Love, love, love watching the Chickadees that come to the feeder outside my window.
They seem to have gotten pretty used to me. When I go out and add more birdseed and suet, they buzz my head and stick around pretty close until I’m done. Love to hear their sing-song too!
My husband bought me my own domain name many years ago as a Mother’s Day present. But at the beginning, he used it more than I did to post things that were going on in our lives for our families to view, and kind of a way to keep up-to-date on us and our kids. This lasted a couple years and, well, it fell to the wayside.
Until the beginning of this year when I decided that I was going to revive it and give it a complete overhall. I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted it to turn out to be, but I figured that there were a lot more options out there now to help me decide than there were all those years ago.
And I was right.
Yesterday, I was feeling rather proud of myself. I was having one of those days when I needed to do something constructive.
I have been working on implementing new things in this site with (a little) help from Rick. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not completely ignorant when it comes to computers, but I am not a computer programmer. I do not work with code. I can do lots of things with them, but code does not really interest me. At least not now.
Rick had been talking to me about adding a CAPTCHA button to my site as a security feature. I understand the function of this tool, but was quite sure that it would be insanely hard to do.
Well, to my surprise, the Plugin that I finally decided to try was extremely easy to install and configure! I was even able to make some slight changes without any help!
So, I’m out in the kitchen, giving myself pats on the back and telling him what I had accomplished that evening, and he just beamed and said “good job!”
He is so glad that I am taking ownership (his words) of this gift that he gave me so many years ago. He’s always there to help me with suggestions and even hosts the site on his server for me. There are always going to be little tweaks here and there, and I love to see his smile when I put up new posts.
I know he’s proud of me.
I’m pretty proud of myself too.
Today started the 38th Annual American Birkebeiner.
This is a big deal for this neck of the woods. The area is mainly tourist based, and in the winter this event brings in loads of tourists.
According to the latest news posted on their website (www.birkie.com) there will be over 11,000 skiers, 2,000 volunteers and 20,000 spectators and organizers converging on the area for the events over the next 3 days.
Yeah, that’s why I avoid going into town like the plague.
My first encounter with this event was about 9 years ago when I unwittingly volunteered to run to the post office for the company I worked for. The post office is on Main Street.
I didn’t know that they finished the race on Main Street.
Why didn’t my coworkers warn me?
The joke was on them.
I stayed and watched the skiers come in.
I vowed after that to never go to town during Birkie weekend again.
Oh sure, I thought that I would be smart one year and go AROUND town to a store on the edge of town.
Yeah, well, since they can’t close off all the roads, they stop traffic on them instead to allow skiers to cross to get to the trail on the other side.
Lesson learned.
Don’t get me wrong, I think that this is a great event, if your into this type of thing. I’m not, but to each his own, I guess. While things like this happen in our area several times a year, I plan accordingly for them too.
I guess I’ll just stay in my little corner of the world, where I don’t have to worry about trying to find a parking space or standing out in the cold for hours.
Yep, I must be getting old.
Wow, I can’t believe you’re 9 years old already!
Pretty soon you will be behind the wheel of a real car.
Just don’t let your Mom give you driving lessons (trust me on this, ok?). She learned how to drive from your Grandpa.
Don’t let Grandpa give you driving lessons either.
Hope you have a wonderful Birthday honey.
Grandma and Grandpa love you!!
There has been a nasty stomach bug working its way around the college, and even I got hit with it not too long ago. Took a week to finally not feel like I was going to toss my cookies.
This got me thinking back to when I owned my Organic store and how I would treat customers that would come in just not feeling quite right in the tummy.
Our lesson today is on the Peppermint plant. I simply love this baby, not just because it is easy to grow (and boy, does it grow… and can easily take over the place). But it also is an all-natural remedy for an upset stomach. Now, I’m not saying don’t go see a doctor if you are suffering for more than a week or have additional symptoms, but this wonderful plant can help to ease your nausea when this little dandy of a bug hits ya.
But wait there’s more! The menthol that is present in this plant, as well as enthone and menthyl esters, also helps with headaches, respiratory problems and indigestion.
Peppermint tea is a great tummy soother. Even with all of the commercial products on the market to coat and sooth your stomach, this one doesn’t mask the problem, but actually relaxes the stomach muscles. Taken with a bit of honey is even better!.
Peppermint essential oil. Love this stuff! There are many different brands on the market, so whichever you choose, it will likely do the trick! I used to give my customers a double whammy with the tea and oil, and 15 minutes later they were feeling tons better. Just put a drop (no more) on your wrists or chest (or both). The vapors from this oil help to calm your stomach.
Peppermint candies. I try to keep a few of these around my desk for the President of the college (every once in a while she just gets an upset stomach. Can’t understand why…. stress maybe? Just kidding Danielle. I love you, you know that). There are a whole host of shapes and sizes to find these in, so pick which you like!
And while those are working, relax with Peppermint Patty and the rest of the Peanuts gang. They’re sure to make you happy and forget all about your icky tummy!
When your stomach is feeling better and you’re ready to venture back into the world of food, don’t forget about starting out slowly.
My Mom taught me about the BRAT diet, which in turn I passed onto my daughters and countless other people. This stands for Bananas, Rice, Apples and Toast. These are all foods that are very easy on the stomach when you are not feeling good. But remember, you have to start out with small portions and eat slowly. And if your curious about the apples, the best way to take them is in applesauce, plain with no sugar if you can. Also keep in mind, bland is better at this stage.
And stay hydrated! Yes, water is a great friend at this time, but it can get real old, real quick! A mild tea is going to be good at this point, but don’t forget about an old favorite from our youth: flat 7-up (can you still buy this stuff??). My mom would open a bottle of it (back in the day, we drank it out of tall, glass bottles), put it in the fridge overnight, and I’d sip on that baby all day long.
I miss my Mom.
So, hope you are able to avert the tummy terrorizer, but if not, try this nifty, natural plant in it’s various forms to get you back to feeling like yourself again!