The Very Versatile Look of Mission Style Kitchen Cabinets

If you're a person who loves the rich look of wood grain and classic, simple lines, you're bound to like Mission style kitchen cabinets. These beautiful cupboards are done in the Amish style, much like Mission style furniture. Usually constructed of either beautifully-grained light or dark oak, they look both hand-crafted and elegant. Many of the top American cabinet makers offer lines of mission style cupboards, accessories, and pantries which will make your kitchen look great.

As you probably know, Amish furniture is highly prized for its fine craftsmanship and meticulous attention to details. This is the style that cabinet makers are striving to emulate when they design their lines of Mission style cupboards. The design has been in vogue since early in the 20th century, and its straight, classic lines and natural simplicity has kept it popular ever since. Following the Victorian era of overabundance of design elements, carvings, and flowery figurals, designers were looking for something that was completely the opposite when Mission style was created.

Mission style cabinetry, with all it's square or rectangular look, manages to incorporate subtle decorative elements, such as leaded glass inserts or hardware that appears to be handcrafted. When you decide to include more decorative accessories, however, you don't want to go overboard. Mission styling is all about simplicity and understated elegance.

One of the nicest things about Mission style cupboards is that they will fit easily into many types of décor and be the perfect match for numerous different appliance finishes and furniture styles. You don't have to keep everything stark and simple for the look to be effective. Use the glass fronts to show off Oriental porcelain for a beautiful, serene look, or spice everything up a bit with pieces of bright Fiestaware. You aren't stuck with being able to use only one color of appliances, either, because many appliance finishes will look really nice provided you keep the look of the entire kitchen cohesive.

If you've always wanted a rustic-looking or country kitchen, Mission style cabinets will be the perfect match. You can leave them with the gorgeous wood grain showing, or you can paint them white for an effect like Grandma used to have in her kitchen. You will find lines of cabinet hardware that have been specifically styled for the Mission look. You can do some browsing on the Internet where you'll find pictures of many kinds of hardware. If you find something you like, you can always print out a copy of it to hold up against your cabinets and see how you like the effect.

Famous American Clock Companies

Although clock making began in the Orient and in Europe long before America was ever discovered, the United States has still had its fair share of great clock companies. Although there was a definite lack of clock makers up until the mid 18th century, in the years preceding the Revolutionary War, Thomas Harland, a Connecticut clock maker who had immigrated from England, brought his skills into play in the American Colonies. Harland was responsible for training other men in the art of clock making which created the basis for the American clock industry.

In 1851, the Ansonia Clock Company was started in Ansonia, CT. However, that arrangement didn't work out, so the company was moved to New York City in 1877. By 1886, there were 225 different clock models in the Ansonia line; this was expanded to 440 by 1914. The company specialized in high-end clocks for the wealthy which included statue clocks, swinging clocks, and other types of novelty clocks. They also manufactured more than 10,000,000 watches between 1904 and 1929. Unfortunately, this pioneer in the American time industry ceased operation completely in 1929.

Another early clock manufacturer was the Waterbury Clock Company which was established in 1857. This company produced over 400 different clock models and added pocket watches to their repertoire starting in around 1890. By 1915 it was the largest clockmaker in the U.S. One of it's most famous achievements is to have introduced the Mickey Mouse watch which became an icon in the watch industry. The Great Depression and World War II caused the Waterbury Clock Company to be sold to Norwegian investors.

One name that is synonymous with fine clock making is Seth Thomas. His business began as a partnership in 1810 and ran until 1813 when Thomas decided to go into business on his own. He started a manufacturing plant in Plymouth Hollow, CT where he built tall case clocks that had wooden movements. Apparently Thomas didn't have many inventive skills, because his clocks were slow to evolve. He liked to let other clock makers try new designs and see if they were successful before going into making similar clocks himself. He was, however, a great businessman which is what brought his company into the world market.

Elias Ingraham, who possessed great engineering skills as well as an eye for appealing design, was given 17 patents for his clock case designs and the way they were manufactured. His son, Edward, was also quite innovative and created a method of applying black enamel to clock cases which resulted in the huge number of black mantel clocks produced during the 19th century. The Ingraham company was sold to McGraw-Edison in 1967, and clocks are still being made using the Ingraham trademark.

This article only provided you with a sampling of the great clockmakers that have graced the American stage. Many others, such as Howard Miller, Westclox, New England, and Chauncey Jerome, also made their mark on the clock making industry. In fact, during the heyday of clock production, the era between about the mid 1800s and 1920, there more than 30 clock companies operating in the United States.

The American Bald Eagle - A Symbol of Life and Freedom

The United States congress adopted the American Bald Eagle in 1782 as the national emblem. Native Americans considered these birds to be holy and their feathers sacred adorning themselves with feathers to show their rank in the tribe or their prowess in battle. Not everyone thought these birds to be so honorable. According to myths and stories, they were hunted and slaughtered without regard, reducing their number from the thousands to only a few hundred nesting pairs. Although Congress enacted the Bald Eagle Protection Act to protect the symbol of our nation and to prevent these beautiful birds from becoming extinct, other battles were still to be fought in the war of survival before this magnificent bird started the uphill climb to recovery.

Americans grow up with a mental picture of the American Bald Eagle because it is used as a symbol on some currency, flags, and memorials as well as being a popular model for paintings to adorn our walls. It is easily recognized with a dark body and white feathers on both the head and tail. The female eagles are larger than the males, weighing up to fourteen pounds, while the males generally weigh seven to ten pounds. Their lifespan can be more than thirty years in the wild. Mating for life, they often nest within a hundred miles of the nest where they were reared; laying a clutch of two or three eggs yearly in a nest they expand year after year, the nest sometimes reaching ten feet in diameter. Both parents participate in the incubation of the eggs, a process which will take between thirty-four and thirty-six days (hatching usually a day or two apart). A young eagle or fledgling will leave the nest between seventy and ninety-eight days of age. Bald Eagles will breed beginning in February through July away from human disturbances in open areas. Eagles will migrate from Northern area further south for the winter, gathering along waterways with an abundant food supply.

Habitats for the bald eagles include waterways or estuaries, large lakes, seacoast area, reservoirs, and major rivers, but ample food source is not the only requirement for the large birds. They must also have perching and nesting areas to accommodate this species.

Much of the bald eagles original habitat has been lost since the Europeans arrived in North America due to deforestation for towns, farms, and for lumber to support the growth. This deforestation has destroyed perching and nesting sites, forcing the raptors to seek other roost such as the top of a high voltage electric pole.

The bald eagle was adopted by the U.S. Congress as the national emblem in 1782. At that time, the number of eagles was estimated as high as seventy-five thousand. By 1940, the number had reduced so drastically that Congress enacted the Bald Eagle Protection Act. This act made it illegal to harass, kill, or possess the birds or any bird or any bird parts without a permit. Although this act offered a promise for the future of the eagle, the struggle for survival was far from over. Farmers and ranchers viewed the eagle as a threat to their livestock but their primary prey is fish although they will eat waterfowl, small mammals or rodents, and carrion.

The chemical era for agriculture and pesticides after World War II ushered in new problems for the troubled population of eagles while fighting the war on insects. DDT and other pesticides applied to lawns and crops washed into the nations' water sources and contaminated water plants, fish, and small creatures, supplying a deadly dose to the eagles as they ate the fish where the chemicals concentrated in their tissues. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, DDT was originally used to control mosquitoes along coastal and wetland areas. DDT accumulated in the birds' fat as the DDT broke down in the birds' body and slowed the release of calcium into the eggshells produced by the females. These birds in turn laid eggs with thin shells that would be crushed by the parents incubating them.

The Secretary of the Interior in 1967 under the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966 listed bald eagles south of the fortieth parallel as endangered. The population numbers had dropped to fewer than 500 pairs in the lower forty-eight states mainly due to habitat destruction, hunting, and the use of pesticides like DDT. Scientists determined the link between DDT and the lower number of eagles and the United States government banned its' use in 1972. Another battle had been won, but the war was still not over.

Although the bald eagle received protection first under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, it wasn't until after the Endangered Species Act passes in 1973, that conservation measures to protect the eagle were implemented. The Endangered Species Act allowed distinct populations of animal species to be listed and new categories of threatened species to be added. Endangered species are defined by the Act as any species in danger of extinction throughout a significant portion or all of its' range. A captive-breeding program to produce birds for release into the wild was started by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition to the captive breeding program, the National Wildlife Refuges and local raptor rehabilitation centers work to improve habitats or by rehabilitating injured eagles so they may be released back into the wild. Most of these organizations work through volunteers and are funded by donation, providing medical care for the birds and public education through presentations and exhibitions. These measures, coupled with law enforcement and protection of the nesting sites during breeding, helped the recovery of the species, but even with these measures there were still challenges ahead for the Bald Eagle.

Another cause of mortality has been lead poisoning with more than two hundred and twenty five cases diagnosed in the last 15 years. The National Wildlife Federation succeeded in the early 1980s in getting the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ban the use of lead shot nationwide in hunting waterfowl, Waterfowl that had eaten or been wounded by lead shot would cause lead poisoning in eagles, which could weaken or even kill adult eagles. Since the ban, waterfowl hunters use shells loaded with steel shot instead of lead. Although the change to steel shot has helped the problem of lead poisoning, it has not cured it since upland hunters can still use lead shot, while other reports show some birds have been poisoned from lead fishing sinkers. In order to reduce the risk, people should not leave solid debris such as lead sinkers in rivers and lakes where there is a chance they could be ingested by an eagle.

Another battle still being fought concerns the toxic effects of mercury affecting eagles with a variety or neurological problems that can alter motor skills and reduce the rate of eggs hatching. The source of the mercury has been identified entering waterways as air emissions from solid waste incineration sites as well as other sources. The impact on the bald eagle population in the Southeastern Region is under investigation.

In the first half of this century illegal shooting still posed a threat to eagles, this impact has been reduced through public education and law enforcement. Some deaths still occur on power poles and lines that have not been redesigned to protect raptors, although the poles are usually configured to reduce the occurrence of electrocutions.

Humans and their disturbances are still a long-term threat to the Bald Eagle. Recreational activity in nesting sites can impact the reproduction processes of these birds. Eagles prefer to breed away from human disturbance in the open and adult birds can be flushed from the nests during incubation and brooding periods. This can expose the eggs or young to adverse conditions. In order to reduce some of the problems caused by these disturbances, land management practices have included zones of protection restricting public access during crucial times. If an individual finds themselves in an eagle habitat, he or she should avoid disturbing the eagles by staying at least three hundred feet away and by keeping an obstruction between them.

Although each of these problems individually is no longer a serious threat to the existence of the Bald Eagle, collectively, they can cause serious problems if not monitored. On August 11, 1995, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Endangered Species, ruled that the American Bald Eagle would be removed from the endangered list but would remain listed as threatened even though the eagle has made a spectacular comeback to nearly 5,800 pairs. In a CBS new report on June 29, 2000 Cindy Hoffman stated that lawyers for the government were trying to determine if the birds' habitat would be protected by federal law if it is taken off the endangered species list. Due to all of these efforts, generations to come will be able to look up and see our national symbol flying overhead instead of just seeing in on our currency, stamps or flag poles.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will work with state agencies to monitor the status of the bald eagle for five years, a requirement of the Endangered Species Act. They are the principal federal agency responsible for protecting, conserving, and enhancing wildlife, fish, and their habitats while managing over 150 million acres, 550 units in the National Wildlife Refuge System, operating sixty-six national fish hatcheries and 37 wetland management districts. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers the Endangered Species Act, enforces Federal wildlife laws, conserves and restores wildlife habitats, manages migratory bird populations, and helps foreign countries with their conservation practices, while overseeing the Federal Aid programs to state fish and wildlife agencies. In addition to all of these duties, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established the National Eagle Repository in early 1970 to provide feathers from the Golden and Bald Eagles for Native American ceremonial purposes located at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Denver, Colorado. The repository is a collection point for dead eagles. The Bald Eagle Protection Act prohibits the taking, transportation, barter, trade, import or export, sale of any part of and the possession of eagles. This Act makes it illegal to possess and eagle or body part from an eagle. Possession of an eagle body part, even a feather, without a permit, is a felony and can carry a fine up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will issue a permit to a Native American to receive and possess eagle feathers from the Repository for use in religious ceremonies, but there is a large demand with thousands on a waiting list. The Repository receives around nine hundred eagles per year and it could take up to two and a half years for an order to be filled for even a single feather.

As of January 2009, The American Bald Eagle is still listed as a threatened species for certain populations in the Sonoran Desert (Region 2) but is listed as Taxon-recovered for the lower 48 states. Diligent observation is still required to maintain this recovery but proper steps were taken to provide the necessary protection for these magnificent birds.

The American people have risen to the occasion to protect the symbol of our nation and because of this dedication; the American Bald Eagle has made a spectacular recovery from near extinction. The story of the fight to save this magnificent bird shows the same courage and honor as we associate with the bird itself. It has been an uphill battle, but it is one the American people rose to meet head on. Maybe one day on the long drive to school, in the early morning hours, I can look up at one of those beautiful birds soaring high above the trees and feel pride in knowing it is there because we cared enough not to give up.

PEI - Anne of Green Gables

'Anne of Green Gables' is synonymous with PEI. Since the novel's publication in 1907, 'Anne of Green Gables' has enchanted readers worldwide with its portrayal of the life of Anne and the island's magic. Written by Prince Edward Island author, Lucy Maud Montgomery, the book takes readers into an idyllic world with endearing characters.

Inspired by beautiful PEI, the novel captures island adventures and a unique spirit that reflects the true nature of Canada's smallest province and its people. More than 50,000 copies of Anne of Green Gables have been sold since its publication. 'Anne' has thousands of fans around the world. If you love "Anne of Green Gables," no place in the world can be a better vacation spot for you than charming Prince Edward Island.

Lucy Maud Montgomery's home province celebrates "everything Anne." Tourists can visit Green Gables, meet Anne and her friends, and go on "Matthew's Carriage Ride." Prince Edward Island has all kinds of places, activities, and events honoring "Anne of Green Gables."

'Anne's Perfectly Scrumptious Wild-Rose Tea Party' is always a treat. This elegant event takes place in Ingleside, Lucy Maud Montgomery's family home. 'Anne' fans can see actual furnishings from the book including Magog (the china dog) and the Rosebud-Spray Tea-Set.

The 'Anne of Green Gables Children's Festival' is a favorite with the kids. Young or old, everyone can dress as 'Anne' and get their photos taken at Cavendish Figurines. Located at the foot of the Confederation Bridge, this 'Anne' haven is a favorite 'first stop' for many tourists.

From musicals to museums, from crafts to characters, Prince Edward Islanders show their love for "Anne," and the famous author, L. M. Montgomery, who brought her to life. 'Anne of Green Gables - The Musical™' will celebrate its 46th anniversary at the 2010 Charlottetown Festival. The renowned 'Anne and Gilbert - The Musical' will be on stage in Summerside.

The 'Anne of Green Gables Museum' at Silver Bush, Park Corner, is a 110-acre property owned by the Campbell family. Lucy Maud Montgomery referred to Silver Bush as her "wonder castle." She was married in the parlor of the homestead on July 5, 1911. Even today, couples come from around the world to be married in front of the fireplace in the same room.

Within the museum, visitors can even find personal items belonging to Lucy Maud Montgomery. A patchwork quilt, as well as her hand-colored, developed photographs, will take you back to the author's days in this home. The gift shop has a wide selection of licensed 'Anne of Green Gables' products.

A  Prince Edward Island vacation is a dream come true for all 'Anne' fans. They can enjoy the 'Anne' attractions and experience the beauty and charm of this island paradise. Visitors can choose from comfortable accommodations including PEI cottages and hotels, bed and breakfasts, or even secluded cabins for that romantic getaway. Wherever you go in PEI, you will always be near "Anne of Green Gables."

Snakes in Early Ohio History

During the early 1800s, lands in Highland and Ross Counties, Ohio, along Paint and Rattlesnake Creeks, were sold by veterans of the Revolutionary War who had been granted them as war bounties. Settlers moved in, attracted by the opportunity to purchase 150 or more acres. They were hoping to acquire enough land for their children to settle around them, also. These early settlers discovered that their new paradise had unwelcome residents: spotted rattlesnakes. One pioneer reported killing eighty-four snakes in one day, when the creatures had emerged from their winter dens.

One pioneer family, the Carlisles, had a memorable encounter with Rattlesnake Creek's namesake, according to Highland County history. Their cabin had been built without windows and had been thoroughly chinked, eliminating any light. The family spent the days outside in good weather and only entered the cabin to sleep. Candles and oil were too expensive to waste merely to light their way to bed, so the family felt their way inside one evening. The daughter of the family went to bed after a discussion about snakes and felt something moving beneath her pillow. She was told it was her imagination, due to the conversation before bed, but she insisted something, either a rat or a snake, was there. She started to sit up, and something struck her head like a whip. She leaped up, screaming that she had been bitten by a snake. The snake rattled, and the entire family scrambled out of bed. Luckily, she had not been bitten, only struck with its tail as it tried to escape the pillow. They heard the snake rattling as it crawled toward a corner of the cabin, and in the pitch darkness pursued it until they were able to kill it in the yard. The idea of this family dealing with a deadly reptile in the dark reminds us of what a tough people these pioneers were.

Local pioneers turned their livestock loose to graze on the thick grasses near the creeks. When the time came to bring the animals home for work or for milking, a boy or young man would hurry out through the tall grass to fetch them. He would be barefoot or shod only in low moccasins and was understandably wary of the rattlesnakes along his route. The boy listened intently for the sound of his own cows' or horses' bells and leaped from log to log in an attempt to avoid the grass where snakes could be lurking. Once he reached his stock, he could ride one back safely to the homestead. Unfortunately, several of the area's settlers were bitten and, unless they could get treatment quickly, often succumbed to the snakes' venom.

Pioneers of Highland and Ross Counties, Ohio, found that spotted rattlesnakes did not make good neighbors. For many years in the early 1800s, men and women were forced to keep a sharp lookout for these deadly reptiles.

No Electricity for Weeks - What Would You Do?

My son and I have been watching the Little House on the Prairie series on DVD.

If you're not familiar with this icon of 1970s North American television, it's the story of a pioneer family in Walnut Grove, a tiny town in Minnesota in the late 1800s. We've watched them battle blizzards and crop failures, economic downturns and pandemics. And through it all, there's something staring the viewer in the face - there was a world before electricity. And a big, rich one at that. People were resilient - they knew how to look after themselves, and bounced back from calamity.

Of course, most of us find that life hard to imagine. The 'electrification' of North America fundamentally changed our society, family life, and the way we live. Whether that was for better or worse is a topic for another time.

So imagine for a moment what it would be like to be without power at your home for a week, two weeks, a month, 6 months.

Now, I'm no fear monger or doomsday-ist... doomsday-er? (is that even a word?). Nor do I identify with the 'survivalist' camp. Far from it. I believe that the massive changes we're currently experiencing across the planet will lead to a brilliant transformed society once we come out the other side, but that there will be some growing pains during the transition. It's those pain points where we can really make a difference by being prepared. Extended

Power Outages Aren't Fiction

Personally, I've never been through a power outage that lasted more than 2 or 3 days (at most). I find it hard to image what an extended outage would look like. But it we think it's an impossibility, we're sadly mistaken. Just ask anyone who has been through one, during war or disaster, and they'll tell you all about it.

So what could cause a power loss for longer than a few days?

Natural Disaster - You don't have to look far to find a lot of those the last few years. Floods, fires, earthquakes, tsunamis... all can disrupt electrical systems over wide areas for long periods of time. Even if you're not in the directly affected area, these events can really wreak havoc.
Weather Extremes - These are become more common as well, as the climate shifts and changes. Heatwaves can cause excess demand on fragile, antiquated power grids, as well as the conditions we saw across so much of the northern hemisphere in the summer of 2010 (and summers before that) that created massive wildfires, knocking out power over vast regions. And cold weather has the same effect on demand, with the added threat of freezing to death without adequate warmth should an ice storm or some other extreme event shut down power stations and distribution lines.
Solar Activity - Here's where you might think I've gone a bit 'woo-woo', but I've read many express concern that the next solar maximum is going to be a doozy, and there is potential for fragile power grids to be completely knocked out of service. For months. I don't know much (OK, anything, really) about how the sun's activity affects electrical systems here on earth, but I'm thinking NASA does. And they're concerned (NASA space weather link). They've even got a map of the US posted that shows the areas that could be most affected due to the way the grids are constructed. Bottom line: we can't do anything about this one but get ready.

What Would a Long-Term Outage Look Like?

So say the worst happens and we get bombarded by a super solar storm and the electrical grid goes down just like in that map (or even parts of that map), for weeks on end.

What would you do?

For the majority of people living in 'modern' (read 'electricity dependent') communities, it would look something like this:

You couldn't get money from a bank.
Hospitals would likely be unable to operate at normal levels (or some, even any level - they have back-up power systems, but those usually rely on fossil fuels, which might not be available if the electrical systems that run the pumps and distribution system fail).
Commerce as we know it would essentially cease - it would be virtually impossible to buy anything, anywhere.
You'd have no hot water.
You'd have no heat.
You couldn't fill your car with fuel.
Most transportation would cease.
There would be no internet, no DVDs, no movies.
In a mass failure, it would be unlikely you could use your cell phone.
You'd be unable to refill critical prescriptions.
You couldn't cook your food (But 'my range is gas', you say? As far as I understand, it's all distributed through electrically managed systems).
You couldn't go to hospital to take care of any injuries.
You'd have no refrigeration for your food.
Depending on where you live, you might have no running water.
Your plumbing systems might not work.
and the list goes on..

It's actually pretty frightening when you get past denial and let your brain go there.

In all honestly, it used to completely freak me out. And obviously it's freaked a lot of other people out too, because in the last couple of years there's been an explosion of websites dealing with 'prepping' and emergency supplies. At first I thought it was all the crazy 2012 paranoia, but the more I've educated myself, the more I realize that the possibility of a massive power failure isn't so crazy. Especially from the perspective of solar activity and natural disaster.

OK - Now What?

So what's a person to do?

Start small, and build from there.

Sit down and make a list of how your life would be affected should such an event occur. Buy some emergency supplies. Plan for cooking and warmth. Learn how to grow sprouts. Upgrade your first aid training. Buy a bike and trailer. Get to know your neighbours.

Most of all, do not go to a place of fear. There's nothing to be afraid of if you take the steps now to get organized. Educate yourself, but I recommend you avoid the fear-mongering, conspiracy-theorizing websites - there are a lot of them and frankly, I think they do more harm than help... but that's just my opinion.

My goal is to have us all empowered and feeling good about our knowledge and skills. Comfortable with living without electricity. Confident we can not just survive, but thrive should the worst happen. Bottom line: the more each of us are prepared, the less chaotic any major electrical grid event will be.

And really, what's the harm in being prepared, just in case?

Worst case: You are able to look after your family during an extended emergency, helping them stay comfortable and most of all, safe.

Best case: (Which I'm hoping for!) you have a tonne of great camping food and will be all cozy when the next snow storm takes out power to your house.

I can't really find a down side. Can you?

Funny thing is, in the days depicted on Little House on the Prairie, a doozy of a solar maximum would have probably had no effect whatsoever.

Interesting, isn't it?

Diabetes on the Rise!

The information in this piece, was taken from an article which appeared in the Albuquerque Journal (July, 2006), and was written by Lisa Roberts of the Orlando Sentinel. The article talks about the dangers of diabetes and what can be done to treat and prevent it. The newspaper article here has been quoted...I have paraphrased certain parts, and I have added my own two cents, etc.

* * *
One of the questions I always ask my doctor, when I go in to see the results of a physical examination every year...is if there is anything seriously wrong with the physical like cancer; diabetes or another life-threatening disease! I can wait for all that other stuff in the medical report. When he says, "no, everything is fine," I'm relieved, to say the least!

In the past, I have known two people who have died from diabetes. My Aunt Molly and the man who lived next door to my parents. Both of them met a similar fate...as they both became blind; both had a leg amputated, and both were in their early 50's when they passed away. (much too young!)

Before I got laid off from one of my jobs, I worked side by side with a fellow for over six years. He was overweight, and apparently didn't take enough care of the problem. One day, he went to the doctor for a check-up and he got the bad news...he had diabetes! I noticed the change of attitude right away. He became withdrawn; reserved; distant and he told me depression was beginning to set in. Because I like to be around people with a good sense of humor, I noticed that his sense of humor had changed as well...for the worse! (I can't blame him for that)

* * *

* Article: "If you don't know someone with diabetes, there's a good chance you will someday. A recent study found the occurrence of Type 2 diabetes has doubled over the last 30 years. Another estimated that a third of U.S. adults...more than 73 million...suffer diabetes or may be developing it. Simply put, it's an epidemic, and it's driven by sedentary lifestyle and obesity, the up swing of which closely parallels the growth of the disease, says Dr. Kimberley Bourne, a Orlando Fla., endocrinologist who treats diabetics."

* My two cents: In my article, "How I Lost 40 Pounds," the thought of getting diabetes was one of my main concerns and motivators, as I fear getting any life-threatening disease! And, because diabetes affects mostly people who are overweight. I knew when I stepped off that scale in the doctor's office, that I was going to lose the 40 pounds, which was my goal. And, I didn't care how long it took...6 months...a year or longer! THE WEIGHT WAS GOING TO COME OFF!

* Article: "Diabetes is a disease in which the body doesn't produce properly, or ignores insulin. The hormone regulates the metabolism of blood glucose...sugar...which fuels our cells. When diabetes takes hold, glucose can build up in the body and coat blood vessels and nerves. Left untreated, the disease can cause an array of devastating maladies, including blindness; cardiovascular disease; and kidney failure. When glucose interrupts impulses and blood flow to extremities, diabetics sometimes are unaware of things such as cuts, scrapes, and blisters, which may become infected. In severe cases, an amputation might be necessary."

* My Two Cents: The exercise for me consists of walking and jogging 10-15 miles a week in 1986, and in the year 2006, I still do my walking and jogging every week. I really didn't know very much about diabetes, until I read a few articles, and after I did, I knew I would stay with it for the rest of my life, as I hope I well be able to do so.

* Article: "Though the exact cause of diabetes hasn't been determined, research has repeatedly pointed the finger at OBESITY as perhaps the greatest risk of all. As weight increases, the pancreas pumps out more and more insulin to handle increased blood sugar," says Dr. Bourne.

* My Two Cents: For me, exercise is so easy, and can be done almost any time or any place. For example; There are times when I watch a football game on television, and I don't necessarily like to watch the half-time activities. So, it's easy for me to go outside and run a mile or so, and then walk back to cool off. That takes about twenty minutes, and when I get back, it's time for the second half of the ballgame to start. I get to watch the ballgame and get a little exercise at the same time.

In 2005, I was hospitalized for over three months, and I would walk up and down the hallways everyday to try to get some sort of exercise. I did it so much during the three months, that I can tell you just how many floor tiles are in Ward 5B and Ward 5C! (Isn't this exciting?) I pushed my little walker (beep-beep)...and, putt-putted my way around the hospital to get my exercise. But, I wasn't the only "crazy" person walking up and down the halls! Several of the other veterans would walk up and down the halls as well, etc. So, getting exercise is easy, and can be done almost anywhere.

* Article: "Prevention and early treatment of diabetes are paramount goals, says Mark Williams, CEO of Community Health Centers Inc., which operates a network of Central Florida clinics and offers diabetes screening. 'As a community, diabetes is one of those diseases that screams 'treat me early' so we can avoid complications, because complications are so very expensive.'"

* My Two Cents: The walking and jogging I do, takes care of the lower body, and I've been "pumping aluminum," to take care of the upper body. When I went to the sports section of a department store looking for the location of the dumb bells, I asked the clerk where the dumb bells were...and he just looked at ME!

* Article: "At the Florida Hospital Diabetes Center in Orlando, diabetics are proving that eating well and working out can help control the disease. Gym members test their blood before and after their workouts, and the difference they see in their blood sugar after exercising motivates them to keep on the move, says Paul Frickman, the center's exercise coordinator. It's not unusual to see blood sugar tumble from, say 140 to the norman range, which is between 70 and 100. The benefit of a workout lasts from 24 to 72 hours. Another bonus: 'When you exercise, sugar goes into your body without the assistance of insulin,' he says, so a diabetic's reliance on drugs may lessen."

*My Two Cents: I've never done exercise on a treadmill. I've always liked to go outdoors and "smell the roses," watch the sun rise and set on the horizon, and watch the leaves turn color, etc. We're becoming a country of concrete and asphalt , so I like to get a little dirt and grass under my feet once in a while.

* Article: "Talar Glover, a clinical nurse specialist at the center, says today's super sized meal portions and fat-and-sugar laden foods, as well as a variety of social conditions, are helping to fuel the disease. Through many believe diabetes is about eating excess sugar, 'it's not about sugars...it's about carbohydrates. They turn into sugar,' she says. That's why diets should be based on a balance of meat, fruits, vegetables, dairy produces and whole grains."

PRESCRIPTION FOR DIABETES: DIET AND EXERCISE.

For over twenty years, exercising has been a way of life for me, and my health has been my top priority. I have to get out and get my "fix" every week of running and jogging! "Sweat therapy," has help me to sleep better; reduce the stress in my life; be more creative; clear the cob webs from my head; get more ideas; and solve problems too, etc.

And, I'll keep doing what I've been doing over the past twenty years...that is...walking, jogging, and "pumping aluminum." But, as I grow older, I have to make some changes. I will now have to start "pumping aluminum foil," instead!

Artist William Merritt Chase

William Merritt Chase was born on November 1st, 1849 in Nineveh, Indiana. After joining and leaving the Navy in 1869, he decided to leave Indiana and head off to New York to study art. While there, he studied at The National Academy of Design. In 1870 he left New York to help support his family in St. Louis, he worked as a still-life painter and started to make a name for himself. The wealthy art collectors in St. Louis decided they wanted to expand his talent in Europe and they sponsored a 5 year stay in Munich in return for paintings.

Chase returned back to the United States in 1878 and opened a studio in New York City. He was a member of the Tilers, a group of artists including Winslow Homer, J. Alden Weir and Arthur Quartley. He often painted portraits of his family, his wife Alice and his 8 children.

Aside from painting portraits, William Merritt Chase also liked to paint landscapes. New York City parks and was often the subject for those landscapes, he used vibrant colors. William Chase enjoyed using oil paints to paint these paintings, he also used watercolors, pastels and etchings. His studio was filled with still lifes, portraits, landscapes, and cityscapes.

The portrait of "Lady in Black" is a perfect example of William Merritt Chase's style. It currently hangs in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The brush strokes, although wide, don't hide the intricate details of the woman's face. It's a piece that leaves the viewer wanting more, and often left me wondering what the "Lady in Black" was thinking about.

Chase, who spent his summers in Shinnecock, would often use this setting as a subject "The Chase Homestead at Shinnecock" is a perfect example of his landscape technique.

William Merritt Chase was also famous for his teaching and artistic training. He had a strong following of young students in New York City and was a founding member of The Society of American Artists and in 1880 was elected president. Chase died on October 25, 1916 in New York City.