Bob and Up On the Roof - Senility Hits Home

True to form for me these days, if given a job to do, I have a tendency to leap from one thing to another and somehow am not as easily able to multitask as I was before!  Unfortunately, sometimes it can have comedic consequences as my poor husband found out.

It was a simple task - all I had to do was answer the phone but somehow my blonde old lady brain because distracted by the fact that I suddenly remembered I had to clean the bathrooms for company that was coming. 

Here is my story of how poor Bob unfortunately paid the brunt of my flagging memory!

You-Know-You-Have-Become-Senile-When-Or-Up-On-The-Roof

The Easiest Perennial In The World To Grow - Basket of Gold or Yellow Alyssum

The-Easiest-To-Grow-Perennial-In-the-World-Basket-of-GoldIf you want a low-growing (12 inches maximum height but spreads 18 inches outward) that is beautifully sunny and yellow for weeks AND blooms again late summer, the Basket of Gold or Yellow Alyssum perennial is for you.

This little plant is hardier than you would think and survives drought and not only survives, but seeds itself.  It is a great front plant in a perennial garden and loves any place where it can 'drape'.  It is great in rock gardens and is easily multiplied as noted above just by seeding itself or collect the seeds and replant.  You can also make cuttings easily from this plant and have more and more.

In short, this is one durable little plant that is beautiful to look at cascading down slopes or from pots.  Butterflies and bees love it so give it a try! 

Tarragon Chicken

If you are looking for a quick and easy dinner for yourselves or for company, this dish fits the bill.  It is easily prepared and the combination of tarragon with chicken and wine is absolutely divine.  Serve this with a green salad and a vegetable followed with a light dessert and you will have a simple yet elegant dinner to present in little time.

This is a French recipe I have used for 30+ years from an old Betty Crocker International Cookbook.  I did not have dry white wine so substituted Marsala wine and it was equally delicious.

Tarragon-Chicken-Quick-and-Easy-Dinner-Idea

Butternut Squash Pizza

If you are into vegetable pizzas, this one is for you!  This is a delicious revamp of a recipe I recently tried on a personal pizza crust envelope.  The results were fantastic.  I as usual added all but the kitchen sink as I always like to add spinach and feta cheese to anything made with butternut squash but my daughter was pointing out that goat cheese would be good in the recipe too.  The addition of fresh basil leaves also made it absolutely marvelously delicious!

For a different kind of pizza, try this squash pizza recipe - I think you'll like it!

Butternut-Squash-and-Basil-Pizza

The Clarno Unit of The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is a geological and topographical natural wonder.  It is located in Central Oregon and along with Sheep Rock and the beautiful Painted Hills, is worth the trip to observe nature at its wildest. 

The Clarno Unit is located near Fossil, Oregon and along the trails at this particular part of the monument, you can see the Blue Basin as well as see actual fossils embedded in the cliffs and the rocks. 

It is a wonderful part of the country to vacation in with activities from white water rafting, rock climbing to fishing and hunting in season but most people venture here for the climate - high mountain desert with beautiful dry sunny days and cool nights. 

Clarno-Unit-of-John-Day-Fossil-Beds-National-Monument

Therapeutic Hypothermia - The New Treatment for Cardiac Arrest

I've been hearing a lot about this new innovative treatment called therapeutic hypothermia for cardiac arrest but also in treating non-bleeding strokes and brain injuries.  So I decided to put on my investigative cap and go looking for more details.

It turns out that the technique has been in testing for years but in more recent years, they have now determined that moderate hypothermia can reverse or at least stop the effects caused by cardiac arrest and/or stroke whereas before they were using deep hypothermia.  This technique is showing great promise in the area of brain injury as well as birth asphyxia, thus reducing the complications of cerebral palsy in infants.

For more information, see the entire article but the most popular mode of therapy at the moment seems to be the Arctic Sun device, which is being used with great success. 

In a nation where more than 300,000 people suffer cardiac arrest per year and only about 10% survive coming home from the hospital, this could be a medical miracle!

Therapeutic-Hypothermia-How-It-Is-Saving-Lives

Sheep Rock Unit of John Day National Monument - Central Oregon

If you are looking for a unique place to visit, the John Day National Monument won't set you back a hefty entrance fee but will knock your socks off in terms of incredible rock formations and colorful scenery.  The John Day National Monument is made up of 3 units and this is about only one of them.  The other two, Painted Hills and the Clarno Unit are also unique in their presentation and geological wonders all their own.  They are spread apart a bit but within easy driving distance - a delight at any time of the year to visit.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Sheep-Rock