - The first issue of Rolling Stone was published in San Francisco. John Lennon was on the cover.

1976 - The U.N. General Assembly approved ten resolutions condemning the apartheid government in South Africa.

1984 - A bronze statue titled "Three Servicemen," by Frederick Hart, was unveiled at the site of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC.

1997 - Barry Sanders (Detroit Lions) became the first player in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards in nine straight seasons. In the same game Sanders passed former Dallas Cowboy Tony Dorsett for third place on the all-time rushing list.

2004 - U.S. First Lady Laura Bush officially reopened Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House to pedestrians.

thanks, Amy

DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, November 9
You are an articulate, sensitive, and intuitive person. You can also be quite stubborn! Your mind is such that you absorb a lot of diverse information and you can be a jack of all trades. You are a true problem solver. Your sarcastic sense of humor can be biting at times. Not everyone knows that it hides a sensitive, self-protective soul. You can easily get yourself into a rut because of your rather fixed, stubborn nature. Famous people born today:

1731 Benjamin Banneker, African American mathematician and surveyor of Washington, D.C., born in Ellicott's Mills, Maryland (d. 1806)

1801 Gail Borden, American manufacturer and inventor of condensed milk, born in Norwich, New York (d. 1874)

1841 Edward VII, King of England (1901-10), born in Buckingham Palace, London (d. 1910)

1868 Marie Dressler [Leila Koerber], Canadian-American actress (Dinner at 8, Min and Bill), born in Cobourg, Ontario (d. 1934)

1914 Hedy Lamarr, Austrian-American actress (Ecstasy, Samson & Delilah) and inventor (radio guidance system for Allied torpedoes), born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary (d. 2000)

1929 Imre Kertész, Hungarian writer (Nobel Laureate 2002) and concentration camp survivor, born in Budapest (d. 2016)

1936 Mary Travers, American folk singer (Peter Paul & Mary), born in Louisville, Kentucky (d. 2009)

READERS INFO
1.
(Not So) Totally Useless Facts of The Day:
After movie studios declined, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" was instead financed by Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Genesis, Jethro Tull, and Elton John, all of whom saw it as a "good tax write-off."

When a male llama tries to make a move on a female llama, she'll spit on him if she's not feeling it.

"Gaslighting" is a type of psychological abuse, where a person is presented with so much false information; they begin to doubt their own memory and perception. The abuser's goal is to make the other person believe they're "crazy."

2.
1989 -

Communist East Germany opened its borders on this day in
1989, allowing its citizens to travel freely to West Germany.

3.
Coronavirus Style by Sylvia, CAN DO Correspondent

Faux Liverwurst

I’ve been making this for over 30 years, and still enjoy it on toast with mayo – yum!

1/2 c. white tahini
2 T. rice miso (or a little more, to taste)
1/4 c. water
1 t. onion powder
1/4 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. fines herbes
1/8 t. pepper
In a small saucepan over low heat, whisk the miso into the tahini. Keep stirring and drizzle in the water and spices. This scorches easily, so don’t stop. When it comes to a boil, whisk until it is thick and a good consistency for spreading, then take it off the heat. When it is cool, chill in an air-tight container. Use within the next few days.

Pictures of the Day

The Arcadian or Pastoral State is the second in a series of five oil-on-canvas paintings entitled The Course of Empire, created by American artist Thomas Cole between 1833 and 1836. The series, now in the collection of the New-York Historical Society, depicts the growth and fall of an imaginary city, situated at the lower end of a river valley. In this second painting, the wilderness has given way to settled lands where agriculture and commerce take place. The man drawing a mathematical figure, the ship being built and the primitive temple on the hill are evidence that the arts and sciences have made considerable progress.

Teacher Fills Hallway with Balloons to Give Students a Lesson on Happiness

Interactive lessons always seem to resonate more

knit .. Veteran's Day

thanks, Ethel

Poppies For ANZAC pattern by Lilian Worner

knit .. Christmas
thanks, Amber

Mug Cosies pattern by Nicola Valiji

knit

Pine Needle Hottie pattern by Hannah Haworth

knit

Happy Together pattern by Xiaowei Design

knit

Cloud Mittens pattern by Sari Nordlund

Crochet Patterns of the Day:

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

(Faux Knit) Pinwheel Beanie (All sizes)

Hypnotic Heart Cowl

crochet .. Veteran's Day

Poppy Keychain pattern by Crochet at Teri's

crochet
thanks, Lois

Create Your Warm Woodland Trekke Crochet Cowl

crochet

thanks, Karen

Simple Shells Crochet Dishcloth Pattern

crochet

Crochet Purse Pattern

crochet .. Christmas

Crochet Snowflake Pattern and Step-by-Step Tutorial

RECIPE .. Thanksgiving

thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

Marilyn Monroe’s Stuffing Recipe

Quarantine Cooking Recipes .. crockpot

thanks, Debbie

Slow-Cooker Pantry Chicken Stew

CROCKPOT RECIPE

Slow-Cooker Mac and Cheese

VEGAN/ VEGETARIAN RECIPE

Both vegetarian and vegan diets may provide health benefits, including reduced body weight, lower cholesterol levels, and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, it is important for vegetarians and vegans to ensure that they are meeting all of their nutritional requirements.

thanks, Alice

Citrus Snow Peas

(Makes 20 pieces)

20 fresh snow peas, blanched*, or 20 defrosted snow peas
20 sections of fresh tangerines or canned mandarin oranges, drained
1 Tablespoon orange juice concentrate
1 teaspoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Wrap one snow pea around each citrus section and secure with toothpicks or skewers.

Combine the remaining ingredients to make the marinade.

Allow the snow pea-citrus sections to soak in the marinade for at least 1 hour. Drain marinade and arrange snow peas on a serving platter. Serve cold or at room temperature.

*Note: Snow peas need to be bendable. If using fresh snow peas, drop them into boiling water for several seconds, then rinse under cold water and drain. Leave the snow peas in the boiling water for the shortest amount of time necessary for them to become flexible.

COPYCAT RECIPE

thanks, Jenny

Olive Garden Bolognese

SWEETS

thanks, Denise

Tea Candy Recipe

ADULT COLORING .. Thanksgiving

FUN

thanks, Marge

Can you spot it?

CRAFTS .. Christmas

thanks, Ellie

DIY Mini Wreaths

CHILDREN'S CORNER .. Thanksgiving

PUZZLE

Macaroon Three Jigsaw Puzzle

WORD SEARCH

border

cinema
climate
coma
confuse
could
curve

deer
democracy
dialog
dream

especially

grim

jubilation
judge

ladder
large

nasal
nature
nominee

overnight

realization
ring
ropes
rumor

scrap
since
spas

spray
swoon
sword

understand

venue

waste

SUDOKU ... easy

solution:

ICE BREAKER ...

thanks, Kris

You can use 'ice breaker questions' to build a rapport, enabling strangers to engage in back and forth conversion. With a little practice and possibly a beer or two, you’ll be breaking more ice than the Titanic.

What Was Your Favorite Item Of Clothing As A Kid?

QUOTE

CLEVER

thanks, Nora

EYE OPENER

For starters, a dentist invented acrylic nails.

16 Things You Didn't Know About Nail Polish

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. -Carl Sagan, astronomer and writer (9 Nov 1934-1996)