Washingtonians

[FirewifeJess]

Quote: Worked till 3am, just been home 20 minutes.
That's what I thought. At least I got 5 hours tonight. But I hate it when I can't sleep! Hope you get some.
Yep, headed that way in a few minutes. Had to wait to make sure DH got up to go to work, he was asleep in my chair when I got home. Sorry you're not sleeping much! That's the worst!
Thanks! I am calling the Doctor today. She had given me the name of something to help and I didn't write down the name. Gotta do something, most of the other things I have tried are not working. Oh well! I don't work today so I can take a nap.

Melatonin, valerian, and 5 HTP are all good. Melatonin comes in various strengths and the higher doses tend to make me (and other people) nauseous...maybe start with 1 mg and see if it helps. 5 HTP can be found at Super Supplements , GNC, health food stores or maybe the natural foods section of Fred Meyer (not sure)...it's the same component in turkey that makes you want to take a snooze after Thanksgiving dinner Valarian tastes AWFUL and smells bad too..I'd avoid valerian tea and stick with capsules or something. I know there are several different natural formulations that combine things like this with chamomile, etc. to help promote sleep. Read the labels and double check with your doctor Have you tried any of these yet?

I'm so many posts behind I don't think I'll ever catch up..unless maybe I cheat and read backwards from the end..lol
I haven't heard of 5 HTP. I have tried valerian and it didn't really do anything, and I definitely have tried melatonin. I can get to sleep just fine, but if I wake up after 4 or 5 hours, I can't get back to sleep. My Dr. recommended somethiing that I could take at that time and not feel weird or groggy. I may look into 5 HTP.
Thanks!

I take 5-HTP. Mostly to help with anxiety and SAD (seasonal affective disorder); I don't have trouble sleeping, never really have. I LOVE it though! It has truly helped me stay out of the doctor's office and away from supporting pharmaceutical companies and their nasty agendas. Whatever is in it is working for me, my mom, and her two sisters as well. I take 2 in the morning and 1 at night and haven't felt the affects of despair, depression, or anxiety since I started taking it. HTH!

Quote:
Thanks JB! I'm gonna go to Fred Meyer this evening and look for one!

Those in areas that surround Auburn (Enumclaw, Bonney Lake, Sumner, Fed Way, Kent, Covington), I'm looking for a music store that can repair a couple of clarinets. Any recommendations? The only music store that I know of is in Tacoma.

I got an awesome deal at a garage sale in Eastern WA - I bought two clarinets for $15.00 each!

They need new corks and reeds. But, other than that, they should be good. I need to get one fixed right away. We're trying to get our 5th grader into band.

I think there is a music store just east of our church on 240th in Kent. I will look out for it and take note of the name next time I drive to the church, I think it's just in the strip mall by QFC??

I have a question. Back oh so many posts ago ya'll were talking about your diets and things you can or can't, do or don't eat. I would really like to get my family to the point of not having prossesed foods which will be a huge struggle for me with 5 kids. But right now I am wondering what in the world do ya'll drink? I have a son that has ADHD and other behaviral things we are helping him battle and I have found that all those dies in the drinks and food really affect him (as well as the other 4 kids). I have tried taking out all drinks that contain those dies but I can't find much to substitue. So I am really looking for ideas if ya'll have any.

Today I plan on trying to make my first batch of black berry jam. My cousin made some the other day and told me I need (besides the berries) sugar and stuff called Pectin. Those of you that make jams, do you use this Pectin stuff or no?
So I guess that was two questions lol.

Just to obviously reinforce what everyone else has already answered, WATER is a biggie here. My kids are also quite dependent on their rice, almond, and coconut milk (all of which I make myself most of the time). My kids also love OJ but we water it down and give it to them sparingly, and usually buy the huge family pack of concentrates at Costco.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Renee - rip the dumb pages out and keep the recipes

I agree, most cookbooks have a major agenda that they want you to read all about and it's annoying. I think the first 1/4 of my Paleo cookbooks are all about WHY to eat Paleo. Clearly if I've bought the cookbook I don't need to read about that! ugh. LOL

 

[Imp]

Just a throw out-

A couple days ago I was wandering through "Big Lots" and they had several of those drying mats, reversible I believe. I didn't pay close attention.

Russ

 

[FirewifeJess]

Just a throw out-

A couple days ago I was wandering through "Big Lots" and they had several of those drying mats, reversible I believe. I didn't pay close attention.

Russ

Cool I'll go there too, we have one down the road! Thanks

 

[AWalker3]

I have a question. Back oh so many posts ago ya'll were talking about your diets and things you can or can't, do or don't eat. I would really like to get my family to the point of not having prossesed foods which will be a huge struggle for me with 5 kids. But right now I am wondering what in the world do ya'll drink? I have a son that has ADHD and other behaviral things we are helping him battle and I have found that all those dies in the drinks and food really affect him (as well as the other 4 kids). I have tried taking out all drinks that contain those dies but I can't find much to substitue. So I am really looking for ideas if ya'll have any.

Today I plan on trying to make my first batch of black berry jam. My cousin made some the other day and told me I need (besides the berries) sugar and stuff called Pectin. Those of you that make jams, do you use this Pectin stuff or no?
So I guess that was two questions lol.

If you want to try something a bit different, give this a shot: http://www.yemoos.com/waterkefirguide.html Some people think it's an aquired taste but, personally, I love the stuff and flavoring options are limited only by what nature provides (fruits and spices) and your imagination. The process requires only minimal hands-on time...I would say even less than maintaining a sourdough starter. If you decide to buy, I ordered directly from that website and was completely satisfied with the quality and service.

edit: Sorry, that link puts you in the middle of the section. Try this one: http://www.yemoos.com/mainwaterkefir.html to start at the introduction ;-)

 

[jenreinke]

The other day, I was putting a new suet cake out. I knocked a chunk bigger than a tablespoon out to put the new cake in the feeder. It didn't break upon hitting the bricks, and Pudge (Australorp) struck like a viper and grabbed the WHOLE THING. It was fairly impressive since there were at least six other chickens in the same small space. She sprinted into the side yard with George right on her tail. By the time I was done, George was back but Pudge was still absent. I walked around to the back yard, where she was finishing the last few crumbs. She's really living up to her name.

I didn't know you could give chickens suet cakes. Can you feed them old wild bird seed as a treat as well? I sent my husband out once for finch food and he came back with wild bird food. Not helpful!

 

[FirewifeJess]

OK so thanks (to CR and whoever else commented) for the recipe advice w/ the ground beef. I did find that we had a pound of ground beef, but the recipe also called for a pound of ground turkey (gag me, I've never liked it) so I think I will sub the ground sausage meat for the turkey; should make for a nice flavor I think! And it won't be ALL sausage, so it won't be too strong. Woot! I'm so looking forward to using my neighbor's huge zucchini in these meat balls for dinner tonight!

I just talked about the 5-HTP a couple posts back...now that I've been taking it full time for several weeks, I don't feel like I'm drowning. For the first time since I had kids I feel like I can finally tackle meal planning and cooking dinner every night. I'm loving it! If you haven't tried it and feel the same way I did, please consider trying it!

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Well I just got done at the Dr. for my shoulder/neck, for the second time in a week. Kinda bummed at the initial findings. I guess I just need to keep in mind there are others who are dealing with worse issues.

 

[chickenmomma16]

Ok, funny question... Has anyone used chicken diapers for their birds? Is it worth the trouble?

I want to surprise my husbands grandfather with a visit from one of my hens. He had pet chickens years ago, named them and everything. He lit right up when I mentioned bringing one to visit. I have just the girl who would love to get out and explore the world and meet new food dispensers. Gotta solve the poop issue or they have to stay outside during the visit and its not that safe of an area. Would rather her be inside with us and not locked in a crate all day. Maybe this whole chicken visit thing is a bad idea?

Someone should invent an I'd tag of some sort for chickens so if they get lost they can get back home. A leg band doesn't seem big enough for a phone number that is readable.

 

[KMHunter]

Quote: You haven't come to see me either!