DIANE'S CORNER ..
Celebrate Nat'l Maple Syrup Day
Many people, even lovers of this delicious liquid gold, don’t know maple syrup has its own day dedicated to learning about and celebrating it!
So, before delving into the history of and the most popular thing to put on pancakes, waffles, French toast and more, it’s probably a good idea to take a moment to thank the maple trees for the sap that becomes the sweet syrup that everyone knows and loves today!
That’s the whole focus of National Maple Syrup Day!
History of National Maple Syrup Day
National Maple Syrup Day was created to celebrate the amber substance people have all come to know and love. Much of the maple syrup that most people experience today is almost always manufactured in Canada, but even the United States has its own maple syrup production area–mostly surrounding the northeastern states, such as Vermont, but also other northern states, like Michigan.
Maple syrup is a substance that’s usually made from the xylem sap of a few different varieties of the maple tree, including the sugar maple, red maple, or black maple tree, although it can be made from other species of maple as well. In cold climates, these trees store starch in their trunks and roots before the winter. The starch is then converted to sugar that rises in the sap in late winter and early spring, bringing with it a delightfully sweet flavor.
Maple trees are tapped by drilling holes into their trunks and collecting the exuded sap. This sap is then processed by heating it to evaporate much of the water, leaving the concentrated syrup. In earlier times, maple syrup was first collected and used by the indigenous people of North America.
According to aboriginal oral traditions, as well as archaeological evidence, maple tree sap was being processed into syrup long before the Europeans arrived in the region. Perhaps the Europeans, who eventually settled there, actually learned the refinement process from the indigenous people who had been living on that land for centuries.
Legends exist of when maple syrup was first created, one of the more popular legends tells of how maple sap was used in place of water to cook venison served to the chief of the tribe.
Another story of the Chippewa and Ottawa peoples goes that one of their gods saw that his people were becoming too lazy to hunt and only wanted to drink the maple syrup directly from the trees. So he cast a spell on them to make them watery, requiring them to work hard prior to being able to enjoy the syrup!
Now, the Canadian province of Quebec is by far the largest producer of maple syrup, contributing to more than seventy five percent of the world’s output of maple syrup. After Canada, the United States takes a close second.
JOKE OF THE DAY.. Christmas
WORD OF THE DAY
peachy
MEANING:adjective:
1. Resembling a peach.
2. Excellent; highly desirable.
ETYMOLOGY:From peach, from Latin persicum malum (Persian apple). Earliest documented use: 1599.
NOTES:Why peachy to refer to something excellent, as opposed to, say, appley? Well, peaches are apples too, etymologically speaking. The word peach comes to us from Latin persicum malum, from the former belief that peaches originated in Persia. They actually came from China where some enterprising fruit seller has now taken things a bit too far. Undergarments on peaches? So back to, why peachy? Peaches are wonderful. You have to admit the joy of holding a juicy plump peach in your hand and biting into it. The word peach has been used for a long time for something or someone attractive.
Now that the fruit week is over, it's time for a question.
What does a playwright order at a juice bar?
Pear shakes.
USAGE:“And the oil business is looking peachy. ... This has encouraged gas producers to scurry after oil in liquid-rich shale beds such as the Bakken in North Dakota.”
Put That in Your Pipe; The Economist (London, UK); May 5, 2012.
1. Resembling a peach.
2. Excellent; highly desirable.
Now that the fruit week is over, it's time for a question.
What does a playwright order at a juice bar?
Pear shakes.
Put That in Your Pipe; The Economist (London, UK); May 5, 2012.
TODAY'S ARTIST
thanks, Natalie
Mary Dignam (1860-1938) was a Canadian painter best remembered as a pioneer activist for women artists.
Her paintings were primarily in floral and landscape subjects.
IDIOM OF THE DAY
What does 'Behind closed doors' mean?
What does 'Behind closed doors' mean?
Meaning: If something happens away from the public eye, it happens behind closed doors.
DAILY SQUEEK
DAILY SQUEEK
If You Were Born Today, December 17:
You are a leader at heart–whether you choose to lead or not, others naturally follow, turning to you for insightful and unique advice as well. You are articulate and sociable, and while a breezy manner might suggest otherwise, you have a strong business sense, possess keen organizational skills, and you are rather ambitious. You also admire others with a strong work ethic and may easily go into business with a romantic partner. Intuitive and compassionate, you have a philosophical or religious side to you that is not always apparent. Famous people born today:
1936 Pope Francis [Jorge Mario Bergoglio], Catholic Pope (2013-) 1st Jesuit pope, 1st from the Americas and 1st non-European pope since Syrian Gregory III in 741, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina
(Not So) TOTALLY USELESS FACTS OF THE DAY.. Christmas
Coca-Cola played a part in Santa's image
Before Coca-Cola decided to use his image for advertising, Santa's looks tended more spooky than jolly. Then, in 1931, the beverage company hired an illustrator named Haddon Sundblom to depict the jolly old elf for magazine ads. Now, kids see visions of sugarplums instead of having Santa-themed nightmares.
Evergreens are an ancient tradition
The tradition of Christmas trees goes all the way back to ancient Egyptians and Romans, who decorated with evergreens during the winter solstice to signify that spring would return. So if you deck your halls with a green tree, wreaths or evergreen garland, you're honoring history.
Christmas wasn't always on December 25
While Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the actual date is lost to history. There's no mention of December 25 in the Bible and many historians say Jesus was really born in the spring. Some historians posit the date was originally chosen because it coincided with the pagan festival of Saturnalia, which honored the agricultural god Saturn with celebrating and gift-giving.
READERS INFO1.
1903 -
The Wright Brothers’ 1903 Flyer, which is on display at the National Air & Space Museum in Washington, DC.
Near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright make the first successful flight in history of a self-propelled, heavier-than-air aircraft. Orville piloted the gasoline-powered, propeller-driven biplane, which stayed aloft for 12 seconds and covered 120 feet on its inaugural flight.
Orville Wright (left) and brother Wilbur.
2.Dec 18, 1865 -Slavery abolished in the United States
On this day in 1865, by proclamation of the U.S. secretary of state, the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, outlawing slavery, officially entered into force, having been ratified by the requisite states on December 6.
3.Dec 19, 1972 -
On this day, Apollo 17 splashed down in the Pacific,
ending the Apollo program of manned lunar landings.
4.Coronavirus Style by Sylvia, CAN DO Correspondent.. Christmas
READERS INFO
Near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright make the first successful flight in history of a self-propelled, heavier-than-air aircraft. Orville piloted the gasoline-powered, propeller-driven biplane, which stayed aloft for 12 seconds and covered 120 feet on its inaugural flight.
ending the Apollo program of manned lunar landings.
PATTERN BOOK FRIDAY.. Christmas
COFFEE .. Christmas
thanks, Ella
PICTURES OF THE DAY
A Local Kentucky Resident Took This Powerful Photo After the Devastating Tornado
Ponte Vedra, Florida
knit .. Christmas
thanks, Amber
knit .. Christmas
thanks, Nancy
knit .. Christmas
thanks, Tara
crochet .. Christmas
crochet .. Christmas
CROCKPOT RECIPE
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.
COPYCAT RECIPE
SWEETS RECIPE .. Christmas
COOKBOOK FRIDAY
ADULT COLORING .. Christmas
FUN .. Christmas
CRAFTS .. Christmas
PUZZLE
WORD SEARCH
| alarm authority cooing cornucopia elbow flash flippant | hover inform jazzy laugh minute mute none | ordinary pairs pool pore possessive pour quiver | racial seam seat serious smoke snail spoon string | teeth thumb timely tins vessel vestige winery |
SUDOKU .. very hard
solution:
ICE BREAKER
Which Way Should Toilet Paper Hang, Over Or Under?
CLEVER .. Christmas
OPTICAL ILLUSION
