'Pied' Drupelets

 for 'Amazing August' fun!

This is the first of two celebrations during the month of August for drupelets! What is a drupelet? you might ask. A druplelet to put it simply is "one of the individual parts of an aggregate fruit." This definition might beg its own question, What is an aggregate fruit? By definition, an aggregate fruit is "a fruit formed from several carpels derived from the same flower." At this point, you might even question the meaning of carpels in relation to flowers. A carpel is the "female reproductive organ of a flower...it may occur singly or as one of a group." Without any further ado, let's just get to the 'fruit' of the matter, which for this celebration is...the raspberry, 'pied' in the sense of being baked or chilled in a pie!
 
August 1 is...

National Raspberry Pie Day 

*Raspberries are ancient having been eaten since prehistoric times but only began to be cultivated in England and France around the 1600s.
*Raspberries are woody stemmed perennials.
*Raspberries are an important commercial food crop grown in all temperate regions of the world.

See the tiny drupelets!

*Each individual raspberry is made up of about 100 drupelets.
*One raspberry bush can yield several hundred berries per year.
*Raspberries contain more Vitamin C than oranges.
*Raspberries are NOT just red...they can also be purple, gold or black with the gold being the sweetest and most tasty.
*Raspberries are deeply symbolic being the symbol for kindness in some forms of Christian art.

By now, you should be ready for a slice (or two) of Raspberry Cream Pie...

~ Recipe Time ~

Contest-Winning Raspberry Cream Pie Recipe

Raspberry Cream Pie Recipe

Black-Bottom Raspberry Cream Pie Recipe

Raspberry Cream Cheese Pie Recipe

 Chilled Raspberry Cream Pie Recipe

Raspberry Cream Pie with Coconut Crust Recipe

yum, yum, yum . . . yummy!

Amazing August

 for August 1 foodie fun!

Are you ready for a new month? July is winding down with only hours remaining. Let's take a sneak peak into what's happenin' in August. In other words, what makes August 'amazing' when it's the height of summer heat? It's also the last month of summer vacation and the beginning of a new school year. There are even two more weeks of the Dog Days of Summer! So, I ask again, "What indeed makes August 'amazing'? Read on...

Get ready for celebration! August is...

 Admit You’re Happy Month

Increase your happiness this August, and beyond. Put on your best smile, then, give a hug-receive a hug each day! You'll be happy and make someone else happy at the same time.

Family Fun Month 

As summer vacation is drawing to a close & families are gearing up for another school year, this month is actually a perfect time to incorporate learning into your family activities. The main reason being so many activities and fun can take place in the good ol' outdoors amid the wonders of nature.

National Catfish Month 

Congress declared August National Catfish Month in the late 80s to recognize the contributions that the United States catfish industry made to the economy. Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi produce the majority of the nations catfish.

National Eye Exam Month

August has been designated as National Eye Exam Month. As the sayings go Eyes Are The Windows to your Soul, they are also the windows to your health.

National Golf Month

August is like a holiday to some; perhaps some golf enthusiasts even look forward to it more than granny’s home-made Thanksgiving stuffing. Celebrate this sacred month of golf.

National Peach Month

Ah-h-h-h! The peach, a classic sign of summer, and August is even National Peach Month! Click the image above for a round-up of facts about one of the world's favorite and oldest cultivated fruits.

Romance Awareness Month

We are nowhere near Valentine's Day but August is Romance Awareness Month! Who would have guessed it? Take the time out of your busy life to let your loved ones know just how valuable they are to you. Be appreciative of efforts that your spouse or significant other puts into your relationship and try your best to not take your loved ones for granted. Many every day a Valentine's Day!

 

Water Quality Month

Water is an essential part of life, but poor quality drinking water can be the source of many health-related issues, such as tuberculosis, salmonella and diarrhea. Fortunately, there are ways we can know the quality of our water.

National Picnic Month

Who doesn't love a picnic?! Picnics are an invitation to get out of the house! Grab a cooler, fill with ice and your favorite drinks. Pack a picnic basket with cheeses, fruits, and don't forget the fried chicken!

Well, that's it, folks! Lots of celebration, lots of choices! Just remember to get outdoors. Don't let the summer heat keep you inside too long...there are plenty of lakes, beaches and water parks to visit. Follow the motto of catnipoflife (Awakenings sister site): Observe life at its best, listen to life’s songs, embrace life’s bounties, breathe the breath of life and savor life to its fullest!

♫When Music Speaks...♫

When music speaks, we listen. In listening, we relate. While relating, we smile, we cry and sometimes simply sigh. The relationship each of us has with music depends upon the melody, the words and the stories behind the music.

Today in Music History: July 31 

A Bit of Elvis Trivia to kick off this day...

  Elvis Presley 'Tonsil' Photo
Fort Homer Hesterly Armory
Tampa, Florida July 31, 1955

1955 Elvis Presley performed three shows at Fort Homer Hesterly Armory in Tampa, Florida, (2 matinee and 1 evening). A full scale riot broke out after the show when Elvis announced to the 14,000 strong crowd, "Girls, I'll see you backstage." Fans chased Elvis into the dressing room tearing off his clothes and shoes. Other acts who appeared here include Tom Jones, The Animals, James Brown, Buddy Holly, Pink Floyd, Johnny Cash and the Doors. The iconic cropped version of the 'tonsil' photo would be used as not only the cover of the first Elvis Presley LP from RCA but it was used extensively in newspaper and print to promote future shows. It also became a famous show promotional print.

1959 Cliff Richard was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Living Doll', The singers first of 14 UK No.1's. The song was from the soundtrack to the film Serious Charge, which was Cliff Richard's movie debut. It was written by Lionel Bart who also wrote the West End and Broadway musical Oliver. It was originally intended for the singer Duffy Power before it was included in Serious Charge. Richard has never achieved the same impact in the United States despite eight US Top 40 singles, including the million-selling "Devil Woman" and "We Don't Talk Anymore".

1968 Tommy James and The Shondells were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Mony Mony'. When they were recording this, it was considered a throwaway B-side. They had no idea it would become a huge hit. It reached No.3 in the US. Also a hit for Billy Idol in 1987. For anyone lovin' the 60s music, Tommy James and The Shondells more than likely have their own special disk space housing hits such as "Hanky Panky" (1966) and "Crimson and Clover" (1969), including five in the top ten: "I Think We're Alone Now", "Mirage", "Mony Mony", "Sweet Cherry Wine", and "Crystal Blue Persuasion".

A Bit of 'Mony Mony' Trivia...

"There was no drummer, so the recording engineer went out there, but he could only get through 2 bars. So before there were loops or anything else, we copied the 2 bars of drums 44 times and spliced them together, and that's the track of 'Mony Mony.' It was like an early loop before there was looping. If you listen carefully, you can hear just 2 bars of the drum track." He added: "When it came time to make it sound like it was a big party, it was lunch time. We went up to Broadway and talked all these strangers into coming down to the studio and going 'Mony, Mony!' There were all these serious guys out there having lunch, and we said, 'You want to sing on a Tommy James record?'" [Source: songfacts.com]

1971 James Taylor went to No.1 on the US singles chart with the Carole King song 'You've Got A Friend', (included in her album Tapestry and James Taylor's album Mud Slide Slim). Originally written and recorded by Carole King in 1971, this song became the biggest, and most well-known hit for then 23-year-old James Taylor, and his only No.1 in the US. It was the first single off of his third album, which was actually the second album he released on Warner Brothers Records. The song would go on to win the 1971 Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Male Performance and Song Of The Year.

A Bit of 'You've Got A Friend' Trivia...

When Taylor recorded his own special version of King's song, both versions were released around the same time in 1971, so there was major competition at radio stations. It was a tossup between whether they should play the original piano version by Carole King, or the softer guitar version by James Taylor. When Carole heard James' version of the song, she finally put an end to the rumors about her being upset with the lyric changes by telling him, "James, I have no problem at all with your version of my song. Those lyric changes don't bother me one bit." [Source: songfacts.com]

1982 Survivor's 'Eye Of The Tiger' was at No.1 on the US album chart. The song, which was commissioned by actor Sylvester Stallone for the theme for the movie Rocky III, received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song and go on to sell over five million copies. [See Awakenings Eye of the Tiger, Spotlight on Survivor.]

1985 The Eurythmics had the No.1 position on the UK singles chart with 'There Must Be An Angel, (Playing With My Heart)'. The song, which was the Eurythmics' first No.1 single, features a harmonica solo by Stevie Wonder. The Eurythmics are associated with the MTV-driven Second British Invasion of the US. Another hit, "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" is arguably Eurythmics' signature song. Its striking music video helped to propel the song to No.2 on the UK singles chart and No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

1991 Bryan Adams was enjoying his third week at No.1 on the UK singles chart with '(Everything I Do) I Do It For You'. The single stayed a No.1 for a record-breaking sixteen weeks (the longest in British chart history), seven weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, and nine weeks atop the Canadian Singles Chart in Adams's native Canada. This is one of the most successful singles of all time.

1999 Christina Aguilera scored her first US No.1 single with 'Genie In A Bottle', also No.1 in the UK. The song spent 5 weeks at No.1 on the US chart and won Aguilera the Best New Artist Grammy for the year.

A Bit of Genie Trivia...

The genie in a bottle legend has it that if you find a mysterious bottle and rub it, a genie will appear to grant you 3 wishes. This song uses the tale as a sexually-charged metaphor, implying that the girl will respond to the proper touch. This song caused some controversy when it was released, as the 18-year-old Aguilera was quite young to be singing such a racy song, particularly as her music was marketed to young girls. Aguilera explains in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, "It is a bit suggestive, but in a positive way. It's all about a girl who's a little sassy and likes to play hard to get, but equally wants sincerity in a relationship." The lyric, "My body's saying let's go, but my heart is saying no" emphasizes her point. [Source: songfacts.com]

And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...

A Closer Closer Look

Today's History Lesson...

The Race in Space...the Beginning occurred with the establishment of NASA on July 29, 1958. The first NASA 10-year plan was presented to Congress in February 1960. It called for an expanding program on a broad front: manned flight, scientific satellites, lunar probes, and to photograph the Moon... . Of course, that is not all but a good stopping point since the latter is the topic of today's history lesson.

This Day in History: July 31, 1964

A Harvest Moon

When the moon is in view, especially during full moon phase, one can 'see' craters on its surface. Imagination soars as the 'man in the moon' image appears...none more eye-catching than during harvest moon. Uneven surfaces reveal shadowy displays of eyes, nose and a mouth. What we are envisioning is being transmitted an average distance from Moon to Earth of 384,403 km (238,857 mi).

Let's take a closer look...

Ranger 7

A closer look indeed can be taken through a telescope. But what about a closer closer look, 1,000 times as clear as anything ever seen through earth-bound telescopes? On July 31, 1964, the first US space probe, Ranger 7, successfully transmits close images of the lunar surface back to Earth.

"Ranger 7 reached the Moon on 31 July. The F-channel began its one minute warm up 18 minutes before impact. The first image was taken at 13:08:45 UT at an altitude of 2110 km. Transmission of 4,308 photographs of excellent quality occurred over the final 17 minutes of flight. The final image taken before impact has a resolution of 0.5 meters." [Source: en.wikipedia.org] 

 First image of the Moon taken by a US spacecraft.
The large crater at center right is Alphonsus.

 

  Last picture by Ranger 7, taken about 488 m above the Moon,
reveals features as small as 38 cm across.
The noise pattern at right results from
spacecraft impact while transmitting.

Now, where IS that 'man in the moon'?

For the Love of a Mutt!

 for foodie fun!

 

Woof! Woof! Woof! Familiar sound? A bark, whine, whimper, howl, huff, growl, yelp or yip signifies a dog is somewhere in the midst. Are you a dog lover, dog owner, both? Are you intense on yours being a dog of special 'breed' or do you understand the love of a mutt? The dog mutt is synonymous with the runt of a litter. It is special.

July 31 is...

National Mutt's Day

It's Mutt's Day. Mutts deserve their day in the spotlight, as much as a pure breed. If you own a mutt, or you are a mutt (reading this), then you know this day is for you.

National Mutt Day Celebration

By definition a mutt, sometimes called a "Half-breed", is a dog that is of mixed breed. They come from two to several breeds. Purebred owners, and sometimes the public in general, view them as lesser in many ways. Mutt owners know better. They value the diversity and uniqueness of their mutts. Sure, a mutt doesn't carry the expensive price tag that a purebred with papers has on its head.
 

National Mutt Day!

To the mutt owner, however, the mutt is invaluable. In addition, mutts don't walk around needing to prove anything. You won't see them strutting around any dog shows trying to prove they are the best.They ARE already the BEST!

National Mutt Day Honors America's Favorite Pets

To all mutts and and mutt owners, we hope you thoroughly enjoy Mutt's Day. Since it is late in the day, spend the evening relaxing and doing all the things you and your dog like to do. Do so with both of your chins held high. For your mutt is worth a million bucks!

Jump for Joy!

 for more fun!

Are you aware there is a lot of history and tradition behind jelly beans? So much so two celebratory days have been set aside. The first is National Jelly Bean Day occurring on April 22 with Jelly Belly Jelly Beans being at the top of the list. After all, they are the #1 gourmet jelly bean in the world but even better than that, they are Made in America! The second day of celebration is coming right up inviting you to do more than simply appreciate these little candy gems! Load up your candy dishes but don't stop there.

July 31 is...

Jump! for Jelly Bean Day

Show your love for jelly beans by leaps and bounds! Inside, outside, wherever room allows for leapage and jumpage with or without jump ropes or trampolines! Make this a fun day but also a day for discovery. Venture 'outside the box' of the ordinary jelly bean into something different if you dare.

Jelly Beans have been popular since their creation, but Jelly Belly tapped a whole new generation when they created “Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans” for the Harry Potter world, and included such, um, odd flavors as ear wax, grass, vomit, and earthworm. We bring this up because Jump for Jelly Beans Day happens to fall on Harry Potter’s birthday, so your celebration should (cautiously) include some Bertie Bott’s.

Remember the candy dish full of jelly beans? Don't eat them all at once!

 Jelly Bean Cupcakes Recipe

Leftover Jelly Bean Pop-Tarts Recipe

9 Fun and Yummy Jelly Bean Recipes

  Smile everybody! Jump for joy!

 yum, yum, yum . . . yummy!