War of Independence and Moccasin Trails

On an earlier blog, we talked about how the Railroad across Canada was built following already established Indian Trails. Well-established Indian trade network trails also existed south of the 49th and were utilized by Americans in the War of Independence. At Bennington, Vermont, in 1777, the Green Mountain Boys beat the English in an important battle that saved Vermont from British rule. They had to pull the wagons and their battery of cannons through the mountainous state to meet and beat the British. There were no roads through the densely treed mountains. Because it would take too much time to clear a navigable road, the resourceful Americans just followed Indian trails through the mountains. Where the trails narrowed, they just chopped the trees down to about 12 inches (30cm) from the ground – low enough for the wagons and cannons to pass over. The Moccasin Trails proved instrumental in the War of Independence! If you are travelling through Vermont, make sure to stop by Bennington to visit the imposing monument to the Green Mountain Boys and their leader.

Moccasin Rails Across Canada

When it came time to run a rail across Canada, engineering scouts didn’t have to look hard to find a route. The Ojibwa, Cree, and West Coast Indian people had a developed a trading trail connecting their people for centuries, no millennium. It is noted that artifacts found along the trail date back 8,800 years. This was a tried, tested, and true trail.
Politicians and land bridge builders of the day put their faith in the system of trails developed by the First Nations people and followed it as they built the X-Canada rail. When there were nay-sayers concerning the route, the policy was “follow the Indian trails”.
As one travels across Canada today, camping, a common audio factor persists no matter which little town or village one camps in: the sound of a train whistle blowing. In the distance, near, be it ever so romantic, it is there.
Indian moccasins that trod this route timelessly in the past can be heard in essence today, as the rails relentlessly pass. It’s a nice history and a great connection between peoples.
Durable outdoor men’s moccasins and ladies moccasins, made of Canadian moose hide, perfect for hiking those trails, can be found on our website at http://www.marieshoes.com/. For comfy, durable, authentic handmade outdoor moccasins visit http://www.mariehoes.com/.

Moccasins -favoured travelling shoes.

Travelling on summer vacation, especially in the camperized van, I slip out of my day shoes and into my moccasins. Whether the day shoe be runners or sandals, moccasins are my favoured choice of travelling footwear.
I take my plain, indoor, soft-soled moccasins and put them on as soon as I get settled into a trip. They are so comfy and still versatile. If we make a stop at a garage for petro, I may decide to pop into the station pantry to pick up a newspaper, or buy a treat. I just leave my moccasins on. They are soft soled , 100% moose hide and the little dust and gravel running to the store is no problem. If a stop requires me to be out and about, perhaps at a roadside rest stop, I just slip into my regular shoes. Try it just once; your moccasins will become a standard vehicle staple.
Marieshoes.com carries soft-soled moccasins. I ordered a beaded pair which work well. Marie Shoes also carries an outdoor moccasin, with a hard sole, but these I wear just for outdoors.
Happy travels!

Moccasins on Display

Hand sewn and beaded moccasins can be found in the gift shops across Northern British Columbia, Canada!
During a recent camping trip across the North of British Columbia I noticed a growing number of handcrafted First Nation products. The selection of items run the gambit from necklaces and beaded leather pouches to smoked-leather moccasins. This presence in the tourism business for First Nations people is a very positive signal. Products are displayed under glass and are regarded as the true Canadiana.
Many of these products can be found on our website, www.marieshoes.com,

Don't Complain!

Remember when you cuss that hole in your moccasin slipper, you still have it fairly good.
IN THE 1500'S
The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the1500s:
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water..
Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying . It's raining cats and dogs.
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house.. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.
The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, Dirt poor. The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance way. Hence the saying a thresh hold.
In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old..
Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could bring home the bacon. They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat..
Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.
Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.
Lead cups were used to drink ale or whiskey. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Even on the springboard to success, you have to bounce a little." Zig Ziglar

Interesting Odds and Ends - Part 2

While grab a cup of coffee or chocolate, slip on those moccasin slippers and get ready to be entertained:

If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.

Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what? A. Their birthplace

Q. Most boat owners name their boats. What is the most popular boat name requested? A. Obsession

Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter 'A'? A. One thousand

Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers all have in common? A. All were invented by women.

Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil? A. Honey

Q. Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year? A. Father's Day

In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase......... 'goodnight, sleep tight.'

It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.

In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England , when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them 'Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down.' It's where we get the phrase 'mind your P's and Q's'

Many years ago in England , pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. 'Wet your whistle' is the phrase inspired by this practice.

At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow!

Don't delete this just because it looks weird. Believe it or not, you can read it.

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the first and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it wouthit a porbelm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?

YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 200 7 when...

1. You accidentally enter your PIN on the microwave.

2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.

3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.

4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.

5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.

6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.

7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen

8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't even have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.

10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.

11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )

12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.

13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.

14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.

15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list.

Quote of the Day:

"The phrase "working mother" is redundant." - Jane Sellman-

Quote of the Day

"Adversity is the stuff that shows whether you are what you thought you were." --American Proverb

Interesting Odds and Ends - Part 1

After a great walk in your moccasins, you might enjoy the following:

In the 1400's a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence we have 'the rule of thumb'

Many years ago in Scotland , a new game was invented. It was ruled 'Gentlemen Only...Ladies Forbidden'...and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.

The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred and Wilma Flintstone.

Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the U.S . Treasury.

Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.

Coca-Cola was originally green.

It is impossible to lick your elbow.

The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% (now get this...)
The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%

The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $ 16,400

The average number of people airborne over the U.S. in any given hour: 61,000

Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.

The first US novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.

The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.

Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: Spades - King David Hearts - Charlemagne Clubs -Alexander, the Great Diamonds - Julius Caesar

111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

Quote of the Day:
"You always give one of two reasons for doing anything -- the reason that sounds good, or the real reason." -- Brian Tracy

Gas Prices and Moccasin Trails

After seeing gas prices rise over $1.28 per liter this month, one wonders if the moccasin trails all over the country will be rediscovered since people cannot afford gas for their cars. Many people harken back to their youth when prices were below 60 cents and wonder why prices are shooting to the stars. What can the ordinary person do? There is a growing Internet suggestion that we boycott certain gas stations to apply consumer pressure to bring down the price. Will this work?

In my opinion, the only thing that may impact the price of gas is a change in our
behavior: drive less, drive more smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles, and stop using drive-thru restaurants. Notice how everyone complaints about the cost of gas and yet many people sit and idle away waiting for a big Mac meal or a Tim Horton's coffee - talk about indulgent.

People complain about the cost of gas, and yet they still speed excessively and race up to red lights, all the while burning more gas.

These ideas that make the rounds of the Internet will do absolutely nothing to lower the cost of gas. Perhaps we should tell our friends and family to drive less and drive smarter, and DON'T use the drive-thru.

Besides, high gas prices are not such a bad thing. They force us to evaluate our behavior and also make us consider alternate forms of energy. Cheap gas makes us do none of these.

So, before we blame the oil company stop and think about how we can change our driving behavior to save gas and the environment. The gas companies will take note as they did in the 80's and lower the price.

Quote for the day:
"Treat the world well. It was not given to you by your parents. It was willed to you by your children."-- Kenyan Proverb

MSG (a slow poison?)

While surfing the Internet for moccasin history, I came across the following which is very interesting and fits into today's thinking.

According to what I read, MSG, the food additive MSG (Mono-Sodium Glutamate) is a slow poison which hides behind 25 or more names, such as "Natural Flavoring." MSG is even in your favorite coffee from Tim Horton's and Starbucks coffee shops!

In hundreds of studies around the world, scientists are creating obese mice and rats to use in diet or diabetes test studies. No strain of rat or mice is naturally obese, so scientists have to create them. They make these creatures morbidly obese by injecting them with MSG when they are first born. The MSG triples the amount of insulin the pancreas creates, causing rats (and perhaps humans) to become obese. They even have a name for the fat rodents they create: "MSG-Treated Rats."

Check your kitchen cupboards and the refrigerator. MSG is in everything -- the Campbell 's soups, the Hostess Doritos, the Lays flavored potato chips, Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper, Swanson frozen prepared meals, and Kraft salad dressings, especially the "healthy low-fat" ones.

The items that didn't have MSG marked on the product label had something called "Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein," which is just another name for Mono sodium Glutamate.

It was shocking to see just how many of the foods we feed our children everyday are filled with this stuff. MSG is hidden under many different names in order to fool those who read the ingredient list, so that they don't catch on. (Other names for MSG are "Accent, "Aginomoto," "Natural Meat Tenderizer," etc.)

When your family goes out to eat, start asking at the restaurants what menu items contained MSG. Many employees, even the managers, will swear they do not use MSG. But then ask for the ingredient list, MSG and Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein will be there.

Burger King, McDonald's, Wendy's, Taco Bell, every restaurant -- even the sit-down eateries like TGIF, Chili's, Applebee's, and Denny's -- use MSG in abundance. Kentucky Fried Chicken seemed to be the WORST offender: MSG was in every chicken dish, salad dressing and gravy. No wonder I loved to eat that coating on the skin -- their secret spice was MSG!

So why is MSG in so many of the foods we eat? Is it a preservative, or a vitamin?

Not according to John Erb. In his book, The Slow Poisoning of America, he said that MSG is added to food for the addictive effect it has on the human body.

Even the propaganda website sponsored by the food manufacturers lobby group supporting MSG explains that the reason they add it to food is to make people eat more.

A study of the elderly showed that older people eat more of the foods that it is added to. The Glutamate Association lobbying group says eating more is a benefit to the elderly, but what does it do to the rest of us?

MSG manufacturers themselves admit that it addicts people to their products. It makes people choose their product over others, and makes people eat more of it than they would if MSG wasn't added.

Not only is MSG scientifically proven to cause obesity, it is an addictive substance. Since its introduction into the North American food supply fifty years ago, MSG has been added in larger and larger doses to the pre-packaged meals, soups, snacks, and fast foods we are tempted to eat everyday.

As yet, the USA FDA has set no limits on how much of it can be added to food. They claim it's safe to eat in any amount. The question is how can they claim it's safe when there are hundreds of scientific studies with titles like these:

"The monosodium glutamate (MSG) obese rat as a model for the study of exercise in obesity." Gobatto CA, Mello MA, Souza CT, Ribeiro IA. Res Commun Mol Pathol Pharmacol. 2002.

"Adrenalectomy abolishes the food-induced hypothalamic serotonin release in both normal and monosodium glutamate-obese rats." Guimaraes RB, Telles MM, Coelho VB, Mori C, Nascimento CM, Ribeiro. Brain Res Bull. 2002 Aug.

'Obesity induced by neonatal mono sodium glutamate treatment in spontaneously hypertensive rats: An animal model of multiple risk factors." Iwase M, Yamamoto M, Iino K, Ichikawa K, Shinohara N, Yoshinari Fujishima. Hypertens Res. 1998 Mar.

"Hypothalamic lesion induced by injection of mono sodium glutamate in suckling period and subsequent development of obesity." Tanaka K, Shimada M, Nakao K Kusunoki. Exp Neurol. 1978 Oct.

No, the date of that last study was not a typo; it was published in 1978. Both the "medical research community" and "food manufacturers" have known about the side effects of MSG for decades.

Many more of the studies mentioned in John Erb's book link MSG to diabetes, migraines and headaches, autism, ADHD, and even Alzheimer's.

My suggestion to avoid the problems listed above, eat freshly made, eat whole (in Nature's packaging) as much as possible and eat small amounts, often.

Quote of the Day:
"What we learn with pleasure we never forget." -- Alfred Mercier

How much is a billion?

The next time you hear person use the word a 'billion' sales in moccasins or some other product in a casual manner, think about the following.

A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of its releases.
A. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.
D. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.
E. In the world (from 46 countries), Forbes Magazine has stated that there are 538 billionaires which have an average of net worth of $3.2 billion ( US dollars) .
F. If your divide 33 million (population of Canada) by 46 (billionaires in Canada) you get about 720,000. So that means for every 720,000 people there is one billionaire (family).

Well, I don't know about you but I find it fascinating that we have so
many billionaires in Canada and in fact, 4 of them live in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Quote of the Day:

"Poverty is a condition with but one advantage, it doesn't take much to improve your lot."

Cinnamon and Honey

The following article was sent to me and it was very impressive. I do not know if any work but it is worth a try.

Historically, Southern Native Americans used honey and cinnamon for curing a variety of ailments. Scientists have just now are recognizing the benefits when combining honey and cinnamon to get results. The following is what they have discovered.

Facts on honey and cinnamon:

It is found that a mixture of honey and cinnamon cures some common ailments. Scientists of today accept honey as a "Ram Ban" (very effective) medicine for some ailments. Honey can be used without any side effects. Today's science states that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients. Weekly World News, a magazine in Canada, on its issue dated 17 January, 1995 has given the following list of ailments that can be assisted or in some cases, cured by honey and cinnamon as researched by western scientists:

HEART DISEASES: Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, instead of jelly and jam, and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as you age, the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and veins.

ARTHRITIS: Arthritis patients may take daily, morning, and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week, out of the 200 people so treated, practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain, and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.

BLADDER INFECTIONS: Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.

TOOTHACHE: Make a paste of one teaspoon of cinnamon powder and five teaspoons of honey and apply on the aching tooth. This may be applied three times a day until the tooth stops aching.

CHOLESTEROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient were found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within hours. According to information received in the said journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and clear the sinuses.

UPSET STOMACH: Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache.

GAS: According to the studies done in India and Japan, it is revealed that if honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM: Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood cells to fight bacteria and viral diseases.

INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

INFLUENZA: A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ingredient which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

LONGEVITY: Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Take four spoons of honey, one spoon of cinnamon powder and three cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age.

PIMPLES: Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root.

SKIN INFECTIONS: Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and most types of skin infections.

WEIGHT LOSS: Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast on an empty stomach and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water. Science has discovered that this helps in controlling weight along with diet and exercise.

FATIGUE: Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts, are more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 p.m. when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, increases the vitality of the body within a week.

BAD BREATH: People of South America, first thing in the morning, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water, so their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

I guess Mom had it right when she served honey sandwiches.

Quote of the Day:

"When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane."

Interesting Easter Facts

This isn't an article on moccasins, slippers or snowshoe boots but I thought you might be interested in this trivia that was sent to me recently.

The date of this coming Easter is quite early this year, but I didn't recognize the details shown below.

Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar. Here's the interesting info. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! Only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above!). None of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier!

Here's the facts:

1) The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!).

2) The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!

Have a wonderful Easter holiday!

Quote of the Day:

"A kind word never broke anyone's mouth. "-- Irish Proverb

You Are What You EAT!

While munching on peanuts with your moccasin slippers on, beside a warm fire, you are supporting an age old theory.
You probably heard the phrase, "you are what you eat, so eat well". A stupendous insight of civilizations past has now been confirmed by today's investigative, nutritional sciences. They have shown that what was once called 'The Doctrine of Signatures' was astoundingly correct. It now contends that every whole food has a pattern that resembles a body organ or physiological function and that this pattern acts as a signal or sign as to the benefit the food provides the eater. Here is just a short list of examples of whole food signatures.

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look justLike the human eye...and YES science now shows that carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart is red and has four Chambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows that grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that walnuts help develop over 3 dozen neuro-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet the body pulls it from the bones, making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Eggplant, Avocados and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats 1 avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? . it takes exactly 9 months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 phytolytic chemicalConstituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied andnamed about 141 of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the motility of male sperm and increase the numbers of sperm as well to overcome male sterility.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.

Grapefruits, Oranges, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in andout of the breasts.

Onions look like body cells. Today's research shows that onions help clear waste materials
from all of the body cells They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes.

Bananas, Cucumber, Zucchini and more target the size and strength of the male sexual organ.

It's true!Peanuts have a profound effect on the testicles and sexual libido. Peanuts were banned As a food for males by the church often during the middle ages. Most people don't realizethat arginine, the main component of Viagra, comes from peanuts.

New Year

For 2008 , here is advice from the Anthony Robbins organization.. It was received via an email from a friend and I just had to pass this along:

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.
FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
SIX.. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.
EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much.
NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
TEN. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
FIFTEEN. Say "God bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson .
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.

Quote for the Day:

"To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right." -- Confucius

UP

Just as the word "snow" has many meanings in North American native language, so too are words in English.
You lovers of the English language might enjoy this. There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is "UP."It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report?We call UP our friends. And we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car. At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special.And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night.We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP! To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions. I f you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more. When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP! . When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP.When it doesn't rain for awhile, things dry UP.One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP , so........... it is time to shut UP.....!Oh . one more thing:What is the first thing you do in the morning & the last thing you do at night? U-P

Quote for the Day:
"More important than learning how to recall things is finding ways to forget things that are cluttering the mind."

Save Money for the Household

This was written by Becky Ransey of Indiana and certainly worth a look

"I would like to tell you of the benefits of that plain little old bottle of 3% peroxide you can get for under $1.00 at any drug store. My husband has been in the medical field for over 36 years, and most doctors don't tell you about peroxide, or they would lose thousands of dollars."

1. Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out. (I do it when I bathe)
No more canker sores and your teeth will be whiter without expensive pastes. Use it instead of mouthwash. (Small print says mouth wash and gargle right on the bottle)

2. Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of "Peroxide" to keep them free of germs.

3. Clean your counters, table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishrag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters.

4. After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria.

5. I had fungus on my feet for years - until I sprayed a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry.

6. Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five to ten minutes several times a day. My husband has seen gangrene that would not heal with any medicine, but was healed by soaking in peroxide.

8. Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep it in every bathroom to disinfect without harming your septic system like bleach or most other disinfectants will.

9. Tilt your head back and spray into nostrils with your 50/50 mixture whenever you have a cold, or plugged sinuses. It will bubble and help to kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes then blow your nose into a tissue.

10. If you have a terrible toothache and cannot get to a dentist right away, put a capful of 3% peroxide into your mouth and hold it for ten minutes several times a day. The pain will lessen greatly.

11. And of course, if you like a natural look to your hair, spray the 50/50 solution on your wet hair after a shower and comb it through. You will not have the peroxide burnt blonde hair like the hair dye packages, but more natural highlights if your hair is a light brown, faddish, or dirty blonde. It also lightens gradually so it's not a drastic change.

12. Put half a bottle of peroxide in your bath to help rid boils, fungus, or other skin infections.

13. You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. If there is blood on clothing, Pour directly on the soiled spot. Let it sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.

14. I use peroxide to clean my mirrors with, and there is no smearing which is why I love it so much for this.

Quote of the Day:

Opportunities are never lost. The other fellow takes those you miss.-- Anonymous

The Amazing Human Body

The human body is a machine that is full of wonder. It will serve you well if you take care of it, much like the moccasins or boots.

This collection of human body facts will leave you wondering why in the heck we were designed the way we were. ===================================================================-Scientists say the higher your I.Q, the more you dream.

-The largest cell in the human body is the female egg and the smallest is the male sperm.

-You use 200 muscles to take one step.

-The average woman is 5 inches shorter than the average man.

-Your big toes have two bones each while the rest have three.

-A pair of human feet contains 250,000 sweat glands.

-A full bladder is roughly the size of a soft ball.

-The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razor blades.!

-The human brain cell can hold 5 times as much information as the Encyclopaedia Britannica.

-It takes the food seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach.

-The average human dream lasts 2-3 seconds.

-Men without hair on their chests are more likely to get cirrhosis of the liver than men with hair.

-At the moment of conception, you spent about half an hour as a single cell.

-There is about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet.

-Your body gives off enough heat in 30 minutes to bring half a gallon of water to a boil.

-The enamel in your teeth is the hardest substance in your body.

-Your teeth start growing 6 months before you are born

-When you are looking at someone you love, your pupils dilate, and they do the same when
You are looking at someone you hate.

-Your thumb is the same length of your nose.

At this very moment I know full well you are putting this last fact to the test ..
Now remove your thumb from your nose and pass this on to the friends you think
might be interested in comparing their thumbs to their noses as well...
Amazing eh!

Quote of the Day

"Whether a man winds up with a nest egg, or a goose egg, depends a lot on the kind of chick he marries." Author Unknown

DIJANO (Did You Know)?

While surfing the Internet, wearing my moccasin mule slippers, I came across the most unusual facts:

Counterattack
13 people are killed each year when vending machines fall on them. Moral: Don't kick vending machines! They kick back.

Talk about Pinocchio
According to a Cornell University study of online dating, the percentage of respondents who:
Lie about their height:
Men: 53%
Women: 39%
Lie about their weight:
Men: 61%
Women: 64%
Lie about their age:
Men: 24%
Women: 13%

Big Brother is Here
There are currently 32 closed circuit TV surveillance cameras located within 200 yards of the flat where 1984 author George Orwell once lived.

Okay men - stop looking grungy, Shave
According to Women's Health magazine, 86% of women think a 5 o'clock shadow is not

Big Legal Drug Money
Health Canada, the Canadian national health department,buys medical marijuana from a licensed grower for $290.63 a kilo, then resells the drug to Canadian citizens officially permitted to use it for $132.63 per bag weighing 30 grams, plus tax. That amounts to $4,421 a kilo. The governments profit exceeds 1,400 percent.

Where erotic behavior pays off.
To raise money for Vienna's main public library, the city's administrators have set up a sex hotline. Callers pay 53 cents a minute to listen to a well-known local actress read scintillating passages from the institution's collection of more than 1,200 works of erotic fiction, dating back to the late 18th century.

The World's most expensive American car
Carroll Shelby's 1966 Shelby Cobra "Super Snake" sold at auction in Scottsdale, Arizona for $5.5 million

Quote of the Day:

"When you’re in deep water, the best thing to do is shut your mouth. "Author unknown

Gas Tank - Right or Left?

Every morning, I slip into my moccasins and drive my wife to work.
One would think I would have noticed the little secret on my car dash that was staring me right in the face the whole time.
I didn't and I bet you probably haven't either.
Quick question, what side of your car is your gas tank?
If you are anything like me, you probably can't remember right away.
My solution is to uncomfortably stick my head out the window, strain my neck and look.
If you don't do this in your own car you definitely have done it in a borrowed or rental car.

Well ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to share with you my little secret so you will no longer look like Ace Ventura on your way to the gas station or put your neck at risk of uncomfort or injury.

If you look at your gas guage, you will see a small icon of a gas pump.
The handle of the gas pump will extend out on either the left or right side of the pump.
If your tank is on the left, the handle will be on the left.
If your tank is on the right, the handle will be on the right .
It is that simple!
Hopes this information will save you time and a pain in the neck.

Quote of the Day:

"Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere."-- Chinese Proverb

Cancer Findings- Part 3

This last blog concludes recent findings on using proper products relating to our food.

CANCER UPDATE FROM JOHN HOPKINS HOSPITAL

1. No plastic containers in micro.
2. No water bottles in freezer.
3. No plastic wrap in microwave.

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This
information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
as well.

Dioxin chemicals causes cancer, especially breast cancer.
Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies.
Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this
releases dioxins from the plastic.

Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle
Hospital , was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He
talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not
be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers.

This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the
combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the
food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends
using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food.
You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners,
instant soups, etc., should be removed from the container and
heated in something else.

Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just
safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while
ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers
to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as
dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As
the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt
out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.

Quote of the Day:

"Good advice usually works best when preceded by a bad scare. "Al Batt, Writer