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Nature surprises us and teaches us all at the same time, causing us to slow down, appreciate life, to share and to grow!  So sound the trumpets! Let all know of the uniqueness in the world at every turn, in every person, in every flower and every grain of sand. These thoughts came to me when I first saw this amazing cascade of trumpet flowers hovering over pink flamingos. I was in awe at this site, the glow of it, the perfection and placement of natural beauty. Fascinated by the shape and glow of these trumpet flowers, I decided to do some research. Here are a few impressive highlights about trumpet flowers and trumpets to inspire you and share with a friend.
Folklore and science talk of this trumpet flower as a toxic plant. In South America, it is called the Queen of the Night - the scent can paralyze or tranquilize a person. I guess that is what happened to me . . . although at first site there was no smell, perhaps it was a spiritual connection to nature that mesmerized me.
It is also written that the trumpets will sound at the end of an age, a triggering of a moment in time that should not be ignored or dismissed. Well, interestingly, I was in the middle of a 7-day extensive juice fast. If you have ever fasted, you know everything becomes clear and crisp. I saw a moment in time that somehow connected all things. Color and the way every person sees is unique to them and their past experiences. Impressionist painters knew this, they captured the light of day at different times. When they painted that light, it captured a moment in time. According to Revelation 8:1-2, the angels will sound the trumpets after the breaking of the seventh seal. Some Christians say that this is what you will hear at the second coming of Christ. So, sound the trumpet, slow down and listen, see color and form in a different way. Your knowledge base combines experiences and creates a perfect perception, a moment in time.
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“We continue to discover who we are as we open ourselves to new sources of nurture and experience.” ~ Yi-Fu Tuan ~  Nurture, a word that may be defined by the user. The process of nurturing is protection through caring, an encouragement. It is something that is ever present, a personal way of tending to something, supporting, rearing, fostering, a word of action. The word nourish is a synonym of this word and it’s origin is in alignment with the word nurse. Some tips for the person that may not know how to integrate the concept of nurturing . . .
Today, nurture a part of you that is tucked away and rarely seen. Take a moment to notice your inner wisdom. Take good care of you! Seek new experiences that get you out of your daily activities.
Bring out your inner smile today, find a way to bring it to the surface! Sometimes when you least expect it, one of nature’s jewels appears. I know you know what I am talking about . . . It may be raining, but the lightning is spectacular! It may be extremely hot in the garden, but the sunflowers have a brilliant glow! Nature jumps out at you or makes its presence known. This is what happened to me when I saw my first Indigo Bunting.  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the little blue, iridescent, glowing bird gracefully soar through the trees. I was about 15 feet away, coasting on my bicycle and taking pictures in my mind’s eye. I was making sure that I wasn’t seeing things. I blinked my eyes and did a double take when I saw that bird, and I took a mental note all at the same time. I couldn’t stop starring. A magical exchange went on between us and I thought about how much we miss in nature by driving in a car. I hope nature exposes itself to you and the surprise is pure joy!
Your glow from within is what I am talking about here. Some people call it the bounce in your step, your energy, your volition - an internal will that propels you forward.  What makes you glow or fills you with joy? Picture in your mind an image, a memory, maybe a gift that a friend sends you and it surprises you. Your dog wagging it's tail, you are at the beach watching the sun glisten on the water, or you are in a pine forest smelling the trees around you. A happy visual, an image that you can see, feel and touch. Practice visualizing until you get that image, this image will help keep you glowing. The next time you feel a bit out of sorts, focus on your visual, hear the sounds that would be present, soak up the joy you feel and smile BIG! Here’s why this is so important: Your brain doesn't know the difference between what is really going on around you and what you tell it. This is one reason listening to music can bring you up or pull you down. That’s why it’s good to think out of the box, you have the power to change your story from a traumatic event to a learning experience. Next time you find yourself in a stressful situation, focus on what makes you glow, what brings you joy and hold it close to your heart.
You may find a way to replace your imbalance with a beneficial energy . . . the glow of happiness! Sometimes inspiration comes to me while on a walk in the woods, sometimes from a dream. A wise woman recently shared with me, dreams are visions of the what if’s, or a bit of your past presented so you can handle it. After a dream, sometimes I spring out of bed with purpose, like a seedling that cannot hold back from sprouting. On that day, the sun shines brighter than usual and as I breathe and fill my lungs, a brilliant internal “Happy” appears. I feel a gift from Divine Inspiration to be alive and to know, it is going to be a great day!  Recently, I was talking about motivation with a friend. We pointed out the usual differences and nuances of choice, discipline and failure. Understanding the ups and downs of life was our focus as opposed to a quest for moving forward. Some days are just better than others, they stand out. Well of course, without sunshine there is no rain, without earth there is no sky. We seemed to have a breakthrough over a 90-minute, fairly healthy lunch. Both of us came to the conclusion that we are fluid beings and in order to live harmoniously within our surroundings, we need to go with the flow. My subconscious brain kept processing these thoughts. That night I had a dark, vivid dream… In my dream it was a cloudy day and I was walking down a busy New York City sidewalk. I was overwhelmed with a knowing. The Earth was sick. Randomly, people were swallowed up as they walked down the street. I was with a group of strangers and the person next to me was swallowed up. Instantly. Completely. The person disappeared. Gone. No more. I asked why. There didn’t appear to be any reason for the Earths’ particular choice of who it swallowed. Remember this is a dream and things shift fast in dreams. As I turned the corner, a beautiful park appeared. I saw tall, green trees glowing with life. I heard the birds singing loud, happy songs. Curiously I looked closer, I saw a lawn full of people laying on the grass. I instantly knew what they were doing. They were waiting to be sucked up by the Earth. Accepting their inevitable. This was a horrific site to me. I felt a knot in my stomach and wondered why they were not fighting back? We could build boardwalks or at least try to figure out the cause of the Earths’ illness. Then I woke up. This is one of the most upsetting dreams I have had. Throughout my day, in my mind's eye, the thought of those people, lying on the lawn waiting for something to happen, kept appearing. Then it came to me. It is our internal motivation that heals us. Simply said, to go with the flow is not all ways the best option. Yes! Choose mental motivation over compliant malingering.
So, that’s my plan, I refuse to lie on the grass and get swallowed up!  Recently I became more aware than usual about a place that nobody really likes, that is, on the fence of a decision. A brain clash! People, and that includes me, weigh out the possibilities of outcomes known and unknown. In the business world, mergers and large money acquisitions are common occurrences, but to the average person, life decisions can cause stress, sleepless nights and digestive disorders. The fence of fear can be present anywhere in our lives. The truth is, big decisions sometimes make us powerless. Here are a few things to consider:
I often hear people say, “I should have done that 10 years ago”. No one is ever 100% ready for big change, sometimes you have to just make the best choice for you and go with it. If it helps you, focus on "less is more" and live as simple as possible. As I clean out the clutter, donate bags of unused items to charity and free myself of the unnecessary, the height of my fence decreases. Why not let lowering the fence and jumping off the fence become a lifestyle? Healthy choices and lifestyle changes may open new doors to allow joy in!
How ironic, The Clash’s 1982 hit single “Should I Stay or Should I Go” says this plain and simple, set me free! I encourage you to choose wisely, be set free and remember our choices show us who we truly are (Harry Potter) . . . Interesting that a music group named the Clash should write a song that has a soul searching message about a “brain clash”!  Gardening brings me much joy. Mixing the soil, holding it in my hands, and smelling the earth excites my soul! I have a small compost bin and use a three corner method to create compost. Vegetable food scraps are piled in first corner covered with a layer of soil, then turned into the second corner about a month later and topped with soil. This corner is then turned into the third corner and ready to use in another month. I create dark lush soil that reminds me of melted chocolate! The plants scream YUM! Composted soil makes up half of the soil mixture I use; the other half includes a sterile soil called Pro Mix with a couple of handfuls of organic manure mixed in. I turn this all together with love in a wheel barrow. Mixing soil is like baking a cake you need to have the proportions right to get the cake to rise and grow. You see, a soil mixture is rich in nutrients to support a growing seed or plant. Nutrients in the soil help the plant grow even and strong. I often mix soil because I grow seedlings and wheatgrass in trays year round. The difference between soil and dirt lies in a Dad fact… Dirt is, as my dad would say, something you hear at the beauty parlor.
Get the difference? A conscious nurture vs a beauty parlor comment. How did Dad know this would be so evident as I aged and my thumb got greener? Who knows. I am here to share Dad’s wisdom with you and hope you pass it on. Grow tall and spread out your branches, reach for the light, change with the seasons, provide shade for someone who needs it, and enjoy the sunshine! Gardeners that take time to notice life awaken to a new surprise every day. WOW! A new bold bloom. You weren’t expecting that or what about an iridescent blue moth that hovers and glistens in the sunlight. Taking time to take care of yourself is noticing the garden surprises of your life.
Here are a couple of garden tools to help you grow: Flexibility is a Sign of Health - Remember everything that grows changes. Expect change. Even plan some time for unexpected changes. Take time to enjoy the spaces in-between the blooms. Plan a Mild Quarterly Cleanse - Taking 3-10 days every four months is a healthy way to eliminate clutter in your body and your life. Plan to rest and rejuvenate. Reorganize and clean out your personal and cabinet pantry, make a plan for healthier eating.
Sing, Dance & Breathe - We were made to move. Take a new class that gets you moving, singing or breathing. As we consciously inhale, life is enhanced. As we exhale toxins are expelled. Conscious breath helps us focus on what is important. The little annoyances melt away and a bigger picture is revealed. Fill your life with music, it lifts the spirit and alters any mood. As time passes and garden life switches, carve out some time for you to look at all weeds as an exotic, organic, wild crafted, high nutrient feast!  A little flu got me down last week, you know the kind of flu where you loose your appetite and all your energy. Headache, chest congestion and 4 boxes of tissues have become globs of trash and you then realize... crap I am sick, and I am not going on antibiotics, get me the herbals, homeopathy and water. Well it was during that time that I started to think and talk to myself…” If I could cook or eat anything what would it be?” I repeated this over and over, nothing came to mind as strong as French Toast! Being a vegetarian that knows grains cause inflammation, this is something I never attempted. So, I scanned several recipes and came up with my own. ENJOY!!
Lightly toast your bread, and place to the side to cool. Start warming your frying pan with coconut oil. Whip the tofu with spices and milk in the food processor until you achieve a lovely creamy consistency. Pour this mock egg mix into a flat or pie dish and saturate your slices of toasted bread. I made it thick because I wanted to get the presence of egg not bread and syrup…
Frying went well, as long as I flipped when brown on the bottom and used a fair amount of coconut oil. I sliced the fried toasts and topped with powdered sugar and maple syrup. Then after two bites remembered the cinnamon and... WOW! Best French toast I had in 10 years.  Just like the delicious memory of French Toast, sometimes you don’t realize how good you feel about something until you get sick and your senses come back to life!
 Ah… Maitake! How lovely you blessed me with your presence. Thank You! The “Dancing Mushroom”, also called the “King of all Mushrooms", is noted for it’s many health benefits.” Yup, according to Japanese folklore, when this big beautiful mushroom was first found, people danced, it brought them such joy! Hmm . . . since I believe we are an accumulation of many lives, that is ancient JOY, that’s a powerful thing! This giant mushroom, joy stunned me at first glance! The awe took me back to a state of surprise I hadn’t felt in a long time. For me it compares with winning the lottery or getting a 100 on my college anatomy and physiology exam. A wow beyond WOW! A real surprise that gives you a rush of adrenaline in your belly and an overwhelming sensation of pure JOY!
Clinical studies have been done on this mushroom, Grifola Frondosa. In 1992, Maitake’s anti-viral activity was confirmed by the National Cancer Institute and the Japan Institute of Health. Other research shows this beautiful mushroom helps to balance blood sugar, reduce blood pressure, decrease cholesterol, and promote weight loss. Say YES, to eating fresh Maitake! Okay, enough with the science, let's get back to the joy and what to do with this "King of Mushrooms", (besides dance with him of course)! Well that’s easy… cook him up! (Which may take me a while because of his size.)
Sliced Thin and Pan Fried: This tastes like chicken to vegans or vegetarians, sliced thin and pan fried in real butter, seasoned with large pink salt crystals, fresh cracked black pepper, dehydrated minced garlic and dehydrated sliced onion, and a few herbs. You can top a salad with this or make a wrap with a bit of hummus to help hold it together.
Cubed and Sauteed: Cut this mushroom into cube-like squares and sauté in coconut oil. Put in any sauce and serve on top of pasta or rice.  This mushroom will get tough and dry as it ages! Wrap up what you don’t use today! |
Hi, I'm Jude!I love to share healthy lifestyle tips and recipes. I teach cooking classes and help people all over the world to have more fun and live healthier. 
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