Thursday, November 25, 2010

Giving Thanks

It's said that home is where your heart is. 

From our house to yours, we send you Blessings on this Thanksgiving Day!

"Let not your spirit be troubled on account of the times; for the Holy and Great One has appointed days for all things."
                                  Enoch's Book of Admonition for His Children
                                  Book of Enoch, Chap. 92, v. 2

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

End Hunger Campaign

As someone who promotes local foods in our rural community, I was very interested in The Washington Journal show this morning that interviewed actor Jeff Bridges, who was promoting his charity, The End Hunger Network.  I can't believe I've never heard of this program which has been around for nearly 30 years.  It was so uplifting to hear about a non-partisan program that seeks only human welfare and not some political agenda. What I liked about this program is that it seeks to work with existing organizations so there is no duplication and waste of resources.  The statistics on hunger in America are mind numbing.  If you are interested in this topic, check out the  Food Research and Action Center and the endhunger.com web sites.  Way to Go, Jeff!

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Another Day and Fond Farewell

Today I had a follow up with the doctor and the good news is I lost 12 pounds and dropped my blood pressure 8 points.  The bad news is she wants me to see an ENT and neurologist because I'm having dizzy spells and ringing in the ears.  She says that periodically falling down with no apparant symptoms is not normal.  And she upped my blood pressure medicine.  Rats.  I'll keep working on the weight and maybe I will or maybe I won't take the new dose of medicine.  I have to admit it -- I'm a notoriously bad patient when it comes to taking medicine.  But I will see the other doctors because I know I need to have my hearing checked -- what? what did you say? -- and seeing a neurologist can't hurt.  The doctor is also going to order a scan of Lara's leg just to make sure she doesn't have a blood clot.

My second order of Tattler canning lids came today.  I figure I'll need to make at least one more order to have enough lids for all of my jars.  I've been buying about 9 dozen of each size at a time and that number is manageable with our household budget.  I haven't tried them yet since I plan to use up all the other lids I have first.  I figure I can recoup the cost of the lids in only two years of use.

My neighbor, Beth, stopped by today with a farewell gift of homemade cookies and candy.  She and her husband live here in the summer and then roam in their RV visiting friends and family in warmer climes over the winter.  I know a lot of people like to do that, but it wouldn't suit me; I'm more of a hermit.   I admire people who tend to be flexible like that.  I, on the other hand, look forward to fires in the wood stove on frosty mornings and putzing in my basement when the snow blows working on various crafts.  This year it will be learning how to use my loom.  I will miss Beth and look forward to seeing her next Spring.  And the cookies and candy are delicious!  Of course, Tom was the first to "sample" them LOL.  Did I mention that food doesn't last long around here? 

The crescent moon was so beautiful tonight.  I wish my camera took better pictures at night, but I always seem to jiggle the camera and night pictures rarely turn out the way I'd like them to. I should ask my Brown-Eyed Baby (a.k.a. Soldier Girl a.k.a. Cousin It a.k.a Sarah) what kind of camera she would recommend since she took that photography program over in Scotland. 

Indian Summer starts on November 11th.  Watch it be freezing cold and snowy!  I shouldn't complain though.  We've had really nice weather for the most part of this Autumn (excepting the October 27th over the land hurricane).  Normally we have snow on the ground by now.    It would be nice to have a few more nice days for the chickipoos' sake.  Some of them are still growing out new feathers and really cold weather would be hard on them.  They are only laying about 3-5 eggs a day now.  It is good that they can still go out on the grass and in the woods.  They stick pretty close to the chicken coop now and I expect the wood chips in the coop are warmer on their feet.  They are looking very sleek with their new feathers. 

Well, I have to go and exercise so I'll catch you later.  Be safe!

Friday, November 05, 2010

Time for a Breather

Lara's leg is looking much better.  The swelling and bruises on the right leg are almost gone.  The broken left leg is still swollen and warm to the touch, but the horrible bruising on the underside of the leg is not nearly so scary to look at.  The low fever she was running is gone, and her appetite is a bit better.  Thankfully, the urine analysis came back negative so I don't know what caused the fever.   She is still on the cranky side, but improved.  I dropped the Aconite and Arnica, and added Symphytom to the homeopathic remedies, which I give her three times a day.  My sister sent me a bottle of Ethical Nutrients Bone Builder(R) capsules to give her.  They are horse pills so I grind each dose (two capsules) to a powder and mix it into a tablespoon of honey.  Lara has no problem swallowing it this way.  Hopefully, when she gets her next x-ray the bone will be well on its way to being healed.  I am not as afraid of moving her around, but I am putting her to bed earlier and propping that leg up in a fashion that is more to my liking.  We got the bed rail from Amazon yesterday and it is really nice. I still have to order the leg elevation attachment for the wheelchair.  I went to the Quickie wheelchair site, but I'm not sure yet which part to order for her chair.  It will all work out as it is meant to.

I dug out my Solfeggio Healing Tones CD to lower my stress level.  I don't know what it is about that music, but I'm asleep within five minutes of putting on the headphones, and when I wake up, I feel great.  Last night after supper I canned pie cherries and made two batches of blueberry and blueberry-huckleberry jam!

Yesterday being my birthday, Tom bought me The Men Who Stare At Goats, a movie I really like -- and I'm not much for comedies.  If you've read many of the books about remote viewing, you will enjoy the movie even more; it's almost like being part of an inside joke.   He also bought me Sarah Beth Aubrey's book The Profitable Hobby Farm which is something I've had on my wish list for some time now.  I can't wait to sit down and read it.  One sister gave me a lovely candle -- I love getting big candles to use when the power goes out, and another sister renewed my subscription to Dell Horoscope magazine.  I wish I had more time to study astrology.  Then, my good friend, Kimberley out in DC, sent me an Amazon gift card, which she shouldn't have done.  I am grateful to all for their thoughtfulness. 

No German Chocolate birthday cake this year though as I'm working hard to lose weight.


Maybe I'll make some pumpkin pie instead.

Thursday, November 04, 2010

That Time Again


Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me-ee, happy birthday to me!