John Thomas

Okay here one for throwback. I know we have been talking about gardening.  Do some of you remember our grandparents canning vegetables? Yes, I have so much time, I am now canning some of my vegetables

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   

     When I wake up on a Monday morning and I realise I don't have to go and work at the civil service, I really think I've won. I remember being fascinated by the very nature of comedy from the age of 10; why is this funny, and that isn't? When I turned about 12 or 13, I realised that being funny wasn't about remembering jokes. It was about creating them. And like the old stereotype, I overcame my shyness by making my friends laugh. My school days were the happiest days of my life; which should give you some indication of the misery I've endured over the past twenty-five years.

~Paul Merton~

IT'S TIME FOR
JUST JOKING MONDAYS

     A turtle is crossing the road when he’s mugged by two snails. When the police show up, they ask him what happened. The shaken turtle replies, “I don’t know. It all happened so fast.

~Debby Carter~

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Kenneth Davis

     June 6, 2023: Settle into a routine that is more comfortable and efficient than what you are used to. The changes will be subtle and simple, but will yield great rewards. It will be like a good house cleaning by getting rid of things that are no longer useful to you. Enjoy the freedom that comes with being unencumbered. Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     To be loved is important as is having a sense of accomplishment but to love is equally important in life especially when it is combined with taking action to do something for someone else to make their life better. Not only did God deliver me from the bondage of alcoholism, he also blessed my family financially because of my commitment to honor what he had done for me and for not doing what I believed could possibly be destructive to others.

~Richard Kiel~

Once a Bond fan, always a Bond fan!!!!!

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

Southern summers have everything—hot days perfect for wiling away the hours at the lake or on the banks of the Mississippi River, warm nights designed for kicking back on the front porch. Southern summers have one other thing, too: mosquitoes, and lots of them.

Mosquitoes are humans’ most lethal predators. That’s according to the Washington Post article about the tiny monsters that carry diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, and dengue fever that kill more than half a million people each year. The rest of us just get incredibly itchy.

The funny thing about these swattable predators is that they don’t seem to bother everyone. There’s always one person at the barbecue who gets the worst of it, winding up polka dotted and scratching, while others walk away with just a bite or two.

According to the new study, published in the scientific journal Current Biology, scientists have determined that heat and carbon dioxide most likely aren’t enough to attract the lil buggers. What really attracts mosquitoes is heat, carbon dioxide, and certain chemicals found in human body odor and breath. Scientists found that mosquitoes really disliked one individual with a “signature scent [that] included an unusually low amount of carboxylic acids and high eucalyptols, a substance found in many plants, raising the possibility that diet may play a role.”

Scientists are trying to determine the exact mixture that mosquitoes find most attractive and delicious. The hope is that their experiments may lead to new ways to repel mosquitoes, perhaps by altering or masking the way our skin smells. A professor at Virginia Tech recently tested four commonly used soaps and found that mosquitoes seem to dislike coconut oil and particularly the Native coconut and vanilla body wash.

While the world waits for a new way to keep the little bloodsuckers away, remember that some plants can help repel them.

Basil an easy-to-plant herb has fragrant leaves and thrives in hot and humid climates, making it perfect for Southern landscapes. Its green leaves are a popular addition to kitchens across the globe. Once planted, basil requires full sun and regular watering. The strong, fresh fragrance of lemon basil  has been known to ward off mosquitos in the garden.

Catnip, also known as catmint, has aromatic, bright green leaves and small blossoms. It is a low-maintenance plant that tolerates full sun or partial shade and moderate to regular watering. It is a good choice for mosquito-repelling, as its fragrant foliage has a citrusy, lemony scent.

Citronella Grass is a tropical perennial that's widespread in Asia and the coasts of the Pacific. It's also the origin of the known mosquito repellent citronella, the essential oil derived from the plant's tall grassy stalks, that's widely marketed in candles and repellent sprays.

Garlic, whether chopping, cooking, or eating, the scent of garlic is a notorious lingerer. It sticks to fingers, utensils, and breath, and it's that quality—the potency of the oily, smelly allicin compound created when cloves of garlic are broken down—that makes it a potential mosquito repellent. Plant bulbs of garlic, and provide them with full sun and regular water to encourage them to thrive in your garden.

Rumor has it mosquitos don't love the scent of lavender. This showy plant has origins in the Mediterranean region, and it's prized for its downy leaves, purple blooms, and strong, heady fragrance. Not all lavender can thrive when planted outdoors in the South, but with appropriate care—and planting in well-draining, gravel-heavy soil—they have the potential to become perennial garden fixtures.

Lemon Balm, the plant also known as sweet balm, has heavily perfumed foliage, which, according to The Southern Living Garden Book, is "used fresh in cold drinks, fruit cups, salads, fish dishes; dried leaves give lemon perfume to sachets, potpourris," with the additional use of potentially warding off mosquitos.

Lemongrass is a tender perennial that thrives in full sun with regular water. According to The Southern Living Garden Book, "All plant parts are strongly lemon-scented and are widely used as an ingredient in Southeast Asian cooking." Its powerful, citrusy aroma is also used to repel mosquitos, as it is akin to the fragrant oils found in citronella-scented products.

Growing marigold plants provides showy garden color as well as an easily identifiable fragrance, one that is known to repel mosquitos. (Even some people find it repellent.) The Southern Living Garden Book describes marigold foliage as "finely divided, ferny, [and] usually [with] strongly scented leaves." When touched, copper canyon daisy (Tagetes lemmonii) leaves emit a very strong aroma, as does the foliage of Mexican mint marigold (Tagetes lucida), which smells strongly of tarragon.

Pennyroyal, a type of mint, gives off a strong fragrance in the form of a classic mint scent. It also possesses a powerful flavor; the plant is "poisonous if consumed in large quantities but safe as a flavoring." It requires regular watering in a cool climate.

Another form of mint, peppermint, offers a strong, fresh fragrance from tall columns of deep green aromatic leaves. (It can grow to over three feet tall.) Peppermint has also been known to repel mosquitos. It is widely known for its flavoring potential, and its fragrance has been adopted for everything from toothpaste to tea.

Aromatic rosemary is a low-maintenance planting, only needing full sun and low to moderate watering in well-draining soil. It's also known for its mosquito-repelling potential. 'Benenden Blue' smells strongly of pine, and its foliage has a bitter taste. 'Very Oily' grows to considerable height and width and, according to The Southern Living Garden Book, is notable "for its high essential oil content," a characteristic which also may help in repelling pests.

Many species of scented geraniums carry a heavy aroma and is accompanied by showy flowers. Prince of Orange Geranium and other citrus-scented species, like lime geranium, have been known to deter mosquitos. Other species also carry strong scents that may help in this garden effort, including peppermint geranium.

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. Sometimes our body is willing, but our mind is weak. Sometimes our mind is willing, but our body is weak. Do not be afraid. Strive to extend your capacity but do not be disappointed with yourself. What does not challenge us, cannot change us. Look after the root of the tree, and the fragrant flower and luscious fruits will grow by themselves. Look after the health of the body, and the fragrance of the mind and richness of the spirit will follow.

~B.K.S. Iyengar~

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

Eating This Nut May Reduce Heart Disease Risk, New Study Says
Kiersten HickmanKiersten Hickman

     Cracking more of this powerful little nut into your diet can be one simple way to possibly lower your chance of death from cardiovascular disease. From party snack spreads to cozy oatmeal bowls, it’s the perfect time of year to harness the health benefits of nuts. Thanks to a recent study in the journal Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, regularly consuming one particular type of nut was linked with a “better cardiovascular disease risk profile” and improved heart health.
     The public health researchers who led the current study pointed out that “cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally.” In the US, 2022 CDC data suggest that over 20 million Americans aged 20 years and older have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. With statistics like these, indeed cracking this powerful nut into your diet can be a simple—and yummy—way to show a little extra love to your ticker.

What the study says

     Earlier this year, researchers from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health concluded that specific nutrients found in walnuts may considerably reduce heart disease risk. The study was funded by the California Walnut Commission and analyzed dietary data from 3,092 young adults over the course of 20 years, as well as assessed the participants’ physical and clinical measurements over a 30-year span. The researchers looked at how walnut consumption stood up to the regular consumption of other nuts (these included almonds, pecans, pistachios, cashews, peanuts, hazelnuts, and peanut butter)—as well as no nut consumption—and how those factors seemed to play into the heart disease risk factors for the participants over three decades.
     As a result, walnut consumers generally had lower blood pressure and triglyceride concentration compared to eaters of other nuts. Walnut fans also scored significantly higher on the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Healthy Eating Index, and on average had lower body mass indexes and waist circumferences. Further, walnut eaters had lower fasting blood glucose than non-nut eaters.

Why you may want to eat walnuts more often!

     While the researchers concluded that a range of nuts can benefit heart health, they pointed out that walnuts provide a unique set of nutrients that make them powerful for cardiovascular health. Unlike some other nuts, walnuts contain a generous amount of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s are known for reducing triglycerides, a type of fat found in the blood that is known for increasing the risk of heart disease. In particular, a single one-ounce serving of walnuts provides a sufficient amount of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid that comes from some plants (think soybeans, flaxseed, and olives). One 2015 American Heart Association report stated that ALA has “been shown to reduce the risk of death from coronary heart disease and from heart attack.”
     Along with the high concentration of omega 3s, walnuts also are high in fiber (another essential heart-healthy nutrient!), protein, magnesium, and vitamin B6. It’s important to add that the researchers suggest these heart-healthy effects were probably not from walnuts alone—in fact, they report: “Compared with other nut and no nut consumers, walnut consumers ate more servings of whole grain products, fruit, vegetables, legumes, and fish, and fewer servings of refined grain products, red meat and processed meat.” Safe to say it’s that generally balanced, nutrient-packed regular diet that contributes to lower heart disease risk.
     Still, it could be worthwhile to throw back a small handful of walnuts more regularly. The Cleveland Clinic suggests 14 walnut halves is an appropriate serving. (That’s approximately the quarter-cup, one-ounce serving the University of Minnesota researchers found was effective, too.)
Kiersten Hickman is a journalist and content strategist with a main focus on nutrition, health, and wellness coverage. She holds an MA in Journalism from DePaul University and a Nutrition Science certificate from Stanford Medicine. Her work has been featured in publications including Taste of Home, Reader's Digest, Bustle, Buzzfeed, INSIDER, MSN, Eat This, Not That!, and more.

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     Happiness and joy comes to you when it moves through you. There is no other pathway--and that's the miracle. You will have a number of opportunities in the days just ahead to be a vehicle of happiness and joy for another. Step right into that. Be the source of that. As you bring others to a smile, so, too, will you bring yourself. The method is foolproof.
     Your light is seen, your heart is known, your soul is cherished by more people than you might imagine. If you knew how many others have been touched in wonderful ways by you, you would be astonished. If you knew how many people feel so much for you, you would be shocked. You are far more wonderful than you think you are. Rest with that. Rest easy with that. Breathe again. You are doing fine. More than fine. Better than fine. You’re doin’ great. So relax. And love yourself today. Remember always, you are the gift! 

~Neale Donald Walsch~

IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

Has it been a few years (or decades) since you've eaten a fried bologna sandwich? Remember the delicious interplay of tender bread and crispy meat. It was a humble dish that always satisfied. And it was worlds apart from a cold bologna sandwich. Sure, cold bologna had its own appeal, but when you fried the meat in a cast iron skillet, lightly chars around the edges, it was so delicious.

Kenneth Davis

   T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   

     In regard to music, I just think that it's always best to have an attitude of being a perpetual student and always look to learn something new about music, because there's always something new to learn. As a melody instrument player, it's all about getting from one note to the next, and those intervals and how you navigate your way through these vertical structures of chords. You realize that everything's moving forward and it's all linear. Its all about finding the right note at the right place and knowing when to leave well enough alone. And that's a lifelong quest.
     I think that that's the way the music grows and changes and becomes new and creative and vital. It's by synthesizing elements from all around it and not to maintain this kind of rigid myopic kind of tunnel vision, in a sense, trying to maintain a certain kind of purity, or whatever.

~David Sanborn~

WELCOME TO 
SMOOTH
 CONTEMPORARY JAZZ 
FRIDAYS

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

METAPHORS

Life is currently described in one of four ways: a journey, a battle, a pilgrimage, or a race. Select your own metaphore, but the necessity of finishing is all the same. For if life is a journey, it must be completed. If life is a battle, it must be finished. If life is a pilgrimage, it must be concluded. And if life is a race, it must be won.

The War Cry

Kenneth Davis

   T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   

     Gardening is the only unquestionably useful job. Don't lose faith. Promise yourself that you will be a success story, and I promise you that all the forces of the universe will unite to come to your aid; you might not feel today or for a while, but the longer you wait the bigger the prize. Activity is the only road to knowledge. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. I have found, after a good deal of consideration, that the best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for Him here.

~George Bernard Shaw~

Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist

How To Keep Aphids Off Tomato Plants

 4 Simple Secrets To Success! 
Simple Garden Life

     Looking for a few great ways to keep aphids off of your tomato plants – and keep them from coming back for good? When it comes to tomato plants and pests, aphids are certainly near the top of the list of insects that can cause big issues. While aphids are tiny in size, they make up for it with their ability to reproduce and multiply quickly. In fact, an infestation can triple in size in as little as three days. What might start off as a small colony can turn deadly for your tomato plants in no time at all. Unfortunately, once they begin to grow in numbers, they will find other nearby plants in your garden as well.
     Besides tomato plants – peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, green beans and a whole slew of salad crops can become targets of an aphid attack. And although small, the damage they can cause to your plants can significantly impact their health and yields. Aphids work by sucking the nutrient-dense sap from plant tissue. Not only does it weaken the plant, it can cause foliage loss. If bad enough, it can even kill the plant. In addition, aphids are also known carriers of many different plant diseases and viruses. So if their feeding doesn’t kill your plants, the viruses they carry can finish the job!
Signs Of Aphids
     Since aphids are so tiny, you might not even notice that you have an infestation until the plant starts to deteriorate. Aphids typically live on the underside of leaves, making it difficult to see them unless you check your plants closely. With aphid damage, you will start to see deformed, curling, or yellowing leaves. You might also notice that your tomato plant is failing to grow and seems to be stunted. If either of those is the case, look under the bottom of your tomato plant’s foliage to see if aphids are the culprit.
     Another sign of aphids is an increase in ant activity nearby or on your tomato plants. As the aphids feed on the plant’s sap, they excrete a sticky substance that ants love to feast on. This “honeydew” can also appear as a black mold-like growth on plant tissue. When looking for aphids, be sure to check multiple leaves in different areas on each plant. While one part of your plant might not have aphids, another part could be teeming with the tiny creatures just waiting to venture out. 
How To Keep Aphids Off Of Tomato Plants – Early Detection Is Key
     Thankfully, tomato plants can recover quickly if you take action. However, as with almost all plant issues and pests, the earlier you detect a problem, the better. Catching an aphid infestation when it is just beginning is a lot easier to eradicate than one that has had time to multiply for several days. Take a walk in your garden every few days. Look each plant over carefully, being sure to lift up several leaves and look for any signs of aphids or their damage. 
     If you do find a problem, there are some simple and yet highly effective ways to get rid of aphids – and a few more that can help them from ever becoming an issue in the first place. With that in mind, here is a look at 4 simple ways to control aphids on your tomato plants!
Spraying Off Aphids 
     When you find aphids, the first line of defense is to get out your hose and remove them with a spray of water! It is actually amazing how quickly this can work to effectively control a mild to average invasion of aphids. Since aphids are so tiny, they are easily dislodged from the plant tissue and will just fall to the ground with a strong spray of water. Typically, they are unable to climb back up the plant and will die before they get the opportunity. 
     When using a spray of water, don’t use one that is so strong that you end up damaging the plant tissue. Keep in mind that the water might knock off a few blooms or small tomatoes as well. Test a small area first before going to town on the entire plant to make sure the spray isn’t too strong. If you don’t want to use the water spray, pick the aphids off by hand and smash them to kill them. This method works best for smaller infestations as opposed to ones that need a bit more work. 
Using Neem Oil
     If the infestation is bad enough, water might not be enough to totally eradicate your aphid issue. But you can still stay organic in your approach using neem oil. Neem oil is created by pressing the seeds of neem trees. It is 100% organic and safe when used properly around pollinators and other beneficial insects. You can usually find concentrate solutions in your garden centers or online. 
     You can mix neem oil with water and then apply it to the leaves of your tomato plants with a small hand-held spray bottle. Be sure to coat the undersides of the leaves where the aphids tend to hide out. Depending on how severe the infestation is, you may need a couple of applications for total control.
Attract Predatory Insects 
     Another excellent and all natural way to control aphids on your tomato plants is to attract predatory insects to your garden space. In fact, this is really the most natural and easy method for control of all! Many different types of insects will eat aphids at all stages of their lives. Insects such as ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps are all excellent insects to have around your garden space. While they likely won’t be able to handle a large infestation, they are excellent for keeping smaller ones in check and from becoming out of hand. 
     To help attract ladybugs and lacewings, grow plants that are a good source of pollen, which is one of their food sources. Plants like dill, fennel, yarrow, marigolds, calendula, and sweet alyssum are all great choices for attracting ladybugs. 
Using Companion Crops 
     Last but not least, one of the best ways to keep aphids from getting on your tomato plants is to keep them from ever wanting to visit in the first place. And the best way to do that is with companion planting! There are certain plants and flowers that aphids dislike. By planting and growing those plants around or near your tomato plants the aphids will stay far away.
     Plants like marigolds, mint, or cilantro all help keep aphids away in part due to their strong scent. Grow them as close to the tomato plants as possible to be most effective. If you do not want to grow them in the ground, you can plant them in containers and sit them right near your tomato plants. Other crops can be used as a trap crop to lure aphids away from your tomato plants. Nasturtiums and sunflowers are two of the best for this. They help to attract the aphids away from the tomato plants and onto themselves.
     Sunflowers work great because they are so large and can really handle big infestations without much damage. And, of course, they only add more beauty around your garden! Both sunflowers and nasturtiums are also good for helping to attract pollinators and some predatory insects that feast on aphids. Here is to keeping your tomato plants (and all your vegetable plants) safe from aphids this year!

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought. If only you could see the whole picture, if you knew the whole story, you would realize that no problem ever comes to you that does not have a purpose in your life, that cannot contribute to your inner growth. When you perceive this, you will recognize that problems are opportunities in disguise. If you did not face problems, you would just drift through life. It is through solving problems in accordance with the highest light we have that inner growth is attained.
     Concealed in every new situation we face is a spiritual lesson to be learned and a spiritual blessing for us if we learn that lesson. It is good to be tested. We grow and learn through passing tests. I look upon all my tests as good experiences. Before I was tested, I believed I would act in a loving or non-fearing way. After I was tested, I knew! Every test turned out to be an uplifting experience. And it is not important that the outcome be according to our wishes.

      Peace Pilgrim (July 18, 1908 – July 7, 1981), born Mildred Lisette Norman, was an American spiritual teacher, mystic, pacifist, vegetarian activist and peace activist. In 1952, she became the first woman to walk the entire length of the Appalachian Trail in one season. 

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     Most of us live our lives devoid of cinematic moments. I know that I am essentially a sort of fun-loving person who really just wants to sit around and eat pies. Insane people are always sure they're just fine. It's only the sane people who are willing to admit they're crazy. 
     Here are some questions I am constantly noodling over: Do you splurge or do you hoard? Do you live every day as if it's your last, or do you save your money on the chance you'll live twenty more years? Is life too short, or is it going to be too long? Do you work as hard as you can, or do you slow down to smell the roses? And where do carbohydrates fit into all this? Are we really all going to spend our last years avoiding bread, especially now that bread in America is so unbelievable delicious? And what about chocolate?

~Nora Ephron~

 IT'S TIME FOR
JUST JOKING MONDAYS

     A man goes to a job interview and the interviewer begins with the question, "What do you think is your biggest weakness?" The man thinks for a moment, then says, "I think my biggest weakness is my brutal honesty." The interviewer says, "I don't think that's a weakness." The man then says, "I don't give a #%^& what you think!"

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Kenneth Davis

Greetings Warrior Family!

     Receipts have been tallied and it's past time, to make the final report. The Leadership Committee wishes to thank the following donors, for a total amount of $750 received: William Arnold, Cherilyn Harris Conner, Kenneth Davis, Estella Wright-Greer, Jerry Hosey, Maurice Hunt, Edward Johnson, Lillian Marshall, Tommie McKinney, Larry Mells, Bonnie Pippin Mills, Cloyd Nightingale, Jimmie Powell,  Margie McRae Reed, Marsha McMillian Sherrod, Claudia Grant Shields, Joycelyn Lacy Sommerville, James Stone, Willie Taylor, John Thomas and Patricia White Watson. A balance of $308.20 remains. Excluding receipts for the purchase of meats ($190) and the "Picnic Reservation Fee" ($25), total disbursements ($441.80) are as listed: paper goods/sodas-$54.93, Party City-$44.23, receipt book-$8.97, table cloths, cleaning goods, BBQ Sauce and charcoal-$118.67. 

     Committee members agreed upon using the remaining funds to offset costs associated with our next big event, indicated by the attached flyer.

       Once more, we'd like to thank all of our donors and everyone who attended the picnic. Your assistance and your presence helped create a "Warrior Family Pow Wow" not soon to be forgotten. Here's the first installation of exciting images.

Kenneth Davis

Living is the art of loving. Loving is the art of caring. Caring is the art of sharing. Sharing is the art of living. If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else. Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others. Success always leaves footprints. Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.  

~Booker T. Washington~

     Living is the art of loving. Loving is the art of caring. Caring is the art of sharing. Sharing is the art of living. If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else. Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others. Success always leaves footprints. Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.  

~Booker T. Washington~

     Individual pictures were taken of each attendee. I'm working on a slide presentation entitled "The Class of 1970; In Their Seventies". Several individuals who didn't attend the picnic, have forwarded an image to me for inclusion. Please send an image/selfie of yourself to sbrown027@nc.rr.com, or simply update your website master photo.....    

Kenneth Davis

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

     June 13, 2023: Break through the barriers that have held you back from being the best version of yourself you can be. It is time to rise above the mundane and take your rightful position in the realm of the spirit. Do not accept limitations of your strength or abilities. I will empower you to do all that I have called you to do and all that I have called you to be. Be strong and resolute, says the Lord. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     All my life I have risen regularly at four o'clock and have gone into the woods and talked to God. There He gives me my orders for the day. I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.
     My prayers seem to be more of an attitude than anything else. I indulge in very little lip service, but ask the Great Creator silently, daily, and often many times a day, to permit me to speak to Him through the three great Kingdoms of the world which He has created - the animal, mineral, and vegetable Kingdoms - to understand their relations to each other, and our relations to them and to the Great God who made all of us. I ask Him daily and often momently to give me wisdom, understanding, and bodily strength to do His will; hence I am asking and receiving all the time.

~George Washington Carver~

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

Nina Simone was a singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist. Her music spanned styles including classical, folk, gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, and pop.

The sixth of eight children born into a poor family in Tryon, North Carolina, Simone initially aspired to be a concert pianist. With the help of a few supporters in her hometown, she enrolled in the Juilliard School of Music in New York City. She then applied for a scholarship to study at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where, despite a well-received audition, she was denied admission, which she attributed to racism. In 2003, just days before her death, the Institute awarded her an honorary degree.

To make a living, Simone started playing piano at a nightclub in Atlantic City. She was told in the nightclub that she would have to sing to her own accompaniment, which effectively launched her career as a jazz vocalist. She went on to record more than 40 albums between 1958 and 1974, making her debut with Little Girl Blue.

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I'll answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen. It is the nature of the wise to resist pleasures, but the foolish to be a slave to them. It takes more than just a good looking body. You've got to have the heart and soul to go with it. Control thy passions lest they take vengeance on thee.

~Epictetus~

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

Colon cancer Warning Signs: What to Look Out For

Story by Dr. Karthikeya T M, MD Internal Medicine

Overview

     Cancer that begins in the last part of the digestive tract-colon (large intestine).

Symptoms

     If you or someone you know is exhibiting symptoms of a Colon cancer, seek medical attention immediately. Many people have no symptoms until the later stages of cancer. The symptoms include:

⦁ Diarrhea

⦁ Constipation

⦁ Blood in stool

⦁ Fatigue

⦁ Unexplained weight loss

⦁ Abdominal pain

⦁ Bloating

Causes

     The exact cause of colon cancer is not known. The possible causes include:

⦁ It occurs when healthy cells develop errors in their DNA

⦁ When the cells’ genetic components are mutated, they divide abnormally and accumulate in the colon to form a tumor

⦁ With time, the abnormal cells can invade the adjacent tissues and migrate to other organs (metastasis)

⦁ Inherited gene mutations increase the risk of developing colon cancer

⦁ Inherited colon cancer syndromes include familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). These syndromes are detected through genetic testing

The risk factors include:

⦁ AfricanAmericans are at high risk

⦁ Chronic inflammatory diseases

⦁ Highfat lowfiber diet

⦁ Alcoholism

⦁ Smoking

⦁ Advanced age

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     I had a poor upbringing. We lived in a rented house with no bathroom and an outside toilet and that, combined with the fact that I left home at 15 without any serious education, has always made me feel like I have to compete. Mum bought our dinners from Bejams, a frozen food centre. We had a huge chest freezer, back in the 70s and we filled it chockablock with frozen stuff. Nothing beat that welcoming smell of fried food wafting into the hallway from the kitchen as I walked in from school as a kid.

~Gregg Wallace~

IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

Who Remembers Party Lines?

Multiparty lines connected many homes to the same telephone line at a time when the supplies, especially the wires, needed to install a telephone system were expensive and difficult to obtain.

Phone companies first started using party lines in the late 1800s, and by the mid-20th century, they were used across the country, in populated areas as well as rural ones. But they were utilized most in rural areas.

Connecting multiple homes to a phone service over large distances often wasn't worth the expense to the phone company. Even in cities or more populated areas, folks had an incentive to keep using the shared party line: Phone companies offered it at a discount to private lines.

Sharing a busy communication line with other families presented problems. Prolific talkers kept phone lines hot—and kept others from using the lines. Legislatures and local officials had to pass laws that made it mandatory for people to hang up if someone else got on the phone and said they had an emergency. Even then, not everyone complied.

There's also the ability to listen into other calls. As you might imagine, that was a goldmine for gossip and a source of old-fashioned entertainment.

Kenneth Davis

    T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   

     Jazz never ends... it just continues. Jazz has an audience all around the globe and has had for many decades, I think speaking of the United States, let's say that what we need is more of an official recognition. I feel that I have an obligation to jazz and also to myself to play as good as I can play. I simply want to reach a level where I will never cease to make progress...so that, even on the bad evenings, I may never be bad enough to despair. There was a period which I refer to as the 'Golden Age of Jazz,' which sort of encompasses the middle Thirties through the Sixties, we had a lot of great innovators, all creating things which will last the world for a long, long time.

~Sonny Rollins~

 
     Walter Theodore "Sonny" Rollins (born September 7, 1930) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist who is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians.

WELCOME TO 
SMOOTH
 CONTEMPORARY JAZZ 
FRIDAYS
 
ARTWORK BY KATHLEEN CARRILLO

Kenneth Davis

   T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     We come from the earth, we return to the earth, and in between we garden. There is no gardening without humility. No one can rightly call his garden his own unless he himself made it. A garden that one makes oneself becomes associated with one’s personal history and that of one’s friends, interwoven with one’s tastes, preferences and character and constitutes a sort of unwritten autobiography. 

     Exclusiveness in a garden is a mistake as great as it is in society. The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul. Share the botanical bliss of gardeners through the ages, who have cultivated philosophies to apply to their own - and our own - lives: Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are.

~Alfred Austin~
 
7 Flowers To Grow In Your Vegetable Garden
Story by Saving Dollars and Sense 

     If you have limited space in your garden, adding in some beneficial flowers is a really good idea when you know which flowers to grow in your vegetable garden. Flowers in a vegetable and herb garden can help reduce the pest problems. It also improves the biodiversity by attracting beneficial insects. It yields and keeps the crops healthy, as well. A vegetable garden with flowers is also beautiful to admire. Here are 7 flowers you can plant to add a new dimension to your garden.
Calendula
Calendula, also known as pot marigolds, belong to the daisy family. This flower can also repel pests like hornworms and beetles. Adding this plant in a strategic location in your garden can make a it trap plant and draw pests away from your other plants.
Sweet Pea
This fragrant flower may not be edible for humans but, other animals and insects find them delicious. Growing sweet peas around your garden can attract pollinators to your vegetables, especially bees. 
Sunflower
Sunflowers add a perfect compliment to any garden. These flowers make great trellises for plants like cucumbers, squash, and beans. They also have an abundant supply of nectar which attracts beneficial insects.
German Chamomile
These dainty flowers can attract pollinators and other beneficial insects to your garden. German Chamomile has deep roots that can dredge up the nutrients and scatter it to other vegetables and plants.
Lavender
Lavenders are well-loved fragrant flowers that are repellants for different pests in a vegetable garden. These flowers are great air fresheners and can be added to salads and other food. People also add them to humidifiers and essential oils to purify their homes.
Cosmos
Cosmos can be easily grown. You can choose from different varieties of cosmos: White, pink or bright orange. These flowers attract bees. They may look delicate but, they can also deter pests like aphids, thrips, and scale that cause problems in a garden.
Borage
Borage is not only a flower, it’s also known as an herb. Its flowers can attract bees which are beneficial to other plants in your garden. The leaves and flowers are edible and have a subtle cucumber flavor.
     Adding flowers to your vegetable garden is a great idea. It helps improve your garden by attracting beneficial insects while repelling pests and making a beautiful addition to your garden.

Kenneth Davis

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS

TO

VICTORIA JACKSON

When God loves you, what can be better than that?

Every birthday is a gift.

Every day is a gift.

~Aretha Franklin~

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)