My Heart Hurts

My heart hurts. I went to bed last night hurt and angry about the continued killings of black men. I watched the videos to make my own assessment and I found no justification for shooting Alton Sterling multiple times in the chest. He was already subdued. Philando Castile did not appear to pose a threat, yet he was shot with his child in the back seat. I felt like I was back in the Jim Crow south where lynchings could happen just because …. Then there was the white kid lying on the ground and then was shot. Why?

I awaken this morning to the information that a peaceful protest turned violent because someone decided to take their anger out by shooting several policemen. There was no reason for that anymore than there was for shooting those men.

America what are we becoming? We might as well be in Afghanistan or Syria. We worry about ISIS but it is us who are destroying this country. We are terrorizing ourselves. If they just wait a little while we will self destruct and they won’t have to do anything. We cannot continue like this.

Ignorance opens the door for Fear. Fear makes it easy to Hate. Hatred breeds Hatred.

Let’s try reasoning with each other.

Let’s try understanding each other.

Let’s try not repeating the negative past.

Let’s try living out what we say we believe as a nation.

Let’s admit we have a systemic problem. The rest of the world already knows it.

Let’s try loving each other even when we disagree.

Let’s stop killing each other.

My heart hurts for us.

 

Involuntary Muscle Moments

Have you ever experienced an involuntary muscle moment? What is that? We have muscles that function continually without us giving them any thought. In fact we take them for granted. We expect our brain, heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, and kidneys to function. We freak out when they don’t.

I have been going through my daily activities at an almost primal instinct level.  Just what’s necessary for us to survive. My creative thoughts have been scattered and unclear. My desire to experiment in my lab (kitchen) has been high but my physical will has been almost non-existent. Biblical research became an effort rather than enjoyable. My sofa became home, at least that’s where I wanted to be. So what has changed?

REST. SLEEP. REST and Floridix. a plant based liquid iron supplement.

Fatigue finally took control. Additionally, I had become quite anemic. I went to bed each night but rarely got “restful” sleep. I have spent several afternoons taking naps. I am on my way back to MY normal. My brain is actually having ideas. Yesterday, I went back into the lab. Amazing what a little rest can do. Next I think I will try the other R. Relaxation. Real relaxation. For me, that is resting while I am awake.

I am moving back into Voluntary Muscle Moments. Moments that require thought; inspire thought; creative thought; living thought.

Hooray for Rest and Floridix.

P.S. I know God had me but my condition was caused by a lack of rest. He placed that in my responsibility bucket. So it is my responsibility to take the rest that he told me to.

Aaagh! Their Green!!

Okay that might be a little dramatic but it is actually what I thought when I opened the waffle maker. My next thought was candidate for a SyFy scene. I opened the waffle iron and saw green and brown waffles. It doesn’t show how dark green but the dark grid lin20160704_085731es were green.I don’t know what in the ingredients caused this phenomenon. I used buckwheat flour, almond flour, baking soda, baking powder, almond milk, salt, coconut oil and eggs. Does that sound green to you?

The Experiment

  1. Use a whole wheat flour waffle recipe as a guide.
  2. Change the flour to another grain or combination of grains.
  3. Use coconut oil instead of shortening.
  4. Almond milk and baking soda instead of buttermilk.

The Discoveries

  1. Baking soda was added because I didn’t have buttermilk.  Must have added too much because the taste was really strong.
  2. Didn’t need the baking soda at all on further research
  3. 1/2 cup of coconut oil was too much for the flour combination.
  4. Let the batter sit about 5 minutes to thicken before pouring in the waffle maker.
  5. And then there is green.
  6. After removing from the waffle iron and a little cooling, the color changed to golden brown.20160704_090345

 

The Whole Wheat Recipe           My Changes

2 c whole-wheat flour                     1 c buckwheat flour, 1 cup almond flour

4 tsps baking powder                      2 tsps baking powder, 2 tsps baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs

1/2 c melted shortening                  1/2 c coconut oil

1 3/4 c buttermilk                             1 3/4 almond milk

Tumeric Tea Blog Repost

I found this blog post from the “unconventional baker” while I was looking for gluten free and tumeric recipes. I have not made it yet but after reading it, I realized I am familiar with all the ingredients and will probably enjoy it. Even if I don’t I am going to drink it. When you have arthritis you will try healthy things that have a chance of relieving the pain. I would love to hear from those of you who try it and I am sure the “unconventional baker” would also.

http://www.unconventionalbaker.com/recipes/anti-inflammatory-lemon-ginger-iced-tea/

You Found Me!

I threw myself away

But you Found me.

I did not see the God created value in me

You pushed through the garbage

Because you Saw Me.

I am so very blessed that 39 years ago

You Found ME!

As I looked at my husband sleeping this  morning, I was overwhelmed by the love and joy he has given me for 39 eventful years.

 

 

Amazon Prime of Not

Why do they make it so complicated? I have spent the last hour trying to decide if leaving Frontier Communications for Amazon Prime is a good idea. I read Prime’s description but it doesn’t really make it clear. Now here is what I need or want to know simply stated.

I want to watch current TV shows.  What is included and what do I need to subscribe to? Do I need Amazon Fire or is there some duplication in the services.

Amazon Prime Cost+Whatever else is needed to get the TV shows+Other hidden cost = Total cost of the service

Now before you send me to a bunch of sites, I have read most of them but it is not clear or simply listed on what you need to replace Frontier TV programming.

If you have Prime and can help, please comment.

Who Would Have Thought

Who would have thought designing a website for yourself would be more difficult than doing it for someone else. This is not the first webpage presence that I have created. This is even more basic than the others. Am I really a difficult client? The concept was easy. The domain name was relatively easy, even though I had to modify it. The original choice was not available. I can’t even find a happy face. I am laughing.

Choosing a layout is proving a to be a challenge. I might fire myself. Just kidding. I have decided to walk completely through the WordPress process. When I am done I might be a WordPress expert because I am sure I have or will have discovered a substantial amount of “what NOT to do’s.” This new blog that I am creating will ultimately become MY website. Maybe that is why I am being such a difficult client. Big smiles and laughs. I am going to find those emoticons.

Laughing at myself. I needed that.

Matthew 4 – Basics

Sometimes when you think you know a narrative you tend to over look some interesting and enlightening facts. I am trying to look at this text with fresh eyes to see what I am really being told.

Matthew 4:1-11 The Temptation

I never noticed or realized the first two temptations were accusations against the man Y’shua. “If you” was the accusation. The response was thrown back to the authority of God’s word.  The final temptation went straight to the original intent. Satan (Adverary) vs. God. Who will you worship? Y’shua dropped the mic. He said get out of my face It is written you only worship God and Him only shall you serve. Why would the Word of God bow down to God’s Adversary? Please!!

Matthew 4:14 Galilee of the Gentiles

Where is this? I always thought Galilee where the tribes of Jacob settled. We usually forget there were non-Jews there before they came and others moved in later. Looking at Strong’s it says it is a circle of Gentiles or circle of nations, non-Jews. He went to them and declared the authority of God is here. This was the light brought to them. This was the gospel He brought to them.

I also noticed

23 And Jesus went about all Galilee,

and preaching the gospel of the kingdom,teaching in their synagogues,

(the good news of the reign of God Matt 4:23 Youngs’ Literal Translation)

and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

24 And his fame went throughout all Syria:

and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments,

and those which were possessed with devils,      (possessed or controlled by evil spirits, spiritually ill)

and those which were lunatick,                                  ( mentally ill)

and those that had the palsy;                                      (paralytic, physically ill)

and he healed them.

The text goes on to say that large multitudes followed Him from Galilee, Decapolis (ten-city region in Syria), Jerusalem, Judea and beyond Jordan. This is widespread awareness of Him. All of this seems to be in the first year of His ministry.

How did I miss so much?

Who We Need

You are Extremely  knowledgeable about some things.

You are knowledgeable about Some  things.

You are Not knowledgeable about most things.

Me too.

That’s why WE NEED EACH OTHER.

 

My own recipe – Catsup and Hot Sauce

Catsup and hot sauce back in the light. This will be the last post about this, at least until my tomatoes and peppers mature. ♥

Hot Sauce

Simply roasted serrano peppers, one roasted cherry hot pepper (good flavor not hot), a pinch of cayenne and white vinegar. I pureed everything, seeds and skins included. Very good but not as hot as I wanted. It has a delayed spicy kick so taste a little at a time.

Catsup

Roasted tomatoes, one roasted cherry hot pepper, apple cider vinegar, one garlic clove, 1 tsp tomato paste and a drizzle of oil for smoothness. Puree (skins and seeds) and enjoy. Hmm.

I know I didn’t give many directions. That’s because I went back to my roots and did a “that’s about right” measuring method. Have fun. I did.