Sunday, July 04, 2010

4th of July recipes from rachael ray








The holiday weekend is here, and it's time to fire up the grill!
Plus, tune in Friday for Rach's 4th of July Spectacular with more recipes, Paula Deen's desserts and a Pat Benatar performance!





















Burgers

For more great recipes: htp://www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/july4th

Saturday, July 03, 2010

Independece Day History, Facts, and Trivia

* Independence Day, commonly known as July 4th or the Fourth of July, commemorates the Continental Congress’ adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The document, primarily written by Thomas Jefferson, served as a formal announcement that the 13 American colonies were no longer part of the British Empire and would henceforth be free and independent states. Regarded as the birthday of the United States of America, the day is typically celebrated with parades, fireworks, ceremonies, barbecues and family gatherings. * The major objection to being ruled by Britain was taxation without representation. The colonists had no say in the decisions of English Parliament. * In May, 1776, after nearly a year of trying to work our their differences with England, the colonies sent delegates to the Second Continental Congress. Finally, in June, admitting that their efforts were hopeless, a committee was formed to compose the formal Declaration of Independence. Headed by Thomas Jefferson, the committee also included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Philip Livingston and Roger Sherman. On June 28, 1776, Thomas Jefferson presented the first draft of the declaration to Congress. * Betsy Ross, according to legend, sewed the first American flag in May or June 1776, as commissioned by the Congressional Committee. * Independence Day was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776. * The Liberty Bell sounded from the tower of Independence Hall on July 8, 1776, summoning citizens to gather for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence by Colonel John Nixon. * On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress, looking to promote national pride and unity, adopted the national flag. "Resolved: that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation." * The first public Fourth of July event at the White House occurred in 1804. * The first Independence Day celebration west of the Mississippi occurred at Independence Creek and was celebrated by Lewis and Clark in 1805. * On June 24, 1826, Thomas Jefferson sent a letter to Roger C. Weightman, declining an invitation to come to Washington, D.C., to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It was the last letter that Jefferson, who was gravely ill, ever wrote. * Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, died on Independence Day, July 4, 1826. * In 1941, Congress declared July 4 a federal legal holiday. * The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence did not sign at the same time, nor did they sign on July 4, 1776. The official event occurred on August 2, 1776, when 50 men signed it. Later that year, five more signed separately and one added his name in a later year. Thomas McKean was the last to sign in January, 1777. * The origin of Uncle Sam probably began in 1812, when Samuel Wilson was a meat packer who provided meat to the US Army. The meat shipments were stamped with the initials, U.S. Someone joked that the initials stood for "Uncle Sam". This joke eventually led to the idea of Uncle Sam symbolizing the United States government.

Friday, July 02, 2010

dog photos- cute and funny












Duck Joke

A duck walks into a pub and orders a pint of beer and a ham sandwich.




The barman looks at him and says,





"Hang on! You're a duck."



"I see your eyes are working," replies the duck.



"And you can talk!" Exclaims the barman.



"I see your ears are working too,"

Says the duck.





"Now if you don't mind, can I have my beer and my sandwich please?"



"Certainly, sorry about that,"

Says the barman as he pulls the duck's pint.





"It's just we don't get many ducks in this pub.. What are you doing round this way?"



"I'm working on the building site across the road," Explains the duck.





"I'm a plasterer."



The flabbergasted barman cannot believe the duck and wants to learn more, but takes the hint when the duck pulls out a paper from his bag and proceeds to read it. So, the duck reads his paper, drinks his beer, eats his sandwich, bids the barman good day and leaves.



The same thing happens for two weeks.

Then one day the circus comes to town.

The ringmaster comes into the pub for a pint and the barman says to him

"You're with the circus, aren't you? Well, I know this duck that could be just brilliant in your circus. He talks, drinks beer, eats sandwiches, reads the newspaper and everything!"



"Sounds marvelous,"says the ringmaster, handing over his business card.





"Get him to give me a call."



So the next day when the duck comes into the pub the barman says, "Hey Mr. Duck, I reckon I can line you up with a top job, paying really good money."



"I'm always looking for the next job," Says the duck."Where is it?"



"At the circus,"

Says the barman.



"The circus?"

Repeats the duck.



"That's right,"

Replies the barman.



"The circus?" The duck asks again. With the big tent?"



"Yeah," the barman replies.



"With all the animals who live in cages, and performers who live in caravans?"says the duck.



"Of course," the barman replies.



"And the tent has canvas sides and a big canvas roof with a hole in the middle?" persists the duck.



"That's right!" says the barman.



The duck shakes his head in amazement, and says .. . .

> .

> .

> .

> .





"What the f.... would they want with a plasterer??!"

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Why I pass on jokes

This explains why I forward jokes.








A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.



He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years... He wondered where the road was leading them.



After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble... At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.



When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.

When he was close enough, he called out, 'Excuse me, where are we?'



'This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered.. 'Wow! Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked.



Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up. 'The man gestured, and the gate began to open.



'Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?' the traveller asked









'I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.'



The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence



As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.



'Excuse me!' he called to the man. 'Do you have any water?'



'Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in.'

'How about my friend here?' the traveller gestured to the dog.



'There should be a bowl by the pump.'



They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveller filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog...



When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.



'What do you call this place?' the traveller asked.



'This is Heaven,' he answered.



'Well, that's confusing,' the traveller said. 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.'



'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell.'



'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?'



'No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.'





Soooo..





Sometimes, we wonder why friends keep forwarding jokes to us without writing a word...



Maybe this will explain.



When you are very busy, but still want to keep in touch, guess what you do? You forward jokes.





When you have nothing to say, but still want to keep contact, you forward jokes.

When you have something to say, but don't know what, and don't know how, you forward jokes.







So, next time if you get a joke, don't think that you've been sent just another forwarded joke, but that you've been thought of today and your friend on the other end of your computer wanted to send you a smile...







You are all welcome @ my water bowl anytime!