One of those stories we hear that is worth looking into.  If true it may save a life and property.

A house burnt down… nothing left but ashes. Owners have good insurance so the house will be replaced and most of the contents.  That is the good news.

 However, they were sick when they found out the cause of the fire. The insurance investigator sifted through the ashes for several hours. He had the cause of the fire traced to the master bathroom. He asked her sister-in-law what she had plugged in the bathroom. She listed the normal things…curling iron, blow dryer.  He kept saying to her, ‘No, this would be something that would disintegrate at high temperatures’. Then her sister-in-law remembered she had a Glade Plug-In, in the bathroom.

The investigator had one of those ‘Aha’ moments. He said that was the cause of the fire. He said he has seen more house fires started with the plug-in type room fresheners than anything else. He said the plastic they are made from is THIN. He also said that in every case there was nothing left to prove that it even existed. When the investigator looked in the wall plug, the two prongs left from the plug-in were still in there.

The sister-in-law had one of the plug-ins that had a small night light built in it. She said she had noticed that the light would dim and then finally go out. She would walk in to the bathroom a few hours later, and the light would be back on again. The investigator said that the unit was getting too hot, and would dim and go out rather than just blow the light bulb. Once it cooled down it would come back on. That is a warning sign

The investigator said he personally wouldn’t have any type of plug in fragrance device anywhere in his house. He has seen too many places that have been burned down due to them.

Found an intersesting artricle.

It has been reported that nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes, and by 2050 that number is expected to reach 48 million. Diabetes is the condition in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin – the hormone needed to convert sugar and starches into energy. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, amputations and kidney failure. It is also the fifth leading cause of death in the country and it can triple a person’s risk for heart attack and stroke.*

National diabetes rates are surging, and although there is no cure for type 1 diabetes, which occurs when the immune system mistakenly destroys cells that make insulin, type 2 diabetes can often be prevented. Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90 percent of cases and is associated with obesity and lack of exercise. This type usually occurs after a condition known as pre-diabetes, which is currently affecting 57 million people in the United States. The good news is that pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes can often be prevented by making diet and exercise changes.

People do not have to give up their favorite treats but just find a better option that will help them achieve their health goals faster. For those who want to make a lifestyle change for the better, here are ways to incorporate treats into their diet:

Ice cream
No longer does reducing calories and fat mean that you have to give up a favorite treat – ice cream! New ice cream products can provide indulgence without the calories, satisfying your sweet tooth urges. If you are on the go, get a prepackaged 100-calorie bar or a frozen fruit bar. If you have to buy a family-size container, go for reduced fat, fat free or no sugar added. For example, buying no sugar added reduced fat vanilla will allow you to make banana splits and sundaes that have 100 calories less per cup. And if you want a treat that doesn’t require any prep, try the Blue Bunny No Sugar Added Fat Free Brownie Sundae ice cream – brownie chunks and ribbons of fudge in vanilla ice cream for 90 calories per serving!

Dark chocolate
Studies show that eating dark chocolate, above 60 percent cocoa, may contribute to improved cardiovascular health and lower blood sugar. Packed with natural antioxidants, dark chocolate and cocoa sit in the same good-for-you category as green tea and pomegranates. The trick is to shoot for 60 percent cocoa or above – the higher the natural cocoa content, the greater the antioxidant level. Keep in mind that dark chocolate is an indulgent treat and you only need a small portion. Moderation is key when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Light snacks
Making a few small changes when buying snacks can make a big difference. Go for multigrain crackers instead of cheese ones. Forget regular butter popcorn and grab a light pack or look for new varieties made with herbs and olive oil. When considering sweet snacks, choose light ones. The Blue Bunny Sweet Freedom line, for example, offers treats like the Black Raspberry bars made with no sugar added reduced fat ice cream. Choosing a Sweet Freedom dessert or a Sugar Free Bomb Pop will keep calories and carbohydrates low, which is essential to preventing diabetes.

Healthy Drinks
Soda contains no nutrients, yet it loads your body with extra calories and sugar. To get the most out of your diet, forget your daily soda and go for drinks that provide important vitamins. Low sodium 100 percent vegetable juice is a great option and so is vitamin or flavor-enriched water. Just make sure that you check drink labels for calories – healthy water drinks should contain zero calories. To get a fizz fix without all the sugar, try bubbly green-tea beverages.

While up in Coarsegold California, a small town in Eastern Madera County,  I had a chance to visit  my good friends mother. She is in her eighties and grass is not growing under her feet. Why do some grow old faster than others? I read this article from a health publication and maybe this is one of the answers.  

A strong social network can help keep your memory sharp as you age. People who had lots of contact with family, friends and neighbors had memory loss at less than half the rate of those who were socially isolated in a study done by Harvard School of Public Health. Volunteer activities, sports, joining clubs and taking classes are good ways to build a social network.

This is my friend’s mom.

 Source: American Journal of Public Health.

We live in a world full of diets.  Everyone you talk to is doing this diet or that diet.  Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, L.A. Weight Loss, Adkins, low carb, high protein- I think I have heard them all.  What all these diets come down to is choosing foods that are the healthier choice and eating foods in moderation.  I have found this great little book EAT THIS NOT THAT!   In our great little town of Oakhurst we have the convience of fast food.  What are the best options when we drive through McDonalds, Taco Bell,  Jack-in-the-Box, or KFC?

Jack-in-the-Box- Chicken Fajita Pit  NOT Chipotle Chicken Ciabatta

KFC- 3 Crispy Strips NOT KFC Famous Bowl

McDonalds- Quarter Pounder NOT Grilled Chicken Club

Taco Bell- 2 grilled steak soft tacos, fresco style NOT baja beef chalupa

 SURPRISED?!  Stay tune to more good choices.

Sierra Ambulance provides paramedic ambulance service to the communities in eastern Madera County, California. They are located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains 18 miles south of Yosemite National Park, and 50 miles north of Fresno on State Route 41. They serve the communities of Oakhurst, Ahwahnee, Bass Lake, North Fork, Coarsegold, Yosemite Lakes, Raymond, Fish Camp, O Neals, and portions of Yosemite National Park and the Sierra National Forest; over 1,000 square miles in all. Sierra Ambulance is a non-profit corporation founded in 1964.  Sierra Ambulance offers community Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation, (CPR), classes monthly. You may register at: outreach@SierraAmbulance.org or during daytime hours phone 559-658-1052 and after hours phone 559-642-0650, ext. 23, for information. Be sure to leave your name and a daytime phone. Certain classes are free, others have a charge commensurate with expenses. Classes are usually held at our offices at 40755 Winding Way, Oakhurst, CA 93644. Special classes may be schedule for groups. Call for details.  As a non-profit corporation, all of the revenue raised is used 100% to support the operation of the Service.

Key to the financial success of Sierra is the Family Membership Program. For $55 dollars a year per household, a family can purchase an Ambulance Membership. It covers the cost of ambulance transport from within Sierra’s service area to any area hospital in Madera, Fresno or Mariposa County. It is immediately renewable. Why should you join if you have insurance? Simply, many insurance plans have a deductible, a co-pay, or a maximum benefit well below the actual cost of service. Likewise, many insurers look backward after the fact and determine whether or not the ambulance was justified. Your claim could be denied. Your membership would cover you in this case. The membership program provides a benefit to those who may need its coverage; it also helps Sierra raise money to purchase new ambulances and equipment. Those interested in purchasing a family membership may phone the office at 559-642-0650 or log onto their web site at www.sierraambulance.org.

Veggies are usually not our favorite food.  However, it is very important that we eat enough servings of vegetable each day.  A great way of getting in all our veggies is to hide it in foods.  My favorite recipe (for my son) is macaroni and cheese.  I make a serving a mac and cheese, puree carrots, squash, even broccoli and stir them right on in.  He love his mac and cheese and I love him getting his veggies.  There is a great recipe book by Jessica Seinfeld title Deceitfully Delicious that has a huge variety of recipes that helps moms make sure their children are getting their veggies.

Summer Indulgence-

There is nothing better than sinking your teeth into a nice refreshing dessert on a hot summer day.  With so many people on diets it is difficult to find a dessert to quench our sweet tooth yet still keep on track with our diet.  Here is one of my favorite summer time recipes.

1 large container of yogurt (anything flavor)

Cool whip (you can use the fat free kind)-thawed

Already made graham cracker crust

Instructions:

   In a bowl, mix yogurt with cool whip.  Use as much cool whip as you would like (less cool whip more flavorful the yogurt will taste.  Once mixed, pour into pie crust and place in freezer.  In a few hours you will enjoy a nice refreshing dessert that will be a hit for the entire family.

ENJOY!!

Surviving the Heat Wave

With record breaking temperatures, what can we do to keep cool?  We are so lucky to live in the mountain community; there are many places to go and activities to do to avoid the heat.  Cooling centers are opened to the public at the Coarsegold Community Center, Oakhurst Sierra Senior Center, in North Fork and Mariposa.  If you are looking for some fun, indoor activities try visiting Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino for food, fun, and entertainment, going the Met Cinema to watch a movie, or visiting the local Oakhurst branch library.  If you have children, the Children’s Museum is a great place to take the kids as well as Have a Ball which is an indoor sports arena for kids of all ages.  If you are looking for an outdoor activity to keep you cool, consider driving to Yosemite Valley or Mariposa Groves for a hike, cooling off with a swim at Bass Lake or renting a boat or jet ski to enjoy, or you could visit the pool at Yosemite High School’s Baker Swim Complex.  There are many ways to stay cool in our mountain community.  Use your imagination and let me know what other ideas you can come up with. 

Have you stopped lately to smell that beautiful rose in your yard?  Have you taken the time to look at the landscape around you?  We often are so rushed in life that we forget to stop and enjoy the beauty around us.  We would be so much happier if we would stop and take a minute to enjoy our surroundings. 

I am talking about the smell of the fresh mountain air, the pine trees, the salty ocean, the first rain, or delicious aromas from the kitchen.  What about listening to the waves crashing on the shore, the wind whistling through the trees, the crackling of thunder and striking of lightening across the dark sky, the sweet singing of birds, the laughing of a young child, the churping of crickets in the night, the pounding of rain on the roof tops, or the running of the creek out back? 

How often do we forget to stop and be thankful for what is around us?  Have you stopped and looked at the beauty of the sunset or sunrise, the vast mountains, the distant mountain ranges, the sea of blue, or the rolling fields? 

My challenge for you today is to stop and take a minute out of your day to take a deep breathe and look around.  What do you have to be thankful for?