Gardening Tips!

Tip #1 - Moles Moles have been mowing through my garden for two years now. Last year they ate little rows in all of my cucumbers and this year they chewed my lettuce down to the nubs. So, I bought a few pinwheels on Memorial Day for a couple dollars and placed them throughout; especially near the veggies they seem to enjoy the most. At this point there has been no damage since installation! The vibrations apparently scare them away. Try it and save your garden from these pesky critters.





Tip #2 - Cage Want to have more space for plants? Grow your cucumbers up a cage/fence/lattice. Whatever you choose, the cucs will climb up and still produce a healthy harvest.




Tip #3 - Grow grapes along your garden fence




Check out more of our crop here

Garden Update!

After moving the vines to an area with better soil (less water retention) and more sunlight we have grapes! The vines are beautiful spread out on the garden lattice and you can't beat edible decoration. Curious how this garden was started? Check out this post!

What is in our garden

Corn and Carrots Zucchini Broccoli Assorted Peppers Assorted Tomatoes Peppermint/Spearmint Bushes

New Flowers & Our New Art Store!

Red and Black Lilies

Delphiniums

Dahlias

Rhododendrons

 

 

If you enjoy these pictures feel free to check out the art prints from our new art store below!

http://john-baumgartner.artistwebsites.com/

Collection Cup Art Store is now Live!

Set up an Art Store for all of the photos from the site! Check it out and if you have any requests please let us know!

Evolution of a Garden - before and after

When we purchased this house a year and a half ago I was so excited to have a nice spot for my garden. Little did I know just how overgrown this 24 x 12 foot plot of land was. Okay, yes it looks overgrown but I assumed it would be a quick clean up job. I later found out that this garden hadn't been used in many, many years and it took weeks to pull out the bushes, grass, weeds, and rocks. A garden was planted in a hurry so that I could make the most out of the upstate New York growing season. It was not my best harvest and this year I was determined to make the most out of my garden.

This picture is post winter frost and mid build of the lattice border. When raking leaves during the fall season we threw some into the soil for composting along with fertilizer pebbles. The soil was healthy and dark when it came to tilling.

Evolution of a Flowerbed

On to my new flower bed! This area just needed some "oomph", so we got out the shovels...

After digging up the layer of grass and tilling the remaining soil to even it out, Voila! Rather than buying stones to border the bed, I used the many, many, MANY rocks that are found in the yard. I planted a Laceleaf Weeping Japanese Maple tree (Acer Palmatum Dissectum) which will grow 6 to 10 feet, or an average of 8 feet. This tree must be "trained" or pruned as they grow to encourage the weeping top and I am on my way out the door to do some trimming as soon as I post this. My other favorite plant that does great in this area is a Delphinium. It isn't flowering at the moment but around mid summer it will produce beautiful blue towers of flowers that last into fall. There are also various colors of lilies scattered throughout; spearmint and peppermint are surrounding the bird bath.

I hope this gives you some inspiration. With a few hours of hard work and some creativity you can give a boring landscape a little personality!

Autumn’s Story

We adopted Autumn a little over a year ago and it has been a long, scenic road to the angel we have today. She was picked up on the side of the road as a puppy, probably about 6 months old, and brought to the SPCA. She spent the next 6 months of her life there in a cage.

Her picture was shown to me and I instantly fell in love with her eyes, sweet face, and long ears. I could not believe she wasn’t adopted yet! So, I went down to the SPCA to find out more about her.

Once at the SPCA I made my way back to the cages full of dogs, they were all barking loudly and jumping on the cage doors. And there sat my Autumn Bottom (one of her many nicknames) resting on her cot, quiet and curious. She had me fooled! I fell in love and went through the process of bringing her home with me.

We had awhile to wait because she had to be spayed and visit the veterinarian about her long ears. She was shaking her head and banging her ears on the cage which ended up leaving permanent little tears in the tips. The veterinarian was simply putting ointment on the tips but what we found out later was that she had a deep inner ear infection causing her to shake her head.

Benefits of Stretching

Benefits of Stretching:
- increases vitality
- protects from injury
- increases flexibility
- strengthens the body
- improves muscle tone
- re-aligns the body so that it functions effectively
- regulates the internal organs, keeping all systems functioning efficiently
- slows the aging process
- enhances concentration
- fights depression

Stretching also assists in the elimination of lactic acid in the muscles that cause muscle cramps and post-training aches and pains. This is extremely important if you run or work out often, and by stretching fully after a workout you will increase your endurance and reduce post workout aches.

Stretching before a workout can do more harm than good; you should do a light warm up with dynamic stretching (such as walking lunges) before exercise and static stretching after.

How to Tempur Chocolate!

You will need:
- double boiler
- rubber spatula
- candy thermometer
- parchment paper
- chocolate (using larger amounts of chocolate will make tempering easier

Step 1: Boil water in the double boiler and lower heat to a simmer. Melt 2/3 of the chocolate, stirring often, and remove from heat when you reach 115 F (for dark chocolate) or 110 F (for milk and white chocolate). Do not exceed recommended temperature. Fold in remaining pieces to cool the chocolate to 84 F. Remove any chunks that did not melt, and set aside to reuse.

Step 2: Heat chocolate for 5-10 seconds, stirring, and repeat this process until chocolate reaches 88-89 F (for dark chocolate) or 87 F (for milk chocolate). Do not exceed 91 F.

Step 3: You can now spot test to ensure the chocolate is tempered properly. Spread a thin layer over parchment paper and let cool; if done correctly the chocolate should be smooth and shiny, and if unsuccessful it will be dull and streaky.

Good luck and have fun!

Epsom Salt and all its many uses:

Epsom Salt and all its many uses:
I. Add to olive oil to exfoliate skin and add to shampoo for rejuvenating the scalp. Let the mixture absorb for a few minutes and then rinse.
II. For blackheads, boil ½ cup of water, 3 drops of iodine, and 1 tsp. of Epsom salt. Let the solution cool enough to touch and bottle; use with a cotton ball and apply to blackheads. Reheat and cool if solution separates.
III. Increase Magnesium levels in your body by soaking three times a week; Magnesium is difficult to get through diet, but it readily absorbs through the skin (consult practitioner if you have kidney issues). Mg is useful in treating migraine and tension headaches, fatigue, kidney stones, COPD, asthma, fibromyalgia, ADD/ADHD, complications during pregnancy and premenstrual syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. It also assists the body's use of serotonin which aids in well-being and relaxation.
IV. A 20 minute soak once a week with a handful of Epsom Salt, 10 drops of lavender essential oil, and half a cup of baking soda will draw out toxins, lower stress hormones, and balance pH levels.
V. Soak feet in warm water and Epsom Salt to soften and smooth.
VI. Add 2 tbsp. of Epsom salt to a gallon of water and spray for a lush, green lawn.
VII. For healthier roses, tomatoes, and peppers, mix 1 tsp. with 4 cups of warm water and spray plants every couple of weeks. This will strengthen plant cell walls, aid seed germination, photosynthesis, and formation of fruits.
VIII. Sprinkle Epsom Salt on the garbage cans to keep raccoons away.
IX. Use Epsom Salt in liquid dish detergent to whiten floor tiles and dissolve dirt.

Emotional Energy Centers of the Body

I. Throat Center - self-expression issues - lack of trust - inability to speak your feelings - lack of nurturingII. Burden Area - burdens and responsibilities - carrying a heavy load - weight of the world on your shouldersIII. Heart Center - grief, sorrow, sadness, and loss - emptiness of the heart or a lack of love - helplessness, aloneness, disillusionment - embarrassment, shame, humiliation - repressed feelings and disappointment - cruelty and meannessIV. Fear Center - fears and phobias - loss of control or the fear of losing control - giving our power to another person - relationships

Slow-Cooker Fajitas

You will need:

Fajitas
- 1 lb. boneless chicken breast (marinated in taco seasoning)
- 2 peppers (green and red; I had leftover yellow/red so I tossed them in)
- 1 large onion (mince 1/3 cup and set aside for marinade)
- 1 cup salsa
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- Tortillas

Homemade Taco Seasoning (I use this rather than the packets)
- 3 tsp. chili powder
- 4 tsp. paprika
- 1 tsp. ground cumin
- ½ tsp. oregano
- 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
For taco seasoning without fresh garlic and onion, just substitute (1 tsp.)  garlic powder and (3 tsp.) onion powder.

Homemade Veggie Dip!

This veggie dip has a nice kick from the cayenne pepper and minced garlic. I do not use mayonnaise or sour cream either... the base is Greek yogurt! The empty spot will be filled with celery tomorrow which I let chill in water overnight so that they are crispier.

- 1 17.6 oz. containers of plain Greek yogurt

- 2 tbsp. minced fresh parsley

- 2 tbsp. minced onion (I used fresh but dried can be substituted as well)

- 1 tsp. garlic salt

- 2 tsp. dill weed (fresh or dry)

- 1 tsp. paprika

- 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

- 1 clove minced fresh garlic

Mix together and chill for at least an hour to let the flavors settle. And of course, everything is more fun with a glass of wine. Enjoy!

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Even though it is starting to warm up out there, this soup still gets the job done. Full of healthy tidbits and still tastes delicious!

 

You will need:
- 2-3 lb. stewing chicken
- 1 qt. water
- 1 qt. chicken stock
- 1 med. onion, diced
- 6-8 carrots, diced
- 1 bunch celery, diced
- 3 cloves garlic
- salt/pepper
- olive oil
- egg noodles
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp. dried thyme
- 1 tsp. rosemary, crushed

Step 1: In a large soup pot, drizzle 2 tbsp. olive oil and add the onions and garlic. Cook over medium low heat for about 2-3 minutes until translucent; add desired amount of salt and pepper while they are cooking. Next add the carrots and cook for another minute; add thyme and rosemary. Add the celery, cook another minute.
Step 2: Add the stewing chicken, water, chicken stock, and a bay leaf (or two) to the pot. Bring to a boil, skim any fat, reduce heat to simmer, and cover for 2 hours.
Step 3: Remove chicken from soup, let cool, and debone. Skim any fat and put the shredded chicken back in the pot. Cook egg noodles and enjoy!

Homemade Baked Ziti

Baked Ziti

You will need:

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 lb. Zita cut pasta
• 5 cups tomato sauce
• 3 cups ricotta
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1/2cup grated parmesan
• 1/3 cup Romano

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 and start boiling water. Brown beef, cook pasta al dente (~ 7 min); do not rinse.

Step 2: Combine tomato sauce and ricotta, add beef and ziti- stir well.

Step 3: Add half to 9 x 13 baking dish, sprinkle half of the 3 types of cheese, add remaining pasta mix. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese, bake until top is golden brown and bubbly (~ 40 min).

Must Have Homemade Salsa

You will need: (These are rough measurements by the way, This makes a giant 8" x 8" dish)

• 6-7 Big Tomatoes ( Canned diced tomatos will work as well, I just prefer fresh when I can get it )
• 2 Green Peppers
• 2 Red Onions
• 8-10 Jalapenos
• Small bunch of Cilantro
• 4 ounces of Lime Juice
• 4 tbsp. Kosher Salt
• Few finely chopped garlic cloves
• Cilantro to taste

Feeling a bit off today....

My friends,
Are you having a bad day?
Are you swimming against the current?
Sometimes you have to convince yourself
that things will be alright.
Things will work out the way they are supposed to.
Work hard and do unto others.
Because, people mean well.
Deep, deep down, they mean well.
Unfortunately,
those same people need to realize
and internalize that the same things they hate in others,
are the same things they hate in themselves.
It takes strength to say,
“I need to change. I will be different.”
A concept that has been around longer than I have.
Perfect yourself before you attempt
to perfect others.
Who cares what they say.
This is you life.
Basically, this is about more than just some awesome toe socks with animals on them.
Yes, when shit hits the fan…
I wear these with pride.
But, it goes deeper than that.
It is about doing what makes you feel good.
Once again, it is the little things.
And nobody gets hurt

Food Philosophy

                            Image by ( Love Veggies

  By ellevalentine)

Lately I’ve been pretty busy trying to keep everything together; fundraisers, clinical, studying, tests, presentations, process papers, patient care plans, trying to find time to sleep, eat, and take care of everything that comes after that.  I try to pour so much energy into the blogs that I posts, making sure that the information is accurate and interesting.  It usually takes me quite some of them together, which is why I haven’t had as many as I would like too. 

Then I realized I’m sure there is something I can come up with that does not require that much effort.  Things that are valuable to me and have now become second nature.

Since I am so passionate about food and the effects that it has on the body I will rattle off a few things.  My philosophy on food is that it should be simple, delicious, and healthy.  Not that I don’t appreciate a complex, well thought out recipe.  It is just not practical for me to fit into my current lifestyle.  Being healthy is a lifestyle choice and needs to be something you are comfortable with.  It should not be an everyday struggle and something you dread. 

That means getting to know your fruits and vegetables; what is in season and the best ways to cook them. 

Prefrontal Cortex

For a while now I’ve had this fascination with the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the role it plays in learning, addiction, and those strange behaviors that make you scratch your head and wonder… “Why?”

To give you a brief description, this magnificent part of the brain is the gem of our evolution and the basis for our superb neural connections. 

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is responsible for:

-  abstract thinking and thought analysis

-  our active working memory

-  our ability to judge right and wrong, and foresee the outcomes

-  social control (and controlling sexual urges)

-  control over intense emotional impulses (the seat of good judgment)

-  short term and long term decision making; allowing you to plan ahead and create strategies. 

-  focusing thoughts and enabling you to pay attention, learn, and concentrate on goals

-  evaluating complex concepts and tasks

Why I love Lemons

 

LEMONS, why I love them:


Our body runs on electrolytes, such as potassium, sodium, chloride, and magnesium. These elements conduct electricity in our body, and to maintain balance of our body systems we need to also consume a healthy balance of these mineral salts. High sodium and low potassium in the diet can disrupt this balance and cause high blood pressure as well as increase the risk of cancer in the body. Lemon juice can be used to flavor foods in place of salt.

Lemons are readily available, inexpensive, and the benefits are endless! They are a powerful antioxidant, antibacterial, astringent, diuretic, laxative, AND packed full of Vitamin C, A, B1, B6, and P, magnesium, potassium, and folic acid.

Homemade Tomato Sauce !

You will need:

• 1/2 cup of olive oil
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 celery hearts, chopped
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 1 tsp. crushed rosemary
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 1 tsp. thyme
• salt, to taste
• fresh ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 tbsp. basil leaves ( fresh if you have them)
• 2 32oz. cans of crushed tomatoes

I give in and do the harlem shake

Hello Everyone

 

When I saw the Harlem Shake videos I was pleasantly surprised since this is how I normally dance anyway.

I decided to give it a shot!

I donned a glorious skeleton Kirgurumi for the event.

Hopefully this will bring a smile to your face.

 

No pugs were harmed in the making of this video.

 

Healthy Winter Chicken Soup!

You will need:
- 1 lb. marinated chicken breasts, cubed
- 5 (organic) carrots, diced diagonally
- 5 (organic) celery stalks, diced diagonally
- 1 medium sweet onion, sliced
- 1 11 oz. can low sodium cream of (mushroom, chicken, celery; use what you have or like)
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 2 or 3 cloves of fresh garlic, minced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 pinch of rosemary, crushed
- 1 tsp. thyme
- 1 bunch of kale, washed and deveined
- Egg noodles

Make your own Blueberry Smoothie !

You will need:- about 1 cup of ice (5 or 6 cubes)
- about 3/4 cup frozen blueberries
- 1 cup vanilla yogurt
- 4 oz. pomegranate juice

I like to blend my ice and juice first (especially if you add protein), to keep from getting frothy. If you add protein it is best to do it last and only for 10 to 15 sec.

Then add the blueberries and yogurt. Blend and enjoy!

My First Taste of Freedom – Part 2

The vagus nerve, the tenth cranial nerve, is really fascinating when you understand everything within the body that it is involved in. It runs from your brainstem down the whole length of the spine to the abdominal organs and innervates every organ along the way. It plays a major role in lowering the heart rate, breathing patterns, intestinal movement, sweating, and speech. It is your bodies off switch when feeling anxious and dealing with an overwhelming amount of stress, and the counterbalance to the fight or flight response. In another post I will talk about its connection to the enteric nervous system, our bodies "second brain", where our serotonin is secreted, packaged, and sent up to the brain via the vagus nerve. 

  

Benefits of Brahmi!

Gotu Kola, Centella asiatica, also know as Brahmi "the greatest of great"

This ancient, traditional herb contains the triterpenoids: asiaticoside, centelloside, and madecassoside. These powerful components make this medicinal herb useful in a range of complications and prevention of further damage.

• promote cell apoptosis; cytotoxic towards many different cancer cells
• increases the tone of connective tissue
• accelerate healing process of burns, keloids, and wounds (enhance collagen production and reduces scar tissue)
• lowers blood pressure and reduce leg edema (keep blood vessels strong, maintains resistance of the veins, and enhances blood flow)
• mild adaptogen (enhances the body's ability to resist a stressor)
• fatigue, depression, anxiety (assist in producing neurotransmitters)
• protects against neurodegeneration
• mild diuretic
• anti-inflammatory
• heightens mental function; improves memory and learning capabilities (useful for ADD/ADHD)
• restore some of the memory loss of Alzheimer's disease
• nourish, support, and rejuvenate the liver and kidneys
• Himalayan yogis used Brahmi to aid in meditation and yoga by calming and awakening the mind for a clear, steady practice.

Have you heard about Mycobacterium vaccae yet?

 

  Have you heard about Mycobacterium vaccae yet? It is a type of good bacteria that you breathe in when you spend time in nature or dig in your garden. M. vaccae was discovered on accident during an experiment to find a cure for lung cancer, after boosting the immune system it was also observed that patients “emotional health, vitality, and cognitive function” had improved.

Best Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Ever !

You will need: ( For an 8" pan)

- 16 oz. package of tortiglioni
- large bag of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 1/2 cups milk
- 2-3 eggs
- teaspoon of oregano, basil, and thyme
- 3 cubes of chicken bouillon
- teaspoon of salt and pepper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spicy Black Bean Soup !

You will need:

• 1 lb. dry black beans
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 peppers (one red, one green), chopped
• 2 jalapenos, chopped
• 5 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 quarts of vegetable stock
• 3 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 tsp. cumin
• 2 tsp. coriander
• 2 tsp. oregano
• 2 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 2 tsp. red wine vinegar

My First Taste of Freedom – Part 1

What happened to me?!...I have had some strange experiences since November of 2012. This is when I first felt an overwhelming surge of energy through my body that seemed to collect in my bottom lip. The lower lip got so tight and puckered that I couldn't force a smile, and I did my best to act normal so that nobody would notice. When this happened for the first time, I also smelled electricity. The kind of smell that I can only compare to the haunted house rides at a fair, where you ride through on low budget metal track in a rusty cart. The first time I felt this was during a high energy, life and death moment and I could not sleep that night. I blamed it on the adrenaline, and perhaps it was.

My Natal Chart (Advanced Horoscope)

   

This is my natal chart which is like a snapshot of the sky at the moment you were born. It goes much deeper than your Sun sign (the sign you read when you check the horoscope in the newspaper).

If you are new to astrology and would like one of your own just send me an e-mail! You will need a time of birth for the houses and ascendant to be accurate, but there are general aspects that won’t change much if you don’t know the correct time. This is, of course, for entertainment purposes only.

 

Click the image below if you would like me to make one for you!

 

The many benefits of Garlic!

Another one of the simple remedies that I wanted to start my blog with is raw, crushed garlic. Garlic is a native to Central Asia, one of the oldest cultivated plants, and predates written history. Garlic remedies have been recorded in Sanskrit documents for about 5,000 years and its use in China goes back 3,000 years. An Egyptian medical papyrus, the Ebers Codex, dates the use of garlic to about 1550 B.C.E. for many ailments, while Hippocrates, Aristotle, and Pliny also cited many uses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoga Sutras

Yoga: arriving at a place we have not been before; a science of the mind; to bring two things together- unite. The roots of Yoga can be traced back roughly 5,000 years to the Indus Valley civilization where the first seals depicting people performing asanas are found.

Those seeking to go beyond habituated thought and the stressful, distracting demands of materialist society are drawn to the meditative practices of yoga. Yoga reunites all opposites, using practices and systems dealing with regulations and exercises, to bring reconciliation between them. There are many styles that all stem from the same concept of sustaining a lucid, balanced mind; waking up the sleeping soul. The goal is to direct the mind to a state of stillness, without any distraction, while you remain conscious; achieving Kaivalya (freedom). Through practice you understand the purity, clarity, and maturity of intelligence.

Of course, there really is no goal when you practice asana or kriyas, the benefits will come when you enjoy the practice with an open mind and fresh insight. By focusing on the bandhas, "to bind or tie together", you will intensify the cleansing of pranayama and clear any energy blocks. These are "locks" in your body. The three most important are jalandhara bandha (involving the neck and upper spine), uddiyana bandha (between the diaphragm and floor of the pelvis), and mula bandha (between the navel and floor of the pelvis).

Homemade Peppermint Bark!

You will need:
- parchment paper
- candy thermometer
- 12 oz. dark (or semi-sweet) chocolate
- 1 lb. white chocolate
- ½ tbsp. peppermint extract
- ½ cup candy canes (crushed)

I recommend tempering the chocolate because it gives the candy a nice snap!