It sure has been quiet around here the past couple of days . . . meaning the entire message board?   I guess everyone is getting ready for the upcoming Summer months.   I remember how I loved Summer, when I was a a young woman.   Now too hard to deal with the intense heat and the wildfires, so now I prefer Winter and Spring.

OLM - are you living in an area that's likely to get wildfires?   I keep forgetting to ask you if you have a reliable car or truck up there, so you can  drive out quickly if necessary?   Looks like Canada is getting hit hard by fires so far this year?

I'm thinking about other books abut people dealing with disabilities.   One that was hugely popular here a few years ago, is "Me Before You", by JoJo Moyes.   I never read the book or saw the movie, but both got good reviews.  Another is,  "The Women", by Kristin Hannah,  about Army nurses who served in Vietnam during the War.   The things they saw, and the things had to do!    So many thousands of  men came  home mentally and physically crippled.  Lots of drama and romance in that one as well. It is a fictional story, but lot of research done by Hannah, so based on facts and eye witness  memories.

Okay, enough about that subject for now.    Hoping you're all having a reasonably good weekend, and that you find something positive to enjoy!

Hey Marilyne, I was thinking the same thing. I put it down to lots of spring activities like cleaning and gardening.  Yes, we get wildfires here. During fire season I monitor the T-storms and wildfire incident report pretty closely. My RV is a class B, so  its one piece. When there are fires close by I get everything ready to go. Our fire crews are vigilant. Most of the time lightening strikes are put out at .1 acre or less. The worst ones are human caused. They built an illegal fire, left one burning unattended, or some other stupid behavior.

Today on poo patrol I noted Lady's Slippers, cinquefoil, Columbine, Larkspur, Wild Geranium and Yarrow in the wildflower parade. The Lady's Slippers are considered rare. Since we don't graze cattle here they're coming up everywhere.😃

Speaking of keeping the RV ready  to go, did you ever get the battery you needed? - and installed. Don't want something else running the RV battery down.

Hey Rick, I heard the well gen replacement battery is supposed to come today. 🥳  I'll request the RV coach batteries (2) be installed. The one I used on the well gen was not pulled from the RV. I never would have gotten it out! Way too heavy! It was on standby, to go in as 1 of the 2 replacements for the current pair of RV coach batteries. They showed a pattern of not keeping a charge during the cloudy weather. They're long past over due. Good to see you posting.🙂

Patricia  -  Last night on my local TV news, they did a feature story on the Big Bear eagle family.   It showed Gizmo, finally taking flight for the first time.  Exciting to see it on the BIG screen!  The commentary said that thousands of people from around the World, have been watching Jackie and Shadow since January.   So nice to have a good, happy story in the news, that has brought people together! 

OLM  -  Glad you're prepared in case of a dreaded wildfire!   The meteorologists are predicting a bad fire season in the Sierra,  this Summer and Fall.  The years 2023 and 2024 were mild because we had lots of rain during both Winters.   However this year, very little in the Winter, to almost none during the Spring months.      .

Marilyne, I know I was watching the eagles avidly. They were so fascinating, and the closeups showed the sibling spats and rivalries, plus sometimes downright orneriness.

When Gizmo wasn't quite ready to try flying after the first accidental flight, Jackie first tried tempting her with a fresh caught fish to the nest, and then bringing her a fresh one to the tree Gizmo was resting on. Or the moment Shadow flew in with a fish, saw one already there but no one in the nest. He had a quizzical look around before spotting them in the other tree.

OLM, I live in a city amid boreal forests and alpine vegetation, surrounded by foothills and mountains. It's not rather we'll have fires but how many or how bad. The majority are caused by lightening strikes, but there are the occasional human ones too. People too lazy or careless to pay attention.

Speaking of books to read that offer insight and helpful information on disabilities I remember reading Population One by Tyler McNamer after we learned my 3 yr. old grandson was diagnosed on the spectrum of Autism. 

Population One: Autism, Adversity, and the Will to Succeed Paperback – August 5, 2013
by Tyler McNamer (Author), Tyler Tichelaar (Editor)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars  (2,919) 3.8 on Goodreads 543 ratings

Part memoir, part inspirational guide, Population One: Autism, Adversity, and the Will to Succeed is a groundbreaking book that offers readers the ability to see life through the eyes of a young man with autism. Written by Tyler McNamer at the age of 17, Tyler not only details his challenges, but he also offers hope and encouragement to others who face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Whether you re an educator, a family member of someone with autism, or simply looking for inspiration, you ll appreciate the opportunity to step inside this remarkable young man s mind. As Tyler explains, I ve been called a retard, dumb, and disabled. I ve been bullied, picked on, and made fun of. They put me in special classes and told me that I should not expect to reach my goals. Yet rather than view his diagnosis negatively, Tyler considers his unique viewpoint a gift. It is with this perspective that he wrote Population One: Autism, Adversity, and the Will to Succeed. In this memorable book, Tyler details his experiences with bullying, isolation, and others low expectations of him. But rather than allowing himself to be limited by his autism diagnosis, this courageous and insightful young man rose above his challenges to encourage others to follow their dreams and become leaders in their own lives. The result is this book, an autobiographical recounting of Tyler s journey with diverse essays containing his thoughts about leadership, courage, and adversity. Wise beyond his years, Tyler concludes that despite our differences, we can become a population of one, uniting to serve others. If you want to be uplifted or understand someone with autism better you must read Population of One. This inspirational and engaging book will transform the way you view the world.

I can't express how much this book helped me understand and interact with my grandson Zak.  He is now 17 yrs. old goes to Saint Francis DeSales Catholic all boys high school and has made the President's List and received the Collegium Honorum Award inducted into this membership composed of students in each class who have a cumulative GPA of 3.667 or better all 5 years he has been at SFS  7-11th grade.  I have no doubt that how our family loved and accepted him and have given him the encouragement and willingness to see having Autism as a challenge yet also something he could learn from and help others with Autism and other disabilities.  I have always told him he is Awesome with Autism. I realize he is what they refer to as "high functioning" and extremely intelligent but when it comes to his social skills that is his true struggle, yet he is coping with it and joined basketball, cross country, and soccer.  He has found his true niche is statistician for the football team and hopes to go to the University of Michigan and be their football statistician.  He is working his first job at Chich fil A, and the people there are amazing!  He does take anti-anxiety medication and has taken advantage of a counselor to help him with coping skills.  He is not quite ready to learn to drive or date but talks about it so I know that will come. 

For all of you who deal with the wildfires, my thoughts and prayers are with you.  I can't imagine how frightful this season must be for you.  My daughter lives in Florida and their hurricane season is this time of year and she has bipolar/depression, so the unsettled weather not only scares her but messes a lot with her mental health.

Good morning Ciaobella,  very nice post. Your grandson is amazing! I used to have friends with Toxic Injuries who lived in Florida. The hurricane season is every bit as stressful as fire season.😩

Today is supposed to be 90-92°F. Just finished watering and the other outside chores. It will start cooling back down tomorrow.

Ciaobella, I have trouble reading the small print on your posts. Would it be possible for you to change the text font size to a four?

Calm and cool weather here, which will continue for the remainder of the week in Northern Cal.  Far away from the chaos and the protests in Southern Cal.

Ciaobella,   I have lots to say about autism, as one of my granddaughters was diagnosed at Stanford Children's Hospital, when she about three years old.    The first ten years of her life were extremely difficult, but things began to improve, once she became a teen.  Now she is 34 years old, and lives near us with her mother,  who is our oldest child. (now 67).  She has done MUCH better than predicted.  She's self sufficient, cooks most of their meals, goes grocery shopping, and attends a wonderful church, near  them, that has a young adults group.   She will likely always  need to live with her Mom,  (long divorced). Her father has not seen her or been in her life for the past 20+ years.  As you can imagine, there is a lot more to her story, but those are the highlights.

Your grandson sounds to be much more social, and involved in many  activities, winning awards, etc.  Looks  like he will have a busy and productive life ahead in his future.    She graduated from high school, but was in Special Ed.   She's active on the computer, and  belongs to some autism groups, as well as Instagram and Facebook. Knows much more about her smart phone, than
I will ever know about mine!   

Hi Marilyne,
Kudos to your granddaughter and her wonderful mother!
 
Yesterday's high was 94°. Today's is supposed to be 92°F, but we have a lovely breeze. That makes it so much more comfortable. Its a great day for laundry and the "air driven solar dryer."

Marilyne, thank you for sharing your granddaughter's experiences and challenges with her Autism.  She sounds self-sufficient in spite of needing to live with her mother. I know there are many different levels of functioning abilities with Autism. I have a great nephew who is 4 yrs. old and is non-verbal he is attending a special school which has helped him utter words and now is able to stand, another great nephew who is a teen and will never be able to live on his own, and another great nephew 4 yrs. old who was recently diagnosed who is non-verbal but has been given a special device to help him communicate to his parents his thoughts and needs. It's much like an iPad only has pictures of everyday items he can tap and hear what it is and communicate with. He has just recently begun going out to public places like the park and indoor play areas.  I think there are great strides in understanding Autism and providing special programs for these children at very young ages.  It truly makes me curious as to why so many in my family are being born with Autism in the past several years.  We had no cases in generations prior. So, I have to believe it's not necessarily a genetic cause.  I know immunizations and additives to food have been studied for possible causes.  Whatever it is I pray the answer will be discovered and prevent this in our future generations.

Patricia, I am sorry, yes of course I will use the larger font. 

OLM, yes, the hurricane season can be as stressful as the wildfire season. I pray these rioters in LA cease the burning of things which could cause fires to become out of control.  I will never understand how destroying property, harming innocent people, and looting businesses will ever accomplish anything other than create chaos and fear.  

Good morning everyone!
I am on the spectrum. My diagnosis is Asperger's. My symptoms fluctuate depending on my exposures. I was not diagnosed until after the Toxic Injury, and being sent home to die. My Environmental Illness specialist also focused on Autism Disorders. A neighbor rented his farm for melon growing. Conventional melon growing is extremely chemical dependent. One of the chemicals the use is a fungicide called "Chlorothalonil." It kills all living cells from fungus to mammals by uptaking cellular glutathione. Glutathione is the body's number one antioxidant and is responsible for hundreds of biofunctions, including breaking down toxic substances and into less toxic by products and excreting them out of the body. The grower had a large spill one morning of chlorothalonil. I didn't even know they were there. I had every window in the house open, I was outside. I smelled it just as my husband came outside. We raced in and shut everything down. He went to work. By 10:00 I was passing wine colored urine and in horrible pain. My husband happened to stop by the house and discovered it. He called my urologist and rushed a sample to the lab. My doctor called me from the operatory floor my results were so bad. I had a systemic ecoli infection. She wanted me on antibiotics stat, which I can't take. She got a compounding pharmacist to make up an extra low dose, I was to take 1/2 a pill: cipro. I took it while sitting across the table from my husband. He watched in horror while I devolved in under 20 minutes into full low to non functioning autistic behavior. Stimming, I felt "spider webs" on my face and arms, could barely get words out, couldn't make eye contact, could barely walk, retracted muscles. It was horrible. When I saw my EI afterwards, thats when I was diagnosed. Anyway, I've done a lot of research on autism. Its a huge puzzle. Not everyone's presentation, and/or triggers are the same. Here are a couple of things I know: vaccines are manufactured/cooked in huge vats in football stadium sized facilities; the mold, fungus and bacteria counts are super high; they use huge quantities of fungicide and anti bacterials to kill them... chlorothalonil and cipro included. Those things are not listed on the label. There are a lot of toxic substances not listed on labels that we consume. Karen Slimak did studies where she removed all dietary and environmental toxins from autistic children. They all improved dramatically. Some returned to nearly normal. The research is pretty fascinating. Children's Health Defense has a video out this week interviewing Dr Suzanne Humphries concerning autism. She's brilliant. I can't watch the video yet. I have to go up the mountain. Its probably good. I'll post the link later if I can pull it in and its good. Time to get moving.🙂 Have a great day!   

Hey guys, I started watching the video... its going to be wide ranging, thorough. Its also 8+ hours. So I won't be able to watch it. Its an exposure on Simpsonwood and vaccine causation to autism. For anyone who wishes to watch it: https://live.childrenshealthdefense.org/chd-tv/events/the-autism-cover-up-simpsonwood-scandal-25-years-of-fraud-and-corruption/?utm_source=luminate&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=chdtv&utm_id=20250607

OLM, thank you for the link.  I will check it out. I am so sorry to hear of your horrible experience with finding out you were on the Autism/Asperger Spectrum. I worry about not only vaccines but the chemicals they spray in the air and the harm the smoke does from the fires.  We sure have a lot of things today to deal with, but as they say...life goes on.

I have been spending so much time outside since the beautiful weather has finally arrived working with my flowers and planting some vegetables.  Hubby is patching and painting the inground gunite swimming pool.  Luckily it is only 27' round and 5' deep so it's going rather quickly.  We don't use it as much since the grown kids have pools now, but we still like to lounge in it from time to time.  The vitamin D from the sun does wonders for me.  

OLM  -  I've been busy with other stuff today, so just now saw your two posts!   Otherwise I would have responded sooner.  So interesting and shocking that you were diagnosed with Asperger's!   What a sad story about your reaction to the neighbor using the fungicide on his melon fields.    So many expose's/authentic information available now about how the soil on farms across America has been polluted by all manner of pesticides and fungicides . . . and that the soil will not recover back to its natural state for hundreds of years.   It sounds like science fiction, but it's true.

Also coming to light now, is the shocking upsurge in cancers in young adults - between the ages of 30 and 50.  Mainly cancers of the colon, pancreas, kidneys and bladder.  Unheard of 50 years ago in that age group.  And of course we all know about the Autism epidemic. 

I still have great hopes for RFK, Jr.  So glad he was appointed, and hope he can break through the road blocks and smoke screens, that are standing in his way.  All we want is to see the evidence on all of this stuff - vaccines, food additives, preservatives, pesticides, HFCS and  antibiotics.  Big Pharma and Big Food  have done  a shocking disservice to the American people. So very sorry that this issue has been politicized!       I only hope I live long enough to see some major changes, but I doubt that I will.  More at another time.

Hi Ciaobella and Marilyne,
Thank you. You are both very well informed. The research is out there and it is well proven. Its true. I spent 20 years reading it. A lot of money and power have gone into covering it up.

Its good to spend time focusing on the blessings we have as well. I spend as much time outside as I can too. There's a Japanese practice called "green washing." It is spending time in gardens or nature as the energy from growing plants is healing.

Today I received an organic chocolate order!😋 Thats always a blessing!

Happy Flag Day! https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16J68fg8ye/

It's a chilly and rainy day today here in Ohio, but perfect for snuggling up with a book or watch a good movie on tv.  Y'all have a great day!  Enjoy the link!  Click sound to hear the music. 

Good morning to all those who look in.  Starting out sunny today, although my backyard thermometer, only read a chilly 49 degrees when I got up at 6:30. Typical June weather here.

I just took a look at a couple of my reliable  news sources, and see that chaos still reigns, in many parts of the World.  Missiles flying and landing in and around TelAviv.  Bubble lives only 15 miles North, so I'm hoping and praying that she is safe, and has been able to get into a shelter. 
 

Praying for Israel, Bubble and her family!🙏

Ciaobella,  thanks for the nice patriotic link for Flag Day!    It reminded me to get the flag out and ready to b placed in its holder.  Then first thing THIS morning I looked out the front window, and saw that we had forgotten to bring it back in last night.    Older daughter will be here shortly, so she can bring it in.

OLM,  Tell us about Family Camp?  Do they sleep in the RV with you, or stay in a tent?  What do the kids do during the day?  Sounds like fun for everyone.

Good afternoon Marilyne! Ron bought a really luxurious, large camper with a tip out and plenty of beds. They all sleep in there. The kids used to sleep in here with me sometimes until Kato started having that vaccine reaction. I won't risk them in these close of quarters until he's been aggression free for 6 months to a year. As soon as I put him out on his tether in the morning they swarm over and play wild games in the cab over. I typically make them breakfast. This morning it was creamy cornmeal mush with cinnamon, butter, maple syrup and 1/2 n 1/2. When their Dad gets up he cooks 2nd breakfast of pancakes bacon and eggs on the outdoor griddle. I made a large fire pit lined with rocks years ago so they keep a fire going. Ron, my husband, built the kids a tree fort with a twisty slide and swings. They play on that a lot and while I do the dishes after breakfast. Then we pile into the UTV and do patrol. I point out various wild flowers and teach them about their uses. They went with their mom to the ponds later and caught polliwogs and newts. Then came back to roast hot dogs over the fire for lunch. They played, or rested in the hammocks for awhile. They have all kinds of field games to play. Ron brought up 2 ATVs this year and the boys will be learning to safely operate them. I believe Ron and their dad will be teaching them to mend and stretch fence later this week. I stained the tree house doors yesterday and today. Ron will hang them. Later, when he finishes the inside with fold down bunks they'll "camp out" up there and watch the elk come down into the meadow at night. We have miles of trail for hiking or running. They run cross country. Our SIL likes to relax and keep the fire going, cook and grill. I believe brisket, salmon, veal, and steaks are on the menu, as well as smoker grilled spaghetti and meat balls and some cast iron dutch oven meals over the fire. He and Ron will be tackling some really big blown down, and standing dead, trees later this week as well. Ron is teaching Justin about falling trees and operating the backhoe and forks.

Ari, Toby and I checked the huckleberry patch: tons of green berries! We'll keep an eye on them. We'll have to fight for our share from the wild turkeys and deer. After dinner we have camp fire and they have s'mores. Every day is full of "just being kids." The running and playing that we all grew up with. No electronic devices: Hide and seek, capture the flag, first bounce or fly, croquet, etc. Yelling, singing and being kids. 😊 They brought their 2 dogs so they're pretty safe with 4 here. Its a huge, relaxing break for the adults.

OLM - Your family camp days sound like lots of fun, work and full of many  learning  experiences for the kids.  You and Ron are doing a great job!  How many kids, and what are their ages?  Looks like you're a good cook, and that you love preparing those delicious meals for everyone.   I wish I had a big bowl of your  "creamy cornmeal mush with cinnamon, butter, maple syrup and 1/2 n 1/2",   to start my day today.   Sounds delicious!

Keep us updated, as the week rolls along.  How many miles are you from the newest town or public  campground?  I hope your weather  remains nice and mild for the entire week. 
Happy Camping ahead!   

Hi Marilyne, I'm just checking in before feeding the dogs and doing patrol. Kato is loving all the pets and attention he's getting! Justin does the dinners, Alex does the lunches. I just do 1st breakfast, but thank you for the compliment☺️ Alex and Justin ran a 3k on the property  this morning. I took the 3 Gkids, Joey, Toby and Ari (12, 9 and 7), to a couple of the ponds. They caught more polliwogs, frogs and newts. Toby got a leech on his ankle. They release their catch into the pond next to our camp.  The other ponds dry up. After 2nd breakfast Toby and I primered then put 2 coats of color on the boards Ron got for the door frames. Ari wanted to help but hadn't brought painting friendly clothes. It took us most of the day, including dry time between coats. Ron worked on the portable shower. It went gunny-bags. Alex had bought a fancy 2 room shower tent. A new water heater is on the way. The kids have been swinging, playing games, catching butterflies and playing in the hammocks (which involves shaking each other out) the rest of the afternoon. Town is 10 miles. There are numerous campgrounds of various types and sizes. I'm not sure I understand what kind of information you want? 

OLM,  Sounds like you had a perfect Monday, on your first full day of family camp. I enjoyed reading about it.  No lack of things to do to keep the kids busy all day, as well as the parents and grandparents.  Hope the nice weather continues on for the entire week.

Still kind of cool and overcast here yesterday, but the sun is just rising over the East foothills, and looks like a clear day ahead.  The official first day of Summer will be here in a few days! 

OLM, reading your time with family and all the activities gives me a picture of a perfect family camp vacay.  You and your family will always hold these memories dear to their hearts. We inherited my hubby's family cottage in Hillsdale, Michigan back in early 80's and we would take our three children there every weekend possible and vacation there. We eventually sold it to a cousin due to some changes in sewer and water regulations and also our kids got into summer baseball which meant lots of out-of-town tournaments so our time being able to get to the cottage was less and less.  My hubby still tells me stories of his time he spent with his dad while he built their cottage along with his uncle building theirs right next door.  Once the elders passed the children were owners and started placing so many restrictions on walkways to the beach area and even on the beach front which each of them owned so we had no regrets selling our cottage then.  Today it consists of year-round homeowners who have added on and blocked the lake view and even trailers taking up every bit of land space to the point they seem right on top of the cottages.

Marilyne, our temps are headed into the high 90s next week!  We've been doing some minor repairs and painting our inground pool and we hope to get the water refilled in time to enjoy it.  This has been such a back-and-forth Spring where temps are concerned.  All my perennials are blooming late due to the cold temps.  Now that we have had some 80s the backyard looks like a summer wonderland of blooming flowers!!!  It's so exciting to wake up each morning, go have breakfast on the patio, listen to the birds serenade us and see new blooms.  Nothing is more serene than nature...

Haven't heard from many of you lately, hope everyone is doing well.    

It's interesting, if you're referring to the solstice, Marilyne, how people can see things a different way. In the arctic, the summer solstice is seen as the middle or the beginning of the end of summer. The winter solstice is celebrated for the bringer of light, and the summer solstices twofold. One we celebrate as the pinnacle of almost 24 hours of daylight. And two, the beginning of the loss of light and beginning descent of darkness.

Patricia,   I  remember many years ago,  (maybe back in Senior Net?),  when you described what the Summer Solstice was like in Fairbanks . . .  the 24 hour daylight, and all the activities and celebrations going on everywhere.  It sounded like such an interesting and exciting yearly event.  Since then I've looked for information every year, but not much available.

Hi everyone!

Marilyne and Ciaobella It is set up for the perfect camp vacation. That was Ron's plan to encourage them to come. It sure takes a huge amount of stuff these days for families to go camping. I remember my folks stuffed us 6 kids and a minimum of equipment/food in a station wagon. Its not like that any more! So Ron wanted to make it worth the effort for them to load all that stuff and be comfortable and the kids entertained.😁

Sounds like you made a timely choice to sell when you did Ciaobella. Progress pushed out the charm that you guys experienced there.

Your backyard sounds beautiful!!!

Everyone but the dogs and I went to the nearest public pool for a couple of hours of swimming this afternoon.

Marilyne, Anchorage, 400 miles to the south, gets a little less daylight and Barrow, now known by its Inupuiat name, Utqiagvik, its original traditional name, has six months of daylight and in the winter, six months of darkness. It depends on how far north of the Sun's tilted axis. So throughout the year, different parts of the earth get the Sun's direct rays. It's still the same but with more tourists.

There is the baseball game starting at midnight and played with no artificial lights. They've played numerous American and Japanese farm teams from it's beginning in 1906. Besides shopping, antique car shows, cookouts, and parades, there is also a golf tournament, 26-mile run, and others all starting at midnight. Almost every street corner will have a competing musical singer or group. And of course, most farm/animal events will be held at Alaskaland, theme park

However, my favorite, is the food festival. Every nationality in town, from Indian, Eskimo, Korean, Japanese, Hawaiian, East Indian, Southern, Serbia, Thailand, Samoa, Russian, Indonesia, Spanish, and Norwegian, as well as other's will have competing booths.

Then in the Fall, will be the state fair which alternates with Anchorage on which city get to claim the title of state each year. Then in July is Golden Day, when the city was founded by a river boat captain and a prospector and his huge gold nuggets, met with the riverboat captain on July 2nd, 1902, starting a gold rush that brought thousands to the state and from a gold camp to a city.

There are two equal self-governing parts of the state, Native and state; but all come under the umbrella of the federal government.