Grand Canyon Trip Idea
One day at cotton wood camp,
two at angel creek,
one at Indian garden,
one at top
One day at cotton wood camp,
two at angel creek,
one at Indian garden,
one at top
2/19/2019
1/22/2019
1/17/2018
Drift Off to Dream - Adaptation
This is an adaptation of the Travis Tritt song.
Imagine "not country music" though
I sit here surrounded by people and lights
Alone in my thoughts , drifting afar
You've been here forever, so clear in my mind
I just don't know where you are
I know I'll find you but boy'til I do
This is my love song for you
Let's hold hands on the porch swing, under the moon
While the wind in the trees will play us a tune
We can lie on the trampoline, out back in the yard
And look into the past at a faraway star
You'll feel the passion as time after time
I press your sweet lips to mine
Then we'll dance to some music, right up until dawn
Until you drift off to sleep in my arms
You might be hundreds or more miles away
Or you might be just down the street
But there'll be a hunger deep in your eyes
That I'll notice as soon as we meet
It might just take hours or it might take some years
But this is the song that you'll hear
1/10/2018
Children
On Children
Kahlil Gibran
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.
9/27/2017
Raising Swallowtail Butterflies from Caterpillar
Have been hoping to watch the metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly for some time, particularly so my 4 year old son can observe. Looked online, and the cooler caterpillars (monarch, lunar moth) are upwards of $25 a piece. Expensive! But today, we lucked out and found 2 Swallowtail Caterpillars on my parsley plant (note to self, just plant parsley if you live in Alabama and want to try this project).
They're so pretty (at all stages) & can't wait to watch the process.
More info: http://texasbutterflyranch.com/2014/07/01/how-to-raise-eastern-swallowtail-butterflies-at-home/
They're so pretty (at all stages) & can't wait to watch the process.
More info: http://texasbutterflyranch.com/2014/07/01/how-to-raise-eastern-swallowtail-butterflies-at-home/
This is what they look like now (still pretty small)
They should get a lot bigger (They eat a lot apparently)
Then into a chrysalis that looks like this
The female eastern black swallowtail butterfly. Sooo pretty
Comparison At Different Stages of Development (we got ours as a 3rd instar)
Male (bottom left) vs Female (top right) Swallowtail Butterfly
If you gently touch them, these slimy antennae shoot out for a couple of seconds and you can smell something funny (defense mechanism)
All settled into their new cage with a couple of parsley plants (one mostly eaten already), and a damp sponge
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| Their names are Renato and Figaro (thinking Italian food critique since they're busy getting picky about their Italian parsley) |
8/01/2017
Rosemary Chicken & Rice
- Bone In Chicken
- Chicken Broth
- A Few Sprigs of Rosemary
- Sour Cream
- Cherry Tomatoes (or Sundried Tomatoes)
- Spinach or Kale
- Mushrooms
- Fresh Garlic
Saute mushrooms until brown and add to crock. Saute garlic, add to crock. Dredge chicken in flour and garlic salt and brown the skin in a skillet (meat inside doesn't need to be cooked properly), add to crock. Add enough broth to cover the chicken. Add a few spoonfuls of sour cream (to desired creaminess level. keep in mind it will look less creamy after it cooks a while). Add rosemary. Add a container of cherry tomatoes (or desired amount of sun-dried tomatoes). Cook for a few hours. If sauce isn't think enough, add a few spoonfuls of flower. A few minutes before you serve, chop some spinach or kale and add to the mix. Serve over rice. Salt to taste.
4/06/2017
Flower Garden
Never tried a flower garden before (besides maybe a few marigolds) until this year. Might have gotten a little carried away even. The butterflies and hummingbirds should be happy at least.
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| Cosmos Flower |
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| Shasta Daisy |
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| Red Poppy |
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| Cone Flower |
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| Blue Bells |
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| Yellow Freesia |
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| Sarah Bernhardt Peony |
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| Dutch Iris |
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| Vancouver Decorative Dinner Plate Dahlia |
2/06/2017
Nothing Gold Can Last
Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
-Robert Frost
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
-Robert Frost
9/16/2016
Quote
"In attending to the mysteries of life and death, I will listen for a chuckle in the darkness"
7/15/2016
5/28/2016
Several Uses for Cabbage
Ways to use it up (because you always end up with SO MUCH, right?):
- Raw Salted Cabbage Leafs - would have never thought to do this until I saw my dad doing it. Turns out is super yummy
- Thai Larb - this recipe uses lettuce, but IMO, cabbage cups are WAY better
- Indian Spiced Curry Kraut
- Traditional Sauerkraut
- Kimchi (there are so many good kraut recipes. I could keep going here).
- Egg Rolls
- Upgraded Instant Ramen Noodles - Add shredded cabbage, fresh ginger, fish oil, lemon juice, red pepper, thai basil, sesame oil, shrimp/chicken/tofu, small amount of soy (you get the idea)
- Vinagrette Based Cole Slaw
- Galumpkis (stuffed cabbage leaves)
- Vegetarian Galumpkis
- Fish Tacos (or any taco for that matter, just put vinagrette based cole slaw on it instead of lettuce)
- Stir Fry
- Chicken Yakisoba - I can't get enough of this one
- Creamy cabbage soup - there's a million variations of this, but basically chicken broth, whole milk, cabbage, salt and pepper alone it yummy.
- Cabbage and Kielbasa Soup: Literally delicious with just those 2 ingredients (add water and maybe pepper and salt to taste). You can sub chicken broth if you want. Add onions, carrots, potatoes, but the cabbage and kielbasa are the stars here and most anything else takes away from it, IMO.
- Cabbage added to almost any soup, really.
5/22/2016
Healthy Homemade Coconut Milk Strawberry Ice Cream
I'm far more likely to have coconut milk in the house than 3 cups of cream and 3 cups of half-and-half, so not only is this more healthy than traditional ice cream, but I actually have the ingredients too. Win win.
Ingredients
- 2 cans of coconut milk
- ½ cup of honey, sugar, agave nectar, or maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 pound of fresh strawberries
Directions
- Blend all ingredients minus a handful of whole strawberries. Chop those strawberries in half and toss into the blended mix.
- Mix in ice cream maker according to it's directions
3/15/2016
Sushi Night
- Ricer Steamer (already had it)
- Rice Vinegar (already had it)
- Sesame Seeds (already had it)
- Edamame (already had it) - this is a side dish
- Sushi rice (small grain, sticky) - I've never bought small grain sushi rice, but if the goal is "sticky", my rice steamer sure makes some sticky basmati rice (which I have plenty of). I'll report back if this sushi rice is all that much different
- Bamboo rolling mat
- Nori (toasted seaweed rolls)
- Wasabi Paste
- Pickled Ginger Slices
- San-J Shoyu - wheat soy (this is seriously my favorite soy sauce on earth and it's just mild enough for sushi)
- Mayo (already had it)
- Sambal Oelek Pepper Sauce (already had it) - another favorite sauce on earth. Recipe for spicy mayo calls for Sriracha but this so SOOOO much better as a substitute
- Smoked Salmon
- Avocado
- Cucumber Ribbons (already had it)
- Carrot Ribbons
- Scallions (fresh from the garden)
- Roe (maybe)
- Raw Fish? (Ahi Tuna? or is smoked tuna enough?)
- Artificial Crab Meat? (california roll?)
- A few shrimp?
3/13/2016
3/05/2016
First Blue Apron Shipment
Exciting. This is 3 dinners for 2. It looks pretty low cal too for those dieting. It was purely coincidental we ended up almost vegetarian (vegan aside from the 2 eggs, butter and catfish)
2/28/2016
Chamomile Essential Oil
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| Chamomile Flowers used for Essential Oil |
- Reduces stress/pain associated with child birth (clinical research)
Sandalwood Essential Oil
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| Sandalwood Trees |
- Latin Name -
Uses
- Herpes (clinical research)
- Cancer treatment (clinical research)
Clove Essential Oil
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| Clove Essential Oil |
- Latin Name -Eugenia Caryophyllus
Uses
- Antiseptic – It is applied topically to address fungal infections, wounds, and cuts. It is also a common treatment for athlete's foot (clincial research, more)
- Flu (clinical research using On Guard by doTerra
- Dental aid - ease the pain of a tooth ache or fight bad breath
- Digestive aid – Cloves possess beneficial properties that help relax the smooth muscle lining in your gastrointestinal tract. When used as an oil, it can aid in halting digestive problems, like nausea and vomiting.
- Insect repellent – When used together with citrus essential oils, this plant oil can help ward insects away.
- Expectorant – Clove bud oil is also used to help ease respiratory problems, such as cough, colds, sinusitis, asthma, and tuberculosis. In fact, chewing on a clove bud is said to help sore throats.
- Skin care product – When applied topically, clove buds can help address skin problems like warts, acne, sagging skin, and wrinkles.
- Flavoring / Cooking
- Perfume ingredient – Bud oil, with its strong and unique scent, is used in carnation, rose, and honeysuckle perfumes. It has a strong and unique scent.
- Soap ingredient – Clove bud oil is used in soaps not just for its fragrance, but also because of its relaxing and antiseptic qualities.
- Mental health - Can relieve depression, anxiety, stress, and mental exhaustian
- Massage oil – It can be used to relieve pain and stress.
- Aphrodisiac
Tea Tree Essential Oil
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| Tea Tree - Used for essential oil |
About
- Latin Name - Melaleuca Alternifolia
Uses
- Cradle Cap
- Dandruff
- Cleaning
- MRSA Antibiotic resistant bacteria (clinical research)
- Successful topical treatment of hand warts -- Millar & Moore (2008)
- Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties. Carson, Hammer, & Riley (2006)
- topical decolonization agent for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.Caelli, Porteous, Carson, Heller, & Riley (2001)
- In-vitro activity against Candida spp. Hammer & Riley (1998)
- Escherichia coli. Gustafson, Chew, Markham, Bell, Wyllie, & Warmington (1998)
- oral solution for the treatment of fluconazole refractory oral candidiasis in AIDS patients. Jandourek & Vazquez (1988)
Patchouli Essential Oil
Uses
- fragrance (perfume, incense, deodorant)
- meditation, relaxation, yoga, calming
- for acne, eczema, and dry skin
- dandruff
- antidepressant
- antiphlogistic
- antiseptic
- aphrodisiac
- astringent
- cicatrisant
- cytophylactic
- diuretic
- febrifuge
- fungicide - (ex/ athletes foot)
- insecticide
- sedative
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
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| Eucalyptus Essential Oil |
- Latin Name - Eucalyptus globulus (there are many species, but this is the most common)
Uses
- expectorant or mucolytic (inhalation)
- body pains, fever
- allergies and asthma
- MRSA Antibiotic resistant bacteria (clinical research)
- antiseptic
- insecticide and miticide
- fragrance
- Pain relief – Research indicates the analgesic properties of this essential oil. A study in the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation applied Eucalyptamint on the anterior forearm skin of 10 subjects, and found that Eucalyptamint "produced significant physiologic responses that may be beneficial for pain relief and/or useful to athletes as a passive form of warm-up."
- Dental health – This oil exhibits antibacterial activity against cariogenic (tooth decay-causing) and periodontopathic bacteria.
- Stimulating immune system response – According to a study published in BMC Immunology, eucalyptus oil extract is said to implement the innate cell-mediated immune response.
Peppermint Essential Oil
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| Peppermint Essential Oil |
- Latin Name - Mentha Piperita
Uses
- reduce fatigue or nausea (inhalation)
- irritable bowel syndrome (clinical research)
Black Pepper Essential Oil
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| Black Pepper Essential Oil |
Uses
- A blend of essential oil containing black pepper or ginger can reduce pain from arthritis and improve flexibility (topically)
Ginger Essential Oil
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| Ginger Essential Oil |
Uses
- A blend of essential oil containing black pepper or ginger can reduce pain from arthritis and improve flexibility (topically)
Rosemary Essential Oil
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| Rosemary Essential Oil |
About
- Latin Name: Rosmarinus officinalis
Uses
- Antimicrobial (clinical research)
- Enhanced Memory
Lavender Essential Oil
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| Lavender Fields |
- Eczema
- Relaxation / Stress Relief
- Anxiety and Depression (clinical research, more)
- Sleep Aid
- Local Anesthetic (clinical research)
Recipes
Bath Salt Recipe
- 1 Part Baking Soda
- 2 Parts Epsom Salt
- 3 Parts Sea Salt
- Add 6 drops of essential oil to 2 Tbsp of this mixture
Anxiety & Depression Massage Oil
- 3 drops Bergamot
- 3 drops Lavender
- 3 drops Frankincense
- 1 oz almond oil (1.5% solution)
Myrrh Resin & Essential Oil
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| Myrrh Resin |
About
Grown from Commiphora tree. Dispute that modern Myrrh might not come from the same plant as ancient myrrh. Trade diminished vastly once the Roman Empire fell. Ancient Myrrh might have come from a mimosa plant. Worth its weight in gold at the time Jesus was born. Traded and used for 5000 years. Found in vials in ancient Egyptian tombs.Uses
- Fragrance (perfume, incense)
- Meditation, relaxation, yoga, calming
- Incense/medicinal trade
- Arthritic pain (better if used together)
- Medicinal (topical treatment, syphilis, herpes, hay fever, gum health, athlete's foot, ringworm, weeping eczema, bedsores, boils, carbuncles, acne, stomach upset, diarrhea, dyspepsia, indigestion, flatulence, hemorrhoids, cancer, chapped lips, diabetes, cholesterol)
- Dental rinse – freshens breath, treats gingivitis, relieves tooth aches & mouth ulcers
- Food flavoring
- Lung support - helps relieve congestion and expel phlegm
- Fertility and Inducing labor
- Embalming
Instructions
- Burn resin with charcoals as an incense
- Grind resin to powder with mortar and pestle. Mix one part ground resin to 2 or 3 parts carrier oil.
- If using essential oil, use 10 drops per 1 oz carrier oil for a 2% solution
Frankincense Resin & Essential Oil
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| Frankincense Resin |
About
Grown from Boswellia tree. Worth its weight in gold at the time Jesus was born. Traded and used for 5000 years. Found in vials in ancient Egyptian tombs.Uses
- Fragrance (perfume, incense)
- Meditation, relaxation, yoga, calming
- Incense/medicinal trade
- Arthritic pain (better if used together)
- Skin Care (toner, lotion, soaps, bath soak)
- Medicinal (Pain relief, Aids digestion, Relieves anxiety and depression, Suppresses cancer growth, Reduces scars, Gout, Insomnia)
- Silver colored and highly opaque is considered the best quality although translucent is best for ingestion
- Cancer Treatment (clinical research)
- Anxiety and Depression (clinical research)
Instructions
- Burn resin with charcoals as an incense
- Grind resin to powder with mortar and pestle. Mix one part ground resin to 2 or 3 parts carrier oil.
- If using essential oil, mix 10 drops per 1 oz carrier oil for a 2% solution
Aromatherapy Free Online Resources
- Yellow Emperor’s Book of Internal Medicine - Possibly originally written in 2600 BC. Influential to traditional Chinese medicine.
- http://www.csh.umn.edu/education/online-learning-modules-resources/online-learning-modules
- http://ocw.upm.es/ingenieria-agroforestal/industrial-utilization-of-medicinal-and-aromatic-plants
- http://www.aromahead.com/courses/free-trainings
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