Weather ~ Josh of All Natural Pest ~ Moles in Yard ~ Mike Hannan ~ Picture of the day ~ Sydney Opera House ~ Four-Layer Pecan Pie ~ National Salesperson Day

 

 

Good 37º foggy morning. 

 

Again, as is typical this time of year, we started cloudy and foggy yesterday....

Then we actually had sun come through....

The sun was nice for a very short time and then we got rain. 

We topped at 49º.

 

Yesterday Josh from All Natural Pest Control came out. I have a mole problem. Moles dig up from underground and make piles and piles of dirt. Josh is taking care of the problem.

 

Here is some interesting stuff about moles:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_(animal)#Pest_status_-_extermination_and_humane_options

 

Also Mike Hannan came over and took down a couple of small dead trees and put a new battery in my riding lawnmower. As he was working, the rain started, so he will be back when there is no rain. 

 

 

 

Picture of the Day ...

 

 

Interesting about the Sydney Opera House....

 

The Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Opera House are arguably Sydney's most recognizable buildings. The bridge was opened in 1932 and the Opera house in 1973. Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, his design won through an international competition from 233 entries.

Some interesting facts about the Opera House are -

- it is built on Bennalong Point named after Woollarawarre Bennelong, a senior Eora man at the time of the arrival of British colonisers in Australia in 1788.

- the original cost estimate was $7 million, however the final cost was $102 million.

- cost of the building was largely paid for by a State lottery

- construction was to take 4 years. It took 14 years to complete

- there are 1,056,006 tiles on the roof, all made in Sweden

- seven A380 aircraft could sit wing-to-wing on the site

- Arnold Schwarzenegger won his final Mr Olympia body building title in 1980 in the Concert Hall

- it is cooled by taking seawater directly from the harbor

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

Our Four-Layer Pecan Pie recipe is layered with creamy filling, crunchy pecans, and a flaky refrigerated pie crust that truly make this a delectable dessert. Top it with a scoop of your favorite ice cream and a drizzle of maple syrup for a dessert you'll want to eat over and over again.

 

• 1 refrigerated rolled pie crust (from a 15-ounce package)
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup cup sugar, divided
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
• 4 eggs, divided
• 1 cup corn syrup
• 1 1/4 cups chopped pecans

 

1. Preheat oven to 375º. Unroll pie crust and place in a 9-inch deep dish pie plate, pressing crust firmly into plate.
2. In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 egg. Beat at low speed until smooth; set aside.
3. In another medium bowl, beat 3 eggs. Add remaining sugar, the corn syrup, and remaining vanilla; mix well.
4. Spread cream cheese mixture in pie crust. Sprinkle with pecans and slowly pour corn syrup mixture over pecans.
5. Bake 40 to 45 minutes, or until center is set. Let cool, then refrigerate 4 hours or until ready to serve.

 

***If necessary, cover edge of pie crust with foil to prevent excessive browning after 25 minutes.

 

 

Historically this date.....

1816 – Indiana becomes the 19th U.S. state.

 

1920 – Irish War of Independence: In retaliation for a recent IRA ambush, British forces burn and loot numerous buildings in Cork city. Many civilians report being beaten, shot at, robbed and verbally abused by British forces.

 

 

1941 – World War II: Germany and Italy declare war on the United States, following the Americans' declaration of war on the Empire of Japan in the wake of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The United States, in turn, declares war on them.

 

1941 – World War II: Poland declares war on the Empire of Japan.

1941 – World War II: The Imperial Japanese Navy suffers its first loss of surface vessels during the Battle of Wake Island.

 

1946 – The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is established.

1972 – Apollo 17 becomes the sixth and last Apollo mission to land on the Moon.

 

2008 – Bernard Madoff is arrested and charged with securities fraud in a $50 billion Ponzi scheme.

  

2017 – A bomb detonated in the New York City Subway, in the Times Square–42nd Street/Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City. It is known as the 2017 New York City attempted bombing.

 

 

And births this date.......

1889 – Walter Knott, American farmer and businessman, founded Knott's Berry Farm (d. 1981)

1931 – Rita Moreno, Puerto Rican-American actress, singer, and dancer

1939 – Tom Hayden, American activist and politician (d. 2016)

1940 – Donna Mills, American actress and producer

 

 

1943 – John Kerry, American lieutenant, lawyer, and politician, 68th United States Secretary of State

1944 – Lynda Day George, American actress

1944 – Brenda Lee, American singer-songwriter

 

 

 

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

 

In the middle of the holiday shopping season, National Salesperson Day recognizes the personnel who make sure the products keep flying off the shelves. On the second Friday in December, the day honors the value and dedication of the professional salesperson and the hard work that they perform.

A good salesperson is knowledgeable about the product. They answer customers’ questions and provide additional information when necessary. A salesperson may work locally in a shop or travel several hundred miles a day to see customers and vendors. When a new product becomes available, sales personnel study up on the product to stay knowledgeable and informed.

Many customers have favorite salespeople, and they know the salesperson provides the best customer care. A salesperson’s responsibilities go beyond sales, too. For example, they may be required to track inventory and complete purchase orders. Some even handle delivery depending on the product they provide. 

This time of the year, sales personnel are especially busy. Holiday shopping is in full swing. But other retail businesses are reviewing their inventories, looking forward to the new year. A salesperson is the front line of any business. Often, they are the first person a customer sees. They’re definitely the first one they think of asking to speak to when they have a question. Businesses rely on their sales personnel to be ready for anything and provide them with the tools to make the sale as efficient as possible. 

Weather/Fog ~ Picture of the Day ~ Redheads ~ "Mom's" Chicken Soup ~ National Lager Day

 

 

Good 38º foggy morning. 

 

 

Yesterday we started off like this.....

And that was nicer than the day went from there....

We topped at 48º.

 

 

 

 

Picture of the Day

 

 

 

Interesting about redheads....

 

It is estimated that approximately 2% of the world’s population has naturally red hair. The majority of red haired individuals are of northern and western European ancestry. Western Europe has more red haired people than any other part of the world. Approximately 6% of the Scottish population has red hair while about 10% of the Irish population has red hair, making it the most red-haired country in the world. Red hair prevalence in England is about 4%.

In Africa, red hair has been noticed on the Berber of Algeria and Morocco. Also, Riffians and Kabyles in Morocco and Algeria respectively have red hair among them. Interestingly, Lalla Salma, the Queen of Morocco, is also a redhead. Some Ashkenazi Jews also have red hair. According to some studies, about 3.6% of the Jewish women have red hair while 10% of the Jewish men have red beards.

In Asia, natural red hair is very rare and was historically found mainly among the Tocharians. However, reddish-brown hair is common among Syrians, Lebanese, Jordan, and Palestinians. In the Americas, the emigration of Europeans has influenced the red haired population. Approximately 2-6% of the US population is redheaded, giving the US the largest redhead population in the world at 6-18 million people.

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

Need a little comfort that only "Mom" can provide? Well, you're sure to feel and taste lots of TLC in each spoonful of our Test Kitchen's classic soothing Mom's Chicken Soup.

 

• 1 (3- to 4-pound) chicken, cut into quarters
• 4 quarts water
• 3 carrots, cut into chunks
• 3 celery stalks, cut into chunks
• 2 onions, cut into chunks
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• Chicken base or bouillon cubes to taste, optional (see Notes)

 

 

1. Rinse chicken under cold running water. In a soup pot over medium-high heat, combine all ingredients except chicken base; bring to a boil.
    
2. Reduce heat to low and simmer about 1-1/2 hours, or until chicken falls off bones. Cool slightly, then separate chicken from bones, discarding bones. Return chicken pieces to soup. Add chicken base, if desired, and stir until completely dissolved.

 

**If you decide to intensify the flavor of your soup with chicken base, begin with 1 or 2 tablespoons. If you are using chicken bouillon cubes, you can use 2 to 3. 

 

 

 

 

Historically this date.......

1817 – Mississippi becomes the 20th U.S. state.

 

1965 – The Grateful Dead's first concert performance under this new name.

 

And births this date include...

1914 – Dorothy Lamour, American actress (d. 1996)

 

 

 

1928 – Dan Blocker, American actor (d. 1972)

....drafted into the Army during Korea but was fanatical against the Viet Nam war to the point of leaving the country!

 

 

1941 – Tommy Kirk, American actor

Strange life!

 

 

 

 

1941 – Tommy Rettig, American actor (d. 1996)

 

 

 

 

 

1952 – Susan Dey, American actress

 

                            

 

1964 – Bobby Flay, American chef and restaurateur

 

 

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

 

National Lager Day on December 10th raises a glass to the third most popular beverage after water and tea. While lager is typically characterized as a light, summer beer we believe that every season deserves to be celebrated with a few of your favorite things.

Lagers are distinguished from other beers by using a cold-conditioning process. The types of yeast used are referred to as “bottom-fermenting” yeast or yeast that can develop at colder temperatures. Before the advent of refrigeration, brewers perfected this process in cellars dug into the ground and filled with ice. Those who taste the delicious results described the lager as “crisp” and “refreshing.” It is no wonder that this method caught on and produced a wide variety of brews synonymous with regional and national brands.

With so many choices from pale, amber or dark, not to mention the many craft varieties there is are endless possibilities for your enjoyment. So, grab some friends and celebrate this midwinter season with the taste of Summer.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Order a flight and discover a variety of delicious lagers. Invite friends to join you. Learn about the brewing process, too. Tour a brewery or find out more from a brewmaster.

Fog ~ Picture of the Day ~ Kansas City Chiefs ~ Bacon Cheddar Bites ~ My Fog Picture on the News ~ National Pastry Day

 

 

Good 39º dark foggy morning.

 

The fog yesterday morning was THICK!

 

 

Picture of the Day...

 

 

 

 

Interesting how the Kansas City Chiefs got their name......

 

The Chiefs began as a charter member of the AFL in 1960. It was originally based in Texas and called the "Dallas Texans."

In the spring of 1958, owner Lamar Hunt had tried to get an NFL expansion team or purchase an existing club and move it to Dallas. At one point, he thought he had a deal to buy the Chicago Cardinals but was rebuffed by Chicago owner Charles Bidwell who would constantly hedge on whether the Cards were really for sale or not.

In frustration, he teamed up with Bud Adams out of Houston and began his own league. As Hunt was lining up franchises in several cities and the new league was imminent, the NFL suddenly announced expansion into four cities; one of which just happened to be located in Dallas and eventually named the Cowboys. This was an obvious attempt to squelch the new league before it began.

The Texans were an early success on the field and would later capture the 1962 AFL Championship. Off the field was a totally different matter however. At the time, Dallas was not the sprawling metropolis that it is today with a population of only 679,684. It could barely support one team, much less two. In three years the Cowboys lost $2 million while Hunt’s Texans were in the hole $2.5 million.

Despite having a better team than the cross-town Cowboys, 1,100 more season ticket holders and a better gate average, Hunt couldn’t absorb the losses any longer.

He began to scout other cities. His first interest was New Orleans, but the city’s only large stadium was still segregated. Coincidentally, Kansas City mayor H. Roe Bartle had on his agenda to bring a pro football team to his city just as he had brought the Major League Athletics from Philadelphia years earlier.

Bartle wooed Hunt to transfer his club to the Midwest. He promised to enlarge the stadium and guaranteed three times the season ticket sales as the Texans had experienced in Dallas. After losing money in Dallas despite winning, Hunt relocated his club to Kansas City for the 1963 season.

At first, the team was to be called the Kansas City Texans. As a secondary thought, Hunt offered a “name-the-team” contest to drum up fan interest. A total of 1,020 different names were submitted amongst 4,866 entries. After the finalists were formulated, Hunt chose "Chiefs" in honor of Mayor Bartle, whose nickname was Chief. Other finalists were Royals and Mules.

This franchise has captured four championships: three AFL titles and one Super Bowl.

One note of interest: the Chiefs helmet logo is patterned after the 49ers logo.

Origin Facts:

Established: 1960

Original Owner: Lamar Hunt

Original Colors: Red & white

First Stadium: Cotton Bowl, seating 92,100

Retired Jerseys: No. 28 Abner Haynes, No. 16 Len Dawson, No. 78 Bobby Bell, No. 86 Buck Buchanan, No. 33 Stone Johnson, No. 36 Mack Lee Hill, No. 18 Emmitt Thomas, No. 3 Jan Stenerud, No. 63 Willie Lanier, No. 58 Derrick Thomas

 

 

From Mr. Food

Need a quick and flavorful appetizer you can whip up in just 20 minutes? Well, you don't need a ton of ingredients to make our Bacon Cheddar Bites and you can bet these babies will disappear right before your eyes!

 

• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 stick butter
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs
• 8 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
• 1/3 cup thinly sliced scallions
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 3/4 teaspoon salt

 

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Coat 2 baking sheets with cooking spray.
2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine milk and butter until butter is melted and mixture is hot. Add flour and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon, until mixture forms a ball. Remove from heat. Stir in 1 egg until mixture is smooth. Repeat with remaining eggs, adding 1 egg at a time, until thoroughly combined. Stir in remaining ingredients.
3. Drop mixture by teaspoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets.
4. Bake 15 to 18 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown. Serve warm.

 

***Serve this with picante sauce for dipping.

 

 

Historically this date.......

1979 – The eradication of the smallpox virus is certified, making smallpox the first and to date only human disease driven to extinction.

 

2008 – The Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, is arrested by federal officials for a number of crimes including attempting to sell the United States Senate seat being vacated by President-elect Barack Obama's election to the Presidency.

 

And births this date include....

(Just fyi, too many pictures to post. If you want to see a photo of them and/or read about them, click on their name, it's the link)

1897 – Hermione Gingold, English actress (d. 1987)

1898 – Emmett Kelly, American circus clown (d. 1979)

1909 – Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., American actor (d. 2000)

1911 – Broderick Crawford, American actor (d. 1986)

1911 – Lee J. Cobb, American actor (d. 1976)

1916 – Kirk Douglas, American actor (d.2020)

Interesting read about his heritage and his life.

 

1922 – Redd Foxx, American comedian (d. 1991)

 

1925 – Dina Merrill, American actress (d.2017)

 

1928 – Dick Van Patten, American actor (d.2015)

1929 – John Cassavetes, American actor and director (d. 1989)

1934 – Dame Judi Dench, English actress

1941 – Beau Bridges, American actor

1942 – Dick Butkus, American football player

.... Ha ha ha... "Dick Butt Kiss" !!!

1953 – John Malkovich, American actor

1957 – Donny Osmond, American singer and actor

1962 – Felicity Huffman, American actress

 

 

 Last night KOBI News, Jack Church, put my picture on their 6 o'clock newscast...

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

 

National Pastry Day celebrates one of the world’s most favored baked goods. On December 9th, visit your local bakery and pick up one or two of your favorite kinds.

The pastry is a name given to a large variety of baked goods which are made with ingredients such as flour, sugar, milk, butter, shortening, baking powder, and eggs. Pastry dough is rolled out thinly and then used as a base for different baked products.  A few of the more common bakery items include pies, tarts, quiches, and pasties. Bakers create both savory and sweet dishes from the doughs they create. Additionally, they continue to develop new and delicious creations all the time!

• Pastries can be traced as far back as the ancient Mediterranean where they had almost paper-thin, multilayered baklava and Phyllo dough.
• Pastry making began in Northern Europe after the Crusaders brought it back from the Mediterranean.
• French and Italian Renaissance chefs eventually perfected the puff and choux pastries while 17th and 18th-century chefs brought new recipes to the table.  Included in the innovative recipes were Napoleons, cream puffs and eclairs.

Culinary historians often consider French pastry chef Antonin Careme (1784 – 1833) to have been the original great master of pastry making in modern times.

Many different types of pastry deliver baked goods that make our mouths water. Most of them fall into one of the following categories:

• Shortcrust pastry – simplest and most common.
• Sweetcrust pastry – similar to the shortcrust but sweeter.
• Flaky pastry – simple pastry that expands when cooked.
• Puff pastry – has many layers that cause it to puff when baked.
• Choux pastry – very light pastry that is often filled with cream or other fillings.
• Phyllo pastry – paper-thin pastry dough that is used in many layers.

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Get baking! Choose your favorite recipes. Another way to celebrate is by visiting your local bakery and giving them a shout out.