Spring Daze

This week my grand daughters are out of school (& playschool) for spring vacation - & I've hung out with them several days! Today was sunny (YEA) & we walked to the track by their mom's work so they could ride their bikes around - fun! Stopped to visit their mom, then went to Grocery Outlet to see if there was still some of the Coconut Oil my dau. spied there the other day! Yes!! & way cheep (& Organic, unrefined :) - got several bottles, but wanted to try it first (I've had that brand before, but not that packaging).

So I didn't get them all - ratz!! Went back later in the day & there was only one left! I hope folks that really appreciate it picked it up! I did mention it to the checker & an older lady (It's GOOD for you!) I did find some smoked salmon & got more greek style olives that second trip :)

I've been mixing coconut oil with almond butter for my grand daughters, & they tell me when they want more - their moods have been good the last few days, & even 'melts' don't seem to last long! The 4 yr old is particularly volatile, so this is good! I think it's helping with 'brain chemistry' & they sure enjoy it! The oldest said 'grammie, we need more!' & handed me the almond butter ;)
Their dog Dax, a husky mix (almost 13) waits for his spoonful as well - coconut oil? don't mind if I do! This description of dogs 'going nuts' for the coconut oil applies - I give my chihuahua Gracie a dab (about 1/2 spoonful) & Dax a couple of Tbsp - I'd been putting it on a cottonball to swab Dax's ears, as he tends to have yeast & 'itchy' ears - & my daughter just got him a 'senior' kibble.

I have been keeping up with the exercise for the Lenten Challange - got to Ballet last Sat & then Tue, & played with the hula tape again this week. & walking & . . . .

One of the Docs from our office is out of town, so I received part of her CSA 'share!' I was so excited. It included salsify, so I looked up some recipes & adapted one that called for both salsify (related to dandelion & lettuce - you cook the root & can use the long leaves in salad) & jersulam artichokes! Sauted in Coconut oil, & added some garlic & 1/2 an onion.
For liquid I used nettle/alfalfa infusion It was a hit! My daughter grew up eating Jersulam Artichoke tubers, & loves them - with this quick saute (<15 min) the veggies are crunchy crisp, & the flavors go well together! For dinner I added a bit of coconut milk, curry paste & powder & some of the greens (kale & flowering turnip tops) also quite nice! & made some coconut rice (added about a cup of coconut milk while my brown rice, quinoa & teff was a' cooking) . . . Gracie & I both enjoyed it!

I've been reading Nina Planck's 'Real Food' & appreciating again growing up with mostly real foods. The big 'culprits' of 'industrial foods' were the wessen oil & crisco, white flour & white sugar we consumed! & my mom had cooked for the haying & planting crews, so made the best deserts!
We lived across the road from a dairy, so drank plenty of raw milk, ate range fed beef, & prob. good 'farm raised' chicken & eggs, plus venison & trout. As Nina, who began farmers markets in London & NY says, isn't it intriguing how real fats & meat are (sometimes) thought to be 'bad' & are falsly acused of causing all kinds of diseases - that were rare 'till we began eating 'industrialized foods,' inc. relatively new oils (soy, corn, rape - excuse me - modified rape or 'canola'), lots of refined sugars (now GM sugar beets, & high fructose corn syrup)
Several folks mention when farmers tried to fatten hogs by feeding them coconut oil, they got skinny! So they switched to corn & soy oil, & (like so many people,) they got nice & fat!

I also ran across a blurb countering the supposed 'dangers' of feeding dogs 'table scraps' - well, what did they eat for the last several thousand years spent as human companions?? - meat & 'people food' (ie: grains & veggies & some fruits - Gracie esp. loves raw apples & carrots) . . . . rather like the 'dangers' we're told exist if we eat foods we've eaten for thousands of years (alergies excluded ) . . . Marion Nestle gives the 'formula' for pet food: "a half a pound of grains, a quarter of a pound of meat, you bury them within it, you throw in some vegetables, you throw in a couple of supplements that you can buy at a supermarket and you’ve taken care of it."
When I first got Gracie, I made her food, then life happened, & I fed her kibble (Organix - a good brand!) So I've been feeding her bits of my meals (she is sturdy, but still small!) & she loves it!

So that old La Leche League formula: eat a wide variety of food in close to its natural state, is still my watchword.

Movement is Medicine

I'm so happy to be a participant in the Moving for Lent challenge!

Mon I took a long walk around the neighborhood - both with Gracie, & then to my daughter's office to pick up an ergonomic purse she got in a give away from one of her co-workers.
Wed: just a bit of walking, plus hanging out with the preschoolers all AM at my youngest Grand daughter's playschool - inc. recess :)
Tue & today I took Deep Water Aerobics class at our pool - & can feel a shift happening - more energy, more movement, & some pounds melting - yea (I think using coconut oil is helping with that!) !! I walked home after Tue's class, & both ways this AM . . . ~ 12 minutes.
& tonight I hope to attend Ecstatic Dance @ the College.

Last Nov. I played harp for a presentation on Optimal Aging by the (National) Medical Director of a Sr Care facility, Kevin W. O'Neil, MD. His topic was 'Movement is Medicine,' & Dr. O'Neil began a list of more than 50 diseases that respond (symptoms lessened or remission) with the addition of regular exercise! These include: heart disease, hypertension, colon cancer, diabetes, & various auto-immune diseases; plus positive shifts in Mental & Bone health. He commented that regular physical activity is essential for optimal health of those over 55 (&, of course, for younger folk as well!!) saying 10 minutes is the minimum time necessary for exercise to be effective.

One of my favorite statistics: which exercise has an 76% risk reduction for Alzheimer's?? . . . Ballroom Dance! (esp. Tango - which I LOVE!) Movement, social, touch, music, memorization, (inc. body memory!). . .

Dr O'Neil's Rx: for those 65+ (or younger folks with Chronic health conditions):

1st: make it fun, challanging, & try different things!

Do moderate intense aerobic exercise 30 min a day, 5 days a week
OR
Do vigorously intense aerobic exercise 20 min a day, 3 days a week
&
Do 8-10 stength-training exercises, 10-15 rep of each, 2-3 days a week
&
if at risk for falling, perform balance exercises
&
have a physical activity plan.

For reducing the risk of falling (more than 50%), he suggested a daily Vitamin D-3 intake of at least 1000 mg - up from the old USDA suggestion of 400 IU. & getting a blood test to see if you need more (the NDs in our office recommend more for many of their patients (after doing blood work.) Dr O'Neil commented that the 1000 IU a day level is safe for most folks, (those with kidney problem should check in with their doc.)

Oh, & for 'Twilight' fans out there - did you know that there are a couple of mineral make-ups that include 'Twilight' as a colour choice?? A few weeks ago I picked up a 'Bare Essential's' 'Platinum' kit (on sale - $35 so less than $5 each product, plus 3 brushes - these are GREAT tones for my silvery hair :) & the darker shadow is 'Twilight' (I adore the Platinum shadow!)
I can't find this item - either the kit or the shadow - in the on-line shop - looks like it was intro in 2007, as I found a post on it here! You might have to check in a shop that carries the Bare Minerals/ ID line.

My favorite mineral make-up comes from Christina Harris - CMH Essentials - she has a yummy dark green 'sparkle' eyeshadow in Twilight which I love! - I use it as an eyeliner, wetting a brush & swirling it in some of the powder. She has great prices for intro sizes (I've still got plenty of product in my sample size - which is only $1.95) & offers monthly specials. I also use her Shimmer Veil, when I'm in a 'make-up' mood :)
Her diamond or 'blue diamonds' glimmer looks similar to the ID 'platinum' & Chamelion Sparkle is one of my favorites! I got the Green & Gold Trio sets, (Twilight is included in the Green set) & want the purples!
Remember to click the 'discount coupon' in the 'information section - it will take you to the code you need to enter for the monthly special :) Christina's March special is 20% off your order :)

fyi: CMH essentials contains Mica, Zink Oxide, Titanium Dioxide & refined Iron Oxides - no oils, liquids, fragrances, preservatives; & no Bismuth Oxychloride, which irritates some skin, (& is in the 'Bare Essentuals' line.)

Lenten Challange - 30 minutes of Exercies daily

Following Genie's suggestion to visit the Green Smoothie Girl's site (great + info on coconut oil, a list of 12 'health myth busters' - including info. on dangers in eating many soy products) I rolled along through several blogs, & found this Lenten challenge over on Fat Bridesmaid here & here - to do 30 minutes of aerobic exercise over the 40 days of lent! I'm joining that challenge - what a delightful idea, to choose a positive!

I'd begun well, with our joint Ash Wed service at St James - the 16th year of this ecumenical service. It begins with a fish supper - including the best clam chowder - yum! Thinking of doing a 'spring cleanse/ detox' soon.
On Thur I did Tai Chi (which my dau. proclaimed as aerobic, since you are continuously in motion); Fri went to a ballroom & swing dance at the Ballroom (way more than 30 min of dancing!), Sat walked (OK, so it was in a store - but again, steady motion); & Sunday put on a Hula DVD (Kili - Island Girl series - we love these!! It's an easy way to have fun moving!

This morning was beautiful, so I took my little dog for a walk. We have a nice fenced yard she can play in, & Chihuahua's can take or leave walks, Gracie definitely doesn't like to wear coats, so is happier if it's fair :) & then another walk to take the 4 yr old GD to school - then over to my daughter's office to pick up an ergonomic purse one of her co-workers was passing on - so about an hour just around the neighborhood.

Now I need to remember which pocket I put which item in - always a challange with a new purse!
I made a case for the wooden chopsticks & spoon that I carry with me. Last year at our Farmer's Market, Peter the spoon man commented that he felt hypocritical when he used 'fast food plastic' if he got something from a food vender - so pulled out one of his older 'home' teaspoons to use. I thought that was a great idea, & into my purse went one of the flat spoons I'd purchased from him. The new case will hold the spoon & a dear pair of chopsticks (cherry) that I've had about 20 years.
I eat my morning granola from a pottery bowl & one of Peter's spoons, & most other things with a pair of yew chopsticks he made at my request (I love this shorter style!)

Glad I took those walks earlier - now it's hailing!! Prob a brief squall - I can see blue sky to the West, where our storms 'usually' originate.

Do you have a Lent or Spring intention?