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Troops Returning From Iraq: Thankful Thursday

With the Iraq war “officially” ending, thousands of troops will be returning to their lives. Many will be looking for work, trying to rebuild relationships and seeking medical care.

welcome-vets Thank you just won’t be enough for the men and women who paid the price for our government’s idiocy. But no matter how you feel about the Iraq war, we owe them a lot more than a welcome back sign. And our thanks can only be measured by our long-term response to the physical and emotional needs of these soldiers.

After reading this post, I urge you to contact your representatives in Congress and insist that a comprehensive plan be developed to assist the hundreds of Iraq war veterans. Here’s why they need us:

  1. 1 in 8 are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
  2. Hidden emotional damage and stress factors will impact families.
  3. Over a million Iraq/Afghanistan vets will seek medical care over the next decade
  4. Veterans’ hospitals and clinics are at or above capacity.
  5. Vet’s reluctant to see psychiatric help because of red-tape, long wait periods and stigma.
  6. High homeless rate among all veterans will continue.
  7. Suicide rates exceed national averages.
  8. Spousal abuse by returning soldiers has escalated significantly.
  9. Alcohol and drug abuse is rampant among veterans.
  10. Stigma of service may hurt a Vet’s job search
  11. Poor economy = means no jobs. Although large companies are required to “keep” jobs for Veterans – this simply won’t be a reality for returnees.

I could go on and on but you get the picture. It is our responsibility and duty to support all Veterans.

Here are a few resources to help Veterans.

 

Be supportive to a Veteran and his/her family with compassion, support and most of all be there to listen.

 


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Paying Bills with Your SmartPhone: Wealthy Wednesday Alerts

If you pay your bills with your SmartPhone, you need to read today’s Wealthy Wednesday blog post. Learn about the pitfalls to this time saver.

Most of us have been paying bills electronically – via automatic payments and web sites – for some time so why not make your payments from your iPhone? The biggest reason is your financial safety!

smartphone-banking It seems Federal Laws protecting you from identity theft, fraud, abuse, misuse and errors haven’t caught up with the mobile age. No law specifically establishes consumer protection and liability rules for these mobile phone transactions.

When using a credit card, your bank is required to limit your risks to $50. When using a debit card, your risk limit jumps to $500. Some banks have implemented “zero liability” offerings as part of their marketing campaigns but Consumer Reports advises there are plenty of loopholes to get caught in.

I learned in researching this blog post that prepaid cards (mostly used by people with poor credit or by parents with teens) have almost no consumer protections!

When making mobile banking transactions, any of the above regulations may apply depending upon where the funds come from, where the funds go and basically how your bank interprets existing regulations.

“Consumers should not be expected to figure out what protections apply to each competing new payments venture,” said Consumer Union staff attorney Michelle Jun. “Regardless of the technology or business organization involved, the same high level of consumer protections should be guaranteed by law and contract for any payment service. Now that mobile payment ventures are emerging in the U.S., it’s time to harmonize and extend consumer protections for all payment services.”

Consumers: Beware When Using Mobile Banking

Until the laws catch up with technology, you must be proactive in protecting yourself when using mobile banking. In the end, it’s always the consumer who must make an informed decision. The links below provide you with more information on mobile banking pros and cons.


Oregon Berries to Tantalize Your Taste Buds

Every since we returned from Bend, OR, I’ve been dreaming of the juicy Marionberry pie we had. Oregon berries have no equal.You can take my word for it because I grew up on a berry farm.

oregon berries We had unlimited red, red strawberries, tender sweet raspberries, bursting blueberries, juicy Marionberries, extra sweet Loganberries and even wild blackberries along the fence and roadways.

Living in Nevada means that I rarely get to indulge in the seasonal fruits found near my childhood home near Boring, Oregon. I grew up at the foot of Mount Hood in a rural area surrounded by fruit trees,  nut orchards and berry fields.

A big priority during trips home is always to eat as much fresh Oregon fruit as I can.The Oregon weather is or-raspberry perfect for growing the best (and typically fragile) varieties of berries. Because they are so juicy, they simply don’t travel well enough to be found in most grocery stores.

So what’s a girl to do the rest of the year. There are dozens of wonderful small companies preserving the fruit filled with Oregon rain and warmed in the sun (when it does appear). Here are ways to experience the best berries in the world, thanks to the Web!

 

or-strawberry

 

 

You can almost smell their fresh sweetness and feel the juice running down your chin!

 

 

 

 

You can learn more about Oregon Berries at this site.


Reading Aloud: Not for Preschoolers Only

Reading aloud isn’t just for little kids. Reading aloud is a great way to connect with an ill parent, start talks with teens or share ideas.

reading-aloud  With two 4-year-old grandsons, I read aloud regularly. Every reading (even if we’re reading Green Eggs and Ham for the 100th time) is different. Orion loves to read the book from cover to cover. His favorite now is a big book of Berenstain Bear stories. Kael loves to interact with his new “Dangerous Dinos” book, roaring along with the T Rex and matching his collection of dinos with the pictures in the book. Reading preschool books aloud means dramatic voices and bold emotions.

In early scenes of movie favorite, The Princess Bride, Grandpa wants to read to his sick-at-home 10-year-old grandson who thinks being read to is  “for babies.” As the story unfolds, the wonder of being read too is revealed and the grandson cannot wait to continue.

Daughter-in-law, Dawn’s favorite class this term is all about FamilyReadingBook2children’s literature. Part of the class entails reading aloud to each other. She quickly learned how uncomfortable this can be for many adults – even ones training to be teachers. Dawn reads aloud daily to the twins and also to 13-year-old Hunter. It never occurred to her that Hunter would be too old to enjoy a well-read story. In September, she’ll be reading Hunter a popular young teen series, The Hunger Games.

Family reading can be everything from the Bible to Harry Potter. Reading to the entire family is also a way to start conversations, spend time together WITHOUT the TV and share a love of books. Select a book with classic elements with universal appeal. You can even pick books that are a bit above the comprehension level of the younger children as they will typically understand more than you might realize. Learning to sit still and listen is a wonderful lesson for young children.

Books that inspired favorite movies can be a good starting place. Even as the story is familiar, the process of reading aloud gives it a fresh feeling (and of course, many books are so much better than the movie versions!)

6939-018 Make reading together an interactive event by creating costumes, wearing masks or hats and having people act out a specific scene.

As children mature, let them select a book to read aloud. Move on to letting them read sections or for books with lots of dialogue, have them read a specific character’s speech. Learning to read aloud is the first step to becoming a confident public speaker.

Reading to the elderly, disabled or ill has physical, spiritual and mental benefits. The sound of your voice calms, the ideas stimulate the brain and

Don’t have anyone to read aloud to? Why not volunteer at a local library, hospital or nursing home. There are also organizations reading to elderly seeking readers for taping readings of newspapers, magazines and books for ill or handicapped listeners. This human connection is a powerful one for the listener and the reader.

 

 

 

So grab a book, grab a child, grab a friend, grab anyone who will listen and start reading aloud. I’d love to hear how you read aloud and how it benefits.


Silent Sunday Brought to You by the Letter C

Today’s Silent Sunday blog post is brought to you by the letter C. Enjoy the photos!

 

 

 


The Dream is Still Live: Remembering Dr. King’s Message

Today is the 47th anniversary of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Dr. King did not just march for blacks he marched for everyone. We must continue to speak out against the ignorant and hateful.

Celebrate the Dream and other political and civil rights organizations are working to bringing out attention to the hate-speech that is rising as never before.

I’d like to leave you with the uplifting message Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. preached that day. This is one of the greatest speeches of all time. Take the 17-minutes to listen to his words.

 

 

 

Yes, we have a black president and people of color are becoming recognized for their ability to enhance our country – BUT the backlash has been one of spreading fear which as mutated into hatred – all of which is based upon ignorance. Spread love, peace and harmony even when you disagree with someone.


Sea Inspired Handmade Jewelry: Friday Finds

The beauty of the sea often inspires the artists of Rose of Sharon Jewelry. Today I’d like to share a few original handmade necklaces with ocean themes.

The oceans of the world are filled with interesting creatures. When I found this wonderful artisan-made octopus lampwork bead, I just had to transform it into a wearable piece of art and share its whimsical appeal.

octopus-garden-full

Octopus’ Garden necklace combines the glass focal, jasper beads, sea shells and a magnificent sterling silver star fish clasp.

 

 

 

 

 

pearl-drift-set

 

Betty’s Pearl Drift necklace combines freshwater

pearls with seed beads that invoke the colors of the sandy beaches of Oregon. This necklace and earring set is part of our A.F.F. Jewelry Collection at Etsy.

 

 

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The beautiful South Pacific deserved a dramatic necklace like this one with lots of different sizes, shapes and colors of pearls. I love bold jewelry and this necklace with matching bracelet is not for the timid woman.

On second thought, want to break out of your shell – try wearing this beautiful handmade necklace to a party! You’ll be surrounded by admirers all evening.

under-the-sea-necklace

 

My Under the Sea necklace is one of my favorite color combinations – turquoise and coral. The natural tumbled turquoise beads aren’t from the ocean but they certain invoke the Pacific Ocean’s color off Baja. The coral beads are from the ocean (my supplier assures me these are not from endangered reefs) and look like they have been tumbled among the waves for years. The sterling silver fish is from Thailand (made by hand by villagers) as are the adorable sterling silver sea shell beads. This is another bold design that invokes the power and beauty of the oceans around the globe.

Hope you enjoyed seeing a few one-of-a-kind necklaces relating to the sea. You’ll also find plenty of pearls and other sea-themed designs in our main Rose of Sharon Jewelry store and in the A.F.F. Jewelry Collection at Etsy.

We’d love to hear your comments on our handmade jewelry. Just leave a comment here (link at left) or visit the Rose of Sharon Jewelry Facebook page.


Walking for Your Dog: Thankful Thursday

Across the country animals lovers are walking FOR their dog friends instead of walking them around the block. This fall several cities are holding charity walks to raise funds for canine cancer research. Today’s Thankful Thursday blog post tells you how to join in!

canine_partners_dog_3 As anyone who has lost a pet to a catastrophic illness knows, vet bills can be budget busters. In helping raise funds for research, you not only help our furry friends; you’re also helping the families that love them.

Here are a few cities I have found that are having walks this fall. I’d suggest contacting some of the national organizations to locate events in your area and calling your dog’s vet for info. If you don’t have an event, perhaps this is your chance to take on a worthy cause and start one in  your community.

Another great thing is most of these events encourage you to bring your dog along for moral support!

  • Allentown, PA (Sept. 25) – Bruiser Memorial 5K and Sarge Memorial 5K sponsored by Bethlehem-Allentown chapter of non-profit National Canine Cancer Foundation. Raising money for University of PA School of Veterinary Medicine.
  • Los Gatos, CA (Oct. 10) – 2 mile walk in Vasona Lake Park. Raising money for non-profit Morris Animal Foundation (MAF).
  • Portland, OR (Nov. 5) – Bark and Bowl bowling event (sort of like walking :). Raising money for the National Canine Cancer Foundation.
  • Long Beach, CA (Nov. 13) – 3K walk for people and dogs sponsored by Veterinary Pet Insurance. Raising money for non-profit Animal Cancer Foundation.
  • Coconut Creek FL (Dec. 5) – Walk in Tradewinds Park. Raising funds for Morris Animal Foundation.

 

Thanks to all you with tired feet who walk for this good cause. Happy Walking! [bark, bark, bark]


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