Take a moment to share your successes, small or large. Have you lost a few pounds, managed to find a few moments of time for relaxation and stress relief, or found that you really enjoy those walks you started taking?
We all wish we’d make the big, life altering changes every day, but the facts line up in support of the little things done consistently. Over time they become the habits that we build upon to change our lives.
Among the little things that help, motivation is important. Seeing other people’s successes, sharing our own. And we can always get some good tips and ideas from what works for others as well.
This is not a political post. Keep politics on the President Open.
If you want the religious post, similar to this health/exercise/lifestyle post here is the link.
I went Carnivore over a year ago and feel the greatest I have ever felt. No more foot pain, no brain fog, my skin has cleared and lost 40lbs.
We started about three weeks ago totally getting rid of sugar, grains, etc. and are doing keto. We are feeling really better, although the pounds aren’t coming off yet; we understand that the first thing is not losing weight, but getting the system healthy and working right. We’ve learned a lot from Dr. Eric Berg, and others. Sugar bad – fat and protein good… pretty much exactly the opposite of what we’ve been told since the 60’s and earlier. Also found out, that all that “American Heart Association” endorsement, was nothing worth at all; only a marketing scam!
Too much to talk about all now. Just wanted to share some good things happening with us lately.
Following Eric Berg and Dr Ken on Keto. No sugar, bread, et al since early February.
23 pounds lost so far. Would like to lose another 2o. I have a boat that I’m restoring,
and I’m hoping to be Svelte enough that a 50 horse Johnson will yank me up on a set of
skis.
God Save America – yes
Excellent!
Yeah, Dr. Berg and Dr. Ken here also. Congratulations on the lifestyle change success, and good luck with the boat.
Will give an update when it’s launched. It’s only taken
15+ years. Consequently, the name I’ve picked is:
‘Bout Time!
May the Lord bless and protect you and your mom; and always have your home made bread and coffee! Boy, that sure sounds good!
I can barely eat store bought bread anymore.
My kitchenaid mixer with a dough hook does ALL the kneading before the first rise.
Kneading is the part I love best!
that’s what i tell my wife.
putin will save the world from woke. bread will kill you.
I just finished the book, The Raw Truth About Milk by Willam Campbell Douglas II, MD. This goes along with what you are saying as he emphasizes the importance of unpasteurized and non homogonized milk in your diet along with animal proteins and animal fats. States that processed milk fat can abosorb into your system easier and lead to heart disease.
Nope…people die from unpasteurized milk so I’ll stick with cold whole milk and drink at least a quart or more per day.
Think about it…without pasteurization how would people without farms access to milk, which is a nutrient rich beverage. The abomination is skim milk sold as heathy.
Truth is less than 2% of our population provides our nutritional needs and requires production, logistics and distribution on scale the other 98% cannot comprehend.
Understand your concern about unpasteurized. Its not the raw milk that is unhealthy it is the sanitation of the milk collection and storage that causes the problems. At least try to find cream line milk that is not homogenized.
i’ve read all of this, but how do you get a product to the public without the chance of it being contaminated? I remember paying extra for organic milk. I was pouring it out on oatmeal for guests, when a big clump of fungus (5-6 inch diameter) dropped out into the last bowl of oatmeal! I looked up to stop everyone from eating the oatmeal! Unfortunately, one person was already eating it and got sick the next day!
In the book he talked about certified raw milk dairy farms in the past. Cleanliness starts at the housing, a strict protocol of udder preparation, sanitation protocols for the pipe line, milk being cooled to below 40 degrees in an hour, and employees would be tested for bacterial organisms to ensure they were not a source of contamination if they were a carrier. The biggest thing is finding a dairy farmer you can trust that takes pride in their product. And just because something says organic does not mean it is better for you. You are trusting the organic stamp from USDA that the product was produced in a manner to make it more nutritious. Just remember organic is the honor system when food is produced. A producer keeps records of how they produced that product and are inspected on a yearly basis. However, you don’t know if everything they put in their records is correct. I personally deal with organic dairy farmers that are less than 100 cows that sell there milk to Organic Valley and would trust them 100% of the way. My key point is know your source and make sure they care about their cows and you. The majority of the time it is not the milks fault and it falls back on other sources of contamination.
Mark McAfee of Orgaic Pastures in CA has given may presentations on what goes into making raw milk safe and clean.
I’ve been doing Intermittent Fasting and Keto for a few months and I feel great, too. The weight is coming off slowly(I had 10# to lose and I’m half way there). I go to the gym with my WiFi earpiece and listen to lectures on the Institute of Catholic Culture (ICC) App (thousands of talks— free!).
Until I’m a month or so in, I have a tough time exercising with strict keto, which for me is pretty much carnivore. I’m back into strict keto for Lent and already feel a million times better. I plan on starting an exercise regimen after Easter.
I hate to say it but I’m not much of an exerciser. But I discovered cardio drumming when we went carnivore. Our senior center started offering it and it’s on YouTube. I love it. For me, it’s easy, simple, and I’m motivated to do it. I was so excited to finally find something that appealed to me.
Ironic. Just watched Eric Berg on a separate issue regarding B1 and nerves. He mentioned keto and your post just underscored I need to check into this. Thanks.
I always feel my best when I’m carnivore (with perhaps a teeny bit of ketchup). I don’t know why I don’t do it all the time. The cravings and joint pain disappear. It really is amazing.
Congratulations! We should all immediately stop all highly processed foods and pursue carnivore, real keto or meat based diets using local fresh produce and meats, dairy and eggs as much as possible to heal the nation…..the plan was to make us sick, weak and stupid and has been largely successful. The SCIENCE was hidden for a while, but no longer. See Dr Eric Westman, MD, Assoc Prof, Duke University on YT. Adapt your Life. Reverse Diabetes type 2. Get healthy. WHATEVER .GOV SAYS, DO THE OPPOSITE.
“WHATEVER .GOV SAYS, DO THE OPPOSITE.”
Perzactly!!!!
JERF – just eat real food. It is exactly as nature intended us to eat.
We have been carnivore-keto for 12 weeks now. Feel the best we’ve felt in years. Losing the weight is nice, but feeling well is the real payoff. Sten Ekberg, Ken Berry, and Eric Berg all have fantastic videos on YouTube about nutrition, health, and diet.
Serious Keto, ketotwins, low carb love among others have good videos about food.
my best friends niece went straight vegetarian 4 years ago. she is now 27, weights over 220 lbs and is always sick. you can’t fix stupid. did i mention she is a hard core donk AND a high school teacher?
Yea, no carb is working for me. dropped about 15.
Finally got serious about dental floss. I have always brushed but flossing is so annoying! But necessary
Went for a hygienist checkup Wednesday and the improvement was noted
It is annoying for me too, but so important for our overall health. Gum disease can increase the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes if the infection gets into your bloodstream. Good for you for performing an irritating daily task to improve your quality of life.
Have you looked into a Water Flosser? They really work pretty good. Not exactly the same as using silk, but your teeth feel very clean after you blast with the water jet.
This is the ticket! Bonus if you get an inline version for your showerhead. I have both a countertop model and inline and it’s nice to have the option.
Was unaware of this innovation but it makes total sense:
https://oralbreeze.com/products/oral-breeze-showerbreeze-water-jet-dental-irrigator?variant=4106618053
Using Listerine every night before you go to bed is a game changer. Makes your gums tighter and more healthy. Kills bacteria
So does coconut oil. Plus it gives you whiter teeth. The general advice I’ve read is to try to swish it around in your mouth for 20 minutes before spitting it out. I don’t get anywhere close to that, but my trips to the dentist are definitely much more pleasant since I’ve started using the coconut oil.
My wife is a dental hygienist. She says if you can’t (won’t!) floss, using Listerine twice daily is about 80% as effective as flossing alone. The results are measurable.
That’s good to know. Thanks!
Getting an electric toothbrush totally took care of my gum issues. So thankful to have good reports at the dentist now!
try using a water pik
its amazing
I have a water pik and it is great, but had avoided the flossing. Finally I just bucked up and resolved to floss whether i like doing it or not
those flossed plastic picks are great. much quicker to use then regular floss without the handle.
Dr. Eric Berg has a video on YT on teeth tarter. He explains why vitamin C stops tarter build up on teeth just like vitamin C stop barnacles growing onto the sides of ships. He gives a recipe for a mouth rinse that has non-GMO vitamin C, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and water.
About 1.5 years ago my family moved from a high cost of living coastal city to a small midwest city. On paper, it seemed to make sense; we had a little bit of home equity, and realized that we could buy a house at about 25% the cost of the liberal city we were in. What we didn’t realize is how much our quality of life would be improved due to living around (mostly) conservative God-fearing families, and with much larger properyty sizes. Our kids love it, my wife loves it, I’m much more at peace than I was in our old city. We only wish we’d made the leap 10 years earlier! (p.s., our old neightbors’ kids are still doing school from home 2 days a week; That’s been a thing of the past for over 2 years in our new city!)
Oh Thank You! This is just the kind of thing we need to hear! Been on the West coast all my life. The thing is mostly the distance we’d have to move, from the PNW to ANYWHERE! The problems we’ve had, have always been basically because, when you’re not from there, some people automatically don’t like you; and the smaller the town, the more suspicious they are. Now mind you, these were West Coast places; and it wasn’t everyone: people who’ve also come from somewhere else were usually friendly; but the locals who’s families had been there since forever, were different.
Any suggestions, Christian, Social Security only income, looking for affordable clean low crime conservative friendly . . . ?
We’ve been looking for quite a long time, and the way things are going in the country, we wonder if we’ll ever find something; or at least before we’re too old to move anyway.
I was born and raised in the PNW. My entire family is buried here. I am 58 and cannot get out for another 5 years. But get out I will so my grandchildren can get out. We are looking in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana and Southwest Idaho. Sorry to hear you have not been treated with friendly hospitality. The left coast does not really like us fellow Christians. Keep looking. Don’t give up.
I’m a transplant to the PNW, moved here about 40 years ago and I have no plans on leaving it. It’s a place worth fighting for. I do live rural in a red county on the wet side of the mountains.
Thanks Sis! You make me smile! Yeah, it was Oregon small towns that could learn something about . . . anyway, never mind; we do wish them well.
Bitterroot? Is that by Deer Lodge, or Butte? I was fortunate to visit there some years ago, and a little town called Phillipsburg (spelling?). Truly breathtaking country… Pretty serious winters though.
Hi Michael. The Carolinas are generally a good place to consider. These days however…I am afraid crime is creeping in to A LOT of places. But, if you can a place out in the rural areas, it is a blessed thing. I do want to tell you about the real thing that is Southern Hospitality. It IS real, however…folks here tend to be very “clannish” and if we don’t know you or your people (your kin), it will take us a while to
…continued… to warm up to you. But most folks here are down to earth, hard working, Christian, fun-loving people.
I’m a Carolina girl and can vouch for what you are saying. There are still lots of small town conservative values here. Avoid the large metro areas at all costs. Y’all come on down!
Large metro areas are definitely nothing we even think about for a long time. I’ve had a little taste of Southern Hospitality, and I know that’s right! Small towns of course is where we look. Thank you Lindy for the invite.
Thank you Patriot Gal, We’ve looked into the Carolinas some, and for most of what we found, I think we would get along great. The distance is something to consider however.
NE TN. Lots of houses and property available in unincorporated areas. Stay NE of Knoxville / Gatlinburg / Sevierville.
Me too. The tiniest little town. 3/4 acre. Lovely neighbors. Lots of trees,deer and bunny rabbits. Huge river, the Holston, 1/4 mile down the road. Love my NE Tennessee home.
huge veggie garden, apple trees and a couple of chickens. Very red state except for Nashville and Memphis don’t want to go there anyway. Oh,ivermectin is otc.
Thank you Bcsurvivor2. How is it if you need a doctor or dentist?
Fresh veggies and fruit trees, and critters runnin in the yard; sounds like a slice of heaven. 🙂
Thanks mostly! 🙂
Will look into it.
Prescott AZ is where we moved to escape the high cost of living in California. EVERYTHING is less expensive.
WAY less expensive. And it is “high dessert” so not uncomfortable in the Summer. Lots of golfers from California moved here in the last two years.
Now yer talkin! That’s the kind of country I like; and pretty low crime too, right?
Thanks Melh!
Ringgold, Georgia. I spent 19 of the best years of my life in that little town. Very conservative, many good Christian people, and the ones who aren’t religious are mostly very good hardworking people. They are right down to the grassroots politically involved and active. Only thing I didn’t like was the Georgia income tax. You be about 20 minutes away from Chattanooga if you need urban stuff.
You are near the Smokies, my favorite place on Earth. Heaven is really up in the Smokies. About six hours from the ocean in Savannah. Nashville, about 2 1/2 hours. And did I mention the Smokies? Fontana Lake in NC is about 3 hours away. It’s an eye popping wow.
Chattanooga is something of a techie city now, known as Gig City for our internet speed. Lots of jobs, great quality of life. Lots and lots of outdoor adventures to be had.
In my opinion, most places in the South, people will judge you by your attitude and actions. Once they see your character, you’ll be a part of everything in the community.
The reason we have the reputation for being stand offish is because whenever most people come here from up north, they immediately jump in and say “Oh no, that’s not how we do it in ——. Well, that alienates us. I’ve even had a priest tell me that he was sick of people telling him what he did wrong when they just walked through the door.
There are always things that can be improved. We are, believe it or not, open to that, but only AFTER you’ve actually tried things as they are. Settle in, see what works first, and why. It’s actually what I’d do if I moved somewhere else.
Ringgold is just across the state line from Tennessee. I lived in Tennessee all my life with the exception of those 19 years in Georgia, and we moved back 3 years ago. I love the No state income tax part, but I have yet to find people who are even half as involved politically as what I became involved in in Ringgold. It’s also a very patriotic town. Check out my Memorial Day posts, which always feature a beautiful video made in Ringgold.
The go along to get along tolerance and general apathy is an issue in TN. It’s a big part of what allowed Colorado/Oregon/Washington and soon Idaho to get converged into the Dem/prog death cult. The presumption that libertarian/independent/conservative “values” will be returned by the newcomers is a systemic flaw. These must be guarded vigorously. Any encroachments must be treated as the dire threats that they are.
Now more than ever. No more Mr. nice-guy “conservative” politics. This is about a way of life and a People under attack.
I’ve met several folks from Ringgold, great people all around. It’s interesting how things can be quite different even just a county or two away. Saw the same with friends who live on the NC side in the mountains. I think the taxes in TN and former low cost of living have attracted a lot of retired and otherwise independent folks who just assume what has been will always be. The downside of traditionally conservative, agrarian areas is that they have been subjected to the drip-drip of incrementalism without the cold, stark invasion of toxic ideology in areas that are more proximate to the commie filth.
As for my choice in relocation, I refuse to be governed by blue state governments, “election” integrity aside, they have the power, so GA and NC were non-starters for us. We learned the lessons of centralized urban Dem government the hard way already.
Same goes for urban proximity. I’d stay well away from Chatt, Knox, and Nash. Luckily there are a lot of beautiful places past that 30-mile buffer. That actual buffer being a function of economic necessity and your take on just how bad the decline will get. My position is further the better, take the economic lumps now instead of later when everyone else is trying to as well.
In that vein, the kind of “tech friendly” pro-investment/biz/growth incentives, while good on paper, rarely deliver good jobs and a better quality of life for dirt people. Its just a funneling of rent-seeking and regulatory capture corporations and parasites and government interference that invites all kinds of changes people like to call “progress”. They bring in their own people, their own ways, and of course their own politics, which are now fully integrated into the local economics (pockets of power).
I’ve seen that model play out time and again as well. Then theres the gangs, drugs, shootings, and retarded city governance in general. Makes no sense to leave one crap hole for another.
But hey, I’m a card-carrying dissident so I’m well past where most people are in their processing of this great leap forward, the new normal, and the likelihood of the broken electoral model restoring corrupted institutions all while ignoring the massive demographic shift underway. Grains of salt and whatnot.
I agree with most of what you have to say. I’d loved to have stayed in our little cabin in the woods in Ringgold, but it got to be too much for us to keep up. Plus traffic got much worse and the commute was too long for my husband. We had hoped to stay there the rest of our lives.
Having no state income tax here in Tennessee puts a lot of money back in our pocket, but I think we’d both give it up to have stayed in Ringgold had that been feasible. Politics in Georgia statewide are mostly leaning Dem, but frankly, I felt more secure and safe and at peace with the local political situation, fighting the fight with people who worked hard for liberty. Local politics mostly trumps state for me, but that’s heavily influenced by the great community I was fortunate enough to live in.
If I didn’t have roots and remaining ties, lots of them, here in the far SE corner of Tennessee, I’d probably move an hour or so north, between Chattanooga and Knoxville. Maybe around Sweetwater, Calhoun, or Athens. Closer to the mountains. Farther from big cities, which I loathe.
I agree on the hyper-local. Which is why I tell people there is no avoiding the fight – its here, so dig in.
The challenge is underwriting local places from afar without the benefit of friends or family already there. If I could do over I may have overlooked some state issues for a small but robustly conservative in the mountains of NC. A couple of career military guys I know are doing well there and have good roots. But we both left our jobs behind and so had to hedge toward infrastructure and commerce. We live in that corridor you mention. Its fine. A mixed bag, like most rural areas. Some truly beautiful spots but a lot of sad and tired spots too. Takes some luck and a fine comb to sort them out.
My sister left a NE craphole city around the same time we left. Her family is on their own in the Ozarks. Its been really hard for them too. Her kids are thriving on their farm but in many ways its like third-world living. Just a foriegn culture that while conservative is also very different.
Anyhow, sorry you had to leave your forever home. I have left two of mine already. This one is trying my faith, but admittedly a lot of it is just my broken heart over leaving the west. I am a country mountain western man and that is in my blood. In time I hope my heart heals. In the meantime, I am fully embracing those little things.
I hope you grow to love your new home as well, but I understand and admire what you feel for your original home. I hope some day to travel more out west, but that’s kind of doubtful now because my husband hates long car trips and I refuse to fly if if have a choice about it.
I used to fly and love it. But then TSA made it a pain. An accident made 8 hour sits impossible. So no more.
I just looked up Ringgold to see what it was like. Beautiful town that has a lot of charm.
I’m definitely gonna look it up. Thanks!
Maybe its from being raised in So Cal, that I’ve kinda developed this “turtle” response. Getting politically involved means a lot different things where there’s so many, let’s call them, ‘uncertainties.’ I imagine you’ve seen these kind of things before, or maybe even have some saved in your Favorites; but I’ll post a Gang Territory Map of California (and beyond) so you get an idea what I mean, about closing up with regards to getting politically involved. Its quite another thing when your life really is quite literally put in danger if you are the wrong kind in the wrong place, and are simple enough to open your mouth in a way, that will automatically be considered an attack and offensive.
California Gang Territories
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1MyoToeYPKEx54C3BPdblKZEKaRQ&msa=0&dg=feature&ll=33.768289342492956%2C-117.98324269693124&z=14
As one who lived abroad for the happiest years of my life, I can attest to the truth of this with American tourists who were quick to explain to the “local yokels” why they were “doing it wrong”, whatever “it”was…and how much better things were in the US.
And like the residents of Ringgold, those where I lived who were told how backwards they were did not appreciate being lectured.
But being the well mannered, gentle people they were, they’d politely listen, then go about their business of living the good, simple life. Loved them for that.
I live in North Carolina and was attending a wedding here. I was seated next to an out of state guest at dinner who was amazed that I had a southern accent! I had to remind her that she was the visitor.
😁…I’m certain you did this with grace, Lindy, as befits all Southern ladies. Or you stared at her in Southern…one or the other.
I’m from and in New England, but I’ve heard there’s this “Bless your heart” thing you ladies do. 😉 Love that…
Hahaha! Lindy, good for you!
I’m native Georgian – but all Georgians speak in specific dialects – we’re not like one off the Dukes of Hazard set.
I would definitely gaze at her in Southern…. politely, of course.
I can pass for Northern unless you catch me after talking to relatives in Louisiana or Mississippi, then, it’s back to my roots.
😂😂😂
Bless her heart.
Yep, you got that right, leave …
There are several different ways of saying, “bless your heart.”
But they don’t all mean the same thing. True southerners can decipher…
🥰🥰
“Back in Jersey”, “In New York”. I run.
😂😂😂😂
Hey Menagerie, Ya know, that’s a part of the country we’ve never looked at. What you describe sounds really nice. . . Christians, conservative, NORMAL!
I passed though Chattanooga many years ago; and had dinner at Uncle Buck’s; do you know it? I had the Sampler Plate, frog’s legs, gator, and catfish; pretty yummy! I thought the gator had the kind of texture like lobster, only with a “swampy” taste! Not bad! 🙂
Knoxville, that I remember, was nice; hilly and trees and the Smokey Mountains somewhere’s nearby? I was just passing through on the Greyhound.
I guess that’s a normal reaction to someone coming from somewhere else, and having difficulty understanding, that sometimes people think and do things different than what you’re used to. Anything from your accent (which of course, the people from out west don’t have!), or what’s common sense to some, isn’t so common other places.
Our experience in small town Oregon coast, the place itself is the most beautiful you can find, and there’s no sales tax; but when you have a CA license plate, and you look like you’re not from around there, they stand and stare, and the ladies at work will start a whole gossip campaign to destroy your lives and make it so you can’t make it at all! Plus, (and we didn’t take it serious enough before we moved there, but sure found out afterwards), the witchcraft and real Satanism, and general hatred and disdain for Jesus and Christians, IS REAL!
Really a shame what can happen to people, and how places are ruined, for really no good reason!
Well, anyway, I really appreciate your thoughtful reply. Gives us some more to think about. Thank you.
Caleb is lucky to have the money and to win the housing arbitrage. But he is spot-on about the quality of life – you feel it deeply when living congruent with what is natural and right.
We left a “blue” state under duress and economic damage from “covid” ruin and did not have the home equity ark nor high-incomes to port. Nevertheless we jumped into the unknown.
It has been an absolutely brutal process. Took my wife 8 months to find a job. Our house was in very poor condition. Much worse than first thought. The culture shock is real. The environment is strange at times, beautiful in others.
The rewards of this process often require a massive store of faith and grace to sift out of the mess. The point being, without a lot of assets, money, existing relationships/family, it is an isolating, frustrating, and difficult thing to uproot and parachute into a different culture and environment.
It is more about your mental and spiritual footing than anything else. We view ourselves as pioneers. Its quaint compared to my ancestors who settled part of Texas and the PNW, but in our own way we face many similar challenges in the modern context. We are on our own.
Prior to moving last spring, we spent three years chasing the silly housing market up in several mountain west states (MT, WY, ID, UT) as well as Appalachian areas (KY, WV, TN, NC). We referenced the book Strategic Relocation as well as much research and prioritization of key conditions in addition to mere “political” leanings.
Some things to consider: infrastructure, energy (cost/reliability), taxation, 2A, home school freedom, low “diversity” quotient, healthcare (access/regulations), growing season & regional ag health, proximity to toxic blue hives. Granular stuff like county sheriff, corruption, drugs/cartel activity, crime, blight, and demographics are considerations as well but more than likely if you are truly rural in “affordable” areas you will have all of the above to contend with.
So make your lists of what is most important. There is no panacea, no mayberry, and no one-size solution.
You have to make your wish list, then cut the bottom 80% and then favor what can be done now over what might be possible later. Pricing and availability will drive most of it in the end.
Then eliminate those places that make the “best places to live” or other lists that the NYT and NPR urban bug people use to figure out their soft landings in “rural” areas that they will ruin in short order.
So anti-growth or at least very conservative planning and building areas; places that are not so “nice” on the surface’ places that are not proximate to high-end recreation, state universities, and retirement communities.
No matter where you go you will face the same fight against high-growth, leftists with money and power, demographic replacement, and the results of 60 year war on White working-class America. But some have more headroom than others.
Most areas are not going to welcome outsiders. But most will warm up eventually as long as you do your work and respect the way things are done there. A little effort goes a long way.
But in many areas you will also never be one of them. You will be stepping into generational pride, conflict, decay, etc. and narratives to which you are not privy. There will be some people eager to take your money from you. Others who will go out of their way to help. Others that will be nice as can be to your face while cursing your carpetbagging privately. Many will act with similar politeness. Enjoy figuring out which is which.
The bitterroot valley is great. Some real solid people and patriots. But also close to rainbow rotting pozz of Missoula. And very expensive. Probably three houses for sale under $400k. MT/WY/ID are also tricky. Very expensive. And the nicer areas to live are seeing a massive influx of the wrong kind of people. A lot of growth.
We got priced out there so ended up out east in a county of 50k surrounded by burned down gas stations and single-wides on “private” junkyards.
Rural housing is something special. Many areas don’t have much in the way of codes. And poverty is generational. So even if a place comes up for sale that is “affordable” you can bet there are a lot of “creative” improvements and construction techniques and repairs that were never done. You can count on spending a lot of time and money over the next few years making it livable.
Some days I love it. Most days I endure it. I miss my home in the mountains a lot.
This week I tilled the garden plot, helped a neighbor clear an acre of briar for his bee hives, pulled out some rotting fencing, moved the chicken coop, am fixing the rotted out deck and porch stairs, cleared some fallen trees off the busted fence line, fixed the water trough for the donkey, planned two new frost-free hydrants, and will have baby ducks and geese by end of next week so getting the brooder set up. Have to hitch a ride 30 miles to the big city later today where our car is at the closest dealership for repairs. The weather here is terrible mostly so that means sideways blowing rain today.
The tulips I planted last fall are up and our plum tree is set to pop in all its pink glory. We find the wins where we can. Best of luck landing in your new plot. Hope you find some tailwind.
We saved ourselves a lot of time and trouble when we decided to escape insanity.
We only looked at 2 things.
1. Election results over the last few years.
2. Demographics over the last few years.
That is how you find the place for you to build your future.
My little thing right now is building a greenhouse.
My little thing last year was the garden.
A greenhouse is on my list. Its a lot frostier here than I thought it would be. The trick for me is finding a piece of level ground. We’ll see on my garden this year. I did a soil test through the extension and it came back as 50% clay and 50% ant-hill.
There is always a solution to soil. Ant hills can bring gravel to the surface and that can break up clay soils. Just keep trying.
I did not do a soil test. It’s acidic under the oaks, weedy everywhere and 100% ant hill. Containers are God sends until you have to bring them inside for hurricanes. Eventually I’ll do raised beds.
Yessir. Sorting distills quickly when you understand the root of the matter. I still recommend the more comprehensive process not as much for where to land precisely, but for the lessons of the process itself. The mental orientation, the focus, the self-discovery.
There are conversations my wife and I had that we had not had previously. A lot of great things go unspoken but sometimes saying things out loud can steel the resolve necessary to undertake such a move.
Many need to draw out the truth from behind years of crimestop programming. And I fully agree that wherever you go it is indeed about “build your future” as opposed to avoiding the discomforts of progress. Avoiding discomfort is pretty much how we got to this point.
There is really nowhere left to run that will not have the fight at your door soon enough. That is something I also try to drive home. People who just want to use their money to continue to buffer from reality and run out their personal clock in comfort are of very little interest to me. If there is anything worth saving it requires constant building.
I’m literally planting trees that I will never enjoy the shade or fruits. We are stewards of a way of life. So yes, it is a simple problem to solve, but also far from easy.
Change is never easy, but often rewarding. There are indeed no places where there are no challenges to being left alone. Plus, one has to pick one’s battles. We don’t have the resources to fight them all. One thing is certain, none of us can rest easy now knowing the forces arrayed against us, as we once did. How others are able to live their lives oblivious to the great changes is beyond me.
First off, I’m going to say your post is pure gold!
We left the metro and came to a small university city, county about the size of yours. After 30 years and 8 years serving in a county elected office, I still say, “We’re not from around here,” because there are multigenerational resident families who are surviving on the graft and favoritism trickling from their home-field advantage, with little else to recommend them, IMO. I’ve never in my life felt I had the home-field advantage, since I moved a fair bit as a kid. If we go back to the spouse’s high plains origin, he might not have that anymore, either.
Local planning commissions are unelected and therefore unaccountable, and should be taken into consideration. If they’re the ones deciding where the new interstate exit just has to go, watch out.
Hang in there. It takes a long time to get comfy in a new place. I am not dealing with half of what you are dealing with but I have had a few surprises: just discovered that my tile floor grout was regrouted white, underneath is black and ditched the dude that was supposed to replace the sliders after a year of waiting, now, the shutter dude is not returning my calls. I still have some boxes and am all out of motivation. I have met several neighbors, the anal sphicter, the awesome hispanic young married, the sad, sorry double generation that lost the dad, schizo son, disabled vet DIL, the hispanic no English like to park themselves under my oaks many 40 yo males partying, hispanic with children (no idea if they speak english) family, a couple my age my race further down the street. Oh and the teens at the bus stop are awesome at littering. The neighbor hood is right next to pedophile avenue and druggie street, not as safe as where I was. Sheriff is blocks away and a law and order type.
It helps that I was able to stay in the same church, my son is nearby and my best friend is 30 minutes away. I also have had money to deal with the big property issues, just was not planning on a reflooring adventure. Plus I am still in the same county, although I had to get to know the smaller roads.
I am not as rural as I would like to be, but no longer in a downtown area of condominiums. I don’t have to worry about dumping dirt out of my planters onto the neighbors balconies. Instead, I get to worry about encountering a drunk Mexican on my driveway looking at me like I was the one out of place.
Thank you Sir Lawrence, for your very thoughtful and talented writing. I very much appreciate you sharing all your insights and observations. Ours have been very similar, and we have come to the same conclusions. I’m glad that you seem to have gotten to where you can enjoy a little relaxation, and the simple comforts of life.
If looking for conservative, low taxes pretty much all round (income, property, and hopefully soon on food) look at state of Alabama. I can say Elberta, Lillian, Perdido Beach area is close to beach, fishing, boating and a short drive to Pensacola, FL that provides medical, shopping, etc (and presently where we buy our food, as they don’t tax food). Pretty much everything is close by or within a half an hour drive. This area is old/present farmland, multi-generational families and yet RV’s and second homes for snowbirds. Its growing, but has a nice balance of homes either in subdivisions or in large acreage. Its not the unfriendly atmosphere of “outer staters” attitude. We have several neighbors from CA, NC, north AL. And you can freely speak about politics as it is a HEAVILY conservative area. Democratic numbers are heavy in the cities. Many churches. Low crime. About the only negative thing I can think of is humidity is rough at times.
I’ve lived in a deep red state most of my life. Here’s a few pointers for you.
Step 1: Fly your American flag every day
Step 2: Find a local Church and get involved.
Step 3: Keep doing step 1 &2
People will come around and welcome you.
I hear ‘Don’t California my red state.’ If you show that their fears are unfounded, you will be embraced.
The friendliest people I’ve ever met are in Tennessee. Make eye contact and get a big beautiful smile back.
And if you don’t like to chat or are in a hurry don’t move here😀❤️
I was in Bristol visiting and was amazed at how slow everyone was driving and walking. It was wonderful.
Thank you JeanneDark!
Isn’t that the real way your supposed to pronounce, Joan of Arc? Jean D’Arc!
You know she was only nineteen years old?
Can you tell us what city to what city?
Or maybe the general area, or county?
Caleb, if it’s in GA, please don’t…
And I can’t say why, since this is not for political posting.
Started the paleo diet about two months ago. Lost 28 lbs so far, 62 to go. I heard a really good definition of discipline: remembering what you want. When I get a craving, I try to focus and remember that what I want is to shed the unnecessary weight, not that doughnut or bowl of ice cream.
Thank you! This really helped me today
I’ve had one foot that was alternatively painful or numb since 2021. It’s a long-delayed result of a motorcycle accident I had over 40 years ago. I wasn’t able to walk or sleep properly for over a year, and I fell several times. I was using a cane, and got a disabled parking card. I had begun to resign myself emotionally to having this as a permanent condition.
After a long search, I got some appointments with a great physical therapist. She worked me so hard I got nauseous and dizzy during the first few sessions. But she never let me quit, and was encouraging at all times. She gave me diagrams of the exercises, and advised me on equipment I could get to continue at home. After two months of weekly sessions, supplemented by homework, I started getting feeling back in my toes. I haven’t needed the cane in weeks, only need half the previous dose of gabapentin at bedtime, and I’m no longer afraid I might fall. I’m so happy to be able to walk my dog again. So is he!
Yes, I believe God guided me to find this woman. I needed a mentor and coach in order to recover, and I am grateful.
that’s a great story mikey.
hey mikey, i like it ! 🙂
Praise God!
That’s fabulous!! So glad that you are able to walk your dog. That’s life-changing for both of you!
Are you taking vitamin B? Made a difference for me. Also, a very good massage therapist can help a lot.
I started back with B vitamin, along with C D3 and Zinc, and have noticed a difference in the pain level decrease of my hip and hands.
If the B-complex doesn’t help,
you might have a gene mutation (MTHFR- A1298 or C677T).
Many people (half the population) cannot activate their B vitamins.
Look at the label and see if it contains any of these forms:
Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, Riboflavin, Cyanocobalamin
They are biologically inactive.
Active forms:
B12 methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin
B2 Riboflavin 5′ Phosphate (R-5-P)
B6 pyridoxal 5’-phosphate (P-5-P)
B9 Methylfolate (5-MTHF)
Doctors tell women to take folic acid to prevent neural tube defects.
Some women can’t convert it to active form and it builds up in the body.
Praise the Lord! Congratulations! Very happy for you!
I love it when the right people come to a need. Love your willingness to push through and happy you found the right person to help you.
Awesome recovery. Have you tried Methocarbamol. It’s a muscle relaxer. I have heard bad stuff about gabapentin on thinking. My gf swears by cannabis for pain. She has had them fry nerves in her legs for it. She uses some other stuff including oxytocin but will not touch gabapentin. Whatever works!
I started coming here recently , to the treehouse . met some real nice people on the open thread.its change my life in a positive way , just being around and talking to like minded people . thank you Managerie
The only positive about the pandemic was that I started exercising
and have kept it up.. I am not gym person, I don;t like
to exercise (translate to I am lazy that way) but my cholesterol
was getting high and I didn;t want to take the medicine so thought
I should try exercise.. I am most happy to have kept it up till
this day. I do it at home..everyday..with a program..
I am having the most difficult time starting exercise.
I have always loved sports, loved playing games.. I never liked group exercise classes.
Andrew Huberman interviewed Dr David Sinclair about longevity and the most important thing one can do, if you can only do one thing for longevity, is exercise, Sinclair said.
And I can’t bring myself to do exercise. No one annoys me more than me.
I used Team Body project on Youtube they also have a website.
I like that they have real people not all the really toned skinny
people that you can never acheive and they tell you that even if you
can;t do all the exercises just move or march in place the important
thing is to move your body.. No pressure..and since
you do it home if you get distracted or take a break no one knows but you and you
don;t have to do it with other people and can do it anytime
day or night. Also it is mostly low impact or they offer
a low impact version of any exercise.
I have tried others but I have stuck to it with this one..
Appreciate this, thanks
Bananas, check out cardio drumming if you haven’t already seen it. I’m not an exerciser either and it has been a game changer for me. I love it. I can do it at home or at the center. It’s got me up and moving when I thought nothing could. 😊
I love walking and hiking. Can’t do it to any extent anymore, because of an injury. The reason I title these posts Do the Little Things is explained in the first one. Basically, I really messed myself up after the injury by focusing on,y on what I can no longer do, and refusing to even consider what I can do. It made me miserable, weak, and I gained more weight.
In December I decided to do what I can do in small blocks of time. If I can only walk 5 minutes, or 10, whatever, that’s what I do, but I try to move every hour, 6-8 hours a day. I use dumbbells and do exercises, one or two body parts at a time. More next hour. I do the physical therapy exercises I was taught for my ankle. In other words, I do the little things and my strength and stamina are improved.
Maybe if you start that way, just minutes at a time, you’ll be able to keep going. Also, look for things you might enjoy that are different.
I used to live in a cabin in the words. I bought a very good rebounder (mini trampoline) and put it on my porch. I loved my workout in the woods, with nature all around me, plus it was very easy on the joints. I highly recommend rebounders for us older people, and there are some great videos on YouTube. However, you need a really good on, not the cheap Walmart ones which actually hurt your joints. It was an investment that really payed off for me.
These days, exercise is walking around my yard trying to avoid the potholes and anthills and pulling weeds. Sometimes I clean the gutters too. There’s always watering, fertilizing, ant treatments and trimming the neighbors overgrown tree. Plus, I have someone do the mowing and weed eater too.
This is a great idea. My wife and I started the E2M (Eager 2 Motivate) “life style” eating and exercise program last year and have enjoyed great success with it. Low investment for life enhancing improvement. I lost 25 pounds, which was my goal, and maintain my weight. My wife lost 30+ pounds and continues to work on meeting her goal. We also moved to SC and enjoy being here. Much better than living in a liberal blue state.
Lost 100 on Noom and gained 30 back so net 70 where I have stabilized. Second hardest thing I ever did after stopping smoking.
Excellent poat. We need to live life and stay grounded. We were created to image God. Everything else is a temporal distraction. Stay well.
My wife (66) and I ( 74) bought our fist guns and now we go to the shooting range together to practice.
Gerald, yesterday I had that same thought that a shooting range might be a nice thing for my husband and I to do together. Empty nest now but we both still work. Range is just down the street and open late. Thanks for the reminder!
My husband shoots sporting clays with friends at least twice a month. He loves it.
I credit Menagerie and Sundance and all Treepers for getting me back to my natural spiritual/religious self. A friend gave me the book Jesus Calling a few years back, but I never picked it up until about two or three years ago. It has reminded me about my true self, and all of the posts here about “living your best life” and remembering Lent and just attempting to stay positive during these horrible, dark days. Finding the Treehouse was my first step back to Jesus. So, thank you all for the gift you’ve been and continue to be to me. It’s a “practice” — trying to stay positive and trust life’s goodness by trusting the Lord.
Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I’ve done it thousands of times.
Mark Twain
The above is one of my favorite MT quotes — a reminder to never give up and keep on trying! Trying to change a behavior is one of the hardest things to do, so always remember baby steps eventually turn to upright walking – whatever you goal start today! Clean slate, new day let’s write that new chapter 👍
Almost finished on a 3 year project with my daughter. Building her first Super Comp Dragster. My daughter has been drag racing since age 11. She will graduate college in May and this is her graduation present. Just in time for everything else to turn to crap.
That is so cool!
http://www.lilmissleadfoot.com if you want to check it out…
That intro video is outstanding! Well Done Yous.
Wishing y’all the Best Possible Outcome(s)
Thank you, it’s all her, I’m just support. Hope to get her seat time soon.
We got a puppy, she’s full of energy and gives us lots of puppy love and laughter!
Today is my retirement date, with a party at the office this afternoon. The decision to retire was difficult to make, especially in this economic downturn, but it has come to the point that my health has been affected by the toxicity at the office over the last 3 years. I’ve been at this job for 18 years and the first 15 years were very good years. But, it all crumbled in 2020 for a variety of reasons. In total, I’ve worked for 55 years, and now it’s time to enjoy other interests – painting pictures, spending more time with family and friends, traveling, reading, and discovering new interests.
Congratulations and G-d bless!
Congratulations! BIG Day!
It shouldn’t take too long getting used to NOT HAVING TO GO TO WORK! 🙂
True.
I think I was used to it the following morning.
😂😂😂
Congratulations on your retirement.
There is plenty of “retired work” to do. I can finally prioritize family. At one point spent a month in Ohio making sure a relative with acute illness had someone to watch over him; his daughters are far away and overwhelmed with other obligations (schoolage children, Alzheimer’s eldercare). It was easy for me, and fun also.
“Retiring” has brought me great joy
Congratulations Leslie! I could have written the same regarding deciding to retire. I was also at my job 18 years and absolutely LOVED it for 15 then everything changed over the last 3. I never considered retiring early but I am seriously considering it now. Enjoy!
Thank you Blue State Rebel! It’s quite a coincidence that our on the job woes ran on the same time line.
Congratulations!! Retirement is wonderful; just let yourself open up to the idea that you are free to do whatever you want.
I’ve no doubt you are going to love your retirement. While I was working, those that had already retired warned me I would be bored. I have found nothing but the opposite. I don’t have enough years to do all I want haha. I paint with watercolor, I garden (which has really taken most of my time now), my husband and I do home improvement projects. The best part simply is “time” is mine and not dictated by work. I’ve had the freedom to go help other family members (in other state) in their time of need, go have a lunch with a friend, enjoy time with hubby, cooking is more enjoyable as its not rushed to just feed us . . . but to enjoy the experience. I stay so busy . . . haha . . . I haven’t found time to sit and read. But its a good busy. Your story of your work history sounds very familiar. Hope you enjoy your retirement party; the BEST is yet to come. You DESERVE this!! Congrats!
Thank you for your words of comfort. It’s a big life change, but I’m looking forward to it
I have a little plaque over my sink that my sweetie bought me. It says:
Lady of Leisure. Officially Retired – Now Busier Than Ever.
So true, steph. Retired after forty years, anticipating MY new lifestyle and schedule.
Shortly thereafter, became sole caregiver for my elderly mother for fourteen years.
Added in, helped with several grands (which I loved).
Some days, I longed for my old job.
But God had other plans….
That’s a wonderful thing you did.
Our 25 yr old bodybuilder son was on his deathbed four years ago due to an unknown virus and subsequently regained the 65 lbs. of muscle he lost in a month. He finished his MEngineering degree and has been working for a couple of years as an HVAC engineer. Oldest daughter and my soon to be son-in-law had a son prematurely; both have finished their degree’s prior to the birth and are working with little guy speaking simple sentences at 22 months. Youngest daughter just finished her year long recovery from a stress induced eating disorder where she was near death with a heartbeat of 30 bpm and a bodyweight of 70 lbs.
We are blessed in many ways. These kids are facing inflation they could never have imagined and are being smart and biding their time saving and investing. Due to experiences they are mature beyond their years and are moving forward rather than shriveling like so many of their peers. They understand current politics and the economic successes of President Trump(Main Street capital investment model); they understand he is the professional in the room and the rest are not.
Blessed to be a Treeper and all that comes with it. God bless you all. I wish I could attach a clip where grandboy says “Bless you”.
Always love hearing how parents did not raise their children to be spoiled brats, but adults who can think and reason.
Your children, like President Trump, are the adults in the room.
It’s a blessing to know they are there, ready to stand in the gap.
God bless you and your family eternally through Christ our Lord.
I had something I’ll call a success 2 days ago. I withdrew some cash from the bank, when I got home I counted it and the teller had given me $100 to much. My first thought was “wow, my lucky day”. Then I realized what a bad day it was about to be for the teller, called the bank, spoke to the teller about her mistake and got it fixed. She was so grateful I think she was crying.
So, if I helped another person out it was a success.
God bless you! 🕊💕
I love you dictionary!
Reminds me of a postal clerk when i had accidentally left money on the counter. He said —“is that for me? Because if it ain’t mine i don’t want it”
Those words resonated with me during several later occasions of temptation. It is good to live among honest people!
I remember getting a valuable lesson on a similar situation when I was a young teen.
My father and I were in Japan on a “just the two of us” vacation. We went to a bank to exchange a $20 into Yen.
The teller inadvertently made the exchange for two HUNDRED dollars.
Dad didn’t notice until we had stepped away. I thought “SCORE!” He said that the teller would be in trouble when the mistake was caught, and that he would have to make up the shortage – which “might be more than he makes in …”
We returned to the window, and returned the extra disbursement.
The teller was incredibly greatful, and I learned a valuable lesson.
I experience an increasing number of these “mistakes” by all sorts of people since Covid. Not sure if it’s from the virus itself or the vaccine induced brain fog, but it’s alarming. Some are simple oversights, like your +$100 overage, others more dramatic like car accidents.
Covid – the scam that keeps on giving.
I think that’s why we had that barge accident with the methanol, the crash on a AF base, maybe even the Paradise train crash. There seems to be more people accidents occurring and we still have weather events. I find I cannot count on people to do work they contracted for when they contracted for, contractors have also made silly mistakes – plumber hooked the cold to the hot and hot to the cold for the washer; electrician removed a battery from a remote box then could not reinsert the battery flush (he was burying the cord behind it). One of the stitches in a minor surgery either was not removed or has not dissolved, it’s on my back so I just feel it. I am finding everything just takes longer because they are training new people (restaurants) or the answering person writes stuff down wrong or dates or hours get switched on appointments.
I hope we have more people like YOU.
I put on a little too much weight and so after the first of the year I began a diet of not eating before noon or after 6 pm. I also watch what I eat. I’ve lost 29 pounds. I also enjoy what I call hikercise, there are a lot of woods and trails around where I live and I hike them regularly.
I began a weight training program along with stretching and aerobics but have not been very disciplined about it. Yesterdays indictment of Trump may just be that extra incentive I needed.
For the past few years I’ve been studying Bushcraft and have been backpacking into places to practice the skill set.
Recently I’ve been buying green coffee beans and have been learning how to roast them in a cast iron skillet.
I put new bindings on my snow shoes and have been out a few times.
For a time I got away from playing my acoustic guitar, recently I’ve began playing it again.
Gardening season is about to start and I’ve been planting seeds and building some raised beds
I went on my first of the year hike for wild edibles and found some stinging nettles, fiddle head ferns, wood sorrel, pacific water leaf and wild garlic mustard. I brought enough of it home to make a meal and it came out rather good.
Today I will be going back to where I found a large plot of stinging nettle and will be harvesting it and drying it out for making tea. I hope to be able to get a years supply.
I think that’s great Six, and you’ve inspired me to get out and start foraging.
I recently answered a call to try skating again – Something I’ve not done for 20 years, and other than some sore muscles, I am surprised at what I can still do! Every day we wake up alive is a gift.
hello Rix Six
have you floated down a river while playing your guitar .
i have a feeling you may have . 🙂
No I have not, I have taken my guitar out on my powered boat and played it while trolling for salmon or tuna.
I have not floated a river in a long time, I did buy an inflatable kayak last year and just may use it on a local river this year. I can almost fit back into my dry suit, when that happens, who knows, maybe whitewater again, but not with my guitar.
Here’s a vid of my kayak with my guitar playing dubbed over it. You may need to start the vid from the beginning.
As a fellow kayaker and acoustic guitar player (beginner), I LOVE this!!
Rix
I’ve seen that video before.
It was a while back
You posted it somewhere.
Just thought maybe you would remember
CFP Champaign Room
I had to stop playing my guitar after 50 years of it, because of bad arthritis in my CMC joints – the neck of the guitar was getting too wide for my left hand to stretch to barr chords. I’m mainly a keyboard and accordion player anyway at this point. Well, mainly a singer….
However, I still needed to play rhythm for tunes I lead. One of my friends who mainly plays banjo got a mandolin – and as I watched her with it I realized that skinny neck for small hands was exactly what I needed.
It’s a great mental challenge and exercise to learn all the new chord shapes and “vocabulary” of the keys because the strings are all different. But I love it! Hands still hurt but not quite as much and I forget that anyway when playing out with people… the endorphins kick in…
My successes are not mine. Almost 5 years since my husband passed, and Something has helped me every step of the way. I have felt it and still feel it. Every day I get up, grateful to be here and every night I go to bed grateful for the day, and most grateful for family and friends. I am in my 8th decade but do not feel it. I feel whatever age I was when a memory comes to mind. I watch everything that is going on, good and bad and I see His hand in everything and everything in His hand. oh and yes, I don’t bother with self-improvement or establishing new habits. I do what I want to and actually eat what I want to. I have the eating habits of a teenager (pizza is at the top of my weekly menu) I don’t smoke or drink; never have. I am busy every waking (and sleeping) moment enjoying Life!
You are a blessing to me!
What a lovely life, Carole. No life better than walking with the Lord and enjoying the gifts He gives.
Uuumm, pizza. Breakfast of champions!
Probably the most important change I made a few years ago was ‘shopping the perimeter’ of the grocery store and going in the reverse direction of what the store wants you to go. Hit the dairy aisle first, then across the back to get meat and then through the produce to round out the meal plan for the week. I didn’t go to the store with a dinner plan in mind, I let the meat sale of the week be my guide. Never pay retail. There are hardly any ‘boxed’ foods in our house now because it’s mostly garbage.
The second most important change was to grow my own vegetables and learn how best to store them for a year – some freeze well, some can well and some dry well.
Because of the petro-restriction caused inflation, our food bill hasn’t changed much because of the garden. That’s a win. We all caught covid and breezed through it. That’s a win too.
Congrats on your long-term diet successes! I like your idea of having a routine path thru the grocery store.
I’ve been moving toward a whole foods diet and am no longer eating the ultra-processed foods. Can report significant health improvedment from greatly upping my dietary potassium and magnesium. So far have not regularly hit the 4700 mg recommended for potassium, but much better.
The increase in magnesium/potassium has stopped my extended episodes of tachycadia (rapid heart rate from a genetic electrical weirdness in my heart). Now my resting heart rate is mostly in the 60’s bpm and 70’s instead of extended episodes over 100. No meds, no pacemaker.
Baileysdad you said you are gowing your own vegetables –do you have land or are you growing in deck planters? Am also curious what types of veggies you grow. What do you do in the winter? Are you canning? Anywhoo –congrats on your major successes with a healthy diet.
Thanks, Sunrei. Happy to share what I have done and learned. This will be a long post, lol.
I have an acre or so of land and half of it is wooded and that will not change – we like the woods and the serenity it brings year round. My garden is about 15×20 so rather small. But that’s actually been an advantage with an intensive gardening plan. Less fertilizer, less watering and less weeding. 2-24″ between plants/rows, straw (not hay!) mulching, composted manure and tree bark for stepping stones. When the leaves come down in the fall, I put the bagger on the riding tractor, and dump the mulched leaves over the garden and weigh them down with tree bark slabs so they stay in place. In the fall I also buy the purple striped garlic at the grocery store, separate the cloves and plant them. It’s a hardneck type of garlic that grows well in Zone 7. It comes up in the spring and is ready to harvest by midsummer when it is allowed to dry the outer husk before storing in the bottom drawer of our basement refrigerator. Fridge temp is kept at 32-35F for long term storage – works well with onions and potatoes too.
Spring veg – right now it’s mostly peas and spinach, some broccoli, lots of kale, cabbage and bok choi. Onion sets, garlic and chives are sprouting around the perimeter – alliums are good for keeping out rabbits and squirrels. The chives will be allowed to bloom to bring in the predatory wasps that feed on any caterpillars that might try to invade by early summer. Carrot seeds go in with the alliums too.
Mid May to early June, the peas, greens and cabbages come out, some go into the fridge or freezer but most get canned. Tomatoes, a variety of peppers, cucumbers, squash, tomatillos and herbs get planted on top of crushed egg shells mixed with compost – these plants are started indoors (now). Horizontal trellising allows 24″ between rows and plants – nice and tight to shade the ground but still can walk in between. Onions come out and allowed to dry before storing in the fridge/freezer and the carrots come out dry and half go into the fridge or freezer, half get canned. Herbs go into the perimeter where the alliums were, same reason – they keep out the squirrels and rabbits.
Mid August – harvest almost every day – all of the nightshades are producing non-stop. I gather and refrigerate until the weekend, then the pressure canner will be used to process most. I have an outdoor setup to make this easier and keep the heat outside. The exception being tomatoes – these get washed, quartered and frozen. When I’m ready, I thaw a big bunch in a colander over a pot overnight. This lets the water drain off and leaves the concentrated meat left in the colander almost ready for canning without have to boil it for hours. The skins also slip right off but I leave them in and run it all through a Ninja blender before heating it up to can.
Early September – mostly peas and spinach, lots of lettuces and bok choi again. Herbs come out and get dried on screens in the basement then stored in lidded jars.
I don’t turn over the soil unless I find a tight spot that needs compost. Tired plants get cut off at the soil, not pulled out – those roots rot and become deep compost over the winter. The plants go into a compost bin to be applied when needed. Water soluble fertilized is applied several times over the summer as needed too.
I buy sweet corn in the summer and can that too. I like it mixed in with bell peppers and onions (and tomatillo salsa verde too) when I’m canning or just canned by itself because it is nice and sweet. The corn cobs themselves are used to make a delicious broth that gets canned too – it’s a secret ingredient for my jambalaya, soups and chowders. Refrigerator pickles, dilly beans, giardiniera, peppers and pickled carrots round out the pickle selection in the basement fridge. It’s a lot of work but it’s rewarding too when you have 200 plus jars of food on the shelf.
Thank you for sharing the gift of your know-how!
While I don’t have the land for a garden, I do have a fairly large deck so I think I may be able to garden in large planters. Learned a lot from reading your approach from how you set up the garden, how you run the garden thru the seasons and your canning tips. Am excited to pursue this. On the plus side, I have a 19th century walk-in pantry for storing.
Check out Greenstalk planters.
Just did. These would be perfect for giving me more “room” for my deck garden. And it has a special watering system too. Thanks!
I have 3 leaf size (smaller) 4 and 5 tiers. They have been awesome and save my back.
I put cherry tomatoes in them but there’s a tumbler tomato variety that naturally tumbles over the sides of the container. Put them in the top and you don’t have to trellis them. I plant chives and garlic with the lettuce under the tomatoes.
Have a littlest thing:
Yesterday evening I discovered, to my intense displeasure, that a valuable, irreplaceable gun had been stolen from me. I succeeded in not throwing a volcanic fit, smashing anything, or hurling any wild accusations. (I did, however, immediately regret having just spent $100 on extra magazines for it.)
Sometimes you have to celebrate the small stuff.
Put the magazines up for sale and see who wants them. heh.
I’m a RN. 3+ decades. Watched the murder and mayhem with Remdesivir. Lost my job for speaking out. Couldn’t work for 3 months because I refused the jab. I am doing great. God is in His heaven. He is risen.
The health care system is broken.
I still work at the bedside. Yesterday I had a 19-year old patient with huge surgical wound that needed packing at home twice a day. The surgeon and his office washed their hands of it. “We told him pre-op what to do and what supplies to get.” And, “No, a home health nurse isn’t going out to the home to do the dressing changes. The patient was taught. He didn’t bring anyone with him and we told him to.”
Too bad, so sad.
I won’t waste anyone’s time discussing how disgusting this attitude is.
His fiancé was bright and curious and had no clue how to do it. I had to teach best I could at bedside.
But it wasn’t enough. So I went to his home after work and did the first dressing change with her. She text me this morning that she did it on her own and we continued to discuss the care of this complicated wound.
She said God puts people where they’re supposed to be. I said He does indeed. And He loves us.
I am SO GRATEFUL God gave me the opportunity to do something in the body with my skills. Rather than just going into the secular building every day.
God is at work. He’s all around us. I have taken to heart what Sundance said many months ago: I am affecting the two feet in front of me.
He provides opportunity every day.
Thank you Suzi for what you did! But also for defending the honor of people who work in medicine. So much has been disgraced
Suzi — you are an amazing woman.
I am thankful you are here, you are safe, and you are helping others with the fabulous skills you have.
If/when this country/world crashes YOU will be someone we all need. Your skills will be priceless to those of us who don’t know what you know. Your pantry will be full of food of thanks when/if those days come.
I am grateful God put you here for such a time as this.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
And funny you should say that about food.
One day I was lamenting the fact that I’m doing NOTHING to prepare for the grid going down. I have a little extra food and water. But I kinda shouted out, “I’m a nurse! That’s what God made FARMERS for!”
Then I calmed down. Because I know God will provide. And your comment was very timely. Thank you.
God provides in marvelous ways for sure.
Even in the words His children speak to one another.
And I’ll give you food any day!
I’d rather tell a story.
When I was younger, maybe 22 or so, I was riding a city bus in a bad part of Washingtin DC. It was a cold winter morning.
I looked over at the woman sitting across the aisle. She wore a winter coat, but on her feet were worn, torn, and holey shoes. She had no socks. I knew her feet must be freezing and felt so bad for her (whatever her situation was). She exited the bus before my thoughts could form an idea of how to help, or if I should. I took too long thinking about it. It always bothered me.
A decade later I was ending a late interview with an elderly customer and escorted her to the door. There was snow on the ground and when I looked down she wore only open, thin sandles and worn socks. This time I took her to the store across the street and bought her winter boots and socks. A few weeks later I saw her out in public and she smiled deeply at me and pointed at her boots.
We are always blessed with second chances. Big failings, small failings, regrets, etc may always be there….but, we are always blessed with second chances, other moments. Take them.
i pray all the time. God changed my life.
We have been going thru the “read the bible in a year “ app. I would highly recommend this. It breaks everything into small doses and keeps you thinking all day long. With so much bad news daily, it sure is good to read the good news!
I joined a new church a year and a half ago , after participating in zoom Sunday school. The people were nice and welcoming and when church started back in person I was impressed. I’m getting to know the large growing congregation and the pastor teaches from the Bible. We are engaged in a building program mostly to rearrange space,safety, and utilization. Current events do point to needing to think of safety even more in our churches.
As a widow I joined a mixed class including some other singles. We have a Womens bible study in the group at rotating homes. Many are very knowledgeable about the Bible and are Bold witnesses to the surrounding community. I didn’t know how much I needed the change of a church home until I have reaped the blessings. How anyone gets thru our changing world without God is a mystery. It makes me realize I will have to be bolder in encouraging others to put their faith in our risen Savior. We are not imposing; we are offering the chance for a new glorious life I’m Christ.
Successfully beat colon cancer.
Had to go through radiotherapy, then eight rounds of chemo, and finally a 9-hour surgery down in Seattle in January to remove the damage to the organ. But, the pathology report showed no remaining signs of cancer, and the bladder (which the tumor had physically spread to, creating a leak between the two) was saved.
Surgery site is healthy enough to get the bypass undone next month.
Cancer survivor!!!
Amazing news! Congratulations!!!
Congratulations! What a blessing!
Last summer I lost my 95 year old aunt whom I adored. Strong, smart Christian woman, died after falling and hitting her head after getting off a bus.
But 45 years earlier she went through what you’re going through, and lived a wonderful — healthy life for all those years.
Praying for your next surgery and complete healing.
Beautiful!!!!
I bought a generator, had a local guy build me an outdoor shed and wire it into a transfer switch for the eventuality of a power outage that lasts a while. We used my exterior front door I had replaced a couple of years ago. Found a used 100-gal propane tank, mostly full, too. Since the shed was in almost full day sun, I was worried that it might heat up a good bit in summer even with the vents we put in.
So, two days ago, I spent the day lining the whole shed with double-sided bubble radiant barrier, roof and walls between the studs. Screwed in a left-over piece of pegboard that is only 1 foot tall by 4 feet wide, but enough to hang a couple of things. Wrote out the directions for how to connect the generator and have hung it on the pegboard.
I’m waiting for a warm day to see if it makes a difference.
And yippee, yesterday I went to get a gallon of Kilz at Walmart and found on the Clearance aisle a 3.5 gallon contractors’ bucket of Kilz cheaper than the 1 gallon size. So, when the treated lumber on the outside finally is fully dry and the weather is warm, I can paint. (I’ll also have some Kilz to share if someone has a painting project and wants the remainder.)
We used the radiant barrier on our house in 2003, love it. But back then it caused a problem with cell phone reception. We had to go outside to use our phones: ( As cell phones and towers improved we eventually didn’t have a problem. Since then we have built a separate garage and used the radiant barrier. We had 70-degree weather yesterday and inside the garage it felt notably cooler. Some may have been from lower humidity inside, but my guess it felt 10 degrees cooler. Sounds like you have a nice setup.
Good to hear someone else’s take on radiant barrier. I had never heard about it until a year or so ago here on the treehouse. When this project was in the making, I remembered the discussion and thought I would put it under the roof, but had to buy a 125′ roll to get what I wanted. So, it ended up in all the walls as well….LOL!
Found intermittent fast to be a life changer
We dont need as much food as we think, bad eating is all about habits.
Its not that hard to change
I had never heard of intermittent fast until a couple of years ago when a friend was talking about trying it.
The weird thing is I do something similar to this automatically and have done it all my life. I eat lunch, supper, and a snack about 10:00 at night. Then I’m not hungry until about noon the next day. So, my pattern is 14 hours of no eating a day and 3 “meals” spaced about 5 hours apart.
I am over covid.
I will no longer read about who died.
I will no longer read about who needs to be executed.
I have no problem with those who continue to press the cause about this atrocity, but I personally will not give covid one more minute of my life unless it knocks me on my butt.
I need to do this. Thank you!!
At the moment something has knocked my husband and me on our butts and we’re both sick of it. Sick of being sick. Sick of having to take what seems like hand-fulls of pills multiple times a day.
I am over covid, too.
Now I just want to get over covid for good.
I always chime in to share that Ivermectin, HCQ, Zinc and vitamins C & D really are game changers.
I am taking a weekly prophylaxis and have yet to receive a positive Covid or Covid antibody test. In any case, the last thing I will do anymore is to keep running out to get tested.
When people in my household are sick with flu-like symptoms, I’ve only had fatigue and some minor sinus issues, if anything.
People who have multiple bouts of flu-like symptoms should try taking weekly HCQ or Ivermectin for prevention. An added bonus is that IVM also treats long Covid and vax injuries by interfering with spike protein activity.
HCQ and Ivermectin are also used to prevent mosquito-borne illnesses and parasitic diseases, and IVM has been found to inhibit cancers. So for me it’s a win-win-win all the way!
Recently flew for the first time since covid started, for work. If it’s possible, airline travel is even worse than I remember it. Literally was so uncomfortable in coach on two of my flights that I was cramping up, couldn’t find any position that was bearable, and was so packed in next to the window by my two seatmates that I had to sorta hunch over. The policy of charging for checked bags has led to an absolute trainwreck of carry-on craziness. Each person had bags to carry/roll. I had a small roller bag and a laptop bag, and it was super sketchy whether or not there’d be room in the overhead for your stuff. I took the opportunity when offered on my return flights to leave my bag at the entrance to the plane and they checked in (for free) and it was a good thing because there would have been no room for it when it was my turn to board and I wasn’t even in the last group. The amount of fiddling around with your phone now is ridiculous. I probably got 30 different alerts/messages from the two airlines I flew, and in order to claim miles I had to sign up with both airlines frequent flyer programs which was a pain when it should have been simple. For instance, I had to take a picture of my driver’s license to get my name right with United because they messed my name up (jammed my first and middle name together) and I simply went to correct it and that was a requirement. But at least the vast majority of people were maskless. So there’s that.
To my knowledge, the plains have not been radically redesigned. Why don’t they seem to have room for checked bags anymore? Incentivizing people to ship their luggage to their destination by mail or UPS has cut down markedly on the contents of the baggage hold, I’d think. What (if anything) replaced the baggage?
I memorized the Hail Mary in Latin and much of the Credo, Our Father, and Glorius.
‘Oro pro nobis peccatoribus..’.
Instead of tooting my horn how about sundance’s
This sight has been a light to me, family and friends. I share it to many people and the contents they too comment on its richness.
In a dark time this truly has been a miracle, especially the Godly aspect. This sight has weathered storms and not stopped delivering what we need, information, fellowship and hope.
You all may look at this and say it’s great, in my eyes it is impossible at this point in my life and to do what Sundance has done is nothing short of miraculous, IMHO.
Thanks to all evolved and to every poster who delivers and participates in our fellowship.
Definitely reducing sugar, drinking only water or coffee (in the morning no sugar), portion control (1 c. veg, 2/3 c protein, 1/2 c carb) , walking during lunch break, memorizing scriptures, up early for a walk and prayer and more prayer and bible reading before bed. Always start my morning singing “Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below, praise Him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.”
Cut out sugar and processed foods. Practice intermittent fasting. I lost 25 lbs, husband lost 35. His blood pressure meds were reduced to one. Waiting for his tests in April to see his blood glucose and cholesterol panels. Insulin resistance is the issue. Metabolic problems cannot be solved with pharmaceuticals; real food is the cure.
My father and his eleven brothers and sisters were all diabetic. I agree with you, “real food is the cure.”
Please see what Dr. Neal Barnard has to say about diabetes. I am on the second reading of the same book that he wrote: “Dr. Neal Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes.”
Find him on You Tube first. He has changed my life.
I don’t eat anything after 3:00 p.m. each day. I call it “gut rest.”
Try baking vegetables (or stove top) and then putting them in a blender.
You can call it, “veggie sauce” and pour it over most foods. Lentils in
a can are amazing.
Don’t forget to brush your tongue when brushing teeth. All the best.
I stopped eating practically all added refined sugar 10 years ago this spring.
After enough time my taste changed and I no longer enjoy the taste and mouth feel of it. Also my food cravings went almost completely away, and I maintain a good weight now – less than I weighed over 50 years ago in college.
I do try to do the same with refined white flour but that one is a more difficult yen for me. The rare piece of white bread, to me, is like having a piece of birthday cake. I try not to make it often!
Retired Feb 1, 2023. Wife and I have belonged to Gyms and Churches our whole marriage (40+ years). I suddenly have time to take structured gym classes and participate in church small groups. We have even purchased Pickleball equipment and our daughter wants to challenge us. The small groups at church have really focused the study of scripture and enhanced our lives. No meds, no weight issue, no smoking, 15 year melanoma survivor. Went to Grandparents day and the kids were all great. God is Good. Thank you, Jesus.
Two years ago, in 2021, we were in a fight for our daughter’s life. She was 20, a college student, living in her apt. Near campus. During the covid19 lockdowns many of her friends on campus were taking Xanax (prescribed) for anxiety. They started giving her some of their prescribed pills, said it would help her sleep better. She became assured that she needed them, but couldn’t get her doctor to prescribe them for her. She started buying them from dealers around campus. They were all laced with Fentanyl. She became addicted to the Fentanyl, took more and more of them. Had a few overdoses. We didn’t know what she was on, but could tell something was wrong. Her personality changed. Her grades dropped. She tried to push everyone out of her life – even her brothers and us. Finally, some of her friends tried to do an “intervention” with her – they were afraid she was going to kill herself. It didn’t work, so they called us and told us they wanted to take her to an ER and get her to sign herself in. We told her which hospital to go to, and told them we were on our way – an hours drive.
When we got there, no one would tell us anything about her, even though we were on her HIPPARCHUS, because she was 20 and had told them not to. She had it in her head that we had taken her there. We waited 8 hours to talk to the on call psychiatrist. We convinced him to keep her against her will, the next day we got a lawyer to file a petition to commit so the hospital could legally keep her there. She stayed for 10 days, had mental withdrawals, got detoxed, and was released to an out-of-state inpatient rehab for 40 days. She fought their program at first, but when she realized we wouldn’t pick her up until she completed their program, she started complying. They released her to us to start a two month intensive outpatient program that was online. We brought her home and made her get a job. I had already packed up her things from her apt and put it all in storage and cancelled her lease, so she had no where else to go. Through prayers, tough love, and God’s mercy she is clean now. She is back in school making good grades, working part time and lives a very structured life. Praise be to God!!
You are great parents
God Almighty is the best parent of all.
Praise to God and His mercy and grace on all your lives.
You are a great mom.
Menagerie,
For me, you are a lighthouse in a desert. You roused many people attitude forward Life.
People showed how far from Life their life was.
As a MD I can fully understand them. I don’t judge them.
I hope they discover the meaning of their lives: is the right and simple way to be healthy and have a life of freedom.
I moved to South Dakota…It might be more Purple then Red but we the people are fighting.
I no longer feel unsafe because I have found people here fighting & I am fighting with them. SD Citizens For Liberty is a strong group NOT standing idle.
Time to donate to TRUMP. This is change I’m making. He fights for my family, America and I, and I want my action to reflect my appreciation. Where do I send my money directly to Trump. Anyone knows????
I am deleting political posts. Leaving this here so people know. Put stuff like this on the daily presidential thread.
I have been successful with my 2023 resolution to worship daily. We have been moving forward on plans to snow bird in a red state and retire early!
Thank you for this thread. I’ve read through most of the responses and they are very inspiring and motivating. I’m thinking about intermittent fasting/getting healthier, giving up Twitter and going back to practicing acoustic guitar daily.
Since the start of the new year, every morning before cracking open my phone, I immerse myself in God’s word. I’ve been doing the Bible Recap with two friends and each day we share our God Shots-meaningful scripture that truly helps us. We are on day 91 of reading the Old Testament. With all the chaos happening around us, I find such comfort being in His word. By the conclusion of this year, we will have read the entire Bible.
At the ancient age of 57, I decided to pursue something that circumstances much earlier in life had forbidden to me. In December of last year, I purchased a guitar. Due to my age and the misshapen, somewhat less mobile fingers that accompany my age and life’s experiences, going is slow. I’m making some progress. I’ve conquered being able to play the intro to the song that inspired me to want to play back when I was 11yo. If circumstances had been better then, I might have learned it when my fingers and brain were more nimble and adaptable. Still, I’m enjoying it. It may not seem like much, but to me, having delayed it by 46 years, it nevertheless gives me hope, and right now, we could all use a bit of that.
You can do it! I started on my mandolin at age 68, have been playing it just a little over a year – far from accomplished, but can now get through/fake practically all the songs I want to sing with it.
And I can feel the challenge sharpening my brain which does get a little foggy!
i cleaned all my golf clubs yesterday. also raked the leaves from winter and started my snapper.
Started getting up at 4am to do work out on elliptical and weights at home. Previous high blood pressure is now under control without drugs
18 months ago I respectfully declined to comply to a mandate at the public library where I had happily worked for 7 years (show proof of shots or be tested every week, or else!). They gave one week to comply so I gave one weeks notice.
Yesterday I started a new job at a locally owned seasonal ice cream shop. I’m no spring chicken so this was a big step for me.
Nearing age 70. Ride an e-assisted bike on 25-mile rides 2x per week, go to the YMCA 2x per week, walk 2 miles 2x per week. Play pickup basketball with other seniors Monday nights.
Would still like to lose 10 lbs, but feel good and am in good health.
Cancer-free for last 5 years.
Still working as an IT contractor full-time but only 2x a week on site.
I drive a 2023 Corvette.
As my dear late uncle used to say “Life is good, but the news is bad.”
A few more things:
I took up downhill skiing this year after a 20 year absence. I was pleasantly surprised that my knees and thighs did not burn and I was able to regain my advanced level quickly, which I credit to all the bike riding and walking in the last few years.
Best of all, my wife is 14 years younger than I and is attractive. This keeps me feeling frisky like a teenager.
I am constantly told I look more like 50 than nearing 70.
Moving into my 3rd year of learning to grow my own food — the experiment with simple frames using greenhouse quality plastic + a 300 watt low energy heater to keep salad greens + other items growing thru the Winter was a success…
This year, I’m well ahead of where I was the prior 2 or 3….
I have my tomato seedlings started and going. I love to grow the things, but don’t eat them myself. I have a plot at the community garden, where we donate part of the harvest to local food pantry.
Last year I donated my leftover seedlings to a local drug treatment facility. They put in a client-maintained garden for the first time in years and said the clients and staff loved it. They sent veggies home with some of the support staff that don’t make a lot of money.
More importantly, I also plant conservative seeds everywhere I go, when given an appropriate opportunity. I get a lot of sideways looks at first, then have had several great in-depth conversations later on. I try to start with common ground and then ask, ‘What does that look like to you? How do we make this happen?’
Common ground: We love our kids and want a better future for them.
Differences: The definition of ‘better future,’ and the path to getting there.
I don’t know if anyone has changed their minds, but they know I respect their right to make their own decisions, and that I don’t hate anyone.
I started to walk when I play golf. Walking 7 miles and doing an activity that requires intense mindfulness provides a few hours of calm and sanity. Both good to help with my blood pressure. Now about those scores……..
I had to get off here and can’t walk due to about 4 or 5 inches of snow. Pic about 2 hours ago.
Next best thing, I went to the Serengeti with Dr. Evan Anti on the treadmill for 32 minutes.