Aug 01 2024
“It is not down on any map; true places never are.” -Herman Melville, Moby-Dick Happy birthday to Herman Melville, born on this day August 1, 1819 in New York City. Widely acclaimed for his 1851 novel Moby-Dick, a.k.a. The Whale, Melville is a literary icon. He is also well known for his novella Billy Budd and his …
May 31 2024
Walt Whitman was born the son of a house-builder, Walter Whitman, and Louisa Van Velsor on this day May 31, 1819, in West Hills in Huntington on Long Island, NY. He spent much of his childhood and career years in Brooklyn, where he left school at the young age of eleven to work. By the age of twelve, …
Jan 14 2024
French impressionist painter Berthe Morisot was born Berthe Marie Pauline Morisot on this day January 14, 1841 in Bourges, Cher, France. Though now widely recognized and admired for her creative merits, in her time, Morisot’s art was frequently described as full of “feminine charm” by her male contemporaries, a statement which Morisot noted as a frustration in …
Dec 23 2023
French-Vietnamese film director Trần Anh Hùng was born on this day in 1962 in Da Nang, Vietnam. He moved to France at the age of 12, and later attended university as a philosophy major. However, after seeing the movie A Man Escaped by Robert Bresson, Hùng changed his studies to film and photography. He started creating …
Feb 27 2023
February 27th is International Polar Bear Day, a time to consider the challenges polar bears face because of global warming. The polar bear is the largest bear on earth, yet these majestic creatures are currently in a vulnerable status due to melting ice caused by climate change. For more facts about polar bears and to …
Feb 19 2023
This is one of my favorite winter dishes, it’s a creamy potato soup that uses mashed potato mix (or homemade if you have the time) to thicken it, which gives it a very hearty potato flavor. I usually make this recipe to serve three, and always have leftovers for days! This time, I made this …
Feb 14 2023
The pineapple upside down cake became popular when Dole hosted a pineapple recipe contest in the mid 1920s and received 2,500 recipes for this unique cake with a tropical star. This version of the beloved retro recipe relies on brown sugar throughout the cake for a standout maple flavor. Use either light or dark brown …
Dec 21 2022
It’s officially winter today, and I hope everyone has a happy, warm, and enchanted winter holiday season! The winter solstice, also referred to as “midwinter” and “the longest night,” is the day of the year with the least amount of sunlight and the longest night for those on the Northern Hemisphere. Astronomically, it marks the …
Nov 25 2022
Today’s artist spotlight is on the American Modern artist, Charley Harper. He was born on the family farm in Frenchton, West Virginia, on August 4, 1922. Growing up, he not only had the farm to explore, but also the Appalachian hills, where he spent time wandering the land and observing the wildlife. This upbringing suited …
Oct 13 2022
I love this recipe because it only requires three oils which you can find in the grocery store, making it an easy recipe to satisfy a quick soap making fix! Ingredients: 8 oz. olive oil 8 oz. coconut oil, 76 deg. 9 oz. vegetable shortening like Crisco 9.5 oz. water 3.6 oz. lye 1 oz. Pumpkin Patch …
