On what day of the week were you born?

I was born on a Monday. What day was your birthday? Wanna find out?

Here’s an online program that’s easy to use and requires no sign-in.

Why would you want to know upon which day your birthday happened to fall?

Maybe it’s simple curiosity. I found it sort of fascinating.

Plus, there’s an old nursery rhyme about the days of the week and the children born on each of them. Ever heard this one?

Image created by this user on quote generator. All rights reserved.

 

Monday’s child is fair of face,
Tuesday’s child is full of grace,
Wednesday’s child is full of woe,
Thursday’s child has far to go,
Friday’s child is loving and giving,
Saturday’s child works hard for his living,
And the child that is born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.

- Traditional Nursery Rhyme

Fair of face? That’s supposed to point to pulchritude, either cuteness or glamour. (I beg to differ, especially when I look in the mirror in just-cleaned reading glasses. Pretty scary. But I digress.)

Just for fun, I looked up the rest of my family. My husband was a Saturday baby. According to the poem, that means he “works hard for a living.”

And my kids? Well, I have a Monday baby (like me) and a Wednesday baby. My Monday-born girl is a beauty, but so is the midweek-born one. The poem says the Wednesday-born child would be “full of woe.” I beg to differ there, because that kid is a hilarious and cheerful one, who brings compassion and humor to nearly every situation.

How does your own day of birth measure up to your own personality?

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Best bargains: DIY personalized gift ideas for birthdays and holidays

Looking for creative, but not costly, personalized gift ideas for special people?

Why not choose a favorite poem, quotation, or Scripture verse and put it on a do-it-yourself gift?

Here are a few personalized DIY gift possibilities:

• Bible memory cards – Print several favorite Scripture verses on heavy cardstock. Cut them into stacks, and tie them with string or ribbon.
• Monogrammed note cards – Create personalized stationary, either folded notes or full sheets. Place the recipient’s initials or name on the papers. Or type a suitable saying. Print the papers out, and parcel them with matching envelopes.
• Poetry magnet – Pick a poem, and print it on sturdy paper. Cut it out, and glue a magnet on the back.
• Quotation bookmark – Select a fitting quote. Print it on pretty paper. (Or print several to a sheet, and make a whole set of bookmarks.) Punch a hole at one end, and slip a piece of yarn through it.

These do-it-yourself personalized gifts are extra special and durable, if they are laminated. As a more economical option, you might cover each one neatly (on both sides) with clear wide packing tape.

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DIY personalized gift ideas for birthdays and holidays

Created by this user

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Happy Father's Day to All Those Dandy Dads

Happy Father's Day to All Those Dandy Dads

Sunday is Father’s Day. How will you celebrate?

What a wonderful time to remember fabulous and faithful fathers.

Personally, I thank God for my dad every day. Now in his mid-80s, he is still healthy and strong and keeping a daily schedule that daunts me. I wish he lived closer, but I am grateful that he still possesses a youthful spirit and a determination that doubles that of most folks I know.

My dad is smart, strong, studious, steadfast and much more. Here’s my favorite description of my father:

 Leading Without Pleading - Poem on legacy - Verses to Trace One Who Set the Pace

What’s your dad like? What do you appreciate most about him?

If your father has passed, what are your best memories of special times you shared?

Happy Father’s Day!

Images:

WP Clipart - public domain artwork

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Why do we celebrate Memorial Day?

Why do we celebrate Memorial Day?

Monday is Memorial Day, and it’s so much more than a legal holiday or the unofficial start of summer.

The meaning of Memorial Day vastly surpasses the fashion mavens’ express freedom to wear white shoes and white belts and to carry white purses until Labor Day.

Memorial Day goes beyond barbecued chicken and hamburgers, watermelon seed-spitting contests and even political speeches.

What does Memorial Day mean to you?

In the United States, Memorial Day offers all of us a reminder to remember those who gave their lives for our country. How will we honor those brave patriots, who sacrificed everything for liberty and love?

How can we make Memorial Day more than a picnic, a baseball double-header, an annual golf outing or even a patriotic parade?

Related Items:

• Memorial Day Poems - Dress Blues
• My Top 25 Favorite Abraham Lincoln Quotes
• No Picnic: Remembering Memorial Day
• The Postcard: a Late Arrival and Love's Revival
• The Scout - a Saluting Scene for a U.S. Marine
• Wave of Glory - a Poetic Manner on the American Banner  
• Wisconsin Celebrates Plentiful Memorial Day Parades

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Brr! How cold is your city?

How cold is your city?

Baby, it’s cold outside!

Photo courtesy of Discovery Clip-Art

Looking out my office window on a wintry Wisconsin afternoon, I can see the streets no longer glisten, despite yesterday’s fresh snowfall. Instead, the pavement bears a bleak gray quality that seems only to appear when the temperature drops to a frighteningly frigid level.

Today, the actual temperature is two degrees in my proverbial neck of the woods. The wind chill is way, way, way below zero.

Yep, baby, it’s cold outside.

Recently, The Daily Beast ranked the coldest cities in the United States

Here are the top ten. (CTRL-click on the title link to view the full photo gallery in a new internet window.)

1. Fairbanks, Alaska

2. Grand Forks, North Dakota

3. Bismarck, North Dakota

4. Fargo, North Dakota

5. Watertown, South Dakota

6. Aberdeen, South Dakota

7. Laramie, Wyoming

8. Sioux Falls, South Dakota

9. Duluth, Minnesota

10. Butte – Silver Bow, Montana

Sarah Palin’s Wasilla, Alaska, chimes in at #14.

OK, so Wisconsin didn’t even make the list. Color me wuss. But cold is cold!

Here’s a favorite holiday oldie to warm your spirits, if not your fingers and toes. Just for fun, this truly weird cover version features rocker Rod Stewart with country music’s Dolly Parton. OK, they’re not exactly Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer, but it’s still fun.

Brrr! Baby, it is really cold outside!

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Related Items:

10 Best Mother/Daughter Winter Break 2010 Activities

12 Spots to See the Nutcracker in Chicagoland in 2010

15 Must-Have Winter Survival Kit Items for Drivers

40 Wonderful Winter Wisconsin Sleigh Rides

Bottled Up – A Limericked Rill on Winter’s Chill

Four-Season Acrostic - Winter

Frozen Iguanas Fall from Florida Trees in Winter Chill

Midwinter Mirth

Night Shift (A Poem for the Winter Solstice)

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Happy Father's Day 2010!

Happy Father's Day 2010!

Who's your daddy? Did you call him yet today?

Let's be sure to wish all our fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers and other fine fatherly figures a Happy Father's Day today!

Happy Dad's Day all around!

Do You Like a Latte?

Do You Like a Latte?

I'm not really much of a coffee drinker, but I surely am a visually oriented person. Maybe that's why I love editing, photography, fabric crafts (such as sewing) and gardening.

Which latte photo appeals to you the most? Just for fun, see how the whimsical quiz-makers interpret your choice.

After the quick quiz, you might find yourself craving a cup of coffee - or even a latte. Hey, it's a blustery fall day, so why not?

Check out my results, then CTRL-click the title link at the bottom to find out your own!
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You Are Bright and Intuitive

You can take in a lot of information at once. You're excellent at remembering details, and you are able to see how each piece of the puzzle fits together. Beyond understanding what's in front if you, you're also good at seeing what's missing. Your energy level is fairly high and consistent. You are good at being able to get yourself going. Your signature latte would be a skinny latte. Even if you aren't on a diet, you don't really like your food to weigh you down.

The Latte Art Test

Blogthings: Our Quizzes Weren't Written By Bored 12 Year Olds

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Related Items of Interest:

Coffee Break - a Poetic Addressing at One Who's a Blessing
Like a fully loaded, fully leaded cup of special blend coffee, a friend can inspire us, as no one else can. Humor, encouragement, and a peppy pick-me-up may be just the ticket, when it comes to a writer's inspiration.
Read More

Laundry Lingo: How-To Remove Stubborn Coffee Stains
Yow! Did someone just bump into you and tip your coffee cup? Did your mocha or latte splash all over your pinstriped suit or silk blouse? How can you get that deep, dark stain out of your fabric garment?
Read More

A Mallow Cup? Soothing My Mind with a Treat Refined
What's your poison? Do you love coffee? How do you take it? Like a favorite pair of slippers or a treasured quiet spot, a delicious cup of hot delight can be a total treat. Why mess with perfection?
Read More

The Mean Bean - a Rhyming Spurt to Stay Alert
What's wrong with having more caffeine? I read this in a magazine. Headaches, nerves and lack of sleep; One cup, and you can get in deep.
Read More

Welcome, Autumn!

Welcome, Autumn!

Today is the first day of October. Although autumn actually began more than a week ago, the opening of October somehow makes the season feel official.

Here in the American Midwest, a blustery and damp day welcomed the new month. Leaves began swirling all around, amid fleeting rainstorms.

It's time to pack those summer blouses, tee shirts and tank tops. This weekend, many folks will pull cardigans, fleece jackets, sweaters and corduroys out of storage. Thermal under-layers and flannel-lined jeans suddenly seem much more appealing. It's time for autumn apparel.

Still, we welcome autumn. Putting on a pot of tea or hot cider is one way to greet this chilly, but colorful season.

Here's another way to bid a new season welcome. Doesn't everyone have a favorite autumn song? What's your favorite seasonal fall song?

Here's "Autumn Leaves," sung by Nat King Cole. Grab a piece of pumpkin bread (CTRL-click here for a delicious recipe.) and a steaming cup of your favorite hot beverage ... and enjoy.

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Related Items of Interest:

Autumn Corn Bread
No authentic Thanksgiving feast is complete without Autumn Corn Bread. Try this simple recipe to make your own delicious traditional corn bread from scratch for your favorite fall or anytime event.


Healthy Autumn Colors Soup
Fall brings a harvest of fresh vegetables and cooler outdoor temperatures. Hearty soups make popular suppers during this season of change. Healthy Autumn Colors Soup is filled with flavorful, attractive fall produce for a sturdy repast.

Hearty Pumpkin Waffles: A Tasty Treat for Autumn or Anytime
If you have a houseful of holiday guests, why not whip up a delicious waffle mix? Have the batter ready and the waffle iron piping hot, and your guests can make their own breakfast while you prepare the turkey!

Turkey Chili - A Delicious Supper on a Chilly Day
What could be more delicious on a brisk autumn or early winter day than a steaming serving of chili? Why not enjoy turkey chili, a creative and scrumptious way to employ your remaining scraps from your holiday feast?

Autumn Poems:

The Fall's Final Flash: On Maples and Monuments

Four-Season Acrostic: Autumn

Leaving Leaves: A Limericked Glow on Letting Go

Great Outdoors Month

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Great Outdoors Month

June is Great Outdoors Month. What a wonderful opportunity for everyone to get outside and get fit. How about a bike ride, an invigorating game of badminton, a beach volleyball match, a healthy al fresco meal or a swim in the surf? Let’s all go outside and have some fresh-air fun.

How will you celebrate this fresh-air occasion?

Got other suggestions for Great Outdoors Month? 

What will you do outside in June? Please leave a comment, and let us know about your Great Outdoors Month ideas!

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For Saturday Six:

Question: If you were sent to an island what six items would you take with you and why?

1) My family (four of us)

2) My Bible

3) Our pets (two dogs and a cat)

4) Our horses

. . . OK, that’s already way-ay past six. Since cell phones and computers would probably be out of the question, I guess that pretty much sums it up.

For Saturday Social (#56)

Question: Do you have any exciting news to share?

Yes, I absolutely do have exciting news to share. See the blog entry below this post, or click here to find out.

For Smiley Saturday

Question: So, tell us, when was the last time you painted something? Other than a wall … And how was the experience for you?

Although I have painted several rooms in our home, as well as various pieces of furniture, my favorite projects have been basement murals. Over the years, I have done several of these for birthday parties and special events. Watch for a future post on this.