Month: August 2025

Posted in Uplifting

A Goat-head Weed

Posted on by junebugphx

If you’ve never encountered this weed, consider yourself lucky—it likely means you live in a place where other plants thrive, thanks to a favorable climate or ample humidity. This resilient plant flourishes in barren, unforgiving conditions where little else can survive. For those familiar with it, you understand the frustration of watching it overrun your yard or, worse, the sharp pain of stepping on one of its spiky stickers—a sensation that makes walking on hot coals seem easy by comparison.IMG_20180813_075849670

As this weed grows, it spreads like the tentacles of an octopus, weaving its way into everything around it. It blooms small yellow flowers that might seem almost pretty to the untrained eye. But don’t be fooled—those cheerful blossoms mark the beginning of one of the nastiest thorns you’ll ever encounter.

These thorns, shaped like a goat’s head with sharp points at either end, are deceptively vicious. They can bring down the strongest person and puncture even the toughest bike tire. My children quickly learned to stick to the sidewalk because of these thorns, yet even there, safety isn’t guaranteed.

The other morning, I noticed one of these plants on my walk and thought, Where did that come from? I pride myself on staying on top of weeding, but there it was—a goat-head weed growing at the edge of my driveway near the sidewalk. I couldn’t believe I’d missed it. I made a mental note to pull it out as soon as I got home.

Later, as I started weeding, I realized something: I’d pulled this goat-head weed a few weeks ago but must have left part of the root behind. Now, it was back, larger and stronger than ever, with its yellow flowers ready to transform into sharp thorns destined to harm anyone unfortunate enough to cross their path.

This realization got me thinking about our thoughts and emotions. Sometimes, I have a lingering thought or unresolved feeling that’s just like that weed. I convince myself I’ve dealt with it, and for a while, everything feels fine. But then, out of nowhere, I feel hurt or anger rise up, and I wonder where it came from. That’s when I realize it’s my own “goat-head” thought—the root I left behind has regrown, stronger than before. If I don’t address it completely, it will grow into something harmful, shedding emotional thorns that can hurt not only me but those around me.

I’ve been slacking in tending to the weeds in both my yard and my mind, but I know I’m not alone in this struggle.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

—Proverbs 4:23

” Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

“Your mind is a garden. Your thoughts are seeds. You can grow flowers or you can grow weeds. – Ritu Ghatourey

Posted in Recipes

Jackfruit BBQ

Posted on by junebugphx

I can’t believe this is the last real month of Summer. As a kid I thought Summer was the shortest season and always felt a disappointment when it came to an end. Yes I wasn’t one to look forward to school but it was more than that. It was the carefree days, warm weather, swimming, a change in what we had for dinner, vacations long or short, camping and I can’t forget the wonderful fun of going off to Summer Camp. I think I can still hear the shouts of happiness from my parents as the bus drove me away. To me the whole world seemed to come to a slower pace, maybe a more casual atmosphere.

Now, unfortunately I think that Summer is one of the longer seasons and can’t wait for the hot days to end but around February I start to wonder if maybe I was to hard on Summer and perhaps it gets a bum rap. I also start to long for a change in my recipes and look forward to BBQ.

So before Summer is gone for a time, I wanted to share a BBQ recipe.

Jackfruit is one of my favorite meat alternatives I have found for a BBQ Sandwich. It gives it a pulled pork flare and picks up the BBQ taste well. The internet is full of Jackfruit recipes so this might be like others you have seen and if so let me know so I can check them out and give them credit.

I was being lazy when I did this so go ahead and feel free to change it up or do it my lazy way and buy the sauce as well as the coleslaw.

Jackfruit BBQ Sandwich:

Hamburger Buns

Coleslaw

1 20 ounce can of Jackfruit (jackfruit in a bag can be used)

BBQ sauce

Diced onion and garlic per your taste

Olive Oil

Start by draining, washing and trimming the jackfruit. Think of a pineapple and how you cut out the center. With jackfruit you might wish to do the same, just trim the center of the jackfruit keeping the more shredded pieces but if you don’t mind it then go-ahead leave it in place and just make sure that it is drained, cleaned and patted dry. If using bag jackfruit skip this step.

Next in skillet add small amount of olive oil, diced onion and garlic. Sauté until translucent then add jackfruit and BBQ sauce covering the jackfruit. Turn down heat. Simmer on low for about 10 minutes.

Serve on a bun and if you prefer top with coleslaw and then enjoy!

Posted in Uplifting

Taste

Posted on by junebugphx

If you have been around awhile reading my blog, you will know that I love food and great tasting food at that! So, when I was reading my Bible verse of the day

Psalm 34:8

““Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

it hit different and if you look up the word taste in the dictionary, it is not only a noun, but also a verb, meaning to “perceive or experience the flavor of”. That’s it, how many times do I look around the world see the hurting and chaos or perhaps when you are going along and anything but good is happing in your life. You may have job lost, sickness or relationships ending. Making it really hard to see the good or the good around you.

But, when we choose to experience the flavor of life it looks so much different. It takes effart to see the goodness of God at times but when we choose the action to put in the work of tasting His goodness that’s when the wonderful flavor comes through. It’s like a recipe, the ingredients may not seem to go together at first but when we mix them all together and follow the instructions, we create something wonderful.

When we choose to experience life fully, with all its ups and downs, joys and struggles, it can be overwhelming. We are constantly bombarded with images of perfection and success, making us feel like we are always falling short. But if we take a step back and really taste what life has to offer, we will see that behind every challenge there is an opportunity for growth, behind every disappointment there is a lesson to be learned.

Just like in cooking, sometimes the best recipes come from unexpected combinations of ingredients. Similarly, our experiences in life may not always seem to make sense or align with our plans, but when we mix them all together and follow the instructions, we create something wonderful. We learn to appreciate the beauty in imperfection and find joy in the unexpected.

So instead of trying to control every aspect of our lives and striving for perfection, let’s embrace the messiness and unpredictability of life. Let’s savor each moment, even the not-so-perfect ones, because they all contribute to creating a unique and fulfilling journey. Just like a chef who takes risks in the kitchen and ends up with a masterpiece dish, let’s take risks in life and trust God that it will lead us to something amazing.

Posted in essential oils, Green Cleaning Tips, Recipes

Toilet Bombs

Posted on by junebugphx

I know I usually offer a tasty recipe on a Monday, but today I thought I would bring back an old cleaning recipe I blogged about in 2016.  With summer in full swing, I figured it was a good time to refresh our memories on this all-natural household cleaner, especially since many of us have our homes closed up using air conditioners. Plus, I miss giving green tips and will bring that back. I’d like to hear in the comments if this kind of content will be helpful.

This cleaning recipe is not only effective, but also environmentally friendly and inexpensive. It uses simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry or can get easily enough at the store. And the best part? It works for most toilets, even sinks or bathtubs, making it a great versatile solution for your cleaning needs.

So what do you need for this DIY cleaner? Citric acid, baking soda, water, and essential oils of your choice (optional for scent, but it is the best part). Did you realize you had amazing options right inside your house?

These homemade toilet cleaning tablets offer a simple, eco-friendly solution to replace harsh chemical cleaners—and they’re incredibly easy to make!

All you need are a few common household ingredients and an ice cube tray. So say goodbye to those harsh chemicals and give these DIY toilet cleaning tablets a try.

Your toilet and the environment will thank you.

Baking soda and citric acid are natural, effective cleaning agents that tackle stains and odors in your toilet without relying on harsh chemicals. When combined with essential oils, these ingredients create a powerful, eco-friendly toilet cleaner that not only leaves your bathroom spotless, but also fills it with a refreshing, pleasant scent.

To start, gather the following ingredients:

– Baking soda

– Citric acid

– Lemon essential oil

– Water

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of baking soda with 1/4 cup of citric acid.

2. Add 15-25 drops of lemon essential oil and mix well. (or any sent you prefer)

3. Slowly add water to the mixture until it forms a paste-like consistency.

4. Spoon the mixture into an ice cube tray, pressing down firmly to pack it in.

5. Let the tablets dry overnight or for at least 8 hours.

6. Once completely dry, pop out the tablets from the tray and store them in an airtight container.

That’s it! Your all-natural bathroom cleaning tablets are ready to use.

To use:

1. Drop one tablet into your toilet bowl and let it fizz up.

2. Scrub the bowl with a toilet brush and flush.

3. You can also use these tablets for other surfaces in your bathroom, such as sinks, tubs, and counters.

4. Simply drop a tablet onto the surface, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Not only will these cleaning tablets leave your bathroom sparkling clean, but they will also leave behind a refreshing lemon scent. Plus, you can feel good knowing that you are using all-natural ingredients instead of harsh chemicals.

So next time you need some deep cleaning in your bathroom, give these DIY cleaning tablets a try. Your bathroom and the environment will thank you!