HOW I WEIGHED THE THANKSGIVING TURKEY - by G. M. Shaw.

 "Here, sir ! Please take this bird around to Albro's, and see how much it weighs."

The idea ! What would the folks over the way say, to see the "professor" walking out with a big turkey under his arm ? That was the way the thing presented itself to the good-natured college-student acting as private tutor in the family. But Mrs. Simpson, the portly and practical housewife, had no such idea of the fitness of things.

It was the day before Thanksgiving, and the farmer who had agreed to supply her with a turkey had brought it, but had not weighed it, and, of course, they could not agree on its weight, all of which ended in the startling proposition with which we began.

"Well, if you aint the laziest man ! Just as though it was going to hurt you any to take this bird to the corner and back!" she went on, as she saw me looking, apparently, for a hole to crawl into, but, in reality, for the broom, which, when I found, I made use of in putting into execution a plan I had formed for weighing the turkey at home.

I hung the broom-handle to the gas-jet by a wire loop, and slid it along in the loop until it balanced. By this time all were curious to see what I was about.

I then fixed a wire to the turkey's feet and hooked it so that it would slide on the broomhandle. Next I got a flat-iron and fixed it in the same way. When the broom was nicely balanced, I hung the turkey on the broom end of the stick, two inches from the balancing loop. Then I hung the flat-iron on the other side, and shoved it along until it balanced the turkey. Next I measured the distances of the turkey and flatiron from the balancing loop, and found that the turkey hung two inches and the flatiron eight inches from the balancing loop. That was all. I had found the weight of the turkey, and told them: Twenty-four pounds.

"Do you s'pose I'm going to believe all that tomfoolery ? It doesn't weigh more'n twenty, I know. Here, Maggie ! Take this out and ask Albro to weigh it for you."

"I'm blamed if he hasn't hit it about right," said the farmer who had brought the turkey. "How did you find out ?"

"Well, you see," said I, "the flat-iron has a figure 6 on it; that shows that it weighs six pounds. Now, if the turkey had not weighed more than the flat-iron they would have balanced each other at the same distance from the balancing loop; but the turkey was the heavier, so I had to move the flat-iron out further. At the same distance from the loop as the turkey (two inches), the flat-iron pulled six pounds' weight, and at every addition of that distance it would pull six pounds more. Thus: at four inches it pulled twelve pounds; at six inches, eighteen pounds; and at eight inches, twenty-four pounds. At that distance it just balanced the turkey, thus proving that it weighed "

"Well, Maggie, what does Albro say ?"

"Twentyfour poun', mum," replied Maggie, coming in.

"Well, I give up," said Mrs. Simpson; and she did, and so do I till next time.

COQUETTISH LADIES HATS

 

LEMON AND HERB ROASTED TROUT

LEMON AND HERB ROASTED TROUT Serves: 4 Prep Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 29 minutes INGREDIENTS  4 whole trout, about 4 – 6 ounces each, cleaned, with head and  tail left on 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 4 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme, parsley and/or  oregano 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 8 thin slices lemon DIRECTIONS  1. Heat oven to 450 degrees. 2. Rinse trout inside and out and pat dry. 3. Generously brush each trout, inside and out, with olive oil. 4. Sprinkle inside of each trout with 1 teaspoon herbs and a  small pinch of salt. 5. Arrange 2 slices lemon inside each trout. 6. If desired, use several toothpicks to seal fish closed. 7. Bake trout 18 to 20 minutes or until fish flakes with a fork. 8. To serve, arrange trout on serving platter. Remove lemon  before eating. Cooking variation:  Broil trout by putting it under the  broiler, about five inches from the flame. Broil on high  for 5 minutes,  then on low for another 5 minutes. If the skin hasn’t  started blistering, broil one more minute on high,  then serve immediately.   Remove lemon before eating. source: http://www.thebestlife.com/a-delish-fish-dish-in-no-time/

Evening dresses - fall /winter 2016-2017

 

Approaching New Year holidays, and, of course, these days I want to go to any event where you can show itself, clad in glittering and elegant dress. 

Fashion this season gives a wide scope for choice. 

The designers offer a variety of fancy evening dress autumn-winter 2016-2017, which looked surprisingly graceful, but at the same time regal too.

DRACHENBURG - THE CASTLE OF THE LEGENDARY DRAGON.

Everyone has probably ever heard of Siegfried - the winner of the Nibelungs, mastered their treasure - the gold of the Rhine. This is one of the central characters of the German and Scandinavian mythology - the embodiment of an ideal character who loves girls and respected man. The most famous epic with Siegfried in the title role - is, of course, "The Song of the Nibelungs and" repeatedly immortalized in poems, paintings, music (well, who does not know Wagner?) 

One of the most important episodes of the legend of Siegfried is the victory over the dragon. At the same time Siegfried seems to be clear - the saga tells some detail about his life, death and heroic deeds. And what about the dragon? Where did he come from, what he lived, dreamed about? At least, the first question can be answered: here it is, the legendary resting place of the legendary dragon - drachenburg castle on the Rhine near Bonn.

He lived, of course, not in the castle, and in the so-called "Dragon Cave» (Dachenhölle) beside him. But still, a visit to the castle and the surrounding attractions fanned legend of the Nibelungs, just want to start from Monday to engage in sports, to become stronger and defeat the dragon.

On closer inspection, it turns out, however, that the castle to this epic is not, to put it mildly, no relation. He built it in the late 19th century (from 1882 to 1884 accelerated pace!) Stockbroker Stephan von Sarter, which is the fashion of the time, loved Wagner and fond of the heroic epic. In this sense, drachenburg similar to the famous Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, which was built in the second half of the 19th century in the same style of the pseudo "neoromantiki". The antiquity in this case, can not speak, but the locks, at least, turned out beautifully.

History of drachenburg quite touching. Background Sarter (by the way, the typical speculator and nouveau riche, nazhivshiysya, including on the construction of the Suez Canal) dedicated his lovely lady, his youthful love, which had hoped to live in a romantic fairy-tale castle. Unfortunately, the beloved woman died before the end of construction, so the background Sarter the castle has not moved. So he lived in Paris until his death. 

Castle went to his nephew, who was not taken aback and immediately opened drachenburg visitors taking entrance fee - it had to be somehow recoup and maintain.In the 20th century here settled first Catholic, then regular school, then it was partially destroyed during the war, then it was transferred to the state. On the content it lacked money, and in 1971 the castle was sold to private owners. The new owner restored it and opened again for visitors.

It is not known when drachenburg "appointed" home of the dragon of the saga of Siegfried. Apparently, under the influence of Wagner's opera cycle "Der Ring des Nibelungen." Anyway, built with nephew background Sartera guest houses are the names of the characters of the saga: Wotan, Brunhilda, Siegfried, Valkyrie, etc.

On the other hand, dragon themes present in this place long before construction drachenburg. The fact that the castle was built just below another castle - Drahenfelza (translated as "dragon rock"), from which there is little that ostalos.Snizu from the valley, it looks like. Drahenfelz at the top.

Drahenfelz built back in the 10th century, and already a legend of the time, a dragon lived on this rock, hence the name. But it is doubtful whether it was the dragon, which defeated Siegfried. Perhaps, after all, the other because in medieval representations of dragons in Europe were carried out, and they can be found in different places. 

By the way, here's a 13-meter dragon sculpture "Dragon Cave"

It's hard to say what was the artistic intent of the author, but mimics the dragon some "unheroic"....

But back in drachenburg. You can get there either by walking, climbing a mountain or in a trailer for the money, or on such's donkeys (in this case a matter of convenience and comfort aside)

First, you can climb the Drahenfelz offering wonderful even in the bad weather of the Rhine.

And this is from the height looks very drachenburg.

Now let's see what's inside. Background Starter spared no expense in the design, but, of course, did not reconstruct some ancient interiery, because the castle was supposed to live permanently.

Immediately close to the castle there is the Nibelungen Hall, dedicated to Wagner and his opera cycle. There are mainly paintings depicting various scenes from the operas.

But in the "Dragon Cave" is a small reptile zoo. That is to say, the degenerate descendants of dragons. There's all sorts of snakes and lizards.

Drachenburg - one of the most "fabulous" looking castles in Germany, so that the aesthetic pleasure of his visit, you will definitely get it. Especially if you do not pursue the historical authenticity.