Natural Infused Water

Ok, so I admit it, I do enjoy having a soda every now and then, but I am constantly reminded of how many calories and sugars are in them, even in "diet" drinks.
 So I am on a quest to rid myself of soda pop. 

Today I had a glass of water infused with pomegranate!

 It was a nice light flavor and really tasted great!

Put as much fruit in water as you like and let the water sit for at least 30 minutes before drinking. I chose pomegranate today, But I also have cucumber I plan to try

and I am a regular with lemon water.

Besides tasting great and being very healthy, Infused waters also can 

help with detoxification, energy and hydration.

 

Below is a sample of some combinations and how they
may help your body and health.

1. Green tea, mint, lime: can help with fat burning, digestion,

 headaches, congestion and natural breath freshener.
2. Strawberry, kiwi: can help with cardiovascular health,

immune system protection, blood sugar regulation, digestion.
3. Cucumber, lime, lemon:  can help with water weight management,

bloating, appetite control, hydration, digestion
4. Lemon, lime, orange: digestion vitamin C, immune defense,

 heartburn, (Drink this one at room temperature)

 

As I have, I am sure you too will find that in no time this is all

you'll want to drink and you wont even miss Soda!

 

Enjoy!

 

My Kitchen Garden

After much thought and consideration, I have finally decided on a

Kitchen Garden, I love the concept and the look.

A kitchen garden can be the central feature of an all-season landscape or it may be a little more than a humble veggie plot. It is a source of herbs, vegetables and fruits, but it is often also a structured garden space with a design based on repetitive geometric patterns.
I am going to use 4 by 4 squares with a walk way between each square section.

A kitchen garden has year-round visual appeal and can incorporate permanent perennials or woody shrub plantings, and annuals. I hope to fence with a shabby white picket fence...If I can get my hands on some! :) Maybe a nice trellis for my squash and cucumbers and maybe a bench! I am sure this will be an ongoing process but I have the plans!

Grow!

 Its finally spring time! Here in WNY it seemed like it took a long time to get here! Finally this week we are having 70 and 80 degree weather! The Horner household is getting busy trying to take advantage of the beautiful weather and the fact its not raining. We bought our seeds for our garden this year, a big in ground garden versus our normal container gardening. I decided to use paper egg cartons for my seedlings to start in, they are biodegradable and will just break down in the soil, so its a win-win situation. I made a makeshift green house of sorts with 2x4s and plexi glass, and I must say its been working very well!

 Soon I will be working in my new green house and I cant wait!

I am not a very patient person, so waiting for those seedlings to grow has been killing me, but finally Results!!! My cucumber, basil, squash and corn is coming up! Few more weeks before they can handle WNY weather, we get frost rather late. Cant wait to enjoy the "Fruits of Our Labor"

We also have taken on 6 more chicks! Austrolorps, they are an Australian breed, black and white. Very cute! However 4 of them are Roosters...uuugh. So I think I am going to advertise breeders for sale, or we will have chicken in the freezer. They are growing fast too! Few more months and we should be getting more eggs! Its a fun season and a busy one! Updates when I can!

 

New Babies with heat light on.

                                                                                 Big Babies outside on the

                                                                                  porch now, heat at night.

 

                                                             

 

                                                     

 

 

 

 

Homemade Detergent Results

I thought I would post an update to my Homemade Laundry Soap Project. So far it has been working great, I dont see any negative side effects and it cleans as well if not better than normal store bought detergent. The freshness last a long ways. I just finished using up the first batch of soap and it lasted a total of 4 months for me, but I also gave quite a bit away, to my mom, my sister in law, my aunt, and a friend. If I had that back I think I could have easily gotten 6 months or more out of the first batch!! What a savings! Less than $20 for 6 month supply of soap! I made another batch today, but I changed up the recipe just a pinch, I am trying "Zote" Soap along with the Fels Naptha, Zote is also a natural cleaner and its great for whites. The Zote is a bigger bar than the Fels, so you can use just the Zote and get more bar soap for your money. The Zote is a little bit softer than the fels when you grate it. I also love that the Zote is pink! Gives it a fun color along with the yellow Fels. I also used a new Laundry Crystal this time as well. Its Purex for babies. Its safe for washing PJs, hypoallergenic and 87% natural, so its gentle on babies skin! It also has a great light scent!
I will repost again in a few months on how the new mix is working! Oh yeah I found another new trick: Add a tennis ball to your dryer, it will cut your dry time in half!

Homemade Bird Suet

 

I have been really enjoying my new bird watching hobby! I am getting so many varieties of birds at my feeders, its so neat to see the array of colors out there. I have been using store bought suet cakes and they have needless to say devoured them! Today is a particular cold day in Western NY, especially where I am in the Southern Tier, and I noticed all of there suet cakes were gone, and although there is a feeder out there they prefer the cakes, knowing that is so cold and my birds need there food, I stumbled on a recipe for homemade suet with most things already in

your cupboard! Less cost and less trips to buy more! After making the mix and putting

it out my birds are going crazy over it! Here is the recipe I used:

 

1 cup of vegetable shortening or lard

 1 cup of peanut butter

1 cup all-purpose flour

4 cups of dry ingredients such as cornmeal,

oatmeal, birdseed mix, dried fruit or sunflower seeds.

You can add more than one of those ingredients.

 

Mix the vegetable shortening and peanut butter into a large, microwave-safe bowl.

Microwave the mixture on high for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the shortening is liquefied. Stir the all-purpose flour into the melted vegetable shortening and peanut butter. Continue stirring until the mixture is one uniform color. Stir in up to 4 cups of dry ingredients such as cornmeal, oatmeal, birdseed mix, dried fruit or sunflower seeds.
Knead the mixture together by hand until it forms a dough the approximate consistency of cookie dough. ( I didnt knead mine I just stirred it by hand.)

Press the homemade suet into an 8-inch square pan. You dont need to grease the pan because the vegetable shortening will prevent the suet from sticking.

Place the pan in a cool, dry spot and wait for the suet to cool completely. I put mine in the freezer.

Cut the cool homemade bird food suet into chunks and hang them from trees in mesh bags or place them in suet bird feeders.

My birds are going crazy for this! I hope you have as much success as I am! Leave me a comment!
I will post pics soon!
 

 

Vintage Button Rings

So my newest obsession are these awesome old vintage metal, brass, bronze, copper, etc. buttons - I just love the patina and the story behind some of them. And repurposing them into jewelry is my latest hobby and obsession! They are truly unique and if your looking for one of a kind, look no further! Stunning detail in each and every piece. An Example of some of my recent work.

Not Vintage, But Pretty Flower
Cabachon Rings.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/farmchicsophisticate?ref=si_shop&view_type=list

Detox

So I have decided to do an all natural detox. Its made with apples and cinnamon. It cleanses your system and is supposed to help you lose weight and gain energy! Who wouldnt love that? Today Is day number 1, I will post photos and the recipe soon, I wanna see how this goes before I reccomend it! If you have any ideas or suggestions for natural detoxes leave me a comment!
Thanks