CRSA Blog

Like the arteries of the body, rivers carry the life blood of the land and range from gentle placid streams to raging torrents. Civilizations grew up on their banks, explorers through history sought their sources and even today the modern city bred flock to them for peace and recreation.

Rivers are watercourses that drain the land and depending on their size and location may be known by many names including creeks, streams and brooks. The largest rivers drain huge tracts if land, the most notable being the Nile of Africa and the Amazon of South America.

Modern man utilizes these fascinating tributaries for fishing, canoeing, whitewater rafting and tubing. He still sets up camps on the banks and the cool clear freshwater slakes his thirst and has adapted to life on the river. A river trip by canoe or raft can carry him through virgin forests, filled with wildlife and nature and deliver him back to his roots.

Of all the beautiful settings for a garden, a water garden is possibly the most beautiful of all. Water gardens are any landscape or architectural element that is the home to aquatic plants such as the water lily, the bladderwort and the water lettuce. Water gardens may also include a variety of beautiful fish along with it’s ornamental aquatic plants. Even though, by definition, a water garden can be any depth, they are usually small and pretty shallow because most aquatic plants are very sensitive and need to be placed in a certain level of water in order to thrive.

Whether you want it to be a focal point or just another of the many pieces that make up your garden, a water garden will make a lovely edition to any garden or landscaped yard.

There are many famous scientists who have become household names due to their part in shaping the history of mankind. One of the earliest famous scientists was responsible for a revolution in mathematical theory, and his name was Sir Isaac Newton. Newton’s work brought about the mathematical language of calculus, and changed how mankind saw the world ever after.

Another scientists that is recognized the world over is Albert Einstein. Einstein built on Newton’s work in mathematics and earned the Nobel Prize in physics. Using his general theory of relativity Einstein constructed a model of our universe as a whole.

Finally, it is necessary to mention the influence of naturalist Charles Darwin. His work in the Origin of Species posited that all live had evolved over time into the contemporary state we perceive today. All of these scientists have molded the modern world we live in, and all deserve our veneration.

Eco living can help the environment and your finances at the same time. If you waste less, you spend less. This is especially true with food. Having fresh fruit and vegetables spoil before eating them costs money and adds to the landfill. Correct storage can help reduce waste.

If you store onions and potatoes near each other, both will spoil faster because of the gases they emit.

A cut onion lasts longer if you don’t remove the root end. Just wrap in a paper towel, place in plastic bag and refrigerate.

When bananas start to get too ripe, peel them, break them into chunks and freeze to use for smoothies or baking.

Save extra green pepper by freezing in chunks: great for chopping to use in casseroles or chili later.

Cilantro and parsley keep better if the stems are freshly cut and then placed in glass of water when refrigerated.

Gardening is something people of all ages can enjoy. Getting out in the sun, enjoying the fresh air, and digging in the dirt is a very healthy experience. There are all sorts of garden design, depending on your particular situation. A person may live in the country, so will be able to design a very large garden. Others may live in the city or suburbs, and so will have to modify their garden to a smaller space. There are soil conditions to consider, as well as the availability of water. Gardens take a LOT of water! Different types of plants do well in different sorts of climates. If you get a lot of sun, then tomatoes will work for you. Cold climates will grow your root crops better, such as carrots. Plan your garden design carefully, because it is very difficult to change once the garden is thriving. Happy gardening!

The Oceans of the world are vast and dangerous, yet fascinating and mysterious. Parts of the water world that mankind has still yet to conquer, as it is so deep, but yet we can reach the moon. The Oceans have provided man with a food source since the dawn of time, and now it is dwindling in fish stocks and may not be a viable food source in the future. The largest creature ever to grace this Earth is the Blue Whale. This magnificent creature tours the oceans whilst scientists swim nearby to discover its’ mating habits.

Many sea stories of old describe sea monsters of all descriptions. Octopus over 200 feet in length are meant to rise from the depths of the ocean to feast on sailors and their old wooden boats. Giant squid, allegedly, have taken thousands of ships to their doom beneath the waves.

We had a neighbor who was a cat lover with 17 cats but she only counted adult females. This number of cats caused problems in the neighborhood but one day they provided a lot of entertainment.

When I first noticed what was happening, there were five cats in the tree across the street from me. Usually cats don’t all climb the same tree, so this caught my attention. As I watched, the neighborhood squirrel began taunting one of the cats on the ground and enticed it to climb up the tree. The squirrel backed up the tree and then out on a limb with the cat stalking it. When the squirrel got out to where the limb began to sag, it jumped off and left the cat clinging to a slender, wildly waving branch. Within an hour, the squirrel had enticed all 17 cats into the tree. Yowling and scrabbling, they finally got down safely.