Kids..... ain't they sweet!

The MailMan Honks Once

The Mailman brought me a surprise.
A big brown box.
It didn't say Avon.
That was the only thing I had order recently.
MMMM Marketing Departmet?
Who Markets Meeee?
So I grabbed the scissors.
I sliced open the tape.
.... lo and behold ~ a brown bag with curly ribbon!
It's too early for my birthday!
(It is a month a way.... HINT HINT)
So what could it be?

Well, check it out!
My comment buddy, BarbaraRae, had a little contest
over at her blog, Goal For The Green!
And I won!
Yes, ME!
I won a prize!
I couldn't believe!

Green Batteries!

I thought, ok, I will probably get a pack of AA's.

But, NOPE!

I got a whole bag of batteries!

Thanks BarbaraRae!

Check these batteries out at www.greenfuji.com

They are landfill friendly.
Cadmium Free
Mercury Free
PVC Free

Fuji EnviroMAX batteries!

A ECO-Friendly battery alternative!

What are you up to?

Here it is ~ almost the end of July.... summer is flying away. I just ordered Kyle new strings for his guitar. Sweetie is playing with the dogs on the front porch. Most of all I am enjoying my rare, sort of, day off. There is so much to catch up on. Bill harvested this years garlic crop. It is drying in the barn. The first round of corn has been harvested. We are working on food preservation this year. We have dried corn, carrots, green beans and a few onions. Easy to throw in to a hearty stew this winter.

We are missing Kyle tremendously. He does call when he can. It is hard on his new wife. But the time is passing, just a bit slowly for her. He will be home for his mid tour leave in September. We are all looking forward to that.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer.

Make Money on the Internet

Making money on the internet...... I just ain't figured it out yet. Most programs and schemes out there want money. Now, I am not opposed to investing in an opportunity. I just don't like to go around and throw the money down the toilet. Being burned makes one more cautious. I ask questions of people and get snide answers about doing homework. Well, part of my homework was trying to get a response out of someone who is actually working the program and making it work. I don't want the company hype. I want a real conversation. I am a sales person. I know the buzz words. I want to make money, but I don't want to be suckered in to suckering other people. There are many people out there who are more gullible than I am. I do not want their money.

I try to live frugally. That means controlling my money and resources. I try to make the world a better place. That means not scamming people into giving up money just so that I have it.

So here is my challenge:

If you make a living on the internet, tell me why I should use your program. Tell me why the program benefits you and others.

Remember, I am looking for a REAL conversation!

If you prefer not to converse here, just send me an email.

theoriginalcoffeecompany at yahoo dot com

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The GMO Bandwagon is in Town!

It's been a while since I blogged about GMO's.... (Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are the result of laboratory processes which artificially insert foreign genes into the DNA of food crops or animals. Those genes may come from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals or even humans. GMOs are not safe, but have been in the food supply since 1996. Most Americans say they would not eat GMOs if labeled, but the U.S. does not require labeling.)

I got my copy of Spilling the Beans newsletter today. In it was a fantastic article on GMO's. Spilling The Beans is put out by the Institute for Responsible Technology. You can get your copy by signing up here.

You can join the 30 day challenge by clicking on the image above! We need to put our foot down. We need to shout from the roof tops. We need to pass this on to everyone we know!

GMO's ARE BAD FOR YOU!

This month's article is

Doctors Warn: Avoid Genetically Modified Food

By Jeffrey M. Smith

Excerpt:

GM corn and cotton are engineered to produce their own built-in pesticide in every cell. When bugs bite the plant, the poison splits open their stomach and kills them. Biotech companies claim that the pesticide, called Bt—produced from soil bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis—has a history of safe use, since organic farmers and others use Bt bacteria spray for natural insect control. Genetic engineers insert Bt genes into corn and cotton, so the plants do the killing.

The Bt-toxin produced in GM plants, however, is thousands of times more concentrated than natural Bt spray, is designed to be more toxic,[10] has properties of an allergen, and unlike the spray, cannot be washed off the plant.

Moreover, studies confirm that even the less toxic natural bacterial spray is harmful. When dispersed by plane to kill gypsy moths in the Pacific Northwest, about 500 people reported allergy or flu-like symptoms. Some had to go to the emergency room.[11]^,[12]

[10] See for example, A. Dutton, H. Klein, J. Romeis, and F. Bigler, “Uptake of Bt-toxin by herbivores feeding on transgenic maize and consequences for the predator Chrysoperia carnea,” Ecological Entomology 27 (2002): 441–7; and J. Romeis, A. Dutton, and F. Bigler, “Bacillus thuringiensis toxin (Cry1Ab) has no direct effect on larvae of the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae),” Journal of Insect Physiology 50, no. 2–3 (2004): 175–183.

[11] Washington State Department of Health, “Report of health surveillance activities: Asian gypsy moth control program,” (Olympia, WA: Washington State Dept. of Health, 1993).

[12] M. Green, et al., “Public health implications of the microbial pesticide Bacillus thuringiensis: An epidemiological study, Oregon, 1985-86,” Amer. J. Public Health 80, no. 7(1990): 848–852.

Another excerpt:

On May 19^th, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) called on “Physicians to educate their patients, the medical community, and the public to avoid GM (genetically modified) foods when possible and provide educational materials concerning GM foods and health risks.”[1] They called for a moratorium on GM foods, long-term independent studies, and labeling. AAEM’s position paper stated, “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food,” including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system. They conclude, “There is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects. There is causation,” as defined by recognized scientific criteria. “The strength of association and consistency between GM foods and disease is confirmed in several animal studies.”

More and more doctors are already prescribing GM-free diets. Dr. Amy Dean, a Michigan internal medicine specialist, and board member of AAEM says, “I strongly recommend patients eat strictly non-genetically modified foods.” Ohio allergist Dr. John Boyles says “I used to test for soy allergies all the time, but now that soy is genetically engineered, it is so dangerous that I tell people never to eat it.”

Dr. Jennifer Armstrong, President of AAEM, says, “Physicians are probably seeing the effects in their patients, but need to know how to ask the right questions.” World renowned biologist Pushpa M. Bhargava goes one step further. After reviewing more than 600 scientific journals, he concludes that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a major contributor to the sharply deteriorating health of Americans.

[1] http://www.aaemonline.org/ gmopost.html

Please go register for the newsletter, Spilling The Beans! Read it! Be appalled! Share it!
http://www.responsibletechnology.org/GMFree/AbouttheInstitute/NewsletterSignup/index.cfm

Also visit the Institute for Responsible Technology here for more information.

Our future depends on the people speaking out! If we don't speak out, we may not have a future!

Join the 30 day challenge!

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News from the Homestead!

Meet the Queen of the Homestead!

Our lovely bees came home today and were given a new condo.
Rent will be in the form of delicious, natural honey!

They arrived in this box!

All 15,000 of them!

Except for the Queen and her 6 attendants.

They were given separate deluxe accommodations.

Getting ready to take up residence in their new home.
Sugar the wonderdog, ever diligent in her oversight of all homestead newcomers!

Let's do the bee shake!
With a rather rude awakening the bees were assigned quarters in the condo!

Settling in.

Senior bee master, Sugar, hard at work.

Welcome home little stingers! Make lots of honey!

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Have A Laugh!

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Time Capsule

OK... it's been a while since I have really posted.... just a quicky here and there. Sorry! The last few months have been totally hectic. WOW. I feel like I might be able to catch my breath here soon.

August 2008 ~ 3rd son, Kyle moved back in with me... When you are used to a dog and a couple of chickens.... the change can be hectic! I am so thankful that he did. I got to spend about 4 months with him. In August, I also flew home (Indiana) for my Mom's first surgery. They removed the tumor, but were unable to get to the lymph nodes.

September 2008 ~ Tried to assimilate the changes in to life and had to turn 49 ( that is one year left to the big 50 or half century mark ).

October 2008 ~ I had to endure the long distant turmoil of Mom's chemo treatments. She had a rough time and was hospitalized 3 times during the course of treatment.

November 2008 ~ Son's long distance girl friend moved to a town nearby. He proposed on Thanksgiving Day.

December 2008 ~ Kyle went offfor the first month of predeployment training. My best friend moved 4 states away. Christmas and New Years came and went.

January 2009 ~ Kyle left for 3 months of training. Wedding planning started for a wedding sometime the end of March or beginning of April. I flew to Indiana for Mom's 2nd surgery, which was postponed due to blood pressure complications.

February 2009 ~ Wedding plans continue-wedding now 90% sure in the beginning of April. Drove to Florida to babysit granddaughters. Flew to Indiana for Mom's last surgery. Buck, a lab puppy, joined the family.

March 2009 ~ Final preparations for wedding scheduled for April 10th underway. (Bride had to go to California for 3 weeks for training.) Mom started her radiation treatments in Indiana. I started a forum for blog comment exchanging.

April 2009 ~ Last minute wedding prep and guests arriving and parties and finally the day arrived. My son was married April 10th. The rain held off until after the reception (wedding was outside in the local town gazebo and the reception in party tents in my front yard!) Then the big deployment day came. The ceremony was a nightmare. The venue selected was not large enough to hold the 4000+ soldiers, the families, friends, dignitaries and gawkers. Many tears were shed that day. Then they didn't leave as planned. We went through another goodbye a week later.

The guests are home. The spare rooms is filled with wedding presents and reception decorations. I am now trying to plan a trip to Florida to see my middle child graduate. He is receiving his Masters degree from the University of Florida on May 2nd. There are no rooms left. We adjusted plans because Mom is able to fly down to meet us. Middle child, Brian, is now in preparation to join the Peace Corps in September. I feel another tearful goodbye coming. The only thing left is to find out that number 1 child is pregnant with her 3rd child. Then my year will be complete! LOL

During all of this (did I forget to say that I started a new job in June 2008) I work full time outside the home and run an online gourmet coffee store! So wish me a more peaceful, restful end to 2009 to enjoy the homestead, my sweetie(who has been enormously patient with me during all of this) and my Sugar, Buck and the chickens (totally better than TV!) And on the other side, I promise to keep more upto date with all of my blog friends whose live are just as hectic as mine! The flowers are blooming. The vegies are growing. The chickens are laying. The coffee is brewing. The daily photos are over at My World or Your World. So stop on by and give me a shout. There is always an extra cup!

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