going raw

Well, I've now been on my new food journey for five weeks.  I've gone from eating what ever I wanted to vegan plus wild caught fish and grass-fed beef, when available, with some organic and some not organic.  I then went to vegan incorporating some raw food.  Then buying as much organic food as is available.  I've had different foods when I go out (some animal protein, wheat, dairy, etc.).  I say 'never say never' regarding what I will eat from here on out.

And here are the results:  I feel better, more clear, GI symptoms are gone, more energy, I've lost a little weight, my inflammation has been reduced and arthritis symptoms have subsided.  I am also learning what I am allergic to - so far, it's dairy and soy.  From eating a little dairy and tofu, I've had a strong reaction - very telling.  Makes it easy to avoid these foods.

The next step is my vernal equinox raw food experiment.  On Sunday, I will start a two-week raw food diet.  The only cooked food I will add is quinoa - a plant-based protein.  Not sure yet about the coffee.  I have one cup in the morning.  This will be difficult to give up!  The end of the two week period is the first day of spring AND the first day of one of our farmers' markets - Portland Farmers Market.  This seems like a good way to celebrate spring, my favorite season.

I am having so much fun reading raw food recipe books, blogs and watching YouTube videos about raw food prep.  There is so much information readily available.  I am also equipping my kitchen with the necessary tools: dehydrator, Vita-Mix blender, nut milk bag, spiral slicer, etc.

Great journey!  Pictured is a raw pizza I made - yum!

the natural food experience - start of a journey

Well, I've finally done it.  I changed my diet.  I've been thinking about it for a very long time - eating better to feel better.  I used to eat in a way similar to this and always felt great.  I have been doing this new food plan for a little over a week.  My plan was to do it for two weeks to do kind of a detox/cleanse, and continue based on how I felt - physically and mentally (mentally meaning my thoughts about it - if I'm not there mentally, then it's not going to work).

I have been eating organic fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, beans and legumes, and organic free range poultry and wild caught fish.  Where able, I am buying locally.  Add to that one cup of coffee in the morning (not ready to give that up).  I am thereby avoiding the foods that bother my system - and that's the point of this: dairy, wheat, eggs, soy, grains and sugar.  Full disclosure here: I do have a little half-and-half in my coffee in the morning - need to find a suitable substitute that's not soy or chemicals.

This is the start of a journey.  My sister, Ann, is starting a raw and natural food company - Freshly Wild in Portland.  She and her business partner, Laurie, make incredible raw foods.  This process introduced me to the raw food world.  My hairdresser, Tadimdia at Tribe Hair Studio, eats a macrobiotic diet and has an incredible wealth of knowledge about natural food and the global food economy.  So fun to sit in her chair and talk about it all!  I've also learned alot by reading blogs, and news and recipes from raw chefs and raw foodies - the latest being Russell James, The Raw Chef.  Check him out - would love to take his class (Pesto & Caramelized Onion Pizza below)!  Just bought a dehydrator - can't wait to start using it!

So for now, I feel great, have more energy, no GI problems or arthritis symptoms, have lost weight and my mind is clear.  The change in food is affecting my sleep a bit - getting settled with that.  I believe it makes sense - I've removed foods that I've eaten my whole life - it's got to have an impact on my system.  When the two weeks is up, I'll assess what I might add or remove from my diet.

Look forward to blogging about this as I continue my journey...

...since I'm finally posting again

Never wrote about my trip to Carmel!  Last October, my sister, Ann, and I stayed in Carmel for a few days.  The purpose of the trip was to walk the Big Sur Half-Marathon in Monterey.   Stayed in a wonderful little hotel with a kitchen - walking distance to everything in town.  Great food, long walks on the beach and along the coast, and toured down the coast to Big Sur.  Our cousin, Kitty, came down from Emerald Hills to stay with us one night - fun evening, of course!!  The walk was fabulous - can't believe we went that far - 13.1 beautiful miles along the Pacific Coast.  We finished right under the 4 hour deadline with 12 minutes to spare.  Boy, we were sore - could hardly walk.  Everything hurt but it was fabulous!  Plan to go again next year.  Great part of California.  Kind of old home week as I'm from northern California.  Great to go back for a visit.  Looking forward to the next one!

home from Maui

Well, I just returned from a wonderful trip to Maui.  Getting to the sun is food for the soul.  The air and water feel like satin on your skin.  The sand beneath your toes in the clear blue water is sensual.  The turtles are cute; the whales are amazing.  I am so grateful to have been able to take this last minute trip.  Stayed on Wailea Beach in southwest Maui.  The photo above is of the beach - great swimming, snorkeling and playing on water toys (kayak, paddle board).  Weather was in the 80's every day.  My room was an ocean-view room just above the Serenity infinity pool - just nice to sit on the lanai and take in the scenery and warm air.  Long walks, good food (and mai tais!), lots of swimming in the ocean and pools, great reading, lovely island music, fun touring - what more can a girl ask for??!!  Can't wait to go back.

my homemade goods

I just started an Etsy site where I will post the jewelry, friendship bracelets, quilts and fabric satchels that I have made (and those I have yet to make). Go to the Etsy site and see "henrysgarden" (http://henrysgarden.etsy.com). But not yet! - haven't posted anything yet. Need to take photos and get it up and running. Make sure to look for goodies for the holidays!

...and remember to enjoy this incredible (almost) fall day!

bringing summer to a close

Just returned from a wonderful family vacation in Lake Tahoe - perfect way to wrap up summer! We got a week at a lakefront house in Kings Beach, north shore Tahoe, at a Growing Gardens auction almost two years ago. Growing Gardens is a wonderful local non-profit that works to alleviate hunger by helping families and schools grow and preserve their own food. We delayed staying at the house because of scheduling challenges - it was definitely worth the wait!

We drove down and back different routes - seeing parts of Oregon and California that I've never seen. It was fun to make the drive part of the journey - then you're not rushed. My wonderful niece, Ariane (pictured above sitting in my kayak), rode with me the whole way down - lots of fun. We all had such a relaxing time - makes you remember to spend time doing the important things: being with family and friends. We played peewee golf (where I won - yes!) and ping pong, rode bikes, kayaked from the beach at the house, took walks, went to Sand Harbor (beautiful sandy beach with huge rocks on the Nevada side), ate wonderful food, drank great wine, read lots, watched movies, sunned ourselves like lizards and relaaaxxxxed.

The trip was even more special because we spent the summers of our youth at our family cabin on the lake in Kings Beach. Our father, with his father and brothers, built two houses on the lake. Right after the last day of school, our mother would put the four of us in the station wagon - my brother Pat, sister Ann and our dog Chris (short for Chris Cringle - a beagle we got at Christmas) - and go up to the cabin. We spent the whole summer there - family and friends would come up to stay. Great memories.

And this house was right down the street from our cabin! All week, my sister and I reminisced about summers on the lake. Interesting how memories come back. The only missing piece was having my brother and his family - Pat, Cathleen, Emily, Jensen and Marin - there. We would love to go again next summer and have the whole family there. Hope to make it happen!

...time to get ready for fall!

Lake Tahoe

Early Monday morning, we leave for Lake Tahoe! Can't wait - it's going to be a great vacation.

A little over a year ago, we were at an auction for Growing Gardens. Growing Gardens is a local, non-profit organization that helps low income people grow their own food - great group of people. My friends know to invite me to these auctions. Put a paddle in one hand and a glass of wine in the other and I'm a danger to myself ! - but it always benefits the organization.

At this auction, we got a week at a huge beautiful house on the lake in Kings Beach. Kings Beach is on the north shore near the Nevada border. It is going to be so special because growing up, we spent our summers at our cabin in Kings Beach. Our father, with his father and brothers, built two cabins right on the lake. There was a big house and a little house, with our own beach and pier. At the beginning of summer when school was out, mom would throw my brother, sister, our beagle Chris and me in the car and away we'd go. We'd spend the whole summer there - family and friends would come up throughout the summer. Incredible memories. This trip will definitely be a trip down memory lane. The vacation house is on the same street as our house - Brockway Vista Avenue.

So, have to get my bike rack on top of my car. Will take my kayak and bike. Can put the kayak in right at the house. There are bike trails all around the lake and along the Truckee River. It's going to be fun!!

... remember to make the most of your day!