IT SMELLS LIKE SPRING!!!!!!!!! I LOVE FEBRUARY.  IT'S A SHORT MONTH SO IT IS A QUICK SLIDE INTO MARCH.

L. L. Bean, the Best Boots Ever

Best Boots Ever

Click edit above to add content to this empty capsule.

I have to put this in before I forget.  Just like the Magic Eight Ball, ideas quickly surface and then just a quickly sink into the great abyss.
  I was in desperate need for new winter boots.  Although the ones I had had lasted for many years they were starting to leak.  Not a good thing when you live in Michigan.  Now you have to understand, unlike my children who like nothing better than to buy new shoes, I hate it.  Have  you seen the cost of shoes? 
So, what kind of boot to get.  I know what I wanted.  They needed to be warm,water proof, come in wide and not to high.  We ladies with healthy calves have to be careful about tall boots.  After searching through my stack of catalogs, I found them.  They were perfect, they met all my requirements and one more, they were made in America (can you believe that).  I cringed at the price, $100.00.  I took a deep breath, went on line and ordered them.  These L.L. Bean boots are the best I have ever had.  So if you are looking for a good, sturdy pair of boots but don't need the "I climb mountains in my spare time kind of boot", I highly recommend them.

After Posting the 73rd Psalm its time for Baking Soda

Have another use for baking soda.  It is a great deodorizer.  Put it in the laundry with those towels that sat in damp pile too long.  Use it with those smelly, smelly practice jerseys and socks.  Put it in to tennis shoes or any shoe that are smelly.  And if a pinch it makes a perfectly good personal deodorant and if you can stand the taste as a toothpaste

Psalm 73

It's funny how God sends you just what you need when you need it.
I ran across Psalm73 (new living translation) and it was asking the same questions I have been asking myself lately.  It helped me leave my resentment of others and their success behind.  I will take it with me as I turn over a new page in my life.

Truly God is goo to Israel,
to those whose hearts are pure

But as for me, I came so clost the the edge of the cliff
My feet were slipping  and I was almost gone.

For I envied the proud when I say them prosper
despite their wickedness.

They seemed to live such a painless life;
their bodies are so healthy and strong

They aren't troubled by like other people
or plagued with the problems like everyon else.

T;hey wear pride like a jeweled necklace,
and their clothing is woven of cruelty

Tese fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for

They scoff and speak only evil
in their pride they seek to crush others.

They boast against the very heavens
and their words strut throughout the earth.

and so the people are dismayed and confused,
drinking in all their words.

"Does God realize what is going on?" they ask.
"Is the Most High even aware of what is happening?"

Look at thses arrogant people--
enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.

Was it for no;thing that I kept my heart pure
and kept myself from doing wrong?

All I get is trouble all day long,
every morning brings me pain

If I had reall spoken this way,
I would have been a traitor to your people.

So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.
Bur what a difficult task it is!

Then one day I went into your sanctuary, O God,
and I thought about the destiny of the wicked.

Truly, you put them on a slippery path
and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction

In an instant they are destroyed swept away by terrors.

Teir prsent life is only a dream
that is gone when they awake.

When ;you arise, O Lord
you will make them vanish from this life.

Then I realized how bitter I had become,
how pained I had been by all I had seen

I was so foolish and ignorant-
I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you

Yet I still belong to you;
you are holding my right hand

You will keep on guiding me with your counsel,
leading me to a glorious destiny.

Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire you more than anything on earth.

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
he is mine forever

But those who desert him will perish,
for you destroy those who abandon you.

But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
I have made the Sovereigh Lord my shelter,
and I will tell everyone about
the wonderful things you do

All, I can say is AMEN to that. 

I am going thru a really rough time right now.  The struggle is what to do, how to do it, and will it succeed.  I have lost a job I was counting on and having nothing appearing on the horizon.  I look around me and see others prosper and begrudge them their easy life.  But then God sends me 73 Psalm and it makes me realize that a life well lived is worth more than all the gold in the world.  That my reward is not of this earth but of heaven.  That even at my age, my life can blossom and be a comfort to those around me.

Herb Medicine After the Fall of Rome

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The Golden Age of Islam

Europe in Transition

The Dark Ages of Western Europe began after the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476CE to Odoacer, a Germanic chieftain.. This era is considered by historians as a transitional period between the ending of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the High Middle Ages. It is characterized by the lack of Latin literature, limited building activity combined with a lack of material evidence of cultural and historical achievements. It was also characterized by a decline the population, especially in urban areas with an accompanied deterioration of trade.This time of cultural stagnation ended with the beginning of the Renaissance in the 14tn century.

Arabic Translation of Greek Scholar Discorides

Greek and Roman Treatises Lost

During these dark ages when European culture came to a standstill, the monasteries did their best to preserve the libraries of both the ancient Greeks and Romans. There were too many to save and too few who were able to do the work need to preserve these libraries.  Many of the works of the most learned people of the ancient world would have been lost forever except for the rise of the Golden Age of Islam.

Islamic Scholars: Keepers of the Flame

During this golden age, knowledge and learning flourished in the lands united under Islamic rule.Universities were established throughout the Arab world.  Medical schools or Bimaristans began to appear in by the 9^th century. Damascus, Bagdad and Cairo were all important centers for the study of medicine, herbs and pharmacology. The Arab scholars of the time valued and respected what the Greeks and Romans left.  Much of what was written was preserved in Arabic to be rediscovered later in history.

The Golden Age of Islam

Only A Few of the Islamic Scholars and What They Learned

Bimaristan in Bahgdad

Ābu Ḥanīfah Āḥmad ibn Dawūd Dīnawarī (828 – 896)

was a mathematician, astronomer, metalurgest, agriculturest as well as a botanist. He is the author of Kitab al-Nabat  or in English, the Book of Plants.  In this treatise he described over 637 different plants and their medicinal uses.  Ibn Dawūd Dīnawarī is the father of Arabic botany.

                                                           inner page of Kitb al-nabt    

Abu al-Qasim Khalaf ibn al-Abbas Al-Zahrawi(936 – 1013)

Abu al-Qasim Khalaf ibn al-Abbas Al-Zahrawi(936 – 1013) anglicanized to Abulcasis was born near Cordoba Spain.  He wrote a thirty chapter medical treatise, Kitab al-Tasrif, completed in the year 1000.  This treatise covered a broad range of medical topics.  A part of this tome, Liber Servitoris, gave specific instructions on the preparation of distillates and sublimations of herbs for medicinal use.

Bukari-Ibn Sina

Abu 'Ali al-Husayn ibn 'Abd Allah ibn Sina (980-1027)

know in Europe as Avicenna, was born in Bukhara (today’s Uzbekistan). He wrote Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb in 1025.  It’s name was later  anglicanizedto The Cannon of Medicine.  Al-Qanun fila-Tibb was a codification of all medical knowledge of the time and included the first pharmacopoeia. Ibn Sina’s treatise is considered the first pharmacopoeia and lists over 800 tested drugs plants and minerals. This book was used as a reference book in Europe well into the 15 century.

Stained Glass Window

Abu Abbas Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Mufarraj, often called al-Nabatî, (1165-1171 approx)

botanist and teacher of  Ibn-al-Baitar (1197-1248) was born in Seville Spain. He is considered the father of the scientific method.  He is responsible for introducing the scientific method into the study of plants as medicine. This 13th century scholar introduced into plant studies the use of empirical testing.  Not only did his materia medicas include the identification and descriptions of plants but the  observed and recorded proof of their effectiveness as medicine.  From these studies the science of pharmacology evolved.

Ibn al Baytar

Kitab al-jami fi al-adwiya al-mufrada or as The Corpus of Simples

Abu Muhammad Abdallah Ibn Ahmad Ibn al-Baitar Dhiya al-Din al-Malaqi(1188-1248)

of Malaga, Spain was a student of al-Nabati. In 1219 he embarked on an expedition across the North African coast. His travels clear across northern Africa into Egypt. In 1224 al-Kamil, governor of Egypt appointed him chief physician. When Egypt’s conquest of Syria, al-Baitar was able to include collect new plant speciments to add to his collection. In all his works included over 1400 different herbs and medications, 200 of which were his original discoveries. Some of his discoveries included tamarind, aconite and nux vomica. He published his research into herbs and herbal medicine in his book Kitab al-jami fi al-adwiya al-mufrada or as The Corpus of Simples anglicanized. This book became one of the most complete herbals ever written and was used well into the 18th  century.

In researching herbs and the Middle Ages, I discovered the wealth of knowledge contributed by the Islamic scholars of those times. I felt I could not write about herbal medicine without mentioning some of these great scientist of this era.

ATTENTION: CHESTNUT HILLS APARTMENTS KALAMAZOO ARE AWFUL

THIS IS FOR ANYONE LOOKING FOR AN APARTMENT IN KALAMAZOO, DO NOT AND I MEAN DO NOT LOOK INTO CHESTNUT HILLS.  THEIR LEASING AGENT, DAWN IS A REAL B AND I DON'T USE THAT WORK VERY OFTEN BUT WHEW SHE IS.

THEY ARE NOT WELL MAINTAINED.  THEY ARE CHEAPLY MADE AND NOT WELL KEPT. WHEN I WAS THERE YESTERDAY THERE WHERE LIQUOR BOTTLES IN THE DRIVEWAY AND TRASH ON THE SIDE WALKS. THE TILE FLOOR IN THE BATHROOM OF THE APARTMENT I WAS IN WHERE ALL ASKEW, THERE WERE HOLES IN THE SCREENS AND THE SCREEN IN THE SLIDING GLASS DOOR WAS BROKEN AND THERE WAS A BIG HOLE IN THE CUPBOARD UNDER THE SINK.  SO RENTERS BEWARE.

Keep These under Your Sink, White Vinegar, Bakind Soda, Borax and Bleach

By reddog1027

These are Really All You Need.

  A cleaner for counter tops, a cleaner for floors, a cleaner for your bathroom and a cleaner for your toilets.  Your under the sink storage is full of all types of cleaners.  Some work, some don't but they are not cheap. And how do they affect the indoor air quality of your home, and what about your environment?
  I can tell you I have tried them all. From the ones that tell you to wear rubber gloves to  use them (how safe they must be) to environmentally friendly ones that tend to be pricey.  That is one of the down side of trying to be green. 
  One day while having coffee with a friend of mine from Croatia, she mentioned that the only cleaning products that she used were baking soda and white vinegar.  "No way", I said, "Yes way", she replied.  "That's it baking soda and white vinegar".
Well although I am not from the "Show Me State", I had to find out for myself.  Actually she was right. Along the way, I have added a couple of other products bringing the number up to 4.

The Fantastic Five

These are all the cleaners I keep under my sink.

1. Baking soda, I buy it in the two pound box
2. white vinegar, that I buy by the gallon
3. bleach, again I buy it by the gallon but keep it on a shelf in the laundry room
4. 20 Mule Team Borax again, I keep it in the laundry room
5. Dr. Bonner's liquid peppermint soap and or Murphy's Oil Soap

Oh, and one more thing, I don't know how they work but Mr. Clean's Magic Erasers. I am not sure how natural they are but they clean like a dream with nothing but water.

Baking Soda 

Baking soda can:

1. be added to the wash to soften the water and make your detergent work better.
2. Pour it down your garbage disposal, leave it over night to absorb the odor.
3. Use in the litter box
4. I put it in a flour sifter (baking soda tends to get a little lumpy) to sprinkle it on my rugs.  Before I vacuum.  Helps get rid of the doggy smell.
5. Baking soda makes a gentle, yet effective scouring powder for sinks and bathtubs.
6. Put it in stinky tennis shoes to absorb the stink.
7. It will do the same in the wash for stinky gym socks or towels that got thrown in the cloths hamper wet.
8. If you burn a pot or pan really bad, fill the pan with water add a couple of good shakes of baking soda, bring the pot to a boil.  Watch the burned on stuff practically float off of the bottom.

White Vinegar

White vinegar is another product that I keep under the sink. It alone or in combination with baking soda is an awesome cleaning product.
White vinegar can be:

1. Used as a fabric softener. Just add a cup to the second rinse or in your washer's fabric softener holder. It doesn't coat the fabric, which is what commercial fabric softener's do but rinses the detergant completely out of your laundry. It leaves no odor, Just really clean cloths. Now just dry them outside to give them a sunny outside smell. There is nothing better than getting between sheets that smell like sunshine.
2. Can be used to decalcify bathroom fixtures. Unlike the very caustic commercial products, it is not hard on the skin. I will have to say that it is not as effective if you have a lot of build up but works well for the light build up.
3. Put into a spray bottle, it makes a great glass cleaner, use one of those micro cleaning cloths and your windows and mirrors will shine.
4. Cleans the coffee maker. Again the commercial cleaners are not only caustic but toxic as well.

The Dynamic Duo: Baking Soda and White Vinegar

Now when you combine baking soda and white vinegar, you have a combo that can not be beat.

1. Pour a cup of baking soda down the drain or into your garbage disposal, follow it by a cup of white vinegar. It will foam up as it goes down the drain and then follow by a large pan of boiling water. Whoosh, a great way to clean the drains.
2. Sprinkle baking soda in the toilet, follow with a few glugs of white vinegar, scrub. Clean toilet. To disinfect follow with a little bleach and all the germs are gone.
3. Pet accidents? Just pour white vinegar to the stain, sprinkle on some baking soday, once it stop fizzing, just use your carpet shampooer filled with hot water and suck it up. Between the two, baking soda and vinegar, the odor should disappear.
4. Dried on crusties on the table or counter top. First cover the crusty with a damp towel and let it soak a little. Now sprinkle on some baking soda followed with vinegar. It loosens the crusty and it comes right up.

Borax can be used in similar fashion to baking soda, especially in the wash.  But it has another very important job.  When sprinkled on carpets and floors then left overnight, it makes a non toxic flea killer.  Borax is a mineral, it's sides are rough.  It cuts through the tough outer shell of fleas and other creepy crawlies and dries them right up.  I tried some commercial non-toxic flea killers but they where so highly scented with cinnamon and cloves, it was hard to stay in the same room. 
Borax is also an emulsifier.  It combines with grease and oils making them easier to wash away.

Dr. Bonner's Liquid Soap

Dr. Bonner's is a concentrated liquid soap that was once found only in health food stores.  I have now begun seeing it in my local supermarkets.  It is a little pricey at first glance but you dilute it 1:10 so it last forever.

1. I like the peppermint smell. But it comes in many other essential oils, the fragrance is not artificially manufactured
2. It makes a great floor cleaner.  Mop the kitchen with it an your whole house will smell fresh and clean.
3. put in a spray bottle with 1 oz of Dr. Bonner's and 9 ounces of water it cuts grease better than most commercial products and smell 10 times better.
4. Diluted it also makes a refreshing bodywash.

The last of the five cleaning products that I use is chlorine bleach, but do not keep this one under the sink if you have little ones around.  It is the best and cheapest disinfectant around. One ounce of bleach diluted with 9 ounces of water will completely disinfect any hard surface.  It is what most hospital laboratories use to clean their counter tops and believe me, they get nastier stuff on their counters than you ever will on yours. A a splash or two in the toilet, a five minute wait, a swish with the toilet brush and your bown is completely sanitized.

See how simple cleaning can be.  You don't need a cupboard full of different kinds of cleaning products.  Look how much money you will save by switching to the Fantastic Five.