Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Men's vs Women's Buttons ~ Crunchy Peanut Pie ~ Edda Gahm ~ National Trail Mix Day

Good 46º clear morning. 

Yesterday we started off clear and sunny and topped at 93º.

Picture of the Day.... perfectly timed! 

Interesting about buttons....

If you're wearing a men's shirt, the buttons are usually on the right. If it's a women's shirt, they're usually on the left. The same thing can be said about zippers on jackets.

But why are the buttons on different sides? Well, no one's really sure.

Many historians think we do know why buttons are on the right side for men: The most common explanation is because, in ye olden times, clothing held weaponry.

Chloe Chapin, a fashion historian pursuing a doctorate in the subject at Harvard University, told Today that the style can be traced back to the military. If you have a gun hidden in your shirt, it's easier to reach with the dominant hand. So if the buttons are on the right, you could theoretically slip your right hand into your shirt or jacket more easily.

Before the widespread use of guns in Europe, the reason was slightly different. Some scholars argue that it could have to do with the way men drew their swords.

"A gentleman's sword was always worn on the left side, so that it could be drawn with the right hand," Paul Keers, author of "A Gentleman's Wardrobe". "If a jacket buttoned right over left, the handle of the sword would be likely to catch in the jacket opening when drawn, so any serious swordsman would demand a tunic which buttoned left over right. As an indication of a masculine lifestyle, this tradition was then extended to other items of menswear. "

In other words, when drawing a weapon, you would not want it to catch on your jacket or shirt. Having the buttons on the right side would eliminate this problem.

But why then are women's buttons on the left hand side?

According to Melanie Moore, who founded the shirt brand Elizabeth & Clarke, it could be because when buttons were invented in the 13th century, the woman wearing the shirt wasn't necessarily the person buttoning it.

"Wealthy women back then did not dress themselves — their lady’s maid did". "Since most people were right-handed, this made it easier for someone standing across from you to button your dress."

That's the most prevalent theory, but there are a few others. One is that women held babies with their left hands, so they needed their right hand to open their shirt buttons for breastfeeding.

Yet another theory is that it was fashionable for wealthy women to ride horses sideways. Having the buttons on the left would reduce the amount of airflow entering ladies' shirts, or so the argument goes.

Of course, there's no real reason why fashion companies need to continue having shirt buttons on opposite sides today — it's just something they do. If you buy a new garment and the buttons are on a side you're not used it, buttoning it might feel awkward, at worst. Chances are you may not even notice.

From Mr. Food

We got this recipe from a North Carolina native who says that Crunchy Peanut Pie is a great alternative for pecan pie, because it's got that same gooey texture and nutty crunch. Man-oh-man, it doesn't get much better than this!

 

• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup dark corn syrup
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups chopped dry roasted peanuts
• 1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell

 

1. Preheat the oven to 375º.
    
2. In a medium-sized bowl, beat the eggs until foamy. Add the sugar, corn syrup, butter, salt, and vanilla. Continue to beat until thoroughly blended. Stir in the peanuts.
    
3. Place the pie shell on a cookie sheet, pour in the filling, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden. Cool in the refrigerator and serve.
    

***Did you know that this Crunchy Peanut Pie recipe is famous in Virginia?! Yup, peanuts are a staple ingredient in Virginia and they've mastered mixing them with chocolate. If that sounds good to you, then check out this recipe for Chocolate Peanut Fudge.

Special friend's birthday today... Edda Gahm is celebrating her 82nd! 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!

Bruiser is definitely in charge here. He chases Dude off Dude's couch and many times takes over Dude's living room bed.....

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

Observed annually on August 31st, National Trail Mix Day honors the mix developed as a healthy snack for long 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.

Trail Mix Tips

Regardless of who created trail mix, the food is an integral part of camping, hiking, and outdoor life. 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 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. Consider adding these top protein-producing seeds and nuts 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. How much additional glucose do your physical needs require?
• Spice – Ramp up the flavor profile 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. They’re especially nice if time is short or it’s impossible to make a cup of java while roughing it. You’ll get your caffeine and your breakfast while seeking the next fantastic view.

 

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Weather ~ Young Buck ~ Picture of the Day ~ Guinness World Records ~ Classic Potato Frittata ~ National Beach Day

Good 46º clear Sunday morning...yesterday we topped at  97º.

Yesterday morning there were three young bucks in front of my house. I ran to get my camera and only got a picture of one of them.....

Picture of the Day .... looks real to me!

Interesting about Guinness World Records....

August 27, 1955, is the day that the first Guinness Book of Records was first published. Originally meant to be a reference for settling disputes in pub quizzes, the book quickly took on a life of its own.  Take a look at these five insane Guinness World Records...

The Tallest Man to Ever Live Towered Over Others

Robert Pershing Wadlow was born in 1918, and at the time of his death at age 22, he was 8 feet, 11.1 inches tall. His great size and his continued growth in adulthood were due to hyperplasia of his pituitary gland, which results in an abnormally high level of human growth hormone (HGH). Even by the time of his death, there was no indication that his growth had ended.
 

A Frenchwoman Holds the Record as the Longest Living Human

Jeanne Louise Calment was born in 1875 in France, and lived to be 122 years, 164 days old. To put it into perspective, the year after her birth, Alexander Graham Bell patented his telephone. At age 85, she took up fencing, lived alone until age 110 and quit smoking after she turned 117. Jeanne died at a nursing home in Arles, southern France on August 4, 1997.

An American Woman Had the Longest Fingernails (makes you really wonder why!) 

The longest fingernails belonged to Lee Redmond , who started to grow them in 1979 and carefully manicured them to reach a a combined total length of 28 feet, 4.5 inches back in 2008. The longest nail was on her right thumb and was 2 feet, 11 inches long. Unfortunately, an auto accident in 2009 snapped them off.

This Couple Holds the World Record for the Length of a Kiss

Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranarat's love has gone the distance — clocking a kiss at 58 hours, 35 minutes and 58 seconds. The couple, from Thailand, won at a Ripley's Believe it or Not event on February 12-14, 2013. (They brought home a cash prize and two diamond rings!)

The Ultimate Guinness World Record Holder

Ashrita Furman, a Queens, New York, man, holds the distinction of having broken the most world records due to his dogged determination over the past 30 years. He has set more than 300 records from mountain climbing while wearing stilts to balancing a chainsaw on his chin. According to Furman, he was born only days after the idea was conceived for the Guinness World Records, and maybe that had something to do with his interest.

From Mr. Food

If you've been missing a delicious Italian dish around the kitchen table, then you need to make our Classic Potato Frittata! This recipe is simple, delicious, and can be served in a variety of ways, so it's sure to please everyone. Whether you're just waking up or looking to have something special for dinner, this recipe is an easy way to spruce up your menu.

 

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 pounds refrigerated or frozen shredded potatoes, thawed if frozen
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 eggs, beaten

 

1. In a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil until hot. Add potatoes, onion, salt, and pepper and cook 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally.
2. Pour eggs over potatoes, cover, and cook 10 to 12 more minutes, or until eggs are set. Cut into wedges and serve.

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 Sunday. 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.