APRIL 21, MONDAY: Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. A cold April the barn will fill.
APRIL 22, TUESDAY: Full Pink Moon. Passover. Jack Nicholson born, 1937.APRIL 23, WEDNESDAY: William Shakespeare born, 1564. Hank Aaron hit his first home run, 1954.
APRIL 24, THURSDAY: Happy Birthday, Robert B. Thomas, born 1766. Joshua Slocum left Boston on solo circumnavigation, 1895.
APRIL 25, FRIDAY: St. Mark. Ella Fitzgerald born, 1918.
APRIL 26, SATURDAY: Duane Eddy born, 1938. John J. Audubon born, 1785.
APRIL 27, SUNDAY: Orthodox Easter. Coretta Scott King born, 1927. Ulysses S. Grant born, 1822.
Ask the Old Farmer's Almanac: I wanted to give a copy of John J. Audubon's "The Birds of America" to a friend for her wedding this summer, but my aunt tells me that bird images are bad luck at weddings. Have you ever heard of this?
- G.H., Vista, Calif.
Answer: It's true that, traditionally, bird images have denoted bad luck in marriage rituals, probably stemming from the winged creatures' occasional linkage with evil omens or witches in disguise. The saying goes that birds are inappropriate because they might fly away with the good fortune of the newlyweds. It's ironic, because birds have also been linked with good news, angels, fairies and the like; and certain saints, like Saint Francis of Assisi, were admired for their ability to converse with birds.
In any case, it seems to us that real birds are more welcome at weddings than ever, especially since birdseed has replaced rice as the confetti of choice for throwing at brides. (Rice has a mean tendency to swell up in the birds' stomachs, causing acute distress.) Besides, wedding gifts can be delivered and opened before the actual wedding day, and we're guessing that the beautiful illustrations in Audubon's book would be welcome to many newlyweds. There are over a thousand birds depicted life-size in the volume, first published in 1838.
Ask the Old Farmer's Almanac: Any practical advice for an older woman trying to be a smart consumer about choosing a doctor? I'm in generally good health but am about to relocate and will need to find a GP.
- D.V.T., Abilene, Kan.
Answer: Ask your current doctor for advice, but seek local recommendations from friends and neighbors in the new area as well. Find out about the medical training and credentials, hospital affiliations, and around-the-clock availability (do they have an on-call service?). You'll want to know their regular fees, whether or not they accept Medicare assignments, and what their policy is regarding your particular insurance provider.
Beyond that, your first visits will tell you the most. Does the doctor listen well and patiently? Is your relationship a comfortable one, or do you end up feeling intimidated about speaking? Are you encouraged to ask questions about any tests ordered, medicines prescribed (ask about the availability of generic ones), or potential surgery (always get a second opinion)?
As an older woman, you'll want to be sure you make wise choices about regular gynecological tests and mammograms. In addition, regular exercise and a diet with adequate calcium (some doctors recommend 1,500 mg of calcium daily) are necessary to help prevent osteoporosis, which affects about half of all women over 45. A good book on this and other subjects is "Ourselves Growing Older" by Paula Brown Doress and Diana Laskin Siegal, published by Simon & Schuster.
Ask the Old Farmer's AlmanaC: My sister and I have a bet about poker. Can you tell us the top-ranking hands?
- H.L., Cincinnati, Ohio
Answer: You bet! Assuming no wild cards, the poker hands rank as follows, from the highest hand to the lowest: royal flush (ace, king, queen, jack, 10, all of the same suit); straight flush (five cards, same suit, in sequence); four of a kind (four cards, same rank); full house (three cards, same rank, and a pair of another rank); flush (five cards, same suit); straight (five cards in sequence, different suits); three of a kind (three cards, same rank); two pairs (two of the same rank, and two of a different rank); one pair (two cards, same rank); high card (highest rank of five unmatched cards).
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This Week With The Old Farmer's Almanac
April 21-27, 1997
Full Pink Moon, April 22.
Feast of Saint Mark
San Marco, the patron saint of Venice and protector of the fields, has his festival on April 25. Early spring peas, cooked with a creamy rice terrine or risotto-style rice, called "risi e bisi," have become the specialty of the day, along with "bisi col persutto," or peas with prosciutto. If your spring peas aren't ready, you could observe National Arbor Day instead, also celebrated on April 25. Whether you eat peas, plant peas, or plant trees, however, tip your hat to Saint Mark all the same in hopes of fertile soils and a bountiful year.
If you have once planted a tree . . . you have always in it a peculiar interest.
- Alexander Smith
Tip of the Week
Remove winter wraps from tree trunks now. Left on, they may harbor insects.
RISI E BISI
1 small onion, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup white rice
1 cup petite frozen or fresh peas
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
2 tablespoon grated Parmesan
Saute onion in olive oil and set aside. Bring chicken broth to a boil, add rice, cover, and let simmer about 20 minutes, until liquid is absorbed. Add cooked rice to onion and saute briefly, adding more olive oil, if needed. Add peas and cook until just warm. Turn off heat, stir in the parsley and the Parmesan, and serve.
Makes 4 servings, as a side dish.
The Old Farmer's Weather Proverbs
Rain on St. Mark's Day (Apr. 25) betides ill for fruit crops.
It's bad luck to point at a rainbow.
A rainbow at morn, put your hook in the corn; a rainbow at eve, put your head in the sheave.
When April blows her horn (thunders), it's good for both hay and corn.