Are Freshwater Pearls Less Expensive? - Part 2

Pearls from freshwater, sold by IndiaMart

You may read part 1 (previous post):

- Are Freshwater Pearls Less Expensive? - Part 1

There are plenty variables, but some factors that determine pearl’s price in the commercial market include:

- colors
- shape and size
- origin (from what oceans)
- whether come from cultured or wild oysters or clams or mussels

Yes, oceanic pearls more famous and expensive compared to their freshwater “fellows.”

Three famous origin of pearls are from:

- South sea pearls, price from US$ 1,000 to US$ 100,000
- Tahitian pearls, price from US$ 500 to US$ 25,000.
- Japanese pearls, cost from US$ 300 to US$ 10,000.

Pearl colors (credit to Alibaba)

Several well know colors for both freshwater and saltwater pearls are:

- golden yellow
- purple
- black
- white
- chocolate
- pink
- silver gray
- cream

Then, Why Freshwater Pearls are Less Expensive? It is because freshwater mussels could produce 30 pearls, while sea water oysters produce 1 pearl only at once.

Do you interest to have pearls?

Freshwater or saltwater pearls?

Are Freshwater Pearls Less Expensive? - Part 1

Fig 01- Pearls, cultivated from freshwater, sold by Walmart.

A friend of mine from China offered me whether I would like to buy freshwater pearls when she traveled to China for family vacation.

What?

Pearl?

I never imagine to have expensive jewelry let’s say thousands dollar worth, and a pearl is not my favorite.

She said the price less than a dollar only in China, very cheap for a real, not “imitated or plastic” pearl.

Both freshwater and oceanic pearls are real, natural pearls produced by a kind of clams or oysters.

I check to Amazon, yes, the lowest freshwater pearl cost US$ 8 only, very cheap.

The “normal” prices could be ranged from US$ 50 to US$ 2,000. 50 dollar might be reasonable price for everyone.

Fig 02- A freshwater pearl sold by Amazon

Saltwater or Sea water pearls could range from US$ 500 to US$ 100,000, depend very much on many factors.

Then, you might wonder: what are crucial factors to decide a pearl price in the commercial market?

# To be continued to part 2

## Previous posts:

- Wreaths for Mardi Gras in Louisiana
- Local Event Called as “Mardi Gras” In Louisiana, USA
- A chocolate as a Gift for Valentine’s Day

Why the Free Meals Program could Attract Kids to Come to Library?

A novel with title Sabrina and Corina

I went to library yesterday, check a couple novel out for weekend reading. One of the novel is Sabrina and Corina.

The novel seems about family and life, specifically about Latina in Denver, Colorado.

The picture in the book is an eye catching. Even some people said the cover is not always revealing the content, but I always excited about seeing the cover.

I know, a visualize is very important in some part. The novel (cover) may be seen at above picture.

Then, when I stepped out from the library building I saw one sign at front door on the right side under a Southern Magnolia tree.

The sign is standing a little lower, the adults will be ignoring the sign. In my thought the sign must be for the kids. When the kids walk through they will read it.

Here is the sign:

The sign for kids

I remember when I met a young college professor brought three of her kids to the library for this event last year. She said they had never missed the meals.

She had four reasons to brought her kids for free summer meals in the library:

- Number one, her kids were picky eater.

- Number two, she was so busy to cook fresh and nutritious meals for kids everyday.

- Number three, the kids got used to library and enjoy reading books.

- Number four is about social life, her kids made new friends, talked each others, and played together with them.

Free summer meals for kids are for every kid with 1-18 years of age. This program is a part of Summer Food Service Program.

The program is one of projects administered by Food and Nutrition Service US Department of Agriculture (USDA) that serves in 9 location of libraries and public schools in Baton Rouge.

Meals service times on first come-first served basis while all foods last.

Do You Visit Car Service Center Every Year?

Fig 01- Car service center.

I need to come to the car service center at least one per 4 months or 3 times a year for oil changes.

In addition to oil change, I also ask the service men to do some basic services such as:

- Checking filter whether change needed
- Checking washer fluid
- Checking brake fluid
- Checking anti freeze
- Checking steering fluid.

Since my car is Japanese car, Toyota brand, thus, I come to Toyota care center in my city, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

It is requirement by government (local government) to check emission and smock in authorized centers every year.

Then?

Fig 02- Service check in

If nothing happen, I just pay US$ 15 to US$ 25 for inspection fee, depending on the seriousness of problems.

Fig 03- The waiting room

It is because I did at private inspection centers. Actually, US$ 10 for local government inspection fee only. 

Fig 04- A cup of coffee

I bought my Toyota ten years ago (in 2009), I feel that a lot of benefit for serving my car regularly, few are:

- Car is running smoothly
- Hassle free
- Increase driving safety
- Lower running cost compared to the same car age.

The service is not take too long, usually 1 hour. If a lot of things must be checked and replaced, then take two hours or little bit longer.

There is a waiting room which provides self service of a hot coffee. We may drink a cup of hot coffee or milk coffee while waiting the service is completed.

By the way, How Many Times a Year that You Visit Car Service Center?

A Bouquet from Combinations of Flowers and Vegetables

Fig 01- Roses and vegetable

I am quite surprising that a kind of vegetable is combine with roses to make a bouquet. In term of colors, we may see:

- Green
- pink
- white
- and many others.

The color combinations look so pretty for me.

As far as I know that people mixed the flowers only, rarely from vegetable for bouquet. They choose variety of flowers, include:

- calla lilies
- dahlia
- gardenias
- peonies
- and roses.

Fig 02- Yellow rose with others

I love very red, yellow and white roses. I like white because the color could blend with other. 

Fig 03- Vegetable and roses

Red and yellow refer to warm feeling. Other colors are:

- pink
- burgundy
- peach
- purple
- green
- orange
- and blue.

I just know that green flowers in bouquet mean resilience, health and good fortune. Also, could mean renewal and optimism.

What are Your favorite flowers?

Grass in Our Yard during Hot Summer

Fig 01- Lawn mower is starting to work

Type of grass that grew on our lawn seems tolerate to:

- heat
- drought

The grass also need low maintenance only.

We cut grass down almost routinely:

- every three weeks during spring
- two weeks during summer.

You may know that higher temperature together with length day light causes grass grow so fast.

Thus, we need to increase frequency to mow our lawn from every 3 weeks to every two weeks or even every 10 days in the middle of hot temperature.

Because of too heat, F 106 or C 41 degree, we delayed to cut our grass at front and back yards for a while.

41 Celsius degree is not only too hot, but also might dangerous for our health.

Fig 02- Thick and tall grass, but covered by wild weed.

Then, storm and hurricane came. We faced windy and rainy for more than a week.

Fig 03- Our front lawn after grass cut.

Branches fell down everywhere.

Blackout made live inconvenient.

Grass grew uncontrollable.

Grass looks thick and tall than usual.

We observed our grass covered by wild weed. Ugly looking. After finding a proper time, then we clean our lawn.

By the way, how many times a month that your grass cut during summer?

A chocolate as a Gift for Valentine’s Day

Homemade chocolates covered strawberries

Plenty of gifts for valentine’s day is available in the market, from cheap to expensive ones.

Many people to choose chocolate as a gift for this special day with several reasons:

- tradition since old days

- symbol of love

- emotional reasons

- stimulate love

- to make connections with others

- promote spiritual wisdom

- reasonable price.

As we know, heart shape is the most popular for gift in valentine’s day, may be every where in this planet.

However, trending gift in our neighborhood is chocolates covered strawberries. Homemade chocolate by seasonal small business.

Colorful chocolate in the box

The price is a quite reasonable with almost a half price compared to market price with similar quality product.

We may wonder why are chocolates covered strawberries favorite for valentine’s day gift in my neighborhood recently?

The reasons are quite simple:

- perfect combination of chocolate and strawberry

- chocolate is a symbol of love, wisdom and relationship

- strawberry is refer to love of goddess, Venus.

Do you like chocolate and strawberry? Do you have specific gift for valentine’s day?

Wreaths for Mardi Gras in Louisiana

Fig 01- Mardi Gras wreath with words of Happy Mardi Gras

We have February carnival called as Mardi Gras party, usually 47 days before Easter every year in Louisiana.

Interesting part of Mardi Gras celebration for me is its decorations. Some important items to be decorated are:

- parade float

- team colors in parade float

- Beads

- Mask

Wreaths are hung on doors to greet party friends, guests and family members during Mardi Gras season.

The combination colors of wreaths are:

- metallic purple

- gold

- green

- purple polka

Fig 02- Mask as part of wreath

Mask is one of important items in Mardi Gras celebration. Women and men use mask for at least three purposes:

- hiding their identity

- fuel their imagination

- excitement   

Fig 03- Simple wreath on a white door.

Using mask in celebration, actually come from Italian tradition since centuries ago, hence called as “carnevale.” It is just called as “Mardi Gras face mask” now days.

People also decorate their wreath with mask with include:

- feathers

- streamers

- ribbon trimmings

Have you known Mardi Gras celebration?

I Got a Covid 19 Vaccine Shot Recently – Part 2

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- I Got a Covid 19 Vaccine Shot Recently – Part 1

Fig 01- Christmas decoration at one of city corners

Then, in term of effectiveness, just for comparison of effective rate for other two familiar vaccines are:

- 50% for H1N1 flu vaccine
- 90% for varicella vaccine.

Immediately after getting shot, nothing happen to my body, feeling and whatever. Then, I was asked by a nurse to stay in the specific room for about 15 minutes.

Image 2- Pfizer vaccine (credit to BBC)

Image 3- Plants, just for illustration

I was observed to see “adverse reaction.” No “anaphylaxis,” a serious allergic reaction. Nothing happens at all.

You might wonder that why I could be included as first recipients of covid 19 vaccine?

No, I am not older than 75 years old.

I am a healthcare personnel “who worked directly with Covid 19 patients.” 100% of my patients are survive.

Merry Christmas and happy new year to all of you!!

# Previous postings:

- The Gloomy in the Beginning of the Year of Rat – Part 2
- Making Perfume in the Organic Chemistry Laboratory - Science 1
- Cold Morning at My Workplace, Baton Rouge, USA
- The Gloomy in the Beginning of the Year of Rat – Part 1

*** 24 December 2020

I Got a Covid 19 Vaccine Shot Recently – Part 1

Luckily, I got first shot of Covid 19 vaccine on December 18, 2020, few days ago. The date was exactly with vice president of USA, Mike Pence.

Image 1- Entrance to vaccine shots administration

The difference that Mike Pence was injected in Washington DC, while me in my city, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

I was included as first recipients in the city. Vaccine brand called as Biontech – Pfizer needs two shots.

In my cases, two shots and dates are:

- Primary shot, done on December 18, 2020
- Booster shot will be on January 8, 2021.

Image 2- An interior building, just for illustration

Image 3- A public building

The interval between primary shot and booster shot is 21 days. Quite shorter compared to another vaccine (Moderna vaccine).

As you might know that the effective rate of both Biontech – Pfizer and Moderna are higher:

- 95% for Biontech – Pfizer
- 94.5% for Moderna

Then, you might wonder: what happen to my body after getting Biontech – Pfizer vaccine shots?

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- The Gloomy in the Beginning of the Year of Rat – Part 2
- Making Perfume in the Organic Chemistry Laboratory - Science 1
- Cold Morning at My Workplace, Baton Rouge, USA
- The Gloomy in the Beginning of the Year of Rat – Part 1

** 22 December 2020

The Gloomy in the Beginning of the Year of Rat – Part 2

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- The Gloomy in the Beginning of the Year of Rat – Part 1

Image 1- The cartoon of coronavirus (Credit: Murray et al)

Normally, corona virus infects the epithelial cells of respiratory tract of human. The reason is this place has the optimum temperature for the corona virus to grow in optimal condition.

This virus is believed to well develop in the temperature range of 33 – 35 degree Celsius.

China had been ready for the biggest festival to celebrate their New Year, called as Spring Festival.

Image 2- Just for illustration

Image 3- Cute cat, illustration only

In their faith, to welcome the new year, they decorate their to against demons and evil, put calligraphy to welcome the fortune, and prepare the red envelopes to health of their children.

Those things seem do not help for this year. The new coronavirus from Wuhan have come over the China and now spread to other countries.

On January 27, the Day of Rat, which is the day that rats marry, the virus had killed at least 80 people in China and infected about 3000 people around the world and the most is in China.

The Rat looks mourn.

# Previous postings:

- Visitor My Blogger - 12 Countries in 3 Days
- Cold Morning at My Workplace, Baton Rouge, USA
- Local Event Called as “Mardi Gras” In Louisiana, USA
- Making Perfume in the Organic Chemistry Laboratory - Science 1

# December 16, 2020

Local Event Called as “Mardi Gras” In Louisiana, USA

 

Fig 01- A unique designed “vehicle” with many people on it

“Mardi Gras” is French for “Fat Tuesday” in English. Mardi Gras also called as Shrove Tuesday, which means confess on Tuesday.

In Louisiana, Mardi Gras is occurring on any Tuesday from February third to March ninth. We celebrate Mardi Gras on February 3rd in the year (2018). We scheduled March 5th for Mardi Gras in the year of 2019.

Unfortunately, no Mardi Gra in the 2021 due to Covid 19 pandemic. However, discussion to change the date is still gong.

Actually, other countries celebrate Mardi Gras too, few of them are:

- Binche, Belgium

- Quebec City, Canada. ...

- Nice, France

- Venice, Italy

- Trinidad and Tobago

- Goa, India

Fig 02- A strange “creature” in the carnival

It is related to religious obligation, where people in Louisiana “shrove” before fasting. The schedule of Mardi Gras is 47 days before each year.

Fig 03- Two adorned vehicles in carnival.

Mardi Gras is happy day for me and many friends in Louisiana. We are happy to catch and collect beads throw down from vehicles during carnival.

There are many colors of beads. What I know are:

- Purple means justice

- Green represents faith.

- Gold symbolizes power.

Have you involved in Mardi Gras celebration or watch carnivals? Where and when?