For a deeper dive – over 500 posts on life, mind, body & spirit
Yes, well this is Minnesota afterall. We’ve only recently had to pack away the down comforter on our bed. As summer unfolds, lighter matelassé bedding feels wonderfully cool on warm summer nights.
It’s simple but it works for us.
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Here’s a good summer read and new in paperback – 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life by Cami Walker. Want to dramatically change your life? Take a cue from Cami Walker.
Cami is confronted with the challenges and struggles of multiple sclerosis. But she decides to change her own view of the world as a way to cope. She decides to take on the challenge of a friend and give a gift to someone, anyone, for 29 days in a row. The gift can be a material gift, a gift of time or something else.
Wow. Read what happens to her after she heads down this path. It will cheer your heart.
You can stop by her website, 29 Gifts, now boasting over 14,000 members and take the challenge yourself.
You may also like New Books, Where Do Our Clothes Come From? and Spring Cleaning – Saucha.
It’s berry season! With these warm, sunny days I decided to go strawberry picking at Applewood Orchard nearby in Lakeville, MN.
Moms and kids and young families were there picking strawberries. With all the rain we’ve had recently there was a bountiful crop. Sitting on the warm straw in the middle of a row of ripe strawberries I could smell the earthiness of the dirt, but the scent of strawberry was just overwhelming. Of course you can sample and eat as you go.
A flat of gorgeous red strawberries in your kitchen just asks for Strawberry Soup. It’s so easy.
Put 4 cups of rinsed strawberries, stems removed, in a deeper sauce pot. Add about ½ cup of sugar and ½ cup of water. Here’s a secret: add 1-2 tbsp of dark, balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle in some fennel seed. Heat until simmering. Purée with a hand blender. If you like add 2-3 tbsp. of brandy and 1 tbsp. of Ouzo. Serve chilled with a dollop of yogurt and mint.
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A landmark study was published that showed – surprise! – poor people insured with medicaid were more likely to use preventive medical care covered by insurance and more likely to say they feel better. Wow, just like people who aren’t poor! (Sarcasm intended)
Health economists and other researchers said the study was historic and would be cited for years to come, shaping health care debates.
Really? We need a study to tell us that giving people access to health insurance makes a difference in their health and in their lives????
Dr. Baicker interviewed people for Part 2 of the study and was impressed by what she heard.
“Being uninsured is incredibly stressful from a financial perspective, a psychological perspective, a physical perspective,” she said. “It is a huge relief to people not to have to worry about it day in and day out.”
No kidding. What a surprise.
Post Script. This bit in the article caught my eye:
While the findings may seem obvious, health economists and policy makers have long questioned whether it would make any difference to provide health insurance to poor people.
I asked DH, what would possibly make people question whether or not health insurance would make a difference for the poor? He had a one word answer, “Callousness.” I think he’s right.
When are we gonna wake up and understand that providing low-cost health insurance for everyone will make a life better for all of us? Hmm, we could fund it easily today – a transaction tax for the Too Big To Fail investment banks.
You may also like What is White Privilege?, Why We Should Listen, and Power of Framing.
The truth is that I don’t enjoy gardening that much. But I’ve learned that it doesn’t take a lot of effort to make an attractive small patio garden. A chair or two, a few colorful plants in various containers, or maybe just a large clay pot with herbs.
Above, a planter with water plants and a few terracotta pots create an enchanting summer space.
Last year DH made a simply designed 3-square-foot raised garden. We planted greens, peppers, tomatoes and herbs. The bare wood design gives it an Asian zen-like appearance. It also provides some privacy on one side of our patio.
This year we continued the Zen theme. Our patio is a small space that is partially shaded by the deck above. A few carefully placed pots of flowers and herbs bring color, scent and texture – not only to the patio, but into the living room as well. Viewed from the inside, it feels like a secret garden.
Use bricks, stones and upside down pots, seen above, to create texture and varied heights. I like our mix of perenial hostas, junipers and flower shrubs. These were already planted and return each year on their own.
DH, who enjoys gardening, selected the vegetables for the 3-foot square planter. This year we have three varieties of tomatoes, peppers of various kinds, onions and carrots.
My part consists of selecting attractive flowers and herbs in two large pots. I go for color, scent, texture and varied height. Some years are better than others.
Now add a hurricane candle for evening atmosphere. Mix with iced tea, sit back and watch the sun set.
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