Clouds ~ Thunderstorm Predictions ~ Picture of the Day ~ Prairie Dogs ~ Jiffy Corn Casserole ~ Bruiser ~ Purple Heart Day

 

Good 59º clear sunny morning. 

 

 

Yesterday morning I was wondering why the sun wasn't shining on my mountain. Well, duh, the sky filled with clouds and were blocking the sun....

 

 

 

Predictions for "possible" thunderstorm last night, but they didn't happen. 

 

Now more predictions....

 

Thunder storms and lightening this time of year causes a lot of forest fires!

 

After we got some breeze, the clouds dissipated... and we topped at 102º.

 

 

 

Picture of the Day ... good set up!

 

 

 

Interesting about Prairie Dogs....

 

Prairie dogs are herbivorous burrowing rodents native to the grasslands of North America. The five species are: black-tailed, white-tailed, Gunnison's, Utah, and Mexican prairie dogs. They are a type of ground squirrel, found in North America. In Mexico, prairie dogs are found primarily in the northern states, which lie at the southern end of the Great Plains: northeastern Sonora, north and northeastern Chihuahua, northern Coahuila, northern Nuevo León, and northern Tamaulipas. In the United States, they range primarily to the west of the Mississippi River, though they have also been introduced in a few eastern locales. They are also found in the Canadian Prairies. Despite the name, they are not actually canines.

Prairie dogs are named for their habitat and warning call, which sounds similar to a dog's bark. The name was in use at least as early as 1774. The 1804 journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition note that in September 1804, they "discovered a Village of an animal the French Call the Prairie Dog"

 

The black-tailed prairie dog was first described by Lewis and Clark in 1804. Lewis described it in more detail in 1806, calling it the "barking squirrel".

 

On average, these stout-bodied rodents will grow to be between 12 and 16 inches long, including the short tail, and weigh between 1 and 3 lb. Sexual dimorphism (Sexual dimorphism is the condition where the two sexes of the same species exhibit different characteristics beyond the differences in their sexual organs.) in body mass in the prairie dog varies 105 to 136% between the sexes. Among the species, black-tailed prairie dogs tend to be the least sexually dimorphic, and white-tailed prairie dogs tend to be the most sexually dimorphic. Sexual dimorphism peaks during weaning, when the females lose weight and the males start eating more, and is at its lowest when the females are pregnant, which is also when the males are tired from breeding.

 

Prairie dogs are chiefly herbivorous, though they eat some insects. They feed primarily on grasses and small seeds. In the winter, lactating and pregnant females supplement their diets with snow for extra water. They also will eat roots, seeds, fruit, and buds. Grasses of various species are eaten. White-tailed prairie dogs have been observed to kill ground squirrels, a competing herbivore.

 

The information page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prairie_dog

I got this from, is super long with tons of information. If you want more, go there.

 

 

 

Here's a great easy side dish to serve with your steak, chicken legs, salmon filet, or whatever....... It's not "cornbread" it's a casserole...

Jiffy Corn Casserole

 

 

1 8oz box Jiffy cornbread mix

1 15oz can whole kernel corn, drained

1 15 oz can creamed corn, not drained

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup melted butter

 

Mix all ingredients and pour into (greased or sprayed with cooking spray) 8x8 casserole dish.

Cook uncovered at 350º for 55-60 minutes

 

Adding a little cheddar cheese or mozzarella would also be good. And if you like a little spice, add in a can of diced green chilis ....

 

 

 

 

Historically this date........

1782 – George Washington orders the creation of the Badge of Military Merit to honor soldiers wounded in battle. It is later renamed to the more poetic Purple Heart.

1959 – The Lincoln Memorial design on the U.S. penny goes into circulation. It replaces the "sheaves of wheat" design, and was minted until 2008

1965 – The infamous first Reyes party between Ken Kesey's Merry Pranksters and motorcycle gang the Hells Angels takes place at Kesey's estate in La Honda, California introducing psychedelics to the gang world and forever linking the hippie movement to the Hell's Angels.

1970 – California judge Harold Haley is taken hostage in his courtroom and killed during in an effort to free George Jackson from police custody.

.............Jackson a Black Panther and horrible person! .....

2007 – Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants breaks baseball great Hank Aaron's record by hitting his 756th home run.

 

 

 

And births this date include...

1944 – David Rasche, American actor

 

 

1960 – David Duchovny, American actor

 

 

1975 – Charlize Theron, South African model and actress

 

 

 

 

 Watching TV last night and Bruiser sleeping in my slippers!

 

 

 

All I know. Nuff said. Happy Hump Day. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

 

Purple Heart Day on August 7 commemorates the creation of the oldest American military decoration for military merit. The Purple Heart honors the men and women who are of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. During the American Revolutionary War, the Badge for Military Merit decorated six known soldiers.

General George Washington created the Badge of Merit in 1782. The honor was to be presented to soldiers for “any singularly meritorious action.” Its design included a purple, heart-shaped piece of silk bound with a thin edge of silver. Across the face, the word Merit was embroidered in silver. While the badge symbolized the courage and devotion of an American Patriot, no one knows who designed the award.

Until Washington’s 200th birthday, the Purple Heart persisted as a Revolutionary War footnote. Through the efforts of General Douglas MacArthur, the U.S. War Department created the Order of the Purple Heart. Today the medal bears a bust of George Washington and his coat of arms.

While an accurate and complete list of names no longer exists, National Geographic recently estimated that nearly 1.9 million Purple Hearts have been awarded since its creation. It’s the oldest U.S. military honor still bestowed upon service members today. Until 1944, the Purple Heart recognized service members’ commendable actions as well. Then in 1944, the requirements limited the award to only those wounded or killed in combat.

Purple Heart Firsts

• William Brown and Elijah Churchill received the Badge of Military Merit during the Revolutionary War when the award first replaced the Fidelity Medallion.
• Army General Douglas MacArthur received the first modern-day Purple Heart.
• Army Lt. Annie G. Fox received the Purple Heart during World War II for her actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Honor everyone who has received a Purple Heart. Learn more about the Military Order of the Purple Heart.  

PURPLE HEART DAY HISTORY

Since 1932, Purple Heart Day has been celebrated on both Washington’s birthday and Valentine’s Day. Some states and cities observed Purple Heart Day in their own way at different times throughout the year.  Each declaration encouraged citizens to support wounded veterans with the purchase of a purple viola.

No matter when the day was observed, it recognizes the merit, and more importantly, the men and women killed and wounded in combat who earned the badge of honor. As the day evolved, it more commonly was observed on the day of the Purple Heart’s creation.

Clear Sky/Temperature ~ Picture of the Day ~ Walking/Texting ~ Southern Comfort ~ Crunchy Chicken Biscuit Casserole ~ National Root Beer Float Day

 

Good 59º pretty clear sky with a few scattered clouds morning.

 

 

Yesterday, again clear blue sky and we topped at 104º !! We had a few breezes.... 

 

 

 

Picture of the Day .... 

 

Guess I'm just of a different generation (and old!) so much that I don't see how or why people walk with their heads down texting. Of course it's not always safe... duh!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHkVZ-4n_DY

 

 

 

Interesting about Southern Comfort....

 

Southern Comfort (often abbreviated SoCo) is an American whiskey-based liqueur flavored with fruit and spice.

Southern Comfort was first produced by bartender Martin Wilkes Heron (1850–1920), the son of a boat-builder, in 1874 at McCauley's Tavern in the Lower Garden District, 2 miles north of the iconic French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. According to the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau, McCauley's Tavern was "just off Bourbon Street", and the original form of the drink was called 'Cuffs and Buttons'.

Heron moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1889, patented his creation, and began selling it in sealed bottles with the slogan "None Genuine But Mine" and "Two per customer. No Gentleman would ask for more." Southern Comfort won the gold medal at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri.

In an episode of The Thirsty Traveler entitled "A River of Whiskey", spirits historian Chris Morris describes the original recipe of Southern Comfort. Heron began with good-quality bourbon and would add:

An inch of vanilla bean, about a quarter of a lemon, half of a cinnamon stick, four cloves, a few cherries, and an orange bit or two. He would let this soak for days. And right when he was ready to finish, he would add his sweetener: he liked to use honey.

Brown-Forman purchased the brand in 1979. In January 2016 Brown-Forman sold it to Sazerac Company, along with Tuaca, as part of a $543.5 million dollar deal. Sazerac announced that Southern Comfort's formula would be changed in 2017 to restore whiskey as the base spirit, as the original formula used. Sometime before Brown-Forman purchased the brand it had been reformulated to use neutral spirit, with only a negligible amount of whiskey as a flavorant. 

^{In the United States, Southern Comfort is available as 42 US proof, 70 US proof, 80 US proof, and 100 US proof. Varieties including additional flavorings, such as lime and caramel, were introduced by Brown-Forman in the latter years of their ownership. These were discontinued by Sazerac.}

In cocktails....

Southern Comfort is used in the creation of numerous cocktails, including the Alabama Slammer.

One of the earliest Southern Comfort-based cocktails to be marketed was the Scarlett O'Hara, named after the character and concocted in tribute to the release of the film adaptation of Gone with the Wind in 1939. The mixture includes Southern Comfort, cranberry juice, and fresh lime.

Crunchy Chicken Biscuit Casserole ....

 

 

2

cups cubed cooked chicken or 2 (5-oz.) cans chunk chicken

1

(10 3/4-oz.) can condensed cream of chicken soup

1

(8 oz) can green beans, drained

1

(4.5 oz) jar sliced mushrooms, undrained

4

oz. (1 cup) shredded Cheddar or American cheese

1/2

cup mayonnaise or salad dressing

1

teaspoon lemon juice

1

(16.3-oz.) can Pillsbury™ Grands!™ Refrigerated Buttermilk Biscuits

1

tablespoon butter, melted

1/4

cup crushed seasoned croutons

• Heat oven to 375°. In medium saucepan, combine chicken, soup, green beans, mushrooms, cheese, mayonnaise and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Pour hot chicken mixture into ungreased 13x9-inch baking dish.

   
• 2

  Separate dough into 8 biscuits; arrange over hot chicken mixture. Brush each biscuit with butter; sprinkle with crushed croutons.

   
• 3

  Bake at 375°. for 23 to 27 minutes or until deep golden brown.

 

 

 

Historically this date.......

1926 – Harry Houdini performs his greatest feat, spending 91 minutes underwater in a sealed tank before escaping.

1930 – Judge Joseph Force Crater steps into a taxi in New York and disappears never to be seen again.

2011 – A helicopter containing members of Navy SEAL 6 is shot down in Afghanistan killing 38.

2012 – Nasa's Curiosity rover lands on Mars.

And births this date include.....

1881 – Leo Carrillo, American actor (d. 1961)

 

1902 – Dutch Schultz, American organized crime figure (d. 1935)

1911 – Lucille Ball, American actress (d. 1989)

 

1917 – Robert Mitchum, American actor (d. 1997)

 

1928 – Andy Warhol, American artist (d. 1987)

 

 

 

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

 

On August 6, National Root Beer Float Day tells us to float a scoop of vanilla ice cream in an ice-cold mug of frothy root beer. The classic beverage creates a creamy treat loved by generations!

Also known as the “Black Cow,” the root beer float got its start in Colorado in a mining camp. Frank J. Wisner of Cripple Creek, Colorado, gets the credit for inventing the “Black Cow”  way back in August of 1893.

One night Wisner, owner of the Cripple Creek Cow Mountain Gold Mining Company, was staring out the window and thinking about the line of soda waters he was producing for the citizens of Cripple Creek when he came upon an idea.  The full moon that night shined on the snow-capped Cow Mountain and reminded him of a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  He hurried back to his bar and scooped a spoonful of ice cream into the children’s favorite flavor of soda, Myers Avenue Red Root Beer. After trying, he liked it and served it the very next day.  It was an immediate hit.

Wisner named the new creation, “Black Cow Mountain” but the local children shortened the name to “Black Cow”.

Since its inception, thousands of root beer floats have been enjoyed around the country each day.

 

Weather/Smoke ~ Picture of the Day ~ Anymore vs Any more ~ Captain Cook ~ Pillsbury Breakfast Biscuit Buns ~ National Oyster Day

Good 60º clear sunny morning. 

With all the predictions for smoke in the valley yesterday, we didn't get any. 

And we topped at 103º. 

This weather I Thank God for Mr. Carriers invention!!!!

Picture of the Day .... I don't want to walk anymore, mom!

And by the way............ "anymore" vs "any more"....

The problem with anymore is the same problem many writers have with words like “anyway”, “anytime”, and “sometime”—each of them can be written as one or two words. Just remember: If you’re talking about a quantity of something, use any more. If you’re talking about time, use anymore.

Interesting about Captain Cook.........

Captain James Cook  (7 November 1728 – 14 February 1779) was a British explorer, navigator, cartographer, and captain in the Royal Navy. Cook made detailed maps of Newfoundland prior to making three voyages to the Pacific Ocean, during which he achieved the first recorded European contact with the eastern coastline of Australia and the Hawaiian Islands, and the first recorded circumnavigation of New Zealand.

Cook joined the British merchant navy as a teenager and joined the Royal Navy in 1755. He saw action in the Seven Years' War and subsequently surveyed and mapped much of the entrance to the Saint Lawrence River during the siege of Quebec. This helped bring Cook to the attention of the Admiralty and Royal Society. This acclaim came at a crucial moment in both Cook's career and the direction of British overseas exploration, and led to his commission in 1766 as commander of HM Bark Endeavour for the first of three Pacific voyages.

Replica of HM Bark Endeavor:

 Cook was attacked and killed in 1779 during his third exploratory voyage in the Pacific while attempting to kidnap a Hawaiian chief, in order to reclaim a cutter stolen from one of his ships. He left a legacy of scientific and geographical knowledge which influenced his successors well into the 20th century, and numerous memorials worldwide have been dedicated to him.

Pillsbury Breakfast Biscuit Buns

1 pound bacon

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

1 can (16.3 oz) Pillsbury Grands Southern Homestyle Buttermilk biscuits (8 biscuits)

8 eggs

1/2 cup shredded smoked Cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 350º. In skillet cook bacon over medium heat 10-12 minutes, or until bacon is crisp. Remove from pan and put om paper towels and crumble. Remove all but 1 T bacon drippings from skillet. Add onion and cook/stir for 2 minutes. In small bowl mix onion and bacon, set aside.

Spray 8 jumbo muffin cups with cooking spray. Separate dough into 8 biscuits. Place 1 biscuit in each muffin cup, pressing dough 3/4 of the way up sides of cups. Divide bacon mixture evenly among biscuit cups, crack egg over each. Top with cheese.

Bake 30-35 minutes, or until egg whites and yolks are firm but not runny. Run small knife around cups to loosen. Serve immediately.

**Make a batch of these ahead. Cover and refrigerate. When ready to serve reheat oven to 350º and cook 5 minutes, until hot.

Smoked Gouda can be used instead of smoked Cheddar, or if you prefer a cheese without smoke flavor, use regular cheese.

Historically this date........

1884 – The cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty is laid on Bedloe's Island (now Liberty Island) in New York Harbor.

1914 – In Cleveland, Ohio, the first electric traffic light is installed.

1949 – In Ecuador, an earthquake destroys 50 towns and kills more than 6,000.

1957 – American Bandstand, a show dedicated to the teenage "baby-boomers" by playing the songs and showing popular dances of the time, debuts on the ABC television network.

1981 – Ronald Reagan fires 11,359 striking air-traffic controllers who ignored his order for them to return to work.

And births this date include....

1911 – Robert Taylor, American actor (d. 1969)

1930 – Neil Armstrong, American astronaut (d.2012)

1935 – John Saxon, American actor

1946 – Loni Anderson, American actress

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

Get slurping on August 5th with National Oyster Day! Oysters are enjoyed as a seafood in many parts of the world.

Did you know there are over 100 different species of oysters?  Interestingly, oysters tend to take on the characteristics of the water in which they live. Because of this, they’re typically named after the body of water in which they’re grown.

While many people enjoy fresh oysters raw, the shellfish can be savored in multiple ways. As a side dish, oysters add immense flavor to Thanksgiving dressing. They also make flavorful stews, soups, and chowders. Other recipes will bake, grill or broil the oysters with or without the shell.

These mollusks provide valuable nutrients whether eaten cooked or raw. Since oysters supply a high amount of vitamins B12 and A, they may benefit heart, skin, and brain health. These vitamins also support lung and kidney function. Additionally, oysters benefit the environment since their valves are capable of cleansing an ecosystem of pollutants.

Here are some other exciting oyster facts:

• The Chesapeake Bay produces more oysters in the world than any other body of water. 
• The world loves oysters! We consume almost two billion pounds of oysters each year around the world.
• Illustrating how the body of water influences the flavor of the oysters, the east and west coast U.S. oysters taste very different from each other. On the east coast, oysters tend to be smaller, milder and saltier. However, west coast oysters take on a creamy texture and a sweet flavor.  
• Only one out of every 10,000 oysters will produce a pearl.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL OYSTER DAY

Make or order a dish that uses oyster as one of its main ingredients. Try this Grilled Oyster recipe.