Ode To Spring

Ode To Spring

It snowed today
Again
Like yesterday
And once more
Snow tomorrow

A harsh winter
That's what they say
Colder than it's ever been
Snow like we've never seen
Spring... it will be late

But I will wait, for like fate
Spring always follows
Spring always comes
Spring has never failed me

Sonya Florentino

I refuse to let the howling wind and blowing snow outside dampen my enthusiasm because I know Spring is just around the next blizzard.  Speaking of Spring, who knew the beginning was in question?  My wall calendar indicates it starts on March 20th but other sources (including my countdown gadget) insists it is March 21st.  I will check the 2011 Old Farmers' Almanac to get to the truth of the matter. 

I am so excited about this Spring because it will be my first serious attempt to grow and preserve our own food. I have been researching the various methods of building a root cellar and cool pantry.  It will have to be inexpensive and hopefully using simple materials easily available. 

But in the meantime Beck, the animals and I are taking it easy and doing the smart thing in this weather:  staying home.  It's now nap time and everyone goes to their own space and their own blankies (no one likes to share personal items). Pushka has to be separated from the others just in case she has something contagious.  As soon as the weather breaks, we will take her to see Stacy for tests.

Grey Kittie (Pushka) is incarcerated until she can go to the Vet.  No, she is not going to live inside! When the temperature is above freezing, she is going back out and that is that.

Gigi just wants to wrap up in her puppy blankie.

Noah just wants a hug and a biscuit.

A human can't hardly find a place to sit around here.

How many times have you heard it said "what goes around comes around"?  It's an old fashioned way of saying "Karma". We are continuously polluting Mother Earth in 2011 as we were in 1937 (only much worse).  Will we (the human species) ever learn?  When we look to the past, have we made any positive changes or are we continuing to abuse the beautiful earth that God gave us?  We are his stewards and we need to start acting like it.

The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself. 
 (Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945), U.S. Democratic politician, president. Letter, February 26, 1937, to state governors, urging uniform soil conservation laws.)

Oklahoma Blizzard 2011

 What the caterpillar calls the end of the world,

the master calls a butterfly.

 Richard Bach

We survived the history making 2011 blizzard here in Oklahoma.  Now it is just snowing and snowing and snowing!  Our driveway has been graded twice by really good neighbors and we still can't get out!  It has disappeared under the frozen tundra that defies explanation even for Oklahoma weather patterns.
Note to self:  Before next winter arrives, buy a four wheel drive pick up truck.  All the cool people have one.

The power stayed on, Thank You Jesus.  Our neighbors and family have  been calling to check on us to see if we need anything.  I love living in the country in Oklahoma (except when we can't escape).  The  simple truth is: people really care about each other. 

Here are a few pics I took this morning when the snow started to fall again:

Southwest View from front porch.

Northwest view from back porch.



Doggie runway .



Looking East from front porch.

This afternoon Becky made snow ice cream so we snapped a few more pics when she went out:

Becky gathers clean snow for ice cream.

Sophie is planning an escape if it ever stops snowing.

Won't be needing these lawn chairs anytime soon.

I know the snow will stop sooner or later because the world doesn't end in a snow-ma-geddon.  This is just a wake up call to let us know we are living in strange times.  The weather man says more stuff falling from the sky on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Note to self:  Read Matthew 24 again to make sure world doesn't end in ice and refresh my memory on signs of the end times.

Simple Living is all about making do with  what you have.  So, I must pose a question here.  Does anyone have a homemade recipe for toilet paper?  We had a case ordered to be delivered on Wednesday to our home.  Guess what?  It didn't make it.

My sister, Joyce, tells me that we must look on the positive side of things.  The groundhog did not see it's shadow so we are going to have an early spring.  I was feeling a little grumpy so I replied, "yeah, but he doesn't live in Oklahoma."
P.S. I wrote this Friday but the Internet connection was so slow that I fell asleep before I could post it.

Neti Pot 101

You already have the precious mixture that will make you well. Use it.
Rumi
I'm sure Rumi wasn't referring to a Neti Pot when this was spoken but I took it as a sign when I came across this today. In recent years, I have suffered from allergies which leads to sinusitis which leads to bronchitis which leads to pneumonia which leads to a very expensive doctor visit and medications.  It is a vicious cycle. 

However, the preventive medicine for this malady has been sitting in my medicine cabinet for over a year, the Neti Pot.  I have avoided using it because it involves water in my nose.  To me, a non-swimmer and scared to death of water up my nose, this was not my first choice in the "heal thyself" scenario.  It has come to my attention, after checking the cost of my last brush with an infection, this is less expensive and painful than a doctor visit (and my doctor uses it herself).

First, let's identify the source of my allergies.  Mm.....surely it can't be.......................cats and dogs?

It's not me. It's HIM!

It's not me.  It's HIM!

It's not me.  It's HIM!

It's not me.  It's HIM!

It's not me.  It's HIM!

It's not me. It's HIM!

It ain't easy being the only guy in a household full of women!

Upon discovering the possible source of my symptoms, I move on to the cure.  The Neti Pot box says "Allergy & Sinus Natural Relief ".  Now your talking.  Then it says "for nasal irrigation" as in nasal=nose and irrigation=water, therefore;  water up my nose.  Oh, boy! Oh, boy!  This ain't no cure for the faint hearted.

Upon opening  the box, I discover a small library of instructions enclosed.  Why can't they just say "mix the stuff in the pot and pour it up your nose?"  They lure you in with "nasal irrigation" and "sinus rinse". 

The dreaded Neti Pot.  Looks harmless enough, huh?

This is a five step process.  First read the Warning Before Using the Product.
Step One:  Wash hands and rinse pot.  Fill the pot with 8 ounces of warm distilled water. Hey, wait a minute!  If you can drown in less than an inch of water in the bathtub, why am I getting ready to pour 8 ounces of water up my nose? 
Step Two:  Put sinus rinse stuff in pot.  Place one finger over the hole of the cap and shake gently to dissolve mixture.
Step Three:  Stand in front of sink, lean forward and tilt head.  Sounds simple so far.  Without holding your breath and with mouth open, apply tip of device snugly against nasal passage and allow the  solution to gently flow until the solution starts draining from the opposite passage.  Ugh....gross.  It should not come in your mouth unless you are tilting your head backwards. (now they tell me). 
Step Four:  Gently blow nose.
Step Five:  Repeat steps 3 & 4 on other nasal passage.  Obviously, if you make it to this step, you didn't drown on step three.

The brochure says a lot of other stuff but this is the condensed version. If my family doesn't hear from me by noon, the first place to check for me will be leaning over the bathroom sink in a puddle of "Sinus Rinse".

Hope this will help you find a "natural" preventive cure for your allergy symptoms.  Natural healing is a staple in any Simple Living household.

Thank you for visiting today.  Hope I didn't bore you with the details.  But as they say "the devil's in the details".  One little detail omitted can change the outcome of a really great idea.