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As we enjoy Movember, a.k.a. the month where men either grow facial hair in support of men’s health, or use it as an excuse not to shave, here is A hairy history of the moustache.

And just because, here’s a mustache-related ditty written by Stephen Foster:

This movie was 100% historically accurate, I’m sure.

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Photo by JJ Jordan on Unsplash

So Many Options

I’m looking to make a new special-occasion cake and find myself with too many recipe options. We’re also under a bit of a time crunch. So of course I will take three of these possible alternatives and combine them into something I hope will work.

Wish me luck!

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Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash

Always Becoming

“A self is not something static, tied up in a pretty parcel and handed to the child, finished and complete. A self is always becoming.”

― Madeleine L’Engle

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Photo by Gabby Orcutt on Unsplash

I came across an article about socks. Why share? Because I happen to like good socks, and I like history, and I like crafting. And these are very special socks.

1,600-Year-Old Ancient Egyptian Socks Made for Sandals

I had never heard about the technique behind these socks, which is called nålebinding or nalbinding (literally, needle binding). If I were to characterize the method, I’d say that it’s knitting without the needles, or crochet without a hook, and if Wikipedia is to be believed, nålebinding predates both. Now more closely associated with Scandinavian cultures, the oldest known examples date from the Mediterranean around 6500 BCE.

If you also wonder what it took to make a sock in ancient Egypt, check out this site for descriptions and instructional videos.

Nalbinding Stitch

I will now go appreciate the drawer full of socks I did not have to make.

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Photo by Tai’s Captures on Unsplash

How to Weigh a Cat

Perhaps you, like me, have found yourself trying to corral a recalcitrant cat (or dog, ferret, bunny or lizard, I don’t judge!) onto a scale. Perhaps that device frightens or just generally annoys your cat for whatever reason, and that cat refuses to stay on the scale for the requisite time required for weighing.

Perhaps you have also been watching a Lot of shows about veterinarians, and you come up with an idea.

That idea might look something like this.

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Stand at one end of your makeshift chute with a treat and the cat will come to you. All that’s left is to wonder how on earth the cat Still hasn’t reached his target weight.

Halfway There

I’ve started three posts and am halfway done on each of them. I have another batch of chili that’s in progress but needs attention. I have a cat who is certain that some of the cans we just opened are for him, and is being quite vocal about it. And I’ve got a story I’m supposed to be working on.

What’s that, you say? Sounds like it’s time for a quote and a pretty picture?

Excellent idea!

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”

― George Bernard Shaw

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Photo by Meritt Thomas on Unsplash

Explore Mars

To celebrate another Friday, let’s take a quick trip to visit the neighbors. And by “neighbor” I mean Mars, because that’s how I roll.

Aaaaand since we’re on the Red Planet already (mentally, at least), here’s a time-lapse of the Ingenuity helicopter’s 63 (!) flight.

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Photo by Nicolas Lobos on Unsplash

Know Your Limits

Now that Halloween has come and gone, you may find yourself wondering what to do with all that candy. And really, does candy spoil?

Good* news, candy eaters, your typical Halloween treat will last well into the next season or even longer, depending on the type. 

How Long Does Halloween Candy Last? – Eater

And on the off chance that you find yourself with an excess of aging candy (not a problem I generally have), these ideas might help:

What to Do With Leftover Halloween Candy

40 Best Leftover Halloween Candy Recipes – What To Make With Leftover Candy

15 Leftover Halloween Candy Recipes | The Kitchn

What to Do With Leftover Halloween Candy | Bon Appétit (Reese’s peanut butter cups in brownies? Sounds good. But Black Licorice Vinaigrette? No. Just… no.)

* Look, it’s been established that excess sugar is not great for our health. You know it, I know it, and the kids bouncing down the aisles at the grocery store before having a meltdown and collapsing into a sugar coma know it too. As the purveyors of other addictive products like to say, know your limits!

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Photo by Behnam Norouzi on Unsplash

Tuesday Plus One

“A girl can be sad in one verse, but she can’t be sad in two verses. I just won’t have it.”

— Cher

* To be clear, Tuesdays are generally unfun around here for day-job related reasons. So Tuesday plus one? Much better!

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Photo by David Marcu on Unsplash

Not So Scary

To all those who celebrate, Happy Halloween!

Here’s a collection of holiday-related links to keep you entertained as you prepare for an evening of trick-or-treating. Or candy distribution. (Or holing up in your house and eating all that candy by yourself, your choice!)

Halloween Timeline: How the Holiday Has Changed Over the Centuries

The History of Halloween

Candy corn is still winning, despite its bad rap (of course it’s still winning, it’s the best!)

Chemistry Students Explode Pumpkins to Infuse Halloween With Science and Chemistry

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Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash