Downward Facing Dog for Your Whole Body

Of course you are going to do downward facing dog. It is great for your whole body, not just your legs. I like to pedal out my legs quite a bit and throw in a few down dog splits. First lift you leg into the split position. Then shift toward the plank position, (not my favorite) bend your knee on the lifted leg and bring that knee to your nose. Then extend back to the down dog split. Go back and forth to build some heat. Its a killer.
As we AGE we all need to be in good shape. That means our balance should be steady. Don't feel bad if your teacher corrects your postures. Hands on instruction is the best way to learn good form. Stay light hearted and keep your sense of humor. Laugh if you fall out of a pose. That's exactly what I did yesterday. I was trying to put my shirt down and lost my balance and toppled over. Smile when things get difficult. Enjoy Yourself! 

Harvest Of Crops

After all the hard work that a garden can bring, at the end of summer you can reap the rewards. I just had to show this picture of my sunflower. It is a volunteer. The second picture is a cup full of celery soaking in water I am waiting to bag and freeze. This crop comes in handy with winter soups. Of course my beans are a staple for winter. Around here we love green beans. I harvested 40 bulbs of garlic Saturday. Today I made salsa from the abundance of tomatoes my garden has produced. Its a busy time, but a rewarding time. 

Obamacare Train Wreck

When 80 people die in dramatic fashion, it's the kind of tragedy that grabs global headlines. But when millions of people die slow, painful deaths in the privacy of their own homes, it gets zero media coverage. So why does Obamacare really kill more people each year than an actual train wreck? First, because it expands the monopoly of Big Pharma, and industry steeped in criminally, fraudulent science, medical experimentation on children and monopolistic prices for drugs. Obamacare is at the core anti free trade. It is causing health insurance prices to skyrocket nationwide. Costs are so high that many employers are cutting full time jobs, causing a nationwide shift to a part time society in which the workers don't qualify for health care coverage. Talk about train wreck! Train wreck might be too mild a term. Its more like a holocaust!

School Is Starting Soon!

As a matter of fact school is starting in South Central KY on August 6th. What a short summer. It flew by. With all the activities we poured into it. Our spring was wet with cold temps. and now, just now is it finally feeling like summer outside, and school is calling. I have 3 grandchildren starting in 3rd grade, 5th grade and 7th grade this year. I can remember when each one of them was a baby. Just like I can remember my childhood years. What happy memories I have of those years so long ago. They still bring a smile to my face. Lets everyone enjoy these few days that are left and wish the very best school year ever for our children and grandchildren!

The Egg

I had lunch out yesterday; a nice salad. But I forgot to tell them to hold the egg. Don't get me wrong, I love eggs! How can one keep chickens and not like eggs? But like many of you reading this blog, I find there's such a stark difference between the real, delicious farm eggs laid by my hens and the stale, tasteless commercial eggs at the grocery store, that I can no longer stomach commercial eggs. The salad was terrific. But only after I had carefully looked and tasted the pale, rubbery slices with distinct green rings around the yolks. Yuck! Of course, it's easy to taste and see the difference when it comes to hard boiled eggs on a salad. Unless you drench them in dressing. But when I see pale, stale eggs on my plate, and when I think how inhumanely they have been produced, it makes me especially grateful for my own flock of chickens. They not only produce delicious eggs, but also provide affection and endless entertainment.

 

 

Summer Has Finally Arrived

 

In most places the best nectar flows are in the Spring which can slow to a trickle in Summer. If not an outright dearth. What does that mean for our bees and us beekeepers? By taking too much of the Spring honey I may be depriving my colonies of some much needed honey reserves during the Summer dearth. I removed 4 frames. A colony that suffers from malnourishment can take weeks, if not months to recover so make sure your colonies don't run out of food. 

Cheers!   





Pest Watch

The Colorado Potato Beetle can be highly damaging to not only your potato crop but also tomato, peppers and eggplant. This is a crucial time to control the insect. Start your fall garden in August by planting broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, beets, lettuce, carrots, turnips, spinach and snow peas. Many vegetables need side dressing with fertilizer in the summer time.   
If you are having an overabundant supply of yellow squash I have a wonderful recipe;
1 TSP. olive oil
4 medium yellow squash
1 cup onion sliced
1 clove of garlic
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Shave the outer part of the squash into ribbons using a vegetable peeler, making sure to avoid the core and seeds. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add squash and onions and garlic. Cook approximately 5 minutes. Remove and add cheese and salt and pepper.

Basis For Happiness

Happiness comes easy for some, but for many it's a daily struggle. Some carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, while others see beauty in all things. That is how I am trying to be. Not letting anything, or anyone interrupt my happiness. Unhappy people deal with internal strife, fears, early life trauma, losses, etc. Our set points for happiness differ, as do our circumstances. Yet, what we do about our circumstances makes all the difference. So does what we eat, because nutrition is the foundation of wellness. Happiness starts by getting some sun. I can remember my mother saying if only the sun would shine I would feel better. I agree! The sun makes us happy and the world just looks a little better. So put on that happy face!

Cleaning And Maintaining Your Coop

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." It is important that your chicken coop and yard stays clean. Having a clean coop and yard is one of the best ways to keep your flock healthy and free of disease. Cleaning the coop and yard does not need to be a big time consuming chore you do on a daily basis. With a little effort and regular weekly maintenance, you can easily get the job done in about 30 minutes or less when it is time to clean. A deep cleaning is good to do about twice a year. As you can see, David is doing part of the deep cleaning that needs to be done. As you all know I lost my last flock to a skunk. It is so important the coop is disinfected for your new hatch.

Happiness Potential

We all want to be happy, and live happy fulfilled lives. Sometimes however, it seems like we have become experts at avoiding happiness. Happiness is so unfamiliar to some that they don't trust it. Some people feel guilty when they enjoy themselves. Others expect disappointment, keeping happiness at a distance. Not knowing what you want or refusing to take time to figure it out is a way to avoid your purpose in life. Living with a sense of purpose is a huge need that brings meaning  and fulfillment. LASTING HAPPINESS COMES WHEN YOU ARE IN CONTACT WITH A MEANINGFUL PURPOSE.

Gallery On The Square

Yesterday David and I went to Franklin for him to paint on the square. I stopped at the Gallery on the Square located in historic downtown Franklin which is operated by the Simpson county Guild of Artist and Craftsmen. The Gallery proudly displays works by local artists from Kentucky and Tennessee. There is a custom framing and matting shop located within the Gallery. Classes are offered throughout the year.  I looked at the local artist items of Jewelry, Pottery, Paintings etc. I bought a coffee mug and a necklace which were both made in Bowling Green. David is looking forward to The Plein-Air Painters group of which is in the process of being formed. It will consist of a small group of accomplished painters who are dedicated to painting on-location.

Seven Inches Of Rain

This is what 7 inches of rain will do to a garden. Last week we had 7 inches of rain in South Central KY. My garden was doing beautifully. Now look at it. Weather is key to a garden. Good weather with just the right amount of sunshine, rain and warm temperatures is the key to a beautiful garden. Its the middle of July, so it is too late to replant. I guess I will just have to go with what is out there. My freezer is running on empty, but I have lots of green beans stored in my pantry. That is why I can a lot. Some years I have great yields, and then there are years like the one we are having right now! 

On The Journey To Your Best Sleep

Sleep is confusing. I mean, It's just plain hard to figure out We all know that with the proper amount of sleep we feel better, work better and more efficiently, and treat our loved ones better. How much sleep do we need? I personally need 8 hours. Some people need less. A mattress is a very large part of getting a good nights sleep. I like a firm mattress, Everyone is different. Remember not to have caffeine after 5. That's a sure way not to have a good nights sleep. Have your bedroom cool, not cold or hot. Sleeping is glorious with a cover on. Night! Night!

Kim's House

 Kim invited us up to Louisville, because Terry and Phil were coming in from Denver to spend time with family. Since I have 25 new arrivals for the chicken yard, I had to stay home and mind the chicks. They are only 1 week old. The first picture is of David, Phil and sister Sharon. Jimmy was in Florida. The second picture includes Sharon, Terry, Phil's wife, and Jennifer and Kim. I know they had a great time seeing each other again.    

My Vegetable Garden

My Vegetable Garden

The joys of vegetable gardening range from planning in winter to harvesting in the summer or fall. Nothing adds more to your meals than fresh beans, tomatoes, or zucchini. Vegetable gardens are unlike any other garden on your property. The best part of growing a vegetable garden is the edible bounty it produces at the end of the season. Right now in South Central Kentucky it has been raining for the better part of the week. We need sunshine and warm temps to bring on our harvest. I am ready for canning and freezing and juicing.

Winter of My Life

Winter of My Life

You know. . . Time has a way of moving quickly
And catching you unaware of the passing years.

It seems just yesterday that I was young,
Just married and embarking on my new life with my mate.
And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago,
And I wonder where all the years went.
I know that I lived them all...

And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams...
But, here it is... The winter of my life and it catches me by surprise...

How did I get here so fast?
Where did the years go and where did my youth go?

I remember well...
Seeing older people through the years and thinking that those
Older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off
That I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like...

But, here it is...
My friends are retired and getting grey...
They move slower and I see an older person now.
Some are in better and some worse shape than me...
But, I see the great change...

Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant...
But, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those
Older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day!
And taking a nap is not a treat anymore... it's mandatory!
'Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared
For all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability
To go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!!

Yes, I have regrets.

There are things I wish I hadn't done...
Things I should have done, but indeed,

There are many things I'm happy to have done.
It's all in a lifetime...

So, if you're not in your winter yet...
Let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think.
Whatever you would like to accomplish in your life, please do it quickly!
Don't put things off too long!!

Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today,
As you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not!

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life...

So, live for today and say all the things you want your loved ones to remember...
And hope they appreciate and love you for all the things
You have done for them in all the years past!!

Life is a gift to you.

The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after.
Make it a fantastic one.

~ And, Remember ~

"It is health that is real wealth

And not pieces of gold or silver.

And, make the most of TODAY, 

because it's not the future

and it's not the past.  It's a GIFT,

that's why we call it the PRESENT"

   

 

New Arrivals

 

New Arrivals 

 

Introduced from England in the late 1800's Buff Orpingtons became one of the most popular farm fowl in this country.These birds are large and stately with a quiet disposition. They are called Golden Beauties because of their golden plumage. They are excellent winter layers, shelling out brown eggs right through winter. They also make excellent mothers and setters. Now that is what I am talking about!