Having butchered our first steer a week ago, we needed a grinder to grind the “leftover” meat and fat to make ground beef. Knowing that we intended to continue raising our own cattle, we wanted a grinder that would be able to perform for the long term.
We were in the Austin area for a Texas Wine and Grape Growers conference and had the opportunity to stop by the Cabela’s store in Buda, Texas. Knowing that butchering was in the plans, we looked at the grinders. We were impressed with the quality of the commercial grinders they offered. So, last week I called and ordered the commercial grade 1 horse power grinder. Including shipping, the grinder and attachments cost about $600. This may seem to be a lot for a little used “kitchen appliance” but it is actually less than the fees Lubbock area butchers charges for processing a single cow.
It was in our kitchen in 3 days and boy is it heavy!
The commercial grade models have stainless steel meat trays, necks, screws, plates and blades. One reason we decided on the 1 HP grinder was because it has a reverse gear. From my reading, this can be important when dealing with large quantities of meat. With the ability to process 10 – 12 pounds of meat per minute, the meat could not be pushed through too fast for the machine. It could process much faster than we could!
We had frozen several bags of meat to be ground, so, we thawed it (ideally the meat should be 32-34F) and got to work. The meat had to be cut into chunks small enough to be pushed through the grinder plate. As you can see in the picture below, Bob was sitting by the feet closest to the action lest a piece of meat fall!
First, the meat was ground through the medium grinding plate (7mm). The meat was definitely ground up but still coarse.
After all the meat was processed through the medium plate, it was mixed together and ground once more through the fine grinding plate (4.5mm) to yield a better fat distribution. Now, it looked like ground beef!
You might think that clean up would be time consuming, but it was actually rather quick. The grinder comes apart very easily and all parts are accessible for cleaning. While some parts are dishwasher safe, we washed it all by hand.
After all was said and ground, we had about 58 lbs of ground beef. Hamburgers were the menu of the evening! I must say, after being on the GAPS diet and now beginning to eat meat after 30 years of being a vegetarian, they were absolutely delicious!
PS. My husband and sons in their spare time are going to try to make a pasta die to fit the grinder. Cabela’s customer service did not see a problem with our trying to extrude pasta dough.
I am in no way affiliated with Cabela’s nor receive any compensation from them. I merely want to share my personal experience with a quality product.
GAPS – Gut and Psychology Syndrome – written by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride MD, has been life changing for me. I am talking about dramatic changes in my physical health since beginning the GAPS Introduction Diet! If you have not already, please take time to read the GAPS Review which will explain a bit more about the link between poor digestion, health problems and the diet to target healing of the gut. So that you might know me a little better and appreciate the changes, let me give you a brief medical history.
Growing up, it seemed that I always had stomach problems. By problems, I mean pain, nausea, diarrhea, and/or constipation. By the sixth grade, my pain was so severe that an exploratory laparotomy was performed. Unfortunately, only swollen glands were found.
At 17 years of age, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis which is an autoimmune disease. With rheumatoid arthritis the body overreacts to an irritant and begins an inflammatory process which normally attacks the joints but may also cause inflammation in the lungs and around the heart. I was put on prescription medication which provided some relief but also exacerbated my stomach pain.
At age 19, I was tested allergic to beef, fowl and pork. In addition to allergy shots, I became a vegetarian – eating only eggs, dairy and fish along with veggies and grains.
I would continue with arthritic flair-ups and periods of remission throughout my adult life. Extremely difficult periods occured after childbirth, when the baby was anywhere from 6 – 10 mths old. These periods thankfully were always followed by a period of remission. In 2011, however, after some female surgery, the arthritis pain was so severe that my husband had to cut my pancakes every morning! There seemed to be no relief in sight!
As if I did not have enough wrong, at age 47, I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. Prescription medication was prescribed for my low bone density. I felt as though I was falling apart!
My daughter-in-law, Jessica, introduced me to GAPS. She was able to attend a conference at which Dr. Campbell-McBride was a speaker. After talking with Dr. Campbell-McBride personally about me and my history, she came home excited that I would have relief from my pain and once again eat meat.
Her enthusiasm was contagious and I began the GAPS Introduction Diet the week before Thanksgiving. The Introduction Diet is the most restrictive part of the diet and includes six stages. I am now in the fourth stage and slowly continuing to add more foods to my diet.
As of this writing, I have had complete relief from my arthritis symptoms and (drum roll please!) I am eating meat again after 30 years! This is really great since we just butchered our first steer! I will not have another bone density test done for about 6 months. It will be interesting to see if there is any change.
Hopefully, my enthusiasm over the wonderful changes that have occurred will be contagious also. I would encourage any of you interested to purchase the GAPS book. It is a detailed book with a lot of information that for some, like me has been life-changing. You might also visit Dr. Campbell – McBride’s website Gut and Psychology Syndrome.
As a home educating mother, I know how difficult it can be to teach children (especially boys!) to read and, even more so, to spell. With all the rules and exceptions to the rules, it is a wonder anyone ever gets it!
I guess, like all homeschooling moms, I have my favorite curriculums and tend to be stuck in my ways when it comes to trying new things. But last year, I did just that – I tried a new phonics and a new spelling program – and, I really like both of them. So, I want to share them with you. If you are a home educator or if your child needs extra help with either of these areas, give them a try! If you already use either of these or some other curriculum you like, leave a comment and let me know – I would like to hear about it!
1. Hooked on Phonics (HOP) is a learn-to-read program for levels Pre-K (3-4yrs) to 3rd grade and up (8yrs and up). I have been using the HOP program with our 6yr and 9 yr old sons and am very pleased with their progress. Each level has at least 2 non-consumable workbooks they read from, as well as, many story reading books. The program has games incorporated into it which help with word recognition. The child can proceed at their individual pace based on the amount of repetition they need. The boys love it and ask me to read with them!
As the name stated, Hooked on Phonics is a phonics based program which gives the necessary skills to unlock words at all levels. The workbook and readers build on each other with plenty of review. This program could very easily be used with older students needing extra help.
Hooked on Phonics also has a spelling program corresponding to each level and while it does help reinforce the words being read, I feel it is more rote memorization. My preference for a spelling program is “All About Spelling” which I will discuss in a moment.
Hooked on Phonics also has a math program. Here again, I prefer another math curriculum to this one which helps children understand the concepts behind what they are learning. I will save my math review for another time!
2. All About Spelling is as you guessed from the name, a spelling program. Marie Rippel has done a fabulous job in systematically building spelling rules upon each other. This is a multi-sensory approach utilizing (if you choose) magnetic letter tiles to manipulate, spell and illustrate the concept being presented. Flash cards are used, as well as, review of previous concepts at the beginning of each lesson. Once the concept is mastered with the tiles, the teacher then dictates the spelling words. Eventually phrases and sentences are added to the dictation. The teacher’s manual is easy to follow and even gives you the script for the day’s lesson. Each lesson is geared to last about 15 – 20 minutes.
Also offered is an “All About Reading” program which I have not tried. If it is as good as the spelling, it should also be great. Since I have already invested in Hooked on Phonics and am pleased with it, I will continue – remember, I am kinda stuck in my ways!!
Another plus is their one year guarantee - use either the All About Spelling or All About Reading program for 1 year and if you are not pleased or they do not meet your needs, just send the material back and they will refund your purchase price.
*Since I think these programs are so good, I have become an affiliate, so, the above links are my affiliate links. Whether or not you choose to use them, I am very pleased with the results from both programs and wanted to share them!
To start with, this is not one of my normal posts – this is really quite serious, in fact diet and life changing. As Don Knotts said in the Ghost and Mr. Chicken, ”Let me clarify this.” At age 17, I was found to be allergic to fowl, pork and red meat! This may sound awful but after my teen years full of stomach/bowel problems and surgery - it was great to have relief. At 19, I was further diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis but no relief was given. Hence I was content to live a life without meat (except fish) and looked for no other answers. My arthritis would flare periodically but after a few months would subside and life would go on. That is until last winter after some female surgery, my arthritis flared and wouldn’t stop but grew increasingly worse. So bad was it that my husband had to cut my food for me! I was desperate – even prescription medications didn’t provide much help. Then my daughter-in-law, Jessica, went to a Weston-Price conference and among other things found the following book. So if you, or some family member or friend is suffering with or has been diagnosed with a long term medical condition, PLEASE read on!
The GAPS book – Gut and Psychology Syndrome – is written by a British physician, Dr. Natasha Campbell – McBride MD. She primarily uses the information and diet presented in the book to treat children with autism and learning disabilities. The results of her work supports her position on the link between physical and mental health, the food and drink we take in and the condition of our digestive system.
GAPS is broken up into four parts. The first part explains how all diseases begin in the gut. Dealing with many psychological issues, such as, schizophrenia and depression, she explains how these patients are often malnourished and suffer from vitamin deficiencies.
In the late 1970s it was discovered that gluten from grains and casein from milk can be turned into opiates in the digestive system which absorb into the blood, cross the blood-brain barrier and affect the brain. These opiates were found in the urine of schizophrenic patients and those with depression and autoimmune conditions. Later on Dr. Reichelt … found the same compounds in the urine of autistic children. - GAPS pg. 72
Simply put, our digestion begins in the stomach with stomach acids, continues with pancreatic juices and is completed as the food moves through the intestines. The gut is lined with a bacterial layer which provides a barrier of protection. This layer contains the beneficial bacteria necessary for proper and timely digestion of food.
In the gut, the absorptive surface of the intestines has finger-like protrusions called villi and deep crypts between them (like hills and valleys) The villi are coated with specialized cells called enterocytes. These cells complete digestion and absorb the nutrients from ingested food. They are continually born in the depths of the crypts and slowly travel to the top of the villi. They digest and absorb becoming more mature as they move upward. At the top of the villi they are shed off. So, the lining of the intestines is constantly being renewed.
When beneficial bacteria of the gut are removed the renewal process is disrupted – there are fewer enterocytes (absorptive cells) and the existing cells no longer function properly. The villi degenerate and are not able to digest and absorb food properly. This leads to mal-absorbption and nutritional deficiencies.
An example is given on page 21 of the GAPS book using the digestion of milk and wheat proteins. In the first stage of digestion, the digestive juices of the stomach split the proteins into less complex amino acid chains (peptides), some of which include casomorphines and gluteomorphines. These peptides move to the small intestines where the second stage of digestion occurs. At the intestinal walls, assisted by the pancreatic juices, they are broken down by enzymes. In people with abnormal gut flora (and resulting poorly functioning enterocytes), the undigested complex proteins (casomorphines and glutemorpines) are absorbed into the bloodstream unchanged and cause problems.
These problems include interference with brain function and immune system function. According to Dr. Campbell-McBride’s experience, when the gut flora is restored, many GAPS patients can digest casein and gluten, at least, in moderate amounts without a return of symptoms. So, the treatment focuses on returning the good gut flora and allowing the digestive tract time to heal.
Part two of the GAPS book focuses on treatment which is an Introduction Diet consisting of six stages. Moving through the stages, food is added in an orderly way from what is easily digested to what is more difficult to digest. After the Introduction Diet, the Full GAPS Diet is followed for a period of time to be determined by the patient’s symptoms. Instructions are given for coming off the GAPS Diet along with recipes and supplementation recommendations.
Part three covers different issues including ear infections, influences which boost and those which damage immunity, constipation and genetics.
Part four deals with having a baby in the GAPS family.
GAPS – Gut and Psychology Syndrome – has for many been life changing – from parents of children with learning disabilities to those (like me) with autoimmune diseases. Having already benefited from dietary changes made as a result of this book, I admit that I have a biased opinion. However, if you or anyone you know suffers from any of the mentioned illnesses (and I did not cover them all!) I would recommend purchasing this book or check with your local library.
* For further reading you may also be interested in GAPS – My Experience
We have a new toy in the vineyard! It is the Pellenc AP25. What, you might ask is that? It is a battery powered tying machine used to anchor grape vines to either a bamboo stake (for new vines) or wire for older vines. This little baby was not cheap but it is already proving its worth!
Soon, we will be going through the vineyard with a pre-pruner. The pre-pruner will cut off and shred last years growth from the vines. The amount cut off is adjustable and we will leave 2 buds per spur. Our vines are trained up to 4 ft and then 2 arms are tied down horizontally in opposite directions on a wire forming a cordon.
Each arm is allowed to grow 2 ft along the wire. From these arms, upward growing spurs have the buds for the new growth.
Each bud should produce two bunches of grapes. Optimally, we want 20 buds per plant – 10 evenly spaced over each 2 ft arm. These will yield 5 to 15 lbs. of grapes per vine. You can see the fuzzy white bulges in the picture below.
With the pre-pruner we will cut the vines back so that each spur has 2 buds. We will then come through and hand prune, cleaning up each vine to achieve the 20 buds per plant.
Before pre-pruning, it is important to replace any dead or weak arms. This is done by pulling down a healthy looking arm from last years growth to replace the compromised one. The Pellenc AP25 is used to tie down the arm to the cordon wire.
You can see from the picture below, the bulk of the Pellenc AP25 is worn at the back of the waist. (The jeans are designer, by yours truly – call for pricing!) This back part holds the battery pack and the roll of ties. For tying down mature arms, we are using a standard tie designed to last 12 – 14 mths. They look much like bread bag ties. When training our new planting, we will be using paper ties designed to degrade in 8 – 10 mths so that they do not girdle the fast growing young plants.
The handheld part of the Pellenc AP25 looks like a space age gun. You can hopefully see the line of brown ties coming from the back pack and feeding into the rear of the gun.
The open tip of the gun is positioned over the vine and cordon wire (in this case) and the trigger is pulled.
The Pellenc AP25 does the rest. The tie is extruded, twisted and voile!
Until now, we have all had our own hand tapers and done our own pruning (or training, as the case may be) and taping as we go. The old tapers, pictured below, just didn’t last even the season – we went through 19 of them!
To date, we are finding the Pellenc AP25 to be very fast and feel that while 6 or 7 of us are pruning, 1 person using the Pellenc AP25 will be able to keep up with the rest. Pellenc proports one person can do 12,000 ties per day. We will see!
In Good Girls don’t have to Dress Bad, Shari Braendel gives a style guide for every woman. Shari helps you determine important issues from your body type and dressing accordingly, to the colors which best compliment your skin, hair and eye colors.
What does it matter how I dress? As Christians, we should make sure our dress reflects who we are – a child of God, created in His image. The way we dress our temple says something about our character. Certainly, our inner beauty and character are the result of our relationship with the Lord, but He even addresses outward attire. The Proverbs 31 woman is clothed in fine linen and purple. It boils down to the fact that we are the Lord’s representatives on this earth. There is definitely a balance here. To quote from Shari,
“If your idea of beauty is based upon what we put on, rather than our relationship with the Creator of beauty, we’ve got a problem …. When we feel precious , redeemed and loved by our Saviour, we won’t need to impress with ostentatious clothing, jewelry or handbags. Instead, we’ll find an appropriate way to dress to reflect what’s going on inside us.”
Does your appearance reflect who you are on the inside? Shari offers a free color analysis to help determine which colors enhance your natural beauty. She also has a wardrobe plan list to help you build your wardrobe with mix and match items. The goal is to have your wardrobe filled with only the items that you like, which fit you well and in colors flattering to you.
I am not a clothes horse (and NO, you may not ask my husband’s opinion on this!) ) but I am a sucker for a “deal”. Therefore, I, and I suspect many of you, have a lot of clothes that you neither like nor feel good in. So, even though many of my clothes have been good deals, they really are not, because, they sit in my closet.
Good Girls don’t have to Dress Bad is a book every Christian woman should read. Shari is both encouraging spiritually and practically. I am having my daughters read it and we are discussing it chapter by chapter. After all, it is a mother’s responsibility to teach their daughters how to dress modestly and in a way which is becoming.
How does this book help you financially? Now, you will shop with a purpose. You can go shopping with the wardrobe plan list as an inventory of what you have and what you need. Armed with your most flattering colors (you may purchase color swatches after taking the color analysis) and knowledge of the styles best suited for your body type. You do not need to make impulsive, unnecessary purchases!
Shari is part of the Proverbs 31 ministry and has become one of the most sought-after Christian speakers across the nation. A fabulously fun fashionista, she is the host of the popular What to Wear Christian Women’s Conference and conducts fashion shows on modesty for teen girls. She also has an encouraging blog, A Beautiful Place, which I encourage you to visit.
I am in no way affiliated with Shari Braendel. She does know who I am because we have emailed – she is such an encourager! You may purchase Good Girls don’t have to Dress Bad online or at your local bookstore. I purchased mine through amazon using Swagbucks, so, there was no money out of pocket!
After my homemade whole wheat bread recipe post yesterday, I thought I would answer some questions regarding the Bosch Universal Kitchen Machine. I read and appreciate each email I receive – thank you.
I would first like to say that I am in no way affiliated with Bosch or other websites that I will point you to for more information. I merely want to share with you a product that I enjoy and feel is well worth the money.
The Bosch is a mixer, blender and a food processor. It truly is an all-in-one kitchen appliance. After our second machine died in February of this year, 2010, I purchased a new machine from Pleasant Hill Grain. Believe me, I checked around for the best price and they had it! Pleasant Hill has several packages available, each including the base and mixer. You have the choice to stop there or add the blender, food processor or both. They even periodically bundle a special to include a grain mill. Free shipping and no tax are also benefits they provide.
We bought our first Bosch over 20 years ago. I am now on our third machine. Each has lasted approximately 10 years. I do not remember how much I paid for the first one, but our last one cost $359.00. I did not purchase the blender or food processor as my old ones still work well.
This is my favorite kitchen appliance – well, I really like the dishwasher and microwave too! I (or one of the children) normally make a 4 loaf, batch of bread one or two times per week. That is not to mention the blending and chopping/slicing with the food processor that we do. Our machine really gets a workout!
The warranty offered by Pleasant Hill is 30 day satisfaction guaranteed. After that, they direct you to the customer service department of Bosch. The motor and transmission are guaranteed for 3 years. Our new machine, after a couple of months, started making a high pitched noise. After our other machines had lasted so long, I was a bit concerned. I called Pleasant Hill, who directed me to the customer service department of Bosch, because it was over the 30 days. To make a long story short, they replaced the motor with a brand new one and, they were very nice about it!
You can read all the details at the Pleasant Hill Grain Bosch Universal Plus Mixer page.
Have you ever needed a stylish yet feminine dress, only to come home from shopping, frustrated and empty-handed?
The problem: Finding a dress both feminine and stylish which also covers enough skin for you to truly feel comfortable.
You are not alone! ShabbyApple.com owners, Emily and CK, had the same experience and even went to trade shows, markets and design studios. Their discovery – it was not that stores just weren’t stocking the right dresses. The designers were not designing the right dresses! Thus, ShabbyApple.com was born.
I found their styles to be refreshingly modern and modest (no need to wear a tank top or cardigan to cover what the dress does not!). I received the Helena for review in bubble gum pink, jersey knit. I admit, I needed to exchange the first dress for a larger size and this was accomplished very easily. The customer service was friendly and helpful. The stitching on the ruched bodice is secure and evenly spaced which can be a problem with jersy knits. The fabric is soft and since it is knit, I do not have to worry about wrinkles. I am looking forward to wearing it throughout the summer!
Shabby Apple also carries maternity, baby, bridesmaid, plus sizes and swim wear. Unfortuanletly, they do not have a “brick and mortar” store location but they do offer free shipping on items for exchange!
I am pleased to offer my readers a 10% discount code on any order from ShabbyApple.com. At checkout use code: dimes5253. This code is good until July 3, 2010.
I received a dress for review but no other compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own. A special thanks to the Shabby Apple for this opportunity.
This Giveaway is Now Closed.
Congratulations: #38, Rachel and #34 Haidy :)
What does your closet say about you?
Each woman’s closet is a room of her own and it does not matter the size. Side by side hang the special occasions and the everyday, the successes and failures, the precious memories to savor and those we wish to forget.
In “What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life”, Kim Johnson Gross shares candidly her personal journey as well as humorous stories from many women she interviewed across the country. Kim has been a fashion editor for over thirty years, is a former Ford model, fashion editor at Town & County and Esquire, and columnist for More and InStyle, has appeared on the Today show, CNN’s Headline News and the CBS Early Show. 
I found her advise to be practical as she shares how to choose flattering clothes that fit any shape and size. Kim gives great advice on “closet classics” – those basic pieces that you feel good in and that form the basis for many outfits. She covers all aspects of the phases of a woman’s life, from wife to mother, from empty-nester to globe-trotting adventurer – whatever phase you are in, she helps guide you in expressing your inner beauty.
You May Purchase It! “What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life” is available at local bookstores and online for $24.99.
You May Win It! I am pleased to offer two Dimes2Vines readers a copy of “What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life”. This giveaway will end on June 19, 2010 at 11:59pm CST and is open to all US residents. The winner will be selected by random.org, posted here and notified by email. The winner will have 48 hrs to respond or another winner will be selected. Please be sure to leave contact information.
***Please remember to leave a comment for each of the following entries.
***If you already follow Dimes2Vines via RSS, Email, Twitter and/or Facebook - Leave a comment letting me know as your entry.
Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment letting me know what you consider a “closet classic” in your closet.
Extra Entries:
**Follow Dimes2Vines via RSS feed or email.
**Follow Dimes2Vines on Twitter.
**Tweet about this Giveaway and leave a link.
**Follow Dimes2Vines on Facebook.
**Mention this Giveaway on Facebook.
**Sign up for Swagbucks as my friend. You will earn 30 Bonus Swagbucks just for signing up!
** Enter my other giveaway.
**Comment on a non-giveaway post and leave a comment here telling which one.
The prize will be shipped direct from the sponsor of the giveaway. Dimes2Vines is not responsible for shipping or lost/damaged prizes.
I received a copy of the book for review but no other compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own. A special thanks to the Product Review Place for this opportunity.
SEO = Search Engine Optimization. If you are a blogger, then you have probably at one time or another wondered, investigated or worried over the best way to have your written content at its best. I am speaking in terms of how it is viewed by the search engines.
Scribe SEO accomplishes this with great ease! Now, without worry or long hours, you can tweak your content effortlessly.
Scribe Web allows you to optimize content no matter what the eventual publishing platform. The Scribe version for WordPress is a plugin and works with WordPress if you’re able to fill in a custom title tag and meta description for the post or page. Scribe SEO was originally developed for the Thesis Theme for WordPress but also works with the free All in One SEO plugin, the Hybrid theme, and the Headway theme. I have the All in One SEO plugin here at Dimes2Vines.
 When you try the FREE introductory offer, you are given an API key which is then plugged in and allows you to utilize the service right from your WordPress interface. You are given step-by-step instructions on how to install and activate it – it really is simple!
Here is what Scribe SEO does:
- Analyzes what you’ve already written.
- Tells you what search engines will think you’re writing about.
- Tells you what changes to make to better reflect the language searchers are using.
- Helps you tweak remaining content elements based on SEO best practices.
So, after I write a post and fill in the Meta Description and Title Tag, I hit the analyze button. Scribe analyzes what I have written and gives me an SEO score. I then check my keyword analysis to see how my keywords match what people are looking for. If I have not done well, I check Scribe’s suggestions on how to refocus primary keywords. Since Google takes into account not only the keywords but also the synonyms, Scribe also gives this information. The SERP (Search Engine Results Page) tab lets me see how my description will look on the search page. It also gives SEO’s best practices for each analysis.
I have been very pleased with the Scribe SEO plugin and encourage you to give it a try. You can try it FREE for 30 days to see what you think! If you decide it is for you, subscriptions start as low as $17/mth. You are free to cancel before the 30 days FREE trial ends with no further obligation.
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Grab My Dime! 
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About Me 
God has amazingly blessed me, Dina-Marie, with a wonderful husband and 10 beautiful children. Moving from our "secure" life in Alabama to the "exciting" life of starting a vineyard in west Texas has been challenging to say the least. I have had the opportunity to take a crash course in frugal living and become a real farm girl - complete with milk cow and chickens. I have learned the importance of health from the inside out, "traditional" cooking and cod liver oil!
I hope to encourage you to make the most of where you are and what you have. |
