Happy New Year To You

Happy New Year to you!
May every new day,
Bring you sweet surprises,
A happiness buffet.
Happy New Year to you!
And when the New Year's day is done,
May the next year be even better,
Full of pleasure, joy and happiness.

Written by, Joanna Fuchs

Also may all your dreams come true,
God bless all my friends, with love==
Margaret

Twas The Night Berore Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While vision of sugar plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winters nap,
When out on the lawn there rose such a clatter,
I sprung from the bed to see what was the matter,
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash,
The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below,
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a minature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick,
More rapid then eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and called them by name,
Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurrican fly,
When meet with an obstacle mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too,
And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof,
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof,
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nickplas came with a bound,
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot,
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack,
His eyes--how they teinkled! his dimples how merry,
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cheery,
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as snow,
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a weeath,
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly,
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself,
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread,
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose,
He sprang to his sleigh, to the team gave a whistle,
And away the all flew like the down of a thistle,
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night.

This poem has to be read to every child, it has been enjoyed by decades of children, even myself. I read this to my children for many years when they were young. We have a beautiful copy bought in 1966 and I have it under the Christmas tree every year since.. Hope your Christmas is merry.

AULD LANG SYNE

The song we love to sing at the stroke of midnight, marking the beginning of a New Year, "Auld Lang Syne", was written as a poem by Scottish poet Robert Burns in about 1788. Auld Lang Syne literally means in Lowland Scottish "old long since", or can be summed up as "days gone by" or "once upon a time".

In 1796, Robert Burns gave a copy of the song to James Johnson, who included it in his collection of songs in "The Scots Musical Museum". Johnson published the song in December 1796 after the death of Robert Burns, it was also included in George Thomsons "A Collection of Original Scottish Airs", which was published from 1793 to 1818 to Thomson tune that we sing this song today, the original melody long lost.

Though there are approximately 2000 versions of the song recorded by various artists, it was popularized by Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians when they played it during a New Year's eve party in New York City in 1929.

Auld Lang Syne has withstood the test of time and is widely popular in English speaking countries, including the United States, where every New Year across the country, the song is heard from the streets as party goers sing it at the stroke of midnight to mark the end of one year and the start of a new one.

English translation==
Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot, and old lang syne?
CHORUS,
For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

And surely you'll buy your pint cup! and surely I'll buy mine! And we'll take a cup o" kindness yet, for auld lang syne.
CHORUS,
We two have run the slopes, and picked the daises fine: But we've wandered many a weary foot. Since Auld lang syne.
CHORUS,
We two have paddled in the stream, from morning sun till dine; But seas between us broad have roared since auld lang syne. And ther's a hand my trusty friend! And give us a hand o' thine! And we'll take a right good-will draught, for auld lang syne.

I love this song but never knew all the lyrics to the song.

MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

Far away in Bethlehem, a baby Boy was born;
Born with neither riches nor with fame,
Yet wise men came from all around to bring
to Him their gifits,
And peace was felt by all who heard his name.
Angels watched Him as He slept, and gently
rocked His bed;
Their voices singing softly in His ear;
His Mother and His Father both gave thanks
to God above
For the greaest gift of all, their Son, so dear.
They knew His life upon this earth would not
be filled with wealth,
They also knew He would encounter strife;
But most of all, they knew that he would be
a loving child,
And teach the love of God throughout
his life.
At Christmas, as we celebrate this Birth of
Jesus Christ,
Let us keep in mind the truth of Christmas
Day;
For it is not the Christmas wrappings, nor the
gifts that lie within,
But our gift of love to others in every way we can.

May your seasons be blessed in every way and may
you keep this love of the season in your hearts
through out the coming years.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

This is about sending cards through friends emails to wish them happiness on certain occasions. I am not clever like that and confess I have no idea how to do that. Anyway, what I am trying to say is, I wish all my friends a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and hope all your wishes come true.***love**Margaret.

Our Brain

Our brain is a thinking organ that learns and grows by interacting with the world through perception and action. Mental stimulation improves brain function and actually protects against cognitive decline, as does physical exercise. The human brain is able to continually adapt and rewire itself. Even in old age, it can grow new neurons.

Our brains are crammed with a massive amount of memories that we have formed over a lifetime of experiences. These memories range from the profound, to the most trivial.

How does our brain remember things? Our brain is a complex organic machine made up of many complex parts. Each part of the brain has a different function, ranging from operating the automatic actions we perform each day, such as breathing and our heart beat, to allowing us to feel, taste, smell and hear. One of the most complex processes that the brain has is the ability to remember events and information.

Sensory Memory is the first type of memory that the brain uses to remember things.. If the brain thinks this memory is important enough to send to short or long term memory banks, if not it is replaced or forgotten. Most sensory memory only remains in thr sensory registers for a few seconds.

Short-term Memory is different, it lasts up to a few minutes. Once a memory reaches this area of the brain it has been processed into a more complex idea. Short term memory can come in two forms, regular and working short term. .

Long term Memory is where most of the action happens regarding the brain actually remembering things.This starts with encoding. Encoding is where the details of a long-term-memory such as smells , colors or information are stored in the hippocampus and frontal cortex then take all of this information and turn it into electrical signals that can be distributed to different areas of the brain connected by nerve pathways and synapses. One part of the brain may store the smell involved with the memory, while another part of the brain may remember a color, number, or even-emotion.

Synapse==How strong a memory remains in your brain depends on the strength of the synapse between the nerve cells associated with the memory. The more you practice or think about a piece of information stored in your brain, the more that particular synapse is going to be used., it will grow in strength, this allows the memory to be more vivid and clear in your mind. If you do not access the memory often it begins to weaken. This may cause you to forget or have a hard time remembering a memory that has not been accessed in some time. Synapse is a junction that permits a neuron to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another cell.

We need to exercise our minds continually to keep them healthy. Give your mind challenges, use the opposite hand to do things, reading, working puzzle books, these are just a few. Our minds are a great gift, lets put them to good use. I must apologize for being so windy again.

Thank You

I would like to send out a "BIG THANK YOU", for all the birthday wish's, you sent to me. I love you all and consider you my extended family. I was 77 years young, ha, ha. Hope your Thanksgiving was a good one, God bless everyone of you.
Love===Margaret

"Grandmother"

When your pioneer grandmother and mine as young mothers, set out for new frontiers in the canvas-covered wagon, they carried with them high courage, a little iron stove and a hand mill.

And Grandmother certainly had need for them all. For courage meant something more to her than fighting off Indians--more than facing long, cold winters and days of loneliness, grasshoppers and crop failure. It meant getting up long before daybreak to crack the ice from the water pail for breakfast gruel, keeping up the courage of the family, with a crisp white ruffle for the window, or a new birthday dress for sister cut down to size from one of Mommy's old one and making cheery Christmas out of practically nothing.

But, hardest of all was to keep the family fed., no corner grocery store for her. Sometimes when she wanted to bake her bread, she found the grain damp, causing the mill to clog. But, day after day the little mill kept grinding and the little stove kept going. Somehow Grandmother knew these trials and worries were just part of progress, that the future would bring better ways.

After the first harvest the grist miller would relieve her task of grinding flour each day.The railway brought more people and household goods and news of our growing nation, of fashions and news from back home. But the best news to Grandmother and her pioneer neighbors was improvement of farm machinery and improved ways of milling wheat. And one startling invention after another brought better living. So the new methods of milling their Spring wheat gave them means to buy the new and better things.

Grandmother is a little old lady now, and as she sits enjoying her afternoon coffee and sandwich she remembers her little iron stove and the tiny hand mill. Seeing her bag of flour in the cupboard, with its familiar "XXXX" on the label, and now the word "enriched, she thinks. "What a long way we pioneers have come together-and what an exciting future lies ahead".

We know the pioneer woman had more hardships than are mentioned here. The illness and deaths they endured, probably made them the strongest. I always think of them in there little log home, with a roaring fire, sitting down to a meager meal all tired out from the hard day they had. I also think that those little families were more loving toward each other. The reason I think this is because today we have more to occupy our life, I don't mean we do not still love one another. When was the last time you told someone you loved them and meant it? Have a nice Thanksgiving and I found this story in an old, old Pillsbury Diamond Anniversary Recipes (75 years).

Give Thanks Party at Lynn's==Today

I am sharing three=funny stories that happened on the night before Christmas, well they were funny to us.

We were playing cards, drinking and eating at the same time. My brother-in-law, names "Shorty", guess why. He is a tight-wad and when playing cards keeps track of his money very closely. Not paying any attention, not to mention he was drunk, poured his beer into his jar of money instead of his beer glass.==year 1969

We were playing cards again, this seems to be a night before Christmas family tradition years ago. My husbands sister Karen went to the bathroom, very tipsy. Next my cousin Bill went and when he came back to the table, he was holding a very wet twenty dollar bill. He said to Karen, "it is a good thing you did not flush the toilet, this was floating on top".= year 1966

This one I think is very funny. After we were done playing cards, my husband went to brush the snow from our car. He was standing on the passenger side snow bank, acting cute. All of a sudden he slipped and went right under the car, we had to go out and help him get out from under. = year 1969

Link back to Lynn's blog. To do this look on my right side bar and you will see the "Give Thank's Party" logo, just click on this, it will take you to Lynn's blog and she has a list of everyone that is participating today and they have posted why they are thankful. Things on my thankful list are, my family and my blogging friends and our armed forces for protecting our country and may they come home safe.

Potatoes

The history of the potato has its roots in the windswept Andes Mountains of South America. It is a region plauged by fluctuating temperatures and poor soil conditions. Yet the tough and durable potato evolved in this thin air. The tough pre-Colombian farmers first discovered and cultivated the potato some 7,000 years ago.

Western man did not come in contact with the potato until the late 1537, when the Conquistadors tramped through Peru. And it was even later, about 1570 that the first potato made its way across the Atlantic to make a start on the continent of Europe. About 1780 the people of Ireland adopted the rugged food crop, its acceptance in Ireland was its ability to produce abundant nutritious food. Soon the potato would gain wide acceptance across Europe and eventually back over the Atlantic to North America.

The potato is a member of the nightshade family and its leaves are, indeed. poisonous. A potato left too long in the light will begin to turn green. The green skin contains a substance which can cause the potato to taste bitter and even cause illness in humans.

There are about five thousand potato varieties worldwide, three thousand which are found in the Andes. Potatoes yield abundantly with little effort, as long as the climate is cool and moist enough for the plants to gather sufficient water from the soil to form the starchy tubers. China is now the world's largest potato producing country. In terms of nutrition, the potato is best know for its carbohydrate content.

Potatoes are used to brew alcoholic beverages, such a vodka, and used as food for domestic animals. Potato starch is used in food industry as, for example, thickeners and binders of soup and sauces, and in the textile industry, as adhesives and for the manufacturing of papers and boards.

Today, the potato is so common, plentiful and pervasive in the Western diet that it is taken for granted. We forgot that it has only been with us for a few hundred years. And just think there are so many uses for it, such as mashed, fried, french fries, baked, raw, boiled, roasted and cubed, just to mention a few.

Sorry this was so long, but it was interesting to research, and this is just the tip of information on this delicious food. I am sure it will be included in the holiday meals, yum, yum, just thinking of those holidays spreads makes me hungry. Have a nice Thanksgiving.

My Awards

I just wanted to tell my friends that I appreciate any awards they have given me.. I don't know how to put them on my side bar so everyone knows I have received them, sorry. My son has tried to teach me how but I still can't do it. Unless he has time from his internet business of making web pages or improving someones blog or business pages or doing over all design work, I will not be able to put the award on my side bar.

I do thank you blogger s that have been so kind to award me, thanks again.
Love==Margaret
I like what drantony said in his comment and he is right, you my friends are my best awards. Have a nice Thanksgiving.

Zippers

Each day most people use some sort of clothing fastener as they go about their daily lives. Weather it is buttons, snaps, valcro or zippers. The country of Japan makes 90% of the world's zippers. The zipper required the ingenuity of several inventors.

Elias Howe, who invented the sewing machine, received a patent in 1851 for an "Automatic Continuous Clothing Closure". Perhaps because of the success of his sewing machine, he did not try seriously to market it and missed out on the recognition he might have received.

Forty-four years later, Whitcomb Judson, who invented the pneumatic street railway marketed a "Clasp Locker", a more complicated-hook-and eye shoe fastener. Colonel Lewis Walker, Whitcomb launched the Universal Fastener Company to market the new devise but short lived because it had little commercial success.

In 1849, Walter Hunt patented the device which is now known as the safety pin, he called it the "miracle fastener", since they were machine made they were inexpensive. The invention of snap fasteners have been attributed to German inventors Louis Hannart in 1863 and Herbert Bauer in 1885.

The design used today was invented in 1913 by a Swedish born scientist Gideon Sunback, it was the "Hook-less Fastener." and after more improvements patented in 1917.

Prehistoric culture fashioned straight pins of thorns to hold animal hides together. Egyptians used brooches, metal straight pins, buckles or clothes ties to secure their clothes. Romans used straight pins and clasps similar in design to modern safety pin to fasten their intricately draped clothing at the shoulder. Japanese kimonos were wrapped over the body and held in place with a sash known as an obi tied at the waist.

Buttons were originally used more as an ornament than as a fastening, the earliest known found in the Indus Valley, circa 2800-2600 BC. The Indus Valley is a Bronze Age civilization in the western part of India. Functional buttons were buttonholes for fastening clothes, appeared, first, in Germany in the 13th century, they soon became wide spread, as they became so popular in fastening clothes.

Just wanted my friends to know that the most simple clothing fastener has an interesting history. What would we do without the zipper, it is on so many articles we use every day. What would we do without zip lock bags!

Meteorites Target Earth

Like fugitives on the run from distant solar systems, meteors hurtle through the Earth's atmosphere, lighting up the eyes of observers on the ground. Often these fireballs of metal and rock burn up in a blaze of glory, and many don't survive their impact with Earth's surface. Those that do though start a more settled life here on Earth as meteorites, they are huge and are resistant to the weather.

The Barringer Meteorite Crater in Arizona is a gigantic hole in the middle of the desert. Its rim is smashed and jumbled boulders, some of them the size of small houses, rise 150 feet above the level of the surrounding plain The crater is almost a mile wide and 570 feet deep.

When Europeans discoverd the crater, the plain around it was covered with chunks of meteorite iron-over 30 tons of it scattered over an area 8 to 10 miles in diameter. Scientist believe the impact of this crater was 150 times stronger then the bombs that were used on both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The ancient blast displaced 175,000,000 tons of rock.

Here is a list of five heavy weights of the meteorites that hit earth and are visible to see.
1. Sihhote-alin, Russia=largest known meteorite in the world==weighed 70 tons.
2. Hoba, Namibia=second largest, found in Namibia, weighed over 60 tons.
3. Campo del Cielo= Argentina=largest mass of meteorite, 37 tons,found in 1969.
4. Cape York, Greenland=meteorite hit earth almost 10,000 years ago, largest piece of it weighed 30.1 tons.
5. Armanty=China=weighing 28.0 tons

The list goes on, but this is very interesting how much they weigh. Earth has a few meteorites that strike earth daily and there are a lot that burn up coming through the atmosphere.

What Do You Think?

I am posting something that bothers me a lot. I would like to hear your comments on this. If you do not want to comment, I will understand, this is a touchy issue.

It makes me so mad when I read or see on TV the people that are abduct, torture, molest and sometimes are killed. Most abductors get only a few years and sometimes they will get out on good behavior. We need to change our laws on sex offenders, they are treated too good.

I do think most end up serving time, with clean clothes daily, free meals, recreation privileges and can finish school or take up a hobby. Is this justice for what they have done? What about the victims and their families, that try to face each day

The living victim is scared for life and has nightmares about what has happened., and probably looks over their shoulder when out and about. The victim that did not make it is dead and gone forever and the family suffers their loss forever.

So the question is, do we petition our Senators to petition for stiffer laws, laws that put a more severe punishment? You have to look at this through the eyes of the survivor or the families of the ones left behind to cope with their loss., their heart will ache forever, for those they can never say "I love you" again or hug them close to their heart.

This is such a real issue and it is happening again and again. Now we are having our doors kicked in, these home invasions are frequent. Just like the doctors family that was tortured, raped and their home burned down around them.

Be safe my friends, for we never know, are society is changing, so we have to be alert to what is going on around us.

Lincoln and Kennedy

Here's a little part of history that is interesting.

Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.
Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.
The names Lincoln and Kennedy each contain seven letters.
Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.
Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.
Both Presidents were shot in the head.
Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy.
Kennedy's secretary was named Lincoln.
Both were assassinated by Southerners.
Both were succeeded by Southerners.
Both successors were named Johnson.
Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln was born in 1808.
Lyndon Johnson who succeeded Kennedy was born in 1908.
John Wilkes Both, who assassinated Lincoln was born in 1838
Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy was born in 1939.
Both assassins were known by their three names.
Both names are composed of fifteen letters.
Booth ran from a theater and was caught in a warehouse.
Oswald ran from a warehouse and was caught in a theater.

Importance of Drinking Water.

This is why you should drink water daily. I am also guilty of not drinking enough water.

1. 75 % of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.
3. Even mild dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.
4. One glass of water shuts down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of dieters , a study conducted at the Univ. of Washington.
5. Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of suffers.
7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen.
8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

This is amazing what not drinking water can do to the human body. Water is essential for all life to exist, as it makes up more than 70% of most living things. While a humans can live a week without food but a person will die within a few days without water. Water helps the body maintain a constant temperature by acting as a thermostat.

EPA==Our Precious Air

Sky Factory photo by Taras Kalapun

This month, we mark the 40th Anniversary of the Clean Air Act, a law whose positive impacts on our enviroment--and our health--has been enormous and far reaching.

But instead of celebrating, we face a big fight to defend the Clean Air Act from a dangerous coalition of tea party radicals, big polluters, and their big money corporate lobbyists who are intent on gutting the landmark law and stripping the EPA of its authority to protect Americans from dangerous air pollution.

Senators from both sides of the aisle have proposed legislation to do just that and votes could come as early as this Thursday We must stand together now and stop this assault. Last year, the EPA announced that it would begin reducing global warming and automobiles and large power plants using its authority to regulate polluter Air Act.

While these steps do not diminish the need for a national climate law, EPA action will keep fighting for national climate energy legislation. Make no mistake--this fight is much bigger than global warming. It is about eliminating other important air pollution standards and letting the big polluters off the hook.

If the polluters win here, they have already sign their intent to go after other pollution standards, some have even openly called for getting rid of the EPA altogether. We can't let the radicals and big polluters win, not when the health of our kid's and grand kid's is on the line.

The Clean Air Act has saved the lives of thousands of Americans, reduced the acid rain crisis that was decimating our forests and helped our economy by reducing hospitalizations and sickness and increasing productivity. This is a LEGACY worth defending, please join the fight any way you can.

This came to my attention through an email from Sam Parry, Environmental Defense Actior. Sorry this was a long post but I believe in the EPA.

Wings In The Morning

I came across this song on YouTube, it was written by Johnny Cash. He is my favorite country singer. Johnny Cash was born in 1932 and passed away in 2003, four months after his wife June died. You can read a really nice autobiography about him here.

Wings in the Morning
by Johnny Cash

My Grandfather lived by the book all his life.
On rich bottomed land with twelve kids and a wife.
He never saw TV nor rode on a jet airplane.
But he knew that Heaven was holding his claim.
CHORUS
Wings in the morning and license to fly
Straight to the portals of nevermore die
Nevermore pain in them old aching bones
Wings in the morning to carry us home.

The salt of the earth yet with faith in the Lord
They all got together in that one accord
Ane what could be greater than God's guarantee
That man could have heaven for eternity.
Sing CHORUS again
Rocks in the road and we stumble and fall
Lights getting low so we can't see at all
But I promise you on that gettin up day
Wings in the morning and we'll fly away.
Sing CHORUS again.

You can find this song on YouTube, Johnny Cash videos. I just love to go to YouTube music videos, I find all the singers and my favorite old songs and you can down load them. Hope you are enjoying our nice cool weather, it makes us energetic.

Our Flag

I am writing a post about our American flag. I saw "again" on TV the burning of our flag, this makes me so mad. It is in those third world countries and usually we are in their countries helping to rebuild or supporting them some how.

Our American flag is the most recognized symbol of the United States. I am going to just touch on some of the facts that go along with the flag.

The flag maybe decorated with fringe surrounding only the perimeter, as long as it does not deface the flag proper.. The flag is usually flown on Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Presidents Day and Independence Day. Here are a list of days to fly the flag; Jan. 1st, Feb. 12th, in May the 3rd Saturday, June 14th., July 4th., Labor Day in Sept., in Oct. the second Monday, and Veterans Day Nov. 11th. Some places display the American flag constantly.

The flag should never touch the ground and if flown at night it must be illuminated. When it becomes tattered you may repair it or replace it. If your flag is to tattered to repair, destroy it in a dignified manner or burn it. The American Legion and other organizations regularly conduct flag burning cermonies, often on flag day, which is June 14th. The flag should not be used in advertising, wearing apparel, bedding or for drapes. I have seen the flag used in all of these situations.

If you have to fly the flag at half mask in respect or mourning do it this way. Hoist it briskly to the top of the pole and slowly lower it three quarters of the height of the pole.

The flag did not appear on postage stamps until 1926 and it was "Betsy Ross" flag with its circle of 13 stars. The 48 stars appeared in 1931 and the first stamp to show the flag by itself was in 1957. our flag has been changed 28 times since the 13 Union adopted it. One more thing, the flag if you fold it should be folded in a triangle shape.

I enjoyed finding out about "old Glory", she has been through a lot, from burning, shot to pieces and can we ever forget :"The Pledge of Allegiance"which is being saved for another post. You can check out Wikipedia to learn more and they show the different changes our flag has gone through. May God continue to bless America.

The Living Soul

Do we have a soul? The nature of a "living soul" is about what man is., the word "soul" denotes something that is immortal and conscious after death.

Cultures down through the ages felt there is some sort of spiritual essence in us that goes beyond the physical body and mind, the spiritual essence is usually called the soul. Most people believe we have individual spirits or souls, others believe we are part of a larger universal soul, the larger force or spirit is usually called God.

The concept of our soul is different in many religions. Is a soul created for us at birth or is it possible that a person exists as a spirit before the soul is assigned us. We often wonder where our soul is located in us. I like WikiAnswer the best.
WikiAnswers===Your soul is our conscience, it is energy which has no form or location. This energy is part of the whole universe. The meaning of life is so evolved in your conscience to a higher consciousness which is the source of all existence.

This was fun to post, I know everyone thinks of their soul through out their life at one time or other. I for one believe we have a soul and I think this is what is called upon on judgment day.

What's In Your Bucket List??

1. You want to look better=to lose weight or tone your body.
2. You want to learn something new, that will make your life better.
3. Go skydiving, the most incredible ride of a lifetime.
4. Climb the great Pyramids of Egypt and marvel at an engineering masterpiece.
5. Visit the Great Wall of China and be amazed.
6. Take an African Safari, one of the coolest vacations you can take.
7. You want to save money for your retirement.
8. You want to save time, work less, spend time with loved ones.
9. You want to see world peace, no wars and less disasters.
10.Take a ride to edge of space on a supersonic jet
11. Quit smoking and less drinking.
12. See more illness have cures.
13. See the Seven Wonders of the world.
14. See America from shore to shore.

I thought this was a good list to start with, so feel free to add some to the list you would like to see happen. I never saw the movie but hear it is good.

Eagles In A Storm

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approching long before it breaks? The Eagle is the only bird that loves a storm, when clouds gather he gets real excited.

The Eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the Eagle is soaring above it. Once he finds the wind of the storm, it stops flapping and uses the pressure of the ragging storm to soar.

The Eagle can do this because he is the only bird God created with the ability to lock its wings in fixed position which enables them to be at rest as it soars high above the storm clouds. They do not escape the storm, they simply rise above it..

Feeling Blue

I would like to call back those lovely summers of yesterday.
Those carefree days when you seemed to have no cares.
Do our days gone by seem more enjoyable than today.
Those days seem filled with the ones we loved and cherished.
We do hold the years so precious and long for some to come back.
Our tomorrows are out of sight and we hope they are good to us.
The days we long for the most are the ones when we could hold our loved ones.
So we hold true to those we have now, for we no not for how long.
Some of our yesterdays plans and dreams have come true for us.
My wish for all my friends and family is a bright and sunny tomorrow..
Life really is beautiful, even if we don't have everything we want.

This is not a poem, I am feeling a little down right now. My husband has been going through some medical problems and when I sat down today on my computer, these thoughts seemed to cloud my mind, so I thought I would post them. I rarely share my feelings, just a thing I lost when living with my aunt as a teenager. I am okay now that I have shared with you and please if anything is bothering you feel free to post it in my comments, you have and are good friends.

Letting Go

I came across this the other day and wanted to post it in memory of all my family, friends, and pets, that have gone on before me.

God saw you getting tired. When a cure was not to be.
He closed his arms around you and whispered; "Come to me".
In tears we saw you sinking. We watched you fade away.
Our hearts were almost broken, you fought so hard to stay.
But when we saw you sleeping so peacefully free from pain.
We could not wish you back to suffer once again.
So keep your arms around them Lord, and give them special care.
Make up for all they suffered and all that seemed unfair.

Those we love are never really lost to us-we feel them in many ways, through friends they cared about and dreams they left behind and in beauty they added to our days. In words of wisdom we still carry with us and memories that never will be gone. Our family chain is broken, you did not go alone, part of us went with you. But as God calls us one by one the chain will link again.

Firefighting History

The history of organized firefighting dates back at least to Ancient Egypt, where hand operated pumps may have been employed to extinguish fires. The first Roman brigade was a group of slaves who were hired by an aedile Mareus Egnatius Rufus. Rome suffered a number of serious fires, most notably was the fire in July 19, AD 64 and eventually it destroyed two thirds of Rome.

Over the course of history it became apparent that an organized way was needed to put these fires out. However the first organized municipal fire brigade in the world was established in Edinburgh, Scotland.

On April 1, 1853, the Cincinnati, Ohio Fire Department became the first full-time paid professional fire department in the United States and the first in the world to use steam fire engines. The first horse drawn steam engine for fighting fires was invented in 1829, but not accepted in structual firefighting until 1860. Jamestown, Virginia was virtually destroyed in a fire in January, 1608.

George Washington was a volunteer firefighter in Alexandria, Virginia. In 1774, as a member of the Friendship Veterans Fire Co. he bought a new fire engine and gave it to the town, which was its very first. However the United States did not have government run fire departments until around the time of the Civil War.

The term "fire plug" dates from the time when water mains were made from hallowed out logs. The fire company would dig up the cobbles down to the main, then bore a hole into the main so the hole would fill up with water , which they could using their pumper. When they were finished they would seal the main with--you guessed it--a "fire plug". They would mark where this plug was so they could use it again.

Cast iron came to replace the wooden water mains in 1802 and when cast iron started becoming popular, fittings were placed on the mains at intervals, much like today's fire hydrants. As late as 1868, the city of Buffalo, New York was still installing wooden case hydrants, but by this time the day of the wooden case hydrant were over.

I know this is very long but if I put every detail in this post I would have to use too much space. I just wanted you to get an idea of the starting og the fire department. They have come a long way from passing the buckets of water down the line, most of the time this was to late . Well, thanks for taking the time to read it. I only wish I could of put in more details.

Interesting Facts

Niagara Falls freezes over in 1911. During an extended winter cold snap, a harden crust of ice accumulated over parts of the falls. Creating an amazing naturally formed sculpture, that has been known to reach a thickness of 50 feet. Neither the river nor the falls ever freezes solid, mind you. The water continues to flow beneath the ice at all times, reduced to a mere trickle on rare occasions when ice jams block the river above the falls,

1906=San Francisco Earthquake. At 5:12 a.m. on April 18, 1906, a large earthquake hit San Francisco. Even greater than the damage caused directly by the quake, the city was ravaged by fire for four days.

The first airplane crash happened just five years after the Wrights first flight. Orville Wright was in the plane crash and survived but the passenger was killed.

The Hindenburg crash, the suddenness of the disaster was shocking. At 7:25 p.m. on May 6, 1937, while the Hindenburg was attempting to land at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey, a flame appeared on the outer cover of the rear of the Hindenburg. Within 34 seconds, the entire airship was cinsumed by fire. Of the 97 on board, 13 passengers died along with 22 crew members and one ground crew

Mt. St. Helen's had laid dormant for 123 years, but on May 18, 1980, in Washington state she erupted with the force comparable to that of a hydrogen bomb. The explosion blew off 1,300 feet of the mountain's top and sent ash and debris more than 12 miles into the sky covering three states (Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Sixty people were dead, beautiful forests and lakes were destroyed resulting in $3 billion worth of damage

Space Shuttle Challenger explodes==On Tuesday, January 28, 1986, the space scuttle exploded only 73 seconds after lift off from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The disaster was one of defining moments of the 20th century and exposed many problems within the U.S. space program.

Haiti earthquake==On Tuesday, January 12, 2010 an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 devastated Haiti and by January 24th at least 52 aftershocks.Three million people affected by quake, 250,000 died and 30,000 buildings collapsed or were badly damaged. People were so afraid to go back into their homes, afraid they would collapse on them, so they slept in the streets on the pavement, in cars, or make shift homes.

To Be A Child Again

Children run and laugh and play, placing no importance on why you even go away. They are in another world, of comic strips, potato chips, ice cream, coke and bubble gum. Oh, how I envy little kids and wish that I were one. Oh, what I would give, if only I could be a child again.

The rain goes on and on, seen no sunshine for so long and it keeps raining, raining, in the world I'm living in. Oh, what I would give to be a child again. Children laugh and play like it is not even raining and they would be laughing even in the middle of a storm. They think I've lost my mind I bet, I call them in and they are not even wet, it seems so cold to me and yet somehow they stay so warm. Oh, what I would give to be a child again.

This song was written by Anita Carter, born in 1933 in Meces Springs, Virginia. Her sister was June Carter Cash, June married Johnny Cash. Anita was born into the Carter family, they were the first family of Country music, her mother was Mother Maybelle Carter, who is in the Country/Western music Hall of Fame. Anita had fifty years of recording and preforming on stage. She died in 1999 at the home of Johnny and June Cash in Tennessee. Anita was known as the"Application Angel", they said she had the most beautiful voice of any female country singer.

Why Do We Honor People?

There may be as many reasons to honor special people, as there are people to honor. Yet, have you ever wondered why we honor people in the first place?

Why do we pause every so often to acknowledge and honor special efforts by special people with appreciation award, or milestones in people's lives?

After all life would go on without special occasions. We would still get up in the morning, go to work, care for the kids.

Perhaps we honor people with recognition programs because, sooner or later, we realize that we don't know how much time we've got here and every day becomes a little more precious. So too, the people we admire become more appreciated.

We honor people retiring, a hero that saves lives, not only in the line of duty, but, because they care enough to risk their lives. We also have every day people that deserve this honor, the unsung heroes of our lives. These people would not take a metal if offered, they are mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, neighbors, friends and the list goes on. So to these people in your lives say "I am Proud of You", thanks for being in my life and caring enough to give.

Dusty's World

Hi everyone. This is Doug, Old Digger's son. I wanted to share something really cool with all of you, so here goes...

I recently came upon a web site called Hide-E-Hole Ferret Rescue. This no-kill ferret shelter is run by Barbara Carlson who has been personally doing rescue work with ferrets for at least 5 or 6 years. I saw that Barb was asking for donations to help support the shelter, but since I'm on unemployment I thought I would donate my talent instead.

I wrote Barb and offered to lend my talent to her endeavor and she was thrilled. We sent emails back and forth discussing what she would like to have and she mentioned it would be great to have a ferret comic. I have had experience doing comics so I drew up my first one-panel idea, which Barb loved.

This comic is a tribute to Dusty, who passed away on February 9, 2010. Dusty was my niece's ferret and he was quite the character. We have many fond memories of that little guy and now he will live on through my comics and continue to entertain people with his antics. The comic will be featured weekly on Barb's new site here.

I hope you enjoy Dusty's World as much as I enjoy drawing it and please let me know what you think in the comments.

Picnics

I came across this little ditty and thought you may enjoy it. Hope you all are having a nice summer and are not too sunburn. Also hope you are able to take some time to rest up and enjoy yourself, believe it or not summer is half over. Has any of you ever had something unusual happen at a picnic?

Sunshine and wieners and pickles and ham
not enough salt for the eggs,
Marshmallows cooked on the end of a stick,
ants crawling over our legs.
Candy and cookies and peanuts and cake,
finding the frosting has run,
All of us knowing we've eaten too much--
Picnics are certainly fun.

by Marchette Chute.

"I Am The Nation"

I was writing this for the Fourth of July, when my keyboard quit on me. So I decided to post just some of it, this came from Johnny Cash on Youtube.

I was born on July 4, 1776, and the Declaration of Independence is my birth certificate. The bloodlines of the world run in my veins, because I offered freedom to the oppressed, I am many things and many people, I am the nation.

I am Nathan Hale, Paul Revere, I stood at Lexington and fired the shot heard around the world. I am Washington, Jefferson and Patrick Henry, I am John Paul Jones, the Green Mountain Boys, and Davey Crockett, and Lee, and Grant and Abe Lincoln.

I am big, I sprawl from the Atlantic to the Pacific, my arms reach out to embrace Alaska and Hawaii, I'm 3 million square miles, throbbing with industry. I am more than 5 million farms, I am forest, field, mountain and desert, I am quiet villages and cities that never sleep

Yes, I am the nation, and these are the things that I am, I was conceived in freedom and God willing in freedom I will spend the rest of my days.

May I possess always the integrity, the courage and the strength to keep myself unshackled, to remain a citadel of freedom and a beacon of hope to the world. This is my wish, my goal, my prayer .

I left out a few paragraphs, but you get the idea of how our nation feels, if she could speak. I am sure our nation would have a lot of criticism toward how we have treated her over the 234 years since she was born. I am sure you all had a very nice fourth. I love our nation and I wanted to express it in these lyrics, Johnny Cash passed away in September, 2003.

Troubles==Troubles!

Sorry I am having trouble with my keyboard, while having it fixed or buying a new one as soon as I can afford it, I am going on a two week break. Thank you my friends for being loyal. Hope you are having a great summer so far.
love
Margaret

Winter Tale==The Mitten

I was looking through my boxes of pictures and came across this cute tale. As grown ups it seems nice to read a childs short story. This appeared in the schools weekly reader, we all know about these readers, our children brings them home from school. At this time, my granddaughter Sarah was in second grade (1991), at Ferrysburg School and I thought it would be nice to post about.

The Mitten
by Jan Brett

One winter day, a little boy went for a walk in the woods. He stopped to tie his boots. He put his mittens down on a log. When he left, he picked up only one mitten.

Along came a chipmunk, she was very cold! "That mitten looks nice and warm", she thought. So in she climbed, and soon a squirrel came along, "that mitten looks nice and warm", can I get in to, the squirrel asked. "ok" said the chipmunk, so in he climbed.

Soon a fox came along, "that mitten looks nice and warm, "can I get in too, ask the fox? "Ok" said the Chipmunk and the Squirrel, climbed in. Soon a bear came along, "that mitten looks nice and warm", can I get in too, the bear ask? "Ok" , said the Chipmunk, Squirrel and the fox, so in he climbed.

Soon a tiny mouse came along, "that mitten looks so nice and warm, can I get in too, she asked? "Well, it's pretty crowded, but ok, said the Chipmunk, Squirrel, fox and the bear. So the mouse tried to climb in. The mouse wiggled and squirmed and pushed, but just as she got her head in the mitten burst.

Later, the little boy came back. He was looking for his lost mitten. But, all he could find was little bits of yarn. He never did find his mitten.

----------------

It's a little juvenile, but we need to go back once in a while to our childhood and remember the things that made us happy, and a nice little story would always do the trick. I know I always enjoyed being read to.

Nat. Comm. for Soc. Security

President Roosevelt promised retired Americans freedom from poverty-ridden old age when he created the Social Security system in 1935.

The frightening state of our economy-- more than two years of recession!-- has underscored the importance of this promise, as deficit reduction measures could result in dangerous cuts to our entitlement programs, and fracture benefits. Your help is needed now to defend Social Security and Medicare for seniors today and tomorrow.

Today the political climate in Washington reveals many elected officials determined to change the Social Security system and the Medicare program. Some of them may even consider radiccal changes that would undermine future benefits.

That is why it is so important for everyone to stand up and join with millions of American seniors to defend the Social Security and Medicare benefits that are invaluable to you. All of us seniors have received this petition in the mail.

I am a senior, so please sign the enclosed Petition to Congress of the United States, addressed to the special attention of your United States Senators and Representative. Your elected representative in Congress must hear from you. You seniors that are reading this has received this same message., I sent mine in.

The National Committee in 2010 fought to ensure Medicare was improved and strengthened as part of the health care reform bill. After a historic battle succeeded in getting legislation signed into law that lowers beneficiaries' out of pocket costs the Part D prescription drug "donut hole," and strengthened the Medicare Program.

I write this because I am afraid the Social Security program is in peril and fear for the out come and also fear for our future generations to come. It seems our country is turning upside down and this is because we spent too much money on other countries and ours is left to fend for ourselves.

Gulf oil Spill==Disaster

Sign on front lawn of a home in Grand Isle, LA. The BP oil spill has washed up on the shores of Louisiana. Photo by Katherine Welles | Shutterstock

The world is watching this oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, wishing and praying it will soon be capped. It really does not look good for the communities that border the Gulf and also the wild life. I would hate to see this oil spill escape out into the Ocean.

From the first moments that the Deepwater Horizon oil rig sank it has been apparent that the Gulf oil spill has been an oil disaster unlike no other. But the full truth of that statement is perhaps only now beginning to become apparent.

The oil that can be seen from the surface is apparently just a fraction of the oil that has spilled into the Gulf of Mexico since April 20th. Significant amounts of oil are spreading at various levels throughout the water says the report, which was posted on line and published by The New York Times.

On Wednesday, the cap was collecting 630,000 gallons of oil, but it could be capturing more oil if BP had decided to put more ships on the surface to hold and process the collected oil. That means the cap will have to continue venting excess oil into the Gulf until another two ships-one which can sift gas and water out of the crude and another ship will shuttle oil to shore-these ships will arrive next week.

Louisana's coast serves as a winter resting spot for more than 70 percent of the country's water fowl and the region is used by more than a hundred tropicial migretory birds, said Melanie Driscoll, director of bird conservation for the National Audubon Society's Louisiana Coastal Initiative. The birds are being cleaned and relocated, but many biologists would wager that the released birds would head right back where they came from, back into harm's way, especially during breeding season, or they will not adjust to their new location.

I could write several pages on this disaster, but you all have been following along on TV, newspapers or magazine articles. Wikipedia has articles on this oil spill, this is a tragedy in the fullest extent of any disaster we have ever had. I would just hate to see this oil spill escape out of the Gulf. I am praying for those that their business depend on the Gulf waters, may God bless and watch over them in this dark hours.

Update on the Flowers.

Here are the latest pictures of the bank. The little flowers are peeking their head up!

We went to the Garden Center today and bought two trays of flowers to plant and Doug has taken more pictures of the bank.

Doug also bought me another hanging basket, why, my first one died.

He also bought me a brand new birdhouse. Isn't it cute? A little one room schoolhouse for the birds. They need an education, too.

The Bank (flowers or not?)

My tough old bank landscaped, planted, and waiting to bloom.

I don't know how many of my friends I complained about not being able to grow anything on my bank. Well, Wednesday, my son Doug, spent all day clearing out weeds, putting some new shaped stone from the Garden Center along the bottom of the bank. He then relined up my stones and leveled the dirt, then put in the flower seeds.

We are going to take pictures from time to time of the progress of the little seeds to see how they grow. We will be posting them on this post, so wish me luck, I hope Doug has a greener thumb than I do.

Memorial Day

Photo of American flag by J. Helgason | Shutterstock

To rule the world with violence, is their one and only goal,
Terror is their method, they want complete control.
We've seen it all before, and we could not let it be,
We gave our lives for freedom, for the world, and for you and me.
We fight all forms of oppression, helping victims far and near,
To keep the world from chaos, to porotect what we hold dear,
America's the only country, that gives with it's whole heart.
And asks so very little, we always do our part,
So let's unite again to subdue our newest foe,
What ever we must do, where ever we must go,
Let's show the world once more, that America is blessed,
With people who are heroes, who meet each and every test.

From The Tyrants, by Joanna Fuchs

NOTE: There are now pictures on My Back Yard post, please have a look.

My Back Yard

Our wonderful backyard.

I love all the animals and birds that come to eat at the feeders. I would like to share some of the goings on.

The Squirrels are fun to watch as they chase one another away from the food. Two of them come right up on the window seal and look in the window, they want their peanut. One of them stands up with his little hands stretched out, but he won't take it from your hands. I have two little chipmunks also, little feed stealer s.

One of my cute little black squirrels.

Our friendly neighborhood nuthatch.

We have lots of morning doves.

My son captured this beautiful hawk.

Our chipmunk on his usual spot.

We have many bees, including these blackjackets.

One of my many flowers in the yard.

We have sunflowers, too.

I have a Red Headed Woodpecker that I actually call him (I call him Woody) and he comes to the yard and I throw him a peanut and he flys down and gets it. I hear him in the neighborhood making his sound and I call to him and he comes. The birds called Titmouse come when they hear me calling Woody and I throw them peanuts and they come down and take it and fly away, this is so amazing.

My Ducks come and eat the corn and to get a drink. This one Duck brought her four babies and they all had something to eat. Now the amazing thing about this is, she brings her babies from a pond about a block away. They come through the woods and across our street, around the house to the back where the food is. She has been doing this now for three weeks. Sadly for the first three days she was minus a duckling each day until she has only one left. I am hoping this little guy stays alive.

If you have an amazing back yard animal or bird story, I would like to hear about it.

Woe be me (again)!

I must apoligize once more to my friends that have visited me in the last few days. My computer finally had to go to the Geek squad and be fixed, it froze right up on me. So I am back and hope no more problems. I am working on a new post and will be around to visit you all. Love=Margaret

King Arthur

Photo of young baby Robin by mlorenz | Shutterstock

I wrote this a couple years ago. Every Spring when the Robin's come back and I see them in the yard I think of the one I raised right out of his shell. The night before we had a bad storm, next morning branches and leaves were all over the yards. I noticed a bird nest and in it was a broken blue egg and a baby still half in the egg. I knew immediately it was a Robins nest. He was peeping so softly, I didn't know at first what to do. I proped the nest up and watched it for half a day and no mom came to his aide. I put the nest inside the house. I really was at a loss as what to do.

I was in luck, I remembered an article in our newspaper the day before on birds. I called the name of the man that wrote it. He said try to feed him cut up worms and if that did not work, try hamburger. I had a home made cat carrying case, I tipped it up on end, put some towels in and a heating pad under it, he was very cold and hungry. I fed him cut up worms, with a tweezer. I remembered to make sure I put them on top of his tongue and a little ways down his throat. His little mouth flew open as soon as I touched him. This worked great.

His little body turned from pink to a dark colored body as he started to grow. I put him in our bedroom window so he could hear the birds outside. To my luck a mother Robin had built in the tree outside the window. He could hear the babies chrip every time she came and fed them.

I made a nest for him when he was bigger, he was doing great on the worms. When he had all his feathers I hung the cage outside. Soon I let him outside with me to find worms, when I called him he came over and I threw him a worm. I would bury it in front of him and he would cock his head and dig it up. He always flew to the top of our garage roof and waited for me to call him.

I put him back in his cage at night and made sure I got up just as it was getting daylight. I was letting him free during the day and when he saw us sitting on the swing he would fly and land on our shoulders. I put water out and he would bath in it.

He was full grown but had his spots. One evening before I could put him back he flew to the neighbors trees. The next morning I went out back and before I could call him he came flying to me and I put my hand out and he flew to it. We had a neighbor cat that always hung out in our yard and I was affraid he would get him. I had to make a decision of what to do with him and to this day I wish I would of let him stay, I get tears in my eyes every time I think of my decision.

I called our State Park and ask them if I could put him there and they said okay. So we took him to a path that was less traveled. I opened the cage door and out he fles. It was like letting one of you children go away from home forever and never coming back. We went back a couple times during the week but no King Arthur, a very fitting name for a brave little Robin that show us his courage to survive in this great big world..I am ashamed I did not take pictures of his progress, the only one taken by our newspaper when he was half grown.

America's Crime Wave

A crime wave is sweeping through America. While it's at it's worse in our big cities. it is stretching across our country and splashing into the small towns and rural areas. Every day, ordinary citizens must take extra-ordinary risks just to get to work, go to school, or take a trip to the store. People don't dare use an ATM bank machine after dark, take a job in certain parts of town, nor let their children play in the front yard while the drug dealers drive up and down the street in front of the house. People who do an honest day's work stay locked up in their homes at night with the boob tube and we reward the elderly citizens by letting them live the last years of their life in terror of muggings.

You are responsible because you've given up the most valuable right you were born with, the right to defend yourselves against anyone who would use force to take what you own or to end your life.. This happens because we bought the pack of lies of politicians, soft headed liberals, and even your teachers, priest and ministers that have promised you that if you would pay your taxes, obey the law, and disarm yourself, then the Government would protect you from criminals. We have so much crime in America because every criminal knows you won't defend yourself nor your community.

If a criminal hurts you, they will try and catch him and if proven the one that commited the crime, then they will put him in jail, but the police can only do so much.. The crimes have moved from the streets into our homes, home burglary has risen in the past couple years and has made us to fear for our own safty.

One way to solve crime in America is for citizens like us, to make it extremely dangerous for anyone to commit a crime. We won't stop crime in the streets until every criminal has a good reason to believe that he is likely to die at the hands of his next victim as his victims is of dying at his hands. You have to organize for self defense with your neighbors, and you have to take your organization to the streets and drive the criminals off them.

We are not talking about vigilante justice, we are talking about armed citizen self-defense, and armed community defense in which you stop a crime in progress.. Self defense is still legal in America. The only person who will stop that crime before you become victim is you. If you don't stop the crime, even if you are carrying a cell phone and immediarely dial 911, you will be a victim before the first policeman arrives, and the criminal will escape. The cost of freedom is eternal vigilance, and that includes the cost of freedom from crime. Be safe my friends.

Computer Blues

Sorry friends that I have not been around. I have been having trouble with my computer but it is okay now, so I will be posting and coming around to see what you have been up to.

Mother's Day

Photo of happy mom and toddler by Anatoliy Samara | Shutterstock

Early "Mother's Day" in the U.S. was mostly marked by women's peace groups. In 1868 Ann Jarvis created a committee to establish a "Mother's Friendship Day",whose purpose was "to reunite famlies that had been divided during the Civil War, and wanted to expand it into an annual memorial for mothers, but she died in 1905 before the celebration became popular.

In its form, Mothers Day was established by Anna Marie Jarvis, following the death of her mother on May 9, 1905., with the help of a Philadelphia merchant John Wanamaker. In May 7, 1907 in the Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church in Grefton, West Virginia, where Anna's mother had been teaching Sunday school. But, the first "official" service was in May 10, 1908 in the same church. She then campaigned to establish Mother's Day as a U.S. national holiday and later as an international holiday.

The holiday was declared officially by the state of West Virginia in 1910, and the rest of the states followed quickly. On May 8, 1914, the U.S. Congress passed a law designiating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day and requesting a proclamation. On May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation, declaring the first national Mother's Day, as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honor of those mothers whose son's had died in war.

In 1934, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved a stamp commemorating the holiday. In May, 2008, the U.S. House of Representative voted twice on a resolution commemorating Mother's Day, the first one being unanimous so that all congressmen would be on record showing support for Mother's Day. The Grafton's Church, where the first celebration was held, is now the International Mother's Day Shrine and is a National Historic Landmark.

This year Mother's Day is celabrated on May 9, 2010. I am wishing all you moms a very nice Mother's Day and please don't forget your mother's. If you know of a mother that has lost her children or has out lived them, please help her out with some flowers and a card, thank you.

Earth Day

Our ancestors viewed the Earth as rich and bountiful, which it is. Many people in the past also saw nature as inexhaustibly sustainable, which we now know is the case only if we care for it. It is not difficult to forgive destruction in the past which resulted from ignorance.

Today, however, we have access to more information, and it is essential that we re-examine ethically what we have inherited, what we are responsible for, and what we will pass on to coming generations.

Our marvels of science and techinology are matched if not outweighed by many current tragedies, including human starvation in some parts of the world, and the extinction of other life-forms. The exploration of space takes place at the same time as the Earth's own oceans, seas. and fresh water areas grow increasingly polluted.

Many of the Earth's habitats, animals, plants, insects, and even micro-organisms that we know as rare may not be known at all to future generations. We have the capability, and the responsibility. We must act before it is too late.

Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970 in the United States. Across the United States, 20 million people and thousands of local schools and communities participated in the first Earth Day, this made it the largest organized celebration in the history of the United States.

The Weathered Old Barn

Photo courtesy of Steve Adam's

A stranger came by the other day with an offer that set me to thinking. He wanted to buy the old barn that sits out by the highway I told him right off he was crazy. He was a city type, you could tell by his clothes, his car, his hands, and the way he talked. He said he was driving by and saw that beautiful barn sitting out in the tall grass and wanted to know if it was for sale. I told him he had funny idea of beauty.

Sure it was a handsome building in its day. But there's been a lot of winters pass with their snow and ice and blowing wind. The summer sun's beat down on that old barn till the paints gone, and the wood has turned silver gray. Now the old building leans a good deal, looking kind of tired. Yet that fellow called it beautiful.

Now that set me to thinking, I walked out to the field and just stood there, gazing at that old barn. The stranger said he planned to use the lumber to line the walls of his den in a new country home he's building down the road. He said you couldn't get paint that beautiful. Only years of standing in weather, bearing the storms and scorching sun, only that can produce beautiful barn wood.

It came to me then, we are a lot like that, you and I. Only it's on the inside that the beauty grows with us. Sure we turn silver gray too and lean a bit more than we did when we were young and full of sap. But the Good Lord knows what He's doing. And as the years pass, He's busy using the hard wealth of our lives, the dry spells and the stormy seasons, to do a job of beautifying our souls and nothing else can produce. And to think how often folks hollar because they want life easy!

They took the old barn down today and hauled it away to beautify a rich man's house. And I reckon someday you and I'll be hauled off to Heaven to take on whatever chores the Good Lord has for us on the Great Sky Ranch. And I suspect we'll be more beautiful than for the seasons we've been through here, and just maybe even add a bit of beauty to our Father's House.

May today there be peace within you. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.
--Author Unknown

Margarine & Butter

Margarine was orginally manufactured to fatten turkeys. When it killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research wanted a paycheck so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this product to get their money back. It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow coloring and sold it to people to use in place of butter. How do you like it? They have come out with some clever new flavorings. Do you know the difference between margarine and butter? Read on to the end, it gets very interesting!

Both have the same amount of calories. Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams compared to 5 grams. Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% same as butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study. Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods. Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has few., only because they are added. Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavors of other foods. Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around for less than 100 years.

*And now for margarine.
Very high in Trans fatty acid, triple risk of coronary heart disease. Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol). Increases risk of cancers up to five fold. Lowers quality of breast milk, decreases immune response and decreases insulin response.

*Here is the part that is very interesting.
Margarine is but one molecule away from being plastic. This fact alone was enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and anything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing the molecular structure of the substance).

*You can try this yourself:
Purchase a tub of margarine and leave it in your garage or shaded area. Within a couple days you will note a couple things-----no flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (this should tell you something). It does not rot or smell differently because it has no nutritional value, nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny weeny microorganisms will not find a home to grow. Why? Because it is nearly plastic. Would you melt your Tupperware and spread it on your toast?

Logan & Gibson

Our new ferret boys, Logan and Gibson.

Gibby has a thing for socks.

Logan is a handsome boy, and he knows it.

"Hey, you with the camera...what's up?"

Gibby and my husband.

Gibby and my son Ron.

"Gimme a smooch, bro!"

In a hole in the ground there lived...a ferret?

What a cute face! (the ferret, that is)

Mmmmmm...move over!

Hey, I only want a sip.

These two love to tussle!

The Old Rugged Cross

On a hill far away, stood an old rugged Cross, The emblem of suffering and shame
And I love that old Cross where the dearest and best, for a world of lost sinners was slain
So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross and exchange it some day for a crown
Oh, that old rugged Cross so despised by the world has a wondrous attraction for me
For the dear Lamb of God, left his glory above to bear it to dark Calvary.
In the old rugged Cross, stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see
For the dear Lamb of God, left his Glory above to pardon and sanctify me.
To the old rugged Cross, I will ever be true, it's shame and reproach gladly bear
Then He'll call me some day to my home far away, where his glory forever I will share.

Dreams

Dreams, some think they come from our soul and intend to help you process along your life path, your subconscious never sleeps. Most of us allow our subconscious free reign in many areas of our lives.

Most people have three to five dreams a night, during an eight hour sleep at least two hours are spent dreaming. Researchers have shown that all human beings dream, the study shows brain activity during their sleep. Dreams often reflect our experiences and life concerns. Children's dreams are different than the ones adults have.

It is possible to experience death in your dreams. This often occurs as a result of great stress caused by relationships, school, career changes, depression or by the approach of death. Many who dream that they are falling sometimes jerk or twitch their arm or legs and you may wake yourself up. Sometimes dreams are so real that the brain believes that we are really falling, or in some sort of danger and hence the brain sends signals to the body to flee.

If you have ever had a nightmare, you are not the only one. Almost everyone gets them once in a while, a nightmare is a bad dream. It can make you feel scared, anxious, or upset, but these dreams can't hurt you. While you sleep your brain does not shut off, it goes through several stages, including Rapid Eye Movement sleep. During this sleep your eyes move back and forth under your eyelids and sometimes during these dreams they can be very scary. If you wake during this cycle it is easier to remember what you were dreaming about. That's why your most vivid dreams=and nightmares=occur in the early morning hours.

There is no scientific proof that dreams can predict or forsee the furture Some dreams that re-occur or repeat could be an indication that we have issues not resolved or confronted. Some people say they dream in color, this could be because color is such a natural part of our visual experience.

Amazing-but-True Facts?

*In the weightlessness of space a frozen pea will explode if it comes in contact with Pepsi.
*The Boeing 747 is capable of flying upside-down if it werent for the fact that the wings would shear off when trying to roll over.
*The trucking company Elvis Presley worked at as a young man was owned by Frank Sinatra.
*Replying more than 100 times to the same piece of spam-email will overwhelm the sender's system and interfere with their ability to send any more spam.
*Polar bears can eat as many as 86 penguins in a single sitting.
*Silly Putty was "discovered" as the residue left behind after the first latex condoms were produced. It's not widely publicized for obvious reasons.
*Human saliva has a boiling point three times that of regular water.
*Watching an hour-long soap opera burns more calories than watching a three hour baseball game.
*You can actually sharpen the blades on a pencil sharpener by wrapping your pencils in aluminum foil before inserting them.
*A dog's naked behind leaves absolutely no bacteria when pressed against the carpet.
*Coca-Cola was the favored drink of Pharaoh Ramses, an inscription found in his tomb, when translated, was found to be almost identical to the recipe used today.
*Due to the natural "momentum" of the ocean, saltwater fish can not swim backwards.
*The "nine lives" attributed to cats is probably due to their having nine primary whiskers.
*If you part your hair on the right side, you were born to be carnivorous. If you part it on the left, your physical and psychological make-up is that of a vegetarian.

This is something I read from Topfive.com, it is kooky but interesting. I think we need things in our lives that don't make sense sometimes, it helps keep us focused.

Easter Joy

Jesus came to earth, to show us how to live,
How to put others first, How to love and how to give.
Then He set about his work, that God sent Him to do;
He took our punishment on Himself. He made us clean and new.
He could have saved Himself, calling angels from above,
But He chose to pay our price for sin, He paid it out of love.
Our Lord died on Good Friday, but the cross did not destroy,
His resurrection on Easter morn, that fill our hearts with joy.
Now we know our earthly death, like His, is just a rest,
We'll be forever with Him, in heaven, where life is best.
So we live our lives for Jesus, think of Him in all we do.
Thank you Savior, thank you Lord, help us love like you
By: Joanna Fuchs

Happy Easter and may God bless you all and bring peace and contentment to your soul.

Childhood Memories

This is another post of mine from July 14, 2008, I had one comment from my friends. I actually just got started posting so I did not know you at this time.

Childhood, the most magical time of our lives. Where things are surrounded by mystery, ghosts and goblins, make believe and things that go bump in the night and there is always something under the bed or in the closet.

I can remember one time when I was about ten, my mom wanted me to go down to the cellar and bring up some coal for the stove. The entrance to the cellar was outside, there was no light until you went down the steps (about 10) and opened the door, that alone was scary. You had to feel inside the door for a hanging chain to pull, it was torture until your hand came in contact with the chain. The light was not bright and its eerie shadow cast all kinds of dancing figures. I scooped up the coal in the bucket, turned off the light and ran up the steps. After that I made sure we had coal in the bucket by dark.

We always listened to the radio for news of the war and to see if we were going to be bombed. It was World War Two, they just announced that they were sending planes to bomb us, I stayed by the window watching for hours, very afraid. My father worked in a steel mill and in 1942 he was killed by a piece of steel falling from an overhead crane, he did not have a helmet on. We loved our dad and right after his death, my mom received papers that he had been drafted.

From birth we go through phases of growth, from infant, childhood, adolescence and then adulthood. Our greatest fears are created in our childhood memories, even our attitudes, perspectives, expectations and our adult view of life are influenced by what happens in childhood.

When we were kids it did not take much to make us happy, we were too busy thinking up games to play, not much time spent indoors. I don't know about you, but it seems like yesterday, we were running, playing games, following the creek pretending it was a flowing river. Pretending when you were a kid is lost in adults. Adults has lost the ability to enter that magical kingdom again, in a way this seems sad. Even so, memories is powerful, every day of our adult life is touched by memories of childhood experiences.

Most of us have a sibling or two that share in our childhood memories. If you were close to a brother or sister you are blessed to have had some one to remember some of the happy and sad times. Sharing our memories with others is one of the most generous things we can do. Pictures are moments captured in time that live long after we do . It is fun to rummage through pictures of the past and say I don't remember this being taken or did I look like that. So lets say goodbye to being young, many years have passed since those glorious days gone bye.

Little Duck==Big World

This is a post I wrote on July 10, 2008 and I only had three comments, so I thought I would post it again. It is a true story and very touching. As I have said before I like to metal detect on our beach, I find many different and interesting items. One evening about six o'clock I decided to metal detect for a couple hours. I went first down by the water to look around and I saw this little baby duck all alone, swimming by shore. There were some people laying and sitting on their blankets, they told me they were trying to catch him all afternoon. I use an old french fry basket to scoop the sand up when I beep on something, the sand goes through it fast. So I went to the water and scooped him up in it and pushed it against my stomach to keep him from falling out.

I immediately went to my car and put the basket upside down on the seat to keep him safe. I knew this woman that took in birds and ducks that had been abandoned by their moms. I went home first to show the baby duck to my family. They were surprised and had to hold him. I took my granddaughter (Sarah) with me to see if the woman would take the baby duck. To my surprise she no longer took ducks in. I had to think fast, and come up with a plan of some kind. I knew the little duck was exhausted and weak and it was getting dark.

So we headed back to the beach and went to where I had found him. We started toward the pier, looking for a mom duck with babies. Having no luck on the beach, I decided when we reached the pier we would go on it and look along the sides into the water. The baby had not even made a peep from the time I picked him up.

We were about twenty feet out on the pier when I noticed the baby getting excited and making little sounds, and then I heard a duck quacking. I went toward the sound and saw a female duck that had jumped up on the pier, when she saw us she jumped back into the water. I looked where she jumped in and saw she had babies. I told my granddaughter to drop him in the water, she said no he will drown. I told her it will go under and pop right back up and that is exactly what happened-he popped up and swam right for his mom quacking all the way. We were so happy that we came looking for his mom, and the happy reunion brought tears to our eyes and joy to our hearts. Mom swam for the shore, because the water was very rough tonight and it had become dark, we found her because our pier is well lite.

Nation's Health Care System????

I don't know about you but I just read an article about the Presidents "Health Care" plan and I am not happy about it. President Obama dedicated his weekly address to defending Congress's plans for overhaul of the nation's health care system..

If you like your health plan, you can keep it, the only thing that will change is that you'll pay less, Remember that? Well according to the new Lewin study:

• Approximately 103 million people would be covered under the new public plan and as a consequence about 83.4 million people would lose their private insurance. This would represent a 48.4 per cent reduction in the number of people with private coverage.


• About 88 million workers would see their current private-employer-sponsored health plan go away and would be shifted in the public plan.


• Yearly premiums for the typical American with current coverage could go up by as much as $460 per privately insured person, as a result of increased cost-shifting stemming from a public plan modeled on Medicare.

So, is there truth in the way the President and Congress are advertising their plan?

In his address the President asserted that, "if you like your current insurance, you keep that insurance. Period. End of Story." But what the President forgot to tell you is that his assertions is only true if the story were fiction.

President Obama has stated that any plan he'd sign must include a health insurance exchange with a public "option"." So if you like your current insurance you may, in fact, lose it. Period. End of story.

- Nina Owcharenko, The Heritage Foundation

Gods Gift

Thank you God for the gift of life, for letting me be me,
For all that I can know by words, and all that I can see.
For all the music I can hear and all the songs I sing,
For all the joy that comes to me and all the joy I bring.
For all the food that I can taste and all the sweet scents I smell,
For all the loved ones I can touch, who love and wish me well.
For all the beauty of the world, ever fresh and new,
I do not know whom else I can thank. and so I am thanking you.

Author: Unknown

Earth Withstanding Quakes

An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault. Stresses in the earth's outer layer push's the sides of the fault together. Stress builds up and the rocks slip suddenly, releasing energy in waves that travel through the rock to cause the shaking that we feel during an earthquake. The causes according to the USGS, an earthquake occurs when plates grind and scrape against each other. Earthquakes happen every day by the hundreds, most of them too weak or remote to affect many people

Strong earthquakes have altered Earth's days and its axis in the past. The 9.1 Sumatran earthquake in 2004, which set off a deadly tsunami should hav shortened Earth's days by 6.8 microseconds and shifted its axis by about 2.76 inches. The fault responsible for the 2010 Chile quake also slices through Earth at a steeper angle. This makes the Chile fault more effective in moving Earth,s mass vertically and more effective in shifting Earth's figure axis and shortened day's.

Earthquakes can involve shifting hundreds of kilometers of rock by several meters, changing the distribution of mass on the planet. This affects Earth's rotation. The length of the day should have gotten shorter by 1.26 microseconds. It is shocking, but true that the 8.8 quake moved the earth off its axis by about 3 inches. Scientists are quick to point out that the moving of the earth off its axis isn't enough to change our seasons. It would take far more than the Chilean quake to make alterations in our weather patterns, as earth's tilt is what determines the seasons. Most of the earthquakes occur on the edges of the plates where the plates is under one or across. The movement disrupts the balance and position of all the plates, which leads to tremors, which are called earthquakes.