Tag Archives: #AtoZChallenge

#AtoZChallenge – Donkey

Donkeys (asses) are domesticated members of the horse family.

donkey
photo taken by: en:User:Adrian Pingstone in July 2004 and released to the public domain

Male donkeys are called “jacks” and are sometimes bred with horses to create mules. Females are “jennys” and the young are “foals”.

Donkeys are often kept in fields with sheep to protect the sheep from predators such as wolves or coyotes.

Despite having a reputation of being stubborn, they can be willing and companionable partners.

donkey
By SleafordSue (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
In parts of the UK, tourists and locals alike can take donkey rides at the seaside.

 

#AtoZChallenge – Chipmunk

Chipmunks are members of the Sciuridae family. These small, striped rodents are primarily found in North America .

They primarily eat nuts, seeds and fruit and other plant matter.  Like their larger squirrel cousins, they have pouches on the insides of their cheeks so they can carry multiple items back to their larder in one trip.

Chipmunks can be coaxed to take food from humans and can be kept in captivity. In the wild, their life span is about three years but in captivity, they can live up to nine years.

chipmunk
By Gilles Gonthier from Canada [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

#AtoZChallenge – Badger

Badgers are short-legged, nocturnal omnivores that belong to the same family as otters, polecats, weasels and wolverines.

Some of the Eurasian badgers (like the one pictured below) can tip the scales at 40 pounds!

Badgers live in burrows called setts and many have been culled in Europe and the United Kingdom to prevent the spread of rabies and bovine TB.

They are fierce and will go to great extents to protect themselves and their young but can be tamed as kept as pets.

badger
By BadgerHero (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

#AtoZChallenge – Aardvark

Aardvarks are native to Africa. They’re a medium-sized, nocturnal mammal with a long pig-like snout, which they use to sniff out food. Their diet consists of ants and termites, dug out of their hills using their sharp claws and powerful legs. Their digging ability is also used to create burrows to live in and raise their offspring.

aardvark
By MontageMan is the author of the original image, I did the crop [CC BY 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

#AtoZChallenge – Z is for Zzzzzs

Zzzzzs

snoringAh… good night folks. This month has been a blast but this gal is tired and is off to catch some Zzzzzs.

I love my sleep and I don’t think I snore, although I have been told otherwise. Have also been told that when I fall asleep watching telly and the dog snores along with me, someone has to turn the volume up to hear over us. I don’t believe a word of it. I mean, I’ve never heard myself.

Hope you’ve enjoyed following my blog as I endeavoured to come up with interesting posts for each letter of the alphabet from A to Z.

 

#AtoZChallenge – Y is for Yo-Yo

Yo-Yo

I remember having a number of yo-yos throughout my childhood – wooden, plastic, large and small.

The one pictured below is similar to the ones I had that usually came once a year in a Christmas stocking.

wooden yo-yo
By XuliánConX (http://www.flickr.com/photos/xulianconx/824067292/) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Some people became extremely adept with their toys and learned to do all sorts of tricks with them from the basics like walk the dog, to the more complex like shoot the moon. I never quite mastered that so just up and down and the occasional flip of the wrist was the extent of my prowess.

There are even yo-yo competitions. So if you think you’re up to the challenge, get practising and maybe someday you’ll be off to the World Championships!

You can check out the various types of yo-yos at Duncan Toys.

#AtoZChallenge – X is for X marks the spot

X marks the spot

X marks the spot in treasure maps showing the location of the buried bounty. These treasure maps were a staple in pirate stories.

X marks the spot
Béria Lima [see page for license], via Wikimedia Commons
And come election time, don’t choose your candidate in the same way? An X beside their name kept within the confines of the circle, lest you spoil your ballot?

X marks the spot on the election ballot
By D’Arcy Norman from Calgary, Canada (democracy Uploaded by Skeezix1000) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Where else have you seen X marks the spot?

#AtoZChallenge – W is for Whitby

Whitby


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Located in North Yorkshire, England, Whitby lies along the coast of the North Sea. The River Esk bisects the seaside town – the West Cliff is the bustling town, and on the other side of the river (East Cliff) stands the Church of St Mary and the ruins of the Benedictine Abbey.

Whitby - Church of St Mary
Church of St Mary and churchyard
Whitby Abbey
Whitby Abbey

Captain Cook learned seamanship here and a statue commemorating him stands on the West Cliff near the Royal Hotel.

Whitby - statue of Captain Cook
J3Mrs at en.wikipedia [CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
In addition to the statue of Captain Cook, nearby is a whalebone arch to signify the town’s whaling history.

Whitby - whalebone arch

But that’s not all… the town has a connection to Bram Stoker. It’s claimed that it was this location that inspired his novel – Dracula, although the Scots would disagree as they feel it was Cruden Bay in Aberdeenshire and the ruins of Slains Castle… but that’s another story.

And if you’re looking for some really unique jewellery, you have to visit the Whitby Jet Store.

#AtoZChallenge – V is for Vichyssoise

Vichyssoise

A French potato and leek soup served cold or heated.

vichyssoise
By BocaDorada (Flickr) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
How to make Vichyssoise…

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter
3 leeks, bulb only, sliced into rings
1 onion, sliced
5 potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 bay leaf
5 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions

  1. In a large stock pot melt butter over low heat. Add leeks and onion, cover, and cook for 10 minutes.
  2. Add potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Add thyme, marjoram, bay leaf and stir well. Cover pot and continue to cook for 12 minutes.
  3. Add chicken stock and bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook, partially covered for 30 minutes.
  4. Puree soup in blender or food processor and cool.
  5. Prior to serving add cream. If you are serving this soup warm you need to reheat the soup slowly so that the cream does not change consistency.