Category: Outdoors

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Sparkle, shine and BANG!

Independence Day is my favorite summer holiday.  I generally am not a great fan of the summer because it has a tendency to be too hot.  Funny part is I do not like the winter either because of the snow.  I guess there is no making me happy with the weather.  However, the Fourth of July no matter the weather would still be my favorite day of the month!

People enjoy barbeques, festive desserts, outdoor activities, swimming, parades and fireworks.  Fireworks are the highlight in my book.  I love the multiple colors, whistles and final bang from the fireworks.  There are certain areas that present the best fireworks.  Usually in my state many of the fireworks are shot- off from riverbanks or old mill lots.  Therefore many people tend to gather near there.

Tonight was no exception.  The parking was atrocious.  I have never seen so many people flock to the riverside.  People parked their cars even in the streets, blocking traffic.  I had to drive around for half of the show before finding parking.  Despite all of this I did find a really sweet spot half- way through the show and parked.  The presentation was worth the driving.

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Fresh Air

Finally warmer weather has arrived in time to start sleeping with the windows open.  I wait all year long for the first goodnight’s sleep with the window open.  I always sleep better with the window open.

One of the reasons and in particular the most important reasons are due to the melodic music heard in the night.  Crickets are the most common noise heard but if you listen closely the sounds of the loons and bullfrogs along with the gentle breeze can be heard.  These sounds are delightful and are one thing that city folk cannot begin to understand unless they experience them first hand.

Another reason is for the fresh country air.  The air in the country is very different from the city.  Some may say that the air is different because of the melodic sounds described earlier.  Others simply say that it is due to pollution or lack of pollution.  Either way the best medicine for a goodnight’s sleep is the fresh country air with the band of bullfrogs playing in the background.

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New Summer Salad

Last night I made this new pasta salad recipe I found.  I was hesitant at first but one the dressing was added to the pasta and veggies it was in one word, amazing.  The dressing was considerably involved with a ton of ingredients but once they were all blended it made for a creamy, yet zesty dressing.  Again, it was amazing.

The name of the salad was actually what intrigued me because it was based off of a salad served at one of my favorite restaurants. The pasta salad is called “Hooter’s Pasta Salad.”  For a chain restaurant I did not expect to have the salad be so elaborate in seasoning. The pasta used was also what made it special.  The tri-colored vegetable pasta is what is called for.  This kind of pasta absorbs the dressing well.  I highly recommend this salad at the next family or friends BBQ. It is sure to be a huge hit!

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Family Jewels?

Yesterday, I read in my newspaper that a resident of Vienna Austria was working in his garden and stumbled upon some buried treasure. This must have been quite exciting for the gardener. It turns out that the jewelry that was found is over 650 years old.  My first question to this finding is why were they buried?

Multiple explanations can be said for such discoveries. Perhaps the owner of these jewels had to bury them for fear that they would be stolen.  Or maybe the keeper of the jewels had stolen them and was trying to hide them for future use?  Either way I personally wouldn’t mind finding some jewels in my backyard. I am not sure what I would do with them or if I would report it to officials. Maybe I would sell them. If the jewels are found on my property either way then I say “finder’s keepers.”

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Goldylocks

Gold has been around for thousands of years.  Just recently, I heard on the news that the demand for gold is increasing.  I especially saw this happening in the state of California.  The price of gold is on the rise.

The anchor on the evening news suggested that people start buying and stocking up on gold over cash.  According to the anchor the gold price is going to be worth ten times more than the monetary value of currency.  I am very surprised over this but I guess things change.

After hearing this news I think I will plan a trip to California and join the gold rush.  Perhaps I will strike some excellent gold prices and than be able to put it away for the future.   I have bever been to California so this will be a much needed vacation.  Let lady luck be with me or it is going to be a very sad trip home!

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Early Weather Noise

While I was catching up on paying some bill today I heard the strangest noise.  It sounded just like a loud truck had backed up to my house and was left idling.  I stopped what I was doing and listened.  It was so weird because nothing was outside of my house.  I went to the window to check and nothing was there.

I proceeded with the check I was writing when I heard it again.  Now I had just about had enough because it had happened more than once.  So I decided to open the window this time in the office and listen.  I finally remembered the weatherman this morning mentioning the possibility of a thunder storm.  I was so surprised!  It was only the month of April and there is still snow on the ground!  The conditions were just right for some continuous claps of thunder.  It was daytime so I was not able to see any lightning and that was what through me for a loop.  I guess this means summer is sure to follow in a few months!

 

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Flip- flops are near

Well, it is almost sandal season!  I am so excited!  Every year when mud season begins and we receive a few days of warmer weather I start thinking about my flip- flops and other sandals.  I do not have a shoe fetish but when it comes to sandals I get a little weak in the knees.

I especially like flip- flops.  They are almost always cheap so nearly anyone can afford more than one pair.  Since they are so inexpensive they are also dispensable.  This means that if you break running after your dog on a summer day it is no big deal.  For this same reason, I almost always make sure I have a spare pair in my vehicle or beach bag.  It is good to have a back up pair.  This also comes in handy after a hard day’s work in heels and your feet are tired.  You can slip into your flip- flops right after leaving the office.  Here’s to a summer full of flip- flops and bare feet!

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No April Fool’s Joke

Tonight the weatherman all informed us of some bad news.  He said the dreaded word “snow.”  This time of year the snow is suppose to be gone, gone until next winter!  We may receive up to 14 inches of heavy wet snow.  That is disgusting.

Fortunate for me I have not put away my snow shovel yet.  I guess I might have had some intuition about more snow before it was all said and done.  The worst part about heavy wet snow is that it is going to be sticky and with the combined forecast of gusty winds that could mean power outages.  I absolutely dread power outages I think more than snow in April.  They both will end eventually but in the mean time cause discomfort.  I think I will head to the grocery store to grab a few prepared food in case I can’t cook.  The weatherman said that the Nor’easter may be a good April Fool’s Joke, but personally I do not find this funny!

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Super moon

Tomorrow night there is going to be a super lunar occurance.  The world news reports that the moon will be closest to the Earth then it ever has been.  Astrologer Richard Nolle coined the term “supermoon” because the Earth’s satellite will be its closest in 18 years at a distance of 355,377 kilometers.  This term also describes the new moon or full moon at 90% or more of its closest orbit to Earth.

Other scientists state that everyone should be vigilant during tomorrow night at well as through March 22.  At this time the location of the moon’s orbit can cause a surge in tides, earthquake activity and volcanic activity.  According to the USGS website the earthquake in Haiti occurred during this time as well as the most recent Japan earthquake.  Scientists say that many of our natural disasters occur when the moon is closest to the Earth.  Personally, I plan to go out tomorrow and check out the huge moon and wait just like I did years ago when they were warning us about Y2K.  And what happened in the year 2000- absolutely nothing.  Time will have to tell us.

 

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Cabin Fever

About this time of year I start to get “cabin fever.”  The winter is so long where I live and it seems like the spring/ summer seasons are too short.  I have to find ways about this time to entertain myself so that I do not lose my mind. 

Winter sports have never really been popular with me.  I prefer to go outside and play when the weather is warmer and there are more creatures alive than dead/ sleeping.  One of the things that I like to do when the roads are not treacherous is to take a drive to a large shopping center or mall and browse through the spring/ summer activities equipment.  Sometimes I even go and visit a local greenhouse.  I think this weekend I will go visit my local greenhouse.  They are having an orchid expo that ought to be nice and cheerful. I like to think that I have a green thumb for orchid propagation but in reality I could use a few tips.  I am sure that my greenhouse will be able to fix me right up with some good advice.