WALKING WITH A FRIEND

We walked up a slope where dandelions grew,

But some said not to like them, though in secret I do.

They rescued the hungry when they were in need,

Then spring came along with more wonderful deeds.

They offer bouquets should a stiff frost arrive,

Then you bring them inside to keep them alive.

Fast forward in time, you soon learned how to speak

In silent sign language, that it is really quite neat,

Your willing fingers can twist turn and bend,

Each joint with delight, then a period at end.

Celebrate your country, when attending school,

And for those without voice, its is a great rule.

And there are more secrets, more lessons to learn,

No boring school classes and more credits to earn,

Because parents soon see it is quiet for all,

With family and friends, a neat gentle call.

So with smiles and stories in your new silent voice.

It adds to your joys and you're so glad for your choice.

Prairie Life

If a task has once begun,
Never leave it 'til its done,
Be the labour great or small,
Do it well or not at all.

The above verse is likely one of many my father taught me in 1926 during those frequent fence post high Alberta snowstorms while their first four children were already in classes at our one room country school just over a mile away. I watched my Mother mixing up the ingredients for making bread while boiling the empty flour sacks for an hour to remove the printed advertising on them. She sewed these sacks into undergarments to provide cotton underwear for the family. An hour or two pumping the treadle of her Singer sewing machine while My father finished reading the weekly newspaper,"The Free Press Prairie Farmer." If the gallon syrup bucket was empty, school lunch bread was spread with pork lard. June 30 ended the school year and the Weeks family hosted a picnic held among the trees that had been planted by them a hundred years ago. Anyone attending  was  welcome to bring their favourite outdoor food to the picnic to share with all.

The theme among the farmers was "Lets hope our crops won't be hailed out this summer.”   

THE PYRAMID

A lie was told to hide a deed,

And as the days went by

There came a sudden powerful need,

To hide that spoken lie.

And then the whole thing tumbled flat

And there was no excuse,

So friends, don't try to build like that,

There isn't any use.

This ancient poem still fits into many present day circumstances and worthy of note today. My older sister Helen, age 92, became a dental missionary in Ivory Coast in Africa. She was so happy to inform me that our two nearby nieces were planning to become medical doctors and she was donating most of her savings and able to send them $2,500.00 for each of them. It meant so much for Helen as she reminded me that Canada is so short of doctors because they are importing doctors who had graduated from the university in south Africa who then moved to Canada. They are wonderful doctors but that leaves a serious shortage in Africa. So I agreed to help out by loaning these two "doctors to be" $30,000.00 interest free to help out. I asked their mother, my niece to not mention my name to them so they would be encouraged to try hard. "Oh no Auntie because they think so much of you and they will try even harder to succeed with their hopes and dreams.

Last July brought my 90th birthday. My eyesight is failing and jobs for people my age with failing sight have great difficulty. The two students say they do not want to be doctors anymore and my loan to their parents is all spent. Both students are no longer interested in being doctors. With one more year at university they could become nurses which are in short supply here. I contacted the Vernon courthouse about this debt and the responsibility of their parents in connection with the money their mother had received from my account at Dominion Securities. The Judge was very nice but said he would exit the court room and let all four of us talk it over. Both of these students have found husbands and have been busy with vacations during the years, including flying to tropical islands during Canada's winter months. So far the parents have been unwilling to help their daughters. It may be just the mother since their father may not have known about the loan but he did come with her to the court hearing and knew the money had been received from my account at Dominion Securities.

My own son Ken graduated as the top student from the University of Victoria and has helped me out. He put himself through that university with no help from us and did it with summer jobs and scholarships. With his ability and knowledge my husband was a top student during his lifetime also but died in 2003 from harmful materials used to developing computers which were later found to be harmful in development of them.

TAPPING THE POWER OF PROTEIN

"The essential power of protein builds strength,  normalizes weight and boosts energy," says Barbara Rolls, Phd,,"  and Helen A. Guthrie, chair of nutritional Sciences at Pennsylvania State University.  But  there is one important exception, women 70 and older, may not be getting enough protein that may be partly due because the intake of food declines with age, which could harm their health. 

The question arises, How much protein should I eat?  Since protein is the main building block of our cells the  body requires, we need about 210 grams daily.  While the centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other nutritional agencies recommend that 10 to 35 percent of our calories are required for building blocks, there is some confusion that requires clarity.  There is an old adage that says, "If you are not contented where you are after many moves and changes, you will not be content wherever you are." 

For a protein example, "Multiply your  weight by 0.4 percent if you are 180 pounds, aim for at least 72 grams of protein daily.  A sandwich with three ounces of chicken, along with one cup of 1 percent milk is about 40 grams of protein.  Over age 65 multiply your weight by 0.6   percent  to reach your protein daily dose.  Vary your diet with generous amounts of green salads and other greens like kale and lettuce. 

EDIBLE SUNSCREEN

According to Andrew Weil, MD, director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, compounds found in grapes, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Kale, bok choy and brussel sprouts, garlic and onions, and the spice turmeric show promise for general cancer prevention. Vitamin E and beta carotene also show promise for cancer prevention.

Berries of all kinds boost the body's defences. In preliminary studies Heliocare, an oral supplement made from South American fern plants are excellent but very expensive, so remember to apply the sunblock lotion about 20 minutes before you leave the house. It is helpful to wear a wide brim hat during the mid-day hours, especially between the hours of 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

When the summer season arrives, it is important to remember that grilled chicken left in the sun, the food safety countdown begins. "Grilled chicken can be left at room temperature for about two hours," says Tina Hanes RD, RN, a USDA, a food safety expert, "When temperatures reach 90 degrees or higher, don't leave it at room temperature for more than an hour. The leftovers should be stored in the refrigerator. A cold second helping beats a trip to the ER.

HUNTING FOR HAPPINESS

Much of the food we eat is loaded with sugar and other sweets that contribute to the key brain areas of mood regulation.  Plant foods contain the minerals, vitamins  and phytonutrients that we call the Essential Elements of Happiness.  Your brain needs these as a first step to optimal brain functioning.   Eating fruits, vegetables and whole grains will be an important first step to take.

   It is best to use grass fed meat whenever possible.  This promotes omega-3 fatty acids that provide new brain connections.  Variety is important and this will give a broader range of brain boosting nutrients and energize the mind.  We need B12  for brain cells and this will be helped by eating eggs and prevent irritability, depression and cognitive decline.

    We should add a little folate to keep our brain's neurotransmitter factories humming.    Iodine would be another plus since it is essential for good thyroid functioning.  An underactive thyroid leads to lethargy, weight gain and depression.  A barnyard egg is a nutritional powerhouse.

    Grass fed butter is brain food.  It has a long list of nutrients that are not found in most vegetable oils including vitamin A which promotes the production of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, a key player in mood and memory along with vitamin B12 and D.  The more grass-fed a cow eats is even healthier and more nutritious.  Grass fed beef is also brain food and contains heme iron which is the most absorbable form.  The brain needs a constant form of oxygen so you must get enough iron for red blood cells.  Research suggests that it improves better academic performance so use grass-fed beef when possible.

TOP MEDICAL TIPS

While sharing his medical tips Dr. Oz in  "Hello Canada" says to never visit the doctor's office without having a friend with you and a tape recorder for accuracy.

After nearly three decades of marriage with four children, he counts the Canadian health system an excellent one.  "But many of my patients in both U.S. and Canada could help themselves with preventative care.  The food we eat as well as the exercise we take and friends we cultivate could help save many lives and extend the life span of others."

Changing to a balanced diet with less sugar and salt to be replaced with fresh fruits and vegetables would restore health and bring greater contentment.  During the depression that came after the First World War the treat of the week came after a Sunday United Church sermon held in the local school house.  We walked the mile or so home and received one piece of cake for the noon meal dessert.  During the winter months the student minister went back to his college studies to prepare for his life's work.