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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