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Definition: With an attitude or look of suspicion, disapproval, or doubt.

Origin: From Middle English askance, likely from Old Norse á ská meaning “obliquely, sideways.”

In Context: The villagers glanced askance at the stranger, his cloak dripping with rain and his eyes darting toward the shadows of the square.

Challenge: Use askance in a sentence and show off your creativity! Our favorite will be featured in next week’s edition. Ready, set, go!

Cradled in the lush mountains of central Guatemala, Semuc Champey is a hidden gem where jungle beauty, emerald waters, and cultural richness blend in breathtaking harmony.

🌊 Natural Pools Paradise: A series of turquoise limestone pools stretch like a staircase across the jungle, perfect for swimming, exploring, or simply soaking in nature’s tranquility.

🌿 Jungle Adventures: Surrounded by dense rainforest, Semuc Champey invites hikers to climb to panoramic viewpoints, wander riverside trails, and uncover hidden caves lit only by candlelight.

🛶 Local Culture: Nestled near the Q’eqchi’ Maya town of Lanquín, visits here offer a glimpse into traditional ways of life, from handcrafted goods to community-run eco-lodges that welcome travelers warmly.

🐒 Wildlife Encounters: From playful monkeys in the canopy to exotic birds flashing brilliant colors, the region is alive with biodiversity—every step reveals a new wonder of Guatemala’s wild heart.

🪔 Habitat: The Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) soars through the cloud forests of Central America, from southern Mexico to western Panama, with Guatemala as its stronghold. Preferring high-altitude forests with abundant fruiting trees, it often nests in tree cavities and spends much of its time flitting through the dense canopy, where its vibrant colors blend surprisingly well with the foliage.

✨ Fun Facts: Famous for its dazzling emerald-green and crimson plumage, the Resplendent Quetzal is considered one of the most beautiful birds in the world. Males grow long tail feathers that can reach up to a meter, creating an unforgettable display during courtship. Its diet mainly consists of fruits, insects, and small vertebrates, playing a key role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration.

🌍 Conservation Status: The Resplendent Quetzal is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Deforestation and habitat fragmentation have reduced its natural range, though protected cloud forests in Guatemala and Costa Rica provide crucial refuges. Observing this iconic bird in the wild is a rare and magical experience, reminding us of the beauty and fragility of Central America’s biodiversity.

Think you’re up for a challenge? Dive into a world of puzzles, tricky riddles, and engaging games designed to keep your mind sharp and entertained. From crosswords to code-breaking and everything in between, there’s something here for everyone. Get ready to have fun and give your brain a workout!

Word Trek

When you stop to look, you can always see me. But if you try to touch me, you can never feel me. Although you walk towards me, I remain the same distance from you. What am I?

Submit your answer below!

Riddle: If an electric train is traveling south, then which way is the smoke going?

Answer: It’s an electric train! There isn’t any smoke!

🛰️ October 4, 1957 – Launch of Sputnik 1
The Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite into orbit, marking the beginning of the space age and intensifying the space race between the U.S. and the USSR.

🔬 October 9, 1874 – Discovery of Helium on Earth
French astronomer Jules Janssen discovered helium in the Sun's spectrum during a solar eclipse in 1868. However, it wasn't until October 9, 1874, that British astronomer Norman Lockyer confirmed the presence of helium on Earth by observing the Sun's spectrum. This discovery expanded our understanding of the universe's composition.

🚀 October 11, 1984 – First Untethered Spacewalk
NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless performed the first untethered spacewalk using the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), demonstrating human mobility in space without physical connection to a spacecraft and paving the way for future satellite repairs and exploration missions.

Craving something delicious? This section is packed with simple, tasty recipes—from timeless favorites to inventive new creations. Whether you’re a kitchen pro or just starting out, there’s a dish here for every appetite. Roll up your sleeves, get cooking, and savor the joy of great food!

PS: This edition is a little different! Instead of a main dish, bread, and dessert, we’ve added King Arthur Baking’s top three favorite fall dishes!

This apple cake is a longtime favorite of ours for good reason. The moist, slightly chunky cake is paired with a silky-smooth frosting that's reminiscent of brown sugar fudge, making each bite greater than the sum of its parts. Enjoy it with a cup of coffee — or better yet, a tall glass of ice-cold milk. We’re grateful to the classic Bakery Lane Soup Bowl cookbook for inspiring this recipe.

Cakey pumpkin cookies are fine and good, but this recipe yields buttery, almost fudgy pumpkin cookies (think rich peanut butter cookies, only pumpkin-flavored). The trick, which we also applied to The Most Pumpkin Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread, is to cook the pumpkin purée down on the stovetop (in this case, in brown butter) to stave off some moisture. It takes a bit of time standing at the stove, but the results are worth it. For an easy-but-fancy presentation, press the dough balls down before baking with a cookie stamp.

These Apple Cider Doughnut Holes deliver the nostalgic flavor of classic apple cider doughnuts — but without the deep fryer. To emulate sugar-tossed cake doughnuts, mini muffins are dunked in tart, cider-spiked butter, then coated in spiced sugar. These bite-sized treats are as tender and flavorful as fried doughnuts, but with much less hassle.

Thanks for joining us in this edition of The Veridion Chronicle! We hope you enjoyed what we prepared!

Catch you next time on October 13th, 2025!

The Veridion Chronicle Team

PS: Don’t forget to check out our website!