I am so excited to be encouraged to share all that I have learned about healthy choices and the impact it can have on the quality of life physically, emotionally and spiritually. (thanks Mary and Missy! I dedicate this blog to you!) That is exactly the journey I have been on over the past 10 years and I am amazed at the change that has taken place.
A little over 10 years ago I woke up to a reflection in the mirror of a life that had somehow gotten sideways. Well…I had a pretty good idea about how it got there. Bad lifestyle decisions and over use of antibiotics over the course of 25 years. I was on antibiotics sometimes up to 6 months out of the year only to find out there had never been infections. I was left with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Candida (overgrowth of yeast that attacks organs), chronic sinus headaches daily, severely deficient in vitamins and minerals, and leaky gut syndrome which is a compromised digestive system that allowed undigested proteins to leak through intestinal wall and poison my blood stream. It was clearly a mess.
Exhausted from trying to get an answer from traditional doctors I chose to visit a doctor who had jumped ship from the practice of traditional medicine to a practice of holistic healing. (This will not be a forum to slam traditional medicine.) From there I embarked on an amazing journey that has quite literally affected my whole life. I like to use the word “temperate” when describing my lifestyle today. I love that word and I think it has been waiting years for me to adopt it! I look forward to my children adopting that word too. It is a life of discipline, purpose and a willingness to do what it takes to live optimally. In my experience its all in the name of HEALTH and if done with a big dose of spirituality, it has led me to JOY!
We have moved from the suburbs to the country so that we can take control of our food source as much as possible. We are in the process of building up our farm. Did I tell you that I am cow dairy intolerant and gluten intolerant after all that? Yeah. And sugar is like a main line of poison when I consume it. It probably is for you too. You just don’t know it. Yet. So we are raising dairy goats. Learning that some people have success with goat dairy, you can bet I am going to try. We are raising our own chickens, both meat and layers. We are getting our first two beef calves next week. We started an apple orchard 4 years ago. Blueberries a year ago. And we are adding to our vegetable garden every year.
I am a member of and follow all the wisdom that the Weston Price Foundation Organization ( they describe themselves as using “wise traditions in food, farming and the healing arts.) has to offer and through them I have read testimony after testimony (including my own) of people being healed from chronic illness by stepping back in time and getting knowledge about where our food comes from, how it is grown, and taking responsibility for how it is prepared. If you are unaware of this organization, I would encourage you to check them out. Total wealth of information.
I am happy to report that I have not been on antibiotics for 7 years. And I can honestly say that I have only taken the total of about 30 Advil in 7 years. Pretty impressive, eh?
My intention is to use this blog to share all that I have learned and I am sure every side of me will creep out into the blog as well. As it should. I am an artist (the visual kind). I have grown over the course of the last 10 years spiritually and that has become a serious catalyst in everything that I do. And of course, all the craziness that goes on around here with our farm venture which is a total hoot and holler. We say “oops” a lot around here! I am such a farmer wanna be that I will try anything. Even agree to live among what I imagine to be about 1 million snakes.
So… welcome! I am excited to be here and to share. My vocabulary is not extensive. And my grammar stinks. If you can look past those two things, I think there will be something here for you and I pray I can relate these important life-changing things in a way that will benefit you.
God bless,
Karen
The Shieling 
Thanks so much for stopping by and the follow.
You have a beautiful site. Blessings to you.
You are welcome!
Hi Karen,
For a minute I had no clue what you were referring to. I clicked on the link and figured it out! Thanks for the heads up. I actually have plans to attend that conference. Are you affiliated with Groundwork or Weston Price? If you are at the conference, I will see you then! Thanks for thinking of me.
Karen, just found this blog (from your Facebook). Fun! I like it!!
Karen, your life changes sound exciting and invigorating. I am glad to contribute even a tiny part.
So excited to read your posts!! I envy your farming adventures. One day, we want an orchard and blueberries and to raise our own chickens and heritage turkeys (I want the winery!). Where are you located?? I hope to learn a thing or two… your failures will lead to someone else’s success, right? Thanks!