What's for supper?

. . . sometimes I really don't know.  Then I open the refrigerator and it just happens. A little of this and a little of that and before I know it, I am eating!

Check it out . . .

Bok choy leaves from the Farmer's Market rolled and sliced thinly

Fresh greens from Anner's - our local co-op

A tablespoon or two of hemp seeds

Lentils - cooked previously and chilled

Corn - organic defrosted frozen corn left over from the salsa recipe

Radish - from the Farmer's Market thinly sliced

Red onion - chopped

Basil, cinnamon basil, mint and parsley from the back yard

A handful of cilantro - chopped

Tomato - chopped

English cucumber - from the co-op - diced

Avocado diced

Orange - thinly sliced segments

Alfalfa sprouts

I was really delighted with the outcome of my dressing.  I zested the orange and juiced the half I didn't put in the salad. Then I added a big hunk of very ripe avocado and smashed it all together. It was like paste at that point. In went a little salt, pepper and olive oil, mixed it well and it was ready to toss with the salad.

It was just an amazing salad. 

Amazing enough I decided I better put it in my blog so when I forget what was in it, I can find it here and recreate it! I have no idea what the amounts were, but that doesn't matter because half the time I don't measure anyhow!

It is even pretty!

Nine Months

When we hear the term nine months we automatically think of it as the time it takes to have a baby; giving birth to a new life. It was nine months ago today, July 19th, 2010, that I changed my life. There were oh so many reasons to do so, and as a result, I do have new life. To some, what I have done seems pretty radical, drastic, and maybe even unrealistic, but living a life with pain, no energy, being sick of being sick, tired of being tired, and not being in control of my own life, to me is what is radical, drastic and unrealistic. My goal was to simply feel good.

I did a very simple thing actually.  I changed my diet. I decided to eat only whole plant based food. I eliminated all refine sugars, processed food, meat and fish. After a short time, it evolved to no dairy and a diet high in raw food. A green smoothie begins every day.

Here is what has happened:

• my cholesterol dropped by 117 points - no more cholesterol medication
• my fibromyalgia pain was so drastically reduced that I no longer need medication for it
• I take no medications
• energy, OMG, that has been one of the biggest changes - it's exists now!
• clarity and focus improved
• I can sleep through the night
• I have lost 24% of my body weight
• no more allergies
• I have almost all new clothes
• my kitchen is equipped with many new appliances needed for this lifestyle
• gadgets - oh how I love gadgets - and I have filled my kitchen with lots of them
• my cook books are on a high self, and have been replaced with new vegetarian and raw "un-cook" books
• I have many new friends who share this type of lifestyle
• and I FEEL good - better than I have in years

This is not a diet for me.  It is a lifestyle.

Why would I ever want to go back to the days of nine months ago. 

It is amazing what can happen in nine months!

Sand Springs Herbal Affair

This was my 17th year to attend the Herbal Affair.  It is one of the highlights of Spring for me.  It was cold and windy when I got there at 8:00 a.m., but the sun was out and the sky was a beautiful blue. I love to get there early - the event officially opens at 9:00 - and I enjoy walking and looking at all the plants, and fun  things that the vendors bring.  It is a nice time that gets spoiled when the masses arrive! It allows me to take lots of pictures and spend time visiting with various vendors.

There were two new ones this year that I found to be very interesting.  Marsha of Spirited Sister's Designs came for the first time from Shawnee, Oklahoma.  She had beautiful artwork painted on canvas that became wall art, rugs, and table runners.  I can't imagine walking on any of the pieces but she assured me that you could.  I wanted lots of what she had, but practiced control, and passed for now. (I did get her business card though.) Pictured is one of her pieces I especially liked.

Pat Cathey, of Pat's Flowers and Herbs, had a unique creation of concrete bird feeders, bird baths, and planter trays that were imprinted with large leaves. Each piece is one of a kind. Creative art! I did buy one that I put in my little planter fountain.  She also had water hyacinths, so I bought two for my fountain.

I bought lots of great plants. I am eager to get them in the ground, and even more eager to eat the fruits of my labor.  A fig, blueberry and thorn-less blackberry bush are among my favorites.  I also got a watermelon and cantaloupe plant.  Lots of herbs and vegetable plants came home with me too.

I took over 100 pictures.  I think the event is just beautiful.  It is a feel good time with the sights, the excitement and the smells.  Below is a slide show of some of my shots.

To Market to Market . . . and then plant it all!

Today was fabulous.  The Cherry Street Farmer's Market opened and Brookside held it's annual Herb Fest.

The Farmer's Market was mobbed. We got there around 9:30 and lots of the stuff was already gone.  Next week I will definitely be there earlier. Hmmm . . . next week is the  Herbal Affair in Sand Springs, so I may actually miss the Farmer's Market???? How to be in two places at the same time?


It was my first time to go to the Brookside Herb Fest. It was full of fun too. I came home with so many plants from the two places.  It took me all afternoon to plant everything.  I can't wait until it all grows and I can eat it!! I planted lots of varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, several kinds of red peppers, squash, sage, mints, basil, strawberries, and I forget what else because I am so tired! Happy tired though.

Mother Goose is back.

She watched me work all afternoon. I counted 8 eggs in her nest. She layed her eggs last Sunday - it takes 28 days until they hatch.  If it is anything like last year, the day after they hatch they move on to bigger real estate. Ungrateful . . . I don't even charge her rent!!

I love working in the yard. There is something great about getting dirty...the sounds of nature as I work in the yard...there is a peace...time to think...conversations with God. It is pretty therapeutic. It does my body good!

Home. It IS my favorite place. And I really do love it this time of year.

Here's a few pictures from my day:

Have you missed me?

We each are given 24 hours a day.  Do you ever find it just isn't enough?  I have so much I want to cram into each day, and then there is so much I have to cram into the day.  The "want" and the "have to" daily battle.

So many things seem to be happening at the same time in my life. Guess that is true most of the time, but this seems like the peak season of to-do's and it is hard to keep it all in balance some days.

My journey to health has taken a new turn and I recently learned of a number of issues with my central nervous system. Seems it has a few "kinks" that I need to straighten out to attain my goal of optimal health.  I have been going to Sowing Wellness for treatment and the folks there are terrific. Dr. Jannell, Dr. Shawna and Amanda are just amazing. I am going three times a week, and in addition have a good 40 minutes a day of home exercises. It's a big chunk of time, but well worth it. Added to that, I continue to learn more and more about how to heal myself through nutrition, and I am feeling better than I have in years!!! It does require me to prioritize time for food prep, but the benefit of that speaks for itself.

The big event in 30 days - GRADUATION!! My sweet husband has worked so hard to reach this day. He will receive his BS in Business Management from St. Gregory's University. I am so proud. The graduation announcements have been ordered and the new suit purchased. All that is left is to watch him walk across that stage, and to plan a party!!

And it is, after all, Spring! My favorite season, and perhaps the busiest of the year.  Everything is coming alive and I am always invigorated and energized to be outdoors "doing!" 

Projects abound this year. Yesterday the old fence went away - hooray - and the new posts are set.  Today the slats arrive and the new fence will be completed. Digging, lots of digging, has begun for the new Versa-lok wall.  This will be about four feet high for 20 feet or so, and then gradually slope down to follow the natural slope in the yard. BIG job! This is my first year to grow vegetables and the gardening has begun! A new 16 foot bed is in process! 

Well, day light has arrived, so I am out the door!  I will let the pictures below finish my story.  I'll be back . . . eventually!

Family Labor!

Chris and Riley taking a break to collect shells. How did shells get in our lake??

The BIG DIG - not to be confused with Boston!

Back breaking digging!

The fence is coming down

Mother Goose is back! She layed her eggs on Sunday. She is a problem this year! Right in line with the wall project and she isn't moving!!

New vegetable bed. Great process using bags of soil layed on top of chicken wire to prevent the moles and gophers from eating my veggies! Planting begins today!

There fence is down and being carried away!

Ah, yes, I love productivity!

Spring has Sprung!

Glorious Spring! It is my favorite season.  Everything comes alive.  All those plants that hid through the winter start popping their little heads through the dirt. The coats get put away, and the flip flops come out. I love the energy that Spring brings.

Spring also means gardening! I love getting in the dirt! Look at this beautiful dirt!!!

I spent the better part of the day working in the yard.  Aside from the wind whipping everything by at warp speed, it was a beautiful day.  In the 80's.  This is my first year to plant vegetables and to start plants from seeds, so I was really eager to get at it.

So armed with new garden gloves, a great organic gardening magazine with lots of tips, and seeds, I hit the back yard running!

Out with the day lilies - they only attract the moles and gophers anyway . . . 

and in with the topsoil bags, in which I will plant my little seeds, from which peas will grow. The bags are placed strategically under a trellis, with a row of seeds on each side, and then they can climb the trellis and produce wonderfully fresh peas!

The bags have been pierced on the bottom with holes to allow for drainage.

The top of the bag is cut out in the shape of rectangle, leaving a two inch "frame" around the top of the bag. This is an especially appealing approach. The bags can be layed on top of chicken wire and it will be much more difficult for the moles or gophers to feast on my great plants.

This is how the bag looks after the top has been cut out and it is ready for planting.

After the seeds have been placed in the bag I will add mulch, and then the bags will be covered up and it will be much more pleasing to the eye, and the landscape!

In addition to peas, I planted onions (that my organic gardener guru co-worker Maxine gave to me), spinach (seeds) and lettuce (seeds).  Well, maybe lettuce got planted.  The wind was so bad that I am not sure exactly where the seeds ended up!

This is where the onions live.

At Whole Foods they had lots of starter plants available today and I just couldn't resist.  It is still a bit early to put them outside but they sure make me feel good when I look at all that green on my windowsill! I took them outside for some fresh air, sun and a good drink.

How nice it will be to just walk out the back door and clip clip clip those wonderful herbs that I now have to buy! In the next few weeks lots of time will go into the preparation of planting beds, and then lots more veggies are going to take up residence in my yard. It is all pretty exciting. I will be ecstatic if it all grows, and even more ecstatic to eat it!!

Speaking of eating, I made an incredible salad for our lunch today. We will have this again many times.  It was really easy to make, but looked complicated.  (Note to self: this could be a company salad!)

Southwestern Fiesta Salad with Cilantro Vinaigrette - recipe by Penni Shelton

Happy Spring Everyone!

A Battle Ends

I sit here with a heavy heart, staring at the screen, unable to come up with words.

Today is the funeral of our nephew, Gary. Gary was 30 years old, and had battled bone cancer since the age of 13. He was an amazing young man. I will always remember his remarkable courage and smile.

Because we live 1800 miles away we were not part of his life, but he was always part of our prayers. His mother, my sister-in-law, had this remarkable dedication and drive when it came to Gary's care. She is an amazing woman and fought the battle as hard as Gary did.

I am so sad. I can't even begin to imagine her pain, or his wife of 9 months, or what the rest of the family must feel. For them the loss is huge.

For Gary, the pain is gone.

God Bless you Gary, and all who knew you.