Blog Posts

What's In Your Trough Today?

7/27/2015

Cows at Pickle Creek Ranch

by Cheryl L. McClure

We all have to eat!! Dogs, cats, cows, donkeys, people... What's in YOUR trough today? I'm talking about what YOU are eating - in the HUMAN trough! LOL

Is your pantry stocked with good healthy choices?

Even though our cows have the finest prairie grass hay to eat in the winter time, and they graze on acres free of pesticides and any kind of chemical, we still supplement them with feed so they have additional nutrition. I have not used essential oils on the cows, but I have used my essential oils on a donkey before! You can see that story HERE. :)

So, if we can be as intentional about what we feed our animals, why can't we be intentional about what we feed ourselves? Life gets busy so a quick meal is in order, right? We can have one fast AND tasty AND nutritious!! And don't forget those other things that can give your body the boost it needs to stay healthy and fit.

Pure Protein Complete
Pure Protein Complete (by Young Living) is a comprehensive protein supplement that combines a proprietary 5-Protein Blend, amino acids, and ancient peat and apple extract to deliver 25 grams of protein per serving in two delicious flavors, Vanilla Spice and Chocolate Deluxe.

I personally like the Pure Protein Complete (Vanilla Spice) meal shakes especially when I use coconut milk and frozen fruit to blend it up. I change it from time to time and add 2 oz of NingXia Red and/or a couple of drops of Slique Essence essential oil. Experiment with your oils and add flavor and health benefits!

When I use the Pure Protein Complete Chocolate, I add a frozen banana and coconut milk to make my chocolaty desert smoothie. MMMmmmmm It really is yummy and makes a great dessert too! Hmm... just thinking I might even try adding a drop of Nutmeg or Cinnamon.

Note these blends are SOY FREE.

For information and ingredients in Pure Protein Complete-Vanilla Spice go HERE.
For information and ingredients in Pure Protein Complete-Chocolate go HERE.

Water and Essential Oils
Another part of diet includes drinking water. What would we do without water? Adding essential oils like Lemon or Grapefruit to my water helps to detox and address occasional food cravings. Citrus oils include the naturally occurring constituent limonene.

Supplements
What we eat is important and when we don't eat right all the time, that's all the more reason to supplement our diet. I post a lot and talk a lot about therapeutic grade essential oils, but Young Living has a whole line of supplements tailored to meet your every need from weight management, to supporting all your body systems! Basically, Young Living is here to help you to be the healthiest you can be!

One of my personal favorites is Sulfurzyme.

"Sulfurzyme® combines wolfberry with MSM, a naturally occurring organic form of dietary sulfur needed by our bodies every day to maintain the structure of proteins, protect cells and cell membranes, replenish the connections between cells, and preserve the molecular framework of connective tissue.* MSM also supports the immune system, the liver, circulation, and proper intestinal function and works to scavenge free radicals.* Wolfberries contain minerals and coenzymes that support the assimilation and metabolism of sulfur." ~ Young Living

There are many more supplements tailored to fit your health goals. The product line is here> PRODUCT LINE

Sign up for the Best Bang for Your Buck - to get the best deal!! Check it out and if you need help in finding something, please contact me.

Happy Oiling!
Cheryl L. McClure • YL Distributor #1176855 • www.picklecreekranch.com

#balance #nutrition #health #smoothie #powder #enzymes #youngliving #essentialoils

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Using Rainwater at the Ranch

2/9/2015

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No City Water at the Ranch!
by Cheryl L. McClure

We don't have water at the ranch, city water that is. There is a lot of convenience to having city water but when the main water line is so far away, it could be quite costly to have a line installed. And then, there is the responsibility of the owner between the home and where the line is tied in. The ranch is pretty far away from that main line, so rainwater will work just fine for what we need!!

Have you ever thought about the fact that we depend on God, the atmosphere and the rain to provide us with water? Well, no matter where we are, that's what we are doing. I think it's easy to take it for granted when water flows freely from the faucet, appearing to be an endless supply. Believe me, it is not endless. If you haven't given it much thought, please do!! Rain is a VERY precious element providing us with much needed water to drink, wash with, providing water for our animals and plants. In comparison to the days when people had to go cart their water from a well, we have it made!!

The Cabin
Out at the ranch, we have a little cabin that Jan Paul built back in 2003. He spent time enjoying nature and clearing part of the property. There were a lot more trees back then and between his work and nature taking it's course with wind, drought and even flooding, the foliage at the front of the property is thinning. Every year there is deadwood to clear away and let more light in for future growth. We have Crape Myrtle and Vitex growing near the old homestead, Cedar, Osage Orange and many other types of trees growing on the property.

The Water Tank
When Jan Paul built the cabin, he decided to feed it with rainwater, so installed gutter on the roof that captures and sends rainwater to a 1300 gallon tank next to it. The water is treated with chlorine bleach per guidelines from the CDC. This will prevent algae from growing and making green water. Then the water is sent through a filter and pumps into the cabin for sink, toilet and shower use. He is so handy, and yes, he did all this himself. It is a challenge in the winter because certain fittings can freeze, so when the temps stay below 32 degrees for an extended period of time, he disconnects the pump, drains water from the lines and carts the water in with a bucket.

Yes. Like the in olden days.

We also have two 600 gallon tubs that we utilize. One is on the other side of the cabin and it has an additional gutter running to it's own large barrel filter, circulating water into the tub. This one also serves as our summertime swimming pool. I like this one because it has a large hose that I can use to fill a bucket in no time! The the second 600 gallon tub catches water off the roof of one of the barns. This will capture water for the piggies' automatic watering trough and other animals... And there too, is an extension going to a barrel that has spigot he uses over an outdoor sink to wash up after working or to get extra water for the barn cats. They can go to different ponds to get water, but we like to provide fresh water for them in the barn too. They're not spoiled!!

We have an additional source of water for the animals so that when it rains, they have water conveniently located near their stall. Again, when it rains, the water flows via a gutter into a couple of bathtubs. How's that for repurposing? Now, that water is not filtered so you won't find me taking a bath in it. :)

The cabin is very small, so the shower is on the porch! Not bad in the summer - but in the winter time, we do the old fashioned wash-up from the sink. Yeah, like in the olden days - haha. We don't drink the water though, since we can bring filtered water from home.

Water, Water,
Everywhere!
Yes, we like it when it rains!! Especially when it fills up our tanks and ponds. We had a really good rain the first week of February when I took most of these pictures, but it looks like this about every time it rains an inch. Water, water everywhere!! It helps to have a good rain gauge to keep track. We have Blackland Prairie gumbo soil at the ranch and by the time you get back to the cabin from a walk, you're 2 inches taller! LOL

Jan Paul at work on the dam

The
Homestead
Pond
On a particular weekend, we had this one inch rain and it flooded what we call the homestead pond. You can see how the water backed up into the trees and Jan Paul went down to the dam where he has a pipe installed for overflow. The pipe was clogged up with a turtle. Poor turtle got stuck, so he had to dislodge it and put a screen on the pipe to keep other debris from getting clogged in there.

Low Water Crossing after the Rain

The Low Water Crossing
Jan Paul works the prairie grass field on the other side. That's the native grass field he cleared and planted about seven years ago, the one he mows and bales to feed the cows.

He periodically builds up the low water crossing with concrete to make a passage he can travel on while using the tractor and mower. The power from the water is so great that eventually the concrete breaks off in little pieces and he is back down there filling in to secure the crossing. You can see the water surging, carrying logs and limbs with it. You'd be surprised at the size of the trees that come down our little creek. Sometimes they get lodged next to the crossing and after the water recedes, he will have to move the piles of wood and discard or burn it before patching.

By the way, our creek is a branch upstream of Pickle Creek and that is how we came about naming the property Pickle Creek Ranch. We had taken a walk down to the low water crossing where the creek is but I didn't have my camera, so I went back and got it. It's a long walk from the cabin!! But I wanted to capture the force of the water and show that there has been a lot of erosion over the years that has caused the creek to enlarge with twists and turns. It's an astonishing phenomenon to witness in its process.

The North Sulphur River
Heading south for several miles, our creek and then Pickle Creek, flow into the North Sulphur River. It is a good place for people to travel and hunt for fossils. We have even found a few! A good rain like this cleans off the rocks and makes it easier for the hunters to find great specimens to add to their collections.

The Sulphur River is a great example of what the forces of nature have done after man's intervention. Prior to being considered somewhat of a swampland, it was altered and after many decades, erosion has exposed fossils from millions of years ago. This is an excerpt from an article about the history of the North Sulphur River.

"In an effort to improve water flow during heavy runoff and curtail erosion, a 20-foot wide, 10-foot deep river channel was dug in the 1930s. No doubt water flow drastically improved, but erosion accelerated, eventually collapsing the railroad bridge. That 20-foot wide channel is now well over 200-feet wide in places."

There are plans to dam up this river and make what they will call Lake Ralph Hall. The water from this lake is intended to be received in Flower Mound and Northeast Texas. That is the plan anyway. In the meantime, we will be hunting for more fossils down in the river!! Woo hoo!!

Springtime in the garden

Pickle Creek Ranch Botanical Garden
We have a garden that is fenced to keep the animals out, where we grow perennials and annuals that will attract butterflies and bees. It's a nice place to take a break and just relax every now and then. This is also a place to experiment with different plantings. Everything is trial and error and survival of the fittest!
A lot of my photographs of butterflies were taken in this garden.

The pathways here came from gravel that was washed down the creek near the low water crossing. Jan Paul surprised me one week. He filled buckets and carried all this gravel up for me to position in the garden because he knows how much I like this sort of thing. He also hooked up a watering system from one of the ponds so that we can keep things alive during the summer. It gets pretty dry and hot in the Texas summers here. Thank you rain and thank you Jan Paul!! I sure am lucky!

I hope you have enjoyed this little review about rainwater at the ranch. If you like to garden I would encourage you to capture some of that rainwater to water your plants. They will grow so much better because they will be saturated with nutrients that you don't get out of tap water. Plus you are saving some of that valuable water from the house.

With spring showers on the way, this is a perfect time to get started collecting your own rainwater! You will need gutter and a rain barrel and once it is filled, it will supply you with fresh rainwater. Also if you will put a Mosquito Dunk in any standing water vessel or container you will not have issues with mosquitoes.

Happy Gardening!
Cheryl

#rainwater #rain #water #ranch #NorthSulphurRiver #picklecreekranch #farm #fossils #gardening #photography #rainbarrel #mosquitodunk #LakeRalphHall #safewater #Fannin

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Raindrop with Young Living

1/29/2015

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Raindrops are Falling!

I am so grateful! Have you ever found something that was just so, so helpful and wonderful that you want to tell everyone about it?

Ever since I was introduced to Young Living, I have learned more and more about what is good for my family. From skin care, to cleaning, to meal shakes and supplements, there are all kinds of ways to improve what we use and apply in our everyday lives. And then there's the essential oils. Normally, when I apply essential oils to myself, I am very conservative and use one or two drops, usually on my wrists, behind my ears, sort of like applying perfume. A drop of Joy will go on my heart! Drops of oil go on the bottom of each foot, or on the top of my feet.

The Raindrop Technique is the result of combining ancient Lakota wisdom with the latest in essential oil research. By integrating gentle massage sequences with specific essential oils, Young Living has created an experience that balances energy, releases toxins, and facilitates open energy flow throughout the body. In addition, this will aid the body's natural response to irritation and injury by supporting the immune, respiratory, nervous and other body systems. Another advantage is to ease occasional muscle, bone and joint discomfort with Raindrop and improve immune system functions. Also, essential oils cross the blood-brain barrier and effect the limbic system where emotions are stored resulting in emotional well being and release.

The oils used are Thyme, Peppermint, Oregano, Wintergreen, Aroma Siez, Cypress, Marjoram, Valor and Basil. Carrier oils are V-6 and Ortho Ease. Carrier oils are used to dilute the hot oils when necessary, and carry the oils across the skin.

When I go to get a Raindrop, multiple drops will go down the spine like raindrops and they begin to do their thing as the facilitator works them into my skin! From the bottom of my feet to the crown of my head, as the oils are applied, I inhale them and I can feel the tension melt away.

Do you recognize this snippit of art?

Does the name Salvador Dali ring a bell? What does that have to do with anything? Well, just imagine being face down on a massage table and having your facilitator incorporate the Raindrop Technique on your body. About halfway through the session I thought of this picture because I felt like my head was going to melt and drip through the face cradle!! Hahahaha! Talk about stress relief!

After the session ended, I continued on with my day as the oils progressively worked through my body. I drank water to aid in flushing out harmful toxins. I felt deeply relaxed. It was so r-e-l-a-x-i-n-g and good for my body. Need I say more?

The cool thing about this, is that all the oils and instructions are available for the at-home Raindrop session. I would be glad to help you sign up here if you need assistance> Essential Oils. This is also something a person could choose to do in their Young Living business after becoming qualified and certified.

If you are in the Dallas area and are looking for someone to facilitate this for you, contact me and I will give you their information!

All being said, I hope you are doing well, and if not, I might just have an oil for that!

Happy Oiling!
Cheryl :)

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Young Living Price Comparisons - How Much?

1/3/2015

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So you think essential oils are expensive? Well, generally a bottle of Young Living essential oil can cost anywhere from around $10.00 to over $200 dollars and that depends on the plant this oil was derived from, what part was used and how much was used. You may want to keep in mind, that a 5ML bottle holds 80-100 drops of oil and a 15ML bottle holds 250-300 drops. I know it looks like a lot of money for a little bottle, but that little bottle is very potent and it can go a long way!

One drop of peppermint oil is equal to 28 cups of peppermint tea and 5,000 pounds of rose petals are required to make 1 pound of pure rose oil, so you can see that the price is well within reason of what it takes to produce it. These are superior oils with excellent benefits. Fifteen different tests are performed twice on each batch of oil to ensure top quality, before that oil is filled into a bottle. See more about how oils are distilled at the Young Living farm in Mona, Utah.

The Premium Starter Kit is made up with every day oils for things we encounter every day, like a sore muscle, or the occasional blemish, or itchy eyes, or in my case a dog that gets sprayed by a skunk. It is exciting to learn how plants have been used to make oils that will help us maintain our health.

Essential oils are not made to pour on the body like you would a lotion or cream. They are therapeutic and pure, therefore only a tiny amount is needed per application when used topically, diffused in the air or even internally. One to three drops is all it takes for results to occur. Example: I got stung by two yellow jackets last summer and I put ONE drop on each sting which supported my integumentary system (which includes the epidermis). I definitely have this one accessible when my grandkids are visiting the ranch.

When you buy something like a linen spray at the store and spend a minimum of $10.00, that bottle is mostly WATER and possibly a little bit of fragrance like Lavender or such (not pure essential oils). And remember we are talking about therapeutic grade essential oils that have a health benefit and is not toxic.

Example: When I make my "Air Spray", I use 10 drops of essential oil in a 4 oz spray bottle of distilled water. I also use my Air Spray to enjoy the outdoors and it's easy enough to spray on my ankles or clothes. This is great especially when we go for walks at the ranch. At 6 cents a drop, of Purification (at wholesale), and a spray bottle that costs a dollar. I have spent less than $2.00.

When our dog got sprayed by a skunk, we used the Air Spray on him a few times and on the front porch a few times to clear the air and get rid of the smell, pronto.

The oils are non toxic, and they smell good too. They don't cover up a smell, they basically eliminate it!

Buying a Premium Starter Kit is great place to get started and experience the oils. If you need my assistance, I will be happy to help you. Young Living Member #1176855

So what do you think? What's the best bang for your buck?

Happy Oiling!
Cheryl
www.picklecreekranch.com

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Beginner Tips for Essential Oils

11/25/2014

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Series of 3 - Beginner Tips
When you sign up as a member with Young Living to get great products, you are also in for a learning curve!! Not only do you have a lot of new products at our hands, you will want to know what to do with them, what not to do and what they can be used for. In any case it's a fascinating thing to see how an organically grown plant can change and improve health from seed to seal, as they say.

That's why I have a page on my website for resources where you can look things up and do a little research about oils and supplements. There is so much out there. Of course the best place to go FIRST would be your Essential Oils Desk Reference Pocket Guide or the Essential Oils Desk Reference Book. Links to these books for your research and questions are also listed on the resource page.

I was reading from other members' comments and developed a series of beginner tips. These are mainly practical tips about essential oils, very useful and some creative! I think you will love your oils!

Happy Oiling from Pickle Creek Ranch!!
#youngliving #essentialoils #fitfam

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The Essential Oil Bottle

11/17/2014

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Have you ever examined your bottles? Here are a few things you might want to know!

THE FRONT: Note this is a therapeutic grade essential oil meaning it is of the highest quality.

A single oil is from one plant and a blend of oils is from multiple plants.
The 15ml bottle will have 250-300 drops depending on the type of oil.
The 5ml bottle will have 80-100 drops.

THE BACK: See the directions on the back of the bottle. Most oils are used three ways: aromatically, topically or internally.

Not every oil is intended to use internally, so be sure and check your label.
There is a batch number above the directions for reference.
Oils are stored in dark bottles to keep their shelf life indefinitely, so keep your oils in a cool, dark place to assure this.

When you look at the back of the bottle note where it says “Peel Here”. When you peel back the label there is additional information:

a. Supplement facts with serving info in a white boxed format to be intended for internal use or

b. Ingredients with no serving info. This oil may be used topically or aromatically. It is not intended for internal use.

There are different oil thicknesses and sometimes oil comes out fast or slow. See the tiny hole next to the center in the crease? It has a purpose!

With the tiny hole pointed up, oil drops slower. With it down, oil drops faster.

I hope this article was helpful to you!
Happy Oiling!

picklecreekranch.com • Young Living Distributor #1176855
Young Living supplements are designed to improve nutrition; they are not intended to diagnose,
treat, cure, or prevent any disease. However, scientific research has established a
connection between nutrition and many disease conditions.

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The Blog Page

What's In Your Trough Today?

Using Rainwater at the Ranch

No City Water at the Ranch!
by Cheryl L. McClure

Raindrop with Young Living

Raindrops are Falling!

Young Living Price Comparisons - How Much?

Beginner Tips for Essential Oils

The Essential Oil Bottle

Cheryl L. McClure

Categories

Archives

The Blog Page

What's In Your Trough Today?

Using Rainwater at the Ranch

No City Water at the Ranch!by Cheryl L. McClure

Raindrop with Young Living

Raindrops are Falling!

Young Living Price Comparisons - How Much?

Beginner Tips for Essential Oils

The Essential Oil Bottle

Cheryl L. McClure

Categories

Archives

No City Water at the Ranch!
by Cheryl L. McClure