Sunday, July 29

Johnston's Lake

Had a great hike today around Johnston's Lake with the boys.  We saw a HUGE rainbow trout swimming just under the surface and numerous minnows.

The kids really enjoyed it.  They were really excited when we were finished and headed to the beach for some splashing and digging in the sand.  Ahhh it's a good life when that's all little boys want to do :)

I walked right into the lake and dived under, just as I did last time!  I thought that in my old age I was getting wimpy.... but I think not!

Today was the first day that I felt good enough to do anything, so I am so grateful for a healthy body.... I just hope it keeps this time.

After we joined the celebration of life of a young girl here in our town that passed away this week.  Very sad, she was a very special darling.

Tuesday, July 24

Again?!

We are sick again.  I went to the doc yesterday because it feels like I have liquid in my ear and it was in a lot of pain.  The doc said he could see my ear drum bulging.  Doc recommended that I take sudafed instead of antibiotics because it wasn't infected yet, just to drain the fluid.  I have been doing that, no more pain but still some fluid so keep your fingers crossed!

Also Cy had a fever and felt under the weather with a sore throat.  Looks like Strep, we are waiting to hear about the swab he took.  Any idea of how to keep ourselves healthy?

We already eat mostly healthy food.  But I am afraid that lately we have gotten farther away from our healthy eating.  Possibly too many late nights this summer and not enough tea?  I am open to suggestions.  I am getting worried for what we are going to pick up when Cy starts school... will there be any end?

Saturday, July 21

Sander Lake Campground

Last weekend we went camping (finally).  I called around and since we are toying with the idea of moving to Golden BC , we decided to go camping there.

Using a search engine I called the first campground on the list.  Sander Lake Campground.  I was very surprised to hear that they had room for us, and that that the price was only $20!

This campground also being on the lake rents canoes for free for people to use.  They provide life jackets.  They also have a few children's climbing toys and a trampoline!  What more could you ask for?

The drive was good, up a steep switchback hill at the end, the signs were large and easy to follow.  We were pleasantly surprised to find a gorgeous place.  Lots of trees, very quiet and the nicest couple that runs the place.  We wished we were able to stay more than one night.

The next morning we took out a canoe despite the pouring rain, but it was warm because it's BC!  We saw a family of loons and lily pads.  A great first time canoeing for our boys.






We are already making plans to return, look it up online.   This is a great campground.

Friday, July 20

GMO FOOD WHERE?

OK so I have not been here lots lately I know!
I got 92% on my accounting exam making my overall mark a A+, yay I do understand the numbers.

Now on another note.  I just watched " The future of Food", It was an amazing documentary that was engaging and very interesting.  I guess the Canadian gov decided that huge conglomerate companies can put patents on seeds and any food .  Then if you are found growing it even if you did not plant it, it blew, or a bird pooped on your property you are liable to pay huge fines for patent theft.  Local family farms are going under because they cannot afford to pay the fines or they have to destroy crop seed variety's that have been in their families for generations because they have been "contaminated" with patented seed variety.


Where is the Government protecting the people?  Why are they protecting companies that are determined to reduce variety of foods as well as charge money on life?  By reducing variety of foods this allows pest and disease to completely eliminate crops because there will be no strains that are naturally resistant.

Are you aware a company holds a patent over a gene found in breast cancer?  Therefor when a scientist tries to study the gene to reduce and eliminate cancer they get fined and stopped because another company "owns" a gene?  When does it end?

According to the Grocery Manufacturers Association, nearly 80% of processed foods found in grocery stores, contain genetically modified ingredients. While around the world at least 50 countries have laws requiring that GMO foods be labeled as such, not only is there no legal requirement to label GMO foods in both Canada and the U.S., but  the politicians all seem to be in bed with Monsanto, the prime creator of GMO technologies.
re:nutristart.com

Also I just found out that in order to get GMO foods to work as in get one gene into another the scientists have to add antibiotic resistant e-coli?  Remember back in science class.  Genes are very strong and resist other foreign genes entering their nucleus... well the only thing that can enter are viruses.  This leads to every cell of the plant having e-coli and other uncontrolled formations of genes in every bite!


Even though the Biotech companies tried to break into the “organic” definition, they were rejected at their last attempt. I’m sure they won’t give up yet, but for now a product certified to be organic cannot be grown from GMO seed stock.
Here is a list of the most common GMO crops.
Corn: Almost half of the corn farms in the U.S. are planted with GMO seed, and tons of it has entered the food supply. Corn is in countless modern food products, sometimes just in the form of corn starch, or sugar made from corn, and some alcohol is now made from GMO corn. Even ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is ultimately made from corn. Studies with mice fed GMO corn have shown them to have fertility problems and smaller offspring.
Soy: Along with corn soy is found buried in many products that you wouldn’t know without careful analysis of labels, including sports bars, pastries, baked goods, and especially meat alternatives. If it doesn’t say organic or non-gmo, odds are now that it is GMO if it is soy or corn. Hamsters fed GMO soy were rendered infertile.
Cotton: We don’t commonly eat it but other countries do consume the oil and you will find it in some imported foods. Even so, as it also has been engineered to resist more pesticides, and is one of the most widespread crops in the world, its use leads to more poisons being dumped into the environment. Upon being exposed to the new GMO cotton, thousands of Indian farmers experienced severe skin rashes.
Papaya: Up to three quarters of the Hawaiian papaya crop has been genetically engineered to resist the “ringspot” virus.
Rice: Asia is experimenting with a rice modified to contain high amounts of vitamin A, and another variation containing human genes designed to help prevent infant diarrhea in the third world. China has reported a tendency to allergic reactions from GMO rice. Not yet available in North America, but if a crop needs to be unloaded somewhere you can be sure it will be dumped on a country with no labeling laws.
Tomatoes: Originally engineered to provide a longer shelf life, the final product did not live up to expectations and ceased to be marketed a few years ago. At this point no GMO tomatoes are being grown commercially in North America or in Europe. Tomatoes are still being experiment with to make them resistant to fungus, insects and viruses, but are not in production yet. http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/grocery_shopping/fruit_vegetables/15.genetically_modified_tomatoes.html
Canola: This seed is an edible hybrid variation on the rapeseed, which is mildly toxic to humans. Almost all canola that is not organic is now genetically modified. Most cheap blended oils, sold as generic “vegetable oils” contain some canola or cottonseed oils.
Dairy Products: One form of genetic engineering that we do not have in Canada is Bovine Growth Hormone. This is due to no help from the Health Canada, who were prepared to allow its use in this country, even to the point of lying about its dangers to parliament. If it were not for scientists from Health Canada risking their careers by bypassing their superiors and going directly to the gov’t with their concerns, we would be drinking it in our milk now. (For the whole story see the documentary “The Corporation”). In the U.S. about 22% of cows have been treated with this genetically modified hormone that forces their milk production up by about 15%. Milk from cows treated with bovine growth hormone show higher levels of Insulin Growth Factors-1 in the milk. Increased levels of IGF-1 in humans, has been linked to increased levels of breast and colon cancer.
Potatoes: When mice were fed genetically engineered potatoes, the toxin that was spliced into the potatoes was found in the bodies of the mice, showing that it did not break down in the gut but transferred whole into their system.
Meat: Canada has discontinued work on our “Enviropig” a pig genetically engineered to create less methane gas (an unnecessary thing since there is already a feed with an enzyme inhibitor that does the same thing, safer and cheaper). And, so far, the consumer has expressed revulsion at the idea of eating GMO animals, but it must be pointed out that many commercial food animals, including beef, fowl and pork, are being fed GMO corn, so we may be getting residual modified genes through eating these animals.
re:nutristart.com

This scares the pants off me!


Also GCS... my favorite store has GMO foods in all their president's choice products....I will no longer shop there.... good bye low cost products... hello low cost health.

Ok rant finished.  There was a mud slide just east of banff today, q was stuck... he is almost home now.... 10:45 pm...