Gargoyle

A gargoyle is a carved grotesque stone usually made of granite, with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building.

A French legend about  St. Romanus (AD 631–641), who was made bishop of Rouen, relates how he delivered the country around Rouen from a monster called Gargouille. La Gargouille is said to have been the typical dragon with bat like wings, a long neck, and the ability to breathe fire from its mouth. There are multiple versions of the story, either that St. Romanus subdued the creature with a crucifix, or he captured the creature with the help of the only volunteer, a condemned man. In each, the monster is led back to Rouen and burned, but its head and neck would not burn due to being tempered by its own fire breath. The head was then mounted on the walls of the newly built church to scare off evil spirits, and used for protection. 

white flag of surrender

The first mention of the usage of white flags to surrender is made during the Eastern Han dynasty (A.D 25–220). In the Roman Empire, The historian Cornelius Tacitus mentions a white flag of surrender in A.D. 109. Before that time, Roman armies would surrender by holding their shields above their heads.

 The white flag was widely used in the Middle Ages in Western Europe to indicate an intent to surrender. The color white was used generally to indicate a person was exempt from combat; heralds bore white wands, prisoners or hostages captured in battle would attach a piece of white paper to their hat or helmet, and garrisons that had surrendered and been promised safe passage would carry white batons

a five star dish

This is a  serving from which the flavors reach off the plate and the rapture is not lost upon its partake, hence the jpr five star (unfailing) review.

This a simple dish for cold weather. The salmon (red) patty is standard but finely chopped fresh chili is added.  Fried in virgin olive oil . The warm pasta with fresh tomato, a little chopped spinach, and quality spaghetti cheese.

Oh yes! The accompanying presence of the dependable  Sam Adams makes it five star plus.  Enjoy!!

Fallujah Incident

On March 31, 2004 four Black Water Security employees  were ambushed and killed  in the city of Fallujah.  The designated mission was to deliver cutlery. Their dead bodies were hung ominously from a bridge.  It seems the men had asked a local Iraqi for directions prior to their  mission departure. This was a fatal error.

snow shoeing in Appalachia

jpr: Nearly got me a pair of snow shoes a couple of winters back but I didn't want to venture into the virgin forest with out my pup.

Paul Williams

                                                                 
  A most talented man still kicking.

christmass secrets

I know so many secrets
Such secrets full of fun;
But if you hear my secrets,
Please don't tell anyone.
Here are some lights that twinkle,
Here is an ornament.
Here is a great big present
From Grandpa it was sent.
And on the very tip-tip top,
An angel you can see,
What is the secret? Can't you tell?
Why, it's a Christmas tree!

by ?????

early winter in appalachia

jpr: Just got me snow fences up!

Starry Night

 Dedicated to the memory of Van Gogh 

A creative heart, obsessed with satisfying
this dormant and uncaring society
you have given them the stars at night
and you have given them
Bountiful Bouquets of Sunflowers
but 4 u there is only contempt
and though you pour yourself into that fame
and present it so proudly this world
could not accept your masterpieces
from the heart.
So on that starry night you gave to us
and you took away from us
the one thing we never acknowledged
your life. 

Tupac Shakur (June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996)

chrsitmass tree lights

early christmass  memories are of these bubble lights. some yet place them on their trees. No child can but delight in such watch.

back to the strudel

"Many thanks for all the response for recipes. JPR is now in the process of an original creation.

Stay linked." Patty Johnson "JPR is such a nice man."

matter antimatter annihilation

 while on physics if matter and antimatter  particles collide then the  old stuff disappears but are replaced with new stuff.

It should be noted that some hold the resulting bits might appear instantaneously anywhere in the universe???

the God particle

According to the current theory, particles acquire mass by interacting with the Higgs field. A Higgs boson—the smallest possible excitation of the Higgs field was originally referred to as the “God_dmn” particle since it was so difficult to detect but the tag was shortened to the publicly correct “God “ particle.

Any particle that moves through space, particularly empty space cannot do so without gaining mass.

Capucine

Born Germaine Hélène Irène Lefebvre
6 January 1928
Saint-Raphaël, Var, France
Died 17 March 1990 (aged 62)
Lausanne, Switzerland
Cause of death Suicide

Except for a final appearance in a 1989 TV movie, Capucine spent her last decade in seclusion in Switzerland, and in 1990 she committed suicide by leaping from her 8th-floor Swiss apartment.

birds in winter

Feathers keep a bird warm in winter. They repel water. Their fluffy nature increases the tiny air spaces within and further insulate from the cold. Each feather is controlled by muscle action to raise/lower body temperature. On extremely cold days the birds bury naked body parts: feet, and beaks under their feathers. Birds take refuge in dense vegetation in winter such as an evergreen.

feral hogs

War is being waged right now across the country -- against huge, ever-growing packs of feral pigs that are running rampant, destroying crops, killing wildlife and spreading disease everywhere they go, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports.
Historians think the hogs were first brought by explorers to this country from Spain in the late 1500s. The boars bred and spread -- and have chomped their way across the country ever since, devouring crops and small livestock.

A teenager in Texas with a dead large hog and a map showing the wild hog range.

POPCORN

Popcorn was first discovered thousands of years ago by the Guatemalans. It is one of the oldest forms of corn: evidence of popcorn from 3600 BCE was found in New Mexico and even earlier evidence dating to perhaps as early as 4700 BCE was found in Peru. Some popcorn has been found in early 1900s to be a purple color.

The English who came to America in the 16th and 17th centuries learned about popcorn from the Native Americans

advice to men

..Older men should be temperate, dignified,
self-controlled, sound in faith, love, and endurance....

Urge the younger men, similarly, to control themselves,
showing yourself as a model of good deeds in every respect,
with integrity in your teaching, dignity, and sound speech 
that cannot be criticized, so that the opponent will be put to shame..

~ scripture 


jpr: dignity is an important theme here!

call for papers

This blog is accepting  recipes with proven tract record for traditional apple strudel. Send yours to the blog secretary, P.J. immediatley at particia01johnson@gmail.com

advice for women

"Older women should be reverent in their behavior,
not slanderers, not addicted to drink, 
teaching what is good, so that they may train younger women
to love their husbands and children,
to be self-controlled, chaste, good homemakers,
under the control of their husbands..."
~ scripture

jpr: This is a proof of their existence!

TerraCycle

Not only can one man's trash be another man's treasure, it also can be another man's $1.2 million. At TerraCycle, a company originally created by two Princeton University students for a business plan competition in 2001, that's exactly the case: Other companies pay them to take their non-recyclable waste and turn it into treasures—often practical items like tote bags, umbrellas, and notebooks—for resale to the public.

O Mio Babbino Caro

O mio babbino caro,
mi piace, è bello bello,
vo’andare in Porta Rossa
a comperar l’anello!
Si, si, ci voglio andare!
E se l’amassi indarno,
andrei sul Ponte Vecchio
ma per buttarmi in Arno!


Puccini 

jpr: If one just pronounces the words out loud, then the emotions cannot but flow, or better have Maria Callas sing it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxy4qrnKwVo

a big candy bar

The Chicago-based World's Finest Chocolate  candy maker’s creation weighed in at a shocking 12,000 pounds and measures 3-feet high and 21-feet long.

                               

The bar can provide 209,000 1-ounce servings - enough for every fan in Chicago's Wrigley Field, U.S. Cellular Field, Soldier Field and the United Center - with 45,000 leftovers.



jpr: Oh Yeah!

black leg tick

Also known as the deer tick is active year round except on days where the temp is below freezing. So those who venture into the fields;  hikers, dog walkers,  and (antler) hunters beware.

largest chocolate structure

 The chocolate sculpture depicts the Kukulkan pyramid in Chichen Itza, Mexico. 
The sculpture weighs 8,273.3 kg (18,239.5 lb).  Created by chef Francois Mellet.

Irish joke

In a convent in Ireland, the 98-year-old Mother Superior lay dying. The nuns gathered around her bed trying to make her last journey comfortable. One of the nuns went to the kitchen. Remembering a bottle of Irish Whiskey she opened it and poured a generous amount into some warm milk. 
Back at Mother Superior's bed, they held the glass to her lips. The frail nun drank a little, then a little more and before they knew it,  she had finished the whole glass.
"Mother," the nuns asked earnestly, "Please give us some of your wisdom before you leave us." She raised herself up in bed on one elbow, looked at them and said:  "Don't sell that cow"  

Salmon Country Style

A hardy fixing with delicate flavors.

 Recipe:    Salmon....... 3 hrs in crock pot on low heat,  cool, layer with spinach, crushed onion, cream cheese mixed with salt, pepper, and lemon juice then layer with buttermilk
biscuit dough, then 4 hrs low heat in crock pot.

Sweet potatoes fried in olive oil with onions, fresh chili peppers, greens of choice , and croutons.

Fresh slice of tomato dusted with spaghetti cheese.    

jpr: Oh yeah, a cold Sam Adams is needed here.

vote today

It's a privilege earned by the sacrifices of our forefathers.

Siege of Ma'arra

During the 1st Crusade in 1098, the city of Ma'arrat al-Numan, in what is modern-day Syria, was captured.  The Muslims surrendered, but the crusaders immediately began to massacre the population. The starving crusaders at Maarat reportedly resorted to cannibalism, feeding on the dead bodies of Muslims.

McColloch's Leap

On  a September day in 1777,  Major Samuel McColloch led a small force of men from Fort Vanmetre along a creek to assist the besieged Fort Henry at Wheeling ,WVa. Separated from his men, McColloch was chased by attacking Indians. Upon his horse, McColloch charged up Wheeling Hill and made what is known as McColloch's Leap 300 feet (91 m) down its eastern side.

So daring was his  feat that the natives in pursuit gave a rousing cheer  when both horse and rider survived.


jpr:  rumor persists  that his ex-wife was seen among the savages on that fateful day.

the death song

Native Americans are encouraged to compose a "death song" to chant courageously in time of danger and at the time of death itself.

FLY   (jpr :a death song but am not sure if it is native American))

Fly, fly little wing
Fly beyond imagining
The softest cloud, the whitest dove
Upon the wind of heaven's love
Past the planets and the stars
Leave this lonely world of ours
Escape the sorrow and the pain
And fly again

Fly, fly precious one
Your endless journey has begun
Take your gentle happiness
Far too beautiful for this
Cross over to the other shore
There is peace forevermore
But hold this mem'ry bittersweet
Until we meet

Fly, fly do not fear
Don't waste a breath, don't shed a tear
Your heart is pure, your soul is free
Be on your way, don't wait for me
Above the universe you'll climb
On beyond the hands of time
The moon will rise, the sun will set
But I won't forget

Fly, fly little wing
Fly where only angels sing
Fly away, the time is right
Go now, find the light