Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Pencil History ~ Veggie Beef Casserole ~ National Buttermilk Biscuit Day

  

Good 47º morning.

 

 

Yesterday we started at 46º and we topped at 89º.

 

 

Picture of the Day.....construction failure! 😮

 

 

Interesting about pencils.....

 

 

 

A pencil (/ˈpɛnsəl/ ^ⓘ) is a writing or drawing implement with a solid pigment core in a protective casing that reduces the risk of core breakage, and keeps it from marking the user's hand.

 

Pencils create marks by physical abrasion, leaving a trail of solid core material that adheres to a sheet of paper or other surface. They are distinct from pens, which dispense liquid or gel ink onto the marked surface.

 

Most pencil cores are made of graphite powder mixed with a clay binder. Graphite pencils (traditionally known as "lead pencils") produce grey or black marks that are easily erased, but otherwise resistant to moisture, most solvents, ultraviolet radiation and natural aging. Other types of pencil cores, such as those of charcoal, are mainly used for drawing and sketching. Coloured pencils are sometimes used by teachers or editors to correct submitted texts, but are typically regarded as art supplies, especially those with cores made from wax-based binders that tend to smear when erasers are applied to them. Grease pencils have a softer, oily core that can leave marks on smooth surfaces such as glass or porcelain.

 

The most common pencil casing is thin wood, usually hexagonal in section, but sometimes cylindrical or triangular, permanently bonded to the core. Casings may be of other materials, such as plastic or paper. To use the pencil, the casing must be carved or peeled off to expose the working end of the core as a sharp point. Mechanical pencils have more elaborate casings which are not bonded to the core; instead, they support separate, mobile pigment cores that can be extended or retracted (usually through the casing's tip) as needed. These casings can be reloaded with new cores (usually graphite) as the previous ones are exhausted.

 

As a technique for drawing, the closest predecessor to the pencil was silverpoint or leadpoint until in 1565 (some sources say as early as 1500), a large deposit of graphite was discovered on the approach to Grey Knotts from the hamlet of Seathwaite in Borrowdale parish, Cumbria, England. This particular deposit of graphite was extremely pure and solid, and it could easily be sawn into sticks. It remains the only large-scale deposit of graphite ever found in this solid form. Chemistry was in its infancy and the substance was thought to be a form of lead.^{[citation needed]} Consequently, it was called plumbago (Latin for "lead ore"). Because the pencil core is still referred to as "lead", or "a lead", many people have the misconception that the graphite in the pencil is lead, and the black core of pencils is still referred to as lead, even though it never contained the element lead. The words for pencil in German (Bleistift), Irish (peann luaidhe), Arabic (قلم رصاص qalam raṣāṣ), and some other languages literally mean lead pen.

 

United States

American colonists imported pencils from Europe until after the American Revolution. Benjamin Franklin advertised pencils for sale in his Pennsylvania Gazette in 1729, and George Washington used a three-inch pencil when he surveyed the Ohio Country in 1762. William Munroe, a cabinetmaker in Concord, Massachusetts, made the first American wood pencils in 1812. This was not the only pencil-making occurring in Concord. According to Henry Petroski, transcendentalist philosopher Henry David Thoreau discovered how to make a good pencil out of inferior graphite using clay as the binder; this invention was prompted by his father's pencil factory in Concord, which employed graphite found in New Hampshire in 1821 by Charles Dunbar.

 

^{By the end of the 19th century, over 240,000 pencils were used each day in the US. The favoured timber for pencils was Red Cedar as it was aromatic and did not splinter when sharpened. In the early 20th century supplies of Red Cedar were dwindling so that pencil manufacturers were forced to recycle the wood from cedar fences and barns to maintain supply.}

Eraser attachment

On March 30, 1858, Hymen Lipman received the first patent for attaching an eraser to the end of a pencil. In 1862, Lipman sold his patent to Joseph Reckendorfer for $100,000, who went on to sue pencil manufacturer Faber-Castell for infringement. In Reckendorfer v. Faber (1875), the Supreme Court of the United States ruled against Reckendorfer, declaring the patent invalid.

 

^{For a lot more information, go here:}

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

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

SERVES

8

COOK TIME

25 Min

Lookin' for an easy casserole recipe with ground beef? Well, look no further, 'cause Veggie Beef Casserole is a real crowd-pleaser! Like the name says, you're in for some veggie and beef goodness topped with a bit of cheese. This casserole mixes up in a snap and will vanish just as quickly!

 

• 8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni
• 1 1/4 pound ground round
• 1 (16-ounce) bag frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
• 2 (10-3/4-ounce) cans cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

 

1. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
    
2. Preheat oven to 375º. Coat a 9-x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
    
3. Cook beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring until it crumbles and is no longer pink; drain and return to skillet. Add the remaining ingredients, except the cheese, and heat until bubbly.
    
4. Add the macaroni to the mixture and mix well. Spoon mixture into baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, 20-25 minutes or until heated through. 

 

Historically this date

1939 – Lina Medina becomes the youngest confirmed mother in medical history at the age of five. SO bizarre!

1948 – Israel is declared to be an independent state and a provisional government is established. Immediately after the declaration, Israel is attacked by the neighboring Arab states, triggering the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

1961 – American civil rights movement: The Freedom Riders bus is fire-bombed near Anniston, Alabama, and the civil rights protesters are beaten by an angry mob.

1973 – Skylab, the United States' first space station, is launched.

 

And births this date include...

1936 – Bobby Darin, American singer-songwriter and actor (d. 1973)

  

 

1944 – George Lucas, American director

 

1984 – Mark Zuckerberg, American computer programmer and internet entrepreneur, co-founder of Facebook

 

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

May 14th ushers in National Buttermilk Biscuit Day to celebrate this high-rising breakfast staple.

Biscuits are made using baking powder or baking soda as a leavening agent rather than yeast.  A typical buttermilk biscuit recipe contains flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, butter, and buttermilk.  They are often referred to as a “quick bread,” indicating they do not need time to rise before baking. While being made, the dough is beaten and folded to incorporate air, which expands while baking, causing the biscuit to rise.

Before the American Civil War, biscuits emerged as an inexpensive addition to meals. This sturdier bread product soon became popular as people realized it absorbed the gravy on their plate better than plain bread. Soon a new family favorite, biscuits and gravy, was created.

Alexander P. Ashbourne patented the first biscuit cutter in 1875.

Supermarkets offer canned biscuits that are refrigerated until ready to be baked. In 1931, Ballard and Ballard patented these refrigerator biscuits.

Biscuits have been a staple of the Southern United States cuisine for many years and are often made with buttermilk.  Traditionally served as a side dish with butter, they are also served at breakfast with molasses, light sugarcane syrup, maple syrup, sorghum syrup, honey, jam or jelly, or as a breakfast sandwich.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Share your favorite recipes and biscuit combinations. Aside from biscuits and gravy, give these biscuit ideas a try:

• Make biscuit breakfast sandwiches with eggs and cheese.
• Serve biscuits with your favorite soup. It’s better than dumplings!
• Use biscuit dough to make pizza crust. Partially bake the dough before adding toppings.
• Warm biscuits with butter and jelly satisfy every time.
• Serve biscuits with pork chops, pork loins, or pulled pork.
• BBQ and biscuits hit the spot, too. They soak up the juices quite well.
• Whenever you have fresh fish, serve homemade biscuits. Catfish and biscuits are particularly delicious.
• Who likes tomato sandwiches during the summer? When fresh tomatoes ripen on the vine, slice them up while they’re warm. Add a little bit of mayonnaise and sprinkle of salt and sandwich them between two warm biscuits.
• Don’t forget dessert. Biscuits make an excellent base for strawberry shortcake. Just add a little sugar to your dough to sweeten it. You’ll make up the rest of the sweetness with the strawberries and whipped cream.

If you’re looking for a recipe, try the one of the recipes below.

Easy Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits
Easy Biscuits

Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Interesting About Crosswalks ~ Mexican French Toast ~ Bella Union ~ National Apple Day

  

Good 46º morning.

 

 

Yesterday we started at 47º and ended up at 93º. "Summer"!!!

 

 

Picture of the Day😁

 

 

Interesting about crosswalks........

 

Crosswalks in the United States and Canada are normally found at intersections, though sometimes may be found mid-block. Crosswalk installations must follow the regulations specified in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). At signalized intersections, crosswalks may have pedestrian signals which display symbols to mandate when pedestrians may cross the street.

 

State road rules in the United States usually require a driver to yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing a road when the pedestrian crosses at a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk. In some states and cities with jaywalking laws, pedestrians may be restricted from crossing except at a crosswalk and only when the WALK signal is displayed.

Criteria for installation

For crosswalk safety, in the United States there is not much clarity regarding the need for a crosswalk to be marked or unmarked due to the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches, although each city might have its own rules.

Marked crosswalks

In the United States, crosswalks are sometimes marked with white stripes, though many municipalities have slightly different methods, styles, or patterns for doing so. The designs used vary widely between jurisdictions, and often vary even between a city and its county (or local equivalents). There are two main methods for road markings in the United States, as mandated by the 2009 version of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Most frequently, they are marked with two parallel white lines running from one side of the road to the other, with the width of the lines being typically 12 to 24 inches wide. A third "stop line", which is about the same thickness and extends only across lanes going into the intersection, is usually also present. The stop line acts as the legally mandated stopping point for vehicles, and discourages drivers from stopping in the middle of the crosswalk. The other method involves the use of the more easily visible "continental stripes" (like the UK's zebra crossings), which are sets of multiple bars across the crosswalk itself that are perpendicular to the direction of crossing. These bars are typically 12 to 24 inches wide and are set 12 to 24 inches apart. Crosswalks can use a combination of two parallel white lines and continental stripes to create a "ladder" crosswalk, which is highly visible.

 

Marked crosswalks are usually placed at traffic intersections or crossroads, but are occasionally used at mid-block locations where pedestrian generators are present such as at transit stops, schools, retail, or housing destinations. In the United States, these "mid-block crossings" may include additional regulatory signage such as "PED XING" (for "pedestrian crossing"), flashing yellow beacons, stop or yield signs, or by actuated or automatic signals. Some more innovative crossing treatments include in-pavement flashers, yellow flashing warning lights installed in the roadway, or HAWK beacon—an overhead signal with a pair of red beacons above an amber beacon, when a pedestrian is detected or actuates the device it begins a sequence of amber flashing followed by a solid red, followed by a flashing red phase that allows motorists to proceed, only if the pedestrian(s) are clear of the travel way.

 

In the United States, crossing laws vary from state to state and sometimes at the local level. All states require vehicles to yield to a pedestrian who has entered a marked crosswalk. Legally speaking, in most states crosswalks exist at all intersections meeting at approximately right angles, whether they are marked or not. All states except Maine and Michigan require vehicles to yield to a pedestrian who has entered an unmarked crosswalk. To gain the right-of-way in some parts of Canada, however, the pedestrian holds out his hand in a position much like that used to shake hands, and steps off the curb. The province of Ontario enacted a law in 2016 that mandates that drivers and bicyclists come to a complete stop at pedestrian "crossovers"—ladder-style crosswalks that are sometimes designated with overhead signs or lights—as well as crosswalks with school crossing guards.

 

Jaywalking

Jaywalking is a term which refers to the act of crossing the road other than at a crosswalk or against the crosswalk signal. Jaywalking might be understood as walking against a pedestrian walk signal; crossing a street where there is no crosswalk (midblock crossing); crossing a street outside of a marked crosswalk where one is present; and walking on a street along with the traffic flow (ignoring designated pedestrian pathways).

 

Jaywalking is an offence in many cities, U.S. states and Canadian provinces, although prohibitions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Nonetheless, jaywalking remains the cultural norm in some cities such as New York and Toronto. 'Jaywalking' is recorded in the Oxford English Dictionary from 1917. According to historian and alternative transportation advocate Peter D. Norton, the word was promoted by pro-automobile interests in the 1920s. Jaywalking laws in the United States have been criticized due to racial bias in enforcement.

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

SERVES

4

COOK TIME

20 Min

Everyone loves French toast, so why not take it across the border and put a tasty twist on it? Our Mexican French Toast breaks with tradition for a novel brunch-worthy version of this favorite breakfast treat.

• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 (10-inch) flour tortillas
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, divided
• 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

 

1. In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, milk, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla until well blended.
    
2. Cut each tortilla into quarters then place in egg mixture. Gently stir to completely coat tortillas. Allow to soak 10 minutes, or until softened.
    
3. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Add 4 tortilla quarters and cook 4 to 5 minutes, or until golden, turning halfway through cooking. Drain on a paper towel-lined platter. Repeat with remaining butter and tortillas. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and serve immediately.

 

****Strawberries are the perfect topping, either fresh or frozen and thawed, along with real maple syrup.

 

 

Historically this date......

1846 – Mexican–American War: The United States declares war on Mexico.

 

1861 – American Civil War: Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom issues a "proclamation of neutrality" which recognizes the Confederacy as having belligerent rights.

 

1864 – American Civil War: Battle of Resaca: The battle begins with Union General Sherman fighting toward Atlanta.

 

1865 – American Civil War: Battle of Palmito Ranch: In far south Texas, the last land battle of the Civil War ends with a Confederate victory

 

1913 – Igor Sikorsky becomes the first man to pilot a four-engine aircraft.

 

1958 – Ben Carlin becomes the first (and only) person to circumnavigate the world by amphibious vehicle, having travelled over 17,000 kilometres (11,000 mi) by sea and 62,000 kilometres (39,000 mi) by land during a ten-year journey.

 

1994 – Johnny Carson makes his last television appearance on Late Show with David Letterman.

 

 

 

 

And births this date include...

 

1914 – Joe Louis, American boxer (d. 1981)

 

 

1922 – Bea Arthur, American actress and singer (d. 2009)

 

 

 

1941 – Ritchie Valens, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1959)

 

 Yesterday my son Brian and his wife Jen took Jen's mom Jean, me, and their two children, Tucker and Sami to the Bella Union restaurant in Jacksonville for brunch. We ate out on the patio. It was a beautiful day. Thank you my loves. xoox

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

National Apple Pie Day, America’s favorite dessert, is observed annually on May 13th.

The first apple pie recipe printed was in England in 1381. The list of ingredients included good apples, good spices, figs, raisins, pears, saffron, and cofyn (a type of pastry crust).

While the apple pie existed well before the Pilgrims landed on the eastern shores of what is now The United States, Americans wax poetic about how American apple pie is. The phrase “as American as apple pie” has been around for more than 100 years.

During the turn of the 20th century when whole toasted cereals were becoming the ‘health food’ fad, pie gained a bad reputation.  Apple pie saved the day of sorts, being more nutritious than other pies according to some.

Teddy Roosevelt was impressed to have a taste of home when he was served an American apple pie while traveling in Africa.

Soldiers during World War II were often quoted they were fighting “for Mom and apple pie.”   In 1970, advertisers used the patriotic connection with a commercial jingle “Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet.”