December: Edging towards Peace, Dreams, Changes and Traditions

A Step Forward

Just a week before Christmas, on Dec. 18, the last of the active US military troops left Iraq. The action ends a brutal and tragic war which lingered for 8 and ½ years. The war action began on March 3, 2003.

Although the numbers are incomplete, over 4,484 American troops died in Iraq; the last soldier to date who was killed in action was Spc. David Hickman, 23 years old and from Greensboro, NC.

Thousands more were maimed and seriously injured for life; an unknown number of innocent civilians were also lost, estimates vary but it appears to be many more than 10,000.

It was a costly affair for America. While the actual cost is currently not accurately available, it is generally believed the military operation cost between $800 Bilion and $1 Trillion. According to one source, it cost US taxpayers $390,000 to deploy one soldier to Iraq for one year. Additionally, billions of taxpayer dollars are still not accounted for.

At the war's peak, there were 239,000 known American troops in Iraq.

While the public war has ceased much of it's operations, there sort of a clandestine operation which continues. The US embassy in Iraq is the largest in the world and thousands of private private war contractors will find work in Iraq.

Gratefully, the vast majority of our sons and daughters are now safely in other places and out of Iraq. This Christmas (and throughout the year) should be the first of many to come during which we remember the heroic actions and hard sacrifices they have endured and for those still serving in Afghanistan.

For Christians, Christmas is a celebration of Peace on Earth and Good Will to Man, that should be everyone's deepest wish and prayer this season. It's also a good time to pray for deliverance from politicians whose only thoughts are wars and bombs at the expense of our elderly, the disabled, school kids, the sick and the poor. A Christmas dream, hope and prayer, peace at home and abroad.

Merry Christmas.

The Christmas Tree

The tree was found growing in a woods among some tall black cherry trees and beechnuts. It is only about a foot tall and it is a big question if it would have survived where it sprouted. It was dug up and re-planted in a leaky old canning pot and decorated during Sunday's (Dec. 18, 2011) surprise snowstorm.

This has been a somewhat weather – odd December. Like the last several weeks, this week the temps will rise and rain will fall again. The snow cover is quite a change from last year. Usually, by this time of the year, we are knee deep or better in snow. Colder air and snow are in the forecast for later in the week and Christmas Day.

Since many use a wood stove or a fireplace, be careful with the ashes and use them in the yard or garden. They are a great resource for the soil.

A note: The first public display of outdoor Christmas lights happened back in 1912. One of Thomas Edison's assistants, Edward Johnson, came up with the idea of electric lights for Yule time trees in 1882.

A unique American Christmas tradition was born 99 years ago when someone flipped a switch.

Hunting

Beginning on Feb 16, Pennsylvania hunters will not have to display their hunting license on the outside of a jacket or hat. The new law was adopted by the State Legislature and signed by Gov. Corbett. A hunter must still carry the license while hunting as well as one other form of identification such as a driver's license. It seems like a good change, goodbye to an old tradition.

The legislature is also considering allowing Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania. Contact your local state legislator to voice your opinion on the matter. Pennsylvania is one of six states which continue to ban the sport on Sunday based on an 1870's Blue Law. For many rural communities, legal hunting on a Sunday is expected to create a significant economic impact, according to the bill's sponsor Rep. John Evans of Crawford County. A change in the Sunday hunting law would be a welcome change for many hunters, including those who own property. For more information, Sunday Hunt.

On the subject of hunting, PA muzzeloader opens the day after Christmas.

In the Woods

A surprise lake effect snow storm on Dec. 18 decorated the woodland landscape for Christmas. It wasn't very windy, nor was it bitterly cold, making for a nice walk with the dog. Although the coyotes have been heard the last week or so, no tracks were visible in the snow. Nor were there any tracks coming and going out of the brush piles.

Good Blogs to Read

Step by Step in the Kitchen

Corning New York Stepby Step

Care - Crawford Area Residents for the Environment

Energy Justice

Uncle Sam's History

What was Once a Rose: Tire Burning and Hunting

CARE

Crawford Renewable Energy (CRE) continues to move forward with plans to construct a large Tires to Energy Plant in the Greenwood Industrial Park ten miles south of Meadville and at the front door of Geneva Marsh. The Marsh is the largest in the entire state of Pennsylvania ; it is an important nesting site for Bald Eagles and an important stop-over for many migratory birds. The entire marsh area is teeming with diversity and a habitat area for many native plants and animals.

Geneva Marsh is also an integral part of the French Creek Watershed area. French Creek is one of the most biologically diverse creeks in the entire nation. It provides a habitat for many rare and endangered species.

Members of the Crawford Area Residents for the Environment, or CARE, have been concerned about the proposed tire burning facility ever since it's location was moved from the shores of Lake Erie to inland Crawford almost two years ago. There was stiff local objection to the tire incinerator on Lake Erie from residents and government officials.

On November 24, two local members of CARE, Dr. Robert Concilus and Leah Humes, filed an appeal with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) which lists 15 objections to an Air Quality Permit issued in late October by DEP. A date for the appeals hearings is uncertain at this time.

The Tire plant, which will be known as the Meadville Power Station, will burn discarded tires, about 900 tons every day, and, according to CRE, will produce enough electrical power to fuel 75,000 homes. CRE claims it will use the latest technological processes and equipment to eliminate any air and water pollutants.

CARE has taken the lead in questioning the CRE claims. CARE claims that the testing currently available for air borne pollutants are flawed and the amounts of Lead, Mercury, Dioxins and other dangerous substances are not known.

According to the DEP, there are about 2 million scrap tires in piles in Pennsylvania, a state with numerous  tire recycling industries to handle the estimate annual 12 million discarded tires. The current estimate of 2 million tires available for burning would feed the Meadville Power Station for less than a month. The CRE company has not indicated other sources of additional scrap tires to fuel the Power Station.

Donations are needed by CARE to help fund the appeals process. Please take the time to research this issue, clicking the links above, or click CARE, and/or Energy Justice, and take citizen action to protect our environment. The issue just isn't about Greenwood Township in rural Crawford. It is much larger. Contact Care if your concerned about your family's health and our environment.

Hunting

The PA State Legislature is moving closer to a compromise on the possibility of Sunday Hunting in the state under legislation introduced by State Representative John Evans. The ban of hunting dates back to the 1870's based on then held religious beliefs. The ban was enacted as part of a series of Blue Laws to protect the Sabbath as a day of rest and prayer; at one time Sunday baseball and fishing were also illegal under those laws. Sunday baseball was made legal in 1937 and fishing in 1934 was made legal.

The Pennsylvania State Farm Bureau is leading the fight against the proposed Sunday Hunting proposal. The organization claims the agricultural community needs a family day of relaxation and rest from the pressures of hunting and dealing with possible trespassing issues. Safety issue have also surfaced with nature observers and hikers and other outdoor recreation sports.

However, Pennsylvania is one of only six states which continue to ban the Sunday sport and no safety issues have surfaced in the other 44 states. And many landowners want the ability to legally hunt on their own property on Sundays and with their families as well as provide fresh and nutritious food for the table.

Please contact your local state Representative or Rep John Evans and express your views. Evans can be reached at his various district offices: Edinboro, (814) 734-2793; Girard, (814) 774-2892; Linesville, (814) 683-5550; or Harrisburg, (717) 772-9940. His e-mail is jevans@pahousegop.com.

If the rural Meadville Power Station is allowed to go online, how safe and nutritious will be the game and fish for Pennsylvania residents. Clean air and water just aren't human issues alone. Hunting is an economic boom for many small communities, and Sunday hunting will bring added revenues for many smaller ma and pop stores.

What happens to this multi-million dollar recreational sport if the wild game and fish become toxic?

Rose Hips

Rose hips are actually the fruit of a rose. They are healthy and flavorful and are decorative berries for home arts and crafts. The bright red berries are also a favorite food source for many birds and smaller animals.

The colorful berries add a touch of Yuletide color with the green Christmas Ferns to woodland areas.
Wild roses can be planted around the brush pile to make it look more attractive year round, good for wildlife and a free source of healthy food.

Good Blogs to Read

Step by Step in the Kitchen

Corning New York Stepby Step

Momma's Money Matters

Uncle Sam's History

Energy Justice

In the Woods Today

It was a cold morning and yesterday's snow is hardly melting even with the brilliant sunshine. The temperatures this morning were struggling around 15 degrees.

December Traditions and 2012

Today, Dec. 5 has been warm and rainy, similar to most of the month soggy November. I tried to get a picture of a frog but the frog was smart and quickly dove for cover every time I moved. The frog sure wasn't sluggish. But it seems late for frogs to still be this active.

The common refrain around these parts is that we are going to pay for this balmy period of weather. The snow machine can kick in anytime and the forecasts for later this week are calling for colder temperatures with snow.

With the colder weather, wood stoves and fireplaces will be lit. The wood ash is an important yard resource but it is important to understand the details.

The garlic, a late fall tradition,  is already planted in the garden; actually, there will be two garlic harvests in 2012; and later this week a few potatoes, snow permitting,  will go in the final row to see what happens come April. Nor is too late in many regions to start your own Oak Tree, the National Tree.

This is the second week of Pennsylvania rifle deer season and it appears as though hunters are harvesting some quality bucks. For many families the healthy venison in the freezer will be important for 2012 as the economy slowly seems to be pulling out of a recession. Deer hunting can also be a fun family and educational  activity. Last year, the second week of the traditional deer season was literally shut down by heavy snows or Lake Effect Storms, which could help explain the number of quality bucks this year.

The woods are brown and the only green are moss and Christmas Ferns. The Christmas Ferns, at one time, were very popular this time of the year in yuletide wreath making, so much so that they were at one time, over-harvested.

Online homemade wreaths, without the ferns, can be purchased here. If you are unable to have a Christmas Tree, these are the next best thing and they do add another dimension to the Christmas Holiday season.

Soon it will be time to say goodbye 2011 and welcome 2012, it is a busy month getting ready for the next jump. No, I don't believe the hype about Dec. 12, 2012 or whatever date and the end of the world, not even the Mayan's believe it either. 

Pearl Harbor

Just before 8 a.m. On Dec. 7, 1941, hundreds of Japanese warplanes bombed the US Naval base near Honolulu, Hawaii. After the two hour attack, 2,000 American military personal were killed, 20 American vessels destroyed, including 8 battleships and 200 planes.

The following day, President Roosevelt sent a declaration of war to Congress which almost immediately approved the declaration. The US was officially in Word War 11.

It is an important time to pause and reflect once again on the sacrifices made by our military men and women and take some action to help support our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. It doesn't really matter what time of the year or the date; it's important every year 1941, 2011 or 2012.

Herbs

December is also the month of seed catalogs and proclamations. The National Garden Bureau has chosen one vegetable, one flower and one perennial for special notice this year. The organization has decided that 2012 is the Year of Herbs; the Year of the Geranium and the Year of the Heuchera (more commonly known as Coral Bells).

Herbs are useful plants; they can be used in the kitchen, medicinally, and/or used in the garden as companion plants to attract or repel insects. Most, if not all herbs, can also be successfully grown in containers.

Some of the common and more traditional herbs would be Basil, Sage, Parsley, Thyme, and Dill. Some of the lesser known, but equally important herbs to choose this year would be: Lovage, Borage and Horseradish, three of the all time favs here. Lovage is a hardy perennial which tastes just like celery, Borage is great for attracting the bees and is sometimes called the bee plant (and makes a great tea, while Horseradish is a hardy, healthy perennial with numerous uses in the kitchen.

In Case You Missed:

Looking for a Wreath or a Tree

PA Archery Season Tells a Story

Students Help Clean-Up

Queen Bees Keep Schools Abuzz

Good Blogs to Read

Step by Step in the Kitchen

Corning New York Step by Step

Uncle Sam's History

Momma's Money Matters

Energy Justice