mermaidcamp

mermaidcamp

Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water

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Season of the Witch

August 26, 2014 — 1 Comment

When September sends kids back to school everyone starts to prepare for winter holidays.  I was at the grocery store yesterday and saw the entire seasonal section ready for Halloween.  It is still August but the candy, the costumes, and all the yard decorations are on display to get us in the mood.  Americans spend about 7 billion dollars annually on Halloween, according to the National Retail Federation.  More money is spent on adult consumes than on children’s costumes.  The season that begins Nov 1 and runs through Dec 16, known as the holiday shopping season results in 52 billion dollars in spending.  You might say that the slow warm up in both celebration time and money spent on Halloween is a drop in the bucket compared to the rest of the spending year.  People get very wound up with lists and crafts and party planners as New Years finally approaches.  The typical diet/fitness regime begins on January 1, along with new credit card redemption plans.  The remorse about over spending and over eating lasts about a month until Super Bowl time.

Fall is a natural time to store things and preserve them for winter.  Our ancestors endured heavy hardship if they did not prepare and store enough food for the winter months.  Harvest was a time of joy and celebration (perhaps not exactly like modern Day of the Dead) when neighbors came together and gave thanks for the crops they had grown.  They had to be mindful to keep enough and share enough to make it as community through the cold months.  Today we let the food banks worry about feeding society.  We follow an unnatural cycle of spending just when we should be doing some saving for future needs.  I suggest a few changes we can make to give the earth a better holiday season:

  • Buy locally made and locally grown products
  • Think twice before buying anything made out of plastic
  • Find crafty DIY ways to decorate with up cycled or recycled items
  • Teach your kids to give of themselves to those who need help
  • Limit the junk food treats as a central holiday theme
  • Don’t ask a single person if they’re ready for the holidays
pumpkin spice

pumpkin spice

glitter pumpkins

glitter pumpkins

Wild Garlic Grill in Tucson

August 25, 2014 — 5 Comments

We dined at the Wild Garlic Grill for the second time yesterday and vowed to go more frequently because it suits us perfectly.  The first time we ate there was on Easter when we were looking for something new and different.  Both times we have ordered from the daily special menu and have been mighty impressed with the cuisine.  The chef is skilled in creating contrasts with flavor, temperature, and surprise ingredients.  We remembered the cocktails because they are inventive and made with fresh ingredients.  Bob likes beer so he enjoyed a nut brown ale from a local brewery while I tried the fuzzy tini, a peach martini cocktail.

There is a vegetarian special all the time which revolves around sessional ingredients, so mine were very different from each other since the seasons had changed.  I think mine was the best bargain because it was so plentiful it came home and became a beautiful pasta salad to eat today.  Bob enjoyed his fish dish very much, reporting that  it was fresh and perfectly prepared.  We both had really cute yucca strips as garnish on top of our entrees.  Our portobello mushroom appetizer course filled us significantly because it was accompanied by warm french bread and a sauce that made us want to lick the plate.  It was made with mostly red peppers, I think.  When we asked for more bread the very accommodating server brought extra sauce as well.  Service was very well executed, which we remembered from our fist time.  You feel that your server is paying close attention to timing and making sure your needs are met without being intrusive.  In fact the whole operation suits us because attention is placed on high quality and good service instead of high overhead for the facility.  The bar is cozy and the kitchen open for viewing.  We like the local art work that includes portraits of stars of the horror genre.  The Wild Garlic Grill is a comfortable and delicious place to spend a happy hour, a brunch, or a dinner.  We will return often since it is close to home, and recommend it to anyone looking for a special individual dining experience.

Spiritual Crisis

August 14, 2014 — 3 Comments

What is a spiritual crisis? They are all over the biblical stories and the parables we are taught about heroes.  Some power that is not explained in the regular time bound reality has an influence on the character. Through hardship, or magic, or stressful change the hero, or the hero people,  become stronger than the force that had power over them.  There must be a zillion versions of this in video gaming.  Comic superhero figures and stories are based on supernatural battles in altered states with magical super powers thrown into the mix.  We see our religion and entertainment in terms of spiritual crisis pending or resolving, or causing trauma.  Why do we think of our everyday world as void of spiritual energy?  What makes us draw a line between reality and spirit?  Why do we think only shamans or monks have obligations to the spirit world?  Just as prayer and meditation will not repair the roof, tar and roofing tiles alone will not restore peace and security inside a home that has been bombed.  Everyone has both an earthly reality to tend and a higher meaning to life.

Looking at world events as evolving from a spiritual rather than  scientific or political causes might change the way we act and react.  Our own souls have certain obligations or tasks that coincide with the talents we have been given.  It is time to find right livelihood and spend our time and energy uplifting those who need help and who are seeking spiritual guidance.  At the end of life, no matter how and when that comes, we will not be concerned about how many insignificant tasks we have completed or how many hours we put on the clock doing busy work.  We will wonder if we have done what we have the talent to do, and if we have contributed the gift that was ours to create.  Much ado is being made about the suicide of Robin Williams this week.  Without diagnosing him or making light of all the circumstances (which I don’t know) I see this incident as a crisis of spirit, like the wars around the world.  It makes me sad, but I view it as a call for profound change.  We need to shift our outlook, about 2 octaves higher.

Vitex Agnus Castus

August 12, 2014 — 1 Comment

 

Vitex is a tree with powerful medicinal uses. It stimulates and normalizes the pituitary gland, regulating progesterone.  It can produce opposite effects at different times and in different subjects, which is known as an amphoteric remedy.  As a hormone balancer it is used for menopausal changes as well as to regulate the body after using birth control pills.  The common names of the plant, chaste tree, or monk’s pepper indicate that it is an anaphrodesiac, but in some circumstances it will act as an aphrodisiac.  The berries and the purple flowers are the parts of the plant most commonly used medicinally.  The berries are brewed as an infusion and drunk 3 times a day, or a tincture is made with alcohol as the carrier agent.  It both looks and smells a little like cannabis, but is not to be smoked.

The vitex agnus castus plant is ornamental and spreads easily by seed.  It likes well drained soil and plenty of sun to do well.   I have two growing in my garden, and a baby that has come up from seed.  I have not thought about selling the fruits and seeds, although when I price the product it makes me wonder if I should.  The herbal remedy has been used for centuries, and today there are many preparations and capsules created using vitex.  Weather you like it for the colorful floral display or for the medicine, vitex is a valuable addition to the garden.

Amaro, a Bitter Wonderland

August 11, 2014 — 4 Comments

 

full flavor of dessert

full flavor of dessert

I have been reading a lot about amaros in the blogging universe.  These herbal digestive concoctions, mostly from Italy, have become a new darling star of the cocktail bar scene.  Some bloggers are making their own mixtures by infusing brandy with combinations from their own gardens.  This is super appealing to me.  Typically served after dinner to aid in the digestive process, straight up or over a couple of ice cubes, the syrupy taste is a delight with a rich dessert.  I saw a selection of amaros on the menu at Feast and decided to try one with a malted chocolate cake with rich dense creamy caramel filling. We rarely eat dessert, so sharing one slice was plenty of sweet richness for both of us.  Bob tasted the amaro, but I sipped it throughout the dessert course between bites of the dense, full chocolate flavors in the cake.  The cake was garnished with candied grapefruit peel, which added another dimension of bitter and sweet to the finish.

I have not been a fan of bitter herbs or any kind of digestive tonic.  Since making my own bitters and shrubs this summer I have come to appreciate the ways bitterness enhances both health and flavor.  The liberal use of bitters in cooking is fun, and adds extra dimension that is hard to describe, but fills out the profile of any food.  More importantly, the flavor bitter stimulates the liver to produce bile, which one needs to digest fat.  I am not sure how many grams of fat were in my cake, but it felt like pure butter on the tongue.  I am guessing the count in butterfat was very high, but we only had a few bites which we enjoyed.  The sipping of the amaro did open up kind of a new way to feel and sense the whole process of dessert.  I have had after dinner drinks with brandy, eau de vie, or coffee, but have never sipped an amaro before.  I recommend it to anyone who wants to expand their sense of taste.  It happens to be good for digestion at the same time.  Cheers, to a slightly bitter ending to your meal!

Amaro with 2 cubes of ice

Amaro with 2 cubes of ice

Coffee vs Bacon, Battle to Dominate August

August 4, 2014 — 1 Comment

Two of the internet’s most darling substances are having their national recognition months in August. Before twitter I can’t imagine how people stayed filled up with bacon and coffee.  Now there is a digital sip and a crunchy imaginary bite around every corner.  To tweet with no coffee is to tweet a dull stream. A month of coffee celebrations could leave the nation jittery, but the addition of bacon means we are risking putting on some porky pounds in the process.  I imagine that National Bacon Month will attract the seriously obsessed, while the coffee month will go mostly unnoticed outside of Starbucks.  The good news about both of these months is that you do not need to indulge in or purchase any bacon or coffee to party with your digital friends.  The use of both digital bacon and digital coffee is ubiquitous.  To refuse it or to mention your dietary restrictions is very silly when all you have to do is digitally toast your coffee and share your bacon.  The official International Bacon Day is the Saturday before Labor Day.  Can you think of the best festive way to cheer up all your friends this month by serving coffee and bacon, or dressing up like these items?  Here are some dedicated posts ready to stir your creativity about bacon.

  • Have a parade-dress up in coffee or bacon costumes and walk down the street
  • Invite friends to a pot-luck on line- bring exotic coffee drinks and bacon themed snacks
  • Start an expressive arts contest- poetry, prose, visual arts derived from the inspiration of bacon and coffee
  • Find the most obscure uses for both coffee and bacon and tell everyone about them
  • Create a game in which coffee and bacon battle to be the one remaining digital sustenance available on the internet

If you had to go to a desert island and have only coffee or only bacon for a month, which one would you choose?  I would go with coffee.  Are you planning to celebrate either of these special occasions?  What are your plans?  What could be more important than this?

East End Fourth Friday, Austin

July 26, 2014 — 4 Comments

 

My neighborhood (in Austin) had a party last night which I enjoyed attending. On the 4th Friday of every month many of the businesses around here throw a small festival to celebrate being here. I did not last long enough to go to the free BYOB movie, but I did check out some places I had not even seen during my time here. This neighborhood was once the true home of black music in Austin. Later there were significant crime problems, and some real estate devaluation. From what I hear this was as rough as any scary urban area for a while. Now it is the rising star of commerce of the hippest kind. There are very cool stores, bars, restaurants, and of course food trucks. I started at Hillside Farmacy for a couple of drink specials, then moved on to Sagra for a couple of very personally crafted cocktails and a fried pizza.  The bands were arriving and the whole place rocking when I walked home.  I kind of thought I might go back later for dancing and the movie, but was fast asleep full and happy shortly after I arrived at the Airstream.   I had a great time, and even had a quick dance with Mama Jewel on my way home.  Perfect evening.  If I had any ambition to develop real estate I would do it right here.  Since that is not the case, I will develop friendships for the future.  I think this hood has about 5 years before the rent goes way up.  It is where the action is.  I can only hope the attitude and the available parking will last until I return.  This is a neighborhood business scene with real community support and diverse flavor.  I love it.

Tamale House East, Austin

July 22, 2014 — 6 Comments

Juan, happy camper

Juan, happy camper

chilaquiles breakfast

chilaquiles breakfast

busy kitchen

busy kitchen

sweet

sweet

daily tomato use

daily tomato use

la tamalera

la tamalera

the kitchen

the kitchen

Another day in Austin, another fabulous place to eat!!!! My brunch experience at Tamale House East today was out of this world…. or at least out of my normal world.   I cook Mexican food and have made plenty of tamales myself but there is always a regional and personal style to every dish. I have a world wide competition on the best preparation of huevos rancheros (classic), chilaquiles (subject to MUCH interpretation), and nopalitos.  The contest got started when some of my friends in Tecate were bragging that they made the best nopalitos.  I said, “Well, let’s see.”  They would bring me different versions of their specialties, all delicious. I would declare a tie (what kind of fool would declare a winner when the nopalitos were still flowing?).  The tie in nopalitos continues, just in case some of my commadres read this.

They are not big on the nopalito thing in Texas, but the other two are to be found in abundance. Taking my landlady’s advice again I went to Tamale House East. This old establishment is popular with the hipsters.  When I arrived they were playing Mexican music.  When the hipster busboy arrived he switched to obscure rock, and the student clientele started to stream in the door, around 10 am.  Lots of places around here do not open until 11 because methinks the collegiates are still sleeping until that time.  The plates are large for the breakfast specials, and include some very good beans and a couple of hot flour tortillas.  I could have gotten corn tortillas, but did not request it, so I enjoyed what I had.  They gave up lard, like most restaurants these days, because most people are no longer into it.  They still make one pork tamale with lard, but vegetarians will not be ordering that anyhow.  The place is spacious, comfortable  and colorful.  The staff is friendly and attentive.  The real reason to come here, though, is for the food.  The tomatillo salsa was just right with my chilaquiles topped with an egg.  I tried both of the house salsas on offer because that is how you know if you like the place.  Both were outstanding.

I went to the kitchen to give my compliments to the ladies who made my food and was met with a very warm reception.  I discussed tamales with the tamalera, who is from Guerrero (the state where Acapulco is).  She was very cool and told me she makes green corn tamales at home.  This is a Sonoran specialty not often found outside our zone.  I would recommend this restaurant to anyone.  If you have never tasted tamales, this is a great place to start.  If you are like me, very selective about your Mexican food, you will be more than pleased with the authenticity, the ambiance, and most of all the cuisine.  Y’all come. You will not be disappointed.

 

 

Chi Nei Tsang, Ancient Healing Art

July 13, 2014 — 3 Comments

I am lucky to have found, right in my neighborhood, a Chi Nei Tsang practitioner of great talent and ability. Her name is Desiree Maultsby and her practice is at Rooted Massage Therapy in Tucson.  I  wanted to address inflammation in my organs that was discovered at my thermography session.  Obviously my lifestyle and diet are under my own control and can be improved.  To help me better understand and improve the chi flow in my internal organs I wanted to use Chi Nei Tsang because I know it is effective.

Taoist practices are simple, yet complicated.  There is order, but there is a great deal of mystery as well.  Chi, universal energy, moves through the body and around it.  The way we direct chi, and allow it to flow will determine the state of our health and our mood.  The most basic way to think about chi in the abdomen is to bring to mind the proverbial knot in the stomach.  Stress, improper habits and diet, and other factors can constrict and block the flow of energy and circulation in the internal organs.  Deep breathing is the best way to relieve these constrictions and restore good function to all the organs.  With the help of a practitioner a chi nei tsang session can bring dramatic and instant results in healing congestion in the abdomen.  There are simple practices of self massage and breathing techniques that can be done between sessions to greatly enhance the results.  This is, for practical purposes, a meditation technique.  Your awareness will grow from this practice, of both the power of your breath, and the importance of freeing up energy in the organs.

Physical issues that bring pain to the abdomen may very well be related to trauma held in the gut.  Breathing techniques and sound vibrations have healing effects on the specific organs.  Your practitioner will guide you by giving you meditative instruction as well as reminders about breath.  By working very closely together in this way deep psychic wounds you don’t even know you have can be healed.   The treatment is not at all like a Swedish massage, which I really like for the pleasurable feeling at the time.  This is a full on transformational pursuit.  If you want to chat or stay on the surface, then chi nei tsang is not for you.  You remain clothed and the treatment takes place on a mat on the floor, to make the best use of gravity.  I am very impressed with the progress my body has made in just three sessions with Desiree.  I recommend her work to anyone interested in making profound changes.  She provides plenty of supplemental information for those who want to do their homework.

 

Rue

July 11, 2014 — 12 Comments

 

When the Pope sprinkles holy water he dips it in a branch of rue. Ruta graveolens is used medicinally as well as ceremonially.  In ancient Rome there were celebratory foods prepared with rue.  It is poisonous in large amounts and should not be consumed by pregnant women at all.  There is a homeopathic remedy that is very popular made with this plant.  Mexican folk medicine prescribes leaves of the plant stuck directly into the ear to cure an earache.  In gardening it is prized for its ability to repel insects from the area where it grows, making it a very good companion.  I grow it at the back of my garden by the gate because it is a protector plant.  It repels any unwanted attention, human, insect, or otherworldly.

The prophet Mohammed blessed this herb and none other.  Early Christians used it to  exorcise evil spirits.  During the Middle Ages it was hung in the doorway to repel evil, the plague, and witches.  Italians had a custom of adorning a silver amulet shaped like the top of  rue plant, a cimaruta, with symbols of fertility.  This magical charm was used to protect the user against the evil eye.  Medicinal uses as well as magical ones have been recorded for centuries, but the way I like to use it is in the bath.  Make a sachet of rue and create a strong tea in the bathtub by brewing in very hot water for 10 minutes or so before adding water to hit the bath temperature you desire.  To add an extra helping of magic to this bath I spread honey on my face and leave it on while I soak in the tub.  After rinsing the face feels very soft and the entire body, as well as the aura, is clean and clear.  These baths are great before a meditation session or a creative project.  Clearing and protecting are positive ways to influence your moods, your focus, and your ability to rest and relax.  If you need protection from evil, or just from too much stress, try a rue bath.