Good 48ยบ dark foggy raining morning.
Yesterday the fog.....
Then it started lifting...
Then it came back and rained on and off all day and night.
Picture of the Day
Interesting about 2 major fires way back when...
The Peshtigo Fire began October 8, 1871, near Green Bay, Wisconsin. The firestorm consumed 1.2 million acres of timber, destroyed 12 communities, and resulted in the most deaths by fire in the U.S. history - estimated deaths numbered 1,500 people and possibly as many as 2,500. But the same day the Great Chicago Fire began, destroying 3.3 square miles of the city's central business district, while the Great Michigan Fire destroyed the cities of Holland, Manistee, Port Huron and White Rock (in addition to 2.5 million acres of Michigan forest).
The Chicago fire killed approximately 300 people, destroyed roughly 3.3 square miles of the city, and left more than 100,000 residents homeless. The fire began in a neighborhood southwest of the city center. A long period of hot, dry, windy conditions, and the wooden construction prevalent in the city led to a conflagration. The fire leapt the south branch of the Chicago River and destroyed much of central Chicago, and then leapt the main branch of the river consuming the near north side.
The fire is claimed to have started at about 9:00 p.m. on October 8, in or around a small barn belonging to the O'Leary family that bordered the alley behind 137 DeKoven Street. The shed next to the barn was the first building to be consumed by the fire. City officials never determined the exact cause of the blaze, but the rapid spread of the fire due to a long drought in the prior summer, strong winds from the southwest, and the rapid destruction of the water pumping system explain the extensive damage of the mainly wooden city structures. There has been much speculation over the years on a single start to the fire. The most popular tale blames Mrs. O'Leary's cow, who allegedly knocked over a lantern; others state that a group of men were gambling inside the barn and knocked over a lantern. Still other speculation suggests that the blaze was related to other fires in the Midwest that day.
The most popular and enduring legend maintains that Chicago fire began in the O'Leary barn, as Mrs. O’Leary was milking her cow. The cow kicked over a lantern (or an oil lamp in some versions), setting fire to the barn. The O'Leary family denied this, stating that they were in bed before the fire started, but stories of the cow began to spread across the city. Catherine O'Leary seemed the perfect scapegoat: she was a poor, Irish Catholic immigrant. During the latter half of the 19th century, anti-Irish sentiment was strong throughout the United States and in Chicago. This was intensified as a result of the growing political power of the city's Irish population. Furthermore, the United States had been distrustful of Catholics (or "papists", as they were often called) since its beginning, carrying over attitudes in England in the 17th century; as an Irish Catholic, Mrs. O'Leary was a target of both anti-Catholic and anti-Irish sentiment. This story was circulating in Chicago even before the flames had died out, and it was noted in the Chicago Tribune's first post-fire issue. In 1893 the reporter Michael Ahern retracted the "cow-and-lantern" story, admitting it was fabricated, but even his confession was unable to put the legend to rest. Although the O'Learys were never officially charged with starting the fire, the story became so engrained in local lore that Chicago's city council officially exonerated them—and the cow—in 1997.
Easy Tamale Casserole
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 (15-ounce) can ranchero beans
- 1 (12-ounce) box corn bread and muffin mix
- 1 egg
16oz jar medium salsa
- 1 1/3 cup low-fat buttermilk
- 6 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
- 1 (4-ounce) can diced mild green chiles (optional)
Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a large skillet, brown meat, breaking up any large pieces. Drain well and return to stove. Add beans and salsa, stir to combine and simmer over medium heat 5 to 7 minutes. Let cool slightly then spoon into a 9x12-inch casserole dish.
Prepare cornbread batter according to package directions, using egg, buttermilk, butter and green chiles, if desired. If desired, mix drained green chiles into batter. Carefully spoon over top of beef mixture. Smooth out to cover. Bake until cornbread is lightly brown and filling is bubbling, about 25 minutes.
Historically this date.......
1867 – United States takes possession of Alaska after purchasing it from Russia for $7.2 million. Celebrated annually in the state as Alaska Day
1954 – Texas Instruments announces the first Transistor radio.
... this was my Zenith transistor radio. I'd put it on the porch and listen to music while I mowed the lawn (no power mower...push!)
1968 – The U.S. Olympic Committee suspends Tommie Smith and John Carlos for giving a "black power" salute during a victory ceremony at the Mexico City games.
And births this date include....
1918 – Bobby Troup, American musician and actor (d. 1999)
...married to Julie London over 40 years. She died one year after Bobby.
1927 – George C. Scott, American actor (d. 1999)
1934 – Inger Stevens, Swedish actress (d. 1970)
....only 35 when she died.
1939 – Mike Ditka, American football player, coach, and commentator
1945 – Huell Howser, American television personality (d.2013)
1951 – Pam Dawber, American actress
1960 – Jean-Claude Van Damme, Belgian actor
1960 – Erin Moran, American actress (d.2017)
All I know. Nuff said. Happy TGIF. Ciao.
xo Sue Mom Bobo
National Chocolate Cupcake Day on October 18th annually celebrates the sweetness of small chocolate cakes. With a dollop of frosting, one sweet serving satisfying chocolate and dessert lovers!
Cupcakes have also been known to be called:
- Fairy Cakes
- Patty Cakes
- Cup Cakes (different from Cupcakes (one-word))
Cupcakes can be traced back to 1796 when a recipe notation of “a cake to be baked in small cups” was written in American Cookery, by Amelia Simmons. The earliest known documentation of the term cupcake was in 1828 in Seventy-five Receipts for Pastry, Cakes, and Sweetmeats in Eliza Leslie’s Receipts cookbook.
Bakers initially baked their cupcakes in heavy pottery cups. Today, some still use individual ramekins, small coffee mugs, large teacups, or other small ovenproof pottery-type dishes for baking their cupcakes.
Chocolate cupcakes come in a variety of flavors, too. Of course, there’s always the standard chocolate cupcake. But why stop there on a holiday?
- Chocolate caramel cupcakes satisfy that extra cry for sweetness.
- Peanut butter chocolate cupcakes are the snackers delight.
- Get devilishly good cupcakes with Devil’s Food.
- Cool things off a bit with chocolate mint recipes, too.
- And you can’t forget chocolate orange cupcakes. Citrus brightens the flavor of any chocolate recipe.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Celebrate by trying one of the following tempting recipes while watching an episode of the Food Network reality-based competition show, Cupcake Wars. Remember to invite friends or family over to share.
