Sorry, one more soapbox...food supplies

"I think the revelations have no doubt been alarming," said Gibbs. That a company which found salmonella in its own testing would continue to ship products "is beyond disturbing for millions of parents," he added.

FDA officials said they last inspected the Blakely facility in 2001, when it wasn't being used to make peanut butter.

It did not get much attention from the federal government again until earlier this year, when a shipment of peanuts from the plant was returned from Canada because it was contaminated with metal fragments. The FDA then asked Georgia authorities to inspect.

But the state inspections did not detect what FDA officials say was a salmonella problem at the plant dating back to at least June of 2007.

This is our food system here. Not just for one state, but for the whole of the US and Canada...and who knows where else any individual company ships to. They inspect these things how often? The salmonella problem dates back over a year? I mean, the plant wasn't even processing peanut butter at the time of its last inspection, and when it changed to processing PB no one thought to maybe put some kind of inspection into gear? And it shipped off products out of the country (as if location even matters) containing metal fragments, gets rejected by someone on the ball, and still no one pays much attention?

Yeah, I'm just itchin' to go to the grocery store more and more these days.

Nothing is safe. Not human food, not stock feed, not pet foods.

We have to get to the gardening full force this year on this homestead. Come hell or high water, this garden has to produce for us. It's what we are going to eat, plain and simple. If it doesn't do well and I can't find a suitable supply from someone we can put some trust in, we just aren't going to be eating it.

It's easier to go to the store when I need something, I'll grant you that, but is it worth our health and safety? Not hardly.

We need to get into a better habit of eating anyway, and the time isn't going to get any better to start. I don't have it all laid out, in terms of where everything would come from and such -- we don't grow our own grains here for flour and such, for example -- but I have some supply lines in place for a great deal of things...a trusted butcher who buys meat locally from trusted farms, until we have beef or other meat ourselves; a farm market with locally grown fruits and vegetables in season; an Amish community that sells to folks once in a while. I can work with that and just make changes to our diet. Honestly, we need to eat far more in-season fruits and vegetables anyway.

Which one of those homesteader books is it where they ate what was in season, fresh, and when that season was finished, they turned to other things? I totally can't think of their names -- a husband and wife couple, somewhere up in the New England states. Is it the Nearings? Anyway, they were way more 'raw' than I suppose I'll ever get this family to go with, but still...eating fresh during the growing season, and relying only on home-canned produce we can trace from soil to jar out of season.

I need to hone some more skills...pasta making is a big one for us. It's not difficult at all to do various pastas, like egg noodles, ravioli, tortellini, spaghetti and such. I'm just not set up for anything like elbow macaroni. I can bake breads of all kinds, and I need to work on finding a good way to make tortillas. We can grow a whole host of beans for drying, eating fresh, etc. Chickens for meat right now, and Dewey would like to get set up for a beef calf here. Hogs I can do without, thank you very much. Goats would be easier to raise here compared to a Jersey or other milker, even rabbits for meat.

More and more, with the recalls ever-growing in every direction, you just have to get prepared to live off what you can grow and raise yourself. Community would be so much better, but we don't have that here really. It's Abundant Blessings Homestead or nothing :o)

Glad to see the weekend!

My throat is still killing me. Not so much sore all the time as it is feeling as though it is simply coated. One false breath and bingo, I'm coughing up a storm and I swear it just rips my throat apart :o(

Ugh. I hate being sick. I don't have time for being sick. I'm a Mom...we don't get sick days :o( At least not this Mom.

I suppose it could be worse. I could have all 8 of them down with something. Even having 2 or 3 down with something would be a bit much for me right now.

One bright note in my mail today -- the woman who gave birth to octuplets...they already had 6 children. She refused selective reduction of the babies early on. I know several folks will jump on that bandwagon, saying they will be over-their-heads, already having 7 yo, 6 yo, 5 yo, 3 yo and 2 yo twins. I suppose I'd be feeling some moments of being overwhelmed with the daunting task of being a good mother to so many myself, let alone all of them being so young. But I say Bravo and God Bless Them Richly. Not many would have passed up the selective reduction with childdren at home that age.

I also saw where the FDA is wondering over the safety of a 50-year old pain killer in use. Hmmm...it's been around some 50 odd years and they are concerned over its safety? What does that say for all the drugs they've fast-tracked into use over the last decade? I have a long way to go in learning about medical uses for all the herbs and such I can grow and harvest myself, but I'd much rather take my chances with something from my own garden instead of the chemical-overload in all these fast-tracked drugs doctors push on you based on what the Pharmacy Rep offered them this visit.

On the Homestead Today -- we have restocked the wood bin on the porch, and gathered new kindling. LOL...how do you get children excited about roaming the timber for kindling? You start off by reading a few chapters from The Long Winter, then you hand them some baskets and pails and set them out toward the timber :o) They put in 4 5-gal buckets of cut-to-size sticks and twigs, and 3 baskets. And they found another motherlode of dry pinecones to boot.

I have a batch of beef in the canner, and a pot of chicken soup simmering along on the stove next to it. I haven't bothered with the cookstove the past many days :o( I just don't feel like dealing with it, as well as I know my mind simply isn't on the task. Not really on any task, to be honest. I have kept to smaller tasks...working on the crochet squares for the lap afghan, putting the questions and information on the school board for The Long Winter, via Prairie Primer, adding buttons to Abbey's birthday dress. She turned 9 years old yesterday :o)

All she wanted for her birthday was a gallon jar of dill pickles all to herself and $3 to spend at the Dollar Tree.

How many 9 year olds do you know who want such a thing for their birthday? A friend of ours bought their 9 year old a fancy MP3 player and loaded it with tons of music. The 'family' got a Wii on her birthday.

Mine just wants pickles she isn't having to share :o) And three dollars.

That's what keeping life simple will do. As long as she could get a trip into town and select her own pickles, she was thrilled.

President Obama:

"I do not view the labor movement as part of the problem. To me, it's part of the solution," he said. "You cannot have a strong middle class without a strong labor movement."

"It's a new day for workers," said James Hoffa, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, who attended the ceremony with other union leaders. "We finally have a White House that is dedicated to working with us to rebuild our middle class. Hope for the American Dream is being restored."

Of the White House Task Force on Middle Class Working Families, Obama said, "We're not forgetting the poor. They are going to be front and center, because they, too, share our American Dream."

Yes, Dewey was Union a lot of years. Still holds his Union card, actually, though he isn't working Union right now. My dad was a life-long Teamsters member as well. Probably half my family's men are Union-yahooers. Still, I'm not part of the Union hit-parade at all. I don't see the poor being lifted at all by anything Union, and I sure don't see this idea as being part of The American Dream, let alone restoring it. It's very name says it all...it's a task force on middle class families. I just don't find any sort of comfort in knowing the Union is tickled pink and doing the happy dance with Obama in office now. That so-called American Dream should be for everyone, Union aid or not, maybe even moreso without it.

But that's just another soapbox issue and I did say to a friend I would try to tone my soapbox issues down a bit, especially when I'm not feeling well and tend to be far more less-tactful in those moments.

An Award...

I was given an award for being a Kreative Blogger.

I don't know about being kreative at all, but Carie thought so and I thank her for reading here :o)

I am supposed to send this award off to 10 bloggers now.

I can't do it. There are far too many blogs I read and admire and enjoy.

If you are in my links, please grab the award if you feel so inclined and accept it with my prayers and blessings for continued kreative blogging!

Are there other links to this story?

Does anyone have any other news on this? I don't like seeing "news" from only one source. I'd like to see other points of view on these...

Economic stimulus? Feds want your medical records

Electronic database to include lawsuit, mental health, abortion, sexual details

Posted: January 27, 2009

9:00 pm Eastern

By Bob Unruh

© 2009 WorldNetDaily

A little-discussed provision in President Obama's economic stimulus
plan would demand that every American submit to a government program
for electronic medical records without a choice to opt out, and it has
privacy advocates more than a little alarmed.

Patients might be alarmed, too, privacy advocates said, if they
realized information such as documentation on abortions, mental health
problems, impotence, being labeled as a non-compliant patient, lawsuits
against doctors and sexual problems could be shared electronically
with, perhaps, millions of people.

Sue A. Blevins, president of the Institute for Health Freedom, said unless people have the right to decide "if and when" their health information is shared, there is no real privacy.

"President Obama has pledged to advance freedom," she said. "Therefore the freedom to choose not to participate in a national electronic health-records system must be upheld."

Blevins' organization, one of the few raising the alarm at this point,
said the stimulus plan would impose an electronic health records system
on every person in the U.S. without any provision for seeking patient
consent or allowing them not to participate.

"Without those protections, Americans' electronic health records could be shared – without
their consent – with over 600,000 covered entities through the
forthcoming nationally linked electronic health-records network,"
Blevins said.

The organization said Americans who care about health privacy should
contact members of Congress and the president to let them know about
the need for opt-out and consent provisions.

According to the institute, the measure currently includes plans for:An electronic health record "for each person in the United States by 2014."A national coordinator to develop a "nationwide health information
technology infrastructure that allows for the electronic use and
exchange of information. "The institute said the medical privacy rule established under the
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 already
allows personal health information to be passed along without patient
consent for treatment, payment and "oversight." The recipients of such
information could be any of the people in the 600,000 organizations in
the industry.

"Nobody wants to stop the proper use of good technology," Blevins said, "and for some people privacy is not an issue."

But she said the bottom line is that patients "would end up losing control of his or her personal health information. "

"There's a lot at stake with electronically transferring health data
and paying claims within the $2.2 trillion healthcare industry," warned
the organization, which works on issues of health freedom in the U.S.

Another group, Consumer Watchdog, even suggested today Google is trying to lobby for the "sale of electronic medical records."

The group said, "Reportedly Google is pushing for the provisions so it
may sell patient medical information to its advertising clients on the
new 'Google Health' database."

Consumer Watchdog said, "Americans will benefit from an integrated
system capable of making our medical records available wherever we may
need them, but only if the system is properly used.

"The medical technology portion of the economic stimulus bill does not
sufficiently protect patient privacy, and recent amendments have made
this situation worse. Medical privacy must be strengthened before the
measure's final passage," the group said.

WND
previously has reported on attempts in Minnesota by state lawmakers to
authorize the collection and warehousing of newborns' DNA without
parental consent.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty has been successful in stopping the action there so far.

The Citizens' Council on Health Care
has worked to publicize the issue in Minnesota. The group raised
opposition when the state Department of Health continued to warehouse
DNA without parental consent in violation of the genetic privacy and
DNA property rights of parents and children.

Twila Brase, president of CCHC, said at the time the problem is that
"researchers already are looking for genes related to violence, crime
and different behaviors."

In an extensive interview with WND at the time, she said, "In
England they decided they should have doctors looking for problem
children, and have those children reported, and their DNA taken in case
they would become criminals."

In fact, published reports in Britain note that senior police forensics
experts believe genetic samples should be studied, because it may be
possible to identify potential criminals as young as age 5.

Brase said efforts to study traits and gene factors and classify
people would be just the beginning. What could happen through
subsequent programs to address such conditions, she wondered.

"Not all research is great," she said.

Classifying of people could lead to "discrimination and prejudice. …
People can look at data about you and make assessments ultimately of
who you are."

The Heartland Regional Genetics and Newborn Screening is one of the organizations that advocates more screening and research.

The group proclaims in its vision statement a desire to see
newborns screened for 200 conditions. It also forecasts "every student
… with an individual program for education based on confidential
interpretation of their family medical history, their brain imaging,
their genetic predictors of best learning methods. …"

Further, every individual should share information about "personal
and family health histories" as well as "gene tests for recessive
conditions and drug metabolism" with the "other parent of their future
children."

Still further, it seeks "ecogenetic research that could improve health, lessen disability, and lower costs for sickness."

"They want to test every child for 200 conditions, take the
child's history and a brain image, and genetics, and come up with a
plan for that child," Brase said at the time. "They want to learn their
weaknesses and defects.

"Nobody including and especially the government should be allowed to create such extensive profiles," she said.

The next step, said Brase, is obvious: The government, with
information about potential health weaknesses, could say to couples,
"We don't want your expensive children."

"I think people have forgotten about eugenics. The fact of the
matter is that the eugenicists have not gone away. Newborn genetic
testing is the entry into the 21st Century version of eugenics," she
said.

Then you also have these:
Economic Meltdown excuse for "New World"

But yes, I'm just way out there in my thought process, I know.
Hee hee...but I'll have plenty of TP stored away....in that massive underground bunker system I'm building in all this clay....

This is a TOTAL rant here...ignore if you like

I'm sorry, but I am simply on a rant right now and honestly, I probably shouldn't be addressing it in such a mood, but that's just me. Lump it or like. Do feel free enough to ignore me...and that includes sending those pretty flaming emails as well :o)

I am opinionated. Yes, I know. It's a great shocker, isn't it?

I am not the most tactful person you will come across. In fact, on a scale of 1-100, I am probably not at the bottom of the list, but I wager I'm pretty darn close to that final quarter section. That's just me. I rant, I rave, I have an unlimited supply of soapboxes on which to voice my opinion. Many are probably totally incorrect, none are going to be political correct, and most are not even going to make sense to anyone other than myself.

But, remember...it's just my opinion. You don't have to share it. You don't have to like it. You don't even have to continue reading it. That's the beauty of Internet. As quickly as you can find something, you can move off to something else. Even on dial-up you can move on quickly enough to save my inbox from nastiness and your blood pressure from rising.

Ahh, the joys of technology.

I am not in any way shape for form pro-war. I wouldn't necessarily say I'm anti-war either. I'm not really a fence-rider, I just think it's far more prudent to pick and choose wisely than it is to run headlong on a handful of emotions. (LOL...yeah, I know...running headlong on emotions is exactly what a rant is...)

I do not think we belong in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan or wherever else we are walking around pushing American justice on the world at large. That said, I do have compassion for the many people living under oppression and plain ol' wacked out communistic government rule. I have a heart for those people, I do.

But when did the USA determine we needed to be the police force for everyone else? What level of pride does it take to believe you and you alone know what is best for anyone else?

I was told that a 'draft' for service isn't anything new. You're right, it hasn't always been a choice to take part in defending this country, but that's the part I totally disagree with. The lack of free choice.

Back during the draft years, there was far more 'patriatism' if that's what you want to call it. Young men thought it an honor for the most part to come to the aid of their country. But that's changed. I suppose, not being a scholar on war issues at all, it probably made its biggest shift with Vietnam.

Most folks are not behind this current war/conflict/whatever tag you choose to give it.
The purpose is not clear in anyone's minds and hearts as to the strength of connection it carries anymore.
We were emotional following 9/11 and rightly so given the scope of tragedy and terror we witnessed in this country. But our emotions were harnessed by the government and off we went to 'end the war on terrorism'.

That sort of makes us on even ground with some of those terrorists, doesn't it? I mean, really...they stood up for what they believed in and attacked us, so we grab our toys and march off to their backyard and attack them back. Returning terrorism for terrorism basically.

That connection of emotions just isn't there anymore. It was a dark day in our history, and the scope of destruction and death was horrible, and we watched it all on television and are not likely to forget those images any time soon. But our emotional levels are not at all where they were back then. Most polls show that people are not looking over their shoulders for more attacks as they were in those first months or even that first year; that the government ran quickly over there with a purpose but they slowed to a drag because they had no real plan of action behind that so-called purpose. It's gotten worse now in terms of those same polls. We are viewed as just ducks in row marching off pretending to have a plan in place.

Hey we are moving out of Iraq/Iran. Great news.
We are moving into Afghanistan instead.
Same mission, different country and still a distinct lack of PLAN in place.

To re-issue/reinstate anything resembling a/the draft is ridiculous in this day and age. It's more communistic at this point than anything. You cannot force patriatism on people. You cannot force loyalty or emotions on people. To make service of any kind a 'requirement' is just another huge step toward our lack of independence and lack of so-called American freedoms. It places us right there alongside any other communist nation, in history or present day.

Sure, the Muslims have what appears to be an unlimited backing to their course of action, but they are taught that from day one. They are brainwashed, if you will, to have a deep loyalty to their god and their call in life is to be a martyr. To die any other way is shameful to their family and their heritage.

Rather like those Japanese kamakazi pilots. Rather like Hitler's German forces.
Sure want the USA to be in those ranks. There's something to take pride in.

We don't have that here. Well, not that particular brand of brainwashing, anyway. Yet.
Forced military service isn't going to breed that. It's going to blow up in their very faces that way. To have someone forced to defend our country, to force them against their will and their conscience to walk the lines of an 'enemy' country in defense of our 'freedom' here goes against everything we have been raised to believe we have stood for in this country. It lays waste to every founding ideal we have taught over the past several generations. It makes for a very poor line of defense that isn't going to succeed on any level.

Might as well just line us up along the fence around our country, men, women and children alike, give us all guns and rocket launchers and whatever else is out there and we can just shoot it out and finish everyone off. Better yet, just push that big red button and be done with it. We can all be martyrs...for a system that isn't working in the first place.

I do not believe in this war one iota. My nephew is there. My brother is there. That doesn't change my viewpoint. We don't belong there playing god over another country because we feel we know best how to make them a better place. I would push my children strongly in the opposite direction of pairing up with anything military at this stage of our country. Were push to come to shove in more literal sense, I'd do my best to get out of dodge and pray for a hiding place.

We simply don't belong in any other country trying to push our methods of government and democracy onto each nation who appears beneath our standards. We have failed in maintaining our own country on virtually every level and in keeping our own heads above the water, what gall and extreme pride and vanity to parade into another country and call it 'help for an oppressed people'.

That doens't make me some anti-government, burying food and ammo in the back forty, bunker-living wierdo either -- though let me tell you, that's a whole 'nuther kettle of fish there. We are getting so messed up here we aren't likely to make a return to sanity anytime soon. And I'm not saying those sorts are bad or wrong. I may be looking for one of those hidden bunker communities soon enough given this country's forward path.

America is hardly fit enough to be policeman to the world. CWe need to clean up our own back yards of all the accumulated poop piles and take care of our own. Not that we will, and not that it even matters. It's all just another plunge toward that one world order that's coming and bringing in the fulfillment of the Scriptures we've seemingly forgotten to read. Should The Lord continue to tarry, I'm sure our military will grow and reach Big Brother's arm out even farther and walk us closer to the destruction we're brewing for ourselves.

And yes, I have some presumably odd ideas...or maybe just a vivid imagination. I am suspicious of our colorful money and how virtually every other 'power government' out there has had that for years...and required all-digital broadcasting is just another step in you knowing and thinking what/when the powers-that-be want you to know and think it...all the GMO's, cloned animals, always new and improved vaccinations and medicines for everything under the sun; wonderful medical breakthroughs, I'll grant you...and a whole lot of unnatural stuff being put into your system based on who wants it there. I'm wonder why money is becoming something no one deals in anymore. You have to order via credit cards, debit cards or some nonsense like PayPal. No one wants checks, let alone cash money anymore. Everything in life is electronic -- your money is directly given to your bank, you pay your bills online with a click of a button, you get medical care with hardly any physical contact. You life is nothing more than an electronic blip in someone's computer.
Someone told me the other day that those hybrid cars will never make it over here because we prefer the large vehicles. A 'large' electric, green, hybrid car would be too cost prohibitive to not only build, but for the American family to purchase as well.
Do you honestly, truly, think that the auto industry or the government, should they make that last great step toward requiring hybrid vehicles be the only ones on the roadways, are concerned with the fact that you like your big SUV or that I need my 15 passenger van because I have a large family? I mean, really? You believe that to be true on any level?

Just because there are so many large families in the US or in the world, they wouldn't put something like that into force? Hmmm...some countries have laws against having more than one or two children. Some countries have laws against even owning cars...they use bicycles or walk everywhere. Some countries don't have grocery stores, Wal-Marts (imagine a place without Wal-Mart...seems odd, doesn't it, given their numbers here?) or any other large-scale shopping anything. People have to go to a town-sanctioned market, buy the foods given authorization by the government, and some even still have limitations on those foods and qantities.

But not here. Not in America, right? Yeah, ok. The fact I even think like that is probably just that rock I live under, I know. Heil Hitler...no wait, he's dead. Who's next in line?

Pictures from the last several days

Finally, the camera wants to be cooperative. Ignore the picture of me...don't click on it at all...trust me. That is my chore apron, it's wide and puffy and I look like a blue Pilsbury Doughboy in that thing. We do not want to click that photo any larger...honestly, I am not steering you wrong here. Just trust me on this one :o)

Today I am just miserable. My throat was a bit sore yesterday so I kept to lots of warm tea and such. At some point overnight, though, it changed on me :o( This morning I can barely speak. (yeah, the children are lovin' today...bet Dewey is sorry he's missing out on this...). My throat is so sore. I can't even explain how miserable my throat feels. I am sipping on anything and everything constantly, literally. The very second I swallow my throat is instantly dry and just feels icky.

Ugh. I hate being sick. I have a class to teach tonight and obviously, we're not going to church. I don't guess it will make much of a difference...with me not there, half the class isn't there either. We have work to do, and I hate missing my class -- we are working on putting together a VBS sort of program for the teens to teach our youngers the 10 Commandments. I'm trying to keep it on a bit more serious level and not so much games and snack time with a touch of Bible here and there as most VBS programs go. Oh well...one missed class won't kill anyone I suppose.

The children are doing school work right now with the Jennifer. Johanna is making a pan of cinnamon rolls and I'm going to start a big pot of soup with some ham. No idea what else I'll throw in there, but I have a hunk of ham left from a couple days ago and we need to use it. Then I think I'll just rest...I have some crocheting work to do for our ladies group and I can rest a bit while I do that. It just seems like I'm wasting the day if I'm sitting around not getting anything of real use done here :o( There are so many things I really need to be doing.
I hate being sick :o(

Ok, the pictures...
Never thought I'd be thankful for old, poorly taken care of tools around here, but I am. Jacob...yes, The Wild Child, who else?... decided he would tackle wood splitting while the olders were occupied with other things. He has little strength it seems, the axe is far too large for him, it's dull as a tennis ball...and David got in the way. That's a cut by his eye. Not anything remotely bad at all, just barely opened skin there, bled just a little considering it's a facial location, but still...he was hit by the axe. I cannot even entertain the idea of what might have happened on anyone else's homestead with decent tools in optimum condition.

Here's my monster cast iron pot browning up some 40# of ground beef for the canner. Kris, I so like that ground canned with some of the drippings! What a breeze to do. And it tastes so much more 'rich' compared to the boiled. Not that the boiled wasn't good, mind you, but this just has more deep flavor to it and worked up just as quickly I think.

Matthew working away on the wood pile...

...and Johanna working away as well...

And Mom working on the wood pile.

We accomplished quite a bit for a work day, I think. It's all stacked nice and tight and looking almost too pretty to use :o) We pulled 2 of those large 8 ft pallets from the barn to use on the ground. With all the rain we get and the clay soil that doesn't allow it to drain anywhere, I thought it was best to bring it off the ground at least a little bit with the pallets. Right now, with the sleet/rain we had coming, we covered it with plastic sheeting so we weren't trying to bring in nasty wet wood for use. We did bring a substantial amount up to the porch and stack it there for immediate use. I think we have about a weeks' worth up here on the porch.

I don't know if pine cones are the best to burn, but they are making the best fire starters for us. The children scoured the pine grove near the pond and filled 3 large feed/water buckets, and the large wheelbarrel with them -- good dried ones, too, from a dead tree back there. It's still loaded with cones waiting to fall off. The younger girls gathered those and the younger boys started digging into the underbrush and thickets for branches that were dry for our other kindling.

Makes for a nice fire that starts quickly and gets our logs really burning.
Considering that still green wood we had first off, I don't imagine I'm putting too much junk up the chimney at this point. You should see those pipes outside...I told Dewey I may have him replace them as they look old and nasty, drippy with creosote already and it's barely been 3 weeks. I imagine his eyes rolled...you could just tell by that tone in his voice when he said, "no, hun...don't think so".

I'm off to drown my throat in some salt water and get more hot tea to drink. I'm going to listen to the children's reading lessons while I work on that crocheting.

Clean Green

Share more with me :o)

Green Cleaning substances

Vinegar

Helps to remove stains, wax buildup and mildew.

Use to clean windows, fireplaces, grout, paintbrushes, glass and coffeepots.

Pure Soap

Helps to clean almost everything

Use to clean your dishes, car, kids bikes.

Baking Soda

Helps to clean and deodorize, will act as a scouring agent, polisher, stain removal and fabric softener.

Use to clean your plastic, vinyl, carpet, silver, stainless steel, drains and refresh your fridge.

Borax

Helps to clean and deodorize.

Use on wallpaper, painted walls and floors. Use it with your detergents to remove stains, and boost the cleaning power.

Washing Soda

Helps to clean clothing and soften the water.

Use it in a well ventalated area, wear gloves. Washing soda is moderately toxic.

Ammonia

Strong cleanser

Use it to clean carpet, linoleum, most appliances, copper and enamal. ALWAYS USE IN A WELL VENTALATED AREA AND NEVER MIX WITH CHLORINE BLEACH, THE MIXTURE WILL CREATE A POISONOUR GAS.

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Window and Glass Cleaner

While there is nothing unique about this recipe... it works!
Newspaper, Vinegar and Elbow grease!

All Purpose Cleaner

1/2 cup ammonia

1/3 cup washing soda

1 gallon warm water

Combine and use to clean your floors, tiles and painted walls. This will also deodorize so you will not have a need to use harmful deodorizes in your home!

Disinfectant

If you use environmentally cleansers regularily you will find they keep the air clean. Store bought cans etc.. contain many harmful ingredients.. and are costly.

Descaler

One part vinegar with two parts water is all you need to clean your kettle and iron.

Kettle - pour into the kettle bring to a boil, rinse well.

Iron - Put some in the reservoir, let it stand for 30 minutes, rinse well.

Tub & Tile Cleaner

Baking soda and a damp cloth will clean your tub and tiles. You may need to use a brush to get into the grout but this will do the job without an environmental hazzards.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Mix borax and lemon juice into a paste. wet the sides of the toilet bowl, rub and let stand for a few hours. Scrub off and flush! (if you don't have stains you can let stand for less time)

A Challenge: Buy Sustainable...

I found that on another site today -- I've linked the article/challenge there with that big green box in the sidebar :o)

While I know many who can and will do this without giving it much thought, I know just as many who would cringe at the mere idea of the challenge.

1. Ask Yourself if You Really Need to Buy it. Do you need it at all, or is it something you could live without? Can you reuse or repurpose something you already have? Maybe you have an old one in the garage that could be fixed up nicely (with the bonus of adding a repurposed/reused charm)? Or can you borrow it from a neighbor, friend or family, or even make it yourself? Also while we all need food, starting a garden will mitigate what you have to buy - you can grow vegetables year round. Plus when you start that garden, don’t buy seedlings - grow them from seed, and then save your own seeds for next year!
2. Buy Locally. Drive as little as possible to get the item, and buy it from a locally-owned and –operated business. It’s even better if the business makes the products locally, or has a local source for them.
   
3. Buy Fair Trade. Buy the item from a manufacturer that pays its workers an honest wage. AND Buy from a business with good business practices. If you have a choice, go for the business that gives back to the community, pays its workers well and gives them health insurance, and has good customer service. You may even find a business that has been built with sustainable building practices, and has taken steps to reduce its daily carbon impact.
4. Buy Green. This means different things to different people, but essentially, minimize the impact the item has on the environment, including the materials used to produce and package it.
5. Buy it to Last. Think twice about going cheap and easy. It’s no good for your pocketbook or the environment if you have to throw away an item when it breaks or looks ugly in a year or two, and then you have to buy another one. Instead, buy something that will last 5, 10 years - or better, a lifetime. For furniture, look at used furniture and antiques - what you find may cost the same as an item from IKEA, and it will last long enough to hand it down to your kids or your friends or someone in need. If you can’t afford good quality, wait a few months and save up to buy a good quality product that will last. In the long run, it will cost less in time, money, and environmental impact.

Could you do it? I mean really do it, 100%? Would you find an excuse to not do it for this or that item? Would you balk at jumping in headlong and complain you just weren't prepared for it now, but maybe wean yourself into the whole idea?

I think I would have some trouble in some areas, but we could easily make a very good go at it. Now, starting from scratch as we would be in many areas of this challenge, it would be a bit more costly compared to what I might be doing right now. The article addresses that. It isn't always about saving money, not that savings aren't a great thing mind you, but sometimes there is just something greater involved. Don't always look to the cost of sustainable items vs your stand-by disposable sorts. Sure, I can buy paper towels hand-over-fist because they seem cheaper in the long run...I'm not using the electricity or water to wash them...but that is really the only money issue involved, and it's more of a laziness issue for me than a cost issue. I'm not prepared to have little cloth toilet wipes hanging to dry along the bathroom wall, but honestly, that is truly the only disposable items I really would argue for around here. Cloth napkins, using hand towels for spills and the like all work better than disposable. And they aren't going into the burn pile or the garbage bin.

As the article says, it's all about being convicted and sticking to your guns in that conviction. It's hard to get out of the habits we've all been raised on...go to the store when you need it, get out that fancy appliance to mix it, blend it, bake it, wash it, dry it, etc. We tend not to buy much in bulk because we complain that there's no storage in our home for it, and besides those smaller packages are cheaper on the weekly budget. Forget that today's packages are shrinking in ounces and count yet we are paying more per unit for them. Forget we have to replace them on practically a weekly basis.

Folks, our family lives in a double-wide trailer. We have, according to measurements only, 2400 sq ft. BAH. I have 9 people living in that space, with all their individual stuff (that's another topic altogether!) and all of our combined stuff (yet another topic there as well!) and I buy everything I can get my hands on in bulk amounts. I don't buy less than 50# of oats and flour and sugars, I buy case lots of that precious toilet paper, I buy a case of laundry bars at a time to make laundry soap with or I buy a large 5 gallon tub of detergent (and I make it last at least 6mo, despite our too-large laundry needs around here). I buy powdered milk 5 boxes or more at a time, I buy yeast in 2# blocks and buy 6 a year. Schooling needs, cleaning needs, feed needs, supplies of whatever kind come to this homestead in the largest quantities I can get and haul on my own.

And I'm not storing it all outside on pallets under a tarp you know. I have every nook and cranny in this tin foil box filled with items....I have under-bed storage containers with bags of grains stored, I have put shelving up in every area I can get to (made over our master bath into a pantry because we didn't have one), I have 5 gallon pails with everyday grains for use, 6 qt canisters and gallon jars for storing everything else, pint jars for most spices and seasonings, etc.

If you want to buy in bulk and truly feel convicted that that is the way for you to go, you will find a way to store it.

If you want to buy only those things which are sustainable and as green as can be, you will find places to buy it, places to store it, new ways to use it, and even reasons for making do without things you think are prized and necessary now.

My point is (yes, I do have one tumbling about in here somewhere...) if you wanted a new car you'd move heaven and earth to go into debt and get it. you'd find a zillion reasons why it's best you get one instead of keeping what you have. Same with any other item you might be considering right now. If you want it, you'll have it no matter what the cost to you, your credit, or the planet you live on.

If you truly make the commitment to take on this challenge, you will find ways to make it happen. And you'll find those ways without flimsy excuses or whining about weaning into it all slowly. You'll be like the old Nike commercial and JUST DO IT.

One day you just might walk into my bathroom and find a pretty little container with cloth wipers soaking and a pretty little set of hooks with some already rinsed and drying on.

Maybe.

Maybe you'll find them hanging on the wall of our outhouse instead :o) At the end of the pretty little pathway lined with all manners of herbs and flowering medicinal plants, padded with wood chips from our tree cutting, log splitting moments.

Harnessing The Sun...

Dewey mentioned last night being interested in putting in some solar panels and seeing what we might be able to do with them here on the homestead.

I don't know anything of any use about solar panels...

...so I'm putting out the call here :o) What do you know about solar panels and their use, setting them up, what sort of power you might get from them, etc? Where do I start looking for information to get this going here?

I want to keep this idea on fire in Dewey's mind. It's another step to unplugging the grid's umbilical cord for sure. I want to gather everything I can for him to have at his fingertips to review and look at and ponder over for use here.

HELP!!!!!

Work for the night is coming...

I love that hymn, really. LOL...couldn't sing it if I had to, but I do like the words and the many thoughts it puts me in mind of...

Work, for the night is coming,
Work through the morning hours;
Work while the dew is sparkling,
Work ’mid springing flowers;
Work when the day grows brighter,
Work in the glowing sun;
Work, for the night is coming,
When man’s work is done.

Work, for the night is coming,
Work through the sunny noon;
Fill brightest hours with labor,
Rest comes sure and soon.
Give every flying minute,
Something to keep in store;
Work, for the night is coming,
When man works no more.

Work, for the night is coming,
Under the sunset skies;
While their bright tints are glowing,
Work, for daylight flies.
Work till the last beam fadeth,
Fadeth to shine no more;
Work, while the night is darkening,
When man’s work is o’er.

The first thought I get is The Lord is coming. Don't be lax in your own work here while waiting upon His Return. We need to be doing all the good we can now, keeping our faith held high and not being ashamed of The Gospel. Soon enough our time to make a difference in the lives of those around us who might not yet know the promises of His Word or know Him personally will be through and He will return to collect His Bride. Do not tarry in following The Lord! You never know when your time to do His Tasks will be done.

But today, that song popped into my mind more times than I probably remember. We had a work day here to be sure. Dewey's boss was wonderful and brought us a load of firewood. Seasoned and dry wood...not the 'slightly green' stuff we bought and paid for being in a hurry and a pinch for instant wood :o( Sure is nice to not have all the mess from that other wood. And wow, had I forgotten what it's like to lug about still green wood vs dry wood! Talk about a weight difference.

To fully appreciate this wood (as though just being gifted it wasn't enough!) you have to know how it came here...their shop is in Jackson, TN....a good hour from us. They brought this wood down to us, taking a chunk of their day just in the driving to and from. What a blessing it is.

Before the load arrived, we did some much (much) needed yard cleaning and clearing so we looked a bit more presentable around here. That alone was a project in itself and truthfully, we still have plenty to do out there. Oh so much junk ;o(

We moved all the green wood over to a new location for stacking. The children brought 2 of the large pallets from the barn (a good 8 ft size, made with 2x4's...heavy and then some). They began moving the wood over there, but it turned out to be rather piled and not properly stacked, so we moved it all and started over with more supervision and help from me this time. I certainly can't have some lopsided, ill-stacked wood pile waiting to tumbled over on a younger.

As soon as the camera feels like cooperating, I'll add some pictures to this post. Today it seems to have a mind of its own :o(

We definitely have more than enough wood for this season out there now, and a great start on next winter as well. Now to start combing the woods around here for more. Keeping wood on the homestead is an all-season project, and with Dewey gone, that means we get to man the saws and timber ourselves this year.

What kind of day will it be?

One of those days.

We have to have them, I suppose.

It rained last night, so the mud is back around the homestead.

We have been cleaning in force outside. We have so much stuff...read: JUNK... lying around out here. Most of it is in 'piles' or at least sectioned off somehow, but still. It's junk. And it's not a small amount, either.

But, we've at least made good strides at taming the junk monster now. Though taming isn't what needs done, but it's a start and I'm happy with it.

Today is slipping by and here I am...on the computer instead of really working at the list of things that need/should be tended to. It's sunny out, the air is warm and cool both -- a very comfortable blend of winter and spring. It's muddy, but still...we have things that need done.

I have to get into town and pay the water bill. I was in yesterday, it was on my list, but I completely spaced it out and didn't drop it off. Can't mail it. It's due Monday and if it's not in their drop box waiting on them to open the door, they will be out here to cut it off, no ifs-ands-or-butts about it. No excuses. And, of course, they'll charge me a $30 fee for their trouble to boot.

So, it' a trip back into town.

You know, for as far out and rural as we live, we are really only 13 miles from driveway to town here. Mind you, it's seems much farther, with the twists and turns coming off this 'mountain' area down to town. I can't believe I forgot to drop it off :o( What a waste.

I am going to get to some sewing later, as well. I have 2 pinafores for Emily waiting on binding, and a dress for Abigail's birthday next weekend. Still need to do her an apron, too. And I need a new good dress. I always put off making myself anything, but I really do need to get one done. I picked up some really pretty upholstery material at Hobby Lobby while in Tupelo with Debi. It's a pretty light blue and floral panel print. My last decent kitchen apron was made of upholstery material and it got morre and more soft with each washing. It lasted me a good 15 years, really. I've patched and stitched and repaired that poor apron so many times. There's really nothing more to do with it but take what's left and turn it into scrap rags now.

I can't wait to make the new one and see how it turns out. I hope it's jus as soft and lasts at least half as long.

But, nothing is going to get done sitting here, is it?
What are your plans for the day?

I'm a bit out there, I know, but...

...should I be concerned, or at least a bit 'thoughtful', of this Treasury Secretary designate Timothy Geithner? I mean, sure, you can have some problems using those TurboTax type tax programs yourself, but to the tune of some $34000 in taxes you 'forget' to pay? For 4 years running, you still can't figure out that you did something wrong? Does someone in his position with his sort of finances even use those sorts of tax prep programs? Well, obviously he did, but still...

We made a mistake once...the IRS is hardly what one might call lapse, or slow, in letting you know you owe them money. They are only slow when it comes to them making an error to send back to you.

But this man is going to be the Treasury Secretary? Does that seem a bit, oh I don't know, idiotic to say the least?

I know, I'm not politically saavy and I should just keep my rambling thoughts of the government uselessness and total idiosity to myself. It's like that new stimulus check we'll all be waiting on...I like getting money as much as the next person, but I'm not really stimulating the economy with any of it. I don't think you are going to stimulate anything with those checks, and certainly not the loused up economy we're walking in. We need jobs, new job training for folks out of a job needing to turn a whole new direction, etc. Those stimulis government checks are nice, but really not the answer to anything long term. It's a band-aid, and not even a good one.

What's that saying -- you can give a man a fish and feed him for the day, or you can teach a man to fish and he can feed himself the rest of his days. We'd be better of teaching these folks that they shouldn't even be getting a tax refund...you loaned how much to the government from each of your paychecks over the year, then get some sense of excitement because they give it back to you after you jump through their hoops???
Heeellllloooo there....anyone home??? Up those 'exemptions' on your paycheck paperwork and stop giving folks money while you sit there struggling paycheck to paycheck every week to even pay your basic bills, let alone the frivolous things you're buying on those credit cards. You are walking in debt and you're happy to do it apparently because you keep doing it the same way over and over again. It's not illegal, you know, to not pay into the tax folks...just pay enough to cover what Caesar is due...keep the rest in your pocket. You want to loan out money for nothing and then play a game of hoops to get it back? Send it to me :o)

I know...I'm a bit out there for most folks. And yes, I know that idiosity isn't a real word, but it should be...it's kinda fun to say :o) Anyone coming by here should know by now I tend to say what rolls around my (sometimes empty) mind at any given time, and I don't necessarily find a tactful way to say it. I often make no real sense to anyone other than myself...I've learned to deal with that and so have most folks who know me :o) Just ask Debi....

Cooking Can Be...Interesting

I will get how to cook on this stove. We will be able to eat fairly decently based upon my cooking on this cookstove.

No telling how many applications of my B&W Ointment for burns I'll be using in the meantime...

LOL...seems I'm rather clumsy at wood cooking. I keep forgetting it's not my regular stovetop -- note to self: stop moving the pan around without a pot holder! I have burns on my fingers, a touch of burn markings on my forearm...

Now, last night, we cooked a pot of ham and bean soup...and it cooked :o)


And I did a peach crisp...yum

I did a pan of cornbread, too...stop laughing...I do know that it needs to be watched more closely, and turned for more even baking...not that I did any of that as you can clearly tell by the blackened/cajun look to that side of the pan...


And here, some lessons learned from the cooking escapades already...this is breakfast this morning...totally woodstove cooked...I can do the on-top-of-the-stove stuff much better than that in-the-oven stuff......pancakes in the warming oven...made in my 10in. skillet.

They came across my cast iron 'missing collection' in the building...the 10in flat griddle, my 14in skillet, a 12 or 14 qt dutch oven, and my cast iron kettle. We did some serious scrubbing with some wire brushes on things this morning, gave them a good coat of shortening and heated them a bit. They look so much prettier now :o) The kettle is on the wood heater, adding humidity to the room.

I'm a bit sloppy while cooking...note the bit of a mess with pancake dribbles and such...

BUT WE ATE GOOD THIS MORNING :o) That's the whole point...that's my goal here...

Miss Emily...

Maybe I should call her Miss Hammy...she's cheesing it up for me to take pictures :o)
She's in a pair of play sunglasses and must think she's a movie star or something...she pulled a bandana on and started swinging around in the desk chair making faces.

Resale shops are spared...for the time being

This was posted at Choosing Voluntary Simplicity...and I just got around to reading. Doesn't really give a breath of relief to folks like Etsy, EBay or even simple folks like us with yard sales and such, but maybe it's a small bit of common sense coming around (yeah, well, I don't really think so either, but I'm trying to be Mary Sunshine here...)

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act — A Reprieve

Last week it looked like the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act might put an end to thrift stores, consignment stores, and home crafters who specialized in children’s products.

Then the Consumer Product Safety Commission attempted to calm the public outrage. Their press release, with the bloated title of “Requirements of New Children’s Product Safety Laws Taking Effect in February; Guidance Intended for Resellers of Children’s Products, Thrift and Consignment Stores,” was supposed to clarify the confusing new law. Instead it left many more important questions still unanswered.

Although the clarification does state that resale stores can continue to sell children’s toys and clothing without being required to test each individual product for lead, the Commission’s statement warns that the penalties are high for selling children’s products that do contain lead… and that violators will face strict penalties. A reprieve of sorts, but it still sounds a lot like a no-win situation, doesn’t it?

The new law requires that domestic manufacturers and importers certify that children’s products made after February 10 meet all the new safety standards and the lead ban. Sellers of used children’s products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards.

The new safety law does not require resellers to test children’s products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold. However, resellers cannot sell children’s products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties.

While CPSC expects every company to comply fully with the new laws resellers should pay special attention to certain product categories. Among these are recalled children’s products, particularly cribs and play yards; children’s products that may contain lead, such as children’s jewelry and painted wooden or metal toys; flimsily made toys that are easily breakable into small parts; toys that lack the required age warnings; and dolls and stuffed toys that have buttons, eyes, noses or other small parts that are not securely fastened and could present a choking hazard for young children.

–press release from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, January 8, 2009

There were no clarifications or reassurances for the handcrafters and small businesses selling new items on a small scale, or for the people selling used children’s toys, books, and clothing online. The public anger isn’t going to go away on this issue. Look for more clarifying press releases coming soon…

To read more:

• Resellers breathe sigh of relief after lead-testing law is eased; secondhand stores won’t have to check all items for children
• Consumers, shop owners breathe big sigh of relief
• Lead rule weighs on kids’ clothiers
• Resellers spared lead tests for toys
• Consignment, thrift store owners questioning lead law standards
• Safety law has consignment store owners and sellers of homemade baby items concerned

Hmmm...one could easily starve...

especially if they relied on me to cook on the cookstove :o(

I'll admit it. Were that my only source of cooking, we'd go hungry.

I did get the fires going yesterday -- I cheated and filled the firebox with large coals from the heater -- but I couldn't have fried an egg on that stove if my life had depended on it :o( I simply couldn't keep (or get?) it hot enough. I can't imagine baking in it at all.

I'm a sorry excuse for a true homesteader looking to be off-the-grid. Goodness, one of the major task of an off-grid homestead is figuring out HOW TO EAT. I have 9 people here beside myself who would certainly be relying on my abilities in the kitchen and on that cookstove were we to take that step to self-reliance and all.

And we'd be eating store-bought bread and cold sandwiches considering yesterday's waste of time :o(




Ok, pity party over. I'm stubborn. I'm going to get the better of that stove and that's all there is to it. I don't particularly like cold sandwiches. I want hot bread I've made myself...and maybe even some hot ham and melted cheese on my sandwiches. Even if it's PB&J, I prefer my bread toasted, so HA! I have no choice. I have to learn how to build a decent and somewhat substantial fire in that firebox. I have to learn how to not only cook decently, but get it going well enough for the oven to be of use for me. Even with the electric range I use my oven more than I use anything else. Learning to use that oven is a big deal around here.

Tips, thoughts, ideas...help!

Ahhh...the warmth of wood...

Sure, it isn't exactly all that cold right now here, but still...it's getting cold still overnight, down in the mid to upper 20's.

It was cold in here Friday and Saturday with windows being pulled out, Dewey coming in and out with cement board, blocks, pipe, etc. And the camera, well, it's all in the person using it I suppose. It's our video camera -- a bit touchy with focus indoors moreso than outdoors. Excuse the fuzzy photos :o(

I once had double front windows in that room. And a sewing room filled with all my sewing goodies and fabrics and such.


Dewey and Matthew are putting up the cement board on the floor and walls. Note that we started well early enough...yet it's getting dark and we are still on the cement boards...
Seeing as it was growing a bit too dark (and cold) to piddle about outside, we concentrated on putting the blocks down over the cement board for the flooring/hearth, etc.


Saturday, Matthew helped line up the pipe for Dewey to anchor in place (they are just a touch inward, but not too bad)...oh wait, I didn't buy anything for mounting and anchoring :o( Those little white legs at the roofline there...LOL, necessity IS the mother of invention, right? Those are my shelf brackets from a shelf that was in the sewing room. Dewey can be resourceful when he's not on the job in the big city :o)

Dewey figured as long as he was framing up windows and covering the are with that cement board, he might as well go ahead and put in the cookstove...yeah for me :o)

Once the heater is given a much better cleaning and maybe a good coat of stove black or something, it will look better. That, and some paint on the cement boards on the wall...and after I finish figuring out where to relocate some of the remnants from the room-that-was...
Ain't that a pretty fire there? There is some sort of sensor that kicks in the blower...and wow does it blow! I burnt my arm today from the heat coming out of the blowers (you can barely see them along either side of the door there...) Ah-ha...first casualty and teaching moment of the wood heating experience. The olders have all grown up with wood heat, but from Abigail (8) on down, they don't really remember much of it.

Here's the fire in the firebox of the cookstove :o) Isn't it pretty? Not that I have Clue One what I'm doing, but I boiled water on it once we tested it out here. That's a start, right? Now to get a fire built for real cooking...and learning to do some baking.

I'm right proud of my husband, coming home to get some heat for his woman and the children :o) Right now, over there in Arkansas, it's getting cold tonight...and he is sitting without any heat of his own. The furnace seems to have issues of its own, and it fried it's own motor now. He called the lease company and they said they'd send someone out tomorrow.

Wish I could send you some of this heat, honey...it's really really warm in here.

BRRR BRRR and triple BRRR!!

Ok, when I called Dewey and told him I needed heat and we needed to put the woodstove in, I guess we had different thoughts LOL.

To me, that statement means GET HEAT :o)

To Dewey, it means ok, rip out the 2 front windows.

Frigid 13 outside right now, and my poor 'I hate winter' husband is standing outside framing what once was a set of double windows for my stove pipe. Last night, after driving all over from Corinth to Tupelo, we found all the Durock we needed (cement board) and he covered the entire front half of my sewing room, floors and walls.

This morning, he pulled out the windows from the outside, and is framing up for the outside sheeting and the wall thimbles to go through for the pipe.

Notice the use of the plural there on thimbles??????

He decided it was plain stupid to do all that work for the heater and later do the cookstove. So he's doing them BOTH now!!!! He took out both windows, side by side, and is installing the heater and the cookstove today.

I'm excited...I'm freezing in here, but I'm excited :o)

Last night we put the space heater into the hallway and closed the door so the heat filled the children's room very nicely. The other heater went into our room. The living spaces here dropped down really cold, but at least we slept warm enough. We have baking and such to do today so that warmed it up good.

The heat pump chugged along at 1/4 speed it seems all night. Not enough to bring the temps up inside at all -- personally, I think we just twirled the electric meter and threw money out the door, but.... -- Dewey managed to get it putting out something that resembled a slightly heated breeze. We maintained about 42 last night inside the living spaces out here.

I took lots of pictures of the poor guy working in cramped quarters here. He laid out the cement board on the floor and up the walls for the woodstove. I'll worry about painting it later -- I just can't wait for real heat ;o) He's framing the outside windows up for the outer sheeting now, then he'll cut the wall thimbles in. I need to find some heat-tempered/resistant caulking stuff (yeah, I'm so technical, aren't I?) and we need some mortar mix yet as well. They didn't have it last night at the one store.

I'm off to put another mega roast in the oven for today. I'm going to slow cook it until about 4 or 5 this evening...I want the heat of the oven, but I want to entice my dear hubby with the smells of beef and mushrooms simmering all day in the oven, too :o)