Hand Lotion

Making your own hand lotion is simple, inexpensive and it has no chemicals or preservatives to soak into your skin. It takes three ingredients: olive oil, emulsifying wax and water. Emulsifying wax is available from mountainroseherbs.com and here is the link for the hand lotion recipe asonomagarden.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/how-to-make-handmade-handlotion-w-label-download/

Update: Vegetable Glycerin may be added for a more moisturizing lotion. Now that I have made several batches I like it best with 1/2 of the lowest recommend amount of glycerin. I use 1 Tablespoon glycerin to the 1/4 c oil, 1/4 c emulsifying wax and 1 1/4 cups water.

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake

Flourless Chocolate Cake
From Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People by Jennifer Cornbleet

1 1/2 cups raw walnuts, unsoaked (I used macadamia nuts)
Dash salt
10 pitted medjool dates, unsoaked
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
2 teaspoons water
1/2 cup fresh raspberries, for garnish (optional)

Place the walnuts and salt in a food processor fitted with the S blade and process until finely ground. Add the dates, cocoa powder, and optional vanilla and process until the mixture begins to stick together. Add the water and process briefly.

Transfer to a serving plate and form into 5 inch round cake. Cover with plastic wrap. Cake will keep for three days in the refrigerator or two weeks in the freezer. Bring to room temperature before serving.

2010 Reading

In the Heart of the Rockies
An Adventure on the Colorado River
by G.A. Henty

"The excitement of voyages to India or China and back was as nothing to that of a gold-seeker and hunter in the West, where there were bears and Indians and all sorts of adventures to be encountered."


The Good Master
by Kate Seredy

"Jancsi had never had the measles- he thought it must be something wonderful to have. And she was delicate, the letter said, too, so she was coming to the country. A delicate city cousin, who had had the measles- that was something."


Publish and Perish
by Sally S. Wright

"He lay down on top of his comforter and watched the fire, while he contemplated the twistedness of the human soul."


The White Horse King
The Life of Alfred the Great
by Benjamin Merkle

"Whether it was an innate quality in the Wessex blood or perhaps a common quality that arises in men who defend their homeland, the soldiers of Wessex regularly managed to hold their ground despite being significantly outnumbered."

"They had to despise the nearsighted purchasing of today's peace with tomorrow's freedom and see it for the cowardice that it was. They had to prefer to die a gory death in a hopeless combat than to live a craven life having betrayed the king and the people of Wessex. The pagan invaders could not have conquered a nation who understood true nobility."

"The combination of military offence and defense is nicely paralleled by Alfred's work to revive learning in the Latin Language, along with a major push for literacy in the Anglo-Saxon vernacular."

"It seemed to Alfred that oath-keeping truly was the virtue that most clearly distinguished a Christian nation from a pagan nation."

"An entire generation of English leaders, men who had been trained in the courts of Alfred to understand wisdom, justice, righteousness, and the true duties of a ruler, had been raised up..."

Almond Butter Cookies

Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from Clean Eating Magazine

1 cup unsalted almond butter
3/4 cup sucanat (or sugar)
1 large egg
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp sea salt
3 oz dark chocolate, broken into small pieces (or chocolate chips)

Mix together first five ingredients until well blended. Stir in chocolate. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and let cool for 15 more minutes.

For an egg free version I use 1 teaspoon Chia Seed soaked in 1/4 cup water. I also add 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum.

Body Scrub

Coconut and Vanilla Brown Sugar Body Buff
1 1/4 cups brown or raw sugar 6-8 tablespoons coconut oil
15-20 drops vanilla essential oil (or substitute vanilla fragrance or flavoring oil. Follow package directions for proper measurements)

No refrigeration is required, but for maximum freshness and fragrance, please use within 6 months.

Recipe from Organic Body Care Recipes by Stephanie Tourles.

I used apricot oil rather than coconut and added cocoa powder.

My Nephew

My nephew wearing a hat I made.

Gift from Theresa

My friend Theresa made this lovely hat. Thanks Theresa!

Knightly and the Bunnies

salad for my mom

From Clean Eating Magazine
March/April 2010

Citrus Rice Salad
2 cups cooled brown rice, cooled to room temperature
1 recipe Orange herb Dressing
1/2 cup fresh orange slices, halved and membranes removed
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 small red bell pepper, diced
red and green leaf lettuce for serving (about 3 to 4 leaves), optional
1/2 oz toasted unsalted pecans, chopped

Place rice into a large mixing bowl and toss with Orange Herb Dressing, orange slices, parsley and red pepper. Refrigerate until ready to serve (can be kept in fridge for up to 5 days)

To serve, line individual serving plates with lettuce leaves, if desired, and arrange 1/2 cup Citrus Rice Salad on top. Sprinkle with pecans.


Orange Herb Dressing
2 tbsp fresh orange juice
2 tbsp white balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp fresh tarragon, minced, or 1/2 tsp dried tarragon
1/2 tbs fresh oregano, minced, or 1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp orange zest
sea salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together all ingredients. Refrigerate until serving or use immediately. Store in a sealed container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

I made the salad a little differently by mixing the lettuce in with the other ingredients, using dried parsley, roasted mixed nuts and by adding alfalfa sprouts.

2010 Reading

All Things for Good
The Steadfast Fidelity of Stonewall Jackson
by J. Steven Wilkins

"There was not another man like him- he was born for war. His contemporaries stood in awe over his audaciousness and 'battle sense.' His enemies feared him. His friends rejoiced at the mere mention of his name. Military experts and historians hint that he may have been the greatest military mind of all time."

"Rather than willfully violate the known will of God, I would forfeit my life."
~Thomas J. Jackson

This Northern gal is for the Confederates!


The Cabin Faced West (re-read)
by Jean Fritz

"Ann lifted her chin. Well, she was going to plant another vegetable garden in the spring. It was important for her to do it. She was important to the Western Country. George Washington had said so."


Twelfth Night
or, What you Will
by William Shakespeare

"Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage..."

A Tribute to God's Providential Provision Part 2

On a January morning in 2007 I decided I need a gaby, which is an IV I had received at Born Clinic years ago. I had forgotten about Born Clinic, but the Holy Spirit prompted me and I was convinced that an IV was all I needed to heal. Although that was naive it was also God's providence. I could handle getting an IV. I could not handle knowing everything that would happen throughout the year. God mercifully gave me one step at a time. When I called Born Clinic they scheduled me a few weeks out with Dr. Born. Not confident I would live that long I called again and was given an earlier appointment with Dr. Hendricks. Marigene Betts drove my mom and I to that first appointment and took me several other times. Dr. Hendricks told me that everyone has a chance and I didn't have to do anything I didn't want to. Those two statements were precisely what I needed to hear and gave me confidence and trust in Dr. Hendricks. His credentials are better than any patient could ask for and yet the fact that he was willing to work with what I was willing to do was what meant the most to me. Dr. Hendricks proved himself to be a knowledgeable and excellent doctor.

I began vitamin c IVs and nutritional IVs with trips to Born Clinic three times a week.. My mom drove through Michigan's fierce winter weather. When we had vehicle problems friends and family loaned us a vehicle. Several of my friends as well as my brothers, their wives and my dad took a turn driving me to Born. My friend Anna took me every Friday for a few months. Those Friday's were not a pleasant time to be with me as the vitamin c IVs often made me ill. Anna did not shy away from any task in taking care of me. My mom used those days to wash my sheets and catch up on household chores.

The IV room at Born is staffed by Liza and Kim who took excellent care of me. Dr. Hendricks received a call from them almost every time I had a vitamin c IV. None of them complained, but quickly took care of everything. Liza and Kim answered many questions and made every effort to see I was well taken care of. If you have to be poked they are the ones to have around. Liza and Kim have always been compassionate and thoughtful.

In April I started UV treatments along with the IVs. Dr. Hendricks sent me to a surgeon and I had various tests at Metro Health Hospital. In July I was admitted to the hospital. When I left I was put on TPN IVs at home. Over the next few months I was in the hospital a few times and had surgery in September and December. God gave me a great surgeon in Dr. Ryan Figg who was always very good to me. The staff at Metro Hospital took great care of me. Rita in the radiation department and Mary and my other nurses were most kind.

Throughout that time I continued nutritional IVs at Born Clinic as well as acupuncture. Acupuncture has been extremely beneficial. When I first went to Born I was in a wheel chair and not able to move my right leg. With acupuncture I was able to walk a little more after every treatment. Dr. Wong was at the Born Clinic the first several months. After he retired I started acupuncture treatments with Arkadiy. After my first surgery I went through withdrawals from pain medication. This was a miserable time in my life. I was shaking and not able to sleep for a couple of weeks. After acupuncture I slept for six hours. It was wonderful. Since then Arkadiy has helped me with any problem and has been invaluable to my recovery.

When I became ill I wanted to go abroad for treatment. I was not interested in the painful and invasive treatments common in America. Financially it was not an option to travel to another country. However, it wasn't necessary. God gave me the most excellent care in the world just over an hour drive from my home. To Dr. Hendricks, Arkadiy, Liza, Kim and the entire staff at Born Clinic I will always be immeasurably grateful.

A Tribute to God's Providential Provision Part 1

Three years ago I was very ill. My blood work was so bad I was told there was nothing to be done. I remember my mom sleeping on my floor and at the foot of my bed listening for any sound I made. It was exhausting for me to speak a single word. My dad brought me a hospital bed and other home health care supplies I needed from Airway Oxygen where he works. Our friend Marigene checked into getting hospice and gave of her knowledge from many years experience as a nurse. As we prayed I would live we also prepared for me to die. And so I set about planning my funeral. In the midst of the pain, tears and constant struggle to get better I did enjoy planning my funeral. Pastor Brian Spencer from Calvary Baptist Church in Battle Creek and my friend Bob Hegerberg from Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home graciously came to our home to assist me. Funerals can be expensive, but having read enough to know it doesn't take a lot to bury someone I wanted mine to cost as little as possible. My Aunt Colleen was going to take care of printing a funeral program, my coffin would travel in my dad's truck and my brothers along with our friend Ricky and my friend Tim would lower my coffin into the ground with ropes. Ropes worked in the wild west and they would work for us. There were only two things remaining to secure: a grave and a coffin.

My friend Anna and I had visited a home church shortly before I became ill. The ladies of that church kindly visited bringing gifts and praying with me. Kimberly let me know that her husband digs graves. I imagine it was awkward to offer such information, however, I was elated. I was going to die. I needed a grave. God provided.

The Burke family had been helping us by picking up needed items, cleaning, and doing other things for my mom. Marci often called to see if we needed anything. Brian, Andrea and Allison brought me gifts and notes and read aloud to me. Mr. Burke offered to build my coffin. Again, I was elated. I was going to die. I needed a coffin. God provided.

Within a short time I had everything I needed for a funeral. God knew I wouldn't need a funeral at that time, but I didn't know and in His mercy His provision was complete. When death appeared so close it was a comfort to know my funeral plans were set.

This summer Marci Burke mentioned to my mom that she thinks of me when she sees their library shelves. This puzzled my mom until Marci explained that their library shelves are built with the wood Mr. Burke had set aside for my coffin. When Mr. Burke offered to build my coffin I checked that off my list assuming when I died he would throw something together. However, he had taken the time to set aside wood and they had purchased a book on how to build coffins. It may be a small detail, but to me it is a vivid example of God's provision.
It seems a fitting use for those boards to now hold books as reading is a delight of mine. I was expecting to die and yet every night, "I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me." Psalm 3:5

Making Soap with Miranda