★~♥~♥~★~ El Morno! ♥~★~★~♥ ~
July 28, 2012

★~ Today’s Quote: Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction. ~ Cowboy Wisdom

★~ National Cowboy Day:

America’s working cowboy began his history on the Texas plains where, after the Civil War, ranchers found they had a plentiful supply of beef with no place to sell it. Demand for beef existed along the East Coast, but to fulfill that need, Texas ranchers had to move cattle to the railroads, and the closest ones were in Kansas.

Between the cattle ranches and railroads lay Oklahoma, the land of the great cattle trails between 1866 and 1889.

As cattle drives crossed the Oklahoma plains, drovers recognized the value of Oklahoma’s land for grazing, and the economical advantages of originating a herd in the territory. Oklahoma consequently turned into a prime site for cattle ranches and continues to be a thriving center for livestock.

Although the ranch cowboys of history are still working the ranches today, their lifestyle has changed. Modern cowboys live with their families in comfortable homes and use advanced technology in working cattle. Horses are still used on the range, but trucks are more common. Helicopters and airplanes also supplement horses in herding cattle. Scientific knowledge of animal husbandry and irrigation planning are as practical to the modern-day cowboy as the rope and saddle were to the cowboy of yesterday.

National Cowboy day honors cowboys and cowgirls for their enduring contribution to the courageous, pioneering spirit of America.

★~ Milk Chocolate Day:

After it was imported from America beginning in the 16th century, the upper crust of Europe fell in love with chocolate — but they only knew it as a ground-up mixture that was made into a bitter-tasting drink. Back in those days, the expensive stuff was even made illegal in certain areas. Many believed that it was an aphrodisiac, a medicine, or a potion used by those who were up to no good.

It wasn’t until the late 18th century that the first “eating chocolate” began to be produced, mixing cocoa with sugar and adding thickeners. Francois-Louis Cailler discovered a way to produce chocolate in bar form and opened the first Swiss chocolate factory in Vevey 1819. By the mid-19th century, sweetened chocolate bars were the rage all across the continent.

Another Swiss chocolatier, Nestlé, soon brought a new format to the table by adding condensed milk to the mixture and developing milk chocolate. Switzerland and Belgium became world leaders in fine chocolate. In England, the Cadbury brothers opened a shop, and then in America, Milton Hershey’s name became synonymous with chocolate.

Indulge your chocolate sweet tooth today with Hershey’s, Cadbury’s, Nestle or Dove. Splurge on some Godiva, Sees, Burie, Del Rey, or perhaps even something from the famous Belgian chocolatiers, Goossens. Buy your chocolate delight in line at the grocery store, or at a chocolate boutique; it really does not matter as long as you celebrate Milk Chocolate Day with a piece of milk chocolate that makes you sigh with delight. Click for more Milk Chocolate Fascinating Facts

★~ Today in History:

♥~ 1586 – The first potatoes arrived in England from Colombia, brought by Sir Thomas Harriot.

♥~ 1933 – The singing telegram was introduced on this day. The first person to receive a singing telegram was singer Rudy Vallee, in honor of his 32nd birthday.

♥~ 1973 – Over 600-thousand attended history’s largest rock festival at New York’s Watkins Glen raceway. Headliners were the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers, and the Band.

♥~ 1973 – On this day, exactly a year after their first date, TV’s Six Million Dollar Man, Lee Majors, married one of Charlie’s Angels, Farrah Fawcett. The new Farrah Fawcett-Majors was named one of the 10 most beautiful women on the campus of the University of Texas.

♥~ 2001- An electricity company in Italy started sending bills to dead people and leaving them on their graves. The bills were sent to tombs when the company could not trace relatives who had asked for graves to be lit up at night. The company said it hoped relatives visiting the graves would pay them.

★~Born Today:

♥~1866 – Beatrix (Helen) Potter children’s stories author: Peter Rabbit books; died Dec 22, 1943

♥ ~ 1907 –  Earl Tupper inventor, even as a youngster Earl was a salesman and inventor. He sold the farms produce and came up with new and innovative way to save time on the the farm. He learned about polyethylene plastics while working at DuPont for a year but quickly became bored with corporate life and took what he learned about plastics and developed clear storage containers with watertight flexible lids, which he called tupperware. And now in homes everywhere families are on their hands and knees searching for the one missing lid.

♥~ 1929 – Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis First Lady: wife of 35th U.S. President John F. Kennedy; wife of Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis; editor: Doubleday Publishing; died May 19, 1994

♥~ 1945 – Jim Davis cartoonist: Garfield

♥~ 1949 – Peter Doyle singer: group: The New Seekers: I’d like to Teach the World to Sing, Look What They’ve Done to My Song Ma

★~ Did You Know:

If you’ve ever watched an old John Wayne film or an episode of Bonanza, you may have noticed that along with their work shirts, boots and Stetsons, cowboys also regularly wore vests. This clothing choice wasn’t made to provide a dash of elegance; it served a utilitarian purpose.

Most shirts made at the time were one-size-fits-all cotton garments that had one pocket, if any. (Many cowboys wore garters on their arms to help regulate the sleeve length.) While sitting in the saddle, pants pockets weren’t easily accessible, and a cowboy needed a place to keep his tobacco pouch, matches, cigarette papers, and other necessities. A vest with pockets was the answer. He usually wore it unbuttoned while riding for freedom of movement, and buttoned for additional warmth in colder weather. The vest also served to protect the fragile shirt underneath from the rough-and-tumble duties that kept the cowboy busy during the day.

Now you know…..

#

Today we will move the Oobleck out of the living room and into the garbage and prepare for our next set of adventures with twelve year old Cousin Ryan, who arrivas on Monday from Albuquerque.  We hope to share the full Chicago experience with him from pizza to Cub’s games.

After the Oobleck removed, I plan to sit outside with a root beer float and read Tina Fey’s book , Bossy Pants. There might be also be a nap in my future…

Enjoy your Saturday!

Odd Loves Company!