Maggie's Journal

Tags: News You Can Use
Warm weather brings out the big three of biting bugs: mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus, deer ticks that carry Lyme disease and, in warm climates, fire ants that can quickly take over your yard. Instead of using toxic DEET to protect yourself, wouldn’t it be great to use leaves gathered from a native shrub?

This is exactly what you can do with beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), a deciduous shrub of the southeastern woods best known for its braceletlike clusters of showy purple berries that ripen in fall. Compounds found in beautyberry leaves have shown amazing pest-repellent properties, proving the worth of the centuries-old practice of placing leaves under mule harnesses to deter biting insects.

In 2006, researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Products Utilization Research Unit in Oxford, Miss., found that extracts from beautyberry leaves could match DEET for repelling mosquitoes. The next year, experiments showed that the active ingredients from the leaves (callicarpenal and intermedeol) provided 100-percent repellency of black-legged ticks for three hours. In 2008, the four-person research team, headed by chemist Charles Cantrell in Mississippi and entomologist Jerome Klun in Maryland, published research that added fire ants to the list of pests repelled by essential oil distilled from beautyberry leaves.

Cantrell says toxicity testing is needed to evaluate the safety of applying potent beautyberry compounds to human skin. “Plants containing these compounds have long been used as folk remedies with no ill effects that we know of, so I would not anticipate any harmful effects when plants are used in the traditional way,” he says. Fresh green leaves, crushed and rubbed on people or pets, often repel insects for a couple of hours.

American beautyberry is easily grown in moist, partial shade in Zones 7 to 9, and in protected sites near buildings in Zone 6. Among ornamental species, Cantrell notes that leaves of Japanese beautyberry (C. japonica, hardy to Zone 5) contain both compounds.

Container-grown plants of American beautyberry are widely available from native plant nurseries. Visit the Mother Earth News Seed and Plant Finder to find a source near you.

For the record, I have 3 of this native shrub. Thank you, Mother Earth News.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 11:02 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0)

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"Florida's poor can use food stamps to buy staples like milk, vegetables, fruits and meat. But they can also use them to buy sweets like cakes, cookies and Jell-O and snack foods like chips, something a state senator wants stopped."

My understanding of food stamps is that they are a desperate measure to remedy immediate hunger and they are barely enough to exist on. They can't even be used to purchase toilet paper, a daily necessity. So why would recipients use them to buy junk food, which is expensive? If I lived on junk food alone, my grocery bill would be several times what it is now. People who are buying junk, therefore, are not desperate for food and really don't need food stamps.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 7:08 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Posted by Maggie Davis At 10:57 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Eat Real Health and Well-Being


This will hang in my house to motivate me daily to eat skinny and do proper exercises. I want to get back into my old clothes.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 10:51 AM Location home

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Tags: Birthdays Getting Older


Yesterday was Sheena's birthday. I always thought I was older than Sheena, last night I found out that she is older than me - by 2 1/2 months.

The dogwalk group decided to help Sheena celebrate her birthday last night. We all gathered at her house and a good time was had by all. Martin made one of the most beautiful cakes I have ever seen, it was exquisite! I wish someone had thought to get a picture of it so you could see how lovely it looked. It was an iced 4 layer hazelnut cake with decoration scrolled on the sides and more decoration, with whole filberts, on top. Hazelnut cake! Life is good. The cake picture here is nice but Martin's was much lovelier, just so you know that this isn't exactly the one from last night's party, it's a mere cake.

Everyone enjoyed Sheena's party last night but none more so than the very social Border Collie, Flyn. He was delighted to see all his friends, both human and canine. He indulged in the buffet of kibble that was set on the floor in Gus and Clancy's bowls, followed with a bracing drink of fresh, cold, mountain water from the porcelain bowl. Ahhh, sooo refreshing! Once fueled, the host dogs, Gus and Clancy, and their guests, Riley, Lily and Flyn went outdoors for a romp in the yard and on the porch. You never saw so many dog smiles and waggy tails! Then there is the morning after, when party animals pay for last night's fun. Flyn is sprawled out on the carpet in the living room, legs out straight, forehead against a table leg, sound asleep, his eyes a squinched shut into tiny slits. He didn't even go outside for morning chicken chores, one of his favorite activities. It's a good thing these parties don't happen often.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 7:29 AM Location Up The Mountain Road | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Instead of watching big, grown men dressed in funny outfits running around a field chasing their balls, why not watch cute, entertaining puppies instead? Click on the link for details

Posted by Maggie Davis At 11:49 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Education Dangerous Food & Health


Yes, we're a nation of cheese-eaters. We load it onto pizza, layer it in burritos, sprinkle it on salads, and slap it on sandwiches.

In fact, we eat about 31 pounds of it per person each year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's estimates. That's nearly triple the amount Americans were eating in 1970.

But is cheese the true culprit behind flabby thighs and paunchy bellies?

One group thinks so, and hung unsavory images with that very message as billboards in Albany, N.Y. "Cheese and other dairy products are the leading source of saturated fat that our kids are swallowing," says Neal Barnard of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. "And I think most Americans are totally oblivious to it."

When you consider all the artery-clogging saturated fat linked to heart disease, and the cholesterol ("as high as any steak you'll find"), how often should we be eating cheese? "I'd say never," Barnard tells us.

Click on the link to read the rest of it.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 11:15 AM Location

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Tags: Good Eats
































Please note that the word "caramel" has two "a's" and is pronounced in 3 syllables. Lesson over.

It's been a while since I posted something to eat so here you go. Enjoy!

Caramel Nut Torte

Once the crust is made, the torte goes together quickly & easily. Serve in thin slices.

28 caramels

1/3 cup half & half

1 ½ cups mixed nuts (pecans, hazelnuts and/or macadamia nuts), lightly toasted

3 tbsp milk chocolate or real semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 tsp vegetable oil

whipped cream, if desired

1 9 1/2" prebaked crust

1. Heat oven to 350°F.

2. Combine caramels and half & half in 2-quart saucepan.

3. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until caramels are melted and mixture is smooth (15 to 20 minutes).

4. Remove from heat; gently stir 1 1/2 cups mixed nuts into caramel mixture.

5. Spoon onto cooled crust; spread to coat evenly.

6. Cool 30 minutes.

7. Melt chocolate chips and oil in 1-quart saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth (3 to 5 minutes).

8. Drizzle over tart.

9. Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.

SWEET TART DOUGH (PATE SUCREE΄)

1 cup plus 1 tablespoon confectioner’s sugar (122 g)

1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour (254 g)

1 pinch salt

9 tbsp unsalted butter, softened (127 g)

1 large egg

1. Sift together dry ingredients into a bowl.

2. Place the butter in a food processor and process until smooth, about 15 seconds.

3. Scatter the flour mixture over the butter, add the egg; process just until the the dough forms a mass, don't over-mix.

4. Turn the dough out onto the counter and divide in two.

5. Shape each half into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, refrigerate for at least 2 hours up to 24 hours.

6. Half of the dough may be wrapped and refrigerated for up to a month.

7. Let the dough stand at room temperature for 30 minutes to soften.

8. Lightly butter two 9 ½ ” fluted tart pans with removable bottoms. (I use a shallow tart pan without a removable bottom and it comes out just fine.)

9. Dust a work surface lightly with flour.

10. Dust one of the discs lightly with flour and, using a floured rolling pin, roll it to a rough 12” circle.

11. Lift the dough often, making sure that work surface and dough are lightly floured at all times.

12. Roll the dough up onto the rolling pin and gently unroll it over one of the prepared tart pans.

13. Press the dough into the pan and roll the pin over the top to remove the excess dough.

14. Repeat with the remaining dough and tart pan.

15. Prick the bottom of the tart shells all over with a fork.

16. Chill the tart shells for 20m minutes. (The tart shells can be refrigerated up to 24 hours.)

To Partly Bake The Tart Shells:

1. Preheat the oven to 325.

2. Lightly butter two pieces of aluminum foil large enough to generously line each tart pan.

3. Line the tart shells with the foil. Buttered side down, and fill with dried beans, rice or pie weights.

4. Bake the tart shells for 25 minutes.

5. Remove the foil and beans and continue baking for 5 minutes, until just set; the tarts should have little or no color. Cool completely on a wire rack.

To Prebake The Tart Shells:

Preheat the oven to 325.

Lightly butter two pieces of aluminum foil large enough to generously line each tart pan.

Line the tart shells with the foil.

Buttered side down, and fill with dried beans, rice or pie weights.

Bake the shells for 15 minutes.

Remove the foil and weights and bake for an additional 8 – 10 minutes, until evenly golden brown.

Cool completely on a wire rack.

I found this on the Land O Lakes website and used a different crust. http://www.landolakes.com/recipe/2402/harvest-nut-tart

Posted by Maggie Davis At 10:51 AM Location Kitchen

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Get off the grid with solar hot air systems, hot water, electric.

SOLAR Rebates and Incentives for Homeowners: You are eligible for rebates on the installation of solar hot water systems.Call 902.227.8220, email brian@appleseedenergy.ca or follow the links below for more info.

Efficiency NS: Everyone is eligible for a rebate of $1250 if you have electric hot water heater you are eligible for an additional rebate of $1250 http://www.efficiencyns.ca/for_homes/energy_savings_programs/residential_solar/

ecoENERGY: Everyone is eligible for a federal rebate of $1250

Download File

Posted by Maggie Davis At 9:35 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Economy


I bought a loaf of Dempsters bread. (Great bread!) On it is a sticker that offers a free toaster-with-egg-cooker, isn't that a handy gadget, if I manage to collect 15 unique pins + $15.00. My pin is F4B4CF4F46. If you can use it, you can have it.

The toaster gadget is also being sold on Amazon for $34.97 CDN, and $33.99 US. I get free shipping in the states.

http://www.amazon.com/Back-Basics-TEM500--Muffin-2-Slice/dp/B000B18P96/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1328192877&sr=1-1

Use the links to see it.

If I accumulate the required stickers, I can have this toaster-egg-cooker for only $20.00 + stickers, which will require at least $185.00 worth of work.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 10:15 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0)