tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81978770403565781062024-03-12T21:24:52.839-07:003sistersThe life and times and crafty pursuits of three sisters.Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.comBlogger298125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-13517395229187799422014-02-28T09:14:00.002-08:002014-02-28T09:14:56.372-08:00Cleaning Up Our Diet: Chapter 7 Eggs<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I believe that nothing happens by accident. I promised that my next post would be on eggs, and then I got sick...eating eggs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I get back to that story is just a little bit. Have you ever eaten an egg fresh from the nest? Last July our family bought five Muscovy Duck hens and one drake. My hope was that we would get fresh eggs every day.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCq8Tqzgk9N_4QEzWXS3SHXX3Uh4abcX_sjSq1nzEtptYJ04MovI2QP1bvqdrW8-sM9TXdq8KJBbOAzX0feI_0W47oLUv6ZXgDQixdkMdIuSVFE-xb2uvv077IjdSsQ-DzFzSRS9jkcAQ/s1600/showering+ducks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCq8Tqzgk9N_4QEzWXS3SHXX3Uh4abcX_sjSq1nzEtptYJ04MovI2QP1bvqdrW8-sM9TXdq8KJBbOAzX0feI_0W47oLUv6ZXgDQixdkMdIuSVFE-xb2uvv077IjdSsQ-DzFzSRS9jkcAQ/s1600/showering+ducks.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> They're all grown up and some of them are even laying eggs. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR73-KfNo-p8z95hEswOrRQWZoP0aMauWKHPlSzuZob84gx2Drx4YeKCwCPFCo_1sniI-5iAJbh4XrDRCdqFLSNkBFZZeNsapw2FU2G8bfLnMs_Cq9c482N-sVu6myzhHhcnV5XiKTOZs/s1600/first+duck+egg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR73-KfNo-p8z95hEswOrRQWZoP0aMauWKHPlSzuZob84gx2Drx4YeKCwCPFCo_1sniI-5iAJbh4XrDRCdqFLSNkBFZZeNsapw2FU2G8bfLnMs_Cq9c482N-sVu6myzhHhcnV5XiKTOZs/s1600/first+duck+egg.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On January 3rd we found our first egg. We were so excited. It was like Christmas all over again. I boiled that first egg and cut it into 6 pieces so that everyone (except Daddy, who wasn't home) could have a piece. It was delicious!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever eaten a fresh egg? They lack that sulfur taste that many grocery store eggs have. The yolk in a duck egg is larger than those found in eggs laid by chickens. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho106d7l0qOW3KUyguVPG2wElN1qaDG2F7n3dW5Rv2ppXQ8gQohhR4IgDJmL4pqw2i4liYWYzTnBcz9nn7T3m_jXzEC1PSw15qG4roXAcD_Lh-rKLCDazUUIYFe5zqKWRF7eb1gNYt06g/s1600/duck+eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho106d7l0qOW3KUyguVPG2wElN1qaDG2F7n3dW5Rv2ppXQ8gQohhR4IgDJmL4pqw2i4liYWYzTnBcz9nn7T3m_jXzEC1PSw15qG4roXAcD_Lh-rKLCDazUUIYFe5zqKWRF7eb1gNYt06g/s1600/duck+eggs.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is a bonus for people, like my daughters, who only want to eat the yolk!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We got a few eggs after that, and then all of a sudden, it seemed to stop. Then one night while rounding up the ducks to pen them up, I noticed one of the hens was missing. I grabbed a lantern and went searching. I found her under a bush. And she did NOT want to move. A pair of pruning shears was produced, so that I could get under the bush to get her, and guess what I found? A baker's dozen eggs! I took all but one. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Since then, I've learned that ducks are smart. They count their eggs, and when they have enough, they will lay on them to hatch. My little hen wasn't laying eggs long enough to hatch them, but she's going to be a great momma some day. Since then, I have learned to replace eggs that we've taken with fake ones. Otherwise she goes on strike! Even that has to be done with care, because she will sit on those darn fake eggs and starve herself to lay them. I never knew how smart bird could be. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There are now about 5 nests that we check daily for eggs. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In December, we added to our flock with 5 chicks, all hens.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROZsR6vtwNOaLG9qpsxrhVzKNknslfGV3skYzRe6opz3-uOco46YZ5Y73BjH6jQDixiY_ERmT01k3a7lGp3ARSPPKSYe3ypN67Q6G1gLwqWLBVrd9z4_9llzwaLBv6eDtZpU9Q_WjdTw/s1600/chicken+coop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROZsR6vtwNOaLG9qpsxrhVzKNknslfGV3skYzRe6opz3-uOco46YZ5Y73BjH6jQDixiY_ERmT01k3a7lGp3ARSPPKSYe3ypN67Q6G1gLwqWLBVrd9z4_9llzwaLBv6eDtZpU9Q_WjdTw/s1600/chicken+coop.jpg" height="640" width="481" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> This new addition to our backyard farm was more costly. When we purchased the ducks, we did it a little at a time, spending $20 a duck. building their pen cost only about $7 and their bath tubs were only $6 each. But the chicks needed a heat lamp, and a coop and special feeding apparatus. The chicks themselves cost $50 for 5, at 4 weeks old. They can be cheaper, at younger ages.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But this post is supposed to be about EGGS, not BIRDS. Right? So why, you may be asking yourself, did I spend so much money and time on acquiring my own layers? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">First of all, there was the nutritious factor. Eggs at the grocery store are on average 45 days old before you bring them home. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Hens in a poultry farm are kept in small boxes, raised on GMO feed, fed antibiotics to keep them from getting ill in such close quarters. They often have their beaks filed down, so that they can't injure the other birds.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs79CqYynTO7YEDO5tQxDpzlTgL3touD1ANux1ji-19rb2mk1eQXejaeEk7LbmmDvJJlVOk1vKDw0Gtc9o_h0-FOTBdkX-B6zWUovtFW592YYYKcqahspZd_83lvPmuF0NClJySKA5q4M/s1600/chicken+farm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs79CqYynTO7YEDO5tQxDpzlTgL3touD1ANux1ji-19rb2mk1eQXejaeEk7LbmmDvJJlVOk1vKDw0Gtc9o_h0-FOTBdkX-B6zWUovtFW592YYYKcqahspZd_83lvPmuF0NClJySKA5q4M/s1600/chicken+farm.jpg" height="393" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> My birds are free range. They eat the scraps from the kitchen as well as wholesome feed. They also eat all of the weeds and are great insect control.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Lastly, I want my children to know and respect where their food comes from. I love to see the joy in their little faces when they</span> <span style="font-size: large;">find an</span> <span style="font-size: large;">egg. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So, for you analytical types, here's the comparison of duck to chicken eggs:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRBp84YCJagyL3zfC5AFyylDT8RWSZCzSRXoxTV3JRrbj8GNh7URiALOCcUlWtlWixmGzBO2AlxYBTDyw3RmR-wTr_IT9jJrrpQDz-7m-QJ4h2bS0W-lDLkw5eHqTQz6pOraAN44JQz8/s1600/comparison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRBp84YCJagyL3zfC5AFyylDT8RWSZCzSRXoxTV3JRrbj8GNh7URiALOCcUlWtlWixmGzBO2AlxYBTDyw3RmR-wTr_IT9jJrrpQDz-7m-QJ4h2bS0W-lDLkw5eHqTQz6pOraAN44JQz8/s1600/comparison.jpg" height="640" width="500" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Now, if you're still reading and not bored to tears by now, I'll share with you how I got sick eating eggs. For a week, every time I'd eat our homegrown duck eggs, I would react as if I'd been poisoned. At first I thought I'd had the stomach flu. It came on slowly. But when it happened 2 more times after eating the eggs, I realized that it must be the EGGS! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now, I may be allergic to duck eggs. This isn't much of a tragedy. I can still eat chicken eggs. But the problem may be the feed. I started the ducks on game bird feed starter, which is <i>medicated.</i> I didn't realize this until my friend pointed it out. Being a novice, I didn't realize that you're supposed to change to a layer feed a month before they lay, which is at about 6 months of age. I've changed their feed, and have located a source for GMO feed. I am so <i>excited!</i></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Of course it costs more, but, not as much as buying free range GMO free eggs.</span>Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-27990210364159050362014-02-05T08:18:00.001-08:002014-02-05T08:18:40.923-08:00Cleaning Up Our Diet: Chapter 6: Milk<span style="font-size: large;">posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You would think that there wouldn't be much to say about milk. But after doing the research, I was blown away by the information. Two years ago when I'd been allergy tested, my panel said that I was allergic to cow's milk. While my family was still drinking cow's milk from the grocery store, I was trying out alternatives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There were so many choices in alternative milks. I tried hemp milk. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRO44Tno6j5ZpBG1mLvodoSv7kZu0B7gzeyY5zodqo1aGboKQr7JoDZOrmbF2s8GhwkM1XKhMukFOvSh2GKOCC5ThfW83HlLDv5Wgd93puDbmy3dEWDPn5I3ysMDfB_I0BFMYGXsDfBDQ/s1600/hemp+milk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRO44Tno6j5ZpBG1mLvodoSv7kZu0B7gzeyY5zodqo1aGboKQr7JoDZOrmbF2s8GhwkM1XKhMukFOvSh2GKOCC5ThfW83HlLDv5Wgd93puDbmy3dEWDPn5I3ysMDfB_I0BFMYGXsDfBDQ/s1600/hemp+milk.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> It had a grassy taste to it that I didn't like. Moving on.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Then soy milk got it's chance.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzaWEoBB10wSOTCUCpPqFaTPbRkUOKzDyV8mqcxdrOrDJF1-y1NxpdQRmzq8xTKiJzYdkmw8x9XPs9tbwZQw1UeLXAJFAzG1r8dGOXq79VxNjQ2TgxOlRlzbeTgPefZEM7uevCjIYZEvM/s1600/soy+milk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzaWEoBB10wSOTCUCpPqFaTPbRkUOKzDyV8mqcxdrOrDJF1-y1NxpdQRmzq8xTKiJzYdkmw8x9XPs9tbwZQw1UeLXAJFAzG1r8dGOXq79VxNjQ2TgxOlRlzbeTgPefZEM7uevCjIYZEvM/s1600/soy+milk.jpg" height="379" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We liked the taste. The vanilla was like eating melted ice cream. But the more I looked into it, the more I realized that there were several reasons why we shouldn't be drinking this milk. The first one, was because it's made of soy, which has phytoestrogens. It's a plant based estrogen. It's not a good idea to mess with mother nature. Excess estrogen in women can cause perimenopause symptoms, and in men it feeds prostate cancer. I don't even want to think of what it was doing to my boys while in adolescence, while their bodies are changing! The other reason to avoid it was because much of the soy grown in the US is GMO. Silk specifies on their products that they are non GMO, but they are also one of the companies that fully support Monsanto, the company that engineers GMO seeds. I'm not sure I can trust their non GMO claims.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then we tried coconut milk.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8OUQwMlvTsQ4zJYW9ODHFnOBl8KKqLmwXxWEZHidlXfiDAwXtkNw1__ev5oEFjEzegDJiUoNoIL1CfwGkHjMhPwj4REczdkSh4aFGN7MtOJBhyphenhyphen7cErxmVTDKJ9pZqqo_0PZAPKLVwQk/s1600/coconut+milk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8OUQwMlvTsQ4zJYW9ODHFnOBl8KKqLmwXxWEZHidlXfiDAwXtkNw1__ev5oEFjEzegDJiUoNoIL1CfwGkHjMhPwj4REczdkSh4aFGN7MtOJBhyphenhyphen7cErxmVTDKJ9pZqqo_0PZAPKLVwQk/s1600/coconut+milk.jpg" height="382" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the reasons this one appeals to me, is that there are so many brands. You can buy it refrigerated, or in shelf stable cartons. It's delicious! And you can get it flavored with vanilla and sugar, or plain. Using milk in cartons reduces exposure to BPA which can leach from cans into the milk. This milk is also very high in calories, so it's a treat, not an every day, or even twice a day thing for us. We may have some in some herbal tea, or maybe even a glass when we are eating spicy foods to calm down the heat in our mouths.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rice milk is also a yummy alternative to cow's milk.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3XgdFk0emEjYk5rkNNIHBDcN31pG8zSUSPtTgMefnib2LCp_CyGewDQuQrdaXFk7LPTRDj_TVcdfM50pSyhJy5qLwbJI7FjNGBM52IWCVGvzpQbrzr0OZB6KifcpiMAB-dIY6tRrsMo/s1600/rice+milk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3XgdFk0emEjYk5rkNNIHBDcN31pG8zSUSPtTgMefnib2LCp_CyGewDQuQrdaXFk7LPTRDj_TVcdfM50pSyhJy5qLwbJI7FjNGBM52IWCVGvzpQbrzr0OZB6KifcpiMAB-dIY6tRrsMo/s1600/rice+milk.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It tastes yummy, but as far as the nutritive value, I found it lacking. It can also be bought in a shelf stable packaging.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75-yB2c0DohbgZ3-pQAr_Wa_OPCP8iL7F13ZxobQV4HJZk2LrEEj7CCstz-XBqgVTG2QIvyQH6N9Qml4bzEAXK-LtanYjM-ASd-Sf0_L8rqGQ4NIdcPisn98f4m0qQmx3DeKDq9zH5go/s1600/almond+milk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75-yB2c0DohbgZ3-pQAr_Wa_OPCP8iL7F13ZxobQV4HJZk2LrEEj7CCstz-XBqgVTG2QIvyQH6N9Qml4bzEAXK-LtanYjM-ASd-Sf0_L8rqGQ4NIdcPisn98f4m0qQmx3DeKDq9zH5go/s1600/almond+milk.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Almond milk is delicious, can be bought refrigerated and in shelf stable packaging and has good nutritive value. At one time I thought I might be allergic to tree nuts, and so avoided this milk. But time soon showed me that there was nothing to fear, and we began drinking it again. It's the best substitute to use when baking because it has a flavor that's closest to cow's milk, and when unflavored, can even be used for gravies and sauces.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And now we come to my favorite, goat's milk.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInfudg1cfySWqBIBo4OEG8uV7_gA4wYoiwiIMgeU08-wYDNRuHk5CR9n_GCVvMpNEmv5jAIEwcS9mT58AzYIp1mz20pK6UuEt26y7nOtM-aB6ZmMca_NJZUBDge6YeJIaoMdt2tYYuog/s1600/goat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInfudg1cfySWqBIBo4OEG8uV7_gA4wYoiwiIMgeU08-wYDNRuHk5CR9n_GCVvMpNEmv5jAIEwcS9mT58AzYIp1mz20pK6UuEt26y7nOtM-aB6ZmMca_NJZUBDge6YeJIaoMdt2tYYuog/s1600/goat.jpg" height="479" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was first introduced to goat's milk when I began my search for milks. I'd tried powdered in my baking, and I'd found that the canned milk was excellent for soups and macaroni and cheese. And the Goat's milk yogurt was awesome! I had to hide it from David, my husband. To drink, though, I found that it had a slightly tangy taste. And then my friend gave me a sample of the milk from her goats, and it was creamy and delicious! I was sold! Later I found out that there were many benefits from drinking raw goat's milk. Too many for me to detail here. But there's a few articles floating about the net, if you care to read them. </span><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1045916109"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.mtcapra.com/benefits-of-goat-milk-vs-cow-milk/</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/goats-why-raw-goat-milk.aspx">http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/goats-why-raw-goat-milk.aspx</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's more expensive that the above alternatives. I pay $4 a quart. We get 5 quarts a week for our family of 7. It's usually gone within the first two days. When I bring it home everyone gets excited to have their first taste. It's by far, the best alternative. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We no longer drink cow's milk. I've since discovered that the dairy industry does some pretty dastardly things. The cattle are fed corn, which is GMO, and they are given antibiotics on a regular basis. Recently most dairies stopped giving their cattle BGH (bovine growth hormone) to up the milk production. It was causing male children to grow breasts! It is common for milk to have a certain amount of puss in it. It's allowed. Nasty! And the reason for pasteurization is to kill the bad bacteria present in the milk, which also kills the beneficial bacteria, leaving it a blank slate to grown bad bacteria again. Anytime I hear the slogan from the 90's "Milk, it does the body good." I think YUCK!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Since there are so many alternatives, we don't miss it. We do still eat cheese. It's a whole different product, changed by bacteria and enzymes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am not a healthcare professional. Any information expressed in this blog are the opinions of it's author, and are not a cure for disease.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next time: Eggs </span>Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-35789371378552609412014-02-04T13:41:00.000-08:002014-02-06T17:05:17.061-08:00Cleaning up Our Diet: Chapter 5. Sweet!<span style="font-size: large;">posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is a sticky subject to talk about. Pun intended. My Mom would be so proud of me. Hee hee!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Sugars are one of those things that suppresses the immune system. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It leads to <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17709452?dopt=Abstract" target="_blank" title="Surrogate markers of insulin resistance are associated with consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and fruit juice in middle and older-aged adults.">insulin resistance</a>. </span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: large;">It <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17402291?dopt=Abstract" target="_blank" title="High fructose consumption combined with low dietary magnesium intake may increase the incidence of the metabolic syndrome by inducing inflammation.">promotes inflammation</a> in the body.</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: large;">It can <a href="http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S26/91/22K07/" target="_blank" title="A sweet problem: Princeton researchers find that high-fructose corn syrup prompts considerably more weight gain">lead to weight gain</a> when ingested.</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: large;">It <a href="http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/abstract/138/8/1452" target="_blank" title="Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Humans Is Associated with Increased Plasma Endotoxin and Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 Concentrations and with Fructose Intake">contributes to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease</a>.
In fact, our livers process fructose very similarly to the way they
process ethanol. Lustig calls fructose “alcohol without the buzz.”</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: large;">It appears to act like <a href="http://freetheanimal.com/2009/02/sugar-feeds-cancer.html" target="_blank" title="Sugar Feeds Cancer">fertilizer for cancer cells</a>.</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: large;">High fructose diets decrease HDL levels, while reducing the diameter and <a href="http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/86/4/1174" target="_blank" title="Fructose intake is a predictor of LDL particle size in overweight schoolchildren">increasing the density of LDL particles</a>.</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: large;">Glucose and especially fructose can <a href="http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/128/9/1442" target="_blank" title="Long-Term Fructose Consumption Accelerates Glycation and Several Age-Related Variables in Male Rats">bond to – glycate – proteins and lipids</a> without proper enzymatic control.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">With all of that to think about, why would anyone who was looking to better their health still want to eat the stuff? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Is it reality to think that you can omit it from your diet all together?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">People already think that we're strange for all of the changes that have been made in my family. AND, I have children.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I once knew a family who prohibited their children from having chocolate. Do you know what the children did? Every time there was an opportunity to eat chocolate outside the supervision of their parents, they ate as much as they could.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Realistically, I want my children to have a normal life. But I want to offer them better choices than what most Americans eat.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sooo. I will be sharing some of the alternatives I have found to granulated sugar and high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There are so many varieties of sweeteners available.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> But, first, we need to unveil the fakers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Stevia has become a popular no calorie sweetener of choice. Do not be fooled by the labels. Just because something says it's an extract or that it's pure, doesn't mean that it is. Some kind friend recently dropped off a bag of Pure Via at my house. The first ingredient was maltodextrin, not stevia. Truvia pretends to be stevia. It's so processed it's not anymore. Any of the Stevia products that claim that you can use it spoon for spoon like sugar, is not pure stevia.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbrNhyrBsizR4fXcNiQJFNRMgpoUbJ2LdBAusraGMFPk0uajNDbEWtv3QrOCTeXxGu_PfMvaj7xZ6yRE5iAZs1_bL8ONq67-zbZZKc5j5cU-NnwXjnhbX0mOrmTDzB4A_LpJSosNMscE/s1600/stevia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbrNhyrBsizR4fXcNiQJFNRMgpoUbJ2LdBAusraGMFPk0uajNDbEWtv3QrOCTeXxGu_PfMvaj7xZ6yRE5iAZs1_bL8ONq67-zbZZKc5j5cU-NnwXjnhbX0mOrmTDzB4A_LpJSosNMscE/s1600/stevia.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My first experience with stevia was when as friend of mine brought over a cheesecake made with it. It had a slightly bitter aftertaste. That is true stevia. It's not granulated like sugar is. It's powdery. It is derived from an herb, and was sold as a dietary supplement before it came to the market as a sweetener. And watch out! If you use too much, it's NASTY! It will ruin whatever you put it into. My kids once thought it was powdered sugar, and tried to add it to peanut butter to make a candy. Boy! Were they surprised!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Speaking about powdered sugar. I don't buy it. It's granulated sugar with cornstarch added. I know it's a main ingredient for making frosting, right? I make my own. Put the organic cane sugar in the blender and grind it to a powder and add either arrowroot or tapioca starch in equal amounts and you have powdered sugar. Just a little precaution to avoid GMO corn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">**EDIT**</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Please read the following article about the process to get the product they call stevia. Looks like even the white powder and liquid are derived using toxic chemicals.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/fact-or-myth-is-stevia-bad-for-you#axzz2samSU8Hj">http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/fact-or-myth-is-stevia-bad-for-you#axzz2samSU8Hj </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">How about Maple syrup? I'm not talking about Aunt Jemima's or Log Cabin. Those are corn syrup with maple flavoring and caramel coloring (which is a carcinogen, by the way). I'm talking about the stuff that's expensive. Like $6-$8 for less than a pint.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Vnh_K9eTYO7of8YiiEvZvBrCBUuFU6vKVTAvOl-KmJqwlDr4fUhfDL23GJWqkZOmT_5nOr3duxs2z_ZPaYKyIRKXyFRsuN3qgcuCIqOgNueLStKlOxczWK0hUbPhPps57HRD6ExhYSc/s1600/maple+syrup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Vnh_K9eTYO7of8YiiEvZvBrCBUuFU6vKVTAvOl-KmJqwlDr4fUhfDL23GJWqkZOmT_5nOr3duxs2z_ZPaYKyIRKXyFRsuN3qgcuCIqOgNueLStKlOxczWK0hUbPhPps57HRD6ExhYSc/s1600/maple+syrup.jpg" height="400" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />True maple syrup isn't as sweet as sugar. It's derived from the sap of the Maple tree. It has been concentrated into grades. Grade A is what is used for pancakes. Grade B, less common, would be used for glazing a ham. It has a stronger flavor.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Since this sweetener has a distinctive flavor, we use it only when we can let it shine. We love it on sweet potato casserole, and in oatmeal.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAc1RR1-Co8Ca9pknlQ5Ni3YRAzr5upE8OHaggDLknd2rDD_V1IqKOxh0H-slqUwCIE-QiSVw8oPJTKAfj0TeGKcFjo2LTy3GP9U-UFl3bUJkrPzdiR0dsZgkuXnpY4dx1z7gd9h6KK8/s1600/molasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAc1RR1-Co8Ca9pknlQ5Ni3YRAzr5upE8OHaggDLknd2rDD_V1IqKOxh0H-slqUwCIE-QiSVw8oPJTKAfj0TeGKcFjo2LTy3GP9U-UFl3bUJkrPzdiR0dsZgkuXnpY4dx1z7gd9h6KK8/s1600/molasses.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Molasses is another syrup with a distinctive flavor. It comes from sugarcane, and actually has the benefits of providing minerals, iron, calcium and potassium, as well as being sweet. I use this for barbeque sauces, and in baking products when I want that molasses taste. By itself, it's not very sweet. I usually use it with another sweetener, like brown sugar.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1ntvS3RAMNwKJbfNzv_oPqpU7L4Sg3gLBmOG_yOUrisDuHRamdxMrf2ZfEx5PG5aK_3HftmJQcKIB5wCX06RNDRFvNJC0p5YTtDr2aw1nHk1ue43lO_k0P7CToHijPdyS1a7OR9zJT0/s1600/raw+honey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1ntvS3RAMNwKJbfNzv_oPqpU7L4Sg3gLBmOG_yOUrisDuHRamdxMrf2ZfEx5PG5aK_3HftmJQcKIB5wCX06RNDRFvNJC0p5YTtDr2aw1nHk1ue43lO_k0P7CToHijPdyS1a7OR9zJT0/s1600/raw+honey.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> I briefly mentioned raw honey in my last post. This is another sweetener that you'll need to vet out. I get my raw honey from a local source. Therefore it has pollens from my area, which help to inoculate me from allergies. Raw honey also has naturally occurring enzymes, which aid in digestion. However, if your honey is not organic, your bees may be dining on high fructose corn syrup, which is nasty for a variety of reasons. First of all it's so processed that it's a concentrated form of sugar that the body doesn't digest well. And then, there's that awful GMO thing, you know I hate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Back to the good sugars!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcEZxa573Y-BXCsXkUcqZFhVjQqkZhjn3iX1u1MmMqCQ3R2VVtxwTF947vohWrXsn2KeBV7OAZeTr3onwzNlh4EprnjPGGCvBTyE5A1SWRczcl8hjCfey_4_33FtrJeTJnY2ABoNv_uI/s1600/organic+cane+sugar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcEZxa573Y-BXCsXkUcqZFhVjQqkZhjn3iX1u1MmMqCQ3R2VVtxwTF947vohWrXsn2KeBV7OAZeTr3onwzNlh4EprnjPGGCvBTyE5A1SWRczcl8hjCfey_4_33FtrJeTJnY2ABoNv_uI/s1600/organic+cane+sugar.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Organic evaporated cane juice is the closest to the granulated sugar that everyone is used to. Why use this instead? Because there are no insecticides, herbicides, and it's not bleached. Basically it's the kind of sugar that was used hundreds of years ago, when it was so expensive that people has safes to keep it in. Yes. It's that good.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuZ4t_LruwmEF_8WBMYTWtiLFXbnpCrOeJyX8AbBsqxES1i5mmANBYaZM6fqtRIIibCUSS8YAdJlVwLnJYVUSVoNkgSXvk_ba41GNY2DSNTV9aLD_GYsSorE7eg3KhjxUASaaJqE1Z94/s1600/organic+brown+sugar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuZ4t_LruwmEF_8WBMYTWtiLFXbnpCrOeJyX8AbBsqxES1i5mmANBYaZM6fqtRIIibCUSS8YAdJlVwLnJYVUSVoNkgSXvk_ba41GNY2DSNTV9aLD_GYsSorE7eg3KhjxUASaaJqE1Z94/s1600/organic+brown+sugar.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Organic brown sugar is similar to the above, but has more molasses content, making it a bit moister, and has a bit of that distinctive flavor. also called turbanado sugar, or sucanat. All have varying degrees of molasses left in them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This next one is my new favorite sweetener. It's Organic coconut sugar. My kids tease me that my favorite food is the coconut. Our pantries are full of coconut derived products.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwH-0eXG_MLtuwW15MQjJyVqy68PxXnbSqAv_YT2ZCKAMOuLaB4PuXd08yPV3BLCxXXWI8IWyTzcYli5Ic9mIC_PBYzxDzJMZ0kpgd07MmSb2kgUB05izx_G0r5fVOOGJnJXjZf_M8V9c/s1600/Organic+Coconut+Sugar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwH-0eXG_MLtuwW15MQjJyVqy68PxXnbSqAv_YT2ZCKAMOuLaB4PuXd08yPV3BLCxXXWI8IWyTzcYli5Ic9mIC_PBYzxDzJMZ0kpgd07MmSb2kgUB05izx_G0r5fVOOGJnJXjZf_M8V9c/s1600/Organic+Coconut+Sugar.jpg" height="400" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Coconut sugar is not very sweet. It has a smokey earthy flavor that is perfect for curries and cooking meats. Think barbeque sauce. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since using alternative sugars, I've noticed that our appetite for it has decreased. We've become very sensitive to sweet stuff. In this case less is more, isn't it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am not a healthcare professional. Everything shared in this post is the experience of myself and my family, and is not intended to cure disease. (Take it like you want it.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-67392452580875155592014-02-03T09:51:00.003-08:002014-02-03T09:51:29.283-08:00Cleaning Up Our Diet: Chapter 4. Probiotics<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This post may not be for everyone. I believe that probiotics are essential for good health. They boost the immune system by allowing the body to get the nutrients needed from the foods we eat. GMO (genetically modified organisms) containing glyphosate kill off the natural bacteria in the gut! Replacing those bacteria is so important.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> An easy way to incorporate probiotics into the diet is to eat yogurt. My children love it! I like to buy Greek yogurt because the protein levels are higher, since it's been strained. I don't have to strain mine, because when I make it, I add more milk powder. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVvY5qOjYsMwVdOkmOsTKjSeCFQP1ecu7XJrc7arPHCWhdUrkfzX9o4DfSfe6sod3wqE-2xU_7KebXP_-g6LZby6jKfNRF5hX6nwKPrkFsR75-ku_ygRrJqUjEL0UqtNDlx6cHefsUPI/s1600/Greek+Yogurt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVvY5qOjYsMwVdOkmOsTKjSeCFQP1ecu7XJrc7arPHCWhdUrkfzX9o4DfSfe6sod3wqE-2xU_7KebXP_-g6LZby6jKfNRF5hX6nwKPrkFsR75-ku_ygRrJqUjEL0UqtNDlx6cHefsUPI/s1600/Greek+Yogurt.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> This is one of those things that's pretty hard to mess up. I make it in mason jars in a cooler overnight. My kids prefer the store bought stuff, but when money is tight, I pull out some food storage milk powder, and mix some of it up. They'll eat it with vanilla and raw honey, or with jelly. When I do buy yogurt, I am careful to read labels. Many of them contain thickening agents, high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors or colors. The ones that don't can be rather pricey. So I have my sources at Winco and Trader Joe's for the best quality and taste. And they're 1/3 to 1/2 the price of the trendy brands.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A few years ago, my mother turned me on to a concoction of apple cider vinegar and honey in water. You should use the vinegar with the "mother" still in it. This the the bacteria that changed the juice into vinegar. There's a short slide show, touting the benefits of apple cider vinegar. <a href="http://www.rd.com/slideshows/8-health-benefits-of-apple-cider-vinegar/">http://www.rd.com/slideshows/8-health-benefits-of-apple-cider-vinegar/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Adding raw honey to it makes it more palatable, but also ups it's immune boosting abilities. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Raw honey has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal
properties. It promotes body and digestive health, is a powerful
antioxidant, strengthens the immune system, eliminates allergies, and is
an excellent remedy for skin wounds and all types of infections. Raw
honey's benefits don't stop there. Raw honey can also stabilize blood
pressure, balance sugar levels, relieve pain, calm nerves, and it has
been used to treat ulcers. Raw honey is also an expectorant and
anti-inflammatory and has been known to effectively treat respiratory
conditions such as bronchitis and asthma." </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kombucha is a fermented probiotic drink made from tea (black, green, or white) and sugar. The scoby (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) is what does the magic. In about a week or two, your sugary tea turns into a vinegar that is full of goodness. It can be flavored in the second fermentation. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpjGTBC7EmvVMAcqKkKs1EwARE9shtjUijW-ds05FAm0rjV0b7xjrXVydzqxyZfsU0c5GIsOAuzBiF6_b0WYQRXX7gyJLxEwYT-4_3hFxcBof9frPgh98R06A9RdnG6TYMpK5lHp-KoA/s1600/kombucha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpjGTBC7EmvVMAcqKkKs1EwARE9shtjUijW-ds05FAm0rjV0b7xjrXVydzqxyZfsU0c5GIsOAuzBiF6_b0WYQRXX7gyJLxEwYT-4_3hFxcBof9frPgh98R06A9RdnG6TYMpK5lHp-KoA/s1600/kombucha.jpg" height="400" width="221" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> This is also something that can be bought ready made at most health food stores. It can get expensive, though, since it's $3.50 a bottle. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Making your own is the most cost effective way of getting it, and you can control the ingredients, using organic teas and sugars.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Each new batch makes a baby scoby, so there's plenty to share.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I've had some issues making my own at home. It's very
susceptible to growing mold. I've recently had some success with water
kefir in my bedroom closet, and so I may try a batch there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Which brings us to my favorite probiotic of all, water kefir.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscirWkKtS9YXlz78DR6iT1bYj29TnJ9cG1RyStTtSA_WpDAczw5JKZQi1_937Rd-ow6UAO_tDszFLY8ITIxJja1CWBnp-HssHuhHZSrpt2jonDN-3c4mW-zylQ-_HsfZE0nthnsQNiS0/s1600/flavored+water+kefir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscirWkKtS9YXlz78DR6iT1bYj29TnJ9cG1RyStTtSA_WpDAczw5JKZQi1_937Rd-ow6UAO_tDszFLY8ITIxJja1CWBnp-HssHuhHZSrpt2jonDN-3c4mW-zylQ-_HsfZE0nthnsQNiS0/s1600/flavored+water+kefir.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> When done right, flavored water kefir tastes like soda pop. Even unflavored, it has a taste that's similar to a sparkling cider. It's simply made with water, sugar, a little baking soda, sugar and kefir grains. I don't know of anywhere that sells water kefir, and that's really too bad, because as I've said, It really is the best of the probiotics. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXV-8FLCsuZiBtFSdOvlqxbEJrABvkO_t2artmJmGzGf4-92lPFdV6OFxL4luRpsmxTd7hHRFKzQ7-GcFoQxGiKzR3kMBf-rGJvfSfGz9ze_jKWRLjgwqQyy_jHysrZw-8CCisHYRNKU/s1600/water+kefir+grains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXV-8FLCsuZiBtFSdOvlqxbEJrABvkO_t2artmJmGzGf4-92lPFdV6OFxL4luRpsmxTd7hHRFKzQ7-GcFoQxGiKzR3kMBf-rGJvfSfGz9ze_jKWRLjgwqQyy_jHysrZw-8CCisHYRNKU/s1600/water+kefir+grains.jpg" height="299" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Unlike the scoby, you can eat the grains that grow from making water kefir. They taste slightly yeasty. Happy grains like minerals found in molasses, or an egg shell. There are plenty of sites that teach how to brew water kefir, and sell grains. The best way to get them is free, from a friend who brews their own.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Then there's always probiotics in a capsule. DoTerra has a really good one. They call it PB Assist. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">See that little green pill? The outside is actually clear with another capsule inside it. That's where the probiotic is located. The outside layer contains a prebiotic.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It contains 6 live strains of bacteria.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So, if you're the kind of person who doesn't like smelly things, this may be the way to go for you. I like to cover all my bases, and so I consume at least two servings of these brews, pills or concoctions a day.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am not a health care professional. I am merely sharing my experiences and those of my family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next time: Sweet! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-84252815907589407642014-01-30T15:42:00.000-08:002014-01-30T15:42:20.450-08:00Cleaning Up Our Diet: Chapter 3. The Miracle of Essential Oils<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> This box of essential oils is my new medicine cabinet. One day a friend of mine called me and asked if I would like to learn more about essential oils. I thought, "sure</span>.<span style="font-size: large;"> Why not?" The next week I found myself sitting in a small class of about 5 people, while a man in the front of the room told us miraculous stories about people who had used essential oils. Things like, a friend of his who was having over 300 epileptic seizures a year started using frankincense on the crown of his head every day, and how has less than 3 seizures a year. That was life changing! He was able to hold his baby and work at his job and support his family! Another story was about a boy in Chile who went to the park to play soccer against his mother's wishes and had an asthma attack, which was then stopped by using a blend of oils called, Breathe. Emotionally and spiritually, I was overwhelmed with this information. I just knew that incorporating these oils into our lives would be a game changer.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I started small. We signed up with the company, spending about $150 on a set of oils. As I began to use them, I realized that I couldn't be without them!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I've heard so many more stories about what the oils can do, and have experiences of my own to add. I've become a consultant for the company.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Just a few things that have changed:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Before: After:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Albuterol, Vicks, Sudafed Breathe</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Zyrtec, Benadryl, (antihistamines)</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Lemon, Lavender,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Peppermint</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Antacids, antidiarreal, anti nausea Digestzen</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sports creams</span>, <span style="font-size: large;">Ibuprofen, Tylenol <span style="font-size: small;">(for pain)</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> <span style="font-size: large;">Deep Blue</span>, <span style="font-size: large;">Peppermint</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Zit creams, Antibacterial cream Lavender, Melaleuca</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Dandruff shampoo Lavender</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">ADD and ADHD Rx Vetiver, Balance, InTune</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And then there are some oils which there are no substitutes for on the market.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">OnGuard: a protective blend which kills viruses, molds, and</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> bacteria, inside and outside the body. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Frankincense: A healing and calming oil. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Balance: A grounding blend for anxiety and depression.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Serenity: A blend of oils for relaxation. It works for everything </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> from insomnia, to depression, to anxiety, and hyperactivity.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Purify: A blend of oils for cleansing. I love to add it to my homemade cleaning solutions, to a towel in the dryer for musty laundry, and it can be used topically to cleanse wounds. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is in no way an exhaustive list of oils. It's just the ones I use most often by a company called DoTerra. The best part of using the oils is that there's no side effects. The worst thing I've experienced is accidentally getting an oil too close to my eyes or in a sensitive spot. I use another oil, like coconut oil to pull it off, and I'm fine. No long term damage from pharmaceuticals to worry about. I was taking 3 antihistamines a day to try and get some relief from my hives. They would put me to sleep for 12 hours, even if I took only half the dose! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am not a healthcare professional. The above information is based on personal experience.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Next post: Probiotics, Good Bacteria</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If you find this information useful, please comment on my blog or my Facebook page. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-34364029823092864792014-01-29T08:55:00.000-08:002014-01-29T08:55:01.544-08:00Cleaning Up Our Diet: Chapter 2. Our Daily Bread<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So what if I told you that what you had been eating all your life had been altered in some way, and that it was now poisonous? Would you stop eating it? Of course you would. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> In 2007, I was pregnant with my 4th child and was experiencing symptoms like asthma and urticaria. Urticaria is a lovely word for chronic hives. No fun! These weren't the kind of hives that you get once and they resemble mosquito bites and they go away after a few hours. These are the kind of hives that cover 80% of your body are huge and leave bruises when they finally do go away. As a result of this, I decided to go on a gluten free diet. My hives and my asthmatic symptoms went away. I began taking a digestive enzyme and while I wasn't pregnant, I could eat wheat again. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Now for those of you who think that going wheat free is torture, I'm going to tell you it really isn't. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Don't these muffins look delicious?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">They are! I even learned to make sandwich bread. Still, the taste of wheat bread can't be matched, and I occasionally will have some with unhappy consequences. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZx147zU54lDgkz7Br3vhelTv5vh78HuC_sA6MB5NAimsDdZnXjlge1GMWfez8uSgf7xeODVgwi21C8EuHQd3pWQDdnX71JD9Pf5v2hwE3hSc9z3__hX2UyRXnvSbeiqtqcYL8hwluNlI/s1600/Gluten+free+pizza+muffins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZx147zU54lDgkz7Br3vhelTv5vh78HuC_sA6MB5NAimsDdZnXjlge1GMWfez8uSgf7xeODVgwi21C8EuHQd3pWQDdnX71JD9Pf5v2hwE3hSc9z3__hX2UyRXnvSbeiqtqcYL8hwluNlI/s1600/Gluten+free+pizza+muffins.jpg" height="269" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> One of the mistakes I made when going gluten free was to start eating a lot of corn. At the time I didn't realize that I was poisoning myself and everyone else I was feeding it to. Modern corn has been engineered with </span> <span style="font-size: large;">glyphosate in their DNA. Glyphosate is an herbicide. When it is consumed it kills off the natural beneficial bacteria in the digestive system, thereby making the digestion of food incomplete. Leaky gut is one name for the consequences of undigested food. It enters your blood stream and the body thinks it's a foreign object and has an inflammatory response. This was what was causing my asthma and hives. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> There has been research done about how gluten affects the brain, especially in children with autism. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> In my children, I didn't notice any symptoms of disease. It wasn't until after implementing several changes in our diet that I began to see miracles. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now we are about 80% gluten free. The kids still take sandwiches to school, but I provide them with gluten free alternatives for snacks and breakfast. I've even added some corn back into our diet. I buy corn chips and popcorn from Trader Joes. I was told that any product with their branding on it is GMO free. And so far, I've had no reactions to their foods. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There are so many GF alternatives available now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you decide to go gluten free, you'll have to discover for yourself which brands are to your liking. I've found that I don't like boxed cookies. They have a gritty texture. And I've been disappointed by mixes. But, I've always been a bake from scratch kind of girl.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Udi's breads can be found in the freezer section of health food stores. And I've found them to be pretty decent. Sometimes I'll grab a loaf of bread and have a sandwich made at the deli at Sprouts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A good gf baking cookbook is essential. The best I've found is <u><i>Easy Gluten-Free Baking</i></u> by Elizabeth Barbone. I substitute tapioca starch for the corn starch in her recipes. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Want some good gluten free recipes? I have all of mine and some others pinned to my Gluten free <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pauletteburton/gluten-free/">Pinterest board.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Again, I am no expert on health or nutrition. These are the experiences of myself and my family. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next time, The Miracle of Essential Oils </span>Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-12325493329599321982014-01-28T08:13:00.002-08:002014-01-28T08:13:48.835-08:00Cleaning Up Our Diet: Chapter 1. Iodine, Flouride and Hypothyroidism<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There have been some pretty big changes in my family in the last year. No new baby. No new house, or car. So what has changed? Our diet.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Just over a year ago, we were struggling with sleeplessness, being overweight, behavioral problems, lack of focus and inflammation!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A few people have pointed me in the right direction. A fact that I attribute to God, who gives only good gifts. There were many changes that I will discuss in following blog posts, but the first one I want to tell you about is water.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> It's the basis of all life, right? My family was drinking tap water. I thought that maybe it tasted a little bad, but it was safe for drinking.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I was wrong. My aunt was doing some research on her own health issues, when she came across a book by Dr David Brownstein called,<i><u> Iodine:Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It.</u></i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I read the book and was surprised to see how many of the symptoms of iodine deficiency my family and I had. I began buying bottled water and putting iodine with potassium iodide in our water. Within a week, I could already see improvement in my son Jonathan. He had dark circles under his eyes. The dark circles were gone. Since then, the shininess has returned to his hair, he has slimmed down, and is sleeping properly. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> So why was the water so bad for us? Because it contains fluoride and other chemicals. The US government thinks Fluoride is essential for strengthening the enamel on your teeth. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>According to a 2006 report by the National Research Council of the National Academies<a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/08/13/fluoride-and-thyroid-dysfunction.aspx#_edn1" name="_ednref1"></a> , fluoride is "an endocrine disruptor in the broad sense of altering normal endocrine function." </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>
This altered function can involve your thyroid, parathyroid, and
pineal glands, as well as your adrenals, pancreas, and pituitary.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In Dr Brownstein's book, I learned that the iodide receptors will absorb the fluoride and then won't absorb the iodine found naturally in foods. Thyroid controls so many of the basic functions of the body. So if it's not happy, the rest of your body won't function properly. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">To read more about the effects of fluoride on your body, read this article: </span><br />
<a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/08/13/fluoride-and-thyroid-dysfunction.aspx"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/08/13/fluoride-and-thyroid-dysfunction.aspx</b></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am not an expert of the thyroid or a physician. I am only sharing what has worked for my family. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In the next post I will discuss our daily bread.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-64458370216511796622013-10-27T19:05:00.000-07:002013-10-27T19:05:01.396-07:00Gluten Free Double Chocolate Cashew Muffins with Salted Caramel<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, I guess I am in the process of writing a gluten free recipe book. have you noticed there's been a lot of gluten free muffins lately. Not all of the things I try turn out so well. But a good indication of success is the disappearance factor. Add to that the fighting factor, and we've got our self a winner. This muffin had both.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> And I was accused of colluding with Satan in the invention of this muffin. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have to admit, it was pretty darn good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #660000;">Gluten Free Double Chocolate Cashew Muffins with Salted Caramel</span></span></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2cups brown rice flour</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 cup tapioca flour</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 cup sugar </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 cup baking cocoa</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 teaspoon sea salt</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2 teaspoons baking powder </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 cup cashew bits</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 teaspoon vanilla extract </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/3 cup melted coconut oil</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2 eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 1/2 cups almond milk</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Caramel sauce</u></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/4 cup butter</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 cup brown sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 teaspoon sea salt (for sprinkling over the top)</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">prepare muffin tins with papers or nonstick spray</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">In a large bowl, mix together the first 8 ingredients.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">In a small bowl mix together the vanilla, oil, eggs and milk.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Add to the larger bowl and mix until well incorporated.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Spoon batter into muffin tin, filling each cup about 3/4 full.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">While the muffins are baking, in a medium size pot, melt the butter.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Add the brown sugar to it and let simmer on medium high heat, until it comes to soft ball stage,. you can test by dropping small amounts of the candy into ice water. If it forms a ball, and doesn't melt back into the water, it's ready. If you let it get past this point, you will have a harder candy shell.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Spoon over the warm muffins, and sprinkle the salt lightly over the top.</span></li>
</ul>
Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-84000199152642387712013-10-24T09:20:00.001-07:002013-10-24T09:21:18.904-07:00The Beginning of the End<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Somewhere around September 1st, I pull out the sewing machine and it doesn't get put away until after Christmas. It's either on my desk or on the floor somewhere near it. My bedroom is covered in fabrics. Either from my latest and last sewing projects or laundry, or both. Usually both. Scraps of paper litter the desk and the floor with measurements, drawings and patterns. The Halloween season has already started. It was kicked off with a dance last night for our church's youth. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaQ_jOZfRMxXSejsbgIkReYBxnpKCIv80D9AC8Y21FtTv01gH7Gum8GYDLmsSchUgrAqRYeuPwVD9UoRBgrQWP4V-jHGPvalUpP_0ZoEgnur-KwNr5LIFdQRv408RpkVbIrK896rdNps/s1600/H+&+J+Halloween+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaQ_jOZfRMxXSejsbgIkReYBxnpKCIv80D9AC8Y21FtTv01gH7Gum8GYDLmsSchUgrAqRYeuPwVD9UoRBgrQWP4V-jHGPvalUpP_0ZoEgnur-KwNr5LIFdQRv408RpkVbIrK896rdNps/s400/H+&+J+Halloween+2013.jpg" width="335" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Jonathan and Hyrum took it easy on me this year for their Halloween costumes. Jonny wore his clothes and I just had to do his hair and makeup. Hyrum found a black graduation robe from last year, and I used the bottom of a t-shirt that the gym gave to us, that was never worn, to make a hood, which I then sewed to the black robe. Make-up and a branch painted black, finished his look. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Hyrum's makeup is just the white creamy stuff you can get at Halloween, with black eye shadow around his eye sockets and on his lips. Black t-shirt and pants under the robe. The red eyes are happy accident with my photography skills. He doesn't have red contacts.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zm2NqZ2U0UCMfkbDa5yuEm27NTtkYPegL7_glOoRLLgp5R5dicfqM5jXMOuv-GQE0FqCm7fv4ZTiIE_aqu2F0Deb-0cV2ALt0solW2-GD40f0cKe7z3fBJoWIx0ciBLenMX5WC2R5Ew/s1600/Hyrum+GR+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zm2NqZ2U0UCMfkbDa5yuEm27NTtkYPegL7_glOoRLLgp5R5dicfqM5jXMOuv-GQE0FqCm7fv4ZTiIE_aqu2F0Deb-0cV2ALt0solW2-GD40f0cKe7z3fBJoWIx0ciBLenMX5WC2R5Ew/s640/Hyrum+GR+2013.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jonny's costume is Jack Frost from the Rise of the Guardians.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kakai pants with a hoodie. His hair was sprayed with white hairspray, and then dusted with tapioca starch. Makeup is my foundation mixed with the white cream makeup. Then light blue eye shadow around the eyes, with indigo liner, then dusted with a glittery pink eye shadow, rosy cheeks and then the same liner was used around his lips and then a nude lipstick over the top, softened it and made him look cold. More of the glittery pink shadow over his whole face to make it look frosted. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ND9zK9dYzo7_1ooQAwa2DjfiSWU4EuQKNLKf5t4HElioHi9vWUV_hGmoSQCsS_i2eMZzMiMehfveCPPj0qicovcl202V8-JVjPXBDTpypETM8tEwAXGkPyx_McVaVqo3TdREwwySKlc/s1600/Jonny+makeup+Jack+Frost+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ND9zK9dYzo7_1ooQAwa2DjfiSWU4EuQKNLKf5t4HElioHi9vWUV_hGmoSQCsS_i2eMZzMiMehfveCPPj0qicovcl202V8-JVjPXBDTpypETM8tEwAXGkPyx_McVaVqo3TdREwwySKlc/s640/Jonny+makeup+Jack+Frost+2013.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then I sprayed his hoodie with a strong hairspray and dusted it with epsom salts to look like snow. Repeated until the "snow" stuck really well. </span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pDKx0p0YPQPijFkZFVaffftDUTU2b4bH48ej9ca794DFWVFs6uRcSG73PKuSHlCGdR_SSKRWqp_Uz_2_7perGn5hr7jFQ_5iLCOf2S-2QaHKLE8vpFGUi8JhQLB2EC08lq4DH7d1hOY/s1600/Jonny+Jack+Frost+2013+watermark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pDKx0p0YPQPijFkZFVaffftDUTU2b4bH48ej9ca794DFWVFs6uRcSG73PKuSHlCGdR_SSKRWqp_Uz_2_7perGn5hr7jFQ_5iLCOf2S-2QaHKLE8vpFGUi8JhQLB2EC08lq4DH7d1hOY/s640/Jonny+Jack+Frost+2013+watermark.jpg" width="520" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> What I didn't do in sewing for these two, was more than made up for with the other kids, including two of my friend's children. I'll get pics of those later.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Back to the sewing machine with me. Oh, and of course some baking needs to be done. There's a bake sale at the Fall Festival at the kid's school tomorrow. I'll have to bake up some gluten free magic. I have a request for the pumpkin surprise muffins.</span><br />
Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-75023416951174502782013-10-21T07:45:00.000-07:002013-10-21T07:45:17.664-07:00Gluten Free taco Muffins<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Getting 5 kids ready for school, sometimes means, we grab our breakfast and head out the door to the car. </span>Sometimes you want a meal to go. And sometimes you want something that's savory. I think these muffins fit the bill. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCS0Ln9znLMsR0U-NFV5vdkTgrVZADBdJlwstdHGcKFQjkN6ynL4gTj41yNAlpOFkw4WHiTIzgRDldSaactAiwEHIZhLaffCNj5aifMoT9UjWaiSByrvT64GwygV3_5fv7_sJ-OGOj1Y/s1600/gf+taco+muffins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCS0Ln9znLMsR0U-NFV5vdkTgrVZADBdJlwstdHGcKFQjkN6ynL4gTj41yNAlpOFkw4WHiTIzgRDldSaactAiwEHIZhLaffCNj5aifMoT9UjWaiSByrvT64GwygV3_5fv7_sJ-OGOj1Y/s640/gf+taco+muffins.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red;">Gluten Free <span style="color: #38761d;">Taco Muffins</span></span></span></u><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 cup brown rice flour</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 cup tapioca starch</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 cup organic corn meal</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 tablespoon baking powder </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 tablespoon dried oregano</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2 teaspoons sea salt</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 teaspoon ground cumin</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2 teaspoons granulated garlic </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2 eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 cup salsa</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 14 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 cup water</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese, for sprinkling on top</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, and prepare muffin tins with paper liners or non stick spray.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">In a large bowl, mix first 8 ingredients.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Add in the eggs, salsa, black beans, and water and mix.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Spoon batter into muffin cups filling to 3/4 full.\</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.</span></li>
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Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-79816194145404538942013-10-20T14:52:00.001-07:002013-10-20T14:52:12.857-07:00Let's Talk Dirt<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette Burton</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A few posts back, I showed my new compost system. It consists of fencing stakes and palettes. Nothing fancy, but it's getting the job done. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Today, I took some pictures to show how our compost system is put together. It's not a permanent structure. The palettes can be lifted off and carted away, and the stakes can be removed, by watering the dirt and then wiggling them back and forth, before being yanked out.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbG-Tll_EsHWamhp3NmA-K6T0feQlMoOUnmVrVqwr8c_5i2xe-ntdQgbkWhlaokY3E2N9pVF7N8yi_7qTzaNICSdlfujsr03u3SGMgqqAAFSbDo7FTW8eBfDiTbMQfSNQCcWV7i7q2S4/s1600/Compost+stakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbG-Tll_EsHWamhp3NmA-K6T0feQlMoOUnmVrVqwr8c_5i2xe-ntdQgbkWhlaokY3E2N9pVF7N8yi_7qTzaNICSdlfujsr03u3SGMgqqAAFSbDo7FTW8eBfDiTbMQfSNQCcWV7i7q2S4/s640/Compost+stakes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pay no attention to the man behind the screen</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We tried for 10 years to compost using old trash barrels with holes drilled in them and the bottoms cut off. They stank, and grew flies. We got turned into the vector inspector and had to throw out all of the "compost" and get rid of the trash can method. This new method doesn't stink. It smells sweet. And it doesn't draw flies!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBHaVx0hjLnO-wcoMM_AYKaTh93jkyS8VpDAq0v85ENA8L_VfZ83AfD24u8DfQoVL0klCUvanbABpSnhMNDYfdifQekxyMBG1lpSVmVirp4UVdXD2-keGXLC5H52MflUnPdTI30sOG-w/s1600/Palette+on+stakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBHaVx0hjLnO-wcoMM_AYKaTh93jkyS8VpDAq0v85ENA8L_VfZ83AfD24u8DfQoVL0klCUvanbABpSnhMNDYfdifQekxyMBG1lpSVmVirp4UVdXD2-keGXLC5H52MflUnPdTI30sOG-w/s640/Palette+on+stakes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">palette slid over the top of fencing stakes</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In order to have healthy compost, you need water, air and the stuff you're composting.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We buried a bucket of kitchen scraps a week ago, and then left it. When we returned, I turned over the compost pile. Do you know what I found? Dirt, and egg shells and onion skins. No rotting vegetables! In three months, my compost will be ready to use in the garden. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You can also fast track it. By adding a combination of Coke, beer, and ammonia, the compost will break down faster. The beneficial microbes that protect your plants from pests and illness will be killed off with this process. So add them back in by watering the compost with yogurt, buttermilk, sour dough starter or kombucha. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tDDPXxU0x0_35eQ8Ll4ej_BvKtfQuHBDLZ6Tu7PZ9J8N4oEFLzri3l9FCloPvVVHQ6bhys9X8yxrZmVJ_LxIKbAtcN-ScqUpgZwTIKpH4VaHZ-2oorLSqBLs0nWfqI-DsbP2t0Fk7U4/s1600/compost+turned+over.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tDDPXxU0x0_35eQ8Ll4ej_BvKtfQuHBDLZ6Tu7PZ9J8N4oEFLzri3l9FCloPvVVHQ6bhys9X8yxrZmVJ_LxIKbAtcN-ScqUpgZwTIKpH4VaHZ-2oorLSqBLs0nWfqI-DsbP2t0Fk7U4/s640/compost+turned+over.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The microbiology was explained to me this way:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You have good microbes and bad microbes. They can't live together.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Good microbes love oxygen. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Bad microbes don't. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You need good microbes to turn the garbage into dirt. The reason why our old composting system didn't work, was because it didn't get enough oxygen! It was close to impossible to turn it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There's also a layering method that works best. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You need a layer of dirt, then garbage, or green waste, as it's called. This can include grass clippings, vegetation from the kitchen (never any animal products except egg shells or yogurt to increase good microbe growth.), and brown waste. This is the dried out stuff like leaves, straw, dried grass clippings, or even mulched wood. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So to recap:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Brown Waste <span style="color: black;">top</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="color: lime;">Green Waste <span style="color: black;">middle</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="color: #660000;">Dirt <span style="color: black;">bottom</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="color: black;">Repeat. When you have a good pile of the stuff, let it sit for a week, <span style="color: #073763;">watering</span> </span> <span style="color: black;">every day, and then turn it once a week or two. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="color: black;">In the layering step, you are introducing the microbes to the party. They get to know each other and kinda figure out where they are, and then the start EATING! And the waste they leave behind is dirt. Wonderful, nutrient rich, dirt. </span></span> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="color: black;">If you were to reach you hand into the pile, you would feel heat. They're moving around. If the pile gets cold, give them more oxygen, by turning the pile. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="color: black;">Now you know how compost happens. </span> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="color: black;">Instead of having a 3 pile system like mine, you may prefer to garden in your compost. Some people make a compost pile where they intend to garden, moving all around the yard, making new piles as needed. Three months from the time you stop adding to your pile, and let it rest, still watering and turning, you'll have a bed ready to plant in.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="color: black;">There are also systems that involve a rotating barrel. Check out my <span style="color: #660000;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pauletteburton/yard-stuff/">Yard Stuff</a> Board on Pinterest for lots of great ideas.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="color: black;">Until next time, may your knees be dirty, you have grime under your fingernails, your plants grow healthy, and your compost not stink!</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="color: black;"> </span> </span> </span></span>Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-21481137781143219612013-10-20T11:03:00.000-07:002013-10-20T11:03:40.257-07:00Gluten Free Vegan Pumpkin Spice Muffins<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love Fall. The weather gets cooler, the kids go back to school and i start preparing for the Holidays.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">On our trip to Utah, the kids got to pick pumpkins from their Aunt Amy's pumpkin patch. One of those pumpkins was cut open that night and half of it was made into a delicious pumpkin soup. The other half came home in our ice chest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This week, I put it into the microwave and cooked it until it was nice and soft. Usually I roast pumpkin in the oven, and it gets the additional caramelization which add so much more flavor to a dish. I didn't do it this time because we had early dinner appointment and I just had to get it done!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today I pulled out the remaining pumpkin puree and made some pumpkin spice muffins.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Gluten Free Vegan Pumpkin Spice Muffins</u></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">2 cups brown rice flour</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 cup tapioca starch</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 cup packed brown sugar</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">4 Tablespoons ground flax seed </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 teaspoon sea salt</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">2 teaspoons baking soda</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 teaspoon cinnamon</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">2 teaspoons ground ginger</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">1/2 teaspoon ground cloves</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 cup pumpkin puree </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">1/4 cup coconut oil</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">1/2 cup maple syrup </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 1/4 cup almond milk</span></span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare muffin tins with paper liners or nonstick spray.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">In a large bowl, combine the first 10 ingredients and mix.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">In a small bowl combine the pumpkin puree, coconut oil, maple syrup and almond milk. Whisk.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Add to the larger bowl of dry ingredients and mix until well incorporated.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fill muffin tins to 3/4 full.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.</span></span></li>
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Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-80994715286810712232013-10-13T21:47:00.001-07:002013-10-13T21:47:31.302-07:00Fall in Utah<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We're pretty lucky in Arizona. Our kids get a one week break from school in the fall. Maybe this is because we've been so miserable all summer long in the 100+ degree temps and we are given the opportunity to go somewhere else and experience fall.</span> <span style="font-size: large;">It does get cooler here. It's now in the 80s during the day. Not cold enough for the leaves to turn, but a welcome change, for sure!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This year we decided to go to Utah and visit some of Dave's family. luckily, I also have a few friends who live there too. It was such a whirlwind visit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are some highlights of our vacation.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgi-nXCVfh2rbzEJ9oy6VPqIsEQExc8CnKIgeH6hORSv8HGtXzcZMfZLjG2AMe9mj_epcnmmR9WraLkY0dA7OhqZvR5G_HaX-cnm1S_WRqAy7uFOs7NbYot7leeTLAunsAKaDsqTLOb0/s1600/Family+on+the+mountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgi-nXCVfh2rbzEJ9oy6VPqIsEQExc8CnKIgeH6hORSv8HGtXzcZMfZLjG2AMe9mj_epcnmmR9WraLkY0dA7OhqZvR5G_HaX-cnm1S_WRqAy7uFOs7NbYot7leeTLAunsAKaDsqTLOb0/s640/Family+on+the+mountain.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The route to Page UT was closed and so we had a beautiful scenic detour through the Grand Canyon. This picture was taken South of Lee's Ferry. There's a foot bridge across the Grand Canyon that's about 1/4 of a mile long. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Looking down over the side of the bridge, David spotted this Condor.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-_GvkLgHrayrnDF6d07uWIjV5ELpHeSelO0GHJ9UtS5hwRro6d8fjovaXLwhkN7zeZpUNdIwhKu3ZDmgaVBzKXAYNeGOuhB8QircZTwIIUbhPLLjNMiO-VA3c12jKPmyS-1zU3LQSZU/s1600/Condor+at+Lee%2527s+Ferry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-_GvkLgHrayrnDF6d07uWIjV5ELpHeSelO0GHJ9UtS5hwRro6d8fjovaXLwhkN7zeZpUNdIwhKu3ZDmgaVBzKXAYNeGOuhB8QircZTwIIUbhPLLjNMiO-VA3c12jKPmyS-1zU3LQSZU/s640/Condor+at+Lee%2527s+Ferry.jpg" width="454" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />That's the best picture I could get with my phone. It was so far away that it looked more like a buzzard.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTEj4KUAR0WYXHJAPWcrNPN_x-bOs7PrIwYlm3hcmW2EJ27kH5ZmcjsQ4pElAG0lC-435F6C64jBJ8pWhUImJKymY1sQQbkDnlixgAPBFBybLKa5b92KZpj5amyUIdeLBLvGZkKg2fnw/s1600/Face+painting+flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTEj4KUAR0WYXHJAPWcrNPN_x-bOs7PrIwYlm3hcmW2EJ27kH5ZmcjsQ4pElAG0lC-435F6C64jBJ8pWhUImJKymY1sQQbkDnlixgAPBFBybLKa5b92KZpj5amyUIdeLBLvGZkKg2fnw/s640/Face+painting+flower.jpg" width="478" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our first three days were spent at a Hotel in Orem. The kids enjoyed the pool and the computer room. I tool a little time off to paint the girl's faces with my eye shadows. Sometimes it's good to have lots of colors!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Aunt Amy, David's sister, just younger than him, had a beautiful pumpkin patch, which she invited us over to enjoy harvesting her bounty. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This wasn't even the largest of the pumpkins. There was one that took men to move to the porch.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdzwQfS7X0dA_IBmBQiIoD0v4AoER1zbkJAkN5fZb7QMhyphenhyphenDyqmsy0t5JFf5BX4pnZRE7J3KKhFe1VFgxm-3tuWgVEGhHvquOedvifwtzykRmVMsGyFRRvBH3Fwlpfy79l-_yGgSjLIJw/s1600/chris+pumpkin+patch+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdzwQfS7X0dA_IBmBQiIoD0v4AoER1zbkJAkN5fZb7QMhyphenhyphenDyqmsy0t5JFf5BX4pnZRE7J3KKhFe1VFgxm-3tuWgVEGhHvquOedvifwtzykRmVMsGyFRRvBH3Fwlpfy79l-_yGgSjLIJw/s640/chris+pumpkin+patch+2013.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Christopher turned out to be the best pumpkin picker.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That night I made pumpkin soup for dinner, and then I roasted the seeds and made a caramel sauce for ice cream topping. I've never cut open a pumpkin this fresh. The seeds popped and attacked me!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpi_6co-S2PkqQAqEimbUz4_WkViLJ9XT3XL7ManCO056sbaaiXZsBI3BEhkB2gMlGZFjYIqNTyglBCRprG3A9fsxXZ3wn_1so8yAGcuRz5K66VooGtm6r7XTOAUUSBYgfm_s4SLznbY/s1600/Misty+Mountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpi_6co-S2PkqQAqEimbUz4_WkViLJ9XT3XL7ManCO056sbaaiXZsBI3BEhkB2gMlGZFjYIqNTyglBCRprG3A9fsxXZ3wn_1so8yAGcuRz5K66VooGtm6r7XTOAUUSBYgfm_s4SLznbY/s640/Misty+Mountain.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is the view from my mother in law's kitchen window. each day I watched the mist on the mountain burn off as the sun rose into the sky. On this morning we had some look outs.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLB0BbHCBx6QUEfuLlGxvsgIGPf3vMS0GPwjeb9AhZYRlVgb8llvkA2H5n5snAzwX2SHYpYv-FlZUPLaKflz2DCkHFNFJKASAtbcshmIinTQcyiL1-nT92tnQazUC1vLcPQOFkn__8aiQ/s1600/2+lookouts+quail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLB0BbHCBx6QUEfuLlGxvsgIGPf3vMS0GPwjeb9AhZYRlVgb8llvkA2H5n5snAzwX2SHYpYv-FlZUPLaKflz2DCkHFNFJKASAtbcshmIinTQcyiL1-nT92tnQazUC1vLcPQOFkn__8aiQ/s640/2+lookouts+quail.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pretty fat quail keeping watch.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKF7ghasLbHPFdQuKhCgH4Pz_aWeZzR4ok6K3B9kDOgUoLE8OtYr0JGawreb8cEkzuOPsXRv2gMu15mw_pwofMp9gkEsIiNcm2ec4pxhThFY8eIQSKyarfF4xSgz-0N5VtdML8n9VeRuE/s1600/Quail+feeding+frenzy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKF7ghasLbHPFdQuKhCgH4Pz_aWeZzR4ok6K3B9kDOgUoLE8OtYr0JGawreb8cEkzuOPsXRv2gMu15mw_pwofMp9gkEsIiNcm2ec4pxhThFY8eIQSKyarfF4xSgz-0N5VtdML8n9VeRuE/s640/Quail+feeding+frenzy.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">While the rest of the family stuffs themselves with fallen sunflower seeds from the bird feeders above.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4RMZfCyJ510ZzuPcXfI9I5tMcmuHWSzIaghozjHbv916R2YRWrzMrhpnldut2MYdqWDa_oJhNGiBHfKBtNcyvHLSNCrAty1H6svfFlhbh_6PxwWx95yLA7OZzD-F-S5hrXx2EkiJVws/s1600/Sophia+at+Kanab+UT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4RMZfCyJ510ZzuPcXfI9I5tMcmuHWSzIaghozjHbv916R2YRWrzMrhpnldut2MYdqWDa_oJhNGiBHfKBtNcyvHLSNCrAty1H6svfFlhbh_6PxwWx95yLA7OZzD-F-S5hrXx2EkiJVws/s640/Sophia+at+Kanab+UT.jpg" width="442" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kanab is the last city in Utah before we cross over into Arizona. We have a tradition of stopping at the 3 Bears Creamery for ice cream before continuing on. The kids all had Superman ice cream in a sugar cone. They had a gluten free bread pudding, which I ordered with vanilla ice cream. I don't even know what Dave got. Mine was soooo good. Sophia was enchanted with all of the wood carved bears. Especially this one, who is catching a fish!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlfRfJQ_Net6WK3zwD2sxT-JcpLMwysiwudm2Ygzr0-4kAW4v6gb074gS35WC1aCiDuwcDUjBZl3Fx-r-gclsvvuwEirsQcFjw6ubWvE5QcLtzsEU0-Jx9lszGktvpNkzCMDurKfwfJM/s1600/AZ+Snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlfRfJQ_Net6WK3zwD2sxT-JcpLMwysiwudm2Ygzr0-4kAW4v6gb074gS35WC1aCiDuwcDUjBZl3Fx-r-gclsvvuwEirsQcFjw6ubWvE5QcLtzsEU0-Jx9lszGktvpNkzCMDurKfwfJM/s640/AZ+Snow.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">As soon as we crossed over the Grand Canyon the kids started noticing snow and begged for us to pull</span> <span style="font-size: large;">over so that they could play in it. As soon as we were able, we did so. It's not often that Valley of the Sun residents get to play in snow. They each brought home a snowball which we kept on ice in the cooler.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our rear ends were sore, and our tempers short by the time we pulled into Mesa. We sure are glad to be home! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-55166803973090592242013-09-24T18:08:00.002-07:002013-09-24T18:08:52.475-07:00Joseph Had A Little Overcoat...Again<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Joseph is all finished up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlg79vJHOatJtjoRWFkXzuAPtTJKA2hUBRnPfgfM25AbVUY93w8MsKHcoDvjv3n0Bly-83wdW58EuEcCawD_e0QMAxpRTZo0XIMLnmc-Ih5oHxdhM9SCYBEg-CHB5cAeM11N63Nk9nyM/s1600/Joseph+had+a+little+overcoat+and+clothes+watermark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlg79vJHOatJtjoRWFkXzuAPtTJKA2hUBRnPfgfM25AbVUY93w8MsKHcoDvjv3n0Bly-83wdW58EuEcCawD_e0QMAxpRTZo0XIMLnmc-Ih5oHxdhM9SCYBEg-CHB5cAeM11N63Nk9nyM/s640/Joseph+had+a+little+overcoat+and+clothes+watermark.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Joseph had a little overcoat, then he made a jacket out of it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Joseph had a little jacket, the he made a vest out of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Joseph has a little vest, then he made a scarf out of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Joseph had a little scarf, then he made a tie out of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Joseph had a little tie, then he made a handkerchief out of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Joseph had a little handkerchief, then he made a button out of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Joseph had a little button. He lost the button, and so he made a song from it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is a very shortened version of a traditional Yiddish tale about thrift. A virtue which I think is lacking in our society today, but one that is quickly returning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This doll is a special order. Which is something I do. I enjoy the challenge of making a 3-D version of an illustration or character from a book or story. It just so happens that this is one of my favorite stories.</span><br />
<br />Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-4528182087236755242013-09-18T18:48:00.001-07:002013-09-18T18:48:50.149-07:00Work In Progress Joseph Had A Little Overcoat Doll<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes when I have a new client, they like to see the process of their doll being made. This doll when finished, will be Joseph from the book <u>Joseph Had A Little Overcoat</u></span>. <span style="font-size: large;">It's a story about thrift. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, I begin with a pattern. This one is of my own making. I trace the pattern onto the fabric, and start sewing and cutting and stuffing, and soon we have a new canvas with which to create a new character.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Joseph's face has been needle sculpted which gives him more character than a flat painted on face. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He's able to stand on his own, although he'll be more stable with a stand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This character has a bit of a tummy. His fingers and thumb are wired for poseablility.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">He is 15 1/2 inches standing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Next comes paint, hair and some clothes. The easiest part of making the doll is finished. I make all new patterns for the dolls and clothes that I make for each doll. </span>Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-70298425991997074622013-09-16T11:11:00.000-07:002013-09-16T11:11:00.889-07:00Vegan Gluten Free Banana Muffins<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some days I run out of eggs. And then I make a vegan muffin. This one is also gluten free, so there's the best of both worlds. I've been trying to feed my family healthier meals. I've replaced vegetable oils with olive oil and coconut oil. This recipe uses coconut oil. I always use whatever I have on hand, and so it's nice to know about substitutions.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> We don't drink cow's milk anymore. I've read that it's likely to have puss in it, which makes sense. When you produce food on an industrial scale, you should expect lack of quality. I am able to source some raw goat's milk from a friend occasionally, but her goats are a bit dry right now. So we make due with almond milk. Coconut milk is good too, but has a distinctive taste that isn't good for everything. So, back to why this muffin is vegan. It's one of those substitutions I was talking about. In baking you can substitute 2 tablespoons flax seed meal + 2 tablespoons water for 1 large egg.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My baked goods still have a good texture, but they turn out a bit blonder on top. So, time to share the goodness. By the way, that's real butter on top. I am not a purist.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u><span style="color: yellow;">Vegan Gluten Free Banana Muffins</span></u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2 1/2 cups brown rice flour</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 1/2 cups tapioca flour</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">4 tablespoons flax seed meal </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2 teaspoons baking powder </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 teaspoon sea salt</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 teaspoon ground cinnamon</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 cup packed brown sugar </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">1/4 coconut oil</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 teaspoon vanilla extract</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">3 bananas, mashed</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 2 cups almond milk</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare muffin pans with cupcake papers or nonstick spray.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In a large bowl, whisk together first 7 ingredients. In a smaller bowl mix remaining ingredients and then pour into large bowl, and mix until well incorporated. Spoon approx. 1/4 cup of batter into each muffin cup. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's lovely if there's places where the brown sugar didn't fully incorporate into the muffin, because it creates pockets of caramel. So don't worry if your brown sugar is a bit clumpy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-30086459406800995162013-09-15T15:57:00.001-07:002013-09-15T16:02:07.778-07:00Feeling Blessed On This Day of Rest<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This morning was beautiful. I awakened to hear Jonny in the kitchen doing dishes without being asked. He also said he was going to make breakfast, but when I informed him I wouldn't be able to eat what he was planning, he agreed to let me make something else.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I made muffins and was enjoying the fact that while Dave and </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I were working outside yesterday, the kids were working inside to get everything cleaned up and ready for Sunday. I appreciate that more than they know.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then while I was posting the recipe for the muffins I made, I heard Katie playing nurse to her little sister Sophia. "Sophi, you're hot. I'll go get you some water." I turned around and Sophia had that "look" about her that a mother knows. That one where they're eyes don't look right. And sure enough, she had a fever. I agreed to stay home from church and watch her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We both have had some good naps. It's 3:30 pm and I'm still in my jammies. I decided to go do some watering in the back yard. My little private Garden of Eden. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The family will be home soon. Let me share with you my little time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This is our little wheelbarrow garden. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I've planted some basil (you can never have enough basil), Spanish Lavender, lemon verbena, and some mint. I let them sit in their pots too long and didn't water them one day. This is what the Arizona summer does to plants. It zaps them! The basil and lavender seem to be reviving, but the mint got it bad.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's coming back though. See that little baby, there? That's what good soil and water will do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The sun is so bright, it's hard to make this one out. Those are my 5 ducks. When I came outside they were chilling out on the porch. I hate it when they lay on the porch. They Poo poo everywhere. Yucky! So I chased them off the porch, sprayed it off and set the hose to run under the fig tree. They discovered the puddle I'd made for them and decided to relocate. That big gray one on the right is actually wagging his tail feathers he's so happy. They have a cool place to sit and EAT! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is our new raised bed. It's composting and waiting to be filled with beautiful plants in October. It's "hot" right now, since it has a lot of steer manure in it. Isn't that box beautiful? It's like a piece of furniture, and I made it!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe, just maybe, if I can make a raised bed for my plants, I can make a bed for Hyrum, since the one we bought from Ikea for him fell apart. Junk!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is what good soil looks like. It's not Arizona dirt, and make no mistake, there is life in there. All of the microbes and insects in there doing their job. We used a mixture of beer and coke to fast track the composting process. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And we still need to add back in the beneficial microbes. The recent rain has helped with that, but I will be putting some yogurt or kombucha in there too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, looks like I'm out of time. The family is home. And I am needed.</span><br />
Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-29187997159630072242013-09-15T09:28:00.001-07:002013-09-15T09:28:14.152-07:00Gluten free Pizza Muffins<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I started living a gluten free lifestyle, one of the things I missed most was pizza. I learned how to make a pizza crust and a fantastic pizza from it. But what would be better than a pizza? Pizza muffins! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Recently while out shopping with a friend at Costco we picked up some sun dried tomatoes. She mentioned that they'd be good in muffins and my brain exploded with an idea, pizza muffins!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I've given my muffins to people, and they can't believe they're gluten free. So now it's time to share the goodness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red;"><u>Gluten Free Pizza Muffins</u></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">makes 20 muffins</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2 1/2 cups brown rice flour</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 1/2 cups tapioca flour</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 cup grated Parmesan cheese </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 teaspoon sea salt</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2 teaspoons baking powder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2 tablespoons dried basil</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 tablespoon granulated garlic</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 teaspoon yeast</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2 cups grated mozzarella cheese + 1 cup for tops</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2 large eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/4 cup olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 cup sun dried tomatoes</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 3/4 cups water</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Prepare muffin tins with papers or nonstick spray</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Whisk together first 9 ingredients in a large bowl </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">In a small bowl whisk together water, oil and eggs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Add to the large bowl and mix well.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Drop 1/4 cup scoops of batter into each cup of the muffin tins.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Sprinkle the tops with the remaining mozzarella cheese</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;">There is no need for sauce for these muffins, but if you'd like to add chopped olives, sausage or pepperoni that would be delicious!</span><br />
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Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-74715904317933906642013-09-14T12:59:00.002-07:002013-09-14T12:59:38.864-07:00Making Black Gold<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When David and I moved into our first house we had a huge back yard with lots of room for gardening. I had my vegetable garden and my flower garden with room to spare. The best part of that yard was a large space, probably 15'x 10' for making compost. He crowed about his plans to make black gold. I thought black gold was oil. How were we going to make oil? He soon taught me about compost, the food for plants. We moved away from that house more than 10 years ago and when we tried to garden in Arizona, we were a dismal failure. Right away we started with some recycled trash bins with holes drilled into them and the bottom cut off. We thought we were on our way to gardening Nirvana. Our hopes and dreams were dashed when we planted our first garden in March and watched our precious tomato plants shrivel and die in the heat. We didn't get even one tomato! The soil here is <i>clay</i>. Not the best for gardening in. So we had two strikes against us; the heat and the soil.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Time for us to go to school. Our visions for our dream gardens are starting to take shape. After attending a class taught by Donna, we learned that the compost bins that we were trying to use for a decade were ineffective, and why. Our compost was taking FOREVER to decay and break down.</span> <span style="font-size: large;">I found plans for a composing system that was in line with Donna's teachings. Today we put it together.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjI8R-xOSXBPDlhRK6blh1SzNxDJ1LsGskbWGIVi7xiASHoKdaIezPpQNvB84oSKqe3tRwW-Yf-a0roCYKvfa9e_S66TtUi-DOZJJjGJHDMwETnajLm3EP8DewoQmJVbaO42ldAShWks/s1600/IMG_0304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjI8R-xOSXBPDlhRK6blh1SzNxDJ1LsGskbWGIVi7xiASHoKdaIezPpQNvB84oSKqe3tRwW-Yf-a0roCYKvfa9e_S66TtUi-DOZJJjGJHDMwETnajLm3EP8DewoQmJVbaO42ldAShWks/s640/IMG_0304.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Our new system is made of 4 pallets which were $3 each at our feed store. I need to find a source where I can get them for free. The stakes were about $4 each, and we used 8 of them. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our new system cost $44. We were lucky to get free mulch from Donna. She asked a landscaper to dump some in her driveway. It only took 3 weeks for her gardening friends to haul away what she didn't use. It's the lovely stuff in the center. This will be where we pull our brown waste from. The green waste will come from our kitchen and yard. The left and right sides of the system are for the composting. One active and the other inactive, and will be rotated every three months. If you are local and want to learn more about the science of composting, comment with your e-mail, and I'll send you Donna's info. Classes are $15 per person and $25 per couple.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">She's a very insightful person. Here's her blog: <a href="http://sharinglifesabundance.wordpress.com/">Sharing Life's Abundance</a></span>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And here's the original system that inspired my easy peasy one.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykSYD01viI1riDF8e0CoLXekULmRXz5c_UZvGOvPnQhAajIWBHSLjrKMYGPyLGwHOzFtWuxD8-lyvvzkSDZwXAwUwLooppucidDUXlwy8coLovduf-ogtflxx5DdKNQpXWRaJrQPDsig/s1600/mld105453_1010_compost31_vert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykSYD01viI1riDF8e0CoLXekULmRXz5c_UZvGOvPnQhAajIWBHSLjrKMYGPyLGwHOzFtWuxD8-lyvvzkSDZwXAwUwLooppucidDUXlwy8coLovduf-ogtflxx5DdKNQpXWRaJrQPDsig/s640/mld105453_1010_compost31_vert.jpg" width="512" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/331845/composting-101">source</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> If you'd like to follow my Pinterest board for gardening it's here:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pauletteburton/yard-stuff/">YARD STUFF</a> </span>Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-60967849510524913382013-09-14T09:51:00.001-07:002013-09-14T19:17:10.467-07:00 Gluten Free Almond Joy Muffins<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The little vacation that I had from being gluten free is over. For a short time I was able to have a sandwich made with regular bread. It was a freeing experience to be able to go out to eat and not worry about whether or not I was going to break out in hives, but that's over.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I've been working on some new recipes for muffins. They're the perfect grab and go meal or snack. This week I brought some to a friend who was surprised to find out that they were gluten free. She asked for a recipe. I'm the queen of dump and bake. So I've been working on measuring out things so that I can share the goodness. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I am hoping that going GMO free and gluten free again will heal my body. Time to tell Arthur Itis and Hives goodbye. I was burned twice this week by products that were gluten free. Both were crackers. One had corn, and the other soy. READ those labels! You can assume nothing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've created a new muffin, one I've never heard of. I'm calling it an Almond Joy muffin, because that where my inspiration came from.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> They're in the oven right now, and I've had three of my five children come and ask me what that wonderful smell is. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqmD02NktUi1vBQpUzyGWAqY2lBeG4L9fb4FfbpqzmbkmDio6f5BXMHXngLHFneAoSetdJKNgKzt3UOI23qlkmpjNd8lw9b6vL01uTGwUVPCV2cW17WRXlQdEQes75OdjKIiEImS6Dak/s1600/Almond+Joy+Muffins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqmD02NktUi1vBQpUzyGWAqY2lBeG4L9fb4FfbpqzmbkmDio6f5BXMHXngLHFneAoSetdJKNgKzt3UOI23qlkmpjNd8lw9b6vL01uTGwUVPCV2cW17WRXlQdEQes75OdjKIiEImS6Dak/s640/Almond+Joy+Muffins.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Gluten Free Dairy Free Almond Joy Muffins</u></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">makes 18 muffins</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">2 cups brown rice flour</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 cup tapioca starch</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">1/2 cup cocoa powder</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 cup shredded coconut</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">1/2 cup chopped almonds</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 tsp sea salt</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 1/2 tsp baking powder</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 1/2 cups sugar</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">1/4 cup coconut oil</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">3 large eggs</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 tsp vanilla extract </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 1/2 cups almond milk</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">3/4 cups chocolate chips</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare muffin tins by either lining with cupcake papers or spray with nonstick spray. </span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mix the first 8 ingredients in a large bowl, in a small bowl, whisk together the coconut oil, eggs, vanilla and almond milk. </span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Add to the dry ingredients and stir until well blended, stir in the chocolate chips. </span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Scoop 1/4 cup of batter into each cup of the tin.</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh My Gosh these are so good! Get them away from me before I eat them ALL!</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u></u></span></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u></u></span></span><br /></span>Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-63871730249126910012013-09-12T20:36:00.001-07:002013-09-12T20:36:15.468-07:00An Angel and an Elf<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Two more dolls:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBtF4qzjkE8wuOkhfGQFvOGR0rV4LA_SJ06R3sS3hFMu6_9i4lg8HkMm7jCJKDd0V1QPBbH5jkllKPswG6GuJvWRQ3U9LdfnCjqkvIObGuevsZT5a2oxyoYmRHsqE0l3IQVdom6YsN0Q/s1600/IMG_0294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBtF4qzjkE8wuOkhfGQFvOGR0rV4LA_SJ06R3sS3hFMu6_9i4lg8HkMm7jCJKDd0V1QPBbH5jkllKPswG6GuJvWRQ3U9LdfnCjqkvIObGuevsZT5a2oxyoYmRHsqE0l3IQVdom6YsN0Q/s640/IMG_0294.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnW9vQkIbRPYOtZenEEPeVtbFULJQasCLmHaL_f1nNb-NMtKU9RMKiaYTLis8eGSndgH3uEwfUIaFUsuNN_udXYSgHb6nNszy4Rg5moj6U-SY0nYGEtupFLJoNgn6IsoaE5Y203TxTY0/s1600/Weeping+Angel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnW9vQkIbRPYOtZenEEPeVtbFULJQasCLmHaL_f1nNb-NMtKU9RMKiaYTLis8eGSndgH3uEwfUIaFUsuNN_udXYSgHb6nNszy4Rg5moj6U-SY0nYGEtupFLJoNgn6IsoaE5Y203TxTY0/s640/Weeping+Angel.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I've had some requests for for a Weeping Angel doll from the Dr Who series. I found the perfect fabric, and drafted a new pattern. This is a stump doll, which means that she has no legs. Her body is a cone on the bottom and to that I sewed her torso. Then the dress had to be slipped over her neck, and then her head and arms attached. Her dress is tacked in some places. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Working with one fabric for the whole thing was a bit boring, until I started adding the hair, which is made from tubes of fabric with pipe cleaners inserted. The wings have been quilted.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfGrJ5k3ZrmwPZGZyZHVhyphenhyphen4yRB2supPTpdT0gylQ0rcxvoSGKrhDrq16VgQF4aAFg7jcy_0EC9Sct4eTyIHgVo0o-WwPJJqV00Vp9TqOx9hGPOStnohuzXaFp797NnYDn5lrc71RfkdY/s1600/IMG_0295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfGrJ5k3ZrmwPZGZyZHVhyphenhyphen4yRB2supPTpdT0gylQ0rcxvoSGKrhDrq16VgQF4aAFg7jcy_0EC9Sct4eTyIHgVo0o-WwPJJqV00Vp9TqOx9hGPOStnohuzXaFp797NnYDn5lrc71RfkdY/s640/IMG_0295.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> This is Peppermint. He's a Christmas elf. I've been wanting to make a black doll for a while. Shading the face is so different than on a lighter skinned doll. I used a white pencil first and then shaded over the top of it. I've discovered that if I spray the fabric with hairspray, it gives it a tooth that the pencil will stick to.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXen223NJvXco6oavJJYV8OVeOTPwd4YPwf0UbtRInm04JSaN6tWtRhxMuM3KpPGdbo62pPNoOlaSd-6W-lFRiOkK2u76tR5-QyFg7UIwRJJhDhec-azHKx2ShlgYwbRMNpZ8wodazOzA/s1600/IMG_0299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXen223NJvXco6oavJJYV8OVeOTPwd4YPwf0UbtRInm04JSaN6tWtRhxMuM3KpPGdbo62pPNoOlaSd-6W-lFRiOkK2u76tR5-QyFg7UIwRJJhDhec-azHKx2ShlgYwbRMNpZ8wodazOzA/s640/IMG_0299.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">His hair is made from a crocheted cap with acrylic yarn, and the combed out. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh297hMtC1MegHYNkQkri5PehniAfz4u6BVvgLBA-x5hm2WOPNv75HiXZnTbldWHCzCQd4gaEGpXxL-FR5a5ZzBzhwd-HEz7zxUGRFitst_wYXPazXD5NXCLX_fCONsxCt-Cn_sFQ9XBIs/s1600/Paisley+or+Peppermint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh297hMtC1MegHYNkQkri5PehniAfz4u6BVvgLBA-x5hm2WOPNv75HiXZnTbldWHCzCQd4gaEGpXxL-FR5a5ZzBzhwd-HEz7zxUGRFitst_wYXPazXD5NXCLX_fCONsxCt-Cn_sFQ9XBIs/s640/Paisley+or+Peppermint.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> I had two names for him Peppermint and Paisley. Peppermint won in the poll that I placed on Facebook. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I think I've had my doll fix for now. Unless I get a special order, I'll be putting away the sewing machine for a little while. And get back to yard work. It's time to build a compost bin! </span>Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-17556583490835822112013-09-08T09:48:00.001-07:002013-09-11T17:14:31.580-07:00God's Gifts<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I woke up to a beautiful soft rain today. Living in the Arizona desert makes one very thankful for every drop of rain we get. When I was living in new Mexico, I would call my grandmother when it started raining and tell her to get her dancing shoes on. This is how it is in the Southwest. We love rain. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Lately I've been spending a lot of time in the back yard working. It all started with the ducks. I built them a pen on the side of the house using a palate, some wood and chicken wire for a door and some fencing stakes. It only took a couple of hours. When the ducks were delivered they made a b-line for a corner of the yard with the most overgrowth of sage, a tree I can't identify with wicked thorns, and a naval orange tree. I noticed some trash tucked in the underbrush and was soon hacking away to trim everything up so that an adult can walk under it. This led to me hacking away at 10 years of overgrowth in the yard, which made a few huge piles of branches. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I've rediscovered how gardening is a therapy. It's good for the body, forcing me to lift and pull, and push and use all of the muscles of my body. It's sweating like I've never sweat before and cleaning out all of those impurities of my body. It's quiet time spent with nature, and communing with Heavenly Father who made all of this glory for his children. It's satisfaction of making changes that will stay that way longer than making a meal or cleaning the house. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> So the cleaning up has turned into more projects of digging a pond for the ducks, and making raised bed gardens for vegetables that we will be planting in the fall. Planning has turned into implementing,and learning.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> David and I attended a class Saturday and learned the science behind composting. We learned microbiology. We also gained some new friends. God is so good to enrich our lives.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-37780494055389368102013-09-05T15:56:00.001-07:002013-09-05T15:56:51.243-07:00Doll Making Season<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My last little one is now in kindergarten. This means that I am free to do more projects during the day. It means it's doll making season. The season has started with two Christmas elves. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapEdpdMHQBf621hCZrCby5qXd-EI9Bl4MVsmV8cY8bT_FulT81-Jf21YMl3ut6n_9_1gHcSk2MWZtAqfA_yvUZAGnH-cwJZJ0C0wjBrRzp1HfoxqX6DBmNhatCzUJXPtNsU1m0NLakvw/s1600/IMG_0277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapEdpdMHQBf621hCZrCby5qXd-EI9Bl4MVsmV8cY8bT_FulT81-Jf21YMl3ut6n_9_1gHcSk2MWZtAqfA_yvUZAGnH-cwJZJ0C0wjBrRzp1HfoxqX6DBmNhatCzUJXPtNsU1m0NLakvw/s640/IMG_0277.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schneien</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Schneien translates as "to snow" in German, he is a winter Elf. His heart is warm and so the cold doesn't bother him. he's available for sale in my Etsy shop.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHbTybh4-JRzndtVW4gRtfZUkN7nAzWZRxJVN_tSy9N5TmhdaO_0vpxHwLy0ZxZ1NZWzmfUalT_9aOcszg8sQ_sCA3HJ4cfj5CbjQt7hFRWUbI5pCQNcbwCcOi4jOSlTkuPEd22ZKttU/s1600/Schneien+profile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHbTybh4-JRzndtVW4gRtfZUkN7nAzWZRxJVN_tSy9N5TmhdaO_0vpxHwLy0ZxZ1NZWzmfUalT_9aOcszg8sQ_sCA3HJ4cfj5CbjQt7hFRWUbI5pCQNcbwCcOi4jOSlTkuPEd22ZKttU/s640/Schneien+profile.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lebkuchen is also a German word. It's a ginger spice cookie that is traditionally made for Christmas.</span> <span style="font-size: large;">I thought it fitting to name her something sweet and spicy that matches with her ginger hair. She's smaller than Schneien, at only 9" tall seated, not including her hair. She would make a perfect elf on the shelf.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPg17m343BGE47HN4zDLC1z0usd9bRa55qr5rnt_3GLAQlQWlHY2y5L-UVpCS3prv7mj7ndmB3T9D6Z5-EOkXFIZ53uBFW5MyWQnwI_031a99A-ayVUTIo94HnRuTNW9KCK2pkTj-Fd2M/s1600/Lebkuchen+3+sisters+tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPg17m343BGE47HN4zDLC1z0usd9bRa55qr5rnt_3GLAQlQWlHY2y5L-UVpCS3prv7mj7ndmB3T9D6Z5-EOkXFIZ53uBFW5MyWQnwI_031a99A-ayVUTIo94HnRuTNW9KCK2pkTj-Fd2M/s640/Lebkuchen+3+sisters+tag.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUO7V-WlE4YFlXzbROYWnQNIZ24xpMw6822KguDDmMFyh13Y9JeCPF9kdP_ao52ge8sGbExl6TEeywvw23SFPxbq0ehASP-9alGH37RK9x1iAJW36_HpHJifK8Ykp6ykzBbJy3ayOY-hY/s1600/Lebkuchen+portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUO7V-WlE4YFlXzbROYWnQNIZ24xpMw6822KguDDmMFyh13Y9JeCPF9kdP_ao52ge8sGbExl6TEeywvw23SFPxbq0ehASP-9alGH37RK9x1iAJW36_HpHJifK8Ykp6ykzBbJy3ayOY-hY/s640/Lebkuchen+portrait.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are more dolls coming from craftewoman's workshop soon. I'm working on a Dr Who Weeping Angel.</span>Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-56691797098786803002013-07-21T21:33:00.000-07:002013-07-21T21:33:52.302-07:00Setbacks and Dreams<span style="font-size: large;">Posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This last week has been a hard one. We lost one of our ducks to a hunting accident. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapflEq-BV5-SZOVg-uiLuia-Nng4MEYUxCdImvT8lW410rzGheihsce5dtIoT6HDpuaU345tcmgLJXTBStRzIYXKOhyCtyKYhtBECE1k1DeORgZByhYZgS0xOCzGT1bD0bTtHut3r8-c/s1600/Jackie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapflEq-BV5-SZOVg-uiLuia-Nng4MEYUxCdImvT8lW410rzGheihsce5dtIoT6HDpuaU345tcmgLJXTBStRzIYXKOhyCtyKYhtBECE1k1DeORgZByhYZgS0xOCzGT1bD0bTtHut3r8-c/s640/Jackie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> This is Jackie. Isn't she adorable? This is the third time we've watched her and she's been a little angel in the past. But she has a history of killing cats, and so was relocated from the country to the city. She's great and patient with the kids. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Thursday she got into our duck pen and killed our little drake.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPdGMyzocG_ZdU5YhkpeMt8SkvEM826i1i3PXKMyOg3OLZhtE4YHyHCH-_qWkcFRfIY3uJwof2n4YoumHYTMQvGc6eMCZc5QTwTFRcC89wrmzERuVbUKDAH_Oa8Xn9DuW2PU-xqfDd7E/s1600/Rory+Drake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPdGMyzocG_ZdU5YhkpeMt8SkvEM826i1i3PXKMyOg3OLZhtE4YHyHCH-_qWkcFRfIY3uJwof2n4YoumHYTMQvGc6eMCZc5QTwTFRcC89wrmzERuVbUKDAH_Oa8Xn9DuW2PU-xqfDd7E/s640/Rory+Drake.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I got the call while at a church activity. Christopher was heart broken and while sobbing into the phone, told me that, "Jackie killed Rory." I had warned the kids to keep Jackie on a leash while in the back yard, but she slipped out the door, and made her way into the duck pen. After some strengthening of the entrance, I thought that the pen was safe. Saturday, she jumped the wall and attacked the two remaining birds. One of my hens has some superficial flesh wounds and will probably be okay, but I decided to board the ducks with my friend at her farm until Jackie gets picked up on Tuesday..</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Strawberries are a really good price this week, 3 lbs for a $1. So I decided to try my hand at making jam again, this time using pectin. I burnt the jam. So much for multitasking.</span> <span style="font-size: large;">I was making muffins at the same time. They were a disappointment too. I need to learn what my limitations are. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So now I am dreaming about gardening. We have lived in Mesa, Arizona for 10 years. When we first moved here, I had expected to be able to garden the same way I had in New Mexico. There's a big difference between high desert and here. The soils are completely different. There it's decomposed granite and here it's clay. Do you know what happens if you add sand to clay? It makes cement. So there's lots to learn on that front. I am expecting that we will have to either do raised bed gardening, or dig out the existing soil and amend it</span>. <span style="font-size: large;">The good news is that</span> <span style="font-size: large;">there's more than one growing season here, and once we get the hang of when to plant what, we should have a thriving garden. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm pinning and reading like crazy. If you'd like to follow my board it's <a href="http://pinterest.com/pauletteburton/yard-stuff/">here</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A sample of some of the things I've pinned:<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVuUmuOULOXIPNmmAtoaqYLYMeiawiTOR_VrzU529K37NqF6He122PBdwgvt-3za6up9EKp0GxGaGL0kYvloFoUuDv3y00g54fdLqJS2Sk0DYYUbBVI_HwaSWUbur4II1ekD5rWEub-M/s1600/20f97e632bf6846e1ddc027d84a7ef93.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVuUmuOULOXIPNmmAtoaqYLYMeiawiTOR_VrzU529K37NqF6He122PBdwgvt-3za6up9EKp0GxGaGL0kYvloFoUuDv3y00g54fdLqJS2Sk0DYYUbBVI_HwaSWUbur4II1ekD5rWEub-M/s640/20f97e632bf6846e1ddc027d84a7ef93.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Upright potato plot...no digging and save on space</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdf8AZJ4TxCdSRgOmmTx7ojuN4aeHSPlguAkjlwax6tUJcC4oL7Cytpe1jt6bFV5-F2oS391cyqkO5E4p5_SfCIpR5nxnJX1WqsyARsnVQU15fGhiyTIdyuxkp_O-FYBY_Jc9OHTJkNKE/s1600/af46f337e90a3d468af498f87c6d10d0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdf8AZJ4TxCdSRgOmmTx7ojuN4aeHSPlguAkjlwax6tUJcC4oL7Cytpe1jt6bFV5-F2oS391cyqkO5E4p5_SfCIpR5nxnJX1WqsyARsnVQU15fGhiyTIdyuxkp_O-FYBY_Jc9OHTJkNKE/s640/af46f337e90a3d468af498f87c6d10d0.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">7 tips for growing mad giant basil plants</span></h1>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81rHobCNU9J62peKGQS9LDfmUu2zTJN362FGWy1OJN3cHHy5vH9awZzSV6kzYodN0gNLsMPuCXEMWStkDblMlrn0ZSk0mRqz-JcS84ZlWTaqo_kjnqnT8ln2pLEHwsfEUuuXUbMdsj9s/s1600/a31a0d936d390f1a85225b8de25519b2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81rHobCNU9J62peKGQS9LDfmUu2zTJN362FGWy1OJN3cHHy5vH9awZzSV6kzYodN0gNLsMPuCXEMWStkDblMlrn0ZSk0mRqz-JcS84ZlWTaqo_kjnqnT8ln2pLEHwsfEUuuXUbMdsj9s/s640/a31a0d936d390f1a85225b8de25519b2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Tomatoes need calcium to achieve
their full flavor potential, and calcium is often greatly lacking in our
soils. 95% of a dry eggshell is calcium carbonate. When planting your
tomato plants crush up (to powder) about 4 or 5 egg shells and put them
in the bottom of the hole. Then plant your tomato on top. They'll
provide calcium and prevent blossom end rot.</span></h1>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">So this week I plan, and wait until I have more money to put my plans into effect. The kids start school in about two weeks and so far I've spent about $300 on school clothes. Most of that was from Goodwill's half off day. I have yet to buy the school supplies. That will probably be another $250. Having kids is expensive!</span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hopefully this week will be better.</span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197877040356578106.post-7970915503691824122013-07-16T16:19:00.003-07:002013-07-16T16:19:43.043-07:00Ducks<span style="font-size: large;"> Posted by Paulette</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNG8RtSktf8GM3gROILKHkDSrtWvfB1gP4UgQl8Ao30wTJZPn6JnHeSlblzYAUfZ83ILdtZSFjeh_IAQzt3ycPq6LHJGYz2hyphenhyphen5koBB9eSbtyp0HV-qo5ounrl6FFeLedDS1nbC9H6xlmE/s1600/showering+ducks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNG8RtSktf8GM3gROILKHkDSrtWvfB1gP4UgQl8Ao30wTJZPn6JnHeSlblzYAUfZ83ILdtZSFjeh_IAQzt3ycPq6LHJGYz2hyphenhyphen5koBB9eSbtyp0HV-qo5ounrl6FFeLedDS1nbC9H6xlmE/s640/showering+ducks.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We got ducks this weekend. Why, you ask? Because I felt we needed to. When I think about how much chicken we eat, and how much junk is in that chicken, it makes me feel sick. Have you ever seen pictures of a poultry factory? It's inhumane the way the birds are treated. And to keep them alive, they are pumped with antibiotics and growth hormones. Guess where that stuff goes when you eat it. Yep. In your body. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In an effort to clean up my family's food sources, I decided that we needed to get some poultry. Chickens are normally the choice for back yard farmers, but after counseling with a friend, we decided that our first birds would be ducks. We have a pretty large feral cat population in this neighborhood. So I worried about chicks being eaten. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSOBF-GM3E8d-p0UTj6F3voa8jo2tC_lcVxKg6aH3-H1n-m52CODTfJAwa16GYKim6DR8TTk4b5VbRjFODuG_3wWBCF7WCnr0iCxyqK83nVDLeWA4ST9uLPXe6V069PSjy4FierZo9CM/s1600/Rory+Drake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSOBF-GM3E8d-p0UTj6F3voa8jo2tC_lcVxKg6aH3-H1n-m52CODTfJAwa16GYKim6DR8TTk4b5VbRjFODuG_3wWBCF7WCnr0iCxyqK83nVDLeWA4ST9uLPXe6V069PSjy4FierZo9CM/s640/Rory+Drake.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's funny how I've fallen in love with these ducks. I go outside in the morning and take them the scraps from the night before. Then I turn on the sprinkler and watch them take a shower and root around in the mud puddles for insects. And you know what? They don't quack. Did you know there are quackless ducks? They're called Muscovy Ducks. They love to eat mosquitoes and flies. BONUS! In about 3 months we'll be able to collect their eggs, and since I got 2 hens and a drake, we'll also get some chicks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Having pets you may eat some day is a tricky subject to take up with the kids. I've explained how chickens on a poultry plant spend their days, in a box, with all those nasty chemilcals. Our birds wander a grassy back yard and get lovely scraps from the kitchen and bugs to eat. They get to play with other ducks. And when we do kill them to eat them, it will be done in the most humane way possible, after they have stopped producing eggs, or if more drakes are born, they will be allowed to grow to maturity before being killed. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1abhRMMUp_0o1KE7L6Wj8WS8-1t5daT_gxgwFafS9oE9baYi0eWbx_fEuAje-ID2zdcH39hizOmBqD3HrKiFlX1EA6lsBa67432LthEPPyNt5eKMYFWwdZgw8H7fXR9Utp6nHIUF9N4/s1600/Hiding+place.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1abhRMMUp_0o1KE7L6Wj8WS8-1t5daT_gxgwFafS9oE9baYi0eWbx_fEuAje-ID2zdcH39hizOmBqD3HrKiFlX1EA6lsBa67432LthEPPyNt5eKMYFWwdZgw8H7fXR9Utp6nHIUF9N4/s640/Hiding+place.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not surprisingly, We've been eating a lot less meat, and more beans lately, which is a good thing all around. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Paulette, Jvona & Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03399335759375590367noreply@blogger.com0