Poor neglected blog

Hello everyone...It has been a while. So busy with life and fun I forgot about blogging. We have been doing many amazing things lately and I want to tell you about some of them.

Chickens-
A few weeks ago I signed up with some local farmers to buy chickens from them weekly at the farmers market. They are a little more expensive this way but way more local, and fresh than store bought ones. Basically a chicken at the coop is $16-20 and these are 5 for $90 or 10 chickens for $180 and you get a bonus chicken! I am trying to find more and more ways to support the local economy and utilize the resources around us more efficiently. You may be able to do the same type of CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) in your area. Just do a quick internet search or go to your local farmers market. www.mendocinoorganicscsa.com. is where I am getting them with Adam Gaska.

Ancient Living Skills-
We just attended a workshop for families the I hosted at our Waldorf school the Waldorf School of Mendocino County. www.mendocinowaldorf.org. Tamara Wilder is a Paleotechnologist who teaches groups of people how to get back to our roots and learn skills for survival and for fun. We learned how to make string from plant fibers, drill holes in pine nuts to make beads, drill holes in soapstone to make beads, and then string them on our twine to make necklaces.  The one with the most beads is the richest person in the group, that means you have the most leasure time to sit around and make them. 

                                                                  String making

We also made ropes, a four person job, but really industrious. The kids made ropes for their jump ropes at school.

We also made fires by friction, super hard and very satisfying once you get it! The whole process is very detailed, a whole book really, but I learned so much about the energy you put into the fire, the force it takes and all the elements needed to make it successful. This is a photo of Tamara making a fire from rubbing her hands together over the stick, which creates a bit of sawdust that falls out of the hole in the bottom of the other stick with notches. The friction creates heat and over the course of a minute there will be enough ht sawdust in the pile it will ignite and you will have a little coal. Then you dump the coal into your tinder bundle, made of various dry materials, and then poof! A fire! My hands are totally sore from trying so hard. But it was so satisfying. I can survive and create a fire on my own if needed. Go to her website www.paleotechnics.com where you can find a schedule of her classes, resources and other events.



















Cell Phones-
The other big change I am making for my personal health is using a hands-free heat reducing headset for my cell phone. Since a cell phone is my only phone option out here in the country I am forced into using one. I do a lot of business and personal calls, but am trying to do more texting as a better option for reducing my radiation. But eh headset I have is an ENVI RF3, it is made from recycled materials, and has a clear tube that brings the sound, but reduces the heat going directly into your head. They come with adapters for most every phone out there. Go to www.cellularfactory.com or search for the ENVI RF3 headset or heat reducing headset to get one. Better safe than sorry!

Food-
So we are sticking to a varied diet now, very light, mucho greenery and less meat. Little or no grains, no dairy still and lots of raw, vegan and live foods. We have had an interesting week of cheating due to company and parties. This again taught us lessons about what not to do on a regular basis. It is amazing how after not eating wheat, and then having pasta and garlic bread I feel like shit, have a headache, bloated, gassy and just overall uck! So today we are back to business......good food, colonics again, light and fresh. I have been doing some fun food making and sharing this last few weeks. I have been making lettuce wraps with various goodies inside. But this is a fabulous way to get away from tortillas.

Spicy lettuce Wraps
6-8 large lettuce leaves will feed two hungry adults

make a platter of your favorite veggies like cilantro, avocados, cucumber, tomatoes, radishes etc.
saute veggie up if not doing all raw, like jalapenos, onions, mushrooms, zuchinis and place them in the wrap, add fresh veg, and salsa. Soooooo tasty!

Enjoy! Blog at cha soon...

Post cleanse recap and yummy pies!

So the cleanse week was interesting. We learned a lot about how to not just dive into big changes. But there is always that adjustment period where you may be uncomfortable, have gas, have a detox reaction, be fatigued. I realized my body does not do very well without animal protein, it is hard for me to get all my protein needs with nuts, seeds, and beans. I can not have fruit very much anymore for a while to get rid of the yeast overgrowth in my system, so if I am down to veggies, nuts and seeds I will go crazy real quick. So I added animal proteins in and I feel good. Jamie is trying to stick to only having animal proteins here and there maybe once a week or so. Overall I feel good,  just a bit frustrated. This was the week of change and strange time perception issues (my clock reset itself so that we were late, people were running late and getting times confused a lot). People seem very sensitive and easily upset. Something in the stars, so it was  good week to purge, clear out old cobwebs etc. Anyways, moving on to more layers of this onion, at the center is pure, healthy, clear, amazing beauty.




Blackberry Cacao Kapow Pie


Crust- makes 2 crusts
shredded coconut 2 cups
1 cup dates
3/4 cup pecans
3 heaping tsp.cacao powder
1/4 cup coconut butter (raw)
2 think lemon slices w/skin

place all ingredients in cuisinart add 1 tblsp water once  it gets going good in the cuisinart. Blend well until nuts are chopped up well and it begins to stick together.

place in pie dishes

Filling
1 cup frozen or fresh (if you are so lucky!) of blackberries
1/2 cup blanched almonds
1/4 cup almond milk
1 tblsp. agave
5 large medjool dates
1/2 cup shredded coconut

blend all up in cuisinart for about 15 minutes until coconut and almonds are smooth and creamy. put this mixture in on top of the crust. let sit in fridge for 1 hour and serve.

Toppings

Well I was going to make a chocolate sauce for the top of mine, but you could also do just pureed blackberries with a smidge of cornstarch to help it jell up. This tangy fruit will make it so delicious...just explore a bit.

Enjoy!

 I am enjoying David Wolfes book, "Naked Chocolate". This one I adapted and expanded on and made my own....but there are many interesting recipes in it.

Day 7 of Challenge

Ok, so detoxing can kick your ass!

In case you have never gone through any kind of detox before, take it easy, schedule your time well so that you can relax, rest, sleep, get a break from kids etc. Today I am doing better, feeling good gut wise.

Jamie is feeling better, just in general wipe out from colonics and lymes detox.

Hard to know where to stop once you figure out where your issues are. One step at a time is probably a bit easier. I am really looking forward to some animal protein tomorrow...maybe even tonight since we are going out to eat. We will see..... The sun is out and the garden is going off...so I will find some herbs and useful garden allies today as I weed the over abundant weeds.

                                                               Cleavers (sticky monkey)

Morning shake
cleavers
kale
papaya
banana
coconut butter
water and ice
probiotics
strawberries

Cleavers are a good kidney tonic and helpful as a diuretic as well. Read on for some more uses. Right now they are abundant in my yard, use them while you got em!

 Properties
   Cleavers is edible and medicinal, it has been used for centuries as an alternative medicine by indigenous peoples on many continents. It is edible raw though said to be unpalatable, mainly used as a pot-herb or as an addition to soups. Using the plant as a vegetable has a slimming effect on the body. Cleavers seed is one of the best coffee substitutes, it merely needs to be dried and lightly roasted and has much the same flavor as coffee. Cleavers has a long history of use as an alternative medicine and is still used widely by modern herbalists. It is used both internally and externally in the treatment of a wide range of ailments. The dried or fresh herb is alterative, anti-inflammatory, antiphlogistic, aperient, astringent, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, tonic and vulnerary. A valuable diuretic, it is often taken to treat skin problems such as seborrhoea, eczema and psoriasis, and as a general detoxifying agent in serious illnesses such as cancer. The plant contains organic acids, flavonoids, tannins, fatty acids, glycoside asperuloside, gallotannic acid and citric acid. It has a mild laxative effect and stimulates the lymphatic system and has shown benefit in skin related problems. The fresh plant or juice is used as a medicinal poultice for wounds, ulcers and many other skin problems. An infusion of the herb has shown of benefit in the treatment of glandular fever, tonsilitis, hepatitis and cystitis. The infusion is also used to treat liver, bladder and urinary problems. The plant contains the valuable constituent asperuloside, a substance that is converted into prostaglandins by the body. Prostaglandins are hormone-like compounds that stimulate the uterus and affect blood vessels. Much more scientific research is being done on the plant it is of great interest to the pharmaceutical industry.