SUNDAY FUNDAY, JANUARY 28, 2024

 SUNDAY FUNDAY

SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, 2024

WARM-UP 

The January Full Moon was on Thursday.  January's full moon is called the Wolf Moon - the howling of hungry wolves lamenting food scarcity in midwinter.- My image this week is from my neighbor's print of a Lone Wolf in Winter.  I am still trying to understand why they had this print.  I have seen it in other places.  Do you remember seeing it?  (It seems so cold - I think I’d have a “warmer” picture instead of this one!!!)

In three weeks, it will be Valentine’s Day (and, interestingly enough, Ash Wednesday on the same day). It last happened on Valentine's Day, 1944.  

President’s Day is February 19th, and Groundhog Day is February 2nd. St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th, and Easter on March 31.  Easter can fall on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25 and is early this year!!

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NATIONAL TODAY FROM LAST WEEK

NATIONAL COMPLIMENT DAY

Last week saw National Compliment Day. The power of a compliment is pretty remarkable: either giving or receiving one can boost your happiness and confidence — making the act a win-win. You never know when someone could use some good vibes, so spread the positivity by giving someone a reason to smile!

NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER DAY

When Marcellus Gilmore Edson first patented peanut butter in 1884, he probably didn’t realize it would become a taste sensation that would sweep the nation. Whether you go crunchy or smooth, we put down our cell phones and pick up our spreading knives to celebrate National Peanut Butter Day.

Okay, I am a peanut butter enthusiast.  I have peanut butter almost every day!! I am not particular - any peanut is better than none.

(And, three weeks ago, when I dog-sat, I took a jar of peanut butter with me.  I took a big dollop out of the jar.  It was sticky and thick - and as I tried to get it processed - I broke my denture plate!!  Pretty stupid!!!)

NATIONAL BELLY LAUGH DAY

Yup -National Belly Laugh Day was on January 24, Did you know it has been over 15 years since this day was first celebrated? Belly Laugh Day is a day to chuckle, laugh, and celebrate the good things in life. As Maya Angelou said,“ Just imagine if we laughed more frequently, if we had the unmitigated courage to touch each other, it would be just the beginning of paradise — now.”

There is the old adage - “Laughter is the Best Medicine” - let’s make that true!!!

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Winter Story

There was a new Chief on the Kadoka Reservation in upper Wisconsin.  Laramie Lends-His-Horse was a modern Native American unfamiliar with the old ways.  [Aside, I had a few Native American students while teaching in South Dakota.  One girl was “Madonna Lends-His-Horse” - so the last name is legitimate!!!].  Laramie wanted to be a good leader (and he was).  As the chief, he was to be the expert on crops, rain, and weather. 

The people asked Laramie if it would be a cold winter in October.  Laramie answered, “Yes, it is going to be a cold winter” (after all, winters in Northern Wisconsin are cold).

So, the tribe started collecting firewood. The Kadoka Reservation is surrounded by pine forests.  By each house, there was starting to be a nice stack of wood.  Laramie listened to the local radio station KALT and the forecast seemingly was for a cold winter every day.

In November, the people asked again if it would be a cold winter.  And again, Laramie said yes - after all, KALT was saying it was going to be a real cold winter.

But, to be safe, he called the local weather reporter on KALT.  The forecaster said, “Yes, it will be a cold winter.”

So, the people gathered more wood.  They went into the woods as teams, and cut the old dead wood out.  Loaded it on pickups and took it back to the reservation and used a splitting machine and piled it up.

In December, they asked again, “IS it really going to be cold?” and again, he answered, “Yes.”

And they gathered even more wood.  Some of the wood stacks were up to the eaves of their houses.

In January, it was already cold, and the people asked again.

Laramie called the weather expert on KALT again in January.  The forecaster said, “This might be the coldest winter ever.”

The new chief asked the weather expert, “How do you know it will be so cold?”

The weather expert replied, “The Native Americans on the Kadoka Reservation have gathered much wood. And, they are generally right on”!!

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FINISH

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!!

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

Karen Anne White, ©, January 28, 2024