God, Greens, and Mixed Marriages.

A common centerpiece.  Mangoes, accidentally bought non-organic this time because usually the sale is 10 for $10 organic, I thought!  

Are you in a "Mixed Marriage"?  A marriage where one you is trying to stay on a healthy, plant based, high raw foods diet that includes cooked, whole grain, unprocessed foods?  And your spouse just isn't into it?  It's a little different than other hobbies.  You share the kitchen so not only does it either destroy you by leading you to temptation, and this time it isn't Eve's organic apple, it's Doritos!-Or, it makes you one smart raw vegan cookie.  

I also bought the last of the Organic Red Kale last time.  There were only 2 bunches left.  Most the the Kale at Whole Foods was "Conventional" last week.  Even "mainstreamers" like Dr. Oz suggest you eat organic greens.  Very odd for Whole Foods though, because they usually have at least 3 types of Organic Kale.  I used an entire bunch (2.49) for my Magical Mango Green Smoothie.

There are many approaches to all of this.  Recently I heard a mom say that she had to have her own cupboard because dad wasn't going to quit eating garbage and it was hard for mom to stay away.  So they split the kitchen territory up!  Another way is to just bring your whole family along, right away, and quit cooking garbage or buying garbage and put up with a few weeks of whining.  Or you can do it little by little, sneaking in more veggies & whole grains.  Serving smaller portions of the bad food and bigger portions of the good food.  The mom in the video below started serving salads (real salads, not a bowl of iceberg lettuce) before dinner, so hubby and son had no other option.  They were hungry and basically they would eat the salad while they waited for their other food to be done.  After a few weeks the kid wised up and just told dad that they had better just eat their salad because he knew mom wasn't serving any other food until those salad bowls were empty!

Red Kale is so beautiful!

Hallelujah Acres is a Biblically Based Nutrition and Healing Organization that has it's roots based in scripture.  They believe that certain scriptures make it very clear that we are supposed to be eating plants to heal (and to prevent illnesses).  It all began (Hallelujah Acres, not the beginning of time) when George Malkmus was told he had colon cancer.  He was a Reverend in New York at the time and he was leery of radiation and chemo.  His mother died of colon cancer, despite having had chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation.  One of his friends, Lester Roloff, was an evangelist who encouraged him to eat lots of raw foods and pound the carrot juice.  He started to heal.  After searching the Bible for information about this very simple way of eating, he found his answers in  Genesis 1:20.  After one year, his baseball sized tumor was gone.  

Now there are actually MD's that have experience in Holistic Healing.  They can't legally "treat" you for cancer or say they you may be able to "cure"  something (at least not within the US border), but they can  counsel you on a more healthy lifestyle.  Sometimes your insurance will cover this, other times it will depend if you go to that particular doctor for "Traditional" or "Holistic" medicine.  As there is so much red tape attached to a Doctor giving Holistic advice and then billing an insurance company.  So it takes a plunge of faith if you actually have to pay out of pocket to see either a Regular MD that specializes in Holistic Health or to see someone without the letters, but that is also supporting healthy lifestyle choices.  Even though I believe these types of visits would actually save a bazillion dollars in the long run, our Insurance Industry needs a medical code for each problem, even if you don't know what the problem is yet!    You can't just say you don't feel right, you actually need something that will have a matching number. Your symptoms need a code for a visit and a script for a drug to be be "covered". And Kale isn't usually on the script.  A juicer isn't usually on it either.  Although all of them are far more economical than prescription drugs.  Even if you count the organic produce!  

So One bunch of Kale, 2 Champagne Mangoes.

I signed up for the Hallelujah Acres mailing list years ago when my mom told me some of the peeps in her neck of the woods loosely followed this diet.  Also, they had some cool published studies about different juicers.  Basically Norwalk kept juices longest, but for a lot less & basically the same result, you could buy a Champion or Green Star and a People's Press.  This was at a time when I was looking into juicers as "Carrot Chemo".  Something that might turn your skin orange, but it won't actually take your life just because you have some microscopic cancer cells hanging around.  Do I sound bitter?  Bitter like Arugula.  Bitter like my Bold Volunteer Mustard Plants. 

And a Monster Blender.  A.K.A., Vita-Mix.  Although don't fret if you don't have one!  There are lots of power blenders out there that will make a great green smoothie.

 The "God" part is very complimentary to the "Carrot Chemo" though, as if you ever decide to go against the "grain" of a regular MD, you will need all of the faith that is within you.  Most likely they will question you and perhaps even be condescending towards you.  They might "strongly encourage" you to get the only treatment available, the only treatment they offer, the only treatment that your Insurance Company will cover.  They will make you doubt yourself and you will really have to dig deep to try to sort it all out.  You may want to get more opinions and most of the ones that your insurance company will pay for, will offer you similar scenarios.  Maybe slightly different types of chemo.  Some more targeted than others.  Some may offer an experimental vaccine that may not cause the same type of ravage to your body.  If you are into God & Greens, then check out all of the different Hallelujah Acres programs!  What's cool about them is that they even have "Villages" where you can buy a house & live in a community of like minded folk (In North Carolina).  But if you aren't up for that yet, they have lots of events (even close to Branson, Missouri!) all over the country.  Hitting lots of places that traditionally are not known for being super into health-the Bible & Cattle Belt.  They keep the Bible part and replace Cattle with Collards.  Or more like Barley Greens Powder!  If you are curious, then sign up for their free mailing list.  Always full of lots of inspirational stories of people who have overcome lots of dis-ease.  And the free 'zine includes some recipes (same kinds of ideas as "Forks Over Knives" for you folks you have just heard about the Power of Plants from Dr. Oz) and it always include several pages that tell you what foods are on "the plan" and what foods to avoid.

About a minute in the blender.  I usually add some Stevia and recently I have a new love.  Coconut Syrup.  It's supposed to be raw and low glycemic and it makes a freakin' mess.  My husband freaked when he saw I was buying it again while it was all over the kitchen from the last bottle!  The stuff is like sap and it's hard to get a "clean pour".  It doesn't have all the controversy surrounding it like Agave.  Who knows.  But it works.  

So while a lot of people might think of raw foodies and health nuts as being hippie, boho types-that's not exactly how it started.  Think about it.  Before processed food came along, we just ate stuff that came from plants.   There are raw foodies that date back to Iran & India! So it didn't start with Whole Foods or David Wolfe's Raw Cacao Smoothies!  It was just food.  Then food evolved into chemicals and plastic packaging.  And now it's apparently "yuppie" to just want "food" again.  There are a lot of Christian, Essene, and other "Spiritual" folk out there that are on a Plant Strong Journey and get their Mojo from texts say that we already have all that we need from the earth.  It's actually really old, not some new yuppie thing.  And if you grow your own, frequent your local farmer's markets, join a CSA, or even buy your fruits & veggies from Whole Foods (if you quit buying junk in packages!), you will find an economic savings in addition to better health.  

Kale Mango Smoothie.

This is what I found when I walked in the house.  There isn't much at the local market that I will eat, but he manages to find some stuff!  They have Eden Beans (BPA free Cans!).  The Peanuts are for him, but I Love them.  I try to hide them so I won't eat the whole bag.  The same store also has Vegan Cookies!   I think this was a hint that he wanted Vegan Tostada Night. 

Starting some Peas, Cilantro, Basil, Greens, Greens, Greens, Greens & more Greens!

Take a look at this short Hallelujah Acres  video that talks about a common problem and one wife/mother's way of fixing it little by little. The Wonder Wife who slowly transformed her family's health!

Our Little Vegan Anarchist Easter

We spent the rainy morning at a very cool "Black Bear Bakery".  A veggie/vegan place with an anarchist/communal type of vibe.  Will be posting lots of photos soon from a brunch (ALL vegan from 10 until 2)  we had there a few weeks ago.  They are reinstating their Vegan Sundays with 25% of proceeds often going to a non-profit.  Sighted reading material included "Crazy Sexy Diet" by Kris Carr and "The Gas We Pass" (which may be appropriate if you overindulge on the Baked Kale with Abundant Garlic or maybe even if you do the  21 day Crazy Sexy Adventure Cleanse, as someone found my blog by searching for "Crazy Sexy Diet Poop Smell"!!).

                  

So no eggs or sacrificial lamb for us (Wasn't Jesus having to die enough? I can never understanding having to kill stuff to celebrate his coming back to life....), just vegan blueberry pancakes (these ROCK), vegan sloppy joes, vegan blueberry muffins, vegan sweet potato baked fries, vegan garlic laced baked kale, homegrown salad with lots of spicy greens (which this spicy blonde digs), vegan strawberry yogurt, vegan blueberry not overly sweetened blueberry pie, french toast, vegan biscuits and gravy and lots of other yummies!  This place rocks.......So above a fitting "Easter" video.  Easter at Farm Sanctuary, a place where the geese, chickens, and lamb are being celebrated in a living form!

Vegan Brunch Sundays!
10-2 pm!  Only Ten Bucks! Homemade Vegan Eats.

Teddy Bear Upstairs at Black Bear.  Note: The book was already in his hands!
Also noted, I am not an anarchist!  I still like to buy stuff and remember even voting Green is a progressive stretch for me!!  Even though I try to buy hemp and fair trade, I am still attached to girly-girl stuff and I still vote!  I do however, have some sympathisers in my dad's side of the fam.  You know, that Zany Quaker Upbringing.  Breeding Poets, Food Not Lawns Activists, Tasmanian Writers,  Social Workers, and Social Activists!  If we made more money (the lack of this is due to my Zany Quaker Upbringing and Social Change Grandmother and Grandfather!), we would be the "Yuppie" ones on this side of the family!  As it stands I think my most recently married cousin stands a better chance!  They can probably afford to buy newer cars than us (Oh, that  we even have cars probably disqualifies us from the Anarchy Club, as Bikes seem to be the preferred mode of transportation)!  And she probably still votes Democrat too, and hasn't gone Green just yet!  All my Aunts and Uncles Vote. (I think)...think it's just a few in the younger generation that has some doubts about the system as a whole and believe that just living a certain way "replaces" voting and obviously, I guess voting signifies that there actually "is" a Government.  Which Anarchy would not include!

  I was not enrolled in youth groups or Bible studies when I was a kid (my mom has residual Catholicism from childhood and my father was raised attending a  somewhat secular, or at least not traditionally "God-Centered" type Quaker Meeting house).  My only experience with "Church" was when I went to visit my Grandmother (on my mom's side) and would go to Palm Sunday or something with her.  She was a progressive, Democrat type of Catholic.  She was not marching outside of Planned Parenthood shouting at chics going in for their Birth Control Pills.  I sometimes went to church with my Spanish girlfriend also, another Catholic church, but that was usually because we were having an "overnight" later and a matter of logistics.

 I remember always freaking out about not knowing the order of making the "cross" with your hands and also how did this whole group of people know when to stand, sit, and kneel?  It was practically a work-out!!  I didn't know that all of those things were particular to "Catholics" and that you weren't expected to just "do" those things!  I thought anyone who grew up Christian did the same things!  And I tried to act like I knew all the secret hand signals.  I don't remember if I ever drank the grape juice.  I remember thinking I was supposed to but then you had to know the secret hand signals and what if you went up there and you f**ked it all up? I remember sitting there watching everyone, trying so hard to remember the order!! I would try to "study" it so I would "pass".  What happened if you flubbed? Would the Priest Man scold you and send you away?  Would he tell you that God said "Go Home and practice your hand signals??".  It was SO confusing to me!!  And then the books.....there were so many books and you had to go from one to the other and sing and then "repeat after me".

 My parents ended up into Eastern Philosophy on different levels.  They have just about every "Sounds True" Audio Cd ever made and listen to Pema Chodron, Alan Watts, Ram Das, Georg Feurstein, Jack Kornfield, Stephen Levine....and countless others.  My dad still goes to "Meeting". My Mom is really into "Yoga Nidra" which she learned from Richard Miller.  We give her s*it because I tell her she needs to do more exercise and she says, but I do yoga and Dad says "But laying down on the floor for an hour isn't really burning many calories". Yes, it may burn a whole lot of Karma, but Calories for the Physical Body, in this lifetime.....?  Maybe not so much  :)

Note the Card!
Sarah Palin holding a Rifle.
This is my Easter Card from my parents!

Inside of the Card.

My Dad's mom started attending Quaker Meeting because it was some type of "religious" upbringing that meshed with her thoughts and didn't inherently undermine her values.  I think of Quakerism as almost being a progressive political  party or something.  All the peeps seemed to be educated, worldly, and active.  It was about getting out in the world and changing it with a huge emphasis on human/equal rights.  My grandmother wasn't buying bananas or grapes because of the conditions of the farm workers.  She shopped at the co-op and I lamented that when I stayed with her I only got date sweetened carob treats and granola (before it was yuppie!).   She knitted gloves for lepers.  Both her & my grandad taught English to Spanish folks on Texas/Mexico border.  It's too funny, because now I am the one eating the carob & the dates!

Our alternative Easter Basket from my folks.

Easter Basket.

The thought that there was only one correct religion was never ever taught to me.  Of course I grew up in a small, all white town and I believe that everyone was Christian, the the broad sense of the word, meaning they believed in one God (the Christian one, duh-not the idea that Christ and Krishna may be the same idea) , and the Bible was their "go-to" guide.   Somehow I was attracted to Eastern philosophy, thought, in a very broad sense.  Just the idea that we were actually "all together" in this thing, and that the idea was not to turn everyone into the same religion.  Also, everything seemed so much more abstract, so much more colorful, and much more well-adjusted.  Meaning, that it is easier for all the peoples in the world to co-exist if one religious group isn't raising funds and fervently trying to change another group's beliefs.  Needless to say, I don't know a lot about the Bible.  So when I have a question, I have to ask my husband (whose mother enrolled him in some Bible Class type of stuff, I think primarily so she could get some "alone" time!!).  I won't go into detail now about his translations, but they are quite entertaining and modernized for the sake of me being able to understand them.

Seeds, Seed Starters, Vegan Dark Chocolate, Smith & Hawken Gardening Knee Pad, Hand Salve, Mother Earth Zine, and Big Green Pail to harvest all of my veggies!!  Kale, Brussel Sprout and Broccoli Plants, already started!!

One of our Square Foot Gardens that my amazing hubby put together after I began driving around looking at any homes, any price, anywhere, for just a little bit of green space.  One day I got "busted" when I had to call after the car broke down!  I had just gone to the Post Office and was in a weird part of town and the damn thing conked out.  I had to call and tell him where I was and that then was forced to confess that I was driving to house (more like yard)  I saw advertised in paper.  A few weeks later, these Square Foot Garden Boxes Mysteriously showed up at our house!!

Heard some great tunes this morning also from a duo called "Devil's Dream".  Lots of Gary Harrison tunes played by a Roger Netherton, a great young fiddler and Alice Sanvito, a power pickin' guitarist.  Take a listen!!  Roger Netherton is only 15 or 16!  Black Bear always has great old time, folksy, and bluegrass type of music going on!  Check out Black Bear Bakery's Facebook Page  for who and what is happening next for all of your hippy, yippy, yappy, yuppie, anarchy cravings.  Oh & for music & food menus too!  And they are supporters of SLOUP, which is an artistic micro-grant group that meets monthly for soup, bread, conversations and voting on grant proposals to better the community.  Very Cool. Apparently tonight it's at Black Bear and in addition to Vegan Soups, Booze (for a small donation), Black Bear Bread, there is even an ACCORDION player!! How can you resist?  I think we would all be happier if there was just a little more Accordion music in our lives.  It works for the French, Germans, and the Czech's (it's that Bohemian Bloodline talking).

Did anyone else out there grow up with less "defined" religious beliefs?  Are you the same religion today as the one in which you were rasied?  Do you attend religious services all the time or just on holidays?  How has your relationship to God/and or religion changed over the years?