~★~♥~♥~★~ El Morno! ♥~★~★~♥ ~
January 23,2013

★~Today’s Quote:  I always tell my kids if you lay down, people will step over you. But if you keep scrambling, if you keep going, someone will always, always give you a hand. Always. But you gotta keep dancing, you gotta keep your feet moving.~ Morgan Freeman

★~ Handwriting Day: 

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John Hancock (January 23, 1737 – October 8, 1793) was President of the Second Continental Congress and of the Congress of the Confederation, first Governor of Massachusetts, and the first person to sign the United States Declaration of Independence.

John Hancock’s signature is the most prominent on the United States Declaration of Independence.

A signature (from Latin signare, “sign”) is a handwritten (and sometimes stylized) depiction of someone’s name (or some other identifying mark) that a person writes on documents as a proof of identity and will. It acts as a seal. The writer of a signature is a signatory. Like a handwritten signature, a signature work describes the work as readily identifying its creator.

The lost art of handwriting is one of the few ways we can uniquely express ourselves. There’s something poetic about grasping a writing instrument and feeling it hit the paper as your thoughts flow through your fingers and pour into words. So, the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association (WIMA) suggests we take advantage of National Handwriting Day by use ing a pen or a pencil to rekindle that creative feeling through a handwritten note, poem, letter, or journal entry.

★~ Measure Your Feet Day- 

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Look at those feet… yikes. How big are those things, precisely? Do you even know?  Today is the day to find out down to the inch, the centimeter, the millicronometer! Bust out your snazziest ruler or measuring tape and celebrate measure your feet day in style!

Measure Your Feet Day originates in ancient Iceland of all places. As most anyone can tell you, ancient Icelanders spent their free time doing one of two things: Bowling, or High-Fiving with their feet, which they called “Shelbing”. In the Spring, when Iceland has it’s notorious rain storms, the natives would gather in their huts, measure their feet, and pair off. They would then celebrate the rains by Shelbing until the sun went down. It was customary to measure ones feet again after the celebration though that part of the tradition has not been practiced since the late 80’s. Before long, the other world leaders heard the tale of the fun-loving Icelanders and emailed each other on ways to commemorate such a joyous event. So it was written that, January 23rd would forever be Measure Your Feet Day…

So unsheathe your hooves and mark down the size because Measure Your Feet Day only comes but once a year.

★~ National Pie Day: 

Which pie should you choose for your National Pie Day? The pie-sibilities are endless! Will it be one of the 231 varieties of apple pie, the favorite of 36 million Americans?

Have you ever wondered who made the largest cherry pie? In 1976 a man named Dave Phillips, in a burst of bicentennial fervor, convinced local businesses in Charlevoix to bake the World’s Largest Cherry Pie as part of the town’s annual cherry festival. A giant pan was built, along with an equally titanic oven. Local farmers supplied the ingredients. The result: a cherry pie weighing 17,420 pounds. It was a world record.Further south, the town of Traverse City had its own cherry festival. It had perhaps heard one too many boasts from Charlevoix, and in 1987 it decided to do something about it. Even though it already had the World Champion Cow of the Insane Grave — a sure-fire tourist draw — it was apparently not enough.The Chef Pierre Bakeries went to work, and on July 25 it baked a cherry pie that put Charlevoix to shame: 28,350 pounds; 17 feet, 6 inches in diameter. As an added snub, the town had Guinness Book of World’s Records certify its pie as the largest ever. Charlevoix’s days in the spotlight were ended after only 11 years. But time has a way of making people eat humble pie.  In 1992, after only five years, Traverse City’s cherry pie crown was knocked clear into Canada when the tiny town of Oliver, British Columbia, baked a cherry pie for the ages — 39,683 pounds.

Baked Lemon Meringue Pie with Whip Cream. I believe El Morno Friend Nancy B.shared a Lemon Meringue pie recipe that is easy and is very tasty….last year but I could not find it. Nancy could you share this once again? Or did I image its goodness?

★~ Today In History:

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♥~ 1849 – English-born Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman in America to receive a medical degree, from the Medical Institution of Geneva, N.Y.

♥~ 1971 – It was a cold day in Prospect Creek Camp, Alaska. The lowest temperature ever recorded in the U.S. was reported as the mercury fell to a minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit. My teeth chatter and my car battery dies at the mere thought of it…

♥~ 1977 – Carole King’s  landmark album, Tapestry, became the longest-running album to hit the charts, as it reached its 302nd week on the album lists.

♥~ 1983 – The A-Team one of television’s most intellectual, sophisticated and classy shows came into American homes. It was full of action and drama and starred Mr. T, wearing a ton of gold jewelry. He played the not so mild-mannered Sgt. Bosco B.A. Baracus, and George Peppard took the lead role as John Hannibal Smith. Yes, The A-Team debuted.  Go ahead and use the line, “I will rip your face off, sucka!” at least once today compliments of Mr.T.

★~ Trending Right Now: 

♥~ 4 in Hospital After Shooting at Houston College Campus

♥~ Sloane Stephens upsets Serena Williams at Australian Open

★~Born Today:

♥~ 1737 – John Hancock  American patriot and statesman, first signer of the Declaration of Independence. Hancock served as president of the Continental Congress from 1775–77 and served as Massachusetts governor for nine terms beginning in 1780. Because of his conspicuous signature on the Declaration, Hancock’s name has become part of the American language, referring to any handwritten signature. Born at Braintree, MA, he died at Quincy, MA, Oct 8, 1793. National Handwriting Day is also celebrated today ad we are all encouraged to write legible. Treat yourself to a new pen!

♥~ 1957 – Princess Caroline of Monaco royalty: daughter of Prince Ranier and Princess Grace of Monaco

♥~ 1964 – Mariska Hargitay Emmy-winning actress: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit [2006]; Plain Truth, Perfume, Lake Placid, Night Sins, Leaving Las Vegas, Gambler V: Playing for Keeps, The Perfect Weapon, Prince Street, ER, Tequila and Bonetti

★~ Did You Know: Feeturing the Worlds largest feet. .

♥~ Carl Griffiths – 14.5 in (36.8 cm): Carl Griffiths from Trimsaram in South Wales is the proud owner of biggest feet in the entire UK and was a contender for the Worlds largest feet. He was a little defeated when he found out he only placed number 5 in the World.

♥~ Freddie Smook – 14.57 in (37 cm): Freddie has the largest feet in South Africa. I guess it would be callous of me to suggest this next pair of feet should have been photographed in socks.

♥~ Brahim Takioullah – 15 in (38.1 cm):  The Guinness World Record holder for largest feet on a living person, Brahim Takioullah, is also the third tallest living person with a height of 2.46 m (8′ 1”). I bet finding European size 58 shoes is not an easy feat. I would also bet, I’m not the only person who has made that observation.

♥~ Matthew McGrory – 16.73 in (42.5 cm)

Matthew McGrory weighed 15 pounds and was 24 inches long when he was born; by the time he graduated from Kindergarten he was over 5 feet tall. He continued to grow until he reached a height of 7 feet 6 inches and had a size 29 shoes. As an adult he often cast as a giant in different movies and theater productions,  I read one review that said he was a real toe stopper.

(Much thanks to my punny facebook friends Melissa, her derby friends and Isabella…this post would have been feetsible without you but not as much fun)

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Brrr it’s cold in Chicago again today – 12 degree out there. My pups are in and out in a flash and then curl up in front of heat vents until the sun comes up and they can find sun spots to warm their bones.

My feet use to be big but now they are average (8 1/2 double A) My shoes of choice are Ugg boots and my ruby red Keens. I also like Clarks. Favorite pie? Well, I’m not much of a pie eater, but I do like Lemon Meringue and Apple Pie with a slice of cheddar cheese. I love to write with a really good pen, and I love writing in Moleskine note books. Yes, they are pricey, but they are worth it. Cole carries one in his back pocket, and I always have one in my purse. My life is digital, but a good notebook and pen is delightful.

What about you? Favorite shoes? Pie? Pen?

Odd Loves Company,