Monday Musings

  Today, we celebrate Memorial Day to honor those who died fighting in the U.S. Armed Forces. We remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. The above phrase is attributed to Howard William Osterkamp, Korean War Veteran and Purple Heart Recipient. Billy Ray Cyrus wrote the song  “Some Gave All”  to emphasize the contribution of the fallen heroes. The link will take you to a copy of the lyrics and the song audio. Have you lost friends or family members in the service? Our thoughts and prayers are with surviving loved ones. You can follow the Author on her  Website  or  X .

  The goal of this day is to highlight the importance of plants to our environment and to encourage people to add vegetation to the Earth. Over 80% of original forests have been cleared and nearly 70% of plants are at risk of extinction. While there are more than 80,000 edible plant species, 90% of our food derives from about 30 plants. This varies with country and culture. Modern and traditional medicine utilize 70,000 types of plants to treat ailments. There are other health benefits: plants absorb toxins in the air and produce oxygen. Of course, you know I dug in the dirt today: I replaced an ailing Clematis with a healthy new specimen. I look forward to a proliferation of dark pink blossoms. I installed a watering system for a new 3'x6' metal raised bed filled with three types of peppers, eggplants, chamomile, and marigolds. This setup will also serve three other areas with asparagus, strawberries/rhubarb, and melons. In addition, I planted seeds in a 2'x20' raised ...

On a lovely day last weekend, we took out-of-town guests on a drive to a nearby state park, the  Mount Jefferson State Natural Area . A winding road carried us to a parking area not far from the summit. En route there were opportunities to pull off and get out of the car for a closer view of the surrounding region. An overlook map provided an orientation to the distant mountains: we caught a glimpse of Grandfather Mountain off to the left. For hardier souls, there were rugged trails to enjoy the journey. We chose the gentler approach by vehicle, however, at the final parking lot ventured on a short hike to the apex. We walked a well-maintained path lined with lichen studded trees and budding mountain laurel. At the peak, there were two interesting technological items. The first was a communications tower. This tower is part of the national  VIPER network  which originated after 9/11 when it became apparent that different public service agencies were unable to communicate ...

  In the words of Emily Dickinson, friends are the most valuable of our possessions. A friend can be a casual associate or a lifelong connection. Even those of us who are blessed with siblings are doubly honored to share in close friendships. The six qualities described above summarize a good friend. A friend lifts you up and aids you in personal development.  Friendships are part of a fulfilling life . Are you fortunate to have an old friend with whom you can spray soda out of your nose while laughing at an inane joke? Or one that will stick to you like glue in the direst of times? I count several in my blog post mailing list in the real friend category. You can follow the Author on her  Website  or  X .