DIANE'S CORNER: November 2021

DIANE'S CORNER ..

Celebrate Chocolates Day

Chocolate is one of life’s greatest pleasures, providing hope in the darkness of an otherwise drab culinary experience. Chocolate didn’t find its way into the culinary repertoire of the western world until the Spanish learned of it from the Mayan people of Mesoamerica. From this simple beginning, it has spread throughout the world to be one of the most desired treats of all social and economic classes. Chocolates Day celebrates the history of this delicious treat, especially in one of its most popular form, a variety of chocolates.

History of Chocolates Day

Once they discovered chocolate, the Spanish actually kept the new substance to themselves for many years. In 1579 a Spanish vessel was attacked by English Pirates, finding it full of cocoa beans. Being unfamiliar with the delicious substance, they set fire to the vessel thinking they had conquered a vessel full of sheep droppings. The Spanish fell in love with the substance and were the first to start adding sugar to it.

Through all this time it was being consumed in much the same way as we consume hot chocolate or coffee today, so when did solid chocolates come about? In 1829 the cocoa press was invented, and with it came solid chocolate. This invention was intended to bring chocolate to the world, bringing it out of the exclusive province of the wealthy. Instead, it created a whole new type of chocolate and changed the nature of desserts forever.

In 1847 the first chocolate bar was invented, and it’s 1000-year history as a substance consumed only as a liquid came to an end. 1875 saw the creation of milk chocolate, and every innovation from there on out has gone towards making chocolate richer, creamier, and more delicious than ever. It is this initial bar and everything after that Chocolates Day celebrates.

JOKE OF THE DAY

Question: What did the zero say to the eight?
Answer: Nice belt!

WORD OF THE DAY

polyhistor

MEANING:
noun: A person of great or wide learning. Also polyhistorian.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin polyhistor, from Greek polyistor (very learned), from poly- (much, many) + histor (learned). Ultimately from the Indo-European root weid- (to see), which is also the source of words such as guide, wise, vision, advice, idea, story and history. Earliest documented use: 1588. A perfect synonym of this word is polymath.

USAGE:
“Roberto Calasso is the consummate polyhistor. He has published books on such diverse subjects as Greek and Hindu mythology, Talleyrand and his age, and Tiepolo and his use of pink ...”
John Simon; Paris Review; New York Times Book Review; Nov 18, 2012.

“You have to be a polyhistor to run this place. They don’t call me genius for nothing.”
Clinton Smith; Deep Six; HarperCollins; 2004.

TODAY'S ARTIST
thanks, Natalie

Margaret Geddes (7 November 1914 – 1998)
was a British oil painter of landscapes and figure subjects who later developed an abstract style.

IDIOM OF THE DAY

What does 'Bee's Knees' mean?

Meaning: If someone is very excited about something, they have a bee in their bonnet.

DAILY SQUEEK

If You Were Born Today, November 29:
You are charismatic, warm, articulate, and highly intuitive. You love to make people laugh, and you come across as fun and charming, if a little sarcastic. You have a strong sense of responsibility, and you tend to worry about the future more than is typical of a Sagittarius personality. However, your sense of fun always comes shining through. You like to stay informed and on top of things. When you’re not “in the know,” you are a lot less confident. Learning about anything and everything is a life-long hobby. Famous people born today:
1803 Christian Doppler, Austrian physicist (Doppler effect), born in Salzburg, Austria (d. 1853)
1832 Louisa May Alcott, American author (Little Women), born in Germantown, Pennsylvania (d. 1888)

1898 C. S. Lewis [Clive Staples], British author (The Chronicles of Narnia), born in Belfast, Northern Ireland (d. 1963)
1932 Jacques Chirac, President of France (1995-2007) and Prime Minister of France (1974-76, 1986-88), born in Paris, France (d. 2019)

1960 Cathy Moriarty, American actress (Raging Bull, Bless This House), born in The Bronx, New York
1976 Chadwick Boseman, American actor (Black Panther), born in Anderson, South Carolina (d. 2020)
thanks, Patsy

(Not So) TOTALLY USELESS FACTS OF THE DAY

The average American wears less than 50% of the clothes they own.

Hawaii is the only U.S. state never to report a temperature of zero.

Freddie Mercury and Paul McCartney used the same piano to record "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Hey Jude."

READERS INFO
1.
1929 -

The first airplane flight over the South Pole was made by
U.S. Navy Lt. Comdr. Richard E. Byrd on this day in 1929.

A 1930 documentary film about Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd
and his 1st quest to the South Pole.

2.
Nov 30, 1924 -
Politician Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman to be elected to the U.S. Congress, was born.

3.
Coronavirus Style by Sylvia, CAN DO Correspondent
Did You Know?
Did You Know? Have you ever wondered why the British put milk in their tea? Clue: It's not to do with the taste

COFFEE
thanks, Ella

PICTURES OF THE DAY

Eyjafjallajökull is one of the smaller glaciers of Iceland. It is situated to the north of Skógar and to the west of the bigger glacier Mýrdalsjökull. The icecap of the glacier covers a volcano which has erupted rather frequently since the Ice Age. The last eruption was in 2010, sending a volcanic ash cloud kilometres into the air and disrupting air travel.

Biei, Hokkaido, Japan

"Blue Pond & First Snow". The blue pond of the famous tourist resort. This is a place where many tourists gather in spring, summer, and autumn. However, since this pond freezes in winter, nobody is there during that period. This photograph is the moment of the first snow of the season falling on that blue pond. We can see the first snow of the season beginning at the end of October. Why is the pond blue? Because the underground hot spring ingredient is gushing. This blue pond changes color every day.

knit .. Christmas
thanks, Connie

Christmas Baubles pattern by Suzanne Strachan

knit
thanks, Paige

It’s snowing sheep pattern by Silvia Heke mai

knit

Mors du Cheval Mittens pattern by Lanja Sámsdóttir

knit

Lewis

knit .. Christmas

Christmas Morning Slipper Socks

CROCHET PATTERNS OF THE DAY

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

Dude Blanket

Long Striped Crochet Cardigan

crochet .. Christmas

thanks, Laura

Infant Santa Suit Outfit

crochet
thanks, June

Smitten. The pattern.

crochet

How to Make Chair and Table Socks

crochet

Anduin the Gryphon

crochet .. Christmas

Crochet Gingerbread House Ornament

RECIPE

thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

Caprese Antipasto Recipe

PANTRY RECIPE

thanks, Debbie

Curried Red Lentil and Pumpkin Soup

CROCKPOT RECIPE

thanks, Amy

Slow Cooker Cuban Sandwich

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

Easy Vegan Slow Cooker White Bean Veggie Soup

COPYCAT RECIPE

thanks, Jenny

Copycat Panera Bread Mac and Cheese Recipe

RETRO RECIPE

thanks, Ann

Meatloaf and Dilled Limas

SWEETS RECIPE

thanks, Patsy

Gingerbread Recipe

ADULT COLORING

FUN

answers:

The words are;

Frost.
Mittens
Ice
Chill
Snow
Boot

CRAFTS

thanks, Jeri

How to make an iced flower bowl

CHILDREN'S CORNER .. Christmas

thanks, Mindy

HOMEMADE WRAPPING PAPER

PUZZLE

Lantana Four Jigsaw Puzzle

WORD SEARCH

agent
anecdote
anybody
attract

bald
brand
bright
bring

cede
choice
claim
coast
console
created

equal
expire

false
flake
flesh

gradient

herb
image

noise

obese
others

paddle
party

rape
reason
remote
rotor

safety
select
slope
strip

teaching
teat
tennis
there

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.

What Do People Do Too Much Of Today?

QUOTE

thanks, Helen

CLEVER

thanks, Bev

A man was asked to paint a boat. He brought his paint and brushes and began to paint the boat a bright red, as the owner asked him. While painting, he noticed a small hole in the hull, & he quietly repaired it. When he finished painting, he received his money & left. The next day, the owner of the boat came to the painter & presented him with a nice check, much higher than the payment for painting. The painter was surprised & said “You've already paid me for painting the boat Sir!”

“But this is not for the paint job. It's for repairing the hole in the boat.”

“Ah! But it was such a small service... certainly it's not worth paying me such a high amount for something so insignificant.”

“My dear friend, you do not understand. Let me tell you what happened: “When I asked you to paint the boat, I forgot to mention the hole. When the boat dried, my kids took the boat & went on a fishing trip. They did not know that there was a hole. I was not at home at that time. When I returned & noticed they had taken the boat, I was desperate because I remembered that the boat had a hole. Imagine my relief & joy when I saw them returning from fishing. Then, I examined the boat & found that you had repaired the hole! You see, now, what you did? You saved the life of my children! I do not have enough money to pay your 'small' good deed.”

So no matter who, when or how, continue to help, sustain, wipe tears, listen attentively, & carefully repair all the 'leaks' you find. You never know when one is in need of us, or when God holds a pleasant surprise for us to be helpful & important to someone. Along the way, you may have repaired numerous 'boat holes' for several people without realizing how many lives you've saved. 