You know from reading some of the posts on this blog that I love natural solutions to health whenever possible, but we still have our share of prescriptions coming into the home due to my husband’s Diabetes and other health concerns.  Anything related to health and prescriptions is expensive, especially if for some reason you don’t have medical insurance.  We have it now, but as retirement age draws near, we know that we won’t have it forever. 

This is where a program like Walgreens Prescription Savings Club  is very helpful.  This is not to be confused with the Walgreens and Express Script situation, but a program that is supposed to help those who no longer have access to this Express Script, and anyone else who would like to benefit from the program.  Apparently details regarding a new contract with Express Scripts have not worked out, and as a result patients who have been getting their prescriptions at Walgreens in some areas are being forced to travel distances to get their prescriptions filled elsewhere.  You can read a press release about this at the previous link.

Walgreens has worked hard to help these customers, and continues to do so through the Walgreens Prescription Savings Club.  You can be part of this program for $5 a year per individual or $10 per family, and benefit by saving on thousands of brand-name prescriptions, and perhaps greater discounts on generic medications.  This also includes discounts on pet prescriptions and annual flu shots.  And for people like me who have a husband with diabetes, discounts on diabetic supplies.  We do have a Walgreens near us, so I’ll be checking into this. 

To stay informed, follow  Walgreens on Twitter, and vsit and “like” Walgreens on Facebook.

We are having some rare cold weather this weekend, then it will be back up into the 40′s again.

Stink Bugs are not new to us, but are much more prevalent this year than ever before. We have seen more than usual of them…right into January. In fact I’ve read reports stating that they are on the increase in other areas, and are causing damage to gardens and crops. They get their name from the odor they put out when crushed, so we do not get rid of them by stepping on them or crushing them in the house.

[image credit: wikipedia commons]

Since reviews on Stink Bug Traps are just so-so depending upon how much area you want to cover, I’ve been thinking of getting a handheld bug vacuum to use around the house. I am tired of running to get a container to catch the bugs in.

Most of all, in spite of not liking the cold that much, we could use a good hard freeze to get rid of the insects and because it’s the natural course of things in the winter.

But before I can take them in to be adjusted, I need something to wear as my old glasses broke…plus I’d like to have a pair of just distance to use as sunglasses.  So I decided to ask my optometrist for prescriptions for both distance and reading, plus my PD, or measurement of the distance between my pupils for proper fitting of the lenses to my eyes, and then went to order online at a site that offers good glasses at low prices.  I decided to get the anti-reflective coating that will help so much with sun glare when outside and when driving at night, apparently this means my glasses will have oleophobic lenses. They will resist fingerprints and dust and should be easier to clean.

In addition to all the above, I got the clip-on sunglasses for both the reading and distance glasses. I could have had a separate pair of distance glasses tinted, but decided to go this route instead as it has worked out pretty well in the past. The best part of all is that I only paid a little over $30 for everything, including shipping.

I can’t wait to see how much better my vision will be at night and in sunlight…the anti-reflective coating is supposed to help with that and should make my outdoor walking time much more enjoyable…I’ll let you know. When I get them, I’ll have spare glasses and can take my over-priced ones that aren’t working out in to be adjusted, I hope they can fix them…it seems odd that I pay so much at my local eyeglass store with insurance when I could get two pairs with sunglass clipons and anti-glare coating for about 1/5 the price I paid for one pair of progressives with insurance…I’ll do it differently next time.

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Among the pleasant but unusual little surprises that I discovered recently was a couple of blooms on our Forsythia bush, as seen in the following picture.  This is highly unusual for January where we are.  The temperatures cooled down shortly after, then it warmed up again, and a couple of more blooms appeared.  I do not mind this one bit and hope that we have a mild winter right on into Spring, and a much better summer than we did last year.  But perhaps I am just dreaming – it is, after all, only the second week of January.

In the previous post I talked a bit about our Norfolk Island Pine Christmas Tree, now I’d like to share an idea for you or someone you love….something to put under that tree.  It’s important that you “read fast” because this is a sale and it’s going to end in just a day or 2, BUT even if you miss the sale, this is something worth looking into, and I have a feeling other sales will follow.

Sprint is having a sale on their Android™ powered EVO 4G devices, in fact you can get the HTC EVO™ 4G or EVO™ free, as well as free shipping from Sprint for those starting new service with them.  If you visit the link provided, you’ll see the phones and the count down ticker, and if you miss the special, I am sure there will be other specials available since it is the holiday season. 

I don’t have an Android phone myself, to tell you the truth, but do have the Android OS on my tablet and love it.  It isn’t as fast as I’m sure it is with 4G as I use it with our WIFI.  I can imagine it would be fantastic fun with the speed that 4G provides. 

So, now you have another possible idea to put under your Christmas tree this year at a great price, and may we wish you a very blessed Christmas!

We purchased our latest Norfolk Island Pine on Sunday at a great price, it is about 3 feet tall plus the pot it is in, and stands on a table behind the couch. I have light weight ornaments on it, no lights though, because that would be too much weight. Instead our indoor Christmas lights surround the frame of a doorway.

If you would like more information about how to care for a Norfolk Island Pine, click this link.

I suppose I’d not know what I was missing and would adjust as many do, but I do have my sight and treasure the gift and want to care for it.  My medical doctor told me just this week that I should have my eyes examined each year as “older” age comes not only to make sure that my glasses are correct for my eyes, but to watch for things like glaucoma.  So I will go and get them checked, get my prescription and proper measurements of the lenses so that the line for bifocals, or progressive lenses in my case, is properly placed, and then will look into ordering cheap eyeglasses online at my favorite site where they manufacture their own glasses…no middleman, no fancy name brands…but pretty fancy glasses at incredibly low prices.

In fact, at the prices offered, I may get two pairs. I want to spend many more years enjoying the beauty that is around me, and caring for my eyes and vision is an essential part of that.

The red juice contains many antioxidant benefits, as do so many of the red and blue berry fruits. But we are just happy to enjoy this annual tradition of eating fresh pomegranates during the month of November and thankful for whatever benefits they may bring.

Image Credit

Puppies, babies, what can be cuter?  I am not working my garden now as it is “resting” for the winter, but do have time to look a cute pictures.  So it’s only natural that taking a look at cute pictures at the Puppies vs. Babies online contest would be a nice substitute.  Not only can you take a look at ADORABLE pictures, but you can vote….and you have until November 23rd to do so.  The winning baby or puppy gets $5,000.

When my now grown children were babies, to me they were the cutest babies in the world.  They are all grown up now, and I have a Yorkie named Aspen…so now puppies are the cutest things in the world to me, but when it comes to choosing “Puppies vs. Babies “, I’m having a hard time deciding, and admit to being biased.  Alas, I don’t think I can enter my Aspen into the puppy contest, but it’s not to late to vote, and I want you to see why I think she’s one cute little dog, here’s her picture:

I guess what you like is going to be determined by whether you have or have had a baby, or whether you have a little fur-baby right now, but no matter what, don’t forget to take a look at the cute pictures at any of the links and cast your vote.

Please tell us in a COMMENT who you plan to vote for…cute babies or cute puppies, and take a moment to tell us why.

I recently received a comment on a post to this blog about Butcher’s Broom seeking some Butcher’s Broom seeds.  If you’d like to help, click “Butcher’s Broom” and read the comment at the end of the post. The person who posted can be reached at the email address associated with his name in the post.

I would like to spend some time updating the “Swap, Sell” page on this blog in the near future, please do leave a comment if you have any seeds or plants that you are looking looking and / or plants or seeds you  have to offer in trade.