Everything in life seems to be coming at me extra fast these days. I think it is a combination of reasons that probably most people can identify with. You know what I am talking about. All the presidential campaigning, starting with the primaries, dragged on for what seemed like an eternity. There was so much…
The topic of pesticides in our food, water, and air, its safety, and how it gets there is huge. Last month’s newsletter, “The Problem with Pesticides”, could not contain all the information needed to explain just how pesticides affect us every day. It is the goal of this article to go into that detail. Due…
The first two weeks of November have been like no other year. The drama of the presidential election has made it almost impossible to think about anything else. With proponents from both parties spouting desperate reasons why the other candidate shouldn’t be elected, it was hard to find anything else to capture my attention. On…
Snakes and Skunks For over a week I had been noticing strange things in the barn. Most mornings I would find one of the cat food bowls emptied out. Sometimes the bowl would be on its side. If you have ever owned a cat you would know that cats rarely will eat every piece of…
The word pesticide is a broadly used term that literally means, that which kills pests. It could be an herbicide (plant killer), insecticide (insect killer), fungicide (fungus killer), rodenticide (rodent killer), or some other “pest” killer. The pesticide could be either synthetic or natural in form. Natural forms of pesticides may include orange oil, neem…
As much as I love the ending of the summer heat and the beginning of fall, this time of year always seems to feel a little crazy. I don’t know why, but from now until around February the tension and chaos gets progressively stronger. Maybe it is because I want to be outside more but…
One thing that life has taught me is that perspective can make you or break you. Perspective is about what we choose to focus on. It involves a very important point of reference, and a particular span of time over which the analysis occurs. A good perspective can fuel dreams and provide the necessary drive…
It’s been a hectic two weeks. Between my husband’s work schedule and mine, we have been run ragged. Late nights and early mornings seem to be a regular part of the schedule these days. Throw in some unexpected problems (like the tractor breaking down) and the stress gets unbearable. Fortunately, my husband and I just…
My first full week back at work after family left could have been a drudgery. I will admit that most mornings (4:30am when I rolled out of bed) felt that way. But routine has a way of settling deep into your bones, and brings a sense of comfort. Of course, being greeted after my shower…
We spent the first week getting ready for family to come into town. It has been a struggle just to keep up with things at home, so it took me all week to prepare for company. My sister and brother, with their respective spouses, arrived on Saturday afternoon from Pennsylvania. My husband and I were…