One Fall Day

Tags

Autumn, baby, baby photographs, fall, granddaughter, joy, moon, morning sky, night sky, positive attitude, Pumpkin, Pumpkin Patch, sky, sunrise photographs, sunset photographs

Sunrise over our Hillbilly ‘hood

As the day awakens and everyone wakes up with it, there is a sense of anticipation for what is to come.  The new day holds a promise of things yet realized — what it brings is up to us.

Sunset over our Hillbilly ‘hood

As the sun sets and nightfall is near, our sense of anticipation can still remain.  Our bodies and minds need rest, but our spirit and drive are still there, waiting to start another day tomorrow.

Moonrise over our Hillbilly ‘hood

Lock the joy of the day in your mind and heart, let go of the trials and pain of the day as you lay down to rest, and let troubles fade away as you drift off to sleep.  Whether joy or trouble, a new day full of new possibilities awaits you.  Nothing is carved in stone — a day and a night can change everything.

Meanwhile, someone is getting ready for her trip to the pumpkin patch…

It’s me, Precious Baby!  And I’m kinda unsure if this will be a  trip that babies like.

Still not real sure about this…am I for sale?

All right, so, now what?

Am I supposed to be doing what he’s doing?

Well…this…MIGHT not end up being so bad…

You’re not gonna cry again, are you?  Between teething and wearing a diaper I’m already pretty wet.

This turned out to be kinda fun!

I’m so glad Daddy and Mommy brought me!

And look what Mommy took a picture of — a bug on a pumpkin flower!  She’s getting pretty good at this picture-taking stuff!  But then she’s had lots of practice taking pictures of ME!

Things in Hillbilly Land and this side of the world are coming to a close for the day, and blessings abound everywhere if we look for them.  Whether it is a beautiful grandchild, a beautiful sky, a bug on a flower, or anything that shows us God is near, enjoy your blessings tomorrow as you travel through the day and through life.  Blessings to each and every one of you!

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Migraine Update — Tips For Easing the Nightmare

Tags

Conditions and Diseases, Gatorade, Headache, Health, Migraine, migraine advice, migraine remedies, migraine tips, Pain

A little over a year ago an idea for migraine relief was given to me by a friend at church (read about that here).  I have referred to it since then as the “Gatorade Diet,” and I have since discovered more tips for easing the trauma that most migraines bring. To just say the gist of what that post was about, it mainly suggests that some migraine sufferers might find a little relief if they drink Gatorade at the onset of a migraine.

Since I don’t tend to drink a lot of fluids, and I feel fairly certain that may be part of the problem, I also drink Gatorade whenever I do drink anything during the day and evening.  With meals, while taking meds, just whenever I get thirsty, and, of course, at the onset of migraines.  Since I don’t drink fluids that often, it’s not as if I down gallons a day.  A large can of Gatorade powder will last me awhile.

Since starting this routine a year ago, I have suffered four migraines.  Since I was having rounds of them that would trigger migraines every other day, I find that four times a year is quite an improvement!  Not only that, but the migraines I did have only brought minor pain or none at all.

The migraines I did have this past year were in the beginning couple of months after I started drinking Gatorade.  I am guessing that it may take one or two weeks of regular Gatorade drinking to start seeing some effects.  Since I was going around dehydrated most of the time, it probably took awhile to build things back up in my system.

So, here are a few tips for getting the most out of your migraine experience (eye roll):

• Take migraine meds and drink Gatorade at first suspicion of the onset of a migraine.
• Before the pain begins, right after taking your meds, put an ice pack on your head.  I’m not sure why it works for me to put it on even before the pain starts, but when I have done it, there was a marked decrease in overall migraine pain.  The flexible kind of ice packs that are used in coolers to keep things cold will work for this.  I keep two in the fridge — I can plop one on my head without having to put a towel around it first, and also I can switch to the extra ice pack when the one on my head warms up.  Again, what works for me may not for someone else, and may not always even work for me, but it can’t hurt.
• If you do not drink many liquids during the course of a day, incorporate Gatorade into your daily routine.

One blogger friend (Bob) pointed out to me that Gatorade contains a lot of salt, and mentioned an alternative that has the same things in it that Gatorade does, only minus the salt.  I will have to look back and see what the name of it is and update it to this post.  It may have been Powerade, but I’m unsure.

The problem with trying substitutes is that the salt may be what makes the Gatorade effective.  But I’m willing to give the alternative a try and see what happens.  I’ll post about that here, too.

Note: Bob has since confirmed in a comment below that it is, indeed, Powerade that he was talking about.  I will get brave and try it to see what happens.  If it works it will certainly be more healthy.  Thanks Bob!

At any rate, if you feel like trying these tips, give it a few weeks and see if you notice an improvement.  After a month you should see marked improvement if it is working for you at all.  As I’ve said in my previous post, this does not work for everybody — it depends largely on what is causing your migraines.

I hope this helps.  As for me, I am virtually migraine-free at this point, so if it turns out that drinking salty Gatorade is the only way to go, it’s just a choice I will have to make.  Migraines every day is not the way I want to live.

Update: Since I made this post, my daughter, who had insisted that Gatorade did not help her migraines, went to see a neurologist who specialized in migraines.  He told her that migraines really never go totally away, and that they are genetic.  Then he put her on a regimen of (here it comes, you’ll never guess) Gatorade!  I’m guessing from this that it’s been confirmed by at least some of the medical profession that it helps with migraines, at least in part.  That makes it even more worth a try if you suffer from these horrible, debilitating trials of the body.

Whatever you do today and in days to come to make your life and the lives of others better, I hope you receive blessings.  Have a glorious weekend, no matter what your weather is — you deserve it!

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• Study finds men and women are affected differently by migraines (westernherbal.com)
• Block migraine pain with a back-of-the-head injection (today.com)
• New Migraine Treatment Provides Hope for Patients with Hemiplegic… (prweb.com)
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Rainy Fall

Tags

accident, Autumn, Autumn leaf color, B&W photographs, black and white photography, fall, Fall color, lawn mowing, nature, nature photographs, nature photography, rain

Just because those of us in Hillbilly-land are waiting with such anticipation to take pictures of the glorious Fall colors, the golden hues of Autumn have decided to be late this year.  All around us in this area everything is still green, with just a hint of Fall color here and there.

 After a little mishap I have been spending the last month or so getting back to normal.  Most of the physical damage was on my left side, but I have been careful and healed nicely.  There are only the residual problems that come with broken ribs, which take forever to heal, and I still can’t grip things with my left hand.  Handwriting anything is out, but I can finally type with both hands, so I’m mostly back in business.  Yay!

We have been getting lots and lots of rain here, with just the occasional sunny day.  What that adds up to is that the grass is still growing rampant, while mowing has to be a rush-job between rains during the short times the sun is out.

But, it’s nice to still have a green lawn, although City Boy would beg to differ with me — he is the one having to mow it.

Believe me, I have offered to mow it many, many times, but he has never quite trusted that I can do it correctly.  Now that I actually have not been capable of doing it at all for the last month, it has truly become his and only his chore.

He has been wondering how I can stumble around holding a camera and taking pictures, when things like cooking dinner or doing dishes has been a hardship for me.  Amazing how that works, don’t you think?

Well, for one thing, the shutter button is on the right side of my camera, and it’s the left hand I have the problem with.  And cooking and doing dishes involves getting food and water on a person’s hands, which I have not been able to do with my left hand, so that’s the way it goes.  Now that I can at least do these things again, City Boy is really looking forward to me cooking chili tonight and making banana bread for him.  It’s the least I can do for his first day of handing the reigns (mostly) back over to me.

Actually, City Boy has been a good boy and I have really appreciated his help and understanding while all this has been going on.  I married a wonderful guy, and not because I’m a good guy-picker, but because I got lucky that he came along when I was doing the picking.  Amazing how that works, don’t you think?

And, actually, he picked me, but we’ll just keep that between us, winky-wink.

So, Fall has come in around here with a whimper.  But, the weather people say that the colors are just a few weeks later than usual because of the unusually warm Fall we’ve had so far.  Well, that makes sense I guess.

Until some photo-worthy color comes in, I’ll post pictures I took just before the monsoon started.  After all, even with all of my limitations of late, I never became unable to manage taking pictures.  Amazing how that works, don’t you think?

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Summer’s Over and Fall’s Cookin’!

Tags

Autumn, blessings, change, change of season, cool weather, Dick Willingham, fall, harvest, nature, nature photographs, Summer, tribute

Ah, Summer.  It’s still here for a lot of us.  Warm, humid weather, sunshine.

Why, just a few mornings ago I was out taking these pictures of the summer flowers, skies and grass in my neighbor’s overgrown yard.

The neighbor just moved in and thinks he’s been hoodwinked.  He does not feel that it is his responsibility to mow his yard, and argues with the city about it.

At any rate, things are suddenly changing.  Almost like clockwork, with Fall officially beginning Sunday, it’s just now starting to look a little more like change is in the air.

In the early morning sunlight this week I’ve noticed things that are usually green are starting to turn shades of red, orange and yellow.  Leaves are starting to fall a little, the air is getting cooler at night, the Fall smell is in the air.

Fruit trees are ripe for a final harvest, and fruit is starting to litter the ground.

Even an old acorn cap, probably from last year, has joined the menagerie of falling objects from trees.

But, after all, we’re still getting the occasional 90 degree day.  That’s why I take pictures in the early morning still, so I don’t sweat all over my camera.  There are still vestiges of Summer holding on as long as they can.

I am one of those holdouts.  I like Fall, but I also like the sunshine and outdoorsy feeling of Summer, and have not been in a hurry to let it go.

But, with the change of season also comes the promise of good and different things, so saying goodbye to Summer and embracing Fall starts us on the path that opens us up to all the wonderful things ahead.

In the past several months I’ve had an ongoing mantra of promising I’ll do better at blogging.  I’m not sure what has happened, but I’m trying to figure out why I have just had the blues for the last several months.  

There have been some very bright spots, though, and I am grateful for the blessings of wonderful people and great relationships.  There is not a problem in the world that can’t be made better by these blessings.

At the risk of letting my overwhelming pride turn me into a bad blogger, I wanted to share this video with you.  This past week my family and a host of friends celebrated the life of my Uncle Bud with a party — jazz band playing, food, fun — it’s what he wanted rather than a funeral.  But, the video is the tribute to Uncle Bud done by KYTV, the NBC affiliate station here in southwest Missouri.  This is my final blog about Uncle Bud, but far, far from my final thought and memory.

http://www.ky3.com/news/ky3-former-ky3-anchor-dick-willingham-passes-away-20130915,0,2768607.story

A great weekend is coming up, and I’m looking forward to starting fresh.  Just like the seasons change and another one starts anew, so we each can do the same thing.  It’s what makes life interesting!

Have a fabulous and blessed weekend!

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• Welcome, Fall (intothecitynyc.wordpress.com)
• in passing (delicateauthenticity.wordpress.com)
• 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Fall (mashable.com)

Looking Ahead

Tags

Mental health, music, song, Suicide, The Secret Sisters, Tomorrow Will Be Kinder, well being

Today I discovered that my sweet niece is contemplating suicide.  

She struggles with physical pain, and has been trying to let go of a troubled past.  She is happy with her marriage to an attentive, great guy, and that’s a big blessing in her life.  But sometimes, when it all is crashing in on her at once, she is unable to hold on to her sweet and caring spirit enough to realize that she matters too much to give up.

The Secret Sisters at Newport 2011 (Photo credit: wfuv)

The first time I ever heard this song, performed by The Secret Sisters, I was visiting another blog (Let’s Have Another Piece of Pie) and I loved it instantly, so I sent it to my niece along with my prayers and an invitation to call any time.

I thought you might like it as much as I do.  

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The Weather Of Life

Tags

depression, feeling positive, flowers, Joseph Addison, nature photographs, positive attitude, positive outlook, storms of life, Sunlight, sunshine, trials

“What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.” 
― Joseph Addison

No matter what happens or how things are now, sunshine, smiles and flowers are scattered from place-to-place in our lives, in different forms and from different people and things.  A smile, a favor from a friend, children’s laughter, something suddenly working right that hasn’t for a long time — little things that make life’s pathway nice.  

Life has it’s ups and downs — sometimes it is sunshiny with blue skies and fluffy clouds, and all is right with the world.  Our world is cheerful and happy when everything is so wonderful and peaceful.

But sometimes dark clouds and storms roll in, obscuring the sunlight.  Some storms are but short, gentle rainfalls, while others last and last, bringing torrents of wind, lightning and thunder.  But, we know that nothing lasts forever, and even while it is storming, we can count on a time when the storm will be over and the sun will show itself again.

It rains on us all, the good and the bad, the just and the unjust — when we weather the storm, beautiful skies and flowers await us.  And, because of the rain the storm brings, the flowers will now flourish.

Whatever our storms are, whatever trials we face, I pray that they are short, steady rains, and that we are even better for the trials we’ve had to face and have come through.  May God bless you with lots of Sunday sunshine and flowers tomorrow!

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Why are some people mosquito magnets?

Tags

Insect repellent, Mosquito, mosquito free, mosquito repellent, Mosquitoes, natural mosquito remedies, outdoors, repelling mosquitoes

This morning I ran across this interesting article in Yahoo Health about what makes a person attractive to mosquitoes.  The little critters don’t bother me much at all, but they eat City Boy alive if he’s only outside for a minute, so I was curious about why that might be.  Frank was too, because when I sent the article to him he had already read it.  

Anyway, with Summer in full swing and mosquitoes lining up outside our doors seeking whom they may devour, I thought this article might be worth a read to somebody else.  We all have to share this world with the bugs, and some of us hate bug spray, so these hints might help make outings a bit more comfortable.

Hope it helps!

Why are some people mosquito magnets? | Yahoo! Health.

Peaceful

Tags

calm, calmness, flowers, inner peace, nature, peace, photographs, Prayer

The prayer garden at the church I attend is in bloom again, this time with its Summer array.  It is such a peaceful place to wander around, or sit on a bench and think.

Most of us need a time to calm down and be at peace, regroup, pray.  And to do that, it helps to have a place to go to where we feel serene and positive.

There was a time or two when my car in a Walmart parking lot was my Place of Peace.  I played games on my phone and listened to the radio until I felt more calm and better able to think clearly.  At times my calming place has been with a book on the back porch.  But the prayer garden, a walk on a nature trail, or a sit-down by a stream are my favorite places to relax.

I encourage you to have a go-to place that is a haven for you to unwind when you need that time.  Even if it’s a locked bathroom door and tub of warm water.  I do realize that those opportunities may not come often — I was a young mother once — so sometimes you may have to plan them.  But do make the effort — it is so important.

Early in the morning or at the end of the day, alone or with a significant other, however you feel most calm — take some time to unwind and refresh your soul once-in-awhile.  One last picture of another calming place for me: my back porch at sundown.

I urge you to find your own Places of Peace, relax, and have a wonderful Sunday!

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Apricots: did you know that…

Tags

anti-cancer food, Apricot, Apricot pit, apricot seed, Seed, Vitamin B17

For years I have thought that the seeds of apricots were bad for a person — nice to know they can actually prolong life!

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X-ways series

• the seeds inside the kernels of apricots can protect you from cancer?
• they contain high levels of vitamin B17 which is described as an immune system booster.
• vitaminB17orLeatrili was discovered byErnst Krebsand is probably thestrongestanti-cancersubstance.
• toChounza, thelongest livingpeoplein the worldwho livein Pakistanandcall themselvesdescendantsof the soldiersof Alexander the Great, cancer iscompletelyunknown.
• Scientists fromMemorialstudied thenutritionof Chounza. They foundthat theChounza peopleeat lots ofapricots and also the inside of the kernelsof apricots.
• Whena WesterndoctorvisitedChounza, apricots were offered to him. TheChounzamade​​agrimaceof disgustwhen they saw him spitthe best part: the kernels.

Caution: Try eating 1-2 of them daily to keep yourself healthy. Avoid to consume more than…

View original post 21 more words

Walk For the Cure

Tags

baby photographs, Cancer, Cure, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Walk For the Cure

In my last post I mentioned that City Boy’s children had lost their mother to cancer, and they have been supporters of the Susan Koman Walk For the Cure since before that.  Today it had a special meaning when Frank’s youngest daughter Becca and middle daughter Melissa brought their daughters to this year’s Walk.

Here is Precious Baby getting a bite before the Walk, complete with her Walk For the Cure outfit and headband.

Melissa and her daughter Cutie Girl donned matching Fight Like a Girl shirts.

Before their mother Pam passed away, she and the girls attended every cancer walk they could.  Even when Pam could barely stand, she would attend the walks.  

I urge anyone out there who has a loved one with cancer, or a loved one who has died from it, to consider attending walks such as this in support of the people who are helping raise money to fund the fight for a cure.  Moral support and prayers go a long way toward cheering the walkers on, and it’s a great family activity to promote awareness.

Here’s hoping the weather holds out for the walkers this weekend!  May they and all of you have a blessed day!

Pam

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• Susan G. Koman cancels walks in 7 cities, including Chicago (tribunetvpreprod.wordpress.com)