Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ History of Blue Jeans ~ Very Ritzy Italian Chicken ~ National Lucky Penny Day

 

Good 37º clear sunny morning. 

 

Yesterday we started gloomy and cool and stayed that way. I've had the heater on for the last few days.....

 

Then the dark clouds left and in came the white ones...

We topped at 77º.

 

My friend Vivia back in NY had her AC on as the heat was in the 90ºs.

 

 

Picture of the Day ... public bench in Ukraine....

 

 

 

Interesting .......

 

5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Blue Jeans

On May 20, 1873, Levi Strauss and his partner Jacob Davis 

received a patent for riveted pants that became known as blue jeans. Here are 5 things you probably didn’t know about the history of these iconic jeans in America…

 

Those Rivets Had A PurposeThe copper rivets that are commonplace on the pockets of Levi's jeans weren't put there for looks. Instead, they were designed to ensure that the seams would last longer, considering the fact that the pants were worn by miners. Pockets were the first signs on a workman's pants that would tear, and the rivets would help ensure they'd remain intact and prevent the pants from looking too raggedy. That small fifth pocket on a pair of Levi's, by the way, is called a watch pocket since it was originally meant for placing a pocket watch inside. In the 1930s, the pockets were sewn to the pants so that the rivets were covered because of complaints that they scratched furniture. But they were returned to view in 1947.

 

Levi's May Be An American Icon But They Were Created By Two ImmigrantsLevi's has been an American symbol in the world of fashion since the late 1800s. But it wasn't actually Americans who were behind the clothing label. Jacob Davis, an immigrant from Latvia, who was living in Reno, Nevada, came up with the idea of placing copper rivets at particular points in work pants to make them stronger. He contacted Levi Strauss, a German-born wholesale dry goods merchant, who supplied his fabric and financed the application for the patent. Levis Strauss became the name behind the brand.

 

Dude Ranches Made Jeans Popular With Everyday Americans"Dude ranches'' became popular in the 1930s and served as guest ranches for visitors and tourists. Throughout the Depression, ranchers brought in some extra cash by charging customers to visit and pretend they were cowboys for the day. Many visitors would buy jeans before visiting dude ranches, even though few cowboys actually wore denim. Instead, miners and farmers were much more likely to wear jeans. Many an American purchased their first pair of jeans in anticipation of their dude ranch visit.  That said, jeans became a popular staple in the American closet, though at the time, they were worn strictly on weekends.

 

Hollywood Made Jeans Popular With TeensMovie stars began donning jeans in films, making the apparel attractive among teens.  Among the first stars to make jeans "cool" was James Dean, who famously sported a pair of jeans along with a white t-shirt and leather jacket in the 1955 cult classic film "Rebel Without a Cause."

 

 

A couple of years later, in 1953, Marlon Brando had the same look in his film "The Wild One,"

 

 

and Marilyn Monroe made the look popular among women after her role in "The Misfits."

 

 

Jeans were synonymous with rebellion and freedom thanks to their association with the "cowboy" look. This clothing item symbolized nonconformity to societal norms. In fact, jeans were banned from schools in the 1950s, seen as a symbol against authority Regardless, jeans became firmly linked to youth culture starting in the 1950s, and they've remained a staple in people's wardrobes in America.

 

One Pair of Levi's Sold for More Than $46,000One of the world’s oldest pairs of Levi’s jeans - made in the 1880s and sold for around a dollar- was reacquired by Levi Strauss & Co. for $46,532. The jeans were found in an old gold mine in the Mojave Desert in California in 1999 and were reported to be 100 years old.  In what is believed to be the highest price ever paid for denim, Levi’s bought the jeans during an online eBay auction. Levi’s historian Lynn Downey said the company would use the jeans as a template for part of a vintage collection. Historians for Levi Strauss examined the fabric and patented copper rivets and concluded the jeans were produced between 1880 and 1885.

 

 

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

When we've got company over, we like to impress them by serving up a meal that looks like we pulled out all the stops. Our Very Ritzy Italian Chicken is dressed up with a creamy sauce before being served atop a bed of spinach fettuccine, making it a fancy looking dish that's actually very easy!

 

• 3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
• 4 slices mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon chopped roasted red pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 (12-ounce) package spinach fettuccine, cooked according to package directions

 

1. In a shallow dish, place bread crumbs. In another shallow dish, beat egg.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil until hot. Dip chicken into egg, then into bread crumbs, coating completely. Saute chicken 10 to 15 minutes, or until no pink remains, turning occasionally. Top each chicken breast with a slice of cheese and continue to cook 1 to 2 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
3. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, mix together heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, red pepper, parsley, salt, and pepper. Cook over medium heat until mixture is hot and thickened. Serve chicken and sauce over warm fettuccine.

 

 

 

Historically this date.....

1934 – American bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde are ambushed by police and killed in Black Lake, Louisiana.

1939 – The U.S. Navy submarine USS Squalus sinks off the coast of New Hampshire during a test dive, causing the death of 24 sailors and two civilian technicians. The remaining 32 sailors and one civilian naval architect are rescued the following day.

2006 – Alaskan stratovolcano Mount Cleveland erupts.

2010 – Jamaican police begin a manhunt for drug lord Christopher "Dudus" Coke, after the United States requested his extradition, leading to three days of violence during which at least 73 bystanders are killed.

2015 – At least 46 people are killed as a result of floods caused by a tornado in Texas and Oklahoma.

And births this date include...

1883 – Douglas Fairbanks, American actor (d. 1939)

 

1912 – John Payne, American actor (d. 1989)

 

1931 – Barbara Barrie, American actress

 

1933 – Joan Collins, English actress

.... 5 husbands!

 

1958 – Drew Carey, American actor and comedian

 

 

 

All I know. Nuff said. Have a good Sunday. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

 

On May 23rd, National Lucky Penny Day hopes you’ll have good luck all day long.

See a penny, pick it up. All day long you’ll have good luck.

When you are out and about, look on the ground for pennies.  It just might be your lucky day!

Years ago a penny was able to buy something. (Check out National Taffy Day – to see what we used to get for a penny.) Today, due to inflation, the penny does not buy much of anything. The metal value and cost of minting pennies exceed their face value. Many nations have stopped minting equivalent value coins and efforts are being made to end the routine use of pennies in several countries including the United States.

The United States first issued a one-cent coin produced by a private mint in 1787.  Benjamin Franklin designed it. On one side, it read “Mind Your Business” and the other “We Are One.” This coin was made of 100% copper and was larger than today’s penny. It came to be known as the Fugio cent. However, the first pennies struck in a United States Mint weren’t produced until 1793, but they were also made of copper.

But why are pennies lucky? Well at one time, metals, including copper were precious material. Finding a penny was a valuable find. Sometimes finding a penny had more to do with the daily battle between good and evil. Do you only pick up a penny if it’s head side up? Superstitions carry on from generation to generation. And with some of them the rule that says if you find a penny tail side up, you should flip it over and leave it head side up for the next lucky person to find.

On a wedding day, there’s also a saying that leads people to put a penny in the bride’s shoe. It’s more likely to lead to a blister than to bring good luck in that case.

HOW TO OBSERVE

See how many pennies you can find. It just might be your lucky day!