Why 'Possum has a Large Mouth A Choctaw Folk Tale As told by Bayou Lacomb Very little food there was for Deer one dry season. He became thin and weak. One day he meet 'Possum. Deer at once exclaimed, "Why, 'Possum, how fat you are! How do you keep so fat when I cannot find enough to eat?" 'Possum said, "I live on persimmons. They are very large this year, so I have all I want to eat." "How do you get the persimmons?" asked Deer. "They grow so high!" "That is easy," said 'Possum. "I go to the top of a high hill. Then I run down and strike a persimmon tree so hard with my head that all the ripe persimmons drop on the ground. Then I sit there and eat them." "That is easily done," said Deer. "I will try it. Now watch me." 'Possum waited. Deer went to the top of a nearby hill. He ran down and struck the tree with his head. 'Possum watched him, laughing. He opened his mouth so wide while he laughed that he stretched it out. That is why 'Possum has such a large mouth.

The Scent of the Skunk A Native American Folk Tale Retold by Bernice Insley The skunk was once a larger animal than he is now- he was as large as a hill. But he became smaller and smaller and this caused him to worry. "If I grow smaller and smaller," he said, "I will lose my strength. Then how can I hunt, and kill my game, and make my living?" And so he thought and thought. "I know," he said. "I will make a strong hunting medicine which will give me skill even when I am not so large as now." He hunted and hunted to find all the plants as he could grasp in his hand, he took them home. He ground them up very, very fine, like a powder. Then, when this medicine was all prepared, he placed it in a little pouch that he carried with him wherever he went. Then he said, "I will test my medicine against the biggest, strongest thing I can find." He looked around, and there he saw a large oak tree; nothing could be bigger or stronger than this tree, and decided to test his medicine against it. He took some powder out of his pouch - only a pinch of the powder was needed - and put it in some water, and drank it. Then, to make still more powerful medicine, he sang, "Who is going out hunting, for I go out to hunt?" Then the skunk shot at the oak tree - not with an arrow, but with this medicine, a foul-smelling liquid - and the tree shrank away and died, and looked as if it were burned. Nothing was left but a pile of ashes. The hunting medicine made by that skunk was the same as that the skunk carries today.

The Magic Arrow Native american lore There was once a young man who wanted to go on a journey. His mother provided him with sacks of dried meat and pairs of moccasins, but his father said to him: "Here, my son, are four magic arrows. When you are in need, shoot one of them!" The young man went forth alone, and hunted in the forest for many days. Usually he was successful, but a day came when he was hungry and could not find meat. Then he sent forth one of the magic arrows, and at the end of the day there lay a fat Bear with the arrow in his side. The hunter cut out the tongue for his meal, and of the body of the Bear he made a thank-offering to the Great Mystery. Again he was in need, and again in the morning he shot a magic arrow, and at nightfall beside his camp-fire he found an Elk lying with the arrow in his heart. Once more he ate the tongue and offered up the body as a sacrifice. The third time he killed a Moose with his arrow, and the fourth time a Buffalo. After the fourth arrow had been spent, the young man came one day out of the forest, and before him there lay a great circular village of skin lodges. At one side, and some little way from the rest of the people, he noticed a small and poor tent where an old couple lived all alone. At the edge of the wood he took off his clothes and hid them in a hollow tree. Then, touching the top of his head with his staff, he turned himself into a little ragged boy and went toward the poor tent. The old woman saw him coming, and said to her old man: "Old man, let us keep this little boy for our own! He seems to be a fine, bright-eyed little fellow, and we are all alone." "What are you thinking of, old woman?" grumbled the old man. "We can hardly keep ourselves, and yet you talk of taking in a ragged little scamp from nobody knows where!" In the meantime the boy had come quite near, and the old wife beckoned to him to enter the lodge. "Sit down, my grandson, sit down!" she said, kindly; and, in spite of the old man's black looks, she handed him a small dish of parched corn, which was all the food they had. The boy ate and stayed on. By and by he said to the old woman: "Grandmother, I should like to have grandfather make me some arrows!" "You hear, my old man?" said she. "It will be very well for you to make some little arrows for the boy." "And why should I make arrows for a strange little ragged boy?" grumbled the old man. However, he made two or three, and the boy went hunting. In a short time he returned with several small birds. The old woman took them and pulled off the feathers, thanking him and praising him as she did so. She quickly made the little birds into soup, of which the old man ate gladly, and with the soft feathers she stuffed a small pillow. "You have done well, my grandson!" he said; for they were really very poor. Not long after, the boy said to his adopted grandmother: "Grandmother, when you see me at the edge of the wood yonder, you must call out: 'A Bear! there goes a Bear!' " This she did, and the boy again sent forth one of the magic arrows, which he had taken from the body of his game and kept by him. No sooner had he shot, than he saw the same Bear that he had offered up, lying before him with the arrow in his side! Now there was great rejoicing in the lodge of the poor old couple. While they were out skinning the Bear and cutting the meat in thin strips to dry, the boy sat alone in the lodge. In the pot on the fire was the Bear's tongue, which he wanted for himself. All at once a young girl stood in the doorway. She drew her robe modestly before her face as she said in a low voice: "I come to borrow the mortar of your grandmother!" The boy gave her the mortar, and also a piece of the tongue which he had cooked, and she went away. When all of the Bear meat was gone, the boy sent forth a second arrow and killed an Elk, and with the third and fourth he shot the Moose and the Buffalo as before, each time recovering his arrow. Soon after, he heard that the people of the large village were in trouble. A great Red Eagle, it was said, flew over the village every day at dawn, and the people believed that it was a bird of evil omen, for they no longer had any success in hunting. None of their braves had been able to shoot the Eagle, and the chief had offered his only daughter in marriage to the man who should kill it. When the boy heard this, he went out early the next morning and lay in wait for the Red Eagle. At the touch of his magic arrow, it fell at his feet, and the boy pulled out his arrow and went home without speaking to any one. But the thankful people followed him to the poor little lodge, and when they had found him, they brought the chief's beautiful daughter to be his wife. Lo, she was the girl who had come to borow his grandmother's mortar! Then he went back to the hollow tree where his clothes were hidden, and came back a handsome young man, richly dressed for his wedding.

The Legend of the White Bear Submitted by Bawaajige Ikwe Once upon a time there was a White Bear whose nephew, Black Bear, lived with him along with several other animals, including Fox. Because Fox was always up to mischief, the White Bear took away Fox's right shoulder. Consequently Fox became ill. White Bear tied Fox's right shoulder to a bunch of claws that he always carried with him. Now Fox became very sick and unable to get along very well without his right shoulder. He sent for Crow, who seemed always full of cunning, to devise some scheme to get back Fox's right shoulder. After a long talk, Crow left to visit White Bear, who was old and infirm and troubled with rheumatism. He found White Bear sitting by his fire warming himself, and saw the bunch of claws and Fox's shoulder hanging from the cave top. Crow began to talk with White Bear who nodded now and then. Crow touched the bag of claws, explaining he was only curious to see what they were made of. At last, White Bear took no notice of what Crow was doing, as he was half-asleep. Crow saw his chance, and pulled down Fox's shoulder and ran out of the camp. White Bear waked and asked his nephew Black Bear, "What has happened?" Black Bear stuttered and took so long to tell White Bear that Crow had run away with Fox's right shoulder that White Bear became ferociously angry with Black Bear. He told Black Bear to go away and find himself a new home and never come back again. White Bear in his rage took down the Sun and put it alongside of the claws. Outside, everything was in darkness. Animals could not hunt and were starving. So they appealed to Crow to get them out of their present trouble, caused by White Bear. In the meantime, White Bear's daughter went for water. She took a drink and saw something black; but it was too late. She had swallowed the black speck. Sometime later a child was born to her, and the infant grew so fast he could walk about. When he noticed the bright Sun hanging beside the bunch of claws, the child began to cry for it. After much frustration and begging, White Bear gave the Sun to the child to play with inside their cave. Soon he wished to play outside with the Sun, but at first White Bear would not allow it. Because the child continually begged, White Bear relented and said yes, but only close to their home. If the child saw anyone coming, he was to run inside at once and bring the Sun with him. All of these commandments the child promised to do as White Bear directed. But as soon as the boy ran outside, he threw the Sun up into the sky, for the child was the scheming Crow in yet another disguise. When White Bear discovered how he was cheated again by Crow, he was doubly furious, driving away everyone. Ever since then, White Bears always have been more ferocious and bad-tempered toward other species, as well as man

Selu (Corn Mother) and the Deer a tale Sumitted By Bawaajige Ikwe The story of Selu the Corn Mother and the Deer as the Animal representative of her are told to help us learn and personalize many of the facts in the sharings of her stories. Give and take is the principle point that it all comes to. The perfect balance and harmony. We need to see the generosity in the stories of the Deer and Selu. We need to be aware of the manner of man and how we continue to try and avoid this principal. Our generation is put to the task of dealing with all the generations of greed and insensitivity that man has evolved to. The story of Selu and the Deer help us as a people to keep our perspectives clear on the matter. Giving back is the natural order of balance; to consciously know that it works and must be maintained and no one is exempt from the principle. The old ones tell us that in the First World, Selu came with us into the Circle of Life. And as we began to move away from the Balance and Harmony of Life, we did not know her. In the last world, Selu lived with her two Grandsons in the Mountains. She was old and very wise. She sang and made the world around her very beautiful. One day, Selu watched her grandsons preparing to hunt. She thought of the days long ago when Man and the Creatures of the Forest all spoke a common language and understood each other. There was respect for all Life. It was a world of peace and happiness. There was abundance and respect. All was appreciated. Man sat in the Circle of Wisdom Keepers and was honored and loved by all. It was a good time in the Earth Mother for all Creation. Man began to have greed. The balance was lost. She remembered the Great Council of the last world where the animals had determined not to allow man to kill them all off as his hunting game. That his relentless hunger was a threat to their cycles of life. Man over-hunted and killed too many Relations in the food chain. Many, such as the Deer, put forth a punishment to all who would eat their flesh. And this was the first disease of man. And thus came Nuwati, medicine. Selu remembered how terrible it was for the animals in the forest when they could smell man and knew he had come to kill them. Selu's heart was heavy, It was a long time ago, she thought. It is time to begin again and seek the harmony and regain the balance. Man needs to return to the Wisdom Fires Above. Man needs to be honorable. Creator combined all the Creations into Mankind. Man holds all the patterns of principles within his body, mind and spirit. Selu saw how the Great Spirit had given man all the gifts and how man had lost them with all his greed. Selu saw her grandsons loading up the weapons for the kill. She knew there was more than enough food in their home to feed everyone. Hope leapt forth in her heart as she had an idea. She went to her grandson and spoke, "You are going out today?" The oldest replied, "Yes, we prepare to hunt." Selu said, "We have so much already. Let me cook you a wonderful dinner!" The younger grandson answered, "No, we must hunt. We are hunters. We will bring you many Wild Turkeys." Selu tried again, "But we have many Turkeys already and I will make you Corn and you will feel full and not have the need to hunt." The grandsons continued to get ready to hunt. "We will be back by evening and you will see, we will bring you fresh meat." Selu wished them well and asked them to respect all, and show appreciation to the animals. The grandsons laughed and went into the forest. Selu cooked and made a meal that tempted all who had senses to smell and eat. She sang and blessed the meal with her love. She waited. Soon her grandsons came into the clearing around their home. They had smelled the wonderful meal for miles and were happy to see it came from their home. Selu was happy to see them, and as she put the feast upon the table, she saw they had killed a boar pig. They ate and could not say enough about how delicious the meal was and how good it was to have the corn stuffing and spices, with the Turkeys. Again she said to them, "See, we have so much to eat, we do not need to kill the animals." They said they were tired and needed to sleep, so they could get up early and be out before the deer. Selu listened and she asked them again how they liked the food she had made. They told her they loved the food and never had they eaten so much and tasted anything as good as the corn. They asked her where she had gotten the corn, and she did not answer. She was happy they loved the meal and was planning the feast for the next day. She sang as the night moved over the lands, "Soo Looo, Sooo Looooo, Soooo Loooooo, Sai." Her grandsons dreamed of bread made of corn and honey. The next morning, very early, they were up and went for their weapons. She watched. She went to them again and said, "We have so much left from yesterday, and a fresh boar from the hunt also, we have so much. Do you really have to go hunting?" "Yes," they said, "we are hunters. Today we will bring you a big deer." Selu looked at her grandsons. She loved them very much and she knew they loved her also. She would try again. They went to hunt and she cooked. The meal was even more wonderful than the day before. The smells went throughout the forest. Everyone knew Selu was cooking a feast. Her grandsons smelled the sweetness of corn while they were hunting. They remembered the taste, and that they had never tasted anything that good ever before. Selu was smiling. As evening came, the grandsons came home with their kill. It was a fine deer. They were very good hunters, the kill had been quick and the deer did not suffer. For this, Selu appreciated the skill of her grandsons. They followed the wonderful smells of corn and sat down to a feast like none ever before. They could not tell Selu how much they loved the food, because there were not enough words to describe it all. So they gave her the deer as their token of gratitude. She knew it was an honorable act to them. She thanked them and took the deer. After dark, she returned it to the forest. All were happy. Selu sang her song as the Men drifted into dreams of laughter and play. In the dreams, they saw their grandmother as a beautiful young woman, more beautiful then any they had seen. She sang throughout the night. They awakened early and felt so good. They felt strong and youthful again. They were laughing and felt playful as they were children. The Sun came up in glorious colors. As they prepared to hunt, they realized they were not in such a hurry to go to the forest and hunt. They asked Selu to make them breakfast, and she did. Fried corn mush and sweet honey. As they ate, it tasted so good they ate more than they needed and were so full, they needed to nap. They noticed that Selu looked younger, and was so happy, she sang and sang. The Sun was high by the time they were ready to go hunt. As they were leaving, Selu asked them not to go, "We have so much food now, more than we will ever be able to eat. I will feed you. I can cook everyday and you can do many things to help," "No", they said, "We must go hunt, we are hunters. Today we will hunt Turkeys." Selu watched as they left to go hunt and called out after them to remember to appreciate the animals. She was happy and began to prepare the meal for today. While out on the hunt, the youngest brother said to the older one, where does Selu get this corn that she is cooking? Do you know where it comes from?" The older brother said he didn't and that it did not matter to him. It was delicious and Selu would only feed them what was good, that was what he knew. All that day, the young man thought about the corn. As evening came, they returned home with the wild turkeys, the smells of the feast drawing them home. They were eager to sit down and again eat the delicious corn of Selu's feast. They told her how much they loved how she prepared their meal and how beautiful she was and how happy the home was because of her beauty and grace. She beamed as a light and they were in awe of her. She sang to them and they drifted into wonderful dreams and a sleep as peaceful as ever they could remember. They dreamed of happy days and abundance for everyone. The world was more beautiful than ever. They heard the animals speak and they heard the wingeds singing and they felt in right relation to all life. The dreams were of heaven. They awakened to the soft humming of Selu as she prepared the breakfast, of grits and butter, with sweet maple syrup. Selu looked even younger and happier than yesterday. The younger grandson was very curious and kept asking Selu where she got the corn. She would smile and say, "I make the corn, it is my gift to my Grandchildren. Another time she answered, "I am the corn." He was not satisfied and he began to annoy the older brother with his questions. "Let us go hunt and stop all these questions now. She told you she makes the corn and that is enough for me. It is good and I love it." Selu beamed her heart upon her oldest Grandson and he felt her love. It gave peace to have her in his home. The younger brother was not satisfied. He said, " Yes, it is good, and yes, I have never had anything better, but I want to know where it comes from, and I will find out." Off they went to hunt and Selu sang as she cleaned and cared for the home and land. She gave appreciation for all the relations and sang to them all. While the men were hunting, the younger brother kept insisting that they needed to know where she gets the corn. The older brother ask him why and he said he just must know. "Are we not happier than ever before? Can you ask for more? Just be thankful and happy she has given this to us, and how fortunate we are to have her." The young man could not accept this, and said I will go watch and see where she goes and gets this corn. He left the older brother and sneaked back home to spy on Selu. He watched her take a huge basket and go to the root cellar. There he watched her through a small hole as she stood in the basket and slapped her sides. Each time she slapped her sides, corn would fall into the basket. She continued until her basket was filled to the top. He was terrified and ran to find his brother in the forest hunting. Selu gave some of the corn pollen to the bees for honey and to the Earth for some tasty roots and herbs and salad greens. She fed corn pollen to the birds for singing as she worked and was generous to all the relations. Everyone was happy and the world was a beauty place. She cooked for her Grandsons and sang of beauty and happiness. The Grandson ran back to the older brother and said what he saw and that the corn was Selu's body. The older brother was heavy in his heart. And he said to his brother, "If what you say is true, then it is an unsavory thing we do. We cannot eat our Grandmother. How is this that she can make her body turn to corn? This is strange and unsafe and not of this world. Something is not good here and I cannot understand this thing. We must be careful, something has taken our Grandmother." It grew dark and they started home. The smell was so tempting and they could feel their stomachs ache for the corn. They heard music all around their lands and Selu singing. Their hearts were in pain as they knew they feared her for all she was. At dinner, she heaped up their plates with all the delicious things of the lands and watched as they picked at it and ate little or nothing. She grew sad as she watched and realized they knew what they could not live with and know. The Knowledge was too much for them and it had destroyed the balance between them and the world. Selu asked them, "Do you not love me? Have I not given you all of myself? Have you not felt the peace and happiness in my Life with you? What would you ask of me?" As she spoke, Selu grew very old and became very ill and her life began to leave her body. The Earth grew cold and all was silent. A long night fell upon the Forest and the Grandsons cried for what had happened. The youngest was unhappy for his loss and asked for forgiveness. Selu asked them to come to her side and listen well. "I have much to tell you," she said, "and we have but a little time now as I am. I am as old as the soil, and first man. I am the Corn. I was given to you as your substances and as Abundance, Happiness, Health and Peace. I Am Selu, I Am the Corn Mother." She told them to take her form when she passed over to pure Spirit, place it in the soil, and make a circle around it. "I will return to you in a cycle as a plant, that grows tall and strong. I will have golden hair at the top, and I will have ears of golden seeds at my sides that will also have hair. When it turns brown, you will pick it, and peel back its sweet leaves and dry the seeds. There will be seven ears of the corn. Do not eat them, use all of them as seeds. When the spring comes, make mounds as the woman in her birthing place, and make a planting stick as your own seed planter is shaped and insert it into the mounds you cultivate and place two seeds in each hole. Go to the Old River Man and ask his children the fish, to come and bring the Water Spirits to the land, so the corn can grow. Place a fish in each hole and add the seeds. This corn you will not eat. You will use as offerings and seeds for the sacred ways of the Land and Waters." Selu told them many things to make Life good again. She told them when to plant and how to speak and hear the Moon. She told them to sing and dance and what the Ancients had given us. She told them she loved them and that they were to keep well and safe. She was given to show us how to keep the joy of life and to maintain the balance. The wisdom was much and the Grandsons were happy that Selu was their Grandmother and that her love lived in all things. When she passed to Spirit to wait for her return, they would not hunt unless they were nearly starving and they did as she had instructed. They became wise. When the Spring came after Selu had passed, the youngest brother went for a wife. When he came home, his wife was given the Wisdom of Selu, and she had memory of the Old One's Ways and they planted and harvested the corn as was given them and happiness was with their children. Selu says to us to come home and open to the Wisdoms of the First World Ojilaka Zicahota

Two Bears The dancing firelight from the center of the large earthern lodge lit the hollow sunken faces of those in the circle. The silence of the shadow-filled room was broken by Running Crow. "We must have meat! Will this killing storm last forever? Our little ones grows weak from hunger." Murmurs of agreement were heard around the fire. "But who can live in this storm?" "To go hunting in this storm is to die," said another. More murmurs of agreement, then silence, and the crackling of the cedar fire. It was late when Two Bears returned to his fire. He rekindled the dying fire left by his woman and sat down to think. Just before the first light the woman of Two Bears awoke to hear chanting, mixed with the howling of the wind. As she lay still, she knew that today Two Bears would hunt for the tribe and that her man would die. Many hours of hunting, the weight of the icy wind has worn Two Bears out. Finding a small cove of shelter from the wind, he rested. In his exhaustion, Two Bears slept. As he slept he dreamed of a buffalo herd with huge white wolves running between buffalo. Two Bears noticed that most of the buffalo weren't nervous or jittery about the hungry wolves. The wolves ran around nipping and barking, but most of the herd stood calmy still and the wolves didn't attack. Shortly, a nervous cow broke away from the herd and ran. Wolves attacked her from ever direction. The rest of the herd stood calmly. Two Bears awoke with a start. The hunger chewing at his insides drove him back into the storm, the dream forgotten. After hours of fighting the wind and snow, Two Bears, exhausted and disheartened, found a fallen tree, the branches forming a natural shelter from the wind. As he was breaking off branches of the pine needles for his bed and covering, he found a small, nearly dead bird. Placing the small bird inside his robe, Two Bears laid down and covered himself with the branches..."It is better to die with a friend. At least he will be warm," was his last thought as he drifted off to sleep. Slowly awaking to the tinkling music of a spring and the singing of birds. Two Bears enjoyed the warm breeze on his skin. Coming fully awake Two Bears jumped as though pierced by an arrow. "Can this be real? I must be dreaming!",he said as he sat up. There above the small spring stood that same bird watching him. As Two Bears watched, the bird spread is wings. They seemed to grow until the tiny bird had become an eagle. As the eagle closed his wigs, he said in a thunderous voice, "I am the spirit guardian of this forest and this day you have given me my life. In payment of my debt, you will find food for your people and I will give you the meaning of your vision." "My thanks to you Guardian," Two Bears stammered. "But I am a hunter, not a Holy Man who sees visions." "The herd of buffalo and the wolves were your vision," thunderd the eagle. "The buffalo herd is your people. The white wolves represent a time of cruelty and harshness that the Great Spirit brings among your people to cleanse them. The children of the Great Spirit have forgotten the teachings of love and peace brought by the Ancient ones. Your time is spent in warfare and murder. Your people must return to the teachings of the Great Spirit and live as the Ancient Ones, in peace with all beings. They your people will be like the buffalo herd, unharmed. But woe to any who do not heed this warnng, for they will be removd from the breast of the Mother Earth, as the buffalo cow removed. "After the cleansing period the white wolves will die of their own hand. The true children of the Great Spirit will again live in peace. Hold true! And stand courageous like the buffalo of your vision. Now return to your people. Tell them and teach them and your children. Then go out to all the people and teach them. Let no one forget! "Now awaken!" thundered the eagle. Ojilaka Zicahota

This has LOADS of sodium in it. I'm guessing the Ham is the culprit. BUT... it sounded kinda good so I'm sending it anyhoo. HUGS, kath AEGEAN ISLAND HAM SANDWICH Yield: 2 Servings Source: National Pork Board Note: Ham paired with Mediterranean flavor offers a surprising combination in this pita sanwich. Serve with marinated olives. INGREDIENTS - 1/2 cup shredded ham - 1 tablespoon olive oil - 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice - 1 cup spinach leaves - 1 teaspoon dried oregano - 2 pita bread halves DIRECTIONS In a small bowl, toss together ham, olive oil, lemon juice, spinach and oregano. Divide ingredients evenly between pita halves. Nutrition Information Per Serving: 260 Calories; 10g Protein; 10g Fat (1g Sat); 2g Fiber; 20mg Cholesterol; 32g Carbohydrates; 820mg Sodium

C R O C K P O T P I C K Crockpot Chicken and Herb Dumplings 3 pounds chicken salt and pepper 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 teaspoon powdered marjoram 1/4 teaspoon powdered thyme 1 bay leaf 1/2 cup dry white wine (optional) 1 cup dairy sour cream 1 cup packaged biscuit mix 1 tablespoon chopped parsley 6 tablespoons milk 10 small white onions Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper, place in crock pot. Insert cloves in one onion. Put all onions into pot. Add garlic, marjoram, thyme, bay leaf and wine. Cover and cook on low 5 to 6 hours. Remove bay leaf and cloves. Stir in sour cream. Increase heat to high and combine biscuit mix with parsley. Stir milk into biscuit mix until well moistened. Drop dumplings from teaspoon around edge of pot. Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes.

D I A B E T I C P I C K Breakfast Blender Drink 1 cup skim milk 1/2 banana -- frozen and sliced 3 tablespoons wheat germ 1/2 teaspoon vanilla (To freeze a banana, peel and place in a zip-top bag. Place in freezer for at least 8 hours.) Place all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Exchanges: 350 calories 2 Starch servings 1 Fruit serving 1 Skim Milk serving 1 Fat serving

Thank you Kath------it is THE hardest thing to change, and change permanently ! Cece ----- Original Message ----- From: Kath <mzmouser@attbi.com> To: <FOLKLORE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 8:41 PM Subject: [FOLKLORE FAMILY] Secrets of Successful Weight Loss > Secrets of Successful Weight Loss

Amen~! :-) sometimes two steps forward and one step back, but keep going. Kath Thank you Kath------it is THE hardest thing to change, and change permanently ! Cece > Secrets of Successful Weight Loss

Secrets of Successful Weight Loss No Special Diets, Programs Necessary By Jennifer Warner WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Michael Smith, MD May 10, 2002 -- The secret of losing weight and keeping it off isn't really a secret at all -- no fad diet, no special fat-burning pill, no celebrity-endorsed weight-loss organization. The largest survey ever on long-term weight loss shows that most successful weight-loss veterans did it all on their own, without using expensive commercial diet programs, dietary supplements, special foods or meal substitutes, or drugs. The survey, conducted and published by Consumer Reports, questioned more than 32,000 dieters and found 83% of those who had kept the extra pounds off from more than a year did it without any gimmicks. In fact, just 14% of those who kept the weight off for more than five years ever signed up with Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, or other commercial diet programs, and even fewer used meal replacements such as Slim Fast. Researchers say their findings debunk the conviction that you need help from a diet guru or special meal plan to lose weight. And the biggest contributor to dieting success may not be what you eat anyway, but burning those calories with a regular exercise routine. Eight out of 10 of the successful dieters who tried exercising three or more times a week ranked it as their No. 1 dieting strategy. Although walking was the most popular form of exercise for long-term success, nearly 30% added weight lifting to their routine to increase calorie-burning muscle mass. But not everyone who tries to lose weight is successful at it. Only about a quarter of the dieters shed at least 10% of their starting weight and kept it off for at least a year, a standard definition of weight-loss success. Researchers say there is no one-size-fits-all diet plan for everyone, but the survey did reveal some general tips and strategies that served the weigh-loss achievers well. Control your blood sugar. Refined carbohydrates create a surge in insulin that makes blood sugar levels plummet and leaves you feeling hungry. Substitute whole grains and high-fiber foods for white bread, potatoes, and pasta. Pack on the protein. Eating enough lean protein can make you feel full and slows the absorption of food. Fool yourself with volume. Adding water-filled vegetables and fruits can trick you into feeling full because you can eat more than with calorie-dense foods. Don't deny fat. Eating fat-free cookies, pretzels, and other treats that contain refined carbohydrates can lead to bingeing. Instead, allow yourself up to 30% of your daily calories to come from fat, particularly mono- and poly-unsaturated vegetable oils, nuts, and fish oil. Stay with it. More than half the dieting success stories in the survey said they applied these strategies to their diets every day. © 2002 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.

lol yeah yeah thats it~!! > > ...and what????????????? > > The little sweetheart of a lady tottered down the aisle, very slowly > > > Pat > Las Vegas > .·:*´¨`*:·..·:*´¨`*:·. *: * Richiele * * *·. .·* `*·-:¦:-*´ ³´`*:»§«:*´`³

"Mrs. Jones, that is very unusual. How old are you?" "Ninety three." "Mrs. Jones, please come down in front and tell the congregation how a person can live to be ninety-three, and not have an enemy in the world." The little sweetheart of a lady tottered down the aisle, very slowly turned around and said: "It's easy, I just outlived the bitches."

You are My Sunshine, My only Sunshine" (Be prepared to get watery eyes!) Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. They found out that the new baby was going be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sang to his sister in mommy's tummy. He was building a bond of love with his little sister before he even met her. The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen, an active member of the Panther Creek United Methodist Church in Morristown, Tennessee. In time, the labor pains came. Soon it was every five minutes, every three, every minute. But serious complications arose during delivery and Karen found herself in hours of labor. Would a C-section be required? Finally, after a long struggle, Michael's little sister was born. But she was in very serious condition. With a siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushed the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee. The days inched by. The little girl got worse. The pediatrician had to tell the parents there is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst. Karen and her husband contacted a local cemetery about a burial plot. They had fixed up a special room in their house for their new baby but now they found themselves having to plan for a funeral. Michael, however, kept begging his parents to let him see his sister. I want to sing to her, he kept saying. Week two in intensive care looked as if a funeral would come before the week was over. Michael kept nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. Karen decided to take Michael whether they liked it or not. If he didn't see his sister right then, he may never see her alive. She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into ICU. He looked like a walking laundry basket. The head nurse recognized him as a child and bellowed, "Get that kid out of here now. No children are allowed." The mother rose up strong in Karen, and the usually mild-mannered lady glared steel-eyed right into the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line. "He is not leaving until he sings to his sister" she stated. Then Karen towed Michael to his sister's bedside. He gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. After a moment, he began to sing. In the pure-hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sang: "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray." Instantly the baby girl seemed to respond. The pulse rate began to calm down and become steady. "Keep on singing, Michael," encouraged Karen with tears in her eyes. "You never know, dear, how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away." As Michael sang to his sister, the baby's ragged, strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten's purr. "Keep on singing, sweetheart." "The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms." Michael's little sister began to relax as rest, healing rest, seemed to sweep over her. "Keep on singing, Michael." Tears had now conquered the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glowed. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Please don't take my sunshine away..." The next, day...the very next day...the little girl was well enough to go home. Woman's Day Magazine called it The Miracle of a Brother's Song. The medical staff just called it a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God's love. NEVER GIVE UP ON THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE. LOVE IS SO INCREDIBLY POWERFUL. Life is good. Have a Wonderful Day! *Sniff,sniff* __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience http://launch.yahoo.com

ROFLMBO!!!!!!!! Pat Las Vegas RICHIELE3@aol.com wrote: > "Mrs. Jones, that is very unusual. How old are you?" > > "Ninety three." > > "Mrs. Jones, please come down in front and tell the congregation how > a person can live to be ninety-three, and not have an enemy in the > world." > > The little sweetheart of a lady tottered down the aisle, very slowly > turned around and said: "It's easy, I just outlived the bitches." > > ==== FOLKLORE Mailing List ==== > We share stories, poems, jokes, home remedies, and much much more... > Most of all, we share our Hearts. > »§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

Missi -- This got cut off -- what's the rest? Thanks -- Vicki ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: RICHIELE3@aol.com Reply-To: FOLKLORE-L@rootsweb.com Date: Wed, 22 May 2002 12:09:19 EDT > >> Subject: forgive your enemies >> >> The preacher, in his Sunday sermon, used "Forgive Your Enemies" as >> his subject. After a long sermon, he asked how many were willing to >> forgive their enemies. >> >> About half held up their hands. >> >> Not satisfied he harangued for another twenty minutes and repeated >> his question. >> >> This time he received a response of about 80 percent. >> >> Still unsatisfied, he lectured for another 15 minutes and repeated >> his question. >> >> With all thoughts now on Sunday dinner, all responded except one >> elderly lady in the rear. >> >> "Mrs. Jones, are you not willing to forgive your enemies?" >> >> "I don't have any." >> >> "Mrs. Jones, that is very unusual. How old are you?" >> >> "Ninety three." >> >> "Mrs. Jones, please come down in front and tell the congregation how >> a person can live to be ninety-three, and not have an enemy in the >> world." >> >> The little sweetheart of a lady tottered down the aisle, very slowly >> > > > > .·:*´¨`*:·..·:*´¨`*:·. > *: * Richiele * * > *·. .·* > `*·-:¦:-*´ > ³´`*:»§«:*´`³ > > >==== FOLKLORE Mailing List ==== >"Folklore Family" Listresses >Missi Richiele3@aol.com & Kath Mzmouser@attbi.com >»§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§« > >

Thanks Pat, :-) i'm going to head on over there. HUGS, kath ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pat Childs" <pchilds@concentric.net> To: <FOLKLORE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 12:38 PM Subject: [FOLKLORE FAMILY] Re: URL without garbage...fun stuff http://encarta.msn.com/quiz/ Pat Las Vegas Kath wrote: > Not to worry Pat. The Rootsweb filters must have caught it, because it > never > came through, > and evn if it had, still nothing to fret about. > {{{{{{{{Pat}}}}}}}}} > I'm curious though, what was the URL~? <G> :-) > HUGS, > kath > > I apologize for the garbage post. I only intended to send the URL!!! > > Pat > Las Vegas > > ==== FOLKLORE Mailing List ==== > "Folklore Family" Listresses > Missi Richiele3@aol.com & Kath Mzmouser@attbi.com > »§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§« ==== FOLKLORE Mailing List ==== "Folklore Family" Listresses Missi Richiele3@aol.com & Kath Mzmouser@attbi.com »§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

http://encarta.msn.com/quiz/ Pat Las Vegas Kath wrote: > Not to worry Pat. The Rootsweb filters must have caught it, because it > never > came through, > and evn if it had, still nothing to fret about. > {{{{{{{{Pat}}}}}}}}} > I'm curious though, what was the URL~? <G> :-) > HUGS, > kath > > I apologize for the garbage post. I only intended to send the URL!!! > > Pat > Las Vegas > > ==== FOLKLORE Mailing List ==== > "Folklore Family" Listresses > Missi Richiele3@aol.com & Kath Mzmouser@attbi.com > »§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

...and what????????????? The little sweetheart of a lady tottered down the aisle, very slowly Pat Las Vegas