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

once upon a time...

...we didn't have the technology to communicate and connect with others like we do now.  if you're my age you probably think about that now and then.  if you're younger probably not so much.  i remember still the days when you not only took the time, but had the time to sit down and write a lengthy letter to a friend or relative.  today we text or call or message via facebook, etc.  we know what our friends are eating, drinking, doing, did, where they're at, going to or have been, what they bought, how they feel on a moment to moment basis, what games they play and the list goes on.  it seems we simply can't be without our cell phones and our aps.

i'll say this, i am grateful for the ability to communicate easily with my family and friends at any given time, yes.  and oh how i love the internet for searching out information, whether it's researching a particular subject or looking for a new recipe.

now i sometimes hardly believe in the concept of good vs. bad in some of cases.  technology is one of them.  it's what you make it.  it has such great benefit in our lives.  at times.  the point i'm trying to make here is that we all complain at one time or another about how busy and stressful our lives are.  yet we can't seem to put our phones or computers aside long enough to give ourselves a break.  just look around at what's happening.  i watch children walking home from school every day.  are they talking or laughing amongst themselves?  rarely.  they're all too busy with their attention on the phones in their hands. adults?  the same.  if they're jogging or walking they have their earbuds in or are busy looking at their phones.  i can't tell you how many times i have had pedestrians walk out in front of my car because their mind was on their phone, not on their surroundings.  (i promise i won't even get into drivers on phones.)

and, what's really oxymoronic is that while we're in constant communication with others we've forgotten how to actually be social in our immediate surroundings.  i'm sure i'm not the only one who has had friends over and had the time together interrupted repeatedly by someone's cell phone.  well, (sigh) there goes any chance of a deep or meaningful conversation.  we just don't often seem to get far enough in face to face communication to actually get to the heart of a matter before we need to answer a call or a text, or wait until after our friend does.  as technology has enabled us to broaden our social network we have actually become less and less capable or willing to participate in face to face communication.  i think that is a very sad thing.

do you know how to simply sit with yourself?  do you take time to listen to you?  can we stop scrolling or texting long enough to really connect to each other and ourselves?  commit to it!  yep, that's right.  why not commit to a routine of turning off your device for an decent amount of time each day?  spend some time getting to know yourself.  take a walk, sit in the park, be creative, meditate.  or meet a friend for coffee and actually spend that time with them, really talk, make eye contact, phone turned off and in your purse or pocket.  don't you even look at it.  better yet, be brave enough to leave it at home if you're not going far.  just think, in the days before cell phone we had no choice.  seriously, it's not such a big deal.

my point is this.  we clutter our lives every day with so much that's not only unnecessary but actually takes away from our peace of mind and quality of life.  all this unnecessary information and time spent sharing needless data adds to our mental overload and takes away from our being present enough to enjoy life in the moment.  too much input, too little time, freedom and actual awareness of the moment=STRESS.  i don't know about you, but daily events are often stressful enough without my adding to it needlessly.  turn your phone or tv or computer OFF.  relish some down time. find out what your breathing sounds like, hear the sounds of nature, smell the air, feel the creative experience, experience what's real; the life and beauty within and around us. it's what helps us recharge and be better able to deal with all the other commotion our day may present.   get yourself some peace!  it's available if you want it.  and it's free!

just a few ideas on real socializing

• designate a technology free day for yourself.  you'll be amazed at what you can accomplish.
• or if that sounds like too much to handle, begin with a technology free hour each day.
• if a group is going out to dinner, have everyone put their cell phones in a pile in the center of the table with the agreement that whoever reaches for their phone before actually leaving has to foot the bill.  
• actually have sit down dinners at home with the family.  all phones off and away from the table.  take this time to really communicate, listen and reconnect face to face.  if you can't do it every day, try to at least once or twice a week. 
• have a family game night.  no tv, no phones, no computers, no playstation.  how about a card game, a board game or some story telling?  or even a popcorn fight!  :)  
• get together with friends.  take turns hosting get togethers (dinner, picnic, potluck, game night for example).  no phones allowed!  

i'm asking for your help

please click the link below and learn why i'm asking for your help.  and thank you from the bottome of my heart.

gluten free, sugar free: easy, all natural vanilla yogurt

note-do not use this if you're on a yeast free diet.  vanilla and vanilla flavoring both contain alcohol or glycol which is made from fermented yeast. either way, it will feed your yeast.  found this out the hard way.  read labels!

we love yogurt, for breakfast or anytime you need a little something between meals.  the problem is that you've got two choices at the supermarket: yogurt with sugar or yogurt with artificial sweeteners.  we don't do artificial sweeteners at all.  normally we chose one with sugar.  but now, since we've gone sugar free it was a choice between no yogurt or devising a way to have our yogurt and eat it, too.  here's my simple and tasty solution...

sugar free vanilla yogurt

1 large container (approx. 4 cups) stoneyfield organic plain yogurt, lowfat (or make your own yogurt from scratch)
1 T. vanilla extract
stevia equal to 2 1/2-3 T. sugar ( i use the individual packets purchased at Aldie)

mix it up in a bowl and return to original container or do like i do.  i mix it right in the original container by using a long handled ice tea spoon.  no muss, no fuss!  enjoy!

candidas diet - gluten free fajitas!

unfortunately i didn't get a photo of these yummy fajitas, but i will give you the recipe for the yummy marinade i used for the chicken.  this could as easily be used on pork or beef.  serves 2 very generously.

you will need:
2 large or 3 med. chicken breasts
1 large green pepper
1 large onion
3-4 eggs
marinade 

if you have the really big breasts, (like me, lol!...sorry), cut them into 2 or 3 thinner sections by slicing them at an angle.  this way they'll cook up quicker and less dry.  i would even cut the smaller ones in half to be honest.  place chicken breasts in shallow container.

Marinade:

in a small bowl combine the following ingredients:

4 T lemon juice
4 T olive oil
i minced garlic clove
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. cumin
1/2 t. chili powder
1/2 seeded, minced jalapeño pepper
1/8 c. dry cilantro

(you can be more daring with your spices if you like and add more.  i made it according to the recipe and it's very mildly spicy.)

mix these ingredients together well and pour over chicken breasts, covering each one.  this can marinate for up to 8 hours in the fridge.  if you have less time marinate 30 minutes at room temp.
while this is marinating slice up 1 large green pepper and 1 large onion.

when ready to begin, remove chicken pieces from marinade and lay out on paper towels.  cover with paper towels and pat moisture off.  heat small amount of olive oil in skillet until hot.  cook chicken pieces until well browned, turning when necessary.  they should brown nicely and cook up fairly quick.  once done, remove from heat and place on plate or cutting board.  wipe skillet with paper towels.  return skillet to stove top and add small amount of olive oil.  add chopped veggies and sauté until tender crisp.

now for the final step, while veggies are sautéing,  heat another skillet, adding oil or butter.  whip up 3-4 eggs to make two individual thin omelets.  sorry, i'm not going to tell you how to make an omelet and you can skip this step if you just want to serve your fajitas as is.  but don't fold your omelet.  leave it open and slide onto a ready plate when done.  

when everything is done and each plate has an omelet on it, pile with fajita meat.  cover the fajita meat with the sautéed veggies.  top with salsa, sour cream or guacamole or a combination.  i liked mine with a big dollop of guacamole on top.  these were delicious! 

i hope i haven't made this sound too complicated.  i will actually use this marinade for steak, chicken or pork for a nice change of pace even if not making fajitas.  it's very good.  

candidas diet: chili-spiced beef

after my partner, mark was placed on ridiculous amounts of prednisone and cipro for a stubborn sinus infection, he came down with an even worse condition, an oral yeast infection.  because of the residual steroids and antibiotics in his system, antifungal meds didn't work.  as a result, research led me to changing our entire way of eating and once again, brought me back to alternative methods of healing. namely, the use of herbs and supplements.  after a couple of weeks and seeing his doctor for a check-up, the doctor confirmed we were on the right track and said, "you've got it (candidas) on the run.  just keep doing what you're doing.  as a bonus, mark's triglyceride level was normal for the first time in 40 years!  there is our absolute proof that his high triglycerides were not the result of consuming fats, but of consuming sugars.

what we're doing is the following:

* oil pulling morning and night with pure, organic, raw coconut oil.  coconut oil has specific acids that destroy yeast.  
* wild oregano oil 3 times daily. we're using oreganol brand soft gels.  oregano oil is one of THE best antipathogens available.  (it helped my daughter's c.diff go into remission)
*a really good brand of probiotics that includes multiple strains of good bacteria.  3 capsules daily.
*aloe vera juice-2 oz. a day  this helps white blood cells to combat infection.
*salt water rinses using pink himalayan salt or other mineral laden sea salt.
*DIET-this is SO important.  we've cut out sugar, yeast, alcohol, wheat, corn, soy, starchy vegetables, ham, bacon (and all processed meats such a cold cuts and hotdogs), and fruit from our diet.  every time you eat anything of this nature you are feeding the yeast.  as a result, your problem won't go away.  

read labels!  it's amazing when you really look into what's in your food products what you'll actually find.  very few packaged foods are free of sugar, soy, wheat or other ingredients that may be adding to your problem.  many are hidden under names like dextrose, maltodextrin, potato starch, etc.  educate yourself!

basically we live on meat, (beef, chicken and pork, certain vegetables and a grains, (barley, brown rice, quinoa, oat bran).  no ham, bacon or processed meats like bologna, pepperoni, hot dogs or even sausages because these all contain sugar and/or starch.

what i want to do here is share the way i have changed my cooking habits.  luckily for mark and me, i like to cook and be creative in my cooking, so although this has been challenging it has been a creative outlet for me as well.  i've only been at this for a few weeks, so bear with me as i discover new ways of doing things.  some of the recipes and tips here might be well suited to those who are not only battling a yeast overgrowth, but whose diet is also gluten free, sugar free or paleo in nature.

to begin with, here is a recipe i've used several time prior to this diet simply because it's so tasty. even better, it's easy and made in the crock pot!

chili-spiced beef

2 lb boneless beef roast
4-6 cloves minced garlic
1-2 jalepenos (i usually use one)
1 large onion, chopped
1 Tbsp chili powder (or more to taste)
1/2 tsp salt (pink himalayan or celtic sea salt)
2 Tbsp lime or lemon juice

chopped fresh basil as garnish of desired.
i like to serve this over brown rice.

in a 5-6 quart crock pot or slow cooker combine ingredients and cook 7-8 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high.  you can add veggies such as green beans the last few minutes of cooking if you wish to make this a one pot meal.  

spoon beef and sauce over rice and enjoy.

so when will they come for us?

…and then they came for the trans* people. (via Second Council House of Virgo)

Operation Zeus in August last year marked the start of an ugly reminder of a European past that we thought we had long buried.  Nearly 60 years after the end of the Second European War, migrants were round up from the streets of Greece and shoved unceremoniously…

---

lost

i have been reminiscing too much.  about walks in the woods or a moonlit stroll down a country road at 3 AM.  about barefoot mornings in my garden  gathering fresh tomatoes in the skirt of my nightgown.  about summer evenings on the front porch watching the rain move across the fields.  about hanging laundry to dry in the summer breeze.  i used to feel that i never needed to get away when every summer night was a little vacation as i took my glass of iced tea and retired to the patio after a good days work.

i used to love, love, love being at home.  often i didn't care if i left the property for a week or two at a time.  i loved getting up to the sunrise burning the mist from the field.  i was always busy with a creative project, be it cooking, writing or crocheting.  seldom did i lack inspiration.

now, as much as i hate to admit it, i feel as if i have lost a lot of my zest for living.  i leave just to get out of the house.  i seldom cook or create.  as nice as our backyard and patio are here, you seldom see me out there enjoying it.  as big and functional as my workspace in the basement is, you'll seldom see me using it.  i go downstairs only to do laundry or an occasional mending project.  i spend most of my time at the dining room table or at the computer accomplishing little but making lists of things i should be doing or playing mindless games to pass the time.

even though i have some social anxiety, i miss people.  my people, my family.  i have had real difficulty making new friends here in this small town.  i joined the art gallery a couple of years ago to showcase my jewelry and creations.  i only stayed with that a year.  i found most of the people involved to be snooty and ego driven.  maybe i judge too harshly out of my own insecurities.

i would love to find my muse again, to feel happiness or contentment or the energy of living again.  i really would.  just my thoughts on this rainy, gray first of june.  maybe i live too much in the past.  i try not to. i have tried to embrace the present and this life apart from who and what i have always been and known.  and perhaps therein lies the problem.  i am not being true to me.  but here i am and i'm not sure how to change that since i'm not able to do all the things i used to do.  and my partner seems less capable than me when it comes to living a more soulful life.

i need to find something to plug into, a light socket source of energy and inspiration.  at this moment i have no idea where or what that is, but i do hope i find it...soon.  i've been trying to convince myself for four years that i'm happy here, but i am not.  shouldn't you be able to be happy where you are?  that's what all the spiritual teachings imply.  be happy where you are.  any ideas or helpful advice is welcome.

in loving memory

on dec. 28th we had to say good-bye to furby, mark's best friend for the past fourteen years.  cancer had gotten the best of her and it was time to quit.  it has been a sad, sad time for both of us but especially for mark. rip sweet little girl.  we will always love you and miss your physical presence in our lives.  godspeed.   

reflections & introspection

Through the mirror of my mind
Time after time
I see reflections of you and me...
 (Brian Holland/Lamont Dozier/Edward Holland,Jr.)

unless you're in the vicinity of my age you may not know where those words come from.  i'll give you a hint...dianna ross, get out of my head!

the holiday season is near over and for a lot of people it has been a rough time.  maybe the hardest part of the year.  for me, yeah, that's pretty true.  i seem to make it through birthdays, anniversaries, and other dates you would think would get to me...like the anniversary of coop's death...things likes that.  but the winter holidays are kinda like a double whammy.  not only am i trying to make new memories with mark, but at the same time without my family.  yeah, things used to be a whole lot different but then, not just for me. 

i have been reflecting on that part a lot lately...how it must be for those who used to be an important part of my life, how much anger and hurt they must feel to have to disrupt the family and exclude me entirely.  and the things is, i understand to a great degree how they must see me and my past actions.  i do however wonder if they actually see themselves.  doing that they would have to reconsider everything, not just my actions but theirs as well.  we all make mistakes so we can learn from them, but  it seems a lot easier to blame others than to look at yourself. looking at yourself can be pretty ugly at times.  plus it's hard to keep perspective and not go down that dark road to self loathing and depression.  i'm all too familiar with that place and it's not a place you choose to visit any too often. 

so, i guess i'm broadening my perception even more so these days.  the winter solstice season is a time for reflecting and introspection.  soul searching is necessary if we ever want to know ourselves, forgive ourselves and understand and forgive others.  then maybe we can move forward a little more gracefully.  this holiday season was really rough at first for a lot of reasons but i made it a whole lot better than it might have been.  it didn't just happen.  i chose it and i'm so glad i did. 

dear human

 

after researching these words, i learned there is actually more to this.  it continues with...

"But unconditional love? Stop telling that story. Love, in truth, doesn’t need ANY other adjectives. It doesn’t require modifiers. It doesn’t require the condition of perfection. It only asks that you show up. And do your best. That you stay present and feel fully. That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU. It’s enough. It’s Plenty."

Courtney A. Walsh

 

think about it

People who inspire you are living a version of life that you want to live. And people that you envy hold the key to the things you "think" you are missing from your life. ~Mastin

i get so angry

 

 about this

Breaking: Major Harvard Study Published in Federal Govt Journal Confirms Fluoride Lowers IQ

Read more: http://naturalsociety.com/harvard-study-published-federal-govt-journal-confirms-fluoride-lowers-iq/#ixzz27OYHQWcl

and about this

we are so blessed

i look out from my morning table and cannot help but find myself in a state of appreciation as i watch the birds, squirrels and chipmunks scurry about.  twice i have seen a hummingbird come to the coral bells.  come the month of may next year we will put a feeder out for them.  i say "for them" when in fact it will actually be to enable myself to observe and enjoy these tiny miracles hover and dart about.

i came across a little sign in a downtown shop the other day.  it read, "we are so blessed".  i brought it home as a constant reminder of that truth.  so often we get caught in day to day struggling that we forget to take note of just how blessed our lives are.  we can often feel that our lives are mundane and lacking in flavor or nothing more than a series of struggles. if we think and feel this, that becomes our experience and we fail to see the beauty and magic all around us.  believe me, i know of what i'm talking about because i have been in that place more than once.  access to it is easy.  the truth of our existence is a matter of perception, of what we choose to focus on.  anything worth attaining takes focus and practice and most of all the desire to change.  and change is not necessarily hard.  sometimes it's simply a matter of changing your mind or switching your thoughts.  to do that simply requires an awareness of your thoughts.  so, today, try practicing that awareness. 

we are all on a journey of self knowledge and awareness whether we recognize it or not.  as i continue to learn and grow i hope to delve more deeply into this subject.  in the meantime count your blessings and take note of the beauty and gifts all around you.