Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Brush Hog ~ Apple Pie Pork Chops ~ National Mint Julep Day

  

Good 49º clear morning. 

 

 

Yesterday we stayed clear and topped at 94º.

 

 

Picture of the Day...have you ever been here to see this?

 

 

Interesting about brush hogging.........

 

 

A bush hog or "brush hog" is a type of rotary mower. Typically these mowers attach to the back of a farm tractor using the three-point hitch and are driven via the power take-off (PTO). It has blades that are not rigidly attached to the drive like a lawnmower blade, but are on hinges so if the blade hits a rock or stump, it bounces backward and inward, and then centrifugal force makes it go outwards again.

 

The rotary blades are not sharpened in the same way as a conventional mower blade. They are usually quite dull so they whack through dense plant growth, whereas a sharp blade often gets stuck or slowed. The blades are very heavy, up to an inch thick, so the centrifugal force pulling out is stronger than the forces of the vegetation bouncing in. They are made of heat treated high carbon steel that can withstand strikes with hard objects such as rocks and stones.

Types of brush hog

Two archetypes of this type of mower are the Bush Hog which is made by Bush Hog, Inc. of Selma, Alabama and the Flex-Wing by RhinoAg of Gibson City, Illinois. The formal name for this type of implement is a rotary cutter or rotary mower, although it differs from mowers in that it does not cut with a sharp blade, but rather severs with an intentionally very dull wedge-like blade.

Several other manufacturers make these types of mowers including:

• Bush-Whacker
• DR Power Equipment
• Hardee By EVH Manufacturing Co.
• King Kutter
• Land Pride
• RhinoAg^[
• Woods Equipment
•  

There are two types of attachment for a rotary mower, either using the three-point hitch or via a draw bar. The height of the cut on models attached on the three-point hitch is adjusted using the hitch control lever. This adjusts the height of the front of mower. For more radical height adjustment the rear wheel can also be adjusted. Typically the mowers in this category range from 3.3 to 22 feet mowing widths.

 

A rotary mower that applies chemical while cutting was patented by Tom Burch of Boone, N.C. and was later sold to Diamond Mowers Inc. of Sioux Falls, S.D. under the name Wet Blade.

 

On draw bar models the height of the cut is determined using hydraulic rams on the mower itself; this requires remote hydraulics on the tractor. These mowers in this category range from 3.3 to 22 feet mowing width. Draw bar mowers which are able to mow larger widths up to 20 feet  are available. These are multi-spindle and hinged so that the side wings can move over varied terrain. Also these wings can be folded up into a vertical position to reduce width for transport on roadways.

Safety

The blades on a rotary cutter can have top speeds of over 150 miles per hour. Therefore the kinetic energy enables the blades to cut through saplings and small trees up to several inches/centimeters in diameter. Consequently, these mowers can be very dangerous and contact with the blades would cause severe bodily injury or death.

 

These cutters also pose a thrown object hazard. Objects such as rocks, stones and roadside debris can be thrown in excess of 300 feet.

Sizing

Larger rotary cutters require more powerful tractors to effectively operate. Tractor dealers can recommend the right size brush hog for any of their tractors, or tractor and brush hog sizing charts are available on the Internet. Calculators used to estimate the time required to mow different size areas with different size cutters are also available and can be used to help decide which brush hog is the best investment for different situations.

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

Apples and pork chops are a classic combination that taste great, so of course we had to come up with a recipe that featured this duo. Our Apple Pie Pork Chops are full of flavor!

 

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 6 (1-inch) pork loin chops (about 3 pounds total) (see Note)
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 (21-ounce) container apple pie filling
• 1/2 cup water

 

1. In a shallow dish, combine flour, salt, and pepper; mix well.
    
2. Dip pork chops in flour mixture, coating completely.
    
3. In a large deep skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chops and brown 4 to 5 minutes per side. Stir in pie filling and water. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until no pink remains in chops.
    
4. Serve with sauce spooned over the top.

 

***To get nice, thick pork chops, ask your butcher or the meat cutter at the grocery store to cut them fresh for you.

 

 

 

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

1806 – Andrew Jackson kills Charles Dickinson in a duel after Dickinson had accused Jackson's wife of bigamy.

1842 – John Francis attempts to murder Queen Victoria as she drives down Constitution Hill, London with Prince Albert.

 

 

1859 – Westminster's Big Ben rang for the first time in London.

 

 

1883 – In New York City, a rumor that the Brooklyn Bridge is going to collapse causes a stampede that crushes twelve people.

 

 

1899 – Female Old West outlaw Pearl Hart robs a stage coach 30 miles southeast of Globe, Arizona.

 

 

1922 – In Washington, D.C. the Lincoln Memorial is dedicated.

 

 

1958 – Memorial Day: the remains of two unidentified American servicemen, killed in action during World War II and the Korean War respectively, are buried at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery

 

1998 – A magnitude 6.6 earthquake hits northern Afghanistan, killing up to 5,000.

 

 

2005– American student Natalee Holloway disappears while on a high school graduation trip to Aruba, and caused a media sensation in the United States.

 

 

2013 – Nigeria passes a law banning same-sex

marriage.

 

 

And births this date include....

1927 – Clint Walker, American actor (d. 2018)

... he sure WAS a hunk!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1936 – Keir Dullea, American actor

 

 

1936 – Ruta Lee, Canadian actress

 

 

 

1944 – Meredith MacRae, American actress (d. 2000)

.... sad sad sad .... brain cancer.

 

 
1958 – Michael Lopez-Alegria, astronaut

 

 

1964 – Wynonna Judd, American country singer

 

 

 

All I know. Nuff said. Have a good Tuesday. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

National Mint Julep Day on May 30th each year sets up a refreshing toast to summer. Each year, people around the country gather for a glass of mint julep! This refreshing southern classic is a traditional drink of the Kentucky Derby.

A classic mint julep is made with a mint leaf, bourbon, sugar, and water. In the Southern states, where mint julep is more associated with the cuisine, spearmint is the mint of choice. Preparation of the drink may vary from one bartender to another.

• Some believe the mint julep originated in the southern United States sometime during the 18th century.
• The term “julep” is generally defined as a sweet drink, particularly one used as a vehicle for medicine.
• During the 19th century, Americans also enjoyed a gin-based julep.
• Each year, Churchill Downs serves almost 120,000 mint juleps over the two-day period of the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby.
• May 2008 – Churchill Downs unveiled the world’s largest mint julep glass (6-foot  tall).

HOW TO OBSERVE

Enjoy a mint julep on this nice spring day!

 

Here is a recipe....

 

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/mint-julep-recipe-1945324

Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Parade History ~ Tucker ~ Chicken Normand-y ~ Memorial Day

  

Good 46º clear morning. 

 

 

Yesterday we started off dark and gloomy...........

 

Later we got clouds and then clear sky...............

We topped at 90º.

 

 

Picture of the Day.....goose parade

 

 

 

Interesting about parades............

 

A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats, or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind.

 

In British English, the term "parade" is usually reserved for either military parades or other occasions where participants march in formation; for celebratory occasions, the word procession is more usual. The term "parade" may also be used for multiple different subjects; for example, in the Canadian Armed Forces, "parade" is used both to describe the procession and in other informal connotations.

 

Protest demonstrations can also take the form of a parade, but such cases are usually referred to as a march instead.

 

Parade float

Main article: Float (parade)

The parade float got its name because the first floats were decorated barges that were towed along the canals with ropes held by parade marchers on the shore. Floats were occasionally propelled from within by concealed oarsmen, but the practice was abandoned because of the high incidence of drowning when the lightweight and unstable frames capsized. Strikingly, among the first uses of grounded floats — towed by horses — was a ceremony in memory of recently drowned parade oarsmen. Today, parade floats are traditionally pulled by motor vehicles or are powered themselves.

 

Parade grand marshals

Multiple grand marshals may often be designated for an iteration of the parade, and may or may not be in actual attendance due to circumstances (including death). A community grand marshal or other designations may be selected alongside a grand marshal to lead the front or other parts of the parade.

Aircraft and boats

Since the advent of such technology, it became possible for aircraft and boats to parade. A flypast is an aerial parade of anything from one to dozens of aircraft, both in commercial context at airshows and also to mark important dates, such as national days or significant anniversaries. They are particularly common in the United Kingdom, where they are often associated with Royal occasions. Similarly, for ships, there may be a sail-past of, e.g., tall ships (as was seen during Trafalgar 200) or other sailing vessels as during the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of World War II.

Longest parade

The longest parade in the world is the Hanover Schützenfest that takes place in Hanover every year during the Schützenfest. The parade is 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) long with more than 12,000 participants from all over the world, among them more than 100 bands and around 70 floats and carriages.

 

Historical parades

To celebrate the federal government's victory in the American Civil War, 145,000 Union soldiers marched in a two-day Grand Review of the Armies in Washington, D.C. They passed before the President, the Cabinet, and senior officers from May 23–24, 1865.

 

At the end of hostilities in Europe in 1944–45, "victory parades" were a common feature throughout the recently liberated territories. For example, on 3 September 1944, the personnel of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division marched six abreast to the music of massed regimental pipe and drum bands through the streets of Dieppe, France, to commemorate the liberation of the city from German occupation, as well as commemorate the loss of over 900 soldiers from that formation during the Dieppe Raid two years earlier. On the Moscow Victory Parade of 1945 held in Moscow, Soviet Union in June 1945, the Red Army commemorated Victory in Europe with a parade and the ceremonial destruction of captured Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS standards.

 

Here is my grandson Tucker 7 years ago in the Grants Pass parade.. he is second from right playing drums....

 

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

This tasty chicken recipe from the Red Rooster Restaurant in Rhode Island is "simple but elegant." A big thanks goes out to Normand for the recipe, which is why we like to call it Chicken Normand-y.

 

• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 cup corn flake crumbs or finely crushed cornflakes
• 1/8 teaspoon thyme leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (1 to 1-1/2 pounds)
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons butter

 

1. Preheat the oven to 425º.
    
2. In a small bowl, beat the egg and milk; set aside. In a shallow dish, combine the corn flake crumbs with thyme, salt, and pepper; set aside. Dip the chicken breast halves in the egg mixture, one at a time, then coat completely with the cornflake crumb mixture.
    
3. Grease a baking sheet with the olive oil; lay the chicken breasts on the baking sheet and dot with butter. Bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until no pink remains.

 

 

 

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

1886 – The Pharmacist John Pemberton places his first advertisement for Coca-Cola, the ad appearing in The Atlanta Journal.

1942 – Bing Crosby, the Ken Darby Singers and the John Scott Trotter Orchestra record Irving Berlin's "White Christmas", the best-selling Christmas single in history.

1953 – Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay become the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest, on Tenzing Norgay's (adopted) 39th birthday.

1988 – The U.S. President Ronald Reagan begins his first visit to the Soviet Union when he arrives in Moscow for a superpower summit with the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

2001 – The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the disabled golfer Casey Martin can use a cart to ride in tournaments.

2004 – The National World War II Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C.

 

 

And births this date include...

1903 – Bob Hope, English-American comedian and actor (d. 2003)

Click on his name.... interesting read.

My mother (her parents both immigrated from Scotland) was born at her aunt's house in Cleveland Ohio in 1905.The Hopes immigrated from London and moved next door to my mom's aunt in 1908. Her aunt's kids all played with the Hope kids. And another thing, Bob Hope's name was Leslie and my mom married a Leslie (Laney)!

 

1917 – John F. Kennedy, American politician, 35th President of the United States (d. 1963)

1939 – Al Unser, American race car driver (d.2021)

1955 – John Hinckley, Jr., American attempted assassin of Ronald Reagan

 

 

 

All I know. Nuff said. Have a good Monday. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

Each year in the United States, Americans observe the Federal holiday, Memorial Day, the last Monday in May. It honors and remembers all men and women who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Memorial Day is also a day to remember all loved ones who have passed away.

Traditionally on Memorial Day, the flag of the United States of America is raised briskly to the top of the staff then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position where it remains until noon. At noon, it is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day.

When the flag is at half-staff, the position is in remembrance of the more than one million men and women who gave their lives for their country. Raising the flag at noon signifies the nation lives, that the country is resolved not to let their sacrifice be in vain but to rise up in their honor and continue to fight for liberty and justice for all.

In the United States, Memorial Day also traditionally marks the beginning of summer.

 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Attend Memorial Day services in your community. In your own way, pay tribute in remembrance of service members who have died while serving. Visit a veterans’ cemetery to honor those who’ve impacted your life. 

 

MEMORIAL DAY HISTORY

Honoring the men and women who have died while serving in the military, communities, individuals, and organizations have kept Memorial Day in various forms in the United States since the end of the Civil War. General John Logan first called for a nationwide day of remembrance on May 5, 1868. The observance was called Decoration Day, and it was observed on May 30th, 1868.

 

Decoration Day

General James Garfield spoke at Arlington National Cemetery with Generals Grant, Howard, Logan, Pane, Wool, and Hancock in attendance. Volunteers also decorated the graves of 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers.

Across the country, humble tributes occurred on that first Decoration Day. Just outside Fort Stevens near Washington, D.C., there was a small cemetery where 40 soldiers were buried, one of whom belonged to a widow from Northern Vermont. He was one of three sons she lost to the war. On Decoration Day, she went to the cemetery carrying 40 wreaths for 40 graves.

Someone placed a laurel wreath upon the head of a Lincoln statue at City Hall, Washington, D.C.

In Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroads transported passengers to the Spring Grove Cemetery.  As a tribute, communities displayed flags at half-mast along the routes. More volunteers placed floral wreaths on the soldiers’ graves, and speeches were made. Many of the first Decoration Days recognized only the Union soldiers. However, other events included the Confederate soldiers as well. Over time, the day grew to include all those soldiers lost during the conflict.

Decoration Day gradually became known as Memorial Day and now honors all U.S. service members who have died during a military conflict. Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30th for many years. Then, in 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968. Since 1971, Memorial Day has been observed the last Monday of May.