Growing Tabasco Peppers in My Yard – Part 1

Fig – Four Tabasco peppers from my garden

I plant a couple of Tabasco peppers in my backyard, just for fun. I bought “baby” plants from Walmart nursery with reasonable price per plant.

Tabasco is a kind of chili variety with scientific name Capsicum frutescens. People said the chili come from Mexico.

It is said that Tabasco is good for:

- sauce
- pepper vinegar
- chili powder
- cayenne peppered

Tabasco is categorized as medium hot chili in term of Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Natural Tabasco chili is about 3,750 SHU (Sriracha2Go, 2021)

However, Tobasco brand pepper sold in the commercial market has scale range is from 30,000 to 50,0000 SHU. Quite high.

Moreover, I think that it is quite easy to take care the plants. Just put the plants in a suitable soil (moisture soil) with a little bit organic fertilizer.

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous posting:

- Cold Morning at My Workplace, Baton Rouge, USA
- Local Event Called as “Mardi Gras” In Louisiana, USA
- Wreaths for Mardi Gras in Louisiana
- A chocolate as a Gift for Valentine’s Day
- Grass in Our Yard during Hot Summer

Visiting the Oldest French City in Louisiana – Part 2

Fig 01- Cane river crosses the Natchitoches city

This post is the second part, the first part was:

- Visiting the Oldest French City in Louisiana – Part 1

As the oldest French settlement, many buildings are well maintain. We may find several old building such as:

- townhouses
- basilica
- general mercantile store

The city is small with population of 18 thousand people only. However, there are a lot of interesting things in this town.

What I like are:

- old market
- national park in front Cane river
- foods
- scenery

Fig 02- The oldest shopping mall

Fig 03- Meat pie, special food of town

We may go shopping just by walking to small and old stores in the oldest shopping complex of the city.

As people told me, we should visit at least two stores:

- the oldest mercantile store
- the oldest meat pie restaurant

National park in front of Cane river is calm and beautiful place to enjoy. We may watch attractions in the river if we lucky enough.

Have you visit the oldest French settlements outside Europe?

# Previous posts:

- Making Perfume in the Organic Chemistry Laboratory - Science 1
- Russian Covid 19 Vaccine Advantages – Science 2
- Rediscovering of Rare Blue Bee in Florida in 2020 – Science 3

Visiting the Oldest French City in Louisiana – Part 1

French press coffee maker, just for illustration

You might know that New Orleans as a French city in Louisiana. It was established in 1718.

But, the first settlement was in Natchitoches city in 1714, about 258.2 miles (416 km) from New Orleans.

French has huge territory in America continent, from Canada to Mississippi river to Gulf of Mexico.

Due to some problems to manage territories, include slavery revolution in Haiti, then trigger French authority to sell part of them.

USA government negotiated to buy French territory called as “Louisiana purchase.”

French then sold to the USA in 1803 with price of US$ 15 million for 828,000 square miles area.

It was equal to US$18 per square mile only. Purchasing was considered very cheap on that time.

One of oldest building in the town.

Purchased regions include 15 new states, they are:

- Arkansas
- Missiouri
- Iowa
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Colorado
- Louisiana
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Wyoming.

# To be continued to part 2

- Important of Microorganisms in Food Industry – Healthy Life 1
- What is Coronasomnia? - Healthy Life 2
- Can Six Dolar Drug Kill Covid 19 Virus? - Healthy Life 3

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?