Mama gnome invites you to join the gnome family and countless humans who will celebrate Earth Hour 2013.
This Saturday, March 23, 2013, at 8:30 p.m. please turn off your lights and all non-essential appliances for an hour.
Hmmm. What to do for an hour without power?
How about a romantic candlelit dinner?
How about a rousing game of shadow puppets?
How about letting nature take over like in this video.
video from: earthtouch
Here is Earth Hours' video
video by: earthhour
How will you spend your earth hour this year?
Take the challenge and go beyond the hour. Spend your time being green.
(c) friendlygnome.blogspot.com
Friday, March 22, 2013
Spring Visits the Gnome Garden
A wonderful hello to you all who have come to visit this mother gnome once again.
Please forgive Mama gnome's tremendously long absence from her garden.
It is terribly awful of Mama gnome to have neglected her garden for so long.
Spring has visited the gnome garden and the blooms have come out to greet her.
Here is a beautiful redbud tree which the gnomelets love to play by and visit.
Young gnomelets have made a nest in her branches as you can see here with a gem as a ruse for an egg.
They wanted to see if a bird might take lodging in the nest but their experiment has not been successful.
The pear tree has also greeted spring with white blossoms.
.JPG)
Mama gnome hopes to be more mindful of her garden this year. Hopefully you will come again to visit her too.
Spring has come and the cycle of life renews.
Please let spring visit your garden and live your life green.
(c) photos and text friendlygnome.blogspot.com, Mama gnome
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Present for Mama gnome...Organic veggies and fruits!
This week the gnome family received swiss chard, kale, beets, snap peas, green onions, dill, cabbage, oranges, tomatoes, and a few other things Mama gnome has to look up for she isn't sure what they are called. But they sure looked and smelled beautiful.
Make everyday an Earthday present for yourself and go green!
(c) friendlygnome.blogspot.com, Jenaelha
Make everyday an Earthday present for yourself and go green!
(c) friendlygnome.blogspot.com, Jenaelha
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Happy Earth Day!
In honor of Earth Day, Mama gnome biked and braved the treacherous roads towards the library. For seven miles, the old mother gnome pushed her stubby legs to make it up the hills. There were times Mama gnome almost gave up. She had to stop on the side of the road a few times to drink water and rest in the scant shade she could find. But she made it home safe. Daddy gnome and young gnomelets greeted her with wild joy and Daddy gnome hugged Mama gnome extra tight.
Happy Earth Day to all humans and gnomes.
Please join the gnome family and do something extra green for Earth Day.
Please celebrate Earth Day everyday and go green.
(c) Jenaelha, friendlygnome.blogspot.com
Happy Earth Day to all humans and gnomes.
Please join the gnome family and do something extra green for Earth Day.
(c) Jenaelha, friendlygnome.blogspot.com
Friday, March 30, 2012
Earth Hour 2012
This Saturday, March 31st, starting at 8:30 pm, Mama gnome is looking forward to a romantic candle lit dinner with Daddy gnome, young gnomelets and hopefully millions of humans around the world.
video by earthhour
The gnome family are participating in Earth Hour when the gnome house will be quieter, darker, and more peaceful by turning off all the lights and nonessential appliances.
video by earthhour
Mama gnome encourages you to go beyond the hour and keep the spirit of Earth Hour in your day to day way of life.
Peace and quiet around the house, candlelit dinners...Mama gnome thinks it's all good.
Please be romantic and go beyond the hour, and go green.
(c) Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog
Peace and quiet around the house, candlelit dinners...Mama gnome thinks it's all good.
Please be romantic and go beyond the hour, and go green.
(c) Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Mystery Animal of the Day
It has been a while since young gnomelets have seen a Mystery Animal and so Mama gnome presents the Mystery Animal of the Day.
This animal feeds with its beak upside down. It is especially adapted to filter feed on blue green algae and very tiny shrimp.
To the ancient Egyptians, this bird was the living representation of the god Ra.
This animal is able to stand on one leg most of the time while it displays its bright plumage ranging from pink to bright red.
If you had guessed the Mystery Animal of the Day is the flamingo, Mama gnome congratulates you and reminds you, Earth Day is coming up on April 22, 2012.
photo by: LadyofHats
There are six species of flamingos.
First, the Greater Flamingos which are found in Africa, Europe, and Asia.
Second are the Lesser Flamingos which are found in Africa and India. The Lesser Flamingo has the biggest population of all flamingos.
Third are the James's Flamingos found in the High Andes in Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia.
Fourth are the Andean Flamingos also found in the High Andes of Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia.
Fifth are the Chilean Flamingos found in the temperate areas of South America.
Sixth are the American Flamingos found in the Caribbean and Galapagos islands.
Flamingos spend a lot of time standing on one leg and it has been proposed by scientists that they do this to conserve body heat or regulate their body temperature especially when they are standing in water.
"The Asian and southern African populations are partially migratory, with many making regular movements from their breeding sites inland to coastal wetlands when not breeding."
Flamingos are obligate filter feeder and they feed mainly during the night or early morning when the water is relatively calm. They filter the mud and water to feed on algae near the surface.
One cool thing, Mama gnome was excited to learn about, is that flamingos will form a large feeding flock to "create calm water for feeding near the center of the flock." Because of their very precise diet of mostly blue-green algae, they feed in alkaline lakes, salt pans, and saline lagoons, and estuaries.
Baby flamingos are born with gray plumage which change color as they grow older because of their diet.
Flamingos are social birds and live in colonies in thousands which help protect them from predators and to facilitate feeding.
Here is a beautiful video by BBCWorldwide:
According to the IUCN, flamingos' main breeding sites in Africa "are threatened by proposed soda-ash mining and hydro-electric power schemes."
Flamingos are also threatened by "land-claim, water pollution, and disturbance, and there are fears that the population at Lake Bogoria is suffering from malnutrition."
Andean flamingos are threatened by "egg collecting...with thousands taken annually, mining activities, unfavourable water-levels (owing to weather and manipulation), erosion of nest-sites and human disturbance may also affect productivity."
A few years ago, thousands of flamingos were dying along the lakes of Kenya and Tanzania. Researchers said possible causes included "avian cholera, botulism, metal pollution, pesticides or poisonous bacteria."
Mama gnome and gnomelets were terribly saddened by this. It was enough for the gnome family to see red...not pink!
Mama gnome asks you to do your part to help save flamingos and other marine animals and birds by participating in the annual Coastal Cleanup Day.
Please help save flamingos and paint the landscape pink by going green.
(c) Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog
This animal feeds with its beak upside down. It is especially adapted to filter feed on blue green algae and very tiny shrimp.
To the ancient Egyptians, this bird was the living representation of the god Ra.
This animal is able to stand on one leg most of the time while it displays its bright plumage ranging from pink to bright red.
If you had guessed the Mystery Animal of the Day is the flamingo, Mama gnome congratulates you and reminds you, Earth Day is coming up on April 22, 2012.
photo by: LadyofHatsThere are six species of flamingos.
First, the Greater Flamingos which are found in Africa, Europe, and Asia.
Second are the Lesser Flamingos which are found in Africa and India. The Lesser Flamingo has the biggest population of all flamingos.
Third are the James's Flamingos found in the High Andes in Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia.
Fourth are the Andean Flamingos also found in the High Andes of Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia.
Fifth are the Chilean Flamingos found in the temperate areas of South America.
Sixth are the American Flamingos found in the Caribbean and Galapagos islands.
Flamingos spend a lot of time standing on one leg and it has been proposed by scientists that they do this to conserve body heat or regulate their body temperature especially when they are standing in water.
"The Asian and southern African populations are partially migratory, with many making regular movements from their breeding sites inland to coastal wetlands when not breeding."
Flamingos are obligate filter feeder and they feed mainly during the night or early morning when the water is relatively calm. They filter the mud and water to feed on algae near the surface.
One cool thing, Mama gnome was excited to learn about, is that flamingos will form a large feeding flock to "create calm water for feeding near the center of the flock." Because of their very precise diet of mostly blue-green algae, they feed in alkaline lakes, salt pans, and saline lagoons, and estuaries.
Baby flamingos are born with gray plumage which change color as they grow older because of their diet.
Flamingos are social birds and live in colonies in thousands which help protect them from predators and to facilitate feeding.
Here is a beautiful video by BBCWorldwide:
According to the IUCN, flamingos' main breeding sites in Africa "are threatened by proposed soda-ash mining and hydro-electric power schemes."
Flamingos are also threatened by "land-claim, water pollution, and disturbance, and there are fears that the population at Lake Bogoria is suffering from malnutrition."
Andean flamingos are threatened by "egg collecting...with thousands taken annually, mining activities, unfavourable water-levels (owing to weather and manipulation), erosion of nest-sites and human disturbance may also affect productivity."
A few years ago, thousands of flamingos were dying along the lakes of Kenya and Tanzania. Researchers said possible causes included "avian cholera, botulism, metal pollution, pesticides or poisonous bacteria."
Mama gnome and gnomelets were terribly saddened by this. It was enough for the gnome family to see red...not pink!
Mama gnome asks you to do your part to help save flamingos and other marine animals and birds by participating in the annual Coastal Cleanup Day.
Please help save flamingos and paint the landscape pink by going green.
(c) Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Poisoned Apple
Green valleys lined with rows of fruit trees made the mother gnome smile.
The trees, warmed by the sun, stretched out their arms. But a dark shadow passed overhead and loud roaring sound reverberated in the valley.
A clap of thunder on this glorious sunny day? Mama gnome looked out the window. The shadow revealed itself. A huge flying monster with dragon like wings swooped down.
It sprayed toxic mists on top of all the young fruit trees.Mama gnome clapped her hand over her mouth. She really did.Nothing like a good dose of reality to shake Mama gnome out of her ignorance about pesticides and herbicides.
There are terrible health consequences to pesticide exposure including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, brain cancer, prostate cancer...
Is it any wonder that people who work with pesticides dress like this?
The trees, warmed by the sun, stretched out their arms. But a dark shadow passed overhead and loud roaring sound reverberated in the valley.
A clap of thunder on this glorious sunny day? Mama gnome looked out the window. The shadow revealed itself. A huge flying monster with dragon like wings swooped down.
It sprayed toxic mists on top of all the young fruit trees.Mama gnome clapped her hand over her mouth. She really did.Nothing like a good dose of reality to shake Mama gnome out of her ignorance about pesticides and herbicides.
There are terrible health consequences to pesticide exposure including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, brain cancer, prostate cancer...
Is it any wonder that people who work with pesticides dress like this?
"Monsanto pesticide to be sprayed on food crops."
photo by:http://www.usda.gov/oc/photo/94cs3568.htm
Does it not make you think twice about eating fruits and vegetables that were sprayed with something so toxic, the person has to wear a hazmat suit?
video from tiboc
Here is a shopper's guide to pesticides. They list the "dirty dozen" fruits and vegetables and the "clean 15." The worst offenders are apples, celery, strawberries, and spinach!
EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce
Dirty Dozen
Buy these organic
1 Apple
2 Celery
3 Strawberries
4 Peaches
5 Spinach
6 Nectarines–imported
7 Grapes–imported
8 Red Sweet bell peppers
9 Potatoes
10 Blueberries–domestic
11 Lettuce
12 Kale/collard greens
Clean 15
Lowest in Pesticide
1 Onions
2 Sweet Corn
3 Pineapples
4 Avocado
5 Asparagus
6 Sweet peas
7 Mangoes
8 Eggplant
9 Cantaloupe-domestic
10 Kiwi
11 Cabbage
12 Watermelon
13 Sweet Potatoes
14 Grapefruit
15 Mushrooms
Please heed Mama gnome's warning.
Please avoid the poisoned apple and eat organic fruits and veggies.
Save yourself and go green.
(c) jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Gnomelets Have Taken Over
Mama gnome apologizes for her long absence in her garden.
Young gnomelets have taken over the mother gnome's life.
They take up almost all of Mama gnome's waking and sleeping hour.
Mama gnome would like to share this wonderful video.
Please watch this magical show of starlings in flight.
The year is coming to an end.
Mama gnome hopes to tend to her garden a lot more often next year.
In the meantime, please tend to our garden planet Earth and go green.
(c)Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog
Young gnomelets have taken over the mother gnome's life.
They take up almost all of Mama gnome's waking and sleeping hour.
Mama gnome would like to share this wonderful video.
Please watch this magical show of starlings in flight.
Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.
The year is coming to an end.
Mama gnome hopes to tend to her garden a lot more often next year.
In the meantime, please tend to our garden planet Earth and go green.
(c)Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Mama gnome vs. Plastic Bag Monster 2011
The ancient clock chimed and Mama gnome sat bolt upright in bed.
Her pointy hat fell off and landed in a bucket on the floor.
Mama gnome reached down to pick up her hat ignoring the pains in her joints.
She solemnly placed her pointy hat on her bedhead hair and thought,
"There will be a time for aches and pains later. Today, something else will get its come uppance."
For that fateful morning was not any other ordinary morning.
It was the dawn of Mama gnome versus Plastic Bag Monster, Battle 2011!
Every year in the month of September, the gnome family participates in the momentous Coastal Cleanup Day.
Mama gnome has battled against her nemesis, Plastic Bag Monster for years. And this time Mama gnome's army included not only young gnomelets (Mama gnome's secret weapons), Daddy gnome .... but also Auntie gnome!!!
(c) Jenaelha, friendlygnome.blogspot.com
At the behest of Mama gnome, Auntie gnome finally came out of her own burrow and joined in the battle against Plastic Bag Monster.
Mama gnome was delighted to find there were a few other humans participating on that brisk September morning.
In less than two hours, the gnome family had picked up over 200 cigarette butts in less than a mile of beach sand.
Over two hundred cigarettes picked up in less than two hours. It is mind boggling.
According to Ocean Conservancy, cigarettes/cigarette filters was the number one trash item picked up in 25 years of Coastal Cleanup Day.
Almost 53 million cigarettes/cigarette filters were picked up in 25 years.
Can you imagine?
53 million cigarettes dropped in the very sand where humans, gnomes, human babies, children played and walked.
And this is not even counting the countless cigarettes that have been washed into oceans, ingested by marine animals and birds.
Look at this photograph and see how toxic cigarettes can be mistaken for food by marine animals and seabirds.
(c) Jenaelha, friendlygnome.blogspot.com
Plastic minions (small pieces of plastic) are also killing the animals. See how plastic can look like dried up seaweed.
(c) Jenaelha, friendlygnome.blogspot.com
You can see the rest of the top ten items of trash picked up over 25 years of Ocean Conservancy's International Cleanup Day here.
Here are photos of some of the trash picked up by young gnomelets and the gnome family.
Mama gnome's spirit was lifted when she saw youngest gnomelet sitting and staring at the ocean.
Mama gnome will continue her fight against Plastic Bag Monster for the sake of young gnomelets and humans.
Please sit and stare at the ocean and imagine it free of plastic...and go green.
All photos copyright owned by Jenaelha, friendlygnome.blogspot.com
(c)Jenaelha, friendlygnome.blogspot.com
Her pointy hat fell off and landed in a bucket on the floor.
Mama gnome reached down to pick up her hat ignoring the pains in her joints.
She solemnly placed her pointy hat on her bedhead hair and thought,
"There will be a time for aches and pains later. Today, something else will get its come uppance."
For that fateful morning was not any other ordinary morning.
It was the dawn of Mama gnome versus Plastic Bag Monster, Battle 2011!
Every year in the month of September, the gnome family participates in the momentous Coastal Cleanup Day.
Mama gnome has battled against her nemesis, Plastic Bag Monster for years. And this time Mama gnome's army included not only young gnomelets (Mama gnome's secret weapons), Daddy gnome .... but also Auntie gnome!!!
(c) Jenaelha, friendlygnome.blogspot.comAt the behest of Mama gnome, Auntie gnome finally came out of her own burrow and joined in the battle against Plastic Bag Monster.
Mama gnome was delighted to find there were a few other humans participating on that brisk September morning.
In less than two hours, the gnome family had picked up over 200 cigarette butts in less than a mile of beach sand.
Over two hundred cigarettes picked up in less than two hours. It is mind boggling.
According to Ocean Conservancy, cigarettes/cigarette filters was the number one trash item picked up in 25 years of Coastal Cleanup Day.
Almost 53 million cigarettes/cigarette filters were picked up in 25 years.
Can you imagine?
53 million cigarettes dropped in the very sand where humans, gnomes, human babies, children played and walked.
And this is not even counting the countless cigarettes that have been washed into oceans, ingested by marine animals and birds.
Look at this photograph and see how toxic cigarettes can be mistaken for food by marine animals and seabirds.
(c) Jenaelha, friendlygnome.blogspot.comPlastic minions (small pieces of plastic) are also killing the animals. See how plastic can look like dried up seaweed.
(c) Jenaelha, friendlygnome.blogspot.comHere are photos of some of the trash picked up by young gnomelets and the gnome family.
Mama gnome's spirit was lifted when she saw youngest gnomelet sitting and staring at the ocean.
Mama gnome will continue her fight against Plastic Bag Monster for the sake of young gnomelets and humans.
Please sit and stare at the ocean and imagine it free of plastic...and go green.
All photos copyright owned by Jenaelha, friendlygnome.blogspot.com
(c)Jenaelha, friendlygnome.blogspot.com
Friday, October 14, 2011
Computer Plays Mind Games
Mama gnome apologizes for her long absence in her garden.
She has battled against Plastic Bag Monster and prevailed.
She was in the midst of writing a most splendid account of this momentous event when an unforeseen force reared its ugly head.
Computer...
Mama gnome is computer savant. She has spoken of her woes from computer mind games.
Alas, computer plays mind games on Mama gnome's head once more and Mama gnome's secret weapon (Daddy gnome who is most computer savvy) is away visiting his mother.
What is Mama gnome to do?
Computer won't let Mama gnome post pictures of her battle against Plastic Bag Monster last month.
Computer defeats Mama gnome's every desperate technique...clear cache, clear cookies.
Mama gnome even cleared the pantry and ate the cookies.
But why doesn't it work? Why? Why? WHHHHHYYYYY?
Please, bear with Mama gnome while Mama gnome tries to unravel the mystery of Computer mind games.
Meanwhile, please play a game Mama gnome most love and go green.
(c) Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog
She has battled against Plastic Bag Monster and prevailed.
She was in the midst of writing a most splendid account of this momentous event when an unforeseen force reared its ugly head.
Computer...
Mama gnome is computer savant. She has spoken of her woes from computer mind games.
Alas, computer plays mind games on Mama gnome's head once more and Mama gnome's secret weapon (Daddy gnome who is most computer savvy) is away visiting his mother.
What is Mama gnome to do?
Computer won't let Mama gnome post pictures of her battle against Plastic Bag Monster last month.
Computer defeats Mama gnome's every desperate technique...clear cache, clear cookies.
Mama gnome even cleared the pantry and ate the cookies.
But why doesn't it work? Why? Why? WHHHHHYYYYY?
Please, bear with Mama gnome while Mama gnome tries to unravel the mystery of Computer mind games.
Meanwhile, please play a game Mama gnome most love and go green.
(c) Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog
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