The Benefits of Honey...

My grandfather was a bee man.  I have been told that if you eat local honey it will help you with your allergies.  Then the question "Is the sugar content of the honey in Arizona Green Tea with Gensing and Honey good or bad for ya?" came up today.

I have been diagnosed with "Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease".  The RUQ, or right upper quadrant pain that I have been experiencing is the result of too much fat in my liver.  So, life changes are in store for my husband and myself.  We are going to monitor and change our fat, sugar and calorie intakes.

Over at Shape.com I found an article about the 5 health benefits honey.  Using honey dressings on burns, scraps, surgical incisions and radiation-asssociated ulcers has proved healpful because of the natural "hydrogen peroxide" found in honey because bees produce this enzyme.  And honey has anti-inflammatory qualities that help with the itch and irritation of mosquito bites. And certain types of honey treat the inflammation and infection of acne.  So, topically honey is good!

Honey is an antioxidant that helps protect the body from free radical damage, preserving heart health and protectinng against cancer.  It has been seen in laboratory studies that gut microflora is improved when sugar is substituted with honey.  So, internally honey is good!  That means honey is good for us inside and out!  Then I guess we could say, "Some honey a day, keeps the doctor away!"

The Butterfly Man's Jewelry...

This is a Russian Charoite necklace that my great Uncle Gail Richardson made.  There is a chance on getting some more pieces to add to my collection!  Uncle Gail did all the silver work as well as cut, shape and polish the stones!  He would always give us "family pricing", but I  felt like we were stealing them. Now that he is gone, the pieces I have are all the more precious...my hubby just fixed the clasp!

Engaged to be Married!!!

Erin and Tony!!!

Tony asked...Erin cried and said "Yes!" It is so good to see Tony happy with the woman who has agreed to be his wife!!!
They have so much in common and it is a joy to have her around!  She will be a help mate for my son and I know that their lives will be blessed!

Erin's ring...

Now the fun begins with planning a wedding!  It looks like Sunday may be a good day to get started.  It is supposed to rain and while it's stormy outside we can brainstorm on ideas!!!

Tornia ~ Screwbean Mesquite...

 

I was doing some housecleaning in my unpublished notes and found this post about the Screwbean Mesquite! Little did I know that when I started this post about the Tornia tree that I would get married and end up working our cattle through the Salt Draw (known by the old timers as "The Screwbean") in West Texas!

Screwbean Mesquite

Margaret's Piano...

I recently was blessed with another piano! This 1954 Story & Clark once graced the home of Margaret Cochran. Now it graces my home...

...it all started last June at the feed store where I work. I met Margaret's daughter, Maxine, when she and her son came by the store one Sunday afternoon. My son's were unloading a trailer for my bosses, it was overflowing with wrought iron and pottery from Laredo!

Maxine and I started talking and realized that we had a lot in common. She had two sons and both their names started with C. I had two sons and both their names started with T. We both love horses and the western way of life and we love to sing.  

Well, Maxine had this feeling that she wanted me to have her momma's piano.  I accepted her offer and traveled to Riudoso, New Mexico to her sisters house to pick up the piano.  My two sons came along for the ride (and to help load and pack the piano so that it would not get damaged on the trip back to Pecos).  We stayed in Maxine's cousins' quaint little warm cabin with snow on the ground outside! June 2009

Editor's Note:  It is because of this friendship that I took Maxine's advice that "If I had Shot Paschal just as a friend I would be blessed!" and started dating and 59 days later married him!!! Since she is a distant relative of Shot's, I am now related to Maxine!

How much fiber?

How much fiber do I need in my diet? Well, according to Mayo Clinic women in my age range need 25 gram of fiber a day. This means more fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts and grains.

It looks like legumes and nuts top the list in the amount of fiber they contain. So, I think I will package my favorite trail mix in the snack size baggies...

1/4 cup Sunflower Seeds 3.6 grams
1/4 cup Pumpkin Seeds
& 49 Pistachio Nuts 2.9 grams

...pick up some potatoes, frozen broccoli, Bran Buds and barley and cook the whole-wheat spaghetti that is sitting in my pantry! The family tradition of having a pot of beans on Sunday has just been revived!! There's pinto beans, navy beans, black beans, kidney beans, and green beans just to name a few varieties that can add fiber to your diet...

Day 2 at the Gym...

Met with my personal trainer. Weighed (Not good!) Checked body fat index (Not good either!!) I did not let these numbers bother me or put me in a bad mood. (Very good!!!)

Day: 2
Length of time: 15 minutes
Level #: 7
Average MPH: 43
Heart Rate: 91, 92 & 93
State of being: Could feel the muscles in my thighs a little when I completed the 15 minutes.

PT showed me some stretching exercises to do for my lower back and we talked about staying on Level 7 for a week. OG, owner of gym, stated that it takes 3 weeks to create a habit. So my first goal is to workout every day that the gym is open* for 3 weeks straight!

First Goal: May 8th. (The day my 9 day vacation starts)

*The gym will not be officially open until May 1st. So until then it will be open from 10am to 8 pm, Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays. The gyms' hours will change to 5am to 10pm, Monday through Saturday and Noon to 6pm on Sundays.