I’ve been given the go-ahead to post on the site, after some upgrades have been done. Better late than never, right? Here is Friday’s post. The weekend post will follow.
It’s going to be another very hot day. I guess we are going to be getting increasingly warmer through Sunday – which fills me with dread. This is seriously ugly for my personality, since as the temperatures go up, my attitude goes down. Yesterday I went out for just one hour to ride around in the yard on the mower and weed eat one area of the front yard and got a bit of sunburn. Not a LOT, but enough that it’s tingling a bit this morning. Yuck. There are many things to do in the house – my office is high on that list because I’m rearranging in there, but I need Hubby’s help moving some heavy pieces, so it will have to wait for some time this weekend.
My daughter and her boyfriend are moving. He got a great job offer that will change their lives for the better in so many ways. They both worked at the same restaurant, so the owners threw a big good-bye party for them last night. I really wish I had been there – but I had no reason to go to a work party. Now if I had been given a heads-up about events that were going to transpire, I would have DEFINITELY been there. T got down on bended knee and proposed in front of everyone and thank goodness, someone had the foresight to record it and post it on Facebook so I could share in the moment from a distance. K was CLEARLY surprised, and by the way, she did say yes. What is a little funny is that she called to tell me . . . and I already knew, but I was able to tell her that it had been recorded – which she had NO clue about – so she was able to go back and watch the proposal for herself. How fun is that?
Verse of the Day
July 13, 2018
God exalted him [Jesus] to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
—Philippians 2:9-11
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
When Jesus is exalted, when his name is praised and his glory confessed, God is honored and blessed. Praise be the glorious name of Jesus of Nazareth, our great Messiah the Christ, Savior, Son of God, and conquering King!
www.verseoftheday.com
Food for Thought
Today my heart is sad and happy at the same time. I have been friends with someone for close to 14 years. She helped me when I was at one of the lowest points in my life by giving me a job. She didn’t know me. She didn’t know if I could even DO the job, but she took a chance and it worked out. Over the years we went from employer/employee to friends, confidants and a listening ear for each other, and shoulders for each other to cry on. We have seen each other at our worst – and were always able to work past it. We have laughed together until we cried; and cried together until we ended up in laughter. Today her life changes forever. Today she and her daughter are leaving to join her husband/father in a new state, where he is already working. Together they are going to build a new life, in a new place, creating new adventures along the way. Part of me is envious, but the biggest part of me knows that I am going to miss her like crazy. We will be in contact via social media, text messages, etc. but it won’t be the same. I deliberately didn’t arrange to meet up with her to say good-bye because I know I can’t control my tears, and that would just make things awkward for everyone around us. We had lunch recently, knowing that this day was coming. I don’t know if I will ever see her in person again, since she is going to be so far away, but it is my hope and prayer that we will. Regardless of distance, I hope she knows how much I love and appreciate her. How grateful I am that she is a part of my life, and that her family – well, her daughter and husband – feel like they are a part of my family. She knows, at least I hope she does, that I am there for her, even long distance, and that our days of laughing together aren’t over. K – I’m going to miss you so much. I hope your travels to your new life are filled with interesting miles, laughter with your precious girl, and that the rainbow at the end of the road is filled with all of your dreams coming true.
Barbershop Music Appreciation Day – Not to be confused with Barbershop Quartet Day in April, this is a day to just relax and enjoy any Barbershop Music you can! Perhaps the sweet voices of the Sweet Adelines or a Barbershop Quartet. On July 13, 1945 Edna Mae Anderson of Tulsa, OK invited some women over to her home to sing. Their husbands were all members of the (OK, this is a LONG name here) Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQA). (Honestly by the time you get that name out you’ve forgotten what you were talking about!) The ladies wanted to have fun singing too, so that night the “Sweet Adelines” were born. Their group later became the Sweet Adelines International and has hundreds of groups and thousands of members. Today, listen to barbershop music and have some fun!
Collector Car Appreciation Day – This year was the 9th annual celebration of collector cars. I admit that I get a little part of me that feels a bit of excitement and some nostalgia for times I was born too late to enjoy, when I see one of these beautiful machines and think of what an amazing part of our heritage that they play. Collectors will gather across the nation to appreciate the beauty, the hard work and the love that they have for their own pieces of history and share their beauty with those who also love them. I saw several amazing examples today when I was driving home from town. They sure were pretty!
Embrace Your Geekness Day – What is a geek? Well, for those who aren’t aware of the meaning behind the label, a geek is an individual who is highly intelligent (brainy) and technically oriented. Usually we associate them with computer systems. A geek is often formal, studious and very into his technical world – this often includes excludes everything else. A geek is closely related to a nerd, but a nerd may – or may not- have the same technical expertise of a geek. Some people think the term Geek is negative – but not sure why they would, unless they are jealous of the knowledge and skills that geeks have. So today, if you are a geek, be proud! It’s great to be so gifted and brilliant!
Fool’s Paradise Day – is today. I have heard that phrase before but never really thought about what it meant, so I looked it up. The literal definition is: “state of delusory happiness: a state of happiness that is temporary and insubstantial because it is based on illusions or unrealistic hopes”. Well that’s a little glum isn’t it? Seems a bit of an oxymoron. How can a fool reach, or experience, Paradise? And how could any place actually BE paradise if it’s inhabited by a bunch of fools? Those are perhaps important questions, but I don’t have any answers for them. Just as I have no idea who set up this little holiday, or why. Perhaps they’d been living in their own little Fool’s Paradise and just realized it and set up this day. Whatever it really means, or however it resonates with you, celebrate it as you will . . .
Friday the 13th – This is a fairly rare occurrence – when Friday lands on the 13th. It usually only happens twice a year. If you are superstitious, then Friday the 13th is a day you might face with fear. For these people, this would be an unlucky day, a day when bad things might happen. For you – don’t walk under a ladder, or let a black cat cross your path. It could lead to something bad simply because you think it will! The number 13 has been seen as an unlucky number, but do you know why? I didn’t until I started looking into this today. Though nobody is sure HOW this was determined, in Biblical references it is believed that Cain killed Abel on Friday the 13th. Since our calendar wasn’t in existence then, this may not be entirely accurate. What we do know is that the ancient Babylonian Code of Hammurah omitted the #13 in its list of laws. Written in 1,700 B.C., it seems to suggest that ancient Babylonians thought the #13 was unlucky. Another interesting thing I read was that if you live in fear of the #13, you suffer from Triskaidekaphobia. Here is some Friday the 13th Trivia that you may find to be interesting:
Many buildings and skyscrapers do not have a 13th floor.
Many people will not allow 13 people at the table. If there is exactly 13 people present, a second table is set up.
Skippers would not go out to sea with a crew of 12. Including the captain, that made 13 people.
Ancient Mayans of Central America were the most advanced culture in all of the Americas. They considered the number 13 sacred.
Embrace this day – don’t live in fear of it – and like any other day, have fun with it!
Gruntled Workers Day – The folks at Wellcat.com came up with this one – and it makes sense. We hear all about people who are unhappy in their jobs – disgruntled workers – all the time. Today though it’s nice to focus on the people who enjoy what they do, and what is the opposite of DISgruntled? Well, Gruntled of course! Celebrate today by telling someone what a good job they are doing . . . it can be the server at lunch, the clerk at the store, anyone you feel just needs a boost for doing well at their job.
National Motorcycle Day – The motorcycle community is an interesting one – of course I’m not a motorcycle enthusiast, but my husband is, so I am speaking as an observer. It’s the same thing with groups of people who appreciate cars – they see someone’s nice bike and they gather around and admire it. There is respect for each other, both on and off the road that is pretty impressive. Of course, I have seen that the respect doesn’t always go for all in the motorcycle community. I’m not saying this to bash one group over another, but I have personally observed Harley riders giving each other their special wave on the road, while completely ignoring a wave from a non-Harley rider. I feel that is completely rude. But, I suppose there are bad apples in all groups and that COULD have been an isolated incident. This celebration is set for the 2nd Friday in July as a way to keep the Independence Day festivities going, and to honor those who have fought for the freedoms that we all enjoy. (This was my husband’s V-Strom that he put a LOT of time and money into getting just the way he wanted it – then changed jobs so his commute was a LOT shorter and it didn’t make any sense to drive it just a few miles a day. A very nice young man is now enjoying this beautiful motorcycle.)
Wayne Chicken Day – The Wayne County, Nebraska, Chamber of Commerce was looking for a fun event to hold every year that would be easy, fun, and bring in tourism. Well, chickens came to mind for the theme of their first show in 1981 because well, they had great potential for art materials, most people know chickens or at least have a bit of familiarity with them, and chickens can be considered with humor. It worked! The Wayne County Chicken Show received the 1996 Nebraska Outstanding Tourism Award and was selected, along with four other community events, to be featured in the Library of Congress. The Wayne Chicken Show and Henoween (hahahaha) involve nearly 1,000 volunteers throughout the community who donate their time, talent and financial support, helping to make this festival fun and “cheep” (oh wow, cheesy) for everyone who attends!
This Day in History –
1898 – The radio is patented by Guglielmo Marconi.
Food Celebration of the Day –
National Beans and Franks Day – For those of you who do not know this, July is National Hot Dog Month, and a natural extension of celebrating this one is Beans and Franks Day! This is a dish also known as Beanie Weenies and Pork ‘n Beans. Baked beans emerged around the time of the Civil War and was one of the very first canned convenience foods. Though nobody really knows who decided to add the franks to the beans, it was a natural addition, wasn’t it? I remember Mom making these for us when we were kids. She wasn’t a fan of hot dogs, but she knew we were, so she’d chop some up to put with our baked beans. You can make these on the stove without having to heat up the house by turning on the oven. Nice!
National Beef Tallow Day – We all use various kinds of fat for cooking. Some stick with what they are used to – vegetable oil, olive oil, etc. but with the rise in popularity of the Paleo and Keto diets have brought the forefront fats that haven’t been used often in previous years – fats like chicken, duck and beef fats, butter, coconut oil and good-old fashioned lard. Fats that are minimally processed and unrefined are better for our bodies, no matter how much the Crisco fans may say. Beef tallow and lard are made from the rendered fat that is trimmed from butchered carcasses of cows and pigs. Same with duck fat, goose fat, etc. They carry a great punch of flavor and truly are a healthier choice. The best tallow is fresh from the farm without any preservatives or hydrogenation. The rendering process slowly heats the fat in a large kettle, solids are removed, and the pure tallow is packaged. At room temperature it looks like butter or other animal fat, and when heated it looks like oil. It will keep for about 12 months in the freezer, 6-8 months in the fridge and several weeks at room temperature. I haven’t actually purchased beef tallow, though I do have a jar of duck fat in the fridge. It’s really creamy and makes great cookies! Don’t knock it until you try it!
National French Fry Day – I thought it would be interesting to see some French fry facts, so I looked them up. Interesting site! Here’s a copy and paste of the information they posted there.
• While the Belgians may or may not have invented the French fry, today, they do consume the most French fries per capita of any country in Europe.
• In most of the English-speaking world, thin cut and thick cut fries are called two different things, fries and chips, respectively. In North America, it is typical to simply call them all French fries and, when they are distinguished, it is usually just by adding an adjective, rather than using a completely different word: i.e. steak fries (chips), French fries, curly fries, etc.
• In 1802, Thomas Jefferson had the White House chef, Frenchman Honoré Julien, prepare “potatoes served in the French manner” for a dinner party. He described these as “Potatoes deep-fried while raw, in small cuttings”. This is one of the earliest references to fried potato strips being referred to as “French”.
• Steak fries, or chips, actually tend to have lower fat content than normal French fries, due to the lower surface to volume ratio.
• Popular condiments to dip French fries in varies quite a bit from country to country. In America, ketchup is typically the dip of choice for French fries. In certain parts of Europe, mayonnaise is king. The British tend to favor malt vinegar for dipping their fries. The French themselves tend to just eat the fries straight as often as not.
• Belgians, occasionally will serve French fries with egg as a topping. The raw egg is cracked over the French fries immediately after the fries have been pulled from the fryer. This tends to mostly cook the egg, but leaves the yoke somewhat runny for dipping the fries in.
• According to many of the “Belgian origin” supporters, French fries are called French fries because, during WWI, American soldiers were introduced to fries by the Belgians. At the time, the Belgian Army spoke French. The fries were called “Les frites” (which is French) by the Belgians and so the American soldiers took to calling them “French fries”. This theory is incorrect, for a couple of reasons. First, as mentioned, in the 1800s, Thomas Jefferson referred to fried potato strips as “frying potatoes in the French manor”. In addition to this, there is an American cookbook from the 1850s that specifically uses the term “French Fried Potatoes” to describe French fries; there are also numerous other references to “French Fried Potatoes” from the 1850s on, in the United States; these all obviously pre-date WWI.
• Between the 1850s and 1930s, French fries were known more illustratively as “French fried potatoes” in America. Around the 1930s, everybody dropped the “potatoes” on the end and just called them French fries.
No matter the history and details (and I’m sorry, the Belgian French fry/raw egg concoction sounds NASTY), I love French fries. I love them crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and with tartar sauce. Even better though, mix the salty with the sweet and dip them in a chocolate milkshake! Hey! Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it! Anyway, those of you who are eating low-carb these days may be sad that you aren’t able to celebrate this one, but as you can see from the picture, there are lovely alternatives! Jicama makes great fries, as do rutabagas, celeriac root and even turnips! Yum!
My day needs to get going before the heat is unbearable – so I’ll be going now. This will be posted late – I’m letting you know why you won’t see it until late – because the IT geniuses who are the brains behind the site are doing something with it behind the scenes, so it can continue not just to BE, but to get better and grow as I figure out how to make that happen. I hope your day is wonderful, that the weekend coming up will be even MORE wonderful. God bless you and I’ll see you tomorrow.