DeDivahDeals

Fashion and Fun after Fifty

Archive for the ‘DE’ Category

Fast Food Workers Protest for Higher Wages

Have it your way..NOT today…at least not at Burger King on Concord Pike in Wilmington.  Fast Food employees at this location joined in with dozens of other workers in U.S. cities to protest their low pay and benefits.

8 29 13 032

Most workers agreed that the profits these corporations earn should be used to pay higher salaries and benefits which would be better for the economy.  The minimum wage of $7.25 an hour or $15,000 a year for full time employees is not enough to support a family.  Jobs which were once held by High School students are now being filled by men and women with families who are living paycheck to paycheck.

8 29 13 024

Burger King Worldwide stated that they do not make pay decisions for their independent franchises, but feels as though an increase in salaries would mean higher priced menu items.

8 29 13 040

8 29 13 034

Federal Labor Law gives all workers the right to engage in “protected concerted activities” to complain about wages, working conditions or other terms of employment.  Therefore, those involved in today’s protests are protected and can return to work without repercussions.  The local Police was also on hand to ensure walk-in and drive-thru customers were not affected.

8 29 13 041

What is your opinion on today’s Fast Food Protest.  Should the minimum wage be raised to $9.00 an hour as proposed by The President or higher as requested by the workers?

8 29 13 025

dedivahdeals-signature


Learning at The Teaching Garden

Hello Friends and Happy Hump Day Wednesday!

Photography is an art that takes skill, patience and lots of practice.  I truly admire and am inspired by the awesome photos some of you have taken.  Being a novice and still learning the features of the Nikon P520 camera, I’ve been doing a lot of practicing.

My son and I had an appointment at the University of Delaware and while there we took these pictures at the Native Plant Teaching Garden.

August 2013 103 August 2013 104 August 2013 105 August 2013 106 August 2013 107 August 2013 108

According to the University of Delaware’s Cooperative Extension Program’s website – “Native Plant Teaching Garden:  Designed to create an awareness of the cumulative environmental benefits that can be achieved through the use of native plants by providing an aesthetically pleasing demonstration garden easily adaptable to the home landscape.  The garden consists of different niches, each planted with material appropriate for the site:  a butterfly garden, bio-retention system (rain garden), meadow, foundation plantings, shrubs and paths, and perennial border.”

August 2013 109 August 2013 111 August 2013 112 August 2013 113 August 2013 115 August 2013 116

It was a beautiful day to be in The Teaching Garden and a great opportunity to get in a lot of practice.

August 2013 117 August 2013 120 August 2013 121 August 2013 122

With the change of seasons, I hope to get more outdoor shots including those dreaded snow days!

How do you think we did?

Linking up with WIWW – Transatlantic Blonde

Have a fantabulous day – Smooches!

dedivahdeals-signature


MeJah Books, Inc.

In 1998, a young woman who was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago relocated herself, a son and a daughter from Brooklyn, New York to Claymont, Delaware.  Still grieving from the untimely death of her fiance’ and left alone to raise the small children she decided to become a small business owner.

A transplant from New York unable to find the cultural exchanges that she had grown accustomed decided to open Mejah Books, Inc .

August 2013 036

Emlyn DeGannes, or “Ms. M” as she prefers to be called left the Interior Design Industry in NY to become a small vendor in the Tri-State Mall.  There are days when Mejah Books, Inc. is filled with the sounds of Latin, Caribbean or Reggae music, but on this particular Saturday it was the soothing sounds of Meditation Music.

August 2013 053

August 2013 074

August 2013 075

August 2013 076

August 2013 041

The staff is pleasant and engaging, you are invited to purchase a cup of coffee, tea or water while you shop. However, if not there to make a purchase feel free to take a seat to read, relax, meditate, or even take a nap.  The aroma, a mixture of oils and incense envelops you into warm comfort.

I walked around checking out the many book titles, magazines, artwork, handcrafted jewelry, body scrubs and lotions. It reminded me of the small boutiques in Soho, as men women and children wandered in and out exchanging pleasantries, enjoying a family day outing.  It didn’t feel as though I had entered this Zen-like area from the cool corridors of a Mall.

August 2013 037

August 2013 044

August 2013 047

August 2013 054

There are books of interest for everyone including children who are welcomed to come in, sit and relax with or without their parents, a perfect place for the back to school crowd.

August 2013 042

August 2013 040

August 2013 043

August 2013 069

Ms. M is also an author and one of her recent works “Voices…Letters to Ms. Em Reflections of Life While Doing Life” is now part of the Education curriculum at the University of Delaware where she is also a guest speaker.

August 2013 059

August 2013 062

Now that her son, Jordan and daughter Jewel are grown, she continues to work even outside of the bookstore.  She mentors young ladies through Voices of Beautiful Flowers; is a Cyber School Instructor with achievementcharter.com and she also receives correspondence from inmates from all over the world.  Ms. M takes time to write each of them back or she may send a book of encouragement.  In the back room she has a credenza that contains hundreds of letters and cards from these men and women.

To say, Ms. M is a busy lady would be an understatement, “every day brings more life to discover, you just have to open your heart to find it.”

August 2013 058

August 2013 056

August 2013 068

August 2013 067

PicMonkey Collage (5)

PicMonkey Collage (7)

If you happen to be in Claymont, stop in at the TriState Mall and visit Ms. M at Mejah Books, Inc.  The shop is open everyday, Monday through Saturday 10:00 am to 9:00 pm and on Sunday 12:00 to 5:00 pm.  I look forward to returning and featuring her in another one of her many community projects.

dedivahdeals-signature


Ice Cream Sunday

Hello Friends and Happy Sunday

The beginning of a new week and the 1st sunny Sunday in August was a fantastic day.  Before going to the grocery store my son and I stopped at Cowgirls Creamery in anticipation of eating some hand dipped ice cream made with fresh milk from down the road at Emerson Farms.  Unfortunately we arrived too early in the afternoon so we decided to take a few pictures instead.

Middletown, DE

Emerson Farms has been in existence since 1947, and is less than 5 miles from our house, however, it was the first time I’ve ever stopped.  The recent road construction created a Roundabout which makes it easier to enter Jamison Corner Road where the farm is located.

Emerson Farms in Middletown

I tried to explain to my son how blessed we are to live so closely to an active farm and how fresh ice cream tastes better than anything purchased in a grocery store.

Weekend 1 in August 035

 

Got Milk?

Weekend 1 in August 032

Emerson Farms

 

Thinking about eating ice cream!Fresh Hand Dipped Ice Cream

Weekend 1 in August 008

Weekend 1 in August 007

Can your milk get any fresher than this?

Emerson Farms

 

Arrived to early…I’ll be back!

dedivahdeals-signature