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Click on the picture and read all about the Macaroon Today's Video How to make Coconut Macaroons - Recipe by Laura Vitale - Laura in the Kitchen Episode 77	May 31 is National Macaroon Day Today is National Macaroon Day. Do you love coconut? Then you'll love macaroons, at least, American macaroons. To be honest, I had never heard of the macaroons made with almonds until we researched this topic. I've never had that kind, but I definitely love the coconut macaroons that we have here. Today's website is a very interesting Wikipedia article which explains the history of macaroons. It seems that there are many variations, and they're popular in many different countries. As you know, Betty is one of my favorite cooks and we feature her videos very often. But today's video is one of my new favorites, Laura Vitale. When you watch the video, I think you'll agree with me. Happy National Macaroon Day!

May 30 is in Old-time Player Piano Week Have you ever owned or listened to a player piano? There just something about the music they usually play that makes it impossible not to tap your toes and smile. Sometimes they are found in restaurants or museums, and for a quarter (that's 25¢) you can choose a tune to hear. Today's video is of a player piano that even has drums installed underneath. Then, the website is of a man with his mother, who learned to play the piano on a player piano. It's a rather long video, but if you can find the time, it's really precious to see the relationship between this man and his mom. You can also see how a player piano can generate happiness just by the music it plays. Have a musical Old-time Player Piano Week!	Click on the picture and read Rhythm On The Rock productions. Videos - The Old-Time Player Piano! Today's Video Player Piano at Falls Mill

Click on the picture and read the 10 Steps for Boosting Creativity Today's Video What is Creativity - Brian Tracy	May 28 is Creative Beginnings Month Is there something you've always wanted to do, but never took or made the time? Maybe this is the month you've been waiting for. This month is Creative Beginnings Month. Did someone tell you that you're no good at painting, or singing, or writing, or dancing, or inventing? Well, how do they know? Have you ever tried those things? Maybe, even if you tried them before, you'd be good at them now, because it's a different time in your life. Many children lose their creativity because of being squeezed into the mold of "normalcy". What a shame! I wonder how many artists, authors, composers, or inventors society has lost in those children. Don't let anyone tell you you can't do something. If you have the desire, and the imagination, you can at least give it a try. And that's a "creative beginning"!

May 27 is International Jazz Day Happy International Jazz Day! Listening to today's video will get your toes tapping for sure! The video features a great jazz pianist, Dave Brubeck. When I was 15, I went to a music academy, and I was fortunate enough to go to school with Dave's children. They were just as talented as he is. It was phenomenal to have him joining us in the cafeteria during his visits to his kids. The website will give you many things to read and listen to. Even if jazz is not your favorite type of music, you'll find the history and sound clips interesting, I'm sure. As they say, "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!"	Click on the picture and read all about the History of Jaz Today's Video Dave Brubeck Quartet - It's A Raggy Waltz

Click on the picture and find Interesting Shoe Facts and Tidbits Today's Video Walk a Mile In My Shoes	May 26 is in National Shoe Week Fortunately, we can wear shoes even when it's not National Shoe Week. But this week it's time to think about the things that support us, protect us, and keep our toes safe all the time. There are more styles of shoes than there are styles of people. I used to wear four-inch heels every day. Then, as my age went up, my heel height went down. Now, you can imagine how flat my shoes are! Seriously, though, I hope you enjoy the interesting facts in today's website, and the video is a classic Elvis song. Walk a Mile in My Shoes is a wonderful thought, and worth remembering. Happy National Shoe Week!

May 25 is Sweet Vidalia Onion Month Do you love onions? It seems that people either love or hate them. It's true that they make us cry, but to eat them is to forgive them! When my daughter was very little, she enjoyed eating an onion like an apple. As long as it was peeled, she would just hold it in her hand and take a big bite! Now that's lovin' onions! I could actually eat a whole skillet full of sautéed onions. Even better would be to add some garlic cloves and mushroom slices. Along with the olive oil they're sautéed in, this is a special, healthy treat! Today's website is a fascinating look at a research center, and the website is filled with Vidalia onion recipes. Bon appetit!	Click on the picture and read all about The Vidalia Onion Story Today's Video Vidalia Onion Research - Georgia Farm Monitor

Click on the picture and read all about the Royal Tiaras of the Ladies of the United Kingdom Today's Video Make a Tiara, Threadbanger Projects	May 24 is Tiara Day When I was a child, there was a TV program called "Queen for a Day". It was always exciting to see who would be chosen, and the wonderful things they got to do. Of course, they always wore a tiara. Every little girl dreams of being a princess, and that, also, requires a tiara. Today is Tiara Day, so that's a great time to watch today's video on how to make your own tiara. Perhaps you can get some ideas from the website, showing many of the tiaras of the royalty in the UK. Even if no one is looking, you can wear a tiara today and feel like a princess all day long! Have a royal Tiara Day!

May 23 is World Turtle Day Turtles are one of those animals that fascinate most children and some adults. They teach us patience and the value of perseverance. When I was young, I spent almost every weekend with my grandparents. My grandpa would find turtles in their yard, and he'd help me devise nice little homes for them out of shoe boxes or wooden boxes. We would always give them a "swimming pool" and a ramp to lie on when sunning themselves. They almost always got away, too!	Click on the picture and read Ten Tips for Safe Turtle Watching on World Turtle Day Today's Video Cute Baby Turtles Released in Wild
Now, people realize that it is inadvisable to have a turtle for a pet. But it's great to be able to find them in the wild, just to connect with this wonderful type of creature for a few minutes. There are several turtles in the swampy area along Muskegon's bike path. The county has even installed some fencing along the highway to keep them from accidentally trying to cross and getting hit. I like that! Wish any turtles you see today a Happy World Turtle Day!

Click on the picture and read all about Modern Dance Today's Video Shed, a Romeo and Juliet story	May is Modern Dance Month Modern Dance is often misunderstood by people. I think that anytime new things come about, they're at first disliked, just because they're new. When Beethoven began composing, his music was seen as too modern, too different from what had been composed before. Modern dance isn't exactly "new", having started dozens of years ago, but it's not traditional, like ballet. It's a completely different form of self-expression. Today's website explains a lot about modern dance, and the video is a beautiful expression of a story based on Romeo and Juliet. Please take a few minutes to watch with an open mind, just to let something a little different into your life. It's good for all of us to expand our minds into new areas now and then. Wishing you a beautiful Modern Dance Month!

May 20 is National Quiche Lorraine Day How could I not celebrate National Quiche Lorraine Day? It's one of my favorite meals, and besides that, I'm pretty good at making it. Often when we get together with other family members, they ask me to make quiche. It's extremely versatile! My rule of thumb is to use one kind of vegetable, besides onion, of course, and one kind of meat, like sausage or bacon. For a vegetarian quiche, just substitute another vegetable for the meat. At the end of the baking time, the quiche puffs way up and kind of lifts out of the pan. Then, when I take it out of the oven, it gentle settles back down. It's very dramatic, and I love that about it!	Click on the picture and find Julie´s Quiche Lorraine recipe Today's Video Betty's Simple and Elegant Quiche Lorraine Recipe
The website for today is... you guessed it, Betty's Kitchen! Her method is a little different than mine, but it still looks delicious. Most of the quiche recipes call for cream or milk, but I learned that that can make eggs tough, so I use water, and I think that's why mine is so light and fluffy. Today's website is a copy of my recipe, just in case you want to try it. So if you want to serve an elegant dish, that is surprisingly easy to make, try quiche! Today's the day! Happy National Quiche Lorraine Day!

Click on the picture and find 101 Garage Sale Tips For Sellers Today's Video How to have a successful garage sale or yard sale	May 19 is National Garage Sale Day Is a garage sale when you sell your garage? No, it's when you sell what is in your garage. And in your basement, and in your attic, and in your storage areas. Usually, items sell for $.10 to $50.00. Sometimes large pieces of furniture or cars sell for more. In America, especially at this time of year, garage sales pop up like the dandelions in our yards. If you go to garage sales in ritzy neighborhoods, you can buy some very nice clothing for yourself or your kids. Some people buy most of their home decor and clothing at garage sales. My mother-in-law clothed 8 children and furnished her household from garage sales. She really knew how to shop and how to organize so she could hit all the best sales before noon. Today's website gives you all the details on having a successful garage sale, and the video rounds that out with some very good advice, too. Have a lucrative National Garage Sale Day!

May 18 is Visit Your Relatives Day There's a popular children's book entitled, Are You My Mother?. It's just a simple book that tells about a newly-hatched bird who is looking for its mother. When my brother got older, every time our mom did something crazy, he would ask her, "Are you my mother?" It got to be a very funny family joke. It's not always easy to identify our family relatives, and how they're related to use. (Maybe sometimes we don't want to admit that they're related at all!) Today's website offers a great explanation of "third cousin twice removed" and all those tricky connections.	Click on the picture and find all about Retracing Our Family Legacy Today's Video Family Quotes
Today is Visit Your Relatives Day. Nowadays, families don't live close together like they used to. And families are busier than they used to be, too. But thanks to the internet, we can keep in touch through social networking, Skype, online photo albums, and email. Sometimes that's the best we can do. But face to face, hug-to-hug visits are great, too. So if possible, why not visit your relatives today, or maybe this weekend? Family is important, as today's video explains. Please tell everyone that I said "Hi!"

Click on the picture and find all about How to Celebrate National Salad Month Today's Video Healthy Cooking: Southwest Salad Recipe	May is National Salad Month Well, winter is (cross your fingers!) completely behind us. Finally! Now it's time for fresh foods to begin showing up in the grocery store. As the weather gets warmer, our tastes tend to change from nice, warm soups to nice, cool salads. I think that's why May is National Salad Month. You probably don't need any recipes to make regular salads, full of cool, crisp vegetables. Some people like their vegetables finely diced, some like them almost whole. Some like salad dressings, croutons, sunflower seeds, chopped hard-boiled eggs and other goodies on top. Others like just a light drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a splash of vinegar - maybe one of those delicious, herb-infused vinegars.
Today's video features a cook that's new to the ELE holidays. Sometimes you have expressed your desire to listen to people who speak a little faster. This one speaks faster than Betty, one of our frequent guests on ELE, but not so fast that you can't understand her. As in all the holidays, these videos are excellent listening practice. The website is delightful, and has many great salad-celebrating ideas. Have a delicious National Salad Month!

May 16 is Biographers Day Have you ever wanted to write the story of your life? Then you would write an autobiography. That's a book written by the person portrayed in the book. If someone else writes a book about you, then it's a biography. Either way, I'll bet it would be very interesting! I believe that everyone has a story to tell. There is a special event in everyone's life that would help us all to learn more about the person and about life. Why not try to write about something in your life? Today's website gives tips on writing a biography, and the video is from the person biographer of the Royal Family. It's fascinating to hear him talk about that family and how he has brought out their personalities for all of us to learn from. Go ahead, just write the first few sentences. It's getting started that is the most difficult. Have a wonderful Biographers' Day! Have a wonderful Biographers' Day!	Click on the picture and find all about How to Write a Biography Today's Video Author Andrew Morton talks about writing biographies

Click on the picture and find out all about National Bike Month Today's Video National Bike Month	May is National Bike Month Do you remember the moment you first learned to ride a bicycle without any help? Being able to balance on only 2 wheels, the rhythmic round-and-round of your legs creating the energy to move the bike along, the feel of the breeze on your face and in your hair - there's nothing that quite equals this exhilarating experience. Before I married my husband, I would ride every morning to the local restaurant, about 2 miles away, and be there when the restaurant opened at 6 am. I was early enough to see the sunrise, to hear the birds waking up and beginning their songs, and to be completely awake and ready to start my day with some reading and a bran muffin at the restaurant, the Rainbow Grill.
After I had my first child, I got a child seat for the back of my bike, and since my son was a very early riser, he was happy to accompany me to the restaurant. We would often take the long way home after breakfast, to enjoy the ride for just a little longer. I know many of you ride, or used to ride, a bike. This is the perfect month to get back "in the saddle" and go for a bike ride! Happy National Bike Month!

May 13 is Tulip Day How perfect to have Tulip Day during this time of the month of May. The tulips are all blooming right now, and they look beautiful against the spring green of the new grass and the new leaves on the trees. Every year, in a town only about an hour from my city, there is a tulip festival called Tulip Time. People come from all over the world to see the tulips, the Dutch dancers, and wooden shoe factory, and the Dutch village. It is a very important tourist time for the city of Holland, which was originally settled by people from the Netherlands. Children are actually excused from school to practice the Klompen dancing and to perform during Tulip Time. Take a look at the tulips from Tulip Time last year in our video, and explore the origin of these beautiful flowers in today's website. Happy Tulip Day!	Click on the picture and find Tulips Facts and Trivia Today's Video Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival 2010

Click on the picture and find Information About Migratory Birds Today's Video Bird Migration - Texas Parks and Wildlife [Official]	May 12 is Migratory Bird Day Migratory birds are so amazing, it's hard to comprehend how they have the stamina and intuition to make these journeys each year. I always love seeing a flock of geese overhead, flying south for the winter. Their honking can be heard several minutes before they can be seen. Then again, in the spring, they return to our area with the same noisy announcement. It is traditional in Michigan to consider the sight of the first robin as a definite sign of spring. Robins are absent all winter, so we are eager to see their cheery little red-breasted bodies hopping around in the grass. The website and video for today are very interesting. If you like learning about birds, today's your lucky day! Happy Migratory Bird Day!

May 11 is Jigsaw Puzzle Day Today is Jigsaw Puzzle Day! It seems that some people love these puzzles, and some people really don't like them. My mom used to keep a "puzzle in progress" on a card table in our living room, and when we had a few minutes, or were waiting for our ride to pick us up, we would put in a piece or two. It was a great, quick stress buster. I know some people don't have a lot of room, so I wanted to show you a way to do your puzzles right on your computer. Now you can't glue these together once they're finished, because that would really mess up your monitor screen, but you have to give up something to gain something else. ;) The video will show you how to finish up those last pieces that all look alike. Happy puzzling!	Click on the picture and find TheJigsawPuzzles.com Today's Video Jigsaw Puzzles -- how to solve your puzzle easily when all the pieces look the same!

Click on the picture and find 9 Branding Tips For Small Businesses Today's Video 5 steps to starting a business	May 10 is National Small Business Day In today's economy, many people are finding themselves out of a job. Because it's so difficult to find another one, some people are deciding that it's a good time to begin that business they've always dreamed of beginning. If you or someone you know is thinking of that, today, National Small Business Day, is the perfect time to gather some knowledge on the subject. Today's website gives you some important branding information, and the video is more general on how to begin a business. My father began his first job as a door-to-door baker's assistant at the age of 12. He started several businesses in his lifetime, and developed them until they were successful enough to sell, then started another one. I got my inspiration from him. I began my own business as a piano teacher when I was 16, and have worked independently for the last 25 years. Happy National Small Business Day!

May is in National Strawberry Month May is National Strawberry Month. Don't you just love these juicy, red, delicious berries? Besides the tulips and daffodils, seeing strawberries come to the farmer's market is another sign that spring has arrived! When my daughter was growing up, she would always ask for a strawberry cake for her birthday, which is in the first week of June. I always made a Bundt cake with white frosting and sliced strawberries all over the top. The birthday candles fit perfectly inside the slices. When Alvin was growing up, he and his 7 brothers and sisters would go berry picking. After a hot day in the strawberry fields, they would come home and his mother would make strawberry shortcake for dinner. That's right, it was the main dish! And do you know what? I'm lucky enough to have him for a husband, and he does the cooking, and you know what that means... we have strawberry shortcake for the main dish at least twice during strawberry season! Heaven! Have a delicious National Strawberry Month!	Click on the picture and find Strawberries facts and trivia Today's Video Stuffed Strawberries

Click on the picture and find Photo Tips & Techniques Today's Video Top Digital Photography tips: Arranging Your Shot	May is National Photo Month It begins with the babies. Especially a person's first baby. There are pictures of the baby smiling, crying, sleeping, being awake, looking to the right, looking to the left, and on and on. After a few weeks, we wait at least 24 hours before taking some more photos. This pictorial history of a person's life continues through many holidays and special events. Digital cameras have made picture-taking faster and more affordable. Remember when we had to buy a roll of film, then after 24 or 48 pictures, we had to take them to be developed and wait maybe a week? I can still remember the excitement when Meijers offered 24-hour developing and printing.
This month is National Photo Month. What a perfect time to organize your boxes of photos into scrapbooks or digital scrapbooks like Picasa. You might want to create web albums to share with family and friends. And don't forget to add some new pictures. Have a fun family day and go to the beach or another special place and take lots and lots of pictures. When you go through them, you'll undoubtedly have some that are keepers! Happy National Photo Month! Say cheese!

May 6 is in National Computer Education Week Obviously, if you're reading this, you know how to use a computer. Can you imagine how empty your life would be if you couldn't read these daily holiday articles each day? Of course, I'm just teasing you. There are many more important uses for your computer. I'm so glad I decided to buy a computer when I was homeschooling my children. In fact, I felt that it was so important, that I sold my piano to have the money to buy a computer. When I went to pick it up, the man told me that the mouse was in the box. I told him, in a disgusted tone of voice, to please get it out! I had never heard of a computer mouse, and I was not interested in having a rodent in my house! Fortunately, I have learned a lot since then. Now, without computer education, I would never have met the wonderful people who are part of my life! That means this is a very important week! Today's website and video will give you more information, some from a very basic viewpoint, just in case you want to brush up on your computer skills. Happy National Computer Education Week!	Click on the picture and find a great site about Computer Education Today's Video Computer Basics

Click on the picture and Art find a museum Project Powered by Google Today's Video Arts: Guggenheim Museum Turns 50 -- NYTimes.com/Video	May 5 is Museum Lover's Day Are you a museum lover? Last year, we had a memorable trip to the Grand Rapids Public Museum with eight friends of ELE. It's the same museum that I went to with my grandpa when I was around 6-8 years old. We would walk there; I guess it was about 3 miles. He wore a big, long coat, and he would hold my hand and then put both of our hands in his big, coat pocket. We would look at all the displays, and he would tell me about each one, adding his own ideas and commentary. Today's video is about the museum of Frank Lloyd Wright. There's a house that he designed right in my home town! He is one of my favorite architects. The website gives you the chance to see inside many museums around the world. So even if you can't leave the house today, you can celebrate Museum Lover's Day right here in the daily holiday. Have fun!

May 4 is Baseball League Day Of course, this is the perfect month for Baseball League Day. Spring is when the teams begin their training, often in Florida, Arizona or some other warm state. Shortly after that, the season gets underway. Summer and baseball are almost synonyms. Then add the hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, and other concession stand treats, and you know for sure summer is here. Today's website is a great explanation of the leagues, and the videos shows the greatest play of all time! It's simply amazing! Batter up for Baseball League Day!	Click on the picture and find everything about Major League Baseball (History and Overview) Today's Videos Greatest Baseball Play Of ALL TIME!

Click on the picture and find the Basic Guidelines for Seasoning with Herbs and Spices Today's Videos How to Plant a Potted Herb Garden	May 3 is in National Herb Week Have you ever seasoned something with fresh herbs? Then you know how delightful it can be. Just imagine if you had an herb garden right near your kitchen? Some people grow little pots of herbs in their kitchen window. Others have an entire herb garden just outside the kitchen door, using part of their yard to plant the herbs they love best. Today's video will show you how to plant several types of herbs in one pot, making a sort of berb garden in a very small space. Then the website will give you some ideas for using those herbs to make the dishes you cook extra special! Happy National Herb Week!

May 2 is in National Wildflower Week Wildflowers - nature's free flower garden! One of my favorite things about road trips is seeing all the wildflowers along the highway's edge. Every season has its favorites. Some are singled out as specimens, others create a blanket of color that is simply breathtaking. My husband and I love wildflowers so much that we used them for our wedding. We had some delicate blue flowers, some small purple ones, and some lacy white Queen Anne's lace. They made beautiful bouquets, and we had a great time gathering them together just before the wedding. Enjoy National Wildflower Week!	Click on the picture and read all about Wildflowers Today's Videos Northern Spring Wildflowers

Click on the picture and read about The Real Mother Goose Today's Videos Walt Disney - The Truth About Mother Goose (1/2) - 1957 Walt Disney - The Truth About Mother Goose (2/2) - 1957	May 1 is Mother Goose Day The first poetry most children are exposed to is Mother Goose rhymes. They often seem a little nonsensical, but if you watch today's videos, you'll hear all about the history behind these seemingly innocent rhymes. I think it's best if we don't tell our children about the background of these poems too early! There are many, many versions of Mother Goose rhymes. Most of them have also been set to song. When my children were small, one of our favorites was Wee Willy Winkie. I'm not sure why. I guess just because it had a nice sound to it when I said it to them. Have fun on this Mother Goose Day, finding out more about this woman who has been introduced to probably most children in the world.