Today is...
National Toasted Marshmallow Day!

 With summer coming to a close, today is the perfect opportunity to invite friends and family to gather around a campfire and toast up some marshmallows.
The history of the marshmallow dates all the way back to Ancient Egypt. The Egyptians harvested the sweet gooey extract of the mallow plant and used it to make candy. It was a very special treat reserved exclusively for gods and royalty. The modern-day marshmallows we know and love today emerged during the 19th century.
To celebrate National Toasted Marshmallow Day, grab a stick and a bag of marshmallows, and head outside to toast some marshmallows over the fire. Enjoy the last few weeks of the summer season!

____________________________________________



Today is also College Colors Day

August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

This week is Burning Man

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 30 1645 - American Indians and the Dutch made a peace treaty at New Amsterdam. New Amsterdam later became known as New York. 1780 - General Benedict Arnold secretly promised to surrender the West Point fort to the British army. 1905 - Ty Cobb made his major league batting debut with the Detroit Tigers. 1963 - The "Hotline" between Moscow and Washington, DC, went into operation. 1965 - Thurgood Marshall was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as a Supreme Court justice. Marshall was the first black justice to sit on the Supreme Court. 1984 - Beatles fans paid $271,180 for memorabilia at an auction in London, England. 1993 - Billy Joel became the first musical guest on CBS-TV's "The Late Show with David Letterman" when the show debuted. 1996 - An expedition to raise part of the Titanic failed when the nylon lines being used to raise part of the hull snapped. ______________________________________________________ "A poor person who is unhappy is in a better position than a rich man who is unhappy because the poor man has hope. He thinks money would help." --Jean Kerr

Today is...
Chop Suey Day!

No one really knows where this Chinese-American dish originated. Some say that Chinese immigrants created the dish after arriving in America, while others insist that the dish is traditionally Chinese. Either way, chop suey is now a staple on many Chinese restaurant menus across the country.
So, what exactly is chop suey? It is a stir fry made with a hodgepodge of ingredients like egg, meat, and vegetables. In fact, the name "chop suey" comes from a Cantonese word meaning “odds and ends.” The dish is traditionally served with rice or noodles to soak up all the delicious flavors.
Today, head to your favorite Chinese restaurant and order some delicious chop suey to celebrate Chop Suey Day. Enjoy!

____________________________________________



Today is also Lemon Juice Day

August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

This week is Burning Man

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 29 1842 - The Treaty of Nanking was signed by the British and the Chinese. The treaty ended the first Opium War and gave the island of Honk Kong to Britain. 1886 - Chop suey was invented in New York City by visiting Chinese Ambassador Li Hung-chang. 1964 - Roy Orbison's single "Oh, Pretty Woman" was released. The song was Orbison's second #1 hit. 1970 - The Kinks' single "Lola" was released. 1983 - The anchor of the USS Monitor, from the U.S. Civil War, was retrieved by divers. 1986 - The former "American Bandstand" studio was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The studio is in Philadelphia, PA. ______________________________________________________ "Live as if you would die tomorrow; learn as if you would live forever." --Mahatma Gandhi

Today is...
National Cherry Turnover Day!

Turnovers are a delicious pastry that can be enjoyed for breakfast or dessert. They originated in ancient times and are classified as "portable pies." Other dishes in this culinary family include pasties, empanadas, and spring rolls.
A traditional cherry turnover recipe calls for puff pastry, which is stuffed with a gooey cherry filling and then baked until golden brown. There are many variations on this classic treat though. Some recipes call for cream cheese, extra lemon juice, or even ice cream.
To celebrate National Cherry Turnover Day, bake your own homemade cherry turnovers to share with friends and family! Bon appétit!

____________________________________________



August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

This week is Burning Man

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 28 1830 - "The Tom Thumb" was demonstrated in Baltimore, MD. It was the first passenger-carrying train locomotive. 1916 - Italy's declaration of war against Germany took effect during World War I. 1963 - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., gave his "I Have a Dream" speech at a civil rights rally in Washington, DC. More than 200,000 people attended. 1964 - The Beatles appeared on the cover of "LIFE" magazine. ______________________________________________________ "I began to have an idea of my life, not as the slow shaping of achievement to fit my preconceived purposes, but as the gradual discovery and growth of a purpose which I did not know." --Joanna Field

Today is...
Banana Lovers Day!

Today we celebrate one of the most popular fruits in the world. Did you know that the average person eats about 33 pounds of bananas a year? That's approximately 100 individual bananas per person!
Bananas are high in fiber and potassium. These properties can help prevent calcium loss, ulcers, high blood pressure, and certain kinds of cancer. Although bananas are often pictured as growing on trees, the banana “tree” is actually an herb. The banana is the fruit of this herb.
To celebrate Banana Lovers Day, grab a bunch of bananas to share with family and friends. Fry them, grill them, add them to a s'more, or just enjoy them plain. Have fun!

____________________________________________



Today is also Global Forgiveness Day

August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

This week is Burning Man

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 27 1858 - The first cabled news dispatch was sent and was published by "The New York Sun" newspaper. The story was about the peace demands of England and France being met by China. 1859 - The first oil well was successfully drilled in the U.S. by Colonel Edwin L. Drake near Titusville, PA. 1912 - Edgar Rice Burroughs' "Tarzan of the Apes" was published for the first time. 1962 - Mariner 2 was launched by the United States. In December of the same year the spacecraft flew past Venus. 1984 - U.S. President Ronald Reagan announced that the first citizen to go into space would be a teacher. The teacher that was eventually chosen was Christa McAuliffe. She died in the Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986. 1986 - Nolan Ryan, while with the Houston Astros, earned his 250th career win against the Chicago Cubs. ______________________________________________________ "Happiness is like coke -- something you get as a by-product in the process of making something else." --Aldous Huxley

Today is...
National Dog Day!

Dogs have been “man’s best friend” for over 15,000 years. We rely on our wonderful canine companions to keep us safe, bring us comfort, and love us unconditionally. National Dog Day is our opportunity to show our deep appreciation for these remarkable animals and to find homes for all of the dogs in need of a loving family.
To celebrate National Dog Day, adopt a dog from your local shelter, organize a play date for all the dogs in your neighborhood, or treat your dog to a new toy. Check out the official Dog Day website for more ideas!

____________________________________________



Today is also National Cherry Popsicle Day

August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

This week is Burning Man

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 26 1498 - Michelangelo was commissioned to make the "Pieta." 1939 - The first televised major league baseball games were shown. The event was a double-header between the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers. 1945 - The Japanese were given surrender instructions on the U.S. battleship Missouri at the end of World War II. 1987 - Sonny Bono announced that he was running for mayor of Palm Springs, CA. He won the election. 1991 - Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev promised that national elections would be held. ______________________________________________________  "It is defeat that turns bone to flint; it is defeat that turns gristle to muscle; it is defeat that makes men invincible." --Henry Ward Beecher

Today is...
National Sponge Cake Day!

 Sponge cake is the perfect dessert to enjoy at the end of a warm summer day. It is light and fluffy and has just enough sweetness to cleanse the palette after a meal.
Traditional sponge cake recipes call for three very basic ingredients: sugar, eggs, and flour. The key to the perfect sponge cake is in the technique. The batter must be beaten thoroughly in order to create volume. There are many varieties of this dessert including the Victoria Sponge Cake. This version is loaded with jam that is spread between several layers of the cake. The dessert was named after Queen Victoria who enjoyed having a slice of it with her afternoon tea.
To celebrate National Sponge Cake Day, bake a homemade sponge cake to share with friends and family, or buy one from your local bakery! Enjoy!

____________________________________________



August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 23 1839 - Hong Kong was taken by the British in a war with China. 1914 - Tsingtao, China, was bombarded as Japan declared war on Germany in World War I. 1939 - Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression treaty. 2000 - Richard Hatch was revealed as the winning castaway on CBS' "Survivor." Hatch won $1,000,000 for his stay on the island of Pulau Tida in the South China Sea. ______________________________________________________ "Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon." --Susan Ertz

Today is...
Be An Angel Day!

It’s Be An Angel Day! This day was established by Jayne Howard Feldman in 1993. Its purpose is to encourage people to perform random acts of kindness and to help those in need.
Every act of generosity can make a difference. Today, take the time to be an angel to someone. Whether you choose to do a favor for a friend or volunteer your time to assist others in your community, be sure to celebrate this occasion. Extend a helping hand, offer a kind word, or show someone your gratitude. Enjoy Be An Angel Day!

____________________________________________



August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 22 1762 - Ann Franklin became the editor of the Mercury of Newport in Rhode Island. She was the first female editor of an American newspaper. 1865 - A patent for liquid soap was received by William Sheppard. 1906 - The Victor Talking Machine Company of Camden, NJ, began to manufacture the Victrola. The hand-cranked unit, with horn cabinet, sold for $200. 1911 - It was announced that Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" had been stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris. The painting reappeared two years later in Italy. 1956 - Elvis began work on his first movie, "Love Me Tender." The film was originally entitled "The Reno Brothers." 1984 - The last Volkswagen Rabbit rolled off the assembly line in New Stanton, PA. ______________________________________________________ "The art of living successfully consists of being able to hold two opposite ideas in tension at the same time; first, to make long-term plans as if we were going to live forever; and, second, to conduct ourselves daily as if we were going to die tomorrow." --George Harris

Today is...
National Senior Citizens Day!

Today we celebrate the people who are part of the fastest-growing demographic in the world. According to the traditional definition, a senior citizen is anyone older than 60 years of age, but this seems laughable in today’s society. When it comes to new technologies, adults above the age of 55 represent 65% of all “early adopters.” This demographic is also the most politically engaged segment of the population. Almost 80% of all senior citizens vote in a presidential election, while the overall voter turnout is usually around just 50%.
President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Senior Citizens Day in 1988. In his explanation he wrote that, “Older citizens are reinforcing their historical roles as leaders and as links with our patrimony and sense of purpose as individuals and as a Nation.” Now there’s something worth celebrating!
In honor of National Senior Citizens Day, spend time with your favorite relatives or make a commitment to volunteer at a retirement home sometime in the next year. If you are a senior citizen yourself, check for special promotions and giveaways at your favorite restaurants and shops! 

____________________________________________


Today is also National Spumoni Day

August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

This week is National Aviation Week

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 21 1878 - The American Bar Association was formed by a group of lawyers, judges and law professors in Saratoga, NY. 1912 - Arthur R. Eldred became the first American boy to become an Eagle Scout. It is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America. 1971 - Laura Baugh, at the age of 16, won the United State's Women's Amateur Golf tournament. She was the youngest winner in the history of the tournament. 1976 - It was announced by RCA Victor records that the sales of Elvis Presley records passed the 400 million mark. 1986 - In Cameroon, a nation in West Africa, toxic gas erupted from a volcanic lake. The gas killed more than 1,700 people. ______________________________________________________ "Youth is a gift of nature; aging is a work of art." --Anonymous

Today is...
National Lemonade Day!

 Lemonade originated in the Mediterranean region in the 13th century and the recipe eventually made its way to Europe and then to America. The beverage was sold as an everyday refreshment and as a tonic, used to treat colds and other ailments. In France, you could purchase a glass from street vendors known as “lemoadiers.”
To celebrate National Lemonade Day, make your own homemade lemonade to share with friends and family. Dissolve 2 cups of sugar in 1 cup of hot water. Then stir in 2 cups of freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1 gallon of cold water. Pour into glasses filled with ice and garnish with a lemon slice and a sprig of mint. Enjoy!

____________________________________________



August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

This week is National Aviation Week

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 20 1741 - Danish navigator Vitus Jonas Bering discovered Alaska. 1866 - It was formally declared by U.S. President Andrew Johnson that the American Civil War was over. The fighting had stopped months earlier. 1882 - Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" debuted in Moscow. 1940 - France fell to the Germans during World War II. 1945 - Tommy Brown of the Brooklyn Dodgers became the youngest player to hit a home run in a major-league ball game. Brown was 17 years, 8 months and 14 days old. 1953 - It was announced by the Soviet Union that they had detonated a hydrogen bomb. 1985 - The original Xerox 914 copier was presented to the Smithsonian Institute's Museum of American History. Chester Carlson was the man who invented the machine. ______________________________________________________ "Why not let people differ about their answers to the great mysteries of the Universe? Let each seek one's own way to the highest, to one's own sense of supreme loyalty in life, one's ideal of life. Let each philosophy, each world-view bring forth its truth and beauty to a larger perspective, that people may grow in vision, stature and dedication." --Algernon Black

Today is...
National Potato Day!

 Potatoes have been popular parts of diets around the world for centuries.
Did you know that more than 45 billion pounds of potatoes are harvested in the U.S. each year? We use them to make baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, home fries, French fries—the list is endless!
Potatoes are not only tasty—they’re good for you! They contain high levels of important vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, potassium, and iron. Today, enjoy potatoes prepared your favorite way to celebrate National Potato Day!

____________________________________________



Today is also National Aviation Day

August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

This week is National Aviation Week

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 19 1909 - The first car race to be run on brick occurred at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 1934 - Adolf Hitler was approved for sole executive power in Germany as Fuehrer. 1964 - The first American tour by the Beatles began in San Francisco, CA. The tour would cover 26 cities. 1998 - The first piece of the 351 foot bronze statue of Christopher Columbus arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico. ______________________________________________________ "Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forward." --Soren Kierkegaard

Today is...
Bratwurst Day!

Bratwurst is a heavily spiced sausage, usually enjoyed on a roll with mustard or by itself with a side of sauerkraut. The term “bratwurst” is a compound of two German words—“braten,” which means “to fry” and “wurst,” which means “sausage.”
Bratwursts originated in Germany and have been around since the 14th century. These sausages are generally made from pork, veal, or beef. Truly dedicated fans can attend the annual Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival in Ohio to celebrate this historical dish.
Today, grab a “brat” in honor of Bratwurst Day. Don’t forget to wash it down with some beer!

____________________________________________



Today is also National Rum Day & National Roller Coaster Day


August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

This week is Elvis Week & National Aviation Week

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 16 1829 - The "Siamese twins," Chang and Eng Bunker, arrived in Boston, MA. They had come to the Western world to be exhibited. They were 18 years old and joined at the waist. 1954 - Sports Illustrated was published for the first time. It was claimed that 250,000 subscriptions had been sold before the first issue came off of the presses. 1960 - The free-fall world record was set by Joseph Kittinger. He fell more than 16 miles (about 84,000 feet) before opening his parachute over New Mexico. 1966 - The Monkees' first single, "Last Train to Clarksville," was released. 1975 - Peter Gabriel announced that he was leaving the group Genesis. Phil Collins would be the new lead singer after the group auditioned more than 400 potential musicians. ______________________________________________________ "I want to tell people approaching and perhaps fearing age that it is a time of discovery. If they say 'Of what?' I can only answer 'We must find out for ourselves, otherwise it wouldn’t be discovery.'” --Florida Scott-Maxwell

Today is...
National Relaxation Day!

Today we live in a very fast-paced world that is often stressful and overwhelming. National Relaxation Day is all about taking a step back to unwind and decompress.
Although a certain amount of stress is normal, too much of it can be harmful to your physical and mental health. Take care of yourself today. Read a book, get a massage, watch a movie, go for a long walk, or take a nap. No matter what you choose to do, just remember to take it easy, even if it’s only for a few minutes. Happy National Relaxation Day!

____________________________________________



Today is also Assumption Day & Lemon Meringue Pie Day


August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

This week is Elvis Week & National Aviation Week

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 15 1848 - The dental chair was patented by M. Waldo Hanchett. 1911 - "Crisco" was introduced by Procter & Gamble Company. 1939 - "The Wizard of Oz" premiered in Hollywood, CA. Judy Garland became famous for the movie's song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." 1961 - East German workers began construction of the Berlin Wall. 1969 - The Woodstock Music and Art Fair began in Bethel, NY. The three-day concert featured 24 bands and drew over 400,000 people. 1971 - U.S. President Nixon announced a 90-day freeze on wages, rents and prices. ______________________________________________________ "All men should try to learn before they die what they are running from, and to, and why." --James Thurber