Sunshine & Bubbles's High Vibin Podcast
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Sunshine & Bubbles's High Vibin Podcast
Finding Joy in Bee Stings, Butterfly Releases, and Plant Medicine
Have you ever experienced a moment when help arrives at exactly the right time? When the universe conspires to bring you exactly what you need? That's exactly what happened when Sunshine and Bubbles found themselves knee-deep in a honey extraction fiasco.
This episode takes you on a journey through the sticky world of beekeeping as we share our triumphant honey extraction story featuring a surprise hero - Uncle Dave - who appeared with exactly the tool we needed at precisely the right moment. You'll hear about our adventures with infusing honey with medicinal herbs like turmeric, ginger, and garlic, creating natural remedies right from our backyard.
We don't sugarcoat the challenges either. From discovering a decimated beehive to getting stung near the eye during a sound bowl session, working with nature comes with its painful lessons. But these moments also reveal the resilience that grows when we stay connected to the natural world around us. Our monarch butterfly raising and releasing experiences highlight the magic that happens when we slow down and witness nature's transformations.
The conversation shifts to family life as we discuss our recent "screen detox" experiment with our children. Removing TVs, gaming consoles, and YouTube has created space for genuine connection through board games, creative play, and meaningful conversations. This digital disconnection has brought unexpected joy and productivity to our households - something many families might benefit from trying.
We wrap up by exploring the remarkable medicinal properties of echinacea (coneflower), a common garden plant with extraordinary immune-boosting capabilities. Could the natural medicine you need be growing right outside your door? Listen and find out how this beautiful perennial might become your new plant ally.
Want to experience more backyard miracles, practical wisdom, and spiritual insights? Subscribe to join our growing community of nature-loving, spiritually-minded friends seeking to live more intentional, connected lives.
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podcast number 18 coming in hot, coming in live, live and live. Yes, it's the only way to be right.
Speaker 1:Sunshine, hey, hey, this is my beautiful bestie, sunshine and this is my bestest friend we are sunshiny bubbles and we've decided that Sunshine and Bubbles is our spirit name yes, spirit name and I'm going with my stage name. So I feel like my real name is Ashley Amber Ashley Amber Schaefer to be exact, and that's what my community mostly knows that. And they're like Bubbles, what. That's crazy. So I'm still trying to conceptualize it of like where we're going with it at least I am, because you've been the og kelly sunshine since before, since when I met you yeah, some people only know me by sunshine yeah, they're like me.
Speaker 1:you're like one of those chicks, or it's like wait, what's her real name? I thought it was sunshine, like sunshine's not her real name. I thought it was Sunshine Sunshine's, not her real name.
Speaker 2:I feel like Bubbles fits you though. So once they like Bubbles, I'm like, oh, Bubbles.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it all makes sense. I love that Uncle Dave gave me that nickname here on the farm because I just cherish him. He's my dad, and your dad too are no longer with us God rest their souls and I just feel like Uncle Dave has that man energy, that father figure. He always seems to be there when we need him For real. Yes, he's like Uncle Dave on the spot. Yeah.
Speaker 2:He's that honey extractor we've been struggling with for years. He just happened to have the wrench right in his pocket.
Speaker 1:'re amazing, yeah, oh there's like a whole story to that. Did we tell that story, I can't remember on here? I don't think we did, should we? Yeah, I feel like that was insane, just because I honeybees are on our uh, on our to do to talk about this podcast because some interesting things have been happening with them. But we'll just start it with a story. So there we were, sunshine and I doing our one and only actually extraction this season, and we were ready. We, we thought we had checked all the boxes right, like we had the. We had the smoker and the hive tools and we had the commercial backpack to blow them off and the other leaf blower as well to assist us and aid us in this process, which is a whole thing. So you're really like robbing the honeybees of their source of food, so they're not too thrilled about it when you go in, but with a grateful and calm heart, you definitely can make it happen.
Speaker 2:So here we are, looking like Ghostbusters For real S and F Bs, not hurting them, just relocating them quickly. And so there we are, all the hives out Ready to go, Got them down to the extractor, all All the hives out ready to go, Got them down to the extractor, all nice and clean and shiny, ready to spin the sweet honey out, and we got them all uncapped. And we thought that last year we fixed the problem with the. What was it? The nut?
Speaker 1:What nut is that?
Speaker 2:I still don't know Somebody. Danny fixed it up and it was working really well and we were so excited because for years this has been an issue and we'd get it all ready to go and it starts spinning and then it would just kind of stop as the motor's like, so like it was still working and moving and grooving, nothing was happening.
Speaker 1:We had every time go in with the Allen wrench and just kind of like wrench around with this extractor unit and try to tighten up the nuts and bolts inside of there. It just it was so frustrating. I feel like it could have been super zen and amazing and something that we're high-fiving with, like the first year when Nick Thill was there helping us with bringing a jaw on your hand, but since then it's been haywire. Yeah yeah, we've overcome so many obstacles with those honeybees. They are just tough enough to crack. We thought we were ahead of the game with the electric extractor. Some people I have to hand spin it.
Speaker 2:That's how they had to do it back in the day. I was ready to hand spin after. It's not meant to be. We are not meant to have an extractor, but no. No no.
Speaker 1:God had some other plans for us, he sure did.
Speaker 2:So long comes, uncle Dave. Well, no, no, yeah.
Speaker 1:So we call him Danny. So we call him Danny. My husband, dan the man, dan the man, and I'm like and he's already kind of helped us, he's on the job site, right, he's doing his work, he's put, building houses and things, and I'm like I knew it would come. We're like, well, what do we do? So I'm like, danny, here we are with all of our frames out and uncapped and in the extractor ready to go, and I said, oh, the extractor isn't working. And he's like, well, what do you want me to do? Just like drop everything and come there. I'm like kind of, he's like not happening, he's like figure it out pretty much.
Speaker 2:I don't know if he was exactly that blunt, but I was like oh, oh, oh, okay, I, I'm like okay, thanks, heidi, bye.
Speaker 1:I'm like Sunshine, what do we do? And you were like, should we call Uncle Dave? And I'm like, yeah, let's call Uncle Dave. We'll call Uncle Dave. So get him on the horn. Hi, uncle Dave, you should be happy to be home Around farm at all. No, I'm on the job. Why? You know he was sweet, you know he was just so total night day difference from him and daddy. And he's like well, our extractor, you know what's really just not working for us. I might have to. We're not quite sure what's going on. We think we, we need this part and he goes. Well, I'm sorry I'm not around to help you, but he's like you can do it. He's like you got this. And I was like yeah, yeah, yeah, I do. Yeah, me too. Thanks, uncle Tim, thanks, all right, bye. So there we are. Okay, we got this. We had a little bit of encouragement. I feel like that pushed us through.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we're like, we're going to do this, figure this out, yes, once and for all, we shall not be defeated.
Speaker 1:We are getting answers of what the heck is really going on in this extraction.
Speaker 2:With no tools.
Speaker 1:Clearly what we thought was wrong was not.
Speaker 2:No knowledge of motors of any such, but we are going to do it.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, oh yeah, we did it. I don't know why, because we called the DaDant toll-free hotline and we got an angel on the phone, jordan, I think his name was Jordan, jordan, we were besties by the end of it. We were tight, I feel like it's a small company and based out of Wisconsin and they ship actually hive materials and hives throughout the country, nationwide, nationwide. So they're kind of a big deal. Yeah, so to get someone and you can tell it's a small operation, though he was so patient, kind. He's like well, you have to take the motor off. He's like those four screws right there. He's like do you have a screwdriver? And we're like, maybe, and we did, we had the drill. And so we had the drill that we needed anyways, and we took off the motor and we didn't know what we were. We kind of seemed to know what we were looking at.
Speaker 1:And up walks, uncle Dave, just out of nowhere, through the hoop house, he was like another angel force that was like coming to us. We're like Uncle Dave, and he's like what is he like? You got to be one with your unit. I was like, yeah, we're trying to be one with our unit, uncle Dave. We're trying so hard. Could you take a look, see and see, see what you could see. And then Jordan, on the line, connected with uncle dave, and those two exchanged some manly communication communication that only they could understand and we're like hey, and jordan's on the line, he's hanging on.
Speaker 1:My reception is shoddy, like it was breaking out of his time.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah geez, but they managed to communicate and I still Sunshine. I'll never forget this Uncle Dave having the exact part that we needed Pulls it out of his. It was a special thing to get those nuts off to enter into the area that he needed to re-combobulate the the unit to be one with it. Well, pulled it out of nowhere, apparitioned it, super magical, and then it was like smooth sailing from there. He was able to get her on and talk us through it and we were able to all kind of work together with the dance on the phone, jordan, uncle Dave, sunshine and bubbles on the scene, and we made it happen. We were able to spin that honey and get over 80 pounds of yummy honey goodness in which we want to infuse with everything, including jujube, ginger, turmeric, garlic and cayenne, cayenne and turmeric garlic and Cayenne, cayenne and jalapenos. Right, can we just put the fresh jalapeno Peppers Hot for the hot honey with our unadulterated pear locale honey, ooh, raw, and that is one of our awesome, super awesome installments of sunshine and bubbles.
Speaker 1:We actually chopped up some turmeric and put it in the honey and offered it at the West Bend Farmer's Market. Yes, and now he falls too. Did you sell any? No, yesterday, damn Damn, did people look at it? The bees liked it. Yeah, they were swarming. Oh no, because the ginger. Oh no because the ginger. Oh jeez, is that the sticky ginger? Oh?
Speaker 1:Lord help us Lord, he is, he is so, so good Angels all around us. I was humbled by that experience. Yeah, and once again it was an awe and wonder of his work to be able to just come together. Not only did Uncle Dave help us fit our extractor, he stayed there with us and also moved our, helped us take off our extractor, move it. So it wasn't, we weren't holding on to the thing for dear life, because we do do that.
Speaker 1:He was kind of like what's going on here? We should have taken a video of how that extractor knocked us around, because it was on an uneven palate. That wasn't totally level, so yeah, we were like oh really Totally normal. Yeah, to us it was.
Speaker 2:Well, at least it's working, yeah.
Speaker 1:We're not going to push it. Oh, and he stayed with us and just kind of seen it through, and that is something my dad would have done. My dad would have you know, have that patience. I just feel like that must come with age, eh.
Speaker 2:Patience, honestly, yeah. And knowledge and wisdom, yeah. He probably could see the SOS in her eyes.
Speaker 1:And we're going to hook him up with the honey. We gave him a big old quart jar of honey. We're like you like honey, right yeah. So we're like, thank you.
Speaker 1:You are our hero, the savior. Oh, angels, they just come in so many different forms. Still, that touches my heart, yeah, and I also think of Nick, thill and Dawn and Mama Cheryl, yeah, as one of our angels, on our side, rooting for us and seeing us through this journey. Oh, what wonderful people. Yeah, and just that came out of nowhere. But yet one of the most supportive, positive, uplifting, just in tune people I associate with, truly genuine, yeah, genuine, yeah. You get a lot of that here in Wisconsin. Yeah, don't ya, don't ya. Oh, yes, what did you say?
Speaker 1:Mama Cheryl, we're going to keep her busy. We want her to make some pot paddles. Yeah, mama Cheryl makes them and she sells them throughout town. She has distribution. I think she's the distribution, but here and there she works hard. She uses their honey and farmer's cream and all the necessary ingredients to make the most amazing. They're like dilly bars, but better, but next level. Her pad most amazing, like they're like dilly bars, but better, but next level. Her paddles are so good. Like you, I remember my first time experiencing one of her paddles and I think it was like mint chocolate chip paddle. I was like. I was like where have I?
Speaker 2:been my whole life. I was like I was mad that we have not tried those earlier. Right In that moment.
Speaker 1:Wherever we've been this entire time of year. It is a farmer's market, must you must. But I also do think they have them at Reese's Meat Market, right next to Rogan's in West Bend. Is it still called Reese's? Geez, I sure hope so. If you're familiar with the area, that's where the old Reese's was. I feel like Reese's was a staple.
Speaker 1:I don't know if they kept the name or it could be something different, but it's the meat market right next to the Rogan's in the Dollar Tree. Yeah, go there and get yourself some Cheryl's Paddles. We're going to have her infuse it with pot and we think they would be so delicious and healthy. I mean, what an ultimate treat to not only like feel zen and totally okay that you're eating all that ice cream with that handle. Forget about it. Nutritious and delicious. Oh yeah, you only live once.
Speaker 1:Do it and Don out there showing up every Saturday, that man is like the first to be set up. He's already got all of his shopping done before 7.30. Serious goals and everything's streamlined. All of his offerings are all like bee-related, made and created in-house. I just have so much respect for how they've streamlined beekeeping and we always have to be like let's channel our inner Phil. Yeah, when we're out there with the hive, because we've seen him without the veil, without gloves, they're just like in there and they're like tossing around you know thousands of hives taking care of him. And we're over here with our two hives like help. We're like still texting. I'm like, honestly, we're having a group text. We're we're like still texting. I'm like, honestly, we have the group text side. We're like back turns out. Nick played soccer with danny schaefer, so thank goodness that those two have a good. I don't know what that means anything, but what a small town and I feel like that's what you get in the community.
Speaker 2:Yeah we met him at marine park, right, yeah, not even there for during the class we did touch on this, yeah, but now.
Speaker 1:So we were checking our hives, we were what were we doing back? Oh, putting the mite treatment on so mites tend to be an issue this time of year. And you put on a treatment on the bottom brood box in which we were doing. And when we walked out there we noticed that one of the hives was decimated. You could just see it was like a runway of death. Oh, mm-hmm, sad. Could just see it was like a runway of death. So sad, yes, runway of death. Just dead bees to the center of the hive.
Speaker 1:We're like what happened? We're like, oh my gosh. We're like, oh, no, is this okay? Well, bees were still coming in and out of it, so there was still some activity there. And we're like, well, it must have been something with the mite treatment, because after 10 days you have to go back and switch the mite treatments or put a new mite treatment on, switch, put a new one on, and so that's what brought us back there again. And we're like, oh my gosh, it must be something with mites. Well, he reached out to Nick and tell him what he said.
Speaker 2:They're hungry. With all the rain that we got and the cold snap, a lot of the flowers they were really delayed or died. Or now the goldenrods popping, but for a minute there they were starving. They didn't have much to eat. So we just recently harvested and took their surplus and they need some extra beet juice to get them through. Hopefully she pops through. We didn't see the queen. We didn't do a complete hive check, but it was pretty light. It's like a ghost town in there.
Speaker 1:What do you mean? We didn't do a complete hive check, we didn't. We took that thing apart, the whole thing. Well, that's true, there's a limited brood but absolutely no stored honey. So we are going on a prayer here. There was goldenrod still out, yeah. So I just really wonder. But have no fear, nick said that he was experiencing that a lot with his hives.
Speaker 2:But you would think, because we had two of them right next to each other, that both of them would?
Speaker 1:Yeah, but maybe the other one. It was just a little further along and had more reserves.
Speaker 2:I think that was our new. Is it muted?
Speaker 1:I don't think so. How already do you see that Right in the middle there, oh, oh geez, oh, he's been down there.
Speaker 2:Oh well, that was right in the middle. Oh, very good.
Speaker 1:Phew, technical issues. Sorry about that, we're back. Yeah, there we start. And so we had to quick mix up a batch of one cup sugar to one part water and make their bee juice and get that on there as soon as possible. Hopefully we can fatten them up and they can survive for the winter. But I really felt more at calm knowing that this was a regular occurrence from an experienced beekeeper.
Speaker 1:Sometimes you take this personally, being a beekeeper mama, mama's over here like what is it us? Is it something we could have done? Were we negligent? But you know we're learning and so I feel like you know we're really trying to do our part with the whole pollination and saving the colony and being the best bee mamas we can be. But we're only human and at the end of the day we are. You know, a lot of vegans won't touch anything with bees because of the whole robbing their honey and kind of just letting you know, intercepting with a system, a nature's old system. So it still comes from an animal too. I mean, bees are still one of God's creatures. Yeah, so it's all. It's all connected. It's all connected, it's all relative.
Speaker 1:I love honey as a natural sweetener. I absolutely. I think the infused honey is amazing. I'm a huge proponent of the turmeric and the ginger and the thank you as stimulators with it. I love to put them in my smoothie as a sweetener. And I must say I also have been using the mycelium and mushroom ladies in whipped honey that she put mushrooms in in my coffee. I feel like it just elevates it to a whole other level. But outside of that honey I'll sometimes use honey to glaze my carrots or vegetables or other vegetables and kind of just do I kind of finish it with that to add that little touch of sweetness. Trying to think what else I use honey for. Bee pollen is my favorite but we don't have that's for more of the advanced beekeeper. That is way more, much more pollen Waste not, want, not the fills, use it all.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I like the bee pollen fills, use it all. Mm-hmm, yeah, I like the bee pollen in my smoothie as well. Mm-hmm, I pretty much replace my sugar with honey. We use it in our gummies.
Speaker 1:Yeah which is amazing Instead of using agave. The honey is really good. It's natural, it's local, it's a local allergen. I feel like it's liquid gold. It's so good, I just love it. So I hope the hive can pull through. We only got one extraction this year and I'm just so thankful and blessed for that. Yes, because that's going to allow us to share it with our friends and community and try to share it at the farmer's market. Infusing infusing it because not a lot of people would think about that or to do that extra step to at home. So it's just so nice to be able to offer that for people, for convenience factor. Uh, with cold season upon us and right around the corner here, if things get a little colder, I feel like it just is very imperative that we infuse this honey and get it out there. So stay tuned for that. I'm I'm really excited.
Speaker 1:Also, honey in your tea. It's my favorite. I don't have tea without just a little splotch of honey and I'll use the infusion why not? And don't let that you know any. I eat the garlic, yeah, and the ginger and the turmeric. I'll eat that as like a little piece all in itself, or use that in the smoothie and kind of grind it up. Our friend eats like 13 cloves a day with her salad. She's got to be. I wonder how sexually active she is, to be honest.
Speaker 1:Well, we could ask her Garlic is a big stimulator, it's like that whole. And in Ayurvedic medicine they'll say, if you want to, a lot of people that give themselves to God completely will cut out any of those distractions, and part of your diet plays big hand in that. So a lot of people won't eat onions or garlic for that reason, because they don't want to be so sexually charged. And sometimes maybe I wonder if that's why I am the way I am. I'm always like, eee, isn't the onions in the garlic? Oh, it could be. You know if nature works in mysterious ways and she always gives you what you need. So I'm not, you know, I'm not.
Speaker 1:I feel like I'm not mad about it keeping that marriage spicy Spicy, hey, because I've been with the same man for almost 20 years. What was it? 19?, no, 18. You have a 19. I am I'm sick of that Married for 13. What a blessing, I know my goodness. But no buts, I'm going to keep eating mango. I'm going to go Yay, how did we even get on that? I'm sorry. What a blessing festival.
Speaker 1:And she says what she was telling me and I feel like things started just clicking. She was a neurosurgeon, she was a brain doctor and the fact that she was doing henna on my hand such a smart individual. And she explained the science behind it and the different compounds in the garlic and onion. That kind of spoke to that whole solar no, not solar sacral energy right there. That's a lot of sacral energy and you know. And then connecting it to the chakras and the meridians and just kind of interesting. But doing henna is service. It's something they're very much involved in, service in their Indian culture and I'm talking like Indian culture that they it's part of their like pilgrimage or homage to their, to their God, to be in service, and so that's just one of the ways that they it's part of their like pilgrimage or homage to their, to their god, to be in service, and so that's just one of the ways that they connect. And they also host a retreat in India. That is on my list to do.
Speaker 1:Would you ever go? Yeah, india that we shall go. Sunshine, we have to wait till the babies are out of school. I tried to justify like we can bring the kids, but I'm like just for the length of time. I think if the kids went, that would be wonderful. I would definitely want them to experience that, but them leaving school for three weeks is frowned upon. Yeah, making that homeschool just all the more attractive option. Yeah, goodness, yeah, it's crazy. How many people are homeschooling now? Mm-hmm, those mamas out there, those brave souls, I just love it. I do too. Yes, so that would be something like all right, kids ultimate field trip, let's go. Yes, but I feel like God has other plans and I'm just going to write the course one day at a time. You never know, we might find ourselves at 8 pm and be like well, I don't know, I can't say this. That's how mystical and magical and wonderful he is. Hallelujah, just for today. Speaking of bees too, my goodness.
Speaker 1:So there we were, there we were. We were doing the things. Monday mantra, monday motivation, monday inspiration. We just want to start our week off awesome. So let's drag these sound bowls out to the back 40 with our honeybee czar and just go get zen with our bad selves and, of course, share it with you. But geez, everything went really good. We had an epic sound session. We incorporated Abram Hicks. We had trying to figure out all the technical things, go out and then get the setup and, mind you, all the mosquitoes and insects, but they didn't seem to really bother us until the end yes.
Speaker 2:I got sucker punched in the eyeball by a honeybee. It kind of got stuck. I don't know if it was on my I had my sports bra on. I don't know if it was there like in my hair, but I could hear it like struggling. I was like ah, and I kind of like did one of those and flicked it and then it like right by my eyeballs, like ah, got me. So we had to cut it out real quick and I chugged some Benadryl.
Speaker 2:Unfortunately, I didn't like sometimes when I get stung, I can like this warm sensation goes through my ears and my eyes and my nose and I get stung, I can like this warm sensation goes through my ears and my eyes and my nose and I get like really itchy and then it's kind of like nervous time. But it didn't happen that time, surprisingly. Yeah, where it was maybe just didn't get like a vein or I don't know some major artery, yeah, but so it looks a little better. I don't know if you could tell, but like I couldn't, couldn't like my under lashes were like innies, like you couldn't even see them for a minute, but it's getting better.
Speaker 1:I'm so happy it is getting better. You're like put the balm on it. You put like honey on it actually.
Speaker 2:Initially I put plantain. That was my first reaction because we were in the field and then I was driving back and then there was a little bit of dirt so I made some mud spirit that on there and then when I got back wash that so I put some honey on there. So like mud and honey in my eye.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you were like down the wow or something, I was like, wow, yeah, what else can I do?
Speaker 2:but that all helped tremendously, even though with the menthol it made my eye just like water, but it actually felt good. It's like release.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I feel like just the other day getting stung by the ground bees. You know the honeybee, oh goodness.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I know, and it was such a good day. We were just about to wrap it up and all. Yeah, it's okay.
Speaker 1:Way to pivot, though, though, and flow with it. You kept your cool. Yeah, we're just like just breathe, like just it's going to be okay. At first, I thought you said it was your eye. I was envisioning like on your eyelid, like on your eye. I was so happy that it was just even that little bit below, because, geez, that make all the difference. It just took me back to the time where the one stung you right here. Oh yeah, and like ow the hole.
Speaker 2:That one sent me to the emergency room, but I think just where it was, yeah, so I'm not convinced. I'm allergic.
Speaker 1:I'm just extra cautious. And you still get and she still went and friends, she was still out there today doing that hive check, disassembling in the brood, and you're not letting that stop you.
Speaker 1:Oh gosh, if that was the case, it would have stopped years ago. Yeah, I mean, we have some stories about how nature just kicked our buns and said woo, doggies. It means we're alive. That's right, that's right. I just give you so much credit because it wouldn't be so easy to like throw in the towel. I wouldn't let you, though. I'd be like oh no, no.
Speaker 2:And I wouldn't let you either.
Speaker 1:We did not come this far, because Lord knows, you got stuck.
Speaker 2:Remember that one time your hand.
Speaker 1:That was an out of body experience. It literally felt like my hand was not part of me. It felt like Popeye's hand. I was like I felt like Popebye too, and I'm like we love honey and our bees Putting in the good work. Hey, it treasures in the trials. That is a definition of treasures in the trials.
Speaker 1:Yes, because the honey is the treasure. Taking care of bees is the trial, my goodness, and we've been doing it now for six years. I believe so. I think so, and it's still so much to learn. Bust out the beekeeper's Bible. I feel like holy cats. It's a really good wealth of knowledge. But, honestly, without our mentors, the Phils, nick Phils specifically I don't think we would be here.
Speaker 1:Just his encouragement and his good nature, so calm, so patient, so much respect. There's just so much to learn from him and it's just great to have mentors out there. Yes, that are again angels. I think that's how we got started on angels among us Butterflies, angels and butterflies, angels and butterflies. We released five of them today they were so so, so beautiful ah, I love it.
Speaker 1:We'll have to share the videos and pictures at some point of of the monarchs, but how special to have a monarch butterfly on your finger. I think we should have saved one and tried to bring it here, but then it wouldn't be free.
Speaker 2:So love her but leave her free. I like eye-to-eye contact with these little butterflies Like well. Welcome to the world again, you sweet thing.
Speaker 1:It's been so much fun to have the kids you know catch the caterpillars, witness the cocoon construction, complete with the golden dots that are adorned on each wonderful green chrysalis, and then to watch that transformation and then for you to play that song. Who sings that song? Paul, Isaac Paul.
Speaker 2:Isaac.
Speaker 1:My favorite. It's like fly like a butterfly. Fly like a butterfly oh, it just really kind of brings it all full circle. But I'm so happy we're able to do that. I just feel guilty because the kids are in school, so I feel like they're the ones that should be releasing it. But you can't let them in there. So I'm just hoping on one of these weekends maybe we'll get here and they can. We still have how many 15? Yeah, More chrysalises left to hatch.
Speaker 1:So in all my years I've never witnessed something so spectacular. And to be able to be a part of that hand in nature, and so for the kids to have that experience so young, I just think that's wonderful work In awe and wonder. Yet again, field of dreams. Over here I brought the butterfly by the field of hemp. I was like, hey, let's take it substantially. This is great. Here's some great content. What are the chances? My little bodacious babe here hanging out with my other bodacious buds, and together we're just creating some bodacious awesomeness and I absolutely love it. I'm thrilled, thrilled to be a part of it. Amen, me too, and we do want to take the opportunity to. I mean, we're just so happy to be recording on Patriots Day. You reminded me. It's like always when you see that date, you know what you think of. I guess I just didn't see the date and that'd be 9-11.
Speaker 2:Never forget.
Speaker 1:Never forget. A salute to all of our fallen comrades out there that were so brave in the Twin Towers that day in New York on 9-11. I can remember exactly where I was in that time and I'm sure most Americans of age do remember that day. And for your security and your freedom to be attacked. You feel it, but I think we came out of that one stronger, together in a more unified America, and kept the faith and hope that there would be another day. So blessings to all the families that were impacted by that terrorist attack, where the devil was trying to do his work but yet the good won by the saving efforts of the firefighters, especially that risked it all. It's ordinary people doing extraordinary things, and that was one of had to have been the lessons in the blessings as we're here today able to bear witness.
Speaker 2:Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Speaker 1:I'm glad we took that moment, yeah, so we could never forget the history and where we came from and what makes us true proud Americans and patriots here today. It comes at a cost and a price and it takes some extraordinary people. That makes us the home of the brave and the land of the free. God bless America. Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen. Because of a man and a group of men and all men Jays it's crazy.
Speaker 1:It makes me think of like Never Forget. 2. I feel like I'm glad that day is here, because 9-11, sometimes it's just of like never forget where you came from and your ancestry and all those who fought for our freedom and the ones that traveled far and wide to give us this opportunity to come together and not just talk about it. Be about it. Yes, that was one. Oh my gosh. So Nixon, today Sorry, I don't. Today I was like, oh my gosh, these schedules are crazy, right, and I feel like you start looking at it and we remind ourselves all the time we get to do these things. I feel like such a blessing to be able to prioritize motherhood with the nature and the earth and spreading the message and the passion, to pursue the passions and just all of it, fans and fate.
Speaker 1:Yes, there's a lot going on. I know everybody does. I know it's not just me, because we are all only human. But, as I said to Nixon, I'm like you know, maybe God's doing this, like in this, like in the vortex, in the flow of like, of doing, and trying to find the being in the doing, but, you know, rushing here and there because we are doing these extraordinary things and he doesn't even want to give us time to think about it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because then we thought about it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we get distracted, we would get our egos take over, we might talk ourselves right out of it. So I'm like maybe that's why he has us moving at warp speed here, because he doesn't even want us to think about it, like, don't look back, just keep going, just keep on keeping on.
Speaker 2:I love that. Take on that. Thank you yeah.
Speaker 1:That's what.
Speaker 2:I said you didn't even get time to think about all the things that could be going wrong because you're too busy living your best life. Yeah.
Speaker 1:So I'm saying this to my 10-year-old I'm like Nixon. Maybe that's the reason why he's like can I have an Apple Watch?
Speaker 2:I was like is this thing on?
Speaker 1:Yeah, is this thing on? Yeah, I was like no, I felt that, no, you're gonna be distracted and your sweet little brain is it totally developed and you can't have the apple watch. And I feel like, because he felt like my existential moment, we connected. I looked at, locked into his big, beautiful, handsome brown eyes and I was, I'm just trying to protect you, you know, just being here now, just being present, like you know, a fifth grader, in my opinion, not here today, because he's already distracted enough. If it was Nevi, you know, I feel like she's a little more responsible, but still, even then, I feel like we're doing a detox. This week I took all the screens away no TV, no Fortnite, no YouTube, nothing. And I can tell a difference. We seem so much more productive. Honestly, we're just getting things done and together I feel like we've played Legos together. We've played Uno together. I feel like they know that it's not a constant distraction, they know they're not getting it back. It's been liberating. Honestly, I just love it.
Speaker 2:That's something like ah, I suggest every parent try at least for a little bit, yeah, and you can really see the difference in your children.
Speaker 1:It's like they have to screen detox. It takes them a little hour or so to get out of the fog.
Speaker 2:The ether waves Like dopamine surge. I don't know what it is. Constant stimulation yeah, dopamine hits, that's what it is.
Speaker 1:It's notification for us too. I feel like being really true and honest with them, like we have to help each other. I feel like my kids have held me accountable for when I'm on my phone, when I'm driving. They're like mom, no, but I'm like you're right. You're right, put it down, it can wait.
Speaker 1:Or when, even at home and it's supposed to be the quality family time if you're on it, they're, they'll call you out or they'll steal it and run off and then you're like, wow, so I feel like just not even having that distraction and holding each other accountable and knowing, yeah, they're only human. I'm still teetering on the surrendering of just like letting them like figure that out. What a good balance of time is. But I'm still in that protective layer of motherhood where I'm like wait a minute.
Speaker 1:We got a lead, my brain is developed and I have work to do on there. You know what I mean. Like, unfortunately, there is things that I have to do on there for necessary communication in order to make this universe go around here, but you know, no excuses. I feel like we could all be a little bit more self-conscious and aware. Be Be the change. Oh, I feel like we have so much to talk about. I feel like we can't get off of this without talking about. Well, first, just taking a moment to appear at this wonderful, beautiful, bountiful harness from our garden just a couple of minutes ago. That's amazing. I'm going to make some amazing salsa with that. Maybe some bruschetta, yes, or a caprese salad with some mozzarella and fresh basil from the garden. Oh, that's my favorite.
Speaker 1:And balsamic from Marva's. Yes, going to be eating good tonight, but we cannot not talk about our plant ally. We'll have to make some time, a couple minutes, for this Check her out. Does anyone know what it is? Any guesses out there, it is looks like a cone, indeed. Do we leave it or not? They come in all different colors. They're actually quite gorgeous, the different varieties there.
Speaker 1:I know this is such a common flower to see all around in meadows and roadsides. Even I feel like people really take this for granted or even have them as an ornamental flower in their garden, but this can be used as plant medicine. It's a wonderful perennial and it's echinacea angustifolia, part of the astrakase family, which is like the daisy family dandelion echinacea lion.
Speaker 2:Echinacea angustifolia.
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2:Aha. The name is inspired by the Greek word for hedgehog.
Speaker 1:Oh wow, that totally makes sense.
Speaker 2:Yeah, little brickies. They're not so sharp now, but when they dry and get black like the Caesar, they get like they'll poke ya.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's no joke-y, but you can use all of this right, n-a-t.
Speaker 2:Yep, the leaves, the flower and the stem and the roots, it's even this whole like cone, right?
Speaker 1:Yeah, you use this whole cone part, all of the leaves. You can use the pretty much all aerial parts, but I think where most of the plant medicine, where it's really concentrated, is the roots Correct, it's the roots of this. So not only is she giving you a beautiful, pretty plant medicine up top, there's a party in the bottom too, and that's where all the good stuff is worth a dig. It's worth a dig out, and you know you've got to thin out your perennials anyways, right, and if you're not giving them to your neighbor, then you might as well rinse them off, dry them out and use them in a tea and decoct those babies and make a super amazing plant medicine, because this is huge for your immune system I think that's its biggest use is immunomodulator, it will regulate your immune system and really kind of it's not like a reactive, it's a proactive. So it's something that you're going to want to use it for so you don't get a cold or you're sick, because it kind of tonifies your system, it's a tonic.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:And tonic herbs nurture and support the body building. Strength and vitality. Ah, hey, yes, prr, prr, strength and vitality. Strength and vitality, just here in this super sweet plant. I feel like it's also.
Speaker 2:I just anti-inflammatory pain, relieving, wound healing, detoxifying. I know you already said that you can make a tea, you can make tincture, you make an infusion, you can also use it topically, so make a salve, an ointment yeah, they.
Speaker 1:It attracts positive energy too. A lot of people use this in rituals and ceremonies and prosperity and positive energy, and I feel like it's just a cheerful flower, so why wouldn't they call that in? It is, but I just love that. It stimulates the immunocyst. It's used for a ton I mean, the upper respiratory tract infections is like something that keeps is a time and time again theme and there's scientific evidence to prove that along with in it, and it's safe for children too, which I love as well, and so it kind of makes like a sweeter tea. So it's just good as a single herb. All on its own tastes good. Stimulate the immune system, helps with inflammation, upper respiratory tract infections, as I said. But acne, adhd, bee stings, boils, burn wounds, gingivitis eczema, herpes, allergies, toothaches, viral and fungal infections.
Speaker 2:That's kind of important that they're both fungal infections. That's kind of important that they're both. Colds, anxiety, diabetes, stomach aches, all of it.
Speaker 1:Don't leave home without it, or definitely make use of it when you see it in your garden, try it, play, maybe harvest. You know what you put in your garden, if you're using anything unnatural. If you're not, you got yourself a wonderful plant ally that you can not only use, got yourself a wonderful plant ally that you can not only use medicinally but also spiritually, and it's really powerful, powerful stuff. So I would say right now I feel like, with August being in its name, I think August is the prime time to harvest this, because that's where you really see it popping. But the roots is really in the fall too after you cut everything down and you down and that's where you do your thinning of your garden anyways. So I feel like that would be a good time to grab those roots.
Speaker 1:But I feel like August is where it's at, with this Good connection. I like that. It's all that spirit that's alive in it. I just love the spiritual properties of it and it being protective and empowering and I feel like I see that with the protective nature of that coneflower and just kind of drawing in that energy and also empowering. You know what I think, speaking of screen time and just talking about the duality of like protection and surrender. You know the protection and empowerment. I think I'm going to go ahead and make good use of this tonight.
Speaker 1:Yes, Share it with your babies and share it with my babes and add honey, so it'll sweeten it up and Laura knows they'll devour every sip of it.
Speaker 2:Yes, Doesn't it amplify too other herbs? Yes, can you read that. Yes absolutely and harmony the energy, the harmony.
Speaker 1:What other Is that? All of it? Yeah, and there are two Cone flour. Most people know what is cone flour, but echinacea agas folia, part of the aster family, make really good use of it. I love talking about it, ooh it's actually, it smells really good.
Speaker 2:Mm-hmm.
Speaker 1:Whoa, it's got a really nice floral scent. That's kind of like what I feel like. Ones that have that floral scent make like a sweet tea, mm-hmm, you know it's like kind of a general. It smells good. It probably tastes good too. Just saying I can see a little bitty powder. It's the bitter ones that you gotta sweeten up a little bit extra.
Speaker 2:Pollinators love it too, that's true. Sorry, by using what A?
Speaker 1:sweetener. Yeah, using this. Yeah, in your blend. Yeah, right, yes, hey, I feel like there's still so much that we want to talk about, but we're gonna have to cap it for our next session. Tune in Episode camping. For our next session tune in episode. That'll be numero 19, diaz y nueve, but we're being here on the 18th. Thank you so much for joining us listening tuning in. I especially love all the words of encouragement that we get out in the community. It's pretty super awesome and special, even, you know, dropping a little line of like hey, it really made me smile. I just love to hear it because we're really it's tough being out here, vulnerable and trying to keep up.
Speaker 1:I'm going to be vulnerable, but it's getting easier each and every time. So we're going to keep putting in the good work and, even if bee stings and all, we're going to still keep showing up. Yes, and we urge you to do the same, because God loves you so, so much and you are forgiven and perfect in his own right, and he will wash your stains clean. That's what one of the songs was yesterday in worship practice. It's all about washing your stains clean.
Speaker 1:And I feel like then, with the last pastor and that stain and how we talked about the three girls, and well, daddy, will you ever love me again? And, of course, and that is our Father, our great Savior, who will always love us, no matter how many times we mess it up, and Lord knows that is daily. I have some days where I'm like I am like from, like looking back, like I don't feel, like I always realize it in the moment, but I'm like I could have said that different, I could have chose differently, I could have been a little bit more gracious, I could have gave that person some mercy I could have would have, should have didn't, but I know the fact that you even realize that you could have done it differently is a step in the right direction.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, that's what I'm thinking. I'm not perfect.
Speaker 1:I do it all the time too.
Speaker 2:Sometimes I just put myself to bed Like, okay, time out, go to bed, sleep it off. Tomorrow's a new day.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. After a prayer, you know, I feel like too, and when I do start kind of giving myself grief like that, I just give it to God. I just feel like a song comes on or something is there to remind you. Not always those big signs, but I feel like retraining myself to just be like Ashley. What are you doing? Just stay in the sweet spot, stay in that vortex.
Speaker 2:The present moment is all we have.
Speaker 1:Yes, thanks for being here together. I love you sweet sunshine. I love you bubbles. This is so much fun.
Speaker 2:I know I can't wait till next time we're going to get more time to do it.
Speaker 1:I feel like we've been rushing this, but with grace and mercy, we shall live to do another podcast. Define timing for sure. Amen, bye, yo, aho, ciao, ciao. Brown chicken, brown cow. Okay, I love it. Okay, well, honestly, truly, we're gonna have to talk about this stuff after I don't know how to stop it saying that it's gotta connect aha for a CVT. So we're still recording. But saying that it's got to connect Aha For a CVTO, should we we're? So we're still recording. I'll be sideshow. You figure it out, I will.