In total size Lake Erie is the 12th largest freshwater lake in the entire world.    Because of Lake Erie's relative shallow depth, the water temperature changes faster than any of the other Great Lakes.  That means in the spring, Lake Erie becomes an ideal fishing destination because of the large runs of walleye and perch.  In the winter, well we all know what winter is like along Lake Erie:  it is cold and snowy.  In fact, Cleveland is one of the snowiest places in the lower 48. But, did you know that because the lake freezes so quickly, it actually has a moderating effect on our climate?  That little climatological detail means that the land along the southern shore of Lake Erie have been given their very own varietal zone that is ideal for growing grapes and not just any grapes, but grapes that make excellent wines.  Because of the unique climate, ice wines are also a highly prized product of the area.  http://touringohio.com/lake-erie.html    

In this crowd-pleasing dinner, grilled shrimp is served alongside potatoes and corn with melted butter flavored with Old Bay seasoning, crushed garlic, and lemons.  Serves 8  https://www.marthastewart.com/1078506/grilled-shrimp-boil   

The Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia began as a donation from American surgeon Thomas Dent Mütter, MD (1811-1859), who was determined to improve and reform medical education.  Dr. Mütter stipulated that by accepting his donation of 1,700 objects and $30,000, the College must hire a curator, maintain and expand the collection, fund annual lectures, and erect a fireproof building to house the collection.  The first building to house the Museum was completed in 1863 and was located on Locust and 13th Streets.  When The College of Physicians built its current home at 19 South 22nd Street in 1909, the Museum relocated with its original cases.  Since Dr. Mütter’s donation, the Museum collection has grown to include more than 25,000 objects.  Find location and hours at https://muttermuseum.org/about/overview   

Creamy, nutty egusi soup is a staple in homes and bukas, or street food stalls, across Nigeria and in many parts of West Africa.  The soup takes its name from egusi, or agushi―the seeds that both thicken and flavor it.  Egusi soup typically features meat (such as beef, smoked poultry, goat, cow skin, and offal) and seafood (smoked dried fish or stockfish), as well as awara (Nigerian tofu), mushrooms, and greens.  Ozoz Sokoh  Find recipe serving six at https://www.seriouseats.com/nigerian-egusi-soup-5271598   

balderdash  noun  1590s, of obscure origin despite much 19c. conjecture; in early use "a jumbled mix of liquors" (milk and beer, beer and wine, etc.); by 1670s as "senseless jumble of words."  Perhaps from dash and the first element perhaps cognate with Danish balder "noise, clatter".  "But the word may be merely one of the numerous popular formations of no definite elements, so freely made in the Elizabethan period" [Century Dictionary].  https://www.etymonline.com/word/balderdash  Thank you, Muse reader!    

Farro is a general Italian term for wheat.  This includes the ancient wheat varieties of Spelt, Einkorn, and Emmer wheat with origins that can be traced back to the Fertile Crescent (Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine).  In the food world, if you order farro, you could be getting any variation on those three ancient grains:  from a whole grain kernel to something that has been pearled.  When cooked, the kernel almost pops open and releases starch.  This makes a perfect ingredient for dishes like risotto (often called farrotto when using the farro grain) where you want the ancient grain to soften over time and create a creamy dish.  https://www.bobsredmill.com/blog/healthy-living/what-is-it-wednesday-farro/   

Robert Oppenheimer was born to Jewish parents affiliated with the Ethical Culture movement, in which he would receive his schooling.  At Harvard, he was drawn to the Hindu philosophical classics—seemingly more interested in these than even physics.  In his thirties, on the faculty at Berkeley, his curiosity deepened.  He studied Sanskrit weekly with a Sanskrit professor.  It was here that he was first introduced to the Gita, which he thought “quite marvelous”; later he would call it “the most beautiful philosophical song existing in any known tongue.”  He kept his worn version close at hand by his desk, and often gave copies to friends.  Even late in life, he listed the Gita, along with another Sanskrit classic and Eliot’s The Waste Land—itself inspired by an Upanishad—among the ten books that most shaped his life.   Alok A. Khorana  https://lithub.com/how-j-robert-oppenheimer-was-influenced-by-the-bhagavad-gita   

http://librariansmuse.blogspot.com  Issue 2697  July 17,  2023