Month: May 2016

Interesting Information: “How The Microbiome Destroyed the Ego, Vaccine Policy, and Patriarchy”

Interesting Information:  May 31, 2016

“How The Microbiome Destroyed the Ego, Vaccine Policy, and Patriarchy”

Here’s a fascinating read by Sayer Ji, founder of GreenMedInfo:

Here’s a quote from the piece:

Source: How The Microbiome Destroyed the Ego, Vaccine Policy, and Patriarchy

The relatively recent discovery of the microbiome is not only completely redefining what it means to be human, to have a body, to live on this earth, but is overturning belief systems and institutions that have enjoyed global penetrance for centuries.

A paradigm shift has occurred, so immense in implication, that the entire frame of reference for our species’ self-definition, as well as how we relate fundamentally to concepts like “germs,” have been transformed beyond recognition. This shift is underway and yet, despite popular interest in our gut ecology, the true implications remain unacknowledged.

It started with the discovery of the microbiome, a deceptively diminutive term, referring to an unfathomably complex array of microscopic microorganisms together weighing only 3-4 lbs. in the average human, represents a Copernican revolution when it comes to forming the new center, genetically and epigenetically, of what it means in biological terms to be human.

When we work with the natural world, when we honor and acknowledge what is unknown about the complex web that we all share, we will bring back a vital health that now seems so far out of reach. When we engage technologies positioned in the war against germs and organisms, however, we are doomed to fail and to cripple not only our species but our home.

Enjoy!

Turkey Tracks: Cold Frame Lettuce

Turkey Tracks:  May 31, 2016

Cold Frame Lettuce

Do you happen to remember the recent blog post where lettuce that had reseeded itself in the cold frame–“Spring Joys,” I think?

That lettuce is full grown now and looks so pretty.

It looks even better in a salad, which I had last night:

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That’s herbed goat cheese, French breakfast radishes, avocado half, cherry tomatoes, snipped chives and chive flowers from the garden, watery cukes from far away, spring onion, red onion, THE LETTUCE, a drizzle of good olive oil, a squeezed lemon half, sea salt, and pepper.

It’s all a gift of nature.

Turkey Tracks: May’s Farmer’s Wife Blocks

Turkey Tracks:  May 31, 2016

May’s Farmer’s Wife Blocks

Those who read this blog may remember that I am part of a Coastal Quilters (Maine) group whose members are making eight blocks a month from the book THE FARMER’S WIFE 1930 SAMPLER QUILT buy Laurie Aaron Hird.  AND that I’m going to set these blocks in this lovely teal fabric.

I’m down to the wire this month–so many wonderful quilt projects and not enough time–but here are my eight May blocks.  This eight makes 40 of the 99–so not quite half way.

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On to the June blocks!

Turkey Tracks: May is Makers’ Month: Busy Hands Quilts

Turkey Tracks:  May 30, 2016

May is Makers’ Month:

Busy Hands Quilt:  “Brick Cottage Lane”

I am always looking for patterns that will use the squares and rectangles I have cut from fabric left over from other quilts.

I am more inclined to buy a few patterns in May, in order to support some of the designers, many of which are young women with families and who are trying to make a living with their creativity.

This quilt pattern came through on a blogspot feed I get every day that throws up about 20 blogs in which their system thinks I might be interested.

“Brick Cottage Lane” by Myra of Busy Hands Quilts

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I love this pattern as it uses 2 by 3 1/2-inch rectangles.  It’s hard to find interesting patterns that use these rectangles.

If you go to Myra’s blog, scroll down to find this pattern.

Source: Busy Hands Quilts

Interesting Information: Can Maple Syrup Kill Cancer?

Interesting Information:  May 30, 2016

Can Maple Syrup Kill Cancer?

Gosh, I sure hope so, as I use it to sweeten my daily latte.

And I don’t use much–maybe a tablespoon.  Just enough to take the edge off the espresso’s bitterness.

Basically, I use local, unheated honey and maple syrup to sweeten anything, and I’ve found as my diet has included more healthy, unsaturated fats, I am not drawn to sweets or baked goods.  It’s an interesting switchover…

Probably the only sugar that comes into the house is the sugar I use to make syrup for the hummingbirds.  I recently bought a new 5-lb. bag, only to find half of one buried among the glass jars in the pantry.  It was hard as a rock from sitting unused.

Here’s a blurb from this article:

New research suggests that maple syrup, despite being a concentrated source of “sugar,” possesses significant anti-cancer properties…

Note the term “suggests.”  But one can hope…

Maple syrup does have an interesting mineral load, but like any sweetner, should not be overused.

Source: Maple Syrup Is A Cancer Killer, Study Suggests | GreenMedInfo | Blog

Turkey Tracks: Potluck Treasure

Turkey Tracks:  May 30, 2016

Potluck Treasure

John and I moved to Maine June 10, 2004.

So this June, I begin my 13th year, and I begin it with anticipation and joy.

One of the first things we learned that was so, so different for us was that when one is invited to a potluck feast, one brings a dish, yes, but also one’s plates, mugs, dinnerware, and a napkin.

Mainers, we  learned, work hard to limit what they put into the waste stream–and paper plates, napkins, and plastic dinnerware can be and are avoided.

(We all have to make these changes folks.  We have to.)

* * *

Yesterday I ducked into one of our fabulous local Co-ops, Good Tern in Rockland, to pick up a few things and met a really fun person:  Jodi Cooper.

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Jodi makes these terrific “potluck” packages, which equip one for a potluck in short order.

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Included are a napkin, dinnerware, chopsticks, a metal straw, and a straw cleaner.  The whole array rolls up and ties (she’s used gorgeous buttons and beads with the ties).

Here’s another one:

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And here’s information where you can contact Jodi–as I think these potluck treasures would make really fun and thoughtful gifts–especially for local Mainers.

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Or, you can try to pick one up at Good Tern, BUT I suspect they will sell out fast.

Thanks so much, Jodi, for creating such a fun and useful product.

Turkey Tracks: More “Quilt-lets”

Turkey Tracks:  May 25, 2016

More “Quilt-lets”

Those of you following know that I am making Katja Marek’s 2016 English Paper Piecing Project, which uses fractured hexagons from her book THE NEW HEXAGON.

Here are a few more completed “quilt-lets,” which will eventually be sewn together into a quilt.

I’ve heard two “fox got the hens” stories in the past few days.  Yep.  Fox is raising babies now.

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Hedgehogs are on a lot of current quilting fabric.

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The pink flower is from a Tula Pink fabric.

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Turkey Tracks: Talking Turkey

Turkey Tracks:  May 25, 2016

Talking Turkey

Yesterday morning I woke to find a large gobbler in the yard displaying all his plumage.

I took the ipad camera out onto the deck steps, and he did not spook at all.

Here’s what occurred:

I finally saw the hen he was courting.  She was up the hillside in the woods, blissfully feeding on something in the dead leaves and ignoring him completely.

Ha!

Turkey Tracks: One of My Many Addictions!

Turkey Tracks:  May 20, 2016

One of My Many Addictions!

…is…

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…the Italian sub from French and Brown.

One half one day, and the other half the next day.

I can’t eat “heat” (hot pepper food allergy), so they leave off the spicy pepperoni and the pepperocini peppers.  I know those foods make this sandwich even better.

One adds the dressing (Italian) and salt and pepper before one eats…

…with potato chips.

The baguette roll is really what makes this sandwich so special, and it is delicious.

(Oh my gluten intolerance gene!  I pay for eating it, so don’t do it too, too often, but it is so, so good.)

Turkey Tracks: Spring Joys!

Turkey Tracks:  May 20, 2016

Spring Joys!

I’ve been enjoying what I think of as Spring Joys!

And there are many…

The white violets are blooming:

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The creeping phlox has taken off:

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There are still some late daffodils in bloom.  I probably have three or four hundred planted around the place now.

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I have an old pair of tennis shoes that are perfect garden/mowing shoes:

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Lettuce seeded itself in the cold frame–and I have now planted lettuce, basil, and French Breakfast radishes there:

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My grandmother’s mint (Louise Phillips Bryan of Reynolds, Georgia) came back and is thriving in three places in my garden:

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I almost lost it ALL winter before last (remember the 10 feet of snow?), and I have had it for over 40 years and have now enjoyed it in gardens in three different houses.

Sheets and laundry are hanging on the clothesline:

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The little clothes basket stool that Stephen Pennoyer made for me is TERRIFIC!

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The compost back of the garage is ready to put into the garden:

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I found a bale of STRAW for the garden–a rarity this time of year.

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Best of all, Rose Lowell and I have 11 baby Blue Wheaten chicks at her house:

Look how pretty their wings are:

We love this breed.  The hens are laying machines (blue eggs), are sweet tempered and agile, and the roosters are sweet and great with the hens.  We lost this strain, so we decided to get it back via a new batch of baby chicks–that had to be ordered from a private farm.

David Hannan came, and we have worked hard in the garden/yard today.  All the pots are filled with dirt and positioned around the house.  Now I have only to buy plants (tomorrow) and plant them.

LIFE IN MAINE IS GOOD!