National Fluffernutter Day

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By Chef Diane

I have never been around marshmallow cream much.  In fact...I have only used it while making Christmas fudge in the last few years.   In several parts of the country, marshmallow cream and peanut butter are as common as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is in my part of the country.  In fact, Massachusetts even tried to proclaim the fluffernutter, a mixture of peanut butter on one slice of bread, and marshmallow cream on the other slice, as their state sandwich.

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According to punchbowl.com.  marshmallow candy can be traced back to ancient Egypt when people first began to harvest the marshmallow plant (Althaea officinalis). During the 19th century, French pharmacists extracted the juice from marshmallow plants and heated it with egg whites and sugar, creating a marshmallow cream.

Then, in 1917, Archibald Query of Somerville, Massachusetts created the special formula for the marshmallow fluff we know and love today.  The first published recipe of the fluffernutter sandwich appeared during World War l by Emma Curtis.

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Every year in Somerville, Massachusetts, where Archibald Query invented Marshmallow Fluff, a festival celebrating this tasty treat is held.  The name of the festival is called What the Fluff?  They eat fluffernutter sandwiches, play music and games and have cooking contests.

If you would like to be more creative with fluffernutter instead of just a routine sandwich, here is an easy recipe for some delicious cookies that are really simple to bake.

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Fluffernutter Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 package of Betty Crocker peanut butter cookie mix, stir as directed.
• 1 jar marshmallow cream
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 1 12 ounce bag semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Directions

1. Mix cookies as directed, roll into balls and bake at 350 for 8 minutes
2. Take the back of the spoon and make craters in the cookies, and set the oven to broil
3. Fill the cookies with a spoon full of fluff
4. Return to oven and broil until browned
5. Melt the chocolate chips with the whipping cream over a pot of boiling water until melted.
6. Place melted chocolate in a Ziploc bag and cut off one of the corners.  Then drizzle the chocolate over the cookies and let cool

Click here to watch a video for making these cookies:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTRV8BVcsjM

National Dental Hygiene Month

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By Nurse Diane

I recently read an article about flossing.  The article stated that t taking good care of your teeth and gums can not only add years to your life, but also lowers risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes—and even memory-robbing disorders like Alzheimer’s disease? A new study of nearly 5,000 older adults found that those who brushed their teeth less than once a day were up to 65 percent more likely to develop dementia than those who brushed daily.  Read the whole article here: http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/better-floss-or-after-brushing.

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My mother is known for her smile.  She smiles all the time, and my daddy says he spent a fortune on her mouth.  The other day a man came up to me in church and told me what a great smile I have, and that really gave me a boost.  I have always tried to take great care of my teeth, especially seeing my husband have his pulled to have dentures fitted.  He had taken care of his teeth; however, genetics still gave him problems.

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Your teeth are very important to your health and well-being.  Even while I write I feel the urge to floss.  I use a water pic, a pre-soaking rinse, soft brush as recommended by my dentist, and sensitive tooth paste.  There are other new pastes and gels on the market, like those that harden your enamel.  I don’t know about those, but I do know the ones that work on sensitive teeth do help.  I couldn't eat anything cold, but once I started using Arm & Hammer’s Pronamel, I have once again been able to enjoy ice cream.

This month is National Dental Hygiene Month.  Take extra time to clean your teeth, and make sure to floss. It is recommended to brush two minutes twice a day and floss and rinse daily.  Have an annual checkup with your dentist so that your great smile will last a lifetime.

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National Storytelling Festival Weekend

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By Diane Forrest

In the 1970's my mother began working in the library at the junior high school I attended.  She continued working at school libraries until she retired, and now she volunteers at the church library every week.  She always attended local literary events, and one night she took me along to one of these events.  There was a writer in town at our local city library, and she was going to be telling ghost stories from the books she wrote. Her name was Katherine Wyndam Tucker, and wrote several books, one of them was Ghosts of Mississippi.  It included several short stories of actual ghost stories.

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When we entered the library we all sat around in a circle listening to her tales, and I was mesmerized. It was wonderful listening as she described the events in minute details, and the actual events left an eerie feeling in the room. It had such an effect on me that I purchased several of her books, and gave some to my mother.

Our city is also home to the oldest military college in the state.  It has long been closed, but the grounds remain open for visits.  Each year around Halloween they have a storytelling night.  Hoping to share the same experience I had with my son, I took him to this event one year.  We all sat outside on a hill surrounded with old oak trees with strands of Spanish moss hanging from the limbs.  It was a cool night and the only light we had was from the full moon that shown around us.  The speakers stood in front of the group, each one telling tales of ghosts, and the event was a success, and my son was properly frightened.

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The ability to tell stories is a wonderful gift.  When you think about it, our lives are nothing but stories woven together.  We learn about our family history through stories told by our ancestors, many of the movies we watch are just stories acted out on the big screen.  Some come from imagination and others from actual events.  However it is the gift of storytelling that allows the listener to become involved in the story, and it is retained in the memory for many years to come.

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This weekend is the National Storytelling festival.  Many cities will host storytelling events.  Jonesbourgh, TN hosts a big event each year during the first weekend in October.  I would encourage you to check your area for a storytelling event.  Its not just for children, but adults enjoy it as well. 

To learn more about the Jonesbourgh event, or to watch storytelling live, click this site:  http://www.storytellingcenter.net/events/national-storytelling-festival/

Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day

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Nurse Diane

Earlier this week we talked about Mental Illness Awareness week, included in that article was a mention of Bipolar Disorder.  2.3 million people suffer from Bipolar Disorder.  This is a condition that usually begins in the mid 40's through the 50's or it can start earlier, but it requires lifelong treatment.  A person with this illness goes through periods of mania then depression.  Episodes like extreme shopping to deep depression are characteristics.

A recent episode of Bipolar was notice with the public displays of Charlie Sheen.  He was partying and doing drugs and acting abnormal for a while, then sunk into a depression stage, and nobody heard from him.  The same bizarre behavior was also noticed in Brittany Spears.  If Bipolar is left untreated, the risk of suicide is great.  In fact, 25 to 50% of those suffering attempt suicide.

You don't have to be in the public eye to suffer from this disorder.  You may know someone who shares these same symptoms.  The purpose of Bipolar Awareness Day is to:

• Learn more about the symptoms of bipolar disorder and mental illness and understand its impact on society;
• Participate in a free mental health screening held in many local communities; and
• Reach out people with bipolar disorder to seek treatment.

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This day was created in 1990 by Abbott Laboratories to increase awareness of bipolar disorder, promote early detection and accurate diagnosis, reduce stigma, and minimize the devastating impact on those who suffer from bipolar illness.

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Below is a quiz from psychcentral.com for you to take to see if you know anyone with these symptoms, or if you have them yourself.  If you do, please seek help and encourage those you may know to seek help as well.

http://psychcentral.com/quizzes/bipolarquiz.htm

Mad Hatter Day

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By Diane Forrest

A very merry

Unbirthday to you,

To you, A very merry

Unbirthday to you,

To you,

It's great to

Drink to someone ,

And I guess that

You will do,

A very merry

Unbirthday to you!

statistics prove that you've

one birthday

one birthday every year

but there are 364 un birthdays

that is why we are all gathered here

a very merry unbirthday to all

to all

a very merry unbirthday to all

to all

thats how we sing the day away

a verry merry unbirthday

to all

These are the lyrics to a song sung by the Mad Hatter made popular in the 1951 Disney Movie of Alice in Wonderland.  I like to think that the meaning of this song is to celebrate every day, if it's your birthday or not!

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In the book by Lewis Caroll, the Mad Hatter was never called "Mad" .  That name came much later.  However, there was a chapter in the book called “The Mad Tea Party” and the Cheshire cat referred that the hatter and the March Hare were both mad.

The term Mad as a hatter evolved during the manufacturing of hats back in the day.  Mercury was used during the process called carroting, and this mercury lead to lead poisoning, which drove some men who wore hats, crazy.

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The card on the hat reads 10/6, which refers to the cost of the hat, 10 shillings and a 6 pence. Today, on 10/6, or October 6, we celebrate Mad Hatter's Day.  In 1986, a group of computer technicians in Boulder, Colorado celebrated the first Mad Hatter Day. They designated the holiday as a day of silliness and year after year it has grown in popularity.  This is a day to celebrate silliness, wear a hat, and be crazy.   So if today is Your birthday, or your unbirthday, celebrate, act crazy and have a great day.  Today is my mother's birthday, so she gets to act extra crazy today.

National Diversity Day

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By Terry Orr

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There wasn't much diversity in Kansas City (North), Missouri during the 1950’s and 1960’s where I grew up.  My initial exposure to diversity came from a very good and well-rounded black man who worked as the parking attendant at a local parking garage in downtown Kansas City behind my dad’s printing company.  In hindsight, this experience and relationship helped to prepare me for the US Navy and better understanding of Civil Rights Movement.  I still have fond memories of setting on crates, have a cold drink and listening to his excellent stories.  Embracing diversity is a way of life for me – while others reject it. So let’s read on and learn more about National Diversity Day and attempt to find some common ground and become more open to embracing others.

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What is Diversity?

The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect.  It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences.  These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, sociology economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies.  It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment.  It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.

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National Diversity Day is a day to:

• Celebrate and embrace who we are, despite our differences, no matter what race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, nationality, or disability. 
• Reflect on and learn about different cultures and ideologies;
• Vow acceptance and tolerance; and
• Consciously address these areas at educational and religious institutions - as well as in the workplace and at home.

The United States of America thrives on diversity.  A synthesis of the world’s plentiful and varied races, religions, and cultures, America is a home to all, such that no one group can call itself more “American” than another. And the fusion of cultures here is so unique and so exceptional that citizens can be just as proud of their original cultural heritage as they are to be an American. [Source: www.worldandi.com]

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References and Links:

• http://www.nationaldiversityday.com/
• http://garrison-michigan.army.mil/sites/EEO/diversity.htm
• http://www.worldandi.com/specialcollection/special-collection-diversity.asp
• http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~asuomca/diversityinit/definition.html

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World Smile Day

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By Diane Forrest

I've got something in my pocket, it belongs across my face.

I keep it very close at hand, in a most convenient place.

I'm sure you couldn't guess it if you guessed a long, long while.

So I'll take it out and put it on, it's a Great Big Brownie Smile!

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This is the only song I remember singing during my Brownie Scout days.  I still hum it occasionally; it always reminds me to smile.  My husband loved the movie Forrest Gump.  This movie depicted several scenes from historic times in the country.  One of the scenes, while Forrest is running across the country, a man walks up to him and asks for a money making idea.  At that time a car comes by and splashes mud and water all over Forrest's face.  The man offers him a bright yellow tee shirt to wipe his face, and the result was the famous smiley face logo.

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The Smiley Face picture was invented by Mr. Harvey Ball in 1963.  That image went on to become the most recognizable symbol of good will and good cheer on the planet.   According to worldsmileday.com, "Harvey Ball became concerned about the over-commercialization of his symbol, and how its original meaning and intent had become lost in the constant repetition of the marketplace. Out of that concern came his idea for World Smile Day. He thought that we, all of us, should devote one day each year to smiles and kind acts throughout the world. The smiley face knows no politics, no geography and no religion. Harvey’s idea was that for at least one day each year, neither should we. He declared that the first Friday in October each year would henceforth be World Smile Day. Ever since that first World Smile Day held in 1999, it has continued every year in Smiley's hometown of Worcester, MA and around the world."

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So today and every day, why not spread some smiles around!