Friday Frenzies in Fish Creek

Friday’s are shaping up to be a fun type frenzy here. I guess it’s all how I hold it.. some days it’s easier. Here’s how I got there.

Besides, Shabbat, Fridays invevitably mean last minute cleaning for weekend guests… amen another full house of shooting clinic guests with final menu selections and preparation. Add that to the other ranching type chores, horsekeeping and it’s a gig. But I wouldnt have it any other way.

Even the most accomplished and well organized cooks sometimes go to the cupboard and find that whatever they needed desperately and immediately is not there. Some of us live close to a grocery store and we can nip out, whilst for others it can be quite a challenge. Below are a few very common ingredients for which there are substitutes.

Some of the most commonly used ingredients have very simple substitutions available when you are in a bind. One teaspoon of baking powder can be replaced by 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda plus 5/8 teaspoon cream of tartar or 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda plus 1/2 cup of buttermilk. One cup of butter can be substituted with 7/8 cup of shortening or 1 cup of margarine. Oil is not an exact substitute for butter especially if butter is needed in baking products.

It’s difficult to always stock all types of sugar but there are alternatives that you can choose from. for one cup of light brown sugar, use one cup of white sugar and one teaspoon of molasses and for one cup of dark sugar use one cup of white sugar and one tablespoon of molasses. Instead of one cup of white sugar you could either use one and three quarters of a cup of powdered (confectioners’) sugar or one cup of packed brown sugar. If you need a sweet liquid like corn syrup you could use one cup of sugar plus a quarter of a cup of liquid or honey.

If you need chocolate you’ll find that one ounce of is the same as three tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa and one tablespoon of fat. Instead of one tablespoon of cornstarch you could use two tablespoons of flour; instead of one tablespoon of flour (for thickening) try half a tablespoon of cornstarch; and instead of one cup sifted flour (for cooking) you could be really radical and try one and a half cups of bread crumbs or one cup of rolled oats. Lastly, instead of one cup of shortening you could use one cup and two tablespoons of butter or margarine.

And while I remember Macy’s more fondly for it’s annual thanksgiving day parade that we ‘d watch as the aromas of turkey cooking filled the house, they also have Tools of the Trade

Remember that some of the best recipes around have been ‘cooked’ up by people desperately trying to cover their tracks; so the advice would be ‘be bold, be daring, but use your initiative!’

We bake whole wheat banana walnut bread and store it in our freezer. We use butter, not shortening, for better taste. Use small loaf pans, not the mini single-serve size, but not the large loaf size. When a friend comes by, I take a loaf from our freezer just for them. Because it’s a small loaf, we don’t feel obligated to eat like pigs and I don’t have half a loaf going stale.

An speaking of pigs… a little shabbat rules here.
1. Pork is forbidden, but a pig in a blanket makes a nice hors d’oeuvre.
2. One mitzvah can change the world; two will just make you tired.
3. Never leave a restaurant empty-handed.
4. The important Jewish holidays are the ones on which alternate-side-of-the-street parking is suspended.
5 A bad matzoh ball makes a good paperweight. and of course
6. No meal is complete without leftovers.

Shabbat Shalom friends

Home is Where the Heart is

Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
Romans 12:12-13

Hospitality is an attitude of the heart, not just an empty bedroom, regardless of your circumstance (or in this case your profession)

you’re like most people, you probably think practicing Christian hospitality is equivalent to what you’ve seen in entertainment books and magazines. And if you’re like me, you end up feeling depressed and inadequate because you don’t quite see your holiday efforts measuring up to the glossy pages you’ve been reading. Take heart: Practicing Christian hospitality isn’t about glittering, glamorous table settings or platters of picture-perfect food; it’s about practicing host(wo)manship right in the middle of your practical Christianity.

While not everyone feels comfortable at the helm of a social event, some folks have a natural talent for making guests feel special. You might think those hospitality genes are inherited, but just because your mom isn’t Martha Stewart, you’re not off the hook. That’s because hospitality takes on added dimensions and new definitions for the Christian.
Some folks possess hospitality as a spiritual gift. The Bible tells us that every believer is given at least one spiritual gift ;, our gifts are given not for our own benefit, but for the enrichment of others. We should be serving those around us, including the body of believers, family, and friends.

1 Peter 4:8-10 says, “Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless – cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you.”

While the art of hospitality may come easy for some, it may be quite difficult for others. After all, it’s not always easy to give of yourself, much less your hard-earned gains. And like most things in life, hospitality isn’t done perfectly the first time. But don’t stop trying. When we do it over and over, it truly becomes a comfortable part of our nature. Our first guests here at the inn (though they didnt know they were the first ) went through our “first breakfast” with us quite well. It’s all in perspective. It has evolved.

And while we’re in the innkeeping I’m not Martha Stewart and I dont play her on TV as they say. And while I’m a true “Type A” in terms of “cleanliness is next to G-dliness”, Hospitality has nothing to do with an immaculate house or even gourmet food. (though that’s always most welcome. It’s about opening the door wide loving them and pulling out the futon. As the Proverbs say: “Who practices hospitality entertains God himself”

People may not remember exactly what you did or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel.
- Maya Angelou

Do I hear an amen?

Get Me to the Church on Time

And you shall write them on the entryways of your dwellings and your gates
Deuteronomy 6:9

One of the first things we did upon landing here in the last best place in Montana was place our mezzuzah on the front doorpost. I felt laced with grace immediatey. I’ve talked before aobut being the transition from bein’ a city slicker to gone country… especially in light of being the “resident Jew” in these here parts. . Although I went to college in rural upstate New York, earning the nickname “Hayseed,”, it’s definitely a case of city girl gone country. “Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore”. To which I say amen..

The original meaning of the word “mezuzah” is not a description of the tiny scroll itself, but is the Hebrew word for “doorpost” which where it is placed. Even more comforting is that Sunday’s are becoming our “G-d and GaZi” day.. Well let’s just say it’s a semi regular thang. We have found here a church in town that we go to and then head back to head out on the horses. Maybe it’s my fervent prayer that I’ll maintain the full and upright when I board GaZi!

Our pastor James is a young guy and really delves into the “word” and goes back and forth connecting passages from Old and New Testament. I find it refreshing as well as really educational. His demeanor is such that you feel more like we’re all sittin’ around the kitchen table for Sunday Morning coffee. Ah must be Montana… here you might be Jewish if

And in yet another slant and hat tip to Jeff Foxworthy, you might just be a Jewish Redneck if:

1. You think that marrying your first cousin is not only permitted, but biblically mandated
2. Your home is mobile and your sukkah ain’t
3. You have a gun rack in your sukkah
4. You speak more English than your shul president
5. You light Shabbat candles from your cigarette
6. The only plant in your home is your lulav
7. When you hear the shofar on Rosh Hashanah, you let your hunting dogs loose
8. Your idea of bathing is using the mikvah
9. Your siddur lists the Sabbath greeting as : “Shabbot Shalom Y’all”
10. Your Shabbat suit was a blue light special at K-mart
11. Willie Nelson sang at your Bar/Bat Mitzvah
12. You’ve ever fired a shotgun at the sound of Haman’s name and finally
13. our Rabbi ever yelled “Yee-Haw” during his sermon

And this has happened to me here already ;you miss worship one Sunday morning and by 2 o’clock that afternoon you have had a dozen phone calls inquiring about your health.being of an interfaith marriage… you can really spot the devoted christian worshippers here

1. A member requests to be buried in his four-wheel drive truck because, “I ain’t never been in a hole it couldn’t get me out of”.
2. A singing group is known as “The O.K. Chorale.”
3. Baptism is referred to as “branding.”
4. Finding and returning lost sheep is not just a parable.
5. Four generations of one family sit together in worship every Sunday.
6. High notes on the organ set dogs in the parking lot to howling.
7. In the annual stewardship drive there is at least one pledge of “two calves.”
8. It’s not heaven, but you can see heaven from there.
9. Never in its entire 100-year history has one of its pastors had to buy any meat or vegetables.
10. Opening day of deer hunting season is recognized as an official church holiday. - our pastor is an avid hunter.
11. People grumble about Noah letting coyotes on the Ark.
12. People wonder when Jesus fed the 5,000 whether the two fish were bass or catfish.
13. Prayers regarding the weather are a standard part of every worship service.”

And while Sunday’s are supposed to a day of rest… we all seem to be jammin’ a bit to get to the church on time… What else keep it simple … from Real Simple… These oatmeal raspberry bars.. will have you jammin’ as well

Oatmeal Raspberry Bars

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 1/2 cups quick oats
2 tablespoons lemon zest
1 1/2 cups raspberry jam

Preheat oven to 350° F. Place the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and butter in the bowl of a food processor and pulse several times until the ingredients are combined and a crumbly dough is formed. Add the oats and lemon zest. Pulse quickly twice to combine. Press 2/3 of the dough firmly into a greased 9-by-13-inch pan. Spread the jam evenly over the crust. Sprinkle the remaining dough over the jam, gently pressing down. Bake until golden brown. Cool completely, about 2 hours. Cut into 24 bars. Store in airtight containers.

Innkeeper as Superwoman?

While I am decidedly not Orthodox, here’s some answers from another kind of Jewish mom

The truth about the Jewish superwoman.

Are you a superwoman?

1) Being raised with a strong work ethic - ki adam laamal yulad (Job 5:7) - man was created to work. They expect to work.

I remember daddy’s desk “pre-Internet”.. neatly organized stacked paperwork… he knew where as and could recreate it on a dime when asked. I was also raised with a strong work ethic. We always worked summers and part time through college. Since graduating, I have always worked - done the “Sunday going to meeting clothes” corporate world stint for many years. Now I’ve gone country to open and run an inn.. no small task either, but truly a labor of love.

2) They actually LIKE to work and can feel uncomfortable doing nothing - “I’ll rest when I’m in the grave.”

Well….I do enjoy my vegging out time. That consists of riding and training the horses. Even when I’m in the middle of computer work… if I need a break… I’ll go clean a bathroom… even if we havent had guests… ah cathartic.

3) Super organized - they don’t waste their time looking for their car keys, having to run to the makolet (corner store) in the middle of cooking because they are out of something etc. I have an ultra race or endurance ride coming up… I’m packed and ready to go two weeks before.. Meeting with my accountant… got the stuff packedand ready to go so i dont have to think about it the morning of.

4) Patient husbandsMy husband is a doll. He’s a great cook, and generally gives me my “space”. As Thoreau said “Let there be spaces in your togetherness”. It works for us.

5) Don’t sweat the small stuff - they don’t lose energy because their neighbor didn’t answer them when they said hello etc.

Plead guilty or should that be insanity to this one. A work in progress for me.

6) Do it now - they wash the soup dishes while their husband sings zmirot,(maybe that’s why we don’t sing in my house?) wash the food processor as soon as the kugel goes in the oven etc.

Yes a I never leave dirty dishes or an unclean counter as that is a pet peeve of mine. I dotwo to three loads of laundry daily. Thank G-d for central vac and housecleaner who comes when needed. A major luxury…

7) Know their limits - they may leave all weddings at 10 because if they’re not in bed by 11 they can’t function the next day etc.

Yup, been there done that… No nonsense - set limits and stick to them - supper is lasagna, if you don’t like it you can make yourself a sandwich. Breakfasts though are totally guided by what the guests want but still figured out the night before so there’s less chaos.

So, what do you think makes a superwoman?

I think it is a myth. You never know what goes behind closed doors, anyways.

I think I’ll go muck a stall right after I bake up a batch o’ oatmeal cookies. I think there is no limit on what you can do with a basic oatmeal cookie. An unprecedented opportunity for creativity either way, they’re one of my favourite cookies.

These oatmeal apple cookies are no exception. . After throwing in the optional walnuts and raisins, came out with bot ha hearty and “semi” healthy cookie. From Recipezaar

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup chopped dried apples

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, cinnamon and baking soda.
Gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Fold in oat and apples. Drop by rounded tablespoons 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Let stand for 1 minute before removing to wire racks. Makes 48 cookies and energy to… trot on friends, trot on.

Backing in and Out of Routine

You might think that a girl who once packed up all of her belongings and moved, practically sight unseen, from left coast to right coast even with a job transfer to a place where she had no job, no family, and no real idea of what she was doing would be quite an adventurous eater–always anxious to try something new, never ordering the same thing twice. And while I’m sure that girls like this do exist, I am definitely not one of them. While I love the spirit of adventure and new things, the truth is that I am the type of person who will happily fall into a very deep food rut.

The only reason I dont have coffee ice cream every time I visit my favorite ice cream parlor is because they have a rotating menu of homemade flavors, and coffee isnt always available. Ordering my first scoop of chocolate almond took several agonizing minutes of deliberation and an extraordinary amount of courage. I do not find it tiresome to eat the same dinner four or five nights in a row, and I happen to believe that one of the tastiest things in the entire world is homemade leftover anything.

These are handy qualities to have if much of your food comes from the farmers’ market or the garden, as I have come to realize that the true definition of eating seasonally means you devour something for so many meals on end that you don’t even want to think about it until next year.

At breakfast time, my routine pattern of eating extends well beyond a rut. It is more like a bottomless pit. It is a good thing Because life on a farm is defined by a never ending series of surprises, you really cannot plan ahead or count on much of anything. This, of course, is what makes it so interesting. It also means that I find a great deal of comfort in something as simple as knowing exactly what my morning meal will be for the next several months.

For a while I was on an oatmeal jag, , cooked slowly on the stove with extra bran, a handful of wild blackberries from the freezer tossed in at the last minute. A bowl of hot oatmeal with a splash of cold milk, a dash of vanilla, and a sprinkle of cinnamon made for dozens of wholesome and invigorating breakfasts

Having managed a bakery in New York, baking assorted and sundry types from apple walnut bran to zucchini carob in the wee hours of the morning, I’m also prone to muffin mania

Ah, blueberry muffins from the beloved blueberry bounty earlier this year . My ususal eco-friendly disclaimer to seek out organically grown and/or locally produced ingredients whenever possible. Organic wheat bran, oat bran, and whole wheat flour are bargain priced when purchased from the bulk bins at natural food stores

2 cups (3oz/86g) wheat bran
1 cup (5oz/141g) oat bran
1 cup (6oz/170g) whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons (12g) baking soda
1 teaspoon (6g) baking powder
1/2 teaspoon (4g) salt
2 large eggs
2/3 cup (5oz by weight/156g) milk
2/3 cup (5-1/2oz/156g) yogurt
1/3 cup (2-1/4oz/65g) canola oil
1/3 cup (3-3/4oz/108g) molasses or cane syrup
1/3 cup (3-3/4oz/108g) honey
1 1/2 cups blueberries

Place oven rack in middle of oven and heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a standard size muffin pan (I use canola oil and a silicone pastry brush) or line cups with paper liners (which makes cleaning up a breeze).

Combine wheat bran, oat bran, whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl and set aside. Combine eggs, blueberries milk, yogurt, canola oil, molasses, and honey in a small bowl and mix well. (Note: you can use all honey or all molasses instead if desired.) Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix with a rubber spatula just until combined.

Generously fill muffin cups with batter. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 to 25 minutes. Cool muffins in pan for 10 to 15 minutes, then carefully remove from pan and serve warm, or let cool on a wire rack.

And in the “aha how many ways can you use something” segment,are concerned with the environment or just enjoy saving money, you’ll appreciate the following tips.

Cooking: Use muffin pans when prepping for recipes such as meatloaf, quiches, cheesecakes, brownies and mini-potpies. Ingredients will be close at hand, and they won’t take up as much space as individual bowls.

Storage Great way to store items such as hair accessories and jewelry, small toys, beads, rubber bands, paper clips, nuts, bolts and screws. Is there a new year’s resolution to get organized in here somewhere??

Decor: Vintage muffin pans make great wall hangings. The cubbies act as shelves to display a collection of small things.
Gift Box : Place small items such as homemade or store-bought dishcloths, rolled-up cloth napkins, tea bags, candies or pot scrubbers into a covered muffin pan to give as a gift. - Perfect right now.
Gardening Use a muffin pan for starting seeds or growing kitchen herbs.
SNACK ATTACK: When serving ice cream, place scoops and toppings such as sprinkles, cherries, nuts and candy into each cup. The pan can also be used to hold various snacks, like pretzels, chips, cheese, raw veggies or dip.

Parties: Great idea for holding various holiday cookie-decorating treats, such as colored sugar and frosting. Come summer bbqs, add condiments and toppings such as relish, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, ketchup and mustard to a muffin tin for easy carrying and serving. You can also use the pans as centerpieces - just add votive candles.

Always an unprecedented opportunity for creativity!

.

That Was Zen This is Now

If tax time is starting to tax you… you might need to get in the zone, i mean zen.
I didnt have to retreat to a mountaintop to find out these great truths… Didnt Learn these Truths from A Zen Buddhist. In no particular order:

Great Truths That Children Have Learned

1) No matter how hard you try, you can’t baptize cats.

2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don’t let her brush your hair.

3) If your sister hits you, don’t hit her back. They always catch
the second person.

4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.

5) You can’t trust dogs to watch your food.

6) Don’t sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.

7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time. You can’t hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.

9) Don’t wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.

10) The best place to be when you’re sad is Grandpa’s lap.

Great Truths Adults Have Learned

1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree.

2) Wrinkles don’t hurt.

3) Families are like fudge…mostly sweet, with a few nuts.

4) Today’s mighty oak is just yesterday’s nut that held its ground.

5) Laughing is good exercise. It’s like jogging on the inside.

6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the
toy.

Great Truths About Growing Old

1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.

2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you’re
down there.

4) You’re getting old when you get the same sensation from a
rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.

5) It’s frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody
bothers to ask you the questions.

6) Time may be a great healer, but it’s a lousy beautician.

7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

And for some equine enlightenment on the most compelling questions
-Cure equine constipation? Load them in a clean trailer!
-Cure equine insomnia? Take them in a halter class.
-Get a horse to wash their own feet? Clean the water trough and fill it with fresh water.
-Get a mare to come in heat? Take her to a show.
-Get a mare in foal the first cover? Let the wrong stallion get out of his stall.
-Make sure that a mare has that beautiful, perfectly marked foal you always wanted? Sell her before she foals.
-Get a show horse to set up perfect ? Get him out late at night when no one is around to see him.
-Induce a cold snap in the weather? Clip a horse.

Always remember to forget the troubles that pass your way; BUT
NEVER forget the blessings that come each day.
Take the time to live, Life is too short.

Keeping the Elections Kosher

If you listen to the political pundits, and I don’t advise you do, they will tell you that the upcoming American election is going to be the most revolutionary in history. Why, when you consider that we could have either our first woman or African American President, it truly begins to seem that, in America, just about anything is possible.

This got me thinking of political possibilities of a yiddishe kind. What about a Jewish President? Or better yet, an Orthodox Jewish President? Just what would our Nation look like…

So picture it. IKt’s our year 5777 and the media is schlepping out to the White House lawn to see the inauguration of our first Chassidic President Elect Moshe Rabinowitz A Torah is used for the swearing in ceremony; klezmer music and cantorial oratorio rather than the traditional gospel hymnals provide the soundscape of reverence and inspiration for this here all time first.. It’s a cold winter in Washington D.C. so the fashion trend-setting new Prez is wearing his fur hat, or streimel, while he employs his peyos as make shift ear muffs. Such a fun-loving character, is our Moshe . Standing beside him is his bashert Rachel and not since Jackie Kennedy has there been a First Lady with hair so put together in the Washington D.C. wind .

This Commander in Chief, spends each Shabbos in contemplative relaxation at “Camp David Ben-Gurion.”

Of course, every new president tries to remake the country to suit his culture, and Prez Moshe i is certainly causing a lot of shake ups in his first year in office. This Commander in Chief, who spends each Shabbos in contemplative relaxation at “Camp David Ben-Gurion,” has returned the Day of Rest to our exhausted Nation in the nick of multi-tasking time. The outcry of big box stores and malls was shrill at first, and America’s citizenry rebellious, but now, a year later, once compulsive consumers stop shopping at sunset on Fridays and actually relax and read with their families. Our country is far better off. Juvenile crime is down 30%, grades are up 120%, and, because folks actually have to walk on foot to visit friends on Saturdays, obesity is down tons. Air Force One is also entitled to its Day of Rest, and on the Sabbath it’s available for guided tours .

Who knew a Jew would one day create a kosher White House, and hang a mezuzah on each and every door? Who knew a giant spinning dreidel and a menorah of giant torches would stand beside the Christmas lights on the enormous fir tree on the front lawn of the White House at the end of his first year of office? Move over Santa Claus. There are other traditional tales to tell Moshe’s ten kids, two of whom - the twins Eli and Martin, just had their bar mitzvah bash televised live on ABC, preempting Monday Night Football.

What makes this Presidency different from all other Presidencies? Unleavened bread is being broken, and the Hagaddah read to the listening world by Alan Dershowitz, our latest mensch on the Supreme Court Bench. In attendance at the first Presidential Pesach. Jackie Mason, our first Minister of Humor, has been entertaining the folks at the table. (He has already claimed the centerpiece by hiding the matza under his own place setting, then pretended to find it-Ha hah HAH!) The U.N. Secretary General just found the afikoman!

So I bow my head in gratitude that I have lived to see these changes that could happen only in America, home of the brave and free and unique, where folks of all stripes and sexes and ages and faiths and fashions can serve their country. Where Jewish words that have traditionally been italicized, may soon, out of frequency of coinage, like bagel and maven, appear in normal script, like American words should. Shalom.

Do I hear an amen?

Nurturing Nature

The beginning of the spring season, with its renewal of life, is a good time to renew our spirit…

The Bible and Jewish Law are full commandments to protect animals, nature and the environment. Indeed, such teachings are fundamental to Judaism and its traditions.

For example, God’s first commandment (genesis 1:22) was to the birds, whales, fish and other creatures to “be fruitful and multiply” and fill the seas and the skies. His first commandment to humans (genesis 1:2 was to “replenish the earth … and have dominion” over other creatures.

Both commandments concern the welfare and survival of animals and human-stewardship responsibilities toward them. So the Almighty must consider the care of animals an important thing.

Clearly, God was well pleased with the works of His creation. After He made each of the creatures, He blessed them, “saw” that each “was good,” and commanded them to “be fruitful and multiply.” And He pronounced the entire creation, when it was completed, “very good.”

Later, when God made his promise to Noah and generations to come never again to destroy the earth with a flood, He included in the covenant “every living creature … the fowl, the cattle and every beast of the earth” (genesis 9:12-17).

Psalm 104 extols the creatures of “this great and wide sea”: “O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom thou hast made them all: The earth is full of thy riches. … The glory of the Lord shall endure forever.” And a well-known Jewish blessing states, “Blessed art thou, Lord our God, king of the universe, who created everything for His glory.”

Kindness to animals is stressed throughout the Bible and is even required in the Ten Commandments, wherein God forbids us to make our farm animals work on the Sabbath; we must give them a day of rest (exodus 20:10, 23:12).

Psalm 36 states, “Man and beast thou savest, O Lord. How precious is thy steadfast love.”

Trees and forests are accorded a special reverence in the Bible, and one of the first things the Israelites were commanded to do when they entered the Promised Land was to plant trees and allow them to mature before eating the fruits thereof (leviticus 19:23).

“The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day He created Spring.”
- Bern Williams

Do i hear an amen?

Horses of the Head, Hand and Heart

When you put your heart in it it, it’ll take you anywhere
-Kenny Rogers

Historically, we’ve led our horses with our heads, but they really need to be led with our hearts.True horse(wo)manship , developing a real partnership with a horse requires a certain attitude, a certain frame of mind that is different from the way we habitually think.

Truth to tell, caling it a way of thinking is actually a misnomer. It might be more accurate to call it a way of feeling. There is a world of difference between the common, everyday, normal horsemanship and the more appropriate, effective and natural development of a true partnership with the animal, the development of true horse(wo)manship.

The normal, everyday approach to horses, rather than being practical horsemanship as you might think, is instead highly impractical. It leaves out the things that are most important to the horse and vital to the healthy development of any relationship.

So, what are these two different approaches, these two different ways of thinking? How can we distinguish between the two?

• Our culture has has been a culture of leading from the head. We use logic and reason, assuming that these functions of the mind were the way of dealing with reality.
• This head oriented approach to life led to the enslavement of animals, and the scientific approach to seeking truth. This attitude also led to the disintegration of more heart centered approaches to life although this has significantly decreased in recent times.
• Obviously logic and reason are great.. within reason but it also means we’ve put the … the cart before the horse.

We live as if the head should be in charge and the heart needs to be controlled. Feelings are to be controlled and sentimentality reduced to a minimum. But, this is really backwards. I’m learning this lesson constantly. The more I trust my heart ( for me the voice of G-d) the more effective the result, even though the path may change.

The heart is that still small voice inside of us, our conscience, that part of us that keeps us on the right track. The head, the mind, with its logic and reason, is for handling the details and solving the problems we encounter along the way. The heart should be in charge.

Of course, this sounds ridiculous to most modern humans, and is usually dismissed out of hand without thinking about it. The mind will say that if the heart is in charge, everyone will just do what they feel, and no one will work, no one will aspire to improve the lot of man; everyone will just party, eat like gluttons,.. you get the picture.

Of course this is not true.

The examples of people who lived from the heart include Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa, , and Jesus - So, what does this have to do with horsemanship? - Everything… really

• In order to feel empathy for your horse it is necessary to check in with your heart.
• In order to understand what your horse is feeling you have to feel with your heart.
• To know whether something you are thinking of doing is right or wrong, you have to consult your heart.

Then, once you have felt what should be done, your mind is allowed to work out the details. That’s it the marriage of head, hand and heart - the horse before the cart. And the great thing about this is you don’t have to learn how to do it, you merely need to stop shutting down the messages from your heart. You already know how to do it. In fact, you had to be taught how not to!

So, whenever you are working with your horse, work from the heart. Develop a partnership based on the heart. Rein in your brain and listen to your heart. It’ll take you anywhere.

Trot on friends, trot on.

How to Be Green on St. Patrick’s Day

Charming, St. Patrick’s Day,, the “wearing of the green” takes on more significance than ever.

At least people are starting to pay attention. Bit by bit, the world is going green. And what better way to celebrate eco-progress than on that greenest of holidays, St. Patrick’s Day?

Admittedly, St. Patrick’s Day isn’t the most elevated of occasions. It’s a tip of the hat to Ireland and its national patron — and an opportunity for everyone, Irish or not, to have a bit of fun. That’s the spirit in which we present Lighter Footstep’s list of ways to “green” your St. Patrick’s Day.

So settle in for a bit of earth-friendly blarney, and let’s green our St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

Buy organic beer
What’s St. Patrick’s day without a mug or two of beer? Beer is one of humankind’s most ancient inventions, probably discovered when soaked grains fermented in the presence of airborne yeast spores. The process has certainly become more sophisticated over the centuries, giving rise to any number of beer tastes and styles. But it’s all basically the same stuff: water plus grain plus yeast equals a fun night at the local pub with your mates.

Good luck separating an Irishman from his Guinness. Its rich, chocolatey body is ubiquitous in all corners of Irish society (and much of the United Kingdom, for matter). Quite a few pints will be hoisted this weekend in honor of St. Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland.

Consumer interest in organic foods has certainly caught the eye of most beer manufacturers, who are now producing a broad assortment of brews produced with ingredients which meet organic production standards. Even giants like Anheuser-Busch have gotten into the act.

But one company bucking the trend is Guinness. Given their domination of the Irish market, if you’re looking for an organic St. Patrick’s libation, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

An obvious choice for fans of traditional stouts Old Plowshare Stout. It’s brewed by California’s North Coast Brewing Company, a pioneer in organic beers. There’s also Peak Organic Beers in a variety styles ranging from pale to amber ales. The good news is that your local health food store or well-supplied beer seller is likely to have an organic brew to meet your tastes. Just be sure someone is functioning as the Designated Leprechaun before getting behind the wheel.

Wear the Green (organics) proudly
It’s a great time to be an eco-friendly consumer. Not only are organic food finally filtering their way down to your local big-box grocery, it’s easier than ever before to find quality organic clothing.
Growing cotton takes it’s toll in n terms of water use and the sheer tonnage of pesticides used to keep conventional fields healthy. But that’s not the only way farm cotton, one of humankind’s best-loved and versatile fibers. Sustainable cotton production addresses these concerns, which are better for the land and the people who work it.

Wear the green all year long. Most major clothing companies — even Levi’s — now carries an organic line or two. Looking for something organic with an Irish touch? Try this shamrock beauty from OfflineTshirts.com. It’ll bring good luck to you and the earth.

Go veggie with your Irish cooking
Cutting back on meat consumption is an earth-friendly choice. And there’s no reason to let traditionally meat-heavy Irish cooking get your way. Try your hand at producing a veggie version of an old classic, Beef and Guinness Stew. You’ll find an easy recipe at About.com which substitutes seitan — a wheat gluten food — for the dish’s conventional ingredients. TheFoody.com has a delicious (and meat-free) version of Irish Vegetable Stew and there are all manner of veggie “bangers” available at your local health or whole foods store just waiting to be fried. Wash it all down with one of those organic beers. Irish eyes are smiling.

Plant something green
Seems obvious, doesn’t it? If you’re green at heart, put some green in your garden. Or you can pay to have something planted where it will do the most good.

For a St. Patrick’s Day twist, scatter some organic clover seed in your garden. It’s attractive, bee-friendly, and helps hold moisture into the soil.

And hopefully this post isn’t going to torture anyone who chose to give up chocolate for Lent but any chocolate that has less guilt associated with it is worth talking about. Many of us will enjoy a choco-bunny or some Peeps this Easter but for me the Cadbury egg has always been a special treat. Cadbury has committed themselves to a greener Easter this year by reducing their use of plastic as part of their ‘Purple Goes Green‘ campaign which was officially kicked off in July 2007. Cadbury is committed to ensuring the economic, social and environmental sustainability of around a million cocoa farmers and their communities through the Cadbury Cocoa Partnership. The chocolate bunny has gone green
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I wanted to cook up something Irish. Most Celtic-themed recipes I found involve a lot of meat and/or beer and/or whiskey. With spring in the air, I opted for something a little sweeter, and made Irish Rice Pudding from the current issue of Rachael Ray Magazine. I love rice pudding, but admit I only order it on occasion and never dreamt of making. This recipe seemed easy enough to give it a whirl… perhaps too easy!