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Summer “Vacation”

Posted on September 30, 2013 | Leave a comment | Edit

“What I Did Over My Summer “Vacation”

It’s been a busy summer and an even busier start to Fall.  We’ve been working hard re-organizing and updating our Chicken Wranglers Facebook Page andBlog. We’ve been moving our back yard city farm around to make better use of the space before the Fall garden has to go in and researching and experimenting with many all natural recipes.

While working hard over the summer, we planned some time off for 4th of July, VBS, two birthdays and getting ready to start school. Then there are those things we didn’t plan to take time off for. The first weekend in September, our AC broke. Here in Florida, that’s no laughing matter. Thank God for overcast days and friends with an AC business! Right after that, something came up and we decided to get some ducklings. They had to stay in the house for another week until they were big enough to go outside. (post coming soon…and a duck house) Then, One of our
hens escaped and was attacked by the dog. We had to bring her in for a couple of days to recuperate. She went in a dog crate next to the ducklings in the kiddy pool…in my dining room. (post coming soon). As if that wasn’t enough, we have been talking about replacing some older girls who aren’t laying anymore, so we got more chicks!

Today, the AC works but has started making a banging/dripping sound (I might need to call him again), school has kind of started, the duck house is built but not painted, the hen is doing fine, ALL the animals are back outside. Back to page and blogs…

Just when I thought it was safe…my daughter wants to change my blog host/provider because she prefers another and has to make a blog for a class assignment. She’s been doing some of my technical work on the blog, so she’s been switching things over all afternoon. This is my first new post from this newblog. What do you think? Do you like her ducky pictures? I think they’re gorgeous. She also took over this post while I was doing something for my younger daughter and I had no idea what was going on. And then sheI wrote the last few lines of this.

What did you do this summer?

Super Healthy Tea

I love my daily "tea"! Local, raw honey; lemon and fresh grated ginger. I rarely get sick or have any allergy symptoms anymore, even with a backyard full of oak pollen.

Honey, like so many super foods, has too many benefits to list here. It contains enzymes, vitamins and minerals. It's antibacterial, an antioxidant and increases the immune system.
Raw honey has bits of pollen that is full of healthy vitamins, minerals and enzymes that are removed during processing.
Local honey has the allergens local to your area, so it helps prevent allergies from local irritants.

Lemon has too many health benefits to list them all.To name a few, lemon is an anti-carcinogenic, antiviral, anti aging, detoxifying, contains many vitamins, minerals, helps lower blood sugar, dissolves gall stones and helps balance PH.

Ginger is an anti-inflammatory, clears sinuses and breaks up congestion. It helps with nausea, digestion, gas, cramps and circulation.

My Super Healthy "Tea" Recipe

Slice a small lemon and place it into a jar. Fill the jar with raw, local honey. Grate about one inch of fresh ginger into the jar. Put a lid on it and turn upside down a couple times throughout the day relieving pressure as it builds up.

The lemon will break down the honey so the honey will become watery.

I use 1-2 Tbs in a cup of hot water or sometimes green tea. I used to drink it every morning, but then I switched to evenings. Now I drink hot lemon water in the morning. More on that later.

Deodorant Diary

In my attempt to switch to a chemical free life, I started with the personal hygiene items that I "need" to use on a daily basis. These items include soap/body wash, toothpaste, deodorant and then not so daily shampoo and conditioner. While there are many recipes for each of these, I started with what I had on hand or could easily obtain.

I have already been using oils to clean my skin, that was easy. Toothpaste was also an easy transition. Deodorant is the last item on my "need" list. Hair care has proven to be a little more challenging, so that will require more reading before my next attempt.

Day 1-
Dear Diary,
I really want to read more about natural deodorant ingredients, but I also really just want to get started. Maybe I'll just put a little dab of this coconut oil I have under my arms while I read more.

Day 2-
Dear Diary,
I got so busy yesterday I didn't get to finish reading about deodorant. I cut the grass and did a few other sweaty chores, but I don't remember any body odor or much sweat. I'll have to try that again...and read more on natural deodorant.

Day 3-
Dear Diary,
Ugh! Our ac froze yesterday! Thankfully it's been overcast and only 87* Although I think it's 90*+ in the house. Still no b.o.! I have to read more about deodorant today. One of my friends said she uses a coconut oil recipe, gotta look this up!!

Day 4-
Dear Diary,
Put on my coconut oil and started looking up various recipes and benefits of coconut oil. Sweat is good! I already knew that, but the smell isn't. Coconut oil can be used alone because it has antibacterial properties, but isn't known to destroy odors, that's where the various recipes come in. Other ingredients such as baking soda, arrowroot and specific essential oils help to eliminate odor and absorb sweat. 
So now, to find those perfect combinations of oil, powder and essential oils to work just right and smell really good!

Plastic Bottle, Funnel, Planter

2 Liter Bottle?
So, I went to make laundry soap today and I couldn't find a funnel...again. If you have kids, you know funnels and kids go together, especially at bath time. Hats, tee-pees, megaphones, it's probably in their toy box. That's a job for another day.




So, what can I use for a funnel? It has to be small enough to fit in the top of a gallon "milk" jug, but big enough to comfortably pour into from a pot. A 2 liter bottle! If I cut it in half I have the perfect size funnel for the job.

Cutting a 2 liter bottle in half not only gives me the perfect funnel, but also a cute little planter.



Now, to finish my laundry soap.


What have you used for a funnel in a pinch?

Vinegar

Vinegar-
I've been cleaning my floors with vinegar for years. A little vinegar in a bucket of hot water is amazing.
I've heard vinegar can be used for many other things, including glass cleaner. So the last time I ran out of glass cleaner, I decided to just use vinegar and water...and wallah! It works.
So what else does vinegar do?

Vinegar mixed with a few other ingredients can do all this and more!
Mop floors
Deodorize carpets
Clean glass
Remove mold, mildew, rust and soap scum on all kinds of items.
Fabric softener
Insect repellent, including termites!

Azalea Fresh Market Growing Pains

**We are not currently at any markets. Azalea Fresh Market does have another produce vendor and several other vendors, even through the summer.**

The Azalea Fresh Market started at the Science Center location January 5th, 2013. Since that time, we have had many vendors come and go. The Science Center location has great potential as it highly visible sitting right on 22nd Ave. N., in a heavily populated area, between Tyrone Mall.and Park St.
Some vendors want an immediate pay off and can't wait for the market to grow, that's okay, God has a plan for this market. The vendors and customers are still coming.
The vendors that have been in regular attendance are seeing returning customers and customers that have heard about them from a friend. That's good news, the word is getting out that Azalea Fresh Market is the place to go! Unfortunately we also have customers that come looking for a vendor that left.
It will be exciting to look back in a year, when the market is full of vendors and customers, to see how far we've come.

March Events at the Azalea Fresh Market

Chickens 101

People ask me all kinds of questions when they find out I have chickens. Now that I'm at the market with a few of my girls, I get dozens of those questions every week. I thought a short, basic chicken lesson would help. For more information, there are hundreds of websites, blogs and pages about chickens. Or maybe someday I'll write a part two. (">

First, let me answer the most common questions.

• No, not all "chickens" lay eggs. Only the female "hens" lay eggs.
• Most young hens lay one egg a day, 5-6 days per week.
• Hens start laying eggs somewhere between 4-6 months old.
• No, not all eggs have chicks in them, only the eggs fertilized... by a rooster...before laying.
• Males and females both have combs and wattles. Most males have more prominent combs and wattles than their female counterparts.
• Most chickens can fly short distances, over fences or up into trees where they naturally roost. 

Next, let's get our terminology straight.

• Adult females are called hens.
• Females that are too young to lay eggs are called pullets.
• Adult males are called roosters.
• Males under 1 year are called cockerels.
• Baby chickens are called chicks.
• A comb is on the top of their heads and the wattles are on the sides of their beaks.
• Chickens loose their feathers once a year in a molt.
• A coop is a hen house with a roost to stand on and a nesting box to lay in.

Finally, here are some other helpful and interesting facts.

• Hens need 12-14 hours daylight to lay eggs. Most free-range hens don't lay during the winter due to the shorter days.
• Chickens live about 5-10 years depending on the breed.
• Some breeds are better layers while others are better for their meat, "broilers" or "fryers".
• Chickens eat most anything. Grubs, popcorn, leftovers and scraps. Feed, water and egg shells and they're good to go!
• DO NOT feed them citrus, avocado skin or pit, raw eggs, salt or sugar.
• They put themselves to bed at sunset.
• Chickens are very social and fun to watch.
• Chickens are easy to take care of. Food, water, hay for the nesting box, a safe place to roost for the night and a safe pen to run around in during the day. Don't forget to check for eggs!

Have fun!   (">

Juicing Recipes

Juicing Recipes:

"Carrot Juice"

-Carrots- 3 large

-Apples- 2 medium cored.

-Lemon- 1/2 peeled and seeded.

-Ginger- 1/2 - 1 inch

"Sunset Blend Juice"

-Sweet Potato- 1

-Carrot- 1

-Red Pepper- 1 cored

-Apple- 1 cored

-Orange- 1 peeled and seeded

-Beet- 1" slice

"Green Juice Cleanse"

-Kale- 1 bunch

-Celery- 4 stalks

-Cucumber- 1

-Apples- 2 Granny Smith cored

-Tomato- 1.

-Lemon- 1/2 peeled and seeded

-Ginger- 1 inch

Tomatoes are Here!

     I love going to U-Picks. Not everyone always wants to go at first, but once we get on the road, everyone is happy. We usually get lunch either on the way there or on the way home. Sometimes we take a few detours along the way, but today was just a quick tomato trip.
     We always go with a goal, today we went to pick tomatoes.We only wanted to spend an hour no matter what else we did while we were out. It only took us 30 minutes to fill our buckets, so we went for a few strawberries. No a lot, the price was a little high for U-pick strawberries. Even though this was a short trip, by the time we were ready to head home, the kids were covered in tomato juice and had strawberry beards.
     It's a good experience to pick your own food. To see where it came from, how it's grown and to appreciate the people that do all the everyday picking of the items you buy at the store. It's also good to see the amazing things God can do.
See you at the market!

Azalea Market Grand Re-opening

***Chicken Wranglers is no longer selling produce or participating in any markets. The Azalea Fresh Market does have a produce vendor, the location and day below is still the same.***

What a great start to a new year! I have a few regular deliveries set up, the opening of the new Azalea Fresh Market location went very well and we got a wonderful write-up in the Sunday, St.Pete Times, 3b. This is my daughter petting the rabbit :)

The produce stand was so busy, I didn't get a chance to visit the other vendors. I did see a little of the Police K-9 demonstration, those dogs are amazing!

Thank you to all who came out, friends and neighbors.

In case you didn't know, the Azalea Fresh Market is now at the Science Center every Saturday 9-3. 

7701 22nd Av. N. in St.Petersburg.

We hope to see you there!

New Year starts with a schedule

     What are your New Year Resolutions?
     This year I want to get more organized. I need organization around the house, but more importantly, in my life. My first area to tackle...again, is time. I never have enough time to do the things I need/want to do.
    I have a great book about scheduling your time, but like most procrastinators, I keep putting it off. My goal to help get organized this year, is to set up a blog by January 1st, 2013. (Check) Why a blog? I'm hoping it will help me to become more organized in my thoughts and goals, and therefore, better with my time. Now I'm ready to get back to the book.
   
I'm  making a chart with the days of the week across the top and times from wake up - bedtime down the side in half hour increments.
Below is an example of a typical Wednesday.
I hope this helps anyone trying to get organized. I already have to do some tweaking on this one. Nap time isn't happening until 2 and I'm not prepared for dinner. I'm going to use this week as a set up and adjustment week. I'll let you know how it goes.

Step 1: Put all timed events on your schedule. For me, this is Sunday- Church 11:00- 12:30. 1st and 3rd Mondays- Ministry 7:00pm-8:30pm....and so on. This would also include work and school. On my physical schedule, I also block off travel time and getting dressed/ready time.
Step 2: Schedule Quiet Time  My earliest riser gets up at 7:00 am now, thank you Lord! So I get up about 6:00 am for quiet time and a cup of uninterrupted tea.
Step 3: Schedule flexible timed events.  Meal times, naps for little ones, nursing babies...Allow for prep time if not included in chores.
Step 4: Schedule chores and extra-curricular activities  Chores are daily, weekly and monthly, and include grocery shopping. Extra-curricular activities include anything from piano lessons to play dates to projects.


     6:00am - dress/breakfast                                2:00pm - (kids nap) projects                            
     6:30am - devotions (blog)                              2:30pm - kids up, changed, snack              
     7:00am - baby-change/dress and feed            3:00pm - (play outside) project-  
     7:30am - chores - feed animals                       3:30pm - (play outside) project-              
     8:00am - family breakfast                   .           4:00pm - kids- bath time                                  
     8:30am - (kids free play) chores - dishes        4:30pm - chores- dinner prep                          
     9:00am -  structured play-puzzles                   5:00pm - Dinner                                              
     9:30am -  pre-school activities                        5:30pm - chores-dishes                                  
    10:00am - pre-school sctivities                        6:00pm - get ready for church                        
    10:30am - chores- errands                              6:30pm - (travel time)                                    
    11:00am - chores- errands                              7:00pm - Church 7-8:15                                
    11:30am - chores - prep for lunch                   7:30pm - Church                                            
    12:00pm - family lunch                                    8:00pm - Church                                            
    12:30pm - chores - dishes                               8:30pm - (travel time)                                      
     1:00pm - (kids nap) projects - market prep    9:00pm -  snacks, bed prep for kids                
    1:30pm -  (kids nap) projecta- market prep     9:30pm - kids bedtime routine                          

If you're doing this with me, be flexible with it.
God bless,
Jodi