{How I miss our Syringa 'Krasavitsa Moskvy' Lilac...}

We do have such a drought right now that it is tough to keep our plants and shrubs alive. How I long for the time that we had our lush shrub of white Lilacs; Syringa 'Krasavitsa Moskvy' and I have only two photos of their blossoms. What a possession that was and the heavenly fragrance. But the shrub died in our hot climate... Those photos are not the best ones I took, but it gives you at least an idea. They're being shown with our Philadelphus mock orange. Even the mock orange barely had blooms this year. It is by no means a showy year for beautiful vases with blossoms! Thank goodness for photos to enjoy them when they're not at their best or even when they're no longer living in the garden...

How lucky are those that can grow lilacs and enjoy their heavenly fragrance!

{Flat Belly Diet Foods - Meet the MUFAs!}

Summer is almost starting and that also means getting into shorts and bathing suits, e.g. bikinis. I just came across some very help full foods that I want to share with you! First of all; what are MUFAs? That are monounsaturated fatty acids, plant-based fats found in some of the world's most delicious foods; avocado, nuts and seeds, oils, olives and dark chocolate! Good for heart health too.

Already previously in my 6th blog award post, I did reveal some facts about me:

1) Dark chocolate is my favorite.

2) Avocado is yummy for breakfast (we eat a half one each day!) and great for skin.

It seems to be even better than just for your skin!

Nuts we do eat with a cup of hot tea in the afternoon, so we're living pretty healthy according to the MUFAs info above.

Contrary to the avocado's nickname 'butter pear' it proves to be a weight loss food. Huh, did you all know that?! It does decrease belly fat.

Pick your MUFA: Florida Avocado, Hass avocado. Personally I prefer the Florida avocado. Click Recipes for Avocado 

AMEN to dark chocolate! One of my favorites. For sure I inherited that from my Dad; he loves it too. Most people like the milk chocolate but THIS is the healthy one...

Related link:
{SUGAR is your #1 enemy!} | previous post by me
{Foods that Support the Skin} | previous post by me
{Natural Healing Chart for almost all Sickness} | previous post by me with a wealth of information!
{9 'Harmless' Habits That Age You} | previous post by me with great tips

{Going GREEN with Attic Fan}

In an ongoing effort to lower the cost of energy, my dear husband Pieter did decide to install an attic fan after having worked in the HOT area under the roof. He had to climb up there for finding the wires to connect the newly installed ceiling fans in the living room and kitchen, as seen in {Our Energy Star ceiling fans from Wayfair + Superior Customer Service}. It was on May 15, that I took the first photo from the installation of this attic fan with thermostat (Home Depot). On May 17 Pieter completed it. We both are anxious to find out what the difference in energy consumption will be for next month's billing. Around 11:30 AM in the morning the thermostat starts the attic fan and we have since noticed that the air-conditioning has not been running much. Both of us wonder why a builder would not install such an attic fan right away... Maybe now, when energy prices become an issue, people will be more conscious about GOING GREEN. Let's hope so, because all together we can make a huge difference and it affects ones pocket in a positive way. The investment costs are not high at all; only the labor is rather intensive and working in the heat is not pleasant; even if a big fan is being used up there. All together we ought to lower our Carbon Footprint!

Here you see the cellulose on the attic, which is already a help in insulating the house. Pieter put in this beam newly, so he can walk over it, without having to 'toe' his way through the cellulose, in search for the nearest beam to step on. Our entire roof construction is made out of red cedar and is done in a very solid way; following Pieter's advice after he'd made the drawings for our home himself. The attic fan is being installed in front of those vents that are above the bedroom/garage side of the house.

My dear handy man and 'worker bee' in action. It cost him lots of t-shirt changes, because it was a brutal hot job up there. I am proud of him for being able to perform like this after his quadruple bypass surgery on September 3, 2010. When he saw his cardiologist a week prior to this job, he was told by him that Pieter was his best patient! Sure, he follows up with discipline and we both go to the Fitness Center to build up strength and it pays off. Never easy but that's life. It's not a pick nick to be on earth... But the satisfaction one has from things done with your bare hands is tremendous! It's all worth it.

Remember; he has to stand on those support beams as there is no solid flooring! Not easy to manage and he did hurt his knee while doing that for days on end. Hope it will only be a strained muscle...

Imagine if this would be glass wool, how it would itch...

So much for the invention of cordless drills to work wherever you want to!

Two days later by 8:00 PM I made this photo of the Attic Fan with thermostat being up and running!

A brand new outlet being installed with switch for new light. There was NONE; another neglect by the builder! Several times the people from the air-conditioning had to work on the attic and they too need light.

Light installed now on both ends of the attic. This is above our kitchen area. The silver colored ducts you see here are from the air-conditioning.

Next day, on May 18, the fan began running automatically and has done so every day. Good feeling for having it all installed before the heat starts really hitting us. Now it is already 90s in F or 30s in C and soon that will be 100s or 40s!

Are you ready for the heat too?

Energy wise that is...

Related link:

{Saving Energy and Our Attic} | post by me about energy saving

{Our Energy Star ceiling fans from Wayfair + Superior Customer Service} | post where Pieter had to find the wiring on the attic...