...walk and not faint.

Winter Rye Lawn

2011-11-02T20:39:00.001-07:00

Yummy Grass!

I love my winter lawn this year!!! I failed really bad last year so this year we…

Dethatched the Bermuda with a detaching blade on our mower(very inexpensive from Lowes. Made a huge difference!)
Used the perennial rye seed(more expensive but according to the garden guy it is worth it because it uses less water and fertilizer)
Spread with aged cow manure(97 cents a bag at Lowes) and rabbit feed (50 lb. bag at the Stock Shop for 14 dollars).
Then we NEVER let the seed dry out or puddle! Very important! We watered about 3 or 4 times a day the first week for very short periods of time to keep it moist.

FYI We started this Grass Saturday October 15th and Had a full lush lawn less then 2 weeks later!! Also I kept the kids and Chickens off of it for those 2 weeks:)

Chicken Treat #2

2011-10-24T20:02:00.001-07:00

My poor girls have been cooped up in their coop and run(they are usually 100% free range). We just planted our Rye grass and they don’t bother the seed to much(wild birds do! Grrr) but the girls love the freshly tilled soil to scratch around in and that means they up root all the my grass. So they are confined until about a half hour before bed. I let them out and keep an eye on them. If the start to scratch I scare them off and then they put them selves to bed and I close it up.

So while they are cooped up I try to give them more treats then usual. I bought them some meal worms at Pratt’s Feed Store the other day and they went bonkers! I also toss out a head of lettuce here and there. Today’s treat was my sisters idea. When you eat a cantaloupe(ours was fresh from our garden) and you scoop out the seeds, guts and all. Lay them out in a planter cover with a little soil and water it. In about a week our so it will look like this…

The girls were interested…

A few more caught on…

Pepper Jumped right in! Anyone know what kind of chicken she is? She lays small off white eggs? And she is pretty small.

They picked it CLEAN! It makes me feel good to know that they are getting some good fresh greens in their diet

The planter I used was 1’by 6” by 6”. I think a cake pan would work well? I am going to try a cucumber next

In the Back

2011-10-18T17:19:00.001-07:00

So I used my front yard as my Late Summer/Early Fall Garden and decided to start my Fall/Winter Garden in the back. So here is what I have going in the back.

In my first bed I have a Large cherry tomato plant(on the right), spinach seedlings(Middle, 2 rows), lettuce(2 rows on the left), and a scattering of Carrots above the tomato plant to the right. To protect them from birds(they ate my first seedlings) I put four steaks in the corners and loosely draped a piece of bird netting over it. It’s really easy to water right through it.

Spinach

Carrots

Tomato

In my far bed(just happens to be my very first garden!) I have Broccli, garlic, and peas:)

Garlic

Broccoli

Peas on the right, more broccoli on the left

These 2 beds are still being prepped and worked on:)

Front Yard Growing Strong!

2011-10-18T13:31:00.001-07:00

I love showing you my successes and failures!(All of these pictures were taken at the same time this morning)

So welcome to Success, Failure and Oops!

Success

I started an herb garden in a large pot and it is thriving!

Failure

That little pepper plant has been in that pot for over a month and is alive but NOT growing! Same for those little flowers and cherry tomato plant!

Success

I have Pumpkins!!! They are so cute and I am leaving them all on the vine because I want them to ripen small! If you want a big one then you cut them all off of the vine but one!

Failure

It looks like this:( The leaves are always droopy and whitish. Not very attractive but still growing and putting on lots of little pumpkins:)

Oops!

So there were these two plants that grew in the garden and I thought maybe they were egg plant but I didn’t plant egg plant???

But guess what?? It is!!! This was an awesome surprise for me because I LOVE Egg plant! How did this happen? I used my almost finished compost to enrich these beds! I guess there were some seeds that survived!

Oops!

Same thing with my 2 cantaloupe plants! They grew totally by accident and each gave us 6 huge sweet melons! So that 12 total! There are 5 left on the vines that need a few more weeks and then I think it will get too cold for them:)

Failure

Planted my bed too close to the wall and I can’t get around to weed it! It’s driving me crazy and I WILL fix it before the next season!

Success

The corn is doing great! No more signs of corn worms but I went out 2 more days and got a few more but none since then! I’m happy.

Oops!

I planted this basil too early this Summer so it was so hot that it bolted right away, but it is beautiful and it attracts many bees to pollinate all of my other plants!

Failure

These cucumber seedlings were started in this huge pot and they have looked like this for a month! I’m not giving up on them so we will see if they do anything!

Remember: Gardening is a skill that is learned through trial and error so never be discouraged when something doesn’t work out. Just learn from it and try something new

Chicken Treat!

2011-10-11T11:56:00.001-07:00

My kiddos LOVE Apples and Pears and I love using an easy cutter from Pampered Chef to prepare them! And those cores are the the perfect…

Chicken Treats!

Loving this Season!

2011-10-08T11:32:00.001-07:00

HAPPY FALL!

Corn Worms!!!

2011-10-06T10:02:00.001-07:00

It is so Beautiful here in Phoenix today! I actually put long sleeves on the kids and myself! Perfect day to spend some extra time in the garden. I was admiring my corn bed, watching bees buzzzzz all over! I love it! Until I noticed some little holes on a leaf of the corn…

YUCK!!!

Corn Worms!! As I started to look closer I noticed they were all over! Since my corn bed is only 10’ by4’ I decided I would search every stalk and pick them all off! They left some nasty “presents” behind for me, GROSS! I continued to pick and clean till I was sure I had gotten all of them!

This cup represents half of what I actually got off of the corn! I read in The Extreme Garden book on Corn and he said…

“Put a drop of mineral oil on the tip of each corn when the tassels turn brown to keep the worms from entering”

So that is what I am going to try! I was pretty frustrated about the whole situation but some ladies I know thought it was pretty great!

If you don’t have Chickens, the garden guys says to drop the worms into a cup of soapy water

Cantaloupe!

2011-10-04T20:26:00.001-07:00

Our first ripe cantaloupe!!!!!

I hand been out in the garden smelling my melons(never thought I would say that sentence) for weeks now and they all smelled like dirt??? I was beginning to think it was a myth that you could smell the sweetness of the melon when it was ripe. But sure enough I sniffed this bad boy and it smelled SWEET! I was so excited that I ran inside with it and woke up my kids from their nap so they could eat it. It was BIGGER than my 3 year olds head!

Since I promised to show my mistakes on this blog…

…here is a melon that I was too impatient to not pick a few weeks ago! It smelled like dirt…

And it was GREEN

They boys were so bummed!

The Chickens LOVED it!

HOW to Pick a Ripe Melon:

1. Smell it! It will smell sweet I promise, just wait!

2. More tan then green

3. Slips from the vine (not necessarily on all kinds of melons)

4. Where the flower was should give slightly when pressed!

Happy Melon Picking!

Praying Mantis

2011-10-03T16:57:00.001-07:00

Can you see him?

I’ll give you a hint…Look for the bee’s butt he is chewing on

When I discovered him hanging out in my corn a few weeks ago I told my four year old that I had a new friend in the garden! When I showed him that he had caught a bee he said-

“Mommy, your friend is eating your other friend!!”

Yes he is but I’m sure he is eating some “Non-Friend” bugs as well! Plus we get TONS of bees. It makes me happy to have all of my insect “friends” in my garden!

It’s one of my favorite things about organic gardening!

Front Yard Experiment!

2011-09-20T20:54:00.001-07:00

So I’ve been trying pots! There are so many on clearance right now that I thought I would do some experimenting I wanted to see what parts of my front yard get enough light so I had these bots spread all over for awhile and observed them, then I grouped them all together in the best spot We have flowers, heirloom red bell peppers, and heirloom cherry tomatoes.

In this pot we planted a little heirloom herb garden It’s bigger now and smells great!

My son LOVES cucumbers and we have yet to grow them so we are giving it a try in this big pot, it is bigger then a 5 gallon bucket and I have since weaned it down to 5 sprouts and they are getting their second set of leaves.

The side beds are doing GREAT! They get full sun almost all day, until maybe 5?

Some melons decided to grow from some seeds that survived the composting process. They picked such perfect spots to grow that I just left them! Now we have 6 HUGE melons on two plants!

The basil bolted but still smells amazing and is still benefitting my garden

Now I am starting all my fall planting! Lettuce varieties, spinach, peas, broccoli, carrots, beets, and more

Front Yard Beds are Doing great!

2011-09-09T20:30:00.001-07:00

Is Your Chicken Laying??

2011-08-13T20:18:00.001-07:00

I only have two girls old enough to lay. As the temps got hot this Summer I noticed my egg production was cut in half?? Turns out Chick(brown) stopped laying and I could tell it was her because her red head thing(technical term) turned a light pink. Apparently it is a hormone thing?? She laid great all winter so I’m excited for her to return to laying when the heat drops down. It’s good to know I have at least one good Summer layer. Can you see the difference in the picture?

Front yard Bed

2011-07-25T19:52:00.000-07:00

The whole family worked together to plant this bed! The bed is really a frame because it's just made of 2x4s. We tilled the entire area, watered it deep and then covered it with a tarp to kill any grasses, weeds, or diseases. Then 2 weeks later we piled on 5 wheel barrows full of mostly finished compost. Cooked it for two more weeks and then tilled again before putting the frames in:) Then I added manure just to the beds:) The kids helped me plant bush beans, basil, cilantro and flowers! You can't see most of it because they are still seeds:)

Along the back near the house I plan to plant some tomatoes or peppers:) I need to get those started indoors soon!
Love my little helpers:)

Can you Be a Mormon and a Vegetarian??

2011-07-24T20:39:00.000-07:00

I had a family member ask me for information that I have found on being a vegetarian so I thought I would compile a list for myself and others. I will likely add to this post so that I have a place to keep articles that I like:) I am in no way telling you(the reader) that you need to be a vegetarian! I believe that it is each individuals(or parent's) choice to EAT, Worship, and live how they see fit! This Blog is an outlet for me to share and store my experiences so that I can refer back to them and maybe give others the help they need:)

These First links are Other Later Day Saint Vegetarians Opinions and they put it in to words so nicely that I couldn't dream to explain it any better:)

Whole Foods Vegan Momma

The Word of Wisdom: The forgotten Verse

Interesting Collection of Quotes from Latter Day Prophets! All of them have references and a lot have links to the sources

The Humane Society: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Ensign Article outlining the Word of Wisdom

Cancer, Nutrition and The Word of Wisdom

This is a great site with a wealth of information on Cancer Prevention. Very important to me given my family's history of Cancers.

The Cancer Project:

-Cancer Facts: Meat Consumption and Cancer Risk

-Nutrition For Your Kids: A Dietary Approach to Cancer Prevention

ANTS!!!!

2011-07-14T11:37:00.001-07:00

I am an animal lover! I respect nature and I try to get along but when you bite up my babies and send them running inside unable to play in their own backyard...you must DIE!!! Organically of coarse:) I tried Diatomaceous earth and I think my problem was to large and out of control for it. So I followed The Garden Guy's other advice and that was boiling water right down the whole in the middle of the day! IT WORKS!

See all those glistening black piles??? Those are Ants!!

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD!!!(name that movie) The surviving ants started "cleaning" out the tunnels and create piles of dead ants! I did this for 3 days in a row on all the hills and I'm pretty sure I'm winning!

We'll see if it works to completely get rid of them but for now they are so busy ridding them selves of their dead that they are not running all over my yard and biting my kiddos!

Large Cherry Tomatos

2011-07-11T16:06:00.000-07:00

These are heirloom and I will grow them forever! They did so well here and despite a few attacks from tomato horn worms, they gave me(and still are giving) a great harvest for several months! That big one is an early girl:) I collected all of these off of 3 plants after coming back after a 3 day vacation:) Not bad for the end of the season! I'd say I collected about this much once a week once they really got going:) They have a great flavor and I even sliced a few up for a sandwich! It was a little funny but tasted awesome!

If anyone local would like me to start some for them, let me know:)

Meet the Ladies and Girls

2011-06-22T20:53:00.000-07:00

So my first flock was 6 chicks! They were so healthy and then I didn't protect them enough from the dogs and I lost four of them:(:( Very sad day in my life! These two were my Lucky Ducks! Cleo (a Black Australorp) and Chick(Caden(4) named her) She is a Speckled Sussex

They are BEST FRIENDS they don't go anywhere without each other! When one is laying an egg the other is usually quietly clucking waiting for them to be done:)
So to build my flock back up I got these 5 chicks. They are 3 months old now and so happy and healthy! They are really starting to get along with the big girls!

These are my 2 favorites! "Goldie"(Gold Buff Orphington) and "Peep"(she was a fluffy yellow thing when she was small) Pretty sure she is a White Leg Horn.

The other 3 are all Americanas. The one on the wagon up front with the puffy neck is not mine. I am raising it for my sister, the one the wagon to the left is "Phoenix" and the grey girl down behind is "Pepper" These girls are supposed to lay colored eggs:) And that's Goldie again up in front:)

I am going to do a post on my coup and run soon:)

Bad Bug!!!

2011-06-19T21:41:00.000-07:00

The Tomato Horn Worm!

I got them before they did too much damage and the chickens loved the snack!!!

Tomatoes!

2011-06-16T16:55:00.000-07:00

We've been harvesting quite a bit of maters this month! We have (heirloom) large cherry tomatoes(I started from seed) Early girl from Costco and Beef Master from Costco.

My Beef Masters have been splitting on top so I went online to find out why and I think I found the answer. If your plants get a dry spell(you ignored them on a very hot weekend) and then you water them (a lot to beg for forgiveness) Then the inside swells and the skin splits. Seems about right. Did these splits effect the taste.?.?.?

NOPE!!!!!

So tasty!!

Is it ready yet???? Corn!

2011-06-07T20:45:00.001-07:00

I ate this corn cob a week ago and it was very yummy! But, I don't think it was quite ready to be picked because it was still small??
So I waited another week to pick theses guys! They were bigger and I peeled them back to poke a kernel with my nail, the liquid was milky:) I still wasn't sure so I peeled back further and I noticed that the kernels were starting to get smashed together to look more like rectangles. The top picture shows that the kernels are still pretty round.

So first check for brown tassels, then that it is of good size, then the finger nail test for milky liquid, and last for smashed, rectangle kennels:) Then taste test it:)

I am having this for dinner tomorrow! Yum, Yum!!!

Starting Seeds

2011-06-07T20:18:00.000-07:00

My Dad helped me build this seed starting station. It's set up in the school room right now and Caden(4) and Drake(3) helped me plant some water melon, cantaloupe, squash, zucchini and beans! We will be putting them out mid July. I used big pots because I want to end up with 3 plants per pot so I just started with bigger pots to save having to transplant them later:)

We also started our traditional seed bag so that we can observe the seeds sprouting before they come up from the soil!

The Skinny on Corn

2011-06-04T20:25:00.000-07:00

I never knew how corn grew. When I read the Garden Guy book I was very confused about hairs and block planting and pollinating each hair??? Now that I have grown some corn, I've got it all figured out...Mostly;)

So first they grow nice and tall and these things shoot out of the top. They were much fuller but this picture was taken after the pollinating process so they are a bit spent:)

Then, down below, shoots of hairs start growing?? Crazy! So the goal is to get the pollen from the top of the corn to pollinate the hairs below.

For that reason they suggest block planting instead of a row so that the pollen is more likely to reach the hairs. I planted my in a row because they were going to shade squash but the squash didn't make it:( This is what happens when all of the hairs don't get pollinated...

See all the missing kernels?? I didn't eat them! Each hair is connected to each kernel and so if it's not pollinated...No kernel:( I haven't given up on my corn because I picked this yummy little guy today and it was tasty! And he had all of his kernels:)

I have a plan to plant a big block of corn this July so if you live near me you will probably get some for Thanksgiving;)

How do Your Tomatos Grow??

2011-05-29T13:47:00.000-07:00

So I've gotten a lot of comments lately about my tomato plants and about how big they are and how fast they are growing. So I thought I would do a post about them:) There are 6 Tomato plants in this picture. 3 to the left are heirloom large cherry tomatoes(I started these from seed), The middle is and early girl from Costco, and the one to the right a beefsteak from Costco.
Here's a short video of me talking about my plants. I recorded another one but it was kinda long so this one is the shorter version:)

So the "Teas" I talk about are really easy and GREAT for your plants! Take rabbit pellets, chicken, cow, or rabbit manure, alfalfa hay, or compost and fill a 5 gallon bucket about 1/5 of the was full and then fill the rest with water. Let it steep for 3 days and then pour at ground level to give your plants a good nutritious drink:) Organic Too!!!!

Here's the longer version of the video if you are interested:)

Calling all Chickens!!

2011-05-23T13:17:00.001-07:00

How to call your chickens!

1. Start when they are very little chicks by using a call while you put out their food. (I use 3 high pitched whistles like in the video because that was a sound I heard the chicks make when they would get separated)

2. Make the call every time you come outside with treats! (tomato, strawberry and lettuce ends are some of my girls favorites:)

3. Try to get them to stop following you long enough to get a video of you calling them;)

Alfalfa

2011-05-21T20:01:00.000-07:00

Alfalfa is GREAT for the garden! I got this 100 lb. bale at The Stock Shop on 67th Ave. and Thunderbird for about 18 bucks (I also get my chicken and rabbit food there). It is a lot of hay and it's very compressed. I use Alfalfa hay for compost, mulching, chicken bedding and rabbit food. It is full of nitrogen which is great for your soil and gives your compost a kick in the pants;)

Why Mulch? Mulching your soil keeps is cooler. Instead of the sun beating down on your soil and heating up the roots it has a 4 to six inch layer of mulch to get through. It also helps your soil retain water longer. Here's my corn before mulching...

...and after!

Happy Gardening!!

2011-05-17T20:44:00.000-07:00

My first Garden! I stared it last October right before...

...the Hail storm!
I had to start all over but still had a great season out of it!

Squash and Zuccini Polinating

2011-05-17T20:04:00.000-07:00

I have an Awesome Zucchini plant(front) and a getting there squash plant(back).
I have had to keep the Zucchini trimmed back some to keep it in the 4 by 4 foot space I've given it and the squash got planted later but is also starting to fill it's 4 by 4 space. When I first started seeing flowers I knew that they were either male female but I couldn't tell until which until I finally noticed a female flower. On the inside there are five little fingers like the one below.

The male flower has one single one in the middle, like this.

Here are the 2 side by side. The slender stem is the male and the thick one is the female, and that's the zucchini forming.

This is a picture of the yellow crookneck squash and you can see the little squash at the base of the female flower(up front) and the male flower in the back.

To pollinate your flowers take a small soft paint brush to the center of the male flower and then lightly dust the pollen into the center of the female flower.

So far these plants are doing amazingly well and they are huge and beautiful! Not to mention the Zucchini is delicious;)

My Garden, the Video:)

2011-05-09T12:52:00.000-07:00

I decided to show you all my Garden through video because it is so much easier then typing it and trying to describe it:)

Under Construction!

2011-05-07T14:13:00.000-07:00

This blog is under Construction right now! Check back for the next few days for lots of gardening tips and great links!

Do I look Fat????

2008-08-11T17:47:00.001-07:00

This is a question my husband hears weekly from me but I'm getting better. For a lot of us weight gain and loss is an issue!!! Here are my tips for weight loss that have worked for me and many others. Just so you know, I break all of the rules, I am not perfect!

1. Sugar is Sugar is Sugar!! When I say sugar you may picture a bowl of refined white powder but sugars are in everything! When you eat bread the Carbohydrates turn into sugars in your body. Sugars and fats are the easiest things for your body to burn for energy so if you cut them out for a while you body will take it's energy from your fat stores. Once you have got your weight to where you want it you can add back in healthy sugars and Carbs like Oat meal and whole grains even then you need to watch how much you consume.

2. Calories!!! A calorie is a unit of measurement for energy. If you give you body more units of energy than you burn, it stores it as fat! I don't believe in counting every calorie I eat during the day but I did for a little while until I understood just how many calories I was consuming. For instance, one of my favorite lunches was a whole box of Mac and Cheese with two Veggie Hot Dogs in it!!!! I know right! That gave me 1,390 calories!! That is almost my entire recommended daily value of calories for a person my size! I did this with a lot of my "favorite" meals and now can no longer eat any of them because I just can't stomach eating that many unneeded calories. If you want to find out how many calories you favorite meals are go to Nutrition Data.com

3. High water / Low sugar fruits. Apples, oranges, bananas and other sweet fruits are so yummy and trick us into thinking we are eating "healthy". Sorry to burst your bubble but, most of those fruits have been breed to have more sugars and less nutrients so that they will be more appealing to the customer! The fruits that I speak of are tomatoes, cucumbers, Bell peppers, and many more! These fruits have less calories and sugar and a lot more nutrients!

4. Dark Leafy Greens, what can I say it's what we are made to eat. You don't even have to count these calories, have as much as you want just don't cook them to death and chew well so you get all of the goodness!

5. Remember that the world is working against you! Sorry! Everywhere you hear advertisements for junkie food and even things that seem good for you like 100% fruit juice(sugar). I try to look at it like Satan is trying to get me to mess up this wonderful body my Heavenly Father gave me and I'm not going to let him.

6. Read the word of Wisdom everyday! There are promises in there that will encourage you and give you strength!

So those are my tidbits, do with them what you will.
Please leave a comment when you read this, I would like to get an Idea of who is reading this blog and I would love to hear any tips that have worked for you. If it is OK for me to comment on your comment please say so. Thanks!

My Goal...

2008-08-04T22:47:00.000-07:00

I'm worried that I may have offended people, not just those that have commented to me but others who remain silent.

In my Last post I wrote,

"The Lord says in section 89, "And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine." This makes it clear to me that Heavenly Father does not want me to eat animals except for in the dire times that he lists."

I offered up this scripture as Heavenly Father telling us that it would please him if we would not eat animals unless we are in times of winter, or of cold, or of famine. I stand by that. However, I don't believe that anyone should "Convert" to a vegetarian diet by my interpretation alone. Please read section 89 and fast and pray about it. I did and my answer was over whelming (Story for another time) No one can tell anyone how to live their life, because we have free agency we can choose our own paths. I started this blog as an outlet to bear my testimony of what I know to be true. If you have a strong testimony of anything (Christ, the Church, prayer, fasting, or family) It burns in you to share it, right? That is exactly what I am doing, and I feel really good about.

I do not feel good about the idea of offending anyone or making any one feel uncomfortable so I will not use a comment from anyone in my posts because I no longer think it is a good idea. Unless you'd like me to, then you can say so in your comment. If anything in this blog is not to your liking then you can dismiss it as Samantha's rantings and move on :) I love to bear my testimony and this is a very comfortable way for me to do it. I love this Gospel, I love this Church, and I know with all my heart it is true!

Here is a pretty picture of flowers to lighten the mood!

Debate Sparked :)

2008-08-02T11:03:00.000-07:00

Jewelianna said...
Bruce R McConkie says in 'Mormon Doctrine' -There is no prohibition in Section 89, for instance, as to the eating of white bread, using white flour, white sugar, cocoa, chocolate, eggs, milk, meat, or anything else, except items classified under the headings, tea, coffee, tobacco, and liquor. As a matter of fact those who command that men should not eat meat, are not ordained of God, such counsel being listed by Paul as an evidence of apostasy. God has created "meats," he says, "to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth." (1 Tim 4:3.)If some particular food or drink disagrees with an individual, then that person should act accordingly without reference to the prohibitions in this particular law of health. (for more of her comment go to the comment section of the previous post)

Bruce R McConkie's book is his opinion and his opinion only. It is not doctrine.

The Lord says in section 89, "And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine." This makes it clear to me that Heavenly Father does not want me to eat animals except for in the dire times that he lists.

The second scripture I see misunderstood is Section 49 Verse 18. It reads, "And whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meats, that man should not eat the same, is not ordained of God;" This scripture is often offered up to me as evidence that I am actually wrong for not eating animals. The words are tricky in this verse and I will try my best to get the true meaning across. First it says, "And whoso forbiddeth" So that is referring to the person doing the forbidding. "to abstain from meats." a person who abstains from meat would be me, a vegetarian. So that first part is actually saying, Whoever forbids a person from being a vegetarian. If you know your grammar you now that the commas separating "That man should not eat the same" from the rest of the sentence mean that the sentence was interjected and should be able to be read clearly with or with out the interjection. So, With out the interjection the scripture reads, "And whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meats is not ordained of God." So if some one were telling another person "you need to eat meat", they would not be ordained of God. Now put the interjection back in "that man should not eat the same" That part is speaking about the forbidder. It's saying that not only is forbidding a man not to eat meat not ordained of God but the forbidder should not eat meat either. If you can explain this scripture in a different way I would love to hear it! Or section 89 as well.

I Just want to add that I know the Church of Jesus Christ is true and I know that The prophet is a true prophet and so were the ones that passed before him. I also know that just like me they are not perfect and they do make mistakes. I love this Gospel and I love the people of this church. I am so grateful to be part of two wonderful families with people who care so much about me and my little family.

Thanks Julie for your comments, I really appreciate your open mind and your kind heart!

Why do I abstain from eating animals?

2008-08-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

I have gotten a lot of comments from people lately that lead me to believe they don't understand the answer to this question. I'm going to bear my testimony as simply as I can.

First I know that animals have spirits and it is immoral to take their life just so that I can have pleasure. Second, I think the way animals are mass produced for our consumption is not only cruel but is devastating for our planet. Third, it has been shown in numerous studies (If you would like examples go to the Cancer Project.org website, the link is to the left) cutting the consumption of animals out of your diet reduces the risk for Cancer , and heart disease and so many other unpleasant things. Forth, I know that my body is a gift from God and that it is my job to care for it in the best way possible. There are many promises in Doctrine and Covenants Section 89 that I would love to obtain. I am in no way perfect and I still have a lot of work to do concerning the things I put into my body, however, I know that I will never again consume another animal unless it is to save my life and even then I would do it with dignity and respect to one of Heavenly Fathers creatures. I write these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

P.S. The comment I have heard most often from SO many people is "Moderation in all things". This comment really confuses me because if I were to do everything moderately then I would smoke a cigarette a day and only one beer a day, only cheat on my husband occasionally... I'm kidding obviously but that statement can only be true if moderation is defined as the "right" amount which could be none at all such as smoking, drinking, and adultery. I've said my two cents and I would LOVE to here your comments. I really would like to here from anyone who has their own two cents. I love sparking debates and learning new things from others.

Super Fast and Easy Veggie Chili

2008-07-20T20:59:00.000-07:00

( I use the Morning star veggie crumbles a lot. they can be found by the frozen breakfast stuff. I plan on learning to make my own so I can make it cheaper and when I do I will share that as well!)

My Dad taught me the base of this recipe and me and Nate have tweaked it to our own liking. This is so easy and fast to throw together and is packed with protein!

1 15 oz. Can diced stewed tomatoes, or diced stewed tomatoes with green chilies if you like it hotter!
1 15 oz.Can Ranch Style Beans
1/3 Package of Veggie Crumbles (I use this very sparingly because it is expensive sometimes)
1 15 oz. can of corn drained or 1 cup frozen corn
And anything else you want to throw in there :)

Pour it all into a pot and bring it to a boil then let simmer for five to 10 minutes, until it is heated all of the way through. Serve with cheddar Cheese on top and with salad and multi grain Crackers on the side! Yummy! P.S. Caden loves!!!!! this chili!

How to get your Spinach!

2008-07-15T20:55:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you but I know that spinach is amazing nutritionally, however, I have trouble eating it! If I have it in a salad I have to have it mixed with iceberg and even then I don't eat very much! So when I was in Arizona my dad showed me how to make a spinach drink (He invented) that is not only a power house of nutrition but gives you energy to boot! It's also very low calorie and very filling! When you cook food you are breaking down cell walls so that nutrients can be digested however you are also losing nutrients in the cooking prosses. By blending the spinach you are breaking down every cell wall and not losing any of the good stuff. You body is getting 3 times the nutrients it would be getting if you chewed all of the spinach. I recorded a video of me making it and I feel like such a dork in it but I think it's important to see how it's made. Here is what you will need;

Spinach

10 frozen or fresh strawberries

1/3 to a 1/2 of lime juice, about four limes

1 packet of Crystal Light

Water

Blend it all together in a blender adding enough water to get it all blended, then top it off with water till it makes a complete gallon.

Caden Loves this drink but I like to make him one that is all Natural (No Crystal light).

1 apple peeled or not

1 cup of Water

2 hand fulls of spinach

I like to blend it all together and add more water if it looks too thick. You can also toss any other fruit in along with it, I've done mango, cantaloupe, strawberries, carrots and others. If you think your child might be weary of drinking something green then put it in one of these green cup lid straw combos that you can get at any store for pretty cheap. Now, Caden loves this drink and begs for more but he's never had full strength juice so his taste buds aren't spoiled yet, if you find that your child doesn't like it, add some apple juice and then each time you make it add a little less apple juice. You can also add less spinach at first and work you way up.

Three Bean Veggie Tacos!

2008-07-13T21:20:00.001-07:00

This is an absolute Favorite at our house! We have had lots of non vegetarian friends over who loved it!

What you will deed:

Taco shells, how ever you like them! We do Corn tortillas fried and salted

1 Bag of Morningstar Crumbles

1 Can of Dark Red kidney beans

1 Can of black beans

1 packet of Taco seasoning

Ketchup (secret ingredient, shhhhh)

1 Can of refried beans

Lettuce

Tomatoes

Cheese

Directions:

Pour Crumbles, taco seasoning(follow packet instruction for how much water to add), and a good squirt of ketchup into a skillet start heating on medium while you open the kidney beans and black beans. Drain and rinse to get all of the sugars and preservatives off and add half a can of each to the skillet, Mix the rest together in a Tupperware and save for next time or as a snack for the kids, Caden loves them fresh out of the fridge. Set the skillet to a nice simmer, stirring occasionally while you cut lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and heat the refried beans(Microwave, I'm lazy!). You can build your taco however you want but the Packer family style is; Tortilla, refried beans, taco mixture, cheese, lettuce and tomato! This is a delicious meal packed with protein and by adding the inexpensive beans it fills it out add makes the more expensive Veggie crumbles go a long way! Let me know if anyone tries it!

Cancer, Nutrition, and the Word of Wisdom

2008-06-30T21:51:00.000-07:00

Photo by Summer Drake, Pikes Place Market

By William T. Stephenson, MDDr. Stephenson is a physician at Kansas City Cancer Center, Kansas City, Missouri. He also has a degree in nutrition from Brigham Young University and currently serves as a bishop.

William T. Stephenson, “Cancer, Nutrition, and the Word of Wisdom: One Doctor’s Observations,” Ensign, Jul 2008, 42–47
Knowing our health and our spirituality are interrelated, I would like to offer a few medical insights into what the scientific world is learning about cancer.
Doctrine and Covenants 89, known commonly as the Word of Wisdom, is a remarkable revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith almost 175 years ago—long before there was any scientific proof to influence him on issues of health.
Though at first reading, Doctrine and Covenants 89 may seem to be simply a list of dos and don’ts about such nonspiritual topics as tobacco, alcohol, and diet, it is much more. The Lord says, “all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal” (D&C 29:34).
On Tobacco
“And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man” (D&C 89:8).
While studying cancer medicine at Indiana University, I was assigned to the oncology clinic at the Veterans Administration hospital there. The patients I saw were almost all heavy current or former smokers. They came in with lung cancers, bladder cancers, esophageal cancers, and other smoking-related malignancies. At the same time, they had emphysema and heart disease made worse by years of tobacco use, rendering their treatments both more difficult and less effective.
Tobacco has now been linked to many types of cancer, including lung, bladder, esophagus, head and neck, throat, cervix, stomach, pancreas, and kidney cancers, as well as acute myeloid leukemia.1 Lung cancer, however, is foremost among them. Smoking causes about 90 percent of male lung cancer deaths, about 80 percent of female lung cancer deaths,2 and a total of approximately 440,000 deaths annually.3
A 2004 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that “compared to nonsmokers, men who smoke are about 23 times more likely to develop lung cancer, and women who smoke are about 13 times more likely.”4 In addition, smoking is a major cause of emphysema, coronary heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, infertility, dental diseases, and other diseases.5
On Hot Drinks and Caffeine
“And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly” (D&C 89:9).
The consumption of coffee or tea, whether hot or cold, is recognized by the Church as a violation of the Word of Wisdom. Coffee and tea contain substances such as caffeine, which has been linked to disease. While the Word of Wisdom does not specifically mention caffeine, it is commonly understood in the medical community that higher doses of caffeine are associated with infertility, Meniere’s disease (a disease affecting balance), insomnia, sudden infant death syndrome (with maternal consumption in utero), and fibrocystic disease of the breasts. In addition, gastric acid disease (ulcers of the stomach and duodenum) may also be linked to consumption of both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, lending credence to the Word of Wisdom’s advice to avoid “hot drinks.” From the perspective of medical science, most investigators who have examined the effects of caffeine suggest that caffeinated beverages should not be consumed in large quantities.6
On Alcohol
“Inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good. … And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies”(D&C 89:5, 7).
The Word of Wisdom is clear on this point. Among doctors, as a result of scientific studies, it is commonly accepted that alcohol consumption is associated with cancers of the esophagus, liver, and pancreas. A relationship between alcohol and the development of breast cancer has been debated for years. The largest study on this subject was presented recently. The Nurses’ Health Study, a study of 121,700 nurses followed over a 20-year period, found that even modest alcohol intake was associated with an increased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer.7
On Dietary Recommendations
Although we often consider the verses teaching us to avoid alcohol, tobacco, and hot drinks to be the most important parts of the Word of Wisdom, the larger portion of this revelation is actually devoted to teaching us what we should consume: wheat, other grains, fruits, and vegetables. Grains are mentioned repeatedly in this revelation, with special mention of “wheat for man” in verse 17.
“And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—
“Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
“Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;
“And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
“All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, …
“All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; …
“Nevertheless, wheat for man” (D&C 89:10–14, 16–17).
What does medical science teach us about this kind of diet? Certainly all kinds of diets are being recommended by one seeming authority or another. The diets in fashion change from year to year. Consistently over the years, however, the evidence favors a diet in keeping with the recommendations contained in the Word of Wisdom. The medical community widely accepts that a low-fat diet consisting mostly of complex carbohydrates found in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, along with limited amounts of nuts and high-protein foods like low-fat meats, is associated with lower incidences of disease and a longer life.
The benefits of this type of diet are likely related to many different interrelated nutritional factors. For example, such a diet is naturally low in fat. I recently attended the American Society of Clinical Oncology meetings, where I heard research presented on postmenopausal women who had undergone treatment for early-stage breast cancer. Women who followed a low-fat diet, which was remarkably similar to the foods recommended in the Word of Wisdom, were less likely to have their breast cancer return after treatment.8
On Nutrition and Cancer Prevention
It would be impractical to discuss all the data in support of the dietary principles promoted by the Word of Wisdom, but I would like to review a few examples from the cancer literature that I find particularly interesting.
Several studies have looked at the ability of vitamin supplements in pill form to prevent cancer. One study examined male smokers from Finland who took vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) and vitamin A (beta carotene) in tablet form. The results were unexpected. The authors found no reduction in the incidence of lung cancer among these smokers after five to eight years of dietary supplementation with alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E); they found an 18 percent increased risk of lung cancer among those supplemented with beta carotene (vitamin A).9
In several follow-up studies, participants were asked to give dietary histories showing what kinds of foods they commonly ate.10 The results were also surprising. Those individuals who had the highest intake of fruits and vegetables had a lower incidence of lung cancer.11 The best results were seen in individuals with diets high in vitamin A–rich foods, such as tomatoes and dark green or dark yellow vegetables and fruits. A second study, the Beta-Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial (CARET) Study, confirmed these results.12 Other studies have also confirmed the value of eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
Additional studies have linked diets high in whole grains and rich in fiber to lower incidences of colon and other cancers. Nuts also appear to be important and could logically be included in the Word of Wisdom’s “fruit of the vine” (D&C 89:16).
In a modern world we often look for easy ways to live healthily by substituting fad diets or pills for healthy eating habits. Many fad diets promote the opposite of the Word of Wisdom, including diets high in meat and fat, which may temporarily lower weight. However, research indicates that a diet following the recommendations outlined in section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants, consisting primarily of grains, fruits, and vegetables, is generally considered the healthiest way to eat.
On Cancer Incidence and Longevity
Science has also looked specifically at Latter-day Saints to see if our health practices influence our chances of getting cancer. The results are encouraging.
When looking at Latter-day Saints living in Utah, one study found a 24 percent lower rate of developing cancer. Looking at just smoking-related cancers, the study found a 50 percent lower incidence in men and a 60 percent lower incidence in women compared to the U.S. rate.13
A University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) study of Latter-day Saint high priests in California found they were about 50 percent less likely to die from cancer and 70 percent less likely to die of tobacco-related cancers than the general population.”14
Life expectancy for Latter-day Saint males living in Utah is 7.3 years longer than their non-LDS counterparts. Female Latter-day Saints appear to live longer too—an average of 5.8 years.15
Standards for Temporal Health
While the Word of Wisdom does not rely on scientific proof, it has stood the test of time, and science is slowly proving the truths it contains. The Lord revealed and the Prophet Joseph Smith taught important standards for temporal health that science is now corroborating many decades later.
Thanks to the recommendations contained in section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants, Latter-day Saints live longer and are less likely to get cancer. Although members of the Church often focus on aspects relating to avoiding smoking, alcohol consumption, coffee, and tea, the Word of Wisdom provides further direction for blessing Latter-day Saints. Eating a diet consisting primarily of wheat and grain products, fruits, and vegetables, as outlined in the revelation, is being shown scientifically to be the best possible way to eat. Since the Lord promises that those who follow these teachings will have “health in their navel and marrow to their bones” (v. 18) and will “find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures” (v. 19), I am eager to do all I can to live by the precepts taught in the Word of Wisdom.