Author: Suzy Taylor Oakley

Let’s get organized, Part 1

Posted on July 17, 2015March 31, 2018 by Suzy Taylor Oakley

Share this post:

I should subtitle this post “10 things you need to know about me, Part 2” because I’m heeding the advice of James Altucher — “for the next ten things you write, tell people something that nobody knows about you” — and I debuted Part 1 at Suzy & Spice a few days ago.

Now that I have two blogs, a 10-part series might be a challenge (bouncing back and forth), but I’m up for it if you are.

Also, it’s going to be hard to find 10 things that absolutely no one knows about me, so how about we refer to it loosely as 10 things only the people closest to me could possibly know?

We could also title this “True Confessions,” because I’m about to talk about something I don’t like to talk about: my messy house.

I’m a recovering packrat, but I live with a full-blown packrat (I think they have TV shows about this). In 2010, we moved from a 2,600-square-foot-house to a 1,740-square-foot house. Five years later, I’m still trying to “organize” the chaos. I cannot tell you how many books we’ve gotten rid of, but we still have a ton of books.

In less than 24 hours this week, I heard three mentions of a method, an author — a “cult” (said tongue-in-cheek) — centered on “tidying.”

Except that when I asked someone in one of my Facebook groups, “I’ve read a gazillion get-organized books. Why is this one so special?” I got an unexpected response that hooked me:

“It is not really an organizing book — it is a ‘how to discard’ book. That’s what I needed — I have way way way too much stuff.”

Bruce and I have been trying to figure out how to organize our office stuff. A couple of months ago, we turned our dining room into my office (his office is the living room), and we just haven’t figured out the right configuration. Many obstacles, which also could be classified as excuses:

Not enough time.
Not the right tools.
We never have the same window of time to work on it together.
(Fill in the blank.)

I get enthusiastic about working on it, get sidetracked after a few minutes and need a nap. And I have a messy closet, too. And dresser, and bathroom countertop. Ugh!

So … obviously there is another problem.

Marie Kondo would have you believe it’s because we’re trying to organize rather than discard the excess and keep only what gives us “a spark of joy.” (She’s ruthless about papers. Uh-oh.)

I’ll do a book review next week, but let’s just say that this woman has an unconventional method for “tidying” a home. While I don’t agree with every single thing she says, I’ll buy into 98 percent of it.

It’s going to be really weird touching all my stuff and talking to it as I decide what to discard and what to keep.

But I’m keeping an open mind and will be taking up Marie Kondo’s challenge. In fact, I said on that same Facebook page:

If you’d like to join me in the tidying madness (er, spark of joy), leave a comment and we’ll tackle it together. Doing weird stuff is more fun with friends!

Check it out: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

Share this post:

Well, Well, Well: tips & tools 07/13/15

Posted on July 13, 2015July 14, 2015 by Suzy Taylor Oakley

Share this post:

Each week I bring you three tools, tips, articles, recipes or other resources that I find useful or interesting on the journey to wellness. Feel free to suggest your own helpful hints and tips by leaving a comment (see Comment link above).

Here are this week’s three:

SOCIAL

This item could fall under several categories. When I wrote about it last week on Suzy & Spice, I headlined it “A step outside my comfort zone.” So it could be mental, emotional, spiritual or … who knows?

What is “it”? I was given a survey to complete online, and it included the opportunity to record audio (or video) comments about the topic (buying flowers). At first I cringed, but I quickly realized it was right in line with my philosophy of personal-growth-by-discomfort.

I opted for audio only, because I wasn’t wearing makeup and my hair was dirty and flat (I’m not that brave!). I recorded several takes, but I finally got a workable file out of it. Once I finished the survey, I posted the audio file online and asked for critiques. As I told another of the Arkansas Women Bloggers who had completed the survey but wasn’t happy about the audio requirement, “What’s the worst that can happen?”

I can’t say whether I would be so blasé if this were a bigger production (larger venue, more serious topic, etc.). If and when I ever have to (er, I mean, have the opportunity to) go onstage in front of a crowd, I will be all butterflies and jelly-legs. But these smaller steps outside the “zone” are what help me work toward the bigger one(s).

Baby steps.

Now you try it. Do something brave this week, then come back here and tell us what it was. It doesn’t have to be huge. Just … something. And tell us what you learned from it. Here’s mine:

Check it out: A step outside my comfort zone

APPS

I come from a long line of baseball lovers, and it has always been my favorite sport. It never fails to bring up happy family memories: of my Grandpa Ben listening to one game on the transistor radio, earbud firmly in place, while he watched another on TV; of me, my best friend and my parents sitting in the stands eating sunflower seeds while we watched my brother’s Little League team in central California; of the 1978 World Series between the Dodgers and their archrivals the Yankees (I had a big Steve Garvey poster on my wall). My husband and I don’t have TV at home, so we have to go to Mom’s to watch baseball, and it’s always when the Cards play. The only time I get to see the Dodgers is when they play St. Louis. But never fear; MLB.com At Bat is here.

The free version of the app has live updates, schedules, rosters, the latest news, standings, player bios, stats and, with the premium version ($2.99 monthly or $19.99 yearly), live audio and game of the day on MLB.TV. I opt for the free version until the playoffs, then I pay for a month or two; since I’ve been using the app, the Dodgers and/or the Cards have been in the playoffs (and the Series!); otherwise I probably wouldn’t buy premium (I’m cheap). MLB.com At Bat is the official app of Major League Baseball. If you’re a fan of the greatest show on dirt and you don’t have ESPN or another way to get your fix …

Check it out: MLB.com At Bat

PRODUCTIVITY

A wise and wonderful woman I follow has launched a Facebook group called Create Content Every Day in 2015. She’s aiming to get us off our duffs and producing something daily throughout the second half of the year.

This wise woman, whom I’ll call Jacqueline Wolven – because that’s her name – set me on the path I’m on today with my blogs. I attended both of her sessions on branding at Arkansas Women Bloggers University last September, and her talks rocked my world. I had never thought much about “branding” as it relates to a personal blog or freelancing or other individual pursuits, but I’ve learned a lot since then. “Branding” is not just for major retailers; it’s about how you want to present yourself to the world – that is, if you have something important you’d like to say or do. You don’t have to be a rock star; you just have to want something badly enough to go for it.

The new Facebook group is about creating whatever “content” you want to create (blog posts, Instagram photos, arts or crafts, podcasts, a video clip, audio files, a chapter in your novel, whatever). Here’s the description:

“Each day just post the link or what content you created if you aren’t able to link it. Consistency is the key to growing an audience. Let’s cheer each other on!”

The group will be public through July and then go private. (That means you should join now!)

Here’s your chance. It’s a safe place. So go ahead: Get off’n your duff’n (that’s German for Just do it).

Check it out: Create Content Every Day in 2015 #DoGoodWork

That’s it for this week, kids. I hope you found something useful or at least interesting. Until next time …

Share this post:

Farm2Home 2015 – for everything there is a season

Posted on July 10, 2015July 10, 2015 by Suzy Taylor Oakley

Share this post:

Farm2Home is going on hiatus for a while, but you can read the previous posts here, here and here.

Today’s post was supposed to be another in my Farm2Home series.

But I think I need to give the farmers a break. What was I thinking, trying to get folks to answer a bunch of questions during the growing and producing season?

I’m putting the series on hold for a while, and maybe I can get everyone caught up at a less-busy time of year. What they’re doing right now is more pressing than my questions.

I’m pondering the same thing about my other blog, Suzy & Spice, where I’ve been working on a Main Street Farmers Market (Batesville) series. One farmer has responded to my questionnaire, and, to be honest, I haven’t reminded the others that I’m waiting …

I just figured they were too busy to bother with my pesky questions, or they had forgotten. I’m not a farmer, but I know they are superbusy this time of year.

And this has been a wacky week for me, schedule-wise. You might have noticed.

I haven’t posted at the times I had set up to post regularly (Monday and Friday mornings here at To Well With You and Saturday mornings at Suzy & Spice).

It’s just been wacky.

To tell the truth, I’ve needed a mental break, and even though I’ve tried to stay true to the schedule, my brain simply hasn’t been working fast enough to stay on track. I hope you’ll forgive me.

I would say I’m mentally exhausted, but that’s not exactly true. I’m mentally tired but not near the point of exhaustion. Just dealing with a few stressors:

Blind dog who now needs even more attention than before (she was already high-maintenance!).
Plumbing problems that took 11 days to fix. And I realized last night – two weeks after the plumber came – that I had filed the bill in the PAID folder instead of mailing the check. 🙁
A full-time work schedule at my “day job.”
Trying to keep up with writing/blogging/publishing while learning how to do it all better (honing my photography skills, making my own graphics, learning about marketing and content, writing better, etc.).
Working on a wellness talk I’m supposed to give at the farmers market Aug. 1.
Working on a session I’ll be teaching at the Arkansas Women Bloggers conference at the end of August.

I really and truly love writing for my blogs, but sometimes it means I neglect other things, like spending time with my mom. I hate that. My family is the most important thing in my life besides my relationship with Jesus. (Oh, yeah: I’ve been neglecting that, too.)

One of the things on my to-do list has been to learn a new piece of software that’s supposed to help me keep up with all the irons I have in the fire. It has been a bit of a challenge just to find the time to make use of this tool!

Oh, the irony.

So when I get this way, I have to look up at my white board and see where I’ve written: REMEMBER YOUR WHY.

Michael Hyatt says, correctly, that this – staying connected to your why – is what keeps you on track when you’re veering off course or are tempted to give up. This is absolutely true. (Here’s my why.)

I’ve read a lot lately about persevering when: 1) others think you’re crazy, 2) things get hard or 3) common sense might tell you it’s not worth it, to cut your losses and move on.

A book I’m reading says to dispense with the “lofty” terms perseverance and tenacity and go with stubbornness:

When we’re stubborn, there’s no quit in us. We’re mean. We’re mulish. We’re ornery. … We will sink our junkyard-dog teeth into Resistance’s a** and not let go, no matter how hard he kicks.”

– Steven Pressfield,
‘Do the Work: Overcome Resistance
and Get Out of Your Own Way’

I am nothing if not stubborn. (Right, Mom?)

So, while I’m not ready to give up, I need a break now and then. And the farmers need to keep doing what they’re doing right now. If they weren’t persistent, tenacious and stubborn – producing fresh food every season to keep me healthy – I’d be eating ramen noodles for breakfast every day. (And even the ramen noodles come from … something on a farm.)

My goal for the Farm2Home series was to showcase the farmers so that they could keep doing what they’re doing. We all need to sow when we can, harvest when it’s ripe and savor the fruits of our labor when the time is right.

Even though I need little mental breaks now and then (don’t we all?), I continue to sow and water.

Someday I’ll begin harvesting, but for now I’m still in the perseveringly tenacious stubborn phase. 🙂

What about you? Are you planting or harvesting right now?

Share this post:

Well, Well, Well: tips & tools

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Suzy Taylor Oakley

Share this post:

Here are this week’s three:

NUTRITION

My friend Betsy has shared some great recipes with me. The first time I had her vegan brownies, we were in the car on the way home from an out-of-town race. I thought they were awesome and told her I wanted to try making them, so a week or two later, for my birthday, here came Betsy with the recipe and all the ingredients to make the brownies, all packaged in a cute little polka-dot gift box.

Betsy’s the kind of friend who doesn’t just give you a recipe when you ask her for it; she goes the extra mile and provides everything you need! (Especially when what you need isn’t readily available in your pantry or even at the regular grocery store, although these ingredients are findable nowadays.)

If you’re picky about texture or labels, don’t think of these as brownies, because they’re not what you’ll find from a mix from the grocery store. You don’t bake ’em, and you’ll need to store them in the fridge. Just think of them as a delicious chocolate dessert that’s hard to keep your paws off of.

Call them what you want. I call them irresistible.

Betsy’s Vegan Brownies

1 cup walnuts
8 large OR 12 medium-size pitted dates (about 1 cup)
5 tablespoons cacao powder
2 tablespoons coconut milk
1 packet pure stevia extract (powder)
pinch salt
1-2 tablespoons cacao nibs (for sprinkling on top)

In food processor, grind walnuts into a flour (until it’s fine but grainy). Add dates and grind until mixture is relatively smooth (it will still be grainy).

Add remaining ingredients and mix in processor until well blended.

Spread in ungreased 8×8” pan. Press cacao nibs on top.

Store in refrigerator.

SCIENCE

I’d never thought much about the leap second until last week, but I’m just enough of a science geek (or maybe just an information junkie) that this headline intrigued me: “The origin of leap seconds, and why they should be abolished.”

Also, I like the guy who Tweeted it, because he always has something interesting (and usually amusing) to share.

The article is a bit longish, but it will answer most – if not all – of the questions you’ve ever had about the leap second, including how and why it was born and why it should die.

And just for kicks, be sure to watch the 6-minute video with Demetrios Matsakis (“The Timekeeper”). He’s a hoot, in a dry, scientist sort of way. The other video (less than 2 minutes) is fun, too.

For something to stimulate your inner scientist …

Check it out: The origin of leap seconds, and why they should be abolished

FINANCES

People love their cars, and this is the season for big treks across the good ol’ US of A. In this tip, my favorite frugal guru, Mary Hunt, helps us keep a bit of our hard-earned cash when we visit the gas pump, even if the trip we’re taking is just across town.

Check it out: 10 Easy Ways to Save Fuel

That’s it for this week, kids. I hope you found something useful or at least interesting. Until next time …

Share this post:

The saddest thing on earth

Posted on July 3, 2015 by Suzy Taylor Oakley

Share this post:

“No one was sorry when he died.” I can’t think of a sadder thing to be said of someone who has passed away.

It’s not necessary that I be remembered for something after I’m gone, but I do want my life to count for something while I’m here – preferably something that will outlive me. The mark I make on the world … I want it to last, because I hope that it’s something good and worthwhile.

I want to help make sure others’ lives are better, not worse, because I sucked up air on the planet.

As I wrote on the web page that serves as my “digital business card”:

“I want my epitaph to say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ I want to serve others and bring glory to my Creator while I’m doing it.”

I’ve been reading through the books of Kings and Chronicles in my one-year chronological journey through the Bible this year.

Most of the kings chronicled in these books were evil, with a sprinkling of rulers who followed the Lord and were blessed because of it. But it didn’t last. (Obedience can be hard work!) Even with shining examples to light our path, without intention and purpose it is easy to go our own way.

Of King Jehoram, the chronicler said: “You have not followed the good example of your father, Jehoshaphat, or your grandfather King Asa of Judah. Instead, you have been as evil as the kings of Israel.”

King Jehoram chose the path of self and left no legacy to be proud of.

“His people did not build a great funeral fire to honor him as they had done for his ancestors.”

My ancestors set a good example for me. As far back as I know of, they followed the Lord and passed down that legacy to me and my kin. Most of us, as far as I know, are doing our best to obey the Lord and remain open to His leading.

**But whether the legacy passed down to you was good or bad, what are you going to make of it?**

Are you going to use your God-bestowed gifts to bless the world, or to take from it?

My mission statement flows out of my desire to leave the world better than I found it. It is:

“To follow God’s leading and help others see the Light.”

What legacy do you want to leave?

Share this post:

Inspiring stories: Shawn Mastrantonio

Posted on July 1, 2015July 1, 2015 by Suzy Taylor Oakley

Share this post:

ShawnM_RWcoverphoto — Go to RunnersWorld.com and vote for Shawn Mastrantonio to be on the cover. You can vote every day through July 22. The link is below. Now, go!

If you’ve known me for two minutes, you know I’m a sucker for a worthy cause.

A few weeks ago, on Self-Promotion Monday (a weekly feature on the certified RRCA coaches Facebook page), Shawn Mastrantonio posted a link to a photo of him that’s in contention to be a Runner’s World cover shot.

I pounced on it: I read a little about Shawn on his Facebook page L.U.N.A.R. (Lace Up Now And Run), Liked the page and headed straight to the Runner’s World site to vote. And, because I could vote daily through July 22, I set up a calendar pop-up to remind me to vote every day until then.

Last I knew, Shawn’s photo was third overall and No. 1 in the “inspiring” category (you have to click whether you think the subject is “passionate,” “athletic” or “inspiring”).

No, Shawn and I have never met. We first crossed paths on the coaches page.

But when I see a good cause and someone asks me to vote for it, I vote. (I also vote daily for my local humane society to win cash through Shelter Challenge contests.) I feel guilty if I don’t.

But this isn’t about me. It’s about Shawn.

Here’s why I want him to be on the cover of Runner’s World:

Shawn has a rare cancer syndrome called Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL). I had never heard of it, and to raise awareness for his cause (and his RW cover), I asked him to share his story here on To Well With You.

Through illness, surgery and everything else he’s had to contend with, Shawn also BQ’d (qualified for the Boston Marathon, which has strict requirements). That is no small feat!

But I’ll let Shawn tell you the rest of the story in his own words (edited a bit for length):

“I had brain surgery in 1993 to remove a brain tumor from my right cerebellum. In December 2009, I was told that I had a tumor recurrence and two new tumors. I started running as an escape and ran my first half-marathon in 2010. I continued my running journey until I had my second brain surgery to remove one of the tumors on Jan. 31, 2012. In October 2012, I ran the Wineglass Half Marathon in Corning, N.Y., in a PR (personal record) time of 1:30.41.

I have continued running because, to me, running is a metaphor for life. In running, as in life, you gain strength from the challenges you face. Running continues to help me both physically and mentally get through the challenges of living with VHL.”

“Within my own family, I come from a legacy of VHL WARRIORS, including my dad, uncle, cousin and most recently my brother, who have lost their lives to this disease. We believe that there are other family members [who had VHL], but too little was known about the disease when they passed away.

“My dad passed away when I was 10. He passed away on May 15, 1980, my mom’s 43rd birthday. I am the administrator of a Facebook page called L.U.N.A.R. (Lace Up Now And Run), and in some of my posts and T-shirts that I design I include “5/15” to signify the date and to honor both my mom and dad.

“My brother passed away in August 2013. During his battle with VHL, he endured over 30 brain surgeries. I never once heard him complain or ask, ‘Why me?’ My dad and brother are the sources of my strength, faith and inspiration.”

What is VHL?

In this 90-second video, actor Willem Dafoe explains what VHL is.

And back to Shawn’s story:

“Von Hippel-Lindau is a genetic condition involving the abnormal growth of blood vessels in some parts of the body that are particularly rich in blood vessels. It is caused by a flaw in the VHL gene, on the short arm of chromosome 3, which regulates cell growth. Having an alteration in the VHL gene is what is known as a predisposition factor to certain kinds of tumors, including some specific cancers.

“I continue to get monitored for the existing two brain tumors and any new ones along with screening for my kidneys and pancreas as I currently have tumors in them, as well.

“My running journey has been such an amazing experience. It truly has given me strength and often is therapy. I have had so many great people enter my life brought together by the gift of running. These new friendships are such a blessing. My rock is my wife, Kimberly; she has encouraged and supported, and her love is never-ending. She has been there through thick and thin. She has remained strong for me in the difficult times and never left my side.

Shawn_and_Kimberly_Mastrantonio — Shawn and Kimberly Mastrantonio after his first full marathon and her first half-marathon.

“2014 was a great year of running for me as I set a new PR in the half marathon of 1:28.56, a 10-mile PR of 1:06.12 and a 5k PR of 19:00.08. I ran my first full marathon in 3:09.48, qualifying for the Boston Marathon.

“2015 started out just as well. I set a PR in the 10k of 39:56 and was feeling strong as I headed into the Seneca7, a 77.7-mile, seven-person relay around Seneca Lake in Geneva, N.Y. After completing my second leg, I suffered a ‘moderate’ heart attack. I was rushed to the hospital, and a stent was put in. The heart attack was caused by a 100 percent blockage of the right coronary artery. The heart attack put an end to my 557-day running streak, but I hope to be able to start a new streak soon. In the meantime, I am concentrating on my health and looking forward to representing the VHL community in 2016 at the Boston Marathon.”

I don’t know about you, but in my book this man still has plenty of heart.

Now, don’t you want to go cast a ballot for Shawn Mastrantonio, and maybe make a donation to the VHL Alliance in honor of him and all the other folks affected by VHL?

Now, go vote!

If you Tweet about this, please use the hashtags ‪#‎RWCoverSearch and ‪#‎VHLWarrior.

Share this post:

Well, Well, Well: tips & tools

Posted on June 29, 2015June 29, 2015 by Suzy Taylor Oakley

Share this post:

Here are this week’s three:

NUTRITION

I’ve followed Dietitian Cassie for about 18 months, and I really like her approach. I struggled with which post to start you out with, because she has so much good advice. She’s an advocate of PFC (protein, fat and carbs) at every meal, and she’s not afraid to eat butter!

Cassie bucks the conventional wisdom of the U.S. medical community, but she does it in a respectful way. She wrote a post a few months ago about being open-minded to new things (such as newer research saying that we need fat in our diets!). I’ll share that post with you another time. Today I’m sharing one of her Start Here posts.

Check it out: Simple Starting Steps

FITNESS/EXERCISE

The secret to being a real runner is easy. There is only one thing you have to do. You just have to run.”

Last year Erin Henderson, mom of 12 (soon to be 13), was the guest speaker at our Women Run Arkansas 5K pasta party. Erin is a runner who lost about 80 pounds and credits running with a lot of her success.

Erin and her husband have adopted most of their children, and some of them have disabilities. No. 13, whom they’re hoping to bring home from China in December, has a severe physical disability and, although they thought they were finished with 12, they both “knew” she was theirs when they saw her. I love that!

Even though I didn’t get to hear Erin speak last year, I’ve followed her blog since before she visited Arkansas and she inspires me every time.

I hope this post will encourage you if you’ve thought about running or are just beginning, and those who’ve been running for years can take something away from it, too.

Check it out: How to Be a Real Runner

HUMOR

I believe Reader’s Digest’s had it right: “Laughter is the Best Medicine.”

You may think a humor piece doesn’t fit into a wellness-tips category, but laughter is healing and this 2-minute YouTube video made me laugh. Besides, don’t we need a good laugh to pick us up on a Monday morning? (We can’t let coffee do all the work!) I hope it gives you a chuckle or two.

https://youtu.be/ZlATOHGj9EY

That’s it for this week, kids. I hope you found something useful or at least interesting. Until next time …

Share this post:

Farm2Home 2015 – Big D Ranch in Center Ridge, Ark.

Posted on June 26, 2015July 10, 2015 by Suzy Taylor Oakley

Share this post:

This is the third in a series on Farm2Home 2015. Read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

DeSalvoFamilyAtFarm2Home — Meet the DeSalvo family of Big D Ranch in Center Ridge: Phillip, Benjamin, Isabella and Beth. (Photo courtesy of Beth DeSalvo.)

When Beth DeSalvo quit her job at Petit Jean Meats in 2012 and began working on her family’s cattle ranch full time, she soon realized that she needed to go whole hog (whole cow?) in promoting the operation.

Her departure from the “corporate world” left the family with no other income source but cattle and hay, so making sure that folks knew about Big D Ranch – the place her husband’s family has called home for five generations – was going to become a part-time job in itself. (That’s in addition to the other tasks, such as keeping the books and helping out in whatever other ways she’s needed.)

A busy mom of two, she knew that if she wanted to help sustain the family’s income, she would have to take time out of all the things that go into cattle ranching and be available to educate people, show them around and talk up the virtues of locally grown, pastured beef, and of farming and ranching in general.

With all the nitty-gritty of running a cattle ranch, how does she have time for the “marketing and promotion” part of the job?

“You make time,” she said at the recent Farm2Home event at Moss Mountain Farm west of Little Rock. It’s just what local ranchers and growers have to do to raise awareness of their products. No Sam Elliott voice-overs or James Garner promos – she and her family just get out there and talk to people face to face.

And they do a great job: I stood at her table at Farm2Home, chatted with Beth and her daughter, 9-year-old-Isabella, and got a taste of what beef is supposed to taste like.

As Isabella speared a piece of grilled beef on a toothpick for me, Beth and I talked, and the conversation was as delicious as the beef.

Center Ridge, Ark., population 388 (as of 2010 census).

When you engage with someone who is as passionate as Beth is about her “job,” you lose track of time. This matriarch of the 2012 Arkansas Farm Family of the Year (which also includes Phillip’s dad, Tony) takes her role so seriously that she travels from the ranch in Center Ridge, Ark., to farmers markets and events such as Farm2Home as an evangelist for the virtues of buying locally grown, healthful foods.

“I believe by buying local you are commending your local farmers and ranchers on what they do every day,” she said in answer to my follow-up questions after Farm2Home. “Farmers and ranchers work hard to provide food for consumers, and it is very rewarding to be able share that with our neighbors.”

I asked Beth why she wanted to participate in Farm2Home.

I think it is very important to get out to tell our story. I feel that consumers want to know where their food comes from, and we the farmers and ranchers want the consumers to feel safe about what we provide for their families. The best way to do that is let people know what you are doing and how you do it.”

It’s so important to the DeSalvos that they take their beef outside the local area on weekends to sell and promote. Look for them at the Conway Farmers Market at the Antioch Baptist Church and at the Argenta Farmers Market in downtown North Little Rock. (The Argenta market is where I used to do my “shop local” socializing when Bruce and I lived in North Little Rock. I miss it!)

Ben&IsabellaAtArgenta — Ben and Isabella DeSalvo at the Argenta Farmers Market in downtown North Little Rock, Ark. (Photo courtesy of Beth DeSalvo.)

As Phillip and Beth raise the sixth generation at Big D, they support Ben (age 11) and Isabella’s participation in the Nemo Vista Pioneers 4-H Club, and Beth says the family is “very active” at the county fair. That’s evident by the photos she emailed me (I didn’t use them all). Phillip and Beth are active members in the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and no doubt their children are future members of those organizations.

Both kiddos know how to win prizes at the county fair. Take a look:

Cow&BenWithRibbon — Ben and his heifer Big Momma took Reserve Grand Champion honors last year at the Conway County Fair. (Photo courtesy of Beth DeSalvo.)

Cow&Isabella — Isabella and Betsy took home Pee Wee Showmanship honors at last year’s county fair, and Izzy also won Grand Champion with her turkeys. (Photo courtesy of Beth DeSalvo.)

Arkansas is fortunate to have folks like Tony, Phillip and Beth DeSalvo, who are raising their young’uns to know the value of hard work and the importance of supporting your neighbors as they work hard, too. They’re the ones who feed us, my friends. Or at least they should be.

As often as you can, buy local. You’ll be helping your neighbors and yourself. (And try some beef from the DeSalvos. It’s “The Better Beef to Eat!”)

All right, one last picture. This image makes me think of a photo in one of the Pioneer Woman’s cookbooks. I bet Beth DeSalvo swoons every time she looks at this picture of her man and her boy walking hand-in-hand on their family’s land.

Ladies, wouldn’t you?

Ben&PhillipFromBehindWithCows — (Photo courtesy of Beth DeSalvo.)

Big D Ranch
173 Miller Ln.
Center Ridge, AR 72027 (northern Conway County)
(501) 208-6120 (Beth’s cell)
Website: Bigdranch.net
Twitter: @bigdranch1
Facebook: Big D Ranch or Beth Rohlman DeSalvo
Instagram: BIG_D_RANCH

Stay tuned for Part 4 next Friday. Meanwhile, I’d like to publish a healthful recipe for Monday’s post. Suggestions?

Share this post:

Introducing Well, Well, Well

Posted on June 22, 2015June 22, 2015 by Suzy Taylor Oakley

Share this post:

This week I’m introducing a new weekly feature: Well, Well, Well (hats off, as usual, to my hubby for coming up with the name). In it, I’ll bring you three tools, tips, articles, recipes or other resources that I find useful or interesting on the journey to wellness. Feel free to suggest your own helpful hints and tips by leaving a comment (see Comment link above).

Here are this week’s three:

PRODUCTIVITY

One of my fellow Arkansas Women Bloggers posted a cry for help on Facebook last week:

“I need a way to organize important emails I want to keep, screenshots of important info, etc. Basically, I need a ‘file cabinet’ that is easy to access, easy to use.”

Holy cow — we Evernote lovers jumped all over that. (In fact, folks who’ve been using Evernote for years and know all the ways to harness its superpowers are called “Evernote ninjas.” I am not one of them — yet.)

If you aren’t using Evernote, you’re missing out. It’s probably the most useful productivity tool I’ve ever used, although I’m still learning all its capabilities and I’m not as productive or proficient with it as I know I will be as I keep using it.

Evernote is an electronic filing cabinet but not just for your emails. It uses a notebook and tag system that allows you to sort and find things easily later. But I’m a newbie. A couple of others with more experience can convince you:

My favorite productivity guru (he’s much more than that, though) is Michael Hyatt. He loves Evernote, and here’s a link to some of his posts and podcasts about how he uses it in ways both conventional (scanning important papers) and unconventional (saving a photo of his best haircut to show a new hairdresser).
Fellow Arkansas Women Blogger Bethany Stephens has a series on her blog about making the most of Evernote. She’s been using it for years and loves to discuss it ad nauseam, according to her. 🙂

In a recap of her AWB conference presentation last year, she says:

“I’m accustomed to the look on someone’s face during an Evernote session at the exact moment where they realize what it is capable of and how it is applicable in their lives. At the Arkansas Women Bloggers conference, however, I mistook the perplexed looks on the faces of attendees as an indication that I was missing the mark or doing a poor job of representing the complete fabulousness of Evernote. It turns out all those furrowed brows and the silence in the room were actually indicative of their brains simultaneously exploding.

“And hey, what can I say? That’s exactly what I’m looking for when I introduce someone to Evernote.”

Check it out: Evernote.com

SPIRITUAL

If you’re like me and would like to read the Bible every day, let me encourage you: It can happen, and there’s never been a better time than now with better tools than ever. I have fallen in love with the Bible App, and this is the second year I’ve done my through-the-Bible-in-a-year plan electronically rather than using my physical Bible (which is a reference Bible, has a ton of footnotes and weighs a gazillion pounds). I carry my “Bible” around with me everywhere, because I can access it just about anywhere: my laptop, my smart phone or my iPad.

You can browse devotional plans as short as three days or as long as several weeks, and they’re searchable by topic (say you want devotions for Lent or Advent or marriage, they’ve got you covered). It’s available in several languages, several translations of the Bible (so you can read a different version each year if you like) and different versions of the one-year plan (I’m doing chronological this year). They added a Bible App for Kids a few months ago, and if I had small kids I’d jump all over that! I use the Bible App now at church and take sermon notes inside the app. There are translations that you can view only online (with an Internet connection) and some you can download for offline reading.

Probably my favorite feature of the Bible App: audio! Yes, some translations (including the one I’m currently using, the New Living Translation) can be read to you out loud. When I’m slogging through the “less interesting” chapters of the Bible (say, most of Leviticus), it’s nice to listen while I get ready for work. Obviously this isn’t for in-depth study, which I would do sitting down with the visual version or a hard copy of the Bible. But it does help for getting to know the culture and commands of the biblical texts. The audio reinforces what I read.

The YouVersion folks just keep adding features, making it better and better. This is another tool that I could go on and on about, but you should just …

Check it out: Bible.com

FINANCIAL

I’ve been following Mary Hunt of Debt Proof Living for more than 20 years, since her little black-and-white newsletter (then called Cheapskate Monthly) was about 12 pages and arrived each month via snail mail.

I love Mary because she’s down to earth, practical and wise.

Here’s an excerpt of a post I wrote about Mary two months ago on my other blog, Suzy & Spice:

“By the time I met Mary, she had gotten her family into $100,000 of unsecured debt … and back out.

“She scratched and clawed (and prayed) her way out of the hole.

“And, because she has been to the bottom of the pit and climbed her way back out, dirt under her fingernails, sweat on her brow, wisdom under her cap, she has built an organization out of helping the rest of us do the same – or, better yet, not digging that pit in the first place.”

And here’s a link to a recent post, Tough Times Don’t Last, Tough People Do, in her Everyday Cheapskate column.

Maybe you’re not in debt but need to begin saving and just don’t know how to get started and stay motivated. Mary can help. (I can help, too, as I’m a certified budget coach and volunteer for a financial stewardship ministry; I know some of the tips and tricks of getting and staying on track.)

Or maybe you have a family member or friend who could use the kind of gentle kick in the pants that Mary provides. (That kick in the pants probably shouldn’t come from you — let Mary do it; she has the expertise and the objectivity!)

Mary has written lots of books and has a great website, daily column and newsletter.

Check it out: DebtProofLiving.com

That’s it for this week, kids. I hope you found something useful or at least interesting. Until next time …

Share this post:

Farm2Home 2015 – P. Allen Smith

Posted on June 19, 2015June 20, 2015 by Suzy Taylor Oakley

Share this post:

This is the second in a series on Farm2Home 2015. Read Part 1 here.

When Allen Smith was 10, he earned a blue ribbon for a hen he showed at the county fair. This is not surprising, given his family heritage of farming and livestock and poultry raising.

A few decades later, if you called him “the crazy chicken man,” you might not be far off (sorry, Allen). With his first hen – not the white silkie that won the blue ribbon but a brown Leghorn that young Allen had to chase down on Main Street – he began a love affair with growing and preserving poultry breeds that has only become stronger with time.

Known for his design, cooking and gardening expertise, Allen (better known as P. Allen Smith) has grown a multimedia empire right along with those chickens he’s so fond of. (Eat your heart out, Martha.) He houses his fine-feathered hens in a structure of his own design, dubbed the Poultry Palace.

This “crazy chicken man” is crazy like a fox, though.

His knowledge of poultry breeds rivals that of anyone I’ve ever met. I might be able to find some PhD fellow with a more formal poultry pedigree, but I would have to search far. And I have a feeling that pedigreed poultry professor would be much less endearing, much less engaging, much less in love with the birds, and probably a lot boring.

Allen Smith is not boring.

When you’re passionate about a subject, your enthusiasm is infectious.

At the recent Farm2Home event at Allen’s Moss Mountain Farm outside Little Rock, Ark., I and 29 other bloggers were treated to a tour of his house and the grounds, including Poultryville, where he houses – you guessed it – poultry.

Allen’s love of this particular subject stems from his combined love of history, genetics and conservation. Cases in point:

Ask him about any of our country’s founding founders, and he’s sure to have a story for you. His knowledge is not based on “factoids” found by Googling but by a love of history he acquired from his family.
He created the Heritage Poultry Conservancy, which exists to preserve and support “all threatened breeds and strains of domestic poultry through the encouragement of education, stewardship and good breeding practices,” according to the website. I could spend hours on this website reading all the “breed profiles” – which include photos and extensive histories of the breeds, complete with bibliographies – and “ask the expert” articles and other information.
He designed and built a little village for his birds on Moss Mountain Farm. Listening to him talk about the birds at Poultryville – and watching as he shows them off – well, it’s just … poultry in motion. (I know: Groan. Sorry.)

But seriously, the man knows poultry.

AllenInPoultryPalace — If I had been taking notes instead of worrying about how much juice was left in my phone battery, I would’ve heard Allen tell what kind of chicken this is.

And he wants others to know about it, too. As we tromped along through Poultryville, he offered bits of information, trivial and non. I wish I could remember what Mediterranean princess he referenced in relation to the design of the Poultry Palace. She visited because she was interested in heritage poultry and had heard about Moss Mountain Farm.

I’ve used most of my allotted words here (y’all know I limit my word count, right? 🙂 ) talking about poultry, because, seriously, visiting Poultryville and hearing this man wax poetic about chickens, French geese, swans and all that – and to see them up close and personal – makes me love them, too! If you visited, you would be the same way.

C’mon. Take a gander at these photos from Allen’s blog and tell me you wouldn’t love to hang out with some of these crazy chicks. Seriously.

OK, so.

Besides poultry, horses, dogs (the farm dog and a Scottish terrier that Allen was dog-sitting for friends), sheep and some cute baby goats, we were treated to:

A beautiful house. Allen bought the farm (literally) about 10 years ago and built this gorgeously appointed Greek Revival-style house seven years ago. He said he wanted it to look like it belonged on the beautiful farm of 600 or so acres (give or take, with the whims of the Arkansas River, which was flooded when we visited). Y’all, there is no way to show you all the pictures I took, even with dying batteries.

House_PAllenSmith — The Garden Home at Moss Mountain Farm is a Greek Revival-style house on about 600 acres along the Arkansas River.

Books_PAllenSmith — The man decorates with books. This is my kinda house.

My friends, there were books EVERYWHERE. I asked Allen whether he’d read all of them. “Every one. Cover to cover,” he deadpanned. It took me a second to be sure he was joking.

KitchenView_PAllenSmith — A view from the kitchen.

HydrangeasInKitchen_PAllenSmith — The all-white kitchen appointed with white hydrangeas (and orange-clad blogger chicks).

Gardens: vegetables, flowers, trees, grasses. I had so many photos of flowers and veggies to choose from, I had trouble deciding. I’m giving you but a taste. (And if my camera battery hadn’t died before noon and my phone battery hadn’t died by 3:30 p.m., Lord, have mercy, I would have had even more pics!)

VeggieGarden_PAllenSmith — As we approached the vegetable gardens, Allen offered to let us pull weeds for him. (I’m pretty sure he was joking, although: FREE HELP. But do you see any weeds?)

GardenOutsideHouse_PAllenSmith — I don’t know my flowers as well as I used to, but I think this is some type of sunflower. Anyone?

A pond with swans, frogs and at least one snake (viewed after my camera battery died, and it’s too bad because the swans were really cute – one of them talked to me!).

I wasn’t going to post this pic of Duncan (the visiting dog), but, as you know, I’m a dog person and can’t resist a good dog picture, especially when the pooch is doing something cute.

Views of the Arkansas River.

ViewFromSleepingPorch_PAllenSmith — A view of the flooded, muddy Arkansas River from Moss Mountain Farm’s sleeping porch. You get a glimpse of one of the gardens, too.

Food, glorious food! Everything was delicious and beautiful, and here’s my lunch. (I missed the beautiful watermelon breakfast snack that everyone else had earlier because I was busy talking to farmers outside and didn’t hear the bell; see previous post.)

Lunch_PAllenSmith — If you visit Moss Mountain Farm, they’ll feed you meals from Allen’s latest cookbook, **Seasonal Recipes from the Garden**.

DessertGone_PAllenSmith — As you can see, the dessert (pecan cookie with strawberry-cobbler-type filling) was delicious! (I did leave some of the garnish.) And you may wonder how I managed to get two glasses of iced tea, with endless refills. I’ll never tell!

Bloggers. Thirty of us. Here are a few.

Bloggers_PAllenSmith — Wouldn’t you want to hang out with these chicks (and a couple of blogger dudes)?

Farmers. This is what Farm2Home was all about, ya’ll. Stay tuned, because I have more farmers for ya, but you’ll have to wait until next week. This is a series, remember?

But Farm2Home is not the only event on Moss Mountain Farm’s calendar. This beautiful place is host to classes, workshops, tours, parties, weddings and other events. Allen also “trials” specimens for seed and plant companies that sell their fare at garden centers around the country. And he shoots his TV shows there.

If you view this video from Allen’s website, you will want to make a reservation right now to visit Moss Mountain Farm. Unless you’re totally crazy.

Next week: Farm2Home 2015 – Big D Ranch in Center Ridge, Ark.

Share this post: