I converted to Windows 10 ... works great, except the internet freezes when it does an update, then you think you are attacked by a virus, but it's just an update with zero warning, the screen just freeze, along with a big bang-sound. Windows 10 is not as user-friendly as previous Windows version. The update sometimes mess up with one's computer setting, and one has to reset everything. I won't recommend Windows 10 to those who don't want to solve new problems.

Pinterest has good pics. of recipes, but only useful if the recipes are posted along with the pictures. Plus side of Pinterest: nice pictures that encourage one to cook . Down-side: If you click on the website attached to the pics, some have virus, or leads to nowhere.

That's why I put the recipes next to the pictures in my Pinterest, so people don't have to click on the website associated with the picture (waste of time, plus some sites are infected with virus, or doesn't exist). Below is my Pinterest of recipes for Kale shake & Kale salad. If you click on my domain Straw Chicago, I also created other boards such as slow-cooker, seafood, healthy sweets, Bible verses, roses, gardens, etc.

Here's my Pinterest of slow-cooker recipes:

https://www.pinterest.com/clonewar/slow-cooker/

Here's my Pinterest of vegetarian and veggies:

https://www.pinterest.com/clonewar/vegetarian-and-veges/

Here's my Pinterest of roses & bouquets:

https://www.pinterest.com/clonewar/roses-bouquets-nature-and-garden/

Love that pic of your yard Straw! Awesome!

I might get some edging one of these days... Very nice edging you have around your beds Straw!

Our new roses have all done well this year so I'm very happy. Little Earthsong though is behind big D Ko and in September a lot of its sun started getting blocked because of the changing position of the sun in the sky...

I still have windows Vista & our computer is a bit older...

Not much to take pics of here this time of year...

Just snapped these shots of Easy Does it and other roses though... I cut up our Dogwood branches and that's what you see scattered around the bed...

Prairie Harvest:

Earthsong:

Down town today I noticed 5 rose bushes near a bank that were just blooming away full blast. Smaller rose bushes about 2ft wide by maybe 18 inches high with pink blooms... I need to snap a pic of them on Friday while I'm at Therapy... Might be Flower Carpet?

Planted this Lavender Hidcote Superior where I took out the dogwood bush...These Hidcote Superiors grow to about 18 inches high and seem to have a long blooming period...

Also got mulch from that free township facility today.... Keeps our pets paws from getting muddy...

Really love the silvery foliage of your Lavender Hidcote Superior .. can't wait until spring to see its blooms. Your roses have healthy foliage, look very good. it's rainy all day today.

I hope to get more leaves this weekend, so I don't have to water nor do much weeding next year in my landscape beds. Neighbors spent over $100 for mulch, and they have 1/5 the amount of beds that I do. We have free mulch, but it's a nuisance to carry that in one's car, it's less than 5 min. drive.

Jim: Very pretty Knock-out bush above, and what's that plant in the white pot, right most? Lavender isn't hardy here, lots died on me. Only one plant survived.

Last night I pressed my frozen cherries to make juice. I picked that from our tart cherry tree. Drank that before bed-time, had the most vivid dream ever !!! RAW food definitely have enzymes & vitamins for deep sleep. Before this I bought cherry juice (cooked) from the store and they didn't do me any good.

The only time that I lost weight FAST in my life was when I ate RAW salad twice a day, and RAW fruits. One time we picked apples in Michigan, the Sansu apple was so good, I ate 3 per day .. lost 5 lbs. in one week. Another time we picked peaches in Michigan, ate about 6 per day, lost 5 lbs. in one week.

My kid lost 1 lb. with snacking on RAW veggies, red cabbage, red bell pepper, and cucumber. I pray to God that she would like salads, so I can make salad for the entire family. I had a slender roommate in college .. she was in great shape, she would eat the entire lettuce for lunch, or snack on RAW green beans. I checked on the RAW food diet, a few celebrities are on that: Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore, Maggie Q. The RAW food diet allows dried fruits with no preservative.

Seaweed who posted fantastic pics. of her Southern CA roses in this forum ... she's also on a mostly RAW food diet for years ... she's under 100 lbs., in her mid 60's. Last Halloween I was busy handing out candies until 8 pm, so I made a RAW kale shake which kept me full for a long time. I will try smoothies again, to see that help, that's faster than making fancy salads.

I switched my family from cookies to dried fruits, like prunes, or Earthbound Farm Organic raisin. Just 4 or 5 raisins is enough to satisfy my sweet tooth. The Organic Raisin is moister & more flavorful than regular raisins with pesticides. http://www.ebfarm.com/products/dried/raisins

The plant to the right is a Mosquito plant which is a annual here...

The Lavender plant we have is new & never went through a winter so it might not be hardy here either. Only time will tell...

Our local weather station on TV did winter predictions yesterday. They said we should have a milder winter temp wise but we will get more snow than usual... They said Arctic cold will move in briefly in Feb than a early Spring will come...lol... Gotta love weather-people...lol

I hope for a mild winter too, since I dug up a few roses to fix the soil. I did that in past years, and none die, if I cover it well and keep moist. I keep a food diary and how well I sleep at night. The night that I have the most RAW food, be it salad, fruit or RAW almond milk, I always sleep well.

Below excerpt is from model Carol Alt's website, she wrote: "Since switching to a raw diet, I’m more relaxed and able to fall asleep quickly. You may be wondering why a raw diet would have an impact on insomnia. It’s simple. Eating raw food helps our bodies obtain an alkaline state. Let’s talk about acidity in the body and why it’s bad.

As humans, our bodies are at peak performance with a pH level around 7.3-7.4. When we consume food and drinks, they either raise or lower our pH. Eating processed food, meat and dairy naturally lowers our pH level, increasing acidity. On the other hand, eating raw veggies and fruit increases our pH, producing a more alkaline state in the body.

An acidic state can cause aggression and inhibit relaxation. In order to sleep well, it’s imperative to be calm and relaxed. By choosing raw food, you’re automatically supporting your body’s desire to be alkaline.

If you suffer from insomnia, you may want to take a look at your diet. Try adding fresh vegetables, fruit and spring water. Eliminate processed food and refined sugar. Then prepare for a restful night sleep." Carol Alt

http://carolalt.com/blog/is-your-diet-giving-you-insomnia/

Found a site which lists the RAW foods that help with sleep:

8 Raw Foods to Improve Your Sleep Cherries: Increase the production of melatonin. Guava: Packed full of the amino acid tryptophan (a precursor to melatonin) which aids in sleepiness. Almonds, Sesame Seeds & Sunflower Seeds: These are also high in tryptophan. Pumpkin Seeds: These delightful treats contain magnesium, helping to relax your mind and muscles so you drift off into a deep sleep. Green Leafy Vegetables: Contain key cofactors for the synthesis of sleep hormones. - See more at: http://www.bodyenlightenment.me/blog/2011/10/8-raw-foods-to-improve-insomnia-help-you-sleep/#sthash.ITWq7UaZ.dpuf

*** From Straw: I made sunflower seed rolls before .. great stuff which made me fall asleep while eating that. Sunflower seed is high in tryptophan (sleep-inducing chemical). Can post that recipe if anyone is interested, it's high in protein.

Found a recipe for sunflower seed-milk on-line. I use a mesh-strainer to strain the milk, and give the solids to my roses (lots of earthworms when topped with that).

http://healthyblenderrecipes.com/recipes/raw_homemade_sunflower_seed_milk

• 1 cup raw sunflower seeds soaked for about 12 hours
• 3 cups filtered water or more to taste
• 1 tsp alcohol-free pure vanilla extract or 1/2 tsp regular (optional)
• 3 pitted dates, OR 2 - 3 Tbsp maple syrup or other sweetener
• 1 Tbsp NON GM sunflower lecithin (optional to emulsify and make creamy)
• 1 Tbsp coconut butter (optional if you want a richer milk)
• pinch of Celtic sea salt or Himalayan salt

1. Place all ingredients in your Vitamix and start blending at low speed. Quickly accelerate to high speed until all of the seeds are completely pulverized - about 1 minute.
2. Sweeten to taste. Strain though a strainer or a nut bag, and serve.

Personally I have started sleeping better since I started eating more fresh veggies, fruits, etc... Except for when my pinch nerve kept me up from time to time but that has eased up... :-)

So yep it helps!

I eat sunflower seeds...

I like what the model Carol Alt wrote "Eating processed food, meat and dairy naturally lowers our pH level." She's right, when I had cow milk & wheat bran cereal before bed-time, I had such bad gas, heart-burn, acid-reflux and VERY LOUSY sleep, zero dreams. But when I have RAW almond milk and easier to digest cereal-grains before bed time, I sleep much better.

Sugar is a sleep killer, because it makes my stomach more acidic and more hungry. The poster Seaweed kept telling me that FRESH lime juice is alkalizing .. she's right, I eat much less when I drink herbal tea, or water flavored with FRESH lime-juice. Cooked, or pasteurized lemonade with sugar is just the opposite, very acidic.

Years ago I read a book on diabetes written by a M.D. specialist in diabetes. He gave his patients Green shake and monitored their blood sugar: the enzymes in the RAW green helped to stabilize their blood sugar better than high-protein diet. To make such smoothie taste good, avocado & nuts are used to neutralize the bitterness of greens. Here's an excerpt from below link .. no surprise since this was known decades ago:

http://www.incrediblesmoothies.com/green-smoothies/diabetes/green-smoothie-recipes-for-type-2-diabetes/

" One of the most striking green smoothie success stories I’ve published on Incredible Smoothies was from a reader named Charles. He told me about how green smoothies helped him lose 35 pounds in 11 weeks, and his doctor took him off insulin! You can read his inspiring story here."

The above link has recipes given by diabetic patients who used smoothies to reverse diabetes.

Chris’ Green Smoothie

• 8oz unsweetened almond milk
• 2-3 cups spinach (or any green. I use Kale and arugula too) (recipe is for 2 cups spinach)
• 1 medium banana, peeled
• 1/2 small avocado

http://www.incrediblesmoothies.com/green-smoothies/diabetes/green-smoothie-recipes-for-type-2-diabetes/

For normal folks, the ratio of 2:2:3 works in smoothies: 2 cups green, 2 cup water, 3 cups fruit. Blend greens first with water, add fruits and blend again. My first green smoothie I used orange juice, that was really icky (sour doesn't help with bitterness). So I tried again with avocado & water, that was better.

http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/12/26/green-smoothie-recipe/

I'll pass that info on to my mom, sister, & my wifes daughter. This area we live in has a high number of diabetic people...

I'm leaving at 10:30am this morning to go to Pittsburgh with my mom we are going out to visit Cameron...

I still pray for that 3-year old girl Cameron ... I hope she recuperates 100%.

I posted green-smoothie recipe for people who have zero teeth, like my 90 year old Mom, or people too busy to eat a salad. But Greens are best in salad. Today I made a RAW kale salad with Italian dressing, crumbled bacon & boiled egg, and it was the best stuff ever !! Swiss chard, Kale are nasty when cooked, but absolutely delicious as RAW. Here's a recipe for Swiss Chard salad:

Ingredients

• 1 bunch Swiss chard
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs*
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• sea salt to taste
• crushed red pepper flakes, optional
• 1 lemon
• 3/4 cups grated Parmesan, Grana Padano or Pecorino

Wash and dry the chard and remove the stems from the leaves. Stack a few of the leaves on top of each other, roll them like a cigar and cut the cigar into thin (1/8-inch) ribbons.

Warm 1/4 cup olive oil in a small, heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs and cook, stirring frequently, until they are crisp and golden brown (about 5 minutes). Stir in the garlic, a pinch of salt and pepper flakes, and let them toast for another minute, then remove from the heat.

1. Zest the lemon into the bowl of chard. Juice the lemon into a small mixing bowl. Add a few generous pinches of salt. Slowly whisk in 1/4 cup of the olive oil.
2. Add the Parmesan and lemon dressing to the bowl. Toss in the toasted breadcrumbs and serve immediately.

http://www.alexandracooks.com/2014/08/07/swiss-chard-salad-with-lemon-parmesan-breadcrumbs/

I re-post the basic salad-dressing from the other thread: Copy cat Babe's salad:

2 TBS sugar 1 tsp salt 1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 2 Tbs canola oil (I usually use olive oil in salads, but here I feel it is just too strong) 1 head iceberg lettuce

First off Camerons doing great! Thanks for all prayers!

Next up pics of those roses blooming downtown... Flower Carpet? They are approx 12" high 18-20" wide

That's Flower Carpet, the leaves are small, typical of Kordes Rose. My FlowerCarpet coral still have blooms on them, as of today Nov 18.

I might try a couple of those if I can find them...Low growing and seem to bloom a lot...You mentioned that a few times in your other thread Straw... I've been eyeing them roses up for a couple years now not realizing they were flower carpet...lol..But everytime I go by them they are blooming. And these ones are not cared for as they are planted in stones beside a bank..

Both Home Depot and Lowe carries Flower Carpet Amber: orange-yellow, looks really good. In spring time Home Depot has many varieties of Flower Carpet (dark red, dark pink, orange, coral) .. but they are sold out fast BEFORE May. They are on sale mid-April, in full-bloom, so people grab them.

FlowerCarpet is more drought-tolerant than Knock-out, more cold-tolerant than Knock-out, and blooms 1 month ahead of Knock-out, plus lasting up to Thanksgiving. Good News: We got Jason Hand soap with Aloe Vera for my kid to wash her face, her pimples are much better, 3/4 less inflamed. It's cheap 16 ounce for $11. I tried Jason's liquid soap, and my face felt WOW, clean & refreshed & stronger skin.

In contrast, I tried the Neutrogena wash with 2% salicylic acid, that burned my face, felt like someone rub sand-paper on my face !! ... that's the nasty one which caused bleeding pimples on my kid.

Jason's liquid soap is made of natural ingredients like aloe vera, wheat germ, calendula, sage, sunflower oil, and oil from coconut. I thought it would be greasy, but it cleans & rinses well, but gentle on skin.

http://www.amazon.com/Jason-Pure-Natural-Soothing-Ounce/dp/B000FG8SVC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1447891523&sr=8-3&keywords=jason+hand+soap&pebp=1447891533097&perid=1MHSRD6BSACYAV2BB2XZ

Jim: While I checked on the benefits of greens (to convince my kid to eat salad), I ran across some interesting info. for your wife's MS (multiple sclerosis). See an excerpt from below link: "The Paleo Diet, consisting of organic, whole foods from grass-fed meats, vegetables, fermented foods, and nuts, is packed with nutrients that protect the nervous and immune systems.

Another vital nutrient, vitamin D, is critical not only to prevent heart disease, cancer, and other lifestyle diseases, but also for MS prevention and care. New research has shown that the birth month of a baby as well as the mother's vitamin D levels are involved in the future risk of MS in the child. The study demonstrates that those who were born after the winter months in April or May were significantly more likely to have MS than those born after the sunny, summer months in October or November.

This study, in conjunction with many other studies that confirm the risk of MS decreases the closer you live to the equator (and vice versa), demonstrate a link between vitamin D levels and the risk of developing Multiple Sclerosis. "

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/038569_paleo_diet_multiple_sclerosis_healing.html#ixzz3rtQAK5I5

Dr. Terry Wahls, assistant chief of staff at the Iowa Veterans Affairs Medical Center, MS-stricken, saw herself continue to become severely incapacitated three years after her initial diagnosis in 2000. "I was afraid I was going to become bedridden," she said at the TEDXIowaCity event in November 2011, referring to what she once thought was irreversible MS. Wahls took the natural healing power of food to reverse her irreversible MS within a year, going from riding a tilt-recline wheelchair to competing in an 18-mile bicycle tour with her own version of the paleo diet without prescription drugs."

http://www.medicaldaily.com/multiple-sclerosis-diet-doctor-terry-wahls-reverses-ms-diet-alone-249419

**** From Straw: the above link shows pic. of Dr. Wahls before pic. in a wheelchair, and after pic. as an athlete riding her bicycle. The below mention selenium in seaweed, but Brewer's Yeast also has selenium. Replacing harmful dairy with the below helps with MS. Summary of her diet:

"Three Cups Of Leafy Greens

Green leaves contain vitamins A, C, K, B and minerals that help protect the brain cells in the mitochondria and will also lower the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration in your life.

Three Cups Of Sulfur-Rich Vegetables

Since sulfur compounds help with cellular detoxification and the creation of neurotransmitters, they are seen as the secret weapon against degenerative disease, says Healthtruthrevealed.com. Sulfur-rich vegetables include cabbage, onions, mushrooms, and asparagus.

Three Cups Of Colorful Fruits And Vegetables

Colorful fruits and vegetables are loaded with antioxidants that can help combat oxidative activity in MS damage. Wahls says that these brightly colored foods contain flavonoids, which are polyphenols that can help to remove the toxins in your body, especially in your brain. Foods like berries, oranges, beets, and carrots can help you get the antioxidants needed to keep you healthy.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Wahls recommends MS patients to also consume animal-based omega-3s because these lessen disability progression and can lead to fewer relapses. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society suggests salmon, mackerel, herring, and sardines for excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

Seaweed

The high amounts of iron, calcium, and fiber found in seaweed help to increase alertness and mental clarity, especially in MS patients. The selenium found in seaweed can also strengthen your bones, eyes, and skin while sharpening your brain through toxin removal, says Thepositivepear.com.

http://www.medicaldaily.com/multiple-sclerosis-diet-doctor-terry-wahls-reverses-ms-diet-alone-249419

Thanks for info on Flower Carpet...

Jason's soap got all great reviews! :-) Sounds like a winner!

Salicylic acid is dying... Glycolic acid is also...Some of those peels they use for skin can be quite irritating... Vitamin A creams can be harsh too...

I will pass that info on to my wife! Thanks Straw!

We put up our 4ft Christmas tree tonight

Great idea for early Christmas tree !! Looks good, Jim.

I don't put mine up until the last minute, since my kid likes to jump rope everywhere. Then her friends come over and want to jump rope, so we always have empty space. I gave away a sofa to make room for their exercises.

I'm breaking out in rash from using fish oil. It was fine for the first few weeks, then I developed an allergic reaction after repeated using. Sam's club sells Barlean's Omega-Swirl liquid fish oil really cheap .. $4 for a huge bottle, 24 OZ. It tastes like sorbet. Regular price is over $30, but Sam's club sells it for $4 since it's end of season, plus there's the news that fish oil raised the risk of prostrate cancer. Dairy & calcium also raise prostate cancer risk. The late rosarian Karl Bapst had prostate cancer.

From WebMD: "

The researchers reviewed 12 studies, conducted between 1966 and 2005, which examined dairy and calcium intake and prostate cancer incidence.

They report that men who ate the most dairy products had an 11% increase in prostate cancer risk compared with men who ate the fewest. Men with the highest intake of calcium were 39% more likely to develop prostate cancer than men with the lowest.

The risk increases reported in the studies were modest. But an author of the latest work tells WebMD that it is potentially significant because prostate cancer is so common.

Prostate cancer is the most widely diagnosed cancer among American men. According to the American Cancer Society, one out of six men will develop the disease. One out of 34 men will die from the disease."

http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/news/20051206/lots-of-dairy-linked-to-prostate-cancer

From Straw: Omega-3 in fish oil raises prostate cancer risk even more. Fish oil capsule is quite stinky once I poke it to sniff. The fish oil liquid I take is stinky compared to eating FRESH fish. Anything stinky & concentrated isn't good for health. The book "The China Study" written by Dr. Campbell tested fish-protein, cow-milk protein and induced cancer in rats with BOTH. But vegetables and plant-protein shrank tumor in rats.

" Mercury is not the only toxin found in fish and fish oil. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are commonly found, in high levels, in fish Oil supplements. PCBs are considered carcinogens, or cancer causing, and are also known to cause headaches, cough, fatigue, skin sores and more. There is currently a lawsuit against fish oil companies because they are not disclosing the levels of PCBs and other chemicals present in their products."

http://ezinearticles.com/?3-Reasons-Fish-Oil-is-Bad-For-You&id=4371461

"These anti-inflammatory omega-3s were associated with a 43 percent increased risk for prostate cancer overall, and a 71 percent increased risk in aggressive prostate cancer," said study lead author Theodore Brasky, a research assistant professor at Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center in Columbus, who was at Hutchinson at the time of the study."

http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/news/20130710/too-much-fish-oil-might-boost-prostate-cancer-risk-study-says?page=2

Wonder if fish oils products vary very much in Quality?

My uncle was taking a generic medicine by one company and it helped him a lot. Then one day the Pharmacy started getting the same medicine from another company and that caused my uncle to have severe Heart fibulation problems... So they had to go back to giving him the original medicine from the first company...

I checked on the PCB levels in fish oil and found the below:

" 10 PRODUCTS TESTED

Nature Made cod liver oil and odorless fish oil; manufacturer Pharmavite LLC in Northridge

Twinlab Norwegian cod liver oil and emulsified Norwegian cod liver oil; manufactured in American Fork, Utah

Now Foods shark liver oil, double strength cod liver oil and salmon oil; manufactured in Bloomingdale, Ill.

Solgar 100 percent pure Norwegian shark liver oil complex and Norwegian cod liver oil; manufactured in Leonia, N.J.

GNC liquid Norwegian cod liver oil; manufactured in Pittsburgh

Lab tests of these 10 fish oil supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids found they contain some of the 209 polychlorinated biphenyl compounds known to cause cancer and birth defects."

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_14501591?source=most_viewed

From ABC news: " According to California law, people should not be exposed to more than 90 nanograms of this carcinogen a day. But the results of the activists' tests showed three of the 10 -- Nature Made Cod Liver Oil, and Now Foods' Salmon Oil and Double Strength Cod Liver Oil -- contained much more than that. Roe filed suit against eight fish oil producers and retailers, including CVS, GNC, Omega Protein and Rite Aid.

The two supplements with the lowest overall PCB levels in the tests, Solgar Norwegian Cod Liver Oil and Twin Lab Norwegian Cod Liver Oil, had only one-70th the amount of the supplements with highest levels."

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/ConsumerNews/truth-fish-oil-concerns/story?id=9994049

Jim: Fish from Norwegian are cleaner than fish from other oceans. NOW company published this statement in regard to the PCB-lawsuit: "If consumers are concerned about this issue, we suggest that they look for products that are molecularly distilled and made from small fish with short life spans, such as anchovies and sardines."

I used to like sardines, but after many servings, I develop a rash. I have been giving my kid flax oil for 12 years, and eat her left-over (laced with flax oil) for 12 years, never have any rash with flax oil (plant-Omega-3). Plus flax oil is cleaner, NOT stinky like fish-oil. We use the refrigerated Barlean's Flax oil. We bought other flax-oil brands like Spectrum and it was stinky. I WOULD NOT buy flax oil that is NOT refrigerated, it gets rancid fast.

Wheat-germ is supposed to be good, but I once bought a bag few months away from expiration date (Bob's Mill) and it stank mighty. The problem with Omega-3 oil, and vitamin E is they become rancid & stinky & cancer-inducing if not fresh. Here's from Wikipedia " Aflatoxins are naturally occurring mycotoxins that are produced by the fungi species Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. ] Aflatoxins are toxic and among the most carcinogenic substances known.[2]

International sources of commercial peanut butter, cooking oils (e.g. olive, peanut and sesame oil), and cosmetics have been identified as contaminated with aflatoxin.

Medical research indicates that a regular diet including apiaceous vegetables, such as carrots, parsnips, celery, and parsley may reduce the carcinogenic effects of aflatoxin.[18]

Below excerpt is from Cornell University: " Aflatoxins are detected occasionally in milk, cheese, corn, peanuts, cottonseed, nuts, almonds, figs, spices, and a variety of other foods and feeds . Milk, eggs, and meat products are sometimes contaminated because of the animal consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated feed . However, the commodities with the highest risk of aflatoxin contamination are corn, peanuts, and cottonseed."

http://poisonousplants.ansci.cornell.edu/toxicagents/aflatoxin/aflatoxin.html

*** From Straw: There's cottonseed oil in baked goods, cookies like PepperidgeFarm. I never buy that stuff after my child breaking out in rash with store-bought cookies, plus that worsened my hay fever. Cottonseed crop is heavily sprayed with pesticides, plus loaded with aflatoxin (cancer-causing mold).

Thanks for all the info! :-)

Being in the mood we just put up our other Christmas trees too...

Bathroom:

Front porch:

Perfect time to put up Christmas tree. Yours is well done !! It's snowing tonight, plus tomorrow night. Still have blooms on roses & annuals like snapdragons & calendula. I have to drain off the water from my 3 rain-barrels & clean them and put them away. It will be 13 degree on Sat. night.

Awesome you still have blooms! Only thing blooming here is that Pansy that grew out of the middle of our sidewalk back in June...lol

Yep those rain barrels would freeze and bust.... 13 degrees! brrrrrrr!

I keep Organic rose forum going through the winter, after I witness the benefit of "group support". Mid-Sept: Jim walked in the rain, that prompted me to walk 45 min. a day, mostly with my daughter. Early-Nov: Carol reported walking with her dog for 1 hour, that prompted me to spend 3 hours getting leaves & in the garden. What we do, and when we share help to motivate one-another. Keeping one's eye-sight & health is more important than growing healthy roses, so our winter journal is vital.

I start a new thread "11/20/15: daily journal toward health & organic ways & weight loss"

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3517368/m=3/11-20-15-daily-journal-toward-health-and-organic-ways-and-weight-loss