Hi damask: Welcome to the Organic Rose. Thank you for a great pic. of hummingbird. I really enjoy that ... what type of red flower are those? Thanks for the info. Hi Alana: It's so nice to hear from you. I'm so sorry that your daughter Willow and you got pneumonia this past Christmas. Three weeks of antibiotics !! 20 yrs. ago I had pneumonia and was on antibiotics. Afterwards I had to get Jarrow-Femdophillus (probiotics) to treat my yeast infection, plus NatureMade Acidophillus so I could drink cow milk again. Those 2 are the highest rated probiotics sold on Amazon. My 2 brothers are M.D.'s (an emergency room physician, and the other is a dermatologist). My sister is a retired family doctor. About pesticides in tea (imported from China) ... I didn't know either and suffered years of prolonged tummy ache after drinking Jasmine green tea. Pesticides are also linked to rheumatoid arthritis. See an excerpt from link below: "Now a new study from Georgetown University has shown that drinking tea raised the risk of RA in post-menopausal women. The study involved more than 76,000 women between the ages of 50 and 79 in the US and found significant association between tea consumption in any amount and a 40 percent rise in the risk of getting RA. Women who took more than 4 cups of tea per day upped the risk by as much as 78 percent. Effects of black tea were assessed in this study and green and herbal teas were excluded. Coffee, filtered and otherwise and caffeinated and decaffeinated has no similar effect. The study was presented at the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2010 in Rome." When it comes to health, I double-check ALL the info., such as a Mom nearby who told me her kid is on multivitamin, that's why she doesn't have a cold for 2 years. Then I spent HOURS checking on multivitamin, and found many Amazon customers report breaking out in pimples from vitamins (thanks to added excessive B12, plus B6). I had similar experience with joint pain, as reported by other Amazon customers, thanks to excessive level of copper and mobylleum added. The truth is: that girl who didn't catch cold for 2 years was a skinny, athletic and competitive runner. Same with my husband, he went for 7 years without a cold since he was a competitive marathon runner, running at least 6 miles a day. Sweating out everyday is a cost-free way to boost the immune system. I don't exercise much, except for shoveling the snow ... but I beat my husband's record: I went for 8 years without catching a cold, including this year. I didn't take any multivitamin, but I drink Kefir (high in vitamin D versus zero vitamin D in yogurt), plus 12 strains of beneficial bacteria. I also take Brewer's Yeast. Both Kefir and Brewer's yeast ARE DOCUMENTED to boost the immune system, see link below. Kefir has the 2 bacteria that help with cold: Bifidobacterium animalis subsp.lactis Bb12(Bb12) •Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG(LGG) http://kefirandkombucha.blogspot.com/2013/07/probiotics-prevent-colds-and-flu.html "A study published in the medical journal Pediatrics was conducted on 326 children in China. They were from the age of three to five years old. The children were given milk twice daily that contained the probiotics Lactobacillus acidophilus by itself, or combined with Bifidobacterium animalis. The children were followed for six months, from November 2005 to May 2006. The study results were impressive and showed that the one probiotic was helpful but the benefit was enhanced in the group who took the two probiotics together. The group who took the Lactobacillus contracted had half the number of fevers of the placebo group (53%). They also had 41% less coughs and 28% less runny noses. When they became sick, their illnesses were one third shorter than the placebo group (32%) and they used 68% less antibiotics. They missed 38% less school than the placebo group as well. The children who took both Lactobacillus acidophilus along with the Bifidobacterium animalis contracted over two thirds less fevers than the placebo group (72%). They had 62% less coughs, and 59% less runny noses. Their duration of illness was nearly HALF of that in the placebo group (48%). They missed slightly less school than the children taking only one probiotic (32% compared to the other group's 38%), but they used 84% less antibiotics compared to the placebo group, surpassing the other group's level of 68% less usage. The study was double blind and placebo controlled, and it was conducted during the winter cold and flu season. Though the study was funded by a Danish company that makes probiotics, Danisco, similar results have been sited elsewhere." Brewer's yeast is also effective in boosting the immune system, but NOT as well-documented as vitamin D. Thanks to another poster in Organic Rose who notified me that Lewis Lab is the best-tasting brewer's yeast, I'll going to buy that for my picky kid. I'm fine with the cheap NOW brewer's yeast, lots of people complain it's nasty in taste, but I made it better by mixing 1 Tbs. of that with 1 cup of soy milk, plus 1 heaping Tbs. of buckwheat honey. The buckwheat honey really help to make it tasty .. I tried other types of honey ... didn't taste as good. See below excerpt from U. of Maryland Medical Center: "At least one study has found that brewer's yeast may improve acne. Another linked it to a reduced risk of a second skin cancer. And one large, preliminary study found that taking a specific kind brewer’s yeast product (EpiCor) may help prevent colds and flu. Brewer's yeast is often used as a source of B-complex vitamins, chromium, and selenium. The B-complex vitamins in brewer's yeast include B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folic acid), and H or B7 (biotin). These vitamins help break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, which provide the body with energy. They also support the nervous system, help maintain the muscles used for digestion, and keep skin, hair, eyes, mouth, and liver healthy." http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/brewers-yeast#ixzz3MBHc8Nct Here is a link that might be useful: Black tea raises rheumatoid arthritis risk

It's not so cute now, here at The Little House of Horrors on the Prairie. :) It has weathered over the last 14 years; I still have not replaced the "front door"; and it is currently on a 50" tall stump in the back yard. When we hacked off this seedling tree, I wanted the stump left tall. I attached the nest box to the top of the stump and waited for new branches to sprout at the top of the stump. They did, and I began training them into a large circle/halo about 24" in diameter. It was looking cute until the stump died from having to deal with two male dogs. :( I think I'll spiff up the nestbox, put it on a shorter pole, and add it to the Hosta Garden somewhere near the Fairy Garden pedestal. On the stump... Close-up of the weathervane..,

My mother even sends me money to help out each month as the jobs I've had since moving here don't really cover the entire amount of rent. I'm on SNAP, too (formerly known as food stamps), so that helps, but taking an Uber to almost everywhere really adds up. I did open a new bank account with some money a friend paid me and mother darling's check. But that's not available until Friday. Tonight's payday (we get paid at midnight Monday into Tuesday-gotta love the restaurant biz), so hopefully that'll buy me some time until Friday. Thankfully, my utilities are included in my rent, unlike my last place in Arvada (I'm over here in Westminster, now). Anyway, sorry to sound depressed. I've been dealing with a lot and it's hard not having the support group IRL. They never told us growing up would be so difficult. Hard to find joy anymore. But today was a wonderful day at work. Love my new doctor's office in Arvada. Back on some meds that I needed, especially high blood pressure medicine. Off work the next two days, but gonna spend it at home, per usual, as to save money. Funny thing, I moved out of my parents house because I was trapped. Still trapped because I don't have money to go places and explore. Enough of being a gloomy Gus. Hope you're all doing okay. Brad AKA Moonwolf

I wonder if there is such a thing as ”hay sweat”! We live in the middle of hay fields and humidity has been ferocious!!! lol Last Chance is a massive blooming plant!! And tall too!! The red hibiscus is pretty. Maybe all your problems descended at once. Our AC went out on a weekend but fortunately our local heat and air repair company works on weekends in case of emergencies. We decided having no air in 115 heat index weather qualified as an emergency!