Sunday, August 31, 2008

The long weekend

How is your weekend going? Does everyone have off tomorrow?
We are off here (thanks goodness) and since it is a holiday both my husband and I are getting paid for the day. I am thrilled about that because we are still stuggling to get the cash together for our up coming trip. I have enough now to pay for the three nights in the cabin, but still need some spending money, gas and a bit for food (I have most of what I plan on cooking bought) I'm getting more and more excited about the trip, and have reading as much as I can about Gettyburg.
I bet you didn't know FIVE THOUSAND horses were killed during the three day battle. I'm sure I am going to come hone with all sorts of little tibits of information like that along with lots of photos. In the mean time I am back to my web surfing..Enjoy your Monday, and don't eat to many hotdogs

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Friday, August 29, 2008

Sky Watch Friday



Sky Watch Friday



This is a photo of Downtown Richmond VA that I took a few months ago.
Happy Friday Everyone

 
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ABC- The letter F

I missed a couple of weeks on the ABC Wednesday post so I am behind. This week the letter is F

F is for FIG tree, this one is in my moms backyard.



 
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Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Ruby Tuesday




When I was growing up I remember that the caboose on a train was always red, this one was found in Petersburg Virginia and reminds me of more gentle time.
For more great photos be sure and visit
For more photos visitRuby Tuesday


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Vegging

Ugh
Ugh
Ugh
Ugh


this is my word for the day..UGH..I am in a don't bother me, I want to sit and veg mood, but I know if I don't get my butt up I am not going to get anything done except have a wasted day.

Does this ever happen to you? It always seems like when I have a day off I have about a zillion things that need to be done. I've been putting off my spare bedroom for ages and I really need to get in there and do something with it. It reminds me of a storage shed. Every thing is just kind of thrown in there on the floor.
When we first moved here (2 and a half years ago) the room started off as a nursery for my grandson who was still in a crib and sleeping here almost every night while his mom worked. Then last year when she moved in with her boyfriend and out of the apartment complex she started working earlier shifts. At that point the room became a catch all for all the "junk" that has no other home and 75% of needs to either be thrown away or given away.
I had a good handle on getting this place organized about a month ago (You might remember the post where I had rearranged my living room and bedroom), but then the hubby got the kidney stone and we spend several weeks running to the ER and Dr. appointments and I never got back to the organizing.
Now here I am just three weeks from Gettysburg and need to find a few things to take to the campground. Guess where they are.....Yep the spare room....sooooooo guess what I need to be doing?
Reading blogs?
Family history?
Reading?
Watching TV?
Vegging?


Oh I should be cleaning...dang...Just what I thought
Later folks.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Points to Ponder

Two wolves.

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.He said, 'My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all.One is Evil. - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good. - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.' The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: 'Which wolf wins?'The old Cherokee simply replied,
"The one you feed"

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Saturday, August 23, 2008

Fun Facts

Just for fun

Virginia Facts and Trivia

Virginia was named for England's "Virgin Queen," Elizabeth

The major cash crop of Virginia is tobacco and many of the people who live there earn their living from the tobacco industry.

Jamestown, the first of the original 13 Colonies was founded for the purpose of silk cultivation. Silk to be traded with the Court of King James. After blight fungus destroyed the mulberry trees (silkworm food), sericulturist planted tobacco as a cash crop.

Jamestown was the first English settlement in the U.S. It was also the first capital of Virginia.

Virginia is known as "the birthplace of a nation".

Arlington County was originally part of the ten-mile square parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be part of Washington, DC. The U.S. Congress returned that portion of the land to the "Commonwealth of Virginia" following a referendum among its citizens.

Eight United States Presidents were born in Virginia: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson.

Six Presidents' wives were born in Virginia: Martha Washington, Martha Jefferson, Rachel Jackson, Letitia Tyler, Ellen Arthur, Edith Wilson.

Seven Presidents are buried in Virginia: Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Tyler, Taft and Kennedy.

The present state capital in Richmond was also the capital of the Confederacy.

The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg is the second oldest in the United States, it was founded in 1693.

The State nickname is "Old Dominion".

The State flower is not really a flower, but the blossom of the dogwood tree, which is also the state tree.

The first peanuts grown in the United States were grown in Virginia.

The Blue Ridge Mountains are located in Virginia.

The American Revolution ended with the surrender of Cornwallis in Yorktown.

On March 9, 1862 at Hampton Roads, Virginia, the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia (formerly the USS Merrimac) met in one of the most famous naval engagements in US history. Their battle, the first of its kind between metal armored vessels, changed for all time the nature of naval warfare.

10th of the 13 original colonies, Virginia was admitted to the union June 25, 1788.

The state motto is "Sic Semper Tyrannis". (Thus always to tyrants)

Union Passenger Railway was the first successful electric street railway transit agency. It was formed in 1888 at Richmond.

The states of Kentucky & West Virginia were formed from sections of the state of Virginia

About 1/2 of all the people in the United States live within a 500 mile radius of the Capital of Virginia.

Virginia has had 3 capital cities: Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Richmond.

Richmond was also the capital of the Confederate States during the Civil War

Over 1/2 the battles fought in the civil war were fought in Virginia. Over 2,200 of the 4,000 battles.

In Virginia more people work for the United States government than any other industry. About 1/4 of Virginia's workers.

Virginia's largest private employer is also the world's largest ship building yard.

Virginia is the home base for the United States Navy's Atlantic Fleet.

The tomb of the Unknown Soldier is in Arlington National Cemetery.

The Pentagon building in Arlington is the largest office building in the world.

The Pentagon has nearly 68,000 miles of internal telephone lines.

Dulles International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world.

General Thomas Jackson got his nickname "Stonewall" in Manassass.

The site of 2 major Civil War Battles.

The first Thanksgiving in North America was held in Virginia in 1619.

Yorktown is the site of the final victory of the American Revolution.

Virginia has been dubbed the "Internet Capital of the world".

The Atlantic headquarters of NATO is located in Norfolk.

The Great Dismal Swamp is in Virginia near the North Carolina border.

Virginia Beach is the largest city in Virginia. Its population is expected to surpass 500,000 residents by 2010.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is the world's largest bridge-tunnel complex.

Wild Ponies have roamed freely on Assateague Island for centuries.

The world's only oyster museum is on Chincoteague Island.

Busch Garden's Old Country Theme Park is located near Williamsburg.

President Thomas Jefferson designed his own home and called it Monticello.

George Washington's home, Mount Vernon, is located in Virginia.

Robert E. Lee, Commanding General of the Army of Northern Virginia, surrendered his men to Ulysses Grant, General-in-Chief of all United States forces, on April 9, 1865 at the Appomattox Court House.

Patrick Henry made his "Give me Liberty or Give me Death" speech in St. John's Church in Richmond.

Bristol is legally two cities but they share the same main street. One in Virginia and one in Tennessee each with its own government and city services.

Waynesboro was the site of the last major battle of the Civil War in central Virginia, the Battle of Waynesboro in 1865 between Generals Jubal Early and Philip Sheridan.

Colvin Run Mill in Great Falls has an early 19-century wooden water wheel and operating gristmill. The old Miller's House features an exhibit about the process of milling and the families who operated the mill

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Friday, August 22, 2008

Sky Watch 08-22-08



Sunset on the James River



Happy Sky Watch Friday everyone..Enjoy your weekend

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Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Thank You

I wanted to take a mintue to thank some of my blogging friend for some kind thoughts and gifts

First to my buddy PepperLady who sent me a card and something to help fund my trip to Gettysburg in a few weeks. THANK YOU

And second to my buddy Ruth who send me this lovely Bee Totem

From a contest she had on her blog.I love it thank you!

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Monday, August 18, 2008

Odd Shots Monday 8-18-08








These ODD flower pots were at our local farmers market. They looked like they would be a lot of fun to have in the yard, and even more fun to feature for Odd Shots Monday.
For more Odd Shots Monday go to Katney's Kaboodle

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Saturday, August 16, 2008

By the light of the moon



Did anyone see the moon tonight? I did and it was gorgeous. It is one of those big fat round moons that is so bright it seems to glow even against the city lights. As my daughter and I were driving home from the store tonight we looked up and noticed it, we both commented about how pretty it was and how much we enjoy the full moon.
Much to my surprise my daughter started talking about how amazed she is and how much in awe she is of the moon.
Mom she said...Do you realize that every single person on the entire earth from the beginning of time has looked at this same moon...
Everyone from the cave men to Kings and Queens have looked at it.
Jesus looked at it, and the witches have danced under it.
Men in the Civil War and battlefields have seen it, and every single person that you and I are related to have looked at it.
That is pretty amazing.
I had never really thought of it that way.

When did she get so smart

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Photo Hunt-Colorful

This week the theme at Photo Hunt is Colorful

And these beautiful Mums certainly were.
This photo was taken by me last fall at our local farmers market.
Stop by
Photo Hunt TN Chicks to see more colorful photos.
 
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Friday, August 15, 2008

Sky Watch Friday 8-15-08



Sky Watch Friday

Outside my back door...





Happy Sky Watch Friday Everyone

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Tuesday, August 12, 2008

ABC Wednesday-Letter D

 
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D is for Drummer Boy, and these happy lads marched down the main street of Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia.

For more ABC Wednesday photos be sure and drop by. ABC Wednesday

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Ruby Tuesday Photo

I am trying something new. I found this while blog surfing. This one is called RUBY TUESDAY


The idea for this week is to post a photo of something red.
Since my grandson is my favorite thing to post about I thought I would share this photo of him wearing his RED shirt at the beach.


Click on the link to view more photos from this.

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Ramblings of a Witch: THE PROJECT!

A blog buddy of mine and her husband have made a video for post it notes. Be sure and drop by her page and view it and learn more about the project.


Ramblings of a Witch: THE PROJECT!

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Cht Chat and other stuff

I haven't posted much lately, so I thought tonight I would just chit chat.
Nothing much going on around here really. As I mentioned the hubby passed the pieces of his kidney stone. Hopefully those three were the only ones. He goes back to the DR. this Friday for a checkup so they should tell him for sure if he can expect more.

The medical bills are starting to come in for the little darling. So far I think I have added up about 15,000 dollars. You may or may not know that we carry no insurance. So laugh along with me if you really think that will ever get paid.
And before you asked why don't I have insurance. It is simple. We can not afford it.
After my hubby pays a little over $500.00 a month in child support together we only clear about 2,100 a month. My rent is 850.00. I won't bore you will all the other bills, but trust me, there is nothing left at the end of the week/month.

I put my FOURTH tire on my car today in as many months. It seems that they all went out about the same time. I had to put this last one on because my car had to be inspected and it would not pass without it.
I am now $104.00 (including the inspection) poorer.

On the bright side, I have managed to save enough to pay for my second night in Gettysburg. I just have to figure out where the gas, food and spending money will come from for our trip up there next month
In spite of the financial hardships I still intend to go. We deserve this trip and come hell of high water I plan on taking it.

Hmm let's see what else is new...
Well, work is ok. About the only thing I can complain about there is I can't help but wonder. Why do women pee on the toilet in public bathrooms. Every time I go into the one at work there is always dribble on the seat. Contrary to popular believe I honestly believe you will be ok if you sit on the toilet. Think about it a minute. When you sit on the seat..the only thing that touches it are your hips. Why do you think your butt is going to get any more germs from touching something than say for example your arm is from leaning on a counter that everyone else has touched.
Yes I know your going to say, but people pee on the seat and that is why you don't sit on it, but do you see what I am getting at here. If everyone would sit..there would be no pee on the seat. Ok point taken, lets move on
Business is slow at work, but I think it is the economy. People are not spending as much. Maybe it will pick up as the holidays approach.

Speaking of can you believe that summer is almost over. We really didn't do much with ours this year. Other than taking my grandson to the beach a few times we have stuck pretty close to home



Our apartment complex did finally get around to putting in a grill and picnic table for our building


But I haven't seen anyone use it yet. Oh by the way for those of you who have a Walmart, Let me recommend the hamburg patties that they sell. It is the great value brand and they come in a while box. We pay about $14.00 for a box of them here (I think it has either 24 or 36 burgers, I can't remember).
Anyway they grill up really good and have a pretty decent flavor for frozen.

I hate to admit it but I am looking forward to fall. It has always been my favorite time of year and I look forward to the crisp air and beautiful fall colors.
I know my dog will appreciate it too, she has had a hard time with fleas this year.

Anyway that is about it for my ramblings

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Monday, August 11, 2008

Odd Shots Monday





 


This ODD tree is in Colonial Williamsburg VA.
Does it look like it is growing an ear to you?


For more Odd Shots Monday go to Katney's Kaboodle
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Sunday, August 10, 2008

Proud Papa

I am happy to announce that my husband is the proud papa of THREE baby Kidney stones born (passed) last week...We hope that is all of the little darlings. He goes back to the Dr. next week so they will probably know more then.

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Saturday, August 9, 2008

Photo Hunt-Dark

This week the theme at Photo Hunt is DARK.

Be sure and click on the link to visit more photos and play along


My husband's shadow is DARK as he walks up to the top of a bunker at the battlefield in Yorktown Virginia.






I thought the dark trees against the night sky made a pretty picture.

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Friday, August 8, 2008

Sky Watch Friday 8-8-08



Sky Watch Friday

Sunset on the James River, Yorktown Virginia USA

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Tuesday, August 5, 2008

ABC Wednesday-Letter C

 
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My husband took this photo of me over the weekend. I am sitting on a CANNON on the battlefield at Yorktown VA.

The Battle of Yorktown 1781
General George Washington's resounding defeat of Lord Cornwallis's British army;
causing the British to surrender and effectively ending the American Revolutionary War.

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Monday, August 4, 2008

Odd Shots



This is my first week to play Odd Shots Monday




I took this photo outside The Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond VA.

For more Odd Shots Monday go to Katney's Kaboodle

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Sunday, August 3, 2008

The 15 Most Powerful Healing Herbs in Your Kitchen

The 15 Most Powerful Healing Herbs in Your Kitchen


Disclaimer: Exercise caution when working with herbs. Information shared
here should not be substituted for the advice, or care, from a qualified
health care professional - All information, including that and relating to,
products, services and materials contained on this site are provided on an
"as is" and "as available" basis and is for informational purposes only. It
should not be used directly or indirectly as a substitute for the advice,
diagnosis or treatment provided by your own physician or other medical
professional. You should not use the information provided on the site for
diagnosing a health problem or prescribing a medication. Wicca Spirit
Newsletter, nor any contributor or editor assumes any responsibility for
how any information, products, services and materials obtained on or
through our site is used. Do not delay seeking professional medical advice
because of anything you may have read or any information, product or
service you may have obtained or purchased through this site.



Since ancient times our ancestor's harvested the many herbs andspices
that grew wild around them, mixed potions, and treated ailments. Man was
after all a hunter-gatherer, and an omnivore, (an organism which gets its
food energy from both plant and animal material).

The humble herb and spice rack in your kitchen today need not be just a
decorative feature, although they look quite pleasing to the eye hanging on
the wall, in both modern and old fashioned styled homes. They can in fact
hold a plethora of natural healing ingredients that can also add great taste
to the foods you eat every day.

Of all the herbs and spices you can choose from for flavor,there are 15 that
are more powerful than the rest. Below is thelist and you may well be
surprised to learn of the many diverse conditions for which they've proven
so very useful.

1. BASIL - Basil is an herbal carminative, that is, it can relieve gas and
soothe stomach upsets. One possible explanation for its calming effect is a
compound called eugenol, which has been shown to help ease muscle
spasms. Research is still preliminary, but laboratory studies also suggest
that compounds found in basil may help disrupt the dangerous chain of
events that can lead to the development of cancer.

2.. CAYENNE - Cayenne pepper is a hot red powder made from tropical chili
peppers. It contains alkaloid capsaicin, which relieves pain by blocking the
chemicals that send pain messages to the brain. If you eat cayenne at the
first sign of any type of headache, with plenty of water as a chaser, this
spicy herb may be an effective alternative treatment. Added to food,
cayenne perks up appetite, improves digestion and relieves gas, nausea,
and indigestion. The herb also thins phlegm and eases its passage from the
lungs, thus helping to prevent and treat coughs, colds and bronchitis.

3. CINNAMON - Cinnamon bark contains an oily chemical called
cinnamaldehyde that kills a variety of illness causing bacteria, including the
dreaded E.coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureas. Research shows
that cinnamon is also able to stop the growth of the Asian flu virus.
Herbalists report that cinnamon bark also helps regulate the menstrual
cycle and checks flooding during menopause. Also cinnamaldehyde has a
tranquilizing effect that helps reduce anxiety and stress.

4. CLOVE - Oil of clove is 60 to 90 percent eugenol. A potent pain
deadening antimicrobal. Clove has earned the official endorsement of the
FDA as an effective stopgap measure for tooth pain. Clove is also among
the spices that can help the body use insulin more effectively, thus lowering
blood sugar somewhat. In one lab study, clove was also found to speed
healing of the dreaded cold sores.

5. DILL - Dill has been used to soothe the digestive tract and treat
heartburn, colic and gas for thousands of years. In fact, the word dill comes
from the Old Norse word dilla, meaning to lull or soothe. The herb has an
antifoaming action that suggests why it might help break up gas bubbles.
Like parsley, dill is rich in chlorophyll, which also makes it useful in treating
bad breath.

6. FENNEL - Rich in volatile oils, fennel is what's known as a carminative
herb, meaning that it can ease bloating, gas pains, and digestive spasms in
the small and large intestines. Fennel can also reduce bad breath and body
odor that originates in the intestines. Women who are breastfeeding may
find that fennel, which works in a way similar to the body's hormones,
increases milk flow.

7. GARLIC - Intact garlic cloves contain an odorless, sulphur-containing
amino acid called alliin. When the garlic is crushed, alliin becomes allicin.
Research shows that allicin helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure and
also helps prevents blood clots. Garlic can also reduce the risk of
developing atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Compounds in this
familiar bulb kill many organisms, including bacteria and viruses that cause
earaches, flu and colds. Research indicates that garlic is also effective
against digestive ailments and diarrhea. What's more, further studies
suggest that this common and familiar herb may help prevent the onset of
cancers.

8. GINGER - When it comes to quelling the queasiness of motion sickness,
ginger has no equal say herbalists. In fact, researchers have demonstrated
that ginger beats dimenhydrate, the main ingredient in motion sickness
drugs such as Dramamine, for controlling symptoms of seasickness and
motion sickness. Ginger stimulates saliva flow and digestive activity, settles
the stomach, relieves vomiting, eases pain from gas and diarrhea, and is
effective as an anti-nausea remedy. This aromatic herb also helps lower
cholesterol. Herbalists have also found it to be useful as a pain reliever.

9. MINT - Herbalists the world over use mint, as a premier stomach tonic,
to counteract nausea and vomiting, promote digestion, calm stomach
muscle spasms, relieve flatulence, and ease hiccups. Menthol, the aromatic
oil in peppermint, also relaxes the airways and fights bacteria and viruses.
Menthol interferes with the sensation from pain receptors, thus it may be
useful in reducing headache pain. Scientific evidence suggests that
peppermint can kill many kinds of micro-organisms, and may boost mental
alertness. In one study, people who inhaled menthol said they felt as if it
relieved their nasal congestion, although it didn't increase their measurable
airflow.

10. OREGANO - Oregano contains at least four compounds that soothe
coughs and 19 chemicals with antibacterial action that may help reduce
body odor. The ingredients in oregano that soothe coughs may also help
un-knot muscles in the digestive tract, making oregano a digestive aid. This
familiar spice also contains compounds that can lower blood pressure too.

11. PARSLEY - Diuretic herbs such as parsley prevent problems such as
kidney stones and bladder infections and keep our body's plumbing running
smoothly by causing it to produce more urine. They also relieve bloating
during menstruation. Also there's a reason for that parsley on the edge of
the diner plate, its not just there for fancy decoration; it's an effective
breath freshener because it contains high levels of chlorophyll.

12. ROSEMARY - Rosemary is one of the richer herbal sources of
antioxidants, which have been shown to prevent cataracts, and contains 19
chemicals with antibacterial action that help fight infection. Traditionally
used to ease asthma, this common culinary ingredient has volatile oils that
can reduce the airway constriction induced by histamine, that chemical
culprit of asthma and other allergy symptoms. Herbalists think that
rosemary may also help ease breast pain by acting as a natural drying
agent to fluid filled cysts.

13. SAGE - The oils found in sage are both antiseptic and antibiotic, so it
can help fight infections. Sage is effective for symptoms of menopause,
night sweats and hot flashes, because of its estrogenic action and because
its tannins can dry up perspiration. There's also compelling evidence that
sage may be of value to people with diabetes for whom the hormone insulin
does not work as efficiently as it should. Lab studies indicate that sage may
boost insulin's action.

14. THYME - Thyme contains thymol, which increases blood-flow to the
skin. The warmth is comforting, and some herbalists believe that the
increased blood-flow speeds healing. An anti-spasmodic. Thyme relaxes
respiratory muscles and is endorsed for treating bronchitis by Commission
E, the expert panel that judges the safety and effectiveness of herbal
medicines for the German government. Aromatherapists say that thyme's
scent is a mood lifter.

15. TURMERIC - Many clinical studies agree that curcumin in turmeric has
anti-inflammatory effects, including a significant beneficial effect in
relieving rheumatoid arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Curcumin, which
gives this spice its familiar yellow pigment, may also lower cholesterol.
Turmeric is also packed with antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E,
which have been shown to prevent cataracts.
Passed down to us by our forefathers and countless generations throughout
the world, these 15 food additives and enhancers are just a selected few
that are currently known to have medicinal and beneficial properties, yet
represent the more commonly used. By including these herbs and spices
into your daily cooking or diet on a regular basis, you will greatly enhance
your quality of life, and reduce the need for those expensive, and often
damaging pharmaceutical drugs.

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Saturday, August 2, 2008

My Saturday







One of our local farms offers pick your own veggies, so I went to the fields today and picked fresh corn and blueberries. I also brought home tomatoes, squash and some watermelon. My daughter went along and she also bought fresh butter beans. I thought they were a bit pricey so I am going tomorrow to my local grocery store for some frozen ones. Guess what I am having for dinner tomorrow night?

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Photo Hunt August 2, 2008








This week on Photo-Hunt the theme is Clouds.
These are from a recent thunderstorm we had
Be sure and stop by TnChick's for more great photos

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Sky Watch-8-1-08



Sky Watch Friday



 
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This photo was taken while riding in the car across the Hampton Roads Bridge and Tunnel from Hampton VA. To Norfolk VA. That is the Cheaspeake Bay your looking at along with those pretty clouds in the sky
Enjoy your weekend everyone.

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