Chicken ART, why?

I love drawing and painting. When I started raising chickens, my art went that way too. 🐓

I love colors,  so most of my art is spunky,  vibrant, pops with colors!! I hope my art brings joy to people that purchases my art.  

I appreciate all my customers that love and support my work!  Please check out my site on Etsy www.etsy.com/shop/mylittlechickencoop www.etsy.com/shop/mylittlechickencoop

My Facebook page 

Www.facebook.com/chickenscratchart 

My Chicken art creations

 I have loved creating since I was a preteen,  a sweet dear nearly 90 year old lady helped mentor me and my art.  I loved spending time with her, and she help ignite a passion for art that will last my entire life.  I hope I can pass on my love for art to my grandchildren.

Once art runs through you veins,  it runs forever!!

I hope my art brings a smile to my buyers,  to give them joy when they look at them.  My art is brightly-colored, quirky, a bigger than life view of life through my eyes.
My Facebook page. Www.facebook.com/chickenscratchart
My Etsy shop. Www.etsy.com/shop/mylittlechickencoop

My eBay Store www.ebay.com/usr/mylittlechickencoop

Araucanas, Americana, & Easter Egger Chickens, What is the difference

Easters VS. Ameraucanas First NOTE Ameraucanas do not lay white, pink/beige, brown, olive,/khaki green or dark greenish brown or tan eggs but rather varying shades of pastel blue or blue-green eggs. Araucanas - SQ have ear tufts (different from muffs) and are tail-less. Have a pea comb. Suppose to lay blue eggs. Come in certain colors. Can be cleanfaced and tailed, but that means they are NOT show quality. ARAUCANA Admitted into the APA Standard in 1976 Has Ear TUFTS Has no tail Tight Feathering Large Fowl Weight Male 5 lbs. Female 4 lbs Bantam Weight Male 28 oz.Female 26 oz.Back is flat, slopes slightly at the tail Eyes can be red, brown or Reddish bay Legs green or willowBottom of foot— yellowPea Comb Red earlobes Small wattles Blue Eggs AMERAUCANA Admitted into the APA Standard in 1984 Has Ear MUFFS Has a definite tail.Looser Feathering Large Fowl WeightMale 6 1/2 lbs Female 5 1/2 lbs Bantam WeightMale 30 oz. Female 26 oz. Back is slightly elevated at the shoulders Eyes— reddish bay only Legs— Blue Slate Bottom of foot— whitePea CombRed earlobes Small wattles Blue Eggs Ameraucanas - SQ have muffs, and tails. Have a pea comb. Supposed to lay blue eggs. Come in certain colors.

Easter Eggers - A mutt chicken - a cross between a blue egg laying bird (Ameraucana or Araucana) and any other breed of chicken (usually a great egg layer). They usually have muffs and a tail, and usually have a pea comb. Dont come in certain colors, seeing as they are mutts. They can lay any color egg, but usually lay green, sometimes blue. Easter Eggers Easter Eggers are not a breed per se, but a variety of chicken that does not conform to any breed standard but lays large to extra large eggs that vary in shade from blue to green to olive to aqua and sometimes even pinkish. Easter Eggers vary widely in color and conformation, and are exceptionally friendly and hardy. Since they are usually quite friendly to children and humans in general, they are a great choice for a family flock. Most hatcheries mistakenly label their Easter Eggers as Ameraucanas or Araucanas (or various misspellings thereof). True Ameraucanas and Araucanas are currently only available through breeders. Easter Eggers do not qualify to be shown, since they do not conform to a breed standard. Egg Laying: Very Good (4/wk) Egg Color: Green/Blue/Pink/Multi Egg Size: X-Large Hardy In Winter: Yes Bears Confinement: Bears confinement well Especially Docile: Yes Setter/Broody: No Personality: Fun EASTER EGGER NOT recognized by the APA nor the ABACan have either or none May have a tail and may not have a tail or a little of both. Can have either feathering Any weight is acceptable Any posture is fine Can be any color Can be any color Any comb Any color earlobes Any size wattles Any color eggs Disclaimer, some of this info was taken from the Interent MLCC

Why do raise chickens?

Do you raise chickens for the eggs, the meat, the companionship??  Well for me it was the eggs, then the fun of watching them, feeding them, watching them brings a peace to you.  Are you shaking your head with me,  😁 You become overtaken by them, with love ❤🐓

Chickens become family,  a friend, joy unknown.  So the next time someone asks you about your chickens, tell them all the reasons you raise chickens, smile and let your chicken OCD Come gushing out.  🐓💗 

How many eggs does a Chicken lay?

All chickens have a life cycle of eggs they produce.  Some lady more than others,  first it takes 25 hours for an egg to form beginning to end.  So in most cases they will skip a day, but you have to take in all the circumstances of weather,  stress,  feed,  enough daylight.  So remember even your best top notch layers miss a day ever so often. Once the egg is layer,  it starts all over again,  an egg is definitely under appreciated. So don't get discouraged,  they also take breaks during extreme weather, molting season, when new chickens enter the flock, so hang in there with your girls.

Www.Facebook.com/mylittlechickencoop

New Chicken Art Series "Chicken Gals"

Working on art, that's is my job, so to speak, that's how I am able to be home to help watch my grandkids. So remember please you are supporting a real person!! Check out my store on Etsy

The fun of collecting eggs

The fun of raising chickens is to actually go and collect the eggs. To be able to find those little jewels that your chicken laid for you, makes it all worth wild. Do you get a little excited when you find those beauties there waiting on you, kind of like Christmas morning all for you. I'm thankful for my chickens I'm thankful for the eggs they give me, it gives me a gleam of happiness. So the next time you're collecting your eggs think about it, just how great it is to find those treasures and smile. oh and up to your chickens and tell them thank you for supplying a smile

Christmas Time At The Coops

Holly The Elf

Time to blog again Christmas at the COOP Do you decorate your coop for Christmas? I would love to get some photos of yours and share them! Email me your decorated coop photos to mylittlechickencoop@Yahoo.com

Pickled Eggs

Are you a pickled Egg Eater?? Here are a few recipes I have tried out.

B & B Style Pickle Eggs Ingredients 3 dozen eggs (medium best for size of jar)1 large jar jalapeno peppers (18-22 oz)1 large jar hot pepper rings (banana peppers)1 qt. jar of Vlasic Hot Garden Mix or generic jar of hot gardenia mix Brine to fill remainder of jar. Ratio of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water Boil your eggs, peel ‘em. Pour the liquid from the peppers and garden mix into a gallon jar, adding some of the veggies. Alternate layers of eggs and veggies in the jar. Cover the eggs with the remaining veggies and fill with enough brine solution to cover the eggs. Store at room temperature. Wait at least 5-7 days before serving, although my wife and I often need to perform quality control testing on days 2-4.The Hardy’s site across from the B&B bar was previously occupied by a Conaco station and repair shop. I used to take my cars there – the B&B made a great waiting room. My car was in the shop the last week before the building was razed for the new restaurant. I picked up my car with several eggs in hand. The Conaco owner started talking about the B&B and old Mr. Wade, who used to take a couple of trip to Vegas each year on his egg profits. He has since departed this world and the bar is run/managed/owned (not sure which) by his nephew. Bless Mr. Wade for setting the standard for all egg bearers. I commented on how secretive Mr. Wade was with his recipe. The garage owner said one day a tipsy Mr. Wade came into the shop and disclosed his recipe. Since he was closing and moving out of town, he felt it was okay to share it with me me. Please keep in mind he gave only ingredients, not measurements. Those are mine and a result of trial and error. This’s the basic recipe shared by this grease-monkey Judas, whom I tipped handsomely. He added that Mr. Wade claimed it was the hot oils in the peppers and solution that gave the coated the eggs and supplied their kick. He also said that there was no boiling of ingredients except for the eggs. The original version didn’t contain the garden mix but I like the veritable cornucopia of tangy veggies and how they enhance the presentation. Now many people add salt, hot sauce, onions, etc. and boil their Macbethian concoctions but I don’t. There are many “B&B” recipes out there and I don’t know if this one is the Holy Grail for Tech eggophiles. When I shared this story with Mr. Wade’s nephew several years later, he said the shop owner was full of auto shineola and didn’t know what he was talking about. When asked as to how this recipe veered from the original, young Mr. Wade nephew just smiled and walked away. I guess it all boils down to how do you like your eggs? Then fix ‘em that way and enjoy them.*******************************************************************************************

Pink Pickled Eggs Recipe Ingredients and method. Step 1 Place eggs in saucepan; cover with water. Add about a teaspoon of white vinegar to the water. Step 2 Heat the water just to a boil. Cover the pan and remove from heat. Set the timer for 10 minutes. Step 3 After 10 minutes are up, uncover the pan and run cold water over the eggs as you empty the hot water into the sink. Run the cold water for a couple of minutes, until the eggs begin to cool. Empty the water from the pan. The eggs are now ready to peel and use in a recipe, or store them in the refrigerator, in a covered bowl, until ready to peel and eat. TIP: Use eggs that are a week or so old. They’ll peel easier than eggs that are fresh. Ingredients6 hard-boiled eggs – peeled1 cup cider vinegar1 can whole beets with liquid (approx. 1 cup)1/3 cup granulated sugar1/2 tsp salt1 small onion – chopped4 whole cloves shredded lettuce or greens**We had 1 small jar of Sweet banana pepper rings and juice** 1/2 small jar of Jalenpano peppers and juice to our mixture it needed more kick so this did and my husband loves this recipe!!!Instructions Place peeled eggs (whole) in a bowl or jar. Mix vinegar, beet liquid, sugar, salt, onion, and cloves; pour over eggs. Add beets. Cover and refrigerate 2 to 3 days. Slice eggs and beets; serve on a bed of lettuce or greens. This is a great recipe to make with kids. Since the eggs need to “pickle” in the refrigerator for two or three days before they’re nice and pink and ready to eat, let the kids keep an eye on them, checking them each day to see how the color changes. ************************************************************************ Veggie Style Pickled Eggs dozen hard-boiled eggs4 cups vinegar1 onion, sliced8 habanero peppers7 jalapenos1/2 cup pickled jalapeno pepper2 tablespoons red pepper flakes5 dashes hot sauce2 tablespoons salt3 tablespoons mustard seeds3 pinches alum4 tablespoons peppercorns5 cloves garlic2 cups sliced carrots or 2 cups cauliflower (or both)Change Measurements: US | Metric Directions:Prep Time: 40 mins Total Time: 1 1/4 hr1 boil everything except the eggs for about 15 minutes.2 put the eggs in a huge jar.3 pour the hot brine on top of the eggs.4 top off with hot water to completely cover the eggs.5 let sit in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.

Egg color & Earlobes in Chickens

**Have you noticed this?**

How do you tell what color eggs a hen will lay? You can tell by the color of the earlobes in general. A white lobed hen will lay white eggs, while a red lobed hen will lay brown eggs.The exception to this would be the Easter Egger, Ameraucana, and Araucana breeds. They will lay eggs in colors ranging from khaki green to sky blue, to pink tinted, to occasionally lavender tinted. they will usually have red ear lobes. Of course this is not set in stone and exceptions always apply!

A chicken will carry the genetic code which instructs its body to create a certain amount of brown coating for its eggs.

The Dorking and Aracuana breeds are two exceptions to this rule. Dorkings have red earlobes, but lay white-shelled eggs. Aracuanas (from Chile) have red earlobes but lay green-shelled eggs.

Flash Sale Chicken Art Going on Now

Having a FLASH SALE On Some of My Chicken Art, CLICK HERE I just have so much, I need to Clear some out! My Loss is your Gain! :)

CLICK HERE FOR ALBUM

**FLASH SALE FLASH SALE*** FLASH SALE PRICE $6.00 plus $2.00 shipping Comment to purchase, then message me your email address for paypal invoice. ONE OF A KIND

Welcome To The Coop Blog

Welcome to my blog, My little chicken coop, thought it was time that I started my blog back but to work it around my chicken coop page. we talk about so many things are my little chicken coop Facebook page,

I thought it would be good to do a couple post here and there for more information on subjects. So I'm working on it and will get it started ASAP.

Have you done something Good for Yourself lately?

Have you done something GOOD for yourself lately?

I started out on this blog at the lst of 2010, done well for awhile then, I got sick and things went down hill from there!

A few months back, I lost 26 pounds and that did me good, but I still haven't found my "thing" just for me!

It is harder than you think! 

 I am, was a stay at home mom for the last 26 years!  My youngest is now a freshman in college and yes he "needs" me occasionally, I am left to think and ponder now?? 

 I don't think that is a good thing for most people, I have to many things going on in my head most days!

I am a creator, I love to make things, paint things, write things, the list never ends!  I have to stay busy even when I am watching tv!

I have 20 different craft projects started and occasionally get one done. 

 But yet, there is something missing just for me :(

What about you??  How do you do good just for you??  I really want to find a part time job that fits me!  NOT easily done!  I really want to start yoga for me, why haven't I don't that??? 

I would love to hear from you all and see what is going on with you and any suggestions out there!  Thanks so much!

And by the way, here are my selling places for all those crafts www.etsy.com/shop/artbylisak

I could use the money to do something for me :)

Thanks for following! Lisa

Follow me on twitter, artbylisak

and facebook creations & artbylisak

Good Foods??

Foods, Foods, Foods, Everywhere!!

Most everyone's lives revolve around FOOD! sadly!!  We eat because, we are Hungry!, we eat because are happy, we eat because are sad, lonely, celebrately, and WHO KNOWS!!  FOOD, FOOD, FOOD, everywhere!!

 

BUT!! There are many, many reason to eat FOOD!  Let's find some GOOD reasons to eat food!

Foods for Strong Bones

*Spinach-Fold fresh spinach into omelets; use raw in a salad.

*Tomatoes-Stuff tomatoes with rice and spices and bake, add tomato paste to soups.

*Carrotts-roast with olive oil, juice and add to smoothies.

*Watermelon, puree and mix with lemonaide, add to fruit and honey for a dessert salsa.

*Sweet Red Peppers-use as a garnish for fish, roast and add to portobello burgers.

*Collard greens-saute and serve with greens, add to lentil soup.

*Peas-Add to grain pasta salad, blend with chickpeas when making hummus.

*Yellow corn-Grill corn on the cob with lime and chilis; mix with black beans and salad.

*Kale-Saute with Garlic and white beans; toss with grains and avocado for a salad.

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Did you know??? Vinegar can come from NaturaL  sources like corn and apples.  OR it can come from Petroleum!! AND labels DO NOT have to tell you which!!    Can you imagine Petroleum??  Just a Helpful Reminder! Go with Heinz!! Distilled Vinegar!  All Natural Choice

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Yes These do Work

•Chicken soup fights congestion that comes with a cold. Chicken has an amino acid that thins the mucous lining of the sinuses, thus relieving stuffiness.

•Garlic and onions kill flu and cold viruses.

•Fish is good for your brain. The mineral zinc is found in fish and shellfish. Studies show that even a minimal deficiency of zinc impairs thinking and memory.

•Blueberries fight the bacteria that causes diarrhea.

•Bananas are a natural antacid. They soothe heartburn or gastric distress.

•Spinach is good for your spirits. It contains lots of folic acid. If your body doesn't have enough folic acid, you may feel depressed.

•Ginger root fights nausea caused by motion sickness and relieves migraine headaches. Make a tea of fresh ginger root by simmering it in water for ten minutes.

•Eat onions to fight insomnia. Onions contain a mild natural sedative called quercetin.

•Yogurt with acidophilus fights the bacteria that causes vaginal yeast infections

Give them a try and see if they help you out!  God gives us the all naturals things to help us with problems that ails us!

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Positive Thinking Reduce your stress and

Enjoy your Life more!

Is your glass half-empty or half-full? How you answer this age-old question about positive thinking may reflect your outlook on life, your attitude toward yourself, and whether you're optimistic or pessimistic.

 

Positive thinking also is a key part of effective stress management. Positive thinking doesn't mean that you keep your head in the sand and ignore life's less pleasant situations.  We all need to take a refresher course of how to how to lead a positive life!

Learn how to put positive thinking into action in your own life, and reap the benefits.

Researchers continue to explore the effects of positive thinking and optimism on health. Health benefits that positive thinking may provide include:

■Increased life span

■Lower rates of depression

■Lower levels of distress

■Greater resistance to the common cold

■Better psychological and physical well-being

■Reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease

■Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress

It's unclear why people who engage in positive thinking experience these health benefits. One theory is that having a positive outlook enables you to cope better with stressful situations, which reduces the harmful health effects of stress on your body. It's also thought that positive and optimistic people live healthier lifestyles — they get more physical activity, follow a healthier diet, and have reduced rates of smoking and alcohol consumption.
Identifying negative thinking


Some common forms of negative self-talk include:
■Filtering. You magnify the negative aspects of a situation and filter out all of the positive ones. For example, say you had a great day at work. You completed your tasks ahead of time and were complimented for doing a speedy and thorough job. But you forgot one minor step. That evening, you focus only on your oversight and forget about the compliments you received.

■Personalizing. When something bad occurs, you automatically blame yourself. For example, you hear that an evening out with friends is canceled, and you assume that the change in plans is because no one wanted to be around you.

■Catastrophizing. You automatically anticipate the worst. You refuse to go out with friends for fear that you'll make a fool of yourself. Or one change in your daily routine leads you to think the entire day will be a disaster.

■Polarizing. You see things only as either good or bad, black or white. There is no middle ground. You feel that you have to be perfect or that you're a total failure.
 
Focusing on positive thinking
■Check yourself. Periodically during the day, stop and evaluate what you're thinking. If you find that your thoughts are mainly negative, try to find a way to put a positive spin on them.


■Be open to humor. Give yourself permission to smile or laugh, especially during difficult times. Seek humor in everyday happenings. When you can laugh at life, you feel less stressed.

■Follow a healthy lifestyle. Exercise at least three times a week to positively affect mood and reduce stress. Follow a healthy diet to fuel your mind and body. And learn to manage stress.

■Surround yourself with positive people. Make sure those in your life are positive, supportive people you can depend on to give helpful advice and feedback. Negative people, those who believe they have no power over their lives, may increase your stress level and may make you doubt your ability to manage stress in healthy ways.

■Practice positive self-talk. Start by following one simple rule: Don't say anything to yourself that you wouldn't say to anyone else. Be gentle and encouraging with yourself. If a negative thought enters your mind, evaluate it rationally and respond with affirmations of what is good about yourself.
 
So the next time negative thoughts start drowning your life and mind, take charge and let those positive thoughts FLOOD your mind and soul! 

Bible Verse For Today

Matthew 6:26

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they

Empower For Yourself

Living Longer??

Did you know that finding deeper meaning in the everyday, could help us live longer!! It was found that in a study of those that had a higher purpose in life were about half as likely to die than those who had little sense of purpose!!! SOO!!!

Ask yourself what you most want from life right now.... whether it's a change in career or more connection with others. We need to decide what will bring us joy and do something about it within the next 5 years! Make that our goal!

Make a list.. of 3 or 4 actions we can take now to work toward our goals, such as VOLUNTEERING!!, take a class, go back to work, learn a new exercise, get involved in the community!

Commit to atleast 1 thing on our list for atleast 1 month!  "The key is to take active steps toward achieving that vision we have set for ourself" and then STICK TO IT!
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Secrets To Giving

*Start with Gratitude-Write down what you're most thankful for and make a point to share aleast one item on your list!

*Keep it Simple-Small gestures often make the biggest impact.  Smile at a stranger, offer a coworker a sincere compliment, or buy someone lunch for no reason.

*Give up expectations-Let go of judgments about how your gift will be put to use.  Once you've given it, your gift will take care of itself!

*Receive graciously-Giving without receiving will deplete your energy.  Remember to be receptive to what others are eager to share!

*Wing it- Resist the urge to plan all  gifts in one sitting.  Stay open to the gift gifting opportunities that occur naturally throughout any given day!  Start Now for next year!

*Challenge Yourself-What are you hestitant to give?  Your Time?  Unconditonal love?  Ask yourself.  Why? and try to let those hang up go!

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Do you like to be by yourself?

I found this and thought it was very interesting, is this you??

If more than one of the following statements makes you say "that's totally me!" you may very well be an introvert-or at least have strong evolving tendencies toward orientation.  Make it your top priority to honor your own personality.

You

#feel perfectly comfortable with periods of silence in a conversation; idle chatter irritates you.

#feel more lonely in a crown than at home by yourself.

#become overwhelmed by too much information at once.

#perfer to think first and talk last rather than blurt out ideas just to keep a dialogue flowing.

#rarely feel bored when you've got a few hours alone.

#often feel drained and exhausted after a big party or social event

#get grouchy without "me" time.

#have a rich and active inner life-so much so that external stimulation can overwhelm you.

#often fell secretly thrilled plans get canceled and you have the evening to yourself. 

There's nothing wrong with an introvert-Introverts simply looks at the world from the inside out!!  Introverts tap into  their greatest strengths.  Naturally and reflective and sensitive, they have qualities that manifest in vast contributions to the world!  Introverts tend to fare better later in life.  So Honor Who you are and Relax~~~

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Fend off Fatigue

1. See Red or Orange!! View a vibrant hue first thing in the morning-try using a pillow, it will help jumpstart your energy~!

2. Fuel up with a Mulit-it is nearly impossible not to drag if you're low on certain nutrients, such as zinc, which helps more than 200 enzymes in the body function properly.  A daily women's multi is the best way to avoid shortfalls.

3. Shed Energy Sappy Stress with Timeouts-Just taking a quick break-say 3 minutes to breath slowly, close your eyes and visualize something relaxing-is proven to deliver a stress-reducing effect!

4. Guarantee Restful Sleep with a Snack-Blood sugar swings and hunger pangs during the night can disturb your slumber and even cause you to awaken frequently without you even knowing it.  Solution: Eat a high protein snack, such as hard boiled egg or a chunk of cheese, to help keep your blood sugar levels steady and tummy tamed till morning.
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Positive Thought

The mind is easily distracted; it loses its focus and becomes restless. If it is not directed positively, its power will be diffused.

Bible Verse For Today

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence." ~I Timothy 2:1-2

A New Year Approaches For "You"

Let's Think of some fun things that you can do for you, and for me!! and No diet is not in this section of the list!

Go somewhere you don't ususally go!

wear different glasses

buy different

switch your perfume

stop apologizing

read a love story

give a little

tell a joke

renew your passion

spread the love

stop whining

fit your bra

just say no

add color

 

Can you think of some more fun things to add to this list??
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Here are some Fun things to help you start off the new year that use
can do with your old junk!! :)

PAPER TOWEL ROLLS
After the paper towel is empty, use it to
*Keep power cords tangle free!  Pass each one through a paper towel tube before plugging it in.  The cords will lay lie flat and won't get twisted together.  Plus, you'll always find the exact cord you need!!

*Run proof your nylons! Do your pantyhoses get  snagged in the drawer, or is it hard to find the ones your looking for?  Just stuff each pair into its own tube before placing in your drawer marking the color and type on the outside!
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Coffee Grounds
Remove a Scratch- To erase a small hairline scratch from a woodeen table or floor, just dip a cotton swab into a wet coffee grounds and rub it in.  Coffee is a natural dye and mild abrasive, so the scratch will vanish. 

*Make Plants grow faster!  Coffee grounds are loaded with nitrogen and other nutrients houseplants and flower love.  Add some to the soil as fertilizer~
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Banana Peels
*After you have eaten a Banana take the peel to shine your leather, the soft inside of a banana peel can clean and shine leather and vinyl, including purses,  jackets and shoes.  The oils and potassium are natural moisturizers that won't harm surfaces.  Just buff in a circular motion and then wipe clean with a cloth.
*De-scratch a CD!  Have DVDs or CD's that skip?  Rub a banana peel over them in a circular motion and then gently buff and remove any residue with a soft cloth.  Because the peel is mildly, your scratches will disappear!!
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Did you know!!
Boost HDLS with a Daily Chuckle!
Laughing heartily for 30 minutes a day *by, say watching TV sitcom* can increase your levels of "GOOD" HDL cholesterol, suggests a recent study!! SO Start Laughing!
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Volunteer for a Longer, Happier Life
In a Recent Study of more than 6,000 retirees, folks who regularly donated time to help others had a 14% lower-than-normal risk of dying of any cause during a four year period!! It's also proven to boost self-esteem!! Let's Get busy and Volunteer, and Lead a MORE Happy LIFE!! Find something you love and Volunteer and just see!
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We are all starting off a Brand New Year!  We can all live a Better Life for ME!!  New Choices, New Ideas, New Things to do for Me!!  You just have to do them!  Start today and Make one choice for you!  Don't let the days go by!  Start you a journal and write something down that you have done for you!  It will be a wonderful fun filled journal to see on December 3lst to see what all you have done just for you this year!  Who is with me??  Comment and let me know!!!  Here's to a great year each of us!

Bible Verse for Today
Sometimes life gets a little rough, and we all need a bit of joy in our lives. We often talk about warnings that come from the Bible, how to live or not live our lives. However, sometimes we forget that the Bible tells us to enjoy life a little bit. God did not mean for us to be sad or serious all the time. He tells us to get out and have a little fun. Here are some "happy" Bible verses to add some sunshine to what an be a gloomy day:


Psalm 27:6 - "Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD." (NIV)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! PRAISE GOD FOR ALL HIS GOODNESS!

What Can YOGA Do for Me?

 A Very Interesting Question I think for ALL of us??

What Can Yoga Do for Me??  Well That is our Blog for today, so Let's get started!!

What can Yoga do for me?

Regular Yoga Practice can offer many health benefits:

*Back pain is reduced

*Flexibility improves

*Energy levels increase

*Breathing improves

*Stress is reduced and controlled

*Confidence and self empowerment are achieved

*Mood and emotional balance is enhanced
Yoga Exercise improves both posture and breathing, which in turn benefits the circulation of the blood and the body's intake and utilzation of oxyzen.  It will increase the rate and efficiency with which waste material is excreted from the body via kidneys, bowels, skin, liver and lungs, thereby, strengthening the immune defense system in its fight against infection, cancer and allegeries.  Certain poses, such as the corpse, the fish and the plow, aim specifically to improve bowel regularity for instance.  All inhance breathing and improve blood supply to the kidneys and liver.  Yoga also boosts the body's nervous and hormonal system, and improves both flexibility and muscle tone!!!  Can't we all use that!! I know I SURE CAN!!  I use to do Yoga and it helped me so, I am started it back!! Get you a DVD and start little by little work your way up!!  Don't wait!! Start today!

IS YOGA AN EXERCISE? Traditionally in the West Yoga is seen as a form of physical exercise to gain fitness and reduce stress. This is certainly true, however Yoga is far more than that. In yoga we harness the power of our bodies but also unite this with the power of our minds.

By becoming aware of the body and the breath and how it functions, allows us to alter the way we move and breathe and ultimately the way we use our minds.

 

The change takes place on the entire person and affects the physical body, the mind, the emotions and the spirit.

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Try a little experiment now.

 Come into tadasana  (Tadasana - Mountain Pose Tadasana - Begin by bringing awareness to the Surface Of The Feet.The foundation of a tree is its roots therefore bring awareness to the feet first in this yoga pose. The same force should be present in both feet. Pelvic adjustments must be made to achieve this. Evenly distribute the weight over the feet. Always try to get more of the surface area of both feet and toes to touch down on the mat or floor.The toes should be used to stabilize the body from forward motions. Sometimes the weight can fall on the outside or inside of the feet. Try to have the weight centered.)

– yoga’s basic standing pose. Close your eyes. Now try to be completely still. Completely, totally, motionless. No movement. No change. Resist any change. Is it possible? Did you find yourself holding your breath? There is no way to stay perfectly still, in tadasana or in life. Every moment is always unfolding, and all you can do is follow it and perhaps try to guide it.

       Come into tadasana again, and close your eyes. Notice how the breath moves you in tadasana. Can you feel yourself getting taller on the inhale, more grounded on the exhale? Or perhaps you feel yourself expanding on the inhale, and drawing in to your core on the exhale. Whatever you feel, whatever you notice, do it intentionally. Ride the natural change and do it on purpose.
     Yoga teaches us that everything changes – everything is always in the process of renewing, unfolding, and evolving. This is good news. It means that we don’t need to provide the energy for change in our own lives. Change is not an uphill battle – it doesn’t need to be a struggle. Everything is already always changing. We simply need to learn how to direct change and allow change to happen. Instead, most of us are struggling to prevent change – we cling to our habits and our ways of viewing the world. We may not even be doing this consciously. But if we sincerely invite change, there’s nothing that can stop it.

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Yoga is realitvely new  alternative therapy to the West, but it has been practiced in India for over 5,000 years!  It must be good!

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Here are some of the most useful poses and the ailments they can help

Asthma

Corpse, Mountain, Complete, Breath, Fish, Shoulder, Stand

Backache

Corpse, Plough, Locust, Knee to Chest, Tadasana

Constipation

Corpse, Fish, Plow, Twist, Knee to Chest, Posterior, Uddiyana, Yoga Mudra

Indigestion

Corpse, Locust, Mountain, Plow, Twist, Cobra, Uddiyana

Insomnia

Corpse, Mountain, Locust, Cobra, Posterior Stretch

Period Problems

Plow, Fish, Shoulder Stand, Cobra, Posterior Stretch

Exhaustion and Lethargy

Mountain, Shoulder Stand, Corpse, Posterior Stretch

Obesity

Shoulder Stand, Locust, Posterior Stretch, Plow, Bow, Sun Salutation, Cobra

Piles

Fish, Shoulder Stand, Plow

Prostand Gland

Kneeling Pose

Depression

Yoga Mudra, Shoulder Stand, Plow, Corpse

Eye Strain

Neck and Eye Exercises

Flatulence

Knee to Chest

Headache

Corpse, Neck and Eye Exercise, Should Roll

Rheumatism

Twist, Mountain, Shoulder Stand, Knee in Chest

Sciatica

Twist, Mountain, Shoulder Stand, Knee in Chest

Sexual Problems

Plow, Shoulder Stand, Twist, Complete Breath, Uddiyana

Sinusitis

Shoulder Stand, Corpse

Skin Disorders

Sun Salutation

Sore Throat

Lion

Varicose Veins

Shoulder Stand

Wrinkles

Yoga Mudra, Shoulder Stand

Here is a Link to Most of the Above Poses

http://www.santosha.com/asanas/

Hatha yoga is usually practised to maintain a healthy body, but it also promotes relaxation and is a great way to control stress. It can lower the risk of heart attack and other stress-related health issues. You will move between poses in a slow manner, with some practitioners pausing to do the "dead man's posture" several times during a session. Each time you do this you will notice subtle changes in the way your body feels.

When you get to the end of a session you will lie on your back in the dead man's posture and let yourself drift into a deep meditation as you sense all the energetic changes that have occurred in your body. On a more profound level Hatha yoga purifies the physical body as a means to purify the mind. While this is an admirable and lofty goal, you should in no way feel overwhelmed by the enormity of such a task.

Just begin your Hatha Yoga practise with the idea of improving your health and relaxing your body and mind. These goals can be accomplished by anyone even during your very first yoga class. Then, once you get the hang of this, feel free to move on to purifying the mind at your own pace! Enjoy your hatha yoga practice!

Practing Yoga, can change your life, I have found anyone that didn't try yoga, that didn't like it!! So give it a try and see how much better you feel!!  Start slow and work up, let your body respond to the breathing and stretching, give it all it needs with the uniqueness of Yoga. 

Bible Verse for Today

Proverbs 4:22

For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their whole body.

Better Choices Benefit Me

As I start this new year I want to pick better choices that will benefit me for a better life.  Thought I would search out some things that would benefit me and share them with you.

1.  More water!  I get in habits of drinking alot and then stopping, so I am going to try to stay in my good habit of drinking my water fullfillment everyday, our bodies need water everyday!!
2.  A Multivitamin-"Do I really need to take a multi-vitamin supplement?" The answer, after countless medical and scientific research studies, involving thousands of people, hundreds of doctors and almost a hundred years of study, is -- YES. Yes, you do need and want to take a multi-vitamin supplement. So if you are not already taking a one a day multi-vitamin supplement, then you need to start doing so immediately. It can and will make a positive difference in your life.
3.  Walking or Some Kind of Exercise Everyday- You do not have to exercise vigorously to reap health benefits. You can still stay healthy if you do moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 30 minutes per day, 5 days a week.  The 30 minutes can be broken down into 10 min segment throughout the day. 

1.helps manage weight

2.reduces body fat

3.increase lean muscles tissues

4.increase physical fitness

5.helps to build and maintain healthy bones

6.lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

7.Relieves stress, helps you to relax and sleep better
 

4. Pray MORE and read my Bible more!  For me, relying on God more, helps me to have more faith in him and know that giving it all to him, and taking it off me, is what it is all about!

1 Thessalonians 5:17  Pray without ceasing

This is just a few things I want to change this year!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Low Vitamin D??  I am!!!!!!!

Here a few things that has lots of Vitamin D in it.

You need to get a mininum of 1,000 IU a day through supplements and food.

Salmon (sockeye), cooked, 3 ounces 794 199

Mackerel, cooked, 3 ounces 388 97

Tuna fish, canned in water, drained, 3 ounces 154 39

Milk, nonfat, reduced fat, and whole, vitamin D-fortified, 1 cup 115-124 29-31

Orange juice fortified with vitamin D, 1 cup (check product labels, as amount of added vitamin D varies) 100 25

Yogurt, fortified with 20% of the DV for vitamin D, 6 ounces (more heavily fortified yogurts provide more of the DV) 80 20

Margarine, fortified, 1 tablespoon 60 15

Sardines, canned in oil, drained, 2 sardines 46 12

Liver, beef, cooked, 3.5 ounces 46 12

Ready-to-eat cereal, fortified with 10% of the DV for vitamin D, 0.75-1 cup (more heavily fortified cereals might provide more of the DV) 40 10

Egg, 1 whole (vitamin D is found in yolk) 25 6

Cheese, Swiss, 1 ounce 6 2
Make sure you get your vitamin D and eat plenty of the Vitamin D enriched foods!  It is very important for your health and bones!
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POWER FOOD:  Cinnamon

This spice may benefit your cholestestrol levels, blood sugar, and so much more!!

Here's something that may come as a surprise: that cinnamon you've been stirring into your oatmeal, cookie dough, toast is probably cassia, a close relative to Ceylon, or true cinammon.  Health benefits warming qualities, both varieties of cinammon have long served as an appetite stimulant and as a remedy for abdominal pain and gas.  So start sprinkling that cinnamon everywhere, use those sticks in all your dishes, get the benefits of cinnamon!!  A true powerfood!

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Enjoy Life and think Positive Thoughts, reach out for Life and don't let it slip through your hands, we only have one life that God has given us!! Let's make the most of it NOW!!

Bible Verse for Today=Proverbs 17:22 - "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."