Scribblings on Conservation
Conservation is very important to me. Pollinators are necessary for our continued existence on Earth. However, Pollinator Conservation and Environmental Restoration involve more than just planting trees, flowers, and shrubs. In order to regain the balance Mother Nature intended, we need to also counter pollution, global warming, overuse of pesticides, and the destruction of ecosystems.
I want to help folks discover how to become better stewards of our planet. By publishing articles, essays, and resources on our blog, I hope to Educate, Encourage, and Empower them to find a niche where they can make a difference in this world.
Some of the articles I've written include:
Taking a Broader View
Rodenticides Kill Wildlife as Well as Mice
It’s That Time of Year Again: Don’t Forget to Leave the Leaves!
Where Have All the Bug Splats Gone?
Whose ‘Cide’ Are You On?
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Sweet & Sassy Scribblers
Dannye Williamsen and Greta Burroughs are in the third act of their lives but have no intentions of slowing down. They’re writers who are sweet with a hint of sassy mixed in. That feisty spirit inspired them to create a unique, one-of-a-kind interactive authors’ website.
SassyScribblers.com pivots around a blog where Dannye and Greta use their talents, skills, and experience to compose posts to which readers can relate. They look forward to sharing thoughts and observations about books and invite everyone to join the discussions.
Come and join Dannye and Greta, read their blog, and then tell ‘em what you think. Let your sweet & sassy side show. www.SassyScribblers.com
Some of the articles I've written include:
Keep Those Little Gray Cells Busy Over Summer Vacation
Are Schools Unknowingly Turning Our Kids into Poor Readers?
Was There Really Someone Called Mother Goose?
Think Like a Kid
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Dannye Williamsen and Greta Burroughs are in the third act of their lives but have no intentions of slowing down. They’re writers who are sweet with a hint of sassy mixed in. That feisty spirit inspired them to create a unique, one-of-a-kind interactive authors’ website.
SassyScribblers.com pivots around a blog where Dannye and Greta use their talents, skills, and experience to compose posts to which readers can relate. They look forward to sharing thoughts and observations about books and invite everyone to join the discussions.
Come and join Dannye and Greta, read their blog, and then tell ‘em what you think. Let your sweet & sassy side show. www.SassyScribblers.com
Some of the articles I've written include:
Keep Those Little Gray Cells Busy Over Summer Vacation
Are Schools Unknowingly Turning Our Kids into Poor Readers?
Was There Really Someone Called Mother Goose?
Think Like a Kid
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Mary Had a Little Turkey?
Sarah Josepha Hale was a fearless activist/author/magazine editor. She spent 36 years writing governors, senators, presidents, and anyone else she could pester on why Thanksgiving should be a national holiday.
Finally, in 1863 Abraham Lincoln passed a proclamation declaring the last Thursday in November as a “Day of Thanksgiving and Praise.” Mission accomplished! Read More
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Just Clowning Around
Bob Mason had no intention of spending his retirement years sitting around the house or playing golf. He wanted to do something memorable. Something positive. Something fun.
His big break came when he found an article in his local newspaper about Bumper T Caring Clowns, a volunteer organization dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of hospitalized patients and their caregivers through humor.
And Dr. Geezer was born... Read More
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2 MILLION BLOSSOMS
Plant it and They Will Come
Picture pollinator habitat and most people think of rural woodlands and meadows adorned with an array of flowers, bushes and trees growing wild and free. The smorgasbord provides the necessary food and shelter for the flitting, flying inhabitants of this world. Long stretches of concrete and city skylines don’t seem conducive to attracting bees.
But urban locations can be prime real estate for beneficial insects, birds and other pollinators. Just by mixing native flora in with the existing landscape, the butterflies, moths, birds, bees and beetles quickly find their favorite spot and make themselves at home. ... Read More.
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Restoring the Beautiful
National Parks preserve our nation’s ecological treasures. Spending a few days roaming through a national park transports you back in time, when civilization didn’t encroach on everything. Surrounded by nature, your senses soften, attuned to nature’s quiet song. The crackling snap of twigs break the silence as a squirrel scurries through the underbrush looking for buried treasure. Bird song greets the morning’s light, promising a day of adventure trekking through lush prairie grass or up a steep ravine of a cloud forest.
To commemorate the work of our park rangers, the US Mint will issue two new America the Beautiful quarters this year that feature pollinators: ... Read More
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Pollinator Pathways - Restoring an Ecosystem
Sitting at her dining room table and skimming through the pages of the Earth Island Journal, Donna Merrill pondered a difficult question. How could fragmented, isolated pockets of open landscape be linked together in spite of urban sprawl? As an environmentalist working with the Hudson to Housatonic Regional Conservation Partnership, she wanted to connect these dispersed conservation areas so pollinators could freely move from one site to the next.
As Merrill gazed at the magazine, a solution to the dilemma materialized on the pages in her hands, when she chanced upon an article about a lady in Oslo, Norway, who was setting up “Bee Highways.” ... Read More
Plant it and They Will Come
Picture pollinator habitat and most people think of rural woodlands and meadows adorned with an array of flowers, bushes and trees growing wild and free. The smorgasbord provides the necessary food and shelter for the flitting, flying inhabitants of this world. Long stretches of concrete and city skylines don’t seem conducive to attracting bees.
But urban locations can be prime real estate for beneficial insects, birds and other pollinators. Just by mixing native flora in with the existing landscape, the butterflies, moths, birds, bees and beetles quickly find their favorite spot and make themselves at home. ... Read More.
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Restoring the Beautiful
National Parks preserve our nation’s ecological treasures. Spending a few days roaming through a national park transports you back in time, when civilization didn’t encroach on everything. Surrounded by nature, your senses soften, attuned to nature’s quiet song. The crackling snap of twigs break the silence as a squirrel scurries through the underbrush looking for buried treasure. Bird song greets the morning’s light, promising a day of adventure trekking through lush prairie grass or up a steep ravine of a cloud forest.
To commemorate the work of our park rangers, the US Mint will issue two new America the Beautiful quarters this year that feature pollinators: ... Read More
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Pollinator Pathways - Restoring an Ecosystem
Sitting at her dining room table and skimming through the pages of the Earth Island Journal, Donna Merrill pondered a difficult question. How could fragmented, isolated pockets of open landscape be linked together in spite of urban sprawl? As an environmentalist working with the Hudson to Housatonic Regional Conservation Partnership, she wanted to connect these dispersed conservation areas so pollinators could freely move from one site to the next.
As Merrill gazed at the magazine, a solution to the dilemma materialized on the pages in her hands, when she chanced upon an article about a lady in Oslo, Norway, who was setting up “Bee Highways.” ... Read More
Is there such a thing as drinking too much water?
We all know that hot, humid weather can lead to problems such as dehydration and heat stroke if we get overheated or do not drink enough fluids. Folks who work outside or participate in sports know the necessity of taking frequent rest breaks and keeping hydrated.
When you are working, playing or exercising, nothing quenches thirst better than a cold bottle of water. Even if you are no longer thirsty, the water cools and refreshes so much that a second bottle is called for. All the warnings about dehydration scare you into thinking that the more you drink, the better off you’ll be. Besides, a little extra water’s never hurt anybody, right? ... Read More.
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Well Being Journal™
Music and Rewiring the Brain with Neurologic Therapy
The healing power of music has been acknowledged since ancient times. Philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, and Confucius wrote about the soothing effects of music to bring a person’s mental and physical well-being back into balance and in harmony with nature. Little did they know their observations would eventually blossom into a scientifically based branch of rehabilitative medicine called “music therapy.”
Read more about how NMT works its magic here.
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Music and Rewiring the Brain with Neurologic Therapy
The healing power of music has been acknowledged since ancient times. Philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, and Confucius wrote about the soothing effects of music to bring a person’s mental and physical well-being back into balance and in harmony with nature. Little did they know their observations would eventually blossom into a scientifically based branch of rehabilitative medicine called “music therapy.”
Read more about how NMT works its magic here.
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Making a Difference in our World
[Profile] Bonnie Monteleone is out to make a positive difference in our world. The Wilmington-based researcher can often be found along the gunwales of a boat off the Carolina coast, net in hand. But it’s not fish she’s after — it’s plastic.
Bonnie first took an interest in the problem of plastic pollution in our oceans as a student at UNC Wilmington. Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste makes its way into the oceans, according to National Geographic, or the equivalent of rimming every foot of coastline around the world with five bags of trash. ... Read More.
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What's All the Buzz About?
In the spring of 2018, on a sunny morning in downtown Lake City, 40 students from the Boys and Girls Club work diligently planting a barren stretch of public park ground with wildflowers that will soon blossom and attract a variety of bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects to their city.
Across the state in Greenwood, adult volunteers are on a similar mission, spending their morning installing a wooden nesting box in one of their city’s pollinator gardens. The structure will provide a safe nesting habitat for two super pollinators, mason bees and leafcutter bees.
Why do these people put forth so much effort to help insects? Katie Dickson, senior horticulturist with Moore Farms Botanical Garden in Lake City, explains: “Seventy-five percent of the world’s food, beverage and fiber crops are pollinated by insects. That equates to one in every three bites of food we eat being provided by pollinators. They are critical to our food supply. Without them, we’ll no longer have certain foods.” ... Read More
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Environmental Revolution: How We Are Recycling the Non-recyclable
We moan, groan, and complain about pollution and rightfully so. Landfills are overflowing; plastic waste chokes our lakes, rivers, and the oceans. Cigarette butts litter the roadways; old vehicles, appliances, and unwanted items clutter forested areas. Not only is all this garbage an eyesore, but it’s also detrimental to the environment.
The overabundance of trash is a serious problem demanding our immediate attention. It’s not going to go away on its own. Humans made the mess; we have to clean it up. For millions of years, Mother Earth pretty well took care of all our planet’s waste, but nature cannot reclaim manmade, non-organic materials on land or in the sea. ... Read More
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Let Mother Nature Take Care of Those Pesky Pests
Prior to the 1920s and 1930s, folks who worked the land knew that it was more advantageous to work with Mother Nature rather than against her. She provided many of the tools necessary to manage pests.
Generations of farmers learned how to use these natural methods and passed them on to their children. It was hard work, and sometimes the weather was not very cooperative, but the tools were always there for those who knew how to use them.
With the advent of synthetic pesticides, though, the balance was lost. Using chemicals became the norm, and many of the old-time tricks-of-the-trade were forgotten. … Read More
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Integrated Pest Management: Let Nature Do What Nature Does Best
Insects can seem a blessing or a curse. You either love them or hate them. But in reality, insects are crucial to our survival. One out of every three bites of food we consume is provided by pollinators, mainly insects. Yet most people do not pay much attention to them, except when they are a problem. Aphids munching away on your roses generate a reflex reaction of grabbing the nearest bottle of insecticide.
While the battle rages in your yard, an outright war looms in your local city or town where the problem is multiplied by the large amount of flora and lawns to keep beautifully maintained. Most municipalities take pride in their carefully tended landscaping and resort to using copious amounts of herbicides and insecticides to keep the weeds and pests away. ... Read More
Honey: Older Than History Itself
Honey — the delightful treat that produces a smile of satisfaction from anyone tasting the sweet substance. This carbohydrate-filled energy booster is a gift from Mother Nature that has been treasured since the first bees began producing the golden liquid during the age of the dinosaurs.
There is no way of knowing what mammal braved the stinging insects to get the first taste, but that was all it took. Honey has been a delicacy ever since. Honey bees are thought to be at least 200 million years old. The earliest fossil was discovered in 2006 in a mine in the Hukawng Valley of Myanmar. … Read More
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Black Beetle
On 23 July, 1966, New York Central Railroad (NYC) made history by carrying out an experiment that could have easily turned into a disaster. The world's first jet-powered train was unleashed upon a stretch of straight tracks between Butler, Indiana, and Toledo, Ohio, to prove that high-speed transport was possible.
With the advent of affordable travel by airplane and the construction of interstate highways, the glory days of the passenger train began to fade away into obscurity. The owners of the rail lines searched for a way to lure their customers back. One solution was to offer a means of transportation unmatchable by the airlines or private vehicles — high-speed trains.
At NYC, the research department was tasked with developing trains that would run safer, faster, and cheaper. Don Wetzel, assistant director of technical research, proposed using a couple of GE J-47 jet engines. ... Read More
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Women on Writing ezine
Pay-to-Publish Companies: Are They All Out to Get You?
Sally is on top of the world. She completed her masterpiece. After years of slaving away over her keyboard, staring at her mocking monitor for endless hours, the manuscript is finally ready.
A vision dances through Sally’s imagination of being on stage with Oprah, meekly accepting an award from her idol. The audience cheers as Oprah praises Sally for writing such a beautiful, heartfelt story.
She imagines wading through the throngs of fans clamoring for her autograph. In spite of tattle-tale gray hair, the retired bookkeeper sees herself as the next great American heroine, jet-setting across the country, selling millions of books during her countless book signing tours.
Ahh, the dreams of being a best-selling author. Then reality sets in. ... Read More
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Bee Whisperers
Watching, Listening & Learning – Citizen Science Comes To The Honey Bee.
It is getting more and more complicated to be a successful beekeeper. Outsiders think all you have to do is set up a few hives, get the bees and let them do all the work.
At one time, our father or grandfather may have operated that way. But today the bees are more susceptible to outside factors affecting their health and production, leaving you, their guardian, with the responsibility of finding the solutions to their problems.
James Wilkes discovered this fact when he established a few colonies of bees in 2000. “My dad had bees while I was growing up. He got his first bees in 1964. At that time, the most important thing was to give them space. They did their thing, and we did ours. ... Read More
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My Black Friday: Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
This is not happening to me! It’s all a dream, a nightmare. I am not in a hospital bed with IVs connected to both of my arms. A doctor did not just tell me I might have some type of hemorrhagic fever. That Friday, my Black Friday, was real and there was no way to deny it. I was dying. ... Read More
Note: This is a personal account of my experience with ITP.
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Yahoo! Associated Content
ITP: The Platelet Killing Silent Stalker
ITP is the most common bleeding disorder that most people don't know anything about. This disease does not discriminate by age, race or nationality; instead it will jeopardize anyone’s body, placing it in a never-ending battle against itself.
Autoimmune Diseases: The Silent Menace
Most people have never heard of autoimmune diseases, but these disorders affect 50 million Americans and the count is growing exponentially. Autoimmune diseases are one of the top ten causes of death in women under the age of 65 and according to a report by the National Institute for Environmental Health Studies, they are number one.
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The Sun News
Myrtle Beach, SC
Health and fitness articles for the Vitality supplement published by the Sun News:
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Too Much Water is a Hazard
We all know that hot, humid weather can lead to problems such as dehydration and heat stroke if we do not drink enough fluids. But another condition called water intoxication also needs to be closely monitored. |
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Soothe Sores with a Little Bit of Honey
Honey not only tastes good, but it is good for you. The medicinal value of honey and other natural products has been known for thousands of years but was put aside after the introduction of antibiotics earlier this century. Today it seems the healing power of raw honey is being rediscovered. |
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Needles Stick it to Pain, Stress and Weight Loss
Pain management has been a problem for modern medicine for decades. In recent years, however, more physicians are beginning to integrate therapies such as acupuncture into their practices. |
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Immune System Can Backfire
The human body is a work of art. The way it is constructed and the way it works go beyond the imagination of the greatest designers. But as wonderful as our bodies are, they are not perfect. Some malfunctions cause people to have physical, emotional, psychological or mental problems. Some of these malfunctions can be explained, while others can not. ***** |
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Inspiration Strikes at the Worst of Times
For the last week, I have been sitting at my computer, racking my brain trying to finish a short story. After seven days of madly typing away, only four paragraphs appear on the screen in front of me. The countless hours working on this one story and that is all I have to show for it? The right words elude me. I have deleted more material than I have saved. Where is my inspiration? Why won’t the words come to me? Have I lost my ability to write? ... Read More
Why Not Me: Becoming a Freelance Writer
It is so frustrating to read blog posts and articles from folks proclaiming, “I made $1000 in one week by writing in my spare time.” Why can’t I do that? I’m not looking for any get-rich-quick schemes; I know better than that. I just want some writing gigs that will help pay the bills. I’ve spent the past year trying to break into the market, and I’d like to share what has worked (and not worked) in my quest to become a freelance writer.
Some of you may have thought about freelance writing, but don’t know where to start, or if it’s worth the trouble. ... Read More
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"Greta has been instrumental to our content marketing strategy. Having such a reliable and flexible writing resource has truly made my job a million times easier. Her writing is perfectly professional and engaging, and she is just a pleasure to work with. I highly recommend Greta for any of your upcoming writing needs."
Jenny Knizner, Marketing Director, Moonlighting
Blog Posts
Make This the Best Father’s Day Ever ... Read More
How to Easily Balance Life & Work This Summer ... Read More
How to Decide if Today is Your Career Independence Day ... Read More
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Moonlighting Profiles published in USA Today
Engineer turns his passion for data into powerful insights
[Profile] Scott K., owner of FinITOs (Finance IT Operations) ... - Read More
Entrepreneur turns quest for relief from chronic illness into success
[Profile] Laura Shofroth, Certified Family Herbalist and Wellness Coach ... Read More
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Moonlighting Profiles published in USA Today
Engineer turns his passion for data into powerful insights
[Profile] Scott K., owner of FinITOs (Finance IT Operations) ... - Read More
Entrepreneur turns quest for relief from chronic illness into success
[Profile] Laura Shofroth, Certified Family Herbalist and Wellness Coach ... Read More
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The Loris Times/N. Myrtle Beach Times / N.Myrtle Beach, SC
mestic Violence Victims Have an Advocate
Domestic violence can strike any household, any income level, or any race. It can take the form of physical violence as well as verbal and emotional abuse. The problem is just as prevalent in small communities, like Loris, as in large cities. South Carolina is ranked sixth in the nation for domestic violence murders.
The Fox Pen Controversy…Sport or Cruelty?
The Humane Society of the United States worked to assist the residents in Horry County to stop the fox pen. Casey Pheiffer, Campaign Manager for the HSUS Wildlife Abuse Campaign commented, “The neighbors did a great job of making their concerns heard. We are frequently contacted by neighbors who live next door to fox pens because they have the unfortunate experience of seeing the captive foxes and coyotes ripped apart by dogs.
A Veteran’s Thoughts on Memorial Day - (Profile)
He went to Vietnam on three separate occasions and witnessed the American withdrawal from the war torn country during his third tour of duty. He was at one of the prisons where the Viet Cong were being released that day.
“They had a path where they were going out single file. While I was watching, I made eye contact with one guy. He gave me a plastic bag with a game piece, like a big checker in it. I still have it.”
Halloween, As Old as the Ghosts - (Fun, Historical, Little Known Facts)
The origins of Halloween date back as early as the fifth century BC. The ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (sow-in) celebrated the end of summer and harvest and the beginning of the long, cold, dark winter.
Domestic violence can strike any household, any income level, or any race. It can take the form of physical violence as well as verbal and emotional abuse. The problem is just as prevalent in small communities, like Loris, as in large cities. South Carolina is ranked sixth in the nation for domestic violence murders.
The Fox Pen Controversy…Sport or Cruelty?
The Humane Society of the United States worked to assist the residents in Horry County to stop the fox pen. Casey Pheiffer, Campaign Manager for the HSUS Wildlife Abuse Campaign commented, “The neighbors did a great job of making their concerns heard. We are frequently contacted by neighbors who live next door to fox pens because they have the unfortunate experience of seeing the captive foxes and coyotes ripped apart by dogs.
A Veteran’s Thoughts on Memorial Day - (Profile)
He went to Vietnam on three separate occasions and witnessed the American withdrawal from the war torn country during his third tour of duty. He was at one of the prisons where the Viet Cong were being released that day.
“They had a path where they were going out single file. While I was watching, I made eye contact with one guy. He gave me a plastic bag with a game piece, like a big checker in it. I still have it.”
Halloween, As Old as the Ghosts - (Fun, Historical, Little Known Facts)
The origins of Halloween date back as early as the fifth century BC. The ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (sow-in) celebrated the end of summer and harvest and the beginning of the long, cold, dark winter.
