Halloween 2011

Do you dress up in costume to pass out candy to the trick or treaters? We don't, but I enjoy watching James pass out candy and speak with the little ones who knock on the door of the little hippie house. I have never celebrated Halloween, nor did my kids when they were growing up. But we celebrated Harvest and Autumn with a party at home with any of their friends willing to pass on the door to door candy hunt, or a special night out together instead of costumes and candy. I just could not take a chance that any of my precious children would be the one kid in thousands that ate tainted treats from strangers. So many people told me I was anal about it and I should let my kids have fun like all the other kids. But they knew my reasons and if someone asked them what they thought about missing out on Halloween trick or treating, they said they thought it might be fun but that we always did such special and fun things on Halloween and they could have candy any time, that they didn't feel bad about it. The youngest was three when their dad and I divorced; so when they were with their dad and step mom around Halloween, they were taken out trick or treating. I knew they were safe when they were with me; that was all I could do. I couldn't control their environment when they were with their dad, which wasn't very often after their dad and step mom moved out of state.
For everyone who celebrates Halloween, have a great one. Or a spooky one.

Sundays In My City

This is my favorite house in our little town.


This is James' favorite house in our little town.
These houses are way too large for us, but we like to see the variety of houses here.

Visit Unknown Mami's blog to see more posts with photos of other cities. On Mami's blog Sundays are like taking tours around the world without the hectic travel and expense.

Enjoy your Sunday.

Dog Pack Attacks Gator

Dog pack attacks gator in Florida.

At times nature can be cruel, but there is also a rare beauty and even a certain justice manifested within that beauty.

The alligator, one of the oldest and ultimate predators, normally considered the "apex predator", can still fall victim to implemented team work strategy made possible by the tight knit social structure and survival of the pack mentality bred into canines.

See the remarkable photo below courtesy of Nature Magazine.

Note that the Alpha dog has a hold on the gator preventing it from breathing, while another dog has a hold on the tail to keep it from thrashing. The third dog attacks the soft under belly of the gator.

NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH:

A friend sent this in an email. I got such a kick out of it I had to share with my blog friends.

We Have Been Living Without...

Wheat, grains aka gluten, carbs, sugar.

Watch This Video my hubby made:




We read the book Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis, an amazing human being, a preventive cardiologist, and a best selling author, and now, our friend.

When we do something, we do the Full Monty.

It was a one day chore to clean out everything in the cupboards and fridge with a grain ingredient. Then we purchased almond flour, buckwheat flour, coconut flour, coconut oil, and searched for wheat free, gluten free, low carb recipes.

Now: No more yucky stomach after eating!

For my entire life, after milk and cereal, my stomach was so bad, I thought I was lactose intolerant. I bought pills to take before I put any milk products into my mouth. Now I don't need the pills at all. I can get a piece of cheese and eat it without taking pills first. Who knew?

No more headaches!

No more water retention. (No swollen fingers, toes, face). Do you look at yourself in the mirror and see swollen puffy places under eyes, in cheeks, in neck? Just maybe it is the wheat causing that in you too.

Not as many mood swings! (Notice I didn't say "no more". I am a woman and I reserve the right to swing my mood any way I want.)

I have more energy and more interest in doing things, not just putting things off for another time!

I am weaning myself off blood pressure medicine. My blood pressure is better than it has ever been.

Eating natural foods has increased my sense of taste. Fortunately for me, I really enjoy all veggies and fruits. And I like meat and cheese and nuts.

I am losing weight and I am not on a diet. Changing the food I eat is a lifetime change for me, not a fad diet. Why would I ever want to return to a way of eating that aggravated my insides, made me moody, and packed on weight.

My internal thermostat has changed. As each week progresses without wheat, my body temp becomes more normal. I am not cold, or sometimes shivering. I have long ago said goodbye to menopause, so this was not night sweats or chills. Now I have a warmer body, able to enjoy outside activities in cooler weather.

I am sleeping better!

Now for some more big big news. James wrote a song about our experience of no wheat. It is really a cool song.

If you go to Dr Davis' blog and read his post about James here, you can go listen to James' song from Dr Davis' blog. Be sure to leave Dr Davis a comment and tell him thank you from James and me. His book has literally changed our life and I am sure it is not easy for him to stand firm against the pressure from many directions.

We are working on a video that will be done soon too so that will be here when it it finished.

Let me know what you think of the song. And while you are checking things out, give some thought to eliminating wheat long enough to see what I am talking about. Take care of yourself. Be the best that you can be. You are worth it.

Update: I added the video to this post.

Hugs,

Goodie Box

Have you ever received a goodie box? One with many little individually wrapped gifts?

The mailman brought a special box to our door. Inside were sixteen individually wrapped packages and some pictures and one book and a journal. I was so excited to sit down and open each package and ooh and ahh with each new discovery.

I was the giveaway winner on Cinner's blog Things About Who,What,When,Where and Why.


Inside the box was a totally cool wooden inlay magnet of a flying goose, the book, the journal, a black bracelet, a rhinestone bracelet,a daisy candle in a holder, a rock personalized by Cinner, a cool bag which I will use when I walk around town because it has zipped pockets for camera, phone, etc, a turquoise ring, two keychains, a crystal, a roll of white ribbon, four little plates that will go in the kitchen, a painting of Canadian mountains that Cinner painted, four metal charms, an angel statue for the garden, 3 heart decorations (see pic), black cloth napkins, very lovely lace, 24 pearl buttons(see pic), and a toy tractor(peeking out under the white ribbon)!When she mentioned her giveaway, Cinner was sparking interest in someone using some of the items in crafty ways. Well, it worked.


Now, that is a goodie box!

Thank you, Cinner, for the sweet letter and for wrapping each gift with so much love. I have ideas for so many of the items. James and I are rockin' out that all around our little hippie house will be reminders of you when I finish the little projects.
Hugs, Hugs, Hugs.

Sundays In My City

The Catholic Church in our city. Our little red car is in front.





Visit Unknown Mami's blog for all the other great posts linked to her blog and see the sights in other cities.

Enjoy your Sunday.

Crossing Paths

Photo found on Graphics Grotto.

We cross paths with so many people in a lifetime. How we look at them and how we treat each one says a lot about our character. Do we really see each person? Do we think we are a pretty good person because we discount only some of the people we meet? Only the ones who don't have the drive to "be" someone, to achieve enough to be recognized. That's all right, isn't it? We can justify ignoring and thinking less of some others because we have worked hard to be who we are, to get where we are, and it is good to be proud of our achievements. Crossing paths with someone who may want something from us, or who might take some of our precious time is only an inconvenience. We don't need to be respectful of each one we meet; some of them just don't deserve it.

I wonder how many people really live like this. Really believe this. Missing out on so much. So much.

Fable Of The Porcupine

I am probably the last blogger to see this. A friend emailed this to me.
It was the coldest winter ever. Many animals died because of the cold.

The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided to group together to keep warm. This way they covered and protected themselves. But the quills of each one wounded their closest companions.

After awhile they decided to distance themselves from each other, and they began to die, alone and frozen. So they had to make a choice: Either accept the quills of their companions or disappear from the earth.

Wisely, they decided to go back to being together. They learned to live with the little wounds caused by the close relationship with their companions in order to receive the heat that came from the others.
This way they were able to survive.

The best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect people; when each individual learns to live with the imperfections of others, they can admire the other person's good qualities.

Moral of the story: Just learn to live with the pricks in your life!

Sundays In My City

Visit Unknown Mami's blog for lots more posts with photos about other Sundays In My City.

Throw The Stick

Reflections

The reflection of clouds in the window was a bonus when I took this photo.

This is the first picture I have taken that I really like. I have this picture as wallpaper on my computer and I see each crack, each space in the bricks, but most of all I enjoy the clouds reflected in the window.

Reflection has a different meaning for me for the past few years. When I look in a mirror, or think about my actions and reactions, I am open to seeing the true reflection of my inner being. What kind of person am I really? What things do I still need to work on to be healthy and happy? (Besides not freaking out when I see a large spider).Do you check out your reflection as I do mine?

Sundays In My City

Some of the flowers in our yard.

Visit Unknown Mami's blog to enjoy more participating blogs posting Sunday In My City.

Some trees have begun to change colors but our flowers are blooming joyfully still. It will be interesting to see how many more months we have flowers to enjoy. All these flowers were near dead in little pots that the owner of the local hardware store gave me. I stuck them in the ground and they perked up immediately. We thank them every day.

Have a great Sunday!

The Sticky Note Club

I joined a new club. The only requirements are sticky notes, pen, open heart. Here are my supplies on my desk. Pat, at A View From The Edge, is the Prez of the club. Read her post here. Then come back and read this post. See ya.

Did you get a lump in your throat about the crumbled sticky note? Did you get fired up reading about Pat's determination to change the world one sticky note at a time? Well, then, you just joined the club. Post your pics of your sticky notes and link to Pat in your post. Look out world, love is gonna getcha!!

I Need Your Help

"I'm sorry I am like this."

"Sigh. That's okay. It is just something I have to endure."

Story about these spiders here.

I am a person who is usually barefoot. Not anymore.

Sundays In My City

Glorious Morning photos taken while standing on the street in front of our house looking in all directions.





Enjoy your Sunday!

Click on the link and see other posts sharing in Sundays In My City on Unknown Mami's blog.