Boston Harbor - Budd Inlet

These little signs greeted us at the Marina at Boston Harbor in Budd Inlet, where we spent Sunday afternoon canoeing. It was a pleasant day - no wind, overcast skies, and temperatures in the high 50's. George checked out the saltwater tides of the 'Nisqually Reach' before we headed down to Thurston County.

The tide was very low, but we found a good put-in place at the Boston Harbor Marina. There was no charge to put our canoe in the water here, but we did have to have the Washing State Wildlife recreation sticker on our car, for parking.

While George was unloading, I explored the Marina, where families were enjoying the warmer weather, having lunch at little tables, unloading their boats and playing on the beach.

We started our paddle late in the day, about 2:00, and paddled for about an hour and a half, staying very close to the shoreline.

Budd Inlet is incredibly rich with shellfish, sand-dollars, and everything was coated with barnacles. I enjoyed looking at all this closely. The little frond-like filaments that protruded out from the mouth of the barnacles waved in the water, scooping up nutrients along the shoreline. I picked up clams, watched little crabs, and got out of the canoe in several places to explore the beach.

George waited patiently while I walked along the beach - neither one of us have our 'canoeing muscles' built up yet. A leisurely paddle was perfect. We'd like to return to this beach in the summertime, to see the richness of the aquatic life which is more greatly discernible in brilliant sunshine.

I especially enjoyed this pretty home along the shoreline. It is near a state park, which has a miniature lighthouse.

This is the gas-station out on the docks, for fueling the water-craft. I wish we'd gotten a little closer, as I wanted to see what the price of gas was....I thought it said $5.00 a gallon on the little pump. That wouldn't surprise me if it were that amount. Generally fuel is more expensive in a marina.

This fishing vessel was docked at Boston Harbor Marina.

A brightly colored boat next to the Police Boat. I had to laugh seeing the three crewmen lounging around on it, having a good time. At the end of their work day, they all walked up to the Marina, and called it a day.

Of Closed Doors and Open Windows

It is in heavenly side-streets like this in Europe that I would love to stroll, taking in the sights ...preferably without hordes of tourists. I'd appreciate the displays in shop windows, enjoy the cascades of flowers falling from overhanging baskets, and savor little coffee shops like this one in Italy. (Taken by Chania on Flickr. )

There is nothing like the mystery of shadowy interiors and then the warm glow of an old coffee shop, with the aroma of freshly brewed espresso or cappuchino. It beckons indulgence and relaxation, which is the gift of a good coffee shop.

But, I'm here at home in the mists and overcast skies of a March day in the Pacific Northwest. There has been frost on the grass in the mornings, and by mid-day the begrudging sun peeks and bobs through a high scatter of thin clouds. I seek my chance to go running, strip off a layer or two, and let the sunshine warm my skin. We think of Vitamin D deficiency here in the wintertime, as overcast skies prevent that vitamin from being absorbed.

So, I spent the day cooking, starting with buckwheat groats fried with a thin coating of egg, then simmered with garlic, onion, carrots and celery in chicken broth. Add some carrots simmered in lime juice as a side-dish, and some cannellini beans (white kidney) and I've got a nutritious little lunch. The whole grain buckwheat and the beans, when combined at the same meal, make a complete protein. The fiber is always good, and the carrots, well, they were boring....but my eyes need them.

I tossed together a salad with all kinds of goodies, and spent an hour watching Anthony Bourdain on TV savoring the spicy delights of Mexico. He tried out the local salsa and chips, and I enjoyed watching the local fellows set up the spiciest fare to trigger his gag reflex. Bourdain just chowed down, as usual, and chuckled. He is not to be out-done by big burly guys in the local tavern, and jugs down a glass of beer to cool his tonsils. I enjoy his show - it is irreverent, makes me laugh, and opens up an entirely different part of the world, different from what I have in my own home.

Mexico I'd like, but the desserts of France or Spain inspired me to create a little custard cake, a Basque confection made with imitation rum (just a dab for a subtle flavor), and vanilla, and a brushed egg topping with slivered almonds. It requires a 'setting-up' phase of a couple of hours for the rum custard to stiffen-up so it can be perfectly cut. I warmed my slice in the microwave for a few seconds to bring out the rum flavor, and enjoyed it with a cup of coffee. The dough for this custard cake is cut in half, then both sections are rolled out, with one section larger than the other to overlap the top portion when covering the custard filling.

I saved some of the custard for individual servings with fruit. They puffed out so nicely, and I added kiwi, a few huckleberries from last fall, a drizzling of plum syrup, and yogurt. This could work well for breakfast, with a slice of ham and some hash-browns, and I can see individual custards topped with fruit as a high-protein dessert when camping. Warmed over the fire, with a bit of powdered sugar and some strawberries, it would make a perfect bedtime snack.

A fragrant chicken-vegetable stew was my last project for the day, intended for dinnertime. I sauted carrots, celery, and onion in olive oil, added chicken bullion, then added assorted finely chopped vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, leeks, parsley, etc.) and some prunes and dried apricots. These enhance the flavor of the stew. Then I added one jar of pizza sauce - any thick paste will do - and a blend of spices: Anise, tarragon, turmeric, cayenne, rosemary, and Italian seasoning. Salt, pepper, a sprinkle of fresh lime and a splash of plum syrup were added at the end. I simmered chicken and bratwurst for forty minutes in this mixture, until the chicken fell off the bones and the rich tomato broth became a sauce. Once done, this wholesome mixture can be served over brown rice or with whole wheat bread, lavishly buttered! I'm showing only a small serving of this stew because (although it tastes great) it photographs poorly, just like most east-Indian dishes. They tend to look like orange goo, from cayenne and turmeric.

Well, I was savoring all my little culinary delights, even e-mailing photos of the Basque cake and the rum-custard to George, with the title "Which of these would you prefer?", knowing his afternoon snack was probably oatmeal. (Heh, the drawbacks of being a diabetic.) He called back with disappointing news - he had to work late, then attend a Baha'i meeting in the evening. (Guess I'll never do THAT again! :)

Shucks, all this good food and nobody to share it with. But, Taraz was in town visiting his friend Arron; he called and asked if they could come over. He must have called while Aron was driving, because right after I hung up the phone they were knocking on the door! I pulled out dinner and it was sure gratifying to see those young men eat. Reminds me of that phrase, "when God shuts a door, He'll leave a window open".

Vashon Island Sojourn

We spent twelve minutes commuting by ferry over to Vashon Island on Sunday.

The Rhododendron can hold 546 passengers and 48 vehicles, but it was almost empty on the upstairs viewing deck.
I did a quick walk around the ferry before we had to get back in the car.

Once we arrived on Vashon Island we drove all around, exploring the little bays, the coves, and the large maritime park at Pt. Robinson lighthouse. It was a fantastically beautiful day, with sunshine, slightly warm, and perfect for just hanging out on the beach. Taraz joined us on this outing, and he and I explored the piles of driftwood lining the beach. We both collect walking sticks, which we like to carve, and then attach leather and beads for decorations. We pulled up the multi-strands of an old root, and took it to the car - Taraz will add it to his collection.

These two dogs apparently live at Point Robinson, and greet the visitors. They enjoyed having Taraz throw sticks into the water so they could retrieve them. The larger dog was fond of rolling in the sand, but couldn't completely roll over - he was just too rolly-polly.
This corgi was Taraz's favorite, and mine too. He was very well-behaved, and when we told him to sit, he did, while we sat on the beach with our lunch.
I packed left-overs for lunch - yellow squash salad, beet salad, and green-bean salad (from the deli), cheese sandwiches and left-over French toast from breakfast.

We sat for a long time enjoying the dogs and the roll of the waves coming in with the tide, then we explored the park at Point Robinson. There are nice trails, but Taraz wanted to climb, and this stretch was a bit slippery. He had to hold one end of a stick, so George and I could be pulled up.

I'm not sure what was most enjoyable - Taraz with the dogs, the fresh air and sunshine, or our coffee break in town! Vashon Island is a small island, with hardly any commerce of any kind, yet this little coffee shop, 'The Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie' was just thriving. They have a coffee roaster down in the basement, and the aroma was simply heavenly inside. The atmosphere was so congenial, casual, and I felt just like I was inside my own home.

Eva, the owner, was one of the friendliest people I've ever met - just so sweet, with gentle taps on my arm as she explained the history of her establishment. Her shop, 'The Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie' is housed in a charming nearly 100-year old building. Jim Stewart, the fair-trade pioneer and founder of Seattle's Best Coffee, also started out in this building with his original coffee company, 'The Wet Whisker'. He spends a lot of time here mentoring Eva, and he took out a map and showed me some of the best hiking spots on the island.

Eva clearly loves her little shop, with a corner devoted to mugs that belong to the locals. When the old-timers arrive every day, they fetch their labeled mug off the wall, sit down, and watch the crowds come into the shop. Eva said some of the neighbors ride their horses down, and tie them to a post out front! One of her 'regulars' is 90 years old, and he comes down frequently just to enjoy the liveliness of the coffee shop.

There are grocery items and a small health food store that carries over 300 bulk herbs, spices and custom blended teas and organic food. Eva also features teapots, and lovely earthenware. On the walls are posters and fliers that advertise local events and environmental causes, one of which is a pet adoption program. Eva said that her vision is of a viable world in which indigenous people are honored and their stories and customs are preserved, healing families and building communities.

"Cats of Haifa" by Taraz Dannells

Just a suggestion, that if you are interested in the mysterious beauty of cats, you'll enjoy "Cats of Haifa", a video meditation on U Tube, filmed by my son Taraz. He filmed this sequence while on Baha'i Pilgrimage to Israel last year.

Simple Camping Fare - Oysters On The Half-Shell

When George and I were canoeing on Sunday, I noticed a few large white shells on the beach along our route. I told George that I'd like to take some of them home.

Sunshine was just about ready to break through the clouds, and it was a gorgeous morning. We strolled along the water's edge, picking up empty clam shells. We picked up about 20 pairs, with most of the pieces perfectly attached, to form an entire empty shell. I had been reading a Turkish Cookbook earlier in the week, looking for ways to use shellfish and pilaf. Many of the recipes featured mussels and clams - which we have in abundance here in Puget Sound. (Once we went on a camping trip with our daughter Laurel and her husband Mehran, and we dug clams and a few oysters in the evening, rinsed and soaked them throughout the night, and cooked them for breakfast the following morning. They were fantastic.) I wanted the same kind of regional taste-thrill for an upcoming camping trip that we are planning for May.

We plan to camp in the dry, desert scablands of Washington state, so digging for shellfish is not part of the plan...but, I thought I might improvise. I could use canned (smoked)oysters and clams! All I would need to do is collect large butter clam shells, and fill them with pilaf. Then, make assorted kebabs, Turkish flatbread, and some stuffed peppers as main-dishes. All of this could be prepared ahead of time, put under the broiler or baked at home, and packed for an instant meal once the campfire had been set up. All that would be necessary would be to warm the food over the fire.

I made the kebabs from ground buffalo, adding crumbled flaxseed bread crumbs, egg and seasonings to the meat mixture, then rolled the meatballs in wheat bran. This provides a crunchy exterior. I prefer a tender meat for a kebab and also prefer the vegetables and fruit just barely cooked, so that there is a bit of crispness and a lot of color.

I pushed chunks of red, orange and yellow pepper onto the skewer, then a chunk of fresh pineapple and 'barely ripe' pear (firm, not too sweet). Mushrooms were sauteed with some onion, and these were put onto the skewers holding the meatballs.

I drizzled a Thai peanut marinade sauce and some Teriyaki Sauce over everything, then sprinkled a bit of slivered almonds as an embellishment. A touch of minced garlic dotted here and there, a bit of sprinkled pepper, and the kebabs were ready for broiling in my oven. These took only 15 minutes for the peppers and fruit, and for the peanut sauce to glaze-over the meat.

Then I made the stuffed peppers. In went some left-over brown rice and black beans, tomato sauce, chopped carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and leeks. I mixed in generous portions of shredded mozzarella, cheddar, and Swiss cheese. The stuffed peppers were baked for about 20 minutes, just long enough to gently soften them.

When my daughter Ruhiyyih called, as she usually does on her lunchbreak, I told her I was just sitting down to my lunch - this experiment with shells, kebabs, pilaf and stuffed peppers. It was a total success, easy to prepare, and I told her it will be our first meal on the camping trip in May. While everyone is setting up tents, laying out sleeping bags, and building up the fire, I'll pull out my Turkish fare, replete with canned oysters on the half-shell, buffalo kebabs with fresh-fruit, and stuffed peppers. Within 30 minutes, I'll have a meal ready for hungry campers!

I also experimented with Turkish Flatbread, called Yufka, which can be served with hummus or a spicy salsa. Flatbread is simply a tortilla, rolled very thin, then fried in olive oil. I used a combination of spelt flour and whole wheat flour, and used corn meal to prevent them from sticking together when I was rolling them out. The spelt flour gives these a real nutty taste, like walnuts. They are chewy and filling, like pita bread. In traditional households in Turkey, bread is treated with great respect. It is broken into pieces by the hand, as the act of cutting it with a knife or chewing a piece off would be like raising a sword or showing disrespect against God's blessing.

Latte Art

It is our gift-giving time, Ayyam-i-Ha, and I would like to give all of my readers a gift....if they are coffee drinkers. There is an art to this, latte art. I can just imagine everyone with a frothy milk mustache. I can hear the steam creating the froth, smell the rich aroma of a cup of coffee, and watch the patterns tell a story. Life just feels better with a cup of coffee!

On another note, there is a little guy hiding in these coffee beans. If you can find him in less than 3 seconds there is a chance that the right side of your brain is working efficiently. That's always a relief...

Afterthought And Veggies

This was the ceramic serving dish I got at the White Elephant Party at the Olsens....an ornate ear of corn. On the bottom of the dish was carved: Davis Nursing Home. NOW, I understand why this was such a funny gift...I filled it with cauliflower, broccoli, leeks, fresh soybeans, and a sprinkling of peas. I think it would make a perfect centerpiece for an afternoon lunch.

Winter Paddle At Gig Harbor

We spent Sunday morning canoeing along the waterfront at Gig Harbor. It was our first canoe paddle in months, as we've gotten more interested in hiking during cold weather. But, the clouds were starting to thin, and by mid-day warm temperatures and sunshine flooded our part of the world.

We portaged the canoe down to the public dock, and then paddled throughout the marina. It is really enjoyable exploring under all the dock pilings.

The water is quite clear in this little bay, and the water was moving toward toward high tide with just a gentle current.

It is always enjoyable to look at everything under the water (shellfish, starfish, and fish), and to explore what is around the bend, whether it be another marina or a sandspit. As we paddled through the marina, one of the deck-hands saw us and said, "Ah, a stealth-canoe", and greeted us.

Fishing vessels arrive and depart throughout the year.

These floats were carefully loaded up, ready for the next trip.

We paddled for about an hour, and I brought along a thermos of camomile tea - sure felt great having a hot beverage, and also getting out on the water. We stopped on a sandy beach, pulled the canoe up, and collected large shells for a Turkish meal that I want to cook sometime when we are camping out. I'll boil the shells,sterilizing them, then fill them with a brown rice pilaf with onions, garlic, pine nuts, currants, cinnamon and allspice, and a blend of finely chopped carrots, celery and parsley. After the shells are filled, I'll close them up and secure them with a string. They'll roast in tin-foil near the campfire. Kebabs, a salad, and home-made flatbread will round out the meal. As I told George what I planned to do with the shells, he groaned and said he was hungry....time to go home for lunch.

Spending An Afternoon With Taraz

We spent Saturday afternoon visiting with our son Taraz. He took us to several of his favorite espresso shops in Olympia, where he and Megan now live while Megan works on her Masters Degree in Education.

Taraz loves coffee - in fact all of us do. Espresso, Cappachino, Americano with hot milk, or just a regular cup of coffee brewed over the campfire using a Melitta filter, its one of life's little pleasures. Taraz and George are holding Macchiatos here, Taraz's favorite. In a glass, it is a gorgeous beverage.

Taraz has worked as a barista for the last eight months here in Tacoma, at the One Heart Cafe. He loves making the coffees, and visiting with customers. He still visits his old employer, and occasionally helps him out in a pinch. They've become friends. Taraz has even set up exhibits and artwork at One Heart to provide ambience to the little coffee shop - using some of my fabric arts, and little collectables from my den. He loves driftwood, rocks, moss and shells, just as I do, and enjoys arranging them for display.

We visited a number of Taraz's favorite shops in Olympia, espresso places, a few antique shops, and a shop that sold hand-carved wooden walking sticks. Taraz has a special interest in beautiful sticks. When he worked at the Baha'i public radio station in Hemingway, South Carolina (WLGI), he collected them when he went canoeing. They were beaver chewed, had whirls and burls, and became his 'power sticks'. He gives them to friends.

After Taraz showed us his favorite haunts downtown, we drove to Priest Point Park, which is not too far from their apartment. It was a gorgeous sunny day, perfect for a hike.
A portion of the trail was damaged during a recent storm, and we decided to explore through all the debris. It covered the contour of the trail and totally damaged one of the little foot-bridges. Here, Taraz is encouraging me to walk along a slippery log through the boggy undergrowth, saying that if 'Dad could do it, you can'....yes, but Dad wasn't carrying a camera! We had fun working our way through shards of trees, and George pulled me up onto a platform where we could survey 'the damage'. I noticed that once we did this detour, a few other foolish people followed us, seeing the challenges...'well, if they made it, maybe we can'. I'm not sure we were good examples, but we did have fun.

We walked along the beach, as the tide was out. Taraz found this little shelter interesting, as people had climbed up to it, and carved initials and images in the crumbly clay. He carried an unusual Madrona branch home that he found washed up on the beach, and it is now in his livingroom.

I packed some home-made lentil soup', hummus and pita bread, and fruit for an afternoon snack. We found a picnic table at the park and enjoyed the hot soup, grateful for the sunshine and fresh air.

When we were exploring downtown, Taraz told me that some of the alleys are actually set aside for grafitti art. Local youth come here with their spraycans, and splatter paint into swirls and patterns. One man was spraying from his wheelchair, another had a whole bag full of paint. As we wandered from alley to alley, I was quite impressed with the brilliant fresh color. It was a reasonable compromise from the gang slogans, the tagging, that is often seen in large cities. The only drawback was the intense fumes. In the alleyways, the air seemed trapped, and the odor of paint was everywhere.

Afternoon Snack - Tea and Pears

Shallots, Dried-Over Pear with Coriander Seeds

I grow the coriander seeds in my garden. Oftentimes I've used them for planting the next crop the following year. But, they are excellent crushed, and have a lemony aroma. Powdered, they make one of my favorite spices. The leaves of the plant are called cilantro, and I use it in so many of my Mediterranean recipes and as a garnish. I finely chop the stems of the plant into tiny pieces, and sprinkle them at the last minute over stir-fries.

Even the root can be used, although I usually composted them. The most wonderful memory I have of cilantro in the garden was when I watered the plants in the morning. New light, fresh air, the gentle spray from the hose, and then the sudden burst of the aroma of cilantro. So fragrant, so citrissy, so strong.

Spaghetti With Greek Olive Chibatti Bread

I made a special tomato sauce for this whole-wheat spaghetti, which is a 'basic' for many of my tomato-based soups and casseroles. I stir-fried cauliflower, kale, broccoli and carrots, onion and garlic in a very hot braiser for just a few seconds, to release the color and seal the outer fibers. Then I added seasonings - rosemary, sage, thyme, cumin, and oregano. Depending on the salsa, tomato paste, or tomato sauce that I have on hand, I boost the flavors with a little Kitchen bouquet, a dash of dried beef bullion, and pureed Mandarin orange zest. This simmered for about 15 minutes. When the spaghetti is drained, I drizzle a bit of olive oil over all the strands, to keep them from sticking and then pour the meat sauce over the top. I prefer the sauce spooned over the top, rather than mixed into the pasta. The chibatti bread warms in the microwave for about 5 seconds when the meal is ready to serve. If I know I'm going to be busy all day, I'll make this meal in the morning, put it into a serving dish, and cover it in plastic wrap. When I come home from all my errands, a wholesome meal is ready in seconds.

This oatmeal is 'Bob's Red Mill Steel Cut Oats, a pinhead oat, also known as Irish oats. Bob's oats are grown in the northwest, and cut into neat little pieces on a steel buhr mill. They make a hearty cereal with a rustic texture. I add ground flaxseed and raisens or prunes, and just a tad of brown sugar and cinnamon. Portion sizes should be small, because this fiber cereal is very filling. When I make a big pot, I box-up several small servings for George, to take to work for a morning and mid-day snack.

I had these red anjou pears with blueberries for breakfast also, with Greek yogurt. There is nothing like a fresh juicy pear and the sudden burst of blueberry juice when the berries are chewed. Just simply.....bliss.

Companions In Winter

Both of my daughters-in-law visited me last week, and we chatted awhile. These little gals are super-busy, so I'm always delighted when there is an opportunity for them to drop by. They are in their 20's, and when the extended family gets together it is amusing to see all of the 'kids' and their spouses with their incredible energy. That's eight young adults, all seeming to talk at once, joking and teasing, and standing in my kitchen eating food. They are there because that is where I am, cooking.

Our tiny kitchen table currently holds a rock collection given to me by my friend Kathy, innumerable cookbooks with pages marked with yellow post-it notes, and my sewing machine which is surrounded by seam shreaders, scissors, a box of straight pins, and the fabric, two different layers, one of which is a sheer floral print that is exceedingly hard to sew. I'm trying to sew a two layer tank-top, something 'appropriate' for an old lady, without spaghetti straps and that severe body-clinging look that is so popular in our culture today. I've decided that hand-sewing it is easier, so I've pressed all the seams with the iron, and I'm starting my fourth attempt at redoing the seams. You'd think, 'all that work for something you just plan to wear around the house?' Well, since I created the pattern, outlining the shirt from one of my old favorites, this is going to be an experiment. I don't care if it takes me all winter to get it finished!

But, back to my story, with all the kids standing around the stove. It was at Thanksgiving that I realized that my life had indeed rounded a corner when George was diagnosed with diabetes. After the initial shock, I realized that WE had to have major life-style changes, that it just wasn't a matter of careful nutritional choices, but that our habits had to be scrutinized (this was part of the conversation I had with Annie and Megan). When you are young and life is going in a very fast pace, one just gets sidetracked by other stuff - the demands of jobs and school, the parties and get-togethers with friends, and all the stuff that 'packs it in', which I call "Irons In The Fire".

George is notorious for his 'Irons In The Fire', projects and activities that consume his energy and attention, that cause the art of multi-tasking, late-night finishing last touches, and more energy to burn because everything he's doing excites every nerve and fiber of his being. He's like a fire-cracker that never stops fizzling and popping. Even while sleeping he can twitch. Early in the evening or on weekends I try to pull him away from the computer, to go for a jog, a walk, anything that will burn the extra energy that his body wants to release. It helps him sleep better.

I've become focused on this issue of exercise. When I was younger I thought people who jogged just looked silly and were setting themselves up for joint issues when they were older. I couldn't imagine anyone running in the rain, or when it began to hail. I felt they could better use their energy by being productive - vaccum the house, do the dishes and floors, mow the yard. Yet, the older I get, and with the prompting of my doctor, exercise is now a major factor in my life. He indicated that aerobics is essential, but that strength training is absolutely necessary at this stage of my life. It builds muscle, strengthens ligaments and tendons, and helps build stronger bones. It just may prevent me from having to take Fosamax for osteoporosis, which I have.

I've managed to work out a routine, a 55 minute workout three times a week for aerobics - I hike up 3 hills that are six blocks upwards, then jog down them to level ground, where I continue jogging for about six more blocks just to cool down. It may sound puny, but I never thought I could even run a block until I started. Now, I can do this workout without any great strain. On the other days, I do strength training with weights and flexable bands, while I listen to Oprah. I manage about an hour of exercise a day. I'm not ready to join a gym, or Curves, where the equipment is better, although my doctor recommends this. I just do not want to be looked at...and I know I'd do everything so slow that I'd hold other people up who want to use the machines. I need slow, strong movements at my own pace, with low impact.

The "Power of Ten" by Adam Zickerman is a book that I've used to enhance my workout at home. It is an exercise book that advocates a slow-motion workout--a more intense but time-saving method that takes only 2O minutes a week. It's basic idea is to 'hold the burn' for about ten seconds longer after the burn, that time when the muscle is being used. By gently holding the burn, as in isometric exercises or yoga, it is strength training in a more gentle, yet powerful focus. You can sit in front of the TV and work leg and arm muscles until you have to catch your breath due to the exertion! This is something one can do even lying down. I like the basic premise because it forces you to pay attention to every moment of your exercise. One caution, though. If you do this type of workout, it is important to get plenty of sleep, a good 8 to 9 hours, because that is when the body builds and repairs the cells that have been stressed.

The one point I was mentioning to Megan was that it is important to sweat during exercise, so the body can release toxins stored in fat tissue and in muscles. Toxins contribute to inflamation and disease, so a daily routine of exercise, sauna or hot showers, and plenty of water help to excrete them through the skin, the lungs, and the kidneys. You'll always experience an invigoration that comes after a good walk, hike, or jog, and that is partly due to the removal of these toxins. I've heard about 'detox teas', and although I use them moderately, diluted, there is no strong clinical research indicating that they are miracle cures. They refresh the palate and stimulate the liver to work more efficiently.

The hardest part of winter is getting out to exercise. There is just an inertia to overcome. I'll say to myself, "just drive over to the hills and walk up one of them. Then come home." Well, after I've done that I say to myself, "there's no point driving here if I don't try to do a little more." Then I start walking interspersed with jogging, and the momentum carries me along. I'll look for certain houses and landmarks along the way, and pretty soon the pace is like a song, and I want to see it to the finish. I listen to birds and the sounds of children playing in the school's courtyard, the banter of carpenters putting on a new roof, and even someone's smoke alarm. All contribute to the soundtrack. One afternoon it rained, one day it lightly hailed, one day snowflakes swirled down and melted before they hit the sidewalk. Weather is your jogging partner, and it shouts "Isn't it GREAT to be alive!"
(photo of Annie, above, was recently sent to me by her mother, Kathy.)