If you lack balance than it’s hard to play any sport. It’s also difficult to garden and some find it hard to play with children. Many things affect our balance such as excess weight, weak muscles and injuries and we are pretty much useless without it. Another thing that I find for many is life is not as enjoyable when you struggle with balance. It’s hard to skip and move freely when you don’t feel in control of your body. One of the best things you can do to help improve your balance along with weight control, strength training and being careful is doing yoga. Many people find it really does help them find their center and balance physically, mentally and spiritually.

With those chickens, my neighbors don’t have to worry about buying eggs. They can take that off their grocery list. On the other hand, they do have to worry about feeding the chickens. But if chickens are anything like pigeons then they are probably not that picky. And if things went really bad they would be able to support themselves on eggs and chicken. That has got to be a bonus.

I’m not saying that everyone should start breaking the law because it is better. I’m just saying that it might be something to think about. Becoming more self-sufficient is something that could be good for all of us. We could all stand to learn how to take care of ourselves, by ourselves.

These people had to work in very hot, very dry environments to survive and it is no walk in the part. They don’t get paid very much and if they’re not careful wild animals wait in the shadows and can attack them at any time. The people in these regions have really adapted well to the harsher environment that they have to deal with on a daily basis. There is a feeling of pride for these people as they feel they can survive anywhere. Many believe that is where the true strength of the human spirit comes from. Not the urge to do harm to one another or the calling for violence but the desire to survive and survive happily in the environment in which we have been placed. It makes me want to do better were I am and hopefully, will inspire you to do the same.

I know it sounds bad, but when you think about it it’s pretty cool. First of all, it means you get plenty of snow that year. That means plenty of snowball fights, sledding, snow men, etc. You also get lots days off and that’s always nice. But the biggest thing I want to point out is if they add days to the end of the year then they would have to add them either before or after final exams. If they add them before then it wouldn’t make much of a difference. Before the exams the teachers shouldn’t be teaching anything new. They will just be reviewing for the exams.

Now if the administration decides to add the school days after exams then that is even more ridiculous. That means that teachers definitely won’t have anything more to teach and even if they did the students wouldn’t pay attention or take notes because they don’t have any upcoming tests or quizzes. So really we should keep on hoping for snow even if we are all out of school days.

Today is a dark cold day in January when it’s hard to stay warm. Soup will taste good for the evening meal. I decided to make some ham and white bean soup. Some people call it Senate Bean Soup. I think it must be real American food. I went about the task of peeling onions. Onion in English, the Spanish word for onion is cebolla. It was just a plain, ordinary yellow cooking onion. When I peeled it, that onion was purple! That sent my mind thinking.

How long have people been eating onions? Where did they come from? Well it turns out, we have been eating onions since 3500BC and onions grow wild all over ever continent. (I have eaten wild onions as a college student and willed them dead, as grounds maintenance professional.) Jewels to one are weeds to another.

The beauty of the onion is that it does not spoil in winter. It transports well and moved all over the world with humans. Onions went from Egypt to Greece, Italy, even to the New World with the Pilgrims. Onions mean that much to people. At the heart of all full- bodied recipes is the onion. They are bound to humans by flavor, texture, and tears. The dinner table would be a bland place without them.

I am not a Luddite and wish to suggest that we reject technology nor am I suggesting that we begin spending the time to writing letters that express our thoughts and feelings. Blogs seem to be satisfying that need just fine. What I am suggesting is the immense emotional value that a hand-written thank you note can create in your customers. Talk about creating a bond with the human beings that choose to do business with you. I think that will blow your competition out of the water and help to seal the connection you have with your customer. Happy trails with the pen!

It is us who seem to need all these fancy “vertical walls” and “hanging hooks and hammocks” in order to plant vertically. But before you run out and purchase the latest gizmo, look around your house and yard and see what you have that you could try this type of gardening with; a pergola, arbor, trellis, wall, fence, etc. Do a little research to find out what types of plants grow well vertically and try it. It’s great to save space for those things that cannot grow up so you should be able to grow more if part of your garden is dedicated to vertical.

It took about a month to get the results back and we have found them both informative as well as mostly doable. It broke the changes down into cost and let you know how many months it would take to recoup your investment, which helps you access what you should or could do. If you get the opportunity to do something like this I would highly recommend it because you learn what you have done right and what you can improve and; you save money!

Once you look at it you think that’s cool, I’ll be able to do quite a bit at a time but the reality is you need a lot of rows of racks to do any amount of drying at one time and they cost a pretty penny. In fact, at close to twenty bucks per set, after you buy five sets you could have bought another dehydrator. So after you realize that’s how they make their money, you have to decide if the time and effort is worth the overall cost (I find that with most things these days you have to count the costs) and for me that’s still up in the air.

Heifer International does more than just give animals away to families. They train the families to take care of the animals as well as put them under contract to pass along the animals as they can and the knowledge. This not only gives people a way to make a living but a way to thrive and pass on the good luck. Blood Water Mission simple saves lives by providing families and villages much needed biosand water filters that eliminates up to 98% of disease causing bacteria in the water. If you feel moved to give this year to something greater than yourself, check out these two fantastic organizations and give. You will discover what Christmas can be for you.