Today is...
National Rice Pudding Day!

 Rice pudding is a delicious treat that combines the smooth, creamy texture of pudding with nutritious and filling rice. The recipe evolved from an ancient dish known as “pottage,” which originated in the Middle East.
Almost every region of the world has its own take on rice pudding. Some versions are sweet while others are savory, and some are thick while others are thin. In the United States, most people serve their rice pudding sweetened with a sprinkle of nutmeg and raisins. Yum!
Enjoy some rice pudding today in honor of National Rice Pudding Day!

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Today is also Book Lovers Day

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

This week is Shark Week

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

History for August 9 1678 - American Indians sold the Bronx to Jonas Bronck for 400 beads. 1854 - "Walden" was published by Henry David Thoreau. 1859 - The escalator was patented by Nathan Ames. 1936 - Jesse Owens won his fourth gold medal at the Berlin Olympics. He was the first American to win four medals in one Olympics. 1965 - Singapore proclaimed its independence from the Malaysian Federation. 1981 - Major league baseball teams resumed play at the conclusion of the first mid-season players’ strike. ______________________________________________________ "The worst sin -- perhaps the only sin -- passion can commit, is to be joyless." --Dorothy L. Sayer

Today is...
National Zucchini Day!

 Today we celebrate this versatile green vegetable and all the delicious dishes we can make with it.
The common zucchini is a close relative of the cucumber and the melon. It is a type of squash that comes from Italy. In fact, the name “zucchini” comes from the word “zucchino,” which means “small squash” in Italian. The largest zucchini on record was 69.5 inches long and weighed 65 pounds! It probably wouldn’t have tasted very good though. For the best flavor, always choose a small or medium sized zucchini.
To celebrate National Zucchini Day, plan a dinner menu full of this healthy vegetable! Grill it, bake it into bread, or add it to a salad. Bon appétit! 

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Today is also Happiness Happens Day & World Cat Day

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

This week is Shark Week

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

History for August 8 1588 - The Spanish Armada was defeated by the English fleet ending an invasion attempt. 1899 - The refrigerator was patented by A.T. Marshall. 1945 - During World War II, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan. 1999 - Wade Boggs got his 3,000th hit of his major league baseball career. 2000 - The submarine H.L. Hunley was raised from ocean bottom after 136 years. The sub had been lost during an attack on the U.S.S. Housatonic in 1864. The Hunley was the first submarine in history to sink a warship. ______________________________________________________ "There are two ways to meet life; you may refuse to care until indifference becomes a habit, a defensive armor, and you are safe -- but bored. Or you can care greatly -- till life breaks you on its wheel." --Dorothy Canfield Fisher

Today is...
National Lighthouse Day!

On this day in 1789, the United States Congress approved an Act “for the establishment and support of lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and public piers.” This piece of legislation commissioned the first Federal lighthouse, which was constructed at the entrance of Chesapeake Bay. Two hundred years later, Congress designated August 7th as National Lighthouse Day to commemorate this important moment in history and to celebrate these beautiful structures.
For centuries, lighthouses have served as beacons of light, guiding ships safely to harbor through storms, fog, or dark of night. To celebrate National Lighthouse Day, visit a local lighthouse near you or donate to a lighthouse preservation society.

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Today is also National Raspberries in Cream Day

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

This week is Simplify Your Life Week

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

History for August 7 1789 - The U.S. War Department was established by the U.S. Congress. 1888 - Theophilus Van Kannel received a patent for the revolving door. 1914 - Germany invaded France. 1963 - The movie "Beach Party" debuted. 1974 - French stuntman Philippe Petit walked a tightrope strung between the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center. 1999 - Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres got his 3,000th hit of his major league career. ______________________________________________________ "The most dangerous temptation is the temptation to prepare to live, instead of living." --Leo Tolstoy

Today is...
National Root Beer Float Day!

Between the creamy vanilla ice cream and the frothy root beer foam, how can anyone resist this sweet refreshment? Today we celebrate this tasty summer treat.
At the end of the 19th century, a man named Frank Wisner invented the first root beer float. This early version was also known as a “black cow.” To make one of these delicious beverages, just add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to a tall glass of root beer. (Note: If you reverse the directions and add the root beer to the ice cream you’ll end up with a big mess!)
Today, enjoy this delicious American tradition and make your own float for National Root Beer Float Day!

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Today is also National Night Out

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

This week is Simplify Your Life Week

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

History for August 6 1879 - The first Australian rules football game to be played at night took place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The game was to promote the introduction of electricity to the city of Melbourne. 1890 - The electric chair was used for the first time when Auburn State Prison in New York executed convicted murderer William Kemmler. 1914 - Austria-Hungary declared war against Russia. Serbia declared war against Germany. 1945 - The American B-29 bomber, known as the Enola Gay, dropped the first atomic bomb on an inhabited area. The bomb named "Little Boy" was dropped over the center of Hiroshima, Japan. An estimated 140,000 people were killed. 1960 - Chubby Checker performed "The Twist" on American TV for the first time on "American Bandstand." 1962 - Jamaica became an independent dominion within the British Commonwealth. 1996 - NASA announced the discovery of evidence of primitive life on Mars. The evidence came in the form of a meteorite that was found in Antarctica. The meteorite was believed to have come from Mars and contained a fossil. ______________________________________________________ "Happiness is not something that happens. It is not the result of good fortune or random chance. It is not something that money can buy or power command. It does not depend on outside events, but rather how we interpret them. Happiness, in fact, is a condition that must be prepared for, cultivated, and defended privately by each person. People who learn to control inner experience will be able to determine the quality of their lives, which is as close as any of us can come to being happy." --Mihaly Csikszentmihayli

Today is...
International Beer Day!

Beer drinkers rejoice—it's International Beer Day! Founded in 2007, this international holiday was created to celebrate the production, consumption, and enjoyment of beer.
Did you know that beer may have been invented before bread? That’s right—legend has it that our prehistoric ancestors brewed the first beer from grain before they baked the first loaf of bread!
Whether or not this story is true, sources up to 6,000 years old have documented the creation of beer in Mesopotamia. Talk about an ancient art! Today, many varieties of beer exist across the globe. In fact, beer is the third most popular beverage in the world, behind water and tea. That’s why in some countries, you’ll find beer vending machines!
On this day, expect to find beer specials and events at bars, restaurants, and breweries across the world! Find out how you can get involved here. Raise your glass for International Beer Day!

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Today is also National Oyster Day & National Walk on the Moon Day


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

This week is Simplify Your Life Week

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

History for August 5 1884 - On Bedloe's Island in New York Harbor, the cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty was laid. 1923 - Henry Sullivan became the first American to swim across the English Channel. 1957 - American Bandstand made its network debut on ABC-TV. The show was hosted by Dick Clark. 1963 - The Limited Test Ban Treaty was signed by the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union. The treaty banned nuclear tests in space, underwater, and in the atmosphere. 1969 - The Mariner 7, a U.S. space probe, passed by Mars. Photographs and scientific data were sent back to Earth. 1984 - Toronto’s Cliff Johnson set a major league baseball record by hitting the 19th pinch-hit home run in his career. 1990 - U.S. President Bush angrily denounced the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. ______________________________________________________ "The true way to soften one’s troubles is to solace those of others." --Mme. De Maintenon

Today is...
National Ice Cream Sandwich Day!

 On the beach or in an ice cream shop, these sweet sandwiches are always delicious.
Ice cream sandwiches come in many varieties. In their traditional form, vanilla ice cream is tucked between two thin layers that resemble chocolate cake. Other versions include chipwiches—ice cream between two chocolate chip cookies.
Variations of this delight can also be found in different countries. In Australia, the most popular sandwiches are called “Giant Sandwiches," while "Maxibons" are half-dipped in chocolate. However, the most exotic ice cream sandwiches might be found in Singapore. Here, red bean, yam, and honeydew are all popular flavors.
To celebrate National Ice Cream Sandwich Day, visit your nearest grocery store or ice cream truck and get a big ice cream sandwich. Enjoy!

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

This week is Simplify Your Life Week

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

History for August 2 1858 - In Boston and New York City the first mailboxes were installed along streets. 1892 - Charles A. Wheeler patented the first escalator. 1939 - Albert Einstein signed a letter to President Roosevelt urging the U.S. to have an atomic weapons research program. 1983 - It was designated that the third Monday of January would be a federal holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1990 - Iraq invaded the oil-rich country of Kuwait. Iraq claimed that Kuwait had driven down oil prices by exceeding production quotas set by OPEC. ______________________________________________________ "If I knew I only had six months to live: 1) What would I have to do? 2) What would I want to do? and 3) What are the things I would neither have to do nor want to do?" --Robert S. Eliot

Today is...
National Girlfriends Day!

Girlfriends are the women who you can always depend on. Whether you call on them to share exciting news, to have a shoulder to cry on, or to just hang out, your girlfriends are always there for you. That's why there is an entire day dedicated to these friends, sisters, mothers, and daughters. They are all essential parts of our lives!
To celebrate National Girlfriends Day, send a free eCard to your girlfriends to let them know you’re thinking of them. Be sure to make plans to spend some quality time together—head to the beach, go to a wine tasting, or spend a day in the park. Whatever you decide to do, enjoy the time you spend with each other!

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Today is also National Raspberry Cream Pie Day & Lughnasadh

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

This week is Simplify Your Life Week

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

History for August 1 1790 - The first U.S. census was completed. The population of the 13 original states was 3,929,214. 1893 - Shredded wheat was patented by Henry Perky and William Ford. 1914 - Germany declared war on Russia at the beginning of World War I. 1981 - MTV made its debut. The first video to be shown was "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles. 1986 - Bert Blyleven became only the 10th pitcher to strike out 3,000 batters in his career. 1994 - Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley announced that they had been married 11 weeks earlier in the Dominican Republic. ______________________________________________________ "Do not be interested in the quantity of people who respect and admire you, but in their quality. If bad people dislike you, so much the better." --Lucius Annaeus Seneca