Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Evolution of a Garden - before and after

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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.
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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

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

Monday, April 1, 2013

Benefits of Stretching

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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.

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.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

IMG_0702Even 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).

Sunday, March 3, 2013

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. 


Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Homemade Peppermint Bark!

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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!