It wasn’t bad down by the river yesterday for the work picnic with the breeze though it was hot both over the charcoal pits and the sweet corn station I set up with all that boiling beer.
Good morning! Yeah, it’s Friday! Mostly cloudy and 67 degrees in Delmar. ☁ A lot of its just fog 🌫 that will burn off. Calm wind. The dew point is 67 degrees. The skies will clear around 10 am.
Out for the morning walk 🚶. Got an early enough start to beat the craziness around the high school 🚸 though it’s tough to get out early with the mornings being so dark. Lady I passed by the school bus garage says I’ve lost so much weight, though certainly not from the picnic yesterday – I was stuffed though most of the things I stuffed my face with fruits and vegetables though I did have a hamburger 🍔 but skipped the cheese and condements. It’s fine I’ll burn it off. Part of it is I’m wearing a pair of the old large shorts this morning as I wore them yesterday to the picnic as it was casual and I wanted to stay cool. That said, not riding the bike to work 🚳 as I need to bring my laptop back into the office. I do plan on walking down to the express bus 🚍 and if it’s not raining ☔ do an evening walk too.
I got some canned 🥫 pumpkin 🎃 and pie spice to make pumpkin pancakes 🥞 this morning using ground oatmeal, bananas 🍌 and the afformentioned items. I took home a lot of fresh left over fruit from the picnic that I refroze so I didn’t need any more frozen fruit 🫐 at least until next week. I can stop and get fruit next week when bicycle 🚲 commuting along with chia seeds as I’m finally out end they’re good in pancakes and cream of wheat.
Today will have a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny 🌧, with a high of 86 degrees at 3pm. Nine degrees above normal. Maximum dew point of 73 at 4pm. South wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. A year ago, we had cloudy skies in the morning with a few breaks of1 sun the afternoon. It was somewhat humidllk. The high last year was 80 degrees. The record high of 94 was set in 2015.
After the picnic I went for a three mile walk at Peebles Island State Park, 🦌 where I managed to avoid any thunderstorms and saw the herd of Peebles Island deer. It was a bit close, I could see the bolts of lightening ⛈️ over Cohoes. Did 15,000 steps or 7.5 miles for the day but no bike riding. 🍻 It’s good I waited for a while before leaving the park as I had a bit of a buzz by the end of the picnic though I mostly just had diet soda with a lot of ice and only a splash 💦 from the keg, 🛢 but I kind of smelled of beer 👃 after cooking all that corn 🌽 over the pot of boiling beer and salt, splashing more beer on the grilled corn to keep it fresh before people got it. Messy but delicious. 😋
Went over an visited with Linda, 🧓🏻 the late John Wolcott’s wife and looked over some of his old clothes. She gave me some nice fitting things, as John got a lot of new and lightly worn clothing after the fire a few years back. Definitely besides the thrift store finds 👚, what I got from my dad and John I should be good with my thinner profile bar buying jeans 👖 and some work clothes come the winter. It was nice to spend some time with her, it has to be lonely since her husband passed. I’ll have to make time this autumn🍂 again.
Solar noon 🌞 is at 12:54 pm with sun having an altitude of 53.1° from the due south horizon (-17.7° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 4.5 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 6:43 pm with the sun in the west (272°). 📸 The sunset is in the west (279°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 7:20 pm after setting for 2 minutes and 55 seconds with dusk around 7:46 pm, which is one minute and 46 seconds earlier than yesterday. 🌇 The best time to look at the stars is after 8:23 pm. At sunset, look for rain 🌧 and thunderstorms 🌩 and temperatures around 77 degrees. The dew point will be 73 degrees. There will be a calm wind. Tomorrow will have 12 hours and 50 minutes of daytime, a decrease of 2 minutes and 49 seconds over today.
All night I’ve been super gassy 😲 I think due to the chickpeas I used for the crust of the eggs I made up yesterday plus frying 🍳 some chickpeas up with apples and bananas for dessert 🍰. Plus the beans I cooked up for the picnic, all that sweet corn, and veggies I reached for at the picnic. 🚽 I’m sure today after I go to a more normal diet and stay away from the chickpeas I’ll be good. I got a rolling pin yesterday and want to experiment now with simple wraps made from whole wheat 🌾 flour and water – and maybe some spinach. Nothing extra, nothing fancy, just fried in olive oil or baked up.
Tonight will have a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Mostly cloudy 🌧, with a low of 67 degrees at 6am. 12 degrees above normal. Maximum dew point of 73 at 6pm. Light and variable wind becoming north around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. In 2022, we had mostly clear skies in the evening, which became mostly clear by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 55 degrees. The record low of 36 occurred back in 1938.
Tomorrow will have a chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Mostly cloudy 🌦, with a high of 80 degrees at 3pm. Three degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical day around August 31st. Maximum dew point of 70 at 2pm. Northwest wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. A year ago, we had cloudy skies in the morning with a few breaks of sun the afternoon. It was somewhat humid. The high last year was 83 degrees. The record high of 94 was set in 1959.
Going to take the Nature Bus 🚍 up to Thacher Park 🏞 and ride Blackie 🚵, read 📖 and do the hammock thing all day. 9:40 the bus leaves Slingerlands and 6:20 is the last bus home. 🏡 I could ride down the hill, it’s probably a lot of fun but it gets dark pretty early this time of year and I’m sure after a full day out in the heat and humidity I’ll be tired 😴.
Looking ahead to Sunday, a chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. ⛈ High near 77. North wind around 6 mph becoming southeast in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Maximum dew point of 69 at 12pm. Typical average high for the weekend is 77 degrees.
As previously noted, there are 2 weeks until Autumn 🍂 when the sun will be setting at 6:54 pm with dusk at 7:21 pm. On that day in 2022, we had rain and temperatures between 71 and 51 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 72 degrees. We hit a record high of 95 back in 1895.
Mount Rushmore, located in the Black Hills National Forest as a National Park, has been in the news lately, is a famous American landmark located in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It features the sculpted faces of four U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
Concept and Selection:
The idea for Mount Rushmore was conceived by South Dakota historian Doane Robinson in the early 1920s. He wanted to create a tourist attraction in the Black Hills to boost tourism in the region.
Sculptor Gutzon Borglum was chosen to design and oversee the project due to his experience with large-scale sculptures.
Site Selection:
Mount Rushmore was chosen as the site because of its solid granite face, which provided an ideal canvas for carving the presidents’ faces.
The mountain was named after New York attorney Charles E. Rushmore, who visited the area in the late 19th century.
Carving Begins:
Work on Mount Rushmore began in 1927 and continued for 14 years until 1941.
A team of skilled workers used dynamite to remove excess rock, followed by painstaking hand carving using chisels and other tools.
Presidential Selection:
The four presidents featured on Mount Rushmore were chosen for their significant contributions to American history.
George Washington represents the birth of the nation, Thomas Jefferson symbolizes westward expansion, Theodore Roosevelt signifies the development of the nation, and Abraham Lincoln represents the preservation of the United States during the Civil War.
Delays and Challenges:
The project faced numerous challenges, including funding issues and engineering difficulties.
Borglum also had to deal with labor disputes and occasionally clashed with his workers and assistants.
Completion and Dedication:
Gutzon Borglum passed away in 1941 before the project’s completion, and his son, Lincoln Borglum, took over.
Mount Rushmore was officially dedicated on October 31, 1941, although work continued until October 1941.
The monument has since become a symbol of American democracy and is visited by millions of tourists from around the world.
Legacy:
Mount Rushmore is a National Memorial and is managed by the National Park Service.
It is not without controversy, as it was carved on land that is considered sacred to Native American tribes, most notably the Lakota Sioux.
With autumn coming, I’ve thought about different ways I can either use either canned pumpkin or baked sugar pumpkin in various meals without it becoming junk food. I thought what better to ask ChatGPT for ideas on pumpkin meals. As he notes, pumpkin is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes beyond just pie. Here are some delicious recipes to try:
Pumpkin Soup: Make a creamy and comforting pumpkin soup by sautéing onions, garlic, and a bit of ginger in a pot. Add canned pumpkin, vegetable broth, a touch of cream or coconut milk, and your favorite spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, and cumin. Simmer and blend until smooth.
Pumpkin Pancakes: Add canned pumpkin to your pancake batter for a fall-inspired twist. Mix it with your dry ingredients, along with some spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, then cook as usual. Serve with maple syrup and whipped cream.
Pumpkin Smoothie: Blend canned pumpkin with a ripe banana, Greek yogurt, milk or a milk alternative, a dash of honey or maple syrup, and your choice of spices like cinnamon and vanilla. Add some ice cubes and blend until smooth.
Pumpkin Pasta Sauce: Create a rich and creamy pasta sauce by sautéing garlic and shallots, then adding canned pumpkin, vegetable broth, and a bit of heavy cream or coconut milk. Season with salt, pepper, and grated Parmesan cheese. Toss with cooked pasta.
Pumpkin Chili: Add canned pumpkin to your favorite chili recipe. The pumpkin adds depth and a slightly sweet flavor to balance out the spices. Include beans, tomatoes, ground meat or plant-based alternatives, and your preferred chili spices.
Pumpkin Hummus: Give classic hummus a twist by blending canned pumpkin with chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, and your choice of spices. Serve with pita chips or fresh vegetables.
Pumpkin Oatmeal: Mix canned pumpkin into your morning oatmeal for a hearty and nutritious breakfast. Add spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, along with your choice of sweeteners and toppings like nuts, seeds, and dried fruits.
Pumpkin Curry: Create a warming pumpkin curry by cooking cubed pumpkin with your favorite curry spices, coconut milk, and vegetables. Serve over rice or with naan bread.
Pumpkin Energy Bites: Make a healthy snack by mixing canned pumpkin with oats, nut butter, honey, and a variety of add-ins like chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and chopped nuts. Form into bite-sized balls and refrigerate.
Pumpkin Muffins: Bake moist and flavorful pumpkin muffins by adding canned pumpkin to your favorite muffin batter. Include spices like cinnamon and cloves, and add nuts or raisins for extra texture.
Canned pumpkin is a wonderful ingredient to experiment with in both sweet and savory dishes. Enjoy your culinary creations!
