When it comes to vaccinating their babies, bees don't have a choice -- they naturally immunize their offspring against specific diseases found in their environments. 

In a honey bee colony, the queen rarely leaves the nest, so worker bees must bring food to her. Forager bees can pick up pathogens in the environment while gathering pollen and nectar. Back in the hive, worker bees use this same pollen to create "royal jelly" -- a food made just for the queen that incidentally contains bacteria from the outside environment.

After eating these bacteria, the pathogens are digested in the gut and transferred to the body cavity; there they are stored in the queen's 'fat body' -- an organ similar to a liver. Pieces of the bacteria are then bound to vitellogenin -- a protein -- and carried via blood to the developing eggs. Because of this, bee babies are 'vaccinated' and their immune systems better prepared to fight diseases found in their environment once they are born.

Vitellogenin is the carrier of these immune-priming signals, something researchers did not know until now.

I have got to get one of these. Then I could take my chicken for a walk. What do you think? For those of you looking for chicken harnesses look no further. Finally a way to restrain your birds without making them uncomfortable or constricting their movement. They don't even seem to notice that they are wearing the harnesses! Here is a slideshow with lots of information about the harnesses. Just click View Slideshow to view it and get the information. http://kaseyspoultry.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=12939420

By any measure, President Obama's economic and governing policies have been a failure, most recently demonstrated by one statistic: Today, one in five Americans needs government, at some level, to survive – the highest number, proportionately, since the Great Depression. Do you think getting Hillary in the White house is going to be any better? Think Again!

McDonald's has a very complicated brand image: entirely unhealthy, yet an affordable option that is almost universally available. McDonald's isn't a place we go to get our nutritional needs met, and with most research connecting our Western/fast food diet directly to various diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease, one begins to wonder why this company continues to serve billions and billions. Availability is a key to McDonald's worldwide success. This fast food mecca can be found in every airport, off rural highways, on college campuses and, who knows, maybe one day the golden arches might even show up in Arches National Park. All joking aside, the global addiction to McDonald's is frightening, and assuming that McDonald's isn't going away anytime soon, then perhaps it is time you know some of the toxic ingredients that can be found in a typical McDonald's menu. (Story by Carol Young, republished from http://www.top10grocerysecrets.com.)

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/050567_McDonalds_toxic_ingredients_fast_food.html#ixzz3hDalPgkM

 Do you see Bessie's new baby? She is the first one on the right.

 These are homemade pickles from my garden. They are so yum!

A beautiful sunflower in our backyard. It is also an important agricultural crop. Sunflower oil is a valued and healthy oil. Sunflower seeds are enjoyed by all as a healthy snack. 

While the little blue fruit is a delicious addition to muffins and pancakes, blueberries are more than a sweet addition to baked goods. Although they may be small in size, the nutritional punch these little berries carry makes them a great addition to one's diet.

 

Blueberries contain a high amount of fiber and water and are considered to be a low energy density food. One cup of blueberries provides 3.6 grams of fiber and 125 grams of water all in only 84 calories. Fiber can aid in weight loss goals by slowing the digestion of food, which can help to stave off hunger. When combined with a healthy diet and regular physical activity, blueberries can be a great addition to the diet and can help to reduce dangerous abdominal fat deposits.

A Slice Of Summer

There are few things sweeter than biting into a slice of ripe cantaloupe. And when it comes to preparing it, the possibilities are endless. Whether your are serving the melon in a fruit salad or wrapping in prosciutto for an elegant appetizer, these simple tips can make your dishes even more delicious.
Unripe cantaloupe can be kept at room temperature for up to two days. If your cantaloupe is already ripe, its best to keep it in the refrigerator. My grandmother always told me picking the right melon is all in the way it sounds when you tap it. One other way that you can fix a slice of cantaloupe is putting a big dollop of vanilla ice cream on it. It is sooo yum! 

Folks, Bessie did it again. Another baby chick born Saturday. Isn't she a cutie? She is a Bessie look alike. I am thrilled to say the least.
I want to talk about noticing your food and making healthy choices. At your next meal, take a moment to look at the food in front of you, notice what you are eating. The simple act of observing your food can help you to be fully present and in the moment. You just might find that the basic principles of mindful eating, slowing down and noticing your food naturally lead to healthier eating. This may translate into a more thoughtful trip to the market, maybe even some advanced meal planning.

The sun has got its hat on today.  Heat index of 107 with temps up to 98.  

Walking alongside the creek with sand squishing in between his toes, a wandering man watched as the water rippled across the rocks. Looking back at his sandy foot trail, watching it meander along the water's edge out of sight, it seemed almost as if time had been frozen in place for fifty feet or so.

Getting lost in the passing trees, each step he took into the green was one step further from being heard or seen. He felt like he was losing himself with every step. A fulfilling kind of drunkenness swelled up inside him. The erratic noises of city life and the false images of self were beginning to fade away as nature's palette of colors came into full view.

Kneeling creekside, cupping his hands to splash water onto his face, it seemed like anything was possible. With his eyes wide open and his ears perked to the sounds of birds calling, he could feel his worries dissipate.
Nature is healing in all its diversity and color. The way everything cooperates is solace to the mind. The way everything is interconnected brings peace to the soul.

Next time try a walk instead of a pill!

I just ate a sub sandwich, whole-wheat chips and a white chocolate macadamia nut cookie. If you tried to tempt me with something delicious at this moment, no matter how good it smelled, I’d probably turn you down because I’m full.

That’s how it works in the physical realm, right? The more you eat, the fuller you become and the less you want.

Spiritual hunger is the exact opposite. The more you eat, the hungrier you become and the more you want.

God longs to work within us.

I can’t tell you why I wasn’t hungry for His Word or for prayer during that time, but I can tell you that it’s not the only time. Whether it was busyness or an attack of the enemy or just a hard place in my faith, I’ve learned that when this happens, it’s time to go "eat" some spiritual food.

Whether you feel hungry or not.

Slowing Down

Do you remember the last food you ate? What were the flavors you experienced? What did it look like? How did it smell? Unless you were really paying attention, you probably can't fully answer the questions.
Mindful eating is all about slowing down and paying attention to the food in front of you to being present at your meals instead of texting right through them. Putting on the breaks can take some practice though, especially if you are used to constantly being on the go. It is easy to fall into the trap of mindless eating.
Setting aside time just for eating can also help you slow down, but don't worry if you can't dedicate a full hour to lunch. It's the quality of the time you spend eating that counts most!

Do you know how many hours you spend sitting down every day? You may not be counting, but researchers have been, and the numbers are surprising. Recent studies reveal that people spend an average of 64 hours a week parked in a chair, or on the couch. In comparison, people average about 28 hours per week standing and just 11 hours of low impact movement, like simply walking around. So what's the big deal? As it turns out, our bodies were not meant for so much sitting. Your body is designed to move. Being tied to your chair for too long isn't good for you. So what are you waiting for? Next time you are stuck on a task at work or when a commercial come on , get up and walk around. It's one small step you can take for a lifetime of better health.

Prebiotics as functional foods

Prebiotics are considered functional foods in that they provide numerous health benefits and aid in the prevention and treatment of diseases and health conditions.

Currently, there are three major types of prebiotics that are well documented: Inulin, oligosaccharides and arabinogalactans. Examples of food sources that contain prebiotics are:

• Asparagus
• Bananas
• Carrots
• Chicory root
• Coconut meat and flour
• Dandelion greens
• Flax and chia seeds
• Garlic
• Jerusalem artichoke
• Jicama
• Leeks
• Onions
• Radishes
• Tomatoes
• Yams

By increasing and maintaining the populations of good bacteria, the body is less susceptible to pathogenic bacteria and yeast that can lead to a diverse range of negative health consequences.

Learn more:

Canning Part ll

If you are like me, you may have fallen in love with the romance of canning after reading about Laura Ingalls Wilder's pantry. But don't be fooled into thinking you need a big, country style kitchen to preserve food. Canning in small batches isn't necessarily a disadvantage. It allows you to focus more on variety than quantity. Every canning recipe can be safely scaled down if you'd prefer to produce just four pints of something instead of 12. If you clean as you go, you can do all the work of canning including chopping the food, filling the jars, and setting them out for cooling in a 2 foot square counter space. And space for those extra foods?  How about tucked under your desk, in a bookshelf or even in your closet!

Canning In A City Kitchen 

There's nothing like fresh vegetables in the summertime. The abundance whether it's from your garden, a CSA share, or the farmers market is downright exhilarating. Tomatoes tumble out of bowls, cucumbers pile up on the counter, and I am ready to can.
But what about after the frost has arrived and the gardens no longer producing? You can continue to feed yourself from the garden. There's something wonderfully hopeful about putting up food for the future, and a little work done up front can make for easier meal preparations down the road. Plus, opening a jar of home made sauce in January is a great way to bring a bit of summer to a cold winter day.  

This Is David, Jennifer And Yours Truly At Farmers Market Many Years Ago

Twenty-one states have been affected by the avian flu epidemic, and researchers called it "the most significant animal disease outbreak in U.S. history." This particular strain of bird flu "poses little risk" to the public, according to officials who also added that no humans have contracted the H5N2 strain.
The fact that our food supply can be affected by outbreaks of disease, not to mention the implications of consuming GMO-tainted foods as well as other unhealthy substances that find their way to the dinner table due to mass production methods, means that the more we can grow and produce our own healthy, organic food, the better off we are.

And when food shortages become a real issue, home food production will become an essential key to survival. It may be difficult or impossible for many families to grow all of the food necessary to survive, but the more self-sufficient you become now in terms of food production, the better your chances are in the long run.

Gardeners define themselves in many ways. Whether you like to work in your yard on the weekend, have a few pots on your balcony or back deck, or a small or large plot where you grow fruits and vegetables for fun or to feed your family, you are a gardener. As a gardener, you may or may not have thought about your connection with honey bees and pollination. In the United States, more than $15 billion dollars worth of crops are pollinated by bees each year. Honey bees also are important in your yard and garden, and what you do there can have an impact on honey bee health.

In nature, bee colonies that survive the longest are those that swarm frequently because they leave their problems behind and start over. But in managed colonies, honey bees do not have the same opportunities to flee or swarm because beekeepers try to prevent swarming so colonies can be larger and maintained over several years or longer. Also, managed colonies are built to high populations and are kept in man-made hives within close proximity to numerous other colonies. These factors intensify the spreading and effects of animal pests.

“In managed hives, beekeepers have to help the bees by managing the pests using integrated pest management as well as creating a stable environment that allows bees to defend the hive successfully.”

Chickens provide good food and good laughs. Like the picture above. They are quirky, beautiful and clever. They come in countless colors, shapes and varieties, and there is hardly a culture on the planet that doesn't raise them. They eat ticks, grasshoppers and lots of other pests. But what's my absolute favorite reason to raise backyard chickens? They add life and vigor to a home, turning people into naturalists. They connect us to our food and to our past.

You may snicker at the concept that there is actually a way to maintain regularity and achieve a healthy poop, but it is essential not only to promoting a healthy gastrointestinal tract but also to achieving optimal health and vitality. If increased energy and happiness is what you desire, set all awkwardness aside and prioritize your goal to achieve a healthier poop.

Proper gut motility helps the body to detoxify effectively by eliminating putrefied waste, microbial cells and microbial debris. You should be clearing all the waste out of your system every 24 hours for optimal elimination. This means whatever went in should go out within a 24 hour period, max! Any longer and the food putrefies and creates a breeding ground for bad microbial growth.

Simple strategies to improve your bowel movements

Hydrate: Are you nourishing your body with a healthy intake of water daily or are you excessively consuming caffeinated or sugary beverages? Increase your daily consumption of water and decrease drinks that may be adversely affecting your health.
Best Ways To Achieve A Healthy Poop
Avoid processed foods and alcohol: Having to wipe too many times may be a consequence of too much mucus in your colon. Eliminate or reduce manufactured and highly processed foods and alcohol from your diet.

Medication intervention: Medications affect gut health and produce common side effects such as constipation and diarrhea. Open up the conversation with your doctor and discuss if pharmaceutical drugs are causing you more harm than good.

Increase healthy gut bacteria: The microbiome and activity of bacteria in the gut changes daily. Introduce healthy bacteria into your diet by taking a daily probiotic and consuming fermented foods such as sauerkraut or fermented teas like kombucha.

Probiotics increase intestinal health and protect against inflammation, increased permeability apparent in those with leaky gut syndrome and hypersensitivity concerns in patients with IBS and psychological disturbances.

Increase fiber: Fiber can be found in a supplement source typically containing psyllium but it is best to receive the benefits from fiber from nature. Increase the amount and variety of fruits and vegetables into your diet. Individuals consuming plant-based diets have been studied to have fewer carcinogens in their microbiome than those who primarily consume meat.

Decrease reliance on laxatives: Although traditional laxatives may be the first offensive move to treat constipation, laxatives have not significantly proven beneficial at relieving pain and may aggravate the problem. Instead of relying on a laxative in pill form, try a more natural approach by drinking apple, pear or prune juice.

Don't hold it in: You may be taken aback by the necessity of having to poop in a public bathroom, but at times this is a must. Holding it in allows water and nutrients to be reabsorbed back into the body. Poop is waste and if the urge presents itself, do not hesitate to go.

Supplement magnesium into your diet: Magnesium can stimulate the movement of stool through the bowels by serving as a muscle relaxant.

Magnesium is easily depleted under chronic stress but can be replenished in our food supply. Excellent food sources of magnesium include green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds and some fruits such as bananas and apples.

Exercise: If you want to be regular you have got to get moving! Increasing physical activity has provided significant health benefits both physically and emotionally.

Exercise has been studied to decrease the frequency of pain, regulate bowel movements, combat fatigue, decrease cortisol and alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Most people have probably heard that cranberry juice is really good for the body. However, when most people talk about this juice, it is usually in terms of urinary tract health. And it is definitely true that regular consumption of cranberry juice can help treat urinary infections and also help prevent the formation of kidney stones (or help dissolve them if they are already formed). This is largely due to their high acidity, which can both kill off bacteria and dissolve the calcium from which stones are made. However, increasingly, people in the medical community are stepping back to look at the bigger picture of the important benefits that cranberry juice can offer. One of these benefits appears to be a significant contribution to the health of the heart. Let's take a look at recent research which suggests that cranberries should definitely be included on the list of heart-healthy foods.


At the end of the eight weeks, it was found that the participants who drank the cranberry juice daily showed improvements in many markers which are risk factors for heart disease. The juice drinkers displayed lower blood pressure, reduced inflammation throughout the body, lower blood sugar levels and decreased insulin resistance compared to those who had consumed the placebo beverage.

 

Grandpa reading to Micah between the rain showers.

Love this pic of the rooster.

Hope everyone had a great weekend despite the weather. I know we enjoyed our time with family. The fireworks were superb this year!

Now that we are no longer afraid to include coconut in our diet, we have found we can eat the meat, drink the water, turn it into milk, and squeeze out the oil. Every part is a great source of nutrition. But that's not the only benefit.

Coconut oil is also antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory. It has a world of uses, from body care to health to household. Here are a just a few:

Coconut Oil and Body Care

1. Oil pulling. Swish a tablespoon or so of coconut oil through your mouth for 15-20 minutes the first thing in the morning. This is a great practice for oral health and many claim other health benefits as well.
2. Brush your teeth with it. Use it plain, add a few drops of essential oil (peppermint, cinnamon, tea tree, oregano), or make your own DIY toothpaste.
3. Use as a carrier oil. Most of the essential oils are too strong to use full strength. They should be diluted with a carrier oil and coconut oil works very well for this purpose. Just add a few drops of the essential oil of your choice to a tablespoon of coconut oil and rub it on your skin.
4. Use as a moisturizer. Plain coconut oil is great for the skin. It is said to lighten dark spots and help prevent stretch marks.
5. Make-up remover. Removes all make-up, including eye make-up.
6. Diaper cream. Use on baby's butt!
7. Hair conditioner. Rub it into dry hair and leave it in for a few hours.
8. Use as a shave cream.
9. Use as a deodorant.

Coconut Oil and Health Care

10. Nail fungus. Add 5 drops of tea tree oil to 1tablespoon of coconut oil. Rub into nails.
11. Personal lubricant. Does not disrupt natural vaginal balance.
12. Cracked heels. But remember this can be a sign of diabetes. Check your blood sugar and change your diet!
13. Sunburn. Use after the burn cools off.
14. Bug bites. Stops the itching and promotes healing.
15. Chapped lips. Instant moisture. And it tastes good!
16. Use on abrasions. Helps skin heal faster. (Also for perineum post birth).
17. Hemorrhoids. Stops the burning and itching.
18. Prevents and may help reverse Alzheimer's.
19. Kills topical yeast infections.
20. Kills lice.
21. Soothes eczema and psoriasis.
22. Helps to heal acne.

Household Uses for Coconut Oil

23. Season cast iron pots and pans.
24. Polish metals.
25. Polish furniture.
26. Use on scuffed leather.

Jesus is our greatest example of selflessness. Scripture is full of examples of Him serving others — from going out of His way to talk to the woman at the well, to healing lepers, to washing His disciples’ feet, to the ultimate sacrifice of giving His life. I often get so caught up in my own needs that I do not think of others or look for ways to serve like Jesus.






"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45

GREECE

As Greece slides ever deeper into its debt crisis with no real hope of a solution on the horizon, many average citizens have been reduced to scavenging in dumpsters just to stay alive.

A recent article in The Telegraph details the plight of formerly employed Greek nationals who now must resort to scouring the streets to find scraps of cardboard, plastic bottles, metal or anything else that can be sold at recycling centers for a few meager euros per day.

Some of these unfortunate people are even forced to eat discarded food found in the trash bins of cities such as Athens, the article reports.
  Millions of average Americans may end up facing severe food shortages and find themselves in the same situation as the Greeks.

 

What is your opinion?