Chicken Walk About

David put this interesting walk about together. Made from 2x4's, chicken wire and scrape plywood gives chickens 10 sq. ft. space to scratch and forage for worms out of the chicken yard. As you know I have 3 chicks 4 weeks old, and this will introduce these new chicks to the flock. Also it gives the hens a new place to explore. David did a great job don't you think so? It is great to have a handyman around the house.

 

It's always tricky to prioritize decorating dollars, and I tend to funnel most of mine to interior improvements: furniture, fabric, paint etc. But lately I've been thinking that the outside of the house, especially my front entry deserves its share of the love. The entry may be the first impression of a home, and my entry is best described as  mousy. Fortunately, jazzing up a front entrance doesn't have to cost a fortune. First of all get rid of the mat from last year at the door stop. Try putting planters of flowers at your front entrance. How about a bench with cheery outdoor pillows,  How about a knocker to spruce things up. It can go on and on. Make a fantastic first impression with color, plants and other design minded details.

Honey Laundering

Honey, due to foreign imports, is one of the most tainted foods in America, and China has a sticky finger in almost every pot. The fix is in, and China has essentially set up a network of honey chop shops to the tune of billions in profit.
Grab the bear bottle of honey off the Walmart shelf and have a look. By appearance, the honey looks golden and wholesome. The beehive the honey came from may contain 60,000 honey bees; and those same bees probably tapped over a million flowers to make it. Odds are the honey is golden and sweet, but about as pure as the bottom of the Chinese barrel it was shipped in.
Honey, due to foreign imports, is one of the most tainted foods in America and China has essentially set up a network of honey chop shops to the tune of billions of profit. Honey couterfeiting is not just under the table business as usual, but relates directly to US food security issues.

Homemaking

As a homemaker we can find many boring monotonous jobs in our day. But each day should not be a focus on this, but rather an opportunity to serve Jesus;an opportunity to wash the feet of the saints as we bless our families in our daily tasks. It will be through this journey that we will find our purpose. Because no purpose in life truly fulfills the soul apart from God. God will reveal our purpose, talents and gifts as we seek each day to love God and glorify Him forever.

Hen Setting On Eggs...

I have a hen that has decided to set on four eggs. I marked an X on the eggs I wanted to hatch so I don't get them confused with newly laid eggs. It is day 9 and she is still setting. The weather has been cold, but it is nice and warn under her feathers. The second picture is an egg carton that I wanted to put in the chicken coop. A friend gave it to me. I can remember as a child, these were the egg cartons that we used to pick up in the grocery store. I think it adds a special touch to their coop. The third picture is my new chicks at three weeks old. They are growing like weeds. I have figured out I have 2 roosters and 1 hen. I am not thrilled with that, but at least the roosters will be good meat to eat. We will see what this batch of eggs has to offer. 

There Is Not Always Hope That A Dysfunctional Family Will Heal

One more post on un-families. You might be telling yourself, I can't give up on them! They are my family. There is always hope! What kind of monster abandons family? For healing to happen, the individuals involved must become interested in healing work, like therapy personal growth. They need to consciously engage in the process and stick with it over a period of time. Until that happens, healing won't happen. As long as the people involved are not willing to learn and grow, everyone continues to feel bad. Staying involved with an un-family is a form self sabotage. It is hard to avoid because it is very, very difficult to see. And it feels so familiar to stay involved in your family of origin, drama.    

Dealing with rejection from your 'un family'

Some families are not close and supportive, were never set up to be close and supportive. Rather, they are dysfunctional. Some family conflict is perpetual. It has no resolution, because it is based on lasting differences in personalities and needs. Differences are in place between mom and dad long before the kids are born and things just snowball over time. In these family units with impossible issues, time spent together is like hanging out in emotional hell. If you come from such a family, the best thing to do is have little contact with them and invest yourself heavily in creating a very different kind of family that is capable of being close to you, and to whom you are willing to be close. Our family is very close, and I love each and every one of them. We are all different, but willing to listen and respect each others opinion. Isn't that what life is all about. Jesus teaches love and peace. This is a subject that I will continue to discuss. It is heavy on my heart.

Real Food Made Simple: Real Fast

Sauteed vegetables are one of the easiest ways to stop cravings for traditional comfort food while also getting in several veggies at the same time. My favorite combination is mushrooms, lentils and carrots cooked in a vegetable broth. I try to keep some of this made in the fridge and just reheat on the stove top. Who doesn't like a lovely salad topped with all of your favorite fixings? Salads are so versatile and can be sweet, salty or a combination of both. Vegetable soup, with or without meat, is a great way to have a filling one pot meal. During the winter months we have soup two to three times a week. Baked fish or chicken can be a healthy, fast way to get some lean protein in minutes. Soon the lettuce from the garden will be ready, along with the other vegetables I have in mind for planting this spring and summer. Take advantage of container planting also. Get those tomatoes in a planter and watch them grow. Happy Gardening!

Wax Museum Of Famous People 

Part of History in the Second Grade is learning about famous people. Alex, our Grandson, portrayed Thomas Jefferson. Alex gave a speech about Thomas Jefferson being the 3rd President of the United States.Freckled and sandy-haired rather tall and awkward, was married to Martha, and at 33, drafted The Declaration of Independence. Maybe Alex will follow in his footsteps. Pictures by Grandfather.

Whether you are planting a vegetable garden or designing a back yard garden landscaping project, if you're not starting with seeds, it's important to buy healthy nursery plants from the start. I bought some cabbage plants the other day at Ace Hardware. I just had to get something in the ground. It is raining in South Central Ky. today, and the ground is saturated. Shopping for plants for a garden landscaping job, or to add some color to your windowsill is usually a pleasurable activity. I need to stop and pick up some pansies. They come in assorted colors and last well into the summer. Happy shopping! 

Here's The News!

The IRS just published descriptions of the financial penalties American taxpayers will pay if they fail to purchase the rip off health insurance mandated under Obamacare. Under Obamacare, American families are forced to buy conventional health insurance which primarily benefits the pharmaceutical industry. By 2016 just three years from now the cheapest health insurance plan available will cost a typical American family $20,000 a year. The IRS has now announced. Like everything else Obama has tried to shove down America's throat, the Affordable Care Act is an outright catastrophe. It funnels hundreds of billions of dollars into the coffers of health insurance companies, vaccine manufacturers and drug companies, but it does absolutely NOTHING to help the American people.

For me, spring means firing up the grill, entertaining friends and family, planting spring crops, and making little touchups to enhance our outdoor living space. But I am concerned about the increasing risk due to declines in populations of pollinators, and the problem cannot be solved merely by increased reliance on honeybees. Approximately three quarters of all human foods depend at least partially upon animals such as insects, birds, and bats for pollination. These habitats, often found at the edges of forests or grasslands, are increasingly being lost, and pollinator populations are falling accordingly.

Spring Clean Your Closet

Spring is a time of growth and rebirth-you know birds chirping and all that. It's a time to throw open the proverbial drapes and get cleaning. For fashionistas, it means all the new spring styles are calling our names! Out with the old boots and coats and in with the new sundresses, flip flops and space in my closet that needs filling. Actually I have my winter and summer clothes in my closet for lack of space.I have two rods. One for winter, and one for summer both color cordinated. But, today it is 33 degrees so go slow with that rearranging. Spring isn't quite here yet!

March Is Birthday Month

We have 3 birthdays in March to celebrate. My husbands, Jennifer and Kevin. We all celebrated this weekend. What a great time we had. I love my family. Thanks guys for being who you are!
David entered a Native American painting in the WKU Museum Art Show. I thought for sure he would win. There were 100's of entrys. Of course art is in the eyes of the beholder. I think its a winner.

Great Ways To Make Coffee Healthy

Believe it or not, coffee can actually be very healthy to drink. But, drinking Joe still acidifies your body, drains minerals from your body, weakens the adrenals, and reduces your levels of GABA. The feel good feeling.
Most of the negative effects of coffee comes from the added sugar, artificial creamers, and other toppings packed with chemical additives. In summary: Start with an organic, shade grown coffee bean, Make espresso, not coffee. Brew your espresso using pure water. Use a natural sweetener. Add a natural creamer such as chocolate hemp. Do yoga and take GABA to boost your GABA levels.I am not kidding people. Eat steamed asparagus, and add a pinch of Celtic sea salt to your coffee.  

Spring Is Around The Corner

I ordered my seeds from the catalogs, and I am waiting for my ground to dry so that David can get in and till. This is an exciting time of year. Spring flowers are budding and trees are showing sounds of life. Along with spring comes POOP. That's what weeds are: They find ideal places to reproduce and multiply, but those places tend to be right in the middle of our flower beds, vegetable gardens or lawns. Weeds not only wreak havoc with our well planned designs, but they also compete with desirable plants for nutrients and water, affecting the plants ability to thrive. Whats a weed warrior to do?

The Secret Behind A Contented Liver

After the heavy, rich and weighty food of winter, spring is the time to lighten up. Think green for a happy liver. Artichoke, dandelion, celery, collard, dill, mint, watercress and spring onion are all outstanding for keeping the liver operating smoothly and efficiently. Superfoods like cereal grasses such as barley, wheat and alfalfa should play an active role in diet too. Avoid meat and dairy. Instead, choose fish such as salmon. Eat more raw, lightly steamed foods. Consuming lemon water along with plenty of fluids is also beneficial. Yoga, gratitude practices, excercise and extra time spent in nature are good remedies. Likewise, laughter and all forms of creativity tend to be nurishing as well. Reducing stress is crucial.

Arrival

Friday in the early evening 2 chicks hatched from the incubator. I was up and down all night and somewhere between 2 and 3 am two more chicks had hatched. I was so excited. Today they are 3 days old as you can see from the above picture. Unfortunetely, one chick was deformed so I had to put it down. It really bothered me, but knowing all the other chickens would have had a field day with it, it is better off. I have been placing each chick in my lap to get familiar with me. I am hoping after a couple of weeks they will come when I call their names. Here, popcorn, happy feet, and twinkle toes.My heart is full to bursting!