Good 37º super foggy morning....
And fog as well in Grants Pass......
Yesterday, like previous days, we stayed foggy all day. We warmed to a whopping 44º.
About 1pm, just after it started raining, the two techs, Cameron and his partner, from the phone company showed up to fix the droning sound in my phone. Working in the rain, at a temp of 44º, is not fun!!! Since then we have gotten 1/2" of rain.
Dude greeted both the guys, then Bruiser did a "cat scan" on the one truck....
Cameron went down to the other pole and checked it out.
He said a couple wires was down and in a tangle with berry bushes. It looked like they have been that way for a year or so. They said it wasn't something they could do, so they said their contractor would be able to fix it and Cameron will come here with them today.
Picture of the Day....
'Flight of the eagle' in a tunnel in Spain...
Washington State Odd City Names:
Toppenish
In a toppen manner? Like or similar to a toppen?
No, silly. It’s from the Sahaptin tẋápniš, meaning “protruded,” or “stuck out.” And that was from a landslide that happened along the river here. So obvious!
This major metropolis of 9,000 is just southeast of Yakima. It’s famous for its murals, a railroad museum, a Yakima Indian casino, fruit, and the American Hop Museum.
In a toppen manner? Like or similar to a toppen?
No, silly. It’s from the Sahaptin tẋápniš, meaning “protruded,” or “stuck out.” And that was from a landslide that happened along the river here. So obvious!
This major metropolis of 9,000 is just southeast of Yakima. It’s famous for its murals, a railroad museum, a Yakima Indian casino, fruit, and the American Hop Museum.
Skamania
What fans of certain Jamaican music suffer from?
Nah, it just means “swift waters” in the local Indian language. That’s a pretty apt description, by the way, as the town is located along some former rapids on the Columbia River.
Skamania’s the name of the county too. It looks like a beautiful area. It’s 90% forested and includes Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, parts of the Columbia River Gorge, and Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
By the way, it’s pronounced skuh-MANH-ee-uh.
What fans of certain Jamaican music suffer from?
Nah, it just means “swift waters” in the local Indian language. That’s a pretty apt description, by the way, as the town is located along some former rapids on the Columbia River.
Skamania’s the name of the county too. It looks like a beautiful area. It’s 90% forested and includes Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, parts of the Columbia River Gorge, and Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
By the way, it’s pronounced skuh-MANH-ee-uh.
Washougal
Early settler Archibald MacDougal wanted to honor both the father of his country and himself …
Well, actually, that’s not totally correct. The name’s from the Chinook, and means "rushing water," or perhaps "small rocks and pebbles," or possibly even "land of plenty.” Sheesh! What is it already? Make up your minds!
Washougal, like Skamania, is right on the Columbia River. It’s got a lot more people though, coming in at 14,000. It’s also a lot closer to Portland.
It was once known as the “prune capital of the world.”
Early settler Archibald MacDougal wanted to honor both the father of his country and himself …
Well, actually, that’s not totally correct. The name’s from the Chinook, and means "rushing water," or perhaps "small rocks and pebbles," or possibly even "land of plenty.” Sheesh! What is it already? Make up your minds!
Washougal, like Skamania, is right on the Columbia River. It’s got a lot more people though, coming in at 14,000. It’s also a lot closer to Portland.
It was once known as the “prune capital of the world.”
Sedro-Wooley
Alone, they’re a little odd. Probably not Honorable Mention odd … But put ‘em together, and it’s a whole new ballgame!
Yup, Sedro-Wooley did indeed start out as two towns. Sedro is actually from cedro, the Spanish word for cedar. (It was originally called Bug, from the many mosquitoes here.) Wooley is from railroad honcho Phillip A. Wooley.
Today, S-W is a metropolis of 10,000. It’s located in the wonderfully named Skagit County, about an hour north of Seattle, and about halfway to Vancouver.
Historically, it’s known for Tusko, the circus elephant, who escaped here and laid waste to the town before being recaptured. In more modern times, S-W is known for the Loggerodeo, which features a carnival, foot-race, log drive, old-time logging show, championship rodeo, various parades, and an invitation-only chainsaw log carving competition
Nooksack
A sack for your nook?
Actually, no. This one is from a tribe, but also a river. It means “always bracken fern roots.” Now, that doesn’t exactly make a whole lot of sense, but I did find it on this pretty reliable-looking site, so …
This town of 1,300 is not too far from Vancouver (Canada, not Oregon), and actually calls itself a “bedroom community.” It’s in the interestingly named Whatcom County. Hmm, couldn’t find much else out there that’s about the town, and not the tribe …
A sack for your nook?
Actually, no. This one is from a tribe, but also a river. It means “always bracken fern roots.” Now, that doesn’t exactly make a whole lot of sense, but I did find it on this pretty reliable-looking site, so …
This town of 1,300 is not too far from Vancouver (Canada, not Oregon), and actually calls itself a “bedroom community.” It’s in the interestingly named Whatcom County. Hmm, couldn’t find much else out there that’s about the town, and not the tribe …
Walla Walla
This one’s here purely on repetition alone. By itself, Walla wouldn’t even make it in this post. Add another Walla though – pure poetry!
What’s it mean? Well, walla is Sanhaptin for “water,” so walla walla of course means lots of water. Seriously. BTW, it was originally named Steptoeville.
WW is home to 30,000, three colleges, and the Washington State Penitentiary. Despite that last item, it was named USA Today’s 2011 “friendliest small town in the US.” Indeed, WW’s motto is “The City So Nice, They Named It Twice” (whuh???). It’s also got a couple of interesting famous sons, including:
This one’s here purely on repetition alone. By itself, Walla wouldn’t even make it in this post. Add another Walla though – pure poetry!
What’s it mean? Well, walla is Sanhaptin for “water,” so walla walla of course means lots of water. Seriously. BTW, it was originally named Steptoeville.
WW is home to 30,000, three colleges, and the Washington State Penitentiary. Despite that last item, it was named USA Today’s 2011 “friendliest small town in the US.” Indeed, WW’s motto is “The City So Nice, They Named It Twice” (whuh???). It’s also got a couple of interesting famous sons, including:
- Former NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe
- Former batman Adam West
- Softball god Eddie Feigner
- Supreme Court justice William O. Douglas
Puyallup / Tulalip
Do a coupla puyallups. They’s a-good for your musucules.
So, the first one actually means “generous people,” and is – of course – from an Indian tribe. P-town has 37,000 people and is just east of Tacoma. They’ve got their share of “famous” sons and daughters as well, including Nathan Chapman, Harriet A. Hall, Kelly Sullivan, Chester Victor Clifton Jr., Natasha Curry, Nick Harmer, Brock Huard, Damon Huard, and Brandon Gibson (Whuh??? Who???).
Tulalip? Another tribe. The name is from a Salish word for "small-mouthed bay" or “purse-shaped bay.” We’re talking about 1,500 people, pretty close to Seattle. Big time casino.
Do a coupla puyallups. They’s a-good for your musucules.
So, the first one actually means “generous people,” and is – of course – from an Indian tribe. P-town has 37,000 people and is just east of Tacoma. They’ve got their share of “famous” sons and daughters as well, including Nathan Chapman, Harriet A. Hall, Kelly Sullivan, Chester Victor Clifton Jr., Natasha Curry, Nick Harmer, Brock Huard, Damon Huard, and Brandon Gibson (Whuh??? Who???).
Tulalip? Another tribe. The name is from a Salish word for "small-mouthed bay" or “purse-shaped bay.” We’re talking about 1,500 people, pretty close to Seattle. Big time casino.
Tumtum / Tumwater
Got an ache in your tum tum? Try some tum water!
Tumtum is from a Chinook word meaning “heart/soul.” I’m sure there’s a good story behind this one. I just don’t know what it is. The town is in the far east, near Spokane. It looks like a couple of dozen houses along the Corkscrew Highway and Long Lake.
Tumwater was originally Tumtum Chuck. And that’s Chinook for “waterfall” (literally, “heartbeat water.”). It’s on other side of the state, not too far from Olympia, the capital. It’s got a whopping 17,000 people, is the oldest permanent settlement on Puget Sound, and was the former home of Olympia beer.
Got an ache in your tum tum? Try some tum water!
Tumtum is from a Chinook word meaning “heart/soul.” I’m sure there’s a good story behind this one. I just don’t know what it is. The town is in the far east, near Spokane. It looks like a couple of dozen houses along the Corkscrew Highway and Long Lake.
Tumwater was originally Tumtum Chuck. And that’s Chinook for “waterfall” (literally, “heartbeat water.”). It’s on other side of the state, not too far from Olympia, the capital. It’s got a whopping 17,000 people, is the oldest permanent settlement on Puget Sound, and was the former home of Olympia beer.
Snoqualmie / Snohomish / Skyhomish / Suquamish
And I’m sure there’s also a Skyqualmie, and a Suqaulmishie, and a Skyhomiequalmish, and a …
Snoqualmie is from the Lushootseed s•dukwalbixw, which means "ferocious people.” It’s got 11,000 of these ferocious types and is just east of Seattle.
Snohomish is a town of 9,000 in the same general area. It’s from the name of another tribe, the sdoh-doh-hohbsh. The meaning of that is “disputed,” but I figure it’s got to have “people” or “ferocious” in it, right? Baseball Hall of Famer Earl Averill is from here.
Skyhomish is not too far away from the first two, but only has a population of about 200. The Skyhomish are yet another tribe, with their name meaning “inland people.” Huh! There goes my theory about Snohomish.
Suquamish? Another tribe. It’s actually the tribe of Chief Seattle, who is buried here. The name? It means “place of clear water.” The town? 4000 people, on the other side of Puget Sound from Seattle, on the wonderfully named Kitsap Penisula.
And I’m sure there’s also a Skyqualmie, and a Suqaulmishie, and a Skyhomiequalmish, and a …
Snoqualmie is from the Lushootseed s•dukwalbixw, which means "ferocious people.” It’s got 11,000 of these ferocious types and is just east of Seattle.
Snohomish is a town of 9,000 in the same general area. It’s from the name of another tribe, the sdoh-doh-hohbsh. The meaning of that is “disputed,” but I figure it’s got to have “people” or “ferocious” in it, right? Baseball Hall of Famer Earl Averill is from here.
Skyhomish is not too far away from the first two, but only has a population of about 200. The Skyhomish are yet another tribe, with their name meaning “inland people.” Huh! There goes my theory about Snohomish.
Suquamish? Another tribe. It’s actually the tribe of Chief Seattle, who is buried here. The name? It means “place of clear water.” The town? 4000 people, on the other side of Puget Sound from Seattle, on the wonderfully named Kitsap Penisula.
Twisp / Pysht / Queets / Gleed
Just try one of these in your next Scrabble game. Say it’s something like an Anglo-Saxon unit of measurement, or a plant that grows only in Iceland, or an old Scottish pastime played with sheep testicles.
Twisp probably means “wasp,” or “yellowjacket.” It’s got about 900 and is the north central part of the state, in a valley in the middle of the Northern Cascades. There’s also a Twisp River. They’re both in the wonderfully named Okanogan County.
Pysht is also the name of a river. This one means “against the wind” or “against the current.” Pysht is on the very northern part of the Olympic Penisula, just a little ways from the Strait. Pysht is a “near-ghost,” with just a handful of houses left.
Queets is another small town named after a river. It’s got almost 200 people, almost all of them Native American. “Queets” supposedly means “dirt,” and refers to a local Native American origin myth. It’s on the coast, about halfway between Cape Flattery (the tip of the Olympic Peninsula) and Grays Harbor.
Oddly, there is no river Gleed. It’s probably someone’s last name. And that name appears to mean “kite” – “probably applied with reference to the bird’s rapacious qualities.” It’s got 3,000 people, and is in the center of the state, just northwest of Yakima.
Just try one of these in your next Scrabble game. Say it’s something like an Anglo-Saxon unit of measurement, or a plant that grows only in Iceland, or an old Scottish pastime played with sheep testicles.
Twisp probably means “wasp,” or “yellowjacket.” It’s got about 900 and is the north central part of the state, in a valley in the middle of the Northern Cascades. There’s also a Twisp River. They’re both in the wonderfully named Okanogan County.
Pysht is also the name of a river. This one means “against the wind” or “against the current.” Pysht is on the very northern part of the Olympic Penisula, just a little ways from the Strait. Pysht is a “near-ghost,” with just a handful of houses left.
Queets is another small town named after a river. It’s got almost 200 people, almost all of them Native American. “Queets” supposedly means “dirt,” and refers to a local Native American origin myth. It’s on the coast, about halfway between Cape Flattery (the tip of the Olympic Peninsula) and Grays Harbor.
Oddly, there is no river Gleed. It’s probably someone’s last name. And that name appears to mean “kite” – “probably applied with reference to the bird’s rapacious qualities.” It’s got 3,000 people, and is in the center of the state, just northwest of Yakima.
Honorable Mention:
- B-o-r-i-n-g – Valley
- Short & sweet – Paha, Oso, Omak, Yelm, Yale, Ruff, Sauk, Usk
- Just a little out of place – Vancouver, South Bend, Toledo, Rochester, Normandy, Orient
- Just plain weird – White Swan, White Center, Sunnyside, Sunset, San de Fuca, Soap Lake, Oysterville, Ritzville, Royal Camp, Paradise Inn, Pataha City, Navy Yard City, Tokeland
A 30 minute one pot meal. Awesome!
Ravioli and Sausage Skillet
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
16-oz bulk hot Italian sausage (chicken, turkey or pork)
1 (14.5 ounce) can fire roasted diced tomatoes
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups water
16 ounces shredded Italian cheese blend, divided
25-oz frozen mini round cheese ravioli
4-oz Parmesan cheese, grated
6 basil leaves, chopped
- Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage to skillet. Stir occasionally until cooked through.
- Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, garlic and onion powders, salt and pepper. Mix to combine. Add water and ravioli. Stir and cover. Cook 10 minutes or until ravioli is tender, stirring occasionally.
- Preheat oven to broil.
- Add 4 ounces of Italian cheese blend to skillet and gently fold in to combine. Sprinkle the remaining 12 ounces over the top of the skillet.
- Broil in oven for 2-4 minutes until the top is bubbly and golden brown. Watch carefully cheese can turn crispy in a blink.
- Remove from oven with oven mitts!! Sprinkle fresh grated Parmesan cheese over top, garnish with fresh basil, serve and enjoy.
Special birthday today, George Collins (LASD ret) is celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE!!! ♥
^with his Connie who passed away this year. She's up there George, wishing you a great day!
Another special birthday.... Shelly Broadman, husband of the infamous JCRW past President Ruth. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHELLY!
Historically this date...........
1787 – Pennsylvania becomes the second state to ratify the United States Constitution, five days after Delaware became the first.
1901 – Guglielmo Marconi receives the first transatlantic radio signal (the letter "S" [***] in Morse Code), at Signal Hill in St John's, Newfoundland.
1917 – In Nebraska, Father Edward J. Flanagan founds Boys Town as a farm village for wayward boys.
1941 – World War II: The United Kingdom declares war on Bulgaria. Hungary and Romania declare war on the United States. India declares war on Japan.
1941 – Adolf Hitler declares the imminent extermination of the Jews at a meeting in the Reich Chancellery
1942 – World War II: German troops begin Operation Winter Storm, an attempt to relieve encircled Axis forces during the Battle of Stalingrad.
1946 – A fire at an ice plant in Hudson Heights, Manhattan spreads to an adjacent tenement, killing 37 people.
1985 – Arrow Air Flight 1285, a McDonnell Douglas DC-8, crashes after takeoff in Gander, Newfoundland, killing all 256 people on board, including 236 members of the United States Army's 101st Airborne Division.
2000 – The United States Supreme Court releases its decision in Bush v. Gore.
2012 – North Korea successfully launches its first satellite, Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2, using an Unha-3 carrier rocket.
2015 – Paris Agreement relating to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is adopted.
2017 – Doug Jones wins the 2017 US Senate special election in Alabama, becoming the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in Alabama since 1992.
Births this date include.....
1881 – Harry Warner, Polish-American businessman, co-founded Warner Bros (d. 1958)
1893 – Edward G. Robinson, American actor (d. 1973)
1900 – Sammy Davis, Sr., American actor and dancer (d. 1988)
1915 – Frank Sinatra, American singer, actor, and producer (d. 1998)
1923 – Bob Barker, American game show host and producer
1938 – Connie Francis, American singer and actress
1940 – Dionne Warwick, American singer and television personality
1952 – Cathy Rigby, American gymnast
Later dinner was Schwans Chicken Florentine... OHHHHH SO GOOD!
Our chicken Florentine skillet meal features farfalle pasta with white-meat chicken and spinach in an aged Parmesan and Romano cream sauce. No artificial flavors or colors. No preservatives. Made with 100% real cheese.
Such easy prep:
Stove top:
- Prepare from frozen state.
- 1. Preheat large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
- 2. Pour contents of bag into skillet and cover.
- 3. Cook for 13 - 14 minutes. Stir frequently.
- 4. Let stand 1 minute.
All I know. Nuff said. Happy Hump Day. Ciao.
xo Sue Mom Bobo
Gingerbread House Day is observed annually on December 12.
A favorite food of an Armenian monk, Gregory of Nicopolis, brought gingerbread to Europe around 992 AD and taught French Christians to bake it. Gingerbread was often used in religious ceremonies and was baked to be sturdy as it was often molded into images of saints.
We can thank the Brothers’ Grimm for the idea of a gingerbread house through their tale of Hansel and Gretel. It didn’t take long for the German gingerbread guilds to pick up the idea and put it to a more festive use making snowy cottages made from the spicy-sweet treat.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Gather the family together, bake up some gingerbread and start building and decorating your very own gingerbread house. Give the recipe below a try.
