Cook, Make, Think

Well it has been quite a ride this month hasn't it but today is the last day of May and I have been thinking about  June. One thing I hope you have taken from this month is some awareness of some of the health issues the over 50 crowd has to deal with as we slowly move towards our "Golden Years". I am minded of an incident that occurred earlier this month. I was on my way back from a doctor's appointment and we got talking about Knox this is the conversation as I remember it. d: Who lives in the old church? m: People like me. d: What kind of people? m: Middle-aged and alone. d: You are never middle-aged, you stay 29 forever. Now the driver was male so I can understand why he would think that way. Most women do not reveal their age to anyone certainly not after we reach our fourth decade. I am not like that, in fact, I don't think I ever lied about my age in my whole life. It just seems vain you know. I have seen a lot of years, some of them are eve

National Creativity Day was founded by Hal Croasmun and  ScreenwritingU    "to celebrate the imaginative spirits everywhere and to encourage them to keep creating." It is a day to nurture your creativity, to be imaginative, and to support the creativity of others. There are all types of creative people, such as artists, writers, photographers, musicians, and filmmakers. But one doesn't need to be an expert in a field in order to be creative—those who just dabble in creative pursuits can benefit from doing so. Kurt Vonnegut once wrote: "The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possible can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something." On National Creativity Da

I used to have one of these but like so many other things it got lost in the moving. I got thinking a few days ago about replacing it. With a little research I found it available at The Silver Moccasin in Cobalt Ontario for $120 CAD so I decided I would get a two sided drum for $92 CAD instead. It is in my budget for the end of May. Drums are thought to be mankind's oldest instrument. They have found drums dated as early as 6000 BC. That is 6000 years before we began to keep track of the year. Can you imagine? They are one of childhoods first introductions to the making of music. Remember the image of a baby hitting pots and pans just to hear the sounds they make. Or even further back hearing your mothers heart beat which is drum like. I think they link to a very primitive part of our brains. The beat seeps inside and the steady tempo lulls us to sleep. Fire and drums scare the bad things away be they beast or monster. This Youtube video is ten hours long and is mea

Amnesty International is a non-governmental organization that focuses on the protection of human rights—working to prevent abuses to human rights, to fight for justice for those whose rights have been violated, and to expand and enforce human rights protections in international law, by lobbying governments and other powerful groups and publicizing their violations. Their early focus was on the release of political prisoners, but they now focus on  many issues . Their main concerns are on the rights of freedom and speech and conscience, and on the right to not be tortured. Other concerns include abolishing the death penalty, reproductive rights, and defending refugees and migrants. Amnesty International Day takes place on May 28, because it was on that day in 1961 when lawyer Peter Benenson published  "The Forgotten Prisoners"  in  The Observer , which was then reprinted around the world. In it, he referenced the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in particular, arti

Examine fears you have, and work to overcome them. Are you afraid of heights? Force yourself to climb a tower or to skydive. Do spiders, rats, and snakes give you the creeps? Take a trip to the zoo! Are you afraid of speaking in public? Attend a public speaking workshop or class. If you are afraid of the dark, get rid of your nightlight, if only just for a day. If you are afraid of flying, book an airplane flight. If death scares you—whether it is death itself or what will become of you after you die— explore ways to overcome the fear . Take on your other underlying fears, and be cognizant of fears that are perpetuated by others. There should be nothing to fear! There should be nothing to fear ... yet fear is one of the base emotions we all have. Sometimes it is just a little shiver in our lizard brain, sometimes it's the great terror of being held at gunpoint or in an airplane accident. And sometimes that great fury you sometimes feel is fear based as well. A flashback can do

I don't but I wanted to try it after watching the professor make some for the grandkids. They look like so much fun. Check out this web site  about this day.

Here's the thing ... I no longer work or go to school except online but sometimes I want a lunch like the ones my mother made me. You know the kind of lunch you can keep in your locker or desk until lunchtime. They don't need refrigerated and they are easy to eat without a plate or utensils. This infographic gives you the basic formula : I think they are so convenient. Make up a few on Sunday and then on the days, you don't want to make lunch grab one of these. Of course, you have the problem that mayonnaise and tomatoes make the bread soggy but that is part of the taste. If you don't feel able to put the whole thing together ahead of time take a freezer container or freezer bag. Cut up or Mix up a batch of whatever and store them in the fridge then the day of grab a couple of slices of bread put whatever filling you want on it, grab a handful from the fruit and vegetable bags, throw it all on a plate and voila quick & easy lunch with minimal effort.

Scavenger hunting that is ... today is the day I have been waiting for to redo the scavenger hunt I tried  back on April Third. Then it was too early but now I think it is the prefect time of the year to go a hunting! Maybe I'll have better luck this time. Photos can be found on Instagram @cherylmarois . Have a great day!

There are many ways to celebrate the day: Join, support, or donate to the Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group or American Tortoise Rescue. Pick up turtles you find on highways or on busy streets and place them on the far side of the road, facing the direction they were headed. Don't buy turtles or tortoises from pet shops, and report cruelty or illegal sale of turtles, such as the selling of turtles that are smaller than four inches in length. Leave turtles and tortoises in the wild unless they are sick or injured. Urge legislators to preserve turtle and tortoise habitats. Have a party for the day, either at home, work, or in a public space. Dress up as a turtle or make a few to decorate your home.. Visit the day's Facebook page . But what exactly is the day about?  Created and sponsored by American Tortoise Rescue, an organization that works to protect turtles and tortoises, World Turtle Day® brings attention to turtles and tortoises so that both knowled

Biodiversity is the foundation for human health, as it underpins the functioning of the ecosystems we depend on for food, fresh water, medicines, as well as disease and climate regulation. Agrobiodiversity , and its potential to support human nutrition and good health, is a critical component of the global sustainability agenda. A diversity of species, varieties and breeds, as well as wild sources, underpins dietary diversity, good nutrition, health and environmental sustainability. Agrobiodiversity sustains healthy diets and livelihoods, and can provide vital sources of micronutrients, essential to good nutrition. Interacting with microbial biodiversity in the environment, particularly in urban settings, can strengthen our immune system, supporting a healthy microbiota and boosting our resistance to disease. Our food systems are the greatest drivers of biodiversity loss. The way we grow, process, transport, consume and waste food is leading to land degradation, and decl

I had to really think hard on this one because I can think of all kinds of awards I'd like to get but turning them into simple patches or buttons is not that easy. 1) Getting out of bed two days in a row when the alarm goes off- how do you make that fit on a small patch or button? a) got out of bed b) two days in a row c) with the alarm Especially if you want to include an image.. Does this work? Or how about this one? Can you think of a patch or pin you have earned today?

Did you know that one out of every three bites of food we eat was made possible by bees and other insect pollinators? Did you also know that pesticides are rendering these insects endangered? Bees Matter  is a great website to learn more about bees and what you can do to keep them alive and striving. I highly recommend you go over there & take a look. They have a ton of infographics & articles too. Friends of the Earth also have several interesting articles on the bee situation around the world. The Honey Council has even more information and some good resources. What can you do to help? Order a free flower kit from Bee's Matter or go to the dollar store & pick up a few of the ones pictured on their front page (near bottom) and plant them anywhere you see some dirt.

You must be getting tired of all this health stuff but as my doctor keeps reminding me the more you understand your body and what can happen to it the abler you are to take preventive measures. Today I will talk about IBS. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents a group of intestinal disorders that cause prolonged inflammation of the digestive tract. The digestive tract comprises the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. It’s responsible for breaking down food, extracting the nutrients, and removing any unusable material and waste products. Inflammation anywhere along the digestive tract disrupts this normal process. IBD can be very painful and disruptive, and in some cases, it may even be life-threatening. There are symptoms you can look for but first, you need to understand that like Chronic Fatigue there are many different forms IBD takes. The two most common are Crohn disease which affects the end of the small intestine and ulcerative colit

The  free-culture movement  is a  social movement  that promotes the freedom to distribute and modify the  creative works  of others in the form of  free content  or  open content   without compensation to, or the consent of, the work's original creators, by using the Internet and other forms of media. Sounds like a good idea to me! I strongly believe that music, books & art should be free to everyone. It seems to me a good writer should just want to get their story out there but everyone wants to make money. It really sucks! Creative Commons is most often used for Open Content. However to actually access good Creative Commons items you have to pay an exorbitant fee to a catalogue service like iStock or Shutterstock . These catalogue services charge per download for instance this piece of clipart from iStock  will cost you $36 and the only difference it would have from this one is all the iStock watermarks would be gone. When I was doing Artist Trading Cards and other

I have a guilty secret ... I love puns!   Not so good about making them but they always make me laugh. So when I saw that there is a day to celebrate them I just had to check it out. The  O. Henry Pun-Off  is a yearly spoken word competition that takes place every May at the  O. Henry Museum  in Austin, Texas. Started in 1978, the Pun-Off gathers fans of wordplay to celebrate the  pun , which English poet and literary critic  John Dryden  called "the lowest and most grovelling kind of wit."   The event has been organized and run since 1990 by Austinite Gary Hallock. A support group of former and current contestants was formed in 1990 to formalize the unwritten rules of the competition(s) and provide guidance and support for future events.  Under the umbrella title of "Punsters United Nearly Yearly" (a.k.a. PUNY) , this collection of loosely knit wits continues to be the public face of the event through its website , Yahoo Group and Facebook page. Gary Ha

Today is Hug a tree day! I would be hugging my favourite tree but they cut it down this spring so I'm on the lookout for another tree to hug for today. There are one or two options in the area. Do you have any idea how much trees do for us? I always hate it when a tree is cut down rather they needed it like this one or not. On the other side of that fence is a table with two chairs that I like to sit at as I drink my first cup of the day. That tree provided perfect shade but as you can kinda see it is hollow in the middle and had to be cut down so it wouldn't damage the fence or our building in the next big wind storm. Just a little ways further up the street is a younger tree and it is the one I chose to hug today. Bloody phone wouldn't take a picture of the hug so I has to settle for something almost as good. A selfie with the tree behind me! As a rule I don't take selfies but when I saw this one come up on my phone screen I thought it was perfect so I snap

The International Conscientious Objectors’ Day was initiated by the International Conscientious Objectors' Meeting (ICOM). The ICOM was an annual meeting of COs and their supporters held throughout the world to exchange ideas and offer solidarity. In 1985, at a time when compulsory conscription was still commonplace, it decided to use 15 May, to develop a sharper focus for action on conscientious objection. The Conscientious Objectors Stone here in Tavistock Square, London was unveiled on May 15 1994 by Sir Michael Tippett, Peace Pledge Union President and a one time conscientious objector My son-in-law is a conscientious objector. After a tour in Afghanistan, he returned home to what would have been a nice safe office job recruiting others to join. He refused and left the US with a very short time left in his service because he would not send other young men and women to face what he faced. I have listened to his story and after what he experienced over there I did not

For heart & stroke awareness.When you wear red be proud and send out positive vibes to our sisters with heart disease. When I saw my little red dress pin I thought it was the cutest thing and I wore it as often as I could. Like many things, it has been lost but I still remember it and what it stands for.  Which brings me to todays' topic how do you recognize that you are having a heart attack or a stroke? Women may report symptoms not often associated with strokes in men. These can include: nausea or vomiting seizures hiccups trouble breathing pain fainting or loss of consciousness general weakness Because these symptoms are unique to women, it may be difficult to immediately connect them to stroke. This can delay treatment, which may hinder recovery. Odd behaviours, such as sudden drowsiness, can also indicate a stroke. Clinicians call these symptoms “altered mental status.” These symptoms include: unresponsiveness disorientation confusion sudden be

This is one of those that seems to be USA only but I think we should adopt it too! Yearly well-woman visits are important and should include discussions of your health habits and family history, setting health goals and scheduling or receiving screenings or necessary exams.  Screening would include blood pressure, cholesterol, cervical cancer and others. Don't forget a mammogram! I thought I would look and see what tests I should be having as a woman over 50 and this is what I found: Hepatitis C test  Baby Boomers are at higher risk of infection with the Hep  C   virus and, for that reason, the USPSTF recommends that all adults born between 1945 and 1965 be screened at least once Colorectal cancer screening  Current USPSTF  guidelines   recommend that people at average risk for colorectal cancer start screening at age 50 and stop at age 75. I am due for another one of these as it has been 10 years since my last one Lung cancer screening  The USPSTF now recommends   screeni

Happy Mother's Day to those who celebrate it! In keeping with the theme this month, it is time to talk about (big word warning) Chronic Immunological & Neurological Diseases in particular two that most of us are aware of and possibly live with: Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I gathered these bits from various sources mainly because it was easier to let them speak to the issues we face every day then try and do it justice myself. https://www.verywellhealth.com/understanding-fibromyalgia-4014067 As good a description as I've ever heard. Fits my life pretty close too. Kris Oulton 8   h r s so periodically over the years, (as in, frequently but not every day thank god,) I wake up, go to dress myself; and all i want to do is scream from the pain of  putting cloths on. Now, some of you know my 'conditions' in this regard, but I'd like to point out something that is not always remembered by parents, guardians, teachers

Do you recognize that line? I watched them in reruns around age 9 or 10 and I loved them. They were my introduction to psychological horror. I asked the Professor if he could find a few for me so that I could have a Twilight Marathon today. They still run on TV but I very seldom watch actual TV I prefer Netflix or the Professors Emby. He has recreated the internet in small scale of his computer set up and Emby is his Streaming Channel. He always makes sure there is something interesting on it for me to watch. Today I'm in the mood for Rod Serling and a little bit of horror. If you don't know him or this show take a look at this article. Also Youtube has a few episodes, check them out here Have a great day!