‘Pancake Day’ on Tues. Guns in Nat. Parks?

What is an English Pancake?

“A pancake is a thin, flat cake, made of batter and fried in a pan.
The photograph shows a pancake
being cooked in a frying pan.
Caster sugar (superfine sugar) is sprinkled over the top and a dash of fresh lemon juice added. The pancake is then rolled. Some people add golden syrup or jam. “
“These are traditionally eaten in the UK on Shrove Tuesday, but they are nice at any time of year.

Ingredients (Makes about eight "thin" pancakes)

240g/8oz plain white flour
Two eggs
½ litre / 1pt milk
Small pinch of salt
Unsalted butter for frying
Serve with anything you like, but I recommend melted butter with lemon and sugar or maple syrup with ice cream.

Method

1. Whisk together the milk,eggs and salt.
2. Fold in the sieved flour a little at a time, and whisk until smooth.
3. Heat a small amount of butter in a frying pan until it almost starts to smoke.
4. Pour in enough batter to thinly coat the bottom of the pan.
5. Cook until it reaches a light golden brown colour, then turn pancake over and cook the other side to the same point.
Note : the first pancake will be a disaster – it always is. It is known in our house as “one for the dog” and serves to season the pan. Don’t worry, all the rest will cook OK and come out in one piece.
For a lighter, crispier batter use ½ milk and ½ beer!”
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PANCAKE RACES:

“In the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and several other countries around the world, Pancake Day is celebrated with fun, games, and of course a lot of eating. However, the most well known activity on this day is the Pancake Day race at Olney in Buckinghamshire, England which has been held since 1445.

It all began when a woman was cooking pancakes on Shrove Tuesday to use up all of her perishables before Lent. While she was still cooking she heard the chiming of the bells summoning her to church. Not wanting to be late, the woman ran to church with her apron on and the frying pan still in her hand. Little did she know that this would start a tradition that would be around for over 500 years!

Only women are allowed to participate in this race. (This has since changed, equality, you know!)  They must run a designated path with a frying pan and end up at the church. They must have a hot pancake in the frying pan which they must flip at least three times before they complete the race.
The first woman to complete the race and arrive at church with the pancake is declared the winner. She then serves the pancake to the bellringer and is rewarded with a kiss from the bellringer called the “Kiss of Peace”. This race still occurs in several cities. “
From: http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/shrove.html
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Well, if you think people might ask you what a "Shrove" is, think of the blank looks you'll get when you inform them that it is "Collop Monday."

When is Collop Monday

Collop Monday is a moveable date but is always the Monday before Shrove Tuesday and although it's not clear exactly when it came into being, it was probably devised by Christians during the Medieval period. 
Also known as Shrove Monday, it was traditionally the last day to cook and eat meat before Lent. It has to be remembered that there was no refrigeration, so it is likely that the only meat available at that time of year would be smoked or salted - usually bacon or ham”.
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Then there is the free-for-all Shrovetide football game in Ashbourne, Derbyshire:
"Each year on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, Ashbourne becomes a war zone! The majority of the ablebodied men, women and children take to the streets to play what is probally the largest football game in the world! - The two teams number in the hundreds, and the playing field is 3 miles long, 2 miles wide and has the town of Ashbourne in the middle!

Shops are boarded up, only an idiot (or an unsuspecting visitor!) would park his or her car anywhere in the town!"  More:   http://www.ashbourne-town.com/events/football.html
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This morning I watched the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics on a video. Golly, the technology is more than this old great grandma can comprehend!
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=f78bd159-75b8-42e8-b726-ee4b702d53e6.html
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Loaded firearms soon to be okay in many National Parks

“Will you soon see a tourist with a six-shooter on his hip alongside other tourists at Mather Point overlooking the Grand Canyon? It's entire possible.
Beginning February 22, 2010 a new gun law will go into effect in America's national park areas. The new law, passed last spring by an bipartisan vote in the U.S. Senate, will allow people to possess, carry and transport firearms in national parks, in accordance with state law. The new law repeals a National Park Service rule that has long prohibited Americans from possessing firearms in national parks for self-defense.” From":
http://www.nationalparkvisitor.com/2010/02/concealed-firearms-soon-to-be-okay-in.html
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Still a cold day.
P.S:  at 3.30 PM:
When I posted this, it was still cold.  It warmed up considerably, so I opened all the windows, and let the cats out on the screen porch.

Also, since posting, I have been to lunch in the next town with my ex-daughter-in-law, Becky, her 7 month old son; her grown up son, with his son; and her parents at a Mexican Restaurant.     Michelle, ( Becky's daughter), my youngest granddaughter, was not there, being a teenager she "had plans", but she did call me to wish me Happy Valentines.   (Valentines is not a good day for us, as it is the 4th anniversary of my oldest granddaughter being killed by a dam drunk driver.) 
Becky made me this little posy of flowers and edibles in a little trinket box.  That is my sweet foster cat, Prime.    Becky's parents are going to Alaska this summer, so we had a lot to talk about.

We all had a great reunion today.