tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28190812284577342262024-03-13T18:05:57.216-04:00Living SoGaNoFlaLife in the melting pot of South Georgia North FloridaJenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-88472375679574111422012-04-11T16:06:00.000-04:002012-04-11T16:06:47.999-04:00Mae Bell's a mama!<div style="text-align: center;">This is the sight I came home to yesterday afternoon</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/6922258760/" title="Mama banty by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Mama banty" height="480px" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7216/6922258760_3f6bc5573c_z.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
At least one duckling made it out! I took a closer look, gently lifting her up to see what she was hiding...</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/6922259820/" title="There's 5 under there! by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="There's 5 under there!" height="480px" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5441/6922259820_fc4a30da82_z.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">and another little head poked out!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I couldn't lift her up well enough to do a head count, but I could see shell under her (just to the right of the ducklings). I started to pull out the spent shells and after getting four out, my finger touched one still whole, but with a little break in it. I gently pulled it out from under her and could feel the little thing moving around in the egg! It was just starting to hatch and had the tiniest of hole it was pecking at. I laid it back beside Mama and she scooped it right back under her. I checked this morning and it was out, being cuddled. The Littlest Hen hatched all five of her eggs on her first try! We're both proud mama's! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/6922260450/" title="Mama Chicken to Baby Ducks by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Mama Chicken to Baby Ducks" height="480px" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7200/6922260450_45e793421f_z.jpg" width="640px" /></a><br />
<div align="center">It won't be long before they're bigger than her!</div>Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-54856660577036569502012-04-10T16:55:00.000-04:002012-04-10T16:55:01.355-04:00Broody Banty<div style="text-align: center;">Sitting on duck eggs!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/6919220374/" title="Broodie Banty sitting on duck eggs :) by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Broodie Banty sitting on duck eggs :)" height="480px" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7178/6919220374_b76392b679_z.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div>My sweet Bantam Speckled Sussex, Mae Bell, went broody last month. Instead of letting her sit on her own eggs which are fertilized by my not so attractive Bantam Cornish Roo, I stuck some of my Indian Runner eggs under her in hopes they would hatch. Won't that be so cute, little ducks who'll be almost as big as Mama when they hatch?!<br />
<br />
Below is a picture of the Mamas and the Papas....<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/7039986701/" title="Indian Runner Ducks by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Indian Runner Ducks" height="480px" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7240/7039986701_a5d5a77526_z.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">The boys are on either end with the girls in the middle. I have a set of three with crests and three without. Mae Bell is sitting on five eggs, so there's no telling what I'll come out with! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I put them under her on March 15. They started pipping this morning! </div>Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-22296128324339407672011-07-22T16:41:00.000-04:002011-07-22T16:41:49.651-04:00This guy....<div style="text-align: center;">Meet my brother's dog, Marlin. He's named after the firearm, not the fish!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5940131713/" title="Picture 069 by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 069" height="500px" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6012/5940131713_f10d44aa47.jpg" width="375px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">He is absolutely the sweetest pit bull I've ever met. But, bless his heart, he doesn't have the best luck in the world. Let me explain.....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;">About a month ago we had some very much needed rain. It came in the form of what I would swear was a mini hurricane. We lost giant limbs out of two pecan trees, and lightening hit our biggest. My in-laws (The People Across the Pond) had a live oak completely uprooted. It hailed, it set the woods on fire and it knocked the power out for hours.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5940685856/" title="Picture 066 by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 066" height="375px" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6127/5940685856_9488b8b23a.jpg" width="500px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Back to Marlin. My brother works second shift and came home shortly after everything simmered down. He knew about the bad storm, so he went to check on his pup. Marlin wasn't in his <a href="http://www.petco.com/product/12985/PetSafe-The-Box-Chain-Link-Dog-Runs.aspx">pen</a>.... his pen wasn't even there! It was laying on the ground about 50 feet from where it had originally been, dismantled and nearly destroyed. He still hasn't found the dog house that was inside of it. Sure that Marlin had gone to safety with our dogs in the in-laws shed, he went inside and to bed. The next morning, our pups were home, but Marlin still had not shown up. That afternoon when he and his wife rode around the ponds surveying the damage. That's when he heard it.... a tiny, distant yelp. "That sounds like a dog in a dam," he thought. Sure enough, there he was, in the damn dam overflow of the middle pond. (If you look at the header picture, their house is now in the opening on the far right. The middle pond is behind where the picture was taken, about the same distance away. It's FAR.) He was alive, but barely. Will had to crawl in with Marlin to be able to pull him out. Poor thing had tried and tried to climb his way out, filing down his nails to the quick and turning his pads into hamburger meat. He recovered surprisingly fast!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Fast forward about three weeks. <br />
<br />
While at work, I got a text from my brother. "How many wasp stings does it take to kill a 75 pound dog??" Dear Lord.....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Jami and I frantically searched the internet. Not surprisingly, we could only find something on how to treat one or two stings... not what Marlin was facing. The best thing? Benadryl and baking soda. And lots of it!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"> I wouldn't think twice about saying that homeboy had a good 100+ stings all over his body. His ears and under his chin were the worst. I don't have a picture of it (I really didn't want to take one), but I'm sure you can imagine. I didn't think it was wasps, though. Will hadn't actually seen what stung Marlin, and I had a better guess. Bees! The farmers have bee hives scattered through the fields around here. There's a huge pile of them right across the road from our house. My sister-in-law and I drove over to check them out and, sure enough, one of them looked to be slightly tipped over. We didn't get too close to really check it out, but I'm sure that's where they came from. <br />
<br />
The swelling didn't last long, but he's got polka dot skin! He almost looks like something out of a circus show. Not really funny, but we have to smile about it now. :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Less than a week later, Marlin went missing again, still sporting his polka dot, mange-looking skin. The doggie police got him! He's back at home now. I can only imagine what they were thinking was wrong with him! On top of the stings, he was covered in fleas when he got home! Poor fella! <br />
<br />
Maybe this time he's learned his lesson. I kinda doubt it!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5940687720/" title="Picture 068 by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 068" height="500px" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6145/5940687720_f7ea58fa7e.jpg" width="375px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, the next time you think you've got it bad.... remember sweet 'ole Marlin. It could be worse!</div>Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-90769110038054321252011-04-29T17:02:00.000-04:002011-04-29T17:02:35.903-04:00Baby Chickens!!A couple of weeks ago, Jami had to stay home from work due to a bad case of poison ivy all over his hands (it would later spread to almost every inch of his body). He and I carpool to work everyday and he's the type that as soon as we get off he doesn't want to do anything but head <em>straight</em> for the house. We were getting low on pup food, so I took the opportunity to run across town to Tractor Supply and pick some up. Of course, it was right in the middle of their Chick Days and they had just gotten a shipment in that morning. I puttered over to the bins and laid eyes on 8 adorable little bantam chickens! I didn't go there expecting to come home with chickens. Really, I didn't, but I already had my brooder set up and there were only the eight left in the bin, so in my cart they went!<br />
<br />
<div align="center">Aren't they just the cutest?!</div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5670425146/" title="Picture 055 by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 055" height="480px" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5229/5670425146_a0c811245b_z.jpg" width="640px" /></a><br />
The black one in the top left corner and the two blond chickens have feathered feet. My gut tells me the blonds are Buff Cochins and the other may be a Silver or Golden Laced Cochin. One of the chipmunk looking biddies has greenish feet and legs so I'm thinking an Americauna. Really, I have no idea what kinds they are! They're almost 4 weeks now and are getting a lot of feathers in, so soon I'll post a picture at <a href="http://www.backyardchickens.com/">Back Yard Chickens</a> to get some help identifying them. Of course I'll post a picture and my findings here, too!<br />
<br />
In March, I placed and order for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckeye_(chicken)">Buckeye</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaware_(chicken)">Delaware</a> chickens, but their hatch date isn't until June 1. I picked the Buckeyes and let my niece choose a breed for her to raise. I'm super pleased with her choice as these will both be suitable for eggs and meat. I'm still unsure of my capabilities to cull a chicken that I've raised from a baby, though I am certain I can clean it once the deed has been done. Jami and I have an agreement.... he does the dirty work and I'll do the rest. Sounds pretty good to me! <br />
<br />
The coop is almost completed and I cannot wait to show it to you! The only things we've had to purchase for it is a couple of boxes of nails and some wire. It's definitely not the prettiest thing, but I'm betting my chickens will think it's the most magnificent home ever!Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-64168656794141559862011-04-27T12:59:00.000-04:002011-04-27T12:59:07.581-04:00Hen Nest Box Giveway at Life on a Southern Farm!We've been busy building a chicken coop from used materials we've found in our yard, our parents, and the old paintball field! Just in time, too, because yesterday I came home to find one of my biddies piddling around my spare room!! They're only about 4 weeks old, but already they're trying to fly around and this little one was able to get out of the cardboard box I've been using as the brooder! The only things we lack on the coop is building the door for the run and putting in some nest boxes. <br />
<br />
For the boxes, we have some blue, plastic Pepsi crates (the ones the truck brings the 20oz. bottles to the jiffy stores in) that will be screwed into the interior walls of the hen house. Not pretty, but free and practical! BUT, a favorite blog of mine is having a giveaway for a two hole, metal hen box that they make on their farm!! I would love to win this myself, but I also want to tell you about it so that you can get in the running as well!! Head over to <a href="http://georgiafarmwoman.blogspot.com/2011/04/nesting-box-giveaway-from-henpals.html">Life on a Southern Farm</a> (Yes! They're in Georgia, too!!!) and enter to win one of these gorgeous boxes! If you're into farm living at all, I suggest you follow their wonderful blog, too!Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-20642156255543928682011-04-22T16:13:00.001-04:002011-04-22T16:15:54.030-04:00Happy Easter... Lilies!Every year as the end of March rolls around, a beautiful sight begins to unfold in the ditches along these Southern roads..... <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5600458361/" title="Easter Lily by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Easter Lily" height="480px" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5023/5600458361_1139774d09_z.jpg" width="640px" /></a><br />
The Easter Lilies, as we've always called them, are a sure sign that the Earth has awakened and Spring is finally here! According to information I've found, the common name for <strong><em>Zephyranthes atamasca </em></strong>is Rain Lily, but that's not what we call them, nor have I ever heard someone refer to them as such.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5601041772/" title="Wild Easter Lily by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Wild Easter Lily" height="480px" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5141/5601041772_9f4291d551_z.jpg" width="640px" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">You can read more about these beautiful flowers <a href="http://www.floridata.com/ref/z/zeph_ata.cfm">here.</a></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">PS.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> Have you ever looked at the new growth on pine trees around this time of year? Way up at the top, the new growth forms a cross all over the tops of the trees. Do they know Easter is right around the corner?<br />
<br />
PPS.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Happy Earth Day!!!</span></div>Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-91601536625986879272011-03-08T11:25:00.000-05:002011-03-08T11:25:31.962-05:00Spring Seed OrderI finally got off of my butt and ordered my vegetable seeds on Valentines day! After looking through catalog after catalog, I decided to go with <a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/">Southern Exposure Seed Exchange</a>. They are based out of Central Virginia and specialize in varieties that are adapted to my neck of the woods. There were so many selections of each vegetable with tantalizing descriptions, it made it so very difficult for me to decide which I would get! It literally took me a month of going through the catalog, researching the plants needs and putting together a simple garden layout to finally commit to the varieties I chose. I think I will be quite satisfied!<br />
<br />
The tomato and various pepper seeds have already been started in the greenhouse, while the rest will be directly sewn in the garden. Our last average frost date is (depending on where you look) anywhere from March 1 through March 14. The garden is ready to go now, but to be safe I won't be putting my seeds out for around another 2 weeks. The anticipation is killing me! In the mean time I'll be reorganizing my greenhouse and dreaming of a luscious garden!<br />
<br />
So, would you like to know what I will be growing? Of course!<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/hungarian-italian-paste-tomato-016-g-p-1233.html">Hungarian Italian Paste Tomato</a> - I don't eat tomatoes straight, but wanted to grow some. I LOVE a good tomato sauce, however, so I hope to be putting up lots this Summer!</li>
<li><a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/chinese-fivecolor-pepper-hot-05-g-p-913.html">Chinese Five Color Pepper</a> - My step-grandmother used to have these growing all around her yard. At dinner time, she would pick a dish and eat them straight out of the bowl! I don't know how they didn't burn the ever loving life out of her mouth, but she made them look so good! Mostly, I got this variety for the nostalgia and beauty, but I'm also excited to see how a pepper sauce will taste.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/jalapeño-pepper-hot-05-g-p-1276.html">Jalapeño Pepper</a> - My brother goes through gallon size jars of these like there ain't no tomorrow... we're kinda fond of them, too! We also eat the rear end out of <a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/sweet-banana-long-sweet-hungarian-pepper-frying-05-g-p-640.html">Banana Peppers</a>, so I got some of those as well. Last year I grew a hot banana pepper. I really liked those, but didn't want to grow two varieties of the same pepper.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/alabama-red-okra-5-g-p-1153.html">Alabama Red Okra</a> - I have a new fondness for fried okra and it grows like weeds in the Deep South! This variety is said to be excellent fried and will add a little color to the garden with its red tips.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/zipper-cream-pea-southern-28-g-p-1378.html">Zipper Cream Pea</a> - Jami's favorite pea. 'Nough said!</li>
<li><a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/henderson-bush-bean-lima-bush-28-g-p-383.html">Henderson Bush Lima Bean</a> - My favorite veggie. 'Nough said!</li>
<li><a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/tennessee-red-valencia-peanut-28-g-p-845.html">Tennessee Red Valencia Peanut</a> - I LOVE boiled peanuts! In the Summer, I'm pretty much the peanut lady... I'll make them almost every weekend, especially if we're going canoeing. There's nothing better than floating down the river and washing boiled peanuts down with an ice cold beer! If you've never had or heard of boiled peanuts, I highly suggest you try them! It's a <a href="http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/BoiledPeanutsHistory.htm">true Southern Heritage food</a>. This is a brand new venture for me and I'll probably not be able to grow nearly all that I will eat this Summer, but I think it will be something fun to try!</li>
<li><a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/seminole-pumpkin-3-g-p-166.html">Seminole Pumpkin</a> - This variety has been <a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/seminole-pumpkin-3-g-p-166.html">grown in Florida for hundreds of years</a>, but is quickly <a href="http://staugustine.com/stories/043009/food_043009_071.shtml">becoming an endangered food</a>. After reading a bit about the Seminole Pumpkin, I knew I had to grow it.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/tobacco-midewiwan-sacred-herb-native-plant-012-g-p-768.html">Midewiwan Sacred Tobacco</a> - According to the description on SESE's website, the dried leaves are good for making an insecticide. I'd heard of this method before and decided to give it a try since I was already ordering seeds. The tobacco will have to be grown in a seperate place in the yard, so I hope if nothing else, it will be a pretty plant!</li>
<li><a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/cherokee-cornfield-bean-snap-pole-14-g-p-8.html">Cherokee Cornfield Pole Bean</a>, <a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/stowells-evergreen-corn-sweet-28-g-p-791.html">Stowells Evergreen Sweet Corn</a>, and <a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/waltham-butternut-squash-winter-4-g-p-168.html">Waltham Butternut Squash</a> all chosen to build a <a href="http://www.reneesgarden.com/articles/3sisters.html">Three Sisters Garden</a>. This will be my first foray into companion planting! I love how the three veggies work off of each other. The corn and beans were an easy choice, but the squash was another story! After trying out a few different winter squash varieties, we chose the butternut for its sweet taste and good storage ability.</li>
</ul>I also picked up the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Seed-Growing-Techniques-Vegetable-Gardeners/dp/1882424581/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299600659&sr=1-1">Seed to Seed</a> by Suzanne Ashworth, which I have been wanting for over a year now! I can say that my expectations were exceeded!! Taking the leap and buying a bunch of seeds can be a bit pricey, but well worth it if I can turn that one purchase into a lifetime's worth of seeds. Another step in our mission to become more self sufficient!<br />
<br />
What will you be growing in your garden this year? Be it in the ground or just in your head!Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-34316693366109413162011-01-28T09:55:00.000-05:002011-01-28T09:55:49.746-05:00Baby it's cold outside!<div style="text-align: center;">And a husky just can't handle the cold.... right? Hello?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5333715486/" title="Lazy, lazy dog by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Lazy, lazy dog" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5128/5333715486_e4ef012d6c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
She's so spoiled :)</div>Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-33895109978704932682011-01-20T14:34:00.001-05:002011-03-08T11:36:05.346-05:0030/30 Hooping, Week 1 Wrap UpI've been doing amazingly well at this challenge so far! I'm keeping a little journal of my progress and the amount of time that I'm spending hooping. Here's what I've got for the first week:<br />
<br />
<strong>Day 1, Saturday 1/8/11</strong><br />
Hooped with Megan and Lazer Friday night into Saturday morning, focusing mostly on isolation's and vertical waist hooping, for <strong>2 1/2 hours</strong>. Did sporadic hooping Saturday afternoon adding up to <strong>35 minutes</strong>.<br />
<br />
<strong>Day 2, Sunday 1/9/11</strong><br />
<strong> </strong>So very sore from the Friday night/Saturday morning session that I had to again break it down into 5 minute intervals. Just barely made it to <strong>30 minutes</strong>!<br />
<br />
<strong>Day 3, Monday 1/10/11</strong><br />
<strong> </strong>Hooped <strong>40 minutes</strong> solid, mixing it up. Tried the one leg hooping... definitely need to practice that a lot more! Got me a little scrape on the leg from it :) Jami played Telepath's 30 Minute Mix for me. I think it may be <em>the best</em> song to do a 30 minute hoop jam to!<br />
<br />
<strong>Day 4, Tuesday 1/11/11</strong><br />
<strong> </strong>Focused solely on my arms for a solid <strong>30 minutes</strong>. Getting better at isolations! My muscles are starting to handle the cat eye, but it's going to take a hell of a lot of practice to get good at them.<br />
<br />
<strong>Day 5, Wednesday 1/12/11</strong><br />
<strong> </strong>Hooped for about <strong>40 minutes</strong>, only waist hooping the "wrong way" (meaning the hoop is going counter-clockwise instead of my natural clockwise. I am the only hooper that I personally know who spins it this direction!) I remember now how hard it was to keep the hoop up and going in the beginning!! I think I'm going to have a shiny new bruise on the ole hip bone.<br />
<br />
<strong>Day 6, Thursday 1/13/11</strong><br />
Free styled for somewhere around <strong>1 hour and 45 minutes</strong>!! It's definitely getting easier to hoop for such a long time, but I am taking short 1-2 minute breaks when I need liquids or the potty :) Left hip does have a nice bruise from yesterday. I feel like a newbie again! LOL!<br />
<br />
<strong>Day 7, Friday 1/14/11</strong><br />
<strong> </strong>*I waited too long to write this day down and now I don't remember exactly what all I did!*<br />
Hooped for <strong>30 minutes</strong>. Did a lot of hip hooping the "wrong way" and free styled.<br />
<br />
Total: <strong>460 minutes baby! </strong>Of course that does included the 2 1/2 hours from late Friday into the wee hours of Saturday :-P but I'm counting those too dad gum it!<br />
<br />
About three months ago I weighed in at 132 lbs. With only sporadic hooping, I went down to 120 before starting this challenge. Keep in mind that I just barely hit the 5' mark so I'm not scrawny by any means! I haven't weighed myself since (I don't own a scale ;-) ), nor have I measured any inches, but I can definitely tell that my body is already toning up and, really, that's all that matters!<br />
<br />
<strong>Update:</strong><br />
<strong> </strong>I did keep up with this challenge all the way up to the 3rd week of it! After that third week rolled around, though, life kicked in with a glorious bang! Our afternoons and weekends were filled with preperations for an event we were hosting in one of our back fields on February 12th, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=149405361780307">Love Fest</a>! I had no idea how much work goes into something like that. We ended up with two DJ's, two acoustic sets, and 5 bands playing!! So, although I wasn't able to get in a full 30 minutes of hooping everyday, my hoop didn't got without at least getting picked up for 5 or so minutes for a little stress relief :) I did learn that 30 minutes of hooping every day is not quite as feasable as I had thought it would be and to not beat myself up when I go for a few days without even looking at a hoop! It was fun and I will probably try it again when Winter rolls around, but I need to take it one day at a time first!Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-63180120475103635272011-01-13T15:24:00.000-05:002011-01-13T15:24:42.838-05:00Social ThursdayInstead of trying to find a specific song to share today, I'm just gonna give you a new artist to explore for yourself!<br />
<br />
We first heard of <a href="http://www.toubabkrewe.com/">Toubab Krewe</a> this past November at the <a href="http://www.bearcreekmusicfestival.com/">Bear Creek Music Festival</a>. They blew our socks off! Their sound is something I've never heard before. It is amazing! Even cooler is that their record label is <a href="http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/page.basic/label/en_US">National Geographic Records</a>. I didn't know there was such a thing!<br />
<br />
Check 'em out. They're on tour right now, too!Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-19692852275015857412011-01-13T11:43:00.000-05:002011-01-13T11:43:23.690-05:00Another visit to O'Tooles Organic Herb FarmBack in the beginning of December, my mother-in-law, best friend and I made another trip to Madison, Fl to visit O'Tooles once again. The mission for this trip was to see a soap making demonstration with the owner of <a href="http://www.magnoliahillsoap.com/">Magnolia Hill Soap</a>. She was running a bit late that morning, so we decided to browse the greenhouses. There are two large greenhouses, one containing mostly herbs and the other veggies.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5333710504/" title="Browsing the greenhouses by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Browsing the greenhouses" height="480" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5130/5333710504_9917e6bb3f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I can't tell you how tempting it is to just pick and eat! Ha!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">There were also a few vendors on the grounds (it was open house at the farm), so after browsing the greenhouses we stepped outside to check them out. It was early morning and they were just beginning to set up, so there were only a handful that we could visit. One of them was the local <a href="http://www.dreamingcow.com/">Dreaming Cow Creamery</a> from Pavo, Ga. We spoke with one of the owners, Kyle Wehner, and learned about their sustainable practices on their farm and got to sample their more than delicious yogurt. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We then stopped over to visit the Golden's who run <a href="http://www.goldenacresranchflorida.com/">Golden Acres Ranch</a> in Monticello, Fl. Bobbie and Fred are a lovely couple and are very happy to share any information they have with you. They raise goats (you can order their meats) and have a huge lot of mayhaw trees. We got to sample some of their homemade mayhaw jelly and the absolute best cranberry sauce/jelly in the entire world! <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayhaw">Mayhaws</a> are more of a southern thing, so if you've never hear of them, I would seriously suggest you <a href="http://www.localharvest.org/mayhaw-jelly-C5354">find yourself some</a>! To me, it is the best jelly you can get, hands down.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We spent a good bit of time talking with each of these vendors... so much so that we totally missed the soap making demonstration! We walked up just as she was packing. We did get to speak with Marge, the owner, for a few minutes, but didn't want to take up too much of her time since she had just gotten through answering those same questions. I picked up a couple of bars of soap and some calendula salve. The soaps are amazing and I have been using the salve as a moisturizer. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;">Back in the greenhouses, I discovered a method of seed starting that I hadn't even considered yet.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5333097545/" title="Seed starting tray at O'Tooles Organic Herb Farm by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Seed starting tray at O'Tooles Organic Herb Farm" height="480" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5086/5333097545_9548b1d8bc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Previously, I have been starting my seeds in a tray with individual cells. The cells on each are pretty small and it takes a little bit of convincing to get the seedling out without damage. I imagine just a little scoop in a tray like this will release the little seedlings with no harm and make for easier planting in the ground or larger pots. If I can ever decide what seeds and which catalog to get them from, I'll be doing my Spring greenhouse seed starting just like this!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This was our last trip to the farm for a little while as she takes a break in January and reopens for the weekends in March. I'll go back then to get some plants that I only want a couple of and not have to worry with starting difficult seeds!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Are you planning a garden for the Spring? How about having a small container garden? You can squeeze in a veggie, herb, or two even in the smallest of places!</div>Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-52559570796473814712011-01-11T14:42:00.001-05:002011-01-11T14:43:13.386-05:00Creamed CollardsI just recently, as in about 2 months ago, started eating collard greens. Growing up my brother was always a huge fan of them, but I wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole! I finally tried them at my grandpa's birthday celebration with a little pepper sauce sprinkled on top (the way my brother fixed his). Yum! Then came New Years. This year I wanted to cook our dinner at home, including all the traditional New Year's meal foods. The only problem was I had never even watched someone cook greens in my entire life! Off to the web I went and found the perfect recipe on <a href="http://www.nourishedkitchen.com/">Nourished Kitchen</a>. Collard greens soaked in heavy cream?! I almost drooled on the keyboard when I saw the beautiful pictures! My husband doesn't like greens and I thought that making this recipe may actually get him to try them. Not only did he, but he had seconds AND I had to cook another round to fill us and our 2 friends up! Try this, you won't be disappointed!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5333100805/" title="Picture 026 by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 026" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5002/5333100805_3ae5c5ac16.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Creamed Collards</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Slightly changed from the original recipe found at </span><a href="http://nourishedkitchen.com/creamed-collard-greens-recipe/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nourished Kitchen</span></a><br />
<br />
* 2 Tbsp Butter<br />
* 1/2 yellow onion, diced<br />
* 1 bunch collard greens<br />
* 1 cup heavy cream<br />
<br />
Wash collards and remove stems. Tear or chop the leaves into small sizes. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium to medium/high heat. Add the onions and cook until slightly caramelized. Toss the collards into the pan, adding as much as you can at a time, letting that slightly wilt, then repeat until all of the collards have been added. Cook until the collards are well wilted, about 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour in the heavy cream and simmer about 6 minutes until the cream is largely reduced. Serve hot and sprinkle a little salt on top!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The main difference in my recipe is the amount of collards used. One bunch, to me, seemed like plenty for the one cup of heavy cream. Maybe that's just the Southern Girl in me! I also increased the cooking time. This could be because the author from Nourished Kitchen is in the Mountains and I am below sea level. Adjust this recipe to your own taste. I don't think you could really go wrong!</span>Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-41488530755788411412011-01-11T13:42:00.000-05:002011-01-11T13:42:22.998-05:00The 30/30 Hoop ChallengeLast week <a href="http://www.facebook.com/rayna.mcinturf">Rayna McInturf</a>, a most awesome hooper, announced a <a href="http://www.hooping.org/2011/01/the-hooping-org-3030-hooping-challenge/">challenge</a> on <a href="http://www.hooping.org/">Hooping.org</a>. Starting on the 8th, you commit to hooping for at leat 30 minutes everyday for 30 days. This is just the thing I need to motivate me to reach one of my <a href="http://livingsoganofla.blogspot.com/2010/12/resolutions-or-goals.html">New Year's goals</a>! One thing that really stuck out to me in Rayna's article was this: "<em>It takes the human brain almost exactly 21 days to develop a new habit and after about a month it should feel harder not to do the activity</em>."<br />
<br />
So far I have been doing great with hooping well over 30 minutes solid everyday except Sunday, when I was so sore from the hours of hooping on Saturday that I had to break up the practice to a few minutes at a time! I've recruited several of my friends, and although we aren't posting to Hooping.org, we'll have our own prize at the end of our personal challenges: a wonderful sense of accomplishment from committing and sticking to something, a more toned body, and the ablility to kick ass on the hoop! <br />
<br />
The 30/30 Challenge doesn't have to be about hooping, though! Think of something you'd like to do, maybe a New Years Goal you really want to commit to. Turn it into your own personal challenge! <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/4998509377/" title="Wanee Hoopers by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Wanee Hoopers" height="480" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/4998509377_506940b4b9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Me and my neice at the <a href="http://www.waneefestival.com/">Wanee Festival</a> this past Spring, just as my hooping obsession was taking off</span></div>Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-4769334922746182872011-01-07T14:17:00.000-05:002011-01-07T14:17:45.272-05:00Bar stools make me giggle?My brother is about to finish up his upstairs bar room and I was looking at getting him some <a href="http://www.allbarstools.com/">bar stools</a>. I came across <a href="http://www.allbarstools.com/On-The-Edge-Marketing-809018-OTE1056.html">these</a> and had a little laugh to myself! How funny is that?!?Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-25329548516462525742011-01-07T11:51:00.002-05:002011-03-03T16:07:06.926-05:00Hoya Carnosa Krinkle CurlThere's not much blooming around the house here lately. In fact, I can't think of anything other than my orchid that just started blooming! Oh, I can't wait for Spring!<br />
<br />
About a month ago I uploaded some pictures of my Hindu Rope Hoya to photobucket and forgot all about it. So to help brighten the dreary days of Winter and make us long for warm weather all the more, I'm breaking out those old photos.<br />
<br />
On several gardening forums I've read about people having big trouble getting their hoyas to bloom. To me, the hoya is one of the easiest, low maintince plants to grow. Maybe they're trying too hard, as mine seem to do best with a little neglect!<br />
<br />
Hoyas like bright, indirect light and well drained soil. I keep mine hanging in a western facing window, with white blinds that usually stay shut. On occasion, and more so in the winter, I will open the blinds for a few hours to let a little extra light in. The soil is a fast draining mix, similar to what you would use for an orchid, with a sphagnum moss and light soil mixture. Hoyas like to be root bound so if you get a new plant you probably won't need to repot it for some time; mine's been in the same pot for 4 years! I water it about once a week, sometimes less frequently, judging by the weight of the pot and the top of the soil. It seems mine do best when I let the soil get almost all the way dry and then slowly add water, saturating the soil. If you live in a dry climate, it's probably a good idea to mist your plant regularly as well.<br />
<br />
The plant itself is beautiful, but the main reason I like hoyas so much is the beautiful and yummy smelling blooms!! They bloom from Spring to mid Fall here, but colder areas will have a slightly shorter growing season. The blooms can be born on new stem growth, or on older stubs where flowers have previously bloomed. The following picture an example of the latter.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1107.photobucket.com/albums/h394/Jenna_Gayle/?action=view&current=new127-2.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h394/Jenna_Gayle/new127-2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It only takes a few days for the flowers to open after you see them appear. The little round buds you see in the above photo will start to take on a glossy, ballooned star shape and begin to spread apart into an umbrella. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1107.photobucket.com/albums/h394/Jenna_Gayle/?action=view&current=blog309-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h394/Jenna_Gayle/blog309-1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The petals then begin to fold back, showcasing the "inside" of the flower.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://s1107.photobucket.com/albums/h394/Jenna_Gayle/?action=view&current=new112-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h394/Jenna_Gayle/new112-1.jpg" /></a><br />
The center "star" is glossy, while the outer has a furry look! This is when you'll be able to really smell them. To me, they smell just like chocolate, but I've heard some people think they stink! What?!? You do have to get close to the bloom to smell their fragrance, though. As the bloom ages, the smell with get fainter, until you really can't smell it at all. For me, the blooms usually last around 2 weeks from start to finish.<br />
<div align="center"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1107.photobucket.com/albums/h394/Jenna_Gayle/?action=view&current=blog319-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h394/Jenna_Gayle/blog319-1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This evergreen houseplant truly is beautiful and I highly recommend it! Treated properly, it will bring happiness to you for years! And, it is super easy to propagate from cuttings and air layering!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><strong>Update:</strong> Two days after posting this my I noticed a flower bud just starting to form on my hoya. The entire process of budding, flowering and finally the blooms falling off lasted until February 25!</span></div>Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-41054351754819667982010-12-31T15:38:00.000-05:002010-12-31T15:38:45.877-05:00Resolutions or Goals?Ah, New Years! The time when many people are making their resolutions to lose weight, excercise more, do this, do that.... By the end of Spring it seems like almost everyone who made those resolutions have completely forgotten about them or have just given up! <br />
<br />
In the past couple of weeks the thought of making a good New Years resolution has been crossing my mind. The <em>idea</em> of making and keeping a resolution sounds grand, but I myself have never managed to keep that idea going into action. Why is this? <br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year's_resolution"></a><br />
<br />
According to Wikipedia, <strong>52% of people in a study felt confindent that they would follow through with thier resolution, but only 12% actually did it.</strong><br />
<br />
It seems we set our minds on the finished product, over looking the actions that will get us there. <br />
<br />
The term "New Years Resolution" does absolutely nothing for me anymore. Too many times have I said "I am really going to follow through with it this time" only to bail on my plans when the end result seems too far away. This year I am not resolving to do a damn thing. Instead, I will be setting myself <strong>realistic goals</strong>. Mmmmmm! There's the word!! <br />
<br />
I belive that in order for you to achieve your goals, you have to take baby steps all the way and do things that are appealing to you. So you want to lose weight? Why? Will it make you happier? Make you feel better? Ok, then consider the things you can do that won't focus solely on your weight. Have a goal to incorporate more nourishing foods into your diet, make time in the morning to simply walk around the yard observing what you see. Simple things will lead you to your goal a whole lot better than focusing solely on the finished product. Isn't it true that if you weigh yourself every day you will get disheartend when the scale is not so nice to you? So why put yourself through that?<br />
<br />
I'm not saying don't set big goals- not at all! Go as big as you want! Get your big ideas and commit to them, then step back and break it down into do-able sizes and set yourself a time line. It seems like waaaay too much work when you have everything sitting in front of you, but if you were to break it down into monthly goals, it's not so daunting. <br />
<br />
A couple of my goals for the comming year....<br />
<ul><li><strong>Put more home grown food on our table.</strong> This means I will be working toward building beds, testing different types of veggies, learning to save seeds.... </li>
<li><strong>Become a better hooper.</strong> Learning a new trick at least every two weeks, practicing for a solid hour or two at least once a week, getting together with the girls more...</li>
<li><strong>Pulling myself out of debt.</strong> Learning to use what I have, cutting out disposables, growing more of our own foods...</li>
</ul>See how one thing kind of leads to another? Small simple goals, at least for me, are best! Think about how you can take some of the pressure off of your resolutions simply by making small goals for yourself instead! <br />
<br />
And have a super fantastic New Year!!!Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-15480819977898847182010-12-20T16:06:00.000-05:002010-12-20T16:06:12.343-05:00Twas the Night Before YuletideTwas the night before Yuletide and all through the glen<br />
Not a creature was stirring, not a fox, not a hen.<br />
A mantle of snow shone brightly that night<br />
As it lay on the ground, reflecting moonlight.<br />
The faeries were nestled all snug in their trees,<br />
Unmindful of flurries and a chilly north breeze.<br />
The elves and the gnomes were down in their burrows,<br />
Sleeping like babes in their soft earthen furrows.<br />
When low! The earth moved with a thunderous quake,<br />
Causing chairs to fall over and dishes to break.<br />
The Little Folk scrambled to get on their feet<br />
Then raced to the river where they usually meet.<br />
“What happened?” they wondered, they questioned, they probed,<br />
As they shivered in night clothes, some bare-armed, some robed.<br />
“What caused the earth’s shudder? What caused her to shiver?”<br />
They all spoke at once as they stood by the river.<br />
Then what to their wondering eyes should appear<br />
But a shining gold light in the shape of a sphere.<br />
It blinked and it twinkled, it winked like an eye,<br />
Then it flew straight up and was lost in the sky.<br />
Before they could murmur, before they could bustle,<br />
There emerged from the crowd, with a swish and a rustle,<br />
A stately old crone with her hand on a cane,<br />
Resplendent in green with a flowing white mane.<br />
As she passed by them the old crone’s perfume,<br />
Smelling of meadows and flowers abloom,<br />
Made each of the fey folk think of the spring<br />
When the earth wakes from slumber and the birds start to sing.<br />
“My name is Gaia,” the old crone proclaimed<br />
in a voice that at once was both wild and tamed,<br />
“I’ve come to remind you, for you seem to forget,<br />
that Yule is the time of re-birth, and yet…”<br />
“I see no hearth fires, hear no music, no bells,<br />
The air isn’t filled with rich fragrant smells<br />
Of baking and roasting, and simmering stews,<br />
Of cider that’s mulled or other hot brews.”<br />
“There aren’t any children at play in the snow,<br />
Or houses lit up by candles’ glow.<br />
Have you forgotten, my children, the fun<br />
Of celebrating the rebirth of the sun?”<br />
She looked at the fey folk, her eyes going round,<br />
As they shuffled their feet and stared at the ground.<br />
Then she smiled the smile that brings light to the day,<br />
“Come, my children,” she said, “Let’s play.”<br />
They gathered the mistletoe, gathered the holly,<br />
Threw off the drab and drew on the jolly.<br />
They lit a big bonfire, and they danced and they sang.<br />
They brought out the bells and clapped when they rang.<br />
They strung lights on the trees, and bows, oh so merry,<br />
In colors of cranberry, bayberry, cherry.<br />
They built giant snowmen and adorned them with hats,<br />
Then surrounded them with snow birds, and snow cats and bats.<br />
Then just before dawn, at the end of their fest,<br />
Before they went homeward to seek out their rest,<br />
The fey folk they gathered ‘round their favorite oak tree<br />
And welcomed the sun ‘neath the tree’s finery.<br />
They were just reaching home when it suddenly came,<br />
The gold light returned like an arrow-shot flame.<br />
It lit on the tree top where they could see from afar<br />
The golden-like sphere turned into a star.<br />
The old crone just smiled at the beautiful sight,<br />
“Happy Yuletide, my children,” she whispered. “Good night.”<br />
<br />
By C.C. Wiliford<br />
<br />
I hope you all have a Blessed Yule and don't forget to try to get up to see the Total Lunar Eclipse! It's the first one to occur on the Winter Solstice since 1638!Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-70794345125688494322010-12-02T17:05:00.000-05:002010-12-02T17:05:06.739-05:00Social Thursday!I've been meaning to pick this little practice back up and <a href="http://www.familyofmovers.com/">Lynn</a>, with her Song Friday, has inspired me to do just that! <br />
<br />
I have a song stuck in my head for a few days now. If you like a little jazz, sax and banjo in your life, you'll love Béla Fleck and the Flecktones! Béla Fleck is one of the world's most renowned banjo players and the band is AMAZING! My sister-in-law says it sounds like elevator music, though. :P I say it's ultra relaxing and at the same time it makes you want to get your groove on!<br />
<br />
The song I'd like to share today is very deep and moving. I hope you get something out of it!<br />
<br />
<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sx5Qd6uEWq8?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sx5Qd6uEWq8?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">Sojourn of Arjuna Lyrics</span></strong><br />
So Arjuna and Krishna you know they're hanging out on the battlefield<br />
Arjuna is like tired of war, he's trying to get out of this battle<br />
so Krishna drops a little science on him, he says you know it's the way of<br />
spiritual growth<br />
a man must go forth from where he stands<br />
he cannot jump to the absolute, he must evolve toward it (can you hear that)<br />
Krishna says at any given moment in time we are what we are<br />
Arjuna we have to accept the consequences of being ourselves<br />
and only through this acceptance can we begin to evolve further<br />
we may select the battleground but we cannot avoid the battle<br />
<br />
so Krishna tells Arjuna it follows therefore that every action under certain<br />
circumstances and for certain people may actually be a stepping stone to<br />
spiritual growth<br />
<br />
Arjuna is to do the best he knows<br />
in order to pass beyond that best to better<br />
how can we prescribe our neighbors to be perfect<br />
when it is so hard to know our own heart<br />
the pacifist must respect Arjuna<br />
Arjuna must respect the pacifist<br />
both are going toward the same goal<br />
if they are really sincere<br />
there's an underlying solidarity between them<br />
which can be expressed<br />
each one follows without compromise the path upon which he finds himself<br />
for we can only help others to do their duty<br />
by doing what we ourselves believe to be right<br />
it is the one supremely social act.<br />
<br />
so Kirshna's reply to Arjuna occupies the rest of the story<br />
it deals not only with Arjuna's immediate personal problem<br />
but the whole nature of action<br />
the meaning of life<br />
and the aims for which man must struggle here on earth<br />
at the end of the conversation Arjuna has changed his mind<br />
he's ready to fight, he's ready to go ahead on<br />
it is the way of spiritual growth<br />
a man must go forward from where he stands<br />
he cannot jump to the absolute<br />
and the battle begins...<br />
<br />
<br />
Be sure to check out <a href="http://www.familyofmovers.com/">Song Friday with the Family of Movers, too!</a>Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-75717846299353016562010-12-01T16:48:00.000-05:002010-12-01T16:48:14.428-05:00Buzz Buzz!<div style="text-align: center;">Can you see the bee's nest?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1107.photobucket.com/albums/h394/Jenna_Gayle/?action=view&current=new144-2.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h394/Jenna_Gayle/new144-2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Find it? It's waaaay up in the tree! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here, I'll help you out...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1107.photobucket.com/albums/h394/Jenna_Gayle/?action=view&current=new142-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h394/Jenna_Gayle/new142-1.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center">Our friend Cooter showed us this nest several months ago, when these pictures were taken. The bees enjoyed their home for quite some time, but have now moved on or at least we saw no sign of them. Hopefully they just left to find more food or warmth!</div>Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-55012829911564880632010-11-30T14:14:00.002-05:002010-11-30T14:14:49.936-05:00The Farm TourDo you remember that I was going on a Farm Tour? And that I said I'd post an update when I got back? I'm kinda slacking on that one! I wanted to wait until I had some pictures to share :)<br />
<br />
<br />
Our first stop was at <a href="http://www.otoolesherbfarm.com/">O'Tooles Organic Herb Farm</a> where we met B, the owner.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5205052818/" title="Jami, B (the owner), Mae, Joey by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Jami, B (the owner), Mae, Joey" height="180" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5087/5205052818_205e779a45_m.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Jami, B, and our friends Megan and Joey</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Mrs. B took us on a walking tour around the grounds and into the "Secret Gardens". There she pointed out flowers to us, gave tips on working in your own garden and showed us the Labyrinth. She also says that there are fairies in her gardens.... I love this lady!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5204465571/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Echinacea by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Echinacea" height="180" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/5204465571_5f56e646f4_m.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Echinacea</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5204476831/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Pink plumbago? by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Pink plumbago?" height="180" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4113/5204476831_aba9cf0810_m.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Looks like Plumbago to me, but I've never seen it in pink before!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5205062338/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="new 424 by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="new 424" height="180" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5205062338_0518cc304d_m.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Help!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5204477463/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Pretty in Pink by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Pretty in Pink" height="180" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5204477463_112d9b27c4_m.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dahlia</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5205069546/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Me and the Labyrinth by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Me and the Labyrinth" height="180" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/5205069546_b4c0a3a7c0_m.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Me in front of the Labyrinth. You can see an aerial photo on the farm's website.</span><br />
We gathered around and listened as she talked about how the farm looked in the old days and about making the labyrinth on one of her favorite pieces of land. After her husband and soul mate passed, she built it in his honor. Her story brought tears to more than one eye! <br />
<br />
You can see the design in the this photo.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5205066854/" title="Welcome the the Labyrinth by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Welcome the the Labyrinth" height="180" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/5205066854_3f8a824d54_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
How can you not feel at total peace reading these words?!<br />
(You can click on this picture, or any other, to see a larger version)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5204469643/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="new 427 by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="new 427" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5049/5204469643_ea9832e88b.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I like to think her husband sits in this chair as he watches over her in the garden :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5205072586/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Lazy garden by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Lazy garden" height="180" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/5205072586_3097c47a4d_m.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">The farm also has a shiitake mushroom grow house, but it was not in use when we were there. We did get the run down on how it works, though!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5205079382/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Shiitake mushroom grow house at O'Tooles Organic Herb Farm by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Shiitake mushroom grow house at O'Tooles Organic Herb Farm" height="180" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4147/5205079382_8f6462ac5e_m.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">The room is under complete shade with a shade cloth over the top to prevent sun and yard debris from dropping in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5205077406/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Shiitake mushroom grow room by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Shiitake mushroom grow room" height="180" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/5205077406_91e5026b52_m.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Oak trees, mainly red or white, are chosen and cut from the forest. They are used for about 3 years before they are replaced with new logs. Holes are then bored into the logs and the spores are brushed inside where they will grow to maturity. You can see where the last crop were grown. I'd like to see this in action one day!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5205078436/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Shiitake grow logs by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Shiitake grow logs" height="240" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5284/5205078436_9780a893ed_m.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">There were also two large greenhouses on the property to show the entire process of plant propagation and offering them for sale. Once I got in there, taking pictures went by the wayside! I was much too excited and had my hands way too full to be bothered with taking photos! We managed to get a serious loot of plants!</div><div style="text-align: left;">In no particular order....</div><ol><li><div style="text-align: left;">DeCicco Broccoli</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Nassturium (Tropaeolum)</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale)</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Bird's Eye Pepper</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Bay Tree</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Spinach</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Collards</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Bright Lights Chard</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Radicchio (Cichorium intybus)</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Rue (Rute graveolens)</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Bronze Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum)</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Stevia (rebaudiana)</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Kentucky Colonel Mint (mentha spicata)</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">St Johns Wort (Hypericum perforatum)</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Germander (Teucrium chamaedrys)</div></li>
</ol><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">We spent so much time wandering around the gardens that we only made it to one other farm, <a href="http://www.deeprootsmeat.com/">Deep Roots Meat</a>. We didn't take the tour there since Jami grew with cows and the rest of us has spent a lot of time around cow farms.... that and we had to wait about an hour until the next tour started. We did get some of their fabulous forage fed beef! My it's tasty!!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">O'Tooles is having an open house this weekend with several workshops. My mother-in-law and I are planning to go to the soap making workshop with <a href="http://www.magnoliahillsoap.com/">Magnolia Hill Soap Co.</a> We've both been wanting to learn how to make soap for quite some time now, so we're very, very excited about this! And hey, I may even pick up a few more plants! Hehe!</div><br />
<br />
I'll leave you today with a sweet picture of our friends under the Loquat tree.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/5205058436/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Mae and Joey by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Mae and Joey" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5205058436_b93d860113.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Fun fact: I married these guys :)</div><div align="center"></div>Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-69011949985187729902010-10-22T12:16:00.000-04:002010-10-22T12:16:45.204-04:003rd Annual North Florida & South Georgia Farm TourTomorrow Jami and I are going to the <a href="http://newleafmarket.coop/events/farm_tour/">3rd Annual North Florida & South Georgia Farm Tour</a>! I can't believe we've never heard of this until now and to be honest, I can't even remember how I found out about it. I'm extremely excited!<br />
<br />
The farm tour is being hosted by the <a href="http://newleafmarket.coop/">New Leaf Market</a>, a cooperatively owned grocery store in Tallahassee, FL. I've only been there once, about a year ago, as it's a good 2 hour drive from my home. It's a wonderful place, chock full of organic and natural grocery items, bulk goods, and herbal supplements. I wish there was a place like this near home! The Farm Tour consists of 36 local farms opening their doors, sharing their knowledge and offering their goods for sale. This is an ultra exciting opportunity to see how these farms work and to pick the brains of those who run them! There are also several workshops you can attend for free or a small price (the highest I've seen was a whopping $5!).<br />
<br />
Our main focus on this trip is to visit <a href="http://www.otoolesherbfarm.com/">O'Tooles Organic Herb Farm</a> in Madison, FL. There we will enjoy their vegetable, butterfly and secret gardens, have the opportunity to purchase fall plants, organic gardening supplies and herbal products, and most excitingly visit their two greenhouses and a shade house!!! The greenhouses will be showing the entire process of propagation from plating seeds and making cuttings to mature plants ready to go! There is also a labyrinth the owner built in memory of her husband. How sweet is that?!? It is said to "bring peace and harmony to all who walk its healing path." Oh yea, I'll be walking it a few times!<br />
<br />
Time permitting, we'd also like to visit a few other farms in the area.... <br />
<a href="http://www.deeprootsmeat.com/">Deep Roots Meats</a> in Greenville, Fl is an all grass fed, antibiotic/grain/hormone-free angus beef farm. They will be selling their beef products.<br />
Kurtz & Sons Dairy, LLC in Live Oak, Fl is "an all pasture family dairy farm that harvests fresh Florida sunshine as fresh milk, meat and eggs." I love the way these people think. "In cooperation with Mother Nature” is the most healthful, safe and rewarding way to grow any crop, whether it is livestock, wildlife or children. We always believe that the way we produce food makes a difference in us, our livestock, our soil and our environment. Here we celebrate each season of the year as each brings its own changes to our practices and our products. With our farm tours we intend to share these ideas and give our visitors an experience that cannot be found at the theme parks and zoos."<br />
<br />
If you are in the area, know someone who is, or just want to check out all the different farms, check it out <a href="http://newleafmarket.coop/events/farm_tour/">go here</a>!<br />
<br />
I plan on soaking up lots of yummy information, taking lots of pictures, and hopefully I'll be able to video some of the grounds and lectures. If I can talk a sweet friend into uploading them for me I'll share next week! Either way I'm sure I'll have lots to tell :)<br />
<br />
Are there any exciting things going on in your area this weekend? Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-76057530027648533892010-10-19T12:19:00.000-04:002010-10-19T12:19:02.417-04:00Trying my hand at garlicLate last fall I came across an article on growing garlic that really peaked my interest. When I started looking for bulbs it was late October and everyone was sold out! The Northern folks probably already had their garlic in the ground for weeks before I even though about ordering. Generally speaking, garlic grows better in cooler areas as the bulbs should be planted in the Fall when soil temperature is at least down to 60*. The bulbs need plenty of chilling hours before Spring to be able to form. We don't have a whole lot of cold weather and that makes me a little worried! I have found several local farmers who are growing garlic with great success, though, so I do have hope!<br />
<br />
This year I was a little more prepared and started looking through seed catalogs. The garlic you get from the grocery store is usually sprayed with an anti-sprouting chemical and is probably grown with nasty pesticides!! My first choice was to order from <a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/index.html">Southern Exposure Seed Exchange</a> because I was planning on getting other seeds along with the garlic bulbs. I decided to to nix the seeds to be able to focus more on the garlic and began searching for individuals offering bulbs for sale. I hopped on one of my favorite websites, <a href="http://www.localharvest.org/">Local Harvest</a> and found <a href="http://www.localharvest.org/bobbetts-naturally-grown-produce-M19189">Bobbette's Naturally Grown Produce</a>, a certified naturally grown small farm out of Liberty, KY. I purchased a softneck artichoke variety called Inchelium Red and Heirloom Cherokee, a hardneck variety. I'm looking forward to seeing which will do the best for me!<br />
<br />
For the bed I tilled up a 6 1/2' x 6 1/2' bed in a sunny spot and used old fence posts for the edges. I added in top soil and mushroom compost, then tilled again to incorporate the different soils together. Our soil is pretty sandy and drains well, but I wanted to add more organic matter. My garlic has already made it in (I ordered on Tuesday and got it on Friday!!) but I am waiting for cooler weather to put it in the ground... it's been in the mid 80's all week. After planting I will add a heavy coat of mulch to keep the weeds at bay and then fish emulsion for fertilizer in the Spring. Wish me luck!!! :)Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-76483317883776901602010-10-13T13:07:00.002-04:002010-10-13T13:13:47.702-04:00New addition to the Family!Some of you may remember our sweet girl Maia<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/4793493833/" title="Maia by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Maia" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4793493833_84a8bd877e.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Maia, taken March 8, 2009 1 year 9 months old</span></div><br />
She's been with us for a little over 3 years now! Our neighbors (the in-laws) had a little Wire Haired Dachshund named Lucky. He and Maia were the best, most unlikely friends ever. The mornings usually had Maia over at Lucky's house, then mid-day they would each go back to their own house for a nap. Lucky would come visit our side of the pond in the evenings. Then suddenly the visiting stopped. Lucky was missing. To this day no one has any idea what happened or where he ventured off to. He was an old soul. Not too terribly old for a typical Dachshund (we guessed somewhere around 8), but for a little outdoors man who'd been bit by a snake twice in his life, it probably was about his time to go. Jami and I used to (and still do) joke about his voice if he could talk- Clint Eastwood from Grand Torino! If you've seen the movie you should totally understand him! In the weeks to follow Maia moped around not really wanting to play, just mourn the loss of her beloved best friend. <br />
<br />
Jami and I had casually talked about getting another dog so that Maia wouldn't be alone all day, but hadn't agreed on it yet. I was checking out <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.craigslist.org">Craigs List</a> one afternoon and came across an add for a seven month old pure bred husky. For free. The awesome part is that she had already been fixed! It only took four hours of me begging Jami to agree for me to call and check it out. I figured that she would be gone for sure. Nope! The owners still had her and were ecstatic to know we had another husky. It was a young couple with a 4 year old daughter. The mom is a paramedic and the dad a firefighter, each working 24 hour shifts making no true time for puppy love. Bless their hearts... they were heart broken to have to give her up, but knew it was for the best. We picked her up two days later.... and man is she a big dog!!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/4998507191/" title="Looney Tunes by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Looney Tunes" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/4998507191_a5bc0e61ab.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Luna, take September 17, two months after she came home</span></div><br />
We changed her name from Shasta to Luna, never calling her by her "old home" name. We didn't particularly like 'Shasta' and since she was brand new to us and our world she transitioned to her new name wonderfully. <br />
<br />
It took Maia a little while to get used to having another dog actually living at her home and getting lovin' from her humans. Now they play, fight and share like sisters!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenna_gayle/4999112248/" title="Maia and Luna by Jenna Gayle, on Flickr"><img alt="Maia and Luna" height="300" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/4999112248_b3cc05f078.jpg" width="425" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Maia (3) and Luna (10 months). Taken the same day as the above photo. Luna is already taller than Maia! </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Hopefully I'll have a better comparison picture, but with my limited uploading ability, this is all I've got for now!</span></div><br />
Huskies are wonderful creatures for those who have the time and space for them. They are incredibly intelligent and loving. They're not, however, good for a guard dog unless you count the fear people get just from their wolf-like looks! The biggest reaction you'll probably get out of them is a little head roll or a request for a petting. You'll hardly ever hear one of them barking either. They do howl on occasion, but for my pups, that's almost as rare as the barking. That's good for me! If you hear one of them, you<strong> know</strong> something is going on!Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-39074218475856289172010-10-08T17:03:00.000-04:002010-10-08T17:03:06.062-04:00I haven't shampoo'd my hair in 2 months...And it feels pretty good! Let me go ahead and say that yes, I am actually washing my hair. I just haven't used a drop of your typical shampoo or conditioner. About a year ago I became interested in going "no 'poo" for a number of reasons. My hair is down to the top of my butt and I would breeze through a bottle of shampoo/conditioner in no time. Getting to a place that will recycle the bottles is next to impossible since my small county doesn't have a plastics bin, though they do make up for it with other things! The county next door where you go for all your other needs requires you to pay $100/year for a dumping permit that includes access to the recycle yard. Rediculous, huh? We're also on septic and well water systems so we try to be even more concious of what we're pouring down the drain. Then there was the dandruff. Terrible, itchy dandruff. It's been a battle I've been loosing since sometime in my teens, but this year it seems to have gotten even worse. I could wash my hair and within 30 minutes, scalp still wet, the itching would start. I've tried the high dollar, super powerful stuff but even <i>that</i> wouldn't get rid of it! So one day I finally broke down and started the process of returning my hair back to its natural state, forgoing all of the "wonder" products for the straight basics- baking soda and apple cider vinegar.<br />
<br />
My timing for this journey probably wasn't the best in the world; smack dab in the middle of the hot, humid Southern Summer. But as long as I had been toying with the idea and had just used the last of my shampoo, it seemed like the perfect place to start. I already had everything I needed in the house to get started.<br />
<br />
My hair had been washed with shampoo and conditioner for over 25 years, my natural oils were never left to do the job they're supposed to do. Every morning I washed away my hair's sebum only to replace it with heavy, fake crap. I'd done a good bit of reading on the matter and had some information printed out in my bathroom. I started with the general suggestion: 1 TBSP baking soda to 1 cup of water and the same with the apple cider vinegar. I did double my batches since I have such long hair. The first few weeks weren't nearly as bad as I had anticipated. Your hair has to go through a "detox" period where it can become pretty greasy looking. Mine lasted a couple of weeks and was only bad enough for me to put my hair in a ponytail on the second and third days after, washing twice a week. <br />
<br />
I noticed when I applied the apple cider vinegar it felt a little heavy on my hair, but was sure that everything would be fine after the wash. I have pretty heavy water, too, so I chalked up the film feeling to that. Two weeks ago as I was doing more research I noticed that some were using plain old white vinegar so I decided to give it a try. Wow! I could tell a difference as soon as I poured the mixture on my hair! My hair is now softer than ever and combing wet hair is much easier than it was with the ACV.<br />
<br />
My hair still seems to be in the trasition stage somewhat, but it's getting better every time I wash it! I still only was every 2-3 days depending on what I've got going on (if I want to wear a ponytail or not) and haven't seen the first bit of dandruff on my head or my shoulders (pun kinda intended). If your brave enough to forgo the "normal" hair washing routine, I'd definitely so go for it!! I'll be updating on my experiences :)<br />
<br />
PS.<br />
My hair is board straight and pretty thin, although there's a whole lot of it! I'd like to hear from someone with a different hair type who's using this method and how their experience is/was!Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2819081228457734226.post-32293172882512765062010-04-22T16:52:00.002-04:002010-04-22T16:57:54.429-04:00Social Thursday!<div align="center">I swear one of these days I'll have time to post something interesting! As of now I can no longer post pictures from work, either, but I will give an update on the happenings of soGAnoFLA :) <br><br /></br></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Here's yet another artist I had the pleasure of seeing- two nights in a row- last weekend. Widespread is definitely my all time favorite band and this is *one* of their best songs in my opinion. (I say one.... meaning out of about 20 cuz you know I can't narrow it down!)<br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tnlwj-fcHOU&hl=" width="480" height="385" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" color2="0x4e9e00" fs="1&color1="></embed></div>Jenna Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709979686992439365noreply@blogger.com1