Joys in the Journey

Q & A- April 30, 2008

2008-04-30T04:28:00.003-04:00

I'm working my way... ever so slowly...through emails and letters....

Which oil is best… organic, expeller-pressed or cold pressed? - J.M. in OK

Actually, cold pressed oils are simply oils that have been expeller pressed at a much lower temperature (I believe it is 120 degrees) that preserves the flavor of the nut/seed, and does not change the chemical makeup of the oil.

Most conventional oils are obtained by methods that use chemicals to remove the oil from the nut/seed, and at very high temperatures, which changes the oil’s molecular status.

If you can not find organic cold pressed, go with the organic expeller pressed. Avoid conventional oils that are obtained using the harsh chemicals in the process of extraction.

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I noticed in your laundry detergent recipes, you do you not suggest Fels Naptha for making homemade laundry detergent. Do you have another brand to suggest? Ivory or something along those lines?

My goal is to make my products as natural as possible. And if making it as natural as possible is the goal, Fels Naptha is not all that natural.

Fels Naptha of old was used at a time when everyone's soaps were just tallow and lye based soaps. Fels Naptha came on the scene and provided superior stain removal capabilities. However, now owned by the DIAL corporation, Fels Naptha listsas its ingredients cleaners, stain and soil removers, chelating agents, perfumes, and petrochemicals. These are chemicals we are trying to avoid!!!

I use shredded soaps from my Shade Tree Cottage soaps, as these are completely natural. I'll be offering shredded soap packages in the store soon.

As an aside, Fels Naptha is a folk remedy for poison ivy. Breaks through the oils of the plant on the skin to prevent outbreak/rash. But DO NOT USE for bathing....

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You've mentioned peak oil and our addiction to petroleum products before. Do you have any good sites or resources to suggest for me to teach my children about it? I think now, with the price of oil and all the talk about us running out, is a good time for us to teach something about it in our homeschool. Any help would be appreciated... Tanya in WI

I would suggest you read this informative website for a primer, and then perhaps do a google search for petrolism (the term used to describe our dependence on petroleum and the use of profits from the sale of petrol to fund terrorist/unfriendly governments policies and plans). It is a very interesting subject, and can be easily explored in your world government or modern history portions of your homeschool.

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My son is interested in an environmentally friendly job where he can put his conservation and faith into action. He is the one who showed me your blog, and I'm interested to find out what you think of this? He wants very much to work in field versus legislative or bureaucratic. His science grades are phenomenal, and I have no doubt he will use his talents for the glory of God. Do you have any suggestions for curriculum or good books for his last two years of high school (I homeschool my seven children), and any job suggestions too?

You must be very proud of your son for showing such maturity, and may I give a pat on the back for allowing your child the room to bloom! My obvious suggestions would be load up on the sciences- any and all including biology, chemistry, physics, and even astronomy. Perhaps even add environmental engineering to the list. Also, find out if you can enroll in your local community college during his last two years. Many colleges allow you to take courses (cheaper than universities) and they count for both high school credit and college credits. I would also have him read about ecology and biographies of naturalists. Some of the best books I would suggest would be those by Wendell Berry, John Muir, J. J Audubon, John Burroughs, Thoreau, and even Rachel Carson.

Related work and employment is almost too numerous to mention. One of the best resources I've found is the Environmental Job Listings website or you can look up horticultural jobs or research WWOOF jobs. I am researching both for future workamping and garden work.

Hope this helps, and God bless!!!

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I want to increase my family’s intake of dark, leafy green veggies, but it is really hard to make them eat them. They complain they are bitter and chewy. I am going to be getting huge amounts of unusual greens from our own garden, and now belong to our local CSA. Can you help me come up with a way to get them to eat them, and if not too hard, make it taste good?

You didn’t mention whether you are steaming, stir-frying, baking, or eating them raw. All of those ways are great ways to incorporate those dark and leafy green vegetables.

Try stealthing them into your pizza or spaghetti sauces, chopped if necessary. I make this awesome spanikopita with green leafy vegetables that is out of this world. Or perhaps chopped, you can add them to your frittatas. You can also put them in baked lasagna, or try adding them to your juicing protocols. Apples and bananas hide the bitterness of the ‘green leafys’ very well in juices.

Here’s my favorite way to enjoy greens with any meal, takes about fifteen minutes to make, and it is absolutely delicious. I also sometimes serve this as a meal with a plate of cheeses, or some fresh baked focaccia with organic extra virgin olive oil for dipping.

Carla’s Greens, Garlic, and Oil

2-4 Tbsp. of organic extra virgin olive oil
3-4 cloves of fresh garlic (either bruised for light garlic taste, sliced for perfect garlic taste, or minced for the ultimate!)
1 red onion, sliced thin
Fresh greens- collards, kale, broccoli rabe, spinach and broccoli etc…
Sea Salt
Fresh ground pepper
Red pepper flakes
Grated zest of a lemon
Freshly shaven Parmesan, or crumbled Feta

Put oil, garlic, and onion into deep saucepan/skillet. Heat to medium until onions begin to sizzle. Add the salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to the pan. Saute for about 4 minutes until the onions are limp. Add the sliced or chopped veggies to the skillet (only slice/chop right before putting in skillet to avoid mineral loss and oxidation). Stir the greens into the garlic and onions, and add the lemon zest. Season to taste with the sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Saute until vegetables are deep green and slightly limp.

Plate this wonderful side dish on a warm platter, sprinkle with cheese if desired, a dash of fresh olive oil, and serve to your family… who are waiting at the table, drooling from the smell filling the house. Enjoy!

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I was thrilled to meet you in Doylestown a few weeks back. You are exactly what I thought you'd be like. Bright, energetic, and fun! I meant to ask you before the group parted where you got your necklace from. It's beautiful and I loved the descriptive words on it. If it's not too much trouble, would you send me a link or address from the company? - E. J. from Perkasie

Long story short... visit Lisa Leonard's website for the most gorgeous, fresh and funky, handmade jewelry.

Lisa is an awesome Christian...mom to two boys, and a creative genius when designing jewelry. I was introduced to Lisa because we both have the same hair. Truly... a friend sent me the link saying she found someone with hair as 'unique' as mine. I love that word... unique.

I fell in love with her, her designs, and the piece pictured above is the one I have. It states my goals... my path... my journey... right now:

EXPLORE ~ DARE ~ DISCOVER ~ GROW ~ BECOME

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Is the possibility of being a Jew something that affected your study of the Lord's feasts? Is this what changed your celebrations like Easter? - Kate in MA

How did you begin your study of Torah?

I remember tuning in to a show on Sky Angel during the early 90's. The gentleman was explaining the signifigance of Yeshua's word and life and ministry and how it was ripe with Jewish customs and fulfilled Jewish laws and prophecy.

And then he began telling me a Christian love story. And how the Jewish bridegroom would come to take me away; to a home he had prepared for me.

That gentleman was Zola Levitt, now with YHVH, transformed into eternity. I miss him...

As I studied materials from Zola's ministry, as well as others, it revealed so much truth to my heart that sometimes it felt like I was going to burst! When you see for the first time, you dance with the brilliant rays of color that suddenly fill your eyes...

What I mean was I had been reading the Hebrew text, written by Hebrews, directed at the Hebrews, with Hellenistic (Greek) glasses on. Everything I read was interpreted through those glasses. Things were grey and muddled and misunderstood. Ideas and commands and true understanding were out of reach, at least in my teensy brain, until I studied Hebrew culture. It was like standing in the grove of the tallest trees, and realizing I was actually in the biggest forest. Awakening...

You might find a good jump start for the thinking process by reading and studying along with this college course.

I don't want to overwhelm anyone, so feel free to ask me for more information or links...

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I cannot wait until summer to make sun teas. Can you give me some recipes for good ones?

Please be sure to consume the tea within one day, no matter if herbs, teas, or a tisane. The bacteria that breeds in it, especially during warmer months, can make you deathly ill if you don't take care.

A good quick read can be found here...

http://www.snopes.com/food/prepare/suntea.asp

I'm working on a class and ebook with tea recipes. Stay tuned for the recipes....

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More questions next time....

Shalom,

Carla Lynne

Tiptoe through the Tulips

2008-04-27T06:11:00.003-04:00

OK... don't tiptoe, but walk, run, hike, and frolic... and do it barefooted!!!

Most folks think the thicker and more supportive their shoes are, the more comfortable they will be. But the opposite is true. By using your super supportive shoes with inserts, pads, and specially designed soles, you are using them as a crutch, and your feet (and back, knees, neck, and joints) are going to pay for their dependence on that crutch later in life. If you are a lady who wears those Byzantine-like torture devices we call shoes that contort your feet into unnatural shapes and pay scant attention to human anatomy, you are asking for problems down the road.

I always recommend that folks go barefoot. Alot. Through the house, into the yard, and if you can, go walking or hiking barefoot. Make sure you are looking where you walk, and allow your feet to mold to your environment. Rocks, sticks, leaves, and trails take on a new feel, literally, when you use your feet as part of your sensory system.

You won't ruin your feet, or develop rock hard skin and callouses, in fact, your feet will be nicely shaped and smooth, and will feel energized and alive. Instead of referring to those 'tired old dogs' you'll be following your dancing feet everywhere.

Walking with shoes on takes away from the natural sense of balance that is built into your feet. You recompense for this misalignment by walking 'abnormally', which puts stress on your bones, ligaments, spine, neck, hips, knees, and feet. Walking barefoot allows the 20,000 some sensors on your feet to send signals to your body to allow you to walk correctly, no matter the terrain.

If it hurts when you walk barefoot, you are walking wrong, and probably conditioned to do so by the shoes you are wearing. We were not supposed to walk with the heel first, but instead with and on the balls of our feet. Cushioning our heels (ala today's shoes) causes us to slam our feet down much harder (on the heel first) in order to get sufficient stimulation for balance. Your feet get more abuse from hard surfaces in shoes than barefoot.

Padding your feet is in a sense, gagging them from telling you are walking wrong ... and causing your body to adjust to walk incorrectly. This can manifest itself through spinal sublixations, stiff shoulders, headaches, backaches, knee and joint disintegration, and a malady of foot problems.

I know... it seems counterintuitive to leave your tender pads, heels, and toes open to the harsh, rough terrain that we encounter each day, and one might remark that it would hurt to walk down the street or pavement, or even across your yard, without the comfort of shoes. But it doesn't, and you'll quickly find your body... realigning itself to walk correctly.

While I recommend you go shoeless, don't start out running the marathon barefoot. Start slow and ramp it up over the coming weeks and months. Spring and summer times are perfect for conditioning your feet to get used to going barefoot, and foot soaks and conditioner, as in the form of balms, lotions, and oils to keep feet from becoming dry and cracked, are also requirements to having them stay strong, yet soft and attractive.

I try to make my children go barefoot as much as possible. Yes, their feet get dirty... we found baths work great to remove dirt and mud from the feet. And in situations such as public restrooms and bathhouses, creek beds and lakes, I purchased those swimming/hiking shoes from Teva that are uber comfy and easy to slip on quickly. Some places require you to wear shoes, such as stores, work, or church. For those situations when you cannot go barefoot, take a look at some of these shoe styles to help:

Good ol' Converse. Yeah, bo bo's. Flat sole with minimal padding. If you play sports, you know how strong your feet feel when you play in bo bo's. I just got rid of a pair I wore in high school!!!

Cheapy flip flops. Flat. No sole. ($5 - $15) Perfect for keeping feet from injury or for shopping, church, etc...

Vibrams- don't you dare laugh until you try a pair on. I don't have them, but my capitalist cravings say BUY!!!

Birkenstocks- classic and comfortable. Costs much but worth it. Still have two pairs over 15 years old each!

Nike- Free if you run, hike, or exercise and want to have a good training shoe, Nike- Free is the shoe to have. The shoe is designed to simulate barefoot action, and is used extensively in sports training to build stronger feet muscles and coordination.
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For those of you who are hiking barefoot, check out how to sneak up on wildlife by walking like a fox. It really works and can mean the difference on your being able to get close to an animal to sketch or photograph, or just enjoy it.

How to Fox Walk

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A site with a bunch of information on the environmental benefits to walking barefoot in the woods is the Barefoot Hikers site. If you are wildcrafter like me, you should be walking light... no compacted soil, no imprint to offend or impede vibrant ecosystems, and more...

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The Parents for Barefooted Children website is an awesome place to visit if you need more information. Podiatry reviews, where to's and where not's, and more.

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UPDATE: I have found my new workboots from heaven. The Lord knows I've been praying for a pair... mine are currently fourteen years old and still kicking, albeit they look like they are holding together with a thread...

Having two pair of Doc Martens during my punk heyday, I can remember how durable and comfortable they were. I traded both pair to a friend when I was 19 for a used guitar she had acquired. I think I got the short stick in the deal...

But alas... check out the boot that is on top of my list. These are rugged, durable, with a touch of flowers. How awesome is this????

Shalom,

Carla Lynne

Sojourning: One Year Later

2008-04-22T04:46:00.001-04:00

One year later… the rant and the report…and a few reflections and ruminations…

Be prepared… grab a cup of herb tea 'cause this is a pretty long post.

I get a lot of emails from all sorts of good folks. I like those a lot. Keep ‘em coming and I’ll write you personally… when I can. Keep reading to the bottom of the post to get the latest report on what’s happening….

The Rant

Some emails I get are from those that that need to find another email address to send their musings. You obviously have too much time on your hands and need a hobby. I hear crocheting is good… haven’t tried it but I know it requires you to use both hands so that’ll prevent you from being able to type ignorant (read- uneducated) emails. Honestly, such poorly considered words and observations…..

And so… the first part…otherwise being directed to those readers who feel so strongly that they need to send me emails calling me names…(tree hugger, herbwitch, gypsy, pagan christian, etc…) or how crazy I am for using herbs or RV’ing. I humbly submit what may be perceived by other, more kind folk as somewhat of a rant….

It’s been exactly one year. 365 days since we closed the door on the sticks and bricks and followed the leading to go into the wilderness… among the wild things.

One year into our adventure and we are utterly convinced that this was the best thing we could have done. Individually… and as a family. Each of us could tell you how much this has changed us… though, I’d be quick to say we haven’t changed… but instead blossomed and flourished. It’s allowed our spirits to rise… almost like they seemed contained before… like the ceiling stopped our ability to dream… and now with the open canopy of the heavenlies surrounding us, the literal ‘sky is the limit’ is the norm on how we think and act. Our thoughts, dreams, and actions are much different than if we had remained chained to what some still call ‘the American dream.’ And as a family… we have grown closer… so much closer…

I don’t know why we are wired so different from our extended families… or even friends and contemporaries. A raw and emotional incident with a family member recently showed me just how different I really am. I don’t know why… but as my man Popeye would say…

“I am, what I am, and that’s all that I am.”

I just am…

For me personally, I garnered no fulfillment… no nourishment for the soul in the life we were leading… big house… big bills… big church, and big life. Husband working harder making less and less… working hard for our family and spending everything we make trying to live.

I don’t know why but now I feel like belting out a line from a CCR song:

… working for the man, every night and day…but I never got a minute of peace… worrying ‘bout the way things might have been…

But we also bought… lots… when we had money. Computers, books, clothes, bikes, toys… whatever it was that we wanted to consume. It’s an ugly and agile accomplishment. Consuming. It ravages, rapes, and ruins…

Using my super power- perfect hindsight, I see it is contrary of what a family… my family… and life… my life… should be.

Now lest you think I have rose colored glasses on and I’m trying to escape reality, let me assure you I’m not. I’m 41 years old, and certainly not green behind the ears. I have no delusions about sunshine, butterflies and lollipop lands. I just think folks are wired differently… each of us is individually knit together by the Creator… and therefore, each of us is different. We need to have the courage to live accordingly… and be true to the calling and path that He has set our feet upon… even if those around us don’t ‘get it’. To live a life of authenticity and truth…

Remember Polonius’ words in Shakepeare’s Hamlet:

Neither a borrower nor a lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
This above all: to thine ownself be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.

Learn it. Live it. Love it.

I’m really not interested in convincing folks of anything they are not open to considering, be it herb medicine, homebirthing, homeschooling, or RV living. I can't convince you of your need for Christ unless the Holy Spirit convinces you first, so let's not even debate that. I used to be the opposite in my 20’s. I felt like I had to convince everyone of my point… and it fostered much negativity. This life... be it nomadic or too radical... to some rebellious (our desire to not be churched but to instead meet as the early church in small groups) or even too simple (what I have is what I have).. is not for everyone… but in counting the costs…. financially, emotionally, spiritually, ecologically… we decided it was perfect for OUR family.

So perhaps instead of sending lengthy emails micromanaging my life, you might want to call a family meeting and figure out what works best for YOUR family.

As far as using herbs and making plant medicine, I’m way too busy planting it and making it right now to get into any lengthy discourse with you. And like I said, I have no plans on making it my priority to convince you of something you are not open to considering…

‘nuff said…

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The Report

Now onto the Report, otherwise directed at those kind folks who read this blog and who send nice emails and comments… I can feel the love…

It’s been awhile since I was able to sit down to get a post started here. But it’s a good thing. I’ve been busy, busy, busy. And those of you… lots of you… who call me daily and write me often and who have let me know you are lifting us constantly in prayer… I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Big RV in the Big Woods

We’ve decided to stay at a charming campground in Upper Black Eddy called Colonial Woods Family Resort until October of this year. We camped here last year and loved it! Lots of wooded sites and trails for exploring, ponds for fishing, and enough activities to keep us busy this season! Weekend community dinners, miniature golf, and ping pong too (anyone up for a game???)! Archery, big pool and splash pool and fountain for kids….hayrides, tennis, and ice cream socials. They just recently added wifi (woo hoo) so I’m totally in love. If you’re in the area, want to plan a great camping trip, or want to stop by… well… now you know where I am. What we do after here… well… everything is an option… workkamping… planting trees in North Carolina… managing the Cape Hatteras lighthouse… managing a fish hatchery… even working with a well known circus!!! All I know is we have lots of room and would love to have you visit for a BBQ or swim… get in touch with me at carlalynne@fmgirl.com or call me 267-816-0848 and I’ll give you directions….

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Lightening the Load… one year later…

All of the goods that were left in storage for the past year have been weaned down over the last week to less than half of the unit. That’s another ‘lightening of the load’… and everyone is happy about it- and we aren’t finished yet! When we moved into the RV’s, the children, ok… even I had trouble getting rid of some of our things. Kept thinking it is valuable, or that I would need it someday. Well 365 ‘somedays’ came and went and it wasn’t needed. So off to Goodwill and thrift shops it went. I can’t describe how good it felt. For those about to embark on a similar journey, or just simplifying, I highly recommend trying something like what we did. Put it in storage, or a basement or garage. See if you need it. Chances are you’ll find you don’t. Our goal is to completely empty the unit by summer’s end. I’ll keep you informed…

On the subject of lightening the load… I have a huge- 7 feet tall, wood shelf in brand new condition. We had it in our living room filled with books. Here it is at R&F
http://www.raymourflanigan.com/catalog/details.asp?ID=1747
I’ve been holding onto it…. don’t know why. Want it? Make a reasonable donation ($100 ?) to my solar fund and it’s yours. Get in touch with me at carlalynne@fmgirl.com , or call me at 267-816-0848.

One thing I’ve purposed to get rid of over the next month is the rest of the books from our homeschool library. I managed to sell quite a few… but I know times are tough and the last thing folks have money for is books. So… if you are a homeschooler in Pennsylvania, or near where we are staying this summer, get in touch with me and I’ll give you a whole bunch of books… I mean really good books… for a song. Ok… well a donation. If you are struggling financially and don’t have the money for lots of books… I hope this will be a blessing and your kids will enjoy reading these classics like mine have. If you want to pay for shipping, I’ll ship them to you instead. Those who donate money for the books would be helping me save for the inverter and solar package we are building for the RV. Just get in touch with me at carlalynne@fmgirl.com and we’ll talk books (ooh… aahhh… one of my favorite things to discuss…)

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Solar Fund

Some have asked if they can donate money… and while my first inclination is always to say ‘no’, I realize some folks have benefited from my talks- phone or email, walks, and writings and would like to give something back. So I’ve set up my solar fund for you to contribute to, and I’m sneaking money from my Shade Tree Cottage sales in there too! Any donation is appreciated and a blessing… and can be sent through paypal to carlalynne@fmgirl.com

What are we going to do with the solar fund? Here are our three goals for the summer or by autumn:

1) Build two solar dehydrators- contained and able to be transported as we travel. The boys have already drafted two models, and are making the material list this week. I took my money from the fund and will be purchasing the convection plate and plate glass for the top. Pretty exciting!!!

2) You may remember me talking about our frig. breaking last summer, and our living out of a cooler, and eating locally all year. We are doing that again, however, we do now have an electric refrigerator in the trailer in anticipation of the solar hookup we are constructing for it. Some monies will go to this project… marine batteries, cable, hookups, inverter and the all encompassing solar panel. We are currently researching building our own solar cell to battle the costs of a pre-constructed one… stay tuned….

3) We are going to be replacing the hot water heater and instead of installing a customary electric or propane model, we are constructing a solar/propane model. Still working on it… stay tuned….

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Hair today… gone tomorrow…

Couldn’t resist….To those who asked if I cut my hair, the answer is yes. I had it done before my birthday in February. All those long locks are gone, and this shorter ‘do is here to stay. I like it a lot better… and so does my crew. Mike says it makes me look spritely and lively… ya think? My kids say it’s fresh, it’s funky… it’s tang-zest-icy!!!!

It’s a little longer than the picture over on the sidebar, and as my little one says… curry, curry, curry! I could never wear my hair short because the curls have a mind of their own… but this haircut helps tame the mane. I still get those looks where you know the people are thinking… did she make her hair do that, or is it supposed to look like that….or did she just wake up? HA! I just tell folks it has a mind of its own and watch out or you might get lost in there…

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Shade Tree Cottage and Shade Tree Herbals

I spent almost two weeks making soaps and some other goods for Shade Tree Cottage. The soaps are almost done curing and ready for packaging. I’ve added a whole new section called Shade Tree Herbals which deals strictly with the herbs, tinctures, salves, teas, classes and consultations, etc… and…. I’m going to be carrying a bunch of new products including recycled material broom skirts, recycled leather journals, and more!!! Be looking for some big announcements about the reopening in the next weeks and keep an eye on the site for my speaking engagements and classes/workshops. You can access my webpage by now typing in http://www.shadetreecottage.com/ or http://www.shadetreeherbals.com/

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Writings…

I just finished submitting three articles to some great magazines in time for their publication dates. It kept me busy, but it is very rewarding to this writer to be commissioned and asked to pen pieces for different periodicals.

Keep an eye on The Herb Companion, Organic Gardening, and Beautiful Girlhood for my articles soon. I’ll let you know when they go to print…

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Consultations and Personal Education

I’ve opened some time for consultations or personal education while I’m stationary here in PA. I’m not charging by the hour any longer, instead leaving it up to the person to decide what they should donate for my time and help. Some are able to give more and allow me the ability to help those who have less. It is my belief you should give because it feels good… feels right, not until it hurts or is forced out of your hand.

My hope is to make herbal medicine and education affordable- I know how much classes, consultations, books, etc… can cost. I would also like to help those folks who are overlooked or shunned by allopathic principalities. It is my hope to encourage those educating themselves or those who want to learn about herbal medicine to help stay healthy and to assist the healing processes of their bodies when necessary. Get in touch with me for more information at carlalynne@fmgirl.com or 267-816-0848.

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Blooming Glen Farm

For the past few weeks, I’ve been collaborating with farmers Tom Murtha and Tricia Borneman from Blooming Glen Farm, a vibrant and growing local CSA farm here in Pennsylvania. I’m honored to be helping them expand their existing children’s garden, with its awesome sunflowers, teepee rabbit trails for the children to crawl around… safe and shaded from the summer heat, and lavender and anise hyssop, to include more medicinal herbs including Angelica archangelica, Borago officinalis, Tanacetum parthenium, Althaea officinalis, and Leonurus cardiaca just to name a few. We’ve sown the seeds and they are peeking up… sprouting in the greenhouse. You’ll find me talking about this farm and garden lots! I’ll be working around there this summer; sowing, growing and harvesting what I pray is a bountiful harvest of beautiful plants and teaching others to do the same. You can read more about the farm, classes, and my awesome new friends at http://www.bloomingglenfarm.com/ .

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Classes, Intensives, and Herb Walks

I’m giving some herb and herbal medicine talks and walks in the eastern Pennsylvania region (well, some in a few other states, too!)

First, I’ll be giving classes at Blooming Glen CSA Farm (check out the latest newsletter ) and I’ll be adding more there soon. Some folks who wanted to know where I’m speaking can get in touch with me at carlalynne@fmgirl.com or visit my Shade Tree Cottage website. Be sure to check back often as I’m sure impromptu classes will be scheduled and I’ll put them on the website for your convenience. For the Blooming Glen Farm classes, they have a great online calendar to get details.

If you are one of the many who have written or called, and said they vacation around here… or one of my many new full timer friends… let me know when you’ll be in the area and we’ll get together. I can organize a campout or block of sites for us… lots of sites in this gorgeous park, and perhaps a class or two at the pavilion or ponds. Even if you can’t stay the night, give me a call or email and we’ll get together… you can buy day passes and we’ll walk and talk… and swim! I’d love to have you come and enjoy some good food, friendship, and if you are an herb nerd like me, well… we’ll have a good time, won’t we???

I’ve got two walks over at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve for May… it’s absolutely gorgeous and so very serene. I’ll be adding more classes at Blooming Glen CSA Farm online sometime towards the end of May. Possibly (?)… maybe…thinking of doing some week night classes. I might do some solar dehydrating, herbal cordials, kids summer health….maybe a herbal intensive towards summer or fall…some others rolling around in my head…and maybe an herb walk or two… stay tuned and check out the Shade Tree Herbals site for more details.

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Herb Festivals, Open Houses, and Happenings (or where you’ll find me this summer!)

I enjoyed meeting all of the folks who showed up for the Earth Day/Open House at Blooming Glen Farm. The signs that the children constructed are delightful, and seeing all the toddlers romp through the teepees gave me inspiration for more and more additions to the garden! Good burgers from Rosenberger’s own pastured beef stock were delicious and whoever brewed the mint tea needs a big pat on the back! It was quite refreshing on such a hot day!!! Farmers Tom and Tricia gave excellent and informative tours… and I’m so watching over the field of dreams… a full 1/3 acre of stiffnecked garlic! I’ve had it before and am looking forward to drying some like my friend, Herrick Kimball does. Yum… yum… yum!!! I’m looking forward to working side by side with you all this coming season… seeding, weeding, picking, working, … and teaching among the botanicals in the gardens!

Mercer Museum Folk Festival- May 10-11, 2008
Bowman’s Wildflower Preserve Native Plant Sale- May 10-11, 2008
It’s going to be a busy weekend on Mother’s Day! I’ll be enjoying myself here at the Folk Festival with the kids… colonial demonstrations, spinning (I’ll be thinking of my Grandma!), juried craftsman, beer making and more! But before I head over there, I’m going to be at the native plant sale at Bowman’s Wildflower Preserve, hopefully getting some goodies for the children’s and medicinal herb gardens at Blooming Glen CSA farm. I’ve got my eyes on the Opuntia humifusa (Prickly pear cactus), Asclepias tuberose (Butterfly weed), Eryngium yuccifolium (Rattlesnake master) and more! Get in touch with me if you are going to the sale or festival and we’ll meet up!

Baltimore Herb Festival – May 24, 2008
This is the 21st year for the festival (and it’s on Memorial Day weekend), and I wouldn’t want to miss it. For those who are searching for new reliable source contacts for herbs and plants (face to face agriculture), these festivals and faires are superb! You always leave the festivals learning something new and with a handful of new friends. Come gaze at all the herbs, plants, herbal goods, and be sure to take Jim’s class on Medicinal Herbs of the Bible. Afterwards, I’m having tea at the Orianda house. It’s a thrill being around others who are as herb nerdy as me! Get in touch with me at 267-816-0848 and we’ll organize a carpool, campout, or meet for lunch or tea.

Medicines from the Earth Symposium- May 31- June 2, 2008
I’m not able to attend this symposium in NC as I have a class, but if any of you are in the area… get there! David Winston, Cascade Anderson Gellar, Paul Bergner, Mary Bove, and more greats. I’m chomping at the bit… ok, bark, to attend the walks with David Winston and others, and learn more about the seaweeds too.

Pennsylvania Lavendar Festival- June 13-15, 2008
I have found there are few things as divine as standing in the middle of a lavender field in the summer. I’ll be here at the festival… probably smiling wide eyed among the purple blossoms, and gathering bunches for homemade lavender wands. I’m also going to look at some different varieties to grow and use in some of my Shade Tree Cottage products. Come by and visit!!!

Kutztown German Folk Festival- June 28- July 6, 2008
If you have never been to this festival, you are in for a real surprise. I enjoy it immensely, and always learn something new. German and Dutch culture, food, crafts, quilts, and more. I learned a lot here about early German/Dutch/Amish medicine, as well as some folk remedies that I keep in my formulary. I’ll probably be walking around... not speaking anywhere here… except to say ‘goot foot’!

Pocono Garlic Festival- Aug. 30, 31, 2008
The bestest (and stinkiest… in a good way!) garlic festival in the world. Love it or leave it… you all know how I love garlic, so what’s better than thousands of garlic eaters on a hot summer day? Can’t think of much right now. Come visit me at the festival and we’ll sample some great garlic goods together. How about some garlic ice cream, or pickled garlic… perhaps some candied garlic too!! Can you smell the love????

Rosemary House- Mechanicsburg, PA- Sept. 27, 2008
Join me and other herbalists as we gather to hear David Winston speak and teach on Adaptogens, Nervines, and Nootropics, and Herbs For Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief. Register now and get in touch for carpool or camping information.

West Virginia Herb Association Fall Conference- October 31- November 2
We should be heading south about that time, so I might head to this awesome conference in WV. More details coming…

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A Need for Weed... JEWELWEED, that is...

I need it! I’m out and what I froze I recently used in a consultation. I don’t like to wait until summer to get it, as like to have some in use by then. It’s starting to peek around the woods here, and in the creekbed plateau right next to my campsite, but me thinks I’m going to need some soon. Does anyone have a reliable source for jewelweed… like your yard or creekbed that you can pick some to send? Or some frozen or stored you’d like to barter? Get in touch with me at carlalynne@fmgirl.com or call me at 267-816-0848.

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Gobble… gobble…

Can any of you fine folk email or leave a comment and tell me if turkey eggs can be used the same as chicken eggs? The are bigger… speckled, and I can get a bunch of them for free. I’m not sure if I can use them in baking and such… can anyone help?

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Reflections and Ruminations

A few Reflections and Ruminations (and some things I’ve learned)….

I’m sure I’m going to be adding to this… but some things are just sticking in my head of late and I need to pour them out here…

I Dwell in Possibility- a poem from Emily Dickinson and my motto for the year. Memorize this poem and mull it over the next time you take a walk around the lake, in the woods, or across the meadows. Beautiful…

I dwell in Possibility--
A fairer House than Prose--
More numerous of Windows--
Superior--for Doors--
Of Chambers as the Cedars--
Impregnable of Eye--
And for an Everlasting Roof
The Gambrels of the Sky--
Of Visitors--the fairest--
For Occupation--This--
The spreading wide my narrow Hands
To gather Paradise--

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Have you ever had that feeling like you weren’t home… like a rapid awakening from your slumber that left you with the feeling of being in unfamiliar surroundings. Some folks experience it on a basic level…travelers and such. They awaken and can’t figure out where they are… home, office, plane… motel room. Some folks experience it on a much deeper level…

It’s called Xenoiakian (pronounced ‘zee no kee an), and I am meeting more and more travelers searching for home.

Since spending more time, walking and talking in the gardens and woods with my Father, I have the most overwhelming sense that I am closer to home than ever before, and it comforts me, immeasurably. A quote from my readings of C. S. Lewis (this one was ‘Weight of Glory’) over the past year have left me this little nugget to chew on…

Our lifelong nostalgia, our longing to be reunited with something in the universe from which we now feel cut off, to be on the inside of some door which we have always seen from the outside, is no mere neurotic fancy, but the truest index of our real situation. And to be at last summoned inside would be both glory and honor beyond all our merits and also the healing of that old ache.

I’m an alien in this foreign land. A sojourner… a guest. And I long to go home…

But He is faithful and true and so good to send others... weary travelers like me, wandering and meandering the winding paths of life… to remind me that the road seems long and hard, but there is a city whose builder and architect is God (YHWH), and that I’m on the right road.

Someday, heaven…

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The little things ARE the big things. When in the scope of a flashback on my life’s accomplishments… it will be the littlest, tiniest, most hidden moments that are the pinnacle and purpose of my walk this side of eternity. If you don’t have that thought in your head… get it in there.

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Don’t assume- EVER!!! Like when someone puts the Christmas lights up early, don’t assume that they are commercialized, pagan, and missing the whole point of celebrating Christ’s birth. It could be that someone in their family is dying and won’t make it until the holiday, or perhaps their loved one is back on leave from serving in our armed forces, and they are trying to celebrate the holiday before they have to return. You just never know, and when you find out, you might feel like crawling under a rock and having it crush you into tiny pieces. I know I did…

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Take the time to look at people directly in their eyes, shake their hand with vigor, and say thank you. Look for that light in people's eyes....Folks just don’t take the time anymore to do this, but when you do, the smile you receive is the best reward. And possibly a new friend…

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Someone recently asked me what was the best thing about living in an RV. I couldn’t ask them until today. Now this may seem crass, but it struck me as funny. See, it was my turn to use the bathroom... last… and it looked like six folks under 18 had been through there. Toothpaste cap off, empty toilet paper roll, a barrette and rubber band here, scrunchie there… handprints on the mirror, and faucets. You mommas know exactly what I mean. So there I was going pee on the potty… and I was able to clean it all while I did that. Seriously, I started laughing… hysterically. Only in an RV can you clean the bathroom at the same time you are using it. Pure bliss for this mom of a half a dozen active kids…

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Having recently finished a debate with a fellow who felt it necessary to levy names my way when it was clear that the conversation was not going to go his way, I pondered his label of me for weeks….

He called me close-minded. Gasp.

Now I’m sure I was thinking more highly of myself than I ought. I always thought of myself as one who would consider all points, being firmly convinced of my own personal beliefs and thoughts, and not afraid to and aptly willing to give audience to any and all. I mean, in theory, the whole point of debate and discussion was to try to convince someone of your reasoning, thoughts, or point of view. It’s where I get to use all those logic lessons I studied with the kids… in a nice way of course.

But close minded?

And the a recent blog find, Brant, explained it all…

Freethinking means ruling out the supernatural without evidence, while being Closed-Minded means allowing that it's possible.

Makes perfect sense to me. Make mine close mindedness, please….

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I'm sure this post is way too long, but I had months and months worth of great stuff to share. I'll put the rest in another post soon...

Shalom,
Carla Lynne

Eyes of Wonder: Watching the Heavens

2008-02-19T04:44:00.003-05:00

If you've been keeping a moon journal like the one I described before, you are in for a real treat tomorrow night.

On Wednesday, February 20, 2008, a full lunar eclipse will occur over the Americas, turning the moon all shades of red, scarlet, burgundy, amber and more. Some folks will be able to see, for just a short time, a blue or turquoise moon. It will be a total lunar eclipse; the last one until 2010. You can read all about it on this NASA page, which also describes why we see the different hues of red and brilliant bursts of blue.

Grab the kids, snuggle with your beloved, and look up... with eyes of wonder, and enjoy the wonderful celestial theater that YHWH created just for you.

Shalom,

Carla Lynne

A Discussion of a Deadly Sin

2008-02-18T04:44:00.007-05:00

Where you live might determine your favored deadly sin. At least according to this troubling article in Forbes magazine.

More disconcerting to me is the 'fun' attitude with which they give grizzly statistics showing our decline into the abyss. The first line of the article is just so panache; ...the city that has fallen farthest from grace. If only it were so comical dude...

But what is fueling this post is that although not found in any cohesive form in the Bible, the seven deadly sins were a common concept among the early church, being firmly planted in the heads of believers by many great Renaissance writers and painters and the established Roman Catholic Church. Most notably is Dante's references in his classic Divine Comedy.

I like the painting above. It is from Hieronymus Bosch (pronounced like 'boss') an obscure Dutch/Netherland painter who lived during the late 1400's and early 1500's. His work, at the time, was very new and original, imaginative, and very symbolic. He often used half human images and demons to convey man's fallen state.

The snippet above is actually part of a larger painting. It depicts one portion or 'plate' of the seven deadly sins... a very good symbolic gesture... don't you think? We, as humans, crushed from perfection and bonded to our fallen state, are unable to see the rot before us. Satan serves up the plate and it looks divine. It is set out before us every day and we are faced with our desire to consume. We are apt to dine from this bountiful platter with side dishes of greed, or envy, or lust. Our flesh cries out to be satisfied; to be fed, and it only through grace we overcome our daily portion. For this... today, I thank thee, Lord...

One thing I found fascinating about the seven deadly sins is about sloth. See, it's easy to describe lust and it's trappings, and avarice, or gluttony, but what of sloth? What does that mean, exactly? And what of its spiral staircase? Where does it lead?

Early church fathers defined sloth not as excessive laziness, or slowness, or obesity, which is what we generally associate with the word today. Instead, it was used to describe someone who was 'less than joyful'. Sadness, depression, apathy... joy less ness. Uneasy and disquieted with their present position and squandering of their God-given talents. It came to be known by the early middle ages as acedia, which was failure to (shema) love the Lord with all of your mind, body, and soul. To be sad at the world YHWH created, and the circumstances of life, and to keep oneself from enjoying it, and Him. How many folks today are like this... without joy? And wasting their talents. This is something that YHWH has been leading me in my own journey as of late...

Remember this today...that is one of the chief reasons... well, THE reason we were created. What is the chief and highest end of man? To glorify Him... AND...

To enjoy Him... forever.....

How can you enjoy the Lord today...even when the rest of the world is dining from the plates?

Eat of the bread of life....and be satisfied... go out and seek Him... dwell... and be delighted.

Shalom,
Carla Lynne

Thoughts and streams...

2008-02-12T04:51:00.001-05:00

Now being of the opinion that baby's toes are a delicacy and should be smothered in kisses and raspberries, and often, I never quite gave thought of them served up with noodles and lime shrimp...

HT: Mojotrashion- Recycled, Repurposed, and Reconstructed Creations.

That last line sounds alot like my life.
Recycled. Repurposed. Reconstructed.

And the next time you need a healthy convenient breakfast for you and your tribe, just whip out a can of this organic instant pancake batter in a can. Remember- just point, blast, and cook! Maybe I have some 'imitation' real maple syrup around too. I mean, if it says organic, it must be good for you, right?

Winter Bearings

2008-01-17T19:35:00.000-05:00

The snow fell throughout the day and veiled the grey day and night with pristine light and hushed the hurried world around us. And all of the kiddos, and mom thrown in to boot, have a cold and some sort of intestinal bug going through the house. Fevered brows, heaving buckets, and cool drinks of water replaced any snow boots or snowball making. The children are excitedly tracking (using the weather links from my previous post) storm after storm setting itself up to hit the east coast with bigger storms. Their biggest ~~discomfort~~ question is how can a child who is only yeah big (insert height of typical three year old) produce so much nose goo? Where does all that 'stuff' come from, Mom? I'll spare you the graphic pictures of delightful three year old, or the answers I gave while my pulling my copy of 'Blood and Guts' and 'What Makes You Get Boogers and Fart' type books from the shelf. The things a homeschool mom can take and turn into a teachable moment...

I'll instead leave you with a nice image. It's one of my goals this year. When things get hard... grey... to surround myself with beauty....

Isn't that just a beautiful image? I love the 'old English' look ... long and flowing gowns and hair. And flowers. Lots of flowers... and it talks about fearing not... I put that image in my computer for a screen saver.

And this one is in there now too:

It's probably hard to see the words... but it is talking about holding fast....

Sometimes that is tough to do... really tough.

Sometimes you feel like you are the only one. And standing up for what you believe... truth...is hard.

That's why I like to set myself reminders... pictures, bookmarks... book covers, screensavers..... of Him...

To remind me... a perpetual mezuzah all around me...to keep the words inscribed on my doorposts of my soul...

Trailmarkers along the way. Keep going. Stay the course... you are on the right road.

People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:14-16

Want some gorgeous free desktop and graphics like the ones featured here? Check out Source of Joy's website for more inspiration and magnificently designed works of art.

Dreaming of Hummingbirds

2008-01-14T04:57:00.000-05:00

I love those little birdies. They gracefully frolic from bright blossom to another, sipping delicately the nectar of the feast. They are talebearers of the route of evanescence, our own vapored existance, as they appear suddenly to awaken us and then we blink and they are gone.

Most have flown south for the winter, and it is during these cold months, with its week long stretches of low clouds and steel grey skies, that I most crave their resplendent color and vigorous and dexterous motion; to partake of their exhuberant dance with fields of beauty. A testimony... to remind me...

See... the smallest of God's creatures reminds me of the hurried task of life: the eating, the working, the living. They also remind me of the exodus from these earthly bodies that will occur, and quickly; even surpassing the speed of their tiny wings in flight. And how profoundly poetic the dance between the two...

Thankfully, being online I can view some excellent photos of hummingbirds on this site, and think of warmer weather with my tiny friends. And perhaps we'll add Emily Dickinson's poem about hummingbirds to our poetry recitations:

Within my Garden, rides a Bird

Within my Garden, rides a Bird
Upon a single Wheel --
Whose spokes a dizzy Music make
As 'twere a travelling Mill --

He never stops, but slackens
Above the Ripest Rose --
Partakes without alighting
And praises as he goes,

Till every spice is tasted --
And then his Fairy Gig
Reels in remoter atmospheres --
And I rejoin my Dog,

And He and I, perplex us,
If positive, 'twere we --
Or bore the Garden in the Brain
This Curiosity --

But He, the best Logician,
Refers my clumsy eye --
To just vibrating Blossoms!
An Exquisite Reply!

Some other great hummingbird resources to peruse:

Hummingbird Society (join this great society and peruse this site to get great information and help save endangered hummingbirds...)

Hummingbird World

The Hummingbird Website

Journey North - (DON'T miss this site with maps for tracking the migration of these little beauties. Just look at how far their journey is! ) There is also a companion Teaching Resources Manual for some great ideas for library resources, writing exercises, and more!

Hummer Bird Study Group

Hummingbird.net

Shalom,

Carla Lynne

Over Your Head in Wonder

2008-01-11T06:01:00.000-05:00

Winter skies are some of the best for stargazing. Just ask my resident astronomer, Kevin. Even where we are staying now, with the light pollution from suburbia, we are able to view some magnificient skies. One of our goals this year is to get a really good telescope with digital/GPS tracking and stargazing software for good viewing of the heavens.

Thanks to Julie, I have this great link to making your own moon journal. I'll be starting one with the kiddos this evening, and it will work wonderfully with our weather unit. We are currently tracking the big (possibly?) storm for Sunday night and learning how to read charts and forecast models. For those of you who are weather junkies like me, you can really learn alot by studying Henry Margusity's webcasts. I love when he teaches you how to read the signs. Brilliant, brilliant man!

Why do I learn how to read the weather... forecast... prepare? Because it helps with sowing (freezes and frosts), planting (especially if you are gardening by the moon), or harvesting, or sailing, or hiking, or living! Relying on others to tell you the weather is not necessary with today's technology. It's been something my kids get a kick out of, and they are right more than the local weatherman. It's a great time of year to begin a study of weather, for most of the country will experience drastic changes in temperature, cloud cover and different classifications of clouds, weather conditions and more over the next few months.

One of my favorite resources to use for the littles (K-4) is this little gem by Esther Yant called Over Our Heads in Wonder.

Filled with references from the Bible, it also had experiments, explorations, math and language arts activities, poems, weather lore, and more! I used it with my first 'crew' of littles... now I'm blessed to be able to use it again with my second bunch!

Some other great resources I'd like to share:

Info Please- Weather

Sky Diary- Kids Storm

NOAA (be sure to visit the Owlie page for kids!)

National Weather Service (division of NOAA)

Tornado Project

Weather Glossary (every weather word possible!)

Weather and Climate Data (from COLA)

Weather Map Symbols

Big Ol' Page of Weather Experiments

Make Your Own Weather Station

Converting Fahrenheit to Celsius

Weather Quest (don't miss this one... let your children become weather scientists through their own research on this EXCELLENT site!)

Careers in Meterology

A to Z Homeschool's Page on Weather (so much information!)

Does anyone have an excellent website or resource to add for me to use? I'd love to hear it!!

Shalom,

Carla Lynne

Local Eating 2008

2008-01-10T06:18:00.000-05:00

It's a most wonderful time of the year when the seed catalogs start arriving!!! If you don't have your favorite ones on their way, scroll down the sidebar on the right, and click on the plus sign after Agriculture and Gardening Arts. You'll see lots of links to the best seed companies with gorgeous catalogs to peruse...and dream...and sow...

Speaking of sowing, one of my goals this year is to get local, more, wherever we travel. I've been glancing at my Square Foot Gardening book and googling some container ideas. Have you made it a goal? If you haven't started eating more local harvests, then get started by going to the 100 Mile Diet site and get up to speed. Then you can call yourself a locavore, the Oxford Dictionary's 2007 Word of the Year.

And Path to Freedom has now taken the baton and run with it! Their burgeoning 100 Foot Diet Challenge is a remarkable idea based on the victory garden/edible estate idea. From the PTF website:

Victory gardens, also called war gardens or food gardens for defense, were vegetable, fruit and herb gardens planted at private residences in the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom during World War I and World War II to reduce the pressure on the public food supply brought on by the war effort. In addition to indirectly aiding the war effort these gardens were also considered a civil "morale booster" — in that gardeners could feel empowered by their contribution of labor and rewarded by the produce grown. - wikipedia

Make at least one meal a week from only homegrown items. Sounds good! Get over there and sign up and snatch one of those handy dandy buttons too!

I'm going to be doing some local menus and meals here on the blog too, showing how much more tasty and nutritious foods are that are locally produced. Care to join me?

Shalom,

Carla Lynne

Q & A- Personally Speaking

2008-01-09T05:34:00.002-05:00

One of my goals this year is to empty the inbox and answer the questions that are piling up. So join me in my first Q & A for the year 2008!!!

Do you make a list of resolutions or goals for the year?

Yes, I do. I have it in my personal journal and organizer, and it helps me to stay the course...

Are you going to write more about your travels, like locations, museums, and folks you meet? You seem like a person I would enjoy meeting while we travel and camp next summer.... whatcha say?

I haven’t written too much about folks we’ve met as we travel as garnering permission from someone while you’re conversing, or asking them when they are finished speaking if you can blog about this tomorrow is just... not right... and yet you don't want to offend and write about them and shared experiences without permissions. Unless you want to keep it anonymous and generalized. Anyway, I've just been enjoying the fellowship... but as we get ready to travel this year, I am going to talk more about our excursions. And yes, let's plan a get together in the big woods!

How did you get your meat eating family to become vegetarians?

Um... they aren't. I'm not either. I have eaten a vegetarian diet for certain periods of time in my life, mostly for cleansing, detoxing, and fasting purposes. I've used a vegetarian diet for diagnosing certain food allergies in my clients, as well as suggested the strict adherence to a vegetarian diet during certain anti-cancer protocols for some clients, but more often than not I usually suggest that one DOES NOT eat a completely vegetarian diet (or vegan) as a long term plan. Necessary micronutrients and catalysts, as well as essential elements and enzymes cannot be attained using a strictly vegan or vegetarian diet. In addition, I DO NOT recommend folks consume large quantities of soy or soy based products, which is a staple of a vegetarian/vegan diet.

Shalom,

Carla Lynne

Great Green Baby Contests

2008-01-08T05:54:00.000-05:00

Great Green Baby has lots of great organic and 'green' onesies, toys, educational gifts, baby clothes and more listed on their site. And now a contest to make mommas-to-be jump for joy!!!

Great Green Baby is hosting a contest with lots of great sponsor companies. They are on week 8, and the current sponsor is Baby Bam. Get over there and subscribe to their newsletter and sign up to enter!

PBS Airing Complete Jane Austen

2008-01-07T07:19:00.001-05:00

To watch trailer, pause music button in sidebar...

If you love Jane Austen, you are going to love the next few months on PBS...

Perhaps you are like me and are hopelessly in love with Captain Wentworth (Ciaran Hinds in Persuasion) or Col. Brandon (loved Alan Rickman in Sense and Sensibility), loved Mansfied Park for Austen's critique of the evils of primogeniture, or loved the way Austen 'captured' the use of language to be romantic and poetic. Seductively proper I call it. Perhaps you just want to see the brooding English countryside settings or gaze upon beautiful gowns that are flattering and feminine... and should still be in fashion... set the DVR's to Sunday's Masterpiece Theatre on your local PBS. I think this series will be a big hit. Might be a good time to do a winter quarter study of Austen in the homeschool, and watch the movies to boot.

You can find more info by going to the Masterpiece Theater website, or log in to your local PBS site for airtimes.

Blog Love: Mathetes Award

2008-01-06T07:59:00.000-05:00

I would like to take the time to thank all of those who send me awards. Sometimes, I get submissions from two or three different folks for the same award, and I am so very humbled and overwhelmed by it all. Your friendship...lifts me so.

Though I have to admit that I always feel bad when I try to 'award' someone; like I'm leaving someone very deserving in the corner. But folks are always sharing some blog love with me, and a friend convinced me it's a way to introduce folks to each other. I also realized I have found some supreme writers, acquaintances,... fellow sojourners and friends, through something as simple as a link. So it's my turn to spread a little blog love. I'm paying it forward...

The Mathetes Award (mathetes- Greek for disciple) is given to those who act as disciples... furthering the Kingdom as commissioned by YHWH. Carrying forth the hope... the message... to the ends of the earth. And each one of these fine folks has a creative way... a touch... the fingerprint of the Creator...which beckons me to listen... and act.

I was given the award from the one I would have presented it to. How's that for some blog love? My most humble and gracious thanks, Pamela, for such a wonderful honor.

Don, the Evangelical Ecologist- My favorite. Accurate. Well-spoken. Moving. Inspired.

Holly, from Seeking Faithfulness -She spurs me on to be better... more faithful...in my job as mama. And what a mission field I have! Wisdom... sweet and satisfying... flows from this precious lady.

Anais from Path to Freedom
Although officially Path to Freedom is the whole Devraes family's endeavour, it is Anais to whom I've spoken in real life, and who authors many of the posts on the website's blog. It is a family who saw the problems and didn't simply talk about them. They purposed to change them and show it could be done in even the most unlikely of settings. Their example by sharing with others and discipling them, (and increasing goals!) continue to spur me on. Go join their 100 Foot Diet challenge and start planning that edible estate!

Julie from Seeking the Old Paths
Julie is my girlfriend, momma of seven, wife to one, fellow Messianic achayot, and a perpetual inspiration to me. She is leading a study on the Early Church and Hebraic Restoration, and I am challenged to study harder to show myself approved. Really challenged...

Cindy from Dominion Family
Although Cindy would probably be the first to say she's not trying to disciple anyone, by knowing her and reading her writings for so long, I've come to realize how many irons were sharpened by/with her. Breaking free from molds of 'the perfect homeschool/bringing the schoolroom home' and our family's early Gothard-cult brainwashing to understanding poetic knowledge (do I even remotely understand it ????) and more. Cindy influenced our homeschool many, many moons ago when she described what has come to be known as Morning Time. Our homeschool was never the same. All that and I get my bibliophilic tendencies satisfied every time she reviews a book...

Thank you, all of you, for blessing this life of mine....

Shalom,

Carla

He understands...

2008-01-03T17:26:00.001-05:00

And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 8: 3-4

And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? Matthew 21:16

You can pause the music in the sidebar so you can hear dear Logan's praise...

Trailblazing 2007

2008-01-01T04:40:00.000-05:00

One year finished. 365 days. 8 765.81277 hours. 525 948.766 minutes put to rest. Minutes and minutes of the littles repeating phonic drills, building lego creations, and collecting slimy critters discovered squirming under rocks. Hours of Plutarch and Wadsworth, packing, unpacking, reading, swimming, lakeside picnics and hikes, campires, butterflies and birdies, and traveling. Quotidian hours of dishes, laundry, bathhouse trips with all my ducks in a row, and the tilling. sowing, and care for these growing plants. Days of beauty... and discovery... and laughter. All witnessed with eyes of wonder...

I was compelled before the new year was through to look back and see the trail we've meandered. I perused my 2007 personal journals and I see the first part of the year I was feeling such tremendous pressure: reducing all of our 'stuff' and logistics were on my mind constantly. Tremblings during midnight scribblings see me questioning everything. Searching out the good things; the needful thing.

Early in the journey, some folks, even more those close in heart, were concerned and critical, and sometimes I entertained their thoughts in my head too long. It was there that despair would rear its ugly, yet formidable, head. My own personal closet of hell. Perhaps when we shut the door on the home, and all of the materialistic trenches were filled in: when clothes and books and appliances and things and stuff and more stuff were gone, it would be determined that my quixotic attempts at living authentically, at seeking a better way to live and love and homeschool...on the road and with much less... would fail.

It was the children: the true adventurers in this new trail, that fueled me during those frightening moments. Their enthusiasm was evident by the amount of work they carried during our downsizing, and manifested itself during their conversations. Trips to the thrift shops and Goodwill; manning the tables during our frigid yard sale; carrying out furniture piece after furniture piece to Craig's List buyers, and ebulliently describing our plans and adventures they imagined to anyone who would listen. They had a contagious laughter above the chaos, and infected everyone that came in contact. Including their mama...

Contemplating all that was dreamed and hoped for, I'm heavy in thought and somewhat at a loss for words at how different; how much more opulent the view is than what I expected. I've tried to do my best to give a word picture of some of the trails we've traveled during our 2007 year.

Tempests and Zephyrs

Upon closing the door on the sticks and bricks home, we were met by a tempest. A literal tempest. A cold and windy nor'easter which began dumping rainfall of biblical proportions. As we left, we received word that our new 5th wheel may not be delivered for a week due to the heavy snows inland. So there we were, all 8 of us, in a pop-up with winds whipping and rain pelting the roof and it sounded as if, in the words of our six year old, "God is throwing lego blocks at the roof." Three days of rain and the river we were near was almost over the banks. We wondered if instead of a trailer we should have invested in a houseboat. Michael and I made the choice to flee the area before the solitary winding country road was cut off by the river, and stayed at a hotel for a night. The storm finally subsided after the weekend, and we were wringing things out and wiping up mud for weeks.

If that wasn't enough to make one reconsider, try hiking after said nor'easter, and having loose ground give way and falling 20 some odd feet and break a rib. Yep, this was going to be a long, strange, journey...

Our October fall camping experiences dealt us our zephyr. Enjoying the canopy of the regal forests changing before us in the Northeast, a quick, strong, cold front swept in and levied 70 mph winds against our rigs and tore our awning. Acorns and pinecones became missles in the forest; horse chesnuts were downright deadly. In a short 24 hours, the towering trees gave up the ghost and laid before me their caftans of florid crimson and shawls of titian umber. A forest of auralent leaves to glow in the autumn harvest moon and illuminate the hiking paths. And I did partake...

Earth Day 2007

I was supposed to speak at a gathering on Earth Day, but due to my injuries, decided to stick close to home and nurse myself back to health. I was beguiled by the Disovery Channel's showing of Planet Earth. To be carried by means of the TV screen, to the corners of the earth. The cinematography and scope of the subjects is unparalled in any of the wildlife, nature, and environmental movies I've witnessed. As a caveat to my earlier recommendation to get the series (now on sale for only $60- down from $80) get the package that has Sigourney Weaver as the narrator. The BBC issued the first editions and they contain Sir Richard Attenbourgh, famed actor and naturalist, as the narrator, and the musical score is also very different from the one released in America. The content is the same, but I liked Weaver's dramatic reading, emotion, and the music better. That's my humble opinion, for what it's worth.

Pruning and Blossoming

I found as the internet was virtually unreachable, I searched and searched for alternate ways to get online. It soon became apparent that for this stage of the journey, I had to close the doors on much and let go of the umbilical cord I had tethered to my life. I laid bare all that I had built up as altars and high places. Mindsets... and motives. It became a daily tree trimming and pruning of this plant. It seemed counterintuitive to pluck and prune a budding plant and I wrestled. Daily. Nightly. "Bless me!", I cried. And He did.

In solitude we can listen to the voice of him who spoke to us before we could speak a word, who healed us before we could make any gesture to help, who set us free long before we could free others, and who loved us long before we could give love to anyone. It is in this solitude that we discover that being is more important than having, and that we are worth more than the result of our efforts. In solitude we discover that our life is not a possession to be defended, but a gift to be shared. ~ Out of Solitude, by Henri Nouwen

Solitude was a blessing. Thinking that the real adventure would come with the "big things"; instead my expectations came face to face with celestial delights that proved to illuminate the most quiet and serene moments and catapult them onto the stage called life. To be enjoyed. To be savored. I found myself in a boundless voyage of discovery and wonder. In seeking not just new landscapes, but in having new eyes... and a new heart.

Wandering and Wondering

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost.

Without the daily cacophony that can accompany the newsfeeds, groups, and readings on the internet, I sought even more of Him. An excerpt from my journals:

Being away from the rigors of what had become the everyday, and rediscovering a new 'everyday'; a simpler, gentler, everyday, has shown me so many miracles in the mundane; quiet hallowed halls at the sinks doing dishes that are now empty, but stomachs are full; bluebirds, catbirds, and goldfinches singing with me In Life's Earnest Morning, or I'll Fly Away as I hang the laundry in the morning on the racks outside the wagon.

The dragonfly that lands on my hand... that trusts me completely that I won't hurt it, and the salamander that hopes I'll put the rock back down gently after giving praise to our Creator for such intricacies. The excitement I get at seeing a blade of grass or seedling stretching from the forest floor for sunlight, or the goslings that are shedding their down, nestled on all sides by wary and protective parents who question my motives for sitting still so near to their little ones. Or the deer who allows me to walk up the same lake in the pre-dawn hours, fog lifting as we meet eye to eye, and we speak, without uttering a word, of panting for the same water of life.

This is the beauty in the simple and common. And I am loving it.

I also did a study on Bedouin, nomadic travel, and tent living in the Bible and other sources. Very, very enlightening...

What started out as a seed has blossomed into a field. The thoughts of whether we ever want to stop traveling has even been mentioned. What of the future? I await the manna from above...
and am measuring every day of my life knowing it is but a vapor...

Listening to my Life

Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.” ~Buechner

During our travels this summer, the refrigerator broke in the big RV. We quickly replaced the cooling of our foods with our two marine coolers. I thought it would be a hardship that I was would be unable to handle. But instead I felt inspired... I researched and procured local sources, and changed our menu to become as basic as possible. And that's how we lived the whole summer and fall. I am grateful for the trail we were led to travel, for without the use of refrigeration, I was able to feed my family from local harvests and our CSA share. Our foods were nutritional and cheap! Over 85% of our meals from June 2 to October 30 were from local farmers. And they were good and bountiful and delicious harvests indeed!

I'm listening. To every day; good or bad. One of the biggest blessings from our removal from the rat race is the ability to listen and hear. Him. Instructions. Exhortations. Rebukes...and encouragement. Directions. Comfort. Hope. Love. Peace. Every breath I take is a prayer; every sigh a worship song. To listen to this life I've been commissioned to live. To all the hurt. To all the joy... All is grace.

To be awake is alive! What a gift I've been given. What will I do with that gift? I'm Listening. I'm Studying. I'm tilling and sowing. Seeds to plant in the soul.

And we end the year 2007 with one of my littles summing it all up:

It's been the best year of my life.

Shalom,

Carla Lynne Klimuk

The Herbal Home: Toilets Part Deux

2007-12-26T07:03:00.000-05:00

I received alot of mail about closing the toilet lid before flushing. Mostly, it was in agreement and thanking me for affirmation for what they already knew, and were doing. Some good points were raised, and I thought it best to address them here on the blog...

I have some questions as to just how many problems this actually causes. Seems to me that we should all be a lot sicker if we're talking millions of nasty little wee-beasties landing daily on our toothbrushes. Can we really stop spreading these germs? We touch the tp, the toilet lid, the faucet, the soap, the faucet again, the towel, the door--the list is endless.- Saralyn

Most healthy immune systems can supress any outside invaders (i.e. virus, bacteria, colds). But most colds lie dormant in the body until the immune system is compromised. Adding millions of invaders into the air with each flush seems foolish to me. :-)

The same reasoning we use when we tell kids to cover their mouths when they cough, or cover noses when they sneeze can be applied to the toilet seat. We do it to keep the germ-ridden spray from being expelled into the air.

The research is there concerning the bacteria counts on toothbrushes, toilet paper, and sinks due to the aerosol effect. Many findings have been posted in the journals and internet to back up Gerba's findings. Be investigative and search the evidence. Search your local university/college medical library or google to read more.

What I'd noticed from your letter is another big problem: cross contamination. It may not seem like much, but I'd be interested to know if most of you turn off the faucet with your clean, wet hands?

How about opening the door of the restroom? Use your clean hands, or something else? If at home, are you disinfecting the doorknobs?

I'm totally grossed out now. I mean it. I sometimes flush during my bathroom trips- sometimes while I am still sitting on the thing. That can't be good, right?

Um... well... uh... ok... this is hard to say. You are right. I wouldn't do it- flush while sitting that is. Although your body has plenty of ways to help keep the sprayed-on invaders from entering any openings (i.e. unfavorable pH terrain, good bacteria in colon), you might brush your hands on the... um... contaminated area (your butt), and then if proper handwashing is not rendered, you've got problems. You would also be at increased risk of the invaders entering the body if you have any cuts, lesions, or sores.

What about those automatic toilets in restrooms? The ones that autoflush when you stand up? How can you avoid the spray then?

Get out of the restroom, or at least the stall, as fast as possible. And use the nasal spray I talked about in this post. Another suggestion would use an atomizer, or mister, or even a diffuser in your car, to add a few drops of organic essential oils shown to be antibacterial and antiviral. These wonderful plant oils help protect the respiratory tract from invading pathogens. More about the different essential oils and their effectiveness on destroying pathogens can be read in this very informative medical study in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

According to you, I should be the toilet police and stand guard at the door. I haven't done anything like this so far, and we've been moderately healthy this year.

Praise YHWH, from whom all blessings flow! I am not trying to turn folks into obsessive compulsive toilet watchers. I'm simply sharing some tips on keeping you and your family healthy. I'm very happy that you have had a healthy year! Keep up the good work!!!

What do you use to clean and disinfect your toilet?

Now remember I'm at my sister's home for a few months, so I have the standard toilet with tank and bowl. For this, I would use a few drops of bleach in the tank each week, and then for cleaning and disinfecting, I'd use a natural, homemade cleaner which contains borax, white vinegar, the oils of lavender, tea tree, and a few drops of eucalyptus. It's going to be strong in scent, but work.

What can I use to clean the sink faucets, and then to wipe the doorknobs and toilet knob that will disinfect?

I make my own homemade disinfectant wipes, like those clorox ones. See the recipe for them here.

You mentioned that in your RV, you had a toilet that does not use water. Can you explain?

I was showing that we are used to having a RV toilet, which only uses water when you add it, and instead of a flush, it is a rinse. For going pee, we do not flush everytime, instead adopting the 'when it's yellow, let it mellow' motto. For number two's, we only add enough water (by pressing small lever which adds water) to fill bottom of tank. Flushes are not actually flushes, but instead it 'drops' into the black water tank. For composting, no flushing is involved, just top cover like sawdust is applied.

Homemade Disinfecting Wipes

2007-12-24T05:49:00.000-05:00

At more than $3.99 for a tub of these guys, I started making my own out of pure frugality. Now I make them using recycled papertowels, non-chlorinated bleach, and organic essential oils instead of using the store bought ones, many which contain dangerous chemicals and fragrance oils.

A quick wipe down of the bathroom faucets or the door handles helps keep the home disinfected, or use them in the kitchen to keep counters from being contaminated with meat juices and other foods. If you don't have something to store them in, go to the supermarket and buy the best baby wipe or bleach solution container...one for the job. You'll use it over, and over, and over again.

Homemade Disinfecting Wipes

Cut in half a roll of the best paper towels you can find. Some like Bounty or Brawny. I like using towels made from recycled paper. Remove the center cardboard tube.

Mix a solution of 1 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup bleach. PLEASE...DO NOT USE chlorine bleach- unless you are going to wear gloves when using the wipes. If you use chlorinated bleach, you'll also be releasing dioxins into the air, and if you rinse it, the chlorine will be entered into the environment. Instead, opt for the better, non-chlorinated bleach from Seventh Generation.

Add the essential oil of your liking. Pour the bleach/essential oil solution into container and add paper towels. Allow towels to become completely soaked with the solution.

Wipe down those doorknobs and light switches everyday during sicknesses.

Here are a few other essential oils to use:

Tea Tree oil is superb and good against staph infections, and I highly recommend having a box of those in the home.

Sage
Oregano
Lavender
Thyme- any coughs? Use this e/o to help keep it from spreading.
Coriander
Cinnamon
Eucalyptus
Lemon
Clove
Rosemary
Orange- great for grease cutting
Marjoram
Bay Laurel
Pine

Shalom,
Carla Lynne Klimuk

The Herbal Home: Toilets

2007-12-21T04:47:00.000-05:00

After talking with my good friend Julie the other day, it came to light that I forgot to mention in this article, and discuss in more detail, a very important defense in the quest to keep you and your family healthy this winter. And the more I talk to folks about it, the more I see that it is one of the most obvious, and overlooked, and easiest things to do.

Let's discuss the bathroom. You know, the latrine...the port...the head...the 'terrlet'...the john...the pooper...the potty...the restroom...some homeschool folks jokingly refer to it as the library. Too funny, eh?

Seriously, most mamas battle the bathroom daily to keep the leaks, tinkles, toothpaste sludge, dirty laundry, and wet washcloths from accumulating, and if you are like me, the bathroom is usually the room that gets a complete cleaning every day. Cleaning the bathroom daily, new towels and washcloths for washing, and more, help keep the bathroom clean and neat and help us prevent spreading germs, right? Wrong.

No matter how nicely decorated, or how fresh and clean it smells, or how close to the nub you rub those fingers cleaning the tub, toilet and sink, there is one small thing you MUST do, or your attempts at disinfecting are in vain. In fact, without this one small act, you and your family are a sort of 'Typhoid Mary'; spreading germs every time you use the bathroom, even if you wash your hands afterwards. What is it you ask?

CLOSE THE TOILET LID BEFORE FLUSHING.

Most folks do not close the lid before flushing, or in the case of most public restrooms, the toilets do not have lids to close. This is not a good thing...

When toilets are flushed, the result is a plume of water droplets being projected... expelled, into the air and surrounding spaces. This plume, better described as the aerosol effect, dispenses contaminated water droplets on everything around it. This includes the toilet, walls, ceiling, toilet paper... and even your toothbrush. Ech...gross...barf....

This aerosol effect was first brought into the light by research and experiments done by microbiologist Charles Gerba in 1975 at the University of Arizona. His findings on the bacteria and viral aerosol effect of toilet flushing, and the viral load of each flush, is quite disturbing.

Some of his experiments can be duplicated in any household bathroom, and I suggest you bring the kiddos in on it. It will really bring it home for them, and will help in your attempts to get them to abide by the 'close it- then flush' rule. I also recommend that you procure the correct respiratory protection (mask or even a bandana), and you are sure it won't stain or damage your toilet.

Place a few drops of dye in the tank and a flush while holding a piece of paper over the seat. You'll soon see the effects of water droplets, sometimes shooting as high as 8 feet into the air, appearing on the paper. Eight feet high! That's as high as a ceiling. When is the last time you disinfected your ceiling? Get the idea of how important it is to close the lid?

Imagine all of those water droplets in the air, which are shown to hang around more than 2 hours after flushing, being sucked into your lungs. Streptococcus, food poisoning, strep throat, staphylococcus, E. coli, pnemonia, meningitis, shigella bacteria, hepatitis A virus and the common cold virus are just a few of the brew waiting to be dispersed through a simple flush of the toilet.

One of his most alarming discoveries was the amount of toilet water aerosol that is deposited on the toothbrush left out on the bathroom counter or in a toothbrush holder next to the sink. In fact, Gerba's research (which also spotlighted the need for disinfecting/bleaching sink and kitchen areas due to cross contamination) shows that when these droplets finally land, they breed exponentially in the favorable moist environments such as the sink, faucets, and toothbrushes.

In addition, such research highlighted the need for better cleaning of the sink area. It also suggests that better handwashing procedures be in place in order that hands are not cross contaminated after handwashing, and that hands are washed whenever the bathroom is used, including for non-toilet uses such as hair drying or brushing teeth. So what's a mama to do? Here are a few suggestions for your medical and herbal notebooks...

Most important is to train the family to close the lid before flushing. Always. Even if you don't take a bowel movement. Close the lid... then flush.

If you are in a public restroom and there are no lids, you have two choices. Don't flush, or flush and run. Try not to take any deep breaths while you are washing your hands in a public restroom too...

*******As a helpful prophalytic for any toilet flushes occuring in a public restroom, or to combat the cloud of invisible droplets propelled into the air by those who used the bathroom before you, take a clean, two ounce tincture bottle like this one (with glass dropper) or make it in a plastic nasal sprayer like this one and fill it three quarters full of distilled water. Add to it one to two droppers of colloidal silver (at least 50 ppm) and a few grains of good quality sea salt. After exiting the public restroom, spray the mixture into each nostril. If using the tincture bottle, put head back and drop a few drops in each side. Inhale. This will not only keep the nasal passages moist (helps fight off viruses), the salt helps keep the pH and terrain of the nasal passages healthy too, and the colloidal silver will help disable the enzymes necessary for bacteria, fungus, and viruses to metabolize.

Wash hands for at least 45 seconds everytime you go into the bathroom. Even after brushing hair, teeth, or just going 'number one'. Do a surgical scrub, which means SCRUBBING both sides of hands, in between the fingers, abrading the fingernails, and around and under any jewelery. You must cause friction to kill the bacteria too... so scrub!

Plain soap and water, lots of scrubbing and lathering, and warm water. NO ANTIBACTERIAL SOAPS either. I'll talk about antibacterial soaps/triclosan sometime soon...

When you dry your hands, use a towel or paper towels. Then use the paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door so you don't cross contaminate again.

DO NOT use the hand/blow dryers in public restrooms. These increase the bacteria count on hands where towels and paper towels decrease the bacteria.

Replace your hand or drying towel DAILY. This will cut down on the amount of cross contamination. My family size is 8, and I change the towel twice a day.

DO NOT STORE toothbrushes on bathroom sink counter or in a toothbrush holder. Store toothbrushes in medicine cabinet, linen closet, or in the bedroom. Do the same with your hairbrushes too. Go out and get some new ones, and keep them out of the bathroom.

DO NOT READ in the bathroom. I know, I know... it goes against every grain of your being, eh? Think about it... go to the potty, read book, wipe/clean private area, and then what? You probably pick up the book or magazine and put it away, or get ready to carry it out of the john, right? Before you washed your hands, right? Spreading some love, eh? :-)

Add 2 TBSP. of bleach to your tank every week to help kill germs and bacteria. Also use antibacterial (natural homemade ones, of course) cleaners to disinfect your bathroom. Use the essential oils of Tea Tree, Lavender, and Thyme, and be sure to include white vinegar and baking soda in the homemade cleaning recipe. All of these ingredients help neutralize and kill bacteria and/or provide an environment that is less than hospitable for viruses, fungus, and bacteria to grow.

These few tips are not meant to turn you into an obsessive-compulsive handwasher and toilet lid closer, but to show you how to better keep you and your family from succumbing to illnesses- anytime of year.

As an aside, one of the benefits to living in our RV's is that we have waterless flushes and composting. We only use water to flush when we need to, thereby preventing the aerosol effect. Because we are staying the next few months at my sister's home in Delaware, I've had to reeducate the children on making sure they close the lid, then flush, all over again. A healthy education indeed...

Shalom,
Carla Lynne Klimuk

The Homeschool Family

2007-12-21T04:01:00.000-05:00

Some of you know how we are staying with my sister and her family during the holidays. My prayer is that the old wounds... fractured hearts... cracks that have over the years turned into enormous crevasses... will miracuously be healed... with love, compassion, and some Balm of Gilead spread liberally....

Being the ONLY one... YHWH, homebirthing, homeschooling, herbal arts.... can... has... set me apart from the rest of my family, and sometimes it's hard to always defend instead of share.

But enough gloomies... when the whole homeschool subject comes up again, probably during the gatherings this week, I'm grabbing my laptop and showing this video. It covers just about everything in a nutshell, eh? Keep smilin' and remember how we labor not in vain...

HT: Julie the Inspiring

Shalom,
Carla Lynne Klimuk

Victorian Lemon Tea Muffins

2007-12-20T07:28:00.000-05:00

These light and very feminine muffins will carry you away to Victorian land. These are also delicious served with apricot or raspberry preserves or jams. For a special occasion, church social or afternoon tea with the ladies, dust the tops of the finished muffins with powdered sugar that you use a paper doily to cover. It will leave a beautiful pattern on the tops of the muffins.

1 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs separated
3 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. grated lemon peel
2 tbsp. sugar (or use stevia)
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line muffin tins with paper cups. Sift flour, baking powder & salt. Cream butter and sugar till smooth and lemon colored. Add flour mixture alternately with lemon juice. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Carefully fold in the egg whites. Add lemon peels. Fill muffin tins 2/3 full and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture before baking, or wait until baked to sprinkle with powdered sugar. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until light brown. Cool on wire rack.

Fresh Baked Cookies... anytime...

2007-12-20T06:39:00.000-05:00

Alot of folks bake cookies around the holidays. Here's a great tip for keeping fresh baked cookies around all the time! When you do you bulk cooking or baking, spend an hour or two just making a few different cookie batches that freeze well. Triple the batches.

Roll the extra batter into small logs between freezer paper the size you would find the Pillsbury cookie dough (that toxic stuff!) in the grocery store. Wrap in plastic wrap and store in freezer.

When you take your dinner out of the freezer, take out a 'batch' of frozen cookie dough, warm the oven, spoon or cut cookies to desired size, and you've got fresh baked cookies in a snap!

Happy Birthday, Abigail

2007-12-18T05:56:00.000-05:00

What unsuspecting miracle
Has passed throughout this year?
And circled round the smiling sun
To sit before us here?

What angel changeling changed our lives
Since she arrived from heaven,
Bringing home the ballyhoo
That rounds the gates of Eden?

What bright eternal soul have we

Since taken into time?
Have welcomed into weeks and days
Still stunned by the sublime?

What love has love brought to this world?
What joy has pleasure wrought?
For this, our celebration, sings
Of far more than we sought.

I keep reminding myself whenever I forget my calling to read that poem and look at that newborn baby picture. It's really beautiful, isn't it? Sometimes it's so very hard to think anything profound or beautiful when sticky fingers are all over you... and the books... and the pencil you just picked up...or your new journal...or your monitor...

This is my little squirrel nutkin, with the standard 'always messy' face. The batteries came fully charged with this model. Nutsy nutcake indeed. She personifies the words outgoing, sociable and gregarious for me... in that she has been planted with the other olive shoots, and blossoms and thrives among them. Craves them... and is lifted by their laughter, praise, and love. Just really lights up a room and makes everyone smile. Maybe it's the fact she is the baby of the tribe, but Abigail Hope, better known as Abbie, has more energy than all of my kids combined... and uses it to entertain us daily. She just turned 3 on Monday, complete with the cake she insisted on wearing instead of eating...

She always has done some fun things with food... and her face. She won me an award as the best of the GodBlogs for this little pose and post here. Still not a fan of spinach either... but loves, loves, loves my 'sgetti and bee-balls'.

That cutie pie ball of baby fat quickly found out how to get her big brothers and sisters to do EVERYTHING she wanted them to. A 'pweeze' here, or a 'hewlp' there... and they didn't even see it coming.

She spent her day enjoying her favorite Max and Ruby cartoons, enjoyed her Barbie coloring pad with her sisters, and managed to somehow, with no physical wrestling involved, get the corner piece of cake with the most icing from her teenage brothers. Go figure, eh?

How she makes me smile! She is a special soul... and a blessing and gift from my Father. I'm enjoying... savoring... getting to know her spirit... unique and most precious in the sight of the Lord. And I'm so very honored He gave her to me...

Happy Birthday, Abigail Hope!!!

From the archives-

Leaving Heartprints

Good Communication

Boogies, Loogies, and other mucous talk

2007-11-25T04:12:00.000-05:00

I have so many emails asking me where I've been. Why such a long lapse in writing? I wish I could write about all the great adventures I've been experiencing, and share about how each day has been filled to the brim since I last posted, but that is not how it has been for me the past six weeks. Instead I've been deathly ill and without the strength to even email or call my dearest friends...

It started back with Annie's sickness, now diagnosed and confirmed by doctors as severe mononucleosis. A commonly overlooked childhood sickness that if contracted by itself, is relatively easy to treat and cure. But because of misdiagnosis, Annie was treated with allopathic methods that harmed, instead of healed. It took me the better part of October to work with her, cleansing her liver and kidneys, and toning her spleen and endocrine system. I was feeling so blessed to have had the Lord oversee everything, including the prayer chain that developed in her behalf.

Sometime during the last week of October, a stiff and stubborn cold virus came through our home. You know the typical sniffle, sneeze, and coughing bouts... and my organic, immune fightng broths and tinctures and teas were quick to fight off the invading organisms for the entire family. Everyone except for Anne...

Her small body, depressed immune system, and recent bout with mono left her open to infection. And it certainly moved in. This poor little one just oozed the green goo from her nose, and again, it quickly developed into an infectious mess...

Preoccupied with keeping her healthy, and spending hours into the night making teas, tinctures, and other assorted compresses and decoctions, I neglected to keep myself in tip-top shape. It began to take it's toll. Add to this the everyday homeschool and family ministering, and trying to finish a sixty page paper for my naturopathic/herbal studies, and packing and planning for an extended stay in Delaware with my sister and her family until the new year, and you get the picture. I wasn't taking care of myself, and it didn't take too long for me to see the results of it.

During the first few days of November, I thought it typical that I should get a version of the cold virus since caring for Annie. I expected it. I felt armed and ready... over 60 tinctures were finished just a week before, and I had strained and bottled all my precious plant medicine. I took my herbs, drank my teas, but my immune system was not dealing with a typical cold virus, and my body was quickly overrun. Within days, it had developed into a full blown bacterial infection. A bad one too- the worst I've ever had. I had an upper respiratory infection, sinusitis, a fever of a 103, a severe sore throat, coughing bouts that left me breathless, and a chest that was quickly filling up with mucus. One morning I thought I was taking my last breaths... it was that bad. It's funny the things you think of when you are frightened and contemplating this might be your last sunrise in this world...

My husband and sister quickly got me to the medical aid unit, which immediately started breathing treatments and antibiotics. Strong antibiotics. One lung was filled with fluid and mucus, and the other one was at 40% capacity and filling too. It felt as though someone were standing on my chest everytime I tried to breathe.

I've been recuperating for the past week and a half, feeling my strength come back and knowing that someday I'll be able to stop blowing my nose and gagging up phlegm. I came to find out through isolate testing that a virilent strain was the cause of the virus, and that it has been linked to some recent deaths due to pnemonia. Although antibiotics are not effective against the virus itself, the bacterial infection (secondary infection) was in need of some antibiotic help, and I'm so very grateful to the nurse practioner, (we discussed true practicing of medicine- a fascinating conversation) who was perceptive, compassionate, and quick to figure out that this was not your ordinary case of a cold or bronchitis. It was she who instigated the breathing treatments, and who had the fortitude to research this illness while I was still in the office, bringing her results to the doctor for diagnosis and treatment. The doctor, well, we will discuss him another day.... ;-)

I have begun to detox and tone my liver and kidneys this week, and added some much needed protocols to combat the side effects of the antibiotics. My next herbal cleansing will be the endocrine and lymphatic systems.

Some things I wanted to make sure were very clear to you, my friends. DO NOT forgo allopathic means of healing for the sake of staying natural. I am a studying N.D., and now a Master Herbalist, and yet still sought out allopathic help for myself. Did I fail? Absolutely not. I employed the best of both worlds to aid in battling a very formidible foe. In between gasping for breaths and treatments, the doctor berated me for trying 'those impotent natural means of healing first.' You didn't think I was going to take that one laying down, did you? I educated him on the use of herbs and natural, more gentle ways to stimulate our immune systems to fight off pathogens. The process takes longer, but is more effective in the long run, unless the pathogen is especially agressive and harmful. I also gave him a history lesson on the use of antibiotics, including the recent scares with MRSA and the 'superbugs.' We did find some common ground when he found it interesting that routine spectrum penicillin was used for gangrene during the Civil War and up until 1950, but that it is found to not work well in contemporary cases. The reason is that just about everyone has antibiotics during their early childhood, and this provides an environment where fungus and bacteria will mutate to survive, rendering the more gentle of the antibiotics, penicillin, unable to destroy the pathogen. We instead must give more agressive antibiotics for the ailment. Routine broad spectrum antibiotic use also depresses the immune system and renders the host open to a plethora of other ailments, all requiring more allopathic intervention. However, there are times, and pathogens, that require aggressive means to keep it from overtaking the host. These are the times that if you are immuno-compromised (already ill, fatigued, stress, etc...) that a virulent strain can lay out even the healthiest of horses. If you feel it necessary to go to a doctor or clinic, and the ailment is such that it requires antibiotic help, just make sure you are supplementing your allopathic protocol with a probiotic (pro-life) routine to combat the nasty side effects of antibiotics.

The next items I want to share are very important, especially if you have children. First, wash your hands. Always. Before eating. After eating. After each trip to the bathroom. I keep a bar of my homemade tea tree oil soap next to the sink. Use it. It will decrease the amount of times you get ill this winter by almost 50%.

If you get a sniffle or cold, always blow your nose or cough it out into a paper towel. Do not sniffle and keep the mucous up in the nose. Do not swallow the mucous/boogies from the nasal passages. Spit them out into a paper towel, or hock them up into the trash. Swallowing the mucous, or keeping the nasal goo in your nose provides the best environment for the bacteria to grow, causing a secondary bacterial infection. Up and out is our motto. This is exactly what your body is trying to do by overproducing mucous. It wants to get the invading pathogen out of the body, so help it instead of hinder it.

If you are coughing, do it into a paper towel or the crook of your arm-NOT your hands. Unless you plan to wash your hands after each cough. Otherwise, you are just spreading the virus/pathogen with your hands.

I have an email box that is overflowing with inquiries for helps with, what seems to me, a very agressive cold/flu season. I have lots of helps to share, and it is my goal as I recuperate to share more about how to stock your cabinet, make your tinctures and teas, and help keep your trips to the doctor or clinics to a minimum.

I'm getting back to business... albeit slowly, and I'll be calling my friends this week, and probably make them laugh as I hock and hack during our conversation. But I'm sure they'll understand why I'm doing that...

I want to say thank you to those of you who were compelled to pray for me, as I called out many times asking for His help, and it comforted me when I was at my lowest, and weakest, and most frightened, to know others cared...

Weak, but so very grateful for Yahweh's healing touch,

Carla Lynne

Honored and Humbled

2007-11-01T09:37:00.000-04:00

6 Free Dr. Mom Otoscope from P&M Dermasalve Compounders

2007-09-30T05:31:00.000-04:00

Here's a great contest for a great instrument that every Mom should have in her healing bag. The Compounders of P&M Dermasalve are giving away 6 Free Dr.Mom Otoscopes !!! Click HERE for details. But you only have three more days to enter, so get over there and read all the rules!

I need a new otoscope, and this one looks like a cadillac compared to my old one! Having one in my medical bag has helped me immeasureably, and I am sure if one of you folks win, you'll be telling me the same soon.

So go over to Pete and Maribel's site, APMFormulators, follow the directions, and you too can be the proud owner of a new otoscope! Hurry... no late entries and the contest ends on October 3!

Sukkot: The Feast of Tabernacles

2007-09-27T16:58:00.000-04:00

Tonight, we celebrate the feast set before us through the harvest, and give thanks to you, O Lord, for the rain that falls from heaven. As we go into our succah (tent or booth- in our case... our RV's) each night, we are reminded each day of forty years... of wondering and wandering...of clouds that shadowed and manna that sustained. Our lulav will wave and we will rejoice that we once again have fellowship with you! As we partake of your goodness tonight, as we celebrate your feast of rejoicing, Sukkot, we remember your Tabernacle among us; first made of cloth and the second formed in dust: through Yeshua...our word, our Torah, made flesh.

Barukh attah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha-olam she-hecheyahu

vekiyemanu vehigianu lazman hazeh

Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, for keeping us alive,

taking care of us, and bringing us to this time.

You shall keep the Feast of Booths seven days, when you have gathered in the produce from your threshing floor and your winepress. You shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your towns. For seven days you shall keep the feast to the LORD your God at the place that the LORD will choose, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful. Deuteronomy 16:13-15

For added reading:
Sukkot
Historical and Contemporary study of Sukkot
Building a succah

Book Sale, Email, and One Needful Thing...

2007-09-27T05:36:00.000-04:00

I know alot of my email over the past week has bounced back to those sending it. That should stop happening now that I have upgraded my account to a bigger bandwidth and incoming email count. The address is the same... carlalynne@fmgirl.com

It is my goal to empty the extraordinary amount of messages, well wishes, and questions sitting in my inbox by the end of October or middle November. A lofty goal, but one I feel is important. I never take your emails for granted, and I love when you send information, questions, or share about you or your family. During our move and summer traveling, responding in a timely manner was next to impossible, and I am sure many of you understand. Living and loving first.... blogging and writing second. :-)

During the past few months, I've occasionally been close enough to where our storage unit was to have been able to fill the van with boxes of our stored books and I have had 'book sorting afternoons'; deciding which gems merit the coveted room in the RV, which to donate, and which to sell in the upcoming book garden sale here on the blog.

And in the midst of stacks and stacks of buried treasures, I've had the most difficult time purging, but a breakthrough happened one day during a ~~prayer~~ ~~pleading~~ wrestling match.

Me: But I really don't see how we can live without any one of these books. Grammar, mathematics, logic, science gems, and geography and reference books, and this good book here, Lord. And that one over there. Oh, this stack of old, well loved treasures. I NEED these...

Father: Did you forget? Only one thing is needful...

Me: But it seems counterintuitive to everything I've attempted to teach...my whole life and what I do... my life, their lives, which are in....(((oh)))...your hands.

Father: Did you forget, daughter... what does it profit a man to gain the whole world... and yet lose his very soul?

Me: I forgot, my Father. I forgot.

My hip newly aligned, I limp away, purposed to keep the course. Their eternal souls depend on it...keep heartschooling them in your ways, and lead them to learn about you, from you, at your feet. Yes, my Father... my manna. You are that one thing necessary, and everything else will be provided for us...

Summer Miracles and Memories- 2007

2007-09-24T04:46:00.000-04:00

This will be the third summer I take the time to recount the miracles and memories I've been fortunate to enjoy. I always find plenty more to add after I hit post, and I keep those lists going now with the category, Eyes of Wonder and Beauty in the Simple Things. But there is something about taking time, especially as one season closes and another begins, to glance back and see the hand of God all over EVERYTHING. To give Him glory... for He is so good...

~ A bright sun giving forth life to plants and trees.

~ While rest of the country was plagued by severe weather extremes from drought to tornadoes, traveling here in the eastern Lehigh Valley and Poconos has been a very comfortable summer experience.

~ A good summer CSA harvest, and looking forward to autumn even more!

~ A babe of six slumbering in my arms...

~ Time to read in the coolness of shade.

~ The taste of tall glasses filled with homemade iced tea with lots of lemon!

~ Lots of campfires with lots of smores!

~ Sailboats on the lake.

~ A week-long visit with my nephew and niece. I so look forward to having them back very soon and traveling to see them- perhaps this weekend. My heart overflows everytime I hear them call me, "Aunt Peachy".

~ So many birdie friends this year!

~ The sounds of the numerous thunderstorms that came over the ridge. Fearsome and frightening… and beckoning me to hear the awesome sound of His voice.

~ A homeschool summer filled with lots of science projects... lots of icky bugs and slimy creatures have managed to become a menagerie of real time science lessons.

~ I began jogging three times a week, swimming just about every day, and playing tennis with husband. It helped me drop 30 lbs…I’m a pre-kid 130 lbs now and I feel great!!!

~ I have had the best summer’s reading. Some books I read so fast I’m looking forward to reading them again this winter. Some books I savored... long past bedtime.

~ Two young men showing their strength and agility in a local competition akin to Survivor TV series. It was a pretty big event and with a lot of… let’s say ‘Goliaths’. It was interesting... as their Mom, to see them from afar as they competed with over 75 other teenagers. I learned much that day about boys... and men. My boys. My men.

~ A best friend daughter, who is a joy to be around. Our picking and canning and planning for our sewing projects are some of my greatest times... even when she forgets to remove the pins. :-)

~ I celebrated two birthdays; Amy's 11th and Big Daddy’s 46th. I’m so very glad my Father gave them to me…

~ The feel of a cool, outdoor shower, cotton dresses and the cool breezes that flowed through the RV’s at night.

~ I cut hair a lot… girls, boys… new friends that the boys made in various campgrounds, and even a doll baby’s hair!

~ In the various pools at campgrounds, and at the lakes we visited, I taught my older children some lifeguarding tricks, my two middle ones how to swim on their own (Woo Hoo!), and the two youngest are my growing pollywogs…

~ I counted cloud animals. Enough to fill God’s zoo…

~ I studied Torah. It is changing me in ways that are unspeakable…foreign and unchartered waters and at times…overwhelming to this child of the King.

~ I listened to some really good music… from Dvorak, Strauss, Rimsky and Yo-Yo; Allman Brothers to Zeppelin; from Cannonball to Etta; Phish and The Band and a little Frank Sinatra thrown in to boot.

~ I savored… really savored, the flavor of everything I ate.

~ my friend, Beth, gave birth to a miracle.

~ I played Frisbee and hackeysack.

~ Hearing the song of laughter coming from our family this summer!

~ Lots of summer picnics- tasty sandwiches, delectable salads, chilled fruits, cheeses and salamis. Yummm!

~ Forest hedgerows that are alive with honeysuckles.

~ My deer, affectionately known to me as Faun, who met me each morning during August at the lake as I jogged before light broke the horizon. She panted for the same water, and He provided for both of us. She allowed me to talk to her, stroll close to her, and talk of a day when she and I will no longer be afraid...

~ I rode my bike… lots. Michael bought me a bike cart (like those fancy Cabroliet chariot carriers only mine was a ~~find~~ ~~steal~~ blessing at only $65) that doubles as a stroller for jogging. I was able to take Abigail Hope on so many country roads.

~ Tasted the harvests of the summer of 2002 from wine making friends: deep, plum- tasting with hints of lavender. A simply delectable blend…

~ Went to my first pig roast. It is probably my last…

~ I let yellow jacket wasps and honey bees land on me. I talked to them and they listened…

~ The smell of local eggs, turkey bacon, and some home fries cooking over the campfire.

~ I journaled and wrote this summer… a lot.

~ I discovered a lot about myself…

~ I had fun finding a place for everything, and putting everything in its place. Still a work in progress in the RV, it was great to lighten the load…

~ I was blessed with lots of butterfly and birdie kisses from Abbie, hugs and whispered love from Annie, understanding and help from Amy, laughs and hugs from my Justin, and camaraderie and helpfulness from Kevin and Brian.

~ I cherished the walks and talks; hand in hand or arm in arm under covered bridges, in the forest, throughout the campgrounds, around the lakes, over the mountains, and down the country lanes with my beloved Michael. We took so many after supper saunters, when summer’s twilight makes youth appear eternal and that the day might never end…

There are so very many miracles and memories from this summer; our first on the road and with a much lightened load. I like to keep lists like this to mark the milestones: to make a monument to the goodness of God. The patriarchs did this sometimes by piling stones or erecting an altar to remind all those who come after them of the sacredness of those miracles.

Care to join me as we enter into the autumnal season to recall your summer miracles and memories?

It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders

that the Most High God has performed for me.

How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders!

His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;

his dominion endures from generation to generation.

Daniel 4: 2-3

Thank you, My Lord, my Father, my Creator... for knowing exactly how this heart beats and what nourishment it needed this summer season. You filled me... my eyes adore you more, my heart beats louder and stronger, my ears hear, and my mouth shouts of the glory of you! I will tell of your story, written beautifully and illustrated magnificiently throughout your creation, and through the many monuments I recognize today as your handiwork... your miracles in my life. I'm so very grateful to have walked another season with my family... and look forward to the autumn recounting of the wonder of it all!

Possible and Impossible

2007-09-23T05:30:00.000-04:00

THE POSSIBLE AND THE IMPOSSIBLE

We mothers must take care of the possible and trust God for the impossible.

We are to love, affirm, encourage, teach, listen and care for the physical needs of the family.

We cannot convict of sin, create hunger and thirst after God, or convert.

These are miracles, and miracles are not in our department.

My Part (the possible):

to love- love expressed.

to pray- intelligently, logically, urgently, without ceasing, and in faith.

to minister- to their physical and emotional needs as I am able.

to enjoy- being a mother and provide a warm, nourishing, and happy home.

God's Part: (the impossible):

conviction of sin

creating a hunger and thirst for righteousness

conversion

bringing to the place of total surrender

showing us ourselves as we really are (without ever discouraging us!)

continually filling us with His Holy Spirit for our sanctification and His service

Adapted and applied liberally on this momma's heart from Prodigals and Those Who Love Them by the beloved Ruth Bell Graham. Enjoying summer's last gasp of warmth as she gives up the ghost of another season, and we watch as summer's last sunset at the shore illuminates the footsteps in the sand. Steps ordered... and sojourned together.

Father who created these little souls: the footsteps loom enormous for me when I consider how important they are to you. You, Jehovah, who have numbered the very hairs. You, my Creator, who formed and knit each trait that they exhibit. Whose breath lingered on brow, and who continually sanctifies me through each of them, every day. Let me realize with every breath how divine the poem of my life truly is... and what is possible and impossible for me, your willing servant.

Annie's smile returns...

2007-09-19T10:35:00.000-04:00

Here's a picture of Anne Elizabeth resting comfortably... if you consider resting comfortably to include an almost three year old ham bone squeezing herself into the picture. Ahhh... the beauty and blessings of little sisters, eh? I told her no one would mind her hair being a bit unruly (she is such a little girl...) ;-) and please forgive the grainyness of the pic. I didn't have my photo software loaded on the laptop, so I had to use Paint to reduce the picture size.

Annie is doing beautifully today, and her spleen is not as enlarged. Her color is coming back (see the glorious rosiness in them there cheeks?) and one thing I've been waiting to see happened last night. Annie is quite artistic, and has had no interest, no... make that strength, in getting her art supplies out and drawing me pictures. Last night, she handed me two pictures... one of me holding her juice for her and another with both of us holding hands (and with beautiful hats on too!). My Annie is back... and I am eternally grateful for your prayers and friendship dear ones.

Dear Father... my heart is full of thanksgiving for my dearest Annie and how well she is doing~ and I know that you have restored her little body for your glory. May your healing hand be upon her as she continues to recuperate. I have learned so very much from this Father... your heart work on this diamond in the rough continues.

And thank you, Lord, for the peace that surpasses understanding... and for hearing and answering my prayers.

The Amish Cook

2007-09-19T09:40:00.000-04:00

I have received so many awards and recognition for this little journal of mine. I feel remiss that I have not reciprocated with a mention or passing along of the torch. I am sometimes amazed that folks from all over the world visit this space in their travels online. As one reader wrote me in an email:

...even here in Australia, you have become popular among those who are seeking a more simple and fully lived life.

I have recently received emails from readers in Romania, Spain, and even the United Arab Emirates. I even have an invite to Morocco to RV Europe with some other simple folk. All who take the time to visit, comment, and send emails are most appreciated. I love the camaraderie. I consider you all fellow sojourners.... :-)

I'll try over the next few weeks to acknowledge the awards and lists I've been included on... even if I feel most humbled and slightly shy about mentioning them.

Many of you know I frequent Lancaster and Berks County and fellowship with my Amish and Mennonite friends. I'm heading there in a few weekends to look at some winter campgrounds (we are thinking of spending Christmas in Lancaster), to stock the larder and I'll fill you in on some new recipes my friend Esther gave me. Some of them are so very charming... no measurements but a 'dash' of this or a 'shake' of that. I love the old ways...

I love spending time with my simple friends. I learn much from their silence, and glean even more by their abundant sharing with me, their 'English' friend. I believe that they were very instrumental in my first learnings about true community, fellowship, and simple living.

I was recently mentioned by Kevin Williams on the Amish Cook Online. If you are not a reader of the blog or newspaper column and writings penned originally by Elizabeth Coblenz and taken over gracefully by her daughter, Lovina Eicher, than I highly recommend you do. And I thank you very much, Kevin, for continuing the wonderful tradition known as the Amish Cook and for such a nice hat tip. Perhaps we can arrange a lunch or family meal sometime in Lancaster, eh? That would be delightful...

Well, I am off to make an autumn crumble cake with apples, walnuts, and a homemade caramel sauce. Yummmmm.......

Joyfully His,

Carla Lynne

Whispering a prayer...

2007-09-12T15:54:00.000-04:00

Update: 9/18,2007

Will you rejoice with me, my friends!!!

Anne Elizabeth is doing so much better and resting at home. I know that her healing is coming from our most merciful Father and I thank you all so much for continuing to lift her to the throne room. After seeking allopathic methods for some answers, I soon realized she was not getting better and I brought her home. It seems they were more interested in my lack of vaccinating, homebirthing with lack of physician backup, and refusal for any more ibuprophen/motrin (her liver and kidneys were in serious distress) than in finding out how to comfort and help Annie. It makes me so mad I could spit nails at the push to harm the body and the absolute lack of human emotion by most doctors. Where are the doctors who practice medicine because they care about helping folks heal ~ a calling to minister to this, our human body? I did not have a peace about going to the doctor, and I see now I should have listened. How I wish I could establish a network of good allopathic doctors who will work with those considered 'alternative' medicine practioners. Today is not that day... Today I rejoice at Annie's smile!!!

I've been so very busy making tinctures, teas, syrups, poultices and packs. I'm tired from keeping midnight watches and know I've been carried many times over the past weeks by the wings of prayers...I'm so very blessed to have had the materials I needed to help her break her fever, give her ear infections some comfort, and help keep her cough and respiratory infection under control. This little girl has a long road to recovery... we are now dealing with an enlarged spleen. So I'm busy cleaning her lymphatic system and supporting her liver and kidney functions. She is such a trooper too... never even so much as whines or turns her nose up at the varied cups of herbs and syrups she is taking. Mommy's homemade organic chicken soup with burdock, astragalus, clover and dandelion is helping keep her smile too... :-)

I've been deeply touched by your prayers. To have asked for help and have had such a wellspring of goodness flow forth is humbling. Tears are streaming down my face at the many comments, emails, and calls from you dear ones. How do I begin to thank you????

I'll post, Lord willing, tonight with some good pictures of our graceful promise from God, Anne Elizabeth. Please continue to lift her healing to the Most High, and to guide my hands to be His hands in loving and comforting this precious little one.

Joyfully His,

Carla Lynne

It's not too often I open myself up to the transparency of asking for help. To do so means that I am helpless... impotent... utterly human. But there is no room for pride...

I am helpless. Only one can help my daughter, Annie, right now. We've been battling a very formidable foe in the form of a bacterial infection for over three weeks, which most of my family has been able to beat. Little Annie is having a much harder time...

I'm writing to request that any who could, or would, whisper her name to the One who can heal her little body. Doctors are stumped. Mama Herbalist is beyond worry...

She is wrestling to stay awake with a 104 temp., and the doctors are becoming very invasive, and causing I believe more harm than good. The doctor has literally told me that they are unsure of what to do for her, besides run more and more tests. I don't like the tone, nor the implications of what they are suggesting may now be causing her liver and kidneys to be stressed, and possibly fail.

Please, my Lord... your servant is most anxious, but knows in her worried heart that you love dearest Anne Elizabeth more than I. I have used my gifts to try to heal her, but still she suffers. Would you, Most High, delight in seeing her run around again? Would you, Good Father, give the gift of healing to her hurting body? Would you, my Lord, calm my storm and give me peace? Would you give this mama her daughter back to cherish and nurture and someday present to you as the jewel she is? I whisper.... please.

Nevertheless, not my will, Father.... but yours be done.

Lentil and Feta Salad

2007-08-30T05:20:00.000-04:00

This is a very good salad to make for consumption during heatwaves, or for long stretches out in the sun and heat, such as harvesting. The lentils are slow burning fuel for the body, and the spices in the za'atar are good for 'kicking in' some much needed energy. And you won't have to heat the kitchen up much during the preparation!

Make the za’atar ahead of time before adding it to this salad to get the full flavor from it. Serve with pitas, grapes, and refreshing mint tea.

1 lb brown lentils
1 tsp sea salt
1 small onion, chopped
1 bay leaf
1 stalk green onions
2 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 cup homemade feta cheese
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh mint

DRESSING:
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp za’atar

Cook lentils until done, but not mushy. Remove from heat and let cool. Chop all the veggies and mix together. Pour dressing over top, mix well, and chill for 2-3 hours before serving.

Ecoquest Fresh Air Living Purifier

2007-08-21T08:40:00.000-04:00

Before we moved into our RV’s, we lived in an old home, complete with all the mold, dust, pollution, and smells an old home can emit into the air. It frightens me to think of the air quality in that old dump: particularly after rains the whole home would just smell… well… old.

Imagine how fortunate I felt when this air purifier was sent to me for a product review! For almost the last year we lived in the house, and now here in the RV’s, we have been able to use the Fresh Air Living Ecoquest Purifier and test it through multiple trials. While passing with flying colors on much of what I tried, I did have some observations and concerns that I’ll warn you about later.

The Fresh Air Living purifier uses a combination of technologies including bounced ionization, which circulates millions of ions into air from fan and to radio frequency ionization, where a patented radio wave is able to carry the ions into every corner of your home. While pulling the air into the fan, it uses a good UV light to kill germs. A purifier plate will emit low levels of ozone or purified activated oxygen releasing fresh air into your home.

Now before you start telling me the ills of ozone, let me explain how ozone works, and why it has gotten a bad name. So many folks are totally confused about ozone, and since the early 80’s, ozone has become synonymous with smog and pollution. It is a bad reputation that ozone does not deserve.

Ozone is produced in nature, is non-toxic and healthy. It is also an extremely efficient disinfectant. It is produced by the sun, is very prevalent after a good thunderstorm, and it is our atmosphere’s way of cleaning itself. But what of the ‘ozone alerts’ that major cities issue in the summer, telling those with respiratory problems to stay inside? How, then, can ozone be good for you?

Without the naturally occurring ozone process, humans would die. When we see smog and city haze, it is not ozone you are seeing, but instead the photoelectric effects of the sun’s rays acting upon carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, the end product of burned hydrocarbons (fossil fuels. Ozone attaches itself to pollutants in the air because of an opposite charge, thereby cleaning the air. The same process found in nature is what the purifier uses to cleans your home’s air by attaching itself to the common indoor pollutants: mold, dust, dust mites, allergens, and more.

The Ecoquest Fresh Air Living Purifier is about the size of a desktop computer tower, and comes with a remote control so you needn’t get up to set the purifier controls. This is a definite advantage to some other models, as it allows you to adjust the ozone levels to a comfortable setting where you are, instead of returning to the unit, which could be in another part of the home, each time to adjust.

I also wanted to point out that the unit comes with a very generous amount of cord, which allows you the freedom to put the unit where you want. We were instructed by Fresh Air Living to put it above our living area; about 5-6 feet off of the ground. Having such a long cord allowed us to put it on the top of the entertainment center in our living room. Putting the unit up high allows the unit to release the ionized air, have it attach to the dust particles, which will then fall to the floor. The also suggested we purchase a very good vacuum cleaner with HEPA filter and a canister- no bags (just throws the dust and mold spores back into the air). I must admit that I noticed our vacuum was ‘cleaning’ better, as our canister seemed to have more dust in it than the typical cheerio or lint found in it.

There is an optional HEPA filter for the unit to trap larger particles, and you can also purchase disposable harsh environment pads. These attach to the back of the unit and catch a host of dust and dirt that would otherwise be sucked into the unit. If you purchase the unit, I would highly recommend the pads

Some of the tests my family and I administered were suggested to us by the sales representative, mostly using the unit’s highest setting, the sanitize mode. One test was taking a towel used by one of my older teenagers, which mommas everywhere know can reek to the high heavens after they use it one time. I always had them hang the towels on racks, but it can still leave an undesirable odor, even on the best of towels. So I put the unit in the bathroom, shut the door, and put on sanitize as we left to do errands. Upon returning, the bathroom was filled with the smell of ozone (think of the smell that hits you as soon as you walk into a gym or swimming club or after a thunderstorm), and the towels smelled springtime fresh. We also put the unit in the boy’s room, and momma here could not tell if their sneakers were in the room with them. That’s a miracle…

Another test we administered was to see how well it freshens the air and removed strong food odors. During our last few months in the house, I broiled fish, used garlic, made ham and sauerkraut, and other very odiferous culinary preparations. Turning the unit to a higher setting completely removed the smells from the air in our home. Having the unit on low at all times kept our home, and now our RV, smelling fresh and clean. And again, I must mention that with two active sweaty teenage boys around, the Fresh Air Living purifier has kept the RV’s smelling very clean. I simply trade off between the two RV’s every two weeks or so.

Now that I’ve told you about some of the great features, let me describe some of what I consider the downsides of the Fresh Air Living purifier. The unit is being used at NASA, in the building of the Home of the Future, and really works at removing allergens, dust, and odors, however, the $800+ cost of the unit will probably prohibit most from purchasing the purifier. I have found other units with comparable features at a much lower cost; however, those units do not have the dual technology ionization, or the UV light to disinfect. So to me, its one of those items that if you have allergies or are irritated by dust and dust mites, or want to freshen your home’s air, you are going to have to shell out the bucks.

Second downside is the cleaning of the unit. It has an automatic reminder to let you know when to clean it- that’s the good part. The bad part is you have to completely remove the back of the unit to clean the pad, screens, and purifier plate. Opening up the outer casing unit is not my idea of easy cleaning. I kept dropping the microscopic sized screws for the back casing, and I think the design could be improved for easier cleaning. And the harsher the environment and the more dust and mold your home contains, the more you will have to clean the unit.

Third bummer was that the control screen on the front of the unit broke. It only showed half of the LED screen, which left me clueless on what setting I had the unit on, or if it needed cleaning. Fresh Air Living said I could send it back, get it fixed, put it under warranty, etc, etc. etc… but for a product that I was reviewing, it left a bad taste in my mouth. I simply had my computer geek husband take it apart and fix the LED crystals. As a side note, I have two friends who have this exact unit. One is a restaurant owner, who stealth it in their lobby, and another owns a karate studio, again, hiding the unit in the corner behind the plants to keep the store smelling fresh. Both said they had problems with the unit’s LED screens.

Fourth… it takes awhile to learn the correct setting for your home. Although it contains increments of 500 sq. ft. to 1750 sq. ft., having the unit set just one level higher than you need might leave you feeling lightheaded. My family originally complained of sore throats and respiratory ailments when the unit was on its higher settings. Having the unit set at maximum (1750 square feet) for our home (3000 square foot home) left the home smelling like a swimming pool and our throats sore. It is a balance between ionization of the air and what you are used to breathing that you have to work on. Takes some time to get it correct, and in the beginning, I was tempted to say the unit caused more ailments than corrected. But after using it for over a year now, I can say that a happy medium can be achieved.

After considering all the benefits and downsides, I would give the Fresh Air Living purifier a 4 ½ stars out of 5. It is a great machine that will help remove irritants, pollutants, and allergens from your home and freshen the air you breathe. There are many places throughout the internet that you can purchase the units and added accessories, and if cost is prohibitive, I did see many units listed on ebay at discount costs.

Eyes of Wonder ~ August 20, 2007

2007-08-20T08:30:00.000-04:00

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed.

Albert Einstein

Summer thunderstorms wringing the air clean from the latest heatwave afforded a lightshow that would rival any fireworks display. One very peculiar thing has happened over the course of the last few weeks. While I've never been deathly afraid of bees, I've avoided them like the plague and I've always swatted and shooed them away when they came too close. Sometimes, those pesky yellow jacket wasps gather around and really become a nuisance, especially when food or drink is involved. But lately, I've taken to just 'talking' to them, asking them to fly over there, or don't sting my babies. And then it happened...

I had one land on me. I didn't panic or swat it away. It just walked on my arm. And then another, and another, and another. Before I knew it, I had bees stopping by, landing, and then taking off. Then the yellowjackets did it. No stings. It renders in one's mind a movie title along the lines of the 'The Bee Whisperer' or something. I'm not sure what has changed to allow me to trust they won't sting me, and to allow them to land on me with no ill intent and to trust that I won't smash them on the spot. Whatever it is, it is miraculous.

Some other wonders I've been served this past week...

~ littles that are quickly learning to swim

~ baby grapes that taste like pure sugar

~ the sound of God's voice heard in the thunderstorms

~ smell of sandalwood oil

~ scrunchy nose smiles

~ the cool feel of cotton on hot skin

~ sounds of 2 1/2 year old saying in her best high-pitched, English accent, "Oh, Mummy!"

~ dips of honeysuckle to sweeten a parched hiker

~ percussion of raindrops on the awning

~ bees and hummingbirds dancing around the flowers

~ the smell of old books as I start to list them for sale
~ another beautifully sketched addition to Anne's refrigerator art gallery

~ deep smiles from my love, Michael, during his birthday meal

Care to list some of the wonders you've noticed? Some have written me and asked if they can use the graphic above. ABSOLUTELY! I'd be honored if you'd take some time each day to look at life through eyes of wonder...

Simply right click on the picture, save it to your computer, and load it to your photo hosting/server for use on your blog or website. No link required... just take some time to enjoy the feast set before you...

...but a cheerful heart has a continual feast. Proverbs 15:15

Joyfully His,

Carla Lynne

Powers and Principalities

2007-08-20T05:01:00.000-04:00

Those who have read my writings for a few years know how much I detest the Monsanto company. I've followed this company's record of destruction since the early 80's, when it seemed all the stars had aligned in their favor as they received patent after patent; acquired special favors from the government, and really dug their claws in as they spread into the Third World and Europe.

If you have not read my investigative pieces on Monstanto, please take some time to read about them. Should we be shocked at the evil hearts of men? It amazes me I still am...

The Terminator
The Terminator: Agent of War

The Monsantogods are at it again... on two fronts. The first was sent to me from Grandma, which shows a small victory for us granted by the U.S. Patent Office. An agressive Monsanto has filed numerous patent infringement lawsuits against American farmers, most of whom can not adequately afford legal representation along the lines of the suited slicksters employed by Monsanto. What heinous and evil act have these farmers committed? Saving seeds. Something farmers have always done...

The second is concerning the labeling of milk that contains rBGH, or bovine growth hormone. Seems they think that milk that is labeled as NOT containing the hormone gives us the impression it is better for us, and they can't have that happening. Read more about their latest assault on the food supply here.

What can you do to stop companies like Monsanto?

1) Take away their candy... their money. Stop buying their products and funding their schemes. Don't use Roundup to get rid of weeds... use DEADEYE instead.

2) Join the Organic Consumers Association's fight to end Monsanto's terrorism. Please click on the link and see how widespread their terrorism actually is.

3) If you have portfolio investments, be sure they are ethical and do not contain any money trails back to Monsanto or their subsidiaries.

4) If you are PBS supporter (I was), or watch your local PBS, and have seen support for Monsanto or it's companies, let your local PBS station know how you feel. If you have ever watched the PBS series, American Heartland, you have witnessed the extreme propaganda prevalent on such shows.

And there are countless watchdog e-alert groups to inform you of Monsanto's next assault on the food supply. Sign up today.

Not to worry you or anything, but they are not stopping with patents on seeds. Next stop: Life. Beware former readers of Orwell. You may find yourself noticing too much of the book coming true.

Be discerning. Be diligent. Pray. Come quickly, Lord Jesus...

Homeschool Week: Why We Homeschool

2007-08-06T08:24:00.000-04:00

With most homeschoolers starting back to school this week,the wonderfully talented and veteran homeschool mama Randi from I Have to Say has come up with a wonderful way to recount the joys, encourage others, and refocus our minds and hearts on the wonderful journey called homeschooling.

Having home educated our 6 children from the beginning over 15 years ago, I remember a time when the internet was in its infancy, curriculum choices were limited, and folks still cocked their heads and asked how in the world were our children ever going to be socialized! What a difference today...

One of the first things a seasoned homeschool mama told this 'quaking in her boots' mama during her first days of home education was to form a methodology or reason we are homeschooling. To serve us as a lighthouse: a well thought out and well written beacon to guide us across the seas and away from the rocks and harm of tides and trends. And so here it is...

The list of reasons has been added to a bit, but not much has changed. It is the backbone of the home education of our children: the reason we homeschool. It has served well over the years to keep me on track, to encourage me when January and February artic nor'easters keep us inside with squiggly, wiggly bundles of energy, and have humbled me to realize how great a responsibility and privilege it is to home educate my blessings.

This reposting is from the archives of 2004:

Why Do We Homeschool?

* We follow the Holy Bible, believing it is the infallable Word of God. We believe it is our responsibility not only to teach our children, but through guidance in His Word, we are instructed in what we should be and should not be teaching our children.

* We believe that if discipleship is to occur, it should occur first and foremost in our home with our family.

* Deuteronomy 6:4-9 tell us: And thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart: And thou shall teach them diligently to thy children, and shall talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down and when thou risest up. If that ain’t homeschooling, nothing is!

* We believe that diligently means to sharpen them against the stone of God’s word, so that they will not become dull and turn from the truth.

* Our children, as commanded, are to be well versed and knowledgeable about God’s word… in all things and in all ways. As iron sharpens iron, our children sharpen us too! They are indispensable to our own sanctification.

* The education and training we give should ultimately have Christlikeness as its goal. By educating and training our children in godly character building, academic excellence will ultimately be promoted and attained.

* Homeschooling enables each child to receive individual attention, cultivating certain interests and meeting certain needs that might otherwise be overlooked in a group or classroom setting.

* We believe that the natural progression for learning is shown in God’s word:
Knowledge- The receiving and gathering of information
Wisdom- The connecting the information in a logical order.
Understanding- The putting of the information into expression.

* We do not homeschool for purely utilitarian purposes, but instead seek to give our children a liberal education. Liberal, in this context, means bountiful, extensive, graceful, generous and richly rewarding.

* We seek to educate to kindle a thirst for learning that our children will carry into their adulthood.

* We can control the destructive influences such as peer pressure and false teachings such as the big bang, occult, and evolution.

* Children gain respect for their parents as teachers, and develop a lifelong bond with the parents that is unfortunately lacking in many youth today.

* The family experiences a closeness and enjoyment of each other because of the quality and quantity of time we spend together.

* Tutorial type education helps each child to achieve his or her full educational potential. No child is left behind in our homeschool!

* Flexibility in the schedule allows for spontaneous learning, more time with Dad, more hands-on experiments, more field trips, schooling through the summer, vocational training, and pursuit of individual interests.

More homeschool posts can be read by clicking on the drop down menus above...

Joyfully His,

Carla Lynne

Esther's Wilted Lettuce Salad

2007-08-03T09:28:00.000-04:00

Here is an excellent salad dressing for good salad greens. Given to me by my Amish friend, Esther, this recipe is typically used for the spring greens, but I use it all year long. Be sure to include plenty of dandelion leaves too!

Freshly picked salad greens
1 small sweet onion
3 slices of turkey bacon
2 tsp. sugar (or sucanat or stevia)
¼ tsp. sea salt
Freshly ground pepper
¼ cup apple cider vinegar (I use Bragg's with the mothers!)
1 egg, slightly beaten
Homemade croutons

Clean and dry the lettuces well. Tear the greens and place in a large bowl. Add ½ the onion to salad. Fry bacon and reserve drippings. Add rest of onion and cook until they are translucent. Crumble bacon and set aside.

Stir sugar, salt, pepper, vinegar and egg into bacon drippings. Heat until boiling and pour onto greens immediately. Toss and add bacon bits and homemade croutons. Serve on warmed plates with fresh bread or rolls.

Variation: For extra protein, crumble hard boiled egg on top of salad, or sprinkle top with a handful of sesame seeds for extra crunch.

God in the Clouds

2007-08-03T05:14:00.000-04:00

God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone,

but also on trees,

and in the flowers

and clouds

and stars.
Martin Luther

The heat is building here in the east. Long summer days swimming and enjoying the glory of the season. In the mountains where we are camping, the humid days bring forth the most majestic clouds by afternoon; enormous and towering towards the heavens.

After writing about having some fun finding the cloud animals with my children, I came upon this devotional from Oswald Chambers, one of my favorite morning reads. Timeless and most appropriate for this humid morning, you will never look at clouds the same way again. And for a friend who is going through a fiery trial, I hope this encourages you today...

Behold, He is coming with clouds… Rev 1:7

In the Bible clouds are always associated with God. Clouds are the sorrows, sufferings, or providential circumstances, within or without our personal lives, which actually seem to contradict the sovereignty of God. Yet it is through these very clouds that the Spirit of God is teaching us how to walk by faith. If there were never any clouds in our lives, we would have no faith.

“The clouds are the dust of His feet” Nahum 1:3

They are a sign that God is there. What a revelation it is to know that sorrow, bereavement, and suffering are actually the clouds that come along with God! God cannot come near us without clouds— He does not come in clear-shining brightness.

It is not true to say that God wants to teach us something in our trials. Through every cloud He brings our way, He wants us to unlearn something. His purpose in using the cloud is to simplify our beliefs until our relationship with Him is exactly like that of a child— a relationship simply between God and our own souls, and where other people are but shadows. Until other people become shadows to us, clouds and darkness will be ours every once in a while. Is our relationship with God becoming more simple than it has ever been?

There is a connection between the strange providential circumstances allowed by God and what we know of Him, and we have to learn to interpret the mysteries of life in the light of our knowledge of God. Until we can come face to face with the deepest, darkest fact of life without damaging our view of God’s character, we do not yet know Him.

“. . . they were fearful as they entered the cloud” Luke 9:34

Is there anyone except Jesus in your cloud? If so, it will only get darker until you get to the place where there is “no one anymore, but only Jesus . . .” (Mark 9:8 ; also see Mark 2-7).

A most thankful HT: Don- the Evangelical Ecologist

Eyes of Wonder

2007-08-01T06:12:00.000-04:00

When we understand the outside of things, we think we have them.

Yet the Lord puts his things in subdefined, suggestive shapes,

yielding no satisfactory meaning to the mere intellect,

but unfolding themselves to the conscience and heart.

George MacDonald

I've started keeping a list of the special gifts I receive each day. Stopping to think on these things gives me a new appreciation for the quiet and simple moments where too often the miracles; the blessings of wonder are overlooked.

No one will hold a banner high and shout, "Hey this is a special moment. Record it. Memorize this. This is something you'll want to remember!" It's much quieter than that. It instead is something that is mysterious; boundless; ethereal; something that is eternal that allows us to understand the love language of wonder.

Wonder: to marvel and be awestruck. To be curious and led closer; to be called to witness the masterpiece- the miracle of a common life made extraordinary. To know my very heartbeat carries with it praise for our Father...

"Thou that has given so much to me,
Give one thing more--a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleases me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days;
But such a heart, whose pulse may be
Thy praise."

George Herbert

To believe that the simple and common are fraught with significance; to seek out the inner mysteries that elude our intellect but quench- satisfy the heart and soul and make known from where they originate.

"Mistake me not: wonder is no sugary sentimentality, but rather, a mighty passion, a species of fear, an awful confrontation of the mystery of things."

James Taylor, Poetic Knowledge

Care to join me in thanking the Lord daily for the feast set for our senses; the inner mysteries and gifts bestowed upon us; the opportunity and ability to stand in awe? Be thankful... be so very thankful...

~ whispers carried by the wind and tiny voices that ask, "Who made the wind, Mama?"
~ baby teeth from quickly growing children
~ taste of homemade, freshly squeezed lemonade
~ bronzed-colored skin from summer sun
~ dandelion bouquets
~ thick, humid, bellowing clouds that form 'cloud animals'
~ hot, buttered summer sweet corn
~ frisbee catches with my son
~ baby snapping turtles
~ Justin's contagious giggle
~ morning meetings with deer in my mountain meadow
~ dandelion wishes blown, caught, and wished upon a second time by Abbie
~ soft hands after doing dishes
~ five new baby birds at the feeders
~ silky baby hair blowing in the breeze

It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders
that the Most High God has performed for me.
How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
his dominion endures from generation to generation.
Daniel 4:2-3

Until next time, I remain...

Joyfully His,

Carla Lynne Klimuk

Factory Farm Map

2007-08-01T05:12:00.000-04:00

In my travels, I found this great site showing how many factory farms there are in your area. You can find out state totals, individual livestock calculations, and they have a county by county section too.

It's interesting to see where mass livestock production is occuring. I had no idea Pennsylvania ranked 9th on the list of nationwide polluters for hogs and 1st for pollution from layers. Use the combination buttons at the bottom to get a percentage. Ewwww... PA ranks (get it? Ranks? I crack myself up!) second in chicken pollution. Almost all of New England, New Mexico, and Alaska were at the bottom of the list. Always wanted to live in Alaska... :-)

Be sure to check it out. You may be surprised to find out exactly how many are in your back yard...

HT: An Agrarian Journey

Amish Cold Soup

2007-07-29T05:05:00.000-04:00

This cold soup is from the old order Amish. You can ask any old Amish person if they remember this soup and they will smile when you ask. In the heat of the summer, after working in the fields all day, many a man does not want to burden his stomach with heavy food, but the smooth nourishment of a cool liquid does wonders. And using the bread instead of a making shortcake or pound cake keeps the kitchen cool. Try this on a steamy summer afternoon.

Slice of day old bread, plain roll, or French or Italian bread
1 cup of fresh fruit, sliced and sweetened (use strawberries, peaches, apples or bananas)
1 cup of cold raw milk
Dollop of homemade whipped cream or splash of heavy cream

Crumble or tear bread into a soup bowl. Ladle fruit over the top and pour milk and cream over. Make sure the fruit and milk are really cold. Enjoy!

More on Lightening the Load

2007-07-29T04:46:00.000-04:00

For those who have written and asked me to continue writing on lightening the load, I humbly respond that I am still working on the articles.

It is a work in motion; a path being traveled; a life being lived and still very much in progress. I have, and still, continue to purge. To lay before Him all of me. And the Lord has been leading and teaching me many things. Sometimes, it takes a while before my itty bitty brain can comprehend the spiritual truths He is teaching me. I need to chew (well), digest (thoroughly), and understand (completely) as the Father decides to remove scale after scale from these eyes.

I also struggled immediately after writing the first article as I was accused of being pious. Creating, through simplification, a holier than thou mentality. I think, this morning, as I reread the comment (not published), I have a new understanding...

This path He has set me on has only opened my eyes to how blessed I am and how much I take for granted. It has and continues to show me the way God intended for us to exist, and how all the glittering glamour of the world can keep us tied up paying for its purchase, maintenance, and storage. To see yourself as God sees you cannot leave one feeling holy and pious. Instead, if the experience is true, you'll see how far off the mark you've been. And hopefully, with eyes that can see and a heart that is contrite and broken.

So I'm adding a few finishing touches on the next post for the series, and hopefully, I'll have it up here soon.

Live Joyfully!

Carla Lynne Klimuk

If You Give a Gastronome a Cookie...

2007-07-28T05:01:00.000-04:00

When you give a gastronome (otherwise known as a ‘foodie’) a cookie, they are likely to take each ingredient and find out where it came from, how it came to be assembled in a cookie, and who developed that recipe for that cookie.

Gastronome comes from the Greek words gastros “stomach”, and nomos “knowledge” or “law”. Gastronomy is the study of the relationship between culture and food. It includes the culinary arts, however, it is not exclusively about cooking and gourmet eating.

It is the tasting, experiencing, researching and understanding, and also writing about foods. The food’s relationship to the culture, or its use, or how it came to be used in a certain region are just some of the things a gastronome wants to know.

I always list as some of my loves and hobbies cooking and baking. But included in that is my love of learning about the foods, the people who eat them, where they originated, what goes well with them, and how they came into existence. For example, when learning about yogurts, I found out that they originally came into being entirely by accident. Goat’s milk was stored for traveling in the cleaned entails and bowels of goats, or in skins prepared from these materials. As the Bedouin, who were thought to have originally discovered yogurt, were traveling across the hot deserts of Northern Africa and the Middle East, the goat’s milk in these containers cooked and fermented, producing a thicker, creamier, and soured-tasting beverage. The Bedouin soon found out that by drinking this before or after a meal, their digestion was improved. Over the course of hundreds of years, many yogurt dishes were developed and incorporated into their meals. So many so, that we now consider many staples of Middle Eastern fare.

I have done the same thing with dishes, foods, and ingredients in Amish, Italian, Indian, Russian, Asian, and many other regions, and the list of ingredients just goes on and on and on.

When looking for cookbooks, I tend to go for the ones that read 'like a book'. They have stories, insights, and historical data incorporated into the book instead of just cut and dry recipes. For example, I have many Amish cookbooks, but my favorite by far are those by Marcia Adams, who dots each recipe with a story, and fills the pages in between the delicious meals with accounts of her dealings and living with the Amish. Her books are delightful to read and to use in your kitchen.

It is fun and exciting to have the children learn about ingredients and foods too! In each food, each ingredient, in each recipe, is a history lesson waiting to be learned. So next time you are studying an historical era, or a country or region, or you get a recipe off the internet, research it and learn about it. Have fun becoming a gastronome!

Green Alternatives for Batteries

2007-07-25T08:44:00.000-04:00

One way of helping to decrease the amount of hazardous materials in our landfills is to reduce the amount of throwaway batteries that end up there.

Think about it. When one battery goes dead, the common course of action is to replace it and throw away the old one, never considering where that dead battery goes, or what it does to the environment.

Every year, Americans throw over 84,000 tons of alkaline batteries away. Those batteries account for more than 20% of the household hazardous materials that are plaguing America’s landfills.

Many areas now have a hazardous materials recycling facility. But there is a better solution available to the use it and throw it out mentality.

I am sure most of you have seen rechargeable batteries. These are a little more expensive up front, but the overall cost of purchasing throwaway batteries, notwithstanding the effects on the environment of them leaching into the ground and water supply, makes it a very wise, and green choice.

Other products to look into are the rechargeable flashlights, wind up radios, wind up/solar hybrids, portable solar panels (this site has so many gadgets- don’t miss it!), and much more. Have fun looking at ways to go green!

Rosemary and Lemon Green Beans

2007-07-25T06:00:00.000-04:00

It's green bean time; crisp, sweet, sticks of nutritious goodness. I love green beans, and love how many different ways you can use them in a recipe. Lightly steamed, stir-fried, or in a good penne or pasta salad, green beans are a delight for the palette.

Try this recipe and serve with chicken or make this the main course!

2 pounds green beans, trimmed and snapped into smaller pieces (about an inch)
3 Tbsp homemade lemon zest butter
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, minced
Sea salt to taste
Fresh ground pepper to taste
Optional: for extra lemon flavor add 1 tsp of lemon zest

Bring the beans to a boil in salted water. Cook for 4-7 minutes or until beans are tender.
While beans are cooking, melt the butter in a small saucepan and add rosemary and lemon zest. Drain beans and pour butter over cooked beans. Serve warm.

Ruby Soup

2007-07-25T05:22:00.000-04:00

Strawberry season is over, and you’ve put by plenty of strawberry preserves, sauces, dehydrated some for use in your homemade granolas and cereals, and even frozen a few flats for smoothies, right?

Here’s an way to use some of those strawberries, and make a great tasting fruit soup that your family will love!

The color of the soup is fabulous, and is a great appetizer or dessert for your next BBQ. And nothing works better during the summer heatwaves to help quench thirsty little ones than a bowl of ruby soup…

2 cups sour cream

12- 14 ounces strawberries (you can use frozen if you don’t have any fresh- just thaw the bag before making the soup or it will have bits of strawberry ice in it!)

3 Tablespoons good honey

2 teaspoons vanilla

Combine sour cream, strawberries, honey and vanilla. Blend in food processor until smooth. Top with a fresh mint leaf and serve in chilled bowls or a dessert cup. You can also top it off with a dollop of sweetened sour cream, creme fresh, or some fresh fruit.

For additional summer recipes, enjoy these goodies from the archives:

Spring Spinach and Strawberry Salad

Carla's Chicken Salad

A Bit Crabby Bisque

Chicken Cobb Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette

Grilled Fruit Kebabs

Summer Bounty Gazpacho

2007-07-24T05:31:00.000-04:00

With our days at the CSA in full bloom, and the boxes of summer bounty filling fast, this quick, easy, and deliciously nutritious meal will help use some of the bumper crop this week.

This meal is perfect for summer heatwaves as it has a cooling effect on the body and digestive system. Enjoy this meal outside under the awning or poolside!

1 ½ cup peeled vine ripe tomatoes- finely chopped
½ cup green bell peppers, finely chopped
½ cup celery, finely chopped
½ cup cucumbers, seeded and finely chopped
½ cup onions, finely chopped (I use sweet vidalia, walla wallas, or a ripe white onion)
1 teaspoon fresh chives, chopped
2 teaspoons fresh parsley, chopped
2 - 3 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon fresh tarragon, chopped
1-2 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (more if you like the fruity olive taste)
1 teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
3- 3 ½ cups tomato juice (make your own or if in a rush, use an organic V-8 juice)
1 small clove garlic, minced

Combine all of the ingredients in a large glass bowl. Cover and chill at least 4 hours before serving. Top with warmed croutons or grilled bread cubes.

Serve in individual chilled bowls. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Wonders

2007-07-23T05:28:00.000-04:00

Many folks are aware of the Ancient Seven Wonders of the World. One could even add to the list some of the more recent buildings and structures including engineering marvels such as the Pyramids and the Great Wall of China, and the regal St. Peter’s Basilica. I am sure you could name a whole list of them. Man’s wonders; astounding architectural feats and marvels, birthed and built by his hand, and worthy of including on a list that is reserved for such miraculous deeds in design and engineering. Surely standing beside one of these behemoth spectacles renders in the heart feelings of wonderment and admiration for the construction, and for the designer of it all.

But all of man’s artistic handiwork pales in comparison to these next opulent wonders. These are seven marvels we can make no claim to have conceived, designed, or birthed. We have no part in their building; only in their delight. No mortar, or brick, or hammer or nail fastens the walls; no polished floors or hand carved ornamental doors are necessary to adorn palatial rooms.
These seven wonders cost nothing and are freely given each day; gifts, and should be treated as the priceless pearls they are. They are testimonies; glimpses of agape love, beacons on our journey back home. Each serves as a lavish invitation to stand with eyes of wonder and holy adoration to the Creator of it all.

These wonders are too often overlooked; sometimes we note them as simple and ordinary but they are instead exceptional and extraordinary. Things we too often take for granted are indeed miracles bestowed upon us everyday. They are blessings to give us a glimpse at our Creator; a sampler from God’s own heart.

To see- to behold: the color of the sky; gorgeous petals on the flowers as they bloom,; a garden’s lush bounty; baby’s first smiles; first grey hairs; lightning; an stirring sunrise, steam swirls that dance from a cup of tea; children growing quickly into young adults; the stars in the heavens; candlelight; birds building nests one twig at a time; the green grass; old photographs; forests infused with rays of light; bubbles; a triumphant sunset; light in your child’s eyes; seasons changing, ~ the workmanship of God.

To hear- to hearken: violins playing; birds sing their words; laughter, waves at the shore; husband’s voice; airplanes; giggles; baby’s first words; wind through the trees; cicadas on a summer day; rain on the porch roof; dogs barking; little boy voices get deeper; children singing; bullfrogs and crickets at night; thunder; lighthouse foghorns; hush of fresh snowfall; owls hooting in the night; leaves crunching underfoot; classical guitar; the word, “Mama”; ~ the still, soft voice of God.

To smell- to inhale: newborn skin; roses, cedar; salty air; fresh dirt, bread baking in the oven; air after a spring rainstorm; pine forests; line dried laundry; freshly bathed babes; old books; honeysuckle; patchouli; apple pie; freshly mowed grass; wood stoves in the winter,~ the breath of God.

To taste- to partake: sweet fruits; honey tea; salty pretzels; sour lemonade; iced tea on a hot summer day; still-warm-from-the-field strawberries; fresh from the oven breads; watermelon; oatmeal; milk and honey; pizza; blueberries; olive oil; life lived fully ~ the bounty of God.

To touch- to experience: baby cheeks pressed to nurse; stubble on young man’s face; winter quilts on beds; sand between the toes; silk; newborn skin; dough being fashioned into bread; husband’s calloused hands; sand and salt worn driftwood; rocking chairs; smooth lines of a guitar; fuzzy flannel blankets; old wrinkled skin; warmth from a woodstove; smooth pens; salt air on the face; moss next to trees; snowflakes on the tongue; grass beneath your feet; ~ the love of God.

To laugh- to become childlike: with your children; because of your children; through your children; ~ to be near the heart of God.

To love- to become Christlike: endless and boundless love towards our family; towards man; in expression and receiving; abundant agape love; vast and endless; completely; to the hurting; to the lost; brotherly; absolute and immeasurable; ~ the holiness of God.

Sing forth praises in your heart to Him; do so with heartfelt gratitude for the blessings of a fruitful and fully lived life. To forget the simple would be profane.

Profanity. Not swearing.
I'm not talking about breaking the Third Commandment.
I'm talking about treating as meaningless that which is freighted with meaning.
Treating as common that which is hallowed.
Regarding as a mere triviality what is really a divine design.
Profanity is failure to see the inner mystery.

Elisabeth Elliot

The most precious and beautiful things in this life cannot be built by hand or bought by man. They are gifts created and given only by God and are daily feasts for the senses; set before us to draw us closer to Him. Chances for us to behold in wonder and amazement; on bended knee or standing with hands held to heaven; in adoration and worship for the Creator of it all.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1: 17

For additional reading:

Would you be one of those who would notice the Pearls Before Breakfast? Could you walk by, immune, and not be moved? HT: Jewel

Live Joyfully!

Carla Lynne Klimuk

Free Land Links

2007-07-21T05:03:00.000-04:00

I found another set of links from the archive. I haven’t had time to thoroughly scour these sites, but anything free is worth a peek, don’t you think?

New Richland, Minnesota

Kansas Free Land

Wyoming Free Land

Nebraska

Let me know what you find out. I’m in the market for free land too… :-)

Joyfully His,

Carla Lynne Klimuk

Free Online Resources

2007-07-20T05:29:00.000-04:00

I found an old file where I'd bookmarked these great sites to share with you. Some of them feature free downloadable books, publications, files, and more!

They are worth a read... perhaps a bookmark or two. :-)

Soil and Health Library

Core Historical Data

Journey to Forever- Don't miss this one!

Net Library

Chicken Resources

HT: Beth

Natural Pest Control for the Garden

2007-07-19T05:57:00.000-04:00

If you are trying to forgo the use of insecticides, but want to keep your garden growing and not supply the insects with a free buffet lunch, try using some natural pest controls listed below.

Joan and Carol recently asked for a list and I found this one in my gardening scrapbook. Use the herbs and botanicals as borders or companion planters against these following troublemakers:

Ant- mint, pennyroyal, tansy
Aphids- mints garlic, chives, anise, coriander
Been Leaf Beetle- potato, onion, turnip
Codling Moth- common oleander
Colorado Potato Bug- green beans, coriander, nasturtium
Flea Beetle- garlic, onion, and mint
Cabbage Worms- mint, sage, rosemary, hyssop
Japanese Beetle- garlic, larkspur, tansy, rue, geraniums (scented too!)
Leaf Hopper- geranium and petunias
Mexican Bean Beetle- potato, onions, garlic, radish, petunia
Mice- onions
Root Knot Nematodes- marigolds
Slugs- Wormwood, rosemary (Don't forget to try these suggestions I wrote before!)
Spider mites- onions, garlic, cloves, chives
Squash Bugs- radish, marigolds, tansy, nasturtium
Stink Bugs- radish
Tomato worms and Hornworms-sage, borage, marigolds
Whitefly- marigolds, nasturtium

Carla's Chesapeake Clam Chowder

2007-07-18T08:30:00.000-04:00

I like this soup with fresh seafood, not canned, and always be sure to rinse your clams well to remove salt, sand, and grit.

Although clam chowder is typically made using clams, many foodies use this soup base for fish chowder. You can substitute different thick cuts of fish for the clams. I've listed some suggestions below.

This recipe is perfect during the summer months after a trip down the shore to use up the bounty you have caught!

1 quart of shucked and cleaned clams (add water if too dry)
1/2 pound of salt pork ( I usually use only 1/3 pound)
2 ribs of celery, minced
2 large potatoes, diced1 large onion, minced
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp. of thyme
1/2 quart of milk
1/2 quart half and half or heavy cream
1/2 c. butter
1/4 c. of flour
Sea Salt
Freshly ground pepper

Drain and chop clams but reserve the liquid for later. If you can’t find any fresh clams, you can substitute a #5 can of clams. Fry salt pork in heavy pan until all fat is rendered from it, and add the onions and celery until browned lightly. Add butter until melted. Blend in flour and stir constantly for 5 minutes. Add the clams, potatoes, the reserved clam liquid, bay leaf, and thyme. Cook until the potatoes are tender or about 15-20 minutes.

You can also turn this dish into a seafood chowder by adding fish (usually a thick white fish like haddock or cod), jumbo backfin lump crabmeat , lobster, or all three!

Serve with some fresh bread and a tossed salad and you have a hearty meal for any salty dog!

~Eat what is served... listen to what is said.~

Be Blessed!

Carla Lynne Klimuk

Two Days in a Row?

2007-07-18T05:12:00.000-04:00

What's that? I've been able to log in for two consecutive days??? That's not the half of it...

I'm sorry if my post yesterday was confusing. But for the record, I'm not withdrawing from online writing at this time. Thank you for such nice comments and emails...

I simply wrote about what I've been doing, and who I'd been spending it with.

I hope you like the new look of Carla's Country Living. I completely switched over to the NEW blogger... labels, categories, and widgets. Much easier and takes much less time to post or work on a template. I designed this template/look awhile ago. I like the more simple look...

And the really good news? Dearest husband bought me a booster for the signal. That means that even though it is pouring outside, I've been able to type this post up and send it. It is truly miraculous... and quite generous and kind of him to think of me. He also plans to clear the family laptop for me, install all new software, and let me take it with me on walks, nature hikes, or into town for research. I'm so very jazzed to have a computer ALL TO MYSELF!!!

Thanks again for such kind words, my friends...

Joyfully His,

Carla Lynne Klimuk

Thank you, Lord, for such a rich blessing for me, from my beloved. I will use it well...

First Love

2007-07-17T05:02:00.000-04:00

I do have lots of new posts to get uploaded on Blogger from my laptop, including more on Lightening the Load, but I felt this post needed to be first. It is about my first love.

One thing I have learned over the years is that if you keep trying to do something, and everything keeps you from doing it; that no matter how hard you try to get it done or 'to it' everything keeps you from it... maybe you should consider if you should be doing it in the first place.

That's my long-winded way of saying I've been trying to get an internet signal here in the Lehigh highlands, but to no avail. It has been almost four weeks since I was last able to log in. And after such a long time trying to log in, waiting for signals, and having them fade away while I type a post, or visit a blog, or check my online mailbox, I'd seriously started asking if He wanted me to let go of it all together.

Do you, Father, want me to withdraw completely from online writing?

If it isn't thunderstorms and massive cumulus clouds that build up on the ridge and ring the air free of the humidity through torrential downpours, or the forest canopy that has closed in around me, permitting only rays of delicate sunlight to seemingly float to the forest floor, than perhaps the gliders that are in constant motion from a nearby flight club which interrupt the signal. I now get a big kick out of watching Robin Williams try to get a signal for his laptop in the middle of boonville in the movie RV. I can so relate to the lesson in futility in trying to acquire a wireless signal in the middle of nowhere. Granted, his was in order to stay employed, and mine is for my own selfish motives, but what could have become a time of feeling stressed and chained to the computer was instead an epiphany; an awakening; a freeing of my soul. Whatever the reason for the constant blockage from the internet, I've learned to accept and appreciate the silence. I knew something bigger was being accomplished.

Not my will, Father, but yours be done...

It's really amazing how different I feel. I cannot believe how much I don't miss the blogosphere. I feel like for the past two and a half years, I've been spinning in circles, going here and there, trying to find my place. Trying to flesh out what I had to say, and sometimes not so well; always with an unspoken urgency to get to the computer. I realized that all I was doing, save my daily responsibilities to and for my family, was in response to my inner need for peace and calm; to find my quiet port in the storm that has been my life.

Some of I find in quilting and hand arts, or in creating in the kitchen, or my favorite... creating memories. I work through alot, in the quiet, with my Father as I write. The need to create is strong, and I believe it mirrors my Creator. He is the One who put it in me. But my writing online became obsessive in time and the place I allowed it to harbor in my heart. I even stopping spending that sacred morning time that initially inspired me to start online writing in the first place. Edith Schaeffer sums it up best:

It makes sense that there is no sense without God.

It was frightening because I didn't know where I'd land. In helping to counsel his confused wife, my dear hubby said to go back to my first love. My first love.

So I've grabbed unto the garment and held fast for the past six weeks. In the quiet of the morning again, I listen. I hear. I realize I have stopped spinning around and things that were slighted are now the priority; things that are freighted with meaning are right before my eyes and tucked safely in my heart.

It hasn't been this way for a long time.

He has led me into the wilderness not to leave me, but to speak tenderly to me. Tenderly. Meaning thoughtfully, helpfully, kindly, yearningly... simply. And I have had such peace again listening to Him.

A dear friend gave me such good reading materials, and more, good inspiration, to spend time speaking with my heavenly Father. To see how far the Lord has brought one: wandering, yet always being led by the hand of Jehovah. Pain from my childhood is being healed; the balm of Gilead is present in the land in which I dwell. And I have been applying it, liberally. Prayer, fasting, and eating platefuls my daily bread. A very good plateful indeed. In the quiet, as I penned away among the wild things, comfort came for me.

Instead of blogs and online writing, the Lord has been pulling up the weeds in my garden and allowing me, separated from most things that can drown Him out, a chance to see... to feel... to know, how much He so loves me. On top of the mountain, throat clenched tight with fear, I've repented; I've renewed. I've asked for wisdom and He is Good. So very, very Good.

And I will remember my First Love.

My Father... thank you for your patience with me... your strong willed child. Help me, daily, to return to that place where I spoke my first words to you. May I carry that joy... that excitement, of first love with me today and help someone else fall in love with you too...

Lightening the Load

2007-06-05T08:51:00.000-04:00

The word lighten means to make lighter, to brighten or illuminate. Illuminate. To shed light on. To bring light into the dark recesses of our thinking, our lives... our hearts. Lightening the load shows you so much of where you've stored your treasure and where your heart is...

My inbox is filled with letters asking me how to lighten the load and simplify. It's apparent that the Holy Spirit is moving on His people to travel light... to open their eyes to the times and be ready to go. Whether to the mission field or simply turning your heart back towards Him, if you are looking for a fellow sojourner who has stumbled, scratched, and is still finding ways to lighten the load, then read on.

YHWH knew this day when He called you. He knew you would be seeking. He knew all of the 'toys' of this world would prove meaningless, and He is right there, rushing in like a fresh, clean breeze to fill your sails again. And maybe you'll find, as I am, that you were not so much seeking Him as He is seeking YOU....

Betseti Likatcha Likrati Metsaticha

I went out to find you ~ and I find you seeking me...

And my family is still there. I am amazed how much more I've purged since moving into the trailers. It has become easier and easier to let things go. But I don't want to tell you HOW to do it, or do it at all. Be led by His Spirit to do it, not because everyone else on your group or community is. I don't want to tell you to do this, do that, and you'll simplify and lighten the load. YHWH deals with each of us individually and your wants and needs are totally different than mine. I just want to show you some of the signs we followed along the path, put there by Him, and possibly inspire you as we travel together.

But be forewarned: Lightening the load is difficult. It will stretch you like the old Stretch Armstrong dolls. It can get messy, like a potter's wheel when dealing with a cold, hard, block of clay. It will cause you to mourn for your purchases and decisions, and time and opportunities wasted. It is sometimes hard for kids... and adults, to part with 'things' that you have become accustomed to having. And when you get down to cleaning the corners of your heart... you'll find it really hurts.

Simplifying and lightening the load SHOULD hurt. It should be painful to shed the extra weight. It should be cleansing. It should purge. It should refine. It should free you... to truly follow him.

...Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. Luke 5:10-11

Later in this series, I'll get into some deeper and more introspective exercises and show you how awakening it can be. At least it was for me. When the Lord says walk this way, follow this path, and be ready, and do not go back into the house for even your coat, could you do it? I thought at one time it was a piece of cake. None of that stuff matters, right? I could leave it in a heartbeat. That is until you are actually asked to do it.

Then it becomes a wrestling match as Israel with the Lord:

In your thoughtlife: But I really like those and they mean so much to me (more than you, Lord).

In your actions: I may need this, somewhere, sometime, someday... (and I really don't trust you Lord to provide me my manna).

In your words: I paid good money for this and I can't just GIVE it away. (give freely, do not store up treasures here on earth...)

And your hip might be hurt, but you'll be blessed. Immeasurably. But let's back up a bit.

In the early part of our dating and marriage, before kids, Michael and I moved. Alot. And when it came time to move, we were always amazed to hear folks say how much they hated moving. Packing all the boxes, moving all the stuff, unloading all the knic knacs, etc... We always looked at them like they had a third eye. We didn't accumulate, so we had NO idea what they were talking about. A friend remarked decades ago that three moves is like a fire, or a tornado. You lose all the stuff you really didn't care about anyway, and the things that matter are crystal clear. I agree...

Fast forward to having two children, and homeschool starts. We settle in, accumulate 'things' and country/primitive decor for me to adorn our home. My bibliophilic tendencies surfaced, and I started to build a homeschool library. I went to book sales, bought books from friends online, tried to keep up with online group ladies who had found a 'gem' and I felt proud to have checkmarks next to all of the titles on the must have book lists. Toys, clothes, baskets, lighthouses, furniture, appliances, bikes, fabrics, dishes, teacups, punched tin and various other 'finds' from the auctions, and so much more accumulated over 15 years. I insulated myself with stuff, and created a nest for my family. A nicely decorated and comfortable nest indeed.

Six years ago we moved to Pennsylvania from Delaware. What a difference that moving experience was. Boxes, bags, and a moving truck (not van) filled with stuff. Stuff that had to be organized, unloaded, unpacked, cleaned, moved and put back into boxes to be stored in closets and basements and garages. Dishes pulled out once a year and then put back into storage. Fabrics for quilting and fat quarters... just to have. Man, it was crazy...

Then, in our homeschool, we did a unit study on Jamestown. Then we did a Prairie unit study and read the Little House books (for the twentieth time). Then we studied the Exodus. At the same time, I became friends with some Amish folks in Lancaster, and spent time with them in their home and businesses. A recurring theme; a way of life that kept showing itself, weaving itself into my thoughts and prayer life.

So we did this fun exercise with the kids. Let's pretend we are going west, and our big white van is our covered wagon. Ma and Pa will take care of the dishes, quilts, and things. The kids could each pack a box that would fit in the wagon. Everything they put into their box was put under the microscope and thrust into the glaring light of reason, and a question was asked.

Is this a want, or a need?

You'd be surprised how easy that makes some of the purging. Not everyone will have the same answers, but it really does start the ball rolling. And you'll also be amazed at some of the answers you get from your kids. And yourself.

You'll see much of what has become idols in your life, and your kid's lives. You get to hover above your precious olive shoots, and get a bird's eye view of your garden. You'll see exactly where the weeds are, and how to go about pulling them before they choke your plants.

But the purging doesn't stop there. Neither does the awakening of the quiet halls of your soul...

Superwoman Un-caped

2007-06-04T15:49:00.000-04:00

Some letters I get come from ladies who are just amazed on 'how I do it all'.

Confession... I haven't been doing it all very well. And it has never been more clear than since we moved into our covered wagons.

To help explain, I received a letter from a friend at end of last year that proved timely and pertinent to my post today. Some exerpts are included below:

... and in some seasons Carla, the Lord takes you off of one front and puts you into a season of rest, and re-learning. Regrouping, rehabilitation, and renewal. Off the front lines and into the shade of the almighty...

Man...I needed to hear that.

More exerpts:
... you have, for many seasons, strived to be all things to all. Something... someone... is bound to suffer. As a woman I have known for 10 years, it is usually you, sister, who comes in last. You, who goes without drink so that others don't thirst. You, sweetie, who burns the midnight oil to help someone. You, soldier, who throws your body in the way so that others are not hurt. You, who gives your precious time and tears, in service, but who finds they are drained and without anyone to support them. I hope you know how much I have been praying for you. I hope you know how many, including myself, who would have given up long ago... on being a biblical woman and wife... a better mom... a better homeschooler... a better daughter to the King, if you had not taken the time to mentor me all these years. And you never called yourself anything like mentor. Only my friend...

... I am (((blushing))), but again... thanks,... I so needed to hear this.

... one thing I have carried away from knowing you, girl, is that you freely give. That is something I have always admired about you. That guide on the side instead of a sage on the stage mentality makes you special, Carla. So why dedicate so much of your valuable time on
STC when I know you are unhappy. Put your head and heart knowledge into a book and sell it- cheaply (vbg) and allow others to go be like your children are. Wonderful self learners who enjoy learning by doing themselves! Can you see the wisdom in this lady?

(((sheepishly))).. oh my... how did I miss that?

...I am emboldened to say to you, my friend... that it is time to take off the Superwoman cape... and take this season of your life and find out what God wants for YOU... combine your efforts with others, as Moses delegated and relied on others to carry the load, and sow your seeds well. And do it just as heartily, as onto the Lord, as you have done everything else in your life.

Wow. This letter (thank you, Jaybird) really was a catalyst for alot in my life. I'm not used to thinking of me. It felt wrong, but I saw wisdom in her words. And in so much of what Michael has been waiting patiently for me to discover myself.

With that letter, and spending time just listening to Him, and swallowing chunks of daily bread, I've been seeking. Through the continued promptings of the Holy Spirit, I have spent the past six months seeking what HE wants for ME. My husband and I have taken many walks in the campground and forest since our move, and spent many nights under the awning of the wagon since April listening to the sounds of the bullfrogs awakening from their winter sleep, and in watching the lightning from the frequent storms that brew up here in the mountains, to just sit still and seek God. And so much of what was foggy is now clear... so many questions I had have now been answered.

Do I have all the answers? Absolutely not. I make decisions based on what I see, and feel, and desire... which is only in part, where He sees, and knows, and arranges because He knows it all. But all I did, whether it was writing, or talking, or helping or counseling, or serving... was out of love.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 11:-13

Being away from the rigors of what had become the everyday, and rediscovering a new 'everyday'; a simpler, gentler, everyday, has shown me so many miracles in the mundane; quiet hallowed halls at the sinks doing dishes that are now empty, but stomachs are full; bluebirds, catbirds, and goldfinches singing with me In Life's Earnest Morning, or I'll Fly Away as I hang the laundry in the morning on the racks outside the wagon. The dragonfly that lands on my hand... that trusts me completely that I won't hurt it, and the salamander that hopes I'll put the rock back down gently after giving praise to our Creator for such intricacies. The excitement I get at seeing a blade of grass or seedling stretching from the forest floor for sunlight, or the goslings that are shedding their down, nestled on all sides by wary and protective parents who question my motives for sitting still so near to their little ones. Or the deer who allows me to walk up the same lake in the pre-dawn hours, fog lifting as we meet eye to eye, and we speak, without uttering a word, of panting for the same water of life.

This is the beauty in the simple and common. And I am loving it.

With all of those walks and talks with the Lord, and under the loving guidance of my hubby, I am taking off the superwoman cape and letting things go and reorganizing in order to meander the path I've long desired, and been led, to walk.

Some of the changes are radical... some are just redirections. There are things I have been working on in the background that I have desired to put more time into, but have been unable because of spreading myself too thin. Some are taking my feet off of unsure footing and putting it where I know the ground is solid. And still more are for a season ~ for we know that time is a precious commodity and where we spend it and how we use it will all be put into the refining fire. And my prayers are that my blood, sweat, and tears will not go up as chaff, but stand the hottest part of the fire as a sacrifice acceptable, worthy of laying at His feet.

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:1

About Shade Tree Cottage

One of the biggest changes will be with Shade Tree Cottage. Anyone who makes soap and sells it knows how laborous it is to make soap, store/cure it, and then with the amount of orders I'm getting, keep a steady supply of the different flavors in stock. It is certainly not a way to get rich, and with the steady increase in gas prices, my suppliers increasing their prices, and my shipping to my customers is going through the roof. And making organic and all natural soaps, and only using organic essential oils, imported extra virgin olive oil, organic herbs, etc... costs too much for me to keep it afloat. Add to that cost the money involved in keeping a storage unit (climate controlled) for the soaps and supplies and I'm bordering on a mere three cents profit per bar. Ridiculous, eh? I've not even factored in my labor costs... or time spent away from walks, talks, and loving my kids. Not anymore...

It was actually an easy decision. Let it go and live fully. I just don't have the time anymore to make the soaps. There will, Lord willing, be another season to make and sell soaps... perhaps just locally or perhaps internationally as now, but this momma has missed too much trying to be all things to all.

So what will I do with my recipes? I'm working on putting them into an ebook and selling them for you to make your own. To truly be that guide on the side...

What about the STC website and name? I've had a few inquiries... mostly local, about purchasing the name and site. I haven't decided if I should keep it for the ebooks, or shut it down completely or sell it- cheap- to someone who will take it from here. Any thoughts? Looking to get a website already designed... sort of turn key(stroke)- pardon the pun? Get in touch.

What about the Teas and Tisanes, and other items I sell in the store? Same as the soaps... going to put the recipes for the pregnancy/homebirth teas and tisanes into ebooks, as well as the different recipes for the Bug Off oil, shampoo bars, etc... This will enable you to make naturally healthy items for YOUR family at YOUR home, and experience the joy of helping keep your family healthy.

What about orders placed during my down time? I'm still having difficulty getting my emails from the site. I have someone coming over next weekend to see if the problem is me, or my wifi hookup. I've managed to retrieve three of the many orders, and I'll be getting in touch with you regarding your orders.

What about my inventory? After filling the orders on deck, the rest will be sold and donated. Interested in getting some soaps, teas, etc...? Get in touch with me and we can discuss it then.

Will I still make soap? Absolutely! I've been making it for years; for my family, and a few special orders that folks really do need for keeping their skin clear. But those folks know about how much it is going to cost and have ok'd the price increases. If you are interested in a special order, just let me know. It ain't cheap, but it's worth it.

About My Practice, N.D. Studies, and the Christian Herbalist

I have weaned my practice down to two clients who are on follow up protocols, and I will not be taking any more new clients- for at least the next year. I am sorry for those of you who had been on the waiting list. I have been struggling to find ANY time to do my N.D. studies because of the case load, and this was causing me some turmoil. By getting rid of the practice, per se, and focusing on my studies, I'll be able to get back on track with my degree.

I have long desired to work on setting up the Christian Herbalist Guild and on ebooks/books about herbs and natural health, and with having such a large client load, that also had been pushed to the backburner. That also grieved me. But I am excited to say that Cheri, better known to most as the TN Farm Girl and I will be working on some Christian Herbalist items in the very near future. It is my hope and prayer that together, we ladies can combine our talent and time to bring to fruition good materials to help and minister to you.

Another thing that has bothered me was the fact that I was unable to make time to answer phone calls or emails regarding herb/natural health Q&A's. You'll notice I have put a Questions and Answers category on the blog and will, Lord willing, have more time to answer questions that have been sent in or those sent to me in the future.

About My Speaking Engagements

Until July 2007, I am booked solid for walks, talks, and seminars, and I'm not scheduling anymore for a long time. I apologize for having to decline so many requests as of late, but I hope you'll understand that in this season, I do not want to be away from my family- mentally or physically. They are so precious, and they grow up fast. My quiver is full and I want them sharp for His return.

About the Magazine

I have tried to make time to work on things, but with all the other hats in the arena, it was left untended. I have a great group of ladies who are working with me on develoment, some good homesteading writers, an offer for web work (I'll be in touch Denise!), and lots of writing that I love to do. So by streamling... refocusing my efforts here and combining talents with other likeminded homesteaders, it is my prayer that all will come together nicely. I'll keep you informed.

Want to write for the magazine? Get in touch with me!

About Carla's Country Living Newsletter

Here's my dilemna. My subscriber number just catapulted me into a new account status over on Constant Contact, and now I'm spending alot more each month to 'host' my newsletter than I wanted to.

I hate advertising- well charging for it. And I'm ready to start the newsletter back up, have loads of articles and writers from Grandma Connie, Crystal Miller, Lisa Vitello, and many more, but I'm belaboring the cost now.

Still praying about this one... any thoughts? Maybe I should just have CCL Newsletter become the new magazine- with a new name, of course. Contact me if you feel compelled...

About the Blog

I've streamlined the look, removed a bunch of graphics, added a few things and took a few things off. You'll notice I have about my family and our mission up on the top bar now, instead of in the sidebar. And no meme's and such. Not enough time...

I've also added some categories to help answer herb/natural health questions and more.

And I've taken to photography since moving into the covered wagon, and I'd like to showcase living more simply. Show how it can be done- how we live... our struggles and triumphs. I want to show you, as we learn and turn our wagons solar, or add a composting toilet, or learn to do things by hand and without electricity, and explore and learn and incorporate simplicity so that you can sojourn with me. So expect to see more about our new life and traveling and going green'er'.

I'll also be putting more about our home and heartschooling- including book lists and curriculum. I stopped doing that when I worked for TOS. Funny, eh? But I love homeschooling, and lately, we've had quite a few homeschoolers over for turkey dogs and campfires, and I missed sharing and learning about something I love so much. It's woven into every cell of my being, and I want you to see it in action too...

About Being a Wife, Mother to Six, and Home and Heartschooling

I've never been more honored to be all things to them. I've never had sweeter kisses, bigger hugs, louder laughs, and time ALONE with them since we decided to simplify. And that is what this is all about. All of the soap making, speaking engagements, local yokel involvement, blogging and writing doesn't mean ANYTHING if I'm not living it fully with and for them.

I've noticed so much more time just to breathe since making these changes. And I want to keep it that way...

Mediterranean Greek Salad

2007-06-04T09:15:00.000-04:00

This is the typical Greek salad, however, add this as a topping on pizza, pasta, or grilled chicken or steak to add an ‘OOOMPA’ to your meal!

1 large or 2 medium tomatoes, sliced (either luscious vine ripes or perfect Italian roma)
1 red onion, thinly sliced
1 cucumber, peeled and sliced
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
3/4 cup cubed feta cheese
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup or more calamata olives

Arrange the tomatoes, onion, and cucumber in a nice design on a large plate. Sprinkle feta, mint and olives over all. Mix olive oil and lemon juice together and drizzle on top or use only olive oil. Let sit for at least 15 minutes to allow flavors to marry. Sprinkle sea salt and some fresh ground pepper and serve.

Just FYI...

2007-06-04T09:06:00.001-04:00

Some of you have written me and asked me why some of my older posts from the beginning of 2006 and earlier are appearing on their feed readers.

I recently switched to the new blogger format, and one of the benefits was labels. No more categories that I had to double post. Simply put your label in and voila! A label or category is created for you.

I went back and labeled some of my old posts and in doing so, the RSS feeds and readers picked up the posts and considers them new. Ahhh... the marvels of technology.

Just FYI...

Gas E.G.G.

2007-06-04T08:21:00.000-04:00

Sounds weird, eh? But you would be surprised how great this little product works!

I have to admit… it is disheartening to go and pick a great basket filled with greens, store them in the frig. and then come back to a wilted, tasteless, and pretty ugly bunch of food. And now with our frig. space at a premium, I want my food to stay good and tasty until serving time. So I introduce the egg or Ethylene Gas Guardian…

This product is placed in your frig to help absorb the ethylene gas that is omitted by damaged and ripening veggies.The gas causes fruits and vegetables to prematurely rot. By removing the ethylene gas, it helps keep your produce from going bad as quickly. I have noticed a dramatic reduction in the ‘over’ ripening of the fruits and veggies since starting to use it.

It’s cheap and will save you money and heartaches from throwing perfectly good food away. You can get the EGG and refill packs for a year for only $15! And it makes a great conversation piece too! Industrial vegetable shippers control the environment of their storehouses and shipping containers (and yes, I know, a lot of other ways- many that are unfriendly to the environment and to our health), but this ‘egg’ is one way to prolong your produce’s shelf life- naturally. When the egg is reduced in effectivity, you can take the packet from the inside and use in your garden to add minerals to the soil. That makes this green lady very happy!

Their website has some great links under produce storage as well. They lead to suggestions and facts for different varieties of produce. Good reading!

Slugs

2007-06-04T08:14:00.000-04:00

Slugs. Ewwww....one of the 'ickies' of gardening. And nothing says summer more than being barefoot and then stepping on one..guuhhhrosss! My Dad used to tell us when we were younger to pour salt on them. Double ewwwww....

Here's a humane way of keeping them from wreaking havoc on your garden and walkways: create a copper barrier around your plants with old pennies. When slugs try to cross the copper, they get a little shock.

Another way to help curb your slug problem is to water in the dawn hours instead of at dusk. Slugs begin their nocturnal eating fest when the sun goes down, and water pooled in and around plants draws them into wine and dine.

Both of these methods will drastically reduce the amount of slug damage to your precious flowers and plants this summer!

Measure My Days: Getting Real

2007-06-01T13:55:00.000-04:00

Part 2 in the series.

Read Part 1 here.

Oskar Schindler: I could have got more out. I could have got more. I don't know. If I'd just... I could have got more.

Itzhak Stern: Oskar, there are eleven hundred people who are alive because of you. Look at them.

Oskar Schindler: If I'd made more money... I threw away so much money. You have no idea. If I'd just...

Itzhak Stern: There will be generations because of what you did.

Oskar Schindler: I didn't do enough!

Itzhak Stern: You did so much.

[Schindler looks at his car] Oskar Schindler: This car. Goeth would have bought this car. Why did I keep the car? Ten people right there. Ten people. Ten more people.

[removing Nazi pin from lapel] Oskar Schindler: This pin. Two people. This is gold. Two more people. He would have given me two for it, at least one. One more person. A person, Stern. For this. [sobbing]

Oskar Schindler: I could have gotten one more person... and I didn't! And I... I didn't!

~ lines from the movie- Schindlers List.

I am writing this after a fellow traveler said how easy it was to start living simply. I had to disagree. The path to living simply... truly simply... should be like a walk in the hot desert on your way to no man's land. You and God. Nothing should be kept from the fire. It should hurt. Purge. Refine. Change. And so I print another entry from my journal...

After careful introspection, I did not like what I saw. I have stopped asking the Lord to change the world, and instead asked him to change me.

Help my eyes to see. I desire to spend more and more time with Him, and read and understand more and more of His unending love through His word, memorizing and grabbing chunks of it and hiding it in my heart...

Help my heart to hear. I've been listening. Quiet, hallowed halls. Simple things, Lord.

Search me Lord... and create in me... a new heart.

Those words can bring you face to face with your ugliness...

With our family vision moving forward (literally moving!) and with the continued purging of our belongings, both material and those we deem important in our hearts that have become idols, I have had my eyes opened to so many things staring me in the face. What started as Bible study and a season of cleansing and lightening the load in preparation for living a truly simple life, has now also brought me face to face with my own own poverty, and the poverty of much of my thinking. I'm ashamed at the insane amount of materialism and consumerism, and greed and gluttony, and missed opportunities I've had.

What started out as a pre-Christmas 'let's get rid of some stuff 'for our move next spring, has burgeoned into a shedding of much more than the physical and tangible stuff'. How does one reconcile the amount of things, or even opportunities that my family and our country has, to those who have none...

My heart grew hot within me, and as I meditated, the fire burned;then I spoke with my tongue: Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days;let me know how fleeting is my life. Psalm 39:3-4

How many wooden spoons does one need, when others in the world want for a mere spoon full of nourishment? I counted the cost and have my number. How many career suits must hang in my closet 'just in case', or how many work jeans, shirts, and other clothes do I have, when others have only the clothes on their back? How many drawers filled with clothes, or toys, or books, does one need to have?

One life, for this box of goods. One meal, for this box of books...

Live simply, so that others may simply live...

Images of the children of the Sudan scraping the ground for bugs, and mothers in despair at their children's pleas for food and water, haunted my dreams and thoughts. In those quotidian moments of washing dishes one night alone, I added my salt-laced tears to the dish water as I pondered the cost that one Sudanese woman or girl suffered that day in humilitation and rape while trying to gather water for drinking, bathing, or washing. I was in mourning for weeks. When eternal truths that you've been staring at for years hit you and when scales fall from one's eyes, it can be too much to bear. Was I blind? Calloused? Greedy and gluttonous, or do I dare call myself a word I use so very sparingly... a fool?

When packing a box of school books, the must-have titles suddenly took on another look in this glaring light. Why did I buy these? Some were impulse buys, some were well intended suggestions from friends or on the 'must read lists', and many were re-hashings of previous learned information found in other books. Did I mull the content of those books enough to warrant their purchase? Did I make a deliberate decision or just buy it? Could I have better used a library, or book club?

Getting real can be ugly.

Carla's Spring Zucchini Soup

2007-06-01T10:26:00.000-04:00

Great for using first bumper crop of spring zucchini and it tastes delicious!

2 tsp. cooking oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
4-5 medium zucchini, cleaned and chopped
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 cup of sour cream
Salt and pepper
Dill or thyme
3-4 cups of chicken broth

In large soup pot, saute onion and garlic in veg. oil until soft. Stir in zucchini, lemon juice and chicken stock. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer for 15 minutes. Puree in blender or food processor. Pour into serving dish and quickly whisk in sour cream and herbs.

Serve with zucchini bread or onion bread.

Amalgam Fillings

2007-06-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

A reader asked me about amalgam/mercury tooth fillings and what I thought of them. For those who are not familiar with the subject, a decent article is expressed here.

High levels of mercury in the body are toxic, and lead to neuro toxicity and immune responses, which sometimes become systemic.

Some ways to rid the body and/or help the body deal with excess metal/mercury is through homeopathic detoxification protocols, chelation therapy, regular eating of miso soup, and/or a regiment of hepatic and cleansing herbs such as Milk Thistle, Oregon Grape Root, Red Clover, and greens and sea veggies like chlorella, bladderwrack, and sodium algenate (derived from kelp) and maganese and selenium for liver and kidney optimization, immune function, and glandular health.

Regarding another reader's questions asking if some fillings can cause you to pick up radio stations, that is actually a myth.

To put it in scientific terms, you would have to have two different fillings with two different amalgams in order for something like that to happen. And it would only occur in the first two to three weeks before the metals become corroded. A small electrical current could be generated after eating a highly acidic meal and the 'popping' sounds you heard in your mouth would actually be electrical 'sparks'. But this is HIGHLY irregular and most dentists refrain from using amalgams that would cause such a reaction. Thank you, Margaret, for asking me such a good question. You made me 'stretch' to find the answer!

Intercession

2007-06-01T09:46:00.001-04:00

Alot of the readers of this blog probably know about my friend, Chris, and the trials she has been enduring. I would ask you all to keep Chris and her six children in prayer for their safety. Her site has been disabled and those who love her are worried.

A violent thunderstorm ripped through the mountains here late last night, and rendered me sleepless. As I sat outside listening to the thunder roar through the canyons and echo off the mountains like cannon shots, Chris weighed heavily on my heart. Chris, if you stop by this little corner of the web, please send an email to the ladies and let us know you are alright.

Laying at the throne room door in your behalf, Chris...

New Email Address

2007-06-01T09:25:00.000-04:00

After trying for over two weeks to rectify a computer glitch and realizing we have no need for internet service here, I have cancelled our former comcast service.

I've changed the links on the sidebar to reflect my new addy- so be sure to note it in your address books!

My new email address is now:

carlalynne@fmgirl.com

If you are looking for a free email service, check them out. They are pretty good and not blacklisted like yahoo and gmail accounts.

Back to Modernity

2007-05-24T09:27:00.000-04:00

Linking up

Well it took longer than expected to get the wifi network installed and working, but today I am back in the world of modernity. Internet access has never felt so good...

Although it is amazing to me, considering the abrupt internet withdrawal symptoms I exhibited when we first trekked into the wildnerness (can we go to the library? how about Starbucks? Anywhere they have internet access!!!) how little I missed the daily RSS feeds, blog awards and nominations, and the feelings of trying to 'get to the computer to blog'. My need to write was simply channeled into my physical journal (and future book), and my time was unchained to actually live. I've had much time to catch up on some 'green' reading, and I look forward to reading some more about how to turn our wagons even greener. I would be lying if I said I didn't miss my emails and contacts with my friends, but those who know me understood why the need for a blog sabbatical. The two months before we moved were spent purging and lightening the load, and the last six weeks have been spent traveling, hiking, and setting up our new life in our wagons.

I have SO many emails to respond to, so if you don't hear from me soon, resend the email ok? I'll be sure to get back to you asap.

Shade Tree Cottage orders

I'm having trouble downloading orders that were placed during our down time. As soon as I get the problem corrected, I'll be in touch with anyone who placed one. Urgggh.... my continued love/hate affair with technology....

One of the many things I've learned...

Humans don't make good tumbleweeds and broken ribs hurt. Bad. And there is not much you can do but help the bone knit and take it easy. Easier said than done when you are moving and setting up camps. I was sipping California Poppy tea and I've gone through a complete batch of Jamaican Dogwood tincture for the pain. How did it happen?During the big (HUGE) nor'easter we had blow through the second week of April, we ended up fleeing the camp because the three lakes surrounding the parks, and the Tohickon, Beaver, and Rapp Creeks were flooding and we were not sure if we would have another chance to get out of the area (without a rescue boat!). We are glad we did, and no harm came to our trailers. But the rains helped everything start sprouting and budding and I wanted to get a vista view from the top of the mountain. So I took a hike- by myself. The rains also loosened the ground- alot! I was on a ridge and started to reach for the next ledge to climb and the ground gave way and I fell more than twenty feet before landing on trees and other brush. I shook myself off, wiped the few cuts I got on my legs and arms, and then all of a sudden it felt like someone kicked me in my side- hard! I hobbled back to camp a few hours later, covered in mud and limping like a wuss. Suffice it to say I broke a rib and had it wrapped for a few weeks. I'm much better now and I've even started running in the morning again. Taking it slow and steady, and I'm so very thankful for the angels who caught me kept me from tumbling all the way down the mountain. What did I learn? Never go hiking by yourself. I love the solitude and walking among the trails and mountains just me and the Lord, but it is not a safe thing to do (just like swimming). Second, when climbing rocks and mountains after a rain, gain a good footing before letting go of your stronghold. Totally. Third, don't go climbing after a nor'easter that dumps 7 inches of rain on already saturated ground. Duh....

The Mane Attraction

Well I finally did it. Yep, I cut the auburn locks off. Over eight and half inches of the tangly mangly mess came off right before we moved. It it now only down to the bottom of my shoulder blades (instead of my butt!) and I couldn't be happier. It's still long, but I don't sit on it, or get tangled in the brush and it is much easier to pull up in my braids, ponytails, and buns. And I knew the ticks would be bad, and it's much easier to put my Don't Bug Me oil on it to keep the buggies out of it.

We plan to do alot of hiking and spend lots of time at the shore and one thing I really disliked about my hair length was the knots and mess that chlorine, salt water, and sun can reek on my hair.

I donated my locks to a great organization- LOCKS OF LOVE and Amy Rachel donated her six inches of golden locks there too.

And something freaky and amazingly wonderful has happened to my hair too. With spending so much time outside, it has gone to a most awesome strawberry blond color (like when I was a kid, Sammi!), and without using any henna. Too cool....

How to go 'No Poo'...

Betcha that made you take a big gulp of your hot tea or coffee this morning, eh? Good golly, miss molly what in the world is that hippie health nut Carla Lynne doing now? How can you not go poo?

I haven't 'pood' for over eight years. Actually, I'm talking about no shampoo. If you cannot find a shampoo locally in the stores that is free of all of the SLS, parabens, and other dooky, and you are not a fan of my shampoo bars (give 'em a try- you'll love knowing you're shampooing with only natural and organic ingredients and they work!), than perhaps you should do what our pioneering fore-mothers did. NO shampoo. My friend Emme at Simple Reduce has a great post on how to do this. Information, recipes, and good links are shared, and the comments themselves are worth a read. Then you can freak people out and say you don't poo too!

Earth Day 2007

Most of the activities we had planned for Earth Day 2007 were cancelled, for my family, because of my injury, but we walked around the park, cleaned up trash, scoped the creek beds and removed debris, and we spent time enjoying the nice weather and solitude. While the children played later in the day, I turned on Discovery Channel's encore presentation of the Planet Earth. I usually don't suggest folks (especially frugal homeschoolers like myself) splurge on a DVD set/documentary that costs $80, but this is a MUST have for any home, especially one where the children are homeschooled.

I have NEVER before witnessed such a wonderfully orchestrated, and beautifully filmed (using revolutionary camera lenses and in HD) documentary on our wonderful world. Some of the filming is so intense, and captures truly... the beauty and magnificance of our world, I highly recommend it.

Some of the habitats and animals in the documentary have never before been filmed in the wild. I literally cried with each episode. How can we reek such havoc on such beauty with our greed, callousness, and lack of care for God's creation, and think that the Lord is not grieved? He said dominion over... not destruction of.

Get it. You won't regret it.

Green: The New Red, White and Blue

I borrowed that line from Thomas Friedman's N.Y. Times essay regarding geopolitics, petrolism, and our need to detox our country from it's oil addiction. It is also the name of a show that he hosted on Discovery Channel recently. A brief synopsis of Friedman's thoughts are found here, with his LONG essay found here.

Did it make you think? With gas prices hitting new high's everyday, and a forecast of a $10 a gallon level before we American's are 'provoked' into thinking about changing our ways and use of energy, are you doing something about it now? I need to change alot of the 'future paths' information on the sidebar, and I hope the article inspires you to do so too.

On Either Side of Christ

While purging and lightening the load, we donated much to Goodwill and a local thrift store, had a yard sale, and listed alot on Craig's list. I gave even more away for free. During it all, our prayers were that folks would be blessed by our lightening of our worldly goods and that seeds would be planted.

Some folks wrote us letters through snail mail, and some phone calls and emails told us we were right. A mother who now has a complete layette including a new crib was amazed that we gave it to her- free. VHS tapes were given to anyone who bought at the yard sale, and a landscaper got an entertainment system and TV (hubby's baby) for next to nothing. We received handshakes, smiles, and made friends. And fellowship with some of our 'customers' has been the greatest benefit. Sharing the love of Christ with a hurting world...

One item I listed was a treadmill and had numerous inquiries about it. Maybe it was because the offer was 'too good to be true'. It was a good machine- only a few years old and originally
cost us $900. I listed it for $200. Why the stark difference in price? Because we wanted our purging to be a blessing to others- not a way to make money. Call us a fool, but that is what the Lord led us to do. I prayed that someone who really needed it would be the one who I was led to call back.

So a lady comes into my home, admittedly disheveled with boxes and in the throws of moving, and purchases the treadmill. She asks me about our life, the move into the RV's, the size of my family, and all the while shakes her head and smiles as I share. It took three of us to carry it out to her van and get it loaded. My son, who has been known to have a sarcastic streak, says as she leaves, " Well Mom, I think you're prayers were answered. I think that lady really needs that treadmill." I rebuked him for his insensitivity and felt good about one more thing going to a good home that He picked out.

So imagine my surprise when checking my stat meters on my site to see over four hundred hits from a certain site that was talking about me, the treadmill, my choices, and the the blood of Christ. I haven't figured out exactly what kind of list it is, nor do I have the time to waste or the inclination to decipher their metaphorical (and somewhat infantile bylines) under their particular monikers.

But I will let you know this. Some of the comments that members of that list left on my blog will never be published. Some were vile and laden with profanity, some were written with the sole intention of flaming and getting the readers of this blog in a circular pattern with no hope of logical debate or dialogue, some were simply ad hominem attacks about my choices at family size, agrarian life, homeschooling, and my belief in Christ.

I'm not upset, in fact, I'm thankful my prayers were answered. Seeds were planted, and yes, that treadmill had the blood of Jesus sprinkled all over it. My writing about Christ, and Pesach, and other writing on this blog stirred something in you all or you would not have felt the need to lash out so viciously. I feel sad for you. Instead of thanking God for the blessing of such a discount on an item that you needed, you scorned and mocked and will someday be accountable for every word uttered. You were given a choice, just as the thieves that hung on either side of Christ were. One chose to believe and entered into Paradise with Christ; the other mocked and scorned Him and is forever separated from God.

If you, Ms. Johnson (Pagan Mama), or any of the other readers of that list ever care to enter into a logical (and civil) debate on salvation, family size and the fallacy of overpopulation, agrarian living, or homeschooling, you are welcome to leave a comment or contact me directly. Anything short of that will be deleted.

Carla Lynne's Big Book Sale

After much discussion with dearest hubby, we've decided to lighten our load even more. Because we don't want to keep great books packed away 'just in case', we've decided to sell them all.

Anyone who has been in my home knows how many books I have. I am a certified bibliophile. I have been collecting books since we started homeschooling. Everything from Landmarks, Messners, Hillyer, and more will go. We've figured out what books we think we need to home and heart school our children, and those will go with us whereever 'there' may be. The rest need to find good homes.

So over the next month, I'll be getting some ebay auctions with lots of ten or fifteen books in each together. I plan to use the money from the auctions to get our water distiller and some other off-the-grid type of goodies for our wagons.

Will you help spread the word? Let your readers know it will be a big sale... like almost 4,000 books worth. I'll keep you informed of our progress in getting them organized and readied for sale. If you are looking for a particular book, author, or set of books, let me know and we'll arrange something ahead of the auctions.

A Note of Thanks

I just wanted to say thank you to the parents of Colleen Ann Barkow, who thanked me for remembering their daughter in a tribute I wrote. I keep you and Danny in my prayers, and hope that you know that every tear you shed for her is being collected by the Father. Someday, we'll never have to say goodbye...

Looking for Web Help

I've been working on a publishing project with a group of great ladies, and we'll be needing a good web designer and possible hosting provider to work with our budding magazine from the ground up. It looks to be a fruitful endeavor that we will need a good gal (or guy) who wants to invest in the sowing season with us, and will reap whatever rewards the Lord has for it, and us, as a result.

This person, or persons, will also eventually be helping me get the Christian Herbalist Guild site together, so if it is something you might be interested in, let me know by contacting me.

Carla's Country Living Newsletter

I'm working on a new issue for the newsletter, now that I am back online. I'm also looking for good writers to contribute articles. Nothing long or fancy... just real. Are you looking to exercise your writing skills? Have some homesteading or 'green' news you'd like to share? Get in touch... I'd love to showcase your talents!

Have a homesteading or home business you'd like to get free advertising for? I never charge for ads in my newsletter. Just send along the information and I'll get you in there.

Well, the sun is up now, the trees are filled with lots of songbirds, and the breeze coming in the trailer beckons me outside. I'll try to write more later today!

Joyfully Living for Him,

Carla Lynne

Some random musings ala wifi...

2007-04-11T06:22:00.000-04:00

Just time enough this morning to type an update of sort; random musings on the buzy bee blur of our everyday lives...

Pesach and the Feast of Unleavened Bread

Many of you know we are Messianic in our beliefs, and celebrate the biblical feasts and festivals. If you would like to know how we celebrate the Passover, please read how I prepared last years Seder. It has great links to the music, recipes, and beliefs surrounding this special time.

This Pesach (Passover) brought a lesson for this weary traveler. Packing and purging, and preparing a feast in the wilderness (with minimal provisions) and accomplishing such in between packing the wagons tethered me even more to the whole experience. My stomach gets butterflies every Pesach, and this one was no different. I don't know why I get them. Maybe it is the thought of Him dining with me through the observances. Maybe it is the thought of His last supper, and the miracle of broken bread becoming His body and perfect wine becoming His blood. Perhaps it is the thought of the lamb sacrificially covering me, and how powerful He is and how impotent death has become. To be brought out of slavery and into reconciliation. And the joy of an empty tomb...

Yard and Book Sale Update

Our yard sale was held during the brutal winds a few weeks back. I tried to cancel it, but early birds who showed up and my children who worked very hard to label items and assemble the whole mess into organized piles and groupings would not hear of it. They bundled up and greeted the numbers who poured across our possessions. My 14 yr. old, Kevin, really impressed me with his outgoing salesmanship. He made sales simply because he made friends; talking about everything and garnering many handshakes and smiles. I like buying from folks like my son, and I was sure to praise him (lots!) and encouraged him never to lose that spark. It is rare to find that nowadays. I also told him I am going to put him to work this summer at the market, and pay him what he's worth. He is saving for his first firearm and I hope to help him much this summer.

My virtual online book sale however was a bust. Not because of my readers... but because of my agressive spam and junk mail gobbler. Man... this thing took ALL of the incoming requests for the books and marked them as junk, and filed them accordingly. It is a long drawn out process to open each mail and check them for 'spaminess' (is that even a word???) and so I have hereby fired my spam program (you fired!!! ) and I am now using a much better one. I like this one (Trend Micro PCCillin) becauses it actually ASKS me before doing anything instead of doing my thinking for me. So after I finish setting up camp I'll relist the books and other goodies for sale. I apologize if you were one of the many who got sent to the junk folder.

Baby, it's cold outside!

I thought it funny that during our stay in the one trailer while we await the delivery of our other one, it has changed completely back to winter. Brutal winds from the Artic and snow showers are some chilly circumstances to brave a move, but the Klimuk tribe is of hearty stock. Dressed in layers and pouring over the catalogs looking at outdoor gear, guns, camp gear and more has our minds on a more 'warmer' time. The littles are picking out their water shoes for climbing on the rocks and at the shore, and the big guys are looking forward to hunting season at the long john gear and jackets for next season. Me? I've got my seedlings, and working at the CSA will take care of my green thumb, so I'm drooling over some great non-electric stuff from Lehman's. And cast iron chicken fryer and some assorted goodies. Oh, and a water purifier or distiller.

Do I have a brain tumor or is them bells I hear?

You know when you get close to the Ringing Rocks park on a nice day, and some group of about forty folks with mallets and hammers start pounding on rocks, you might ask yourself that very question. It is a very cool place with waterfalls and some great hiking trails. We will revisit there when the weather breaks, and I'll take some great pictures to show you.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road...

Well, not really yellow, or bricked... or a road really. It is the hiking trails surrounding where we are staying. I'm taken up running on this great little country road each morning- starting out slow, but my goal this year was to take up running and learn endurance, so I thank the Lord each day for supplying such a peaceful one to enjoy. I've lost all the baby fat from Abigail and after settling in and after the weather warms a bit, I'll start my detox and juicing fast.

Our family likes hiking the scenic trails (minus anymore bears!) and we hope to do some more geocaching this spring. The kids have some great things to leave in any caches we find- little trinkets and such from places like this. I had a great hiking stick over 4 1/2 feet tall that I found and carved but forgot it when we moved from Delaware. I hope to find another good one soon and widdle it into something special this summer. If you and your family are not into hiking, I highly recommend it for exercise and discovery. The beautiful sights, the various plants and animals and all sorts of wild things you see...

Thinking outside the box...

I am overwhelmed at the outpouring of letters and emails I am getting about our move. I've been sent numerous Yahoo group invitations and I've even been offered a documentary. As much as I think folks could be blessed by it, I'm a writer and I'll stick to writing about it. I make too many mistakes and I don't think I'd like seeing that immortalized on DVD. I'll just show you random pics that show my good side after a shower and with my curly mop all pulled up. More importantly, I'd prefer to live what I'm writing about first...and then scratch my musings and share information in a book as a reflection.

If you would like to see a great video akin to what we are doing, take some time to view A Journey Home. Herrick has a great review on his blog and is starting a DVD sharing club. My friend, Julie, and her family have been considering a similar path into ministry. It is a very exciting time, and anyone who homeschools has probably felt the exact same way. A sort of exhilarating nervousness as you tread unfamiliar ground. Just as it was when I began 14 years ago, discovering new textbooks, methods of study, book lists, and more, the same is happening with our pioneering. New paths, new opportunities, new discoveries...

I look forward to writing more about our journey in the coming weeks.

Localvore Summer

I am meeting some fascinating folks lately. Really interesting 'beyond organic' individuals and businesses. I am working on two interviews with some local kindred spirits- one is a budding dairy farmer from around the corner and another considered a conscious food pioneer in the area and founder of one of Philadelphia's most popular restaurants. More to come...

Grandma- Email Me!!!

I'm leaving a comment on your blog too, Grandma, but just in case Heather or Michelle see this first... get Grandma to email me her number. I packed it away with my desk contents (really well packed!) and I so want to talk to her. I promise to enter it into my cell phone address book...

Be back soon...

We'll be offline between now and probably the end of the month. The wifi is scheduled to be finished by the end of April, so that will make writing online easier. We are still getting settled and we are finishing the organizing of Shade Tree Cottage's office space. All according to what we had prayed and it looks like May 2007 is our reopening.

I'll soon be getting new email addresses sometime in May, but I'll be sure to let you know and post it on the sites. I like my cell phone provider, so that number will remain the same.

If I get the chance to post sooner, I will. Be back soon!

Joyfully, for Him,

Carla Lynne

Natural Egg Dyes

2007-04-03T07:14:00.000-04:00

We do not celebrate Easter- instead choosing to celebrate the Biblical Feasts. So this time of year for us is spent preparing for Pesach, or Passover.

But for those of you who do celebrate Easter by coloring eggs, please DO NOT use the commercial dyes and kits available. Even ones labeled 'natural' or safe sometimes contain coal tar and petroleum ingredients- not so natural and safe after all.

Here is a list of natural dyes you can make- many with ingredients and materials you have around your home and kitchen.

Pioneering

2007-03-05T06:43:00.000-05:00

My inbox, my message machine, and my desk are staring at me with similar questions from readers and friends: What is your plan on moving and how does this relate to getting debt free?

I've been reluctant to tell. You may remember me asking you a hypothetical question back in this entry from last summer- August 11, 2006!!! We began laying the foundation back then for this journey as the Lord was leading us. But I dare not tell...it seemed so far fetched and faith filled that I might be ridiculed. Folks might not 'get' what we are doing, or saying, or about to begin living. However, my recent conclusion to a Bible study on the life of Esther, and my friend and fellow pioneer, Julie, writing how the Lord is moving in her family's heart, and I knew I was not the only one. There are others. A lot. Most of those notes and letters and emails I have are from folks like us who are feeling led, and searching, and are thinking of ways that are not mainstream to go where they are led to go. This path we have been on for months (I've been working on a series of articles that I am developing into a book on what has happened in our family over the last year, particularly the last six months.) hammering out details, fasting, and coming face to face with exactly what is important, and in about sixty short days, we begin a new life pioneering. I have never felt more faith, been stretched more to have courage, and I haven't any idea where we are going or what the future holds. All I know is I have never felt more alive, or that I am actually 'living'.

But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. Psalm 39:7

Yes, Lord... I can walk to the next wave, for I know you'll be waiting there. My faith is in you...

We all agree the current debt structure of America, with its credit, credit, credit, second mortgage, third mortgage, etc... is flawed. It's a catastrophe waiting to happen. It's a burden to the way God designed the family, with the Father of the home away in an industrialized job. With the current state of the economy, alot of folks have been feeling a squeeze; some are scrambling with high fuel or living costs, and some were dealt a blow with Sept. 11. My family personally experienced our share of financial ruin with that terrible event, and good friends know how hard we reeled for the next three years. It was awful, and yet taught us there is so much more to life than 'stuff'.

Our leading into a more simple and agrarian life requires us to have our debt structure eliminated. Our current lease/purchase on this house, sorely in need of much repair (you can see light through some of this ol' houses walls!), plus the current cost of living in this area, local and state taxes, utilities, insurance premiums on a 'suburb of Philadelphia/New York', and more is choking our savings and preventing this from happening. But more importantly, the cost of living here is causing Michael to be away more and more. It is ridiculous. Longer hours away from the home, ~~less time~~ no time doing what he should be doing (the family vision), ~~less money~~ put away, and then the ~~rising~~ skyrocketing costs of living in this area caused us to take a very hard look at things. ~~Less time~~ No time for hunting and fishing with the boys, ~~less time~~ no time for devotions or reading or play, and even our homegroup and Shabbat would suffer. I wear alot of hats around the home, and I even fill some of his shoes when I have to, but there are some shoes I am NOT MEANT to have on. I have no desire to... but he does. I have held the fort, and been a good second in command, but the man's heartstrings breaking when pulling away each day before the kids get up, and a family fast asleep when he pulls in are just too much to bear. This is not the way it was supposed to be.

We prayed alot as a family, and discussed, and searched. Michael and I spent long hours, into the night, searching and talking, and then fasting and praying. I am thankful for His showing us where to go, and that path that had escaped our searching, and I am excited because I know the journey for us is going to be unlike anything we have ever experienced as a family.

The priest answered them, "Go in peace. Your journey has the LORD's approval." Judges 18:6

Imagine if you could cut your expenses, eliminate debt, live even more simply, and in the end have the Dad at home, building the home by hand from the ground up (and with Mrs. Green Jeans suggestions for solar, wind, and other eco-friendly systems built in), and until that home is built, live in a covered wagon, of sorts. My covered wagon is a bit more modern than the ones of Laura Ingalls Wilder's time.

These modern covered wagons make use of modern technology such as a refrigerator and freezer, stove and oven, heating and a/c, and we are installing the generators for backup, and I am reading right now about how some folks have converted some systems in these to more eco-friendly means, such as using solar and wind, and veggie oils, but that is a future trail.

We are moving into our covered wagons in a month or so. This spring and summer, I'll be making soap over a fire and farming at the CSA instead of my own gardens, however, I have a ton of 'earthboxes' I am going to be using around the RV for salad gardens, herbs, and other goodies! I'll be canning and preserving and dehydrating using one of our solar ovens, cooking over an open flame and with cast iron dutch ovens, washing and drying by hand, homeschooling outside, and sleeping under the stars. All this in my covered wagons.

In our praying, planning, and goal setting, we saw that for a family of 8, we needed two RV's, so we just purchased another one this weekend from between Lewistown and State College. To make an offer of $1000 less than they were asking, which was already less than half what it was worth, and to have them counteroffer an additional $500 off to help us with our vision was miraculous.

Having the second RV, plus the cooking/eating tent will allow us the space necessary to not feel confined, homeschool materials and such will be in one trailer and we have plenty of room for cold weather months too. You can see this trailer we just purchased has an upstairs loft with sofa, chair, a long counter (for stools) that looks over the kitchen. Very open floorplan and perfect for our family.

Our plan right now is to camp and travel in this area while Michael continues to work, only with much shorter hours and at least a day off a week (our Shabbat). Our goal is after 1-2 years being ready to travel to purchase the land. Debt free. No mortgage.

In the meantime, we are going to travel to different parts of the country during time off, something Michael has always wanted to do. We'll be searching out lands, comparing prices, sampling soils, trees, and looking at everything from the laws concerning homeschooling, raw milk, beekeeping, and NAIS, to learning more about log cabins, yurts, permaculture, and more, and searching for our 'Promised Land' (something Michael has mentioned often).

So many friends have invited us all around the country, offered us water and a hookup and in return we've offered help doing a few barn raisings and help on their homestead! It's incredible... from helping some friends build their footbridge into their property in Oregon, to Tennesee to help build a friend's barn, to a real life ranch drive in Montana, or to see a friend's Florida suburban homestead, and to Grandma's house in Minnesota. Wouldn't that be great, Grandma? Maybe we'll help Norm build you a fenced pasture for your livestock after all!!! Some folks have offered to have us stay on their stead while we scout the land in their area, and some offered even more (thank you, Grandma...).

One friend said we've just started a ministry and will be blessed for it. Who knows? God does. We have no idea where this may lead, or exactly what the path ahead may hold for us, but our faith is increased with each step we take.

I've sort of coined the phrase, Pioneering, for this endeavor of ours, and others too. In some ways it is very much like what pioneering once was; leaving the comforts of a home and community, traveling, going where you are led to go, and then building from the ground up. Just a different century, that's all. It will require us to think outside the confines of modernity and convenience, and has already caused our family to realize the consumerism involved in our industrialized society. Our family and agrarian vision are the antithesis of what the world sees as important. And so it is with forging new ground, thinking outside the box, and taking a road less traveled. Some will criticize, and some will laugh and scoff and say it can't be done. I think more will say, "Can we?", and ask me, "How?".

So now you know why my blog (and the newsletter) have been so quiet. Purging, planning, and pioneering have been taking all of the hours in the day. I look forward to writing more posts about our journey, the good, bad, easy and hard of it, and I hope you'll enjoy it.

Leave a comment and let me know what you think. I'm most interested to hear if anyone else is doing this, and would love to talk to you! Could you all pass the word around (maybe on your blogs?) and inquire and send them my way? I'd be most appreciative of your time...

..."For I am a sojourner with You... a guest..." Psalm 39:12

Measure My Days: Midlife

2007-02-23T06:55:00.000-05:00

Midlife is the old age of youth and the youth of old age.

I am officially half finished my journey in this foreign land. It may end sooner than I want, or later than I want to bear, and all as it is pleasing to His will and for His glory, but according to the statistics, I am halfway home. I am at the point in the trail called, 'Midlife'. There's no coincidence that this vessel of clay's birthday always coincided with the Lenten season. A time of fasting, contemplation, measuring of days, and putting on sackcloth and ashes.

Man's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed. Job 14:5

Forty years of footprints on the journey home. Some of the terrain was breathtakingly beautiful; providentially laid out and charted for me, leaving me to do nothing more than enjoy the journey. And I did. Those footprints on mountaintops have carried me through many dark and scary valleys. Other times I was so off course because of my pride, that it took the Father himself to rescue me from certain despair in the mire. Some of the footprints of years gone by were lightly tread, and were enchanting, prompted all to smile and laugh, and brought me ineffable joy. I hope you'll always remember me that way. Other footprints were heavily trodden, and deep wounds and hurts were cast at my word or deed. I hope you'll forgive me and if possible, I ask you to humbly allow me to make it right. Many call me a fellow traveler and friend on this pilgrimage, and I so enjoy the camaraderie as we ramble these winding lanes of life. I glean so much from you, and I am honored to share what I have learned along the way. For twenty of those years I have be honored to have walked, talked, stumbled, and run with abandon along the pathwith my very breath, Michael, answering to the whispers of 'Love', 'Bride', 'Wife', and seventeen blessed years of growing boys and girls bestowed from above, known fondly as 'Mom'.

The number forty (40) has special significance in the Scriptures, seeming to signify the complete and round number of a generation. It also denotes a time of testing and trial. Some of the other references to the number forty include:

Some of the judges (Othniel, Deborah, Barak, and Gideon) judged Israel for 40 years.

Saul, David, and Solomon each reigned as king over Israel for 40 years.

The flood rains lasted 40 days and 40 nights. (Genesis 7:17 )

After 40 days, Noah dispatched the raven. (Genesis 8:6 )

Moses was in Egypt 40 years, then fled to Midian and tended herds for 40 years, and was on the mountain receiving God's law for 40 days. He then returned to the mountain for 40 days after the golden calf.

Israel wandered in the wilderness 40 years.

The spies were in Canaan for 40 days. (Numbers 13:25 )

Goliath defied the Israel army for 40 days. ( 1 Samuel 17: 16)

Elijah, strengthened by heavenly bread and water, then traveled forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. (1 Ki. 19:8)

40 days Ezekiel lay on his right side to symbolize the 40 years of Judah’s transgression. (Ezk. 4:6)

Jonah was 40 days in the Assyrian city of Nineveh. (Jonah 3:4)

Jesus fasted 40 days in the desert. (Mt. 4:2)

Jesus was with His disciples for 40 days after His resurrection (Acts 1:3).

40 men were inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the Bible.

For the past 40 days leading up to my 40th birthday, I have been spending a great deal of quiet time in prayer, bible study, and for the first time in my life, I have been able to fast, put on my sackcloth and ashes, and deeply examine my life and all I have come to hold sacred.

When we consider how short life is, we shall see ourselves concerned to do what our hand finds to do, not only with all our might, but with all possible expedition... Matthew Henry's Commentary

Contemplation and deliberate thinking about my life, about my very existence, my habits, my belongings, my journey...to see if any good be in it.

This soul-bearing introspection comes not at a time of my prompting, but of the Lord's. His leading me through this purging of worldly goods, thoughts, and altars I've built comes ~~coincidentally~~ providentially as our family is starting to act upon our planned move early this year, living more simply, and with our hearts being led towards ministry. This purging step of the journey haunted me with my flesh; this cleansing of my heart, my head, (and now even my belongings!) has had, for me, a powerful and profound affect on my life.

Part One in a series. Stay tuned for Part Two.

6 Weird Things You Never Knew...

2007-02-22T04:00:00.000-05:00

Grandma, Heather, Michelle, and a bunch of other gals tagged me on this one, so instead of a Thursday Three, I'll do twice as good and give you some weird facts about me to boot!

I really liked reading folks responses on this one. I think reading memes similar to this one are as fascinating as sitting on the boardwalk watching the people at the shore, eating a gelati, ice cream, or funnel cake, and making up stories and thinking poetic thoughts about them. (a weird type of fact you didn't know about me, eh?)

Ok... some more weird facts you didn't know about me and probably shouldn't have asked...

Weird Fact # 1
I like the smell of pipes. Tobacco pipes. Sweet, soothing, scents. In moderation... a pipe like Laura's Pa had. An after-dinner stroll out to the barn or field with my man, Michael, hand in hand with his Carla Lynne, as we get older... that sort of thing.

Weird Fact # 2
The reason I mention this one is you don't find many girls who like them...I loved (love ?) comic books. Every summer, I went to Indian Landing or Cape Henlopen all summer long. It was undeveloped; the boondocks. There wasn't any TV but the local store, Palmer's, had an ample supply of the greatest comics ever written. Long, hot summer days at the water's edge fishing, clamming, and crabbing, and summer thunderstorms by night as I read my comics. I had a particular love for Stan Lee and Marvel comics and Spidey was my man. I also like anything Frank Miller (comic-noir). Before Spiderman, Batman, X-Men, and Daredevil, all the comics were one dimensional figures- cops and robbers. Comics of my generation introduced the reluctant hero and the human struggle into many of the storylines. One of the first places I was exposed to the Gospel, was in X-Men, with the storyline of Nightcrawler. Those who read the storyline know...

I am still a comic- FILM junkie, loving all of the Spiderman, X-Men, and Batman films, and waiting in anticipation for the IMAX film 300 slated to open in two weeks! Way more than you wanted to know about comics, right????

Weird Fact # 3
I love hearing about birth stories. Some call that a 'birth junkie'(alot of
junkie stuff going around, eh?). I don't think there is a day that goes by
that I don't think and mull over giving birth to one or more of my children.
The sight of my children's chest rising for the first time; filling with the
breath of life from God, and then the smell. Wouldn't it be great if heaven
smelled something like the forehead of a newborn babe?

Weird Fact #4
I have a tremendous fear of bridges where I have to drive in the far right
lane and I can see the water through the bridge rails. TREMENDOUS fear. Palm sweaty, heart pounding in my chest, eyes buggy, nervous chatter type anxiety. My sister, Sammi, knows why I have this one. Two words... well three. St. George's Bridge. I still have nightmares about that bridge...

Oh, and I don't like bears unless I have a big enough gun to kill them and
enough distance between me and them to accomplish it. Their growl makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up! EEEK!!

Weird Fact # 5
I saved a bunch of folks in an three floor apartment fire when I was 20 years old and I almost died. Seriously almost died. Michael and I were dating, and I fell asleep on his couch watching old movies. About 1 or so in the morning, an older lady from the second floor bangs on the door, waking us, and as soon as we opened the door, the smoke started pouring in. She said she dropped her cigarette in bed, and tried to put it out but couldn't, and came to our apartment to get help. She was so old and so slow, that in the time it took her to get to our apartment on the first floor, her apartment had become totally engulfed and the building was quickly filling with acrid black smoke. It was so bad we couldn't remember where the fire extinguishers in the building were.

Oh, man... Michael and I ran to the bathroom, grabbed towels and wet them, and got her out of the building. Then without thinking, we wrapped the towels around our heads and ran in to wake the other residents. He escorted someone out, I was right behind him with another apartment resident, and then he ran to get a ladder to help folks trapped above the burning apartment (I did not know this at the time) and I went back in to the building, and then headed upstairs. Bad move. Black smoke made it impossible to see and the heat from the fire felt like it was sunburning your face on turbo, so I had to crawl and bang on doors, push folks down the steps, rescue dogs, help a mom and little girl from the third floor, and all the while going back and forth from shoving folks out the door, taking a deep breath and heading back in. Each time I went in, the 'coughing-and- gagging-like-I-just-shoved-hot-charcoals-up-my-nose' feeling kept getting worse.

After I went to the last apartment, I came outside and I am coughing black spit, feeling like I want to puke, and my nose started to feel like I it was on fire. Still no fire company, chaos, and guess what... no Michael. No one can tell me where he is. I freak, and then what does this oxygen deprived meathead do? Goes back in looking for him. Yep, I went ahead back into a burning apartment and mistook a table leg on the floor for Michael's leg, and got caught in the firestorm. I remember laying on one of the second floor apartments, watching the fire spontaneously combust materials in the apartment, and then begin to roll thunderously in a wave action from the floor, up the wall and then roll off the ceiling. The sound of the fire roaring was like a lion. Loud. It was deafening. It was too hot to breathe, and I remember the last thing thinking was I was going to die. And then somehow, someone (I know who He is...) parted the smoke on the floor and from somewhere deep inside, I started crawling from the living room into the main hallway, where I was led out of the building by two football players from U. of D., from another building, who had come over to help.

The building was consumed and destroyed, but no one was hurt badly. I puked for days and my eyes and nose burned for weeks, and my eyebrows and hair got singed terribly. I didn't care. I was thankful to be alive...

I got my name in the papers, on the local news, and my college biology
class had a big dinner for me. It was my 15 minutes of fame. :)

Weird Fact #6
Ok... this one popped into my head and is really weird. I can not eat a peach unless it has been peeled, like as you do when canning. I cannot even watch someone eat them. For me, eating the fuzz of the peach is like eating a cotton comforter or sumpin'- Three Stooges style. Guh- ross.

Za'atar

2007-02-20T04:37:00.000-05:00

I start my detox on Friday, my birthday, and this is something I eat alot of for a snack. It is filling, savory, warming from the inside out, and best of all... healthy.

Those living in the Middle East eat this on hot, fresh bread drizzled with fresh olive oil before leaving for work or before a big exam or test. It is known to give strength and to clear the mind. The smell that comes off of the bread when you place the Za’atar on it is incredible!

It is also used as a seasoning on meats and in stews.

You can add a touch of hot peppers if you want something spicy. Also just a hint of lemon zest sometimes brings out the fullness of the flavors.

I serve this with warmed pitas or homemade flat breads- hot out of the oven. Put some extra virgin olive oil on a plate, a spoonful of this on top and dip the bread in it.

1/2 cup Mediterranean savory or thyme
1/2 cup sumac
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 Tbsp. sesame seeds (sometimes I will gently bruise half of the sesame seeds in a mortar and pestle to release intense sesame seed oils into the mixture)

Mix together. Spoon onto hot breads.

Serve with fresh, sweet mint tea for a complementary and traditional Middle Eastern taste.

Window Quilts

2007-02-20T04:06:00.000-05:00

Are these beauties not the most gorgeous, creative, and functional piece of art ever invented? Anyone who quilts will think so...

I have had my eye on a pattern for a window quilt (mine is in a nine patch prairie run) but with moving in the future, I decided to scrap it last fall. Get it? Scrap it... (he he he)I have some ideas on changing a few things from the one pictured in the tutorial for our future homestead, but the concept and instructions on making an insulating window quilt for under $20 can't be beat.

Do think about these as they help immensely! We rigged some old barn and moving quilts (when we moved in) one year in the garage where the temperatures are frigid, and the layering and insulation factor brought the temperature up almost 15 degrees! Some solar companies sell brands with actual insulation and thermal value to help cut the cost of warming your home even more.

I get a lot of questions and emails about quilting, so head over there and learn something beautiful and functional you can create in little time, with little experience, and with little money (really like that little money part!)

Happy Birthday, Kevin!!!

2007-02-16T06:08:00.000-05:00

(posted a bit late because of the ice and snow storm knocking out the power!)

This is a picture of my gentle giant, Kevin (the munchkin to the right is his little sister, Anne!) God has used Kevin Andrew in a wonderfully, terribly frightening yet stretching way that sometimes it seems like I am a totally different person than that momma of 14 years ago. I guess in reality, I am. I'm glad I am too. That big cutie up there is the reason I started homebirthing, and studying about herbs, homeopathy, natural foods, and the healing arts.

(not for the those with week knees...) Kevin was born on a snowy February 13 after 28 hours of induction, botched epidurals, and enough of a pure hell for me that I shouted out during the delivery I would never have another child. No food for 48 hours, a child that was not ready to enter into this world, a placenta that was delivered by pulling on it, subsequent hemorrhaging, and being separated from him for 6 hours after birth were just the beginning of this momma bear's and baby bear's testings.

Routine vaccinations were a part of our lives back then. I didn't know any better. Doctor's were on some sort of heavenly pedestal, and they always knew better. Kevin's little body became our ~~barometer~~ bulletin board that something was wrong with those vaccinations.

Kevin was poisoned by hot lots of vaccinations at the age of 12 mths. and again at 18mths. The first incident left me reeling with more questions than answers, and the medical profession was not answering any of them. "Give him Tylenol", they rebuffed. The second incident left me in shock. Nothing could prepare me to deal with having my little guy screaming deliriously one minute to going limp, eyes rolling into the back of his head, with a 108 degree temperature in my arms at the door of the emergency room.

They revived Kevin, and poked him and hydrated him, and ice and alcohol bathed him, and tested every organ that child has. They hooked him up to bags of this fluid and drained fluids from him with another bag. He just kept ballooning up and his fever would not come down. And we kept telling them it was the vaccination he had received earlier. But no one would listen. No one ever does. We were given no reason, no remedy, for our little boy. We were told it was just 'one of those weird things', and that he might be a little prone to higher fevers than most children. Oh, and they asked me if I wanted to buy this great swamp real estate from them too.... (big momma bear tongue in cheek joke there!)

I did not bring the same baby home. He was unhealthy for quite awhile. Kevin's slow recovery left us drained emotionally and physically, and soon after this event, it came to light that Kevin was suffering from autism. His developmental skills plummeted; he reverted to three month old behaviors. No more ma ma, no more da da...nothing. He gained weight, was lethargic and would just sit and stare at his toys instead of playing with them, and lost almost all of his language skills. He cried... we cried...a lot.

I was the only one who could comfort him. I was still working outside the home, and when his Daddy just couldn't make him stop crying night after night, I quit my job and stayed home. I slept on the couch for alot of nights during those two years, because the only rest Kevin could get was curled up on my chest, listening to my heart. I prayed, and prayed for us, and mercifully, God answered.

During those times of Kevin laying on my chest, sleeping, which was a lot of time, I would read books, magazines, and other literature. One day, I came across an article in some obscure out-of-the-way back page of a magazine regarding thimerosol and hot lots, and the symptoms of the poisonings, side effects, and residual recovery problems. There, in black and white, was what was happening to us!

I was off. That one article had me doing internet rabbit trails (remember the internet 14 years ago?), taking long book lists and checkouts from the University of Delaware library, pouring over empirical evidence and medical trials, reading every periodical on the subject, and contacting and joining groups that shared vaccination information freely.

Fast forward a few years, and I was now in the throws of studying for my professional herbalist certification, studying for my N.D., while detoxing Kevin from the poisoning. Milestones like being able to cut using scissors were miracles! His birth made me seek out homebirthing as an option for my next child (which was Amy Rachel) so to not go through that kind of interference and trauma during birth. His life... and pain, put me on the path of quitting working in the rat race and staying home full time, homeschooling, and my studies into herbs, naturopathy, and the healing arts. Without the pain, I might have missed it otherwise...

Today, my Kevin, which is Gaelic/Celtic for gentle, lovable, and beautiful at birth, is a 5' 9" gentle giant. He is affectionately known to me as 'Hoss' (like the Bonanza character), has a healthy man's appetite, and is one of the brightest, funniest, sweetest and lovable people I know! Kevin suffers from no serious or debilitating side effects from the poisoning and we've were blessed in the middle of our trial with the awakening and leading into God's purpose and plan for our family concerning our health. God is so good...

We celebrated his birthday on Tuesday, the beginning of the two day ice and snowstorm, just like on the day he was born.

Happy 14th Birthday Sweetie! I am so glad God gave you to me!

Wednesday Whim- February 14, 2007

2007-02-14T05:16:00.000-05:00

We don't do a big thing about Valentine's Day around the Klimuk home. The girl's had fun making some cards for their brother's, but for the most part, Mikey and I don't exchange flowers or cards. Besides, have you taken a look at the price of flowers during Valentine's Day? Take my coat, too, please...

I think the only thing I really love about the holiday is these little candies right here. The phrases on them say it all in two words or less. But these guys don't have anything written on them, so our Wednesday Whim is let's think of two or three verses you'd put on them if you were printing them today. They can be to a friend, family member, or to your spouse...

Be mine is already a big hit, but how about Be Happy!?!

I'd give Mr. Mojo this one... You scoundrel! or I'm Yours! (he he he)

New Farm's Farming for Credit

2007-02-14T04:04:00.000-05:00

If you are like me and have teenagers, you might be thinking of the college, university, tech school issue. My first two are boys, and as they mull over what exactly they want to do, I give them plenty of space and hopefully, when examined, plenty of opportunity to explore. That's how you find out so much... by exploring!

You might remember me talking about the eco job listings last week. While Mike and I were revisiting the subject this weekend, I found another great resource tucked away in my favorites folder that you might want to bookmark.

It just happens to be from one of my favorite local organizations, The New Farm, which is a great resource for sustainable agriculture awareness, education, and support. You can find their Farm for Credit programs listed here. The Delaware Valley College listing, which recently had their 2 acres certified organic, is only a few miles from my home. They have created a wonderful farmer's market and atmosphere of learning for the next generation of permaculture and sustainable agriculture farmers and scientists that are apprenticing there (and the bounty is good!).

6 Foot Roses

2007-02-14T04:00:00.000-05:00

If you have never viewed 6 foot roses, head on over to Organic Bouquet to see them!

I love visiting their website to see what neat things they have designed and worked up!