%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 |   A Journal to impart knowledge and facts |
|
July 22, 2015 I'm going to start today to record on a daily basis whatever happens to strike my fancy. So, it is a very cool breezy day. I just posted 5 short book reviews to The Monthly Reading Challenge. I'm suppose to put away some winter wood today from the woodpile outside but I'm playing hookey from work to write so starting this blog will get done. I'm having a daily fight with a flock of English Sparrows that are trying to take over my barn. They are making a terrible mess so they have to go. I have destroyed several nests so far they don't leave but they get out of the barn when I am around. I'm just starting the fight so I guess I don't know how far I have to go to discourage them. I'm trying not to spread myself to thin on WDC because I find so many things that are interesting here and I am trying to work on a new story. I really enjoy sitting at my desk with a cup of tea and reading blogs on WDC. |
prompt:And you my friend, my new fun thing, my summer fling plus laughter.![Merit Badge in BCoF 2
[Click For More Info]
Congratulations on your virtual blogging adventure!](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/group-BCoF_2-1901868_14.gif) + ![Merit Badge in QOTD
[Click For More Info]
Thank you so much for your generous donation to [Link To Item #2142667] ! *^*Coffeetogo*^* Warm Regards, Lilli](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/group-QOTD-2149524_14.gif) Hi I just want to share what I'm reading today because I'm only into it by 4 chapters and it is really interesting. First, I've already written somewhere that I started a course in Anatomy and physiology. I've always been interested in my own health. I've taken a couple of courses in anatomy over the last 70 years so this is not exactly new to me. Over the years I only found one book on aging that really understood the aging process. There are probably more out there now. Since the information age came in we are getting more aging facts. Anyway--my interest has grown toward natural ways to stay as healthy as possible. I believe our doctors have more knowledge than I've tapped into. So, I keep reading the off the beaten path ideas. I've discovered that ancient people meditated, used stretching exercises and herbs to keep their bodies functioning on a daily basis. The book I'm reading is from the local library but it can be found on Amazon. It is titled Breath by James Nestor. I went into Amazon to find the book and found there are several authors writing about the same topic. So my new fun thing is to read books about how we breathe. So far in the chapters I've read it explains how our nose works. And there is the entry to laughter. Sometimes your nasal passage closes up on one side or another. There are real reasons for that. And breathing with your mouth is a no no. Even though some of this sounds funny it is a very serious topic. I can't wait to delve into a new chapter. I remember studying English assignments with a cousin. We were in the same English class. We could find all kinds of serious topics to laugh about. sometimes we would laugh so long we could not stop. I have not laughed that extensive in a long time. Nevertheless, it was very laughable to find out the ways our nose responds to orgasm and other bodily functions. A fact that is stated in Genesis, how God breathed the breath of life into the nose is also mentioned. So today I have to say read on.  Happy Summer Reading to one and all. Apondia reads. You know what? Somewhere out there is the answer to almost any question. Someone wrote the answer in a book. The search for treasure. .Write ON. |
| Today, I'm going to stop: Hi from Apondia: Honestly? MY days are so set. I keep doing what I do every day. I can change my schedule whenever I want to do whatever needs done on any specific day. If I have bad habits they are pretty well a part of my lifestyle. So, if I change anything it would have to be my whole life style. This isn't to say I would not change something if it needs changing. I would. But, I would have to find the why in the change before I made the change. Happy Trails |
Prompt: What makes you believe in the impossible? HI from ApondiaHow do you know what is impossible? Somewhere I read this quote. I don't remember where it is from. "A miracle is something that occurs, which you never experienced before." After I read the prompt I tried to remember something in life that is impossible. It is probably something in life that has a possibility of occurring but is blocked so it cannot occur. The solution is to remove the block. Here on WDC we talk about dragons and fairies. There are people in places on our planet who believe they have actually seen fairies. I know there are different species of dragons on the earth I've seen some in pictures. I guess that is why individuality in humans is so important. Where do you live? What do you experience? Are your experiences real or made up? Do you want to fool someone for a laugh or do you live in a world of reality where real things can happen you did not expect? There is a belief out there that says if you believe it will happen; it will. The trick is to really believe something. Faith is a necessary component of the impossible becoming possible. "But Thomas […] said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails […] I will not believe. [...] then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and […] saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands […] and be not faithless, but believing." Quote copied from Google Quotes by way of New Testament. What do you mean by the word impossible? |
| Prompt:Let this quote inspire your writing today: “June is a love song written by nature.”-Patience Strong" June is busting out all over" I immediately thought of the lyrics to Rogers and Hammerstein"s song. "June is busting out all over/ all over the meadows and the hills." The song was written for the play Carousel. It is certainly appropriate, because everything here is growing fast. Where things were grey, brown, or black it is all green. This year it seemed to me that the green was taking a long time to show itself. Then one day there it was all at once. I tried to get the song from You Tube. Here is the link. I'm not sure it will work. Happy Trails, Apondia |
| Prompt: How are you making the world a better place for those that come after you? Write about this in your Blog entry today. Hi. from Apondia Geography and Environmental studies taught me about the term footprint on the earth. Now I look for ways to make our footprint smaller. One way I discovered is Earth Breeze Laundry Detergent. The packaging is better than plastic bottles. The county I live in does not recycle so we have to find good ways to recycle. Less plastic is better. Plus,for every one of the product sold Earth Breeze donates laundry Detergent to worthwhile causes. I accomplished some research about plastic waste; when I wrote some articles for Journalistic Intentions on  . Plastic waste is a major concern to planet Earth. It is causing extreme havoc to the waterways of the planet.I was personally startled by the real threat to lifeforms that live in water ways, both saltwater and fresh water environments. There is a plan in place to clean the oceans which is good news. Nevertheless, using fewer plastic bottles will help.Then, we tried out a corn burning stove to replace our wood furnace. Corn burns hotter than wood and is also a faster renewable resource than wood. It also burns cleaner than wood putting less pollution into the air. Another plus, it is a money crop for farmers. Over the years I have been trying to recycle useful articles from my home that we no longer need. We began insulating strongly to make the house easier to heat. This will still be an ongoing work effort in the next few years. Just a few of the practical ways to be helpful to the Earth and leave a worthwhile legacy. Spend some meditative time in nature today. It's good for your health. |
 Hi from Apondia  Milodon Cave Once again the Hotel we are staying in has many floors and my room is up high, which gives me views of the tops of many buildings. The bed are comfortable and the pillows soft. They serve a very nice breakfast. Breakfast is a favorite meals. It is a nice place to rest from our travels. The Milodon Cave tour was really interesting. It was declared a historical monument in 1968; then declared a National monument in 1993. Inside the cave is stored the historic find by Captain Eberhard in 1896. The Captain found the skeleton of a Giant Ground Sloth. Giant Ground Sloths once lived in both North and South America. The ones in North America became extinct before the ones in South America. Even after they became extinct in South America some of them remained living on the Island of Cuba until about 4200 years ago. Because of their height, 12 feet tall, they were able to reach high into trees for food by standing on their hind feet. They were herbivores. Giant Ground Sloths weighed about 4 tons. They are given some credit for the dispersal of avocado seeds. They were able to swallow avocados whole. If you have ever eaten an avocado you know the seeds are quite large. As they traveled around they would distribute the seeds. The USA imports about 80% of grocery avocados from Mexico. Agro-forestry is used in the growth of avocado trees because they need extreme amounts of water to grow the trees. Each tree uses about 60 gallons of water to keep it growing per season. There is a knick name for avocados. They are sometimes called alligator pears. Like the Sloth they need help to keep growing and not become extinct. I found a song on YouTube "You Call Me Slow." It is the Sloth Song. It can also be found on Spotify. It is a song to examine the blight of Sloths by WR-Song Music. Very interesting lyrics but not really too musically slow. Another memorable visit to a special place. See Ya Later. |
| Argan Oil for a Moroccan Spa: Hi from Apondia: Garnier actually sells a hair product called Fructis. Walmart carries it. Interesting that I thought Argan Oil had something to do with coconuts. When I saw they were using it for the spa I decided to find out more about this oil. Fructis contains more than one product. Argan oil is only a percentage of the ingredients within Fructis. Argan oil actually comes from Argan Trees. Argan trees are grown in Morocco and Southwestern Algeria. The tree produces a small green fruit. The fruit is similar in shape and size to an olive. Inside the fruit is a kernel. The kernel is used to produce the oil. Surprise! Moroccans have been eating Argan oil for years. They use it to flavor food or as dip for bread during a meal. The oil has health benefits. It gives the human immune system support, controls cholesterol, heals wounds, and has anti-aging affects. Who knew?  Consumers might not know because Argan Oil is primarily promoted as a cosmetic in the USA.Three primary places are a part of Argan Oil production, Agadir, Essaouira, and Taroudant where many of the Argan trees are grown. A cooperative named Amazigh which means sisters employ about 100 women to produce Argan Oil.The women receive a salary, free child care, health insurance, and literacy courses for their service. First the Argan fruit is dried in the sun. The employees then peel and mash the fruit with stones. Using this process they are able to extract the kernel. The Kernel is then fed through a machine pressing the kernel to extract the oil. It takes about 3 days of grinding to produce one liter of oil. The use of Argan oil in cosmetics has caused an upsurge of demand for the product since 2002 when the Amazigh Cooperative was first set up. The women say they enjoy the work. They sing and enjoy fellowship while they work. Amazon sells a 2 ounce bottle of 100% pure natural, cold pressed, unrefined Argan oil in an amber bottle for $15.99. There is also a picture of an Argan Tree and goats and a second picture of a women processing the fruit. Amber bottles protect the product from light. A label on the bottle advertises information about the product can be found at www.us-organic.com. When we get Argan oil in a day at the spa we are well pampered. I need a Moroccan spa at my house. THE END |
| Kirstenbosch and the National botanical and zoological gardens are now The South African Biodiversity Institute. Hi! from apondia April 29, 2024Fires on Table Mountain started by lightning strikes cause evacuations of guests. Caution extended to Kirstenbosch Gardens on that day. .Can you imagine the concern extended to this beautiful area of diverse plant life threatened by fire. The dell is the oldest part of Kirsten Bosch. It is a place where cool shade loving plants thrive and flowing spring waters run clear. A peaceful serene area to visit. Stone age implements have been found in the Dell. They are from the Khoikhoi people who have been living in the area for 2000 years. Kirsten Forest is named after a family that used to reside somewhere close to the land used for the Botanical Gardens. However they never actually owned any of the land used to build the Biodiversity Institute. Kirsten Bosch means Kirsten forest. A card sent to my family back home: There is so much to see here. It is like this on our virtual tours. To much to see in just one day. The hotel where we are staying gives us a rare view. Our rooms are high in the sky. I'm enjoying the view and the beauty of the rooms. Kirsten Bosch means Kirsten Forest. An interesting feature is the many shops actually attached to the Botanical and Zoological Institute but accessible without buying a ticket to view the Gardens. Having a great time and learning a lot. Taking lots of pictures to show you when I get back. Love, Mom There are so many different areas inside the Gardens. A concert area, African stone sculpture area has a gift store as a part of it, Maps to the different parts can be downloaded, Gift shops and book shops are available, a conference center, The conservatory actually houses a baobab tree, a Cycads area is called living fossils, because the plants there have not changed much since the dinosaurs were roaming around, There is a lily pond on the main lawn. I think it is a great place to spin a science fiction yarn. It is a beautiful place and the pond reminds me of many stories I've read about magical ponds.Each place in the garden grows its own variety of plants. So many different areas I won't take time to name them all. It is interesting that one of the maps shows areas where pet dogs are allowed to be taken on walks. Have a great day. apondia#1781748 |
Madagascar ApondiaThe lyrics of Bali Ha'i from Rogers and Hammerstein's South Pacific remind me of the natural beauty and biological diversity of Madagascar. Bali Ha'i environments can only be explored by brave people with pure hearts who dare to explore the secrets of the land. Constance Tsarabanjia is a beautiful place to visit. I particularly liked the swings in the cabins. I also enjoyed the open-air idea of the South Sea Islands type of housing. I doubt the idea that humans are physically related to lemurs. There are a lot of different species of lemurs living in the many National Parks of this country. One is the Golden Lemur. The national parks here are beautiful and have some very wild parts. The truth is even though Humans have similar DNA to Chimpanzee's it is not the same as chimps. Humans and Apes may have a similar remote ancestor. That is not presently a proven fact. It is one of the most erroneous of facts that homosapiens are descended directly from any species of ape. Madagascar is sometimes related to as the 8th continent because of its' biological diversity. I visited the Baobab Avenue. The trees are awesomely large. They used to be part of a large forest. The forest has been removed over the years by humans. It leaves the Baobab trees standing. They only drink when liquid is needed. They are called Hydro Homies because they need the Dihydrogen Monoxide of the liquid, they intake. A great place to travel. New things to learn about the earth. |
For the end of the day: or just after the camel ride:  Camels and Cairo Cairo is considered the cultural capital of the middle east. It is particularly known for the pyramids and the Egyptian museum. Within the culture it is considered impolite to point any part of your foot at someone or to show someone the soul of your shoe. Not visiting an acquaintance for a long period of time shows how insignificant you feel about you relationship, and it is a compliment for the food if you take a second helping. The people I met were all very helpful and polite. I saw the Khan El Khalili Bazaar early in the morning. It was actually quite calm with fewer people than I expected. Because it was early in the day. I was told that the way to pronounce the name was Ham Hem Halee. With a short a,e,In first two syllables and long ee in the last syllable. So, many things to see. Jewelry, backpacks, statuettes of all kinds, beautiful long gowns, shoes, sandals, slippers. Linen pants with camels on them and rugs of all kinds. I would like a dozen for my home. A Uber driver said to be sure to get a good price by haggling. He said if they say 100 come back with 50 but don't let them talk you up higher than 70. Inside the bazaar helpful people were only a step away. I saw too many items to describe them all. The camel ride was just amazing. Mounting was done while the beast rested on the ground. Good thing because once it stood up its long legs (6 feet plus at the shoulder, 7 feet plus at the hump), put us quite a ways up in the air. The first camel kept its head low at the guides shoulder, the others held their heads high and were strung out in a line. Attached to each other by long leads. We waved and called out hellos to other riders as different tours walked past each other. The ride was an hour long. The camels were decked out in beautiful bridles and colorful rugs under their saddles. I enjoyed the long languid walking gate that covered a lot of ground quite quickly as we strolled along. We mainly rode near the area where the pyramids could be seen and there was a lot of sand. A sign at the entrance said, "Built for Eternity" as we entered the pyramids. You must buy a ticket. There are security guards everywhere who check tickets. Once we were walking on the grounds near the pyramids there were stray dogs wandering among the crowds. I noticed there were also Arabian horses decked out for tours. Once I saw a two-wheel cart being pulled by a team of ponies. The pyramids were awesome and not anything like I have seen in pictures. The bricks were larger than I expected. One of the pyramids was bent having been not formed properly. I was reminded of a place in the Exodus where the Hebrew's were punished because of an argument Moses had with Pharoh. Their punishment was to make their own bricks for building as well as to maintain their schedule for building. I think the pyramids we were visiting are not the older ones that are not on the tourist guides list for visiting. It was a very long day. I enjoyed everything and learned things I did not ever think about as they applied to Egypt and the pyramids. Riding camels is fun. Bye for now. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
