Say No to bottled water..PLEASE

Wow, my husband and I just watched "Tapped" on our Net Flix. All I can say is "WOW". I've always known buying water in a bottle was a waste of money and that not enough people recycle the bottles, but I just never saw how bad it really was. We use a Britta..actually I think I have a Pure filter on the facet right now. (the stupid casing has a crack in it after only changing the filter once..I won't buy one of those again!) We've also been using stainless drink bottles for a couple of years now. We've been doing that because we have made the choice to be as green as we can, but also because I am as thrifty as I can be. With 4 kids you have to be. I was a single mom with my two sons for 7 years, so believe me when I say that I know how to save money.

This film is such a must see for everyone. My family is going to take this on as our cause. Everyone needs something to fight for and honestly we've been looking for something we can sink our teeth in to. We'll start with school. My youngest son in in a good number of sports and if we bring the cooler and recycled paper cups we might be able to save some bottles every week just by supplying water to the teams. We'll keep thinking on this.

If anyone reads me just ranting, please please please join us and swear off bottled water.

Our Fox Friend

We really don't live in the wild. It's actually considered a town here and there is a trailer park next door. There are a lot of fields around us though. We've had a skunk at the front door, a  raccoon in the hen house, at least 3 coyotes I could pick out of a line up, and now we saw the owner of the mystery footprints.  My boys and my husband were out clearing the two feet of snow from the drive way when Brandon yelled "Coyote". When ever we see anything now we think that's what it is...my kids are afraid to be out alone.

I was looking out the window since one of my daughters was out with them and frankly they are all just so damn cute out there together. It wasn't a coyote this time but a beautiful red fox. I didn't get the best look at at, but my husband did. We gather around the computer to find pictures and verify exactly what we see. I don't mind a fox in the yard except for the fact I have 4 chickens and am boarding another one for a friend. They are safe in the winter lodgings, but a fox so small could fit right into the poop door if it wanted to. I need reinforcement for sure.

All the posts I've read said a fox wouldn't go after my dog. My dog is only a 10 pound fluff ball though, so I still want to be careful. Cricket is the most wonderful companion I've ever had in my life. She's a Coton De' Tuleua and Shitz Tzu hybrid. She just wants to be with me and after having her I'd never go back to hunting breeds. She's just the perfect type of dog to have with little girls and to sit with you while you are on the computer. Just wild enough to be exciting but calm enough to be perfect. For now I shake a loud tambourine thing my husband got from Omega before I  let her out. I think it would scare off anything that may be out there.

So far so good

I can't say that I've been diligent with the vinegar, but I have been putting forth a good effort. I have to say that it's the nastiest tasting thing to try to swallow that I've ever tried. My sister seems to like it, but for the life of me I can't see how. My husband and I switched to Balsamic Vinegar on our salads only and I'd rather drink that really. Here's the important thing though, I haven't had a single attack since drinking what I have been drinking of the vinegar. None. I might have over did it the first week, but not so it ever upset my stomach. I tried putting it in my orange juice and did this a couple times a day. I also tried to do shots, but that just doesn't work for me. I don't like any kind of shot and it might as well been tequila it was so nasty.

On top of the vinegar I've been taking dandelion tablets once in a while when I felt the gall bladder getting a bit sore. The bottle says "consult a doctor if you have a blockage of the intestines or bile ducts or inflammation of the gallbladder." I don't know why since that's why you buy the pill to begin with. Anyway, what I feel is what I think some inflammation or at least irritation but the doctors I've gone too have been worthless. This seems to work.

I also found some malic acid pills at the Vitamin Shoppe. I don't take them as often as I should, but I can't see how they could hurt you. It's like eating apples. I was just trying to find acids to work like the vinegar without the nastiness. I've been on a huge vitamin C kick. This year I'm NOT going to sick. My husband gets sick every year and with 4 kids in the house and 2 in public school you know the cold bug is lingering around here all the time. As soon as I get sniffles I start up with the Emergen-C. Honestly, I just love it just as a drink. I have a tall Tupperware class of it on the counter about all day. I'm thinking the asorbic acid is, well, acid.

I can't say exactly what it helping, but I have felt better than I have in a long time. I go back for ultrasounds when I can find a doctor for my yearly. It's hard around here. I have talked with surgeons, but have yet to find a doctor who will monitor me. My insurance pays for one physical a year, so my last time was last February. I'll find someone by next month. A year ago my gallstone was 3 cm and I had a lot of pain and a few attacks where I thought I had food poisoning. Since I've been working on it and visualizing it shrinking I haven't had a single attack where I've been sick. I have had some episodes where the pain in my shoulder blades has been unbearable for days at a time. Since the vinegar and like 3,000 mg of C I haven't had a single episode of pain. Well see when I get a doctor what the ultrasound shows.