NEW YEAR'S GLOBAL JUICE FEAST!!!

So the ever-inspiring David Rainoshek and the his equally so glowingly-pregnant wife Katrina Rainoshek are spearheading a New Year's Global Juice Feast for the month of January!

I was already planning on doing a feast for a week - I don't think I could a) afford to go longer, or b) could tolerate the cold. There is still snow everywhere! Unheard of in these parts!

I had a lovely Solstice and Christmas and Hanukkah - doing them all in grand inclusive melting-pot style! Simi and Paddy delighted me with a whopping gift-certificate to Café Bliss - raw galore! raw delights! raw yum!

It was so sweet Christmas dinner - which was a a sit-down affair with family and friends for 10 - had turnkey, ham and salmon -- and then there was devine raw spinach salad, and one friend made me a lovely raw dip, and the other made raw cranberry sauce for the feast! I've got such wonderful friends!

So as the New Year hits...I will be posting my daily feast impressions and doings!

Warm Juice!

It's cold! And the appeal of cold juice just diminished!

However, in keeping with the raw food ideal of less than a 115 F degrees heat, I've been heating water in the kettle and adding it to my juices! Delicious winter comfort drink!

David and Katrina are kicking off a one-month Global Juice Feast starting January 1st 2009 -

I can't afford to do the full thing, I don't think -

but I am keen to do at least a week!

We'll see -

but now off for some liquid warmth!

Bronwyn

Snow, Moon, Tree, Lights!

It SNOWED! About 5 inches of white everywhere! I just loved the hush of the streets - punctuated by the sounds of kids laughter! Sheer delight!

I am excited and relieved...I started my moon cycle for the first time since going raw -- I would have occasional drops of blood but no flow - no my body seems to be telling me okay, I get it - you're raw, and has settles into the rhythm of my lifestyle and eating choices!

Last night after returning from Pender Island, we set up our Christmas Tree -- something I love to do - since our tree ornaments are filled with stories -- I have my first ornament ever bought for me by my grandmother, and my daughter has her first ornament bought by her as well, this time it being her great-grandmother - decorations I made when I was little - everyone has a story! We equally light the menorah during Hanukah - to remember my Jewish roots as well! Plus, Solstice is a great celebration too!

And our Christmas lights are up too!

And I was just awarded an A+ in my Design Aesthetics course...apparently the highest grade my teacher has ever awarded anyone in this class since she's been teaching it over the years!

Good times!

Juice Feasting Green Room!

A photo of me...just a few weeks back...holding the newest member of our Lasqueti land co-op: Basha! I include this photo as I have started adding in on some of the Juice Feasting Green Room's discussion forums -- and have told JFers that they can follow my journey over 108 days through this blog. There are other fabulous documentating-style blogs of Juice Feasts out there - peruse and find your favourites. Raw "guru" Angela Stokes also wrote an e-book on her 92 day juice journey, whch can be purchased from www.rawreform.com - it's a good read too.
So this photo is included to illustrate how I am doing now! Questions have been asked of me regarding did I keep the weight off, etc. --

The answer to that is I dropped 48 pounds over the juice feast, once I transitioned to solids (predominantly salads, olives, fruits) I continued to lose -- in the height of the summer I was 96 pounds - and starting to ring some alarm bells for people - some saying I was getting a bit skeletal. I felt great, but do realize that I was perhaps about 4 pounds or 5 under what would have been best. I have traditionally been a heavy set person, and so I enjoyed the ease and fluidity of the lack of weight. I felt like a whole new person post JF - from a cellular level out and up.

Now it's December, and through the Fall I would vary between the 96 and 100 pounds -- I expected I would have put more on, but no. Now in December, I'm up to 110 roughly. People say I look great...but my optimum comfort and lightness of being resides a little less - about 5 pounds less. Did three days on smoothies - but ended up making up for loss of solids and the subsequent days ate much more!

Today I'm really into spinach salads, with my freshly made organic purple cabbage w/garlic and cumin infused sauerkraut (natural source of B12 and awesome digestive enzymes), and some raisins...and a dressing of raw apple cider vinegar (omega is the best brand - with mother), olive oil, high quality course salt, pepper, unpasturized brown rice miso -- lovely, simple.

Juicing more again too.

Am adding a sprouted brown rice protein powder to some of my smoothies too.

Just made great Carob Almond Bars for a cookie exchange I went to - mine being the only raw ones:

1 c. sunflower seeds
1 c. raisins
2 T. raw honey
2 T. carob powder
1 c. almond butter
1/2 c. sesame seeds (optional)

In food processor, chop all seeds/nuts. Add remainder of ingredients to make smooth thick paste. Roll into 1" balls, roll in finely shredded coconut.

Makes 2 dozen

*** note from Michelle: the sesame seeds are optional, but I suggest using them --- makes the texture like a Nestle Crunch Bar

- from Wholistic Life Center
Please note I tried making these at first in my Blendtec blender - food processor is the key!


The following are some shots of me over the course of my feast:

DAY 2:



2 or 3 weeks in:


DAY 24:



IN HOSPITAL ABOUT ONE MONTH IN:


All of a sudden there were uploading errors -- but I'll continue when able to do 1 week post feast, 2 weeks, etc.


Cheers, Bronwyn

Café Bliss Video! - with Simi and I in it, sipping a smoothie -- check it out!

Check out the video made for Café Bliss - our beloved Victoria raw food café -- Hezi, Katrina's sister and my fellow juicelucker Ayrie's daughter!

Enjoy!

Fabulous copper results in!

So what is that a photo of?!?!

YES...copper pennies!

I have been quite concerned that I may have spiked my copper levels out of range with my nut and avacado consumption -- but no!
Sweet news -- my copper levels (as tested accurately by the lab of the University of Michigan -- came back within normal range...and not only that, on the lower end of the acceptable range!

So I have not been silently poisoning myself!

Yay rawness!

2 days all liquid!

So - that day I just wrote about (yesterday) of craving juice - did so, but had a miso soup in the evening - wanting warm, but still to remain with the liquid -

and today, a day of smoothies and miso soup!

tomorrow?!

who knows...

start w/ smoothie - possibly transition to a salad!

and today was my last day of school! great day brought simi with me! --

but yesterday, I backed into a BMW sportscar - yikes! and just before Christmas!

Juice day!

Liquid nourishment! Craving it! Wanting to feel that just wee bit lighter that I was in the summer - I'd like to drop 5 or 7 lbs. -- but more importantly was craving green juice! (hard for me to imagine considering my propencity towards fruit juices. So an early morning dash to the store -- all organic beets, carrots, spinach, ginger, grapefruit, lime, salad assorted mix, celery --
good, but very strong juice, as I initially put in one whole lime, rind et al. -- quite sharp - but incredibly rejuvinating feeling!

Went to a wee craft fair today, and went pricing wood stoves for our new house - pricey but beautiful!

My grand-father was down for a rare visit which was so dear to me -

And am off to a show of improvised dance along side poetry from around the world in various languages!

Cheerio,
Bronwyn

Frozen pee!

Now either that title served to draw you in...or repulsed you completely...to the point where you might choose not to read on!

But there is truth in the matter --
over the weekend I did a 48 hour urine collection to determine my copper and zinc levels -- collecting pee, storing it in containers in the fridge, and then sending off a couple little viles, after being frozen, through international courier service to the University of Michigan Hospital lab -- I am hoping for positive results. I did the same test a couple weeks ago here, with the results being sent to Vancouver to the Children's Hospital (why Children's I do not know) -- but those results aren't in yet, and the ones from Michigan will be a lot more precise.

With the knowledge they will provide, I'll be able to gauge my nuts consumption with solid figures to base my judgments on! I'm looking forward to being able to do so...

On the weekend I went for my first ever trip to Costco. Well, as you imagine, I was not avidly turned on - I did find an awesome deal on enviro-friendly laundry soap and some new sheets - but when I got to the end of the store where they sell all the grotesque food en mass -- all you need: 55 packs of Kraft dinner, and 28 hotdogs...yikes! it was one of the only time I've been truly repulsed in a food store. I handle just fine the majority of the time. I got out of the glutonous food aisles as fast I got in. I was told they occasionally have good deals on organics -- I wasn't prepared to wade through to find them.

So...last time I figured I might introduce quinoa -- as of today, I have not.

One week left of school, projects getting final touches on them and put together. I've been working on conceiving and building a set model for Edward Albee's The American Dream-- great play -- a recommended read. I've really enjoyed this term. Very stimulating.

One thing that has been interesting is that I have been gaining weight. I expected to. Initially I thought I would immediately post-juice feast. But no. In fact I lost a bit more. Then it was as we entered fall. And initially for the first couple months - Sept and Oct. -- I stayed relatively the same. But it seems as if in the last month, I've gained about 7 or 8 pounds. I'm not sure of the accuracy of any of these numbers considering I've got a scale that is not exact...but I'm feeling a bit heavier. I have fewer protruding bones on my sternum and my cheeks are filling in a bit -- but I do notice is that when I felt best, was at a few pounds lighter. There is also the possibility that I'm gaining heavier muscle...I've started to work on my abs for about 5 minutes ever morning and evening - for two reasons: I do have more of a loose, distended belly area ever since pregnancy and I also need to gain strength for working on Lasqueti this summer. Helping build the house and clear land will take strength and stamina!

Oh! and I'd like a clarification, if anyone knows the answer -- this morning I had unpasteurized miso soup for breakfast -- (delicious variety from Denman Island, BC) -- so I was told that the soybeans in miso are simple fermented - not roasted first and then fermented. Is that right?! So unpasteurized miso raw? do tell....do tell.

Au revoir,
Ciao,
And good night!

Election and quinoa?

Hey there...

in my last post I mentioned that I was heading up to Lasqueti for the election - well Nov.15th was the day -- and was the day I lost by 10 votes! It was disappointing -- but considering the fact that I don't currently live on Lasqueti -- it's a pretty darn amazing that I received so many votes! It was likely a blessing in disguise though, as now I can focus on teaching my Action Theater more prolifically and sending my writing off without a brutal up-and-down to the island sort of lifestyle! I had 6 great years - and who knows, I might try again one year!
My trip to Lasqueti was wonderful in the sense that I did get to meet my new little land partner Basha born on Nov.3rd and got to spend time on our new housesite!

So...still raw. Was very tempted to introduce some cooked rice to a salad when I was on Lasqueti - but I think my first inclusion will be cooked quinoa so that I get the protein. I also got some sprouted brown rice protein powder to add to smoothies. I do know that I need to add a little more oomph to my diet. My protein numbers were within range, but on the low end - they should be higher to further my healing! So what was breakfast? Sprouted chickpea hummus and carrots! Yum!

It's been awhile...update on me!

HELLO, HELLO, HELLO!

It's been a while since I last posted on the 25th of September --
so here we are -- the leaves are turning colour fast and furiously - and so to is the overall sky and weather - have just come from a few days of hard rain and total grey!

So how and I doing? What am I doing? And how's it all working out?

So, Food wise...and more accurately raw food-wise --
I am still doing the raw foodie lifestyle, but a lot of questions are being raised for me and questioning if I'm doing some harm to myself with this diet --
It's an odd mix...I feel amazing still, but on the other hand I am having a resurgence of some of my old Wilson's symptoms...i.e. I am shaking way more, I'm experiencing numbness occasionally in my fingers, my moods are a bit edgier, and I'm getting a heavy eye-lid again -- these things scare me -- and raise so many questions for me.
I am being very clear not to jump to any rash decisions or actions -- there are two scenarios that I feel could be possible! - 1) too little protein! and 2) my copper levels have risen high again by my nut and seed consumption.
I have been pouring over charts of copper values in foods...and I marched myself in for blood work, which will check my protein levels, and I'll do a 24 h urine test next week to assess my copper levels!
Possible ideas I'm considering is to add cooked quinoa (high protein) to my salads and possible introducing raw feta cheese too!
My weight has come up about 5 pounds since summer, which makes sense!
School continues to go well!
I did a week-long workshop with my teacher Ruth Zaporah in Action Theater --
it was wonderful!
I am now teaching a couple of Action Theater classes - one for kids, one for adults --

they are going well!
And plus, I'm on the re-election campaign trail for my position as Islands Trustee for Lasqueti Island -- since i don't live on-island now, it's a way further shot of the possibility of getting re-elected. I have many hurdles to cross in peoples' minds -- I'm not there, and my health raises questions for folks too. So...election day is November 15th -- I will keep you posted!
Plus, I went to Lasqueti for Halloween - I'm in costume as Miss Lasqueti, along side fellow candidate Jen Goby -



Now...I'm off to eat!

Flashbacks of COLD!

Here I am on Day 3, and not only do I want to eat (I cannot fathom at this point how I managed 108 days...probably because I had far need for motivation...it was never a struggle mind you...never!), BUT...I am also COLD. Yes, it is raining...and yes, this feast is ironically in honour of the Fall Equinox (in other words, cooler, rainier days) -- but I'm feeling it! I can't wait for tomorrow morning!

But I have made some damn fine juice over the couple of days! -- and i do feel that clean lightness!

I received a question as to whether I make my own hummus...the answer is YES! and as follows:

I soak the chickpeas for a minimum of 24 hours...preferably 36 -- makes them the sweetest my dear natural nutritionist friend Anna told me -- then into the Blendtec they go with some olive oil and a whack of raw tahini and salt and usually a little cayenne and some lemon. Presto! Delicious!

Day 2!

I wanna eat! Though I've made some tasty juices, I must say I really want some salad and some raw sprouted chickpea hummus! Yum! The end is near though...tomorrow! yeehaw! I can't wait!

DAY 1 of 3 day mini-juice-feast and Angela Stokes on CNN!

Today is my first day of a Fall Equinox juice feast tune-up! It's feeling awesome! I must admit I was feeling reluctant beforehand...but now it's reminding my body of how wonderful juice is!

I just saw the CNN coverage that CNN did on Angela Stokes -- it was wonderful. Short (1 and half minutes) but concise and direct -- really beautiful. Definitely no wackoness. What a relief. I tried to attach the link...but couldn't -- look it up on www.cnn.com -- search angela stokes.

Love Bronwyn

MAJOR CLARIFICATION NEEDED ABOUT MY LAST POST IN REGARDS TO ANGELA STOKES...Please read!

(Angela Stokes and Matt Monarch in photo)

Dear All,

I must make an immediate clarification and subsequent apology for any misunderstanding my last blog post caused in relation to Angela Stokes...allow me to explain:

I received an e-mail last night from Matt Monarch (Angela Stokes' partner, and equally in his own right major raw food spokesperson and author). He said that that blog post brought him to tears (as he has Google Alerts which flag to them any use of their names on the web). It was his reading of my post that I was calling Angela "a wacko" -- misinterpreting what I was intending to be a comment about CNN. I was surprised to learn that it was CNN doing the filming, and then subsequently fearful as I have no regard for the CNN, sensationalist broadcasting, skewed style of reporting they do. I should have phrased my last post comment's far more clearly...it was a fear i was voicing, fearing that CNN may portray Angela as "the wacko of the week!" It was my hope that they don't add to some of the negative stigma around raw food. But, Angela, standing and speaking in her glory is the most beautiful testament to the power and absolute vitality of raw foods. For this undue distress I caused, I sincerely apologize to both Matt and Angela. I was so disturbed that this inadvertently happened, that I had the worst time going to sleep. It's tough when you insult or hurt someone that you so much respect for. I did very much enjoy the speech. By first intermission at 9:30 at night, I had to leave....otherwise I would have been a non-present audience member. But my first introduction to the concepts of raw food was at David Rainoshek's talk about JuiceFeasting, and hearing about Angela Stokes really, really inspired me. The lovely thing about receiving Matt's email was to see how quick he was to respond in defense of Angela. Truly beautiful. Really, really beautiful. I would be interested in anybody else's responses to my last post -- did anyone else read it in the same way as Matt Monarch did? My apologies all around!

Love Bronwyn

Angela Stokes, David and Katrina Rainoshek -- all in the same room!

Hello my fellow raw-foodists, juice-feasters, friends, family...or those just plainly interested in finding out more about me!

Well, Wednesday evening, I went to hear Angela Stokes speak down at Café Bliss...David Rainoshek introduced her, fresh back from Raw Spirit fest...so I felt honoured to be sitting in a raw food café with some of the 'big-wigs'!

My neighbour came and so did my Mum, as an act of interest and support. I must say though I enjoyed it...I was hoping for a bit more factual information about raw food -- a more David-based approach somewhat -- I even left at the intermission...not really interested in hearing more...and feeling like I carried anything away except "she's a nice lady!" -- there was a CNN crew filming her too -- so be on the lookout -- for who knows what though...'The wacko of the week'?! I know that if I was all ready raw, her talk most definitely would not have persuaded to be. Dissapointing.

Earlier that morning, I went to meet my new GP (as my old one had to leave the practice). I have never before in my life gotten so pt off and started crying after a doctor's appt. (i've been really fortunate!) He refused to give the juice feast any credit, and was harping on me severely about being raw and my weight. Problem is...there's a long waitlist for virtually every doctor in this town.

On a great note...I'm loving school. 3 classes is just right. And I can't sleep at night for all my creative envisionning keep me up!

xox Bronwyn

My BIG NEWS, Touching base with fellow Victoria JuiceLuckers...and Café Bliss!

THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR HAS BEGUN! ~ FOR BOTH ME AND SIMI!

I've had one day of school so far...and I'm already succumbing to the stress of it! The problem with us perfectionists! I so badly want to a degree...but the hoops one must jump through and hurdle often seem to defeat the intent. I cycled up on Thurday to school...in 15 minutes, uphill...which was quite the accomplishment for me! My first class: Design Aesthetics (read: drawing, more drawing, and even a little more fine motor control on top of that!) -- in short the class that will be exceedingly challenging for me with my hand. And of course, the minute I landed on campus, my shaking increased dramatically. The teacher of that class really wants me in the class (i showed up in my tutu and she is a costume designer...!) -- but still I feel the pressure. For some reason my mantra that I keep telling myself , to go for the enjoyment of it, hasn't quite sunk in yet. What happens remains to be seen.

So...my big news: I finally have a book contract sitting in front of me to sign! So I will become a published author of a children's book! yeehaw!

So, us Victoria JuiceLuck crew are working hard on coordinating our schedules to make a date to film another check-in video (we have had many requests!) -- Today Constanze and I met up at the Moss Street Market and we took a photo of the two of us together! I talked to Robyn, and I commented on how I'm loosing weight, and she says she just keeps gaining and gaining weight back. Ayrie and Constanze are still pretty stable, having gained a few pounds after being off sailing and traveling and the disruption of them. Myself, I seem to be fluctuating between 94 (which was my lowest) to 100...usually about 96 pounds. I increased my nut consumption, but that is not intelligent or safe for me, so I'm going to pull back...and I had an interesting reaction today, when I went to Café Bliss (Victoria's raw café, run by Hezi, Ayrie's daughter and Katrina's sister). I had a plate of food, which had a sour cream mixture made of cashews and macadamia nuts -- it immediately made me feel ill, as if my body was rejecting the nuts -- enough! no more! I heard! and I'm listening! Hopefully tonight I'll make a batch of sauerkraut, and possibly get some crackers under way!

Raw Mania and Simi's First Day of Grade Two!

So, here I am...STILL RAW! Still raw, still feeling great, and also still losing weight. At this point, I must stop losing weight. Weighed in at 94 ponds this morning. Part of the reason being that I have built up very little muscle mass...which now is presenting itself with apparent need. I've also just consulted David and Katrina Rainoshek, of juice feasting fame, with pointers as to curb the weight loss. A raw protein powder? Raw dairy? I'm looking into my options!

Just spent Labour Day weekend on Lasqueti - chainsaw et al. Falling some trees that we'll use for firewood, window trim, and which clears out a future organic gardening area! Plus, the highlight was to be able to attend my dear friend Barb's 85th birthday party -- a true inspiration -- 85 and still motorcycle down trecharous dirt roads!

Back last night, and up this morning for Simi's first day of grade two. I sewed her a polka-dot explosion skirt, which she looked beautiful in!

And so, when I pick her up...we'll go do it up raw at either Café Bliss or Mo:Le.





Feeling great. School starts for me on Thurday!

Land, Land-partners...and an upset, funky tummy!

We just spent another weekend on Lasqueti Island, where we're building a house...so another few days of back-to-the-land livin' and lovin'! And...for the second time ever we had a gathering of all of our land partners (as we cooperatively own 100 acres - 5 couples!) -- so, I'll include a photo of us happy bunch!

Along with our splendid weekend came a funky tummy! And this has been carrying through for the past few days. In fact yesterday after having a 100% raw meal downtown yesterday, I got out of the restaurant, and felt like I had to throw up. I made it out, on the bus, and home...but then could only lay on the couch with no energy while the food passed through. Hmmm? Today was a lot better...but still, my body seems not to want to accept food.


I made a fresh batch of sprouted chickpea hummus and a raw dip with soaked sunflower and pumpkin seeds, two juice from limes, salt, water, tons of fresh basil, and blend it all together. Yum!

Been craving fruit! The corner store only had non-organic fruit, but I went for it! It did the trick!

Am considering doing a Fall tune-up juice feast starting at Equinox. Maybe for a week. We'll see. I'd love to do it with the whole Juice Luck crew.

Planted some kale transplants and purple sprouting brocolli starts. Hopefully they'll offer something this winter.

Spent the day sewing Simi a back to school polka-dot skirt! Fun! and Satisfying!

Metabolism Superb!

I'm just back from 6 days on Lasqueti Island, which entailed a mixture of house-surfing, couch-surfing and tenting for my daughter and I. It also entailed gardens full of vegetable and fruit bounty! Greens galore, bleuberries, plums, all-around goodness -- peas, basil, tomatoes! Just fabulous!

So, I'm resting now (according to my scale) at about 99/100 pounds in the morning, before eating anything! I feel great! Now, it's time to start rebuilding muscle -- I've started with some abdominal strengthening exercises (I've got a lot of distended belly skin and muscles from pregnancy)!

So one thing I've noticed is just how finely tuned my metabolism is now! I'm getting the direct energy from my food -- and I'm eating a lot! I'm eating way more now evidently than during the juice feast, but Ive lost another 2-3 pounds! My eliminations are regular and usually a couple times a day -- and very green! My friend Anna, in the photo - my cooperative land-partner and salad-maker-extraordinaire would create masterpieces for me...and my friend Jenna made a special raw dip with soaked seeds for me for when I came over! Wonderful times!

BC Day and Cracker recipes!

Yesterday was BC Day -- and it was a grand day with 60,000 people in the Inner Harbour! I saw Sarah MacLaughlan -- a tremendous set -- then left before Feist -- the sun was going down and it was getting chilly!

So, I had a request from Audry to post the cracker recipes:

Black Sesame Sunflower Seed Bread

1 cup ground flax seeds
1/3 cup whole flax seeds
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 clove garlic
2 Tbsp yellow onion chopped fine
1 1/3 cups water
2/3 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 black sesame seeds

Mix well. Spread evenly on a dehydrator tray. Dry for up to 24 hours (tops!), likely way less depending on thickness at between 105-115 degrees F. Score the crackers several hours in, so that they will break off in the sizes you want easily!

This recipe is fairly basic in terms of taste -- I tried options where I added a lot more onion and fresh ground pepper - YUM! Plus, ones where I sproated red quinoa (replaced the sunflower seeds with that) and soaked sundried tomatoes (making sure they're organic...no sulfates!), fresh basil and oregano!

HAVE FUN - EXPERIMENT!

Biking-Sauerkraut-Dehydrated Cracker-Mumma!

Big news for me! I CAN RIDE A BIKE AGAIN! Yeehaw! My balance is back -- and when I jumped on, I felt like I'd never stopped biking (except for untoned leg muscles!) My first ride? My daughter Simi and I biked across town to the Moss Street Market Farmers Market! It feels amazing - healthy, outdoorsy, freedom-regaining, and carbon footprint-lowering! So, I've always wanted a cruiser bicycle, one which I can sit up straight on not hunched over on a road or mountain bike. And then, as if there was some cosmic interferance...I found a beautiful cruiser bike: an Electra 'Daisy' being sold used. And it is now mine! A 3 speed with coaster brakes! I just love her!

So...I took my first batches of sauerkraut out of my crocks! Delicious! The batch made with red cabbage and cumin seeds is positively brilliant - in taste and colour! The other batch is good too - cabbage with carrots and carroway! Another success!
And I've started experimenting making dehydrated crackers - YUM! I followed the basic recipe that my friend gave me firstly...but me, being me, started experimenting madly -- and made two amazing variations so far: an onion-pepper cracker and a sundried tomato-sproated quinoa-basil one -- great stuff!
Last night we headed downtown to the Symphony Splash -- where the city's symphony is floated on a barge in the inner harbour, and about 30, 000 people gather on the grass to listen. I unfortunately did not enjoy it as much as in past years. Tonight, it is another big night of free music -- as it is British Columbia's 150th Birthday-- there will be a big free music concert all day on the grounds of the legislature, featuring Feist and Sarah MacLaughlan. Should be good. Off to prep some smoothies for the event!

Raw summer lovin'!

I am on a RAW HIGH!

Today I went to my friend Hezi's newly opened raw restaurant: Café Bliss (for all you locals it's next to Mo:Le on Pandora in Victoria -- go! go! go!) -- it was absolutely, phenomenally sensational. My daughter had sweet crackers, with almond butter and jam, plus a strawberry smoothie with almond mylk -- I had the Baja Plate: yam chips with macadamia/cashew nt sour cream, freash salsa, and guacamole! To die for! 100% raw and 100% organic! I'm so proud of Hezi (Hezi is Katrina's younger sister, and Ayrie's daughter, for those of you loyal followers).

So.......

Last night, we rolled in from a terrific week-and-half family holiday...summer fun!



First, we went to the three day-long Vancouver Folk Festival -- amazing music (and the festival had a raw food stand this year -- but as word spread, they quickly sold out!) -- Michael Franti and Spearhead played -- what an incredible, inspiring show! For the entire weekend, we were surrounded by family and friends and positivity. What joy.

Next we headed up to the Okanagan part of the province, stopping firstly at the Similikameen River, which I named my daughter after. The Okanagan is the fruit-growing area --and my Grampa has an organic orchard -- I gorged on pounds and pounds (most literally) of cherries and apricots! Having the runs doesn't even come close to describing cherry-butt!

Then off to Nelson, to visit with Paddy's son Cedar. Fun times, including outdoor markets, raw cafés (note the plural), river rafting, and more! Wonderful times.

Heading back west, we stopped at the Kettle River -- old gold mining territory from the gold rush era. More river rafting, and more sun.

By this time, I felt that my eating schedule was off -- Paddy and I were both suffering from the runs -- and I felt 5 - 10 pounds heavier from the fruit. Turns out, as I weighed myself this morning, that I've lost a couple pounds. This morning I did get up and juice: pineapple, strawberries, pear, and orange -- just craving a bit more liquid. I also replenished my olive supply, and set out some chickpeas and sprouts to soak.

It looks like Simi and I will head to Lasqueti on Wednesday -- in the meantime, this weekend, we'll be partaking in the free music festivities downtown in honour of BC DAY: the Symphony Splash and a concert with Sarah McLaughlan and Feist!

Now, I will settle down to read my Shambala Sun Magazine...

Stimulants -- not in any need of!

I've been clocking my relationship with food ever since the beginning of the feast...

I weaned myself off coffee about a good month before the feast, by drinking high quality organic Genmai Cha green tea. I love it and started to project (pre-feast) my potential inability to give it up. However, as of Day 1, I dropped it too -- and I've never turned back. Now, I can still enjoy the aroma of freshly ground coffee, but have absolutely no iota of an inkling to drink any. That would seem to disrupt this beautiful equilateral balance I've got going on within my body. The food I ingest these days...the fresh salads, the sprouted chickpea hummus, the olives, the hemp hearts...are all serving as my STIMULANTS!

Then there was the period of my feast for about the first month where I was craving steaks, meat, the smell of barbequing food would make me salivate. That passed. Then I began wondering how I would possibly avoid eating Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips, once back to food (this was quite a worry!) -- then I developed my love of cooking/preparing food for others, as the other cravings/fears subsided.



Now that I'm successfuly almost one month (just shy a few days) of having returned to solids, none of these fears have presented themselves as problems. I can easily walk through a food store or be around others eating with no desire of joining in with their style of food. i am so very conscious of what goes into my body, and aware of how it digests. BMs are good and frequent, too!

Ah! What joy! What freedom!

Chewing and speaking!

So I've noticed a big shift in the way i chew my food -- I SAVOR IT! -- each bite is a mini-meal in itself, not to shoved ind swallowed. It means I need less food and don't then feel over stuffed soon afterwards. I still feel very in tune with my body that way.

I also noticed differences in the way I speak with people -- there is way more of a compassionate one (which was always inside me, but didn't necessarily come out through my speech) -- there is greater patience and time, a backing down, or softening at times, as I know I can have a very dominant personality

My course ends tomorrow which I'm sad about...but at least there's the farmer's market to go to afterwards!

So while I was doing my course, Paddy was up on Lasqueti, framing our floor for our new house. Take a look!

In Love with Possibility!

I am in the midst of one of the most transformational, inspiration-laden moments of my life!

I am taking the most phenomenal (warning:there will be lots of superlatives!) courses I've ever taken. It is all about theatre and young people -- but using theatre/drama in some of the most innovative ways I've ever come across. If only every classroom - both for children and adults could be like this one! After my first class, I stayed up, re-opening old poems, plays, stories and creative projects I'd done or started. I went and saw the Andy Warhol exibit in town. I started going on long walks. And I started to pen the latest children's book book circulating in my head (I have another kids book that was accepted for publication!). The sun is shining and I am in love with possibility!

21 Day post-feast update:
-seemed to have gained about 5 pounds back. It's making me feel heavier. I don't want to gain any more back. I think I might integrate more juice back into my diet, instead of salads three times a day. I figure I must have the most alkaline body though with all the apple cider vinegar I'm consuming with salad dressings, on top of just coming off the feast.
-yesterday i made my first sprouted chick pea hummus -- no garlic though, since I'm dealing intimately with people-- but chick peas, raw tahini, three squeezed lemons, a bit of olive oil, salt pepper, cayenne and water! Delicious! Today I thinned it out with apple cider vinegar (what else?) to make a creamy salad dressing.

I ran out of kalamata olives a week back...it was a much-needed break...but i am wanting to go buy another bulk tub!

DAY 125 since Day 1 of Feast!

Our status check-in reports from the Victoria JuiceLuck crew...Enjoy the video! Plus one point of exceptional note, I went to see my neurologist yesterday and she was so blown away by my progress that she asked for the juicefeasting.com website so that she may recommend it to her Parkinson's and MS patients! Hoorah!


Find more videos like this on The Juice Feasting Green Room


Plus I also started course at the university today all about the positive influence that drama has on young people -- couldn't be more up my alley!

Canada Day - 17 days post-feast update!

Yesterday was July 1st: CANADA DAY! It's a day I find an interesting one to "celebrate" -- though I am so thankful to live in this exquisitely beautiful part of the world, I am also very cognosant how we have a big business-aligned, right-wing, conservative government who is trying to degrade the social system network (health care, welfare, you name it)...the very thing Canada has been so praised for. Plus, it also brings to the forefront for me all the attrocities that have been committed against our First Nations people. How many people know that the Apartheid system of South Africa was based on Canada's Native Reserve system (reservations, for my American readers)?!? Horrific.

However, I thought I would keep these memories alive, whilst still partaking in the public gathering planned down on our Legislative Front Lawn. Five hours of music was played for free to a crowd of people clad in red-and-white! It was wonderful to be surrounded by a crowd of happy people!


So...my post-feast update:

Yesterday I took some photos of what I look like now, 2 1/2 weeks after my first smoothie! I weighed myself this morning and it seems like I've only gained back a pound. I feel really alive. This feel of being on another plane -- with the love oozing out -- has tapered somewhat, but the clarity has not! I'm eating tons of salads: lettuce greens (sometimes a mix with arugula, sorrel, kale, spinach, too - but just loving green and red leaf lettuce), some hemp hearts, a pinch of unrefined Celtic Sea salt, and olive oil and apple cider vinegar to dress. Delicious! Sensational!

I had started eating kalamata olives like they were going out of style...when it dawned on me that maybe it wasn't the fat I was craving, but rather the salt! I just started adding salt to my salads and WOW! brings out all the tastes even more!

I haven't been doing that many juices or smoothies...however I do believe us Victoria JuiceLuckers are meeting tonight...so prepare for another video update soon!

Oh! and my eye...it's back and healed -- I go have a check-in with my opthamologist tomorrow morning. And on Friday I start an 8 day intensive course at the university all relating to theatre and children -- I just had fabulous time writing a paper about how drama influences the lives of children! Wonderful stuff!

We just spent the weekend on Lasqueti, and my most amazing Paddy managed to get get all of our house footing in place, even in the blistering heat! Truly impressed! Always...

Eye update!

So it turns out that I didn't have iritis, I had a corneal ulcer! It's been cleared up in two days by antibiotic eye drops! Thank goodness! Off the Lasqueti again...

One week now off the feast!

So, it's feeling good eating again!

I had my first smoothie last Tuesday evening, and continued to only have smoothies until Friday evening. I was very aware that since I hadn't been drinking that much juice, I did not want to shock my system too badly!

So, Friday morning the three of us headed up to Lasqueti Island, along with Constanze. I packed three smoothies on ice with me...figuring they were not likely to separate as quickly as juice. I was right! I also want to make my first bite of salad (I skipped the introduction of fruits aspect of feast breaking, I was craving greens!), to be from a fresh-picked Lasqueti Island garden. Oh! my did those greens ever hit the spot!! I had a small bowl of salad, dressed with olive oil and apple cider vinegar, and fell in love. I just wanted to keep on eating and eating! I restrained myself though!


The next morning, I had one of those devine Frog Hollow organic apricots -- and I was off! I'm loving salads! Yesterday, I did make a morning juice, and today a smoothie -- but it's the salads I want. I bought some raw tahini yesterday. Simi and I gave our Excalber dehydrator first-run with a case-lot sale on mangoes! So all is well. I love my new-still-mossy-salad-bowl, too! Oh! and I've been eatong with my fingers which feels great! Only thing I've got to watch is I'm eating a few too many olives -- I think I was up to 35 in one day -- gotta love those kalamatas!

I've developed iritis over the past week -- inflamed, painful iris of the eye -- I'm off to see the opthamologist today for some relief. The ironic part is I got after getting off the cleanse...it's so debililatating that if need be I'd take some steroid eye drops. I've researched and haven't found any alternative thearapies!

Lasqueti was wonderful -- went for a beautiful community Summr Solstice celebration, followed by a dance with the phenomenal Lasquei marimba band -- Constanze and I kicking up our heels and celebrating our feast accomplishments!
Paddy also managed to truck our framing wood lumber up our 4x4 road with help and started our cement house footings!

Summer is upon us!