Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Horse Saddle History ~ Meatball Soup ~ National Umbrella Day

  

Good 33º foggy morning. 

 

Yesterday we stayed clear and sunny and topped at 72º.

 

Picture of the Day...how to stay cool when it's hot!

 

 

Interesting about the horse saddle history....

 

Of course, most of you know about saddles, what they are used for, how to secure them, and may even be experts are choosing the proper saddle for horse and rider alike, along with recommendations as to who delivers the best quality of workmanship. Horses aren’t the only ones wearing them, but they are definitely the saddle-makers’ best customers. But, how many of you could describe the history of these useful articles? Where does this important piece of equipment come from?

Some believe that a mere blanket, attached with some form of girth-length material, was the first type of saddle used. This is definitely logical, as horse riders may have been quite fed up of the damage to their clothes and the light pain to their skin they had to endure while riding, and searched for a solution. A blanket is an obvious choice, and some people still use this when they wish to ride bare but won’t accept the pain of skin-to-fur contact. 

Humans rode horses bareback for thousands of years before saddles were invented – surely immediately after this gorgeous wild beast was domesticated, so around 4000 BC. The furthest documented saddles were probable fringed pieces of cloth, and started showing up around 700 BC. As with anything else, though, this newfound but now necessary piece of equipment became a way to show off status by adding gold, jewels, elaborate details and showmanship.

Surprisingly, nomads were the first to design a saddle with a frame and make it more solid by adding details, such as the girth, a pommel and cantle, leather thongs, a crupper, a breastplate and a shabrack. They are believed to be form around 500 BC as per dating specialists.

Several others followed suit, each and everyone developing their own type, but all having very similar designs due to the shape of the horse and the type of security and comfort needed. However, the Han dynasty of China, around 200 BC, were the first to design a model that were made of material covering a wood frame. In the West, the Romans were the first to create the four horn saddle, which was solidified with wood as well. This sort of saddle greatly improved comfort for both horse and rider because it properly distributes the rider’s weight instead of having the person’s seat bones digging into the horse’s back. This also allowed the creation of the stirrups which would have otherwise been useless, since the pressure would’ve been entirely concentrated on the horse’s sides. Of course, this was a major milestone for the saddle as it promoted a very large level of security for riders.

However, most other major developments came about during the Middle Ages, since the need for comfort during war with an excess of weight due to armor and weapons made the regular saddle known to them useless. A higher cantle and pommel allowed the rider to be more secure in the seat and a stronger wood frame permitted to carry a heavier weight. 

Eventually, during modern times, a three-point saddle was created for dressage riders and cowboys needed their own design as well. Other cultures continued developing the saddle to what it is known nowadays. Those that needed to jump had to change the level of the cantle and pommel; lowering them allowed for more movement. The flap was also created to allow the rider to lean closer to the horse for jumping.

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

March will be Frozen Food Month. Yes, an entire month dedicated to all the tasty, time-saving and money-saving items that fill our freezers. So whether it’s rise & shine items that we serve for breakfast, prepped and ready veggies, or a ready-in-no-time main dish, there’s no better time to stock your freezer than this month. To celebrate, we suggest you try this warm-you-up favorite that’s easy and the taste is absolutely soup-er!

 

• 6 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups frozen turkey or beef meatballs, cut in half
• 1 cup frozen diced peppers and onions
• 3/4 cup frozen chopped spinach
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 1/2 cooked rice (see Tip)
• Shredded parmesan cheese for sprinkling

 

1. In a soup pot, combine chicken broth, meatballs, peppers, and onions, spinach, garlic powder, salt, and pepper; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
    
2. In a soup pot, combine chicken broth, meatballs, peppers, and onions, spinach, garlic powder, salt, and pepper; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
   

 

***Did you know you can even find cooked white rice in your grocery store’s freezer case that will help make this recipe even easier to throw together? To make this a family favorite, just switch up your favorite frozen vegetables and serve with baked up hot, crusty rolls from the freezer case.

 

 

Historically this date.....

1863 – The fire extinguisher is patented.

I have one that was Jerry's... made in the early 1900's... that looks something like this:

 

Between 1900 and 1920, fire grenades resembling light bulbs could be purchased with a special bracket. This bracket had a spring device and a fusible link. When the fusible link melted, the spring would cause a metal arm to shatter the grenade and release its contents into the fire. Fire grenades of this era came in a metal case, such as the Shur Stop Kit that contained six grenades.

1962 – Captured American U2 spy-plane pilot Gary Powers is exchanged for captured Soviet spy Rudolf Abel.

1981 – A fire at the Las Vegas Hilton hotel-casino kills eight and injures 198.

2005 – North Korea announces that it possesses nuclear weapons.

 

And births this date include....

1893 – Jimmy Durante, American actor and comedian (d. 1980)

 

 

1906 – Lon Chaney Jr., American actor (d. 1973)

 

1930 – Robert Wagner, American actor

Three wives, married Natalie Wood twice, then Marion Marshall, and last Jill St. John....

 

 

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

 

National Umbrella Day casts a little shade on February 10th. The day honors one of the world’s most useful inventions, the umbrella!

Not only does the umbrella help keep us dry from the rain, but it also protects us from the heat of the sun. Umbrellas can also be used as a fashion accessory. While the umbrella is primarily practical, they also decorate cocktails. These brightly colored paper umbrellas make for fun party favors especially when visiting sunny locations.

Umbrellas have also found their way into the art world. Their color and shape make sharp silhouettes. They also serve as the canvas for art. In movies, umbrellas play a role, too. For example, they played vital parts in both Singing in the Rain in 1952 and in Mary Poppins in 1964.

Interesting Umbrella TidBits:

The word umbrella comes from the Latin word umbra, meaning shade or shadow.  Brolly is a slang word for umbrella, often used in Britain, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa.  Bumbershoot is a fanciful Americanism for an umbrella from the late 19th century.

The basic umbrella was invented over four thousand years ago. There is evidence of umbrellas in the ancient art and artifacts of Egypt  Assyria, Greece and China.

We can credit the Chinese for being the first to protect us from the rain. Their paper parasols received a layer of wax followed by lacquer that made the umbrella repelled the elements.

One of the first umbrella shops in existence opened in 1830 at 53 New Oxford Street in London, England. The shop, operated by James Smith and Sons, still operates regular hours at the same location today.

In 1928, Hans Haupt’s pocket umbrellas appeared. In 1969, Bradford E. Phillips, the owner of Totes Incorporated of Loveland, Ohio, obtained a patent for the first “working folding umbrella.”

Umbrellas have also been fashioned into hats as early as 1880 and as recently as 1987.

Photographers use umbrellas with a reflective inside as a diffusion device when employing artificial lighting and as a glare shield and shade, most often in portrait situations.

 

NATIONAL UMBRELLA DAY HISTORY

While the origins of the utilitarian holiday remain a mystery, it’s been celebrated since at least 2004. However, another celebration on the calendar promotes opening umbrellas indoors. The entire month of March recognizes the umbrella, too!