I started this on Sunday afternoon. Somehow I saved the draft, got busy and didn’t get it posted! Hubby was dozing in his chair, and the TV was muted. The windows were open and from outside a cool, pre-autumn breeze was lightly blowing in, it was raining just enough to hear it making music on the leaves, all of it singing that autumn is on the way. I am more ready for fall this year than I have been in many years. I love everything from now through the winter season. I love the crisp feeling in the air, the aroma of fall and later on, of pending snow. Everything about this season brings with it comfort and warmth. Cozy sweaters, cinnamon and pumpkin spices, steaming mugs of cocoa, wandering in pumpkin fields, taking hayrides . . . all of it just makes me feel incredibly happy. Dreams of baking tasty treats are starting to dance in my head, and with those dreams comes the conflict of keeping those treats healthy, or doing what I usually do, and throwing caution and dreams of losing weight to the winds and just diving in head-first. This year I am going to try to do a balance of both, but we’ll see how that goes. The voice that tells me to bake most often speaks more loudly, and convincingly, than the voice that cautions me not to be stupid. The evidence that this is true is the screaming noise my scale makes when I’m brave enough to step on it. Finding balance between enjoying the things I love – like baking – and living a healthy life isn’t always easy!
Monday – September 16
American Legion Day – The American Legion is an organization made up of veterans set up to support and assist veterans who were returning from WWI. Congress granted it a federal charter on this day in 1919. Since that time the American Legion has grown and supported the veterans of all wars, and veterans of peacetime as well. There are currently over 3-million-member veterans, at more than 14,000 posts worldwide. They give a social community and help to all members, which is always a valuable thing for our military members who have sacrificed so much.
Anne Dudley Bradstreet Day – So many people have not heard of this woman who is one of the most important figures in the history of American literature. She was born in 1612 and died on this day in 1672. She is considered by many to be the first American poet, and her first collection of poems, “The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in American, By a Gentlewoman of Those Parts” was the first book written by a woman to be published in the United States. Her work also was a documentation of the struggles of a Puritan wife against the hardships of New England colonial life, and in some ways is a testament to the plight of the women of that age. Her life was a constant struggle, from the difficulties adapting to a new land, and with a constant battle with illness. It is clear to see through Anne’s writing that her faith was strong, as was her love for her children and her husband, Governor Simon Bradstreet. She did most of her writing during the long, lonely times when her husband was away on political errands. Anne, who was well educated, spent much time reading to her children, and teaching them as her father had taught her when she was young. Many people view Puritan ideology in a bad light because of its attitude towards women, but its strict moral code, indifference to material wealth, emphasis on humility and spirituality, made Anne Bradstreet a positive and inspirational role model for anyone. Anne’s writing style is deceptively simple yet speaks of a woman of high intelligence and ideals, who was very much in love, and had unconditional faith. It was very difficult for women to air their views in the 17th century, but she did it with ease, her rich vocabulary and knowledge brought a lyrical, yet logical quality to her work, making it pleasant for anyone to read. Here are a few of her famous quotes:
“If we had no Winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; If we did not sometimes taste the adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”
“If ever two were one, then surely we. If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.”
“If what I do prove well, it won’t advance. They’ll say it’s stolen, or else it was by chance. “
“Let Greeks be Greeks, and women what they are.”
“Authority without wisdom is like a heavy axe without an edge, fitter to bruise than polish.”
Collect Rocks Day – Ah, collecting rocks. I think all kids, at one point or another, collect rocks. Sometimes it is because they are pretty, or a certain shape. I remember when I was growing up my Grandma K LOVED sparkly rocks. You know the ones I’m talking about probably – at first, they look like an ordinary grey rock, but as you look closer, or the sun shines a certain way, they sparkle like there are flecks of gold or silver through them. She put any and all sparkly rocks we brought to her in her garden along her paths. She often even labeled the rocks, so she knew who brought it and in which part of the country they picked it up. I remember the times my family would go to the ocean – there was one stretch of coastline that had round, smooth rocks – some of them quite large. We’d collect a few each time we went, and over the years, my Grandma lined her garden path with them, sort of like stepping-stones. These memories lead to another one of my daughter, from when she was about 5 years old. My kids were raised that when we were at Grandma K’s there were certain things that we just DID NOT do, and one of those things was to mess up the rocks in Grandma’s garden, and the other was to throw berries on the path. Grandma worked so hard and didn’t need berries to be tracked into the house on shoes. A cousin was visiting at the same time we were, and her daughter was about the same age as mine. Apparently, my cousin hadn’t raised her kids with the same rules because we heard a melee going on in the yard and raced out to see my precious little girl, all filled with righteous indignation, straddling a struggling cousin, rocks around them all askew, berries smooshed everywhere, especially on the shoes of the trapped girl. K was holding C down by the shoulders and screaming into her face, cheeks red, tears streaming from her blue eyes, “WE DON’T MESS UP MEMEMA’S GARDEN! WE DON’T SMOOSH BERRIES WITH OUR SHOES! I TOLD YOU TO STOP AND YOU WOULDN’T!” At that moment we stepped in, since I figured the next thing that would happen was that fists would start flying and to be honest, my money was on my own kid! (hahahaha!) Funny, we never saw that particular set of cousins again. Ah memories. Anyway, I still find myself finding sparkly or flat stones and thinking of my Grandma. If you find a rock that is special for whatever reason, go ahead and give in to the rock collecting moment. A nice thing to do for kids is to get books on rock collecting that have pictures in them. It can turn into quite a fun and educational hobby!
Mayflower Day – On September 16, 1620, 102 men, women and children set sail from Plymouth England. Their destination was the New World, where they could have religious freedom and continue to use their native language, culture and customs. These first immigrants paved the way for millions to follow, also in search of freedom and the dreams and promise of a New World. The sacrifices those people made, and the dream they followed was what the basis of our country was founded on – our forefathers took those dreams and created our Constitution. I realize that is a very simplistic way to look at it, and skips over a lot of important steps, but truth is, without one we wouldn’t have the other. Today it is being systematically dismantled by those who hate the very freedoms for the masses that we have learned to depend on and, sadly enough, take for granted. Standing up for those freedoms and not letting the efforts of the pilgrims be wasted, should be one of our highest priorities. Here are a few interesting key facts about the Mayflower:
* The Mayflower set sail from Plymouth England on September 16, 1620.
* The Pilgrims were headed to the settlement in Virginia. They had an agreement to settle there.
* The voyage took 66 days. They landed at Plymouth Rock on December 21, 1621.
* 102 passengers were on board. This included three pregnant women. One of these women gave birth just before landing.
* On November 21, 1620, the passengers signed the Mayflower Compact, which set forth the rules of governance of the fledgling colony.
National Stepfamily Day – Being a stepparent is difficult. For anyone marrying into a family where there are children, it’s a challenge! My hubby came into my life after my daughter was grown and on her own, and when my son was nearly 16 years old. He was faced with attitudes, mistrust, acting out and a really difficult adapting period. But adapt the kids did, and now they love him very much – and he them! My son found out on his own what some of the challenges are as he married to a wonderful woman who had a 4- year old son. We loved him right away, as if he were our own, but it is never easy to blend the families, with the different parenting styles, and all the difficulties (and rewards) that come with it. It is worth the effort for both sides to adapt and 5 years later, after watching that 4-year old boy grow into a tall 9-year old, the road, though long, was well worth the journey. Step-parents – today is for you.
Play-doh Day – Memories! Oh, my goodness, what memories. Mainly, how HORRIBLE this stuff tastes. For anyone who has ever played with Play-Doh, you know what I mean. Kids tend to lick their fingers, so they play with the Play-oh, then lick their fingers and there was always a distinctive flavor. I didn’t like it, though I knew kids who actually ate the stuff with enthusiasm. And don’t get it in your hair, or the carpet. Other than that, what a wonderful childhood play toy. Play-Doh was invented in the mid-1950s and has entertained millions of children and allowed them to express their creativity at home and in the classroom. The invention was a simple one. A school teacher wanted a safe modeling clay for her pre-school students. She asked her brother-in-law – Joseph McVicker – who worked at a chemical company, to come up with something. His results were so simple! Flour, water and food coloring! This is another easy one to celebrate – simply take out some Play-Doh and play! There are other brands of play clay on the market, but I haven’t used any that was better than Play-Doh brand. Happy National Play-Doh Day!
Stay Away from Seattle Day – This is a real celebration that was set up by a comedian from Pennsylvania who has, oddly, never ever visited Seattle – at least form what I’ve read about him as of 2011. He set it up to poke fun at politicians – I don’t know why he chose Seattle and don’t care – because it’s caught on with people who live here. We have such an influx of new residents in our area, and so many tourists, that the thought of making them stay away caught on. These days I have to say that I choose not to visit Seattle, even though it’s just a ferry ride away, because the city leaders have decided, in their typical liberal stupidity, to tax people out of the ability to do anything there, and the homeless, drug using population is now allowed to defecate and urinate wherever they please, drug using is a matter of course, with free needles being handed out like candy and heaven forbid we hurt anyone’s feelings by telling to use a dang bathroom or clean up after themselves! Stay Away from Seattle should be about protecting the innocent from the stupidity of the residents who elect the officials who say these things are OK. There are so many things wrong with Seattle that the list would be too long to post. Just save yourselves the trouble – stay home.
Working Parents Day – In this day and age most parents work. Today gives recognition to parents who work hard to provide for their families. Every day dads and moms head off to earn a living, so they can afford the extras that kids want and need. And every year this just gets more and more expensive – every little thing the schools do costs extra, they need more and more school supplies, and there are always things like school trips, proms, sports, music, dance classes and much more. Today is a great day for kids to show their parents a little appreciation. Maybe they could do an extra chore around the house, offer to help make dinner, and if they are old enough, actually make the meal! And for those stay at home moms or dads? You may work harder than ANY of the other parents, so you deserve to get in on this celebration as well.
Tuesday – September 17
Citizenship Day – Today we celebrate being a citizen of the United States of America. No matter what issues we face, no matter who is plotting and working hard to destroy her, this is still the greatest country the world has ever seen. Our great country is something every single American should be proud of. This country stands for freedom, a beacon of hope, promise and success! Today is a special day for all citizens, whether native born or citizens by choice, to be proud to be an American, and to appreciate being a citizen of this country and all of the rights and freedoms that it brings. Never take these rights, freedoms and privileges for granted, for the moment we do, is when they could be snatched out from under us. To each and every American citizen, Happy Citizenship Day!
Constitution Day – On September 17th, 1787 the Constitutional Congress held its final meeting to sign the Constitution of the United States of America. This document was painstakingly labored over to create the most perfect document in the history of our nation. After the meeting there was still so much to do! The individual states had to meet and vote on it. Considering how limited communication was in those days, it is understandable that the U.S. Constitution did not go into effect until two years later on March 4, 1789. Our forefathers are very likely rolling over in their graves these days. They worked so hard to draft a document that would protect the people from big government, putting a plan in place to check would-be dictators from taking over, or taking advantage of the people. The previous administration did so much to hurt our nation and made major inroads into destroying as much of the safeguards that our forefathers put into place as possible. They left in their wake a generation of idiot liberals who are so focused on getting free stuff that they don’t care that the price we will pay is ultimately our freedom, our way of life, our liberty and our voices. Anyone who loves our country needs to get out and vote in November. Vote for our rights, vote for our future.
Wednesday – September 18
Air Force Birthday – Today the United States Air Force (USAF) turns 72 years old! On this day in 1947, Chief Justice Fred Vinson swore in Stuart Symington as the first Secretary of the Air Force, officially founding a new branch of the United States military. The USAF’s first Chief of Staff, General Carl A. Spaatz, was sworn in eight days later. I learned today that the origins of the USAF actually lie in a decision made just four years after the Write Brothers conducted the world’s first airplane flight at Kitty hawk, North Carolina. I found this to be quite interesting! In 1907, the U.S. Army Signal Corps created an Aeronautical Division and put it in “charge of all matters pertaining to military ballooning, air machines and all kindred spirits”. As aviation technology improved, the army’s air force got bigger. It became necessary and inevitable to form an independent military arm in 1942 and grew throughout the reminder of World War II. Because of this, on July 26, 1947, President Harry Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947 on board the presidential aircraft, The Sacred Cow, and set the creation of the USAF in motion. Today, I want to wish a Happy Birthday to the United States Air Force, and a round of applause and big thank-you to all who have worn the uniform of the USAF. You are appreciated!
Chiropractic Founders Day – I worked as a Chiropractic Assistant and Chiropractic Office Manager for over 15-years and have been a patient of chiropractic since I was 13 years old. My children have been chiropractic patients since they were two weeks old, and there are not enough words, time or space to let you know how deeply I believe in the modality of chiropractic treatment in our lives to maintain healthy spines, and help our bodies heal naturally. Today we celebrate the chiropractic profession’s 124th year of service to the public. The very first adjustment is recognized each year with an annual observance to commemorate this day in 1895. Dr. D.D. Palmer administered his initial specific chiropractic adjustment on patient Harvey Lillard in Davenport, Iowa. Dr. Palmer gave the adjustment with the specific intent of realigning a malpositioned vertebra, restoring its normal position, in an attempt to restore a hearing defect. Harvey Lillard, the patient, noted that his hearing had been lost 17 years earlier, and it returned under Dr. Palmer’s care. Dr. Palmer continued to explore and evolve his clinical practice to new methods of re-placing spinal bones that were out of position and experienced positive results in patients with a variety of health concerns. His practice grew, and the profession of chiropractic was launched.
What IS chiropractic? So many people ask that because they have been told their whole lives, mostly likely from doctors practicing traditional western medicine, that chiropractors were “quack’s” or “not real doctors”. (It makes me SO angry when I hear something lacking in truth said) Chiropractic is an innovative approach to health and healing that focuses on the relationship between the structures of the human body – in particular the spine – and function coordinated by the nervous system that improves the quality of life by preserving and restoring health. It is a drugless, non-surgical science, art and philosophy that is based on the understanding that the body is a self-healing, self-regulating organism. (which is why western medicine – based on drugs and invasive surgery hates them so much, in all likelihood) Finally, in the last generation of patients or so, the world has begun to see chiropractic in a more positive light. It ISN’T a cure all for everything, and no matter how much I try to avoid western medical solutions, there is a place for them, but it IS my first treatment of choice every single time I have a health issue. Having trust in your chiropractor is of vital importance, and since there are so many different techniques practiced by different Doctors of Chiropractic, you may need to shop around before you find the one that best fits your needs. I have worked for many different doctors and have been treated by many more than that . . . and honestly there are some I wouldn’t recommend touch ANY patient, and some who make me feel like a million bucks with one adjustment. It’s all in how your system responds to their individual treatment, so just because you tried it one time 20 years ago and didn’t like it, just may mean that that particular doctor wasn’t right for you. We don’t all look good in the same style of clothing, or same hair style, so it just stands to reason that not all doctors are tailor fit to every patient. Don’t give up – great health awaits you in a natural, beautiful, drug-free way
National Ceiling Fan Day – I admit it, the first time I saw this one I laughed. This is the 6th annual National Ceiling Fan Day. From what I’ve read this celebration has been a major success and has been a collaboration with the American Lighting Association, Energy Star, Alliance to Save Energy and many other organizations. Fanimation (as apparently the organization that started it all is called) was awarded a Special Recognition Award by Energy Star for starting this day and promoting it. So, what is the purpose behind this exciting celebration? Well, to educate consumers about the benefits of using fans and how energy and money can be saved using fans year-round. Alright, all joking aside . . . hubby installed ceiling fans in the bedroom and living room a few years ago. We use them 24 hours a day and I can honestly tell you I have slept SO much better since having the air moving around and cooling me off. If you don’t have a ceiling fan, it may be a nice idea to consider getting one. They truly are very nice to have!
National Respect Day – Today we are encouraged to treat people with respect and think of ways we can be respectful of others. This could mean being attentive to our loved ones, but overall it can lead to being more polite overall. There aren’t any rules for it, it’s all pretty subjective. If you look around lately, whether it’s in person, or online – actually it’s FAR worse online – NOBODY seems to show much respect online lately. The anonymity of the internet allows people to feel safe to be as rude as they want. We aren’t shown respect by politicians, the media, or each other. Let’s try harder, shall we? All of us.
National School Backpack Awareness Day – When I first saw this one, I admit that I chuckled. Why would we need a day to be aware of school backpacks? Of course I should have learned by now that I shouldn’t laugh until I look into things further, and this one is a good example of why that would be. Each day 1000s of children across our country carry heavy loads in their school backpacks, doing damage to their muscles and spines. This day is to raise awareness to parents and educators of the effects that carrying overloaded backpacks can have on the kids. Here are some pretty compelling facts that should have everyone rethinking how the kids carry their packs, and how much they carry in them each day.
* More than 2,000 backpack-related injuries were treated at hospital emergency rooms, doctor’s offices, and clinics in 2007. * It is recommended that a loaded backpack should never weigh more than 10 percent of the student’s total body weight (for a student weighing 100 pounds, this means the backpack should weigh no more than 10 pounds). * About 55 percent of students carry a backpack heavier than the recommended guidelines. * In one study with American students ages 11 to 15 years, 64 percent reported back pain related to heavy backpacks. Twenty one percent reported the pain lasting more than six months.
The way backpacks are worn affects your health. The height of the backpack should extend from approximately two inches below the shoulder blades to waist level or slightly above the waist. It is recommended that individuals always wear the backpack on both shoulders, so the weight is evenly distributed. How many kids do we see each day that are carrying their pack from one shoulder, or WAY down their back to around their backside level? Makes my back hurt just thinking about it! Dr. Jill Gatlin, DC, of Gatlin Chiropractic and Wellness shares, “Times are changing, and we are seeing children with back and neck pain earlier and earlier. Many of them have to carry their books around with them all day at school. The trend is also for children to sling their backpacks over one shoulder. This causes disproportionate weight and can cause backaches, headaches, and even arm and hand numbness. Parents should be more aware of how heavy their child’s backpack is. Encourage your child to only carry what is necessary in their backpacks. Parents should also ask their child or children to report any pain or any other problems resulting from carrying a backpack.” Sadly, due to security issues, and overpopulation of many public schools, there either aren’t enough lockers to go around, or they aren’t allowing kids to go back and forth to their lockers between classes, so the kids have to carry the loads around all day long. Sad isn’t it? There must be an alternative solution.
Thursday – September 19
National PawPaw Day – I had no idea, until today, that there was a fruit called a PawPaw. Amazing. Apparently, it’s a long forgotten American fruit that tastes like a creamy mango-banana combo, which sounds incredible. There are over 60 different varieties of pawpaw, with each one having a lightly different flavor profile. I’d love to try some, but have no idea where to find them! I’ll have to research it!
National Teach Ag Day – This is one to be supported wholeheartedly and with great enthusiasm! National Teach Ag Day was set up as an initiative to bring the attention of students to the career of agricultural education, getting students to thinking about possibly becoming agricultural teachers, and to support current ag teachers in their careers. Every day there are thousands of agriculture teachers in our country teaching students about current issues that agriculture is dealing with. As our population increases, we have the need for more and better sustainable practices, and what better way to do that then through educating students and the public about how important agriculture is to our daily lives.
Talk Like A Pirate Day – This is a day just for fun and to let the pirate in each of us out to play. Sometimes a day just for fun is exactly what we need. Silly releases stress so let some of that go today by talking like a pirate! So, where did this silly day start? Well, John Baur and Mark Summers created the concept of International Talk Like A Pirate Day on June 6, 1995. They were playing racquetball and began to talk to each other in “pirate-speak”. After leaving the court they decided that this sort of day was just what everyone needed, so after much thought, Mark Summers picked September 19th as the date, since it was his wife’s birthday. (I have to wonder how SHE feels about sharing her day with pirate talking silly folks!) And that’s how this day was born! Arrrr!!!!
Friday – September 20
Constitution Day/Pledge Across America – I think this one is fantastic, and I wish that it were widely publicized, however with all of the liberal hate against anything patriotic, I’m not surprised that it isn’t. Today is the day in 2001 when, after 9-11, the President, US Secretary of Education and both the Senate and the House of Representatives, all joined together in a synchronized Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. I cannot locate a time that this event will happen, but I can guarantee you that I will be saying the pledge. Please join me today, regardless of whether we are actually synchronized, and say the pledge, think about the words while you say it, think about what went into that pledge, the blood, death and sacrifice so that we could be a free nation, and please, mean it in your heart. Be loyal and faithful to our nation, to the principles on which the Constitution was written, and help us all remain free. Stand up to the people who strive to make us a socialist nation and love our country with every fiber of your being.
Armed Forces Day, May 16
Memorial Day, May 25
Flag Day, June 14
Independence Day, July 4
POW/MIA Day, 3rd Friday of September
Veterans Day, Nov. 11
National Tradesmen Day – How many things can you think of that required the talents of people who work with their hands to create and keep running? Today we honor the men and women who do such work, who helped build America and keep it running strong every day. Tradesmen build our homes, schools and churches. They keep our cars running, keep the lights on and our homes warm. They fix our leaky pipes, and a myriad of other functions that are too numerous to list. America’s professional tradesmen are the backbone of our nation. I’ve often heard snooty people disparaging people who work with their hands, as if they aren’t as good or as important. I challenge any of those people to fix their own cars, plumbing or electrical systems. They’d be stuck in the dark, by the side of the road, or in a flooded kitchen. Seriously, get off your high horse and acknowledge that it’s the blue-collar folks that keep the wheels of this nation turning.
Saturday – September 21
Big Whopper Liar Day – I cannot believe I’ve never heard of this one! This sounds like so much fun and I wish that towns all across the country would do something similar! Every 3rd Saturday in September since 1988 people in New Harmony, Indiana have gathered together to celebrate the telling of tall tales, or fish tales. It was originally started by a local character by the name of Aubry Robison, Jr, and even after he passed away, the event lives on. About 15 contestants get on stage in front of a crowd of about 400 people and spin the tallest tale they can come up with. Each one gets 4 minutes and are given points for humor, exaggeration, stage presence and their ability to tell a story. Seriously, how fun is THAT? I couldn’t find any great pictures of the event, but it still sounds like fun.
Boys’ and Girls’ Club Day for Kids – How many of us have seen a group of kids hanging around together on a public corner, in a store parking lot, at the mall, doing nothing. Why? Because there’s nothing for them to do. Kids need something to keep them occupied. If they aren’t heavily into sports or other school related activities, if they don’t have a job or aren’t old enough to have one, and if their parents don’t have them busy doing something at home or with family time, these kids are at loose ends looking for something to keep them busy. Today we celebrate the invaluable Boy’s Clubs and Girl’s Clubs around the country. There are clubs all over America providing safe recreational activities for our youth. They teach values and citizenship and help to keep kids out of trouble and off of the street. These clubs and community groups are so important – more so today than ever before. With more parents working and so many families broken, or heading in different directions, these children need something to give them that sense of community that they used to get in the home, or in their churches. There are several ways to celebrate this day: Learn about your local Boy’s and Girl’s clubs, encourage your children to join them, volunteer your time, make a donation, or if there isn’t one in your area, see what you can do to start one. The kids are our future, and right now, with some of the kids I see . . . that’s a really frightening thought.
Miniature Golf Day – I love miniature golf. It’s so much fun, and it is the only kind of golf I’m any good at playing. OK, well, good is relative . . . I EVENTUALLY get that little tiny ball to its destination. It sometimes takes a while, but I have a lot of fun throughout the process. If it weren’t for wanting to get a bunch of stuff done here today, I’d ask hubby to go play a round at the little mini-golf course that’s a few miles from here. I really should check that out sometime.
National Museum Day – This is an awesome day for families everywhere! Today is the day when many museums, following the example of The Smithsonian, offer free admission for today only. It is the opportunity for folks who may not otherwise get out and explore their local museums to do so! If you’re like me, you love going to wander up and down and absorb history through the artifacts that reside in museums, or art, or anything else that is set up as exhibits. I prefer museums that show local history we have a little one in the town of Sequim that is filled with dinosaur bones and fossils that were found in our area. It’s quite fascinating! Take advantage of this wonderful celebration today!
Oktoberfest Begins in Germany – Did it ever strike anyone funny that Okoberfest starts in September? It always did me, but now we can all know! The date for Oktoberfest vary, depending on the year. This year it starts today and runs through October 8th. So, what is Oktoberfest? Well, we all pretty much know that it’s a time to enjoy great beer and way too much food, but beyond that, what does it all mean? Well, it’s a two-week festival that is held in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It’s a HUGE deal in Germany especially, but there are Oktoberfest celebrations held all over the world, so if you don’t happen to be heading to Germany for the real deal, you can still celebrate close to home. Now we know that it’s a festival and where it’s held, but we really don’t know what it’s all about . . . that’s where quick search came in handy. The very first Oktoberfest was on October 12, 1810, and was held to commemorate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig (King Ludwig 1) to Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The wedding took place on October 12, and a great horse race, in celebration of the marriage, was held a few days later, on October 17th. The marriage was celebrated annually, and it came to be known as Oktoberfest. Early on, the Oktoberfest celebrations were held in October, but the festival was eventually moved to September because the weather was better earlier in the fall. Though it has been celebrated annually since 1810, there have been a few cancellations over the years, sometimes because of wars, and once because of major cholera outbreak in 1854 in the region. Today though, it is a time to eat, drink and be merry. Each year when Oktoberfest is opened, the mayor of Munich taps a keg of beer. There is even a special brew made that is aptly called “Oktoberfest Beer”. It’s more than just celebrating beer though – there is always lots of food, music, dancing, rides and carnival booths, all celebrating the rich heritage of the German people.
Sunday – September 22
American Businesswomen’s Day – Today the value and contribution of women in the business world is recognized. This day goes all the way back to the late 1940s. While men were off fighting WWII, women had to fill the void in the workforce. When the soldiers returned, they found that the women were eager to have them home again, but not so eager to go back to their traditional roles in the home. In the years since then, the contribution of women in the work force has grown and evolved. Ladies, whether you work outside the home, or have decided to be a stay at home mom, your efforts are appreciated, valuable and absolutely necessary. Happy Businesswomen’s Day!
Dear Diary Day – Writing down your thoughts is very therapeutic. Whether you are writing down your thoughts and feelings, listing your food for diet purposes, keeping track of events in your life, or blogging about vacations you’ve taken, it’s always good to put those memories somewhere so you don’t forget them. You may THINK you’ll never forget, but over time some of the details get lost. If you’ve never kept a diary, maybe today would be a good time to start! Better late than never!
Elephant Appreciation Day – Elephants are fascinating. Whether they are in a zoo, the circus, a wildlife special on TV, or in the actual wild they captivate our attention. Their sheer size, their intelligence and their lumbering beauty fills us with wonder as we watch them go about their business. Today you can show your appreciation for elephants by visiting the local zoo, making a donation towards their support, or contributing to an elephant conservation effort. They are still, sadly and horrifically enough, slaughtered for their ivory and this needs to stop! Did you know that elephants LOVE pumpkin? Of course, that makes sense, since pumpkins are delicious! Here is a video I found at an elephant sanctuary that is pretty cute – a load of pumpkins is dropped off for the elephants. They sure do get a kick out of the special treat!
National Centenarian’s Day – Do you know anyone who has reached 100 years old? Anyone getting close? People who reach the century mark have seen remarkable achievements throughout their lives and have seen such change! Some good, some not so good, but still major changes. Though this holiday isn’t as well-known as other holidays, it is becoming more recognized. As our population has grown, so has the number of centenarians. In June 2008 the US Census Bureau estimates that there are about 95,000 centenarians, with the number steadily increasing. To put into perspective some of the changes they have seen . . . they were born when Teddy Roosevelt was president, a gallon of milk was 32 cents, bread was a nickel per loaf, and the cost of a postage stamp was 2 cents. Wow
Food Celebration of the Day –
Monday – September 16
Halfway to Saint Patrick’s Day – (have some Irish whiskey or Irish coffee) – It is 6 months until St Patrick’s Day! Celebrating with some Irish Whiskey or Irish Coffee will just about hit the spot, don’t you think??? Cheers!
National Cinnamon Raisin Bread Day – This is one of the most requested breads all across the country, and it makes sense! The spicy sweet bread brings back such happy memories. Once in awhile Mom would bring home a loaf and toast it for us for breakfast. The aroma and flavor of this delicious bread still makes my mouth water and my tummy grown in anticipation.
National Guacamole Day – Traditional guacamole contains onion, chile peppers, cilantro, tomato and avocado, but why stop there? There are so many wonderful variations of this delicious condiment that you can go a little crazy and try it all sorts of ways. Maybe I need to make some with bacon in it! YUM!
Tuesday – September 17
National Apple Dumpling Day – Mix together one-part nostalgia, one-part pastry dough and one-part apple, and you have a sweet treat that will bring you back to the olden days. You too can become a member of the Apple Dumpling Gang and celebrate this tasty fall treat today! Do you remember that old movie “The Apple Dumpling Gang” with Tim Conway and Don Knotts? Such a funny movie!!! Ah memories.
National Monte Cristo Day – This sandwich sounds intriguing to me. It takes the Club Sandwich and combines it with French Toast, creating something that must be amazing. From what I’ve read, on a particularly foggy day in the Bay area of Southern California, there was a cook who decided to find a way to bring some happiness to people who were crowded inside during the fog. After some pondering he came from the kitchen, bearing a plate of deliciousness that was steaming hot, golden brown and dusted with powdered sugar and maple syrup. Behold, the Monte Cristo Sandwich. So, what is it exactly? Well, it’s a club sandwich dipped in French toast batter, and fried, then topped with powdered sugar and syrup. It sounds rich and delicious, right? Mmmm . . . Someday I will have to try one of these, just to say I have, if for no other reason.
Wednesday – September 18
National Cheeseburger Day – Is there anything more comforting and satisfying than a big, juicy hamburger? Add cheese and YUM! You’re set for a lovely splurge that is sure to make your tummy AND your taste buds happy. Today we celebrate cheeseburgers in all of their delicious glory (sorry vegetarians – you’ll have to just sit this one out). You can celebrate this one by firing up the grill and cooking cheeseburgers, they can be for lunch or dinner, or both! Any kind of cheese works, so if you’re stuck with just cheddar or American, try a new kind of cheese to jazz your burgers up. I LOVE blue cheese on mine, it adds a lovely bite to the smoky meat. If you want to go low carb, ditch the bun. Nothing says you have to have bread with your burger. Here’s something interesting: In 2011, the world’s largest cheeseburger was created at a county fair. The record-busting burger weighed 777 pounds, including 50 pounds of cheddar cheese. That’s a LOT of burger!!! After reading ahead yesterday to what today’s food celebration was, since I was at the grocery store anyway, I picked up a few things at the store, so we could celebrate this one. It will be bun-free, but we have the beef, cheese, pickles, tomatoes and best of all BACON! Yum!
Thursday – September 19
National Butterscotch Pudding Day – Butterscotch pudding may not be as popular as vanilla or chocolate, but it certain is good. If you like butterscotch, then maybe the thought already has your mouth watering! Like all food related special days, it is easy to participate and gives us good reason to enjoy a tasty dessert. A funny story about Butterscotch pudding . . . years ago when my daughter was about 14 or so, she reached into the cupboard to make some vanilla pudding for her little brother, but when she opened the package, the contents didn’t match the box and she’d gotten butterscotch instead of vanilla. Neither of my kids were overly enthusiastic about butterscotch, so she decided to let the company know how unhappy she was with the problem of the mismatched package, thinking maybe they’d send a couple of coupons for free pudding. That is not what she received though! She got $100! Yep, they sent her a check for $100 and a whole handful of free coupons. Wow! I never want to endorse complaining for the sake of complaining, but this company took care of the problem and kept a loyal customer.
Friday – September 20
National Pepperoni Pizza Day – Did you know that pepperoni pizza is the national favorite? Yep. it’s #1! Almost everyone loves pizza because it’s delicious, but it also travels well, can be made at home, or even delivered to your house if you live within a delivery area of a local pizza place. It can be eaten for breakfast, often cold, lunch, dinner or a snack. As a matter of fact, hubby has mini-pepperoni pizzas in his lunch! You can easily make them fairly low carb by using Mission 3 net carb tortillas, the top them up like they were a traditional pizza crust. Yum! You can put all sorts of meats, vegetables, fruits, and even fish… Anchovies… on your pizza. But, today, is reserved for a pepperoni pizza, the most popular variety. Here is some interesting trivia on the ever-popular pizza:
- Pepperoni is the most popular, preferred by 36% of the people.
- Over 3 Billion pizzas are sold in the U.S. each year.
- More pizzas are sold on Super Bowl Sunday, than any other day of the year.
- Halloween is the second most popular day for eating pizzas.
- Over 17% of restaurants are pizzerias or serve pizza.
- The first pizza was sold in Naples Italy in 1738.
- Pizzas most likely evolved as a variation of flatbreads.
- Americans consume over 23 pounds of pizza per year.
National Rum Punch Day – I haven’t tried any of these recipes, but they certainly sound yummy! Nothing starts a party going like a punch bowl, so fill it up with one of these yummy combinations. Please make sure that nobody drinks and drives though! Be a responsible host always!
- Bahamas Rum Punch
- Rum Punch Painkiller & Banana Bender
- Planter’s Punch
- Tropical Rum Punch
- Barbadian Rum Punch
- Belize Rum Punch
Here are today’s five thing to know about Rum:
- Rum was manufactured, distilled, and made long before any other spirit. Its history is a vast one filled with stories, and fables. It was the first branded spirit made.
- Rations of rum were given to sailors in the British Army to be mixed with lime juice because it fought off the scurvy.
- When wealthy titles were given to parsons, they were thanked with a glass of rum.
- In Australia, the rum hospital can recognize rum as it as its chief contributor of revenues that were generated via the rum exports they were known for.
- Triangular trade was introduced as slaves were traded for rum, sugars, and other items that were all carrying missionaries- this was known as ‘rum and bible.’
National String Cheese Day – String cheese is more than just food. It is fun! Some folks call it String Cheese, others Snack Cheese (though I’ve never heard this), and some call them Cheese Sticks. It doesn’t matter what you call them, they are delicious. These are easy to pack into lunches, for picnics or to take on hikes. Kids love them, but so do adults. I know we usually have a bag of them in the fridge to take along to work for an afternoon protein snack to get us through the rest of the day. These are usually made with mozzarella, but there are other cheese flavors formed into sticks and packaged in easy-to-open wrappers. I recently found a recipe for a delicious low-carb appetizer that some folks might not truly appreciate until they’ve tried it. it’s very simple – you unwrap some string cheese, dip them in egg wash, then roll them in ground up pork rinds (I’ve not always been a fan of pork rinds, but they make a great substitute for breadcrumbs.), then deep fry them! Once they are cool enough to eat, dip them in marinara and enjoy!
Saturday – September 21
National Pecan Cookie Day – When I was little, we didn’t buy many store-bought cookies. Most of the time when Mom made homemade cookies, they were chocolate chip, peanut butter or sugar cookies. At Grandma’s house we would get her homemade applesauce cookies or her amazing oatmeal cookies. I know that sounds like we were spoiled for wonderful home baked treats, but I remember sometimes Mom would buy a package of either ginger snaps or pecan sandies for my Dad. They were for his lunch, so we weren’t allowed to dip into the package without permission, but when Mom would open them up, she’d hand us one with our milk. I’d nibble little bits off of the edges very slowly, and the butter nutty deliciousness would just melt in my mouth. I’ve always loved them, though oddly enough I don’t actually buy any for myself now that I’m a grown-up. What I DO do though, is annually bake Mexican Wedding Cakes at Christmas for my Mom, and I end up doing a double batch because I love them too. There’s still that buttery, melt in your mouth deliciousness, combined with the sweet messiness of powdered sugar. It’s nearly that time of year again, when the cookie planning must begin, and those are usually on the very top of my list.
Sunday – September 22
National Ice Cream Cone Day – On September 22, 1903, 110 years ago today, Italo Marchiony of New York filed a patent application for what he called a “molding apparatus for forming ice cream cups”, which were the forerunners to the ice cream cone. Some people credit an ice cream cone vendor at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair with inventing the cone, it was Marchiony who actually filed the first patent. By 1924, Americans were eating 245 million ice cream cones per year, and now? it’s well over a billion cones each year! It’s not just people who love ice cream cones – cats, dogs and zoo animals do too! Yum!
National White Chocolate Day – Some people think that white chocolate isn’t really chocolate, but it IS made from the cocoa plant, it’s just processed differently than milk and dark chocolates. A lot of people don’t really like white chocolate, but it could possibly be that they haven’t really had a GOOD piece of white chocolate from a top chocolatier. Before 2002 the USDA’s standards of identity declared that white chocolate wasn’t even chocolate because it didn’t contain cocoa solids. If it did, then it wouldn’t be white. Well, today white chocolate that contains at least 20% cocoa butter can hold its head high – because it is officially chocolate.
Well, I hope you all believe in the adage “better late than never”, since it is already Wednesday and I’m just now finishing this. I tend to procrastinate starting on these until Sunday afternoon and sometimes there are so many that it takes a really long time! Have a great rest of your week! God bless you and I’ll see you on Monday.
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Celebration list sources:
www.verseoftheday.com www.brownielocks.com www.holidayinsights.com www.thenibble.com www.foodimentary.com