After years of working with Healthy Communities, SHIP (State Health Improvement Plan through the PA Dept. of Health, and the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), my first thought with addressing the concerns in our area was to see what is already in place and not reinvent the wheel. I wondered if there was a local Healthy Community group and a SHIP locally.  

Healthy Community embraces the broad based concept of health, In addition to access to health care and our traditional perceptions, it includes safe streets, clean air and water, education, skill building to ensure marketable skills, youth mentors, volunteering, transportation. Dr. Peter Benson's 40 Assets for Youth and Colin Powell's America's Promise exemplify these concepts. 

All are asset based. Instead of focusing on the results we don't want which is so typical and defeatist (crime, drug use, disease), these visionaries determined asset based results and moved in a positive direction with remarkable outcomes. 

Fortunately, there is a SHIP in Maryland, called the State Health Improvement Process. The Maryland SHIP has a wealth of information including statistics, newsletters, events and webinars. There are promising and model practices from Healthy Community sites all over the country such as Establishing a More Livable Community through Community Collaboration. 

Sadly, there have been some changes since I was director of local SHIP. Words that enhanced and drove our work, "science based" and "evidence based",  have now been banned by the current administration.

Words have been banned. Let that sink in.

Our local United Way was superlative, and the hub of resources and funding locally. I chaired the youth component. We organized and delivered training throughout the community including youth groups, church groups and school programs using the 40 Assets for Youth. If youth organizations couldn't demonstrate results through evidence, they weren't funded. I wonder how the CDC and SHIPS are monitoring results with these bizarre restrictions. 

It's been years since I was involved. My job as director, in addition to being president of our local America's Promise, and co-chair of the Gandhi-King Peace Coalition  were all consuming. When I  came to Maryland,  my daughter got me this business card holder. 

Honey lemon tea can be used alone or with black tea or any combination of herbal teas.

Sterilize wide mouth canning jar or glass container. 

Ingredients

• 1 pound lemons, thoroughly wash, thinly sliced with seeds remove
• 1 pound honey, local is best. It will help with allergies.

Place lemons loosely in jar. Slowly pour in honey, using a knife to pull lemons away from the sides and allow honey to flow  cover entirely. 

Place jar in refrigerator and let marinate for seven days.

To serve, use 2 or 3 Tablespoons per cup or to taste, 

As promised, I've updated my manifesto for the eclipse and the months ahead. I'll review it again in about 6 months - either my birthday or the new year. I hope you'll all be inspired to create your own, personal manifesto!​

• Respect my health as a precious gift.  Use exercise and nutrition to be healthy - not to look good. Have a health-based, not-ego based, life style.
• Take the time to stay in tune with my spiritual self through meditation, journaling, yoga, gratitude lists.
• Use my energy level as a barometer to gauge the value of my relationships. Spend time with  those who increase my energy, avoid those who drain it. 
• Enhance the quality of life by using creativity to have more FUN! Schedule fun and adventure!!!
• Continue to spend time in, and learn lessons from nature. 
•  Actively embrace education and learning by taking courses, reading, research, teaching, coaching and training. 
• Use my unique gifts and passion in all aspects of my life's work through paid and volunteer positions.
• Keep clutter to a minimum.  Give away at least one item for every new one that comes into my home. 
• Incorporate systems to simplify housework, business, finances, etc.
• If it isn't good for my soul, I don't think it, watch it, read it, talk to it, buy it, wear it, eat it . . .

 Mabon, the Autumn Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, is a time to give thanks for the many blessings of harvest. I'm preparing for my third session on Enhancing Your Life with Herbs. We've learned numerous ways to use herbs. Some  are obvious including cooking, healing, dyes, cosmetics, decorating with herbal bouquets, wreaths and swags. Others are less obvious, such as prediction, protection, prophecy, fertility, attraction, and discouraging ghosts and witches from creating havoc! There are still more!

Make ink! Poke berries are ripe and ready right now to make ink! There is a jar in my 'fridge labeled POISON because the juice is a luscious magenta color, clove scented to preserve it. It could be very tempting! This is the ink that was rumored to have been used to write the Declaration of Independence. Further research indicates that is was used for the draft, but the actual document was written with iron gall ink made from ferrous sulfate and ink extracted from the oak galls. 

In the spring, the immature leaves of the poke plant, said to be similar to turnip, collard or mustard greens, are cooked with bay leaves, Cajun spices, and a ham bone.  Unlike the other greens, poke is considered to be poisonous until 'thoroughly cooked", a process that requires boiling it for at least five minutes for three times and throwing out the water to replace it with new, uncontaminated water each time. After the final boiling, the instructions are to wring as much water out of the plant as humanly possible. Because the plant is poisonous, so you have to cook it. A lot.

I grew up in the mountains of West Virginia and knew people of considerable age (note - I was 12 at the time - anyone over 40 was of 'considerable age' in my perception) who ate poke regularly and annually, praising it for it's role in reducing or eliminating joint inflammation, arthritis, and numerous types of cancer.

Personally, I'm reluctant to cook plants that have been declared poisonous. I can go to the grocery store or farmer's market and buy plants that are safe . . . and edible.

NOTE: As I was "poking" - pun intended - fun at poke today, one of my participants mentioned that she grew up eating poke and they simply gathered and cooked the young plants in early spring. She has convinced me to give it a try, but Gil has asked that I wait until my class is over!  Love this class!!!

There are other ways to use poke. If anyone has put a hex on you, use hydrangea and poke to remove it. Call me. I'm not getting into all of that here.

Another way to enhance your life with herbs is to write a song about them, as Tony Joe White did in 1969. He wrote Polk Salad Annie.  He did a fabulous job and I adore his version, but I'm featuring Elvis because his use of crib notes is truly hilarious, and after all, he is the KING! So I apologize to you Tony, but I'm opening my session with Elvis. Enjoy!

 When we think of 'feeding' ourselves, our first thought is "when do we eat!", but there is so much more to feed us than food. This afternoon was a delicious reminder of all things sensuous. 

Mycala, my oldest daughter, treated me to a 1 1/2 hour massage for Mother's Day. The experience was self indulgent and not something I would do for myself. Maybe I need to rethink that! 

Even before the masseuse began the session, my senses were stimulated. A very delicate fragrance of lavender permeated the air.  An instrumental background selection was the perfect choice. I melted into the softness of the sheets on the massage table, cocooned under the weightless blanket. 

All of this, followed by ninety minutes of skilled attention to knead and relax muscle tissue transported me to a meditative state. I stopped thinking about what was next. I became reminded that I can shift to be in the moment in an instant, simply make the choice to pause and be aware of the gifts of this moment, right now. 

There is a Zen saying, "Don't hurry. Ever." In today's world we can feel rushed, pushed and pulled, and don't often allow ourselves that gift.  When we slow down and experience the present moment, we can become aware of so many pleasures that will soothe our souls. We can enhance our experiences through fragrances, music, textures, thoughts and soothing sights. How can you make your home or office more spa-like? Flowers, scented candles, a favorite hand lotion, soothing music, inspirational quotes, a favorite painting, and soft throws can bring our focus to beauty.

My Mother's Day gift will live with me beyond the delightful experience. It will remind me to proactively integrate more delightful experiences into my life. Thank you Mycala!

Food is one of my greatest pleasures. I cook everyday - meals that are healthy, filled with color, texture and variety, and most of all nutrients. When I sit down to a meal - and I do sit down - I want something that adds value. Food is fuel, not entertainment or bulk. I want to know what I am eating is providing value. What's In It For Me?

When did eating get so complicated? We are obsessed with it. We have five senses, yet 'taste', or possible lack of it based on some of the things I see people eating in the name of diet and deprivation, is the over riding concern. 

A study at the Center for Specialized Women’s Health at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio estimates that 70 to 80 percent of health risks come from poor lifestyle habits, according to Holly L. Thacker, MD, director of the study. 

When did food become a vehicle for ill health instead of simply a way to maintain our bodies to function as the miraculous machines they are? When did we start misusing it? And why? We are doing this to ourselves. We are literally taking the beauty, the joy, the flavor out of the way we eat and then wondering why we are hungry. Feeding is not just about what we shove in our mouths. There is a satisfaction and fulfillment that comes from the preparation and from the actual process of eating. It may not be scientific or proven, but I'm convinced the more time I spend slicing, whisking and artfully arranging, the less I eat. 

People weren't over weight when I was growing up. I truly can't remember anyone I thought of as heavy, let alone "fat". We all sat down to the table to eat delicious healthy meals, and often had dessert. Portions were small, healthy, and varied, simply prepared with not a lot of fuss. We didn't obsess about food, our weight or dieting. I can't remember hearing the word "diet" until I was in high school.  

In our home meals were prepared from natural ingredients with no preservatives, processing or artificial ingredients that we couldn't pronounce. Chicken, pork or steak thinly sliced stir fried with broccoli, red pepper, garlic, ginger and served over rice was flavorful, could be prepared quickly and supplied a variety of nutrients. One serving of broiled fish, a sautéed chicken breast (pre-Dolly Parton versions), a crab cake with lemon, served with a salad tossed with olive oil and lemon, and a seasonal vegetable and dinner was served. A little planning before one trip to the store a week and meal preparation was stress free. We didn't eat out or order in. We knew what we were eating because we made it in our own kitchens. 

We sat down together with no distractions. The television was not blaring in the back ground, nor was the radio. We weren't texting or checking our phones. We were paying attention to what was on our plates and having conversations with each other.

All this is running through my mind because a friend is frustrated after nine days of a ten day juice cleanse and is seeing no results. The concept of taking the much needed roughage out of our foods because we are concerned that there are fewer vitamins in the them doesn't make sense to me. If you feel the need for more vitamins, take more vitamins! 

My friend is  feeling deprived and is ready to go back to eating the pizza and hamburgers. I would be too. Depravation is something I don't associate with food. I'd be hungry all the time!  The less it is distorted and manipulated from it's natural state, the happier I am. As I said initially, I love to eat. I feed myself with food. Real food. Food that has color, vitamins and nutrients, roughage and texture. 

The carrots from Mom's Organic Market were as delicious as they were beautiful! The colors are not an exaggeration - they were really that varied. 

Carrots were originally purple, except for a rare occurrence of white or yellow, until the 16th century when Dutch growers developed an new variety. Over time, they combined mutant strains and eventually came up with a version similar to the orange carrot we know today.Their carrot has been associated with the House of Orange and the Dutch struggle for Independence. 

Recently a purple skinned, orange fleshed carrot, the Beta Sweet, has been developed at the Vegetable Improvement Center at Texas A & M, boasting very high concentrations of beta carotene and is credited with curing cancer.


As a child I was told to eat carrots to improve my vision by recently have read that carrots impacting eye sight is an urban legend. I'm not convinced. If my vision seems less acute, I reach for carrots and can see improvement within a day or two. 


Romans used carrots as an aphrodisiac, associating them with both lust and fertility. They have even been credited with helping women become pregnant. It's been decades since I've been pregnant so I'm skeptical. 

One of my recommendations in the Take the Rose Instead Course - Guaranteed Weight Loss, one beautiful choice at a time, is counting first! instead of drinking one glass of water at a time, count first by filling a pitcher. It is much easier to keep track of how much more you need daily if you can see it.

Mycala knows I love flavored waters! This is one of my birthday presents - a Fruit Infusion Pitcher. It came with a book called Cool Waters which contains "50 refreshing, healthy, homemade thirst quenchers". Everything they recommend is natural and healthy with no sweeteners or processed products in any of the recipes. I can hardly wait to create some recipes with fresh herbs!

The session on water is below, first with the rationale and followed with the action step.

Thank you Mycala! Tomorrow - Strawberry Apple Ginger!

When the body sends a signal that we are thirsty, nothing satisfies like pure clean water!  70 % of our bodies are made of water and replenishing has numerous benefits. Unfortunately, we often wait too long before we hydrate. One study states that if you wait until you are thirsty, you are already becoming dehydrated. 

If you need to be reminded, or would like additional incentive to drink regularly throughout out the day, consider these reasons to drink water. 

• Water flushes impurities out of our systems.
• It helps us maintain a neutral Ph 7, strengthening our immune system.
• It contributes to weight loss by suppressing the appetite. Drink a glass of water 30 minutes before you eat. You'll be amazed how much it fills you up and you'll eat less.
• One of the leading causes of headaches is becoming dehydrated. The glass of water may be as, or even more, beneficial than the pain reliever you are taking to relieve your headache. Next time, take a glass of water first, wait 15 minutes and see if you still need the pill.
• It keeps cells plumb and moisturized, giving a more youthful look.You’ll be less likely to get dry skin, psoriasis, eczema, and even wrinkles.
• Drinking enough water increases your metabolic rate.
• Water has the ability to dilute cancer causing agents and has been credited with reducing bladder and colon cancer.
• I drink a glass of water as soon as I get that “I’m hungry” feeling. Stopping for water fills my stomach and allows me to assess if I really need food, or if there is something else going on. I am committed to drinking water daily but my biggest challenge is that I lose count! So I have a simple solution.
  

Find a beautiful pitcher - something that will make you smile every time you open the refrigerator door. You’ll need a container that can hold eight glasses of water. Fill it with water in the morning, cover, and as the day progresses, you will have a visual indicator of how much more you should be drinking. 

• Simple and effective. I rarely had enough water when I poured one glass at a time! This way I can easily see how much more there is to drink and pace myself.
• You may chose earthen ware pottery, cut glass crystal, a funky modern blown glass - chose a container that delights you as you reach for it. 
• Then use your imagination to make your water even more enticing. Sliced cucumbers and mint, or lemon slices and borage flowers will take it to another level!