I Stand Corrected

A few posts down I called my favorite Arizona tree with the little yellow fuzz balls a mesquite tree and I must confess that information is incorrect. Upon trying to do a bit of research to discover some of its unique attributes and uses, I could not find a mesquite that had the little fuzz balls. Today Uncle Bill and I sneezed at the brutal 89 degrees and took a visit to the Arizona Desert Museum where I found out that the tree is actually a sweet acacia, which is also part of the legume family. 

Some interesting uses for the tree are headache relief, aid in the healing of wounds, mending broken pottery, treating pink eye, styling hair and soothing sore throats. While researching mesquite trees a few days ago, I found a great recipe to cure headaches at this site. (Scroll down to last paragraph of "Mesquites as Botanical Friends") Perhaps the headache ointment made from sweet acacia is similar. 

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the Desert Museum today:

Century Agave Cactus
Prickly Pear Cactus
Ocotillo Cactus
Prickly Pear Cactus
A cactus with a flower - I think it's a Cholla Cactus

Evelyn Champagne King - Love Come Down

As I was scanning the Tucson radio stations on my way back to Uncle Bill's tonight I stumbled upon this gem of a song. I couldn't resist dancing along to the boss 80s beat. If only I could have seen some of these great moves from the video while I was cruising along! However, I think I could have added a few moves myself to enhance Evelyn's choreography. I hope you all have a delightful dancing session!

Tidbits from GoGo Sandy

I met Sandy when I went to Malawi in the summer of 2007. She had been at Rafiki for two months before I got there and left at the same time I did. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to spend my month in Africa with GoGo Sandy and was glad that she also lived in Indiana! We've met up a few times since getting back and keep in touch via e-mail. I stinking love this lady, she always makes me laugh and inspires me with her generous spirit and adventurous attitude. Just recently she sent me a list she entitled "tidbits of useless knowledge" that I thought I would pass along to you viewers. Here they are: 

A cockroach can live several weeks with its head cut off.

A giraffe can clean its ears with its 21 inch tongue

A sneeze travels out of your mouth at over 100 m.p.h.

Mosquitoes have teeth

Most American car horns beep in the key of F

A mole can dig a tunnel 300 feet in just one night

In case you are wondering which one Sandy is in the picture, she's the mzunga (white person). And if you were also wondering what "gogo" means, it's the Malawian word for "grandma".

My Favorite Arizona Tree

I absolutely love these little yellow fuzz balls on the mesquite tree. I get so excited when I see them! And that's all I have to say about them. 

Aunt Susie's Favorite Sleeve Ilk

Thanks to Uncle Dennis' newspaper word game, I learned a new word today: raglan. In the picture below I am modeling a raglan jacket as well as demonstrating what you get to do upon entering the barn in the wonderful game of euchre (milk the cow!). 

 

Here is a definition of raglan for you:

adj. Having or being a sleeve that extends in one piece to the neckline of the garment, with slanted seams from the armhole to the neck. 

n. A garment, such as an overcoat or a sweater, that has raglan sleeves. 

The word came about between 1860-65 and was named after Lord Raglan, a British field marshal who had a raglan coat fashioned to accommodate his new frame after loosing an arm in the Battle of Waterloo.

Exercise that Brain!

A few days ago Aunt Susie and I took a trip to Bookman's, a used bookstore. We didn't spend too long at the store, but it was still enough time for me to find and come away with one small treasure, which is the book you see to your left. I thought I would get it to exercise my brain a bit and while I'm at it, I may as well allow you all the same opportunity! Here is your first puzzle:

In a certain bank the positions of cashier, manager, and teller are held by Brown, Jones and Smith, though not necessarily respectively.

The teller, who was an only child, earns the least.

Smith, who married Brown's sister, earns more than the manager.

What position does each man fill?

I encourage you to print this little puzzle out so you can study it throughout the day, unless of course you're just so smart all you need is one glance. 

Sweet Solutions

I was reading in National Geographic today and I learned a sweet little fact about honey. Apparently it works quite splendidly in the healing process when applied to a wound. So next time you scrape your knee, instead of reaching for the antibiotic ointment you can just slather a little honey on your boo-boo!

When I was a wee little girl but not too wee of a girl, Grandpa told me he liked to use honey instead of sugar to sweeten his coffee. I usually just throw some flavored creamer in my coffee but if that's not available I do like to jazz up my coffee with a drizzle of honey. While looking for pictures of honey, I found these cute little honey cubes to add to your cup of coffee or tea.  You can go here to find out more info about these handy little cubes.