RenoVous

 A newer tradition developed from the horrors of certain families, or maybe just the stress of all the preparation, but Hubby and I are ditching all that this year - we're going camping. Perhaps some brandy to help keep us warm.... And I came across a yummy martini recipe: you'll need a pumpkin liquor (the particular one was a whiskey), vanilla vodka, and Irish cream.  Shake 'em up and then add a pinch of cinnamon and/or nutmeg. Be safe, be fed, be thankful. All my love.

 Peach and Blossom were just pardoned by President Biden ahead of this year's Thanksgiving holiday. This is a fairly new tradition though, with Kennedy being the first to dismiss the gift from the Turkey Federation in 1963.  They had been delivering turkeys to the president since 1947, when Truman happily ate his. Nixon and Carter then sent their turkeys to petting zoos, and Reagan was the first to say "pardon." So with H.W. Bush, it became an officially sanctioned White House event. Peach and Blossom are from Minnesota, and will live out their days at Farmamerica, an agricultural interpretive center in Waseca. The site includes two historic farmsteads, a native prairie, as well as an old one-room schoolhouse and other structures.  Visitors are taught how agriculture has evolved and how it plays a role in our lives today.

  First, a Face Off: Zoe Saldana Versus: Monica Barbaro Some CMAs: Kacey Musgraves Simone Biles Shaboozey Kelsea Ballerini And elsewhere: Keke Palmer Jodie Turner-Smith Dwayne Johnson  Auli'i Cravalho

  Mirabilite mounds are making an appearance on the Great Salt Lake. These crystalline formations have only be found in four places in the world, because of the extremely specific conditions required.   The south arm of the lakebed has underground springs rich in sodium sulfate.  When the water rises and collides with the cold winter air in such a dry environment, it stabilizes as mirabilite, creating crystal terraces. Mirabilite is also known as Glauber's salt.  As a mineral, it is found in several areas within the Mammoth Cave System in Kentucky, and has been used in Traditional Chinese medicine. 

  On this day in 1998, my favorite game was released on Nintendo 64. A love my sister and I share, along with Triforce tattoos. And we were just talking about playing it again, as she has it on Switch. It's just a game that makes my heart so happy, from the relationships within to the kinships in the real world - when someone comments on my wallet (which also has a Triforce) or recognizing someone's phone notification being Saria's Song so we nod.  And yeah, the music is pretty great. I've played a number of the Zelda games, but none of them have stuck with me like this one. I've even got my husband using a Navi reference because he's heard me use it for so long. And here's a real ocarina.

  Outside of Dayton, NV is the micronation of Molossia, governed by President Kevin Baugh. Established in 1998 when he bought the land, he continues to pay property taxes to Storey County, but considers it "foreign aid." The government claims to be at war with the former state of East Germany.  Although East Germany no longer exists, the Republic of Molossia believes that Ernst Thalmann Island, not mentioned in the Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany, is still East German land. Plastic bags and incandescent light bulbs are banned in Molossia.  Onions and spinach are also banned. Their currency is called Valora, printed on linen strips.  One tube of Pillsbury Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is equal to 5 Valora. 30 people live on this property, and visitors are allowed through RSVP - your passport will be stamped! Of course, sovereignty is not recognized by Nevada or the UN. https://www.molossia.org/

  I finished Beauty and the Beast and decided to run with Disney. Last night I finished The Little Mermaid. It wasn't as horrific an ending as I thought, she didn't just die with a broken heart, she elevated to the sky.  Not sure what's next though. I have read Grimm's Cinderella before. Any suggestions??

  Elle Fanning Tilda Swinton Jennifer Lawrence Mikey Madison Kerry Washington Jennifer Lopez Danielle Deadwyler Andrew Garfield Natasha Lyonne Maria Bakalova

  Found in the Arctic permafrost of Siberia, scientists have recovered the first Saber-Toothed kitten. Mummified over 35,000 years, the subzero temperatures have kept the specimen in a remarkable state of preservation, with its fur, head, torso and limbs all intact. Study confirms the animal has "significant differences from a modern lion cub of similar age," displaying an unusual shape of the muzzle, a large mouth opening, small ears, elongated forearms, and a chunky neck region.  These are classic adaptations to living in cold climates. This particular species, Homotherium latidens, lived in the Eurasia region.  It is distinct from its counterpart which lived in North America, Homotherium serum, where most remains have been found. "The discovery of H. latidens  mummy in Yakutia radically expands the understanding of distribution of the genus and confirms its presence in the Late Pleistocene of Asia," the authors write. The permafrost of Siberia should continue to ...

  And some hump day history. Starting with Chester Arthur Burnett, aka Howlin' Wolf.  He was at the forefront of transforming acoustic Delta Blues into electric Chicago Blues. He was the first to record Little Red Rooster. This music greatly influenced young bands across the pond, and on this day in 1964, The Rolling Stones released their version. The single was a #1 hit and remains the only time a blues song has ever topped the UK pop chart. This one has an awesome cover which includes Slash, Brian Johnson, and Steven Tyler. And to bring it all full circle, it was Willie Dixon who originally wrote "Red Rooster" - he also wrote "I'm Ready," which was first recorded by Muddy Waters, and then covered by Aerosmith. The whole album is good.

 It was a beautiful day on Washoe Lake. Slide Mountain as our background. Running from Washoe Lake towards the Truckee is Steamboat Creek. Quite a few horses down here. And a stop along the Truckee.

  Lucy Liu J. Lo Saoirse Ronan Connie Nielson Wicked Ariana Grande Cynthia Erivo Idina Menzel Kristin Chenoweth Michelle Yeoh Jeff Goldblum

  Juno's latest flyby of Jupiter caught storms a-swirlin'. In the image, we're seeing exaggerated color and contrast, but still. What it shows is the complex, variable, and turbulent atmosphere of the planet. Juno has also helped answer a question astronomers have long wondered about - Jupiter's rings. They exist, faintly, under infrared light - but compared to Saturn they should be amazing.  However, the planet's Galilean moons are so big and influential that they have and would destroy any ring system.   Jupiter is currently very visible in the night sky a few hours after sunset.