Today I turned 40 years old with a bottle of champagne and my family on a summit overlooking the North Cascades. We kicked off the weekend on the Pacific Crest Trail at Harts Pass near Canada. The PCT was the first “big girl” trail I hiked after moving to Seattle in 2013. Spending time in complete silence (for hours) was a first for me. It truly changed my life. When I finally grew comfortable paying attention without immediately reacting, I was really able to listen and see life around me in a way I never had before. If someone asks what really led to the end of my career, it was an internal shift I have a hard time describing but ultimately resembles self-awareness, and it probably began on the PCT. I met several through hikers this weekend who started at the Mexico border and were almost done. I asked what they planned to do after such an accomplishment. “Go home and get back to work,” most said. At first it seems anticlimactic but I remember Trent Peterson, a young man whose story I told years ago, as he rode wild mustangs along the PCT. He used to say that the PCT is just a trail, what matters is that we slow down, pay attention and see clearly whatever path we’re on. I looked up a quote from that report to share with you all.
“This isn't to advocate for the PCT. The PCT is just a trail. Get out of the rat race and slow down. Pay attention to the little things, not just the big things, because it's the whole picture we need to be aware of," he said.
I am as guilty as the next parent of turning on the TV when I need an emergency mental health break. However, living on a farm has shown me so much about how and why screens became popular. A farm offers endless opportunities for kids to create, play games and discover the world around them. As city life became the norm, and fewer families farmed, it was no longer safe to just let kids roam around unsupervised, and screen time became the convenient babysitter. In moments where I feel the impulse to turn on a screen, I remember that I do not have to be an activities director. Kids have an innate, God-given capacity to create. On this particular day, I was feeding the chickens when I saw that they turned a hay bale into a slide. It reminded me that I can send them outside with no plan - and they will never cease to amaze me with their discoveries.
And I should add, both kids take their fermented cod liver/butter oil like champs! They have no autoimmune issues, rarely get sick and have ...
"Mommy Cow" was looking SO good in her blue halter when we dropped her off at her new temporary home. Mr. Bull was thoroughly impressed. We will leave her there 90 days (as cows ovulate every 21 days typically) in order to give her a few chances to get pregnant. It takes about the same time to bake a calf as a human child, so if all goes well, we should have a nice little Angus calf next Spring. Healthy hormones are very important for Mommy Cow - and same goes for us! I love the omega-3 benefits in my fermented cod liver/butter oil from https://www.greenpasture.org/ which are known to reduce inflammation, increase insulin sensitivity and balance hormones naturally. Use promo code "ALISON" at checkout for 10% off!
We are sending "Mommy Cow" (as Lily named her) to a bull, so we chose a nice bright blue halter for her as she'll be in a herd with a bunch of other black cows. I got a cow halter and a horse halter because I wasn't sure what would fit best. I must say, she looks so purdy! If you want a shiny coat like Mommy Cow, don't forget to grab some fermented cod liver/butter oil from https://www.greenpasture.org/ which has been incredible for my nails, teeth and hair - truly! My dentist recently told me I have "very good teeth for 40." Use promo code "ALISON" at checkout for 10% off.
He's somebody's crazy uncle. And he's RIGHT!
No water to fight fires in Georgia! Residents told to cut back yet data centers have no restrictions - YouTube
And don't fall for claims about low water use data centers. They use more electricity. And guess what, it takes WATER to make electricity. They're consuming water via electricity generation. It just offsets the water use to the electrical generation location.
The small Midwest community leading America’s crusade against data centers
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/the-small-midwest-community-leading-americas-crusade-against-data-centers-92621c55?mod=RSSMSN
