Almanac.com Companion

[pawlee]

this is something i get every few weeks that is really cool. you know SkywatchNC? he's a huge OFA fan... p

THE ALMANAC.COM COMPANION, June 17, 2003
A newsletter from the publisher of The Old Farmer's Almanac.
Remember to bookmark our site -- http://www.almanac.com -- for fast,
easy access!

I hear thy presence in the whispering air,
The lifting leaf, the honey-bee's low tune,
The drowsy hum of insects everywhere;
The world is full of thee, O peerless June.

--Mary E. Hobbs

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CELEBRATE SUMMER

Summer begins with the solstice on June 21 at 3:10 in the afternoon
(Eastern time). Although Midsummer Day, June 24, occurs only a few
days after the solstice, to the farmer it was the midpoint of the
growing season, halfway between planting and harvesting, and
therefore an occasion for celebration. Midsummer Eve bonfires and
dancing around the Midsummer pole are old customs still observed
around the world today.

Sincerely,
The Old Farmer's Almanac

P.S. Forward this e-mail message to a friend. It's a quick and easy
way to let someone know all the news at almanac.com.

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In this issue, you'll find information on these topics:

* Old Conundrums
* Watermelon Time
* Midsummer Lore
* Early Bird Special
* Question for The Old Farmer's Almanac
* Fourth of July Traditions
* Send Us Your Ideas

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OLD CONUNDRUMS
(from past editions of The Old Farmer's Almanac)

1. What is the longest word in English? (1899)

2. What word in our language has all the vowels in alphabetical
order? (1901)

3. What is that which is so easily broken that the mere mention of
it breaks it? (1903)

You can find the answers to these questions at the end of this
newsletter.

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WATERMELON TIME

Watermelons are well named: They are 92 percent water. A 2-cup
serving contains only 90 calories and is fat-free as well.
Watermelon also is a good source of vitamins A and C.

If you grow your own watermelons this summer or buy them at the
store, you'll face the daunting task of determining their ripeness.
We've heard all sorts of advice, including the fact that a ripe
melon, when thumped, will feel more like a human head than a human
chest. To help you in this endeavor, check out Nine Ways to Tell If
Your Watermelon Is Ripe:

URL: http://www.almanac.com/food/watermelonripe.php

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MIDSUMMER LORE

* Midsummer Eve and Midsummer Day are considered sacred to lovers.

* On Midsummer Eve, pick seven different wildflowers, then walk home
silently and backward. Place the flowers under your pillow and dream
of your future husband.

* Salt thrown in the bonfire wards off bad luck.

* Carry a torch on Midsummer Eve to dispel evil.

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EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: FREE SHIPPING ON 2004 CALENDARS

We just finished our printer's order for The Old Farmer's Almanac
2004 calendars, and we're ready to celebrate! We want you to share
in the celebration, so we're offering free shipping on all 2004
Almanac calendar reservations placed on-line.

All 2004 calendar orders will begin mailing in August. (Your credit
card will not be charged until we're ready to ship your order.)

Hurry! This offer will expire soon.

Order now: http://www.almanac.com/go/1030617

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QUESTION FOR THE OLD FARMER'S ALMANAC
Common Questions, Practical Answers

Question: I've been waiting for five years for my wisteria to bloom.
It puts out wonderful lush foliage and has climbed all the way to
the second floor, but it doesn't have any flowers. My neighbor tells
me I shouldn't fertilize it. Is there anything I can do to help it
along?

Answer: Wisteria is one of life's late bloomers. It often needs at
least five years to put on a show. Be patient. It's OK to fertilize
it, but go for fish emulsion or superphosphate, not heavy nitrogen
fertilizers that will promote more leaves. Flowers come from the
previous year's growth; be sure to delay pruning until after the
flowering season.

For more questions and answers, or to ask a question yourself,
go to: http://www.almanac.com/today/answer.html

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FOURTH OF JULY TRADITIONS

The kids are out of school, the garden is growing, the water is
warm, and almost everyone gets a day off. Tell us how you celebrate
our nation's birthday. If you are from New England, your favorite
meal may include salmon and peas. If you live in the South, you may
enjoy a barbecue instead.

Send us a favorite family recipe or tell us about a special Fourth
of July activity. We will include some of the tastiest recipes and a
few of the fun activities in our next newsletter (mailed July 1,
2003). Please send your entries to almanac@yankeepub.com and put
"July Fourth" in the subject line. Include your name and where you
live. Hurry -- the deadline for entries is June 23, 2003.

Meanwhile, here's a great low-fat Roasted Potato Salad recipe to get
you started:

http://www.almanac.com/recipes/search/o ... number=512

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SEND US YOUR IDEAS

If you have suggestions for future newsletter topics, send them to
almanac@yankeepub.com.

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ANSWERS TO OLD CONUNDRUMS

1. Smiles, because there is a mile between the first and last
letters

2. Facetiously

3. Silence

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We hope you found this newsletter "new, useful, and entertaining" --
just like The Old Farmer's Almanac. Thanks for reading and sharing
it.

TELL A FRIEND
Feel free to forward this message to a friend.

You are receiving this e-mail message because you subscribed at our
Web site: http://www.almanac.com

Copyright 2003, Yankee Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.

[pawlee]

(just got the July issue... it's another good one! p)

THE ALMANAC.COM COMPANION, JULY 1, 2003
A newsletter from the publisher of The Old Farmer's Almanac.
Remember to bookmark our site -- http://www.almanac.com -- for fast,
easy access!

On a glorious July day,
The meadows were ripe and filled with hay,
And the purple mountains, erect and bold,
Propped pyramid clouds of ruffled gold.

--A. C. Bristol

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INDEPENDENCE DAYS

The long, hot month of July gives us not one but three days of
independence to celebrate: Canada Day (July 1), Independence Day
(July 4), and Bastille Day (July 14). Canada's birth in 1867 was the
result of years of hard work by the Fathers of Confederation. In the
United States, July 4 marks the day in 1776 that the Continental
Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, after three days
of spirited debate. On July 14, 1789, civilians in Paris seized the
fortress prison known as the Bastille. The British ambassador there
summed up the significance of this event in a letter to his king:
"Thus, my lord, the greatest Revolution that we know anything of has
been effected."

Sincerely,
The Old Farmer's Almanac

P.S. Forward this e-mail message to a friend. It's a quick and easy
way to let someone know all the news at almanac.com.

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In this issue, you'll find information on these topics:

* Dog Days
* Going Fishing?
* July Planting
* Superstitions Around the House
* Questions for the Old Farmer
* Fourth of July Traditions
My Best Sloppy Joes
Spinach, Citrus, and Avocado Salad
Spitting Contest
* Send Us Your Ideas

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DOG DAYS

The Dog Days of summer occur during the 40 days beginning July 3 and
ending August 11. Named for the Dog Star, Sirius, which rises and
sets with the Sun during this time, the Dog Days are associated with
uncomfortable levels of heat and humidity. If you feel the heat,
consult our Heat Index and Relative Humidity charts at the
Almanac.com Weather Center:

http://www.almanac.com/weathercenter/heathumidity.html

Dog Days bright and clear
Indicate a happy year;
But when accompanied by rain,
For better times our hopes are vain.

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GOING FISHING?

Fishermen swear by the Best Fishing Days page in The Old Farmer's
Almanac. We think you might improve your chances of reeling in the
big one with this brand-new reference chart from The Old Farmer's
Almanac -- or at least have something new to talk about while you're
waiting with baited hook.

Order now: http://www.almanac.com/go/1030701

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JULY PLANTING

If you still have some plants to put in the ground, check out these
tips for hot-weather planting. You need to take extra care so that
your transplants will survive.

http://www.almanac.com/garden/02.summer/julyplants.html

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SUPERSTITIONS AROUND THE HOUSE

Scatter Solomon's seal on the floor to banish serpents and venomous
creatures from the room.

To protect your house from lightning, gather hazel tree branches and
keep them in water.

Add caraway seeds to chicken feed to keep poultry from wandering.
Feed the seeds to homing pigeons to help them find their way back.

Stuff fennel in your keyhole or hang it over your door to protect
against witches.

Never carry a hoe into the house. If you do so by mistake, carry it
out again, walking backward to avoid bad luck.

Never walk under a ladder, which is Satan's territory. If you must do
it, cross your fingers or make the sign of the fig (closed fist, with
thumb between index and middle fingers).

Never give a knife as a housewarming present, or your new neighbor
will become an enemy.

Nail an evergreen branch to new rafters to bring good luck.

An empty hornets' nest, hung high, will bring good luck to any age
house.

When you move to a new house, always enter first with a loaf of bread
and a new broom. Never bring an old broom into the house.

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QUESTIONS FOR THE OLD FARMER
Common Questions, Practical Answers

Question: My peas mature all at once and get too big before I can
pick them. Can I plant in succession?

Answer: If you are in a place with cool summers, you can do this with
success. However, if your summers are very hot, the late plantings
will catch up to the earlier ones. You might try planting several
varieties instead. Check the packages for days to maturity. Varieties
such as 'Blue Bantam' mature 10 days later than many of the common
pea varieties. Pick your peas every day when they ripen to ensure
maximum production.

Question: Can I grow carnivorous plants in my garden?

Answer: Most carnivorous plants require humid conditions (50 percent
or higher) in the summer and no hard freezes in the winter. A
backyard bog may be one way to develop an environment for carnivorous
plants, which prefer the same conditions as the wild habitats in
which they usually grow. A bog may mimic this, or you might try
growing something carnivorous in a terrarium or greenhouse. They are
not easy to grow, so don't be discouraged.

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FOURTH OF JULY TRADITIONS

You, our newsletter subscribers, sent us many wonderful recipes and
fun Fourth of July activities. Here are a couple of recipes to try
and an unusual contest idea.

My Best Sloppy Joes

2 tablespoons butter
1/2 Vidalia onion, chopped
1-1/2 pounds lean ground chuck
1/4 green bell pepper, chopped
1/4 cup ketchup
1-1/2 teaspoons prepared mustard
1 well-rounded tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon sweet relish
1/4 cup water
salt and pepper, to taste

Melt the butter in a large skillet and brown the onion. Add the
ground chuck and brown. Add all the remaining ingredients and bring
to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 45 minutes,
stirring occasionally. Serve inside your favorite rolls, with potato
chips on the side.

--Gretchen K.

* * *

Spinach, Citrus, and Avocado Salad

2 bunches or packages fresh baby spinach
1/2 cup sesame or olive oil
2 tablespoons rice or other vinegar
1 large, sweet grapefruit, peeled and pith, seeds,
and membranes removed
1 large, sweet red onion, thinly sliced
1 large avocado, peeled, pitted, and thinly sliced

Wash and dry the spinach, discarding any tough stems. If the leaves
are big, cut into strips. Place in a large bowl. Blend the oil and
vinegar in a small bowl and toss the spinach with half the mixture.
Top with the grapefruit sections, onion, and avocado. Drizzle with
the rest of the dressing.

--Cathy S.

* * *

Spitting Contest

We always have a cherry pit spitting contest. Instead of spitting
forward, you have to spit the pit over your head backward. Try it --
it's much more challenging! And this is done by a bunch of people in
their late 30s to 70s. Have a happy Fourth!

--Carol K.

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SEND US YOUR IDEAS
If you have suggestions for future newsletter topics, send them to
almanac@yankeepub.com.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
We hope you found this newsletter "new, useful, and entertaining" --
just like The Old Farmer's Almanac. Thanks for reading and sharing
it.

TELL A FRIEND
Feel free to forward this message to a friend.