Did You Know?
Did You Know There Is A Lost State Named Franklin?
As I mentioned in last week’s DYK, after the Revolutionary War, North Carolina (NC) claimed the land to its west. But this action came with complications, namely frontier settlers. The settlers complained about the lack of protection and the way their problems were...
Did You Know the State of Tennessee is Now 225 Years Old?
There are many interesting facts, stories, and legends about Tennessee. In honor of my adopted state’s 225th birthday, I’ve decided to share some of them with you this month. Today, let’s look at a few interesting facts from Tennessee's history. Early History...
Did You Know “Gift ” Can Be Spelled J__RN_L?
Last Friday I happened to catch Wheel of Fortune. I don’t watch it often, but when I do, it’s always fun to try and solve the puzzles before the contestants. That night, the final puzzle, which the contestant and I both answered correctly, was “Keeping a Journal.”...
Did You Know A Nut Changed the USA? (Part 2)
Who doesn’t love Peanut Butter? Well, besides people with nut allergies, that is. As we discovered in last week’s Part 1, North Americans were some of the last people to get the peanut plant. So you shouldn't be surprised to learn: We didn’t invent peanut butter. (The...
Did You Know A Nut Changed the USA? (Part 1)
Like the honeybee, the peanut plant is not native to North America. But it did originate in the Americas, just somewhere in South America, most likely Peru or Brazil. Spreading the Peanuts There is evidence that peanuts were around as far back as 1,500 BC....
Did You Know These “Did You Know” Facts About Today’s Mother’s Day Holiday?
If you’re like me and don’t live near your mom, you’ll have to call her to wish her a “Happy Mother’s Day.” Did you know no other day sees as many calls as Mother’s Day? Last year, the number of calls on just this one day was about 122 million. I wonder what the...
Did You Know There’s More to Mother’s Day Than Just Flowers?
Tomorrow is Mother’s Day. Do you know the history behind it? It began with the ancient Greeks and Romans. They honored their mother goddesses with festivals. Fast-forward to the sixteenth century and you’ll find “Mothering Sunday.” This was a Christian holiday...
Did You Know You’ve Never Heard About This Incredible Journey?
Almost two hundred years ago today (196 years on May 4, to be precise), an incredible journey came to an end. At least, it’s incredible by today’s standards. The Background In 1824, as the United States of America approached its fiftieth anniversary, national...
Did You Know Some Candleholders Did More Than Hold Candles?
Have you ever heard of a Courting Candle? I hadn’t. Not until a recent visit to a local museum. According to the museum’s exhibit, a father used a courting candle to limit the length of time a suitor could spend with his daughter. When the candle burned down to the...
Did You Know There Is a Lot More To Know About Honey? (Part 2)
Continuing my unexpectedly long Honey “Did You Know?” (DYK), here are some interesting food and cooking facts. Cooking and Eating Honey DYK honey is the only food that will not spoil and does not need refrigeration as long as it is in a sealed container? DYK...