​Part 2 – Plants That Grow in Pots:  Like vegetables! That’s what I was thinking of when I decided to put up this post in December.  Fresh vegetables are great to have anytime, but especially in the winter when nothing grows up north. But inside in a pot, plants can grow and thrive. ​

​Back in August I got an email from Jen Stark, from Happy DIY Home.com. She had a link she hoped I’d share. Her turn came up this month, and it struck me that gifting someone with plants for Christmas, might make the perfect gift. If you have kids, growing vegetables is a great way to grow responsibility too, and your kids get to eat their profits.
 
The title of Jen’s post – 16 EASY VEGETABLES TO GROW IN POTS. They include – beans, beets, carrots, chard, chili pepper, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, spinach, tomatoes, zucchinis. That’s a lot of growing you can do when it’s freezing outside.
Jen’s Link: https://happydiyhome.com/easy-vegetables-to-grow-in-pots/
 
I must warn you – some vegetables are easier to grow than others. Lettuces and greens are easy-peasy. So are peppers. If you go to Jen’s link, it will tell you what size pot you need for each plant, and what kind of light they need based on your location. Some vegetables are climbers. They’ll need something to climb, like a trellis. The one I would never do inside – pumpkins. A friend tried a few pumpkin seeds, and they took over her whole backyard.  I’d hate to put one in a pot.
 
Tomorrow – your easy button – the most successful plants to grow inside during the winter.

Part 1 – Plants for Decoration:  When I came up with this title, I didn’t think of the plants pictured below. I thought of the kind you plant . . . then eat. But now . . . that’s part 2.
​
We buy special plants to decorate our homes at Christmas. Do you recognize any of these? The first two are flowers. The last two can either be bushes or trees.

First up is the Christmas Rose – I only recognize it from the Christmas Eve hymn. Its English title – “Lo, how a rose e’er blooming. I didn’t know it was composed in Germany. To learn more about this old hymn, click here: Es ist ein Ros entsprungen - Wikipedia.  Don’t worry! The link is written in English.

The second flower is the one I think of when I think Christmas – the Poinsettia. They’re also called the Christmas Star. A lot of people buy them in November and December. I never do – I hate to kill plants! If someone gives me one, they only last a month or two, and then they die. Poor plant! I think it’s kinder for me NOT to buy one.

The third plant, Holly. I didn’t know there were 18 different kinds. I can’t decide what I like better – the waxy leaves, or the red berries. They look great in your yard, and they grow year-round without needing a lot of care. But whatever you do, don’t eat the berries – they’re poisonous! If you love the way they look, use them for decoration, or save them for your local birds . . . They’re safe for them to eat, and they love the taste.

The last one is everyone’s favorite – the Christmas tree. Some people buy artificial ones. Others go out to the woods to chop theirs down. Still others go to the store and buy one to decorate in December. If you’re into the environment, you could even buy one for Christmas, and then plant it in your yard. If you did it every year, you’d wind up with your own small forest of evergreens.



​Part 2 – Plants That Grow in Pots:  Like vegetables! That’s what I was thinking of when I decided to put up this post in December.  Fresh vegetables are great to have anytime, but especially in the winter when nothing grows up north. But inside in a pot, plants can grow and thrive. 

Back in August I got an email from Jen Stark, from Happy DIY Home.com. She had a link she hoped I’d share. Her turn came up this month, and it struck me that gifting someone with plants for Christmas, might make the perfect gift. If you have kids, growing vegetables is a great way to grow responsibility too, and your kids get to eat their profits.
 
The title of Jen’s post – 16 EASY VEGETABLES TO GROW IN POTS. They include – beans, beets, carrots, chard, chili pepper, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, spinach, tomatoes, zucchinis. That’s a lot of growing you can do when it’s freezing outside.
Jen’s Link: https://happydiyhome.com/easy-vegetables-to-grow-in-pots/
 
I must warn you – some vegetables are easier to grow than others. Lettuces and greens are easy-peasy. So are peppers. If you go to Jen’s link, it will tell you what size pot you need for each plant, and what kind of light they need based on your location. Some vegetables are climbers. They’ll need something to climb, like a trellis. The one I would never do inside – pumpkins. A friend tried a few pumpkin seeds, and they took over her whole backyard.  I’d hate to put one in a pot.
 
Tomorrow – your easy button – the most successful plants to grow inside during the winter.

Started 11/20                                      Finished 11/29
This could be the first book in a new series! It has great characters and an interesting premise. Claire is a librarian from Texas whose fiancee walks out on her at their weddding rehearsal. Claire takes her honeymoon to New York anyway and discovers the presence of magic. She even winds up helping to decide who will rule the wizards of New York. There’s a guy, a cute one of course. I can’t give away the ending, but I can tell you that Claire’s research skills come in handy. Would you believe there’s a magical library inside the Main one in New York? You know the one with the lions? If this becomes a series, I’ll be waiting and watching for the next book, Fingers crossed!
​
Amazon’s Description:
The wedding was cancelled, but the honeymoon is pure magic

Left at the altar, Claire Jennings wasn’t going to let a cancelled wedding get in the way of her honeymoon trip to New York City, especially since she’d already paid for it. But a chance encounter and a good deed send her vacation in an entirely unexpected direction, drawing her into a side of the city that tourists don’t see—and neither do most New Yorkers.

After she meets a handsome stranger in a hotel bar, she finds herself in a social whirlwind, invited to glamourous parties in impossible venues and included in excursions right out of a movie. She soon learns that she’s become the accidental keeper of something every magical person in New York wants—a source of great power. It’s giving her abilities she never dreamed were possible, but it’s also made her a target.
​
If she ever wants to go back to her normal life where she isn’t constantly hunted by wizards, Claire will have to rescue an enchanted prince, find a way to navigate this magical world, figure out who the good guys and bad guys are, and mediate a centuries-old dispute. And all before her flight home.
A new contemporary fantasy with a touch of romance from the author of Enchanted, Inc.

Started 11/14                                                 Finished 11/20
Shanna Swendson is one of my favorite authors, and I’m working my way through her Lucky Lexie series. I just finished book 5, and I have 2 to go. No magic, but plenty of ghosts, and a murder to solve.

What I love most about her writing – is how fun it is to read. Imagine – a ghost hunter coming into the newspaper office to get the scoop on the haunted hotel, but she doesn’t see the ghost that’s standing right in front of her. I wish I’d written that scene! Or my other favorite ghostbusters – the Spooky Squad. Shanna wrote them just like something out of the Scooby Doo cartoons. Maybe I do need to try writing a mystery, just for the fun of it!

The first time I read one, I can never, ever solve it. If it were real life, I’d be dead😊. The best part about reading a mystery again – you can follow the clues right to the criminal, even when they point at someone else. Here’s to my next Lucky Lexie adventure!
​
Amazon’s Description:
It’s the event someone’s dying to attend . . .The grand-opening party at a new bed-and-breakfast in a vintage farmhouse that’s supposedly haunted poses quite the dilemma for Lexie Lincoln. Most of the other guests are noted ghost hunters, and since Lexie actually can see ghosts, she’ll know whether they’re frauds and whether the inn really is haunted. But showing what she knows or honestly reporting on what she sees and hears would make her sound like a tabloid reporter rather than a serious journalist.

Ghosts become the least of Lexie’s concerns when a flash flood blocks the road out and then one of the guests is found dead. Someone in the inn has to be a killer. If they don’t figure out who, there could be more victims. It’s up to Lexie to enlist the aid of the resident ghosts to break the case and save them all, but that may mean revealing her secret talent to the rest of the world. Or is an angry ghost the real threat?

Started 10/13                                          Finished 11/14
I read this book every couple of years because its elements fascinate me. How many books have you read that begin with a dedication to your banker, who explained the ins/outs of ATMs for your plot? Add in another dedication – a quote from Isaiah about the Son of Morning falling from heaven, AKA Lucifer.  And the story hasn’t even started yet!

The main characters – Grace from 1996 and Niall of Scotland from 1307. How could they connect? Through the Foundation of Evil. Grace thought she was working for an archaeology group, until it destroyed her family. That’s when she learned the truth, that the Foundation was after nothing less than the treasure chest of the Knights Templar. Niall became its Guardian after the order’s destruction on Friday October 13th, 1307. And that was just the beginning of the book!

Some chapters like #9 are so intriguing . . . “The Foundation hadn’t had good luck with the past two Republican presidents, or the Democratic one before them. Their luck had changed four years earlier.” The two Republicans . . . Ronald Reagan and George Bush the elder. The Democrat . . . Jimmy Carter. And when did the Foundation’s luck change? In 1992 when Bill Clinton was elected president.

Another quote from chapter 9 . . . War was so gauche, so much effort for so little gain. The time had passed when nations could be won; now war meant little but destruction. Real power lay in money . . . and whoever controlled the money controlled the world as well as the puppets who stood onstage, in the limelight, and pretended to be the ones in power.”

There may still be war in the Ukraine. But social media and the press control the conversation, and they’re pushing for a new world order, not middle-class values. It seems more true today in 2022, than when this book was published back in 2009.

Chapter 26, puts the religious theme back into focus . . . “The fact that mortal man cannot understand God, that we must not say a thing is impossible, because all things are possible to Him, and our understanding too paltry. God is not limited by our imagination or our small minds. The Church makes rules and says they come from God, but they come only from man and his attempt to interpret God.”

And that brings the reader back to the main characters and their drive for a happy ending. This is a romance after all, and, a brilliant book! (Warning - this is an open-door novel. I skip pages that are too graphic for me.)

Amazon’s Description:
New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard captivates readers in the deeply romantic tale of a contemporary woman who unravels an extraordinary mystery from the past—by living it.

A scholar specializing in ancient manuscripts, Grace St. John never imagined that a cache of old documents she discovered was the missing link to a lost Celtic treasure. But as soon as she deciphers the legend of the Knights of the Templar -- long fabled to hold the key to unlimited power -- Grace becomes the target of a ruthless killer bent on abusing the coveted force. Determined to stop him, Grace needs the help of a warrior bound by duty to uphold the Templar's secret for all eternity. But to find him -- and to save herself -- she must go back in time . . . to fourteenth-century Scotland . . . and to Black Niall, a fierce man of dark fury and raw, unbridled desire. . . .

​The Song - Be True to Your School.         Sung - by the Beach Boys

​Photo Source: By http://www.7inchrecords.com/, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5030597

​​Part 3 – The Team:  I’ve been true to my school and its team since the 70’s. No player wins in isolation, or loses that  way either. Great plays, and mistakes are part of the game. I believe in that old adage – it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game. 

​As for CJ Stroud, he took a lot of shots over the weekend for losing The Big Game, two years in a row. I didn’t blame CJ last year. He was a freshman and still learning. The only other freshman to win the starting quarterback position was Art Schlichter. It was unimaginable to start a freshman then, unless they’re super-talented. It still is.

CJ has grown a ton over the last 2 years, thanks to Coach Day and his staff. He is so good that this is probably his last season at OSU. He’s planning on going into the NFL draft.
​

​The quote in the screenshot from CJ is, “I just have to eat it.” It’s about losing twice to Michigan, about never winning a Big 10 Championship. It makes me sad. It makes me wish he’d stay for one more year, for one more chance to beat Michigan, and to win that Big 10 Championship, but money talks. So does your body. It can be injured anytime during a season. I understand, and I wish CJ well, wherever he plays next year.

As for that team up north, I’d take Coach Day any day. Looking at Jim Harbaugh, he’s played OSU 7 times since he became coach. He’s won 2, lost 5, and choked in 2020 when he refused to play. Jim did go on to win the Big 10 Championship in 2021, but he lost to Georgia in the National Playoff. Last year, Coach Day won his Bowl Game.

As for this year’s Bowl Season, I predict Michigan will go down in the National Championships. I think Georgia will reign supreme. As for Jim Harbaugh, I think he’ll head back to the NFL as soon as he can get himself out of Michigan. He almost made it last January, in 2021.

And finally for my Buckeyes, I think Coach Day will review the tapes and work on plugging the holes. I predict another Bowl win for the New Year. My prescription for the future – find someone like Mike Vrabel to coach the linemen, offense and defense. Mike left in 2018 to go to the Tennessee Titans, and he left a hole that needs to be filled.

There are 3 seasons at OSU – the regular season, the Michigan game, and the Bowl games. Coach Day needs to get a Bowl win this year. Then next year he must take out Michigan and do it in the Big House, their stadium. I believe in Coach Day, and in his team, but win or lose, I’m still a Buckeye. And I’ll be true to my school, its coach, and its team.

Information Source: C. J. Stroud - Wikipedia

The Song - Be True to Your School.         Sung - by the Beach Boys

​Photo Source: By http://www.7inchrecords.com/, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5030597

Part 2 – The School:  I’ve been true to my school since the 70’s. I’m a Buckeye first, last, and always. Win or lose, I’m a Buckeye. They’re words, but I’m a writer, and words are important to me.

I’m also loyal. If The Ohio State University is playing football, then I’m cheering them on. If we’re into Bowl Season, then I’m all about the Big 10. I’ll root for them, for their coach, and their players. Shucks, I’ll even root for Michigan, but only if it’s a Bowl Game.
​
There are 3 seasons at OSU – the first11 games, then Michigan, and last, a Bowl. Win at least 2 of them, and you’ll keep your job.

Here are the last two OSU coaches, Ryan Day and Urban Meyer. After OSU lost The Big Game on Saturday, people wanted Ryan fired, and Urban to be rehired. My guess – probably the same ones. The history of the two coaches is linked,

Here’s how . . . In 2018 when people were calling for Urban to be fired, he was placed on administrative leave for three games while the university investigated him. Urban was cleared, and he returned to finish the season. But those people, they were still calling for him to be fired. Not me. I’m loyal.
​
The coach during those 3 games – Ryan Day. He won all 3. I backed him then, and I backed Urban’s return. Some people didn’t, and they got their way. Urban retired after the 2019 Rose Bowl. I was glad because I thought Urban stepped away for health reasons. He looked like he was in pain during most of the season. 
​

​The next head coach – Ryan Day. I was glad to see him back. I thought he deserved the job. And his record since then . . .  In 2019 Ryan had a  12 – 0 regular season, the first one since 2013. His team won the Big 10 Championship. They made it to the National Playoff but lost to Clemson. Coach Day was named the Dave McClain Coach of the Year, AND he beat Michigan.

2020 was a weird year. That’s when Covid almost stopped college football. The Buckeyes played 4 games and won them all. The 5th game, Coach Day missed . . . he had Covid . . . but his team still won. As for Michigan, they refused to play, they said because of Covid. We Buckeyes didn’t buy it. We thought Michigan choked and wanted to stop us from making the National Championships. But the Big 10 council said let OSU play. We won the Big 10, then beat Clemson in the National Playoffs. It was so satisfying after losing in 2019, but the year ended with a loss to Alabama. Disappointing, but being the #2 football team in the nation – not so bad!

2021 was interesting . . . Coach Day started freshman CJ Stroud at quarterback. I couldn’t believe it! I haven’t seen a freshman in that position since Art Schlichter when I was in college. I also couldn’t believe how Coach Day helped him grow. The Buckeyes lost 2 games that season, early in the year against Oregon, and that final awful game. I knew eventually Michigan had to win, but it was glorious, from 2011- 2020. And the good news – we beat Utah in the Rose Bowl. Michigan – lost BIG time in the National Championships to Georgia.

This year, 2022 was great, until Saturday. That’s the day Coach Day lost to Michigan, again, 2 years in a row. I didn’t know he bragged that he’d “hang 100 on them” in 2021 . It wasn’t wise, and it fired up those Wolverines, 2 years in a row. But looking at his record, even with 2 losses to Michigan, I’d keep Coach Day. Look at all those great regular seasons, plus 2 Bowl wins.
​
Tomorrow – CJ Stroud, Jim Harbaugh, and my final thoughts.
​

​Photo Sources:
Ryan Day: By CFB ON FOX - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kelObbmNiQ, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113990115

Urban Meyer: By CFB ON FOX - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kelObbmNiQ, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113990179
​
Information Sources: Ryan Day (American football) - Wikipedia

Have you heard of the song, Be True to Your School? Or the Beach Boys? No? You can click on this link, keep reading, or do both. I suggest both 😊          Link: be true to your school - Search (bing.com
​

​Be True to Your School is a song by the Beach Boys, and it came out in October of  1963. I was 4, but I still remember it. The Beach Boys were popular in the 60’s and later in the 70’s when I was in high school. They were known for their ‘California sound.’ It was all about surfing, cars, and girls. You know, teenage stuff. In the 60’s California was the place to be. My parents considered moving, but didn’t.

This song started playing in my head after the OSU/Michigan game. My team, The Ohio State University, lost, and the internet articles were awful. Everyone loves the thrill of victory, but no one wants anything to do with the agony of defeat. It’s not fun, but it’s important to know how to win, and how to lose. Maybe that’s why this song started circling through my head.

So where did it come from? From Brian Wilson and Mike Love, two of the original Beach Boys. I knew that, but I didn’t know the melody was the University of Wisconsin’s fight song, ‘On Wisconsin.’ But the Wilson brothers, Brian, Carl, and Dennis weren’t channeling Wisconsin. They were using their high school fight song. Hawthorne High School in California uses the same melody, different words. As for the Beach Boys, their lyrics were all about staying true to your school, to your girl, the important things in life. I love positive messages, the kind that make you want to be a better you. Loyalty is a good thing.

BTW – the cover photo (below) is for their single, not the album. If you’re younger than me, songs back then were played on record players. They were vinyl disks, 7 inches in diameter. The ‘A’ side had Be True to Your School, the hit side. On the ‘B’side was In My Room. It was actually a hit, but not as big.
​
Tomorrow – my thoughts about staying true to my school, to its coaches and players. Win or lose, I believe in loyalty.
​

​                                             Sources:
Photos: By http://www.7inchrecords.com/, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5030597
​
Search link:  be true to your school - Search (bing.com)
​
Information Sources:
Be True to Your School - Wikipedia
The Beach Boys - Wikipedia


​

Part 2 – The School:  I’ve been true to my school since the 70’s. I’m a Buckeye first, last, and always. Win or lose, I’m a Buckeye. They’re words, but I’m a writer, and words are important to me.

I’m also loyal. If The Ohio State University is playing football, then I’m cheering them on. If we’re into Bowl Season, then I’m all about the Big 10. I’ll root for them, for their coach, and their players. Shucks, I’ll even root for Michigan, but only if it’s a Bowl Game.
​
There are 3 seasons at OSU – the first11 games, then Michigan, and last, a Bowl. Win at least 2 of them, and you’ll keep your job.
​
Here are the last two OSU coaches, Ryan Day and Urban Meyer. After OSU lost The Big Game on Saturday, people wanted Ryan fired, and Urban to be rehired. My guess – probably the same ones. The history of the two coaches is linked,

Here’s how . . . In 2018 when people were calling for Urban to be fired, he was placed on administrative leave for three games while the university investigated him. Urban was cleared, and he returned to finish the season. But those people, they were still calling for him to be fired. Not me. I’m loyal.
​
The coach during those 3 games – Ryan Day. He won all 3. I backed him then, and I backed Urban’s return. Some people didn’t, and they got their way. Urban retired after the 2019 Rose Bowl. I was glad because I thought Urban stepped away for health reasons. He looked like he was in pain during most of the season. 
​​

The next head coach – Ryan Day. I was glad to see him back. I thought he deserved the job. And his record since then . . .  In 2019 Ryan had a  12 – 0 regular season, the first one since 2013. His team won the Big 10 Championship. They made it to the National Playoff but lost to Clemson. Coach Day was named the Dave McClain Coach of the Year, AND he beat Michigan.

2020 was a weird year. That’s when Covid almost stopped college football. The Buckeyes played 4 games and won them all. The 5th game, Coach Day missed . . . he had Covid . . . but his team still won. As for Michigan, they refused to play, they said because of Covid. We Buckeyes didn’t buy it. We thought Michigan choked and wanted to stop us from making the National Championships. But the Big 10 council said let OSU play. We won the Big 10, then beat Clemson in the National Playoffs. It was so satisfying after losing in 2019, but the year ended with a loss to Alabama. Disappointing, but being the #2 football team in the nation – not so bad!

2021 was interesting . . . Coach Day started freshman CJ Stroud at quarterback. I couldn’t believe it! I haven’t seen a freshman in that position since Art Schlichter when I was in college. I also couldn’t believe how Coach Day helped him grow. The Buckeyes lost 2 games that season, early in the year against Oregon, and that final awful game. I knew eventually Michigan had to win, but it was glorious, from 2011- 2020. And the good news – we beat Utah in the Rose Bowl. Michigan – lost BIG time in the National Championships to Georgia.

This year, 2022 was great, until Saturday. That’s the day Coach Day lost to Michigan, again, 2 years in a row. I didn’t know he bragged that he’d “hang 100 on them” in 2021 . It wasn’t wise, and it fired up those Wolverines, 2 years in a row. But looking at his record, even with 2 losses to Michigan, I’d keep Coach Day. Look at all those great regular seasons, plus 2 Bowl wins.

Photo Sources:
Ryan Day: By CFB ON FOX - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kelObbmNiQ, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113990115

Urban Meyer: By CFB ON FOX - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kelObbmNiQ, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113990179
​
Information Sources: Ryan Day (American football) - Wikipedia
​

Part 3 – The Team:  I’ve been true to my school and its team since the 70’s. No player wins in isolation, or loses that  way either. Great plays, and mistakes are part of the game. I believe in that old adage – it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game. 

​As for CJ Stroud, he took a lot of shots over the weekend for losing The Big Game, two years in a row. I didn’t blame CJ last year. He was a freshman and still learning. The only other freshman to win the starting quarterback position was Art Schlichter. It was unimaginable to start a freshman then, unless they’re super-talented. It still is.

CJ has grown a ton over the last 2 years, thanks to Coach Day and his staff. He is so good that this is probably his last season at OSU. He’s planning on going into the NFL draft.
​

​    Game Day Saturday, November 26 - Chapter 6 - How I did, and what I learned. 

Chapter 6: Trench Warfare:  I pictured the trenches of World War I when I read the title, but these are on the football field. The kind that the offensive and defensive linemen fight over. Today was the first game the OSU linemen failed, especially in the 2nd half, and it was against that Team Up North, but Coach Day and his assistants will analyze and tighten those lines. Come Bowl time, they’ll be ready. I have a feeling, Michigan won’t. They won, and they feel confident. They’re in for a brawl in the National Championships, and I’m not sure that they can handle it.
​

I thought lineman. Then uh-oh, but I got the same score as I did last week . . . not worse! I got 5 answers right again – 3 weeks in a row. I didn’t do as well on True/False, but I actually got some multiple-choice answers right. Sometimes good guesses pay off.

As for name recognition, I knew 12 linemen, more than last week, but there were way more names I didn’t know . . . 26. Ouch!
​
Here are this week’s Pick 3, but think of them as a Pick 5. The first three questions are all about the same person, and I got 2 right. Woohoo!
​

     
     1. Which national award for linemen did Orlando Pace win twice during his Ohio State career?
​                      A. Rimington Trophy   B. Outland Trophy   C. Lombardi Award   D. Maxwell Award 

The answer – C . . . Lombardi Award. And I got it right, a good guess! Lombardi was the only name I knew. Vince Lombardi was the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers.
 
                        2. In what place did Orlando Pace finish in the 1996 Heisman Trophy voting?
                                                                   A. 3rd      B. 4th      C. 5th      D. 6th

And the answer – B . . . 4th. I guessed 3rd. Close, but close counts in horseshoes, not in trivia.
 
                        3. Orlando Pace was the only offensive lineman to win the Chicago Tribune
                             Silver Football as Big Ten MVP from 1961 to 2020.     A. True      B. False

And the answer – A . . . True. I guessed right. I must have misread the question because how could there only be ONE offensive lineman to win in 40 years of OSU football history? That seems SO wrong!

So what made Orlando Pace so memorable? The pancake block! I’d never heard of it. It was invented just for Orlando to keep track of all the times he left a defender flat on his back, like a pancake. OSU even sent out pancake magnets to promote him in 1996. He didn’t win the Heisman, but he cleaned up on the lineman-appropriate awards, like the Outland Trophy, the Chicago Tribune Silver Football, and the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. I do love a good pancake! I wish OSU had flattened a few more today. Maybe next year!


​                 11. Who is the only Ohio State player to win the Bednarik Award as the nation’s best
                 defensive player? A. Joey Bosa     B. Chase Young     C. A.J. Hawk     D. James Laurinaitis

And the answer – B . . . Chase Young. I knew all of them. They were all great players, but I guessed Chase because he was so dominant when he was a Buckeye. I think he was the most feared defensive lineman in college football, especially by the quarterback and his protectors. Chase – was a TERROR!

The trivia book didn’t have a story about Chase, but they had one about A.J. Hawk. I knew he was a dominant player, but I didn’t know his teammates were upset because he didn’t get any respect on the 2005 award circuit. His teammate Bobby Carpenter told ESPN, “I’m not too sure how you can be Big 10 [Defensive] Player of the Year, a unanimous first-team All-American, and not win the Butkus, Lott, or Bednarik.” Maybe A.J. had other things on his mind, like a wedding. He was engaged to the sister of the Notre Dame quarterback that last season.

                                       BTW – they married and have four children. Congratulations, AJ!
                                            Source: All about AJ Hawk's wife Laura Hawk - TheNetline


                                             13. Who holds the Ohio State record for most career sacks?
                                            A. Joey Bosa     B. Will Smith     C. Chase Young     D. Mike Vrabel

And the answer – D . . . Mike Vrabel. Wrong again! I picked Chase Young. He was the easy answer, even if it was wrong.

I’d forgotten how good Mike was. I had three children under 8 when he was playing. Mike was a first-team All-American in 1995 and 1996. He set the single-season record for sacks and tackles (that lost the other team yardage) in both 1994 and 1995.

Being good on the field doesn’t always transfer off of it. Mike was coaching linebackers the year Luke Fickell was head coach. He wanted to stay and work for Urban Meyer. He failed miserably at his interview, but Urban knew talent. He called Mike that night and offered him another one, a redo interview. Mike took it, and the rest is history. He took the job as an assistant coach with Urban and didn’t leave until 2018. That’s when he went to the NFL to become the head coach of the Tennessee Titans. Mike is good . . . he’s still there!

                                                Source: who is the coacch of the TN Titans - Search (bing.com)

Are you ready to start your Christmas shopping? I have three ideas for you . . . and they’re all at bargain basement prices . . . $5. Ready, set, let’s shop!

Gift Idea #1 – A gift for $5? I found it . . . My book, ZOE’S SCAVENGER HUNT FUN. It’s a lake vacation interactive chapter book AND you can be my coauthor and coillustrator. My only caution -  that price doesn’t include shipping. Here’s the link for BiblioKid Publishing, and their price is less than mine.
 
Link:  Sale Archives - BiblioKid Publishing     
If you get lost, look for the Sale link button at the top of the BiblioKid page – Books under $10
 PS – you’ll find a LOT of books for that $5 price. Please consider shopping with BiblioKid, and my fellow authors/illustrators.

​Option B– Do you need free shipping for Zoe? Try Amazon! Their price is a little higher, BUT it includes that shipping. I’m always looking for bargains, and if BiblioKid and Amazon can sell it for less than I can, I say, “Buy it!”

If you’d like Zoe as a eBook, Amazon has a kindle version of it.
Amazon Link: Zoe's Scavenger Hunt Fun: A Lake Vacation Activity Book: Beach, Rinda: 9781734319552: Amazon.com: Books
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If you’ve been waiting to buy Zoe, this is the perfect time, the perfect price. And if you’d like it autographed, email me. I’ll snail mail an autographed sticker straight out to you.

​​Gift Idea #2 – Another $5 deal, from Amazon, AND it has free shipping for you too. It’s the picture book version of Zoe. I actually wrote it first, and it has a story on the left side of the page, and room on the right for you to draw and write. There’s only one place to find this paperback – Amazon, and they have it now, at half price!
​
Amazon Link: Lake Fun For You and Me: Beach, Rinda: 9781733589239: Amazon.com: Books

Gift Idea #3 – I found another $5 deal for you . . . It’s my first book. You can get it from Amazon as a paperback, eBook, or hardback, whichever way you want it. AND, there’s free shipping too!
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Amazon Link: Amazon.com: Neil Armstrong's Wind Tunnel Dream: 9781733589215: Beach, Rinda: Books
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​Happy shopping! Tis the season!

10-16-202  I bought this book back in early September. I shop whenever I’m watching an OSU football game. It’s a superstition, but it makes me feel like I’m doing my part to help the Buckeyes win.

September 3rd was their opening game against Notre Dame. I probably started shopping early in the 1st quarter, when Notre Dame scored first. At half-time they led, by 3 points.

OSU came back in the second half, scoring 2 touchdowns. It worked! I shopped, bought this book, and Notre Dame stopped scoring. I didn’t buy anything else, but I kept screen-shopping, just in case.

I read the 1st chapter later in September, and I discovered this is an unusual book . . . Each chapter has a set of trivia questions, followed by multiple-choice answers, and the explanation for those answers.

        Next Game Day Saturday, October 22nd, I’ll share how I did on chapter 1, and what I learned. 

Amazon’s Description:
Do you think you’re the ultimate superfan of the Ohio State Buckeyes? Do you have a friend who bleeds scarlet and gray? Do you want to learn about the history of your favorite Big Ten school’s football program?

Even if those questions don’t apply to you, The Ultimate Ohio State Buckeyes Trivia Book is the best book for learning about the Buckeyes and their history. This trivia book is packed with interesting facts about Ohio State football from cover to cover, taking you from the playing fields of Columbus to the being drafted into the National Football League.

In this book, you’ll discover the answers to such questions as:

• When did Ohio State win its first national title?
• Who holds the Ohio State record for career rushing touchdowns?
• Who was the first coach to lead the Buckeyes to an unbeaten season?
• Who was the first Ohio State player to be chosen in the 1st round of the NFL Draft?
• What was Les Horvath studying before he went on to win the Heisman Trophy?
  
  

Whether you are an Ohio State fanatic hungry for more information about the team, a Big Ten superfan craving knowledge about the teams in the league, or just someone who enjoys learning new, interesting facts, this book is right up your alley. You will not be disappointed in discovering the world of the Ohio State University Buckeyes, so just crack open the book, sit back, relax, and enjoy the wave of knowledge.

                             Game Day Saturday, October 22nd - Chapter 1 - How I did, and what I learned. 

Chapter 1: Origins & History Time: Welcome to University Hall! It was the first building to be built on campus in 1873, It was reconstructed in 1976, a year before I became a Buckeye. I started at the Lima Branch in 1977, and I went to the Main Campus in 1979.
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I thought I bled scarlet and grey, but I guess, not as much as I thought . . . On the first quiz I got 5 right, out of 20. JUST FIVE! I couldn’t believe it, but, the questions were really hard. I picked three to share with you.

                         #2 Ohio State’s first football game was played in May.  True or False?
True, and I got it right. It was a lucky guess! I looked up the reason behind the answer – the book didn’t explain why. The reason – They started trying to form a team in 1886, but it took until 1890. The very first OSU game was played on May 3, 1890 on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. There’s even a historical marker there to celebrate that very first game!
                                            Source: Ohio State Buckeyes football - Wikipedia

                 #17 Michigan is the only team to beat Ohio State more than 20 times.  True or False?
False. I got it right, but I misunderstood the question. I thought Michigan won LESS than 20 times. I was SO wrong! The teams met the first time October 16, 1897. The team up north (Michigan) won 34 to 0.

OSU and Michigan played 117 times so far. Michigan won 59 times. OSU 51, and there have been 7 ties. My favorite fact – OSU dominated this century. Michigan won in 2003, 2011, and last year, 2021. THREE TIMES! Woohoo! This year . . . yet to be played.
                                                Source: Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry - Wikipedia

                               #18 What charm do Ohio State players receive for a win over Michigan?
                                    A. Gold “W”        B. Silver jersey        C. Gold buckeye        D. Gold pants       
                                             The answer – D! I missed it because C sounded better.

Here’s how the tradition started . . . from Michigan’s early domination, from 1897 to 1933. They won 22 times. OSU 6 times, and 2 ties.      

In 1934 OSU hired Francis Schmidt as head coach. When the local media got a chance to ask about that team up north, Schmidt said, “They put their pants on one leg at a time, just like the rest of us.”
That’s when two Columbus businessmen formed the ‘Gold Pants Club.’ They created gold lapel pins, shaped like football pants. Each player and coach on that winning team gets a gold pin, engraved with their initials, game date, and the score.

The first year, 1934, Schmidt’s team won 34 – 0. OSU kept winning! They beat Michigan for the next four years. Talk about motivation! Here’s to gold pants in 2022!
                                             Source: Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry - Wikipedia

                                 Game Day Saturday, October 22nd - Chapter 2 - How I did, and what I learned. 

Chapter 2: The Numbers Game:  I knew I was going down when I realized they were jersey numbers. I never paid attention to those. I was shocked! I got 7 right out of 20, TWO more than last week, but it was only lucky guessing.

This chapter was all about name dropping, and I thought I knew a bunch. Just 14, HALF! Like Archie Griffin, the Bosa Brothers, and Eddie George. But there were 14 I didn’t know, at all, like Kirk Herbstreet, you know the football commentator. YIKES!

Here’s this week’s Pick 3 – Three questions with three great answers . . . 
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                           #6 Which number did the Bosa brothers wear while terrorizing opposing
                                                       backfields for Ohio State?     94     96     97     98   
The answer – C! I picked B, a pure guess. Their dad John wore #97 when he played for the Miami Dolphins. Joey picked up his dad’s number from 2013 – 2015. Then Nick took over the family tradition from 2016 – 2018. For six years #97 led the way. It attacked and sacked quarterbacks across the Big Ten, and beyond.

      #19 Ohio State’s school colors of scarlet and gray predate the football program. True False?
True. One right! I can’t imagine OSU without scarlet and gray. They’ve been Buckeye colors since 1878. A team of three students picked them out. They thought it was a “pleasing combination,” and no one else used them. That first game – May 3, 1890!

                                          #20 What color are the buckeye decals given out to players during
                                 the season for big plays and consistency?     Black     Green     White     Scarlet
The answer – B! I guessed C. I thought the decals were mostly white, with black outlines. No other colors, but I was wrong again, but maybe I’m remembering the old ones. Today they’re the size of a quarter, with GREEN leaves.

I also thought they were a part of OSU tradition. Not! They first appeared on helmets in 1968 because the athletic trainer suggested it. Why? Ernie Biggs never explained, but everyone agreed they were the perfect motivator for college football players. After all, who wouldn’t want a helmet loaded with stickers?!

I didn’t know OSU coaches used them differently. For example – Woody Hayes, the first to get the decals, handed them out for big plays, or for consistency on the field. Later Jim Tressel used them to award groups of players. Everyone got a Buckeye for a win. A pair, if it was a Big Ten win. His units on the field would get one for an explosive play. The defense got them for three-and-outs . . . That’s when the other team tried three times for a first down, failed to get it, so they had to give the ball back to the Buckeye offense.

PS – #10 is one of those special numbers. It wasn’t in the book, but it belonged to Troy Smith. He won the 2006 Heisman Trophy. In 2014 OSU changed procedures. It didn’t retire his number, but it enshrined his jersey at the stadium to honor Troy’s Heisman, and good old #10 is still in circulation. Someday, someone else will wear it.
 
​Sources: 
Photo – By Fernando Martello, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=91173769
​
Information – Ohio State Buckeyes football - Wikipedia
​
 – The Ultimate Ohio State Buckeyes Trivia Book: A Collection of Amazing Trivia Quizzes and Fun Facts for Die-Hard Buckeye Fans

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                              Game Day Saturday, November 3 - Chapter 3 - How I did, and what I learned. 

Chapter 3: Calling the Signals: I thought I might do a little better this time – today was all about quarterbacks. They’re the commanding officer on the offensive line. I did! I jumped into double digits . . . barely . . . 11 out of 20. Still failing, but it beats a 5 or a 7 😊

I recognize all of these quarterbacks from my days as a student, until now. Except for Les Horvath. He played QB for one year. It figures . . . in 1944. I wasn’t even born yet. I recognized 11 names in today’s quiz, but there were 9 I didn’t know. The big one I forgot – Joe Germaine – the QB from 1996-1998. Go figure!

Here’s my Pick 3 for this week – Three questions with three great answers . . . 

                               #1.  Cardale Jones easily holds the record for most wins without a loss
                 as an Ohio State starting quarterback, with how many victories?     9     11     13     14

The answer – B, 11 wins. I guessed 14, too high. I remember Cardale. He’s one of the most unusual quarterbacks in OSU history. He was the 3rd string QB who won the national championship. HOW?

Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett were both injured. Cardale led the Buckeyes to the Big 10 Championship, the national semifinals, AND The National Championship! It was the first year for the REAL one, with three games between the top 4 teams. Alabama, who lost, said OSU didn’t belong in the semifinals. Guess who was wrong?!

Dr. Pepper even made a commercial based on the 3rd string quarterback who won the national championship. It was an incredible year for OSU, and Cardale!

                #22. Which of these quarterbacks did NOT win 30 games as the Buckeyes’ starter?
                       A. J.T. Barrett       B. Cornelius Greene       C. Braxton Miller       D. Bobby Hoying

The answer – C, Braxton Miller. I got it right – I guessed! I thought the others hit 30 games. I was SO glad it wasn’t Cornelius Greene. He’s one of the first quarterbacks I remember. I’d never heard his story, until today. Maybe I was too young, too protected to hear about it.

I didn’t realize he was OSU’s first black starting quarterback, and that a lot of people in 1973 didn’t like it. Cornelius got 50 letters a week from the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and other similar groups. People even called his dorm room with death threats. It all stopped when Cornelius led the Buckeyes to a 56-7 win in the first game of the season, against Minnesota. Cornelius finished his OSU career with 2000 passing and rushing yards. He won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the Big 10 MVP (most valuable player).
​
BTW – he didn’t have a chance at the Heisman. His roommate, Archie Griffin won it, in 1974 and 75. He’s still the only college player to win it, TWICE. Bam! He was a Buckeye! And so was Cornelius!

          #9.  Dwayne Haskins is responsible for all but one of the 400-yard passing performances
                                            in Ohio State history. Who is responsible for the other one?
                                       A. Troy Smith   B. J.T. Barrett   C. Art Schlichter   D. Cardale Jones

The answer – C, Art Schlichter. I got it right – It was a good guess, but Art was a very talented player, with a back story that’s better than I thought.

George Chaump was the first Buckeye coach to spot Art in high school. He showed Woody Hayes a couple reels of film, then got him to go to a game. Woody was sold, but Art was ready to sign up with Michigan. OOPS! I mean that team up North. But Woody got Art. HOW?

Woody promised that he’d start as a freshman, and that the Buckeyes would open up the offense for him. That they’d even let him pass the ball. Timing is everything! Woody made that promise the day before Bo Schembechler was scheduled for a visit. When Art’s dad told him about the promise, Bo stormed out shouting that Woody would never keep it.

He did. Art started as a freshman, and I was a sophomore. I couldn’t believe Woody actually started a freshman. OSU is so deep in talent. How could a freshman become the starting QB? I don’t think anyone has started another one since, until last year, with C.J. Stroud in 2021. 

BTW – I’d never heard of Kirk Herbstreit. Here’s his story . . . Kirk only started one year as QB, in 1992. It was nothing to write home about so he decided to take a corporate sales job with a nice salary, and matching perks. Then a Columbus radio station offered him much, much less, with no benefits. The job – to do an afternoon talk show and sideline gameday reports for the Buckeyes.

Kirk took it! Two years later ESPN2 hired him to make sideline reports. The rest – is history. In 1996 he made it all the way to College Gameday. Not bad! And it beats a sales job!


                                Game Day Saturday, November12 - Chapter 4 - How I did, and what I learned. 

​​Chapter 4: Between the Tackles: I got 11 right last week, but I slipped back to 5 again. It figures . . . this week was about running backs, records and awards. I never paid attention to those things. I watched the plays, the touchdowns, and wins. The important things!

​When I was looking for running backs, I found this screenshot. I recognized everyone, except Jim Otis. He started in 1967 – when I was 8. I recognized 9 players on the quiz, but I was clueless with 13.  
Here’s my Pick 3 for this week – Three questions, and three great answers . . .


                                 #5. Eddie George and Ezekiel Elliott are tied in the record books with
                            the most 200-yard games for the Buckeyes, with how many?     5     4     3     2

The answer – A . . . 5 games. I guessed 4, too low. Both Eddie and Ezekiel had five games with over 200 yards, but no one dreamed Eddie could do that when he arrived. He was a BIG guy!

OSU was the only school that gave Eddie a chance to run. The others thought he should be a linebacker. Everything looked good until the first game with Illinois. That’s when he fumbled, TWICE, on the 5-yard line. Fans were furious! They said he should transfer! That Eddie wasn’t running back material.

Eddie persevered. Three years later he set a record against Illinois. He ended the season with 1927 yards rushing (a school record). He missed the single-season touchdown record by one. He also brought home every award a running back could win, including the Heisman Trophy. Way to go, Eddie George!


                     #13. What was Les Horvath’s career high for rushing yards in a game, set during
               his Heisman-winning 1944 season?      114 yards       128 yards       141 yards     157 yards

                 And the answer – C . . . 141 yards. I guessed too high – 157. Close doesn’t count in trivia.
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​

The funny thing about that 1944 season . . . Les wasn’t supposed to play. He retired from football in 1942 after winning the national title. He started dental school in 1943. But in 1944 the coach asked Les to come back for one last season. Why? There weren’t enough players. They were off fighting in World War II.
​
The NCAA made players like Les eligible to play. And coach promised Les could skip practice AND fly to games, so he didn’t miss out on his dental work. Thanks to the war and the NCAA, Les rushed for 924 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. He was also OSU’s first Heisman winner, thanks to one last, unexpected season. 
​

      17. Which of these Ohio State running backs was NOT a three-time first-team All-American?  
                             A. Lew Hinchman    B. Howard Cassidy     C. Chic Harley    D. Archie Griffin
​
And the answer – B . . . Howard Cassidy. I guessed wrong. I was torn between Lew Hinchman and Chic Harley because I didn’t know them. I picked Lew, wrong.  He was a first team All-American from 1930-1932, but he’s not well known. Everyone knows Archie Griffin. He’s the only player to win the Heisman twice, in college football history.
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​

​
Meet Chic Harley, the first OSU superstar. He played during the 1916 and 17 seasons, but skipped out in 1918. He enlisted as a soldier in World War 1. It ended so Chic came back in 1919 and won first team All-American again, for the third time.
​
I didn’t know Chic was so popular that he put OSU football on the map. He was also the driving force behind building the Shoe. It used to be called the ‘House that Harley Built,’ but the important thing . . . it’s where the Buckeyes play!
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​

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Sources: The Ultimate Ohio State Buckeyes Trivia Book

-  QB/HB Lew Hinchman (3-time All-American) | BuckeyePlanet
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-   Ohio Stadium - Wikipedia

​-  Howard Cassady - Wikipedia

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​                              Game Day Saturday, November 12 - Chapter 5 - How I did, and what I learned. 
​
Chapter 5: Catching the Ball: I caught 5 answers, the same as last week. It figures – I’ve never been good at catching anything. And the answers I did manage to catch – the true and false kind. YIKES!

As for name recognition, I knew 7 . . . but not the other 14. AND worst of all, none of the book’s answers resonated with me.  
​
      So for this week’s Pick 3 – Three True & False Questions – And my research into their answers. 
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                                           #2. Only five Ohio State receivers have gone over 1,000
                                                 receiving yards in a season.      A. True     B. False

The answer – A . . . True. I said false. I was sure there had to be more than 5. So here are the FIVE best receivers in OSU history . . .
                                                                In 1998 David Boston made 85 catches for 1435 yards.
                                                                In 1995 Terry Glenn only made 64 catches. He gained 1411 yards.
                                                                In 1986 Cris Carter caught 69 passes for 1127 yards.
                                                                In 2002 Michael Jenkins caught 61 passes for 1076 yards
                                      And finally in 2018 Parris Campbell joined the group with 82 catches for 1006 yards. 

Source: Parris Campbell Becomes Fifth Ohio State Receiver With 1,000 Yards Receiving in a Single Season | Eleven Warriors

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                                      #13. No Ohio State receiver has ever won the Biletnikoff Award ​for the
                                                        best wide receiver in the country.     A. True     B. False

                          And the answer – B . . . False. I knew it! At least one Buckeye had to win. REALLY!

But it turns out only ONE Buckeye did, Terry Glenn. He won in 1995, the 2nd year the award was given out, and he’s THE only finalist from OSU, ever. You have to be one of the top-three vote-getters to be a finalist. No one else broke through – not David Boston. Not Michael Jenkins. Not even Parris Campbell. It’s hard to believe with all the talented wide receivers that no other Buckeye ever got a nod. Unbelievable!

Source: After Ohio State football’s Biletnikoff Award snub, can Jaxon Smith-Njigba break the drought in 2022? - cleveland.com
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​                                               #19. Ohio State has NOT had a receiver with 200 receiving yards
                                                     in a game in the twenty-first century.      A. True     B. False
​
And the answer – B . . . False. It had to be false. Surely SOME Buckeye had to have over 200 yards receiving in a game, since the year 2000. Surely!

In OSU history there have only been four 200-yard receiving games, ever. SOME Buckeye did, since the year 2000 – and it was Jaxon Smith Njigba – twice, last year.

That means OSU is up to six games with 200 receiving yards, but I couldn’t find the other receivers. I looked for almost an hour, sorry. My guess is that Terry Glenn had one of those games, maybe two, but I have no idea on the others. Maybe a super-fan will comment and share those answers with all of us.
 
Source: Jaxon Smith-Njigba Breaks Rose Bowl Receiving Record as OSU Tops Utah in Thriller | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report
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​                              Game Day Saturday, November 26 - Chapter 6 - How I did, and what I learned. 

​Chapter 6: Trench Warfare:  I pictured the trenches of World War I when I read the title, but these are on the football field. The kind that the offensive and defensive linemen fight over. Today was the first game the OSU linemen failed, especially in the 2nd half, and it was against that Team Up North, but Coach Day and his assistants will analyze and tighten those lines. Come Bowl time, they’ll be ready. I have a feeling, Michigan won’t. They won, and they feel confident. They’re in for a brawl in the National Championships, and I’m not sure that they can handle it.
​

I thought lineman. Then uh-oh, but I got the same score as I did last week . . . not worse! I got 5 answers right again – 3 weeks in a row. I didn’t do as well on True/False, but I actually got some multiple-choice answers right. Sometimes good guesses pay off.

As for name recognition, I knew 12 linemen, more than last week, but there were way more names I didn’t know . . . 26. Ouch!
​
Here are this week’s Pick 3, but think of them as a Pick 5. The first three questions are all about the same person, and I got 2 right. Woohoo!
​

This one was born when I picked Anzac Ted to read for Veteran’s Day, 2022. I thought with a teddy bear, it would be a great fit for young children who are ready to discover Veteran’s Day.
​
Anzac Ted turned out to be so much more. It’s the story of the ANZAC soldiers who fought alongside Great Britain during World War I. I only read the first half of the book. It’s perfect for littles. The other half tells Ted’s story as he supported those Anzac soldiers, and I still think it works for young children.
​

​Part 1 – What is an Azac?  Anzac stands for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corp, ANZAC. The division was formed in December 1914, in Egypt, during World War 1. They were supposed to be stationed in Britain, but plans changed because there wasn’t room, or supplies. The Anzac units were sent to Egypt . . . the weather was a better fit. December is summer down under for Anzac soldiers.

This is a 1915 camp of soldiers from New Zealand. Its name – ANZAC Cove. They were commanded by General William Birdwood, an officer from the British Indian Army. He brought in soldiers from India, Ceylon, Britain, and Ireland. He even had a Jewish unit with volunteers from Russia, Canada, and the US, but it was mainly made up of those Anzac soldiers.  

This illustration of the Anzac troops came out after the battle at Gallipoli. George R.I said, “The Australian and New Zealand troops have indeed proved themselves worthy sons of the Empire.” That seemed odd . . . George I died after the American Revolution. George V was king during WWI, and he was also the last ruler of the British Empire. It began dissolving after WWI and eventually turned into the British Commonwealth of Nations.
​​​

​And the Gallipoli campaign – it started on February 17, 1915. It ended on January 19, 1916. It had three goals – To weaken and defeat the Ottoman Empire. To keep the Suez Canal safe, and to open up shipping to Russian ports. BTW, that’s when the Russian czar and the British king were cousins, and they worked together against another cousin, the German kaiser.

The Gallipoli campaign didn’t work out as planned. The February land invasion failed, but the Allies didn’t quit. On April 25 they sent the Anzac soldiers to land on the Turkish beaches. That failed too. Finally in January 1916 the allies gave up and withdrew their forces. For Turkey, it became a defining moment in their history, the beginning of the road to becoming their own country.
​
In Australia and New Zealand, they saw Gallipoli as a baptism of fire. It was also the beginning of their journey to become independent countries too. 

The Anzac troops left Greece on April 23 and 24 of 1941. Most of them were sent to Crete to bolster its defense against an upcoming German air and sea invasion. That battle began May 20. It ended 10 days later. The Germans – overwhelming.  
​
The Royal Navy rescued most of the men, but some hid out in mountains. They survived thanks to the people of Crete.  Others were found, captured, and sent to Prisoner of War camps in Europe (POW).
I searched but couldn’t find the date this monument was built, but I’m glad it honors those who fell in Greece, then in Crete. They may have lost those battles, but their efforts helped win World War II. 
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​​Welcome to the Be’er Sheva Anzac Memorial Centre. You’ll find it in Be’eri Forest near Negev, Israel. It’s a monument to the Anzac soldiers who gave their lives in Palestine during World War 1. That was in April, 1917. (Palestine is now the country of Israel.)

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​The Memorial Centre was dedicated on the 100th anniversary of Be’er Sheva’s liberation from the Ottoman Empire. You can interact with the Anzac story inside the museum. Outside you’ll be walking on hallowed ground, where the two battles of Gaza were fought.

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Information Sources:
Anzac Ted – Written and Illustrated by Belinda Landsberry

Australian and New Zealand Army Corps - Wikipedia

​Gallipoli campaign - Wikipedia

Anzac Memorial (Israel) - Wikipedia
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The Be'er-Sheva ANAZC Memorial Centre - אטרקציות בבאר שבע - כל האטרקציות בבאר שבע : תיירות באר שבע (visitbr7.co.il)