Well about now I suspect most folks are into their preserves and things, that they have made from their gardens last summer. I know we are and got to say they are pretty tasty. I  know a lot of folks today say, well, I just don’t have time any more to do them up.  I can buy them cheaper in the grocery store and things like that. That’s not the point in reality though, if you grow your own and do up your own preserves and things you are getting pesticide free produce. Also you know what goes into your garden so you get the full benefit of all the minerals and things. Like your own well water, the water that you get in the country from your own well is full of minerals and things that your body loves.  Same as growing your own vegetables.  It doesn’t take much space either.  So for a good healthy way of living why not get your own garden going this coming spring.  I will guarantee you will feel a lot better for it and hey as I keep on saying, you also become a little more self efficient,  in other words you stop relying on other folks and powers to be for help. Can’t beat that huh and how much is your health worth.  With out your health all the money in the world isn’t worth a plug nickel.  My old Dad used to say, being wealthy isn’t determined by how many dollars you have in your pocket. Talk Soon.

Well compared to yesterday we got a cold day.  Picked up an old light which I put out back by my bird feeder.  A friend of ours have one out by theirs and it gave us the idea. As every night they get flying squirrels that come for a meal.  I didn’t even know they lived in this neck of the woods and we live in the woods. This way we will be able to have a look see.  It also gets pretty dark on the one side of the house that faces the bush so this will light up things a wee bit. Also might be able to get a glimpse of the deer as they come through during the night.  Things like this that don’t cost anything other than an hour of hydro each night makes for an interesting life.  Got the light hooked up and brought in some firewood for the shop so pretty well set for the day. Home made chicken noodle soup is on the old cook stove so one can’t ask for anything more than that. Pretty rough life huh? Talk Soon.

Well I had a pumpkin this year that grew in spite of all the damage that I did to it. I wrote a story of this pumpkin and it will be in the North Bay Nugget come next week, I think. This pumpkin though deserved to become pies so this Fall after Halloween I put it in the cold room. Today the wife took it out and it is about to become a Pumpkin Pie. Sounds good to me. Also the seeds are lucky ones,  so kept all them for next years plantings. The neighbor,  Bee next door,  gave us a recipe for home grown pumpkin pie and a thank you goes out to her,  so will let you know what it tastes like when all said and done maybe a picture of the finished product.  Talk soon.

As I got older I found different things were starting to happen to the old body. The one thing that bothered me a wee bit was high cholesterol.  I don’t really know why I let it bug me as years ago no one even knew there was such a thing.  But new things come to be in todays world.  I also have found a lot of the doctors today send folks in for tests that aren’t even necessary,  or at least that is my way of looking at things.  If one sneezes today with a cold,  off to to the doctors they go when all they have to do is keep warm, eat right and rest.  Old Doctor a good friend of mine told me one time when I went in for a visit.  “George I can give you an antibiotic and the cold and it will last one week or so. Or I can send you home tell you to eat a bowl of chicken soup a day, rest and keep warm and the cold will last one week or so.  In other words he was telling me the cold will run it’s course and an antibiotic isn’t necessary unless you have an infection. So over the years I have done what he has said and never had a problem.  Just imagine the gas I save now a days not having to run to the doctors all the time. Thing I do today is  I  eat right and get my rest.  On the cholesterol part though I did find a way of naturally lowering mine and it was by eating crushed garlic with one or two meals a day. Not imported garlic though,  one that is grown locally or in my own garden.  I know one would say what about your breath.  I say well it’s either that or not being healthy. One way is just get your wife as in my case to have a piece of garlic too through out the day,  that will fix that problem, also good for her too.  Others, well that’s their problem.  I like to crush a clove or two and then let it set for fifteen minutes or so then eat it with my sandwich or what ever is on the menu at that time.  In six months my cholesterol was back to normal.  Amazing huh? Talk Soon

Well not a bad day here.  Decided on cleaning the shop a bit along with my shop vac.  Then since it’s such a nice day would leave  the door open to air out the place, the shop that is.  You know I have been giving this tea a bit of thought. One thing us folks in the country have to deal with is scum on our tea.   It’s nothing to do with anything being wrong with it, it’s the hard water we have.  The minerals and things tend to cause this scum.  Over the years folks have tried all kinds of things to eliminate it with out to much success.  The folks that raised me years ago had a simple remedy and thought I would share it with you.  Simple and one doesn’t need a diploma hanging on the wall to figure it out. Lemon, yep that’s it.  The acid in the lemon counter reacts with the scum and prevents it.  Simple huh?  Well I got to be honest here as I didn’t remember what the solution was till one night while I was sleeping.  I dreamed that Laura the lady of the house was putting a touch of lemon in her tea pot.  Then it all came back to me. So in the morning I got up and tried it. Took a bit to get it right as I don’t much like the lemon taste in tea. But after four or five mornings of making tea we finally got it right.  About a 1/4 tea spoon per tea pot.  Works slick and no more scum.   Talk Soon