Make it Yourself

photo 2 If you are anything like me, you are among the zillions of health seekers who are considering switching their milk intake to almond milk. When I first considered making such a switch, I sampled the myriad store varieties. Taste was my first concern, but as I found myself drinking more almond milk, I started to question all the ‘extras’ found in the list of ingredients, especially carrageenan. This troubling additive made me consider if I could make my own; and if we did, would it taste as good as our favorite brand? Well, I am here to say, our homemade almond milk tastes divine and the health benefits are worth the effort:

Almond milk is one of the most nutritionally valuable milk substitutes available today. It is high in a number of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, iron, fiber, zinc and calcium. Almond milk is low in calories, at only 40 calories per eight ounce serving, and low in fat. It contains only three grams of fat per eight ounce serving. Almond milk is lactose, gluten, casein and cholesterol free; it’s also free of saturated fats” (The Healthier Choice).

Follow this simple recipe and you will love getting all the benefits with none of the additive concerns.

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Recycled Words

My life as a blogger revolves around chasing ideas until I can find time to wrestle them into cohesively arranged words. There is a slight manic quality to my self-imposed deadline, and a rushing, always a rushing. Yet once posts are published they quickly fall aside for the next one to manifest. IMG_8214Rarely do I look back on my words. But a few posts stay vivid in my memory and I recall them like old friends with lingering fondness. This week I remembered one post in particular, and it made me laugh and then smile. Originally called “Care Package” it was written in February of 2011 after I recovered from a bad bout of the flu. I wonder how many of you read this post before? Well, perhaps even if you have, you will find it worth a second read– a recycling of something valuable. If so, do let me know!

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State of Beauty

field Autumn brings a plenitude of tourists to Vermont from all over the world to view the sugar maples gone wild in their October hues. From Canada to Massachusetts no-Vacancy signs hang in front of every Inn, Motel, Lodge and Hotel, when color is banging bright during these short weeks. Back-woods dirt-roads, which are normally a place of tranquil driving, become obstacle courses as the locals have to navigate around photo-takers strategically straddling the thoroughfares. Some of my neighbors get quite peeved by these tourists obstructing their commute, but I don’t mind, in fact, I am often hopping out of my car to stand right along side of them, framing my shot of the early morning mist lifting off the river, or the electric brilliance of the deciduous trees in their glory, or the freshly hayed field against the dark stand of pines. The list is endless actually for Vermont is one entire state of beauty. And from my vantage, Mt. Mansfield is almost always in view.

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