100 Things I Love

100 Things I Love

I came across a challenge to see if I can come up with 100 things I love in my life.  Deal!  Here goes, not in a specific order....

I love.....

1. My husband
2. my children and grands, including the in-laws

My crazy family

3. reading
4. a good night's sleep
5. running water - inside the house, like flush toilets and tap water
6. running water outside - like a creek gurgling
7. flowers
8. herbs in my body and in the garden
9. transportation - walking everywhere would get old fast
10. technology - my computer, my cell phone, - communication technology I guess
11. friends - I love people, but really love my close friends

I so love camping

12. camping - love, love
13. the mountains
14. traveling to places - beautiful places - not that I ever do it, but I would love it I am sure
15. good music 
16. my Savior
17. my extended family - parents, siblings, etc
18. my camper trailer
19. St. Bernard's - I miss my Ronon
20. Mastiff's - I love most large dogs, but these two specifically
21. Tigers
22. the ocean - mostly walking on the beach - especially when we lived in BC - camping on the beach was amazing
23. the forest
24. picnics

love bonfires

25. bonfires
26. living on a farm - wish I could do it again right now
27. family reunions - most anyways - Houseman ones are a blast of fun
28. my bed
29. my back yard
30. meeting new people
31. writing
32. cooking
33. listening to my family be musical
34. helping people - service
35. being busy
36. libraries - can wander in them for hours
37. being prepared - food storage, etc
38. modern medicine mixed with herbal medicine
39. the scriptures
40. studying spanish
41. planning things
42. teaching classes - I learn most by teaching
43. horses
44. eating good food
45. sitting on my swing in the back yard
46. peace - no noise - to ponder
47. the temple
48. walking on a forest trail, finding a waterfall or small stream
49. lady bugs

Lady Bug Note Generators 50. butterflies
51. house plants
52. Johnny Reid music - going to see him in two weeks!!!
53. good memories
54. having a job to be thankful for
55. when my kids are happy
56. sleep overs with the grandkids
57. going for a drive - with no destination in mind
58. the feeling of coming home - doesn't really matter where home is - just the feeling
59. being happy
60. being involved in things - like groups, committees, etc.
61. learning new things
62. my faith
63. my plate collection that goes almost around my entire dinning room - it makes me smile - good memories behind each plate
64. playing with my family - making memories
65. a good cup of herbal tea
66. going for a walk with a friend
67. singing - but I suck at it - so I only sing with loud music playing
68. our old prayer rug - we use it at family prayer time
69. having a roof over my head - not necessarily my home - but the ability to have a home
70.  tropical birds - macaws, African greys, etc the big ones
71. greenhouses - I love growing things in greenhouses
72. gardening
73. preserving food
74. watching the news - used to do it with my dad - it's his fault :)
75. information - I have binders full of information I have gathered on various topics
76. salty things - like chips, crackers, etc
77. the days when I don't have headaches - few and far between
78. enjoying the little things in life
79. having the cupboards full / the fridge full - I hate shopping for it, but love having it there
80. having a storage room with supplies and food in it
81. being somewhat self reliant - with goals in mind to do more
82. being healthy
83. losing weight
84. hot peppers and hot pepper sauces
85. Essential Oils
86. cabins in the mountains
87. eating yummy vegetarian meals
88. to crochet
89. all things southwestern decor style
90. making home made stuff from scratch 
91. front porches - especially Atwood's front porch
92. the looks of the old apothecary's
93. parks, I love walking through parks, and just sitting and enjoying
94. eyes - they tell so much
95. happy people - they are easy to be around
96. a good chick flick movie - could probably do without other movies and tv
97. blogging - it is my escape and my place to just be and say whatever I want
98. hearing people talk about their life story - not complaining, but sharing stories
99. to think outside the box - how can I make things different - how can I do it all myself
100.  Finally - but not least - I love the dream that someday I may get to travel.  It is only a dream, and will likely never happen, but the dream of traveling is there nonetheless.  Top places I would love to travel and why.

Wow, I actually had to do some thinking on this post.  It wasn't so easy to come up with 100 things I love.  There are some things I like, some things I hate, but to say I actually love something, was different.  How's about it?  What are some of the things you love?  Could you come up a list of 100 things?

A Good Cup of Tea

I gotta say, one of my favorite gifts from Christmas included two great tea to go mugs.  FYI I loved all of my gifts, they are all my favorites.  My dad always introduced us girls to his friends as one of his five favorite daughters.  I always used to feel so good, thinking I was one of his favorite, and now I laugh because he only has five daughters and we are all his favorites.  Now I also have picked up on his teasing and do it too. 

Soooooo, back to the thought that my tea mugs were one of my favorite gifts this Christmas, and I say that because I love herbal tea, and they were the perfect thing to get me through long days at work.  I had one already, now I have three!

Nothing beats a good herbal tea.  Now I know when I say that, you are probably thinking I like to drink the fruity yummy smelling kinds of herbal teas, well yes and no.  I like to add them to the real herbal teas.  I absolutely love a good nettle tea, or a good detox tea that consists of burdock root, milk thistle, nettles, and dandelion root, mixed with either a cranberry or some other kind of berry tea.  Delicious!  One of my favorite teas as of late is a good lemon ginger tea, using a tea bag, and then I often will cut up a thin slice of

ginger and add it to the mug, then pour hot water over it.  Spicy and yummy!

Nothing also beats a good friend.  A good friend and a good mug of tea, and life is pretty perfect. I gotta say, I am pretty blessed in my life.  I have plenty of good friends, and lots of yummy tea to go around, but will always share one with you too.  Pop over sometime, and I will whip us up a great pot of tea!  We can sit and chat for awhile.

 Now you know one more thing about me!  I love a good cup of herbal tea, and love to share it with a friend, or sit with it while I write.

I have been drinking herbal tea now for many, many years.  It is a great way to get the healing properties into your body, and soothe the body, and soul at the same time.  What is your favorite cup of tea?  I would love to hear about it.  What is your favorite place to drink your tea or who do you like to share it with?

Herbs and Their Properties

Herbs and Their  Properties

Herbs are known for their properties and that is how we decide what the herb can be used for.  Following is a list I have come up with of various herbs and their medicinal properties.   The next list I will post is one that will share the nutritional value of various herbs.  Enjoy

Ashwaghanda root - tonic, sedative, antiflammatory, nervine, immune booster, aphrodisiac -

general tonic or capsule

Astragalus root - stimulant, immune booster, antioxidant, anti tumor, hepatic - capsule or tea

Balm of Gilead resinous leaf bud - expectorant for upper respiratory, salve aches, salve for skin - cough syrup or salve

Bilberry leaf and berry - astringent, hepatic, diuretic, good for eyes, helps reduce macular degeneration - pill form

Burdock root, seeds, leaves - alterative, good for kidneys, diuretic, nutritive - teas and tonics

Calendula flower heads - vulnerary, emollient, antibacterial, diaphoretic, alterative, astringent - oil or salve, poultice for skin, tea, great to use for varicose veins.

Cayenne fruit - diaphoretic, expectorant, stimulant, rubefacient, anodyne, vasodilator, hypotensive, antimicrobial - food, capsule, salve

Chamomile flower heads - nervine, tonic, sedative, antispasmodic, carminative, anti-inflammatory - tea, pill, salves

Charcoal - activated - absorbent for toxins and poisons - pill, salves, or alone

Comfrey leaf and root - tonic, fast healing, bone knit, demulcent, vulnerary, astringent, expectorant - tea, capsule, or salve, used to heal deep wounds / bones - not open wounds, assists with blood clotting,

Dandelion whole plant - alterative, cholagogue, diuretic, stomachic, aperient, tonic, glactagogue, hepatic, tea for liver and organ problems and cleansing

Echinacea root and leaves - antibacterial, febrifuge, immune stimulant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, tonic, adaptogen, anticatarrhal - tea, tincture, capsule for respiratory infections and other infections also

Elderberries, berry and flowers - stimulant, anticatarrhal, antirheumatic, alterative, diaphoretic, immune stimulant - teas or tinctures for colds, flu, fevers

Eyebright, aerial portions - astringent, anti-inflammatory, expectorant - eyewash, tea for eyes and sinus

Feverfew, whole herb - analgesic, anti-inflammatory, emmenagogue, purgative, carminative - capsule or tincture daily

Garlic cloves - immune system builder, antioxidant, anti inflammatory, antifungal - capsule, tincture, cooking

Ginger, rhizome - antiviral, sedative, analgesic - tea, capsule, tincture, or cooking

Gingko Biloba leaves - vasoactive properties, cerebral, nervine, antioxidant, improves peripherial blood circulation, good for renyalds syndrome, adhd, alzheimers, etc - capsule

Ginseng Siberian - Bark of root - Eleuthero - adaptogenic energy tonic, nervine, antirheumatic, antispasmodic, mild aphrodisiac - capsule, tincture, tea used for low energy as an energy boost

Hawthorn berries, leaves, and flowers - cardiotonic, tonic, hypotensive, vasodilator, antioxidant - tea, capsule, or tincture

Kava Kava root - antispasmodic, stimulant, intoxicant, diuretic, antifungal, muscle relaxant - tincture for mild tranquilizer, not long term use

Lavender flowers - aromatic, nervine, sedative, carminative, antispasmodic, antidepressant, antispetic, vulnerary - tincture, salves, oil, lotion

Lemon Balm leaves - nervine, vulnerary, antiviral, cerebral, vasodilator, hypotensive, antispasmodic, carminative - tea, tincture for fevers, depression, nerves, digestion

Marshmallow root, leaf - emollient, demulcent, vulnerary, antibacterial - tea, poultice, capsule, tincture

Milk Thistle leaf, flower - hepatic, bitter tonic, demulcent, antidepressant - tincture, protect and regenerate liver

Mullein leaf, flower - expectorant, demulcent, antibacterial, antispasmodic, antitussive, astringent - tincture, smoke, tea, opens the bronchial tubes

Nettle leaf, stem, root - tonic, diuretic, nutrient, histamine, rubefacient, hemostatic, laxative, hypotensive, galactagogue - nutritive, tea, capsule, tincture overall health, promotes healthy

adrenal glands and kidneys, expels toxins, joint pain treatment

Passionflower leaves - sedative, hypnotic, antispasmodic, anodyne, hypotensive - tincture, capsule, tea, for nerves or insomnia

Peppermint leaves - carminative to nerves, stimulant to circulation, antispasmodic, stomachic, rubefacient - tea, essential oils

Plantain leaves and seeds - diuretic, alterative, anti-inflammatory, aperient - tea for urinary, poultice for external wounds

Raspberry leaf - hemostatic, astringent, mild alterative, parturient - tea for pregnancy and delivery, and menstrual problems

Skullcap aerial portions - sedative, nervine, antispasmodic – tincture, tea, or capsule for nerves, insomnia, and with drawl symptoms from drugs or alcohol

St. John's Wort herb - sedative, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, astringent - tea, capsule, tincture for nerves, depression, insomnia

Stevia leaves - sweetener, reduce blood glucose levels - use as a sweetener

Usnea whole plant - antibiotic, antifungal, tuberculostatic – tincture, used as an atibiotic for fungal, viral, and bacterial infections

Uva Ursi leaves - diuretic, urinary antiseptic, astringent - tea for urinary tract infections and problems

Valerian rhizome - sedative, hypnotic, nervine, antispasmodic, carminative - tea, tincture or capsule for insomnia, stress, pain relief

Yarrow herb - diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, antipyreic, carminative, hemostatic, astringent - tea, tincture, or capsule for colds, fevers, bleeding and hemorrhoids

Fitting Writing Into Life

Fitting writing into my life is an ongoing battle - it seems.  All the forces in my life seem to be opposed to me sitting down to actually write, and it is one of the things that I love to do.

There are so very many distractions that seem to claim time on my life, and I am starting to get frustrated.  All I can figure to do is to steal the time for myself, then I may be able to accomplish some of the tasks on my to do list.  How am I going to do this?

Here are some ideas I have to take time for myself:

1.  I work almost full time, with a few hours through the work week that I actually have off.  Up until this point, I have been heading home on those hours off, thinking I would have a few hours to sit and do some writing.  Not so.  They find me.  Someone always has other ideas for my few hours off.  I have decided to take that time and go somewhere quiet with my laptop and notebooks of whatever I am working on.  In my mind, I will from this day forward, be working full time.  Just a few of those hours I won't be getting a pay check for, yet.  I will take my computer with me to work, and after work head straight to the library, or other places of quiet that I know of, and sit and work until it is time for me to head home.  Great idea!  My own

little writing retreat, and I am actually working.

2.  I am going to make myself start getting up one hour earlier and staying up one hour later.  That is really hard for me to do.  I have such a hard time sleeping as is, but I am determined to get some of my writing done in my own quiet time, even if I have to steal a little sleep from myself.  And who knows, perhaps I may start sleeping better if I am a bit more tired.

3.  I have already stopped watching television and most movies.  If I do have to sit down and watch a movie with my husband to "spend time" with him, I always have my laptop in front of me and work on projects.  By doing this, it has freed up a few hours a week for me to write.

4.  I have decided to take one weekend for myself to spend writing, and one weekend a month to spend recharging my spiritual / emotional batteries.  My weekend writing is going to be either locked in my office and refusing to take calls or answer the door between set hours, or to head to a quiet place like the library, a hotel room, an atrium at a hotel, or someplace that is quiet where I can be alone with my thoughts.  The two weekends a month that I don't have booked off on my calendar, I will gladly offer to all of those who need me.

Sounds like a great plan to me.  One thing I need to make sure I do is write these in on my calendar.  My family knows I live by my calendar.  If I have it scheduled in, then it will happen.  I will schedule in my weekends and any other times I will be unavailable.  As for the work hours, I am just telling everyone that I am working full time, then they know not to try to get in touch with me.  When I get up early or stay up later, I will focus my time on writing and not get distracted by social media or other distractions.

There are always ways to fit writing into our lives if we want it bad enough.  I want it bad enough to incorporate these four ways into my schedule.  It's going to make for a much more productive year.  2016 - the year to get some serious writing done for me!

Slow Down - Week 2

First I want to recap briefly my week 1.  Did I learn something new every day?  I did.  You see I actively seek opportunities to learn something new every day, even if it is something about someone else.  Here are some of the things I learned this past week.  

I learned about wedding dress shopping - for my daughter.  It was a fun learning experience!

I learned a few things about the ladies I work with - which I won't go into details because of course privacy stuff!  

I learned that just because I am not working for money - doesn't mean I am not working.  I have to book in my work hours as if I am working, or others tend to fill it up for me.

I learned that health is a fragile thing.  I am not invincible, and it kind of sucks!

I learned to be grateful for little things.  I have always known this one, but sometimes it is the little things that happen that make us even more grateful for them.

There are many more things I learned, or rediscovered, but I will write them more thoroughly in my own journal, as should you.  Learning things is what keeps us alive.  If we are not learning we are digressing.  Not okay in my books.

Okay, now onto Week 2.  SLOW DOWN

I know I have talked about this one before, in different aspects of the words, we need to slow down in life.  This is something that I have learned for sure over the past little while.  I swear time is speeding up, and I wish I could slow it down to savor the things that are important a little longer, but I can not do such a thing, but I can slow down my own life to savor the things that I want to.  

I can stop being so busy that the important things get left behind.  I can take the time to enjoy the moment I am in, take it all in, and give my all to whom I am with.  

Have you ever been so distracted, that when you are with someone, they are talking to you, and your mind is a million miles away, and you end up asking them what they said because you have no idea, you were not there, you were not listening?

 Have you ever been listening to someone talk to you, and while they are talking you are formulating your answer before they are even finished, in fact you are so sure of your answer - and that they want to hear it - that you cut them off, and take over the conversation, sure that you have solved the issue? 

 Have you  ever been spending some "quality" time with someone, gone out for dinner, watching a movie, whatever it might be, and your mind is thinking of how much you would rather be somewhere else, doing something else, with someone else?

I know I have done all of the above.  What a shame that we don't slow down and enjoy the moments we are in.  Make those memories special.  And if it is a moment we really don't want to be in, then why are we?  Do the things that are important to you and slow down long enough to enjoy them in every way possible.

I love the example of my little four year old grandson.  When we walk with him or play with him, he is totally engaged in whatever we are doing.  There is no other thing that is more important to him at that time.  Why can't I be more like that?  Slow down and take the time to be like that.

Quite rushing around like everything is in a panic.  Clear your schedule enough to relieve the stress.  Get rid of the things that are not really important so you can slow down and be there for what is.

Life is not a crisis, unless we make it one, and if we are slowing down, it won't be a crisis, it will be wonderful.

Week 2 - my challenge to myself is to find ways I can slow down and enjoy life as it comes.  

SLOW DOWN

Read Out Loud

One thing I always did as my children were growing up was read out loud to them.  I have always had friends who had kids who were so involved in sports and other activities, while mine didn't really love the sports.  Hmmmm, could be because my husband and I were not really into sports that much!  Take note parents, your children tend to love what you love.

www.walkthecreek.blogspot.com

Anyways, I did read out loud to them every night before bed for many years.  It started out as reading the children's books, and as they grew a bit, we graduated to chapter books, and read things like Harry Potter, Septimus Heap, Ink Heart, and all kinds of good ones.  Often it was really hard to stop reading, to put them to bed, as we would all be so intensely focused on what was happening.  Good times.  Even the older kids loved to gather around when I read to them.

Now as they are pretty much out of me reading to them, they have developed that love of reading all on their own.  Two of my boys wouldn't read in school.  I was always worried about them, but low and behold, by grade eight or nine, they almost overnight, started to read and love books.  In fact my youngest son took a grade nine reading comprehension test and scored at a second year university level!  I was pretty impressed.  If reading isn't important to you, I guarantee it won't be important to them.  If they don't see you do it, why would they?

All because I love to read, my husband loves to read, and now my kids love to read. 

Now I have no body left to read to, so I read to my husband.  I tell you, if you want to bond with your hubby a little bit more, find some genre of book you are both interested in and read it together.  One of our favorite ways to pass the time when we are traveling is for me to read out loud to him.  We have also spent many nights with me reading and him just listening.  It beats the heck out of zoning out watching television ALL of the time!  I get so tired of tv in our home.  I can't hardly stand to watch it anymore.  What a time waster, or so I think!  But that is just my opinion! 

I bought a couple of books by Jim Trelease about reading aloud to your children.  You can download a .  I loved reading his books, and I highly recommend them to anyone who has children - or a husband - that need some lovin' and readin' too.  Here is another quick pdf to download about the do's when reading aloud.  Take a few minutes to read them and learn something new!  And one more, the don'ts of reading aloud to your children or family.  Then seriously consider ordering his books.  You won't regret it.  I love them. 
quick free pdf about why it is important here from him

Now if there isn't any of this that rings true to you, or you really don't like to do it, think of this one...... studies have shown that reading out loud can actually help prevent Alzheimer's!  Who doesn't want that.  If you don't have anyone to read to, how about video recording yourself reading a child's book and post it on you tube for someone to listen to.  I have a good friend, whose grandchildren live in Australia and she is in Canada.  She videos herself reading children's stories and posts it on you tube so they can have Grandma reading stories to them.  How sweet is that?  I love it!

Whoever you can read aloud to, do it!  There are great lists of good read aloud books out there for every age and every genre, just do a google search for them, and you will find lots of options.  If you are really not sure where to start, just leave me a message and I can offer some suggestions.  I would also love to hear what you have read aloud, what you loved and how it worked for you!  Just leave me a comment!  

Herbal Recipe Book

One thing I have learned, in all of my studies, is to keep a notebook with recipes that worked, and didn't work so well.  Write down what you did to adjust each recipe, and whether or not you loved it.

I didn't do this at first and would make something from an herbal recipe I found online or in a book, and I either really liked it or it failed miserably, but I never bothered to write it down, so I couldn't refer back to it to make it again or not.

I took a normal coil ring notebook, bought a few tabs, and have sections in my book of recipes to try and ones tried and true.  I also have sections for things like deodorants, salves, lip balms, tinctures, perfumes, etc.  It is just made up of recipes.  I love it.  I have a section at the back for new recipes tried and I write notes on each one to help me perfect it for the next time, who used it, what date I made it, and so on.

Here is the page where I keep my all time favorite healing recipe, I call it Miracle Salve.  I have given out literally gallons of this salve.  I choose not to charge anyone for it, because I have kind of made it my gift back to others.  I have given the salve to friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and strangers who have called me to say someone recommended this salve for whatever ails them.  I really have seen it work miracles.  Anyway, as you can see on this page, I have three versions of this particular recipe and a few notes that help me understand what I did and what I liked or didn't.  It is just one page out of my notebook.  

Miracle Salve Recipe - tried and true
3 parts Calendula petals
3 parts St. John's Wort
3 parts Comfrey leaves
2 parts arnica flowers
1 part yarrow
1 part lavender buds
1 part plantain leaves
1 part dandelion leaf
Add some vitamin E Oil - optional
Add essential oils like: lavender, lemon, tea tree

Mix all of the herbs and add all of them in a large jar and completely cover them with olive oil.  Let them soak on the cupboard for three or four weeks, shaking or turning the jar daily to keep stirring up the herbs.  Strain oil and herbs through a cheesecloth or linen bag of some sort squeezing out all of the excess oil into a large pot.  

For each 3 cups of olive oil you have, add one cup of coconut oil and 1 1/2 cups grated beeswax.  Melt over low to medium heat, making sure not to allow the oil to boil or get too hot.  If it boils it will kill some of the healing properties, so heat just until everything is melted nicely.  Remove from heat and let stand for a few minutes.  Add in any essential oils or vitamin E oil you would like.  Stir well and pour into containers that have a seal tight lid.  Let stand until cool.  Label and voila, you have the most wonderful healing salve for pretty much any rash, cut, scrape, burn, or skin issue.
     

I tried making soap and wrote in my book that it completely failed, and then a new recipe and how it was a huge success!  That was a few years ago.  I did notice that I haven't always dated the year on my recipes, so I need to get better at that.  But for the most part, I try to document everything.  Here is a shot of the front of my book.  Notice the tabs on the side of the different categories, making recipes easy to find.

I love my recipe book.  It is just one more of the many, many notebooks that sit upon my shelves and help keep me organized a tiny bit more.  It is really nice to be able to go straight to my notebook when someone calls, and answer their questions or give them a recipe.

Keep a recipe book, whether in a notebook, a binder, or even a computer file.  You will be glad you did.

Mind Map Notebook

I have a notebook that I love to just doodle in.  I call it my mind map notebook.  It is one of those notebooks that is good for just getting some random thoughts and ideas down on paper, to see if they are viable to do anything else with.

I am the person, whom when I get an idea for a book, for a project, for a blog post, or an event, I pull out a notebook, often my mind map one, and start throwing ideas down.

The way I usually do it is I start with the central idea in the middle of the page, I circle it.  Then absolutely every other random thought that comes to mind about that particular idea, I write somewhere on that page.  If I can work up to about 100 thoughts to go along with that idea, then it is probably a good idea for a book, a blog, or the project.  If it is an event I need to work on, I write down every possible thing I need to plan for or worry about.

Once I have all of the ideas down in my mind map notebook, I can then start to sort and fine tune the idea a bit more.  Sometimes the ideas sit in my notebook for a long time before I come back to them for another visit.  I fine tune the ideas by color coding them.  All ideas that can be sorted under one sub-topic I will circle in green pen, others in red, blue, black and so on.  Once they are sorted into subcategories, I will start writing, or sorting even a little further to get my more complete outline of the idea.  It is just a method that works for me.

On Amazon

This particular mind map turned into an eBook you can find on Amazon titled Retreat Yourself - How to Create Your Own Writer's Retreat.  You can pick it up for less than $3.  It is a good little read if I do say so
myself.  :)

My brain is one of those that is always thinking.  A quote, a thought, something someone says, something I read, a song, a picture, all can spur an idea in my mind and get me going.  When the thoughts are spinning, I need to write them down or I will undoubtedly forget them and move on with the next.

You can find printables of mind maps if you just google it.  If you are one that likes to have it neat and crisp then by all means go this route.  I thrive with scribbling down my thoughts and then sort them out neater - in outline form - later.

A mind map notebook is a great place to dump all of your random ideas that may or may not come to fruition some day.

Blog Updates

Today I would like to update you on the blogs that I maintain.  I have six that are busy and functioning, with a couple more in the works.  I know right?  I spend a couple of hours a day - usually - sometimes more, sometimes less, writing posts for my blogs.  I also spend an hour or two a day late into the evenings, or early

mornings, working on my novels.  I have two novels on the go right now, both I am just loving writing.  It makes me happy!  Even if nobody but my family ever reads my stories, it will be a great accomplishment for me just to complete them!  I will definitely have them posted here when they are finished.

The first blog I started - way back when - is Today While The Sun Shines.  It is a blog that began as a church project of emergency preparedness and food storage information.  I have tried to keep it going through the years, and am still passionate about preparedness in all forms.

The next blog I started was Walk The Creek.  I started this blog in a state of mind where I was somewhat

depressed and needed a place that I could go and talk, even if it was to myself, to create my own happy place.  As a young child, I loved walking up and down the creek with my Grandfather, fishing, playing, swimming.  I love watching the water run over the rocks, shaping it's surroundings into it's own form of beauty.  Thus became Walk The Creek - my happy place in my dark hours - at the time.  Now I just love to write about creating my life to be a better me.

Atwood's Front Porch has been a fun blog, because it is just all about my family.  My family comes first in my life and this blog is a place for me to share about them past and present, memories, recipes, traditions, and the like.

Bitter Sweet Herbals and Book and Pen are two blogs I have recently started.  Bitter Sweet is a place for me to keep my studies organized. I

Available now here

am using as a source of studying for myself.  I love herbs, herbal medicine, herbal remedies, well you get the idea, and this blog is a place for me to continue to learn.  I have my herbal studies certificate, but there is so much more I need to learn.  I created for myself an outline, and when I have a few minutes to study, I turn to my own outline and study something.

Book and Pen is my online version of a writer's notebook,
however I must admit, I don't get quite as personal online as I do in some of my notebooks at home.  I wish I had the courage to, but there are just some things that I don't want to parade in front of the world.  Perhaps someday, but not today.  So I write thoughts, write ideas, share writings, and share much of what I happen to be learning about that pertains to writing.

I have in the past had a few different blogs using wordpress, that I haven't continued on with them.   I enjoyed these blogs, they either lost their spark, or I didn't want to continue with a paid hosting site, but I must admit, for now, I love using Blogger. I write for me, and if in the process I make a bit of money, well then so be it.  Would I love to write full time and get paid for it?  Absolutely!  But for now, I am satisfied with maintaining these blogs and loving life and what I do.

Keep watch for my books soon to be available.

Learn Something New Every Day - Week 1

This week is the beginning of a new project for me.  I have decided to do 52 Weeks worth of ways to becoming a better me!  There are so many things we can do that are good, that it is mind boggling to figure out how to get them all done.  I have written my list and decided to tackle one idea or project a week.  I need to be better, want to be better, and should be better, so I must make myself better.

This week - week 1 - My concept to implement into my life is "Learn Something New Every Day".  I know it sounds a bit daunting, but I am up to the challenge.  You see I hate watching TV, so for me, I have a bit of time each day to put effort into learning something.  In fact I love learning things.  

It really doesn't take much to learn one new thing each day.  In your conversations you have, ask questions.  In your pinterest searching, facebook scrolling, internet surfing, book reading, or whatever it is you do, take a few extra minutes to really learn something about what you are doing.  

Make Google be your best friend and use it to search something you have always wanted to know. Create a new pinterest board and research a topic, but take it to the next level and actually do some study on the topic, not just pin a ton of things.  Go to your local library and check out a book on what you are interested in.  Download a vocabulary app to you phone and learn one new word each day.  Memorize one new quote each day.  It could be as simple as asking someone a question about them, that you do not already know. The possibilities really are endless as to what you can learn.

Here is what you need to do first, before any of that, create yourself a list of all the things you have wanted to learn or know about ever.  There you have your starting place.  

Now get to work.  Create your list.  Start learning.  Have fun with it!

Astragalus

Astragalus is one of those "Superhero" herbs, and honestly if there were one herb I would tell you to take that is an overall good tonic herb, it might just be this one.  It is an ancient Chinese herb, that has been in use for thousands of years as a Chinese medicine.  It can be taken short term as well as long term. 

It is an adaptogenic herb, which again means that is is an herb that protects your overall health and body against physical, mental, and emotional stresses.

I have been taking Astragalus for awhile now, and it really is an amazing herb.  As I look through the list below, I can see in my own life example of several of these specific areas Astragalus has helped me.  I suffer from Fibromyalgia and this herb is a life saver for me.  If I don't take it every day, my body aches and hurts in places I didn't know I had places, if you get my meaning.  It is terrible.  Astragalus has helped keep the aches and pains to minimal if any, on most days.

It is just a great herb for life.  I purchase the root powder at Mountain Rose Herbs and make my own capsules, but you can pick it up at any health food store and follow the instructions on the bottle.  If the dosage on the bottle doesn't seem to help your current condition, you could easily double this one with no side effects.  If you are however taking medications for other serious conditions, I would suggest you also let your doctor know you are taking Astragalus, just to be sure there are no contra indications.

• improves the lungs
• powerful anti-oxidant
• strenthens muscles
• strengthens genetics - it is a telomerase activator
• enhances the immune system
• treats chronic fatigue syndrome
• treats fibromyalgia - I won't be without Astragalus if for this reason only - it works!
• enhances the metabolism
• enhances strength
• reduces stress
• aids in digestion
• treats cancer - it is an immune stimulant and is often found to inhibit tumor growth - also used to treat side effects after chemo treatments
• boosts energy and stamina
• treats kidney disease
• treats ulcers
• treats urinary problems
• prevents heart disease
• treats high blood pressure
• treats night sweats
• treats inflammation and arthritis
• supports the liver function

New Year / New Goals / New Lists

"My New Year's resolution is to focus on the book and forget all the crap that surrounds the writing business. To lose myself in a story, and not give a damn if it makes any lists, has a good sell-through, gets glowing reviews on Amazon, pleases my editors, hell, even pleases my readers. I want to love what I'm writing so much that none of the rest of it matters, and if I don't, I won't write it. Life's too short to abuse the muse."Anne Stuart

What a profound statement / goal of Anne Stuart! I must admit when I read this quote, I loved it and thought to myself, Oh Ya, there is a woman after my own heart!  In many ways, I myself have determined to do a similar thing. 

I want to forget all of the crap that surrounds me in life.  I want to love what I am doing, which includes many things, and I have totally come to understand that none of the rest of it matters in my life.  If I don't love it, then I don't have time to do it.  My life is too short to waste it on things that don't make a difference to my life.

What do I love to do?  First and foremost above all else, my family.  We have so much fun together and love spending time together.  I read another quote the other day, on a sign on the side of a street, "Today's little moments become tomorrows precious memories."  How true.  Each little moment I need to be making a precious memory for tomorrow.

I love reading and writing.  I love baking.  I love loving people, serving people, and helping people.  I guess you could say I love being a friend to someone.  I hate worrying about what someone thinks about me or what I am doing.  I hate stressing over little things - that in the end don't matter.

Well I could go on and on with several lists of goals I have made for myself for 2016, but I won't bore you with the process.  Suffice it to say, I am going to do what I want, and not worry about what everyone else thinks I should do, or what they want me to do. 

Life's too short to abuse the muse! Make the choice!

Rise and Shine

One thing I have always said to my kids through the years is "Rise and Shine Sunshine!"  I laugh or cringe depending on their reply.  I wish I could find a phone ring tone that I could set that as my alarm.  The sun

wakes up warm and cheery every morning, telling us it is time to get up and get our day going, right?  Well on most days that works.  Here, in the northern hemisphere where I live, during these cold winter months, I am often up and at it way before Mrs Sunshine decides to join me. I wish I could tell her to rise and shine, but she kind of has her own schedule she sticks by.  However, during the spring, summer and fall months, I love waking up early with the sun.

My schedule in the morning depends on the day, but usually I am up long before anyone else.  I love the quiet of the morning, with no interruptions, where I can just sit and ponder life for a bit.  During the warm months, I will often go out into my little creek garden and just sit and listen to life happening all around, and watch the world wake up.  I will take a notebook with me to jot down thoughts and ideas.  During these cold days, I tend to hunker down on the couch with computer in hand, and see what thoughts I can get written before my day takes over.

I had one of those days on Saturday that just kind of took over, and truth be told, I didn't get any writing or pondering done until eight o'clock in the evening.  I woke up a little later, just because I could, which started my day off running.  No quiet time for me.  I ended up running from one thing to the other, helping this person and that one, and not taking five minutes for myself until the day was almost done.  How does that happen?  On my calendar, which I live by, there was nothing scheduled, so technically I should have had the day to do

as I pleased right?  Wrong!  It was a Saturday.  Everyone knew I wasn't working, so they had their plans in mind for me.  Sigh.....

I guess that is where I need to schedule on my calendar, Writing Retreat!  Then I can tell everyone I am gone to a writing retreat for the weekend, even if it is at the local library, or locked in my office.  I actually wrote a small eBook about that very thing, if you want to check it out.  I enjoyed writing it.  It will help you get creative in creating your own writing retreat, to take back that time you want.

I realized on Saturday, well actually I already knew it, that if I want my day to be productive my way, I need

to RISE AND SHINE SUNSHINE, myself!!  Then at least I can get done what I want, before everyone else needs me to do what they want.  Ah, the life of a family.....

One of my own favorite thoughts......

Work early, work late, all in order to play when play opportunities come about,  from Book and Pen

Running Out of Ideas

What do you do when you run out of ideas?  I have spent a lot of time putting together notebooks full of ideas, binders full of ideas, and files on my computer full of ideas.  The nice thing about that is you never have to run out of ideas to write about.

Google is a great resource for finding ideas to write about in pretty much any topic.  Just do a quick search and millions of ideas pop up.  For example, I trying my hand at writing some historical romance novels, so I googled "historical romance writing prompts" and found a wealth of ideas.  Sometimes you have to shift the words around a little bit to get find different things, but not doubt about it, they are out there.

I also find ideas in quotes, pictures, magazines, life, and often when I am reading other blogs.  You can take the title of another blog post, or the thought of it, and create an entire new post using your own point of view and ideas.  

I absolutely love pinterest for finding topics and ideas to write about.  Whoever designed it was genius.  I have a pinterest board for every subject I might write about, and a board for every blog I maintain.  I have a board for each book idea I might be working on, and well, you get the idea.  If I ever am stumped, I just turn to that particular pinterest board and see what I have

pinned lately that might give me inspiration.


Usually, for me, all it takes is a picture, a prompt, a title, and I can run with it.  Once I am typing or writing, things just start to flow and I often have a hard time stopping.

I do have a few prompts you can find here for free if you really are stuck on what to write about.  Hopefully they might give you more food for thought.  It has over 900 blog ideas, prompts, and topics that might help spur on some inspiration for you.  Enjoy.  But please don't stop there.  Google whatever topic you are writing about and see what comes up for writing prompts and ideas.  You just might be surprised.

For each of the blogs I maintain or write on, I have a binder full of ideas, writing prompts, articles, notes, pictures and so forth.  I then take that binder and sit down and plan six months worth of blog posts and write them into my daily agenda / planner.  There are of course times when I come across a topic and I think, "Why did I write that in here?",  that is when I go to my binder and either figure out what I was thinking when I penciled in that topic, or I change it to an entirely different topic.  I usually have anywhere from 4 - 6 months worth of post topics written in my planner.  For the most part, that works for me.

I have had to learn to say that it is okay if I miss one or two posts.  I have been trying really hard to stay on task of my planner, but you know, LIFE HAPPENS!  Ha-ha-ha.  I must laugh here, because it happens more often that I think it should.  But then I remind myself, life is good, making memories is good, and let it happen.  

Work early, work late, all in order to play when play opportunities come about. 

So all in all, where do I get my ideas from - all around me!  The library, the restaurant, the mall, work, other blogs, pinterest (oh yes pinterest), going for a walk, my kids, a book I am reading, a conversation I hear, a quote I hear or read, and on and on.  I get ideas from life - and I write them all down somewhere so I don't forget them!  Way too many things running through my brain to remember each thing I want to, so write them down!!!!

Be attentive to life happening around you, and you will never run out of ideas again!