I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you soon.
Soon to be Mandaville flower, it’s a cool looking critter to me.
Melinda
Category: Fun
Fun Facts, Did You Know?
Fact: Sloths have more neck bones than giraffes
Despite physical length, there are more bones in the neck of a sloth than a giraffe. There are seven vertebrae in the neck of giraffes, and in most mammals, but there are ten in a sloth. Still, giraffes are among 23 of the world’s biggest living animals.
Fact: Bees can fly higher than Mount Everest
Bees can fly higher than 29,525 feet above sea level, according to National Geographic. That’s higher than Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world.
Fact: Ancient Egyptians used dead mice to ease toothaches
In Ancient Egypt, people put a dead mouse in their mouth if they had a toothache, according to Nathan Belofsky’s book Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Age. Mice were also used as a warts remedy during Elizabethan England.
Fact: Paint used to be stored in pig bladders
Pig bladders were used in the 19th century to store an artist’s paint. The bladder would be sealed with a string and then pricked to get the paint out. This option wasn’t the best because it would often break open. American painter John G. Rand was the innovator who made paint tubes from tin and screw cap in the 19th century.
Fact: Humans have jumped further than horses in the Olympics
The Olympic world record for the longest human long jump is greater than the world record for longest horse long jump. Mike Powell set the record in 1991 by jumping 8.95 meters, and the horse Extra Dry set the record in 1900 by jumping 6.10 meters. Don’t miss 13 more Olympic moments that changed history.
Fact: The Terminator script was sold for $1
James Cameron is the award-winning director of movies like Titanic, Avatar, and The Terminator. In order to get his big break with The Terminator, he sold the script for $1 and a promise that he’d be able to direct.
Fact: Pigeon poop is the property of the British Crown
In the 18th century, pigeon poop was used to make gunpowder, so King George I confirmed the droppings to be property of the crown.
Fact: Onions were found in the eyes of an Egyptian mummy
Pharaoh Ramses IV of Ancient Egypt had his eyes replaced with small onions when he was mummified. The rings and layers of onions were worshipped because people thought they represented eternal life. This aligns with the reason for mummification: to allow the pharaoh’s body to live forever. Let’s hope these interesting facts don’t all apply to practices used today.
Fact: Abraham Lincoln was a bartender
You know that the 16th president of the United States fought for the freedom of slaves and the Union, but what you didn’t know is that he was a licensed bartender. Lincoln’s liquor license was discovered in 1930 and displayed in a Springfield liquor store. Wayne C. Temple, a Lincoln expert, told the Southeast Missourian newspaper that in 1863 Congress wanted to fire Ulysses S. Grant because he drank a lot and Lincoln’s response was to send Grant a supply of whiskey.
So glad you are enjoying these posts, I love hearing your hilarious comments. Have a great weekend.
Melinda
What’s Your Mood Today?
I’m excited and more curious than ever after having several long conversations with Copilot. I see the downside of AI but I’ve learned so much today.
Melinda
#Weekend Music Share-Golden Earring – Radar Love (Official Music Video [HD]
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
I’m glad you joined me for another edition of Weekend Music Share this week.
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 use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Wordless Wednesday-Good Karma-Tokyo, Japan
I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you soon.
Tokyo, Japan
Melinda
Daily Writing Prompt
Without a doubt, it would be a test driver for high-end cars that go super fast. It’s not on my bucket list but is worthy. The downside is that I don’t know how to drive a standard and you won’t find those types of cars in an automatic.
Melinda
How To Deal With 3 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:
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 in 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 any 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
How Starting A Garden Could Change Your Life
Being lost in life is par for the course; while it can feel like you’re the only one who understands it, in truth, everybody does on some level. The COVID-19 pandemic has truly made us all question who we are, and what is important to us. This can lead people to feel lost in their lives, or frustrated with the feeling that they have no control over what goes on around them.
There are so many ways to cope with change, but one surefire way to center calm in your life is to start a garden. You don’t have to have a huge amount of space or much experience – and in this blog, we’re going to show you how.
The psychological benefits of gardening
Psychologists have studied the psychological benefits of gardening for years. Gardening is often an activity that is practiced in rehabilitation facilities, elderly care centers, and mental health recovery centers because it helps people nurture the growth of living things.
The psychological benefits of gardening include:
- Relaxation. Using your hands to dig in the earth and make small steps towards a beautiful garden can be very relaxing. Plus, the color green is said to be calming to the human brain, too!
- Community. If you garden in a communal space, you can share the activity with like-minded people and grow into a new community. The COVID-19 pandemic has made people feel very isolated, so this sense of communal wellbeing is very important in 2021 and beyond.
- Gardening is an outdoor activity that gets you moving. Fresh air and exercise have numerous health benefits in themselves, and gardening is the perfect excuse to do both!
- Gardening helps you concentrate and engage with tasks in a healthy way. If you are recovering from a big change in your life, gardening can help you focus, and ultimately engage with new tasks in a meaningful way. Gardening is made up of small, simple tasks that can aid your brain’s recovery.
Tips for starting a garden in a small space
If all this sounds good to you, but you only have a small yard or even just a balcony, you might be thinking, ‘There’s no way I can start a garden in such a tiny space.’ Well, luckily, you’re wrong about that!
Firstly, find plants that are easy to grow in pots. These could be herbs, flowers, house plants, or even small vegetables, as long as they are able to grow in a potted environment rather than in the ground. This makes them easier to maintain in a small garden.
Next, you should research through reading books or watching YouTube videos, how to maintain your plants through hydration, the right kind of soil, and the right light levels. This research will help you expand your garden gradually as you cultivate these important skills for life!
If your garden gets out of control, you can contact local lawn fertilization and weed control services to help tame the wild beast!
Having a garden can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, burnout, or lack of focus. Plus, you’ll have a beautiful little green space that you can keep nurturing for years to come.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Repost
Sending A Special Thank You To Poland, Honduras, Moldova, Zimbabwe, Somalia And Qatar
Thank you for visiting my blog and allowing me to travel with you. I have not visited your country but there’s always tomorrow.
Melinda
#Weekend Music Share-Stevie Nicks – Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around (Official Video)
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
I’m glad you joined me for another edition of Weekend Music Share. Thank you for stopping by.
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 use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Wordless Wednesday-Bright Orange Blooming
I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you soon.
The roses look red but they are bright orange.
Melinda
Daily Daily Prompt
We spent most summers camping in a tent, it was a bit crowded with a family of six. We often went to one popular lake that was know for snakes hanging out in the trees. I walked around terrified every day.
I have no idea why this image is showing up.
Melinda
Fun Facts That Will Amaze You
I’m so glad you are enjoying Fun Facts. I learn something new each week, even if it’s weird. I love hearing your comments!
The oldest person ever to have lived (whose age could be authenticated), a French woman named Jeanne Louise Calment, was 122 years old when she died in 1997. (guinnessworldrecord.com)
Sliced bread was first manufactured by machine and sold in the 1920s by the Chillicothe Baking Company in Missouri. It was the greatest thing since…unsliced bread? (chllicothenews.com)
The Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu, who lived in the 1700s, reportedly invented the sandwich so he wouldn’t have to leave his gambling table to eat. (pbs.org)
The first college football game was played on November 6, 1869, between Rutgers and Princeton (then known as the College of New Jersey) in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Rutgers won. (ncaa.com)
Experiments in universities have actually been carried out to figure out how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop, both with machine and human lickers (because this is important scientific knowledge!). The results ranged from 252 to 411. (tootsie.com)
Enjoy!
Melinda
Wrapped With Wax Paper
A jar of homemade scrub or infused oil, or bath salts, is a superb gift in itself, but making your own aesthetically pleasing packaging to it elevates the gift even more.
You Will Need
Wax paper
Glass jar: small
Twine
Driend Lavender srpig
Mini-clothespin
To Package
Fold a piece of wax paper so it’s almost square. Place the folded wax paper on top of a small glass jar and secure with twine. Insert a dried lavender sprig and secure with a mini-clothespin.
Notes
Be sure to use an airtight jar and secure the lid tightly. You don’t want the contents to leak into the packaging.
Use your imagination when decorating the jar.
Melinda
Reference:
Willow & Sage by Stampington
Understaning Essential Oil Soap Blends
Here we’ve compiled a few examples so you can start experimenting.
Tops Notes
Bergamont: sweet, fruity
Lemon: fresh, crisp
Orange: sweet, fruity
Grapefruit: fresh, citrusy
Peppermint: strong, minty
Lime: fresh, citrusy
Spearmint: fresh, minty
Clove: warm, spicy
Mild Notes
Clary Sage: herbaceous
Juniper Berry: floral
Eucalyptus: strong, fresh
Tea Tree: medicinal, herbaceous
Lavender: herbaceous: floral
Lemongrass: strong, citrus
Base Notes
Cedarwood: mild, woody
Black Pepper: spicy, sharp
Cinnamon Leaf: spicy, strong
Patchouli: earthy, musky
Vetiver: war, spicy
Yalg-Yalg: strong, floral
Sandalwood: woody, warm
Melinda
Reference:
Willow & Sage by Stampington
Daily Writing Prompt
Boy, do topics change at every stage in life. A few topics that get me engaged are art, travel, and gardening.
Melinda
#Weekend Music Share-The Corrs “Breathless”
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
I’m glad you joined me for another edition of Weekend Music Share this week.
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 use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Daily Writing Prompt
At 40 years old and divorced, I took a chance on getting married again. I felt strongly that he was the one who would stay until the end. 22 years later, we’re going strong and closer than ever. No regrets for me.
Melinda
Safety Tips For Working Without Preservatives
Make smaller quantities, approximately what you will use in three months.
Make sure you only use absolutely clean and sterile equipment, utensils, and storage bottles.
Take out only as much product as you will use in the next week, and always store the rest in the refrigerator. If properly made and stored, the backstock will last three to four months.
Don’t dip your fingers in the container because you can introduce contaminants that will make the product go bad sooner. Instead, use a sterile spoon or spatula to transfer product from the backstock container to a daily-use container. Similarly, either use a spoon to scoop out the product for daily use or keep it in a pump bottle.
Store the daily-use container away from direct sunlight and heat.
If the recipe separates or smells off, discard it and make a new batch.
Melinda
Reference:
Willow & Sage by Stampington
Wordless Wednesday-Bursting Open
I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday, and I hope to see you soon.
Melinda
20 Supplies For Handmade Gift-Wrapping
Wrapping your gifts has never been easier, and you may have many items needed at home.
Fabric scraps
Wax paper
Parchment paper
Twine
String
Greeneery
Dried natural elements
Brown paper bag
Muslin bags
Cheesecloth
Glass jars
Scizzors
Tape
Glue
Naturally dyed materials
Ephemera
Decorative tape
Writing tools
Whole spices
Melinda
Reference:
Willow & Sage by Stampington
Just Pondering
How would you live if you knew you were free of judgment?
Melinda
Daily Prompt
I’m retired, so my days are not as demanding. Stress is a different story. To relax, I go to my office with no noise, social media, phone, and no dogs. I meditate for as long as I can, which clears my mind, and then I go downstairs to eat dinner.
Mellinda
Daily Writing Prompt
Coffee
Melinda
Daily Writing Prompt
Daily writing prompt
Describe a random encounter with a stranger that stuck out positively to you.
I had a wave only relationship with the neighbors across the street, they he reminded me of my Gramps. The day his wife died I went across the street to see how I could help. He invited me in and we talked awhile and our friendship grew from there. We talked almost daily on topics across the board. He was a gentle man and I was so glad he was in my life. I often look at his old house and the memories flash right back. I miss Jim.
Melinda
#Weekend Music Share-Eagles – Lyin’ Eyes (Live 1977) (Official Video)
Wow, what a legacy the Eagles have built. I saw them in 1978 on the Hotel California tour, and they have been a favorite band since.
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
I’m glad you joined me for another edition of Weekend Music Share this week.
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 use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Daily Writing Prompt
Daily writing prompt
Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.
I changed careers, and it was one of the best decisions. I spent 20 years being challenged, loved my job, and the paychecks were worth the hard work.
Melinda
Wordless Wednesday-Jesus
I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you soon.
Not one of my best photos but the message shines through. Taken in St. Petersburg, Russia at the Church of the Spilled Blood.
Melinda
Easy DIY Self-Care Eye Pads
From Makeup and Beauty
This DIY is easy and super quick to do. It can also be done in the comfort of your own kitchen platform to relieve your eyes of all the exhaustion and get rid of the dullness around the eyes.
You need:
Carrot (Known for its discoloration properties, carrot juice would help you get rid of the darkness and dullness around eyes)
Raw Milk (Known for its anti-tan properties, milk has always come handy in getting rid of dark circles around eyes)
Round Cotton Pads
Grater
To make the Eye Pads:
Grate about a teaspoon full of carrot in a bowl
Now, add some grated cucumber to the carrot.
Add about a teaspoon of raw milk (unheated) to this mixture.
Now, add a teaspoon full of rose water to this.
Now let this mixture rest for about 20 minutes to let the carrot and cucumber soak properly in the milk and rose water mixture.
Now, squeeze out the carrot and cucumber pulp and put the juice in a separate bowl.
Now, take the cotton pads separate the two sheets of cotton, and spread a thin layer of the pulp onto one side of the cotton.
Now take about a teaspoon of the juice extract and spread it over the thin layer.
Make a sandwich by closing the thin layer sheet with its other cotton sheet.
I hope you enjoy this easy-to-make self-care treat and remember you are worth it! Self-care is mental health care.
Melinda
Question Of The Day
Do you give out candy on Halloween? What about decorating?
Melinda
Looking for the Light 
