5 For Friday December 15

WEDNESDAY READER | DECEMBER 7

Hello December!  Hello Christmas time.  Enjoying watching all the lights going up outside at neighbors’ homes.  Such a cool time of year.  Magic everywhere from lights to wrapping the gifts real pretty.

POP Quiz

POP QUIZ

  1.   WHICH LITERARY CHARACTER HAS HAD ADVENTURES IN THE THE ONE HUNDRED ACRE WOOD?
    a)  Bilbo Baggins
    b)  Curious George
    c)  Paddington Bear
    d)  Winnie-the-Pooh
  2. THE MOLASSES ACT OF 1773 PLACED A TAX ON MOLASSES, SUGAR AND WHAT OTHER ITEM?
    a)  Honey
    b)  Maple syrup
    c)  Olive oil
    d)  Rum
  3. READER PHIL SCHWIMMER ASKS:  HOW OLD ARE YOU WHEN YOU’VE BEEN ALIVE FOR 1 BILLION SECONDS?
    a)  13 years and 7 months
    b)  25 years and 3 weeks
    c)  31 years and 251 days
    d)  48 years, 36 days and 4 hours

~ from the archives of Trivia Bits, Leslie Elman, copyright

Wednesday Reader December 7

QUICK QUESTION

WHAT WAS YOUR ALL-TIME BRIGHTEST IDEA?

Wednesday Reader December 7

POP QUIZ ANSWERS

  1.   d)  Winnie-the-Pooh
  2.   d)  Rum
  3.   c)  31 years and 251 days

SCHULTZ WISDOM

The following is from CCC Spirit Lifter newsletter and is the brilliant, observation and wisdom of Charles Schultz, creator of the beloved “PEANUTS” comic strip.  Although obviously penned years ago its message is timeless.  It’s not a test, no need to write down the answers.  Just read straight through and the message will find you.

  1.   Name the 5 wealthiest people in the world.
  2.   Name the last 5 Heisman Trophy winners.
  3.   Name the last 5 winners crowned Miss America.
  4.   Name 10 people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
  5.   Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners
  6.   Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.

The point is, none of us really recall the headliners of yesterday and they are the best in their fields.  But the applause dies, awards tarnish and achievements are forgotten.  Their accolades and certificates are buried with the owners.

See how you do on this one:

  1.   List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
  2.   Name 3 friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
  3.   Name 5 people who have taught you something worthwhile.
  4.   Think of a few people who have made you feel special and appreciated.
  5.   Think of 5 people you enjoy spending time with.

The real point is, the people who make a difference in our lives are not the ones with big-shot-credentials, the most money, or the most awards.  They are the ones who care.  Hat tip, Mr. Schultz.

THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO WILL TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN’T.  WHAT YOU’VE GOT TO DO IS TURN AROUND AND SAY, “WATCH ME!”

((  Starve the landfills.  Recycle.  ))

RIDDLE ME THIS

I AM NEITHER A GUEST NOR A TRESPASSER BE, TO THIS PLACE I BELONG.  What am I?

Wednesday Reader December 7

CHRISTMAS GIFTS OF GOOD TASTE

A couple outstanding recipes to pour into a recycled wine bottle(s) or mason jars and decorate with festive ribbon, bells, etc … and gift!

HOMEMADE IRISH CREAM LIQUEUR

  1.  1 – 3/4 cups Irish Whiskey (super important that the whiskey is an Irish blend – like Jameson or Bushmills)
  2.   1 – 14 ounce can Eagle Brand condensed milk
  3.   1 cup heavy whipping cream (in the milk section at grocery market)
  4.   2 TBSP good quality chocolate syrup
  5.   2 tsp Instant coffee (Kava or Nescafe are great)
  6.   1 tsp real vanilla extract
  7.   1/2 tsp almond extract

Pour all ingredients in a blender and whir until smooth.  Pour the mixture via a funnel into glass container of choice and seal the opening (leave a little room at the top for shaking purposes before serving).  Repeat.  The more the merrier!  Keep refrigerated.
Recipe makes about 4 delicious cups.

PINK POODLE SALAD DRESSING

In a giant mixing bowl combine:

  1.   4 cups vegetable oil
  2.   3 cups white vinegar
  3.   2 cups frozen Cranberry juice concentrate, thawed (not Cranberry juice cocktail)
  4.   2 TBSP dry, powdered mustard (I love Coleman’s brand)
  5.   2 TBSP fresh cracked black pepper
  6.   6 TBSP sugar

Whisk all ingredients until well combined.  Pour via funnel into glass container of choice (leave a little room at the top for shaking purposes before serving).  Cap and refrigerate!
This dressing is outstanding and a recipient pleaser!  The blush rose color – beautiful.

~ from Hippie Cowboy Recipe Box

RIDDLE ANSWER

HOME

Wednesday Reader December 7

ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT

This chuckle-funny story is from CCC Spirit Lifter.

A young man received a parrot as an early Christmas gift.  The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary.  Every word out of the bird’s mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity.

John tried and tried to change the bird’s attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to “clean up” the bird’s vocabulary.  Finally, John was fed up and yelled at the parrot.  The parrot yelled back.

John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even got rude.  John, in desperation, threw up his hands, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer.  For a few minutes, the parrot squawked, kicked and screamed.

Then suddenly it was total quiet.  Not a peep was heard for a minute.

Fearing that he’d hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer.  The parrot calmly stepped out onto John’s outstretched arm and said, “I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions.

I’m sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgiveable behavior.”

John was stunned at the changes in the bird’s attitude.  As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird spoke very softly, “May I ask what the turkey did?”

~ giant high five to the unknown writer of this hilarious tale

Fascinating Stuff

FASCINATING STUFF

  • Turning out 381 million wheels a year has earned Lego the title of the world’s largest manufacturer, according to Guinness World Records.  Of course, that’s nothing compared with the number of Lego bricks manufactured each year — around 40 billion.  The company estimates that it’s produced more than 80 bricks for every person on earth.
  • Call them all tree-huggers; the Bishnois won’t mind.  The nature worshiping vegan religious sect came into being in the 15th C, and it’s still very much alive.  Based in the Rajasthan region of India, the Bishnois follow a strict vegan lifestyle and are so devoted to the sanctity of nature they’ve been known to latch on to trees in a fierce embrace to prevent others from chopping them down.
  • What is quince?  Yes, it could be the answer to “Foods with a Q for $400.”  (See “White Men Can’t Jump.”)  It’s also a fruit similar to pears and apples but classified in its own botanican genus.  Quince is the basis for dulce de membrillo, a thick jelly that complements both sweet and savory dishes.  Dulce de membrillo traditionally is made in the fall, when quince are harvested, and served in the winter, especially at Christmas.
  • The main square in Prague, capital of the Czech Republic, is dedicated to St. Wenceslas, the man we know as “Good King Wenceslas from the Christmas carol.  In real life, he wasn’t king; he was the Christian Duke of Bohemia.  In A.D. 935, the pious Wenceslas was on his way to church, when he was murdered by assassins.  He was elevated to Sainthood soon after his death.
  • The twinkly sound of “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” in “The Nutcracker,” comes from a celesta (or celeste), a keyboard instrument named for its heavenly — celestial — bell-like sound.  The story goes that composer Yotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky first heard the celesta in Paris in 1891 and immediately ordered one for himself, asking the instrument makers to keep his purchase a secret from rival composers, especially fellow Russian Nikolai Rimsky-Korakov.    Tchaikovsky wanted the celesta’s distinctive sound to linked forever to “The Nutcracker” — and it is!

~ from the archives, Trivia Bits by Leslie Elman, copyright

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