Category: Pop and Thistle

International Polar Bear Day

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 …

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Creamy Cheddar & Broccoli Potato Soup

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 …

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Through the Garden Gate With the Queen of Annuals

“The Sweet Pea has a keel that was meant to seek all shores; it has wings that were meant to fly across all continents; it has a standard which is friendly to all nations; and it has a fragrance like the universal gospel, yea, a sweet prophecy of welcome everywhere that has been abundantly fulfilled” …

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Pineapple Upside Down Cake (Brown Sugar Bessy Version)

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 …

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How We Can Protect And Save Our Wetlands

Happy World Wetlands Day! February 2nd commemorates the day the Convention on Wetlands was created and each year World Wetlands Day serves as a reminder to raise global awareness of the vital role of wetlands play in our lives. Wetlands are an area of land that is covered by water most if not all year …

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More Gnocchi Please! Italian Food, Facts & Fun

With roots dating back to the Roman Empire, it is no wonder why Italian cuisine is highly desirable around the world. Today, Italian influenced restaurants are commonplace in cities such as New York, Moscow and Beijing. The foundation of Italian cuisine dates back to the fourth century B.C., where ancient Greek, Arabic, Byzantine and Etruscan …

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[It would be neat if with the New Year] by Jimmy Santiago Baca

[It would be neat if with the New Year] for Miguel It would be neat if with the New YearI could leave my loneliness behind with the old year.My leathery loneliness an old pair of work bootsmy dog vigorously head-shakes back and forth in its jaws,chews on for hours every day in my front yard—rain, …

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[little tree] by e e cummings

[little tree] little treelittle silent Christmas treeyou are so littleyou are more like a flower who found you in the green forestand were you very sorry to come away?see          i will comfort youbecause you smell so sweetly i will kiss your cool barkand hug you safe and tightjust as your mother would,only don’t be afraid …

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The Story of Frankincense

Mysterious Frankincense Used for many thousands of years, the Frankincense tree has perhaps the greatest association with spiritual practice of any plant on earth. In most of the great ancient cultures, including the Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, Hebrew, Greek and Roman civilizations, it has played a role in religious and domestic life. Frankincense has been sought …

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Christmas Drink Recipes from Around the World

Whether your preference is for alcohol or just a warming liquid, you’ll find something in the selections below to lift your holiday spirits. Wassail The basic Wassail hails from Britain where it has been a seasonal favorite for centuries. It’s a delightful mixture that comes in a variety of styles. Ingredients:1 gallon apple cider1 orange1 …

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