Christmas in June

Saturday, packages were delivered to my door that made it feel like Christmas.

Two gorgeous aprons arrived in the mail. They were from Terry at
My Journey With Candida. Since I live my life with natural health, I was filled with joy when I discovered her blog that tells her story of recovery without drugs, from a long illness. Terry gathers and posts information that deals with natural healing. She uses her knowledge to help people and I've discovered her generous heart. I look forward to her posts and love our conversations.

She also designs and sews these neat aprons that came as a surprise. Polka dots are traditional for Flamenco costumes and here is my Flamenco apron. I like wearing an apron when I cook. Sloppy cook I guess but pretty aprons like this can add a new dimension to my cooking. (And it really needs it !)


They are both so unique and beautiful. This one is a festive tropical print. WOW !!! How's that for cooking in style this summer.
Thank you, Terry, for the beautiful aprons. They are a treasured gift.

Another package arrived that contained a pillow for the back. I saw it on Terry's blog and it looked so comfortable that I ordered one. It's called the Back Sac. You blow the amount of air into it that is comfortable for you. It's perfect for my computer chair and fits into the small of my back. It's firm but yet has a comfy softness. Makes me sit up straight, too.

It kinda looks like the old fashioned "whoppee cushion" my aunt used to keep at her lake house. If there's anyone out there old enough to remember them, that is . :)

That was my Saturday. A Christmas in June.

My Blood Pressure. I Don't Ever Check It

I opened a desk drawer and it looked like Fibber MaGee's closet (If you're under 60, you won't get that remark). I began tossing out stuff and came upon a blood pressure apparatus that I hadn't used in a long time. I put it on my arm (batteries still good) and this was my reading. I'm adding the chart of normal by age BP readings. All my life I've had low BP so I think I'm still low or else I'm already dead. Perhaps some of you medical people know what mine means as I know nothing about allopathic medicine. I just turned 81 but the BP chart only goes to 64. Maybe just outliving charts is good? hummm, scratching my head.... "I just don't know........"

Chart of Normal Blood Pressure Readings by Age

Age 25-29 Minimum 109 (systolic) 76 (diastolic)/ Max. 133-84

Age 30-34 Minimum 110 (systolic) 77 (diastolic)/ Max. 134-85

Age 35-39 Minimum 111 (systolic) 78 (diastolic)/ Max. 135-86

Age 40-44 Minimum 112 (systolic) 79 (diastolic)/Max. 137-87

Age 45-49 Minimum 115 (systolic) 80 (diastolic)/Max. 139-88

Age 50-54 Minimum 116 (systolic) 81 (diastolic)/Max. 142-89

Age 55-59 Minimum 118 (systolic) 82 (diastolic)/Max. 144-90

Age 60-64 Minimum 121 (systolic) 83 (diastolic)/Max. 147-91

If you own a BP apparatus, you most likely already understand these numbers. Even though I have the little thingy that goes on my arm, I don't understand what the numbers mean. In another article, I read that the large number should be one hundred plus your age. For me that would be 181. Sounds high compared to the reading I got of 110, doesn't it? Good luck.

It's Working!!!!

I'm not all Barbie, ballroom, bangles and banter. :) I have another blog on Wordpress that touts nutrition and health. Never the twain do normally meet but I'm going to let you read my latest post on my cleansing program.

Hurray, hurray!! I’m dancing for joy. I’m dancing with some toxins twirling around in my bloodstream but THAT’S A GOOD THING. I just had my report from Ken, my medical intuitive and my body is doing deep, deep cell cleansing. It’s flushing out the old toxins, metals, and parasites.

If you’ve read my previous posts, you know I’m on the Gerson Therapy. That calls for ten glasses of juice a day and that is possible with my illustrious Norwalk Juicer…. shown in the thumbnail picture. I wash that baby ten times a day. I know every line and curve to it’s body. It’s more rewarding than a love affair, by far.

I was determined to wait eight weeks before I talked to Ken again. I wanted to give my body a chance to cleanse, a chance to gain the benefits of those glorious live enzymes my beautiful Norwalk is pouring forth. It’s only the beginning . My trusty Norwalk and I have a long way to go yet but it’s just sooooo exciting to know that it’s really working.

The detoxing is done mostly with the food. Yes, it’s rigid.There’s only certain food that is allowed but you can eat as much of it as you want. For breakfast, fresh orange juice and oatmeal. For lunch and dinner, baked potatoes, 3 kinds of vegetables, salad and fruit. You can have salt-free rye bread but only after you have eaten the required food. Two bowls of Hippocrates soup during the day. No salt. Everything is salt-free.

The juicing alternates green drinks, carrot and carrot with apple. There are some supplements with a liver shot mixed with vitamin B-12.

I am busy all day long because the food preparation is time consuming. I spend most of the day, standing in the kitchen and I noticed my legs were beginning to rebel. I bought rubber floor mats at Home Depot and bingo, it solved my tired leg problem.

Thank you Ken for my wonderful, amazing report. Back to the drawing board for more cell work. As my kids used to say, “I’m jazzed.” Well, I guess that phrase is now politically incorrect but it means I’m determined!!!!

What is a Feedlot?

What is a "feedlot?" It is pretty much as the word implies. It's a confinement area where cattle are fattened up for market. Those eye-catching red steaks with the white marbled veins of fat, attractive in plastic wrap in the supermarket are from the premium feedlot cattle.

Montana cattle operations are either grazing or feedlot with feedlot production giving the rancher more bang to the buck. Those of you who are drawn to a pastoral setting of greenery with cattle grazing would be sickened by the inhumane crowded dusty dung-filled areas called feedlots.

Packed in such a small area without being able to turn around, you can hear the distress and fear of the cattle by their constant bellowing. As soon as new cattle are bought at auction, they are de-horned, vaccinated, branded, and castrated. Since the rancher can't vaccinate against all diseases, antibiotics are added to all the food. These antibiotics lose their effectiveness with the overcrowding so stronger drugs are added each month, many of which are dangerous to human health.

What do you get in a cattle pen with each animal producing 25 pounds of manure a day? Flies. Lots of flies. Is there a cure for flies? Sure, large clouds of insecticide sprayed over everything, meaning the cattle's feed and water and in turn drifting to the trees and adjoining crops. The deadly chemical lays on the backs of the cattle and passes through the skin into the tissues that eventually land on your dinner plate.

For faster growth, hormones are either injected or added to the feed. One hormone was DES that was eventually banned by the government as being carcinogenic to humans. But, ranchers stockpile their chemicals and drugs so they are using them years after they may be banned.

Are there laws to protect the consumer against the deadly crimes of putting chemically-laced meat on your table. Of course, there are laws but who is to stand over ranchers and enforce them when the dollar-incentive is their guiding light.

Next time you see that red steak in the meat department, think about this. And by the way, steaks are not naturally "that" red either. Just another cheap carny trick.

It's Ended. Bring on Autumn.

Another Labor Day came and left with an abandoned picnic table of a few fat-solidified burgers on a plate, remains of potato salad and beans with sloppy serving spoons buried in the bowls,and cold pasta salads, now floating in the shiny salad dressing. Did I eat this? Nope. I insult hostesses and bring my own food. I also share, of course, but no one’s interested in healthy food. So be it.

On Friday I attended Karen's virtual BBQ and had a great time. The food was great and I could pick and choose from everything imaginable!

Now we can all go home and plant our gardens, (or harvest our fruit this time of the year) as Voltaire says. I guess very few people literally plant gardens anymore so let’s leave it in the abstract intention.

I haven’t thought of Voltaire in years. One of my favorites is his story about the widow whose husband left instructions that she couldn’t remarry until the Ganges changed it’s course. For 6 months, the widow mourned and remained faithful but the next morning found her out in the middle of the Ganges River with a shovel. (So much for the “I’ll be faithful to you Honey for the rest of my life ).

As I wheeled the trash bin to the street this morning, I could already smell autumn in the crisp pre-dawn air. Low clouds had settled over the mountains as a foreboding warning of what's to come. A double edged sword in my book, as it means adios to serious lawn mowing but hello to snow shoveling.

Do I care? Uh uh. I'll just plug in my light therapy bulbs, work on my "Moroccan Days" and kiss the winter blas goodby.

Sprouted Rye Bread ..... It Rocks

I don't really use that expression (rocks), it's just to get your attention.

Lately I've had a yen for sprouted rye bread. It's a lot of steps and a bother to make so

I usually end up buying it and eating empty calories. What the heck, my taste buds got their

way and I started soaking the rye. After 2 days, I transfer the soaked grain to sprouting jars

with screen covers. If you look closely, you an see the little white sprouts starting.

When the sprouts are about 1/2 inches long, it's time to put them through the juicer using the blank screen. When I make breads, I often use various herbs, onion, garlic, various veggies, or black olives but today, I didn't want anything that will detract from the strong rye flavor I've been dreaming about.

Below, I'm running the rye mixture through the juicer twice. There are two well known names

of juicers on the market, the Champion, probably the better known juicer because it was

around first, and the Twin Gear Green Star, the one I have. I love mine because it also does

a beautiful job on wheat grass . Usually, you need a separate juicer for that.

I use the dehydrator for baking because I want to preserve all the enzymes so that means I can't have the heat above 105 degrees. I often use the Essene method and bake it out in the sun but the weather has to cooperate for that. I made the loaves fairly flat so there will be a nice crust and the center will be moist. Yummm ..... can hardly wait. Total baking time was about 25 hours

and I flipped them once in between.

Finished product. I broke one open so you could see the inside. As I said, moist and slightly

chewy inside with a firm crust, having all the enzymes, amino acids, and vitamins. What do

you think Millie will say? Ha

Spa Day Montana Way

You've all most likely seen a sterotype movie about Montana people. The brother-in-law drives his jalopy Volkswagon van into the driveway of a swank suburban neighborhood and lives in it until the health authorities boot him out.

Mostly true.

Follow me on a trip through a spa, Montana style. You won't get your toenails painted or an avocado facial, but you'll get much more.

Lezz g0.

I was feeling a little stressed and realized I hadn't visited the radon mines this year. I tossed a winter jacket and Cody in the car and drove 35 miles to a little town of Basin that boasts four radon mines. Radon is a tasteless, odorless gas created by decaying uranium in the granite rocks. The radon stimulates the immune system, which in turn allows the body to heal itself. My choice of mine today is the "Merry Widow."

I stopped at the office, paid my five bucks fee and asked the girl who works there if she had any good miracle stories. She happily related one she heard last week. A guy scheduled for prostate surgery told the doctor he wanted to try the mine for a month before the knife. He did. End of month and return to doctor, no cancer.

One time in the mine, I happened to be sitting next to a lady who had owned the mine many years ago. What a stroke of luck. She was full of good miracle stories.

Here's the door of the mine. Maybe you've never been in a mine before.

Now we're in the mine. It's just a long tunnel that's been carved into the granite mountain. Of course, there has been electricity for lights and some piping of the stream that flows through it but it's primitive just the way the miners left it. The temp is around 50 -60 deg. all year. It's a moist cold so I put on my winter jacket. Cody has her own. The moment I step in, I can feel that moist air filling my lungs. Feels good.

If you walk deeper back into the tunnel you'll find the spot where most of the people sit on benches lined along the walls. They soak their feet in the icy (and I do mean icy) water- pit, read, play cards, meditate or visit with the group.

But Cody has her own little room and today were are all alone. Usually it's filled with people and their dogs and Cody has lots of friends.

People who discover the mine come back every summer. They stay in the lodge or in their campers. They stay at least 2 weeks, sit in the mine 3 times a day until they get 32 hours in all.

The foot-soaking pit in the Doggie Den is fairly small. It's behind me in the picture and I had just finished soaking my feet in the icy water for a half hour. WOW That gave the old pores a wake up. I also soak my hands to keep my fingers nimble for Flamenco. Often I bring an eye glass and give my eyes a few shots.

Time to go out in the 85 deg sunshine and head back to Helena. I have Flamenco classes at 5. Sign of "Fountain of Youth" is above the water pipe that comes out of the mine.

This water from the mine is the most heavenly, cold water I've ever tasted. I filled a couple bottles to take with me. This hose is right outside the entrance and anyone is welcome to stop and collect the healing water.

Scene as we are driving away from the mine. We'll stop in the quaint little mountain town of Basin for a few minutes.

Gold and silver was first mined in the area in 1860. Although Basin was the town that sprang from the mining, it remained small and today is mostly a quiet retirement community.

Montana has the only radon mines in the US. There are mines in Russia, Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Rumania. Most of the European mines have been turned into fancy-schmancy full service health spas because the other governments and insurance companies recognize the merits of radon's health benefits.

Another one of the mines, Sunshine Health Mine, is advertised on a building. Mostly, radon is a real estate broker's deal-breaker ever since our government stepped in. Not a problem but a valuable tool to people like me, who keep well by tweaking their bodies with natural health remedies.

Basin's community hall and general store. I smiled at the sign above the store that said, "Gerneral Merchandise and Fresh Meats" and then there is a picture of horses." Hummm?

And no Montana town is complete without it's "watering hole." No thank you. Not for this Cookie. I'm drinking my mine water.

Adios

hippocrates Soup

Hippocrates Soup, as it is known today, is the same soup that
Hippocrates used 2500 years ago for healing patients.
It is used in the Gerson Therapy as part of the treatment for
curing degenerative diseases. Other doctors and practitioners
have also used the soup for healing.
Ann Wigmore relied on the soup, but in a raw form. LaDean Griffin also used a form of the
soup and called it "simple foods."

It is never a stand-alone cure-all but used along with other foods and supplements.

Here's the basic recipe.

1 medium celery knob (or 3-4 stalks of celery

1 medium parsley root

garlic to your taste

2 small leeks

2 medium onions

1 1/2 lb tomatoes

l lb potatoes

small amount parsley

Wash vegetables but do not peel. Cut up coarsely and put in a large stainless pot. Barely cover with spring water. Cook about 3 hours. Puree.

If you are seriously ill, puree with a foley food press. I use a blender. Also very ill patients would not be eating salt so they eat the soup as is. For healthy people who are used to the taste of salt, they would much prefer it with sea or Himalayan salt. For instance, yesterday when my Granddaughter, Ashly and I ate the soup after working in the garden, I don't use salt and enjoyed the taste as it is. Ashly added Himalayan salt. I never use salt but try to get my sodium from food. If you ever stayed off salt for a couple weeks, you'd be absolutely amazed at the true, natural flavor of food. I also eliminate salt in my diet because I've had so many more years to accumulate toxins in my body.

The soup will keep in the refrigerator two days.

Below is a video from YouTube. Their soup is a little thin. They also say so but you can use this soup in a thin form as a stock for other soups.

When is a Potato Not a Potato?

That's easy. When it's a Spud from Idaho.

There's an old Irish saying: Only two things in this world are too serious to be jested on, potatoes and matrimony.

Well, I don't know about matrimony (I think that's worthy of a few jokes) but potatoes are one of the greatest sources of potassium, and that's no joke.

Max Gerson M.D., the great natural healer of degenerative diseases, said, the two things necessary in preventing degenerative disease are a healthy liver and a high level of potassium.

Do you eat potatoes? So many people don't. Potatoes get a bad rep from those who avoid carbohydrate and yet, these same people will eat french fries. The nutrients of the potato are lost when it's fried and it's a real bummer to the liver. Most of the minerals and vitamines are in the skins so you get the greatest value from potatoes when steamed or baked with the skins.

A good way to get all the value of the potato is to cook slowly (with skins) in a small amount of water with a chopped leek and red pepper. Then mash everything together with the water. I know, sounds like a lot of night shades but the Gerson clinic uses this recipe and serves potatoes once a day in their cancer cure.

I remember when we were kids out hiking, we'd build a fire, wrap "spuds" in green wild-leaves and bake them in the coals. OMG what a feast. We always ate the skins. The best part.

Dam Sam ..... You Made My Pants Too Short

Another RIP. That's 3 in a row. In place of "Three Weddings and a Funeral" I could turn it around to "Three Funerals and a Wedding." But I don't know anyone who is getting married or who even wants to. :)

It did make me think. (Thinking's always good). GRATEFUL. That word popped into my mind. I like the meaning of that word..... meaning thankful. But if you take the word apart you get full of grate. Word, GRATE, alone means harsh or scraping sound. I don't get it. Can someone please help me out.

I am GRATEFUL ....... (skip the harsh) for 3 things in my world.

1. Organic Food

2. A Gas Stove

3. A Wood Floor

Silly list? Not when you poke at it a little.

1. Organic food sustains your body and promotes health.

2. Cooking methods include, Wood, electricity, gas (primarily). Gas relates peacefully to the body. Electricity, nah, but a lot of people use it and I use some electrical appliances. Wood is the most peaceful of all because it's natural. But we're not cutting down any more trees unless you count the ones the pine beetles have killed. (Microwave... triple nix)

3. Wood Floor. When you stand you become grounded. You're one with whatever your feet touch. It should be naturat.... so it's either wood or dirt. Rock (tile) is OK but as I get older, it doesn't have a "give" to it but it does have a cool, connection to bare feet.

All three lead to "good health." If you have good health, you have everything. Just ask someone who is chronically ill. Dang ..... being sick must be a bummer.

If anyone is getting married, let me know.

Helena Montana on Starting Kindergarten Sex Education

Last Chance Gulch in Helena Montana

Helena Montana has become a hotbed of controversy over the school board's announcement of a sex education curriculum that would include kindergarten children. It is not a "how to manual" but more general information to protect young children from sexual predators and educate them with an awareness of personal danger.

Montana is no stranger to Liberalism. In 1917, Montana sent the first woman to congress. Jeanette Rankin was elected to two terms for the House of Representatives. This was criticism turned positive for women.

Today I took my little camcorder downtown on Last Chance Gulch. I made the video below. Helena is an anomaly. Many people had an opinion but only three people would go on camera. I had absolutely no idea what they would say or which side of the fence they were from. I am only reporting what was told to me and this is in no way reflecting my personal opinion.

Bon Bons

Hey there Cutes.

Put on your Danc'n boots

Come Dance with me.

You'll want to go dancing after you eat a few of these bon bons. More cacao ...... more magnesium. For the joy and health benefits of Cacao, look on my "Cacao Breakfast Pudding" post.

These tasty tid-bits can be as chocolaty as you desire. I'll give you a sorta basic recipe but you can adjust to your taste.

Use a food processor.

1 C. almonds (remove skins)

1 C. Cacao powder or nibs

1/2 C. coconut

Agave necter to taste

1 or 2 tb. pine nuts (optional)

small amount of spring water. Maybe 1/4 C. Go easy & slowly as you want to be able to make balls

Process everything to a ball-rolling consistency. Roll small balls in any of the following..... finely chopped coconut, cacoa powder, any finely chopped nuts. If you are lucky enough to have Virgo patience in your astro chart, roll them into small, round, even balls, (not the lumpy kind like mine) Then come to my house & help me color code my underwear drawer. :)

But seriously ..... a tip on almonds, the most alkaline of nuts. Almonds contain a small amount of amygdalin (better known as laetrile which is cancer curing/preventative). But don't go crazy on this nummy food as it's high in fat UNLESS you have a degenerative disease, then eat up. When I was young, I used to eat several apricot pits (laetrile) a day to help avoid degenerative diseases. But after the Feds found out it would cure cancer.... bye bye pits. I know many people who now get them from Mexico or grow their own.

How to remove almond skins ....

You want almonds to be raw ....... heat them on stove in a small amount of water. DON'T BOIL. Just bring to a boil so almonds are heated. Drain H2O and toss almonds in a bowl of ice cubes and water. Now, pinch almonds between thumb and finger & the skins pop right off. It's rather tedious but I sit in front of the tube with 3 bowls. The bowl of almonds in the ice cubes, 1 bowl for the skinned and another bowl for the skins. As long as I'm "doing it" I skin enough for almond milk. hummm ..... ever tried the milk?

Wanna know how to make almond milk?

Toss a couple handsfull of organic skinned almonds in the blender

Chop up 3 or 4 medjool dates (be sure to remove pits) & toss in

Add spring water.... enough to make it a milky consistency

Mix. I use a high speed blender so everything gets chopped up. If your blender isn't as powerful and a little residue is left, you can squeeze the milk through a cotton bag or cheese cloth.

Tip.... For sweetner, you can use any dates or agave, or honey or even maple syrup. Date are known for curing throat & chest ailments.

I recently happened to spot organic corn flakes in the health food store. Shades of my childhood. Used to love corn flakes. The bag just jumped into my cart, so I thought, oh what the heck ..... Soon as I got home I poured a bowl of the crunchy flakes and added cold almond milk. OMG I thought I was that skinny little Indian again who they were always trying to "fatten up." I only recommend corn flakes as a special memory treat. It's a once-in-a-while thing. Remember ..... when ever you cut a grain, you are devitalizing it. Far better to eat the whole grain. I eat whole grain oatmeal every day. You can cook it slowly (all night is good) in a crock pot. Nice & creamy. I go against my belief system when I cook with electricity ..... ex. crockpot, food processor, blender, etc. but they are such labor savers and I'm healthy. If you are sick, don't put this extra stress on your already over-burdened body. It's far better to cook with gas & use hand chopping.