Saying goodbye to an old friend

See that cute little guy right there?  That little guy is, well, was, Buddy.  Buddy came to us back in 2002.  It's actually kind of a funny story.  My neighbor found him running around in the middle of a busy street.  He stopped, picked him up and brought him home.  Problem was, my neigbor had 2 female dogs and the little guy he brought home wasn't fixed.  So everyday, looking out my office window (I worked from home), I would see the little Yorkie just sitting in the backyard.  I began to feel sorry for the little guy and one day, after my neighbor had left for work, I snuck over and got him and brought him back to my house.  I gave him a bath (he was pretty stinky) and observed how he interacted with the kids.  We called him "Little Buddy".  Then in the afternoon, before my neighbor returned home, I would sneak back over and put him back.  This went on for some time but then the little guy began sitting at the fence, staring straight into my office window, barking for me to come get him...EVERY night.   They would call him to come in and he would pretend he didn't hear them.  I knew my gig was about to be up, so I got up my nerve and went to call on the neighbors.  I told them that the kids loved him and that we would be happy to give him a home.  They happily gave him into our care and that is where he stayed until this past August.  I asked what they were calling him and they said, "We were just calling him Buddy."  So, Buddy it was.  A couple winters ago (the winter of the big snow), we started noticing that maybe Buddy was losing his mind a little.  He would bark for us to come get him upstairs (he liked to be upstairs where it was quiet but had fallen coming down the stairs and refused to come down on his own now), we would let him out and then he would stand there on the front porch, sometimes for 10 minutes, like he couldn't remember why he wanted to go out.  It was when he started going to the bathroom in the house that we knew it was time.  He had NEVER pottied in the house and you could just tell that it really bothered him when it happened (we didn't fuss at him because we knew he couldn't help it).  So, I set a date and I did it.  He was 13 years old (actually the vet estimated his age as 3-5 when we got him so he was 12-14, we always just went with the middle).  It was a rainy, miserable day, but all the better to hide my tears, right?  We went to the vet's office and then we brought him home in his little bed and buried him in the woods behind our house.  I still see him sometimes (no, I don't believe in ghosts, just my mind seeing what it's used to seeing).  I'll turn the corner of our driveway and think I see his little self trucking it down the road.  I still hesitate before I put the recliner down, because we accidentally shut him in it once.  It's hard.  These little lives become a part of ours and even though you know it's for the best and that they can't live forever, you just don't want to say goodbye.

Wednesday, my mom had had to take Kaylee in for the same reason.  Kaylee was my grandmother's dog.  My grandmother passed away 2 years ago this past July.  My mom and I promised my grandmother that we would take good care of Kaylee.  She began having some bathroom issues months ago but we just chalked it up to stress, because my mom leaves on weekends to work on a volunteer building project, and my sister was keeping her.  But recently, she started getting that look in her eye, like she didn't know where she was or what was going on.  Sometimes, she wouldn't respond to her name.  Wednesday, she lay in her bed unresponsive, after having just gone to the bathroom in her bed.   So, it was time.  It wasn't fair to keep her around just because she was the last living memory of Grandma.  So Mom took her in, and now she lays in the woods next to Buddy.  She was 13 years old.

We are so thankful for the joy they brought to our lives, the silly things they did to make us laugh, the times they lay beside us and licked our tears and the companionship they gave so willingly when we needed it most.  We will miss them but they will live on in our memories and the pictures and stories we tell.

Natural remedy for diarrhea or constipation (the 2 for 1 remedy)

Recently, one of my kids (the goat kind) had a bout of diarrhea (he got into the chicken food).  There was no bloating, so no baking soda this time.  I called my goat mentor and she suggested Pepto and advised me to look at Fiasco Farm's website for the dosage.  While browsing there, I read that she uses slippery elm instead of Pepto.  I had some on hand and decided to give it a try.  Sure enough, it cleared up after 1 dose!  I've since used it on my human kids for diarrhea and constipation and it works great for either condition.

I mixed up a little with some water and shot it in his mouth like a dewormer.  I mixed about 1 tablespoon with enough water to make it liquid enough to be drawn up in the syringe and then gave him about 4 syringe fulls.  I did this twice, about 4 hours apart.  With the children, I mixed up a tablespoon or so with some banana and just made them eat it (I tried this with the goat but he wouldn't even think about eating it!).  They all agreed it wasn't the worst thing they had ever put in their mouths before but they didn't LOVE it. 

I would definitely advise looking at the Fiasco Farm site (http://fiascofarm.com/goats/medications-2.htm) and get some slippery elm.  I purchased the powder from Herbalcom.com but you could just as easily buy it in pill form and empty the capsules.

Fun in the Sun with Green Tea

Last year my children spent extensive amounts of time in the pool.  We put it up in June and it was used just about every day through September.  The pool is a summer life saver.  What amazed me last summer, though, was that they would often get out the door without sunscreen and yet they were not getting burned.  (I know this sounds very lackadaisical, but I have always been very vigilant about sunscreen due to having been burned as a child.  My kids can count on one hand the number of times they've been even pink.  At least they could before this summer!  I was less vigilant because they weren't getting burned.)  I couldn't understand it.  I knew that the reason for this had to be something they were eating or drinking, but I never really gave it more thought than that.  Fast forward to this year...same kids, same pool, same summer sun but this year,  those little munchkins were coming in sun-kissed and pink.  I was flabbergasted.  I racked my brain but I just couldn't think of what we were doing differently.  Then one day, I read something and it hit me, green tea.  We have been big green tea drinkers for some time but lately I haven't felt like making the kind you brew (which is what the rest of the family drinks) so I've just been drinking my powdered green tea.  Also of interest is the fact that in the last 2 months, we've been hit with 2 separate illnesses (after a long spell with no illness, which is no small feat with 6 kids, 4 of which are mine, around here) neither of which effected me like it did the rest of the family.  Again, green tea is the only difference.  So, I decided to delve a little further into the whole green tea vs. UV rays subject and here's what I found.

Per the website, www.freewebs.com/herbal_remedies/sunburn.html, "Preliminary studies suggest that certain green tea polyphenols may help prevent skin cancer if they are applied directly to the skin," says Steven Bratman, M.D., an integrative physician and author of The Natural Pharmacist (Prima, 2000). "In addition, there is some evidence that green tea constituents might help protect the skin from sun damage and sunburn," he adds. In a recent study, six volunteers received applications of green tea extract on their skin prior to being exposed to UV radiation, which would normally produce redness. Those who received the highest concentration of green tea extract (10%) were almost completely protected from burning. Even a low-dose solution (2.5%) provided significant protection. Drinking green tea by the cup is also a good idea. It contains a powerful antioxidant known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Researchers at Rutgers University, Piscataway, N.J., tested green tea both topically and orally on mice. They concluded that drinking green tea for two weeks before and during UV exposure diminished both sunburn and skin cancers. The stronger the tea and the more the mice drank, the less severe their sunburns.

Our experience certainly substantiates this research.  We were conducting our own little field test without even realizing it.  We normally endeavor to drink 5-6 cups of green tea a day.  We drink it cold, sweetened with a little honey and/or stevia.  I also use the green tea powder, which I buy from herbalcom.com, to make sure I'm getting as much as I need for all the health benefits.  You can google "benefits of green tea" and you'll be surprised at all the things green tea is good for.  One website listed 15 different things.  I know I have seen a substantial difference in my metabolism while drinking green tea, increased immunity, and, of course, sun protection. 

Also, a note on sunscreen, the one I use is from Dr. Ben Kim.  Every ingredient in it is good for you, unlike the ones you'll find at the local Superstore, and it even has green tea in it.  Unfortunately, the shipping charges on his site are outrageous so unless I can find other like-minded individuals who want to go in on an order and split the shipping, I may have to find another alternative.  Dr. Kim has many informative articles on his website, and he outlines the dangers of commercial sunscreens and natural measures you can take to protect your skin.  Check out his website for great recipes (he's Korean) and helpful articles.  The sunscreen can be found here:
(www.drbenkim.com/sunshop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=96)

As for green tea, drink up and enjoy all the benefits it has to offer.

MMS...water purifier and so much more

A few years ago, a story posted in my Raw Food World newsletter mentioned a product I'd never heard of (www.therawfoodworld.com/blog/?p=568 & www.therawfoodworld.com/blog/?p=564).  However, after reading Matt Monarch's experience with it, I quickly became convinced that it was something I needed to have.  The product is called MMS (formerly Miracle Mineral Supplement, now Master Mineral Supplement).  This product has been used for years as a water purifier and considering that the human body is more than 60% water, well, enough said.

There has been some controversy surrounding this product and because of this, I am only going to say, do your own research and make your own decision about whether or not it is for you.  It has helped us through many a rough patch.  I've used it on all of my family, dogs and chickens.  A friend recently had much success bathing her dog in it.  He didn't seem to make any great strides toward recovery until she gave him an MMS bath.  I have had the same success bathing myself, kids, dogs and chickens in it (we've also all taken it internally).  For bathing, you use 30 drops of MMS to 150 drops of citric acid (10%) or 30 drops citric acid (50%).  Again, you can google this info to find exact info on mixing. 

Anyways, I just wanted to throw this out there.  If you have experienced issues for which you have had no resolution, this may be something that would interest you.  Google it and see what you find, but remember to read both sides of the story.  Jim Humble's websites are infomative as is the CureZone website.

NOTE:  Older articles you read may mention taking numerous amount of drops (like 15 or 30).  This is no longer recommended.  The new protocol does not exceed 3 drops per any one dose.  It is recommended that you take smaller (no more than 3 drops) doses more frequently (up to every hour, I usually do every two).  Using smaller doses decreases the likelihood of nausea, which results from pathogens dying off more quickly than your liver can dispose of them.    

Camping at South Carolina State Parks

Swansea, SC

We love to camp.  I'm not talking tents and cast iron pans over the fire here and I know some of you would say, "That's not camping!"  Our reason for camping is less about giving up all modern conveniences and more about an affordable way for a family of 6 to vacation.  We have a camper we purchased 5 years ago.  It's nothing fancy, no slide-out, but it has beds for everyone, a toilet and shower, so it works for us.  We try to take a couple mini-vacations each year camping at some of the state parks here in South Carolina.  (Check out southcarolinaparks.com for more info).  I thought I'd tell you about some we've visited and what we thought of them.

Myrtle Beach

Our first camping trip to a SC State Park was at the Myrtle Beach State Park in 2008.  We had an enjoyable stay.  Features of this park we liked: one of the few state parks with sewer; lots of trees, which means very shady (a plus in the summer, not so much in the winter); 3 playgrounds, one within the park and one right on the edge; easy access to the beach though it was a little bit of a trek; a nice pier and walking trail;  a laundry facility located within the park; numerous bathhouses; an education program that our children thoroughly enjoyed (it's always a plus as home schoolers when a vacation day turns into a school day!) wi-fi (though we don't spend much time on the computer, it is nice to have if you want to google things to do or directions); located close to the city of Myrtle Beach if you want to take advantage of any of its attractions.  Features of this park we didn't like: pricey; the beach was not the best; the bathhouse closest to our site was quite run down;  though the beach was easy to access, it was quite a trek, part of which was uphill (not the easiest with little kids and no buggy).
Our Rating: 3 stars.  We've only returned once when we had an event to attend in Myrtle Beach.  We would probably not return for a beach vacation due to the beach.

Boardwalk to/from the beach

Next up was Huntington Beach State Park.  Features we liked: easy beach access with showers right at the end of the boardwalk; boardwalk to and from beach; nice beach with tidal pools, great for little ones; historic building on site; nice area for bike riding and viewing wildlife.  Features we didn't like: no sewer; no laundry facility (and one of our kids got sick and puked all over the bedding); no playground;  we were attacked by yellow jackets walking back from the bathhouse; little trees, not a lot of shade in some places.  Our Rating: 3 stars.  We've returned once and are planning on returning again this year.  The nice beach and close proximity to our home (2 hours) outweighs the cons when we are looking for a beach vacation close to home.

Edisto Beach State Park is the closest park, with camping, to our home.  Features we liked: on the beach; playground; close to a family friend (we could walk to see her).  Features we didn't like: pricey; half the campground is down the road in the woods, I wouldn't want to spend that money and not be on the beach; our site flooded (it rained the entire time we were there); the beach itself is not a good swimming beach.  Our Rating: 3 stars.  Convenient to home but not worth the money.

On the trail at Sesqui

Each year we attend a convention in Columbia and for the past 2 years we have camped at Sesquicentennial State Park.  Features we liked: reasonably priced; located close to our destination; woody and shaded; playground; nice hiking trails.  Features we didn't like: Some of the sites have a severe grade as half of the sites are located on the side of a hill; no sewer.  Our Rating: 4 stars.  We have stayed there twice and already have reservations to return this summer.  However, we would not go out of our way to stay there if it were not for our convention taking place in Columbia. 

Roasting Dogs at Poinsett

Poinsett State Park was a weekend getaway.  2 of our kids ended up sick on this vacation but we still had a great time.  Features we liked: very affordable; nice walking trail, feels like your in the mountains; roomy camp sites; woodsy, secluded environment.  Features we didn't like: it's literally in the middle of nowhere (not that we didn't like that, we just weren't prepared for it).  Our Rating: 4 stars.  We will definitely return.  We really liked this park but will make sure we have everything we need before we go!

Rolling down the hill at Givhan's Ferry

Givhan's Ferry State Park is just a hop and a skip from our house.  Features we liked: affordable; close to home; nice walking trail; woodsy, secluded environment; located on the Edisto River; playground; hill the kids (and adults) enjoyed rolling down.  Features we didn't like: I can't really think of anything.  No sewer but considering we would never stay more than a couple days, this is not an issue.  Again, this is one that is in the middle of nowhere, but we were prepared this time.  Our Rating: 4 stars.  We will definitely return when we just want to escape for a couple days.  We would never spend a week there, though.

View of the Edisto from Colleton

Colleton State Park was an anniversary get-away.  Just me, hubby and our oldest dog, Buddy.  There's not much to this park but we had a blast.  We did a Lowcountry Boil and steamed crab legs which were out of this world.  It rained the entire time and was cold (our anniversary is in December) but we couldn't have had a better time at a 5 star hotel.  'Nuff said.  Features we liked: affordable; close to home; on the river; nice walking trail; small, so it's not too busy; close to Walterboro.  Features we didn't like: no playground (if we were bringing the kids); not located in an area we would want to spend an extensive amount of time.  Our Rating: 2 stars (for the park, 5 stars for our stay there, we don't get away much!).  We probably will not go back as Givhan's Ferry is closer to our home and nicer, in our opinion.

Girls with Sally at Carowinds

Lastly, our most recent trip involved a stay at Andrew Jackson State Park, up near Rock Hill, on our recent Carowinds adventure.  Price was a big factor in choosing to stay here versus the Carowinds campground.  At only $15 a night, the money saved was worth the extra driving time.  Because we  spent a lot of time at Carowinds, we did not get to explore the park as much as we usually do, but here's what we thought about what we saw.  Features we liked: affordable; nice sized sites; on a lake; playground; walking trail (we didn't get to hike it); ducks that would come right up to you.  Features we didn't like: about 7 miles from the closest town (not a big deal).  Our Rating: 4 stars.  We would only make the trip up there if we were going to Carowinds.

Well, that's it for the SC State Parks.  We've also camped at Tybee Island, GA, St. Augustine, FL, and some other parks around SC.  Our favorite thus far is St. Augustine, but at 5 hours away and with gas prices as they are, we won't make it back there this year.

Tybee Island, GA