Natural Alternatives (Toothpaste)

This is a recipe for an amazing natural toothpaste. I saw a number of these recipes elsewhere on the internet, and I made a few adjustments...

Coconut Oil Toothpaste

1/2 cup coconut oil
2 tblsp baking soda
1 tblsp xylitol ground into fine powder (optional)*
10 drops flavoring oil (optional) (e.g. citrus, peppermint)

So a couple of things. Xylitol can be used to sweeten this toothpaste up a bit. It also provides some benefit for dental care innately!

The essential oil addition is also just for flavoring.

1. Place the coconut oil into your 2oz glass jar.  Melt the oil by placing the glass jar into a pan of water simmering on low heat
2. Once melted, stir in baking soda
3. Mix in xylitol
4. Add essential oils
5. Let mixture solidify then stir well

Links to things I bought:
Coconut oil
2oz glass jar with lid
Xylitol
Citrus essential oil

Natural Alternatives (Chigger repellent)

Ok, I already posted about tick repellent in my prior post. This solution is similarly themed.

This recipe works extremely well at repelling chiggers and other bugs. For chiggers you need to spray on ankles and legs. For others, you can spray anywhere, even on clothing! It works great and smells fantastic!

Chigger+ Repellent Spray

1/3 cup distilled water
1 tblsp witch hazel
1/2 tsp lavender essential oil
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil


Mix these ingredients and pour into glass spray bottle.

Links to items I used:

Glass spray bottles
Lavender oil
Eucalyptus oil

Natural Alternatives (Tick repellant spray for dogs & people)

Healthy.
Environmentally conscious.

I am striving to consider more and more natural approaches to day to day life and ongoing health.

[rant] Our food supply is tainted by harsh and harmful chemicals; drug companies are motivated by money to develop chemical solutions to illnesses and conditions; and (we should know) that under-informed political watchdogs don't always make the best choices...so...

I have started off with a couple of things that I will share here!

Tick repellent spray for dogs (and people)

1/3 cup of distilled water
1 tblsp witch hazel
1/2 tsp rose geranium oil*

Mix together in a glass spray bottle.

Apply to dog's shoulder blades, base of tail (and I usually apply a spritz to each paw).

This works really well. I have been using Frontline, but want to get away from using the harmful chemicals on my pups.

*Now the thing you need to know about this solution, is there are two kinds of rose geranium oil; for ticks, you need the one with the botanical name pelargonium capitatum x radens.

Links to items I used:

Glass spray bottles
Rose geranium oil

Posterous posts (because I wanted to put them somewhere)

TEDDY BEAR'S PICNIC

If you go out in the woods today
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go out in the woods today
You'd better go in disguise.
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic.
Picnic time for teddy bears,
The little teddy bears are having a lovely time today.
Watch them, catch them unawares,
And see them picnic on their holiday.
See them gaily dance about.
They love to play and shout.
And never have any cares.
At six o'clock their mommies and daddies
Will take them home to bed
Because they're tired little teddy bears.
If you go out in the woods today,
You'd better not go alone.
It's lovely out in the woods today,
But safer to stay at home.
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic
CHORUS
Every teddy bear, that's been good
Is sure of a treat today
There's lots of wonderful things to eat
And wonderful games to play
Beneath the trees, where nobody sees
They'll hide and seek as long as they please
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic

5 June 2012
 

EXTREMES

The scene, Friday afternoon, rush hour, headed into the long Labor Day weekend. Stopped for sustenance at the supermarket, then needed to refuel the car. Trying to cross 5 lanes of heavy traffic - no light. Red light for the folks already on the road, so pulled out. Small white car, seemed to be leaving a gap, so pulled into it. Guy decided that was definitely NOT what he intended so sped up and then honked loudly (and gestured) (and was clearly shouting)... took immediate right into the gas station and the guy follows in...he looked apoplectic and not interested in congratulating us on our fine driving skills. Decided stopping was not in best interest so pulled back out in traffic to head to next gas station. He (fortunately) got stuck in traffic trying to follow us out.
On to the next gas station (really not the next one but a bit further up the road). There was a guy at the next pump who could not seem to restart his car. The starter seemed to be grinding. The woman at the pump behind him was finished pumping and waiting for him to pull out so she could leave. Seeing the man was having difficulty, she got out of her car and said, 'Sir are y'all having some trouble with your starter?" "Yes m'aam I am." "Well you need to try some of this starter spray." She goes up to the open hood of his car and sprays this 'starter spray'. His car instantly starts and he pulls out.

Funny Airplane Story

I was flying home to Charlotte this afternoon and was seated in front of a man who was a 'talker'. He talked practically every minute of the 90 minute flight to the 24-year old man seated next to him. Only pausing to occasionally 'talk' to his very young daughter who was seated across the aisle with mommy.

The topics were many and varied. Talking about Charlotte (a place he'd visited once two decades ago - but apparently knew everything about), the housing market, the fine restaurants, etc., etc, etc. to an extensive and eclectic list of subjects:

(in no particular order)

1.Machu Picchu

2. Rosebud the sled (he couldn't recall the movie from the '40s that this was from - and I resisted the urge to jump into the conversation and tell him...)

3. The importance of staying physically fit

4. That life is not a dress rehearsal - so if you are somwhere and want to see something do it

5. Hitchhiking across Ireland

6. Strange boutique brokerage accounting

7. Changes in Westchester / Stamford areas over the last decade

8. Readiness to 'find the right woman'

9. Pessimism and the deep deep hole we are in right now (economics)

10. Car accidents and related injury (no need for the details here)

11. Others I'm sure however I just can't remember now...

On the approach for landing the man seated next to me says, 'so where are you going?' I reply, 'Charlotte', he asks 'Is that home for you?' I say 'Yes it is.' he pauses then says, 'so did you learn anything on this flight?' ROFL


18 August 2011

out in the world

...so I'm not a big fan of going out alone. Out as in, out to eat, or out shopping, or out almost anywhere, where it seems alien to be alone...however, this particular day, I am alone, and in order to stave off boredom and guilt (staying inside on a perfectly fine Sunday), I decided to go out. First stop, Orem's Diner. Can you say, super crowded. I stood in line, wavering, thinking I should not bother, just go home, then I heard the person in front of me get the news, 15 minute wait... I stepped up to put my name in and the inevitable 'how many in your party' --- yes one, O-N-E --- 'well you can sit at the counter right now if you'd like.' OK, I think, counter sounds good. As I walk up to the counter there is one stool open at the end and I sit down. Immediately one of the Orem's guys steps up and offers me a menu. The lady who was already seated next to me, pointed out that she too, could use a menu. As the first Orem guy handed me a menu, a second, stepped up and said to me, 'you could take the tiny booth at the end if you'd like.' Really? Yes thank you! btw I think the lady next to me was more than a little annoyed about that too. So I took the booth and within a minute the server was there asking for my order. I would mention that clearly there were other folks sitting around me that had not had the chance to order yet. I think I mentioned that the place was mobbed. Anyone, at this point I am feeling fairly good about my brave decision to venture out in the world. I am reading on my Nook and listening to the din that is all around and randomly people watching...so after food, check paid, I walked to my car and then the crossroads...do I go back home? I mean I have been out for what like a whole hour now. So next brave decision. Drive around and see what's next. Slightly lost, I decided to turn around in a parking lot and right there in front of me, Sun Spa. Two hours later I left Sun Spa feeling rather pleased with my afternoon, the best pedicure ever, green tea and complimentary massage...

20 March 2011

don't be afraid...

One morning this week, I was speaking to someone near and dear and was asked about my upcoming day. It was going to be a day where I had to present to a group on a topic of interest. My someone special, was instantly concerned as presenting to a group sounded a bit like public speaking... so the advice came back as:

"Imagine everyone in the audience naked... *pause*...but not the boys, imagine them as clowns... *pause* ...but not scary ones, the funny kind."

19 March 2011

Overheard at the grocery store...

Walking out of the grocery store, there was a mother and two little girls following a few paces behind. The older girl (about 8) said importantly, "The universe is the whole world plus space." The younger girl (about 4) pondered that for a moment and then said, "and Utah?"

 

15 December 2010

 

lies and loss

lies revealed spawn tears // dreams that lingered disapper // you have torn my soul

26 November 2010

Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss

Fox
Socks
Box
Knox

Knox in box.
Fox in socks.
Knox on fox in socks in box.
Socks on Knox and Knox in box.
Fox in socks on box on Knox.
Chicks with bricks come.
Chicks with blocks come.
Chicks with bricks and blocks and clocks come.
Look, sir.  Look, sir.  Mr. Knox, sir.
Let's do tricks with bricks and blocks, sir.
Let's do tricks with chicks and clocks, sir.
First, I'll make a quick trick brick stack.
Then I'll make a quick trick block stack.
You can make a quick trick chick stack.
You can make a quick trick clock stack.
And here's a new trick, Mr. Knox....
Socks on chicks and chicks on fox.
Fox on clocks on bricks and blocks.
Bricks and blocks on Knox on box.
Now we come to ticks and tocks, sir.
Try to say this Mr. Knox, sir....
Clocks on fox tick.
Clocks on Knox tock.
Six sick bricks tick.
Six sick chicks tock.
Please, sir.  I don't like this trick, sir.
My tongue isn't quick or slick, sir.
I get all those ticks and clocks, sir,
mixed up with the chicks and tocks, sir.
I can't do it, Mr. Fox, sir.
I'm so sorry, Mr. Knox, sir.
Here's an easy game to play.
Here's an easy thing to say....
New socks.
Two socks.
Whose socks?
Sue's socks.
Who sews whose socks?
Sue sews Sue's socks.
Who sees who sew whose new socks, sir?
You see Sue sew Sue's new socks, sir.
That's not easy, Mr. Fox, sir.
Who comes? ...
Crow comes.
Slow Joe Crow comes.
Who sews crow's clothes?
Sue sews crow's clothes.
Slow Joe Crow sews whose clothes?
Sue's clothes.
Sue sews socks of fox in socks now.
Slow Joe Crow sews Knox in box now.
Sue sews rose on Slow Joe Crow's clothes.
Fox sews hose on Slow Joe Crow's nose.
Hose goes.
Rose grows.
Nose hose goes some.
Crow's rose grows some.
Mr. Fox!
I hate this game, sir.
This game makes my tongue quite lame, sir.
Mr. Knox, sir, what a shame, sir.
We'll find something new to do now.
Here is lots of new blue goo now.
New goo.  Blue goo.
Gooey.  Gooey.
Blue goo.  New goo.
Gluey. Gluey.
Gooey goo for chewy chewing!
That's what that Goo-Goose is doing.
Do you choose to chew goo, too, sir?
If, sir, you, sir, choose to chew, sir,
with the Goo-Goose, chew, sir.
Do, sir.
Mr. Fox, sir,
I won't do it. 
I can't say. 
I won't chew it.
Very well, sir.
Step this way.
We'll find another game to play.
Bim comes.
Ben comes.
Bim brings Ben broom.
Ben brings Bim broom.
Ben bends Bim's broom.
Bim bends Ben's broom.
Bim's bends.
Ben's bends.
Ben's bent broom breaks.
Bim's bent broom breaks.
Ben's band.  Bim's band.
Big bands.  Pig bands.
Bim and Ben lead bands with brooms.
Ben's band bangs and Bim's band booms.
Pig band!  Boom band!
Big band!  Broom band!
My poor mouth can't say that.  No, sir.
My poor mouth is much too slow, sir.
Well then... bring your mouth this way.
I'll find it something it can say.
Luke Luck likes lakes.
Luke's duck likes lakes.
Luke Luck licks lakes.
Luck's duck licks lakes.
Duck takes licks in lakes Luke Luck likes.
Luke Luck takes licks in lakes duck likes.
I can't blab such blibber blubber!
My tongue isn't make of rubber.
Mr. Knox.  Now come now.  Come now.
You don't have to be so dumb now....
Try to say this, Mr. Knox, please....
Through three cheese trees three free fleas flew.
While these fleas flew, freezy breeze blew.
Freezy breeze made these three trees freeze.
Freezy trees made these trees' cheese freeze.
That's what made these three free fleas sneeze.
Stop it!  Stop it!
That's enough, sir.
I can't say such silly stuff, sir.
Very well, then, Mr. Knox, sir.
Let's have a little talk about tweetle beetles....
What do you know about tweetle beetles?  Well...
When tweetle beetles fight,
it's called a tweetle beetle battle.
And when they battle in a puddle,
it's a tweetle beetle puddle battle.
AND when tweetle beetles battle with paddles in a puddle,
they call it a tweetle beetle puddle paddle battle.
AND...
When beetles battle beetles in a puddle paddle battle
and the beetle battle puddle is a puddle in a bottle...
...they call this a tweetle beetle bottle puddle paddle battle muddle.
AND...
When beetles fight these battles in a bottle with their paddles
and the bottle's on a poodle and the poodle's eating noodles...
...they call this a muddle puddle tweetle poodle beetle noodle
bottle paddle battle.
AND...
Now wait a minute, Mr. Socks Fox!
When a fox is in the bottle where the tweetle beetles battle
with their paddles in a puddle on a noodle-eating poodle,
THIS is what they call...
...a tweetle beetle noodle poodle bottled paddled
muddled duddled fuddled wuddled fox in socks, sir!
Fox in socks, our game is done, sir.
Thank you for a lot of fun, sir.

11 November 2010

bring back moderate (part 1)

 Hanging chads… yep that’s it, the moment we became two Americas. The proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. Now unlike our forefathers of roughly 150 years ago, we are way too civilized to take up arms and go at it, but we will hang back and snipe each other via the airwaves and thanks to the internet everyone can publish exactly what they are thinking – immediately – no cool down, or pencil sharpening needed.

So, in a time where reality TV thrives and personal accountability has all but disappeared, where is the common ground?

Here are some things I think about:

1.       Value action over concept; for example, we value freedom of speech as a concept, but not when people say things we don’t like or don’t agree with.

2.       Talk with fact rather than emotion; Keep points fact based; disagreements are rarely about facts. They are usually about tone, spin, or emotional language. A corollary to this is people don't always mean what they say; motivations matter and money for entertainment is a big motivator.

3.       Look more closely; The Tea Party is not an organization. The phrase was coined by one guy who was upset about one thing. Suddenly gobs of people, upset about all different things have glommed onto this tea party concept. There is no cohesive message. It doesn’t exist.

4.       Show respect; The President is the President. When did we lose respect for the office (Nixon I think)? It’s fine to disagree with policy but let’s not diminish the office. Our lack of respect will carry out to the rest of the world. If we don’t respect ourselves then how will the other countries regard us?

5.       Be forward looking; Stop looking backwards and trying to hold for reparations. History is forged on all decisions, good and bad. The persecution and subjugation of any group of people for any reason is a bad idea, but how about we focus on NOW (and NOW and NOW) rather than history?

6.       Positive contribution is required; Individuals need to contribute positively to society. If you are able to contribute and you are not, then you get no free ride. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness are our rights.

7.       Listen more than you talk; most people are not all-star communicators. They struggle with true meaning and listening carefully helps to find that.

8.       Diversity is our strength; Diversity is a good thing; keeps things interesting and moving forward. Ethnic, religious, racial, perspective, etc.

America is a bit like Alice in Wonderland right now. A total identity crisis. The extremes didn’t work for Alice and in the end, things were sorted out somewhere in the middle.
Different views and all comments are welcomed.

 

2 September 2010

First Day of School

me (to kid): how did your first day of school go?
kid: fine.
me: what did you do?
kid: nothing much.
me: seriously? how about some details?
kid (sighing dramatically): we spent the whole day listening to rules, regulations and expectations.
me: oh.

30 August 2010

My new normal

Ever have those moments where all emotions are in play at the same time? Joy, fear, sadness and excitement. Today I am taking my child to college... her emotions interplay with my own. Today my friend is burying his child. An accident claimed him else he would be college bound.
We are fleeting. Our moments fly by and within those moments we sometimes forget...
And so today goes and I contemplate living in my new normal which is where I don't see my beautiful daughter every single day... and I give a nod to my good fortune that we have successfully navigated to this point...and I vow to remember better.

20 August 2010

Country Music Titles (In an alternate universe)

He Took My Girl And My Gold Mine (And I Got The Shaft)
The Elevator Of Love (Don't Stop On My Floor)
She's The Best Idea (I Never Had)
A Bar Room Brawl (Aint The Same As Therapy)

(compliments of gene)

9 August 2010

Sublime haiku

 brilliant sublime heart // cast away patrician mind // to enlightenment #haiku

8 August 2010

 

Belonging

I slept soundly last night. In my childhood bedroom, the clouded moonlight ghosting through the open windows. It was chilly and the air was clean, fresh, almost fall-like. The first place I ever belonged. It's for sale now, my parents planning to move closer to their kids.

Belonging...to place...is it where you feel peaceful, calm? The place that makes you smile when you look at the twilight skies or hear the name of the state or see the skyline from the plane as it is landing?

My childhood belonging was different then - as I sought to leave - to belong to something else. Going back now thought I can feel the pull, enveloped in nostalgia and bittersweet tones, the feeling of safety and the memories of summer and snow.

For the past almost decade I have belonged to another place and again I am leaving even though my heart clings to it...

I took some photos this weekend, the first bit of creativity in over a month. Perhaps I am ready to belong somewhere else or perhaps I now realize that the places I have belonged to will always belong to me?

On the Rails

Bolts. Connections. An old train. Cared for and maintained, it holds messages from all of it's rides down the rails. Connected to the past and the present.

From a Railway Carriage

Faster than fairies, faster than witches,
Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches,
And charging along like troops in a battle,
All through the meadows the horses and cattle:
All of the sights of the hill and the plain
Fly as thick as driving rain;
And ever again in the wink of an eye,
Painted stations whistle by.

• 
  

Here is a child who clambers and scrambles,
All by himself and gathering brambles;
Here is a tramp who stands and grazes;
And there is a green for stringing daisies!
Here is a cart run away in the road
Lumping along with man and load;
And here is a mill and there is a river:
Each a glimpse and gone for ever!

- Robert Louis Stevenson

Fragments

Fragments is an ongoing portfolio inspired by looking deeper into a scene or image, with different outcomes. In the case of 'equine', as I looked deeper into a pattern on a tile in a hotel I was staying in, I could see (with eyes squinted a bit) the abstract outline of a horse's head.

In 'lights over danube', a chilly nighttime walk along the danube in budapest served as inspiration. The lights danced and blurred across the wide danube looking from Pest to Buda. The river wall reflecting the dancing lights and the scene loses context when considered in fragment.

'green tea fragments' takes on the same effect, losing the context of the cracked and peeling worn restaurant sign into something more serene.

The latest of the Fragments collection is 'sunset weeds' inspired by a late sunset walk where the very low warm orange of the sun was reflected as in panes of glass in a stand of golden weeds.

Probably a lesson here, embedded in the fragments, about complexity, looking more closely and not being afraid to alter perspective.