~★~♥~♥~★~ El Morno! ♥~★~★~♥ ~
September 7, 2012

★~ Today’s Quote:  Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be. ~Grandma Moses

★~ Neither Rain Nor Snow Day:

Neither Rain Nor Snow Day celebrates the opening of the New York Post Office building on this day in 1914.

This inscription was inscribed on the building:

“Neither snow nor rain not heat nor gloom of night ,stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

A lot of people assume the inscription represents the Post Office motto. This assumption is incorrect. But, this inscription is very close to the old Pony Express rider’s motto. Which leads to a third misconception.. ……The Pony Express was not a government funded predecessor to today’s Post Office. The Pony Express was a courier and message delivery service. However, it was privately owned and funded.

Celebrate today by thanking your post person or at least don’t complain about them on their day.  Click for more fascinating facts about the post office.

★~ Acorn Squash Day: 

As summer draws to a close many of us are ready to pull on our soft hoodies and fix soups and stews and and acorn squash! Today is the day to enjoy this sturdy, little tasty gourde. One way to make acorn squash,is to simply cut the squash in half, remove the seeds, drizzle with some oil, salt and pepper and roast until tender. Season with dried spices, fresh herbs, flavored oils, or even sweeteners like honey or maple syrup for extra flavor. Or if you want to get a little fancy Bake a tasty Buttery Sage Acorn Squash Tart. Stuff the squash with pork or go for a Southwestern flavor profile.

Last year I was informed by an El Morno friend, “there was nothing simple about cutting a squash,” so for Squash Day this year I went in search of a few helpful squash cutting tips…

Acorn Squash Cooking Tips:

Remove the fibers and seeds from the center of the acorn squash before steaming, broiling or baking. Save the acorn squash seeds to toast for snacking just as you would pumpkin seeds.

Use a sturdy knife to slice acorn squash in half. To make the squash easier to cut, pierce the skin in a few spots, place it in a microwave oven and heat on high for 2 minutes. Let stand for another few minutes before carving.

When halving, cut through the stem end to the point rather than across the diameter.

To prevent halves from rocking on the baking tray, cut a small slice off the bottom to flatten it.

★~  Salami Day!

The Salami Appreciation Society (SAS) believes that Salami is a too-often overlooked meat in the world of deli meats, and  deserved it’s day in the sun. Salami has a rich history and is definitely a part of a healthy diet, providing important nutrients such as protein and potassium. It can be eaten on sandwiches, crackers, in pita wraps, tortilla wraps, or even by itself. No one can resist the ultimate duo of salami and cheese! So today be sure to tell your friends about Salami Day so everyone can share in the joy that salami brings to the world!

A couple unique ways to celebrate Salami day

Looking to brighten up a drab and meatless house? How about a lovely marble floor made of salami?

A more realistic approach to making your home salami-friendly might be with one of these salami rugs. Comes in five different varieties!

Or just enjoy it on a cracker with a little cheese.

★~ Today in History:

♥~1888 – Edith Eleanor McLean was the first baby to be placed in an incubator. She weighed 2 pounds, 7 ounces. Originally, the incubator was called a hatching cradle.

♥~ 1921 – The first Miss America Pageant was held at Atlantic City, New Jersey. This first contest was a promotion to keep tourists in the resort town after the Labor Day holiday (the unofficial end of summer). Miss Washington, D.C. won the contest and received a golden statue of a mermaid as her prize! She was 16-year-old Margaret Gorman. Miss Gorman was 5’1″ with blonde hair, blue eyes, weighing 108 pounds and her vital statistics were 30-25-32! Diminutive compared to the more recent and rather statuesque Miss Americas.

♥~ 1967 – “The Flying Nun” took off from a convent in Puerto Rico. The popular TV series starred Sally Field as Sister Bertrillle.

♥~1972 – Curtis Mayfield earned a gold record for his Superfly album, from the movie of the same name.

★~Born Today:

♥~ 1860 – Grandma Moses (Anna Mary Robertson) artist: modern, primitive work: The Old Oaken Bucket, Christmas at Home, The Quilting Bee; first painted at age 78; died Dec 13, 1961

♥~ 1908 – Michael Debakey – Heart and vascular surgery pioneer, medical ambassador and inventor, born in Lake Charles, LA. DeBakey invented the roller pump, which helped make open-heart surgery a possibility, and he made the first connection between smoking and cancer. Performed more than 60,000 operations, and cited by the American Journal of Medicine as perhaps “the greatest surgeon ever.” DeBakey died July 11, 2008

♥~1923 – Peter (Sidney Ernest Aylen) Lawford actor: Rosebud, Ocean’s 11, Mrs. Miniver, The Longest Day, Exodus, The Oscar, Harlow; member: Rat Pack; died Dec 24, 1984

♥~ 1949 – Gloria Gaynor singer: I Will Survive, Never Can Say Goodbye

♥~ 1950 – Julie Kavner Emmy Award-winning actress: Rhoda [1977-78], The Simpson’s: voice of Marge Simpson [1991-92]; The Tracy Ullman Show, This is My Life, Radio Days, I’ll Do Anything,Hannah and Her Sisters

♥~ 1970 – Tom Everett Scott actor: Grace Under Fire, That Thing You Do!, An American Werewolf in Paris, The Love Letter

♥~1987 – Evan Rachael Wood actress: Profiler, Search for Grace, Practical Magic, Once and Again

★~Did you know: Some Postmen try harder than others.

♥~ A postcard from Krakow that was addressed to:

Khumi
Yellow Door
Wilmslow England

Made it to its destination. Local postman Paul Gardiner knows his houses… and their doors!

♥~ Paul Bates didn’t know his friend Peter O’Leary’s address, but knew where he lived, sort of. So he addressed a Christmas card with a map! The card somehow arrived at the right office in Cornwall, where a postal worker recognized the name, and the card was delivered—in time for Christmas.

♥~ Have you ever wondered if you could use exact change on a letter instead of a stamp. Yep. This enveloped arrived with the coins missing and an apology for the torn envelope.

♥~Manuagua, Nicaragua stopped using formal street addresses after the 1972 earthquake leveled much of the city. Now, letters find their way via a local system that gives directions and landmarks on letters and packages.

An example: Donde fue Lacmiel, 2 cuadras arriba, 1/2 cuadra al sur (translated: where previously was located Lacmiel 2 blocks east, 1/2 block south).

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It could happen…. San Diego woman slips in shower and falls out window, down shaft. Thanks Carolee for sharing the perfect link to go with the picture.

The best news of the day–Drew Peterson GONE, GONE, GONE at last! We got this right, didn’t we!

TGIF. I’m off and running very early this morno–I’m taking Cole to school so he can take the bus with his team to the soccer game after school. The school year hath begun!

Tell me about your plans for today!

♥~