Mary's Muse

Devotional Humor

In our morning devotions, I asked the kids what would cause them fear and trembling.

Zookeeper:  Being attacked by a bear, or wolves, or wolverines.

Princess:  Watching Zookeeper being attacked by a bear, or wolves, or wolverines.

Chestnut's Last Day

Today was Chestnut's last day on this earth.  He was a wonderful dog who managed to tolerate our family growing from two kids, when he entered our family, to nine when he made his exit.  This last year or year-and-a-half, he aged so quickly.  He went from slightly overweight to a bones-and-skin existence and his back end wouldn't move the way he wanted it to.  At the end, he often just stayed lying down wherever he would fall, indoors or out. 

It is my fervent hope that St. Francis has lovingly taken Chestnut in his arms and that I meet Chestnut on the other side, his tireless, puppy self.

Today:

On the move, his favorite toy in his mouth, in October of 2009:

Oh, Chestnut, rest in peace, buddy.  You were such a loyal friend.  We love you!

Self Deprivation #2

I went for a walk with the dog ~ the one that still walks ~ up toward the mountain on which we live.  This started my mind churning about what I gave up for Lent and how this Lent, my fasting has kind of taken on a life of its own. 

I began the whole giving up thing going easy on myself, since due to gluten intolerance, I am limited as to what I can eat and then recently, I found I have a yeast intolerance as well.  So I told myself I'd give up second helpings for dinner.  But then, we overspend our budget occasionally due to me not realizing that undergarments for five people should cost well over $100.  Or that a couple pairs of church pants and a belt, along with two $5 tee shirts, should cost at about $100.  So we don't have quite enough money sometimes weeks before my husband's next pay day. 

This said, I realized that this Lent, I have been fasting regularly.  I eat little for breakfast because not only my kids, but also my husband like the cereal I can eat.  It's often whittled away to nothing before I can get much out of the bag.  So, it's often a piece of fruit.  I can't eat anything with yeast or wheat, so that limits lunch oftentimes to carrot and celery sticks, sometimes a bit of leftovers, if there are any to be had.  It's dinner that I can eat.  And I often am so hungry by then, that I mess up and have second helpings.   Since I'm nursing a baby still and considering my health-imposed fasts, I allowed myself to waive the original deprivation of second helpings.  I'm thinking this fast was Other-imposed, because I certainly didn't intend to do it.  But, as is usual with His plans for me, I'm so glad I am fasting.

We are stretching our budget to the limit to raise nine children still at home and improve the house.  Some of the recipes through this blog help in this endeavor.  Here's another one, based on what we have around the house.  This came from 101 Cookbooks.com.

Carrot Soup

2 1/2 pounds carrots
2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (or butter)
4 medium cloves garlic, minced
1 large yellow onion, chopped
8 cups+ vegetable stock or water
juice of 1/2 a lemon

parsley and/or basil to taste (we used both)

quinoa (we used two cups but that turned this soup into more of a stew)
fine grain sea salt (as much as you need)

- olive oil, toasted sesame oil, or red chile oil for a finishing drizzle - if you use toasted sesame oil (sometimes labeled pure sesame oil) it is very strong. I typically dilute it with olive oil. I use one part sesame oil to four parts olive oil.

Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy soup pot over medium heat. Add the cut carrots, garlic, and onions and saute for a few minutes or until the onions start to get translucent. Add the stock and bring to a gentle boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 20 - 30 minutes or until the carrots are tender - longer if your carrot pieces ended up larger. But try not to overcook. Remove from heat and cool for a few minutes.

Puree with a blender (we like the soup chunky, so we leave at least 1/2 unblended) - then stir in the lemon juice. Add salt to taste.  Keep adding a few pinches at a time until the carrot flavor really pops. If it tastes flat or dull, keep adding.

Finish with a drizzle of great extra-virgin olive oil, one of the other drizzles I mention up above, or whatever twist you come up with.  Popcorn or croutons can be popped in at the end.

 

Recipes for a Healthier, Elderly Dog

Since we are a one-income family with nine children living at home, we must be vigilant about how we spend money on the animals we have.  Instead of visiting a veterinarian which, last time I visited, cost $45 just to walk in the door, I look online to find more holistic and cost-effective recipes to cure our animals' ills. 

For ear infections, which affect not only the elderly dog, I borrowed the following recipe:

Spaniel Ear Cleaner Recipe
__________________________


Ingredients:

White vinegar
Powdered boric acid
Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)
Betadine antiseptic (or the generic version, known as Povidone-Iodine Solution)
Please note:  do not use "Betadine Scrub", use "Betadine Solution"


Directions for mixing the solution together:

Pour six ounces of isopropyl alcohol in to a plastic applicator bottle.  Add one and a half teaspoons of boric acid powder.  Be careful not to get any boric acid on your skin or clothes.  If you do, wash it off immediately.

Shake the solution extremely well, until the boric acid powder is dissolved, or for five minutes, whichever comes first.

Add two ounces of white vinegar.  Shake the solution some more, until the boric acid powder is dissolved, or for another five minutes, whichever comes first.  

Add one teaspoon of the Betadine antiseptic, and shake it up some more.  Be careful not to get any Betadine on your skin or clothes.  If you do, wash it off immediately.

The ear cleaning solution is now ready to use.



To use the ear cleaning solution:

It is recommended that you use the ear cleaning solution in your garage or outdoors, as the dog will shake it out of his ears and it will fly in to the air and stain things.

Squirt the solution inside your dog's ear until the ear canal is completely full.  Massage the outside of the ear to help slosh the cleaning solution around inside.  Release the dog and let him shake out the ear cleaning solution from his ears.  

If you get any of the ear cleaning solution on your skin, wash it off as soon as possible.

Be sure to shake the solution up really well before each and every time you use it.  The boric acid has a tendency to settle at the bottom of the bottle.  Store at room temperature.

Use the cleaning solution daily until you start to see some improvement.  Gradually cut back to once per week when you are happy with the condition of the ear.  When the ear seems completely free of infection, you can go two weeks between treatments.




Warning:  Do not use this ear cleaning solution on dogs with ruptured ear drums, or on dogs with open sores or wounds in the ear area.  An ear exam by a veterinarian is recommended 
prior to beginning treatment with this ear cleaning solution.

This recipe came to you from Jim Zimmerlin - www.zimfamilycockers.com

For arthritis, I give my 14-year-old German Shepherd Arthroplex

As a general wellness multivitamin, he gets Canine Plus Senior.

We're also trying a new food.  It's called Wilderness Blue Buffalo.

Yes, it's more expensive than Purina and just letting the dog age naturally, but we've had this dog for 14 years and he was full of vitality and life up until about a year ago.  He aged quickly after that and it saddened me to no end.  We've had Chestnut on the vitamins and arthritis medicine for three weeks and it seems to be helping him.  He's not so stiff and he can make it outside and down to the yard before he lifts his tail.  The food is new, but was recommended by someone whose dog has used it for a long time and they noticed a difference in the dog's behavior.  Our dogs ate it all, which says a lot.  Chestnut hadn't been finishing his food in the last week or two.

Waiting for Winter

Ever since Thanksgiving, our family has been waiting for snow.  We were disappointed that there was really no snow to speak of for Christmas.  So.  Finally, when we're ready for spring to pop, here it is.  Note the cat tracks to and from our house, the only disturbed snow.

18-Month Old's Favorite Book Picks

The verdict is in.  JB (short for Jumping Bean) has his favorites all chosen for me to read over and over, and over and over, and over and so on and so forth.  His top few choices which get the most attention are:

Time for Bed

Small, Small Pond

Babies on the Go

Usborne Farm Talkabout

Usborne Zoo Talkabout

From there, it goes like this:

Very Hungry Caterpillar

Animal Action ABC

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Goodnight Moon

Big Red Barn

Barnyard Banter

Quack, Daisy, Quack!

Going to Sleep on the Farm

In the Tall, Tall Grass

Catherine's Passing

See her obituary here.  Please continue your prayers for her family and her soul.  Thank you.

More prayers for Catherine!

Please continue your prayers for Catherine. Double them, if you can.

Here's an update from my godmother:

Tom and Catherine were at her doctor appointment yesterday. Her myeloma doubled since Friday.  The doctor changed medicine to one she has taken by infusion, but now it is in pill form. She is shaky, weak, and tired.  She doesn't have so many nose bleeds, but she has clots in her throat, which makes eating a chore.  She still has her great smile and enjoyed a trek to Christmas Mountain last Thursday and Friday to watch teh children enjoy their Christmas snow toys.  Tom has taken off the month of January, God bless him, and Olivia has stayed home from her masters classes this semester.  You may see a need for prayer here.  We're still waiting for her miracle, which is all that will save her.  Every day is a gift!!!

 

Still in That Holiday Spirit

A veritable sleep fort.

Looks like the Coliseum.

How Many Ways Can You Say JOY?

From my creative Miss Responsibility to our friends.  She's hooked on making these.