If You Cannot Pronounce It, It is NOT Food

Sep 28, 2016

Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate

Calcium Peroxide

Ethoxylated Mono-and Diglycerides

Calcium Sulfate

Monocalcium Phosphate

These five ingredients are listed on the ingredient deck of a regular loaf of bread. This brand is found in every grocery and convenience store around. For each of these ingredients, the dictionary app said,”There are no definitions available for…” This means, as a customer, we do not have definitions for the ‘food’ we cannot even pronounce. Is this for real? Try it yourself—read the list of ingredients on a plain loaf of bread. Check it out on two or three different brands. Test other usual products in the grocery store; cookies, cake mixes, cereal, pretzels, granola bars and on and on…

Here is a question: If ingredients cannot be pronounced nor defined, how in the world is the human body to process them? If you cannot pronounce it, it is not food!

So, now what? How do we, as consumers, buy real food? First, be a label reader. Determine not to eat ‘foods’ that cannot be understood or pronounced. Remember, it is easier to stay healthy than to get healthy. Cheap food is just that— CHEAP!

The closer food stays to it’s original, natural form, the better it is for your health and long-term wellbeing. So, an apple is far better than apple juice. Each step away from the natural form takes away nutritional value. So, natural apple cider from fresh pressed apples is far better nutritionally (not to mention tastes better) than apple juice (which has gone through far more steps to make than cider).

The goal? A happier digestive system, a hunger that stays satisfied longer, healthier skin, strong nails, and beautiful hair. Who does not want any of these wonderful benefits? Eating is not a past-time!

Read your labels, know what you are eating, feed yourself REAl food!

Ingredients in this tomato soup? Tomatoes, onion, banana peppers, basil, salt, pepper, paprika. If you cannot pronounce it, it is NOT food!

6th Annual Abba Trail Ride–Paw Paw Tunnel, West Virginia

Sep 24, 2016

We rode this fall for the first time. All previous rides have been in June or July. This year was a bit different because of not having a horse. That has been resolved, so next year we will ride in the early summer again.

It was fun thinking about the mules pulling the boats through the tunnel.

Our ride took us to Paw Paw Tunnel in West Virginia a couple weeks ago. The weather was nice, the trail gentle, the scenery interesting. It was fun imagining the way things must have been back in those days of boats, canals, mules, and tunnels. We did not attempt to ride our horses through the tunnel, that would take a bit of ‘sacking out’ as we call it in the horse world. This means we would have to work with them a while to accustom them in that dark tunnel on a small towpath without getting too nervous. Probably one good reason mules were used predominately over horses on the canals! Actually though, the tunnel is closed to horses and riders, there is a trail that goes around it. However, there are stone steps that go up the side of the tunnel entrance, a walk over the top, and stairs descending down the other side. We did go up them!

There were stone steps up the side, a walk over the top, and stairs descending down other side. We went up!

For those that may not know, Abba of Winchester is our local pregnancy support center for young mothers that were not planning a pregnancy. Abba offers medical, spiritual, family, leadership and community support to those in need during their pregnancy and afterwards. They offer classes for moms, and dads to help with their new baby and role as parents. It is a loving, supportive group of local folks that love babies and families, and work very hard for them.

The weather was nice, the trail gentle and scenery interesting.

It has been our priviledge to ride for Abba these past six years. All donations from our rides benefit Abba as well as our Silent Auction items. We are delighted to say we have raised over $3,300 for Abba including this year. Our sponsors are generous and faithful to our cause. We thank them for their generous support:

Acker Real Estate Service

The Gordon Family

The Davis Family

The Bricker Families

Mackintosh Fruit Farm

We thank all our riders and sponsors who have been faithful and generous to our cause.

We invite other riders interested in supporting babies, families and our effort towards that end. What a great way to help others by spending time in the saddle! Contact us at: mitzybricker@gmail.com for more information.

for more information contact: abbacare.org

May your saddle be squeakless, your horseshoes clankless, and your saddle-sores small!

Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Sep 16, 2016

This adage stands true still today. Even with all the inventory in every nook and cranny of every store in town. Or perhaps, it is true because I like a challenge. I like to see what I can make from very few supplies. Be it in the my refrigerator, or the stable. When there is seemingly nothing around needed for the current idea on my little brain, it puts a diabolical smile on my face! I know the items can be purchased in town, but where is the adventure in that? Besides, in regards to the farm, the tool would probably be too heavy for this PFO to heave in the truck bed much less get off by myself.

The tool I have been wanting is a field drag. It had to be small enough to be pulled behind the club car, which leaves a softer footprint in the fields, fun to drive and is easy on gas. To be sure, anything done with the club car is fun. So I figured I would slay this dragon one step at a time. First things first, I attached the hitch. That was sure easy!

First things first, I had to attach the hitch. That was easy!

I had a basic drag in mind and began searching the barn for needed items. A metal fence post was hiding in the back corner. Perfect, made a great bar for attaching the drag pieces. An old lead line from the horse trailer became the tie for the bar. So far, so good.

A metal fence post became the bar used to attach drag pieces. An old lead line hooked bar to club car.

Now for the drag pieces. I knew I needed something heavy enough to disturb and move the manure in the field. There was no old fence lying around or up in the rafters. However, hanging neatly on nails were several good old chains. Alright! This job was coming right along. I ‘tied’ the chains at various lengths onto the bar of the drag. The fields were patiently waiting. Only other needed items was a good pair of gloves, and a bottle of cool water. Check!

Chains are attached. Drag was ready to go to work!

A pair of gloves and water were only other necessary items.

It was fun dragging the field even though it did not quite take care of all the piles of poo. I can look out at the field and see a difference and that is sure satisfying. The microbes and worms were very delighted to have their yummy meal spread over the soil.

The earth worms will be happy to have their yummy food spread over the soil.

One small swipe in paddock and this job is nearly done.

Eventually I would like to attach a 4 over 4 piece of wire fence or one cattle panel (depending on which one is lighter) in lieu of the chains. But for this day and this job, this PFO is happy with her day’s work and tool!

Equipment cleaned up, ready to put away, job done. Next?

You are Not what you Drive, but You are what you Eat

Sep 13, 2016

My husband and I raised and home schooled four rowdy boys and our 5th child was a girl. Dare we say there is nary a thing that scares her? Seriously. Is there anything more frightful than four older brothers? She can hold her own to be sure. All their lives they heard the title of this blog; You are Not what you Drive, but you are what you eat. Our sons are car dudes. We introduced them to two pastimes, cars and fishing, for very specific reasons. Fishing is an important skill every boy should have (though one never tells them that). They loved attaching the squirming worms to the hooks and flinging them through the air to a delightful kerplunk into the water, only to be eaten alive! Ahhh! Boys are so easy to entertain!

We introduced them to fishing.

Cars were the next purposeful passion introduced to them near driving age because cars cannot get pregnant! Many Friday nights were spent working on cars. These passions have served them very well. They are now what we call “black-belt” fisherman. Their families will never go hungry. In addition, they have saved thousands of dollars on vehicles, as they are all accomplished mechanics. Their sister has benefited as well. Guys love that she can fish and knows cars!

Our lifestyle was simple and still is.

Anyway, back to the point. Our lifestyle was simple, and still is. We started our family over 34 years ago on one income, and still live on one income. We ate all summer from our garden or grandparent’s garden. We enjoyed food we had canned and preserved through the long winter months. Many evenings at the supper table our kids heard the origin of the meal spread before us. Bread and jam were homemade in our kitchen, green beans and beets from Grandad’s garden. The beef, pork or lamb had been purchased from our friends who raised them on their farms. It was good eating. “Your Mom is not happy unless she is feeding something”, our kids have heard forever. Be it kid, cat, dog, chickens, horse, cow, or birds, it is a true statement.

We ate our of our garden or Granddad’s.

Cars brought a different view to the landscape of life as the kids grew older. Somehow they got the misguided notion that they were what they drove! Hmmm, how did that get into their 16-year-old minds? Yes, sports cars are fast and Dodge Rams are tough, and excellent advertising touts they make us who we are. Wrong. They are a necessary useful tool and a huge money pit. Try telling that to four boys!

Actually bikes pre-dated cars. ‘Hmmm, how do I fix this issue’, says Gordon.

Because space and money were limited, old beaters were the wheels of choice. There were times our yard and driveway looked like a junkyard. Those days have all too quickly faded into memory now.

We still eat out of our garden, we now raise our own beef (see our previous blogs), and now we are enjoying our grandkids. Life has traveled full circle and it is good. Food is one of the wonders and joys of life. Knowing how to manage, prepare, preserve, and serve food to one’s family is a privilege. Not to mention a sense of security. We are okay if the lights go out.

They are now “black-belt” fisherman. Providing food for their family will be no problem for them.

Meet the Farmer and the Farm

Aug 14, 2016

In a recent post, entitled “Why We Raise Beef”, we introduced you to our cattle. We would now like to introduce you to the farmer and the farm.

Day is nearly done as evening comes to the farm.

We moved to this 14-acre farm in Frederick County, Virginia last summer, July 4, 2015 to be exact. We are one of those odd folk that ‘upgrade’ when the kids are grown. It was both desire and necessity, for we had inherited four miniature horses, and another dog after my mom recently passed away. It was animals that caused us to outgrow our old home, and a desire to farm.

Land is meant for production of some sort. For the first time in our married life, and that has been a long time, we had more land than animals. I am here on the farm full time with the exception of a small part-time seasonal job. We needed more producing to be taking place, and we wanted farm status on our property, so we began to brainstorm. I grew up on a 1,300 acre tourist attraction/ farm at Endless Caverns near New Market, Virginia. I always described it as an Old MacDonald farm. We had a cow/calf operation, sheep, pigs, horses, dogs, and cats, plus the caverns, campground and a recreational 5 acre lake. I have always liked cattle. Though here at this farm I was not too interested in a cow/calf operation since I do the bulk of the work. That is why we decided to raise Miniature Hereford steers for beef. There is less work involved as well as less buildings required. Our cows have a stall they share in the horse barn.

An important part of my farm equipment, the golf cart, which I call my Man-uel labor! Hauling around the next generation of farmers? Perhaps.

There is something very satisfying about having productive land of any sort. Here we have the cattle, a vegetable garden, and flower gardens as well. It is the cattle that raise more questions from people we talk to. Questions about how are we going to slaughter those pretty animals, are we not just going to keep them, “I could never to do!” is one remark we often hear. The truth is we are not going to slaughter them, someone else will do that job. Why don’t we just keep them is akin to asking us why don’t we just keep our kids forever and do nothing but feed them! No, thank you. The truth is something has to die for us to live. Be it plant or animal, our very survival depends on eating living organisms. The only other option is carrion. No, thank you again. It seems a common misconception that beef comes from the grocery store.

The cattle are watched everyday out in their lush, green pasture.

Here at our farm, we hand-raise our cattle, we watch them everyday out in the beautiful, green pasture they are on or the pond they love standing in. They are sprayed daily for flies, given fresh bedding to lie on, cool, fresh water always and looked over on a daily basis. We think this is the best possible way for our food to live. We treat our plants the same way as well.

Bringing them in for the evening.

These steers will be sold within the next couple months. We sell them on the hoof, $2,000 each. We will haul them for the customer, the rest is in the purchaser’s hands. Call 434-962-7233, email: mitzybricker@gmail.com, or respond through this blog if you are interested in having some beautifully raised, premium Hereford beef in your freezer this year.

Visitors are welcome! Give us a call beforehand so we can wash the mud off our boots!

Nothing Seemed Out of Sorts…except…

Aug 11, 2016

“These dogs are not on leashes!” These were the excited words of a young girl when she saw our dogs running free over the farm. They can come and go as they like over the farm. I wonder if they are aware of the close eye we keep on them. They must because they respond when I say,”Leave it!” They know their boundaries, though they push them often.

It is time for a walk, yes?

Every morning brings us a little jaunt over the roads and fields. It is a time the two dogs and I enjoy greatly. It is a brand new day, fresh air, fresh thoughts. Nothing seemed out of sorts when we struck off on our walk early one morning this week…except for Dandy. He was following very closely to me. Much too close, as the dogs usually are off on a rabbit trail or some such. He not only hovered by me, he kept whining, pausing, and looking back towards home.

He kept whining, pausing and staring at me…

I ignored his behavior, told him to come on, there is nothing out here. This dog became so insistent, I acquiesced. He jumped with joy, and made a direct line towards home. I may never know on this side of Heaven what had this dog so upset. I do know we have had wonderful walks all the rest of this week! Hmmm….

“Your dogs are not on leashes!”, she exclaimed excitedly.

Aug 5, 2016

Why We Raise Beef

The Legacy our Mother Left—#10

Apr 28, 2016

It has been over 10 months since the last blog on BRH’s. In that time we have moved to a new location in Frederick County, and I am very close to be able to ride again after a rather serious accident nearly eight months ago.

I realize I have lost the momentum of the entries on our mother and the legacy she left. However, I would like to close the chapters on her with a couple photos of one of the last times she and I had with the horses. Thank you for indulging me.

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The Legacy our Mother Left—#9

Jun 14, 2015

Whatever our Mother embarked on she went full steam ahead. She intently pressed onward towards her next idea, vision or goal. That vision after the river trips were miniature horses. Griz loved the idea, and always had carrots in his pockets for ‘the little dudes’, as he always called them.

Griz made the shed into a cute mini barn.

Her twin sister, our Auntie Bliss, had a few years earlier, discovered the joys of

This is Crimson and her foal, BR (Boomerang). This author is now the proud owner of BR, who is now a great little senior citizen of 26 years old.

miniature horses. Mom and Griz visited her place several times in New Hampshire. There, they too, caught the joy of mini’s. Not missing a beat, she and Griz began preparing their home at 13021 in Maryland for two mini broodmares and the beginnings of their next adventure together. Our Mother always called herself a ‘tag-along’ behind Auntie Bliss and so appropriately named their farm, Tag-Along Farm Miniature Horses.

These little foals were so adorable.

Their Maryland home was deftly transformed by Griz’s skilled hands into a happy miniature horse farm. The back yard became the pasture for the mini’s, and the training arena for the foals that would soon arrive. A shed was purchased and configured into a cute miniature horse barn. They were off! Unlike Auntie Bliss, who owned mini’s for pleasure, Mom and Griz turned their farm into a business.

Professional miniature horse magazines began appearing on the coffee table. Mini horse supplies were everywhere! A throng of new friends entered their lives. All enthusiastic mini horse owners, trainers, and showmen. Everything was so little after a life-time of big horses. At first we poked a lot of fun at them, with their little horses and the little shows she and Griz and all their new friends went to. They even hauled their mini’s inside a van, where Griz fashioned two ‘stalls’ for hauling them to shows!

This is Georgia, our Mothers’ prize show mare.

But he who laughs last laughs best, as once again our Mother showed us the power of fearless determination, vision, grace to learn from others and generosity go a long, long way. She had forged yet another path we children could follow.

Georgia could jump higher than she was tall. She won many ribbons for Tag-Along Farm.

: Spooky was her prize gelding. He won many Championship ribbons.

: BR was a foal from her mare. He is a perfect mini size and conformation. Making him not only one of her two breeding stallions, but also her gold mining partner in her costume classes!

: Spooky was also a terrific mini to drive.

: A mini is a little horse with a big horse mind! What size difference?

: Happily driving/showing Spooky.

: Georgia knows she’ll be getting a treat from Griz after she gives the kids a ride!

Apr 20, 2015

Our mother never turned down a good adventure. We knew she would be all for a rivertrip, so did Griz. Griz was a highly skilled outdoorsman who grew up in Michigan, served the Navy during WWII in the North Pacific, and logged countless hours floating his canoes, Castor and Pollux, on many, many rivers. He was ready to log more on the Mackenzie River with our mother. She was all for it.

They piloted Pollux. Our mother, Ken, as Griz called her, sat at the bow. Griz manned the stern. He always said Ken was the best ‘bow man’ he ever had, followed by his big hearty laugh. An old CIA buddy controlled the stern of Castor while a ‘young buck’ (as they called the young man) sat at the bow.

This 1,000 mile river trip was just beginning practice for them. For after they returned from it, Griz was already planning their big float. They were going to the Northwest Territories of Alaska to paddle the Yukon River. An 1,800 mile canoe trip on the wildest river in North America. Our mother did not blink an eye.

We have decided to let our mother tell us their story in her photographs. All these photographs and notes belong to her. They serve to remind us of the strength, fortitude and the adventurous spirit of our mother.

Ken admiring a king salmon.

Carl wrote of their adventures on the Yukon River. It is a wonderful story, well written, full of photos and beautiful drawings done by his daughter, Mary T. Laur.