DIANE'S CORNER ... Celebrate Old Rock Day

Old Rock Day, despite some misconception, is not a day of celebrating classic Rock ‘n’ Roll tunes of days gone by but is, in fact, the day that Geologists and amateur rock enthusiasts take it upon themselves to show their appreciation of all things fossilised and stony.

Learn about Old Rock Day

All the lessons are in nature. You look at the way rocks are formed – the wind and the water hitting them, shaping them, making them what they are. Things take time, you know?
Diane Lane

A rock is a solid mass that is made up of minerals or substances that are mineral-like. They form the Earth’s most outer layer. Rocks have also been (and continue to be) used for a number of different purposes. This includes everything from weapons to musical instruments and tools; their use is very varied. Of course, if you were to go outside now, you would probably see some rocks on the ground, right? They are everything, and something so significant deserves to be recognized and appreciated, which is what Old Rock Day is all about.

Natural processes help to ensure that rocks are continually kept on Earth, and by this, we mean processes like erosion and volcanic eruptions. Despite this, old rocks are essential when it comes to understanding the history of our planet and learning more about the Earth in general. Old rocks hold the answers to a lot of mysteries regarding the formation of Earth. They are able to tell scientists the story of what happened to cause the rocks to form, as well as revealing the effects these natural events have had on other forms of life within that area. It is crazy to think that something so small could hold such incredible information!

You can also find that fossils are held within old rocks at times. These are the preserved remains of plants, animals, and other organisms. These fossils can enable scientists to discover the sort of fauna and flora that existed in the past. They can then delve deeper, finding out what caused them to either go extinct or evolved. This is another way that rocks help us to understand the world that we live in.

In order to determine how old a rock is, geologists will use a technique that is known as radioactive dating or radiometric dating. This is a process that involves taking a look at radioactive elements and how they have decayed within the rocks. This enables scientists to find the oldest rock of terrestrial origin. Scientists believe that this rock could be 4.4 billion years old. It was found in Australia’s Jack Hills and it is a zircon rock.

History of Old Rock Day

The exact origins of this day are unclear and unconfirmed but there has been a suggestion that this day was first created by the cartoon family known as The Flintstones. Nobody from The Flintstones however was available for comment.

This is also the day when young children are often encouraged to go out and discover their first “pet rock.” It is a day that they can use to bond with their “pet” and cement the very beginning of their lengthy future relationship. Unlike with other pets, “pet rocks” never ever grow old or die.

Other festivities on this day include painting and decorating the “faces” of rocks and of gathering together attractive pebbles and stones to make inexpensive and original pieces of jewellery.

It is also the day that the pastime of building a “rock garden” is actively encouraged. Some towns and villages around the world hold competitions on this day to find the best decorated “rock garden”.

Joke of the Day

thanks, Kitty

Word of the Day

construe

MEANING:
verb tr., intr.: To interpret, understand, analyze, or explain.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin construere (to construct), from con- (with) + struere (to pile up or arrange). Ultimately from the Indo-European root ster- (to spread), which also gave us structure, industry, destroy, street, stratagem, and Russian perestroika. Earliest documented use: 1362.

USAGE:
“But men may construe things after their fashion, clean from the purpose of the things themselves.”
William Shakespeare; Julius Caesar; 1623.

Idiom of the Day

What does 'Angry as a bear' mean?

If someone is as angry as a bear, they are very angry.
('Angry as a bear with a sore foot' is also used.)

This Day in History

1610 - Galileo Galilei sighted four of Jupiter's moons. He named them Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.
1785 - French aeronaut/balloonist Jean-Pierre Blanchard successfully made the first air-crossing of the English Channel from the English coast to France.

1887 - Thomas Stevens completed the first worldwide bicycle trip. He started his trip in April 1884. Stevens and his bike traveled 13,500 miles in almost three years time.

1896 - The "Fannie Farmer Cookbook" was published.

1904 - The distress signal "CQD" was established. Two years later "SOS" became the radio distress signal because it was quicker to send by wireless radio.

1927 - In Hinckley IL, the Harlem Globetrotters played their first game.

1954 - The Duoscopic TV receiver was unveiled this day. The TV set allowed the watching of two different shows at the same time.

1955 - Marian Anderson became the first African-American to sing at New York's Metropolitan Opera.

1990 - The Leaning Tower of Pisa was closed to the public. The accelerated rate of "leaning" raised fears for the safety of its visitors.

2002 - Microsoft Corp. chairman Bill Gates introduced a new device code named Mira. The device was tablet-like and was a cross between a handheld computer and a TV remote control.

thanks, Stacy

DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, January 7
You are a person who marches to the beat of your own drum, but yet you respect rules and order. Nobody can push you to do much of anything, as you don't feel right unless you are acting on intuition. There is a spiritual or otherworldly quality to you, and you are highly creative when you are able to tap into and embrace your talents. Highly unusual yet intriguing, you are a helpful, somewhat wilful, and hardworking soul. Famous people born today:
1502 Gregory XIII [Ugo Boncompagni], Italian pope (1572-85) who introduced the Gregorian (New Style) calendar in 1582, born in Bologna, Papal States (d. 1585)

1800 Millard Fillmore, 13th US President (Whig: 1850-53), born in Moravia, New York (d. 1874)

1964 Nicolas Cage, American actor (Moonstruck, Leaving Las Vegas), born in Long Beach, California

READERS INFO
1.
(Not So) Totally Useless Facts of The Day:
A word that is similar to (either in sound or meaning) but is not quite profanity is called a "minced oath." Ex: When you say "frickin'" instead of "fcking."

A yearly supply of bottled water for someone who consumes 8 glasses a day costs more than $300. The same amount of tap water costs about $0.38.

If you were to start with one cent and double your money every day; it would take 27 days for you to become a millionaire.
2.
1964 -
Sylvia Wene and Dick Weber competed in a high-in-the-sky bowling game known as Operation AstroBowl. The two professional bowlers competed while flying aboard a Boeing 707 traveling from New York's Kennedy International Airport to Love Field in Dallas, Texas. The special cargo plane was outfitted with a single bowling lane in the hold. Sylvia won the game in a close contest of 146 to 144. Undoubtedly, turbulence created additional challenges for the two professional bowlers.

3.
Coronavirus Style by Sylvia, CAN DO Correspondent*
Herb-Crusted Chicken with Roasted Asparagus

Pictures of the Day

A newborn joey (baby kangaroo) in its mother's pouch. Kangaroo babies are born at a very early stage of development after a gestation of 31-36 days. At this stage, only the forelimbs are somewhat developed, to allow the newborn to climb to the pouch and attach to a teat. It will not re-emerge for several months, during which time it develops fully.

The Amazon Jungle

A cow amid smoke from a burning tract of the Amazon jungle as it is cleared by loggers and farmers in Apui, Amazonas state, Brazil.

knit
thanks, Wendy

Kids' Dice Check Balaclava

knit
thanks, Paige

Reversible Rivulet Scarf

knit

Lonesome George

knit

Bright Striped Sweater

knit

Lovebird Vest

Knit Patterns of the Day:

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

Gobi Cowl Pattern

Dotty Pots pattern by Frankie Brown

crochet
thanks, Rose

Wanderlust Chevron Backpack

crochet
thanks, Charlotte

Crochet lace blouse

crochet

Crochet Seashell Bag

crochet

Clock Potholder

crochet

Prussian Blue Afghan

RECIPE

thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

Fast Tomatoes With Basil and Balsamic Recipe

Quarantine Cooking Recipes

thanks, Debbie

A Pumpkin Chili Recipe To Keep You Warm This Winter

CROCKPOT RECIPE

thanks, Mindy

Flageolet Beans with Rosemary and Thyme 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.

thanks, Alice

Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto

COPYCAT RECIPE

thanks, Jenny

Copycat Ikea Swedish Meatballs

SWEETS

thanks, Denise

Ingredients

1 chocolate cake mix or use this recipe.
3 ripe bananas, mashed
2 eggs

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F.
Mash bananas into a medium bowl.
Mix in eggs.
Mix in dry cake mix until well combined.
Spray 2 loaf pans with cooking spray. Fill each with half the batter.
Place in oven and bake for about 40 minutes, or until tester comes out clean.
Then eat and enjoy!!

ADULT COLORING

FUN

thanks, Michelle

answer:

CRAFTS

thanks, Stella

DIY Stamped Spoons & Pendants

CHILDREN'S CORNER .. dot to dot

thanks, Betty

PUZZLE

Fruit Salad Jigsaw Puzzle

WORD SEARCH

allow

center
coast

extra

fair
fluff
foot

force
found

guilty

harsh

insult
island

less

media
membership

nature
nice
nose

organization
overthrow

people
plait
plate
plunder
poison
prison
proof

secret
shelf
sneeze

snit
social
spook
study
surface

thrust
tomboy

violent

SUDOKU .. hard

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.