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Flashbacks of Warmer Times

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We are in the winter depression time of the North East when Vitamin D deficiencies rule. Today it is snowing, no surprise!  It is piling on a powdery layer on top of a thick crusty layer of ice.  Walking is nearly impossible.  The wood furnace died and we are onto the small manufactured-home propane burner as backup. Half the house’s electricity is out and we are searching for an electrician.  One of the sump pumps downstairs has kicked the bucket and left half our basement flooded and it is dark because it’s on THAT side of the house, the one with the blown fuse that won’t go back on.  Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!  At least it’s pretty, and doesn’t last forever! Here’s our hay barn in its icy, glossy, splendor:

I got a new phone.  It’s fantastic.  It’s a Samsung Galaxy Note 9  and I love it.

Ray let me get a cute case and ring stand to stick to it! I am SUPER into iridescent things, so I was really happy to find this nice combination.  I HATE talking on the phone, so this makes it a bit nicer :).  I LOVE how it fades from purple to blue, and it’s clear so I can keep my business card or a photo in the back (I am still so analog!!). 

 

Stupid of me, I know, but I have  recently been coveting a set of 6 IRIDESCENT Moscow Mule mugs!  I don’t need them, so they aren’t in my kitchen 🙂 I normally don’t want things I don’t NEED, but Look At Them!

 

This is the ring stand.  It is a phone stand also! :

 

 The Note function on the phone is terrific. It’s a screen that you can use your stylus on.  I use it like a blackboard and screen mirror to my TV while we are schooling. Vince also loves my new phone and snuck one of his Stikbot animations from his Stikbot Studio up on our YouTube!  Cue discussions of identity misappropriation and trust between the boy and myself!

While I was switching files over, I came across some videos that the kids insisted I share (outside in NICE weather, carrot harvest, hay jumping, etc…), so we made a cute little collection below.

annnd here’s V’s sneaky little video….

Check out the Stikbot Farm Set!

We got DUMPED on! BIG Snow in Upstate NY

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What it looks like around here right now:

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Good day, Sunshine! ☀️Wow, it's beautiful.

A post shared by Vicki Noble (@noblehomestead) on

We got over 24 inches and it has been averaging below zero here the past week.  Yesterday, it was -18 degrees F!  Stay warm!

In the meantime, I listed four AWESOME and cozy crocheted Foot Massages, I mean, rag rugs and our new Basic Balm, unscented goodness that is perfect for chapped hands and lips, dry skin, and to use as a skin protectant in these conditions!

We have two different balms available for purchase, available in different sizes for your convenience.  They are both made with only organic ingredients, home-grown or locally sourced from our piece of heaven in Zone 5b of the Adirondacks.  They come packaged in glass only, a pretty cobalt blue when possible.  Our base is made with Organic cold-pressed coconut, olive, grapeseed and avocado oils, blended with shea and cocoa butters and infused with Calendula, Carrotseed, and Raspberry seed oils.  These and other beneficial ingredients are blended with a small amount of organic beeswax to make a balm that traps in moisture and speeds healing.

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See my Rag Rugs on Etsy!

 

Pine Needle Calendula Tea and Catching Up!

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Did you ever try Pine Needle Tea? I learned about it on YouTube, through Off Grid with Doug & Stacy . I bet you never knew it was delicious!

It is simple and a whole food and so mild.  Be careful though, and know what you are harvesting:

A few words of caution: while there are over 100 different varieties of pine, the Ponderosa, Norfolk Island and Yew needles should be avoided, as brewing can prove toxic. You’ll want to collect your needles from trees at a distance from the roadside to be sure they haven’t been

exposed to exhaust or chemicals, and far away from dump sites. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should avoid pine needle tea as it has been linked by some sources to miscarriage. -source: http://www.medicinalfoodnews.com/articles/pine-needle-tea

What’s so good about pine needle tea?

1. Pine needle tea has a pleasant taste and smell (always a good start).

I LOVE these bags!

2. It is rich in vitamin C (5 times the concentration of vitamin C found in lemons) and can bring relief to conditions such as heart disease, varicose veins, skin complaints and fatigue

3. Vitamin C is also an immune system booster which means that pine needle tea can help to fight illness and infections.

4. Pine needle tea also contains high levels of Vitamin A, which is good for your eyesight, improves hair and skin regeneration and improves red blood cell production.

5. It can be used as an expectorant for coughs and to help relieve chest congestion; it is also good for sore throats.

6. It brings you clarity and mental clearness.

7. It can help with depression, obesity, allergies and high blood pressure.

8. Pine needles contain antioxidants. These reduce free radicals, which are harmful to humans and can cause disease.

9. Taoist priests drank pine needle tea as they believed it made them live longer. There is researched evidence that pine needle tea can help to slow the ageing process.

10. Pick some pine needles and let them soak in boiling water on your stove and it will add a crisp pine smell all over the house. Perfect for Christmas.

source: https://www.forestholidays.co.uk/forestipedia/10-reasons-you-should-be-drinking-pine-needle-tea