Hugelkultur Garden Beds

love this!  what a great way to clear up the property of old wood and make a raised bed.  

http://www.homesteadintheholler.com/blog/hugelkultur-garden-beds/

why we need single payer universal health care despite the AFA

SALLIE ROYSE COOPER·TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016

the AFA (affordable care act) is not sufficient for the majority of americans who have been forced to buy into it (or face huge penalties) and no matter how you "tweak" it, it still plays into huge profits for the insurance industry.

here is the reality.

employers are dropping their employee coverage and forcing their employees to buy into the AFA. this is happening everywhere and costing these employees more than they were paying prior. example: i have a friend who will now be forced to pay $100 more per month than she did and in return gets less coverage.

insurance companies are still controlling who you see and how much you pay. example: my sister lost her insurance so chose an “affordable” policy under the AFA. she was thrilled to have “affordable” insurance until she found out that no one in her area would accept it. no doctor, no hospital. so she has insurance but cannot find a place who accepts it because every doctor, clinic and hospital in her city is tied into United Health Care.

people are forced to buy in the AFA only to find the insurance they need is NOT affordable even if the premium is. you see, while the premium may be cost effective, the coverage is not. people are finding out that with the huge deductibles they can’t afford medical care and that it’s costing them a lot more in the long run than what they had prior. in fact, it’s costing them their health.

so far the only ones i’ve seen personally who have truly benefitted from the AFA are those of very low income who qualify for free extensive coverage through medicaid. in ohio medicaid provides several insurances for those people at no cost with excellent coverage. and this is only because Gov. Kasich agreed to expand medicaid. (not a fan of his, but this is one truly good thing he did for ohio’s low income people.)

with the AFA what we have is a health care system still governed by the insurance companies, i.e. , corporations making big profits. unfortunately this is how money in politics works and why Bernie Sanders is so opposed to corporate campaign funding and why he and anyone with common sense would realize that we need a single payer health care plan that works for everyone. so far the only ones who have good, dependable ad affordable coverage are those on medicare or medicaid. yes, the AFA made insurance available to those who otherwise may not have had that option before, BUT it did not make healthcare affordable to the majority of americans. the name “Afforodable Care Act” is rather oxymoronic.

fear, greed, prejudice...is it just me that's confused?

people continue to confuse me daily. i know i'm not always the sharpest crayon in the box, but if you believe in god (as you say you do) and you believe in love (as you say you do), and you believe that god is love (i assume you do), then why deny refuge to those escaping the killing and suffering in syria? people think that by taking in refugees it somehow takes away from you or "us". here's the thing, it's doesn't! the only thing that takes away from us is the political system that gives billions and billions of dollars in tax breaks and refunds to corporations time and time again. and it's the corporations who hide their profits in tax havens offshore that take away from us. and it's the revolving door policy of our government consistently hiring former corporate employees and putting them in washington. truly, if you believe in god and love then you will open your arms and hearts to those who suffer, be they americans or syrians, christians or muslims. and if you really have any kind of faith in god or reality you'll believe there is enough in this world for everyone. and there actually is. we just need to work seriously to get some balance in the world and as americans, particularly in this country. and to begin this process we must be united, not separated by race or religion. we must exercise the power of the people to change things.

Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe

years ago i visited a country restaurant in smithville, ohio called "The Barn".  they served the best broccoli cheese soup EVER. later, in our local newspaper recipe section someone shared a recipe for broccoli cheese soup that sounded as if it might be similar to what i had loved at The Barn.  i tried it, it was and after that became a family favorite in my house.

here's that recipe for those who, unlike me, :( can still handle a good share of cheesiness.  it is delicious!

Broccoli Cheese Soup
(makes 4 qts which is a lot unless you have a family to feed.  you might want to cut the recipe down.)


2 T. butter
1/3 c. onion chopped fine
sauté' these together for 3 minutes.

add 3 c. chicken stock or 3 c. water with 3 chicken bouillon cubes
cook until dissolved.
bring to boil and add:

4 oz. fine egg noodles
1 - 10 oz package frozen chopped broccoli (or equivalent of fresh)
1/4 t. garlic powder
cook all this until noodles and broccoli are tender (about 5 minutes)

stir in 3/4 lb. velveeta cheese, cubed and 3 c. milk.
cook and stir until smooth.  do not boil.

you will love it, i promise!

Ohio Homestead Exemption for Property Owners Saves Money on Taxes

you qualify for a property tax reduction if:

1. you live in ohio
2. you own a home
3. you're 65 or older OR disabled

from http://www.tax.ohio.gov/faq.aspx:

The homestead exemption allows low-income senior citizens and permanently and totally disabled Ohioans, to reduce their property tax bills, by shielding some of the market value of their homes from taxation. The exemption, which takes the form of a credit on property tax bills, allows qualifying homeowners to exempt up to $25,000 of the market value of their homes from all local property taxes. For example, through the homestead exemption, a home with a market value of $100,000 is billed as if it is worth $75,000.

The exact amount of savings varies from location to location. But overall, across Ohio, qualified homeowners saved an average of about $435 per taxpayer during the 2011 tax year. The tax exemption is limited to the homestead, which Ohio law defines as an owner’s dwelling and up to one acre of land. The value of the exemption may not exceed the value of the homestead.

To apply, complete the application form (DTE 105A, Homestead Exemption Application Form for Senior Citizens, Disabled Persons, and Surviving Spouses), then file it with your local county auditor. The form is available on the Department of Taxation’s website and is also available from county auditors.

Today

Outside my window the sun just recently rose and is casting it's light on the trees across the street, creating shadows on the lawn.  the oaks and maples maintain their leaves yet, in shades of gold while most other trees have become skeletal until Spring.  squirrels scamper to and fro, foraging for the coming cold.  Pampas grass sways just ever so slightly.

I am thinking this will most likely be one of the last and truly nice fall days here in Ohio.  

I am thankful for so many things, but thinking of my dogs, Reggie and Juju and how much love, comfort, companionship and enjoyment they bring into our lives.

In the kitchen I have just put fixings for split pea soup into the crockpot.  the dishes still need done.

I am wearing my nightgown still, long and white with blue-green flowers on it.

I am creating a multicolor triangular shawl.

I am going to our local meat market today to stock our freezer for the month.

I am wondering if I'll find my way back to the simple woman I used to be.

I am reading 'Catcher in the Rye' because I've never read any of the classics, old or modern.

I am hoping to feel more awake and lively sometime soon.

I am looking forward to 'Sons of Anarchy' tonight.

I am learning just how much I've let go of who I was five years ago before my husband died and how much I miss that person.

Around the house everything needs caught up.

I am pondering the holidays approaching soon and trying to decide exactly what we're doing.

A favorite quote for today..."If not now, when?"  I need to remember this because it's applicable in every way.

One of my favorite things is a sense of order which right now is lacking in my life.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

do laundry, get groceries, sort items for donation, list on etsy.

A peek into my day: 

dogs out, dogs in, dogs fed, give meds to sick dog, (repeat, repeat, repeat) prep what's for dinner, start laundry, get dressed, go to store, coffee, home and carry on.  that sums up just about every day.  

home canning? read this.

there's a new new procedure for using canning jar lids.  i was not aware of this until now.

http://livinghomegrown.com/2014/08/changes-in-canning-lid-procedures.html