I want to thank all of you wonderful people that took the time to leave me sweet messages of encouragement. I am humbled and feel so very blessed. All the glory goes to God if this blog has touched you in some manner. I'll leave the comment section open so if you have questions about any of the posts you can reach me or if you'd just like to drop by from time to time to say hello. As a side note: Remember a few weeks back that I wrote about having a bad bout of arthritis? Well, I upped my dosage of turmeric to two capsules and it improved greatly. Now I can climb stairs once again without wincing. Just something for you to consider doing if you have that problem.
A big heartfelt thank you hug,
Jane
So glad your arthritis is better. I drink "golden milk" when I'm achy and it seems to help. It has turmeric and ginger in it and it taste's yummy too. Nannie
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip, Nannie! If turmeric is good for you, I'm sure turmeric + ginger is even better. Isn't it amazing that they are discovering all the benefits of spices? I know that cinnamon is good for maintaining sugar levels. Hum? Maybe I should eat more spice cake? Ha! Have a happy Easter!
DeleteHugs
Jane
Jane,
ReplyDeleteI have just started taking turmeric. I mostly started because we had a bottle my husband ordered (on accident?) but was not taking. Arthritis runs in my family, and so, who knows....? Can't hurt anyway.
I did not catch up with your blog until today an saw you were taking a break. I am sad to hear that, because you have been a big encouragement to me and I love your posts. However, I know there are seasons for everything, and this is what you need to do right now. You may find that you want to take it up again after a while, or not, but, either way, thank you for all of your kind words and helpful tips that you have written.
Hi Becky! I was skeptical about the turmeric but it really seems to help. And as you say, it can't hurt to try it.
DeleteHope the house sale is going well. Looks very positive. Have you gone house hunting for a new place yet?
Have a blessed Easter!
Hugs
Jane
So glad the tumeric has helped your arthritis!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of curry, but I bought some tumeric to try in my stir fry tonight. I love adding ginger to my asian dishes, and I usually add cinnamon to my oatmeal.
Any other spices that I should look into for health?
Thanks!
HI Kathy! Be sure to use pepper with your turmeric, it helps it be more effective. The only other spice I know about is cinnamon. It helps level your blood sugars. So if you have any history of diabetes in your family, it's worth a try. I always try to have a bowl of oatmeal with lots of it every morning. And of course, we all have read of the benefits of garlic. Spices are something I just started looking into. It's fascinating. Have a happy Easter!
DeleteHugs
Jane
ah yes, garlic! I love it too, although my husband may not want to kiss me after eating it. :D
DeleteHope you have a blessed Easter!
The trick is that you both have to eat it :)
DeleteHi Jane,
DeleteHere is a quick 1 page overview on garlic, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, and cayenne pepper:
www.care2.com/greenliving/5-cancer-fighting-spices.html
Thanks for the link, Carol! I forgot about how great ginger is too. MOst of my recipes that call for turmeric also have ginger in the. I use it a lot in Chinese foods too.
DeleteI am sorry that my question about spices caused some hurt feelings. That was never my intention. :(
DeleteYou have nothing to be sorry about Kathy! I just grew weary of the other commenter sort of co-oping my blog. Which is another reasons why I am no longer blogging. Everyone thinks they can do it better, so I say, let them! Truly, it really bothers me that I cannot write anything any more without someone finding fault with it. Just can't throw suggestion out there anymore without someone attacking it. I'm tired of second guessing myself.
DeleteAlways feel free to ask a question. You've been such a nice blogging friend. I really appreciate all your support.
Hugs
Jane
This link is to a very technical book, but has some interesting information in it. It has a list of selected herbs. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92771/ Googling "food as medicine" brings up a number of sites.
ReplyDeleteThanks Carol! I'll have to check it out sometime. The internet certainly is a font of knowledge! We should all be geniuses!
DeleteHi Jane,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you are getting relief from the turmeric. I use it in cooking and like it very much. Today I ran across this article on turmeric that was very informative for me. I do not know if you think it is worth sharing or not... Sometimes I know I do not get the whole picture about using some of the herbs and spices that can be helpful. For me, the more I know, the better steward I can be of my health. I know I will tell my daughter to NOT be using it because she has problems with kidney stones. [She doesn't like turmeric anyway.] Here is the link:
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/who-shouldnt-consume-curcumin-or-turmeric.html
Take care!
You see Carol, this is one of the reasons I am through with blogging. I write something innocently enough about something that is helping me and expect others to do their research. I am not prescribing anything, I am not a doctor. I always assume that my readers are smart enough to do their own research, I'm just giving them an idea. I am sure there is somebody out there that is allergic to almost every ingredient on the planet. It's just like when I write about a recipe with peanut butter and someone will invariably write that they are allergic to peanuts or when I post a bread recipe, some one will say they are gluten-free. You cannot be everything to everyone. If you are so interested in herbs, perhaps you should write your own blog about them.
DeleteHi Jane! I hope you had a nice Easter...thanks for the comment that you like my Easter cake..ha..Andrea
ReplyDeleteHi Andrea! I thought your cake was cute. I wouldn't have been able to get it out of the cake mold, I've tried before. Ended up with something that looked like a big glob of cake. Did you get to spend Easter with your granddaughter?
DeleteHugs
Jane
Hi Jane! No...I told my granddaughter's parents that since they traveled up for our bridal shower last month they could rest on Easter and not travel here. We had half of our kids here! How about you? Hugs back, Andrea
DeleteHi Andrea! We just spent the holidays at quietly at home because next week we are going on one of our grand tours to visit the grandchildren and kids. Hopefully the weather will hold out for us. Your gardens look so beautiful. It really looks like spring has sprung around you! We had snow and rain, I guess that's springtime in Michigan.
DeleteHope you have a wonderful week!
Jane
Fun!! I hope you have a great grand tour! Andrea
DeleteHi Jane,
ReplyDeleteThank you, again, for sharing your good results with turmeric for arthritis relief. I was totally unaware of that use for turmeric and meant no disrespect or insult by sharing the link. It was shared because it was news to me, and I should not have assumed others were unaware of it, just because I was. Again my apologies, and lesson learned. I have not always been as successful as I wish in unearthing “the rest of the story” on some of the herbs and spices, hence the reason I shared the link. I now understand that it is not appreciated, nor appropriate. Thanks for the lesson.
I do not blog because I do not think I have anything to share that is not already on the internet, so I would be accused of plagiarism.
I will continue to read and enjoy your past blog posts. Thank you, again, for all the time and effort you have put in to making them such a wonderful resource.
Hugs,
Carol
I'm sorry for the harshness of my last comment, Carol. It's just that I am tired of all the nitpicking. I feel as though I must write a disclaimer to post something as innocent as a recipe. I assume that anyone that has a medical condition would consult their doctor before taking any supplements or vitamins. Or at the very least do their own research. So there's the dilemma do I write about how turmeric helps me and perhaps can help someone else, or do I keep silent because someone might have a condition or allergy that would be adverse to it? Do I limit my blog to just the weather? I've discovered people will even argue about that. Do I not post a knitting pattern because an inexperienced knitter might have a problem with the pattern? Do I not write about a great bargain on meat, because someone thinks all meat except expensive free-range is unethical? The List goes on and on and to be quite frank I am tired of it. That is why I quit and I'm actually glad that your comment got under my craw because I received so many e-mails from friends asking me to continue, I was reconsidering, and you snapped me back into my senses.
DeleteTruly, if you enjoy doing research on herbs, I think a blog on it would be a great idea. There's so much confusing information on them out there, something all in one place would be very useful.
Jane
Thank you for speaking from your heart, Jane. The honesty is much appreciated. I empathize with your dilemma and, at the same time, definitely understand why so many are encouraging you to continue your posts [in accordance with God’s will for your life, of course.] You do such an excellent blog: content, images, and writing style/tone!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your encouragement and the suggestion.
Carol
I apologize Carol. That was a very unChristian response to your comment. Glad I'm through blogging!
DeleteMy dear Jane... I am saddened to read about your decision to stop blogging:-(
ReplyDeleteI do understand however.
I haven't been able to comment lately because my laptop got a virus even though I had a good security program installed an attack got through anyway, so I am unable to do much online now except with my phone which causes eye strain!
It makes me mad that the internet can cause such damage. .. I guess we must take the good with the bad, but I cannot afford to keep replacing computers , so I am forced to once again walk away from blogging too.
I just feel so bad that you have been forced to clarify yourself in something that was meant to be helpful.. Your lifestyle of frugality and simple living is such an inspiration to me and to many!
Please consider coming back again if you want and don't feel "embarrassed".. Like someone else stated: "it's a ladies perogative!" In the mean time I will hold you in my heart and will stay in contact through the comments section.
Blessings and love to you, my friend..~Lisa~
Aren't computers the most maddening things Lisa? I guess we are supposed to learn patience from them. Unfortunately, this week that's a commodity that is in short supply for me.
DeleteI hope that you'll be able to get lots of use out of your camper this year. Stay in good health!
Love and blessings to you too!
Jane
Good morning Jane,
ReplyDeleteI have not commented on your decision to stop blogging because I was hoping you would change your mind. I've had some negative and just dumb comments on my blog and I have to say that a few of them left me wanting to quit too. But I've decided to keep blogging because I love having a blog that is a journal of my life. I've looked backed at my old posts and remembered events or recipes that would of been forgotten,
People are just more outspoken than ever and I'm afraid that is just going to continue, even exponentially.
I've enjoyed your blog so much. I like your simple living lifestyle and you have so much to offer. It is no small feat to live happily on a small income and you seem to be thriving while doing it.
Wishing you the very best and I hope to see you around cyber-world if you do choose to comment or blog or whatever.
Thanks Rhonda!
DeleteHugs
Jane
Hello, its April from April's Homemaking, Sad to hear you got some negative and rude comments :( I've really had to learn to ignore the ones I get on Youtube and hit the delete button, it is crazy what people want to rant about and how downright rude they can be! Your suggestion about the turmeric is one I will have to write down, my arthritis does act up from time to time, and I know, based on family history, it will get worse in the future, so I'll have to be sure and include more turmeric in my diet. :) I hope you are having a good start to your spring, and are able to get out to your garden for the start of another growing season! :)
ReplyDeleteHello April! Sorry about the delay in leaving a response to your comment, been out of town. I can't for the life of me, imagine what others would find fault with your YouTube channel.. I think it's really cute and you do a wonderful job with your videos.
DeleteNo spring here yet! I think it's time to move!
Hugs
Jane
Hi Jane....I just want you to know that we are putting moving on hold back to our original, original plan on waiting for retirement (or layoff/retirement) and moving to a lake that we had in mind prior. Hugs, Andrea
ReplyDeleteJane, I am 58 and live in Eastern Ontario. I am a nurse who hopefully will retire when I'm 60. I have over the course of a number of years been finding my "true" self and often search blogs to find similar minded people. My favorite blogs are gdonna, and downtoearth, which is where I found your site. I know you have stopped blogging, but I am enjoying reading archived posts. In fact I am cutting and pasting recipes and even posts, such as "lucky me". Thank you for your site. I am a very late reader, but that doesn't matter, I have a lot in common with you.
ReplyDeleteHello Gail! It's always nice to meet like minded people. Glad you are enjoying the blog. Some friends are trying to convince me to continue the blog, but open it only by invitation. Will see. Right now the garden prep is taking precedent over blogging. How's the weather in Ontario? Spring certainly is slow in making an appearance this year isn't it?
DeleteJane
Yes. We are all tired of winter. I had crocus' pop up and die with a late March snow fall. Then we went straight into summer with extremely warm temperatures, but at last we finally have found spring. I won't be planting anything yet. Over the course of the past 10 years, the land has gotten more wet- to the point that I built 5 raised beds last year. Farmers that have "tile drainage" are OK, but this land isn't, and it can be difficult to get a good crop off. But today was absolutely beautiful! and I was out in it.
ReplyDeleteWe're still wearing winter coats here, but inland just 10 miles, it is in the 60s. Oh well! When everyone is complaining about the heat, it will be nice and cool here. We don't need air conditioning. Raised beds are great for keeping things dry. As a matter of fact we got rid of ours because we noticed that those plots dried out too much, we couldn't keep them watered. We are blessed with beautiful soil here. Once it warms up, our gardens are always bountiful.
DeleteHi Jane,
ReplyDeleteI commented earlier regarding how I just found your blog and that you have inspired me to learn to can. We planned to retire within the next few years or so, but it looks that will be be coming much sooner that we thought. We have been informed that my husband's company will cease operations here shortly. While we have always been frugal (four kids, grown, but several still in college, and I stayed home to home school them) the thought of such a drastic and unexpected shift in employment in our mid-fifties is still daunting. It is happening just a bit sooner that we had planned, but such is life, right? We know the Lord is in control and we probably couldn't have been better prepared than we currently are, anyway. We are looking forward to what is in store next!
Anyway, I just wanted to thank you, again. I am still reading and rereading your blog, for the inspiration, as much as for the comfort of reading a "like minded" blogger and group of commenters. It has been such a support!
I admit to checking in to see if you decided to post again, lol! I am still grateful you decided to keep current content up, though. Thank you, again!
Have a wonderful week!
Joan
Hello Joan! Going from employment to unemployment is a bit scary, but as you said you know Who is in control and there must be a purpose for it.
DeleteAs far as canning goes, every month I try to find a good sale on something I can't grow and preserve enough for a year. This month it was hamburger at $2.39/lb. I made patties and browned them and then canned them up in pint jars of 4-5 patties each. Made 15 jars which is enough for our little family for a year. Now I do not have to pay the higher prices during the rest of the year. Last month I did the same with breakfast sausage which was on sale for Easter. It's not always meat either, when I got a good sale on mushrooms, I canned them and ditto for kidney beans. I find there's always at least one good sale a month that I can stock away. A well-stocked pantry is such a blessing!
I think I might write a monthly update soon. So many friends are encouraging me. Thank you for yours!
Hugs
Jane
I keep you on my favorites list and check in periodically. So happy when I see new comments as I know there is still hope :) of your return. I have all my early garden in and we have had some nice rains here. After mother's day I'll plant the rest of the garden. Busy here with yard work, cleaning out the chicken houses, I have 2. One for the hens and the other to raise my broilers or replacement pullets in. Grandkids are having spring sings, art shows etc. but we still have plenty of evenings to read. We quit watching evening TV except for the 6:00 o'clock news and Wheel of Fortune mostly. Started reading instead and going to bed at 9:00. Soon it will be light when we go to bed! Oh well, we may adjust. I hope you do publish a monthly update. I miss you. Nannie
ReplyDeleteHi Nannie! We planted our lettuce, peas, spinach, kale and onions. The rest has to wait for Memorial Day, which is our frost date. It's been a strange spring here. Feels more like March. It's just not warming up, tomorrow the high is supposed to be 38! I had to wear my down coat for my walk today. It would be so nice not to have to get bundled up every time I step outside.
DeleteI never missed TV. Someone wise said that they don't call it programming for nothing.
I'll have to see about publishing an update. Right now I'm overwhelmed with work. Doing a major clean out and prepping for a garage sale. When I'm through my house will look a sparse as a monk's cell!
Have a lovely week!
Hugs
Jane
I was in a convent for 6 years. I know how sparse those cells can be, anyway in a convent bedroom :) Nannie
DeleteThat's very interesting, Nannie. I guess cell was the wrong word to use, but they seem like cells from what I've seen of them. Well, that's what hyperbole will get you! Ha!
DeleteJane
Good morning, Jane!
ReplyDeleteI check in to see how you are doing. Enjoy reading the comments, and I would love it if when things are calmer you were able to do a monthly update.
Hope you are enjoying your spring.
Good morning Kathy! I guess I'll just have to make time to write an update then. I'm excited to show you my wall that we paneled with the free wood we found curbside on Christmas day.
DeleteIn spite of the cold spring, our daffodils and forsythia are blooming. It looks like my roses made it through the winter this year. They should look spectacular come late June early July.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs
Jane
Yay!!! I'll look forward to seeing the wall then. Sounds great.
DeleteGlad that you will have roses to enjoy in the summer.
Hi Jane. Hope your spring has arrived with some warmer weather finally. I am going to start going through all you old posts to gain some fresh ideas. My hubby just lost his job on Friday. He is looking for work but we know it won't be at his previous salary. So glad our house is paid off. Time to tighten the ole proverbial belt :) Nannie
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry, Nannie, but if anyone is up to the task of belt-tightening, I have confidence it is you! Hoping to write an update post soon,but has been hectic around here, as we have had to put my mother into hospice care.
DeleteSpring is slow coming this year. The trees haven't even budded out yet. Hopefully that portends that we will have a cool summer. Hasn't kept the asparagus from popping up, though! But the lettuce and peas are very slow to sprout. When they say they are cool crops, I guess they don't mean this cool!
In spite of the bad news, I hope you will have a lovely weekend!
Hugs
Jane
Well already my husband has gotten a new job as the maintenance man at an apartment complex in town. We can't believe how quickly this has taken place. He will be making quite a bit less money but that is OK with us. He will work by the hour now and he was salaried before but the stress from this job should be less and that means a lot. We are rejoicing. On the down side our 21 year old electric range bit the dust yesterday but thank God we had the money in savings to purchase a new, rather Spartan one today. I don't need fancy, never did, so it will be great. Only hope it performs as faithfully as our old one. Nannie
ReplyDeleteHard to keep a good man down, Nannie! Congratulations to your husband! I have the most basic apartment-sized (our kitchen is tiny) electric stove and I'm able to can and prepare large Thanksgiving dinners with it. I think it costs less than $300 at Mennards, it's a Magic Chef, which is a good company. Never understood the need for fancy expensive appliances. I think I cook, bake and can more than the average person, and it works just fine for me. The fancier and more complex, the more things that can go wrong, I've found.
DeleteWe just bought a new car yesterday, and you have to read through the manual to figure everything out. Makes me long for the good old days when to open a window, you just unrolled it and to get gas you just unscrewed the cap. Even the key is complicated! It's the Luddite life for me. Ha!
Hugs
Jane
Hello Jane, like Nannie, I check in to your blog every so often and am always happy to see new comments. I'm glad you have left it up. And maybe when life slows down, you'll feel like posting an update,
ReplyDeleteThis is a busy time of year for all outdoor jobs, isn't it?
The job my hubby thought he had never materialized. The apartment owner got cold feet, we think he chickened out on how much he offered as a wage and nixed the job before my husband even started working. So a part time job would be our next wish. Something to supplement our social security income. They may be hard to come by as a power plant in town is talking of closing it's doors. We shall see. So sticking with our motto of "If we can't eat it, we don't need it". That plus gasoline and paying the necessary bills :)
ReplyDeleteNannie
Oh, I'm so sorry to read this, Nannie. Seems times are getting harder for everyone. Thank goodness you have a garden and chickens! It's amazing what can be done with that. I foresee a lot of canning in your future! Got a good buy on chicken today and that's what I'll be doing tomorrow. It's always just keep putting one foot in front of the other!
DeleteHugs
Jane
I agree. So thankful for what we do have out here on our acreage and that the mortgage is paid off. As a favorite author of mine once said "do the next thing." Elizabeth Elliot. How is you mom doing? I think of her often. My mom died 7 years ago at 87 after a brief illness with the flu. She'd had kidney problems for awhile but that flu made them shut down. Thankful she went quickly.
ReplyDeleteNannie
Hi Nannie! My mother passed. Now she can join my father. She had hoped to join him on their 72nd anniversary, unfortunately it was a few days later. It all went very quickly here too and she didn't suffer very much.
DeleteSorry to hear of your mom's death. It is so hard to lose our mom's. I was very close to my mom and I missed her so much those first couple years. When my step dad passed away 4 years ago we were then able to have an auction of their goods and then sell their house. Visiting my step dad and my mom not being there was so hard. After the sale I was finally able to have some closure, I guess. I still miss that beautiful woman though. Glad though that your mom did not suffer much and it went quickly. My heart goes out to you. Nannie
ReplyDeleteThank you Nannie.
Delete