Finally....and embracing this last day of August

 

Sunday.

I have really been enjoying these cool nights.

Sleep has been amazing!

*********

Today I had my final consult with my online Dr. about

the next phase of healing.

It encompass' the two main areas of health that I have been

struggling with; chronic inflammation brought on by

the increased IL-6 cytokines that cause my nasal polyps and how

that is causing a backlog of it stored in the adipose tissue of my body.

The past 6 months have had me learning about autophagy and apoptosis

while I have been navigating joint pain and knee dislocations.

Every time I tried to move, walk, bike or anything else the pain

was worse. Likely caused by the increase in inflammatory markers.

Then I would take aleve and that would unknowingly make it worse

because what causes my inflammation

 is seasonal allergies, wheat & aspirin allergies.

The pain killer was causing me more long term pain.

So I was in this pain cycle that was brutal which started 5 years ago.

Now, we have a plan to remove the excess IL-6 markers and hopefully

naturally heal me for good.

I have to say that I cried.

For so long my Dr.s have wanted to just add to my issues by

prescribing Rx's, powerful ones.

Now I have a path forward that does not involve any of that.

On this prayer day, I have been thanking God over & over for

this answer to my daily pleading for relief and today I received some hope.

I am excited as a lot of what is need to do I already have in place

like intermittent fasting and increased knowledge of how our bodies 

self-heal every day and what to do to boost it naturally.

Here we start, at the beginning of another month, season and

moment where I can actually implement this new plan.

I hope that you all follow along as I share my journey

to better health.

You inspire me every day to keep going when I have to be honest,

I have felt lost and alone- especially in the medical system.

The labels, the horrid diseases they told me I could have,

the waiting so long between visits when I needed answers today

kept me motivated to try and find another way.

If covid did any one good thing, it enabled us to reach experts

not only in our localities.

You can find people who support your lifestyle choices anywhere.

I am not against all western medicines, yet the business models

they promote over standards of care is disheartening.

I can see why folks who are suffering just take the Rx despite

side effects just to ease their pain.

I was just that person a few decades ago, I understand.

But years of Vioxx and injected steroids in my back never healed me.

What healed me is finding the right Dr. who discovered that the last

surgeon moved a nerve from a prior surgery, causing me years of unrelenting pain

and side effects from the Rx.

The very next day after major back surgery I was on my feet playing

Badminton with my children I felt so good!

A return to homeostasis.

So anyway, I wanted to give you all an update.

I have been silently enduring these issues while also trying to heal

after falling. I was determined not to feel powerless anymore, stuck in

a pain filled rut. I put all of my strength into finding the solution.

I knew that there had to be one, even when I was frustrated when 

I found myself with another flare and having others discount  it....

I believed in my heart that I would find answers that were simple.

Today is the start of what I hope to be many happy postings where

I am gleefully running after my grands, working at what I love, 

maintaining this beautiful property and lovingly caring for my animals.

My family, my husband and my purpose are what motivates me.

God is my anchor whenever I have felt cast aside or powerless.

What have I talked about for years here?

The 3 things that you can not quantify in any ongoing issue:

1. Human Spirit

2. Mother Nature

3. God

All 3 can not be explained, can not be gauged or measured.

the power of them in unison , well... that is a miracle.

If I did not try over & over to help myself, if I did not allow

Mother Nature to intervene and trust her, if I did not give it all to God when frustrated

then I would not be  in the process of healing.

I pray for this understanding for others , especially those who feel alone.

You are not. Keep up the fight, you are not alone.

All I have ever wanted is the ability to love & the ability to quietly live my life

according to my terms. 

I have no special skills and knowledge.

 I am quite ordinary.

The simple life is the best life.

May you all have a fabulous Labor Day weekend!

I will catch you tomorrow.

xoxo

Raven

Cool....August morning

 

Oh yes, It was a bit chilly this morning.

I feel it...

I awoke with the feeling of angst.

Not because I did not sleep well.... I did.

But because every once in a while in my life I reach a limit that

tells me * ENOUGH!*.

Though I have taken the responsibility to really look after my health

and make changes this year ( physical, mental and spiritual)

I am sick and tired of these nagging injuries.

I am tired of not recovering 100% to then see another issue crop up.

Time to make changes.

I just do not believe that one should have pain every day.

And for years I have suffered with nagging joint issues 

that heal only to arise elsewhere . It is like playing back a mole

with my joint pain.

I am done.

But to be honest, I am done at every juncture of my life.

I have reached the end of my *give a damns* my ability to suffer fools

and idiots.

As you all know...fear was the basis of all my decisions for years & years.

I was told by experts to expect the worst in every situation.

....that blessedly never happened.

However , living in that fear rewired my head and I needed

years to free myself of it.

Moving on is always hard for a Taurus.

Rooted in routine and safety, Taurus' are the most

loyal and dependable of all signs.

....sometimes to their own detriment .

The shift came as I awoke and decided I have to accept some

things in order to change others.

Just like the cool air.... it crept into my mind during

my morning prayers.

Gosh, can it just be this easy?

Knowing that it is time to move on?

Knowing that you deserve better.

Knowing that you have the power and had it all along?

That one small voice during morning prayers on a Thursday in August after

a whole month of living in daily pain and pretending I am okay with it...

after a whole 5 years of living in fear, after a lifetime of always being the

loyal, responsible one much  to my own detriment?

Just jump on into the next chapter.

Well, okay.

Time to move on then.

Build a new team for a new chapter of my life.

God was already showing me in so many ways.

The earth is in a state of change to another season.

Can it be so obvious that now is the moment to allow

myself to change as well?

The sun is moving into a different pattern.

But the core of who I am...the me is still here.

She is still here, awaiting the opportunities to belong to the next chapter of me.

Growing closer to Mother Nature and Gods earthly blessings....

Fall away...

Let those things that no longer serve fall away.

Like the acorns and leaves.

Like the feathers from my hens in the cool weather.

Like the notions implanted there by others who no longer

( or never did) actually care.

Time to dig deep to my roots and pull out the next best version of me.

The voices of the fools are loud, they are the ones who

profess to know everything yet nothing in their live shows you

they know how to do anything well.

Though they may be louder, the trick is to listen for the voice of reason,

the intuitive whispers of discernment that emanate from your own

soul. Those are the guideposts you need to follow.

Not 1,578 *friends* on your social media page.

Not the media's clown show.

Not people who choose wrong who are now panicking.

Not those who want you to secretly fail.

Listen to * that small voice*.

Even if it means you do it alone.

Ah.....

Now I understand.

*******************************

I do not know about you but the energies have changed around me and in this world

vastly in the past month. I feel it in every bone in my body.

I am compelled to tear through every nook and cranny and remove

everything that is no longer useful or loved.

I am choosing new music and clothing styles, looking forward to welcoming back

old friends ( like Gilmore Girls 25th celebrations next year and Taylors'

new album, Stevie being relevant again is huge, Practical Magic is coming back

next year as well) things that I loved that I may love again in a new way.

The ease and grace that has fallen on my choices, my attitude and my 

vision for the future could not have happened randomly.

It has me looking at my very home and surroundings differently too.

I flow with the energies of the creatures here & the seasons I am in.

Tearing me away from the madness of people and the world I have

no control over.

I have no need to stand on soap boxes to state my beliefs.

Those who do are puppets, manipulated by something I feel is so

dark that I refuse to acknowledge it.

I will actively live my truths.

I do not know where I am headed, I just know that I have to

change in the best ways.

No more accepting pain as a natural thing .

No more accepting nonsense.

Just a new start on an established foundation rooted in faith.

***************

Moving on.....

Now this is one account that I love following...

It posts the bird migration map .

Cool huh?

It even tells you what species of birds are migrating too.

Taking some time this weekend to explore my own backyard.

Hiking the river property for the first time.

*gingerly*

But it was on my Summer list and it is time to finish up that list!

I can think of nothing better this long weekend than to get further into nature.

Have a great day friends.

Live your truth.

And know that there are people out here who see you and who

are so very proud to have you in their lives.

xoxo

Raven

August is the best time for.......

 

A U G U S T  24 , 2025

Today is day one .

Time to unveil my next projects that will allow me to

achieve the next projects etc......

This first one is personal.

I never thought that I had anything to offer others in my 

search for wellness.

This, weight is always tied to shame or guilt.

But this time it is not.

There is not shame when you have spent  the last 6 months focused upon

what made you that way.

I am eating well, sleeping well but I am overweight by a few.

That is causing my inflammation to skyrocket.

It causes all sorts of things to happen.

My nasal polyps grow, my joints ache and I feel like garbage.

and all I have to do is get back into metabolic health.

I did purchase a Hume scale for my birthday which measures

not just weight but muscle mass, fat deposits, mineral health and a load of

other things like chronic dehydration.

It has been a game changer.

Here is the link:

https://humehealth.com/?_ef_transaction_id=&tw_source=everflow&tw_medium=affiliate&advertiser_id=&utm=utmvalue&oid=26&affid=80&source_id=G-FM&sub1=USGen&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22882813610&gbraid=0AAAABBBIolusc7qjVLz41gz0qpc66WeCG&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8KrFBhDUARIsAMvIApZNT7PE7rmOHUHGz48TFeS-8TZlgE3woTOKN3_XdjO-QpzUi-sDRNkaAhOuEALw_wcB

If you are a fact and information person like me you will appreciate

the many metrics that it gives you.

If you have some weird feelings about weight in general

I suggest that you do the *inside work* on yourself before

using a device that may hyper fixate you on that one thing.

I tend to amass muscle quickly and way before I lose fat

as I start to move more. In the past I became discouraged 

at my slow results. With this scale I can see my muscle mass %

go up as my body fat % decreases.

Just a tool that works for me.

Let me start at the beginning....

Many years ago....

I transformed my body.

I had an anaphylaxis situation where I almost died.

( the reason was quickly found but the damage had

been done. My body turned upon itself in weird ways

one being allergies to things I had not been allergic to prior)

The Dr.'s and I tried to figure out what was triggering those attacks.

Wheat. ( I was tested for this plus my father had a mild wheat

allergy with his asthma) But I was scared navigating a new world where there

is wheat in the most bizarre things.

So I ate meat, veggies and some fruit.

My stress from this and what my husband was dealing with

( a poor cancer diagnosis) led me to start running ( sprinting , jogging & walking)

2X a day while fasting out of stress.

Being outside in the sunshine, running was my mental health at the time.

I was also working nonstop every weekend, Spring show runs, a Summer show,

and 7-8 weekend in the fall...training in the weeks before & weekday charity appearances.

I lost 90 pounds in 3 1/2 months.

It was not hard, I just was intermittent fasting, doing HIIT ( or a form of)

eating raw ,local, fresh foods ( raw because wheat is found in many preservatives ).

I was outdoors in every kind of weather.

and I was in the very best shape .

Fast forward to 5 years ago when I stopped running

( my idiot Dr. said even someone passing by in a car could give me covid)

moved to a rural new town, stopped eating well...

& baking wheat free treats that  caused my joints to  start to hurt.

Also, I could not work at all at what I so loved to do.

( that is for another post)

Then I fell twice, ripping out my left knee and breaking a rib.

I was in bad shape. I vowed to work my way back.

I would, but I would still be creaky, still sore, still

feel less than my best.

In January I promised myself to not just create a program to heal myself,

but to get myself back to where I was when I moved here.

God had other plans...as He always does and instead had me

work on my inside instead, healing years of barriers created

that I no longer needed and throwing out other peoples

weight that I was carrying.

Here we are in August.

Yes, I fell at the beginning of the month and tore out both knees

again ( to be fair since I was 12 my knees have suffered

from me being wild and also my knees have only one side to 

the patella area. If I fall or twist , they blow out that side.

Meniscus tears, patella fractures.... 

bless my poor knees & what I have put them through!)

Now, I am weeks into rehabbing them and also implementing

a new ( old & tested) healing plan.

Sunlight + ketosis + intermittent fasting + HIIT + healing sleep cycles.

Equals what I was doing years ago.

I had the magic recipe back then without even knowing it.

I am now working with a functional Dr. to implement it again.

It is said that once implemented that this can remove inflammatory disease

anywhere in the body. It will give you energy. It will even reverse age you.

Don't believe me?

This was me before I did this program:

2003

This was me a few years later....

2017 ( ?)

I am older....but metabolically younger here.

It is all about being metabolically fit.

It is not a # but a state of being.

It is not about buying anything.

In fact it is about removing things: habits, refined foods, Rx, toxic things and people .

It is a free  lifestyle change that can save your life.

(My BP lessened, good cholesterol skyrocketed & borderline diabetes vanished)

Most Dr.'s will not help you achieve this goal without meds.

I am not selling anything.

I am simply telling you what worked for me and what I will

be implementing ( I have been for a month now) again

to reduce weight, end seasonal allergies,

 reduce inflammation, stop the growth of polyps ,

get my smell back & most importantly run after my grandchildren.

It is harder this time.

 I can not just open the back door and run like I used to.

I have been trying to find other ways to achieve my HIIT goals

while re-habbing my knees.

I do not endorse any program or *diet*

What I can say is I follow this Dr.

and she encompasses everything I believe & have done in the past with excellent results.

I won't get into my specifics but she also addresses hormones, oestrogen replacement,

and other questions folks have.

She has helped me .

Maybe she will help you too.

Link to Dr.:

https://www.instagram.com/courtneyhuntmd/

***********************

On the left is me this month.

On the right me in 2017.

Though I have gained weight

( & inflammation and sore knees)

I am aging well.

I rarely talk about when I am working on myself.

But at my age, it is important to let others know that

true healing is attainable.

If you are about natural healing techniques ,

the link between the mind and body,

Not being a slave to Rx,

 & living the best life free from as many toxins and lies as possible,

then these next few months will be my gift for you.

Join me as I delve a few times a week into my  healing progress.

🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿

The first step is recognising the issue,

the next is doing something about it.

Follow me as I gently move into a healthier space.

Perhaps you may learn something along the way.

First lesson:

The sun.

It is not the enemy.

First thing in the am and last thing before sunset hang out in it.

It is way more healing than we have been led to believe.

You will sleep better... I promise.

( ever wonder why animals seek that small shaft of light to lie down in?)

**********

sun

(am & evening- chicken in & out time)

sleep

( 8 solid with 3 or more rem cycles)

intermittent fasting

( for me right now...18 hours 3-4x week)

move

( hardest part... HIIT 2x day paired with knee rehab)

feast on clean food

( easy, it is the best season for raw milk, honey, veggies & fruits

and local meats & fish)

Keeping my mindset correct means low internet junk and

focusing on my priorities:

God

( just started a new work book)

Health

Family

Everything else.

It also means being open to changes and replying on my faith

when things go sideways.

I have a smaller circle now....and they are my lights.

I am so grateful for them & for you all!

Mother Nature wants to heal you.

Let her.

xoxo

Raven

Nature vs Frankenstein... oh & a steller meatloaf recipe!

 

In nature, nothing needs to be perfected because it is already perfect

just the way it is. 

Mother Nature has a plan and it is wonderful.

So why do we always listen those who try and interject their

ideas into our food supply, our healing and our families?

The argument is that man can make things *better*- yet except for

a few things that I have witnessed in my lifetime, man has just

tried to re-invent that which worked as it was.

How arrogant .

...and how foolish that those who follow this logic

have a platform to announce their foolishness loudly , for all the world to hear?

This article brings about that very point.

The absolute insanity of man who thinks themself a God, interfering with

our food supply with no accountability..

You betcha there will be those who stand and applaud this monster.

Frankenstein had nothing on him.

Yet there they will be.....

as long as it fits their agenda, as long as it can allow them their talking

points.

 Ignorant fools.

Why would anyone ever listen to such a craven , weak and insidious being?

https://www.terranabio.com

Those who make this political, like the raw milk debate are wilfully ignorant.

They possess the same abilities as I do to research for themselves the facts surrounding this case.

It is always the same people, sitting in their protected enclaves spouting

their political rhetoric that has nothing to do with food safety that have the most

to say....they share the memes that get launched all over the internet and the

lazy followers repost and cause more ignorance and strife.

I am tired of seeing it.

So, what do free thinking people do ?

Monitor what is happening .... know where your food is coming from

and stop looking at carefully crafted memes on the internet likely

created by the very same folks doing this to our food supply.

We all have free will.

Use it.

In the end, it it not just your food, it will be your childrens and grandchildren's food

supply that we are talking about.

If you wish to stay healthy, know what you are feeding your body with.

Locally sourced foods are the safest and now, when the bounty is huge

is the time to purchase & freeze, preserve , freeze dry as much as you can.

As August wains I am again aware of how vital it is to get out in

nature, under the sun, beneath the stars, with my feet in the grass breathing

in the fresh air. I have become much closer to the earth since living here

and this Taurus is happy for that.

Nature has taught me some of the biggest lessons of my life.

A humble reminder that I am just a part of this massive organic being

filled with the Grace and spirit from something bigger than myself.

The closer I am to nature the closer I am to God.

Who are we to believe that anything we do to that perfection is better than 

what was originally created?

Time will always be the final test.

In my 60 years here I have found many many ideas disproven,

many peoples hatred  overshadowing common sense.

I could make a list of the insane things that *everyone* does just because *everyone*

does it. 

Sad really. 

Look for yourselves and make a quiet decision to not allow this into your life.

I know that you guys who read me are discerning and brilliant.

I know that you will make good choices for yourselves & your family.

In the future I will keep you all apprised of things like this and how far they

actually get down the pipeline to us and if they do how to navigate it.

For now my advice would be to buy as local as possible

and if it comes up, vote for those who will refuse to allow

these kinds of things into our stores. 

Remember, it is not a political issue anymore, it is a good vs evil one.

***

This was one of mommy's favorite suppers to make.

Meatloaf is such comfort food.... truly.

But I am a huge fan of the next day meatloaf sandwiches...cold- Yum!.

Sometimes eating a memory is necessary.

This is an oldie but goodie!

Today is another day of projects, another day filled with activity and

progress. I will be getting my trusty Jeep attended to for the harsher seasons to come.

I will also be close to where there is a farm to butcher shop that I get

fresh meats from. Maybe that meatloaf will be on the menu tonite!

Bless you all.

Have a fine August day!

xoxo

Raven

Projects, chickens, simple keto lunch & permission to enjoy summer's end!

 

Installing this lilac slate in various parts of the property this month.
Today we are having the front walk re-done.

Finally, no more weeding those tiny pebbles!

Hello my dear friends!

Busy, busy, busy!

Stone Hollow has been buzzing with activity

seemingly every day since the beginning of August.

This week is the big prep week for the final

leg of a project many years in the making.

In the middle of all of this & our *regular* life

we have been entertaining new and old visitors who wish to

see the property.

I am still rehabbing both knees from my fall

and I am making slow but steady progress.

This time I am adding in weights to build up my leg muscles.

I have lots of reasons to get in my best health.

Sunlight, intermittent fasting, grounding, prioritising protein

and trying to get into ketosis ( the goal) is how I will not

just remove weight but also heal.

This recipe for health is a combination of many experts

that I have cobbled together with my own health in mind.

Information that I gained from researching all of my medical recoreds

over the winter helped me focus on trends that may be seasonal or 

related to how many activities I do, or how I do them....

Add in restful sleep ( 8 hours) and I am almost in the

zone of where I need to be to flourish.

Sleep is rarely an issue unless I can not breathe.

That is an allergy thing that will be addressed

with this new program.

I do not want lifetime meds of any kind.

So my best bet is to be consistent with my regimen.

I do too much, I ice the knee.

No matter what I had planned.

It unexpectedly rained last night.

Perhaps you knew but I realised quite recently that I have not seen

a local newscast since moving up here.

LOL!

Every morning and evening I check NOAA for our forecast or look

at my phone but lately everything is inaccurate.

It was a true blessing for sure.

My frogs and ducks were so happy as were the gardens.

I did see an article that basically said Summer is over for us here

in New England.  I will ignore it.... for now. 😏

Remember me writing about the in between times?

We are there.

I find myself not wanting the sunshine days to end but embracing the

cool nights.

Cooper and his girlies ( all unnamed but the smallest who I lovingly call Polly Pocket)

spent many hours this morning in the attached bee & chicken garden.

Gosh, I am so so glad that I decided to order them this season.

After losing 4 of my original flock last year I was on the fence but

seeing them...and they remind me so much of my originals....

makes my heart so happy.

Other than the high strung prairie chickens that are still feather

picking one anothers butts....I feel confident that this flock will fit in with

my older hens. Blueberry has been doing better, I has giving her

childrens anti inflammatory and her hock is looking less puffy.

I spent hours out in the run scrubbing waterers & buckets, moving around the structures, adding clean 

sand and looking to see what needs to be done before the stormy/ cooler weather arrives.

I swear by putting a bit of organic cider vinegar in their waterers.

It is one of those things that is not a huge deal but keeps them healthy.

What am I using now in the coops?

You know that I am a loyal girl with anything I find worth the value

but is also top notch, no skimping for my babies.

I have been very happy with Eaton Peet & Pastures products.

I use the whole line...and find them to be high quality and long lasting .

As for feed.... I am happy with Kalmbach's Hen House but have not found a way

to keep them from picking out just what they like. I remember a chicken blogger once saying that

chickens have less tastebuds than we do so they do not care what they eat... I beg to

differ... they care a great deal!

It can be wasteful and so I have b been trying out ( as snacks) new feed options

that is a single thing to see if they like it.

If they do then I will slowly change them over.

Don't get me wrong, Kalmbach is awesome nutrition, but for me at least it

is messy and wasteful.

The babies have been enjoying this feed.

I may try to introduce this brand to the big girls....that is my next move.

I do let them free range in the garden and out in the pastures

for a couple hours every day.

That is the best for them as far as nutrition and keeping them healthy.

As you can see, the feed makes quite the mess.

You can also see the naked butts of the prairie chickens who

for whatever reason are only this way with one another.

I may sew pants for them as it gets colder!

And for those wondering...no, they do not have lice, mites or parasites

of any kind. They do not have a skin condition. Their roosts are free from pests.

They just have this pecking order thing going on...

I tried moving the biggest bully out to a crate for a few nights but that dod not work.

So.... pants it may be! LOL!

With all of this hard work going on here, dinners have to be quick and

serve extra guests.

I have been on a pierogies bender....

I fry them in butter and serve with kielbasa or pork chops.

I can not eat them but the guys love them!

The ones I buy at the store are made locally.

Filled with potato & cheese, they are a hit!

For me, I am eating basically dirty keto.

Protein with veggies a bit of raw dairy and a small amount of carbs

because my body does not like straight keto at all.

What have you guys been making this month?

Do you feel the call to try and make up heartier seasonal menu's?

I have but I need ideas!

We can get in a loop and forget that we like other things!

For those who eat like I do,

this is a great quick hack and delicious too!

I used raw mozzarella and  salami ( what was in the fridge)

and they were satisfying as heck!

I served them with a small veggie and arugula salad.

Yummy quick lunch idea.

Me right now....

Prioritising health, faith & home for me & the family

Calm & peace.

two words I knew nothing about until recently.

Let us enjoy these days of summer.

let us do what makes us dream of the summertime in the depths of winter.

Swim in the river, eat ice cream, play outside until the moon comes out,

listen to the song birds, lay in the grass.

Fair season is arriving!

Out late watching truck pulls eating a bucket of tallow fries with my love.

Can life get any better?

Have a wonderful day !

xoxo

Raven