Category: Whole Food Plant Based SOS

Bread Making...YUM!

11/30/2019

I've been a real food foodie for a very long time. I first began my healing journey in 1993 after a terrible car accident that left me with torn cartilage in both wrist, 8 surgeries on my arms/hands in 6 years, severe stomach pains from the NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) which ate holes in my gut, severe PTSD anxiety about getting in a car again, allergic reactions to all opioid Rx and a jury trial to sue State Farm.

I'm pretty sure after my last surgery, Good Friday, 1999 and a 2 day trial in Baltimore City with 12 of my peers (all black males) against MY insurance Co since the driver at fault was uninsured (which by the way I won!)....that's when EBV and Lyme & Co. came out of remission. Hey, why wouldn't they....they are both very opportunistic!

I remember starting out slowly with simple things like making our bread from fresh ground wheat, keeping sourdough starter, buying bulk beans, grains, rice. I worked my way up to juicing and cooking everything from scratch. I haven't started grinding wheat again...but I probably will since it's cost effective. But for now, buying bulk bags from Bread Topia works in Nowhere Texas!

In the late 90's I started taking cooking classes from a country "neighbor", Gloria McAdams who taught bead making and plant based cooking. She told me that juicing cabbage would heal my gut. When I saw incredible healing....that's when my interest was peaked to eat plants. She was/is a Seventh Day Adventist so is a plant based eater. It was my earliest exposure to eating just plants. I had a lot of opposition from my family, but here we are making a full circle with WFPB eating!

It's kinda funny, Gloria is now my country "neighbor" in Texas too!

Who knew...God was the creator of Tie-Dye!!! Juicing is so beautiful!

I use a clay oven to get a nice crusty bread.

I use the no knead recipe on Bread Topia. Einkorn Whole Wheat Flour is the only NON Hybridized wheat! It's thought to be an ancient original wheat!!! It is absolutely our favorite and makes a very light and almost white type of bread!

We love sweet potato flat bread called Roti! It's so simple to mix a cup of sweet potato and flour. Roll them out and then cook them until they puff!

You can start making simple changes in your diet to begin seeing big changes!

Blessings for Health!
Diane

Hubs finally fixed my S L O W internet connection in The Shepherd's Studio...SO, I should be able to be more active here!

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Praises!

10/15/2019

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The Hired Hand had his 6 month check up on Friday and we were beyond elated. His bloodwork came back shining like the stars!

His new doc in Texas has wanted to see him every 6 months for almost 3 years.....excessive if you ask me....but then again....I don't like doctors...and I really didn't like this guy! But he keeps trying to find something....I mean, how can a 73 year old man be in prime condition and his only medical complaint is migraine headaches??? The last check up the nurse called and said he was slightly anemic; eat more greens, take an iron pill. Well, come to find out he was .01% anemic!!! I could have rung that nurses neck! She had us both very concerned because often times, the first sign of cancer is anemia. The doctor said they shouldn't have even said anything because there is always the fudge factor. Hubs doesn't ask enough questions when he's there or when they call....SO, I went along for the fun this time....Shake My Head!!! :/

The most amazing numbers were for his PSA...that's the prostate. His numbers have been gradually going up which is quite typical for men as they age but not necessary. His last reading was 4 which is at the top of "normal" and at the point when they start watching...and then they start screaming prostate cancer!!! SO, I remembered a story I heard about 20 years ago pertaining to Progesterone Cream. In the late 90's I started using the cream for PMS and actually Hubs wouldn't allow me to be without a tube, it worked that well.

The story was that a gentleman had prostate cancer and after his wife began using Progesterone Cream his prostate cancer was healed. Interesting....Huh??? I'm sure I don't need to explain to you how he picked up the Progesterone from his wife since the application sights include the breast and the inner thighs. Six months ago I reminded Hubs of that story, so he started using a small dose of Progesterone Cream on the inside of his forearm. And 2 months ago he also began rifing for prostate cancer.

His cousin was diagnosed with prostate cancer a year ago with a particularly aggressive cancer took the life of 1 uncle, was diagnosed in another (cousins dad), and Hubs dad had a different form (not a blood relative to the uncles). SO, he was going to be proactive...as much as possible....at this point in life anyway.

His PSA went from 4 to 1.4 in 6 months!!! His cholesterol is 143, his weight is 135, his BP was 112/65! His red blood cell count "normal", no anemia! We were extremely elated and gave thanks!!! I think he's seen the benefits of eating a Whole Food Plant Based Diet even for just 2 short months! God created our bodies to heal....its just a fact. If we give it the right food and nourishment, it will do what it was designed to do. In just 11 days heart disease & diabetes can be reversed and/or halted!!! 11 days!!!

After experimenting for a year (August 2018-July 2019) on my own body (and now I wish I hadn't), I am convinced that the WFPB diet is what I was meant to eat. My dad died almost 9 years ago, from heart disease, diabetes and complications of both. My mom, 85, has been diagnosed with a leaky heart valve, RA, and blood cancer....she is constantly in pain and is short of breath and nothing can be done to help her...she always says, "I've outlived my expiration date!"

I decided IF I have a choice (and I think we do), I didn't want that to be my destiny. Although these diseases are NOT genetic diseases nor do they "run in the family", but rather, they are lifestyle diseases...habits run in families!

Tomorrow is my 61st birthday and Hubs just turned 73 last week. We are doing life with hearts of gratitude.

Gratefully Yours in Christ,
Diane

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Pots of Gold

10/9/2019

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"Winds in the east, there’s a mist coming in, like something is brewin’ and ’bout to begin. What is that something?"

It's Autumn here in the Piney Woods!

The morning temps are delightfully in the 50's! We haven't taken to the porch yet, but we're fixin to shortly.

The Hired Hand and I have added a long walk to our day. Did you know that walking an hour a day, 7 days a week may increase your health benefit up to 24%? Housework and Gardening even fit in the category of moderate exercise!

NIH tells us that "those with the highest activity had a 20% lower risk for 7 cancer types: esophageal adenocarcinoma, liver, lung, kidney, gastric cardia, endometrial, and myeloid leukemia. They also had a 10-20% lower risk for myeloma and cancers of the head and neck, rectum, bladder, and breast."

Combine diet with exercise and you've got a win win! God made our bodies to heal. Given the right nutrients and exercise, plus a grateful heart and one given to resting in the everlasting arms of our Heavenly Father and not taking to fear and stress...it will happen. It may take time, but remember it took your body a LONG time to scream and tell you it has had enough!

As most of you know, I've been hooked on health for well over 20 years (mostly out of necessity. I've healed from nearly a lifetime of chronic Lyme disease plus 4 other co-infections and I'm still healing from lifetime of asthma and the side affects of childhood Epstein Barr Virus) ...I wish it was well over 60 years but sadly, I was raised eating the SAD (standard American diet) and I spent most of my early adult life eating SAD. My kid's friends referred to me as a "hippy"! I was a crunchy mama, before it was even cool to be considered a crunchy mama! We've been eating organic and using alternative medicines, cleaning supplies and recycling for well over 30 years! My kids never got a soda after 1993....at least a soda I bought. For the most part our daughter is raising her 2 sons the same. It's easier to pass those things onto daughters than it is sons. It's nice to start with a clean slate too.

I'm tickled pink when The Hired Hand says...."can you fix sweet potato fries please? Did you know that they are packed with Vitamin A and C and are antioxidants and anti-inflammatory foods?"

I smile and say, you bet I'll get those ready ASAP!

We don't eat any added oils or fats...we get our fats from our veggies (where do you think vegetable oils come from? :) ) and The Hired Hand can eat nuts and seeds, but I can't because I'm mostly allergic to all of them. However, if I avoid them for a long time, on occasion I can have a handful of walnuts.

I fix my sweet potato fries by peeling and slicing and then par boiling them for 5 minutes before popping them in the air frier at 400* for 15 minutes. I just love my air fryer!!!

I started with a very small inexpensive air fryer because I wasn't sure how I'd like it or if I'd use it. I did but found it to be too small...so I upgraded to a GoWise 6 qt for around $100. But since I use it SO much and really want more options as far as temperature, my Christmas gift this year will be a Breville Air Fryer/Convection/Toaster Oven.

I have an "adda boy" bonus I've been saving from The Hired Hands working days...hehehe...that's funny....which will allow me to save 50% of the cost of this Breville. I'm waiting for an additional discount from a holiday sale and should get a pretty good deal on it. But for now my GoWise 6qt is serving us well.

Since this is only my second growing season in East Texas, zone 8b/9a I am very pleased with my small harvest of sweet potatoes which I grew from my own slips that I grew remembering our simple second grade science experiments of putting a sweet potato in water with toothpicks and watching it grow!!! You snap those off and root them in water and they are called "slips". Plant them and wait for gold to grow!

I didn't weigh my bag but it's around 10#. Most were pretty good size but one bucket had lots of little fingerlings in the bottom. I'm curing them in the greenhouse but the temps are still pretty cool. I need a couple weeks of warmer temps. Knowing Texas, if you don't like the weather....wait 10 minutes...it will change!

Eat your colorful veggies and fruits!!! Your body will thank you!

Eat To Live,
Diane

"You're not sick because you have cancer/heart disease, diabetes, etc. You have cancer/heart disease, diabetes, etc. because your body is sick." Eat to live!

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Fall Gardening In Texas & Cancer

9/28/2019

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Our temps have finally cooled off a little here. Our high is about 93 instead of 99-110! The sun is much lower in the sky and although we've been in a drought for 3 months, it's not feeling like scorched earth.

I'm still harvesting eggplant and peppers from my container garden on the driveway pad. I think my summer squash actually do better in a late summer planting. My harvest of Butternut Squash came from volunteer plants that came out of my compost. :)

My first attempt at fall greens only burned up in the heat of August. I finally reseeded Arugula the last week of August before my trip to Maryland and it came on strong while I was gone! I love the peppery bite from Arugula...The Hired Hand not so much. I used it in his carrot juice this morning and he said, "Somethings a little different today." I said, "Arugula!" He sorta frowned but drank it anyway. We're upping his antioxidants and anti androgen foods after we found a large Basel Cell Carcinoma on his face. He's treating it with Rife therapy and food. It's been quite a shake up for him because of the location being so close to his ear, eye and brain. It was hiding under his sideburn, so we failed to see it growing. It started out a good inch in diameter. After Rifing for a month it's reduced in size dramatically.

He opted out of surgery for the time being. Gave up sugar because if anything loves sugar more than my man, it's cancer! For the most part he's eating a Whole Food Plant Based/Oil & Sugar Free Diet with me but since he is also slightly anemic, he's eating some meat 2-3X week. Personally, I wouldn't but he's his own man and I'll help him whatever ways I can. We're hoping this is the only cancer he has or ever will have. We have an appointment in a few weeks to check on a few other areas of concern. We covet your prayers.

I have a big incentive to grow lots of greens for this fall....he needs them and I love them! He'll get a big punch of nutrients in an 8oz glass than I couldn't force feed into him on any given day.

I'm making use of everything, even sweet potato leaves! I chopped them up in the mix I made for Spring Rolls. The Hired Hand ate them but didn't request a repeat!!!

I'm hoping there's a big pot of gold under all these sweet potato vines! Actually 2 big tubs of vines! These are my first ever sweet potatoes and I started a fall pot....we'll see if they have enough time before our first big freeze in December.

My gardening in Texas has been nothing short of a miracle! We live in a forest, we only have sun in a few choice areas...one being on the driveway pad. SO, since we only have 1 car and use 1 bay, the other side houses my container garden. I think I had a good dozen pepper plants, 6-8 eggplants, and 6 summer squash. I've got a couple pineapple plants, gogi berry, hibiscus, fig, artichoke, a tub of turmeric....and multiple citrus; lemon, grapefruit, satsuma, sweet orange and my favorite, kumquats! It's been fun trying new plants in our zone 8b-9a. Watering is a daily essential though...but I have a routine now and everybody gets a good drink every morning.

I attempted to add perennial plants to my mostly sun/part shade side yard. We have nothing but sugar sand here for "soil". I'd hardly call it soil....it's just sand! But we found a source of mushroom compost and it does miracles for growing after I huff it and haul it 1 load at a time in the wheelbarrow!

My garden garden is really a collection of "islands" where I've built up the compost. I leave wide open spaces for walking so I can spot snakes...thank goodness...none so far to scream about!!! I use the livestock tubs for carrots, greens and extra space since I'm chasing the sun here too.

For the most part my 2nd growing season in Texas was a big success!!! I'm trying to embrace the change of pace and rejoice in the different variety.

God is the giver of all things. By His hands we are fed.

By His Grace Alone,
Diane

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Diane

Current Resume
I am now a retired FarmHer of the most amazing creatures God created; Sheep!!! I loved every day I was blessed with Shepherding them. I now am focusing on my art and gardening and allowing The Lord to use it for His Glory. I designed and we built The Shepherd's Studio (Sept 2019...complete) on our awesome 25 acre pine tree farm and have NO idea what God will do with it....but It's His to use however He chooses. I continue to be ever so excited about health issues, food and fun! Over the past 2 decades it's been my ongoing endeavor to find health and healing. I've experimented/biohacked myself with Whole Food Plant Based, Keto, Carnivore, Paleo....all of them! The way of eating that makes me feel my best and breathe freely with life long asthma, is the Whole Food Plant Based way of life...more specifically, Dr John McDougall's Starch Based Diet. We are enjoying our retirement days together seeking The Father together for whatever He has for us here in East Texas. We remain broken and poured out vessels for His purposes. We love our quiet and peaceful life here in The Piney Woods.

The Shepherd's Studio

A Life Well Lived For Yehoshua!

Bread Making...YUM!

Blessings for Health!
Diane

Praises!

Gratefully Yours in Christ,
Diane

Pots of Gold

Eat To Live,
Diane

Fall Gardening In Texas & Cancer

By His Grace Alone,
Diane

Diane

Archives

Categories

The Shepherd's Studio A Life Well Lived For Yehoshua!

Bread Making...YUM!

Blessings for Health!​Diane

Praises!

Gratefully Yours in Christ,​Diane

Pots of Gold

Eat To Live,​Diane

Fall Gardening In Texas & Cancer

By His Grace Alone,​Diane

Diane

Archives

Categories

The Shepherd's Studio

A Life Well Lived For Yehoshua!

Blessings for Health!
Diane

Gratefully Yours in Christ,
Diane

Eat To Live,
Diane

By His Grace Alone,
Diane