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Click on the picture and find Grandma's Oatmeal Cookies Today's Video Chewy Oatmeal Cookies (OhCurt Cookies)	April 30 is National Oatmeal cookie day I think that maybe chocolate chip cookies are the number one cookie in America. But a very close second is oatmeal cookies! Add a few raisins, and you've got a healthy treat. I can remember my mom's oatmeal cookies. She didn't like to cook, but when she did, it was delicious! And today is your lucky day, because I'm going to give you her recipe! Smelling those warm cookies always let my brothers and I know it was time for cookies and milk. Today's video features someone you haven't heard before, and she has a very nice accent. One of my goals is to expose you to as many different types of voices as possible. I'm sure you'll like today's YouTube cook! Maybe you'll want to make no-bake oatmeal cookies, or maybe you'd like to find a recipe for breakfast cookies which include a healthy dose of oatmeal. It has lots of fiber and other good things in it, so enjoy! *Have a yummy* National Oatmeal Cookie Day!**

April 29 is in World Forest Week Forests are like their own separate world. The animals, flowers, sounds, lighting... it's all very specialized. When I was in my early teens, my friend and I would spend an entire day exploring forests. We lived way out in the country, and our own property had a large field, then a forest, and finally, a pond. But most of the neighbors also had forests, (we called them woods) on their property. Each person's property entailed several acres, so there was always something new to see, hear and explore. We became very good at climbing over, through or under barbed wire or electric fences. We thought nothing of it, because, after all, we weren't going to hurt anything on their property. We were just going to walk there and see what we could see. Now we live in the city, but at least my office is on the second floor, so the immediate view out of my window is of a tree, so I can still pretend. I hope you'll be able to experience a forest sometime soon, and to see what you can see. Happy World Forest Week!	Click on the picture and find 55 Fascinating Forest Photographs (And Tips to Shoot Your Own!) Today's Video The Forests On Planet Earth.wmv

Click on the picture and read everything about Blueberries Today's Video Recipe- No Bake Blueberry Pie	April 28 is National Blueberry Pie Day Blueberries are a favorite berry of many, many people. If you read today's website, you will find dozens of good reasons to eat blueberries to retain or improve your health. In the summer, many people like to pick their own strawberries, cherries, blueberries and other fruit. I picked blueberries only once, a few years ago. I really hated it! It seemed to take forever, and it was very hot, and the area under the bushes was full of weeds and mosquitoes. I much prefer to go to Meijer's, our local grocery store, and buy my blueberries. Whether you buy them or pick them, be sure to make a pie to celebrate National Blueberry Pie Day!

April 27 is in
National Sky Awareness Week

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Today's Video
Sky and clouds

There are so many wonders in the world around us, and many times we are so busy, they fly by us and we miss the wonder and awe they bring us. This is National Sky Awareness Week. Sun, moon, clouds, stars, planets, shooting stars, lightning, rainbows - they all provide a constantly changing canvas of beauty.
One of the first things I learned from my husband was to appreciate the sky. He always pointed out certain clouds, sunsets, stars. He has been aware of the sky all of his life, but for me, it was new to be so purposeful in observing the sky's collection of beautiful things.
When you were a child, did you ever just lie in the grass and watch the clouds go by? Maybe you tried to "see" shapes in the clouds - maybe mushrooms, teddy bears, lambs, ice cream cones. This is the time to reacquaint yourself with the beauty of the sky. Every day, try to take a look in the morning, at noon, in the evening, late at night, and enjoy the beauty.

Enjoy National Sky Awareness Week!


April 26 is in Egg Salad Week With Easter being just this past weekend, there are undoubtedly many homes with a refrigerator full of hard-boiled eggs which will either be used for something edible, or will be wasted and thrown away. How clever of the holiday makers to declare this Egg Salad Week! We love egg salad at our house, even when it isn't the Easter season. Most of the ideas you'll see in today's website and video are for egg salad sandwiches, but egg salad is also delicious on a bed of lettuce, surrounded by some cherry tomatoes and alfalfa sprouts.	Click on the picture and find An Egg Salad Sandwich, Eight Ways Today's Video Betty's Humpty-Dumpty Egg Salad Sandwich Recipe
Or you can fill celery sticks with it and sprinkle with a bit of dill weed or paprika. Have you ever tried a flour tortilla with egg salad, shredded cheese and bacon bits rolled up inside? This protein-rich food is just waiting for you to use your imagination to create a new way to enjoy it! Bon appetit! Happy Egg Salad Week!

Click on the picture and read Crayola History Colorful & Trivia Packed! Today's Video Sesame Street: Making Crayons	April 25 is National Crayola Day Happy National Crayola Day! Do you know what Crayola makes? They make crayons. I'm pretty sure almost every person can remember their first box of crayons. There's something about the smell of a new box of crayons that's like the smell of a new doll, or a puppy's breath. They're just one-of-a-kind, special smells that people remember.
Crayola has branched out and made many more types of art materials now, but my favorite is still the original crayon. Today's website tells you the entire history of the first crayons, where the word crayon comes from, and the favorite colors of some famous people you might recognize. The video is all about how crayons are made in the factory. The machines that perform the various steps in the manufacturing of these things really intrigues me. How do people think this up? In any case, draw a picture today in beautiful, living colors to celebrate National Crayola Day! Happy National Crayola Day!

April is National Smile Month Even though National Smile Month is only officially for the month of April, smiling is imperative throughout our lives. If you read all the benefits of smiling in today's website, or if you listen to the wonderful Louis Armstrong, who had a great smile, you'll feel the difference smiling makes. In 1963, Harvey Ball drew the first "smiley face". It has now become so popular, a text version of it is used millions of times a day in chats and text messages. The smile is universally understood. It's basic to human life. Even my daughter, who cannot see, speak, or do anything for herself, smiles regularly. Use the rest of this month to practice smiling at least 10 times each day. But a hundred times would be better! Then continue this healthy habit until next year at this time. Happy National Smile Month	Click on the picture and read 15 Fascinating Facts About Smiling Today's Video Louis Armstrong When you're smiling

Click on the picture and read about National Grilled Cheese Month: 25 Gourmet Grilled Cheese Recipes Today's Video Food Wishes Recipes: Inside-Out Grilled Cheese Sandwich - Ultimate Grill-Cheese Sandwich	April is Grilled Cheese Month Grilled Cheese is almost as popular as peanut butter and jelly here in America. I have a friend who went on a trip, and her husband ate grilled cheese for the entire week! Not because he loved it so much, but because it was the only thing he knew how to make. One of our favorite lunches is grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. The soup is served in large mugs, and the sandwiches are crunchy on the outside and melty on the inside. Mmmm... Today's website will show you several variations on the classic recipe, but I have to say that the video that Truus found shows a way to make a grilled cheese even better than the original. I can't wait to try it! You have several days left in April, so go ahead and have a happy Grilled Cheese Month! happy Grilled Cheese Month!

April 21 is High Five Day "Give me five!" Or, "High five!" Both of these short phrases mean, "Let's celebrate by putting our arms up high and gently slapping our palms together." You may think this is a strange way to celebrate, but studies have shown that it can bolster self-esteem and happiness. Many parents teach their children to high five when they're very little. Some people even teach their pets to do this, although I don't think any of the studies measured the self-esteem of the animals. A high five can celebrate a child's being able to catch a ball, or a good report card, a passed exam, a success of any type. This sign of congratulations is practiced by children and adults alike in the U.S. It is usually accompanied by at least a smile, and often a "Congratulations!" as well. Today's video shows the effect a high five can have on a large group of people. I hope you can find someone to celebrate a success with by giving them a high five! Happy High Five Day!	Click on the picture and read about National High Five Day Today's Video High Five Escalator

Click on the picture and read about the Quilt History Today's Video Tube Tutorial - How to Quilt	April 20 is Make a Quilt Day Quilt-making is either something people have always wished they could do, or they did it and remembered it because it was really fun, or it was really horrible. I have made 3 quilts in my life. The first one was made from remnants of my son's favorite outfits as he was growing up from a baby to about 4 years old. The quilt featured each letter of the alphabet. I made a second one for my first daughter, again, with bits of her favorite outfits and each letter of the alphabet featured in one of the squares. The third one was for my mom, but I have no recollection of what it was like, and after giving it to her, I never saw it again. So that might have been a bad memory, or just a bad quilt. In any case, it was my last quilt.
Watching the videos on quilting to get ready for today's holiday almost got me in the mood again! However, there is simply not enough room in my day for any new projects. But if you want ideas for your first or your next quilt, I know you'll enjoy the video for today. Then again, if you only want to read about quilts, the website has some fascinating stories about the history of some quilts. In any case, happy Make a Quilt Day!

April 19 is Humorous Day "Laughter is good for the heart like a medicine." I am fortunate to live in a home where there is a lot of fun and laughter. Not the kind of laughter that comes from sarcasm or ridicule, however. Instead, humor which includes play on words and just silliness. Someone once told me that when a joke is made, if both people aren't laughing, it wasn't funny. That's a good rule of thumb to keep humor healthy. Have fun and enjoy this day set aside to celebrate humor! Happy International Humorous Day!	Click on the picture and laugh with Will and Guy's Funny Clean Jokes Today's Video Funniest Japanese Girls Prank

Click on the picture and read about History of Juggling Today's Video EXCLUSIVE Amazing Juggling Finale	April 18 is International Jugglers Day Most of you know how much I like it when the daily holiday is an "international" holiday. It's just so great when people all over the world have at least this one tiny thing in common. Juggling has a history which begins hundreds of years ago. It is still very popular, and I think every child tries at one time or another to learn to juggle. My mom once went to a class where, for relaxation, they juggled lightweight chiffon scarves. Of course it was rather easy. That's what made it relaxing. Today's website explains several details about the history of juggling. The video is one of my absolute favorites. It's not that the juggling technique is so outrageously difficult. It's the fact that his moves and his actions follow the rhythm of the music. To me, that makes it not only juggling, but also an art form. I think all of us should at least toss a couple of balls, spoons, or pieces of paper up in the air today to celebrate International Jugglers Day. Have fun! Happy International Jugglers Day!

April is Straw Hat Month Straw hats have been around for a long time, and they often become one of a person's prize possessions. I wore a white straw hat when I got married, and I also still have a black straw hat that I have loved for a long time. Today's website will tell the history of these wonderful hats. You can imagine what a popular thing straw hats are if today's video features a song about a straw hat. Can you believe that the little actress in the movie, Shirley Temple, grew up to be a U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia? If you have a straw hat, be sure to wear it sometime during April for Straw Hat Month! Happy Straw Hat Month!	Click on the picture and read about the History of Straw hats & Felt hats - Western straw hats Today's Video Shirley Temple - Old Straw Hat

Click on the picture and read about Art History Today's Video Art - Mirror of Society	April 15 is in Art History Day Today is Art History Day. The history of art goes back as far as the history of man. Throughout the ages, people have had the urge to create. Some drew, some painted, some sculpted. As time passed, the tools became more and more sophisticated, and people could create more and more elaborate drawings and sculptures. The architecture of the various periods should also be included in the history of art, because many of these buildings are impressive art forms.
Today's website shows you hundreds of examples of art throughout history. The video is a lecture by an art instructor, explaining that art is a mirror of society. So as art has changed over time, it reflects the ways that society has changed. There's a lot to think about today on Art History Day. Maybe you'd like to create some work of art today, and add another piece to the history of art! Happy Art History Day!

April 14 is in National Volunteer Week National Volunteer Week happens each April. Volunteering is one of the things that makes the world a better place. A helping hand, a listening ear, a word of encouragement - just caring about our fellow human beings. Especially in a lagging economy, volunteering fills the emptiness caused by lost jobs and lost resources. Also important is the help we can be to a world torn apart by tragedy and war.	Click on the picture and read about How National Volunteer Week Works Today's Video My Purpose in Life - Serving My Community
Tony Hall tells this story in her book, Changing the Face of Hunger: Someone asked Mother Teresa, "Don't you think what you do is kind of a drop in the bucket?" She answered, "No, it's a drop in the ocean. But if I didn't do it, it would be one less drop." "But," I said, "the problems of the world are so vast. How can you possibly hope to solve them?" "You do the thing that's in front of you," she replied. Let's celebrate National Volunteer Week by "doing the thing that's in front of us". Happy National Volunteer Week!

Click on the picture and read about Flower of the Month: Daisy Today's Video Gardening Tips : Best Places to Grow Daisies	April is Daisy Flower Month Daisies just seem to smile back at the sun. April is Daisy Flower Month, and it's perfect for this time of year. This is when we begin to see the sun more and more, and things look fresh and clean. Daisy have a pure, innocent look, and are used to symbolize young love. We grow white daisies in front of our house, and in doing so, I hope it makes our home look happy and inviting. I'm quite sure at least one of the many varieties of daisy could grow happily at your house, even if only in a little pot in a sunny windowsill. Have a Happy Daisy Flower Month!

April 12 is in National Inspirational News Week It can be difficult to watch the news these days. Yet, we all do it, because we want to know what's happening to our fellow man. Sometimes, however, it can makes us feel as if we're living under a heavy weight. This week is National Inspirational News Week. Check out today's website and video to help you to feel renewed hope, and the knowledge that you can go on, like so many people have done. Like the video says, you must not quit. There are many reasons to continue to have hope. Watching the news is fine, but be sure to season it with a healthy measure of inspirational news to help you keep a healthy perspective. Have an inspirational week!	Click on the picture and read Inspirational News Stories Today's Video Inspirational Video - The Don't Quit Poem

Click on the picture and read about Fondue Today's Video Cheese Fondue	April 11 is National Cheese Fondue Day I can remember having fondue with my family when I was a kid. I thought it was really cool, and it seemed to create a really fun atmosphere, with all of us together, and the candle glowing under the pot. Fondue parties were popular in the 70s, and they are now making a sort of comeback. It's fun to have traditional cheese fondue, chocolate fondue, meat fondue... there are many possibilities! Today's website and video give you all the basics of having a cheese fondue party! Happy National Cheese Fondue Day!

April 10 is ASPCA Day ASPCA is an acronym for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals. It was founded in 1866, and its mission is "to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States." It now has the right to make arrests in cases of animal cruelty. They have rescued horses, cows, dogs, cats, birds, and many other kinds of animals. Even some animals who are treated cruelly to make a "funny" YouTube video have led the society to contact the animals' owners.	Click on the picture and read about ASPCA Today's Video ASPCA Adoption Center Tour
I'm very happy to say that my mom and brother both help with the local animal shelter, in fostering and adopting dogs that need homes. Even though my mom is a senior citizen, she helps the animals instead of saying that she's "just too old". My brother volunteers many hours and is now helping them with their marketing efforts. Our daughter made a sizable contribution at Christmastime to help fulfill the shelter's need for food for the animals. This isn't really a holiday that I can say "Have a happy... " day. But finding out what each of us can do to help these helpless animals, we can make it a happy day for them.

Click on the picture and read about Ralph Jones' Woodworking Today's Video Basic Woodworking Tools for Beginners	April is Woodworking Month April is Woodworking Month. Maybe you have experienced the satisfaction that comes from creating something beautiful or useful from wood. My grandfather loved to work with wood, but instead of buying wood to build things with, he would visit churches which were being torn down, or those which were trading their pipe organ for an electric organ. Then he would take the wood that these organs and churches were built from and rebuild the pieces into new items. I have many pieces of furniture in my house which used to be pipe organs. Since I played the pipe organ for several years, and since it brings back fond memories of my grandpa, I really enjoy seeing the pieces he built. In fact, my computer is resting on top of a bookshelf he built. Who would have thought that a modern-day computer would rest on a piece of furniture made an antique organ! Maybe this is a good time for you to try your hand at a woodworking project. Today's website and video have plenty of good instruction for you! Happy Woodworking Month!

April 8 is Draw a Picture of a Bird Day Being able to express yourself creatively, whether through making music, dancing, writing or drawing is a very important part of life. I would love to be able to draw a bird, but the best I can do is to draw a V and say that it's a bird flying through the air, but it's up so high that we can't see any more of the bird's parts than just these two wings. Maybe if I use today's website and video, it will help me to be able to draw a bird. I think that since today is Draw a Picture of a Bird Day, we should all try it, even if it's only once, just to see what happens. Will you try it? Happy Draw a Picture of a Bird Day!	Click on the picture and find 5 Steps to Better Bird Drawing Today's Video Drawing From Nature : How to Draw Birds

Click on the picture and read about: Today Is No Housework Day - Really! Today's Video flylady mopless mopping	April 7 is No Housework Day Today is No Housework Day! Are you surprised? Can you do it? Sometimes, people get so wrapped up in the everyday tasks of keeping house that they either wear themselves out and become grumpy, or they forget the family they're cleaning the house for! Before I had children of my own, I was friends with a woman named Carol, and she had two little boys. I loved visiting her and playing with her kids. She was an excellent housekeeper, and no matter when I dropped in, her house was neat and clean.
After I had my own children, I ran into her at the mall. Her boys were grown and gone by that time. I asked her for the one best piece of advice she had for me, now that I was a mom. She said, "Your house will always be there, but your kids are only with you for a while." I never forgot her advice. Today's website has an interesting article on celebrating today's holiday, and the video is of a mom and her two children, mopping the floor, but in a fun way. If you find you really have to clean the floor today, here's a way to do it without really doing any housework. Happy NO Housework Day!

April 6 is Fresh Tomato Day With spring, we start to think about all the beautiful fresh fruits and vegetables we'll be able to enjoy throughout the growing season. One of the most popular garden plants is the tomato. I think you probably already heard that a tomato is a fruit. That may be, but you will definitely not see me slicing it on top of my cereal in the morning! When I was young, there were tomatoes in the garden behind our house. My brother and I loved to take the salt shaker out there with us, and eat the tomatoes right off the vine. Even though they were slightly warmed by the sun, the taste was out of this world! Enjoy the website and video about tomatoes, and have a wonderful Fresh Tomato Day! Happy Fresh Tomato Day!	Click on the picture and read about Tomatoes - How To Use Fresh Tomatoes - History of Tomatoes Today's Video Tomato Soup Recipe

Click on the picture and read about the DANDELION Today's Video EatTheWeeds: Episode 62: Dandelions	April 5 is Dandelion Day Happy Dandelion Day! I have to admit, most people here in America look at dandelions as weeds, and we do everything we can to get rid of them in our lawns. I can hardly imagine the guy in today's video trying to get them to grow in his yard! However, once he began to explain the many benefits of dandelions, and after reading today's website, I began to feel much more friendly toward these sunny yellow flowers.
I can remember every one of my children proudly picking these flowers and bringing me little bouquets of them. I had forbidden them from picking the other flowers in the yard, but they knew these were "legal" to pick. They were always so disappointed when, after only a few hours, they died. It seems that every part of the plant is useful in some way. I promise to be much more respectful of these useful little plants from now on! Happy Dandelion Day!

April is Math Education Month April is Math Education Month. Just imagine if we could only say, "Our team had more than their team." Or, "Add some oil to some eggs and then stir in some flour." I think many of our meals would be difficult to eat. Math education is as important as teaching people to read. Not knowing anything about math, or knowing very little, would make it impossible to function in this world of money, score-keeping, timetables and construction. Today's website is chock full of links to math resources. The video is an illustration of the concept of minus, or subtraction. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. It comes from the story of King Midas, who wished for everything he touched to turn to gold. King Minus has a different problem — everything he touches disappears! Enjoy the wonders of math this month!!	Click on the picture and find lots of Math Teacher Resources Today's Video Sesame Street - King Minus

Click on the picture and read 101 Guitar Tips Today's Video Ana Vidovic Guitar Artistry in Concert - Classical Guitar Performance DVD	April is International Guitar Month April is International Guitar Month. I'm pretty sure people in every country know what a guitar is, but today's website lists 101 tips regarding guitars! When I was in my twenties, I bought my first guitar. I took some lessons, and I enjoyed playing, but, unfortunately, I couldn't get used to making music with my hands palm up, instead of palm down like I had always done when playing the piano. My son, on the other hand, has learned to play acoustic guitar, electric guitar and bass guitar, among several other instruments. My youngest daughter also enjoys picking out tunes and chords on her guitar. Even if you don't plan on playing the guitar this month, be sure to watch today's video of a beautiful young woman playing an emotional piece on her guitar. I'm sure you'll enjoy it! Happy International Guitar Month!

April is Pets are Wonderful Month I once told my mom that I couldn't imagine life without a dog or a piano. Fortunately, there haven't been many times I had to be without either one! When I was a kid, my mom raised dachshund puppies. Some of my earliest memories involve little, yapping puppies chasing each other around our floor. I've also had several dogs of my own, as well as cats, birds, fish, rabbits, turtles, pollywogs, snails, gerbils, hermit crabs and lizards. So I think I can say, authoritatively, that pets are wonderful! There are many shelters that have pets just waiting for a home. If you haven't enjoyed the unconditional love of a pet, this is the month to give it a try! Happy Pets are Wonderful Month!	Click on the picture and find Cool Pet Facts Today's Video Why Kids Need Pets

Click on the picture and find the Top Ten Astronomy Pictures of 2007 Today's Video A Journey into Space. Amazing Space Video	April 1 is in Astronomy Week Happy Astronomy Week! It's easy to be happy when we're looking at amazing pictures and videos like the ones we have for you today. The stars, planets, moons... they're all so beautiful! I remember when I was about 13, I expressed an interest in astronomy, so my mom bought me a telescope. We had a balcony or porch off the back of our house, so I could go out there and look at the stars and planets nearly every clear night. We lived far out in the country, so there was no interference from the city lights. I still love seeing pictures of these beautiful sights and reading about new discoveries. Take the time to dream about other worlds, other galaxies. Enjoy the wonder of astronomy! Happy Astronomy Week!