• Jul. 21, 2008 - Geocaching
We took up a new hobby this weekend! Have you heard of geocaching? It's a world-wide treasure-hunt that uses GPS and lots of participants. You get coordinates off of a site and use your GPS to get close to the cache. Then the real hunt begins. We searched for four local caches yesterday and found two of them. There is a log book which you sign in every cache. Many times, there is a small collection of trinkets. You take one out and put in a new one. You can save all the things you collect, or trade them back into another cache. Within ten miles of us, there are 409 caches registered with the site we are using. It's a family-friendly free hobby!
www.geocaching.com
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• Jul. 12, 2008 - John McCain and Adoption
Here's an interesting article about John McCain and adoption. I really had no idea!
LifeNews
I love this quote:
"How many candidates would adopt a severely ill child, bring home another very ill child, pay for the care of both and not blow their own horn about it?" |
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• Jul. 11, 2008 - Frugal and Nourishing
Kimi at Nourishing Gourmet is hosting a frugal and nourishing carnival! What a great way to get some healthy and inexpensive meals! This carnival is focusing on main dishes. Can't we all use some tried and true help there? The next carnival will feature sides, salads and desserts and will be here.
My entry is here.
See the others here.
Join in!
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• Jul. 10, 2008 - OCD Spectrum?
My husband and I tease each other about our various OCD tendencies. He has more than I do, really! I tell him that his OCD is showing when he's being bothered by something.
What's on your OCD spectrum? What's mildly important, but important nonetheless? What HAS to be done just right or it's just GOT to be done over? |
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• Jul. 9, 2008 - My Oldest Thing
What's the oldest thing you have? Here's mine:
It's not too much to look at, but it's a great old book from 1743. It's bound with hide and written in Latin. It's Volume Seven of a series on Catholic teachings, I think. I'm pretty sure this page mentions the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and eucharist.
I don't read Latin, so I'm not certain of the specifics. If you can translate, please comment!! It has a coverplate from Sutro Library in San Francisco, CA as a lovely valley with a few log homes and a man with a pickax working on the soil.
I got a bit curious about my old book last night. I didn't have the Internet when I bought it! I googled Sutro Library and found it still exists! I also read about Mr. Sutro, who loved books, was mayor of San Francisco for a short time, made millions in the railroad industry and mining, built the Sutro baths, (I had heard of them, but hadn't put the two together). Some of his library was burned in the 1906 earthquake, but some still exists in the Sutro Library. Here's a link about him.
Adolph Sutro
I called the Library this morning and described the book and asked if they had any information about it's history. The lady on the phone took the information, searched in the computer, took some more infor about the book, then asked if she could have the Head of Antiquities call me tomorrow. She said "This is very interesting....I know she will be eager to speak with you."
Here's hoping they want the book back for a cool $25G! One can dream, right?? I actually had it appraised years ago. The hippie with the pot smoke floating about his head said it was worth about $200.
I'll let you know what happens with it!
*Update* The Librarian called me back and said that they do indeed have a copy of the book, and she hasn't any idea how this copy ended up in a swap meet in Rocklin, CA. Poof- there goes my 25G...oh well. 
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• Jul. 7, 2008 - Camping Pictures...finally
As you may remember, we camped a little over a week ago. We went to our lovely Sequoia National Forest, which we SO enjoy visiting.
After setting camp, we explored, enjoyed and relaxed. We were blessed to be with our dear friends, R and E and their three kids. R is quite adventurous, and among other things, knows how to rock climb. He brought his equipment and all the children got to climb up and repel down!
 I have many more pics, Grandma, if you want them. All the children made it up to Daddy, even Troubles! They had a great time.
We also fished in the pond, with a few little fish being caught. We hiked, enjoyed smores and learned that crushing fern and rubbing it on nettle burns makes the stinging stop.
I found a wonderful exoskeleton of a dragonfly nymph that had "made the change" while clinging to a blade of thick grass. I collected it, but it was accidentally crushed before I got a picture. We also got to see a newly emerged dragonfly resting on his discarded exoskeleton. Here is a photo essay on the process. We observed chipmunks, squirrels, birds of various kinds, water skimmers, trout, and lots of insects. We collected pond water and creek water for observation under the microscope.
At home, we found tiny plants and microscopic little worms in the pond water and had a discussion on why you always boil water from natural sources before drinking it! We haven't looked at the creek water yet, so we won't find anything living, I think.
Here is a picture of all of us in front of the Sequoia in our campsite. The 'cave' in the tree that is behind me was big enough for most of the children to fit inside, all at once. Sequoias often have these hollows.
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• Jul. 6, 2008 - 2008-2009 Curriculum Needs
• Jun. 30, 2008 - Making Cat Food
I have been making cat food lately. Someone asked me how I do it, so here is a quick tutorial.
First, roast a chicken or two. Pick off the meat and save the bones. Use the meat for a meal. Make chicken broth with the chicken carcass. I have full instructions how to do this here. When the broth is strained you are left with a strainer filled with this:
Now put all that, plus extra meat, cooked rice, appropriate leftovers, etc if you wish, and put it in your blender with some liquid. You can use broth, water or milk. Blend it all into paste and serve as wet food.
Store extra in the refrigerator for up to two weeks! My cats love it, and it's so much better for them than store bought 'food'.
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• Jun. 30, 2008 - Warning: Potty Talk!
If you don't care for potty talk, skip this entry!
The Background: My three year old son, Troubles, is lactose intolerant. He gets diarrhea badly when he drinks pasteurized milk or eats regular ice cream. We buy him raw milk and special ice cream. He calls store-bought milk and ice cream "diarrhea milk and diarrhea ice cream" since that what he gets.
Last night we allowed the children to have ice cream, forgetting that he was out. We said that he could try some of the regular ice cream if he wanted and he happily ran into the kitchen bellowing "I GET DIARRHEA!! I GET DIARRHEA!!!! |
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• Jun. 27, 2008 - Buzzing Bees
We have been camping, hence the blogging hiatus. Pictures and stories of that trip will be forthcoming.
Before camping, we took a field trip to our Bee-Guy's Warehouse. We get our local, raw honey from him, and were delighted to be invited to watch the collection process.
The hive boxes had been picked up that morning to be taken to various fields, but many, many bees were still around. They were especially thick near the line where the honey is extracted. All the children behaved just as I told them to and did not swat at the bees that came near. No one was stung during our visit; they didn't even seem to notice them after the first few minutes.
There were thousands of frames waiting to be emptied. There was lots of orange honey, some sage, even some avocado!
Here's a look at the line where the honey is extracted. The frames were put into one end of the line. They met "The Capper" which quickly saws off the wax cap that keeps the honey in the individual cells.
Then the frames go down the line and are put into a centrifuge. Many frames fit in at once. The spinning forces the honey out of the cells, onto the walls of the centrifuge. It then drains to the bottom and is collected.
The children were given spoons and allowed to taste the honey oozing out of the cells after then were opened. Yummy! We were able to taste more after it was strained, too.
We were given a bucket full of honeycomb. Most of the children liked the honey, but not chewing the wax. I guess that is a pleasure of a by-gone age.
The fragments of wax cut off the frames, and all that is removed when the frames need cleaned are collected in 50 gallon drums. Not very pretty, is it? The dark spots are dead bees.
It is heated and strained, and collected in buckets. When cooled, the wax is gathered on pallets, ready to be shipped off for candle making. Some also goes to cosmetics companies.
Here is our group in front of the warehouse. Have you any idea how hard it is to get a picture of that many little ones looking at you? Sorry to those who have silly expressions; this was the best one :) . |
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• Jun. 20, 2008 - How Do You Rate?
• Jun. 16, 2008 - Something to ponder
• Jun. 16, 2008 - Preparing
Have you been feeling the need to prepare? We don't know for what, but many have been feeling an urge to put up a little more food, to begin a garden, just to PREPARE! I read an excellent article on Mrs. S and wanted to share it here. It is quite long, but well worth the time spent reading.
Please tell me what you think.
I occasionally get e-mails from SurvivalBlog readers, asking about how I
can justify active preparedness in light of my Christian faith. Some
cite the "Lilies of the Field" passage in Matthew 6:25-34:
"Therefore
I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink;
or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than
food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of
the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your
heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why
do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They
do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his
splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the
grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the
fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do
not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or
'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and
your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his
kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to
you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will
worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
In my view, people are misinterpreting these verses. These are verses
about worry, not about work or preparedness. Never does the Bible teach
that we should laze about and not provide for our families. Earning our
daily bread is the Godly way to live. We are taught not to be lazy or
dependent on others. Yes, we are to trust in God's providence, but
nowhere do the scriptures absolve us of the responsibility to work or
to save up for lean times. Consider these four verses from the book of
Proverbs:
He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment. Proverbs 12:11, NIV
All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23, NIV
The sluggard's craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. Proverbs 21:25, NIV
The plans of the diligent surely lead to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty surely to poverty. Proverbs 21:5, NKJV
Food Storage
The Bible encourages storing food. Look at Gen. 41:47-49: "And in the seven
plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. And he gathered up
all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and
laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round
about every city, laid he up in the same. And Joseph gathered corn as
the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was
without number." And then see Gen. 41:53-57: "And the seven years of
plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. And the
sevens years of dearth [drought] was in all lands; but in all the land
of Egypt there was bread. And when all the land of Egypt was famished,
the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the
Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.
And the
famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the
storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in
the land of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to
buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.
The preceding is a good example that illustrates the need for food storage.
As I write this in 2008, a growing portion of the world is already
experiencing famine. You should recognize that famine could just a well
come to stalk America, Europe, the British Isles, and Australia. (The
areas with the largest SurvivalBlog readership.) It is prudent and
Biblically supported to stock up during good times in anticipation of
lean times.
Prov. 6:6-15: "Go to the ant, thou sluggard;
consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or
ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the
harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out
of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of
the hands to sleep:
So shall thy poverty come as one that
travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. A naughty person, a wicked
man, walketh with a forward mouth. He winketh with his eyes, he
speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; Forwardness is in
his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.
Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken
without remedy."
The lessons from scripture are clear: Don't be
lazy and lax. Store up in good times for future lean times. Ponder this
Old Testament passage: Psalm 34:9-10: "O fear the Lord, ye his saints:
for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack,
and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good
thing." And then look at this New Testament passage:, from 1 Timothy
5:8: "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for
those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an
unbeliever."
One of the many names of God is Jehovah Jireh,
which means God Who Provides. As I Christian, I believe that God will
provide for his covenant people. I believe that one of the many gifts
that the God has provided is a conviction, by the Holy Spirit, to be
well prepared. I realize that we are only on Earth for about 80 trips
around the sun, and that is just the twinkling of an eye versus
eternity. Where we end up after this brief life is far, far more
important in the grand scheme of things. We will spend eternity either
in heaven or in hell. But how we spend our +/-80 year life on Earth is
up to us. (And the most important thing that we do in the is life is
make ourselves right with God, though his Grace, to accepting eternal
life in heaven. But stepping back to this temporal world: The Bible
makes it very clear that we are to be good stewards of the blessings
that God provides us. I therefore feel strongly convicted to not just
share the gospel of Christ, but also to physically prepare for my own
family, and store extra to dispense as charity. The bottom line: I
can't continue to share the gospel if I starve to the point of
achieving room temperature!
Self Defense
Other readers
question how I can justify owning guns for self-defense. Some
Mennonites, for example, eschew all means self defense and decry even
the willingness to defend oneself or one's loved ones. That, in my
opinion is taking "turning the other cheek" (Luke 6:29) to an extreme
that is not sculpturally founded.
Exodus 22:2 provides
Biblical justification for killing someone if he intends to forcibly
rob or kill another man: "If a thief is caught breaking in and is
struck so that he dies, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed."
(Exodus 22:2 NIV)
And Jesus teaches that it is wise to be
armed, in Luke 22:35-36: "Then Jesus asked them, 'When I sent you
without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?' 'Nothing,' they
answered. He said to them, 'But now if you have a purse, take it, and
also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy
one."
In an article titled: What Does The Bible Say About Gun
Control? Larry Pratt keenly observed the difference between
self-defense and vengeance:
Resisting an attack is not to be
confused with taking vengeance which is the exclusive domain of God
(Rom. 12:19). This has been delegated to the civil magistrate, who, as
we read in Romans 13:4, ". . . is God’s minister to you for good. But
if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for
he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices
evil."
Private vengeance means one would stalk down a criminal
after one’s life is no longer in danger as opposed to defending oneself
during an attack. It is this very point that has been confused by
Christian pacifists who would take the passage in the Sermon on the
Mount about turning the other cheek (which prohibits private vengeance)
into a command to falter before the wicked.
Let us consider also
that the Sixth Commandment tells us: "Thou shall not murder." In the
chapters following, God gave to Moses many of the situations which
require a death penalty. God clearly has not told us never to kill. He
has told us not to murder, which means we are not to take an innocent
life. Consider also that the civil magistrate is to be a terror to
those who practice evil. This passage does not in any way imply that
the role of law enforcement is to prevent crimes or to protect
individuals from criminals. The magistrate is a minister to serve as
"an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil" (Rom. 13:4).
Jesus
taught both to turn the other cheek and to be well-armed to defend
oneself. The important factor is having the wisdom to know when to
employ either approach depending on the circumstances. I pray, for
wisdom, discernment, and discretion, daily. I don't seek out trouble,
and in fact I have moved my family to a remote, lightly populated
region in good part to avoid trouble. But if unavoidable trouble comes
my way, I want to have the option of resisting force with force. And I
only have that option if I am armed and trained.
Some critics
of armed preparedness cite Matthew 26:52-54, which descries how Jesus
responded when Peter cut off the ear of a s high priest's servant,
using a sword: "Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into
his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the
sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall
presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then
shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?"
In context, Jesus is telling Peter that it would be suicidal to fight in
that particular situation, since they were quite outnumbered. And of
course Jesus knew it was in God's plan for him to be arrested, tried,
crucified, and resurrected. Jesus told Peter to put his sword in its
place –which was back in his belt. Jesus was telling Peter in effect
that "there is a time to fight, and this, my friend, isn't it." He
didn't command him to "throw that sword away", or "surrender it", or to
"stop carrying it". After all, according to Luke, Jesus had just
recently ordered the disciples to arm themselves. The reason for the
arms was obviously to protect their own lives when traveling--not to
protect His own life, which He intended to sacrifice, to pay for our
sins, once and for all.
The Old testament teaches both to be armed, and to be trained. We read in Psalm 144:1:
Blessed be the Lord my rock
Who trains my hands for war
And my fingers for battle.
Yes,
as Christians our battles are mainly spiritual, but we must also be
prepared to defend our lives, and the lives of our loved ones, against
evildoers.
Charity
Charity--both in time of plenty
and in times of disaster--is a Christian responsibility with its roots
in the Old Testament tradition of Tzedaka. This
responsibility--particularly for the support of widows and orphans--was
repeated in the New Testament, such as in Acts 11:27-29: "And in these
days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one
of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be
great dearth [drought] throughout all the world: which came to pass in
the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to
his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in
Judea."
The Biblical approach to survivalism is to avoid
trouble, but to be ready for it nonetheless. And when trouble does
come, have extra stores on hand, so that you can dispense copious
charity. Give until it hurts! |
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• Jun. 11, 2008 - William's Pictures
• Jun. 11, 2008 - Wordless Wednesday
• Jun. 10, 2008 - Unreal...Christian Persecution in North America
From the headlines in The New World Order....
A Canadian human rights tribunal ordered a Christian pastor to renounce his faith and never again express moral opposition to homosexuality, according to a new report. In a decision dated May 30 in the penalty phase of the quasi-judicial proceedings.....remainder of the article here.
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• Jun. 10, 2008 - Frugality at the Table
| Frugality is all over the blog world right now, as prices rise on food, gas, utilities and almost everything else. The grocery budget is one of the places most people can save a few dollars. Frugal Upstate is hosting a Frugal Food recipe exchange. This week is highlighting that wonderful, healthy food: the egg. I've shared a recipe. Will you share one, too? |
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• Jun. 10, 2008 - Crema, The New Raw Dairy Consumer Group
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137 N. Larchmont Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90004 • email us |
| Raw Milk Friends and future members of CREMA,
We are pleased to announce that SB 201 — the "Fresh Milk Act of 2008" — was introduced on Friday, June 6, 2008. This is an exciting time for raw milk consumers in California as we also invite your participation in the new raw dairy consumer group, CREMA: California Real Milk Association.
CREMA was born out of the positive consumer turnout legislators observed at the Assembly and Senate Committee hearings in January and April. These are the voices that the legislators want to hear. That means your voice!
We are beginning the process of forming a non-profit organization and are in the infant stages of establishing websites, letterheads, email networks, etc. We will be able to raise funds through Weston A. Price Foundation and will begin doing so soon in order to cover startup costs. This, along with our work with SB 201, will be taking up a lot of time so we ask for your patience.
Your support will be crucial!
The Assembly Agriculture Committee hearing on SB 201 is scheduled for mid to end of June. Your attendance and support is crucial. Because SB 201 will be designated an urgency bill, it will go into effect immediately after being signed by the Governor. The challenge of an urgency bill, however, is that we need a 2/3 majority, rather than a simple majority, for the bill to pass. This is why your support is crucial!
As we get more information, we will continue to forward it to you. Once CREMA is online, we will post everything here for easy access.
We can do this! Let's get behind this with everything we've got!
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The California raw milk supply is threatened by AB 1735. If SB 201 is not passed and signed into law, your ability to buy raw dairy products in California will be in jeopardy.
WHAT CAN
YOU DO?
» ATTEND the hearing mid to end of June in Sacramento. We will forward details when they became available.
» CONTACT your state Assembly member AND Senator asking them to support SB 201.
» WRITE letters to Editors of news papers, post on blogs, and voice your support for SB 201 in the media.
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• Jun. 8, 2008 - Menu Plan Monday
• Jun. 3, 2008 - Green Smoothie Recipe
Have you done it yet? Have you just tried a Green Smoothie? I have heard from some of you that want recipes. I'll post a couple here. I have others on my recipe blog. Try one for breakfast or lunch tomorrow and see the difference!
Basic Green Smoothie
1 ripe banana
2 cups purified water
1 Tbsp. honey (raw and local is best)
2 Tbsp. flaxseed oil or coconut oil
a handful of ice
a blender full of greens
Blend in a good blender on high for 30 seconds, then max for 30 seconds, then high again for a few seconds until smooth.
Berry Green Smoothie
1 ripe banana
1 cup frozen berries (mixed blackberries, blueberries and raspberries are good!)
1/8 head of cabbage
4-5 spinach leaves
2 cups milk
honey to taste
2 cups water
1 cup ice
Blend till smooth
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