How does my garden grow...

...with lavender, iris and mimosa tree too! I had to share with you what is blooming, or some at least. The mimosa tree photo is from last year and it (the tree :D) is much taller now. I'll photograph it tomorrow, it is just starting to burst into bloom.

Note the lemons behind the iris? This year the lemon tree is laden with so many lemons as we have never seen before. Reggie does baby it all year and so far we have not had to spray it - except with a weak solution of dishwashing liquid and water to rid it of a pest or two.

The golden plum tree, bursting in snowy bloom, buzzes with bees going about their bustling business. Snowy bloom, I say...and today was 34C in the sun? heh heh!

The pool had maintence on it, tiles regrouted, a few water vents replaced and finally refilled. Very inviting blue.

Spring has spronged in my part of Spain!

Loved this one...

I have to share this quote from probably the oldest working pediatrician:

Dr. Leila Denmark, a pediatrician, who "sort of" retired at 103 in 2002:
Quote:

"Anything on earth you want to do is play. Anything on earth you have to do is work. Play will never kill you, work will. I never worked a day in my life."

-Dr. Leila Denmark, 100, USA's oldest practicing physician.

Don'tcha jus' love it?!

Preoccupied and More Quotes

I've been preoccupied lately by a new project that really takes up my time with reseaching and reading a lot. I can only say at the moment that it involves another website - this time I want to have the background work really honed so that it is optimized in the best way for the search engines. Already have a domain name and designed a logo (which I had graphically perfected by the woman who did my graphics for http://www.epicureantable.com/) . Turns out my new domain name may not be optimal. Part of the researching for that is brainstorming and keyword pondering.

Luckily, I signed up for a fantastic system that walks/talks you thru all that and eventually much will be automated. This is great, because to leave things up to one's self (keeping on top of seach engine alograms and submitting regularily, autoresponders etc etc) I find is very mood dependant - at least with me. Then I do fall into the D's - distracted, disoriented, discipline (intermittant lack of) disorder, dis-, dis- you name it.

Anyway, since I have NO idea if anyone is even reading this blog - going by the lack of commenting here :>/ I won't go into the project at this point. When I have it up and running, we'll have an online launch party, yes? Champagne and all.

This morning I want to share following quotes:

There is only one thing more powerful than all the armies of the world, that is an idea whose time has come.- Victor Hugo

To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right.- Confucius

That first one really resounded with me at this particular period for me. The second one is soo, soooo true. It all starts with setting hearts straight. Would that we could (globally) achieve that. May sound irrelevant, but besides our own (hearts) wouldn't it be nice to get Hollywood, the media, those aggressive 'game' developers to take responsibility for what they are 'contributing' to society and her children...to have more 'heart' for society...which we are all part of, like it or not.

And then the politicians...do they have any?
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Closing thought: concentrate more on your heart's needs.

Take heart.

More Quotes

Ran across two interesting thoughts this evening, from www.aksworld.com at the blog:

"Fear has been described as F_E_A_R = False Expectation Appearing Real."

Unfortunately such clever anograms usually work only in the originating language. I'd love to pass this one on to my (German) Aunt. The anagram won't work, but the statement is 'real'. On second thought, I should just leave it alone (about her). Her fears are like dear old friends to her. She knows them so well and so intimately. Reality, and how she has created it for herself is just too frightening for her (another fear?). Yes, of the unknown - happiness. Well, at 85 ......

And then this one from the newsletter (aksworld.com):

Quote For Thought

In Tibetan, the word for body is "lu", which means "something you leave behind", like baggage. Each time we say "lu", it reminds us that we are only travelers, taking temporary refuge in this life and this body.

That is a lu-lu (groan...sorry couldn't resist)! Humour aside, that quote, I find is a gentle reminder.

Give yourself a hug today. Tell your body how much you appreciate it...yes even with its quirks.

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By the way, has everyone drunk enough water today??

I am still amused

Yes, I am...still amused at something that happened on Women's Day 8 March.

On that day I purchased a spanish newspaper from the paper shop and the girl gave me a bottle of flour cleaner.

"What is this for?" I asked, meaning why-are-you-giving-me-this.

"Its a free gift from the newspaper for International Women's Day."

We looked at each other with that knowing, ironic look. A look of solidarity mixed with 'what do you expect'.

She, still surpressing a stubborn grin, snorted in laughter (yes, she did). Me, I burst forth a sincere belly laugh. Nothing would surpress it and I almost doubled over. By then there were a few curious bystanders. Getting a brief explanation across, by then in English too and wiping the tears of mirth from my eyes I explained more or less following.

"Look at that! This newspaper is so caring and considerate enough to think of we women and gives us (how generously) a free bottle of floor cleaner. Instead of giving us perhaps a small textile flower (cheaper too), we get a reminder of what this macho newspaper really thinks of the value of women. Hey, what century are we in? With all the women's rights and equality (snort, giggle) every now and then we get a symbolic reminder of what reality is!"

"Typical!" I said, still laughing.

The few men there were at a complete loss (what else? ;>D), a few women grinned and I had to find the next cafe to visit the toilet.

What did I do with the bottle of floor cleaner? I told the girl to give to next man who purchases the paper.

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Thought for the day: The begining is always today.

Looking Younger - Being Younger

Looking younger is something we are all interested in - even those who loftily deny any interest in the subject. Deep inside we all are happier when we look our best and that alone makes us 'look' or 'feel' younger than our chronological age. That little boost is uplifting.

And what is aging? (I mean beyond the wrinkle!) Is it our chronological age (based on birthday)? That is far less important than our physical/biological age - in other words looking and feeling younger/actually BEING younger for our age. Isn't that more important?

Following is from various statistical sources.

Here are a few easy tips for today:

Make sure you drink lots of water - at least 2 litres and more if you are a serious coffee drinker. Every cell in your body benefits and can function more efficently. Foggy, unconcentrated thinking can sometimes be a sign of dehydration of the brain cells. Outwardly, the skin benefits, cells are plumped and the overall appearance improves. This alone can make you look and certainly feel a few years younger.

Laugh a lot... this can make your biological age 8 years younger.

Learning ...those who never loose their interest to learn and keep intellectually fit are 2.5 years younger than those who 'give up'.

Move...even just a little exercise (of ANY kind, such as walking) for 20 minutes twice a day will make your biological age 5 years younger.

And lastly (for today) our mental attitude will affect our biological/physical being and appearance. We all know people with faces like road maps pushing 70, 80, 90 + who seem far younger. I find it is their youthful attitude that makes them attractive and uplifting to be around.

We have so much we can do for ourselves/well-being. No one can do it for us. Ain't self-empowerment grand?

So are you!

Food, trivia and tips

I found following in a newsletter I receive:

"Give yourself a tropical pick-me-up with antioxidant-rich guava.
Red guava offers more antioxidant benefits than spinach, strawberries, or oranges, a recent study concluded, making red guava a free-radical-scavenging powerhouse. The phenols in red guava are responsible for the fruit's antioxidant activity. Simply peel and remove the seeds from well-ripened fruit and enjoy. RealAge Benefit: Getting the right amount of antioxidants through diet or supplements can make your RealAge 6 years younger."

Blueberries also are highly beneficial and when compared to40 other fruits and vegetables seem to have the most antioxidant properties .

I love guava, but only ate it when we lived in Florida. MAYBE I can find it in the Valencia food market. A phenominal place, supposed to be the biggest in Europe. Well, I suspect that is an exageration, but they do seem to have e v e r y t h i n g in herbs, fruits and vegetables. We can occasionally get blueberries here but they are from France and for the price of a small basket, one can have lunch! Well ok, a few tapas - but still...

I have endulged when they are in season and bought a basket for Mama and one for me...in pancakes (Mama) or yogurt or as is, it is a great treat. But for the health benefits, blueberry extract/tincture seems a good way to take in the benefits from a natural substance.

By the way, if you take iron supplements (or iron rich food) don't take them with calcium rich foods (or supplements) . The both will bind together in the intestines and the body cannot absorb the benefits from either. ...they get flushed. I love spinach and chickpeas, with a yoghurt sauce - a not so uncommon dish amongst the calcium wise or vegetarians (and most vegetarians think they know it all!!). Hmmm....there is so much we don't consider when eating what we think is healthy and good for us. It also shows that one must be more aware, read more on such topics and be open. That is, if you want to care for this gift (our body) we are temporarily loaned! ;>D

Trivia of the day: A medium papaya contains 200% of your Vitamin C requirement A green pepper has more Vitamin C than a orange.

Herb of the month: parsley

Goal of the day: eat something really healthy today that you don't normally eat.

Thought of the day: My own attitude, words and beliefs on the long run create my own reality. I alone am responsible for them. I alone can change them.

Verbal bad-habit-phrase to dump: No, I can't because... (this is often fear driven or just plain lazy cover up for 'No, I won't because (I don't want to). If you find yourself using this phrase - more automatically than you realize - see if you can pass a week without it. If you can't, talk to yourself in the mirror and ask yourself why. Ask yourself what you can change to get rid of that negative, self-inhibiting phrase.

Life is grand. And so are you.

Inspiring Quotes

Happy International Women's Day!

Today I thought I'd post a few inspiring quotes:

"Women are half the world's people who do two-thirds of the world's work. They earn a tenth of the world's income and own a hundredth of the world's property." WomenAid International ...warrants comment when in mixed company. Amongst we women, 'gee, why are we not surprised?'

"If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow."
Chinese proverb

“Lost time never returns.”
Czech proverb

"The person who says it can't be done should not interrupt the person doing it."
Chinese proverb

"The important work of moving the world forward does not wait to be done by perfect men."
English writer Mary Ann Evans aka George Eliot (1819-1880)

"You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person."
Anonymous I thought this one was especially good.

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Each day is a gift, live it with appreciation - even if some 'gifts' are less than great. It just takes 24 hours to get over the bad days and we have 1440 minutes to savour the good ones.

Good days and bad days pass with equal speed. The bad ones just seem to last so much longer. Take the good days with joy, not with nonchalance. On bad days, do something especially nice for yourself - even if you don't feel like it. Take a luxury bath, light that expensive candle, go out for the most expensive cappuccino, go to a silly movie. On those days, one needs to get behind one's self and PUSH forward. Even if its just a long walk somewhere.

Life is grand. Every 24 hours we get another chance!

Of Goat Yoghurt and Laughter

Good news! My yoghurt turned out great...thickish and creamy (could be a little tarter though) and I am happy. I have about eight jars. Today I made Irish Soda bread with it instead of buttermilk...very nice and tomorrow maybe I'll do a simple almond cake using some yoghurt and honey as well. I shall be asking Blanca for more of her milk in future.

Here's an interesting link on the value of laughter. Scroll about midway down for following info:
(Laughter reduces cortisol, which is a hormone that causes stress and increases endorphins, which are the body’s own natural opiates ...)
http://www.ofspirit.com/margaretmccathie1.htm
Click on the left menu for various links to inspiring articles


http://silverreflection.tripod.com/thelightersidecopy/id176.html
Click also on the side links, especially the one on southern ladies. (Disclaimer: there are 'reflections' there also that I consider in bad taste mixed in amongst the humorous and useful - I take distance from any racist comments found on the site.)


This next one has a video. Click on the photo - the download is worth the wait. I dare you not to laugh with her!

http://laughpractice.blogspot.com/2005/09/coaching-laugh.html

There is always something to laugh about...even if only at ourselves!

Mama Goat Nurses Lamb

My walks out to the lighthouse take me past an old stable - in past years abandoned. Last year or so I heard dogs there and often saw them running free in the enclosed acres.

Then a few months ago I heard the low clang of bells - and that sound can only mean goats or sheep (a deeper, longer clang means cows). And there among the brush of rosemary and company was a herd of goats. Monday I heard the happy barking of dogs and thought the owner must be there. And he was.

Seems the stable now 'stables' goats, dogs, wild rabbits, chickens, quail and ducks. Short story shorter, he has had to throw away goat's milk when the little ones couldn't drink it all and is happy that someone (me) who appreciates it can come by for it. So today I came at the agreed time and Blanca - whose babies died - bleated softly and gave little kisses as Joaquin (whah-keen) milked her. Her utter was so full - almost 2-1/2 litres full all for me and my yoghurt.

After filtering it a few times, heating it and adding some yoghurt to act as a starter, the milk is now in the oven hopefully doing its yoghurt thing by the light of the pre-warmed oven. Tomorrow I shall see. I am excited. I love goat or sheep yoghurt - something easily found here. And, I can get healthy, free range and free of anti-biotics and other chemicals that cows are subjected to. I know what they breathe (sea air), what they eat, where they eat it and love the same herbs that obviously the goats do as well. Not a great milk fan, I do like goat's milk - sweeter, richer and easy to digest.

The lamb in the photo follows Joaquin around like a puppy. Her mama couldn't give milk, so the goats are happy to comply. Here she is getting dinner from Margarita, but she boards at night with another mama who just gave birth to three kids. This evening I held a two day old kid. I was over the moon.

Life is grand!

Body Shop Takeover?

Any of you read about L'Oreal proposing to take over Body Shop?? I did, several days ago and immediately fired an email off to the German and of course the main UK centrals. I won't bother to reprint the article re: L'Oreal /Body Shop - suffice it to say it was that 'L'Oreal is considering a proposal (of takeover) to Body Shop and not much more.

Here my email in English (same but in German sent to the central in Germany):

subject: Body Shop Betrayal?

I have just read about a possible take over of Body Shop by L’Oreal. If this happens I assure you many customers such as I will react negatively over this. Then, how can Body Shop compromise its principals and ethics? This would make your products unbelievable and taint the global image it has worked hard to achieve. Should this take over occur it signals to me the bitter aftertaste of a purely monetary interest (greed) by an already successful business. I, as adisappointed customer would react to this greed by shopping elsewhere as I supported Body Shop’s ideals and products. I would no longer recommend them with good conscience.

Patricia Conant, Spain www.epicureantable.com

and their answer:

Dear Ms ConantThank you for your query concerning the announcement by L'Oreal in relation to THE BODY SHOP. THE BODY SHOP Board issued a response, which is detailed below. Due to Stock Exchange rules we cannot provide any further comment:

'The Body Shop International PLC ("The Body Shop") Response to L'Oreal Statement

'The Board of THE BODY SHOP notes the announcement today by L'Oreal that it is evaluating a possible offer for the BODY SHOP. THE BODY SHOP has not received any proposal from L'Oreal. The Board remains confident about the future prospects for the Group and its ability to deliver significant value for its shareholders.'

Thank you for your enquiry.

Yours sincerely,
Rachel PaisleyUK Customer Relations Supervisor
The Body Shop International plcDDI: (44)01903 844554 Fax No: (44)01903 844383
E-mail:ukcustomer.relations@the-body-shop.com

So far, I breathe a sigh of relief.

Almond Panorama

Two days ago I drove up to the Santa Lucia chapel and enjoyed the pink view up there. This photo is a good example but the best view I could not take as the sun was in front of me. Good thing I did too. With the exception of the white plastic 'green houses' to the left, all the light areas, all the way to the right upper area are almond trees.

Yesterday it rained all day with heavy winds, so I could not take Mama for a ride to show her the pink wonder around us (she has never driven amongst the almond groves - either not motivated or not used to 'just doing something for the fun of it').

A few years ago the winds blew off most of the blossoms before they were pollinated and the almond industry suffered. Prices were really up. Hopefully the bees were able to do their thing early enough.

Have a pink day!

Thoughts: holistic vs. allopathic views on energy

The title sounds more complicated than where my thoughts are heading.

Didn't most of us learn in school the scientic 'discovery' that all things are made up of atoms that are in constant movement (energy)? And that the only difference between human skin, a mango or a table surface is the rate those atoms move? Albeit, a bit oversimplified, but wasn't that the jist of it?

Wow, weren't we impressed by *science* then! Today we also know that this was hardly a new scientific discovery, rather ancient knowledge as understood by Chinese or Ayurvedic medicine as well as other so-called 'primitive cultures' on most continents. Ah, but it took *science* to prove it under a microscope. Reductionist thinking.

So, why is it that those same kids, who grow up, enter medical school (where they learn that the human body is merely a kind of machine with replaceable parts - yes, I remember that) that the whole concept of human energy - with all its healing possibilities - is categorically scoffed at and dismissed as 'quackery' or these days endulgently called 'alternative medicine'.

Yet, same said medical body acknowledges that the mind (mind/thought=energy) can make us ill (just think long enough of something revolting and pay attention to how your stomach reacts) - however, the concept of learning to use the mind to heal is just not on the agenda. So yes, the mind can make us ill, but to get better we need pills for the symptoms and more pills to counteract the side affects.

I suspect the answer is that it is not *scientific* enough. Yet what about what we learned as kids?

Back to the drawing board.

Dry Brushing for Healthier, Silky Skin

This is another old article of mine that I have also added on my site here and also submitted to zinos.com as well.

My girlfriend Marlies in Tübingen introduced me to dry brushing - something she has done for years. She is a little older than I am and has the silkiest skin! Fine pored, smooth and she takes cold showers....brrrrr! Me, I end my showers with really cool water, but that is another post.

Ever noticed women 'over a certain age' (even younger ones, come to think of it) in summer with dry, lifeless, dull looking skin especially on the arms? You won't have that with this technique. And those fine bumps disappear, too. I am also told that those annoying skin tags are avoided/reduced because the skin is kept so clean they can't form. I like that!

Skin brushing is something I do most days...at least 4-5 days of the week since about a year now. I look forward to it because it really feels so good! Another advantage is that the skin care product (I use an aloe body lotion) really soaks in. I really like the idea of using shower gel only on the 'vital parts'.

Although the gel I use is also aloe based, there are some chemicals in it - so I like the idea of reducing significantly what I put on my body that may have chemicals. I only use shower gel all over and very sparingly only on the days I don't dry brush (forget, short of time...), but especially I value helping my skin get rid of 'toxic waste' a little quicker. Every little bit helps boost the defense system.

I really suggest a short handled natural bristle brush as a long handled one, unless it has a removable head, is cumbersome. Mine is a kind of sisel, I think.

Today was still a bit overcast. I hope tomorrow to make it up to the castle for a photo of the pink blush in the landscape. Reggie and I drove through Cap-i-Corb where I picked up rosemary honey...and pink dominated the scenery!

Almond Trees in Bloom!

For some, February's only redeeming values may be Valentine's Day and it's fewer days but for us it means an explosion in pink - seemingly overnight.

Everywhere one looks and sometimes as far as the eye can see the almond trees are in bloom. Pale rosé almost white with magenta centers, pink to almost fuscia almond tree's are 'doing their spring thing'.

I love living where the year is marked by what's in blossom, what is in season...oh ja, and fiestas in between.

Here, nature pays no attention to calenders. Spring has long sprung, various clovers and even wild snap-dragons are showing their lovely faces and the almond trees in full glory are the loudest to say so.

Have a look at this link for many almond tree photos but also breathtaking sunsets/sunrises et al. They are from Mallorca, but any of the photos could be from here or nearby. Right, Donna? The rustic beauty of those photos are the answer to why I live and love it here.

http://webserv.chatsystems.com/~doswell/mallorca/images_03-04.html

The foto above is one I took last year. Today I wanted to drive up to the castle and take a photo of the scenery but it was a little overcast. It must be breathtaking. Yesterday when Reggie and I went to my osteopath in Calig, driving along the way was just one wonder after another. Seems as if the landscape is dusted with pink. This year is the most impressive.

I didn't know that almonds don't self pollinate. A spanish friend of mine told me that that is why there must be different almonds together in the same area. That explains the pale, almost white tree now and again amongst the pink (the pale ones produce the flatter, broader almonds) and that often beekeepers place hives amongst the orchards.

The beekeeper in Cap-i-Corb a mostly rural area just on the other side of town where I get my REAL unheated, hand-spun-out-of-the-comb honey, moves his bees around depending on time of year. In summer they get moved up to the mountains where they are busy with the rosemary et al. Besides, it is cooler for them, he says. Nice beekeeper. So we get three different types of honey from him, orange when the oranges here are going (wow, what a scent!) and soon the mil-flor or the mixed flower honey - but you and I both know it will be mostly almond flowers.

Does that honey taste like almonds? No. The blossoms smell faintly sweet and nothing at all to suggest almond. It is the nuts that have that famous scent and taste.

Ain't life grand?

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Here's nutritional trivia:

30g (1/4 cup) provides:• 7 grams of protein• an excellent source of magnesium• an excellent source of antioxidant vitamin E• riboflavin• phosphorus and copper• no sodium• no cholesterol Almonds contain fat, but their fat is mostly unsaturated - including 60% monounsaturated fat, the “heart healthy” variety. (Have no idea where I got that info....found it amongst my notes.)

More on candles and aromatherapy candle nonsense

Well, having a cold does have its good side. I've not been out at all for a few days (sneezing my head off) and managed to start this blog AND write two articles. One is Illuminating Thoughts - Toxic Candles and the other is A Burning Question - Are aromatic candles safe? It was interesting researching for these articles and there is so much more info on the subjects than I have in the articles...so I have links within those.

Zinos.com will be publishing those articles soon (a day or so)...maybe front page...who knows. They like it when you submit purdy pitchers with the articles.

I am continually amazed at how an innocent common comodity can turn out to be so NOT good. There was a time in Frankfurt when I was burning LOTS of candles, but now I know where I got the 'sooty stuff' when I blew my nose. The real problem I am sure is in the exaggerated and continuous burning daily/nightly...which I did for a while...gee, was it 10 years ago?

Ja...and the whole aromatherapy rubbish....I don't mean the real stuff but what shows up on the shelves as such. I am always leary when a trend goes sooooo commercial. Makes me go the other way. Take a good thing and do it to death! And I have my opinions on the genuine side of aromatherapy. But that's another subject.

OK. I think I have the candle thing out of my system.

Paraffin candles dangerous

I came across this site which has information about the dangers of using common paraffin candles and why soya candles are a better choice. I must be out in the woods somewhere...I didn't know that there is such a thing as a soya candle. I appreciate the article for the warning, but I don't know if I want to support the soya industry - it is a big enough problematic industry as it is.

I think I will be purchasing more bee's wax candles. They are truly natural, unproblematic, burn cooler and longer too.

Problem is they don't come in pretty colours...like red for the candle sticks at Christmas. Most likely as it is with everything else...moderation is the key. A few coloured paraffin candles for the special occasion can't be all bad after all. But for the daily use, or when burning several at one time, I can see using bee's wax candles. I recently found bee's wax tee candles and they were worth the money. They did last much longer.

Years ago I recall someone insisting that one can go blind from the smoke of a snuffed paraffin candle (if you let it get into your eyes). I thought she was exaggerating. Now I wonder.

Hello Merri!

What do you think of my bright and shiny new - and first - blog? "Who wuddathunk" that I too would succumb to the mode and have a blog too? Well not me, but I did after all. Why? Hmm...good question. Actually, I had you in mind and your crossroads you mentioned you are at. This blog is a good way for you to just log on and jot your thoughts about your process or add comments to postings. I also hope in this way you will feel that you are not alone...that someone cares and supports you. Who knows who else may pass by and benefit as well, or add to the flow with their comments? Even if this blogging concept helps to be a positive distraction to the dreary routine and mind set of allopathic medicine - it can only be a good thing, no??