If I wanted to be honest, and I'm not sure how honest I want to be in a public forum, I would admit to being a craft supply hoarder. I enjoy craft supplies and have a good quantity of them. I have a craft room that is the size of a normal bedroom which is about 10x12 feet. So that's 120 square feet and it is very full of craft supplies.
I am not loyal to any one craft. I have created and participated in: cross stitch, knitting, sewing, slab pottery, wheel thrown pottery, stained glass, fused glass, oil painting, scrap booking, card making, rubber stamping, book making, pisanka, drawing, mixed media, jewelry making, polymer clay, and probably some others I can't think of right now. I have supplies for each of these crafts. You can see why I need a 120 square foot craft room.
Now keep in mind that this room is not very functional. It is a dangerous mission to get to my work space. How did this happen? The build-up of supplies began when my now 14 year old was a toddler. It began because my fantasy life didn't match my reality.
In my fantasy life, I had plenty of time to create in my craft room. I wasn't working outside the home so therefore those non-working, just stay-at-home mom hours could be managed and I would have a few hours each day to work in my craft room when the little one was sleeping and the other was at school. In addition, I would have at least an hour or two in the evening when daddy took over and mommy had some me time.
In reality, I was exhausted and the real-life needs of my family never corresponded with my 'schedule' of all I would accomplish each day. Lifelong insomnia interfered and I felt less rested than ever. My current toddler (and my previous one) were curious, active, and didn't need near as much sleep as I did evidently. Daddy time didn't always work out due to other necessary chores he needed to do or for the simple fact that everyone relied on mommy to know all the details, schedules, and the location of every item in the household.
So, the whole thing began innocently enough. A trip to the city and a stop at JoAnn's or Michael's could yield some very nice supplies and the sales were fabulous. Keep in mind I lived in a craft supply desert so these shopping trips were only once per month or every other month. Then I discovered E-Bay. Craft supplies in abundance, great prices, unique items, and all delivered to my door.
It didn't take much time to buy an item in comparison to the time needed to actually create with that item. I spent more time collecting supplies than actually using them. They did and still do make me feel happy that I have them to use. When I did go back to work, taking some of my craft supplies for use in my classroom helped me feel a bit better about my "collection''. However, about 5 years ago I faced my reality: I had enough craft supplies.
Revising my outlook meant that when my husband asked if I wanted to stop at my former craft haunts, I simply said, "No, I don't need anything". This was initially met with astonishment and often with him him trying to persuade me to go. It was actually nice to say no.
This revision in my thoughts about craft supplies was directly related to understanding more about God. At some point through sermons and Bible study, I came to understand that I served a God who could supply me with anything I needed or wanted. He was a God of more than enough. One would think that since I had been saved since I was 6 years old that I would have somehow learned this along the way. I had not.
I had not seen the relationship between God and my personal possessions. Yes, I knew I was blessed and knew God provided for me but I had not made the connection between God and my future needs. I had not been trusting God for my future. Not just in craft supplies but for life in general. To overcome my childhood challenges, I had taken on more of the burden of providing for my future than I needed to.
Finally, I was assured that I had enough but also knew that if I really needed something to complete a project, we had enough money that I could buy what I needed or God would provide it some other way. He had shown me this in various areas many times in my life but I had not internalized it.
This revision in thought also had another side. Thankfulness. If I was truly thankful for my craft supplies then wouldn't I take very good care of them and use them as intended? This was a hard pill to swallow. I had always told God thank you and I would have said I was a thankful person. In reality, my actions did not show that I was thankful. Unused craft supplies and limited access to them was a clear indication that I had some rethinking to do.
I have and continue to spend time re-evaluating this area of my life. I have chosen supplies to donate, worked on organization and evaluation of what I have, and actually taken time to create and enjoy my supplies. I have limited new purchases and talk myself out of temptation. Surprisingly, we now have a Hobby Lobby very near by. I have been there to shop only 4 times in the last 8 months and 3 of those times was to get a specific item for a project in progress.
The question of being truly thankful is one I continue to ponder in other areas of my life also. I also continue to consciously make a choice to trust God for my future needs. I also find myself asking if the thing I want fits into my real life now or is it based in a fantasy. Overall, living in the reality of my life makes me a happier and more genuine person.
Friday, August 26, 2016
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Real Life Continues
I am in the process of transitioning back to real life after a long vacation. It always starts with the mundane things first: unpacking, laundry, grocery shopping, paying bills, and processing regular mail and e-mail. Then I always move on to a period of reflection. What can I take away from my experiences on vacation and apply to my current life to up the quality of my daily journey.
The first thing I come away with is a renewed appreciation for my country; United States of America. Traveling by car is my preferred mode to see my country. I enjoy being able to stop and detour whenever the urge strikes and I also enjoy the highway level view the car affords me. There are many similarities across our country, while at the same time, unique topography, climate, fauna, and flora add a sense of wonder to any road trip. The human influence also serves to distinguish areas of the country and add variety.
I visited several states for the first time. One of these was New York, and I was pleasantly surprised to travel through all of the farm country located in the western part of that state. The forests of Maine had the most wonderful fresh clean smell. The large cities along the way, while not an appealing place for me to live, amaze by the sheer number of people crammed in a small area. The variety of architecture seen in small towns and metropoles alike, always delights whether buildings or bridges. If you haven't had an extended road trip lately, I would encourage you to take one and explore a new state if possible.
I enjoyed taking photographs of buildings and bridges on my travels. I realized as I neared home that I needed to document some of these same things in my small town and surrounding areas. Buildings come and go and we often don't think to document current life, but it will one day be nostalgic too. So I have decided to make an ongoing digital album for my area of the country.
Food is another area that comes to the forefront when I travel. Since I cook often at home, I am often unsatisfied with much of the over salted, pre-made food found in many restaurants, especially chain restaurants. I prefer small, local places to eat. The simpler the preparation, the better the taste. What I take away from my recent travel experiences; buy the best I can afford. I compared several organic/non organic items on this trip. Organic had the best flavor every time. Price difference was minimal. More chain grocery stores are carrying more organic products and prices are very competitive. Grocery store visits are a must on any vacation, in country or out.
Memories of this trip inspired me to try this recipe for African Peanut Soup. I garnished it with chopped unsalted peanuts and it was simply delicious. A keeper that will go in the recipe box.
Our extended travels did not produce many tangible souvenirs. I took over a thousand pictures but only purchased one hoodie, a purse, and a few local food products. No knick knacks. I simply don't need more stuff that takes up real estate in my home. I share my photos on FB, scrapbook some of the best, and watch the pictures as a slide show on the WII. If you don't know about this feature of the WII, it is worth learning about. The WII has a slot for an SD card and it will produce a slide show with interesting fade ins and outs and play background music. It is amazing how lovely it is to watch and relive your vacation. TV size really makes a difference in pictures, especially landscapes.
I have learned that I need to label and write descriptions right away for my pictures. Like most of you, I think that I will remember the where and when but in reality, the details can quickly be forgotten. The year or ages of children should also be immediately written on/by the photos because we really won't recall these details. That project has begun for this trip but there are plenty of older photos on my computer that can use this also.
I enjoy traveling and I learn somethng on each trip. I look forward to identifying and incorporation more things from my latest vacation. Every experience I have adds to the tapestry that makes up who I am and how I live my daily life.
The first thing I come away with is a renewed appreciation for my country; United States of America. Traveling by car is my preferred mode to see my country. I enjoy being able to stop and detour whenever the urge strikes and I also enjoy the highway level view the car affords me. There are many similarities across our country, while at the same time, unique topography, climate, fauna, and flora add a sense of wonder to any road trip. The human influence also serves to distinguish areas of the country and add variety.
I visited several states for the first time. One of these was New York, and I was pleasantly surprised to travel through all of the farm country located in the western part of that state. The forests of Maine had the most wonderful fresh clean smell. The large cities along the way, while not an appealing place for me to live, amaze by the sheer number of people crammed in a small area. The variety of architecture seen in small towns and metropoles alike, always delights whether buildings or bridges. If you haven't had an extended road trip lately, I would encourage you to take one and explore a new state if possible.
I enjoyed taking photographs of buildings and bridges on my travels. I realized as I neared home that I needed to document some of these same things in my small town and surrounding areas. Buildings come and go and we often don't think to document current life, but it will one day be nostalgic too. So I have decided to make an ongoing digital album for my area of the country.
Food is another area that comes to the forefront when I travel. Since I cook often at home, I am often unsatisfied with much of the over salted, pre-made food found in many restaurants, especially chain restaurants. I prefer small, local places to eat. The simpler the preparation, the better the taste. What I take away from my recent travel experiences; buy the best I can afford. I compared several organic/non organic items on this trip. Organic had the best flavor every time. Price difference was minimal. More chain grocery stores are carrying more organic products and prices are very competitive. Grocery store visits are a must on any vacation, in country or out.
Memories of this trip inspired me to try this recipe for African Peanut Soup. I garnished it with chopped unsalted peanuts and it was simply delicious. A keeper that will go in the recipe box.
Our extended travels did not produce many tangible souvenirs. I took over a thousand pictures but only purchased one hoodie, a purse, and a few local food products. No knick knacks. I simply don't need more stuff that takes up real estate in my home. I share my photos on FB, scrapbook some of the best, and watch the pictures as a slide show on the WII. If you don't know about this feature of the WII, it is worth learning about. The WII has a slot for an SD card and it will produce a slide show with interesting fade ins and outs and play background music. It is amazing how lovely it is to watch and relive your vacation. TV size really makes a difference in pictures, especially landscapes.
I have learned that I need to label and write descriptions right away for my pictures. Like most of you, I think that I will remember the where and when but in reality, the details can quickly be forgotten. The year or ages of children should also be immediately written on/by the photos because we really won't recall these details. That project has begun for this trip but there are plenty of older photos on my computer that can use this also.
I enjoy traveling and I learn somethng on each trip. I look forward to identifying and incorporation more things from my latest vacation. Every experience I have adds to the tapestry that makes up who I am and how I live my daily life.
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Empowering Our Children Through Self-Defense
Anyone viewing the latest news stories can quickly figure out that we live in an unsafe world. As our children get older, we have less control over them and they begin to branch out more on their own, spending more time away from us and with their friends.
This can be a hard adjustment. We know that we would lay down our life for our children and would do anything to protect them. Now that they spend more and more time away from us, we begin to realize that we will not always be there to protect them.
I am once again dealing with this reality. I pray for safety but also realize that free-will means that others can choose to do evil. I was recently blessed with the opportunity to sign my child up for self-defense classes. We are both glad I chose to do just that.
We went together to a Jujitsu style self defense class that lasted for 2 hours. We warmed up with some intense calisthenics including jumping jacks, squats, push ups, bear crawls and monkey walks. We still felt the affects two days later.
We moved into defense from a frontal attack, then a rear choking attack, and finally a mounted attack. We were able to practice with trained partners and felt like we really gained some skills. My teen was able to flip a grown man down to the ground and left feeling very empowered and wanting to continue training.
A real attack would happen faster and of course the perpetrator would be more intent on attacking. This means we have to continue to practice until the moves become second nature. The scenarios may not simulate an attack exactly, however, it teaches that we do not have to be a passive victim. We can fight back and impact the attacker. I believe that will instill a bit more confidence, make us walk a bit taller, and portray ourselves as a less then easy target.
If any of you have teens or even younger children, find a class and sign them up. Go with them and then continue to practice what you've learned. Hopefully, you will never need these skills, but as with any emergency, it is better to be prepared.
This can be a hard adjustment. We know that we would lay down our life for our children and would do anything to protect them. Now that they spend more and more time away from us, we begin to realize that we will not always be there to protect them.
I am once again dealing with this reality. I pray for safety but also realize that free-will means that others can choose to do evil. I was recently blessed with the opportunity to sign my child up for self-defense classes. We are both glad I chose to do just that.
We went together to a Jujitsu style self defense class that lasted for 2 hours. We warmed up with some intense calisthenics including jumping jacks, squats, push ups, bear crawls and monkey walks. We still felt the affects two days later.
We moved into defense from a frontal attack, then a rear choking attack, and finally a mounted attack. We were able to practice with trained partners and felt like we really gained some skills. My teen was able to flip a grown man down to the ground and left feeling very empowered and wanting to continue training.
A real attack would happen faster and of course the perpetrator would be more intent on attacking. This means we have to continue to practice until the moves become second nature. The scenarios may not simulate an attack exactly, however, it teaches that we do not have to be a passive victim. We can fight back and impact the attacker. I believe that will instill a bit more confidence, make us walk a bit taller, and portray ourselves as a less then easy target.
If any of you have teens or even younger children, find a class and sign them up. Go with them and then continue to practice what you've learned. Hopefully, you will never need these skills, but as with any emergency, it is better to be prepared.
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Food Poisoning or Stomach Virus
Ahhh, the title says it all. That was my life for four days last week. No fun. For a few minutes I thought I was going to die, but I lived, so life goes on.
Most of us know we should listen to our inner voice. Knowing is not always doing. It seems like each time we don't, we vow to do better and absolutely listen next time. We still end up ignoring the voice every now and then.
Such was my experience last week. Tried a new to us local restaurant. After ordering, we noticed the floor wasn't as clean as it should be. The food came and it didn't taste as good as it should have for a simple vegetable omelet and roasted potatoes. The 'salsa' I asked for to put on my potatoes was more like canned tomatoes. They tasted off also. The coffee was not as good as it should have been and that is a definite sign not to have breakfast somewhere. But we soldiered through it.
Now I can't say with 100% certainty that this restaurant's food is what made me sick. However, it was the only thing different I had. The leftovers I had for lunch was the soup I made for the previous supper with no ill effects and all members of the family had eaten it also. I had some newly purchased bulk dried figs from a health food store. So in fairness, I threw out everything I had eaten in the past 24 hours regardless of how much was left. The rest of the soup went and the figs went. Other than the breakfast, that was all I had eaten before feeling ill.
Live and learn. The restaurant is off the list, forever. I am feeling great again. Life is good and my inner voice will be a little easier to hear next time.
Most of us know we should listen to our inner voice. Knowing is not always doing. It seems like each time we don't, we vow to do better and absolutely listen next time. We still end up ignoring the voice every now and then.
Such was my experience last week. Tried a new to us local restaurant. After ordering, we noticed the floor wasn't as clean as it should be. The food came and it didn't taste as good as it should have for a simple vegetable omelet and roasted potatoes. The 'salsa' I asked for to put on my potatoes was more like canned tomatoes. They tasted off also. The coffee was not as good as it should have been and that is a definite sign not to have breakfast somewhere. But we soldiered through it.
Now I can't say with 100% certainty that this restaurant's food is what made me sick. However, it was the only thing different I had. The leftovers I had for lunch was the soup I made for the previous supper with no ill effects and all members of the family had eaten it also. I had some newly purchased bulk dried figs from a health food store. So in fairness, I threw out everything I had eaten in the past 24 hours regardless of how much was left. The rest of the soup went and the figs went. Other than the breakfast, that was all I had eaten before feeling ill.
Live and learn. The restaurant is off the list, forever. I am feeling great again. Life is good and my inner voice will be a little easier to hear next time.
Sunday, March 6, 2016
It's not Garbage, It's Compost
Composting is something I've been doing for years now. It is definitely a know better, do better topic. I have composted when living in a mobile home park, a half acre yard, and on a small acreage. It has several advantages and no downside that I know of.
I try to eat a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables and use them in my cooking also. That means veggie scraps. Growing up we had chickens and no garbage pickup. This meant feeding scraps to the chickens and occasionally to the pigs if grandpa had some at the time. I have never had chickens as an adult so what would I do with the scraps. Composting was the logical choice.
I have had a garden regardless of the size of the property I've lived on. I use soil, so it is only natural that I would want to make soil. Composting makes the best, sweetest smelling soil imaginable. I have never had problems with my compost pile having bad odors.
I have had some wonderful plants come up in my composts piles. I currently have a 10 foot peach tree that came up in a compost pile about five years ago. It is a great producer and very healthy. I moved the compost pile on the tree's second year and it has continued to prosper.
I have also 'grown' tomatoes, pumpkins, squash, and cucumbers in the compost. These were volunteers that came up from scraps I composted. They are always very healthy plants that produce well with no effort on my part. Here is a picture of last year's compost pumpkin vine in May.
I collect my food scraps, egg shells, coffee grounds, and occasional paper towel. Yesterday it was potatoes that I forgot about in the bottom of the pantry. Now those babies have odor. I gather my compost ingredients on my kitchen counter in a plastic container I've saved from artisan lettuce, cool whip, or currently from cream puffs eaten at Christmas. I empty as needed which may mean 1-2 times per day or every other day. Usually it doesn't go longer than that as we tend to fill it fast.
It is now time to start a new compost pile and I've changed the location. I've started by laying down cardboard to keep weeds from prospering in it. Kitchen scraps are put on top and after doing some spring yard work today, there is now dried leaves and stalks over what you see in the picture below.
Every person should consider composting if they have access to any amount of yard at all. It is a win-win endeavor. An added bonus is an on-demand source of earthworms for fishing.
I try to eat a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables and use them in my cooking also. That means veggie scraps. Growing up we had chickens and no garbage pickup. This meant feeding scraps to the chickens and occasionally to the pigs if grandpa had some at the time. I have never had chickens as an adult so what would I do with the scraps. Composting was the logical choice.
I have had a garden regardless of the size of the property I've lived on. I use soil, so it is only natural that I would want to make soil. Composting makes the best, sweetest smelling soil imaginable. I have never had problems with my compost pile having bad odors.
I have had some wonderful plants come up in my composts piles. I currently have a 10 foot peach tree that came up in a compost pile about five years ago. It is a great producer and very healthy. I moved the compost pile on the tree's second year and it has continued to prosper.
I have also 'grown' tomatoes, pumpkins, squash, and cucumbers in the compost. These were volunteers that came up from scraps I composted. They are always very healthy plants that produce well with no effort on my part. Here is a picture of last year's compost pumpkin vine in May.
It is now time to start a new compost pile and I've changed the location. I've started by laying down cardboard to keep weeds from prospering in it. Kitchen scraps are put on top and after doing some spring yard work today, there is now dried leaves and stalks over what you see in the picture below.
Every person should consider composting if they have access to any amount of yard at all. It is a win-win endeavor. An added bonus is an on-demand source of earthworms for fishing.
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Finding Vegetarian in Rural Areas
Eating out since deciding to go vegetarian has been a challenge. More so because I am also wanting to choose food for its nutritional value which rules out things like french fries. I live in a vegetarian desert as far as eating out is concerned.
I had two appointments today that were 2 1/2 hours apart. One was before noon and one was after. This meant I could eat out for lunch. Sounds exciting and it would be if I were in the city, but I am not.
I ran over the local restaurants in my head. Fast food came down to Wendy's for a baked potato and a salad. My last baked potato there was undercooked so going there was not appealing. Usually I enjoy Wendy's, but I wanted something else.
We have a great Mediterranean place where I used to eat gyros. Since gyros were no longer an option, the only other thing I could think of was falafel. A calorie check last time I ate them revealed that they are not on the healthy list since they are fried and have a lot of calories. Thank goodness we were blessed with a Panera Bread restaurant about two years ago.
Even then my choices were slim. Thank goodness the ones they had turned out to be wonderful. I had a half Mediterranean veggie sandwich and a half quinoa salad. Both were outstanding. I thought that I had eaten that type sandwich one other time, but I don't remember it being as good.
I do have one recommendation. I asked for a spoon to eat my salad. That enables me to get all the little pieces of quinoa and almonds and works for the greens also as they are finely cut. My mouth is watering just thinking about it, and I would certainly have the same meal again in the future.
I had two appointments today that were 2 1/2 hours apart. One was before noon and one was after. This meant I could eat out for lunch. Sounds exciting and it would be if I were in the city, but I am not.
I ran over the local restaurants in my head. Fast food came down to Wendy's for a baked potato and a salad. My last baked potato there was undercooked so going there was not appealing. Usually I enjoy Wendy's, but I wanted something else.
We have a great Mediterranean place where I used to eat gyros. Since gyros were no longer an option, the only other thing I could think of was falafel. A calorie check last time I ate them revealed that they are not on the healthy list since they are fried and have a lot of calories. Thank goodness we were blessed with a Panera Bread restaurant about two years ago.
Even then my choices were slim. Thank goodness the ones they had turned out to be wonderful. I had a half Mediterranean veggie sandwich and a half quinoa salad. Both were outstanding. I thought that I had eaten that type sandwich one other time, but I don't remember it being as good.
I do have one recommendation. I asked for a spoon to eat my salad. That enables me to get all the little pieces of quinoa and almonds and works for the greens also as they are finely cut. My mouth is watering just thinking about it, and I would certainly have the same meal again in the future.
Monday, February 29, 2016
Two Forward, One Back
Progress is slow but it is still progress. I have lost 3.6 lbs so far this year. I eat vegetarian 70-80% of the week. I am seeing a chiropractor. I am exercising more. I feel better. Less muscle soreness and fewer migraines although sinus headaches were a problem last week. The neti pot helps.
I have decided to be more structured in taking supplements. Right now it is a hit or miss as to when I take them. I am making a plan to remedy that.
I purchased a weekly pill box with labeled days of the week. Dollar Tree has them. I have several books that agree on some supplements that work for FM sufferers. I plan to fill the sections and make an honest effort to empty each section out by day's end.
I can't really say if any supplements have helped me as I am way too inconsistent in taking them. Focusing on consistency will allow me to see if they can really affect how I feel. I will take the following:
B-complex
b12 sublingual
D3
DHEA
Co Q10
magnesium
potassium
fish oil (not vegetarian I know but it is recommended)
ALA
CLA
malic acid (new to me but recently has shown up and been recommended)
juiceplus veg and fruit
That's a lot of pills. I plan to divide them up throughout the day. I have also been drinking kombucha each morning; about 4 ounces. After about 6 weeks, I will evaluate the affects and frequency of headaches. Hope to see some positive results.
I have decided to be more structured in taking supplements. Right now it is a hit or miss as to when I take them. I am making a plan to remedy that.
I purchased a weekly pill box with labeled days of the week. Dollar Tree has them. I have several books that agree on some supplements that work for FM sufferers. I plan to fill the sections and make an honest effort to empty each section out by day's end.
I can't really say if any supplements have helped me as I am way too inconsistent in taking them. Focusing on consistency will allow me to see if they can really affect how I feel. I will take the following:
B-complex
b12 sublingual
D3
DHEA
Co Q10
magnesium
potassium
fish oil (not vegetarian I know but it is recommended)
ALA
CLA
malic acid (new to me but recently has shown up and been recommended)
juiceplus veg and fruit
That's a lot of pills. I plan to divide them up throughout the day. I have also been drinking kombucha each morning; about 4 ounces. After about 6 weeks, I will evaluate the affects and frequency of headaches. Hope to see some positive results.
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
DIY Kombucha
I poured my first glass of my homemade Kombucha today. There is something about DIY anything. That sense of pride, independence, and sustainability is something that drives those who enjoy doing things for themselves.
I thought that brewing kombucha might provide some probiotics, b12, and help with colon health. Turns out there is little b12 in kombucha but the other two seem to hold up in a study of kombucha, kombucha analysis. I like the taste of it but this is not true for everyone. Of course, I have been drinking apple cider vinegar, honey, and water as a morning drink for several months now so I probably have acclimated to it.
My daughter has seen the scoby and has vowed never to taste kombucha. I hope to change her mind eventually. She says we shouldn't eat things we have to feed. Guess I should have used a different term when I added a new batch of oolong tea to feed the scoby.
I grew a scoby from store-bought raw kumbucha. I got the instructions from this site. After a couple weeks to grow a good scoby, it has taken just a week to brew a half-gallon of kombucha. Now I have two scobies. Not sure what to do with the second. I'm thinking about having two batches going at once so I can drink out of one kept in the fridge and actively brew the other at room temp. After that, I guess I will need to find people who want scobies or I guess I could compost them. Until then, cheers.
I thought that brewing kombucha might provide some probiotics, b12, and help with colon health. Turns out there is little b12 in kombucha but the other two seem to hold up in a study of kombucha, kombucha analysis. I like the taste of it but this is not true for everyone. Of course, I have been drinking apple cider vinegar, honey, and water as a morning drink for several months now so I probably have acclimated to it.
My daughter has seen the scoby and has vowed never to taste kombucha. I hope to change her mind eventually. She says we shouldn't eat things we have to feed. Guess I should have used a different term when I added a new batch of oolong tea to feed the scoby.
I grew a scoby from store-bought raw kumbucha. I got the instructions from this site. After a couple weeks to grow a good scoby, it has taken just a week to brew a half-gallon of kombucha. Now I have two scobies. Not sure what to do with the second. I'm thinking about having two batches going at once so I can drink out of one kept in the fridge and actively brew the other at room temp. After that, I guess I will need to find people who want scobies or I guess I could compost them. Until then, cheers.
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
The Cold Virus Still Rules
From the title you have probably guessed that the cold virus is in the house. It is an uninvited guest and we would like it to make haste and leave. I was just reveling in the fact that I had not yet had a cold this season, which was like waving a big welcome sign for the little virus. Accepting that it is a virus, I know I cannot do much to hasten its departure. It is a waiting game.
Having a cold means falling off the health wagon. I have not exercised formally, eaten enough fruits and vegetables, or made very many other healthy choices since last Friday. This is one of those times that knowing better does not equate to doing better.
Coughing means I can't sleep, which means I don't sleep, which means I look to easy food (think junk) for energy to make it through the day. The whole thing is a vicious circle. But the circle ends tonight and will morph into a spiral that will put me back on the track to doing better.
I am going to try to sleep. NyQuil will hopefully help. That is the plan although I haven't looked into the cabinet to see if I have any. I have not been replacing things for sometime as they run out. I'm trying to expand my supply of alternative remedies Vick's will be my friend tonight and the heating pad is making my bed warm as you read this.
To all fellow cold sufferers out there, may sleep find you tonight and may you have quality time together.
ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz
Having a cold means falling off the health wagon. I have not exercised formally, eaten enough fruits and vegetables, or made very many other healthy choices since last Friday. This is one of those times that knowing better does not equate to doing better.
Coughing means I can't sleep, which means I don't sleep, which means I look to easy food (think junk) for energy to make it through the day. The whole thing is a vicious circle. But the circle ends tonight and will morph into a spiral that will put me back on the track to doing better.
I am going to try to sleep. NyQuil will hopefully help. That is the plan although I haven't looked into the cabinet to see if I have any. I have not been replacing things for sometime as they run out. I'm trying to expand my supply of alternative remedies Vick's will be my friend tonight and the heating pad is making my bed warm as you read this.
To all fellow cold sufferers out there, may sleep find you tonight and may you have quality time together.
ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Homemade Eggrolls
My mom used to make eggrolls when I was a kid. They were great but they were fried in oil so they wouldn't be considered the healthiest. I recently came across this recipe for homemade eggrolls in the VT magazine. What caught my attention was the fact that they were baked.
Tonight I made them and even got some assistance from my teenager. We used egg roll wrappers so they were full sized eggrolls. I didn't measure my veggies, but we had enough for 12 full-sized eggrolls. They came out great and I would definitely make them again. At half the calories of store-bought frozen ones in addition to having no chemical additives (besides the wrapper ingredients) they are a win-win. I modified the recipe, which I think is very common for cooks to do. My fresh ginger was bad so I used dried and I added mushrooms just because we like them. They came out crispy, tasted delicious, and a bit of sweet chili sauce made them a satisfying meal.
Tonight I made them and even got some assistance from my teenager. We used egg roll wrappers so they were full sized eggrolls. I didn't measure my veggies, but we had enough for 12 full-sized eggrolls. They came out great and I would definitely make them again. At half the calories of store-bought frozen ones in addition to having no chemical additives (besides the wrapper ingredients) they are a win-win. I modified the recipe, which I think is very common for cooks to do. My fresh ginger was bad so I used dried and I added mushrooms just because we like them. They came out crispy, tasted delicious, and a bit of sweet chili sauce made them a satisfying meal.
Chiropractor: Get Ready for Visit Number Two
Last week I went to the chiropractor for the first time in my life. Growing up the word was not in my vocabulary. As I got older, the word was always part of a conversation about questionable medicine. As a real adult, (over thirty), I began to hear more about them through regular conversations with peers and through my deeper look into alternative medicines. The word was they could really help with back problems and such.
Growing up in a very rural part of the country and in a poor family, folk medicine and home care was the daily way that we dealt with illness. Vick's Vapor Rub, iodine, and hydrogen peroxide could take care of most things and Vick's 44 cough syrup was purchased occasionally. I still have and use Vick's Vapor Rub and hydrogen peroxide as needed and believe in their effectiveness. Living in the Southwest and being a member of a Co-op brought me in contact with herbal remedies. These I use frequently and I own herbal teas to cover a wide variety of ailments. We use them and they work. As a family, our rap sheet for the doctors office is very thin in comparison to many Americans.
Being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia (FM) over 4 years ago was an interesting experience. I still do not own/claim the malady. As it is diagnosed based on a collection of symptoms and not on anything measurable, I hesitate to claim it although I deal with its symptoms many days. When diagnosed, the doctor, a rheumatologist, asked me about medicines. I declined to take any as the side effects for all current offerings are substantial and they only treat symptoms and do not address the cause (which is unknown). She confidently said, "You'll be back." I choose to manage symptoms through lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, and adequate rest. All of these areas are challenging for me but the alternative is taking drugs that I know will be harmful to me in the long run.
Now, back to the chiropractor. My research has shown that many FM sufferers find some help through chiropractors and some with acupuncture. I thought I would try acupuncture and didn't really think about the chiropractic aspects as I feel that I am quite flexible and don't have back pain. A local chiropractor also does acupuncture so I made an appointment.
I pictured needles sticking out of me in various places and had mentally prepared myself for this intervention. Surprise. They now have electronic acupuncture that stimulates the nerve pathways with an electronic pulse. Painless and definitely not scary. She also adjusted my spine in two places and then worked on my neck. I was not psychologically prepared for the crackling, crunchy sound my neck made. Perhaps it was best as I did not tense up for the event. She kept things minimal as we did not know how I would react to the manipulations in light of FM.
Afterward I felt just a bit of awareness in the two places she addressed on my spine. My neck however was a bit sore for about 30 hours. My head felt a bit weird. Not bad weird, just weird. I did notice immediate increase in my range of motion without discomfort when turning my head when driving. I also notice a bit less arm, shoulder pain when sleeping and a bit of increase of range of motion in my spine when twisting.
So, I go again tomorrow. I don't know what to expect this second time around but I feel like the first visit was beneficial and I am willing to give this form of treatment a try for a few months to see if it will have positive affects.
Growing up in a very rural part of the country and in a poor family, folk medicine and home care was the daily way that we dealt with illness. Vick's Vapor Rub, iodine, and hydrogen peroxide could take care of most things and Vick's 44 cough syrup was purchased occasionally. I still have and use Vick's Vapor Rub and hydrogen peroxide as needed and believe in their effectiveness. Living in the Southwest and being a member of a Co-op brought me in contact with herbal remedies. These I use frequently and I own herbal teas to cover a wide variety of ailments. We use them and they work. As a family, our rap sheet for the doctors office is very thin in comparison to many Americans.
Being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia (FM) over 4 years ago was an interesting experience. I still do not own/claim the malady. As it is diagnosed based on a collection of symptoms and not on anything measurable, I hesitate to claim it although I deal with its symptoms many days. When diagnosed, the doctor, a rheumatologist, asked me about medicines. I declined to take any as the side effects for all current offerings are substantial and they only treat symptoms and do not address the cause (which is unknown). She confidently said, "You'll be back." I choose to manage symptoms through lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, and adequate rest. All of these areas are challenging for me but the alternative is taking drugs that I know will be harmful to me in the long run.
Now, back to the chiropractor. My research has shown that many FM sufferers find some help through chiropractors and some with acupuncture. I thought I would try acupuncture and didn't really think about the chiropractic aspects as I feel that I am quite flexible and don't have back pain. A local chiropractor also does acupuncture so I made an appointment.
I pictured needles sticking out of me in various places and had mentally prepared myself for this intervention. Surprise. They now have electronic acupuncture that stimulates the nerve pathways with an electronic pulse. Painless and definitely not scary. She also adjusted my spine in two places and then worked on my neck. I was not psychologically prepared for the crackling, crunchy sound my neck made. Perhaps it was best as I did not tense up for the event. She kept things minimal as we did not know how I would react to the manipulations in light of FM.
Afterward I felt just a bit of awareness in the two places she addressed on my spine. My neck however was a bit sore for about 30 hours. My head felt a bit weird. Not bad weird, just weird. I did notice immediate increase in my range of motion without discomfort when turning my head when driving. I also notice a bit less arm, shoulder pain when sleeping and a bit of increase of range of motion in my spine when twisting.
So, I go again tomorrow. I don't know what to expect this second time around but I feel like the first visit was beneficial and I am willing to give this form of treatment a try for a few months to see if it will have positive affects.
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Water the Fatigue
I have felt so tired the last few days. I kept trying to make some type of connection to figure out why. You know the drill. You review your schedule, meals, and demands, over and over in your mind. Cold coming on; no. Weird new food; no. Lack of sleep; well, yes but that is my normal. I finally realized I had not been making a conscious effort to drink my 6-8 glasses of water. In addition, I usually have a 1-2 cups of tea each day. Upon review, I was way behind on my fluids.
I think drinking water comes more naturally in the summer, especially in the Midwest when humidity makes you feel hot and drenched in a matter of minutes. Thirst is satisfied as part of the search to find ways to cool down, such as drinking iced water. Not in winter.
In winter, I have to make an effort to drink all that I need. I have tried various ways to keep up with water consumed. I have a water bottle with bands on it. The bands were made to wear on your wrist but I thought I could remove one each time I filled up the bottle and then after all three were removed, I would have consumed adequate water. Problem: the bands were hard to take off and put back on and when my daughter found them on the island, she would often wear them and they would be misplaced.
I am now working on using coasters to help me keep track. Sounds weird, but let me explain. I keep a holder with four coasters on my island as I don't like water rings on my counters. I use them, but no one else uses the ones in the kitchen. So this is now what I do: I pull all coasters out of the holder and put my 8 oz. glass on them each night. When I fill the glass, I move a coaster over to the holder. When all four are over in the holder, I then move them back out and repeat. If I drink a cup of tea or drink out of another container when I am away from home, I simply move the estimated number of coasters over when I get home. You can see from the picture that I have filled the glass 3 times: thus three coasters in the holder. After I drink the other half glass, I will refill the glass and move the 4th coaster over. It has been working for me quite well. Obviously, like so many other things, I have to actually use it for it to work. I'm going to finish that glass right now. Come on, drink a glass of water with me. I would enjoy hearing of other's solutions to tracking water consumption.
I think drinking water comes more naturally in the summer, especially in the Midwest when humidity makes you feel hot and drenched in a matter of minutes. Thirst is satisfied as part of the search to find ways to cool down, such as drinking iced water. Not in winter.
In winter, I have to make an effort to drink all that I need. I have tried various ways to keep up with water consumed. I have a water bottle with bands on it. The bands were made to wear on your wrist but I thought I could remove one each time I filled up the bottle and then after all three were removed, I would have consumed adequate water. Problem: the bands were hard to take off and put back on and when my daughter found them on the island, she would often wear them and they would be misplaced.
I am now working on using coasters to help me keep track. Sounds weird, but let me explain. I keep a holder with four coasters on my island as I don't like water rings on my counters. I use them, but no one else uses the ones in the kitchen. So this is now what I do: I pull all coasters out of the holder and put my 8 oz. glass on them each night. When I fill the glass, I move a coaster over to the holder. When all four are over in the holder, I then move them back out and repeat. If I drink a cup of tea or drink out of another container when I am away from home, I simply move the estimated number of coasters over when I get home. You can see from the picture that I have filled the glass 3 times: thus three coasters in the holder. After I drink the other half glass, I will refill the glass and move the 4th coaster over. It has been working for me quite well. Obviously, like so many other things, I have to actually use it for it to work. I'm going to finish that glass right now. Come on, drink a glass of water with me. I would enjoy hearing of other's solutions to tracking water consumption.
Saturday, February 6, 2016
On a Roll
Hard work pays off in most areas of life. I have exercised everyday this week so 7 out of 7 for me. It's been great to take the time to do something each day. I have been mixing up the workouts: outdoor walking, elliptical machine, indoor walk fit DVD, yoga, more elliptical, and some outdoor work around the house today. When I was younger (and thinner) I worked out several times a week. Those were the days of aerobic classes and women only gyms. Ahhh. Remember those?
Today was catch up on housework day as the week was super busy and over-scheduled. I put a crock pot of VT's Moroccan Lentil Stew with Raisins on while I worked. It can be found in the December 2015 issue or here. I wondered about the raisins in it, but it turned out delicious. The raisins were just enough to slip in a hint of sweetness occasionally and went along well with the cinnamon and cumin in the recipe. Definitely a keeper. Leftovers are in the fridge for a simple lunch after church tomorrow.
I went to a chiropractor this week for the first time. I didn't know my neck could make such cracking, crunchy sounds and still hold my head up afterward. Overall I;m glad I went and will go again soon with less anxiety now that I know what to expect. It is just another tool to assist me on a journey to a longer life.
I just started reading, The China Study (Campbell, 2006), and the information is astounding. It annoys me that the results of such an in depth study involving a huge number of subjects does not get disseminated to the public in a timely and obvious manner. Guess we can once again thank greed and the influence of industry for that one. I'm sure I'll bring this book up again in future posts.
I hope each reader will do at least one thing today to affect their own health in a positive way.
Today was catch up on housework day as the week was super busy and over-scheduled. I put a crock pot of VT's Moroccan Lentil Stew with Raisins on while I worked. It can be found in the December 2015 issue or here. I wondered about the raisins in it, but it turned out delicious. The raisins were just enough to slip in a hint of sweetness occasionally and went along well with the cinnamon and cumin in the recipe. Definitely a keeper. Leftovers are in the fridge for a simple lunch after church tomorrow.
I went to a chiropractor this week for the first time. I didn't know my neck could make such cracking, crunchy sounds and still hold my head up afterward. Overall I;m glad I went and will go again soon with less anxiety now that I know what to expect. It is just another tool to assist me on a journey to a longer life.
I just started reading, The China Study (Campbell, 2006), and the information is astounding. It annoys me that the results of such an in depth study involving a huge number of subjects does not get disseminated to the public in a timely and obvious manner. Guess we can once again thank greed and the influence of industry for that one. I'm sure I'll bring this book up again in future posts.
I hope each reader will do at least one thing today to affect their own health in a positive way.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Small Changes
Reality: Some people strive on big, drastic changes. It is exciting and results may be instantaneous. However, when making health changes, barring surgery, the changes usually are more gradual in nature. These types of changes also require more discipline over a longer period of time. I wish it were different.
I actually like healthy food. I don't think there is any vegetable or fruit I don't like. I find that a key to choosing them over other snacks is making them convenient. I find it amazing how quickly the veggies get eaten when I have them all cut up in a container. I have begun buying organic baby carrots that are already cleaned and washed. There are no short cuts that I know of for other veggies.
I have been moving steadily toward organics and find that many times the price difference is minimal especially since stores, like Aldi's, are moving in the direction of carrying more organic products.
I have been perusing issues of Vegetarian Times (VT) for recipes. Note that just because something is vegetarian it does not mean that it is healthy. I am dismayed at how many recipes try to replicate meat in some way. I don't want to replicate meat in my diet. I don't want tvp, seitan, or soy protein. I just want to eat real healthy food to provide my family's bodies with what they need to perform how God created them to perform.
Served over pasta. Recipe adapted form a recipe from VT.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
One Drawer at a Time
It is true that when you begin to focus on one area of your life, oftentimes other areas also end up being improved. So far my sock drawer has benefited.
Marie Kondo's book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, kept being referred to in magazine articles I had been reading lately,so I decided to check it out. I actually had to request it and be put on a waiting list at my local library. Three weeks later I had the hot little book in my hand and was anxious to see what all the fuss was about.
The underlying messages in the book had value even if the delivery and idiosyncrasies of the author weirded me out at different points in the book; I am not going to talk to my stuff. One thing of personal value to me was the tackling of the sock drawer.
Growing up, my mother tied our socks in a knot. With six children, this certainly kept them together as they made their way to their owner. When I was in charge of my own laundry, my socks were wrapped. This entailed stacking the mates and pulling the lower one over the upper one so that they formed a ball. I felt this technique did not stretch my socks so much but it still lacked something as the outer one would still stretch to accommodate the nesting of the other. The appearance in the drawer and the effort of choosing dress or sports socks were both things that could be improved upon.
Then came Ms. Kondo's book. Her description of folded socks easily seen and chosen from was wonderfully appealing. So I tackled the drawer. It didn't take as long as I had presumed it would and the results were delightful. The photo belows shows the results and also reminds me that I do not need to purchase socks for quite sometime although a pair or two of navy trouser socks could be squeezed in.
Marie Kondo's book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, kept being referred to in magazine articles I had been reading lately,so I decided to check it out. I actually had to request it and be put on a waiting list at my local library. Three weeks later I had the hot little book in my hand and was anxious to see what all the fuss was about.
The underlying messages in the book had value even if the delivery and idiosyncrasies of the author weirded me out at different points in the book; I am not going to talk to my stuff. One thing of personal value to me was the tackling of the sock drawer.
Growing up, my mother tied our socks in a knot. With six children, this certainly kept them together as they made their way to their owner. When I was in charge of my own laundry, my socks were wrapped. This entailed stacking the mates and pulling the lower one over the upper one so that they formed a ball. I felt this technique did not stretch my socks so much but it still lacked something as the outer one would still stretch to accommodate the nesting of the other. The appearance in the drawer and the effort of choosing dress or sports socks were both things that could be improved upon.
Then came Ms. Kondo's book. Her description of folded socks easily seen and chosen from was wonderfully appealing. So I tackled the drawer. It didn't take as long as I had presumed it would and the results were delightful. The photo belows shows the results and also reminds me that I do not need to purchase socks for quite sometime although a pair or two of navy trouser socks could be squeezed in.
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Saltines Anyone?
So I begin the second full week of January ready to put a bit more into the planniing end of changing. The seal on our chest freezer has come loose which should be expected since the freezer is over 26 years old. We purchased it at Montgomery Wards. Remember them? Ah. Something the current generation will never know. It has served us well and moved with us five times. It is still holding its own as far as keeping things frozen but I am now on a time crunch in using up or disposing of its contents. I'm sure there are things in the bottom of it that will leave me wondering.
The holiday sweets are about gone with just a bit of fudge remaining and I must admit that they did not have their same allure to me this year. Like so many decisions, adjusting one's mind really does cause everyting else to come along.
Recent articles in various news reports and journals reveal more and more the contamination of our food supply. It serves to strengthen my resolve to eat cleaner and really look at what food I bring into my home. My choices seem to vary each week as I keep reading labels. I have been unable to find saltine crackers made in the USA. They are only distributed by American companies and so we have been without saltines for over four months. That just means that I will need to find an alternative. I did find some oyster crackers at Aldi's that were made in the USA but a visit there last week shows only distributed by products again. Time to get the bread machine going. Who can disagree that the smell of fresh baked bread is much superior to opening crackers from a box?
I hope each of you are thinking more about your food supply each day. If you find saltines made in the USA, please let me know.
The holiday sweets are about gone with just a bit of fudge remaining and I must admit that they did not have their same allure to me this year. Like so many decisions, adjusting one's mind really does cause everyting else to come along.
Recent articles in various news reports and journals reveal more and more the contamination of our food supply. It serves to strengthen my resolve to eat cleaner and really look at what food I bring into my home. My choices seem to vary each week as I keep reading labels. I have been unable to find saltine crackers made in the USA. They are only distributed by American companies and so we have been without saltines for over four months. That just means that I will need to find an alternative. I did find some oyster crackers at Aldi's that were made in the USA but a visit there last week shows only distributed by products again. Time to get the bread machine going. Who can disagree that the smell of fresh baked bread is much superior to opening crackers from a box?
I hope each of you are thinking more about your food supply each day. If you find saltines made in the USA, please let me know.
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