The Buzz

Food-borne illness is no joke. over 5,000 people die each year from food-borne illness. Do not let common myths make you or your family sick.

 

Three myths that make consumers sick.

 

"If it tastes o.k., or smells o.k. it is safe to eat"

Fact : If you trust your taste buds to detect unsafe food, you may be in trouble.

The CDC estimated as many as 6.5 million to 33 million illnesses yearly are food related. Taking even a tiny bite to test the saftey of a questionable food can be very dangerous.

 

"We have always handled our food this way and nothing has ever happened"

 

Fact: Many incidents of food-borne illness went undetected in the past. Food-borne illness signs and symptoms of vomiting, cramps,and diarrhea were often still blamed on the "flu." Also, both the nature of our food supply and the virulence of food- borne pathogens has changed.

 

"I sampled it a couple of hours ago and never got sick, so it should be safe to eat."

 

Fact:Food-borne illness may develope with-in a half hour to a few days: some may occur as long as 2 or more weeks after a contaminated food is eaten.

 

Another consideration: While you might safely consume a food, someone with a weaker immune system could be more susceptible to a food-borne illness. Young Childern, older individuals, pregnant women, and persons with an illness are more vulnerable and would be more likely to get sick.

 

Coming soon highly effective tips for safe handling of food products in the home.

 

To safe and happy summer,

 

Lisa Fults,

Special T's and Sports

Custom screen printing

My quilty pleasure........

Ever since I can remember the process of baking cookies made it all better.  If I was sad, heart broken or lonely my mom would bring me into the kitchen and we would bake.

 We sometimes did not even talk. My mom did things from scratch. I love organizing the bowls, spoons, all the ingredients. Feeling the oven warm.

By the time the mixing started whatever was weighing my heart down do not seem so big.

Our favorite Cookie Reciepes :

Spicy Hermits: 1/2 cup crisco shortening, 1 cup brown sugar (firmly packed), 1 large grade a egg, 2 tablespoons water.

cream shortening and sugar, mix in egg, then water, set aside.

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour, 1 tablespoon instant coffee powder. 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teasoopn ground nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, 3/4 cup raisins, 1/2 cup broken walnuts.

pre-heat oven to 375, sift together dry ingredients, add to creamed mixture, stir in raisins and nuts, Drop from teaspoon 2 inches apart on lightly freased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Make about 40 cookies.

Our kitchen was a focal point not just for bad or sad times but celebrations as well.

Ever year my Dad had Pie frenzy. He would bake so many flavors all from scratch. all pie dough had to be done by scratch.  Apple, pumpkin, chocolate, pecan, peach, banana cream, and on and on.

We had so much joy in that space, the gang all chipped in. Neighbors, family, friends from near and far.

My Dad past away in 1991 and my mom moved to O.K. to be close to her sister, my brothers and sisters are all scatter about , even my kids are grown and off doing thier own thing. So now it is just me, but I still bake.

 My sister, Sheila, has kept the pie frenzy going but she renamed it pie fest and all the nieghbors in Scottsdale can't wait to dig in.

Coming up next issue our favorite fourth of July cake and drinks.

Lisa Sabrina Fults 

Special Ts and Sports 

 

When I was pregnant with our third child, I would constantly run into acquaintances who would say things like, “You’re pregnant again. Are you crazy?” or “Haven’t you guys figured out what causes that yet?” or “Why doesn’t your husband just 'get it taken care of' like all of his friends?” Of course, the real questions behind the questions were, "Who in their right mind would choose to have so many children in this day and age?" and "Who wants a house full of red-faced, stinky, whiny little creatures who require more time and energy, not to mention money, than you even knew you had?"

At the time, I didn’t have a clever response to any of these questions so I would just explain that we were trying for a boy (we already had two adorable little girls). Now I realize that by having that third child, my husband and I suddenly, and unknowingly, became members of the Large Family Club. Anyone who wasn’t a member of the club simply couldn’t understand where we were coming from. Of course, the third child who secured our membership to the club was another precious girl! Note to non-club members: A mother who expects to be able to go to the bathroom on her own on any given day and a father who expects to be able to take a relaxing vacation anytime in the next 20 years should definitely not join the club.

When we were expecting our fourth child, people were no longer asking the questions. Instead, they were reacting in silent shock to our exciting news. I suppose we are in the minority of most American families. According to a Census analysis released in 2004, only 10 percent of U.S. households had five or more people. It is a well known fact that the average number of children in U.S. families has dropped significantly since the 1960s (although I haven't been able to find an exact statistic so far). Indeed, being a member of the Large Family Club in the 21st century puts families into a whole new category for practically EVERYTHING. For starters, the noise level in our house has, and will continue to, increase exponentially. I can hear it now - four little girls' high-pitched screams all at once.

After the fourth child, we had to upgrade our vehicle from a Ford Explorer to the biggest possible SUV on the market, a Chevy Suburban with three rows of seats! Forget about being able to take the whole family anywhere in our nice and comfy four door sedan. Afterall, you've got to have enough room for all the kids, the occasional friend (or two), and don't forget the necessary kid paraphernalia (aka "crap"). Actually, a minivan is the more customary vehicle for members of the Large Family Club, however, my husband and I just hadn't been able to bring ourselves to buy what we considered to be an un-cool set of wheels. Alas, with the price of fuel sky-rocketing as it has, we have no choice but to trade in our gas-guzzling Suburban for something more fuel-efficient. Looks like I may be joining all those minivan-driving soccer moms after all.

Speaking of paraphernalia, I think my husband last counted six strollers in our garage. As new parents who wanted the best of everything for their child, we started out with a high-end travel system which included the oh-so-convenient snap-in infant seat and a huge storage basket underneath. Then we went to a more compact version of the same thing (in the newest pattern, of course). Finally, there was the umbrella stoller to save space, the jogger for those rare strolls in the park, and even a trailer that attaches to a bicyle. The trailer was used a total of TWO times and still sits in the rafters of our garage. When the third baby came along we, of course, had to get a double stroller. I think you get my drift. The amount of "stuff" you accumulate with a large family is neverending. We haven't even begun to discuss the gazillion toys that constantly lay strewn all over the house. Not one room (even the bathroom) is without them! Even that is not so bad when you consider what life will be like in 5-10 years from now with FOUR daughers going through puberty. Ah, the fun that lies ahead. We'll save the discussion of the cost of four college educations and four weddings for another day!

Having a large family brings days of craziness that can sometimes be overwhelming and hectic. But those crazy days are met equally with those of pure delight, awe and amusement. Those are the moments we choose to focus on. Our four children bring us great joy and we feel lucky and blessed to have such a happy and healthy family. The heartwarming and hilarious moments well make up for the craziness. Catching one of the girls in a moment of carefree laughter and silliness is enough to make my day complete (plus maybe a nice glass of wine at the end of a long day when they're all finally in bed). Cheers to the members of the Large Family Club!!!!!

March is a fascinating month, there's so much to celebrate besides
fluffy pink bunnies, green Leprechauns and religious observances.
Not to take the importance away from the religious aspects, or for
that matter the chocolates bunnies, marshmallow Peeps, four leaf
clovers, and green beer, but I found out that this is also a special
month to celebrate America's culture as we know it today.

While doing some quick research about March, I found a substantial
amount of information to support additional potential holidays. We
as American's should value these potential March holidays equal to
the existing holidays that tout fluffy stuffed bunnies in flowery
baskets, and the donning of green hats while dancing an inebriated
jig.

My research found that Congress authorized the creation of
Yellowstone National Park March 01, 1872, and that George Washington
and Congress created the US Navy, March 27, 1794. These potential
holidays would be a little harder to celebrate and sell to kids, but
I feel each are substantially more important than Peter Rabbit and
Leprechauns. And how is it that we don't have a day of recognition
for one of the most important discoveries in American history that is
a used daily by millions... Alexander Graham Bell's patent on March 7
that was first successfully used three days later on March 10,
1876...the telephone. Where is Telephone Day, it should be ringing
in not only as just an American holiday, but as a world holiday as
well.

Then there's that cookie celebratory day of when the Girl Scouts of
America organization was founded, March 12, 1912...now THAT's a holiday
where we should be wearing green and eating artery-clogging cookies.
Maybe we should remember March 18, 1931 when Schick Inc. marketed the
first electric razor...na-a-a...today's scrubby unshaven look might trump
that. But wait, there's more. We missed this possible holiday;
Americans could celebrate by dressing-up like your favorite actor or
actress Hollywood red-carpet style to commemorate the first movie
show shown to an audience on March 22, 1895. Hey, regardless of all
the rest, the one that brings light to this potential holiday subject
is the non-celebrated Wabash, Indiana first...the first town to be
illuminated by electric lights, March 31, 1880. So tell me, how did
all these wonderful holiday ideas escape our attention or the Unions
for that matter?

So be honest with yourself deep down inside, wouldn't you rather be
celebrating all those American cultural holiday's verses some huge
scary bunny hopping around delivering smelly dyed eggs that nobody
likes to eat after the color seeped through the cracked shells; or
creepy little green men who make shoes even though they could buy the
Nike Corporation with a fraction of their horded gold? Regardless of
the American cultural significances of what happen in March, I'm
still trying to figure out how Easter's religious observances morphed
into commercialized chocolate bunnies, dyed eggs, flowery baskets,
and wearing new pretty dresses (could you tell I have daughters), go
figure!

It's understood that egg toting rabbits and little green men dwell in
childhood imaginations, but there are adventurous real places in this
world to visit that would challenge the average American adult's
imagination. This month's edition of Gold Country Families E-
Magazine will do just that; allow us to travel beyond our boarders to
catch a glimpse of some true travel adventures. We will be back
exploring our own American backyard next month. Enjoy!

Happy St. Patty's Day and Happy Easter,

Patrick Witz
Editor/Publisher
Gold Country Families E-Magazine
A FREE Internet Travel, Entertainment, & Leisure Magazine
editor@goldcountryfamilies.com
http://www.goldcountryfamilies.com/

Enjoyed a delicious latte over at Courthouse Coffee and chatted with Courthouse Coffee Owner Linda Lareau. The drive up yesterday was not bad at all. Clear skies and a gorgeous warm day.

It is great to be back in the Auburn Community and connecting with the local community. The radio broadcasting career is being restablished again.

Made another connection/contact with the Promotions Director at 103.9 FM The Fish. He used to work at Americom Broadcasting as the Programming Director for Alice 96.5 Fm and knows the General Manager and the New programming Director Beej.

It was wonderful to be able to connect with the Sacramento Broadcasting world this morning. From there, headed down to Trader Joes, where the grocery list had grown to a few more things from the older sister and mom.

 Life is great and it is wonderful to be back in this gorgeous community of Auburn, CA. 

Looking forward to chatting away on Thursday morning at  Courthouse Coffee at 10am.  

My family has been self-taught in this asian practice, having read many of the top authorities in the field (including Daniel Kennedy's "Feng Shui For Dummies").

 

Many of the concepts seem like "voodoo" or "snake oil" but there is almost no cost to many of the "cures" prescribed in these books.

 

You don't need to hire an expensive "Feng Shui Practitioner" to examine your residence for Feng Shui flaws......just go online and "Google" the subject and you'll find a plethora of web sites that will provide oodles of information.

Another curious aspect of Feng Shui is that you don't have to believe in it, in order for it to work! My wife, daughter, and myself are all very skeptical and continue to say its "wacky" and "silly" but the cures we have tried continue to work to this day.

 

I'd like to see more discussion locally about this curious topic.

Should there be an interest in a discussion group, I'd be happy to lend my expertise (and experience) with various Feng Shui cures that we've implemented in our home.

 

My journey this month has been so fantastic.  I have been creating so many new and exciting things.  I have begun teaching, my practices are alive and vibrant - lives are changing.  Our property is beautiful and family is great.  I jsut came back from dropping off some apples at our neigbhors.  I got to see my son Kai ride a bike - no training wheels.  The DVD to promote Graceful Health is finished being filmed and is on its way for editing.  I had been dreaming of producing a video for years- it is now almost finished.  I am so grateful for those people helping this dream come true.

I have also discovered a new joy.  Loyce over at KAHI in Auburn has had me a guest a couple of times and we had so much fun.  Who would ever have thought- me on the radio.  To scared as a kid to say much of anything.  Terrified to speak in public.  Growth Happens - don't fight it.  Anyway, Loyce is great, she interviewed David Liebergot (Country Singer)and Shawn Kelly (Golf Pro from The Ridge) today on her show.  David has a real soft spot in his heart for Country music and Shawn sure knows his stuff.  We all had a wonderful time.

 

Are you looking for something fun to do with your baby, toddler or preschooler this summer?  How about taking a music class together?  Did you know there is an internationally recognized children’s music program available right here in Auburn?   Music Together® is specially designed for babies, toddlers and preschoolers and the adults who love them!  The program supports the natural learning of the child as well as the participation of adults. Kids (and grown-ups) get the chance to explore all kinds of music through songs, chants, dancing and instrument play.  Even adults who feel they aren’t musical learn along with their child without even realizing it.   

Music Together does not only nurture children’s musical development, it also provides a relaxed environment for families to have fun together.  A Music Together class is a time for kids and parents to sing like kitty cats, dance with scarves, explore rhythms on drums and generally act silly together.

I started this program with two of my daughters two years ago and I loved it so much I became a Music Together teacher!  My only regret is that I didn’t find out about it sooner so that my older daughter could have attended when she was a toddler.  I am currently not teaching because I have since had one more little girl, but I still take my whole crew to classes each week.  (Most of the classes are mixed-age so I can take all of them with me.  The big kids watch the adults, and the little kids watch and learn from their old siblings.)  They all have tons of fun, and I love being able to spend time with my children doing something they enjoy so much.  And if that’s not enough, add to it that the children are developing a natural ability for music that will last a lifetime!

Music Together classes are based on the recognition that all children are musical. All children can learn to sing in tune, keep a beat, and participate with confidence in the music of our culture, provided that their early environment supports such learning.  The program also fosters musical development outside of class by including two CDs and a songbook with each session.  Each music compilation includes a wide range of music from traditional American folksongs to original jazz and blues tunes to words and rhythms of various languages and cultures. 

Auburn Music Together is currently accepting registrations for the summer session which begins on July 9^th.  For more information or to sign up for a class, visit the Auburn Music Together website www.auburnmusictogether.com.  Music Together is a very special program I wish every parent could share with their