Clouds ~ Picture of the Day ~ Romney Sheep ~ Stroganoff Casserole ~ Erika Norman ~ Black Cat Appreciation Day

Good 62º scattered clouds morning. 

Possible thunder storms were predicted for yesterday. The clouds moved in early....

The clouds stayed most of the day and we did get 5 minutes of super light rain. The winds came up and the clouds started moving out and then it warmed. We topped by 5pm at 105º. 

Picture of the Day .... oh my!

Interesting about this breed of sheep.....

The Romney, formerly called the Romney Marsh sheep but generally referred to by the local farmers as the Kent, is a breed of sheep originating in England. The Romney is a "long-wool" breed recognized in England by 1800. Exported to other continents, the Romney is an economically important sheep breed, especially to the sheep-meat and wool export trades of New Zealand.

The breed evolved from medieval long wool types of which the Romney and Leicester breeds are early examples. The sheep recognized by 1800 as "Romney Marsh" or "Kent" were improved in body type and fleece quality through crossings with Bakewell's English Leicester.

The Romney is in general an open-faced breed with long wool that grows over the legs in full. Romney breed standards are not identical across all countries, but have much in common. Almost every detailed description of the Romney cites relative resistance to foot rot, an attribute rarely mentioned in descriptions of other breeds.

The sheer number of Romney ewes and lambs in New Zealand make the breed not only the biggest input by tonnage to overseas and domestic wool trade, but also the major part of the country's export frozen lamb trade, as purebreds and first-generation crosses. New Zealand is the world's largest exporter of frozen and chilled lamb. In 2008, NZ sheep-meat exports (mostly of lamb) brought in more than half of the country's $4.5 billion meat export revenues.

If you want to read more about this breed of sheep, go here:

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

From Mr. Food

We think of this casserole as comfort food at its best; it has hearty, hearty, hearty written all over it! Make it ahead for hectic weeknights. Then just toss a bag of salad greens with your favorite dressing, and supper's on the table!

• 12 ounces wide egg noodles
• 1 pound ground chuck
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 (8-ounce) package fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1/2 cup beef broth
• 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 (8-ounce) container sour cream
• 12 ounces container small-curd cottage cheese
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 cups (8-ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon salt

1. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, cracker crumbs, onion, egg, chili powder, and salt; mix well. Press mixture into prepared baking dish and bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until juices run clear. Drain off excess liquid.
    
2. Combine sour cream, cottage cheese, garlic and salt. Add noodles, tossing to coat. Spread half of noodle mixture in a lightly greased 9- x 13-inch baking dish. Top with half of meat mixture, half of mozzarella cheese, and half of Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers with remaining noodle and meat mixtures
    
3. Bake an additional 8 to 10 minutes, or until cheese has melted and top has begun to brown.
   
    

***If you want to add more spicy heat, use a little more chili powder or use a blend of shredded Mexican cheeses or Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeno peppers instead of Cheddar cheese.

Special birthday today... my pal Erika Norman is celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIKA!! 💝

Historically this date.......

1907 – Pike Place Market, a popular tourist destination and registered historic district in Seattle, Washington, opened.

...............I loved going here!!!

1969 – Category 5 Hurricane Camille hits the U.S. Gulf Coast, killing 256 and causing $1.42 billion in damage.

1998 – Lewinsky scandal: US President Bill Clinton admits in taped testimony that he had an "improper physical relationship" with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. On the same day he admits before the nation that he "misled people" about the relationship.

2008 – American swimmer Michael Phelps becomes the first person to win eight gold medals in one Olympic Games.

And births this date include...

1786 – Davy Crockett, American soldier and politician (d. 1836)

 ...Interesting, Fess Parker who played Davy on TV was born the date before, on 8-16!

 

1893 – Mae West, American actress (d. 1980)

1920 – Maureen O'Hara, Irish actress and singer (d.2015)

1929 – Francis Gary Powers, American pilot (d. 1977)

1933 – Glenn Corbett, American actor (d. 1993)

   ...born in El Monte!

 

1943 – Robert De Niro, American actor

1960 – Sean Penn, American actor and director

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

Black Cat Appreciation Day on August 17th aims to dispel all myths surrounding black cats. Additionally, the day shouldn’t be confused with National Black Cat Day.

Superstitions aside, cats are simply adorable, even black ones. These feline creatures in their sleek, black coats may carry an air of mystery. However, most cats do. Along with that, their ability to find mischief or to avoid you equals that of tabbys, cinnamons, gingers, calicos, whites or grays.

One black cat fact is that they are less likely to be adopted. Just like black dogs, this variety of cat gets shunned at shelters. However, black cats respond to love and attention no differently than other felines.

So, let a black cat cross your path. They aren’t witches. More than likely, adopting a black cat will help keep the mouse population down around the place. Expect the number of cuddles in your life to increase, too!

HOW TO OBSERVE

Consider adopting a black cat. Overcome your fears.

BLACK CAT APPRECIATION DAY HISTORY

This day exists to dispel myths and fears of Black Cats.

My Bruiser isn't a black cat, he's a Tuxedo Cat. Black and white, like a radio car! LOL. When I worked at ELA Station, whenever a black and white animal came into the parking lot, the deputies would call them Radio Car! When I got Bruiser I thought that back east they call their radio cars "cruisers"... hmmmmm... cruiser.....bruiser! 

Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Teddy Bears ~ Kristen & My Teddy ~ Meatloaf Potato Casserole ~ National Rum Day

Good 62º scattered cloudy morning. 

With the predictions for SUPER hot weather, yesterday 
by 1pm we were at 101º, by 2pm it was 105º, 3pm 109º, and at 4pm we topped at 111º!!

Picture of the Day ... oh my, perfect timing!

Interesting about Teddy Bears.....

A teddy bear is a stuffed toy in the form of a bear. Developed apparently simultaneously by toymakers Morris Michtom in the U.S. and Richard Steiff in Germany in the early years of the 20th century, and named after President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt, the teddy bear became a popular children's toy, celebrated in story, song, and film. Teddy bears are among the most popular gifts for children and are often given to adults to signify love, congratulations, or sympathy.

In 1902, President Roosevelt participated in a bear-hunting trip in Mississippi. While hunting, Roosevelt declared the behavior of the other hunters “unsportsmanlike" after he refused to kill a bear they had captured.

As news of the hunting trip spread, many newspapers around the country featured political cartoons starring “Teddy" and “the bear."

Meanwhile, in Brooklyn, New York, Morris Michtom saw one of the cartoons and had an idea. Michtom and his wife created stuffed bears and placed them in the front window of their shop.

With permission from Roosevelt, Michtom named the bears “Teddy bears." They were an instant success. Ladies and children carried the bears with them in public. President Roosevelt even used the teddy bear as his mascot when he ran for re-election.

Early teddy bears were made to look like real bears, with extended snouts and beady eyes. Modern teddy bears tend to have larger eyes and foreheads and smaller noses, babylike features intended to enhance the toy's "cuteness". Some teddy bears are also designed to represent different species, such as polar bears and brown bears, as well as pandas and koalas.

While early teddy bears were covered in tawny mohair fur, modern teddy bears are manufactured in a wide variety of commercially available fabrics, most commonly synthetic fur, but also velour, denim, cotton, satin, and canvas.

A 1902 political cartoon in The Washington Post spawned the teddy bear name.

Blankets over a table on my parents patio so Kristen could have a "tent" to play in. She's holding my favorite Teddy Bear my aunt gave to me when I was born. He is still close..... Anyway, so this is about 1971 or 1972, and Teddy was in his late 20's!

From Mr. Food

Here's a great meat-and-potatoes combination that's sure to be a hit with your gang! There's no need to make a separate mashed potato side dish... you can have an all-in-one dinner with this reader-favorite casserole.

 

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1/3 cup saltine cracker crumbs (about 8 crackers)
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 servings warm instant mashed potatoes
• 1 (11 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
• 6 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

 

1. Preheat oven to 375º. Coat an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray
    
2. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, cracker crumbs, onion, egg, chili powder, and salt; mix well. Press mixture into prepared baking dish and bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until juices run clear. Drain off excess liquid.
    

1. Combine potatoes, corn, and scallions. Spread over meat loaf. Sprinkle cheese evenly over top.
    
2. Bake an additional 8 to 10 minutes, or until cheese has melted and top has begun to brown.
   
    

 

****If you want to add more spicy heat, use a little more chili powder or use a blend of shredded Mexican cheeses or Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeno peppers instead of Cheddar cheese.

Historically this date.....

1927 – The Dole Air Race begins from Oakland, California, to Honolulu, Hawaii, during which six out of the eight participating planes crash or disappear.

1960 – Joseph Kittinger parachutes from a balloon over New Mexico at 102,800 feet (31,300 m), setting three records that still stand today: High-altitude jump, free-fall, and highest speed by a human without an aircraft.

1989 – A solar flare from the Sun creates a geomagnetic storm that affects micro chips, leading to a halt of all trading on Toronto's stock market.

And births this date include....

1928 – Eydie Gormé, American singer (d.2013)

1930 – Robert Culp, American actor (d. 2010)

1930 – Frank Gifford, American football player and announcer (d. 2015)

1933 – Julie Newmar, American actress

1946 – Lesley Ann Warren, American actress

1953 – Kathie Lee Gifford, American singer and actress

........... same birthday as her husband!

1958 – Madonna, American singer and actress

1960 – Timothy Hutton, American actor

1962 – Steve Carell, American actor, comedian, voice artist, producer, writer, and director

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

Join National Rum Day on August 16th as blended beverages and cocktails create a delicious celebration. Rum is a distilled clear alcoholic beverage which is a byproduct of sugar production. It can also be made directly from sugar cane juice. After the fermentation and distillation process, most rum ages in wooden oak barrels.

RUM FACT: In 1764, the British Crown placed a tax on sugar, molasses and rum on the American colonies. This tax was called The Sugar Act of 1764. It was instrumental in the unrest that finally became the American Revolution.

Rum is the third most popular spirit in the United States. Only vodka and all the whiskeys combined beat it for first and second-rankings. The spirit finds its way into citrusy mixed drinks, and cool blended summer cocktails. So much so, that rum stirs up images of sandy beaches and brightly colored umbrellas in fruity drinks.

However, rum also conjures up sailors and pirates. The reason for that is how rum came to be. In the West Indies during the 1600s, large plantations grew sugar cane. When they extracted the sugar, they created a by-product called molasses. For years, the molasses was a waste product until it was discovered it could be distilled – into rum. Then, rum became not only a commodity for trade but also a ration on the ships delivering the product. Even in the modern Royal Navy, British sailors received an allotment of rum until 1970.