Light a candle....

To a world that looks on in anguish and awe, as we seem to slip over into a weird time stream that has reverberations for the rest of the world.  I assure you that even though it seems that we have all gone mad, not all of us have.

There are still many that believe in truth and fairness.  We embrace diversity and know that many colors go into making up the rainbow.  Some of us still believe that all are equal and worthy of respect regardless of gender, gender affiliation, race or religion.  Some of us still believe in fairness and that we believe in respect for all.  Some of us still can see the shining light of truth despite the dark clouds of hate and lies that hang in the air.

I ask you around the world to light a candle and say a little prayer for those of us who still hold it true that all are created equal, those of us who hold on to the light that dims.

In a world that is tipping over into hate and destruction I implore you to hold on to all that is decent and good. Hate never creates, it destroys everything it touches.

So light a candle for us that we may stay on the path of truth, that we stumble not, and that when we grow weary with despair that we find the strength to continue on.

A task completed. Old Greensboro Cemetery.

In my little village and at the end of the street I live on, is a very old cemetery.  It was deeded to our little Borough back in the early 1800's and was originally known as the Minor Family Cemetery as it was the family of Captain John Minor, a Revolutionary War Veteran, who donated the property.  Now I myself am not descended from Captain John, but I have cousins on my Wise/Cumberledge/Eddy side of the family who are.  Regardless over the years the cemetery had fallen into what I consider a disgraceful condition.  Headstones missing, some broken, some unreadable, and no one really knowing who was buried there, or where.

So for about 20 years I have been complaining to the powers that be about the condition of the cemetery.  I bitched, I whined and I nagged.  To top things off, the plot map of the cemetery had disappeared over all these years and the conclusion was that many, many years ago when the Old Borough Building had caught on fire and burned, that it was burnt up in that fire.  I had searched for records and found nothing that told me who all was buried there nor where.  To many it was distressing.  I had a few names that came from a series of little booklets that had been published over 50 years ago listing all the old cemeteries here in Greene County by name, that included the headstones that were there.

Now I may be a lot of things, but I will tell you that I can be down right stubborn and persistent.  If something is important to me, I will find a way around the obstacle, over it, under it, or if worst comes to worse, will go right through it.  And I was determined that I was gonna find a way to get something done about the old cemetery.  So we had a change in the powers that be that run our little village back at the beginning of the year.  So I amped up my nagging.  Finally we started to raise money for the stone.  As of yesterday the order for the stone was put in.  We are also going to have a bench and 2 urns so that those who wish to leave flowers may leave them in the urns.

Thanks to 2 of my cousins, Matt and Lloyd who are both involved in family research (to top it off Capt. John Minor is one of Matt's great grandfather's, I forget how many times though), I was able to identify not only 26 burials there, but lo and behold we had 4, yes 4 Revolutionary War Veterans there!!  One of them was a guide for George Washington not only during the French and Indian War, but also in the Revolution!!  As a public service I will give ya all the list of names here.  Now this list is just the names that we were able to find, so I know it is not a complete list of all the burials.

1- Morgan Blacksher

2- unknown Blacksher

3- Edward Clevenger, Sr.

4- Mary Cline Clevenger

5- Peter Engel, Revolution Veteran

6- Rachel Farmer

7- Zachariah Gapen, Revolution Veteran

8- Elizabeth South Garrison

9- Rachel Kramer

10- Frances Ellen  Phillips Minor

11- Hannah Anna Minor

12- Harriet Minor 

13- Captain John Minor, Revolution Veteran

14 - Mariah Minor

15 - Noah Minor

16- Ortho W. Minor

17 - Otho Minor

18- Pleasant Minor

19 - Rebecca Minor

20- Sally S. South Minor

21 - Stephen Minor

22 - William Minor

23-Henry Oglesby

24 - James Vance, Revolution Veteran

25 - Ephraim Williams

26 - Michael Wisman

So this is just not the history of our little village, but also the history of our nation.  I plan on taking pictures once the plaque is in place, and the bench and urns, and I will post a picture of it.  I also have plans to get a fence put round it, and the powers that be seem to be interested in that happening if we can get some grants or raise funds.  So I just want to thank everyone that got this accomplished!!  When I post the pictures I will be naming those who contributed to help make this possible.  But I also want to thank my cousin Matt, and my Cousin Lloyd for all their help.  The local VFW is going to contact the Veterans Dept., and see about getting stones for the 3 vets who don't have one.  Cousin Matt was able to get one for Captain John.  

Vitamin K2, not the same as K1.

So like you I know that we need vitamin K to help with blood clotting and other body functions.   Also like you I was not aware that there is a difference between K1 and K2.  But there is, and it;s a big deal that we know this.

Vitamin K2 is very important for quite a few bodily functions.  Bone health.  Yep, that is what I said.  Apparently K2 works in conjunction with Vitamin D3 and Calcium to help keep your bones healthy.  Researchers from around the world are finding out that the K2 helps direct the calcium into the bones to help keep them strong.  So if you are taking calcium for your bones, you need to add the K2.

They are also finding out that most of us are deficient in K2.  K2 is found in egg yolks, meat, liver, HIGH FAT dairy, yes, not low nor skim, and in natto which is a traditional Japanese food that is fermented.  Curded and hard cheeses such as Gouda are also good sources for K2.

K2 also helps keep your arteries clear, yep, and will help clear arteries of calcium deposits.  Research is also showing it helps with healthy skin and helps with cancers such as prostrate.

The problem is as I have stated before, there is all types of research going on, but we rarely hear about it.  Most Doctors rely on Big Pharm to keep them updated.  We all know that Big Pharm is not going to let you know this stuff.  Heck the Doctors are still proscribing Statin Drugs, which are killing people by the truck loads, despite the fact that several Government funded research projects have clearly stated that they are deadly and should be gotten rid of.  I guess the FDA doesn't communicate with the departments that fund the research.

So folks start adding the K2 supplement to your diet.  I know I am.

Memories of Fall on the Farm.

This time of year always brings so many memories to mind.  Dad would be getting into the garden and gathering up all the goodies for Mom to finish up canning.  Mom's shelves in the basement would be filled with jars of various types of beans, pickles, relishes, jams, jellies, juices, and fruits and veggies of all types and kinds.

She would have the freezers filled with yummy stuff also.  Dad would be getting ready to start a crock of homemade sauerkraut and getting ready to make pots full of vegetable soup so that Mom could can it.  I would be helping pick, or clean the veggies, and help Mom wash and sterilize all the jars.  I would also be keeping an eye on the pumpkins in the garden. This was also a good time to get ready for applebutter and apple sauce making. There was nothing like some of Mom's hamemade bread smeared with butter, and a big bowl of Dad's veggie soup!

If we had field corn now would be time to see about picking it so the cows and pigs would have it to eat.  If the grass in the bottom was high enough we might get a second cutting and baling of hay.  In between all that Dad would find time to make the barn, garage, his shop, the chicken house, and the house nice and tight against the cold winter weather that was around the corner.

Mom would find time to Fall clean the house from top to bottom including washing, starching and ironing any curtains that needed done.  I would be helping with that and scaring Mom with my acrobatics to reach a spot on the ceiling or wall without falling.  Now what I learned with all this was the following:  Do it right the first time, and you won't have to go over it again, and No poking around, we have lots to do and no time to be slow or daydreaming.  Because let me assure you, Mom had an eagle eye for dirt and streaks.  You would do it over and over until it passed her inspection.  Mom took pride in her housekeeping and streaks and missed spots didn't cut it.  So I learned very early to do it right the first time and to not be a slow poke.

By the time the middle of October arrived the house was spic and span, Mom's canning was done, everything was ready for the colder weather and we were ready for a well deserved rest for a bit until butchering time!!

Suffering from Raynaud's or Erythromelalgia?

So I have several autoimmune disorders: Asthma and Psoriasis to name 2.  But back on April 26, 2014 (oh yes I remember the date quite well) 2 more decided to join in.  Now if you have Erythromelagia (also known as Mitchell's disease) you know all about it, if not let me tell you it is horrible.  My feet and legs, particularly my left felt like they were on fire, they burned, hurt, had turned bright reddish purple, and were throbbing!  I had been sleeping when this started, and of course woke up immediately. Ok after a good hour or so of that, and hubby using the massager on my feet and legs, it quit.  Next up within minutes was Raynaud's.  Oh I recognized that one.  Feet and legs went ice cold, numb and hurt.  You couldn't win here with this combo.
So off and on it went all night.  Now let me tell ya I was tired and not going to go through all that so the next morning I started researching on the internet.

Yep sure sounded like Erythromelalgia and lo and behold like Raynaud's it was an autoimmune and often the two of them went hand in hand.  Now to give you reader's digest version here Erythromelalgia basically is the blood vessels opening wide, and basically an overload going on with not only the blood flow but to the nerves and nerve channels.  Raynaud's is basically the blood vessels constrict letting very little blood through.
What a mess!!  To make it worse if I took a hot bath when the Raynaud's was going on to help with the cold and constriction then it would do half an half at the same time.

So say's the Doctor, it sounds like you are right on your diagnosis.  Apparently with Erythromelalgia a diagnosis is made by the symptoms and the visuals.  She also said she understood the 2 could go together.  She said we could try drugs (NO WAY), or surgery and so on.  Nope not happening here.  Why you ask, because, some medications can kickstart the dang disease and what did I do for 3 days before?  But take a prescription med on her advice, for my sinuses.  I told her, that's ok, I will figure this out.

So off for more research.  So I ended up taking after some trial and error the following:  B Complex for the nerves, more magnesium, Europharma's Healthy feet and nerves, Planetary Herbals Myelin Sheath Support, Devils Claw, and Chanca Piedra.  This was towards the end of June.  First week of taking them episodes were not nightly, and the duration wasn't as long.  By August we were down to maybe once a week and only going on in the left leg and foot and of short duration.  September and October we were down to maybe twice a month.  By mid-December they were gone.  Since then I have not had any more episodes of either.  It took about 6 months but that is fine.  What ever the issue was it has either been "fixed" or gone into remission.

So unlike drugs which mask the symptoms, but work immediately, the herbs and vitamins took longer, but fixed the condition.  Oh and should you want to try any of the vitamins or herbs I used, I got them from Swanson's vitamins.  If you have any of the above disorders like I did, give it a shot.  I can attest to the fact that it worked for me.

Take your vitamins Please!! New research from around the world uncovered!!

So in between all the things I have to do every day, plus working on the books, and thinking up blog posts, I like to search for the latest research going on.  Now I am always amazed at how the stuff we need to know seems to be pushed into the proverbial closet and we don't hear about it.  But we sure hear enough about all the new meds that Big Pharm wishes to push on us.

So remember, I don't just read a book, one article or so forth, I read tons of stuff including Research published by researchers from around the world.  So today we are going to discuss 2 very important vitamins that go hand in hand in working together.  One of which is actually a hormone and not a vitamin.

So we will seem a bit disjointed and rambling for a bit but it will all come together.  Because we need to do this to get where I am going with it.

First off everyone, and I do mean everyone should be taking a good multi-vitamin daily.  In today's world with all of us eating processed and GMO food, we just aren't getting the nutrition we need.

Second we all need to get a blood test done before we start taking the multi-vitamin, if we are taking it, skip it for 3 days before you get the blood test done to have ALL of your vitamin and mineral levels checked.  That way you know what you are low on, or deficient on.

Now you need to be getting sunlight without sunscreen.  Yes you heard that right.  You need to get at least 30 minutes of sunlight without any sunscreen.  In that period of time your body will be making D3.  After that use the suncreen.  Now the point being that those 30 minutes will make D3, which by the way is ACTUALLY a hormone, not a vitamin.  Now D3 is needed by the body for over 300 enzymes, plus a plethora of processes.  New research is showing that the old standard of 400 IU can be thrown out the door and varies for each person, and a new standard of 1,000 IU is being said.  Now low D3 can cause all types of issues, and throw into that being low in another vitamin or mineral and you start to see why our bodily functions start to decline.

Now you can take D3 in supplement form, and you should, BUT you should also take K2 with it.  Now K2 is a form of vitamin K.  K1 is what we get from green leafy vegetables and it helps with blood clotting.  K2 though helps with getting calcium into the bones where it belongs.  Meaning it helps keep calcium from depositing in arteries, heart, as kidney stones and so forth.  AND if you start taking it, it helps clear those deposits from the aforementioned.  So we need at least 185-200 mcg per day.  A good source is eggs, fermented vegetables and cheeses.  But we can also take a supplement.  There is MK-4 and MK-7.  MK-7 lasts longer, but in higher does can cause anxiety etc.  MK-4 doesn't have that happen, but doesn't last as long in the body.  So if you take additional D3 and/or Calcium you need extra K2.  You can find a Vitamin supplement that has a ratio of D and K2 already in it.  If you take the Calcium take extra K2.

Now digging further into all this research we find out that in such diseases as Scleroderma,, Cancer, Leukemia, and a variety of other diseases and disorders that researchers, and I am talking about over 150 different ones from around the world that I saw (and there are thousands more that I didn't read) are finding out that temporarily for a short period of time such as a month of raising the D3, and K2 to daily high levels, such as 25,000 IU with around 500 mcg of K2  and adding a double dose of a B complex and an extra 2000 mg of vitamin C will show improvement of the conditions.  After the month you go to a lower level such as 6,000 of D3 with extra K2, and still take a dose of B Complex and the C.  Then repeat the high doses the next month.  After 6 months of this patients with Cancers, Leukemia, and Scleroderma showed marked improvement.  After a year several patients went into remission.  But as a side note, those suffering from blocked arteries, psoriasis and a host of other issues, also found extreme marked improvement.

So take your vitamins folks.  Trust me Big Pharm is not going to let you know this stuff.  Your doctors go by what Big Parm says.  Oh and if you are worried about Vitamin D Toxicity, by taking the K2 you don't get it so the researchers have found out.

Stay away from the Statin Drugs also.  If you do take them, take CoQ10.  Statin drugs deplete the body of CoQ10 which leads to Dementia and Congestive heart failure to name a few.  So eat that butter and those eggs, because to have a healthy brain you need the Cholesterol.  New research coming in all the time that supports this and claims that the Statin Drugs are doing nothing but killing people.  Don't believe me?  Google it.

Remembering 9/11

Today marks the 15th year anniversary of 9/11.  As the years have passed and we have begun to heal, we are still left with scars and a legacy of terrorism and hate from that fateful day.

Things that we learned and hopefully remember are that during a time of crisis, that people despite their differences and beliefs can come together and feel that they are all members of not only a particular nation, but all members of the human race.  On that fateful day 15 years ago, not only did all Americans feel that we were a nation, and as such had been attacked, but everyone from around the world felt that WE as human beings had been assaulted and violated.  Around the world people stood as one and shed tears, felt anger and compassion.

We also learned and hopefully remember that when we work together, such as happened with the passengers of flight 93 that we can avert harm to others even though we may give our lives to do so.

We also learned and should have remembered that horrible things can come out of left field on a sunny day and change the way we look at things.  We should remember to always be watchful and aware.

We also learned and should remember that all of us are capable of being heroes and of overcoming terrible events.  We need to remember that thousands lost their lives that day not only the victims of the attacks, but those who gave their lives helping others who were in the Twin Towers and the Pentagon.

We also need to remember that there are groups of people who feel no qualms about killing innocents and using religion to cause death and destruction.

Please join me in lighting a white candle in remembrance of those who lost their lives on this fateful day.  We will remember and never forget!

Making insect repellent or get out of here bugs!

This has been a perfect year for the bug population.  Fleas, ticks, flies, and mosquitoes have thrived in this hot, humid weather.

Now if I can make a natural bug repellent that is the way I like to go.  Now some folks like to use oils such as olive, jojoba, or coconut oil and that is fine, but for me it just feels a bit to greasy.  I like to use a mix of witch hazel, water and some rubbing alcohol.  You could use vinegar if you wanted, but that always makes me think of salads and pickling stuff.

So what you do is get a clean empty spray bottle.  Put about 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol in it, then 1/4 cup witch hazel, and fill it up the rest of the way with water, leaving about 4 inches from the top.
Now add about 10 drops of basil essential oil, 6 drops lemongrass essential oil, 12 drops rose geranium essential oil, 8 drops citronella oil, 6 drops of peppermint oil and 12 drops of lavender oil.

Put lid on and shake well.  Store in fridge for up to 3 weeks.  You can spray this on you, and your clothes, not to mention your outdoor cushions and so on to keep the bugs away.  It smells nice too!!

To keep ticks off of pets, put 2 drops of rose geranium oil between their shoulders, and a drop at their tail.  Makes them smell nice also.

Started on the Fall cleaning.

So yesterday I said to the hubby that I wish that he would take the seats off of the dining room chairs so that I could remove the covers, and wash them and put them back on and cover them also with a clear top.  Well, what do you know?  Got up this morning and hubby had them all off, and stacked up for me and the chairs ready to be cleaned also.  Ok.  Got it.  Now, let me tell ya all a little secret here.

The last time I did this, I went a tad overboard with the staples when I put the covers back on.  So I turned them over, and sighed, yep it was gonna be a not so fun job getting all of them out.  So first I thanked hubby for doing that.  He said I was probably going to have to use some of the Olde English on the chairs when I cleaned them, and I needed to find my Allen Wrench to tighten up a few of the bolts.  So I smiled and agreed, and took the seats to the basement.  Now after being together for almost 30 years I know a few things.  IF I woulda said that he needed to help me take off those covers, he woulda hemmed, hawed and eventually decided to help.  But I have learned a few things.

Now I know that if I go down, start banging around on stuff, just to make noise, throw in a few dammit's! and Ouch!!  here and there, make a few trips back up to where he is, and ask him things like, "Don't we have a flat screw driver thingy?", or better yet, even though I don't need it, comment things like "I know we have a pry bar, don't we?", and then hurry off before he can answer, that he will start to worry.  He does not like anyone touching his tools, plus he feels he can do a better job then me.  Back down I go, make some more noise, and then come up, have a cig, and say Oh, I better go get the mail, or make some excuse to leave for about 5 minutes.  Because I know at this point, he is going to take his self down to the basement, see what I am doing, and start doing it.

So off I go to get the mail.  Get back and sure enough there he is working on taking the staples out of the seats.  With the 2 of us working on them it didn't take long at all to get them all off and in the washing machine.  Plus hubby was cleaning up the mess, cause he likes his work area spiffy.  Works every time!!  Hopefully he will not catch on to my manipulative way of getting him to help!!

Happenings around the home front.

Well several things besides book writing have been going on.  So let's share some news!

First off, the baby doves left the nest 2 weeks ago.  I know!!  They grow fast!!  So  Mrs Dove did a fantastic job, they learned to fly from the stepladder to the swing, and then to a branch in my Oak tree next to the porch.  2 days of practice, and off they went to the Oak tree.  I would stand under the Oak tree and talk to them and let them know I was proud of them, and I threw out some seeds for them.  So they raised that brood successfully.  Now as soon as they moved full time to the Oak, I grabbed the step ladder, removed the nest, washed the ladder and moved it off the porch!!

So the other night I go to turn on the air conditioner in the bedroom, and it is sounding funny, so I shut it off.  I told my husband he needed to check it out.  He started laughing, and informed me that, that morning, Mrs Dove came on the porch, looked for the step ladder, and of course it was gone.  She investigated, and apparently found nothing to her liking.  She THEN flew to the windows, saw the air conditioner and decided it really looked inviting!!  YEAH, they started to build a nest!!  Well apparently they worked all day on their new abode!  So after hubby tells me that, I go look, I raise the blind and sure enough, there is a dove sitting on the air conditioner!!  Very few sticks or anything, but she is trying!  So earlier tonight I looked out, and sure enough she finally got a nest built!  And she has an egg in it!!  So now I have to wait to use the air in the bedroom, but first hubby will have to clean it out.  Shaking my head over this!! Pepper is laughing, and saying those doves really feel safe with me!  But still!!!!  I will try and get a picture of it tomorrow and show you all.   Hubby is laughing and telling me this is what I get for moving the ladder!!

Last week Storm, my German Shepherd turned 2!!  He is now considered an adult.  My baby grew up!!  He is such a sweetie!!  He is happy that the weather has been nice the last 2 days, he likes to eat his supper out on the porch and have a picnic!!

Cluster B problem people.

So today we are going to talk about dealing with difficult people.  Sociopaths, Psychopaths, and Narcissists, cluster B personality disorders.  I know you are wondering why in the world we are gonna discuss this, and how that fits in to to everything.  Now, remember I do have a degree in Psych, and truthfully I have dealt with these types of people since I was born.  Now, here is the thing, these types are common, much more common than you think.  Conservative estimates say that 4% of the population fit in this category, or 1 out of 25 people.  Now, once you have been exposed to these types, you can spot them, and I tell you that it is much, much higher than that 4%.

Now Psychiatrists and other experts that deal with these types will tell you that even they have hard time spotting them, and they themselves fight over the exact definitions of who is which and so on.
So I am going to give you my opinion of which one is which, because frankly in my opinion, they are all the same, but have different ways of presenting themselves.  Psychopath, think one who uses violence or someone like serial killer Ted Bundy.  Sociopaths are the sneaky, sly ones, this is the one who appears suave and cosmopolitan, these are the ones who will con you out of everything you own, like Charles Ponzi, from whom we get the term Ponzi schemes.  Narcissists think Drama Queen or King.

Now if you have never run into one of these types, feel lucky.  If you haven't, I guarantee you will sooner or later.  Now the best way to deal with these types is as little as possible, but like I said they are everywhere, including on the internet.  I use to play on a game site that no longer exists, and there were quite a few on there.  Even on the internet they were controlling, would lie to cause issues, and tried to be "THE BOSS".

These types have NO CONSCIOUS, and NO EMPATHY what so ever.  NEVER.  They are incapable of love, and see others as beneath them, and use others.  Research has shown that their brains are wired different than the rest of us.  It also shows clearly, that there is no cure, no therapy, and nothing that can be done to change these people.  They lie constantly.  They use character assassination to rid themselves of anyone that is on their bad side, or a threat to them.   They will attack others and then claim they are the victims.  Trust me when I tell you that there is no easy way to deal with these folks, and no nice won't work either.

Now if you are dealing with one of these types, I know what you are dealing with and going through.
You are probably rolling your eyes, and thinking that I have no clue.  But I do, trust me.  These people will destroy you as much as they can, and not lose any sleep over it.  I believe you when you tell me that they are lying on you, and you have done nothing.  I also know that they are wonderful at convincing the legal/judicial system and other people that they are innocent, and the victim, and they continue on their merry way creating havoc, death and destruction.

Version of events.

Talking with a friend of mine, we got into a discussion about some folks that she knows.  Every time that we talk about these folks I am always reminded how snobbery and stupidity is still alive in the world today.  These folks that my friend know are a perfect example of how some feel that they are "elite", and "special" and entitled to look down on the rest of us.  Now these folks have a daughter that I will call Bunny Fufu.  Now Bunny Fufu started out life going to an exclusive pre-school, then grade school and on up to graduating from an exclusive little college, and then went on a short little tour of spots available only to the select before she married and settled down into married life.  She has been fed a diet of being pampered and protected all of her life.


So all of this has created a woman that really has no concept of what the REAL world is like.  Which leads to the story that my friend shared with me.  Apparently Bunny F has been married for a few years, and has been living in her perfect little world, repleting the world with little clones like herself.  Apparently the trend started among her little elite world, that she and all the other little Bunny Fufu's, should get little part-time jobs or get involved in charities  and  get their hands dirty with helping those who are less fortunate.


So off went Bunny out into the wild world and landed herself a job due to her connections with the right type of people and her list of impressive schools.  All was going well as Bunny had contact with only those who were polite, quiet, well-mannered and fit her mold of well bred people who just needed a bit of advice.  One day she went into work, and waiting on the doorstep was a a scary looking woman that had body piercings, tattoo's and colorful hair, dressed in ragged attire( apparently jeans and T-shirts are ragged attire).   Bunny freaked out, fought tears, and managed to answer the woman and inform her that they had no help to give her.  The woman looked at her in a threatening manner( or so Bunny claims), muttered a few uncomplimentary things under her breath and left.  Bunny managed to get in the door, where she promptly called the police and informed them that she had been threatened, and feared for her life!  Well, a big scene went on, apparently the  "disreputable" woman was a therapist that works with recovering addicts and had come to chat and see if there was any help available for some of her clients.


Needless to say Bunny and her family are pushing one way and declaring that poor Bunny is a victim and she can't be expected to deal with "those types" of people.  Lots of other folks think that Bunny and her family need to wake up, and come down out of their balcony seats.  Of course it has all been kept pretty hush-hush, no stories or news reports, just word of mouth.


So I really wonder, how little Bunny and those like her would survive if thrown out into the real world.  How anyone can think that they are doing their offspring any favors "protecting" them from reality is beyond me. As for being so elite and special, well, you can imagine what I think of that to.  As for helping others, how can you do that with the attitude that is going on?  


Regardless I am glad it is my friend that knows these folks and not me, no doubt I would end up giving them an accurate report of what they are, and I don't think the words, special or elite would be in there.  Apparently we all have our versions of reality and they don't always mesh with someone else's, or to put it another way, always remember that the version of events that you hear may be colored by the type of person you are listening to and may not be the actuality!  Or as I am often reminded when dealing with some people, I must have been in a different dimension than the one they were in!

Dandelion wine and cookies!

Spring is here regardless of the shifting weather from warm to cold, and all that in between.  With Spring, we have the humble dandelion.  That little flower/herb and mostly called a weed by those who wish to have a showplace yard, is just really a powerhouse.  First off, you can pick the greens and cook them just like spinach, and add some butter, a splash of vinegar, and some bacon bits and pieces.  You can use them in a salad, or even make a tea from not only the blossoms but also the roots.  The dandelion is just full of vitamins and minerals, plus it is good for all types of health conditions.

You can also make cookies, and wine from the blossoms!!  Of course you need to make sure there are no pesticides on the blossoms.  Also after washing them, you need to pull most of the petals loose from the green part.

Cookies.

1/2 cup butter      3/4 cup sugar        2 eggs      1 and 1/2 tsp vanilla      1 cup flour

3/4 cup  oatmeal      3/4 cup dandelion petals


Preheat oven to 375, grease cookie sheet,  cream the butter and the sugar, add the eggs and the vanilla, stir in flour, oatmeal and dandelion petals.  Drop tablespoon of batter on cookie sheet.  Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove from sheet and let cool.


Wine.

You will need a large stock pot, and at least a 3 gallon crock.

Take 1 gallon of dandelion blossoms, remove the green from most of them.  Stick them in the large stock pot, cover with boiling hot water.  Cover pot, and sit in a cool place and let it steep for 4 days.

On the 4th day, take and chop up 4 oranges and 2 lemons, peels, and all.  Add to the pot, along with 3 pounds of sugar.  Bring all of it to a boil on the stove, stirring to make sure it doesn't stick or burn.
Let boil for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.  Then turn burner to simmer, cover pot and let simmer for 20 minutes.  Remove from heat, and let cool for about a half hour.  Now strain out the flower petals only, and pour the syrupy mix which includes the lemon and orange remains, into the sterilized crock.  Add 1 package of dry yeast to mix, and stir to mix it.  Cover with a clean cloth and let ferment in a cool place for about a week.  When it is no longer bubbling, you are ready for next step.  Strain out everything except liquid through cheesecloth.  Put liquid in clean, sterilized bottles, if they are old wine bottles, put a balloon over the top instead of a lid, and let set for 24 hours to make sure balloon doesn't inflate( if it does, don't cap yet, take off balloon, let gas out, put balloon back on, and wait), if it doesn't go ahead and remove balloon, and cap it.  Let age for a couple of weeks before you drink!!  Enjoy!!

Once upon a time.

I recently read a book that ended up being very thought provoking for me.  It was intended to be entertaining, and had romance, and a happily ever after ending.  The part that made me think was of course, the main character.  At the beginning of the book, she was an unhappy, over-weight lady who had an emotionally distant and emotionally abusive husband.  She had fallen for him, and could not believe that he was interested in her.  She had her own home, money, friends, and her own business, she also had low self esteem.  He on the other hand, we find out in the story, was a man looking for a woman who had money, and a career, and a home, and would be willing to take care of him financially and let him pretty much do as he wanted.

We find out as the story unfolded more that he contributed nothing to the marriage or home.  He spent his money, and hers.  He took and gave nothing in return including love.  We learn that he had had over the years of their marriage, a number of girlfriends, bed partners, and quickies.  She of course tried to pretend that she didn't know about them.

Regardless, she ended up throwing him out, losing weight, and taking back control of her life, and finding a new love.  She had also won a lottery, and gave her ex-husband half of the money.  He had supposedly learned that he was a taker, and a user, and changed his life also.  Nice and tidy for everyone involved.

What got me to thinking about all this, was the fact, that in real life there are folks who deal with this, who put up with the emotional abuse, and the taking.  Why do we do that?  I think the answer is, because we feel unworthy.  We have low self esteem, and are afraid that we won't ever have another relationship, because we feel bad about ourselves.

So let's lay it all out here.  If someone is putting you down, if they are calling you names, if they are deliberately making remarks to hurt you, GET RID OF THEM.  Trust me when I tell you that you are better off alone, than in that type of relationship.  I believe though, that you will find another relationship, one that is positive, nurturing and supportive.   Realize that YOU are WORTHY of love, and respect.

Oh, and unlike in the story, people like the ex-husband don't change overnight, if ever.  Remember if you want happily ever after, you have to go after it, you have to change your life yourself, and start by changing your opinion of yourself from dislike to love.

LOVE, what about it??

With Valentine's Day almost upon us, I was thinking about love in all it's forms.  What I mean by that of course is, the various types of love or, to put it this way, the way we love different people, animals, our self, and of course even things.  We love our parents, our pets, our friends, and our relatives.  We love our partner if we are in a relationship.  Now most folks are concerned with love in one way or the other. Finding it, keeping it, or even trying to figure out what it is, and if they are in it.  Love is one of those philosophical subjects, and it means different things to different people, and even cultures.

I can't flat out give you a precise definition of exactly what love is, and if you are in "love", or not.  But what I do know is, what love is not.  I know, you raised your eyebrows at that didn't you?  So let's see if I can explain, and make sense to you on what I meant by that statement.  In my opinion, if you love someone, really love them, you see them for who they really are, faults and all, and accept them in that entirety.  Many times, we fool ourselves, meaning, we color our perception of the person, with who we think they are, instead of who they actually are.  The saying "putting them on a pedestal", would apply here.  The problem with that is, when the person we have idealized, does something that WE feel is not in keeping with the vision we had of them, in other words, they act like a real human instead of the fantasy person we have looked at through our rose colored glasses, we get upset.  We may or may not lash out, but we do get upset, and we may decide to end the relationship. We say things like "He was not the man I thought he was".  Of course he wasn't, you were in love with the fantasy and not the actual person.

Love does not cause harm to others.  In other words, if you are in a relationship with someone who uses force, or physically hurts you, then trust me, this is not a good, loving relationship.  If a man, or a woman for that matter, goes around slapping, hitting, beating, or using emotional pain to get you to follow their rules,or do something you don't wish too, or tells you it's for your own good, they don't love you.  They feel they own you, that you are a possession, and that they can manipulate you, but they do not love you.  Trust me, it won't get better either, you need to get out of that relationship before you are badly hurt, or killed.

I do know that for a loving relationship to last, it must be based on truth, trust, and respect.  When we love someone we want to make them happy, we worry about them and we do little things for them.  Love is not a power struggle, or one person being right all the time.  It is a give and take situation, that is constantly re-balancing it self.  It is not one person doing all the giving and caring, and the other person doing all the taking.

Love is not sex.  Yes sex, is, or may be involved, but the act of sex does not automatically equal love. Sometimes folks confuse the two.  One person now has the idea that they are a couple and in love, while the other person, just see's the pair as sexual partners.  Women seem to do this more so then men.  I am blaming this on patriarchy.  Women have been spoon fed on romance, and told that "nice", or "good" girls don't have sex outside of marriage, and we have been bamboozled into believing that normal sexual feelings, equate love.  So let's set the story straight, guess what!! Women have sexual desires too!!  Nothing wrong with it, it's all a part of being human.

Regardless of what your definition of love is, or your relationship status, I hope you do one thing at least-tell yourself that you love yourself!!