Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ African Grey Parrot ~ Cheesy Crab Poppers ~ Tick Tock Day

Good 34º super foggy morning. 

Yesterday stayed dark and gloomy and cold. 

Picture of the Day .... LOL! 

Interesting about African Grey Parrots...

The African grey parrot is characterized by distinctive scalloped gray plumage and red tail feathers. They are native to a wide section of Africa including Tanzania, Kenya, and Nigeria. These parrots are more likely to learn to mimic sounds or talk than any other bird. What is particularly interesting about their mimicking ability is that it is often so exact it is difficult to tell the bird from the real thing.

Many times other species of parrots tend to maintain an element of their own voice in when they mimic, but when an African grey parrot learns to say hello it can sound exactly like the person he is mimicking.

An African grey parrot named 'Einstein' resides at the Knoxville Zoo where she helps get children excited about animals and conservation. She will listen and concentrate on her trainer during these sessions. She can often get a new sound on cue in just a matter of a few weeks. She is famous for her spectacular performance on the TV show 'Pet Star'.

Some of these sounds are ones that humans are not capable of copying. A favorite sound to copy for many African grey parrots is the sound of water pouring. The number of African grey parrots who pick up this sound is astounding. African grey parrots are also notorious for learning to copy many other sounds they typically hear such as microwave beeps, answering machine tones, and smoke alarms. Not only can they develop an extensive vocabulary, this sensitive species can learn to understand what it’s saying.

More Info: www.britannica.com

From Mr. Food

When you're craving the cheesy-fried goodness of a popper, but want something a little different from the average jalapeno popper, make these Cheesy Crab Poppers. They're crispy, cheesy, and have just a light kick to 'em, making them the perfect party appetizer.

 

• 1 (8-1/2-ounce) package corn muffin mix
• 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 stick butter, melted
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 (10-ounce) container lump crab meat, drained well
• 2 cups vegetable oil

1. In a large bowl, combine corn muffin mix, bread crumbs, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, butter, egg, milk, scallions, salt and cayenne pepper; mix well. Gently stir in crab meat until combined. Form mixture into 1-1/2-inch balls.
2. In a deep skillet or soup pot over medium-high heat, heat oil until hot. Add several crab balls to oil, making sure not to overcrowd. Cook 4 to 5 minutes, or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Place on paper towel-lined plate to drain. Repeat with remaining crab balls. Serve warm. Use whatever dipping sauce is your fav.

 

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

1845 – In accordance with International Boundary delimitation, U.S.A annexes the Mexican state of Texas, following the Manifest Destiny doctrine. The Republic of Texas, which had been independent since the Texas Revolution of 1836, is thereupon admitted as the 28th U.S. state.

1997 – Hong Kong begins to kill all the nation's 1.25 million chickens to stop the spread of a potentially deadly influenza strain.

  

And births this date include....

  

1800 – Charles Goodyear, American inventor (d. 1860)

  

  

1808 – Andrew Johnson, 17th President of the United States (d. 1875)

Every picture of him, he's grumpy looking!

1936 – Mary Tyler Moore, American actress (d.2017)

1938 – Jon Voight, American actor

1947 – Ted Danson, American actor

1972 – Jude Law, British actor

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

Tick Tock Day, observed annually on December 29th, reminds us to complete any unfinished business that might need addressing before the end of the year.

As the end of the year approaches, there are some things worth considering. Unfinished business usually needs to be wrapped up before the end of the calendar year. Things like larger business purchases and charitable donations for the tax year may need to be transacted before December 31st. 

Another thing to consider is your medical plan. Does your deductible start over? Do you have a Flexible Savings Account with funds to use? Some employers offer annual benefits that will be lost if they aren’t used by the end of the year. Time is running out. 

Another way to look at the observance is by looking at your personal goals. Did you finish reading that book? There’s still time to check a couple of things off a bucket list. Travel to the Grand Canyon. Eat escargot. Maybe your goals are grander or simpler. Whatever they are, tick-tock. 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Check your list. Get that unfinished business completed. Share your tips for checking off unfinished business.

TICK TOCK DAY HISTORY

Thomas and Ruth Roy at Wellcat.com created Tick Tock Day. 

California Tornado ~ Grapevine Snow ~ Picture of the Day ~ Australia Seasons ~ Italian Crescent Rollups ~ Pledge of Allegiance Day

Good 35º high fog morning. 

Well, Thursday a tornado did touch down in California, but not in Santa Barbara County, it happened in Ventura County, with minor damage...

https://abc7.com/weather/tornado-touches-down-in-ventura-causes-minor-damage/5789508/

The damage at the Ventura Harbor and 'scattered strawberries' !

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/12/27/winter-storm-brings-possible-tornado-snow-ventura-county/2755236001/

As for the Grapevine closed with snow for almost 2 days/nights ...this is the detour that was suggested... and extra 3 hour drive! The Grapevine has finally reopened.

Picture of the Day ... did it snow where you are? Make one of these!!

Interesting ... if you are going to Australia, here is their 'different from ours' weather....

Australia's climate varies greatly throughout the eight states and territories; there are four seasons across most of the country and a wet and dry season in the tropical north.

Australia's seasons are at opposite times to those in the northern hemisphere. December to February is summer; March to May is autumn; June to August is winter; and September to November is spring.

In the winter season, cooler temperatures are forecast all across the nation. Though snow is uncommon amongst the majority of Australia, snowfall can be found within some select locations.

Snowfall occurs within the mountainous terrains of NSW’s Snowy Mountains, Victoria’s Alpine Region, and the mountainous parts of Tasmania. Within the northern tropics of Australia, the weather rarely drops below 24°C. Though most other areas rarely catch a glimpse of the snow, Australian weather can have quite a few dramatic drops during the day.

More Info: www.tripsavvy.com

From Mr.  Food

Take your crescent rolls up a notch with this 5-ingredient recipe for Italian Crescent Rollups. These are simple enough to have as a snack, but also fancy enough to make as a last-minute appetizer. They're real crowd-pleasers!

 

• 1 (8-ounce) package refrigerated crescent rolls
• 1/3 cup sundried tomatoes in oil, chopped, with 2 tablespoons oil reserved
• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil
• Garlic powder for sprinkling
• Grated Parmesan cheese for sprinkling

 

1. Preheat oven to 375º.
2. Unroll dough, separate into 8 triangles, and cut each triangle in half. Lightly brush each triangle with oil, then sprinkle evenly with tomatoes, basil, and garlic powder.
3. Roll each triangle from the wide end to the point. Place on baking sheet with seam-side down. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden. Serve warm.

Historically this date.....

1912 – The first municipally owned streetcars take to the streets in San Francisco, California.

.... LOVED riding those!!!

1958 – "Greatest Game Ever Played" – Baltimore Colts defeat the New York Giants in the first ever National Football League sudden death overtime game at New York's Yankee Stadium.

2000 – U.S. retail giant Montgomery Ward announces it is going out of business after 128 years.

...........sad sad sad day!! "Monkey Wards" a fav place to shop!

And births this date include....

1856 – Woodrow Wilson, American politician, 28th President of the United States, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1924)

My High School named after him! Our school mascot was a Mule~! LOL.

http://wilsonmulesfootball.com/

Of course Sue Shewalter and I were inside

the mascot costume running around on the football field, but did anyone get a picture? No.

1934 – Dame Maggie Smith, British actress

1954 – Denzel Washington, American actor

1972 – Adam Vinatieri, American football player

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

Pledge of Allegiance Day on December 28th commemorates the date Congress adopted the “The Pledge” into the United States Flag Code. 

Congress formally gave recognition for the Pledge of Allegiance on December 28, 1945. Francis Bellamy receives credit for writing the Pledge of Allegiance. The Youth’s Companion, a magazine for young people, first published it anonymously on September 8, 1892, under the title “The Pledge.” It was written in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America.

In 1923 and 1924, the National Flag Conference inserted text of the pledge into legislation. Though modifications were made, the pledge remained nearly the same. At the same time, the conference didn’t designate it as the official pledge. In its original form, it read:

“I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

The small changes resulted in this version:

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

On Flag Day in 1954, Congress added the words “under God” in response to the anti-Communist opinion sweeping the country during the Cold War.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE DAY HISTORY

Over the years, various attempts to create a national day honoring the Pledge of Allegiance have reached Congress. Others have failed. Around the country, Pledge Days, large and small, focused on the history of the pledge, the flag, and the Nation as a whole. We recount some of those efforts below. Interestingly, none of the exercises in patriotism point to a holiday taking place on December 28th. 

Grade School Movement

In the 1970s, a movement took root aimed to set Pledge of Allegiance Day on April 30th. The significance of the date points to President George Washington’s inauguration on April 30, 1789. The third-grade students and their teacher, Mrs. Priore from Cleveland Hill School in Cheektowaga, NY, launched the campaign. Their campaign gained some ground with editorials and articles published across the country. However, their efforts never resulted in any continuing observance.

Congressional Designations

In 1982, Congress received a submission for National Pledge of Allegiance Day, but they took no action.

That same decade, the House reviewed a Joint Resolution to designate September 8, 1988, as Francis Bellamy Pledge of Allegiance Day. While they referred the document to the Post Office and Civil Service Committee for review, no further action resulted.

The following year, National Pledge of Allegiance Day returned. The House passed H.J.Res. 253 designating September 8, 1989, as National Pledge of Allegiance Day in commemoration of the first day “The Pledge” appeared in print. The resolution also called for the Pledge of Allegiance to be included in the 500th anniversary commemorative activities celebrating the discovery of America. The anniversary took place in 1992. That year, a commemorative stamp was issued.

In 2004, the Senate passed Resolution 378 designating June 14, 2004, as National Pledge of Allegiance as a way to reaffirm the United States flag as a unique symbol of the United States and its ideals.