Today we celebrate Columbus Day in America.  For many school kids that means a day away from studies.  They might even have gotten a short lesson on Columbus and the importance his voyages played in world history.  I fear, however, that they are missing a far more important lesson... the lesson on courage.

Courage is one of the most important qualities we can possess.  For without it, so few of the others can exist.  You need courage to persevere, to love, etc.  Since so much of what we face is coupled with a given amount of risk, we must have the courage to accept it in order to progress.

I was fortunate enough to have a strong role model growing up who made it very clear that all things are possible.  Very often the only thing that stands between us and our goal is fear.  You may have read here before 'be fearless' in design or cooking.  That merely means to have bravery and daring.  To be clear, there is nothing wrong with fear.  Courage doesn't mean lack of fear.  It means being afraid and pressing on anyway.  Taking calculated risks is what moves people from safe to successful.

As parents, we have done our best to create a world where kids feel safe.  In many elementary schools choosing 'winners' is avoided to protect feelings.  The world can be a tough place.  Kids need good coping skills and the courage to stick their necks out a bit and take some risks.  Many kids will take the path more travelled and never become what they are meant to be without someone to show them that courage is king.

We all know this already, but sometimes we need a gentle reminder... or someone in our corner. Someone once told me 'success is not final and failure is not fatal.'  I have made plenty of mistakes along the way.  They are necessary to grow.  My advice to young people, including my kids, is:

• find something you love
• align yourself with the right people
• be kind
• be grateful
• and never never give up 

Around the world today people will be celebrating Earth Day.  This is our chance to do something good for the environment and appreciate the wonder of nature.  Many cities around the globe are holding events to demonstrate ways to have a lesser impact on the environment overall.  If you are not sure about your area, check out this page at the Environmental Protection Agencies website.  While you are there, explore the other possibilities for you to help on this day and beyond.  I particularly like the Pick 5 program.

If you are staying closer to home today, you may wish to keep things a little more “low-key”.  Either way, if you have children, stressing the importance of taking care of Mother Earth is indisputable.  One way to show you care would be to take a walk around the neighborhood with a trash bag in hand.  Who knows?  You might even be a positive catalyst for your neighbors.

A walk might help you connect with nature, too.  There are so many things in our immediate environment that we take for granted.  Try exploring the world around you and creatures in their habitat with a child.  That can be truly eye-opening.

This evening I am committed to watching the Life series on Discovery.  I have recorded them all, but so far only seen one.  It was a-maz-ing!  If the rest of the series even comes close to the one about insects we are in for a treat.  For more information on the series, check out the page at Discovery.

Whatever your plans are or your feelings about the day, one mantra holds true…give more, take less.  It is true of so many things in life, but profoundly true in terms of the environment and our use of natural resources.  We should all be trying to leave the world a better place than we found it.  Have a glorious day!

savour… fresh air and clean water.

Last weekend we cleaned out the attic and stirred the squirrels that have made a home up there.  We finished quickly.  Certain that we had scared the squirrels outside with all of our noise; we moved outside to seal up the hotel entrance.  We used galvanized metal to be sure that they would not be able to re-enter.

    We were quite pleased with ourselves.  After an afternoon of shopping we sat down to a late lunch.  My wife (who by the way has superhuman hearing) jumped up and ran to the back of the house.  Mr. Squirrel was in the playroom!  We opened the outside doors and scurried him out.  Despite our best efforts, we could not find the point of entry.  It was then that we decided it was time to call in the professionals.  Squirrels: 1 Hendersons: 0.

    The Internet revealed a great deal of information regarding squirrels in the attic.  We contemplated trying some of the methods described, but then resigned to getting a professional opinion.  Our guy came out the next morning.  He showed us all of the potential opportunities for wildlife invasion.  Mostly, the tiny spaces were ideal for rats.  They can evidently make themselves paper-thin.

    After installing a humane, one-way trap at the opening, we were sure our problems were solved.  We would give the squirrels a day or two to get out and then remove the trap and seal the hole.  Then I could get on to gardening on Saturday and start that thread.  The squirrels had a different idea.  They showed up inside the house again changing our plans for the weekend. 

Ok, Nesters, I am trying to be patient and kind, but enough is enough.  My opinion of the furry little creatures is quickly waning.  I am beginning to think of them as nothing more than rats with a better wardrobe.  In fact, here is a picture of one from last fall who got caught up in a rag or something.  He decided to make lemonade and turned his misfortune into a little kilt.  Charming.  Perhaps it is our friend from the attic and showing this around to the area nut gatherers will shame him into moving to a new neighborhood. 

    Maybe he will blame it on the Margaritas.  Tequila can make even the tamest become a bit of a squirrel.  Don’t worry about the tequila in today’s treat of the week, though.  All of the alcohol has been baked off.  What is left is a sugar cookie with a bit of margarita appeal.  The lime adds just the right amount of green to finish off the week.

savour… worthy adversaries.