I was just thinking about statistical data yesterday and how it can be valid, but totally misleading by its interpretation or context. There are far too many assumptions being made in the name of science by accepting somebody else's interpretations without questioning it. What makes people obese? With few exceptions one gets fat by taking in more calories than they are able to burn off. It's pretty dam*ed simple. I think what got me started on it was something my daughter shared with me. She was reading labels at the market on the yogurt containers. Nice healthy food? Sure. But, take a closer look at those new fruit enchanced ones. Look at the FRUCTOSE added, IOW corn sirups. It has even found it's way as an additive in yogurt. Now, you can buy plain yogurt and add your own fresh and wholesome fruit but that takes a little effort. It's in some juices. I found it in cranberry juice cocktail last week. So, the health benefits I would obtain from consuming the juice are negated by also consuming the corn sugars. Please folks, just take the time for one week to read every label on every food you purchase and consume. It's an eye opener. As for soft drinks? I keep some on hand, but to me they are a "treat" to be consumed as such. I would never even consider that they are a necessary part of of anybody's daily diet, least of all a child's. They consist mostly of sugar and contain caffiene. Add to this that they are rarely served in restaurants in normal serving sizes. What ever happend to the eight ounce glass? The typical serving at fast food joints are now a twenty one ounce mug. Once in awhile, this isn't going to make or break a waistline. But consumed on a regular basis, as a nation we are killing our children with it. Please look at the new statistics for type II diabetes. It's now becoming a childhood disease. God help us.

I don't know why you couldn't Gwynne. Want to try some? Believe me, I'll be inundated with seed. They should start flowering here soon (by flowering, I don't mean anything that could be considered ornamental at all; the flowers are very inconspicuous). Once the seed is ripe, I'll send some out to anyone who wants some. Our local source is called Wild Things Nursery. This husband and wife team travel to various Farmer's Markets in the spring months. I heard about them from Linda who posts here? I went for the first time last year and picked up some native plants then. This year, I picked up 4 FN plants, astragalus crassicarpus (sulphurs), echinacea pallida (pale purple coneflower), a Ribes odoratum (don't think it hosts anything, but I wanted to add some native shrubs and food for the birds), and several other things I don't even recall. What is really cool about this team is that they always show up with caterpillars on their host plants, too; books for people to look at, like Judy Burris and Wayne Richards book, and lots of information on raising caterpillars. When people can actually "see" what these caterpillars look like and what they will become, it truly makes a difference in their appreciation of nature. Susan

Sending good thoughts and hopes for a good outcome ... and offering prayers on Bill's behalf ... and for confidence and peace of mind for all of you in the midst of it all. (((((Bill, Terri and the whole family))))) I'm pleased that you've re-established some connections with acquaintances/friends from the past, also. What a small world it sometimes turns out to be - and I've sometimes said that it could well be that often we won't find out unless we ask a question or two, or make a couple of comments, more than one might regularly expect to do. Sometimes it's the second mile that produces the payoff. ole joyful

Positive thoughts going your way for both your Mom and Aunt, Rita May. Some prayers that things may go well with them both. And some hopes and prayers that God's grace may help you and others of their loved ones find a measure of peace in your lives, through it all. ole joyful