AN AMAZING 2 LETTER ENGLISH WORD.
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Posted:Feb 29, 2016 8:34 am
Last Updated:Dec 15, 2016 11:07 pm 7550 Views
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A reminder that one word in the English language that can be a noun, verb, adjective, adverb and preposition.
UP
Read until the end ..... you'll laugh.
This two-letter word in English has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that word is: " UP ". It is listed in the dictionary as an [adv], [prep], [adj], [n] or [v]
It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP?
At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP, why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report? We call UP our friends, brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and fix UP the old car.
At other times, this little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.
To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special.
And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night. We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP!
When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out, we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, the earth soaks it UP. When it does not rain for a while, things dry UP. One could go on and on. To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look UP the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4 of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions.
If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.
As for me, I'll wrap it UP, for now . . . my time is UP!
Oh . . . one more thing: What is the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do at night?
U....... P ....... !!  , gotcha here!!
Did that one crack you UP?
Don't screw UP. Send this on to everyone you look UP in your address book . . .. or not . . . it's UP to you.
You may join in and cheer up
It has really creased me up.
Now I'll shut UP! 
Hoping this two letter English word has amazed you with all its meanings. Thank you for your read and views.
Always jovial,.
Lisa,  
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MY REMINISCENCES OF MY CHILDHOOD ERA.
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Posted:Feb 26, 2016 10:14 am
Last Updated:Jul 2, 2018 5:15 am 7317 Views
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Remembering our childhood era or the best years of our age, bring us joyful or sad memories at some times of our life. At our golden age now , it may happen once a while or several times. To me, it does happen many a time, specially when I look at the souvenirs of my elders, remembering the lovely days we had, listen to old songs of my childhood and my teens. Lots of things which I still remember and which pass through my mind occasionally, remembrances which the memory cannot erase.
This morning, while listening to an old french song called " La maison ou j'ai grandi/ The house where I grew up". It has really stirred up my thoughts, brought tears to my eyes. Taking me back to decades ago, remembering the house of my childhood, where I was born and grown up. That colonial house, with lots of square glass panes making up the veranda, the high wooden shutters of the bedrooms windows and doors and its bardo/wooden shingles roof. Hibiscus, ferns and other flowers such as begonias, ginger flowers, exotic plumerias, heliconias, geraniums and hortencia, adorned the front of the house, with the old trees in the garden, which provided us much shadow to play and to relax under. At the back yard, we had a small space for vegetables and spices, there was no chemical fertilizers but manure was used and ash was to protect the vegs against insects. People were healthier than now. Everything was grown naturally. We had a few local hens and a rooster and some eggs daily from them. We also had a and two cats. Mum was fond of the cats. I was fond of my and of the chicks, I liked watching them hatching.
I remember my childhood friends, boys and girls of my neighborhood, from different races and faiths. We all played together with such an innocence and purity. We were naive and loved one another as brothers and sisters. We shared what we had, foods, drinks, fruits, sweets, books and toys. There were no zealotry or fanaticism, no racism or discrimination among us. Life was so simple and joyful. We were not that rich but moderate and satisfied with what we had. Sincerity, Faithfulness, Respect and solidarity primed during our learning and teaching by our elders and of course while schooling. We were not exceptional but this was how we were grown up during childhood. In the evening, we used to gather around Grandma listening to her moral stories and got her rewards (sweets, biscuits, jellies and ginger cakes) for our good behaviors.
Now, when I pass by the the place where I grew up,
not a single souvenir is there to be seen.
Where are the house, the flowers, the trees,
Which I so loved and enjoyed, they have all gone.
They exist no more, and my little friends are all gown.
Where are the laughter, the joy and the cry of that life?
They have all vanished and distanced over the time
It's sad to think that all should end as time goes by.
Tears rolled in my eyes when I noticed the changed.
When I left the place of my childhood, I only thought
it would remain the place which was dear to my heart.
All these are souvenirs last and can never part.
Time has passed, I look in vain for the house of childhood.
Where is everything which I held on. No trace of any wood.
A high-rise stands and other people have taken the place
New sight, high fences and unknown different faces
Downhearted I was, my eyes blinked and fixedly I looked,
in search of the place where I had spent my lovely childhood.
During my later age, I got married and went abroad with my hubby,
In several countries, until retirement, we came back to my country.
Having a style residence, with all new comforts, making one happy,
Yes, am happy with but at times all the past revives in my memory,
Remembering all what was also part of my life, which was also good,
Specially the time, the place, all but mainly the house of my childhood.
I just wanted to offload these feelings of mine by a narration on this blog. I hope it will be a pleasant one for you. Thank you for your time, your read and your views.
Happy reading.
Sincerely
Lisa. 
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JUST TO TELL YOU ABOUT...........
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Posted:Feb 23, 2016 8:06 am
Last Updated:Dec 15, 2016 11:09 pm 7309 Views
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THE LEMON FESTIVAL IN MENTON, FRANCE RIVIERA.
The Lemon Festival is a traditional and most famous festive event organized by the Tourist Office, which is held each year in late winter in the city of Menton . This festival is also called Carnival Menton.
This carnival is celebrated every year, especially the Lemon Menton with its incomparable taste and qualities, hence its name is: "The Lemon Festival" . All floats and sculptures presented at the carnival are created from lemon and orange. Menton is the place to party during the month of February. Since the mid-fifteen century, the town of Menton is a major citrus producer in Europe ..
In 1928, Menton was still the largest lemon producer in the continent. A hotel has the idea of organizing a private exhibition of flowers and citrus fruits in the gardens of the Hotel Riviera. It was so successful that the following year the Municipality took up the idea on his own. The carnival mixes at: shrub planted carts of oranges and lemons evolved with charming Mentonnaises. Supplanted by the Nice carnival, that of Menton seeks to replace it with a tourist event at the same time. The term "Lemon Festival" was born in 1934. It is a carnival party themed Citrus. More than twenty tons of citrus imported from South of Spain for this occasion, to complete all the decorations and exhibitions of the floats and sculptures for this feast.
On the promenade of the Sun, takes place the parade of floats where citrus mingle confetti , marching bands, dancers and folk groups. It is the second winter manifestation of the French Riviera after the Nice Carnival . The 82nd Lemon Festival has started from February 14 to March 4 in Menton (Alpes-Maritimes), one of the beautiful towns on the French Riviera. Thousands of tourists from around the world flock there every year. On this occasion, floats decorated entirely citrus parade through the streets of the city. Each year, one country is chosen to be the spotlight and this year, China is in the spotlight this year.
In the region, very high quality citrus fruits are produced, but in small quantities. This year, the festival of Menton will be on the Chinese figures mainly but including also other landmarks, figures and symbols of other countries. A long process during which thousands of citrus are attached one by one to scorching metal structures. Each day dozens of workers replace any damaged fruit. As from the first day of " LA FETE DU CITRON", it is always the day Menton's dress up in their folkloric attires , throw confetti and generally go bananas. The Carnival of the is the best fun!. But the whole show is a worldwide event and wonderfully presented.
I've made collage of many photos as much as I could, to allow you seeing lots of their presentations, depicting symbolic figures from different countries. I hope my above post and the photos below, have given you an insight of this feast and the way it is celebrating there, in Menton- French Riviera. Thank you for your read and views. Happy reading.
Sincerely,
Lisa. 
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FRIDAY FUNNIES, old couples....
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Posted:Feb 19, 2016 10:02 am
Last Updated:Feb 23, 2016 5:20 am 7530 Views
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This is the first time I join in Friday Funnies, I hope this cartoon would give you a smile.
Thanks for your views. Happy Friday.
Lisa. 
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TRIPLETS BORN FROM TWO DIFFERENT WOMBS.
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Posted:Feb 15, 2016 11:43 am
Last Updated:Jun 12, 2017 6:27 am 7286 Views
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Woman with two wombs got triplets, made history.
A 23-year-old British woman is thought to have made medical history by giving birth to three babies in two wombs. In September 2006, Hannah, from UK, had twins who were conceived in one womb, and a third who grew in another. The consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist in London, said: "This is so rare you cannot put odds on it. I have never heard of this happening anywhere before. It is quite amazing. Women with two wombs have conceived a baby in each womb before, but never twins in one and a singleton in the other." The apparently unprecedented births are the result of a rare condition known as uterus didelphys, and means her uterus failed to fuse during development. Women with the condition develop two separate normal sized wombs.
The babies were conceived from two eggs produced during ovulation - one in each womb - which were fertilized at the same time by two different sperm. One egg then split and produced identical twins while the other developed into a single baby. Ms Hannah discovered that she had uterus didelphys when she gave birth to a nearly two years ago. They told the couple they could terminate all three babies, terminate the twins and focus on the remaining foetus, or keep all three and hope for the best. "It was a terrible position to be in, but I immediately knew I could not put an end to the life of any of my unborn , so we elected to carry all three," said Ms Hannah.
Seven weeks early - she gave birth to three girls by emergency caesarean section. The twins, Ruby and Tilly, weighed 2.6lb and 2lb respectively, while Gracie weighed 2.13lb. Kept in the hospital for 6 weeks after which they were home with their parents and brother. The odds against a woman with two wombs having twins, or two single births, are 5 million to one. "We are just over the moon at how healthy and happy the girls are," she said. "They are three lovely and incredible , all with very different personalities.
Only 70 women in the world are known to have been pregnant in two wombs, during last century, but not all the babies survived, reports said. "It is quite amazing. Women with two wombs have conceived a baby in each womb before but never twins in one and a singleton in the other."
I have hereby posted this blog for you, on the oddity of these triplets born in two different wombs of their mother. I hope it has given you an insight of how the woman's body may bring surprises at times.
Below are a few photos on that event. Ms.Hannah has then made a surprising medical history. Thank you for your read and views.
Sincerely,
Lisa.
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UNBELIEVABLE, BUT TRUE!! SUCH AN ODD CASE !!
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Posted:Feb 11, 2016 11:29 am
Last Updated:Feb 12, 2016 12:16 pm 7463 Views
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Doctors Find Giant Ants’ Nest Inside 12-Year-Old Girl’s Ear.
A giant ants’ nest has been discovered by doctors inside the ears of a 12-year-old girl disclosed that ants began to crawl out of her ears last August with about 10 live ants crawling out of her ears on daily basis.
Shreya Darji, from Deesa, Gujurat, in India had about 1,000 ants removed from her ears by the doctors. A senior Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon, Dr Jawahar Talsania, 58, tried to suffocate the ants but they continued to breed.
He said: “We have conducted all possible scans on the including an MRI and CT scan but they are all normal. “We cannot find any abnormality in her ears. She doesn’t experience any kind of pain. despite the ants biting her and no damage has been found to the eardrums. “The family live a normal life and they have a healthy environment so we can’t even blame their living conditions. We’ve not seen anything like this in our medical history.” Hundreds of ants continue to live inside the girl’s head, with about a dozen or so emerging from her ears every day.
Doctors have tried flushing her ears with antiseptic to drown the ants, and have tried several times to locate and kill the queen ant with laparoscopic cameras. Darji is currently under video surveillance in an Ahmedabad medical unit. Shreya’s father, Sanjay, says he is concerned that the 12-year-old’s condition is becoming worse. He said: “I have done everything I can.
“I have taken her to the best doctors but they have failed to solve the problem.
This is such an odd case which I have never heard about and I wanted to post here for the readers to ponder upon. If you have ever come across such case or even heard about any, Please kindly tell us your opinion. I have a great pity for that young girl and I hope that Drs would find a way to get rid of all these ants in her head.
Thank you for your read and views.
Sincerely,
Lisa.  
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ONION IN ALL ITS ASPECTS......quite stunning!!
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Posted:Feb 10, 2016 10:13 am
Last Updated:Feb 23, 2016 11:53 am 8359 Views
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Onions are cultivated and used around the world. As a food item, they are usually served cooked as part of a prepared savoury dish, but can also be eaten raw as a seasoning or as a vegetable and to make: onion soup, oinion rings, pickles, onion baked, onion with dressing, onion tart; onion pizza; onion dip; onion quiches; onion naan; fried onions. onion bread, used in kebab, as pickles or chutneys, in brief, onion is a condiment in most cooking and preparation.
They are excellent sources of vitamin B, C, E, mineral, a good source of dietary fiber, folic acid, calcium, iron and sulphuric compounds, flavonoids and phytochemicals. they are low in sodium and contain no fat and no cholesterol. Either raw or cooked, as a seasoning or as a vegetable.
They are pungent when chopped and contain certain chemical substances which irritate the eyes.
*To rid your eyes of this fiery irritant, your tear ducts work overtime. For no more (or fewer) tears, try moving your face farther away from the onion so the gas disperses before reaching your eyes.
Another suggestion for reducing tears is to first chill the onions for 30 minutes. Then, cut off the top and peel the outer layers leaving the root end intact.
Prehistoric people, are said to have eaten wild onions long before farming was invented. Onions may have been among the earliest cultivated crops.
In Egypt, onions were planted as far back as 3500 B.C. They were considered to be objects of worship, and symbolized eternity because of the circle-within-a-circle structure. Paintings of onions appear on the inner walls of pyramids and other tombs. Onions were buried with mummies. Some Egyptologists theorize that onions may have been used because it was believed that their strong scent and/or magical powers would prompt the dead to breathe again. Onions also grew in Chinese gardens as early as 5,000 years ago and they are referred to in the oldest Vedic writings from India.
nions may be among the vegetables that will be prized not only for their addition to our cuisine, but for their important value-added health characteristics, according to studies.
In addition to quercetin, onions contain the phytochemicals known as disulfides, trisulfides, cepaene, and vinyl dithiins. Quercetin, a flavonoid (one category of antioxidant compounds). Antioxidants are compounds that help delay or slow the oxidative damage to cells and tissue of the body. Studies have indicated that quercetin protects and has beneficial effects against many diseases and disorders including cataracts, cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke, as well as breast cancer, colon, ovarian, gastric, lung and bladder due to its antimicrobial activities. Onion are therefore good for our cuisine, for our health and also for some arts as shown in a few photos below.
Thank you for your read and views. Hoping that my above post has given you a good insight of the usage of Onions.
Sincerely,
Lisa. 
NB: Two tips:
1--To avoid "onion breath," eat a sprig of parsley, or rinse your mouth with equal parts lemon juice and water, or chew a citrus peel.
2-- If ever anyone gets stung by any bee or yellow wasp, just cut a piece of onion and rub the area with it, it will soothe the pain.
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THE MOTHER OF THE FOREST.........really pitiful.
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Posted:Feb 8, 2016 7:52 am
Last Updated:Feb 8, 2016 10:24 pm 7375 Views
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Mother of the Forest Tree, Redwood Nature Trail, Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
The Mother of the Forest (667 BCE – 1854 CE) was an ancient and huge Sequoiadendron tree. The tree lived in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in eastern central California, United States. The dead tree's remains are within the Calaveras Grove of Big Trees State Park, in Calaveras County, California.
The tree was said to stretch 321 feet (98 m) into the air, with a girth of 90 feet (27 m) at ground level. It was the largest of 92 giant sequoias growing in the valley in 1852 when a man named George Gale discovered the massive tree. In 1854 he had the bark stripped from the trunk. Gale named the massive tree the "Mother of the Forest" before he sent men to strip the tree of its bark. Once the bark was removed, the tree did not survive for long. In 1908, a fire that swept through the area burned away much of what was left of the tree.
The massive tree had thick bark, 2 feet (0.61 m) thick in some spots, which Gale had stripped. Gale toured with the bark, showing it off to crowds.
To this day, what is left of "Mother of the Forest" stands as a large fire-blackened snag along the loop trail through the North Grove, at the far end of the loop. Saw marks made when the bark was cut away are still visible on the trunk, which stands over 100 feet tall. Gale sent samples of the tree to foresters in the east where it was discovered to be 2,520 years old.
Descrition of the photos below:
1-- Mother of the Forest; California's Sierra Nevada is famous for its redwoods. Here these giants are known under the trees in the world until 150 years. And here in Calaveras the first redwoods were discovered. 1833.
2-- The dying Mother-of-the-Forest Tree, sans bark
3-- This is all that is left of the once magnificent "Mother of the Forest." In Sequoias, the water transport from the roots to the leafs doesn't take place in ...
4-- It is called the 'Mother of the Forest' and has been deprived of its bark to the height of 116 feet and at that height measures 39 feet 6 inches in ...
5-- "Cutting off section of the Big Tree," Fresno Grove
6-- MOTHER OF THE FOREST, CALAVERAS GROVE. Diameter 32 feet; height 325 feet. The bark was removed for the Paris Exposition of 1860.
7-- This is the Mother of the Forest. Over 100 feet of its bark was stripped for a display which killed the tree. Cut marks can still be seen on the trunk and ...
~~ California's Sierra Nevada is famous for its redwoods. There these giants are known under the trees in the world until 150 years. And there in Calaveras the first redwoods were discovered. 1833.
The story of "The Mother of the Forest" caught my attention and I wanted to post this blog on it.
It's really a shame and a great pity seeing and pondering upon for such an extraordinary a tree. "Man destroys what he cannot restore". Just for the sake of fame and selfishness.
Thank you for your read and views. I Hope this story and info have pleased you.
Sincerely,
Lisa. 
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14
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CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION 2016.
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Posted:Feb 5, 2016 8:04 am
Last Updated:Feb 9, 2016 2:33 am 7323 Views
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NI HAO, KUNG HEI FAT CHOY !!
Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival in China, is China’s most important traditional festival. It is also the most important celebration for families and a week of official public holiday.
Chinese New Year 2016 is on Monday 8 February. Chinese New Year is the Longest Public Holiday in China, most Chinese will be off work 7 days from Sunday February 7 (New Year's Eve) to Saturday, February 13. 2016 is the Monkey Year, according to the Chinese 12-year animal zodiac cycle. Chinese main traditional celebrations of the festival include: eating reunion dinner with family, giving red envelopes, firecrackers, new clothes, decorations, ancestor worship and Dragon, Lion and snake dances. Setting off fireworks is a must for each family, during the Spring Festival season all over China.
Chinese New Year is a time for families to be together. Wherever they are, they come home to celebrate the festival with their families. The New Year's Eve dinner is called " "reunion dinner" and is believed to be the most important meal of the year. Big families of several generations sit around round tables and enjoy the food and time together.
Every street, building, and house where CNY is celebrated is decorated with red. Red is the main color for the festival, as it is believed to be an auspicious color. Red lanterns hang in streets; red couplets are pasted on doors; banks and official buildings are decorated with red New Year pictures depicting images of prosperity.
RED ENVELOPES: The most common gifts are red envelopes. Red envelopes have money in, and are given to and retired seniors. It is not a customs to give red envelopes to (working) adults, except by employers. Red envelopes are used in the hope of giving good luck to the receivers.
THE LUCKY NUMBER for the chinese is number 8, which means prosperity, wealth, success, or social status. People select lucky numbers when choosing residences, telephone numbers, business addresses, wedding dates, festivals and other celebratory events.
YELLOW, RED and GREEN are considered their Lucky Colors: Yellow symbolized royalty and power of the throne. China was often referred to as Yellow Earth, and its mother river is the Yellow River. The skin color of Chinese people is said to be yellow. Red is the Chinese national color and represents happiness, beauty, success and good fortune. Red is used extensively in everyday life. Red lanterns adorn businesses and residences. Double rows of red "Xi" (happiness) letters are pasted on gates and doors. People wore red during weddings, festivals and other celebratory events. Red envelopes stuffed with money are given as gifts during Chinese New Year. Green symbolizes money. Buildings, banks and restaurants are often painted in green and red.
The basic food in China is: In Northern China, for example, wheat is eaten more than rice as a staple food. Food using wheat as its main ingredient, such as noodles and dumplings is prevalent there. China's Southern cuisine uses far more rice, with such staples as rice noodles and zongzi - sticky rice wrapped in leaves. Otherwise, they consume lots of pork, duck, chicken, beef, fresh and salty with a lot of seafood, as well vegetables.
As ingredients : Oil, Ginger, garlic, and scallion, dark soy sauce, chili sauce, Chinese mushrooms, fermented black beans and oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, rice wine, toasted sesame oil and so on. Different menus according to one's choice. Nice cuisine really.
I hope the above info as well as the photos below, have given you an insight of the Chinese New Year, the Spring Festival in China. Thank you for your read and views.
Kuaile yuedu, zhu nin yukuai, feichang ganzie ni wei ni de yuedu;
Chengzhi,
Xiexie.
Sincerely,
Lisa. , Xi nian kuai le.
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