EARTH DAY - APRIL 22, 2025

Earth Day in April is the one day that focuses on the crucial role of renewable energy in combating climate change and securing a sustainable future. It highlights the importance of renewable energy using sources like solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and tidal power. 

Many people are dismayed to learn that China currently leads in renewable energy capacity and generation, hosting nearly half of the world's total operating wind and solar capacity, and generating a significant portion of global renewable electricity. Whether a fan or foe of green energy, finding alternate ways to generate it to help save our planet from destruction and for future generations is a noble cause.                                                                                                  

When I look around our house, we have embraced solar energy with solar lights on and around our house. They are both an aesthetic feature and also provide illumination for safety reasons. Many schools are now building small solar energy farms to save energy costs. The Steelton-Highspire School District (SHSD) in Pennsylvania is a school district that utilizes a 1.7 MV solar array to power 100% of its electricity needs, resulting in significant cost savings and serving as a clean energy mode.

I am always in awe of the windmills when we travel. Locally, you can view them along the mountain tops on a drive to Altoona, Pennsylvania. When we visited Palm Springs, California, we were able to see the vast number of wind turbines of the San Gorgonio Mountains, strategically placed on both sides of Interstate 10 to take advantage of the 15-20 miles per hour wind that weaves through the pass in between the San Jacinto Mountains that hug Palm Springs. 

With springtime sneaking upon us, it is time to rejoice and appreciate the beauty of our planet. There are already small buds on our lilac bushes. The poppy plants, fearless of the cold, have awakened with green foliage shooting upward and daffodils and crocuses are blooming. As I look around and think how beautiful our rural landscape is, I can't resist raising my voice in celebrating Earth Day with all those who support the protection of our lands and Planet Earth. 

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SUMMER ON MY SWING - Pondering Answers

“Hot July brings cooling showers, apricots and gillyflowers.” - Sara Coleridge

I admit as a writer I enjoy time alone to sit and think which is why I like July, why I like summer. My patio swing calls me to rest, enjoy the warm days or balmy nights, and ponder the world. It’s said curiosity is instrumental in driving our thought processes. It’s when I’m wrapped in that solitude when I ask questions which may or may not have answers: 

• Why can’t we see the wind? 
• How does the song sparrow learn its many different songs?
• Do woodpeckers get headaches? 
  
• What do northern squirrels think when they eat their first southern peanut from my bird feeder? Can they have an allergy to them? 
• Fireflies flash in patterns that are unique to each species. Have they ever learned another pattern like we learn second languages? 
• Why was the daisy chosen to be the flower plucked with the chant: He loves me, he loves me not?

 And my weird wondering brain chugs along…

Maybe in our attempt to explain things in nature, we need to accept there are mysteries which may never have explanations. As humans, we like explanations. We like plans. We like the predictable.

And, we like to ponder.

After all, isn’t that what creativity really is? The use of our imaginations or original ideas in the production of an artistic work?

So I leave you with this July wish: Take time to rest, relax, and contemplate the world around you. And if you get a bizarre or curious thought, drop it in the comment box below so we all can ponder the answer!

 

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