Spring Cleaning/Reality check

As I peer out my front door, I am captivated by the fact that the land I live on has been blossoming in response to the rain, and holds many treasures my eyes are open to beholding. Compost volunteer Watermelon plants are bearing fruit, I harvested a pineapple yesterday, I planted some native plants, as I continue to work towards a grass-less yard, and I was completely in awe as I heard the buzz from the blooming cabbage palms the other day and viewed every kind of stinging insect foraging on the immense fronds of flowers.

Spring cleaning is kind of automatic, almost like our autonomic breathing..I am super busy, and fairly tired, but I can't escape pacing myself and fitting in some shifting, moving, getting rid of, letting more in, and cleaning the crap out of my space. It also feels like a recharge in alot of ways as well though, like doing new things..hoola hooping for example, i'm on it, just waiting on the hoop itself, then I plan on getting in touch with a muscle group I think I forgot about..

New music, I attended Bonnaroo a few weeks ago, and got a major recharge on live music, music festivals, camping with 90,000 people with porta potty's, and new music I am happy to be acquainted with. Gogol Bordello was amazing, and that whole stage that day was worth checking out..Omar Souleyman had everyone out in front of that stage moving their body, you just couldn't help it. I hadn't seen Primus since like 1992 at a Lollapalooza, and it felt great! I'm looking forward to the new album, and it's a pleasure to go see a band live and have them share music of theirs that is familiar, fun no matter how many times you hear or see it...I'm stoked they played when they did on the stage they were on because for the rest of the weekend, that stage had awful sound, and was dry, dusty, and garbage laden..Over on the grassy knoll, I thoroughly enjoyed, My Morning Jacket, The Decemberists, and heard but too packed to really see Arcade Fire, and Widespread Panic.

Reality check..well I haven't been exclusively consuming Raw foods for a few years now. I set up Eating alive to share information relating to raw foods and a healthy lifestyle. After being a vegetarian for 20+ years, I decided to try consuming meat again. First let me tell you how opposed I am to factory farming, and monoagriculture..I strive to stand for the same values I uphold wether I eat meat or not, which is to be respectful, and consume meat that was harvested from animals not mistreated in any way. Am I ok with killing an animal to eat it? Not entirely..still on the fence. I can't say I'd go out in the back yard and be able to kill and prep one of my chickens, so hmm, not sure how long this will last. SO, I'm tweaking the blog a bit, and will use it more for my babble, as is contained here..

Latest news and happenings: We got a pair of baby girl goats..May(hem) and Lily, so stinking cute. I hope I'm better at milking them then I was myself..I just put new strings on my acoustic bass..(part of the recharge, now to create time to play). We harvested 220 pounds of honey in May, the bees are doing great.

Bonsai

Seasnax

Time transpires, yes..but I get inspired and have to share the good news!
It's extremely rare for me to get super excited about a new product in the Natural food industry..so many reasons, but you know the basics, it's akin to going out to eat..quality, value, nutrition, packaging..corporate or individual, ecological? (So many more, so little time)

SO...this year I have had the pleasure of reacquainting with a sea vegetable that I so adore..NORI. I have been touting the benefits of sea vegetables to consumers for as long as I can remember. And as I entered motherhood, found myself searching for the ultimate in nutritious plant based protein packed full of vitamins and minerals. Of course, sea vegetables fit the profile.

Every year, I have the pleasure of attending a Natural Products Association vendor show at a convention center somewhere in Orlando. They are an amazing place to learn about new products in the Natural Food industry and this organization is keen on supporting individually owned awesome companies. This past year, Peggy found "SeaSnax". A toasted Nori sheet, in handy small size packs, or large sheets..(i'm hoping for a BULK pack soon..ha ha) They come in flavors, such as Toasted Onion, Spicy Chipotle, and Classic Olive. WE LOVE THEM! Not just myself, and let me tell you what a pleasure it is to be able to put a pack of these in my son's lunch, and be fully aware he will inhale them before even touching his other food..But everyone that try's them, loves them. We all crunch on them at work, (it's a delicate crunch, they almost melt in your mouth).. Delicious, nutritious..Kudos to SeaSnax, my favorite product of 2011!