The Rain Barrel Experiment, Liquid Gold, & Drying Racks

The summer has been one of experiments. Two lesbians getting legally married without protests and mean people. With the exception of a few inconsequential people, most folks here in the Bible Belt have been pretty nice to us. Once we won our right to marry, we had ice cream.

We are always trying to find ways to save money and be more efficient. So following the 30 minute ice cream honeymoon, we tried prepping our meals for the week every Sunday. We could predict how much money we would spend every month. Normally it was between $50-80 per week for 2 people eating 3 meals and 2 snacks.  If it wasn't on the list for our meal prep, we didn't purchase it. Sunday was busy, but the rest of the week was free from cooking. It was superb.

Then came the mason jar salad incident ...well, lets just say, it didn't go so well. We dropped that idea like a hot, well seasoned, skillet.

Finally, we hit pay dirt. One of our biggest money savers so far, RAIN BARRELS!

The idea came from where all ideas come from.... Facebook.

A friend took a photo of his rain barrel and I found out that they were only $40 each, with free delivery. At first, we ordered one barrel and Jamie's dad installed it.

Then it RAINED, I tell you....it RAINED.

Like, a lot. 

The water hitting our eastern facing roof all funneled into the barrel and was coming out of the overflow valve.

We were stunned. We had no idea how much free water we had been missing out on.

One rain barrel quickly became two.

Then a huge rainstorm hit.

Both rain barrels quickly filled. The 5 gallon buckets under the overflow valve couldn't keep up. 

 My dear sweet, stubborn and money conscious better half, filled every bucket we had. Soaking wet, she carried full buckets, emptied them in the house and went back for more. She rinsed out and disinfected 50 gallon trash cans and put them under the overflow. It was like money running in these wonderfully full garbage cans.

At least until we discovered a tiny hole in one garbage can had emptied every single gallon.

No worries, however, as the rain continued for days. The bad garbage can was used for.....well....garbage and another was used as an overflow tank.

We filled bucket after bucket over the next few days using at least 200 gallons of free water to wash laundry, water the pets, water the plants, mop the floors, and with added bleach, even wash dishes.

Our water consumption has dropped dramatically. One single rain storm can keep us flowing with free water for a week. We have found that less laundry detergent is required with rain water. Perhaps it is not as hard as tap water.

We hang our clothes outside when the weather allows, but we invested a small amount of money that allows us to dry our clothes inside instead of using our gas-powered dryer.

I would show you a picture of the laundry room, but my underwear is hanging out to dry. However,  I will tell you about some of the items we used to dry our clothes inside.

First we bought a sturdy  3 Tier Drying Rack from Wayfair for $25. Next, for about $10 each, we purchased two Pressa Hanging Dryers with Clips. These are perfect for hanging socks, undies, and family cloth. (Family cloth is small strips of organic cotton that we use after utilizing our beloved bidet instead of toilet paper). Locally, we purchased two portable garment racks. With these, we hang our shirts or pants on the clothes hanger, hang them on the garment racks, put the rack under our ceiling fan, and tada! Dry clothes. Our final purchase was a big $1.00 plus tax for enough indoor clothes line that now hangs in our laundry room. That you can see. :)

With the rain barrels and indoor clothes lines and racks, we have spent very little money on laundry. A little electricity for the washer, and inexpensive, but effective, laundry detergent.

We've considered purchasing another barrel, but we have to create a good storage system for the water. In the summer, the standing water would help mosquitoes breed successfully.

For now, our friends are giving us their empty cat litter buckets with lids. For us, its liquid gold.

So while I hope we can forget the evil that befell us from the mason jar salads, I am thankful for the lessons learned this summer. The money we have saved can go where its most needed...our animal rescue.

Until next time.....

Namaste.

June 26, 2015: The Day Gay Marriage Came to Hawkins County, TN

                                               ~Originally written on Whisper Creek Blog, June 27, 2015

June 26, 2015, gay marriage was declared legal throughout the entire country and every member of the gay and lesbian community were no longer considered second class citizens. 
 
When my partner and I read the ruling, we jumped with joy and then cried. Those tears had been held back for so long. They were tears of joy, tears of relief, and tears of grief for those who died before they knew that their country recognized their right to love, to marry, and to simply exist. 
 
My partner, Haseleah, and I had been waiting to marry in Tennessee. We were afraid to get our hopes up that the Supreme Court would vote in favor of equality. We didn't even really expect to hear the ruling Friday and expected some kind of delay. We had planned to work on my book which is expected to be out by the end of August and maybe go to the gym. 
 
Instead, we were in shock. It took a while for it  to sink in. 
 
Haseleah called the office of the Attorney General of Tennessee to see when Tennessee would begin issuing marriage licenses. We were told that the county clerks would have the directive by the end of the day. Then she called the county clerk in our home town to find that the office was closed on Fridays. Next she called the clerk in our county seat who said they were still waiting for further instructions. She called the clerk in the next city closest to us, and again, they weren't sure when they would begin issuing licenses. 
 
So we turned back to the internet to read in full, the decision that made gay marriage legal in the US.
 
I don't know if any LGBT person ever expected to see this measure of equality in their life time, so it was with absolute amazement to read the findings of the court in the Obergefell vs Hodges decision. 

 

The court recognized that far " from seeking to de-value marriage, [gays and lesbians] seek it for themselves because of their respect—and need—for its privileges and responsibilities." 
 
It went on to define four principles and decisions that support and demonstrate that the Constitution, as it is written, fundamentally applies to same sex couples.  
 
1) [T]he right to personal choice regarding marriage is inherent in the concept of individual autonomy. This abiding connection between marriage and liberty is why Loving [vs Virginia] invalidated interracial marriage bans under the Due Process Clause." Its also why women are no longer considered the property of her father who sells her to a husband chosen for her. Individual autonomy means individual power over oneself to make decisions for him/herself in regards to marriage, among other things. 
 
2) "[T]he right to marry is fundamental because it supports a two-person union unlike any other in its importance to the committed individuals." This refers most specifically to Griswold vs Connecticut, which held "the Constitution protects the right of married couples to use contraception." This meant that one's intimate associations and decisions were given to the couple, thus not ruling out a same-sex association within the confines of that committed relationship. 
 
3) Citing Pierce vs Society of Sisters, the court further declared that "protecting the right to marry safeguards children and families and thus draws meaning from related rights of childrearing, procreation, and education." Adding what LGBT families have been saying for years, "without the recognition, stability, and pre-dictability marriage offers, children suffer the stigma of knowing their families are somehow lesser. They also suffer the significant material costs of being raised by unmarried parents, relegated to a more difficult and uncertain family life." BAM. Thank you Supreme Court. The decision went on to say "this does not mean that the right to marry is less meaningful for those who do not or cannot have children. Precedent protects the right of a married couple not to procreate, so the right to marry cannot be conditioned on the capacity or commitment. In other words, the reason for marriage is NOT procreation. 
 
4) "States have contributed to the fundamental character of marriage by placing it at the center of many facets of the legal and social order. There is no difference be-tween same- and opposite-sex couples with respect to this principle, yet same-sex couples are denied the constellation of benefits that the States have linked to marriage and are consigned to an instability many opposite-sex couples would find intolerable." The court recognized that to have a strong nation, we must have strong families. To have strong families, we must allow marriage to all consenting adults, no matter their gender. 
 
The Supreme Court concluded by invoking the equal protection clause and the due process clause to determine that  the present "laws burden the liberty of same-sex couples, and they abridge central precepts of equality.The marriage laws at issue are in essence unequal: Same-sex couples are denied benefits afforded opposite-sex couples and are barred from exercising a fundamental right. Especially against a long history of disapproval of their relationships, this denial works a grave and continuing harm, serving to disrespect and subordinate gays and lesbians." 
 
....and marriage equality became law.
 
Not long after reading the decision, we heard that a neighboring county clerk was now issuing same-sex marriage licenses. We drove the 30+ miles to the courthouse and were the third same-sex couple to request a marriage license. A lesbian couple, whom we had never met, saw us outside the courthouse after obtaining our license, hugged us in victory, and took our picture on the courthouse steps, ironically in front of the Ten Commandments. 

 
We then returned to our hometown and drove directly to our friend's house. We were determined that the religion that had condemned us all our lives, would NOT be requested of, or allowed, to oversee our marriage vows. 
 

Our friend, Mary, is a high priestess and third-generation witch. We had a short, simple ceremony because the right to marry was more important than a grand wedding. 


Weeks before, we talked about what we would like to wear if gay marriage became legal. I told Haseleah, I loved the hippy skirt I first saw her in. She liked my black shorts and black top. End of wedding plans. We even had to find some temporary rings laying around the house until we had the money to buy some. We didn't care. We were getting married. 


We were joined by Mary's son and her dogs under a shade tree and in front of Mary's altar. It was a wondrous and beautiful moment. At the end, Mary's said, "by the power given to me by the goddess and the United States government, I now pronounce you married." 
 
MARRIED. Jamie and Haseleah, MARRIED. 

  As far as I know, we are the first lesbian couple in Hawkins County, TN to get married. 
We sighed in relief. We were safe. 
   
I don't know if heterosexual couples know what that feels like....to finally feel safe because you married your life partner and your government recognized and supported that right. Haseleah is not my "old ball and chain". She is tethered to my heart in love. We do not take this marriage for granted because we knew what we didn't have before. 

JC, Mary, Haseleah

 
Until yesterday's decision, there were 1,138 rights enjoyed and taken for granted by heterosexual couples, that were denied to gay and lesbian couples. It didn't matter if the gay or lesbian couple had been in a committed relationship for decades. Yet straight couples who just met could do drive-thru Vegas weddings with an Elvis impersonator officiating and immediately have those rights. All 1,138 of them. 
 
Just a few of those are listed below:

• If a couple is not married and one partner dies, the other partner is not entitled to bereavement leave from work, to file wrongful death claims, to draw the Social Security of the deceased partner, or to automatically inherit a shared home, assets, or personal items in the absence of a will.
• Unmarried couples are often not covered by laws and policies that permit people to take medical leave to care for a sick spouse or for the kids.
• Unlike spouses, unmarried partners are usually not considered next of kin for the purposes of hospital visitation and emergency medical decisions. In addition, they can't cover their families on their health plans without paying taxes on the coverage, nor are they eligible for Medicare and Medicaid coverage.
• Unlike marriages, which are honored in all states and countries, domestic partnerships and other alternative mechanisms only exist in a few states and countries, are not given any legal acknowledgment in most, and leave families without the clarity and security of knowing what their legal status and rights will be.
•  Unmarried partners can't always sign up for joint home and auto insurance. In addition, many employers don't cover domestic partners or their biological or non-biological children in their health insurance plans.
•  In addition to being denied access to shared or spousal benefits through Social Security as well as coverage under Medicare and other programs, unmarried couples are denied withdrawal rights and protective tax treatment given to spouses with regard to IRA's and other retirement plans.
•  Unmarried couples cannot file joint tax returns and are excluded from tax benefits and claims specific to marriage. In addition, they are denied the right to transfer property to one another and pool the family's resources without adverse tax consequences. 

For more information, see Federal rights and protections denied gay couples

Perhaps living in the Bible Belt made the thought of not being able to legally marry more frightening. I can't say for sure. However, I know my biggest fear was not being able to get to Haseleah if she were hurt, ill, or injured.


We already experience discrimination in the medical system, so our worries were indeed valid.


All I know is that, while I watch my wife sleep beside me in bed as I write this, I am breathing easier. She is now mine to love and protect, and I am hers. We are us. And now our government says our marriage is protected under the Constitution. 
 

People will continue to hate, to tell us we are abominations to God, to look at us with disgust, but I will look at them and smile because now we are legally married and equal citizens under the law.


Equality matters.  

 Namaste and blessed be. 
 

Our post-wedding ice cream celebration

 
 

Honey Bees and 3D Faith

In May of 2010, Jamie first wrote about Shay Kelly and Project 50/50 on her blog Whisper Creek.

Shay was attempting to travel to every state with only her camera, her dog Zu Zu and her truck Bubba.She was able to give the homeless a face and a name with her photography as she collected and distributed food and socks to them as she traveled.

It was, in many ways, a faith journey for Shay, and Jamie felt she was a lovely, living example of what she called 3D faith. 3D faith, Jamie defined, is the act of making a positive difference in the world as a result of one's faith. Instead of being a set of rules and regulations, 3D faith is inspiration to act to better the earth and the those you share it with.

Five years later, Shay is still trying to make a difference.

Shay and Zu Zu

Shay fell in love with an organic farm and beekeeper and now she is part of Bee Chama Honey, in  New Mexico. Shay also has her own skin care product line, Shea by Shay using Bee Chama Honey and other natural ingredients.

To get a good perspective on the importance of their work, keep in mind, without the honey bee, the human population would be in trouble. One-third of our food needs to be pollinated. Honey bees, do most of that work and they are now endangered.

According to a UN report: “The fact is that of the 100 crop species that provide 90 per cent of the world’s food, over 70 are pollinated by bees.” 

So Bee Chama Honey, Shea by Shay and other organic beekeepers are doing a very important job.

Jamie and I had the opportunity to try several of their products and they were, in a word, divine. :)

In addition to the extra-virgin raw and ulfiltered honey (of which they sell 16 varieties), we tested Shay's Sun Spirit SPF 15 Organic Sunscreen, Spread the Love Spritzer, Lemongrass Good Morning Cream, Lavender and Tea Tree Honey Soap, and Carrot/Honey/Citrus Lip Balm.

The honey is considered a superfood because it still has all the natural enzymes and pollen that is processed out of store bought honey. It is also incredibly tasty. We usually add it to our hot teas.

Having an autoimmune disease that has triggered a long list of allergies, I avoid artificial chemicals at all costs. Particularly those I apply to my body. Shay's products are chemical free. As it says on the side of the Spritzer "no chemicals, no weirdness!"

The prices are surprising reasonable. Normally organic products are out of our reach unless we can find them at deeply discounted prices. Now we know just where to go.

In her blog in 2010, Jamie began with a quote from the Dalai Lama that I, as a Buddhist and human, find beautiful:

"I believe an important distinction can be made between religion and spirituality. Religion I take to be concerned with faith in the claims to salvation of one faith tradition or another. Spirituality I take to be concerned with qualities of the human spirit, love and compassion, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, contentment, a sense of responsibility, a sense of harmony, that bring happiness both to self and others."

I can understand what Jamie meant by living a 3D faith, and I can see that type of faith in Shay, just as she did. Its refreshing to see a faith that considers saving the planet as important as saving souls.   





 

Note to Self: I am Enough

I have a secret. A secret inside a secret, I guess you could say and it is our secrets that keep us sick.

My secret begins with this confession.....I was obese.

One day I walked out of the convenience store. My clothes didn't fit, so my tummy was showing. Two teenage boys looked at me and said "Oh.... my.....God."  Its all they said, but what I heard was "Look at her belly. Look at that butt. She is so fat." I heard nothing but disgust.

I went home and determined that I was going to change.

I started out walking five minutes a day. I huffed and puffed my way through it. Not only was I obese, I was a smoker. I was an insulin-dependent diabetic. I was on cholesterol reducing medication. I needed a cpap at night to sleep. I was depressed. I was miserable.

Five minute walks became ten minute walks, and then fifteen minutes. I finally found the nerve to join Curves. I took the American Diabetes Association class and began their suggested diet. I lost 50 lbs. After those fifty pounds, I was able to get off the insulin.

By this time I was able to walk and work out for 30 minutes. My apartment complex had a treadmill and a recumbent bicycle. In addition to working out at Curves, I worked out on both of those and slowly continued to lose weight. I walked my dog, Abigail, twice a day through the neighborhood.

I  joined T.O.P.S. (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) which is a weight loss group that encourages healthy weight loss. There are weekly weigh-ins. I stopped smoking as well.

I lost a total of 140 lbs and won first place for the most weight loss in Tennessee in my weight loss category. I didn't go to Knoxville to pick up the award because I had another secret.

I was anorexic. 

Anorexia had been a part of my life since I was very young. It wasn't until after my mother died ten years ago that I began to gain weight.

As I began to approach my goal weight in T.O.P.S, I started once again to focus on the number on the scale, not on staying healthy. As my weight diminished, my physician became concerned. She employed the health of a board certified nutritionist that I saw on a weekly basis.

I joined the YMCA and began to exercise, I sought out personal training with Pam Archer.

Pam taught me about strength conditioning and always told me, "Moderation, Haseleah. Moderation."  My nutritionist, Amber Reynolds was saying "Moderation, Haseleah. Moderation." My primary care doctor was also saying "Moderation, Haseleah. Moderation."

It took me two years to listen. I worked out 7 days a week for several hours a day. I restricted my calories to dangerous levels. It wasn't until a reoccurance of my autoimmune disease knocked me to my knees, and put me on medical leave, that I fully understood what everyone was telling me.

Now, I am learning every day what moderation means. I eat a healthy balance of all food groups. I keep a food journal. I watch my fluid intake. I do my best not to over exercise. No longer will you find me in a gym 24 hours a day. You will find me there, but for an hour or two doing sensible workouts.

I am still under the care of my nutritionist and my autoimmune disease is being treated by one of the best immunologists in the country. I take injections each week to boost my immune system. 

I'm living now. Really living. I look healthier because I am healthier. I lost a few of the wrinkles on my face when I started focusing on health rather than numbers on a scale. I feel better than I ever have. I don't weigh anymore. We don't have a scale in the house. I've learned that a person's worth cannot be measure by a scale. I am already worthy. I am enough.

 When the journey seems too long Jamie and I remember this quote: "You must have one successful day before you can have two days, and you must have two successful days before you can have twenty. All you need to think about is today."

I have missed my job at the Greater YMCA of Kingsport. I miss the members, the staff, and all my friends. It is my hope to return to work the first week in June.
Teaching others about healthy living is my dream and the YMCA helps me fulfill that dream.

I am still gaining my strength and I am having more good days than bad. I am encouraged every day by my partner, Jamie, and my daughter, Amber. I'm able to look at pictures of myself for the first time and see myself the way they do.

My journey doesn't end here, but I have taken a different road. A healthier road.

Winston Churchill once said something that stays with me and I find very profound:

"Success isn't final, failure isn't fatal. Its the courage to continue that counts."

I failed. I succeeded. I failed again. Then I got up and tried once more.

You can do the same. You are worthy too. You are enough.

My daughter and I. Mother's Day 2015

 

Baking soda saved my sanity

Jamie here. Haseleah's life partner and hopefully soon, her spouse.

So I have a bit of a testimony. 

I would like to testify-ah to the power-ah of baking soda-ah.

If you understood that, you know it was in the voice of a good Baptist/Pentecostal hell-fire-and-damnation preacher. :) I'm a recovering Free Will Baptist but still appreciate the passion of it all. People listen when the preacher is excited enough to end all the important words with -ah.

Although this isn't going to save your soul, it could save your sanity.

BAKING SODA. Indeed.

So I have a history with poison oak and not a good one. It began as a teenager. I was very much focused on God, being the good Free Will Baptist, until ONE day.....

I was naughty. I went up into the hills with the preachers son and.....kissed. Yep. Kissed a lot. Next morning I was covered in poison oak. I decided it was God's punishment for my indiscretion and took the itching like the martyr I was.

To avoid a similar fate, dear reader, memorize the plants in the picture above, before venturing to the mountains for holy or sinful purposes.

Many times since that time, I have had poison oak, although I haven't been able to connect it to a particular sin.

Unless you call weed eating a sin.

Yes, indeed. Every time I weed eat, the next day I find my legs covered. Normal people would wear pants. I'm not normal. I'm convinced each time that I will overcome the demonic weed and triumph in the name of stubbornness.

Alas, I do not.

Last night I felt like a million bugs were underneath my skin. One Benadryl didn't help. Two Benadryl did nothing. Hydrocortisone cream was a failure. My itchy salvation was not even in Benadryl spray.

By this time Haseleah had fallen asleep. We had watched a British show called "Cranford" which felt like some kind of punishment from God in its own right, but it helped Haseleah sleep better. I was hoping for a temporary coma.

But I digress....back to the power-ah of baking soda-ah.

After Haseleah fell asleep, I recalled the use of baking soda for itching and decided to give it a try.

I put the soda in a bowl and added warm water. If the mixture was too runny, I added more baking soda until it was a thick paste. Once ready, I applied it to both my legs. INSTANT RELIEF-AH.

I kid you not. It was better than two Benadryl tablets, hydrocortisone cream and Benadryl spray combined. Within minutes, I was able to fall asleep. If only I had done it before turning on "Cranford", I could have slept through it.

So I hope you can learn from my itchy suffering.

Baking Soda-ah saved my sanity-ah.

Amen.

You can garden for free when the Gay Addams Family meets the Dalai Lama

Its SPRING TIME!!! Our attention turns to gardening as we dream of days sitting under a shade tree reading a good book. The birds sing anew, and we realize its because they are mating, so we play some Marvin Gaye and Barry White and hope it encourages them. Nests are being built in anticipation, so we supply some pieces of yarn and clipped dog hair to keep the babies warm. One can hear the sounds of lawnmowers and smell the sweet onions as they are unceremoniously chopped down with the blade. I sit quietly and crochet until the cats realize I have yarn, and we wrestle for it to the death or until one of us gives up. Jamie whittles, large knife in hand, and silently warns against any proselytizing, soliciting, or turning around in our driveway. Buddhist prayer flags send prayers of intention into the universe with every breeze and a dozen "No Trespassing" signs dot the landscape.   We watch the lesbians across the street watch us watching them, but we all do it so smoothly, because we're cool like that. Its a Gay-Addams-Family-Meets-the-Dalai Lama- kind of thing. So nice.

In 2008, before I came along, Jamie chose this property for its trees. Mature maples tickled the driveway and provided homes for a myriad of critters, shade from the hot sun of summer, and sufficient pollen to ensure spring allergies. A walnut tree stood guard over the dogs' play area, and flowering crab apple, dogwood, and quince announced the end of winter with their powerful, yet delicate, display.

As time passed, and Jamie came closer to finding me, she added trees, shrubs, and perennials to the landscape. When I arrived, it was a beautiful welcoming place, once I passed the seal of approval from the dogs, cats, and a mouse named Maple.

What I found interesting was, that every new plant put on this property by Jamie and her parents who helped her, was either free or nearly free. After the discovery that an Apostolic Church wanted to move in next door and another neighbor wanted to be a nuisance, it was decided that a fence needed to go up. Unfortunately, there was only enough money for a privacy fence on the west end of the property. Come autumn one year, the beginning of a natural fence began.

Forsythia Fence

From the overabundance of forsythias at Mom & Dad Farris' house, 70 plants were planted in a row. Now they run from the road, north, to the top end of the property. They are a big, beautiful "No Trespassing" gift from Mother Nature. Forsythias, known around here as simply "yellow bushes" are hardy, giving shrubs. Very easy to propagate, they can be transplanted easily and are fast growing plants. They replant themselves when the tip of the limb touches, and grows into the ground. If you have to trim them back, take the clipping, plant it where you wish for a shrub to grow, keep it watered, and many times they will take root and flourish.  Transplanting with the root intact is more promising, however.

The overabundance shined another gift down on our home here at Whisper Creek when Mom & Dad Farris had too many perennials growing in their garden. They were kind enough again to let us have them. While they might need this year to establish themselves rather than blooming, they should give us years of enjoyment.

Free Perennial

Thus we have two frugal ideas for gardening. 1) When your family, friends, or neighbors are ready to give up their excess plants, offer to dig them up for them. You can also trade from the excesses in your own garden. 2) Plant perennials as they will come back year after year. If you decide to plant annuals, be sure to collect the seeds. For an excellent guide on collecting annual seeds for next spring's gardening, see The Weekend Gardener.

Jamie hates to kill anything. I think she mourns when she mows. She won't cut down a seedling or weed she thinks has potential unless she absolutely has too. This has actually proved fruitful. Be it through bird poop or wind, seedlings popped up that grew into trees. Mimosa trees we never had to buy, maples we only had to transplant, a mulberry tree that produces the most delicious berries you've ever tasted.  A new maple even came up by the stump of one that the previous owner had cut down. This is an awesome way to get free trees! Be selective in your mowing and weed eating. When the tree is old enough to handle it, you can transplant it to another location if necessary.

Baby Maple

Jamie has purchased trees in the past. Looking for the unwanted imperfect trees in the same way she looks for pets to rescue, she has acquired trees that with a little TLC and patience, became beautiful flowering trees. She does the same for houseplants and pays a fraction.

The final method she has used with success over the year is buying from The Arbor Day Foundation. For a $10 membership, you can get 10 "free" trees. You can choose from flowering trees, trees to attract wild birds, evergreens, red buds, autumn classics and more. The trees will be bare root and take some time to grow, but patience pays off in a big way. If the tree doesn't make it, they are replaced, for free. Not only can you get your "free" trees, but purchase other trees and shrubs at a good discount. We just planted 2 crape myrtle we ordered from them.

A once, unwanted tree

While you may think that it will take forever for these to grow, the tree in the foreground of the photo below was planted less than five years ago.

So as I crochet and wrestle with the cats and Jamie gives people the evil eye even though she's a teddy bear at heart, click on the link, and order those ten "free" trees. Then make sure no tree feels like an ugly, imperfect, unwanted tree. Patience and love always pay off.

Namaste and blessed be.

Arbor Day Tree

Quince

 

Jackpot! $12.50 for $125 worth of Clothes :)

OMG....OMG....OMG.....You know you've hit the jackpot when you find $125 worth of NEW clothes plus some beautiful slightly used summer dresses, 2 shirts for Amber (our daughter), 2 more shirt for Abigail (our dog), and several more pieces of clothing for $12.50.

I kid you not.

We arrived at the Community Clothes Closet thrift store before 9 am this morning only to find they didn't open until 10. Thankfully, we live close by so we went home and waited until 9:45. When we returned, the line outside the door was long. We grabbed a parking place in front of the apostolic church while people gave us the evil eye because they wanted our spot. Or maybe it was because of the "Born Again Pagan" bumper sticker on Jamie's car. Anyway, once we joined the crowd, the women waiting with us told us that come hell or high water, that door wouldn't open until 10 or even 10:05am. 

Inside, they teased us coming near the door and then walking away. It was torturous. We looked through the window scoping out the clothes making a plan of action in our minds. The door opened and we were sucked in by a vacuum of people. It was wonderful.

This is the fun of thrift store shopping. Its a treasure hunt.

Neither Jamie or I buy new clothes at big box or clothing stores unless we absolutely cannot find it anywhere else. If you've been reading our blog, you know that we found awesome deals of new clothes at TJ Maxx and Ross on items we hadn't been able to find in thrift stores.

But today was THRIFT STORE DAY. We were giddy.

Generally undergarments are an item that we always buy new. However, today at the Community Clothes Closet,  I found three new pieces of Cupid compression "foundation wear" (as I like to call undergarments).  These normally sell for about $15 each. I paid 50 cents each!  (And no, I'm not showing pictures of my undies).

Probably our most exciting finds included a new one piece Kathy Ireland bathing suit for $1 that is selling for $32 on Ebay. Next was the Liz Claiborne overalls with a MSRP on the tag of $49,  for only 50 cents.

We added these wonderful pieces to the mix for a total was $12.50!! Summer dresses, hippy wear, camisoles, workout gear, two shirts for Amber as I mentioned, and a Miami Ink t-shirt for Jamie.

Jamie's favorite score was an autographed copy of June Carter Cash's book Among My Klediments for 25 cents.

I needed to try on some of the clothes and went to the dressing room...that had no mirror. So I asked the ladies in nearby dressing rooms if they had a mirror. They did, so I decided to wait for one of those to open. Once one came open, I went inside. Apparently, no one realized I was there because a conversation ensued between the women on either side of me.  "I don't need no mirror to know how I look in my clothes cause I'm fat. But my husband doesn't call me fat. He calls me fluffy." The other woman answered, "Me either. That girl wouldn't try her clothes on without a mirror. Have mercy." 

Anyway, I walked away with a treasure trove that fit my unfluffy body just fine.

Thrift stores, consignment stores, and yard sales are very popular here in East Tennessee. While some people look down on purchasing used items, what they don't realize is that new items can be found there too. 

Thrift stores differ from consignment stores in one important way. Thrift stores generally raise money for charities with donated items. Consignment stores sell items on behalf of others and pocket a percentage of the profit for their troubles. They can be more selective in what they sell, but their items are more expensive. Here is an example of an item sold at a local consignment store:

                                                                                                              

   

In case you can't read the price, the original price of these Ed Hardy jeans was $240. (I know, I can't believe it either). The consignment store's price was $39.99. I don't know about you, but I would (and could) buy a closet full of clothes for that price. However, there is a customer for every type of store. 

Thrift stores often have awesome sales in addition to their already low prices. The selection changes often because they ask very reasonable prices. The Community Clothes Closet has a half-price sale the first Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of the month. That's how we hit the jackpot. Plus we met some nice, fluffy folks.

So shop smart. Shop thrifty.

THUNK! The Wall That Made Me Wiser

Hello all!!  We're still alive!!

Its been a few weeks since we've written, which gives us something pretty important to write about.

As you may recall, Jamie and I weight train. We love it. Two hours six days a week, including cardio.

That is, until I hit a wall.

Not a real wall, but a proverbial wall of complete and utter exhaustion.

Speaking of walls, within the walls of my body lies an auto-immune disease. I rarely speak of it, and few people know about it. It is a pesky little virus that mutated, called Chronic Epstein Barr Virus (or, for brevity's sake, CEBV.) I had been diagnosed approximately two years ago by an immunologist.

It is a very rare disease in the United States and Europe. It occurs more frequently in Asia and South America. It was found in my T cells, B cells, and NK (Natural killer) cells in my blood. While there is no cure, there is some concern that the outcome can be nasopharyngeal cancer or Burkett's lymphoma.

Epstein Barr Virus

At the time of my diagnosis, I had already lost 60 lbs and my doctor made it clear that I needed to lose the remainder of my weight (80 more lbs) and exercise every day until I sweated. He started me on supplements and vitamins as well as four injections per week to boost my immune system.

The CEBV activated allergies I didn't have before. Testing showed I was now allergic to every grass, tree, mold, mildew, and even my favorite fruits and vegetables. I had to purge my home of all chemicals, including home cleaners, shampoos, and soaps. Prepackaged, processed foods-gone. Sugar and sugar substitutes all gone because they could cause an inflammatory response.

Three years prior I had made many positive changes losing my weight slowly and keeping it off, but now I had to make more changes to extend, and in reality, save my own life. 

I had to change almost every aspect of my life, and I did.

I lost the weight, and kept going. As I lost the weight, ate healthier, and avoided those things I was allergic to, my CEBV went into remission. Unfortunately, I took it a bit too far.  I became underweight. I was obsessed with the scales and with exercising. My family and friends prompted me to see my family doctor and I agreed to go into treatment for an eating disorder. A team including my general practitioner, immunologist, and nutritionist, helped me.

However, as I struggled to comply with my nutritional needs, I still had the mindset that with exercising, more was better. Pushing my body through the pain only showed I was doing what I should be doing. I would lift weights, do cardio, and take additional classes 6 days a week. No pain, no gain, right?

I never stopped once to consider that I was pushing my body to the brink of madness. Over training led to over use injuries, but that was normal, wasn't it? Its not like it was permanent.

Then, BAM, it happened. The wall.

I could not get out of bed. I couldn't lift my head, couldn't move my legs. My body ached as it never had. I developed a severe skin rash. The fatigue and deep muscle pain never left. Nausea would surprise me at a moments notice. My right upper abdomen hurt terribly.

My worst fear.....my CEBV had re-activated and then some.

This rash covered a large portion of my body

Weeks of testing, doctor visits, emergency room visits followed.  Everything was tested. Full abdominal CT scans and ultrasounds, chest x-rays, thyroid x-rays, thyroid ultrasound, blood work, bone density scans, mammograms, a diagnostic colonoscopy with a 14 day prep. (14 DAY PREP!!!). All in all, I saw eight health professional (doctors/therapists/nutritionists/immunologist/gastroenterologist/nurse practitioners, yada, yada, yada).

In the end, we found that I had done permanent damage to my body. My liver is now enlarged. My colon is permanently damaged and I will have to be on medication for the rest of my life. The road to recovery is long. I am still exhausted. My employers, The Greater YMCA of Kingsport, who have been more than supportive, are allowing me to return to work slowly. I worked one day this week (as I will next) and came home and slept for hours. A long recovery, indeed.

I will soon start back on the injections to boost my immune system. I will probably have to be retested for food allergies. My doctor has limited my training to four days a week. My diet has had to change again.

I have learned the hard way the ill affects of over training and now I want to share it with others. I don't want anyone to go through what I experienced the last several weeks. 

The body has an intricate system of checks and balances. Chronic over training can lead to serious brain, muscle, and metabolic imbalances. Testosterone can decrease in men. The body's immune system in both men and women can become depressed and one may notice more upper respiratory infections and flu. Disturbed sleep, changes in mood, and persistent fatigue become apparent. When muscles are not allowed to rest appropriately, injuries result as well as poor muscle performance. You can become weaker. Not stronger. Rest makes you stronger because it allows the muscles you have broken down to repair themselves and grow. It is during sleep that growth hormones are at their highest.

Exercising more than four days a week does not allow the body to heal or muscles to grow and eventually it can lead to some serious problems. Even without my CEBV, I know I would have hit this wall. It was only when I hit that wall that I activated my CEBV.  Now I must live with that.

I'm determined to follow my doctor's advice, eat as my nutritionist suggests, and listen to my body.

Exercising is important for a healthy life. However, we only have one body. While it is healthy to have goals to reach for, its important to allow your body time to reach those goals and incorporate rest into your training regiment. I hope you can keep an open mind when examining your own approach to exercise. Be kind, gentle, and compassionate: please listen to your body. 

Jamie and I returned to the gym this week. Jamie hit her own wall during this time coming down with a fever of 103 degrees and then later injuring her back. We took turns taking care of one another. She was exhausted from the emotional roller coaster of it all as well.

It felt good being back in the gym and I was somewhat relieved knowing that I didn't have to push myself as hard as I had been pushing. I can still have the muscle gains with the four day a week program I have chosen and still be good to my body at the same time.

I only wish I had realized that sooner. I'm still a beast in the gym, just a much wiser beast than I was before.