Check this out

Here's another video from YouTube involving a billiards shot. Even if you aren't interested in pool, this is pretty amazing to watch. Almost 7 million people have already seen it, but in case you are one of the few who haven't, check out this link. 

The most amazing pool shot ever

Enjoy!

A History Lesson

My history education hasn't been very good—both from my schooling and my own initiation. So, I have vague ideas about a lot of things but don't understand much completely. This was evident during my recent visit with Ward to Fort McHenry in Baltimore. I knew that Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner there while he was watching bombs bursting in air, supposedly to the tune of an old English drinking song. But I never knew the rest of the story.

A replica of Key's Star Spangled Banner at Fort McHenry

Picture it. September 1814 during the War of 1812. The British have just burned the Nation's Capital and the people of Baltimore are frightened. The British Navy is amassing in the Chesapeake Bay and they are coming for Baltimore next if they can get by Fort McHenry. Meanwhile, Francis Scott Key, a young Georgetown lawyer, has taken a ship out among the British to negotiate for the release of Dr. William Beanes, who is a prisoner of war. 

The British start bombing the fort and the Americans return their fire. Francis is forced to stay among the British ships and can do nothing but watch the massive battle. For twenty five hours the exchange goes on. The firing finally stops and the battle has been won. But by whom? He anxiously awaits to see which flag will be flying over the fort: the Union Jack or the Stars and Stripes. When dawn brakes, it is a tremendous relief for him to see the Star Spangled Banner still flying. Francis Scott Key, overcome with emotion, is inspired to capture the feelings of the experience by penning the Star Spangled Banner.

There are many more details, that I can't quite remember, but the words of our National Anthem now have more meaning for me.

"Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?"

Mmm, mmm good

Thanks to Theodore for a great supper tonight.

    

Food Waste Friday 6-24-11

It's time for Food Waste Friday, when the Frugalgirl encourages us to post pictures from the previous week of wasted food from our household. This accountability hopefully will help us to be more careful with our food and maybe save some money. 


Here it goes for this week.

The bread molded.

For the first time in a couple of years, we had molded bread. I'm not sure what happened, but even with the best of intentions, things can get way from you.


However, the biggest waste resulted from a trip to Costco with my son when we were both hungry. Among other things, we purchased a two pound bag of potato chips and two pounds of spinach dip. Even though the family ate everything, it was definitely more than we needed. This resulted in the double whammy of wasted money and wasted calories. Next time we'll try to remember the rule of never go food shopping when you're hungry.

Tasty, but too many chips and too much dip.

A Second Look 6-22-11

A Second Look around the yard this week found several new day lilies blooming.  Also, there are pictures of one of the squirrels eating from our suet feeder. After several trial and errors, the squirrel has perfected his methods. He hangs on the feeder, bends upward to take a bite, then hangs upside down to chew it.

Day lily

Mulberries are starting to ripen.

Day lily

Balloon Flower (Platycodon) You can see from the buds on either side of the bloom why they call it balloon flower. The bloom got a bit washed out from rain the night before.  

Day lily

Up for a bite.

Down for a chew.