What is Green and Red?

My son after drinking another green smoothie. Makes me laugh every time he sports the green mustache.

soup and soap for the soul

Soup and soap for the soul.....(for mine at least)....though, I don't recommend eating the soap. 'Ingest' through your other senses.

I made Ian chicken noodle soup from scratch yesterday. It took a long time but the results are far superior to store bought canned. It was so good, none of it is left. Something about this weather makes me crave soup.

Something about this weather also makes me yearn to make soap. So I did:

The melting of the oils phase.

The lye mixing with the goat milk slurry - of which has already melted.

I love this part, when you blend the oils with the lye mixture. For me, it is extremely relaxing. In the beginning, I was always so stressed I would make a mistake. I've learned that most of my soap mistakes can either be re-batched or turned into laundry soap (if no huge herbs are present). Therefore, it's all good.

I can almost still smell it!

Look! It is starting to trace!

This is when I add my essential oils (if any). This time I use lavender my friend Heather sent me. Thank you Heather!

Poured. So pretty!

Being that we moved, I have bubble wrap coming out of my ears. So I used it.

YAY!

Slippery Elm Street

Because the tea I mentioned below didn't work as quickly as I needed to stop Ian's severe diarrhea and vomiting. I tried a paste instead. 2 Tablespoons Slippery Elm powder, honey (probably didn't need as much since the S.E. is already sweetish) and cinnamon. I then add enough water to make a paste. It worked like magic!!! Seriously. I am amazed. But not really. I love nature and herbs. If treated with respect and in a balanced manor, they work for us.

It doesn't taste bad but the texture is a bit slimy. I don't mind. In fact, I am even a bigger

believer in it today then I was a few days ago.

Ian has been really sick. I believe in the power of herbs. I have been making a tea for my eight year old and he is drinking it. I'm thinking I need to save up and stock up on the herb. I'm starting to fall in love with its benefits. It does have a flavor many may find gaggy. But a spoonful of honey helps it go down. I want to try the tea Cindy recommends. It actually sounds good!

About this bit, these are not my words. I'm too tired to even begin righting about Slippery Elm and its amazing benefits. I found an an amazing blog written by a woman named Cindy. Check it out. She wrote all of the following on Slippery Elm:

Just recently, I discovered slippery elm bark (powder). If you are not aware of it, read on! Slippery elm has a number of amazing benefits (particularly for those with irritable bowels); I am a huge fan!

Slippery Elm Bark can be found in the bulk herbs section in your local health food store (or online). I'll give a brief list of the healing properties of the bark and an easy tea recipe which has performed miracles on my digestive track recently. Seeing how many people, especially high stress individuals (that's me!) and Celiacs, have irritated digestive tracks, I thought this information was relevant from Wikipedia and Dr. Karl Smith's informational sites.

Slippery Elm Bark, or ulmus fulva, is an herb from the inner part of the elm bark which is usually sold in a finely ground powder. It hails from the elm tree and masquerades under many names: American elm, Indian elm, red elm, moose elm, sweet elm, rock elm, and winged elm.

It is a very safe and gentle herb and is allergen free (unless you are allergic to elm trees). Slippery Elm Bark herb can be taken by anyone; infants, pregnant women, and the elderly can all enjoy its benefits. The inner bark, normally ground into a powder, is used for a variety of medicinal purposes. The soothing properties of the bark benefit both the skin as well as the respiratory and digestive track.

General Health Benefits and Nutrients:

Slippery Elm Bark can actually sustain life for a short period of time since it is high in many essential nutrients:

• sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, selenium, iodine, copper, zinc, phosphorus, bromine, manganese, and vitamins E, F, K, and P
• It is excellent for those who are sick or have cancer or other destructive "wasting" diseases.
  

Medicinal Uses (internal):

• Digestive Problems:
• indigestion
• cramps
• ulcers
• colitis, gastritis, GI hyperacidity,
  
• kidney problems
• diarrhea and constipation

• wasting diseases
• cancer
• It soothes nausea and is not likely to be thrown up

To take internally: Make an easy tea! See my recipe at the end. I adjust the slippery elm amount and spices to taste each time.

Another great herbal recipe is from Dr. Smith who gives the following: Take equal parts of slippery elm, marshmallow root (both of these herbs soothe and buffer the stomach and GI tract), comfrey (improves digestion), echinacea (fights off infection), and cayenne capsules (acts as a stimulant and magnifies healing properties of the herbs). Many people use honey, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger to naturally flavor herbal remedies.

Medicinal Uses (External):

The soothing and inflammation-reducing properties of the bark make it ideal for:

• burns
• rash (diaper rash)
• sores, wounds
• hemorrhoids and boils

To apply externally: Mix slippery elm in some water to make a thick paste and apply it directly on the affected area.

Heal an Irritated or Acidic, Damaged G.I. Tract:

Take as a hot tea or add to your baked goods, soups, smoothies, or really anything to take for an irritated digestive system.

The bark has been shown to neutralize acidity and protect mucous membranes along the GI tract by coating the membrane surface. This "buffering" of the membranes helps the irritated area (stomach, intestines, throat) heal themselves while the acidic offending environment is isolated from the membrane. The coating action also soothes ulcers.

Heal a Sore Throat or Respiratory Infection:

The acid buffering and anti-inflammatory action of the bark soothes sore throats and relieves dry and irritated bronchi and lungs. It is an expectorant, meaning that it breaks up mucous stuck in the throat or bronchi (as is the case in bronchitis or a cold/flu) and causes you to cough it up. Conditions appropriate for slippery elm usage:

• asthma
• bronchitis
• sore throats, coughing, hoarseness
• tonsillitis
• pleurisy, lung bleeding, and leukorrhea

To soothe a sore throat: Karl Smith, D. C., has a fantastic page on his University Chiropractic website. He has many easy herbal remedies and good looking recipes if you're adventurous. A favoritelozenge recipe of Dr. Smith's: Take some locally grown honey and mix it with slippery elm powder till it makes a thick paste. Add 1-5 drops of peppermint oil to taste. Put in a container with a lid and store it in the fridge. Eat by the spoonful 2-4 times daily until sore throat subsides.

Here is my easy slippery elm tea that really soothes my tummy and intestines. It really helps constipation and is very gentle. I do not get bloated from it, which is rare. Since the powdered bark absorbs the hot water as it steeps, this tea is filling and prevents me from after meal fridge raids for which I'm famous (always hungry since my absorption is still fairly poor). This tea is allergen free and can be spiced up to your liking. If you can tolerate some light coconut milk, or almond milk (careful, Almond Breeze brand has soy lethicin), both are great in this tea. As I've mentioned before, I don't recommend soy milk since unfermented soy is damaging to your health.

~ 1 T. slippery elm bark (powder)
1 c. water, boiling
1 T. sweetener of choice**
2-3 oz. light coconut milk (optional) or other "milk" of choice

** I use organic unsulfured blackstrap molasses (optional) or 1 packet (1 g. total, 10 mg herb) Stevia

spices (adjust to your liking):
hearty dashes of:
cinnamon, nutmeg, caradmon (powdered)
dash of 50-50 cayenne pepper & cinnamon mixture
powdered ginger

Variations: Add 1 T. unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process - it's processed with alkali)

Just boil the water, spoon in the elm powder, and add the spices to your liking. Stir in the molasses (or other sweetener) and "milk" beverage. Drink hot.

Thank you Cindy. I don't know you but I want to give you big hug for all your beautiful information and share a cup of Slippery Elm tea with you.

you look like someone from the 70's, I said & she smiled & said that this time around she'd done it by choice & that made it easier.

Light // Dark

Into my heart's night
Along a narrow way
I groped; and lo! the light,
An infinite land of day.
~Rumi

Coming Soon To My Shop - Jesus

On a side note: Some unknown person (to me) sent a text on my phone yesterday that basically said, "Jesus loves you." Followed with a "Pass it on." The interesting part? I was shooting pictures of this wall hanging when they sent it. Is Jesus trying to tell me something or do I have spies lurking around? Just one of Life's many questions, I suppose.

I Love

LOVE

I love my goofy little men, reminding me to smile no matter what comes our way.

I love Cathrineholm. That one is a no brainer. Who doesn't love Cathrineholm!

I love my best friend Rachelle's heart and art. She has converted me into loving dolls again. Honestly, they are not just for kids but kids love them too! Check her out!

I love my husband. I love that even in this situation we are finding ways to stay connected and to share the love.

I love Heather. She has been another huge influence in my life. Not only is she a great friend but she is an amazing artist. Check out her shop, too!

I love Etsy. No joke. Rachelle introduced me to it, a few years ago. My shop has not become what I envision but it is on its way and that is all I can hope for. There is something very powerful about hope, it tends to keep us going when we feel like giving up. If it were not for Etsy I have no idea what I would being doing right now. Maybe diving through dumpsters. Wait. That isn't such a bad idea!

(I love my little mouse pads that I made. They remind me to check out my shop!) ;)








I love my sister, even when we have sisterly moments. ;) I love that I have been able to share the Etsy love with her and look what I bought from her shop!








I love onions. Not just because they are good for me and good for keeping everyone at bay but because I, too, am like an onion. Or is it ogre? Meh. They are the same thing!

I love handmade gifts from my children. They remind me to stay true to who I am, that I am loved and that sometimes it is super fun to get yourself covered in paint without thought of the final product. The final destination is enjoying the process.

Go Green

As in green smoothie. I have been reading the book Green for Life and while I am no where near consuming enough body healing greens, we are better at it. So, have you had your greens today?

Reaching

I'd rather be a could-be if I cannot be an are; because a could-be is a maybe who is reaching for a star. I'd rather be a has-been than a might-have-been, by far; for a might have-been has never been, but a has was once an are.

It All Started With

It all started with a tiny bit of fresh apple juice, plenty of water, a lump of frozen bananas, one juiced lime, 1 T of hemp seeds and a ton of spinach. It ended with a semi green nosed boy sporting a very green mustache.






It is these moments I value. I do a lot of things wrong in the food department. Green smoothies is not one of them. I feel good that I get several different combo of veggies and fruits into their diets - all while giggling. Got Milk? Nah. But we sure do got Green Smoothie....all over our faces. Yum!