What a fun day I’ve had! I got up and headed to town with my Mom. We found some good sales, I got Baby B a couple of birthday presents (I can’t believe #1 is coming up!), had a tasty lunch, and braved Costco on a busy Saturday afternoon! Surprisingly we made it home at a reasonable hour, and here I am . . . late to get any writing done, but I figured that what I’d do is combine today’s and tomorrow’s all on one post. Tomorrow morning Moose has puppy school, so I’m up and out of here not long after breakfast, so this should work out nicely for everyone, right?
Moments With Moose –
Oh my goodness! Have you ever seen the little cups of puppy ice cream at the store next to the people ice cream? It’s made by Purina and once in awhile throughout the past few years I’ve given Tibbi a little cup of it. Well, yesterday was the first time we’ve let Moose have some and oh my goodness he LOVED it! His tail was waggling like crazy nearly the entire time he was eating it. So precious. I swear both of them nearly turned the cups inside out trying to get every last drop.
20th – American Eagle Day – I love eagles. There is something so incredibly regal about them. It is no surprise that they are our national bird! In the early 1960s the number of nesting pairs of American bald eagles was less than 450 in the entire country. By the 1990s there were more than 4,500 adult bald eagle nesting pairs. On June 28, 2007 the U.S. Department of Interior removed them from the Endangered Species List, though they are still protected under other, more specific legislation. Where we live, we see them soaring overhead frequently. When I am able to see one actually up close – perhaps resting on a piling at the beach, or up in a tree near where I happen to be, I love to just focus in on it with the binoculars or the camera and just watch them. They are amazing!!! If you want to be inspired, and you live somewhere that you may have the opportunity to see one of these magnificent birds, please take some time and a camera and give them the appreciation they deserve.
10th – Flitch of Bacon Day – This one is great! I can’t believe I missed it the last couple of years! I love history, and I love discovering cultural celebrations and traditions that I didn’t know about. I hope you feel the same. Today we learn about the History of the Dunmow Flitch Trials. I guess the first thing we need to know is what is a flitch of bacon? Well, a flitch of bacon is basically a side of pig cut lengthwise. Now that we know THAT, the rest of this may make a little more sense. The Dunmow Flitch Trials date back to 1104, at the Augustinian Priory of Little Dunmow, which was founded by Lady Juga Baynard. Lord of the Manor, Reginald Fitzwalter and his wife dressed themselves as humble folk and begged the blessing of the Prior one year and a day after they were married. The Prior was very impressed by their devotion, and gave them a Flitch of Bacon. Fitzwalter revealed to the Prior who he really was, and gave his land to the Priory on the condition that a Flitch would be awarded to any couple who could claim they were just as devoted to their marriages as were the Fitzwalters. The custom was that the couple had to prove – though there isn’t any record I could find out about HOW they proved – that they were completely devoted to each other. At the end of the trials they would kneel on pointed stones – very painful – used by the devout. The purpose I must assume was to receive a blessing? Not sure, but it sounds reasonable. Following being declared recipients of the Flitch, they would be carried around in a special chair, and celebrated. There wasn’t just one winner, any couple who could prove true devotion, and they hadn’t wished themselves not married in the past year and a day since they were married, could win. The couples who were not awarded the Flitch had to follow those who did around as they were being carried in the celebration chair, I guess to show their shame or status as losers? By the 14th century the Dunmow Flitch Trials had become famous far and wide. The author William Langland mentions the trials in his book ‘The Vision of Piers Plowman’, written in 1362. The way he mentioned it implied that it was generally known amongst his readers what the trials were all about. Chaucer, less than half a century later, alluded to them in ‘The Wife of Bath’s Tale, and since he didn’t feel the need to explain what they were to his readers, historians concluded that they knew about them already. It was not until 1445 that the winners of the Flitch were recorded officially, with the earliest record of a successful claimant to the trials being Richard Wright, who traveled from Norwich to try his marital harmony, and take home the bacon. This win is recorded in the documents from the Priory of Little Dunmow, still held by the British Museum. After the monasteries were swept aside by King Henry VIII, the awarding of the Flitch was taken over by the Lord of the Manor in 1701, the local paper records different judges presiding over the trials, spending the evening after the trials dancing and playing cards. Sadly, in 1832, the Steward of Little Dunmow, George Wade, refused the request by a local couple to hold a trial and it was reported that he said he regarded the Trials as being “an idle custom bringing people of indifferent character into the neighborhood”. The trials at this point were moved from Little Dunmow to Great Dunmow. Over the following years the custom lapsed, the pointed kneeling stones were carried away, and the oak carrying chair was preserved in Little Dunmow Priory. In 1855 Victorian novelist Harrison Ainsworth published his popular novel “The Custom of Dunmow”, which resulted in him being credited with reviving the Trials as an event separate from the Church and the Lords of the Manor. Since that time the Trials were held regularly, and since the end of WWII have been set every 4 years in a leap year, for no other reason than it’s easier to organize. The modern Trials take the form of a court that has a Judge with the Counsel representing the couple, and the Opposing Counsel representing the donors of the Flitch of Bacon, with a Jury of 6 maidens and 6 bachelors, a Clerk of the Court to record the Trials and an Usher to maintain order. Each trial brings amusement, entertainment, renews community spirit and is a special moment in the history of a beautiful and prosperous town. Long may the tradition continue.
20th – National Hollerin’ Contest Day – (3rd Saturday in June) – Have you ever felt like just letting loose and screaming at the top of your lungs? Today’s your day then! Today is the day of the National Hollerin’ Contest. Spivey’s Corner, NC, which has a population of about 50 people, hosts the annual contest today, which brings the population to between 5,000 and 10,000 people for the day. Not sure what all of it was about though, I had to dig a little deeper. This is actually quite interesting! Hollerin’ is considered, by some at least, to be the earliest form of communication between humans. In rural areas it was the way to convey long-distance messages, since this was back before modern telecommunication. Evidence of hollerin’ in one form or another, can be found worldwide, among many early people, in Europe, Africa, Asia and the United States. Each culture used, or even still uses, hollers differently, though almost all of them have specific hollers meant for warning or distress. It’s also used for greeting, general information, fun, work, etc. The hollers for the National Hollerin’ Contest fall into one of four categories: Distress, Functional, Communicative and Pleasure. I did find this link from news coverage from 2011 competition – sounds like it would be a noisy spot to be, and not somewhere to go if you have a headache! My goodness – watch the video here! I had to giggle while I was reading this one though, because even though we have telephones with interoffice lines, somehow hollerin seems to happen amongst my office mates at the other end of the hall from me. It’s a bit of a distance down that hall, but doggone it if we can’t hear entire conversations had between two separate offices between the two who “live” down there.
21st – Alzheimer’s Awareness Day – The first thing many people ask, what IS Alzheimers? We hear the word all the time, and we know it is a horrible thing for someone to have, but what IS it? Well, Alzheimer’s is characterized by dementia, which is an impairment in memory, in another areas of thinking such as the ability to organize thoughts and reason, the ability to use language, or the ability to see accurately the visual world – not because of eye disease – and these impairments are severe enough to cause a decline in the patient’s usual level of functioning. Truth is that some kinds of memory loss are a normal part of aging, but the changes to the usual aging process are not severe enough to interfere with the level of normal function. There are many different diseases that can cause dementia, but Alzheimer’s disease is by far the most common cause in the United States and in most countries in the world. Following are a few Alzheimer’s Disease facts that you may find to be helpful if you are seeking information:
* Alzheimer’s is a disease of the brain that progresses slowly, and is characterized by impairment of memory, and eventually be difficulty in reasoning, planning, language and perception.
*The chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease increases greatly after the age of 70, and may affect around 50% of people over the age of 85.
* The main risk factor of developing Alzheimer’s is increased age, though there are also genetic risk factors.
* The 10 classic warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease are memory loss, difficulty performing familiar tasks, problems with language, being disoriented as to time and place, poor or decreased judgment, difficulty with abstract thinking, misplacing things, mood and behavior changes, changes in personality and loss of initiative. (this can also describe most teenagers between ages 14 and 18 – just a thought!)
* The cause, or causes, of Alzheimer’s disease is, or are, unknown. The accumulation of the protein amyloid is thought to perhaps play a role in this.
* The diagnosis for Alzheimer’s is reached when a person has had enough cognitive decline to meet the criteria for dementia, when the symptoms are consistent with Alzheimer’s, and when there aren’t any other brain diseases that are a better explanation for the symptoms. (To me that just seems a bit broad – and I wonder how many people have been improperly diagnosed with this when they could have been treated for something else?)
* Even though there is no cure, Alzheimer’s is managed by medication, and non-medication, treatments.
The good news is that there are some dementia prevention exercises you can do! In a study taken over about 5.4 years (I always wonder why they split it up – why not 5, or 6 years?), dementia developed in 124 of 465 subjects. Researchers found that the people who DIDN’T get dementia were active with reading, playing board games, playing musical instruments and dancing! So basically, keeping the brain and body active! Good to know!
21st – Ann & Samantha Day – (summer & winter solstices) – Twice each year, on the winter and summer solstices, the lives of two young girls are celebrated. These two girls made a difference in their worlds. Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl who had to into hiding to escape the Nazis during WWII and is best known for the book “The Diary of Anne Frank”. Samantha Smith was 10 years old when she wrote a letter to Soviet President Yuri Andropov in December of 1982 to ask if he was going to wage a nuclear war against the United States. He invited her to tour the USSR the following July, and as a result became a media celebrity, then a television actress. Samantha died on a rainy August night in 1985 when the commercial plane she was in crashed, killing all who were on board. This holiday is promoting the girls as being worthy of appearing on U.S. postage stamps. I say yes! There are far less worthy people who have their faces on our stamps – so why not these courageous young ladies?
21st – Cuckoo Warning Day – The first time I read about this one last year I laughed. I admit I had to chuckle over it again. According to superstition – which nobody seems to know where it started – if you hear the call of a cuckoo bird on June 21st, there is a wet summer ahead. In Europe – where cuckoos spend their spring and summer – the call of the cuckoo says that spring is here and summer is coming soon. Now I live in Western Washington, so regardless of whether we hear a cuckoo or not, it’s never surprising to have a wet summer . . . it’s just where we live! This year has been unseasonably dry, but it wouldn’t shock anyone who lives here to go from hot and dry today, to pouring down rain tomorrow.
21st – Family Awareness Month – I don’t pay all that much attention to the monthly celebrations – though I suppose I should – unless we are having a particularly slow one with the dailies. This one though, is pretty important to everyone. Family Awareness Month officially starts on Mother’s Day and ends with Father’s Day, marking THIS as Family Awareness Day. Makes sense. It was created by Kids Peace to raise awareness of the importance of family – kids, mothers, fathers, relatives and caregivers – and to encourage all in supporting one another. Experts have described family as “someone who has a strong emotional attachment to another”, which I suppose is an accurate description of a family, only such an understatement! Family is important in raising healthy, confident and well-adjusted kids for America’s future . . . well, for the future of the world too! This was acknowledged by Congress in 1998 when they officially made National Kids Day and National Family Month as National celebrations. Below is a copy and paste of the resolution.
105th U.S. CONGRESS – 2nd Session H. CON. RES. # 302 — HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Recognizing the importance of children and families in the United States and expressing support for the goals of National KidsDay® and National Family MonthTM.
Whereas there is an epidemic of children in crisis in the United States caused by the increased stresses on children from contemporary society, which can even include instances of child abuse and neglect; Whereas newspaper headlines, news reports, and various studies provide evidence that children are more frequently committing acts of violence, taking illegal drugs, and committing suicide, indicating that the future of the children of the United States, and therefore the future of the Nation, is at risk; Whereas all families in the United States, regardless of their economic status, ethnic or cultural heritage, or geographic location, are experiencing the pressures caused by contemporary society while trying to raise and nurture their children; Whereas it is imperative that the people of the United States act boldly to secure the future of the Nation by halting and healing the pain of children in crisis; Whereas KidsPeace is the oldest, most successful, and most comprehensive not-for-profit organization dedicated solely to helping children attain the confidence and develop the courage necessary to confront and overcome crises; Whereas KidsPeace has more than 1,500 caregivers helping more than 2,000 children each day in 25 locations across the United States;
Whereas KidsPeace established National KidsDay and National Family Month to recognize and focus attention on relationships between parents and children; Whereas National KidsDay is celebrated on the third Saturday of September, during the period when children are returning to school, when children are subject to a very high level of stress, and when there is a critical need for children to feel honored, valued, supported, and loved; Whereas National Family Month is celebrated during the five-week period between Mother’s Day in May and Father’s Day in June, which is a critical adjustment period for families to prepare for children to return to the home at the end of the school year and can provide a wonderful opportunity for families to prepare to use their time together during the summer to grow and strengthen as a family unit; and Whereas these celebrations can provide opportunities for parents, grandparents, and caregivers to recognize the importance of being involved in the physical and emotional lives of their children: Now, therefore be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress– recognizes the importance of children and families to the future of the United States;
expresses support for the goals of National KidsDay and National Family Month, as established by KidsPeace; and
encourages the people of the United States to participate in local and national activities and celebrations recognizing National KidsDay and National Family Month.
Passed, the U.S. House of Representatives October 8, 1998.
21st – Father’s Day – There is a difference between a father and a Dad. Any man can become a father, whether by design or accident, but that doesn’t make him the heroic and strong figure in a child’s life that qualifies him as a Dad. Think about the father’s you know, include your own and all the others that you know, and I am sure you will be able to pick out the biological donors, and the men who take the job of being a Dad seriously. A Dad is the man who cares and provides, or assists in providing at least, a home for his family. He is the man who helps set the standards, family values and the example for his children to grow up watching. A Dad teaches his children things, disciplines them when they walk off the path they should be following, and shares his life experiences with his kids. My children have a father, but I’d like to think of my 2nd, final and amazing husband as their Dad. There is a definite difference and I’ve seen a living, breathing example of both. Spend some time with your Dad, or at least call him today if you live too far away to see him, and be grateful if he was an amazing presence in your life. I probably won’t be seeing my Dad for longer than to give him his card. I know he had a really full day on Saturday – so we’ll celebrate on my day off on Wednesday. It’s less crowded in the restaurants during the week anyway.
Did you know that the first Father’s Day celebration was in Spokane, WA on May 18, 1910? Turns out that the woman who started Mother’s Day – Sonora Smart Dodd and her first younger brothers were left to be raised by their father when her mother died in 1898. She organized and started Mother’s Day after her mother’s passing, but in 1909, after hearing a Mother’s Day sermon at church, she was inspired to start Father’s Day, realizing that Dad’s deserved equal recognition.
21st – Go Skateboarding Day –This day was started in 2004 by the International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC) and is a day for anyone, and everyone – except me – I’m a klutz – to take a break and get together with family and friends and go skateboarding. Apparently it doesn’t matter what kind of skateboarding you like best – though I didn’t know there was a choice – whether it’s street, park, freestyle, racing downhill, or just in your driveway – it’s all good today. As long as you are on a board that has wheels and are having fun, you are celebrating this one the correct way. Many skateboard shops, clubs and organizations choose this day to have events, competitions and anything else you can think of that has to do with skateboards. I’ve never personally stepped onto a skateboard – it just isn’t something I choose to risk my neck over, but I remember when my dog Tibbi was about a year old, she was so strong and loved to pull. She’d pull on the leash, she’d tussle with my son, she had all of this energy all bundled up inside of her, so my son decided to put her harness on her and have her pull him up the road on his skateboard. She loved it, and so did he. There was something so cute about watching the two of them go racing down the road at top Rottweiler speed . . . I wish I had a picture of it, but I somehow managed to never take one.
21st – National Daylight Appreciation Day– Today, and every June 21st, is a day devoted to the sun and the benefits of “daylighting”. What is daylighting? This term refers to the use of natural light to brighten an indoor space, instead of only using electric lighting. Not only will it reduce your energy bills, but studies show that daylighting can enhance mental and physical well-being, as well as boosting concentration and energy levels. I know that when we’ve had power outages I’ve sometimes wished that our skylight was closer to the kitchen, instead of over the living room. I tend to be busier in kitchen even without electricity, so the extra lighting would be nice.
21st – National Selfie Day – Today is the first annual National Selfie Day. I suppose it was bound to happen considering all the frivolous celebration days that there are. Since selfies are pretty much a phenomenon that has taken over the internet, it was just a matter of time. This day is the brainchild of a DJ by the name of Rick McNeely of the Fishbowl Radio Network in Arlington, Texas. People are encouraged to take and post creative selfies. Well, heck, they are likely doing it anyway, why not? Depending on who you speak with people feel that selfies are an art form, an addiction, not worthy of mentioning, a way to get attention, or just harmless fun. What do YOU think a out the craze?
21st – Summer Solstice – Today is the longest day of the year, and the official start of summer. The amount of daylight time we have for the next six months will decrease daily. We don’t have to think about that part of it right now though. There’s too much to do for the summer to think ahead to it being over! It’s time to enjoy vacations, beautiful weather, playing at the beach, hiking in the mountains, camping . . . so many things to do, not enough summer months! We need to get busy! Did you know that the sun does not set at the North Pole today? There will be 24 hours of sunlight there. Not sure that makes up for that cold day in December when the sun does not rise above the horizon, but right now the thought of that is very far away.
21st – Tall Girl Appreciation Day – At last! I have no idea who started this, but from what I can tell this is the first year! If it isn’t, I can’t find anything to say when it did start. There are plenty of days to celebrate short girls, but not for tall ones until now! Yippee! As a tall girl, I can tell you that we have our own set of challenges in life. Pants are always too short, unless you shop at a store that tends to lean towards the expensive side. Sleeves are also too short. Not only that, shirts do not come down far enough to keep from raising up indecently to expose unnecessary middle. Of course there is also the issue of feeling like a giant next to some people, looking down at the tops of heads, and when we want to dress up in cute heels and a skirt, we are far taller than most others in the room. When I wear my highest heels I’m at least 6’1”! All in all though, I have to say that I’m glad I’m tall. Some women slouch when they are tall, but I never felt the need. I was always proud to be tall. So tall girls, don’t slouch! Stand up tall, wear high heels, put your shoulders back and know that you command attention by your stature. Wear it with pride.
21st – World Handshake Day – Now, don’t mix this up with National Handshake Day – that’s on June 28th. We’ll talk about that one then. No, this WORLD Handshake Day and is the brain child of Ivan Zupa, who heard the following words from an old man: “My son, place your hand here in the sea and you are united with the whole world.” Zupa came up with the idea that we should all take the time to put our hands into the sea and shake hands with the rest of the world, and as such, feel united. If you don’t live close to the sea, you could put your hand into any body of water that runs to the sea to still be a part of it. If you don’t live near one of those either, well, there must be a dry land option as well, but I have no idea what that would be at the moment. Interesting concept though, don’t you think?
This Day In History –
June 20, 1939 – The first rocket plane to use liquid propellants is tested.
June 20, 1967 – Muhammad Ali is convicted refusing induction into armed services.
June 21, 1834 – Cyrus McCormick patents the reaping machine.
Food Celebration of the Day –
20th – National Ice Cream Soda – Have you ever been to an old fashioned soda fountain? You know, the sort of place that had the stools that you could sit right at the counter. The town I grew up in used to have one. When I was in Junior High and High School my friends and I would walk down the hill from school into town on Fridays, and go to the fountain to have a soda and some fries. There was something so special about it. We’d sit on those stools, swinging our legs and gossiping over our sodas like any normal teenager will do. I was quite sad when it closed some years ago. To my knowledge that was the last soda fountain of its kind in our area! I wish we had someplace like that again. So, what exactly IS an ice cream soda? It’s a great treat on a hot summer day, and usually consists of ice cream, soda water and some sort of flavored syrup. It’s a like a root beer float, except the flavors are unique to the person ordering them, or making them. They are delicious and fun, and if you’re fortunate, they bring back a lot of memories from childhood. Here are a few different ideas for them from www.food.com!
Brown Cow
Chocoberry Splash
Coffee Ice Cream Soda
Orange Ice Cream Soda
Triple-Play Ice Cream Soda
Egg Cream
Purple Cow
21st – National Peaches and Cream Day – China is the world’s largest producer of peaches, followed by Italy. But we’re no slouches in the U.S. — peaches are grown in at least 38 states.
Peaches & Cream Pie
Peaches & Cream Dream Muffins
Peaches & Cream With Gingersnap Topping
Peach Almond Ice Cream
Peaches & Cream Icebox Pie
Peaches & Cream Cocktail
Peaches & Cream Cake
That’s so much to celebrate! I thought there was some fun stuff in here for this weekend! Enjoy your time with your fathers, and keep in mind that you probably gave them a great deal of grief, so they truly deserve this special day. God Bless You and I’ll see you tomorrow!