Something for Flower Lovers, Something for Wine Lovers

The girls and I walked about the yard the other morning, just to see what we could see. What we could see were a few new blooms, which I’d like to share with you.

Along with these photos, I found a couple of short articles in the most recent issue of The Week magazine that I thought you might find interesting. The first is something every woman who enjoys a glass or two of wine in the late afternoon or evening, or anytime of the day for that matter, really should read.

A boon for brittle bones
Wine may be a better beverage for maintaining strong bones than milk—at least for older women. A new study of postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 65 shows that a glass or two of wine a night actually helps shore up their bones. Researchers tested the bone strength of 40 moderate drinkers before, during, and after a two-week abstention from alcohol. They found that when the women stopped drinking, their bones began to shed old cells, a process called resorption, more quickly than normal. As postmenopausal women lose bone-building estrogen, resorption often outpaces the production of new bone cells, weakening bones and increasing the risk of fractures and osteoporosis. But as soon as the women resumed drinking, their resorption rates returned to normal—suggesting that alcohol may significantly slow typical bone-cell loss. “After less than 24 hours, to see such a measurable effect was really unexpected,” Oregon State University researcher Urszula Iwaniec tells The Globe and Mail (Canada). Previous research has found that moderate drinking leads to a host of health benefits, including lower risks for arthritis, stroke, and cardiovascular disease.

The way I figure it, not only does each glass of wine provide one of those daily servings of fruit we need, it also strengthens our bones! How good is that? For those of you who are not 50 or over yet, just keep practicing, because you will get there and then you’ll be experienced enough that getting those benefits will come naturally to you.

Then we have this, from The Week’s I read it in the tabloids section:

Matt Lauer has asked his new Today show co-host not to wear high heels, says the National Enquirer. Unlike her smaller predecessors—Katie Couric, Meredith Vieira, and Ann Curry—Savannah Guthrie stands 5’10” tall, only slightly shorter than Lauer. In heels she towers over him. Though “Matt didn’t mind that when she substituted in the past,” says a source, “he’s not happy with her height now that she’s standing beside him every day.” Guthrie “loves wearing high heels,” says the source, but in deference to Lauer has agreed to wear flats, “for now, anyway.”

Sounds like a bit of a weak ego problem here to me. Does it really matter if she’s a bit taller than him? Realize, of course, that this comes from one who is taller than husband, but somehow I don’t equate height with intelligence, masculinity, virility, any of those manly things. Then again, the article originated in The National Enquirer, so I seriously question its validity.

Our evenings are being consumed by the Olympics here in this house. How about yours? Gep says “if you start watching, you can’t stop”, and I think he has a point there. I love when the athletes do well – the sparkle in their eyes, the smiles that take over their whole face – such great things to see. When they do not do well, the tears are devastating. I want everyone to win. I suppose that would defeat the whole purpose of the games though, wouldn’t it?

Later this day, I’ll get a short video of the baby swallows to post for those of you who wish to view it. They are growing so very quickly, the feathers are coming in strong, but still the beaks are the largest part of them. They are keeping mom and dad very busy.

Until then, I wish you enough.