6.10.2009

Swimming Cows!


Came across these pictures, and they definitely brightened my day...

Reminded me of one of my dearest friends, a kind and generous oxen named Laksman. When i was staying in India, we spent many hours together. I would share all the joys and sorrows of my heart with him and he would reciprocate in kind with rough oxen kisses on my arms and face. He is greatly missed and i look forward to the day my little sprout meets him.

All of the photos are courtesy of an organization called Care for Cows who rescue and rehabilitate injured, abandoned, abused, and neglected cows, oxen, bulls, and other animals around a holy town in North India. Their gallery is quite heart-warming.

5.26.2009

Teetering Toddler-ing Yoga


Got the link to this article/essay from a Mothering.com e-newsletter this morning. Its from their archive. Thought it was share-worthy. Hope it helps you clear your mind and brightens your day!

Bear Claw Mama: Yoga with a Youngster Teaches a Whole New Way to Relax by Tracy Abell Issue 91, November/December 1998

What would compel a woman to attempt yoga while in the same room with a toddler? I was motivated after treating myself to a total body massage and learning that in the massage therapist's recent experience, the only body more tightly wound than my own had been that of a person confined to a wheelchair. The sad truth was that my body was taut in all the wrong places. And what was not taut was slack. In all the wrong places.

For instance, I had finally faced the realization that not only had I given
birth to a beauti- ful son two years earlier but I had also gained a third
breast. I am referring, of course, to my abdominal breast. The saggy, baggy
congregation of flab that bounced whenever I walked down the stairs or became
even slightly animated. My first thought was to pour all my energy and
finances into the creation of something the fashion world is sorely lacking,
i.e. an abdominal bra. But I got only as far as naming my unborn creation The
Ab-Bra Cadabra before admitting that lingerie would not solve my gelatinous
dilemma.

Determined to achieve calm beauty inside and out, I launched a
Zen-like assault on the doughy, stressed-out flesh that housed my soul. I
successfully completed Phase One by excavating my yoga relaxation videotape from
the pile where it was buried beneath Dr. Seuss's Butter Battle Book and Monty
Python and the Holy Grail.

Phase Two presented more of a challenge as it required getting out of bed in the morning and putting in the tape. I sleepily staggered out to the dark living room and kick-cleaned a space free of all the toys and books that littered the floor. Because I wanted to get started before my inquisitive toddler came to investigate, there was the sense of "hurry up and relax." I hoped that if I got at least partially into the workout before he joined me, I would be better able to cope with his interruption. I would grit my teeth and, dammit, keep relaxing no matter what.

The first few times my son brought toys and stuffed animals to me as I lay stretched out on the floor, my muscles tensed while I attempted to remain focused on the exercises. In a loud, frustrated voice I commanded Fletcher to give me space. I heard myself ranting and raving over the calm voice of the yogi, and eventually I had to laugh. So much for staying centered.

After several sessions characterized by brief periods of calm peppered with territorial warfare, I got smart and discussed with Fletcher his role in my exercise regimen before I started the tape. I explained that it was not okay for him to climb on me or drop wooden blocks on my stomach. I made it clear that it was unacceptable to pry my eyelids open, drive a truck into the side of my head, or pull on my toes.
Fletcher, in turn, negotiated a few alterations in the regimen by introducing hugs and kisses into our routine. Instinctively understanding that someone in search of inner
peace rarely turns away a tender embrace, he expressed his love physically.

I began to understand that what I needed to do was to increase both my
muscular and mental flexibility. Whenever Fletcher put a stuffed frog on my
head, I tried to incorporate it into my routine. Start with your feet. Relax
your toes, your instep, your ankles. Relax your shins, your knees, your thighs.
Relax the frog. Let yourself go.

As we settled into our daily routine, Fletcher started recognizing yoga movements and imitating them throughout the day. He practiced "bear claws" and "lion face," and whenever he saw me utilize a tension-reducing exercise, he would call out, "Yoga man!" Soon Fletcher began to act as my coach on those mornings when I was overwhelmed by the prospect of getting vertical. He crawled over me in bed whispering, "Mommy. Wake. Bear claw. Yoga man."

This became our compromise, our special routine. Although the
yoga sessions were not interruption-free, they were mostly peaceful episodes
that soothed our collective beast. And, best of all, every time I reached the
end of the tape where the yogi directed me to a positive visualization, I
considered it a double victory that not only was I completely relaxed but that
my visualization could show me the image of a happy, healthy, beaming Fletcher.
And his frog.

Tracy Abell lives in Colorado with her husband Kurt and their sons Fletcher (3) and Harlan (8 months). She continues to strive for more physical and emotional flexibility.

5.14.2009

Powerballs Part Duex


There was a Pyramid (as Egyptians, we have an affinity for them) of Powerballs that were Promptly Popped into a little mouth by Plump hands...some of the action was caught on film. Lets go to the video-tape...



What can i say? They are pretty irresistable! This powerball avatar featured cherries, chia seeds, and many more goodies. Recipe to follow soon.

4.22.2009

Light from Rumi


Today i am in the mood for mystics...
here is something from dear Rumi (from Whispers of the Beloved – Maryam Mafi and Azima Koln p.48)

To be or not to be
Is not my dilemma.
To break away from both worlds is not bravery.
To be unaware of the wonders
That exist in me,
That
Is real madness!

Rumi by Lisa Dietrich

4.10.2009

Con-Templating


I am on the lookout for a better template for this little bloggy endeavor...any suggestions?

4.09.2009

Powerball!!!!


Here is a little something we whipped up and then rolled up the other day. These little guys do pack a powerful punch, providing lots of sustaining energy and deliciousness. The little one dug them too.

My intention was for them to be 100% raw, but i couldn't find the raw buckwheat groats for the life of me. So we used toasted ones (i.e., Kasha). Next time i make them they will be fully un-cooked.


Donia's Powerballs
1/2 cup buckwheat groats
1/2 cup raw unhulled sesame seeds
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup chia seeds
5 opened up caps of Aquazon
3/4 cups dates

In a food processor combine Buckwheat, Sesame Seeds, Coconut, Chia Seeds, Cacao Nibs, Powershake, and Aquazon. Process until a coarse powder (admittedly not all the seeds will be totally powder-y).

Add dates. Let dates get integrated into the mix. Add Cashew butter. This should make everything more dough-y. Add more cashew butter if its not coming together enough (for a nut-free version you could use tahini or sunflower seed butter).

Roll into balls or other shapes. Thank the universe for such marvels. Enjoy!

Since i didn't take any pictures of these treats (little hands kept on snatching away, biting into, and putting back what was on the plate), here is a photo of the lovely raw choco-coconut pudding we had a few weeks ago (in my great-grandma's bubble bowls). When it is recreated the recipe will be shared.


4.08.2009

At First Sight


Love. (yes, my boy's best friend is a soccer ball)



Rockin' Woolies courtesy of one of my Egyptian Aunties. Two right feet courtesy of Lion Cub.

4.02.2009

Sultry Veggies





That's what i call a good lookin' carrot!

4.01.2009

Zamu in the News!!!


For Zamu Tour Info go to ZamuHealth.com

ZAMUTM In The News
Special TV & Radio Appearances By 'Amazon John' and Olivia
In just a short couple of days, ZAMUTM On Tour will kick off in New York! As part of the excitement, 'Amazon John' and Olivia Newton-John Easterling will appear on several TV and radio shows while touring the country. They will promote the importance of the Amazon Rainforest and the latest news from Amazon Herb Company.


WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2009

7:45 am - 9:00 am
GOOD MORNING AMERICA (NATIONAL)

9:00 am - 9:10 am
WBDY-FM / Y105 Connecticut / NYC

9:30 am - 9:45 am
CBS 101.1 RADIO - IN STUDIO

Stay tuned for the announcement of additional appearances in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Austin and West Palm Beach. More details coming soon!
THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2009

7:45 am - 8:00 am Live on air
CW 11 / WPIX Morning News (NYC Local)

8:30 am - 9:00 am
FOX & FRIENDS (NATIONAL)

9:00 am - 9:30 am
MORNING SHOW WITH MIKE & JULIET (NATIONAL)

10:30 am - 11:00 am
BETTER TV (FOX - 55 markets)

1:00 pm - 1:30 pm
ABC NEWS NOW (NATIONAL & ABC.COM) - LIVE
GOOD MORNING AMERICA STUDIO

3.20.2009

Nature's Soap!



Soapberries/Soap Nuts/Sapindus! Another one of Momma Earth's gifts!

I really dig the fresh, slightly sweet scent of these...when my boy's Indian Grammie saw us using them to wash his cloth diapers, she told me they are also wonderful as a natural baby shampoo!


Here is a little something i came across about the glories of Soap Nuts. Its from here:
Soap Nuts. Yes, somewhat of a strange thing… Slightly out of my comfort zone when I first heard of them. But with the problems we had with hard water and build up, I was finally willing to try anything. Even if it was a nut (technically a berry) that grows on trees.

An About Soap Nuts Quicky

Soap nuts grow on Sapindus trees and they contain saponin. This saponin is released when the harvested shells come in contact with warm or hot water. Soap nuts have
become a popular environmentally friendly alternative to manufactured, chemical detergents. They are also safe for washing delicates, silks and woolens.


Why Use Soap Nuts?

One good reason of course is the environmentally friendliness of soapnuts. They don’t require any manufacturing to be made since they just grow on trees. Soapnuts also have natural anti-microbial agents so there is no need to add bleach to kill bacteria. People with sensitive skin can also benefit from the seeds of the Sapindus tree because the nuts have proven to be gentle and effective for those who suffer from eczema, psoriasis and other skin conditions.
Amazingly enough, soap nuts even have insecticidal properties and
can be used as a wash for the treatment of lice or gardening.
If you are using cloth diapers and have experienced annoying problems with build up, soap nuts may be the solution since they can strip diapers and leave no residue. This means an extra rinse is not necessary after each wash to make sure they are rinsing clean. Now your diapers can be done faster and you’ll use less water.
Saving money is something a lot of people like to do and soap nuts has such a wide variety of uses such as laundry, cleaning and body care that one could potentially save money on the many different products they need to buy on a monthly basis.
How To Use Soap Nuts
It’s really simple. You have two choices for laundry… to make a liquid or to put 4-5 soap seeds in a muslin bag and add to the drum of the wash machine.
To make the liquid you simply boil water and add soapnuts. How much you use epends on the concentration and amount of soap nut liquid you will use. You don’t want to make too much since it will spoil. We do a lot of laundry so this is what I do:
Boil 12 cups of water and add 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of soap nuts.
Boil gently for 30 minutes.

This liquid can also be used for cleaning countertops and more. Add some essential oils to give it a nice scent.
Get more personal use and cleaning recipes using soap nuts.
From Here
To Here!


3.18.2009

Time is Amazing


From This

To This

In Two Short Years!

Sweet Green Pie! A Clear and Bright Recipe!


Doesn't sound too appetizing, huh? Trust me, once you try it you will be thanking yourself for embracing the green.

Yesterday, little lion and i headed over to friends for dinner (or as they say west of the Mississippi, supper). Since it was St. Patty's and since 1/4 of me and an 1/8 of the lion cub are Irish, i decided to whip up an appropriately colored raw vegan concoction. Here are the details:

crust
1.5 cups almonds
1 cup coconut flakes
1 cup golden flax meal
1 cup dried plums (aka, prunes - we were out of dates, so prunes it was!)
2 TBS Agave nectar

filling:
5 ripe bananas
1 medium-size avocado
1 small mango
9 caps Aquazon (blue-green algae)
1 dash of cinnamon

For Crust -
1.In a food processor grind almonds, coconut, and flax meal together until the texture of a course powder.
2. Add in Prunes. Run food processor until everything is integrated.
3. Add Agave and run machine. Dough will begin to stick together.
4. Press crust into pie pan


you could make treats just from the crust recipe. my cub was begging for some!
For Filling:
1. Clean out Food Processor (you don't have to wash it, just wipe it out)
2. Blend all ingredients (add more blue-green algae for a greener hue)
3. Pour Filling into Pie Crust.
4. Smooth out, decorate as you want, and freeze.

5. Take out of freezer 10-15 minutes before serving.

3.16.2009

Moss Graffiti


In the Green Spirit of St. Patrick's Day, here is an Awesome Project to work on at home! or out on the town.


if Moss Graffiti doesn't brighten your day, you need a hug...send me your address and i will send one post-haste.

Here is the great post (and pictures) from Heavy Petal:

I lead my first workshop yesterday! It was a Moss Graffiti Workshop for my guerrilla gardening group.

Following a brief slide show and discussion about moss, graffiti, and moss graffiti, we made a yummy moss ’starter’ (see the recipe after the jump). I had planned on
brainstorming potential tags and artwork ideas, but everyone was raring to go
and apply the frothy green mixture, so we just fanned out in small groups and
pretended we were hooligans.

The moss starter goes on pretty much clear; in the top photo, Tim is simply embellishing someone else’s handiwork.
Highly recommended project - I can’t wait to see how all our designs turn out!

To make a quick moss starter, you’ll need:

One or two clumps (about a small handful) of moss

2 cups of buttermilk

2 cups of water (or beer)

1/2 tsp. sugar

a blender container with lid

paintbrush

How to:
1. Crumble the moss into the blender - try to remove any pebbles or insects you find.
2. Add the sugar, buttermilk, water or beer, and blend at the lowest speed until it has the consistency of a milkshake (add more water if necessary).


3. Paint the mixture onto rocks, logs, pots or statuary, or simply pour it on the ground wherever you’d like your moss to grow.

OR: Create some living graffiti. Paint your chosen design on any shaded, damp vertical or horizontal surface. Porous, moisture-retentive surfaces work best (brick, wood, coarse concrete).
The moss starter method works best if it is kept moist until well-established. A
twice-weekly misting with a spray bottle is ideal.

Posted by Andrea Bellamy

*Vegan recipe?*My question was answered in the 17th and 18th comments on the post:

17. hey..im very excited about this possibility, especially because of spring winds blowing through. does anyone know of any vegan alternative though for the buttermilk? my guess is that the milk helps it stick to the wall and i don’t want to use acrylic paint as ive seen suggested elsewhere, so any thoughts? would a simple water/flour mixture work, perhaps? hope everyone’s out there painting in moss!
Comment by fuzzy — April 18, 2008 @
6:58 pm

18. Hey Fuzzy - I believe the buttermilk acts as an agent to encourage the growth of moss spores… it is full of live bacteria. You could try beer instead. Good luck!
Comment by Andrea Bellamy — April 20, 2008 @
12:13 pm

3.13.2009

the techno-melt


Help! i am having techno-melt. am in need of bloggy help to display comments and labels in blog posts! lost my previous settings and an overwhelmed by search results....

this is what i need:

some relief!

3.11.2009

What i am doing tonight and tomorrow...


Wrote about what is going on in the hood in my other blog...

Check it out!

3.10.2009

Transitioning Back from Paradise










3.09.2009

birds of my neighborhood


Yesterday afternoon our backyard was all a-buzz...or rather all a-chirp with activity.

We had a lot of fine-feathered visitors and a furry one too.

Apparently, the grass and bugs are excellent at our yard cafe.

Don't want to drop names, but here are some of the folks that stopped by:

Dear ole' Ms. Groundhog. (Picture curtesy of a really cool site, Heavy Petal!)
A harbinger of Springy-ness, the American Robin.


The classic cardinal. We heard him before we saw him.

Blue Jay. Beautiful, noisy, and a bit bossy.

A pair of graceful Northern Flickers!


Crows. RIP, Brandon Lee.


A woodpecker, don't know if it was this kind or this kind.



Lots of Starlings.


There were others too, but i didn't catch their names.

And here is the beautiful album that inspired this post title by one of my very favorite bands. Check it out!