Food...

Here's an article I found helpful regarding eating habits. I find, in my opinion, that in the United States we eat too much and don't exercise enough. The proof is in the pudding when I look around me and at myself. The article is full of helpful suggestions on what to eat to keep you from eating too much and feeling fuller longer.

I also recommend smaller portions (use a smaller plate), and eating slower or in the alternative chewing your food longer. Set a required amount of chewing per bite, say like 20 chews (or until you can't stand the food in your mouth any longer) and then swallowing it. Another idea is to put a smaller amount of food on your utensil. And yet another idea is to take a drink of water after every bite.

Also, don't diet, change your eating habits to better eating for a lifetime.

Good luck and happy eating!

PS--add 20 minutes of exercise to your day too!! It doesn't have to be all at once either. 10 minutes in the morning; 10 minutes early evening (never right before bed--in my reading its not a good idea) Its only 20 minutes--that's doable. And of course everyone knows to check with their doctor before starting any exercise regime, right??? right.

MEMORIAL DAY...

Please remember the fallen veterans and those who currently serve. I greatly appreciate the sacrifices made and those in service make.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Social Security...

I've written some similar things about Social Security before in a rant, and here's something new. It's not pretty, and as a reminder you're "trusty???" government has exempted themselves from paying into Social Security.

Its really nice that they believe that they have a bottomless pit of money that they can "rob, steal, cheat, misuse" from and not even contribute to it. I wonder...do you think maybe that was the plan in the first place??? Ya, THINK??? What it truly boils down to is their money is safe and mine is not. It's very maddening to me.

NO MORE EXEMPTIONS ALLOWED!!!

Good day!

Thursday's mix...

Here's a favorite meal of mine: a wonderful fresh mixed salad (I can't wait until most of these ingredients actually come from me), a wonderful, smooth Merlot from Roza Ridge. You can't go wrong with Roza Ridge. It's a decent wine for the price--usually about $10.00. It has a wonderful bouquet and if you use a wine aerator, which is the fad, (rave) to do these days, it makes it even smoother. Although, this wine is good enough it doesn't need an aerator. I did have a wine a week or so ago that the only way I could drink it was to aerate it and its cost was more than Roza Ridge and was the first wine from Sonoma County that I wouldn't recommend.

Gardening: this is the Pikes Peak Urban Garden (PPUG for short) and I attended an informative composting class with them for free. Lots of good information given by Larry who runs the garden. I can really recommend that you find a non-profit organization like this in your area. Its been very helpful to me.

Last but not least: is another market tote. Yes, I am addicted and this is #10. Yes, I did run out of blue and had to finish with white. Hopefully it doesn't look too bad. The pattern is the Ilene Market bag pattern.

Menopause...

Here's an informative article regarding menopause from WebMD.com. I realize that a lot of you will not have this. I am trying to find a homeopathic method to ease symptoms. There are times when I feel as if I am going to burst into flames and then I am dizzy after an episode and have the chills. This distracts from my work and I have no concentration. Plus my doctor informs me I am too young. Yeah, right. I believe everyone is different and that is why the practice of medicine is so difficult. I guess that's why they call it "practice."

The recommendations I like in this article are the following:

"1. Behavioral interventions
Wear layered cotton clothing. Avoid coffee, alcohol, spicy foods, and stress! Sip cool drinks or use ice packs. Relaxation and deep, abdominal breathing (6-8 breaths per minute) have been shown to reduce hot flashes by about 40% when practiced as minimally as twice per day. Eliminate hot baths or showers before bedtime."

Darn I love spicy foods, and what am I going to do about no wine??? I do grab my water bottle every time I have an episode and it does help. Hydrate, Hydrate, hydrate.

"2. Vitamin E
Some women experience a reduction in hot flashes when taking Vitamin E. However, a placebo-controlled, randomized study evaluated vitamin E supplements (800 IU/day for four weeks) for 120 breast cancer survivors with hot flashes and found that vitamin E only marginally decreased hot flashes.

3. Soy
The results of the research on soy are inconclusive and contradictory. Some studies have found that soy has a positive effect on hot flashes, whereas others suggest that there isn't any beneficial effect. Christiane Northup, MD, in her book The Wisdom of Menopause, cites research that indicates that women who ate 60 grams of soy protein per day in the form of a powdered drink mix had a 45% reduction in hot flashes after 12 weeks. The following servings contain about 35-50 mg of soy isoflavones: one cup soy milk, 1/2 cup tofu, 1/2 tempeh,1/2 cup green soybeans (edamame), and three handfuls of roasted soy nuts."

Will have to try more vitamin E and soy--even if it is all in my head and a placebo effect and I love edemame, will have to get back to eating that more.

I don't care for remedies 4-6 in the article--will have to do more research on them. I am going to do further research regarding herbs. I have heard about Dr. Northup and she has been on PBS with a lot of information for women and I do like her. I suppose I will have to obtain her book (I'm getting desperate these days).

"7. Acupuncture and yoga
The benefits of acupuncture and yoga for menopause symptoms haven't been carefully studied. Many women, however, say they help. One Swedish study found that women who had acupuncture experienced relief from hot flashes. The benefits lasted several months. Also, women are increasingly turning to yoga to alleviate menopause symptoms. Suza Francina in her book The New Yoga for People over 50 describes specific yoga postures to alleviate hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and depression. Some yoga studios are now offering special yoga classes for the menopausal woman.

8. Exercise, exercise, exercise!

Research shows that exercise alone can alleviate hot flashes. In one study, aerobic exercise reduced the severity of hot flashes in 55% of postmenopausal women. For many women choosing not to take HRT, regular weight-bearing exercise and strength training can also help maintain strong bones. Miriam Nelson, Ph.D, author of Strong Women Stay Young, has done extensive research at Tufts University on the benefits of weight training. Nelson compared two groups of healthy postmenopausal women who were sedentary at the start of the program. One group lifted weights for forty minutes twice a week; the other group remained sedentary. The sedentary control group lost about two percent of their bone density during the year, while the strength-training women gained one percent in bone density. Another study of menopausal women found a 3.5% increase in lumbar spine bone mineral density among women who exercised, compared to a 2.7% decrease in the group of women who didn't exercise."

I have been riding my bicycle to work when I can and this does help. I have been thinking about going back to Tai Chi or trying Qigong as useful relaxation methods, and if it helps with easing symptoms all the better.

Most of my doctors inform me that I am too young to be experiencing what I am experiencing. Funny thing is my mum informed her doctors of the same thing and they said the same thing to her too and then one time she went back and her doctor said, "hey, looks like you are done with menopause. When did that happen?" Gotta love medicine and the "practice" of it.

Good day.

Photo...Twilight.

This is a favorite photo that I took a couple of weeks ago outside my front door. I like that its blurred and undefined in the images.

Twilight is a favorite time of day for me. Everyone is settling in for the evening and quieting down. You hear the last sounds of the day. The neighbors calling their children in from play and the birds are rustling a bit to settle in as well. The clinking of dishes, laughter and cars passing in the distance. It's calm and peaceful and a lovely enjoyable time. A feeling for each of us to rest overnight and begin a renewal of heart, mind and body. For strength to begin brand new the next day.

Good day!

Movies...

I've been watching old movies lately and have been enjoying myself immensely.
'Against the Crooked Sky' has Stewart Peterson as the main actor and I can remember how cute he was and what a great actor. I had such a crush. To my surprise this movie has some questionable acting that I swear was not there when I first saw it as a kid. My, how times change along with our impressions. Remember your grade school and how big it was when you were tiny?? The grade school was such a huge world. Now when I visit that same grade school it's not as big anymore.

I have also been watching 'October Sky.' This movie is such a great movie and well acted. You should check it out. It is based on a true story and has so many unexpected, interesting twists and turns. It has family issues, it has personal issues & personal dreams and in the end it all comes together in a hopeful and moving ending. It is well worth purchasing and watching many times.

Thank you Amazon.com for the pictures.
Good day!

Adventures of the Garden Goddess 2011...composter.

My city utilities had a special on a composter this weekend. The utilities here encourages conservation. There were a little over a thousand of these goodies to be had. I bought a composter and a kitchen pail. I figure I can use a hoe to turn the composter. It snapped together very easily; you twist plastic posts through a hole in the bottom edge of the bin and they easily screw into the ground to keep it from blowing away; and the top twist-locks on to keep out critters, and its already in use.

Things you cannot compost (this list is shorter than what you can compost):
1 meat,
2 bones,
3 dairy products, (although you can put egg shells in)
4 waste from carnivores.

Cost:
composter $49.99
Kitchen pail $7.00
total - $56.00

It was a steal of a deal as most composters similar to this one cost at minimum $100.00. I looked on-line to make certain.

Total gardening cost so far:
prior total - $93.00
composter - $56.00
plants (I bought more-2 strawberries, 1 tomato, 1 rosemary, 1 lavendar-I think I killed my other one) - $13.50
total cost so far - $162.00 (I certainly hope this works out for me)

Happy Gardening!!

Sole Sister...

I participated in a sock swap and although my package was to be received by Valentine's Day, I did received a wonderful package this weekend from a "stand-in" Sole Sister. Just look at the goodies!!! I am having fun with all of it.

Wore socks- check
planted nasturtiums - check
played with wall o water - check

Saturday was great!! Thank you Sole Sister.

Adventures of the Garden Goddess 2011...My Babies are growing up!!

Ok, so they aren't exactly children...(I have one of those already and these are definitely easier-ha) although it was very exciting to find a radish(second picture) and lots of carrots peeking up out of the ground. No lettuce yet (I hope they are ok).

Adventures of the Garden Goddess 2011...Raised Bed.

This is my favorite raised garden bed. This is my second year watching this garden and they do a terrific job. I provided pictures of it previously this year. This is the progress to date. The tower is going to be a snap pea tower, next to it in the raised bed are some onions and lettuce. Next to that you can just view the rhubarb that was planted the year prior and the bed next to the rhubarb, which you cannot see, are the tomatoes that were planted and are very small and have been staked to provide stability from the wind.

Remember, its never too late to start a garden this year. Especially, carrots, lettuce and radishes as those should be re-sown approximately every two weeks. Happy planting!

Good day!

Sad today... no post.

take a look at the links at the side. They're much more interesting today.
Good Day!

Budgeting...

go here to take a look at six steps on how to learn better budgeting habits and each of those six steps have more details about their subjects. Remember, you have to have a good attitude and to be committed if you want to be debt free. Besides its only six steps. You can do that right?? mmmhmmm...

Good day!!

Thanks About.com for the link and some good suggestions.

Bible...1 Samuel.

1 Samuel 17 is about David killing Goliath. I think most of us can recall the story about the kid with the sling shot who kills a giant. The kid happens to be David and Goliath is approximately 9 feet tall and I believe he would most likely qualify as a giant. Especially in those times when most people are pretty little possibly due to nutrition reasons.

I am still in Proverbs 15and the lovely Psalm.

thank you BibleGateway.com for the links.

Adventures of the Garden Goddess 2011...planting schedule.

Here's a lovely planting schedule for my area provided by Rick's Garden Center. So for approx. 6,000 feet above sea level this is the BIG planting weekend. Almost all plants (at least the ones I like) should be hardy enough for the night temperatures to be able to survive.

Per Rick... "Count forward or backward 1 day for each 100 foot change in elevation above or below 6,035' to get the average frost dates."

Plants: There are warm weather plants and cold weather plants meaning that the warm weather plants should not be placed outside or planted till after the last frost date. The cold weather plants may be placed out (for my area--approx) in mid-April as they are hardier plants and can withstand the cold evenings.

Of note: There are several plants that can be re-sown during the season. This means that you can get multiple harvests.

-carrots, some types of lettuce, beets, peas and radishes.

I just need to remember to plant seeds about every 2 weeks and this spaces out the harvest and makes the most of your garden bed.

Oh what fun this is!!! Learning new stuff each day!! Happy Gardening (planting)!!
Good day!!!

--NOTE: I actually posted this on May 12 and Blogger had problems.

Stepping into the 21st century...

OOOOhh guess what I just found, or rather, was introduced to by someone??? I am not certain I should even admit to it. But...

Google Reader!!! How long have I been on the Internet?? I'll never tell.

Oh my, I cannot wait to start using it! I heard people talk about it. I even read people's posts about it, twitters about it and IMs too, and still I had not a clue!!
(I start to rhyme when truly amazed---sorry, my bad) :)

I truly didn't understand. I'm a visual learner. Finally, someone showed me!! cha-ching--light bulb moment!

This has got to be a major time-saver and I am all about time-saving techniques. I can't wait to start organizing. Yeah me, for finally getting it and stepping into the 21st century!!!

---NOTE: this was posted on May 12---Blogger had technical problems and is posted now.

Bicycle Flat...how to fix.

Remember my post on Friday the Thirteenth. I had no problems on the 13th. It was Saturday the Fourteenth where things went downhill. I rode my bike to the $5.00 garden class. Yeah me. Unknowingly, on my way home I rode through a gigantic sticker patch. Uh, oh. You guessed it, not just one, but two flat tires the next day. Absolutely no human powered riding until these get fixed. I purchased SLIME as my flat fix-it. It was recommended to me as one of the best flat fixes. Its cost is approximately $8.00 and the bottle I purchased will fix 4 flat bicycle tires. (two is better than one, four is better than two in my mind---and I'll most likely need the extra).

Having not fixed a bicycle flat since being a kid and only watching as an adult. This only took about half an hour of my time.

OF NOTE: THE VALVE STEM IS A VERY IMPORTANT ITEM---DO NOT LOSE IT!!! This tricky little item keeps the air in your tire.

Here we go:
1. start with two flat tires. (remember two is better than one..., and you will always remember how to do this after fixing two).

2. purchase repair kit - I purchased SLIME. I read and re-read the directions on the bottle and I divided the bottle in 4s and made a mark on the side, hoping to stop at the designated line for each tire. Which thankfully I did--the sun helped with being able to tell when to stop--the bottle is see through-ISH, which helps.

3. Use the valve stem remover which comes with your bottle of SLIME (its the black cap at the top of the bottle). and remove the valve stem. You also need to remove the item or items in my case, that caused your leak.

4. Valve stem remover, valve stem, and cover for valve stem.

5. Fill tire with SLIME to designated amount. Put the valve stem back in & tighten (the valve stem is the metal thing in my hand).

6. You get a fountain of green slim overflowing when you forget the valve stem. No biggy it cleans up and you remember to put the valve stem in first before the air next time.

7. when you insert the valve stem a little goo comes out this is ok, just wipe it off. and use the black cap to tighten the valve stem and

8 put air in, up to the designated amount for the tire. You can find this on the tire. Mine is 40-65 psi. Also if you loose the black cap you may have a valve stem remover on your air-pump. Mine does. Love Bell for being so thoughtful. Its the little grey thing on the "lock" knob that bends to keep the air tube from coming off the air stem on the bike while you are putting in air. Then;

9. Spin the tires for a while to have the SLIME coat the inner tube. I did this by tipping my bike on the kick-stand. Plus I also went for a 10 minute ride. Also, SLIME says it only fixes a 3mm hole so anything bigger you will need to actually buy a patch kit that fixes holes like a nail hole.

10. Viola!! two flat tires fixed and ready to ride.

CLEAN UP - I cleaned the air stems with warm water just in case the green goo dries and then I can't get the air covers off. I also rinsed out the clear plastic tube and black cap with warm water so I can use it again and put it away in a safe place away from children and animals. And Dusty the dog was very interested in this stuff and I caught him just in time from eating it.

Tires still full of air and ready to roll so I rode into work today. Yeah me. Question do I get to add the $8.00 as a cost of gardening?? and am I really ahead of the game?? I guess I did learn how to fix a flat bicycle tire---two in fact (two is better than one, right??).

Good day!

Best Advice...Retirement

Take a look at this article regarding retirement if you haven't saved for it. A lot of us may be in this situation. Kudos to you if you have made good financial decisions and have a decent job. I am not certain that I would be able to live with a like minded couple as the article suggests. Remember my Renter series?? I know you're laughing on the inside--me too.

If you are young (in your 20s), just putting away 20 dollars a week will be enough. I know that's hard to believe but it is true (well, depending on how much you really "need"). A friend of mine figured this out. If you are in your 30s you will need 20 times that amount. Isn't that incredible?? 20 dollars may sound easy, its not, because you cannot spend the money and that is very hard to do when you are young and susceptible to "wanting", & "needing" things.

My best advice to everyone is to be frugal ALWAYS.
Ta, Ta for now.

Adventures of the Garden Goddess 2011...plants.

Here is what $58.00 will buy for gardening plants. Its not much. Thank goodness I had onions & strawberries given to me. Otherwise I may just starve. Good thing I like both.

The top of the picture are the herbs and the bottom are veggies (with sage, cilantro and chocolate mint).
Herbs purchased:
1. arugula - 2 plants- the leaves and flowers are edible. The flowers taste similar to radishes and are very yummy. The leaves are a peppery taste.
2. oregano - 1 plant
3. tai basil - 1 plant (I also planted seeds of regular basil)
4. sage - 1 plant
5. cilantro - 1 plant (also planted seeds. don't know why I purchased this one)
6. echinacea - 1 plant - This plant has white flowers and I was told its the same just white and much prettier. Usually they have purple flowers and look similar to a daisy and are from the daisy family. (Thank you Wiki for the link.)
7. chocolate mint - 1 plant (this was a silly impulse buy--but fun so I am ok with it, and it should grow like a weed, which is what I need.)

Veggies:
1. tomatoes - 2 plants - type: roma
2. cucumbers - 2 plants
3. peppers - bell and habanero (1 each)

I also purchased 3 perennial flowers for a shady spot and they are not in the picture.

This past weekend I took a gardening class through the Pikes Peak Urban Gardeners, and learned lots about warm-weather vegetables. Here is a link to PPUG. There were a couple vendors there as well: Grant Farms is a CSA - community supported agriculture--ie you pay them to grow organic stuff for you (they choose what to grow and what they will provide you) Its kinda like Christmas only with veggies in the summer; Good Earth a local gardening retailer; an Alpaca Poop worm lady--she sells alpaca poop and worms (separate); and a lady doing a home garden pamphlet.

Steve, who runs PPUG, was very informative and well-spoken. He gave lots of valuable tips on how to make certain you have a good harvest. He was very knowledgeable about many things and also asked input from master gardeners who may have been present and was open for information from anyone in the audience as well. I can't wait to utilize this non-profit organization this summer. Hey, I could even pass off his stuff as mine 'cause he has "pick n pay" all summer long (just kidding). At least I won't starve if my garden doesn't work out.

I learned lots about tomatoes and peppers. For tomatoes you need to gently remove the bottom leaves so the sun can hit the soil and warm it up as tomatoes love warmth. It was also suggested to water with warm water if you have cold weather. Tomatoes and bell peppers need a wind break. uh-oh, I may have a problem with that. Looks like I need a wind break. When your plants are small you can use an old plastic milk jug. Cut the bottom off and place it gently over your plant. Steve said it takes a lot of energy out of a plant to withstand the wind; you want all the energy used to produce vegetables not wasted fighting the elements. Also for tomatoes you want to top them in the fall to have the harvest last longer. This means to just cut the top off. It helps them to produce better in the fall and last longer.

Costs so far:
-Rototilling: $22.00 (and free labor--although I did provide a nice dinner and wine, cost $28.00 for dinner supplies--and no, I didn't cook it, thankfully someone else did.--I didn't include this as a cost as I have to eat anyway.)
-Plants: $55.00
-Seeds - 11 packets: $11.00
-garden class $5.00 (well worth the time and cost to go. plus it goes to a great non-profit organization in my area) =Total $93.00
-gardening book $10.00 (cost from last year--not included in this years cost)--The Garden Primer is what I purchased.

Recommendations:
1. Buy a well-written book about gardening
2. find a non-profit gardening organization in your area -- they will have lots of information and/or offer inexpensive classes with great info.
3. Join a CSA farm or volunteer for a local community garden.

Good Day! and Happy Gardening1

Spiced Maple Honey Nuts...

Here's a recipe I tried this weekend. Mine do not look like the recipe. In fact, no surprise to anyone who actually knows me and my cooking prowess, I burnt them. I was standing right there and I BURNT them!! sheeesh. How exactly does this happen??? Here's what mine look like. At least I have the spiced maple honey to add to yogurt or ice cream--that's whats in the jar and it is yummy all on its own.

and here's the link to the actual recipe.

this picture made me laugh...

I suppose I have a morbid sense of humor; I thought this was a great advertisement for a business that was placed on an actual hearse. It made me laugh. Don't look at it if you don't have a morbid sense of humor---and can't take a joke about things that shouldn't be joked about.

Bible...1 Samuel, John, Proverbs 15

Samuel is getting very old --as in growing old in age not boring(I've skipped a lot you need to read it for yourself as its interesting). He has saved the ark and gone to war and is finally tired and has appointed his sons as priests, except they are corrupt and take bribes and the Israelites don't like this. I wonder how that happens?? You know, someone so mean coming from someone so nice. Everyone has someone like that in their family, don't you? I know I can think of people in mine, some a little more worse for wear and others not. What are the influences that make a person dishonest?? Is it greed? Anger? Frustration? Peer pressure? Or mean. Is it disappointment or because they can be?

Samuel has come before the Israelites before his death to make right any wrong. From my understanding, its the tradition of the time-period for everyone to do this. (I wish we still did--maybe Mr. X would then pay the child support and medical bills he owes me.)

Anyway...since Samuel's sons have become so corrupt the Israelites have asked Our Lord Your God for a king. They want to be like all the nations around them. This angers the Lord and rightly so as the pesky Israelites have rejected Him as their king, once again. Samuel tries to prevent this from happening but Our Lord Your God insists on giving them what they have requested. Our Lord Your God gives them a king, firmly warning the Israelites that they will regret the request. Saul is found to be an upstanding man and becomes king.

John 7 is where I am reading in the new testament. John provides a different perspective to the life of Jesus.

And of course as always the lovely book of Proverbs chapter 15 now.
Proverbs 15 verses 5 & 6:

5 A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.

6 The house of the righteous contains great treasure,
but the income of the wicked brings ruin.

Thank you BibleGateway for the links.
Good day.

Friday the Thirteenth...

Happy Friday the Thirteenth!!! I thought it would be fun to provide a link about where the superstition came from that it was a "bad luck" day. For me, it doesn't have to be Friday or the 13th to sometimes feel as though I should have stayed in bed on "bad" days.

Thank you Wikipedia for the information.
Have a Good Lucky Day!! and a great weekend!!!

Bible...Ruth, 1 Samuel.

Sadly Ruth is only four short chapters. She is a very hard working woman and loves her mother-in-law a lot. When does that ever happen??? Good things happen to Ruth and she eventually marries. As I said before she is the great (many greats) grandmother of David, who is, from my understanding, in the line of Jesus.

1 Samuel is where I am reading now. Samuel is the son of Hannah and Ramathaium. Hannah is the favorite wife (he has two)of her husband. She has been unable to conceive and is very saddened by this and meanly teased by the other wife. At this time period, having children is a huge focus in life for a woman and if she doesn't have children...well, let's just say that life is very unpleasant if you don't.

Hannah eventually finds favor with God and has a child, Samuel, whom she has promised to God. From my understanding (limited though it is) I believe she is able to keep him to about the age of 12 years and then must deliver him to the temple to become a priest as she has promised.

Thank you BibleGateway for the links.

Adventures of the Garden Goddess 2011...garden planted.

Lucky for me the garden got tilled this past weekend. I planted onions (which were given to me --thank you M--lets hope your faith in me pays off)and strawberries on Saturday May 7.

Tuesday, May 10, I rushed home from work and went ahead and planted the seeds that I wanted to grow. I don't really don't know why I didn't plant them on Saturday. I think I was waiting for someone to tell me to go ahead and get my seeds in the ground. I think I was just so pleased that I got the tilling done, that I thought I was done and that was as far as I was going to go this year. Silly me. I mean, all I did last year was buy a book, and getting to the tilling part this year was leaps and bounds ahead of last year. I am just so pleased to have the tilling done -- I forgot to go ahead and plant. I digress. Onward.

I previously decided where I wanted to plant and I looked at diagrams in my book to make certain I companion planted. I did a quick sketch of my garden bed and then I took each set of packets and planted my beets & radishes, carrots, the lettuces, then herbs - cilantro, basil, dill; then snap peas. I skipped a space to save for tomato plants and bell peppers--which I am going to purchase, and planted 3 seeds of black beauty squash, and then 4 plants of cantaloupe, which are next to the strawberries.

I am very pleased that I actually got as far a planting this year--and just in the nick of time too. Yeah me. We are to get weather in today. Lots of rain and snow. 7 inches of snow in Woodland Park, and its finally the wet snow.

I provided a picture of the planted garden bed, but none of the seeds have come up yet. :) Most will be 7-10 days before I notice anything. I just hope I don't accidentally remove one by mistaking it for a weed or grass. And a picture of my diagram of what I planted so I don't forget what's what and where.

Happy planting everyone!! You need to get planting (cold weather plants--plants that do well in the cold) optimally done sometime in the merry month of May or April if you're really good.

Inspiring... CO of the Decatur.

I've been reading Commander Sethi's blog, Adventure's in Paradise, since sending a knit hat to help outfit her ship. The knitting groups sent so many hats to the Commander's mother that we actually helped to outfit several ships. Very cool.

Be inspired by this post. And it will send you to an article about Commander Shanti Sethi. I'm glad she did "toot her own horn." Its a great article and her posts are very well "politically" written.

Love your pictures Commander, keep up the good work. You inspire us all.

Quote...

I am currently watching old movies and Pollyanna is one of them. I just love Haley Mills, don't you?? There are many thought provoking lines in this movie and the following is just one of them:


"Those who look for the bad in people will surely find it."
— Abraham Lincoln


Good day!

Adventures of the Garden Goddess 2011...ground breaking.

Breaking news & very good news, my garden bed has been roto-tilled!! Yeah me, along with a little (A LOT) help from a kind friend.

Roto-tilling is NOT as easy as it looks. Had I not had help with this I am certain I would have been beaten to shreds from the machine and someone would have had to search through my garden bed for my body.

I took pictures (sorry, I haven't figured out how to put these in order) for those of you unfamiliar with a rototiller. There is an on/off switch. If you want the machine to go you have to turn the knob to "on." The choke helps with first starting the machine when its cold and it is the white arm with a rectangular knob thingy at the end. You choke it to start it and then back the choke off so the machine will run correctly. The throttle is a metal bar that moves back and forth; forward for more gas back towards you less gas.

My cost in renting was $11.00 with a 2 hour minimum and the neighbor thankfully let me borrow their pickup to haul the rototiller in.

And Viola!!
I have onions planted on one end and strawberry plants that a neighbor gave me on the other. Looking good so far!! Even if I do say so myself. Next to the onions will be radishes, then carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, bell peppers, herbs.

Good Day!!

PS - Mix says she helped too!! (and yes, she is as mean as she looks---you don't beat up a pit bull with as tiny as she is and survive without being mean--although in a good way)(she's actually looking at me with love in her eyes)(she looks really mean when she's mad).

Happy Mother's Day...

Happy Mother's Day to your family. Someone in your family must be a mother even if you are not and I wish them or you a very nice day. My plan is to prepare my garden bed (and maybe a little golf??). Wish me luck (crosses fingers). I'll take pictures and post them Monday.

Have a Good Weekend everyone!!! Whoever you may be and wherever you are located.

Bible...Ruth.

I am now out of Judges and beginning Ruth. Thank goodness. Judges was very violent and Ruth is like a breath of fresh air. If you want a good gory book to read all you have to do is snuggle up with Judges.

Ruth is a very noble woman and the daughter-in-law of Naomi another noble woman. Ruth is also the great (multiple greats here) grandmother of David (King David, the kid with the slingshot). Did you know that?? Ruth is also a Moabite, which I am certain has significance I just don't know what.

Ruth and Naomi are poor and everyday Ruth goes out to a field where she has permission to pick up the leftover grains that the threshers have missed. The owner of the field takes pity on her and informs his workers to leave a little more grain for her to pick up.

I admire Ruth for getting up early everyday and working diligently for what she and her mother-in-law will need to eat. She doesn't wait for anyone to help her and didn't give up, she helps herself and another woman too; she works hard and is rewarded for her faith and loyalty.

And as always Proverbs is a lovely read:

Proverbs 14:17 A quick-tempered person does foolish things,
and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.

Thank you BibleGateway.com for the quotes.

Good Day!

backlinkers...NOT ALLOWED HERE.

HEY ALL YOU BACKLINKERS GET OFF MY BLOG!!!! I intensely dislike stuff like that, don't you???? UGH.

Turns out a backlinker is not someone who goes to your blog to read it, it is someone who just suckered you into linking to their blog. It includes a type of SEO Software that in layman's terms is a backlinker software. I obviously do not understand it yet and will have to do more research, but cripes, I hate stuff like this.

I am really not interested in appearing first in line anywhere. I just like to write and read what I write and make corrections to what I write. I do not need a link or a backlink to anything, thanks but no thanks.

Bible...Judges 19, John, Psalm, Proverbs 14.

I am currently reading Judges 19 - its about a Levite (Israelite preist) and his concubine. The link provides a great explanation to the status of being or becoming a concubine (thank you Wikipedia). It's kind of confusing as you are considered married, just not the first wife. The concubine experiences a horrible death and all of Israel goes to war against the Benjamite clan of Israel because of it.

I am currently in John 3, and now get to experience Jesus' life through John's eyes. Maybe I will understand John better, as Luke was confusing. From my understanding he actually liked women and was a type of medical practitioner.

Psalms is always a lovely read and Proverbs 14 feels as though I am reading Confucius or Buddha--but they came later or approximately the same time in history (click the link and you can decide for yourself). Keep in mind Psalms and Proverbs are both written before BC too.

Proverbs 14:20 -The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.

Is so true isn't it?? The rich do seem to have a lot of friends. And there is nothing more irritating than a homeless person begging on the street corner (rumor has it they make a lot of money this way). I prefer to help the person who is not begging as I can see myself in them. It could be me who is homeless. I ask myself how would I handle being homeless? Would I beg? Would I work? Think about it.

Thank you BibleGateway.com and Wikipedia for the links.

Good day.

Amino Acids...

I recently purchased a Thyroid Support manufactured by Gaia Herbs (see picture). All well and good right? Wrong. and for those of you who don't know, I have a low thyroid and one of the many side effects is fatigue. Several other downers are hair loss, weight gain --with this even on a 600 calorie a day diet a person with a low thyroid can still gain weight. Amazing isn't it? Put into perspective an apple has 120 calories which means I can only eat 5 apples per day. That is not a lot of food and I happen to like food. I digress.

Anyway, the main reason for this post is the main ingredient of this supplement is an amino acid: L-Tyrosine or Tyrosine for short. I decided to research, good thing too. I found WebMD, an excellent site. It gave me the side effects, correct dosage and other drugs that this amino acid does not play well with. I also checked out Idopa and dopamine which are "cousins" (which is how I understand the relationship) to this amino acid. Idopa and dopamine are very dangerous to take additional supplements and you should definitely be under a doctor's care if you do. The great thing about amino acids is they are found naturally in our food and if you are eating right you really most likely don't need an additional supplement and if you do PLEASE consult a doctor.

The things that bother me most about Gaia (thank goodness for WebMD):

1. Gaia recommends 8100mg per day. WebMD -- 150mg. That's a HUGE difference!! Take a good look at the picture. One pill contains 2700mg. Divide that by 15 and you get 18. One pill is good for 18 days!!! Gaia recommendations are a serious overdose. From my reading I found that you can stop your heart or make it race with this much of this amino acid. That's a pretty serious side effect!

2. Gaia's packaging does not state any side effect and there are a lot. WebMD states there are nausea, headaches, fatigue (which I'm trying to lessen or eliminate---not get more), and joint paint.

3. Gaia never states that the supplement should only be taken for up to 3 months and then you need to discontinue use for awhile. WebMD makes this explicit that it is imperative that you discontinue use after 3 months.

My side effects experienced since starting this amino acid on Sunday May 1st:

Day 1 Sunday - not a lot of difference.
Day 2 Monday - not a lot of difference.
Day 3 Tuesday - dizziness was a side effect.

Day 4 Wednesday - by this day the blood veins in my arms felt as though they were burning--especially around my wrist area on both arms, I was extremely dizzy, slight nausea from dizzy feeling, I experienced major hot flashes; my head felt as though it would explode from the inside; my eyes felt as though they were bugging out of my head; normal noises sounded extremely loud.- I discontinued use and drank a lot of water to flush my system. I took asprin, which is wrong to do and a soda pop which is also wrong to do because of the carbination in the drink; and coffee and that's wrong to do, at least for amino acids. I then took ginger and cinnamon which is correct.

Day 5 Thursday - slight headache, slight burning around my wrists, slight bug-eye feeling, slight nausea. - no use of product at all and drinking lots of water and taking ginger & cinnamon.

The Gaia package does suggest you consult your doctor before using. Yeah, I guess so!!! It really bugs me that Gaia did not include a supplemental pamphlet with all the information I found at WebMD. It could have been very easy for them to do.

From the picture I provided, of course someone like me is going to desire to feel better and if something like this can do that, I am going to try it. Especially since my doctor is not all that helpful regarding the low thyroid problem. It's not like I'm in the doctor's office a lot. I would like to feel better and I thought that's what a doctor is supposed to help with. NOT. They just want to give you a pill and get you out of the office. Money, money, money and the next patient brings money. So I have done my own research and exploration. Sometimes to my detriment as in this case.

Be careful with amino acids. Please consult your doctor and do research.
Just enjoy them naturally in the foods you eat.

Tulips...Mountains...snow.

This lovely tulip bed is across the street from where I work. Isn't it beautiful?? Simple yet elegant. Someone put some thought into it. If my vegetable garden fails I can always plant tulips in September, but that takes planning and follow through. I'm not certain if I have the energy to actually do both--plan and follow through.

It began snowing May 1st and 2nd here, and although it wasn't much it was thankfully wet snow instead of dry snow. I prefer wet snow as there is more moisture in it and while driving there is actually more traction. I know you don't believe me but there really is. Pikes Peak always looks lovely with snow on it.

Adventures of the Garden Goddess 2011...garden bed.

This is another plot being prepared in my area. This is on my way home from work. I don't travel the same way from work as I do to work.

I'll have to take pictures of each one along the summer to see how it went for them. I believe the two garden beds I have shown so far actually know what they are doing.

Dusty...

This is Dusty. Dusty was abused by his owner, although the owner would deny it (don't we all), but if that is "true" I would like to see how well the owner ends up after a month of no food or water and left with only spoiled bread to eat and left to fend for himself with only his mouth for a month, and cataracts on his eyes so he can't see very well to hunt. And Dusty is 15 years old--that would 105 in human years. Yeah, I bet it wouldn't be so good. Especially the no water part.

Dusty now has health problems because of the no water part. Dusty loves water. In fact I have never seen any one animal drink so much water. Dusty gets up every night at 11pm to get a drink. He drinks so much it wakes me up. That's how I know he gets up at 11pm every night. Poor Dusty.

Dusty is very sad. Dusty faces directly south every day wishing for the only home he has ever known--which includes the abusive owner. It breaks my heart to come home and see Dusty facing south every day. Whats with south and the way Dusty faces?? It is exactly the correct direction his old home is located.

Its interesting to me that some animals have a perfect geographic compass built into them. I once purchased a horse that had that same compass and he would face directly east and pace the east fence line as his old home was directly east. It broke my heart that his prior owners sold him. It was very sad. Animals know with whom and where they belong. They are dependent on each of us, good or bad they love unconditionally and they keep that love no matter how they were treated. Its too bad that Dusty's owner doesn't feel the same way about him.

Adventures of the Garden Goddess 2011...May already??

I have noticed that lots of locals are getting their gardens ready. Here's a favorite of mine that I see on the way to work everyday. I wish mine looked like that. My fatigue has been too much lately and all I feel like doing is sleeping. Hopefully I'll get the ground prepared this weekend (crosses fingers). I think the first year start-up is the most difficult, but what do I know. I mean, last year all I did was purchase a book. ha

I have also signed up for a gardening class through a local non-profit organization. Its not until May 14th. It deals with warm-weather vegetables. Can't wait. I bet there are lots of organizations like this one. They are the ones with whom I am taking the class. Just google "community gardening" in your area and you should have these types of organizations pop up.

Wish me luck on ground breaking since that's my next step. :)

Bible...Proverbs 14:15

I thought this deserved another quick look:

Proverbs 14:15 The simple believe anything,
but the prudent give thought to their steps.

Watch where you are going, what you are doing, what you are saying. Step lightly and wisely. Good day!!

courtesy of BibleGatway.com

Current Read... Wicked Appetite.

Just finished reading Wicked Appetite by Janet Evonovich. I love reading Janet. It was a quick, nonsensical, lighthearted read. I found myself snickering, here and there and it was nice to read something light. Pick it up from your local library and sit down and enjoy.

picture courtesy of Amazon.

Stats...are they really real?

Ok, so...
I just found the stat button (almost yesterday)a couple months ago. Wow, how long have I been blogging--just you never mind that. I was very enamored with it...at first...and then... the honeymoon wore off. I found that most of my stats are (dare I admit it) ME. I like to read ME. I think I write ok. I could use some improvement (maybe I'll take a class).

Turns out the stats on Blogger are pretty screwed, I mean skewed. Who knew. I did eventually figure out how to take out my stats. Yeah ME.

Then after reading several informative blogs about the traffic meter that the traffic meter is skrewed too. I mean skewed. In layman terms, its like a reverse traffic thing going on and if you click on the web address of any of these websites you may enter a website you really didn't intend. Plus, they really didn't go to your blog you just went to theirs. How does that work you might ask?? Gee, I really don't know you'll have to do your own research on it to understand it. That's just how I understand it after doing my own.

I do recall one of the comments mentioning unsavory websites. Whaaa--aat??? says I. Never! Turns out its true (gee, ask me how I know--oops). Its kind of like spam only in reverse. Once your blog has enough hits its like it starts showing up in all kinds of (unsavory??) places. I just hope my head doesn't appear where its not supposed to, I think I'll change my avatar, just in case.

Anyway, I am no longer looking at the stats (well, not as much--just a teensy bit). I do like to see where everyone comes from---at least maybe where they MAY come from anyway. I don't believe everything I see or read. I think Elvis may still be in the building somewhere!! really, really, I'm certain its true!!

Are your stats real? maybe, maybe not. Also be careful where you click, you can and do end up where you may not want (EEEK!!). And trust me, someone is always watching (dun, dun, duuuuu-scary music exit stage left).

A Few Things...this is a rant.

Move along if you don't want all the negativity of a rant in your space.

So, as you know Bin Ladin is gone. I have mixed emotions and a few things more (begin rant):

1. I am ok with BL being gone as I am not ok with what he has done and encourages.

2. I don't think anyone should be celebrating since our economy is as dead as he is and going to a world economy is a bad idea, which is what is going to happen in the end. That's why all governments are trashing their economies. No quicker way to get a world government. It'll be good at first to get everyone on board and then just wait... it will get very, very bad.

3. I would like Congress to pass a balanced budget and when they can't they shouldn't be paid.

4. Congress and The President should have to personally read every law before they pass the law--not hire some lackey to summarize the law for them.

5. Congress and The President should not be able to exempt themselves from any law like they have with the National Health Care System. If they believe its good enough for me then its good enough for them too. The ironic thing is that Ted Kennedy died from brain cancer that is NOT covered under the National Health Care--a system he was in favor. So he would have had to go home and not receive any treatment--and experience a terrible, horrible death. Interestingly ironic, isn't it??

6. I would like the EPA to keep their noses out of the environment since they don't really know anything about said environment. Fact: the diesel additive that is now forced upon those who drive diesel vehicles is in actuality much worse for the environment than just plain old diesel fuel. The vehicles get worse mileage on the additive and its far worse for the engine requiring replacement of parts much sooner (where do you think the old parts get dumped??). Worse mileage means more vapors in the environment.
Fact: a cow gives off more methane gas naturally than is allowed by the EPA. (side note: the EPA is considering a fine for people who raise cows--said expense will be passed on--to everyone). Is that stupid or what???

7. Fact if VP Biden had not circumvented the procedure that BP Oil was supposed to go through -- their oil spill would have either a)never happened or; b) been much less damage, as part of the process skipped was for BP to have a safety valve and safety procedures in place, which as everyone found out they didn't. Why?? because it costs a boat load of money to have safety procedures in place.

8. I am paying more money for gasoline because of BP, Congress, Biden, and the EPA.

9. The EPA has shut down most domestic drilling. Which will mean that I am going to have to pay more, more, more and someone is getting very rich and I can testify that its certainly not me.

10. Our government keeps growing which means less taxes paid (they exempted themselves from it long ago) which mean more taxes for me to pay.

11. Social Security is actually in the black, although Congress has robbed the money from it so its in the red. If any corporation had done or is doing what Congress is doing it would have been shut down years ago as its highly illegal to siphon funds from the pension plan to pay other bills--as Congress does with Social Security.

12. NO ONE has been put in jail for the financial bailout. Why is that??? If Congress had paid everyone's mortgage in full in the USA it would have been cheaper than the bailout. Instead I get to pay multi-million dollar salaries to people who ran their companies into the dirt. Where's my bailout??

-end rant (for now).

Time off...back to work.

I took some time off from work and it was nice to get away. I had to continuously keep myself from thinking about work and worrying if I would have a job on Monday. Do you do that?? I have always worried about whether I will have a job when I get back after taking time off. I really don't know why I do this. Its not like I have ever been let go when I get back from time off. Just a bad habit. It was nice to take a rest from my work database that's very frustrating (and the biomeds).

I golfed for two days, which was fun on one and for the other not so great dealing with 55-65 mile per hour wind gusts. No practice swings taken on that day. Just hit and hope it goes straight. It was helpful on this day that I do close my eyes when I hit the ball, less dust & dirt in them. :) Turns out its not such a bad habit and it has its uses. Neither course is in great shape due to no snow for the winter.

We did have some light snowfall for Saturday and Sunday. I just love snow in the springtime and watching if fall slowly and gently to the ground through my picture window. It gives the air a crisp, clean and brisk feeling about it.

Back to work. Ta, ta for now.

Bible...Proverbs 14.

Proverbs 14 is my current read the past two weeks. I have been taking a verse a day and couldn't decide which to blog about so decided to put half of it. Hopefully your confusion will come a little at a time. You can click the link to read the whole thing. I especially enjoy verses 1, 2, and 4. Good day!

Proverbs 14:1-15

1 The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

2 Whoever fears the LORD walks uprightly,
but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

3 A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,
but the lips of the wise protect them.

4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.

5 An honest witness does not deceive,
but a false witness pours out lies.

6 The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.

7 Stay away from a fool,
for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,
but the folly of fools is deception.

9 Fools mock at making amends for sin,
but goodwill is found among the upright.

10 Each heart knows its own bitterness,
and no one else can share its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.

12 There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.

13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and rejoicing may end in grief.

14 The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,
and the good rewarded for theirs.

15 The simple believe anything,
but the prudent give thought to their steps.

Courtesy of BibleGateway.com

Knitting...2 more market bags.

I can't seem to get enough of these market bags. I just love 'em. The purple one is already gone as a gift. The pattern is a variation of the Grrlfriend market bag and the Ilene market bag-both free patterns.

Interesting pictures...part 2.

Here the wall is now.