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!