Howdy, Little Loggers!

Today we raise our axes as a salute to the legendary lumberjack of American folklore. June 28th is Paul Bunyan Day. A towering figure, his immense frame filled with extraordinary strength, Paul worked tirelessly, felling trees in the bountiful forests of North America during the lumber industry's golden era, the mid-1800s.

According to the tales, Paul Bunyan and his loyal companion, Babe (the Blue Ox), roamed the North American forests, leaving behind a legacy of incredible stories. His exploits were told around campfires, with the stories getting more embellished all the time. From creating the Great Lakes with his enormous footsteps to carving out the Grand Canyon with his trusty axe, Paul Bunyan's exploits were said to have shaped the very landscape of our country.

Back in those days, logging was a thriving profession, driven by the demand for wood to fuel the growth and development of our great nation. From mighty ships that sailed the seas to sturdy homes that sheltered families, wood played a vital role in crafting the world around us.

Even footlocker trunks, essential for travel storage, were fashioned from this precious resource. Inspired by Paul Bunyan's understanding of the importance of forests and their abundant resources, we proudly carry forward the legacy of wooden craftsmanship with our remarkable C&N Footlocker Trunks—crafted with the same dedication and attention to detail as those long ago.

Our trunks are built to withstand the test of time and the rugged roads of adventure at summer camp and beyond. Just as Paul Bunyan commanded respect with his unwavering might, our C&N Footlocker Trunks stand tall as symbols of quality construction and reliability.

Here at Everything Summer Camp, we recognize the importance of preserving our forests and cherishing the trees that provide us with such valuable resources. That's why we've partnered with One Tree Planted, a remarkable, nonprofit organization that’s dedicated to reforestation efforts. For every camp trunk sold, a new tree is planted, contributing to the preservation and restoration of our natural landscapes.

As you embark on your own adventures, let the spirit of Paul Bunyan's legend inspire you to cherish the wonders of nature and forge lasting memories at summer camp. Thanks for reading, Lumberjacks and Lumberjills. And, as always, Happy Camping!

- John

Hey, Writers!

Happy Handwriting Day! Did you know that the way we write can reveal a lot about your personality? Things about your handwriting such as how large or small you write, how much space you leave between words, the general shapes of your letters, and more. Small handwriting, for instance, tends to come from someone who tends to be quiet, studious, and on the shy side whereas larger handwriting is a sign of a more outgoing person who loves the company of others.

Dotting All Your I’s

How do you dot your ‘i’s? It can say a lot about you.

• A dot that’s hovering high above the body means there’s a good chance that you have a powerful imagination.
• A slash above your ‘i’s means that you might be overly critical of yourself. You probably don’t have much tolerance for shortcomings
• If you put your dot right over the ‘I’, then you’re likely detail-oriented, organized, and resolved in the things you say and do.
• A circle over your ‘i’s may be a sign that you’re a child-like visionary or a dreamer.
  

Crossing Every T

• If you put your cross at the very top of the ‘T’, it means you’re ambitious and positive with good self-esteem.
• A cross in the middle of your ‘t’ means you’re likely confident and comfortable in any situation.
• If you give your ‘T’s long crosses, it could mean that you’re determined and enthusiastic. It could also mean that you’re stubborn and have a hard time letting things go.
• Short crosses, on the other hand, mean you may portray slothfulness and give up on projects or tasks prematurely.
  

Writing Pressure

• If you write with heavy pressure, it could mean that you take things seriously. Excessive pressure could mean that you have a tendency to get stressed out.
• Light Pressure, however, points to a more sensitive and empathetic personality.

So, did you know our handwriting could say so much about us? Did today’s Blog post teach you anything about yourself by the way you write? Investigate what other things about your handwriting might indicate about your personality by clicking here. And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Scaredy-Cats!

It’s Friday. And, while I’d typically be a little more excited about that fact, I’m not so sure today is really the typical, TGIF-type of Friday. After all, not only is this Friday the 13th, but it’s the first one of 2023. Of course, a highly educated member of society—such as myself—doesn’t really believe in the superstition that Friday the 13th brings bad luck.

…But even so, I’ll definitely be avoiding black cats and broken mirrors today. Better safe than sorry, right?

But why? Why is everyone so afraid of this particular date landing on this particular day? Though the reason is mysterious and debatable, people have associated Friday with a day of bad luck for centuries. And, for about as long as Friday has been thought to bring bad luck, 13 has been a decidedly UNlucky number as well.

It was in the late 1800’s when it was first documented that putting this day together with this date formed a superpower of one, unrivaled day of BAD luck. Some will put off grocery shopping till the next day, others won’t go outside at all, and SOME people refuse to even get out of bed.

My rationale is that bad luck will track you down one way or another if today is fated to be unlucky. However, if you are the type to hang out in your bedroom, hiding from the day, you certainly aren’t alone in your concerns—an estimated 19 million people (in the U.S. alone) admittedly dread the date of Friday the 13th.

And it’s not just the U.S. either. Friday the 13th (more-or-less) exists all throughout the world. In Spanish-speaking countries, it’s actually Tuesday the 13th—not Friday. In Italy, however, it’s Friday the 17th. Superstition over these unlucky days is so widespread that there’s been a scientific name designated for the fear of Friday the 13th. It’s called ‘friggatriskaidekaphobia’. Betcha can’t say that five times fast! I can't even say it once.

Make sure to steer clear of walking underneath ladders or stepping on cracks in the sidewalk. And, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Bittersweet Lovers!

Today is Bittersweet Chocolate Day! This is a day we haven’t featured on our Blog until now. I have, however, written about Milk Chocolate Day, Hot Cocoa Day, Chocolate Ice Cream Day, Chocolate Cake Day, and a number of other chocolatey posts in the past. We’ve previously covered that it was the Mayans who were the first people to try eating the pulp and spitting the bitter beans out as they watched the monkeys do.

Now let’s go more into where the bean comes from and how bittersweet chocolate is created.

The Chocolate Tree
Growing in Mexico, Central America, and Northern South America is the tropical Theobroma Cacao Tree which creates the seed from which we get chocolate. People have sampled cacao seeds for the last 3000 years. The cacao tree seed has an intensely bitter taste but, over time, people came to realize that the seeds that’d been lying in the sun had lost some of its bitterness. That’s because they’d been fermented.

A Bittersweet Process
After fermentation, the seeds are dried, cleaned, and roasted. The shells are removed then leaving just the cacao nibs from within. These nibs are ground up to make a hunk of cocoa—pure chocolate in its roughest form. This hunk of chocolate usually goes on to be liquefied and then molded to make what’s called chocolate liquor. To make Bittersweet chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, and vanilla is added to a chocolate liquor. It may have sugar added to it, but it’s hardly a sweet treat.

So what’s it good for? Bittersweet chocolate is often used for baking in which more sugar gets added to it. But I thought it’d be interesting to better understand the source of chocolate and the process by which it becomes a chocolate product you can recognize in a grocery store. It’s quite a process! Enjoy Bittersweet Chocolate Day! Happy baking and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Cookie Kids! 

Do you flip for the Chocolate Chip Cookies? Who doesn’t?! These appealing discs of dough and chips have magical powers that are sure to make your mouth water. Today is Chocolate Chip Cookie day—a day that’s sure to have you preheating the oven and mixing ingredients. Break out the flour, sugar, and—of course—the chocolate chips and let’s get bakin’! 

Easily the most popular of all the cookies, I’d be stunned to find anyone reading this Blog post who has never had one before. Can you imagine a world without the Chocolate Chip Cookie? Unfortunate as it may be, many folks have lived their whole lives without ever knowing the taste of this delectable treat! After all, the recipe was only created in the late 1930s. 

It was Ruth Wakefield, an experienced baker with a degree in household arts, who made the original Chocolate Chip Cookie. Ruth ran the reputable Toll House restaurant in Whitman, Massachusetts where she first conceptualized this new cookie with melted chocolate chunks. 

She put out her ‘Tried and True’ cookbook in 1938 which introduced the Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe to the world. The recipe blew up! Within a year, this cookie got so popular that it was mentioned on a radio program hosted by Betty Crocker. As if the cookie needed any help, this radio mention really did solidify this cookie’s reputation as a cultural smash! 

Many origin stories have been proposed for how Ruth came up with this cookie. Some have said it happened by chance when some chocolate fell into her cookie batter. Others suggested that chocolate was a quick replacement ingredient that just proved to be amazing. These are just stories, though. 

The truth is that Ruth was an absolute perfectionist when it came to her craft. She knew the art of baking very well. This iconic cookie was no happy accident! It’s the result of Ruth’s know-how for making a recipe and testing it carefully. Be sure to indulge for Chocolate Chip Cookie day and say a little thank you to Ruth for her incredible recipe! As always, thanks for reading! 

- John