Merry Christmas! My Herbal health gift to you

This country seems to be obsessed with using medicine. Most of them create the need for more medicines, and few cure anything, maybe mask symptoms making you think you feel better.  All have side effects. You can take control of your health and avoid all the expense  and side effects.  Herbs have been used for centuries and are regaining in popularity for many reasons.  Inflammation causes pain, stress, and injures cells. Leads to cancer, heart problems, arthritis and more.  So lets start with anti inflammatory herbs. Two of the very best: Turmeric,  could be considered a new miracle rug.  I started taking it at 18 years old to avoid the arthritis my parents had, and their cancers.Turmeric lowers bad cholesterol,and prevents fat deposits in arteries. Keeps you from developing  aches and pains and illnesses.Ginger works much the same way, preventing pain and swelling also prevents blood clots and heart disease.  The two of these cost under 10 bucks for a 3 month supply. Beats  meds all to pieces. Ashwaganda is an Ayurvedic herb, it calms your mind, reduces stress and allows peaceful sleep. Love it. Motherwort does much the same, reducing stress, calming the body, acting as a sedative. It's a member of the mint family. Hawthorn  was something my hubby used to protect his heart, prevent arrhythmia. Also helps cholesterol.  Saw palmetto helps prevent male baldness and protects the prostate. Cinnamon is warming, good for colds, cold weather, just make something with it in, oatmeal, cookies etc.  Garlic and onions are both considered to be a natural penicillin. Chewing a little piece of fresh garlic instantly eases a sore throat. Eating lots of both on a steady basis will help you avoid colds and flu. Rosemary and sage are both great herbs, Rosemary increases blood flow to the brain, helping to prevent Alzheimer's.  Sage helps increase the memory, and works like Rosemary.  Add these to your soups, stews, meat, veggies what ever you can.And the last one for today is Astragalus, another Ayurvedic herb. It's an anti oxidant, that helps protect your heart. If you have not read Mother Earth Living magazine, I recommend it. So much good information for living a good, healthy life style.  There is a lot more info on herbs in the new issue.  On another note, if you use nail polish, be aware that it contains some very harmful ingredients,  toluene, formalehyde, triphenol, phosphate and Kylene, I have tried one brand of water based natural polish, it said you could remove it with rubbing alcohol, but that did not work. There is a brand you can check out called  Ella &Mila.  It's a safe to use product. Christmas is only 2 days away now,   I wish for you a day spent with loved ones, family and friends. And a New Year that brings better things for all of us.We have a slim chance of snow flurries, suits me. I came south to get away from all that cold stuff. Its in the 50s today, but gloomy and rain moving in. Have a great holiday, have some healthy food and start the new year  learning better options. Til next time.

Vegan cream soup base, keep pets away From Christmas tree recipe and a great gift

 Pat had diabetes, and heart problems after a while, needing  a 6 bypass surgery. I was told to avoid any canned or boxed foods, which we mostly did anyway, they contain many hidden  ingredients, salt and sugar you  are not told about  and other stuff. My lovely daughter in law, Marie, gave me a diabetic cook book with great recipes, one which I use all the time, and have started making quart jars of the mix for my son in NE, he likes it much better than canned mushroom soup.  So here's what  to do. In a large bowl,  put 2 cups dried powdered organic soy mil, 3/4 cup of arrowroot powder, lots of folk would use corn starch here, but corn in this country is sprayed with poisons to the point of making it bad for your health, so avoid corn oils, starch and corn that s canned etc,  next is 1/4 cup vegetable bouillon granules, 2 tablespoons of dry onion flakes, 1 teaspoon thyme powder,, 1 teaspoon basil, 1 teaspoon black pepper. Mix well. Keep in frig. To use, mix 1/3 cup of mix with 1 and 1/4 cup water, mix well,  heat over medium heat stirring til thickened.  Now you can add (cooked)  celery, mushrooms, broccoli, chicken or whatever and have soup of your choice. Or just add to your casserole like you would mushroom soup. if you are vegan, add a splash of olive oil if not vegan add a spoon of butter.  It's almost Christmas, maybe you have your tree up. If your pup or kitty chews on it or messes with it, make a spray of 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder and enough lemon juice to be thin enough to spray on the tree. They hate the smell. And how about a fancy gift for a special friend?  Try a Pine Salt Scrub.  Mix 1/2 cup shea butter and 1/3 cup of coconut oil, melt over hot water til combined, chill til set. Put in food processor and add 3 T olive oil, 2 T finely minced pine needles, 40 drops fir essential oil, 20 drops pine essential oil, 10 drops grapefruit essential oil. Blend in processor til thick. Put in a bowl and stir in1/2 cup course salt. Make it pretty for gifting, nice container, trim etc.  It's just over a week til Christmas, and this morning my mom's Christmas cactus has started blooming. Right on time.   It's become quite large again, will need splitting by spring. If anyone needs a good sized plant I will be happy to share.  Been making mint truffles  today, still smells like mint in the kitchen.  It's cold and dreary but warm weather on tap for next week.  Hang in, get all those last minute things done so you can enjoy the holidays as they are meant to be, with family and friends.  Will miss my Nebraska  ones again this year, was nice to visit with them in years past.

Awwww Rats!

 Rolled out of bed this morning after a cuddle with Lib and Lil, made the bed and got dressed for the.  day. As I was putting on my sweat shirt, I noticed something ODD. Holes in the elbows of my shirt. And its my favorite outfit, oh yea, it's old, bought it before Pat died so over 10 years old. But it has kitties on it, and is a nice weight, not heavy or light, just in between.  My first thought was how to fix it. Maybe patches, maybe cut off the sleeves and create a vest to go over another shirt. Anyone else would just toss it and get something else, but can I find another I like as well?  Then while donning my matching sox, some  the kids gave me a few years back, yike, have gone through the toes of them.   Oh well, went ahead to the kitchen and fed the girls, had breakfast and started cleaning the kitchen., My makings for cosmetics cupboard needed reorganizing, thats done, I swept and scrubbed surfaces, amazing how well my vinegar water, tea tree oil and dawn cleaner works.  Took time out to go mail some letters, one of our church ladies is in the hospital, and had a package to go out too. Opened the care door and remembered I need to repair that, part of the molding above the door is falling off.  My car is a 94 Chrysler, darn good car, except its rusty and has a cracked windshield and a few other things starting to wear out.  But it runs great now that I put about  a thousand bucks repair into it last summer.  Back to cleaning, sweeping the floors I am reminded I need to get the house re blocked, so the floors will quit cracking, also see some molding strips pulling away and the tub surround has come out a bit. Hopefully by summer  I can get that done, may need help finding a blocking person that's reasonable.  So now I have the floors swept and break out the scrubber.   The handle broke off a while back, but it works just fine otherwise. Doug tried to epoxy the handle back together but it would not hold.  And the vacuum died, with fur babies I had to replace that.  Thank goodness for credit cards.  It struck ,me, I am old and falling apart and so is everything I own.  But you know what? This is only a temporary place. If I can hang in and be a good Christian and follow the rules and do what I am here for, there's a much better place waiting.  Makes my day to think of that.  Putting in a word  with  God today for all my friends who are sick, having surgery or having problems, I ma blessed, have more than I need and continue  to keep busy hopefully doing some good as far as spreading a little cheer, a smile, or sharing a card with a friend.  I often wonder if Christ will come again at Christmas, like the first time.  We are getting close to that day again.   When we got to  church yesterday, the preacher who was coming from another town  had called to say he had a flat tire and would be late if he got there at all, he did, and not far into the service.  We had so few people there I felt bad  because it was the beginning of the cantata and Christmas services.  We had an advent candle toi light, no matches, tho  some were found,  seemed all that could go wrong did so, but  it was still a good service, with communion and fellowship abounding.  God works in mysterious ways I guess.  We all left smiling and talking to each other. Nice morning, and inspirational all the way.  Don;t forget what time of year it is, and how we should remember this spirit all year, helping others, sharing a hug or a smile. Love to all.