Andrea

Yay for us! We are going to be fit! Philbe, feel free to join in! The goal isn't to count miles or even do any specific exercise, the goal is to simply move for a minimum of 30 minutes a day. The benefits of just 30 a day are amazing. For me, if I don't exercise (I have a sedentary job) my blood pressure goes up. I had surgery the end of November and wasn't able to exercise for 3 weeks, then I was caught up in Christmas and eating and drinking badly, and didn't exercise and my blood pressure was not good. Now, after just 6 days of regular exercise and eating healthy, my bp is completely normal! I'm happy, not to mention that the exercise is helping with my nonstop hot flashes! 1/1/13 - walked 5 miles with dh 1/2/13 - rode exercise bike for 45 mins 1/3/13 - 30 minutes of a Leslie Sansone DVD (walk your way thin series) 1/4/13 - 30 mins on eb (exercise bike) 1/5/13 - walked 50 minutes 1/6/13 - 30 minutes with Leslie Sansone, 30 minutes on eb (I'm putting some minutes in the bank. I have a busy schedule next week!) P.S. I also dropped a pound! WoooHoooo!

1/1/13 - mandarin oranges 1/2/13 - mandarin oranges 1/3/13 - mandarins, soup with New Zealand Spinach, celery, & cilantro (not listing ingredients I didn't grow!) 1/4/13 - orange & Jerusalem artichoke & potato soup with fresh garlic chives. (I didn't grow the potatoes) 1/5/13 - orange, leftover soup, made a new soup with jerusalem artichokes, cilantro, new zealand spinach, bay leaf, & dehydrated tomatoes among other things I didn't grow! 1/6/13 - citrus & soup & a salad from home grown lettuce & fresh sprouts for dinner

Half Dome in Yosemite. On a clear day, I can see it from my house. DH and I actually climbed it in our early 20's. This year for my 46th b-day, we climbed North Dome which is directly across from it! Awesome place!

1/1/13 - mandarin oranges 1/2/13 - mandarin oranges 1/3/13 - mandarins, soup with New Zealand Spinach, celery, & cilantro (not listing ingredients I didn't grow!) 1/4/13 - orange & Jerusalem artichoke & potato soup with fresh garlic chives. (I didn't grow the potatoes) 1/5/13 - orange, leftover soup, made a new soup with jerusalem artichokes, cilantro, new zealand spinach, bay leaf, & dehydrated tomatoes among other things I didn't grow!

1/1/13 - walked 5 miles with dh 1/2/13 - rode exercise bike for 45 mins 1/3/13 - 30 minutes of a Leslie Sansone DVD (walk your way thin series) 1/4/13 - 30 mins on eb (exercise bike) 1/5/13 - walked 50 minutes Thanks Annarchy!

I'm ashamed to admit that I slept in today. But, it is my last chance to sleep in for a couple of weeks, so I went for it! It's time to take down the Christmas decorations. The tree is gone but everything else remains. So, time to deChristmas the house and do the dusting that's been hidden by garland for the past month! DD has a birthday party tonight and DH is home tonight, so I'll probably fix a "grown up" meal (HUGE salad with lots of extras) and find a movie for us to watch. DH got me Amazon Prime for Christmas - there are so many tv shows and movies that are free, so we'll find one of those to watch. Okay, off to exercise and clean! Have a great day!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!

My families favorite beans: "Beans a la Charra" from the Chevys Freshmex Cookbook 3 cups dried pinto beans 3 quarts water 6 slices (about 8 ounces) uncooked bacon, coarsely chopped 1/2 cup diced onion 1 tablespoon chopped garlic 1/2 jalapeno, stemmed, seeded, and chopped 1 tablespoon chili powder 2tsp ground cumin 1 tablespoon salt In a stockpot, soak the beans overnight in the water (to cover). The next day, cook the bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat until crisp, about 6 to 8 minutes. Add the onion, garlic, and jalapeno and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the chile powder and cumin and cook for one minute more. Add 1 cup of the saking water from the beans while stirring and scraping the bottom of the skillet to loosen all the brown bits adhered to the pan. Add the beans and remaining water, and bring to a rabid boil. Decrease the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the beans are soft. When the beans are cooked trhough, add the salt, and cook 1 to 2 more minutes. Keep warm until ready to serve, or cool, cover, and refrigerate up to 3 days. ************************************************************ I usually only use about 1/3 of the recommended amount of bacon. I also use significantly more chili powder and cumin than the recipe calls for. After I've cooked the onions and spices and scraped the bottom of the pan, I throw it all in the crockpot and cook for several hours on low. This freezes really well. I just made this late last night for dinner tonight and realized that I don't have any tortillas. I don't feel like making any so I'm going to throw together the crust for the Crusty Mexican Bean Bake and call it dinner!

Thanks for the information Mother! I need to make some vegetable broth. Do you think it would enhance the flavor and color of the broth if I roasted some of the vegie scraps in the oven first?

Too funny, Momo! I made lunch out of a wrinkly potato, an onion, and some jerusalem artichokes and garlic chives from the garden. I made a "cream" of potato soup without the cream! I simply took a potato masher to the boiled onion, chokes, and potato after they had boiled a bit and sprinkled chives over the top. Pretty yummy and simple!

I would like to simply edit/add to the same post each day, but it doesn't seem to let me. Any thoughts?

http://www.thepracticalherbalist.com/component/content/article/40-herbal-encyclopedia/236-raspberry-the-female-toner.html Raspberry, the Female Toner by Sue Sierralupe Red Raspberry, Rubus idaeus Raspberry photo/Sue Sierrlupe Raspberry is a woman's best friend. The tea soothes menstrual cramps, tones the uterus and eases childbirth. Even the berries stock the body with vitamins that relax the impact of both PMS and menopause. No one thinks of the medicinal actions of raspberries as they sprinkle them on yogurt yet this fruit is doing its work in the body just the same. Children love raspberries too. Besides the joy of nibbling on their bright, sweet fruit, kids find this the tea that calms their stomach aches and decreases diarrhea to be easy to swallow. The dried leaf tea is fairly bland with a slightly fruity taste that is easy to give to kids who have a low tolerance for variety in flavors. This makes childhood a more pleasant place to be for both the kids and their parents. Medicinal Properties and Actions of RaspberryRaspberry leaves contain properties that tone the entire reproductive system. Unlike other herbs, raspberry releases its constituents further down in the digestive tract than the stomach. This means the uterus gets to enjoy the majority of the medicinal qualities raspberry possesses. Raspberry contains fragirine, which tones the muscles of the pelvic region. If used regularly, it tones the female reproductive system and alleviates a multitude of problems that cause women problems throughout their lives. Midwives recommend raspberry leaf for women after birth as well. Not only does this herb help the uterus retain its former shape but it stimulates breast milk production. The tea is a welcome companion to a nursing mother as it calms digestion and prevents colic as it transfers from mother to baby through breastmilk. Since raspberry leaf soothes digestion, it can be given to children throughout childhood. As a nutritive herb, raspberry leaf and fruit have a lot to offer. The berries are full of vitamins. The tingle of ascorbic acid can tickle your tongue if you allow yourself to savor a raspberry long enough. Raspberries in fruit and leaf form are high in chelated iron, magnesium, and calcium. These are minerals doctors advise women to be certain to focus on to avoid serious health problems in the future. The astringent quality of raspberry gives this herb a broad spectrum of applications in treating swollen tissue in the mouth and throat. The pleasing taste and gentle energy makes raspberry a perfect companion for any parent with sick children. Most symptoms of the stomach flu relax under raspberry's tender care. Conditions Best Helped by RaspberryMenstrual cramps are the bane of many women's existence. Just a cup or two of delicious raspberry leaf tea eases menstrual flow and the accompanying cramping. Raspberry, as a uterine tonic, serves to regulate uterine muscles by either relaxing or increasing uterine tone as the situation requires. The alkaloid fragine interacts with the lower pelvic region of the body as it is released deep within the bowels. Raspberry is an ideal herb for pregnancy support. Other than toning the uterus and providing nutrition, raspberry also eases morning sickness. Raspberry leaf tea can be a stimulant if used excessively. One or two cups of tea daily is more than enough to stabilize digestion and soothe the pelvic region. Diarrhea and bed wetting is a big childhood problem. Raspberry leaf has tannins that slow the flow of liquid in to the intestines, which allows the body to form a solid stool. It also tones the pelvic region, which allows the bladder to regain control even as the child sleeps. Be certain the little one doesn't drink this helpful tea too close to bedtime. A cup with dinner is perfect. Adults can make good use of this herb as well. Menopausal women who find their bladder is losing its tone will benefit from a daily dose of raspberry leaf. Sore throats and einflamed gums are soothed by a raspberry gargle. Try a spoonful of raspberry vinegar in a 1/2 cup of warm water to rinse the mouth during your tooth brushing routine. This herb prevents bleeding gums and throat conditions in which the glands are swollen. Excessive phlegm dries up when red raspberry leaf is on the job. Consider using cooled raspberry leaf tea or tincture in a wet cloth to sooth minor burns. The tannins in raspberry treat inflamed tissue by stimulating the protein in your skin to build a protective barrier so the area can heal properly. This treatment is very soothing to sunburns. For more information on the conditions best helped by this herb, see the topics in Conditions. List of Raspberry's Medicinal ActionsAstringent, tonic, parturient, stimulant and nutritive. Medicinal Processing for Raspberry Raspberry leaf tea photo/Sue Sierrlupe Raspberry is one of the few herbs that must be processed from dry leaves. Fresh leaves contain a substance that causes stomach upset as they wilt. Making a tincture from raspberry leaves is simple. The easiest way to process this tincture is to add dried raspberry leaves to brandy. The results, after it has been shaken regularly for a few months and strained, is a delightful tincture that is easy to take straight from the dropper. If you are processing raspberry leaf tincture using whiskey or vodka, be sure to add a bit of glycerin to bring out the herb's natural sweetness. I add a little extra water to my alcohol preparations, which can bring the alcohol level down to 1/3 of the liquid contents. The water soluble constituents are the focus of these tinctures and seem to pack a greater wallop than do those processed as high alcohol tinctures. Raspberry leaves are very easy to dry. Simply hang a few stalks upside down in a dark, well-ventilated spot. The leaves dry quickly so check the stalks daily. Once they are dry enough for use, they will be brittle and display a green color on the upside of the leaf with a grayish white color on the opposite side of the leaf. Wear gloves when stripping the leaves from their stalk to prevent injuries from the hairy prickles. An afternoon of stove top attention can produce raspberry leaf glycerin or syrup that is perfect for a child with stomach flu symptoms. Raspberry glycerite is made by cooking dried raspberry leaves on low heat in a covered container with liquid that is 1/4 water and 3/4 glycerin. After the glycerin mixture has had time to cook and has darkened in color, remove the glycerite from the stove. Strain the results through cheesecloth and refrigerate. It will last 6 months in the refrigerator. As this formula involves the use of dry herb, more can be made at any time of year. For more information on basic herbal preparations, see the topics in Herbal How-to. Raspberry in the GardenRaspberries are native to North America and tolerate a wide range of zones. They are very easy to grow in their native North American soil. They fall under the mantle of "soft fruits" because they grow on canes and do not store well without preservation. Raspberries prefer rich, heavy soil that is 6.0 pH or lower. Soil that is 7.0 pH is prone to iron deficiency which stunts the fruit harvest. Second year canes will bear fruit the same year that they are planted making them a pleasure for almost any gardener. All varieties are self-fertile. Some bear in summer and some in fall. Virus free varieties are also available in garden shops. Raspberries tend to get leggy so some support is needed. A few bamboo canes or a fence with air circulation will do. There are everbearing varieties that provide fruit all summer long and need no support at all. Pruning is the key to successful raspberry gardening. The berries produce fruit on the second year canes, so after the fruit has been harvested, these are the canes that must be pruned to ground level. The new canes without fruit will bear next year so those should be left alone. Remember to add compost to the soil every fall after pruning. If birds are stealing you best fruit, you have two choices: cover your canes with bird netting or plant more than you can harvest and enjoy the wildlife show. The joy of being an herbalist really shines with raspberries since even if you lose all your fruit, you still have the leaves to enjoy for medicine. Quick ID tips Raspberry Appearance: Tall shrubs that grow in stands up to 6 feet high. Single branches grow from ground armed with prickles completely covering their whitish bark. In spring, alternate, trifoliolate, lobed leaves appear followed by white flower clusters and red or black globe-shaped fruit. When harvested, raspberry fruit is hollow, unlike its cousin blackberry which holds onto its core when harvested. Taste: Bright red fruit is sweet and tasty. Leaves are astringent and bland yet reminiscent of green tea's flavor. Odor: Tangy fruit scent. Leaves have very little odor. Harvesting Raspberries Raspberry clusters photo/Sue Sierralupe Gather raspberry fruit in the summer when it's ripe. The best time to collect raspberries is in the morning when it has the strongest flavor. Raspberries are fragile so do not collect them in deep baskets or they will be crushed under their own weight. Rinse your produce gently to avoid bruising. There are two schools of thought on collecting raspberry leaves. One is to collect them in the spring when the leaves have the most energy. The other is to collect them in the fall after berry season has passed to make best use of the entire plant. Either method produces leaves that must be dried before use so it is the opinion of this herbalist that either method is suitable. The easiest way to harvest raspberry leaves is to cut down the entire raspberry stalk. Turn the stalks upside down and tie in clusters 4 or 5 stalks to dry. Look for healthy raspberry leaves with deep green color. Keep an eye out for damage by insects or mold that could cause problems later. It is much easier to see the undesirable leaves when they are fresh than wehen they are dried. Using Raspberries to Care for AnimalsRaspberries offer nutritious food for a wide variety of animals. Poultry and livestock enjoy the leaves straight from the stalk. Pregnant animals benefit from raspberry in the same way pregnant humans do. The nutritious berries are considered delicacies for animals both fresh or dried. Try bathing a dog with oily skin or a heat rash in raspberry tea to offer them relief. The tannins cut the musty smell and condition the skin to help your pet regain good health. On the spot, topical treatments for burns or heat rash are comforting to dogs and the scent of raspberry leaf is not one that their sensitive noses will find overwhelming. Recipes, Household Formulas, and Non-medicinal Uses of RaspberryRaspberry fruit are delicious and refreshing. The list of uses for these tangy, sweet berries are only limited by your imagination. I love to add a handful of frozen berries to yogurt or smoothies. Dried raspberries get cooked into granola or cookies. Fresh raspberries decorate cakes and salads. Just a dab of raspberry jam on toast wakes up the groggy riser. For more recipes and ideas for using raspberry, see the topics in Recipes. Cautions for RaspberryNo known cautions exist for raspberries. Discontinue use of raspberries if allergic reactions occur. Only consume dried raspberry leaves as fresh leaves exude a substance that causes stomach upset as they wilt.

dogmom and Ambergris - if it was produced on your "urban homestead" then it's fair! From eggs to sprouts, if you produced it on your urban lot, it counts! I wish I could raise chickens but we just don't have the lifestyle for livestock right now - we travel too much for work.

The more the merrier, Dogmom! LOL - one year I was making salsa in late December because my tomatoes and peppers were still producing! I ripped them all up in October this year though to make room for favas and onions. For those who aren't able to garden year round, can you eat something with a homegrown product that you put up during the warmer months? For example, for lunch today, I had vegetable soup that I had frozen a few months back. I grew the cilantro, New Zealand spinach and the celery that went into the soup in my yard. As far as I'm concerned, that counts for my challenge! I'm also about to start dehydrating orange and lemon peels from my citrus trees to use for tea flavoring during the summer. I'm totally counting that come August when it's 5,000 degrees outside and I can't peel myself off of the couch to go pick a zucchini! Or, what about sprouting? My lettuce beds are lousy this year. I'm hoping I'll get a months worth of salad fixings out of them in the early spring but in the meantime, I'm sprouting! Who needs lettuce on a sandwich when you've got fresh grown sprouts? They were grown on my property, so I'm counting those too! My goal is to be more mindful of what I eat and produce. I can't grow 100% of my families needs, but I can try and make us more sustainable.

Living on a 1/3 acre urban lot, there is no way I could produce all of our food. But, living in Central CA, I can garden year round. My goal is to eat something out of my yard every single day of the year, even if it's only picking a fresh bay leaf and tossing it in the soup pot. Wish me luck! (I plan on posting a few pictures as soon as I figure out how!) January 1 - mandarin oranges January 2 - mandarin oranges

In the 13 in 13 thread, many of us mentioned getting in better shape and improving our health. My challenge to myself and to anyone else who might be interested, is to get a minimum of 30 mins of exercise a day. Bike, walk, dance, swim, scrub tiles, whatever! Just move 30 minutes a day to better health! The benefits of regular exercise are amazing, just check out some of these links if you need proof: http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/health/index.html http://www.dumblittleman.com/2008/02/13-scientifically-proven-health.html http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/exercise/HQ01676.html Who's with me? Jan 1 - walked 5 miles with dh Jan 2 - rode exercise bike for 45 mins

(((dogmom))) It is so hard losing our fur babies. I am sorry for your loss.

I used the microfilm machines a LOT for my undergrad degree - but that was over 25 years ago. When I was working on my Masters, 12 years ago, I never touched the machines. Everything I needed was either available online or I could request a pdf copy from another library through interlibrary loan. If that information could be put into an electronic format for an affordable price, I would go that route and ditch the machines.

Welcome Hillfarm!

Thank you Windmorn!

Btw, THANK YOU Dogmom! I rec'd mine a few days ago and forgot to post. It's on the tree!