Sunny/Temperature ~ Picture of the Day ~ Redheads ~ Mr. Food's Favorite Casserole ~ Edda Gahm ~ Breakfast ~ National Trail Mix Day

 

Good 51º clear sky morning. 

 

We stayed cloudy for a bit yesterday then it cleared up and was beautiful.  We topped at 97º. 

 

 

Picture of the Day ... father and son 1940 and then in 2009...

 

 

 

Interesting about redheads.....

 

Red hair (or ginger hair) occurs naturally in one to two percent of the human population, appearing with greater frequency (two to six percent) among people of Northern or Northwestern European ancestry and lesser frequency in other populations. 

Red hair varies in hue from a deep burgundy or bright copper, or auburn, to burnt orange or red-orange to strawberry blond. Characterized by high levels of the reddish pigment pheomelanin and relatively low levels of the dark pigment eumelanin, it is associated with fair skin color, lighter eye color, freckles, and sensitivity to ultraviolet light.

Cultural reactions to red hair have varied from ridicule to admiration with many common stereotypes in existence regarding redheads. The term redhead has been in use since at least 1510.

Red hair is most commonly found at the northern and western fringes of Europe; it is centered around populations in the British Isles. Redheads today are commonly associated with the Celtic nations.

In Ireland, the percentage of population with red hair is estimated to be at around 10%, making it the world's highest concentrated population of red heads. According to Ireland's DNA, 34.7% of the Irish population carry the allele for red hair, although this doesn't directly translate proportionally into births of red-haired children.

Scotland also has a high percentage with around 6% of the population having red hair, with Edinburgh being the redhead capital of the world. The most redheaded region is the south-east of Scotland with Edinburgh as a red head hot spot. There, four-in-10 carry one of the three most common red hair genes. Scotland as whole has a higher percentage than Ireland, 36.5 per cent as against 34.7 according to a survey taken by Britain's DNA.

England has a red hair prevalence of around 4%, with 28.5% of population having the allele; while in Wales 38% of Welsh people carry the red-haired allele. A 1956 study of hair color among British Army recruits from Great Britain found higher levels of red hair in Wales and the Scottish border counties of England.

Red hair is the rarest natural hair color in humans. The non-tanning skin associated with red hair may have been advantageous in far-northern climates where sunlight is scarce.

Melanin in the skin aids UV tolerance through suntanning, but fair-skinned persons lack the levels of melanin needed to prevent UV-induced DNA-damage. Studies have shown that red hair alleles in MC1R increase freckling and decrease tanning ability. It has been found that Europeans who are heterozygous for red hair exhibit increased sensitivity to UV radiation.

Red hair and its relationship to UV sensitivity are of interest to many melanoma researchers. Sunshine can both be good and bad for a person's health and the different alleles on MC1R represent these adaptations. It also has been shown that individuals with pale skin are highly susceptible to a variety of skin cancers such as melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.

A common belief about redheads is that they have fiery tempers and sharp tongues. In Anne of Green Gables, a character says of Anne Shirley, the redheaded heroine, that "her temper matches her hair", while in The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield remarks that "People with red hair are supposed to get mad very easily, but Allie [his dead brother] never did, and he had very red hair."

** My mother was Scottish and had strawberry blonde hair. I have a nephew with red hair and my son Brian was born with red hair...

 

 

 

From Mr. Food...

There's nothing homier or more welcoming than a hearty casserole at the end of a busy day. My Family's Favorite Casserole is a different one that's even better the day after, if there's any left!

 

• 3/4 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup sliced celery (about 2 stalks)
• 1/2 cup diced onion (about 1/2 of a small onion)
• 1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, broken up (undrained)
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 350º. 
    
2. In a medium pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta just until tender; drain. 
    
3. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, brown beef over medium-high heat; drain off excess liquid. 
    
4. Combine all ingredients in a 2-quart casserole dish and bake, covered, for 30 minutes. 
    
5. Uncover and bake 30 additional minutes, or until top is light golden and crunchy.
   
   

 

 

 

 

Special friend's birthday today... Edda Gahm is celebrating her 81st! HAPPY BIRTHDAY EDDA!!! xo

 

 

Historically this date...

1997 – Diana, Princess of Wales, her companion Dodi Al-Fayed and driver Henri Paul die in a car crash in Paris.

2006 – Stolen on August 22, 2004, Edvard Munch's famous painting The Scream is recovered in a raid by Norwegian police.

 

And births this date include....

1903 – Arthur Godfrey, American radio and television host (d. 1983)

 

1924 – Buddy Hackett, American actor and comedian (d. 2003)

1928 – James Coburn, American actor (d. 2002)

1945 – Itzhak Perlman, Israeli violinist

............ amazing talent!

1949 – Richard Gere, American actor

    .... too weird for my taste! But of course... his middle name is Tiffany!!! Read about his personal life and activism ... interesting!

 

Breakfast.... two eggs cooked and topped with shredded mozzarella, banana, watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, and pineapple.

PERFECT!!

 

 

 

 

All I know. Nuff said. Happy Saturday the LAST day of August! Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

 

Observed annually on August 31, National Trail Mix Day honors the mix developed as a healthy snack to be taken along on hikes.

Filled with nuts, dried fruit, and grains, trail mix packs a boost of carbohydrates when the body needs it most. The nuts supply good fats as well as sustained energy, too. Since it’s lightweight, trail mix travels easily, as well.  On long trails or while camping, trail mix keeps without spoiling since most of the ingredients are dried.

Two California surfers claim the creation of trail mix. In 1968, they blended peanuts and raisins for an energy snack. However, in the 1958 novel The Dharma Bums written by Jack Kerouac, the two main characters mention trail mix when planning meals for their hiking trip. 

Trail mix is sometimes referred to as Gorp.

Regardless of who created trail mix, the food has become an integral part of camping, hiking, and outdoor life for generations. When preparing for a hike, selecting a favorite combination of ingredients comes down to balancing flavor and nutrition.  Some factors to keep in mind:

• Portability – Be sure all the components can withstand heat and bouncing around. For example, potato chips and caramel baking bits probably won’t survive the trek or heat. However, pretzel rods, M&Ms, and other candy-coated chocolates hold up under stress.
• Protein – Choosing the right nuts and seeds adds healthy proteins and fats, too. The following are the top protein-producing seeds and nuts to add to your trail mix:
  • almonds, peanuts, pistachios, hemp, pepito, sunflower, flax, sesame, chia, cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts
• Salty & Sweet – Not only does the flavor factor increase but the salt, along with drinking plenty of water throughout your hike prevents dehydration. When we sweat, we lose essential electrolytes, and trail mix helps to replenish them. The salt comes from the ingredients already added to the mix. There’s no need to add more. And the sweet? Well, that all depends on your tastes and how much additional glucose your physical needs require.
• Spice – Kick the flavor profile up a notch with some spice. Here are a few combinations to try:
  • Fall blend – cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, ginger
  • Savory blend– garlic powder, dill, lemon pepper
  • Spicy blend – wasabi, mustard powder, lemon pepper, dried cilantro, dried lime zest
  • Spicy sweet blend – paprika, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, a touch of brown sugar
• Energy Booster – For a twist, add chocolate covered roasted coffee beans to your mix. This is especially nice if you don’t have time or a way to make a cup of java while roughing it. You’ll get your caffeine and your breakfast while seeking the next fantastic view.

HOW TO OBSERVE

You can make your own trail mix using your favorite ingredients.  Many varieties of trail mix are available at your favorite grocery or convenience store.

.

Heat/Clouds/Rain ~ Bruiser ~ Picture of the Day ~ Venus the Cat ~ Crab Tortellini Salad ~ National Beach Day

 

Good 58º dark cloudy morning. 

 

 

Yesterday we heated to 97º and then it got really windy and the clouds moved in. At 7pm it started pouring rain!!! Unfortunately it only lasted about 10 minutes. 

 

And speaking of yesterday, Bruiser and Dude went out first thing in the morning. Both are ready for their breakfast about 7:45, but Bruiser didn't come in. He wasn't anywhere to be seen. He was gone 3 1/2 hours and I was a worried mess. Finally he came back!!

 

We have lots of wild animals here.... coyotes, wolves, cougars, bears, etc so when he's out and about I am a worry wort!! Even though.......... Bruiser was feral in my pasture for about 5 years and I know he can take care of himself, I still worry!

 

 

 

Picture of the Day....

 

 

 

Interesting about Venus the cat.....

 

 

A cat named Venus is one of the most famous felines on the planet. The seven-year-old torty has her own Facebook page and has collected more than a million views on YouTube, in addition to making appearances on the Today Show and in other news venues. The reason behind Venus’ fame? Her striking two-face markings: half black-with-yellow eye, half orange-with-blue-eye.

National Geographic investigates the possible genetic anomalies that contribute to Venus’ unique look. Cat geneticist Leslie Lyons of the University of California, Davis, told NatGeo that she’s never seen a kitty quite like Venus. “She is extremely, extremely rare,” she said.

Venus is not necessarily a chimera, or an animal whose cells contain two sets of DNA caused when two embryos fuse together during development. But Lyons said to find out for sure whether or not Venus is a chimera, she’d need to perform genetic testing.

If the cat is no chimera, what would explain her striking pattern? “Absolute luck,” Lyons told NatGeo. For example, the black coloration could have randomly activated in all of the cells on one side of her adorable kitty face, while cells coding for orange coloration kicked in on the other side. The two patches then met in the middle as she developed in the womb.

But it’s Venus’ single blue eye, Lyons points out, is the real mystery. Cats usually sport yellow or green eyes, while those with baby blues tend to have Siamese heritage and include predominantly white coats. Venus, however, only has a small white patch on her chest, not enough to explain the blue eye.

Genetically, Lyons admits, “She is a bit of a mystery.”

 

 

 

Crab Tortellini Salad makes a scrumptious snack or lunch. It's very creamy and rich, and a squirt of lemon injects some tang.

 

• 1 (19-ounce) package frozen cheese tortellini
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 (8-ounce) package imitation crabmeat, flaked or 1 (6-ounce) can crabmeat, drained and flaked
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1. Cook tortellini according to package directions; drain, rinse, and drain again.
    
2. In a large bowl, combine tortellini and remaining ingredients; mix well.
    
3. Cover, and chill at least 2 hours before serving.

 

 

Historically this date.......

1963 – The Hotline between the leaders of the U.S.A. and the Soviet Union goes into operation.

 

 

1974 – A powerful bomb explodes at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries headquarters in Marunouchi, Tokyo,Japan. 8 are killed, 378 are injured. Eight left-wing activists are arrested on May 19, 1975 by Japanese authorities.

 

 

1984 – STS-41-D: The Space Shuttle Discovery takes off on its maiden voyage.

 

 

2003 – While being towed across the Barents Sea, the de-commissioned Russian submarine K-159 sinks, taking 9 of her crew and 800 kg of spent nuclear fuel with her.

 

 

 

 

Births this date include....

 

 1797 – Mary Shelley, English author and playwright (d. 1851)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1896 – Raymond Massey, Canadian actor (d. 1983)

 

 

1898 – Shirley Booth, American actress (d. 1992)

 

 

1906 – Joan Blondell, American actress (d. 1979)

 

 

1908 – Fred MacMurray, American actor (d. 1991)

 

 

1939 – Elizabeth Ashley, American actress

 

 

1972 – Cameron Diaz, American actress

 

 

All I know. Nuff said. Happy TGIF. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

National Beach Day on August 30th celebrates all the sandy beaches across the nation. It also provides an opportunity to help keep those relaxing places clean, so we can continue to enjoy them long into the future.

Whether we spend time on beaches oceanside, at a lake or river, they provide recreation all summer long. Swimming, water sports, and sunbathing are just a few of the relaxing things that come to mind. We also enjoy playing Frisbee, volleyball and long walks. Floating along in the surf on a hot summer day with friends creates summer memories we remember for years to come.

Sometimes, just packing a few icy beverages and a good book is enough to make a beach day perfect. However, we are responsible for caring for the beach, too. Not only should we pack out what we pack in, but it’s necessary to follow the beach rules, also. Safety and fun go hand in hand.

HOW TO OBSERVE

When it comes to swimming at the beach, the American Red Cross provides excellent tips.

1. Swim with a lifeguard present and only in designated areas.
2. Go with a buddy. Never swim alone.
3. Watch for currents, moving water, and riptides. These occur in oceans, lakes, and rivers.
4. Swim within your depth. Don’t swim longer than you are physically capable of doing.
5. Take swimming lessons.
6. Learn CPR.

Organize a group to clean up your favorite beach. Since it’s near the end of the season, your beach will appreciate it. Find out what the facility needs. Take up donations for supplies to keep the beach even cleaner next year. Donate garbage and recycling cans for your beach. Attend a seminar on water pollution and how to prevent it.

Share pictures of your favorite beach while enjoying the last days of summer!

NATIONAL BEACH DAY HISTORY

In 1929, the Knights of Columbus out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin launched a National Beach Day as part of their convention plans. However, it never took root.

Then in 2014, Colleen Paige, pet and family lifestyle expert, created National Beach Day to celebrate beaches and the importance of keeping them clean.