Just Speaking Out

 Solar Lights, in an interesting Placement when Soil is just not readily available. 

     Deciding on the way to place the solar lights in a fashion to light up the vegetable's and flowers, on this deck without soil to place them in. 

    Finding these little baskets at a local Dollar store and of course for a dollar, I bought several. The flowers were on clearance at one of the local retailers for about I believe 64 cents. Perennials are seldom found for that price, and the solar light were also under a dollar, and of course this depends on what size solar light some one is going to chose, the prices vary a little .Then just add a little bit of potting soil. 

    This little planter averaged about $2.80 with the plant, the light, the basket, and soil. I always can decorate the basket to my taste.  I also placed a small hole in the bottom of the basket for drainage, this also has worked well. The idea definitely illuminates the deck, while I am enjoying the cooler evenings outside. The type of flower, or plant is the gardener's choice, also these little baskets come in many colors, and sizes. A quick and easy way to place those unused solar lights, where there is a lack of soil present.

Speaking Out: Just Speaking Out

Speaking Out: Just Speaking Out:                 " The Conclusion to the Pet Peeve"       The dog in the photo was not included in the massive numbers of dogs at the co...

Just Speaking Out

               "The Conclusion to the Pet Peeve"


     The dog in the photo was not included in the massive numbers of dogs at the convenience store. The dog in the photo is a Continental Bull Dog. The women with her companion dog did make it in eventually, and apparently it is not legal to leave animals unattended out side a store. The owners all received a warning that the dogs were creating an impairment for the women, who had with her, the seeing eye dog companion.
    The moral to this story is not to take your dog to the store or in it. There are health codes in place for stores and humans, unless it is a companion assisted dog or animal.
   The pet owner who loves their pet should not place the pet in the heat of a car or in harms way. The dogs safety and that of the public should also become a forethought, not an afterthought before taking the dog out without a proper leash or collar.

Speaking Out: Just Speaking Out

Speaking Out: Just Speaking Out: A Dog Looking so calm and Serene and Pet Peeves.      The dog often is considered mans best friend and is almost always part of some...

Speaking Out: Just Speaking Out

Speaking Out: Just Speaking Out: A Dog Looking so calm and Serene and Pet Peeves.      The dog often is considered mans best friend and is almost always part of some...

Just Speaking Out

A Dog Looking so calm and Serene and Pet Peeves.

     The dog often is considered mans best friend and is almost always part of some ones family.

      

    My pet peeve is with pet owners who tie their dogs up at the local the convenience store. Not just one person but I counted six and a Boa, and yes a snake was brought there also. The dog in the photograph is cute as can be, and I am a pet owner myself. 

   The woman who came to the store with dog number 7 with her companion seeing eye dog had to hold her dog and could not enter for over a half hour. A week prior I had watched a dog break free from its leash, in front of the same store, and run into traffic at 7.30 a.m. in the morning rush hour traffic the dog did not survive crossing the street.

    The owner of a pet is responsible for the pet and the pets actions, if a child or person is bit, the owner is sued and hopefully for the person, that there are not severe injuries. A stranger can often affect an animal in a different way, no matter how well the dog is trained. The temperatures are hot right now, and the dog is left outside in a bed of a hot truck, or on a hot sidewalk, the hot pavement, or inside a car with out food and water. When a pet is loved, the owner is responsible, and the pet fully knows. 

   Please remember animal shelters are full, and it is not always best to tie your dog up outside a store, when a disabled person with their companion dog can not even enter the store,or someone can become bitten, or even leave them to get lose and run into traffic. The store is not the local dog park and I am sure there are laws about taking a Boa inside. Just because you love your pet, and believe me I love mine too, does not mean every one else does or that your pet will like them.

  

   So try not peeve your pet and show the animal the same love and respect it gives you.

    

Speaking Out: Just Speaking Out

Speaking Out: Just Speaking Out:              Graduation 2012. The joy and the feeling of a tremendous accomplishment.                                    The Graduation fr...

Just Speaking Out

             Graduation 2012. The joy and the feeling of a tremendous accomplishment.
                                   The Graduation from one small step to the next.
                                                                                                          

     I really enjoyed the learning so much in the last couple of years, I decided to go even farther. I really had not ever mentioned, in any of my blogs that I was attending college, the last couple of years, it was one of the greatest experience's in life .I graduated this last June with the Associates of the Arts in the Foundation of Business, shortened it is called an (AAFB). I did a lot of research before hand, and then " I thought well why not," I am so glad I did. I now will always have that education to use, or apply in what ever endeavors I chose. Never, let anyone discourage further education because of age, race, or gender, or income, great minds have no race, age, gender or income they develop. . 

    To all those who graduated from the University of Phoenix this year. Yeah, we did it!!! And a great big thank you to my enrollment counselor in Meridian, Idaho for the encouragement. The instructors, you know who you are, I tried to make sure I told you all thank you, they do really go above and beyond and inspire greatness when they can. To the financial aid counselor, who answered my every question ever asked, even after graduation. A Big Thank You.

     "To those learning, or wanting an education, the path we take today will definitely lead to the right choices that are needed for the future, and a really good education helps everyone to make the best choice.  Knowledge is always the right way to make a tough decision, knowledge will also help the future generations to come, succeed.

     The University of Phoenix was my individual choice, and I loved it. However, there are many other colleges available, DeVry University, ITT, the local community college.. Many colleges now offer online or traditional,  my suggestion is to do the research and then decide.

Speaking Out: Just Speaking Out

Speaking Out: Just Speaking Out:     A Summer Favorite, the Parfait.       There are so many recipes for the parfait that I decided to share my own personal favorit...

Just Speaking Out

   

A Summer Favorite, the Parfait.

      There are so many recipes for the parfait that I decided to share my own personal favorite, and the one I created of my own design. Of course a parfait in the summer can really hit the spot for a semi light desert. I decided to take the strawberries from my indoor outdoor garden and include them in one of my favorite's. 

    A fairly decent size of Vanilla Yogurt just in case you are going to make more than one parfait. One whole ripe banana, slice the banana. I really like using fresh black berries, about a 1/4 of a pound depending on how many you will want to use, about 15 large strawberries, then slice. The black berries are easier to just include whole. I take about 2 table spoons of vanilla yogurt. I prefer to use the low fat yogurt, because I decided to lose a pound or two. Take the yogurt place it in the bottom of the parfait glass, next place a layer of fruit that includes the banana, the strawberries, the black berries. And of course always wash your produce or fruit off before using. 

   Then repeat the process until parfait glass is to the top. I slice a strawberry arrange it in a flower shape on top of the parfait add two mint leafs and I place a very small amount of whip cream on the parfait, and I add a fresh black berry to the garnish.  Sprinkle the top with either maple granola or a light layer of crushed grape nuts cereal. 

Speaking Out: Potted organic plants

Speaking Out: Potted organic plants:        The organic food that grows has a totally different appeal and taste to the pallet, than that of the produce the average consumer p...

Potted organic plants

      The organic food that grows has a totally different appeal and taste to the pallet, than that of the produce the average consumer purchase's in the grocery store.

        The lack of garden space and  faced with the problem of growing my own produce year around I resolved the problem quickly. The prices will be much higher this fall due to the apparent lack of rain, and the cooler temperatures not in sight until at least next month. 

         

       I decided to purchase the planters and the organic potting soil, a month  ago and of course the plants, and give it a go to avoid that nasty taste that it seems almost all produce has now. The tomatoes I have already begun harvesting several from the plant,  the red and yellow bell peppers, jalapenos, and of course strawberries,  are all free of that waxy taste, that the produce from the grocery store has even after their washed off.

       The ever increasing price of produce through out the winter months made it increasingly simple, and almost necessary to keep growing them through out the winter months. The only thing I do is add a little water, take them in and out to drain. Sit them on a stand in front of a window and I have fresh vegetables through out the entire year. Should they need fertilizer, just add a miracle grow spike and the plants are now feed. 

       I could of easily planted flowers in these planters, but so far this is an indoor, outdoor vegetable planter. This will cut down on the produce bill and is much healthier and better tasting. Especially for someone who cooks a lot and knows the importance of organic foods.