Necessary Resistance

 I don't normally talk a lot of politics here. However... In light of the new alliances among the tech bros and the expected changes to things that affect my personal budget, I am on board with a necessary resistance.

People in my income bracket don't have a lot of power, but can choose how to use the little bit that we have. For me, this means choosing very carefully how, where and when I spend the few dollars I have in this game. 

For years, I have supported Amazon and Walmart. Amazon probably gets as much as 80% of what I spend in total on household goods and the few "luxuries" I allow myself. That's going to slow way down. Walmart gets most of what I spend for food and toiletries. That's also going to slow down. 

The 99% is not very active.
 Let's change that

I cannot afford to count on the fairness of the rich, so I will start spreading my pennies locally as much as I can. There are hometown grocers, butchers, and mom and pop general stores. For convenience (and price), I have often neglected those places in order to get the few perks offered by the big boys of merchandise and retail. 

Not that anybody with any power is going to hear about this, but I am going to do my small part as a Have Not to protest being used and taken for granted by the Haves and Want More crowd. It's a small resistance, but, if I'm reading the internet "room" right, there are a lot of us. Pennies make dollars and individuals make movements.

By the way, I don't like the way the terms "antifa" and "woke" have been dirtied. I am proudly anti-fascist and everyone should remember that the term "woke" originated in the 1920s or 30s, not just when extremist liberalism hijacked it. So fight fascism and stay woke.

And just so no one misunderstands, I totally support capitalism, but that's not what's happening here. It's only fair capitalism without leveraged "monopolism." Capitalism is only truly capitalism if it is open and fair. 

Peace

--Free

It’s Not Just the Hibiscus…

 Last weekend, when I was trying to find the source of my cough, I came up with hibiscus as the culprit. It was a large part of the problem, but not the only one.

Back about 8 weeks ago, I started regularly using a lip-smacking delicious seasoning called Anchor Original Chicken Chippy Salt. The stuff is freaking addict-ta-licious. I was putting it on almost everything except cereal.

Since my cough mostly (but not completely) went away when I stopped drinking hibiscus flower tea, I started to look at other things. I eliminated another med for one day and that wasn't the problem. The newest part of my diet was the Chippy Salt. As much as I hated to, I gave that up - just for one single day. And that was when my cough - itchy throat and all - dissipated. 

I do have a slight head cold, with some sneezing and chest congestion, but the whole itchy-throat situation that I couldn't relieve with anything - not honey, cough drops, juice, etc. - that was gone. Almost immediately.

By the way, to let you know how tasty that Chippy salt is - especially on burgers or fries - I had to think for a moment about how to just live with an itchy throat and irritating cough. I feel this dude here:

The seasoning is amazing. But its effect is so powerful that I had to scour and re-season my cast iron skillet. Just the residue of the salt (from where I'd seasoned my ground beef) was enough to cause a reaction.

It's just as well. There are a lot of ingredients in the Chippy Salt I was using:

Salt (70%), Wheat Flour, Flavour Enhancers (621, 635, 327), Wheat Starch, Onion Powder, Sugar, Maltodextrin (from corn and tapioca), Food Acids (330), Anticaking Agent (341), Flavours, Spice, Beef Fat, Bell Pepper Powder, Herbs, Soy Sauce Powder, Seasoning, Caramel Colour (150c).

I have since gone back to using Celtic sea salt as my primary seasoning for meat and fish. Sometimes, I use a blend of that with some Old Bay, onion flakes, garlic powder, black pepper, red pepper, and a bit of Liquid Smoke. 

When I get my teeth, I will be able to eat from a more varied menu, and I'm sure I will really miss the Chippy Salt then...

But I listen to my body and, as much as my taste buds love the Chippy Salt, the rest of my body disagrees. So majority rules.

As far as finding tea to replace hibiscus, one of my brothers and I spent hours searching ones that I can drink. I have to take into account that I have CKD and sarc so it wasn't easy. What I ended up with is the Butterfly Pea tea (which I love), my good old chamomile, and Hydrangea. I wanted to try astralagus (or milkvetch), but information about its effects are conflicting. Some sources claim it's good for kidneys, while others claim the opposite. I have a tiny bag, so I will finish that off in very tiny servings over the next several months. It's said to be good at lowering blood pressure, but possibly overworking the kidneys. I do wish that doctors knew more about herbal remedies... In the meantime, I have to be really careful.

Peace

--Free

DISCLAIMERS:

I am no medical, herbal or nutrition expertise at all. Do not use anything based on what I blog about. Talk to your own care team before you do or use anything you see online.

I am not/will not be compensated for anything linked to or mentioned in this post.

Is Hibiscus Causing My Cough???

Chile! I am thunderstruck right now.

Since I talk about almost everything here, I'm sure I've mentioned the persistent cough I've been struggling with. I'm talking about a cough I've had off and on since last summer. It had finally gone away for a while, and I was so relieved. I was able to get more sleep than normal, and my voice was returning to normal. Until... 

Friday, after my dental appointment, I relaxed with a cup of hibiscus tea for the afternoon. I'd been so stressed that my blood pressure was up. That night, I had a little more hibiscus with chamomile.

By the middle of the night, the cough was back. Nothing helped. I spooned down a teaspoon of honey. Nope. I drank some water. Nope. I turned the humidifier from Low to High. Nope. Finally, I just got up and pulled out a new box of Kleenex.

When I was a young lady, I once developed a rash on my arms and across my chest almost overnight. It was a sprinkling of itchy, goosebumps-looking things across the skin. I made it through the workday without alarming anyone with my scratching. When I went to my mother (of course, I did!), she took a look and asked if the rash was anywhere else. It wasn't. She checked the fabric of my blouse (polyester), then she asked what I'd washed it in. And there it was. I had used a scented handwash detergent.

Mom told me that whenever something starts to ail you right out of the blue, to think of anything new or different you are using, eating, drinking, etc. 

When I realized that my cough had gone away then returned - all out of the blue - I took Mom's long-ago advice. My memory is bad (can you tell?), but I knew right off that I'd not been drinking my usual pre-bed hibiscus tea - until I did again...

I did some internet searching and, yeah, it most likely is the hibiscus. I had the same reaction when taking Lisinopril for my blood pressure. So the tea is causing my cough. It has to be the hibiscus tea because the coughing didn't happen when I was drinking green tea or chamomile, or the aronia berry tea (which is also good for my BP). 

Of course, I stopped with the hibiscus. I still have about a quarter pound of the leaves left and those will go to my SIL.  She's had hibiscus tea and it never made her cough. I guess I am glad and mad at the same time. I got the leaves way back in May of last year and paid a little over $9 for a pound. I'm glad I was able to stretch the bag out for this long, and mad that I can no longer enjoy delicious hibiscus...

Maybe this will help someone else. I never would have guessed the hibiscus if not for using Mama's advice. Too bad I didn't think of it sooner.

Peace

--Free

Low Glycemic Sweeter (Panela)

 Diabetes runs on my mother's side of the family. I have 3 people in the family who currently live with diabetes. I was very interested when I saw a non-artificial sweetener that is also low glycemic. 

Panela  - or dehydrated sugar cane juice - is varied and called by many names such as jaggery, country sugar, molasses sugar, or (as I know it) unrefined cane sugar. I came across it in a round-about way.

A few years ago, I did a rant post about doctors and nurses not focusing enough on nutrition in patient care. In that post, I mentioned panela as one of the many types of sugars that some consumers might not recognize as a sugar when reading ingredient labels. Recently, I heard mention of "jaggery" as a sweetener. Curious, I looked into it and came around to wanting to try panela in place of table sugar or brown sugar. I'm glad now that I did.

Panela (which is similar to jaggery) is lower in calories than most of the sweeteners I've used. I tended to choose brown sugar, raw sugar, and cane sugar. Panela:

• Minimally processed
• Retains more vitamins/nutrients (iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, antioxidants)
• Has a caramel-like flavor (milder than molasses & less "sharp" than table sugar)
• While still high in sugar, has a lower glycemic index. (Note: there might be differences in nutrient content and glycemic factors from brand to brand. Read your labels!)

That last part is what really caught my attention - you know, with diabetes in the family. I bought two different brands of panela (with reasonable prices) and tried them. I really enjoy both and it has changed the way I drink my coffee...

I love that 4 teaspoons of panela is just 15 calories. Because of the interesting flavor, I have replaced my sweetened creamers with panela and evaporated milk or half-and-half. For once, when skipping the high calories creamer, I'm not missing out on flavor. It's been a game-changer for my coffee routine.

In addition to using panela in my coffee, I am using it in rice, hot cereals, and in some of my baking. I have never loved the taste of table sugar and never thought I would like anything better than brown sugar, but here I am.

I don't have diabetes (thank the Lord!), but I am struggling with my weight. I have put on just way too many pounds in the past 6 months without teeth (no excuse!) and I still have 3 more months to go before I have a full set again. Switching to panela and getting rid of the sweetened creamer is going to help as I try to get back to a better clothing size.

I won't vouch for one brand of panela over another because there are so many out there. I can tell you that I am using this one and this one so far and enjoy them both.

By the way, since I gave up my Italian Sweet Cream, I am using the following to make my own coffee creamer:

• Half-and-half (or evaporated milk)
• Panela 
• Vanilla extract (and, when available, fresh vanilla bean)

I whip this up really well and store it in a mason jar. I only make about 3 cups at a time. If I am out of panela, I use a little bit of sweetened condensed milk. I know, I know...

use any sweetener you want

I am being completely serious when I say I am shocked that I am doing fine without my store-bought creamer. I've tried to replace it before and that never lasted. I've been using that fatty creamer for years now. It's time. I need to be as healthy as I can, and at least this way doesn't hurt.

Peace

--Free

P.S.: I am still a little down in the mouth (tee hee) about the delay in getting my full dentures. The situation has motivated me to use this next 3 months to lose some weight and do a lot of praying about my general attitude. There are people who can't get their teeth replaced. Thanks to my family, I have been blessed, so I am going to stop grousing.

DISCLAIMER: I am not/will not be compensated in any way for the products mentioned in this post.

**UPDATE** Dental Update #7 Almost Time!

 **UPDATE** I am in tears right now. I just learned that my appointment on Friday is not to get my teeth. It's to get the pins for my lower teeth. I will have to wait another 3 months for the pins to heal and stabilize.

Listen, when I heard this, I literally slid down the wall and sat there nearly catatonic for at least a full minute. The dentist tried to cheer me up my saying I would have my uppers sooner and that will make my face look more normal. That does not make me feel better. At this point, I'm more ready to eat veggies than I am vain. 

I have put on so much weight in this past 6 months. I told my family that I am going to be going on a coffee and soup diet while I wait for my teeth. Maybe being depressed will help me lose weight...

I can't even think about this right now.

After 6 months of waiting for my gums to heal, I will finally be going in on Friday to... hopefully, get the actual dentures. I am hoping only because my dentist wants to put pins in to hold my lower plates steady. 

Anyway.

One of my neighbors got her bottom plate from the same dentist because I recommended him. Her teeth look amazing. If I didn't know, I'd think they were her real teeth. That's encouraging.

Because I can sometimes (but not often) be as pessimistic as the annoying Ray Barone, I am anxious about how things will turn out. While I will be happy to have a working set of teeth, I am worried that I will be self-conscious or not able to chew properly or just not be happy...

I have been saving up grocery money to go crazy getting meat and vegetables and popcorn. I literally have a list for this weekend's shopping trip. And I am dreaming of all the weight I can lose! I may never eat another pancake or bowl of oatmeal again.

That's all I can say about it for now. Once I have teeth - if I am happy - I might even post a photo (though I don't like putting my pics on the internet these days). We'll see. At any rate, there will be another (and final?) update coming.

Peace

--Free

Topicrem Balm Is Kryptonite for Dry Skin

 People, I have found what I think may be the last skincare cream I will ever need. While I have had several favorite moisturizers in the past, I truly, truly believe I have found my forever favorite.

This is Topicrem DA Protect. 

I found it when looking for a balm to use on my face (which gets more sensitive and dry with every year that I'm mortal). It was the price and ingredients list that made me choose it over other similar products. 

I was curious about allantoin

At around $15 for a 200ml (6.7oz) tube, it's something I thought I could afford to try at least once. What I find is that it takes so little to treat my face (and sometimes my psoriasis-dry ankles and feet) that it's lasting longer than cheaper products.

Seriously. That's it.

I like that the balm is so effective as both my day and night moisturizer. I generally apply it in the morning before my sunscreen and then at night before bed. I just squeeze a couple of smears of product across my palm, and it's more than enough for my face and neck. That is a good cream, in my book!

Because the balm worked so well for my face, I wanted to see if there was a lotion I could use on the rest of my body. I decided on the Ultra Hydratant.

It's a body milk that is, of course, thinner than the balm. At around $21 for 500ml (16.9oz), it's cheaper per ounce than the balm. I don't find it moisturizing enough for my face during these drier winter days, but it's perfect for my body. Like the balm, the moisture lasts and lasts - though, again, the balm lasts much longer because I need to use more of the lotion, of course. I am now in the habit of palming a small bit of it to run over my hair in the morning.

I won't be able to buy the lotion as often as I will the balm, but if I had to choose only having one of them forever, it would be the balm. 

I let my brother try the balm on his hands - which are drier than the Sahara - he was kind of wowed. Of course, being who he is, he isn't as concerned as I (and his wife) are about his dry hands. He likes to joke that his are "working hands". Whatever.... He was impressed with the moisturizing properties of the balm, though. 

By the way, my brother described the balm perfectly by saying it just "melted into" his skin. That is exactly what it feels like! 

See how the balm is melting/sliding
with my body heat?

I can't wait to tell my doctor about this balm. I have tried so many things for my psoriasis dryness. She has recommended the usual suspects: CeraVe Ointment (very good stuff*), CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (also good, and I still have a partial jar), and she even prescribed an ointment (which is good for calming the breakouts).

Now, here is a little bit of a price breakdown for the CeraVe Ointment and the Topicrem products.

I will continue to use the CeraVe Cream when I can't buy the Topicrem lotion. The balm, though, that is a must-have. I really wish my insurance covered things like this.

Peace

--Free

The CeraVe Ointment is a must-have item because there are times when parts of my body will get dry to the point of being itchy. This happens about once every couple of moths it seems when I am not drinking enough water (or, sometimes, I believe, as a reaction to one of my medications). This is when I will supplement any lotion I use with CeraVe ointment. It's oily, so I don't like to use it constantly. The Topicrem balm and lotion do not heal these itchy breakouts but do help keep them from starting. Odd.

Peace

--Free

NOTE 1: The prices I used to compare are what I paid at the time I bought the items. There are fluctuations (esp. on Amazon) due to temporary discounts or depending on the seller.  This is the French Topicrem site. Notice the curly/frizzy hair products on this page. French Pharmacy carries the brand, but I don't see the hair product I mentioned.

NOTE 2: For anyone interested, the app that I used (see photos) to compare prices, is Unit Price Calculator from Six By Nine Apps. I want to shout them out because the app is free/donate. It's excellent for dummies like myself! This is not sponsored/requested mention, but you can go and buy the developer a cuppa.

BTW, here is Bill Barr being funny:

DISCLAIMER: I was not and will not be compensated for any of the products mentioned in this post.

**UPDATE** 2025 Wish List (I Can Dream)

 These are things I'd like to see happen or become possible in 2025:

• It would be nice if citizens could be more confident in accurate and fair voting results. No interference from inside or out. And, while we're at it, let's get back to election campaigns done with civility; sticking to verifiable facts and candidates addressing voter concerns instead of personal attacks on each other. 
• Civility between citizens in general. People learning to disagree without violence and personal attacks. 
• Let's reform the way corporations (and the people behind them) contribute to the national coffers. No employee should have to pay more in taxes than the employers. Tax the total income of the top dogs the same way that the workers bees are taxed.
• If we want to revert to the past (you know, MAGA), let it be with a return to good manners; people having a general sense of public shame; and socializing in person rather than remotely.
• Speaking of manners, let's get back to teaching those to children. Let's teach them to be polite, gracious, and kind to others.
• Let's bring back courtship in relationships. Apparently, even the young people are getting tired of "hooking up", "Netflix and chilling", or whatever else you want to call not taking dating and marriage as seriously as we should.
• **UPDATE:** Can we calm down with all the cursing? I think that cursing in public is such a rude behavior. You are assuming too much about the people who can hear you - mainly that they are a rude and language-insensitive as you are and that young ears need the audio assault... In some cases, I think that it affects how seriously you may be taken. I watch video compilations of people discussing various topics, and whenever someone can't speak for more than a few seconds without using foul language, I fast-forward past their part. (And can I also mention that I wish everyone would stop saying the following: bruh, bro, and, unless you were born with the accent to make it right, y'all because... 🙄)

I have other things I'd like to add, but the list would be ridiculously long. The only other thing I feel I have to have listed is for a specific part of the population. Here it is:

• Let's find a way to deal with churches (of all religions) hiding behind God (or whatever object of worship) to fleece congregants. If a pastor (or whatever) can own jets, mansions, and dress like the stars, they should be able to pay taxes. BUT - only of the "tech bros" and other Richie Riches have to pay their fair share of taxes.

Am I wishing for too much? Maybe, but I can dream.

Peace 

--Free

End Of Year 2024 Products Favorites List

 Here is a quick rundown of product favorites. I didn't get around to writing posts reviewing everything on this list (due to sickness), but I will get around to some of them in 2025. By the way, they are in no particular order.

• Jamaican Blue Soap - Love that I can use it for machine & handwash laundry; cleaning my floors; and using on my skin. The affordability helps.

• Anchor Original Chicken Chippy Salt - The one thing out of Australia that I'm definitely not frightened of! This stuff is weirdly addictive & I can't explain why. I use it on eggs, fish, burgers and, when I get teeth again, probably on every other edible thing.
• Peet's Major Dickason's Blend coffee - The coffee is good (though only about #4 of my Top 10 in coffees), but I'm crazy about the smell. It's the most coffee-smelling coffee ever.
• Topo Chico sparkling water - IMO, this is better-tasting than even Pellegrino. It has just the right amount of "bubbly" to it. The Tangerine Ginger is my favorite.
• Aunt Martha's Flour Sack Towels - I grab these when they go on sale. They come in all kinds of sizes.  I use them in the kitchen for everything, and I also use the really large ones for drying my hair and skin. They are often super affordable and are endlessly useful.

• NeilMed Nasal Gel - I suffered with dry nasal passages during every cold and allergy this past 2 years. Found this, and it's such a (literal) relief.
• Red Cow Full Cream Milk Powder - I switched from another very decent brand to this excellent one and will never be without. It's money-saving, since store-bought milk goes bad too fast the way I use it. It's awesome, with its higher fat level in my baked goods and in cereals. I sure hope the price stays stable!

• Topicrem's Ultra Moisturizing Milk and Emollient Balm completely replaced every body lotion, face moisturizer, and psoriasis cream in my home. They initially cost more than some of my previous products but work at least 5 to 10 times better.  The Milk is my day-to-day lotion and face product, while the Balm is for my extra-dry skin and my night face cream.

• French Flour - I use the Francine brand T55 as a bread flour and the T45 for an all-purpose. It's true for me that the flour causes less bloating and other gluten-related issues.

• Celtic Sea Salt - I mainly use the fine ground for everything but have tried the coarse also.
  
• So Cozy hair products - I love the gentleness (on my hair and wallet) of the shampoo, conditioner, and detangler.

There are some other products I like, but I did want to highlight the ones that just were above and beyond. I'm having to tighten the budget every week it seems, so I try to find products that are affordable or very worthy of every nickel spent.

Looking toward 2025, I'm buckling up for a rough ride! I wish everyone the best. Should the good Lord be willing to let me live to see the new year, I plan to be every more frugal and content with the basics.

Peace

-- Free

DISCLAIMER: I was not & will not be paid for listing any of the products in this post. All my reviews from 2018 forward are non-sponsored.

Let Us Make America *America* Again.

 Look, I don't want the America of the past with all the slavery and unchecked terror for some of us. I want the America of before Trump and MAGA.

Let's get back to just not liking our politicians, but not being terrified of them. I want to get back to just knowing that a president or politician would dare be less than presidential or at least adult-like.

I don't to live in an America where members of the president's cabinet are weaponized against those they don't agree with.

I want to go back to an America where at least the president and all his men and women were ashamed of lying. I want the politicians of old who knew that they should not (and could not) do certain things - because most of us as children were taught that certain things are wrong, hurtful, impolite, not gracious, not wholesome, or not good for everyone else.

I don't want this America where the president is literally a felon. Where his henchmen are just as bad as he is. I want an America where the president was surrounded with people who kept him somewhat in check. 

I don't want the mean, churlish and big-headed kid for president. I want the Sheriff of Mayberry kind of president: calm, collected, and understanding of the people he serves. I don't want a villain in charge, and certainly not one who has Tony Stark whispering in his ear and slipping money to him.

I recently posted on a platform about how I miss waking up to a calm America. We had our problems, God know, but we were not waking up in astonishment of how easily someone could put cracks in the walls of Democracy. 

The last president I was most irritated with was Reagan. I felt he was more showmen than anything. I thought that he reminisced about the days when people of certain classes and races "knew their place". But I respected the office he held. Any dirt he did, he knew to do it in the dark. Because, back then, there was shame and accountability (to a degree).

I will never tell the lie that America was always "great" in her morals and justice, but I can say that America was growing and maturing. We had just hit the stage of young adulthood of knowing how to mediate and govern for more than one class or race. Then entered Trump.

Actually, I think this started with the Tea Party people. It continued, quietly and seething like underground lava. Now, all hell has erupted, and we have a man-child about to hold the seat of power. And he's got a cast of strange and ominous characters around him. And a rich and dangerous hype man ready to play his part to the fullest.

As a Christian, I am not afraid. I'm anxious and always a little bit angry. I'm just not ready for another 4 years of chaos, discord, and storms of every kind.

I want to get back to the America where I voted for someone, you voted for someone else and, when a person was elected, you and I just kept living our lives. I don't like this time of friendships shattering, and even marriages being stressed... 

Last of all, I want to say something to my Christian brothers and sisters. If you ever wondered, as I have, how someone could come on the world stage and have the power to delude and seduce people against their own good, now you know.

Peace

--Free

P.S. I am not calling anyone the Antichrist. I am not trying to incite anything other than discussions and deep thinking. Like some of you, I know that no matter who sits in high offices, we serve a King.

Health Update: Manuka, Green Tea & Nasal Gel

 I guess this can be my end-of-year health update. It's been a couple of years since I lost my favorite Iowa doctor, and I think I have battled every cold and roaming virus known in all that time. Mercy!

Anyway, by mid-January, should the good Lord be willing that I am around, I will have teeth again. People, I cannot wait to be able to chew! My family teases me because every time I talk to one of them, I have something new to add to the list of what I want to eat. The most recent entry is a nicely cooked thin pork chop with just the right amount of fat around the edge...

Anyway.

As I mentioned recently, I am winning the battle against this latest infection that has me alternating between coughing up mucus (sorry bout that!) or coughing from a dry throat. Basically, there has been a lot of coughing and for the time being I sound like Marge Simpson. But I want to do a shout-out for my favorite remedies. I think they are the reason I am finally getting better.

First, there is the Manuka honey, of course. I have a small jar of the UMF 20+. I am steeping unsweetened green tea in cold water overnight, then adding some to my water throughout the day. I'm actually coming to like the unsweetened green tea - as long as it's room temp or chilled.

When the dry throat cough acts up - which is mainly at night - I am using the NeilMed NasoGel. As soon as I apply some in my nostrils, my throat feels better. And, of course, I am running a humidifier and staying hydrated with water.

Since I am on the mend and getting closer to the day I will have teeth, my mood has lifted. I was really having to battle nagging bouts of depression when the coughing and fatigue was at the worst. 

By the way, it's true what they say about the tongue being an indicator of your general health. During the worst of whatever I was fighting off, my tongue was (warning: this might be TMI and gross) this icky shade of yellow-brown. The only time it changed colors was when I was sucking on peppermints, which added a bit of red - and I should definitely mention that peppermints were so much better for my cough than any cough drops! I will be reaching for peppermints first when I get another cold...

After drinking the green tea every day, my tongue regained it's healthier shade of, well, tongue, although my tongue is never the uber healthy pink shade it was before sarcoidosis.

I'm really looking forward to being at least a bit healthier in 2025 - again, if the Lord is willing. I will be able to lose some of this pancake weight once I can eat meat and raw veggies again. I'm planning to keep up the habit of drinking green tea. Since I'm not a fan of strong-tasting green tea, I find that I am happy with this brand for the mild flavor, the organic certification, and especially the price.

I wish all of you good health, blessings, and peace in the coming year. 

Peace

--Free

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional of any type. I was not and will not be compensated for products mentioned in this post.

Meeting of a MAGA-Mind

In all the turmoil and talk after this year's election, some things got lost in the sauce. Friendship, understanding, and real communication. That's what we all need. I realized that today. Nothing is going to be solved with all the #FAFO stories. I will not stop saying that not all of us FA'd, but we might all have to FO.

I have a neighbor I consider to be a friend. She is one of the kindest, sweetest people I know. I don't talk politics with anyone outside my family (except online) so I had no idea that "Linda" was a Trump voter. I wouldn't have thought it. Not only that, but I never thought of her as being Red or Blue, to be honest.

Today, during her visit to my apartment, during casual talk, it came up that she voted for Trump. I was surprised. As we talked, I explained why I am not a Trump supporter (in spite of my many moral issues with Democrats). One thing that came up was his talk of Tariffs and cutting various modes of aid to citizens.

Linda was trying to correct me about the tariffs. I told her that I worked for an import/export broker, then explained how tariffs actually work. I actually pulled up the online U. S. Tariff Schedule and explained using an example.

People, this woman was heartbroken. And I think she wanted to believe I was mistaken. Then she took a call from her doctor. When they finished whatever he called for, she asked why nobody told her that Trump's tariffs could raise prices. (Yeah, she was sneak-checking me!) He told her that we could only hope he never gets that done. (My information was confirmed!)

Anyway, because we are friendly and love each other as Christian sisters, we continued the conversation.

What Linda couldn't understand is why, if tariffs are not good for us (you know, po' folk), why would Trump want to impose them. As delicately as I could, I explained that I'm not sure Trump understands how tariffs work. Seriously, not being mean. I reminded her that Trump, Elon, and Biden don't have to shop at Walmart and Aldi's...

Before Linda left, I showed her some online news sources - that are not MSNBC or Fox or CNN. She said that she doesn't have cable or a internet access. She was very interested after I showed her some content from Ground News, Newsweek, and a few other sites. BTW, I also showed her this:

source

What struck me was how hurt Linda was. Or rather, why she was so hurt. She wasn't acting as if she'd found out Trump, as a politician, lied or misled her. She was acting as if a favorite child has betrayed her. It was very personal. 

So, while a lot of non-MAGA folk see all MAGA-ites as pitchfork-toting, evil idiots, there are probably a lot of Lindas out there as well. She is ill-informed, gullible, and a little blinded by culture, but she is not a MAGA-ite type woman.

The problem is, though, how to reach people like Linda? She only listened to me because of our Christian-ship, but she still needed to hear another source. This is a tricky situation we are in.

Peace

--Free

We Need a Reboot

What I would like to see change about elections and politicians running:

•  Stop with the rallies where the candidate gets to stand and talk at the crowd. Instead, do more Q & A sessions. 

Have the candidates (from both parties) sit down to talk about specifics. In a session about the economy, invite economists from across the political spectrum to ask the questions and moderate the session. When discussing civil rights, invite moderators with experience in civil rights law and activism. Invite qualified medical doctors and other healthcare professionals in for discussions on that spectrum.

The whole point of these directed and focused sessions would be to hold every candidate accountable for being clear and knowledgeable about the issues and for actually having a plan.

• Have public news stations do nightly takes on each currently hot issue. Have journalists from across the political spectrum represented. Highlight currently relevant topics that the candidates are featuring in their platforms. Invite in experts in whatever field of topic and have civil discussions that are informative, truthful, and useful to viewers. 

This will be an alternative to the news put out based on political bias. If at no other time than during the election cycles, we need an alternative to the liberal (MSNBC-type) and conservative (FoxNews-type) noise that outshouts common, clear, and understandable information about the candidates and parties and their plans for the citizens.

• Start doing more educational outreach. When candidates are talking about healthcare reform, put out unbiased information about the basics. There is no excuse that there were people not understanding that Obamacare is the ACA. There is no excuse, with all the news being broadcast around the clock, that some of us didn't understand how tariffs affect the consumer.

We can't backtrack and re-educate multiple generations of citizens in civic, history, and government studies. We can (at least during election cycles) clarify what candidates are saying and proposing.

Now, all of those are things I am suggesting for politicians, parties, and news providers. As for citizens, we need to start holding ourselves accountable for being familiar (or getting familiar) with current issues. (And, by the way, as I point fingers, one is pointing right back at me!)

• We (citizens) need to stop getting our news from biased sources. We know for a fact that we will hear one version of a talking point on one channel while another channel is going in the opposite direction with their opinions.
• We need to stop letting news celebrities/news personalities, podcasters, influencers, etc; direct our opinions. Those people don't live your life, they don't live like "regular" folk, and they don't understand the day to day concerns of anyone not in their orbit. If I don't let my neighbor influence my important decisions, why would I let some of those other people do so. Remember how your parents would ask if you would ~insert activity here~ just because all your friends did?
• We need to start asking more questions and listening to responses from more than one source. Voting is not like religion. I can follow more than one news source even though I follow only one God.
• We need to start thinking more about our day to day life before we start choosing sides in a political forum. When that candidate said what they would do for us as far as the economy, jobs, infrastructure, etc., we need to be able to access how well those promises stood up. 
• Last of all, we need to stop being so selfish. If I don't have problems with housing costs - or jobs, or healthcare or whatever it is - that doesn't mean I should not be concerned for my fellow citizens.

I have come to the conclusion that we cannot count on our politicians to get it together until we push for that. So let's start pushing. Let's start being Americans - not Democrat, Liberal, Republican, MAGA, and so on. We all have to breathe clean air, have good food and water, and live. There are no dividing lines when it comes to just living our lives.

Peace

--Free

P.S: Forgive me for any grammatical errors or lack of clarification. I have an illness that affects my cognition at times. However, I am sure most people can understand what I have said.

Manuka Honey Is the TRUTH **UPDATE**

**UPDATE** (Added a postscript with links at the end of the post)

 Let me repeat that with some emphasis: Manuka honey is the cha-ruth!

I have been hit with this whatever-the-recent-crud-is that's gone around Iowa. I had a new cough (after finally recovering from the other never-ending one earlier this year) that is still hanging on. Apparently, I have something called a mucus plug (which I thought was only for pregnant women!) and a viral situation. So... 

With all the coughing and spitting out disgusting mucus, I was absolutely worn out - rung out, is more like it. There were days I could only get up long enough to say my prayers, take my meds with a bit of food and have some coffee. The coughing kept me awake most of time so I was mostly napping instead of getting any stretch of time asleep.

I'm whining but a couple of my neighbors were dealing with the same thing.

Anyway.

I still have the cough but it seems to be dying down. For the last few weeks, I have been on a steady rotation of Mucinex DM and Dayquil/Nyquil. Finally, I remembered that I had a little bit of Manuka honey left. There was maybe a teaspoon and a half to be scraped from the 15+ jar and a tablespoon from the 10+ jar.

Now, here is where I prove what I've said about Manuka being expensive but worth it. I got the 15+ in May 2021. It is a $36 7.9oz jar. The 10+, which I got in April 2018 was $25 (I'm sure it was a lightening deal). 

The honey is so old that, I swear, it was a job just to get the lids off!

I have used both jars to fill up little lip tubes like these...

I add in a little stingless bee honey

...to have in my purse. I use the honey to stop a cold sore from starting (applied at the first itch, I will never have to deal with the blister) and to treat minor cuts and burns. I sometimes add the honey to tea when I feel beat up by my weekly injection. And you see how much I have left. It does not take much to deal with most things.

So when I remembered I had a bit of honey left, I raided the pantry. I put a dollop of both types in my mouth and let it melt down with some lukewarm tea. You might want to think I am lying when I say that my throat felt a little better (from all the coughing) within an hour. I am still coughing but, still.

In light of the recent election and the talk of raising tariffs (which I don't think will be restricted to China), I checked Amazon for the current price of Steen's. I saw that it's currently almost $50 for a 7.9oz jar of 20+. And that is with a deal... 

The nieces and nephews had already started asking what I'd want for Christmas. I told one niece that I had the Steen's in my cart and she got it for me. 

You can bet I will be taking a little bit of Manuka every day as soon as I get it. As I said, the first doses made my throat feel better and so much less irritated. I might be delusional, but I swear the coughing is better. 

I never even think about giving medical advice (and you'd be stupid to take any from me!), but I love being able to use a honey for some things. There is proven (and documented) evidence of Manuka being a "medicinal honey" This is a nice write-up to peruse.

Anyway, this is the first time in a long minute that I've had the energy to write a new post instead of digging up one from my stash! Hopefully, I will be back to post more soon.

Peace

--Free

P.S.: I forgot to add links to other posts I've made about Manuka and healing honeys:

• This was about stingless bee honey
• This was about Manuka & alternatives
• This is one about fermenting things in honey
• This is about the onion & honey tea

Check The Sidebar for Recipes & Tips

 Times are hard for a lot of us (and might be getting harder yet!) so I thought I would make better use of this blog's sidebar.

I have added a couple of spots where I can post easy recipes or money-saving tips and hacks. Whether we vote Red, Blue, Green, or other, we need to stand together in tough times.

The first 2 recipes I put up are pretty affordable meals. The stew and the cornbread can fill the bellies of a small family, or sustain a single for a while. 

If you add additional sugar (brown or white) or honey to the cornbread, it can almost be a dessert substitute. To give more heft to the stew, you can add veggies (or even substitute them for the meat or beans). 

Both those recipes are filling and not too bad as far as sugar and salt. I hope it helps.

Peace

--Free

A Crappy $9 Bag I've Come to Love

 Last month, I saw a cute-looking ("looking" is the key here) bag on the Walmart site. I have recently developed a love of backpack purses (or convertibles). When I saw this one priced at under $10, I laughed. Then I looked again and realized I could return it for free. I ordered it. 

Thin & wrinkled/bent

When the bag arrived, I laughed. Hard. I immediately started writing a scathing review saying that the bag was overpriced and belonged in the clearance bin at an "Under $0.99" store. I ranted about the paper-thin material that I was sure might not even be real plastic. I made jokes about the toy-like straps and handle. I basically had a field day ragging on this bag. My review had a mean "are-you-kidding-me" vibe. (I am not proud of myself.) 

It came in a package
as flat as an envelope

I intended to return it but, first, I wanted to get photos. Then, for better photos, I filled the little purse up with things from my "good" purse. I thought I should get a photo of my actually using the bag - with the pitiful straps on my shoulder or holding the bag by the crappy handle. 

Even cheaper-looking inside.
Shiny nylon?

A funny thing happened while I was handling the purse. I started to like it. It's still made of cheap, can-you-even-call-it-genuine plastic. It still has a thin handle and strap. The thing is, though, I started loving how roomy it is without looking bulky. I liked all the little inner pockets. 

Looks BETTER when filled!

Basically, I have fallen in love with this cheap,  "raggely" (that's West Texan for "raggedy") bag. If only I could find a purse just like this one but made with better materials... 

Side pockets, back pocket, front & interior pockets.
So many pockets.

It's hard to convey the cheapness of this bag in photos. It's highly photogenic (which is how the seller duped me!). The color (black) helps disguise the low quality of materials, and it has a matte texture that looks expensive (or at least not cheap). You cannot tell how cheap the bag is just by looking. 

The bottom line is, I have come to love this bag. Now I just need to find the same bag made with halfway decent materials. I'm not sure this one is going to hold up to much use. I'll be lucky if a strap doesn't come loose while I'm holding it...

Peace

--Free

P.S.: I have since seen several similar designs & some of them are actually made of a better grade of plastic! LOL

P.S. P.S.: Keep me in your prayers. I'm still struggling with whatever is going around the state. I have 1 good day, then 2 days of coughing and being bedridden fatigued. At least 4 of my neighbors have the same thing going on Lord have mercy.

**REVIEW** Bamboo Queen Microfiber Baby Washcloths

 First off, know that these are not like every other microfiber cloth (dishrag, makeup rag, duster, etc.) I have seen and used.

I love using microfiber cloths for the kitchen dishes and for cleaning around the house. What I love about them is that they are soft and durable and get the job done. They are especially good for drying dishes and counters. They are awesome for face washing because they are so soft and gentle.

What I do not like about the microfiber cloths I've used in the past is that, once they get a bit of use, they start to get slimy when wet. I can wash them at this point but they only work for another day or so before they get that icky texture again. This is when I usually use them to clean my trash can then toss the rag.

When I got these cloths, I thought I was just getting a great "lightening deal" on a giant pack (32) of the usual. It would still be a good bargain but I expected to deal with the "ick" factor at some point. But, I could tell almost right away that these from Bamboo Queen are different.

These were $9.50 for a day...

When these get wet and I ring these out, they get very dry. Also, they feel stronger when wet than the others I've used. The best part is that, after using these for a few days, I made my usual mistake and left one in puddle of sink water for several hours. That usual ruins the other brands. If they are new, I can probably rescue them from the early "ickiness" but sometimes not. With this Bamboo Queen brand, once I rinsed the rag and wrung it out, it was good as new.

This might not seem like a big deal but it is to me. For one thing, that slimy texture of the other cloths makes me think "bacteria". When I first noticed the problem, I would try soaking the cloths in really hot water with some Listerine or vinegar and baking soda. Nothing worked. And I forgot to mention the smell. Ugh!

So, yeah, I am really into this brand of microfiber cloth. I would probably never have tried them if not for the temporary deal price. Judging from my orders' history, I've been using microfiber cloths for over 4 years now. Just imagine what I'd have saved by getting more use from each pack of them!

At any rate, if you like microfiber, make sure to find some that don't get icky or hold odors.

Peace

--Free

P.S.: BTW, when I looked up why some microfiber towels are better than others, it comes down to the obvious reason: quality. Do a quick search and you will probably see the same reason shown.

My Dupe For Repair Vita Oil

 I fell in love with the first (and only) bottle of the Repair Vita Oil that I got from Making Cosmetics. At that time (2021), I paid less than $20 for an 8.4-ounce bottle that lasted for MONTHS.

about $2.14 per ounce

 I was so happy to find something so good on my aging skin. I think it wasn't until several months - maybe even a year or more - that I needed to reorder. Well. Child. 

about $43.40 per pound
and 11 LBs is ONLY option

Who has that kind of Elon de Bezos money???? Don't look at me. I was rearranging things in my budget to get the twenty-dollar bottle! Obviously, MC decided to ignore the smaller customers and go for selling in bulk.  (Even if I could afford the stuff, I wouldn't indulge. That kind of excess is morally stupid, no matter how much money you have!)

Okay so... it was time to improvise. Actually, after I thought about it, I realized I should have done that in the first place. It was simple to find the ingredients and, because I already use oils for my skin and hair, I had most of them in my pantry and a couple of the missing are those I don't use anyway. This ended up being my base blend:

• Plum kernel oil
• Sweet Almond Oil
• Perilla Seed Oil
• Jojoba Oil
• Vitamin E
• Frankincense EO
• Neroli EO

The only thing I did not have much of was the Rosemary. Apparently, adding just a very little bit was good enough. Because my skin and hair aren't crazy about coconut oil, I omitted it and, because I am me, I didn't worry about the other ingredients because I was testing the blend as I went. When I got to the Neroli, I found I liked my blend much better than the MC version.

repurposed a good bottle.
This is after aboeut a month's use

Of course, I made 2 variants of the oil because I happened to have some vanilla bean oil that I'd been infusing in sweet almond oil for several weeks. I added a little of that to another bottle of my Vita Oil blend (which I call Skin Food!) and it is lovely. I was worried about the vanilla because I've never used an infusion on my skin before now but it turned out nicely and has a really faint delicious scent.

If I add up the ingredients used to make the 2 one-ounce bottles I already had, I would guess it cost me less than $0.40 to make all of it. You can see why I will never buy any more from MC...

If you decide to make a DIY oil and can't figure out what percentage of each ingredient to use, ask ChatGPT. It gave me percentages and drops. Okay. That's one safe use of AI, I guess.

I now have 3 oils (and will be making more until I run out of ingredients). I have the one I use on my face every morning; one that I use in the evening; and one that I will be using during the dryer winter months.

Morning Oil:

• Plum kernel oil (which feel amazing and absorbs so well)
• Rosemary oil
• Pure Vitamin E oil
• Coconut oil (just a drop of the fractionated version)

Evening/Overnight Oil:

• Plum kernel
• Rosemary
• Vitamin E
• Vanilla bean (oil from a sweet almond infusion)

Dry Weather Oil:

• Plum kernel
• Jojoba
• Vitamin E
• Helichrysum (and E.O.) ~this smells angelic~
• Neroli
• Sweet almond oil

(I use the Dry Weather formula under my Nivea cream.)

And, no matter what time of year it is, don't forget to use sunscreen...

As I said, because I have always used oil for my hair, skin, and cooking needs, I didn't need to buy much. One recipe I saw in a forum called for EVOO mixed with tea tree and coconut. I think that one was for combo or acne-prone skin (?).

It absorbs even more after 3 or so minutes

Anyway, I am glad to say goodbye to MC's Vita Repair oil. I think they figured out how popular it was becoming and so they upped the minimum quantity and/or price. If I can't trust the availability of a product, why even bother falling in love with it?

Peace

--Free

P.S.: There might be some discrepancies in this post. After I wrote the original draft, I played around more with my formula, so I (clumsily) have made some changes to this post.

**REVIEW** Leather Backpack/Rucksack From Komal’s Passion Leather

Before the purchase:

 For the first time in about 12 years, I am getting myself a new backpack - or as I heard our European cousins call it, "rucksack". 

Whatever this one is called, I think of it as more like a backpack-purse combo.  My previous backpack was made of canvas and nylon. It was great and lasted for around 6 years (maybe more). 

That old backpack made a lot of trips between home, the library, work, travel to and from the Lower 48, and other outings - all in the mostly cold and/or damp Anchorage weather. I think it might have lasted longer if I'd taken better care of it. I never really cleaned it (beyond wiping off any water and spraying it with odor killers) or babied it in any way. It was a great bag. It's just beyond beat-up-ugly now and somewhere in my brother's storage.

This new bag though... Oh boy, I have high hopes for this one. For one thing, it is made of leather (water buffalo, no less) and made for rough duty. Of course, I will be babying this one as far as cleaning it and keeping it conditioned. 

Even though I have a really nice and very sturdy tote, I wanted this one to replace the old pack for when I travel. It's not like I can afford to be a jet setter, but I do visit my family in another state and my local family and I drive quite a way back and forth to some of our doctor's appointments. I figured, at my age, get a bag that I will (hopefully) never have to replace. And, also, let me quit fronting - I really just wanted this bag! 

So I will not give my first impressions about this bag. When I get the bag, I will complete the review. Let's go.

Pre-impressions:

When I saw the bag online, I loved the design. From seeing a different bag that belongs to a neighbor, I expected quality materials. However, from the photos of this particular bag, I couldn't truly sense the size. Also, there were no photos of the inside of the bag.

The description states that this is "Grain Water Buffalo Leather" which would make one look twice. "Grain" indicates the longevity and durability and can be "full grain" (highest in quality); "top grain" (2nd highest) and the commonly see "genuine" (the lowest quality). However, Komal's also indicates elsewhere on the product page that this is "full grain washed" leather. That's reassuring. (This link gives more info on grain types.) 

This is a collage of partial photos of what I could see online. No matter how hard I tried, I could not find photos of the inside or of it on a person's body. That would have been nice for an idea of the real life size. The bag is described online as "12 inches wide 15 inches high and 6 inches deep." I have trouble visualizing from given dimensions. Is that just me? 

I knew that this bag was considered to be rather large for use as a convertible backpack/purse but I did want something that, if need be, could hold my laptop. Remember, I plan to use this for long road trips and possible plane travel - maybe even long-distance bus travel...

The ordering process was more than decent. I liked the fact that the price of the bag included shipping and personalization - expedited shipping at that... 

As soon as my bag had shipped (well, a few days after), I got a nice email from someone at KPL. They thanked me for my business and let me know that they had gifted me a leather journal in the order. Wow, right? When I was reading Amazon reviews of KPL products, I'd heard about the thank you letters but to get a gift too? Nice.

Receiving the bag:

The bag arrived with an added pleasure. As they said the would, KPL gifted me with this gorgeous leather-bound journal:

look at that binding!!!

This buffalo leather is SOFT!!!

The paper is super-high quality. I was blown away that they enclosed a gift at all but the fact they sent something this nice... I'm telling you that if you have a journal enthusiast in your life, this will rock their world.

But, back to the bag...

Since this is the first thing I've owned (or even seen) made of buffalo leather, I was surprised that it was so smooth on the surface. Maybe I was worried that it would be rough and, real-live-buffalo-like??? It's not. 

Of course, since this is brand new, it's stiff. The first thing I did was to coat it with mink oil. I'm probably going to do that every day for the next week. I can tell you that the leather feels really nice underhand.

By the way, I am on my second day of using the bag. I have it stuffed, and I can say that it handles the punishment well. I like how much the inner pockets can hold and that front flap is a good spot for my phone, chapstick, and some throat lozenges. 

I said that I would oil it daily. I oiled it as soon as I got it and again this morning. I can already see how the mink oil has very slightly darkened it. I love that! 

I went extra on the initials...

Before I finish, there is one more detail that I want to point out. I tend to carry the pack with one strap over my shoulder, and I so admire the sturdy way that the strap is anchored at the bottom.

both straps 
are anchored like 
this at the bottom

That's genius.

I did get the personalization and... I should have just gotten my 3 initials instead of the first 2 and my entire last name, but I am always doing too much! If (hopefully, when) I get another tote (I am looking for another, slightly smaller on that is more purse-sized), I will stick with the 3 initials. 

Guys, I do love this bag so much. I feel like I have gotten hold of one of those cherished But It For Life items that Redditors talk so much about. This bag is one that will get better and better with age.

Peace

--Free

DISCLAIMER:   As usual, I was not paid/compensated in any way for this review. My views, both positive and not, are my own opinion.