Good Medicine

Today I am having a physically bad day. In my wondering why and how to help it, that led me to these thoughts.

All my life I have been drawn to plants and dirt.  I have basically always known I was meant to be a gardener. It was in my heart and my blood, there was no question.  But here lately, in "mid" life, I have come to learn that I may also be a medicine woman. Being a gardener, it isn't a far stretch to using those plants we've been growing as medicine. I mean, aren't we all medicine women and men, in a way? Isn't that really what we're all doing every time we eat? Administering our daily medicine? Food is medicine. It is our main way of receiving the nutrients we need to physically survive. God didn't have to make it taste good, or make it pretty or interesting, but He did anyway. What an amazing part of our creation.

With that understanding, you come to see that anything that makes you feel better is medicine. Whether it be pharmaceuticals, herbal medicine, worship, a good meal, exercise, laughter, hugs, rest, hobbies, whatever. Whether it is labeled as medicine or not, if it lifts your spirit and/or gives you comfort, it has healing properties.  For example, although black tea does have many proven physical medicinal properties, it will not completely cure what ails me today, but it comforts me nevertheless. Medicine it is.

So go drink your tea, eat your veggies, say a prayer, ride your bike, play with your kids, laugh with your people, cuddle up with someone you love, whatever it is, go take your medicine.

Corn Chowder

- Corn cut off of two cobs (I do it straight into the pan and scrape the juice out also)
- About 1/2 stick of butter
- 1 large potato or 2 small sliced very thin
- 1/4 of a red bell pepper (just what I had) diced small
- 1/4 scallion or onion diced small or grated
- 2 cloves of garlic, chopped or crushed
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- sprinkle of paprika
- sprinkle of red pepper flakes
- black pepper to taste
- 3 Tablespoons flour
- 8 Cups chicken broth (made with bullion)

Cut the corn and juices into a large soup pot.
Add sliced butter, bell pepper, scallion or onion, garlic, spices (I also add dry bullion at this time) and cook until butter is melted and peppers slightly soften. Stir in flour and add water (or broth) about 1 Cup at a time allowing it to thicken in between cups until all broth is used. Add potatoes and simmer on low until potatoes are cooked through. Use immersion blender to blend potatoes and all veggies and slightly thicken soup. Add cream if desired

Thyroid and understanding.

It has been three years since I posted here. And what a three years it has been. I started this blog as an outlet for the many voices in my head to be able to express themselves and yet still be buried deep in the internet leaving the world with the choice to read or not to read. And so, if you are interested, well, here is what they have to say tonight.

This is a little glimpse into what it looks like to try to treat hypothyroidism with adrenal fatigue. This is only a portion of what I take everyday so I can function like a halfway normal human being. There is no way to adequately show how this illness FEELS. To someone who doesn't know, everything on the outside might look just fine. But really the body is functioning in slow motion. Below are just a small example of what happens when you suffer from hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue.

- This condition makes you gain weight because it slows your metabolism, but you can't exercise because your adrenal glands can't handle the physical stress. Even the mental stress of a normal day can drain them and big or ongoing stress can cause them to crash.

- Inflammation flares, causing arthritis in your joints, swelling and pain all over and a puffy face and fingers.

- Because your adrenal glands are shot from working massive OT for so long, they are confused and can have days and nights messed up and not understand when it's time to sleep and time to wake.

- A once smart, sharp, organized, efficient person begins to feel, move and live as though their brain has turned to mush.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, I could go on and on. However, even with all these symptoms, most doctors refuse to do proper testing for thyroid issues. And worse, won't even acknowledge adrenal fatigue as being an actual illness. 🤤 I tell you this not looking for sympathy, but asking that if you know anyone who suffers from these illnesses, take these few symptoms I've listed and try to put yourself in their shoes. Try to understand their world. Don't suggest diet, exercise or sleeping pills.  Don't wonder why they're so slow and tired and cranky all the time or why they seem to be struggling with everyday life. This is why.

Life does not need to be crazy in order to be full.

Busy isn't respectable anymore.

Well said.  Life's true value isn't about the stuff or the appointments. I have never understood how so many people seem to truly think they NEED granite counter tops, 3500 sq ft for a family of four, car notes and the kids have to play every sport imaginable. I know people who spend all their awake time either working or running the kids to some sport practice. I mean what is the point of all that, if, to get those things and the supposed status that comes with, we are never at home or even together? I am not saying we should just all go be lazy do nothings. But making sure that when we are busy, it is worth while and productive. And that our priorities are more on values and real life than belongings and keeping up with the neighbors.  I LOVE that he says we should learn to "live within our means".  (My parents always tried to teach us to live this way.) And that our "means" do not require the money to buy 50 pairs of shoes and the newest fanciest car on the lot. (And believe me, that is an EASY temptation.)  I truly believe that God did not put us on this earth just so we could run ourselves into the ground until we die. This is one of my rants.  But it is nice to know that I am not the only one who thinks and feels this way.  There have been years when I have wondered... Life does not need to be crazy in order to be full. Time to get back to real life basics America. It is better that way, I promise. :)

Squash Relish and my musings

While working in my garden I can hear the bees buzzing so loudly that sometimes I feel as though I should take cover or get a bee keepers suit.  But we manage to work together and keep out of each others way.  After all, they are really only interested in the flowers and I am there for the fruit.  So it all works out.  It is funny how they seem to be making their way through the garden.  They started at the cucumbers.  Now they are on the corn and some have moved to the squash.  This weekend I noticed at least three or four varieties of bees working along side me in my garden.  Watching them work, seeing and reaping the benefits of our work together is amazing. Those bees alone are such a testament to the wonder of God's creation that I see no way anyone who gardens (or anything else for that matter) could ever not believe in that creation, that plan. It blows my mind to think that someone could even think up the "big bang" theory.  How could an explosion create anything?  And how could some random "unknown" produce such detailed results? 

This week I happily produced my first batch of Squash relish.  I wish I had pictures, but my phone decided to delete them without my permission.  As a teenager I spent probably too much time at my best friend's house.  Her family canned and preserved their garden and one of my favorite things in the world was her Mom's Squash Relish. We would make tuna salad with it, use it as "chow chow" on peas (that's a Southern thing, if you don't know) and I would even just eat it all by itself.  Last year her Mom gave me the recipe and this year I finally made my own.  We have been (thankfully) overcome with squash.  I purposefully planted lots just so I could have enough to make plenty of this relish.  Below is the recipe and instructions.  Whether you buy your veggies or grow your own, it is WELL worth the work and I encourage anyone to do this. You can use yellow squash, but I used a combo of Yellow, Patty Pan and Zucchini. Also, it is easily halved if you want less. If you make the whole amount you will need a very large bowl ( I used a large roasting pan) for the first portion and a very large pot (my large "dutch oven") for the second part. Sorry, I know pictures would be helpful.  Maybe next time I will get more and will post them here.

Ms. Kay's Squash Relish:

6lbs (10 Cups) of squash chopped or grated (a food processor comes in REALLY handy at this point.)
4 Cups of chopped (or grated) onion
4 chopped sweet peppers ( I used sweet banana peppers)
4 chopped hot peppers (I used cheyenne and only used 2)
5 Tablespoons of pickling salt

Sprinkle over all the above chopped veggies and let sit (covered) for 3-4 hours
Drain and rinse 2 times

Bring the following to a boil and then add the squash mixture:

2 1/2 Cups vinegar
6 Cups sugar
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Cook for 30 minutes (simmering is best)

Put into hot pint jars and put in a water bath for 10 minutes.  I used quart jars and this recipe filled three with about 1/2 a pint left over (which I just put in the fridge to eat now).  So you probably need six pint jars clean, hot and ready.

Add more pepper if you want it hotter.  If you want the juice thicker, add 2 Tablespoons of cornstarch the last five minutes of the cooking time.)

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!

Veggie flowers can be pretty and showy too!

Squash flower (twins!!)

 

The flower beds with annuals and perennials are not the only place to find gorgeous blooms in the garden. The veggie garden will provide some of the most beautiful flowers you've ever seen!

 

Squash plant FULL of flowers

Purple hull peas blooming

Purple hull pea flower

Okra flower

 

     Cucumber flower with a honey bee

 

 

Freezing Basil

How to freeze fresh basil. A great alternative to drying it. 

 

Start with fresh basil picked off the stems and rinsed. 

Then cram it in a food processor or blender.  I use a mini chopper because I make small batches. 

Start chopping/blending it and add a little water.  I used about a Tbsp, but of course you would need more depending on how much you are making.

 

 

 

Then continue to blend until you have a fairly mushy mixture.

 

 

 

Separate the mixture (with all water) into freezer cubes and freeze.

Once frozen put them in a freezer bag to store until you need them.

 

 

 

This is the basil and a couple of lime juice cubes that I did you same way before the lime spoiled.  As you can see, this can be done with many foods and is a great way to keep things that would spoil otherwise.  When you are ready to make marinara sauce or pesto, just take the cubes out and cook or thaw them and you're ready to go with "fresh" basil!