tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91745068203756493222024-03-05T02:11:20.300-08:00Sain J'et Sain VousSundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-71983494341900531822012-06-27T13:56:00.001-07:002012-06-27T13:56:45.642-07:00A Clothing PledgeI started this year off with a pledge to only buy used clothing items. Before you get your panties in a bunch you should know that panties were not included in the pledge. In fact anything that is sweated in, slept in or covers the parts that make a PG13 movie an R rated movie were not included. As well as socks, but I really don’t wear socks so they are moot. The idea bloomed from last year’s goal of starting a budget for the first time. After tracking my expenses for a year I realized I was spending an embarrassing amount of money on clothes and still felt like I had nothing to wear. I then tried on EVERYTHING in my closet and chucked anything that was too small. While I can alter clothes, making them bigger is well beyond the skill set of pretty much anyone. So off the goodwill they went. <br />
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In the nearly six months that have gone by since I started this goal I have learned a few things about myself, and a lot of things about the clothing industry. I have learned that I like pretty boring clothes. While I like to look at fashion magazine and drool over all the pretty people, when I wear trendy clothes I feel like a total goon. Not only is the cut of my clothing pretty boring so is the color. I like neutrals. Blacks, grays, whites, creams, and blues with occasional green or teal thrown in. I also like poka-dots, stripes and plaids. That’s about it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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I also learned the used clothing stores in wealthy areas of town are chalk-a-block full of really amazing stuff. Like hundred dollar sweaters and dresses for just a couple bucks. Mrs.Snobs might chuck her Diane Von Furstenberg sweater for being pilly but I am not too good to get out the old razor blade and take those pesky little woolen balls off a garment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why am I after used clothing from high end name brand stores? I don’t truly care about labels on clothes, but I do care about good quality products that are going to last. And really, expensive labels are generally cut from a better cloth. <br />
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Not only did I learn how to use a razor blade to clean up a sweater I also learned how to mend holes, reset hems, short sleeves, adjust collars and take in the sides of dresses and shirts. Pants are still a little beyond me. And beyond most clothing companies as well. Which bring me to my first major slip up. New jeans. Shopping for jeans is the worst. Truly. I would rather take a tour of the seventh circle of hell than spend my afternoon contorting myself into and out of hundreds of pairs of jeans. Completely by accident I found a fit at an expensive department store, bought two pairs, had them hemmed and called it good. Unless the bottom literally falls out of them I do not intent on buying more jeans. But until that time I have been re-dying my older pairs of jeans to extend their life.<br />
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This all sounds like an awful lot of work does it? It can be, certainly. But after a good friend took me to the Goodwill outlet store (lovingly called the bins) I have changed my outlook on consumerism a bit. Items that go to a Goodwill, if not bought, only spend a certain number of days on the rack before they get packed up and sent to the outlet store. Which I will generously describe as a post apocalyptic waste land. But I do love a challenge and am not very squeamish so I really don’t mind going there to brose bin after bin of landfill destined items. Yes, after the outlet store your un-bought donations go to a landfill. Millions of pounds of clothing, home goods, glass wear, sports equipment and toys get dumped each year, in this our disposable consumerist society. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I personally would very much like to contribute as little as possible to this growing number of items tossed out each year. So instead I mend, and hem and alter and repurpose. And I am actually much happier for it. I certainly spend less hours of my life whimpering in my closet convinced I have nothing to wear.<br />
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And why should you care about all this? You don’t have to. But before you dismiss the idea of buying less and saving more check out Elizabeth Cline’s new book “Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheep Fashion”. Her arguments are much more convincing and enlightening than my own little journey. But then again we can’t all write books and save the world. Never the less my decisions make me feel better, so I journey onward. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-90730798336480524962012-06-27T08:47:00.000-07:002012-06-27T08:47:02.744-07:00may 13th through june 26th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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burbon street in the am - so humid my lense fogged up</div>
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mothers day jazz brunch with our waiter</div>
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poppies and peonies </div>
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organic strawberries which later tried to kill me</div>
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home made sandels from dollar shoes</div>
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farm fresh eggs - truly the best</div>
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roses</div>
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wild white roses</div>
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fluffy toes</div>
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freshly aired out blankets</div>
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curtains</div>
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ilsa hiding under my drawing table</div>
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best dessert ever</div>
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awesome post cards</div>
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ilsa in the rain</div>Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-2413951726632716222012-05-21T08:22:00.000-07:002012-05-21T08:22:04.056-07:00Marionberry Custard Pie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you know me at all you know that when I bake I start out with every intention of following the recipe. Then I get two ingredients in, assume I know better and wind up with something totally different in the end. Case in point, the above pie. This pie was supposed to be a Berry Gallette. But the recipe wanted me to use white pastry flour (hogwash), a whole package of cream cheese (but then what will I do for breakfast?!) and separate a egg to brush the pastry with (B*ch please!). Needless to say none of these things happened. But it turned out okay (believe me this isn’t always the case) in fact, I think it turned out better. Give it a try, you won’t regret it. And if you manage to morph this into you own little Frankenstein let me know how it turns out and what alterations you made.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the crust</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-1 C whole wheat flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-3 TBL shortening</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-1 to 3 TBL water</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cut shortening into whole wheat flour, add water one tablespoon at a time until dough forms a ball. Press into a 6 inch cast iron skillet. No need to be dainty or careful about it, I never am. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the pie</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-1/2 C cream cheese</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-1/2 C greek yogurt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-1 whole egg </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-1/2 C powdered sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-2 C berries </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mix cream cheese, yogurt, egg and powdered sugar. Pour into pastry. Evenly pour berries on top of pie. Bake until only slightly barely giggly in center (my oven is about 70 years old so my bake time likely won’t work on a newer non-gas oven). Refrigerate until pie is set. Then eat it all up!</span></div>Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-64297353842020277772012-03-12T10:28:00.001-07:002012-03-12T10:28:59.741-07:00Fat vs. Sugar<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I was watching Seinfeld this morning, courtesy of my friendly neighborhood library. The particular episode involved “fat-free” frozen yogurt, Rudy Giuliani, an election and everyone in New York City experiencing mysterious weight gain. As it turns out the frozen yogurt wasn’t actually fat free. But in real life would that have truly mattered?</div>
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There have been some excellent articles lately written about yogurt (not the frozen sort). When I was a kid the food was sort of a hippy-dippy choice. These days it has become an ever popular health food choice for meal replacers and dessert substitutes. Like any food trend, it doesn’t take long for large companies to capitalize the product with different flavors, and low fat options. Yogurt naturally isn’t low in fat; it’s a dairy product how could it be. But since when did fat in your food become such a faux-pas. </div>
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A living being needs energy to function. To be specific a long carbon chain which when broken down on the cellular level results in a release of energy. So where do our carbon chains come from? Short ones come from sugar, slightly longer ones come from breads, the longest from fats. This means a person is going to get the most energy from foods with fats in them and the least amount of energy from sugars. Sugars are broken down and absorbed primarily through saliva and immediately taken to the blood stream, this causes that warm rush of energy you get from eating a candy bar. But not all that energy is needed at a given time. Any excess sugars in your system are then stored as fat in your thighs or belly or where ever else genetics granted you as your “problem area”. If fats and sugars are eaten together, needed sugars are used; excess sugars and fats are stored. However, if fats are ingested, especially with fiber, a slow release of energy occurs. This leaves a person feeling full for longer and reduces the amount of energy storage. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s not to say you should go siphoning the bacon drippings from your frying pan. I would hope the world has a tad more sense than that. But sugars need to be watched for.</div>
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The old-fashioned type non-fat yogurt I grew up with no longer exists. Because it tastes gross and thus doesn’t sell. So to appeal to the masses and still provide a tasty product companies have started dumping sugar into non-fat products. Have you ever looked at a nutrition label for non-fat yogurt, the sugar content is astronomical. So while you are waltzing down the dairy isle thinking you have made a fabulous life choice by reducing your fat intake, don’t forget your own biological priorities for energy. If the only choice is fat or sugar, opt for the fat. Your blood sugar will thank you later. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-56073945892594460782012-02-28T10:46:00.001-08:002012-05-21T08:22:39.168-07:00Homemade Cheese<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A lot of people give me grief about my obsession with making things that are available at the grocery store. And they do have a point. Why bother taking the time to make cheese when you can go to the store and have it instantly. Well there are reasons. Very good reasons in fact. But the bottom line, as with everything I write about, is because it is healthier. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To make cheese one has to start with a whole milk with low pasteurization. Pasteurization is the process of heating and cooling dairy products with the intent of killing bacteria that is harmful to humans. The idea was first suggested by Franz von Soxhelt in 1886, but first successfully processed by the processes namesake French microbiologist Louis Pasteur. The process not only eliminates many risks to human consumption (including bovine tuberculosis, which was a common cause of death at the time), but it also greatly extends the shelf life of milk allowing transportation across continents to occur safely. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On one hand pasteurization is a great process, but on the other it allows companies and stores to stock milk products from all over the world for much longer than nature intended. Local organic milks tend to be lower pasteurized because they don’t have to travel as far to reach their destination (still slightly pasteurized for safety mind you). The point, if you are going to make cheese find yourself some good local milk (the cheese will not only taste better but might not work if too much bacteria is killed off).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The number one reason (at least for myself) is that homemade cheese is actually less of an irritant to the system. A person can control the amount of whey that is removed from the cheese (whey being the sugar in milk that most people are allergic to). And also any cheese you make at home will be preservative free. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Sunday my friend Julia and I set out to make some mozzarella (the easiest and as a first timer it’s the safest bet). We used the recipe from Barbra Kingsolver’s book “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” bought our three ingredients and set to work. Yes it only takes three. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ingredients:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 gallon whole low pasteurized milk (anything but ultra will work)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.5 teaspoons citric acid dissolved in 1/4<sup>th</sup> cup cool water</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 teaspoon liquid rennet dissolved in 1/4<sup>th</sup> cup cool water</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Supplies:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 large stainless steel pot</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 slatted spoon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 good thermometer </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pour the milk into the pot and slowly heat to 55 degrees, at which point add the citric acid. Continue to stir and heat gently until temp reaches 88 degrees. Then add rennet and stir. The milk should start to curdle and separate from the whey (which admittedly looks pretty disgusting). Once the temp reaches 100 degrees start transferring curds to the glass bowl. Use the slatted spoon or hands (careful its hot) to squeeze as much water out as possible. Microwave for one minute. Kneed the cheese to remove more water. Microwave 30 seconds, kneed, microwave 30 seconds, kneed. At this point the cheese should start to get stretchy like taffy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ours did not, we blamed it on a faulty thermometer. Salt to taste and you are done. </span></div>
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(if I look a little manic its because the cheese was HOT)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Despite our cheese looking like a head of cauliflower it was quite delicious. We made some capreese salads for dinner and then watched a movie and snacked on the left over cheese. </span></div>
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(cheese)</div>
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(dinner with cheese)</div>Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-7493290945991669382011-11-02T12:12:00.001-07:002011-11-02T12:12:22.206-07:00FIBER TO THE RESCUE!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are two types of fiber. Soluble and insoluble, but neither have much to do with your stomach. Fiber as a whole is plant parts, no more no less. Plants are made of long carbon chains, which our human bodies cannot break down into food parts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though many other animals can break down fiber into usable energy, but that is because they have the proper stomach bugs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Animals like cows (because of the ruminant bacteria in their stomachs) and termites (also thanks to the bacteria in their gut) can make food out of fiber, but that’s a whole other conversation. Today we are sticking with people. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Soluble fiber changes is a spongy like substance in our stomachs and holds onto food parts which are then passed into our intestines. While the fiber absorbs water it mixed with food and creates a jelly like substance that slowly moves through the intestines. Our intestinal walls are made up of small finger like protrusions called intestinal villus. These little projections increase the surface area of our intestines and allow for more food to be absorbed and well as helping to move food and fiber (and dead bacteria) through to our colon. As the villi (plural of villus) move all this stuff through they are finding food bits to absorb for energy creating a slow release of metabolic energy which helps keep your blood sugar and energy levels even. Quite brilliant right?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So while soluble fiber is sponging up food bits and helping to control your metabolic energy, insoluble fiber is acting like a broom. When a person eats things like fat and sugars and various processed foods spider web like blockages can begin to form in the intestines over time. Insoluble fiber can absorb many times its own weight in water. Which creates a large flexible mass that passes through your intestines and colon picking up any bits of left over junk clogging up the path. It literally sweeps the path clean as it goes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How do you get this incredible cleaner-outer?! Eat plants of course. Lots of them. Plants have a funny way of being pretty complete sources of nutrition and bodily needs. Fruits like plums and prunes have a thick skin covering a juicy pulp. The skin is insoluble fiber (broom) and the pulp is the soluble fiber (sponge). Other plants like legumes and whole grains are both fiber and protein, which creates a super packed slow release energy meal that helps protect your blood sugar levels. Nuts and seeds are both soluble and insoluble fiber as well as protein source. And veggies such as broccoli, carrots, green beans, celery, leafy greens, etc are packed with both types of fiber, as well as a whole host of important vitamins and minerals. Fruits too, don’t forget the fruits. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The importance of all of this is riding your body of toxins. Dead bacteria, fats, and processed foods <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that cannot be digested properly or cause allergic reactions<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are all toxic and create irritation to your villi. When they get fried you no longer absorb nutrients, which means lower energy and missing nutrition that could otherwise properly power your bodily functions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The longer these irritants sit in your system the more build up is created and sooner or later you may be staring colon cancer in the face. </span></div>Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-86321873113770599822011-09-14T14:23:00.000-07:002011-09-14T14:23:36.502-07:00Knowing Your Family and Their Medical History<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you ever feel like you have symptoms of a larger health problem the first person/people you should be taking to are the members of your family (genetic members). You are a member of a vast gene pool. And chances are if you feel like something is going on with you, they too have probably experienced like symptoms. Most health problems, with the exception of those gained from exposure to extreme conditions (<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">radiation, mercury or other heavy metal poisoning as examples</span>), are due to the expression of genes that are you born with and inherited from your family. I realize this sounds really obvious, but I was recently not smart enough to follow my own sage advice and had myself pretty freaked out for a good few months. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Starting around early May I was getting really bad dizzy spells. Right away I started tracking what I was eating, doing, and exposing myself to. I then took the information I collected from observing myself and did some research on what the heck could be causing these new found and incredibly annoying/debilitating dizzies. With the help of WebMd and some other medical websites I had in four months time convinced myself I was diabetic, had cancer, a brain tumor, low blood pressure, a major ear infection, Menieres disease, vestibular neritus, delayed head trauma from a car accident 2 years ago and possibly pregnant. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The worst part of all of this (other than being dizzy all the d*mn time), was I kept going back to my maternal medical history. My mom bless her, is nearly genetically perfect. No family history of any of these medical problems I had since convinced myself I was suffering from. In fact she is tall, thin, beautiful, has perfect teeth, eyes, no allergies and rarely gets ill. I on the other hand in no way take after her. I look like my dad and his father more than anyone I am related to and much like them, I have terrible eyes, had braces twice, chronic ear infections as a child and am allergic to nearly everything. Yet, even while being fully aware of all of these things, I still did not think for a second my dad and my grandfather might hold the key to my new found vertigo. Instead, it must be a tumor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It wasn’t. After a surprise visit from my dad a few days ago and a long discussion about how his parents/my grandparents were doing, he mentioned that my grandfathers dizzy spells were getting worse (say what now?!). At which point I had perhaps the world’s biggest “oh-duh” moment. The discussion continued and the prognosis is such: the combination of my genetically defective ears and being allergic to most everything means when I and my grandfather and my father had a severe allergic reaction to something, our inner ears get a tad swollen, which puts pressure on the equilibrium mechanism, which causes seemingly out of the blue vertigo. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The real kicker in all this was, all spring and summer I kept commenting on how I wasn’t having my normal seasonal allergies. I had actually be unknowingly suffering from allergies, but because I have been working so hard to eliminate the things I am allergic to from my life instead of feeling like the flu had stomped on my will to live, my allergies were less sever and more centralized to my inner ear. I was just missing that small little bit about family history that could have helped me figure out the problem sooner. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So while it took me all spring and summer to pin point was what going on with my head, I did finally get my answers. And I managed to avoid a lot of unnecessary medical exams and expenses, all of which probably would have given me the usual “I don’t know what is wrong, here take this”. My own personal cure of dizzy spells works just fine, one allergy pill and one Ibprophen and a whole lot of water. No more dizzy, no more tumors or diabetes or head trauma. Just a minor bruise in my pride and intelligence and a whole lot of relief. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The moral of the story, if you are feeling symptomatic talk your family. It is also a good idea to keep a medical journal of your tests, levels, ailments, medication, reactions etc. Many times this information can come down to the difference between life and death. The more you know about yourself and your genetic history the better equipped you will be <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to lead a long a healthy life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-391733287837721022011-09-09T09:10:00.001-07:002011-09-09T09:10:15.875-07:00It's TOO Hot<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Much to everyone’s delight the summer heat has arrived in Portland. I hate it. 90+ degrees is just too hot when homes don’t have air conditioning or pools. If you are like me and find yourself maxed out and miserable here are a few things I have been doing to try to survive this oppressive heat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All things Mexican seem to make eating in the heat slighting more appealing. Even better most of it requires very little cooking. I have been living off guacamole and black bean tacos for almost a week straight now. Black beans can be made in a crock pot which hardly omits any heat and can be used while away at work, so you don’t have to be home for the actual cooking process. Black beans are also a great low fat, vegan protein source. Healthy Healthy! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the past I have gotten a lot of flak for my avocado habits. True the fruit (commonly thought of as a veggie but it’s a fruit) is high in fat. But what people don’t know is that is it one of the most commonly prescribed foods for people suffering from high cholesterol. The fruit contains oleic acid which helps the body regulate blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It is also an amazing source of potassium, which is also helpful in guarding again circulatory disease and maintaining healthy blood pressure levels. Plus its chock-o-block full of vitamin E, K, B6, C, copper, folic acid and fiber. So just because something is high in fat doesn’t mean it should be avoided especially when that high fat item is a plant. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My Guacamole recipe:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 avocado</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 lime </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 shallot</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 cloves of garlic</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">¼ cup cilantro </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">chili powder</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">sea salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">fresh ground pepper</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Peel, chop and mash the avocado. Add as much lime juice as can be squeezed from the lime, mash more. Chop shallots, garlic and cilantro, add to mashed mess. Add chili powder, salt and pepper to taste. Done and delicious.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love Mexican food…..LIKE LOVE Mexican food. The only thing I missed (other than friends and family) when I studied aboard in Austria was Mexican food. But if you don’t get as excited about it as me, other good things to eat when it’s too hot to cook are cold veggies. It may sound uninspiring but salad, fresh cut cold veggies and chilled fruits will do a lot of help cool your core body temperature while also delivering much needed nutrients to help restore damage done by overheating and sun exposure. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can also try making your own popsicles from fruit juices frozen in plastic containers with tongue depressors set in for holders. Just try to avoid juices from concentrate and those high in sugar. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another great heat reliever is cold showers. They are incredibly refreshing and soaking your head (especially if you have long thick hair) in cold water it will lower your body temperature quickly. They are also great for your circulatory system as well as being good for the shine and tensile strength of hair follicles. Taking cold showers have also been known to help boost your immune system and metabolism, detoxify your body, fight fatigue, reduce swelling, improve kidney function, and normalize your blood pressure. Plus it reduces the amount of electricity you are using which will save you a few dollars at the end of the month. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also don’t forget to drink plenty of water and avoid things that dehydrate you like sugars, alcohol and caffeine. Wear at hat or head covering when in direct sunlight and don’t get sun burned. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy weekend all!</span></div>
Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-23574704831915189062011-09-06T13:41:00.000-07:002012-02-28T10:49:14.914-08:00Pure Frivolity<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For about a month now I have been lacking the ability to concentrate on anything serious. It probably has to do with the time of year, the fact that summer heat seems to want to stick around, plus all the everyday stress I have been dealing with lately. So when labor day weekend came around I took the opportunity to get out of dodge. A little canning with my mom (tomato base for the winter months), some early morning beach time, a little haunted house mystery and some good company left me feeling very refreshed. Though it also left with me a new obsession which is in no way health related. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I forced my friends with the promise of coffee and breakfast to get up at 5am and drive out to my favorite beach spot. Despite sleepy eyes and bad hair it was a grand decision. The beach was beutiful and cool, the parking lot empty and the tide low. We poked around the beach a bit and then when appieties overtook we headed out from food. </span></div>
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{looking south at India Head Beach}</div>
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{Seaguls at Sunrise}</div>
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{My Toms}</div>
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I bought my Toms in North Carolina earlier in the summer, Boyfriend calls them my ninja shoes. He wasn’t far off, these things are amazing on slippery beach rocks.</div>
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{Terrible Tilly - decomission light house}</div>
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{Sea Anenome}</div>
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{Surfers at Dawn}</div>
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{Ecola}</div>
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{Low Tide}</div>
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After we were all properly fed we went down to Haystack Rock, it was after breakfast at this point so the tourists were aplenty. In fact we got to see the police bust some unruly visitors for climbing around on protected land. Good times! </div>
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{Best Friend and Girlfriend}</div>
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{Cloraphyta}</div>
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{Starfish}</div>
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{Muscels and Barnicles}</div>
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The other major event of the weekend was a visit to my favorite house of all time. An abandoned mansion in Astoria with a long and confusing history. With the help of my dear friends, the obsession has grown in to full on research. Which in turn has fueled my curiosity further considering how public the family was and how little information we can find. Hopefully a trip to the historical society will cure to curiosity.</div>
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The house is located on 15th and Franklin Ave in Astoria, it house three generations of the Flavel family, Astoria's first millionaire family. In fact, the family settled in Astoria before Oregon was even a state. This particular house was built for the son of Captain George Flavel in 1901. The current owner is on the run for various things, but currently back taxes and a good deal of money owned to some other families in town. So the house sits and rots into the ground. While nearly the entire town waits for it to go up for auction so it can be restored. </div>
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{Maid's Room, top story dormer}</div>
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{Under the Eves}</div>
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{siding with no paint}</div>
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{front entrance glass}</div>
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In going through my pictures, I realize and cannot believe I have never gotten a picture of the full house. This particular picture was taken by a <a href="http://madametalbot.posterous.com/hatchet-harry-flavel-house-draped-in-black-mo">woman</a> who lives in Astoria and is equally enthralled by the house. The owners of the house a brother and sister by the names of Harry and Mary Louise Flavel. Harry was charged with assault in 1983 and which time the pair abandoned the house so he could evade jail time. When Harry died last May rumors swirled that Mary Louise had returned to the house. The black bunting appeared on the railing but the house appears to remain uninhabited. </div>
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Back to my regularly schedualed day. Comming soon....some information about soaps and why a person should take great care in selecting body products. </div>
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<br /></div>Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-19545367441513736812011-08-29T10:34:00.000-07:002011-08-29T11:47:43.326-07:00Going New Places, Completely By Accident<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKRedfkv9H6itMT4H2ytEgtbapwyOIiRh_jAWUwpClVgu4-UVm9-t4DjnQAjGiCKehNTclcpYG9Hw2ACrn_egwwNAOPxJA3iBhGe0BzVjXCmYwMXcVoO-PTfJ7gNFRzK38kw1HdDx53g/s1600/2011+318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29ArvLcpCSb7IdIGyskgRQCUolbgS_plzKNWkQtr6ls4SOJ6SxhgjKu09zSLCHtL7-gyfNIxXVMK64xcaNEQvmF-nREPUZqKRkNr4Y5iZWhOJDiolDj5MEhj-BsVriP6CKVPbv_LmSRg/s1600/2011+327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTugcegbxJS6DxrVOYLp81FbZszMMuGIvDpARnkjqq8UFGpL3NzV84Sgl0a8USIlrGcSWYS2KfWrYlKjA9KCBURI-bnLG4WMQYcT7yd92ty1pSPyZd3KWoQvmZo07gIkUznxy0GbwoZo/s1600/2011+328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDOlMzIYfrzb76m5v8djqzY32juo9ecCbrAVmlwjfdm8As8dHLoUdTPOE7gOaxcNWSdsJ-osX73gRERnNbTrJ-9gPwaVYsNocb0LHWHLvHD5IXUG77M4Nd2XvUnGH2AIkKTwscQ7gEZQ/s1600/2011+368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In life there are often those things that you should do, and then the things you do instead. This weekend I did the instead. I should have been studying for the GRE, doing dishes, laundry, bathing my dog, mowing the lawn, cleaning out the basement, grocery shopping and finishing up my grad school application. Instead, I drove out of town with a friend and went on an adventure. </span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">{Columbia Hills State Park}</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">{Protected Grasses and a Lone Tree}</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The original plan was to check out the petroglyphs along the Columbia River. But thanks to some slightly off googlemap directions we wound up in the middle of the Columbia Hills State Park. The river side part of the park was originally a Native American Village, a site which Lewis and Clark camped at during their expedition west.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">{Not exactly "wild" life, but life none the less}</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">{Tree in a working ranch}</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The park originally included the camp (an attempt to preserve history), the petroglyph site and Horsethief lake. From the information I can find the actual public park area is a little over 3300 acres. But from what we discovered this weekend it is a bit bigger. Probably due to a commission in 2003 to include donated land from the Dalles Mountain Ranch at which time the whole area was named Columbia Hills State Park. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{Flower}</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{Seeds}</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">The Crawford ranch was built in 1878 by Willam N. Crawford, his son John C. Crawford was a Washington Sate Representative and later a Senator from 1915-1921. I couldn’t find all the information about the ranch that I would have liked to.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6RybXxhtlRRYqgPU4nR6mejrSmWv2jRpZvzr78Pf1wlj_XVSjvleBGcVNekEvzcc2Yi0AtrhgR-hAluhlNG2zCVdobh1XKDIxTfBj5jA8-uViZ0eAKatcSeoPYcQpmZ3e7MepgRYghY0/s1600/2011+350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6RybXxhtlRRYqgPU4nR6mejrSmWv2jRpZvzr78Pf1wlj_XVSjvleBGcVNekEvzcc2Yi0AtrhgR-hAluhlNG2zCVdobh1XKDIxTfBj5jA8-uViZ0eAKatcSeoPYcQpmZ3e7MepgRYghY0/s400/2011+350.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{Mail box still stands}</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uAaIiwowpJFjqryIIA_J3Xq8tksdlDECgkFwGLf58G9J2ITusAI9i-3nleVlxA8NgsZ1bYfXl-1f-zoh1bz9FqXB8Ggi4Q2jyzQ0AV9NWNS-V6oOg5ZTFVsNnAfV-pKBFNbWLhN6lbY/s1600/2011+352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uAaIiwowpJFjqryIIA_J3Xq8tksdlDECgkFwGLf58G9J2ITusAI9i-3nleVlxA8NgsZ1bYfXl-1f-zoh1bz9FqXB8Ggi4Q2jyzQ0AV9NWNS-V6oOg5ZTFVsNnAfV-pKBFNbWLhN6lbY/s400/2011+352.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">{Crawford Farm House}</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2UBDjIo-aWdDehlkAmN8UjUOj7UBBYWREXbeHzkitQh8SvT5Q72ua_E3nCWaGamQhHnD4xATeuN1n1evI-1iCF7fPEGXq3vl5_wf8Dkw4xMGN9DlFDfa9cJAYzPixk0LvEyiRw-WhjY/s1600/2011+349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2UBDjIo-aWdDehlkAmN8UjUOj7UBBYWREXbeHzkitQh8SvT5Q72ua_E3nCWaGamQhHnD4xATeuN1n1evI-1iCF7fPEGXq3vl5_wf8Dkw4xMGN9DlFDfa9cJAYzPixk0LvEyiRw-WhjY/s400/2011+349.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">{Peeling Details on the farmhouse}</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{Grapes still growing on the garden side of the house}</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqW16znk955tdn79uyTSWy-Nz-skVz4kxJ0yvReXia_F8UM_ce5yn9VV16eWVNQ4TBcR6X1XhlTrJajPC-rY-NKul0kPb7rBRXsU3Lr3S5og3gF2I0JCPNOdXxnEimjNethiwuV2QDHY8/s1600/2011+359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqW16znk955tdn79uyTSWy-Nz-skVz4kxJ0yvReXia_F8UM_ce5yn9VV16eWVNQ4TBcR6X1XhlTrJajPC-rY-NKul0kPb7rBRXsU3Lr3S5og3gF2I0JCPNOdXxnEimjNethiwuV2QDHY8/s400/2011+359.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{Pool buit by the Crawford Family}</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAEKfuaoVibAA0uBwJpksY5gZZ7a6ZvlxcmeFrvQ3VltIhfOfJWUGppYyEDC6v4R3Eaiwx6-HlUUNd3DahyphenhyphencncCyU3eT2tOEJ6zNmAb_KQ-4hIoNzKFA-Ac2OeYvKk_UmQNuw8buOTFA/s1600/2011+361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAEKfuaoVibAA0uBwJpksY5gZZ7a6ZvlxcmeFrvQ3VltIhfOfJWUGppYyEDC6v4R3Eaiwx6-HlUUNd3DahyphenhyphencncCyU3eT2tOEJ6zNmAb_KQ-4hIoNzKFA-Ac2OeYvKk_UmQNuw8buOTFA/s400/2011+361.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{The pools is still home to gold fish}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in 1975 Pat Bleakney <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>became the third and final owner of the 6,123 acre ranch that was then named Dallas Mountain Ranch. In 1993 the ranch was returned to public domain and in 2003 it was joined with the river side property to become the now state park. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwATrDdIS_NdKPBknXN6aK_WuOe6oTZdtK7jG4sad0TFO3XcaY1lUUJZIZCtwHfOAc7ArY-iD66qt8mL3R3y-4P8AZ-kaCTHh1E2JEiG22-Ufp_tVpbCLWz0jaa3U0dV2v5EVXAE3vUc/s1600/2011+362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwATrDdIS_NdKPBknXN6aK_WuOe6oTZdtK7jG4sad0TFO3XcaY1lUUJZIZCtwHfOAc7ArY-iD66qt8mL3R3y-4P8AZ-kaCTHh1E2JEiG22-Ufp_tVpbCLWz0jaa3U0dV2v5EVXAE3vUc/s400/2011+362.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{Dallas Mountain Ranch}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfstcRivx_tooCAOT6BRC_kc7TLQcHeNY-GwygoSH7ZFMAlzd36tXj7HXCOwheJ5GpqeEaYzIwe6m6SxtswB_7UDr8OapmEt_Qe_SNh9_a8cs116oxGtAHjHeKPtChf8QS7t7NoTyDhyphenhyphenY/s1600/2011+353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfstcRivx_tooCAOT6BRC_kc7TLQcHeNY-GwygoSH7ZFMAlzd36tXj7HXCOwheJ5GpqeEaYzIwe6m6SxtswB_7UDr8OapmEt_Qe_SNh9_a8cs116oxGtAHjHeKPtChf8QS7t7NoTyDhyphenhyphenY/s400/2011+353.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{More Ranch Outbuildings}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZf9mzCpj4AI8Wz7H4at3ubZeTkGuWbmYrrNyQjDU45cdCWp4wzIwMM4ccWCRT2LOuxKVpATWj_q2cIimkuhklPK5mwKKVOhmUUz9FmKKFTI6gG9C-GG3jKksGqCz1u9mB11aD0W17Nrg/s1600/2011+351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZf9mzCpj4AI8Wz7H4at3ubZeTkGuWbmYrrNyQjDU45cdCWp4wzIwMM4ccWCRT2LOuxKVpATWj_q2cIimkuhklPK5mwKKVOhmUUz9FmKKFTI6gG9C-GG3jKksGqCz1u9mB11aD0W17Nrg/s400/2011+351.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{Wagon/sign}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxBZ4DsijnN-e3nx3nTXbBzeTCOH2Jf4aHNmZeOgvVg7JBTLl5pvcsTe-h3bzTeF4VLAPYYW__D8xcyXgB0bTCyBvAe8CuJZbsY4T6lVVDHGMNgB4WCAZUNFL7-GntcBiI74pDZN_9xg/s1600/2011+340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxBZ4DsijnN-e3nx3nTXbBzeTCOH2Jf4aHNmZeOgvVg7JBTLl5pvcsTe-h3bzTeF4VLAPYYW__D8xcyXgB0bTCyBvAe8CuJZbsY4T6lVVDHGMNgB4WCAZUNFL7-GntcBiI74pDZN_9xg/s400/2011+340.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{Old Wagon}</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The park is a huge expanse of native grasses and dwelling species. I have never in my life seen so many grasshoppers and giant bees. The raven population was out of this world, we saw a few deer and we even found signs of others animals (scat and jawbones) we were guessing canine or possibly medium sized wild cats, though we saw neither (sadly but probably luckily considering how far out were we). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">{Bird of Prey Nest}</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">{Bleached out Jaw Bone}</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">{Ravens}</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We under estimated the elevation of the hike, the heat of the day and lack of tree cover. As well as the population of Rattle Snakes and Ticks. So plans to go back in the fall are in action. As we were following my phones horrible directions we accidently stumbled across the ranch buildings and a hiking trail which the Columbia Hills State Park web site fails to mention. I wouldn’t suggest going if you don’t have a tough mountain vehicle, the gravel road looks unassuming but quickly becomes quite steep and rutted. In fact on the way down we both were surprised we had even made it up in the first place having, caught up in the joy of adventure, not realized the grade of the road or the size of the rocks we were driving over. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">{Looking back along the trail}</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlDjCSRQFk05OQYY7uuvSqxKMTiavYGVt4OMfYESmdt8bVOjxOcCpxCe7bpy3DvYruXuj7PZxWsk6zvewulyeC2ZoR9TI1nccPYv5zImKipQ41K2OCIBVkzMxh19pKYkp7fxOUBNve_8/s1600/2011+324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlDjCSRQFk05OQYY7uuvSqxKMTiavYGVt4OMfYESmdt8bVOjxOcCpxCe7bpy3DvYruXuj7PZxWsk6zvewulyeC2ZoR9TI1nccPYv5zImKipQ41K2OCIBVkzMxh19pKYkp7fxOUBNve_8/s400/2011+324.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">{Oregon from Washington}</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At any rate, having shirked all of my responsibilities turned out to be a great plan, as did following some bad directions. We discovered a new place to hike, an abandoned turn of the century ranch, some amazing wild life and we did eventually see the petrophyphs we drove so far to find.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQ8wlZtxoPaJFrOgxTcDGEIGuFIGMHL4usnhrStsJhmhyphenhyphenfvAdVdbm8p09z0KBHEzmP4R7iKWgsioJFhs18gH7FtQNh1YkDyPpKjV492OV0I3SgiKz15rAN6TbC25WQ3ZK-yvc2St0uUo/s1600/2011+379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQ8wlZtxoPaJFrOgxTcDGEIGuFIGMHL4usnhrStsJhmhyphenhyphenfvAdVdbm8p09z0KBHEzmP4R7iKWgsioJFhs18gH7FtQNh1YkDyPpKjV492OV0I3SgiKz15rAN6TbC25WQ3ZK-yvc2St0uUo/s400/2011+379.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">{Racoons perhaps?}</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I guess sometimes being irresponsible leads to great things. This weekend left me with a great sense of renewal and a readiness to finish my looming tasks with zeal. On to the week and hopefully getting many things done. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">*All pictures are mine. Taken in the Columbia River Gorge August 27th 2011. </span></div><br />
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</div>Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-25453377407190530142011-08-26T13:14:00.000-07:002011-08-26T13:14:37.701-07:00Friday Fun Day: Lunch on the Lawn<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I woke up this morning in an absolute foul mood. Having been so distraught this morning I totally forgot to pack a lunch. Much to my surprise and delight friend/coworker Z had packed too much lunch, so a pic-nicing we went. Z happens to be currently tied at number one for the best cook I have ever met in real life. So a wonderful lunch of caprese (plus green bean) salad, roasted chicken and French bread in the sun made the best possible mid-day break from work.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHSZUqZeY8A72ASuo8KLo_3Mj79rsEtCTE_UaXwe9FfO7A0m-OcRUi_ksO5_1XuXA30Pvi6Ltx57zQfjYM2gIRQdxxds1JQbLSe55W1Izll-xN5f_p4DkEMvx5vEOxhZDruNCTdWaRlI/s1600/LUnch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHSZUqZeY8A72ASuo8KLo_3Mj79rsEtCTE_UaXwe9FfO7A0m-OcRUi_ksO5_1XuXA30Pvi6Ltx57zQfjYM2gIRQdxxds1JQbLSe55W1Izll-xN5f_p4DkEMvx5vEOxhZDruNCTdWaRlI/s320/LUnch.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{phone photo}</div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Small acts of kindness do much to lift a weary soul. Which happened to be one current topic of conversation between Z and I. So thank you dear friend you made my day. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2nAkHxFTC6U8FrwrckoFUCQCxnMbwFFbIZcqfEgszcQtMetN2uhUwSDrtLc2UArTMaGFhxitAXvGXwxEhVAXFpT8cB5VGn1TsouOLGXlIa7dzQD71gipv3Zt_htW9l7MziL8nQ2i0vA/s1600/Feet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2nAkHxFTC6U8FrwrckoFUCQCxnMbwFFbIZcqfEgszcQtMetN2uhUwSDrtLc2UArTMaGFhxitAXvGXwxEhVAXFpT8cB5VGn1TsouOLGXlIa7dzQD71gipv3Zt_htW9l7MziL8nQ2i0vA/s320/Feet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">{phone photo}</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Friday All! </div>Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-27327645292576037332011-08-25T15:42:00.000-07:002011-08-25T15:42:39.816-07:00Non Organic vs. Organic vs. Heirloom<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I often find myself getting into arguments with people about Heirloom/Organic/Farmers Market produce, like anything else the magic is in education. There are tons of great resources out there to help you understand the deep rooted differences between grocery store produces items and other produce types. And there are plenty of people out there who are willing to tell you ALL about it, if you are willing to lend an ear. But I am of a distrustful nature, I will listen all the live long day as people climb up their soap boxes, then I go home and research things for myself. I don’t have a lot of sited sources here because <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I assume people who are striving to better their own lives aren’t of the lazy sort and are willing to do the leg work necessary to make good choices. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in the interest of pointing in the proper direction here are some major differences.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Non-organic grocery store produce:</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most likely GMO</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most defiantly picked before ripe (hence the bland taste)</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Usually gassed at some point during transfer to stimulate ripening like activities, which mostly just change the color of the food.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes bleached, lettuces and other in ground leafy greens get bleach baths before hitting the supermarket. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grown in nutrient-less soil with the help of petrochemical fertilizers </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Possessing approximately 60% less nutrients than those your grandparents ate</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{gentically modified to look nice, picked at the right size, gased for color and sold at your local store}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Non-certified Organic produce:</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will only trust this if I am comfortable with the seller. Organic certification is extremely meticulous and expensive, not everyone can pull it off and stay financially afloat. Generally these famers are people who take great care in growing food naturally without synthetic chemicals but who also cannot afford to keep up with the certified organic requirements. This category is a big grey area where politics start to really show. If you want to know more I suggest researching yourself, there are hundreds of books written on the subject.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Farmers Market:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I highly suggest frequenting farmers markets or upick if you can. Get to know your growers and you will get to know their practices. The best thing about produce from these sources, you know they have been picked when ripe and have avoided any bleachy baths. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Organic produce:</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Very strictly monitored by the government agencies</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No use of synthetic chemical inputs</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No GMO</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Land must free from synthetic chemical input for three years and tests must come up clean. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNTQDMAB3_BTu-Ksy5xuzZrG47eXN-sNh5R23A_rm2jchZhxtKnv98tAxm-X3awCDp6nVJUF9im-IcffOSb_tBA6feHfJoNuGXbHomiDqWatnd9E62jvElHZzziJtNGJdLDay4k9h3Fw/s1600/Organic+Tomato.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNTQDMAB3_BTu-Ksy5xuzZrG47eXN-sNh5R23A_rm2jchZhxtKnv98tAxm-X3awCDp6nVJUF9im-IcffOSb_tBA6feHfJoNuGXbHomiDqWatnd9E62jvElHZzziJtNGJdLDay4k9h3Fw/s320/Organic+Tomato.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{Organic, its a little funky but it tastes good}</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Heirloom produce:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Heirloom pants are plants grown from seeds that have stayed out of large-scale agriculture. The plants are grown, seeds collected and saved, then replanted the next year. They are cultivated through open pollination (bugs and air) and cultivated with great care. Originally these plants were saved for historical interest, but as big ag has taken over many of the worlds foods sources these plants are one of our last remaining genetically untainted food sources. Seeds can be procured at seed banks around the country and in my opinion should be support as much as possible. Plus the taste really cannot be matched, truly incredible. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Non GMO</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Amazing taste and quality</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyone who takes the time and work to deal with expensive and sensitive seeds is going to avoid synthetic chemicals. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
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Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-19002691193351393292011-08-25T09:03:00.000-07:002011-08-25T09:05:09.997-07:00Side Note/Clearing the AirI was going through my reader articles this morning and came across a <a href="http://thecraftsdept.marthastewart.com/2011/08/lunchbag-tutorial.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MarthaStewartsCraftBlog+%28Martha+Stewart%27s+Craft+Blog%29">Martha Stewart DIY for an Oilcloth</a> Lunch bag!!!!! Is she spying on me?! While I doubt very much my idea was the first in the world, I would like to state that I posted <a href="http://sainvous.blogspot.com/2011/08/lunch-box-diy.html">my article</a> first, a whole three days earlier..no copy right infringment here Ms. Stewart.Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-71737655979671314782011-08-24T12:40:00.000-07:002011-08-24T12:45:13.640-07:00Lazy Gardening<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love the outdoors and all things planty and green. But I am a far cry from being in possession of a green thumb (it’s more like a black thumb of wilty death). I wouldn’t say I am a terrible plant owner, I am just forgetful when it comes to watering. I have managed to keep my dog watered for 5 years but she is much more in your face about needing water. Oddly this has worked in my benefit over the years. Yes I have killed a few plants along the way. And yes I feel terrible about it. But the ones I have managed to keep alive are low maintenance or Willamette valley natives that require very little coxing. So while the gardens around me bloom in bright vibrant colors, and mine blooms very little, I at least have the peace of mind that my garden is a tad bit smarter. I, unlike my neighbors, am not pouring chemical fertilizer over everything, spraying pesticides and wasting water. My plants like the soil, lack of summer water and changes in temperature. Native plants are a great way to fill a garden without a lot of cost or maintence. But these plants vary greatly be region, even between my house and my parents which is less than two hours away. So finding the plants that require little work and little poisons to yourself and the environment can take time. But they will be worth in the long run. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">As for non native plants there are three types that I stick to pretty regularly. Lavender and Rosemary are both drought resistant, have great home benefits and can also be cooked with. Lavender also has the advantage of being a natural bug repellant to pests like aphids, fleas and ticks. Which is a great for us outdoors types that loathe the thought of covering our plants, and our pets with toxic chemicals. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Succulents on the other hand grow quickly and fill in spots in gardens with great texture. They are also drought resistant. Because they cover the ground so completely there are large portions of my garden I no longer have to weed. And if I want to plant something new, their shallow roots are easy to pull up and place in a new location. Easy-peasy. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJj4xN0tRhYf71zMbxKiWNFQ1E1DQpBW5GqtdxgNUez35N63Eo2qjrlkoye7LRax7wkdFdzmd0SiYbRrw3MGZW1LLJkns5lyL9dYbn1WvBrcz-prv1vl20J_klxdrBOMOlsz8lQ2JfqDk/s1600/soundslikeaustindotcom.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJj4xN0tRhYf71zMbxKiWNFQ1E1DQpBW5GqtdxgNUez35N63Eo2qjrlkoye7LRax7wkdFdzmd0SiYbRrw3MGZW1LLJkns5lyL9dYbn1WvBrcz-prv1vl20J_klxdrBOMOlsz8lQ2JfqDk/s400/soundslikeaustindotcom.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">{http://www.soundslikeaustin.com/}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-58171786412943051922011-08-22T15:22:00.000-07:002011-08-22T15:22:25.995-07:00Lunch Box DIY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I highly doubt summing a person up into one word is ever feasible, but there are a few words that tend strike at the heart of my every day, the most common being practicality. I like things to make sense, be easy. And whether it be time or money or materials I like to cause as little waste as possible (with the exception of my closet but we don’t talk about that). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recently I realized I go through a lot of lunch packaging waste. Normally I use bags left over from shopping of some sort or another. But over the last couple years I have nearly stopped taking bags from stores (except for the occasional unplanned trip to the store when my canvas bags aren’t on me at the time). I have tried using canvas bags for lunch. However they are big, shapeless and prone to pitching my food around and making a huge mess. So a couple weeks ago I took on a lunch bag project that actually turned out pretty well. I chose oilcloth because it is easy to wipe down, washable in the machine and a tad insulated. So far I have managed to sit on it (with a peach inside) and not get fruit mash all over my dress (thank you oilcloth). And If something can withstand my klutzy-ness chances are its indestructible. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I considered the project a raging sucess!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-1/2 yard Oilcloth</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- 1 inch adhesive Velcro strip</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- scissors</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- sewing machine</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- paper sack of your choosing (for size/pattern)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- thread to match oilcloth fabric</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-pins</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I first chose a paper sack size/style that worked for me. Since I work full time and go to school part time I needed a pretty large bag to carry lunch/dinner around most days of the week. The bag I made for boyfriend was slightly smaller, for the smaller bag a standard paper lunch sack would do the trick. I cut the paper sack down into logical pieces, four sides and the bottom. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lined up my new “pattern” on the oil cloth for maximum use of material. Pinned it into place. Cut out my pieces. Removed pins and pattern. And reconstructed the bag with the oilcloth bits. At the top I did a double hand rolled hem, which my machine really didn’t like because the oilcloth is a bit waxy/rubbery and the teeth on my sewing machine kept sticking. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But minus a bit of swearing and two jumped seams it only took about an hour to make and it wound up being the easiest thing I have ever sewn. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I hope you have a chance to try this out, and if you make any modifications like adding handles or compartments please share. I would love to see/hear how they turned out. </div>Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-10614426777794025562011-08-18T10:38:00.000-07:002011-08-18T10:38:02.112-07:00Good Golly Miss Molly<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Or as my Auntie M would say “Oy Vey” ( yes I have an Auntie M, no she doesn’t live in Kansas). The last couple weeks have been busy, stressful, and just plain insanity. Both Best Friend and Boyfriend decided to move in the same week. Both now living closer to me which is good, but owning a Subaru means helping is just a given. So my car and I have gotten a hearty work out the last couple weeks. In my own life, I also chose this as the prime moment to sign up for the GRE and apply to Grad-school. Never mind the fact that I am starting back up with my Med-school pre-reqs the day before I take the GRE. Oh, and I am also currently in the throes of switching banks and insurance companies. Yes, timing isn’t always my strong suit. With that said, posting has obviously taken a back seat lately. But given I do not eat fast food, I still had to feed myself in a somewhat healthy manner, here are a few things that came about. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbqnzZaRjORNvrh_BhPPtqPbBZ5sZy1SIfQxutZgjPUqhQUXjn_H1VmcH37KYDRpdaLwMVTy-_unmoTwJqZKf52YO6xlk-ovxDCeXnFIERw1UYlqJkJMcAa17j2QNDwqFZ-VZr_WN4e0/s1600/2011+296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbqnzZaRjORNvrh_BhPPtqPbBZ5sZy1SIfQxutZgjPUqhQUXjn_H1VmcH37KYDRpdaLwMVTy-_unmoTwJqZKf52YO6xlk-ovxDCeXnFIERw1UYlqJkJMcAa17j2QNDwqFZ-VZr_WN4e0/s400/2011+296.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{A pic-nic meal to keep me going}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There have been a lot of quick healthy low cost meals that I have managed to sling together at the last minute while running out the door. Sadly I do not have pictures of all of them (I have talents but running and eating and taking pictures all at the same time are not chief among them). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Taco Bowl </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(for when you get halfway through making tacos and realize your tortillas have mold on them)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- 1/2 cup ground meat (optional) I used buffalo because its what I had</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- 1/2 cup refried or soaked beans</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- 1 cup raw chopped cabbage</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- taco seasoning to taste</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- salsa to taste</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- blue corn chips</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cook meat in skillet first if using, then add beans. When warm throw everything in a bowl and mix. It is surprisingly good and takes all about <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>5 minutes to make. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2WFg8Khi3xJ7r-qliOa4EHrSAGlJga9oFyXE6c0hr4pxDeAkuYUlygik9ISQ-xJ_IbDf7OqMqQDPFuF1g3cxVlZxjrIM3jiR6aHZNhjascFmDAoYC7VJnj9Pz11M4mEk-S-OsnmTr-0/s1600/Lebonese+Squash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2WFg8Khi3xJ7r-qliOa4EHrSAGlJga9oFyXE6c0hr4pxDeAkuYUlygik9ISQ-xJ_IbDf7OqMqQDPFuF1g3cxVlZxjrIM3jiR6aHZNhjascFmDAoYC7VJnj9Pz11M4mEk-S-OsnmTr-0/s400/Lebonese+Squash.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> {Lebanese Squash, nutty and amazing!}</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Farmers Market Pasta</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(for when you bought a bunch of veggies at the farmers market and have no idea what to do with them)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-1/2 cup Lebanese Squash</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-1/2 cup Heirloom Tomato</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-1/2 cup Shiitaki Mushroom</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- 1/2 cup Chippolini Onion</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- Chopped Garlic</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- Whole wheat Angle Hair Pasta</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- Meat of choice</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I used a spicy Louisiana Sausage because it was what I had in my fridge but I think roasted chicken would be great too. Or no meat at all your choice. Throw all veggies in a pan with olive oil, sauté. Add salt and pepper to taste, if using meat add precooked meat to the mess and remove from heat when looking done. When pasta is done cooking (angle hair is super fast if veggies started at same time they should finish at the same time as well). Toss together and done. Also good with a dusting of grated hard cheese like parmesan or imberico if you eat the dairy. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{Patty Pan Squash is great cooked down into tomato sauce}</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pie Crust Remake </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also took a normal pie crust recipe and substituted in whole wheat flour and coconut oil. By doing so I opened up a world of pie like foods with one simple crust. By cooking down some tomatoes and patty pan squash with onions and garlic I created a quick calzone like pizza pie. I also filled some left over pie-crust with homemade jam for some hilariously large disaster like pop tarts that I am now calling a jam calzone because no human size toaster could take the giant pastry. But despite my inability to properly judge sizes when I am cooking, they were still quite good and very tart. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAlTsCJ_EenN_lJbHwOEZa_p0CcfMAPML1BeCquzmXKsuq8cKg5f2iSYnWE7D3N59yGNnaL9wX_za4tb1ktnrtiTbsKouvaBlD9SxKakHV5SGz4IH9W7ixm_jz9TDR2UfuCvzVtVAl14/s1600/2011+302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAlTsCJ_EenN_lJbHwOEZa_p0CcfMAPML1BeCquzmXKsuq8cKg5f2iSYnWE7D3N59yGNnaL9wX_za4tb1ktnrtiTbsKouvaBlD9SxKakHV5SGz4IH9W7ixm_jz9TDR2UfuCvzVtVAl14/s400/2011+302.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> {The more sucessful of the pocket pies}</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqpVZpDyiptKhBMYlM95wdWPTFwfVX8nVcA02g6mSAp69rav3OXHDprN9nkCXzZfscBNBO0P2M0MruLjn4m9-Xn8IiUO_X04m9uI-ArBFXd0KhluA752xjJA6KHqxBRNBV8hiTAwISyg/s1600/2011+303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqpVZpDyiptKhBMYlM95wdWPTFwfVX8nVcA02g6mSAp69rav3OXHDprN9nkCXzZfscBNBO0P2M0MruLjn4m9-Xn8IiUO_X04m9uI-ArBFXd0KhluA752xjJA6KHqxBRNBV8hiTAwISyg/s400/2011+303.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center">{The poptart epic fail}</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For a more sucessful go at homemade pop-tarts try <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/04/homemade-pop-tarts/">Deb's </a>over the Smitten Kitchen.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s all I got. Stay tuned for a DIY lunch bag instruction. But not yet, I have to get back to my real job. Tah-Tah for now. </span></div>Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-18017939018532777322011-08-09T11:22:00.000-07:002011-08-09T11:23:07.873-07:00Going Wild<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I have already mentioned I spent about half of my first 18years in Alaska. Like most people who spent time in Alaska, my family and I ate wild. It isn’t uncommon for a friend or even a friend of a friend to swing by your house or in my case more often than not the boat with fresh wild food. I recall eating octopus that some friendly gents at the cannery caught on their off time, deer meat and bear sausage shot by some friends in the Native village near the cannery, fish, various berries and plants. When we moved to Oregon I remember my mother having an edible mushroom book and spending weekend hikes on the lookout for morels. But I realized a few years ago while on a hike with a friend how uncommon this type of life style is. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A couple years back while walking up a rather large hill with a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>group of friend I subconsciously pulled some small red berries off a bush and began eating them. When I looked at my friends and saw their shocked faces my first instinct was “Is there a bear behind me?”, being from Alaska this was a normal response but we were hiking in Oregon rather close to decent sized town and they all just laughed at me. After a few confused few minutes on both parties I managed to work out that the concern was actually with the berries, Coastal Huckleberries actually. But they didn’t know that. Or if they had any recollection that there were in fact edible berries in the coastal range in Oregon they in no way knew what they looked like or would be confident enough to eat a large amount of them. I assured them all it was fine, but they refused to eat them and fearing perhaps a berry induced spontaneous zombification they kept an eye on me the rest of the day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole hike I kept thinking how funny these people were, being terrified of some innocent berries no bigger than a pencil eraser. It was only later that I put my background and my confidence in eating wild things in perspective. The terrified friends weren’t the weird ones, I was. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuFTacCCsuosEbEaDOnxLDMw0621lCVfm6VhxWG-9cVJEslSBm7om7DhyphenhyphenxuNPo9dOP_wHMg0mchTtpOAYBsaIikHm3raNyesizmwnoTFi4nlShwKKSpTD0LlHjR8zBoJSNxaraW-RDaM/s1600/2011+267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuFTacCCsuosEbEaDOnxLDMw0621lCVfm6VhxWG-9cVJEslSBm7om7DhyphenhyphenxuNPo9dOP_wHMg0mchTtpOAYBsaIikHm3raNyesizmwnoTFi4nlShwKKSpTD0LlHjR8zBoJSNxaraW-RDaM/s400/2011+267.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{July 2011 Astoria Oregon}</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being weird is fine by me, but that is beside the point. The whole experience made me realize how seldom most people get to eat wild foods. In hindsight I am a little in awe of how amazing it was getting to eat so many different foods that have never been touched by human intervention (other than cooking it). These pure organisms, that evolved over millions of years being perfected for their environment by their environment has resulted in some amazingly diverse and unique foods. And the taste really cannot be matched by anything cultivated by humans. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Huckleberries for example are a diverse group of plants from the family Ericaceae. The plant grows all over the North America in different environments and thus has a varying look and flavor. In Nova Scotia the plant grows in bogs and have a blackish color. Huckleberries growing in eastern Oregon and Washington are Mountain Huckleberries, they are large, blue and very sweet. My favorite Huckleberries are the small, tart, red berries that can be found in the coastal range of the Pacific Northwest. They like cool, damp, acidic soil and because of their specific needs have managed to thwart my every effort to grown them in my back yard a mere 40 or so miles from their native home. But every plant is adapted to a certain environment when you poke and prod and breed a plant to grown in a place is doesn’t naturally grown in you wind up with a totally new plant, that bears slight resemblance to its wild cousin but tastes worlds apart. In the case of a wild Huckleberry if bred to grown on the eastern side of the Oregon coastal range you’ve created essentially a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>blueberry.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqlhYk0zne1Yqv6k5RsksMEBG9Re2aVdtWyIaeWfXKZrOscZ5GQH7cDuEk_sxMQ4AFOrlP9Jthzi0QqtQ2bDyvuFQUtFJlPT6Zc5_4ccd4gNXGKbc_a8DiAwlKFxC2Ba2Kl743Go5cAc/s1600/2011+271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqlhYk0zne1Yqv6k5RsksMEBG9Re2aVdtWyIaeWfXKZrOscZ5GQH7cDuEk_sxMQ4AFOrlP9Jthzi0QqtQ2bDyvuFQUtFJlPT6Zc5_4ccd4gNXGKbc_a8DiAwlKFxC2Ba2Kl743Go5cAc/s400/2011+271.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Currently the Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde are trying to protect the remaining wild edible plants of the northwest. Sadly in the last 70 years or so most have been killed off by development. As sad and staggering as the number of extinct wild plants in the Willamette Valley is, there are still many more to be enjoyed and protected. If you even have the opportunity to eat something wild do so with reverence and joy. It’s a rare experience to taste such amazing foods, one that hopefully with last. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">*Trivia about Huckleberries - The Coastal Native tribes not only ate and dried the berries for year around eating. But they also used them to bait their hooks because the relative size and color so closly matched salmon eggs. </div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Though this is in no way an endorsement to go out and eat the next plant you find. Talk to experts, read up on plants and ALWAYS respect the native habitat. And if you aren’t 100% confident in what you are picking do not pick it. Oregon doesn’t have a lot of poisonous animals but are plants can be pretty wicked. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{July 2011 Astoria Oregon}</div>Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-64477751842697758132011-07-27T16:02:00.000-07:002011-07-27T16:02:33.138-07:00Triclosan<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is yet another reason not to use <a href="http://sainvous.blogspot.com/2010/09/just-say-maybe-to-antibacterials.html">antibacterial products</a> (other than those outlined here), and its name is Triclosan. Triclosan is a antibacterial and antifungal agent that has been used in the US since 1972 in toothpastes, deodorants, soaps and shaving creams. The physical makeup of the chemical acts as a functional group to both ethers and phenols (which in trials have shown antibacterial properties). However, the products in among some 300 others chemicals currently being closely examined by the EPA currently and it looks as though it will be banned in the US shortly. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Studies have shown that the chemical is mildly effective in toothpastes to fight gingivitis, but very ineffective in other products. But that apparently didn’t stop companies from adding the chemical into their products to give boasting rights that their (insert bathroom product) contained bacteria fighting agents…never mind they didn’t actually work. Aside from the relatively needless inclusion of this chemical, it’s actually quite dangerous. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aside from the allergic reactions from quite a few children country wide over the last decade or so. The chemical is proving to be a significant endocrine disrupter (causing thyroid problems), and fairly carcinogenic (via uncontrolled cellular growth). Plus recent studies have shown the chemical has been linked to birth defects. A <a href="http://drbenkim.com/articles/triclosan-products.htm">web site</a> maintained by a Dr. Ben Kim has a list of products that have in the past contained Triclosan, and although many dental care products have claimed to remove the chemical, it still good to do your homework and check things out yourself before buying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So while many companies are voluntarily revamping their products and the EPA carries on its research, one company has yet to respond to the issue. Bath and Body works, though seemingly very aware of the major health concerns of Triclosan continues to push antibacterial soaps, lotions and gels that contain chemical with no sign of letting up. Food and Water watch an organization designed to alert folks of such health concerns has drafted up a <a href="http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7319">letter form</a> that you can simply sign and send off to show your concern and support for this issue. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Be sure to check personal and home cleaning products for Triclosan and avoid using them at all cost. If you don’t feel up to keeping up with organizations like Food and Water Watch for health concerns, feel free to check back here any time I will keep updating as I get news about dangerous products. </span></div>Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-75609641362762774132011-07-22T10:39:00.000-07:002011-07-22T10:39:25.629-07:00A Brief History with Vegetables<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Like most children vegetables weren’t exactly my favorite food growing up. I spent the majority of my adolescent years on a boat in a remote part of Alaska. The “town” if you could call it that was Alitak, a small fishing cannery on the south end of Kodiak Island in a bay that faced the Bering Sea. In the summer the place was booming, lots of fishermen, cannery workers and families. When I say booming though I should mention again this was a cannery, there was no movie theaters or bars or restaurants. There was an office where you could buy stamps and send mail, there was a store where you could buy canned goods, frozen food and on the off chance that the weather was good enough for the planes to fly you might find a wilted head of lettuce that could be procured for an astronomical price. In the winter the cannery was shut down, and a single family was hired to wait out the winter and make sure the place didn’t fall into the ground during the off season. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">{<a href="http://www.tanignak.com/CanneryWork.htm">Alitak Cannery</a>}</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To say fresh fruits and vegetables were scarce during these times is an understatement. And much to my chagrin the vegetables that graced my plate were either canned or frozen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It only took so many meals of slurming down canned green beans to realize that I didn’t like vegetables and quickly decided the only tomatoes that were ever going to enter my body would be those on the pizza crust hiding under a pile of cheese. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It took a lot of years to change my mind, there was the hideous creamed cauliflower incident of thanksgiving thanks in part to a potatoe allergy that runs rampant in my biological fathers side of the family. The salad bar hiccup in my college cafeteria that served watery colorless tomatoes and slimy mushrooms. And then one year for no reason I started eating tomato soup and grilled sandwiches. The veggies that came as sides on date nights started to become really appealing, and I realized I don’t hate vegetables, I hate bad vegetables. At 23 years old, I finally started cooking fresh veggies as the main dish in my meals and I was loving every minute of it. Thinking back though, I don’t think I was being all that ridiculous about my vegg revulsion. Vegetables can be quite horrible if not cooked properly, and for the most part cooking shows, recipe books and restaurants teach us that veggies are a side dish, a must eat for a balanced diet. But they are very rarely highlighted as the shining star of a delicious meal that they really are. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The point here being don’t wait 23 years to try vegetarian dishes. The majority of the cultures in the world base their meals around vegetables, as long as you have sunlight, soil and water (and seeds obviously) a person can create food. And given the long history these cultures have with their veggies, the meals are normally quite brilliant. Last night I made a traditional Shankshouka which is a dish that originated from the Maghreb of Tunisian origins. It is mostly a dish of stewed tomatoes and spices with eggs poached into it, served with a bread of some sort. Shankshouka is now a staple of Tunisian, Egyptian, Libyan, Algerian, and Moroccan diets but is also fast becoming more popular in Israel. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of its long history and varied cultural eaters there are many varieties. The recipe I used was from my favorite food mecca a site you should exlpore in great revered detail <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/">Smitten Kitchen</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The site owner Deb is pretty much my idol and she makes food look like art. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">{<a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/04/shakshuka/">Deb's Shankshuka</a>}</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Olive oil</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3 Anaheim Chilies (very mild, for extra heat try jalapenos or seranos)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 Shallots</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 Garlic ( I love garlic and used the whole bulb but it’s not necessary)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 table spoon paprika</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 teaspoon taco seasoning (I ran out of cumin)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 28-ounce can of mashed tomatoes</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 Romano tomatoes</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6 eggs</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Feta cheese</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Green onions </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bread (I used a French garlic bread, because the store was out of pita)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Heat oil in a soup pot, add chopped shallots, peppers and tomatoes. Heat for 5 minutes add ½ cup water and let the veggies cook down some, adding water as needed. Once veggies have cooked down to an appropriate “chunk size” (it’s a personal preference, I don’t like big chunks), add the garlic and canned tomatoes. Let simmer for 5 minutes, then add <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>spices. Let cook about 15 minutes stirring frequently to keep from sticking. Once the sauce is on the verge of a light boil crack eggs into sauce and let cook. Be careful not to break yokes, but you will have to do some light stirring to keep the whole thing from cooking to the pan as the sauce should be quite thick by now. Once the eggs are poached to your liking, serve with sprinkled green onions and feta cheese. The side of bread with help you scoop up all the amazing tomato sauce. Enjoy!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">*And yes I realize Shankshouka is spelled different ways in this post as is it spelled many different ways depending on which culture the particular recepie was pulled from.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-76116663018699475032011-07-13T12:07:00.000-07:002012-02-27T13:10:19.299-08:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have you ever had a week where you get to the end of it and cannot for the life of you think of one good thing about it? Depressing isn’t it. I recently went through, not a week, but a literally long and sh*tty weekend (my dog was sick). I found myself taking each little hiccup in stride. Deep breaths helped me focus on individuals problems I needed to tackle, clean up the car, make the back yard safe, locate what might have made her sick, clean her up, make sure she got plenty of water, monitor how long and how much she was keeping down, follower her around and clean up whatever she got sick on. I got to the end of it, car cleaned, dog well again, house vomit and other nasty things free….and promptly burst into tears.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I, like many woman I know, am an after fact freaker-outer. So the problem gets solved but look out recovery period! I often feel very down and slightly comatose after ordeals like this. Whether in the throes of whirl wind attack mode or the downward spiral of my emotional recovery, I often find myself repeating the mantra “nothing lasts forever, nothing lasts forever”. But I realized over this weekend, that this mantra is mildly depressing, and it has a slight negative connotation. Sure it helps you deal with the really really bad stuff, but it doesn’t really make you sit up and realize when really good things are happening in your life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In college some friends and I used to get together during finals week and play a little game of “name three good things about today”, or even more fun, “name one thing you like about yourself and each person in the room”. Both are pretty silly, but it’s amazing what being reminded of good things can do for your moral. It is often a lot easier to take problems in stride when you can remember all the little wonderful things that make life worth living, though admittedly this can be pretty impossible when you are in the thick of things. Being able to calm yourself during emotional and stressful times also does wonder for you health (naturally there was a health message somewhere in here). Being able to keep calm, helps keep your blood pressure low, which keeps your heart at an even pace which in turn keeps your endocrine and adrenal systems at a normal level. Keeping these systems in check have huge overreaching health effects, all the way from superficial worries like aging to extremely important things like immunity. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I heard a French saying a while back “<span style="color: #222222;">À la lumière de reflux de la mare”, I am not sure if this is an actual saying or something someone made up, I am not even sure if the grammar is correct. But I do know enough French to know it means “in light of ebbing tides”. And this saying I really like. Tides ebb and flow, rise and fall, they are constantly moving, though sometimes <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>imperceptibility <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>slow. Just like life, full of highs and lows. Our joys and hurdles are constantly changing so while tides are high look around you and enjoy the things that make you happy. Use these memories and hold on to them because when tides are low, you might need a whole-lotta happy to help pull yourself through it. And on the other hand these lows will help you really appreciate the highs. A cycle, just like ebbing tides. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what makes you happy? Know what it is, embrace it and hold on. Life can be a rocky ride and the quality of life and the quality of your health will depend on how you live the journey. </span></span></div>
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Thats all for now. On vacation untill Monday! Have a great week. </div>Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-69446046348667464872011-07-13T09:02:00.000-07:002011-07-13T09:19:13.267-07:00We Be Jammin<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As you all may have guessed I have issues with a lot of processed foods. The issues itself stems from the fact that in order for foods to sustain a lengthy shelf life, they have to be chock-a-block full of preservatives. In some cases preservatives aren’t bad for you, but in most cases these preservatives are either large amounts of sugar, salt and often more dubious chemicals. Or the aforementioned items are added to make up for the lack of flavor that is innately a part of food stuffs that never really go bad. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My first notice of this issue was canned tuna and the first time I had store bought. My mom home canned tuna growing up (I lost my third tooth on a home canned tuna sandwich), but I vividly remember one afternoon when we had eaten all home canned supplies so off the store we went. Mom even splurged and got the expensive dolphin safe, canned in water yada-yada-yada. I took one bite and vowed I would never eat it again. She still cans tuna to this day and grants me cases of it whenever I ask because I am yet brave enough to venture into pressure cooker canning at this point in my life. It is a lot of equipment and I have seen Breakfast At Tiffany’s enough times to fear my inevitable boiling tuna, water and glass explosion. But that’s just me, I’m clumsy and pressure cookers really don’t deserve the reservations I attach to them. They are really quite safe. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Currently (unless under the supervision of more experienced canners) I stick to hot water bath canning. Which is easy, required very little equipment and extremely safe as long as you stick to jams, and high acidity items like pickling. All you really need is a large soup pot, two pans (not Teflon lined), a bunch of hot pads, rags, and tongs. Well and jars, and whatever you are canning obviously. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This past weekend I went berry picking with some lovely lady friends Julia and Kim. I stocked up on extremely cheap blue berries and raspberries and promptly went home to make some jams. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So here is my soap box argument for home canned jam. Preserved fruits were originally a safe and effective way to squirrel away fruits for the long vitamin c-less winter months. Yes there once was a time where you couldn’t just go to the grocery store and buy oranges year round by the bushel. And to avoid among other things, scurvy. Having a large supply of canned fruits helped keep you and your family happy and healthy all year long. Now a days, we have nearly an entire isle dedicated to jams and jellies but if you look at the ingredients you will find more sugar than fruit. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I eat a lot of peanut butter sandwiches and while many stores have peanut and almond grinders to make sugar free nut butters, most stores don’t carry sweetener free fruits preserves. So I started canning my own homemade jams. It’s fun and easy and relatively sugar free, if you follow the following instructions. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first thing you need to do is get your hands on some <a href="http://www.pomonapectin.com/">Pomona’s Universal Pectin</a>. If you don’t live near a health foods store you can buy it online. I use this pectin, despite it being more expensive than other types because the amount of sugar needed in astonishingly less, traditional pectin’s call for 5 cups of sugar for every 4 cups of berries. This pectin calls for ½-1 cup of sweetener (suggestion is to use honey) for every 4 cups of berries. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once you have the pectin open up the box and check out the instructions, they are relatively straight forward. This will help you organize everything you<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>need as far as number of jars, amount of berries, and sweetener you will need before you get started. It also explains how to jam using the easy and user friendly method of hot water bath canning. Which requires the everyday kitchen equipment I listed above. Really between the web site and the instruction booklet that comes in the box you don’t need any more help to make wonderfully delicious and healthy fruits preserves. My only additional suggestions are as follows.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do not under any circumstance touch the hot jars, fruit or lids directly with your fingers. Its hurts more than you can imagine.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When handling jars after sterilization do not let anything touch the rim of the jar. Also after filling jar with fruit and putting the lid on make sure to wipe down the rim with a hot clean/wet rag. Any oils on the rim will prevent the jar from sealing properly. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After jars are filled and lids attached move them to a cooler part of the house to seal, they are more likely to seal with an more extreme temperature change, but don’t put them in the fridge or freezer because when glass cools too quickly it cracks and/or explodes. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s all! Enjoy, good luck, you won’t be sorry you gave this a try. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dSsHfkhl5tyj8ZaZdLjSZoGcU2ObORRY80P1oiP7n7bnuaiQAJsX02tsx6HV2fzX5pzqCUH4cj5OJU-1hl9ziCLDqhJdGzwqiFdC8c5KGLI23Ah91uAdWSWa8TWQtcWH9Y0_V72UdH0/s1600/2010+706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dSsHfkhl5tyj8ZaZdLjSZoGcU2ObORRY80P1oiP7n7bnuaiQAJsX02tsx6HV2fzX5pzqCUH4cj5OJU-1hl9ziCLDqhJdGzwqiFdC8c5KGLI23Ah91uAdWSWa8TWQtcWH9Y0_V72UdH0/s400/2010+706.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wC6BUjEyFbBCjOPMOnNz7hKxqT0UmxhavxqGgMynWUv8Q8mxREAZ0BRlx0Tl24cGNrIzkgXeoroTrGvbikidh5ncejPWxEemZ1liZkJlLBkNmp-8oSmhWcqq9NhoiKpQ0_g58SNrwoA/s1600/2010+714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wC6BUjEyFbBCjOPMOnNz7hKxqT0UmxhavxqGgMynWUv8Q8mxREAZ0BRlx0Tl24cGNrIzkgXeoroTrGvbikidh5ncejPWxEemZ1liZkJlLBkNmp-8oSmhWcqq9NhoiKpQ0_g58SNrwoA/s400/2010+714.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div align="center">{pictures all mine from last summers jamming}</div>Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-62388077649946742192011-07-08T10:35:00.000-07:002011-07-08T10:36:04.968-07:00Friday Fun Day: Berry Picking<div style="height: 426px; position: relative; width: 523px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/berry_picking/set?.embedder=2601041&.mid=embed&id=33726470" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Berry Picking" border="0" force="1" height="400" src="http://embed.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/cid/33726470/id/Qr0nYYKp4BGy9-B7q2kGnw/size/e.jpg" title="Berry Picking" width="400" /></a></div></div></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/berry_picking/set?.embedder=2601041&.mid=embed&id=33726470">Berry Picking</a> by <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/profile?.embedder=2601041&.mid=embed&id=2601041&name=Sundarac">Sundarac</a> featuring <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/frye/shop?brand=Frye">frye shoes</a></small></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><small><span style="font-size: small;">Forgive my mild shallowness, I may be green and concerned about food. But this design set stuff is REALLY fun. And life is……..well life. It is what you make of it. I have always been easily entertained and excited. When I was younger this used to bother me, but I have learned to embrace it. Because while it may feel childish (and shallow at times) being happy is being happy. Enjoying the simple things in life, makes the day to day worth living. It is good to be acutely aware of the problems our society and environment face. But in order to maintain a semblance of sanity these problems are better taken in stride. Battle your demons and cynicism. Stop and take a deep breath, go outside and look around. REALLY look around. Problems and chores may seem insurmountable but they are only as meaningful as you let them be. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus today is Friday and Friday is a day for fun. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">This weekend I will be trekking out to Sauvie Island to frolic with a friend through the berry patches. Strawberries are almost over, but raspberries and marion berries are starting up. Which means jam time! I’ll be posting my simple sugar free jam process later next week. But in the mean time, here are the necessities to get back to nature without having too much of a run in with nature…if you know what I mean. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">1. Sunglasses...always in the summer when outside. <span style="font-size: 10pt;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">2. Jean Jacket a two part necessity. First covering yourself in the sun is always important to avoid sun damage, but also when you are bush whacking a long sleeve jacket made from a heavy durable material will protect your skin from scrapes and pests like ticks or spiders.<span style="font-size: 10pt;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">3. I included a belt because I always inevitability wind up getting stuck brambles and a sturdy belt can be the difference between navigating the shrubs safely and standing in a berry patch sans skirt. <span style="font-size: 10pt;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">4. A good hefty straw woven bag is good to take in any produce procuring adventure. Food is heavy and especially if you are walking a long distance or a short distance through nature the likelihood of a lesser bag falling apart is not worth the gamble. There are some great woven baskets out there made by woman owed export companies in South America and Africa. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">5. Light clothing with great coverage will, much like the jacket, protect your exposed legs from branches and bugs. If the underbrush ever becomes too thick and tripping looks likely you can always tuck the skirt up into your belt until things lighten up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">6. The earrings I just like. A Lot. Plus turquoise is a naturally occurring stone that is easy to procure. Doing so requires very little human or environmental cost. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">7. Boots sort of speak for themselves. They are strong, they last forever, they protect your feet and ankles. They are also easy to remove so in the event of anything getting in them you don’t have to fuss with the laces just kick them off and shake out the rocks. <a href="http://stores.thefryecompany.com/StoreFront.bok?gclid=CPiD8r2j8qkCFQETbAod0UtZYw">Frye's</a> are my all time favorite boots. The company has been around for centuries, they have good business practices and while some people may frown on the fact that they are real leather. Let’s face it, its sustainable, not made from oil and they literally last forever. I’d much rather buy one pair of leather boots that I will have for 15 years than a faux pair made from oil bi-products that last 4 months. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">8. Socks are a must when wearing boots, they keep your feet from getting sweaty and blistery. Plus in the event of getting rocks in your boots, the socks will keep them from cutting your feet. These particular socks are not only awesome to look at they are made by my friend <a href="http://www.sockittome.com/cart/index.php">Carrie</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">9. Sunscreen should be worn always, even in the winter. Alba has great organic products free of harmful chemicals, it is easy to find in most grocery stores and fairly inexpensive. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">10. You should never leave home without a full glass or stainless steel water bottle. Hydration is extremely important. It helps your cells repair damage faster, helps your body regulate temperate, and keeps your mind sharp. In fact being properly hydrated does more to keep you alert than drinking caffeine. Stainless steel bottles are light though some are coated with BPA. Glass ones are BPA free, but I am clumsy so I did the work to find a <a href="http://www.kleankanteen.com/">chemical free steel bottle</a>. </span></small>Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-90473868798883998492011-07-06T12:53:00.000-07:002011-07-06T12:54:42.372-07:00In This our Modern World<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The American history of food is a confusing series of laws instated to keep food prices low and production up. During times of need cheep substitutes were created. In times of fear, comfort foods were invented to lessen the worry of impending changes (Twinkies which were invented to put in fallout shelters). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In times of plenty products were invented to use the extras, such as instant cereal products when grain production was too high for several years. Today we have stores full of food products that have lost their meaning but stuck around, either out of nostalgia or just good businesses sense (for a profit not for the health of our food system).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am not saying that no good has come from our collective food history. We have much safer handling practices than we did 100 years ago. What I am saying is perhaps we should take a look at the food we eat and the things we do to make ourselves feel better. Pepto is a great medicine, its PH level is a base rather than an acid, so in the event of an upset stomach due to high acid production, taking it will balance out the PH in your stomach and the indigestion goes away (same with Tums). I have never taken it myself, eating a piece of bread or some plain yogurt usually fixes any stomach problem I may be experiencing. But I could see myself partaking if my usual remedies didn’t work. When I do get a stomach ache I always think about through what I have eaten that day to try to pinpoint what may have caused the upset. Something I don’t normally eat, something that may have been slightly over it safe to eat window, or something I ate a lot of are the usual suspects. Highly processed meats like hot dogs, and lunch meats tend to give me an upset stomach, so I rarely eat them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNamVcN1AldcXPcCZg6sSAlbbXiFtMyYAewS-mBcF0J60N9np1exBwqGPSjF4KoNYlkt0tbdVgj31iVLqUFVgtmdQxn9tI01kDXjpWg2zX0KpupNlqARoB9WMzOaQTYL6s5YUQ71SvzQ0/s1600/nick-cannon-660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNamVcN1AldcXPcCZg6sSAlbbXiFtMyYAewS-mBcF0J60N9np1exBwqGPSjF4KoNYlkt0tbdVgj31iVLqUFVgtmdQxn9tI01kDXjpWg2zX0KpupNlqARoB9WMzOaQTYL6s5YUQ71SvzQ0/s400/nick-cannon-660.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">{<a href="http://www.people.com/people/gallery/0,,20506537,00.html#20984741">Source</a>}</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine my surprise, then shock, then confusion, the surprise again when I saw this above photo. Pepto and Heinze co-hosting a hotdog celebration. Yes you will probably need the Pepto if you eat whatever Mr. Mariah Carry is cooking up there for you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if you know you are going to need to Pepto to eat the food, why eat it. And is advertising a product that gives you indigestion in conjunction with a product that then takes it away really really stupid, or positively brilliant. I have no answers. I am simply baffled and clearly my eating habits do not belong on this our modern world. Or maybe they do, and we all just need to work a little harder to edit the way we think about food. </span></div>Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-5106725780051854062011-07-01T11:40:00.000-07:002011-07-01T11:40:30.621-07:00Friday Fun Day : Summer Essentials<div style="height: 502px; position: relative; width: 509px;"><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/summer_must_haves/set?.embedder=2601041&.mid=embed&id=33417385" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Summer Must Haves" border="0" force="1" height="400" src="http://embed.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/cid/33417385/id/evE1Rw6k4BG9ZMyq7yb9ZQ/size/e.jpg" title="Summer Must Haves" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/summer_must_haves/set?.embedder=2601041&.mid=embed&id=33417385">Summer Must Haves</a> by <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/profile?.embedder=2601041&.mid=embed&id=2601041">Sundarac</a> featuring an <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/orange_hat/shop?query=orange+hat">orange hat</a></small></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><small><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Well its Friday and the eve of a wonderfully long holiday weekend. To celebrate I thought I would put together a grouping of things that are essential to me for a healthy summer day (friends don’t judge this is merely a first attempt at a design set). </span></span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>1. Hats are necessary to keep extra sun off a most likely un-sun screened and probably very pale scalp.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>2. Sun with UV lenses protect eyes from sun damage. Your eyes are an exposed organ & very sensitive, be good to them. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>3. Good summer reading is always a must for me, this particular book is one of my favorites.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>4. Canvas tote bags are tough enough to carry anything and if they get dirty just throw them in the wash.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>5. A light airy organic cotton dress will keep shoulders free of sun damage but keep you cool.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>6. Lavender is a natural bug repellent, having it around will ward off all sorts of pests safely.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>7. A good SPF chap stick is important since you will likely be consuming large amounts of liquid and thus washing away sunscreen constantly. The Yes to Carrots is a great organic safe brand. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>8. A good pair of walking shoes is essential, even more so if you are a biker (protect those toes). Tom's donates one pair to a child in need for every pair you buy. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>9. Being on the go all day, especially in the summer, usually means you will feel the need to wash your hands or freshen up. Organic, compostable, hypo-allergenic body and face wipes will keep you clean without killing friendly bacteria or exposing you to harmful chemicals. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>10. Witch Hazel is a go to cleanser. It cleans out pours much like and astringent but also leaves skin moisturized and protected from the sun. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Thats all for now ladies and gents. Just a few more hours of work and freedom! Happy Fourth of July all!</span></span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"></div></small>Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9174506820375649322.post-3210975250003925922011-06-29T10:15:00.000-07:002011-06-29T10:15:25.153-07:00Organics Matter....A Lot<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Talk about organics seem to be on the rise these days. There are the affluent liberals who claim it’s all they buy, the young couples who frequent farmers markets and then there are the people who think it’s all a bunch of bunk. I find these people interesting. When I try to engage them in conversation (attempting to avoid any offense) the reaction is always the same, either, “it’s all just politics” and “the price really isn’t worth the trouble”. Or even more commonly “I am not convinced it even matters”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is true that organic food is more expensive but the reasons are mostly political. Organic foods aren’t subsidized by the government, whereas agribusiness produce often is. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it is these very same corporate farms that are fighting organic foods because they pose a threat to their bottom dollar. So, yes a lot of it is just politics but not because of the people that want to eat organic food, but instead because of the people who are fighting against it for a larger stake in the food market. Finally to those who think it doesn’t matter, you are just wrong. It does matter, and it matters on a global scale. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are two main differences between organic and non organic crops. Organic crops do not use GMO seeds or plants and they do not use petro chemical fertilizers. Setting the GMO issue aside, petro chemical fertilizers are made from oil. Sorry all you pro American farmers the mere fact that you are using fertilizers and bug sprays means you are supporting foreign oil. The use of these chemicals also destroys soil fertility. Dirty isn’t just dirt decomposed plant material. It is chock a block full of micro organisms, bacterial, and fungi. These dirty little bugs breaks down decomposed plant material into usable natural chemicals. Chemicals which plants need to survive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Folks in the fertilizer business have decided plants really only need three nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium or NPK. Just three nutrients derived in a lab to feed the worlds crops. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To quote from one of my favorite authors <a href="http://www.kingsolver.com/books/animal-vegetable-miracle.html">Barbra Kingslover</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“To raise a plant on petro chemical fertilizers is like raising a child on bread, peanut butter and the same bed time story every night…and when they cry you just give them more bread, more peanut butter and read them the same story twice”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t matter if you are talking about kids or dogs or plants, living things need great care, and covering them with oil based chemicals isn’t the best way to go about it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once the soil has absorbed all the agribusiness chemicals and the plants have been harvested all that is left is a cesspool of chemicals with no roots to keep the soil in place. Winter weather comes and eventually (whether the rainy season is winter or spring) soil is washed away and all the chemicals go with it. Into creeks and stream beds leeching into the lives of fish, birds, frogs, deer…..the entirety of the surrounding eco system. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Eventually these chemicals make their way into human bodies. There is a long history of people who have always thought using unnatural chemicals is dangerous. Mostly they get tagged as hippies. I think more accurately whatever you chose to call them, they were pretty spot on. There is historical and continuing research on the effects of petro chemicals on humans. And it seems that they are endocrine blockers, or in layman’s terms they f*ck with your hormones. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From what I can tell this was sort of an accidental discovery (researchers looking for something else and the results pointed to this). But more and more people are looking into exactly how and why this works in detail. On a summary level though many of these chemicals <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>bind with hormone receptors in your body causing your endocrine system to over produce growth hormones. Which is also what happens with milk that has bST. The link to this whole mess. Not only do petrochemicals and petrochemical fertilizers destroy soil quality, eventually destroy crop plants, and leech into wildlife, they can also make you fat. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Solution. Life is complicated. As for a real solution food buy local family run produce first (more on why to follow in a later post), and then grocery store organics. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By supporting businesses that have sound practices the trends will grow and we will be supporting a healthier future of communities. But these chemicals also come in shampoos, deodorants, make up, soaps, and cleaning products. If you aren’t down to make your own cleaning products there are plenty of safe organic cleaning supplies in supermarkets across the country. Hypo allergenic and organic beauty products are pretty easy to come by. The most common come from The Body Shop though there are many others out there. Shampoos and sops without sodium laureth and its many cousins are easy to come by you just have to read the label. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That was a bit of an information overload and a bit of a rant. Apologies, though hopefully more of you will now see why organics do matter, even if they are currently stuck in a political war. </span></div>Sundarachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16354893625033001170noreply@blogger.com0