May Newsletter!

Fast Forward to Spring the house smells wonderful...Sweet Orange, Clove, Cinnamon & Tangerine...bright and vibrant and full of energy...just like the Sun as it shines down on us all again.  We're looking at yet one more snowfall that needs to be melted--yet robins are gathering beneath the trunks of Pine and Cedar looking for that proverbial worm.  Crows walking around looking for the first sprouts of Springtime...daffodils and tulips making their yearly appearance.  Making Soap or working with herbs does that here at MountainsDreamz.  Evokes feelings, memories that intertwine with what Mother Nature is doing outside. It's the one time of day that brings a Peace that permeates.  Snow and ice coming and going...Mother Nature bringing those alternate temperatures to help burst forth life. Around us all?  People marching, standing up, speaking out for Mother Earth.  It's a good thing~gathering together to shake off the politician's proverbial lies and rhetoric.  Going up against big brother and the machine to do some good for their family and ours.  The people's voice--continuing to shine brightly even in the darkest of times.  Look around you though.  Pets?  Herbs or Flowers or Plantings?  Children?  Any mindset of what is going on in the financial markets?  Any care?  Our littlest pup just found a roll of tp and has brought most of what was left thru the house.  The daffodils outside beyond my car are pushing upwards of 6 - 8 inches now.  Baby next door is getting up for breakfast soon.  And life goes on.  Finds a way to continue to make it through the unpleasantness of human creation to showcase growth.  And light.  And love.   Find goodness, Bright blessings, Sandy MountainsDreamz

~May New Products~ Dandelion Root & Chaga--good for helping to heal any serious skin issues caused by exposure to the sun, immune issues, and allergy issues.  Northwood's Chaga and Dandelion root along with Coconut oil, Shea butter, Cocoa butter and beeswax.  Healing and Moisturizing! Healing Skin--another blend good for serious skin issues.  Similar to the Dandelion and Chaga Soap and Balm but using many traditional medicines to help heal Skin Cancer.  Again with Coconut oil, Shea butter, Cocoa butter and beeswax for treatment topically as well as internally! Yarrow & Chamomile Soap--to calm and relax what is going on with your skin!  Scented with Chamomile and Thyme.  Soothing and cleansing. Dandelion Lemon Hemp Soap--Hemp oil is one of the most emollient oils you can use on your skin.  A bright and sunny way to cleanse! Wooded wishes Soap--a rustic re-do of our last year's best seller.  A woodsy scent can be used by both men and women.  Scented with Amber, Patchouli and Cedarwood. Birch Leaf, Pine and Peppermint Headache Balm--we've extended our Birch leaf Balm to include Pine oil and Peppermint oil as well as Marjoram and Eucalyptus.  Good for mild pain relief and those achy cold and flu symptoms!

Cream of Fiddlehead Soup The Old Farmer's Almanac Garden-Fresh Cookbook Early spring means fiddleheads! These are the young, tightly-curled fronds of the ostrich fern. If you aren’t a forager, you can sometimes find fiddleheads in grocery stores in springtime.  If you can’t find fiddleheads, you could try this soup with sliced fresh asparagus but we urge you to try and hunt down these delightful tender plants of spring if you can! INGREDIENTS 1-1/2 cups fiddleheads, cleaned and finely chopped 2 tablespoons butter 2 cubes chicken bouillon or 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules 1 small onion, minced 1 clove garlic, minced 2 cups milk 2 cups heavy cream salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste INSTRUCTIONS Steam the fiddleheads for 10 to 12 minutes, or until tender. Set aside. In a saucepan, melt the butter and bouillon cubes over medium heat. Add the fiddleheads, onions, and garlic and cook for 10 minutes. Add the milk, stir frequently, and heat thoroughly. Add the cream, stir to incorporate, and season with salt and pepper. Serve steaming hot. YIELD:  Makes 6 servings.

Man for the land Students look for the real Aldo Leopold BY JAY RATH  JANUARY 19, 2017 With conservation and ecology politicized at state, national and international levels, it’s important to remember our connection to the physical world, says Jessica Courtier. “There’s an ever-growing sense of urgency about talking about human relationships to nature,” says Courtier, outreach specialist at the Division of Continuing Studies at the UW-Madison. From Jan. 25 through June, the division will offer a wide-ranging public series of classes, workshops, tours and other events, looking at the life and legacy of favorite son Aldo Leopold. “The father of wildlife ecology,” Leopold was a scientist, philosopher, UW-Madison professor and author. He’s perhaps best known for his book A Sand County Almanac.Leopold died of a heart attack while fighting a wildfire near his land in Sauk County in 1948. “Why Leopold now? Leopold is a clear and obvious path into current environmental controversies, no matter where you are in the country,” says Courtier. “But obviously it’s especially important and relevant here in Wisconsin because of his work here.” “There are degrees of awareness of Leopold’s contributions,” says his biographer, Curt Meine. “He’s [become] almost a mythical figure that bears little resemblance in some ways to the actual human being,” says Meine. “But that’s what happens with authors who write classic books; you think of them primarily in that role.”

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4 Yoga Poses That Come With Some Serious Beauty Benefits by Sara QuiriconiApril 26, 2017 5:20 AM We've all heard the saying "beauty is an inside job"; and, while I thoroughly agree with it, a little outside help couldn't hurt, right? Yoga is a healing practice in many ways, which is why it can offer some serious beauty benefits. Almost any practice you do will benefit your skin, but there are certain poses that are more beneficial than others. The following four asanas are especially powerful in terms of detoxifying, increasing circulation, and reducing stress. Bow pose (dhanurasana) for glowing skin.

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Scientists Shocked To Discover The Human Body Is Full Of “Mini Brains” That Function Without Using The Central Nervous System WRITTEN BY: RUSSEL DAVIS APRIL 17, 2017 The human body’s peripheral nervous system may have the capacity to interpret its environment and regulate pain, a recent animal study revealed. A team of researchers at the University of Leeds and the Hebei Medical University in China examined ganglia cells in mice and rats for five years and found that nerve cells in the ganglia, a collection of nodules in the peripheral nervous system, can exchange information with one another using a signaling molecule called gamma-Aminobutyric acid. This process was previously believed to be restricted in the central nervous system. The researchers also found that when exposed to pain stimuli, ganglia cells appeared to communicate with each other and regulate signals that were being sent to the central nervous system. “We found the peripheral nervous system has the ability to alter the information sent to the brain, rather than blindly passing everything on to the central nervous system…When our research team looked more closely at the peripheral system, we found the machinery for neuronal communication did exist in the peripheral nervous system’s structure. It is as if each sensory nerve has its own ‘mini-brain’, which to an extent, can interpret incoming information,” said lead researcher Professor Nikita Gamper.

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The Best Advice On How We Can Live Every Day Like It's Earth Day This Earth Day, 1 Hotels partnered with mindbodygreen to celebrate the one planet we all share with events across the country, from beach cleanups in Miami to interactive floral displays in Manhattan. In Brooklyn, leading eco-experts gathered for panel discussions on the future of sustainability and the role we all play in it. Didn't catch the fun? Don't worry; we were taking notes. Here is their top advice on how you can be a more conscious consumer and live every day like it's Earth Day: 1. Question your clothes and look beyond labels. These days, there are plenty of labels making our food industry more transparent (think certified organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, etc.) but not so many for our clothes. The Sustainable Apparel Coalition is working hard to formulate a "nutrition label" for clothing that assigns a green score to footwear and apparel based on its entire life cycle. However, it will probably be another two to three years until we see it in stores. What can we do in the meantime to ensure that our clothes are produced in an ethical, sustainable way? "Ask more questions and request more information from the company you’re buying your clothing from. Be curious and go beyond the label," said panelist Debera Johnson, executive director of the Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator. So educate yourself on how resource intensive the textile industry can be (the average T-shirt uses 700 gallons of water!), and begin to question exactly what goes into the clothes on your back.

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Cilantro: Love It or Hate It, This Healthy Herb Can Do the Body Good By Ty Bollinger For many thousands of years, people across the globe have enjoyed the fresh, citrusy flavor and bright, zesty aroma of one of the world’s oldest and most beloved herbs, cilantro. Also known as Coriandrum sativum, cilantro is a favorite of many in the culinary world, boasting a rich history of food pairing that’s almost as old as time itself. But did you know that cilantro is well-documented in the scientific literature as having medicinal properties as well? Hailing from the Apiaceae family of herbs, which includes well-known vegetables and spices like parsley, carrots, and celery, as well as some 3,700 other plant species, cilantro is abundant in therapeutic elements that science suggests may help keep the body robustly nourished and free of toxins. Because it’s loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, cilantro is a top pick when it comes to perking up foods with a little extra nutrition.

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11 Healthy Herbs & Spices That Help Keep Disease At Bay By Ty Bollinger They’re perhaps most prized in modern times for their ability to add a flavorful punch to food. But what can herbs, spices, and botanical extracts offer us beyond just pleasurable tastes and aromas during mealtime? A whole lot, it turns out. The array of healthy herbs and spices that our plant world has to offer us expands our palates and perks up our dinner plates. But even more importantly, they can also perform important restorative functions throughout our bodies to help keep us healthy, vibrant, and disease-free. While there are hundreds (if not thousands) of exceptional healthy herb and spice options out there to choose from that meet these qualifications, I’d like to introduce you to 11 specific ones that I see as especially noteworthy for two reasons:  #1 – Each of these healthy herbs and spices is distinctly potent for healing, and many of them can make excellent additions to your favorite meal dishes, depending on your personal taste preferences. #2 – They’re all relatively easy to find and easy on the wallet.

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Rosemary: Health benefits, precautions, and drug interactions Written by Joseph Nordqvist Reviewed by Debra Sullivan, PhD, MSN, CNE, COI Last updated: Fri 21 April 2017 Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a fragrant evergreen herb native to the Mediterranean. It is used as a culinary condiment, to make bodily perfumes, and for its potential health benefits. The herb not only tastes good in culinary dishes, such as rosemary chicken and lamb, but it is also a good source of iron, calcium, and vitamin B-6. It is typically prepared as a dried whole herb or a dried powdered extract, while teas and liquid extracts are made from fresh or dried leaves. The herb has been hailed since ancient times for its medicinal properties. Rosemary was traditionally used to help alleviate muscle pain, improve memory, boost the immune and circulatory system, and promote hair growth. Contents of this article: Possible health benefits Side effects Drug interactions Fast facts on rosemary Rosemary is a perennial plant (it lives more than 2 years). The leaves are often used in cooking. Possible health benefits include improved concentration, digestion, and brain aging. Very high doses may cause vomiting, coma, and pulmonary edema.

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THE MONTH OF MAY 2017: HOLIDAYS, FUN FACTS, FOLKLORE   FOOD, FOLKLORE & FUN The arrival of May 2017 brings with it many springtime traditions and celebrations to honor the phenomenal growth in the garden and the warming of the sun. The glittering leaves of the rhododendrons Balance and vibrate in the cool air; While in the sky above them White clouds chase each other. —John Gould Fletcher (1886–1950) CALENDAR May is named for the Roman goddess Maia, who oversaw the growth of plants. May 1 is May Day. Mark the return of spring by bringing in branches of forsythia, lilacs, or other flowering shrubs from your region. Cinco de Mayo (“The Fifth of May”) celebrates the victory of the Mexicans over the French army at The Battle of Puebla in 1862. This year (2017), Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, May 14.  Learn about the history of Mother’s Day. Memorial Day (Monday, May 29) is a poignant reminder of the tenacity of life. We post the flag on this day; know your American flag rules.

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Shocking Study Finds That Penicillin Changes Childrens’ Brains, Causing Them To Grow Up Angry And Violent WRITTEN BY: RUSSEL DAVIS APRIL 17, 2017 Antibiotic treatment during late pregnancy and early childhood spurred aggression and long-term behavioral changes in animal models, a recent study showed. A team of researchers at the McMaster University and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton in Ontario, Canada examined the effects of low-dose penicillin treatment in pregnant mice and their offspring, and found that the antibiotic triggered neurochemical changes in the brain and spurred a gut bacteria imbalance in mice. These changes coincided with increased aggression and reduced anxiety in the animal models, researchers said. However, the study revealed that giving mice a lactobacillus strain of bacteria helped prevent the onset of these negative behaviors. “In this paper, we report that low-dose penicillin taken late in pregnancy and in early life of mice offspring, changes behaviour [sic] and the balance of microbes in the gut. While these studies have been performed in mice, they point to popular increasing concerns about the long-term effects of antibiotics. Furthermore, our results suggest that a probiotic might be effective in preventing the detrimental effects of the penicillin,” said lead author Dr. John Bienenstock in an article in ScienceDaily.com.

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CAN ANIMALS PREDICT WEATHER? ANIMAL PROVERBS PREDICTING WEATHER WITH ANIMALS Observe animals and you’ll see that they, too, have their own ways of predicting weather. Here are some animal weather proverbs and prognostics. Expect rain when dogs eat grass, cats purr and wash, sheep turn into the wind, oxen sniff the air, and swine are restless. If the bull leads the cows to pasture, expect rain; if the cows precede the bull, the weather will be uncertain. When cats sneeze, it is a sign of rain. When cattle lie down in the pasture, it indicates early rain. Bats flying late in the evening indicates fair weather. If the groundhog sees its shadow on Candlemas Day (February 2), six more weeks of winter remain. When horses and cattle stretch out their necks and sniff the air, it will rain. If the mole digs its hole 2½ feet deep, expect severe weather; if two feet deep, not so severe; if one foot deep, a mild winter. When pigs gather leaves and straw in all, expect a cold winter. When rabbits are fat in October and November, expect a long, cold winter. If sheep ascend hills and scatter, expect clear weather. Wolves always howl more before a storm.

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Kids n Herbs...n cooking!

Growing for Good Learn how gardening benefits can go beyond your own home, from feeding hungry people to helping other start their own crops. By Abby Olcese There aren’t many better feelings than getting into the garden in spring, feeling the rich soil in our fingers and delighting at new growth. Perhaps the only thing better is knowing the benefits of our garden bounty extend well beyond the bounds of our own yards. Use the tips in the following pages to ensure your garden efforts serve others as well, from neighbors and community members to our critical pollinators. Gardening with a Purpose Use your green thumb to help your community. Gardening connects us with nature, and provides us with food, visual delight and even stress relief. But the benefits of gardening can spread even further when we put our efforts to work to help our communities. Here are a few ways to turn gardening skills into local activism.

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Zero-Waste Gardening Save money and the environment by reducing the amount of resources that goes into your garden. Our zero-waste gardening tips will get you started. By Letitia Star March/April 2013   Growing a garden is an excellent way to produce some of our own food, get exercise and spend time in nature. But with water, fertilizers, tools and more, gardens can become a major consumer of resources. With a few smart techniques, you can reduce the amount of input your garden requires, making your garden and yard cheaper, healthier and lighter on the planet.

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5 Best Essential Oils for Spring Allergies By: Michelle Schoffro Cook March 28, 2017 The snow is gone (in most places in North America), the birds are chirping and spring is officially here. While it is wonderful to get outdoors to garden, hike or cycle, it is good to have some natural remedies on hand if you are an allergy sufferer. There are many essential oils that are effective for allergy symptoms and for alleviating sinus congestion, sneezing, respiratory problems and so forth. The following list is not exhaustive but includes some of the oils that are readily available and highly effective for allergies. It’s not necessary to use all of the oils; actually it is preferable to stick to one or two individual oils or a blend of a few. I’ve included the Latin names of the preferred varieties of essential oil to help ensure that you obtain the correct oils and avoid using any varieties that may lack therapeutic properties, or worse, be harmful.

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