Jun. 24, 2009 - Wordless Wednesday

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Jun. 11, 2009 - Announcing... Sam

Samuel Stone Disbrow

Was Born on May 19th  2009

At  Home

At 2:50 am

5 pounds  7 ounces

19 inches long

We LOVE you Sam!

XOXOXOXO

Can We Hear A Big "Yee Haw?"

Maybe Just A Small... zzzzzzzzzzzz

Yes, That's It...zzzzzzzzzzzz

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May. 11, 2009 - Freecycle Anyone?

I just LOVE Freecycling!  For those of you who may not know about this wonderful community resource, look into your local "chapter" in the Yahoo Groups.  Freecycle is a network of folks who have things they no longer need, along with those who are IN need who are "hooked up" through the Yahoo Group setting.  Everything is FREE!  Of course there may be the cost of your gas to pick it up, but many people meet somewhere locally and that saves too!

Here is one of our GREAT Freecycle freebies:  The ad said "Backyard furnature- teakwood".  Where we arrived I honestly thought my husband would NOT be interested, possibly even leave without my precious "find", thankfully he didn't and never batted an eye as the spiders fell from underneath the sitting table and chairs.

Add a morning of sanding...

An afternoon of staining...

 

A clearence umbrella from the Grocery Outlet (also teakwood!)

And there you have it!  Many beautiful dinners by the pool!

Total cost out of pocket:  less than $30.00!

I LOVE FREECYCLE!!

Oh and by the way, you CAN purchase this EXACT same set at World Market, it is on sale right now:  Table $245.00 and armed chairs $89.00 (A piece)...  I think we got the better deal  ;)

Any other Freecycles out there get a great find?

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May. 8, 2009 - Deal Seeking Mom

For anyone who hasn't tried the Deal Seeking Mom link on my blog... do it!  DSM has great tips and printable coupons for all.  I was reading recently about the "secret discount codes" for Old Navy and thought I'd list them here... who would have thought!!!

Old Navy Weekly: This Week’s Coupon Hiding Places

by Tara Kuczykowski on

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May. 7, 2009 - STARBUCKS Introduces A Gluten-Free Treat! Yeah For Kolton!!! Meet Ya There!

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May. 5, 2009 - Pink Eye! Oh My!

My oldest daughter told me recently she was afraid she was exposed to the dreaded Pink Eye, yuck! I thought it might be a good time to post some natural cures I've been reading about for anyone else who may be facing the dread...

Natural pink eye remedy

(Taken From Learning Herbs)
Here are some home remedies for conjunctivitis or red and sore eyes.
Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is a common childhood ailment. Here are some pink eye remedies. Conjunctivitis is a contagious ailment, so keep you child away from other kids. It is important to treat this right away so that the condition does not worsen.
My favorite, simple pink eye remedy is using chamomile!

Simple place cool, moist chamomile tea bag on each closed eye for about 10 minutes. Repeat this every couple hours. You can buy these tea bags at any supermarket. Make sure chamomile is the only ingredient.
If you have bulk chamomile flowers, simply use a muslin tea bag. Bulk chamomile flowers as well as these tea bags and other supplies are available at Mountain Rose Herbs.
You can also simply make the tea (a little stonger), and then use an eye cup to hold the luke warm tea in each eye. You can get an eye cup at most pharmacies.
You can also just wash the eyes out with the tea, make a compress with a cloth, or even soak a cotton ball in the tea and wipe the eyes every so often.
While treating pink eye topically, you certainly want to treat your child (or you) internally. Simply follow the steps in how I treat a cold naturally. Especially the parts about keeping yourself nourished and well rested.
Other pink eye remedies
You can also use Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis). Infuse a teaspoon of the herb in a cup of hot water. Allow to cool, strain. Put the tea in an eye cup (available at pharmacies) and use it in the recommended way.
You can wash the eye using 1 cup of boiled and cooled water. Add 5 drops of Eyebright tincture. Use a cotton ball. Never use straight tincture in an eye. Eyebright tincture (Euphrasia officinalis) is available here.

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May. 2, 2009 - We're Alone ~ What Shall We Do?

This weekend the kids went off "a visiting" and Husband and I were left alone....

Sigh....

Ahhh Cozy...

Ahhh Yoshi...

AND, he even did the dishes.....

What a weekend.

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Apr. 29, 2009 - For the LOVE of Wheatgrass

For a long time now I have been pondering the benfits of adding wheatgrass to our diet.  One of the things that influenced me was the observation of the different cliental at the different stores I frequented.  I always stood in amazment at the vast difference between those who shop the big discount supermarkets and the whole foods stores.  Not to say some Portly folks are NOT healthy or that ALL skinny-minnies are,  (which in fact may be quite the opposite!), but on the whole things were very different.  When I began asking questions I found more often than not, many healthy looking, vibrant poeple were drinking wheatgrass.  Once tried, we were hooked.  The benfits of wheatgrass are amazing.

Here are some good points to ponder fromAnn Wigmores, The Wheatgrass Book"

Increases red blood-cell count and lowers blood pressure. It cleanses the blood, organs and gastrointestinal tract of debris. Wheatgrass also stimulates metabolism and the body’s enzyme systems by enriching the blood. It also aids in reducing blood pressure by dilating the blood pathways throughout the body.

Stimulates the thyroid gland, correcting obesity, indigestion, and a host of other complaints.

Restores alkalinity to the blood. The juice's abundance of alkaline minerals helps reduce over-acidity in the blood. It can be used to relieve many internal pains, and has been used successfully to treat peptic ulcers, ulcerative colitis, constipation, diarrhea, and other complaints of the gastrointestinal tract.

Is a powerful detoxifier, and liver and blood protector. The enzymes and amino acids found in wheatgrass can protect us from carcinogens like no other food or medicine. It strengthens our cells, detoxifies the liver and bloodstream, and chemically neutralizes environmental pollutants.

Fights tumors and neutralizes toxins. Recent studies show that wheatgrass juice has a powerful ability to fight tumors without the usual toxicity of drugs that also inhibit cell-destroying agents. The many active compounds found in grass juice cleanse the blood and neutralize and digest toxins in our cells.

Contains beneficial enzymes. Whether you have a cut finger you want to heal or you desire to lose five pounds...enzymes must do the actual work. The life and abilities of the enzymes found naturally in our bodies can be extended if we help them from the outside by adding exogenous enzymes, like the ones found in wheatgrass juice. Don't cook it. We can only get the benefits of the many enzymes found in grass by eating it uncooked. Cooking destroys 100 percent of the enzymes in food.

Will soothe sunburnedskin and act as a disinfectant. Rubbed into the scalp before a shampoo, it will help mend damaged hair and alleviate itchy, scaly, scalp conditions.

Is soothing and healing for cuts, burns, scrapes, rashes, poison ivy, athlete's foot, insect bites, boils, sores, open ulcers, tumors, and so on. Use as a poultice and replace every two to four hours.

Works as a sleep aide. Merely place a tray of living wheatgrass near the head of your bed. It will enhance the oxygen in the air and generate healthful negative ions to help you sleep more soundly.

Enhances your bath. Add some to your bath water and settle in for a nice, long soak.

Sweetens the breath and firms up and tightens gums. Just gargle with the juice.

Neutralizes toxic substances like cadmium, nicotine, strontium, mercury, and polyvinyl chloride.

Offers the benefits of a liquid oxygen transfusion since the juice contains liquid oxygen. Oxygen is vital to many body processes: it stimulates digestion (the oxidation of food), promotes clearer thinking (the brain utilizes 25% of the body's oxygen supply), and protects the blood against anaerobic bacteria. Cancer cells cannot exist in the presence of oxygen.

Turns gray hair to its natural color again and greatly increases energy levels when consumed daily.

Is a beauty treatment that slows down the aging process when the juice is consumed. Wheatgrass will cleanse your blood and help rejuvenate aging cells, slowing the aging process way down, making you feel more alive right away. It will help tighten loose and sagging skin.

Lessens the effects of radiation. One enzyme found in wheatgrass, SOD, lessens the effects of radiation and acts as an anti-inflammatory compound that may prevent cellular damage following heart attacks or exposure to irritants.

Restores fertility and promotes youthfulness.

Can double your red blood cell count just by soaking in it. Renowned nutritionist Dr. Bernard Jensen found that no other blood builders are superior to green juices and wheatgrass. In his book Health Magic Through Chlorophyll from Living Plant Life he mentions several cases where he was able to double the red blood cell count in a matter of days merely by having patients soak in a chlorophyll-water bath. Blood building results occur even more rapidly when patients drink green juices and wheatgrass regularly.

^Top of Page

WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT WHEATGRASS JUICE?

1.	Wheatgrass juice is 70% chlorophyll.
2.	Chlorophyll is the first product of light and contains more light energy than any other element.
3.	Wheatgrass juice is a crude chlorophyll and can be taken orally and as a colon implant without toxic side effects.
4.	Chlorophyll is the basis of all plant life.
5.	Wheatgrass is high in oxygen like all green plants that contain chlorophyll. The brain and all body tissues function at an optimal level in a highly oxygenated environment.
6.	Chlorophyll is anti-bacterial and can be used inside and outside the body as a healer.
7.	Renowned nutritionist Dr. Bernard Jensen says that it only takes minutes to digest wheatgrass juice and it uses up very little body energy.
8.	Science has proven that chlorophyll arrests growth and development of harmful bacteria.
9.	Chlorophyll (wheatgrass) rebuilds the bloodstream. Studies of various animals have shown chlorophyll to be free of any toxic reaction. The red cell count was returned to normal with four to five days of the administration of chlorophyll, even in those animals that were known to be extremely anemic or low in red cell count.
10.	Farmers in the American midwest who have sterile cows and bulls put them on wheatgrass to restore fertility. (The high magnesium content in chlorophyll builds enzymes that restore the sex hormones.)
11.	Chlorophyll can be extracted from many plants, but wheatgrass is superior because it has been found to have over 100 elements needed by man. If grown in organic soil, it absorbs 92 of the known 102 minerals from the soil.
12.	Wheatgrass has what is called the "grass juice factor," which has been shown to keep herbivorous animals alive indefinitely.
13.	Dr. Ann Wigmore helped people get well from chronic disorders for 30 years using wheatgrass.
14.	Liquid chlorophyll gets into the tissues, refines them, and rebuilds and rejuvenates them.
15.	Wheatgrass juice is a superior detoxification agent compared to carrot juice and other fruits and vegetables. Dr. Earp Thomas, an associate of the late Ann Wigmore, says that 15 pounds of wheatgrass is the equivalent of 350 pounds of carrots, lettuce, celery, and so on.
16.	Liquid chlorophyll washes drug deposits from the body.
17.	Chlorophyll neutralizes toxins in the body.
18.	Chlorophyll helps purify the liver.
19.	Chlorophyll improves blood sugar problems.
20.	Wheatgrass juice cures acne and even removes scars after it has been ingested for seven to eight months. The diet must be improved at the same time.
21.	In the 1940 American Journal of Surgery, Benjamin Cruskin, MD recommended chlorophyll to: clear up foul-smelling odors, neutralize strep infections, heal wounds, hasten skin grafting, cure chronic sinusitis, overcome chronic inner-ear inflammation and infections, reduce varicose veins and heal leg ulcers, eliminate impetigo and other scabby eruptions, heal ****** sores, successfully treat inflammation of the uterine cervix, get rid of parasitic ******l infections, reduce typhoid fever, and cure advanced pyorrhea in many cases.
22.	Wheatgrass juice acts as a detergent in the body and is used as a body deodorant.
23.	A small amount of wheatgrass juice in the human diet prevents tooth decay.
24.	Wheatgrass juice held in the mouth for 5 minutes will eliminate toothaches and poisons from gums.
25.	Gargle with wheatgrass juice for a sore throat.
26.	For pyorrhea of the mouth, lay pulp of wheatgrass soaked in juice on diseased area in mouth or chew wheatgrass. Spit outthe pulp.
27.	Drink wheatgrass juice for skin problems such as eczema or psoriasis.
28.	Wheatgrass juice keeps the hair from graying.
29.	By taking wheatgrass juice, one may feel a difference in strength, endurance, health, and spirituality and experience a sense of well-being.
30.	Wheatgrass juice improves the digestion.
31.	It is great for blood disorders of all kinds.
32.	Wheatgrass juice is high in enzymes.
33.	Wheatgrass juice is an excellent skin cleanser and can be absorbed through the skin for nutrition. Pour green juice over your body in a tub of warm water and soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse off with cool water.
35.	Wheatgrass juice is great for constipation and keeping the bowels open. It is high in magnesium.
36.	Dr. Max Bircher, a research scientist, inventor of muesli, and founder of the famed Bircher-Benner Clinic in Zurich, Switzerland, called chlorophyll "concentrated sun power." He said, "Chlorophyll increases the function of the heart, affects the vascular system, the intestines, the uterus, and the lungs.... It is therefore a tonic which, considering its stimulating properties, cannot be compared with any other. "
37.	According to Dr. Bircher, nature uses chlorophyll (wheatgrass) as a body cleanser, rebuilder, and neutralizer of toxins.
38.	Wheatgrass juice can dissolve the scars that are formed in the lungs from breathing acid gasses. The effect of carbon monoxide is minimized since chlorophyll increases hemoglobin production.
39.	Wheatgrass juice reduces high blood pressure as it enhances the capillaries.
40.	Wheatgrass juice can remove heavy metals from the body.

Here is another more "scientific" analysis of Wheatgrass:

http://www.dynamicgreens.com/wheatgrass-nutritional-analysis.html

And more resources:

http://www.amazinggrass.com/benefits-of-wheat-grass.html

http://www.healthyjuicer.com/pages/wheatgrass.html

We are trying now to grow our own wheatgrass in our greenhouse, Here is our process:

1. First purchase your red hard wheat seeds.
   
2. Soak your seeds overnight (8-12 hours in mason jar or large glass container, filling enough to totally submerge the seed) 1 and 1/2 cup dry seed for small tray.
   
   
3. After soaking, drain seed and rinse well. Put  seeds in colander to drip dry overnight. Very important to rinse seed at least three times a day (you can't over rinse), until a small tail appears.
4. Plant your seed on top of soil (basic potting soil or top soil is fine). Spread evenly, one layer thick. Cover seed with black plastic for the first three or four days until the grass starts to grow.
   
5. First three days, water heavy, until the tray starts to drip. Gently at first so as not to disturb the seed. Mist your seed to keep wet throughout the day and replace cover.
   
   
6. Uncover when the grass starts lifting the top tray off, and grow in in-direct sunlight until you see the blades split. Approximately 7-10 days in the summer and 10-14 days in the winter.
7. Time to harvest. After you start seeing a split in the grass, cut it with a sharp scissors right above the root. 
8. Juice and enjoy!

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Apr. 16, 2009 - Helpful Baking Recipes ~ Just In Case

I read some of these helpful hints a long while back and thought... "huh",  and I didn't give it much thought after that... Until, I needed to!

Condensed Milk - this is the sweetened milk
Place 1 cup powdered milk, 1/3 cup boiling water, 2/3 cup white sugar and 3 tablespoons butter in a blender and process until the sugar dissolves. This will make the equivalent of one can of sweetened condensed milk.

Evaporated Milk - unsweetened
1 ½ cups warm water
1 cup powdered milk
2 tablespoons butter
Mix milk powder and warm water together. Add the butter. Heat the mixture in a small pan. When thoroughly combined, beat with hand beater, cool and store in the refridgerator.

Baking Powder
Two tablespoons and cream of tartar to one tablespoon of bicarb will give you three tablespoons of baking powder. Only make up as much as you will be using.

Brown sugar

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Apr. 15, 2009 - ~ Wordless Wednesday ~

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Apr. 14, 2009 - A Wonderful Easter

The title says it all.  As usual, our holiday was nice, quiet and relaxing.  Hubby made a beautiful unclean beast  ham (hee hee), and ham sauce and we enjoys some nice trimmings with Suzy and Bryan.  It has seemed lately that the holidays are getting sneakier and sneakier.  Before I know it there it is ~ the "DAY" right ontop of me.  I alway make grand plans, but then soon discover, time has run out.  Maybe it's the "age" thing... who knows?

Keri came down sick with a cough so she spent most of her day in the sack, resting and hugging her new friend... Poor Keri!  She did however, manage to set a beautiful table before retiring under the covers :)

Thank you Keri !!

The children hunted baskets and gorged on sugar,  sigh... Seems try as I might the healthy alternatives are just not as popular with them.  Go figure?

Hmmmm these potaoes don't look right...

Fun !

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE !

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

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Apr. 11, 2009 - Christ the Redeemer ~ Profound

Christ the Redeemer (Portuguese: O Cristo Redentor) is a statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The statue stands 38 metres (120 ft) tall. It weighs 635 tonnes (700 short tons), and is located at the peak of the 700 metres (2,300 ft) Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park overlooking the city. It is the tallest of its kind in the world. The statue of Cristo de la Concordia in Cochabamba, Bolivia is the second tallest, standing at 33 metres (110 ft) tall. It is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone.

A symbol of Christianity, the statue has become an icon of Rio and Brazil

 

 

 

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Apr. 10, 2009 - Treehugger??? Me???

 

I just logged off the IM with an old friend who asked me this puzzling question... "Am I a treehugger???"  ME!  A Tree Hugger!  I'm even a little unsure of how it is rightly spelled:  A Tree Hugger?  Or a Treehugger?  Hmmm....  It was after a short conversation about cloth diapering.  I have pondered this question before, only it was about being considered a "Crunchy Mama", which I also really know nothing about.  I suppose one could take inventory of ones life and come to a conclusion.  Yes I have and will cloth diaper.  Which as I stated to my friend:  Gone are the days of pins and plastic pants, cloth diapering is cozy,  fluffy,  fun!  I do make my own  babies food, I use cloth napkins,  try and eat organically, grow rpoduce and herbs, freecycle and thrift, do not poison  vaccinate, and hey!  I've even made my own dog food, but I have  YET to HUG a tree!  Am I crunchy?  Sigh I may never know!  I love reading blogs about living simply and strive to do better as far as that is concerned.  I'll keep thinking on this one...

 

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Apr. 10, 2009 - Lots Of Changes

I have always found myself discouraged when I would go to check on a blog and find there has been no updates in a long while... sigh.  Well, here am I.  It seems the days have rolled on by and my own updates are non existent, so sorry. 

We have been busy enough though, Hubby... well... my boys mostly, have the master bedroom moved downstairs, yeah hoo!  As well, the bathrooms have been  switched out.  For those who may not know why, we have be faced with the issue of "stairs vs. fattening up preggo-style".  Our home is tri-level, so with two sets of stairs to navigate daily and my ever expanding midsection (along with the added burden of "less than adiquate" balance), the switch was inevitable.  So Karl went "up" and we came "down".  Actually we have taken over whay used to be Michael's  "office", now that we have have moved into town and Karl's room will now be the nursery.  So our 5 bedroom is now a 6, fine by me!  I think everyone is happy enough.

The green house is cleared, cleaned and getting stocked again for the new growing season... so far we have have beefsteak Toms, Roma Toms, Bush Beans, Chives, Sweet Peppers, and Basil into thier pots... it's not much yet, but it IS a start!

This week Michael and some of the kids left for the yearly "Young People's Cabin Trip".  3 days of fellowship and fun, always a grand time with grand folks.  Hope to get lots of pics back and will post them when they get home.

More to come...

 

 

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Mar. 25, 2009 - Welcome to Ranger Construction

We have been busy! 

After many trials and tears, we decided to move the company out of the home office and onto the streets... hee hee...  Here in Placerville, historic Main Street is the heart of the city and last week we officially open our doors at number 132. 

Open for business!!

The office has been so much fun! 

Here are some pics of the "front office", the meet and greet part of the operation, well, along with the phones, computerwork, planning etc...

Have a seat, we will be with you in a moment...

 

 

Mrs. Sands is ALWAYS at your service

Then we have the boss' office....

 

At last but cetainly not least... the "New Beginnings" room aka the back room... supply room... coffee room...

 

Oh and least we forget... After a hards days work... the secret room....

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Mar. 25, 2009 - Before It Gets Too Late...

 

I wanted to share our pics from Valentines Day, when hubby and I went out to a VERY romantic and yummy dinner at a local resteraunt.  If you are in Placerville... Don't forget the Cafe Luna, it is to die for!

 

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Mar. 24, 2009 - Getting Back Into The Swing Of It All

Here it is already March 24th and I am only NOW beginning to start on my new blog.  Funny how I thought, "Aww...  I'll start fresh, new template, new graphics etc... "  Sigh, BIG mistake!  I must have forgotten all those months collecting and rearranging, sigh. 

I am going to be working on my sidebar and template over the next week or two, so bear with me.  We have lots to talk about and many exciting changes happening here on the homefront so "stay tuned"!

 

 

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