Olden Oasis

The Incredible Benefits of Marigolds: Exploring the Health Benefits of Consuming Marigolds Marigolds are not only beautiful flowers that brighten up any garden, but they also offer a plethora of health benefits when consumed. From boosting immunity to improving digestion, marigolds have been used for centuries for their medicinal properties. In this article, we will delve into the amazing benefits of incorporating marigolds into your diet. Marigolds are like little powerhouses of vitamins and minerals that are super important for keeping our bodies healthy. These colorful flowers are full of vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Vitamin A helps us see well, boosts our immune system, and keeps our skin looking great. Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant that fights off bad stuff in our bodies and helps our immune system stay strong. Vitamin E is another antioxidant that helps keep our skin healthy and supports our immune system. Marigolds also have minerals like potassium, which helps keep ...

Pleasures of greenhouse gardening throughout the year Today I thought I would cover a more in-depth article about the simple gardening tips I do during the winter. I already have various garden seeds planted (for winter) and some are already blooming. So, if you're wondering if you can grow vegetables inside in the winter, this is one example to show that you can. Greenhouse gardening allows gardeners to have a consistent garden environment regardless of what the season is, which means you can keep growing vegetables and fruit even throughout the coldest months of the year without extreme limitations (in most cases).  There are numerous advantages to having indoor greenhouses. Since I added my greenhouses to the interior of my home, I have actually used less wood and less electricity to heat my home in the winter. The quality of air has become much better. Plus, I don't have to worry about bugs and wildlife eating my vegetable and fruit plants, nor do I have to worry about the ...

Holiday Dog Treats These homemade holiday dog treats are a delightful and healthy snack for your beloved fur baby. The combination of peanut butter, oatmeal, and pre-cooked sweet potatoes, pumpkin, or butternut squash provides a tasty and nutritious treat that your dog will surely enjoy. Ingredients: 1/2 cup of peanut butter 1 1/4 cup of flour 1/2 cup of pre-cooked sweet potatoes, pumpkin, or butternut squash 1/4 cup of oatmeal Instructions: In a mixing bowl, combine 1/2 cup of peanut butter, 1 1/4 cups of flour, 1/2 cup of pre-cooked sweet potatoes, pumpkin, or butternut squash, and a 1/4 cup of oatmeal. Mix the ingredients until they are well combined. Next, shape the mixture into small bite-sized treats or use a holiday cookie cutter to create fun shapes that will surely bring a wag to your furry friend's tail. Place the treats on greased baking trays. Now, it's time to bake these delectable treats. Pop them into a 400 degree oven and let them bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or u...

Holiday Flock Blocks Made With Applesauce Welcome to my guide on creating delicious and nutritious Holiday Flock Blocks made with applesauce! Designed to provide your flock with a festive and healthy treat, these homemade blocks are packed with the goodness of applesauce and can be customized with various flavors and ingredients. In this article, we will explore the benefits of using applesauce in flock blocks, provide a step-by-step guide on how to make them, suggest creative variations and flavor combinations, offer tips on storing and presenting the blocks, discuss the health benefits for your flock, address common questions and troubleshooting, and conclude with our final thoughts. Let's dive in and create some delightful treats for your feathered friends this holiday season! Introduction to Holiday Flock Blocks Made With Applesauce What are Holiday Flock Blocks? Holiday flock blocks are a fun and nutritious treat for your feathered friends during the festive season. These hand...

Easy Holiday Cat Treats The holiday season is a time of joy and indulgence, and why should our feline friends be left out? In this article, I'll show you how to make easy homemade cat treats that will have your furry companion purring with delight. Whether you want to spoil your cat with a special holiday treat or simply enjoy the satisfaction of making something from scratch, these recipes are the perfect way to spread some cheer for your beloved pet. Choosing Cat-Friendly Ingredients Not all human foods are safe for cats, so it's important to know which ingredients are suitable for our furry companions. Stick to cat-friendly options like lean meats (chicken, turkey, and fish), vegetables (pumpkin, sweet potatoes), and fruits (berries, bananas) that are safe and delicious for your feline friend. Simple Homemade Treat Recipes for the Holidays Now, let's dive into some easy and delightful homemade cat treat recipes that will have your kitty begging for more: Turkey and Sweet...

Peanut butter oatmeal dog treats Today, I am super excited to share my techniques for making another truly wholesome dog treat with you. After-all, your furry companions deserve healthy food, so that they can be their best selves. These pup treats are the perfect snack to make ahead of time for your cuddly pooch as a reward for their love and companionship, obedience, potty-training, or for any other training in general.  My fur baby seems to think that the treats taste better when they're made in different cute shapes. So, I use three different cookie cutters when I make these dog treats. Plus, using different cookie cutter sizes also allows me to make good use of the leftover dough pieces. The three shapes that I am using for this recipe are a gingerbread man, a star, and a flower-shaped cookie cutter. (I use regular cookie cutters to make mine.) If you don't have any cookie cutters, that's okay too. After rolling out the dough, cut it into squared-shaped pieces, or use a...

Homemade sweet potato dog chewy treats To make this dog treat recipe, you'll need sweet potatoes, a sharp knife, a dehydrator, and time. The hardest part is slicing the sweet potatoes. For this recipe, I do not peel the potatoes, because the peels have so much goodness in them for my fur baby. Contrary to some beliefs, the skin of sweet potatoes is not poisonous. My dog loves sweet potato chewy treats and I love that she does, because they're so healthy for her. They're not only high in fiber, but they're also loaded with vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B-6, calcium, potassium, riboflavin, magnesium, and iron. Vitamin A alone helps build healthy muscles, eyes, skin, and fur.  One sweet potato makes several treats, but when I make these treats for my fur baby, I generally slice at least six to eight (depending on their size) sweet potatoes at a time to dehydrate. Ingredients: Sweet potatoes (the amount depends on how many trays that you have to fill) Instructions: Wash the...

Keeping an indoor garden alive If you have an indoor garden, or want to have one, and need some gardening tips, such as how to keep vegetable plants alive indoors, when to water your plants, what to do if your plants are dying, then today's article is just for you!  Most of the edible plants that can be grown outside can also be grown inside in containers, hydroponic systems, and greenhouses and really do well under the right conditions. As we go into fall, your gardening doesn't have to end! If you're a beginner, there are several basic vegetable plants that are fairly easy to grow inside. These plants can be picked all throughout their growing season and, with some TLC, you can keep growing them all year long inside.  Micro-greens include a mix of greens and herbs, and can also include beets, radishes, kale, Swiss chard, basil, and arugula. Grow your micro greens in a large container and cut them as seedling plants.  To stay ahead of the game, sow new seeds every coupl...

Chickpea dog treats This is a healthy dog treat that's packed with nutritional benefits. The dough in this dog treat recipe can be prepared in two ways, baked or dehydrated. I am baking mine today, but I will also include the instructions (towards the end of my article) on how you can dehydrate the dog treats.  The chickpeas are super easy to smash once they're cooked. Ingredients: 1 cup of chickpeas, cooked ½ cup of sweet potato, cooked and peeled ½ cup of carrots, cooked 2 tablespoons of oil 1 cup flour ¼ cup water Instructions: If you need the cooking instructions for chickpeas, go back to read my article "Chickpeas for pooches". In that article I went through all the steps to show how I cook them specifically for pet food. To cook the sweet potato, place it into a pan of boiling water and cook it until it's tender. Boiling a sweet potato usually takes about thirty-five minutes. Drain the water off, allow the sweet potato to cool; peel it and mash it. Set aside...

News at Olden Oasis From this Past Week by Gin Lee on December 14, 2024 I took the time to make homemade honey divinity for Christmas this week. If you'd like my recipe you can find it at “Cooking Exceptionally With Gin Lee.” Also, I recently decorated Olden Oasis for the holidays, keeping everything vintage! If you haven't already, check out my Simplified Christmas blog post where I go into more detail about it. My Christmas tree is a special 7-foot artificial tree from the 80s that my dad bought for me. Since he's no longer with us, the tree holds a lot of sentimental value for me. It's truly a cherished piece in my holiday decor. I also have a vintage Santa Claus decoration that originally belonged to my dad. It just feels right to have it displayed next to the tree, by the chimney and hearth. The pairing of these two pieces brings a sense of nostalgia and warmth to my home during the holiday season. The majority of all my tree decorations are also vintage pieces da...