Thursday Thirteen

One of my favourite things to eat are tomatoes. Today, I'm going to share 13 fun facts about this delicious food item. Yummy!!

1.The largest tomato plant ever grown reached 19.8 m (65 ft) in length. It was was grown by Nutriculture Ltd of Mawdesley, Lancashire, UK. It was the year 2000 and it was of the "Sungold" cultivar

2.Tomatoes are usually referred to as vegetables, but they are actually a fruit!

3.The botanical family of tomatoes is the same nightshade family as tobacco, potatoes, aubergine (eggplants), chilli peppers, and the poisonous belladonna.

4.At first, tomatoes were used by our european ancestors as tabletops and ornamental plants, since they were widely believed to be poisonous (due to their belonging to the same family of the poisonous plant belladonna)

5.While the fruit is perfectly safe and healthy to eat, the plant's leaves are actually toxic!

6.After the american colonization by the Spaniards, tomatoes were quickly spread to all their caribbean colonies, and were later moved to the Philippines, where they spread to many different regions in Asia. By 1540, there are the first reported cultivations in Europe, where the Mediterranean climate was ideal.

7.In the 18th century, the Encyclopaedia Britannica reported tomatoes as being used daily in soups and broths, and consumption of tomatoes rapidly increased during the century, reaching their peak in the Victorian age, when large-scale production was widespread in glasshouses, most famously in Worthing.

8.According to the UN Food & Agriculture Organisation, the whole world produces around 125 million tons of tomatoes per year.

9.Tomatoes with a brighter, deeper color are usually not only better-tasting, but they also contain higher quantities of the most important and peculiar of tomatoes' micronutrients: lycopene.

10.Bathing in tomato juice is an effective way to remove the smell if a skunk sprays you or a pet.

11.Wash your hair with them after swimming in a pool in order to remove the chlorine from your hair.

12.The tomato is the world’s most popular fruit.

13.Tomatoes are rich in vitamins A and C and fibre, and are cholesterol free.

Friday Fun

Just a few cat jokes to make you smile. Take care and have a great weekend.

• Did you hear about the cat who drank 5 bowls of water? He set a new lap record.
• Did you hear about the cat who swallowed a ball of wool? She had mittens.
• What is the difference between a cat and a comma? One has the paws before the claws and the other has the clause before the pause.
• What do you get when you cross a chick with an alley cat? A peeping tom.
• Why don't cats play poker in the jungle? Too many cheetahs.
• What is a cat's favourite song? Three Blind Mice.

Thursday Thirteen

As we are part way through the month of April, I thought that today, we would look at some fun facts and trivia associated with this month.

1.The two Zodiac signs for the month of April are Aries (February 18 to April 19) and Taurus (April 19 to May 20).

2.Aries is symbolized by a ram and starts the Zodiac circle as the first astrological sign. Those whose birthdays fall under this fire sign are said to be adventurous, resilient, courageous and sometimes moody.

3.A bull is the icon for the Earth sign Taurus. Patience, reliability, and determination are some of the virtues bestowed upon those born under the sign along with a jealous streak and perhaps a bit of self-indulgence and greed.

4.April Fools' Day is April 1stt! Before the 1560s, April 1st was New Years Day throughout Europe. The calendar changed to what we now use, but those who still celebrated New Years Day on April 1 were dubbed "April Fools." The "fools" were teased and a target for practical jokes, hence the pranks that are played on April 1st in modern times like putting salt in the sugar bowl and similar Tomfoolery!

5.April 1 kicks off the Japanese fiscal year with some companies hosting Nyushashiki, a new employee entry ceremony of sorts for recent graduates joining the company.

6.April was originally the second month of the Roman calendar, before January and February were added by King Numa Pompilius about 700 BC.

7.The Anglo-Saxons called April Oster-monath or Eostur-monath.

8.Thai New Year in Thailand - April 13.

9.April 1st 1956 - Elvis Presley was given a screen test at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, acting the role of Jimmy Curry in a scene from 'The Rainmaker.'

10.April 2nd 1997 - Singer Joni Mitchell is reunited with Kilauren Gibb, the daughter she gave up for adoption 32 years earlier.

11.April 5th 1967 - Monkees fans walked from London's Marble Arch to the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square to protest Davy Jone's planned call-up. (Jones was exempted because he was deemed responsible for supporting his father).

12.April 13th 1640: Charles I's eleven years of personal rule end with the calling of the 'Short Parliament' at Westminster.

13.April 15th 1912: The 'unsinkable' liner SS 'Titanic' strikes an iceberg in the Atlantic and sinks, killing 1,503 people.

Friday Fun

The weekend is almost here. Today I thought I'd post a few things to make you smile.

A Cat's Diary

DAY 752 -- My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant.

DAY 761 -- Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the stairs.
In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair...must try this on their bed.

DAY 762 -- Slept all day so that I could annoy my captors with sleep depriving, incessant pleas for food at ungodly hours of the night.

DAY 765 -- Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was... Hmmm. Not working according to plan......

DAY 768 - I am finally aware of how sadistic they are. For no good reason I was chosen for the water torture. This time however it included a burning foamy chemical called "shampoo." What sick minds could invent such a liquid. My only consolation is the piece of thumb still stuck between my teeth.

DAY 771 - There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the foul odor of the glass tubes they call "beer." More importantly, I overheard that my confinement was due to MY power of "allergies." Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage....

DAY 774 -- I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dogs are routinely released and seem more than happy to return. They are obviously half-wits. The Birds, on the other hand, have got to be informants. They have mastered their frightful tongue (something akin to mole speak) and the birds speak with them regularly. I am certain they report my every move. Due to their current placement in the metal room their safety is assured.

But I can wait, it is only a matter of time.

What Kind of Muffin Are You?

http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofmuffinareyouquiz/

You Are a Blueberry Muffin
You are a nurturing, domestic, homey person.
Of all the types, you are the most likely to make your own muffins at home.
You don't like to rock the boat, and you're most content when you're making everyone else happy.
You are very loyal. You'll defend your family and friends, even if you secretly disapprove of what they're doing.
You tend to be a bit shy and withdrawn. You don't make friends quickly or easily.
But once you do make a good friend, the chances are high that you'll be friends for life.

George, Jack and Simon were at a conference together in Chicago and they were sharing a large suite on the top of a 75 story sky scraper. After a long day of meetings they were upset to hear that the lifts in their hotel were broken and they would have to climb 75 flights of stairs to get to their room.
George said to Jack and Simon, let's break the boredom of this horrendous climb by concentrating on something more interesting. I'll tell jokes for 25 flights, and Jack can sing songs for 25 flights, and Simon can tell sad stories the rest of the way. At the 26th floor George stopped telling jokes and Jack began to sing. At the 51st floor Jack stopped singing and Simon began to tell sad stories.
'I will tell my saddest story first,' he muttered gloomily, 'I left our room key in the car.'

Whatever you are doing this weekend, take care and have fun.
__________________
Meg.

Thursday Thirteen

In light of the recent unseen photos of the late Marilyn Monroe,that have been put up for sale, I thought I'd dedicate this week's Thursday Thirteen to her. Here are 13 quotes from the lady herself.

1."I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."

2."I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when their right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust noone but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."

3. "Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring."

4."A wise girl kisses but doesn't love, listens but doesn't believe, and leaves before she is left."

5."If you can make a girl laugh, you can make her do anything."

6."I am good, but not an angel. I do sin, but I am not the devil. I am just a small girl in a big world trying to find someone to love."

7."If you're gonna be two-faced at least make one of them pretty."

8."Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world."

9."The real lover is the man who can thrill you by kissing your forehead or smiling into your eyes or just staring into space."

10."It's not true that I had nothing on. I had the radio on."

11."Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition."

12."I've been on a calendar, but never on time."

13."What do I wear in bed? Why, Chanel No. 5, of course"

Internet shopping is not my friend.

I've had one heck of day…. In my efforts to save time and make my housework seem effortless, I tried a spot of internet shopping. After all, what could be easier than sitting down, at my desk, relaxing with my coffee and browsing the aisles of my local supermarket? And all from the comfort of my own home :)

Perhaps you are sat here reading this, thinking, yes, I do that ALL the time. Everything I order is always in stock, everything I order and pay for always arrives and I have no problems whatsoever inputting my card details into the computer. I envy you. Truly I do.

My internet shopping has been disastrous to say the least. Last week my cat food arrived a day late, my other supermarket charged me for three loaves and delivered none of them and today…well, it took me several hours and a lot of swearing at the computer to pick a few groceries.

Clearly, I’m not meant to be one of those women who breeze through life disaster free; take the highlighted hair that turned green, take the squirrel who thought she could free load in our attic all Winter, take the computer that doesn’t work, even after it’s been repaired. Do you see the pattern? Well, life may not always go according to plan, but at least these minor hiccups keep it interesting.  Whatever you’re doing today, take care and stay disaster free.

Something for the Week

Forget something for the weekend. We have five days of work ahead of us and need something yummy to see us through them. Hope you like today's selection.