Thursday, February 26, 2015

Guest Blogger: Sheila writes about investing in your dreams


Meet Guest Blogger, Sheila Eismann, third in her family lineage of five female authors, speakers and poets, who endeavors to be an encourager with a sense of humor.  Sheila’s newest release, Heart to Heart from God’s Word ~~ Daily Encouragement for You, doubles as a yearly devotional and prayer journal.  Stirrings of the Spirit, which chronicles ten true life stories of God’s miraculous intervention in the lives of many people, is showcased along with Sheila’s other literary endeavors at www.desertsagepress.com and www.sheilaeismann.com



INVEST IN YOUR DREAMS!
I sat with rapt attention as I listened to a recent interview featuring a 14 year old farmer; however, I did not have to stay tuned until the end of the podcast to determine that this young man had already discovered his zeal for everyday life. In addition, he had managed to unlock one of life’s most important lessons, which is to invest in yourself in productive ways.

The entrepreneurial route can manifest at any time during our lives, but for Caleb it began at the ripe old age of six as a result of interacting with animals, reading books and spending time with his friends from church.  At this juncture, he realized he really wanted to live in a rural area.

 After turning eight, Caleb and his family met some friends in the Homedale, Idaho, area who raised cows and sheep.  He liked cows, and his twin sister, Hannah, preferred sheep.

Since it’s a challenge to raise critters on the size of a standard city lot, Caleb’s parents looked across the fruited plain for suitable property upon which to help their son launch his dreams. 

Hailing from the coastal lands without much agricultural experience under their belts, the family enrolled in the University of Idaho class titled “Living on the Land.”  Following the completion of this course, it was time to roll up their shirt sleeves, don their straw hats, and go to work.  The ground needed some tender loving care, especially the pasture which was dormant. Watering and mowing were the remedies applied for quick restoration. The addition of grapes, fruit trees, bee hives, and a large garden made for long farming days in the beginning stages.

  Caleb’s parents, Tony and Jodi, purchased two sheep for their twins.  The first acquisition included a set of ewes.  Caleb and Hannah used monies from their small savings accounts to buy two wethers to raise and sell.

Caleb’s Katahdin Sheep 

Using their heads for something besides a hat rack, Caleb and Hannah proceeded to purchase a ram from the Portland, Oregon, region during the fall of 2013.  Their parents blessed them with the addition of two more ewes. Caleb and Hannah decided upon the heritage breed of sheep known as “Katahdin,” which do not have wool so you do not have to shear them.  In order to arrive at this conclusion, the family attended a local sheep shearing session and carefully observed all that was involved in the process.  Caleb’s assessment was along the lines that “there’s a little bit more than meets the eye to this sheep shearing business and I don’t think it’s for me!”  Also, it can be difficult to locate someone to help shear your sheep if you do not have a large number of them.

For those of you who may be interested in purchasing one of Caleb’s lambs in the future, the Katahdin breed does not have the fat layer between the hair and meat like the “wooly” breeds do.  As a result, there is not as much lanolin, which greatly affects the flavor. 

Caleb’s farming style is known as “Management Intensive Grazing” and requires moving the sheep at least once per day.  Suffice it to say, proper fencing is needed along with the desire and physical energy to keep up with this strict regimen.

 The flock increased in the spring of 2014 to eleven lambs, which included two sets of twins, two sets of triplets, and a single.  Oh, by this time Miss Hannah must have been smiling from ear to ear since she loves sheep! And, can’t you just hear the increased bleating at this point in this blog?

Farming days flew by, and Caleb realized that he was truly enjoying his role as a young entrepreneur on The Good Shepherd Farm.  He offered to purchase his sister’s one-half interest in the ram in addition to acquiring more ewes.

Having been raised on a farm as a young girl, I know that there are a lot of inherent risks to any agricultural venture.  Caleb discovered this early on when one of his sheep developed parasite problems in 2014.  The de-worming method was used to help cure the parasitic issue; however, since Caleb’s animals are raised organically, he had to discount his selling price by $1.00 per pound because the meat no longer met the stringent criteria.  Caleb’s honest business practices were rewarded, and he was able to sell the lambs to his customers.
Caleb’s Turkeys  

While Caleb was busy tending to his flock, Hannah became interested in raising turkeys. She bought fifteen turkeys from Ohio, ten of which arrived safely in Idaho. Unfortunately, five of them died en route.  Attrition via the family dog and cat accounted for the loss of two more of the turkeys.

Caleb and Hannah selected a breeding pair of turkeys and commenced experimenting with collecting, incubating, and hatching the poults until the proper time for them to be sold.  Unfortunately, Hannah developed allergy problems as a result of the grasses grown in the pasture, so Farmer Caleb assumed full responsibility for the rafters.  The surviving lot was sold in the fall of 2014, but Caleb kept two toms and two hens for breeding purposes.  Sixty poults were hatched in 2014, of which 20 were sold, and Caleb retained 40 of them.

But, not so fast with this turkey part of the story!  Turkeys just happen to have a few challenging traits along with other creatures.  Caleb’s turkeys are the heritage variety and require a good enclosed area because they can fly.  The broad-breasted turkeys can’t fly because they weigh more than the heritage breeds.  So you really have to watch those turkeys because they have a mind of their own.  Does this help to paint a vivid picture for you of anything else in life?

By now you have probably been able to surmise that Caleb was not only running a small profitable business but helping to feed his family along the way, including their beloved pets. The pivotal point of his early farming venture came when Caleb sold his first lamb and netted approximately $70.00 after raising it for five months.  He suddenly realized that he could do the same thing with raising his own lambs and making more money to expand his agricultural operation. Caleb started out with one ewe and now has six breeding stock.  When he got his first ewe, he was not planning on selling any sheep, yet in 2014 he sold five lambs.  A future goal is to sell not only meat but breeding stock too.

A fortuitous door opened just prior to Caleb’s 15th birthday when he approached a landowner in the valley and asked him if he could rent some ground upon which to seed additional pasture.  At the time of the writing of this blog, a one and one-half acre field has been disked, harrowed, planted and corrugated with the advice and assistance of Caleb’s good friend and agricultural mentor, Caleb.  Hold onto your farmer’s hat for just a minute.  Even the number of “Caleb’s” is growing in this article!

When asked if Caleb had prepared a formal business plan or a marketing budget prior to launching his enterprise, he respectfully answered, “No.”  One of the reasons for this was that he originally desired to start a cattle operation, but later decided that he liked sheep.  So this humble venture began as two little sheep in a family pasture on 1.4 acres of land.  In addition, writing a formal business plan ahead of time can be a daunting task and may discourage someone from even attempting to start a small business.

My observation of the young farmer featured herein is that his motto will take him a long way in many profitable directions and fulfill his dreams:

·         Always be honest

·         Work hard at what you are doing

·         Be consistent with the project

On a personal note, I love to visit the Good Shepherd Farm!  Now while it might not contain “Six Geese a Laying, Five Golden Rings, Four Calling Birds, Three French Hens, Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree,” it does feature:
Caleb’s Bees

·         Six Ewes a Lambing

·         Five Busy Bee Hives

·         Four Flying Turkeys

·         Three Baby Ducklings

·         Two Morning Doves


·         and a Kestrel in a Cherry Tree!


Resources:  www.offincome.com
You can catch up with Sheila by visiting her Author Page on Facebook or visit her website.
Sheila's Sagacious Stirrings

Visit my Guest Blogger page to get to know all my blogging friends.
Happy Running!

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Tuesday's Training Tip: Cross Training

Go for a ride to break up the monotony

This training tip piggybacks off of my last tip, Strength Training. Cross training can be any physical activity that differs from your regular workout routine.  Strength training is one type of cross training for runners, while running is a form of cross training for wrestlers, football players, or anyone trying to increase endurance for their favorite activity. Running makes me a better skier and biking makes me a better runner.

Here are a few quick benefits of cross training -

  • Engaging in varied physical activities breaks up the monotony of your sport.  No matter how much you LOVE your sport, you can benefit from a change of pace.
  • Cross training can strengthen neglected body parts.  Runners tend to have weak Gluteus Maximus.  This can result in Sciatica issues.  A little strength training and yoga can help.
  • Cross training can expand your social circles.  I love my running buddies, but if I only run, then my workout friends are limited to those few friends who run.  Biking, swimming, and tennis can broaden your circles.
  • Cross training can remind you why you love your sport.  If you find yourself in a rut, take a few days off and do something different.  You may find yourself craving that run, ride, or gym time that you had been dreading.

Question: Do you have a training tip you would like to share?  I would love to hear about it.  Leave your suggestions in the comments below.

Tune in every Tuesday for more training tips and visit my Training Tips page to find all the tips you may have missed.



Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!
Happy Running!
Carol - aka Running Granny Green


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Thursday, February 19, 2015

Guest Blogger: Curtis Q.Purrhead III writes about self-care

Meet Curtis Q. Purrheadd III.  He is a cat with a few things to say about taking care of ourselves.
 
 
A Cat Explains Good Self-Care to Humans
By Curtis Q. Purrhead III

      I laugh when people say they hate cats (and then I usually rub through their legs or otherwise subtly ignore them). If these folks (and others) would stop and think about it, their feline foes have many lessons to share about good self-care. I am a classic example of good self-care so let me begin with my story.

      My name is Curtis Q. Purrhead III and I am 15 years old which is pretty impressive for a cat but even more impressive for one who has the Feline AIDS Virus. I demonstrated good self-care from the moment I met my human (Jane Freund) 13 years ago. I wanted food and shelter on a permanent basis, which she had, so I sat on the ledge outside her kitchen window and meowed until she let me inside. She did so and my basic need was met which is a measurement of good self-care.

      But my good self-care did not end there but rather only just began. Let me make my case with another classic saying about cats: "Dogs have owners and cats have staff" is spoken to say that cats have expectations that others will help them out. Well DUH, of course we do! Self-care isn't limited to doing things for ourselves. For example, I can't operate a can opener to get food so I have to rely on somebody who can (such as a human with opposable thumbs).

      Another example of cats as self-care experts is that we sleep so much. That's because we have lowered expectations which is also important in good self-care. The people I've seen who lack good self-care often have to-do lists that are longer than their arms. Some folks should be called human "doings" instead of human "beings'. We felines don't have that problem as we choose relaxation over trying to finish terminal to-do lists. They don't call them "cat-naps" for nothing!

      Also, cats keep self-care pretty simple such as demonstrated by how we play. Have you ever noticed that cats can turn just about anything into something to play with? We make toys out of string, balls of paper, rubber bands and the list goes on. Even dogs can practice good self-care and entertain themselves for hours by chasing their tails. Play and thus good self-care comes easier when a game can be made out of most anything.

      Finally, we cats practice good self-care by showing our feelings. When we are threatened, we hiss, arch our backs and sometimes even growl. When we want to be petted or picked up, purring and circling through a human's legs often gets the job done. Yes, we may seem to demonstrate our feelings by looking at a human like s/he is dumb. But if a human values a cat's opinion to determine self-worth then s/he should spend more time looking within himself or herself and less time staring at a cat. Perhaps when I'm not practicing good self-care, I'll blog about that topic.
 

Since Curtis Q Purrhead III was busy practicing good self-care, he had his human (Jane Freund) type up this blog post for him. So here's her story: Jane Freund is an author, speaker and book coach based in Boise, Idaho. She has written or co-written 16 print, audio and electronic books including "Best Friend Worst Enemy – Overcoming Self-Sabotage in YOUR Life" and "Wily Riley the Coyote Conqueror". Previously, Jane taught Communication for ten years at Boise State University. Her books can be found at https://www.etsy.com/shop/JaneFreundship and on Amazon. You can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/janefreundauthorspeakerandbookcoach. Also, you can find Curtis Q Purrhead III on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/curtisqpurrheadIII (and his page has more likes than Jane's does).

Visit my Guest Blogger page to get to know all my blogging friends.
 
Happy Running!

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Book Excerpt: The Doily

 
 Here is an excerpt from Milk Cans and Quilt Blocks.  This perspective helps me more fully appreciate our differences.

The Doily


I am not much of a crafter.  I haven’t the patience for it.  Cutting and sanding wood, painting cute faces on it, gluing on hair, fastening a hook for hanging – none of those things really appeal to me.  I would rather visit while someone else does the crafting. I have often blamed my real job, lab work with its tedium, for my dislike of crafts.  I craft all day!  Why do I want to do it for fun?

Ironically, I have one hobby that falls into the crafting category.  When I was ten my oldest sister, Kaye, taught me to crochet.  I made something for a Barbie doll to wear and one small doily.  I learned that to correct a mistake properly, one must pull out all stitches looped after the mistake.  This can be extremely frustrating if the project is extensive and the mistake has been overlooked for some time. 

Over the years, I have crocheted sporadically, usually making a doily for an event or occasion, using it to justify time spent in front of the television, or to pass the time during a long road trip.  Occasionally, I have made an afghan or baby booties, but I prefer doilies.  My favorites are large table top doilies with intricate patterns that take several weeks to complete.  Often I have pulled rows of stitches out in an attempt to make my doily perfect.
 
I have been known to take on projects unrealistically.  So it was that I determined to make large doilies as graduation gifts for nine of my daughter’s friends.  I began in October.  When the New Year arrived and I had completed two, I knew I was in over my head!  One evening as I was tearing out yet another row, I grumbled about it to Marie.
 
“I could go a lot faster if I could just quit making mistakes!”
 
“You should just leave them.”
 
“I can’t just leave them. It would affect the whole doily.  Every mistake would just get bigger and it wouldn’t work out!”

“Then just fix it.  The mistakes give them character.”  She replied.  I was a bit frustrated that she didn’t see the severity of my dilemma.
 
Two weeks later as I was about to pick out another row, Marie’s words came back to me. 
 
“Just fix it.  The mistakes give them character.”

If I was going to make my goal, I couldn’t keep back pedaling.  I had to move forward, and I could fix it.  Much like writing around an obstacle in a story, I could add a stitch where one had been dropped, or drop a stitch where one had been added.  Most mistakes could be fixed so as not to mar the entire work. And so I did. 

I have a special apron embroidered for me by Grandma D.  When I have occasion to wear it, I trace the stitches with my fingers locating the mistakes that are there.  Grandma D passed from this life years ago, but as I study my apron, I am always reminded of her.  I wonder what may have interrupted her as she was working.  I treasure my apron partly because I know that nobody has one just like mine.

A doily is much like a life.  Woven of a single thread, it has many turns and changes along its way.  Not every stitch is perfect, and like each of us, there are places where mistakes are made and flaws occur.  In spite of its faults, the end result is a thing of beauty.  Even the mistakes are appreciated in that they contribute to the unique quality and impression of the doily.  May your life be like a doily.  As you progress along your path, learn from your mistakes, continue onward, and form yourself into a thing of beauty and experience.

Find all my books in my Etsy shop or on Amazon and Kindle.

Happy Running!

Friday, February 13, 2015

Food Friday: Chocolate Thud Cake


This is our Go To recipe for birthdays or any other reason we have to bake a cake.  At the Green House it is preferred straight from the 9 X 13 pan with this frosting.  It's a scratch cake and it's heavy.  You probably guessed that from the name.

Chocolate Thud Cake

2 eggs, beaten
2 C sugar
1/2 C shortening
1/2 C cocoa
2 C flour
2 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla
1 C boiling water
1/2 C sour milk*

*To make sour milk, put 2 Tbs vinegar or lemon juice in milk. Let stand 5 minutes.

Put all ingredients, except boiling water, in a large bowl.  Mix until barely moistened.  Add boiling water and mix until smooth.  Pour into 9x13 inch pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes.

Top with your favorite frosting recipe like the one found with my Favorite Sugar Cookie recipe.

Find more of my favorite recipes HERE.

Question: Do you have a recipe to share?  Comment below.

Happy Running!
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Thursday, February 12, 2015

Guest Blogger: Kristey writes about love


Hello! I'm Kristey. I love to write, it soothes me, and some of it may interest or even help someone. I gave birth to 4 amazing people, and I live in a sleepy little town outside of Boise Idaho, where I drive a school bus! I am an active member of the LDS church. I love to laugh and tease, but I have a mean streak that most people will never see.  I can be a little eccentric at times. I love to look at train tags, and I can never get enough chocolate. I dream of water often, and love to be in it or near it. My favorite beach in the world (so far) is Point-No-Point Beach near Kingston, Washington, where I lived for 8 years. I am constantly at battle with a weird, re-appearing black monster in my head and I am prone to addictions. I love to help people talk out their problems, and feel better.  I am not big into animals, but I can appreciate them.  I hate spiders, bullies, and seafood. I hope to be a published writer someday!

 
BIG GIRL
I am a big girl. I have always been a big girl.  I spent a huge chunk of my life hating myself, for that reason. I hated the fact that not only was I ashamed of the way I looked, but I felt powerless against the people constantly pointing out my size, or ignoring me because of my size.  I felt powerless to stop my self-loathing - always wishing I was thinner, trimmer, smaller.  I was never happy with my appearance, and always watching for someone to give me that "ewwwwwe" look.  Always looking for the perfect outfit that would make me look good.  Always wanting to be beautiful.  Always wishing for guys to pay attention to me like they did the thin girls. Never wanting anyone to really look at me, because they would see all my insecurities bulging out of my skin. 
 
It is ironic to me that being "more" of a person (aka fat) can make you feel like "less" of a person.  Less valued.  Less worthy of love.  Less than human.  Less feeling.  It is one of the most looked down upon, prejudiced conditions that a person can be in.  Big people get discriminated against all the time.  Big people are often stereotyped as lazy, smelly, gluttonous, without discipline, and unattractive. Here's the thing: is being big REALLY the worst thing a person can be? What about a liar? A cheater? A mean person? Think about it … people don't snicker and point when a mean person walks by!
 
Okay, let’s get to the point . . .
 
I'm not advocating that we shouldn't take care of the bodies we are blessed with; we should be doing all we can for our health.  I am saying that when all is said and done, EVERYBODY deserves love!  Yep. We can love ourselves no matter what!! Too thin? You can still love yourself. Too tall? Yep. You can do it.  Stinky? Love yourself. And guess what? Iit works for other things, not just body types!! Missed a deadline? Love yourself anyway.  Are you a sinner? Love is the answer.  Bad hair day? You guessed it. . . love. Ate half a cake?  You know the answer! 
 
Every person in the world has a problem.  Fat is my problem. (One of them, anyway) but everybody deserves to love themselves.  Everybody has a DUTY to love themselves.  Most of the true and lasting changes I have made in myself were because I loved myself!!
 
Love is a VERB, an action.  Something we DO.
 
How do I love me? Let me count the ways   . . .
 
*I try to workout and take a walk every day, because it makes me feel better - physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally.  It’s just good for me.
*I limit sugar and processed foods because they make me feel worse - in every way. 
*I remind myself that everyone has flaws and insecurities. Mine just happen to be really obvious.
*I do the best I can. (Most of the time.)
*I tell myself "I love you.”  I just look in the mirror and do it.  Then I smile because I feel good.
*I am kind to myself.  Would I say the things I tell myself to another person?
*I remind myself over and over as many times as it takes that my Father in Heaven loves me too, and it’s all going to work out fine.
 
Love is power! If you really want to improve yourself, try starting with loving yourself unconditionally.   If you are a big person, take that big restroom stall! Take the front seat in the car because you can't climb in the back!  Smile at those people who are looking at you from the corner of their eye when you eat in public! It doesn't matter what they are thinking! You know something that they don't. You know you are every bit as important, special, and worthy of love as anyone else on the planet! And that's true no matter what your problem is :)
 
Kristey Jensen
 
 
Visit my Guest Blogger page to get to know all my blogging friend.
 
Happy Running!
 
 
 


Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Book Excerpt: Rolling Hills

 
I am sharing another excerpt from my new book today. This one is from the "Proceed With Caution" section.
 
From The Hard Run: Painful Lessons from a Running Granny
 
Rolling Hills

My rural running routes present a lot of variety. At first glance one might think I only have farmers’ fields to view while logging miles. However, within a four mile grid I can encounter a number of crops, both low growing and taller than an elephant, paved roads and dirt ditch banks, winding canals and a rushing river, steep inclines and rolling hills, and livestock and wildlife including horses, pigs, egrets, snakes, blue herons, and the occasional white pelican. I could go on about the draft horses, cattle, geese, and skunks, but that is a discussion for another time. It is the hills that I wish to expound upon here. 

In the previous section (When Pain Means DON’T STOP!) we looked at the way purposefully conquering a hill can prepare one for smaller challenges that occur unexpectedly. This essay, however, examines the ways that rolling hills offer a rest to allow a runner to recover and extend his workout. When I encounter a short steep hill, I remind myself that it will be difficult, but only for a short time. Most often, a short steep uphill is followed by an immediate and equal downhill. This knowledge helps me tackle the challenge. Not only do I know that the incline will not last for long, but that my lungs will be rewarded with a rest as I allow gravity to work in my favor on the approaching downhill length. That short reprieve is often enough to strengthen my resolve to tackle the next rolling hill. It is definitely helpful to my physical ability to take on another hill.

What did I learn from the Rolling Hills Lesson?

During times of adversity, it is important to observe the joyful moments for they will help us through our trials. If we look for them we can find those moments.

Several years ago I watched a friend undergoing chemotherapy treatment for lymphoma. She always put on a brave face when she was in the company of coworkers and friends. After losing her hair, she began wearing a wig in public and a turban at home. On one occasion she shared something she found comical. All of the hair on her head was gone except for a tiny tuft about a quarter inch in diameter right in the back of her head. She laughed and commented that she felt like one of those fellows that shaves his head, but leaves a braid in the back. This experience broke the ice for her acquaintances to be able to discuss with her some of the concerns and discomforts she was enduring.

My home in the Treasure Valley of Southwest Idaho is a beautiful place. We have some of the most colorful sunsets ever witnessed and they occur regularly. Unfortunately, we have another phenomenon that also happens regularly. Many winters the valley experiences a weather inversion. These inversions occur when cold air is trapped below warmer air. They can last for weeks on end. No matter how blue the skies or how warm the temperatures are above the inversion the cold air remains in the valley creating a smog-like atmosphere that the sun does not burn through. For many, the weeks on end of cold gloomy weather wreak havoc on emotional health and even present physical challenges for those with respiratory concerns. There are, however, some moments of reprieve if one takes notice. 

Hoar frost is a heavy buildup of ice or frost crystals that seem to grow daily upon trees, shrubs, fences, and grass during a weather inversion. Although this hoar frost is a result of adverse conditions in the atmosphere, it paints a beautiful white landscape. The lack of air movement during the inversion allows these frost crystals to stay in place until they become so heavy they begin to fall to the ground in a mock snowstorm.

A change in the weather is the only hope of moving an inversion out of the valley. Thus, the wind that is so often a springtime nemesis becomes a welcome guest. Snow and rain in all their wetness and inconvenience are also gratefully received as they clear the air and promise blue skies upon their departure.

A drive upward and outward of the valley can give the sufferer hope as she reacquaints herself with sunshine and blue skies. When viewing an inversion from above, it appears fluffy and bright white, inviting enough for the onlooker to imagine diving into a sea of fresh cloudy foam. Winter inversions are one reason I snow ski.

When I was in the fourth grade the only grandparent I had really known, my Grandma Nelson, passed away. I remember going to her funeral services and crying most of the day.  It was my first experience with the death of a loved one. I also remember being a bit disturbed that not every member of my extended family was shedding buckets full of tears. How could they be so happy at a time like this? I have since learned that death is inevitable. It is, in fact, a very critical part of our eternal journey. I have also learned that while we might miss our loved ones and mourn their passing, it is not disrespectful, unkind, nor unhealthy to remember them with joy and laughter. These occasions also present opportunities to reconnect with loved ones that may live far away. During these times of mourning sharing the company of those we love and finding pleasure in the moment will help get one through the sadness. Healing can begin.

Do not suppose that a mournful heart and a downtrodden disposition is the only way to get through life’s trials. Look for happiness and humor along the way. Those things will bring a reprieve from the physical and mental exertion and will help bring you through challenges.

So ... What did you think? Please leave feedback in the comments below or on my Facebook page.
 
Happy Running!