Tomato tea

A cure for the common cold... I think I've found it. I woke up Tuesday night unable to breathe and could not go back to sleep.  Since I do not keep over-the- counter or prescription drugs in my medicine cabinet, I went downstairs to seek help from the Internet.  I found a natural remedy and amazingly enough I had all the ingredients on hand.  So at 2 in the morning I, along with my ever loving husband, made Tomato Tea.

1 cup tomato juice
1 tsp minced garlic
juice of 1 lemon
1/2 ts hot sauce
dash of celery salt for taste
Heat and drink.

I went back to bed and immediately my sinuses cleared up and I was able to sleep. ( I will say that I brushed my teeth very well and gargled with Listerine, first)

I made more TT in the morning and again that evening and each time it helped.

PS.  Hart has discovered a really good tomato juice that he enjoys each morning.  He buys it at Save-a Lot and it is Diane's Garden Tomato Juice, all natural ingredients.  I like it as well.

Last Week

Everyone has them.  Days when nothing goes right or so it seems.  Last week I felt that way. I had a bad cold that I could not shake, it rained continuously for 4 days, a broken tooth which meant I spent the afternoon at the dentist getting a new and expensive crown,  I forgot about Nan's violin make-up lesson, I set off the burglar alarm at the office (and couldn't turn it off), my house was messy and school was difficult.  One week of up-side- down life.  The good news is that I have hope for the week ahead.

"My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken."
Psalm 62:5,6

Two chicks and a fella

Well, we expanded our chicken family. Our intention was to buy two more hens, younger in age than our Rhode Island Reds.  Early Saturday Hart, Nan and I made our way to Tractor Supply in Eden where the farmers of the area bring their small livestock to sell.  Cages of chickens, ducks, rabbits and goats were situated in the parking lot.  We went from pick-up truck to pick-up truck seeking the best additions for our small chicken venture.  The gentleman in his overalls declared to us that his Blue Cochins were just what we needed to make our coop complete.  And they were adorable, with soft bluish feathers and cute little feathers around their feet.  We agreed to buy his last two.  Yet in the cage with these ladies was a rooster, quite a beautiful guy and the old farmer talked us into getting him too.  So we will see if there is a place in the hearts of our neighbors for a early morning alarm clock--maybe not so much on Saturdays and Sundays.  Our rooster, has not crowed yet, he is still young.  Although he is quite happy to follow Adele and Astrud around, and forget all about his own girls.  Traitor!

Adele and Astrud happily eating in their lovely home.

Bea and Patsy scratching for bugs.  Blue Cochins are very friendly and I can even pet them. Their feathers are so soft. Their eggs will be
medium size.

I hope that Clark is a good boy and doesn't disturb our good neighbors.

Adele and Astrud look upon Bea and Patsy as intruders.
I hope that changes soon.

Campbell Soup Jars

Friday at noon Hart and I are headed out the door for our weekly lunch date and shopping trip to our local Goodwill store.  We enjoy out time alone and have interesting discussions over a pot of tea and hibachi shrimp at the Golden Dragon in Madison.  Goodwill is conveniently located behind the restaurant.  We both look forward to Fridays.

Here are some of our Friday Finds:

We were there at the store when an employee was putting out these adorable Campbell Soup Spice jars.  I was going to get a few of my favorite but Hart insisted that I not break up the set and buy them all.  At 50 cents each, I agreed.  We learned that one jar had gotten broken in the back of the store, hence the spare lid.  When we got home I looked it up on Ebay and the set was selling for around 150.00 and we noticed the spice rack.  Hart suggested I go back to the store and hunt around for the rack, which I did and found for 5.00.  So the whole set up cost us under 20.00.  I have it listed on Craig's list.

Nobody here but us chickens...

The chicken coop is finished and it is a masterpiece, built by a master craftsman, my hubbie.  I thought we'd have a simple affair but this is the Ritz of coops.  That done, we found a chicken farmer in Stokesdale and made the short trip to his place.  We got to pick out our chickens from among the 350 that he raises and sells.  He did inform us right away that he had some chickens that we could not afford, in the 70.00 range and up.  Needless to say we agreed.  We settled on two Rhode Island Reds and Farmer Mike tried to give us a free rooster, but we said we thought our neighbors might complain if he awoke them before their alarm clocks.

Here are pictures of the chicken coop in progress.



We placed it in our fenced in garden for obvious reasons but also so we can let the chickens out when we are up there working.

Bedding for their sleeping quarters.  Behind me is their nesting area and all I have to do is lift the flap and gather the eggs.



Gigi gets very excited about seeing the chickens but doesn't disturb them when they are walking around the garden. Not sure if she is jealous of the attention they get and the food, or she is just curious.





Meet our girls, Astrud and Adele.  They are 6 months old and in about 4 weeks or so we will have fresh eggs.

PS. " Nobody here but us Chickens" was a popular song from the 40's and it really is cute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnyB0a8G71Y  this is the '56 remake.