Ian and Mary Alice enjoyed Chandor Gardens
While attending Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, I recall being awakened about 3:30 a.m. one morning by the beautiful songs of a Mocking Bird, just outside my window (he was very, very loud). We lived on several acres close to a small river that ran through town. Wildlife was everywhere and, needless to say, I was in Heaven on Earth, as I am today.
When I was awakened by this talented bird loudly singing, I decided to just listen and count the different number of songs that I heard. I really had no idea that this small beautiful creation had an unlimited number of melodies. So I eventually stopped counting and became mesmerized, actually put into a trance by the music.
It was a new experience for me. I literally listened for over two hours, as I recall. I simply could not stop listening it was so very beautiful. My mind relaxed so much that I started to feel quite different. The feeling was not something that I can describe to you. It was uplifting, exhilarating, deeply and intensely moving. I can still recall how I felt to this day. And it is one of the reasons I treasure all of God’s creations.
Our feathered friends enjoy feasting
At the school we provide birdhouses, bird feeders and a bird bath for our feathered friends. And they provide an environment for our children that is virtually free of such things as misquotes (the deadliest creature that kills more people on earth than any other – known to carry over 550 viruses, and many of them, like malaria is estimated to have killed 655,000 people in 2010 alone, and yellow fever, among many others, and chiggers (a truly serious problem if you are bitten by enough of them), and other pests.
I have often wondered why city authorities in places such as Fort Worth do not expend funds and make some effort to distribute economically priced bird houses and helpful information on natural methods of controlling pests (such as leaving as many wasps/yellow jackets alone as much as possible, they eat mosquitoes for dessert and are not naturally aggressive) instead of spraying insecticides all over the place. Or, perhaps, offer tax or other incentives for utilizing natural methods and reducing the spreading of chemicals that are so toxic to us.
Our natural pest control patrol
Yes, the singing of that precious Mockingbird so many years ago (in 1968) inspired me to provide for many other birds. And more importantly, to provide a school environment that is pesticide free. We have been committed to utilizing only natural methods to free ourselves of pests for many years. We simply do not use pesticides.
For example, we rid ourselves of harmful varieties of ants (not all ants, some are actually necessary) by sprinkling mounds (when we find them, which is rare now, with raw hominy grits (yes, they must be raw) which are carried to the Queen much to her demise (which is a wonderful and natural solution provided by Chris Stoll, one of our former students, many years ago. Thank you, again, Chris). Fly paper, coupled with fly swatters, solves any problem we have with flies.
By the way, there is truly disturbing news that pesticide exposure has been linked by research to cancer, birth defects, infertility, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, gastrointestinal disorders, reproductive problems as well as neurodegenerative diseases such as: Dementia (later in life by as much as 70%), Parkinson’s disease (a Harvard study reported a 70% increase as well), Alzheimer’s disease, Type II Diabetes (Click here for study) and many others. In addition, studies show that chronic low-level pesticide exposure is associated with a broad range of nervous system symptoms: headache, fatigue, dizziness, tension, anger, depression, and impaired memory. And child IQ loss has been linked to pesticide exposure in the womb and can raise the odds for ADHD in children.
Lucas has the hat to run for public office
An organic diet is an effective way to reduce pesticides that are commonly used in agricultural production. It is easy to learn how to avoid foods with pesticides. Click here for information.
Please research the link to these diseases and pesticides on the internet. And it is easy to research natural methods of controlling pests. You will be pleased that you spent the time doing so, and much healthier in the long run. Some of these diseases can be more than deadly, they can be so debilitating that your last few years on earth become unbelievably miserable. So much suffering can be alleviated with a simple shift in your mind set and a few easy changes made in your life.
So, as you can see, the precious, innumerable and memorable songs of that beautiful Mockingbird were songs of salvation. We have provided for and saved many birds and other creations and, importantly, they have provided for and saved us. God’s creatures are among the greatest teachers.
Caty & Rylee in a meditative state
We plan to have an interactive visit to King Henry VIII’s England! Student Day at Scarborough Renaissance Festival is exclusively for students and is this Tuesday, April 30, from 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
We are invited to enter the realm of England’s legendary King Henry VIII and experience the intellectual, cultural, and artistic splendor of the Renaissance first hand and will experience a full day of demonstrations, shows, and educational interactions. The Royal Court and villagers welcome, and in fact relish, discussions about daily life in the Renaissance.
We will meet at the school on TUESDAY morning at 8:30 a.m. to caravan to Waxahachie to enjoy the day at the Scarborough Renaissance Festival. Please do not be late. We will spend the entire day just having fun. PICKUP will be at school at APPROXIMATELY 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. We may CALL you on our way back and let you know more precisely when to pick up your child(ren), but we MUST have a current telephone number that you will answer on Tuesday afternoon or Dr. A will act very sick.
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