Short update!

I’ve been quiet as of late. It’s not that I don’t have anything to say, I’m just not sure how to put my thoughts in order. So for now I’ll update the farm.

We had more snow and horribly cold temperatures. All the critters seemed to have faired well. By this weekend we will moderate some. 

I’m so ready for spring. It’s been a long winter in more ways than one. I’m looking forward to getting outside in the garden and sunshine. I know it will greatly improve my countenance!

So many spring time plans this year, not sure all will be accomplished but we will give it our best shot! A few plans on the agenda-they are subject to change.

Add onto the greenhouse

Expand the garden 

Build a large goat barn with milking area.

Enclosed the chicken yard

Build water catchment system

Pay off some small debts.

Our goat herd has grown by 9 kids this winter. 5 girls will be staying here. We will be selling off all our bucks but 1 this year. I will find another herd sire. 

We have added to the chicken flock as well. Soon I’ll pull out the incubator and hatch some chicks. 

I’ll be starting seeds soon.

Lots of things going on here just haven’t taken the time to update. Hope all is well on your homestead. 

Until next time…

America is not free!

If this SCOTUS decision gets overturned, the U.S. will lose free speech as we know it

New York Times Co. v. Sullivan has set the standard for freedom of the press for more than six decades — reversing it would end free speech as we know it.

Feb. 19, 2025, 6:00 AM EST

by Anthony L. Fisher | MSNBC Opinion Columnist

The past decade or so has been a particularly grueling era for nonpartisan defenders of free speech.

From the beginning of the first Trump administration, some Democrats and liberals proposed deputizing the Federal Communications Commission and other federal bureaucracies as the arbiters and punishers of “misinformation.” Now, under the second Trump administration, the survival of the American ideal of freedom of speech is at an inflection point. Assaults on dissent and the free press from the new administration and its allies have many on the left belatedly realizing how absolutely necessary it is to protect the right to express unpopular speech — including speech that offends those in government.

H ere’s the ugly truth: The constitutional right that affords racists the legal protections to spew their insidious ideas is the same right that protects social justice activists from government persecution. And the right that protects journalists’ rights to cover the powerful without fear of retribution is the same right that protects bad faith actors to spew lies about election fraud.

There are limits to these rights, of course, including deliberate or reckless defamation. That’s how a MAGA troll can repeat Trump’s “big lie” about the 2020 election with impunity, but if that same troll makes a baseless accusation against, say, an innocent election worker, that’s defamation.

The 1964 Supreme Court decision New York Times Co. v. Sullivan is what set the standard that exists today. Constitution law professor Stephen Wermiel characterized the decision as establishing “the important principle that First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press may protect libelous words about a public official in order to foster vigorous debate about government and public affairs. This landmark decision constitutionalized libel law and arguably saved the Civil Rights Movement.”

But in January, MAGA billionaire Steve Wynn petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to “correct its past mistakes” and overturn this 60-year-old precedent. Wynn’s lawyers wrote in their petition:

“Sullivan is not equipped to handle the world as it is today — media is no longer controlled by companies that employ legions of factcheckers before publishing an article. Instead, everyone in the world has the ability to publish any statement with a few keystrokes. And in this age of clickbait journalism, even those members of the legacy media have resorted to libelous headlines and false reports to generate views. This Court need not further this golden era of lies.”

This is music to the ears of MAGA podcasters and culture warriors, even though — much like the left’s calls for laws banning “disinformation” — the right seems oblivious to the fact that overturning Sullivan would curtail their own speech, too.

Make no mistake: if we lose Sullivan, we will have lost freedom of the press. And as unpopular as “the media” might be right now, without a free press there can be no free speech writ large. The rich and powerful can simply threaten litigation, and their allies in government can threaten criminal and civil sanctions — and that will be enough to sufficiently chill free speech to the point that it ceases to exist as we once knew it.

Mistakenly believing they had won America’s hearts and minds on any number of cultural issues during the early Trump years, many Democrats and progressives fooled themselves into thinking they’d always be the good guys running the institutions and decreeing certain forms of dissent beyond the pale. That allowed the “free speech warrior” mantle to be disingenuously claimed by the MAGA right — which is every bit as thin-skinned, intolerant and censorious as any group of purple-haired campus activists you’re likely to find (except MAGA has actual power).

In fact, the threats to free speech posed by MAGA make campus speech codes and the threat of “cancel culture” censorship seem positively quaint.

W ith a unified Republican government, a 6-3 conservative Supreme Court and corporations tripping over themselves to abandon their past social justice pandering, MAGA is the establishment now. They’ve spent the past several years banning “divisive topics” from schools — including legitimate history books that discuss America’s history of prejudice and other grave injustices. Add a Republican president that regularly files bogus nuisance lawsuits to make his critics’ lives “miserable,” who calls for bans and deportations as a consequence of speech he doesn’t like, who’s bent on “retribution” and daring anyone to stand up to his unconstitutional power grabs — and Trump and MAGA pose the greatest threat to free speech in modern times.

In less than a month in office, Trump and his administration have launched investigations into media organizations they dislike (including for reporting on ICE raids), barred news outlets from the Oval Office for not using their preferred terminology (i.e. speech policing) and accused media outlets of “doxxing” for reporting on Elon Musk’s unvetted workers doing official government business. The FCC has undergone apparent “regulatory mission creep,” as famed First Amendment attorney Robert Corn-Revere described it, with new Chair Brendan Carr reviving what appear to some as “politically motivated” complaints against three broadcast networks (including NBC). And just this week, Musk called for the imprisonment of “60 Minutes” journalists.

This is far from a complete list. But the Trump administration’s hostility to a free press has been so egregious that the MAGA-friendly Wall Street Journal editorial board this week saw fit to decry it in plain English.

The Trumpist hostility to First Amendment protections for the press is not new. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made advocacy for overturning Sullivan a part of his 2024 presidential campaign platform. MAGA-adjacent free speech tourists of the “heterodox” commentariat have called for Sullivan to be “revisited.”

Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas have both suggested the court rethink the decision. That still leaves seven justices who in 2023 affirmed their support for Sullivan as the law of the land. But after the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the Court’s conservatives granting the president sweeping immunity protections in 2024 — you could be forgiven for not having the full faith of SCOTUS’ conservative majority to stand up for individual rights and against executive power.

Now would be a great time for the Democrats and other voices on the left to abandon any predilections for petitioning authorities to set the boundaries of truth and acceptable speech. The messiness of free speech is the ally to justice, not unaccountable authorities appointed by partisan politicians.

And for any actual remaining free speech absolutists on the right, this is the moment to unequivocally call out your own team. You might despise “the woke and loathe the hypocrisy of would-be censors in the Democratic Party — but Republicans are in charge of almost everything now, and the loudest and most powerful voices in their sphere currently pose the greatest existential threat to the First Amendment.

If you care at all about the freedom to express dissent, to investigate the powerful and to hold the government accountable — even if it means saying “mean” things about them — New York Times v. Sullivan must survive.

Without it, America is not a “free country.”

The Emperors new clothes

How Evangelical Christianity has abandoned even its own beliefs for the sake of political power.

Do you remember the parable of the emperor’s new cloths? Where the emperor was convinced that he was wearing beautifully designed and invisible clothes, when in reality he was just naked? How the townsfolk uncomfortably go along with this pretense, not wanting to appear inept or stupid, until a little child blurts out that the emperor isn’t actually wearing anything at all? How the people then realize that they have all been fooled? How the emperor is startled, but opts to continue the procession, walking more proudly than ever rather than admit he had been fooled?

This is what it feels like for many of us who grew up in evangelical Christianity watching all that is happening right now. We are watching everything we have been taught just disregard and ignored, yet we are expected to just go along with the charade as if that’s not what’s happening at all.

Let me give you an example:

We read all the Left Behind books and learned about how the “Anti-Christ” would come and lead many Christians astray by his silver tongue and manipulating rhetoric. He would promise to be Israel’s champion while actually planning to invade and occupy the Middle East in cooperation with Israel only to then invade Israel too. How the beast in Revelation 13:6 would “open its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.” How there would be the creation of a currency that would eventually be associated with “the mark of the beast.” How the things of God would be used to deceive the people of God.

Then we grew up and even though many of us don’t believe the same things about the end times anymore, we watched someone beguile and captivate huge numbers of Christians. No matter what he does or says, the fervent support for him doesn’t seem to be impacted among many Christians.

He claims he doesn’t ever need to repent or seek forgiveness for his sins from God.

He claims he could shoot someone of 5th avenue and people would still support him.

He claims that he was appointed by God.

He creates and sells his own Bible for personal financial gain.

He claims to be an advocate for Christians in America.

He calls immigrants “human garbage” and describes certain countries as “$&@?-hole countries.”

He is intent on “taking back control of the entire government.”

He has worked feverishly to appoint judges loyal to him and is now trying to do the same thing throughout all positions of power in our government.

He creates a “meme coin” which is crypto currency, which is a global currency and makes close ties with the wealthiest man on the planet.

He says he’s going to have the U.S. occupy and level Gaza, to the praise of Israel’s prime minister.

Many of his policies will directly harm the people Jesus called us to care for: the poor, the marginalized, the immigrant, and the oppressed.

His supporters do things like wear his hats with his mark literally on their foreheads and even create novelty $100 bills that replace the word “God” in “In God we trust” with his name instead.

All while he and the movement that has been created around him has a history of misogyny, racism, corruption, abuse, and ultra nationalism.

Even mercy, empathy, and the teachings of Jesus are mocked and disregarded as being ineffective, weak, or even a compromise.

But we are all just expected to see this as “normal.” We are expected to just reject everything we were taught by Evangelical Christianity. All while we are mocked as being “leftists” or “woke” by the same group of Christians for simply reiterating the very things they warned us about and taught us to believe.

This is simply spiritual gaslighting at its finest. Teaching us all these things only to mock and ridicule us years later for holding Evangelical Christianity accountable to these beliefs and prioritizing the teachings of Jesus above partisan loyalty.

We know that if any of this was being done by the political party or politicians you oppose, you would be loudly condemning these actions and you would be the first to point out the blatant similarities between what is happening and your end times theology. So why don’t you have the moral and theological integrity to do the same to your preferred politicians and political movement? Has power, wealth, and influence really led you that far away from the principles you taught us to hold onto as true?

So to Evangelical Christianity, you can continue to just shrug these things off as minor things, but there’s a multitude of us who remember exactly what you taught us. We aren’t going anywhere.

We’ve been saying it for more than a decade now: The emperor has no clothes. We aren’t going to stop. You are free to join us at any time. You are free at any moment to honestly point out these blatant contradictions and begin taking steps towards theological integrity once again. 

We hope you do.

Benjamin Cremer

I don’t support DEI….

I suggest that people to SAY the words, " I do not support Diversity, Equity and Inclusion" rather than " I don't support DEI". Acronyms take power out of words.  Say the words as you pray.  "Jesus, I don't support Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. 

Ponder that. Think on that as you speak the words while praying.

This was a comment on a post I saw. My heart sank as I read these words realizing so many people are cheering for the end of DEI. It’s not ok. Saying the words are so much more powerful than just the letters. Ask yourself this serious question….would Jesus say he didn’t support diversity, equity and inclusion? Be honest! Now look at yourself and ask are you like Jesus if you proclaim to be a Christian. Jesus was all about DEI, that was his message. How can you call yourself a Christian, say you follow Jesus’ teachings, yet condone what we see happening. Help me understand!

And here we are

The United States of America has a clear separation of powers between its three branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary. A central tenant of the separation of powers is that one branch may not overreach and do the job of another. The judiciary is responsible for interpreting law, the legislative is responsible for creating law, and the executive is responsible for enforcing law. Each branch is granted specific powers and responsibilities, ensuring that no single branch becomes too powerful or oversteps its constitutional bounds. This division fosters a system of checks and balances, where each branch can limit the power of the others, creating a balance that protects individual liberties and ensures the rule of law.

 https://open.substack.com/pub/aaronparnas/p/breaking-jd-vance-lays-the-groundwork?r=54xnaz&utm_medium=ios

We can make a difference!

The air was cold as I stepped outside this morning. It was quiet minus the dogs barking. I stopped a moment, took a deep breath. The cool air felt good in my lungs. It was refreshing. I looked around. The sun was shining, the spring grass is starting to come in, some trees have tiny buds on them. I know spring is near. I walked to hen house to let the hens out and to gather the eggs, I thought about how grateful I am to be in this place. Many would love to have what we have. We aren’t rich by a long shot, our struggles are real like others. We work really hard to have what we do. We’ve taken this piece of land that was once dirt rock and trees and turned it into a nice little homestead. It’s not pristine, or perfect. Seems something always needs done. It’s not worthy of Mary Jane’s farm magazine but it’s ours! And we have worked so hard to make it what it is. I am grateful.

As I gathered the eggs I felt a sense of peace. Quickly my mind turned to all the turmoil of the past years, weeks, months and recent days. I still held that sense of peace. 

I haven’t always had peace, life hasn’t been easy. But I have survived. I am outspoken and don’t hesitate to tell you what I think! That’s offensive to some while others appreciate knowing where I stand on any given subject. My peace comes from finally feeling like I have a voice, and like I matter. My peace comes from knowing I have survived thus far and I’m strong! My peace comes from knowing there are others out there like me!

Winter is winding down, coming to its end, I have survived. Spring will soon be here and all the newness of life will emerge, warmth will once again return. My mornings will be spent drinking my coffee on my swing, watching my chickens peck the ground and hearing my goats bleat in the distance. 

My countenance has started to lift and the seasonal depression I go through every fall/winter is starting to fade. I feel more energetic and joyful. It’s hard to find joy right now isn’t it?

All the turmoil we are facing. While some are enjoying it, many of us are struggling with it all. But just know we will be ok! Find your joy and peace wherever you can. Grab those fleeting moments and hug them tight! Embrace the small things and those things most take for granted. Smile often, laugh more! 

Hold that cup of coffee/tea, take in the aroma and thank the universe you are here for such a time as this. We are here, in this time, going through these things because we are suppost to be! We each have a role to play. Know yours. Find peace in that. Never be silenced!

Never quit being you! You are important and your voice matters. The quickest way for evil to take over is to stay silent! Evil is surrounding us, it’s not even trying to hide anymore. It is suppressing minorities, anyone they think is not worthy. Money is at the root of it all. Don’t give up! Stay the course. You matter! 

We are here to be a light in darkness. The beacon that lights the way for those ships lost in the dark. Never quit speaking out against evil. Our little homestead is a safe haven. I’ve always believed that. I always will. We will be a bright spot in the darkest of days that are coming. We will not let evil win in our lives or our hearts. We will speak truth loudly and boldly. We won’t be quiet. Light comes from truth! 

Our homestead will serve a purpose in the years ahead. It brings me peace knowing that. It gives me incentive to keep going and forging ahead. The load is lighter when you know your purpose. 

I want to help people, all people! Not just certain group of people. Not just people with skin like me. Not just people in relationships like me! We all bleed red. Sigh…my heart is burdened by what I see, hear and read. 

I want to make a difference! Be better! It’s ok to angry! We should all be angry at what we are seeing. Speak up let your voice be heard!

This week, work to find your peace, find joy in the small things. Find peace one moment at time! Be grateful every minute of the day. Even in the midst of all this ugliness, there is beauty to be found! Do something good everyday! Put a grocery cart in a cart stall for an elderly person, let someone go before you in the checkout line, pay for the order behind you at Starbucks, compliment someone, if you see someone struggling to walk, help them! We can make a difference one kind act at a time! The universe sees!

Choose wisely!

 

I sit here this morning thinking about all we have gone through the past few years, and how tired many of us are. I ask myself where we are headed, will we all be ok. My answer, some of us will.

I just saw where a 16 year girl died from flu complications. Sigh..:we are facing so many illnesses on top of everything else. Life feels so overwhelming right now. 

Sadly this is just getting started in my opinion. I think what we will experience in the next few years will change us all. Maybe for the better. Maybe all this turmoil is to teach us patience, kindness, empathy, and love for our fellow man/woman. Maybe we need to experience this hatred that is running rampant in order to understand acceptance. Maybe we need to go through this time of chaos to understand we ALL bleed red!

I want to make clear, I am not condoning crime or criminals. I am not condoning that at all. What I am saying is we are all human and all have feelings. 

There are some on the right that are some of the most hateful, intolerant, nasty people I have ever met. And some on the left are overly accepting! I see both ways.

We have to find the middle ground. Extremism is tearing us apart and will make all of this more difficult. 

We are transitioning I believe, transitioning to a better time, a better earth. A place of acceptance, love, kindness and empathy. It’s going to be challenging to get there. Our roadblocks will be many. Stay the path. Keep your mind and heart focused. 

We are all made of vibrational energy. Keep your vibration high. Eat well, sleep well, meditate, focus on the good and be grateful. High vibration keeps us well. High vibrational people will make it through this. We will be a light in the darkness. Stay away from dark people that are supporting the darkness. They will dim your light and deplete your energy. Find your balance in staying informed and staying upbeat.

These past few months have been so very trying. I have found myself depressed and just not at my best. These past few days I’ve made some changes. I’m monitoring how much news I consume. I am watching what I eat. I am going to bed earlier and rising earlier. I am finding things to be grateful for. I am being mindful of my choices. I’m careful who I talk to, what we discuss, and how I feel after the conversation. If I feel drained it’s a no go! I just cannot do it anymore. 

I admit I am scared. I am very concerned for all our futures until this all gets worked out. There are things we can do to protest if that’s your thing. 

I have personally had to cease contact with people that supported much of what’s happening. They are not my people. The energy they bring to my life is not the energy I try to maintain. If you hate on anyone, anyone different than you, you are gone! It’s personal with me. The reasons don’t matter, but suffice to say my reasons are dear to me. So if you are a supporter of suppressing, gays, trans, women, or people of different origin, you are gone. If you think everyone should believe in your god, you’re gone! Doesn’t mean I don’t love or care deeply for you, it just means we are on totally different paths and yours is one I cannot travel.

We will get through this! Love, kindness and acceptance will prevail. Hate will not! Remember that! Hate will destroy you, everything and everyone around you! We are coming into a very trying time…you will have a choice! Love and acceptance or hate and division. Your choice will determine your future. Choose wisely my friends, choose wisely!

Now is the time!

 We are living in trying times. I fear they are only going to get far worse. Bird flu is on the rise and now affecting cattle. Milk and beef prices will most like go up like eggs. 

If you can get on a homestead/farm now is the time to do it. Don’t wait! Raising whatever you can to feed yourself and your family will be vital in the next years. 

Things are not going to get better. Another pandemic is coming. I can’t say it will be the bird flu but there is one coming. It will be far more devastating than covid. You need to prepare your family now for disruptions in food supply and other supplies. You may not be able to safely leave your home so you will need to have all the things you need for long term. 

Now is the time to start planning. If you are able to move to a few acres and set up a small homestead do it now! Don’t wait. There’s not a lot of time left. If you are unable to do that begin stocking up on essentials now. Food, first aid, water, pet food if you have pets, batteries, solar lights and solar charger, toilet paper and other toiletries. 

Things are changing and changing fast! Please don’t wait!

We are adding several more hens to our flock just to ensure we have plenty if we need to provide for our other family members. I will be hatching barnyard chicks in a month or so just to keep the flock replenished. 

I don’t want to be a fearmongerer or alarmist but it is time to take preparedness seriously. Now is the time to heed the warning!

Until next time…

Medicinal Herbs

There’s  something about February that just makes me happy! My winter depression starts lifting and I feel like we are in the home stretch to springtime! Yes, I know we can still have winter weather here, but I know spring is just around the corner! 

I ordered some seeds a month or so ago to replace some of my older ones. Today I placed another order for some additional medicinal herbs. I’m no expert in herbal medicine but I am taking classes to learn. I think with the turbulent times we are in we need to be able to care for ourselves as much as possible. Learning herbal medicine is one such way we can do that.

I am also not saying herbal medicine is a cure all, modern pharmaceuticals have their place and you should also prepare in that way as well. We just need to be well rounded in what do. Garner as much knowledge as you can. Knowledge cannot be taken from you… it’s priceless. Never quit learning.

If you don’t have a medicinal herb garden I challenge you this year to start one. It doesn’t haven’t to be elaborate, start small with some basics and build it up over time. Pick 4 or 5 herbs to study and grow those. Knowledge is power! Learn how to make tinctures and salves with the herbs you grow. Learn how to use them, for what and when. Learn dosages. Keep a journal with what you learn so you can quickly access the information when needed.

With all that is happening and happening rapidly we need to work quickly.. Get those seeds ordered today! Below are my 3 go to’s for my seeds.

Baker Creek- www.rareseeds.com

Marys Heirlooms- https://www.marysheirloomseeds.com/

Annies Heirloom seeds-https://www.anniesheirloomseeds.com/

Short term preparedness

Let’s switch gears today and talk about preparedness. Years ago I loved this topic and wrote for the American prepper network. Not sure it’s even still around. I digress! So let start by talking about what prepping is.

Prepping short for preparedness is preparing yourself and your family for either short term or long term disruptions. Could be for weather issues, financial, illness, job loss or a national or world emergency. Depending on what you’re prepping for what steps you will take to be ready. If you are prepping for a short term emergency, less than 2 weeks, it will be relatively easy to have what you need on hand. I suggest writing out your plan so you have a guide to follow and keep you on track. Depending on your location will determine what you can do reasonably. If you’re in an apartment having a generator may not be option so keep that in mind when writing out your plan. 

A few things I recommend

1. Flashlights and batteries or solar lantern

2. Radio-Make sure you have batteries or it is solar charged.

3. Food-non perishable food items. Canned soups ready to eat, canned meats, crackers, trail mix, nuts, dried fruits, shelf stable milk, dry cereal, bottles water(lots of water) instant coffee if you are a coffee drinker. You get the idea. 

4- solar cell phone charger

5. Generator- If you can I strongly recommend a generator. The bigger the better. If it’s multi fuel that’s even better. Please keep in mind you really can’t run one 24/7 as the fuel cost is crazy and in an emergency fuel may limited by availability or you lack of being able to get more. You can run them a few times a day to keep freezers and fridges cool so you don’t lose perishables.

6. Medicine/ Hygiene - OTC and prescriptions. Keep extra on hand at all times. A high quality first aid kit. You can buy them already put together or if you’re like me you can put one together yourself. Hygiene is important. Soap, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, Kleenex, toilet paper/wipes, shampoo, Lysol or Clorox wipes, bleach etc..

7. Don’t forget the pets if you have them. Keep extra food, water and any medication they may be on stocked up.

8. If you are preparing for a winter storm in an area where things get really bad have things like ice melt or some sort of salt on hand to melt ice off walkways. Shovel or snowblower for snow.

9. Source of heat is very important if an emergency happens in the winter and you live in an area that gets cold. A ventless propane/gas heater is great. If you use one you need a source of propane or natural gas. Wood burning stoves are a phenomenal source of heat. 

10. If you have kids having a source is entertainment is necessary. Coloring books, crayons, puzzles, board games, and even games on computers and iPads can keep them entertained providing you can keep those items charged. 

Sort term emergency preparation is pretty simple, not all that expensive and can be done in a short period of time. Short term to me is less than 2 weeks. Look at your situation and prepare accordingly. If the power was out for 2 weeks and your cook stove is electric how would you cook? Do you have a grill? Does it need propane? Do you have enough propane to carry you through cooking on your grill daily for 2 weeks? Is hot your water heater electric? How would you heat water for washing yourself and staying clean? 

How you prep will also be determine by your location town, city or country. For instance. If we needed to heat water or cook in the country. We can build a fire, that’s not an option in an apartment. So think about your location and how you could make it work. Do you have a place you could go if you needed to leave? How would you get there? 

We are living in very uncertain times. We all need to be thinking about these things and taking steps to ensure our personal safety and the safety of our families. 

Next time I’ll talk about long term preparedness.