Uplifting Wed. 99 via Pineterest

Piggy bank

Why is there a piggy bank?

A popular theory is that, in fact, the original piggy bank had absolutely nothing to do with a pig! In the Middle Ages, when metal was expensive, an inexpensive, orange colored clay, called pygg, was the common media for making pots and jars, and was referred to as a pygg jar, for example. One of these jars was often used to hold coins. Eventually, the pygg jar or pygg bank used for coins, surely accidentally, became known as a pig bank or piggy bank! The general consensus is that this evolution transpired a few hundred years ago in England when crafters were hired to make pygg banks and not being familiar with pygg they made pig shaped banks.







The oldest recorded piggy bank in the shape of a pig is claimed to be 1500 years old from Indonesia. If this is so, it precedes the pygg theory by around 1000 years! 










The modern piggy bank, whether made from ceramics, plastic, or metal, has been a very popular collector’s item and gift for children due to its appealing and humorous appearance. In addition to the smile or chuckle we experience each time we drop some change into our piggy bank let us be reminded by the lesson it teaches us! Piggy banks of old didn't have a plunger on the bottom so you could easily remove the coins, you would have to break the bank to get them but the famous phrase “break the bank”, has nothing to do with the piggy bank!

This is my hubby's piggy bank from when he was a little boy and it too doesn't have a plunger and there is a little coin yet in there.

This is a bank my folks had and it is not a pig but a snoopy dog.

Never had the heart to break it so it sits and collects dust. 


My hubby doesn't like to carry dimes, nickle's or penny's so he puts them in this little bank

And right now it is nearly empty

because he gave it all to the granddaughter when she was here last week. She said she thought there was $20.00 and he said $24.00......he was right.

"A penny saved is a penny earned"

Better late than never

My Christmas cactus bloom...

Uplifting Wed. 98 via Pinterest

What a view

A friend of mine took this picture this morning of this amazing moon!

A masterpiece from the Master....

Did you know?

Female hippos have a gestation period of eight months and have only one baby at a time, according to the San Diego Zoo. At birth, the calf weighs between 50 and 110 lbs. (23 to 50 kg). For its first eight months, the calf nurses while its mother is on land, or it swims underwater to suckle. When it dives, the calf closes its nose and ears to block out water. All hippos have this ability. Hippos also have membranes that cover and protect their eyes while they are underwater. 

This is a picture of hippo milk...it is pink!

Was surprised to learn that at 5 to 7 years old, the hippo calf is fully mature, according to the San Diego Zoo and the median life expectancy of a hippo is 36 years.

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A great way to start the new year!

Soup

I have made this recipe a few times and last time I made it I decided to buy two of all the ingredients so I would have them on hand. I was so happy to have them handy Christmas day when we decided we didn't want to go out and all I had to do was throw it together and within 30 min. we had soup and tortillas....yum.

It is good with tortilla chips, tortilla's or crackers.
You can find the recipe here

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

Uplifting Wed. via Pinterest 96

Arizona winter

For the most part we are a sunshine state but last week this was the view...

and it was a gully washer....

and made the pool dance.

Blue Whale

The blue whale is gigantic. Generally ranging in length from 80 to 100 feet (24 to 30 meters), the longest one ever recorded was a magnificent 108 feet long.





Here is a comparison picture for you...

2. How much does a blue whale weigh?

These gentle giants weigh up to 200 tonnes, or around 441,000 pounds.

3. They’ve got big hearts

The blue whale's heart is huge! It is about 5 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 5 feet tall and weighs around 400 pounds; its beat can be detected from two miles away. It is so big and adult can swim through it...

4. ...and tongues

A blue whale’s tongue alone weighs as much as an elephant.

5. How big are blue whale babies?

Blue whale calves are the biggest babies on Earth, easily, and at birth already rank amongst the largest full-grown animals. They pop out at around 8,800 pounds with a length of some 26 feet. They gain 200 pounds a day! Their growth rate is likely one of the fastest in the animal world, with a several billion-fold increase in tissue in the 18 months from conception to weaning.

6. They’re loud … and make long-distance calls for free

Blue whales, in fact, are the loudest animals on the planet. A jet engine registers at 140 decibels, the call of a blue whale reaches 188. Their language of pulses, groans, and moans can be heard by others up to 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) away.

The oldest blue whale they’ve discovered  was calculated to be around 100 years old, though the average life is thought to be around 80 to 90 years.

Microwave poached eggs

I saw this recipe and decided to try it and to my great surprise it works!!!
Fill a large mug with water and crack an egg into it. There needs to be 1 to 2 inches of water above it. With a sharp knife poke a small hole in the yolk to keep it from exploding.
Cover it with  small plate and microwave for one minute. I had a glass mug that I used so could watch it cook and when it was done it floated to the top. I put it on top of a piece of toast and then smashed it to cover the toast and ate it like a open face sandwich...yummy!!! Should have taken a picture:(

Uplifting Wed. via Pinterest 95

A change of plans and a surprise

I waited too long to decide what we would do for Thanksgiving and we ended up just staying home and eating left over ham and bean soup from the freezer but since I only had to heat it up I decided to fix something new to have with it....

Cheddar Corn Fritters

2 cups corn
3 tbl. diced red or green bell pepper
2 eggs lightly beaten
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup flour
1 tsp. chili powder
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tbl. melted butter
vegetable oil for frying

Mix corn, bell pepper, eggs and water and cheese in a bowl.
Mix flour, sugar, chili powder, salt and pepper in another bowl and mix well.
Add dry mix to the first bowl and mix until evenly moisten then stir in the melted butter.
Pour oil in frying pan to 1/4 inch and heat to where fritters will fry quickly. Using a serving spoon drop batter into the hot oil. Fry to golden brown and then turn over to fry other side. Drain on paper towel and sprinkle with salt.
(I cut this recipe in half as it was only hubby and I and we had plenty)

Happy Thanksgiving to all my blogger friends and family.

Movie

Just came home from seeing this movie...

It is good!

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Did you know?

Aunt Jemima  pancake flour, invented in 1889, was the first ready mix food to be sold commercially and if you are as old as me you remember the picture on the box.

Beginning in the mid-1950's people began criticizing the mammy stereotype being portrayed but the brand was selling strongly and had expanded into other products, such a syrup and Quaker Oats did not see the merit in changing the iconic brand and remained resolute for almost thirty-five more years until in  1986 an "offended Oprah Winfrey refused to act in Saturday Night live sketch depicting Aunt Jeremiah. Finally in 1989 (the brands 100th birthday) Quaker  bowed to consumer pressure and gave Aunt Jeremiah her latest makeover....

Lighter skin, styled hair, pearl earrings and a white blouse.

I have had this book since I was a small child and I bet I could get arrested for having it!

Sad isn't it?

Did you know?

Ever see this on your meat from the grocery store?

All meat inspection is a requirement in the U.S. The USDA has very strict guidelines inspecting meat, and beef that is approved gets a mark (stamp) showing it has been approved. Initially, USDA inspectors inspect the live animal to make sure they’re healthy from head to hoof and treated humanely. They also inspect things like the slaughtering process, all of the animal’s parts and organs, the temperature of the meat, and they make sure the carcass stays as clean as possible during the entire process.

Beef that passes inspection is stamped with a round purple mark. The stamp includes a number that is assigned to that processing facility by the federal government. The numbers are called “establishment numbers,” and they’re only good for one location. These numbers make it very easy to tell exactly where the beef was processed and rest easy the dye used in the stamp is made from a food-grade vegetable dye and it’s edible. It won’t hurt you!

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Antiques

A while back I posted about  little antique truck that belonged to my dad here and I thought I would show the rest of this little area where it sits.

Can you see the little truck up under the greenery on the left? Well this wall hanging inspired me to buy the antique chair you see there to the right.

and this is how it all looks on a regular basis...

The bird cage was my Mom's as well and my daughter told me she saw one just like it in a antique store and it was selling for over $30.00. This is in my dinette area. 

Did you know

This is John "Fred" Baur (June 14, 1918 – May 4, 2008) he was an American organic chemist and food storage technician notable for designing and patenting the Pringles packaging. 

According to his wishes after his death he was cremated and buried in his invention

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More blooms

The queens wreath is happy as well as my neighbors honeysuckle

and I have to tell you the story about this little tree.....

Originally the neighbors had one of these trees on the other side of the block wall and apparently a nut fell down on my side of the fence and started this tree and the neighbors tore theirs down:) The butterfly is metal and made for me by a friend, it is tethered into the ground so it won't fly away in the wind.

This week the high is 85 which is like early summer for us here and why we get blooms twice.