Picture of the Day ~ Phoenix Arizona ~ Stay At Home Soup ~ Dude ~ National Gardening Day

Good 32º clear sunny morning. Yesterday we topped at 76º. 

Picture of the Day...

Interesting about Phoenix Arizona....

Phoenix (/ˈfiːnɪks/) is the capital and most populous city in Arizona, with 1,660,272 people (as of 2018). It is also the fifth most populous city in the United States, and the only state capital with a population of more than one million residents.

Phoenix is the anchor of the Phoenix metropolitan area, also known as the Valley of the Sun, which in turn is part of the Salt River Valley. The metropolitan area is the 11th largest by population in the United States, with approximately 4.73 million people as of 2017. Phoenix is the seat of Maricopa County and the largest city in the state at 517.9 square miles, more than twice the size of Tucson and one of the largest cities in the United States.

Phoenix was settled in 1867 as an agricultural community near the confluence of the Salt and Gila Rivers and was incorporated as a city in 1881. It became the capital of Arizona Territory in 1889. It is in the northeastern reaches of the Sonoran Desert and has a hot desert climate. Despite this, its canal system led to a thriving farming community with the original settler's crops remaining important parts of the Phoenix economy for decades, such as alfalfa, cotton, citrus, and hay. Cotton, cattle, citrus, climate, and copper were known locally as the "Five C's" anchoring Phoenix's economy. These remained the driving forces of the city until after World War II, when high-tech companies began to move into the valley and air conditioning made Phoenix's hot summers more bearable.

The Phoenix is a mythical bird known for rising from its ashes.

Accordingly to ancient legend, the Phoenix is a bird that cyclically burns to death and is reborn from its own ashes. For this reason, the Phoenix often serves as a symbol of renewal and rebirth. The name of Phoenix, Arizona is a direct reference to this idea; Phoenix was built upon the ruins of a former civilization that had collapsed long before, apparently due to drought. The legend of the Phoenix focuses on its new life from the ashes, and served a perfect name for the new city.

From Mr. Food.... Stay At Home Soup....

As we’re all asked to stay at home and are challenged with the task of making 3 meals a day, nothing is better than this warm-you-up soup that’s made with lots of shortcut ingredients from the freezer aisle. And the best part, besides the taste, is that we can mix ‘n’ match the veggies based on what’s available.

 

• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 (16-ounce) package frozen fully-cooked cocktail-sized meatballs, thawed
• 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup coarsely crumbled tortilla chips

• In a large saucepan, combine broth, meatballs, mixed vegetables, salsa and cumin, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 7 to 8 minutes or until meatballs are heated through.
• Ladle soup into bowls, sprinkle evenly with shredded cheese and crumbled tortilla chips.

Test Kitchen Tip: Maybe make a double batch and freeze some. This way you can cook once and eat twice…or three times. Now that’s our idea of an easy-peasy meal.

 

On this date in 2013 Dude came to live with me..... he was 6 years old, and born the same year Jerry died.  He's been such a blessing and a love. I know he's Jerry reincarnated because he snores just like him!!!

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

1846 – The Donner Party of pioneers departs Springfield, Illinois, for California, on what will become a year-long journey of hardship, cannibalism, and survival.

1860 – The first Pony Express rider reaches Sacramento, California.

1865 – U.S. President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated in Ford's Theatre by John Wilkes Booth.

1865 – U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward and his family are attacked in his home by Lewis Powell.

1881 – The Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight is fought in El Paso, Texas.

1969 – At the U.S. Academy Awards there is a tie for the Academy Award for Best Actress between Katharine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand.

And births this date includes.....

1925 – Rod Steiger, American actor (d. 2002)

I always thought he was beyond strange!

1930 – Bradford Dillman, American actor (d.2018)

1932 – Loretta Lynn, American country musician/singer

1936 – Frank Serpico, American policeman

1941 – Julie Christie, British actress

1941 – Pete Rose, American baseball player

1977 – Chandra Levy, American intern (d. 2001)

What a story!!! Click on her name and read....

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

National Gardening Day on April 14th encourages gardeners and would-be gardeners to pick up a shovel and some seeds and kick-off a beautiful year of homegrown bounty.

Whether you want to grow vegetables, fruit, flowers, houseplants, or anything in between, National Gardening Day celebrates a satisfying pastime that you will enjoy for decades. Growing your own food also lets you provide fresh and natural nourishment for your family for a fraction of grocery store prices.

As many gardeners know, the benefits of gardening come from more than the produce. Spending time in the garden also provides physical activity and an opportunity to join with nature.

The observance is a call to action to get out and grow flower or vegetable gardens. No matter how you garden, plant in the ground, in containers, in straw bales or a square foot gardening box. Just garden!

HOW TO OBSERVE

There are many ways that you can celebrate the day, including:

• Look for a community garden in your area.
• Organize a seed and perennial plant swap with neighbors and friends.
• Join a garden club. There isn’t one near? Start one!
• Visit your local nursery or garden center—you will be amazed and excited by all the beautiful options

 

Family Easter Visit ~ Picture of the Day ~ Sgt. Reckless ~ Creamy Spinach Artichoke Chicken Skillet ~ Adele (Easton) Graves ~ Gary Adkinson ~ Becky & Greg Lundell ~ National Scrabble Day

 

Good 28º clear sunny morning. Yesterday we topped at 78º. 

Yesterday Brian, Jen, Tucker, Sami, and Dash came to do an Easter visit, since because of this virus mess we weren't having our regular Easter breakfast and egg hunt. 

They brought me a box with flowers, wine, and candy!! 

We all did a 6' apart "air hug"......

Picture of the Day... Cumming Georgia.... Stand by, the police are cumming!! 

Interesting about a horse...

Staff Sergeant Reckless (c. 1948 – May 13, 1968), a decorated war horse who held official rank in the United States military, was a mare of Mongolian horse breeding. Out of a race horse dam, she was purchased in October 1952 for $250 from a Korean stableboy at the Seoul racetrack who needed money to buy an artificial leg for his sister.

Reckless was bought by members of the United States Marine Corps and trained to be a pack horse for the Recoilless Rifle Platoon, Anti-Tank Company, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. She quickly became part of the unit and was allowed to roam freely through camp, entering the Marines' tents, where she would sleep on cold nights, and was known for her willingness to eat nearly anything, including scrambled eggs, beer, Coca-Cola and, once, about $30 worth of poker chips.

Creamy Spinach Artichoke Chicken Skillet

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Four 6-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts 

4 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 small onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

4 ounces cream cheese, cut into chunks

1 cup half-and-half

One 5-ounce package baby spinach (about 4 cups)

One 14-ounce can artichoke hearts, drained and quartered

Steamed rice, for serving

1. Whisk together the flour, 1 tablespoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a pie plate or shallow dish. Coat both sides of the chicken breasts in the seasoned flour. Shake off any excess and set aside.
2. Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, undisturbed, until deeply golden, about 4 minutes (do not turn). Remove the chicken to a plate. Add the remaining tablespoon oil to the skillet. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the cream cheese and stir until melted. Pour in the half-and-half and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken back to the skillet, seared-side up, reduce the heat to medium, cover and cook, turning about halfway through, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F, 12 to 14 minutes. 
3. Transfer the chicken to a serving platter. Add the spinach to the sauce in the skillet, cover and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Stir in the artichoke hearts and cook until heated through, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the creamy sauce over the chicken. Serve with steamed rice.

Special birthdays today...

Adele (Easton) Graves (Wilsonite) is celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEL!! xo  With her Tom......

and also celebrating is Gary Adkinson, up the road neighbor and friend. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GARY (aka Gary My Love)!! xo Picture with his Katie....

The reason he is also GML is because when Jerry introduced me to Gary, he said, "This is Gary, my love (referring to me!)." He always called me "my love" or "darling" or something loving.

Historically this date.......

1796 – The first elephant ever seen in the United States arrives from India.

1902 – James C. Penney opens his first store in Kemmerer, Wyoming. (Interesting that it's F.W. Woolworth's birthday)

1943 – The Jefferson Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C., on the 200th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson's birth.

1970 – An oxygen tank aboard Apollo 13 explodes, putting the crew in great danger and causing major damage to the spacecraft while en route to the Moon.

1976 – The United States Treasury Department reintroduced the two-dollar bill as a Federal Reserve Note on Thomas Jefferson's 233rd birthday as part of the United States Bicentennial celebration.

1997 – Tiger Woods becomes the youngest golfer to win the Masters Tournament.

And births this date include....

1743 – Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States (d. 1826)

1852 – F.W. Woolworth, American businessman (d. 1919)

1866 – Butch Cassidy, American outlaw (d. 1908)

1899 – Alfred Mosher Butts, American architect and Scrabble inventor (d. 1993)

1923 – Don Adams, American actor and comedian (d. 2005)

A former Marine and Maxwell Smart!

1931 – Dan Gurney, American race car driver (d.2018)

He was my fav! 

1933 – Ben Nighthorse Campbell, American politician

Interesting fellow. Military, deputy sheriff, jewelry artist, politician who switched from being a Dem to a Republican!

 

1935 – Lyle Waggoner, American actor (d.2020)

1945 – Tony Dow, American actor

And yesterday I also got a "Happy Easter" email and photo from Becky and Greg Lundell (Wilsonite).... 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

Each year on National Scrabble Day April 13th recognizes a game played around the world. Originally named Lexiko and then Criss-Cross Words, Alfred Mosher Butts eventually settled on the name Scrabble. The amateur artist and unemployed architect developed the word game in the midst of the depression. Still, it wasn’t until 1948, a final name change and a trademark that Butts finally began to produce the game.   

Scrabble is played with two to four players who score points by forming words from individual lettered tiles on a game board marked with a 15 x 15 grid.

In the United States, the name Scrabble is a trademark of Hasbro, Inc. Scrabble is sold in 121 countries with 29 different language versions. Worldwide, over One hundred and fifty million sets have been sold with sets being found in nearly one-third of American homes.

• 1984 – Scrabble became a daytime game show on NBC
• 2004 – Scrabble was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame
• Some cities sponsor Scrabble tournaments on the weekend closest to National Scrabble Day
• The word “scrabble” means to “grope frantically.”

HOW TO OBSERVE

Call your friends and play a game or two of Scrabble! Mix it up, too. There are several ways to play the game if you want to change things up a bit. For example, if you’re spending time alone, Scrabble solitaire challenges you at your own game of words. Another version allows players to only play nouns but they earn bonus points for playing nouns that are both a proper noun and an approved Scrabble word. 

Once you’ve played a game, take the final board and create a crossword puzzle using this template. Develop hints to the words and see if others can solve the puzzle. 

NATIONAL SCRABBLE DAY HISTORY

National Scrabble Day commemorates the birth of Alfred Mosher Butts, born on April 13, 1899. However, our research had not identified the founder of the day.