I only ask because your face is bloated
and you’re distracted much of the time –
you don’t enjoy the things you used to
and the pep in your step is gone
You say you’re happy
and it makes you relax
but the TV and booze glaze your eyes
and your spirit is in the bottle
I am grateful for the early morning intention
To feed my daughters earth’s fruits
At lunch when I am absent
my love is omnipresent
I am grateful for the pesky wind
That musses “perfect” hair
And shouts sweet nothings in my ears
All are signs that I’m alive
I am grateful for the cuts on my fingers
They scream silently as I work
scabs, wrinkles, dry cuticles –
My hands are marked with ravages of time and labor
We cry from hunger pains
yearning to fill the void
but after we’ve eaten – with “bellies” full –
we’re left dissatisfied – a bit annoyed
Listless and sleepy,
we roll on to our side,
hoping to rest and feel content,
but conscious of the divide
No longer desirous, for
we ate the bread you gave,
but we’re bloated and numb
It was far better to crave
*Inspired by Mudcrutch
I’m going to sound like a terrible mom, but I packed raw carrots in my daughters’ lunches a few weeks ago for the first time this school year. After the first day, one of the teens said, “I love carrots! I felt so good after I ate it.”
With all the pre-packaged foods available now, (Lunchables, anyone? – ick!) it’s so easy to overlook the simplicity (and goodness) of washing, cutting and packing fresh fruits and vegetables for lunch.
It’s so easy!
It’s so good for you!
“Today, strong evidence exists that some of the vital nutrients found in many root vegetables — including vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium and dietary fiber — can help fight cancer, diabetes, obesity, and inflammatory-based disorders like heart disease and arthritis.”
A few facts from ScienceKids.com:
“A 2002 Oxford study found that insomniacs who counted imaginary ewes actually took longer to nod off. ” Mentalfloss.com
I’m taking painting classes through Creativebug.com (Lisa Congdon!) and last night, right before bed, I painted this:
I went to bed and when I woke up, I thought of a vintage dress a friend gave me over twenty years ago. It’s stored in a closet in my office – and I never look at it. Yet something evoked a need to look at the pattern:
Voila!
It makes you realize how your brain is working while you sleep. I notice that whatever I think about right before I go to bed is clarified somehow when I wake up. This is why watching informative and inspiring programs before bed is better than watching news…this is why reading a good book is better than arguing…and this is why asking yourself “How can I solve this problem?” is a better question than “Why me?”
Pomegranates are “among the healthiest of all fruits” according to healthline.com.
One of the most important nutrients they contain are “punicalagins.”
Punicalagins are extremely powerful antioxidants found in the juice and peel of a pomegranate.
They are so powerful that pomegranate juice has been found to have three times the antioxidant activity of red wine and green tea (3).
Pomegranate extract and powder is typically made from the peel, due to its high antioxidant and punicalagin content.
The poor, misunderstood ostrich!
The “head in the sand” saying originated as a reference to ostriches hiding their heads in the sand. It alludes to a belief that if you can’t see a predator, they can’t see you. Or, more figuratively, that you refuse to see a problem. However, ostriches do not do that. They lower their heads to eat, but they don’t hide in bushes or in sand.
Another misfortune for the ostrich: though they are birds, they cannot fly.
However, they have such strong legs, that they can kill a lion just by kicking him! (Kids National Geographic) In running, their stride can be as long as 16 feet and – they are the world’s fastest land animal.
Did you know that the ostrich’s eye is the largest of any land animal? (awf.org)
I listened to a podcast the other day. One sentence big takeaway: “If you want to know where your priorities are, take a look at your checking account.”
I realized I spend quite a bit on groceries and dining out. I love animals and I want to help, so I just made a donation to the African Wildlife Foundation. They are accredited by the BBB. I invite you to consider acting on your “priorities.”
Locals: There will be an Ostrich Festival in Chandler, AZ March 9 – 11!
Thyme on chicken,
mint in bourbon,
basil on pasta,
chives in omelettes, and
rosemary on potatoes –
Divine!
Kismet 