Reaching for Popcorn -- Not

Energy waning fast.  In my recent past, I would head to the kitchen for some hot-air popped popcorn with some drizzling olive oil, nutritional yeast and good herbs and spices -- sea salt of course.  Some of you know of my husband Wekesa's special concoction.  It's the food that folks usually ask for first at our house.  This is one thing I have given up for now.

I miss it.  I am feeling my sadness.  What is my loss:  it tasted so good.  Gave good instant energy.  I could even justify that it was made as healthily as I could imagine.  Yes, it was an old trusted friend that has moved away; changed her/his number. No, actually:  a good friend to whom I have said, "Let's take a break."  She understands that I need to get on down my raw road and maybe hook up with her from time to time down the line. 

I'm good.  Now, will it be a good ripened banana or pear?

Medicine as Food Today: Fenugreek, Slippery Elm, Cayenne Pepper

 FENUGREEK

SLIPPERY ELM BARK

CAYENNE PEPPER

My nasal discomfort from detoxing continues, and actually it is not too bad.  No headaches.  Actually, I have never had a headache.  I know.  I'm grateful.  Anyway, I'm going with the theory of "traffic jam."  It says that when we are cleansing the body, the organs get a little overwhelmed, and the body seek other channels to expel waste -- the mucous membranes.  I'm going with that one.  So, to aid the body?  I boiled Fenugreek and am drinking that slowly.  My goal is for the fenugreek to do it's work of pulling mucous from my body.

I placed slippery elm bark into my morning smoothie which consisted of apple, spinach and water. Slippery elm also breaks up mucous.

I put a big pot of water onto the stove and dashed in some cayenne pepper.  Cayenne pepper will run everything out in a house -- including bad spirits.  Just kidding; LOL.  I can't say that.  It will run some mucous, though.  As the children were growing up, I used to boil cayenne on the stove every morning, and that kept their mucous levels down to almost nil.  My Dad used to use this method to open up his sinus cavity.  Don't forget it and let it boil down only to the pepper.  That burn will make everything worse.  Get kleenex (tissues) to offer your guests.

So, hopefully this will speed up my cleansing or at least help me feel a little better.

I'm not Sick; Just Detoxing

I remember the first naturopath I met years ago saying:  "In natural healing, things often get worse before better."  Starting yesterday, I have had this sinus discomfort that is driving me crazy, a little achy, cold feeling.  How could it be that I am feeling worse?  As I understand it, detoxification goes that way.  So glad that I understand that I am getting better and will feel so much better on the other side.  Realized this when fasting in the past too and leaned on the old adage:  We must first give to the fast (our energy and focus) and then the fast will give to us with renewed energy down the road.  I am content to stay on track and look forward to feeling better. 

This article was very helpful:  http://www.raw-food-for-the-beginner.com/RawFoodDetox.html

Feeding our Children more than Food

Wekesa was right about me.  One of my challenges to staying on the food plan right for me, has to do with my girls.  Like my mama, Thelma, one way that I express love is through food -- that is my preparing it and serving it up.  So, for a few years now, upon Ife's return home for a break, I have jumped back into (especially breakfast foods) pancakes and eggs with cheese when I have been able to stay away from them for months and months at at time when she is away.

Why?  I think it's all the associations of love and good times that nudge me to go back and experience all that goodness one more time. 

This time was different.  On yesterday Ife was doing her best to get everything packed and loaded -- trying to beat the incoming cold weather and arrive in Greensboro before nightfall.  My motherly instincts said:  "Don't pester her with: 'how close are you, etc.; help her.'" So, I first packed up all her food from the frig.  I then had the idea of preparing her some breakfast, and the thought came:  I will not be eating the foods that she still enjoys.  I felt this lack of connection for a little while and then got busy.  I quickly spotted some potatoes that were left over from some potatoe soup I made for the UHURU Esusu Kwanzaa celebration -- "need to cook these anyway." I chopped these up; chopped up some onion and a little garlic.  Ran to the yard (garden) for some rosemary.  Sea-salted all of this with a nice massage.  Squirted the olive oil into the pan and placed the potatoes and fixins in.  I then rounded up some guests for Ife, as I was not even hungry.  Her sister, Sarafina, was happy to join in.  Her Dad, Wekesa, could join her, as Sunday is a cooked meal day for him.  They loved the potatoes and salsa.  I sat down and enjoyed a quick banana, thanking God for them -- as they are the quickest raw / live food I know.  

We held hands and thanked our Creator and ancestors for Ife's visit and her sweet company during the winter holiday break and asked for blessings as she completes her college journey. 

Feeling so good about this milestone and feeling boundless energy, I ran outside to aid her in one more way:  washed her car and cleaned the inside from top to bottom -- even found $5.00 that she was happy to see. 

I then resonated and proudly realized that I was able to give Ife the following:
1.) support as she left as opposed to nagging
2.) a sight of a family eating different types of foods and still sitting down and loving each other
3.) different options for eating:  vegetarian, vegan, raw / live
4.) a picture of her 56-year-old mother feeling happy, whole and fit

Raw Food in 2014

I am so glad to be back to raw food.  I do so much better when eating mostly raw / live foods (uncooked past 115 degrees farenheit).

Decided to make a raw meal for my anniversary dinner, as I am intent on not continuing to associate special days with cook de-natured food.

Tonight's memory will be made with raw pad thai kelp noodles; green beens; raw tacos; pecan tart.

Super excited. 

2014: The Harvest (in AFIYA'S GARDEN)

Hey, it's on.  Afiya is happy to kick off 2014 with a 100% raw food diet, with the intent to realize some tremendous life goals.  It will require great focus, clear intention, hard work, flexibility, determination, and I am ready.

Please share this journey and bring all your support of nuturing and challenge, and stay with me.  It is my hope that you will be inspired, challenged and will make your own bold actions to realize your dreams.

In AFIYA'S GARDEN, you will find inspirations, lessons, options and great harvest from real sowing. 

You are welcomed.