Last week we had an isssue with the internal workings of our website. For your purpose the website worked fine….from my end I was unable to log into the admin portion.

Our retail website was fixed last week…
However…
Our wholesale and dropship sites still have an issue.

Again for your purpose the site will work fine…
I just can’t log in to admin to make any direct changes to either the wholesale or dropship websites.

One of my web people (I have two) is aware of the issue and is working on it. As soon as we have a fix for it I will update both sites.

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco-Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com

*Wilted Flowers
**Wisteria Pods
***Seafair-Hydro’s

*Wilted Flowers
This week was incredibly HOT especially Wednesday when Seattle reached an all time high of 103 degrees!

Last weekend hubs and I went to the local Edmonds Farmers Market and purchased locally grown flowers that were made into a beautiful bouquet. Normally (due to the freshness) these flowers will last well over a week….
however…
due to the extreme heat we experienced last week my flowers wilted in three days! I will be headed back to the market for more as our temperatures are supposed to get back to normal next week!

**Wisteria
As I posted in this thread we have two huge wisteria plants which are now done with blooming.

We now have seed pods hanging all over the wisteria! They look just like pea pods only fuzzy! This is the first year we have had pods and I am excited to see if we can catch them pop.

I believe they should do this in the fall and I hope to be able to gather many seeds as the pods burst open. We really don’t have room for more wisteria plants (we have four) but I am more than willing to send anyone seeds if they wish to try to grow their own!

***Seafair-Hydro’s
This is the last weekend of Seafair and with that comes the Blue Angels and the Hydroplane races.

Please note the I90 Bridge closure schedule and plan your route into the city accordingly.

I am excited for all of the people going as the weather is going to be a nice 85 degrees…perfect for playing in Lake Washington!

As for me….
I sort of slacked last week due to the extreme heat so I will be playing catch-up on a few things plus moving a family member and hosting one of the granddaughter’s birthday dinner! (She is going to be soooo excited as she is getting a cell phone for her birthday not to mention a personalized shopping trip!)

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco-Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com

Ok…so this is not really eco-news but more of an important health issue!

Study: Tanning beds can be as deadly as arsenic
Cancer risk jumps 75 percent if ultraviolet radiation device used before 30

LONDON – International cancer experts have moved tanning beds and other sources of ultraviolet radiation into the top cancer risk category, deeming them as deadly as arsenic and mustard gas.

For years, scientists have described tanning beds and ultraviolet radiation as “probable carcinogens.”

A new analysis of about 20 studies concludes the risk of skin cancer jumps by 75 percent when people start using tanning beds before age 30. Experts also found that all types of ultraviolet radiation caused worrying mutations in mice, proof the radiation is carcinogenic. Previously, only one type of ultraviolet radiation was thought to be lethal.

The new classification means tanning beds and other sources of ultraviolet radiation are definite causes of cancer, alongside tobacco, the hepatitis B virus and chimney sweeping, among others.

The research was published online in the medical journal Lancet Oncology on Wednesday, by experts at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, the cancer arm of the World Health Organization.

“People need to be reminded of the risks of sunbeds,” said Vincent Cogliano, one of the cancer researchers. “We hope the prevailing culture will change so teens don’t think they need to use sunbeds to get a tan.”

Most lights used in tanning beds give off mainly ultraviolet radiation, which cause skin and eye cancer, according to the International Agency for Cancer Research.

The classification of tanning beds as carcinogenic was disputed by Kathy Banks, chief executive of The Sunbed Association, a European trade association of tanning bed makers and operators.

“The fact that is continuously ignored is that there is no proven link between the responsible use of sunbeds and skin cancer,” Banks said in a statement. She said most users of tanning beds use them less than 20 times a year.

But as use of tanning beds has increased among people under 30, doctors have seen a parallel rise in the numbers of young people with skin cancer. In Britain, melanoma, the deadliest kind of skin cancer, is now the leading cancer diagnosed in women in their 20s. Normally, skin cancer rates are highest in people over 75.

Previous studies found younger people who regularly use tanning beds are eight times more likely to get melanoma than people who have never used them. In the past, WHO warned people younger than 18 to stay away from tanning beds.

Cogliano cautioned that ultravoilet radiation is not healthy, whether it comes from a tanning bed or from the sun. The American Cancer Society advises people to try bronzing or self-tanning creams instead of tanning beds.

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco-Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com

The Seattle Times
Edmonds Bans Plastic Bags
By Lynn Thompson

Edmonds has become the first city in the state to ban reusable plastic grocery bags at retail stores.

The Edmonds City Council approved the ban Tuesday night 5-1, saying plastic bags hurt the environment and are easily replaced by reusable grocery bags.

Edmonds estimates its residents carry away some 8 million disposable bags from checkout counters each year.

“They’re really no more than a convenience we’ve gotten used to,” Councilmember Strom Peterson said before the meeting. “The risk to the environment outweighs the convenience.”

The ban won’t affect plastic bags for produce and bulk food, which will continue to be available to shoppers. Stores can still offer free paper bags.

In approving the ban, Edmonds joins cities and countries around the world that have banned or discouraged disposable plastic bags, including France, Germany, India and China. San Francisco banned them in 2007, and a similar ban goes into effect in Los Angeles next year.

In the Aug. 18 primary, Seattle voters will be asked to accept or reject a 20-cent charge for every new plastic or paper bag they carry out of supermarkets, drugstores and convenience stores. The ordinance was approved by the Seattle City Council, but opponents gathered enough signatures to place the measure on the primary ballot.

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco-Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com

Is the ocean Florida’s untapped energy source?
By Azadeh Ansari
CNN

The answer to easing the energy crunch in one of the nation’s most populous states could lie underwater.

Imagine if your utility company could harness the ocean’s current to power your house, cool your office, even charge your car.

Researchers at Florida Atlantic University are in the early stages of turning that idea into reality in the powerful Gulf Stream off the state’s eastern shore.

“If you can take an engine and put it on the back of a boat or propel a ship through water, why not take a look at the strength of the Gulf Stream and determine if that can actually turn a device and create energy?” asked Sue Skemp, executive director at Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Ocean Energy Technology.

The demand for energy in Florida — the fourth most populous state, with an estimated 19 million residents — is quickly outpacing the capacity to create it, according to experts.

“Right now in Florida, we are at the cusp of an energy crisis. Our energy demand keeps growing,” said Frederick Driscoll, director of Florida Atlantic University’s Center of Excellence in Ocean Energy Technology.

Beginning in the Caribbean and ending in the upper-North Atlantic, the Gulf Stream lies on the eastern shore of Florida.

Its powerful currents have been used by many fishermen, sailors and explorers to expedite their passage in the Atlantic north and east to Europe, but scientists say the energy within its currents could propel Florida out of its potential energy crisis, powering 3 million to 7 million Florida homes — or supplying the state with one-third of its electricity.

“The predictions at this point estimate that the strength of the Gulf Stream could generate anywhere between four to 10 gigawatts of power, the equivalent of four to 10 nuclear power plants,” said Skemp.

“The Gulf Stream is the strongest current in the world, so we want to harness our greatest resource. It’s renewable, emission free and reliable,” said Jeremy Susac, executive director of the Florida Energy and Climate Commission.

At the university’s Center for Ocean Energy Technology in Boca Raton, Florida, ocean engineers are working with marine, environmental and material scientists to develop cost-competitive technologies to commercialize the energy within the Gulf Stream.

Though it has been considered for more than a century, harnessing the energy of the Gulf Stream is no easy task, and no sustainable system has been implemented.

“First we have to do a resource assessment and understand how much energy is in the Gulf Stream current on a minute-to-minute, day-to-day, hour-to-hour and yearly basis,” said Driscoll.

In April, researchers at the center deployed four acoustic Doppler current profilers in the Atlantic off the east coast of Florida.

Using high frequency, low-power sonar, these large orange ball-shaped objects measure the speed of the ocean currents.

“We are looking at how much energy we can safely extract — what is the sensitivity of extraction versus the environmental effects?” said Driscoll.

The vision for the pilot program is to develop and test a 20-kilowatt underwater turbine by spring 2010.

Sound familiar?

The concept behind underwater turbines is similar to that of wind turbines on land.

As water flows by the turbine, it turns a rotor blade. As the rotor blade turns, energy is generated.

That energy can be transmitted from a generator inside the turbine to electrical conducting cables, where it’s captured, harnessed and distributed for future use.

Researchers also are looking at ways to use the electricity that is generated underwater to generate and store hydrogen in the ocean. The hydrogen could be used to fuel clean-running cars and trucks.

“Because it’s such a new endeavor, there’s a lot of knowledge gaps not only in terms of the technology side but also on the ecological side of things,” said Driscoll.

Completely reliant

Florida is completely reliant on out-of-state fuel sources (coal and natural gas), but generates more than 90 percent of its own electricity, according to the Florida Energy and Climate Commission. It ranks third nationally in total energy consumption.

So how much will this endeavor cost? And what kind of impacts will it have on the local marine environment?

“Those are the questions we don’t have answers to,” said Skemp.

There are some hurdles that need to be cleared before the technology can get approval and become commercially available.

“This area is so new, we’re still finding out what needs to be done,” said Skemp.

“It’s not like an established industry, like the aerospace industry or the automotive industry or others, where you have models which you could base cost on,” added Skemp.

So far, the state of Florida has allocated $13.75 million in grants toward research and development of the pilot project, but the cost to implement the project on a large scale could be much higher.

Before a project like this can go forward, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will have to look at a whole range of factors, from the effects it will have on wild and marine life to recreation activities and shipping, said an environmental specialist with the commission.

If the pilot program is successful, it could take another five to 10 years before the technology can be implemented.

The Gulf Stream is something that has been taken for granted, said Skemp.

“The Gulf Stream is on 24/7. It’s flowing 365 days a year, so it’s a continuous source of energy.”

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco-Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com

It has been a SWELL-tering week and it looks like our abnormally hot weather is pushing into next week as well.

I don’t know about you but I HATE to cook anything when its this damn hot! Now I know some of you who live where it’s hot most of the time are scoffing at our wimpiness but we here in the Puget Sound area are just not used to temperatures much over 85 so when it reaches 100+ we tend to melt as most of us do not have air conditioning! I can tell you hubs has a fan going in every room and our dogs get hosed down at least 4 times a day to keep them cool.

Below is a wonderful, tasty and super easy (almost no cook) pasta salad.

In addition to the ingredients listed I also add sliced black olives and pepperoni! We also use those tri-colored twisted pasta noodles for a nice contrasting color. I omit the pimento (yuk!) and I substitue green onions for the scallions and instead of using cherry tomatoes for garnish I add them as an ingredient to the salad.

Pasta Primavera Salad
Serves 8-10

1 pound Pasta Shells
3/4 c. Virgin Olive Oil
2 Tbl. Red Wine Vinegar
2 Garlic Cloves, peeled & crushed
3 Tbl. Parsley, minced
2 c. Broccoli Florets
4 Scallions, minced
1 c. Mozzarella Cheese, cubed
1 Pimento, sliced
Cherry Tomatoes, halved, for garnish

Cook pasta following package directions.

Combine olive oil, vinegar and garlic in small jar, shake well to blend. Set aside.

To the cooked, cooled pasta add parsley, broccoli, scallions, cheese and pimento (and any other ingredients you want to throw in there!). Drizzle the olive oil dressing over the top and mix thoroughly.

Refrigerate for at least 3 hours to blend flavors.

Garnish with cherry tomatoes and serve.

Pasta Primavera Salad

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco-Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com

A couple of years ago I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis…which has me a little concerned since I am not even 50 yet. I have it in my knees, hips, hands and neck and am currently on an anti-inflammatories. While this works 1/2 the time I have been searching for something natural to help as well.

I came across references of taking Devil’s Claw for arthritis relief. But now that I have read more I am having doubts whether this is safe.

In reading the information on Medline Plus it looks like Devil’s Claw may cause gastrointestinal upset and since I have IBS I’m not sure I need to make the problem worse not to mention the fact that Devil’s Claw is used to stimulate the appetite…something I can honestly tell you I DON’T need!

It also looks like it is a short-term solution and should not be taken more than 3 months. That won’t work for me as I can feel my arthritis getting worse over the years.

So as it stands now I won’t be buying any Devil’s Claw supplement until I can talk to an herbalist and my doctor about any safety issues with my current medicine.

Per Medline Plus website:
Devil’s Claw

Devil’s claw ( Harpagophytum procumbens ) originates from the Kalahari and Savannah desert regions of South and Southeast Africa. In these parts of the world, devil’s claw has historically been used to treat a wide range of conditions including fever, malaria, and indigestion. The medicinal ingredient of the devil’s claw plant is extracted from the dried out roots.

Currently, the major uses of devil’s claw are as an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever for joint diseases, back pain, and headache. There is currently widespread use of standardized devil’s claw for mild joint pain in Europe.

Potential side effects include gastrointestinal upset, low blood pressure, or abnormal heart rhythms (increased heart rate or increased heart squeezing effects).

Traditionally, it has been recommended to avoid using devil’s claw in patients with stomach ulcers or in people using blood thinners (anticoagulants such as warfarin/Coumadin®).

Degenerative joint disease/osteoarthritis

There is increasing scientific evidence suggesting that devil’s claw is safe and beneficial for the short-term treatment of pain related to degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis (8-12 weeks), it may be equally effective as drug therapies such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), and it may allow for dose reductions or stopping of these drugs in some patients. However, most studies have been small with flaws in their designs. Additional well-designed trials are necessary before a firm conclusion can be reached.

Low back pain

There are several human studies that support the use of devil’s claw for the treatment of low back pain. However, most studies have been small with flaws in their designs, and many have been done by the same authors. Therefore, although these results can be considered promising early evidence, additional well-designed trials are necessary before a firm conclusion can be reached. It is not clear how devil’s claw compares to other therapies for back pain.

Appetite stimulant

Traditionally, devil’s claw was commonly used as an appetite stimulant, and this remains a popular use. However, there is no reliable scientific evidence in this area, and it remains unclear if devil’s claw is beneficial as an appetite stimulant.

Cancer (bone metastases)

Devil’s claw is used to treat several types of pain, including osteoarthritis and low back pain. One case report indicates it may also be helpful for pain due to bone metastases. More research is needed in this area before a conclusion can be drawn.

Digestive tonic

Devil’s claw is popular as a digestive tonic for the relief of constipation, diarrhea, and flatulence. However, there is no reliable scientific evidence in this area, and it remains unclear if devil’s claw is beneficial for these uses.

Uses based on tradition or theory

The below uses are based on tradition or scientific theories. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider.

Allergies, antiarrhythmic, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, arteriosclerosis (clogged arteries), arthritis, bitter tonic, blood diseases, boils (topical), choleretic, constipation, coronary artery disease, diabetes, diuretic, dysmenorrhea, edema, fever, fibromyalgia, flatulence, gall bladder tonic, gastrointestinal disorders, gout, headache, heartburn, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, hip pain, kidney disorders, knee pain, labor aid, liver tonic, malaria, menopausal hot flashes, menstrual pain, migraine, myalgia, nerve pain, nicotine poisoning, pain reliever, rheumatoid arthritis, sedative, skin cancer (topical), skin ulcers (topical), sores (topical), spasmolytic, tendonitis, urinary tract infection, vulnerary for skin injuries (topical), wound healing.

Side Effects and Warnings

At recommended doses, devil’s claw is traditionally believed to be well tolerated. Whether use of devil’s claw for longer than 3-4 months is safe or effective is unknown.

There are reports of headache, ringing in the ears, loss of taste and appetite, gastrointestinal upset, and diarrhea in those taking this herb. Devil’s claw may affect levels of acid in the gastrointestinal tract and should be avoided by people with gastric (stomach) or duodenal (intestinal) ulcers. Devil’s claw should be used cautiously in patients with gallstones.

Devil’s claw may change the rate and force of heartbeats (chronotropic and inotropic effects). Individuals with heart disease or arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) should consult their cardiologist or primary care physician before taking devil’s claw.

In theory, devil’s claw may lower blood sugar levels. Caution is advised in patients with diabetes or hypoglycemia, and in those taking drugs, herbs, or supplements that affect blood sugar. Serum glucose levels may need to be monitored by a healthcare provider, and medication adjustments may be necessary.

In theory, devil’s claw may increase the risk of bleeding. Caution is advised in patients with bleeding disorders or taking drugs that may increase the risk of bleeding. Dosing adjustments may be necessary. Patients may need to stop taking devil’s claw before some surgeries, and should discuss this with their primary healthcare provider.

Devil’s claw products may be contaminated with other herbs, pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, or drugs.

For more information please visit Medline Plus/Devil’s Claw.

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco-Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com

Stickers, Labels and Tags for Every Occasion!

If you are looking for a way to personalize your homemade jam, need address labels or to thank someone for a wonderful party or need birthday stickers then check out Sticker Doodles website!

They have just about every kind of cool sticker you could ever want. They even offer customization!!!

I have them bookmarked as a favorite so next time I can get our personal address labels from them!

Sticker Doodles

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco-Friendly Shea Butter Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com

Update 07.24.09 / 3:00 pm
Back end of our website is now working properly and all bugs have been fixed.

Thank You Judy!!!
___

Upgrading websites and blogs is great..when things go right….
and not so great when things go wonky.

As luck would have it things have gone a bit wonky.

We needed to do a security fix for our website and we also upgraded our php to a newer version.

This has resulted in an error or two and at this time it has not been determined which ‘fix’ is causing the problem.

What this mean is that I cannot log into our website to make updates and changes.

You CAN still place orders and we will receive the orders but we are not receiving ALL of the information necessary to complete the order. Until this problem is fixed (hopefully today!) we may need to call you to get any missing information to complete your order. Your online invoice will be updated just as soon as I can log into the website properly.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that our webperson (the genius that she is) can fix this asap and I ask for your patience and understanding as this issue is being worked on!

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco-Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com

*Love that Heat
**Locks of Love
***Seafair
***Google Analytics

*Love the Heat
As I have posted in the past summer around here (Puget Sound) typically doesn’t start until July 5th. This year however, summer started way back in May and is still going strong!

We have had weeks and weeks of absolutely NO rain and temperatures ranging from the low 70′s to the upper 80′s. It looks like rain is NOT in the forecast anytime soon and the next week will bring temperatures up into and past 95 degrees. Low temperatures during the night will hover around 65-ish so there won’t be much cooling off before the next day’s heat arrives.

This is so not normal for Washington state! I’m not complaining as this is what summer is supposed to be (vs. grey, cloudy skies with marine mist!) and I plan on enjoying every minute of it as I know soon enough our normal weather will be back soon!

**Locks of Love
I had really long hair but always wore it up in a ponytail as there really isn’t a whole lot of styling you can do with hair that long.

Last week I made the decision that I had had enough of a frumpy, unfashionable hair style and went to my favorite and long-time stylist to have it all cut off!

My hair is now just above my shoulders and I no longer wear it in a pony tail. I now use a flat iron to give it a straight, sleek look which I love. I have no idea why I waited so long and vow to never let my hair get that long again!

Through my stylist I donated my cut hair to Locks of Love, an organization that provides hair pieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.

So not only do I have a new ‘do’ I didn’t let my cut hair go to waste!

***Seafair
Seafair is a big deal in Seattle with many events going on all month long.

Tomorrow night is the Torchlight Parade from 7:30 pm – 9 pm. You have the choice of buying tickets to sit in the grandstand area or you can sit for free along the city streets.

As for me….I don’t like crowds and will be watching the parade via our tv most likely sitting in front of a fan and sipping on a strawberry margarita!

***Google Analytics
I recently had Google Analytics installed on our website as I was curious to see what information it would glean from our website visitors.

There is a lot there and I’m still trying to figure out what it all means.
Here are a few tidbits:

Traffic Overview
Direct Traffic 34.65%
Referring Sites 32.67%
Search Engines 32.67
So it appears we are pretty even on where our traffic comes from!

Technical Profile
Internet Explorer 70.3%
Firefox 23.76%
Safari 2.97%
It appears that IE is still the browser of choice

Google Analytics also has Events and Goals but I have yet to figure out the details on these!

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco-Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com