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This has been my summer to learn how to conquer yard work.  It has never seemed as difficult as it has been this year …. And I still have two months or more to go!!

I started early and decided it was time to trim my hedges.  The plant is known as Variegated Chinese Privet  or Ligustrum sinensis ‘Variegata’.  In just reading about it to be sure I spelled this information correctly it was noted as a fast grower, growing 4-6 feet tall and equal in width.

In the Beginning!

I would like to add my two cents on this statement. The hedges that I trimmed were at least 12 to 15 feet above my fence!  I trimmed these back to below the fence line and they have already reached a substantial 3 feet above the fence!  I have more of these lovelies (do not get me wrong, they are beautiful bushes/trees) in another area of my front yard and they have grown past my second floor bedroom window.  I think it is fair to say they grow much higher than 6 feet.

This pivet would be a welcomed addition to any yard.  It is especially great as it grows in full or partial sun.  However, if you choose this hedge, be sure you own a very aggressive hedge trimmer or you have a good tree saw (or a landscape service)!

As my “hedge” had grown to a height of about 15 feet I chose to tackle the project with my trusty tree saw.  These hedges grow many limbs from each plant.  You will want to keep them trimmed back as they tend to get bare on the bottom if you do not.

I have 18 of these hedges along the fence in my backyard, each with approximately 6 offshoots.  I hope this gives you the picture of a totally overwhelming project for a 64 year old retired, single grandma!  Needless to say, I have never met a task that I was not willing to tackle and this was not going to be the first time.

I did start out with the hedge trimmer, but soon discovered this was too big of a job for that.  So I resorted to my tree saw and worked on cutting each limb.  Now my job was complicated somewhat as I live in Georgia and we are overtaken in the summer by a plant called kudzu.  It has a way of winding its way into your yard and throughout your trees and bushes.  You really have to keep an eye out for it.  I was just reading that kudzu came over from Japan and now covers over 7 million acres of the southeastern United States.   I am blessed with a lot of aggressive plants.

Kudzu Covered House

As I would cut down a limb I would pull it down and put it in a pile.  In some cases the growth was entangled with other branches and this was no easy job.  And then when you throw kudzu into the mix of things it got really hard!  One time I had cut the limb at the bottom and was trying hard to pull it down and the kudsu had tightly wound itself throughout the top of the branch.  I backed up and pulled with all my might and after a few moments it loosened, and then loosened some more and before I knew it I was traveling at a pretty quick pace backwards in my yard.  I hung on for dear life and had visions of what lay behind me.  I was either going to fall just short of my concrete patio, or land in the blackberry bushes around my bird feeders.  With a loud oomph I landed flat on my back just short of the patio.

This is where I must tell you, that if you are going to do these tasks, you have to approach them with a sense of humor.  I laid there flat on my back laughing.  Thankfully my yard is quite private and no one had caught sight of my antics.  Laughter truly is the best medicine.

Another word of advice I would like to offer is make sure you have your cell phone in your pocket.  You never know when you might need to call for help.  I learned that lesson one year as I was on a ladder cleaning out my gutters and the ladder decided to fall to the ground.  My life crossed before my eyes as I fell to a standing position with the ladder sort of wrapped around my legs.  Other than an increased heart rate and scrapes and bruises I was okay.  But the thought crossed my mind that if I had fallen on the ground and been unable to get up no one would have known I was there.  My family was out of town and would be gone for days.  Hence, my advice about carrying your cell phone at all times.

The hedges got trimmed and they have grown back beautifully filling in on the bottom.  No matter how hard I try to keep these under control, it seems to be a full time job.  Before the summer is over they will need trimming again.

I have learned a lot about how to conquer yard work this summer.  As this article has become quite lengthy, I will be back shortly to tell you about my bout with poison ivy and a run away lawnmower!  The most important tool you need to conquer yard work is the ability to laugh at yourself.  Heaven knows I will be a stand- up comic by the time this summer draws to a close!

Keep Smiling,

Judy

Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
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I was introduced to camping when I first got married many years ago.  It was a delightful experience until one occasion when we were camping on Cape Cod and were surprised by an approaching hurricane!

We had returned to using a tent.  A word of advice to people who hang their towels to dry over the frame of the tent … DO NOT do this.  As the wind picked up the towels were blown on top of the tent and this negated the waterproof properties and the rain began pouring inside the tent.  We had suitcases filled with wet clothing and everything else inside the tent was pretty soaked.  It was a long uncomfortable drive back to Providence, RI.  We looked liked pathetic drowned rats when we stopped to get breakfast (take out, of course) at McDonald’s.  At this point I vowed never to go camping again!!  Of course that is not true.  I have since gone camping with my daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.

Once our daughters were born we changed from “tenting” to a Cox Pop-Up Tent Trailer.  Being off the ground was easier with the children.

You need to develop a system to make life easier when going camping.  A system will save you a lot of time and confusion and help you get on the road without raising your blood pressure!

We had a large basket that perfectly fit between the two fold out beds (with room to spare) where we kept cookware, dishes, silverware and miscellaneous items such as salt and pepper and other items that would keep well left in the camper outdoors. This made our weekly packing a lot easier.

Strip your beds when you are folding up the camper and wash the bedding when you get home and it will be ready for your next trip.  Items that needed more rigorously cleaning was removed and cleaned.  The floor was swept and washed and we were basically ready for our next weekend.  We actually camped almost every weekend.

I would go shopping and slide the food bags and clothing bags right in the camper.  We packed an ice chest in the trunk of the car to hold items that needed to be refrigerated.  My husband got home from work, changed his clothes, hooked up the camper and off we went for another exciting weekend.  At the time we were living in an apartment and we really looked forward to our weekends away.

We camped in many different areas from Cape Cod, to Vermont and Canada.  It was great fun.  We had best friends who had three children that usually packed up their tent camper and went with us.  What a great experience for the children.

There is nothing quite as wonderful as the smell of coffee brewing on the camp stove and breakfast cooking.  The smell of bacon and eggs awakens any sleepy appetite.

Before we purchased our Cox Camper we had a couple occasions to camp with the girls when they were quite young.  I must admit that the tent camper was a lot easier.

As you become proficient at camping you will learn many useful tips.  One time in particular the temperatures were cooler than we had expected.  With the girls in their flannel pajamas, and sleepers we were concerned that they might not be warm enough in their sleeping bags.  An older seasoned camper gentleman told us a wise old tip.  He told us to be sure the girls, or anyone for that matter, are warm to make sure they are wearing socks and eat a candy bar before going to bed.  It worked like a charm every time.

Before you leave on your camping trip check out the park you are planning to go to.  Nowadays, with the internet, it is easy to preselect your desired site, or at least get an idea of where you want to stay.  If you have small children, it is a good idea to plan to stay nearer the bathrooms!  My daughter is a real pro at choosing the “best” site.

Although I personally enjoy just getting away from the everyday rat race and just spending time with my family, you might want to take into consideration activities in the area where you will be camping.  Make a list of “things to do and places to go” and in this way you will be ready to have a lot of fun.

Board games, cards, bubbles, and balls are good things to pack. If camping with older children you may want to make sure the MP3 (or whatever digital sound device you have) is well changed and packed.  By all means do not forget to take sunscreen and bug spray.  Take along a camera (batteries charged/charger to charge) to capture all those special moments.

It is a good idea to make a list of things you will need. The following list will grow as you continue to camp and realize items that you “miss” from home. In addition to those things mentioned above here are a couple of suggestions:

• Tent/tent camper
• Sleeping  bags
• Hammer
• Towels,
• First Aid Kit
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Toiletries
• Benadryl  (just in case you encounter some poison ivy)
• Cleaning spray
• Salt and pepper
• Cookies and crackers
• Packages of oatmeal
• Coffee
• Coffee French Press (we enjoy the finerthings even when camping!)
• Marshmallows
• Candy bars
• Graham Crackers (anyone for s’mores?)
• Skewers
• Cocoa
• Cereal
• Citronella candles
• Table cover (plastic or cloth)
• Plates, silverware, cups
• Paper towels
• Napkins
• Dish detergent
• Dishpan to wash dishes
• Container to carry water
• Charcoal
• Lighter Fluid
• Matches
• Bathing suits
• Rain Ponchos
• Appropriate clothing and  shoes
• And whatever else you think you will need

With technology being what it is today, you will be able to take a TV, but I would suggest enjoying being away from those types of things that demand your attention at home and just enjoy spending time with your family.

I was amazed at all the new camping equipment that is on the market.  Fancy coffeemakers, and really great collapsible water carriers and double dish washing basins and even portable toilets!!  You can decide for yourselves how rustic you want your experience to be.

I wish you a fun filled camping trip that will supply you with memories for years to come.

Judy Conway

Email:  judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
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http://hunterHEPAtechairpurifier.com
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I am writing this article to provide you with some suggestions for ways to cut expenses and save money in your daily life.  For those of us who have been laid off, had to take lower paying jobs or been faced with not being able to find a replacement job and opted to take an early retirement … corners need to be cut for sure.

I do not think that many people are prepared for the day when they find themselves with an almost empty bank account and the pantry in a shape of hungry despair.

It is amazing how much you can save at the grocery store if you choose not to purchase prepared foods.  Not only do you save money, but in the long run it is healthier for you.

Check your supermarket sales for the week and plan your meals using items that are on sale.  If there is a really good sale on chicken, seafood, or whatever, perhaps you may want to stock up on these items.  You could spend a little bit more one week, but the next week you would have already purchased your meat items, so it averages out.

The internet contains a wealth of information for cutting food costs.  I just Googled “recipes that allow you to cut food costs”, and the page that came up provided me with recipes for when you are on a budget, how to cut food costs, cheap and healthy (15 nutritious foods for about $2.00), a website that provides a weekly inventory management system to cut food costs and even a site to guide you on making your own baby food.  One of my daughters made her own baby food.  She saved a lot of money and her children are not picky eaters and are very healthy.

Be sure to sign up for the coupon sites.  It is absolutely amazing how much you can cut off your grocery bill if you take the time to clip coupons.  You can even go to a specific site, like Kraft, Maxwell House, or many others, and get additional coupons that you do not find in your weekly newspapers or at other coupons services.  I have saved at least half of my total grocery bill just by clipping coupons.  Nowadays, clipping coupons should be a requirement if you are trying to save money.  Get your kids involved.  They love to clip coupons.

Make it a family project and plant a garden.  It is a fun experience to see the plants grow and be able to harvest your “crops”.  I bought a spaghetti squash last fall and dried and saved the seeds.  I planted the seeds last week and I already have the plants coming up.  Spaghetti squash is healthy and tasty.  If you were to buy this in your grocery store it could be costly at $1.50 a pound and for one big enough to feed your family could weight three to four pounds. Just by taking a few minutes to rinse and dry the seeds you have saved a lot of money.

The wildlife (birds, squirrels, chipmunks) are a big help in spreading the seeds of various plants in your yard.  A couple of weeks ago while cutting my grass I discovered there were many little blackberry bushes sprouting in my lawn.  I have two bird feeders and thanks to the birds this year I have a many blackberry bushes that will be providing fruit this year growing under the bird feeders.  I am going to dig up these new little plants and plant them in a more appropriate place than the middle of my lawn!  These bushes will provide blackberries for eating, or making preserves and pies.  The best part is I did not even have to purchase these bushes.

Make use of the internet to save on other items you need.  Amazon has very reasonable prices on many items.  In most cases if you spend over $25.00, your shipping is free. Please check out the Amazon link on this page to compare prices.

eBay is another site that can save you considerably.  I recently found a seller for the ink cartridges for my Cannon Pixma 530 printer.  We all know how expensive these cartridges can be.  I have ordered cartridges from various suppliers.  I have even used Staples, who provides good service.  However, I found an eBay auction and have been extremely pleased with the product.  I discovered that you can order directly from the company.

I know we are all apprehensive about trying “other than manufacturer’s brand” of ink cartridges.  These cartridges come with the chips in place.  You simply have to take them out of the box, remove the plastic wrap, usual tab and cover from the cartridge and you are good to go!  They come with a one year money back guarantee.  I have saved a remarkable amount buying my cartridges from this company.  Check out their products at compandsave.com.  I recently ran out of one of my cartridges and was pleasantly surprised at the great customer service and speed in which I received my order.

You can cut your utility bills.  If you have ceiling fans be sure they are running 24/7.  In the winter you will save on your heating expenses and in the summer you will save on air conditioning.  Be sure your blades are set to go in the correct direction … counter clockwise in the summer and clockwise in the winter.  I have vaulted ceilings and when I first moved into my house my electric bill was outrageous.  I called the electric company and was told the tip about running my fans.  It has made all the difference in helping me cut costs in this area.

I could go on and on about saving money.  You see I had to learn this talent when my children were nine and ten and I got divorced and became a single mom.  There are some every day expenses that are pretty much fixed but if your search hard enough you will find ways to cut costs.

I hope this information will be helpful in ways to cut expenses and save money.  If you have other suggestions please contact me at Skype (my Skype ID is listed below) and I would be happy to share your ideas in future articles.

Judy Conway

Email:  judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
http://fullservicemarketingtools.com
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http://joinjudyconway.com/bestdealsonline
Skype ID: judy.conway

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With the state of our economic crisis today, many people are finding it difficult to make ends meet. This is causing an increase in our credit card debt. It is much too easy when you do not have the money in your bank account to charge your various bills. This article is being provided to give you information to show you how how to achieve debt consolidation.

If you have reached the point where you are overwhelmed with your overall debt, consolidation may be the answer. There are many ways you can legally alleviate your debt.

You can find many ways online to achieve your end result. This post will serve to put many options at your fingertips in one location. To find many articles writen by  people with expertise in this area, please visit: http://howtoachievedebtconsolidation.blogspot.com.

The object of this article  is to provide you with information that will lighten your financial burden and give you information to show you how to achieve debt consolidation.

Judy Conway
Email:  judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
http://fullservicemarketingtools.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
http://beadazzledjewelrycreations.com
Skype ID: judy.conway

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Practical Life Extension What Modern Science Says About Reversing the Aging Process

There’s an old proverb that rings with wit and reason: “Everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to die.” So why do we want to live forever? According to Dr. Sanjay Gupta, author of “Chasing Life” and CNN’s Senior Medical Corespondent, we do not.

The real quest isn’t eternal life on earth according to Gupta, but rather an exceptional life.

While interviewing the foremost authorities on anti-aging and life extension, Dr. Gupta discovered three “universals” — three principles that each researcher deemed critical to extending our lives naturally and empowering us to live exceptionally. They are:

1. Weight training

2. Good nutrition

3. Positive thinking and having purpose

Jon Benson, author of “Fit Over 40″, explores each of these in great detail, as well as asking 52 men and women how they have managed to slow the hands of time down to a crawl. Benson does not waste time with hype and hypothesis. He focuses on real-world examples and applications we can all use to slow down the aging process and help prevent and reverse the conditions that can lead to disease.

Discover more today at Fit Over 40.

You too can live a longer, more exceptional life by simply adopting a smart, realistic and enjoyable lifestyle fitness plan. And if science just happens to catch up with Father Time, you’ll be many steps ahead of the curve.

Judy Conway

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We all have been faced with having to say goodbye.  Saying goodbye usually produces great heartache.  I hope this post will help you reflect on your past goodbyes and help them add meaning to your future hellos.

I was born in Nyack, New York.  I only lived there for approximately 6 weeks.  My dad was an operating engineer for Esso, working in Aruba.  So I spent the first 5 years of my life living on the “non-tourist” end of the island.  When we left for another job assignment I can remember saying goodbye to all my friends.  I especially remember saying goodbye to Billy, the black goat in our Kindergarten class!

As we grow older our goodbyes get harder.  With the nature of my dad’s employment I spent 17 years of my life traveling worldwide.  I attended many schools, and said goodbye to many friends.  Looking back, it was an education in itself being able to travel worldwide, but it also meant that I missed out on the normal growing up functions of life.  Longtime childhood friends, school activities, such as a prom, and your high school friendships rank on the top of the list. I became a pro at saying “goodbye.”  I truly believe that leaving so many friends is the reason I place such importance on relationships.

I recently received a notice about the death of one of my high school classmates.  He had lost his battle with cancer.  This prompted me to reflect on my life and thus wanting to share my feelings with others.

Goodbyes are an integral part of our lives.  We all go through changing jobs and saying goodbye to people we have worked with and grown close to.  My relationships with people are very important to me.  I can remember one job in particular.  I worked for SMRT, Inc. in Portland, Maine.  On my last day I managed to sob my way around 42 desks saying goodbye.  These people still hold a warm place in my heart.  This was my most gratifying, favorite job, other than being a mom!

Being a mom of two girls who loved animals, as do I, I have said many goodbyes to parakeets, dogs, cats, fish, rabbits and the list goes on.  I am one of those people who gets extremely attached to a pet so these were hard times.  I had a dog, Benson, I got as a puppy right after I was divorced who was a true, loyal friend.  He was always there to listen to the hard times I was going through.  After twelve years he became very ill, lost control of his bodily functions and was going blind.  I could not see him suffer any more so I had to have him put to sleep.  That was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.  I still to this day get teary-eyed when I think of him and that was 18 years ago.

It is a devastating goodbye that we say to our parents when they die.   When our close friends pass away it is very hard.  I feel when we lose these people we suffer more from our loss.  These special people have gone on to a better place!

Two more hard goodbyes to express are those at the time of a divorce (or an intimate relationship), and also when your children grow up and get married and you say your goodbyes and wish them well in their new lives. That is a bitter sweet goodbye because as parents it is our goal to raise our children to be independent and be able to leave home to start on their own journey.

Yes goodbyes are difficult.  Hopefully, we learn something from each one of these losses (or changes in our lives).  As with my dad, he was the one who truly taught me the meaning of love.  I lost him when I was only 22 years old.  That left an enormous void in my life.  He never got to see, know and impart his wisdom to my children. These losses have helped me grow stronger in my life.

Because of my goodbyes I look at the new people that come into my life in a whole new light.  I wonder why I have met them, what I can learn from them, and how can I make a difference in their lives? I always ask, “Why has God brought this person to me?” when I meet someone new.  Nothing happens by accident.  I look forward to where this new relationship will take me.  I want to add value to the time spent with people in my life.  I want to leave a loving legacy behind me.  I do not want to live my life thinking about what I could have, would have or should have done!

Life goes by much too quickly.  Never miss the opportunity to tell someone how much you care for them.  Never miss the opportunity to help another person.   Live your life making a difference in other people’s lives.  Remember to live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and leave the rest to God.

I wish you a life full of opportunities to share your love with others!

Judy Conway

Email:  judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
http://beadazzledejewelrycreations.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
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Skype ID: judy.conway

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Creating a raised planting area may be the answer to your drainage problems. If your current planting goals involve sufficient water drainage, I am sure you are aware of how frustrating it is to have a yard that has soil that just won’t cooperate. A few plants can deal with the surplus water that occurs from existing in an area that doesn’t drain appropriately. In some cases, it might just prompt them to bloom more lushly. On the other hand, other plants don’t cope as well, and it will make them to die a ghastly, bloated death. You should always find out about the drainage necessary for every plant you purchase, and ensure that it will be appropriate for any of the areas you are considering planting it in.

In order to test how much water your chosen patch of soil will hold on to, dig a hole around ten inches deep. Fill it with water, and check back in a day when all the water had left. Fill it back up once more. If the 2nd hole full of water hasn’t drained off in 10 hours, your soil has a low saturation point. This means that when water soaks into it, it will stick around for a long time before dissipating. This is unacceptable for almost any plant, and you are going to have to do something to fix this situation if you want your plants to last.

The typical way for improving drainage in your plot is to build a raised bed. This entails making a border for a small bed, and adding sufficient soil and compost to it to boost it above the rest of the yard by at least 5 inches. You’ll be very surprised at how much your water drainage will be enhanced by this small modification. If you’re setting out to build a raised bed, your potential area is either on grass or on dirt. For each of these cases, you should build it to some extent differently.

If you desire to start a raised garden in a non grassy spot, you won’t have much difficulty. Just acquire some sort of border to retain the dirt you will be adding. I’ve found that there is not anything that works quite as good as a few two by fours. After you’ve formed the wall, you must put in the right amount soil and steer manure. Depending on amount of time you plan to wait before planting, you will possibly want to regulate the ratio to allow for any wasting away that may occur.

If you’re setting out to set up a raised bed where sod already exists, you will have a tad more difficult time. You will want to cut the sod around the perimeter of the garden, and flip it over. This may sound uncomplicated, but you will require something with a very sharp edge to trim the edges of the sod and get under it. Once you have turned it all upside down, it best to add a layer of straw to discourage the grass from growing back up. After the layer of straw, simply add all the soil and steer manure that a ordinary garden would require.

Planting your plants in your new spot shouldn’t present many problems. It is essentially the same procedure as your normal planting session. Make certain that the roots don’t extend too far into the first ground level. The whole point of setting up the raised bed is to keep the roots out of the soil which saturates easily. Having very long roots that extend that far totally destroys the project.

Once you have plants in your new bed, you’ll see an almost direct improvement. The added soil facilitates better root growth. Simultaneously, evaporation is prevented and decomposition is halted. All of these things added together makes for an ideal environment for almost any plant to grow in. So don’t be intimidated by the thought of adjusting the very topography of your yard. It is an uncomplicated task as I’m sure you’ve come to realize, and the long term results are gratifying to say the least.

Happy planting in your new raised planting area. I wish you prosperous crops or beautiful blossoms, whatever the case may be!

Judy Conway

Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
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Camera #1 – Live Bald Eagle Nest Cam, Santa Catalina Island, Ca
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Camera #2 – West End Bald Eagle nest on Santa Catalina Island, California. What a view!
Live video by Ustream

Live Eagle Nest Duke Farms, Hillsborough NJ
Streaming Video by Ustream.TV

Lately, I have gotten involved in the world of watching birds through the amazing work and efforts of people installing video cams in various locations allowing me, and many others to drop by and watch the amazing action of Mother Nature in progress. From the building of a nest, or moving into a prefabricated owl house, to mating, and getting the “dwellings” ready to welcome the family, right through to the hatching of the eggs and watching the growth of the little ones …. It has been a really enjoyable experience.

It is truly amazing to see the amount of people who sit in front of their computers watching these birds, especially the viewers of Molly the Barn Owl (my previous post). I work at home online and keep a window running in the background so I can keep up to date on the latest happenings.

I must admit I recently starting watching the Eagles on Santa Catalina Island, CA. I love to see and hear the ocean in the background. The two baby eaglets have hatched and mom and dad are doing an awesome job! The eagles are great as both mom and dad contribute to the work of the little ones. The dad, #81, Justice flies off to bring back fish. Nothing like fresh Sushi! Mom, #82, Liberty welcomes the food and they both feed the babies. (The eagles have identifying numbers on their wings. Liberty is marked on both sides – #82) Justice even takes turns sitting on the nest and keeping the babies warm. I love to listen to them calling to each other when one is off on a flight.

Then there is another bald eagle nest at Duke’s Farm in Hillsborough, NJ. This is a totally different atmosphere from Santa Catalina, CA. These are fun to watch. This is quite an elaborate nest. Today, as I am writing this post, it is a tad bit windy and the nest is swaying.

There are many other animal web cams you can watch on http://www.sportsmansparadiseonline.com. You will find anything from Bald Eagles, to Molly the World Famous Barn Owl, a new Cardinal nest, to a very comical Grey Squirrel and African animals. This is a great site.

This is truly a great experience for adults, adults that are house bound or bed ridden, and children to see these activities first hand. Although Molly eating her tantalizing meals of mice, rats and rabbits can sometimes make me a little nauseous, this is truly a great education.

With regard to education, Carlos Royal the owner of Molly’s Owl House, is a very gifted speaker and comes on often with updates. He even has a widespread audience with school classrooms and homeschoolers. He holds an information update and then a question and answer session with these groups. What a blessing Carlos is, and I want to thank him personally for all he does to contribute to broadening our knowledge on barn owls. Molly, McGee(daddy owl) and the four little owlets (Max, Pattison, Austin and Wesley) are very fortunate to have found Carlos’ owl house.

I have included the web cam feed for the Bald Eagles above. I hope that you enjoy watching all of these birds as much as I do.
If you are not already a bird watcher, I think you will become one soon!

Judy Conway

Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
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Live Broadcast by Ustream.TV

A few days ago my daughter sent me a link she had come across on a site that was featuring Molly the barn owl who was sitting on five eggs.  Carlos and Donna Royal are the owners of the owl house on their property in San Marcos, California.

She is a beautiful owl.  Her mate, McGee, hunts nearby fields and bring her food several times a day.  Her menu ranges from rodents to rabbits.  This has truly been an amazing experience watching her diligently sitting on the eggs and waiting for them to hatch.

People from all over the world (over 20 countries) have found Molly’s world. She is truly a world famous owl. Today I have seen the number of visitors go over 13,000 to the site.  At one point there were so many visitors that Carlos had problems with the web cam.

Here is a description of facts about the barn owl.

• They range in size from 13 to 20inches
• They weigh 8 to 21 ounces
• They have a wingspan of about 3-1/2 feet
• They do not migrate
• Their habitat is in farmlands, marshes, prairie, and desert locations
• Barn owls have the sharpest sense of hearing of any bird in the world

In appearance, the barn own differs from other owls and is characterized by its heart-shaped face and small black eyes.  The round shape of their faces amplifies sounds, while its silent flight helps to keep the background noise to a minimum allowing their ears to search out their prey.  It has been documented that the owl’s ears are not symmetrical on the head.  The left side is higher on the skull than the right.  This makes the sound traveling from above or below to arrive at one ear before the other, which allows the owl to know which direction the sound is coming from.  The Barn Owl has three-dimensional hearing.  With its keen sense of hearing, the barn owl can catch food in total darkness.

Although its name, “barn owl” denotes that it lives in barns, this owl can also be found residing in churches, natural sites, such as caves and tree holes and other buildings.

Owls eat their food whole.  They do not have teeth and cannot chew their food.  They rip their prey apart and they swallow large chunks whole. This food goes from their mouth to their gizzard.  The gizzard uses sand particles, gravel and digestive fluids to grind and dissolve parts of the food that can be digested.   After the various parts of the food has been broken down by the owl’s gizzard and intestines, the teeth, claws, bones, fur and other indigestible parts of the owl’s prey are compacted in the owl’s gizzard into a neat mass which is better known as an owl pellet.  Baby owl’s do not produce owl pellets until they begin eating their prey whole.

An owl pellet is usually formed after a few hours of eating.  This pellet will remain in the body for several hours.  The pellet is stored in the proventriculus part of the owl’s body for up to 20 hours.  The owl will not be able to eat again until this pellet is disgorged as it blocks the entrance to the digestive system.

Molly at one point was regurgitating an owl pellet.  It appeared that she was coughing or choking.  The actual process is when the esophagus spasms forcing the owl pellet out.  The owl pellet is soft at this point and does not cause the owl any pain.  This regurgitation process can take anywhere from a few seconds to two or three minutes.

The barn owl does not build a traditional nest.  The female lays 4 to 7 eggs right on the floor, usually among old owl pellets.  The eggs will hatch after about 30 days.  Molly has been a diligent mother sitting on her eggs.  She gets up from time to time to stretch her legs and eat whatever prey McGee has brought to her.  Carlos comes on throughout the day and evening giving viewers updates on Molly.  He mentioned at one point that he has seen Molly leave the owl house once or twice after dark.

The owlets fledge 7 to 10 weeks after hatching but do not usually leave the area until the are 3 to 5 months old.

The breeding pair may lay a second clutch of eggs after the young leave the area.  A barn owl is capable of reproduction at less than a year of age.

Recent studies have shown that males prefer to breed with females with plenty of spots on their thighs.  This is a unique feature that indicates a bird’s good health!

I am looking forward to the hatching of the remaining 4 eggs and the development of the owlets.  It has been a real joy being allowed to have a “bird’s eye view” of this process.  Carlos and Donna are wonderful for putting in all the effort and expense that they have so we can enjoy seeing Mother Nature and God’s creatures in action. If you would like to check in on Molly and her family of owlets please check out http://eCa.sh/KQyk.  I hope you will enjoy this as much as my family, friends and I have.

Judy Conway
judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
http://fullservicemarketingtools.com Skype ID: judy.conway

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Identity theft is an on-going crime that is costing American consumers billions of dollars and unlimited heartache every year. Although you can not entirely control whether you will become a victim, you can take steps to minimize your risk.  Learn how to protect your identity online.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), our nation’s consumer protection agency, recommends consumers Deter, Detect and Defend to help decrease identity theft.

To deter these criminals you can safeguard your information.  You can do this by shredding financial documents and paperwork with your information before you throw them away.  Do not be so ready to give out your Social Security number.  Inquire if there is another identifier method you can use. Do not give out personal information over the phone, unless you know who you are talking to.  As them to send you the necessary paperwork and tell them you will complete it and return it to them.

If you are like me, I get a lot of phone calls asking for donations.  I always tell the person who is calling that if they want to send me information on their organization I will look it over and decide if it is something I want to contribute to.  Nine times out of ten I never receive anything in the mail.

Be on your guard and take the necessary steps to detect unusual activity on your accounts.  Set up a schedule to routinely monitor your billing statements.  If you do not receive a statement when you feel you should have, contact your credit card company.

If after being diligent to protect your identity you feel your identity has been compromised take the following steps:

Notify the fraud department of any one of the three consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). Ask them to put a fraud alert on your credit report.  This will alert creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts in your name or making any changes to your existing accounts.  It is only necessary to contact one of these agencies to request an alert.

If you suspect any newly fraudulently opened accounts or tampered accounts take action to close these.

Report these fraudulent actions to the police department where the identity fraud took place.  Submit a copy of the report, or at least the case number on the report , to your creditors and others who require proof of this crime.

The FTC keeps a database of identity theft cases received from law enforcement agencies for investigation.  File your claim with the FTC.

Surfing the Internet is a daily occurrence for an increasing number of people these days, as technology expands and online services continue to grow. Many people go online to carry out banking transactions, shop, check e-mail, and catch up on news. That’s why it’s more important than ever to protect your identity while surfing the web. As identity theft becomes more prevalent, it’s necessary for everyone to be extra vigilant in protecting personal information before it gets into the wrong hands.

Every time you go online and conduct some type of transaction, whether it is monetary or an exchange of information, you put your identity at risk. Unfortunately, criminals use the Internet too, making use of the technology to perpetrate identity theft. This type of cyber-criminal gathers personal information online and either sells it to others for profit, or uses it to their own purpose.

It is fortunate that there are many things you can do to stay one step ahead of these “thieves” and keep your identity as safe as possible. The Internet platform is always changing, so you need to keep on top of things to remain as safe as possible.

To begin with you should learn about how to avoid phishing scams.  Phishers pretend to be trustworthy, actual companies, such as banks and insurance companies, by using false e-mail addresses and websites.  To access their websites people are tricked into giving them personal identifying information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.

The important thing to remember is that real institutions will never ask you to verify your personal information online.  When you receive these types of e-mails, contact the sender immediately over the phone to validate the request.  This way you can provide any necessary information directly to your bank or other company.

Phishers use spam e-mail as a way to obtain your personal passwords and information.  For this reason be sure to have a good spam filter installed on your computer to keep out as much spam as possible.  As the old saying goes, “better safe than sorry.”

While on the issue of software, Windows already contains a basic firewall program, but setting up another program will ensure your safety from hackers,  allow you to control internet traffic and stop intruders from reaching your personal information.

Purchase a high-quality virus protection package.  This can  help prevent and eliminate viruses, Trojan horses, and other dangerous items designed to steal your personal information. It will also scan e-mail and IM attachments for viruses.  It is not enough to stop with just antivirus software.  Go one step further and equip your computer with the most up-to-date anti-spyware protection.  One word of advice, before installing your necessary protection check to be sure that all of your systems are compatible.  This can cause you a great deal of frustration and expense if they are not.  If you are not sure, it is worth a call to your local computer repair shop.

Scam artists are known to intercept e-mails and IMs.  For this reason do not sent any personal information through these methods of communication.

In opening your email, avoid opening suspicious emails or emails from unknown people.  Especially be wary of opening attachments.  I recently watched a “Medium” show on TV where a hacker had hacked into the City Hall’s computer system and sent out emails asking for update voter’s information.  This was the means that was used to accumulate personal identity information.  Might not have actually happened but does make one think.

To prevent ID theft it is advisable to password protect your computers, laptops and PDAs.  Use a different unique user name and password for each item.  Another word of warning, do not use the same user name or password for your accounts or activities online.  If a criminal discovers your user name and password on one account you want it to stop right there.  Use letters, numbers and special characters when creating your passwords.  Be sure your passwords are not “obvious”.

It is a good idea to keep the personal information that you store on your computer to a minimum.  What would happen if your computer was stolen?  I invested in an external hard drive and my personal information is stored there.

A final tip – when you buy a new computer, before disposing of your old computer invest in software know as wipe programs or shredders to overwrite the data with zeroes or random patterns which will make the information on your hard drive virtually unreadable.

I hope that this information will be helpful in helping you to protect your identity online.  Use your common sense and purchase a few good tech tools to assure your safety again these cyber criminals.

Judy Conway
Email: judyconwarymarketing@gmail.com
Skype ID: judy.conway
http://fullservicemarketingtools.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com

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