Is there anything better than Sleep-In Saturdays? Not that I did a LOT of sleeping in. Everyone seemed to wake up at the same time around 4:00 a.m., and after greeting the drizzly, cold morning BRIEFLY, we all settled back in for awhile. The household was up and moving around by 7:30, though I admit to grabbing a cup of coffee and coming back to the bedroom to watch silly Hallmark movies while writing this morning. The week was trying and this slow morning is exactly what I needed. It won’t stay this relaxed though – there is a lot to do. **** OK, change of venue. Moose is terrorizing Tibbi, who is retaliating with growls, barks and general discontent, Itty Bitty is sitting on the edge of the bed hissing at Moose every time he leaps up to try to get at her, and Pepsi was just chased from the room by a very enthusiastic Moose. This dog feels like he’s everywhere, all at once and into everything at the same time. I am now in the living room, after putting bacon into the oven and mixing up a batch of biscuits to throw in as soon as I turn the bacon. Yes, I bake my bacon on a cookie cooling rack over a jelly roll pan. It stays flat that way, and all the grease drips into the pan. I can save that for later use, and enjoy bacon that isn’t saturated with fat. It also keeps me from being glued to the kitchen while it cooks. Anyway, the day will be busy after I get everything here done. I haven’t gotten back to my straw bales to start the conditioning process, so that needs to start today, the house needs to be cleaned (amazing what a mess a puppy can make), and there is the ever present laundry to do. For now, while breakfast cooks, this is my “me” time – interrupted only by dinging timers, a frolicking puppy, two terrorized cats and an irritable Tibbi. Nothing like peace, right? 
Holy Humor –
At a Wednesday evening church meeting a very wealthy man rose to give his testimony. “I’m a millionaire,” he said, “and I attribute it all to the rich blessings of God in my life. I can still remember the turning point in my faith, like it was yesterday: I had just earned my first dollar and I went to a church meeting that night. The speaker was a missionary who told about his work. I knew that I only had a dollar bill and had to either give it all to God’s work or nothing at all. So at that moment I decided to give my whole dollar to God. I believe that God blessed that decision, and that is why I am a rich man today.” As he finished it was clear that everyone had been moved by this man’s story. But, as he took his seat, a little old lady sitting in the same pew leaned over and said: “Wonderful story! I dare you to do it again!”
Moments With Moose –
I’ve mentioned before that Moose gives my hubby a bit of a time in the mornings before going to work. Once I leave for the office, Moose tends to hide somewhere. He’s too big to hide under the bench now, and though he’s close to being too big to get under the bed, he still squeezes himself under there in an attempt to avoid the kennel. Another favorite spot is squashed down behind the exercise bike, up against the wall. Every morning R has to find the pup and drag him out of whatever hiding spot he has chosen that day. Yesterday he went looking for Moose, but didn’t find him in his usual spots. It could be that Moose is getting the morning routine down, because he was already in his kennel, asleep. Nice!
Bob Wills Day – I admit I hadn’t heard of this guy before last year, but as I learned about him, I was fascinated. I love hearing about new people and places and in this case, I found a little town called Turkey, Texas that I think would be a lot of fun to visit! Today they celebrate the 43nd annual Bob Wills Day – which I believe started either last night or Thursday through tomorrow, and will be enjoyed with music, food and dancing. Can’t go wrong with that as a combination for fun, can you? So who is this Bob Wills that they are celebrating with such enthusiasm? He was an American western swing musician, songwriter and bandleader. Born on March 6, 1905, in Texas, Bob Wills and the band he formed in 1934, the Texas Playboys, performed on the radio, which made them stars in the Southwest. They were the pioneers of the “western swing” genre of music, blending traditional hoedown fiddling with big-band swing and blues. His best known songs include ‘San Antonio Rose’ and ‘Panhandle Rag’. Sometime in the 1890’s, when the first settlers stepped onto the banks of Turkey Creek in the panhandle of Texas, they found flocks of Rio Grande turkeys roosting there, and the settlement of Turkey Roost was formed. Life was good there – between farming the fertile soil and the abundant game. The name was eventually shortened to Turkey Texas, when the post office was granted in 1893. What the town is BEST known for is being the home of Bob Wills though, which is why they have this big celebration in his honor every year. Wills was a barber in Turkey in the 1920s. Years later, after Wills became a big star, the Bob Wills Foundation purchased the former Turkey school buildings and in those buildings are now housed city offices, the library, a senior citizens room, and the Bob Wills Museum. The Foundation built a Bob Wills monument and a Bob Wills Park. This annual festival – Bob Wills Day Festival – brings in ten thousand people every year on the last Saturday in April.
Hairstylists Appreciation Day- This celebration USED to be held on April 30th, but the person who sponsored it – Anne Camilleri from San Carlos, CA- changed it to the 25th in 2012. You may find it listed elsewhere as the 30th still because a lot of calendar sites just copy each other without double checking. I’m betting, if you go to the same hair stylist all the time that she/he knows more about you than your own doctor! A good stylist not only fixes your hair, but they are a good listener too! They have developed over the years a way to make their clients feel good, which in turn usually helps the client to open right up without hesitating. Now, mine tells me about as much about her life as I do about mine, so it’s a good give and take! You can celebrate this one several ways . . . schedule an appointment and leave a nice tip, send flowers and a card, or write a hand-written note, to let them know how much they mean to you. Over the years I have decided that finding a stylist I like is as challenging as finding a new dentist! Seriously!
Hug A Plumber Day or Plumbers Day – I don’t personally KNOW any plumbers, since my hubby takes care of anything that happens around here, but I know that they are a necessary and vital contact to have should an emergency happen with your ability to have running water! We are all so dependent on it that if it should stop flowing freely it would be quite a disruption. If you know a plumber, or need one today, it may be a good idea to give him/her a hug of appreciation. I’m lucky since I can hug my guy every day and know that he can fix pretty much anything around here that needs to be fixed. Aren’t we glad we have plumbing that we can sometimes need plumbers to fix? In the old days, people hand-carried water from rivers. They did their . . . um . . . business in the bushes, or in cesspools, outhouses or chamber pots that they’d toss into nasty, unsanitary streets. Plumbers have saved mankind from suffering from horrible squalor and disease! It’s a difficult job, often filled with icky stuff that they have to deal with, so for Plumber’s Day, if you happen to see a plumber, or know one – say hello and tell them how important their work is. Sometimes it is just nice to hear.
License Plates Day – New York became the first state to require license plates by law. Owners of automobiles were required to register their names and addresses along with a description of their vehicle with the office of the secretary of state. The state sent each owner a small license plate that was at least three inches high, which had the owner’s initials on it. The fee to register an automobile was one dollar. In 1901, the state received $954 in registration fees. From such a tiny seed such a huge and expensive monster was born.
National Go Birding Day – It seems very appropriate to me today to have National Go Birding Day on John James Audubon’s birthday. Though I can’t find any documented information directly connecting the two, it does seem to be a little bit of a coincidence, doesn’t it? So, what IS birding? Non-birders often ask that, and the simple answer is, watching birds! Getting outside and enjoying nature and appreciating the lovely birds you see in the wild. It’s almost like a treasure hunt. Everywhere you look, keeping your eyes open and appreciating the beauty and delicate balance of nature. As you get into the sport more you will likely find yourself getting accessories to go with you on your walks outside . . . binoculars, cameras, books on birds, plants and wildlife – anything to help you enjoy the great outdoors. Birding is something that motivates people, once they get into it, into exploring the open spaces that people work very hard to preserve, but it also will open your eyes to all of the different birds that you have in your very own back yard. I know I have mentioned this before, but we have identified nearly 30 different species of birds at our own feeders in the last couple of years, and my husband has taken many beautiful photos of them. This is a hobby that anyone, of any age, and any physical ability can enjoy, merely by looking out your window, or taking a walk down your street.
National Mani-Pedi Day – I really couldn’t dig up any details about this one, but it seriously sounds like it’s time to start in on getting regular mani-pedis before sandal and flip flop weather is all the way here! My toes are in need after their long winter of being covered up . . . so celebrate THIS one by making an appointment to treat your toes to a little bit of pampering. If you are wanting to save a little money, that’s just fine! Soak those tootsies in a soothing bath, then take care of the nails yourself. It’s still relaxing – not AS relaxing – but it will do!
Penguin Awareness Day, and World Penguin Day are both great opportunities to learn about and appreciate one of the few natives of Antarctica. We’ve already celebrated Penguin Awareness Day back in January, so this is our last chance this year to officially take some time and learn about them on a special day picked out just for them. Studying them on the internet or from a book is good, or watching a documentary would be a good thing. If you have a zoo nearby, most have penguin habitats set up, so maybe so sit and study them in action! We have two zoos within a couple of hours and both have pretty great penguin areas set up. It would be nice to go on a day when it isn’t very busy (do zoos have those?) and just sit and watch them play! If you REALLY are getting into the mood you can wear black and white in the penguin’s honor, and even tell a penguin joke or two. I don’t know any – I’ll have to look some up! *Found one!* You ready? A Car Full of Penguins: A man was driving down the highway with a car full of penguins, penguins sticking out the windows, penguins coming out the sunroof, penguin everywhere. A cop pulled him over and told him if he didn’t want a ticket he’d better take those penguins straight to the zoo. The man promised he would and drove off. The next day, the same highway, the same car, the same guy, the same cop and the same penguins – only this time the penguins were all wearing sunglasses! The cop pulled the guy over and said, “I thought I told you to take these penguins to the zoo!” “I did” said the guy, “Today I’m taking them to the beach!” (yes a touch corny, but it’s cute!)
Red Hat Society Day – (This is the official day – various chapters will have their own birthday celebrations on different dates) Those of us who are NOT members of the Red Hat Society have most likely seen groups of red hat and purple clad women having lunch or tea and chuckled to ourselves. We don’t understand their group, so we indulgently stay out of their way while quickly mocking the apparent silliness. Fact is that silly was one of the original purposes to this group – and it didn’t start out as a group at all! Here is a quote from the woman who started the whole phenomenon.
“The Red Hat Society began as a result of a few women deciding to greet middle age with verve, humor and elan. We believe silliness is the comedy relief of life, and since we are all in it together, we might as well join red-gloved hands and go for the gusto together. Underneath the frivolity, we share a bond of affection, forged by common life experiences and a genuine enthusiasm for wherever life takes us next.”
– Sue Ellen Cooper, Queen Mother
The way the society started is rather fun! While she was visiting a friend in Tucson, Sue Ellen Cooper bought a bright red hat that she saw at a thrift shop on impulse, simply because it was cheap and she liked it. A couple of years later she read the poem “Warning” by Jenny Joseph, that talks about an older woman in purple clothing and a red hat. She liked it so much that she decided that her birthday present to her dear friend would be a vintage red hat and a copy of the poem. She thought that it would make a nice decoration to hang on a hook next to the framed poem. Her friend loved the hat and poem so much that she gave the same gift to another friend, and so on. One day it dawned on these women that they were becoming sort of a “Red Hat Society” and that maybe they should all go out for tea dressed in purple dresses that didn’t go with their red hats, and complete the image written about in the poem. The tea was an amazing success. Each of the ladies kept thinking about other women they wanted to include, they began to buy more red hats, and their group grew to 18 members. At that point they began encouraging other interested people in starting their own chapters, and now the society has grown to be nationally recognized with chapters across the country. There have even been conventions for the Red Hat Society that have filled entire hotels! Though I am not ready to join such a society, I admit that the groups I’ve seen seem to have been having a very good time. Good for them!
Save The Frogs Day – There has been a lot of focus on the disappearance of the bees from our environment, which puts the delicate balance at risk. Frogs are struggling too, without as much focus – so this one is an effort to raise awareness to the plight of amphibians. Today we celebrate the 7th Annual Save the Frogs Day, and encourage people from all walks of life to learn what they can about the disappearance of the frogs and make an effort to change the problems that are contributing to their disappearance. I read through a lot of lists, and though I don’t understand what many of the things they are telling us we should do to save the frogs actually has to do with saving them . . . things like turning off the TV and radio when we aren’t in the room – though I suppose it is more to do with conserving energy than anything – there are things that I feel directly connect and do need to stop. The top big ones that leap (no pun intended) out at me are: STOP the pesticides! They are killing the bees AND the frogs and aren’t doing such amazing things for people while they are at it. STOP littering! This is a direct impact on our environment and all creatures in it. And STOP GMO produce! It is shocking to me that so few people are showing concern about the damage being done by playing God with our food. The demise of crucial creatures to our planet should have people screaming out against the very things that are killing them! The bees and frogs today . . . us tomorrow? Think about it! Below is a list of frogs on the endangered list. Staggering! Absolutely staggering!
Here is a list of over 109 species of endangered frogs in the world:
Mississippi gopher frog
Mountain yellow-legged frog
Panamanian golden frog
Lehmann’s poison frog
Interior robber frog
Mountain chicken frog
Cowan’s Mantella frog also called the Harlequin Mantelle frog
Corroboree frog
Table mountain ghost frog also known as Rose’s ghost frog
Pines Barrens Tree Frog
Dusky Gopher Frog
Plains Leopard Frog
Chiricahau Leopard Frog
Relict Leopard Frog
Northern Leopard Frog
Ramsey Canyon Leopard Frog
Tarahumara Frog
Lowland Leopard Frog
Tailed Frog
Red-legged frog
Foothill yellow-legged frog
Cascade frog
Mountain yellow-legged frog
Spotted frog
Lowland Leopard frog
Wood frog
Cope’s gray tree frog
Barking tree frog
Pines bareen tree frog
Florida gopher frog
Dusky gopher frog
Florida bog frog
Northern Leopard frog
Spotted frog
Illinois chorus frog
Crawfish frog
Strecher’s chorus frog
Northern crawfish frog
Green frog
Mountain chorus frog
Carpenter frog
Northern cricket frog
Pine barrens tree frog
Grey tree frog
Upland chorus frog
New Jersey chorus frog
Pickerel frog
Southern leopard frog
Lowland leopard frog
Carolina gopher frog
River frog
Sheep frog
White-lipped frog
Mexican burrowing frog
Mexican tree frog
Pacific tree frog
Relict leopard frog
Northern leopard frog
Western chorus frog
Israel painted frog
Panamanian golden frog
Tomato frog
Poison dart frogs
Poison arrow frogs
Asian bullfrogs
Indian bullfrogs
Platypus frogs
Hewitt’s ghost frog
Yellow spotted tree frog
Armored frog
Torrent tree frog
Pearson’s tree frog
Peppered tree frog
Southern bell frog
Common mist frog
Pickersgrill’s reed frog
Long-toed tree frog
Seychelle islands tree frog
Hamilton’s frog
Lake Junin frog
Somuncura frog
Cape rain frog
Desert rain frog
White-bellied frog
Yellow-bellied frog
Stuttering frog
Fleay’s frog
Southern barred frog
Baw-baw frog
Corroboree frog
Gastric brooding frog
Southern gastic brooding frog
Sharp-nosed torrent frog
Mt. Glorious torrent frog
Eungella torrent frog
Liem’s frog
Pleione’s torrent frog
Tinkling frog 9
Goliath frog
Micro frog
Fijian ground frog
Holst’s frog
Ishiikawa’s frog
Mountian yellow-legged frog
Namiye’s frog
Otton frog
Thomasset’s seychelles frog
Gardiner’s seychelles frog
Seychelles frog
This picture is of a little frog we saw on a day hike at Cape Disappointment, WA – I’d had to see him and his friends and family disappear from this earth. Make a difference today – change some of the habits, guides others to change theirs, and each of us can work towards preserving nature in all its forms today.
Sense of Smell Day – How many of us actually take time to think about our sense of smell? Well today is an annual event – National Sense of Smell Day – that is sponsored by the Sense of Smell Institute. I didn’t know there was one of those, did you? It happens every year on the last Saturday in April. There are many different events organized at children’s museums and science centers all over the country with many activities for kids to do to help them learn about the sense of smell. Some of these activities can include different smells from around the world, and remembering smells from your childhood. The aim of the day is to raise awareness of how important this sense is, since we rarely think about how useful it is and how it can help us to survive. Some people say that their sense of smell is the least important of the five senses, and since humans generally have a poor sense of smell when compared to other creatures, think about the different ways that smell is important – and I’m not just talking about how amazing it is to smell fresh bread baking, or the lovely aroma of fresh flowers or grass that is being rained on right after it has been mowed. I’m talking about smells that could save us. One day two years ago I woke up to the unmistakable odor of gas in the house . . . we checked the propane fireplace, nothing. I could smell it though and after hubby checked it out it turned out that a rat had gotten in under the house and chewed a very small hole in the propane hose leading from the tank to the fireplace. He turned it off at the tank, and made some changes so that it wouldn’t happen again . . . but fact is if I hadn’t been able to smell it, it could have been very bad for us. The sense of smell is really quite important! Did you know that dogs have noses that are up to one hundred million times more sensitive than ours? No wonder they are always sniffing everything! Most of us have a normal sense of smell, but some people have problems smelling. There are people who suffer from anosmia, and cannot smell anything at all. Other people have hyperosmia, making them very sensitive to smells. An unusual and very disturbing disorder to have would be dysomia, which makes things smell differently than they really do – for example, maybe they’d smell chocolate as gasoline, roses as the sea. How disturbing! Here are some interesting facts I found out about our sense of smell: It is developed fully right from our birth; female infants have a stronger sense of smell than males; we can recall an entire event or personal moment just by smelling a familiar smell – which is true! I can’t smell oatmeal raisin cookies from my Grandmother’s recipe without feeling special moments from my childhood well up in my mind; and every person has their own unique odor. I know that since we have gotten Moose he is literally burying his nose in EVERYTHING. Tibbi is old and has likely lost some of her sense of smell – not all of it – she can still sniff out a treat from the other room – but it either isn’t as acute as it used to be or she’s too tired to investigate new aromas. Moose though, he sniffs everything out. When R isn’t in the house Moose finds a sock that has been recently worn by R and buries his nose in it. He adoringly carries that sock around the house. Of course I have to rescue the sock before holes get chewed into it, but it’s pretty cute that he does that.
Food Celebration of the Day –
National Pretzel Day – No matter how you like your pretzels, it’s available to you! Thick or thin, straight or twisty, crisp or crunchy or soft! Salted or unsalted, flavored or not. There isn’t a shortage of the different types of pretzels. Did you know that Pretzels are thought to be the world’s oldest snack? They date back to 610 AD in Southern France. Monks would bake thin strips of dough into the shape of a child’s arms folded in prayer. Today celebrates pretzels of all shapes and sizes. Do you know how to celebrate National Pretzel Day? By indulging in some pretzels of course! Here are some lovely recipes to try from www.food.com.
Soft Pretzel
Cheddar Cheese, Pretzel & Beer Burgers
Dijon Bacon Dip for Pretzels
Peanut Butter Pretzel Truffles
Copycat Auntie Anne’s Pretzels
No-Bake Pretzel Bars
It’s been a long morning and early afternoon trying to get this together. Nothing goes uninterrupted these days in our house, that’s for sure. Moose is restless and really wanting to go outside to play, so I suppose if I don’t want a mess, I’d better get to that. Have a fantastic Saturday and go look at some birds! It’s a great day for it . . . well, every day is . . . enjoy! God Bless You and I’ll see you tomorrow.