Do you know 'natural' when you eat it?

The scoop on so called natural food additives or substitutes used in processed foods is something I have been enlightening myself about for many years now. Just when you think some of these manufacturers would have some decency; there it is on the label and IN my- not so natural anymore- ice cream: tara gum!

In nature food grows in complete nutritional proportions. The stuff that's good, like fiber is usual the largest component, vitamins, minerals and flavor all balance out, depending on how much one usual eats of the particular kind. Then there is the medicinal kind, of which we do not need to consume huge quantities of at a given time.
When only a part of a plant is used and eaten in an unusual large amount, because it is now separate from the whole, it becomes un-natural in my opinion. If this part is then even more split up and only a certain substance is extracted from it, sometimes even with the use of chemicals, it is hardly what the plant once represented.
It is like looking at our moon and calling it the universe.

This then derived substance, that once came from a plant is used in an unnatural high ratio in our food to make it appear a certain way. All in the name of making money, extending shelf life and fooling us into thinking it tastes better or looks fresher. Thereby shortening our life and not to mention the lives of suffering dogs, bunnies, rats, etc on which these substances are being tested to see how much of it will make them sick.
Our bodies like to digest whole foods, because all the components are there to make it work. When a particle is singled out it up sets our digestive system and it either eliminates it or stores it until it can figure out what to do with it. If the amounts stagger by eating to many of these unbalanced foods, we become unbalanced and disease develops.

Ok, foods like ice cream are supposed to be consumed in moderation anyway you say, but I would extend this advice to ALL processed foods (you may have noticed how stacked the grocery stores are with them and the fresh food is sort of on the side...) or avoid them all together and only buy or make your food from fresh ingredients. So what, if the ice cream has some water crystals in it or the sour cream a few lumps? Oh dear, shredding your own cheese to avoid the added cellulose in the pre-packed ones? Certainly!

Next time you pick up one of those 'convenient' foods read the label and see what the makers expect you to swallow: gums, wood pulp (used as filler), artificial colors, sweeteners, preservatives, the list is long and often hidden in harmless sounding words such as natural flavor (meaning it's an msg) and naming the plant it once came from. What a waste of natural products to have them end up being polluted like this and making us sick in the long run.
Makes an apple, carrot or hand full of nuts a lot more convenient, when you think about it, doesn't it?

Solstice and balance in cycles

Krishna speaks: On a hot lazy summer day, the eve of the longest day of the year, suddenly a big fuss is being made by the birds in support of a young one, whose parents are encouraging it for it's first flight. The little one plopped down near the walkway and got the attention of 'outside kitty' who is quite interested in it. While Schiller and I hid under the car from the birds, out of the house dashed Mozart (defender of the small) and set on to chase the near offender across the street into the next yard over. In the meantime the little one hopped and fluttered past Schiller and me into the protective Rosemary bush, while the parents flew nearby to keep watch. Just to be on the safe side, I ran inside, where it is tolerable cool. Don't care for too much excitement in this heat, I must say.

In the k(now)

This morning (in my timezone) I looked at the clock on the computer, it said 11:11. After a while I got up and walked into the other room where I noticed the clock said 10:10 (it's not set to 'stupid time') I have to set this one by hand so apparently it's off a few minutes. The wall clock in the kitchen is another story all together. This made think: no thing is ever what it seems, there are always multiple versions of it. It's up to us which version we choose. Every angle we view things from influences our perception. Throw in emotions and it all becomes a brew of unequaled proportions. Each unique in itself, completely dependend on the observer, yet none the one and only. On top of that, in each moment we have the option to change our point of view, leaving the old version of the situation behind and creating one that feels better. What do you know?

In my garden

many lovely things are growing.

Krishna speaks:

Spring is in the air and I am helping the flowers grow. I am thankful for the nice bed they make.

Ein Jahr ist vergangen / a year has passed

Es war lange ruhig hier auf dieser Seite, was aber keinesfalls heisst es war still in unserem Alltag. It was quiet for some time here on this page, what does not in any way means nothing happened in our daily lives.

Unser lieber Mr Toodles ist letzten Oktober ins Jenseits gegangen. Er war erst 12 Jahre alt und ein treuer Gefaehrte durch eine turbulente Zeit meines Lebens. Er lebt fuer immer in meinem Herzen. Our dear Mr Toodles went on the to the other realm last October. He was only 12 years old and a loving companion to me in a turbulent time in my life. He lives forever in my heart.

Lili entwickelte sich in eine kleine anspruchsvolle (wie es sich gehoert) kleine Dame. Lily grew into an independend, demanding young lady.

Krishna wie immer weise auf seine Art.

Krishna as always wise in his own way.

Schiller laesst keine Gelegenheit aus Streicheleinheiten zu bekommen.

Schiller never misses an opportunity to get petted.

Mozart, der fortwaehrend stuermischer Begruesser, laesst auch gruessen.

Mozart, the ever so enthusiastic greeter, sends his regards.

....und ich lasse es mir gut gehen.

meet Lily

Gaines St. improvement ceremony

The live oak at Lichgate on a spring day

Spring

Schiller speaks:

Spring, glorious Spring - makes my spirit soar, makes my soul sing.

Makes me swat my tail to swoosh the first hungry mosquitos away.

The sunshine makes me lazy, the moonlight calls me out to play. Breezy winds swirl the live oak leaves on the ground, tease me to catch them.

I watch them from my favorite sunny spot in the flowerbed before my eyelids close for a nap.

Ahhh, spring.

Flow

Schiller speaks

When I sit on a nice perch in the house, there is often one of the humans that comes and wants to sit there, too. It gets a little tight, but there is room for both of us. I make sure I tell them to be careful not to squeeze me.

Other times I go and sit with them and they usually pet me. Sometimes I have to remind them of their purpose and give a nudge to make sure they pet me a little longer as they can be forgetfull at times.

The more I allow to let good things happen, the more I get petted.

And isn't that what life is all about?

Smile

Krishna speaks: I smile when I am curled up in a warm lap. I smile when I am rolling in a particular dusty patch of dirt. I smile when I balance on the rim of the flower pot to reach the water in the bird bath. I smile. When do you smile?

Time

Veryfinecat speaks: Time flies. Or does it? Is it not us who race though each moment, barely aware of it? We are already in tomorrow or still stuck in yesterday, last week, last year. Chasing the moments without giving them a chance to sink it. Then we say 'I don't know where the time went' - it's not time we are missing, but all the unnoticed moments that make up our life. Be here now and you'll never miss anything.

LOVE

Mozart speaks:

Ahhh, love. Loooove.

Take a deep breath. Can you feel it?

Makes my heart beat, makes the bees buzz.... rainbows.... kittens and puppydogs.

Love is life.

Try it. I recommend it.

Choose light

Mia speaks (channeled by Mr Toodles): Open your eyes and look inside you. What do you see? Loving light of your heart or shadows, cast from troubling thoughts in your mind? Open your mouth to speak, what comes out? You choose. Choose wisely; what you choose from inside is going to reflect on what you are going to see on the outside. Choose light.

Food tips

Veryfinecat speaks:

In case the reader ever has the crazy notion he or she should start a diet, here are my suggestions:

1. ENJOY what you eat and bless the food for it's intended nourishment, always. If you do not enjoy it then don't eat it and don't give it another thought.

2. Of what you eat, know, your body will take what it needs and discard the rest. DO NOT think 'Oh gosh, this will go straight to my thighs, hips', etc. or even worse, say it out loud. Refer to statement #1. You do not want to keep all of the food you eat, so do not assign a place for it on your body.

3. Practice eating smaller portions. In Germany we say FDH - friss die Haelfte, in English it could be translated to EOH - eat only half.

My grandfather used to say: 'When it tastes the best it's time to push away from the table'. I know, it's sort of tongue in cheek, because when does one know when it tastes the best?

4. Eat good food! The least processed, seasonal locally grown, organic food (perhaps from your own garden) should make the most amount of your meal, then you can have that occasional cake or whatever else is your fancy and enjoy it.

5. Denial of food does not work, it'll make you feel bad. Refer back to #1.

6. Do some FUN exercise. Dance while doing the laundry or the dishes. Exercise starts at home, most any movement can be beneficial, if done conscious.

7. Feel good.

Happy-ness

Mozart speaks:

It's a happy day! Most every day is a happy day, but today more than ever. It's because many people are happy. You can feel it in the air. They moved from feeling angry, scared or sad to feeling happy. The more people feel happy the happier it gets. I am dog, I know happy, I know excited. When someone is happy and excited it rubs off. I hope it stays, I hope people will stay feeling happy and not say 'alright then, that was that, let's see what this one person can do'. Everyone needs to keep up their own happy and not depend on someone else to bring it to them. Only, if everyone participates, does their part, only then can we raise happiness for all.

Winter visions of gardens

Veryfinecat speaks:

Its cold outside and little yard work is needed, but this is Florida and you know the time to crank up that smelly, noisy lawn mover is all too near.

Now is the time to change all that, shift your thoughts to a luscious array of veggies in that sunny spot of the yard, mixed in with an enchanted cottage garden of flowers. Yes, you can have your own tomatoes and eat them, too. Who says a yard has to be a boring lawn loaded with toxins to keep any other life form out? When was the last time you played croquet on that lawn? Why not do the ground work, get your hands dirty with the satisfying end result of having grown the lettuce for your salad or the greens for dinner? Depending on your yard, you might need raised beds or even just strategically place some planted containers to catch the sun. Plant marigolds with the tomatoes, it does not only look pretty, it also keeps pests away. The same is said for garlic around your roses. You can express yourself in the variety of plants you grow. The joy of tending to flowers and plants is great therapy for your self and the environment. Get your kids involved, get together with neighbors to share in the work as well as the harvest and create beautiful, nourishing spaces that feed you and the neighborhood. I envision bounties of squash and tomatoes on every doorstep this summer.

Happy new year!

Veryfinecat speaks:

It's a brilliant new day. According to the calendar it's the first day of 2009.

We slept in a bit, arose to make a rousing fire in the wood stove, a hot cup of coffee for me and yummy breakfast for everyone. Watching the birds on the bird feeder, listening to their song and then to beautiful music inside the house. Checking the email to find wonderful news and warm greetings from friends.

Everything we need is right here with us. All is well in this day.