growLively

So I can't eat tomatoes anymore...Kill me now!

I've been holding back posting on this for about a week because, well, let's just say I'm suffering from PTTSD. That would be Post Tomato Traumatic Stress Disorder. I'm in a bit of shock. I had a full panel of food sensitivity tests done, thinking that I was having a problem digesting gluten and wheat. But little did I know the cruel joke fate would play on me...had I, I don't think I would have gotten tested! Anyway...as it turns out, the foods I reacted the most to (we call them the "red" foods), and thus must remove from my diet, are

• TOMATOES, garlic, oregano, apples, capsaicin (so nohot peppers), cucumbers, lentils, watermelon, salicylic acid, carob and phenylethylamine (diet sodas I think).

Now, I've been a vegetarian for 20 years...so most of the things on that list right there are pretty important components of my daily diet. I eat healthy and I grow and eat lots of veggies. Anyone who knows me will immediately wonder how on earth I'm going to get along without tomatoes or my hot peppers. My garden is bursting with them! I just planted all that beautiful garlic too...no more cucumber sandwiches...sniff, sniff. Ok, so maybe you're thinking, well, this isn't all that bad, you'll make it work. BUT THERE'S MORE.

Apparently I also have a bunch of other foods I'm highly sensitive too, although not as sensitive as to the red foods. These are the "yellow" foods. I'm supposed to keep these to a minimum and not combine any two together at any time.

• Baker's Yeast (there goes bread), beets, black pepper, broccoli, cabbage, caffeine, cauliflower, cayenne pepper, cherry, cinnamon, coconut, codfish, corn, grapes, mango, millet, oranges, peanuts, pistachio, plums, pork, rye, solanine, soybean (no more tofu) string beans, sweet potatoes and yellow squash.

Um, yeah, just kill me now. I'm now wishing it was the gluten and wheat I was allergic too! So great, I'm not allergic to gluten, I can eat bread, yay! Wait, no, it all has yeast in it...No corn...no soy...pretty much everything at the grocery store has yeast, corn or soy in it in some form. Broccoli, cauliflower??? I have acres of broccoli in the garden right now...lol. American wine is off my list now too because apparently they all contain corn of some kind? So, awesome, I guess I'll just have to drink nicer more expensive European wines right? NO...because I'm sensitive to GRAPES! Have you ever tried to find something already made that doesn't have black pepper or garlic in it???? 

Oh my gosh, my head is spinning...I need a drink...one not made with corn, or yeast, or grapes...LOL

Ode to Rhino Beetle...

So, I love bugs...all sorts of bugs. I draw and paint lots of pretty flowers, but bugs are one of my favorite subjects to render. Especially with high quality colored pencils. I can sit for hours and hours obsessing on all the tiny detail. This here is a drawing I've done of a rhino beetle in all it's glory. Aren't they amazing and beautiful?

Did you know...Rhino Beetles are the strongest creatures on Earth? The rhinoceros beetle can carry 850 times its own weight. That's proportionally more than an African Elephant can carry! That's the definition of a badass if there ever was one. Badass beetle!

Going to Peru...

So, have I told you guys I'm going to Peru in December? Well, I am! My best friend Kimberly and I are going to trek around in the Amazon jungle near Iquitos, Peru for a couple of weeks. We will be staying and studying with some native shamans. Very exciting.

This is where we will be...

This is where we'll swim...and hope the piranhas don't eat our toes..lol

 I (not Kimberly, lol) will be looking for these...and some bigger ones!

And these...awwww

And of course studying all sorts of fabulous plants...

Can't wait to go...but for now I have to be satisfied with the ache in my arms from the 5 shots I got to day...owwwww. Still a couple more to go. My poor, poor guns! At least they gave me cute band aids, lol.

I'll keep you guys posted and hope to have some wonderful photos to share upon my return.

New Magazine: Urban Farm

I love me some magazines. Just found a new one from the publishers of Hobby Farms and Hobby Farm Home, both of which I subscribe to. Supposedly, I should have gotten a copy in my mailbox about a month ago...haven't seen it. And it should be on newsstands somewhere...haven't seen it. I want it! Any of you guys found it yet?? If so..gimme the 1020. Out.

Morning coffee malfunction...

I ask you this: How is one supposed to get their day properly started when the newly opened, non-expired half 'n half comes out in a chunky smelly blob??? Ewwwwww. How can I drink my wonderful Illy espresso (albeit decaf) without a little cream? It's criminal. SIGH. GOOD Morning...LOL.

Off to a Yoga retreat...

One of these days...ok maybe not...I'll stop traveling so much! I almost can't remember what a weekend in my own house feels like! But this trip is good fun, not work. I'll be heading out to Yoga in the Pines in East Texas for a lovely weekend yoga retreat with a friend of mine. Much, much needed.

Speaking of Yoga, we'll be doing a Greener Life workshop at NHG on Sunday November 1st. The workshop will run 10am-2pm and will include:

10am-11:30: 1 hour of Asana Yoga Practice plus 30 min. Yogic Philosophy by Ro Chapa

11:30-noon Lunch, brown bag something healthy, hang out in the garden center

Noon-1pm: Eating with the Seasons: They Ayurvedic Approach by Douchka Lecot

1pm-2pm: Growing Your Own, by Leslie Finical Halleck

I'll be covering what to grow now organically in your cool season garden. Yoga and gardening all in one! You can read the description and download the registration form.

True Value Show Salt Lake City

The show was in Salt Lake City this year and overall the weather was great. Chilly but clear until Sunday. The day before I arrived a storm had come through and dumped fresh snow on the mountains, which was quite pretty. I did not get to take pictures like I wanted to...I was just too darn busy trying to get orders placed. But for those of you nostalgic for the show (Paul S.) here are just a couple of shots.

The show was huge...seemed bigger than the last two in Atlanta. For those of you not in the biz or unfamiliar with the show, it's a big hardgoods buying show. Any kind of product you'd generally find in a hardware store plus garden center/nursery hardgoods. I stock up on spring stock of things like hand tools, fertilizers, giftware and the like. Always find a few cool new things each year. If you're like me, and love tools and hardware stores, this is like getting to go to the biggest hardware store on the planet! lol. OH, and there is even kitchen store stuff...I have to be careful, that stuff sucks me in!

It's where you find and covet cool things like this compact tractor from Bobcat. I so want one.

Some new interesting things at the show this year were some really cool roof-mount or pole-mount wind turbines for home/business use. They also have a solar panel program too.

I looked at thousands if things while there, but this one made me laugh...ther are all sorts of new crazy composters on the market, in all shapes and sizes. I wasn't impressed with most of them, but if you're a Doctor Who fan, like myself, you can't help but recognize this one? Dalek anyone?? LOL

Off to Salt Lake City for True Value

I'm off this morning to Salt Lake City for a few days to work the True Value hardgoods show. It's like the most giant hardware/garden tool store on the planet! Have I mentioned I have a thing for hardware stores?? Anyway, I'll be checking out all the latest in greatest in gardening hardgoods; tools, fertilizers, fun stuff, etc. I'll try to get some photos of groovy new stuff...

It's Midnight...and you're still at work...

What's wrong with this picture?? I got here before 7am...still here....sigh. Inventory gone wrong....lol. Maybe I'll see bed by 2am if I'm lucky. Ah, ain't technology grand? LOL

Happy midnight surfing...

Wordless Wednesday: Can't talk, eating weeds.

and bugs...lol