July 05, 2009

4th of July Quiz - the answers

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I hope that everyone had a fun time yesterday! I posted these questions bewfore the 4th, let's see how everyone did . . .

1. What is the one spot in the U.S. where you could stand in 4 States at one time?

Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.

2. Which of these cities--New York, Chicago, Phoenix, Miami--has the highest average temperature in July?

Phoenix averages 94deg to 96deg Fahrenheit in July, and is easily the most consistently hot city. Next comes Miami. New York and Chicago are last.

3. Which is farther west--Pensacola, Fla., or Washington Island, Wis.?

Pensacola, Fla., is farther west.

4. Which is farther west--Los Angeles, Calif., or Reno, Nev.?

Reno, Nev., is farther west.

5. Which 3 of these States were named after real persons--California, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Delaware, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma?

Delaware, Louisiana, and Georgia were named after real people. Delaware derived its name from Lord De La Warre, 1st governor of the Virginia Company. Louisiana was named after King Louis XIV of France. Georgia was named for King George II of England.

6. The 1st coeducational college in the U.S. was founded in Ohio. Can you name this school?

The 1st coeducational college in the U.S. was Oberlin College, founded in Oberlin, O., in 1833.

7. What city in Michigan is impossible to leave on the ground without going through another city?

Hamtramck, an independent community of 27,245 and almost entirely Polish, is surrounded by Detroit.  

8. Name the 2 States that are touched by 8 other States.

Eight different States touch both Tennessee and Missouri.

9. In the State of Washington may be found the single largest concrete structure ever made by man. It was built in 1942 at a cost of $200 million. It weighs 3 times as much as the pyramid of Cheops in Egypt. The concrete that went into it could build a highway encircling the whole U.S.A., and the population of the entire county would fit inside it. What is it?

The Grand Coulee Dam, near Spokane, Wash., is the single largest concrete structure ever made by man. It is 4,300' long, 550' high, and the water has a drop of 330', twice that of Niagara Falls.

10. Part or all of what 2 States can be reached by land only if you leave the U.S.?

First, Minnesota. A northern portion of Minnesota is isolated from the rest of the State by the Lake of the Woods, which borders it on the north, east, and south--with Canada's Province of Manitoba on the west side. As a result, this section of Minnesota cannot be reached from the U.S. by land. And the new State of Alaska is separated from the State of Washington by Canada's British Columbia.

11. Can you name the State which has the largest man-made harbor in the country, and 2 cities named Ono and Igo?

California, of course. The harbor is the Port of Los Angeles.

12. What American river did Charles Dickens describe as "a slimy monster hideous to behold"?

The Mississippi River

13. Of what State is it said--it would be the biggest State in the union if it were ironed out flat?

Idaho.  

14. Can you give the number of States in the U.S. that are named after Presidents?

Just one State in the U.S. was named after a President. This is the State of Washington. As new States were admitted to the Union, efforts were constantly made to name one or another after Jackson, Jefferson, Washington, but for a half century, these efforts failed. Finally, in 1853, the formation of a new territory came before the House of Representatives. It was to be named the Territory of Columbia. Rep. Richard H. Stanton, of Kentucky, rose to say that "we never yet have dignified a Territory with the name of Washington" and said that he would like to see "at some future day, a sovereign State bearing the name of the Father of His Country. I therefore move to strike out the word Columbia, wherever it occurs in the bill, and to insert in lieu thereof the word Washington." The amendment was approved and the bill passed. Washington became the 42nd State on November 11, 1889.

15. How many State capitals are named after Presidents?

Four State capitals are named after Presidents of the U.S. They are: Jackson, Miss.; Jefferson City, Mo.; Lincoln, Nebr.; Madison, Wis.

16. What year was Alaska admitted to the Union?

Alaska became the 49th State on January 3, 1959.

17. Have diamonds ever been mined in any State of the U.S.?

Diamonds are mined in Arkansas.

18. In what State did Adolf Hitler once own 8,960 acres of land?

In 1942, it was discovered that the German Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler, then at war with the U.S., actually owned 8,960 acres of valuable land in Colorado. The Mayor of Kit Carson, Colo., revealed that Hitler had inherited the grazing land from relatives in Germany. The spread, 4 mi. from the small city of Kit Carson, was used by neighboring ranchers for grazing cattle.

19. Of the 5 Great Lakes, only one is located entirely inside the U.S. Can you name the one?

Lake Michigan, alone among the Great Lakes, is entirely in the U.S.  

20. What State is populated with the most people per square mile?

New Jersey has the greatest population density in the U.S. It has an average of 953 people crowded into every square mile.

21. To what State do Basques come from northern Spain to work as sheepherders?

The Basques tend sheep in Idaho.

22. What State was an independent republic for 14 years before it joined the Union?

Vermont was a republic before it became a State. The governor of New Hampshire gave out land grants to settlers of the Vermont area, and the area was called New Hampshire Grants. In 1777, to protect themselves against New York, which considered their land grants invalid, the settlers of New Hampshire Grants held a convention and established "a true and independent State." They named their republic New Connecticut. Later, the name was changed to Vert-Mont, French for "Green Mountain." This became Vermont by 1791 when the State joined the Union.

23. What percentage of Utah's population is Mormon?

Seventy percent of Utah's population is Mormon.

24. If the U.S. Federal Government took over welfare payments, what 3 States would get 51% of all the money?

New York, Massachusetts, and California are the leading welfare States in the Union.

25. In recent years there have been proposals to create a new State to be called Columbia or Lincoln out of parts of 2 existing neighboring States. Can you name the 2 States?

It has been proposed that eastern Washington and western Montana be combined into a new State.

So . . . tricky? I know I was stumped on a bunch of them!

July 04, 2009

Photo Hunt - Pink

First up - Happy 4th of July to my American friends south of the border!

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This week's  theme is "pink". There was all together too many pictures to select from this week. An embarrassment of riches . . . In the end I went with this one:

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I took this picture of water lilies on July 4th, 2007 when we were on Deer Isle, Maine. Given that we're back on Deer Isle THIS July 4th it seemed like the perfect selection.

Happy photo hunting y'all!

Slow_photohunters4

Lots of the slow travel  community members also photo hunt when they aren't traveling. You can find their posts by clicking the links below. 

July 03, 2009

4th of July Quiz

July-fourth-bbq

 So you got to play around a bit with a Canada Day quiz . . . I wonder how you'd do with a 4th of July quiz?

I'm posting this today (yes, I know it is July 3rd) because tomorrow is photo hunt. Blogging is busy business!

Lots of challenging questions here good luck!

1. What is the one spot in the U.S. where you could stand in 4 States at one time?

2. Which of these cities--New York, Chicago, Phoenix, Miami--has the highest average temperature in July?

3. Which is farther west--Pensacola, Fla., or Washington Island, Wis.?

4. Which is farther west--Los Angeles, Calif., or Reno, Nev.?

5. Which 3 of these States were named after real persons--California, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Delaware, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma?

6. The 1st coeducational college in the U.S. was founded in Ohio. Can you name this school?

7. What city in Michigan is impossible to leave on the ground without going through another city?

8. Name the 2 States that are touched by 8 other States.

9. In the State of Washington may be found the single largest concrete structure ever made by man. It was built in 1942 at a cost of $200 million. It weighs 3 times as much as the pyramid of Cheops in Egypt. The concrete that went into it could build a highway encircling the whole U.S.A., and the population of the entire county would fit inside it. What is it?

10. Part or all of what 2 States can be reached by land only if you leave the U.S.?

11. Can you name the State which has the largest man-made harbor in the country, and 2 cities named Ono and Igo?

12. What American river did Charles Dickens describe as "a slimy monster hideous to behold"?

13. Of what State is it said--it would be the biggest State in the union if it were ironed out flat?

14. Can you give the number of States in the U.S. that are named after Presidents?

15. How many State capitals are named after Presidents?

16. What year was Alaska admitted to the Union?

17. Have diamonds ever been mined in any State of the U.S.?

18. In what State did Adolf Hitler once own 8,960 acres of land?

19. Of the 5 Great Lakes, only one is located entirely inside the U.S. Can you name the one?

20. What State is populated with the most people per square mile?

21. To what State do Basques come from northern Spain to work as sheepherders?

22. What State was an independent republic for 14 years before it joined the Union?

23. What percentage of Utah's population is Mormon?

24. If the U.S. Federal Government took over welfare payments, what 3 States would get 51% of all the money?

25. In recent years there have been proposals to create a new State to be called Columbia or Lincoln out of parts of 2 existing neighboring States. Can you name the 2 States?

The answers will be posted on July 5th. Have fun tomorrow!

July 02, 2009

Canada Day Quiz Results

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The fireworks are over for another year . . . let's see how well you did!

Q. The Canadian north was transformed in the late 1890s when 100,000 prospectors poured into the Yukon hoping to "strike it rich". What name was given to this colourful period?

A. Klondike Gold Rush

Q. What automobile company attempted to establish a luxury car production plant in New Brunswick in the 1970s only to abandon the project in bankruptcy with less than 3000 cars ever produced?

A. Bricklin

Q. Which Canadian inventor created the first practical and commercially successful snowmobile?

A. Joseph Armand Bombardier

Q. What event happened in Winnipeg in 1919?

A. A general strike

Q. Today, 85% of Canada’s exports go to the United States. What share of Canada’s exports went to the United States in 1900?

A. 33%

Q. The Hudson Bay Company is the world’s oldest chartered trading company, having been in business for 340 years. What product gave this company its start?

A. Fur

Q. After the 1929 stock market crash Canada experienced record levels of unemployment and a near collapse of exports. What is the name given to this dark chapter in our economic history?

A. The Great Depression

Q. What is the name of the trade agreement linking Canada, the United States, and Mexico that went into effect on January 1, 1994?

A. The North American Free Trade Agreement / NAFTA

Q. Due to a shortage of coins in New France in the 17th century, settlers used which non-traditional form of currency?

A. Playing cards

Q. Canada has dealt with scandals like the one that led to the Gomery inquiry before. In 1874, John A. Macdonald’s government was brought down when it was discovered he awarded lucrative railway contracts in exchange for campaign funding. What was this scandal called?

A. The Pacific Scandal

Q. When was the last time that $1 Canadian was equal to $1 American?

A. 2008

Q. What famous Canadian company launched a catalogue business based on its founder’s hope that, “This catalogue is destined to go wherever the maple leaf grows?”

A. Eaton’s

Q. When did Canada eliminate the one dollar bill and replace it with the dollar coin?

1987

Q. What major Canadian economic policy of Pierre Trudeau’s government sparked the creation of a bumper sticker proclaiming “Let the Eastern bastards freeze in the dark?”

A. National Energy Program

Q. In 1911, Wilfrid Laurier’s Liberals lost the federal election because of their support for what agreement with the United States?

A. Reciprocity/Free Trade

Q. After more than a decade of construction and a string of political scandals, what great Canadian engineering feat was completed in 1885 with the hammering of the Last Spike?

A. Canadian Pacific Railway/CPR/Railway

Q. What Toronto-based financial institution is celebrating its 154th anniversary in 2009?

A. TD Bank Financial Group

Q. What major world event brought over 1,000,000 women into the Canadian workforce?

A. The Second World War

Q. What was the name of the ingenious combination of dried meat and berries that First Nations and Métis people produced to feed the fur traders during their long voyages into and out of the Canadian interior?

A. Pemmican

Q. Name the cooperative financial institution that started with one office in the small town of Lévis, Québec in 1900 and today has more than five million members in four provinces.

A. Caisse Populaire Desjardins

Are there any new honorary Canucks out there?

July 01, 2009

Happy Canada Day

Canada_2009_Canada_Day_Color_Quarter

Good lord - here we've barely finished up with Paul's birthday and we've got another celebration on our hands. I imagine they we'll be the only people on Deer Isle celebrating Canada Day but we shall celebrate it in style.

For the past few years I've featured a Canada Day quiz on the blog. The annual Dominion Institute Canada Day survey looks at how well Canadians know the history of their country. This year, the institute combined the excitement of history with the drama of economics to come up with 20 skill-testing questions. As a whole, those surveyed didn’t do too well. Only one of the 1,000 people surveyed scored a perfect 20. Two-thirds got less than half the questions right!

Can YOU do better?

  1. The Canadian north was transformed in the late 1890s when 100,000 prospectors poured into the Yukon hoping to "strike it rich". What name was given to this colourful period?

  2. What automobile company attempted to establish a luxury car production plant in New Brunswick in the 1970s only to abandon the project in bankruptcy with less than 3000 cars ever produced?

  3. Which Canadian inventor created the first practical and commercially successful snowmobile?

  4. What event happened in Winnipeg in 1919?

  5. Today, 85% of Canada’s exports go to the United States. What share of Canada’s exports went to the United States in 1900?

  6. The Hudson Bay Company is the world’s oldest chartered trading company, having been in business for 340 years. What product gave this company its start?

  7. After the 1929 stock market crash Canada experienced record levels of unemployment and a near collapse of exports. What is the name given to this dark chapter in our economic history?

  8. What is the name of the trade agreement linking Canada, the United States, and Mexico that went into effect on January 1, 1994?

  9. Due to a shortage of coins in New France in the 17th century, settlers used which non-traditional form of currency?

  10. Canada has dealt with scandals like the one that led to the Gomery inquiry before. In 1874, John A. Macdonald’s government was brought down when it was discovered he awarded lucrative railway contracts in exchange for campaign funding. What was this scandal called?

  11. When was the last time that $1 Canadian was equal to $1 American?

  12. What famous Canadian company launched a catalogue business based on its founder’s hope that, “This catalogue is destined to go wherever the maple leaf grows?”

  13. When did Canada eliminate the one dollar bill and replace it with the dollar coin?

  14. What major Canadian economic policy of Pierre Trudeau’s government sparked the creation of a bumper sticker proclaiming “Let the Eastern bastards freeze in the dark?”

  15. In 1911, Wilfrid Laurier’s Liberals lost the federal election because of their support for what agreement with the United States?

  16. After more than a decade of construction and a string of political scandals, what great Canadian engineering feat was completed in 1885 with the hammering of the Last Spike?

  17. What Toronto-based financial institution is celebrating its 154th anniversary in 2009?

  18. What major world event brought over 1,000,000 women into the Canadian workforce?

  19. What was the name of the ingenious combination of dried meat and berries that First Nations and Métis people produced to feed the fur traders during their long voyages into and out of the Canadian interior?

  20. Name the cooperative financial institution that started with one office in the small town of Lévis, Québec in 1900 and today has more than five million members in four provinces.

Turn in tomorrow to see how well you did!

June 30, 2009

Happy Birthday Paul!

Birthday_candles-1

 Good lord - has it been another year already? I think I just finished paying for the last birthday celebration!

Yes, someone turns 34 today! We'll be celebrating this big event in style on Deer Isle. No doubt lobsters will be consumed, wine un corked, and many gifts unwrapped!

Here is the birthday boy getting ready to dig into a lobster dinner the last time we were in Maine:

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 1975 was quite a year.

Pierre Trudeau was Prime Minister of Canada

Bill Davis was premier of Ontario

Products labeled in grams and ml replaced those labeled in ounces and pounds.

Television cameras are allowed to film in Parliament and the antics of politicians changed for the worse immediately!

The beaver becomes an official symbol of Canada. The US can have its menacing eagle - give me a fuzzy, hard working beaver any day!

The CN Tower was completed in Toronto. Somehow having the tallest freestanding structure in the world did little to improve the city. 

Gerald Ford is president of the US.

Evacuation of US civilians from Saigon as Communist forces complete takeover of South Vietnam.

FBI agents capture Patty Hearst, who is indicted and convicted of bank robbery.

Teamster Jimmy Hoffa disappears without a trace.

First Lady Betty Ford says in an interview that she thinks her children have tried marijuana, the free world crumbled in fear and horror.

Natalie Imbruglia, Drew Barrymore, David Beckham, Enrique Iglesias, Angelina Jolie, and Tiger Woods are born.

Cincinnati Reds win the World Series

Pittsburgh Steelers win Superbowl IX

Philadelphia Flyers win the Stanley Cup

Production begins on Star Wars

Jaws and The Rocky Horror Picture Show are the top grossing films

Soul Train premieres on television in the United States - fashion immediately deteriorates.

"The Way We Were" (performed by Barbara Streisand) wins the Grammy for best song. The Grammys ceased to have any relevance.

Saturday Night Live and Wheel of Fortune premiere.

June 29, 2009

Chicken with Lemon, Rosemary, and Fennel

Last week I had some rosemary and lemons in the fridge that needed to be used up. Rather than let them go to waste I fired up the cook's best friend - GOOGLE and searched for lemon and rosemary. One of the choices that came up was from a chain of grocery stores here in Canada called Metro. After a quick glance I decided that with a few changes this would make a delicious dinner!

The chicken marinates in a delicious mixture of lemon, rosemary, garlic, and honey for 4 hours and then is cooked on the grill. I hadn't grilled chicken for awhile so this got me thinking . . .

Even better was the fact that you also grill some quartered fennel and onions as the chicken is cooking. The grilled vegetables make a delicious side dish to go with the chicken - making this a great choice for company.

If you haven't tried grilled fennel before you have NO idea what you have been missing. Run - don't walk - the the nearest grocery store and pick some up!

Enjoy

DSC_0005

Chicken with Lemon, Rosemary, and Fennel

2 lemons (juice and zests)
2 Tbsp. (30 mL) honey
1/3 cup (80 mL) canola oil
4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 onions, quartered
2 small fennel bulbs, quartered
3 Tbsp. (45 mL) fresh rosemary, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
Salt and ground pepper to taste

Thoroughly blend lemon juice and honey in a small bowl, then add zests and oil. Set aside.

Place chicken, onions, fennel, rosemary, and garlic in an airtight container or resealable bag. Add lemon
mixture and seal the bag. Allow to marinate in refrigerator 3 to 4 hours, occasionally urning the bag to redistribute the marinade.

Preheat barbecue to high.

Remove chicken from marinade and drain. Set marinade aside.

Reduce heat to medium-low. Place the chicken on the greased grill.

Cook 10 - 15 minutes or until the chicken is done. Brush meat with marinade during the first 10 minutes
of cooking only. Discard unused marinade.

Place the onions and fennel bulbs 5 minutes before chicken is done.

Cook thoroughly.

June 28, 2009

Grilled Chicken Salad with Tarragon Pesto

Sunday samplers

Marcia selected this week's salad recipe. She was in luck, way back in March as we were busy setting this group up and trying to figure out who was going to post what.  She was about to reach into her recipe files, when the mail came and with it herApril Bon Appetit. This salad was on the cover. Spring popped out to her and she decided it would be "her" salad recipe.

We are so glad that she did! This was an incredibly delicious (and filling) salad!

I have that same magazine at home and never once thought of making the cover recipe. i am so glad that marcia 'forced' it upon me.

I was equally lucky given that the tarragon in the herb garden has gone amuck. This was the perfect recipe to use up that excess herb. I know that when we return from vacation it will have grown like the delicious weed that it is and we'll be able to have 'salad, the sequel'.

DSC_0033

 Grilled Chicken Salad with Tarragon Pesto

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

1/4 cup (packed) fresh tarragon leaves plus 2 teaspoons chopped
1/4 cup (packed) fresh Italian parsley leaves
4 tablespoons pine nuts, divided
5 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, divided
2 teaspoons chopped shallot
6 tablespoons (or more) olive oil, divided, plus additional for brushing
4 boneless chicken breast halves
4 1/2-inch-thick slices country-style French or sourdough bread
1 5-ounce package mixed baby greens
1 cup thinly sliced radishes (from 1 large bunch)
1 cup thinly sliced Japanese cucumbers (about 1 1/2)

Preparation

Place 1/4 cup tarragon leaves, parsley, 2 tablespoons pine nuts, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and shallot in mini processor; chop coarsely. With machine running, gradually add 3 tablespoons olive oil. Season pesto to taste with salt and pepper. Add more olive oil by teaspoonfuls to thin, if necessary.

Whisk 2 teaspoons chopped tarragon, remaining 4 teaspoons lemon juice, and 3 tablespoons oil in small bowl. Season dressing with salt and pepper.

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush chicken breasts on both sides with oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until grill marks form, skin is crisp, and chicken is cooked through, 7 to 8 minutes per side. Transfer to work surface; let rest 5 minutes. Using clean brush, brush both sides of bread with oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until dark-brown grill marks appear on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side.

Place greens, radishes, and cucumbers in large bowl. Toss with dressing. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide salad among 4 plates.

Cut grilled chicken breasts crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick slices. Arrange 1 sliced chicken breast atop salad on each plate. Spoon tarragon pesto over chicken. Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons pine nuts over salads. Serve with grilled bread slices.

June 27, 2009

Photo Hunt - Flags

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This week's  theme is "flags". I had lots of pics to chose from and finally settled upon this one:

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This is the balcony overlooking the Piazzza della Signoria in Florence, Italy. The political heart of Florence, it is fitting that the flags of the European Union, Italy, and Florence all fly here.

Slow_photohunters4

Lots of the slow travel  community members also photo hunt when they aren't traveling. You can find their posts by clicking the links below. 

June 26, 2009

On the Road Again

This time the destination is Maine!

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Our house sitter is set. The car packed . . . mom is loaded into the back seat . . . and we're off!

We have rented the same cottage on Deer Isle that we loved back in 2007.

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 The cottage is located about 10 minutes form the beautiful lobster town of Stonington.

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We hope to do some kayaking again.

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Of course, a lot of what we'll be doing is just relaxing and taking it easy - Maine style!

It will be nice to view the Deer Isle 4th of July parade . . .

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 Don't worry, we will be eating plenty of these critters:

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YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See you'll in a few weeks.

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