Choice

Succulent Love

I'm in love with the results of this little project. All the necessary supplies were easily found around the home and it wasn't long before these beauties were bringing joy to my windowsill. It's silly just how much they make me smile.

How do you add bits of brightness and joy to your space? 

Dear Humans: a Love Letter of Sorts

Today I woke up in a dream and wandered the countryside with the dirt under my feet, the breeze in my hair, the sunshine on my shoulders and the buzz of nature in my ears. It was better than coffee. It was sublime. With moments like these I can't help but feel immensely grateful for life and for the relationships and experiences that I have cultivated, enjoyed, and learned in.

Relationship indeed requires cultivation and commitment to the process of growth.  In relationship with self and others we must participate in the entire process from planting the seed of truth, weeding, and nurturing faith that if tended mindfully there will be a harvest to reap.  Relationship is hard work, there is no doubt about it; however, we have incredible power in when we choose to grow based on what we are willing to see (be unafraid of). Recently I have been thinking a lot about shame, guilt, and worry and how these emotions can impede or improve relationship depending on how we relate to them, rather than be blinded or disabled by whatever fear fuels them.

Shame, guilt, and worry are emotions in which we have great power to move into a new space by willingly seeing what is within or without that requires attention. Make a different choice, ask for forgiveness, or speak a truth.  Be nakedly honest about where the emotion is rooted. Embrace all emotions for it is the sum that makes us beautifully human, but remember: Do the work and you DON'T have to live there.

Some steps are harder than others, but building relationship upon truth is a journey worth taking. 

Love.

Changes on the Horizon

It's been two years and two months since I dipped my toe into the blogging world and I am finally ready to make some major changes. Seriously, this blog is moldy oldy lovely, but the sad truth is that I've written nearly five times the amount of posts in comparison to what I have actually published in the past two years.  

What does this mean for us and our future relationship? It means that I will be creating a more suitable space to share my thoughts, experiences, and wonderings with you, openly, honestly, and as freely as I do in my physical world interactions. 

Stay tuned, I think we will both like where this is going. 

Love.

Happy Birthday, Beautiful Mama

Happy Birthday to one of the most amazing women in my life: my mama.  

Papa and Mama, Family Vacation Hawaii 2010

I have always admired the way she lives her life with vigor. If asked for her opinion she doesn't give it sugar coated, but she always gives it real. She's loud, she loves big, she laughs often, and she forgives. She lives fully and grows when the opportunities arise because she forgives herself, and others. She is a great example for being, learning, and loving freely. She lives her life and not anyone else's. I am a woman who aspires to be like my mama.

Exactly a year ago I called my mother and sang her happy birthday (as I do and have always done for those I love except this year due to surgery), and it was thanks to that experience that I finally considered shedding an idea I've held about myself since childhood.  I've mentioned before that although I loved to sing as a child I was not very good, and I was very loud. I didn't reach mama directly last year on the first try and decided to leave a singing message. She called me back almost immediately and I could have never expected her response, which was in essence, Anna! you don't completely suck at singing! I hadn't realized how powerful my mama's opinion was in me being willing to shed any self doubt and see if, I could actually sing.  Moreover, I realized that maybe it's not simply something you can do or not do, but possibly a skill that could be developed.  I decided a year ago that I would gift myself singing lessons for my birthday, and although the accident occurred two weeks before I was to begin, I'm anxious to be fully healed so that I can give it a real try before deciding I'm incapable.

Thank you for always believing in me and for always encouraging me to pursue my passions. Thank you for living your life on your terms and for being a beautiful example. I love you.

facing fear & embracing change

It's Wednesday: exactly a week before my next surgery. It is also Broken Mic poetry night. Before my last surgery in November I finally punched my fear in the face and read a poem I had written for the first time at Broken Mic. I all but ran away from the mic as the last words left my mouth, but after attending Broken Mic regularly for almost a year I was so glad to have finally overcome my fear. I decided a couple weeks ago that reading again before my next surgery would be a good step for me. My Grandfather (Papa) has been in my thoughts more than usual lately as we approach the time of year he passed, and rather than sharing my poetry I will be reading the following poem written by Kim Stafford. Kim Stafford never knew Papa, but awoke from the night to allow these words to paper. This poem makes my heart smile beyond words and not only am I unafraid to read tonight, I am excited. I am excited to continue to recognize, embrace and shatter my fears.

A voice from Marvin Bernards, heard in the night by
      Kim Stafford, husband of Perrin, friend of
      Margie...February 13, 2005


I may not sound the way you knew me then-
when I was named and walked among you all.
When I was farmer, father, and your friend.
The time has come to whisper in you softly now,
      the way I could not tell you then:

"How great thou art," you sang me softly
when you gathered in my name.
I saw you in the chapel bowed and still
when one by one I heard you think for me.
"Then sings my soul, How great thou art."

When alive I thought the barn must open,
the tractor start, and all things hum and roll.
Now I see you all around me toiling.
On the land I call you all to praise:
"How great thou art! Then sings my soul,
      How great thou art,"

In the ground our destiny is growing,
from the sky our light comes gold and low.
In your hands my work goes onward singing
"How great thou art." So sings my soul for you:
      How great thou art."

words shared

While I struggle with technology and it's implications for human understanding and our quality of relationships, I always have to remember that it is not the technology that is the issue: it is the way we choose to use it. These are simply words shared between two friend lovers via text messaging. We are always near to those we connect with by heartstrings.


Love whispers as the wind blows..

We feel it even without understanding its origin.

It is always there for the choosing--the recognition of existence.

It is us in becoming.

It is us as we are.

Perfect in our follies. We create.

We participate to grow.

We exist to be, Love.

----------------------------

The sound of water as it pushes forward..

the sound of our being being brushed by stone..

the sound of night as it moves its special light along the infinite string of our heart..

coolness and inertia in balance.

l is for lemons. l is for love.

I was exhausted the other day after working twelve hours, but something told me there were moments not to be missed. I assessed the energy I could muster and said yes, let's to what was indeed a fantastic visit with one of my dear friends. I was inspired and full of smiles when I put myself to bed late that night. As I was looking through my phone notes the other day it was to my surprise that I found a poem of this experience that I had written just before sleep. I don't generally write poetry, which is to say I don't make time to write poetry. It sings through my head but rarely makes it to paper. Thanks iphone for being bright and shiny and there to snag my words.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


She grows lemons sweeter, and
bigger than any you have ever seen
Water sunshine and love are all she needs
and she feeds herself, and her trees daily

Cycle of life reeling, out and
in salty air most things thrive
Exfoliated. Alive. Kettle corn candied lemons,
sweeter than any tart memory in mind

A two block walk to grandpa sams
to give and receive from great grandfathers tree of life
Italian lemons make the sweetest lemonade,
life disposition what one has been given and gave

Family food and smiles
feed the deepest when language bars
Sweet lemons are comfort that heal scars

a beautiful day.

Today is a beautiful day for many reasons.

I'm alive, the sun is shining, my tulips are finally in full bloom, and today was the first Spokane Farmer's Market of the season. On my bicycle and in a summer dress (yes, it's finally warm enough!) I rode to work to do some baking and then headed downtown to the market to continue my "work" for the day.

The first farmer's market may just be my favorite day of the entire year; it holds the promise of local food soon to come and a reunion with some of my favorite people, those who grow the food that nourishes. I guess it is sort of like going home to a family you have dearly missed: so much to catch up on, and so many hugs, smiles, laughter and joy to share.

Today has been filled thus far with lovely human interactions. This morning a celiac customer who cleaned me out of gingersnap cookies told me that he wanted to "fold me up, put me in his pocket and take me with him." To bake cookies, of course. It was a pretty cute compliment. I love people, and I love the way that my work allows me to interact on a daily basis. It's really all about simple joys, sharing smiles, and building love.

Here's a glimpse into the beauty I encountered when greeting the day.

Tulips are my favorite

I'm off to soak up the sun and experience my city on bicycle.

Love.

the Grow Show: building community and parading love

After months of growth and love, The Grow Show is on it's way to Portland to be on display at Bijou Cafe, whereafter it will accumulate carts growing love as it progresses to Tacoma, Olympia, and finally back to it's beginning in Spokane. For the past few weeks I've been lucky to watch the Spokane carts and plants grow in the sunny storefront windows at Fresh Abundance. As all growth is, it has been magical. The Grow Show is a project of Black Rabbit Magic and can be read about in greater detail here.

Last Friday a group of lovelies gathered at Fresh Abundance to parade our carts of love into downtown Spokane arriving at the Kolva Sullivan Gallery where they were on display for First Friday. Guests who viewed the Grow Show were given vegetable starts to take home. I could go on and on about how amazing this was to be a part of, but I think the pictures can tell the story well enough.

If you are in Portland, I highly recommend checking out this show by Black Rabbit Magic.

Love.

It's all in a breath.

Last Friday I decided I would travel to Oregon for Easter. I worked late and rearranged my schedule to make it work. I was on the road Saturday morning and very excited to see my family as I hadn't been home since last July. I have a very large and close extended family. My mother is one of ten children and I often remember her saying that it "takes a tribe to raise a child." My tribe is lovely, and I can hardly believe that it has been so long since I have been in their presence.

Upwards of 70 degrees and the sun was shining around 4:30pm when I arrived at my parents house. Quite the hostess, Mother was ready with Delice de Bourgone cheese, Brie, an assortment of gf crackers, and cocktails. Although she said she scrounged the cupboards to pull it together, it was lovely (clearly she keeps delicious things in her cupboards). Even better than the favorable weather and good food, in addition to mother, father, and brother E, I was surprised and delighted to see a few of  my aunts and uncles had come over as well. We sat outside and enjoyed each others' company; brother J arrived, soon after to be followed by cousin K who arrived in style on her tandem bicycle.

Oh yes, we had a tandem bicycle date and I had been looking forward to it. K and I were born a month and a day apart. We have been best friends our entire lives. Off to ride in the remaining daylight, we cleverly moved beyond the neighbors arborvitaes (so that my family didn't have a good show of us potentially eating it) before we braved taking off on the tandem. To our surprise, we sailed smoothly from takeoff. Before I go any further I should say that K's tandem is pretty rad. It is old school, and has fun bells and a speakerbox where you can hook an ipod. I can't help but smile at the joyful sound of the bell.

Joy riding and bell ringing, happy to be together we revisited our old high school although it is hardly recognizable as such. When we were leaving the parking lot we had a near tragic moment. It was a curb/no curb situation with a last minute decision to take the street a.k.a. hop the curb. The only words to accurately describe this moment are "Epic save and master maneuvering." Had K's steering skills not been so amazing, we may have ended up straddling a telephone pole grounding wire before joining the tandem in the street. This did not happen. Epic save. After sharing an omg that just happened glance and giggle, we peddled downtown and made our way to Thistle where we enjoyed a pre prohibition cocktail and great company. Thistle sources everything locally. The community building that the lovely people of Thistle and Community Plate are creating at the table in McMinnville is truly amazing.

McMinnville is a relatively small town (population 2009: 31,729) and I guess you could say my tribe is pretty well known. I have lived away from McMinnville for the past 5 years and it amazes me how people I meet already know who I am and details about my life by association with my tribe. Seriously, nearly every conversation started, "This is N's daughter, Anna," or "This is E's sister, Anna." Which would then be followed by a moment of recognition, greeting, and either "How are you healing from your accident?" or "You live in Spokane, right, how do you like it?" It always brings a smile to my face. Even though I don't make it home nearly as often as I'd like and often feel like the phantom daughter, home is always home, and I am clearly loved.

Easter Sunday is the largest family gathering of the year for us. It used to be my favorite holiday simply because I enjoyed participating and seeing the amazing men and women in my family work together in the kitchen to create such a magnificent feast, where all were welcome to share. The pictures really speak for themselves in terms of the scale, but I have to note they are a little blurry as everyone was piling back inside from the parking lot from taking our annual family picture and I was slightly fearful of getting run over. Can you blame me?

Beginning of the Line

View from Dessert Table End

Sunday passed too quickly but left smiles on my heart. It was 7:30 before I realized the time, and after stopping off to say goodbye to my parents and get my Kaia dog, I was headed West when all signs for Spokane pointed East. It was raining buckets in the Van Duzer Corridor, but that didn't matter as my hands remembered the familiar road that was taking me to the only place I wanted to be.

I hadn't seen the Pacific Ocean in almost a year-I hadn't felt like I could breathe entirely freely for almost a year. An earthen relationship I had been cultivating since childhood was pulling me back with the tides, singing my name and sneaking into every free moment of my consciousness. Adding two extra hours onto my already seven hour drive home may not have been a wise decision in my mother's eyes, but for me it was the only answer.

For the past few weeks I have been dreaming of the ocean day and night: the tides gravitating by the forces of the sun, moon, and earth, the waves breaking upon the shore, my feet in the water and a cool breeze dancing across my cheeks brushing back salt curled tendrils that tickle my skin. I have walked along side it, I have knelt before it, I have waded into it. I have bowed in awe to it's power. With each breath of salt filled air my spirit was exfoliated. Sloughing off all that was unneeded, illuminating peace to the truths my intuition knows. Fresh, alive, and reborn. I could finally breathe again. Then I awoke.

The ocean is the reality of my dream; deep, powerful, unknown--full of life and wonder.

I greeted my old friend last night, I walked along the ocean shore, I sat in the sand, I remembered, and I wondered. I listened to the waves, the wind, and my breath. I sat in silence, and when I spoke I promised I would be back again soon.

I almost gave my mother a heart attack last night. At the very least, I know she didn't rest well until 5:30am Monday when she knew I was safely home in my bed. Her immediate text response upon my arrival affirmed this suspicion. I'm sorry to worry you mother, but we both know that I was born with a free spirit and a strong will, after all I am your daughter. While a part of me may have known that your reasons were reasonable, I understood that unreason was the only resolve to honor the needs I recognized deep in my soul.

The end of a long beautiful adventure, the beginning of a new day 5:15am Spokane, WA

Apples, Apples, Everywhere.

This fall I have eaten more apples than ever before. Why that is I am not exactly sure, but I think my body has recognized the exquisiteness of the local apples this season. I have found myself reaching for one and putting it to my mouth nearly every time they're within reaching distance (very often in my line of work). I surprise myself each time as I'm acutely aware of the fact that this is very uncharacteristic for me; however, I've learned to let my body decide what food it needs. Right now, it's apples.

You see, I grew up in Oregon's Willamette Valley and honestly, I remember eating more lemon cucumbers (as if they were apples) than I ever remember eating apples. True, I was raised in a farming family and we grew a lot more vegetables than fruits. Apples were available, but not ever present as they seem to be here in the lovely state of Washington. In fact, since moving to Washington in 2006, I have been introduced to many varieties of apples that I never knew existed. Delicious revelation if I do say so. Just today I bought a new variety for the store that I've never seen before, Arkansas Black Apples. I can't wait to taste/see them come Friday!

Here's the thing about my current apple consumption that I find most intriguing: contrary to my past habits of rarely, but generally eating Fuji, Pink Lady, or HoneyCrisp apples, I have not at all been selective when reaching for apples and I've eaten every variety we have in the store with no real rhyme or reason.



Local organic varieties currently available that I've been enjoying include: Spitzenberg, Nickajack, King David, Spartan, McIntosh, Empire, Elstar, HoneyCrisp, Winter Banana, Rome, Winesap, Early Fuji, Golden Delicious, Jonathan, Jonagold, Jonamac, Braeburn, Cameo, Granny Smith, and Gala. It is my personal belief that once the mouth is introduced to the vast array of apples, a red delicious will never be eaten again. Yes, I said never. Although red delicious apples store relatively well, their flavor is vague except for the skin, which just tastes, well, not good.

Although I have been eating and enjoying each variety in its own right, I am particularly enamored with King David and Spitzenberg Apples. King David Apples have a crisp texture with an unreal, complex flavor. The flavor is so unreal, in fact, that it almost seems artificial. If I had to choose an all time favorite, King Davids would win hands down. Spitzenberg Apples are dense, aromatic and spicy, and they are known to have been Thomas Jefferson's favorite apple. Spitzenberg Apples have a unique color and at the right time of day, while still on the tree, they actually look aglow. I wish I had a picture to share this amazing sight. It's simply beautiful.

Moral of the story, grab an apple, they're dang good this year. Try one you've never heard of before; expand your idea of what an apple is and what it should taste like. If you want to learn more about the different varieties available including best uses, storage, and flavor characteristics here is a detailed site all about apples. Warning: prepare to be blown away by the extensive variety of apples that exist.

This is what I love about food, my perception of what is, is constantly expanding.

Life is delicious.

I am a writer.

**Fine Print.. I was working on this post at the end of May when my macbook was stolen, which further delayed my return to the blogging world**

Two days ago I set myself free, free to write confidently, lively, and openly. Free to write without self judgment or self doubt. Free to let my words create their own form.

The truth is that I have had a hard time posting lately, not only because I have very little spare time, but because I was my own greatest barrier. My previous posts were painfully pulled from my fingertips; I was excited with the subject matter and generally happy with the end result, but I have been frustrated with the process.

Technical writing being my main experience, I had put myself in such a box that I could barely function. I didn't know everything that I was going to write in this forum before I started writing and as such my previous writing techniques were ineffective and confining.

Example. In college when writing papers, regardless of the length or subject (mainly political science, philosophy, economics), once a sentence became formed it remained the same; as each paragraph was finished, it was finished and not revisited. When I reached the end of a paper, I did not need to go back and check for spelling or grammatical errors. I understood what I wanted to communicate, I understood how my thoughts, ideas, and sentences would connect and flow both logically and powerfully before I ever started writing.

I am confident in my technical writing skills although I'll admit they could use some polishing; however, I held a significant amount of self doubt concerning my skills in any other form of writing. In retrospect, I realize that I held the belief I would fail at any other form. I realized my err two days ago. I was driving, and suddenly I thought, I am a writer. I couldn't stop smiling. Finally aware of my self doubt, I became ready to shed it.

Self Doubt: "A lack of faith or confidence in oneself."

It is disconcerting, deteriorating, and debilitating.

What good comes of self doubt?

Nothing. Nothing good comes of self doubt.

At this point in my life that is what I believe. Self doubt simply restricts expression, learning, experience, growth, and joy. Who wants that?

I intend to be a confident, dynamic, changing being as I continue to learn to live and to love. I will do it joyfully. I will dance in my endeavors. I will misstep, but I will accept it as part of the learning experience. Today, I have chosen to leave self doubt behind once and for all. If I am intrigued, I will question, explore, and experience. And then I will write, because hey, I am a writer.

In my experience, the quickest way to learn to become/do 'something' is to accept that we are already on our way there. We may be in the stages of learning to become, but even as we change and grow, we already exist as some form of what we intend to be. I am a writer now, even as I continue to learn to express myself better. I believe that we hinder the speed of our learning in this way. We realize what we want to be, but we don't let ourselves believe that we are it until we can do it in a way that satifies our "perfect." Why can't we be it throughout the process of learning as well? I guess I can say that I've learned to get out of my own damn way.

Of course, my mother would be thankful to hear that no amount of confidence will lead me to believe that I should express myself by singing. When I was in 3rd grade and trying out for a lead part in a school singing performance/play, she cried. Trust me, she had a reason to cry. I was terrible, but I sang it like I believed it. She cried out of love. Even though others may have been laughing, she was proud of me.

Honestly, I had no idea I was that terrible. She didn't tell me. Her love for me likely couldn't bear to break my spirit. I retained that fearless confidence throughout my youth. In the past months, this fearless confidence is what I have been working to regain. For now, I'm going to focus on writing: on scratch paper, in books, in a journal, online, anywhere I feel compelled.

Is there something you've hesitated to do because you've already decided that you can't? Can you let yourself try and fail, and try again? And enjoy the process, knowing that you're learning?

Set yourself free from self doubt. Love and accept any expression that may come, even if it means feeling like an awkward teenager sometimes as I'm assuming I will often in my early stages of writing freedom.

Writing is a way of saying something out loud. In both written and verbal expressions I find that the 'something' becomes a little more real and a lot more attainable.

What is your 'something'?

Say it out loud, even if you're the only one who's listening.

Love.

pb & j, reconfigured.

At Fresh Abundance there is a new gf raw breakfast cookie that is made of germinated raw almonds, germinated gold flaxseeds, medjool dates, thompson raisins, and purified water. I sampled one immediately when they first became available. It was delicious, hearty, and not too sweet: the perfect amount of energy to start a day. Ever since that first bite, I couldn't stop thinking about how tasty it would be with a little peanut butter and jelly on top.

raw breakfast cookie
I am not really a person who loves sweet foods. I mean, they have their place, and I can definitely appreciate them, but in general I will more often choose the salty/savory option. This new treat, however, this is divine. The perfect amount of sweet. I could eat it for breakfast or for dessert. Yum.. and it's so good for me. Next time I think I'll try some almond butter or sunbutter to switch it up.

pb & j raw breakfast cookie
Since 2005 when I was diagnosed as a celiac, I have mostly lost my appetite for bread. Sure, I love a good bagel. That will never change. But bread, I just don't crave it like I used to. Lack of bread cravings aside, this cookie with pb & j may be better than it's traditional counterpart. The heartiness of the cookie, it almost mimics whole wheat bread crust when reconfigured. Unlike with wheat bread though, the cookie provides a diversity of of nutrients, protein, and energy without any shortening or refined sugars.

I shared this combination with Arelya, the FA raw chef, and her response was priceless. I wish I had a video camera as I find that really good food often takes away our words and leaves only sounds of expression. Between bites and sounds of enjoyment she said, "This inspires something deep in my soul."

I smiled.

Yes. Love. Food.

The best part. In the last week I have walked into the Fresh Abundance Kitchen many times to spy a pb & j reconfigured. All Arelya can say is, "You did this to me."

Yes, maybe I did. You're welcome. Enjoy.

Wellness Begins Here

The past few weeks have been like a roller coaster; I have been hanging on and enjoying the ride. I am so thankful for where I have unexpectedly landed. After a good month camping in the woods I have moved into a little apartment on the p.e.a.c.h. farm.

Of the many reasons this is an exciting move, I am most enamored by the fact that I have an oven and stove. A full size oven and stove people!! You see, I haven't had the pleasure of cooking with these lovely appliances for the past three years. How did I manage? I have no idea, but I made it work...with a hot plate and a small toaster oven. Because I am a severe celiac, I make 98% of the food I consume so this was no small feat.

My new love

My first night in the apartment I boiled water to make tea. I couldn't even believe how quickly the whole process occurred. Seriously, I was in complete awe at how fast it all happened. Quick boiling water and an oven big enough to hold a baking pan have given me the itch to cook. I have a feeling this is going to be a very delicious summer; living on a farm, cooking what's ripe and fresh, and sharing many meals with friends.

Wellness begins in the kitchen, and there are surely good things to come.

Fresh Plates

Lunch. It was so delicious. Eating fresh plates (where I assemble my meal as I eat) makes me happy. A fresh plate leaves no room for poor quality ingredients as there is nothing to mask or boost their flavor; each item selected has to pull its weight in freshness and taste. Today, I received the first farmer call saying that local salad mix was ready for our plates. Yippee! Our growing season is beginning! I decided to celebrate with a fresh plate, as I look forward to local tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash, which will encounter my fresh plate again soon, very soon. In addition to eating simple, fresh ingredients, I enjoy the idea of a fresh plate because I like to be present and aware of what I am putting in my mouth. It's so nice to stop and allow all my senses to enjoy the food that fuels me, and I find that a meal that requires using hands facilitates it well.

Raw Rosemary Flaxseed Almond Crackers, Smoked Turkey, Raw Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Avocado, Sweet Onion, Red Bell Pepper, and Green Leaf Lettuce.

Well Fed

Lately, my copious (read: little to no) amounts of free time have been forcing me to choose between working, running, reading, eating, or blogging. I may have been writing infrequently, but rest assured... I have been well, and as always, I have been eating well. Not a surprise, given that I am surrounded by good food at work where I can make something for myself in a dedicated gluten free kitchen, or I can select from a variety of prepared foods when I don't have the time or inspiration. As the seasons change, I don't find myself lacking inspiration to create good food for my belly but I do find myself sometimes lacking the time. Luckily, Arelya has been constantly producing new raw foods from the Fresh Abundance deli, which of course, I am always happy to sample. I mean, someone has to do it, right? Gladly, it's me.

Raw Foods Pesto Pasta and Red Bell Pepper from Fresh Abundance. The noodles are made of zucchini! So good.

I have been really into making sandwiches lately. Sandwiches with fresh spring onions. Yum. As the seasons change, yellow, red, and white keeper onions aren't looking so pretty or firm this time of year. Luckily, we have fresh spring onions to take their place. I have also been enjoying a handful of basil leaves added to the pile of greens that take residence on each sandwich I devour. I just can't seem to get enough greens as my body asks for them over and over again. Ingredients: Sesame bagel, Roast Turkey, Pepperoni, Raw Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Red Spring Onions, Red Leaf Lettuce, Fresh Basil, Vegenaise, Black Pepper.

This next one comes from the lovely Nicole. If you ask me, it's a great way to enjoy the last of apple season until we welcome summer apples to our plates. Ingredients: Sesame Bagel, Smoked Turkey, Raw Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Red Leaf Lettuce, Two slices Pink Lady Apples, Vegenaise. Simple and delicious.

Regardless of how busy life gets, I know that engaging my body in motion is imperative for me to feel well. This week I have taken many beautiful runs. Unlike many who run in the morning, I seem to only make time after a long days work, right about sunset. What a beautiful time of day. Lately, I have found myself halting my run at unexpected moments not because I'm tired, but because there is so much beauty to be seen; I just have to absorb a little more. Here is a glimpse of the beauty I've experienced when exploring Spokane on foot.

Spokane River from the Centennial Trail

On a side note, I am aware that the iphone pics are less than stellar. I will be working on dusting off my camera and putting it to use. This may pose a challenge though, as I already have a hard time waiting to eat food long enough to take a picture; I will learn. A worthy challenge of course, I mean really great food deserves accurate photo representation, right? .

Destination: Portland, Oregon

In the wild and crazy life I lead, necessity found me traveling to Portland, OR a week ago on Monday evening for a whirlwind 24 hour trip. I expected to see my lovely family, and to take care of some necessary appointments; I didn't expect to be greeted by a bounty of readily available gluten free foods. Portland has never treated me so well, and our love affair has been going on for years. Traveling as a Celiac is probably one of the biggest challenges. I live by the rule that if I can't guarantee it's safe, I choose not to eat it. Being hungry and well is better than being fed and sick.

Dad had called me first thing Monday morning warning me not to eat dinner as he had a special treat planned for us. Yes, my entire family LOVES food, and it is often premeditated before ever consumed. Dad and brother J picked me up from the airport at 7:30 on Monday night and we headed straight for the Corbett Fish House. Dad is a fisherman and a Celiac, and this place is his idea of the perfect meal. Being the daughter of a fisherman I have been spoiled my entire life, eating only what we caught. After a few years living in the Inland Northwest, I jump at any chance to consume fresh fish. I don't often eat fried food, but Corbett Fish House is a Celiac's dream if you're looking for this sort of thing. Nearly everything on the menu is gluten free and clearly labeled as such. The only exceptions are the sandwiches as they have yet to find a gluten free bun, and the croutons on the caesar salad. They use rice bran oil and a light dusting of rice flour for all their products, and dry cooking techniques to seal and steam the fish so the finished product has almost no oil: a delicious and healthy serving of fish with a crisp exterior and succulent interior. We started with an appetizer of calamari, a favorite of mine. I was having a hard time choosing between the halibut fish and chips, and prawns as both came highly recommended. The waiter kindly offered to split my order to include both. Yes, that is exactly what I wanted. It was so good. They also offer a few different gf beer options, a great accompaniment to fish and chips.

After heading to McMinnville to see family and sleep for a few short hours, we were back to Portland at 6am for an appointment. Afterwards, Mother and I were hungry and in search of breakfast. To my delight we found New Cascadia Traditional - The Gluten Free Artisans, a dedicated Gluten Free Bakery. This place was amazing... and the very first time I have ever set foot in a bakery where I could choose any item I desired, knowing that it would be completely safe and incredibly delicious. I LOVE a good bagel so I chose the multi-seed bagel. Toasted in an oven and slathered with cream cheese. It was so perfectly hot until the very last bite. When something is really good, I find myself unable to get a picture as I am in awe of it's smell and taste, and I must eat it right then.

With a satisfied belly, I picked out some treats to take home with me. I have not had bread that tasted this good since living in Italy and eating the glutenous stuff. Mother insisted that I take a treat for the plane as well, and although I'm not a person who loves sweets, I indulged her and chose a brownie. Superb choice.

Cheddar Parmesan Bread, Multi Seed Batard, Portland Sourdough, and a Brownie

After Breakfast we headed to Hawthorne Blvd for some shopping. Hawthorne Blvd is one of my favorite places in Portland to browse: tons of second hand shops, neat boutiques, coffee galore, and of course, Powell's Books. We spent most of our time in Powell's and after looking through the entire store, we were notified that they had a second bookstore a couple doors down dedicated entirely to food and gardening. I was in heaven.

Looking at books about food always makes me hungry. To our delight, we found the Oasis Cafe on Hawthorne. Gluten Free pizza, yes please! The dough is not made in house and they satisfied all my questions on how it was handled, using different utensils/pans to avoid cross contamination. We chose the greek pizza, set it on a bed of baby spinach and drizzled it with olive oil. So good, again, too good to get a picture. Being a Celiac, eating out means that you have to clearly ask for what you need and be willing to choose another restaurant if those needs can't be met. It's a lot of work, but the only option. I was so thankful to enjoy so many great meals in Portland this trip, and to feel well after eating. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Portland. I will return to eat again.

Building Relationships

A dear friend of mine gave me a pair of boots in college after he had been teased that they were girl boots. I love this friend, and I am even more thankful that he chose me to be the recipient. I have worn them well; I love them, I live in them. Time had taken it's toll. Get a new pair you might say? No way. These boots have too many memories.

This week I set out to find a cobbler who could repair my beloved boots. I didn't have to look far. Two blocks from Fresh Abundance, I stumbled upon Ressa's Shoe Service. On Monday, I was ready to let go of my boots long enough to get them repaired. In the afternoon I dropped them off and was told they could be ready by Wednesday. This was great news to me.

Tuesday at about 5:30pm as I was pulling up to Fresh Abundance after my daily evening errands, I received a call that my boots were ready. Yippee! I went straight there. About two minutes later I was walking into the lovely shop. I didn't even have a chance to pull out my receipt when the kind gentleman grabbed my boots, smiled and said, "I matched your boots to your face." I smiled, and said "Thank you." They were more lovely than I remembered, sewn and polished. In my awestruck, I failed to get the gentleman's name. I now have a cobbler to call on when in need of repair, and I will gladly recommend Ressa's Shoe Service. Quick repair, good work, and happy people who clearly love what they do. I am all about supporting people who do what they love and do it well. I believe that living our passion is what builds vibrant communities, and what makes our world a more joyful place.

Happy boots, Happy girl.

Brain Food

For nearly the past 24 hours I have been editing/writing a huge federal grant proposal for p.e.a.c.h. (people for environmental action & community health 501c3 nonprofit) that has to be completed by 8am Thursday. Wow. I love this type of work, and I gained superb technical writing skills in college, but wow. My brain hurts in a good way. Grant funding is really important for supporting the great work that p.e.a.c.h. is doing in our community in 2010 and beyond, and I am the final editor/writer. No pressure, right?

On any given day I will gladly take this sort of a challenge as I find joy in capturing the essence of what is trying to be communicated, and in finessing an argument so that it exists in it's most powerful and concise form. This week, however, in addition to packing, moving, long runs, and all the other things I seem to fit into a normal days work, I have found myself to be incredibly hungry and in need of some serious brain food.

Here's what I came up with today. This is really out of the norm for me, but I listen to my body and this is what it was telling me it wanted to eat. So simple and so easy to prepare. I haven't eaten hot cereal since I was a child. I've never really liked it, but this was so dang good. Although this was super tasty in itself, I think that next time I will add some cardamom or cinnamon.

Ingredients (all organic except the oats as I haven't found organic gluten free oats):
GF Steel cut oats
GF Rolled Oats
Dried Blueberries
Dried Cranberries
Dried LOCAL Cherries
Raw Almonds (not roasted rather, all almonds are pasteurized to some extent unless you get them direct from a farmer who is bucking the system)
Raw Pecans
Raw Walnuts
Raw Pumpkin Seeds
Golden Flax Seeds
Chia Seeds
Redmond RealSalt
Raw Blue Agave

Mix all ingredients except chia seeds and agave in a bowl. Pour boiling water just to the top. Cover and let sit for 15-20 minutes, mix in chia seeds, add agave (or honey) to taste, and enjoy. This can be made the night ahead and consumed cold.. it would still be delicious and a great resource for someone biking many miles needing to replenish.

Although these are the ingredients I chose, you can really use any combination of grains, nuts, seeds, and fruits to suit your taste. Go easy on the flax seed as too much can become gooey and create the wrong mouth feel. For non-celiacs, I would recommend substituting rolled oats with some rolled emmer or rolled spelt flakes.

Chia seeds are something new I am trying. They can be added to casseroles and baked goods, sprinkled on cereal, yogurt and salads, or stirred into beverages, soups and sauces. Chia seeds are a nutrient-dense super seed with high fiber, 3x the antioxidants of blueberries, more calcium than milk, more iron than spinach, a great source of protein, and the richest known vegetable source of Omega-3 fatty acids.

After this lovely meal, I think I can get this grant finished by tomorrow. Thank you, delicious and nutritious food.