Mar 30 - Pencils

Another, random why do we really need it holiday, National Pencil Day.

Now I will be honest I do prefer to write with a pencil  and seems I am in good company:


Notable pencil users (Wikipedia)

• Thomas Edison had his pencils specially made by Eagle Pencil. Each pencil was three inches long, was thicker than standard pencils and had softer graphite than was typically available.
• Vladimir Nabokov rewrote everything he had ever published, usually several times, by pencil.
  
• John Steinbeck was an obsessive pencil user and is said to have used as many as 60 a day. His novel East of Eden took more than 300 pencils to write.
  
• Vincent van Gogh used only Faber pencils as they were “superior to Carpenters pencils, a capital black and most agreeable.”
  
• Johnny Carson regularly played with pencils at his Tonight Show desk. These pencils were specially made with erasers at both ends to avoid on-set accidents.
  
• Roald Dahl used only pencils with yellow casing to write his books. He had six sharpened pencils ready at the beginning of each day and only when all six became unusable did he resharpen them.

 Hymen Lipman received the first patent for attaching an eraser to the end of a pencil on this day in 1858. The majority of these writing utensils made in the United States are painted yellow.  It is believed that this tradition began in 1890 when the L & C Hardtmuth Company of Austria-Hungary introduced their Koh-I-Noor brand, named after the famous diamond.  This pencil was intended to be the world’s best and most expensive pencil.  Other companies then began to copy the yellow color so that their pencils would be associated with the high-quality brand.


source: http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/2017/03/29/march-30-2017-national-pencil-day

Mar 29 - Not even sure why

Ok really I am so coming up with a national day coz this one seems a stretch ... National Little Red Wagon Day.

For nearly 100 years, Radio Flyer has been bringing smiles to kids of all ages and creating warm memories that last a lifetime. As a brand, Radio Flyer has always supported unstructured outdoor play and its positive impact on children. With their 100th anniversary on the horizon, Radio Flyer would like to establish a day that not only celebrates kids’ imaginations but the vehicles that help them explore it – their wagons.

This iconic toy is one of the most enduring toys of all time. For generations, children have led little red wagons down Independence Day parade routes, carried out infinite imaginary missions and voyages of childhood fantasy. It is not unusual for a little red wagon to be handed down from one generation to the next, treasured like a family heirloom.  The adventures are enjoyed by all, regardless of age.

National Little Red Wagon Day was founded by Radio Flyer in honor of their upcoming 100th anniversary which is this year.
The Registrar of National Day Calendar declared National Little Red Wagon Day in 2016.

And to celebrate well a little music of course, thanks Miranda :)

For those that want more substantial history on the red wagons check out the history of  Radio Flyer.

Source: http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-little-red-wagon-day-last-wednesday-in-march/

Mar 28 - More Food

National Something on a Stick Day - sure why not.  




No street fair today which is a shame as am sure I could have come up with something from there but I have to say first thought was obviously ice cream, so I went with it picked up some for this rainy day and went home to enjoy!!

Was pretty tasty but have to say the choice at home is so much better and you can buy individual ones - a box of three is never a good idea :)

Mar 27 - Joe

Hmm not sure why Joe gets a day but today is National Joe Day!!! Did not manage to have a cuppa Joe with Joey here in the office - figured next best thing just go to Joe's café for it instead ??

The original plan was to have Spanish paella for that holiday but everywhere I looked that had the good stuff was a serving for two only, who knew, so have some good spots in mind for a bite with one of the crew at some stage this year !!!!

Mar 26 - Spinach

The only way I am eating spinach for National Spinach Day is creamed, with steak. Was slightly lazy and ordered in some from PJ Clarkes to a friends house and was pretty darn good.

An annual plant,  spinach is native to central and southwestern Asia. Thought to have originated in ancient Persia, Arab traders carried spinach into India, and then it was introduced into ancient China where it was known as “Persian vegetable   The earliest available record of the spinach plant was found in Chinese, saying that the spinach plant was introduced into China via Nepal.
During her reign as queen of France, Catherine de Medici was well known to have enjoyed spinach so much that it was served at every meal.  To this day, dishes made with spinach are known as “Florentine” reflecting Catherine’s birth in Florence.  Spinach is:

• Eaten raw or cooked and is available fresh, frozen or canned.
• One of the best sources of iron.
• An excellent source of calcium, folic acid, fiber, protein, calcium and vitamins A, C and K.
• Is loaded with cancer-fighting antioxidants
• Believed to help improve cardiovascular and gastrointestinal health.

Types of spinach:
Savoy:  dark green color with curly leaves; usually sold in fresh bunches.
Flat or Smooth Leaf:  broad, smooth leaves;  mostly grown for canned and frozen spinach as well as soups, baby food and processed foods.
Semi-savoy:  a hybrid variety with crinkly leaves:  is sold fresh and processed.

• Following China, the United States is the world’s second largest producer of spinach.
• California, Arizona and New Jersey are the top spinach producing states in the United States.

Source: http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-spinach-day-march-26/

Mar 25 - Waffels

Well this was not my original plan but so much more cost effective!! I will get to Delmonico's one day for Lobster Newburg and the already missed Baked Alaska Day but for today International Waffle Day was perfect:

Surprisingly I never had waffles from this food cart but they were so good - hot and sticky for the sugar - a perfect start to the day :)




Now in research there is a waffle day in the US on August 24 this seems to originate from the Swedish one but seeing as I had Belgian Waffles I figure this works and am sure I will find something else to do on Aug 24 !!!

Mar 24 - Raisins

  Maybe I should do movie night tonight coz its National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day today so treats sorted now what movie should I watch - well I have all day to think about it !!!

In some countries, chocolate covered raisins are known as Raisinets. Raisinets were the earliest and one of the most popular brands of the product.  Currently made by Nestle, they are the third largest selling candy in United States history.  The Blumenthal Chocolate Company introduced the Raisinets to the United States in 1927, and then in 1984, the brand was acquired by Nestle.  There are also a large number of other brands of chocolate covered raisins on the market. 

Raisins are an excellent source of calcium, potassium, iron, fiber and vitamin B.  When you combine the raisins with dark chocolate, you have a great tasting, healthy snack.  


Source: http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-chocolate-covered-raisin-day-march-24/