Heavenly!

So we are back from 2 days of restful relaxation and fun at Breitenbush, a lovely place tucked in the Cascade Mountains....full of my favorite things: beautiful old growth forests to explore, natural hot springs, massage, yoga, a sauna, yummy vegetarian buffet, and no chores whatsoever. We also made friends with this lovely couple from Seattle....it was just one nice thing after another....

It was also my first long hike post-surgery. My foot did pretty good, all things considered. It was not a pain-free experience, but the toe was actually really fine. The outer edge of foot really hurt, and I think it was due to the way I've changed my gait to minimize pain. Something I'm working on with the PT....It was such a beautiful first. Woods, rivers, creeks, crossing over on log bridges, birdsong....I am so thankful to be resuming all the things I love.

Here are some pictures to whet the appetite.

Tomorrow

We are heading to one of my favorite places. In the forest, with natural hot springs...a cabin....to relax and enjoy the end of a lovely summer. To savor our time to just be. Without chores, without phones, electronics....

This time tomorrow I plan to be staring at the stars, soaking in the hot springs...holding hands.

Flores mas lindas

While veg gardening is a big part of the garden, I really started this whole thing because I LOVE flowers. I always have, and the ability to grow vases full is a creative act...blending colors, textures, smells....

Here are some of the late summer blooms - dahlias, roses, sunflowers, heliotrope...

News that isn't

At the gym today I was exposed to what passes for news nowadays. 3 screens running...Fox and a couple of network morning shows. The Fox anchorwomen looked like models, and the main stories were Michael Jackson's homicide and some reality TV show murder. Very glad that we don't get TV signals anymore.

Meanwhile on the way home I listened to Democracy Now radio news, which talked about the high levels pesticides in our drinking water (and how that particular one makes frogs hermaphroditic).

Which is the news you could actually use? Care about? Impact your well-being and that of your loved ones?

Incredible to think that the lack of real useful information on our "news" programs serves to numb us out and misinform us, leaving us unaware of important issues that really impact our health.

Sweet beets

While my beet crop has long been eaten, Debbie shared some of hers with us. I was able to try out an Oprah magazine recipe for Beet Soup, which I got to use our fresh tomatoes and garlic. This recipe was AWESOME. Fast, delicious, rich-tasting, even though there is no meat. The color is totally stunning, which is one of the reasons I adore beets. I got some fresh rolls from the Vietnamese bakery on 82nd Street, garnished with feta cheese, and voila, you have a delicious, simple and healthy meal.

Fede loved it, and we shall see what the kiddo thinks tomorrow.

Soaking

I'm going to let you in on a wonderful neighborhood place which we (finally) discovered as a couple...Common Ground Wellness Center's soak/sauna. I've been going to Common Ground for massage off and on for a while and always wanted to try out the hot tub and sauna, which I saw as it was being constructed. Finally we did it last weekend, and we love it.

It is clothing optional, which I admit, takes a certain amount of comfort in your own skin (and seeing others in theirs). I love the hot tub under the stars feeling in the evening. No one talks (hardly), so it has this very zen quality. Naked people relaxing in hot water. Naked people sweating in sauna. The only thing that needs some improving are the patio plants.

We did it again tonight...it was just a nice way to wind up a week. I come out feeling warm, very very relaxed, and ready for sleep. I'm visualizing this combined with a massage and yoga....for the total relaxation experience. Since People's Yoga is a few blocks away, and Audy is right in the building, this is easy to pull off, if I can block out 3 plus hours. Which I can, and I will.

Herbalist in training

One of my summer garden projects is harvesting the garden bounty for future teas and potions. I've been drying lavender, roses and other herbs in the closet. I've also been "garbling" which means to take those dried herbs and crumble them up for storage. Above is some of the "garbled" harvest - rose petals, calendula and lavender.

With nice repurposed glass jars full of my own herbs, I've also made bath powder and salts that feature ground-up herbs. Both are far more yummy, fresh and organic that anything you could ever buy, and affordable. I sent my mom a jar of homemade powder, and I'm thinking that I could make some baby powder too. The possibilities are endless.

My next experiment is making a vinegar hair rinse with infused apple cider vinegar that is out baking outside in the sun and moonshine. I bought some once online, and it was pricey. I loved how clean it made my hair feel, and the stuff is so very cheap to make. I'm infusing the vinegar with chamomile, rosemary and calendula.

Future bath salts will be ones designed for colds (using rosemary and sage dried and ground up), since that season will be coming sooner than you realize. I made some last year, and Fede really got better quicker after one of my special baths with sage in it.

Once I've garbled all the mints that are drying I will be making some tea blends to store away for the winter.

So many things to make!