tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8920128442837328112024-02-06T23:37:13.976-05:00The Hippie MooseSimple, Spiritual, and Sustainable Living.The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.comBlogger261125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-29868760005274331172019-03-31T22:47:00.003-04:002019-03-31T22:47:30.988-04:00No He's Not Blind, And Other Random Questions<span style="font-size: large;">Today is a special day. Today is the third anniversary of my husband receiving his Service Dog, Larry.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiij-dSaGqH-0DzLWMPGuilk5Sl2pKJN-fjhIwENgD9Mfv5RIF3eLffkUB_47r_MYDoAbWOmI3_s1wRE48Yv24omtyo2wWOBGz5MBgJhTK2sBFvv5XDPtIhKMiZkexzELmmjJOQ_bvcKHXV/s1600/IMG_1365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiij-dSaGqH-0DzLWMPGuilk5Sl2pKJN-fjhIwENgD9Mfv5RIF3eLffkUB_47r_MYDoAbWOmI3_s1wRE48Yv24omtyo2wWOBGz5MBgJhTK2sBFvv5XDPtIhKMiZkexzELmmjJOQ_bvcKHXV/s1600/IMG_1365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiij-dSaGqH-0DzLWMPGuilk5Sl2pKJN-fjhIwENgD9Mfv5RIF3eLffkUB_47r_MYDoAbWOmI3_s1wRE48Yv24omtyo2wWOBGz5MBgJhTK2sBFvv5XDPtIhKMiZkexzELmmjJOQ_bvcKHXV/s320/IMG_1365.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">My husband has PTDS and a Dissociative Disorder. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">He's not blind. You'd be surprised how many people are shocked when he makes eye contact.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In honour of this special occasion here are a list of General Rules when you meet someone with a Service Animal....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-xCpAE3w7bF9_PZtuWx8KE0PBd7hdf8w3KG446FUJ911Ljfb8c2chy5w3jzzlhuO9QVgswUtsM752NTxamwSot7yHjaJd5KPAwTOFzqLrByptz1kH0h8XryBs-jxbH52CMCiXPnbBCC7/s1600/IMG_1139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-xCpAE3w7bF9_PZtuWx8KE0PBd7hdf8w3KG446FUJ911Ljfb8c2chy5w3jzzlhuO9QVgswUtsM752NTxamwSot7yHjaJd5KPAwTOFzqLrByptz1kH0h8XryBs-jxbH52CMCiXPnbBCC7/s320/IMG_1139.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">1. Don't touch. You distract the animal from the job they're trying to do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. Don't ask someone why they have a service animal. They don't ask you personal questions about your life.... you probably shouldn't either.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOaYKvEEcYRbO24KryWoY4PUaujL5DLz0MmHi2yn6jsJoj62U0tu88J_wU3VXADyDcG3fFwCym_fhP9eU4VYP2f8TSpL2jJjehfov_01VSCLmhXzVXyKQOfS2vl8JPUjV8DgMgmlCUkKY/s1600/11822708_10153464658995549_7182637349802086445_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOaYKvEEcYRbO24KryWoY4PUaujL5DLz0MmHi2yn6jsJoj62U0tu88J_wU3VXADyDcG3fFwCym_fhP9eU4VYP2f8TSpL2jJjehfov_01VSCLmhXzVXyKQOfS2vl8JPUjV8DgMgmlCUkKY/s320/11822708_10153464658995549_7182637349802086445_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-xCpAE3w7bF9_PZtuWx8KE0PBd7hdf8w3KG446FUJ911Ljfb8c2chy5w3jzzlhuO9QVgswUtsM752NTxamwSot7yHjaJd5KPAwTOFzqLrByptz1kH0h8XryBs-jxbH52CMCiXPnbBCC7/s1600/IMG_1139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">3. Don't talk to the animal. He's working... he doesn't have time to chat. He's trying to listen and smell for changes in his human so he can alert to an oncoming problem. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. Finally, do not ask to see his license. This is actually against the law. Larry's jacket clearly marks him as a Service Dog, (not a therapy dog, or emotional support dog) and has the Training organization patch clearly shown. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you have an issue, please contact them. <a href="http://kingstonservicedogs.ca/" target="_blank">Kingston 4 Paws Service Dogs </a>is an amazing organization and are so helpful.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5SivPL49upcKDhX6EKUFhr2UNpxHGIkcdNhB4xPjokz3yoEkow8tMwtbwGWToIRStqEAv8EenQcXf6-OsmSfcBo8WeHuHyNMLUMeoK8d-j3xzVpg7IYqbNee7YVgeeptHOmaD5vcVJSM/s1600/IMG_1341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5SivPL49upcKDhX6EKUFhr2UNpxHGIkcdNhB4xPjokz3yoEkow8tMwtbwGWToIRStqEAv8EenQcXf6-OsmSfcBo8WeHuHyNMLUMeoK8d-j3xzVpg7IYqbNee7YVgeeptHOmaD5vcVJSM/s400/IMG_1341.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-36887291007735605412017-09-01T16:37:00.000-04:002018-09-17T18:34:46.153-04:00No Waste shopping at Bulk BarnI recently viewed a video on Facebook of a supermarket that creates no waste. All of the containers are reusable and you simply fill, use, wash, repeat!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiT1cR9-4QD_qL99yO4f2Xsjft63FmDF1OsmilC1-Odhp6E3QwkU975tMzOjixh1SYvQac6ntks45PODIvy_Xe-DEZAI3X6QYQFVGQYAlVi2MQZbsJ1pi1zWrJ4lhv-pvJAh9ioNcSSz1n/s1600/spices-2454799_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1280" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiT1cR9-4QD_qL99yO4f2Xsjft63FmDF1OsmilC1-Odhp6E3QwkU975tMzOjixh1SYvQac6ntks45PODIvy_Xe-DEZAI3X6QYQFVGQYAlVi2MQZbsJ1pi1zWrJ4lhv-pvJAh9ioNcSSz1n/s400/spices-2454799_1280.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I was recently in Bulk Barn near my home here in Ontario and noticed a sign I hadn't seen before.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHS7bq0HjMksN0Gi-SUokHD3D1bzzi0O0jXRpoL5thNd7x12no6J-0ysF2aQPI-oQuUeR2HbiSTxDPrOV-Vn8f2S0IWckoZsNdGXvDmNwfn1Ogb23o9F5ZCUZeSNw63h-kWxIhKsa4whqJ/s1600/fullsizeoutput_289.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="1180" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHS7bq0HjMksN0Gi-SUokHD3D1bzzi0O0jXRpoL5thNd7x12no6J-0ysF2aQPI-oQuUeR2HbiSTxDPrOV-Vn8f2S0IWckoZsNdGXvDmNwfn1Ogb23o9F5ZCUZeSNw63h-kWxIhKsa4whqJ/s400/fullsizeoutput_289.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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You see the Bulk Barn is already doing this whole thing and I never clued in!!! So in case you're interested they have a page devoted to how it works.<br />
<a href="http://www.bulkbarn.ca/en/Reusable-Container-Program" target="_blank">BULK BARN Reusable-Container-Program</a><br />
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Kudos to the Bulk Barn for stepping up the no-waste game.<br />
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Here's where you can find one near you:<br />
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<a href="http://www.bulkbarn.ca/en/Stores" target="_blank">FIND A BULK BARN</a><br />
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<br />The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-8138656154824525032017-03-12T12:15:00.000-04:002018-09-17T18:44:11.783-04:00333 Clothing Challenge<br />
UPDATE: We have settled into a comfortable clothing number for us. It's definitely more than 33 pieces but we've eliminated all the seasonal Rubbermaids in storage which gives us more storage space for everything else we love to do!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.bemorewithless.com/project-333" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="1080" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RXZHlBfN4ZBKaYEyyUQIAopxcEABZx50m39MEjmynGzY0jafocW1Peo9Q6JPpea3p1m7U3YOZQVWBu6KJQDQLXFjKmM5AHk9SUimRTscnbygDtYE3noBFu8BOaNPxqh4XgmDxKN0L3Ns/s400/whats-project-333-1080x497.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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On February 1st my husband and I embarked on the <a href="http://bemorewithless.com/project-333/" target="_blank">333 Clothing Challeng</a>e. The premise is to condense your clothes to 33 items for 3 months. It took some sorting and a lot of purging but we both managed to pare our clothes down to 33 items. <br />
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Now, in the spirit of full disclosure... my 33 items does not include my shoes. I figure this is my first shot at this and I'm taking some leniency on this issue. <br />
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This is the after shot of my closet. My husband and I actually share a closet that's only 3 feet wide so it's nice to have some spare room in my 1.5 feet section! I should have taken a before pic but just picture it packed and overflowing and you pretty much get the idea.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlgWg5dxO39makPuhxwWkvyJCXX7c4-XqbvFtoalnLqiPeyDxTro1NXQZxAupvZlW4cZLCvF4lTgWvexU_QcAXsXmU7XXVCAzwrfu3KnFYlZ1uihFFrymPhHohQKFacjT7Zwkk704lzf1/s1600/IMG_1444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlgWg5dxO39makPuhxwWkvyJCXX7c4-XqbvFtoalnLqiPeyDxTro1NXQZxAupvZlW4cZLCvF4lTgWvexU_QcAXsXmU7XXVCAzwrfu3KnFYlZ1uihFFrymPhHohQKFacjT7Zwkk704lzf1/s320/IMG_1444.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I'm just about half way through the challenge and at this point I don't miss anything. I gave a lot of stuff away, I have a single rubbermaid in storage of the things I purged from my dresser/closet but couldn't bring myself to get rid of. At this point it will be interesting to go through the stored clothes and see what I couldn't live without because I don't remember what any of it looked like at the moment.</div>
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If you're interested in trying this out the official Website for the Challenge is <a href="http://bemorewithless.com/project-333/" target="_blank">HERE</a> it's the Be More With Less ~ Project 333. I highly recommend giving it a shot.</div>
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Check out Life Your Way site for a free PDF printable to get you started: <a href="https://lifeyourway.net/printables/project333.pdf">https://lifeyourway.net/printables/project333.pdf</a> </div>
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Results so far:</div>
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<b>Less laundry</b> - I have less stuff so I'm more careful about washing things when they are dirty, not just because I wore them once.</div>
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<b>Faster Mornings</b> - I have less to choose from so it's simpler and quicker to pick something.</div>
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<b>Dresser Top</b> - I have enough space in my dresser for all my clothes now which means that heap of clothes that always landed on the top of my dresser because I was tired of trying to jam it in is now GONE!</div>
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Happy Purging! (And despite what my teenager thinks, this doesn't mean going wild one night a year - it means getting rid of the clutter that takes up time. space, and causes stress.)</div>
The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-33892724764185629752017-01-09T21:56:00.000-05:002018-09-17T18:51:52.035-04:00Cut the CrapStuff can be a burden. You have to find space for it, you have to clean it, you have to move it, you keep collecting it. It's amazing how the amount of stuff you own seems to grow to fit the space you have, and even then it usually maxes out your real estate and you are either struggling to live around it or you're constantly moving it around. I'm pretty sick of stuff.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSM4K6zJjCkGYsBMOQLjON_Jo1or37_6KNuFyTRZTmlB39BzkiLgI7MRU2J209whPZ1B7BBa5bpc-et6vzjRlSCOrF14OPiKECzyGjf966HjUefMV2S_JHLkHMLb5PUQGzK4nWIahRPmql/s1600/cleaning-the-house-funny-quotes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSM4K6zJjCkGYsBMOQLjON_Jo1or37_6KNuFyTRZTmlB39BzkiLgI7MRU2J209whPZ1B7BBa5bpc-et6vzjRlSCOrF14OPiKECzyGjf966HjUefMV2S_JHLkHMLb5PUQGzK4nWIahRPmql/s320/cleaning-the-house-funny-quotes.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
2017 is my year to purge my crap. The stuff that I have some odd sentimental attachment to and feel I can release to someone who would ACTUALLY enjoy/use it. I still love the person who gave it to me.... I just don't have use for the gift anymore. I don't feel like this is a statement on our friendship/relationship. If someone was sick and tired of a gift I had given them I HOPE they would turf it out of their life and recycle it into someone else's who needs it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfW4I-Pee32Dkkzm3us4tUGg_jcXaeZVSOzzalXZe4Zsf-0C78swGqyKY-H3CJLsf4UG84cENcQ_4lrpvn7YxjRcYL1Orx7bJB_yDL7Ma6nzjq4EfGkc_6Y_VJVU0p_3X5C8V2vyBMl0hW/s1600/67tw1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="454" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfW4I-Pee32Dkkzm3us4tUGg_jcXaeZVSOzzalXZe4Zsf-0C78swGqyKY-H3CJLsf4UG84cENcQ_4lrpvn7YxjRcYL1Orx7bJB_yDL7Ma6nzjq4EfGkc_6Y_VJVU0p_3X5C8V2vyBMl0hW/s320/67tw1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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To be clear... I'm NOT a hoarder. I don't need an intervention or a team of helpers. I just need to make it a priority. I need to be more brutal in my evaluating process. I know this because every year I attempt to purge and the following year the same crap is kicking around the house.... why did I let this item make the cut last year? What value did I see in it? Was I high? What was I thinking? <br />
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This year I'm going to be more brutal with my process, less sentimental. I'm no longer looking at it as losing things, I choose to look at it as liberating myself from things I don't need.<br />
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Item #1....<br />
my waffle maker.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoh-etIVr2b8Hb4o_wU_POSBndzqFCl4rXj6CSwlgF8TIcwDQXsF8aIqe0na0n6HvvpYC56LraWKxeSCIAE0NX32C_byZqOL-cSL_k1NlQZ05TtKNXMX5BnOfXthfOuRdRxyv2_GfMeM4/s1600/IMG_1310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoh-etIVr2b8Hb4o_wU_POSBndzqFCl4rXj6CSwlgF8TIcwDQXsF8aIqe0na0n6HvvpYC56LraWKxeSCIAE0NX32C_byZqOL-cSL_k1NlQZ05TtKNXMX5BnOfXthfOuRdRxyv2_GfMeM4/s320/IMG_1310.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-49893928624595730162017-01-04T08:21:00.001-05:002017-01-04T22:31:50.678-05:00Camping at Home ~ Surviving No WaterDo not let the title fool you. I'm not having a good time.<br />
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We recently had a water holding tank installed here in the woods because of bad water in a well that was running dry. For the first time in years I was going to be able to drink the water that comes out of my tap. But with all things, few things go according to plan. The tank was finished mid December and I think we've had running water for approx. 8 days since. I don't really want to talk about it.<br />
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to me.<br />
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If this ever happens to you you will need the following:<br />
Your therapist on speed dial.<br />
A decent sized bucket for putting water in the back of the toilet.<br />
An outhouse if possible<br />
A large pot for boiling water for dishes/ sponge baths. (The kettle doesn't cut it)<br />
A crap ton of water jugs to fill at a good friends place or outdoor water tap. Preferably the type with a spigot. You can put them on counters for brushing teeth/cooking/etc.<br />
A wagon for moving these half ton jugs once they are full.<br />
Patience and a sense of humour.<br />
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Some other helpful items are:<br />
A large bucket you can stand in while sponge bathing. All that water that you used to clean yourself can now get scooped into the back of the toilet to flush it when it really needs it.<br />
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Small tub on your counter with water in it to soak dishes before you get around to doing them. It makes the actual act of washing them easier and prevents the waste of people trying to rinse them off one at a time.<br />
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Small cups in the bathroom for brushing teeth. You put a bit of water in the cup and keep dipping your toothbrush to get it wet/rinse it off. <br />
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A large bottle of merlot. Just because.<br />
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This whole experience has me thinking about places that don't have clean water, places that are in drought and have to conserve every drop they have. We really do waste a lot of water. It's also amazing how little water you need if you're disciplined about how you use it and re-use it.<br />
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Unless you live under a rock I'm sure you've heard of the fight at Standing Rock. The protest to stop an oil pipeline that would threaten the clean water source for a huge population including the<br />
Standing Rock Sioux near Lake Oahe. The pipeline is slated to run a mere 800m away from their Territory.<br />
Now everyone knows how important water is, but I don't think people realize the logistics of not having clean drinking water. An experience like this reminds me how important it is to keep our water protected and safe. We can't live without it.<br />
<br />The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-40183100064437375902016-07-15T22:09:00.002-04:002016-07-15T22:09:43.143-04:00Inspiration<span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever gotten yourself in a rut and had a hard time getting out? Sometimes the catalyst for change comes in the most unexpected forms. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have been wanting to get back online, blogging about the things I love, the stuff I find inspiring, passing on any bits of creativity I can come up with. But I haven't. I will save that long and involved story for some other time when you're perhaps bored and I can keep your attention. Tonight I just want to inspire you to make a change that's been sitting on the backburner... bugging the crap out of you.... niggling at you when you just want it to shut up.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8W01Nfqw2WxteWZ6NUfQqQqQAGTkoQZmF55THF27pXrPANvBD4fBGBipyiJm33zAEGGKLsJ7WOn1h9Y5qH5lX3-jnUbdI_Prmad7jbdkVaPCSx8JSALhwUzWbb5Vf52nxElOo5pov-b84/s1600/28230842982_cacae70b6a_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8W01Nfqw2WxteWZ6NUfQqQqQAGTkoQZmF55THF27pXrPANvBD4fBGBipyiJm33zAEGGKLsJ7WOn1h9Y5qH5lX3-jnUbdI_Prmad7jbdkVaPCSx8JSALhwUzWbb5Vf52nxElOo5pov-b84/s640/28230842982_cacae70b6a_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My inspiration came from my nephew Luke who has been watching my blog. On a recent visit he mentioned that he still visits my site even though there's nothing new. So this is for you Luke... may we both continue to follow our dreams!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-43541780713839370412015-12-25T19:26:00.002-05:002015-12-25T19:26:59.527-05:00Merry Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghynI3UzQjZTAkht1L1uVti0VaDQW9qRWcJaz5qfv8x9sjAs-FZugFqmkOyK9_4qNO_BlTOsfD6d6DWVIgGeYasXUzwXnzqWWt3AO2jM3RC6S37s1MD59nOY_MudrPIL7P_iARcBjlT0Qz/s1600/196579_10151333152395549_1875189098_n-SNOW.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghynI3UzQjZTAkht1L1uVti0VaDQW9qRWcJaz5qfv8x9sjAs-FZugFqmkOyK9_4qNO_BlTOsfD6d6DWVIgGeYasXUzwXnzqWWt3AO2jM3RC6S37s1MD59nOY_MudrPIL7P_iARcBjlT0Qz/s400/196579_10151333152395549_1875189098_n-SNOW.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Merry Christmas to all my friends! It's been a crazy year, a year you didn't see me much. I'm not going to lie it was a rough go. I started 2015 with a broken leg, and things just seemed to stay challenging. I learned a lot. I worked on myself. I know myself better, I love myself more. I think we all need these cocoon years to really focus inward and inspect what's there, to purge the baggage to make room for new amazing growth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I look forward to sharing creativity, vulnerability, and random crazy in 2016. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Wherever you are in your journey here on earth, know that every season is important, transformative, and necessary. Blessings to you as you live out your own adventure, and remember.... we're in this together.</span><br />
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Love & Peace, Steph aka The Hippie Moose<br />
<br />The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-67816887875754973252015-09-27T11:03:00.003-04:002015-09-27T11:03:49.737-04:00Fall ChangesFall always seems like a time of change for me. Time to put my summer clothes away, pull out my warm cozy clothes, can all my harvest. Was looking at my Pinterest today and I think everyone else must be in the same Fall mindset because this seems to be my most popular pin so far this month (click the picture to go to the pin):<br />
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/100134791691117287/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfD_9de_b8DPJ7GA-BXdxi8giwIZM2WpCUyqOKWA-W4UUc06U1nOcy0HieUsGBHO_bYBKnQjocO6qbazanSCZ46ji8buZuIx89D86zUgiHl8EpoiIeibEw8UZgYDAxOA1CSkV4LkLJuVBe/s400/33effb4351794423559840ba9c6622d4.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
<br />The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-39817830926070045252015-01-04T19:46:00.003-05:002015-01-04T19:46:38.011-05:00Picture the MooseMy nephew Luke drew me a Hippie Moose and I have to say... I'm SO impressed!!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xqo977TETD7LnL-1NfgW0QS2LDt-f5FBLJ97blHSqLTQS_AoRu-N792mVLUsHbA5anmgq76RejHokEuCf8oQZOAep4acGvbhbEeTVKdpU41k_OaSbbed48BeRrC5AxP2PzEhAXmRIYzf/s1600/hippiemoosebyluke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xqo977TETD7LnL-1NfgW0QS2LDt-f5FBLJ97blHSqLTQS_AoRu-N792mVLUsHbA5anmgq76RejHokEuCf8oQZOAep4acGvbhbEeTVKdpU41k_OaSbbed48BeRrC5AxP2PzEhAXmRIYzf/s1600/hippiemoosebyluke.jpg" height="400" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by Artist Luke Peters</td></tr>
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<br />The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-38927666519668020522014-12-15T10:32:00.000-05:002014-12-15T10:32:03.095-05:00Moose Relocation ProgramWe have finally relocated, phew, done. Now I have to admit there are a few boxes kicking around still, and my office looks a bit like a tornado, but things are shaping up nicely.<div>
We moved on November 1st, and I can almost see our old place from my kitchen window now that the trees have no leaves, so we didn't move far!!</div>
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We got in just in time because November and December here have seen a lot of this....</div>
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Luckily we just installed one of these....</div>
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(The woodstove, not the dog)</div>
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The cat has found a new favorite spot among my collection of coffee pots.</div>
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This is what the front yard looked like on Thursday morning...</div>
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This is what I looked like by Thursday at noon...</div>
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Sometimes life is hard to understand. But I'm really happy I managed to get so much unpacking done before this happened!</div>
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Enjoy yourselves... but watch that ice!</div>
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The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-52125426621033898842014-10-15T23:23:00.000-04:002014-10-15T23:23:07.481-04:00Trip to The Enchanted Forest StudioMy husband and I took a trip to <a href="http://www.theenchantedforest.ca/">The Enchanted Forest Studio</a> for the Westport Studio Tour. Our friend <a href="http://www.davidrmaracle.com/">David R. Maracle</a> was playing and showing his sculptures. <br />
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The house, built by photographer Brian Mantrop, was simply amazing and I had to share some pictures. He built it from the ground up using tons of recycled and repurposed materials.<br />
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Faithful dog guards the apple basket.<br />
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The house is 4 levels, the main floor living area, office area, and two bedrooms.<br />
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There are amazing outbuildings on the property that serve as studio's and sheds.<br />
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Kathy Cashman's studio, she makes amazing clothing!<br />
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The front porch of the main house, including a stone seating area for your morning coffee....<br />
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The main living area, tons of windows let in natural light.<br />
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The amazing woodwork comprising the ceiling on the main level.<br />
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If you ever get a chance to visit this amazing place I promise you won't be disappointed!The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com0McAndrews Road East, Westport, ON K0G 1X0, Canada44.6440724 -76.40071109999996744.6327139 -76.42096709999997 44.6554309 -76.380455099999963tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-30761569301858695942014-09-26T08:45:00.000-04:002014-09-26T08:45:02.460-04:00Mailbox MakeoverHappy Fall to you all! Thought I would post some pictures of my latest project!<br />
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Our mailbox has been in some need of TLC for some time now and I finally managed to pick one up on sale at TSC (sorry that was a lot of abbreviations!)<br />
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So, a mailbox, some white rust-proof paint, a paintbrush and your're ready to go!<br />
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The reason I haven't put it up yet? We are MOVING!! At the end of October we are moving just down the road and into the woods. We are SO excited, The mailbox is getting packed up and is moving down the street with us!<br />
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<br />The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-65198182079594383102014-07-05T14:21:00.001-04:002014-07-05T14:21:31.947-04:00BloomingI love this time of year when everything is growing, blooming, and so alive!<br />
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My lavender is doing really well this year. Last year, not so much. I tried wintering it in containers but the roots froze and that was the end of that. Soooo, last year we planted lavender in the ground where it wintered just fine!<br />
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The rest of the garden is coming along nicely...<br />
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<br />The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-73387125768925060102014-06-17T22:06:00.003-04:002014-06-17T22:09:25.028-04:00Storm Front & Quivering puppys<span style="font-size: large;">We had quite the storm front come through tonight. Threats of tornado's and hail ~ we got thunder, lightning, and HUGE rain! After the storm moved on I got a few pictures of the evening sky... </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My poor shivering mass of a Golden Retriever was finally brave enough to go outside for a pee. (She's not so good with thunder)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The sky almost looked like it was on fire...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now if you will excuse me I need to make sure none of the dogs pee'd in my shoes this time around.</span></div>
The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-5994032739891032552014-06-16T22:56:00.000-04:002014-06-16T22:56:36.963-04:00Charcoal<span style="font-size: large;">I recently rediscovered charcoal. I love working with it. I had forgotten. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you've never used it I highly recommend trying it. It's available at any art supply store and it's so easy to use. I love the ability you have to shade and really get your fingers dirty. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I was introduced to the idea of adding white pain at the end to add highlights and I think it's brilliant, not to mention another opportunity to finger paint as an adult! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Below is a youtube video on the basics of getting started with charcoal. </span><br />
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!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/bS63SiG3dws?rel=0" width="480"></iframe>The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-80265711066969793452014-04-19T10:20:00.000-04:002014-04-19T10:20:42.909-04:00Life Emerging Happy Easter/Passover! Been spending some time out in Creation enjoying watching it wake up from this winter.<br />
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Napanee, ON</div>
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Napanee, ON</div>
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Napanee, ON</div>
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Sandbanks Provincial Park</div>
The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-29096668650496183562014-04-10T14:48:00.000-04:002016-07-15T22:10:19.374-04:00Overnight Oatmeal ~ love it.I'm sure you've seen this floating around facebook. I decided to try after my 28 day Clean Gut cleanse as a way of eating oatmeal again without the gluten.<br />
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<b>Overnight Oatmeal</b><br />
1 cup almond or coconut milk<br />
1/2 cup whole oats (large flake)<br />
1/4 tsp. vanilla<br />
1/4 tsp. cinnamon<br />
1 tbsp. raisins<br />
2 tbsp chia seeds<br />
1 tbsp ground flax seed<br />
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Mix everything in a mason jar. Screw on lid and place in fridge overnight.<br />
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By morning the chia seeds have softened and all the milk has been absorbed. I really love it. My husband prefers dried cranberries. I like mine cold but I have a co-worker who warms her's up and loves it.<br />
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Are oats gluten free? Well it actually depends on the company you buy them from. Quaker says that can't help some cross contamination and testing shows gluten in their product. What companies are gluten free? Here are a few:<br />
<a href="http://www.bobsredmill.com/">Bob's Red Mill </a><br />
<a href="http://www.creamhillestates.com/en_home.php">Cream Hill Estates</a><br />
<a href="http://avenafoods.com/">Only Oats </a><br />
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Check your local bulk food or health food store!<br />
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I JUST found this recipe at theyummylife.com ~ Pineapple Coconut Oatmeal. I will be trying that out! (Click on the picture below for the recipe) For a link to a bunch more varieties of overnight oatmeal check out The Yummy Life website <a href="http://www.theyummylife.com/Refrigerator_Oatmeal">HERE</a>.<br />
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The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-22511103785961404112014-03-30T18:00:00.000-04:002014-04-01T14:36:57.696-04:00Make Your Own Suet Cakes <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ym2KnSuPnps1h3REpolqMqp6rUMSFH74V8Z08SIyjmb0R-2B9pmroqhqmfiuzQv_2JZuJwUd6bV_kkcW32YvIBc6dw_1bv9MnefKGQwl_NtojCAg4kB2Xvk0axZRKrnOUJWD5xCmU0vj/s1600/woodpecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ym2KnSuPnps1h3REpolqMqp6rUMSFH74V8Z08SIyjmb0R-2B9pmroqhqmfiuzQv_2JZuJwUd6bV_kkcW32YvIBc6dw_1bv9MnefKGQwl_NtojCAg4kB2Xvk0axZRKrnOUJWD5xCmU0vj/s1600/woodpecker.jpg" height="320" width="185" /></a>I remember when suet cakes were less than a dollar each. I realize I sound like some old woman complaining about the price of gas, but seriously!<br />
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If you are cheap like me here are a few easy steps to feed those ravenous winged creatures outside. The ones who even now are making enough noise to wake the dead because my suet is chilling in the fridge...<br />
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All you need is some fat ~ I use bacon fat. I never throw out bacon drippings, it's something I learned from my grandmother and I could never shake it. I let them cool a bit and spoon them into a mason jar that is always in the back of my fridge.<br />
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Where were we? Right, suet for pig-birds.<br />
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3/4 cup bacon fat (approx.)<br />
1/2 cup peanut butter (anything you have, they are NOT picky)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-l_QVUcliKIPXl88LIaIXG3jd7TCSgKeEVSj5RZ1YW1MNNk0ru4isUEuMasVfQrx6E-U4QMKl0uf4YVwG1duj7Sp6WSMTVbwZKDjjCHlYyafwdV4wEXgWw4aYQvV0mumTPrhqseHqXSm/s1600/IMG_1207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-l_QVUcliKIPXl88LIaIXG3jd7TCSgKeEVSj5RZ1YW1MNNk0ru4isUEuMasVfQrx6E-U4QMKl0uf4YVwG1duj7Sp6WSMTVbwZKDjjCHlYyafwdV4wEXgWw4aYQvV0mumTPrhqseHqXSm/s1600/IMG_1207.JPG" height="126" width="200" /></a>~Melt these together. (I often just use the big fry pan I used for the bacon, that way I only have to wash it once.)<br />
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6 cups wild bird seed (approx.)<br />
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~Mix in enough wild bird seed to fill the pan but you can still see a fine layer of liquid over the top. <br />
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Use a big spoon to put into containers.<br />
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I kept all my old suet containers so I just re-use those.<br />
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If you don't have anything that shape you could cut off the bottoms of old milk cartons and fill those. They are waxed and pop out easy once the suet is chilled.<br />
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When looking online for a recipe with more precise amounts I came across this one:<br />
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<h3 style="background-color: #ffffcc; border: 0px; clear: left; color: #333366; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://www.almanac.com/content/bird-food-recipe-suet">Suet Cake</a></h3>
<ul style="background-color: #ffffcc; border: 0px; clear: none; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 10px 15px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; z-index: 0;">
<li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17.399999618530273px; list-style: none url(http://www.almanac.com/sites/new.almanac.com/themes/almanacWide/images/button-arrow-nav.png); margin: 0px 0px 2px 16px; padding: 2px 0px 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; z-index: 0;">2 parts melted fat (bacon fat, suet, or lard)</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17.399999618530273px; list-style: none url(http://www.almanac.com/sites/new.almanac.com/themes/almanacWide/images/button-arrow-nav.png); margin: 0px 0px 2px 16px; padding: 2px 0px 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; z-index: 0;">2 parts yellow cornmeal</li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17.399999618530273px; list-style: none url(http://www.almanac.com/sites/new.almanac.com/themes/almanacWide/images/button-arrow-nav.png); margin: 0px 0px 2px 16px; padding: 2px 0px 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; z-index: 0;">1 part peanut butter</li>
</ul>
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Mix all ingredients together and cook for a few minutes. Pour into small containers (tuna fish cans are good), and refrigerate or freeze until needed. Mixture can also be stuffed into 1-inch holes drilled in small logs to hang from trees. The recipe can be made all year long as long as you accumulate fat. Fasten containers securely to trees or feeders.<br />
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The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-73128245933248589492014-03-28T17:00:00.000-04:002014-03-28T17:00:01.100-04:00Permanent DoodlesMy father will tell you I'm a doodler. Every piece of paper left on the kitchen table became unrecognizable if I was bored, or heaven help you if I was on the phone... nothing was safe.<br />
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This habit/hobby took a more permanent turn last month after using my tattoo sketch pen on myself. I love that pen.<br />
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I spent the evening doodling on myself while watching TV, proceeded to go to bed, and woke up with half the image on my face. It seems I sleep on my own arm at times. Good to know. Dave informs me I drool... like Niagara Falls. This might also be a contributing factor.<br />
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That pen is NOT easy to get off. The whole point is your design stays visible while you work on it. So after much scrubbing the image remained on my arm but NOT on my face. A few days later I decided I liked it enough to make it permanent.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXwmPBlZOHlrZChQDx9Tp6dhJkAorew-Tqd7cIm4x-3YaHFvqjMiOTvDLdzlnxOBegIUNKQdPzHPg70PpG9-He25NOCslFFI4WMyCeyJq3Uvysx8kumqHmZHxoAJGWit7oJcgcsEX5yUl/s1600/IMG_1142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXwmPBlZOHlrZChQDx9Tp6dhJkAorew-Tqd7cIm4x-3YaHFvqjMiOTvDLdzlnxOBegIUNKQdPzHPg70PpG9-He25NOCslFFI4WMyCeyJq3Uvysx8kumqHmZHxoAJGWit7oJcgcsEX5yUl/s1600/IMG_1142.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
I like it. A lot. It's not done. I will eventually carry it up my arm to blend with what's already there. That's another doodle session....The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-60885386212586396052014-03-26T20:16:00.000-04:002014-03-26T20:16:00.132-04:00Gluten Free Quinoa CakeFollowing my gluten-free lifestyle change I tried this for a party I was going to....<br />
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Gluten Free Chocolate Cake<br />
*turn out more like a brownie<br />
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2 cups cooked quinoa (1/2 dry + 1.5 cups liquid = approx. 2 cups cooked)<br />
1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk<br />
4 eggs<br />
1 tsp. vanilla extract<br />
1/2 cup melted butter or Earth Balance<br />
1/4 cup melted coconut oil<br />
1 cup white sugar (I used organic raw)<br />
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder<br />
1/2 tsp. baking soda<br />
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder<br />
1/2 tsp. salt<br />
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Preheat oven to 350F and line a 9"x13" OR 2 round cake pans with parchment paper.<br />
In a food processor or blender combine the eggs, milk and vanilla ~ blend for 10 seconds.<br />
Add the cooked and cooled quinoa, melted butter, melted coconut oil and blend until smooth.<br />
Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add wet and mix together until well combined.<br />
Add to pan and bake approx 30 min. Cool.<br />
<br />The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-17974765594594508092014-03-24T19:49:00.002-04:002014-03-24T19:49:52.095-04:00Clean Your Gut ~ finding your triggers.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WLfhPiQZ9T86jBiCVpNu-7t_PquEsB9Rw2GVTUxq5LJtKeWAVoyx0KB7_hXWkfC1Q_2z_HD8c6ldCfAdZJ41mO6zJNHdnn50J9SfBm_NDdwAr34yGwCSvLIVb2vDTIg8XXKwq9Kv3fi1/s1600/clean-gut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WLfhPiQZ9T86jBiCVpNu-7t_PquEsB9Rw2GVTUxq5LJtKeWAVoyx0KB7_hXWkfC1Q_2z_HD8c6ldCfAdZJ41mO6zJNHdnn50J9SfBm_NDdwAr34yGwCSvLIVb2vDTIg8XXKwq9Kv3fi1/s1600/clean-gut.jpg" height="172" width="320" /></a></div>
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In January I cut gluten out of my diet. I read <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Clean-Gut-Breakthrough-Eliminating-Revolutionizing/dp/0062075861">Clean Gut</a> by Alejandro Junger and did the 28 day cleanse, eliminating sugar, alcohol, wheat, corn and dairy. I will admit that I was NOT willing to eliminate caffeine. The heart wants, what the heart wants.<br />
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Anyway, the only dairy I ate for the 28 days was cream in my morning coffee. It's pretty much 28 days of protein, vegetables and berries. </div>
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It completely changed the way I felt. At the end of the 28 day cleanse you introduce certain foods back to see how they react. Turns out wheat and I <b>don't</b> get along. Eating processed sugar was also like taking a hit of cocaine, all I could think of for the rest of the day was getting another "hit" of sugar. So those two things are on my banned list now. I highly recommend this to anyone who suffers from digestion issues, bloating<br />
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*For the record, I didn't buy all the supplements the book recommended. I simply took a multivitamin every day as usual.</div>
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The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-31813417161684961002014-02-17T21:39:00.002-05:002014-02-17T21:41:21.781-05:00The WARMTH of wool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylMqvu1G9j7XAAua-TAns-w-STg5o-uF6XGyGHNosmvhjogBLtxgmACkPv94R1MndKagUR1JK6Ea62wKOQOwm1R1PgAXp_CpGwgtABCq-JjBv7I4WRocjir4k9BwYEatr6qgKpTreXK0A/s1600/IMG_0887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylMqvu1G9j7XAAua-TAns-w-STg5o-uF6XGyGHNosmvhjogBLtxgmACkPv94R1MndKagUR1JK6Ea62wKOQOwm1R1PgAXp_CpGwgtABCq-JjBv7I4WRocjir4k9BwYEatr6qgKpTreXK0A/s1600/IMG_0887.JPG" height="282" title="Journey West Pendleton Blanket" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's been a pretty cold winter this year. It's for that reason I'm so thankful for my Christmas present. I actually picked it out in June. I managed to keep it a surprise from my husband until Christmas morning. Who knew we would need it SO bad 8 months later! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Check out their other blankets here: <a href="http://www.pendleton-usa.com/section/Home-Blankets/1816.uts"> Pendleton Blankets</a></span><br />
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I got mine at Native Renaissance 2 in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, so if you're looking for one...<br />
<br />The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-20359774487373904942014-01-20T14:50:00.002-05:002014-01-20T14:50:49.773-05:00Dogs Shall Not Pass....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwvDw7HwKgXbdz2WEToBeDbJyb_GASwQ0VchInZXUlhT-7FNZx3jsQ2yK30-k8m63WolnGJBN-CfOP4I3tlh_bWm7QYX7dR1_iPHvn2Q_dEh2bWM8RaqiBdoUNannWfcXmeNFPUICosqj/s1600/IMG_0631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwvDw7HwKgXbdz2WEToBeDbJyb_GASwQ0VchInZXUlhT-7FNZx3jsQ2yK30-k8m63WolnGJBN-CfOP4I3tlh_bWm7QYX7dR1_iPHvn2Q_dEh2bWM8RaqiBdoUNannWfcXmeNFPUICosqj/s1600/IMG_0631.JPG" height="266" title="Bed Hog Dog" width="400" /></a>We have two dogs that don't respect the "Don't sleep on my bed" rule, OR the "don't drink out of the toilet" rule, or the "don't chew up my lego" rule. For that reason we found it necessary to put a piece of plywood across the bottom of the stairs to keep them from sneaking up. <br />
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The problem with a piece of plywood is that it typically doesn't stay standing by itself so I had to prop a chair beside the plywood, beside the staircase. You get the idea. A lot of crap at the bottom of the stairs and everytime I wanted to go up or down I had to hop this fence of assorted "stuff". It got irritating. Anyone who visited over the summer can tell you how hideous it looked.<br />
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I figured it was time to make something more permanent. It took a few pieces of 1"x6" and two hinges but I finally have a permanent "keep off my bed" gate!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUinWDFipJpVCvDbHH3L-zt39NNjt3HijV351LXQ77Uo2-W_n-N3NyjAvI0HvklbcdBo9RWCarVVhDdBxvu-K6FyFHOwRoKoURQO4nx0Lfnu9aSOPUb2NVA2SkpoqOcP08n_VqEFLoSFw/s1600/IMG_0892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUinWDFipJpVCvDbHH3L-zt39NNjt3HijV351LXQ77Uo2-W_n-N3NyjAvI0HvklbcdBo9RWCarVVhDdBxvu-K6FyFHOwRoKoURQO4nx0Lfnu9aSOPUb2NVA2SkpoqOcP08n_VqEFLoSFw/s1600/IMG_0892.JPG" height="640" width="425" /></a></div>
It only took a few hours<br />
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I got the original idea from this website: http://www.remodelaholic.com/2012/09/diy-barn-door-baby-for-stairs/<br />
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The plans were for a baby gate but I used the general idea, scrapped the closing mechanism, and voila! When we installed it we tilted it slightly so it always swings closed. The cats have actually figured out how to push it open and run through before it closes on their tails.The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-65278759799826570962014-01-07T14:31:00.000-05:002014-01-07T14:31:16.128-05:00I'm a Draft Dodger!It's FREEZING. Like minus 30 degrees freezing. So last night I whipped this up for the front door where it seemed we had some cold air leaking in. Probably because the wind was at 100 km/hour. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOfaUNkVmi62fLEFj_lN_erzmfYTzmsOJzvn6LGgMiixcAetsgEh5LW2jeoKNufQV-COR2nIgmGP8dNYZQiTH6KxBkcY39LlOwE3rj6ZfM3mhYHmIHfnZOE1WWQmEcKIkWVskbDHI2ECq/s1600/IMG_0890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOfaUNkVmi62fLEFj_lN_erzmfYTzmsOJzvn6LGgMiixcAetsgEh5LW2jeoKNufQV-COR2nIgmGP8dNYZQiTH6KxBkcY39LlOwE3rj6ZfM3mhYHmIHfnZOE1WWQmEcKIkWVskbDHI2ECq/s1600/IMG_0890.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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SO simple... just some left-over polar fleece stuffed with foam, fibrefill and marbles to make it heavy and hug the floor. It probably took about 10 min to make. The cat slept at the front door this morning for the first time.... ever.The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-892012844283732811.post-90633284901628352112014-01-03T20:05:00.001-05:002014-01-07T14:24:01.232-05:00Homemade Caramel Recipe Every year I try to make some things to give away at Christmas. 2013 I opted for Homemade Caramels, Peanut Brittle, and Cinnamon caramel sauce.<br />
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I have had a number of people ask for the recipe for the caramels so here ya go...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikqu7Mv7P5CpKg56blrBFp_E_s1VlCDA8HHasYG95fxIgSO1tOwms1wzR16bRG-b17_kehXXfN9YFo0pa57uIIodHp6gAUrY6lTqAWor_AjImcdURzWPiAKFQZkBab5CEBSRN882iurWn/s1600/IMG_0593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikqu7Mv7P5CpKg56blrBFp_E_s1VlCDA8HHasYG95fxIgSO1tOwms1wzR16bRG-b17_kehXXfN9YFo0pa57uIIodHp6gAUrY6lTqAWor_AjImcdURzWPiAKFQZkBab5CEBSRN882iurWn/s1600/IMG_0593.JPG" height="311" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade Kahlua Caramel</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Homemade Caramel</span><br />
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1 cup butter, unsalted<br />
1 cup light corn syrup<br />
1 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk (or substitute two cups half and half or light cream BUT factor in a longer cooking time)<br />
2 1/4 cup brown sugar<br />
1 tsp. vanilla<br />
*1/4 cup Kahlua ~ optional<br />
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1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Line 8x8 pan with parchment paper, even up the sides.<br />
2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cut butter into smaller, even sized cubes for even melting. Melt over low in sauce pan.<br />
3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Carefully add sugar by pouring it into the center of the pan. Stir slowly until well combined with melted butter.<br />
4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mix in corn syrup and sweetened condensed milk (or cream).<br />
5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cook and stir on medium for one minute, then to med.-high until boiling. You want to change temperatures slowly. Once boiling, insert candy thermometer<br />
6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Reduce heat to about medium, adjusting so that you keep a moderate, steady boil. Stir frequently!<br />
7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Watch thermometer closely!!<br />
8.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When thermometer reaches 244°, remove caramel from heat (this is low firm ball stage; reaching this stage from boiling takes about 30 minutes with sweetened condensed milk ~ longer with cream)<br />
9.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Stir in vanilla or Kahlua. Pour the caramel into the prepared pan.<br />
10.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Allow to cool for several hours. I let it cool to room temp. and then put it in the fridge. Once it's well set I pop the parchment paper out of the pan and cut it with a pizza cutter. Allow lots of time to wrap them... it's a pain in the butt.<br />
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** The picture above I doubled the recipe to make more at once.<br />
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<br />The Hippie Moosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469992554414188403noreply@blogger.com0