Weather/Smoke ~ Picture of the Day ~ Dryer Sheets ~ Spring Rolls ~ Deer and Rabbit ~ National Park Service Founders Day ~ National Whiskey Sour Day

  

Good 55º super smokey morning. Can't see my mountain...

 Yesterday the smoke moved in and I couldn't see my mountain....

We topped at 101º.

Here are 2 day predictions..........

 

 

Picture of the Day....a wine chair! 😉

 

 

Interesting what you can do with dryer sheets...

 

1. Repel rodents: Believe it or not, rodents cannot stand the smell of dryer sheets! If you’re trying to keep mice and rats at bay, just tuck a few scented dryer sheets in the spots in your home where they like to lurk.

2. Remove deodorant stains: There are few things more annoying than pulling on a clean shirt and accidentally covering it with your deodorant. Luckily, a few swipes with a dryer sheet should remove those powder marks in no time flat.

3. Clean your car: After driving long distances, the front of your car can look like a bug graveyard. Wipe it clean with a wet dryer sheet to rid yourself of all those guy guts without harming the nice finish on your ride.

4. Clean dry spills: Because of their fibers, dryer sheets are great for wiping up dry messes, like flour. The spill will have no problem adhering to the sheet and your mess will be gone with barely any effort!

5. Dusting: Dryer sheets weren’t made to dust your home, but they should have been! Not only can they clean up dust in a thrice, but they can also help keep dust from settling on surfaces for weeks at a time.

6. Sharpen scissors: Don’t waste a lot of money on an expensive knife-sharpening stone when dryer sheets work just as well—and they cost a fraction of what you’d pay otherwise! Just wipe your scissor blades (or other knives) carefully on the sheet.

7. Clean glass: If your computer screen is a mess or your TV screens are looking dingy, just wipe them down with dryer sheets. They will quickly and safely leave your screens clean and scratch-free to boot!

8. Remove pet hair: If you own a pet, then you know how much their fur can be the bane of your existence. To remove it from your clothes and couch cushions, simply swipe a dryer sheet over the area.

9. Scent filter: Do you notice a stale smell from your air conditioning or heating vents? That’s really easy to fix with dryer sheets. Just tuck one inside of the vent for fresh-smelling air in a snap!

10. Clean your toilet: If your toilet’s due for a cleaning but you’re fresh out of toilet bowl cleaner, don’t worry. Simply drop two dryer sheets in your toilet instead. Let them sit a while, then remove and scrub for a pristine pot.

11. Swiffer refills: We all dread the moment we run out of Swiffer refills, but dryer sheets can help in a pinch. Strap on a few dryer sheets to your Swiffer sweeper and be amazed at how quickly and cleanly they pick up dirt!

12. Freshen shoes: Our shoes do us the great favor of protecting our feet every single day. Go ahead and return that favor by stuffing them with dryer sheets when you aren’t wearing them to help keep them smelling nice and fresh.

13. Remove burned food: This one is so good! If you left a pot on the stove too long and it has burned food stuck to it, ditch the sponge and try scrubbing with a dryer sheet instead. Watch all that burned-up gunk fall away.

14. Reduce frizz: If you struggle with little hairs that just can’t be tamed, try rubbing a dryer sheet over your brush before tackling your mane. You’ll be impressed by the silky smooth results!

15. Clean your shower: Soap scum is such a tough thing to get rid of, but it doesn’t have to be! Just use a moist dryer sheet and watch that soap scum melt away. Your shower will be sparkling before you know it.

16. Freshen your car: Even if you keep your vehicle clean and tidy, you can still get stuck with weird odors from time to time. Tuck dryer sheets underneath the front seats and your car will smell just divine!

17. Keep luggage smelling fresh: After unpacking from a long trip, put a few dryer sheets in your empty luggage before storing it. That way it will have a pleasant scent when you open it up again for your next trip!

18. Repel mosquitoes: Stuck with a serious case of bug bites after your last summer stroll? Next time, tuck a dryer sheet or two inside of your pockets or tie one to your belt; mosquitoes hate the scent!

 

 ** It works super keeping mosquitoes away!

 

 

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

If you love ordering spring rolls from Chinese Takeout restaurants, then this is the recipe for you! Our spring rolls are easy to make and taste amazing. They're filled with a flavorful veggie mixture and fried until golden and crispy. They make a great appetizer or can be served right alongside some fried rice and your favorite takeout main dish!

 

 

• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 6 cups shredded Chinese cabbage
• 2 cups fresh bean sprouts
• 1 large carrot, shredded
• 3 scallions (green onions), chopped
• 12 spring roll or egg roll wrappers
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• Oil for frying

 

 

1. In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic powder; mix well.
    
2. In a large bowl, combine cabbage, bean sprouts, carrot, and scallions; mix well. Pour soy sauce mixture over cabbage mixture; toss to coat well and let stand 10 minutes. Place cabbage mixture in a colander and squeeze to drain well.
    
3. Spoon about 1/4 cup cabbage mixture evenly onto center of each egg roll wrapper. Lightly brush edges of egg roll wrapper with beaten egg. Fold one corner of each egg roll wrapper up over cabbage mixture then fold both sides over, envelope fashion; roll up tightly.
    
4. Heat about 1-1/2 inches oil in a deep medium saucepan over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add spring rolls in batches and fry 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until golden. Drain on a paper towel-lined platter. Serve immediately, but be sure to use caution -- the filling will be hot.

 

• To serve these like they do in Chinese restaurants, don't forget the dipping sauce! A couple of our favorite dipping sauces are duck sauce and spicy mustard.
   
• Did You Know?: In China, spring rolls are traditionally eaten during the Chinese New Year as a way to welcome in the spring. They're also said to represent wealth (because of their golden color). Spring rolls can vary in size, filling, and cooking method (some are fried, while others are steamed), from region to region. In the U.S., spring rolls and egg rolls are pretty similar, with the main difference being the filling. While both contain veggies, egg rolls typically include some kind of meat, chicken, or fish too.

 

 

 

 

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

1933 – The Diexi earthquake strikes Mao County, Sichuan, China and kills 9,000 people.

...9,000!!!!!

 

 

1944 – World War II: Paris is liberated by the Allies.

 

 

1989 – Voyager 2 spacecraft makes its closest approach to Neptune, the outermost planet in the Solar System.

 

 

 

And births this date include....

1913 – Don DeFore, American actor (d. 1993)

... "Thorny" in Ozzie & Harriet and "Mr. B" in Hazel.

1916 – Van Johnson, American actor (d. 2008)

.... one thing I remember about him is that he always, always, wore red socks!

 

1930 – Sir Thomas Sean Connery, Scottish actor (d.2020)

 

 

 

1933 – Tom Skerritt, American actor

 

1949 – Gene Simmons, Israeli-born musician (Kiss) Interesting read about his life...

 

 

 

1958 – Tim Burton, American film director

 

 

 

1961 – Billy Ray Cyrus, American singer, songwriter, actor and philanthropist

 

 

 

1968 – Rachael Ray, American chef and television personality

 

 

When I water my grass out front, the female deer come and munch on it.... they look like this:

 

 

Also, lately I've had a couple wild rabbits also munching on my grass. Looks like this:

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

On this day in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed what is now called the Organic Act. It established the National Park Service. As part of the Department of Interior, the National Park Service protects 400 areas in each of the 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia totaling 84 million acres.

National Park Service Founders Day recognizes the superior conservation and preservation efforts of the National Parks System. Whether enjoying scenic trails, open spaces, watersheds or recreational areas, the National Parks Service provides a natural outdoor resource accessible to every American. Hiking and biking trails entice us to explore. They also offer an outdoor experience like no other. These parks challenge us with more beauty and history that most of us can imagine.

 

A Trip Through Time

Not only does the National Park Service provide access to millions of acres of the most picturesque places in the country, but it also takes us back in time. Through historic trails, we walk in the footsteps of Harriet Tubman. A historic trail in Maryland takes us along the path of the Underground Railroad where Tubman led men and women away from slavery and to freedom. In Ohio, we explore the infancy of aviation in the United States.

As we travel through the beauty of the historic Natchez Trace, we’ll discover the intense and tragic histories that lay along the way. From Native Americans to European settlement and the Civil War, the Natchez Trace survived it all.

West of the Mississippi, ancient ruins and resurrected forts tell the stories of those who have gone before us. In rustic settings or an out-of-the-way oasis in New Mexico, rediscover the history of untold ages. After the arid West, head North and study the Klondike Gold Rush in Washington or the history of Columbia River, too.

Majestic beasts and glorious sunsets throughout the National Park Service entice visitors all year long. Some of these parks are in your own backyard, too! They are a mere stone’s throw away. Once you get started, you won’t want to stop. Make a list and keep going.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Celebrate by visiting one of the 400 management areas across the country. There’s one not far from each of us. There are several ways to get started, too!

The only National Park in Oregon is Crater Lake National Park....

Read about it here:

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

 

And today is also..........

On August 25th, people across the United States observe National Whiskey Sour Day.

Traditionally garnished with half an orange and a maraschino cherry, a whiskey sour is a mixed drink containing whiskey (often bourbon), lemon juice, and sugar. Whiskey sours are shaken then either served straight or over ice.

“Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.” – Mark Twain

Alternatives to the traditional whiskey sour are the Boston sour and the Ward 8. The Boston sour adds a dash of egg white to the recipe. The Ward 8 uses either a Bourbon or rye whiskey base with both lemon and orange juices and grenadine syrup added for sweetness.

The first mention of a whiskey sour was in an 1870 Wisconsin newspaper.

• After opening, a bottle of whiskey will remain good for five years.
• An unopened bottle of whiskey can be kept for over 100 years and will still be fit to drink.
• Both “Whisky” and “Whiskey” spellings are correct. Whisky is specific to Scotch Whisky, and Whiskey is Irish.
• In 2004, Alabama named Conecuh Ridge Whiskey as its official state spirit.
• According to legend, Jack Daniels ran away at the age of 6 and learned to make whiskey from a Lutheran minister.

 

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL WHISKEY SOUR DAY

Celebrate by enjoying a whiskey sour! Invite a friend to join you. Don’t hesitate to try a twist on the whiskey sour. While you enjoy your cocktail, explore the history of whiskey, its production, and trade. We recommend:

• The documentaries Straight Up and Scotch: The Golden Dram 
• Whiskey Master Class by Lew Bryson
• Whiskey Women: The Untold Story of How Women Saved Bourbon, Scotch and Irish Whiskey by Fred Minnick
• Dead Distillers by Colin Spoelman and David Haskell

(Remember always to drink responsibly and never drink and drive.)

Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Humphrey Bogart ~ Fancy Schmancy Tuna Melts ~ National Waffle Day

  

Good 51º morning. 

 

 

Yesterday we started out without any smoke!

Then later the smoke came in.................

We topped at 94º.

 

 

Picture of the Day

 

 

Interesting about Humphrey Bogart.......

 

Humphrey DeForest Bogart  ( December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), colloquially nicknamed Bogie, was an American film and stage actor. His performances in classic Hollywood cinema films made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film Institute selected Bogart as the greatest male star of classic American cinema.

 

Bogart began acting in Broadway shows, beginning his career in motion pictures with Up the River (1930) for 20th Century Fox, and appeared in supporting roles for the next decade, regularly portraying gangsters. He was praised for his work as Duke Mantee in The Petrified Forest (1936), but remained cast secondary to other actors at Warner Bros. who received leading roles. Bogart also received positive reviews for his performance as gangster Hugh "Baby Face" Martin, in Dead End (1937), directed by William Wyler.

 

His breakthrough from supporting roles to stardom was set in motion with High Sierra (1941) and catapulted in The Maltese Falcon (1941), considered one of the first great noir films. Bogart's private detectives, Sam Spade (in The Maltese Falcon) and Philip Marlowe (in 1946's The Big Sleep), became the models for detectives in other noir films. His most significant romantic lead role was with Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca (1942), which earned him his first nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor. 44-year-old Bogart and 19-year-old Lauren Bacall fell in love during filming of To Have and Have Not (1944). In 1945, a few months after principal photography for The Big Sleep, their second film together, he divorced his third wife and married Bacall. After their marriage, they played each other's love interest in the mystery thrillers Dark Passage (1947) and Key Largo (1948). Raymond Chandler, in a 1946 letter, wrote that "Like Edward G. Robinson when he was younger, all he has to do to dominate a scene is to enter it."

 

Bogart's performances in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) and In a Lonely Place (1950) are now considered among his best, although they were not recognized as such when the films were released. He reprised those unsettled, unstable characters as a World War II naval-vessel commander in The Caine Mutiny (1954), which was a critical and commercial hit and earned him another Best Actor nomination. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of a cantankerous river steam launch skipper opposite Katharine Hepburn's missionary in the World War I African adventure The African Queen (1951). Other significant roles in his later years included The Barefoot Contessa (1954) with Ava Gardner and his on-screen competition with William Holden for Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina (1954). A heavy smoker and drinker, Bogart died from esophageal cancer in January 1957. Lauren Bacall said of him, "There was something that made him able to be a man of his own and it showed through his work. There was also a purity, which is amazing considering the parts he played. Something solid too. I think as time goes by we all believe less and less. Here was someone who believed in something."

 

^{Humphrey DeForest Bogart was born on Christmas Day 1899 in New York City, the eldest child of Belmont DeForest Bogart and Maud Humphrey. Belmont was the only child of the unhappy marriage of Adam Welty Bogart (a Canandaigua, New York, innkeeper) and Julia Augusta Stiles, a wealthy heiress. The name "Bogart" derives from the Dutch surname, "Bogaert". Belmont and Maud married in June 1898. He was a Presbyterian, of English and Dutch descent, and a descendant of Sarah Rapelje (the first female European Christian child born in New Netherland). Maud was an Episcopalian of English heritage, and a descendant of Mayflower passenger John Howland. Humphrey was raised Episcopalian, but was non-practicing for most of his adult life.}

 

^{With no viable career options, Bogart enlisted in the United States Navy in the spring of 1918 (during World War I), and served as a coxswain. He recalled later, "At eighteen, war was great stuff. Paris! Sexy French girls! Hot damn!" Bogart was recorded as a model sailor, who spent most of his sea time after the armistice ferrying troops back from Europe. Bogart left the service on June 18, 1919, at the rank of boatswain's mate third class. During the Second World War, Bogart attempted to re-enlist in the Navy but was rejected due to his age. He then volunteered for the Coast Guard Temporary Reserve in 1944, patrolling the California coastline in his yacht, the Santana.}

 

^{Bogart signed a contract with the Fox Film Corporation for $750 a week. There he met Spencer Tracy, a Broadway actor whom Bogart liked and admired, and the two men became close friends and drinking companions. In 1930, Tracy first called him "Bogie". Tracy made his feature film debut in his only movie with Bogart, John Ford's early sound film Up the River (1930), in which their leading roles were as inmates. Tracy received top billing, but Bogart's picture appeared on the film's posters. He was billed fourth behind Tracy, Claire Luce and Warren Hymer but his role was almost as large as Tracy's and much larger than Luce's or Hymer's. A quarter of a century later, the two men planned to make The Desperate Hours together. Both insisted upon top billing, however; Tracy dropped out, and was replaced by Fredric March.}

 

^{If you want to read a whole lot more, go here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humphrey_Bogart}

 

 

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

"Oh my, you're so fancy!" That's the reaction you'll get when you put a plate of these Fancy Schmancy Tuna Melts out. It's warm, dressed up tuna with a double dose of melted cheese on a "not your everyday" type bread. These yummy melts are sure to please even the toughest critics!

 

 

• 1 (12-ounce) can tuna, drained and flaked
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 rib celery, sliced
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 slices rye or pumpernickel bread
• 4 slices mozzarella cheese
• 4 slices Cheddar cheese

 

1. Preheat oven to 375º. Coat a 10- x 15-inch baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. In a medium bowl, combine tuna, mayonnaise, celery, onion powder, and pepper; mix well. Spread equal amounts of the mixture on each slice of bread and top each with a slice of mozzarella then a slice of Cheddar cheese.
3. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

 

 

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

1814 – British troops invade Washington, D.C. and during the Burning of Washington the White House is set ablaze, though not burned to the ground; as well as several other buildings.

1932 – Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly across the United States non-stop (from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey).

1981 – Mark David Chapman is sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for murdering John Lennon.

1989 – Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose is banned from baseball for gambling by Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti.

 

And births this date include....

1955 – Mike Huckabee, American politician, Governor/Presidential candidate

1958 – Steve Guttenberg, American actor

 

1960 – Cal Ripken, Jr., American baseball player

1976 – Alex O'Loughlin, Australian actor

 

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

National Waffle Day on August 24th commemorates the anniversary of the first waffle iron patent issued. Celebrate by savoring your favorite kind of waffle!

On August 24, 1869, Cornelius Swarthout of Troy, New York received his patent for the waffle iron. While waffles existed long before then, the invention made waffles more readily available.

Eaten throughout the world, a waffle is a leavened batter or dough. When cooked between two patterned plates, the dough bakes in the waffle’s characteristic uniform impressed surface. Waffles also come in many forms. Depending on the type of batter or iron used, the resulting waffle varies by consistency, size, shape, and flavor.

Waffle irons and waffles originated around the 14th century.  An anonymous husband penned the first known waffle recipe as a set of instructions for his wife.  According to the manuscript, Le Ménagier de Paris, each of the four recipes began:

Beat some eggs in a bowl, season with salt and add wine. Toss in some flour, and mix. Then fill, little by little, two irons at a time with as much of the paste as a slice of cheese is large. Then close the iron and cook both sides. If the dough does not detach easily from the iron, coat it first with a piece of cloth that has been soaked in oil or grease.

•  1911 – First electric waffle iron introduced by General Electric.
• 1953 – Frank Dorsa’s Eggo Frozen Waffles are sold in Supermarkets for the first time.
• 1964 – Belgian Waffles debut at New York’s World’s Fair.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Enjoy your favorite waffle recipes. Or visit a local restaurant for some fresh served waffles. Restaurants across the country specialize in waffles, crafting delicious combinations for every meal of the day. No matter your preference, there’s a waffle for you!

Invite friends over for a waffle making party. Set up a buffet with fresh fruit, syrups, and nuts. Ask them to bring their best ingredients and get tasting! You never know what you’ll discover.

True Belgian Waffles
Classic Buttermilk Waffles
Apple Cinnamon Waffles
Banana Oatmeal Buttermilk Waffles
Best Chocolate Chip Waffles