The weather here in Lily Pad has been unusually dark and rainy this past week. I've noticed that my outlook hasn't been very sunny, either. So it was with great reluctance that I dragged myself out of bed this morning. I couldn't stop yawning as I got myself washed and dressed. It felt like I was still half-asleep as I prepared breakfast for me and my wise teacher The Dharma Frog. Just as I'd set the table and checked on the tea, Dharma arrived for my weekly lesson.
"Hello, Irwin, it's very nice to see you again. How have things been going since we spoke last week?" "Well, Sir," I responded, "Okay, I guess. But I'm struggling with this dark and rainy weather. I just don't feel like myself." Dharma sat quietly for a few minutes while I served our meal and poured the tea. As I sat down at the table to join him, he spoke, "Tadpole, the frog who turns his face to the sun will have his shadow fall behind him." "Dharma, if you haven't noticed, there isn't any sun for me face. That's the problem!"
My wise teacher smiled and reminded me that he was referring to the sun as a symbol for looking ahead, for remaining positive. "Have you ever noticed, my boy, that it's nearly impossible to feel sad when the sun is shining directly on your face? When you turn your face toward the sunlight, the warmth magically makes everything seem better and the world looks a little brighter." "I know, Dharma. It feels wonderful. The sun makes us all feel better and more positive. But what can I do to feel that same positivity when there isn't any sun, like today?" Dharma, the wise one that he is, thought about this and then gave me the answer I was looking for, a few steps to help us maintain positivity when life appears darkest to us.
In this day and age, it can be difficult to remain positive. The news is filled with far too much negativity. So staying positive each day is an "inside job" that consists of making intentional efforts, especially when we don't feel like it. When we're down and a bit sad, that is when we need to put in extra effort to keep ourselves feeling positive. Dharma reminded of the tired but true advice, "fake it 'till you make it." This can mean "manufacturing" our sunshine until the sun shines again...on its own. Dharma stressed how important it is for each of us to keep our shadow behind us. If we don't, that shadow can swallow us up.
So how to keep positive no matter the circumstances? Wise advice from the wise frog.
1.  Make positivity a choice. Life is filled with choices. Some are easy and some are not. Keeping a positive attitude is a choice that everyone can make. It starts by firmly telling ourselves, as often as needed, that we will think more positively.
2.  Talk to yourself like a life coach would. Instead of focusing on your complaints, problems, doubts, and fears, focus on telling yourself positive things. Feed your mind with truth and encouragement!
3.  Be strict with energy vampires. You know who I mean. All those folks in your life who drain the energy from you with their constant nagging, complaining, and despair. Gandhi once said, "I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet." That's a great motto to live by. We can't remove all negativity and negative humans from our lives, but we can limit how much time we spend with them.
​4.  Live your purpose.  Whatever your purpose is, live it fully every day and remember why you do it. Humans don't get burned out because of what they do. They get burned out because they forget why they do it. Put the joy back into doing the important things; caring for your family, your career, spending time with friends, and pursuing your interests.
5.  Change your perception of what success and failure look like. Learn to redefine what these words mean to you. Neither word has to mean all or nothing. Both have areas of grey. Failure doesn't have to be crashing and hitting the bottom just as success doesn't have to mean making a million dollars. There's plenty of room in between those points for us to live and grow and thrive.
6.  Smile and laugh more. These can be your best sunshine on a dark day.
7.  Protect your inner world. No matter how bad things can seem, these low points don't have to define you. You are more than your highs and your lows. Your attitude toward life is your decision. Which will you choose?
8.  Be patient. Just as night turns into day, your situation...whatever it is...will change too. Sometimes it can take longer than we like. How many sleepless nights have you spent watching the clock? You think that morning will never come. But it does. In its own time. That is the ebb and flow of life. 
​Dharma's best advice to me this morning was this, "Always try to keep the sun in your face, even when it's not shining. The sun keeps our shadow, our darker and more negative selves behind us. The idea is to keep moving forward, the best way we can."
Tomorrow is Halloween and that means a scary blog from yours truly. I know you won't want to miss what I have in store for you! And don't forget that tomorrow I'll also be adding the last installment of Scary Halloween facts on my home page. be sure and check them all out. Until tomorrow, I wish you sunshine, positivity, and
                                                                      PEACE.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/284179

Felines or as I like to call them, cats, are very special creatures. If you've ever had one as a pet, known someone who has one, or simply made friends with the neighbor's cat, you know what I mean when I say they're special. They are both wonderful and exasperating.
The feline classification covers everything from lions and jaguars to the domesticated house cat. And it's those that I want to feature today because it's National Cat Day. I have assembled a few fascinating feline facts for you. So go ahead and test your knowledge. How many do you know?
1.  Cats spend 30% to 50% of their day grooming themselves. I swim all the time and even I'm not that clean! "This behavior serves several purposes: It helps cats tone down their scent so they can avoid predators, it cools them down, it promotes blood flow, and it distributes natural oils evenly around their coat, allowing them to stay warm and dry. Grooming also serves as a sign of affection between two cats, and it’s thought that saliva contains enzymes that serve as a natural antibiotic for wounds." 
2.  A cat's nose has catnip receptors. The herb contains several chemical compounds, including one called nepetalactone, which a cat detects with receptors in its nose and mouth. The compounds trigger the typical odd behaviors you associate with the wacky kitty weed, including sniffing, head shaking, head rubbing, and rolling around on the ground. But not all cats react the same to catnip. Scientists tell us that over 50% of the world's cats don't respond at all to catnip. Why? Catnip sensitivity is hereditary. If a kitten has one parent who is catnip-sensitive, he has a one-in-two chance of liking it (or not) himself.
3.  Cats generally don't like music. That said, music composer David Teie, partnered with animal scientists to make an album called Music for Cats.  It was released in 2015. The songs are “based on feline vocal communication and environmental sounds that pique the interest of cats.”  (Or so Teie’s website claims.)
4.  Kindles aren't just a digital way to read books. It's also a word that’s used to describe a group of kittens born to one mama cat. Meanwhile, a group of full-grown cats is called a clowder.
5.  If you'd like to increase your vocabulary, here's a new word for you; ailurophile. It's a fancy word for cat lover. Conversely, an ailurophobe is a person who hates cats.
6.  The record for the longest living cat goes to Creme Puff. This cat belonged to Jake Perry of Austin, TX. Creme Puff lived to be 38 years old and 3 days. In 2010, Creme Puff made it into the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's oldest cat.
7.  The poet, T. S. Eliot believed that cats were more poetic than dogs. The musical CATS is based on Eliot's book of poems, "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, published in 1939.
8.  Many humans are allergic to cats. But many cats are allergic to humans, as well. One in 200 cats are believed to have asthma—and this number continues to rise among indoor kitties as they're more frequently exposed to cigarette smoke, dust, human dandruff, and pollen.
9.  Cats can't taste sweet. Cats are genetically predisposed to not be able to taste sweets. They will likely nibble off your plate if it contains meat, but they’ll leave it alone if it’s laden with cake.
10. People who go to college are more likely to own a cat than a dog. In 2010, researchers from the University of Bristol surveyed 3000 people about their pets, geography, and scholastic history. They found that people with university degrees were 1.36 times more likely to own a kitty than other pet owners. This phenomenon might be attributed to the fact that cats are low-maintenance, and therefore better companions for accomplished people with busy careers.
And for being such a wonder reader...here's a bonus fact!
11. Cats have more bones than do humans. While the human skeleton is comprised of 206 bones, the cat's skeleton has 244!
I must admit, I didn't know very many of these facts at all. How did you do?
Tomorrow is Wednesday so that means my teacher, the wise and kindly Dharma Frog will be here will another valuable life lesson. So, until tomorrow, I wish you and your cat(s) a Happy National Cat Day!
Oh, and I dedicate this blog to two very special kitties, both recently departed; the late great Dagwood and kitten Tiny Tim. R.I.P. You are missed.
                                                                    PEACE.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/578211/cat-facts

Humans love chocolate. They eat it in everything from cereal to wine. And it doesn't seem to matter much if it's milk chocolate or if it's extra-dark. I have to admit, it is some pretty tasty stuff. Today is National Chocolate Day and I have prepared a little chocolate quiz for you. See how many answers you know. Are you ready? (The answers to the questions are provided below)
1.  Why is July 7, 1550, an important day in the history of chocolate?
2.  Is chocolate considered a vegetable...yes or no?
3.  Is white chocolate considered "real" chocolate?
4.  Where is the cacao bean native to?
5.  What was the first chocolate treat?
6.  Which French Queen loved hot chocolate? (hint: She also liked cake.)
How are you doing so far?
7.  What weird thing was the prized cacao bean used for?
8.  What religious group helped to spread the chocolate love?
9.  Who invented the first solid chocolate treat?
10. Are cocoa and cacao the same thing?
11. How many cacao beans does it take to make a pound (.45 kg) of chocolate?
12. How old can cacao trees live?
13. Who grows the most cacao?
And here's a special bonus question.
14.  At what temperature does chocolate melt?

Answers
1. The 7th of July, 1550 is believed to be the day that chocolate arrived in Europe. Whether or not that is the official date, isn't 100% certain. But it is known that it arrived in Europe sometime in the 16th century. Some experts believe that it arrived as early as 1504, thanks to the travels of Christopher Columbus.
2.  Chocolate is, indeed, a vegetable. Well, sort of. "Milk and dark chocolate come from the cacao bean, which grows on the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao), an evergreen from the family Malvaceae (other members of the family include okra and cotton). This makes the most important part of the sweet treat a vegetable."
3.  That would be a no. "Because it doesn't contain cocoa solids or chocolate liquor, white chocolate isn't chocolate in the strict sense. But it does contain parts of the cacao bean—mainly cocoa butter."
4.  The cacao bean is native to Mexico, as well as both Central and South America. "It’s believed that inhabitants of these areas first started cultivating the bean as far back as 1250 BCE, and perhaps even earlier." No wonder chocolate tastes so good! It's been around a long time and humans have had plenty of time to perfect it! And thank goodness for that!
5.  Believe it or not, hot chocolate was the first treat to be made from chocolate. "Cacao was brewed in both Mexican and Aztec culture, though the result was nothing like today’s hot chocolate—it was a typically bitter concoction that was often used for ceremonial occasions like weddings."
6.  The answer is Marie Antoinette. Marie didn’t just love cake, she also loved chocolate, and hot chocolate )the modern kind). This delicious beverage was frequently served at the Palace of Versailles. It wasn’t just the taste everyone loved—it was also believed that the drink was an aphrodisiac.
7.  Cacao was once used as currency. "The Aztecs loved and valued the cacao bean so highly that they used it as currency during the height of their civilization." I can see that, can't you?  So maybe it's not so weird after all. If you've ever bought good-quality cacao beans, you know how expensive they are...kind of like buying gold!
8.  Spanish friars are given credit for this. "After cacao and chocolate were introduced to Europe, traveling Spanish friars took it to various monasteries, handily spreading it around the continent."
9.  Two British confectioners invented solid chocolate. "The Fry and Sons shop concocted what they called “eating chocolate” in 1847 by combining cocoa butter, sugar, and chocolate liquor. This was a grainy, solid form of the treat." It was a long time between the discovery of chocolate, hot chocolate, and then solid chocolate that could be turned into an infinite number of yummy pleasure. As a matter of fact, the British invented the first chocolate bar. "Way back in 1842, the Cadbury company made the very first chocolate bar. The company is still in existence, and is perhaps most famous for its delightful Easter-themed treats."
​10. The answer is yes....and no. The cocoa bean and cacao bean are the same things in general terms only. "The botanical name for the tree that chocolate comes from is Theobroma Cacao. The word cacao comes from the Olmec people who inhabited what is now Mexico, and it is believed to be the closest pronunciation to the original name of the plant. While cacao refers to cacao beans that have not been roasted, what is called cocoa is made from beans that have been roasted. So, in turn, a product that is labeled cacao is the raw bean and is often packaged as vegan chocolate that has been minimally processed with no additives. Cocoa, on the other hand, is a processed chocolate product, such as chocolate bars and powder." Be sure and check the label to make certain you're buying what you want.
11. Each tree produces approximately 30 pods a year. Each pod contains roughly 40 cacao beans. It takes approximately 500 beans to make  1 pound of chocolate so each tree produces about  2 pounds of chocolate a year.
12. They can live to be 200 years old!
13.  While cacao has its roots in the Amazon, today "nearly 70 percent of the world’s supply—comes from Africa. The Ivory Coast is the largest single producer, providing about 30 percent of all the world’s cacao."
14. Chocolate is the only edible substance to melt around 93° F, just below the human body temperature. That’s why chocolate melts so easily on your tongue (and mine, too!)
Well, how'd you do? I got about half of them correct. Not too shabby for a frog, if I do say so. I hope you enjoyed my Salute to Chocolate. How to celebrate this most auspicious day? By eating chocolate, of course! I'm going to find a way to incorporate it into each of my meals today. Yum!
Tomorrow is National Cat Day so if you're a cat lover, or know someone who is, then you won't want to miss my celebration of cats. Until tomorrow, happy chocolate-eating!
                                                                       PEACE.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/57507/20-things-you-never-knew-about-chocolate
https://www.thespruceeats.com/difference-between-cocoa-and-cacao-3376438

This is it. The last Friday before Halloween. And if this holiday is one of your favorites, then today will be one you'll want to celebrate. That's because it's Frankenstein Friday. This day is celebrated each year as a way of recognizing the famous novel by Mary Shelley. dating back to the 1800s.
Frankenstein's monster is one of the best-known horror characters of all time. Ms. Shelley published her first edition of the now-classic novel in 1818 under the name "Anonymous" and the 500 copies that were printed, sold out. The public believed that ms. Shelley's husband, English poet Percy Shelley, to be the author. In 1823, ms. Shelley published a new edition of the book under her real name. Another edition in 1831 included Shelley’s explanation about how the story came to be. This version is the one modern readers are the most familiar with today. 
The film world has created more than 60 movies or shorts on the theme of Frankenstein. Edison Studios produced the very first film version, Frankenstein, in 1910. If you haven't seen this silent film, I can highly recommend it. I look forward to watching it every Halloween. 
Now, for the fun Frankenstein facts I promised you yesterday.
1.  You might think that Shelley's Frankenstein is purely a science-fiction novel, but it also contains elements of the Gothic novel and the Romantic movement. 
2.  Mary Shelley was only 18 years old when she first started writing her book. It was published the year she turned 20.
3.  It is believed that the plot for Frankenstein's Monster came from a dream she had about a scientist who created life.
4.  Shelley said that the name Frankenstein came to her in a dream but in Germany, there is a Castle Frankenstein which she may have visited.
5.  In the novel, the Frankenstein's monster isn't given a name.but is referred to only as 'creature', 'monster', 'fiend', 'wretch', 'vile insect'. 'demon', 'being', and 'it'. Frankenstein is, of course, the doctor who created the monster.
6.  During the telling of Frankenstein, Mary Shelley refers to the monster as "Adam." She was referring to the first man in the Garden of Eden.
7.  The earliest use of the term "Frankenstein food" to refer to genetically-modified food was in 1989.
8.  Mary’s and Percy Bysshe Shelley’s manuscripts for the first three-volume edition in 1818 (written 1816–1817), as well as Mary Shelley’s fair copy for her publisher, are now housed in the Bodleian Library in Oxford, England
If you're looking for a few creative ways to celebrate Frankenstein Friday, here are a few excellent suggestions.
Watch one the many versions of the Frankenstein movie, read the book, have your kids draw their version of the monster (or try it yourself), bake cookies in the monster's shape, or host a Frankenstein party and give away a prize for the best Frankenstein costume and impersonation.
 That does it for me this week. I'll be back again on Monday with more blogs and more Halloween fun! Whatever your plans are this weekend, please stay safe and I'll see you here soon.
                                                                       PEACE

https://www.uselessdaily.com/movies/frankenstein-trivia-15-facts-about-one-of-the-most-well-known-fictional-characters-in-the-world/#.XbLeB5pKjIU
​https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-frankenstein-friday-last-friday-in-october/

Most of us like to travel. It's exhilarating and educational to visit places and to experience new cultures. Unfortunately, traveling isn't cheap these days and so some of us don't travel as much as we might like to. That's why, every so often, I like to dedicate a blog to "armchair travel," where I (hopefully) tell you about places that you might not otherwise get to visit in person. Today, I will take you on a tour of three ancient cities of the world.
These city destinations will "offer you offer glimpses into humanity's past and the ingenuity that people brought to creating wonders without computers or heavy machinery." Some of these places you may have heard of and some you may not have. So grab a cup of your favorite tea (okay, coffee is allowed on this flight, too) and settle into your armchair. No passport required. Ready for take-off?
​Our first stop is in Angkor Wat, Cambodia. "In the 12th century, the Khmer took their vast understanding of the known universe and sought to recreate it in miniature. The result was Angkor Wat, a sprawling city designed to impress with meticulously arranged moats and towers, and walls covered in astonishingly detailed bas reliefs of Hindu deities. The ancient Khmer took a broad view of scenes worth preserving. While many are celestial or holy in theme, other murals detail mundane acts like preparing supper. Angkor Wat isn't so much a city as it is a complex of temples that were originally were built to honor the Hindu god, Vishnu. By the 12th century, these fabulous temples had be rededicated and were now serving to honor the Buddhist religion. This temple complex stretches over 500 acres within the Angkor Archeological Park, a large area covering more than 150 square miles. The main temple receives packs of tourists, but many lesser-known temples offer a chance to wander through old Khmer capitals, which were built from the 9th century onwards.
Our next stop is Istanbul, Turkey.  Istanbul loves to depict itself as the city straddling two continents. What's most remarkable is the way the city straddles great periods of history that pile up and fold over themselves more naturally than anywhere else in the world.
Construction by successive empires from Byzantium to Constantinople to modern Turkey has bequeathed Istanbul an instantly recognizable skyline that merges elements from all those eras. In the historic core around the iconic Hagia Sophia, the Byzantine-era Hippodrome circus sits a short stroll away from the Ottoman Empire's Topkapi Palace, which houses artifacts including Moses's staff. Surrounding it all is a thriving modern city with top-notch dining, galleries, and architecture that make Istanbul one of the world's most important cultural centers.
Our final stop, at least on today's journey, is Tikal, Guatemala. Hidden in the jungles of Guatemala, Tikal was a Mayan citadel that reflects more than 1,000 years of cultural achievements beginning from 600 BC. Jaguars and pumas prowl the surrounding wilderness, but the palaces, temples, and plazas within the site represent some of the earliest pinnacles of human achievement. The stepped pyramids are icons of Mayan culture that rise above the canopy. Equally impressive are the sporting courts, temples and palaces that ring the main plaza. Most of the ancient causeways that link Tikal's 3,000 structures have been cleared of vegetation, so visitors can now wander among the buildings much as the ancients did.
There are many more cities and places that I want to tell you about but they will have to wait for another day. In the coming weeks, I'll try to bring you a few more of these exotic locales. But until then, it's back to reality. I hope you enjoyed your trip!
Tomorrow is Frankenstein Friday. That can only mean one thing...Fun Facts about Frankenstein. Won't you please stop back by? Until then, I wish you safe travels on your journey through Thursday.
                                                                      PEACE.

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/worlds-best-ancient-cities/index.html

I received an email from Dharma Frog late yesterday saying that he would be arriving a little bit earlier than usual today. When my alarm went off at 5 a.m. there was little time to lollygag around in the warmth and comfort of my little bed. I was up and at 'em before the birds started singing. Heck, the sun was even still asleep! after crawling out of bed, I went for my morning swim to get cleaned up, dressed, then began preparing breakfast. It wasn't long after I'd get the table and prepared a pot of tea, that Dharma arrived for my weekly life lesson.
As I poured our tea, Dharma and I exchanged a few pleasantries. I could see Dharma was getting a bit anxious to begin my lesson. "Dharma, " I asked" So what's my lesson this week? I'm ready to learn whatever you have to teach me." "Tadpole, I'm happy to hear that you are ready to get started. This week's lesson is this; what a frog sees in himself, he also sees in the world. If you feel poor, the world, through your eyes, will look lacking in resources. Conversely, if you feel gratitude for all you have, the world will look abundant to you. It's  a simple law of nature. Life is a mirror of your inner beliefs. The great French-born human writer, Anais Nin, once said, 'You do not see the world as it is. You see it as you are.' What you hold in your mind, Irwin comes to life irrespective of your preferences. That's why some frogs see the swamp as half empty while others see it as half full. It's the same amount of water but each frog views it through different life lenses."
"Wow, Dharma, that's pretty powerful stuff! Can frogs change their perspectives? And what about our human friends...are they also able to change the way they look at their world?" "Of course, my boy," Dharma reassured me, "Everyone can change their perspective if they're willing to work at it...even just a little." I wanted to know more and asked Dharma to outline a few ways that each of us can try that will change negative thinking into a more positive world view. Here's what he said.
1.  Become aware of your negative thinking as soon as it occurs. This can seem simple enough, but when someone has held negative views a long time, it can be tricky at first to even become aware that's what's happening. So the first step is being able to gauge when your perception is creating your problem and your stress. Feel it, see it, and then prepare to modify.
2.  Have an open mind. This can be tricky to do if you're not used to it. But it is doable. Once you are aware, you need to mentally view all your options. Ask yourself, how can I view this issue differently? Be open to suggestions. You’re much more creative than you think.
3.  Redefine. Add a definition that empowering. Instead of seeing a complaining friend as a whiner, try labeling them as a friend who is sharing their opinion or problem...someone who can share their weakness with you. In doing this, you will soon begin to see others in a more positive light, thus making your world a little brighter. This can be done with situations as well as with people.
4.  Practice. Most of us aren't good at this but it's the only way we can get better at anything; practice, practice, practice. So practice this method daily, even to yourself and in insignificant situations. Work on it while reading, watching a television show or the news. The current political climate in the world can often look pretty darn negative. So watching the news can be a great time to practice!
5.  Empowering self-talk. Everyone, humans and frogs alike, are good at beating ourselves up with negative self-talk. We call ourselves dreadful names, like stupid, incompetent, and loser. These are things most of us would never dream of saying to someone else. Yet we say these things to ourselves all time. Quit it! Once you have outlined some empowering perspectives and perceptions, engage in positive self-talk every day to change your beliefs and even modify your values. When you encounter a problem or obstacle, try saying, "There are no problems. There are only challenges and I am up to every challenge that life gives me. I solve these challenges easily and quickly." Dharma advises repeating your empowering self-talk every morning and every night multiple times with an exciting tone. "Feel it. Believe it. Become energized with it. Over time this practice will modify your innate beliefs."
As the saying goes, "Rome wasn't built in a day" and neither will you be able to change your perspective in a day. It requires patience and perseverance. You didn't wake up one morning with a negative perspective on the world. It developed over time...years and even decades. If you don't like the world you see, change it by how you see yourself. But don't expect your belief system to be transformed in a day or a week. Keep at it and the changes you want will happen! 
Dharma apologized for not staying long enough to help me clean up my kitchen. But his busy schedule didn't allow for extra time this morning. He'd left me with lots to think about and I mulled it over as I cleared the table and washed the dishes. It's super to know that I can change my perspective by taking a good long look at how I see myself. Change begins within.
Please stop by tomorrow for a little more armchair travel. I'll be looking at a few wonderful and ancient cities, so please join me. No passport required.
                                                                   PEACE.

https://medium.com/the-mission/why-life-is-a-mirror-reflecting-your-inner-world-a7ad344be6c0
https://medium.com/@attybomp/change-your-perception-change-your-reality-and-life-1462304c352f

The swallows leaving, and arriving back at the Mission San Juan Capistrano is a legend that many of us are familiar with. But how much do you know about the mission or about their famous birds? Tomorrow, the 23rd of October, is the day that the swallows depart Capistrano for the winter. To honor their departure, I thought it might be kind of fun to take a little look at both the the birds as well as the mission they call their summer residence.
The Mission's website says this. "Mission San Juan Capistrano has been home to many people over its 240 years of history. Its history consists of memories and stories of its past inhabitants and present visitors. It is a place of historical, cultural, and religious significance, as well as a place of inspiration and education." Mission San Juan Capistrano was permanently founded by Junipero Serra on November 1, 1776, as the seventh of 21 missions to be established in California by the Spanish. It has a long history, too long for me to tell you about here, but one that's well-worth reading. 
The cliff swallows  that made the mission famous, depart Capistrano on the 23rd of October each year and fly 6,000 miles south to Goya, Corrientes, Argentina where they spend their winters. The birds arrive back at the mission on or about the 19th of March each year. And when the beloved birds do arrive, they are greeted by crowds of locals and tourists from around the globe. The mission bells ring to signal their arrival and say "Welcome back" to the swallows. Once the birds are safely home, a huge fiesta takes place. These swallows are a huge deal to the community of San Juan Capistrano is southern California. And rightfully so!
I wondered how the swallows happened to pick the mission to be their summer home and so I dug a little into the history and found the charming legend  that tells their story of how the birds came to call the mission their home.
Father Sullivan who was the pastor at the mission from 1910 to 1933 tells the story in his book, Capistrano Nights. "One day, while walking through town, Father O’Sullivan saw a shopkeeper, broomstick in hand, knocking down the conically shaped mud swallow nests that were under the eaves of his shop. The birds were darting back and forth through the air squealing over the destruction of their homes. 
'What in the world are you doing?' O’Sullivan asked. 'Why, these dirty birds are a nuisance and I am getting rid of them!' the shopkeeper responded. 
'But where can they go?'
'I don’t know and I don’t care,' he replied, slashing away with his pole. 'But they’ve no business here, destroying my property.'
Father O’Sullivan then said, 'Come on swallows, I’ll give you shelter. Come to the Mission. There’s room enough there for all.' 
The very next morning, Father O’Sullivan discovered the swallows busy building their nests outside Father Junípero Serra’s Church." And there they've made their home there ever since.
Ahhh....the kindness of strangers. We never know where help will come from when we need it most, do we?
Don't forget. Tomorrow is Wednesday and that means another valuable life lesson from my dear friend and wise teacher, The Dharma Frog. I know you won't want to miss that!
Until then, my dear reader, enjoy your Tuesday.
                                                                      PEACE.

https://www.infoplease.com/swallows-san-juan-capistrano
http://www.missionsjc.com/about/swallows-legend/

Frogs and snakes are supposed to be enemies. But here's the thing. I think everyone is deserving of a little love. So since today is National Reptile Awareness Day, I thought I'd focus my blog on showing my reptile friends some much-deserved respect.
reptiles, snakes specifically, have gotten a raw deal through the centuries. They're associated with dark magic, voodoo, and the like. They are used as symbols for the devil. Kids either love them or are terrified by them. However children feel about them as youngsters, that love or fear usually stay with them into adulthood. I knew one human who was so terrified of snakes, she couldn't even look at a photograph of one in a magazine like National Geographic without coming close to fainting. Herpetophobia is a fear of reptiles while ophidiophobia is specifically the abnormal fear of snakes. 
So exactly what critters are classified as reptiles? I'm so glad you asked! Turtles, for one. Others include crocodilians, snakes, lizards, tuatara, and amphisbaenians. With today's blog, I'm hoping to help lessen some fears by introducing you to a few cool facts about our reptile friends.
1.  Everyone thinks snakes are one of the oldest creatures on earth. Truth is, reptiles evolved from amphibians. This is a bit over-simplistic but "it is fair to say that fish evolved into tetrapods, tetrapods evolved into amphibians, and amphibians evolved into reptiles—all of these events taking place between 400 and 300 million years ago. And that's not the end of the story: About 200 million years ago, the reptiles we know as therapsids evolved into mammals (at the same time the reptiles we know as archosaurs evolved into dinosaurs), and another 50 million years after that, the reptiles we know as dinosaurs evolved into birds. This "in-betweenness" of reptiles may help to explain their relative scarcity today, as their more evolved descendants out-compete them in various ecological niches."
2.  You can count the varieties of reptile alive today on one hand: turtles, which are characterized by their slow metabolisms and protective shells; squamates, including snakes and lizards, which shed their skins and have wide-opening jaws; crocodilians, which are the closest living relatives of both modern birds and extinct dinosaurs; and the strange creatures known as tuataras, which today are restricted to a few remote islands of New Zealand. 
3.  All reptiles are cold-blooded animals. One of the main characteristics that distinguish reptiles from mammals and birds is that they're ectothermic, or "cold-blooded," relying on external weather conditions to power their internal physiology. Snakes and crocodiles literally "fuel up" by basking in the sun during the day, and are especially sluggish at night, when there's no available energy source. The advantage of ectothermic metabolisms is that reptiles need to eat much less than comparably sized birds and mammals. The disadvantage is that they're unable to sustain a consistently high level of activity, especially when it's dark. 
4.  All reptiles have scaly skin. Body lotion, anyone? But seriously, the rough, vaguely alien quality of reptilian skin makes some people uneasy, but the fact is that these scales represent a major evolutionary leap. Snakes shed their skin all in one piece, while others shed it a few flakes at a time. 
5.  There are very few plant-eating reptiles. During the Mesozoic Era, some of the biggest reptiles on Earth were devoted plant eaters...vegetarians, every one of them. In the more eras, the only herbivorous reptiles are turtles and iguanas, both of which are only remotely related to their plant-eating dinosaur forebears.
6.  Most reptiles have three-chambered hearts. The hearts of snakes, lizards, turtles, and tortoises contain three chambers—which is an advance over the two-chambered hearts of fish and amphibians, but a marked disadvantage compared to the four-chambered hearts of birds and mammals. The problem is that three-chambered hearts allow for the mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood, a relatively inefficient way to deliver oxygen to body tissues. Crocodiles, the reptile family most closely related to birds (weird, eh?), have four-chambered hearts. 
7.  Reptiles aren't the smartest critters out there. That said, they are smarter than fish and amphibians. Hey! I take offense to that, but okay....Their intelligence level is on par with that of birds, but down on the scale of from your average mammal. 
Did you learn anything new about reptiles? I did. For instance, I didn't know that crocodiles were distantly related to birds. I found that fascinating! And a bit unbelievable.
If you're looking for ways to celebrate Reptile Awareness Day, here are a couple of suggestions.
1.  make a donation to one of the many reptile conservation programs. Love 'em or hate 'em, reptiles are an important part of the earth's ecosystem and they need protection You can help.
2.  Write letters to your state and federal representative, concerning local and national legislation that would affect reptile rights, and the health and safety of reptiles in your state, as well as those found nationally.
3.  Bring your pet reptile to school for show and tell. Whether you are a parent, teacher or student, all levels through college can benefit from a quick show and tell and a lesson on your favorite herp. Make sure to check with the school’s administration beforehand!
4.  Get yourself, or someone who's a reptile fancier, a subscription to Reptiles Magazine. When you're finished with your copy, donate it to your local library or leave it at your doctor's or dentist's office for others to enjoy and learn from.
5.  Make a Reptile Resolution to attend at least one reptile show before next year's Reptile Awareness Day. There are lots to see an see and learn at these shows. Take your kids or grandkids.
How much do you know about the mission at Capistrano and the swallows that made it so famous? if you're like most humans, probably not a great deal. The swallows at Capistrano will be the subject of my blog tomorrow. I hope you'll plan on joining me. Happy Monday, everyone. I wish you a wonderful week ahead. 
                                                                       PEACE.

https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-reptiles-4090030
http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Reptile-Awareness-Day/

With the discovery of a fossilized pelvis bone found in Hungary, it is now thought that human ancestors were standing upright much earlier than anthropologists had previously believed. In scientific terms, this is huge news!
Scientists have long believed that humans evolved from apes and once moved on "all fours" like a chimpanzee. But they've struggled over the how and when man's distant ancestors came to walk on two feet. But that may change with the discovery of a pelvis bone belonging to the Rudapithecus, a long-extinct relative of humans and modern apes. "New research on the fragmentary remains suggests that when the beagle-sized ape descended from the trees, she didn’t knuckle-walk like chimps or gorillas, as previously thought. Rather, she stood upright on two legs — much like a human." This discovery is a game-changer, say the experts and will, no doubt, result in textbooks needing to be rewritten.
The 10-million-year-old pelvis was unearthed in Rudabánya, a city in northern Hungary, in 2006. It’s the only known Rudapithecus pelvis, and one of only four reasonably complete ape pelvises more than 4 million years old. In 2009 Carol Ward, a noted expert on ape pelvis anatomy began working with other experts in the field on creating a detailed, 3-D model of a complete Rudapithecus pelvis. "They also created models of the skeletons of gorillas, macaques, orangutans, and other modern-day primates. By comparing the models, they were able to infer Rudapithecus’ anatomy — the curve of its spine, the position of its legs, the mechanics of its gait." The research shows that Rudapithecus looks quite different from modern apes, whose short, stiff lower backs support their substantial weight while climbing trees but also necessitate moving about on all fours when on the ground. Rudapithecus looked more like humans, whose long, flexible lower backs make it easy to stand upright. And if this is what human ancestors looked like, then transitioning to walking upright on two feet isn't such a big deal.
Rudapithecus lived during the Miocene, a moderately warm period that ended between 8 million and 5 million years ago. Earth grew cooler and drier during this epoch, causing forests to shrink and forcing tree-bound apes to venture across broad expanses of grassland. "If they were able to stand upright", ape-expert Ward said, "they might have fared better in the changing environment." But does the discovery of the Rudapithecus anatomy actually explain human evolution and how man moved from four legs to two? Science and researchers believe that more data is needed before making a conclusion. 
"While Rudapithecus is obviously related to humans and modern apes, it’s unclear whether it is the direct ancestor of any living species. It’s possible that humans inherited upright posture from Rudapithecus or a closely related species, but it’s also possible that Rudapithecus died off without passing on this trait." Researchers need to fill in the gaps in the fossil record between Rudapithecus and modern apes and humans to find the answer.
Ape expert Carol Ward says, "Everybody has seen the drawing of the knuckle-walker that is slowly standing upright. That's what we always thought happened because all we had to look at was modern animals. But now, looking at the fossil record, we realize we have the wrong picture of what the ancestral animals would have been like. And this is a really big piece of the puzzle."
And I do not doubt that more research is already underway. Stay tuned...
That does it for me  this week. I hope you've had fun, and maybe learned a few interesting facts, from these blogs. I'll be back again on Monday for another week of writing.
Please enjoy your weekend. Stay safe and I look forward to seeing you again on Monday.
                                                                        PEACE.

https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/ancient-ape-fossil-yields-surprising-new-insights-about-human-evolution-ncna1055916

While mulligan is a golf term that means to take a shot over again, National Mulligan Day offers everyone, golfers and non-golfers alike, the opportunity to give yourself (or someone else) a second chance. Some folks call it a do-over. I call it a gift.
We don't always get a second chance to right a wrong or to make something better so when we do, we need to jump at the chance with gratitude and enthusiasm. Perhaps you've failed an exam, turned your back on someone when they needed you most. Maybe you betrayed a friend. We've all done things that we wish we could do over again, not only to change the outcome but also to prove to ourselves that we can be better. Today is your day to correct a wrong...to give yourself a second chance.
The truth is, we're all capable of doing bad things. And we all have inflicted pain on others. Sometimes we do it intentionally, while other times it's unintentional, the result of poor judgment. Here's the thing about making mistakes; we usually know better but choose to ignore it. Often, it's the result of acting impulsively.  And, all too often, we don't realize the depth of the pain we've caused until it's too late. Then we scramble for forgiveness. Each time we make a mistake we have to learn to forgive ourselves and then use that lesson to help us grow and mature. When we give someone a second chance, it means we're willing to trust them again. This offering of trust should not be taken lightly. 
When was the last time you gave someone a second chance? When was the last time you gave yourself a second chance? Perhaps it's been a long time. Maybe you've never given anyone, including yourself, a second chance. Today is the day to change that.  National Mulligan Day can be life-changing for you or someone else. 
Think of something you'd like to do over. It can be something small or very large, it's up to you. Then give yourself the gift of a "mulligan." I bet you know someone who who needs a do-over, as well; somebody that, perhaps, has wronged you in some fashion. When you offer them a do-over, you're offering them forgiveness and the opportunity to earn your trust again. Isn't that a HUGE gift...for both of you?
The holiday season is still a six weeks away, but today is the perfect day to "gift" everyone you know with a mulligan, beginning with yourself.
Please stop by again tomorrow for a special blog on ancient ape fossils. Until then,
                                                                           PEACE.

​https://gentwenty.com/second-chances/
https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-mulligan-day-october-17/