Jackie Jamison » Environment

Snowbound

Jackie — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:12:42 +0000

The weather today is easy to see. All you have to do is look outside and you can see that it is snowing. It started early this morning and doesn’t seem to be letting up. There is already an inch or two on the ground with more coming. The wind is pretty high today and this is blowing the snow around and making it very cold. I am looking forward to spring and an end to this weather!

A different kind of shower

Jackie — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:17:37 +0000

I was kind of looking forward to seeing one of the rare but beautiful sights in the world. The Leonid meteor shower is due to peak in the early hours of Tuesday morning. People in Asia will have some of the best views of this annual event, but Americans will still get a pretty good show.

The comet Tempel-Tuttle will streak by in its 33 year orbit around the sun. The trail of debris it leaves behind becomes the best show in town. Be sure to find an area where there are few lights as they can interfere with the view. I hope to see you out early watching the show!

Microwave ovens

Jackie — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:10:27 +0000

There has been some debate over the heating of plastics in the microwave oven. Scientists say that heating plastics may lead to the release of a poison called Bisphenol A that can cause harm the human body. Even though some plastics may be labeled as “Microwave safe”, that may not be the case. Small traces can still be found. As a preventative measure, always use ceramics or glass in the microwave.

Fish and nets

Jackie — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:14:55 +0000

Each year, villagers along the Yukon River wait for the annual run of King Salmon. They rely of the fish for food and money. This year, there are few fish to be had. The villagers say the Pollock fisheries that operate in the Bering Sea are killing most of the fish.

The Kings are called by catch by the industry and are caught in the nets and discarded. Each year, thousands of the fish are thrown off the boats to their watery grave. I hope that Alaska will realize the importance of taking care of the bounty that god provided them.

Helping the bottom line

Jackie — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 21:45:46 +0000

Things around our office have been tight for quite some time. Since the economy is failing, we’ve had to cut corners wherever possible. We asked our employees to come up with their best ideas for saving money. One of the best ideas was to switch to using Compact fluorescent bulbs in order to use less electricity. This will help save us some money as well.

There are other benefits to switching out our old bulbs. By using the more efficient bulbs, we will help our earth by using less energy. I am always glad to find situations that are win\win. This is one of those times. I’m glad I have such intelligent people working for me.

Help keep us Green!

Jackie — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:03:54 +0000

As I have been working on cleaning out the house and garage, I’ve had a number of things I wished to throw away. I did wonder what the implications would be for our earth. I went online to find out. I came up with a short list of things that need to be recycled or donated.

Batteries- In many cases, batteries can be taken back to a store such as Home Depot, Best Buy, or Radio Shack for recycling. It’s important to keep these out of the landfill.

Electronics- Most of the same stores listed above will also take back things like mobile phones. You can also search for places to take computers, televisions, and cameras.

Motor Oil- Most gas stations will take used motor oil as well stores like Wal-Mart, Jiffy Lube, and AutoZone.

Paint- you’ll need to research for a place to take paint. It is important to find somewhere to bring it for proper disposal. So keep trying!

CFLs- these old bulbs can usually be taken to stores like IKEA or Home Depot.

I hope everyone will make an effort to make sure these items are disposed of properly. We really need to start making a greater effort to keep our earth green!

No Laces!

Jackie — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:32:36 +0000

Since the weather has gotten a lot nicer, I have been working in the garden more often. The other day it had rained in the night and since I had turned the dirt, it was very muddy. It’s a good thing I had my old pair of Muck Boots. They kept my feet warm and dry.

I really like these boots. They are not real heavy like the ones we had when I was a kid. They also have a mesh lining that helps keep your feet dry. I also like the fact that they don’t have shoelaces to mess with. Whenever I see rain in the forecast, I know I am ready to take on the garden anyway.

Hello friend!

Jackie — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:17:08 +0000

The pond behind our house is full of wildlife. We have birds and ducks and the fish jump every night. I spotted some new friends in the turtles. They like to warm in the sun and float in the water with their heads sticking out. I was able to feed one of the turtles some bread. They are very cautious so you must be still.

I like the fact that we have so many things living in our yard. I hope to teach the kids about the value of wildlife and the beauty of nature. Watching these beautiful creatures is a great way to do just that! I am glad to welcome my new friends the turtles!

Keep Out!

Jackie — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:31:40 +0000

I have a lot of posts about the outdoors. It’s true that for the most part, I like animals of all shapes and sizes. There is one exception though, the squirrel. I don’t mind the squirrels in and of themselves, but they cause a lot of problems. They have gotten into eating my bird food. Every morning I see them hanging about and making a racket! That’s just the beginning of the problems they have caused.

One day, my daughter heard a strange noise. It appeared to be coming from the attic. She was a little spooked and wanted me to check it out. Being the man of the family, I had to comply. I took my flashlight up through the hatch and had a look. To my surprise, I saw a squirrel! That was the last straw. I knew I would have to find a way to rid myself of these pests.

I called a friend and asked for some advice. He told me to look into getting some squirrel repellant. I went online and found a company called Havahart that had just what I needed. My pesky problem is no more! Now that I have defended my home by using the product in places the squirrels are likely to go, I no longer have to worry. Now my house is peaceful again. I’m glad to let the outdoor animals stay outdoors!

My Cactus

Jackie — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:00:58 +0000

About five years ago my mother gave me a cactus. She felt that she would not be able to take care of it properly. I took the plant in and placed it in the bay window at my house. The window faces south and takes in the evening sun. I water my cactus about once a week. I like the cactus because if you forget to water it a few times, it doesn’t die.

The plant is now about seven feet tall. I am thinking that I will have to trim off the top as it is getting near the ceiling. I also like the fact that I can cut off a trimming from it and give it someone else to start a new one. I am very happy to have such a green thumb!!