Five Smart Housekeeping Ways to Use Tea Tree Oil
By Annie B. Bond, author of Better Basics for the Home (Three Rivers
Press, 1999).
Australian tea tree oil is a broad spectrum germicide, fungicide,
and bacteriacide.

The essential oil known as “tea tree oil” comes from the melaleuca
tree, a shrub/tree that has needle-like leaves. There are 100
varieties of melaleuca, but for the purposes of this discussion we
are speaking of Australian tea tree oil, or melaleuca alternifolia.

Tea tree oil has many uses for housekeeping. You can prove to
yourself how well it works to kill mold and mildew with this simple
test: Put 2 teaspoons of Australian tea tree oil in a spray bottle
with two cups of water. Don’t rinse. Spray the mixture on something
musty. Let the smell dissipate (it will take a few days). The smell
of mold and must will be gone, too, never to return as long as the
source of moisture has been removed.

Here are five smart ways to use Australian tea tree oil at home:

1. General Tea Tree Oil Spray
As mentioned above, combine 2 teaspoons of Australian tea tree oil
in 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake to blend. Spray on mold
and don’t rinse. The smell will dissipate in a few days.

2. Tea Tree Oil Grout Spray
Using the same formula as in #1, spray grout to repel mold and
mildew. While this formula won’t take away the mold discoloration,
it will kill the mold.

3. Musty Mold Remover
The must will be removed from anything using the above formula. Just
don’t rinse.

4. Household Antiseptic Spray
Use the above formula to spray areas that need antiseptic attention,
such as after someone has vomited.

5. Add 1/2 teaspoon tea tree oil to your laundry for towels and
other fabric prone to getting moldy.

This is from Diane from Palmarosa Hand Crafts http://www.palmarosa.etsy.com/

Freezing Basil and Other Herbs

As for basil, it’s a little tricky. While it’s not uncommon to find dried
basil in the grocery store, it’s commonly agreed among chefs and other
culinary experts that dried basil just isn’t the way to go. To preserve
basil’s unique summery flavor, it’s best to puree fresh leaves in oil and
then freeze it. The process is rather simple but a little more time
consuming than drying. To make this worthwhile, be sure to have several cups
of fresh basil leaves to start with as it yields small quantities of puree.
Again to start, gently (very gently as it bruises easily) wash the basil and
shake off the water. Remove the leaves from the stems and roughly chop.
Place in a blender with a tablespoon or two of extra virgin olive oil and
pulse. If a puree doesn’t begin to form, add a little more oil, about a
teaspoon at a time until a smooth puree comes together. You don’t want to
add any more oil than necessary so as to keep the basil flavor as potent as
possible.

To freeze, I like to fill an empty ice cube tray with the puree so I have
individual cubes that are just the right size for tossing into the soup or
sauce pot. You can also freeze the puree in one air-tight container and thaw
it as you need each time. If you are using the ice cube tray method, wait
until basil cubes are solid and then remove from tray and immediately place
in a ziplock freezer bag and return to the freezer. Ta-da! Instant summery
basil flavor in the middle of winter!

Great Ideas Diana!

Pam at TLC NATURALLY

Great ideas for stocking up for an emergency … or ?

Powdered or Dry Milk
Baking powder
Baking soda
Cornstarch
Dry Beans
Coffee or Tea
Vegetable Oil
Cornmeal
Flour (some whole grains and a hand cranked mill is best)
Dried fruit
Nuts
Peanut butter
Rice
Soups (canned and dry mix)
Sugar
Maple Syrup
Ramen Noodles
Canned Fish, Meat or Chicken
Vinegar
Lemon Juice
Gatorade Mix
Bottled Water
Salt
Charcoal
Lighter Fluid
Canned Vegetables

Seeds (Heirloom) are a great idea as well
Emergency Medical Kit
.22 Rifle with Ammo
Cash
Propane
Kerosene
Gasoline
Fire wood
Boards for windows with no trespassing signs
A hand-cranked grain mill
Crystalline Vitamin C (powder not pills)
Water treatment tablets
5-gallon buckets with lids (to store grains, rice, etc. to keep pests out)
Large Ziploc bags (to protect important documents and other items)
Galvanized steel wash tub and a clothes line plus soaps & detergents (see my homemade below)
Pet foods
Medicines, extra pair of glasses, sanitary pads, extra toiletries, etc.
Livestock feed
Composting toilet
Pest control spray & fly trap (mouse trap)
Compost bin
Outdoor shower from rain barrel
A binder with information for evacuation plans, important phone numbers and documents.

For those of you dealing with the high cost of food on a monthly basis, you may want to check out Angel Food Ministries http://www.angelfoodministries.com/ and for economical recipes and menus (some using the Angel Food list) check out Hillbilly Housewife http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/index.htm . For heirloom seeds in bulk check out www.victoryseeds.com.

The above was from a great website I found called DIRT - nice blog!

blessings ~ Pam

TLC Naturally
Midwest Crafts Community
E Web Express Website Design

What an idea - this is awesome for all you natural gals and guys out there that make your own KEFIR!! I bet, like me, you hate to throw away that WHEY that you have after you make that wonderful life saving stuff named KEFIR - I know I do….so I have a freezer full of the stuff in baggies, containers ect… My mom sent me this awesome note about someone who actually DOES something with that liquid gold!! SHE DRIES IT!

Want to know how? Check this website out - well, I can’t pronounce the name of the site - but its a good one :-)  Elaichi etc etera - which actually, after I think about it….maybe its French for Ecetra Ecetra … not sure though.

Pam

Green Tea Bath Bags

Using Green tea leaves is great for a mild exfoliating action. Using either comfrey or calendula leaves also adds a very silky soothing feeling skin!

1 cup loose leaf green tea
1 cup calendula or comfrey leaves
(you can find these health food stores if you don’t grow them yourself)
4 to 6 drops rose geranium essential oil

Mix ingredients well and then simply fill your sachets. If you want to get fancy, or make them as gifts, tie the schets with a pretty ribbon. Then, simply hold the sachet under running tap water until you reach the desired amount of bath water. You can also squeeze the bag a couple of times to help the fragrence fill the room. Don’t throw it away! Remove from spout and rub over your body for a soothing and silky feeling!

You can make your sachets from cheesecloth, gauze or even in a pinch, a dishrag!

~Pam~

Breaking from Newsmax.com

Tim Russert’s Death: A Warning for Millions

The death of NBC’s Tim Russert on Friday at the age of 58 is shining the national spotlight on sudden cardiac arrest.

In the week when the government announced that life expectancy in the United States had risen to an all-time high of 78 and deaths from heart disease were declining, Russert’s death, which occurred when he collapsed at the network’s Washington office, was a sad warning that fatal heart attacks can — and often do — strike without warning.

Many victims of sudden cardiac arrest, like Russert, cannot be resuscitated.

And incredibly, Russert may have died because he was deficient in a simple nutrient, a respected medical doctor says.

Even though Russert’s death was shocking and sudden, there were ominous signs. Russert had been diagnosed with coronary artery disease and diabetes. Both are risk factors for a sudden heart attack. In addition, he was overweight and in a high-stress job, two additional factors that raised his risk. And although Russert may not have known, an autopsy revealed he also suffered from an enlarged heart.

Russert didn’t die alone. About 850 people in the U.S. also died Friday of sudden cardiac arrest, and 310,000 die each year.

Their disease didn’t occur overnight. Fat deposits (plaque) and inflammation had been building for decades. The plaque cracked or tore, and the body’s efforts to repair the damage caused a clot which blocked an artery and caused sudden heart attack. Dr. Michael Newman, Russert’s personal physician, confirmed Russert died of a massive heart attack that occurred when a clot ruptured in his left anterior descending coronary artery and caused the fatal heart attack.

Russert probably believed he was taking good care of himself. He had no obvious symptoms of heart disease, and he was taking medication and exercising. He also easily passed a stress test two months ago.

But what Russert didn’t know was what probably killed him, says acclaimed neurosurgeon and health advocate Dr. Russell Blaylock. “Chances are the medicines he was taking to reduce his chances of having a life-ending heart attack — probably statins — weren’t helping him at all. Statins don’t protect against heart attacks. And he didn’t know that the lack of one nutrient could have cost him his life.

“The number one cause of sudden cardiac death is magnesium deficiency,” Blaylock says. “Cardiac patients and those with diabetes have the lowest magnesium levels of all. Since Russert had both heart disease and diabetes, he was probably deficient in magnesium. A bad diet and stress would have further depleted the magnesium in his body.

“People who are deficient in magnesium are most likely to have sudden cardiac arrest, and when they do arrest, and they are harder to resuscitate. Many simply can’t be resuscitated.”

To avoid a fate similar to Russert’s, Dr. Blaylock advises a magnesium supplement every day.

“Magnesium reduces inflammation in the walls of the arteries and veins and it slightly thins blood,” he says. “If you do have a clot, magnesium prevents the heart from going into spasm. About half of the people who die from sudden cardiac arrest die from arrhythmia and magnesium prevents that. It is also essential that diabetics control their sugar levels.

“If Russert was low in magnesium, an inexpensive supplement could have saved his life.”

All-Purpose Cleaner
suggested uses: hard surfaces like countertops and kitchen floors, windows and mirrors

2 cups white distilled vinegar
2 cups water
20-30 or more drops of essential oil (optional)

Tip: Warming in microwave until barely hot will boost cleaning power for tough jobs. Only microwave in a glass container.

Creamy Soft Scrub
suggested uses: Use this creamy soft scrub on kitchen counters, stoves, bathroom sinks, etc.

2 cups baking soda
½ cup liquid castile soap*
4 teaspoons vegetable glycerin (acts as a preservative)
5 drops antibacterial essential oil such as lavender, tea tree, rosemary or any scent you prefer (optional)

Mix together and store in a sealed glass jar, shelf life of 2 years. Tips: For exceptionally tough jobs spray with vinegar first—full strength or diluted, scented—let sit and follow with scrub.

Dry soft scrubs can be made with baking soda or salt (or combination of both) with 10-15 drops essential oil to scent

Furniture Polish
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
20-30 drops lemon essential oil

Shake well before using (2 teaspoons lemon juice may be substituted for lemon oil but then must be stored in refrigerator) Dip a clean, dry cloth into the polish and rub wood in the direction of the grain. Use a soft brush to work the polish into corners or tight places. Tips: To remove water spots rub well with toothpaste. To remove scratches use 1 part lemon juice and 1 part oil, rub with soft cloth.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Option 1
Sprinkle toilet bowl with baking soda, drizzle with vinegar, let soak for at least 30 minutes and scrub with toilet brush.

Option 2
Put ¼ cup borax in toilet bowl and let sit for at least 30 minutes. Swish with a toilet brush and then scrub. A few drops of pine oil can be added for increased disinfecting. (Note: some people are allergic to pine oil.)
Tip: Let ingredients soak for a while to make for easy scrubbing, especially on persistent stains like toilet bowl rings

Drain Opener
½ cup baking soda
½ cup vinegar

Pour baking soda down the drain and follow with vinegar. Cover and let sit for at least 30 minutes. Flush with boiling water. Tip: Prevent your shower form clogging by using a drain trap to catch hairs.

Laundry Detergent
1 cup soap flakes
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup Borax

Soap flakes can be made by grating your favorite pure vegetable soap with a cheese grater. Mix ingredients together and store in a glass container. Use 1 tablespoon per load (2 for heavily soiled laundry), wash in warm or cold water.

This standard recipe can be adjusted for soft water by using 1 cup soap flakes, 1/4 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup borax. For hard water, use 1 cup soap flakes, 1 cup washing soda, and 1 cup borax.  Note: Borax should not be ingested.  Tips: Add 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar to rinse as a fabric softener. For a whitener, use hydrogen peroxide rather than bleach. Soak your dingy white clothes for 30 minutes in the washer with 1/2 cup 20% peroxide. Launder as usual.

A MUFA at Every Meal
What mono-unsaturated fatty acids can do for you!

“A MUFA at every meal” is the Flat Belly mantra. But exactly what is this magical diet component — and how does it contribute to weight loss?

MUFA (MOO-fah) is a term that nutritionists have been using for years. It stands for monounsaturated fatty acid, a type of heart-healthy, disease-fighting, “good” fat found in foods like almonds, peanut butter, olive oil, avocado, even chocolate. MUFAs are an unsaturated fat, and have the exact opposite effect of the unhealthy saturated and trans fats you’ve heard about in the news. According to exciting new research, MUFAs can actually help you lose weight, specifically around your middle.

Numerous studies show that a diet rich in MUFAs is linked to a reduction in LDL cholesterol, the kind that clogs up arteries, and a boost in HDL, the kind that sweeps cholesterol out of the arteries and clears it from the body. They can also lower the risk of heart disease and improve insulin.

But there’s even more good news! In addition to their health-giving properties, MUFAs are satisfying and delicious in and of themselves. Who doesn’t love drizzling olive oil over a salad, or grabbing a handful of chocolate chips? And that’s what makes the Flat Belly Diet difference, according to our diet testers. A MUFA at every meal, not only guarantees good health but leaves you feeling satisfied, not deprived.

Here’s a great blog with MUFA recipes - so click HERE.

So - do you MUFA?

Pam