Creative Mind by Nancy Ann

                                                  (This article I wrote is rather lengthy but it touches on a subject that everyone living on the planet should be concerned about.)                                               “Warning, eating fresh fruits and vegetables may cause learning disabilities, cancer, many other severe health conditions, and even death, for you and your family.” I realize that sounds farfetched, but unfortunately it is true. A warning should appear on many foods consumed by the unsuspecting public. There are health risk labels on tobacco and alcohol products notifying the consumer that the use of those products “may cause health problems.” In the meantime, people are unknowingly eating, breathing and drinking highly toxic residue from pesticides, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in commercial farming, and listed as “safe for human consumption in low doses.” Why is it that there is no notification to the public from the FDA regar

This weekend a friend visited for two days and along with him came an adorable two-month-old raccoon abandoned by his mother. I must say I really enjoyed having the sweet little raccoon named “Baby” around for a few days. My five-year-old Bassett Hound “Opie” did not even seem to mind. For two days, she followed our every move, performed tricks in the trees and took long naps on the deck and in the bushes with Opie. She was very loveable and playful. I believe she did not even realize that she was a raccoon. I had almost forgotten as well until she followed me into the kitchen. I opened the refrigerator and she spotted leftover hamburgers on a plate. As she went for the plate of burgers, I went to pick her up and stop her and I quickly saw the wild animal instinct come out in her. Soon after this episode, she went back to her sweet self as though nothing happened. I, however, was aware of the fact that as cute as she was, she was a wild animal that had no place being around humans

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/collections/p00hldcc#p004gx80

In an article in Honey-Bee News.com dated January 23, 2011 it states: "Remember the case of the leaked document showing that the EPA’s own scientists are concerned about a pesticide it approved that might harm fragile honeybee populations? Well, it turns that the EPA isn’t the only government agency whose researchers are worried about neonicotinoid pesticides. USDA researchers also have good evidence that these nicotine-derived chemicals, marketed by German agrichemical giant Bayer, could be playing a part in Colony Collapse Disorder—the mysterious massive honeybee die-offs that United States and Europe have been experiencing in recent years. So why on earth are they still in use on million of acres of American farmland?" (Source: http://www.honeybee-news.com/ ) The health of the honey bees effects each and every living creature, large and small, existing on the planet.   Dangerous pesticides are still being used that are not only killing off the bee population, but could a

Life in a field of dandelions

    "Honeybees are dying off at an alarming rate. And, if Americans don’t act now to deal with what is being called “Colony Collapse Disorder,” we risk devastating our domestic food supply.     Yes, it’s that serious. According to American beekeepers, around one-third of the existing population of honeybees has died off every year since 2006 -- and scientists believe this year could be even worse. As more than 30% of our domestic food production depends on honey bee pollination, this crisis can’t be ignored.     What is causing Colony Collapse Disorder? There are a number of reasons, but mounting evidence points to pesticides -- and three “neonicotinoid” pesticides in particular: clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiomethoxam. That’s why a coalition of nonprofits, beekeepers, and concerned citizens are asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban these three pesticides. More than 1.2 million people have already signed onto the coalition’s campaign. Will you?     We

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Congress writes a new Farm Bill every 5 years. Help the Environmental Working Group, EWG, to help us have healthier food. We can all help to make a difference. Click on the following link: http://www.ewg.org/farmtofood/?key=39391312

"Quietly, billions of bees are being killed off across the country threatening our crops and food. But a ban of one group of pesticides could save bees from extinction. Four European countries have begun banning the poisons and bee populations are recovering. But chemical companies are lobbying hard to keep all killer pesticides on the market. A global outcry now for a ban in the US and EU, where debate is raging, could provoke a total ban and a ripple effect around the world. giant global buzz calling for these dangerous chemicals to be outlawed until and unless they are proved to be safe." Click on the following link....... http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees_usa/?copy

People who can laugh at a good joke ( or even themselves), comedians, and people who have the good sense to utilize the benefits that humor has to offer, all have something in common. They all possess a “sense of humor.” According to Dictionary.com, a sense of humor is “the trait of appreciating (and being able to express) the humorous.” It is also a coping mechanism to deal with life’s absurdities, a physical and mental health aid, and a tool to strengthen your relationships (if used properly). There are certainly many things going on in our lives that we have to worry about and take seriously. As adults, we worry about job security, taxes, housing and feeding our families, crime, terrorists, the environment, illnesses, war, loss of loved ones, and the list goes on. Still, we wake up every morning to start a brand new day. Possessing a sense of humor means that you can allow yourself to add laughter to your life, it can help you to cope with whatever challenges and obstacles come

Time Is All We Have Said Willie: Time to heal from the flu and how licorice helped.... : "I knew I should have gotten the flu vaccine. Every year I have been lucky enough to escape it but it got me good this year. How ..."

One thing I always have on stock in my medicine cabinet all year long is thyme essential oil.  Thyme is a common herb and is generally used as a condiment or spice. Thyme oil is extracted from steam distillation of dried or fresh leaves and also from flowering tops of the plant. This essential oil has many medicinal properties but in my home, we use it  at the first signs of congestion. Great as an expectorant.  It's lung stimulant properties help in easing bronchitis, asthma, colds and other problems with the lungs and the whole respiratory system. My children are grown but ever since they were little and they were not feeling good, they would ask for a thyme bath and then they would put thyme cream on their chest. It also provides a feeling of comfort, breaks up the congestion and helps you to breath. (It is so much better than the old Vicks vapor rub that would stick to your pajamas!!) http://susiedurrschmidt.swissjust-usa.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?prodid=177&am

Lavender Essential Oil has been used for therapeutic applications for thousands of years. In the nineteenth century when tuberculosis and infection was rampant in France, it was found that the people working in the lavender fields in Province were less likely to contract respiratory ailments such as tuberculosis. Lavender Oil has been proven to alleviate anxiety.  It produces slight calming, soothing, and sedative effects when its scent is inhaled. Lavender has been referred to as a "mood balancing herb".  In the evening I  place a few drops in hot water. It not only makes the house smell wonderful but you are getting the calming benefits of the aromatherapy. Add a few drops to a bath and enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy combined with hydrotherapy for a great nights sleep! Lavender is a beautiful addition to your garden. It is a  perennial herb. Their flowers keep their fragrance when dried.  

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After all this cold and mounds of frozen snow from numerous snow storms, I am so looking forward to warm weather.  I really miss going down to the town fishing dock on a warm Summer morning with a cup of coffee and observing the double-crested cormorants and gulls. I love the cormorants but the local fishermen don't share the same feeling.  They complain that they eat all the fish but the worst part is sometimes they think they caught "the big one" but unfortunately sometimes they catch a cormorant. They don't always see the cormorants because they dive under the water.  It is very unfortunate for the fishermen but especially for the cormorant. Double-crested cormorants are rather large birds.  They can grow over two feet with a wing span of  four feet.  They don't have the oil in their skin to protect their feathers from being wet like ducks and other water birds.  They perch themselves and open up their wings and dry them out. It really is amazing to watch.  T

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Let's face it, there is so many wonderful chocolate brands to choose from.  Today I am sharing my love of Green & Black's Organic chocolate. Farmers in Belize and The Dominican Republic grow their organic cocoa. Their trademark is their intense flavor. They use only the finest organically grown cocoa.   They use natural, sustainable farming methods with no pesticides. (Cocoa is one of the most highly sprayed crops in the world.) http://www.greenandblacks.com/us/ http://www.facebook.com/GreenandBlacks.US?ref=ts Darn, that job has been filled but I will check back for future openings & get my passport ready. Let's face it there is nothing like a good milk chocolate candy bar but if you are looking to eat chocolate for health reasons stick to dark chocolate.  My sons and I have acquired a taste for bitter chocolate with a high cocoa (or cacao) percent. For us, the higher percent the better. To find out more about percents check out this link: http://www.loo

    If you have read any of my other posts you may already have figured out that I am fascinated by nature's pollinators and their importance.      Did you know that  little insects called midges are the primary pollinators of the cacao flowers? "A tiny fly no bigger than the head of a pin is responsible for the world's supply of chocolate." —Allen Young, a leading cacao expert "The cacao-pollinating midges require humid shade with a wide range of plant species and decaying matter on the ground, which is the natural habitat of cacao. The bigger a cacao plantation, the less likely the midges will find their way into the sunny, dry and cultivated groves of cacao trees to pollinate individual flowers. Additionally, while wild cacao flowers give off over 75 distinct aroma ingredients (compare that to 14 in the rose and 7 in the onion) to attract pollinators, cultivated cacao has only a small percentage of those, leaving the midges even less likely to venture

There is truth in the saying "laughter is the best medicine". They say that children laugh about 400 times a day, adults only about 15 times a day.  Of course as an adult we have  many trials and tribulations and situations that aren't so funny (and nothing to laugh about) but that is even more reason to bring laughter into your life. Benefits of laughter: *Stimulates physical healing; *Relaxes  your whole body; *Boost immunity; *Lowers stress hormone; *Decreases pain; *Helps with circulation, good for the heart; *Eases anxiety and fear; *Relieves stress and alters your mood; *Strengthens relationships; and more .......Laughter is strong natural medicine for your body & mind.... Truthfully speaking I personally couldn't have gotten this far in life without a good sense of humor.  Of course I have taught my three sons that life is to be taken seriously but to also have a good sense of humor. (Lucky for them they inherited this from both of his parent