NationalDayOf

Real Maple Syrup

It’s National Pancake Day. IHOP restaurants began National Pancake Day in 2006. Since that day, they have raised $24 million for charities. On March 7th, 2017 people from around the country will once again celebrate National Pancake Day at IHOP restaurants and enjoy free pancakes. Guests are asked to consider leaving a donation.

I imagine the lines are long today at IHOP. Anytime anything “free” is involved that’s the way it goes. That’s all right. The gimmick behind this offer is beneficial to a lot of charities, hence a lot of people get help from other people’s donations. That’s a good thing in my mind.

One of the local products of New York state goes very well with pancakes. It’s real Maple Syrup. The maple trees have been tapped for a few weeks now, and there are restaurants that serve pancakes and fresh maple syrup only during the syrup making season. The lines are very long to get a table, but the wait is worth it.

If you’ve never seen, or learned about the process of making fresh maple syrup, I urge you to look it up and share it with the children in your life. It’s fascinating that a liquid drawn from a maple tree, can be cooked down into a super sugary syrup. It’s a long, slow, meticulous process so the syrup doesn’t burn and get ruined. The finished product is a favorite of mine.

If you’ve a mind to have pancakes today, I suggest you brave the lines at IHOP and donate a bit to help your fellow humans. Thank you.

03/07/2017 0

It’s National Dress Day. The calendar says to recognize the day by remembering your favorite dresses and the events you wore them for and/or post a picture of you in one.

I’ll give away my age by admitting when I was in school, girls had to wear dresses or skirts. My senior class held a sit-in to have the rules changed so girls could wear pants to school. It certainly makes sense for students to wait for the bus in pants instead of skirts during the winter months, but the sad part is, unless you work in an office, so few ladies wear dresses anymore, we have lost some of our femininity. My husband, in recent years, has made the comment, “Wow, I’d forgotten you had legs.”

I love TV shows and movies that showcase the beautiful clothing once worn; Downton Abbey, Victoria, and My Fair Lady are some examples. I happen to believe women’s clothing styles have evolved backwards. In the old days we should have worn pants and t-shirts because they are easier to take care of. Now days, when we have all the modern tools and techniques, we should be wearing the frills and hoops of the 1800’s. Please don’t throw a tomato at me, I know we wouldn’t be comfortable, but we sure would look good! Now that I think about it; can you imagine trying to drive to the grocery store in a long full skirt. I guess I need to rethink my fantasy.

When I was younger, I loved to get dolled up in a dress and heels. Then the back gave out on me. I have worn nothing but sneakers or flats since 2000. I feel silly in a dress with my ugly shoes. Oh well, better to be comfortable. I also remember, way back in grade-school, waiting years to grow into a dress my older sister had worn. When I finally did, it was so out of style, my class-mates laughed at me, but I didn’t care at the time, it was my sister’s dress and I loved it.

I love to drive by a church in the inner city as the service lets out just to admire the ladies’ outfits. They still know how to dress to praise the Lord. And their hats add something special. I wish I knew where they shopped.

03/06/2017 0

Sub/Hoagie/Po-boy

It’s National Cold Cut Day. It’s interesting how the human mind works. I looked at the list of today’s subjects very early, then later, told my husband I wanted a submarine sandwich for supper. In upstate New York that is the name for a foot-long sandwich filled with cold-cuts, lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayonnaise, or oil. Of course other things like pickles, peppers and olives can be added also. And, it might be slathered with mustard too.

Across the U.S. this sandwich has different names. It’s interesting how food names are colloquial, just like slang and how one drinks tea. It proves what a big country the United States is.

When I was a kid I lived across the street from a small grocery store. They sold cold-cuts. It was a treat to have a bologna or hard salami sandwich. My aunt and I liked to have liverwurst with mustard. The liverwurst back then was mushy and spreadable with a knife. When I buy it these days, it always seems to be dry and flavorless. They just don’t make things like they used to.

I miss the old days when kids and adults alike spent time outside, there weren’t so many rules about what food was made out of, it actually spoiled if not eaten in a timely manner and eating over-processed cold-cuts wasn’t such a big no-no. Of course, they weren’t so over-processed back then, and we exercised off the ill effects. And now I’m attempting gluten-free too, so there goes a good bread roll. It might just be the day to throw caution to the wind and have an oily, cold-cut stuffed, extra onion, submarine sandwich. I can already taste it.

03/03/2017 0

One of the Family

It’s National Pig Day. Have you ever had the opportunity to know a pig personally? They are an intelligent, caring, trainable creature. My daughter has one named Niko, who is one of the family, just like her dog, Sasha.

Sasha is a Boston Terrier and Niko is a pot belly pig. They play together like two dogs, love to have their bellies rubbed and compete for the best spot on the couch. The only real drawback is when Niko jumps on your lap, his hooves leave bruises. Oh, and he doesn’t lick your face, but will steal your snacks if left unattended. Yes, he is litter trained. He doesn’t like strangers and hates to be picked up, sort of like my cat. His “fur” is wiry and his nose feels like wet plastic. He’s a messy eater, but cleans up every last bit he drops in the process. We love to hear him snuffle in his sleep.

I always make time to pet the pig when I visit my daughter’s house. I don’t know how he does it, but I will be petting his back and talking to him, then he drops to his side to have his belly rubbed. He doesn’t move like a dog or cat in order to lie down, he just drops, suddenly, onto his side. It is the funniest thing, then he looks at me as if to ask what I’m waiting for. When I rub his belly, he closes his eyes and takes it all in. I’m sure he is purring on the inside.

National pig day was created to acknowledge all the attributes of swine. Whether you have one as a family member, eat one, or read about one, pigs are wonderful creatures. One note of caution, a mama pig with piglets can be very dangerous to an intruding human they don’t know.

03/01/2017 0

Permission to nap

It’s National Public Sleeping Day. Are you one of those people that can sleep anywhere? My husband is. He can sleep on a plane, in the car, in someone’s living room when we are visiting (and he shouldn’t be) or even when we have a house full of people. He can carry on a conversation with me when I return from my night-time bathroom visit and go right back to sleep. Not me. I lay there trying to clear my mind again. I wish I were more like him. His family tells me being able to sleep anywhere is a family trait.

The calendar explains there are different types of naps. The Power Nap is approximately 10 to 20 minutes long and can give a boost of energy to get us through the rest of the day. It also doesn’t leave us drowsy like some longer naps might and will also allow us to fall asleep at a decent time at night.

The Hangover is about 30 minutes long, 10 too many, leaving us loopy and wanting just to stay asleep. We will snap out of it and feel much like we had a Power Nap, but it may take a bit of effort before we feel those benefits.

The Brainiac lasts about 60 minutes and includes the deepest sleep. While we may feel a little grogginess upon waking, much like the Hangover, our ability to recall facts, names and faces, will be improved. This type of nap may be the best nap after a round of studying or before a big test.

The California King lasts about 90 minutes and is typically a full cycle of sleep. It will also include REM or a dream stage. This nap avoids the hangover like the power nap does and improves creative thinking and motor memory, but night time sleep may become elusive.

The point of National Public Sleeping Day is to give a person permission to nap in public. More power to you if you can. Enjoy it.

02/28/2017 0

Smell Equals Taste

It’s National Strawberry Day. I’m a bit confused why this day falls in February, when strawberries ripen in the summer, but hey, it’s summer someplace. There are “tricks” to buying all sorts of fresh vegetables. The strawberry trick is, if it smells good, it will taste good. Try it next time you are at the grocery store or market.

Have you ever picked fresh strawberries? The plants are flush with the ground and one must squat to accomplish the task. When I was a child, it wasn’t so difficult. I wouldn’t even consider it now, as I carry a few extra pounds and have a bad back. We have some wonderful local strawberry farms where you can pick your own. We go when the berries are ripe to have an ice cream sundae, buy berries, and admire the people coming out of the fields with their filled flats and baskets. They always seem to be having a good time.

My grandchildren love strawberries as a snack. If I can find ripe ones, there is a bowl on the table to eat before the main family meal is ready. For my husband, at least one strawberry-rhubarb pie a summer is a requirement. Our only regret is the strawberry picking season doesn’t last long enough.

02/27/2017 2