Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Alaska ~ Pumpkin Pie Muffins ~ National No Beard Day

 

 

Good 38º Sunday morning. 

 

 

Yesterday started clear and sunny and stayed that way. We topped at 86º.

 

 

 

Picture of the Day ..... cool!

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting about Alaska....

 

 

Outsiders first discovered Alaska in 1741 when Danish explorer Vitus Jonassen Bering sighted it on a voyage from Siberia.

Russian whalers and fur traders on Kodiak Island established the first settlement in Alaska in 1784.

 

In 1867 United States Secretary of State William H. Seward offered Russia $7,200,000, or two cents per acre, for Alaska.

 

On October 18, 1867 Alaska officially became the property of the United States. Many Americans called the purchase “Seward’s Folly.”

 

In 1943 Japan invaded the Aleutian Islands, which started the One Thousand Mile War, the first battle fought on American soil since the Civil War.

 

Alaska officially became the 49th state on January 3, 1959.

 

Alaska’s most important revenue source is the oil and natural gas industry.

 

Alaska accounts for 25% of the oil produced in the United States.

 

The state of Rhode Island could fit into Alaska 425 times.

 

 

The fishing and seafood industry is the state’s largest private industry employer.

 

 

Most of America’s salmon, crab, halibut, and herring come from Alaska.

 

 

The term Alaska native refers to Alaska’s original inhabitants including Aleut, Eskimo and Indian groups.

 

 

The state motto is North to the Future.

 

 

The jade is the official state gemstone.

 

 

Gold is the official state mineral. It was named the state mineral in 1968.

 

 

The four-spot skimmer dragonfly is the official state insect.

 

 

The state boasts the lowest population density in the nation.

 

 

The discovery of gold in the Yukon began a gold rush in 1898. Later gold was discovered at Nome and Fairbanks.

 

 

Alaska is a geographical marvel. When a scale map of Alaska is superimposed on a map of the 48 lower states, Alaska extends from coast to coast.

 

 

17 of the 20 highest peaks in the United States are located in Alaska.

 

 

 

There has been talk of changing the name to Denali .... Read here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denali%E2%80%93Mount_McKinley_naming_dispute

 

 

 

At 20,320 feet above sea level, Mt. McKinley, located in Alaska’s interior, is the highest point in North America.

 

 

In 1915 the record high temperature in Alaska was 100 degrees Fahrenheit at Fort Yukon; the record low temperature was -80 degrees Fahrenheit at Prospect Creek Camp in 1971.

 

 

 

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

These Pumpkin Pie Muffins didn't last long around our office, 'cause as soon as they were finished baking in our Test Kitchen, we devoured them. These will make your kitchen smell like the best of fall, and your bread basket won't stay full for very long.

 

• 1 (18-1/4-ounce) package spice cake mix
• 1 cup pumpkin pie mix
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup water

 

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Line muffin tins with paper baking liners.
    
2. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients; beat with an electric mixer until thoroughly mixed. Spoon batter into paper baking liners, filling each about 3/4 full. 
    
3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

 

** For a special finishing touch, sprinkle wit confectioners' sugar

  

 

 

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)

.....sad how she ended up.... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

 

Annually, National No Beard Day on October 18th celebrates the clean shaven among us. The smoother the face, the bigger the celebration!

Whether you have had your beard for years or it is relatively new for you, this is the day to shave it off and go smooth. Perhaps your partner doesn’t like your beard, or you just haven’t shaved it off for years. No Beard Day is the day to see what you look like without it.

Achieving a close, kissable shave is a lost art that faded with a generation who had the first color televisions installed. Consider investing in the tools your grandfather or possibly your great-grandfather used – either a safety razor or a straight razor will give you the closest shave along with a natural bristled shaving brush and shaving soap.  More care and time may be required, but the results are well worth the effort.

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Shave and post before and after photos on social media.