Fun

Wordless Wednesday*Scorching Hot

So glad you’re here, you make me smile and feel good inside. Keep the comments coming.

 

In Texas, the temperatures hit triple digits for the first time on Sunday and will continue for the next two weeks according to the weatherman. We are in the Dog Days of Summer. This is a photo of the fireplace my husband bought for my birthday for my office. It’s only 25″ and it’s a beauty, I look forward to cooler temps this winter. 

Melinda

Fun · Men & Womens Health

How To Deal With Common Gardening Problems

Gardening is such a therapeutic hobby to take up. In fact, it’s been shown to help a great deal with your mental health during the pandemic. You can spend so many hours in your garden tending to your plants and making everything look perfect. Things don’t always go your way, as there are lots of common garden issues to face. If you’re a garden novice, the advice below can help you deal with some of the most frequent problems in your back garden:

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

A lack of sunlight

Plants need sunlight to grow big and strong. They take the energy from the sun and use it to grow and carry out other plant functions. You may have a lack of sunlight in your garden that’s not caused by the climate. It could be sunny as hell, but your plants are stuck in the shade due to big obstacles.

Combatting this can be both easy and hard – depending on what the obstacles are. If it’s something you can move with ease, then the problem is solved in minutes. However, trees tend to be the biggest culprits. So, you may have to have yours chopped down or trimmed. Don’t attempt this yourself; companies like the Sydney Tree Company can do it for you. It’s never a good idea to attempt to cut something big down as you have no idea where it can fall!

A lack of water

This is a problem for lots of gardeners during the summer months. The sun comes out, the rain dries up, so your garden is left with no water at all. In some areas, this can go on for a good few months. While your plants need sunlight, too much of it and too little water will cause them to burn up and die. 

As such, you need to be strict with your watering schedule. You’ll have to be out there at least once or twice a day giving your whole garden a little shower. Personally, I think sprinkler systems work the best as you can turn them on and do something else while they water your garden. Plus, there’s no danger of overwatering the plants as the sprinkles distribute the water evenly. 

Too much water

Yes, you can have too much water! As you can probably tell, gardening requires a fine balance of sunlight and water. When the rain clouds come out to say hello, you may be inclined to rejoice. However, if it pours with rain and waterlogs in your garden, your plants will not be happy. Too much water will basically drown the plants and turn them a strange yellow color. 

To rectify this problem, you need a good drainage system for your plants. Some people like to hang theirs in plant pots, while others install a proper irrigation system on their lawn. The choice is yours, just be sure there’s a place for the water to run down when it rains. 

On that note, you’ve come to the end of today’s tips. I hope they will help aspiring gardeners deal with some of the most common and annoying issues. Now, you can start gardening with more confidence and fewer problems.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun · Mental Health

Today in History

Welcome to the weekend edition of Today in History. Thanks for all the great feedback. Have an awesome weekend.

1911

On July 24, 1911, American archeologist Hiram Bingham gets his first look at the ruins of Machu Picchu, an ancient Inca settlement in Peru that is now one of the world’s top tourist destinations.

Tucked away in the rocky countryside northwest of Cuzco, Machu Picchu is believed to have been a summer retreat for Inca leaders, whose civilization was virtually wiped out by Spanish invaders in the 16th century. For hundreds of years afterwards, its existence was a secret known only to the peasants living in the region. That all changed in the summer of 1911, when Bingham arrived with a small team of explorers to search for the famous “lost” cities of the Incas.

1847

Religious pioneers settle Salt Lake Valley

After 17 months and many miles of travel, Brigham Young leads 148 pioneers into Utah’s Valley of the Great Salt Lake. Gazing over the parched earth of the remote location, Young declared, “This is the place,” and the pioneers began preparations for the thousands of followers of …read more

1982

“Eye Of The Tiger” from “Rocky III” tops the U.S. pop charts

Whether it’s Oliver Stone setting a scene from Platoon to Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber,or Quentin Tarantino setting a scene from Reservoir Dogs to “Stuck In The Middle” by Stealer’s Wheel, filmmakers often depend upon certain passages of music to produce specific emotional …read more

1567

Mary Queen of Scots deposed

During her imprisonment at Lochleven Castle in Scotland, Mary Queen of Scots is forced to abdicate in favor of her one-year-old son, later crowned King James VI of Scotland. In 1542, while just six days old, Mary ascended to the Scottish throne upon the death of her father, King …read more

1969

Apollo 11 safely returns to Earth

At 12:51 EDT on July 24, 1969, Apollo 11, the U.S. spacecraft that had taken the first astronauts to the surface of the moon, safely returns to Earth. The American effort to send astronauts to the moon had its origins in a famous appeal President John F. Kennedy made to a special …read more

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun

#Weekend Music Share *John Mayer New Light

It’s the weekend!!!!!!

I’m so glad you’ve joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.

This is a new tune by John Mayer off his new album which is reminiscent of his early work. Enjoy. 

 

 



Welcome back to Weekend Music Share; the place where everyone can share their favorite music.

Feel free to use the ‘Weekend Music Share‘ banner in your post, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun · Mental Health

Today in History

Welcome to the new weekend edition of Today in History. I hope you enjoy as much as you did the Fun Facts posts. Have an awesome weekend.

1955

Disneyland, Walt Disney’s metropolis of nostalgia, fantasy and futurism, opens on July 17, 1955. The $17 million theme park was built on 160 acres of former orange groves in Anaheim, California, and soon brought in staggering profits. Today, Disneyland hosts more than 18 million visitors a year, who spend close to $3 billion.

READ MORE: Disneyland’s Disastrous Opening Day

1975

1975 Superpowers meet in space

As part of a mission aimed at developing space rescue capability, the U.S. spacecraft Apollo 18 and the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz 19 rendezvous and dock in space. As the hatch was opened between the two vessels, commanders Thomas P. Stafford and Aleksei Leonov shook hands and …read more

1967

Jimi Hendrix drops out as opening act for The Monkees

On July 17, 1967, one of the oddest musical pairings in history comes to an end when Jimi Hendrix dropped out as the opening act for teenybopper sensations The Monkees. The booking of psychedelic rock god Jimi Hendrix with the made-for-television Monkees was the brainchild of …read more

1945

Potsdam Conference begins

The final “Big Three” meeting between the United States, the Soviet Union and Great Britain takes place towards the end of World War II. The decisions reached at the conference ostensibly settled many of the pressing issues between the three wartime allies, but the meeting was …read more

1763

John Jacob Astor is born

Destined to make a fortune from the furs of the American West, John Jacob Astor is born in modest circumstances in the small German village of Waldorf. Although the number of foreign immigrants to the U.S. who succeeded in striking it rich is often exaggerated in the popular …read more

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun

#Weekend Music Share *Tina Turner Proud Mary

It’s the weekend!!!!!!

I’m so glad you’ve joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share. I don’t why YouTube doesn’t show the photo cover of the video any longer. Does anyone have the same problem?

Here’s my question to you. If all you see is the Black Video Available graphic, are you clicking on it to watch the video or just passing the post by? If none is comfortable clicking on the graphics, there’s no reason to do Weekend Music Share.

I understand everyone’s concern about scams, I’m overly concerned myself. Let me know your thoughts, it may be time to stop doing the weekend post.

This time I used an old WP Editor and the video graphic worked!!!!! WOW! 

This is not the best Tina Turner video but it’s the best quality version of the song I’ve found. I hope you enjoy it. 

 

Have a great weekend!

Melinda



Welcome back to Weekend Music Share; the place where everyone can share their favorite music.

Feel free to use the ‘Weekend Music Share‘ banner in your post, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.

Celebrate Life · Fun · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Today in History

Welcome to the new weekend edition of Today in History. I hope you enjoy as much as you did the Fun Facts posts. Have an awesome weekend.

2018

Last of Thai soccer team rescued from cave

In a search and rescue scramble that gripped the world’s attention for more than two weeks, the last of 12 Thai youth soccer players and their coach are safely rescued and transported to a local hospital on July 10, 2018. On June 23, 2018, Ekkapol Chantawong, 25, and his players, …read more

1985

A bomb sinks the Rainbow Warrior, Greenpeace’s flagship vessel

In Auckland harbor in New Zealand, Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior sinks after French agents in diving gear plant a bomb on the hull of the vessel. One person, Dutch photographer Fernando Pereira, was killed. The Rainbow Warrior, the flagship of international conservation group …read more

1943

Allies land on Sicily

On July 10, 1943, the Allies begin their invasion of Axis-controlled Europe with landings on the island of Sicily, off mainland Italy. Encountering little resistance from the demoralized Sicilian troops, the British 8th Army under Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery came ashore …read more

1962

U.S. patent issued for three-point seatbelt

The United States Patent Office issues the Swedish engineer Nils Bohlin a patent for his three-point automobile safety belt “for use in vehicles, especially road vehicles” on July 10, 1962. Four years earlier, Sweden’s Volvo Car Corporation had hired Bohlin, who had previously …read more

1850

Millard Fillmore sworn in as 13th U.S. president

On July 10, 1850, Vice President Millard Fillmore is sworn in as the 13th president of the United States. President Zachary Taylor had died the day before, five days after falling ill with a severe intestinal ailment on the Fourth of July. Fillmore was only the second man to …read more

Melinda

Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

6 Things to Consider When Purchasing Your First Motorcycle

Are you planning to purchase your first motorcycle? While this can be an exciting moment, you need to consider several things to make an informed decision. You don’t want to make some mistakes that could cost you the investment. If you don’t know where to begin, you shouldn’t worry because this guide got you covered. It outlines vital tips anyone may need to know before purchasing a motorcycle. 

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Image Credit

Think of Motorcycle Safety

It is essential to complete a motorcycle safety course to improve your safety on the roads. Much like driver’s training, this will ensure your safety and that of other motorists. Remember, you’ll be one of the most exposed bikers out there – so play it safe!

Are you an experienced motorcyclist? You may want to consider a refresher course and enhance your skills. If you already have a bike and are looking to accessorize it, you may want to check this website for great offers. 

Motorcycle Insurance

Like when purchasing a family car, before you buy your new bike, you’ll need to make sure you have insurance as well. In many states, motorcycle insurance is mandatory, so this will be an additional cost on top of the purchase price. So why do you need insurance cover? It can protect you in many instances, including if you cause property damage or injure someone unintentionally. 

One of the most critical motorcycle insurance covers includes liability coverage for protection against property damage and personal injury lawsuits. Other policies you may need after purchasing your motorcycle include:

  • Comprehensive insurance
  • Medical coverage
  • Collision coverage
  • Underinsured and Uninsured motorist policy

Should You Buy from a Dealer or Private Owner?

Whether you want a used or new motorcycle, you can buy from a private seller or a dealer. Evaluate your needs and choose what you think suits you. For example, a dealer can offer more comfort because their motorcycles may come with a warranty and assurance. On the flip side, a bike from a private seller could be less costly. 

The Size of the Motorcycle

The size of the bike you want to buy is an essential consideration that you shouldn’t ignore. How do you know your proper size? First, know why you want to buy the bike. This way, you can understand the best motorcycle size you may need. For example, do you need a motorcycle for commuting and avoiding daily traffic? You may consider a small bike. On the other hand, for sports, a heavier bike can serve you better. 

Consider Your Physique

If you’re like most bikers, chances are you want a motorcycle that you can use with utmost comfort. This is where your physical body comes into play. For example, you don’t want a bike that’s too tall or too small for you. The best way to ensure the bike you purchase won’t be uncomfortable is riding to test it before committing to the purchase. 

Availability of Parts and Accessories

With a motorcycle, you can customize it according to your personality and needs. The good news is you can check the available accessories in the market and accessorize your bike. So whether you want highway bars, saddlebags, custom exhaust, backrest, or windscreen, the market has everything you may need.

Conclusion

If you evaluate your needs and establish what you want, purchasing your first bike shouldn’t be challenging. Consider these factors for your next purchase and avoid common pitfalls. 

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

America Celebrates the Fourth of July

What is the Fourth of July celebration all about?

Independence Day (colloquially the Fourth of July or July 4) is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence of the United States, on July 4, 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain, King George III, and were now united, free, and independent states.[1] The Congress had voted to declare independence two days earlier, on July 2, but it was not declared until July 4.[1]

Photo by Rathnahar Sriom on Pexels.com

As a child I was very afraid of handheld fireworks like Sparklers, they scared me with the piping fire coming off of in no particular fashion. I loved watching the big firework shows at the local park or on television, the double and triple colors were always so amazing. How did they do that? Today fireworks are much more sophisticated than when I was a child with the big fireworks shows are like works of art.

As an adult, the Fourth of July takes on new meaning, one that I think of many more times than once a year. Being a free country means freedom of thought, speech, religion, and free from government control. How blessed am I to live in such a great country, and it’s up to me to work every day to keep this country moving forward.

Photo by Anna-Louise on Pexels.com

I am so thankful for the men and women who sacrificed so much to build our country, build a way of life, and build a mindset. We are America, free of mind and spirit. 

Let’s Celebrate!

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun

Fun Facts, Did You Know?

Fact: Bananas glow blue under black lights

To the everyday eye under normal conditions, ripe bananas appear yellow due to organic pigments called carotenoids. When bananas ripen, chlorophyll begins to break down. This pigment is the element that makes bananas glow, or “fluoresce,” under UV lights and appear blue.

Fact: Bees can make colored honey

In France, there’s a biogas plant that manages waste from a Mars chocolate factory, where M&Ms are made. Beekeepers nearby noticed that their bees were making “unnatural shades of green and blue” honey, reported BBC. A spokesperson from the British Beekeepers’ Association predicted the bees eating the sugary M&M waste caused the colored honey.

Fact: Wimbledon tennis balls are kept at 68 degrees Fahrenheit

The temperature of tennis balls affects how the ball bounces. At warmer temperatures, the gas molecules inside the ball expand making the ball bounce higher. A tennis ball at lower temperatures causes the molecules to shrink and the ball bounces lower. To make sure the best tennis balls are used, Wimbledon goes through over 50,000 tennis balls.

Fact: Adult cats are lactose intolerant

Feeding your cat milk could be making them sick. Like some humans, adult cats don’t have enough of the lactase enzyme to digest lactose from milk, causing them to vomit, have diarrhea, or get gassy. Cats only have enough of that enzyme when they’re born and during the early years of their life.

Fact: Albert Einstein’s eyeballs are in New York City

They were given to Henry Abrams and preserved in a safety deposit box. Abrams was Einstein’s eye doctor. He received the eyeballs from Thomas Harvey, the man who performed the autopsy on Einstein and illegally took the scientist’s brain for himself.

Fact: The Pope can’t be an organ donor

Pope Benedict XVI was issued an organ donor card in 1970. Once he ascended to the papacy in 2005, the card was invalid, reports the Telegraph. According to the Vatican, the Pope’s entire body must be buried intact because his body belongs to the universal Catholic Church.

Fact: A one-armed player scored the winning goal in the first World Cup

Héctor Castro played on the Uruguay soccer team during the first ever World Cup in 1930. In the last game between Uruguay versus Argentina, Castro scored the winning goal in the last minute of the game. The final score was 4-2, making Uruguay the first country to win the World Cup title.

Fact: The world’s oldest toy is a stick

Think of how versatile a stick is. You can use it to play fetch with your dog, swing it as a bat, or use your imagination to turn it into a lightsaber. Its adaptability, along with how old sticks are, is among the reasons why the National Toy Hall of Fame inducted the stick into its collection as possibly the oldest toy ever.

This is the end of this fun series and I have another one ready to take it’s place next weekend.

So glad you are enjoying these post, I love hearing your hilarious comments.

Have a great weekend.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun

#Weekend Music Share *Ed Sheeran Bad Habits

It’s the weekend!!!!!!

I’m so glad you’ve joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share. I don’t know what is going on with YouTube these days, they won’t let you download the cover art for the video.

This week is Ed Sheeran’s new tune Bad Habits. It’s a catchy tune with some interesting costumes and lots of flying around!

Have a great weekend!

Melinda



Welcome back to Weekend Music Share; the place where everyone can share their favorite music.

Feel free to use the ‘Weekend Music Share‘ banner in your post, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.

Fun

Wordless Wednesday*Tomato

So glad your here, you make me smile and feel good inside. Keep the funny comments coming. How do you like the new graphic?

This week I’m sharing our yummy little tomato garden. We have Cheery tomato’s and several other varieties. The Cherry tomatoes have been supplying us for weeks with sweet little ones. I’ve really enjoyed making an egg omelet with fresh tomato and cheese, of course some salsa. The others will ripen another month or so.

Tell me about your gardening experience!

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun

#Weekend Music Share

It’s the weekend!!!!!!

I’m so glad you’ve joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share. I don’t know what is going on with YouTube these days. Please take the time to listen to this great new tune from Kid Rock, it may change your mind about him. This is a awesome tune.

Have a great weekend!

Melinda



Welcome back to Weekend Music Share; the place where everyone can share their favorite music.

Feel free to use the ‘Weekend Music Share‘ banner in your post, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.

Celebrate Life · Fun · Men & Womens Health

Friday Quote

See the source image

I thought we could all use some humor this week. Update of knee surgery, the knee is healing nicely and now the hard work of rehab starts. I’m doing my own rehab, no need to drive to a facility when they can print out what needs to be done and I can do the exercises here. I did my own rehab on my right knee and everything went very well.

Have a great weekend. So glad you dropped in and look forward to your comments.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing

Quirky Things About Myself

Quirky:

A peculiarity of behavior; an idiosyncrasy: “Every man had his own quirks and twists” (Harriet BeecherStowe).

We all have little things that make us different from one another. Some may call them quirky, I think they are a part of our personality which makes us interesting.

Photo by Gratisography on Pexels.com

I have to sleep on the side of the bed closest to the door and on my left side. 

Always take a seat that backs up to a wall.

I eat a fruit smoothie for lunch every day seven days a week. 

All the clocks but one are set 15 minutes ahead of time. I’ve done this since I was a teen.

I’m left handed but use mostly my right hand. 

The left sock and shoe goes on first. Always tied before moving to the right foot 

I only speak English but know words in several languages. I have studied Spanish, French, and Russian and only know a few words in each. 

Tell me something quirky about yourself!

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun · Travel

Gallery Travels: The Palace Versailles Château Rive Gauche — Guest Blogger For the Love of Art

A short train ride outside of Paris you will find The Palace Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche. This is a must see, the experience is like no other. The museum compares to the top museums in Paris. The gardens are magnificent and perfectly manicured, beautiful waterfall statues are strategically placed. This is before you enter The Palace. […]

Gallery Travels: The Palace Versailles Château Rive Gauche — For the Love of Art
Celebrate Life · Fun

Fun Facts, Did You Know?

Fact: May 20, 1873, is the “birthday” of blue jeans

According to the Levi Strauss website, this was the day that Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis, the innovators behind the sturdy blue jeans we all love, got a patent on the process of adding metal rivets to men’s denim work pants for the first time in history. The pants were called waist overalls until 1960 when baby boomers began calling them jeans.

Fact: 170-year-old bottles of champagne were found at the bottom of the Baltic Sea

The bottles of bubbly are estimated to have been traveling from Germany to Russia during the 1800s when they sank to the bottom of the sea, says New Scientist. Turns out that the bottom of the sea, where temps are between two and four degrees Celsius, is a great place for wine aging. Oenologists, people who study wine and winemaking, sampled the champagne and described it as, “sometimes cheesy,” with “animal notes,” and that it had elements of “wet hair.”

Fact: The MGM lion roar is trademarked

At the start of any movie made by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio, there’s the iconic lion that roars at the audience. While MGM has gone through several iterations of lion mascots, the sound of the roar is always the same. The company trademarked the “sound mark” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in the ’80s.

Fact: Neil Armstrong’s hair was sold in 2004 for $3,000

The lucky buyer, John Reznikoff, holds the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of hair from historical celebrities, reports NBC. The not-so-lucky barber Marx Sizemore, who cut Armstrong’s hair, received threats of being sued by Armstrong’s lawyers who said he violated an Ohio law that protects the rights of famous people. Sizemore said he wouldn’t pay, and Reznikoff said he wouldn’t give back the hair but that he’d donate $3,000 to charity.

Fact: Irish bars used to be closed on St. Patrick’s Day

You might associate St. Patrick’s Day with wearing green and drinking so much you think you actually see leprechauns. However, until 1961, there were laws in Ireland that banned bars to be open on March 17. Since the holiday falls during the period of Lent in the heavily Catholic country, the idea of binge drinking seemed a bit immoral.

Fact: Nikola Tesla hated pearls

Tesla was a European electrical engineer who paved the way for current system generators and motors. The way electricity gets transmitted and converted to mechanical power is thanks to his inventions. However, despite experimenting with electricity, he despised being in the presence of pearls. One day when his secretary wore pearl jewelry, he made her go home.

Fact: Thomas Edison is the reason you love cat videos

Thanks to Edison’s invention of the Kinetograph in 1892, he was able to record and watch moving images for the first time. He filmed short clips in his studio named Black Maria. Some of his shorts feature famous people like Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill, but the real stars are The Boxing Cats. Check out the video Edison captured of adorable cats in a boxing ring circa 1894.

Fact: Brad Pitt suffered an ironic injury on a film set

During Pitt’s prime acting career, he filmed Troy, based on Homer’s Illiad. He played the brave, and buff, Greek hero Achilles. Legend has it that Achilles could not be defeated unless hit in his Achilles heel. While filming an epic battle scene, Pitt ironically hurt his Achilles tendon that put him back two months.

Fact: Pregnancy tests date back to 1350 BCE

Based on an ancient papyrus document, Egyptian women urinated on wheat and barley seeds to determine if they were pregnant or not, according to the Office of History in the National Institutes of Health. If wheat grew, it predicted a female baby. If barley grew, it predicted a male baby. The woman was not pregnant if nothing grew. Experimenting with this seed theory in 1963 proved it was accurate 70 percent of the time.

Fact: Martin Luther King Jr. got a C in public speaking

Everyone remembers Dr. King as a leader of the Civil Rights Movement and often quotes his “I Have a Dream” speech that he delivered in 1963. However, over a decade before his legendary speech, while attending Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania, he earned a C in public speaking during his first and second term.

So glad you are enjoying these post, I love hearing your hilarious comments.

Have a great weekend.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun

Friday Quote

It’s Friday!

So glad you are here today and I enjoy all your comments.

I’m home a doing ok, well, in extreme pain but alive and healing up quickly. I have the greatest doctor who can do a knee replacement without cutting the muscles. I don’t know how he does it, I haven’t watched my video yet.

See the source image

I hope you have a great weekend with friends and family making memories that will last a lifetime.

Melinda