Welcome to the 58th edition of the Hippie Dabble Digest! This week I’ve again included the sections Just for Fun, On Youtube, In the News, Weekly Recipe, and Physical & Mental Health & Well-Being. Next week I’ll have a couple of additions. If you have any thoughts or suggests on new sections or links you want to see put into the Digest, let me know by emailing me at tessa@hippiedabble.com. Don’t forget, all links get put into the Directory so you can come back to find them when you need them.

Just for Fun

125 Mind-Blowing Historic Facts & Trivia That Are Almost Too Weird to Be True

I love weird facts, and I also love historical facts. This site puts the two together for quite an interesting read. Check it out here: https://parade.com/1099930/marynliles/history-facts/.

On Youtube

Growing Blueberries in Pots – the easy way to grow blueberries anywhere!

I have tried growing blueberries and have not had much luck so this video caught my attention. I might give it a try when spring finally arrives in Wyoming. This video has tons of useful information so if you are interested in growing blueberries, keep watching to the end. Take a look below.

In the News

EPA orders ‘pause’ of derailment contaminated waste removal (AP News)

“Federal environmental authorities have ordered a temporary halt in the shipment of contaminated waste from the site of a fiery train derailment earlier this month in eastern Ohio near the Pennsylvania state line.” Read more here: https://apnews.com/article/politics-climate-and-environment-us-environmental-protection-agency-ohio-pennsylvania-ef698f4bbbcea1e2b7d7e2bad66bbd4e.

Estimated animal death toll from Ohio train derailment tops 43,700 as time frame for environmental recovery remains uncertain, officials say (CBS News)

“Last week, officials said they believed that the Ohio train derailment had killed 3,500 aquatic animals. On Thursday, they provided a new estimate, pushing the total to more than 43,700 animals within a 5-mile area.” Read more here: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ohio-train-derailment-believed-to-have-killed-more-than-43700-animals-as-officials-say-they-dont-know-how-long-it-will-take-for-the-environment-to-recover/.

Hybrid cars are still incredibly popular, but are they good for the environment? (NPR)

“Car buyers still like hybrids because they can save on gas and cut their carbon footprint without having to deal with range anxiety or the need to charge at home. But even as hybrids go mainstream, they are losing traction among their original enthusiasts: environmentalists.” Read more here: https://www.npr.org/2023/02/24/1158306767/prius-toyota-hybrids-electric-car-climate-change.

Hundreds of WA plants, animals at risk of extinction (The Seattle Times)

“Over a third of species and ecosystems in the United States are at risk of disappearing, including hundreds of plants and animals in Washington.

In a newly released report, conservation research group NatureServe analyzed data from its network of more than 1,000 scientists across the United States and Canada. The group said the report is its most comprehensive yet, synthesizing more than 50 years of biodiversity information and highlighting the urgency of biodiversity conservation.” Read more here: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/hundreds-of-wa-plants-animals-at-risk-of-extinction/.

Weekly Recipe

Very Blueberry Clafouti (Taste of Home)

I decided to go with a blueberry recipe to compliment the Youtube video. This one looked both intriguing and yummy! Find the recipe here: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/very-blueberry-clafouti/.

Screenshot of Very Blueberry Clafoutis on Taste of Home.

And in case you need to substitute the whole milk for whatever reason, here is a great list of both dairy and non-dairy substitutes: https://www.acouplecooks.com/whole-milk-substitute/.

Physical & Mental Health & Well-Being

Mindful: Healthy Mind, Healthy Life

There is so much wonderful stuff on this site to explore, all about living your best life. There are articles on a various topics about mental health and mindfulness. There are also guides to meditating, guided meditations, podcasts, courses, a magazine, and more. Most of the website is free but you do have to pay for the courses and magazine. Mindful’s about page describes themselves in part as being “dedicated to sharing the gifts of mindfulness through content, training, courses, and directories—helping people enjoy better health, foster more caring relationships, and cultivate a more compassionate society.” Here is the link to the main site: https://www.mindful.org/.

To give you a better feel for it and maybe peak your interest, I also picked a couple of specific articles.

This first one is The Science of Wonder – “Experiencing everyday wonder can help us see that we’re part of something bigger. Science shows that this exquisite emotion can quiet our inner critic, reduce stress, loneliness, and physical distress, and bring a sense of expanded time, perspective, and connection.” Read this one here: https://www.mindful.org/the-science-of-wonder/.

The second is How to Calm Racing Thoughts at Bedtime – “Sometimes counting sheep doesn’t quite cut it. Michelle Maldonado shares a practice to ease into sleep when our thoughts keep us awake.” Read the second article here: https://www.mindful.org/how-to-calm-racing-thoughts-at-bedtime/.