Clear Sky/Fog ~ Chicago Bar ~ Picture of the Day ~ Marie Antoinette Death Mask ~ Cheesy Southwest Egg Bake ~ Joan Petitclair ~ National Johnny Appleseed Day

Good 30º morning.

Yesterday our day started cold, 27º, but clear and sunny..... and we warmed to 72º. 

In Grants Pass they had heavy fog....

Last night I was watching Chicago PD and they went into this bar to make an arrest....  LOL

Picture of the Day ... perfect timing!

Interesting....

Marie Antoinette born Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was the last Queen of France before the French Revolution. She was born an Archduchess of Austria, and was the penultimate child of Empress Maria Theresa and Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor.

The executioner Charles Henri Sanson publicly guillotined her. Her body and severed head were then taken away and buried in an unmarked grave in the Madeleine Cemetery.

Marie Tussaud was born Marie Grosholtz in 1761 in Strasbourg, France. Her mother, Anne Made, took her to work as a housekeeper in the Berne home of Dr. Philippe Curtis who was highly skilled at wax modeling.  Marie Tussaud would go on to make death masks of Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI, Charlotte Corday, Robespierre, Marat and sadly her former employer. After an execution took place, Marie crept into Madeline Cemetery with her carpet bag of tools and set to work making her effigy of the famously dead.

In 1802, she left the horrors of the Revolution behind her (and also her husband and youngest child), and spent the rest of her life traveling throughout England displaying her wax models. Marie Tussaud never returned to France. She died in 1850, at the age of 88. Her sons carried on her legacy by displaying her wax models and growing the enterprise that has become Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum today. Many of Marie’s models can still be seen today in Madame Tussaud's, London including the deaths’ heads of Robespierre, Louis XIV, Marie Antoinette, Marat in his bath and even the guillotine that killed Marie Antoinette.

Cheesy Southwest Egg Bake

1 12oz pkg bulk chorizo or spicy pork sausage

1/2 cup chopped onion

3/4 cup chopped bell pepper (any color)

10 eggs

1/4 cup whipping cream

2 cups shredded pepper Jack or Mexican cheese blend

1 t. red pepper flakes

1 16.3oz can Pillsbury Grands biscuits

1 T. vegetable oil

• Heat oven to 375°. In 12-inch ovenproof skillet, cook sausage, onion and bell pepper over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until sausage is no longer pink; drain. Remove mixture from skillet; set aside.
• In large bowl, beat eggs and cream. Stir in 1 cup of the cheese, the pepper flakes and sausage mixture. Separate dough into 8 biscuits. Cut each biscuit into 6 pieces.
• Spread oil in bottom of skillet. Place biscuits in skillet. Pour sausage mixture over biscuits. Top with remaining 1 cup cheese.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until egg mixture is set and crust is deep golden brown. Cool 5 minutes before serving.

Special birthday today... my travel pal, Joan Petitclair is celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOAN!

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

1945 – World War II: The Empire of Vietnam, a short-lived puppet state, is established with Bảo Đại as its ruler.

1946 – Rudolf Höss, the first commandant of Auschwitz concentration camp, is captured by British troops.

2011 – An earthquake measuring 9.0 in magnitude strikes 130 km (81 mi) east of Sendai, Japan, triggering a tsunami killing thousands of people. This event also triggered the second largest nuclear accident in history, and one of only two events to be classified as a Level 7 on the International Nuclear Event Scale.

And births this date include....
1934 – Sam Donaldson, American reporter

1936 – Antonin Scalia, American Supreme Court Justice (d.2016)

1956 – Joey Buttafuoco, American criminal

An interesting read about Buttafuoco, then click on his gf's name and read about Amy Fisher and what she became and then about his wife Amy shot, Mary Jo. Click on his name above and their links are on there.

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

March 11th – On National Johnny Appleseed Day, we remember a man who made apple (and pear) trees bloom across the nation. The day celebrates a kindly legend who lived by sage teachings and labored to bring the shade of fruit trees across much of the United States.

John Chapman

He was born John Chapman on September 26, 1774, in Leominster, Massachusetts, to Nathaniel and Elizabeth Simons Chapman. Not much is known about his early life other than his mother died when he was two. His father packed up Johnny and his sister (an infant brother had died the previous year) and moved to Springfield, Massachusetts. His father served as a Minuteman and fought at Bunker Hill.

Then in 1797, Chapman shows up in northwestern Pennsylvania, propagating his apple seeds. He worked his way steadily into the frontier of West Virginia, Ohio, and Indiana. Eventually, Chapman became known as Johnny Appleseed and worked his way as far west as Illinois and Iowa and as far north as Michigan and Wisconsin.

In his wake, he left orchards and the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg, a Swedish spiritual leader. Appleseed would buy his books with whatever payment he might receive for his endeavors. In turn, Johnny would give the books away as he traveled and planted.

Mostly, though, he planted his seeds and seedlings for free along with his wisdom, his broad-brimmed pasteboard hat keeping the sun from his eyes as he went. Often shoeless, he traveled mostly by foot and sometimes by horseback or canoe. His appearance was nearly as noteworthy as his accomplishments, but so was his kindness. Farmers and frontier folk always found a place at the table if Johnny Appleseed came visiting.

There are many stories told that the man would travel many miles to nurse an ailing orchard when word would reach him of its poor condition. Bringing the trees back to health would be his chief endeavor while dispersing wisdom, care, and kindness as he did.

Landmarks

Across the Midwest, landmarks pepper the countryside honoring the man that brought fruit to the frontier. Warren County, Pennsylvania, lays claim to Johnny Appleseed’s first tree nursery.

Mansfield, Ohio, honors the man with a monument in South Park.  The last known Chapman tree still lives! In rural Ashland County, Ohio, the tree struggles to survive, but half of it still manages to bloom in the spring. 

In his hometown of Springfield, Massachusetts, there is an entire park named after the man who nurtured the land and made apple trees bloom across a young nation.

Two dates celebrate Johnny Appleseed Day, either March 11th or September 26th. The September date is Appleseed’s acknowledged birth date. However, many people across the country prefer the March date due to the planting season. While some vagueness surrounds Appleseed’s death and burial, he became ill in early March and passed soon after. In Fort Wayne, Indiana, in Johnny Appleseed Park, a grave marks the spot where the legendary sower of apple seeds rests.

Electric Gate ~ Picture of the Day ~ Ravens & Crows ~ Cheesy Potato Casserole ~ National Blueberry Popover Day

Good 27º cloudy morning. 

Yesterday I was frustrated because my electric gate quit working. I am sure it's a dead battery. I called the company that installed the gate and they can't get a fix-it guy out here until tomorrow! Sheeesh! So, I'll have to open and close it by hand. Joy. So, I have to drive down there and get it open for the Schwans delivery today! 

Picture of the Day .... In the Ukraine the traffic light poles also light up....

Interesting about Ravens and Crows.......

A raven is one of several larger-bodied species of the genus Corvus. These species do not form a single group within the genus.

There is no consistent distinction between "crows" and "ravens", and these appellations have been assigned to different species chiefly on the basis of their size, crows generally being smaller than ravens.

The largest raven species are the common raven and the thick-billed raven. The term "raven" originally referred to the common raven, the type species of the genus 'Corvus', which has a larger distribution than any other species of Corvus, ranging over much of the Northern Hemisphere.

The term "raven" originally referred to the common raven ('Corvus corax'), the type species of the genus 'Corvus', which has a larger distribution than any other species of Corvus, ranging over much of the Northern Hemisphere.

The modern English word raven has cognates in all other Germanic languages, including Old Norse 'hrafn' and Old High German 'raban', all of which descend from Proto-Germanic 'hrabanaz'.

Collective nouns for a group of ravens include "unkindness", "treachery", and "conspiracy". In practice, most people use the more generic "flock".

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

Ravens are large, the size of a Red-tailed Hawk. Ravens often travel in pairs, while crows are seen in larger groups. Also, watch the bird’s tail as it flies overhead. The crow’s tail feathers are basically the same length, so when the bird spreads its tail, it opens like a fan. Ravens, however, have longer middle feathers in their tails, so their tail appears wedge-shaped when open.

Cheesy Potato Casserole

1 32oz pkg frozen cowboy or cubed potatoes

2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese

16oz sour cream

1 can condensed cream of chicken or mushroom soup

1 cup butter, softened

1 small onion chopped

3 cups crushed corn flakes

Preheat oven to 425º.

Pour hash browns into lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish.

In large bowl combine cheese, sour cream, and soup

In large skillet over medium heat combing onion with 1 stick butter and saute for 5 minutes. Add to soup mixture and spread over potatoes.

Arrange crushed corn flakes over the potatoes and soup mixture. Melt the remaining stick of butter and pour evenly over corn flakes.

Bake 425º for 1 hour.

Historically this date.......

1876 – Alexander Graham Bell makes the first successful telephone call by saying "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you."

1933 – An earthquake in Long Beach, California kills 115 people and causes an estimated $40 million dollars in damage.

1945 – The U.S. Army Air Force firebombs Tokyo, and the resulting firestorm kills more than 100,000 people, mostly civilians.

1977 – Rings of Uranus: Astronomers discover rings around Uranus. your anus? :o()

And births this date include...

1940 – Chuck Norris, American actor and martial artist

1940 – Dean Torrence, American singer (Jan and Dean)

1958 – Sharon Stone, American actress

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

What better way to start March 10th than with National Blueberry Popover Day? Popovers are airy rolls that puff up when baked, popping over the edge of the tin. They are light and crispy on the outside while the insides are warm and often hollow. They can be filled with custards, creams, and fruits for a sweet treat, especially blueberries.   

Popovers are similar to Yorkshire pudding and can also be served with savory combinations.

Most popover recipes are made using mostly eggs, milk, flour and salt.  When making popovers, using eggs and milk that are at room temperature produces the best result. The resulting batter is thin but has enough air it that when it bakes the steam expands the batter, causing it to puff up and pop over the tin.  The egg proteins help the pastry hold its shape and eventually the crust turns flaky and golden.

** 1850 – The oldest known reference to popovers in a letter of E.E. Stuart.

** 1876 – The first cookbook with a popover recipe was Practical Cooking by M.N. Henderson.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Make your home smell amazing with these homemade blueberry popovers: Toasted Coconut and Blueberry Popovers.  Another option is to visit your favorite bakery and surprise a friend or neighbor. Don’t forget to let them know what day it is and give your baker a shout out, too! Those are two great ways to celebrate. 

Full Moon ~ Rain ~ Picture of the Day ~ Poppies ~ Shepherd's Pie Soup ~ Wendy Harp ~ Leah (Moran) Marmorato ~ Ike Saben ~ National Crab Meat Day

Good 39º full moon day. Be careful out there!!! 

Not only are we having a full moon, but Friday will be the 13th!! 

Yesterday the dark gloom hung around and we had some rain. 

Picture of the Day .... LOL

Interesting...in case you didn't know...

Poppies are herbaceous plants, often grown for their colourful flowers. One species of poppy, 'Papaver somniferum', is the source of the narcotic drug opium which contains powerful medicinal alkaloids such as morphine and has been used since ancient times as an analgesic and narcotic medicinal and recreational drug. It also produces edible seeds.

Ancient Egyptian doctors would have their patients eat seeds from a poppy to relieve pain. Poppy seeds contain small quantities of both morphine and codeine, which are pain-relieving drugs that are still used today.

Poppy seeds and fixed oils can also be nonnarcotic because when they are harvested about twenty days after the flower has opened, the morphine is no longer present.

Poppies have long been used as a symbol of sleep, peace, and death: Sleep because the opium extracted from them is a sedative, and death because of the common blood-red color of the red poppy in particular.

In Greek and Roman myths, poppies were used as offerings to the dead. Poppies used as emblems on tombstones symbolize eternal sleep.

It is believed that its origins may come from the Sumerian people, where the first use of opium was recognized. Poppies and opium made their way around the world along the silk road.

Juglets resembling poppy seed pods have been discovered with trace amounts of opium and the flower appeared in jewelry and on art pieces in Egypt, dated 1550-1292 BC.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org 

Eschscholzia californica (California poppy, golden poppy, California sunlight, cup of gold) is a species of flowering plant in the Papaveraceae family, native to the United States and Mexico. It is an ornamental plant flowering in summer, with showy cup-shaped flowers in brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow (occasionally pink). It is also used as food or a garnish. It became the official state flower of California in 1903.

From Mr. Food

We took the taste of an English favorite and added a healthy dose of comfort to create Shepherd's Pie Soup. Mmm! Soup's on, and it's not just a plain old soup!

 

• 1 pound ground beef
• 3 cups water
• 4 3/4 cups beef broth
• 1 (16-ounce) package frozen diced potatoes (about 4 cups)
• 1 (16-ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups instant potato flakes

 

1. In a soup pot over medium-high heat, cook ground beef 8 to 10 minutes, or until browned and no pink remains; drain.
2. Add remaining ingredients except potato flakes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook 15 minutes. Stir in potato flakes and cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until thickened. Serve immediately.

 

Today there are two special birthdays.... Wendy Harp over on Catalina Island is celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY WENDY!!

^with her hubby, Rick, retired Catalina fire Captain with LA Co Fire.

Also celebrating is Leah (Moran) Marmorato,   who was my hairdresser for 20 years and has now changed occupations and works for Dutch Brothers Coffee... HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEAH!! 

^with her mom Julie (Mgr at Ace Hardware) and her dad Mark (former Jackson Co firefighter)

Today would also have been my friend Ike Saben's birthday. Ike was retired LASD and Homicide Detective, and a great guy. Sadly he passed away October 31, 2019. Rest In Peace Ike!  

Historically this date......

1842 – The first documented discovery of gold in California occurs at Rancho San Francisco, six years before the California Gold Rush.

1916 – Pancho Villa leads nearly 500 Mexican raiders in an attack against Columbus, New Mexico.

This picture was taken in 1910 in Cananea Mexico. These are Pancho Villa's men who came to my grandparents home and told them since they weren't Mexican citizens they must leave. My Mother on the left with some kind of bandage on her head, my Uncle Lloyd in the middle, and my Aunt Agnes on the right. At the time my grandfather was a mining engineer at some mines in Mexico. They left there and moved to Bisbee AZ and he worked at the copper mine there.

1945 – The Bombing of Tokyo by the United States Army Air Forces began, one of the most destructive bombing raids in history.

1959 – The Barbie doll makes its debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York.

2011 – Space Shuttle Discovery makes its final landing after 39 flights.

And births this date include...

1902 – Will Geer, American actor (d. 1978)

1921 – Carl Betz, American actor (d. 1978)

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

Observed annually on March 9th, National Crab Meat Day (also National Crabmeat Day) offers a day to celebrate one of America’s favorite crustaceans. With 1.5 million tons of crab consumed every year around the world, plenty of crab meat lovers celebrate every year. 

While crab meat is a healthy choice, once you add the butter, the fat and calories add up.  And there are thousands of species of crabs, but only certain ones are edible. In the United States, some of the more popular and tasty ones are the blue crab, stone crab, Dungeness, king, and rock or snow crabs. They come in both hard and soft shells and can be found along all the coasts and Hawaii.

Enjoying the meat of these crustaceans can be done in many ways. Boiled crab, either the legs or the whole creature, results in a feast requiring some labor from the diner. However, every tasty morsel is well worth the effort. Mix the meat with other ingredients to create dips, cakes, or soups. 

HOW TO OBSERVE

Boil or steam some crab.  There are a variety of ways crab can be used. Or, give one of these recipes a try:

True Maryland Crab Cakes

King Crab Appetizers

Oregon Dungeness Crab Chowder