Do You Know the words of Crwth and Cwtch?

May we find words without vowel in English?

The answer might surprise you!

Image 1- Crwth, an ancient Celtic instrument (credit to internet).

Yes, we could use Merriam-Webster, Urban Dictionary, Thesaurus and Collin English Dictionary to search its.

Nowadays, you just search through internet. Simple, easy

It is believed that at least two words with 5 letters have no vowels. You can see that the two words look like similar:

- Crwth
- Cwtch

Image 2- Succulent plants, illustration

Crwth is spelled “crouth,” in which “w” is changed or pronounced to vowels of “ou.” It was stringed music instrument resembles to “violin.”

Image 3- Cloudy sky, illustration only

The instrument was invented about 11^th century, then modified in 13^th century. It was played through 1800’s.

Image 4- A green at yard

However, in modern time, some parts of England still use “crwth” word to refer to “violin.”

Image 5- A squirrel, seen from window screen

Then, the word “cwtch” is pronounced “kutch.” In this case, “c” read as “k” and “w” as “u.”

Image 6- Myrtle with pinks flowers

The word associates with some meaning:

- cuddle
- huge
- a shed
- cubbyhole
- cupboard
- tiny space for safety

Do you know some other words without vowels? Or, do you have words without vowels in your own languages?

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Homemade of Illegal Burrito – Food 17

What? Illegal Burrito?

You might wonder with words of “illegal burrito.” Actually, it is a burrito, a Mexican – American cuisine.

Image 1- Rolls of illegal burrito

The fact that illegal burrito or izzo illegal burrito is a brand name for a restaurant franchise which sell burrito.

The restaurant was open in our city, Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 2021. Yes, about 21 years ago.

A quite long for survival times of a small restaurant in the campus area of just a state university.

The restaurant was designed to serve for students and faculty members at the beginning. Now, it has been developed into many branches.

Image 2- Filling of burrito

Based on our understanding that Izzo’s Illegal Burrito restaurants have been expanded throughout southern states of USA.

Image 3- Ingredients of burrito

We can find the Illegal Burrito restaurants in 14 locations, and at least in the following three states:

- Alabama
- Louisiana
- Mississippi

Image 4- Tomatoes in the bowl, ready to be used

I believe that illegal burrito is like other “normal” burritos with two main important parts: a wrapped of flour tortilla and ingredients.

We should grill or heat a wrapped of flour tortilla to make its softer before consuming its.

Image 5- Cutting of rolled burrito

Burrito ingredients are based our own tastes, since this is homemade, our ingredients are consists of:

- cooked dices chicken meat
- refried beans
- dice tomatoes
- shredded lettuce
- and sour cream

Have you tasted burrito?

What do you think?

# Previous postings:

- Wild Animals and Birds in my Backyard – Nature 8a
- Flash Flood at my Neighborhood - Nature 8b
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- Family Saga and Meaning to be a Good Person – Part 1 - Reading 1

Little Libraries in our Neighborhood

We, our neighborhood have “creative” way to swap the books, by creating a kind of little libraries.

Image 1- A little library attached to the wall

People in our neighborhood also call this little library as:

- books swap box
- books donation bin

Uniquely, this library opens 24 hours a week, no holiday, no closing hours and sure, no librarians.

Why?

Image 2- A street, just for illustration

Image 3- Another little library

Image 4- We can open library by ourselves

It is because there is no lock, hence, everyone can “open and close” the library anytime they wish. Then, what the meaning of books swap?

A neighbor can take one book, but he or she leaves one in its place. So, a neighbor has a book to put in there when taking one.

She or he can do it again and again in other days. In addition to swap, a neighbor may donate books as many as she or he wish.

I read from internet that this tradition was start in Europe. Many European countries practicing this kind of books swap.

How about with your country? Are there books swap tradition?

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- Can Six Dolar Drug Kill Covid 19 Virus? - Healthy Life 3
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Is It Safe to Consume Foods after Expiration Date? - Part 1 – Food 16

Surprisingly that no federal regulation to impose “product dating.” However, foods for infant are required to include “expire dating.”

Image 1- Sardine in the cans

The institution called as “Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)” requests voluntarily to label of dating some products.

Yes, quite strange for me that not all foods are required to put stickers or inks of expired dates, including:

- meat
- poultry
- eggs

Image 2- Infant formula

Image 3- Use by Sep 23 of infant formula

Image 4- Food preserved in the bottle

We may find the following phrases in the market, especially at the big groceries in the USA:

- use by
- sell by
- best if used before

“Use by” phrase means “the last date recommended for the use of the product.” Thus, not a safety date.

Phrase of “sell by” is used by a store management to display the products for sale to consumers. It is not relate to quality or safety of products.

# To be continued to Part 2

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The Royal Ponciana Tree in the Neighborhood – Nature 30

Royal Poinciana tree also known as Flamboyant tree. These unusual and hard to find trees in our neighborhood, here in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Image 1- Flowers of Royal Ponciana Tree

I saw the yellow flowers of Royal Ponciana Tree in our neighborhood. I never seen other color yet. Yellow might favorite color for neighbors.

However, from internet searching that in addition to yellow, the colors of flowers could be:

- red
- orange
- scarlet
- or combines of red and orange.

Image 2- A Sweet cat, walking on the floor

Image 3- A harmless box turtle

Image 4- A baby Royal Ponciana Tree

The scientific name of Royal Ponciana is (Delonix regia), and origin of tree from tropical, Madagascar, Africa.

We can observe this tree in the southern states of USA. It is commonly seen growing in south Florida. We have seen in Key West area, Florida.

You might find this tree gorws in the other states include:

- Louisiana
- Texas
- Mississippi and Alabama

Have you seen beautiful flowers of Royal Ponciana Tree?

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A Chemist who Loves to Cook – Part 1 - Reading 11

The bright orange color with a cute illustration of this book was attractive and charming, “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus.

It seems a serious reading following the word “lessons” even more “in Chemistry”.

Image 1- Book cover of Lessons in Chemistry

I was so excited to read this novel, what the chemistry things in this book. This book is the first edition (2022), 386 pages, published by Doubleday.

If you are thinking, this book will challenge you about your memory of some chemistry courses from schools, it could be the chemistry language for salt and water.

Moreover, this is a fabulous book about a bright chemist lady who recognize as a famous cooking show “Supper at Six”

Image 2- Purple flower in the summer

The story back to year 1961. The protagonist, Elizabeth Zott, is a Chemist. She works in the research center, Hasting Research Institute, that dominance by male.

At work she met Calvin Evans, a brilliant, lonely, Noble Prize nominated guy.

Image 3- Just for illustration

Garmus, the author, portrayed how the first time Elizabeth had conversation with Evans in the Chemistry Lab.

Image 4- A house in the city, illustration

From here, we also know how the Chemistry Lab in the past with all the graduates, beakers, and Bunsen burners.

It is a lovely first meeting between the two scientists. Elizabeth needs some beakers for her chemistry research, then finally she gets them in Evans’ room.

Evans does not know that she is also a scientist until he walks down to her room, then asks her about his beakers, but she ignores him, and she keeps busy doing her job with Bunsen burner.

# To be continued to Part 2

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Scan and Go at Walmart Shopping Center

First time when I came to Walmart, the biggest super center in the USA about 17 years ago, where each counter has own cashier, no automatic scanning at all.

Image 1- Self Scanning Machine

Then, there are a few self scanning, but there is someone to take care payment either by credit card or cash or even by cheque.

Since 4 years ago, 2018, almost all counters of Walmart groceries are automatic.

We take care ourselves, from scanning the goods, put and arrange in the plastic bags and do payment.

The payment by credit or debit card only. No cash payments or cheques.

Image 2- Medical drugs sold in Supermarket

Actually, the self scanning system is not new, first invented by Howard Schneider and applied by the supermarket, called the Price Chopper in New York in 1992.

Image 3- Chocolate, sold in Walmart

Then automatic machines were copied by many supermarket across America since 1997.

Image 4- No cashiers anymore

In addition to automatic check out, the Walmart offers shopping through online system.

We can order everything from computer devices to electronics to prescription drugs to tools and equipments to grocery items in order to avoid crowd in the checkout lines.

Then, we could pick up after the store completed our orders.

This is new thing for me. Quite difficult to adjust for me at first. However, technology changes can’t be avoided, we must face of its.

What do you think?

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