"Natural"

We see this word used on so many of our food labels these days.  The good news is that there are a lot more people trying to eat healthy and there is a much higher demand for healthy food.  The bad news is that there is not a lot of truth left in the food industry these days.  The companies who produce our foods are aware that there is a market for healthy, organic and "natural" foods and they are using it to their advantage.  Typically speaking, this is to our disadvantage.

Consumers, for the most part are very gullible.  I mean, after all, don't we want to believe that we are being told the truth?  It's in our nature, and it's really sweet and Godly.  However, wake up!  We are being sold a bunch of crap and being manipulated into believing that it's good for us.  I am not saying that every food company in the world is evil...just most of them ;).

So, the point?  Well, I wanted to find out what this term "natural" really meant...so I did.  Natural most certainly does not mean organic.  You see, even the FDA has fairly stringent guidelines for a company to be able to claim that they are organic.  Probably not strict enough, but it's about as good as we are going to get at this point and time, ok. The FDA doesn't really do much to monitor what the companies are doing who claim to sell these "all natural" products.  They may claim to be, but they are not.  Don't believe me....look in to it and come to your own conclusion.  There are companies out there who are claiming that their products are natural after they are processing them with chemicals and unnatural products, stating that they came from a "natural" source to begin with....I guess.  It's totally bogus.

Let's take deep fried foods for example.  Heating foods to extremely high temperatures in oil and dousing them in processed salt.  Is that natural to anyone?  Or what about the hyrodgenated oils you see on a lot of "natural" products?  There is nothing natural about these oils that are heated to extreme temperatures, which cause trans fats to be introduced.  How about hiding the term MSG in products by using the names like yeast extract and autolyzed or hydrolyzed proteins?  Well, just think about it this way.  You know how organic items have to have the seal on them that says "USDA Certified Organic"?  There isn't even a seal for the term "natural" because it's a suggestion, not a requirement.  Listen.  I could bore you all day with this stuff, but this post is getting a little long. 

My point is that the term "natural" doesn't mean squat and in almost all cases, it is not going to guarantee you that you are buying a healthy product.  This doesn't mean that there are not some reputable companies out there that actually do sell healthy, natural products.  There are some good places out there, but you have to be smart.  You have to read the labels of the products that you are buying and know who you can trust.  That takes time, I know.  If it's important to you, you'll do it.  Maybe reading this will at least get you thinking about those "natural" products you buy and perhaps you will look into them a little further.

Also, there are a few places that I have bought food items from that I know are a good source, but they don't have the USDA organic seal on them.  Some places really do sell awesome, organic products but can't afford to jump through all of the hoops to get their products certified.  Just use your judgment and ask questions.

Summertime

I used to think that spring was my favorite season, but when I really think about it, there are so many things that I absolutely love about summer.  Lately we experienced those warm rains that have that distinct smell, something that only happens in the summer.  I love that kind of rain(well, unless it decides to go overboard). It's the kind of rain that I would envision the people from the movies dancing in.  Dorky, I know.

What about the days being longer so you can stay up later and sleep in?  Not having a schedule and planning fun things, but only when you feel like it.  Oh, and the warm nights.  Sitting out on the deck, having a drink and just talking.  Having your windows open and feeling that classic breeze starting to come in.  I love that. 

The feeling of walking outside in the morning and feeling the crisp, cool air and then feeling the first warmth of the sun on your skin.  This sounds so dorky, but it's true.  The kids getting to play outside all day long if we want to.  They get as dirty as can be and only come inside when I make them to eat, sleep and poop(well...that's another story).  I just love watching them play outside, finding things to do to entertain themselves with sticks, dirt and all the animals.  It's amazing how they never get bored outside...ever. 

The garden.  Ahhhh.  Those of you who enjoy gardening will totally know what I am talking about.  There is something so totally awesome about planting a garden, tending to it and watching all of your stuff grow.  When you get to eat it, it's even awesomer(yes, I know that's not a word).  I go out to my garden sometimes three or more times a day and just poke around, sometimes just to admire it.  Oh, wow, this is kind of embarrassing.

Driving the car with the windows down.  All the yummy summer treats and the BBQ's that only happen this time of year.  Strawberry shortcake, grilled meat, cold salads, etc.  There are so many good things to eat during the summer.

I don't know.  I just really feel like I am enjoying this summer more than any summer before.  I am so insanely blessed to be able to stay home with my kids and enjoy all that summer has for us human beings.  God is good.  I hope that you all enjoy your summers and the joys that there are to be had.

A few things about chickens.

We have kept chickens for about 5 years now.  Other than a dog, they are the first animal that we brought to our place in the country.  We had heard that they were cheap, easy to care for and gave you eggs.  We decided to give it a shot.  I thought I would share my experiences with you.  Again, I only have 5 years experience, so go ahead and find someone else who knows a lot more.  I probably would.  I recently heard that Dallas is allowing residents to keep chickens in their backyard.  That is awesome! 

So, here are some tips and tricks that we have learned through trial and error:

• Chickens are disgusting creatures and will eat nearly anything.  This includes all table scraps(except raw potatoes for some odd reason).  I even give mine the old chicken carcasses after I cook one and they will eat it up, including the bones.  It is a great way to get rid of any waste, less for the garbage can and better on the food bill as well.  The chickens will also need some type of chicken food that you can buy in 50 lb bags at the feed store for about $13.  If you want to know what I feed, let me know.  I found a good deal on great food, way better than the feed store stuff.  They will eat all day long and so we only throw as much as we think they need and let them fend for themselves on pasture.  If your chickens aren't allowed access to gravel or other very small rocks and what not, you will need to get them some little rocks they sell at the feed store.  The chickens need those to process the food in their guts.  If you end up with soft shelled eggs, they aren't getting enough calcium.  I throw mine egg shells and the food I feed them has oyster shells in it and I haven't had a problem.
• Chickens will scratch up your yard, pretty flower beds and peck everything to death.  We have nothing pretty at our house, but if you have a manicured lawn and flower beds, you will not want to allow your chickens access to it.  It will be bug free, but also scratched and pecked to death. 
• Chickens poop a lot and poop on everything.  They will poop on the sidewalks, on the driveway, decks, etc.  So, something to consider.  I have to spray my sidewalks with a hose a lot and it's a pain in the butt and makes me mad.
• They will not lay eggs every day or year round and how much they lay depends on numerous factors.  During the winter we only get half or sometimes even less of the eggs we do during the warmer months.  Putting a heat lamp or even just a light with a regular bulb in their coop is supposed to help during those winter months because it tricks them in to thinking the days are longer and they get a little more heat.  I wouldn't want to lay an egg if I was freezing my butt off either.  Hens will also stop during the time when they are moulting which happens for about a couple weeks one time a year.  I really think that having a rooster(only 1) helps with egg production.  So, depending on how many eggs you want to get, should play a role in how many hens you should get.  I have 15 laying hens right now and get between 6 to 9 eggs a day.  That is more than we can eat as a family, but we sell some of them.  During the winter months I may only get 3 a day...
• The little buggers can fly better than you think.  We have had them fly over an 8 ft fence and could probably fly out of something higher.  If you need to keep them contained, you can clip their wings, but keep in mind that it's something you have to continue to do when the feathers grow back.
• They lay phenomenal eggs.  Well, that's if you are treating them right.  See my previous post on the nutrition of eggs here.  You need to allow your chickens to graze on pasture or grass, whatever you have.  The eggs cannot be compared to those from the store.  They are just way better and it's cool to get your own eggs.
• They need a coop.  Anything that keeps them dry, has a place for them to lay their eggs(lay boxes), a place to roost and can keep them safe from predators will work.  If you want to get fancy, there are many factors to consider and I would suggest you look at some plans online.  There are definitely things that I would change about mine had I known what I know now.
• Remember when I mentioned that they were gross and pooped a lot?  Well, you will need to clean their coop regularly.  I use straw on the bottom of ours.  I put a thicker layer right under their roosting area because that is where they will poop the most.  I also put straw in the lay boxes and have to change that more often that I change the straw from the floor.  If you don't keep the lay boxes clean, you will end up with dirty eggs.  That will happen sometimes even if you have just cleaned them, but that's life with chickens.  I clean the coop about every two weeks, but change the straw in the lay boxes once or more a week, depending on the need.  I just scope it out each day I gather the eggs.  The straw is great for use in the compost pile if you have one. 
• Mites and other diseases.  There are like 10 million things that chickens can get.  We have had mites, but now we dust the coop with diatomaceous earth and haven't had a problem since.  We have had a couple that just got diseased and we have no idea what it was.  Those are the times it's nice to have a heartless husband who can take care of that little problem ;).
• They are so fun to watch.  I love watching them peck around outside and my kids have had so much fun with them.  They are not too much work, but like with any pet, they do require care.  Feed them, clean up after them, give them water and grass and you should have some pretty happy chickens. 

I hope you consider keeping chickens if it's right for you.  They really have been fun to have and I never see us without them.  If you haven't ever kept chickens and are interested in knowing more, I would be happy to help.  If you are a fellow chicken person, please share your thoughts. 

What in the world can I clean with?

I asked this question myself at one point and time and went on a research quest to find what kind of cleaning products I could use in my home that wouldn't be toxic to my family and the environment.  There are a lot of really great products out there that are non-toxic, but most of them come with a hefty price tag.  Being the cheapo I am, I decided that I wanted to try and make these products myself.  I found out it's amazingly simple and cheap.

I use vinegar and baking soda for nearly all of my cleaning needs.  I will break this down in to areas of the house to make it more simple.

Kitchen:  I clean my counters with diluted(about half and half) white vinegar and water.  If you want to get fancy with it, one of my genius friends(thanks to Lisa Preston) told me that you can soak orange peels in it for added potency and smell.  You could also add some essential oils in there for smell and their many other cleaning benefits, depending on the oil that you are using.  For my sinks I sprinkle baking soda all over the inside of the sink and then spray the sink with my vinegar solution I just mentioned.  It's bubbles up real nice and then I use my brush to scrub the sink, rinse and voila!  Dish washing detergent....don't ask me about this one.  I've made my own, but the recipes I have tried suck.  I'm at a loss.  Any ideas, throw em' my way!
Here is a recipe I found for an oven cleaner that I want to try out:
1 cup or more baking soda
Water
A squirt or two of liquid detergent

Sprinkle water generously over the bottom of the oven, then cover the grime with enough baking soda that the surface is totally white. Sprinkle some more water over the top. Let the mixture set overnight. You can easily wipe up the grease the next morning because the grime will have loosened. When you have cleaned up the worst of the mess, dab a bit of liquid detergent or soap on a sponge, and wash the remaining residue from the oven. If this recipe doesn’t work for you it is probably because you didn’t use enough baking soda and/or water.

Bathroom:  I clean the sink, tub and toilet the same way as I clean my sink.  Throw in some baking soda, add the vinegar and scrub.  Comes out great if you ask me.  I do cheat and have Clorox wipes(they are bad, I know) to clean up the rim of the toilet in between scrubs because I have a little boy and sometimes you just need a quick wipe if ya know what I mean...  You could easily use vinegar to clean the rim, but I am lazy at this season in my life.

Living areas:  To deodorize any carpet or couches, I sprinkle baking soda on them, let it sit and then vacuum it up.  I use vinegar, water and essential oil of my choice to mop the floors.  I use a reusable towel thing to dust with.  I don't have any furniture that I polish.  If you do, there are some great recipes online.  Here is one I found:

1/2 teaspoon oil, such as olive (or jojoba, a liquid wax)
1/4 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice
Mix the ingredients in a glass jar. Dab a soft rag into the solution and wipe onto wood surfaces. Cover the glass jar and store indefinitely.

And for your windows, this is a good recipe:
1/4-1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent
3 tablespoons vinegar
2 cups water

Put all the ingredients into a spray bottle, shake it up a bit, and use as you would a commercial brand. The soap in this recipe is important. It cuts the wax residue from the commercial brands you might have used in the past.

And then there's laundry.  I have made several attempts at making my own laundry soap and those recipes have worked out just fine.  Do a simple google search and you will find a recipe.  I recently found a great deal on an all natural powder detergent that I can buy cheaper than what I can make it for.  It all depends on what fits your needs.  Beware, however of the recipe that you will find most often on the Internet that includes fels naptha soap.  I used to make this until I looked in to fels naptha a little more and found out it's a pretty nasty soap.  You can use any other type of castile bar soap instead of it.  It's so much cheaper to make your own and you can with only a few ingredients, typically including bar soap, baking soda and washing soda.

There are a ton of recipes online.  If you haven't already, I suggest you look up recipes that work for you.  Or you can buy the expensive stuff.  Don't forget to read the labels, because you could easily be tricked in to buying something that claims it's healthy and it's really not.  Trust your source.

Throw out the bleach and other toxic chemicals.  They suck and are totally unnecessary.

Well, have fun cleaning the house.