HOMESTEADING
By Sunday evening, the wind had kicked up and the sky was white. As the wee early morning approached on that Monday, wind gusts were howling, visibility was down to less than ¼ mile, we had white out conditions and the snow was piling up at about 2” an hour. When daylight came, the digging out began, first at home, then at the barn. Chores took longer with the snow, digging out to get the doors opened, cleaning stalls that normally none of the horses or mules care to stay in. The chickens wouldn’t step foot outside and spent the next few days in the “Hen House” even though they had access to their outdoor run. The Scottish Highland cattle didn’t seem to care about the snow at all. They plowed through the snow at a slow steady pace making paths from their run-in shed to their hay feeder in the field. The mustangs and mules didn’t seem to care much either – they spent most of their time during the daylight wandering around in their pasture and occasionally coming back to hang out under the overhang of the barn. Once we returned home, we had to dig out again, as all the cleaned walkways were once again filled in with snow. Now, we are left with dirty snow piles, and anywhere the snow has melted, it has been replaced with mud….lots and lots of mud and standing water. Much like spring, this is a challenging time of the year in Central New York.
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Wakan, sporting beautiful snowflakes in his wild mustang forelock and mane.
A beautiful blanket of snow
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Feeding time, after the snow storm.
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Angel's first snow storm in Central New York
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Although the thought of a long, hard, snowy winter does not sound appealing to me – I have to admit that with the onset of each storm there is a sense of excitement. An awakening within me, to plan, prepare, and then sit and watch what nature unfolds before me. Nature is an awesome force that commands respect. In all her beauty and wonder, there is also danger and possible destruction. She awakens the most primal instincts I have and makes me feel alive like nothing else does. She makes me one with my surroundings and my animals. She blends me with the wildlife and the weather. She makes no distinctions between any living creatures. The flora, fauna, humans - all are equal in her eyes. Nature in her rawest form, has so many lessons to teach us and gifts to give us.
RECIPES
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Holiday Granola for the Hoofed Kids (and you too!)
by Mary A. Lainhart |
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Granola as a special Holiday Treat for your equine and cows
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Kashi - Go Lean Granola (Cinnamon Crunch or Toasted Berry Crisp)
Unsweetened banana chips Raw unsalted pumpkin seeds Raw unsalted sunflower seeds Dried Pineapple - cut into bits Dried Apricot - cut into bits Add all ingredients to a large bowl and mix. Store in an airtight container or in a plastic storage bag. Topdress grain with 1 cup of Granola Treat or serve by itself. I like to add some diced fresh apple to the top before serving. You can use whatever type of granola you wish, but if there are nuts, or other dried fruits make sure the ingredients are safe for your equine. |
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←Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Store in an airtight container or a plastic storage bag. Add fresh apples before serving as an extra special treat for the Holidays. → Our horses, mules and cows absolutely love this as a treat. Our cows are grassfed, so I put a scoop of granola on a pad of hay for each of them as a treat. Makes a great treat for people too. |
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ESSENTIAL OILSEach month we will share ways on how to safely use essential oils on your equines and your other pets. These are recommendations and not all inclusive uses of essential oils for your animal. Remember, all animals are individuals - so observe their behavior as you use essential oils (or anything) to see how they react to them.
WAYS TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS:
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CHRISTMAS SPIRIT™ ESSENTIAL OIL BLEND
Christmas Spirit™ is a sweet, spicy blend of orange, cinnamon, and spruce essential oils that tap into the happiness, joy, and security associated with the holiday season. With Christmas Spirit on hand, simply open a bottle and start diffusing!
Diffuse your favorite essential oils wherever you go with Young Living’s USB Diffuser. Use it with your laptop, your car, your office, or bring it along when you travel. It’s mobile, compact and silent with 10 second, 30 second, or 60 second diffusion interval settings. This diffuser functions as an air purifier and aroma diffuser in one simple-to-use product. Its atomizing technology transforms essential oils into a vapor of millions of microparticles, dispersing into the air the powerful plant constituents found in Young Living essential oils.
Available in four colors: Black, White, Pink, and Purple. |
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT™ FOR YOUR ANIMALS
Melissa Shelton, DVM - author of The Animal Desk Reference, Essential Oils for Animals, recommends Christmas Spirit™ Essential Oil Blend being used for either emotional or physical use. "Christmas Spirit contains Orange, Cinnamon Bark and Spruce. Situations of use include cognitive dysfunction, depression, laziness, and the need for security (such as a pup leaving its family.) Medically, this oil has anticancer and antimicrobial properties. "
USE OF EMOTIONAL BLENDS FOR YOUR ANIMALS
"In general, most emotional blends are used by either diffusion (April 2016 Issue) or Petting applications (March 2016 Issue).
Birds: Most blends will be water diffused, with approximately 1-4 drops within a diffuser. Indirect diffusion is also appropriate, as well as the "human diffuser" (April 2016) and perch applications.
Cats: Water diffusion is commonly used, as well as Petting (March 2016) neat or diluted.
Dogs & Larger Animals: Water or air diffusion (April 2016) can be utilized, however many times water diffusion is selected for homes where air diffusion is selected for barns. Very often, these animals can have 4 or more drops applied via Petting( neat), and certainly some even ingest certain emotional blends such as Peace and Calming II. If an animal feels drawn to ingesting the essential oil, I (Melissa Shelton, DVM) let them.
Never forget, often the humans need more emotional oils than the animals do, please treat yourself at the same time!"
Birds: Most blends will be water diffused, with approximately 1-4 drops within a diffuser. Indirect diffusion is also appropriate, as well as the "human diffuser" (April 2016) and perch applications.
Cats: Water diffusion is commonly used, as well as Petting (March 2016) neat or diluted.
Dogs & Larger Animals: Water or air diffusion (April 2016) can be utilized, however many times water diffusion is selected for homes where air diffusion is selected for barns. Very often, these animals can have 4 or more drops applied via Petting( neat), and certainly some even ingest certain emotional blends such as Peace and Calming II. If an animal feels drawn to ingesting the essential oil, I (Melissa Shelton, DVM) let them.
Never forget, often the humans need more emotional oils than the animals do, please treat yourself at the same time!"
The new portable Orb™ Diffuser is specially designed to be spill-proof, making it ideal for the office, the car or at home, and provides intermittent (blue LED light) or continuous (green LED light) diffusion for up to 4.5 hours. Includes three essential oil wicks.
Dimensions: 10.5cm Tall x 9cm in Diameter
How to Use: Fill the base with tap water, add 5-6 drops of essential oil directly onto the oil diffuser wick, close the diffuser, and select intermittent or continuous diffusion. See instruction booklet for complete usage details.
NOTE: THE USB CORD FOR THE USB DIFFUSERS WILL ALSO PLUG INTO AN APPLE iPhone plug so you can plug directly into a wall outlet for use anywhere in your home or barn.
Available in the Wild Heart Mustangs™ SHOP under Young Living Essential Oils. A great Christmas Gift!
Mary Lainhart is a Young Living OIls independent distributor because after years of her own successful use of them, she's confident of the purity and quality of Young LIving products. The Everyday Oils™ collection is the perfect beginner's kit, containing ten of Young Living's most popular and versatile essential oils. This kit will become a useful part of your day, everyday.
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What is the difference between Young Living Essential Oils and their Vitality™ Line?The Vitality ™ oils aren’t really new. The labels are, yes, but in reality, these are oils that Young Living was already selling. What’s setting them apart is that these ones are labeled for internal usage whereas the regular essential oils are labeled for aromatic and topical usage. If you’re wondering, that means that, yes, they are the exact same oils. For example, Lemon Vitality™ essential oil is exactly the same as regular Lemon essential oil. But, because of FDA’s regulations on essential oils, they must be marked separately.
Dietary Essential Oils
Perfect for adding flavor to your favorite foods or using as dietary supplements, the Vitality™ line of dietary essential oils gives you the freedom to share and explore some of our best-loved essential oils in a variety of nutritious and delicious ways. We invite you to discover Vitality™—for food, for family, for life! |
RESOURCES FOR HOMESTEADERSDISCLAIMERThe information contained on this website is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information on this website represents what I have chosen to do to take charge of my own personal health and that of my family. Statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using these products.
Information found on this website is meant for educational and informational purposes only, and to motivate you to make your own health care and dietary decisions based upon your own further research and in partnership with your health care provider. |
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