Just because we’re stuck at home doesn’t mean we can’t learn all kinds of things!
- There’s no scientific evidence that an epsom salt bath relieves muscle pain. (I’m not going to bother spending money on epsom salts after reading this article, but there’s nothing wrong with an epsom salt bath if you enjoy it.)
2. The term “vaccine” comes from the Latin word for cow (“vacca”) because the first vaccine used cowpox (vaccinia virus) to inoculate against smallpox. The meaning of the term expanded after Louis Pasteur used it for a rabies antidote. (I find this so interesting; read more here.)
3. I tried a weighted blanket for three nights this month, hopeful that it would change my life, but instead I tossed and turned and flung it off. (I also had vivid dreams, but I’m not sure that’s related!) It was expensive, so if it doesn’t help us sleep better we’re going to return it. 🙁
4. I think I finally understand the different types of wheat flour. Cake flour is the lowest in protein (gluten) so it makes the tenderest baked goods. Pastry flour comes next, followed by all-purpose. Bread flour is the highest in protein, which is good for developing the texture of bread. There’s also a specialty flour labeled “00” which is used in pizza and pasta; it is high in protein but more finely ground than bread flour so it absorbs much less water.
5. You can make almond brittle in the microwave!
6. I didn’t know crocuses came in so many colour variations. We found six different shades of yellow, purple, and white (including striped) around our house this spring.
7. I was looking through a pocket book of wildflowers and surprised that it didn’t have dogtooth violets since they are abundant in the woods. Turns out they are also called trout lilies.
8. I looked at a magnolia tree up close for the first time and the buds are big, fuzzy, and grey. (This sounds lame but the fuzzy buds are so endearing, and they should be opening soon!)
9. Phonetic symbolism is the idea that the sound of a word conveys meaning (apart from its definition). If this intrigues you, watch this short video.
Striped crocuses? That makes me so happy. 😊
Loved the phonetic symbolism video. Takes me back to my college days, for sure. I remember discussing English suffixes, and why some are very productive/commonly used, while others are fairly rare, even though they have a definite meaning. An example was -let, as in booklet or piglet. We all deduce that -let is a diminutive, so why don’t we say doglet, boylet, etc.? As you know, in our family there are rabbitlets, because of that long-ago semantics class.
I’ve been curious about weighted blankets; sorry it didn’t work for you, but good to know that they aren’t a cure-all.