Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Happy Solstice!

or, so that's where the 12 Days of Christmas came from...

I signed up for a free ebook last night. (I admit, even though I will never have time to read them all, I am seriously addicted to downloading every free ebook that crosses my path) This morning I got an interesting email from the author entitled Yule - The Pagan Holiday That Celebrates the Sun.
Celebrated on the winter solstice, Yule is a holiday dedicated to the return of the sun. Pagan deities associated with the celebration include: all newborn gods, sun gods and mother goddesses. Kris Kringle, the inspiration for Santa Claus, receive the honour of becoming the Germanic Pagan God of Yule. The winter solstice, as the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, has been celebrated for centuries. It signifies the return of the light, as the days become longer and the countdown to the life-giving spring begins. The Yule festival lasts for 12 days and involves great merriment and feasting, as well as many traditions each with its own meaning.  (read more)
I wasn't expecting that - guess I should check out that free book soon.

Dec 21

Seriously, I've known all my life that the origins of Christmas stem from paganism, though I don't really know all the details or haven't paid that much attention. Or actually care that much. It's enough for me that God gave us days to celebrate, and I have no need to look for replacements.

I have wondered what this 12 days of Christmas thing is when my calendar only has one day marked.  (and these days it seems that one day is stretched out more and more) Of course, the 12 days of Christmas come from the pagan holiday too. Why am I not surprised? (I think extending it beyond that is all retail)

Of course, there are many people who have celebrated Christmas all their lives with no clue that it has any meaning except for celebrating the birth of our Saviour. Others used to know the pagan origins and believed God when He said that He is not pleased when we attempt to honor Him by adopting the ways of the nations (pagans) around us, but somehow they have forgotten or decided it doesn't matter anymore. Or maybe God changed?

I'm pretty sure God hasn't changed. That would call into question a whole lot of other things besides holy days and whether or not pagan traditions can somehow be made acceptable and even honorable. So, I'm going to continue celebrating the days God set aside in the Bible - appointed times that remind us just who God is and what He has planned for us. Settling for pagan traditions painted and prettied up by man seems kind of hollow by comparison.

Monday, December 18, 2017

When You Need a Lawn Service

We currently take care of our own lawn, but many of our neighbors have a professional service come in and take care of theirs. They mow, they trim, they spread chemicals to take care of weeds, and whatever else needs to be done. I'm not sure we'll decide to hire a lawn care company anytime soon, but the following information may be helpful should we decide to look for one.


In order to find the best lawn service, you need to ask important questions and then compare several different lawn care companies to ensure that you get the highest quality lawn care all year long.  The following are five key things you should look at when searching for a reputable lawn care Tampa service.

This shot is a result of failure...
  1. Compare various standard lawn treatments from different companies
    Compare treatment programs offered by several different companies.  Are shrub and ornamental tree care offered along with turf care?  Do they tailor their lawn care treatments to the kind of turf you have?  For instance, your cool-season grass has different needs than the warm-season grass in your neighbor's lawn.
     
  2. Services go beyond basic yard maintenance
    Your yard's needs will vary from one season to the next.  You'll want to find a lawn care company that offers additional services beyond basic yard maintenance so that they will be available when you need them.  Some important services include service calls in between your regular lawn treatment appointments, diagnosing and treating pests and diseases, and aeration.
     
  3. Make sure the people treating your lawn are qualified
    The individuals who will be caring for your lawn need to know how to safely and properly apply grass treatments.  They also should be willing to answer any questions you might have regarding the treatments being used and the basic needs of your yard.  It is best to have the same dedicated technicians working on your yard if possible so that they become very knowledgeable about your yard and can keep up with any problems that may arise.
     
  4. Search for a preventative lawn care service
    Ask for information and tips from the lawn care service.  Depending on the area that you live in, there most likely will be certain lawn diseases, pests and other kinds of problems that arise with shrubs, trees, and lawns.  Once you know what to look out for, you will be able to give your lawn care service provider a call so they can come out and diagnose and treat any potential problems before extensive damage occurs.
     
  5. Check out customer reviews
    Customer reviews are a great way to get information on a lawn care company's customer satisfaction level and performance.  You can then contact the companies with the best reviews and interview them to ask additional questions so that you can determine which one best suits your needs for the finest lawn care service. 


Wednesday, December 13, 2017

It Really Is the Doorway!

Have you heard that walking through a doorway can cause you to forget why you went into that room in the first place? Sounds crazy, right? Though I'd rather believe that than thinking it has anything with being old enough to have a couple grandchildren.

I just read this article that does a very nice job of explaining why walking through doorways makes us forget, and it actually makes sense. That doesn't make it any less annoying though!

I have figured out how to remember - walk back through that same door! At least it worked once, and I only discovered that accidentally. I ran upstairs to get something - I can't remember what it was now, and I could not remember what I was looking for when I got upstairs. I stood in the bedroom and looked around, but nothing jumped out at me. So, I gave up and went back downstairs. As soon as I walked back through the doorway into the kitchen, I remembered exactly what I had been upstairs looking for.

I immediately turned around and ran back upstairs to get whatever I went up there for in the first place - repeating over and over again in my mind what exactly it was I was going up there for. Success! And extra exercise.

No promises that it will work the next time, but it kind of makes sense - walk through a doorway and forget; walk back through that same doorway to call back to mind the thing you've forgotten. It's worth a try anyway. Either that or carry around a notepad and write everything down.

How's your memory?