Best Little Museum in Chicago

If you love ancient history, archaeology, and anything to do with Mesopotamia, (and you happen to be in Chicago), this museum is well worth the sweat and blood to find a parking spot! Actual walls and ancient artifacts from as far as Egypt, Israel, and Babylon. A very impressive feat in transporting 40 ton sculptures across the ocean!

This is the museum I placed on my itinerary when I was planning another trip to the middle east and I saw a flight layover in Chicago. Fortunately, I ended up being in Chicago for a convention earlier this year and was able to sneak by.

I'm sharing this, because I know people who actually went to school here, or they have lived in Chicago their entire life and have never heard of the museum!

Doomsday Prepper?

 

I think the biggest question is: What is YOUR doomsday?

Whether you have survived 911, Hurricane Katrina, or lost family members in Oklahoma City, we've all experienced, or know of someone, who has endured their worst nightmare.

My goal is to be prepared for ANY type of emergency.

I talk about this in my recent post --   

Prepping Is Not About Fear. It's About Peace of Mind

I also have to be realistic. Since I can't DO IT ALL, I have to focus on PRIORITY.

What may be my priority may not be someone else's. I live in Texas, and focusing on staying comfortable when it's 100 degrees outside is important to me.

Some of my favorite ways to stay cool! 

WHEN THERE'S NO AIR CONDITIONING - Keeping Your Cool

What's NOT important to me is staying warm in Winter.

To me, prepping is no different than buying auto, home, or medical insurance. At the end of the year, we're either rotating our stash, or starting all over again on deductibles.

I don't know about you, but I'd much rather pay insurance for a peace of mind than to have no back-up plan when that rainy day hits.

But I also think it's important to not to live our lives in fear. I'm reminded of the saying, I have lived a terrible life, most of which has never happened!

In order to keep a healthy balance, I plan for the worst, and hope for the best.

I still take vacations, splurge, and I still plan for a future.

I don't live to work, I work to live.

My favorite quote of all ---- Either get busy living, or get busy dying!  Shawshank Redemption

I don't know about you, but I'd much rather get busy with living.

And of course, preparing is all about peace of mind, even for the worst situations. 

Have you ever thought how far you could walk during an emergency situation, like for example, an EMP, or a complete power grid issue? I cover this in my blog, and it was very eye opening, especially when I had to do research for my book series, Miles Away. 

How Far Could You Walk in an Emergency?

Being prepared for the worst-case scenario - NO POWER, is the best way to cover all basis. 

Worst Case Scenario: How a Cyber Attack Could Disrupt Power, Water, and Daily Life

Pool Was Draining: Why We Removed Our Above-Ground Swimming Pool

It was a VERY difficult decision, but we have decided to take down our 28' swimming pool. In a way, nature helped us make up our mind. One morning after a severe thunderstorm, I walked outside to water the chickens and did a double take. The pool (winter cover still partially intact) was completely hollow looking. Sometime during the night, the weight of the rain had pushed down on the tarp, and somehow tugged at the liner underneath. It was just enough of an opening that the force of the water was able to slip through the side.

(My next door neighbor must of thought it rained A LOT that night!) :) With the pool completely empty, and the tarp ripped at the sides, it was just another example of how our pool was draining our patience and becoming a money trap.

 

With pool supplies going up in price, higher utilities from running the pump day and night, and with a leaky filter draining water around the pool, we were harvesting mosquitoes like crazy. Then we had the decision to either readjust the liner, fill up the pool again and order another winter cover, or just let it go...

 

I listed the pool on Craigslist for free and it was gone the next day! The guy kept thanking us profusely for his "treasure" and I said, "No, THANK YOU!"

 

My treasure is the PERLITE found underneath the plastic liner (The pool was already installed before we purchased our home.)  I went online and haven't seen too many people talk about recycling pool perlite, but upon research, I've read over and over it is non toxic. Perlite is a form of volcanic glass that is mined all over the world. In fact I purchased a bag several months ago to add to my potting soil mix. Now that I have an entire "beach" of perlite, I plan to add it to all my raised beds.

Not wanting to tear down our deck, I'm trying to figure out a creative way to use the space. Stay tuned!

 

Lessons We Learned

Owning a swimming pool can provide years of enjoyment, but it also requires ongoing maintenance, repairs, chemicals, electricity, and water. As our interests shifted toward gardening and homesteading, we realized the space could be put to much better use.

One unexpected bonus was discovering the layer of perlite beneath the pool liner. Perlite is a lightweight volcanic material commonly added to potting mixes because it helps improve drainage and soil aeration. Instead of sending it to the landfill, I decided to recycle it into my raised garden beds where it could continue serving a useful purpose.

Sometimes the best homesteading projects begin by repurposing something you already have. While it was sad to see the swimming pool go, we're excited about the possibilities for transforming this area into a productive garden space. I'll be sure to share updates as the project develops.

Moringa Oleifera - Wonder Plant!

What Is Moringa?

Moringa (Moringa oleifera) is a fast-growing tree native to parts of northern India and has been cultivated for centuries throughout Asia, Africa, and tropical regions around the world. Sometimes called the "drumstick tree" because of its long seed pods, moringa is valued for its ability to thrive in hot climates and poor soils.

One reason gardeners are fascinated by moringa is its rapid growth. In warm climates, young trees can grow several feet in a single season. Nearly every part of the tree has been used traditionally, including the leaves, seed pods, flowers, and seeds.

Growing Moringa in Texas

Moringa grows best in warm climates and is often treated as a perennial in tropical regions. Here in Texas, gardeners in the southern part of the state have had success growing moringa, although freezes can damage or kill the tree. Because of its fast growth rate, many gardeners simply replant it each year or protect it during winter.

Why Homesteaders Like Moringa

Homesteaders and gardeners are often drawn to moringa because it is drought tolerant, grows quickly, and produces an abundance of leaves and seed pods. Its ability to thrive in difficult growing conditions has helped make it popular in many parts of the world.

Whether you're interested in unusual edible plants, food production, or simply experimenting with something new in the garden, moringa is certainly one of the more interesting trees a gardener can grow.

Nutrients Found in Moringa

One reason moringa has attracted attention around the world is its nutritional content. The leaves contain a variety of vitamins and minerals, including:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K
• Several B vitamins
• Calcium
• Potassium
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Phosphorus

Moringa leaves also contain protein and antioxidants, which has contributed to the plant's popularity among gardeners, homesteaders, and those interested in growing nutrient-dense foods.

As with any food, nutrient levels can vary depending on growing conditions, soil quality, and whether the leaves are consumed fresh or dried.

Last year, I had been reading a lot about this wonder plant called Moringa Oleifera. This wonder plant packed more vitamins than anything I had ever heard of. 

 

I went online and found a supplier on Amazon for organic Moringa seeds and waited. And waited.
Finally, a month later, my pkg passed customs from India and arrived on my doorstep!

Unfortunately, I had forgotten to plant them until 2 weeks ago. I planted 3 seeds and placed the pot on my kitchen window. As you can see 2 have sprouted!

 

 

I'll keep you posted on how they like this part of Texas. I'm in zone 8, so they should do fairly well. This is one plant that's got me curious!

 

Have you grown these, or do you plan to?

Guadalupe State Park

A Brief History of Guadalupe River State Park

Nestled along the scenic Guadalupe River northwest of San Antonio, Guadalupe River State Park opened to the public in 1983 after the State of Texas acquired thousands of acres to help preserve the river's natural beauty and Hill Country wildlife. Today, the park protects more than 1,900 acres of woodlands, limestone bluffs, and river frontage.

The park is a favorite destination for swimming, tubing, kayaking, fishing, hiking, birdwatching, and camping. More than 300 species of birds have been observed in the area, making it a popular stop for birdwatchers throughout the year.

One of the things I enjoy most about Guadalupe River State Park is that it still feels like the Texas Hill Country of years gone by. Towering cypress trees line the riverbanks, clear water flows over limestone, and miles of hiking trails offer beautiful views of one of the most scenic regions in Texas. Whether you're looking for a peaceful picnic, a weekend camping trip, or simply a place to cool off during the summer, Guadalupe River State Park is one of the true gems of the Texas State Park system.

Photo's from my second visit to Guadalupe State Park. Truly a beautiful place, but also a reminder of my camping trip back in 2005. Something strange happened to my family. You can read the story here:

 

BIGFOOT or FOE? Guadalupe State Park

Our primitive camping site where the rocks were thrown. Have you camped out there? If so, would love to hear from you!

Worm Farm

Last year I started a worm farm by converting a plastic storage box. To ensure that the worms could breathe with a closed lid, I drilled holes at the top on each side, and another hole at the very bottom in the center.

I had been reading a lot about compost tea, and wanted to collect the drainage from the bin.

For worms, I ordered 1000 worms online from Uncle Jim's Worm Farm (Amazon.com) The reviews were excellent, and delivery was prompt. I added them to the bin and wondered within the first month or so, if many had possibly escaped. I couldn't find but a handful at first.  

 

I was also concerned that maybe the red wigglers didn't like the Texas heat very much. The worm farm was enduring sweltering 100 degree days, in the shade beside the house.

 

Fortunately, over the winter, I noticed that the worm farm had doubled if not tripled in population.

 

 

Benefits of a Worm Farm

A worm farm is one of the easiest ways to turn kitchen scraps into valuable compost for the garden. Red wigglers and other composting worms break down fruit peels, vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and other organic materials into nutrient-rich worm castings.

Why Gardeners Love Worm Farms

Produces Natural Fertilizer
Worm castings are often called "black gold" by gardeners because they help improve soil structure and add nutrients to the garden.

Reduces Household Waste
Instead of sending food scraps to the landfill, many kitchen leftovers can be recycled through a worm bin.

Improves Soil Health
Worm castings help improve moisture retention and encourage beneficial microbial activity in the soil.

Little Space Required
Unlike large compost piles, worm bins can be maintained in a small backyard, garage, patio, or even an apartment balcony.

Produces Compost Quickly
Worms work year-round in warm conditions and can produce usable compost faster than traditional compost piles.

Creates Worm Tea
Some worm bins produce a liquid byproduct often called "worm tea," which many gardeners use around flowers, vegetables, and container plants.

A Homesteader's Perspective

For homesteaders and gardeners, a worm farm is a simple way to recycle kitchen waste while producing a valuable soil amendment. It's an inexpensive project that can benefit everything from vegetable gardens and flower beds to potted plants and fruit trees.

**I always love to turn over leaves or cardboard in the yard after a hard rain to find native worms. 

This spring, I'll be experimenting more with compost tea, and using the worm castings to boost my garden. If you are by any chance making your own compost tea, and have had success, please drop me a line!

Pyramids and Boostraps coming soon on Amazon

My travel blog - trip to the Middle East, has been removed from the blog and will be available soon through Amazon. I'm in the final stages of editing and getting it formatted for ebook.

Here's an excerpt from the book:

My Pipe Dream  

 

My daughter and I were walking through Walmart when she glanced at the rows of pink and red pajama’s nearby and remarked, “Every time I see something about Valentines, I think of that girl!”

“What girl?” I asked.

“You know, THE GIRL.”

“I still don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The girl that died before our trip!”

“Ooohhh, THAT girl. But why does Valentines day reminds you of her?”

“Remember, when we would walk where she was hit and we’d see all those red stuffed bears and pink hearts?”

“Okay, now I understand.”

It was hard to believe that three years had flown by. Almost Three years ago when a 12-year-old girl, the same age as my daughter, was hit and killed by a car down our street.

As a parent too, I was devastated by the news.

Safety, fear, and death had been uppermost in my mind that day as I was continuously reminded by well meaning family and friends that I was about to take my daughter on a dangerous trip. It was very understandable that people would be concerned for our safety. Now when I think about it, I would have felt the same way. But fear has a way of dissolving once you surround yourself with knowledge.

In this situation, I surrounded myself with hours of research, talking to other backpackers, and mapping out our destinations. The more I delved into the actual planning stages, the more excited I became.

As I researched, asking myself over and over if I could do this, I remembered my former job. Years ago when I was in the Navy, I was a tour guide for the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Like all tour guides, we weren’t born with the knowledge. We had to learn our stuff in order to teach others about the area. Sure, if I were to pay extra for a travel guide, I could rely on someone more knowledgeable about the area, not to mention, there’s a safety factor in traveling with a group. But other people were backpacking this trip solo, and saying it was possible. The forums were full of world travelers all willing to share their success. The more I read, the more I learned and the more courageous I felt.

It completely made affordable sense to do my own tours into each country. I could teach myself everything I needed to know. The more I learned about hostels, the more I liked the idea of being around other backpackers, sharing our experiences, and learning from one another.

Earlier, I had broke the news to my husband about this crazy dream of mine to backpack the Middle East. And on top of that, I wanted to bring our home schooled 12-year-old daughter with me.

As a supplement to her home school geography lessons, we had been reading a book that month called, Material World: A Global Family Portrait. It was a fascinating book that gave us a glimpse into families from around the world, sharing their demographics, and worldly possessions. As we studied each continent, we’d sit for over an hour discussing these countries and how their lives were so different from our life here in America. The book caused such wanderlust in us both, that it resurrected my lifelong dream of traveling to Egypt, Israel, and Jordan.

I explained to my husband that this was a trip of a lifetime and that the more I researched, the more I knew I could do this. And to my shock, my husband said he believed me. In fact, I wasn’t sure if he was just humoring me, thinking it was just a pipe dream. So I literally ran with the plans before he could change his mind. I sent off for my birth certificate that I hadn’t seen since my enlistment into the Navy.

Now my plans were becoming more official. Each step I took, I glanced at my husband, waiting to see if he’d change his mind.

In fact, my own daughter only half believed me. While I discussed the trip, she’d get this little smile and make comments that it wasn’t “real” yet.

I learned many months later that my family was very worried about us going, and here I was taking my young daughter alone, two females, on a backpacking trip through the Middle East. A Muslim country, where all you hear on the news lately is stuff about the Taliban, Osama Bin Laden, and abductions of tourists.

What I didn’t tell my family is that I had earlier read about the suicide bombs that had happened in downtown Cairo or that several years earlier, over 62 Egyptians and tourists were butchered by machetes at Luxor.

So, when I think about it, I can’t blame them for being worried. At the time, I was too caught up to think about what others may be feeling, but as I look back now, I can honestly understand their concerns. In fact, as I write about my experience, I sometimes marvel that I actually did this. It was a leap of faith, and unless a person is actively involved in researching and being reassured by experienced backpackers, the trip can appear to be very dangerous to our loved ones. I wouldn’t even advise this trip unless a person did their homework first.

I will say that there were pivotal events that happened before our trip that reaffirmed, or I should say, made me determined that I wouldn’t allow fear to change my mind. The first incident happened when my daughter and I were scheduled to go on a field trip to tour helicopters at Ft. Hood. Right before our field trip, a gunman shot and killed 13 people on base. As we sadly watched the news develop on TV, I pondered over what had just happened. What if my daughter and I had been there at the wrong time? Of all places, you would think that we’d be safest on a military base. Never would we have been issued a word of caution from well-meaning family and friends before driving to Ft. Hood.

The other event that made me think about our safety, versus taking chances in life, was that devastating report about the young girl in our neighborhood being hit by a car. Each day that my daughter and I would do our daily walk, we’d pass by the spot where she had died. Someone had placed her photo on a pole beside the sidewalk, and it was surrounded by flowers, stuffed animals, and personal letters. My heart broke as we’d walked by, and I’d think about her parents. I also knew deep in my heart that this type of tragedy could have happened to my own daughter, whether we were in our neighborhood walking or traveling abroad.

That incident also reminded me about a book I had read, about a woman who had bicycled around the world with her husband. She was writing a book about their amazing experiences, but she never finished. As soon as they arrived home, she was hit and killed by a car. Her husband finished writing her book, Miles from Nowhere. Many times I wondered how many people told them they were crazy for riding their bikes through all those countries, and the potential danger they faced. But never did anyone caution them about the dangers that can happen on their own street at home.

The trip started to become more real for me when my daughter and I stood in line at the post office applying for our passports.

I’ll never forget the morning I logged onto my computer. My heart was racing and I was online looking up plane tickets. It wasn’t quite six in the morning yet and I was about to buy the deal of the century. For a mere $640 apiece, I was going to get two round trip tickets on Continental airlines from Houston to Cairo. I clicked SEND, and the tickets were purchased through Orbitz.com. A few moments later, I stood at my daughter’s beside.

“Pam, I just bought our plane tickets. We’re going to Egypt!”

My husband, who was already up and drinking his coffee congratulated us.

I had called his bluff.

It was no longer a pipe dream and I was excited, and scared.