Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Sprinklers ~ Lemon Poppyseed Bread ~ Laura Vincent Virant ~ National Martini Day

  

Good 47º dark cloudy morning.

 

Rain has been predicted for us, but we haven't gotten any yet. It rained in other places, Grants Pass is one.

 

Yesterday we topped at 75º.

 

 

Picture of the Day....crazy cloud formations....

 

 

Interesting about sprinklers.............

 

 

An irrigation sprinkler (also known as a water sprinkler or simply a sprinkler) is a device used to irrigate (water) agricultural crops, lawns, landscapes, golf courses, and other areas. They are also used for cooling and for the control of airborne dust. Sprinkler irrigation is the method of applying water in a controlled manner in way similar to rainfall. The water is distributed through a network that may consist of pumps, valves, pipes, and sprinklers.

 

Irrigation sprinklers can be used for residential, industrial, and agricultural usage. It is useful on uneven land where sufficient water is not available as well as on sandy soil. The perpendicular pipes, having rotating nozzles on top, are joined to the main pipeline at regular intervals. When water is pressurized through the main pipe it escapes from the rotating nozzles. It gets sprinkled on the crop. In sprinkler or overhead irrigation, water is piped to one more central locations within the field and distributed by overhead high pressure sprinklers or guns.

 

Residential

Home lawn sprinklers vary widely in their size, cost, and complexity. They include impact sprinklers, oscillating sprinklers, drip sprinklers, underground sprinkler systems, and portable sprinklers. Permanently installed systems may often operate on timers or other automated processes. They are occasionally installed with retractable heads for aesthetic and practical reasons, reducing damage during lawn mowing. These types of systems usually can be programmed to start automatically on a set time and day each week.

 

Small portable sprinklers can be placed temporarily on lawns if additional watering is needed or if no permanent system is in place. These are often attached to an outdoor water faucet and are placed for a short period of time. Other systems may be professionally installed permanently in the ground and are attached permanently to a home's plumbing system.

 

An antique sprinkler developed by Nomad called a 'set-and-forget tractor sprinkler' was used in Australia in the 1950s. Water pressure ensured that the sprinkler moved slowly across a lawn.

 

Health risks

In 2017, it was reported that use of common garden hoses in combination with spray nozzles may generate aerosols containing droplets smaller than 0.39 mils, which can be inhaled by nearby people. Water stagnating in a hose between uses, especially when warmed by the sun, can host the growth and interaction of Legionella and free-living amoebae (FLA) as biofilms on the inner surface of the hose. Clinical cases of Legionnaires' disease or Pontiac fever have been found to be associated with inhalation of garden hose aerosols containing Legionella bacteria. The report provides measured microbial densities resulting from controlled hose conditions in order to quantify the human health risks. The densities of Legionella spp. identified in two types of hoses were found to be similar to those reported during legionellosis outbreaks from other causes. It is proposed that the risk could be mitigated by draining hoses after use.

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

 

The weather is warming up and we're looking for a lighter brighter taste to add to the menu! Usher your taste buds into spring with our Lemon Poppyseed Bread! It's perfect for tea or coffee after dinner, or if you really want to impress, serve it as part of your Easter menu!

 

 

• 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter, softened
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup egg substitute
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup low-fat milk
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

 

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Coat a 9- x 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
2. In a medium bowl with an electric mixer, beat butter, applesauce, sugar, and egg substitute until smooth.
3. In another medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to applesauce mixture, beating until well combined. Stir in milk, lemon zest, and poppy seeds.
4. Pour batter into loaf pan and bake 45 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Allow to cool slightly in pan.
5. Meanwhile, to make a lemon glaze, stir together the lemon juice and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Pour over loaf after removing it from the oven, then allow it to cool in pan.

 

Special birthday today... our former Temple City neighbor and Kristen's friend, Laura Vincent Virant is celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURA!!

 

 

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

1910 – The first Father's Day is celebrated in Spokane, Washington.

 

 

1978 – Garfield, holder of the Guinness World Record for the world's most widely syndicated comic strip, makes its debut.

 

And births this date include...

1903 – Lou Gehrig, American baseball player (d. 1941)

Cute. Dimples~!

1921 – Louis Jourdan, French actor (d. 2015)

... this yummy man had been married to his one and only wife since 1946! until his death.

1969 – Lara Spencer, American TV personality

 

 

 

 

All I know. Have a good Monday. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

On June 19th, shake up some gin and vermouth with ice and add a lemon twist. It’s National Martini Day!

This adult beverage has grown to become one of the best-known mixed drinks. A traditional or perfect Martini is made with equal parts gin and vermouth. For anyone who has never had a Martini, we have a list of terms to help get you started.

Martini Lingo

• Dirty – This Martini includes olive brine or juice from the olive jar.
• Dry – The vermouth is decreased significantly in the Martini, and gin becomes the primary spirit. Extra dry tips the ratio even further.
• Gibson – Instead of an olive, bartenders garnish the Martini with a pickled onion.
• Shaken vs. Stirred – Most bartenders will tell you that the better Martini is stirred. Shaken Martinis tend to be inferior due to a couple of reasons – ice chips water down the drink, and shaking the Martini adds air to the cocktail. A stirred Martini results in a smoother, fuller experience.
• Straight Up – This Martini may be either shaken or stirred, but it is strained and served without ice – the opposite of a Martini on the rocks. 
• Smoky or Burnt – Scotch whisky replaces the vermouth in this Martini. A twist of lemon garnishes the glass.
• Wet – Where the dry Martini has less vermouth, this one has more.
• With a Twist – The bartender adds a thin strip of citrus peel to the Martini as a garnish or in the drink. 

Shaken, stirred, on the rocks, that’s what you need to know to order traditional Martinis.

James Bond, the fictional spy, sometimes asked for his vodka Martinis to be “shaken, not stirred.”

When the James Bond movies debuted in the late 1960s, the popularity of the Martini increased. In the later decades, clear spirits like vodka overtook aged spirits like bourbon in market share. However, in recent decades, a balancing act seems to be taking place.

Dirty martini – Martini with a splash of olive brine or olive juice and is typically garnished with an olive.

Over the years, the traditional Martini inspired a variety of other cocktails such as the Cosmopolitan, chocolatini, or appletini.

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Order your favorite Martini or Martini-inspired cocktail. Martinis are an excellent cocktail to serve at a small gathering with hors d’oeuvres. Whether you serve a meat and cheese tray or go all out with shrimp, stuffed mushrooms and patè, make it a night to remember. (Remember always to drink responsibly and to designate a sober driver.)