Garden Gatherings

It’s A Snow-Day

wellnessforallseasons — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:36:39 +0000

Remember when you were young and you prayed for school to be closed for a snow day? Well, I felt that way today as I cancelled and rescheduled appointments for the next couple of days.

Denver is having its first real snow storm of the season. My backyard measures 18″ of the wonderful white stuff so far. Tomorrow promises more.

I’ve enjoyed the time to catch up on business tasks, long over-due communication with long-distance friends and sipping wonderful warm drinks! Tomorrow, I’ll play in the back-yard with my new snowshoes, boots and poles.

But for now, I’m headed to the kitchen to bake some cinnamon-y apples . . . yum. Here’s the recipe in case you are so inclined to join me.

Wash, peel, core & slice 3-4 medium apples
Place slices in buttered glass baking dish
Add 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Sprinkle with 1-tsp. cinnamon
Add 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts if desired
Cover baking dish with foil; bake at 350-degrees until apples are tender, but not mushy.
Serve in dessert bowls. If you have real whipping cream in your refridgerator, add just a drizzle over the hot apples. Enjoy!

Happy Winter!

Grapefruit for Winter Wellness

wellnessforallseasons — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:47:58 +0000

Who would think that a subtropical fruit such as grapefruit could be beneficial to winter wellness? I learned many nutritional treasures about grapefruit as an 8-year resident in Arizona. Did you know that grapefruit:

provides an alkaline reaction in the body, helping balance the body’s acidity from winter’s heavier foods
supports healthy digestion and elimination; dissolves congestion in
Ah-h, the pleasures of Arizona!

the body
is a good source of flavonoids, potassium, calcium, magnesium, Vitamin C, pectin and water-soluble fiber
makes a soothing hot beverage that relieves discomforts of allergies, cold & flu and strep throat

To prepare Hot Grapefruit Drink:

Wash outer rind of grapefruit; cut fruit in half
Fill 1-quart saucepan with 2-cups water and put on medium heat on stove top
Squeeze juice from 1/2 grapefruit (reserve other 1/2 for later use) into water in saucepan. Squeeze thoroughly letting pulp release into water. Place rind into saucepan to infuse nutrients from rind and membrane.
Simmer just to boiling. Remove rind with tongs. Pour hot juice carefully into mug. Add 1/2 tsp. locally produced honey OR pure maple syrup. Sip leisurely. Breathe deeply. Enjoy the winter.

Gotta go, my grapefruit is simmering!

To Be or Not to Be: It’s Your Choice

wellnessforallseasons — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:47:59 +0000

January 10 . . . the days are passing quickly. Have you decided how you will be in good health this year? As I glance at magazine headlines in check-out lines, I’m somewhat amused at all the titles and tactics to get us in shape in the new year.

To be in good health should be high on our lifestyle list . . . not just a destination we strive to reach once a year. Total wellness––body, mind and spirit––takes disciplined daily decisions. Here are a few ideas for beginning your new year with renewed health and vitality:

clean out the pantry–get rid of the holiday snacks (cereal, crackers, pretzels, pastries, all that “white flour-sugery” stuff)
replace with unsalted, non-roasted nuts and seeds; peanut or almond butter
fill the freezer with frozen sweet potato fries, edamame, frozen fruits for smoothies
buy apples, pears, and citrus—they’re in season now

Engage in regular exercise. It doesn’t have to be marathon training . . . just moving to jump-start your metabolism. The human body is designed to move! Just a few minutes at the beginning of your day does wonders throughout the day.

Design your life this year by losing a few pounds; increasing strength and energy; or just looking and feeling better in your clothes! It’s a new year . . . you could be a new YOU!

It’s a New Year: Time to re- – -

wellnessforallseasons — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:17:12 +0000

Again I ask, where did the time go? Here we are beginning again. I love the opportunity to re-do or do-again some of the things I did not complete last year.

Since much of my time and energy is spent helping others improve their overall health and wellness, I treasure this time of new beginnings. I encourage you to consider––or re-consider taking a more intentional approach to preventive health and nutrition.

If you make New Year’s resolutions, I invite you to revisit and review your previous meal choices and daily activities. How do they support optimum wellness? Recommit to sticking with a do-able program.

Redirect your efforts and energy to rebuilding a strong, recharged body, mind and spirit. Re-engage with a support team to rekindle your inner drive to look, feel and perform your best.

Regroup; reassess; re-educate; refuel; recover; repurpose; refresh revitalize; reorganize or whatever you need to re-do to make 2012 your best (re) newed year ever!

I’ll be back in a few days with winter wellness tips. Stay tuned!

Are You Grateful?

wellnessforallseasons — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:30:51 +0000

Well, it has been quite a year. . . and here we are, planning, preparing and perhaps praying the day before Thanksgiving. Where did the time go?

As you plan and prepare, I challenge you to ponder all your blessings. I’ve already heard several comments (complaints) that some are ready for this “family event” to be over! That’s just sad.

Even in the most dire circumstances, surely we can come up with a few things we are thankful for. Count them. Think about them. Give thanks for them.

I would love to hear from you in this season of gratitude . . . what are you thankful for? My list is long, but at the top are:

Healthy parents (in their 80′s) who will be at my Thanksgiving table
A granddaughter who will turn 2 on this holiday
Family, friends, great health, warm bed, an old vehicle that still works, and a Creator God that always provides

May you savor this season . . .and truly be grateful for it’s abundance!

Autumn is Apple Season

wellnessforallseasons — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:34:04 +0000

Yes, it’s autumn. And that means apple season. We are blessed in Colorado to have several apple growers and nothing tastes better than a fresh, crisp tree-ripened apple.

Did you know this about apples?

They are so packed with fiber that you get nearly 20% of your daily dietary needs in one medium apple.
They require you to chew and chew and chew which allows your body to feel full before eating too many calories.
The natural fruit sugars in an apple gradually enter your bloodstream keeping blood sugars and insulin levels balanced so you don’t experience hunger highs and lows.

The apple offers many health benefits and I challenge you to go beyond an “apple-a-day” and eat three or four or even five apples during this Fall Season. Help your body prepare for the heavier foods of winter with the gentle internal cleansing that apples provide.

More apple wisdom next time . . . stay tuned.

It’s That Time of Year . . .

wellnessforallseasons — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 22:38:46 +0000

Yes, it is officially Fall. Colorado welcomed in the new season with a beautiful day and a light rain to close out the evening. It can’t get better than that! What a gift.

Now is the time to begin preparations for the “other” seasons coming our way: Cold & Flu Season; Fall Allergy Season; Seasonal Affective Disorder season and some others you may experience.

I’ll be hosting a couple of Prevention presentations next month and would love to have you join me. October is National Breast Health Awareness month, so on October 7 & 8, I’ll be teaching on preventive measures we women can take to support breast health.

On October 28 & 29, I’ll be presenting Immune System Support information to help you prevent time-out in Cold & Flu season.

If you have an interest in either or both presentations, please email me for details: seasons4wellness@aol.com I look forward to sharing with you. Please tell a girl-friend. In the meantime, savor September.

September: Healthy Aging Month

wellnessforallseasons — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:17:34 +0000

We are just a few days from the official first day of Autumn. Those of you who have followed me for any length of time know I love this season. It is so colorful, fragrant and crisp! It’s time to evaluate your menus and begin including Fall’s robust flavors.

My book, The Wise Woman’s Almanac has a list of seasonal produce that helps in choosing fresh, nutrient rich whole foods. You can review or purchase at: www.wellnessforallseasons.com

Dr. John Douillard at the Life Spa in Boulder, Colorado posts his Summer/Fall Super Foods at: www.lifespa.com

I just learned that September is Healthy Aging Month. How’s the aging process going for you? You may enjoy this new magazine: Healthy Aging. Learn more about this and how to subscribe online: www.healthyaging.net

The Colorado Farmer’s Markets offer wonderful fall foods . . . enjoy them for a few more weeks. . . and have a super September!

Another Last Day

wellnessforallseasons — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:54:23 +0000

Today is the last day of August, 2011. Take last month’s post and copy-paste! I’ll say it again . . . I don’t know where the days went. I must confess that I truly summered this season.

I took two trips to visit my family in Texas, attended a wedding, a family reunion, and sadly, a family funeral. I spent time with my grand-daughter, friends on the Western Slope and actually left Colorado for a week in Seattle.

As these late summer days drift past, I’m preparing for a new season. I’m excited to offer new wellness workshops, so stay tuned for details.

Take a few deep breaths and savor these wonderful days. Wishing you great health!

My Little Garden Helper

Where Did It Go?

wellnessforallseasons — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 14:34:55 +0000

Today is the last day of July 2011––where did the month go? I’ve felt as though I’m motoring in a different gear this year. Winter seemed to linger into Spring . . . Spring rained into Summer . . . the weeds are taking control of my garden . . . and I feel out of order. I recently shared this dilemma with my friend, Donna Mazzitelli and she agreed that what is familiar to us in each season has seemed un-familiar this year. She too is experiencing a feeling of “squirrelly” this summer. Please visit her at: www.bellisimaliving.com for more wise insights.

With the rains . . . come the weeds

No matter how “out-of-order” the seasons may appear, there are some orderly steps we can take to insure total wellness in all seasons. You’ve heard me teach strongly on the necessity of keeping the body well-watered . . .well, I’m still teaching that message. I recently received this bit of information on how water keeps the body healthy: drinking water at certain times maximizes its effectiveness on the body.

2 glasses upon rising in the morning helps activate internal organs
1 glass prior to a meal (30-minutes) improves digestion
1 glass prior to taking a bath helps lower blood pressure
1 glass prior to going to bed may prevent stroke or heart attack

Water helps regulate body temperature (really important in the heat of summer). Your brain is composed of 75% water . . . so when you experience your next “brain-fog” drink a large glass of water! Water helps carry nutrients and oxygen to all cells and improves nutrient absorption.

We can see the benefits of our recent rainy season in our surrounding environment. Just know that your internal environment benefits as well from your daily water intake.

Please enjoy the last days of summer . . . a new season is waiting its turn . . . and above all things, be IN good health!

Nature's Bird Bath