Our Little Sprouts

Rain in the Desert

2012-02-14T22:49:00.000-05:00

Remembering today

one of my favorite things about the Desert...

Watching the storm clouds roll in

Over the mountains and across the valley.

So magnificent.

On the Road Again

2012-02-14T21:47:00.000-05:00

Pulling out of the Drive way, leaving the San Juan Ridge and our beautifully sweet yurt.

Orange Trees in the Suburbs in Davis, Ca

Of course Eli grabbed a few fresh oranges for the Family.

(He asked first!)

On the 5, heading out of the Valley and over the pass into LA

After a long 7 hr drive, where else would I find the kids besides together, on the bed,

"Look Mom, we made a heart!"

After selling our RV, the kids were, of course, a bit bummed. Steve and I granted to each child one wish, be it material or a fun experience. What did our little foodies decide on???

Lunch at Mr. Chow's Noodle House in Beverly Hills.

On the extras of Kung-Fu Panda, they had seen the chef perform the magic of creating authentic noodles with two hands and nothing else. They had to have those noodles, and we had to oblige.

Farewell, California. You have been a wonderful friend.
We connected with amazing folks.
Nourished our bodies with fresh local food.
Doused our bodies in your sunshine, open land and rolling foothills.
You have made an impression, opened us a bit more.
And provided us with the luxury of family time.
Thank you, California, you are in our hearts forever.

Trip to Lake Tahoe

2012-01-10T14:48:00.000-05:00

Giant Pine Cones

SNOW!!!

Ice Skating Break :-)

Fun on the Ridge

2012-01-05T18:28:00.000-05:00

Where are we now.. A sneak peek

2011-11-04T16:12:00.000-04:00

Our Driveway :-)

See our sweet yurt poking through the trees??

Lunch and a shoebox o' freshly picked grapes

The kids getting a taste of country living

Yes, that is my outdoor bathtub!

(We do have a full bathroom inside as well :-)

Tamale making for the Day of the Dead with our fabulous neighbors.

And paper mache lanterns at our place with the whole crew.

The Yuba

Halloween in Cali

2011-11-01T15:42:00.000-04:00

A pre-Halloween Stroll through the streets of Berkley

A quick pause for green juice and smoothies!

Halloween morning snack, Fresh Blackberries!

Solomon, our one of our closest NEIGH-bors

Trick or Treating with the Ananda Village Community

Enjoying the bounty of the Candy Fairy!!

After 2 months of being uprooted, and spread out across the country:

We have a home.

We are re-united as a family.

We had a hayride drive us trick-or-treating.

AND there were many healthy options at the homes we visited.

I can safely say this was the BEST Halloween ever!

The Birthday Celebration

2011-10-23T19:35:00.000-04:00

It started with breakfast in bed, of course...

Moved to a very successful trip to the farmers market

And then to the ROLLER SKATING RINK!!!

Old school style

Even Willow was having a blast!

Great Auntie Joyce on wheels!

And Nonni holding down the fort

friends since they were in utero

Raw-vegan, cacao based lip-liner :-)

Chocolate Ganche Pie with a Coconut Swirl, YUM!

On their own!

What a fun day!!!

A World of Change: The 9th Celebration of the Birth of My Oldest

2011-10-22T21:11:00.000-04:00

Its that time of the year again, a day of reflection, a day of celebration.

Nine years ago today my world turned upside down, spun round and round and left me a new woman, A Mother.

These last nine years have taught me what unconditional Love means.

They have taught me that the patience I thought I had was, well, hmm... let's say it has been tested and I've been humbled.

A giant, life-sized mirror has been placed before me and I've seen into the depths of myself, into all those dark and dusty corners of my being that no one actually wants to know lives within them.

I'm learning who the real me actually is.

The last nine years have shown me so much beauty and love, the kind of beauty that makes me fall in love again and again. Everyday, all day long, even if moments before I think I'm at the end of my rope.

Funny how as parents, as home schooling Mamas we are labeled as the "teachers".

Being a Mama, by watching and loving my children, by being open to growth and change, my three children have taught me all that I know.

Somedays, I think I'm crazy for taking on the task of being a stay-at-home, home schooling Mom.

But mostly, I give thanks to God to have been Graced with the Most Amazing Job any Being could ever be Blessed with.

Happy Birthday My Love!

A few more from the last few weeks...

2011-10-17T08:59:00.000-04:00

I seemed to have missed the lady we have been spending the most time with in my series of photos...

Nonni!

Back East for October

2011-10-16T22:19:00.000-04:00

A taste of what we've been up to the last few weeks...

Nevada City, California and beyond

2011-10-06T21:31:00.000-04:00

This September we enjoyed our first bounty at the abundant

Nevada City Farmer's Market!

After the year in Arizona it had been far too long!

More Please!

After moving our belongings to Gold Country we headed even further west to San Fran, a quick visit to the Golden Gate Bridge, and my long awaited meal and dessert at Cafe Gratitude!!!

(Unfortunately I left my camera card plugged into my computer at the hotel, but what a fantastic meal!)

A Tour Bus?!?!

The Thickness of the cables on the bridge!!

Eli with Alcatraz in the background.. Now he has a reason to be EXTRA good!!

The Corners of Our Home...

2011-10-02T17:01:00.000-04:00

Birthdays, Lakes and Trees

2011-10-02T16:28:00.000-04:00

Hard to believe that my Baby turned 3!!

First non-pool swim of the year on her birthday!!

Blackberry Princess

Scott's Flatt Lake Campground, Pure Magic!

Dinner on the fire

A PHONE BOOTH!!!

Sunrise and Moonset

Scavenged wood early morning fire and math work

Birthdays, Lakes and Tre

2011-10-02T16:23:00.000-04:00

Hard to believe that my Baby turned 3!!

First non-pool swim of the year on her birthday!!

Blackberry Princess

Scott's Flatt Lake Campground, Pure Magic!

Dinner on the fire

A PHONE BOOTH!!!

Sunrise and Moonset

Scavenged wood early morning fire and math work

California

2011-09-20T19:01:00.000-04:00

I'll catch you up, bit by bit on our adventures...

On the road, take two.

Our First 2 days in Cali

Our First Stop, Cherry Valley RV Park

Beaumont, California

The tire blowing gave us a hole in the bottom of the RV giving us need for our first repair guy.

Thanks, Mike!

And on to Gold Country!

Travel Diary: Its All About Perspective

2011-09-08T18:48:00.000-04:00

After literally weeks of non-stop preparation, we finally had all of our belongings neatly and compactly packed away between our RV and mini-van. Surpassing so many hurdles, including our rental property getting foreclosed and our furniture and appliances getting sold while we were still living there, finding hard to find 1982 Fleetwood RV parts, the blow of discovering that our minivan was just too heavy to tow and Steve and I both having to make the drive to Cali separately, we did it. We pulled out of my in-law's Casa Grande home to hit our first destination, a free stay at a five-star resort in Beaumont, CA.

As happens with every great plan (and as the U-haul mechanic said as we were talking tow dollies... "My last name is Murphy, do you know my Law??") We traveled about 35 minutes into our 6 hour drive and out from our RV in front of me comes a flying tire. Oh, Hmm.... was that OUR's??? Hmmm. Then comes a bunch of white garbage (they told me it was the chemicals from inside the tire??)
As I am frantically on the phone (Don't tell that I was talking and driving, but it was important!!) yelling at Steve, "WHY haven't you pulled over yet?!?!"
We roll off the highway and thanks to the RV's many tires, we are able to make it two miles to Discount Tire in Tempe. As we are sliding the credit card to pay the $980 to cover six new tires, are we upset, angry, why me-ing? As we traipse next door in 107 degree heat to a never frequented chain coffee shop to entertain the kids while getting our tires changed, do we complain about the $11 in juice that we just bought the kids (Have I mentioned they get bottled juice about once a year..)

Are we freaking out that all is going awry?

Nah.

We enjoy ourselves. Grab some food from the RV, remain calm, GIVE THANKS for the tire blowing where it did. We were headed into a long trip through the desert. That old tire that still looked great could have blown anywhere in this heat. We were given the chance to not only change that one, but to change all six, creating a strong foundation for our new adventure. And now we have the two newer tires as spares, just in case. Feeling grateful and BLESSED knowing that we are cared for, that God is with us, that our journey is riding upon the Light. So, we turned around, took it as a sign. Headed back to Casa Grande, parked ourselves, and decided to take a much needed, well deserved, lazy afternoon with family.

And have some fun while we're at it.

The Next Rotation

2011-08-30T10:46:00.000-04:00

As I sit on this morning, in the quiet stillness of a home that has not yet awoken, I am given a beautiful moment to reflect. My 33rd year has circled its way around and linked together with the next. I close my eyes and see the final parties in my hometown, uprooting my family from our comfortable un-comfort and traveling to a new state, a new climate, an unknown territory. I see the beauty of Arizona, the pure MAGIC of Patagonia. The mountains rising all around. Western Sunsets. The Sunrise on a crisp morning. The sheer fantastic-ness of the high desert. I've learned to adapt to temperatures I gawked at from New England. I've learned to love the sweat and relish the hot, dry Arizona sun on my skin. My fear of Rattlesnakes, scorpions, black widows, it seems silly now.

My Heart, my heart has changed. It is no longer kept inside of this little cavity. It has expanded. It has burst wide open. It radiates from the central point within my body and extends to all those around me. I've learned to Love in situations that I never would have imagined. The judgement is fading. We are all one. We are all the same. It is a higher Love. I've moved thousands of miles from what I know. My family, my friends. My support system. The world that I knew. I've lost one of my best friends, my Grammie, she was an Angel on Earth and now she is always around me. Thank God, because Grammie, I need you here with me, I feel your love, support and presence everyday. My Heart has opened to a new community of amazing people. And I've learned so much. I've seen pure bliss and light embodied in 20 year olds. Knowledge hidden in every crevice and every being around me. I've seen drama..yes, I've seen drama. In many forms. But to look at this drama as a mirror. Reflecting it within my self, my soul. Using it to better my being. I've undoubtably become closer to God, the Source, The LIGHT. This place, this little town, in the middle of the desert. I've rooted into the source, I've grown towards the Light.

I've found brothers and sisters in the kitchen. In the kitchen. It is quite magical there. My Cafe family. We are a family, aren't we. The love and teasing, the support and constructive criticism. The magic that we create, everyday. It was amazing to be part of that family. IN MY GLORY. And to serve this Light to an amazing staff. Incredible Gardeners, Nurses, the Apothecary team, Front desk, Sales team, Management, all of the Light workers at the Tree of Life. And the guests. Watching the Transformation of people of all shapes and sizes. The transformation. The GLOW, the smiles, the bounce in their step that the entire team at the Tree has contributed to. And My sister, having my sister be an active part of my life again. THAT has been wonderful. Seeing her outside of our bubble. As a woman, my teacher, an amazing Aunt.

I see my shy children that were just starting to open up evolving into these magnificently social creatures. Relating to male and female of every age as a friend. Forming bonds with toddlers and elders equally. They are so wise, so wise. I appreciate and love them more and more everyday. I see my husband. Well, I didn't actually see much of him. Somehow, our relationship is stronger. I feel more love for him, more love from him, more mutual support.

I look around me, I look forward. There are boxes, in a pile, to my right. Empty bookcases, cabinets and shelves all around me. I'm not quite sure where we are going now. I mean, I know, I can find it on a map. But I don't KNOW. Our new RV is taking on the qualities of Home. Time for a new adventure. Time to turn inward. Back to the family. To replenish the life force of our family. Dusting the cobwebs off of the old homeschooling books and exploring new ones. Loving every last minute of the sheer cuteness of my two year old (almost 3!!) The love of my son and the maturity of my daughter. Spending time with my husband. I'm not sure where we are going, but I KNOW that it is right.

Sitting here on my 34th birthday, above and beyond all, I feel gratitude. SO much gratitude. For all things in my life. An amazing Mom and a wonderful Dad, a sensational husband, three of THE MOST incredible kids, Grandparents, both here and in spirit, my brother and sister, cousins, Aunts, Uncles, my dear, dear friends, who may as well be blood family, my in-laws (YES, I am lucky enough to be grateful for wonderful in-laws!) Nieces and a VERY SOON to be nephew, for GOD.

I have Gratitude because I know that I can do ANYTHING. We can follow our dream, follow our passion. We ARE NOT STUCK. "I wish I could.." "If I had the money..." This should not be part of our vocabulary. This is our life. We have it to LIVE and LOVE. Own it. Follow God. Put your intension out to the universe and if it is truly for your Higher Purpose the universe will conspire to support you in all things. For THIS I am grateful.

Thank You Light for all you have given to me.

Prickly Pear Kombucha!

2011-08-17T17:29:00.000-04:00

Prickly Pear: A wide spread fruit bearing Cactus located in the Southwestern United States among many environments world wide.

Kombucha: A fermented black tea drink with origins in China.

Over the last couple of years our family has been blessed with having a Mother other than myself to nourish our beings. Most times there is more than just one other mother. She’s a little different than most mother’s you meet, she’s kind of odd to look at, she put me off a bit when we first met. We keep her tucked in a closet or inside a cupboard. I do have to say she makes the most terrific drinks. Our Mother is a kombucha scoby, a “symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast”.

Most folks here in the states know to eat yogurt for acidophillus when they take antibiotics. Some know there are other options, mostly in a pill form. These pills contain a mixture of probiotics, acidophillus being one strain of probiotic.

Probiotics are a necessary part of our diets. Whether you are raw vegan, macrobiotic, or a straight carnivore, our bodies need the probiotics to stay healthy.

Pro - to support

Biotic - Life

Probiotics live in our intestines and fight off the bad bacteria and germs. They keep our bacteria levels at a healthy balance. They fight to keep us healthy.

Probiotics thrive and grow in fermentations, but are killed in pasteurization.

Most cultures in the world, culture their food (yes, pun intended!)

Kimchi, sauerkraut, beer, wine, kombucha, mead, miso, pickles, aged cheese, and the list goes on. Making these products yourselves is the best and cheapest way to consume them. When purchasing for the health benefits intended, you need to keep your eyes peeled for the “un-pasteurized” seal of approval.

One of the most simple and inexpensive forms of fermentation that I have found is our beloved kombucha. Kombucha requires but three ingredients, tea, sugar and the mother or scoby. Simply brew 3 quarts black tea, dissolve in 1 cup sugar, allow to cool to room temperature, add 2 cups kombucha from previous batch and top with your scoby. We cover our one gallon glass jar with cheesecloth to avoid flies, and let it brew for 1-2 weeks. Strain and repeat. Super simple. Of course there are always little tricks that you find out along the way, one for example being that you should never let your mother touch metal. I strain mine with cheese cloth or a nutmilk bag. I highly recommend finding yourself a good mother!

After many, MANY gallons brewed of kombucha, we moved to the desert and the prickly pears ripened! I hopped right in, grabbed myself three big, beautiful fruit and went home with a skip in my step.

I poured off one gallon of my already brewed kombucha and started peeling those tricky pricklys. It was quite obvious it was my first summer in the desert. This New England girl found out exactly why they are called prickly pear, and spent the next few days pulling prickly hairs out of my finger tips! After chopping the beautifully pealed fruit, I added it to a gallon glass jar and sealed it off with the lid for a two week anaerobic fermentation.

Doing the original brew open to the air, we are allowing the ferment to collect all of the yeast and good bacteria from the air. This is called aerobic fermentation. We need this good bacteria and when you are brewing correctly, it only collects the bacteria that we want in our bodies, which is why it causes the mother to grow without growing mold. When we follow the aerobic ferment with a tightly closed lid, it anaerobically ferments. This is when all of those living organisms are reproducing, breaking down the sugars even more, and creating a bi-product of carbon dioxide, and leaving our brew all bubbly and extra yummy! When we do the second ferement we need to add a bit more sugar, which can come in the form of fruit, in this case prickly pear.

Two weeks later, after a bit of yard work in the hot Arizona sun, I was delighted to share this magnificently colored, fabulous tasting brew with a great friend and a lovely conversation.

The Seventh Rotation

2011-08-04T01:12:00.000-04:00

Today, my second baby completed his first seven year cycle. With two feet firmly planted on the ground, he steps into the next phase. Reading his own birthday cards, helping Mom with the strength of a young man, ready for stories with a little more depth, facial changes and growth spurts, stepping into his eighth year. My little man is seven today.

We started the morning off with breakfast in bed a la Dad.

Potatoes, mesquite pancakes and nutmilk along with an Emelia crafted pudding.

A joint birthday party with best friend Asa, we enjoyed the playground, ate raw, vegan chocolate cake, and felt the company of an amazing community.

Now Steve and the little ones (along with two of our birthday friends) are quietly chattering away, giggling and trying to stay cool, snuggled up tight in our new RV...

(YAY !! Pictures and details coming soon !)

Life in Patagonia

2011-07-28T22:41:00.000-04:00

This is actually Boyton Canyon in Sedona :-)

Our largest resident lizard

Red Mountain..my six am stroll into work

The Cafe driveway

A Tucson Sunset

Ripe Prickly Pear Fruit

After Work

Final glimpse of daylight

On our patio

Baby squirrel

And his three siblings

January 6th

2011-01-06T09:28:00.000-05:00

Today marks the convergence of several important anniversaries in my life.

Growing up, January 6th was always a very special day. Christmas didn't end for us on December 25th, you see. January 6th is the Epiphany. We knew it simply as the day the wise men came bearing gifts to baby Jesus. We would watch the nativity as first baby Jesus appeared with Mary and Joseph, and then 12 days later, the magi made their way down from the shelf above, to join the scene on the hutch in our kitchen. It was the DAY that Mom gave us HER Christmas presents, as to not get in the mix-up with Santa. Growing up, that tradition meshed with Christmas day. But Epiphany, the day the Magi approached the Holy Family, the day of the manifestation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, that day will forever hold a special place in my heart.

January 6th, 2008. A day that we knew for certain that an amazing spirit would be joining us on this earthly realm. A spirit who knew exactly what she wanted, long before she was blossoming inside my being. A spirit who came into this world on her own terms, on her own time. Beautiful Baby, Eden Willow, would join us in the flesh, a mere nine months after this day of epiphany for our growing family.

and finally, January 6, 2011, our two month anniversary of our departure from the comfort and security of my hometown, the small state that homes my family, most everything I knew. Two months later, we know this was the right decision. The welcome of Patagonia, the security of the Mother rising up all around us as beautiful, high desert mountains. Our world of health and spirit a vastly expanding universe, with unlimited opportunity for growth and wisdom, connection. Two months, I am learning to slow down. To follow my intuition. I am learning to think with my heart. To surrender to the flow. That God Is.

My heart swells with Love as these elements of my life join as one. I am ever grateful for the grace that I have received, for the love that I have been granted, for the path that I am blessed to walk every moment of every day.

Christmas Eve

2010-12-24T12:55:00.000-05:00

A new home, new town. We've paired down our belongings and are settling into a simpler lifestyle.
Christmas season this year has proven VERY different.

Between the weather feeling like a New England September, the kids entering school in December for their first time ever, Mom going to work for the first time in almost nine years and Dad becoming the part time stay-at-home Mr. Mom, Advent crept by us with silent footsteps. Christmas Eve is upon us and I feel the distant presence of my loved ones from back East. Missing the house full of family, antipasto, loaf of Italian bread form Calvito's. Preparing for the flurry of excitement going form house to house, the packed church on Christmas Eve, watching Steve on the mandolin. This year will be different. I will spend the evening working in an amazing live food cafe with wonderful company and head over to a friend's home for some family love. A quite morning at home for Christmas, hopefully a hike with a panoramic view of breathtaking mountains. An a quite afternoon at the cafe, serving up dinner with Steve to an appreciative group, our new community, with the kids hanging in the back room. It will be a new family scene, and I will hold my ENTIRE family, blood relatives and spirit sisters and brothers, I will hold them all in my heart, and carry you with me through this sacred time.

On ANOTHER note.. With all of the movement happening, the kids reminded me that WE HAVE NO STOCKINGS! And its CHRISTMAS EVE!!! Whatever can we do??

Bust out the needle felting supplies of course!!

The kids were SO delighted to make their own stockings, and Mom was so happy to FINALLY do a proper Christmas craft!

Merry Christmas!!

Love and Peace,

The Law Family Unit!

Words to Consider

2010-11-22T11:43:00.000-05:00

We believe that our most precious possession is life.

We believe we shall mobilize all the forces of life against the forces of death.

We believe that mutual understanding leads toward mutual cooperation; that mutual cooperation leads towards Peace; and that peace is the only way of survival for mankind.

We believe that we shall preserve instead of waste our natural resources, which are the heritage of our children.

We believe that we shall avoid the pollution of our air, water and soil, the basic preconditions of Life.

We believe we shall preserve the vegetation of our planet: the humble grass which came fifty million years ago, and the majestic trees came twenty million years ago, to prepare our planet for mankind.

We believe we shall eat only fresh, natural, pure, whole foods, without chemicals and artificial processing.

We believe we shall live a simple, natural, creative life, absorbing all the sources of energy, harmony, and knowledge, in and around us.

We believe that the improvement of life and mankind on our planet must start with individual efforts, as the whole depends on the atoms composing it.

We believe in the Fatherhood of God, the Motherhood of Nature, and the Brotherhood of Man.

-Credo of the International Biogenic Society.

composed in Paris in 1928

by Romain Rolland and Edmond Bordeaux Szekely

That's our Cue!

2010-11-09T06:26:00.000-05:00

We woke up yesterday morning in a pile of blankets, the whole family snuggled up on my Dad's living room floor. Yes, there were more than enough beds for everyone, but we were preparing to leave on our road trip adventure in the morning, and this seemed more fun.

What we woke up to was a bit of a surprise, a very wonderful sign, our cue to start heading for the Southwest.

Grandpa Cool's House

Delighted kids

We had to once again, unpack and repack the trailer, since we were wearing sandals, little spring shoes and the like. Oh, but what a treat, one last snow before hitting the road.

Willow chugs green juice with great enthusiasm!

The traveling machine

We sailed on over to my grandparent's house to grab the kiddos who were so lucky to get to spend so much time with them while Steve and I were unpacking and repacking, sorting, donating, trashing, cleaning...

Nine and a half hours on the road yesterday, not a single complaint from those three bundles of joy (well, not until it was WAY past our bedtimes)

Our first stop, Catch a Healthy Habit, Glen and Lisa are so incredible we stop whenever we get the chance!

Crossing the Hudson

The Kids are in charge of walking the Pups!

Now we are resting up in Falling Waters, West Virgnia. Taking a breather, looking for some juicy organic produce, and oh, did I mention our hotel just happened to be right next to the library?? Yay!

Transition

2010-10-28T08:11:00.000-04:00

Seven years and three months ago Steve and I needed a place to call home. Our ideal situation wasn't presenting itself, and we settled into our little apartment with our 9 month old Emelia and two dogs. This was purely a transitional home, no intention of settling in too deep. It was here that Eli and Willow were both brought into this world. It was here that we experienced so many firsts. They took their first steps, spoke their first words, embraced us with their endless hugs. It was here that Steve and Emelia planted our weeping birch, it was here that we cultivated life in so many forms. Our ever changing gardens and greenhouse, discovering the wild food that grew right here in our suburban yard. It was here that our children have learned the power of teaching others. We have witnessed as they have brought neighborhood children into our yard to ravage the garden and hunt for wild edibles. And yes, it was here that I comforted the parents of those same children as the concern arose that their children were, *gasp* eating food from the yard!

We grew here, we dreamed here, we created a sanctuary on a piece of land that needed the peace as much as we needed to learn to be present on it. When all is said and done, I've grown to love this little apartment, surrounded by people from all sorts of walks of life. But as I said before, this was intended as a transitional home from the get-go. We knew that there was still a great deal of movement that had to take place in our lives before we settled down for the long haul. As we close out a seven year cycle in our sweet little town in this very big, little Ocean State, we prepare for our next transition.
What does that transition look like? We are learning that with every moment. We are fully embraced by God, Spirit, The Universe. We have utmost faith that with prayer and conscious action, we are being and will continued to be guided in every step that we take.
What does that transition look like right now? A Mama sitting in a dark room, with a laptop propped in an empty bookcase (that Eli cleared himself as one last ditch effort before bed). This mama is surrounded by sealed boxes, empty shelves and cabinets, stealing a moment of peace before the world awakens and the flurry of activity begins again.
What does the future appear to hold for us? Well, we have a family transitioning our home to theirs on the first of the month. We hope to be on the road around that time. We are loading up the dogs and the children and heading west. Over the course of the next couple of years we are educating ourselves, with out enrolling in a University. Sort of an adult version of homeschooling. Our long time dream is to open a retreat center. Our focus is to visit centers throughout the country to witness, and participate in their mission. To learn, to grow. We will develop our nutritional awareness, deepen our spiritual center, and ground into our physical bodies.
Our first destination is the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center in Arizona. This center lines up with so many of our values, exuding health, spirit and community. We will take our turn in the kitchen there, refining our chef skills. We look forward to joining the community in their meditation, yoga and worship services. We are excited to explore all schooling options, and to embrace a new community of individuals on a path of health and spirituality.
Yes, we have an amazing family that will host us as we settle in. And Yes, my in-laws are conveniently settling in to their new home just north of where we are headed. Is this comforting? Absolutely.
Do we have any idea how long we will be there? Or where we will go next?
A short answer would be, no, not at all.

We are following our hearts, following the illuminated path that we know is there for all of us, no matter how dimly lit it may seem at times, no matter what higher power, we connect with. The answer is there for us all, we just need to open our hearts and listen. The more space we create to listen to that inner guide, the brighter the path becomes.
The room I sit in has become bright, birds are chirping, pitter-pattering of footsteps, I can now see the chaos around me. Little arms embrace my neck. Time to start my day.

Oops!

2010-09-24T07:44:00.002-04:00

The links in my last email weren't fully turned into hyperlinks, which means they didn't work! If you click on them now they should bring you right over!
Blessings on this Delightful Autumn Morning!
Gina

Law Family FUN-Raiser

2010-09-23T22:52:00.001-04:00

For the last several years, our lives have settled into a nice, comfortable routine. Gina is home schooling mom, keeping the house and raising the children the best she can, with all those little details that a Mama strives to offer her little ones. Stephen is an involved dad and supportive husband, he offers his services on sundays to our Church as a multi-faceted musician and has taken on the role as a 9-5 carpenter to support the family. We live in our modest home, with a small but wonderful yard, three young children and our two aging pups.

Our dream for many years has been to open a center of some sort. The vision has changed through the years and is often pushed to the far reaches of our consciousness, but it has always remained a strong desire for our family. The dream is one which allows our family to be our truest selves. In this dream, we are rooted deep into our foundation, yet stretching our furthest limbs to share our talents, to teach and inspire those around us to follow their deepest passions.

Six months ago we had a small glimpse into an awakening. We knew that it was time to take action and make some changes in our lives. It was time to uproot from the comfortable, un-comfort of our suburban dwelling, from our roles as carpenter and housewife. Immediately the synchronicities began to happen. That small awakening began to grow. Through countless hours of prayer and meditation, our path is becoming so clear. Opportunities continue to arise in which we are able to push our comfort level, test our abilities. We were able collaborate with a local yoga studio. Stephen was able to take part in a Yoga Teacher Training, a long time dream of his. In exchange, we provided raw, organic, vegan spreads for the group. This challenge Gina was excited to take on, as much of her peace lies in food preparation and serving others delicious, healthy food.

God has provide us with the faith to surrender into the flow that is all around us. And what has been presented is an educational journey of sorts. We are going to school, without enrolling in a University. We are packing up only the essentials and hitting the road. Our plan? Well that’s a mystery even to us. We are contacting retreat centers of all shapes and sizes, throughout the country in hopes to exchange work for a glimpse into what they are doing. We will learn from them in ways that we may never expect. Our first major destination? The Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center in Patagonia, Az. Here awaits an experience working in THE live food cafe. The Tree of Life Center is a Live Food, Spiritual Community best known for its work with diabetic patients. They have 21 day programs that get a high percentage of the diabetics off of insulin. Along with the nutritional wonders of the community, it is a strong spiritual community, practicing yoga, meditation, bhakti, seva and so much more. The length of our stay here is still undetermined. We will stay at least two weeks, but that all depends on how the stars line up. The rest of our journey will be in faith. Whether we remain there or continue pursuing other centers, our intention will remain the same, to absorb all of the knowledge and growth that we can. We will take all of the bits and pieces that we have learned and translate them to our own vision. Eventually we will settle in and manifest a place of healing, growing, Spirit, and of course, nutrition.

So, it is time for us to raise some funds. Why are we raising funds? Well, we can’t do this on our own. Through prayer and meditation, we were inspired to have a FUN-raiser. An evening of yoga for all ages, live food, dancing, silent auctions, raffles, magical moments and music, music, music! We’re giving it our heart and soul, blood, sweat and tears, to make this night a great one for everybody.

When is this event that you don’t want to miss?? Saturday, October 16th, 7:00.

Where will you find us?? Amy at the Mystic Yoga Shala has been gracious to let us use the yoga studio.

How much is this night of magic and fun??? The donation includes organic, vegan, live food dinner and dessert, yoga for all ages and body types, various musical acts, raffles and more. We’d prefer to work on a sliding scale, with a suggested donation of $25 -$50. The minimum donation just covers expenses, but if you can’t afford that, we have limited room for kitchen angels, but be warned, we will put you to work :-) If you can afford more than the sliding scale and just want to help a kind family follow their dream, the sky is the limit!

This is important! If you are planning on coming, please RSVP we want to be sure to have enough food for everyone!

RSVP bliss@nourishingyogis.org

How can you save your spot?? Make your donation at http://www.indiegogo.com/LFU Be sure to specify that you are coming and how many, including yourself, you are paying for.

If you can’t make the party, but love what we are doing and just want to contribute to good vibrations and raising consciousness, visit http://www.indiegogo.com/LFU and we are so grateful for any and every blessing that comes our way.

The time is now for every one of us to follow our passion, Are you following yours? What are you waiting for?

questions? email us at bliss@nourishingyogis.org

We Need Your Help! Pass on our story to your family and friends, send them our way, invite them to join in the fun, or to simply help us reach our goal.

Birthday Magic

2010-08-31T11:57:00.000-04:00

The earth completed its 33rd rotation around the sun carrying my human presence yesterday. Ignoring all real responsibilities, Steve, the kids and I piled into the car and made the trip to Purgatory Chasm for a day hike. It was perfect. The kids were in awe of the chasm and we stripped off our shoes as we walked lightly through the chasm walls, starting my new year with grounding and peaceful energy.

We finished off the day with vegan dinner and dessert with my Dad, Aunt and Grandparents.

Gratitude for the sunshine, fresh air, trees and an amazing family.

Nourishing Yogis

2010-08-28T23:43:00.000-04:00

Tonight was the final class in a six week Yoga Teacher Training that Steve was blessed to take part in.

I was able to connect with the group in the method that I know best. Through food, of course.

Steve and I were able to create together, three nourishing meals for the Yogis-in-training during this time. I find that my true bliss is found when I am able to prepare loving, healthy fare for grateful folks. And this group radiated gratitude. For that I am grateful.

Tonight was the third and final spread that we presented, and we included a bit of our favorite dishes, which I would love to share with you this evening.

Before I introduce the food, I must fill you in on my current internal journey. I have been rediscovering chakra work on a whole different level than I have explored in the past. I have been working through sound, movement and meditation in healing these seven energy centers in my body.

Two weeks ago, when last we prepared food for the class, inspiration arose and I realized that I could add food as another element to that healing. And so I have. I have been integrating my chakra knowledge with my food intuition. I am creating my own combinations, rather than taking them from someone else's research. I have to say that I am quite enjoying this.

So with that being said, I would like to present to you, my sevenfold, high raw and organic, divinely inspired, Yogi celebratory feast.

Root Chakra: I AM SUPPORTED Quinoa Salad

Sacral Chakra: I FOLLOW MY PASSION

Cucumber Canapes with a macadamia nut puree

and Balsamic Figs

Solar Plexus Chakra: I MANIFEST MY OWN DESTINY

Freshly squeezed Lemonade with Agave Nectar

Heart Chakra: I EMBODY LOVE Spicy Greens Salad

Throat Chakra: I SPEAK TRUTH

Holy Basil, Thai Basil, Nettle, Peppermint Elixir

Third Eye: MY FAITH IN SPIRIT IS BOUNDLESS

Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla, Irish Moss Parfait

Crown Chakra: I AM BLISS Brazil Nut Ganache Truffles

Namaste

ॐ

Re-Establishing Rhythm

2010-08-23T09:18:00.000-04:00

After Gathering of the Raw Foodies, the kids and I began our two weeks of vacation madness!

Monday morning we loaded up the car and hit the road, sans Dad. While Steve embarked on his fourth week of a six week Yoga Teacher Training, we journeyed northward to our annual vacation destination.

Santa's Village, and the festivities at Loon Mountain Filled our days. And I was fortunate to have some special bonding time with my mother and sister-in-laws which doesn't happen enough.

We headed back home to unpack, nourish the yogis in the teacher training with a raw food spread (complete with an Irish moss mousse, of course!) and then we were off again!

This time to Sleepy Hollow, NY, to visit our best friends. We explored, played on the farm and I got some Sister time, which I desperately needed.

After 11 days of non-stop activity, Mom declared the rest of the week would be mandatory days of rest. Minimal chores, no school work, and car rides only if necessary.

The next 5 days were incredible R&R; yoga classes, a farm visit and a child-free double date with My Mom and Step-Dad. This was all intertwined with intense outbursts, insane messes and numerous tantrums (Yes, myself included :-) as we settled back into home life.

I woke this morning at 5am to settle back into my mama routine, meditation, mama yoga followed by kid's yoga and green juice. Irish Moss mousse is setting for snack and dinner is marinating.

The kids are finishing up some quiet work while mama processes just how important it is to get away, have fun, enjoy friends and family. It is just as important to take that time, as much as needed, and LET GO. To be in the moment and honor the rest that we ALL deserve.

Now off to prepare for our most exciting, student chosen, unit on India. TOTALLY digging this unschooling thing!

Power Up With Minerals

2010-08-21T11:31:00.000-04:00

Its been quite a bit since I've posted to my blog, as we've had a very full summer. We've been focusing on bringing more balance into ourselves, opening to the flow.

Among many other things, Steve and I have been experimenting with easy ways to bring minerals into our very busy lives. We know that a wide variety of minerals and nutrients are so important to our wellbeing. How do we encourage the family to get these vital nutrients into their beings? Especially seaweeds and greens. We've begun a class on what we have learned works for us. The fine folks at The Gathering of the Raw Foodies III and The ClearPoint Center were kind in letting us present our findings and we would like to share that information with all of you.

Following is the five part video series from the class we did at ClearPoint. Take from them what may benefit you and please leave what you do not vibe with. We plan on continuing to develop this class, so if you have any thing to add that may enlighten us please share!

In Bliss and Sunshine!

Gina

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T09:08:00.000-04:00

Swept away once again by their imagination. Eli is caught, trapped in the kitchen, calling for help. Emelia yells to him "I said a prayer so you could get out!" And lo and behold Eli grew wings and flew away.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the Mothers, Grandmothers, near and far, here and gone, long time and those anxiously awaiting that moment.

This long line of mothers that we have before us.
The connection that we have to all beings.
Love
Complete selflessness.
Smiles and hugs.
Awe.
New discoveries.
Overcome.
Discovering new freedoms.
Overwhelm.
A love greater than love itself.
Miracle after miracle forever and always.
So Lucky.
So Grateful.

Gratitude to creation for being part of the flow, the endless line of birth, love and FAMILY.

Rain and All

2010-03-24T09:51:00.002-04:00

Embracing Spring For All It Brings

Strawberry Almond Delight Cookies!

2010-03-22T16:08:00.001-04:00

Or...
What to do with that leftover nut pulp!

I've been asked so many times, what do I do with the leftover pulp when I'm through making almond milk?? It's so pricey, and there is so much of it that goes to waste.

We like to get creative. A lot of times it ends up being turned into cookies.
This is the recipe that I threw together this morning.

I started with the pulp of 3 cups of soaked almonds (I used this to make a full carafe, 64oz of milk)
In the blender, I mixed with the pulp:
1-10oz bag of strawberries
1/2C maple Syrup
A dash of cinnamon
1-2 twists of Himalayan Sea Salt
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
Blend well.

I poured this into a bowl and then added:
1/2 - 3/4 C ground chia seeds. You can do this in your high powered blender if you rinse and then thoroughly dry it first, otherwise you can use a coffee grinder.
Mix thoroughly.

If you let it set for 15-20 minutes the chia will firm up the batter and make scooping easier.
I used a cookie scoop and placed the balls on a solid dehydrator tray and dehydrated until firm (several hours) and then transfered to a mesh sheet where I finished drying.

All three kids have been gobbling them up. Its a great snacky-snack for in between meals, when you want them to have something nutritious. The hardest part has been having them NOT eat all of the cookies before they are finished dehydrating!

This is one of my quick and easy solutions to almond pulp.
Get creative! Its easy!
Be sure to let me know what you come up with that you can't keep your fingers off of!

Spring is Here!

2010-03-22T15:08:00.001-04:00

Grateful for the warmth, the rain, the sunshine.

Breathing in the emerging fragrance of blossoming abundance.
Happy Spring!!

Our Visit To Coggeshall Farm

2010-03-15T14:37:00.000-04:00

By Emelia Law When we went to Coggeshall Farm with our home schooling group, we saw how they made maple syrup in the 18th century.

First they carved a Sassafras log into a trough. And then they carved out a tap out of an elderberry bush. They put the tap in a maple tree with the trough under the tap and the sap from the tree fell in the trough.

They boiled the sap in the woods because that’s where the maple trees are. They boiled the sap into sugar. The reason they turn it into syrup is because the syrup couldn’t store as good as the sugar. The reason they could store the sugar better than the syrup is because they didn’t have to bottle it.

We all got to try the sugar it was REALLY good.

Then we went into the house.

We learned how to make Johnny cakes two of the different ways that they did it in the 18th century. They let us help make the Johnny cakes, I got to stir. One kind of Johnny cake had pig fat in it, but it had molasses and there was a vegetarian one that didn’t have molasses, I thought the one with pig in it was pretty good, even though I’m a vegetarian. I decided to try it because it was raised on the farm and not packaged in plastic in the store.

The guy told us other things about the 18th century. When they made the Johnny cakes, they realized that the part of the Johnny cake that touched the ashes turned puffy, so they started to put ashes in their Johnny cakes. Now instead of using ashes, we use baking powder. The way they stored their garlic and herbs was to store it on their walls for the winter. The reason that they stored it on their walls was so that they could stay dry. Along time ago in the 18th century, people only ate five pounds of sugar a year, but now they eat 200 pounds a year.
When the tour was over we got to play outside in a big field. We got to go into a barn full of hay. There were pigs too. There was a turkey that kept following us around everywhere we went. We got to pet the turkey who was very nice. I am hoping to go back to the farm. We had a great time.
The End

Special Time

2010-02-28T08:26:00.001-05:00

With all three children, as infants, it always felt right to hop in the tub with them at bath time. Those cold, plastic baby bath tubs never made them happy, and it was so comforting for both of us to be enveloped in warm water. Safely, as in the womb, with Mama's gentle hands for security, they could relax and the time was pleasant for all. As they grew, mama stopped climbing in and let them splash and have fun on their own with Mama nearby to help wash and keep a watchful eye.

About two years ago, when I was barely pregnant with our baby girl, my oldest daughter and I started a ritual. Founded on the desire to hold our bond, to be sure that we had special time together, our "Girl Baths" began.

We went to our favorite herb store.. here, and filled our basket with fine bath items, bubble bath, facial masks, foot scrub, and lavender shampoo.

Since then the products have come and gone, but the intention is still the same. When my daughter needs that spcial Mama time, she simply asks. Dad keeps the other two occupied and we start the bubbles, we wash each others hair and scrub each others feet. This gives that necessary space to let communication just be, or not.

The little one began asking last night to join our bath, and after we had some quiet time, we let her in. She repeatedly requsted water be ceremoniously poured over her back and shoulders, and even received the final touch of a spritz of uplifting rose water to close the space.

I hope this ritual lasts forever (although we might need a bigger tub soon :-) But even if it doesn't, the memories and connection will surely outlast a lifetime.

Mama Tip

2010-02-26T17:57:00.000-05:00

A friend gave me a tip recently, and I followed her advice this afternoon.
While the two older ones were painting, I set the little miss (17mo) up with a paint brush, construction paper and a container with water just barely covering the bottom. It amused her for quite some time. And Mama got a FULL load of dishes washed.
Thank you for the idea, B!!

Sugar Season

2010-02-26T14:35:00.000-05:00

Sugaring Season is just around the corner. In these parts, the sap has started to run...

And we have our own tap, courtesy of the little man..

The bucket's getting full...

And the sugar shack is in full swing.

Pouring off the syrup after it sheets...

And bottling it up for the anxious customers.

The Story of the World

2010-02-25T12:29:00.000-05:00

As far as homeschooling goes, our "curriculum" is all over the place really. I use a little of this, a tad of that, a mashup of here and there, unschooling and sit down and get to work, work.

One curriculum, however that we have come across that I really enjoy is "The Story of the World" by Susan Bauer. The text is very readable and the activity book is so much fun. I'm not sure which of us loves it more. I always found history simply boring, and am for the first time seeing it in a new light.

The first handful of chapters focuses on ancient Egpyt, simply enrapturing for all of us.
Today we learned about Pharaohs, and when Upper Egypt finally concurred Lower Egpyt (which happens to be north of Upper Egypt). King Narmer combined the white crown of the Upper with the red crown of the Lower to make the first Pharaoh's crown.

As I was typing up this very blog, I was led away to the kid's room where I found my very own King Tut lying still for, possibly, the first time ever.

Spring is in the Air

2010-02-23T15:20:00.000-05:00

Today, Father Winter reminds us that he is still lingering, but yesterday, AH YESTERDAY. Yesterday the glimpse, the promise of spring tickled our senses and we enjoyed Audubon trails on a homeschool hike with some new friends.

A walking stick with training wheels..

The view from the back

"I wish we could take this home and use it as a rug..."

A Maple print in the ice.

Mama needs a new pair of shoes... (but oh how I love these!)

Ferns, really? In a New England February?

Someone's lunch?

And then my wonderful Mother-in-law watched not one, not two, but ALL THREE kids while I was able to take a magnificent walk through the park with my two ladies.

Oh, I love them!

Queens.

Valentine's Day Love

2010-02-13T21:18:00.001-05:00

Spread your Love today and everyday.
Love and Blessings to all.

Snow Day!

2010-02-11T10:30:00.000-05:00

Dad took an early day yesterday for the storm and we braved the roads and headed to the park for some boarding. Always a skier, never a snowboarder, Mama even strapped in for her first time! Can't wait to actually try it out on some bunny slopes!

Bringing Love and Warmth in the home.

2010-02-04T20:22:00.000-05:00

We've been busy adding some color to the house. We needed a little flair after the Christmas Crafts were taken down.

We started with a Heart garland, which I found here

First we cut out 20 - 2 1/2 " or so hearts..

Using my favorite new toy, I sewed across the top of the hearts, attaching it to newspaper, leaving 2" or so in between hearts, creating the garland.

Some little hands, gently tore the newspaper off the garland..

and Viola!

Next we created a Hanging Paper Globe, which I found here

And my favorite, "Stained glass" Crayon Hearts found here. I happened to have made these with a very dear friend, which makes them all the more special.

Homeschooling Pride

2010-02-02T17:26:00.000-05:00

Em says today "Remember when 'M' said that you don't learn MUCH in homeschool? Well she's WRONG. You learn ANYTHING (stressing anything and imagine the hand signal drawing out the word anything) in homeschool."
Beautiful.

Weekend Projects

2010-02-01T07:05:00.001-05:00

I was fortunate to spend a frigid Saturday tucked away in my Aunt's master seamstress sewing room, with my aunt, one of my two favorite cousins ;-) , and a space heater. Pooling our creativity, working literally back to back at moments and accessing my aunt's experienced brain crafted such a wonderful time, I can't wait to do it again!
While things moved quite a bit slower than when I work on my own, I was able to pick their brains and acquire a few new tips, which made the final project so much more special.

My camera was on the fritz when we were at her place, so sadly I was not able to capture those moments (although I think my cousin has a shot on her i-phone ;)
I started with a pair of old fatigues, sliced them down the inseam and inserted a panel. Group creativity took the drawstring that originally tightened the ankles and placed them along the sides of my new skirt scrunching the bottom just enough for a bit of texture. I also learned a great new technique from my aunt on how to apply an embellishment.. because, well, a gal like me, she just can't wear camo without balancing it out. (Note the peace sign on my lower right leg.)

Here is a picture of my finished project..

I put the finishing touches on my skirt at home and my oldest brought me a pair of HER pants and we spent sunday crafting a skirt for her..

I was very impressed with her straight seams. I really think fashion is in her future ...

Added 2-2-10:
My cousin just sent me this picture of the three of us..

Simplicity Parenting

2010-01-19T06:39:00.001-05:00

I am so fortunate to be blessed with such magical children in my life. They breathe meaning into my every moment. They sparkle, they bring me joy. They are each others best friend.
I always viewed our family as a simple living one. We keep to the basics. We have no TV (although the computer is available for a movie when we desire). We've kept away from the loud, plastic, over-stimulating toys. We have no fancy child-rearing gadgets. Through all of this, we've still been lost in the whirlwind of life. The dizziness of too much of the outside strains the familial connection.

A mothering group that I belong to has organized a book discussion. In preparation, I have begun Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne. While the title sparked my interest, I was not expecting for it to resonate so deeply within me. The author is a child development specialist, who is steeped in Waldorf teachings. Kim John Payne has worked extensively with children around the world experiencing post traumatic stress disorder. While working in England with children who have never been through war, he discovered they were displaying the same symptoms of PTSD as the other children had. He links these symptoms with the stresses we have unconsciously placed upon our children from too much. Too much stuff, too much scheduled time, too much information. He has worked with a multitude of families with children labeled with ADD, ADHD and OCD and helped them move to simplicity with dramatic results. He explains why and most importantly how we can work through this. The book is proving to be an amazing one for me and I hope to share insights that are unfolding for me through my journey of returning to simplicity.

But for now I am off to enjoy another peaceful morning with my family.
Bliss.

Twelfth Night: Our First Venture into the Theatre

2010-01-13T20:58:00.000-05:00

Since December 26th we have been on a fast riding coaster in preparation for one of the most amazing performances I have ever seen. We were honored to take part in a Celebration of Twelfth Night , a local performance that has been part of the fabric of our community for the last 30 plus years. Well, only the older ones were part of the play, while us parents did the driving back and forth (two and three rehearsals a day are what brings this masterpiece to fruition!) And the babe was corralled for many hours in the basement of the Hall.

Our "Crown Kid" delivered a crown to the evening's King and Queen, chosen randomly from the audience, they were the lucky recipients, finding a the hidden pea in their piece of cake, which was handed out by the "cake kids" during the performance.

Our "Earth Elemental" guided children through the forest and danced a marvelous garland dance for the Twelfth Night Celebration.

The performance was spectacular!

And the cast party was a perfect end to a memorable two weeks for the children.

And the next morning (after a bedtime of MIDNIGHT!!!) We all slept in, Dad went into work a bit late and we celebrated with a scrumptious breakfast at our favorite local eatery.

Raw Mama Trick #2 Raising the food vibe

2010-01-13T20:27:00.000-05:00

We've had quite a bit of fun going on in our lives recently, with the excitement of the Holidays and being involved in the local theater. With all the activity, food seems to have fallen by the wayside. My oldest declared "We need to eat more fruits and vegetables. More raw food." Ah, and is she ever right! Now, the tricky part... reclaiming those corrupted palates.

Time for Mama to get creative.

When "have an apple" gets groans, I grabbed a few fruits, a knife and cutting board and the large serving tray and went to work...

My Son has deemed him, "Puff the Magic Monster"
And most all of the fruit was eaten.

Next we had to reclaim the morning. Smoothies are tired. Fruit is boring. And our skin is revealing that we all need more good fat in our diets now that the heat is on. And with that the morning pudding is renewed.

Each morning, I have been crafting a pudding based on what we have in the house. Mostly a variation on the following:

a dollop of coconut oil.
a heaping scoop of irish moss (we keep blended irish moss in the fridge for easy use)
a few leaves of kale
an avocado (or two, depending on how much I am making)
agave, maple syrup or honey
a pinch of salt
a TON of frozen fruit
just enough water to blend

When the children are full and I am left with two half eaten bowls of pudding.. off to the freezer for a ready made ice cream the next time I hear those oh too common words, "I'm hu-u-u-n-n-n-gryyyy."

Happy Munchkins

Into the New Year

2010-01-04T09:13:00.000-05:00

I've recently stumbled upon a quote I copied a bit ago. I'm not sure where it's from, but it seems to have popped back up at just the right time, because I am enjoying the moment. Very much.

"The journey, which prior to this was torture because all you wanted to do was get there is now beginning to become a pleasure. It is the pleasure of searching and the pleasure of an adventure. You are nourishing something that's very important - your dreams."

A bit of what is occupying our current adventure:

Sledding
Hula Hooping :-)
Twelfth Night Rehearsals
Enjoying the Winter!
Crafting a new playroom!
Reading
Painting
Knitting
Sewing
Growing (my goodness these kids are getting so big, SO fast!)
Zap Mama's latest Album (okay, only the kids and I can't get enough, especially her duet with Franti, which is great to hoop to.. )

Happy New Year!

EVENT CANCELED

2009-08-05T09:09:00.001-04:00

SAD NEWS! We must cancel our wild food event.
Today is the sign up deadline and due to lack of participation we have to call it off.
Thank you to all who expressed interest and encouragement.
Look for more exciting and educational events in the future.
Peace
Stephen and Gina Law

Wild re-Education

2009-07-22T12:04:00.001-04:00

Mystical Chocolates Presents:

Wild re-Education With Daniel Vitalis and Michael Ford:
Coming Soon to A Suburb Near You!

Daniel Speaks On: The missing link in human nutrition!
Michael Speaks On: Our indigenous ancestors, wild food and medicine!
A wild excursion into edibles, herbals, medicinal mushrooms and living water!
Raw Vegan Cuisine!

Saturday August 8th

Ticket Price of ONLY $67 Includes:
An Intimate, Day Long, Wild re-Education Intensive and Wild Edible Excursion with Daniel Vitalis and Michael Ford!
Raw Potluck Lunch, Gourmet Raw-Vegan Dinner and Mystical Dessert!
Amazing Company!

Schedule Includes:
8:30-9:00 Arrival
9:30 - 11:15 Daniel "Getting Wild! Humans Gone Feral!"
11:30-1:00 Michael Speaks on "Indigenous Plants of our Region and Their Uses"
1:00-2:00 Lunch: Raw-Vegan Potluck
2:00 - 5:00 Wild Excursion with Daniel and Michael: edible, herbal, medicinal
5:00 - 6:00 Daniel Speaks on "Alkaloids, The Missing Link in Human Nutrition!"
6:00 - 7:00 Gourmet, Raw-Vegan Dinner and Mystical Dessert!
7:00 - 9:00 Daniel "Putting it All Together, Creating Medicine from Wild Foods!"

For more information or to register Contact:
Gina at wildreeducation@gmail.com or (401)480-0914
Space is limited, Don't Hesitate! Reserve your spot today!

www.elixircraft.com www.apolloherbs.com

Salad Smiles

2009-07-10T17:19:00.000-04:00

How can you say "no" to a four year old that comes inside asking for you to make salad dressing? Brother and sister, outside for their second night straight, with a pair of scissors and a bowl. Tearing into the first green pepper of the year, finely dicing chives, plucking nasturtium petals. As he waits he thumbs through the newest issue of "Get Fresh" Magazine (A raw food mag out of the UK) He declares that he will be the taste-tester. Waiting for dressing for their masterpiece. How could you say no to whipping up a fresh batch of tahini dressing, even when you are on hands and knees mopping up 16 ounces of bright red, freshly pressed veggie juice and a pile of broken glass? Did I mention the baby and I are covered in carrot pulp...

A VERY simple and yummy dressing that the kids seem to love:
1 pt tahini
1 pt apple cider vinegar
and just a splash of maple syrup

Juicer, Sprout trays and a Choose your own price yard sale!

2009-06-26T08:11:00.000-04:00

We have our Champion Juicer for sale. It is in great working condition and comes with all of the parts including a blank plate which is great for purees and banana ice cream (Alternate bananas with frozen fruit of your choice for delicious treat!) We are upgrading as a friend is selling one of their juicers before they move.
We are asking $100.

I also have A sprout master sprout setup , 3- 8x10 stackable trays. Great condition, If you are interested, make us an offer. http://www.amazon.com/Sprout-Master-Triple-Sprouter/dp/B000F0FX5C

We are going to also have a mini-yard sale tomorrow. We'll be putting a bunch of things out on the lawn, and you can take whatever you'd like. We'll put a donation can out, if you wish to help raise money for our new juicer, if not, just come take what you'd like. (email me for directions ginamlaw@gmail.com )

And for anyone still interested, we have PLENTY of almonds left, and we can order more, and will, if we run out. $11/lb for unpasteurized, raw, organic almonds, straight from the orchard, and $8 for an 8 oz jar of fresh, stone-ground almond butter.

Bless.

The Great Superfood Debate: Part Three

2009-06-24T07:41:00.000-04:00

The Conclusion

Many cultures thriving in longevity are often surviving in undeveloped countries that have access to wild, mineral filled superfoods as part of their regular diet. These superfoods are the foods that they can access, many times in their own backyard. Most of the superfoods in question come from warmer climates, where many of the Earth’s less monetarily wealthy people live. True superfood companies are fair-trade, organic or wild-crafted. They offer to sustain an ecosystem and culture, rather than rape them of their land, ravage their forests and leave them with a barren land in exchange for a small sum of money. I once heard an argument in support of eating tropical fruits and vegetables shipped from third world cultures. The author argued that to purchase goods from a third world country fed the families of the farmer, where buying local produce would merely send the farmer’s children to college. I am not agreeing with this statement, but however you take it, a high percentage of that tropical fruit is conventionally farmed. This leaves the land unable to produce for itself and the workers in regular contact with chemicals, smothering them in dis-ease. The simple foods that many of the cultures of longevity are consuming are growing without these immoral chemicals, and they are the superfoods that we desire.

In order to support fairly traded, organic products, the cost will be there. You vote with your dollar. My vote goes to paying real prices for real products verses buying produce from a store like Wal-Mart, conventional produce from Stop and Shop or even Whole Foods, just because it is less expensive. These products are not putting those people who are farming them in a good situation. The superfoods that I stand by are quality products. I support the superfoods that are grown in the highest quality, packaged responsibly, are fairly traded and have a positive effect on other cultures.

Some folks are concerned with superfoods being sold as part of a multi-level marketing company, namely Elements for Life. As someone who has bought her fair share of quality superfoods, I know first hand that they are an expensive product. The company in question has top quality products, sold at competitive prices. The intention of selling them as part of an MLM company is for those many times that I’ve turned people onto superfoods. I can now actually get a commission from referring them to the company. I am not pushing people to use these supplements. This winter, when my mother finally didn’t mention how tired I looked, I attributed it to one major change in my diet. I added in high quality minerals and nutrients, through products such as Vitamineral Green, Revitaphi, blue green algae, and my personal favorite, marine phytoplankton. People ask what I am doing different, or we will have them over and offer them a superfood tonic. They come back and tell us they feel great, that the next morning their vision was stronger, how their aching hands aren’t so stiff or how connected they feel. Instead of referring them to a company that will charge the same as Elements for Life, I will refer them to my personal website. I will receive a commission, and if they are excited and promote the products as well, I can make a bit of a profit from everyone they turn onto it. We have always been very generous, sharing our food and spreading knowledge, as many people on this path are. This is a chance for us to reap a portion of the monetary benefits of products we have long been promoting. Many of us have been using superfoods for quite some time. We have been paying the same amount through regular companies as it is being sold through companies like Elements for Life. For us to earn commissions seems like a good way to help the products pay for themselves. You don’t have to be a pushy businessperson in this company, all you need is to love and believe in these products. Most importantly you share them. These products speak for themselves. If you are feeling called, there is the potential to make money while you are learning so much that can help boost the health of your family and friends. At that point your job is literally to learn about health. As far as Elements for Life goes, they have an amazing resource for distributors that is not only information about their products but an extensive network of support on health and wellness in general. I know other MLM companies that have superior products that I love to support and have no affiliation with. I believe a network marketing company, just like any other company, should be judged on the integrity of the company and not on the label that it functions under.

We call ourselves Superheroes because ARE Superheroes. We are Superheroes not because we sell superfoods. We are Superheroes because we are happy, healthy, loving, friendly people who are working together to better our world. We are all part of a paradigm where we need to radiate love, health and positivity to all beings.

Unconditionally.

In conclusion, I am not NEARLY as stubborn as my thickheaded father ;-)
(If you didn't read his blog first, these were his words, not mine!)

Love is everywhere. Spread it unconditionally

Father's Day

2009-06-22T06:55:00.000-04:00

Summer Solstice
Last crest of the moon
Highest Tide
and a full belly from father's day dinner.
A last minute decision
Straight to the beach
As dusk settles around us.
Barefoot running
with a babe on my back
one running hand in hand
and the third trailing with Dad.

Happy Father's Day!

The Great Superfood Debate: Part Two

2009-06-20T10:19:00.000-04:00

What IS a SuperFood?

The buzz these days in the raw food world is superfoods. What are they? Are they the same thing as a supplement? Why would I want them in my diet?

While the word “superfood” does not actually have an official definition, the implication of a superfood is that it is a food containing many unique healthful properties. These properties may include, but are not limited to: antioxidants, EFAs, DHA, a wide range of minerals, complete proteins, blood sugar stabilizers, immune system modulators, hormone balancers. Superfoods contain an assortment of vitamins, they may be anti-inflammatory, detoxifying and the list goes on and on. Many plant and animal based products contain a couple of these traits. What puts a superfood up and above the rest? David Wolfe states in his new book Superfoods : the Food and Medicine of the Future, “ These include foods that have a dozen or so unique properties, not just one or two. For example, the goji berry is a source of complete protein, immune stimulating polysaccharides, liver cleansing betaine, anti-aging sesquiterpenes, antioxidants, over twenty trace minerals, and much, much more.”

The list of foods that I consider to be super foods are endless, and while yes, most should be used only as supplements, this does not make them any less important than the staple foods that provide to us the bulk of our diet. A supplement is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as being “ something that completes or makes an addition”. If you were to take a glass and fill it with stones you would fill the glass, but there would be many empty holes. You would need other objects to fill those holes; pebbles, sand, water. So is our body system. You can fill the bulk of your body with your staple foods. You need foods to complement your staple foods, foods that supplement the missing puzzle pieces. A different beast entirely is the “vitamin supplement” which is separated from the whole food and extracted into a pill or powder form for our consumption. Most people in the superfood world are not promoting this at all. The processing of most of the superfoods is simple. Most superfoods are not processed more than how raisins are dried, nut mylks are blended, wheat grass is extracted, or seeds are ground. Something like Marine phytoplankton is simply phytoplankton grown in water and spun to separate the ocean water from the phytoplankton, in order to concentrate the phytoplankton. How is this anymore processed than wheat grass juice being extracted from the blade, since that fiber is indigestible for our human stomachs? Maca is a root, not unlike a turnip, that is dried and powdered in order to retain its nutrients. Nothing is isolated and refined. To call these foods processed and concentrated is to also call a vegetable juice, honey, seed crackers and nutmylks, anything but whole food in its whole state processed or concentrated. Does this make these foods unhealthy?

Taking a superfood is much different than taking a product that is isolated and concentrated. They are different than a drug that is derived to push the body beyond its natural limits. Superfoods are whole foods, and YES our bodies ARE dependent on minerals, vitamins, amino acids. These are nutrients that we cannot deny. Our body will not run optimally with out them. To provide them at the levels that we need will help our bodies to function at a superior level. There is an artificial energy that comes with stimulants such as caffeine and refined sugar. It is sustainable energy when your body has sufficient minerals, vitamins and amino acids.

When my six year old daughter was presented with the idea that you don’t need to eat superfoods, her response was quite simple “You do, to keep you healthy.” There is a lot of wisdom in her response. Many of us “health conscious” New Englanders are eating so called “fresh”, “organic” produce that is trucked in from across the country. Let us consider this. Okay, yes, the west coast is much more fertile than the east coast. Geologically, the east coast has been much more stable for a much longer time, giving it ample time to loose many minerals into our ocean. However, many of the companies that we are buying our “organic” produce from are large scale. How truly “organic” are these large companies, and how much have they been depleting their originally fertile soils? They are over-cultivating the soils, even though they are “organic”. Next, I must consider, when was my head of lettuce picked? Or my leaves of kale separated from the plant? Most likely at the very least it has been a week. How many nutrients have been lost in that week? Your produce starts loosing nutritional value from the moment it is picked. And for my fruit, how green was it when it was picked? How long has it been ripening off of the tree out of the sun’s energy? I am a huge advocate of fresh produce. My family survives on green smoothies, nut mylks, salads, and more fruit than you can imagine. I believe that this food is the best path to my family’s health. I also believe that this food is not as optimal as it can be and that we are missing a lot of nutrition. There are many ways for us to improve our nutritional intake from our produce. Support local farmers who are stewards of the land. These are farmers who build mineral-rich soils, farming the soil… not the crops. There are farmers who practice permaculture, letting the land remain truer to itself. There are “weeds” that can be wildcrafted; dandelion greens, wild grasses, docks, sorrels, wild berries and roots. These have all proven to be strong by recultivating a barren land. Wild foods are those that survive when people have stripped the land. These plants are remineralizing our soils just as these plants will remineralize our bodies. These plants will keep our bodies strong and healthy. Many people, including myself, consider them superfoods in their own right. Scores of these wild foods are potent herbs that we literally walk all over when we step out our door. That is, of course, unless we have doused them with chemicals to rid them from our lawns.
It is beyond the scope of this article to begin to delve into the world of herbal medicine. I do, however feel that the powerful benefits of herbs must be acknowledged. Herbal medicine has been practiced for centuries and is embraced by most cultures. There are herbs to support, stimulate or calm every system of the body. You can order Amazonian herbs such as cat’s claw or pau d’arco. If you are knowledgeable in the medicinal mushroom realm you can harvest your own immune modulating mushrooms. You can walk out into your backyard and harvest powerful medicine such as dandelion, burdock, yellow dock, red clover, thistle and SO much more. I have a friend who is harvesting his own herbs while living in New York City. These medicines are free, or very inexpensive when bought. There are many classes and local herbalists, incredible books that you can work with to educate yourself. It wasn’t until modern times that we began to shun herbs and turn towards man-made drugs, to take the place of what nature has provided to us from the beginning of time. Herbs can be taken in many forms, tinctures, capsules or tea. Whether it be an infusion (pouring hot water over leaves or flowers) or a decoction (simmering roots and barks) a tea can be amazing medicine. Used either as a preventative tonic or relief for an acute or chronic problem.
Elixirs are herbal teas turned into nut milks, and blended with superfoods. They are a wonderful modality to take herbal tonics, add to them the sustained energy from nuts or seeds and to combine it with your choice of nutrient dense superfoods, in order to maintain health and longevity. If you are unfamiliar with elixirs, I highly recommend checking out Daniel Vitalis’s Elixir Craft videos on youtube.
Holistic health is not one straight path. It is a windy road with many options. There are many choices for you to consider in determining which is right for you. A combination of many modalities is what will keep you healthy. There is no one prescribed formula that will work for everyone. The healing path can include spring water, ferments, meditation, herbs, exercise, raw foods, superfoods, reiki and other energy healing arts, acupuncture, acupressure, massage, rolfing yoga, tai chi and other internal arts, among many other things. The balance that you establish will increase your energy and sustain your personal vitality.

The Great Superfood Debate: Part One

2009-06-18T20:07:00.000-04:00

My next three entries are in rebuttal to Frank Ferendo's Superfood Debate: Parts One and Two
www.reasonablyraw.blogspot.com

After reading these two blogs, it was necessary to defend products that I believe in.

At the young age of fourteen, my father decided it would be a good idea to expose me to John Robbin’s Video of “Diet for a New America”. For any of you who have ever read the book, or worse, seen the movie, you can imagine the horror I felt. I’ll never forget the nausea as I tore into a piece of steak later that weekend. That was that, for the last eighteen years the thought of eating an animal has completely revolted me.

For many years I ate a pastatarian diet, which also consisted of bagels, pizza and coffee. As I progressed through my college years I began to learn about “health food”. I ate tofu, whole wheat, stir-fry, soy substitutes, and veggie burgers. My now husband and I experimented quite a bit with a vegan diet, but really, we were far from healthy.

When my oldest daughter was born we knew that we couldn’t raise her on these foods. Through Ruth Yaron’s “Super Baby Food” and Cynthia Lair’s “Feeding the Whole Family” we began to learn the value of a whole foods diet. We switched to brown rice, steamed vegetables, beans, lentils and homemade bread. We felt much healthier than we had for the years we survived on a processed vegetarian diet. We were learning the flavors of real food and the art of food preparation.

Four years ago I started learning the amazing benefits of a raw food diet. I became serious about it when I learned I had a health issue that required medical attention. One month later that issue was almost completely resolved and I was feeling better than I ever had in my entire life. I feasted on many varieties of greens, veggies, fruits, nuts and seeds. What an amazing summer! I was so full of energy and was at the top of my game.

Then came the fall. Living in New England, winter is when the weather gets colder and signals the time for heavier foods. Our bodies need warmth, grounding and the raw food was making my body cold, and a bit spacey. I transitioned to a cooked foods diet. I inevitably began again with wheat, cooked oils and dairy. These were substances that my body had already proven to me to be sub-optimal. I pushed through the winter, and in the spring we started the transition to a new level of health.

Each year the cycle was the same. Spring brought a new level of health, leading into an amazing living food summer. This was followed by a fall and winter that would leave much to be desired.

A raw foods diet is a detoxifying diet. It is an amazing tool that can do WONDERS for our health. The lightness, freedom and strength that accompanies living food is beyond anything that can be described. The speed in which this live food can heal dis-ease is astonishing.

Our bodies need to follow the seasons in their own right. They need a cycle of detoxifying, building and maintaining. Spring has an abundance of wild and cultivated greens and liver cleansing herbs. Summer brings its bounty of fruit, carrying vibrancy to every cell in our being. Fall is a time of rebuilding, grounding the lightness of summer for the hibernation of winter. In New England, we see this with our winter squash, roots, and autumn olives. They are crops that root us in the earth and supply us with our stores for the winter. Winter is a time for maintaining our connection to the earth and of feasting on stored grains and legumes.

The challenge that I face is that consuming starchy vegetables, legumes and grains on a daily basis keeps my body, mind and spirit feeling sluggish and puts my body in hibernation mode. Winter for me needs to be home-centered, nesting with my family. However, like many folks in this current paradigm, I cannot spend my winters following the rhythms of the sun. I am awake well after the last glimpse of sunlight and in the morning I wake while the stars are still bright in the sky. I am a mother of three wonderful and energetic children and need to be a bit on my toes during those winter months.

This winter I made new discoveries. I explored new passions. These connections made for winter months in which I felt a strength I had yet to experience. I stayed grounded and focused and accomplished more than I ever imagined.

And this leads into…

THE GREAT SUPERFOOD DEBATE!

to be continued...

Embrace and Release

2009-06-08T18:18:00.000-04:00

Savoring...

Eight month old smiles.
Four year old hugs.
Six year old giggles.
A thirty three year old hand in mine.

Chocolate splatters.
Wild green potions.
Crayon scribbles.
Naked Baby Bottoms.

Following inspired thoughts.
Drifting along on the current.
Ebb and Flow.
Universal Oneness.

Zappers

2009-06-06T07:23:00.000-04:00

For anyone that has not begun to delve into the world of parasites, the effects they have on our bodies and their eradication, we have been learning that it is not a road to look at lightly. Once you learn anything about them, you want to get them OUT! They can cause all sorts of chronic conditions, and MOST of us, healthy or not, DO in fact carry them. I recommend learning a little about them. I haven't gone as deep into it as others, because it's pretty disgusting. I understand the seriousness of it all, and am not sure if I can handle full disclosure. There are all sorts of cleanses and remedies out there, one that has come to our attention is The Terminator Zapper by Don Croft. I highly suggest doing your own parasite research and checking out parasite cleanses. In that be sure to also research The Terminator II Zapper. It's the zapper we've heard the most about.
http://www.worldwithoutparasites.com/index.html
We are looking into purchasing them wholesale and are offering them at an amazingly low pre-order offer for a limited number of zappers for a limited time.
They Retail for $134 +s&h, the cheapest I've found them for is $115 +$7 s&h
What we'll be doing as a very limited offer is $95 and if you are local, there is no shipping charge, for non-local, we'll ship them to you at exact cost.
The order ends Friday, June 12th, so to take advantage of this one time low price, contact us now!

What didn't work

2009-06-04T16:40:00.000-04:00

FYI the papaya, cucumber avocado pudding gave Willow tremendous gas and she spit up quite a bit. It was the first time that she had mixed food and also a first for the cukes. Not a good call on Mama's part.
What has been working is letting her scoot around diaper free and putting her on the pot before/after feedings and when she wakes up. It's been saving mama some diaper washingWith Willow mobilizing, we've been working on baby proofing. Today I switched the house around quite a bit, putting all the big kid toys behind closed doors... And the adventure begins!

Raw Mama Trick #1

2009-06-03T10:34:00.000-04:00

I'm always on the hunt for new tricks so I can incorporate an added nutritional boosts into my kids diets. What's been working for us the past couple of days?
Let me step back a bit. My husband decided about a week and a half or so ago to throw some wheat grass seeds into the garden. A brilliant idea! SO easy to take care of, we put them at the end of a row and tossed on a bit of row cover to protect the seeds from being scorched. Once we got them rolling, mother nature took care of the rest. (confession: we didn't even really take care of them much, we thought we had scorched them!)
So we've been throwing them in the blender with some water, straining the wheat grass juice and using that as the base of our smoothies.
What's been working for the kiddos??

Hidden Greens Pudding:
I take 2 cups of that wheatgrass water, add 2 handfuls of brazil nuts, a handful of soaked dates, 5 or so figs that I soaked for about 2 hours, a few heaping tbsp of carob, a twist of himalayan sea salt, blend it up and Viola! They LOVE it!
Try it out. Take their favorite raw recipe and sub in some green water, what ever you have on hand, you may have to compensate a bit, but what another great way to boost our babies!

Last nights baby food:
Papaya Pudding
1/4 cucumber, peeled, de-seeded
1/2 small papaya
1 avocado

Chop everything into large cubes and throw in the blender. She loved it! I'm thinking it should keep for a couple of days.. we'll see.

A Wintery Winter

2009-01-28T13:26:00.000-05:00

It's been awhile since we've been able to enjoy such a beautifully white winter. So many Rhode Island cold, wet, freezing winters have graced us in recent years. Every flake of snow that falls puts a smile on my face. Another blanket laid upon our existing covers. The kids enjoy every moment. I believe this could almost be more enjoyable to them then the blustery days of summer. The knock at the sliding glass door when they just about had enough. The rosy cheeks and snow drenched hair poking out beneath their hats. Another adventure.

The moments when the house is silent.

Someday I believe we will be blessed with a wood stove, but for now every time I hear the heat click on, my two oldest scramble for the warmest vents in the house (the back room and the bathroom), shut the doors to contain the warmth and pull up a child-sized chair. Their slippers come off and those tiny toes caress the warm metal grates. And there they will remain, quiet and peaceful, for the duration that the warm air blows.

How does a family who focuses on raw food stay warm and happy during a New England winter? Well besides amazing green-fruit smoothies, superb super foods and to live for home-made chocolates. Have you ever tried an irish moss mousse? We've been taking this super nutritious sea vegetable and creating the most out-of-this-world desserts. Any occasion is an occasion for celebration. Recently we had some great friends over for dessert. I decided this was a perfect excuse to treat ourselves to something a little decadent. Strawberry mousse with a coconut meringue, chocolate covered strawberries and a splash of chocolate love hearts. Who needs dinner? Life's short, eat more dessert! All raw, mostly organic and filled with love. A bit of heaven in every bite!
I highly recommend Sweet Gratitude: A New World of Raw Desserts this book brought to us our irish moss Ah HA! moment. This amazing book is refining the simple pleasures that we delight in sharing with our loved ones.

Life Lessons

2009-01-12T17:57:00.000-05:00

My Mother always told me that there are different paths that you can take to get to the same destination, your purpose in life. One path is going to be difficult, you'll hit a lot more bumps along the way. The other path will flow more gently.

This lesson has proven itself to me in many ways over the course of my life thus far.

It feels as though when you change your thoughts, switch gears, follow your passion, point yourself in the direction that feels right in your heart, not necessarily what makes sense in your mind, the Universe/Spirit/God will respond. It can be subtle or in your face, but it will respond. Inspired thoughts, meeting new people that bring your journey to new places, a feeling of genuine exitement, like a child on Christmas Eve. The destination may not be what you intended for at the begining, but rest assured, it will be exactly where you need to be.

Do what you Love and Love what you do.

"What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?"

Our First Ice Skating Adventure

2009-01-11T08:26:00.000-05:00

Emelia decided sometime ago that she wanted to become an ice skating teacher. So, for Solstice, she and Eli received their first pairs of ice skates. Patiently they have waited, and FINALLY the pond froze (our "pond" in the living room is thankful!) We headed way up north to Foster, RI, where we had our own personal rink.

Eli's four year old version of gathering his warm clothes for ice

skating...
Mom helped to find warm, waterproof mittens, a wool hat, a snow coat and snow pants...
He did find the knee pads though...

Suiting up for the adventure

I was very impressed at how quickly they adjusted to being on the ice, even Eli went back for more.

Although, Dad took to lying around on the job ;-)

Where was baby Willow during all of this, you maight ask?

Snug and warm, bundled and cuddled close to Mama and patiently waiting for her turn on the ice.

Winter Movement

2009-01-08T13:14:00.001-05:00

We settle in for our long winter's hermitage, in this little state that doesn't quite have a true winter, but definitely experiences cold, wet and windy for many months of the year.

We are home bound more often then a four and six year old might like, as keeping cosy with our babe seems more comforting, more grounding. This is a very difficult transition for me, I have always been on the go, activities, movement. With the addition of Willow to our family, a gentle flow happens, much easier, when we stay home. The kids are happy with their backyard "frosty", climbing through the skeletons in the garden that never quite got put to bed this year, as we had more exciting fruits to harvest this past September. Being in our little home, seems stifling, so much clutter, so little space for 7 bodies. I have so much creative energy vortexing within my being. So many ideas, so much excitement. Our days are lengthening, bringing more light energy into our daily routine. This is a time of transition. Alas, it is time for serious movement within my home. Creating a flow to release this energy into positivity, transformation.

Dinner Plans

2008-12-31T09:49:00.000-05:00

Emelia said to me last night, "Mom, I think we should have a veggie platter and a fruit platter for dinner" I agreed and began cutting up veggies. And when I turned around, to what did my wandering eye did appear? Two little children, creating dinner without any fear.

Beautifully they cleared and set the table and we enjoyed a wonderful candlelit dinner.

"Thank me and emelia for making these vegetable and fruit platter and thank you to mom for making the cashew dip. Namaste." ~Eli

Raising the Greenhouse

2008-10-20T18:27:00.000-04:00

Once again, our winter seeds are a little late getting in the ground, but our sprouts poked their heads out of the soil over a month earlier than last year. Last year it was Thanksgiving morning that we made our way through the cold out to the hoophouse only to lift up the remay and discover our seedlings, something to be truely grateful for. Later that season, March, I believe, we harvested our first spring crop. Hopefully we'll be munching on our greens and those covetted hakurei turnips earlier this year. The remay has been on our seedlings for about a week now, but this weekend the plastic cover was pulled tight securing warmth for our babies.

Autumnberries

2008-10-18T22:02:00.000-04:00

It's full swing autumn, here in New England. Possibly my favorite time, the crisp air, the changing leaves, preparing for hibernation, and autumn olives.

If you've never tasted the tart-sweetness of an autumn olive, it is time you did. Autumn olives, also known as autumn berries, are extremely abundant this time of the year. Not only delicious, these berries are purveyors of vitamins A, C and E, flavonoids, essential fatty acids and are loaded with lycopene. They are a truely local superfood. And my husband views it as such, squirreling it away for us (but making sure to leave enough for the birds and some for the plant). My husband and I have grand plans on preserving the harvest: freezing, concentrating, drying, blending, tincturing. What a wonderful medicine to aid us on our winter adventures.

The shrub is easy to identify. My daughter points out the silvery shimmer of their under-leaf as we make our way through town. "Mom, autumn olives!" She'll yell as we are driving down the road, taking note as to where we'll be able to harvest this year's goodies. My four year old picks the gold-speckeled, red berry out of a line up including autumun olive, poke berry and the deadly night shade berry, positive that he has picked the only edible fruit of the three. My children can identify a growing number of edible and medicinal plants at this point, but by far their favorite is their precious (and, unfortunately for the environmentalist in me, wildly invasive) autumn olive. Lucky for us we have more than we can handle, only a few steps away, giving us and our bird friends a convenient way to dine together for a few cherished weeks of the year.

For more information on the autumn olive, check out this link:

http://www.psa-rising.com/eatingwell/wild-foods/autumnolive.htm