It's about time....

Too many days have gone by since my last entry, and with it many transitions, and personal reflections...
I am now settled into a 160 sq ft cabin, tucked under an historical log cabin, I call home. Though I continue to make my weekly salads, I have also acquired a dehydrator and juicer that complements my small kitchen space.

My First and Favorite Juice For Now
4 stalks celery
2 small cucumbers
small handful fresh parsley
small handful kale
1/2 inch chunk of fresh ginger
2 small apple
It really makes a great way for me to start the day.


My first dehydrator experiments:

Spicy Zucchini Chips
One green zucchini, sliced thinly
sprinkled with Spike Seasoning, cayenne, Himalayan sea salt and garlic
Took about 8 hours to dry. Excellent as a spicy snack or toss into salads

Banana Breakfast Treat
1 ripe banana
1 cup dried coconut
splash of vanilla
1/3 cup cacao
dash of Himalayan sea salt
1 Tbl coconut syrup
1/3 cup date sugar
Mix together, using fruit roll up dehydrator sheets, this took about 12 hours to dry

Flax/Seaweed Crackers
2 cups flax seed soaked in 1 1/2 cup water
1/3 cup minced Dulce
garlic
cayenne
Himalayan sea salt
Mix together, using fruit roll up dehydrator sheets, this took about 12 hours to dry

I have also acquired:
A new reflection in honoring my appetite. There is no shame or guilt in food consumption. I believe what ever I indulge in, is exactly what my body needs at that time. It seems like when I am paying attention to my body, while enjoying the abundance of a particular "raw" food, it is happening just prior to an event or activity that requires a higher expenditure of energy. My body therefore is intuitively reacting and preparing to better serve my needs.
That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Other reflections:
Currently; I am happier and balanced in general when my daily food consumption looks something like this:
Fresh veggie juice in the morning.
During the day, snacking on mostly fresh fruit, some raw veggies, supplementing with nuts or seeds. Corn on the cob, watermelon, peaches, pink grapefruit and chia seeds seem to be my favorite at this time.
For dinner, a huge powerful salad with flax seed (dehydrator) cracker.
During the week, I may supplement some days with extra avocado, dried fruit, additional nuts or nut butters.

This brings me up to date, and the end of my 90 day Raw life style experiment.

To wrap up;

• These 90 days have been an excellent opportunity to realign my personal beliefs about food.
• My nails are stronger, my body is leaner. My personal confidence has increased.
• I am enjoying new experiences in my life, such as Spanish, Flute, and Yoga.
  
• I have adopted a bike, and living close enough to work, can give my car a rest on most days.
• I have become more aware of energetic balancing of my own, and it's exchange with other life forms. Exploring how to shift it to keep myself grounded and focused, yet, happy and light has become a form of entertainment.
• I have become more forgiving of myself, a reflection of the love that I am personally cultivating.
• I have become more understanding and honoring of others as I send out greater love, letting go of fear and doubt.
• It's a beautiful journey, and I have a remarkable group of people around me to share, as we nurture each others growth.
  

What's next?
I do receive joy from writing, and other opportunities of self expression. I have created the space to bring in more experiences as well as continue with my other blog "These Days"; Lessons and Reflections of from a Student of Life" at http://consciousnesschange.blogspot.com/, to support further exploration of my highest potential.

Packin' up the Kitchen

AZJoe was up this weekend, helping me move. However, as I am creating a small mountain of "stuff" for him to take back to Phoenix to store at my parents house, he is now having a great time creating some kind of raw confection.

Going through my cupboards, he discovered walnuts, pecans, cashews, pine nuts, coconut oil, coconut oil, cacao, agave syrup, date sugar, cacao butter, vanilla and sea salt. The creative process included; mixing things up, grinding things down, gently melting and melding everything together, for the art of "making dessert".

After shaping his creation into little bite size balls and dusting with date sugar, we enjoyed them with fresh cherries, grapes and peaches. He encourages my raw experiment, and even gave it a go himself, as he too is discovering the right kind of diet to fuel his mission here on earth.

I love lentil sprouts! It is so easy using the jar method. Soak over night, drain, rinse 1-2x a day. Bam! Sprouts. Undeniably apparent to see the life force in each legume bursting forth. Wheat berry sprouts are my second favorite. I experimented with larger indigenous beans of which I have lost their labels, and found that after tossing them into my raw salad one afternoon, that though a large portion of them sprouted, a significant amount did not, which makes for an unpleasant surprise while chomping away. I'm thinking I will stick to lentils and wheat.

Try this!
1 avocado, cubed
1/2 cup lentil sprouts
1/2 cup wheat sprouts
1 scallion, sliced
1/2 cup sun cured olives
Toss with olive oil (cold-pressed), apple cider vinegar, garlic, sea salt and a hearty shake of cayenne.
Yum!

Letting go of stuff...
I posted my furniture on Craig's List this week, and at the College. Buyers coming empty handed, leaving with a piece of my furniture and I, with a few dollars in my hand. I gave away,"free with purchase", my stash of non raw, unopened fancy condiments, mustards, gourmet relishes and my small collection of dried herbs. Enjoying the flavors of fresh herbs, I just can't see going back to dry.

Cooking utensils? Decision day has come and what to do with my cast iron pot, large skillet, oven-ware, smaller pots and pans wasn't as hard as I once imagined. I kept one small pot, and one small iron skillet, ...just in case...but the remaining items were sold or given away.

As I settle into sleep on a couch that's not mine, because I sold my bed, I am awake at 2am fully aware of my transition these days. It's a bit uncomfortable, this place of transition, as I am grasping for what is familiar and routine, I find I am grasping at empty air. Looking for the sacredness between the old and the new, I do know that this is verrrrry temporary. This whole thing might be a little nuts, but I am okay with it.

Watermelon is wonderful!

Watermelon. This time of year it is so abundant, so juicy, so sweet, that I have adopted a new ritual. Watermelon fast about once a week. Today has been the second time in two weeks, and it feels good. It feels right.

Yes, by the end of the day, when finishing the last of the huge watermelon I bought a little more than 24 hours ago, my enthusiasm for the taste, the look, even the smell is less than it was at the beginning of the day. But, I know I will sleep well, wake up feeling great and looking forward to enjoying my idealistic food choices. It seems to reset my appetite thermostat just a bit, for which I am grateful. I have also heard that watermelon meat makes a great digestive cleanser.

Today I was up with the sun, operating at high peak all day, and now settling in for the evening, just as the sun is moving behind the mountains. Could be..... because I have spent the last week (on "vacation") locating my new home, getting rid of stuff (6 garbage bags), giving away stuff ( 4 boxes, 3 garbage bags) and have posted the last of my furniture on Craig's list. I'm on a mission.

It is amazing how similar this "material purging, prior to moving", is to the last one which pulled me out of Phoenix and landed me in Prescott about 2 years ago. All I can say, is something huge must be coming, because I have sure cleared out lot of stuff; physical, spiritual and emotional. It is an exercise in self reflection, life review and manipulation of vibrational energy. It seems to be going much easier this go around, as...well as, dare I say...almost fun!

Toiletry Update;
I wash my hair with baking soda instead of shampoo. Absolutely love how it makes my hair look and feel.
I use hemp oil as a weekly facial moisturizer, sometimes coconut. So far, I like the responsiveness of my skin.
I use rock salt for deodorant, have been about 2 years now, after changing my idea of how a deodorant is suppose to work, it does well for me.
I use Vitamin E drops for eye area after ever face cleaning.

Let it go Baybeeeee!

I can see the advantages as I am searching for new housing, eager to further streamline my life, while enjoying a raw lifestyle. I now don't need a stove/oven, just some counter space, and ideally, but not necessary, a little refrigerator.

Currently I am living in 600 sq ft. Yesterday I was considering a 10x12 bedroom/living space plus bathroom. Though it was bit uncomfortable at first to consider, the paring down of more, getting rid of the last of my favorite furniture, and finding new loving human experiences for my cats, it is the kind of discomfort that actually feels good, like exercising a forgotten muscle.

As I was going though my storage shed, I noticed I have 2 big Tupperware tubs filled with writings since grade school days, and now at the age of 50, I am sure it is time to release the past, without hesitation. Freedom comes in many different packages, eliminating more stuff seems to be the package I am unwrapping these days. Giving away my furniture instead of selling seems to support my new belief system that money is old energy, reducing my attachment and need for it.

What does this have to do with the Raw Lifestyle? Clarity in purpose and direction. I remember going through similar events shortly after my husband died, living in a 2400 sq ft house, filled with stuff. It was by Diving force and coercion that I made the decision to reduce material belongings, to leave my family business, to move, to be open to new and very different changes.

This time it's different, it is of no prompting except that gentle voice inside that says it time. I have come to honor that voice, rely on the voice, and tap into the wisdom behind it. As a Tibetan friend once reminded me, "If you own a yak, you have problems as big as a yak"

I do believe that taking care of your body, what ever that means for each of us, is primary in raising vibrational energy. For me, this means eating LIVE foods. I think of my history; vegetarian to vegan to raw. Joining the YMCA, of hiking more, connecting with nature more, yes this means hugging trees, and paying attention to the Divinity within. I am now bringing in new people and experiences that support this direction I have taken.

Today I am exploring another housing possibility: "How do you feel about your shower located outside" A laugh, and smile reported; "I am definitely open to new experiences"

Many Days Gone By

Hello!

Sitting on a vortex in Sedona, feeling the energy of the sunrise, the rocks, the plants, the breeze, lost in the beauty that surrounds me...I can feel the releasing that is happening now, shedding, like coming out of a cocoon....maybe waking up.
I am.
I am alive.
I am.....days and days behind in my posting, and for this I apologize. : }

The topics on my ever growing list, in light of this 90 raw food experience, is unmanageable, and it is with this single post, I seek redemption.

Big item; Emotional Eating.

Old story: complex carbohydrates, refined sugar and wine and/or beer. Physical recovery-24 hours. Emotional recovery-48 hours, sometimes more with the slippery slope to satiate my emotions once again with the same. Tough stuff.

New story; raw falafel and raw hummus with greens, raw cacao pie for dessert and a bottle of sparkling water. Physical recovery-after my morning elimination. Emotional recovery...there is no misalignment to recover from.

Half way there, 6 weeks in and 6 more weeks to go. Some reflections...

• I don't miss coffee, and understand clearly the addictive cycle it has with me
  
• My counter spice tray now consists of cold pressed olive oil, apple cider vinegar, garlic, cayenne, curry and turmeric. I love the cleansing qualities of turmeric. I use fresh herbs generously, instead of dried herbs lightly. I am experimenting with ginger more.
  
• Eating fruit alone (or with a handful of raw nuts), on an empty stomach works really well for me. No more "chootling". As a matter of fact, very little now, a lot less than when I was a non raw vegan.
• On the advice of a Nutritionist friend, I am taking B12 and L-cysteine. It will be interesting to see the results of a hair analysis in August. Wish I had thought to do one before.
  
• I have shifted and/or released some weight. I have never embraced the "scale", because it only supports a limited point of view I have on what I should weigh, but I have dropped a dress size, I see new definitions in my body, friends have noticed.
• I am more aware of my energy levels, and how foods/meals affect me. This allows me to make minor changes to keep consistently centered.
• I am more sensitive to the energies of those around me and observant to the ways I react to them. Again, this allows me to make minor changes to keep consistently centered.
• During this "peri-menopausal and menopause" time of life for me, my periods wanned to every 4-6 months. Now, almost every other month. This is good. The longer I can keep the estrogen flowing naturally, the better for me.
• With this food life style change, regular yoga, weight bearing exercises (2-3x a week) 30-60 minute hikes (3-4x a week), life experiences, their lessons & guidance, I am probably in the best overall condition than I have ever been, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
  
• Could be because of the increase daylight of summer, but I have noticed that it is not unusual from me to stay up past 10pm, and still get up at my regular time (without an alarm) at about 5am.

I think that is all for now. I appreciate your patience, and am looking forward to being more consistent with my entries.

White Food is not the color of RAW.

My Director treated me to lunch today after three tedious days of Inventory Quarantine at the Bookstore. Actually I was invited to join her, her partner and a friend of theirs, and honored. Some time away from the store, sounded refreshing.

Olive Garden. The never ending bowl of pasta. She was concerned that maybe I wouldn’t find anything on the menu, knowing that I was into my 90-day RAW experiment. I knew they served salad, so I reassured her I would be fine.

An interesting observation about raw food is so little of it is white. To be surrounded by meals that were white was noticeable in contrast to what I have been accustom to lately. Even my salad was nearly white, made up of mostly iceberg and onions, saved by the few tomatoes my dining buddies let me snag. The Italian dressing, I am sure not of the caliber of dressing I am use to throwing on my salads at home, I have to admit, made my taste buds sing! Sugar?

The plate next to me, cheese ravioli served in Alfredo sauce, took my breath away. This was the first time, since I started this, that I felt the old feeling of….something, I am not sure... and when the white soft bread sticks were dipped in the sauce, topped with fresh grated Parmesan cheese…well, food envy was definitely tugging at those memories of my old comfort foods. The feeling subsided as I got more absorbed into the shared conversation.

Tonight I thoroughly enjoyed my beautiful vibrant dark green salad that was ignored at lunch. Made with marinated mushrooms, heirloom tomatoes, tomatilloes, sliced chili peppers, avocado and green onions. This! Is live food.

For dessert; dried fruit, a few raw energy cubes from the local organic market, and a glass of hazelnut milk to stoke my body for tomorrow morning's workout. This night time combination has been working very well for me.

Raw Note:
Though my commitment to raw food is strong, to some, comprising on my salad dressing today may have been a significant indiscretion. But......"no food life style should be a religion", well over used, but I don't know how to express my feelings any better. My other thought is, that to deny myself joining these beautiful ladies for a meal would have been the greater sin.

I LOVE Weekends at Home!

In preparation for the week, I went to Farmer’s market bright and early this Saturday morning and purchased corn, tomatoes, pecans and flax seed crackers. Finished off my shopping at my natural market. Came home and reshuffled produced, putting the last of last weeks up front and this weeks fresh towards the back. Then created 2 salads to last me the week.

Broccoli Salad
1 large bunch of Broccoli, stems peeled, sliced thin
½ yellow onion, slivered
Olive oil
Apple cider vinegar
Curry
Salt
Garlic

Tomato/Tomatillo Salad
6 small tomatoes, chopped into large chunk
4 Tomatillo, chopped into smaller chunks
4 green scallions, whites and greens
½ yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips
½ red bell pepper. cut into thin strips
Hemp oil
Apple cider vinegar
Garlic
Cayenne
Salt

Both of these are great with a sliced of avocado, but then again, what isn’t?

Also made Chia seed gel
1 part chia seeds to 3 parts water in a glass container with lid.
Shake fiercely. Let sit for 10 minutes
Shake again.
Store in the refrigerator.
It is suggested to take 3 T a day for added fiber. I take it when I am hungry, but am not ready to eat yet.

And…

Hazelnut milk.
1 cup hazelnuts
2 dates
½ tsp vanilla

Soak hazelnuts in water at room temperature for 24 hours.
Drain.
Add three cups fresh water.
Scooping both water and nuts, blend at high speed, adding pitted dates.
Place in glass bowl, lined with cheese cloth. Gather corners to twist and tighten over a bowl to collect your pulp and strain the milk. "Nut Bags" are also available.
Makes about 4 cups
Freeze pulp wrapped in wax paper, then zip lock bag for a future raw concoction, not sure yet what they may be.

One thing about goin’ raw, is as a mother of three with limited funds, a time ago in my life, an out grown habit endured. To eat perishables that were “past due on their rent”. Not now. I had old pesto that I had made from fresh greens, a while back, and looked at it, and smelled, thought it looked and smelled “okay”, there was no life, it was dead. In my old life, I probably would have made a salad dressing out of it, and called it good. Into the garbage the last of this batch goes. I guess I am growing up.

Raw Notes:

Consider bringing your plastic produce bags to the market with you, along with your reusable cloth shopping bags. If you are taking care of your body, you certainly want to take care of Mother Gaia by not throwing them away.

Had a chat with the pecan man about what makes a nut “raw”. Larger nut companies (like what you buy at Costco and major grocery stores) pasteurize their nuts at 190 degrees (ouch!) for preservation and extending shelf life. Smaller companies don’t need to because they sell seasonally and only to their community. Same chat with the honey man about honey. His answer was basically the same.

Found myself slightly conflicted at the produce section of my natural market. Apples. Five different kinds, but none of them were from our country. Organic, but imported. What I have heard, is though they may be grown organic in another country according to what that country defines organic, sometimes during the importing process, they may be sprayed with a chemical to prevent…something, hitchhikers, spoiling, not sure, but it doesn’t sound good. Now, I have this habit of having an apple every afternoon. Hmmmm. Then I got to think about my morning favorite of banana, not USA. Ended up filing this feeling, these thoughts for another shopping trip. Bought my bananas from Mexico and apples from Chile. South America does seem to be the place to be for a prosperous farmer these days.