Twilight

I packed all my bags, arrived and went to unload the freezer chest with all the food......... Not there. Called the neighbor and she said it was sitting there by the door........ Sigh these things happen....

About time!! My daughter's mild autism was definitely apparent after the MMR shot that nearly killed her and gave her a medical exemption from further vaccinations. I gave her a very controlled diet for the next 8 years which I believe really helped. Today she is almost normal.

This may not be the correct place to put this but if not please move it. http://www.gizmag.com/cardboard-cathedral-completed/28612/pictures#1

I have always wanted to try fig nutons , they said the home made ones are so much better

Same things go for these boxed cereals

hmmmmmm they look no different than the larvae in chicken pits....

Planters does an excellent job of sealing and has good peanuts. I can not say that about some of the other brands..

Freezing corn the in shuck saves labor and I think taste. I love it that way! Not sure about your apple rings but the Mennonites around here freeze their applesauce in serving size containers and send them in lunches with the school children or out to the fields for the workers....

They go/went to school....... who all is to blame?????

How is everybody down there? Any flooding? problems? I know it is cooler but do hope everyone is OK

If you have a dehydrator start drying ! Individually freeze and pack in bags so you can take out as many as you want. Cut the breasts into strips for stir frying. I usually get 40-65 lbs of breast in bulk boxes , I think it is one of the quickest/easiest of meats to can. That is not to say I do not get chicken tired!!

<G> I refuse to run in the house. I like to walk as soon as it gets light enough to see ,.. then it is 2.4 miles in 45 min. if I am home If not depending on where I am it is one to 2 miles. Does driving count??Got lots and lots of miles in..........

Italian Auction - only 44 seconds! You don't have to understand Italian to follow the auctioneer: A Chinese Ming Vase is up for auction. The bidding opens at a half-million Euros. Bidding is brisk and each bidder is clearly identified as each raises the bid by 100,000 Euros. (The exchange rate at auction time was 1 Euro = $1.43.) Within seconds, the bid stalls at one million Euros, and the gasp from the crowd identifies the excitement that prevails in the room. The successful bidder is the last one who bid one million , and the auctioneer counts down the bid, "Going once, going twice, and sold to the gentleman sitting in front of me for one million Euros." Now, you are going to have to see the video for yourself.The auctioneer is exuberant. The pace is fast. This is how an auction should be run. Please note the excitement on the auctioneer's face after the final bid. http://www.youtube.com/embed/3e0yZCLjwfU?rel=0

That's the bad thing, doctors refusing to treat because they do not know enough about the disease ? not sending to a specialist? not doing lab work? This disease has been around long enough research should have covered it. Yes there are other similar tick diseases but they should all be treated. I read that all tick bites should be washed with alcohol and/or peroxide to remove the poison. If we are going to live in tick country we had better learn how to take care of ourselves....not sure we are going to get any help from the medical field. So I am going to say wash thoroughly every time you come in from where there are ticks. If yellow soap will protect from poison ivy maybe it would protect from tick bite poison. Being me I am going to wonder why /where the lyme disease came from to start with. We have always had ticks- I got acquainted with them when I was a small child.....Then they name a town after the problem because it was so prevalent in the area. Did a lab loose some disease carrying ticks or a diseased animal that infected the ticks? What else could so devastate the animal/people population than the lowly tick. Mother, yes, I misspelled Ledum.

I have always believed that the body can heal itself- was made that way for a reason. BUT if you have abused your body for years , it will not be healed overnight! I am on a slow journey back to better eating/health after being poisoned 5 years ago. My 96 year old friend eats a pickle with her meals as an aid in digestion.

Mother, Did they ever give you steroids? If so they destroy the immune system. With the antibiotics you show great improvement but if you are given steroids you lose all the ground you have gained and the symptoms reappear in a vicious cycle. May I suggest that Ludem be researched? It might help you and Snowmom also for the rest of us.

Root to Depression May Be In Your StomachAppeared in the print version as “Hidden GI Problems Can Cause Arthritis, Depression, Diabetes and More” If you have a stomachache, nausea or some other digestive problem, you know that it stems from your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. But very few people think of the GI system when they have a health problem such as arthritis, depression, asthma or recurring infections. Surprising: Tens of millions of Americans are believed to have digestive problems that may not even be recognizable but can cause or complicate many other medical conditions. Latest development: There’s now significant evidence showing just how crucial the digestive system is in maintaining your overall health. How could hidden GI problems be responsible for such a wide range of seemingly unrelated ills? Here’s how: If you can’t digest and absorb food properly, your cells can’t get the nourishment they need to function properly and you can fall prey to a wide variety of ailments. Good news: A holistically trained clinician can advise you on natural remedies (available at health-food stores unless otherwise noted) and lifestyle changes that often can correct hidden digestive problems…* LOW LEVELS OF STOMACH ACIDStomach acid, which contains powerful, naturally occurring hydrochloric acid (HCl), can decrease due to age, stress and/or food sensitivities. Adequate stomach acid is a must for killing bacteria, fungi and parasites and for the digestion of protein and minerals. Low levels can weaken immunity and, in turn, lead to problems that can cause or complicate many ailments, including diabetes, gallbladder disease, osteoporosis, rosacea, thyroid problems and autoimmune disorders. If you suspect that you have low stomach acid: You can be tested by a physician—or simply try the following natural remedies (adding one at a time each week until symptoms improve)… Use apple cider vinegar. After meals, take one teaspoon in eight teaspoons of water. Try bitters. This traditional digestive remedy usually contains gentian and other herbs. Bitters, which also are used in mixed drinks, are believed to work by increasing saliva, HCl, pepsin, bile and digestive enzymes. Use as directed on the label in capsule or liquid form. Eat umeboshi plums. These salted, pickled plums relieve indigestion. Eat them whole as an appetizer or dessert, or use umeboshi vinegar to replace vinegar in salad dressings. Take betaine HCl with pepsin with meals that contain protein. Typical dosage: 350 mg. You must be supervised by a health-care professional when using this supplement—it can damage the stomach if used inappropriately. If you still have symptoms, ask your doctor about adding digestive enzymes such as bromelain and/or papain. TOO MUCH BACTERIAWhen HCl levels are low, it makes us vulnerable to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). This condition occurs when microbes are introduced into our bodies via our food and cause a low-grade infection or when bacteria from the large intestine migrate into the small intestine, where they don’t belong. Left untreated, this bacterial overgrowth can lead to symptoms, such as bloating, gas and changes in bowel movements, characteristic of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In fact, some research shows that 78% of people with IBS may actually have SIBO. SIBO is also a frequent (and usually overlooked) cause of many other health problems, including Crohn’s disease, scleroderma (an autoimmune disease of the connective tissue) and fibromyalgia. SIBO can have a variety of causes, including low stomach acid, overuse of heartburn drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and low levels of pancreatic enzymes. Adults over age 65, who often produce less stomach acid, are at greatest risk for SIBO. Important scientific finding: A study recently conducted by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine found that, for unknown reasons, people with restless legs syndrome are six times more likely to have SIBO than healthy people. To diagnose: The best test for SIBO is a hydrogen breath test—you drink a sugary fluid, and breath samples are then collected. If hydrogen is overproduced, you may have SIBO. The test, often covered by insurance, is offered by gastroenterologists and labs that specialize in digestive tests. A home test is available at www.BreathTests.com. How to treat: The probiotic VSL#3, available at www.VSL3.com, can be tried. However, antibiotics are usually needed. Rifaxamin (Xifaxan) is the antibiotic of choice because it works locally in the small intestine. LEAKY GUT SYNDROMEThe acids and churning action of the stomach blend food into a soupy liquid (chyme) that flows into the small intestine. There, the intestinal lining performs two crucial functions—absorbing nutrients and blocking unwanted substances from entering the bloodstream. But many factors, such as chronic stress, poor diet, too much alcohol, lack of sleep, and use of antibiotics, prednisone and certain other medications, can inflame and weaken the lining of the small intestine. This allows organisms, such as bacteria, fungi and parasites, and toxic chemicals we encounter in our day-to-day activities, to enter the blood. The problem, called increased intestinal permeability, or leaky gut syndrome, is bad news for the rest of your body. What happens: The immune system reacts to the organisms and substances as “foreign,” triggering inflammation that contributes to or causes a wide range of problems, such as allergies, skin problems, muscle and joint pain, poor memory and concentration, and chronic fatigue syndrome. To diagnose: A stool test that indicates the presence of parasites, yeast infections or bacterial infection is a sign of leaky gut. So are clinical signs, such as food intolerances and allergies. However, the best test for leaky gut checks for urinary levels of the water-soluble sugars lactulose and mannitol—large amounts indicate a leaky gut. How to treat: If you and your doctor believe that you have leaky gut, consider taking as many of the following steps as possible… Chew your food slowly and completely to enhance digestion. Emphasize foods and beverages that can help heal the small intestine, including foods in the cabbage family, such as kale, vegetable broths, fresh vegetable juices (such as cabbage juice), aloe vera juice and slippery elm tea. Take glutamine. This amino acid is the main fuel for the small intestine—and a glutamine supplement is one of the best ways to repair a leaky gut. Start with 1 g to 3 g daily, and gradually increase the dosage by a gram or two per week to up to 14 g daily. Becoming constipated is a sign that you’re using too much. Try the probiotic L. plantarum. A supplement of this gut-friendly bacteria, such as Transformation Enzyme’s Plantadophilus, can help heal the small intestine. Add quercetin. This antioxidant helps repair a leaky gut. In my practice, I’ve found that the product Perque Repair Guard works better than other quercetin products. Typical dosage: 1,000 mg daily. Use digestive enzymes with meals to help ensure your food is completely digested. Good brands: Enzymedica, Thorne and Now. *Consult your doctor before trying these remedies—especially if you have a chronic medical condition or take any medication. Source: Liz Lipski, PhD, CCN, a Duluth, Georgia–based nutritionist who is board-certified in clinical nutrition and holistic nutrition. A faculty member of The Institute for Functional Medicine, an educational and research organization in Gig Harbor, Washington, dedicated to identifying and treating the underlying causes of chronic disease, she is the author of several books, including Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion (McGraw-Hill), www.InnovativeHealing.com. Listing Details Publication: Bottom Line Health Original publication date: April 1, 2012

Glass stove top?

I never thought I would let any dog/pet get close enough to me to break my heart........... I have one now and she is just 2 years old..... She means far more to me than she should. I feel your pain and know how you will/do miss her.

I'm sorry! Did you get it out of joint? Help her Lord

My neighbor, 65, is being treated for the second time this year. The meds are getting stronger to fight the disease. He said that once you get it ,each time is worse and harder to combat. He said they are now injecting the med directly in his heart. I hope I heard him wrong..... His work is the woods, he buys timber for firewood, logs for homes, lumber, chips for smoking etc. He is one of those employers that do not ask his men do anything he won't do. He works as hard as they. He said by noon he has at least 20 ticks.deet does not work.......

What is the average that one person or a couple pay for medical expenses a year? How many people do use that much insurance to pay for their medical bills? I know for myself I have something like $1500 all told in the last 30 years. Another thing I did not notice is will insurance be totally changed? will there still be a cap? Or does one wait until October to know?

mmmmmm! :canning:

http://tinyurl.com/l8hh59j Clear answers to your questions about the new health insurance plansAfter years of discussion and amid continuing controversy, some of the most important parts of the Affordable Care Act will take effect in the next six months (see "ObamaCare Basics" below). Yet many people still aren’t clear on how these elements of “ObamaCare” will affect them. To help make clear what is happening, Bottom Line/Personal asked Kathleen D. Stoll, JD, director of health policy for Families USA, to answer 12 key questions… ELIGIBILITYQ: I read that my state decided not to set up a health insurance marketplace. Will there be any marketplace available to me? A: Yes. Every state and Washington, DC, will have a marketplace (also called an “exchange”) of insurance plans from private insurers. Some marketplaces will be run by the states themselves…others by the federal government…and still others by a state/federal partnership. All of the marketplaces will help consumers compare plans and find financial assistance, if they are eligible, to help pay for coverage. However, it is possible that differences in funding will result in less in-person support for consumers in states where the marketplaces are run by the federal government. Q: I have Medicare. How will these health marketplaces affect me? A: They won’t affect your coverage. Medicare recipients are not eligible for coverage through the marketplaces. Q: I obtain health insurance through my employer. Will I have to shop for insurance through these marketplaces? A: No. You can continue with your employer’s coverage. But if it offers limited benefits and/or little help with premiums, you might have the option of buying coverage through a marketplace instead. Once the marketplaces are up and running, they will provide details about what to ask your employer to determine if its group health coverage is so limited that you qualify for this option. Q: I heard that some small businesses will drop their current insurance plans and leave it up to their employees to shop for their own plans in the marketplace. Is that true? A: Many small-business owners are unsure whether they will drop coverage. However, employers with more than 50 employees that do not provide insurance plans will face penalties. Instead of dropping coverage, some employers may switch plans, using the marketplaces to compare small group plans. To help pay for the cost of insurance, tax credits will be available to some small businesses. COVERAGEQ: What will the plans in the new marketplaces include? A: Health insurance plans sold to individuals and small businesses both inside and outside the new marketplaces will have to provide at least “essential benefits.” This means that all policies will include prescription drug coverage, preventive services, maternity care, mental health services and other components currently missing from many individual insurance plans. And plans won’t be able to arbitrarily limit or cap the coverage received. Also, plans will have to meet rules about providing adequate networks of medical providers. Q: Is it true that there will be only four health insurance plans? A: That’s not true in most states, if any. All the health marketplaces will divide plans into four tiers—bronze, silver, gold and platinum—but that’s just to make it easy for consumers to determine quality of coverage. In most states, there will be a number of different plans within each of these tiers, likely from multiple insurers. Plans must meet a certain actuarial value to qualify for a given ranking—that is, they must pay a predetermined percentage of total average costs for covered benefits—but even within a tier, plans could have different costs and benefits. For example, one plan might have relatively high deductibles and low co-pays, while another might offer the reverse. The online marketplaces are supposed to list each plan’s costs and benefits in a consistent format and clear language to make the plans easy to compare. Q: My son is 20. Why should he have to pay for a plan meant for older people? A: He won’t have to. There will be certain low-cost, high-deductible plans available only to people under age 30. These are likely to be much less expensive than more comprehensive plans. But with high deductibles and less financial protection, these plans will be appropriate only for people who have sufficient financial resources to pay hefty medical bills out-of-pocket. Also keep in mind that under the new law, children are now allowed to remain on their parents’ health plans until age 26. Q: If I use a marketplace, do I have to shop online for coverage? A: Not necessarily. The marketplaces will offer shopping assistance through toll-free phone numbers and in person in many communities starting in October. Q: I looked for the marketplace online but couldn’t find it. Where is it? A: It won’t be available until October 1. Until then, visit www.Healthcare.gov/ Marketplace for updates. TAX CREDITSNearly 26 million Americans will be eligible for tax credits to help them pay the cost of health insurance. Q: Do I have to be poor to qualify for these health insurance tax credits? A: Many middle-class families will qualify. The limit has been set at 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL). This year, that’s an annual income of $45,960 for an individual…$62,040 for a couple…or $94,200 for a family of four. However, your tax credit will decrease the closer you get to these limits. Example: Because of the tax credit, a family of four with income of $35,325 (that’s 150% of the FPL) would be able to buy a typical silver-tier plan for $1,413 per year out-of-pocket, which equals 4% of the family’s income. If that family had an income of $94,200 (400% of the FPL), however, it would have to pay 9.5% of its income out-of-pocket—a much heftier $8,949 bill. The tax credits will be based on the price of a typical silver-tier plan in the state. Families receiving tax credits can opt for pricier gold or platinum plans…or pay even less in premiums if they are willing to accept the more limited benefits of a bronze plan. People won’t have to do this math on their own. Once the marketplaces are up and running in October, they’ll guide users through the process. A family of four earning $50,000 would be entitled to a subsidy of around $6,500. Q: The subsidy is in the form of a tax credit. Does that mean I won’t receive it until I file my tax return? A: No. People can elect to get credits in advance, but in that case, the government will pay the amount of the credit directly to the insurer and you will pay only the remaining portion of your premiums. Q: If I sign up for 2014 coverage in late 2013, I won’t yet know my exact 2013 income. What should I do? A: Your 2014 subsidy will be based on 2014 income. You will be asked to estimate your 2014 income when you apply. If your estimate proves too high, you can return to the marketplace, update your income and receive the credit you’re due. If your estimate is too low, you might have to pay back part of your subsidy. There’s no penalty for getting income estimates wrong. OBAMACARE BASICSStarting October 1, 2013, individuals and small businesses will be able to compare and sign up for health insurance policies through new online marketplaces. These policies take effect January 1, 2014. Among the people who benefit the most will be those who have health problems but lack access to group coverage. Insurers will no longer be allowed to deny coverage or charge higher premiums based on preexisting conditions. Also benefiting will be people ages 50 to 64 who lack group coverage, including early retirees. Insurers still will be allowed to charge older applicants more than younger ones, but they no longer will be able to charge older applicants the prohibitively high rates that they often imposed in the past. Americans who choose not to obtain health insurance will have to pay a penalty starting in 2014. That penalty will be $95 or 1% of income, whichever is greater, in 2014, but the penalty will climb in future years, to $695 or 2.5% of income by 2016. Source: Kathleen D. Stoll, JD, director of health policy for Families USA, a nonprofit organization that advocates for affordable health care, Washington, DC. She previously served as special assistant for health and welfare issues for the House Ways and Means Committee. www.FamiliesUSA.org

Today I had to go to the mall. As I approached the entrance, I noticed a driver looking for a parking space. I flagged the driver and pointed out a handicap parking space that was open and available. The driver looked puzzled, rolled down her window and said, "I'm not handicapped!" Well, as you can imagine, my face was red! "Oh, I'm sorry" I said. "I saw your Obama bumper sticker and just assumed that you suffer from a mental disorder." She gave me the finger and screamed some nasty names at me. Boy! Some people don't appreciate it when you're just trying to help them out!