We got this!. . .Make Your Own pg. 9

"The two most important days in your life were the day you were born and the day you find out why." Mark Twain

April 23, 2020--Day 40 of the Great Michigan Lock-Down

Now, I am really beginning to get concerned. Our Governor was on the Rachel Madow show the other night and expressed a desire to keep us locked down for an additional week simply because people dared to protest in her state. 

If she continues to tighten the noose around Michigans' collective neck, well, I feel it could get ugly! Not to get into too much politics here but I can see where people just might not agree with her motivation or get upset if they saw her spouting off on the Madow show or some of the other broadcasts she frequents. People are getting hungry and frustrated, most of all, they can't pay their bills.

Ok, end of rant! I promised not to make this blog about politics. Only to say that Whitmer's father served as head of the state's Department of Commerce under Governor Milliken and was president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan between 1988 and 2006. Just an FYI, I'll just let that sit here.

                                     ***********************

Being locked-up, as is our current situation, we could put a positive spin on it and take a moment to actually witness spring greening up in our backyards.  We have the perfect opportunity to explore the wonders of edible plants. I bet the kids are getting restless by now, too. Grab your phone and put a plant identifier app on it. Round up the kids and go out and identify the green things in your back yard. Soak up some very much needed vitamin D, your body will thank you.

While you are out and about take some time to investigate the neighbor, too. We just may need to know what edibles are available close to home.

Early Spring Edibles 

Everyone knows what a dandelion is and that it is delicious in a green salad but did you know that these also make excellent soups and salads?

Burdock roots-- excellent nutrition

Stinging nettles

violets

chickweed

cinquefoil

marshmallow root

nasturtiums

borage, 

squash blossoms

There are just so many more!

Rhubarb-Rose Syrup

Kids will think this drink is really special if pick the ingredients themselves. And they it is so simple too.

1 pound rhubarb, chopped

1 cup sugar or honey

1 packed cup of rose petals

Simmer the rhubarb in 2 cups of water until soft, strain off the juice.

As the rose petals are picked, trim off the white part at the base of the petal. The rose petals should come from one of the older varieties or wild roses, strongly scented.

Combine the rhubarb juice, sugar and rose petals in a sauce pan. Simmer over very low heat for 15 minutes. Don't let it boil, the rose flavor will evaporate.

Strain the syrup and either refrigerate it or can it.

Stir 2 to 3 tablespoons into about 12 oz.of water, add ice and enjoy!

FYI- rhubarb juice can be a substitute for lemon juice.

Uncooked Berry Syrup

2 cups ripe berries- any kind

sugar or honey

Clean and sort your berries, rinse. Crush or mash the berries in a little water and set aside for 2 hours.

Strain through a strainer covered cheese cloth, squeezing to remove all the juice. Sweeten with sugar or honey to your liking. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. 

Add 2 to 3 tablespoons to a glass of water, add ice and enjoy.

Large batches of berry syrup can be canned or frozen for later use. Kids love them frozen in ice cube trays for individual drinks.

Spring-time Morning Drink

This is my favorite all time morning beverage!

In a 2 quart jar or pitcher add;

1 lemon, sliced in thin rounds- seeds removed

10 fresh mint leaves- dried peppermint will work too

1 medium cucumber- washed, sliced thin

Fill the pitcher with water and let set in the refrigerator over night. In the morning, before coffee, drink a full glass of this energizing drink. It will make you feel great! It may even put a glow in your skin.

Get the Sludge Out Tea

This time of year it is natural to want to do a bit of detox to shake off those winter doldrums and clean out or bodies the same way we do our closets during the spring time cleaning ritual.

Actually, spring cleanses and tonics are age old. From Europe to the U.S., grandmother whipped out the herbal spring bitters this time of year to "get the blood moving."

Clover tea--

2 cups red clover blossoms

2 thin sticks cinnamon

1 teaspoon grated, dried orange rind

Chop and grate, place all the ingredients into a glass jar or plastic bag and shake. Take one heaping teaspoon, put into a cup. Pour boiled water over the herb mixture, steep for 5 minutes and strain. Sweeten with honey.

Open the Windows!

In the olden days, when spring arrived grandmother would open the windows for a fresh air exchange. Moving out winter stale air was so invigorating! It seemed to energize the whole house.

Next she took the blankets and comforters and hung them out in the sunshine to freshen up. Ultraviolet light kills germs and chased away the stink. Blankets and comforters were just to heavy to wash by hand or put into early day washers.

Couch cushions and pillows were put out in the sunshine too. Throw rugs were cleaned or beaten on the clothes line. 

You know, whatever happens, I think know we got this! We can be the best we can be. Spring is a time of renewal and breathing. There is definitely change in the air. The old ways can/will be new again. After all great-grandmother was a domestic diva in her day. 

Face East--

I ask the great spirit of the eagle to be with me. To sharpen my eyes and ears to hear his directions and contemplate on them, and that I will be able to recognize and honor the tremendous power and vitality that is. Thank you for all the beauty and all that you have given us. We ask for blessings for this years crops in anticipation of a bountiful harvest as we will most certainly share with others. Amen.

Please like, share and comment. I appreciate it.

                                        Video-

Lewis and Clark Expedition, and Bob. . . Make Your Own, pg.7

"The two most important days in your life were the day you were born and the day you find out why." Mark Twain

April 16th, 2020- Still in lock-down. . .

Let's just say this shelter-in-place pandemic and a power outage has lasted far longer than anyone expected. You are standing at the kitchen sink when you look out the window.
Lethargic, staggering and weak, an ordinary guy is spied at the edge of the woods. You cautiously move out of the back door and slowly head toward him. You call out to the stranger. He motions for you and takes a few more steps but falls a few yards from you.  Mr. X reaches out, he is happy to see someone. You run to him and ask him the usual questions. Are you Ok? What is your name?  He says his name is Bob, no, he wasn't poisoned. Bob explains that he has plenty of clean filtered water and he has not been attacked. No accidents, no wounds, no fever, or visible signs of illness. It has been several months since the crisis began and the lights went out, but a trace back to this guys cabin in the woods you discover that he has beans, rice and dried food stored up to last for 20 years.  What has happened to mysterious Bob? 

                                               *************

You may remember from your high school history class the story of Lewis and Clark and their expedition into the north west territories. A few chapters into the story we are introduced to a young Shoshone Indian girl, Sacajawea (roughly translated as Little Bird). Sacajawea had been captured during a raid by a group of Siouan people, as a 10 year old. Over the next few years she was bought and sold several times as a slave ending up in what is now Washburn, North Dakota. Then at the age of she 14 she became the third and youngest wife of a French Fur trader Toussaint Charbonneau. Here's where the troop of explorers and young Sacajawea's paths intersect.

During this time Lewis and Clark's Corp of Discovery as the government had labeled the expedition, were making their way deep into the uncharted territories of various tribes of Indians stopping in North Dakota.  Clark thought it a good idea to take a translator with them on the next leg of their journey and put up posters to announce the hire. The French fur trader who spoke many dialects saw dollar signs and applied for the position. Sacajawea, 16 now accompanied her husband to the interview. Clark was more impressed by the fur traders young wife. She seemed a better candidate because when warring tribes saw a woman traveling with a group of men it was considered a sign of peacefulness and not a threat. So Clark persuaded Charbonneau to let Sacajawea guide the band of explorers into the wilderness because she also processed the ability to establish cultural contacts with native populations easily. Sacajawea was exceptionally bright and particularly stubborn, she  picked up the dialects of the tribes she had lived with. The French fur trader had made a name for himself in the territory as a shyster when trading and game playing. Clark handsomely compensated Charbonneau for his wife's contribution to the expedition.

 As the weeks melted into months Sacajawea endeared herself to the men of this historic adventure, often being called “little sister or Janey." The men looked after her, in turn Sacajawea patched their jackets and tanned hides to make many pairs of moccasins to protect their feet after their boots had worn out. She cooked delicious meals and treated their wounds with herbs and earth. There always seemed to be plenty of plants, lean antelope and mountain goats in this uncharted wilderness to fill their bellies. 

It was during one particular meet and greet at an Indian village the explorers had stayed with, they picked up an old Indian grandfather. Grandfather Indian was curious about the mission and the men welcomed him to travel along with them. Several days of traveling with his news friends, Grandfather Indian noticed many of the men seemed to becoming weaker and faltering to keep up with the evening chores. These men were young, normally strong adventuring types, why should they seem weak now? 

The troop of travelers had considered themselves very lucky to have plenty of roots, berries and antelope and mountain goat to eat. Their bellies were always full, Sacajawea was an excellent cook. One night in particular, however, it was unusual for the men to refuse their super opting to just go to bed instead.

That next morning the men and Sacajawea didn't move out of their bedrolls. No one wanted breakfast. Grandfather Indian became concerned, he gave this situation some thought and decided it was a depleted nutritional condition since they had not been exposed to bad water or other illnesses. The wise old guy had seen this before and jumped into action to heal the group. 

Old Indian Grandfather gathered up all the troops buffalo and bear tallow candles. The troop had made these candles in anticipation of their their arduous expedition. Slowly he melted the tallow candles over the fire in the cooks iron pot. When the smelly tallow was completely melted he used a tin cup to scoop out a cupful for each of the 18 men and Sacajawea and instructed them to drink it down quickly. Not one of them gagged or choked on the greasy beverage due to the fact the body knew what it needed to survive. By the following morning everyone was once again eager to hit the trail and explore what lies ahead.

So what did the modern day survivalist Bob, Sacajawea and the men of the Lewis and Clark Corp of Discovery expedition have in common?

If you haven't guessed it by now, the moral of this lesson is that fat is required by the human body for many of it's functions. In the two examples above, although they had plenty to eat the missing ingredient was a limited amount of dietary fat. The human body needs a certain amount of fat daily. Bob stored beans, rice and freeze dried food. Although, beans and rice compliment each other by making a complete protein, it lacks nutritional fat. Lewis and Clark and their expedition had plenty of meat but antelope and goat are almost fat free.

Your body cannot make certain essential fatty acids and needs to get it from outside sources. If dietary fats are not supplemented the body cannot process vitamins A, D, E, and K, creating a host of health problems. Also, fat in your diet is very important for proper brain functions and are crucial for maintaining good eye health.

Fats add a lot of flavor to food, and is a ready source of energy contributing 4,000 calories per pound. Since a gram of fat is 9 calories, a 2,000-calorie daily diet could include 500 to 600 calories of fat, or 55 to 66 grams daily. Especially if we are in a survival situation. Another benefit of dietary fat to the body is that it provides a blanket around vital organs thus shielding them from trauma and cold. 

Dietary fats are the third main class of macro-nutrients needed in human nutrition. Fat also helps to ward away the second killer of a crisis, appetite fatigue. 

"Appetite fatigue has a nasty way of sneaking up on you stealing away with your desire to eat. This beast drives children and adults into crankiness and malnutrition. . ." Pg. 51 of How to Survive When the Power is Out".  Fat is comfort food, it satisfies the cravings.


During the SHTF that we now find ourselves

You can stock pile beans, rice, pasta, and oatmeal for the really bad times, but the more important fat products are seldom considered because western diets generally are loaded with fat! Fast food fats create a different problem in the body, getting into that subject is beyond the scope of this article and I'm sure you aware how shitty that crap is for your health. When chips and pizza become unavailable, the real family crisis begins.  And of course, fats and oils have a short shelf life if not properly rendered, they will go rancid easily at room temperature.

What grandfather Indian knew

Grandfather Indian was a wise fellow. He had certain instincts from walking softly on this earth. He knew that lard and tallow can be frozen for up to 6 months. Packaged well, I have had lard in my freezer for two years. Although, it may seem a little darker and frosty it cooked up well and didn't have any nasty flavors. Grandfather Indian also knows the value of nuts and seeds for their natural heart healthy fats and that freezing them for up to 6 months didn't affect their nutrient/fat content.

Too bad grandfather Indian didn't have access to modern oils like coconut oil. That semi-solid white stuff sitting next to popcorn in most grocery stores, can be frozen up to 6 months. Although, I have had some in the freezer for more than a year+ and it is still good if kept in a tightly sealed plastic jar. Butter is an excellent fat source and can be frozen up to a year+ too.

Organic or free ranged chicken fat makes some awesomely, delicious sugar cookies! Just render the fat from a healthy chicken into an oil and use as you would any oil or fat you would normally use to make cookies.  

To put a sharp point on this

Bob and the Lewis and Clark Corp of Discovery Group were suffering from were the same infliction, a deficiency of nutritional dietary fats. We see it often in vegans who don't know what they are doing, nutritionally speaking and those who sustain themselves on the media hyped fat free products. By the way, fat free products only help the corporate bottom line because they have a longer shelf life. 

Generally, it seems everyone here had plenty to eat but the fat content was missing. The truth about fat-click here  Of course, these two examples were extreme cases. But fats are every often overlooked. If you plan on living out of a survival garden you will need fats. The world has been in a corona crisis for a while now, real world food shortages will start showing up next year in earnest, will you know where your dietary fat will come from? See below.


For more information;

Why save and use lard. . .

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/the-true-human-diet/

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/foodfeatures/evolution-of-diet/

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-super-healthy-high-fat-foods#section7 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeZHrcI2BNU    Schmaltz chicken fat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q75AkXgVpFo  Goose fat for bush craft maintenance 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-fN2XjC6Qc  Fatwood

Please like, share, and comment so others may know what you know. Thanks.

When You Just Have to Venture Out. . .Make Your Own pg. 6

"The two most important days in your life were the day you were born and the day you find out why." Mark Twain

I was forced to venture out of the house yesterday for supplies and hubby's medications. Kind of felt good to drive the back roads the 30 miles into town. It gave me a chance to see the rising water in the streams around the area. I can't remember a time when the water was this high, over spilling banks by acres not just a few feet. A couple of camps along the way were pretty wet, hope they had flood insurance.

I had to make three stop before heading home. At each stop I chatted with the cashier that stood on the other side of the Plexiglas barrier. "I disinfected the cash" I explained, as I passed it under the barrier. 

"Oh that smells nice." each would say. "What did you use?"

"I sprayed it with a diluted Thieves oil."

"What? Thieeeeeeeves?  Thieves oil, is that what you said? What is that?

"Yes, Thieves oil. I disinfected the cash." 

Then I went into an explanation of these guys that developed this stuff back. . .  well anyway.

Well, for crying out loud! I thought everyone knew about Thieves oil. I have written about it so much that I simply took it for granted that most everyone knew about it. And with all the essential oil companies springing up all over, I figured it was a given. 

"Ah, so not," explains Yoda, "busy jobs and families be."

So here it is once again for those of you that have not heard of one of the best anti-plague defenses for humans on the planet. You all know someone who sells essential oils, or at least it wouldn't take much effect to find one. They may have this blend of oils already for you, however, if you are into making your own listen up.


The story first;


This blend of essential oils was developed by an unlikely bunch of 15th century thieves and grave robbers who rubbed oils on themselves to avoid contracting the plague while they robbed bodies of the dead and dying. The Black Death- more information When these nasty fellows were finally apprehended the judge made a deal with them for a more lenient punishment.  They were to disclose, to the court, what they used to protect themselves from getting sick while doing their dastardly deeds. And so they did.

Now, fast forward into the 20th century, folks at Weber State University of Ogden, Utah tore into this synergistic blend testing every molecule. What they discovered was that the properties of these essential oils are antimicrobial. Thieves oil was found to have 99.96% kill rate against airborne bacteria. They are highly antiviral, antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-infectious and actually help protect the body against such illnesses as flu, colds, sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, sore throats, cuts, etc. These were extraordinary findings!

The grave robbers simply rubbed the bottom of their feet with their oil blend, sometimes rubbing it into the skin on their stomach. Then they were able to rob dead bodies of their meager possessions such as gold wedding rings or gold teeth without themselves contracting the plague of the day.


Although, I don't feel the need to go out and rob dead people, I do put it into a spray bottle and spray my hands and face after going out and touching everything everyone else has touched. I spray my car, house, shoes, door knobs, whatever. Yeah, you can call me a germaphobe if you like. And it is wonderful for those days of a sinusitis attack. Just put a few drops in a pot of boiled water, cover your head with a towel and breath in the steam. It smells wonderful!

Ok, so here's the recipe; This is expensive as all hell if you make your self, but isn't your well being worth it?

200 drops or 1/2 ounce                    clove oil (syagium aromaticum)
175 drops                                         lemon oil (citrus limon)
100 drops                          cinnamon bark oil (cinnamoomun verum)
75 drops                                        eucalyptus oil(eucalyptus radiata)
50 drops                             rosemary oil (rosimarinus officinalis)

Put this blend into a brown bottle, shake to blend well. Label and date, always label and date every thing! 

For a potent diluted spray that can be used on children and toddlers clothes for when you need to take them out;


In a glass spray bottle add, 8 drops of the thieves oil blend you just made, to 1 to 2 ounces distilled water. This is what the recipe calls for but actually, I like to use Witch hazel solution instead of the water. Like the cheap stuff you get at Wal-Mart or Walgreens. 

If you wish to use it directly on the bottom of your feet or stomach, I would recommend diluting Thieves oil in a little carrier oil such a cooking oil or coconut oil. I have used it undiluted it BURNS if you get in a paper cut or scratch you did know you had.


Well there you have it.  Did I forget anything? I hope this helps you to be a little more proactive during this current world wide health crisis and take charge of your own well being. We can get through this!

Please like, share or comment. I appreciated, thanks.


  

It IS going to happen. . . Make Your Own pg.5

"The two most important days in your life were the day you were born and the day you find out why." Mark Twain

Day 25 of Covid crisis   April 8th, 2020

Bouncing off the walls yet? While the lock-down continues, some are living through horrific tornados, flooding, and earthquakes, while some of us are sitting here watching the snow pile up. If we are lucky only 6 inches by Monday in my area. 

So far, here at least, the power has not gone out. But you know it is only a matter of time before everyone will feel that pinch. I've posted a video down below that is scary as all hell, if even only half of it comes true. Time to learn some new skills, kids. Looks like all hell is about to descend upon us. 

A Look at All that Dirty Water

If for whatever reason the power grid in your area goes down there are diseases that can and will emerge very quickly, especially after an episode of flooding. Consider if you will the liquid items in most  everyone's garage, car oil and a spare can of gasoline or two, maybe a little diesel too. How about, lawn fertilizers or pesticides, and floating material from backed up sewer systems, to give you an example. During flooding these wonderful modern day conveniences make their way into the floodwater creating a deadly toxic stew. There is also the possibility of a dead animal or two floating by. Just the other day I went out to check on the level of the creek behind the house here. After the snow had melted, the quick flowing water revealed a half decomposed deer carcass that was hung up on a brush jam. That most undoubtedly ruins the tranquil ambiance of a peaceful creek meandering through the woods, also makes the water foul, smelly, and slimy. Most of water nasties are covered in the book at the right side of this blog.

10 Diseases that Emerge After a Long Term Power Outage

Third world countries are all too familiar with these diseases, but  are as a rule, water borne diseases are never thought about here in this country where sanitation is the normal and not the exception. Unless, of course, you work in the industry. Hubby worked at a waste water treatment plant for 32 years, this subject is all too familiar to us. 

Typhus- caused by body lice, ticks and rat fleas.
Typhoid- is a bacterial infection due to a specific type of Salmonella. Typhoid is spread by eating or drinking water contaminated with feces of an infected person. Risk factors are due to poor sanitation and poor hygiene.
Cholera and Dysentery- very popular around the world, microorganisms enter the body through contaminated food and water which cause the body s' natural defense to try and eliminate them by flushing the system.This creates a dangerous diarrhea situation. Can be deadly if not treated quickly.
Hantavirus- from mouse droppings. Flu like symptoms, 38% fatality rate. You will often encounter this in stuffy attics where mice frequent.
Leptospirosis- rodent urine found in warm, stagnant water. Sometimes on top of canned goods in your cupboard. 50% fatality rate. Grandmother always washed off the tops of her canned goods before opening them. I have adopted a similar habit.
Food Poisoning- caused by by bacteria in spoiled, dirty or under cooked food. 
Heart Attacks and Strokes- mostly seen as stress related and over exertion at such a time. "Men's hearts failing them from fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken." Luke 21:26

Emerging Diseases- new diseases and those yet out there on the horizon such as coronavirus and other bioweapons.

These are just a few examples of an added burden after a power outage has lasted more than a few days or a flooding situation. Might I suggest that you make yourself familiar with these things now, while you are stuck at home with a computer. The more you know the less, the more prepared you can be. 

For a scary as all hell audio, click here  You may be sorry you listen to this, I was! Sometimes ignorance is bliss. 

Until we meet again, please like, share and comment. 

Sleeping Prophet. . . make your own pg.4

"The two most important days in your life were the day you were born and the day you find out why." Mark Twain

                                                             

                                                 

April 7th, 2020--Day number 24 of the great American Emergency.

Who would have guessed that something of this scale could take out the entire world! That *virus that must not be named* has  touched almost every human on this planet. 

Time to saddle up the ponies and get on the trail to a new adventure, kids. Life is changing so fast that this ol' gal can't make head nor tails of who's got what and how many. Life as we knew it are now the good ol' days. Ooops, wait a minute. We are under a stay at home order. Cancel the ponies, but the adventure begins now.

Staying home can be a blessing I guess or a curse, depending how you want to examine it. I have used this time to clean out some stuff that needed cleaning out. Between sneezing from dust and grunting from moving around shit, I came across a box of old books and such that I have had for better part of a hundred years. 

If you are paying attention the universe will tap you on the shoulder, but in my case it dropped it on my foot. An old white cassette tape. This plastic relic looked like it had been through a war, it was in rough shape but I think it should still work. A hand written label on one side claimed it was a recording of Paul Solomon, 1972. Paul Solomon, was an Orthodox minister who discovered he could do what Edgar Cayce did, answer questions while in a state of "waking sleep". Actually he didn't make the recordings, his wife did while Paul was napping on the couch. She asked him specific questions, and he would answer as she recorded his answers. Well, thank goodness I don't get rid of stuff because I had to listen to this thing. Way in the back of the closet I still had an actual cassette player. (Don't just love old people?)

 I plugged it in and was grateful when it began to play. I was very curious and so listened to this recording intently. All of a sudden the freaking hair on the back of my neck stood at attention and goose bumps rode up my spine! He was talking about the destruction of the two tallest buildings in the city of "York that is new." As I listened, not believing what I was hearing, he continues on about the coming food shortages and stresses we need to "SAVE SEEDS seeeeee", he says. Well, I'll be slapped on the ass and called Bertha if that ain't the most freaky thing!

Save seeds he said. From 1972, that was 48 years ago! There was a bunch more on that tape but for the sake of sanity we'll just go with this for now. Save seeds. SAVE SEEDS.  I also heard today that big box stores like Wal-Mart are ceasing to have a garden department and are not selling seeds. That was what blew my hair back and got me all creepy feeling. In all seriousness, how many people really know how to save and properly store seeds. I have been at seed saving for at least 40 years and there are things I'm still learning about the plant world. 

I'm no sleeping prophet but I have a feeling that those who have knowledge of seed saving are going to be very popular in the near future. Wait until the real food shortages show up next year!

Well, that whole prophet business shook me up pretty bad. I had to think about it for a few minutes, so I went into the kitchen and put the tea kettle on for a cup of tea. Then it hit me! 

Barter and community! Yes, everyone has their own talents. No one can do everything, nor would they have enough time in the day to do it all. That's where barter and community comes in. They have things or skills and we have things and skills. Then we make a trade. I trade you one or two of my things for one or two of your things of equal value. 

"Hey Buddy, you got toilet paper or feminine products? Wife says don't come home without em'. She'll kick my but if I don't find some. I got a couple of gardening books I'll trade, got some girly mags in the truck if you're interested."

That's kind of how it works if you are not familiar with the aspects of barter. Both parties have to go away happy with the trade.
What else can we barter? Skills will be a very good bartering item, especially if you are in the health care genre. There is a long list of skill sets that can be traded. Probably a good idea to give your skill set a going over and see what shakes out. What do you know how to do very well that others may need?

On page 3 of How to Survive and Thrive When the Power is Out, There is a list of items that sell out first, if you had the forethought to already have extras on hand to trade, you'd be set. Check these out;

*Toilet paper, dah, that was a no brainer.
*Large plastic trash bags to put in the toilet when the ability to flush stops. Put the plastic bag in the toilet bowl and have everyone do their business in there, change when it gets pretty full. 
*You will be a hero if you have an extra hand can opener to trade.
*Candles, lamp oil, or solar powder mini lights
*Alcohol and cigarettes- people will be going crazy without those, you could most likely trade for anything if you have these in the barter box.
*Sugar and flour, maybe even a cook book or two. 
*Clorox bleach!
*Condoms!!!! See next.
*Baby diapers and formula- there is a recipe to make your own baby formula in the book on page 87. Also, an ancient way to tell if you are pregnant. Cool, the ancients had it covered.
*Fresh clean filtered water and something to haul it in.
*Ammunition is always a welcome trade.
*Kids games and entertainment items
*Shampoo and soap
*Matches or lighters
*Insect repellent and bug spray. Garden de-buggers too!
*Work gloves, especially if city folks aren't used to manual labor. Gloves will be a very welcome item for trade.
* How-to books. Girly mags, eh? Maybe.
* Freeze dried food--I make a rice dish that is shelf stable for years. Recipe down below.
*Comfort food; popcorn, trail mix, hard candy, crackers etc.
*Duct tape
*Kids clothes and shoes or boots
*Sleeping bags, blankets and other camping or household items

As you can see the list is extensive and only limited by your imagination. 

Pilaf recipe-- 1 cup white rice
                      1 cup dried vegetables-I usually use dried broccoli because it holds it flavor and looks good after it has been cooked.
                       2 beef or chicken bouillon cubes or the equivalent in the powdered stuff.

Put this into a ziplock plastic bag, seal and date. Put the recipe on the bag too, since most people don't know the first thing about cooking at home any more. ( 2 cups cold water in a pot, put the rice, vegetables and bouillon in it and cover. Simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes or until the rice has absorbed the water. Serve hot) 

Now watch this hair raising video. 

Stay safe, kids. Please like and share.
  

Feed the Beast or Not. . . Make Your Own canna-butter pg. 3

"The two most important days in your life were the day you were born and the day you find out why." Mark Twain

                                       

 The media is giving us a constant stream of fear porn, every day, be afraid, be afraid. They are feeding my anxiety beast a new  flavor of the day, with business killing lock-downs, real world death numbers, and voices of grief. I knew for a long time that something would happen to our over processed civilization. It had to. I just didn't know what it was going to be or which way the human destructive wind would blow.

Can you feel it too? Fear has a stinky feel and a smell to it. It permeates our collective energy, and media is having a field day with this shit. They have expertly driven this fear on every electronic device known to man. That processed fear meant for your consumption, has been taken up by the jet stream and blows around the world like a dry leaf on a fall afternoon. The energy in it can be almost paralyzing at times, especially for those who have underlying health issues. Is that it's purpose, just thinking out loud? 

Well, I refuse to live in fear and anxiety, but what to do? 

Fear and anxiety creates beastly changes in the body, messing with adrenal glands, cortisol and metabolism. more info here- your hormones  In general, it's the fight or flight response that is always on. Sleep can be your number one friend.

 Then it came to me, I was reminded of this thing called circadian rhythm. Humans, animals, plants and fungi all have a wake/ sleep cycle that mostly and mysteriously coincides with the earths cycles. More about these cycles here.  When there is a disruption in our life like this coronavirus, our daily rhythms can be blown out of sync by hormonal changes due to stress and anxiety (fight or flight) we are feeling. Right now, in the world, tons of people are suffering that emotional stress---anger, fear, pressure, frustration, sadness, betrayal, bereavement, etc. All this added energy adds up to a sleepless night which makes the following day even more difficult, it just compounds itself.  Those poor nurses and doctors on the front lines of this war on human suffering. My heart goes out to all of you.

Sleeping pills are not the answer, they can have a multitude of nasty side effects. I pulled out some of my college text books for a look back at sleep and then took a trip on the internet. Here are some cool things I have come up with to help mitigate this media fear porn. First of all turn off the TV news! 

1) The very best thing you can do is go outside and get some rays. Lots of rays, take your shoes off and put your feet on the ground. This is called grounding. I actually try to sleep on the ground, (in a tent) several times a season. The effects of recharging my internal battery are enormous!

 2) When the fear and anxiety raise their ugly head, push back with some deep breathing. Yes, it really works. Sit in a comfortable position or stand with feet slightly apart. Slowly raise your arms over your head while breathing in to the count of 5. Hold for a second, then slowly release this breath to the count of 7. While you are breathing out, think of the negative energy you are expelling. Send it out of your body and into the atmosphere.

3) Learn Yoga, Tia chi or giQuong. Excellent stress relievers and teachers of simple meditation.

4) Grow something. Put your bare feet in the dirt. Did you know that when the enzymes in the dirt touch human skin it creates happy molecules? Really, have you ever met a depressed gardener? 
Dirt as an anti-depressant

5) Shhhhhh, don't tell anyone but I'm about to tell you how to make the best anti-everything on the planet. Canna-butter!
Make sure you have  Indica cannabis. Something like Afghani kush. This treats depression, insomnia, migraines, pain relief and stress. Although now that I think of it, the Acapulco Gold of the 70's was good at numbing down PTSD when the guys came back from Nam.

Anyway, get some buds if you can, start with 14 grams and one or two pounds of real butter for your first batch. Crush up the cannabis buds and put them on a cookie sheet. Preheat the oven to 240 degrees F. Place the cannabis in the oven for about 30 minutes to activate the THC, the resulting effect is decarboxylated cannabis.

While you are waiting the 30 minutes, put the butter into a crock pot and melt it on low heat. When the butter has melted and the cannabis has done it's thing by stinking up the house, put it into the melted butter. Keep the crock pot on low heat and cover.

I let mine sit in there for most of the day, probably about 6 to 8 hours or so. Next you will want to strain out the cannabis. Using a mesh strainer and cheese cloth pour the butter mixture into the strainer. Be careful, it will be hot but you will want to squeeze out all the goodness from the cheese cloth.

Now transfer this to an airtight container with a lid. Let this cool without the lid on it for several hours. Once cooled, label, date and store in the refrigerator for about a week or so. Using coconut oil instead of butter will render a product that will last in the fridge a couple of months but butter tastes better.

Start with 1/4 teaspoon of canna-butter and wait 4 hours to fully assess your reaction to it's strength and effects. You can now use your canna-butter in cooking, putting a pat of butter on your vegetables at dinner.

No crock pot? Try this.

6) Up your dose of magnesium. Drink a sleepy time herbal tea at bedtime. My own blend is; 1/2 cup passion flower
                                            1/2 cup chamomile flowers
                                            1/2 cup lavender flowers
                                            1/3 cup valerain root
                                            1/3 cup lemon balm
You can throw in some catnip or hops for good measure if you are so inclined. 
Put the herbs into a quart jar with a tight fitting lid and give it a shake. Put one heaping teaspoon into your cup a pour boiled water over it and cover. Let steep for about 5 minutes and enjoy. I wouldn't recommend doing any driving after drinking a cup of this tea.

Hope any of this helps, even just a little to bring some calm to your world.
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Holy Wow! --- Make your Own--pg.2

"The two most important days in your life were the day you were born and the day you find out why." Mark Twain

Holy Wow!! Shit's gettin' real!

I had originally planned on talking about Sacajawea, the young Indian girl who accompanied Lewis and Clark on the exploration of the Northwest territories, she had some excellent stories to tell. But life in the here and now is getting much more tenuous and this needs to be discussed, pronto!

You see, ladies are being attacked for their groceries when leaving the grocery store. These poor women are usually distracted, struggling with a bunch of bags, with her kids in tow. The perfect target. Next up is older women, easy peasy. Those that wish to take from you are looking for those that will not pose much resistance.  I am here to tell you it is only going to get worse from here on out. Every body will be a target! We have been comfortable for a very long time, actually to the point of complacency.

I have written about this before and was slammed for even suggesting it, but dear grand-daughters, I think we need to take a good hard look at our own self defense. Maybe my previous blog article was too early and the need hadn't ponied up with the lack of chaos back then like it is now. But chaos is taking over our lives.

Most of you have never faced danger of the kind happening around the world. I have. Actually, I have had several encounters with dangerous people during my life.  Growing up in a low rent neighborhood during the 1960's, these were the transition years of the Martin Luther King era. We were all trying to get a handle on our place in the world, then the Viet Nam War busted loose. Our world was turned upside down and shaken, hard.

My point here is that I know what I'm talking about, one of my scary encounters was when I was out walking alone. Two men grabbed me and try to stuff in me in their car when I was just 17 years old. I had not been paying attention to my surroundings. I felt comfortable at that moment and had let my guard down. Luckily, I was little and wirery and was able to get free and run off. This shit happens every day, just because it hasn't happen to you doesn't mean it never will. You need to protect yourself! You need to be ahead of the game. We are stepping into uncharted territory now. The world egg is cracking, God only knows what it will give birth to, what creature will emerge.

Dear grand-daughters, listen up. This is what you need to hear.

I am of Scottish ancestry on my mothers side. We are a tough lot, stout and thick boned. As we have learned in history class Scotland had its share of battles. There was even a time when swords and knives were made illegal to posses in Scotland because the Scottish were such fearsome and relentless fighters.  But as with everything there are winners and there are losers.

My dear creative ancient sisters weren't going to go down without a fight, however, when the battle was lost. (Might I suggest a trip into the history books and see what the victors of war did with their captors, especially the women.) The war and the struggled carried on, weapons carried by the peasants was outlawed by the King of England, and so risked death by hangman if caught by the authorities. The women of Scotland felt it better, however, to go down in battle or hanged, then bent over a table by the victors of the battle or the kings men.

http://www.darkknightarmoury.com/c-57-scottish-daggers.aspx

"This was a knife (Dirk) slightly larger than the Sgian Dubh and was carried in the upper sleeve of the jacket, under the left arm. It is believed that this is the same knife, Scottish women carried under the apron of her wraparound "kilted" skirt, along with her purse. Just as with men, they would have to carry their own eating utensil, and many a Scots woman had need for a weapon.  Therefore, let us remember, if a Scots woman carried a dagger (little knife) for eating or her own defense, it would probably be hidden in the folds of her gathered skirt. A pocket deep enough to accommodate the sheathed knife; (so as not to fall out) and well hidden from view; thus protecting her from search,  a Scottish woman would avoid being searched at all cost."

  http://www.gaelicthemes.net/index.php/articles/3-the-history-of-sgian-dubh

  

I am purposing that you, dear grand-daughter, find a small concealable knife and carry it with you whenever you are out and about. I carry a small knife in my purse at all times. When I am out in the yard I have a 6 inch blade on me. Actually, I use it in my gardening tasks, but hey, I have it on me always. 

I encourage you to learn how to handle a knife. Seek out someone who can offer instruction now before the shit gets really deep. Some ladies prefer to carry heat and that is even better if she knows how to handle it.  Train, train, train! Piss poor preparation means piss poor performance.

I expect to get nasty letters on this article again, but I'll risk it. We may feel safe in our little corner of the universe at the moment. Your daughters may live through things that we have yet to imagine.  Hold them close and teach them well. 

Oh, FYI. It became well known that many of Scotlands women carried a Sgian Dubh. And after word had made it's way through the rumor mill about the Scottish women and several actual stabbings, the kings men stopped abusing them for fear of being stabbed. 

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