Swap Plants at Our City Botanical Garden

We visit our city botanical garden routinely, just to get “fresh air” and walking (jogging) for several miles.

Image 1- Plants in the botanical garden, seasonal market

Unexpectedly, we saw a lot of people than usual, there was a kind of “market” for plants.

There are plenty types of plants, not all are sold, but generally divided into two sections:

- swap plants
- and price tag plants

Due to curiosity, we try to find out: what are meaning of swap plants in this occasion?

Image 2- Customers look around

Image 3- A huge cactus

Image 04- Plants on the Table

Image 5- Bargaining to swap plants

Swap plants have happened when there is an agreement between sellers and customers to exchange their plants.

The exchange could be based on:

- market price
- type of plants
- sellers and customers just happy to swap their plants.

In addition to swap plants, there are sections of selling plants with price tag. I think the price is quite reasonable from US$ 1 to US$ 15.

Have you experienced to swap plants in the specific market?

# Previous postings:

- Crowned Heron Crawfishing Near Our Neighborhood – Part 1 – Nature 20
- What are Health Benefit of Eating Mango? - Part 1 – Health Life 19
- Colorful Flowers in the Spring – Nature 21
- Parks for Dogs in My City Baton Rouge, Louisiana – Part 2

Is America a Wine Exporting Country? - Part 1

The United States of America has produced wines a long long time ago, it is believed since about 1500s.

Image 1- Two brands of California wines

Then, all of 50 states have their own wine production now days.

Almost 90% of American wines are manufactured in California. Napa is the most famous wine county in this state.

It is related to the fact that California is the state with most wine consumption in the USA.

Then, since higher production, it is not surprising that USA is one of wine exporters in the world, based on report from World’s Top Exports (2021), USA was ranked 6^th.

Image 2- Just for illustration

Image 3- Artwork of glass and bottle of wine

In the 2021, ranking by countries, measured by total export values in US dollars are following:

- France, total export value was US$11 billion
- Italy, total export value was $7.3 billion
- Spain, total export value was $3.5 billion
- Australia, total value was $2.2 billion
- Chile, total value was $2 billion
- United States, total value was $1.4 billion.

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- A Bird on the Exit Sign in the Library – Part 2
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- Can Alzheimer's Disease be Passing Down from Parent to Child? - Part 2 - Alzheimer's 4.

Giveaway and Discount in Time of High Inflation

We just talk about “abnormal” higher price compared to inflation rate (please read at previous posting):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Is Rising Price due to Greedflation?

Image 1- Monthly giveaway at one store.

Last weekend, we went to our city mall, we thought the price will higher like food prices, surprisingly, no, not at all for certain products and brands.

We are happy to find the true facts that:

- there are plenty of discount where many stores provide almost 33% discount rate.
- other interesting deals include buy 3 get 3 free
- thousand dollars of giveaway by several stores.
- and free service such as piercing

Image 2- Accessories at a store

Image 3- Service for free piercing

Image 4- Icing, a store

You might wonder that the “good deal” just for certain items?

Are they for all items?

It is true for beauty relate products such as:

- cosmetic
- shampoo and soap
- cream
- lotion
- accessories and etc

Do you find similar discount or discount rate in your city or place?

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Is Rising Price due to Greedflation?

When we are shopping to Walmart grocery, we always pick a bucket of 8 pieces fried chicken.

Image 1- A bucket of fried chicken

8 pieces quite fresh, crunchy and delicious. The bucket of fried chicken consists of:

- two thighs
- two wings
- two breasts
- and two drumsticks

What surprise us that the price increases at unbelievable rate, about 50% compared to few months ago, from just US$ 6 to more than US$ 9 nowadays.

Why?

Image 2- Fried chicken in the bucket

Image 3- Eight pieces fried chicken

Off course, the company or corporate blames to many things that cause rising in price such as: decreasing supply, disturbing in distribution (transportation) and gasoline price

However, the fact shows different story that many companies include in food industries profit billion of dollars.

Then, inflation rate is 9.1% only, even thought the highest in last 40 years. Much less than price increasing.

Corporate get too much profit. Greedy.

Hence, should we call it greedflation? What do you think?

# Previous postings:

- Growing Tabasco Peppers in My Yard – Part 1
- Recreational Fishing in the Louisiana – Part 2 – Nature 13
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Growing Tabasco Peppers in My Yard – Part 2
- Why the Moon Has Thousands of Small Aliens? - Part 1 – Science 7

Free Coffee at Toyota Car Repair Shop

We visit car repair shop at least twice a year. Since our car is Toyota brand, we always go to Toyota repair shop for many purposes.

Image 1- Free coffee for customers

In addition of car repair shop, we have other two English words with relate meaning:

- a garage
- a car workshop

Some purposes of our regular visit to Toyota car repair shop are:

- oil change after our car travel some thousand miles distances
- general “checkup” for car maintenance
- emission testing

Image 2- Entrance into Toyota repair car

Image 3- Waiting room, not crowded

Oil change is not that long to wait just about less than hour, because I think just easy to do.

If we need to replace car’s “spare parts” because of emission standard or just old one is not work well, then It will be complicated:

- due to extra cost
- and long hours to wait

Luckily, the Toyota repair shop provide free coffee and free lunch boxes sometimes. Hence, we are drinking coffee and reading while waiting in long hours.

How about with car repair shop in your city?

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- New Parents often Faced Depression – Part 2 - Healthy Life 15
- Recreational Fishing in the Louisiana – Part 1 – Nature 13

Buy One Get One Free of Frappuccino – Part 2

You may read previous posting (Part 1):

- Buy One Get One Free of Frappuccino – Part 1

Image 1- Frappuccino in the bottles, sold in Walmart

A Frappuccino is one of starbucks products. It is a drink of an ice blended coffee.

In addition, there is combination of:

- whipped cream
- sauces
- milk
- natural and artificial flavors
- sugar
- carrageenan, potassium sorbate and various special ingredients.

Image 2- A summer flower, Myrtle

Image 3- Just for illustration

Image 4- Love to eat while drinking coffee

We found whipped cream and sauces on the top of paper cup, when we drink Frappuccino.

Later, other days, I found Frappuccino is sold in bottles in grocery stores such as Walmart.

Bottles with small size about 9.5 ounces, while upsize bottle is 13.7-ounce. Price of 15 bottles of 9.5 ounces is US$ 26.22.

Some vending machines also provided Frappuccino bottles. We may find vending machines in some public areas.

Have you tried Frappuccino? What do you thinks?

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Do You Know the words of Crwth and Cwtch?

May we find words without vowel in English?

The answer might surprise you!

Image 1- Crwth, an ancient Celtic instrument (credit to internet).

Yes, we could use Merriam-Webster, Urban Dictionary, Thesaurus and Collin English Dictionary to search its.

Nowadays, you just search through internet. Simple, easy

It is believed that at least two words with 5 letters have no vowels. You can see that the two words look like similar:

- Crwth
- Cwtch

Image 2- Succulent plants, illustration

Crwth is spelled “crouth,” in which “w” is changed or pronounced to vowels of “ou.” It was stringed music instrument resembles to “violin.”

Image 3- Cloudy sky, illustration only

The instrument was invented about 11^th century, then modified in 13^th century. It was played through 1800’s.

Image 4- A green at yard

However, in modern time, some parts of England still use “crwth” word to refer to “violin.”

Image 5- A squirrel, seen from window screen

Then, the word “cwtch” is pronounced “kutch.” In this case, “c” read as “k” and “w” as “u.”

Image 6- Myrtle with pinks flowers

The word associates with some meaning:

- cuddle
- huge
- a shed
- cubbyhole
- cupboard
- tiny space for safety

Do you know some other words without vowels? Or, do you have words without vowels in your own languages?

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Little Libraries in our Neighborhood

We, our neighborhood have “creative” way to swap the books, by creating a kind of little libraries.

Image 1- A little library attached to the wall

People in our neighborhood also call this little library as:

- books swap box
- books donation bin

Uniquely, this library opens 24 hours a week, no holiday, no closing hours and sure, no librarians.

Why?

Image 2- A street, just for illustration

Image 3- Another little library

Image 4- We can open library by ourselves

It is because there is no lock, hence, everyone can “open and close” the library anytime they wish. Then, what the meaning of books swap?

A neighbor can take one book, but he or she leaves one in its place. So, a neighbor has a book to put in there when taking one.

She or he can do it again and again in other days. In addition to swap, a neighbor may donate books as many as she or he wish.

I read from internet that this tradition was start in Europe. Many European countries practicing this kind of books swap.

How about with your country? Are there books swap tradition?

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