Minnesota State Flower: Lady Slipper

Nature, State Flowers 3 Minutes

From: The Spruce

Lady Slipper orchids come in unusual shapes and color patterns, and some are rare, at risk or endangered. Belonging to the orchid genus Cypripedium, lady slipper orchids are the most primitive type found today. Most are terrestrial, growing in the ground in temperate zones around the globe.

The genus includes lady slipper orchids and moccasin flowers native to the northern hemisphere, characterized by a pouched lip that resembles the toe of a shoe or slipper. Certain states in the U.S. identify several species as endangered or at risk.1 This is due largely to over harvesting and habitat destruction. These rare orchids require very specific growing conditions and are slow to germinate and colonize.

Lady slipper orchids are sympodial, which means they have multiple growing points along a horizontal stem. This orchid genus does not often produce tall plants, although there are exceptions. In native areas, most reach only about 6 to 8 inches high with flower spikes around 15 inches. Different species identify as either warm or cool growing, so care differs slightly depending on your particular orchid. Ask your grower about its native origins, particularly the elevation, of your plant.

This is a low-light orchid that requires shade. Place it in an east-facing or a shaded south-facing window. Fluorescent lighting also works well. Suspend lights 6 to 12 inches above the foliage. Grown outdoors, some varieties of these terrestrial orchids prefer full sun in the morning with afternoon shade. Other varieties prefer only dappled sun throughout the day.

Soil

Most are terrestrial orchids that grow in very specific types of soil. Good choices for potting material include shredded osmunda bark, medium grade fir bark and crushed dried oak leaves. Avoid packing the mix too tightly.

Water

Like other sympodial orchids, lady slipper orchid stems have pseudobulbs for storing water and nutrients, so they can go a while between waterings without suffering. Depending on the growing environment, your orchid may need water twice a week. Avoid chemically treated water or allow it to sit out for several days before using. Potting medium should stay moist but never soggy, though some varieties that grow in boggy conditions may prefer a wetter medium. Others can grow indoors but need very specific temperatures, with a 10-15 degree temp drop at night.

Temperature

Mottled leaf types thrive in daytime temperatures between 75 and 85 degrees F. and nighttime temperatures from 60 to 65 degrees F. Keep green leaf types between 75 and 80 degrees F. during the day and 50 to 60 degrees F. at night. These are recommended temperatures, but many growers are successful growing both types in the same temperature range.

Moderate humidity of 40 to 50 percent is adequate and can be maintained by setting the orchid pot on a tray of gravel partially filled with water. Water should not touch the bottom of the pot. If humidity is low avoid letting moisture sit on the leaves or crown of the plant. When humidity is high, air movement is essential which might require a fan or dehumidifier. For the varieties that prefer boggy conditions, humidity levels may need be higher. Those varieties will also require a temperature drop of 10 to 15 degrees overnight.

Types of Lady Slipper Orchids

Cypripedium acaule (pink lady slipper) produces deep pink flowers 3 inches long from late June into July. This is a fragrant type with a sweet floral scent.

Cypripedium calceolus (yellow lady slipper) sends up a buttery yellow flower in early spring and is found mostly in rich woodlands or along bog edges.

Cypripedium parviflorum pubescens (greater yellow lady slipper) can grow up to 2 feet tall, with flower petals up to 6 inches across.

Cypripedium reginae (showy lady’s slipper) is another large species, 1 to 2 feet tall with pink-streaked, white flowers appearing in late spring/early summer. It grows naturally in wetlands and damp meadows.

Cypripedium candidum (white lady’s slipper) is a small type from 6 to 12 inches tall. Considered endangered it may be available from reputable nurseries.

SOURCE: THESPRUCE.COM

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Published by pat frederick

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116 thoughts on “Minnesota State Flower: Lady Slipper”

  1. Morning All

    it’s still around 40* and STILL raining out there.

    i am having fun feeding the chickadees..lol. last night as it got dark, hubby scooped up the remaining little cracker pieces and threw them off the deck into the grass. birds are fun, mice are not. i will wait til it gets lighter and put more crackers out and see if they come back.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Morning, Pat! More light snow overnight with temp at 12! Brrrr….but now that my heater is fixed in my truck, my trip to Norfolk later should be an easy one. Whether the same birds return or not, they will come for crackers – watch and see!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Morning Filly!
        I’m glad your heater is fixed–it’s only get colder till spring!
        I have to make a mini banana run as well today, but hubby might take me. it’s still raining but that turned the leftover snow on the driveway to ice, so we’ll see.
        i put out a corn/apple block yesterday for the deer–and they’ve already eaten all the corners off it…lol. didn’t take them long to find it.
        I will put more crackers out this morning and see.

        Liked by 1 person

          1. yeah…hubby “thinks” it’s passable. the ice is at the top of the driveway…so if you start going sideways, it’s a big long hill to try to right yourself on before you hit the hairpin turn or go over the side of the hill. there’s no getting back up without a crane or wench then

            Liked by 1 person

    1. Just The News: “South Carolina GOP Rep. Nancy Mace on Tuesday night said she was “physically accosted” by a pro-transgender activist on Capitol Hill, who has been arrested by Capitol Police.

      The congresswoman has claimed that she’s been receiving death threats recently, after she proposed a bathroom bill that would ban transgender people from using bathrooms on Capitol Hill that do not align with their biological sex.

      “I was physically accosted tonight on Capitol grounds over my fight to protect women,” Mace said in a post on X. “Capitol police have arrested him. All the violence and threats keep proving our point. Women deserve to be safe. Your threats will not stop my fight for women!”

      Mace said her arm and wrist were injured in a post on her personal X account, but that a “brace” and “some ice” would heal it.

      Capitol Police confirmed the incident to Fox News, and said the incident was reported at the Rayburn House Office Building at approximately 6 p.m. The suspect in the case has been identified as 33-year-old James McIntyre of Illinois.

      The department said police interviewed McIntyre and arrested him for assaulting a government official.”

      Liked by 1 person

        1. I just posted it as back-up to your post. Both men and women should have their own spaces where they can safely “let it all hang out” and everyone should be protected from harm regardless of their sex.

          Liked by 1 person

  7. so all the economic recovery and growth we will see in PDJT’s term will be the result of JOE’S agenda…bwahahahahaha

    DecisionTime2016

    December 11, 2024 6:29 am

    Laugh of the day…

    WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden delivered a speech to the Brookings Institute on Dec. 10 highlighting his economic achievements as he nears the final days of his presidency.

    He also expressed hope that the incoming Trump administration would “preserve and build on” his progress.

    Biden said his agenda, which prioritized investing in infrastructure and manufacturing, has not yet been fully felt by Americans but that its benefits will become more visible over the coming years.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oooh! That’s gorgeous! But I would prefer a treehouse that is higher in the tree. Altho this is built around a tree, it’s not a real “treehouse,” per se – at least, according to my definition of a treehouse.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. “Postmaster General Has Meltdown, Throws Tantrum in Congressional Hearing”

    Red State, By Ward Clark | 7:25 PM on December 10, 2024

    Tom Williams/Pool via AP

    “There are certain behaviors we should not tolerate from government officials, elected, appointed, or hired. We shouldn’t tolerate any kind of criminal activity or graft. And we shouldn’t tolerate petulant displays of childish pique.

    That last bit is precisely what we saw during a House Oversight Committee hearing on Tuesday when Postmaster General Louis DeJoy threw a tantrum and covered his ears while being questioned by a Republican committee member.

    Postmaster General Louis DeJoy covered his ears during a congressional hearing as Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) repeatedly pressed him on postal service oversight.

    McCormick during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing Tuesday told DeJoy that he does not get an “A grade” when it comes to his leadership of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).

    “You were graded by the United States people and they don’t use your service anymore,” McCormick said.

    “That is not true,” Dejoy said as McCormick continued over him. “Our office is growing.”

    “You are responsible for the fall of the postal service and the lack of accountability,” McCormick said as DeJoy interjected with, “This Congress is responsible for it falling apart. I am trying to fix the postal service.”

    DeJoy told McCormick, “You’re talking to yourself” before covering his ears.

    What is this guy, 12 years old? I wouldn’t have put up with this from my kids when they were three. Why should we put up with this from the United States Postmaster? Here, have a look for yourself:

    “Republican screams at witness covering his ears in wild Congressional hearing”

    https://x.com/MailOnline/status/1866619303023280332

    This is intolerable. Were he a toddler and not just acting like one, this would result in Mr. Bottom taking a swift trip to Spank-Land. If he were in a criminal or civil courtroom, it would not be surprising if he were to end up doing a few days in the country slammer for contempt of court. But this is a grown man in a position of serious responsibility in the United States federal government.

    Back in my corporate days, an act like this would almost certainly result in someone being cashiered on the spot. That is, in all candor, what should happen to Louis DeJoy. Adults don’t act like that, and a person who is highly placed in the federal bureaucracy, who is being interviewed by a congressional committee, really shouldn’t be acting like this. It’s embarrassing. It’s disgraceful. And speaking as one of the taxpayers that pay this man’s salary, as far as I’m concerned, it’s grounds for dismissal.

    What’s worse, this man is in charge of a federal service that lost $6.5 billion in fiscal 2023.

    The US Postal Service lost $6.5 billion in its just-completed fiscal year, delivering a blow to the service’s hopes of a financial turnaround.

    The Postal Service had projected it would break even in the fiscal year that ended September 30, on its way to annual profits this year and going forward. Its results are particularly disappointing because it received a bump in its revenue earlier this year when shippers shifted package volume away from UPS because of the threat of a strike there.

    Postmaster General Louis DeJoy blamed the loss on inflation raising costs for its operations. It also sent printing prices surging, which significantly reduced the amount of junk mail marketers sent via the mail.

    For some time now, I’ve been saying that there is a crisis of competency in the federal government. Now, in the case of Louis DeJoy, we see that there is also a crisis of maturity. President-elect Trump, please find us a new U.S. Postmaster General!”

    Liked by 2 people

  12. Pegon Zellschmidt
    Pegon Zellschmidt
    December 11, 2024 8:43 am

    “If Pete Hegseth drank too much and womanized in a past life, that means he’s very qualified to serve in the Senate,” Davis said. “And those throwing stones should not live in glass houses.”https://t.co/WQ3DVjGQcf

    — 🇺🇸 Mike Davis 🇺🇸 (@mrddmia) December 11, 2024

    Like

  13. Ah-ha! The Gaetz leaker is from PA!

    TownHall: “Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) had an incomplete ethics report hanging over his head when he was nominated as our next attorney general. Gaetz, one of the most controversial but vocal Trump supporters on the Hill, was too much for some of his GOP colleagues in the Senate. He didn’t have the votes for confirmation, leading to the withdrawal of his candidacy. Since he left Congress, the probe conducted by the House Ethics Committee ceased. The committee split evenly regarding disclosing what they had found, barring its release to the public—a majority was required for full disclosure. 

    Yet, it was going to leak. We knew it was going to leak. Gaetz’s nomination was still seen as viable, and there were too many Democratic eyes who’d seen the pages. One Democrat appeared to be the point source for the leaks, Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA), who was absent at the panel’s meeting last week after it was discovered that she was the leak. Her office said her absence related to how the committee had handled this report, nothing more (via The Hill):

    “In a statement to The Hill, Wild’s chief of staff, Jed Ober, said the congresswoman skipped last week’s meeting because she was “frustrated” with how the Gaetz report had been handled, and said characterizing her absence as anything more was “inaccurate.” 

    Rep. Susan Wild (Pa.), the top Democrat on the House Ethics Committee, was absent from the panel’s meeting last week after being traced as the source of leaks to the press regarding the investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), sources told The Hill. 

    It remains unclear if Wild voluntarily skipped the Thursday gathering or was asked not to attend, what information she leaked and to whom, and how the panel tracked her back as being the leaker. Two sources said Wild ultimately acknowledged to the panel that she had leaked information. 

    Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) served as acting ranking member during Thursday’s meeting, according to a source, who noted that any time a member of the panel is absent, there is an acting ranking member in their place. 

    It also remains unclear if the Pennsylvania Democrat, who is leaving Congress at the end of the year, will be present at Ethics Committee meetings in the future. Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.), the chair of the panel, told reporters that Thursday’s meeting was not the last for the group.“

    Liked by 1 person

    1. yeah…when you posted this yesterday or i did, don’t remember. i said i saw a lot of her yard sign near mom’s. she’s leaving congress at the end of this year because she didn’t get reelected and is pissed off. she has nothing to lose in doing this.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. EXCERPT: “With the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, Director of National Intelligence-designate Tulsi Gabbard is doubling down on her anti-intervention stance with backing from President-elect Donald Trump as she faces a contentious confirmation battle.

    Gabbard, a former Hawaii representative and veteran who served in the Middle East, left the Democratic Party after unsuccessfully seeking the party nomination for president in 2020. She joined the GOP ahead of the 2024 election and has become something of a Republican fan favorite among those opposed to foreign interventions. Her positions have roiled Democrats and establishment Republicans alike, with some going as far as to baselessly smear her as a “Russian asset.”

    She had previously attracted ire over her opposition to intervention in Syria, even should that leave the Assad regime in power. After her nomination, Tulsi was expected to be on defense over Assad, but the stunning collapse of his government over the course of mere days and the complete evaporation of the Syrian Arab Army in the face of a renewed offensive from rebel groups based in the country’s northwest has changed the script entirely.

    Trump and Gabbard are in-synch

    While President Joe Biden has supported U.S. involvement in the Syrian transition process, Trump has called for keeping the U.S. out of the conflict entirely and signaled that the Assad regime’s collapse should bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the table to end the war in Ukraine as well.

    “There was never much of a benefit in Syria for Russia, other than to make Obama look really stupid. In any event, Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!” Trump posted.

    After Assad left Damascus, Trump opined that Russia had lost interest in protecting him due to Moscow’s focus on Ukraine and highlighted the estimated death tolls.

    “There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin. Too many lives are being so needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed, and if it keeps going, it can turn into something much bigger, and far worse,” Trump then posted. “I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting!”

    Trump’s calls for non-involvement and de-escalation of global conflicts seem to have given Gabbard the ammunition she needed to fight back against perceptions of herself as a foreign policy radical and portray her stances as in line with the White House’s main stream.

    “I stand in full support and wholeheartedly agree with the statements that President Trump has made over these last few days with regards to the developments in Syria,” Gabbard said.

    Republicans optimistic on surveillance, censorship reforms

    A stalwart champion of the First Amendment, Gabbard’s nomination has some conservative Republicans jubilant, despite her prior time as a member of the opposing party.

    In 2022, Gabbard ruffled feathers with her appearance at the Reagan Dinner, hosted by the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). In that event, Gabbard highlighted the importance of free speech and excoriated efforts to crack down on “misinformation”, saying “the latest strategy and tactic that they’re using is to try to undermine our free speech by taking it upon themselves to say they’ve got the responsibility to protect us from so called misinformation.”

    “The notion that we must just blindly accept and follow as truth, that which the government or those in power tells us is true goes against the very essence of our Constitution and Bill of Rights,” she added…..”

    https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/wedtulsi-goes-offense-trumps-support-assad-falls

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Just The News: “Luigi Mangione, who is charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is fighting extradition and was denied bail on Tuesday, during a hearing at Blair County Court House in Pennsylvania.

    Mangione who was identified as a person of interest in the investigation earlier Monday, has been formally charged with one count of murder, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of second-degree possession of a forged document, and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a firearm.

    New York authorities are attempting to extradite Mangione back to Manhattan to face the charges. Thompson was fatally shot last week in New York City, sparking a manhunt that lasted days.

    Mangione’s legal team will now have two weeks to request a writ of habeas corpus, which would prompt a hearing on the matter. Pennsylvania authorities said they will help New York get the extradition approved, CNN reported. He will remain at Huntingdon State Correctional Institution in Pennsylvania without bail in the meantime.

    Mangione, who is 26-years-old, comes from a prominent Maryland family, according to the Associated Press, and one of his cousins is a Republican Maryland state legislator named Nino Mangione.” 

    Liked by 1 person

  16. She is a slut, pure and simple! But, then, I repeat myself…..hmmm….they were “once” engaged??? So they’re not engaged any more??? So she’s just his SPOA, then?

    Just The News: “President-elect Donald Trump announced Kimberly Guilfoyle as his pick to serve as ambassador to Greece.

    “Kimberly is perfectly suited to foster strong bilateral relations with Greece, advancing our interests on issues ranging from defense cooperation to trade and economic innovation,” Trump said in a post announcing the appointment. “Her extensive experience and leadership in law, media, and politics along with her sharp intellect make her supremely qualified to represent the United States, and safeguard its interests abroad,” he wrote.

    Guilfoyle was once engaged to Donald Trump Jr., CNN reported. The announcement comes after Trump nominated his daughter Ivanka Trump’s father-in-law Charles Kushner to ambassador to France.

    Trump also nominated Andrew Ferguson on Tuesday to serve as the next Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and North Carolina GOP Rep. Dan Bishop to serve as deputy director of Budget at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

    “Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “Sworn in as a Commissioner on April 2, 2024, he will be able to fight on behalf of the American People on Day One of my Administration … Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History.”

    Liked by 1 person

  17. EXCERPT: “In 2024 there were no reported murders of a trans-identifying person due to anti-trans bias in the United States. This might be a surprise, based on the routine headlines declaring that violence against transgender Americans is only getting worse. The Human Rights Campaign, one of the more prominent LGBT advocacy organizations, provides a list each year of reported murders of trans-identifying people.

    Discussing the death of Quanesha Shantel, Human Rights Campaign Director of Community Engagement for the Transgender Justice Initiative Tori Cooper argued, “It’s time for communities across this country to reckon with the fact that their silence makes them complicit. Hateful stereotypes, rhetoric and legislation fuels violence against transgender people.” This despite Shantel, whose legal name was Juquan Hamilton, being allegedly murdered by his former romantic partner, Jeremy Reynolds, who reportedly was furious over their recent breakup.

    On Nov. 20, 2024, President Joe Biden put out a statement saying, “Today, on Transgender Day of Remembrance, we mourn the transgender Americans whose lives were taken this year in horrific acts of violence. There should be no place for hate in America — and yet too many transgender Americans, including young people, are cruelly targeted and face harassment simply for being themselves.”

    This message was repeated by dozens of Democrats the same day. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., mourned, “Too many transgender people have been killed just for living as their true, authentic selves.” Jayapal, the co-chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus’ Transgender Equality Task Force, noted a supposed alarming rise in anti-trans violence due to intensifying rhetoric and legislation targeting the trans community. Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, asserted, “No one should have to live their lives in fear simply for existing as they are.”Looking at Each Case

    Yet, when evaluating the data, despite the broader reported statistics listed by the HRC, the claims about anti-trans violence are not true.

    Looking at each of 29 such reported cases in 2024, the three most common categories are domestic violence (6), altercations (6), and accidents (4). Of all cases, four did not have sufficient information reported by authorities to make a determination on what kind of violence occurred. The deaths also included a suicide, the highly publicized death of Dagny (Nex) Benedict, a victim of a mass shooting, and a random act of violence….”

    https://thefederalist.com/2024/12/11/data-show-theres-no-epidemic-of-violence-against-trans-people/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. in the beginning of this whole thing, iirc, a lot of the violence was committed against trans prostitutes by males who thought they purchased time with a female. where are the truth in advertising people?

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Ahhh….finally the temp is moving up – seeing a little bit of sun now and it’s up to 12 again. I’ve been holding off in the hopes it will warm up a bit….think I’ll wait a bit longer.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. I’m back….good – no ice then! I just got back myself. Temp was 9 on the truck thermometer! But I was nice and toasty except for going in/out of WM. Stopped to see my friend Michael – his ex (with whom he has stayed close friends) got kicked out of her HUD-subsidized apartment because the MGR pulled a surprise inspection and found her bong.

        The poor woman has 4th stage lung cancer, FFS – leave her alone with what helps her pain!! But no – they kicked her out – gave her only 1 week to get all her stuff out! She got her SIL to help her and Michael move her stuff into their garage and but her relationship with him is much like mine with MY SIL! He called her yesterday and said she has one week to get it all out or he’s throwing it all away. She doesn’t have a vehicle and Michael’s small sports car would be no good to move anything.

        SMH – it made me REALLY grateful that I own my own home and no-one can kick me out!!! She is staying with Michael for the moment but their cats don’t get along, and his place is REALLY small. I told them I’ll bring my truck if they need it to help with the move. She’s going to try to get an apartment in Norfolk. He walked me to my truck and told me how disruptive this is for him but he would never say it in front of her. He is such a kind man!

        Liked by 1 person

  22. https://www.breitbart.com/2024-election/2024/12/10/report-fbi-director-wray-prepares-to-resign-does-not-want-to-be-fired/

    Our Take: Don’t you love it when the trash takes itself out?

    I know there are many in our community that think Wray is a secret good guy, but I put this theory in the Pence category: If he is playing a role for white hats, the goal is to make me hate him, and he’s crushing it.

    Wray has to go so Kash can take his seat, execute extreme declas, and punish those who’ve weaponized the institutions against Americans. On that last point, there’s this in the article: “The FBI has not denied Wray’s intention to step down, though it did claim the bureau has not weaponized justice.”

    Is that an official claim? Because it’s fundamentally untrue. The bureau has persecuted the Biden administration’s political opponents since the Biden administration became a thing. Before that, they subverted and undermined the Trump administration, beginning before 45 even took his oath.

    Just ask General Flynn. The good news is that there will be no fight over the remaining years in Wray’s term as he is leaving voluntarily. Good riddance.

    America needs Kash. Grok gets it. — Ashe in America

    Liked by 1 person

  24. “According to a report, a blockbuster federal indictment more than five years in the making – two New Orleans-based law firms and their attorneys who specialize in car accident claims – have been charged with staging wrecks, faking injuries and collecting millions of dollars in lawsuit settlements.

    Among those indicted on Monday is a television stuntwoman-turned-attorney named Vanessa Motta, who in May had two clients criminally charged with helping orchestrate the 2020 shooting death of another client of hers. The slain client of Motta – who was indicted along with her namesake firm – had been cooperating in the federal investigation that produced Monday’s indictment.

    Motta’s fiance, disbarred attorney Sean Alfortish, who spent time in prison over unrelated fraud charges, was also included in the indictment for his role in the conspiracy: paying the people who stage the accidents, known as “slammers,” to ram into 18-wheelers intentionally.” 

    Liked by 1 person

  25. “The Golden Globes made history of a sordid kind by nominating a male-born performer who ‘identifies as female’ for best actress. Karla Sofia Gascon was nominated Monday for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy, for playing a Mexican drug lord who undergoes a gender transition in the 2024 film “Emilia Perez.”

    The nod represents the first time the Golden Globes have nominated a male-born entertainer in the female category for movies, although the award show did so previously in the television category.

    Last year, Michaela Jae Rodriguez, who underwent a gender transition. (I wonder if he/she got de-nutted) in 2016, took home the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Drama, for playing a transgender character in the FX series “Pose.”

    Liked by 1 person

  26. “I’da made it a master-class lesson in alliteration – ‘Palm Beach party poopers plan protest’ – but I’m not waiting around for my Nobel Prize on this one. Anyway, as the Times reported, Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence has become the White House of the South of sorts, but those who live in Palm Beach want to shut down the resort’s frequent, large parties because of road closures that cut the town into two.

    The Palm Beach Town Council will consider a proposal Tuesday to “limit the number of events at Mar-a-Lago.” It is battling the Secret Service over shutting down the main road around the resort after the July 13 assassination attempt that nearly killed Mr. Trump. Mar-a-Lago’s guests don’t necessarily contribute to the traffic congestion because they are pre-screened and bused into the 17-acre Mar-a-Lago estate from West Palm Beach.”

    Liked by 1 person

  29. “Homeless Helene survivors receive campers to help survive winter in North Carolina — The help comes as some families are still paying mortgages on homes they lost to Helene, as banks are not forgiving those mortgages.”

    By Angeli Gabriel, Chelsea Torres Source FOX Weather

    (VIDEO)

    BURNSVILLE, N.C. – As winter weather sets in, many people left homeless by Hurricane Helene have had to endure the bitter cold in tents and vehicles. But due to the generosity of one charity, they are finding warmth and comfort from the wintry elements.

    Operation Helo, a charity formed in western North Carolina after Helene, is on their way to providing free RVs to more than 160 families who were displaced by the storm.

    Campers provided by Operation Helo.

    Campers provided by Operation Helo.

    One of the recipients of a camper was Sharon Trcka, whose home in Burnsville was flooded by Helene, causing her to leave North Carolina and stay with family in Tennessee. Operation Helo brought a camper to Trcka’s Burnsville property, giving her a chance to return home. The help they provided was a humbling experience for Trcka.

    “I was a nurse for 40 years. I was used to giving help, not asking for it,” she said to FOX News Multimedia Reporter Chelsea Torres.

    Sharon Trcka.

    Sharon Trcka

    The RVs, like the one gifted to Trcka, were purchased using donations to Operation Helo. In the town of Burnsville, RVs were given to families that were vetted by the local volunteer fire department.

    “Campers fall under Department of Transportation rules,” said Matt McSwain of Operation Helo. “You can put them anywhere, so we can physically take them and put them on somebody’s property that is a flood plain and they can have immediate shelter. There’s no strings attached, no red tape.”

    The help comes as some families are still paying mortgages on homes they lost to Helene, as banks are not forgiving those mortgages.

    A pick-up truck is seen in a muddy stream in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Burnsville, North Carolina, on October 5, 2024.

    A pick-up truck is seen in a muddy stream in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Burnsville, North Carolina, on October 5, 2024. (Allison Joyce / AFP / Getty Images)

    https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/homeless-helene-survivors-rvs-campers-winter-north-carolina

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Clarion

    December 11, 2024 11:09 am

    Lauren Lee

    @sheislaurenlee

    MASSIVE : A federal judge just ordered the FDA to release 1,000,000 pages of documentation about the Pfizer vaccine, previously sealed for 75 years.

    His reasoning for doing so will go down in history books:

    “The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them. The Covid-19 pandemic is long passed and so has any legitimate reason for concealing from the American people the information relied upon by the government in approving the Pfizer Vaccine.”

    – Judge Mark T. Pittman, U.S. District Judge

    https://twitter.com/sheislaurenlee/status/1865826125055742407

    Liked by 1 person

      1. I’m always suspicious when I hear “a reliable source.” I’ll reserve judgment on this one. If they’re so reliable, why keep their name secret?

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Nu-uh! We just had light snow!!! OK, well…..a little part of NE got snow today and IA got more, I think….but I didn’t do it!!! LOL

      Liked by 1 person

    2. And I’ve got snow in the forecast, too, now that I think about it! For the next several days but at least the temps are supposed to rise.

      Liked by 1 person

  40. Krysten Sinema did it, too! ROFL

    Red State: “Senators Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and Joe Manchin (I-WV), both former Democrats who were savaged by their own party for not eliminating the filibuster, left President Joe Biden one final parting gift on Wednesday. 

    Biden nominated Lauren McFerran to a five-year term on the National Labor Relations Board, which is essentially a federal agency dedicated to protecting big unions, and her confirmation was set to hand Democrats control of the body for the entirety of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term. 

    Well, that was the plan anyway, and you know what people say about plans. 

    “In one of their final acts in office, Sinema and Manchin nuke a Biden pick for the National Labor Relations Board in a big loss for organized labor.”

    https://x.com/StevenTDennis/status/1866920286177673531

    The Senate on Wednesday blocked Lauren McFerran’s renomination to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), opening the door for Republican control of the board starting next year under President-elect Trump. 

    Senators voted 49 to 50 against a five-year term for McFerran, the NLRB’s chair, with Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) voting with almost every Senate Republican to block it. 

    Outgoing Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was furious at the development, calling it a “direct attack on working people.”

    “It is deeply disappointing, a direct attack on working people, and incredibly troubling that this highly qualified nominee — with a proven track record of protecting worker rights — did not have the votes,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said.

    Someone should teach Chuck about sowing and reaping. He and his party members trashed Sinema and Manchin, with the former having to endure a Democratic Party-backed primary challenge that ultimately drove her to not seek re-election. Both were stalked and harassed for years, with left-wing protesters even following Sinema into the bathroom. Why? Because they had the audacity to not blow up an important Senate institution to allow a Democrat free-for-all, including the changing of voting laws to try to ensure a permanent majority. 

    Well, payback is rarely kind, and Sinema and Manchin just delivered a well-deserved helping of it. Voters rejected the Democratic Party labor agenda in November. Giving McFerran another five-year term would have been a slap in the face to the American people who do not want unions being given special carveouts at a cost to everyone else.

    Consider this another example of Democrats overplaying their hand. They don’t know how to do anything in moderation, and in their lust for power, they gave up two formerly solid votes (when it comes to confirmations) to appease the far-left. Those chickens have come home to roost. I don’t know where Sinema and Manchin go from here now that they are leaving office, but their preservation of the filibuster and rejection of the Democrat status-quo has done the country a great service.”

    Liked by 1 person

  41. I love this man!!! Truly a man after my own heart! Say it like it is and don’t back down!!!

    “Homan Defiant! Incoming Border Czar to Dem Congresswoman: ‘Game On.’”

    Red State, By Ward Clark | 3:23 PM on December 11, 2024   

    AP Photo/John Bazemore, File

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “Day by day, it’s becoming more and more apparent that Tom Homan is the right man to serve as President-elect (*Acting President*) Donald Trump’s border czar. He is forceful, he is focused, he will not be swayed or dissuaded – and he doesn’t suffer fools lightly. In the latest demonstration of these qualities, a Congresswoman from Illinois, Rep. Delia Ramirez, warned Homan that he had better be ready for resistance.

    Homan fired back. And it was glorious.

    Incoming border czar Tom Homan is not backing down from his plans to lead President-elect Trump’s mass deportation operation in Chicago after a Democratic congresswoman told him to “be ready to meet the resistance.”

    “Message received. Please review 18 USC 111 and also see 8 USC 1324 (iii),” Homan told Fox News Digital in an interview on Wednesday. “Game on.”

    He was referring to two laws, one prohibiting impeding a federal law enforcement officer and the other prohibiting the harboring or concealing of illegal immigrants from immigration officers. 

    “So, message received, please review this statute and that statute and game on,” he said.

    This is the message that Tom “The Hammer” Homan (Yes, I think I will start calling him that; it fits) replied to:

    “Tom Homan, the next time you come to #IL03 — a district made stronger and more powerful by immigrants — you better be ready to meet the resistance,” she warned.

    “You may think Chicago needs to get out of the way of Trump’s plans for mass deportation, but we plan to get ALL UP IN YOUR WAY.”

    Yeah, good luck with that, Congresswoman.

    The laws he mentions have to do with interfering with federal officers in the discharge of their duties. 18 USC 111 involves “Assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees” while 8 USC 1324 (iii) deals with “…knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, conceals, harbors, or shields from detection, or attempts to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection, such alien in any place, including any building or any means of transportation.”

    Mr. Homan isn’t kidding around. He’s serious about this job and gives every indication that other elected officials around the country, especially in “sanctuary” jurisdictions, can either lead, follow, or get out of his way.”

    Liked by 1 person

      1. And he doesn’t back down! That’s the biggest difference, IMO. He’s just not a mealy-mouthed politician – he says what he means and means what he says!

        Like

  42. This has been needed for a VERY long time!

    “GOP Governor Seeks SNAP Reform: This Should Go National”

    By Ward Clark | 1:12 PM on December 11, 2024

    AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File

    EXCERPT: “A common refrain from the left whenever one proposes reforms to the SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) program, as far as limiting what may be purchased on that program, is that “You can’t tell people what they can and can’t eat!” Of course, the proper reply to that is, “If I’m paying for it, I damn well can.”

    Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has now adopted that position. She has reached out to the incoming Trump administration heads of Agriculture and Health and Human Services to see what can be done to end the purchase of junk food using these taxpayer-funded benefits. This is a long-overdue move.

    Arkansas Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has sent a letter to the incoming Trump administration heads of the Health and Agriculture departments, calling for the end of junk food as part of the federal food stamp program.

    “As you know, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a $113 billion federal program designed to support low income families with food assistance,” Sanders wrote in a letter obtained by Fox News Digital to HHS Secretary-nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary-nominee Brooke Rollins. “Unfortunately, this ‘Nutrition Assistance’ program is undermining the health of millions of Americans, on the taxpayers’ dime, by encouraging families to eat highly processed, unhealthy junk food.”

    “In fact, soda, unhealthy snacks, candy, and dessert account for nearly 23 percent, or $25 billion, of all SNAP purchases. Given the relationship between junk food and poor health, our federal food assistance policies are fueling obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and a wide range of chronic health conditions around America.”

    It is belaboring the obvious to point out that these benefits are intended for nutrition. It is called, after all, the “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,” not the “Supplemental Junk Food Assistance Program.” Furthermore, this isn’t just a matter of the taxpayer’s money being wasted; it’s a matter of public health. This kind of restriction could really be a key part of “Make America Healthy Again.”

    Sanders cited the work of Stanford University Professor Jayanta Bhattacharya, nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to head the National Institutes of Health, which concluded that removing sugary drinks and snacks from the SNAP program would prevent obesity in 141,000 children and Type 2 diabetes in 240,000 adults.

    This is a system in serious need of reform and would make another great target for the DOGE…..”

    https://redstate.com/wardclark/2024/12/11/gop-governor-seeks-snap-reform-this-should-go-national-n2183065

    Liked by 1 person

  43. Just The News: “The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved an $884 billion defense spending package that included contentious social provisions barring the military healthcare provider from covering transgender treatments for the children of servicemembers.

    The National Defense Authorization Act passed with 281 yeas and 140 nays, according to Breaking Defense. 124 Democrats and 16 Republicans opposed the bill.

    The NDAA now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to face a close vote.”

    Liked by 1 person

  48. leik
    December 11, 2024 5:31 pm

    BREAKING: President Trump tells the CEO of Lockheed Martin he will be canceling their $1 Trillion dollar, F-35 government contract when he takes office.

    Amazing news!!! pic.twitter.com/JPFOVK6bor

    — Ian Jaeger (@IanJaeger29) December 11, 2024

    Liked by 1 person

  49. I am adding a short daily prayer to the board. I would invite each of you, if you wish, to also add one or maybe two of your own liking. I do not want to stifle anyone but please limit yourself to one or two religious postings. here’s one I found that I liked.

    Like

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