How to Make Shorts: Turning Jeans into Shorts or Capris with Fabric Cuffs in 20 minutes!

How to Make Shorts: Turning Jeans into Shorts or Capris with Fabric Cuffs in 20 minutes!

Soup....

"We spies made homemade soup, and oh, how good it was! I wish there was more, but unfortunately, there is not."

I found this little guys in my garage.

I think these two are American Bushtit.

*Second Bird is a male*

~First Bird is a female~

American bushtit

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

American Bushtit
In Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada
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Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Aegithalidae
Genus:	Psaltriparus Bonaparte, 1850
Species:	minimus
Binomial name
Psaltriparus minimus (Townsend, 1837)

The American Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) is the only species in the family Aegithalidae found in the New World, and the only member of the genus Psaltriparus. In North America, it is referred to simply as "Bushtit".

Contents

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• 1 Description and Behavior
• 2 Black-eared Bushtit
• 3 References
• 4 Further reading
• 5 External links

Description and Behavior[edit]

The American Bushtit inhabits mixed open woodlands, often containing oaks and a scrubby chaparral understory ; it also inhabits parks and gardens. It is a year-round resident of the western United States and highland parts of Mexico, ranging fromVancouver through the Great Basin and the lowlands and foothills of California to southern Mexico and Guatemala.

The elaborate pendant nest of moss and lichenassembled with spider silkand lined with feathers hangs from a branch.

The American Bushtit is one of the smallestpasserines in North America, at 11 cm (4.3 in) in length and 5–6 g (0.18–0.21 oz) in weight. It is gray-brown overall, with a large head, a short neck, a long tail, and a short stubby bill. The male has dark eyes and the adult female, yellow. Coastal forms have a brown "cap" while those in the interior have brown "mask."

The American Bushtit is active and gregarious, foraging for small insects and spiders in mixed-species feeding flocks containing species such aschickadees and warblers, of 10 to over 40 individuals. Members of the group constantly make contact calls to each other that can be described as a short spit.

Black-eared Bushtit[edit]

The "Black-eared" Bushtit was formerly considered a separate species (P. melanotis). It can be identified by its dark ear patch (the auricular). This polymorphism does not occur in the northern part of the American Bushtits' range, but is first noted near the Mexican border, primarily in Texas. Most individuals with the black ear patch in that area are juvenile males, and none are adult females – some have only one or two dark lines on the face instead of a complete patch. The Black-eared form becomes more common southward in the northeastern (but not the northwestern) highlands of Mexico until from central Mexico south, all males have a complete black ear patch and even adult females have a black arc over the eye and usually a black line through the eye.

Sweet and Sour Chicken - Restaurant Style

My Sister made her yummy sweet and sour chicken today. 

 I love it sooo much!!

Here is how she made it...

Sweet and Sour Chicken - Restaurant Style

Restaurant style sweet and sour chicken. You can also make this with pork or shrimp. This takes some time in preparation but you can also use frozen chicken nuggets or popcorn chicken instead of frying your own to make it go quicker. 

What you'll need:
2 carrots, sliced paper thin
1 green pepper, rough chopped
1/2 onion, rough chopped
8oz can of pineapple chunks
1-1/2 lbs chicken breasts cut into 1" pieces

For the batter:
1/3 cup AP flour
1/3 cup cornstarch
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp soy sauce
1/2 cup water

For the sauce:
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
3 Tbsp white vinegar
1 Tbsp ketchup
1 tsp soy sauce
1/4 tsp red food coloring (optional)
3 Tbsp cornstarch

To prepare the chicken: Combine batter ingredients in a large bowl. Add chicken pieces to batter and stir to coat. Fry in 350* vegetable or peanut oil for 5-6 minutes or until golden brown and chicken is cooked thoroughly. Drain on paper towels and set aside.

To prepare the sauce: Stir all ingredients together and set aside. 

In a large skillet or wok, heat 2-3 Tbsp oil over medium-high heat. Add carrots, green pepper and onion. Stir fry for 3-4 minutes until just done. Do not brown. Add the sauce mixture and pineapple. Bring just to a boil to thicken. Add chicken pieces and stir to coat. Serve over white or fried rice and enjoy!

***if you use frozen chicken nuggets or popcorn chicken, precook before adding to the cooked sauce.

12 Things to Do With Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is an easy to grow herb that not only attracts bees to the garden, but is also a great anti-viral with relaxing properties that are helpful for soothing frayed nerves and calming hyper children.

Traditionally, it’s been used to gently treat colic and upset stomach in everyone from infants to elders. A leaf can be chewed to freshen the breath or crushed and placed on a bug bite to help ease the itch.

If you’ve ever planted lemon balm, you know how one tiny plant can quickly take over a large portion of your garden! Last week, I talked about using some of its abundance to make a lip balm for cold sores. Today, I thought I’d share a dozen more things to do with this prolific little gem.

Important Note: While it’s generally considered safe for most people, lemon balm can inhibit thyroid function. If you have hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) or are on thyroid medication check with a doctor before using large amounts internally. If you’re pregnant, nursing, on meds or have any other questions or concerns, do further research and talk with a qualified health professional before use.

12 Things to Do With Lemon Balm:

1. Make a sleepy time herbal syrup – place about 3/4 cup lemon balm leaves into a small pot and add enough water to just cover the leaves. Simmer, covered partially, until the liquid is reduced in half. Strain out & compost the leaves. While still quite warm, measure out about 1/2 cup of the concentrated tea and stir 1/4 cup raw honey into it. Add more honey to taste, if you wish. You can make larger or smaller batches – keeping a ratio of about 2 parts lemon balm infusion to 1 part honey. Store in the refrigerator for a few weeks. Dose by the spoonful at night to help calm and relax everyone from children to adults. (Keeping in mind that honey should not be given to infants under one year old.)

2. Chop fresh leaves and sprinkle on fruit salads; drizzle with honey or a dressing made of yogurt and honey.

3. Make a glycerite – Fill a jar with leaves. Cover with a mixture of 3 parts vegetable glycerine to 1 part water. Cap and let this sit in a dark place for 3 to 4 weeks. Strain. Dose is 1/2 to 1 teaspoon as needed to relax and calm. Store in your refrigerator for several months. (Adapted fromRosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs.)

4. Make a relaxing, tummy soothing tea – Fill a jar with fresh leaves. Pour simmering hot water into the jar then cover the top with a saucer so that none of the vapors escape. Let steep until cool enough to drink. Sweeten to taste.

5. Moisten cosmetic clay with lemon balm tea to dab on blemishes and bug bites as needed.

6. Fill a bath bag with lemon balm leaves and rose petals. Hang from the spigot and let the water run through as the tub fills. (No bath bags handy? Try a thin white sock with a knot tied at the top.)

7. Add finely chopped leaves (1 to 2 TBSP) and lemon zest (a pinch) to your favorite scone or muffin recipe.

8. Make a tincture – Add leaves to a jar until about three-quarters filled. Pour in 80 proof or higher alcohol until the jar is filled. Cap with a non-metallic lid and store in a cool, dark place for about 4 to 6 weeks, shaking periodically. Strain and store for at least a year. Adult dose is 1/4 teaspoon (which is also about 1 dropperful or 1 ml) at a time, as needed. I usually mix with equal parts honey for better patient compliance. This is a great stomach soothing, anti-viral concoction, perfect to take when you feel like you’re coming down with a cold or bug. Lemon Balm is also a component in my trusted Favorite Cold & Flu Tincture.

9. Make a vinegar – fill a jar about 3/4 full with fresh leaves. Cover with apple cider vinegar. Cap with a non-metallic lid and let steep in a cool dark place for a few weeks. Strain and use as a hair wash or add to your bath water. You can also use this in food dishes & salad dressings instead of plain vinegar.

10. Make candied lemon balm leaves – This is a favorite kid activity around here! Beat an egg white with a tiny bit of water. Dip lemon balm leaves in the mixture, then dip in sugar. Lay on a parchment lined baking sheet. You can air dry these, though we like to speed up the process by putting them in a 200 degree F oven until they look dry, but not browned. Check after 20 minutes and every 5 to 10 after that.

11. Make Lemon Balm & Honey Butter – Mix half a stick (4 tablespoons) of softened butter with a pinch of finely chopped lemon balm. Add a drizzle of honey to taste. Yummy on hot fresh bread or biscuits!

12. Make an herbal water - Fill a jar with fresh lemon balm leaves and a thinly sliced lemon. Pour in cold water until it reaches the top. Refrigerate for several hours. So refreshing on a hot day!

The Benefits of Rosemary.

Remarkable Rosemary! The Benefits of Herbs, Extracts, and Teas!


- by Julie Coles
I’ve always liked Rosemary – the name that is, mainly because it’s my mother’s and daughter’s middle name. But NOW, the more I’ve come to know this green, I don’t just like rosemary I absolutely LOVE it! It’s such a remarkable herb!
Rosemary’s Days of YoreTo understand how this green has come to have an important place among our favorite herbs, let’s start with a quick look back at how it came to be appreciated in our culture.In the Middle Ages, believing rosemary was a gift from Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, it was customary for a bride to wear a tiara designed with rosemary as a symbol of their fidelity. The groom welcomed guests by offering a sprig of rosemary. Wouldn’t that make the wedding celebration smell heavenly?!Here’s something else I didn’t know – rosemary symbolizes remembrance and to this day is commonly used at weddings, funerals and war commemorations. Christians called rosemary the “Holy Herb” and associated it with Mary, who, according to Spanish legend, draped her cloak over a Rosemary bush on the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt, turning the colour of the blossoms from white to blue.Rosemary derives from the Latin name rosmarinus, which is from “dew” (ros) and “sea” (marinus), or “dew of the sea” because in many locations it needs no other water than the humidity carried by the sea breeze to live (I LOVE learning the origins of words)!As the name suggests, it can be easily cultivated. The plant is propagated by clipping a shoot of around 6 inches, strip it of a few leaves and plant directly into the soil. In a few days a healthy off-shoot appears. Even I could do that!!When it matures, rosemary is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant, needle-like foliage and delicate flowers. The plant bears flowers in spring and winter, ranging in hues of white, blue, purple or pink and they grow upright or creep. It is native to the Mediterranean region, Portugal and Spain.The Fresh Fragrance of RosemaryI’ve always had a ‘thing’ for scents.  I can remember just loving the smell in my best friend’s home. Did you know lavender and rosemary are part of the same family? It’s actually from the mint family, Lamiaceae, which also includes many other herbs.I’ve always liked rosemary for its beautiful aroma but often confuse the rosemary and lavender plants – they look so similar and now I know why. Whenever I smell lavender I think of my grandmother *smile*. My grandmother wore Yardley’s Lavender cologne. Rosemary is a fragrance you won’t forget either. It has a unique and beautiful aroma – very fresh and alive!The Many Health Benefits of RosemaryRosemary can be used both as a fresh green, a dried herb, an extract, and as a tea. If you intend to use rosemary for medicinal purposes, I’d recommend doing further personal research first.   FYI, in researching for this article I read a blog written by a man who was having problems remembering where he put his keys/glasses, etc. He realized that after a few weeks of eating rosemary his memory was vastly improved!Food for thought! (literally!)

• is high in iron, calcium, and vitamin B6

• contains two important ingredients - caffeic acid and rosemarinic acid– both of which are potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents that may shield the brain from free radicals, lowering the risk of strokes and diseases like Alzheimer’s, ALS

• 

reduces inflammation (inflammation is associated with contributing toasthma, liver disease and heart disease)

• is a rich source of vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) a potent antioxidant, which contributes to its free radical fighting powers further still

• helps prevent breast cancer by blocking estrogen

• prevents age-related skin damage

• boosts the functioning of the liverand acts as a mild diuretic to help reduce swelling

• helps to regulate the menstrual cycle and to ease cramps

• helps to lower blood sugar and raise blood pressure

• treats migraines

• stimulates the appetite

• soothes aching muscles and joints and eases arthritis pain when oil or freshly cut sprigs are added to bath water

• has been shown to improve the shelf life and heat stability of Omega 3-rich oils and we all know the importance of Omega 3 in our diet!

• treat bites and stings externally

• stimulates an increased blood supply when used externally during amassage (oil distilled from rosemary leaves can be mixed with vegetable oil)

• is used in aromatherapy as an inhalant/decongestant and to enhance memory

• 

has been shown to possess an ability toinactivate toxins and then eliminate them from your liver, before they can inflict any serious damage

• stimulates your liver to work more efficiently, which helps you feel more healthy and energetic

If you are interested in consuming rosemary as a supplement, the recommended dosage is two 400mg rosemary capsules up to three times a day. Warning: Pregnant women should not take rosemary extract (unless under the care and guidance of a natural health care practitioner or herbalist).  In addition, you should not take rosemary supplements if you suffer from high blood pressure or epilepsy.

• is a warming and stimulating drink which has pain relieving properties; it has been used for centuries to ease the symptoms of headaches and rheumatism and improves circulation.

• aids in focus and concentration

• 

stimulates the digestive system

• when cooled can be used as a mouthwash to combat oral bacteria

• can be used to rinse hair toease scalp problems such as dandruff and to also ease the pain associated with Scabies. (My kids came back from a visit with their father with a case of Scabies. I was horrified. I wish I knew then about using rosemary tea to bathe their little bodies.)

To make rosemary tea, steep two teaspoons of the dried flowering tops in one cup of water for twenty minutes.

• Rosemary in culinary or therapeutic doses is generally safe BUT, if you have epilepsy, don’t take medicinal amounts of rosemary; the camphor in the herb could potentially aggravate seizures.

• Rosemary essential oil is potentially toxic if ingested (training is required for the safe ingestion of oils)

• Large quantities of rosemary leaves can cause adverse reactions, such as coma, spasm, vomiting, and pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) that can be fatal

• Avoid consuming large quantities of rosemary especially if pregnant or breastfeeding

• After the leaves are stripped, toss the stems into the fireplace to fill the house with a delightful, pine-scented perfume

• Both the leaves and the flowers of rosemary are edible

• Add some leaves or flowers to potpourri

• Rosemary makes a natural moth repellent

• The plant prefers warm climates and well-drained soil

• A rosemary plant can spread a good two or three feet producing plenty of herbal sprigs

• Putting a few sprigs in your next bath will create a lovely, aromatic soak

• Try garnishing a platter with rosemary instead of parsley

• Use rosemary as background greenery in a flower bouquet

• Weave branches into wreaths or garlands as a silvery, fragrant base

Of course, you can also enjoy rosemary in a green smoothie!
Remember Me: Remarkable Rosemary Green Smoothie
- by Amanda Klain

            Ingredients:

• 1/2 banana

• 1 pear

• 1/2 orange squeezed fresh juice

• handful of fresh rosemary (this is the golden key)

mix of chard and spinach and kale (to taste)
I drank a full quart of this in about 20 minutes flat!