Wonderful Water

It covers  70.9% of the Earth’s surface, and is vital for all known forms of life
It is a colorless, transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid that forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain.
It is a basic molecule made up of two hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom.
It is a liquid, but can also be a solid or an invisible gas.
What is it?   Water of course!  

Water is one of God’s  wonderful works. It is our most precious natural resource.

Here in Portland we see more than our share of liquid water and sometimes even solid water in the form of snow appears.  We visit our beaches and enjoy the beautiful Pacific Ocean’s water.  We are fortunate to have the Williamette River right downtown and the Columbia River close by.  Our parks have pools, ponds, sprinklers, and fountains.  We have water parks, lakes and indoor skating rinks.  We enjoy our running water indoors from our faucets.  They supply us with drinking water, water for showers and baths, washing and toilets.
There is an abundance of wonderful water all around us daily, so much so that we might tend to take it for granted. Sometimes we might even complain about all the rain, snow or ice.

Yet, approximately one billion people in the world still lack access to safe water for drinking and over 2.5 billion don’t have access to adequate sanitation. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water)

Today, March 22nd,  is World Water Day 2012.  Let’s Celebrate by learning more about what we can do to help bring some wonderful water to those one billion people who have none.
According to the water.org website there are three things most of the world can’t do.  
Those three things are:  Take a Hot Shower—Get Clean Water from the Tap—Flush Away Yesterday’s Dinner.

Perhaps today, on World Water Day 2012, we can make a difference in someone’s life by doing something about that.  Visiting www.water.org would be one way to start.

Also, this Saturday, March 24th, Portland is celebrating World Water Day by hosting a 2012 Walk for Water & Fun Run.  This will be the fourth year where participants check in at OMSI and collect their water-gathering containers to haul water on the 3.1 mile walk around the Williamette River. This is meant to be a model of the water gathering that some women and children must do in some parts of Africa just to get water for their daily use.
For more information or to Register to Walk visit this link:  Walk for Water–-http://www.worldwaterdaypdx.com/

The Wonderful Douglas-Fir

“Free Trees”  the sign said.   
During this time of year, especially in a bad economy, that sign should be a welcome sight.  However, it’s posting on the day before Christmas Eve might not attract too great a crowd.  

Here in the Pacific Northwest evergreen trees are abundant and around Christmas time Christmas Tree Farms seem to spring up all over.  I love the look and smell of fresh evergreen trees and I have lovely childhood memories of many a Christmas where we would set up a fresh tree to decorate with lots of lights, ornaments and tinsel.  The smell of pine would scent everyone’s house for many days for back in those days artifical trees were hardly heard of.   

But…times have since changed and my apartment now has a small artifical tree in the corner and I spray pine air freshner or burn a pine-scented candle to get my fresh pine smell.  However, I do get to enjoy Christmas at my daughter’s home where there is always a freshly cut evergreen tree decorated by excited grand-children who are making Christmas memories of their own.

My love of evergreen trees would of course lead me to say that they have to be one of God;s wonderful works.  As much as I love the beauty of the fall colors and  wondrous turning of the leaves in Autumn trees, I would have to say that the evergreen tree is highest on my list of trees and living in Oregon I am glad that the Douglas Fir was designated our state tree in 1939.  

The Douglas-fir was so named in honor of David Douglas, a Scottish botanist visited the Pacific Northwest In 1824.  
He has been quoted as saying  “A forest of these trees is a spectacle too much for one man to see.”  He could have been speaking about a forest of evergreen trees,  for he introduced several  North American native conifers to Europe.and among them was the Douglas-fir which he introduced to Scotland cultivation in 1827.  

The Douglas-fir is also called Douglas tree or Oregon Pine and nationally,it is one of the most popular for Christmas trees. However, the trees are not just grown for Christmas.  They are actually the source of more lumber than any other species of tree in North America.  They are prized as one of the most valuable timber trees in the world,  for the timber from Douglas firs is said to be stronger than concrete.   

If you are fortunate to have a sturdy beautiful Douglas-fir as your Christmas tree this year I hope you will take a moment to just sit and look at it.  Enjoy it’s green beauty and lovely pine scent.  Realize it’s value and give thanks to God for creating such a wonderful tree for us to enjoy.  

Plant a Douglas-fir, or gift one to someone visit “Tree Beginnings” to order this “Green Gift”  
They have Douglas Fir Holiday Tree Gifts in Eco Boxes so you can plant a your own Christmas Tree

Seaside Museum exhibits World’s Biggest Douglas Fir Tree

The Tree of Life?

Green Coconuts at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

The Tree of Life?

While I was getting my hair cut the other day I couldn’t help but overhear a conversation going on next to me.  A man, getting his hair cut, was chatting with the hairstylist about a party he had recently attended where he was being honored for some achievement.  “Of all the things they could have chosen to make for dessert in my honor, they chose to give me coconut cream pie!”  He said with disgust.  ‘I hate coconut, especially coconut cream pie”  he said.

My hairstylist’s eyes met mine in the mirror and we both smiled.  ” I would have been elated at that!”  I said to her.  “I love coconut cream pie!”  ” She agreed, saying ” I love anything coconut !  In fact, we Pacific Islanders call the coconut tree the “Tree of Life” because every part of it has something good or useful for people.”   ‘Really! ” I said.

She then went on to tell me that she was from Hawaii and she grew up on coconut milk and coconut water.  This started us off on a delightful conversation regarding coconuts.  “I too, enjoyed eating fresh coconut as a child” I said as I recounted memories I had of breaking open a coconut my mom had brought home from the grocery.  “I and my brother loved the taste of the coconut’s white meat”   “But…the best coconut’s are the green coconuts” my hairstylist said as she began cutting my hair.  “Green coconuts are the young coconuts and they are full of vitamins, minerals and have lots of good water in them.  The brown coconuts that you find at most grocery stores are not as good.”

Well, that was a revelation to me.  I hadn’t ever heard of green coconuts before.  When I got home I decided to do some research on the coconut tree and coconuts, especially on green coconuts.  What I found was quite fascinating and led me to conclude that the coconut tree is truly one of the wonderful works of God.

The coconut tree is said to be a “tree which gives all that is necessary for living,” because nearly all parts of the tree can be used in some manner or another.  Besides the coconuts it bears, the tree’s trunk, leaves, bark and roots are used in many beneficial ways.  Also, husks and shells of the coconut itself can be used.

My research showed that modern science has recently unlocked secrets that reveal amazing medicinal qualities in coconuts.  It is said that coconut oil possesses healing properties that are amazing.

The coconut was once mistakenly believed to be unhealthy because of its high saturated fat content.  I remember when I heard that quite a few years ago.  I was quite disappointed because I loved coconut and to hear that I shouldn’t eat it because it was very bad for me was upsetting, however, now science has learned that the fat in coconut oil is different from most all other fats and it really very healthy!  Well, don’t you know I was glad to hear that!  I decided to check it out by purchasing some coconut oil to see what wonderful health benefits it could bring to me.  I am delighted to say I am still learning but enjoying what I have found so far.

One of my favorite uses of coconut oil is using it instead of butter or margarine on my toast.  It gives the toast a taste very similar to cinnamon toast.  A friend of mine uses it on popcorn instead of butter.  She says the flavor is wonderful.

Since the coconut tree is called “The Tree of Life” by some, and the “tree which gives all that is necessary for living” by others, I think it would be beneficial for all of us to check it out to see if those statements are indeed true.  Plus, if coconut oil is supposed to be the “healthiest oil on earth” then I think we owe it to ourselves to see what benefits it might offer each of us.

Young coconuts (green coconuts) and coconut oil can usually be found in your local gourmet grocery stores or Asian markets or Mexican markets.

I have included some very informative links for you to check out and read further on this wonderful gift, the coconut, that God has provided to us.  I hope you enjoy learning about it as much as I have.

Coconut Research Center–http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/—see list of 51 Coconut Uses In Modern Medicine

YoungCoconuts.com—http://www.youngcoconuts.com/index.htm--Nutrition Facts–Where to Buy

Coconut Oil.com  Research on the Health Benefits of Coconut Oil–http://www.coconutoil.com/

(The picture in this article was taken by a friend on a recent visit to Mexico.)

Lemons, Life and Lemonade

If you have a lemon, make lemonade.
Howard Luck Gossage

I just learned that the 8th Annual National Lemonade Days, a yearly fundraiser to help fight Childhood Cancer, is almost upon us, actually beginning this weekend, Friday June 10th through Sunday June 12th.  If you live in Oregon you might want to visit a local stand either to volunteer to help or just to donate to the cause.  My search turned up stands in Sherwood, Canby, and Oregon City but perhaps you might find one or two in Portland or you might want to get involved by setting up your own stand.  (See link below for information)

Alex Scott started her Lemonade Stand when she was 4 years old.  She had been diagnosed with cancer just before her first birthday and she told her parents that she wanted to sell lemonade to earn money to give to the doctors to find a cure.  Alex bravely continued fighting her cancer and selling lemonade at her stand every year until she passed away at age 8.  By then she had raised over one million dollars for cancer
research and in her name, her parents carry on her mission through the Alex Scott Lemonade Foundation.

Alex is an inspiration to me, for this young girl took what life handed her and did something good with it.  She lived out the quote “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” (Dale Carnegie)  Although Alex’s life only lasted 8 years, she continues to live on through her Lemonade Stands and in the memories of those she helped through the money she earned for cancer research.  I would say Alex Scott was truly one of God’s wonderful creations and I am blessed to learn of her and of the work that continues on in her name.

Alex was right to choose lemonade to sell.  Who doesn’t love a tall glass of tart and tangy lemonade on a hot summer day?   It is a refreshing drink, one that is a joy to the senses, however those beautiful, golden yellow, sour fruits called lemons can be used for so much more than lemonade.

The lemon, another of God’s wonderful creations, is actually a tree and a fruit.  It is both a small evergreen tree and an oval fruit that probably orginated in the Middle East.   It’s exact location is not known, but it was probably India.  Orginially it was used as an antiseptic and antidote for poisons.   Columbus brought it to America in the form of lemon seeds and with it’s increase and growth, especially in Florida and California ,it
came to be greatly used in all kinds of cooking, beverages, bath products, cleaning supplies, and so much more.

Visit these links for more information on the wonderful Lemon and Lemonade Days !

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation–Fighting Childhood Cancer–See how you can help
http://www.alexslemonade.org/about

Lemonflower–recipes, tips, history, uses and more
http://www.lemonflower.com/

24 Handy Lemon Tips from Green Living
http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/136/1/24-handy-lemon-tips.html

Remembering Our Wonderful Rivers

The song of the river ends not at her banks but in the hearts of those who have loved her. — (Buffalo Joe)

Des Plaines River Lake County, IL

A river is a natural watercourse.  Just as the song “Ol Man River” says “it just keeps movin along”. No matter what happens,  unless some natural disaster prevents it or a man made dam stops it, a river will always keep moving forward, flowing toward another river, or towards something bigger perhaps, like the ocean, a lake or sea.

Rivers are wonderful works of God and there are so many that they cannot be counted. There are thousands of rivers all over the world, all flowing forward, some fast, some slow, some big, some small, but they are all moving, constantly moving–forward. That is so inspiring to me, and I think we would all do well to pattern our lives after the rivers, to focus each day on moving forward, whether it be slow or swift.

I have many fond memories of rivers, having grown up very near to one.  My childhood home was very close to the Des Plaines River in Illinois and as a child I spent a lot of time sitting on it’s banks fishing in the summer or ice skating on it in the winter.
The Des Plaines is a slow moving river that begins in Wisconsin and flows through Illinois to meet the Kankakee River which eventually becomes the Illinois River that flows into the Mississippi River.

Rivers inspire me and I actually enjoy a visit to a river over one to the ocean.  Probably because a river seems more like a friend you can sit down and relax with. During the course of my life I have been fortunate to visit quite a few rivers all across our country. While living in Iowa I was able to enjoy the Iowa River, Cedar River and Mississippi River all which were close by and though each was different in its own way, the one thing they all shared was that forward movement that is so inspiring !

One summer my grandsons and I made it a point to visit one “Creek a Week”.  It was our part of our “Tuesdays Discovery Days”. Being that Tuesday was my day off from work, that was the day we would go on adventures. This particular summer we became intrigued by all the Creeks in Johnson County that seemed to flow out from the Iowa River, so we decided each Tuesday we would visit one, take a picture and explore. It was such a fun summer and even though we never did find all the many Creeks, we have many memories that are priceless.

Here in Oregon, we have the Williamette River which ranks 19th in volume among U.S. rivers.
It’s forward movement carries it to the Columbia River and then eventually to the Pacific Ocean.  I would suggest that you take some time to get to know this River that is in Portland’s backyard.  Visit it, sit on it’s banks, watch it flow, investigate the life it carries along, and give thanks for it’s constant forward motion.  Then, perhaps, make it a point to visit as many rivers as you can this year, just to see their beauty, feel their differences and note their purposes.  I am sure if you do, your life will be enriched by all these wonderful works of God–our Rivers !

As David Brower said in his Foreword to Oregon Rivers by Larry Olson and John Daniel:

“Witness for them. Enjoy their unimprovable purpose as you sense it, and let those rivers that you never visit comfort you with the assurance that they are there, doing wonderfully what they have always done.”

Williamette River Portland, OR.

Ol’ Man River

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ol%27_Man_River

Williamette Riverkeeper
http://www.willamette-riverkeeper.org/WRK/index.html

List of Rivers in Oregon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rivers_of_Oregon

Lovely Lilacs

I am thinking of the lilac-trees,
That shook their purple plumes,
And when the sash was open,
Shed fragrance through the room.
- Mrs. Anna S. Stephens, The Old Apple-Tree
This quote by Anna S Stephens speaks my thoughts as I sit at my dining room table enjoying my morning coffee.  Anna S. Stephens,(1810 – 1886) was an American Novelist and Magazine Writer who obviously loved lilacs.  I can imagine her feelings as she penned the words, most probably while sitting near a window overlooking lilac bushes, just as I am now doing.

I am sharing a moment in time, just as Anna did so long ago, and it is as if my beautiful lilac bush is speaking to me, inspiring me to write.

“Good Morning” it seems to say,
“Wake up and enjoy this day,
For my blooms are limited in their stay,
and these fragrant flowers I bring you in May,
will oh,so soon, be gone away”

Yes, lilacs are one of the wonderful gifts God has given us, and we can give thanks to Mary Foster for bringing them to Oregon so long ago when she and her husband traveled here on the Oregon Trail.

Mary brought one of the first lilac bushes to Oregon in 1843 and it still lives at the Philip Foster Farm in Estacada, Or. The Foster Farm is a National Historic Site because Philip and Mary Foster were early settlers who played an important part in Oregon’s history.
The Farm has several annual events of interest to all.
Visit their website for more information:  http://www.philipfosterfarm.com/

We can also thank Hulda Klager, who was known as the “Lilac Lady”.  Hulda loved lilacs and she began hybridizing them in 1905, 15 years later she had developed many new varieties and began sharing them.  Though she passed away in 1960 her lilac gardens live on at her now historic home in Woodland, Wa.
An annual “Lilac Days” is held there to view the 3-1/2 acres of lilacs that Hulda left for all of us to enjoy.
For more information visit their web site at:   http://www.lilacgardens.com/history.html

Lilacs are not only fragrant and beautiful, but they are also edible and can be candied to use as colorful decorations on cakes. They have a lovely lemony taste that would make any cake or cupcake a special treat.  The flowers or buds can be used in baking but also can be used to make fragrant lilac sugar, syrup or jelly.  Visit this link for some fun to try recipes:  http://greenbotanicals.blogspot.com/2008/05/lilac-flower-recipes.html

A Tribute to Loretta

Loretta Dorothy Dietmeyer Cliff

A Tribute to Loretta

Although women were marching in New York, demanding the right to vote, and Ford Motor Company had just manufactured its 1 millionth Model T, things in Wadsworth, Illinois in 1915 remained pretty ordinary. You rose before dawn, worked or went to school, and went to bed shortly after sunset. Not much time was spent socializing and news from the outside world was limited as radios did not become readily available until the 1920′s and then not many people could afford them.

It was at this time that Loretta Dorothy Dietmeyer was born. Her arrival came in the fall at her parent’s home in a small country village about 50 miles north of Chicago, Illinois.

World War 1 was going on at the time and life was hard.  Loretta’s dad was a poor farmer trying to support his family of 5, as best as he could. Her mom spent her days caring for Loretta and her 2 siblings, cooking, preparing food for storage and making clothes by hand.  There was no electricity or indoor plumbing and travel was by horse and buggy.

In the coming years two more boys would be born to the family and life would get harder during the Great Depression of 1929.

As Loretta grew she attended a small one room school house quite a few miles from her home.  She and her siblings had to walk several miles to and from school each day in all kinds of weather. There were no such things as school busses, cars or bikes and often the harsh winters prohibited anyone from traveling anywhere.  Loretta loved school and she did well in her studies, but after finishing 8th grade she had to quit because the family couldn’t afford to send her on to high school. She then went to live with her Aunt and Uncle on their nearby farm and did work for them for her room and board. Children often had to do that during the Depression time to help relieve the financial burdens of the parents who had big families. Loretta’s sister had already left a few years earlier to stay with another Aunt since she hadn’t done as well in school.

It was at this time that the family moved from the village to a home in the country.  As the years went by Loretta’s dad had to go on public aid to support the family and even though in 1930 President Hoover said “Prosperity is just around the corner” life for Loretta and her family continued to be difficult for many years, especially with the start of World War II in 1939.

When I met Loretta for the first time in 1944 she was 29 years old.  She was the beautiful wife of Erling who had been drafted by the Army because World War II was still going on and she was the mother of a curly headed little girl named Frances, who was 5 years old .

Loretta had such a wonderful smile I couldn’t help but like her and as the nurse put me into her arms and said “Here is your baby girl”, I was so glad God had picked someone as special as she to be my mother for I felt safe and loved.

Every time I had a birthday I celebrated another year of life, and my mother celebrated another year of motherhood. That, to her was Mother’s Day.  The celebrations went on for 56 years and then she left me to go to her heavenly home.

Each year on my birthday as I thank God for another year, I also give thanks for my mother and for the love and care she gave to me.  I also take time to thank God for creating her and choosing her to be my mother, for she was truly one of His wonderful works !

“The moment a child is born,
the mother is also born.
She never existed before.
The woman existed,
but the mother, never.
A mother is something absolutely new.”
–Rajneesh

Dandelions…dear to my daughter’s heart

“The miracles of nature do not seem miracles because they are so common.
 If no one had ever seen a flower, even a dandelion would be the most startling event in the world.”

–Author Unknown

It’s spring and the Dandelions are popping up all over the green grass.

Seeing a bunch of them today reminded me of a time years back when I worked at the local hardware store as a cashier.  It was Springtime and the Lawn and Garden department was very busy selling all the items homeowner’s might need to keep their lawns green and beautiful.  This day in particular many of the customers seemed to be focused on fighting dandelions.  In fact, our supply of dandelion removers was dwindling as the complaints about the “weed” rose higher and higher throughout the day.

I found myself waiting for the work day to end so I could escape this “dandelion frenzy”.  Driving home I recall thinking ” I will be so glad if I never see or hear about a dandelion again !”

Yet, when I got home a surprise awaited me.  My daughter was waiting for me with a big bouquet of dandelions in her little hands.  “Welcome home Mommy!  I picked some beautiful yellow flowers just for you!” she said.

Dandelions !
How quickly I found myself loving these little yellow blooms that I previously hoped to avoid.  As I hugged my daughter and helped her put them into a water filled vase, a new appreciation for dandelions came over me. Though they might be a nuisance to landscapers, they are loved by children and mothers.

My thought today, on “Earth Day” is:
May we all see the world through the eyes of a child.

Let’s take time to see the beauty and wonder of the earth around us.
Let’s pick a bouquet of dandelions for our table and stop to give thanks to their Creator for giving us beauty and color in our world.

Dandelions actually have many good uses.  Check the links below for some interesting facts about them.

http://www.naturewatch.ca/english/plantwatch/dandelion/fun_facts.html

http://mydandelionisaflower.org/did-you-know/

http://www.ehow.com/about_5374101_dandelion-flower.html

http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/dandelion-herb.html

Wonderful Works

The “Wonderful Pomegranate”.
Pomegranates have become very popular recently because they are full of antioxidants which are beneficial to our health, however, pomegranates have been around since ancient times and I am sure this scarlet fruit has been the delight of many since then.
There are many varieties of pomegranates but the “Wonderful Pomegranate” is primarly grown in Israel and in the USA, in California, by a company called  “Pom Wonderful LLC”  which manufactures many different kinds of “Wonderful Pomegranate” products.

I was first introduced to pomegranates when I was a child and I can remember spending many days sitting at home picking out the “seeds”, enjoying the tart, juicy fruit while staining my hands and mouth a bright red color!  This sweet memory was recently resurrected one day when my two grand-daughters came to visit and asked if we could buy a pomegranate to eat for a snack!  As we three enjoyed our “pomegranate experience” by seeing whose lips could get the reddest, I decided I wanted to learn more about this unusual fruit which was not only fun to eat but healthy also.
By typing “pomegranate” into an online search engine I came across many articles about the “Wonderful Pomgranate” and so it seemed right to use this fruit as an example of the many wonderful works of God.

Pomegranate is found in several places in the Old Testament.  Solomon wrote in Song of Songs 4:3
“Your lips are like a strand of scarlet, And your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil Are like a piece of pomegranate. “

Indeed, the pomegranate is one of God’s wonderful works and how happy I am that it is readily available for us to enjoy today !

For more information on Pomegranates check out these links:
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/pomegranate.html
http://www.pomwonderful.com/products/freshfruit/pom-fresh/

“May I publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.“
Psalm 26:7