For Adults and Children Who Love Animals: Part I

OK, no children in the house to lick the cupcake batter from the bowl?  Are you sure about that?

Our favorite pet lover wanted us to enjoy this demonstration.

HOW A BOWL SHOULD BE LICKED

      How sweet this is. The owner grabbed a camera instead of chasing the puppy away.

       

"Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened."(Anatole France)

Thanks to Elsie for this post.  Attribution hasn't been established for the photographs.  If you know this pet-loving photographer, please tell us, too.)

For Adults and Children Who Love Animals: Part II

"Friendship isn't about who you have known the longest.

It's about those who came and

never left your side ......."

May you always have love to share,

health to spare, and friends that care! (Anon.)

Our thanks again to Elsie.

By the Way:  Elsie and her sister have established a sanctuary for older pets.  Right now they're caring for at least 40 aging cats and more than 30 older dogs.  Any contributions to the sanctuary are VERY welcome (as well as tax deductible).  If you wish to donate, send that gift to 

Safe at Last Sanctuary

PO Box 149

Waverly, WV  26184

Be sure to include your address so that an acknowledgment letter can be sent to you, indicating your contribution.

(Any information on the identity of the photographer will be appreciated. These pictures occur on multiple websites.)



The Words of Aristotle: So True!

Animals may not be familiar with the great philosopher's words, but they understand the concept!

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it," Aristotle.

Two Of The Greatest Qualities In Life Are:

Patience

and

Wisdom

(BOTH ARE SHOWN HERE)

Thanks, Bob A. , and also to Dick for forwarding this for the blog.

(A hunt for the photographer was unsuccessful. The picture appears on several websites.)

Enjoying the Benefits of Tea



Clips OnLine

 Are you one of the very smartest of us, a consistent tea drinker?  If so, research says you have chosen the right drink.  Not only does it soothe the soul, but it also protects the body at the same time.

Ok, so that's nice, but you say it's not enough to push you away from the coffee drinker crowd and into the teabag and boiling water population?  Laura Ungar of the Louisville, KY Courier-Journal (Dec. 30, 3012) explains that multiple "studies indicate that tea can help block cholesterol, prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer and burn calories."


Unger tells us that there are several kinds of tea-"black, white, green, oolong and puerh," and they all work to lessen the effect of those dreaded free radicals.

 Are you watching those cholesterol numbers?
  Unger quotes Todd Porter, University of KY researcher, as saying that " tea appears to decrease the absorption of cholesterol in the system"  and he points out that it is black tea, not green tea, that appears most effective. Wow!  For those of us committed to green tea, that's a shocker!
Many studies have examined tea's role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Unger cites an Italian study on the benefit of black tea:  It actually lowered the blood pressure in the study's subjects and "counteracted the detrimental effects of high-fat meals in people with high blood pressure."   

That's just one study, right?  Well, no.  The Italian study added evidence to several prior studies that showed the three-cup-a-day tea drinkers enjoyed less danger of heart attacks-"11 percent lower." 


Those among us not concerned with high cholesterol or blood pressure numbers  that are so worrisome to our doctors might want to know that other aspects of our well being can be improved by drinking tea.  Tea contains both caffeine and L-theanine-both of which may "improve mental cognition and clarity, as well as work performance."

And green-tea drinkers, take heart.  Many benefits accrue from drinking green tea daily.

Although great strides have been made in the fight against all cancers, the possibility of that cancer diagnosis still scares all of us.  The Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Onclology is cited by Unger as reporting " that consuming  cups of green tea each day helps prevent several cancers and protect against the recurrence of colorectal cancer."

Additionally, benefits for older people include a "significantly lower risk of functional disability such as stroke, osteoporosis and cognitive impairment."

A Japanese study published this year in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that elderly subjects who drank more tea had a significantly lower risk of functional disability such as stroke, osteoporosis and cognitive impairment. And guess what?  Regular green-tea drinkers benefit from losing weight as well.

If we know that drinking green tea will help us to age at a slower rate while it helps in the reduction of inflammation and also strengthens bone, why not add tea to our daily beverage intake?

Is coffee beneficial, too?  Absolutely.  Although it hasn't been shown to decrease cancer risk, it does decrease "death rates from heart and respiratory diseases, injuries and accidents, diabetes and infections."

Clips OnLine

So, what's the difference?  Coffee doesn't have the "lipid-lowering benefits" of tea. And if you feel jittery after two cups of coffee, remember that tea contains only half the caffeine of coffee, so drink up!


(Access Unger's complete article at  http://usat.ly/W83dIk .)


Our thanks to Dick for sending this report to us.

A Gift for All of Us: The Photography of Wyman Meinzer Enhanced by the Music of Doug Smith

Clips OnLine

These winter months provide time to bundle up and enjoy our hot tea.  Some of us are relaxing in the sun with our favorite iced tea or coffee.  What could be better than to enjoy the beautiful scenes of Southwest Texas and enjoy great music at the same time?

Bob A. has sent this beautiful video to us and encourages us to enjoy "Stunning Snapshot of West Texas."  Bob judges these photographs to be "some really nice shots, and interesting how he times the music with the photos. Nice job overall. "


 Access the following:  "A Little Bit of West Texas" at http://player.vimeo.com/video/22132017?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0

Clips OnLine

BE SURE TO VIEW FULL SCREEN!

Thanks, Bob. this video is really a gift.

Why the Hurricane Sandy Victims Still Need Whatever We Can Do: Through the Eyes of One of Our Friends

So we thought the hurricane victims were taken care of by now, right?  Not even close!

One of our favorite people, her husband and son dedicated some holiday break time to helping the people who are still suffering from Hurricane Sandy's October devastation. Here is her account of the current suffering.

"Our trip was great; humbling, interesting, and hard work. We tore out dry wall and foor boards and windows and kitchen cupboards and sinks and basically everything down to studs and floor joists in homes.

Our son was on a spray team that was under homes, in crawl spaces, spraying disinfectant for mold part of the time. I worked in a camp kitchen part of the time. We did what was needed when asked. We slept on air mattresses on the floor of a local church and showered in semi-truck showers. But it was incredibly rewarding, and we will definitely serve again.

What was most surprising is the continuing extreme need. So many people are still out of their homes; families are still split apart, and they are receiving precious little help. Local contractors are charging outrageous fees for work, including $1,000.00 to $1,500.00 per week for a dumpster. The only contractors permitted to work are either approved non-profit volunteer groups, such as Samaritan's Purse, or township approved union workers! The town is fining their own community members $50.00 to $500.00 daily for debris left by the road.

The work we did (our team of 15) in one 10- hour -day would have cost the home owner $12,000-$18,000.

These people need support from the rest of us that have gone along our merry way while they are at the mercy of outrageous and seemingly endless suffering.  Their storm is not over by any means."

After reading about our friend's experience just a few weeks ago, the question becomes, "What about the rest of us?  What can we do?"  We may be able to join a group traveling to the scene of this devastation to give first-hand support.  Those of us with strong church or civic organization affiliations might start a discussion with our fellow members about ways to help.  And individually, we can keep these people in our thoughts each day.

Our thanks to this dedicated family who gave of their time and energy to help.  All of us apppreciate being able to read their first-hand account.

Last -Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

.
If you're like many of us, last-minute gift ideas are a godsend.  Several of our contributors have given suggestions that we might want to try.

For Children:

• Recording a nursery rhyme or your own rendition of The Christmas Story for the child to listen to before bed is a good way for him or her to hear your voice when you can’t be there. Or check below under "For Everyone" to view the special " Best of 2012" children's books.
• Although money done up in an origami creation isn’t usually for children, the child you’re thinking of may have had origami in an art class at school. Then it would be fun as he tries to recreate your original design after unfolding it. (See For Teens).
• What about giving a child a gift that has long-term rewards?  Pick a gift child from the local bank or church's gift tree for underprivileged children.  Try to pick a child of the same gender and a year or two younger than your child or grandchild.  Give your child what you can afford and have him or her go with you to pick out toys or clothing for the gift child.  If you give him $20, tell him he can pick two gifts for a younger child.  Watch as he looks for items he loved receiving at that age.  In years to come, he'll do the same with his children because you taught him that the holidays are about giving.   If your little loved one can help to deliver the presents, so much the better.  Just make sure that the shopping trip does not include a gift for him or her.  Bribery for charity isn't really productive.
• Here's a  great idea. In Kristin Bock’s “To-Do Gift Is Great Idea for Kids” from FamilyFun Magazine, she suggests an “experience gift” for children. Instead of too many toys, parents can present a card with a list of 2 or 3 experiences that each child might like. A child into clay class at school might have as one suggestion a trip to Claytopia or to the local children’s art museum. For those of us lucky enough to have university art programs or a larger city nearby, the list might include a visit to the studios or the university ceramics students. The Museum of Natural History might be a choice for a child interested in dinosaurs or Egyptian mummies. A trip to the zoo as soon as it opens for the spring season could be on the list. A child into sports might have the choice of inviting a friend to the opening-day local high school, college, or pro game. The child who’s into movies might have a movie with three friends on his list. And the child who loves horses might see a trip to a farm or the local stables for a pony ride as an exciting possibility. The aim of an experience list is to tap into a child’s main interests, to provide reasonably-priced (in some cases, free) choices, and also  togive him or her an event to anticipate once the holiday season is over. Bock comments that giving these experience gift choices has developed her children’s view of “giving and receiving” and says that “Our family is really learning the value of doing rather than having-and that’s a true gift”(Erie Times-News, Section D, 19, December 13, 2012).  See below for other suggestions for the family as 'experience gifts'.

For Teens:

• Can you believe that teens love tye-dyed t-shirts? We remember them from the ‘60s! Money and gift cards to their favorite stores and online boutiques are a good bet as well.
• If you’re thinking about giving money, why not give it in a way that they’ll also enjoy as they open your card? This idea is great, and really isn’t as hard as you might first imagine: Origami the bill into something fun or meaningful. Think you have no ability to do this? We know someone dear who insists that it’s easy if you just follow the step-by –step instructions on this free website: http://www.origami-resource-center.com/money-origami.html.  Whatever the bill’s denomination, the origami heart, peacock, elf shoes, Christmas tree, butterfly, angel fish or even a bouquet of origami roses enclosed with your best wishes shows that you’ve spent time creating a special gift.  
• Do the older children ask you where you grew up, what led you to pick your spouse or other information? What about writing or recording a story of family for them?
•  Consider a charm bracelet for preteens or other female relatives to begin a tradition of memories.

For Parents and Family:

• Parents might like a gift of weekend phone minutes to keep in touch, or a camera to attach to their out-of-date computer for free Skyping.
• A few years ago, one of our contributors gave her parents a hot air balloon ride! They got to chose to go at either sunrise or sunset (they chose sunrise) and they provide a glass of champagne! Sweet!
• Are you trying to decide on a gift for those “fixed income” folks? They might appreciate the payment of their utility bill or car wash coupons for older relatives who would wash the car in the cold weather rather than spend money on the car wash in town. A real treat could be spa treatments for old bones, but make sure you don’t include ‘for old bones’ on the card! For the older set not into computers, consider a sheet of stamps so that they can send cards and letters without stepping farther than their mailboxes.
• (Just submitted by an unnamed contributor) "I love the idea of giving experiences. Every year I take my mom to see a show for Christmas and her birthday. I love membership gifts too . An annual membership to our local aquarium is $90 per couple and $110 per family and that allows unlimited visits for a year with no blackout dates. Incredible value since a family of four could pay $80 for a single day admission. Museum memberships can be as low as $40 per year."
• If you can swing it, consider a special trip for the entire family. The arrangements can be done quickly……..a winter ski trip, a warm-weather destination vacation, or a, shore house, or an offer to host a family picnic to be held on a special day.
• What would your adult children appreciate? How about a coupon for a night of baby-sitting while the couple goes out or away for the weekend. What about Mommy time with an appointmentat her favorite hair salon? 
• And for your family living far away, an iPad  can help the family keep in touch.
• Don’t forget this important idea: Start sharing your own treasures…tools, linens, decorations, jewelry, books, china, a special poem that you frame, archives, and include a note to give background such as "Your great grandmother spent all summer 40 years ago on this embroidered Christmas tablecloth."
•  A Christmas sweater could be an option, especially if you have a family gathering during the holidays.   

                                                                                                                                 
For Relatives and Friends:

• What about an artistic gift? Do you love browsing through the offerings at art festivals or museums? Beautiful artwork, unique art glass and jewelry with a variety of prices are usually available.
• Are you into photography? Many larger stores and drugstores have photo centers, and your loved ones may appreciate a canvas picture made from a photograph that you’ve taken. CVS, for example, will create one from your online order for under $20-and the turn-around time is amazingly quick.

For Women: 

• Looking for something different to give to a favorite female friend?  How about gifts for women invented by women.  Just access the web address here for unique last-minute presents. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marlo-thomas/

And for Everyone…..

• What about books?  Consider the "Best Books of 2012" including illustrated children's books and picture books; history books; art; design; psychology and many other categories.They can be found by accessing the web address below.  Then grab your keys and head to your favorite bookstore for that last-minute surprise gift.  www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/best-history-books-2012/
• photo books, calendar, albums for special memories…either to trace the lineage of the family or to acknowledge a special event (wedding, anniversary, birthday, or trip).
• Your homemade items can be the best gifts loved ones receive: A stool, blanket, jams, quill, scarves, gloves, cookbook, bookcase, and hand-crafted notecards to carry on traditions.

AND FOR ALL…TIME TOGETHER. Be well, safe and happy this holiday season and always.
Thanks to Cheryl A., Sherry,  Rachel, Jo, Karen; to Elaine, Ruth, and Lonee,  and, yes,  to Kristin Bock and our unnamed contributor as well for the great last-minute  that we can use in the last days before the holidays arrive.