Today is your day Boomer! You may have heard about this Boomer couple in Brazil who bought an old, land-devastated ranch. They restored it and still raise lots of cattle, right? No, just the opposite. Check out the picture; they restored it alright by planting 2.7 million trees in 20 years and have literally breathed new life into their ecological farm! Speaking of breathing, Sebastião Salgado says this: "The land was as sick as I was – everything was destroyed. Only about 0.5% of the land was covered in trees. Then my wife Lelia had a fabulous idea to replant this forest. And when we began to do that, then all the insects and birds and fish returned and, thanks to this increase of the trees I, too, was reborn." But what is the impact? According to Yahoonews, "The planet has about three trillion trees, part of nature’s system for cleaning dirty air — something humans have been making in abundance during the last couple hundred years. Earth loses about 15 billion trees a year for paper products, farming, and other human-related activities. So, the couple’s success in Brazil has broader implications. One mature tree absorbs more than 48 pounds of air pollution a year. It will provide clean, breathable air for up to four people. The Salgados have multiplied that impact by millions." Yes, two people can change the world. Boomers, can you plant more trees on your property? And can you give financial support to environmental organizations dedicated to tree replanting? Cheers!
Today is your day Boomer! Relaxing in my hot tub this morning, I had reflections of the 1970 CCR song "Lookin' out my Back Door". Yes, that kind of druggy, but catchy song, about the view of your backyard. Mine is spectacular: colourful sunrises, big ponderosa pines, cheer, apple, fir, and weeping willow trees, two mountains, sheep and chickens next door, two frolicking golden retrievers, beautiful green grass and what seems like a thousand birds...including quail, pheasant, chickadees, woodpeckers, and blue jays. And what else? Well....the quiet, the solitude, and the chance for reflection with no sirens, car noise, yelling people, or neighbours invading your privacy. It was...is...just beautiful, and I am so blessed to live in a rural area in BC's Okanagan Valley. Boomers, what's out your back door? John Fogerty's "tangerines and elephants" or something like my cheeries and coyotes? Check it out and appreciate the little things in life. Cheers...

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