Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Ice Skates ~ Potato Tot Taco Nachos ~ Taprock-Jean and Jen ~ National Audubon Day

  

Good 40º morning. 

 

 

Yesterday we started cloudless and only with some contrails.....

We topped at 84º. Today it's predicted we will be in the 80ºs again. 

 

 

Picture of the Day...a car boot or a boot car?

 

 

Interesting about ice skates.....

 

Ice skates are metal blades attached underfoot and used to propel the bearer across a sheet of ice while ice skating.

 

The first ice skates were made from leg bones of horse, ox or deer, and were attached to feet with leather straps. These skates required a pole with a sharp metal spike that was used for pushing the skater forward, unlike modern bladed skates.

 

Modern skates come in many different varieties, which are chosen depending on the nature of the requirements needed for the skating activity. They are worn recreationally in ice rinks or on frozen bodies of water across the globe and are used as footwear in many sports, including figure skating, bandy, ice hockey, ringette, rink bandy, rinkball, speed skating and tour skating.

 

According to a study done by Federico Formenti, University of Oxford, and Alberto Minetti, University of Milan, Finns were the first to develop ice skates some 5,000 years ago from animal bones. This was important for the Finnish populations to save energy in harsh winter conditions when hunting in Finnish Lakeland. It was also important for the Finnish people to invent ice skates as Finland has about 187,888 lakes. In the olden days, the villages used to get separated by lakes, to go between lakes the Finnish people had two options first to go around the lake and second to find a way through the slippery surface of the lakes. The earliest known skate to use a metal blade was found in Fennoscandia and was dated to 200 A.D., and was fitted with a thin strip of copper folded and attached to the underside of a leather shoe.

 

William Fitzstephen, writing in the 12th century, described the use of bone skates in London. The following seems to be an Early Modern English translation of the Latin original:

when the great fenne or moore (which watereth the walles of the citie on the North side) is frozen, many young men play upon the ice, some striding as wide as they may, doe slide swiftly... some tye bones to their feete, and under their heeles, and shoving themselves by a little picked staffe, doe slide as swiftly as birde flyeth in the aire, or an arrow out of a crossbow.

 

 

^{If you want to read a lot more, go here:}

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_skate

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

 

 

Potato Tot Taco Nachos

 

Try saying that three times fast! Whether you’re looking for something to serve during the big football game or a fun-to-eat weeknight dinner, this is it. It’s got everything you want on one platter. Chunks of chicken, crispy potato tots, and lots of your favorite toppings create a meal that’s always a game day winner.

 

 

• 1 (32-ounce) package frozen potato tots
• 3 cups frozen cooked diced chicken breast
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 (1-ounce) packet taco seasoning
• 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
• cup chopped tomato
• 1/4 cup sliced black olives
• 2 scallions, sliced
• 1 small jalapeno, sliced
• 1/2 cup sour cream

1. Heat potato tots according to package directions. 
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, combine chicken and water and heat for 5 minutes or until heated through. Stir in taco seasoning and heat for 1 minute; set aside.
    
3. Place potato tots on a serving platter and top with chicken and cheese. Sprinkle with tomato, olives, scallions, and jalapeño slices. Top with dollops of sour cream and serve.

 

***When it comes to the cheese, feel free to use whatever you have on hand. Maybe change it out each time to keep things interesting?

 

 

 

Historically this date...........

1944 – Georgios Papandreou becomes head of the Greek government-in-exile based in Egypt.

1962 – NASA's Ranger 4 spacecraft crashes into the Moon.

1981 – Dr. Michael R. Harrison of the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center performs the world's first human open fetal surgery.

1986 – A nuclear reactor accident occurs at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the Soviet Union (now Ukraine), creating the world's worst nuclear disaster.

2018 – American comedian Bill Cosby is found guilty of sexual assault.

 

And births this date include...

1900 – Charles Richter, American geophysicist (d. 1985)

 

1933 – Carol Burnett, American comedian

 

 

Carol lived with her mother in Hollywood on Cherokee Avenue in a brownstone between Hollywood Boulevard and Yucca. My grandmother and aunt lived a block over on Whitley Avenue. Didn't know Carol (she wasn't famous yet) but probably had walked past her apartment building a bunch of times.

 

1938 – Duane Eddy, American musician

 

1942 – Bobby Rydell, American singer (d.2022)

 

1970 – Melania Trump, Slovene-American model; 47th First Lady of the United States

 

 

 Yesterday I met up with my daughter-in-law, Jen, and her mom Jean at Taprock for lunch..............

Food was super.

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

 

On April 26th each year, National Audubon Day honors the birth of John James Audubon (April 26, 1785 – January 27, 1851).

Audubon was a French-American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter noted for his extensive studies of American birds and his detailed illustrations of the birds in their natural habitats. Audubon’s greatest work was The Birds of America which is considered one of the finest ornithological works ever completed. His work in this book contains more than 700 North American bird species with 435 hand-colored, life-size prints of 497 bird species.

Spring is an excellent time to observe the birds John Audubon described and painted. As they migrate across the country, set out feeders to welcome them along their journey. Watch them from your window or while strolling on a path.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, at last count approximately 45 million people watch birds. They bird watch while they travel or all year long from their homes. Many trek around the country to see a bird for the first time in its natural habitat. So can you. Learn about their habitats and migration patterns. Or simply watch them for their color and song. 

HOW TO OBSERVE

Grab the binoculars, the bird book, and see how many birds you can identify. Join local bird watching groups for tips and ideas. 

 

NATIONAL AUDUBON DAY HISTORY

The National Audubon Society sponsors National Audubon Day.