THE TRAYER WILDERNESS COOKBOOK- HOMESTEADING THE TRADITIONAL WAY- VOLUME I

BOOK REVIEW

THE TRAYER WILDERNESS COOKBOOK- HOMESTEADING THE TRADITIONAL WAY- VOLUME I

Tammy Trayer, wife, mother, webdesigner, homesteader and accomplished author has written a truly wonderful cookbook.  Tammy and her family, husband Glen and son Austin, live totally off-grid in the wilds of Idaho in a cabin that the family made themselves. Their family's website is trayerwilderness.com and is a source of incredible knowledge, inspiration, tools, resources and above-all a great deal of spiritual uplifting. Their website and YouTube channels are very popular and more and more are finding them as a great resources whether you are living off-grid, trying to be more responsible with your use of time and resources or trying to add more meaning to you daily living.  

Tammy has written this amazing cookbook, with skills, tips, tricks and lessons that she has learned over the years and recipes that she has developed which serve to fill the body, mind and soul of the people that she loves.  The recipes are wholesale, nutritious and filling, as you can image they would need to be with a family living off-grid and doing basically everything for themselves with very few modern things.

Regardless of yours and/or your family's individual health needs or concerns, this cookbook contains recipes that will cover you call. Traditional recipes, with ways to make them gluten-free and/or dairy-free as well are included. She also provides many tips, tricks and resources for the various materials and ingredients that Tammy uses in her cooking. She even has a canning and fermenting section, along with sun cooking recipes as well as the resources to locate all of the items that she uses and relies upon. This book is packed and the resources for the various ingredients and items used are included. Cookware recommendations are covered as well as various preparation methods. Dehydrating and solar cooking are covered and water bath canning too.  Each item is truly given the Tammy Trayer Seal of Approval and have been used and worked with by the author herself.

Tammy has used her own off-grid, traditional lifestyle to create the recipes in this book. Her son's health needs have been the inspiration for the gluten free and dairy free changes that she has made to her cooking. She also uses essential oils in her cooking and is a great advocate for the educated and well research use of essential oils in cooking and general well being needs.

The Trayer Wilderness Cookbook covers a variety of situation and health needs in a truly original and delicious way. From condiments, breads, beverages, breakfasts, meals, snacks to desserts, Tammy's book has you covered. Your tummy will thank you for trying these recipes. To pick just one favorite recipes is difficult but if I must I would certainly say The Trayer Wilderness Hot Pepper Jelly, page 40, is wonderful. I have made this and my family, husband and son in particular, adore it and I have given it as gifts at Christmas time and it has become a requested item from family and friends.

As Tammy herself says in her Cookbook "It's more than a cookbook- it's know how galore". I couldn't agree more.  This is a cookbook which I would very highly recommend. Available on Amazon and at http://trayerwilderness.com/store/books.

Gentle readers, I thank you for reading this review that I was privileged to write.

HEALTH MATTERS PART III

After waiting for what seemed like years, but was really only a week and  a half, we received the call that Joey and I had both been anticipating and dreading.  The pathology results from the biopsy had come in!  Now I literally had my stomach in my throat when I heard the doctor's assistant on the phone telling me they had the biopsy results and she needed to schedule the follow-up appoint with the doctor.  She actually scheduled the follow-up appointment and only after I could speak again and asked she told me "oh the pathology results are fine, no cancer seen".  I honestly do not know how I was still able to stand up.  Thankfully I had a pen and paper on the table in front of me and had already written down the appointment date and time otherwise I don't think I would have been able to recall what I had scheduled.  Joey was sitting at the table just staring at me and when I started to cry he almost lost it.  Well after being together almost 26 years and married 23 plus years at that point, you'd think the man would know that I cry whether its good news, bad news or confusing news. But at that moment Joey was sure that it was bad and he was scrambling trying to figure out what to say to me. I got off the phone and after I gathered my wits about me,  I was able to tell him the whole conversation and that I needed to see the doctor for a follow-up and she would decide when I would need the next mammogram.  

Phone calls were made to my daughter at college and to my big brother. My friend Jacqueline was at work so she got the information via text message, I'm afraid that her fellow workers had to hear her scream with relief. My brother, typical for Eugene, just said " I told you it would be fine". Always the police officer, just the facts madam, just the facts. Still I knew he was very relieved just the same. Alexandra was relieved as well and so were Joe and Emma-May. 

The follow-up appointment went fine, the doctor (who is wonderful) was very kind, explained the full results and that she wants another mammogram done in March and if that comes back fine then I will be able to return to my annual mammograms. 

Thus ended this particular piece of drama for our family.  It surely will be replaced, just as sure as the sun rises and sets each day. I will say that I am so grateful that my faith has been getting stronger over the years, I really don't know what I would have done during this very stressful time if I didn't have that faith. God is good.

                                            The End Kind Readers. 

HEALTH MATTERS PART II

Well to continue kind readers, Joey and I had the appointment with the specialist and I am so very grateful that we did.  Not only was Dr. MacDermott and her staff extremely kind and gracious, the doctor was able to explain so many things to us that its hard to explain the reassurance and comfort that provided.  Dr. MacDermott had already reviewed the scans and ultrasound results provided by the Breast Center and then she did an exam. All the while she was explaining everything to me and continually reassuring me.  After the exam she showed me on the ultrasound scan where the area of question was and explained that in her experience, she believed that it was a cyst and was filled with fluid only. She explain the characteristics of cancer and what she looks for. Then I got dressed again and Joey was brought in. Dr. MacDermott again explained everything so that Joey got the information first hand from her and she showed him, as well, exactly what she looked at and why she felt that it was a fluid based cyst and that she highly doubted that there was any cancer.

She said that she wanted the biopsy performed so that we would have the pathology for the final non-cancer diagnosis. Her staff explained how to set up the biopsy appointment and to call them once that was done so I could schedule a follow-up appointment with Dr. MacDermott.

To say that the ride home was a far better experience, traffic and all, is an understatement. While not looking forward to having a biopsy performed I was far less fearful knowing that Dr. MacDermott was pretty certain that there was no cancer. While no doctor can know anything for sure and that the pathology report would be pretty conclusive, I felt comfort from Dr. MacDermott. She is highly education, highly experienced and very clear in what she says. She not only told us her opinion but showed us, first hand, why she was saying what she said.

The appointment for the core biopsy was set.  The hospital advised that I would not be put under general anesthesia, just a local shot to numb the area would be given and that I would be able to eat normally and that I would be able to drive myself home afterwards. They said that the area would receive a shot to numb it, the doctor would use an ultrasound machine to locate the exact area in question and then a small incision would be done to allow for the biopsy needle to enter and remove a small amount of tissue. Then a butterfly bandage would be applied, my chest would be strapped with an Ace bandage and ice would be applied. I was not to lift anything for 3-7 days afterwards. The check-in nurse did a great job of explaining everything and giving me all of the instructions.

I scheduled the biopsy for a Friday afternoon, that way I could work most of the day and not have to dwell on what was going to happen and then have the procedure and have the weekend to recover from it.  It went as I figured it would that is until the doctor that was performing the procedure, again I was blessed with a wonderful doctor and a terrific nurse. The doctor explained every step to me and helped me to be as comfortable as possible. When she did the ultrasound she said that she was inclined to agree with Dr. MacDermott that we were dealing with a fluid based cyst and that Dr. MacDermott had  given a prescription allowing for an aspiration (they put a needle in and draw out the fluid to be tested) and/or a core biopsy (they put a needle in and draw out tissue to be tested) to be performed. The doctor decided to try to do the aspiration first, as that procedure is less invasive and less painful. Gratefully that procedure worked and it was a cyst and she was able to draw out fluid to be tested by the pathology department.  Some pressure was applied to the area, then a bandage and I was told that I was done and could get dressed.  Once I got into the dressing area, I noticed that I was hurting a lot and that the area had already started to bruise. The nurse knocked on the door to ask if I was alright and I told her what was happening. She told the doctor and the doctor wanted to check me again. She used the ultrasound machine on me again to make sure that I wasn't bleeding internally, which I wasn't.  I bruise very easily, always have and I was bruising really quickly and badly. She decided to follow the post-op procedure used when the core biopsy is performed and strapped my chest and had the nurse apply an ice pack. I felt better once I was strapped and the ice pack applied so I finished dressing and headed home.

                                                                       End of Part II.

HEALTH MATTERS PART I

                                               

Went for my yearly mammogram as all women should. I started at an earlier age than most as my doctor said I have dense tissue and that its important to start early. Well I go every year, mostly, and had this year's done in August at the Breast Center at Barnabas Medical Center.

Monday came around and I went for the mammogram. It went alright, uncomfortable as always and had to have the right side re-scanned as the tech didn't like the way the first one turned out but other than that fine.  That is until the next day, Tuesday, I received a message from my doctor's office that the Breast Center radiologist saw something on my scan and requested that I make an appointment to come back for more scans and an ultrasound. Well every terrible, scary thought that can enter a person's mind entered mine. First thing was a desperate prayer followed by several long deep breaths to get my voice under control and to try to stop my heart from pounding. Then I called my doctor's office to get more information but they didn't have much other than the radiologist wanted more scans to see if there is a problem or not. So I called the Breast Center and was able to get an appointment for Thursday to have 3D scans done and an ultrasound.  Then I called my husband and told him the news, he is very even keeled and said get the additional scans done and then see where we go. We needed more information. We made the decision not to say anything to the children or my brother until we knew if there was a reason to say anything.

Thursday I went and had the 3D scans done and the tech had the radiologist read them and he wanted the ultrasound done. So sat in the waiting room waiting for the ultrasound tech to call me in, sent the text to my husband and then continued praying.  The ultrasound was done and the tech left the scan up when she went to talk to the radiologist. One look at it and I knew there was something there. A black mark 2 cm wide with yellow arrows around it.  Never has something so small frightened me so much. Took a picture of the scan and sent it with a text message to my husband that I was in trouble. 

The radiologist explained that there was something that they weren't sure about and he wanted to schedule a biopsy to determine what we were dealing with.  Thankfully my doctor is a very cautious man and he requires that all of his patients have to been seen by a breast specialist before any additional procedures are done.  Then I had a meeting with a wonderful nurse who coordinates procedures.  She called a specialist, Dr. MacDermott's office and was able to get me an appointment for the next day, which was wonderful and I am so very appreciative to her for that. 

Went home and as I arrived much earlier than usual, Joe and Emma asked what was up. So I sat them down and explained what was going on, showed them the picture on my phone and told them about my appointment with the specialist the next day. They were calm, asking some questions but basically understanding that we really didn't have a lot of information and needed more to really have a handle on what was going on.  A call was made to Alex and she asked to be kept up with all of the information as I found it out. Next a call to my brother and Eugene (as he always is) was very steady and very logical. We didn't have enough information to know if there was a big problem or not and steps need to be taken before we can know that. You see our younger brother died at the age of 37 from complications from diabetes and Eugene and I both know what it is to bury a sibling and neither of us wish to do it again anytime soon. Didn't sleep much that night needless to say.

Now Dr. MacDermott's office is located in Middlesex County, New Jersey and you have to travel on the Garden State Parkway (perfect name as you sit in so much traffic that you can think that you have your car in park) to get to her office. The day of my appointment, was the Friday afternoon, before Labor Day weekend. Anyone that knows anything about the New Jersey Shore knows that the Garden State Parkway on any Friday in the summer, let alone the Friday before Labor Day weekend, is not the place you wish to be.  But as this doctor came so highly recommended and I really wanted to be seen before the long holiday weekend, I took the appointment.  

Joey and I both took half days from work and we headed for my 3:15 appointment, leaving our home a little before 2 p.m.  I don't know if it was the traffic, the insane drivers or my nerves but it was a horrible ride down the parkway.  Thankfully we weren't going all the way down the shore but getting off well before the shore area starts.  Joey made good time getting us there and we arrived well ahead of my appointment. Now just had to sit in the waiting room for them to call me in to see the doctor.

                            END OF PART I

OFF TO ANOTHER YEAR OF COLLEGE

Our oldest daughter, Alexandra (Alex), is a student at Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania. She is in her second year and is studying to be a teacher. Her school is about two to two and half hours away from our home. She is our second child but the first one to live away from home at school. Our son, Joseph (Joe) is in his third year at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey and he commutes to school.  He is studying to criminology. 

We took Alex back to campus almost two weeks ago. She had to be at campus early as she has earned an Alternate RA (Resident Assistant) position and needed to be back on campus before the football players arrived and moved into the dorms to begin their practices and training.  That's two weeks sooner than she moved in last year and two weeks sooner than her friends will be arriving at campus. Classes do not begin until August 29th.

The dogs, Gunner and Beauregard, were not pleased about her leaving early. Gunner is very close to Alex and Beau, well Beau is Beau and he doesn't like his routine changed. Alex walks them if Joe is busy or not home. Gunner likes to try to crawl into bed with her in the morning. Beau likes to get extra treats from her throughout the day.

So she spent about a week or so sorting through all of her stuff, and they have a lot of stuff when they live in a dorm at school, trying to decide what to take and what to leave at home. As this is her second year, the decisions on what to take was easier than last year and with experience she left home things that she either didn't use at all last year or rarely used.  Her dorm room this year is set up differently than the one last year so that had to be taken into account as well.  The night before Alex was due to leave she decided on her last supper (at least at home that is) ravioli and garlic bread and afterwards we began the task of packing the van. Joey and Joe put the turtle (not sure if that's the correct name) on top of the van and then the very careful, as Joey is a bit of a perfectionist, packing of the van began. We made an assembly line from the house to the van in the driveway. Joey directed where things should be put, pulled things out to reorganize and reorganized again all the while asking "how much more". It took about an hour but we accomplished our mission. Joe wasn't scheduled to work the next day so this year, unlike last year, he would be coming with us to move Alex into the dorm. Two big strong men come in very handy while loading and unloading boxes and such. Poor Emma ended up having to sit in the third row seat in the van, in the middle, with boxes and such on either side of her. She was squished in but good but as I told her it was only on the way out! 

The trip out went great, made good time, no traffic. The dorm that she is in this semester, North, has it's own parking lot, far better than having to find a spot on the street as we had to do last year. We even got a parking spot right across from the entrance door and her room is just through the door to the right, no stairs, even better! We unloaded the van in record time and got her started as far as settling in. Made the bed and placed a few of the larger items where she wanted them. Got a look at the floor bathroom, which also contains the washer and dryer for her floor.  Everyone was hungry so we went to lunch and then came back to do a few more things before saying our good byes. 

Unfortunately my hopes of Alex having an easier adjustment to campus life this year were dashed. We hadn't gotten 20 miles from campus when the first text arrived on my phone. "Mommy I'm lonely". Oh boy, here we go!.  Her roommate, the RA, wouldn't be moving in till the next day as her internship wasn't completed yet. This meant that I left my girl all alone, no one else on the floor in her dorm, to spend her first night back at school all alone! She was literally the only person on the floor. Her safety was never a concern, the Public Safety at Albright is wonderful and the dorms and campus are very secure. The worry was my girl having too much time alone and therefore thinking far too much and getting sad. She texted Emma saying she wanted to come home. Emma told her to hang in and she'll do fine. Continuing the drive home was very hard, talk about Mother's Guilt, but I knew she'd be fine and would be able to handle this. She had made a commitment by taking the Alternate RA position and as such she had to see it through.

She doesn't have a lot to do as an alternate, she does attending the training but is basically on the fringe of the meeting and such. Alex isn't good being on the sidelines but if an RA position opens she needs to be trained and able to just step right into the role, so she has to go through this. As things start up on campus it will get easier and her friends coming back will help a lot as well.

Alex has also earned a position as a POP (Peer Orientation Person). These are students that act as guides, friends and encourage the new students. Think cheerleaders on sugar highs, that's a POP. She will have a few days of training and then the freshmen and transfer students arrive. Alex will then be very busy juggling her two roles and Alex being busy, busy, busy is a very good thing for my girl.

Just hope her classes go well and she does great as she did last year. Dean's List for Spring semester. Good luck to all the students going to college, whether living at a dorm or commuting. Enjoy this time, as it will go so quickly. Be safe, do well and remember to check in with your families, they miss you and love to hear from you. 

Introduction to our family.

                                            INTRODUCTION:

First and foremost I wish to thank each of you for taking some of your very valuable time to come to this blog and give it a read. We truly appreciate it. Let's get acquainted, my name is Patti-Ann Ballard Kubacki, my husband is Joseph Kubacki, Sr.  We have been married for since November 1992. We have been blessed with three children: Joe, Jr., 21; Alex (Alexandra), 19 and Emma-May, 16. Currently we reside in New Jersey.

I am a legal secretary, Joey is a crew chief for a land surveying company. Joe, Jr., is in his third year at Fairleigh Dickinson University, studying criminology.  Alexandra is in her second year at Albright College in Pennsylvania.  She is a history/early education major. Emma is a Junior at Verona High School.

Joey and I have been together 25 plus years. We were both born and raised in the City of Newark in New Jersey.

Joey and Joe, Jr., are passionate hunters, shooters, fishermen. Joey is also a very talented woodworker among many other skills and interests.

Joey, Jr., is very artistic, plays the guitar and saxophone. He is a volunteer firefighter with our Town's fire department. He is also a comic book lover and draws his own amazing comic book images. Joe is also a very big history lover.

Alex is a passionate DIYer (Tori Spelling is her inspiration along with a great devotion to Pinterest) and is working very hard at her studies to become a teacher. She too loves history and crochets. Alex bakes and is in charge of decorating and all celebrations in our home.

Emma is a very accomplished and diligent student. She is also an actress, appearing in her school plays and sings with two choirs at school. She has a great interest in science and an amazing math ability.  Emma walks to her own music which you will come to see.

There are also two very important, four legged, members of our family. Gunner is an 11 year old English Springer Spaniel and Beauregard Lee is a 4 year old miniature Dachshund. Both are characters in their own right.

We invite you to come along with us on our family journey and see where it takes us. We hope to make you smile, laugh sometimes, think often and learn a few things along the way.

WELCOME!