Gifts for the Northerners

Homemade soap and Tennessee moonshine. 

The Fantastic Five early days until present. Sort of ;)

So now that we have new babies, I had to come up with a name for the first round of babies this year - from the feed store, all Ameraucanas - to differentiate them. These were born the first day of March, 2017, roughly. They were a week old already when I brought them home, but other than being confused about why she had babies so quickly, the broody hen sitting on the nest gladly took over the job of raising them for me. Yay, except that now these 5 babies (er, almost adults now) are terrified of me and if I approach then, they run, screaming hysterically.

This is a problem at night because with the exception of Cheeks, they refuse to roost ON the roost with the other hens (who were born first week of April, 2016, and don't like these newbies and let them know they are lowest of the low in the flock hierarchy) so they roost IN the nesting boxes that hardly anybody uses for actually laying eggs in. So when I'm poking around in the nesting boxes and under them, where most of the eggs are laid, they are flapping and crying and generally freaking out. Silly nitwits.

But, annoying as all of that is, they are wonderfully unique in feather colors and patterns. Which of course I don't have many pictures of yet, oops. Before they were moved to the big coop with the rest of the flock, they spent a few weeks without mamma hen, cuddling together on the hayloft stair at night. Pretty cute.

Top left to right:  Cheeks (Cheeks II, to be exact) and Alexa

Bottom left to right:  Sunrise, Cheese (facing the opposite direction of all the rest. So typically Cheese), and Bandit

Now that they are semi-integrated into the flock, they do all still hang out together almost exclusively during the day, doing their own thing in their own group. Teenage clique!

(repeat photo from last post)

Cheese is named for how much her face resembled Cheese from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends when she was younger ;) Love that crazy show! Will add more pix of the other babies soon.

MORE babies! Homemade babies!

One hen decided she wanted to raise some chicks, so she hid in a nest way up high in the hayloft so I wouldn't find her.

She collected 9 eggs and shortly after I found the nest, hatched 7 babies! These will be a mix of buff Cochin and Austrolorp (unless other hens were also laying in this nest, but I kind of doubt it).

I am wondering if this is the same hen who raised the Ameraucana babies for me (see below photo for the prettiest one, Cheese!)or if it is a different hen.

All the Austrolorps look alike to me! I need to paint designs on them or something....

Here is a great photo of Goldie, the (currently) only rooster. Although with 7 home-hatched babies now here, we may have more roosters soon....

Also, a great photo of Nibbles, who is now an only dog. Sadie developed renal disease and we had to put her down eventually.

Thanks for sharing your life with us, Sadie girl! Hope you have LOTS of chickens to obsess over wherever you are now :)

A Writer Who Is Channeling Me; or Why I Call Phyllis Schlafly the Spawn Of Satan

The article that restored my belief in the perception and courage of others:  http://ordinary-gentlemen.com/2016/09/07/hannity-before-there-was-hannity/

As for my own view of Schlafly....a few years ago, a brief 2-hour education in college about Phyllis Schlafly's activism and after watching an interview with her, shortly after she squashed the Equal Rights Amendment, told me everything I needed to know about her actual motivation and desires, and evoked in me a heartfelt scorn and condemnation. Pursuing fame and power without regard for one's actions, solely for acquiring fame and power and influence is despicable. Of course Schlafly didn't really think women had no place in the world as educated, political, influential citizens. She craved those things far greater than most women of her time, running for congress twice, killing the ERA, and in the interview I referenced above she stated, so proudly: "I showed them we [conservatives] could actually win." THAT is what she was proud to have done - won a battle. Made her mark. Become a part of history. Yet she herself was a poster child for the potential possessed by the hitherto "weaker sex" when educated and provided a voice - a powerful force (albeit in this case, sorely misguided and fame-seeking) who could, just as a man could, achieve results and effect change.

It's the hypocrisy that I despise. She used her privileged status and hard-won education (one assumes she surely didn't cheat her way all the way to her doctorate law degree) to try to keep the rest of the women of the United States, and by example, the rest of the world, as appropriate only as homebound, reproductive slaves, mentally unchallenged and financially dependent, legally enforced submissives, and not worthy of contributions to and equal status in society. She used the status quo and public opinion and rather dated ideas of the differences in gender to further her own agenda - the goal of being a worthwhile contribution herself, of being powerful, of becoming a well known name. What hubris infects a soul so badly that they are unable to admit the value of other people but feel themselves to be worthy of fame and not required to assume the lower places in society that they proclaim others should and must adhere to? My previous psychology studies evoke in my brain a murmur of sociopath but that may be too strong a word...yet she shared some rather uncomfortable behaviors that align with historical figures such as Adolf Hitler, Pol Pot, and Kim Jong-un.

In her latter years Schlafly spent her time crafting Conservapedia in response to Wikipedia. An example of her work is demonstrated here:

Liberal
A liberal is someone who craves an increase in government spending, power, and control, such asObamaCare. All liberals also support the censorship and denial of Christianity.^[1] Liberals who are a part of the secular left prefer the atheist religion over the Christian faith, as atheism has no objective morality to hinder their big government plans. ^[2] Increasingly, liberals side with the homosexual agenda, including homosexual "marriage". Liberals favor a welfare state where people receive endless entitlements without working.^[3] The liberal ideology has degenerated into economically unsound views and intolerant ideology. All liberals support, in knee-jerk fashion, the opposite of conservative principles, while lacking an actual ideology or values of their own^[4].

Anyone who uses the format "All ....(insert your most disliked group here)" demonstrates a lack of critical thinking and a refusal to admit any respect for the truth. 'Nuff said.

a day of sadness

Cookie passed away in the night. She looked like she just fell asleep for good. Poor momma Angel is running all over, knowing she has lost something.

:(

The biggest one

The other trilliums in my pasture may not look like it in the previously posted photos, but they are pretty small. But today I found this monster trillium as I walked out to till the new garden! HUGE!

I found treasure in my pasture

Trilliums growing! such a lovely gift!

The Hard Part About Keeping Livestock

I have wanted to live on a farm ever since I can remember. I've wanted to raise livestock for a very, very long time. Before I started keeping chickens, I had no ideal about the realities of livestock ownership, like the bad parts. Sometimes the bad parts happen because, well, sometimes critters die of illness or old age or even a really determined predator. But sometimes, livestock can get injured because of bad judgement on the part of the stock keeper.

I've been keeping chickens since 2010. I lost 3 chickens in 5 years - Cheeks (unknown, just found her body in the pen), Wizard (unknown, I was laid up with a broken leg. Again, found her body in the pen), Paco (egg bound and euthanized). Now here at the farm, I've been here 5 months. In that time, I've lost 5 chickens:

Bossa Nova - died of old age, I suspect.
Ivy - killed by the roosters, I'm pretty sure.
Phoenix - killed by the dogs.
Spot the rooster - slaughtered by me, for meat (stringy but good rich stock)
Captain Crunch - Injured by the dogs, mercy killing by me.

Finally after 2 unnecessary deaths by dogs, I have fenced off the barn from the dog yard. I should have made that decision sooner. I should have never allowed the dogs access to the barn if the chickens were roosting all over in there (which they persisted in doing despite my attempts to keep them safely on the other side of the dog gate). I'm responsible for the suffering and death of two sweet and innocent hens, three if you count the hen harassed and killed by the roosters. My fault. All I can do is make sure I never allow that to happen again.

:(

A Farm at Last! The New Place :)

The argument....

Is it more responsible to use handkerchiefs or a kleenex-type tissue? And what about the disgust factor? It took me a while to get over the thought that using handkerchief was rubbing your face in a palmful of previously snorted germs. But now that I have been using them for years, I like them better. A lot better. I have a slightly runny nose for only a few hours most mornings, then it usually clears up. I could go through a great many boxes of tissue that way over a year. Instead, I have a stash of handkerchiefs ready for use that are softer yet more durable, and I can carry one in my purse without it disintegrating if I haven't needed to use if for a few weeks, unlike a small package of tissues. I can use 1 for a week with minimal, normal stuffiness, or 1 in an hour, if I'm sick. Then in the washbin it goes and I get a fresh, clean one. My nose doesn't get all red and scratchy and I don't have to put out the money to buy the increasingly expensive boxes that still manage to run out just when you REALLY need them. I originally switched because I thought it was more environmentally friendly, but according to this recent article, the effect might be minimal. But I'm a handkerchief user for life, now, no matter what!

V8 juice and sandwich rounds

These paleo sandwich rounds are great! They took me more than 3 minutes to make, but perhaps in time I will get quicker.

Also, finding something to sip on while out, when I'm tired of having water and didn't bring any tea, I found that V8 juice had the lowest carb and sugar content of anything in the convenience store. The next day I found an online recipe and made my own! Iadded finely chopped veg of whatever I had in the fridge, but still not 8 veggies....probably more like V6 ROFL! (celery, garlic, kale, tomato of course, carrot I believe, and parsley) Also, I tried filtering it, but I saw that I would have lost most of the mass of the concoction, so I changed plans and dumped it all back in the container and drank it like that. It's got some significant little crunchies to it, but it's just kind of a thicker version of store bought V8, really. Very filling and my creation has very little salt and no sugar except what occurs naturally in the fruit. I did add some lemon juice, extra Worcestershire, and a few spoonfuls of horseradish. I was going for a virgin Bloody Mary taste, and I got it! Along with the extra crunch! I was very glad in hindsight that I ran the food processor a LONG time. I will probably cook it a bit longer on the next batch, and maybe water it down next time I have some and see how that works out.

Having cooked meat and a big bowl of roasted veggie mix in the fridge is crucial to whipping up a quick meal. Liverwurst, cheese, and boiled and poached eggs also super convenient, along with a loaf of almond meal and ground flax seed bread. I am still motivated to keeping on track with this! I walked through Sam's Club the other day seeing so many delicious things I can't have and just kept saying in my head: "No....nope.......no can do........no, no, no......you look tasty but no......sorry, not right now.......oh yum, I might like you for my 1 free meal a week but not today......no.....nope......not gonna happen...." It was very good practice I think! Also turned down a free cup of ice cream. I mean, is it really worth it? I have so many clothes I want to fit into....and this bouncy belly I want to get rid of....so, no, it's not worth it. YEAH!

Goals

I need to either work hard enough to fit into my size 10 clothes, or get rid of them. SO.....workouts without fail and no carbs, no sugar. I will allow myself those treats for 1 meal a week. Now the wine will be the hardest problem hmmm LOL!

It's 12 weeks until Christmas exactly (oh dear, I better start prepping my mental defenses for all those treats NOW) which means optimal weight loss of 1/2 pound a week could possibly place me at 179. That would be nice, but not a new size. So this is a long haul trip and I need to anticipate that. BRING IT!

Another 12 weeks would put me at March 18, for another 6 pound goal, landing at 173. Then another 12 weeks is at June 10, making a goal of 167. The next 12 weeks is September 2, for 161 (almost a year from now!). The following 12 weeks is November 25, for 155, and the final 12 weeks is February 17, 2016, at 150. WHEW. That is a little intimidating, but I need to do it or give up. RIGHT!!

For my own reference at least for a little bit, I'm keeping track of some tasty, low carb, no sugar
recipes:

• Can of tuna, halfway drained. Added some mayo, chopped raw onion, chopped cooked broccoli from the fridge, and Old Bay seasoning. Yummy and filling. 
• Slice of low-carb bread (don't add the 2 teaspoons of sugar next time! it's too sweet!) topped with some cheese, toasted and melty mmm.

Surprising results

I would like to see more studies done like this, I think this is important for people and animals. I am aghast we didn't do many, of any, of these types of studies a hundred years or so ago. Er, how long has science been around? ;)  Why do humans assume they know things that frankly is just hearsay or seems common sense or has been handed down? All those things do not mean something is an actual fact.

 

• Summary
• Introduction
• Results
• Discussion
• Exp. Proc.
• Data
• References
• Supp. Info.
• Related Info.
• Comments (0)

• Graphical Abstract

•  PDF 3.40 MB
• Export Citation
•  Permissions

Cell Metabolism, Volume 19, Issue 3, 418-430, 4 March 2014
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
10.1016/j.cmet.2014.02.009

Authors

Samantha M. Solon-Biet,Aisling C. McMahon,J. William O. Ballard,Kari Ruohonen,Lindsay E. Wu,Victoria C. Cogger,Alessandra Warren,Xin Huang,Nicolas Pichaud,Richard G. Melvin,Rahul Gokarn,Mamdouh Khalil,Nigel Turner,Gregory J. Cooney,David A. Sinclair,David Raubenheimer,David G. Le Couteur,Stephen J. SimpsonSee Affiliations

• Highlights
• Food intake is regulated primarily by dietary protein and carbohydrate
• Low-protein, high-carbohydrate diets are associated with the longest lifespans
• Energy reduction from high-protein diets or dietary dilution does not extend life
• Diet influences hepatic mTOR via branched-chain amino acids andglucose

Summary

The fundamental questions of what represents a macronutritionally balanced diet and how this maintains health and longevity remain unanswered. Here, the Geometric Framework, a state-space nutritional modeling method, was used to measure interactive effects of dietary energy, protein, fat, and carbohydrate on food intake, cardiometabolic phenotype, and longevity in mice fed one of 25 diets ad libitum. Food intake was regulated primarily by protein and carbohydrate content. Longevity and health were optimized when protein was replaced with carbohydrate to limit compensatory feeding for protein and suppress protein intake. These consequences are associated with hepatic mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) activation and mitochondrial function and, in turn, related to circulating branched-chain amino acids and glucose. Calorie restriction achieved by high-protein diets or dietary dilution had no beneficial effects on lifespan. The results suggest that longevity can be extended in ad libitum-fed animals by manipulating the ratio of macronutrients to inhibit mTOR activation.

I won this one

Today did about 2 miles, jogged all but a 2-minute warm-up and a few minutes near the end up at LONG, STEEP (yes both) hill. Total time was 28 minutes. Yippee I'm getting there!

Although perhaps I should change my animal spirit totem from wolf to TORTOISE :)

REBOOTING.....

Communication re-established, YAYYY! With positive result, triple YAYYY!!!  ;)

Wore out myself and Nibbles walking a paltry 2.25 miles yesterday ROFL

Delightful new breakfast:

• Soft scramble some eggs with salt & a little garlic powder
• Saute a few thin slices of onion, a garlic clove, handful of cherry tomatoes, then add ripped up spinach leaves. Salt it gently. 
• Scoop out some avocado, put it in a bowl
• Add the eggs and sauteed veggies. Top it with some diced up feta. Yum!

Intention is to jog today....time would be the main hindrance I believe. 

Welcome 2014

I hope this year gets better as the months roll on. Because so far in less than 30 days I've been clobbered with the breakup of a year-long technically nonexistent relationship (still quite painful for all its ambiguous character) and a mistake due to trusting a business and the postal service that at this point appears to be costing me one thousand dollars. Well! Let's not do things by halves, shall we? Still on the list of problems that won't be fixed in the foreseeable future: A fridge that freezes the refrigeration section, property tax raise coming to an additional $50 a month, a long string of money before my bathroom can be used for anything other than brushing teeth, a crumbling asphalt driveway, and a lovable mutt racking up $200 monthly not including shots, lab work, and annual exams. WAIT! There is one more ongoing issue - my son is smoking, failing high school, and apparently thinks school is spelled skool.

Am I being punished? What I did - was it in this life or a past life, I wonder?

Looking Back

What did I accomplish in 2013?

Rode a motorcycle by myself, for the first time. Which turned out to be the only time. LOL!
Broke my leg, got a cast, walked with crutches for a while, all also firsts.
Got addicted to World of Warcraft and leveled a warlock to 90.
Sadly said goodbye to the coolest cat ever, Hector.
Except when laid up with injury or illness, kept working out regularly throughout the year, even got jogging up to over a mile without a walking break and pushed my time down.
I got to play some fun games that won't be discussed on a G-rated blog ;).
Drank too much wine.
Finally stopped smoking, although sometimes I still want one. Briefly. Then a few minutes later it goes away. Eight years it took to say this with confidence.
Hiked lots of mountains and went to lots of Tennessee places I've never been to, or even heard about.
Didn't have enough to put up, but did enjoy some homegrown, organic fruits and veggies.
Learned a lot about egg bound chickens and dog allergies.
Watched my son become more grown up and teach himself how to script (code).
Failed to pass my organic chemistry class, but certainly learned a lot about organic chemistry.
Learned a great many low carb recipes.
Entered a 5K but didn't run in it. Sick!
Almost paid off my credit card then ran it way back up again. Sigh.

Made some new friends....but also lost a few, as well.

Realized and accepted the fact that our species will not stop drilling for oil, burning coal, and trashing our habitat. We seem to be much like the pest infections that eat all the available food and then die in vast numbers. Inevitable? Because I do believe that by now, the global effects of these actions are irrevocable. Consequences.....will most likely be rather dire. I wonder if I will live to see the worst, or if my son will have to face that alone, with his peers.

Introspective

I must think on this further:

"I'm glad you choose to see me the way you do."  ~ Walter Bishop, from Fringe

Oh dear

Allergies? A cold? Weakened immune system? Whichever, it's kept me from braving the cold, crisp air. And the thought of jogging in endless repetition around the hot, 1/7th mile track at the gym has kept me exercise-less, urgh. It's on my immediate to-do list...right after working on some chemistry homework, which I also haven't done. It's hard to think about electron pairs when your head hurts constantly :(

whoops!

So yesterday I did a quickie little jog around the development across the street - about 12 minutes and up some hills! then I rounded out the workout with some elliptical time to about 1/2 hour altogether. I had a headache (although not while working out, hmmm) and tons to do. More to do today, also....maybe I can ride my exercise bike while I study genetics! Surely I won't break a leg doing THAT! Just a little ex-rider humor there LOL