by Roxanne -

Prairie Walk

Here’s what I encountered this week on the prairie –

Photo R. Meshar
Photo R. Meshar
Photo R. Meshar
Photo R. Meshar
Photo R. Meshar

Lots of color! The prairie absorbs heat – meaning the air actually feels noticeably cooler as we walk through it. Natural air conditioning.

Global warming means that weather becomes more extreme (record heat, as in July in 50 states) with more severe storms and droughts. Prairies help to resist global warming by moderating the temperature, taking CO2 out of the atmosphere and moving surface water/moisture down deep into the ground.

If you like, consider planting a prairie of your own. A small group of neighbors can easily create a larger one using open space in your neighborhood.

There are many kinds of prairies to choose from; rainwater, woodland, wetlands, savanna, shoreline and more.

Click Prairie Restoration for information, check out their plant catalog or visit a Prairie Store near you!

You may also like Prairie Walk (July) and White Prairie.

 

 

by Roxanne -

Power of Reframing

In previous posts I wrote about the importance of how we speak about things as well as the importance of how we frame things.

It’s important because our survival depends on our ability to see reality clearly. The way we frame things helps us to see clearly (or not) so we can make necessary changes.

Here’s an inspiring short film – Story of a Sign – that demonstrates this.

You may also like Power of Framing, Truth or Consequences, and Myth of Objective Reporting.

by Roxanne -

“It Takes a Pillage” – Bulldozed Homes

Here’s a Yahoo article from Time by Stephen Gandel, “Bulldoze: The New Way to Foreclose”. Gandel states near the article’s end;

Certainly, the idea that we are at the point where banks would be better off knocking down houses that reselling them shows there is still something very wrong with the housing market. But what is clear is that banks and others are at the point where they are ready to try something new to boost the housing market. And that is a good sign for the future.

Really? Wow. Bulldozing will “boost the housing market” or “is a good sign for the future”? Talk about clueless . . . then again, who owns the media?

Let’s review:

Push dubious sub-prime loans on consumers, collect fees/points from consumers, illegally fail to pay fees to county title recorders via MERS, illegally break up and resell the same bad loan to numerous investors, hedge these same loans to collect BIG profits because the loans were set up to fail, collect interest, payments & foreclosure fees from the homeowners, collect bailout $$ from U.S. citizens, resist any loan modifications, then bulldoze these homes.

Can you say “loot and pillage”?

Seriously, how is stealing life savings, evicting millions of families from their homes and bulldozing them any different from the pillaging done when one country is invaded or conquered by another?

And all of this is being done with the sanction of a government you and I elect and pay, in order to represent OUR interests.

Ask yourself, “For whose future is this a good sign?” Who benefits?

At last check, within hours of appearing on Yahoo News, this article garnered 6,531 comments – overwhelmingly negative. Most along the lines of “Bulldoze the banks!” Maybe people are beginning to wake up.

You may also like Home Prices Free Fall, Financial and Economic Crisis an Accident? Think Again, and Greek’s Resist Public Bank Bailout.

 

by Roxanne -

Popsicle Days

Remember popsicles? If I recall they came in cherry, orange, grape, lime, banana and root beer. As a child, I remember that my Grandma Rose always had several flavors in her freezer for us when we visited.

Dreamsicles were orange popsicles with vanilla ice cream in the center. Unfortunately only one stick.

Popsicles came in pairs, “twin pops,” so you could always share half with a friend. Marketing that encourages sharing. I like that.

 

You may also like Doll Houses From My Childhood, Beachy Days and The Jewelry We Keep.

by Roxanne -

Chocolate Eclair Dessert

Ever taste a real chocolate éclair from a Parisian patisserie? If you have and would like to repeat that experience, or if you haven’t but would like to, keep reading.

These hot, steamy days of August, try this chilled, no-bake Chocolate Éclair Dessert. It tastes exactly like a chocolate éclair – or about as close as you will get without purchasing it from Fauchon Patisserie in Paris. Warning: super-high calorie alert.

While it takes almost no time to make – it does take time to chill – but it’s worth it. You can try many variations (sliced strawberries on top, chocolate instead of vanilla pudding, etc.) Best of all, no oven means it doesn’t heat up the house.

This recipe was given to me by a very close friend, no longer here. I remember her every time I make it.

Ingredients:

1 box graham crackers, 8 oz Cool Whip, 2 small boxes of vanilla pudding, 2 cups milk, 1 can milk chocolate frosting.

1. In a mixing bowl slowly stir 2 cups milk into the pudding mix until smooth. Fold in Cool Whip.

2. In a 9X13 pan place one layer of whole graham crackers. Spread 1/2 pudding mixture. Place another layer of graham crackers. Spread remaining pudding mixture. Place a layer of graham crackers on top. Spread frosting on top layer of crackers. Be sure to cover all the way to the edges to seal the dessert.

3. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator 6 hours or overnight. Slice and serve.

Moisture from the pudding mix expands the crackers creating a pastry or cake-like texture. The vanilla pudding and chocolate frosting add the flavors and creaminess of an éclair.

Invite some friends for evening dessert. Slice and serve with french press coffee. Parlez français.

Bon appétit.

You may also like Fruit Soup, No Cook Marinera & Pasta and Citron Pressé.