Webster defines “dog days” as…

1 : the period between early July and early September when the hot sultry weather of summer usually occurs in the northern hemisphere
2 : a period of stagnation or inactivity

But where does the term come from? Why do we call the hot, sultry days of summer “dog days?”

In ancient times, when the night sky was unobscured by artificial lights and smog, different groups of peoples in different parts of the world drew images in the sky by “connecting the dots” of stars. The images drawn were dependent upon the culture: The Chinese saw different images than the Native Americans, who saw different pictures than the Europeans. These star pictures are now called constellations, and the constellations that are now mapped out in the sky come from our European ancestors.

They saw images of bears, (Ursa Major and Ursa Minor), twins, (Gemini), a bull, (Taurus), and others, including dogs, (Canis Major and Canis Minor).

The brightest of the stars in Canis Major (the big dog) is Sirius, which also happens to be the brightest star in the night sky. In fact, it is so bright that the ancient Romans thought that the earth received heat from it. Look for it in the southern sky (viewed from northern latitudes) during January.

In the summer, however, Sirius, the “dog star,” rises and sets with the sun. During late July Sirius is in conjunction with the sun, and the ancients believed that its heat added to the heat of the sun, creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather. They named this period of time, from 20 days before the conjunction to 20 days after, “dog days” after the dog star.

The conjunction of Sirius with the sun varies somewhat with latitude. And the “precession of the equinoxes” (a gradual drifting of the constellations over time) means that the constellations today are not in exactly the same place in the sky as they were in ancient Rome. Today, dog days occur during the period between July 3 and August 11. Although it is certainly the warmest period of the summer, the heat is not due to the added radiation from a far-away star, regardless of its brightness. No, the heat of summer is a direct result of the earth’s tilt. (source: Jerry Wilson of wilstar.com)

On my website, handmadejust4you.com, I have recipes for several body refreshers, guaranteed to help you get through the “dog days” feeling much cooler.

I returned from vacation to Jekyll Island, Georgia, (8:00 on Friday night) to a house with non-functioning central A/C. The first floor was 85 degrees, making the bedroom upstairs about 5 degrees hotter. After having driven 12 straight hours, it was the last situation I wanted to be in. Having no other choice, I had to find a way to get to sleep in the heat. Enter body refresher. I mixed up a spray bottle with my favorite scent, lavender, and laid down on top of the sheets, just under the ceiling fan. I sprayed the cooling liquid on myself head to toe and let the fan do its job. It took a while to finally feel cool enough to sleep, but it worked.

Check out the recipes on the July “How-To” page. Indulge yourself. You deserve it.

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Thanks for your patience.

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Candles are another way of enjoying various scents. Use them in your home to replace unwanted odors or for illumination while bathing. The scent will also infuse your consciousness and can prove to be very soothing. There are, in fact, several relaxation techniques that use candles.

You may find the ideal scent you prefer from the choices of quality scented candles at this online store. They offer an array of fragrant candles, including vanilla and cinnamon, which are some of the best-sellers.

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Unique handmade jewelry creates a statement that no other trinkets compare to. The level of admiration and harmony that arise from putting on a unique piece of artistic handcrafted jewelry is unlimited.

Because of the wide choices of materials that are being used to make a handmade jewelry, these pieces can be worn with a variety of outfits you could think of.

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Purchased Derby hats can cost anywhere up to $1,100 or more. They are usually designer labels with lots of feathers, ribbons, netting and such. But an elegant Derby hat can be yours for far less, if you are willing to make it yourself. The foundation is a well-made hat. They are “finished” but undecorated, meaning that they have been sewn and shaped and are ready for embellishment.

On my website, handmadejust4you.com, I have many quality hats that can be used as the base for a very fine hat. In fact, many designers use these finished but undecorated hats as the base for their creations. You will find that my hats are but a fraction of the cost of a finished designer hat. By finishing it yourself you have the satisfaction of saving lots of money while creating a one-of-a-kind hat suited especially for you.

When you are thinking of fine millinery, think of the hats I offer. You can search the Web or in books and magazines for the style most flattering to you and how they can be decorated. A really fun event for you and your friends is a hat decorating party. I can supply the hats and you supply the ribbons, feathers, flowers, buttons and anything else you would like to put on your hat.

The hats are not just for Derby. Some refer to them as “Church hats”. While it is said “a woman’s hair is her crowning glory”, a fine hat can be just as important.

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The excitement here in Louisville is steadily building. Next Saturday, the First Saturday in May, is the running of the 134th Kentucky Derby at prestigious historic Churchill Downs. Billed as the “the most exciting two minutes in sports”, the Derby is the first jewel in the Triple Crown of horse racing. This is always a great time to be in Kentucky, and especially in Louisville. Derby Day at the Downs can be seen on ESPN. For the actual running of the Kentucky Derby, tune to your local NBC affiliate. The Red Carpet coverage begins at 4:30 EST. Derby coverage begins at 5:00 EST.

Two weeks prior, Derby Festival excitement starts with the “They’re Off” Luncheon , at which time a Derby Queen and her court are chosen. The following day is an all-day event known as “Thunder Over Louisville”, or locally, just “Thunder”. It is a 12 hour air show with amazing feats of aeronautical displays followed by the “World’s Biggest Fireworks Show”. Believe me, it lives up to its title. For the next two weeks there are daily events at the “ChowWagon”, a food and entertainment venue. Admission is gained by purchasing a “Derby Pin” sponsored by a local business.

Derby Week is the most fun time in Louisville. Some of the events are: “Run for the Rose”, an obstacle-course inspired races performed by food service employees of Louisville businesses; The Great Steamboat Race, a six-mile Ohio River run, between the Belle of Louisville and the Delta Queen regularly, and sometimes joined by the Mississippi Queen and the Spirit of Jefferson; The Pegasus Parade, with bands, floats and inflatables that extends about three miles down Broadway; Oaks Day, the running of the Kentucky Oaks- a fun and much more family-oriented day than Derby Day and not so crowded; finally the running of the Kentucky Derby. There are all sorts of traditions surrounding the Derby, most notably the drinking of Mint Juleps , the eating of Burgoo, and the wearing of the fanciest Derby Hats imaginable.

The hat wearing is not confined to ladies, either. Many a man has been sighted sporting a fabulous hat. Some have been sighted wearing ridiculous hats, too. If you tune into the Derby on your local station you will see what I mean. The Kentucky Derby IS fast horses, fantastic hats and plenty of Mint Juleps.

Of course, the Derby is all about the horses and their trainers, too. The best trainers in the world run horses in the Derby. The perennial favorites are;

• Steven M. Asmussen
• D.Wayne Lucas
• Bob Baffert
• Nick Zito
• Dale L. Romans
• Todd A. Pletcher
• Michael J. Maker
• William I. Mott
• Kenneth G. McPeek

And let’s not forget the jockeys;

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TAHU WILLIAMS (TANE)

Tahu lives in a small rural area of the Waikato district in the North Island. Being from the Waikato, his Iwi or tribal affiliation is to the Tainui.

Tahu, like most of the top carvers, comes from a long family tradition of bone carving which he is passing on to his children.

Carving is not only a wonderful practical skill to pass on but also is a way of promoting traditional values and giving the young ones a sense of pride and respect in their culture. Tahu has become well known as a teacher of traditional craft and has earned the respect of not only his young students but also of the local community as a whole for his dedication to preserving the culture and craft of his people.

Like most rural Maori, Tahu and his family live a traditional lifestyle on the land with their extended family, which include uncles, aunts, parents and grandparents all in one home.

Also, like all true traditional crafts people, Tahu believes that every piece he carves carries with it part of his spirit and every design tells a story.

In traditional culture, the family is sacred above all else and carving is used to pass down the stories of the ancestors, the great migration, the spirits and mother earth to the young.

Many of Tahu’s designs are the ancient styles depicting the spirits and legends of his homeland. His work reflects a great respect for nature and the bonds between the natural, spiritual and ancestral realms.

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Our comprehensive collection of unique gifts has a little something for almost everyone.  From jewelry and clothing to home accents, bath and body care and even environmentally conscious stationery - we’re making luxury budget-friendly all over again. Our inventory even includes innovations like the ABC Fun Pad and more for kids, toddlers and parents everywhere.  Take a look and see for yourself how Handmade Just 4 You is making your gift shopping easier!

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The bone carvings and handmade soaps are but a sampling of our eclectic collection. Our home accents and decor ideas will have your whole house feeling as good as you do! Stop paying overinflated retail prices for sub-par products and start enjoying the premium quality of hand-made gifts, clothes and much more all at Handmade Just 4 You.

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