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)

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

AIN'T NOTHING BUT THE BLUES

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 fathers come home after a tough day at work, they should come home to serve, like my father did, teaching lessons around the dinner table and leading the family in worship and prayer. 

~Tony Evans~

     My father was the role model I looked up to. My dad was an entertainer, too. I patterned my life after him. He wanted me to do better than he did. He never sold a record in his life, but to me, he was still a rock star. God gave us dreams, but he gave us kids to make all those dreams worthwhile. And when I look at all my kids, I say everything that I've ever went through in my life was worthwhile. I deal with my sons like young men. If they have a problem with something, they come to me. I am the type of dad that will drop everything I am doing for them, and always tell them to talk to me about it.

~Tracy Morgan~

     Being a father has been, without a doubt, my greatest source of achievement, pride and inspiration. Fatherhood has taught me about unconditional love, reinforced the importance of giving back and taught me how to be a better person. If there is one thing I have learned on this incredible journey we call life, it is this: the sign of a truly successful individual is humility.

~Naveen Jain~

     We have so many young men, especially, who are growing up without their dads. We have to fill that void. We have to do a better job helping young people see what it means to be a man, what it means to be a woman. And then, somehow, we have to put that family structure back together. All Pro Dad is an organization that started down in Tampa in 1997. And it was just a group of us who felt like we weren't doing as good a job as our fathers did in connecting with kids and being there and being involved in their lives, working and coaching and spending all the time we had to. We just felt badly. But there's no substitute for a full-time dad. Dads who are fully engaged with their kids overwhelmingly tend to produce children who believe in themselves and live full lives.

~Tony Dungy~

     I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren't trying to teach us. We are formed by little scraps of wisdom.

~Umberto Eco~

     Fathers, like mothers, are not born. Men grow into fathers and fathering is a very important stage in their development.

~David Gottesman~

Kenneth Davis

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS

TO

EDITH PEGUES WHITNEY

     The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams. The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.

~Oprah Winfrey~

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Margie McRae (Reed)

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 all human affairs there are efforts, and there are results, and the strength of the effort is the measure of the result. The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn, the bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities. You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you. 

~James Allen~

IT'S TIME FOR

JUST JOKING MONDAYS

     A pair of cows were talking in the field. One says, “Have you heard about the mad cow disease that’s going around?” “Yeah,” the other cow says. “Makes me glad I’m a penguin.”

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Kenneth Davis

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND By Marsha Burns

     June 20, 2023: The spiritual bell has rung to announce the beginning of a new era. Did you hear it? Old things have passed away and the door to a new phase of existence has opened. You will begin to see and understand the subtle changes that are taking place. Go with the flow of My Spirit in moving into the reality of a new day, says the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

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

     We are strong enough to stand tall tearlessly, we are brave enough to bend to cry, and we are sad enough to know that we must laugh again. Style has a profound meaning to Black Americans. If we can’t drive, we will invent walks and the world will envy the dexterity of our feet. If we can’t have ham, we will boil chitterlings; if we are given rotten peaches, we will make cobblers; if given scraps, we will make quilts; take away our drums, and we will clap our hands. 
     We prove the human spirit will prevail. We will take what we have to make what we need. We need confidence in our knowledge of who we are. You do what you can with what you have. You have to work the edges whatever they are. The main thing is keeping your integrity.

~Nikki Giovanni~

     Nikki Giovanni is an American poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator. She was born on June 7, 1943 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

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  

     There's no denying that cancer is a gloomy subject. Cancer isn't something that makes you want to share, it's something that makes you want to hide. We repeat positive phrases to ourselves as a sort of mantra. And while positive thinking alone can't cure cancer, attitude is critical to getting through the process and growing as a person. While an increasing number of cancer treatment centers have begun offering post-treatment care plans and support groups to help patients navigate these challenges, many patients continue to fall through the cracks.

~Suleika Jaouad~

FDA Warns Colorectal Cancer Is on the Rise
Here's 4 Ways to Lower Your Risk
Story by Kali Coleman 

1 Drink less alcohol.
     Putting the bottle down could help prevent colorectal cancer. According to the FDA, studies have determined that drinking three or more alcoholic drinks every day can increase your risk of colorectal cancer by a staggering 41 percent.
     "Ethanol, the type of alcohol found in commonly consumed drinks such as beer, wine, and spirits, acts an irritant to mucosal linings of the GI tract, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestine," Kyle S. Eldredge, DO, a board-certified general surgery specialist working as a colorectal surgeon in Florida, tells Best Life. "The byproduct of alcohol causes damage and stress to cells and can even damage DNA inside cells. This can lead to abnormal function of cells and development of cancer."
2 Move your body more.
     Research also points to the potential benefits of increased physical activity. According to the FDA, studies indicate that regular exercise can lower a person's risk of colorectal cancer by 24 percent. "For substantial health benefits, experts recommend doing 30 to 60 minutes of exercise most days of the week," the agency said. "Exercise can include everyday activities like walking a dog, doing chores around the house, or using the stairs."
3 Don't smoke.
     Most people know about tobacco's affect on lung cancer. But this is not the only disease smoking can cause. As the FDA explained, studies also show that people who use tobacco have an 18 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer as well. "Similar to excessive alcohol intake, smoking can cause DNA damage to the intestinal walls, increase inflammation, and cause impaired immunity," Soma Mandal, MD, a board-certified internist at Summit Health in New Jersey, explains.
     According to Mandal, tobacco use can also change your gut microbiome and affect your nutrient intake which may help to increase your risk of colon cancer. "Smoking can cause nutrient malabsorption, such as calcium and vitamin D deficiency," she says. "These nutrients are important for maintaining a healthy colon."
4 Maintain a healthy weight.
     Along with increased physical activity, it's also important to maintain a healthy weight. "Obesity is linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer and death from colorectal cancer," the National Institute of Health's Cancer Institute warns on its website. The FDA adds that studies have found that in particular, women with obesity have a 45 percent higher risk of getting this disease and dying from it.
     "Maintaining a healthy weight may help by avoiding insulin resistance that can develop when you are overweight," says Jill Barat, PharmD, a registered pharmacist with nearly 10 years of experience. "With insulin resistance, the body responds by making more insulin, which can ramp up unwanted growth factor signaling and cancer cell growth."Best Life offers the most up-to-date information from top experts, new research, and health agencies, but our content is not meant to be a substitute for professional guidance.When it comes to the medication you're taking or any other health questions you have, always consult your healthcare provider directly.

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

John Thomas

Celebrating my brother's 80th with classmates.

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  

     Blight is like a cancer. This is one of those all-or-nothing things. Urban renewal always happens as a symphony of events, and part of the symphony is innovative, optimistic developers with the ability and willingness to transform historic properties. 

~Dan Gilbert~

IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

No one could hold a note like the lead singer of The Dells!

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   

    Friendship is the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away.

~George Eliot~

WELCOME TO 
SMOOTH
 CONTEMPORARY JAZZ 
FRIDAYS

GUITAR PLAYER - ART BY ZAZZLE

Kenneth Davis

     The rarest attainment

is to grow old happily

and gracefully.

~Lydia M. Child~

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

Here's a smile for you!

"Remember to smile." — Nelson Mandela

We all need a little boost sometimes, whether we're having a bad day or struggling through a difficult life situation. No matter your life situation, a smile gives comfort or makes you laugh.

Whether you're trying to turn your own day around or just seeking a pick-me-up for a friend, let a smile put a little pep in your step. Smiling has the power to make everyone feel a little better, so start with you.

Kenneth Davis

SATURDAY MORNING GARDENING TOOLS

   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 look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden. As long as you have a garden you have a future and as long as you have a future you are alive. Sometimes since I've been in the garden I've looked up through the trees at the sky and I have had a strange feeling of being happy as if something was pushing and drawing in my chest and making me breathe fast. Magic is always pushing and drawing and making things out of nothing. Everything is made out of magic, leaves and trees, flowers and birds, badgers and foxes and squirrels and people. So it must be all around us. In this garden - in all the places.

~Frances Hodgson Burnett~

Does Irish Spring Soap Keep Squirrels Away? (How to use) 
Patricia Godwin - Editor at Large
Greengardentribe.com

     You may regard squirrels as gorgeous and lovable, but they are marauders by nature and can cause severe damage to your garden and home! Perhaps you’ve heard that Irish Spring is the most natural of remedies to keep squirrels away from your yard. Do you know how Irish Spring Soap keeps squirrels away; or how to use it?
How Irish Spring Soap Keeps Squirrels Away 
     Squirrels are nauseated and repulsed by the stink of Irish Spring Soap. Spread either grated Irish Spring Soap around the perimeter of your garden and yard – or attach cubes of it to the top of stakes pressed into the ground all over your property. It will repel them. They will never cross that barrier. Only Irish Spring Soap has the power to keep squirrels away from your yard. squirrels regard the odor of Irish Spring Soap as the most repellent stench ever!
     Here Are two methods of using Irish Spring Soap to keep squirrels away. Both methods work like a bomb! You can place Irish Spring cubes or sprinkle grated or shavings of Irish Spring Soap in your yard. 
Method 1: Use Irish Spring Soap Cubes - You will need:
• Irish Spring Soap, 1 bar, original scent
• Small Fabric Drawstring pouches, 2-inches by 2-inches
• Knife
• String
• Cheesecloth
• Duct tape or staple gun
• Wooden stakes, 12″ x 1″ x 1″
What to do:
1. Slice the Irish Spring Soap into 1/2-inch cubes.
2. Place two cubes of Irish Spring Soap into each drawstring pouch.
3. Pull the string tightly and close the pouch.
4. Knot the drawstring to ensure the soap cubes are secure inside the pouch.
5. Staple one pouch to one end of the wooden stakes.
6. Bury the other end of each of the wooden stakes about 6-inches into the ground.
How To Do It:
     Bury more wooden stakes, in other areas of your yard where the squirrels have been – the areas most frequented by the squirrels. The wooden stakes should be about 5-10 inches apart. You can also scatter drawstring pouches of Irish Spring cubes under and around your plants. If you do not have drawstring pouches, you can wrap the Irish Spring cubes in a cheesecloth, tie them with a string to form a pouch. Monitor your yard during the week. Look for signs of damage the squirrels may have caused. The amount of Irish Spring pouches and wooden stakes with Irish Spring cubes depends on the size of your yard and the estimated number of squirrels that get into your yard.
Method 2: Use Grated Irish Spring Soap -  You will need:
• Irish Spring Soap, 1 bar, original scent
• Grater
What to do:
1. Get the grater.
2. Shred the Irish Spring bar.
3. Sprinkle the grated Irish Spring Soap around the perimeter of your garden. Sprinkle the grated soap in such a way that you are creating a barrier or wall so the squirrels will not cross.
How To Do It:
     You can also wrap a small amount of grated Irish Spring in old pantyhose. Tie both ends of the pantyhose and tie on your bird feeder. The squirrels will never get near your bird feeder to do any damage. As you now know, squirrels are debilitated by the smell of Irish Spring so they will avoid getting near the grated soap you sprinkled, and they’ll keep away from your yard. Sprinkling grated Irish Spring spreads the smell of the soap throughout your yard. You can also sprinkle grated Irish Spring Soap around each of your plants.
How Does Irish Spring Soap Keep Squirrels Away?
     Irish Spring Soap’s stink or pong tells squirrels to stay clear of your yard. squirrels are repulsed by the reek of Irish Spring Soap. It has a sort of weakening effect on them. Hence, they stay well away from areas where the soap has been placed. One of the most challenging pests to control, squirrels damage your yard by:
• Eating leaves, barks, and bulbs of your plants.
• Chewing your vegetables.
• Digging up your plants.
• Rubbing your fruit trees.
• Destroying your bird feeders.
Squirrels can also invade and Harm your home by:
• Gnawing on the sidings of your home, they create big holes. Moisture seeps in, causing water damage or rotting of your sidings.
• Chewing your wiring. Chewing is good for their dental health but bad for their electrical wiring.
• Invading your home’s insulation and nesting there. A squirrel infestation in your home will cause you to hear a lot of banging noises on your walls.
How to Be Free of Squirrels
There are several ways to terrify squirrels from nearing your garden. You can:
• Harass them
• Scare them
• Starve them
• Trap them
• Poison them
     The squirrels’ sense of smell is extremely powerful. They depend on it to find shelter and food. You can also sprinkle, spray, or place items with smells the squirrels hate, i.e:
• Coffee grounds
• Pepper and Garlic spray
• White Vinegar
• Capsaicin
• Peppermint Oil
• Cinnamon
• Garlic
• Rosemary
     Squirrels also detest the smells of dryer sheets, ammonia, naphthalene balls (mothballs), other predators’ urine, and bleach. But none are as deadly as the whiff of Irish Spring Soap! The above items create vile odors that squirrels hate. When these putrid aromas, reach their nostrils – even from a distance – the squirrels will be repelled and caused to leave. Irish Spring Soap is one of the easiest and safest ways to get squirrels off your property.
Final Thoughts on Using Irish Spring Soap Keep Squirrels Away.
     When we or our possessions are under attack we often don’t think as clearly as we would like. We tend to react instead – it’s the human condition. Alas, our reactions are rarely the way we would have behaved if we’d had more time to think. We love our homes – our homes are our castles where we retreat at the end of a long day or enjoy by working in the gardens at the weekends.
     Any thought of a threat to our safe havens and we become extremely protective – as we should – but maybe not as cunning as we could. When danger shows itself – even in the form of cute little squirrels – don’t throw yourself immediately into the fray. You’ll show your hand to the enemy. Rather take a few steps back and formulate a battle plan. Be calculating and crafty and come up with a counterattack. You’ll take your enemy by surprise, and you’ll be glad you did! Show the squirrels who’s the boss and protect your territory! Use Irish Spring Soap cubes or grated Irish Spring shavings to keep squirrels at bay. With your land thus protected you can get back to enjoying your garden and scheming about new plants to buy and where to position them.

Patricia Godwin
     Patricia has many years of experience as a content writer on various subjects, but her first love is gardening. She’s never met a plant she didn’t like and, consequently, she writes about every type of plant you can think of. Once an avid gardener with a herb garden, a succulent rockery, and a rose garden – to mention a few. Nowadays, she’s constantly on the move searching for interesting plants to bring to your attention; and explain to you all the details you need to grow, care and maintain these plants.

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

The Birth of the Blues

When you think of the blues, you think about misfortune, betrayal and regret. You lose your job, you get the blues. Your mate falls out of love with you, you get the blues. Your dog dies, you get the blues.

While blues lyrics often deal with personal adversity, the music itself goes far beyond self-pity. The blues is also about overcoming hard luck, saying what you feel, ridding yourself of frustration, letting your hair down, and simply having fun. The best blues is visceral, cathartic, and starkly emotional. From unbridled joy to deep sadness, no form of music communicates more genuine emotion.

The blues has deep roots in American history, particularly African-American history. The blues originated on Southern plantations in the 19th Century. Its inventors were slaves, ex-slaves and the descendants of slaves—African-American sharecroppers who sang as they toiled in the cotton and vegetable fields. It's generally accepted that the music evolved from African spirituals, African chants, work songs, field hollers, rural fife and drum music, revivalist hymns, and country dance music.

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

A big THANKS!

Kenneth, I am so tired of squirrels digging in my pots and destroying my plants. I am rushing out to purchase Irish Spring Soap.

Kenneth Davis

SAVING A TOMATO....PRICELSSS

Hello Estella,
     All thanks goes to Bonnie. After a very descriptive and flavorful conversation with her, I decided to do a little research. Squirrels were stealing her tomatoes and leaving the uneaten portions in normal eyesight, for her to sigh over.  This subject has been discussed in times past with Cloyd and John T. Unlike Cloyd, I'm not the sharpshooter and I don't remember if John has that problem, living in LA...probably not a lot of Oak trees around his house. I've made a priceless investment, to see if Irish Springs Soap actually works...wouldn't want to recommend anything that I can't stand behind....progress report pending....

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   

     Humility and Gratitude are the twin characteristics of happiness. There are few of us, if any, who don't walk the refiner's fire of adversity and despair, sometimes known to others but for many quietly hidden and privately endured. Most of the heartache, pain, and suffering we would not choose today. But we did choose. We chose when we could see the complete plan. We chose when we had a clear vision of the Savior's rescue of us. And if our faith and understanding were as clear today as it was when we first made that choice, I believe we would choose again. Yes, faith is a choice, and it must be sought after and developed. Thus, we are responsible for our own faith. We are also responsible for our lack of faith. The choice is yours.

~Richard C. Edgley~

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  

     My name is Arsenio. That's a very unique name for a black man. In Greek, it means Leroy. I went to school, majored in theatre, and said 'Mom, I have to choose my own destiny. I want to be an actor.' A couple of weeks after I graduated college I called my mother up and said 'Can I borrow $200?' and she said 'Why don't you act like you've got $200. The bottom line is I've never had anybody bark at me in a mall with malicious intent. Everybody who barks at the kid from Cleveland is to let him know, "I know who you are." It's always a positive thing. I call Los Angeles the city of alternatives. If you don't like mountains, we got the ocean. If you don't like Knott's Berry Farm, we've got Disneyland. If you don't like basketball, we've got the Clippers.

~Arsenio Hall~

IT'S TIME FOR
JUST JOKING MONDAYS

     Two Hollywood stars ran into each other at the door of their psychiatrist’s office. “Hello, there,” said one. “Are you coming or going?” “If I knew that,” said the other, “I wouldn’t be here.”

~The American Weekly~