Catnip vs roaches

A little catnip a day can keep the roaches away. Two researchers from Iowa State University say the old folklore that catnip repels cockroaches is true. In August 1999 Chris Peterson and Joel Coats reported their findings at the national meeting ofthe American Chemical Society in New Orleans. They said "roaches are repelled by two forms of Nepetalactone, a chemical found in catnip plants". This might lead to greater use of catnip or the development of new natural insect repellants that could be sprayed along baseboards to keep cockroaches from coming out of the walls. "There are really no commercial cockroach repellants", Peterson said. "Most are insecticides designed to kill roaches. People don't seem to just want them to go away-they want them dead.

"Milk may have potential as a fungicide.A report in the October 16 1999 edition of New Scientist suggests that spraying diluted milk on cucumbers and courgettes (zucchini) may be effective in killing powdery mildew, caused by the mold Sphaerotheca fulinginea. This could be a significant benefit for organic farmers trying to meet the growing demand for chemical free vegetables.According to the report, milk's fungicidal powers were discovered by Wagner Bettiol of the environmental laboratory of Embrapa, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, in Jaguariuna, north of Sao Paulo.Bettiol, who was looking for cheap ways to control plant pests, observed that by-products from milk-processing factories killed powdery mildew on squash. So he decided to simply spray fresh milk on the plants to see if it had the same effect.To his surprise, he found that it did. In fact, spraying heavily infected plants twice a week with a mixture of one part cow's milk to nine parts water was at least as good at stopping mildew as the chemical fungicides fenarimol and benomyl, Bettiol discovered.Bettiol added that several organic growers in his region were able to control less severe outbreaks by spraying once a week with a 5% milk solution. In many cases, milk was both faster and more effective. After two to three weeks of spraying with milk, the area of leaves infected was in some cases only a sixth or less of the area affected on plants treated with chemical fungicide.Bettiol is not yet sure why milk works so well, but he speculates that it helps the plants in two ways. Milk is known to kill some microorganisms. It also contains potassium phosphate, which boosts the plant's immune system and so may help it inhibit the mildew's growth.

***

The above came from a group I belong to and didn't cite the source. It does include a bit about the researchers. Unfortunately I don't know where the source is to get permission to post it and will therefore gladly delete it if needed. I hope that isn't an issue though as roaches can transmit nasty bacteria and such so I"m hoping in the interest of public health that it's ok I have posted this. IF the source is found, I'd appreciate someone making a comment with the info so I can obtain permission (which I really do do!!).

On the home front, I now have catnip growing in a small flower garden spot outside the back door (both sides) and it's now going to stay for it's bug repelling potential. I hope it repels other than roaches (ants would be great). I'll also transplant some from out under my pasture fence to the outside of the kitchen where the gas line hole is (supposedly plugged) and I can sprinkle some (I have LOTS of catnip as I dry it and sell it too - hint hint) at the front door!

And, I now have a new use for souring milk! I wonder if whey does anything helpful like that? I hear it's supposed to be wonderful for tomato plant growth and raspberries!

Hummingbird Mystique

The link below goes to a website where a gal has documentated a hummingbird's nesting through the flight of her babies. It's amazing (to me anyway!) that one would find the nest as it's so tiny and the eggs no larger than a marble! Be sure to check out all the pages on the link at the bottom right as you won't want to miss any pics!

http://community-2.webtv.net/Velpics/HUM/

Truly amazing!

A Couple Mind Boggling Thoughts For the Day

Wow! With the new gas prices today, the noon news just reported that the local school district will pay $625,000 for fuel for the school buses to get kids back and forth this year! That doesn't account for the potential for another steep rise and if one calls it luck, it was cheaper most of the school year! They approved $125,000 of that last night just to finish this school year! YIKES, and I thought my gas cost at the pump was bad.... Yes, it is! I had the initial thought that I would be thanking my "lucky" stars at the pump, and then the realization hit me quickly that I am paying a portion of that $625,000 out of my pocket as a tax payer!!! The oil companies are getting me double!

Now, IF the oil companies wanted to "play nice", couldn't they give some discounts? Yes, they will cheat us royally and probably sitting "scrubbing" their hands in glee, but it'd be nice if schools and police/fire/ambulances could be given a break. After all, their prices are paid by us all through our taxes.

I think it's time we all stand at the pumps screaming "This isn't fair!" as we pump the liquid gold into our vehicles. OR the greedy oil people should come to my vehicle with a little gilded tray with a paper doily and a piece of chocolate to collect my money and THANK ME!

~*~

The other mind-boggling thought was another news item. This one is teen safety at the wheel!

On the average 17 teens are killed daily in the US in vehicle accidents. Friday and Saturday nights are the highest danger. Being an average, I'll leave it to you to ponder the daily averages.

The report also discussed teen driving boot camp and other teen driving safety programs that are in addition to and post drivers education. My thought is that insurance companies give some discounts for wearing seat belts and such. I think parents of teen drivers should consider checking with their insurance to find out if they have any discounts for kids who have taken the "boot camp" safety programs and completed them. It might be worth the expense of the class and if it makes your teen safer then you've already earned a great bonus.

~*~

That's today's rambling and I hope you found something to ponder for a moment.... Have a good day and thank you for reading my blog!

Fun With Favorites

Have you pondered making a list of your favorites in life? I find the blog profiles and blogs themselves very interesting when they have a favorites listed. I read one a short time ago that made me think it would be fun to just list all our favs. Are you game? You don't have to share it, but it may be one of those time-capsule things that you go back and read some time later, so be sure to date it! Here are some favs to get you started in the thinking process. Don't forget we can all go back and add more or edit a fav listing!

A flower garden - the first crocus' and daffodils of the season - freshly dried clothes off the clothes line- spending time with family - my kids - hugs from a child - my 2 horses (mares) - our cats - my dogs - good friends - a hug from a good friend - a freshly painted room just as it's put back into order - a spring day - curtains blowing in the breeze - scented candles - my computer - vanilla - finding good bargains - curling up with a good book or sudoku in front of the tv- calves playing and bounding around their mommas - baby goats - chickens peacefully free ranging - a proud hen announcing her fresh new egg - a garden with veggies for the picking - apples and other fruit in the Fall - the first pot of chili in the Fall - good news from a doctor - good news from the vet - lilacs loaded with blooms

My list will become huge (as I've learned the age old ability to appreciate good things in life) and I'll be back to add to it!

Any comments?

Woman's Week At The Gym

WOMAN'S WEEK AT THE GYM
If you read this without laughing out loud, there is something wrong with you. This is dedicated to everyone who ever attempted to get into a regular workout routine.
Dear Diary,
For my birthday this year, my daughter (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me. Although I am still in great shape since being a high school cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try. I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Brad, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear. My daughter seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
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MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Brad waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god - with blond hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!! Brad gave me a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring! Brad was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week-!!
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TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Brad made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little! wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. Brad's rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT-!! It's a whole new life for me.
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WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on t he counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot. Brad was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. His voice is a little too perky for early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Brad put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Brad told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other crap too.
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THURSDAY:
Brad was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late, it took me that long to tie my shoes. Brad took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny idiot to find me. Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine -- which I sank.
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FRIDAY:
I hate that Brad more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic little punk. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it. Brad wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the damn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich. The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?
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SATURDAY:
Brad left a message on my answering machine i n his grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing him made me want to smash the machine with my planner. However, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel..
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SUNDAY:
I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my daughter (the little s... ) will choose a gift for me that is fun -- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds.

~ Anonymous

I won't post jokes much, but this one has really struck my funny bone. It could have been written about me! Kudos to the author and if posting it here is a problem I will, of course, remove it immediately. In the meantime, enjoy and at least you'll all have something to help get through those work outs by thinking back to this!

Mascots

I saw a cute thing on tv the other day that caught my attention and gave me something to smile about. It wasn't a baby cute or cutsie cute.... just cute! Scottsdale Community College (AZ of course) are the Scottsdale Articokes! I would never have thought of using a veggie for a school mascot. I have however experienced (close up/first hand) the results of hatred against any thing Indian (Am. Indian) for a mascot for schools. Our local school went through the mess and legal hassle of a local tribe fighting to have their mascot changed. Even though I'm part Am. Indian, I really felt it wrong and so unnecessarily expensive for the public school to have to sand down the gym floors, redo walls, new logo, new athletic uniforms, etc to remove the Indian Chief's head. I just personally felt the mascot symbol was intended and probably chosen to represent strength, integrity and honor as that was the era it was chosen in. (Yes, I'm close enough age wise to understand and know the history.)

So, this mascot at Scottsdale CC struck me as cute and smile worthy. I enjoyed the tv news segment telling about "Arti" and a brief glimpse at the SCC campus. Had I heard about Arti, otherwise I'd have probably thought funny and laughed. The news segment was light-hearted and informative..... kinda cute.

Arti struck me as being healthy and vibrant. He was a smilie kinda "guy" with a skip to his step. He had manners and class.

My high school mascot was the panther. It was a sleek, powerful cat. they are automatically thought of as having speed, athleticism, grace.....they have a quiet presence about them and reek strength and ability.

Our local school here has a bronco as a mascot. I love horses, but don't care for this bronco. It's a coarse and wild looking graphic and just doesn't draw me to it. It doesn't speak well to me and the kids don't seem to have a real connection to it either. I find that sad as I feel it should be something the kids bond with for repore' and team spirit.

Do you ever ponder about school mascots? What impressions do you have about the ones that are connected to your life/family? Do you like your mascot? What do you think would make a good mascot?

Roses & Raspberries - March

~*~ROSES
PJ, the boy in AZ who was attacked by the mountain lion with rabies on his birthday. PJ remained calm during this and appears to be taking it in stride that he's having to undergo rabies shots. Roses to his family also who are raising him to be cool, calm and collected during adversity! A mountain lion is a creature who can instill the worst of fear in any of us!

A non-profit in Vermont called "Have Justice Will Travel" which provides many forms of assistance for women who are needing legal and other assistance to get out of abusive relationships. I'm impressed with this from a tv interview on Sunday Morning. There are many great women's groups but this one is exceptional in my opinion! You can learn more at: http://www.havejusticewilltravel.org/ Good Job HJWT!!!


:( RASPBERRIES
To those who act out with road rage - especially the guy who rammed his truck into the gal and pinned her into her vehicle, breaking her pelvic bone. Violence isn't a solution!

To our fed government for cutting funding to the "Violence Against Women Act"! This is a budget cut for the whole family and for children too.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
I want to use this blog post to commend those who do something great, exceptional, etc and also to send a few well-deserved raspberries to a few less admirable types. This post will be edited throughout March to add to it so you might like to use your favorites and mark it so you remember to stop back by. Also, please feel free to add to it (politely and within the tone of this blog (no profanity, etc. so we stay G Rated ;).

Statistics & Numbers

At times I find myself intrigued by statistics and others just have a moment of pondering them.... So today I'm going to post of few of the most recent ones that have caught my attention.

35% of adult men (married) will have an affair
25% of adult women (married) will have an affair
Ok, so where are the 10% who are the differing # being most will have an affair with the opposite sex?

On the news, it's reported that the CDC says 1 out of 4 teen girls has a sexually transmitted disease and 1 in 5 of those who only had one sexual encounter will have one! I think it's past time that all parents teach their teens (boys and girls) about STD's instead of only being concerned with teen pregnancy (which is also extremely important). It was reported it IS an education problem.

Currently there are 68,000,000 individuals with an STD
There are 15,300,000 new STD cases each year
3,000,000 teenagers acquire an STD each year

In this midwestern state, the average of 2 people per day die because they have no health insurance! Being statistics are averages, that will vary but would also probably be the same for most midwestern states.

36,000 people die annually from the flu! Many of these are tots! Please please stay home if you are sick and also, keep your hands immaculately clean if you are ailing! Teach kids to wash their hands regularly. :)

And the highlight of the statistics and numbers I have today is something to put a smile on my face..... It's SPRING! (But why did I have to get 7 inches of snow within 12 hours yesterday? Geez! I guess Mother Nature didn't get the memo about Welcome Spring?)

Pancreatic Cancer Event

By now, I'm sure most have heard of Patrick Swayze's misfortune to have contracted pancreatic cancer. I happened to run across his official fan club's website yesterday and saw a blurp that may be of interest to some. You might be interested in supporting the pancreatic action day, in Washington, set for March 11th. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is supposedly going to testify to request more funding for pancreatic cancer research. It never hurts to have folks contact their representatives to support causes "of interest" or need. In the meantime, my prayers and good thoughts are with Patrick Swayze and his family, along with others, during their time of stress and need.

Welcome & Introduction to Ponder This

Do you like to read things that you can ponder on and possibly try out in a fashion that fits your style or needs? Do you like to read short writings that make you think, "So that’s why…." Or maybe "Well, I’ll be!" or such? Do you occasionally ponder the various happenings in life and always look for the answers to "Why?" "Where?" "Who?" or "How?" Then you have discovered the "right place" to visit!

Welcome to my new blog! I hope you will enjoy some posts that you glean info you can ponder on or use. My topic range (at least in the early days here) will vary significantly as I’d like to write about every day things such as home, health, life, family, cooking info and maybe an occasional recipe, tips/ideas, educational items, informative info, etc. I’ll probably even throw in some humor or thought provoking quotes, etc. (What you won’t find here are the extremely controversial topics with a lot of politics, no attacks on people, "filth" and such so kids are welcome!)

I hope coming to see what is up in this tiny corner of the net will afford you time to pull up to your computer with a relaxing cup of coffee, tea, etc. and relax a few minutes!

I hope you’ll find this interesting and will bookmark my blog! I also hope you will take a moment at times to post a comment, even so small as to say "thumbs up" or thanks! Feel free to click the ads also as I’m hoping this endeavor will help me out a bit as I’m out of work with a disability. My goal is to have an activity to keep from being stir-crazy. I also have lived with the personal goal of learning something new every day and I enjoy reading so this seems to be way to be creative and active at home.

I also welcome ideas you’d like to see posted and maybe some things you wish you had time to google and research for a bit of info on. All topics will have to be rated G or possibly PG 13 of course as this will be a "clean" place to visit!

Thanks for stopping in!