Tag: Independence Day

Well, Guess What? It’s SUNDAY! Happy, Happy Sunday To Ya!

Dragon Comments & Graphics Good Sunday Morning/Afternoon, my dear friends! How are you doing today? I hope well. It has cooled off a little here. I guess that is why I got the wild hair this morning. I have worked my poor fingers to the bones. First I when outside and cleaned out the cages of the wolf and two baby foxes. I scooped poop, put down new hay, watered, fed and a big “NO, NO” played with them. I know I shouldn’t but they are so cute. After playtime, I mean working outside, I came in an started on the house.

 

You know when you have all your doors and windows open, you can really see the dust, Lordie Help! I drug out the Pledge, the Sniffer and the Glass Cleaner and when to town. I even have one of those things you roll on your furniture to pick up animal air (not like the Sticky Buddy sold on TV at all). Then after I got that done, I put on a big pot of white beans. My plans for supper is white beans and cornbread fritters, Yum! Oh, yeah, we can’t for get the onion. What’s beans without an onion, I mean really? Well after all I have been into this morning, I am running extremely late.So I will wish you a very Blessed and relaxed day and be on my way.

 

Till next time….

Blessings, Peace & Comfort

~Magickal Graphics~

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The Wicca Book of Days for July 4th – Saluting The Sun

The Wicca Book of Days for July 4th

Saluting the Sun

 

In ancient Egypt, Ra, the Sun God, received special attention in the form of sacrifices from his Earth-bound worshipers on the fourth day of each month. At temples dedicated to Ra, thrice-daily rituals were performed by the high priest, who had purified himself in the waters of the sacred lake before approaching the inner sanctum containing the statue that, it was believed, housed the God’s essence. At dawn, this divine image would be “awakened” by the smell of burning incense before being washed, anointed, dressed, and presented with food and other offerings.

Independence Day

On this Independence Day, thank your lucky stars (if you are an American citizen) that you are free to worship as you wish. The First Amendment of the U. S. Constitution reads: “Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

Hey Y’all, Happy Fourth of July To Ya’ !!!

 

How y’all doing on this wonderful Fourth of July? Are you planning on shooting off fireworks tonight? I hope you are some place you can. Around here, it is so dry they have banned fireworks tonight. They even said on the News, you could go to jail for shooting off fireworks. Now I think that is just a little extreme, but that’s me, of course…..

Well l got up early this morning and actually stayed awake for a change. I got on the computer, I had wonderful intentions. They all got shot to hell in a handbag. I was going to put up another slideshow page. Did I? No! Then I was going to work on the Contact Page. Did I? No! If you haven’t visited the Contact Page, please don’t. But I know now you will, lol! You know how all these other sites have a list of rules about contacting them, well ours don’t. All it says is contact us and then a button. I don’t want to put a list of rules on there. To me, that sounds mean and trying to discourage people from contacting them. I mean if you read a list of items and at the end of each one is, “Don’t Contact Us!” Then you get the idea in your head that you really didn’t want to contact these people to start with, lol! I don’t know but I will eventually put some wording there. The button does work and I have received 4 comments so far. What they say? I have no earthly idea. I was trying to edit the form page and saw were we had received 4. So that is the only way I know we received them. I’m awful, I know!

I took a break from all this hard work I have been doing this morning, ha! I went to the kitchen and looked out the window at my big Willow tree. Last night during the Full Moon, I went and place my first set of wind chimes on it. The Willow tree is my tree. It holds very special memories for me from my childhood. It is also one of the most magickal trees I have ever been around. I did a little ritual last night to bless the wind chimes. Then I also said a prayer at my Willow right before I placed the chimes on it. Then afterwards, I placed both of my hands on the bark of the tree, you could feel the life’s blood of the tree. Oh, it was absolutely magickal. To feel the Willow’s life force flowing and throbbing through it. I drew strength and power from it myself. Then this morning, looking at the tree I got swept away. It was like the Willow had reached inside the house and wisped me away. I was at a place where it was just the Willow and myself. I could hear thousands of chimes on the giant tree. I would see its’ long, sweeping branches flowing in the wind. Each time the branches swayed, the chimes would sing. Oh, it was beautiful. Then I was back in the kitchen. The Willow had told me what it wanted. It truly wants to be a very magickal tree for me. Now I know what I must do to make it so. But I love that tree and would do anything to keep it happy and healthy. It is strange how a bond can form between you and nature’s wonders. But after that bond is formed, no telling where you will go, what you will seek, what gifts you will behold. It also teaches us, no matter what it is, a tree, a rock or a piece of sand, it is a creature that the Goddess has created. It has a life form of its own and we are to hold it sacred, care for it and most of all protect it. For this is our calling, as we are children of the Goddess.

8 Dog Safety Tips for the 4th of July

8 Dog Safety Tips for the 4th of July

  • Lisa Spector

July 4th is around the corner, along with the  fireworks that  inevitably  come with this holiday. Almost all humans with dogs in  the United States  declare this day the worst day of the year  for them. Veterinarians say that  July 3rd is usually the most-trafficked  day in their offices, with clients  coming in to get drugs for  their  dogs.  A few years ago, I found a lost  dog on the 4th of July. He was   obviously a well-fed, groomed, and trained dog  that escaped  his yard  when he heard the fireworks. When I called our local  Humane  Society, I  was informed that it is the busiest time of the year for   them, as more  dogs are found wandering loose on July 4th than any other  day of  the  year in the U.S.

Tips for providing a safe July 4th for your Canine  Household:

1. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise earlier in the day.

2. Keep your dogs inside during fireworks, preferably with human   companionship. If it’s hot, air conditioning will help. Bringing your  dogs to a  fireworks display is never a good idea.

3. Provide a safe place inside for your dogs to retreat. When scared   of sounds they can’t orient, dogs often prefer  small enclosed areas. (I   once had a dog who climbed in the bathtub during  windstorms.) If your  dog is comfortable in a crate, that is a good option.

4. Keep the curtains closed, and if possible, also the windows.

5. Make sure all your dogs are wearing ID tags with a properly   fitting  collar. (Dogs have been known to become Houdini around the 4th   of July.)

6. Leave your dog something fun to do – like a frozen Kong filled with his favorite treats.

7. Sound Therapy: Through a Dog’s Ear is specially designed classical music  clinically demonstrated to calm canine anxiety issues. The Calm your Canine series has even replaced drugs for  thousands of dogs on July 4th.

8. Desensitization combined with Sound Therapy: The Canine Noise Phobia series includes the above mentioned  music along with progressive sounds of fireworks and positive reinforcement training protocol by Victoria Stilwell.

 

 

4 Barbecue Safety Tips from the USDA

4 Barbecue Safety Tips from the USDA

by Katie Waldeck

Independence Day is just around the corner. And, if you’re like millions of  Americans, you’ll spend your day grilling up some tasty foods with friends and  family. It’s certainly a fun time, but it’s also important to recognize the  possible dangers that exist in outdoor barbecues. Indeed, food safety is even  more important in the summer, when hot temperatures foster an ideal environment  for bacteria to grow at a faster rate.

Luckily, the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) has you covered,  with their helpful guide to preventing foodborne illnesses this 4th of July  holiday. Click through to check out their 4 basic tips for safer  grilling. For even more information on food safety, you can download the  USDA’s Ask Karen mobile phone app or check out the web version. You can also call the USDA hotline at  1-888-MPHotline.

1. Keep It Clean

Just because you’re cooking outdoors doesn’t mean you have to forgo the  cleaning you would do inside the house. If you don’t have access to clean water  during your barbecue, you can either bring some with you or use moist towelettes  and clean cloths to keep surfaces and utensils clean. Keep your hands clean  with hand sanitizer.

2. Keep Everything Separate

Have plenty of clean plates, utensils and platters on hand. Don’t ever reuse  platters or cutting boards that have been exposed to raw meat and poultry — if  there’s harmful bacteria present, it can contaminate even safely-cooked  food.

3. Make Sure Food is Cooked  Thoroughly

Meat and poultry can look perfectly done and safe to eat from the outside,  when, internally, that’s not the case.  Use a food thermometer to make  sure your food is cooked to a safe temperature. The USDA suggests the following internal temperatures:

  • Whole poultry: 165 °F
  • Poultry breasts: 165 °F
  • Ground poultry: 165 °F
  • Ground meats: 160 °F
  • Beef, pork, lamb, and veal (steaks, roasts and chops): 145 °F and allow to  rest at least 3 minutes.

You’ll also want to make sure that your hot food stays hot. Someone not ready  for that burger? Well, you can keep it hot by placing them on the side of the  grill and away from the coals.

4. Keep Food Chilled

Packing food into a cooler is the last thing you should do before leaving  your home for a barbecue. Have a thermometer in your cooler, and make sure  the temperature is always below 40°F. If you can, try to use one cooler for food  and one cooler for drinks. That way, you’ll be able to open up your drink cooler  as often as you like without exposing the food to warmer temperatures.

If it’s hot outside, make sure to keep your food in the cooler. Keep your  food out of the cooler for an hour at most. If you’re not sure how long a food  item has been sitting out in the sun, don’t take the risk. As the USDA says,  “when in doubt, throw it out!”

 

Dog Safety Tips for Fourth of July

Dog Safety Tips for Fourth of July

While we might associate the thump and boom of fireworks with festivity and a  great display, many of our canine companions are completely freaked out by  Fourth of July noises. Some dogs cower and shiver, some panic and try to escape  from their homes.

We checked in with the The Humane Society to gather some advice for the  pooches, here’s what they had to offer:

1. Resist the urge to take your pet to fireworks displays.

2. Do not leave your pet in the car. With only hot air to breathe inside a  car, your pet can suffer serious health effects–even death–in a few short  minutes. Partially opened windows do not provide sufficient air, but they do  provide an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.

3.  Keep your pets indoors at home in a sheltered, quiet area. Some animals  can become destructive when frightened, so be sure that you’ve removed any items  that your pet could destroy or that would be harmful to your pet if chewed.  Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep him company while  you’re attending Fourth of July picnics, parades, and other celebrations.

4. If you know that your pet is seriously distressed by loud noises like  thunder, consult with your veterinarian before July 4th for ways to help  alleviate the fear and anxiety he or she will experience during fireworks  displays.

 

 

Happy Fourth Of July, America!!!

 

 Prayer for the Fourth of July

Gods of liberty, goddesses of justice,
watch over those who would fight for our freedoms.
May freedom be given to all people,
around the world,
no matter what their faith.
Keep our soldiers safe from harm,
and protect them in your light,
so that they may return to their families
and their homes.
Goddesses of liberty, gods of justice,
hear our call, and light the sky,
your torch shining in the night,
that we may find our way back to you,
and bring people together, in unity.