The Alabaster Jar - Penitent Thieves' Oil Infusion

While not the first creation, we are officially unveiling the first product of The Alabaster Jar: Penitent Thieves' Oil Infusion.

So... I have no idea why it won't post vertically. My apologies. Oh, and... the spelling error will be corrected on future bottles.

Thieves' Oil has a long (though albeit somewhat sordid) history of protecting people from disease and disinfecting homes and bodies. Britt's infusion was created by using the traditional methods of creating this disease fighting blend while honoring the Tradition of St. Dismas, more commonly known as "The Penitent Thief".

While the actual Thieves' Oil essential oil blend is too potent for direct contact with skin or surfaces that will come in contact with food, Penitent Thieves' Oil Infusion is both mild enough to use throughout the household but strong enough to help disinfect and protect those who dwell there.

Infusing Penitent Thieves' Oil Tincture with natural disinfectant qualities of fresh herbs.

Penitent Thieves' Oil Infusion was lovingly handcrafted by Britt in our home by brewing cinnamon bark, lemon rind, fresh rosemary and whole cloves to infuse anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-microbial oils into the tincture. Eucalyptus essential oil was added after the infusion had cooled to preserve the potency of the oil.

*Same disclaimer about weird verticallity problem as above*

Penitent Thieves' Oil Infusion can be diluted 8:1 with water and used as a general purpose cleaner to clean kitchen counter tops, bathrooms, children's toys, etc. By adding 1part vinegar to the general purpose cleaner it can be used to clean mirrors and glass surfaces. A wood cleanser and polish can be made by combining 3 tablespoons Penitent Thieves' Oil Infusion with 2 cups water, 1 teaspoon castille soap and 1 teaspoon olive oil. Or 3 tablespoons of Penitent Thieves' Oil Infusion can also be added to dish washing solution or a load of laundry to further disinfect and deodorize.

While Penitent Thieves' Oil Infusion is non-toxic, since it contains such a high cinnamon and clove profile care should be taken to prevent exposure to eyes.

If you are interested in purchasing a bottle of Penitent Thieves' Oil Infusion Britt will be brewing more batches in the upcoming weeks. Bottles hold approximately 2cups of Penitent Thieves' Oil Infusion and cost $5. Refills are $3.50.

The Alabaster Jar - Teaser

This will (most likely) be the label for a new line of products that we will be making. 

Stay tuned.

Animals make nutrients more available

When we still had our chickens (yes, they're gone now, I'll tell that harrowing tale another day) I would often remark, usually audibly, about how incredible it was that our chickens would go around the yard eating weeds and bugs and turn those things into an easily stored package full of ideal protein, vitamin D and omega 3's all of which are in forms which I can easily digest and utilize.

Yes, I too could be eating weeds and bugs, but even if I ate proportionately the same amount that the chickens ate, I wouldn't be able to get the same nutritionally benefit from them than I can by eating an egg from pastured chickens. Our bodies simply are not as efficient at digesting plant matter as other animals are. Thanks be to God though that these animals are incredibly efficient at turning various foods (some of which it would actually be harmful for humans to eat) into nutrient dense, easily digestible foods such as eggs, milk and meat.

That being said, as with all truisms anymore, the case is better made via a meme with an endearing picture, so enjoy:

Thanks for hanging in there

I have so many thoughts to get out in this blog. Maybe in the next week or 2 you'll hear some, if not all of them.  I guess that depends... on everything!

You see, we're not in Colorado any more.  At least not for now, but maybe not for much longer at all?  I don't know!

God has answered our prayers for clarity regarding the future of our family.  We want to live in a more sustainable way, in a more sustainable place, but where is that and when should we go?

At the end of August, Joey had another interview for "the perfect job" for him- in Denver.  I gave it up to Jesus- if God wanted us in Denver, he'd get the job, which seemed in the hat.  If he didn't, he wouldn't. 

He didn't.  We have no idea why.  They never returned his calls or emails, which was, to say the least, frustrating.

And then friends who had been talking with us regarding our dreams for awhile, decided to move in the middle of September to a small town farm in Tryon, North Carolina.   Then, God pushed up their moving date to September 1st.  You can read about their journey here.  While we were helping them throw everything in a moving truck at the very last, last minute, we were feeling the tug...gentle at first, and then...

I was up late that night making sure they had plenty of food for their journey, and I was "trolling" on the craigslist jobs near where they were moving.  Sure enough, right there just an hour west of their new homestead, was the PERFECT job for Joey.  Short term, yes, but more perfect even than the other perfect jobs.  He applied.  And on Monday (labor day) the guy emailed and said "Hey, I want you, if you can come out!" 

We prayed about it, and finally decided that we would all go.  I have family in Virginia, just a few hours north, so we drove there first, and while the girls and I start to assimilate here on my parents' small homestead in the making, Joey is trying out North Carolina. 

Alright, so that's the short of it.  There's SO MUCH MORE going on in our lives, but the truth is, I feel that for the first time in a long time not only are things moving, and in a positive direction, but I FEEL the hand of God in everything that happens- down to the moment that my smart phone got run over by a tractor at the bottom of my parents' driveway.  Not that I have cell phone service here anyway!  God is detaching us from all these things and "conveniences" that we've been used to these last 5 years of living in the city, and preparing us for the next phase of our lives.  What it is, we're still not sure, but we KNOW that God is in control now. 

For those of you wondering what Joey is doing, it's super cool.  He's working with a tile maker in Brevard, North Carolina, remaking the 150 year old Spanish Street Tiles that line the French Quarter in New Orleans and were ruined and destroyed in Hurricane Katrina.  Here's an example of what he's remaking:

How cool is that!

So, please pray for us, specifically through the intercession of our Patron, St. Roch, who happens to also be the patron Saint of Tile makers.  In the next few weeks, we hope that God clears the way for us to know exactly where, and when, our little family will find a permanent home.

For those of you back in Denver who didn't know we were leaving until after we were gone (which is almost everybody since we left less than 48 hours after Joey was offered the job), we're sorry to be so incredibly spastic and hard to get a hold of!  Joey should be reachable on his cell phone, and yes, he actually is answering it these days.  I can be reached at my parents' house number, and you can get that number from Melissa N or you can email me or message me on Facebook.  Yes, I'm back on facebook, but only so i can get a hold of everyone now that I'm sort of off my normal planet!

That's all for now.  Perhaps I'll write more during the next nap time!

False Teachers

Truth and Beauty

Dachshund or Dachs-Chicken?

We're in the process of moving our chickens into the oversized shed that was built on our property before we bought the house.  We thought about doing this before, but just never got around to it.  But when there started being a line out the coop door to "use" the only nesting box (there were 2, but they only liked one of them), and the girls were getting very vocal about it, we had to make the change.  We're hoping that, after insulating and such, the girls will be less audible in the morning in their new living quarters as well. 

Anyway, Joey built 2 new nesting boxes and put them high up on the shelf in the shed.  He built a little ladder for the girls to use to get up there.  But guess who else learned how to use it?

 Not sure what you're seeing?  Does that chicken have long ears?

Yup, that's Rocky, our Dachshund, cuddled up in the nesting box.  It took a LOT to get him out too!  In fact, I discovered him when I went to take clothes off the line, and went back inside, got my phone (for a camera) AND told Joey to come see, and came back and he was still there. 

Yeah, we're going to have to Dachshund proof the chicken coop- but not to keep him from eating them, but from being one of them!