The skinny on soda

I have been wanting to post something on soda for a long time. Here goes.....I hate soda. When I see how much of it is consumed in this country, I just cringe. When I see how much of it is consumed by kids and teenagers, I cringe more. Don't even get me started on Red Bull.

There is not one ounce of nutritional value in soda. When you drink it, you are consuming a large amount of sugar, caffeine and added chemicals. One can is equivalent to eating 10-12 sugar cubes. Do you realize what this is doing to your pancreas. No wonder diabetes is an epidemic here. Please put the soda down and drink a glass of water, what our bodies were made to drink. And don't think you are doing yourself a favor by drinking the 'diet' stuff. That is just as bad. The chemicals and artificial sweeteners in diet soda acidify your body which is toxic to your organs and ages you inside and out. Drinking diet soda has never been shown to help anyone lose weight. Again, go for the water.

When I was growing up, soda was something we had for special occasions like holidays or picnics. It certainly wasn't consumed daily. I remember being allowed to have either a glass of milk or water with dinner. Trust me, my kids would drink soda everyday if we let them. But they know that isn't possible. At dinner, they get to choose between water, and ummmmmm water. That's just the way it goes. I mean really, I don't get it, it is like allowing your child to have dessert for dinner. Who is in charge anyway? This is how my husband and I successfully limit soda in our house. (and it will work for you!!) When they ask for it, we simply say, NO! It is amazing how easy it is. Eventually, they stop asking.

Please limit your child's soda consumption. Their pancreases and teeth will one day thank you. Guide them to healthier drink choices.

The thing is, we get addicted to the high levels of sugar and caffeine. I know I did (and the soda companies know this as well). I use to crave Coca Cola. I was like a drug addict. It took about a month before my body stopped wanting it and now it doesn't even taste good. I promise you, cutting out the soda will lead to not only healthier drink choices, but also food ones. It will be the beginning of a healthier family and a healthier you!!

Buzz Off

Well, sadly, today, between frequent swarm checks, our girls left us for a new home. We think they waited for a moment when we were not looking, to make their departure less difficult for us. God speed girls. Good luck this winter and we wish you the best.

Now, we need to concentrate on the colony left behind. They have a new queen probably stronger than the one that left us. We need to provide them/her with enough food so that she will lay as many eggs as possible to build up the colony.

Although the swarm didn't end the way we had hoped, I have to remember that there is a higher order and maybe, for whatever reason, this was for the best. Sometimes you just can't question Mother Nature. She can be very humbling and works in ways we don't always understand. And I always try to remember that it is a privilege to live on her planet. Occasionally though she has to remind us who is in charge!

UnBEElievable

We are the parents of over 75,000 honey bees. I love our bees. To me they are like the pyramids of Giza, a wonder of the world. They work non-stop day and night for one purpose, to make honey, another miracle. Do you know that pure raw all natural honey will never go bad.... ever. Our honey bees pollinate the world and without them all life would cease to exist. We need bees more than bees need us!!

We have two hives. Yesterday, our second smaller hive swarmed. It was very unexpected since we thought the colony had more than enough room. A swarm happens when the bees get too crowded and the queen decides to take a large portion of the colony and look for a bigger ‘crib’ so to speak. As soon as I saw the masses of bees out of the hive, I knew.....A bee swarm is something well thought out by the bees. They prepare for days by filling their bellies with food to prepare for their journey. Because their bellies are so full, they can’t really sting you. Although it seems like mass hysteria, they know what they are doing. They usually swarm to a spot outside of the hive like on a branch of a tree layered around the queen to keep her safe. Once settled there, scout bees go out and look for a new home..possibly a hollow tree or something like that. The problem is, they won’t survive the winter most likely because there aren’t enough of them and won’t be protected.

So it is our job to figure out how to get them back in the hive, which we have made bigger by adding more frames. Last year when our girls swarmed, Mike was able to actually cut the whole branch off since it was close to the ground and shake them into the hive. This time, they are about 50 feet in the air. Our only hope is to try and lure them to a new ‘lure’ hive that Mike has placed on the ground below. To make it more ‘alluring’, he has sprayed the frames with sugar water and lemon grass oil, scents that they love.

The last time we checked, there seemed to be some activity in and out of the ‘lure’ hive but the swarm remained in the branch. This is gut wrenching really, watching your colony just buzz away knowing that there is nothing you can do to stop it. We have fingers and toes crossed but really, it is up to mother nature. Isn’t it always?

Corned

Whenever my husband is watching baseball, usually the Yankees, and someone hits a easy fly ball, he says, "Its a can of corn". I had never heard of this prior to our matrimonial union. Now I hear it at least twenty times every baseball season.

Corn was one of the 'three sisters' (corn, beans and squash) of our Native American's supporting and sustaining life. Now, we have corn coming out of our ears. Corn is everywhere and in everything.

The next time you walk into a grocery store, look around. Take it all in. Most everything you are seeing can be traced back to corn, save produce. Livestock is corn fed because it is cheaper and produces fatter animals. Our juices and drinks contain high fructose corn syrup. Even our prepackaged items contain at least two forms of corn. Corn is in everything.....YUCK. Do you know corn is America's number one crop above all others. Do we need that much corn?

Now I am not a doctor or a scientist but it seems odd that we are seeing a huge increase in food allergies, digestive disorders and asthma in almost epidemic proportions in children? When I adopted my daughter from Ethiopia, I asked if she had any allergies like any American Mom would ask. They told me that children in Ethiopia very rarely have food allergies. It is something they do not see. They also don't eat corn or any corn based foods.....hmmmm, interesting.

Read your labels and get familiar with what is in your food, www.cornallergens.com. Try and eat meats that are free range and grass fed. They are even force feeding corn to farmed fish these days. In the words of my ten year old daughter Diana, 'That is just wrong".

Buy local and eat what is in season!!

I love summer for so many reasons. Here is one.......blueberries, locally grown, fresh and delicious. Ten years ago Mike decided to plant of few blueberry bushes, adding one every year since then. Now, we have blueberries abundant picked as needed. I love that my children will be outside playing and stop at a blueberry bush for a quick snack instead of asking for one that is prepackaged.

Now I am not saying that everyone should run out and plant a row of blueberry bushes in the back yard, although they aren't that hard to maintain. What I am saying is that we are a generation that needs to relearn how to eat what is in season and eat what is local.

There is something seriously wrong with going into a supermarket in January when there is ten inches of snow on the ground and buying a pint of blueberries. They have probably traveled days to get here whether it be by boat, truck or train. Think about all of the fuel used to transport those blueberries to your table. They aren't fresh and I can assure you won't be as good.

Supporting your local farmers market is one of the BEST things you can do to help the environment and be true to yourself and your family. Right now IS the best time to get fresh delicious local produce. Whether it is from your own garden or the farmer's down the street, take advantage of it. Freezing and canning helps to preserve these things when they aren't in season, but enjoy them now....tomatoes, squash, greens, blueberries....I could go on and on.

The next time you pick up a pint of blueberries in December, think about how long ago they were picked and what pesticides and chemicals where used to keep them looking so fresh and good. (especially when buying a gassed tomato). They just don't look that good anymore.

Homegrown and Happy

Seventeen years ago I married Michael. He was, and still is a hometown guy who was very smart, funny, really good looking and the man of my dreams. At the time, he had this strange hobby. He made beer on his stove. I found it odd but thought it was just a passing fancy. Boy was I wrong.

This isn't a blog about a guy who has all of these crazy hobbies and passions, although it may seem like it sometimes. This is about getting back to basics, eating healthy, being passionate about how you live. It is about moving away from what is considered 'easy and convenient' in this country. Easy isn't always better. Sometimes I joke about Michael's laundry list of time consuming hobbies, but really, I wouldn't change a thing.

After watching Food Inc. I was absolutely horrified and felt that this country is on a one way trip to disaster and doom. Hopefully this blog gives you another picture and an alternative.