How to deal with fear

Good evening from the mountain, I have been reading everywhere about people being afraid.  Fear is simply a lack of knowledge to deal with a given matter.  If you are afraid of being without food, learn to grow your own, and then learn how to dry it, can it, pickle it, salt it or smoke it, fear gone.  If you are afraid of the darkness, find ways to create light.  Fear of the unknown, once know is nothing but dust. It is within us all to rise above the insanity of the world we live in, to reach for the truth and to care for each other.

I know you are wondering what we are up to on the mountain, as we have not been online as much as of late.  Well, to be honest my school work has been a constant task taking more hours than I had planned on devoting, but if I plan to continue for that magic piece of paper.  I have to continue until the task is finished.  So I continue on, but just for another twelve days.

The farm is going as expected, we have started of course, with off grid preparations, though we are still short the money to finish at this time.  The new kitchen more than half way done is starting to look like a real room and less like a piles of metal scrap.  We will continue to do what we can to get it dried in for the winter and see what can be done from there.

Many people have emailed me from around the world asking about some of the odd things that happen her in America.  I can not say too much for some of them; America is a very prejudice  country, that at this moment stands at the zenith of xenophobic behavior. America may state that it is an open, friendly country, however how we treat one another tells quite a different story. The hate of others is filtered into all aspects of life, from tv to video games.  I do not feel hatred toward another race, but detest the debauchery of the whole thing.  I have read so many articles stating this fact or that fact.  When you find out that the people sent to fix the problems, to lower the anger, went out and did what they were there to stop. It is all just too sad.  America has had a good run of do as I say, not as I do, but the eyes of the world are now upon her, and it is time she became a goodly Nation.

On to the black Friday events, what can be said short of it all comes down to money and greed.  Dear ones if you must fight, could you not do it for a worthy cause such as the banning of all GMOS, or clean water, tribal lands, healthy children, feeding the hungry...but to fight over spending money that most people do not have on things they do not need.  Consider whatever holiday you celebrate to do so from your heart.  Make something for a loved one, even if this means learning a new skill.  Baked gifts are always a blessing.  Enough with the consumerism!  Enough with the endless debt!  Free yourself from the mundane and find a more peaceful home.

One more thing call your parents, they miss you!

Be Blessed Dear Ones...
Shekhinah
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OPJXMN4

Hand crafted art glassFrozen Anna snowflake http://r.ebay.com/ywYWbh

Walmart Vs. Amazon and the scam heard round the world!

Just to let you know Walmart is blaming all the people who priced matched Amazon as taking advantage of them.  They told me that no one would expect them to honor what they earlier said. Which, was that they would price match Amazon, and I feel I must agree that since they said nothing at the beginning about third parties that they should keep their word. I went into price match only because someone else asked me to.

My children are quite contend with Sams club soda, but a good deal is a good deal.  But in one of my groups as women had done just that, she priced matched Amazon with Walmart, the 24 pack of Dr. Pepper cans were being sold on Amazon for a penny.  That is a great deal before shipping.  Many people did get it to work for them before Walmart cut them off.  Now do I think it is unfair for them to have gotten almost free soda, no not at all.  Walmart opened the door and did not think the whole process through, that is not the customers fault, but Walmarts fault.

Walmart higher ranking employees brought up that one would have to pay almost $30.00 shipping, so it was not technically a penny. While this is true, and I most assuredly understand their point, I spend money on gas to get to the Walmart Super Center, which is an hour from my door.  So for me it would have been a broken even moment at best. Rationally Walmart should have given this a lot more thought!

What came out of all this, a great understanding of how customers should and should not be treated and that many of these types of events are scams in general.  I say this as they continued to explain to me that for the most part they really will not match anything if they are going to lose money on but that each manager could decide if they wanted to price match or not.

Now my Walmart in Thayer, Mo. is as good as gold, never had a problem, but the larger stores they are not going to do it.  It was clearly explained to me that they don't have to, and anyone who does price matching is taking advantage of them.  So buyer beware with Walmart or any big chain store that tells you they will match prices.

Beware also of their black Friday sales, a few minutes shopping on the net could land you a better deal with much less stress, plus this is a time to spend with your family, so consider skipping the "Black Friday" week long nightmare and enjoy one another's company instead.

I post this because I care about the value that we are people have towards one another and I feel that it is truly sad that anyone would have to use any mean words when dealing with one another, but to treat customers in the manner that Walmart has done is simply unheard of, I would think that if Walmart was in it's right mind it would apologize to everyone that it has not been kind too.  Starting with me..

Just one more tiny thing, the very reason that we live the simple life we do is to not be a part of moments like this, but it is moments like this that make me even more determined to do more, grow more, reuse more and shop in stores less.

Do not let your stuff own your life, own it instead and when live gets you down, and the world is unkind, just remember always to look on the bright side of life. Everything that happens in our lives happens for just a moment and then that moment is passed and once gone can never be retrieved.  So live well and be happy my dears, because life is short and precious.  

Be Blessed from the mountain

Shekhinah

http://youtu.be/u2UP86bciVA

The President of America must be drunk or worse...

President Barack Obama are you drunk or are you back on the herb? Who are all these people who agree with you on immigration? I can tell you I am not one of them.

If these people want to be citizens let them join our military.

As far as forgiving these people because they have been here five years or more, they still broke the law and they did so for five years or more. Where have they been working, because they were breaking the law the whole time.They have not paid taxes for five years or more. They have in many cases received free medical care and an education in this country.

Next I do not need you to preach scripture to me in regards to offering kindness. The people who rightfully came to this country deserve to stay these other people, rob the already poor of much-needed funds, they use scholarships that should be used for people born in this country! The elderly of this country should be cared for as well as they people who illegally came here.

You are talking about over 3 million people, up to around 5 million. I think it is likely to be on the higher end of 5 million people. At only $100. per person that is half a billion dollars. What in the heck is wrong with you sir to feel we as citizens of this land would be ok with that sort of gross use of our tax dollars?

Honestly Sir, this is no way to run our country!

Shekhinah

Solar security lights and outdoor lights and a rotten bull

Good evening from the mountain, it has been a long few days, but that seems to be quite the norm around here.  A little while ago I was just sitting here working on a book when my husband comes into to let me know the bull is in the winter garden.  I was so mad I go the gun out and thought about how lovely he would taste, but I have no time to butcher a bull today, so he lives. He tore up part of a row of turnips, trampled some more and stepped on my radishes, ewww.

Aside from the bull I got new lights in today, I love my solar. 

Two sets of string lights and one new security light.  It is a great place to start.  I am also getting solar lights for the barn, but that is taking a bit longer as funds are tight.

Anyway that is our progress for the week, thanks for being a part of our world and remember just changing out one light over to solar is the first step in making the world a better place and freeing yourself from the power company.

Be blessed
Shekhinah
Please consider getting our latest book:

Building a hydroponics system can be easy, cheap and fun…

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OPJXMN4

Good morning from the mountain...

Good Morning from the mountain, been up since six, cleaning and cooking.  I made blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup; they went over very well.  I made enough for breakfast tomorrow.   So the children should be very happy.  It also means one less thing I have to do tomorrow morning.

I cleaned out the fridge and made a large pot of food for the dogs with the fridge remains.  Cleaned the kitchen back up and put away some of the pasta I bought at Walmart yesterday.  This time of year all pasta, rice and grain goes into glass jars and hand or foot warmers are added to seal the jars and remove the oxygen.   I do this in case there are invisible to the human eye bug eggs in the pasta, rice, etc.  I also do this to make sure I have not brought moths home. 

I am now getting ready to can some pasta sauce and do some math, I might try to make some glass today.  I have wanted to make glass roses for a while now.  I need to work on the books as well.  I am very pleased with the launch of our first book; “Building a hydroponics system can be easy, cheap and fun...” it seems to be holding its own quite well.  I cannot wait for the release of the next book!

As to the farm, our hydroponics systems are coming along well and I am looking forward to fresh tomatoes and other yummy food all winter long.  As to the outdoor gardens our tomatoes are still going strong, but next week will surely kill them and they will be done.  Then we have to rely on the root vegetables and our greens for fresh food to go with our meat.  Our turnips are doing quite well; the others could be spouting anytime now.  I anticipate the beets coming up anytime, perhaps the carrots are too late, but we still have radishes to look forward to as well.  Our kale has done remarkable and I know we will eat well all winter long. 

I know most people do not farm through the winter, but it is the best time to grow some type of greens like Kale and turnip.  I almost forgot about the cabbage, onions and garlic, they are all doing well too.  So far it has been very cold out here, unseasonably so and with this we have had to look very closely at many of the things we do.  We have stocked up on wood, hay, food and such, as I can almost feel snow in the air and fear being caught up on the mountain for weeks at a time.  We have to take care of ourselves and look out for ourselves.  It can be a hard life…at the end of the day I and my husband are often exhausted, but all we do is for us and our children.  It is live by our own terms and means, it can be hard, but it is always rewarding. 

So I must leave you here dear ones, my work calls and I must go…

Be Blessed

Shekhinah

P.S. below this is a link to a fundraiser we are having to raise money to help us get off grid, please share it with everyone.

https://fundrazr.com/stories/68SXK4?psid=4828833b69fe45d9b0b4b36eabfa6fd2&fb_ref=share__b4BmXb