Key Benefits of Lemon Balm Herb

Herbs such as basil, garlic, thyme are common herbs used in various cuisines and its benefits to health.  Many have not discovered Lemon balm  herb  can help in everyday health problems including stress. 

Image via Wikipedia

Lemon Balm herb (Melissa officinalis) is from  the mint herb group with its origin in Mediterranian places way back 2000 years ago.  This is   also commonly called “Honey plant herb”.  Its genus name Melissa came from the Greek word “bee” while  officinalis derived from its place in the official apothecary.  Balm is a shortened word for “balsam”.  

Lemon balm was awarded as “Herb of the Year 2007”, Culinary chefs and herbalists tops lemon balm as their choice because of its many uses in the kitchen and medicinal benefits. Among other herbs, lemon balm  citrus fragrance soothes the garden atmosphere.  Both ancient and modern herbalists aggress on the scientific result for the medicinal uses of it.

Here are some of the many uses of Lemon Balm:
Mild sedative aromatic effect that relaxes the nerves of the body.

Act as a decongestant and antihistamine which is  good for those who have asthma and allergies.

It is claimed to have antibacterial effect that lowers fever or body temperature.  Aside from preparing it as a tea, it can also be included in hot soups.

Use for cleaning sores and cuts.

Treatment to regulate menstruation.

Lemon balm essential oil is used in aromatherapy massage.

Lemon has insect-repellant  effects.  If use as an ointment, good for insect bites and stings.



Take 1-5 leaves from the  Lemon balm tree and prepare as a common  tea.  Hot or cold are both excellent drinks with this herb.  Dried leaves can be preserved in a glass tight container.

Precautions:  For those with thyroid medication (thyroxine), consult your doctor before taking this herb.  This can inhibits the absorption of the medicine. 

Read about   "How to Start a Gardening Herb Collection for Your Kitchen"

Visiting Winchester Cathedral, House of Treasures

The Winchester Cathedral located in the  ancient city of Hampshire, England is the longest medieval Cathedral with its origins back in seventh century  when a Christian church is built on the site.  It is now the Mother Church of the Diocese of Winchester, Church of England and a major tourist destination in England. 

The Cathedral was built with splendid architecture, finest work of art, and houses treasures of history.  Among included are the tombs or crypts where ancient kings and bishops were buried here, monuments, chantry chapels with 12^th and 13^th century wall paintings, various works of art such as woodstone, needlework, sculpture and others. 

Aside from appreciating the Cathedral’s treasures, visitors are welcome to participate on the church services, light a candle or pray in silence.

Areas at the Winchester Cathedral

The Nave and Quire areas  where many Cathedral pieces are situated.  The Nave was remodeled in 1400 from Romanesque to Gothic style architecture.  

The Retrochoir,  the area behind the Quire the site of the patron saint St. Swithun’s shrine

The Visitor Center, the souvenir shop and restaurant.    

The Inner Close, buildings such as The Pilgrim’s Hall, The Deanery and Cheyney Court

The Library and Triforium, it contains important documents and sculptures 

Dean Garnier Garden

It has been one of the film locations for the movie “ Da Vinci Code” starring Tom Hanks.

Visitor information:

The Cathedral Office,

1, The Close, Winchester Hampshire

Tel.:  01962 857200 Fax: 01962 857201

E-mail:  cathedral.office@winchester-cathedral.org.uk

Website: www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk

Visiting time:  8:30am to 6:00pm

   

Halloween Thoughts: Are you ready for your own Death?

All Saints Day (or All Hallows Day) is celebrated  by Catholics to honor martyrs and saints on November 1 while All Souls Day is celebrated  on November 2 to remember the deceased loved ones.   These two are celebrated in different countries  every year through different ways. To others these are celebrated through Halloween parties, costumes, ghost stories, Halloween decorations. 

In a more traditional way in some countries, the family will spend time in the church to pray for them and  visit the grave of their loved ones.  Others simply light the candle on their houses to celebrate it.  In one way of another each of us may have experienced losing our relatives, or  father, a mother, brother or sister, son or daughter or  a friend who are dear to us.

Death is what we will all go through either by sickness, accident, murder, or some opt to take their own life.  Nowadays, it has been a taboo or too morbid to talk about death.  It  is a reality that we have to face.   Have you thought your own death? Is it too early to think about it or is it better that  atleast think about it? We do not have know when and how it will happen, but if  we are given a preference, here are some thoughts or questions about death that would help you prepare yourself. 

Do we have a last will and testament already?  If we cannot manage to have a formal document, a handwritten last will and testament will do and it is much better if updated yearly.  A last will and testament is more advisable if we already acquired properties so we can better choose our beneficiaries of our life treasures.  Perhaps, every new year while we also write some resolutions for the next year.

If you have to choose the way you are going to die? How it would be?  Through sickness or a sudden death?  Of what age do you want to die?

If you are going to die, is there a person that you want to be at your bedside?

Have you imagined your own funeral?  Can you describe your preference the way it should be? A simple wood coffin or modern metal type?  Flowers play an important role on funerals,

What words do you want to engrave in your epitaph?

In your funeral, what do you think will say about you during eulogy? Will you leave  a legacy? 

There are no better preparation than to prepare ourselves spiritually.  Whatever faith or beliefs about spirituality, the internal condition of self is most important.

“Maybe we can live better at present if we try to learn  from the past  while we  think of the future.”

Corvette Sports Car Event - Oneida Lake, New York

Corvette Sports Car Event at  Verona Beach, Oneida Lake New York.  This is an annual event for corvette car lovers and there are about more than 500 cars on exhibit.  Pick your choice!

I love this car!

I like the color and the style!

Simply great.

Check out other Corvette Car Events and  Info

Car Show News 

Corvette Expo

Used Corvette Cars For Sale

Essential Gardening Tools and Equipment

An attractive and flourished garden depends on the gardener's hardwok, creativity, proper gardening technique, and choosing right gardening tools and equipment.  Either you have a large or small scale garden, choosing your tools is important to fully enjoy and complete gardening tasks. 

 

Image by Steenbergs via Flickr

There are a lot of gardening tools and equipment being used in the garden depending on the requirements, here is a short list of  them :

• Chainsaws
• Cultivators
• Garden fork and handfork
• Garden spade
• Garden and/or spring-tine rake
• Hosepipe and sprinkler
• Lawnmower
• Lawn-edging shears
• Planting Dibber
• Patio Knife
• Secateurs
• Sprayer
• Trowel
• Wheelbarrow
• Watering can
• Weed grubber
• Weed n’Hoe

Online sources for gardening tools and equipment:

When purchasing for the tools, price and quality should be considered.  It will depend on the budget and your preference, low priced tools  comes with low quality while those with high end prices goes with quality.  Quality tools usually last for years but for the low-prices when they wear out you have to dispose them right away.  Moreover, convenience is another key when choosing the right tools. There are certain tools such as forks, spades, and shears which comes in different sizes and weights.  The type of tool should fit to your height and strength for you to easily carry it.

Find what exactly what you need from these stores:

Justoffbase.co.uk    Find branded gardening tools and equipment here.

crocus.co.uk  Aside from tools and equipment, find variety of items to choose from for your gardening needs such as cold frames, greenhouses, composting materials, pots, plant protection tools, and many others.

homebase.co.uk    Wide range of gardening tools.

 

Travel to Buffalo, New York

Buffalo is the second largest city in New York and one of the tourist destination for its various attractions.  Visit Niagara Falls from Buffalo, tour around  art museums, historical sites, experience fine dining restaurants and shopping galore.  Here are few photos from the tour,  do not miss it in your next New York trip!

Thank You Steve Jobs

My tribute to a person who is a genius and changed the way people live.  The technology that we have right now, we owe to him.  He left us with  powerful technology and inspiring words that guided him and passing to us.

Steve Jobs (1955-2011)
Apple CEO, Co-Founder

Stanford Commencement Speech, June 2005
"Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

Thank You Steve Jobs

CBS News 2003 Interview

Images: Travel to Toronto Canada

City tour at Toronto, Canada

Magnificient structure!

Images: Travel to Niagara Falls, Canada

The Power of Corporate Dressing

First impression last, could it be true?  In a corporate world, the power of corporate dressing does matter to gain respect and create a good impression from  others either working inside or outside the office.  The physical appearance is the first to be noticed before one can say a single word that is why a good image with a businesslike attitude of dressing is a must in business. 

The power of dressing usually commands respect and attracts success starting it right with a good image.  If a company is represented by its employees, they are expected to dress according to the company’s image and culture. Certain industries requires formal dressing such as Banking,  Information Technology, Investment, Insurance, Hotel Industry etc. while Advertising and other creative industries are less formal and stylish. 

Dressing appropriately exudes credibility and  professionalism while dressing inappropriately particularly in a formal business meeting will give a message of incompetence and does not create a good first impression.  Although the code of corporate dressing is still being observed,  new breed of young professionals from the  new age generations are becoming more open with their style either for formal or informal occasions.  Fashion designers are also  exploring  new  wardrobe possibilities tailored  to young professionals which are now being accepted in the corporate world.

Here is a list of top corporate dressing ideas:

Blend your wardrobe in the culture of the office and the industry you are working with your personal style.  Your unique style of dressing will create your own image.

One way of creating a style is experimenting with accessories. Neck ties, belts, scarf, jewelry, cuff links, and other accessories add more style.  Handbags, and shoes  should go with the dress appropriately.

When shopping for your wardrobe, always go for quality product. Investing and choosing the right product is the best that you can have your money's worth.  Other things to consider  are it should fit to your body shape and comfortability.

Keep atleast the classic colors or the basic ones like black, grey, and blue for formal working suits.  These colours are easy to mix and match.  

Save some stripe suits, it commands power and advisable for important meetings.

Rule of thumb  is do not overdressed or to be too casual.  But for semi-formal occasions, go for smart casual outfits.

How to Introduce Money to Children

Introducing money to children is an important task that a parent should do instill  proper money values until they grow up.  You need to start teaching them today even as an early age starting with four years old, just when they can already recognize money.  Perhaps you learned about money from your parents too, directly or indirectly you learned how to manage your money by imitating what you saw from them.   Here are some important tips to begin with:

Have an open discussion with your children about money.  Teach them about the different bills, the description, and the uses of money as well.  Money is use for saving, spending, giving, and investing. Create concrete plans and actions how are their going to learn the uses of money one by one.

Saving. You can have a small piggy bank for them to save small amount of money or open a bank account for kids.   Through this, they will be able to value money and they would appreciate later about the sum of money that they able to saved.  They can set a goal and at the the end of the year they will enjoy spending what they saved.

Spending.  Being a wise spender even as an adult is a difficult task.  The skills of budgeting money takes a good habit and spending control over money.  Bring the children with you when shopping or in supermarket.  Inform them about regular price compared to bargain sale price.  

Giving.  Money is primarily is not only for our needs, but also because of human nature we are designed to share what we have.  Children should be taught how to give that they can practice to adulthood.

Investing.  Although investing is only for those with extra money,  it is also good for them to know about investing.

Uses of Coca-Cola Drink

Coca-cola is commonly known as softdrink or soda brand.  With its high citric acid content, it is an excellent cleaner.  Read more about the other uses.

TOILET CLEANER

Cleaning the toilet.  Pour a can of Coca-cola into the toilet.  Let it stay for one hour then flush clean.  The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china. 

CAR PARTS CLEANER

Clean corrosion from car battery terminals, pour a can of Coca-cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.  This can also be used for cleaning car bumpers, windshield,and the car engine.

RUSTED BOLT

Loosen a rusted bolt by applying cloth soaked in Coca-cola for several minutes. 

COOKWARE CLEANER

For burnt and dirty pots or pans, Coke is an excellent cleaner.   Soak the pan in Coke and leave it for an hour then rinse.

WASHING FABRICS

Remove blood stains from clothes or fabrics. It also remove undesired smells from the clothes.

HICCUPS

Gargle an ice-cold coke to get rid of hiccups.

GUM REMOVER FROM YOUR HAIR

Remove gum from hair; dip into a small bowl of Coke, leave a few minutes. Gum will wipe off.

Prevention and Symptoms of Typhoid Fever

Typhoid fever is a common illness that strikes everyone either children or adults. 

How to prevent Typhoid fever
Cook food properly and observe proper hygiene. Make it a habit that you wash hands frequently especially before and after cooking.  Vegetables and fruits should be washed thoroughly.  

Avoid eating outside where food are exposed to bacteria and pollution.  Teach children not to buy food on streets, it is advisable to have their own packed lunch or snacks.  

Always keep containers clean and and covered.

Make yourself protected from vaccination against typhoid.

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Typhoid fever
Do not ingnore a fever when it occurs, consult your doctor immediately.  A common fever  can be a symptom of an underlying serious illness.   Typhoid fever can be transmitted by people who  arrived from a travel abroad in a country where there is a poor sanitation.  In countries where there is flies and open sewage causes a disease transmission.  When the flies  picks up the bacteria from the sewage and  food are contaminated, the bacteria gets in to the digestive tract.  With high numbers of bacteria in the bloodstream it causes high fever to an individual.

Typhoid fever has other symptoms such as constipation, headache,fatigue, joint pain, and rose spots on the abdomen.  The normal and accurate diagnosis is doing the  blood culture test through samples of stool, urine, and bone marrow for microscopic testing.