Mother Connie Sez: Is This Kosher?

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This woman is eating a real apple and she knows it's real because it did not come in a fancy schmancy package that had claims all over it.  Now, it might be such a thing that this beautiful green apple was preserved by being stored under pressure of some sort of gas, but it IS an apple nonetheless and apples are supposed to be good for your teeth, your digestion and make good additions to your diet.  And it appears to be a REAL apple.

It has come to Mother Connie's attention that food is being rebranded and packaged so as to appeal to the youngsters.  It masquerades as junk food!

Is there no end to corporate greed?

Yes, indeed, some sharp rising star in the marketing world has dreamed up this new scheme to get kids to eat baby carrots.

I have lots of issues surrounding this, not the least of which is that baby carrots-while they are sold all over the place in produce departments-are hardly edible!

Here's the deal:
Baby carrots are simply ugly, misshapen carrots that are tumbled and chopped to look all pretty and perfect.  You could say they have been surgically enhanced.

After they look just so, they are given a bath in chemicals that keep them from spoiling.  The slush they then reside in until you use them in your home contains traces of chlorine.  YES, CHLORINE.
And if you don't know it, chlorine is toxic as all get out.


Did you ever buy baby carrots?  Did you notice that they "kept" forever and then they got SLIMY?  YUCK!

My question to you, dear visitor is this: Is it ethical for marketers to pretend snack items are healthy when in fact, they are not?

So, let's suppose some poor, unsuspecting parent goes shopping with their moppet and the little darling, who loves chips and other junk snacks, spies the new packaging.  He begs mommy for the treat.  She wants him to be healthy so she springs for a sack of the stuff.  


BUT, when the kid discovers they are CARROTS and not PUFFY PUFFS he refuses to eat the vegetable, throws a temper tantrum in the store, embarrasses his mom, gets dirty looks from other shoppers...well, it could get really ugly.


Smart mommies and daddies will say to their kidlet, "Mother Connie Sez we shouldn't eat that stuff.  How about some popcorn instead?"


The other thing smart mommies and daddies will do is to check out The Healing Codes.  Those codes will do way more good than repackaged junk food and even more than you might expect.


Connie Baum
The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post.  Should they be clicked, resulting in sales, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated.  Please do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline.  Always do business with those you trust implicitly.

Mother Connie Sez: Remembering Rocking Chairs

My mom had an antique PINK rocking chair in her kitchen.  In 1956 she picked it up for a song-much to my dad’s chagrin-at a used furniture store. She promptly painted it pink to match her kitchen wallpaper.  This rocker was mostly for looks because Mom worked long days and prepared dinner when she got home.  After the dishes were done, she was ready to go to bed!  There was precious little time to sit and rock!

But that pink rocker did not go unused.  Whenever my maternal grandmother came to visit, she would sit in that pink rocker, compliment Mom for choosing that particular rocking chair, and pay close attention to the meal prep as well as the laying of the table.  She and Mom had some grand visits during those times.

Grandma Wagner was arthritic for as long as I can remember.  She was also sweet, thoughtful and caring.  As mom finished a salad or put the final touches on a pan of dinner rolls she would show Grandma the product and Grandma would just swoon with delight.  Oh, she was SURE nobody could cook and entertain like her daughter.  Incidentally, I happened to agree with that.  Dad always made sure his mother in law got to sit at the head of the table, where it was easy for her to maneuver from the pink rocker and she enjoyed her meals with us beyond measure.

When it was Grandma Pieper’s turn to visit, she made sure we all knew she loved that rocking chair as much as my mom did.  Grandma Pieper was color blind before she lost her eyesight so she had no issue with the color!  And she thought the sun rose and set on her daughter in law!

At 33-grin-I am older than my Grandma Wagner was when she left us.  I can now fully appreciate the joy Grandma took in watching the two of us working together in the kitchen, while she kept that pink rocking chair warm.

The wooden pink rocker eventually made its way to a yard sale, where someone snapped it up and painted it a creamy white.  Somehow, it seemed to me, that white paint covered up the chair’s charm.

There is another rocking chair that holds a place in my heart.  It is the one in the photo on this post.  This little sewing rocker belonged to my mother’s grandmother. After Grandma Jenny True died, Grandpa True, at age 94, left the house that had been their home and rented a modest sleeping room above the drug store in their tiny Midwest town.  He wanted Grandma Jenny's rocker to move with him so kind soul hauled up the steep stairs for him.

Grandpa needn’t cook; he could take his meals at the local eatery.  All he had to do was descend a long narrow staircase and he was just steps away from his next meal. 

He spent his days and evenings sitting in Grandma Jenny’s rocking chair, studying the dictionary and looking out his window to observe those who came and went.  He seemed to me to be utterly content.

That very rocking chair takes up a part of our dining room and invites guests to “sit for a spell” which they seem pleased to do.

We also have the Boston rocker my mom used for decades because it comfortably supported her back.  I think she would approve the update we gave it when we sprayed on a matte black finish. 

We fell heir to the blocky, wooden rocking chair that’s been in The Normanator’s family for generations.  Those two are placed in our living room; I'd be hard pressed to choose which chair I like better.

It is regrettable that I never knew The Normanator’s parents but it is wonderful to have things in our home that were once used by them.  It is comforting to me to sit where Mary Baum once worked on her needlework projects and to relax in the same chair where Fred Baum used to nod off as he read his newspaper.

It is equally regrettable that these now-gone generations did not have the comforting benefits of The Healing Codes.  There is no question the quality of their lives could have been enhanced.

How is the quality of YOUR life?  Do you have loved ones in any generation who have issues involving health or relationships?  The Healing Codes are extremely useful, simple to perform and have been transformational for a great many people.  Don’t remain in your rocking chairs; get information by clicking here that could make life better for every branch of your family tree.



No doubt YOUR family has a well worn rocking chair that has hushed babies and embraced more than one generation.  We'd love for you to comment about that.  Just scroll to the box below this post; you'll find a little box for you to type your message.  Thanks so much.  We appreciate our visitors more than you know!

Connie Baum

The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post.  Should they be clicked, resulting in sales, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated.  Please do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline.  Always do business with those you trust implicitly.

Mother Connie Sez: Art Begs to be NOTICED!

This handsome artwork is proudly displayed on the wall of the home of Mother Connie and The Normanator! The artist is Ralph P. Brown, a Mohawk Indian and world renowned artist who specializes in pointillistic impressions!

 

It is totally true.  Just like an energetic little child, fine art begs to be noticed.

 In the same way that good food, rest, exercise and water are essential to life, fine art is equally necessary.  The energy of art work helps to balance the energy of the beholder.  It’s mystical.  It’s magical.  And it is incredibly important to our overall well being.

 

Even toddlers who visit our home are fascinated by the pastel painting shown above.  Those little people gaze at it longer than you’d expect their attention span to hold and they seem to be genuinely in awe of the creation.
 
I am, too.  To think that we own Ralph P. Brown’s art work and display it on our wall is just mind boggling to me.  Some of his pieces make me weep because they–HE- is so incredible.

Amazingly, Ralph P. Brown is a self-taught artist.  He uses a stipple style-little dots- in order to create the pointillistic impressions of his cultural and spiritual ideas. He draws inspiration from his native culture, Mother Nature and his unique perspective on the world.  Ralph P. Brown is a spiritual giant.  And he and his bride are our dear, close friends.

Ralph recognizes that art reveals something intrinsically glorious about itself, the artist, and the beholder.  He understands that his art pieces reflect The Self the way a mirror reflects an image.

The Normanator and I freely admit we are his “Art Groupies” because we have his paintings on the wall; we wear Tee Shirts with images he created printed on them; and our bookshelves are lined with volumes he penned.  The man is a leader, a teacher, and a healer.


Don’t take our word for it.  Visit his site.  Go to his virtual Art Gallery, Mirrored Windows and see for yourself what he has brought to life.  But I’m warning you: It might take your breath away.  And do  bring along a tissue because you might be like me and be moved to tears a time or two.

After you have toured the gallery and studied Ralph's beautiful offerings,  please come back here and let Mother Connie know how you FEEL about the work and what you liked best, won't you please?  Thanks oodles!


Connie Baum
The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post.  If you should click on them and sales result, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated.  Please do your due diligence when conducting business online or offline.  Do business only with those you trust implicitly.

Mother Connie Sez Enough With the Eggs Already!

Headlines have been proliferating fear of eggs for days!

The only benefit I note so far in the egg recall debacle is that eggs are currently priced at $.39 a dozen.  This is reason enough for Mother Connie to drag out the soap box and climb up for yet another rant.

Hens have been laying eggs for some long time now and people have been eating them for the duration.  Of course, some ornery youngsters have unadvisedly thrown some at various and sundry targets but those are not the eggs at issue these days.

The Normanator and Mother Connie have been mightily blessed to have a generous supply of eggs from hens cared for by Norm's sister.  These eggs are far superior to any others because of their deep color and integrity, not to mention the delicious flavor after they have been COOKED.  
Because of this bounty, we have remained on the periphery of the current egg-streme situation.

COOKED is the key word.  Good grief!  NOBODY but NOBODY should eat raw eggs!  Didn't everybody's mother tell them that?  Didn't mom slap their hands when they reached for a gob of cooky dough?

I have no clue what the problem was that caused all those eggs to be recalled but I bet a nickel it had to do with eggs that were not properly refrigerated and/or properly cooked.

Did personal responsibility vanish from the planet?  Where on earth has common sense gone?  Seriously, people, this egg thing should be a non issue!

I must also add that if everybody did their job properly we might not be having these long, loud, angry discussions and the egg industry might not have been so riddled with problems.

One solution that's been bandied about is legislation.  Oh, sure, like we don't already have enough laws!  You cannot fix stupid; if there is an issue, DEAL WITH IT.  Maybe we need to retrain employees.  Perhaps non-compliant employees may need to be replaced with workers who are more conscientious.  Laws won't make issues go away. Nor will laws help people to do the right thing for the right reasons!

And while we are on the subject of eggs, I should like to remind you that when ingesting eggs, it is critical to eat the WHOLE egg.  Fancy schmancy high priced egg white omelets are NOT whole foods.  And you KNOW how Mother Connie is about whole foods.  I'm just sayin'...

If people want to be well, the way to do that is to eat well and wisely and that includes properly stored and correctly prepared eggs; get enough rest; drink pure water and plenty of it; move your body; and take your whole foods supplements.  Protect yourselves from electromagnetic frequencies and use The Healing Codes every single day!

OK.  I have vented.  Dear readers, you make wonderful cost effective therapists for me and I deeply appreciate your audience and your tolerance.  It's likely that's what keeps me sane.

There are links in this post.  If you should click on them and sales result, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated.  Please do your due diligence when conducting business online or offline.  Do business only with those you trust implicitly.

Connie Baum

 

Along the Parade Route?

Folks line up early for the annual parade for the Johnson County Fair!

It was 4PM today when the first lawn chairs were dropped curbside on the yards along our street.  We could hear the drumbeats of the high school bands who were here for the big to-do. As families gathered in clusters the chatter became louder and louder.  There was loud laughter and everyone had their coolers full of iced drinks and sacks to be filled with the candy tossed out from the people on the floats.

The neighbor kids were just beside themselves with anticipation.  Their cousins came to sit with them and they were hoping aloud the candy would be their favorite.  They nearly came unglued with delight when a neighbor up the street, who is running for public office, tossed out ICE COLD POPSICLE STICKS! 

Young veteran men and women made up the color guard that opened the festivities.  To see them straight and tall and vigorous after serving in heinous conditions to keep us safe was tear jerking, to say the least.  Their pride and patriotism was evident as they carried our nation's flag and marched in perfect order.

The marching bands, although looking withered from the heat, looked sharp and sounded good.  They wore their summer uniforms but the hot Nebraska sun was hard to deal with.  Lucky us; we had the luxury of shade and every so often we were favored with a cooling breeze.

Floats of every type were decorated in tune to the theme of Making Memories.  As the entrees crept by with their waving, candy-tossing riders, we marveled at the variety of decor and all the handiwork and creativity that had gone into each one. 

Our illustrious village Mayor trudged up the way, holding a sign bearing his name.  I called to him as he passed, "Mr. Mayor, where is your candy?  We were hoping for good Swiss chocolate!"  LaVerne just grinned, shrugged, and kept on moving.  The slender septuagenarian was drenched with the heat of the afternoon and he looked mighty warm.  

SIDEBAR:  The Mayor is a first cousin to The Normanator and they have Swiss heritage.  END SIDEBAR.

When the emergency crews drove their ginormous rigs up our hill and around the corner, each Volunteer Fire Department vied with the others to be the loudest.  There were horns, sirens, whistles and our eardrums may never recover.

The veterans, frail and aging, rode by on a flatbed truck.  They were safely seated and volunteers rode along to make sure they stayed safe and cool.  There were ice chests on board, filled with cold drinking water.  Our hearts swelled with pride as they slowly raised their arms to wave to the crowd.  This is our Greatest Generation.  

The horses brought up the rear, pun intended, and we rose to leave the front yard.  Groups of parade watchers clustered to visit and view any new babies.  There was more laughter than ever as the crowd dispersed.  Most people wanted to get to the food stand the Catholic Ladies were managing for some good grub.  Others wanted to hurry to the VFW Bingo stand.

As we came into the house to cool off with fans turned to High I thought about what a blessing it is to live in a small town where we know a lot of the people and to be well enough to participate in community life as it plays out here.  

Are we relatively stress free?  Do we eat well and wisely?  Are we sure to keep well hydrated in this oppressive heat?  Is our rest adequate and do we get plenty of movement?  And are we supplementing our diet with good whole foods nutrition?  And just as important, are we performing The Healing Codes to ensure we can keep this lifestyle we enjoy so much?  The answer is a resounding 'YES!'

The local nursing home is full and there is a waiting list.  The same is true for our Assisted Living facility.  Doctors offices are crowded every day.  Our hospital is busy.  Hopefully more people will come to be open to the ideas we espouse and can remain optimally well during their long life span so as to enjoy many more parades. 

The Healing Codes can help in that regard, but it is a choice.

Connie Baum