Our Simple Journey of Faith, Family and Life

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Smoky

                                         Smoky

Smoky was a 4 lb, 7 inch tall, Yorkshire Terrier who served in World War II. In 1944 Smoky was found in a foxhole in the jungles of New Guinea by an American soldier who brought her back to camp and sold her to Corporal William A. Wynne for $6.44. For the next 2 years Smoky lived a soldiers life. Because she was not an official military dog, she did not get dog food or medical care. She sha...red Wynne’s meals and slept beside him in his tent.

The little dog even flew 12 air/sea rescue and photo reconnaissance missions, secured in the soldiers backpack. She survived 150 air raids and saved Wynne by warning him of incoming shells. Like many Yorkies, Smoky also loved to learn tricks and preform. She did so with the Special Services – entertaining soldiers in hospitals. After the war Smoky was flown back to the US hidden in a oxygen mask carrying case.

For the next 10 years she made television and public appearances in Veterans hospitals until her death in 1957. Smoky is considered the first Therapy Dog...

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Skin Tags

3 Herbal Treatments to remove skin tags that actually work~

I could go over the typical remove a skin with duct tape or fingernail polish and they do work but ...can be painful. Instead, in this article I am going to focus on herbal remedies to treat skin tags. The upside to herbal remedies is that they are less invasive than other "fast" remedies. The downside is that they take a little more time and consistency in order for them to work....

Tea Trea Oil- Tea tree oil works very well for removing skin tags as well as moles. In fact, tea tree oil is used on various skin disorders. To use this all you need is a little tea tree oil and a cotton ball. Soak the cotton ball in the oil and apply it directly to the affected area. Do this once or twice daily for up to 4 weeks or until the skin tag vanishes.

Castor Oil- Most of you are too young to remember castor oil but this oil was used on a wide variety of common ailments and can be taken both internally and externally. The good news is that you will be using castor oil as an external ointment (I still shudder whenever I think of drinking that stuff). Here is what you will do. Take a little baking soda and mix it with the castor oil to create a paste. I suggest you add some citrus oil as it will stink to high heaven. Apply it to the affected area and cover with a band-aid. The typical time it will take is 2-4 weeks before the skin tag vanishes.

Apple Cider Vinegar-Apple cider vinegar works very well for removing skin tags and the good news is that you can buy it in a grocery store for fairly cheap. Just like tea tree oil, you simply dab some of it on a q-tip or cotton ball and apply it directly to the skin tag. Unlike the tea tree oil, Apple Cider vinegar may cause a stinging sensation for a couple minutes after being applied. Typical time until the skin tag vanishes?....2-­4 weeks.

Those are just 3 herbal treatments that you can use to remove skin tags. If you don't mind waiting a couple weeks and can discipline yourself to treating the skin tag at least once a day, then these will naturally treat your skin tags from your home.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Home Made Coffee Creamer

Homemade Coffee Creamer – Over 2 Dozen Flavor Varieties!

Ok, so for whatever flavor of creamer you want, you...
start off with the same basic ‘base’ recipe.

14oz sweetened condensed milk
1 3/4 cup milk or cream (whole, lowfat, skim, almond, soy, heavy cream, half & half etc – whatever your preference, however the more fat, the more creamines

Mix the ingredients together well. I like to add them to a mason jar and shake it like crazy. You could also opt to use an old (washed) creamer container.

 French Vanilla Creamer
2 teaspoons vanilla extract OR vanilla coffee syrup

 Vanilla Bean Coffee Creamer
2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste

 Chocolate
2-3 tablespoons chocolate syrup
(1 tsp vanilla extract, optional)


 Chocolate Almond
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 teaspoon almond extract

 Strudel
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract

 Vanilla Caramel
2 tablespoons caramel ice cream topping
2 teaspoons vanilla extract


 Chocolate Raspberry
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons raspberry syrup

 Irish Cream
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
1 teaspoon instant coffee
1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract

 Coconut
2 teaspoons coconut extract

 Samoa (like the Girl Scout Cookies)
2 teaspoons coconut extract (or sub coconut milk or cream of coconut, heated & strained, for the milk/cream)
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
2 tablespoons caramel ice cream topping

 Peppermint Patty
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
1 teaspoon peppermint extract

 Cinnamon Vanilla
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

 Pumpkin Spice
3 tablespoons pureed pumpkin
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
4 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 Honey Vanilla
1/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

 Homemade Coffee Creamer - over 2 dozen flavor possibilities and one base recipe!

Almond Joy
1-2 teaspoons coconut extract (or sub coconut milk or cream of coconut if you heat it first, strained, in place of the milk & extract)
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup

 Sweet Cream
Use 1 3/4 cups of heavy cream instead of the milk in the base recipe
2 teaspoons vanilla extract OR the inside of a vanilla bean, scraped
1 teaspoon almond extract

 Chocolate Orange
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
1-2 teaspoons orange extract

 Hazelnut
2 teaspoons hazelnut extract

 Chocolate Hazelnut
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
2 teaspoons hazelnut extract

 Cinnamon Cake
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

 Salted Caramel
2-3 tablespoons caramel ice cream topping
1/2 teaspoon salt

 Eggnog
replace milk in base recipe with equal amount of heavy cream
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons rum extract
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

 Toasted Almond
2 teaspoons almond extract

 Directions & Tips:
In all these recipes, anything that has a dry or thick ingredient (like cinnamon, honey, etc..) should be heated up with a small amount of your milk/cream from the base recipe so it can dissolve properly. You don’t want grainy creamer! Then, add the rest of the milk/cream along with the sweetened condensed milk.

 If you want really creamy creamer, use heavy cream instead of milk in your base recipe.

 **stick a piece of tape on my mason jar lid with the expiration date from the milk you used. use this as a guideline as to when the creamer should be used by.***

 Please feel free to play around with amounts of extracts and other ingredients used if you like stronger or less intense flavors!! And, let your imagination turn, and make up your own combinations. Use this as inspiration to create your very own perfect homemade flavored creamer!

Root Beer

Root Beer

1 teaspoon dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups granulated sugar
1 quart hot water
4 teaspoons root beer extract                  
Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water.
Dissolve sugar in 1 quart hot water.

Mix together dissolved yeast, sugar and root beer extract in gallon jar.
Fill jar with warm water and stir until all ingredients are well combined
Seal Jar
Set in warm sun for 3 to 4 hours
Refrigerate 12-24 hours
Serve cold