Archive for » August, 2008 «

Well then.. let’s talk Comfort

29 Aug 2008 by Teri

When it comes to comfort, especially for our loved ones, we generally settle for nothing but the best, as our circumstances permit. Every year my daughter and I travel to visit our faraway family and friends. We travel through the mountains and into the desert. Usually we are on the road for at least 2 hours, so this tends to make my daughter a bit restless. She is always asking to bring along a pillow and light blanket for comfort. Her side of the car is always packed with things to keep her occupied as well, so it can get pretty crowded!

Cabin_cuddlerSo, when I discovered a sweet and comfortable travel accessory called the Cabin Cuddler I was all over it. This amazing blanket comes with it’s own inflatable pillow, and is contoured to cover every inch of your body. This is so perfect for travel, as it comes with a reversible tote bag which holds the blanket and pillow. It even has a patented pocket to keep my little S’s feet toasty warm… how cool is that?

Well then, next time we head out on a great adventure, I can not only save space for my daughters car load of activities to keep her busy, I can also provide her with a cozy travel blanket and pillow which is convenient and keeps my little S warm as I blast the air conditioning to keep myself cool in the desert climates we love to visit.

Sponsored by Cabin Cuddler

Category: Personal, Travel  Tags: , ,
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Just Celebrated another Birthday…

28 Aug 2008 by Teri

Here is a post I recently created on my newest blog Lavender ‘N Chocolate; thought I would share it with my Earthbeats readers as well…

August 27th marked my 46th year on this planet. How do I feel about that? Well, first of all, I like the sound of the number 46. It has a nice ring to it. Also, I do not look or feel my age, so I don’t really feel old. Although, I was a bit melancholy for part of the day. I kept thinking about my family… those who are far away, and those who have crossed over. I miss them. At this time I am always reminded of days long ago when we were all together and so very happy.

While I was sitting on my patio thinking of my loved ones, I began to cry. This is unusual for me because I am usually such a happy person. The tears just came, and my heart felt near to breaking. Then a strange thing happened. A frog jumped into my line of site and landed on my beautifully blooming begonia! It startled me out of my tears, as it just appeared from nowhere. My plant sits on my patio table, and I have never seen a frog near my house before. I stared in wonder, and decided to snap a picture or two, to share this strange phenomena. The little frog jumped into my plant and disappeared. I did not see it hop away, and could not find it when I carefully searched inside the plant. It had served it’s purpose, then went its merry way… LOL

Needless to say, after that things just got better. My son J arrived with a cake and gifts. He and my daughter had visited the mall and got me some pretty cool gifts… books, candles and totally sweet chinese style wall hangings. And chocolate of course! Sweet, delicious Northwest Truffles in three delectable flavors… Raspberry, Mocha and Mint… yummm!! J got me two new movies; Stardust and 10,000 BC. We watched Stardust and it was quite entertaining. It sure gave me a whole new perspective into Rober DeNiro’s acting abilities.. hehehe.

My faraway family called soon after my son J arrived, and filled my heart with love and happy thoughts. My spirit brightened considerably as each moment unfolded, and I feel truly blessed to have so many people that truly care. The little frog sent a positve message that I am never truly alone, and although those I love are not always near me in person, the creatures that inhabit this Earth alongside us are here to keep us company as well. I spend so much time advocating for the health of the environment and the animals in danger on this planet, that it seems only fitting that it was one of natures tiny creatures that stopped by for a brief visit and pulled me out of my funk. Just goes to show you that it is the little things that count.

Category: Emotional Wellbeing, Family, Life, Personal  Tags:
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Spammers are like head lice!

25 Aug 2008 by Teri

I remember when my kids got head lice. Everytime we thought we had gotten rid of the last of those nasty creatures, one little louse would suddenly develop into a hundred more. It was soooo hard to defeat them! They just kept coming back, and it felt like a constant daily battle. I am certain they must have a purpose, though it escapes me, yet I believe these pests should get the message that they are totally unwanted!!

This is how I feel about spammers. Although I have certain measures in place which deters most of them, every time I black-list a few, they are replaced by more. What is it with some people thinking they shouldn’t have to work for themselves, and just get off by piggy-backing on someone elses ideas and content? Truly, those of us who wish to create a great space to share ideas about our passions always welcome input and ideas to expand upon a certain subject. And we do not always expect everyone to agree with us or understand where we are coming from. But hey, can’t you spammers (you know who you are) get a life and learn how to be creative without wasting precious time creating chaos with your unimaginative and stupid comments? Sometimes I wonder how spammers even think someone is going to be dumb enough to fall for some of the stuff they spout about.

Whew! Alrighty then… now I feel just a wee bit better having vented my aggravated feelings relating to spammers. May their computers become infested with the creepiest and nastiest viruses on the planet!

For those who truly enjoy blogging and reading other peoples blogs as well, I thank you for your visit. It is so wonderful to interact with others with common interests, so we may share our time spent in this space in time on this beautiful planet Earth. I will be back soon with something interesting and totally cool, green and growing!

Enjoy!

Category: People, Personal  Tags: ,
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Are you truly Prepared for an Emergency?

19 Aug 2008 by Teri

Even though I do not spend a whole lot of time thinking about it, I am smart enough to take the time to prepare for an Emergency, should it strike in any form. Although one cannot imagine every scenario which may occur, we can gather some essential items in general to survive most situations. Of course, Food (in the form of MRE’s – Meals Ready to Eat – essentials for emergency preparedness) and a comprehensive kit of Medical Supplies would be at the top of the list, along with an Emergency Radio to keep us updated and informed in case of a power outage, or if we are forced to leave our homes. There are some pretty cool solar powered radios available for a decent price, and it is totally worth it.

Now, there are different levels of Emergencies. Having several packs ready to go at all times, one for each member of the family, is a great idea. We can keep these packs in a place which is easy to access on the go, in case we need to leave in a hurry, making certain everyone knows where their pack is. Practice Emergency routines once in a while to keep this in mind without creating a panic… we do not need to obsess. Keeping emergency supplies in our vehicles is also a great idea, just in case we are not home when danger strikes.

Another thing to keep in mind is our water supplies. Just in case our water becomes tainted, or we are uncertain of the purity, we should educate ourselves with Water Storage information and gather Water Filters, Purifiers and Storage Containers.

I would like to follow up on this subject in the near future with a list of supplies which may be helpful for those uncertain of what to gather. Sometimes it is not possible to gather all we may need, either because of our location or financial situation, yet common sense will show us what we need most so we can at least stand a chance of surviving if the unthinkable happens. Remember, when the Hurricane, Tornado, Earthquake or Disaster warnings go out (or hit), the time to prepare is over… like trying to buy fire insurance when the house is on fire.

I am lucky in that we have an extended family and friends who have thought about this occurance for quite some time now, and we are prepared to gather in a place of safety if at all possible. Educating ourselves in survival techniques is very important, as one never knows when an Emergency situation may occur, and it is better to be prepared so we are less likely to panic, and supplies may not be readily available. As always, I am most happy to hear ideas and suggestions which may be helpful in an Emergency situation.

Category: Earthquakes, Education, Emergencies, Family, Natural Disasters, Personal, Survival  Tags: ,
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Oregon Salmon threatened by Global Warming

14 Aug 2008 by Teri

One of the wonderful aspects of living in Oregon, is the bountiful wildlife, including the variety of fish. Salmon, steelhead and trout are abundant because of the devoted stewardship throughout this lovely green state. We live close to several rivers and fishing hot spots, so encountering happy fishermen is almost a daily occurance during fishing season. On a lucky day we have seen some healthy specimens provide a bounty of delicious meals for those skilled enough to land one of these beauties.

The thought of losing this precious resource is too sad to contemplate. Yet the danger is only too real. Because of climate change, some streams and rivers in Oregon’s Columbia and Snake River Basin may soon become too warm for salmon, steelhead and trout species to survive. This will create a major imbalance in nature with catastrophic results. Shouldn’t Oregon’s governor be doing more to help salmon and other species that are threatened by global warming?

It appears that the governors of Oregon, Washington, Montana, California, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah and Premiers across the West (who are formal partners of the Western Climate Initiative) have released a draft plan to reduce global warming pollution and address the impacts of climate change. Although the draft plan presents an ambitious strategy to reduce the causes of climate change, it truly falls short in protecting wildlife in Oregon that is already being affected by global warming and climate change. Climate change is one of the greatest threats to imperiled wildlife in Oregon. Please take just a few moments out of your day right now to help provide a voice for animals that have none.

Protect your States Wildlife from Global Warming by visiting Defenders today!

Category: Defenders of Wildlife, Endangered Wildlife, Environment, Global Warming, Nature  Tags: , , , ,
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Thunder Wolf… Courtesy of Barbara LaBarbera

10 Aug 2008 by Teri

Essence of Mother Earth

Essence of Mother Earth

 

I would like to share this message as written from the heart of Barbara LaBarbera (ThunderWolf)…

~*~ Thunder Wolf ~*~

When the westward wind begins to blow
and the midnight moon is hanging low
then lightning streaks across the sky
You will hear Thunder Wolf, asti, it is I

From the mountains I come charging down
and you will hear my crashing sound
Your hearts will fill with awe and wonder
as you hear my wisdom’s mighty thunder …

My Thunder message is for all colors and creed
whether you are full blood or breed …
It’s a message of love and peace
that all hatred and prejudice should cease

As my thunder shakes the mountain tops
you will hear me … the hatred must STOP
Across the world you are killing each other
and your greed is killing our Earth Mother

Embrace the Light, come out of the shadowy dark
let mercy and kindness fill your hearts …
Learn from wolf the gift of love and loyalty
stop hate’s treachery and let this message soar free

Hate has no wisdom, vision nor power
it comes from the fearful hearts of cowards
Thunder wolf’s message is to bring you together
and know the power of Creator’s love is forever …

From Thunder Wolf, my message is clear
Learn to love and let your hearts be sincere …
For with all power or miracles ever dreamt of …
There is no power greater than the miracle of love

My message is for all countries across the land
for we are all sisters and brothers in the Tribe of Man
Let Creator’s Light guide you to peace and harmony
Walk softly in the Light and set your spirit free

*Note – Please do not copy without the express permision from the Author.

Category: Balance, Life, Mother Earth, Peace, People, Personal, Prayers, Reflections  Tags:
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Amazing news for the Gorilla population!

07 Aug 2008 by Teri

I really love it when I have good news to share. The recent find of a large population of lowland gorillas in the Republic of the Congo, alive and totally thriving, is to my eyes a great find indeed! The Wildlife Conservation Society released a recent census which has astounding numbers. According to the new census, they have tallied more than 125,000 of these elusive gorillas in two adjacent areas in the northern part of the country, covering an area of 18,000 square miles (47,000 square kilometers). It is said that previous estimates from the 1980s placed the entire population of western lowland gorillas, which occur in seven Central African nations, at less than 100,000. However, according to popular belief, scientists had believed that this number had at least halved, due to hunting and disease.

WCS says a combination of factors led to such high numbers of gorillas including: successful long-term conservation management of the Republic of Congo’s protected areas; remoteness and inaccessibility of some of the key locations where the gorillas were found; and a food-rich habitat, particularly in some of the swamp forests and the herb-rich “Marantaceae” forests.

While this is excellent news indeed, now we need to work fast to make sure protections are put in place for these precious creatures. There is always the danger of potential deforestation as well as illegal poaching, now that this discovery has been made public. Across Central Africa, gorillas face the looming threats of hunting for bushmeat and the spread of the Ebola virus, which is lethal to gorillas as well as humans. WCS is working with partners to combat Ebola, eliminate commercial hunting, and secure this last stronghold for Africa’s apes. WCS cautioned that many of the gorillas live outside of existing protected areas, though the Government of Congo has committed to creating a new national park in the Ntokou-Pikounda region.

Let’s just hope folks sit up and listen, and realize how important it is for us to protect our wildlife and wild places, for the resources they provide in the long term are so very precious. Nature provides so many treasures and as stewards of this planet we must preserve the green world and the wild creatures who help create the balance.

For more detailed information you may wish to visit Wildlife Conservation Society

Here is a great place to get some amazing Gorilla Facts!

Category: Animals, Earth News, Endangered Wildlife, Environment, Gorillas, Wildlife  Tags: , ,
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