Love

"To show great love for God and our neighbor we need not do great things.
It is how much love we put in the doing that makes our offering
something beautiful for God...We are a pencil in the hand of God..."
- Mother Teresa

“Only love overcomes lack of love. This is the law, ancient and inexhaustible.” – dhammapada

Panama

So, I think the story started like this ... One night, about 5 years ago 2 girls (women) were driving home from work - I was driving my friend Elena home after a long day - and we talked about keeping on driving and driving & driving down to the tip of South America. Elena is from Uruguay - her family still lives there.. we knew we couldn't really go right then - she has a son (who's in grade 6 now) and I had 3 in school also - who are all in high school now.

We decided that although we couldn't go right then that one day we were going to go. The big obstacle that we thought of at the time was getting through Panama. We were really caught up in a whole story of our own - I am not sure what Panama is really like.
It was a fun dream.. and every once in awhile we mention that one day we are going to drive down to the tip of South America.

Well, guess what? I now have a friend who works in Panama, sometimes, and I have a place to stay there and my own personal tour guide to show me around - the canal, the rainforest , etc
I am so excited. I have booked a trip there!
I'm going from June 14th to the 22nd. Yay!!

& I've been working at getting in shape, in case (hopefully) we get to the beach. I am just getting in from the gym I joined, which is right here in my building complex. It's great, it has all new Life Fitness machines and an amazing steam room - (one of my fav things to do at the gym) - it's smaller than Premier (the gym I used to go to) but the machines are awesome!! (& so far usually available) The hours are shorter here tho, usually close by 10, so I've been rushing home after work lately to get a work-out in. It's amazing how quickly muscles come back after a period of not working out!! The body is such an amazing thing!

My friend was telling me its one of the few (if not only) countries in which you can have breakfast on the Pacific and drive and have lunch on the Atlantic - only a couple hours away.

It will be interesting to see how it is staying raw there. I'll have to think about what to bring with me.
Panama is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on an isthmus, some categorize it as a transcontinental nation connecting the north and south part of America. It borders Costa Rica to the north-west, Columbia to the south-east, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. (wikipedia)

I hear the shopping is great!

(not that thats what I'm really interested in!)
More interested in the rainforest etc - but it'll be cool to see & experience the city.

1 week off - Hard to imagine - I've been working a lot lately!

Heaven!

Holiness, Blessings and Fun

"Everything in life can be nourishing. Everything can bless us, but we've got to be there for the blessing to occur. Being present with quality is a decision we are invited to make each day." ~ Macrina Wiederkehr

Life is supposed to be fun. You said, "I'll go forth and choose. I'll look at the data, and I'll say, yes to this, and yes to this, and yes to this, and I'll paint a picture of the things that I want, and I'll vibrate about them, because that's what I'm giving my attention to. And the Universe will respond to my vibration. And then I'll stand in a new place where a whole new batch of yeses are available, and I'll say yes to this, and yes to this, and yes to this." You did not say, "I'll go forth and struggle into joy", because from your Nonphysical Perspective you know it is vibrationally not possible. You cannot struggle to joy. Struggle and joy are not on the same channel. You joy your way to joy. You laugh your way to success. It is through your joy that good things come." ~ Abraham-Hicks

Excerpted from a workshop in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, August 2nd, 1998

"We live in a world of theophanies. Holiness comes wrapped in the ordinary. There are burning bushes all around you. Every tree is full of angels. Hidden beauty is waiting in every crumb. Life wants to lead you from crumbs to angels, but this can happen only if you are willing to unwrap the ordinary by staying with it long enough to harvest its treasure." ~ Macrina Wiederkehr

Noodles - Tampopo and Creamy Miso Noodle Soup

This is a pic of noodles being made in Taiwan.

I make a Creamy Miso Noodle Soup, which has to be my favorite food in the whole world right now. I could eat it every day. I think I could almost live on this. I just made my 2nd last pkg of raw kelp noodles into soup today - and am in food heaven!

This is often our soup of the day at Rawlicious. It's a favorite with most people. & I will be putting the recipe in Rawlicious Recipes, which will hopefully be published in a few months.

I will be be back at working on it soon - and I thought I would be on it today - having the day off, but to be honest I am exhausted and took complete advantage of being able to sleep in - actually slept a few hours this aft also. I think I have some recuping to do - but tomorrow, thats it, back at the book! ! )

The soup recipe was largely inspired by 1. finding these incredible kelp noodles - clear glass noodles which are raw and made of kelp with almost no taste but an incredible texture - & totally amazing! & 2 - Tampopo, the incredible Japanese noodle western, a great movie.. which I was fortunately introduced to a few months ago - & love.

Tampopo - Theatrical Trailer of Juzo Itami's culinary masterpiece.


This was one of my favorite scenes, but there were many great ones!
The Noodle Master scene - Tampopo


This is my noodle soup that I made here tonight - It is best eaten with chopsticks like in the scene above - and of course this is raw & vegan.
It is so, so delicious, my current favorite food! ..but definitely best eaten with chopsticks. : )

Rawlicious Trio

Last night the Rawlicious Trio played at the cafe - It's getting to be a Friday event. They are awesome. I will get more details on the band soon to post. These pics are from last week when they played with VP, who is also wonderful!!
We have this great barter system going on at work - trading for lots of great things - we are even bartering with a massage therapist to come give staff massages.. Nice! ..rushing back there, bbs, Have a spectacular day!! xo

Extraordinarily Orange - Time, Love and Inspiration

"Anything that follows the laws of nature is worth your consideration." ~Cicero

"No one can go back and make a brand new start. Anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." Author unknown

"Against birth and death there are no cures, except to make full use of the time in between." ~Santanaya

Love one another.

Before an omen arises, it's easy to take preventive measures.
What is still soft is easily melted;
What is still small is easily scattered.
Deal with things in their formative state;
Put things in order before they grow confused.

[Tao Teh Ching]

When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds;
Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world.
Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.
- Patanjali

"Be who we are, and become what we are capable of becoming; that's the goal of life." ~Robert Louis Stevenson

Rawlicious Lunch

Smoothies:
Mono Blanco, Tropical Green and a Raspberry Beret

Pizza

Zucchetti Pasta with Olive Coconut Curry Sauce

Bonne Sante!

Happy Mothers Day - Pot Luck - in back at the Sprout Farm

This beautiful rose is for my Mom.. who is the best mom ever! I love you!!!
Thank you for just being you. I know this sounds hokey and everyone says it.. but I am serious.. and you know your Mom is special when all your friends get excited when she is coming & start booking lunch and tea dates (spiritual and art appointments) with her. Honestly, I could not have picked better and I am so proud and happy to always have Mom to call and talk to.
Thank you so much Mom!!! xox

I feel like I have been on a little trip through the twilight zone and back - I think its part of the whirlwind full-on long, long, days transitioning into a new life and then having a day off - wow! It all kind of hits you. Lots of stuff to process. I'm feeling kind of emotionally exhausted but feeling like its going to pass soon and I will be blossoming again - spring is here and summer is coming! Yay!!

So, there was a pot luck at Sprouts again last night, and I went but late, after work, and didn't take pics this time of the front but went and took pics in back of the plants growing - part of the twilight zone thing I guess.. but all these plants are just so wonderful to be around ..I think they give off an incredible life-force energy just being around them.. and watching them - and they are so beautiful..



I promise I am coming back - full-on - soon!

But right now - I am exhausted!
Good Night
Sweet Dreams
I love you!!
Bbs..

Sushi and Nori

This is Sushi & Nori. Aren't they cute!?! Maria & I love them. Sushi is mine, the orange & white, top right and Nori is Marias at the bottom center. They started out as a gift for Angus, long story having to do with boiled fish.. not going there - lol - & I am rushing back to see them now, but will be back later on to post more pics from Rawlicious!
Have a wonderful day!!

Glasswing Butterflies - Hooked up and Getting in the Groove

Glasswing Butterflies - aren't they beautiful!?!

I am feeling like I am almost in a groove again. ..ready to start posting regularly and soon I will be getting the book stuff out to begin working on again. I had lost my harddrive a week or two before I moved and with it about a week of work & then just left it until after I got set up here.. & I'm almost there. Not quite, but almost. I have a dining table disassembled and lying on my floor, it came earlier tonight and was missing the hardware to put it together. One interesting thing is that lately there seem to be delays and little things go wrong with my furniture and deliveries. I kind of feel each time like its the universe saying to slow down, be patient, flow - it'll all get done. But I feel a need to have this place completed - livable and comfortable. ..and I kind of want it all done Now! I'm sure thats from all the transition and being so transient for the few months before I moved, I felt like I was living out of bags. It's really nice to get settled now. I'll post some pics of my new place soon.

I just got a gym membership earlier this evening also. Thats exciting!! ..and even had time before they closed for a quick workout and sauna.. Nice!!

It was a great day off, lots got done - shopping downtown, a beautiful new duvet that I get to go crawl into very soon. Yes! It's go great being right on the subway line - just across the street. I was downtown in about 15 minutes. cool. Rogers came and hooked me up again - had a few internet/cable problems that got all fixed up. (Thanks Maurice!) Nice to be back online and with you again. Then had a beautiful walk in my new neighbourhood, Bloor West Villiage. Bought a big bunch of red tulips to put in my new red vase. So pretty.. and now I must go join them and my new big fluffy white duvet ..Sweet Dreams.

: ) 'Night bbs, promise

Water, Meditiating, Strength, Truth and Happiness

"Be gentle with yourself. You are the truth unfolding."
- Joseph Goldstein

In this world there is nothing softer or thinner than water.
But to compel the hard and unyielding it has no equal.
That the weak overcomes the strong,
That the hard gives way to the gentle –
This everyone knows, yet no one acts accordingly.
- Lao-Tse

"The lesson which life repeats and constantly enforces is look under foot. You are always nearer the divine and true sources of your power than you think. The lure of the distant and difficult is deceptive. The great opportunity is where you are. Do not despise your own place and hour. Every place is under the stars, every place is the center of the world." ~ John Burroughs

He who smiles rather than rages is always the stronger
~ Japanese wisdom

1. Just watch everything happen. This is the same thing as surrendering.

2. The reason you can't do it is because you're afraid of your own mind.

3. To do it, you have to stop the continuous squinching that makes you you.

4. The self that gets lost in thoughts is also a thought.

5. Everything of which you can be aware is a mental event, including the "me" who thinks it's aware.

6. That "me" is the thought that Ramana Maharshi says is last to go, his "I-thought." His method aims at suffocating that thought by placing all attention on it.

7. One of thinking's main purposes is to say "this really exists" and "that does not," but this distinction isn't useful for meditation.

8. Forget about the nature of reality. This is about phenomenology.

9. Watching takes the fun out of thoughts. The pain, too.

10. All thinking is motivated by an intention (intention is not quite the right word, but the proper word does not exist) to excite a feeling.

11. Nothing you think can make you happy for very long.

12. Being lost in thoughts is a form of masturbation.

13. This instruction sums it up: don't daydream. Or does it?

14. And this one too: be aware. But it makes a difference whether you are aware of something or of anything.

15. You can play a lot of games with meditation that are pure wastes of time.

16. Gurdjieff's self-remembering is the same thing as Theravada's mindfulness.

17. Minds are incredibly prone to travel in ruts.

18. The reason we have to do this stuff -- seek relief from unhappiness, meditate, get enlightened -- is that nature designed our minds for brains that were much less intelligent than the ones we have.

19. Small children hum like cats when they eat. The memory is worth recovering.

~Freddie Yam - What I've Learned from Meditating

He who smiles rather than rages is always the stronger

-Japanese wisdom

The greatest revelation is stillness.
~ Lao-Tse

Enso Moving - Simple and Profound

On Friday I spent the whole day packing up our house which just closed last night.

Look - we had Orbs! Cool!!!

Monday morning - view out the front door - the bin is full and the moving truck has just arrived to take away the things I am bringing to my new place.

Last item from the truck - this was a bureau that I have lived with since I was in grade 1.

Done!

I thought this was funny - taking pictures while jammed tight in an elevator.

My new place!
It's a funny thing about perspective. There are so many ways you can look at every situation. I have lived in houses for so long, always into gardening, etc .. and now I am living in a high rise - wow!
I used to look at these buildings almost like cages and not wanting to live in one, now they represent freedom. It's an interesting adjustment - I don't even have to take out the garbage, and they are really into composting and recycling here, no shoveling - there are a couple pools, nice grounds, ..Ah, Zoey's here walking all over the desk and my keyboard - he seems to be adjusting quite nicely also - ..ok, now hes settled on my lap. He's much more cuddly than usual. & I am spending as much time home as possible to be with him. He meows a bit more than usual (like a talking meowing), but hes pretty content.

Right now I am sitting here in this corner. I have a new desk, big -glass and silver, very modern which was given to me, and a vase of fresh cut flowers, and I am overlooking a very cool view of other buildings and the city all lit up at night. It's quite beautiful.

Angus just happened to have finishing nails in his pocket to fix my bureau - how amazing is that!
Huge, huge thanks to Angus and Richard for all the help!!!

Hanuman Chalisa

The Hanuman Chalisa is Tulsidas' most famous and wisely read poem of 40 verses written in praise of Lord Hanuman. Many recite it as a prayer on a regular basis (daily or weekly on Tuesdays and Saturdays). It is said to provide inner-strength and deliverance from ones troubles.

Getting Settled - New Speakers in the Sun

De Phazz Tribute Mix


Richard Durand - Sunhump


De Phazz - Looking at the Sun - Live!

Moving Zoey

So, I am right in the middle of moving. I moved all my things yesterday. I went last night & bought a few new things for my new apartment - suite actually, it's kind of between an apartment and a condo. It's really nice, small but nice. I still have lots to unpack.. but this morning I am heading out to get Zoey, my black cat.

Zoey is my main concern for this move.. he's going from being an outdoor/indoor cat who lives in a house to an indoor apartment cat. I was thinking I can take him out sometimes but have been advised (by many people) against it. I am apprehensive to get him declawed so went out last night to get clippers and will learn how to trim his nails.. and got a scratching post, condo thing and litterbox, treats etc. & found out from the pet store that they have raw food. So I got his regular food, cause he is used to that.. but will probably try to transition him to raw. After all hes used to catching birds & probably mice also. (but I have caught him with birds!)
At least I am saving some of the wildlife! lol
ok,.. time to get him.

Hope he's ok, I have to work today, but will be back early to be with him. (& my internet gets connected tonight & furniture coming - Yay!

Anita Kreituse - Painted Dreams

An art intermission from my piles of boxes. I am moving in the morning, right after an appt. with the lawyer at 7 am (closing of house) and then heading right over after dropping off boxes to Rawlicious, cause Maria is taking over while Angus helps move me. (Love to you both!!)

Dreamy images seem so appropriate, and I will be there dreaming soon.. soo tired, what a week!

Oh & btw, my finger is still not so pretty but healing incredibly rapidly. It seems Dr McDreamy was right and my finger was so big because probably the bone had shattered inside and was not infected like I thought - although I did wash it out well for a few days in alcohol and eat a lot of garlic, host defense, propolis, oil of oregano, as advised, just in case. & I am still MRSing it often.

ok, Painted Dreams - Good Night, sleep well & I'll see you from the other side.




From her website:

Since Anita was a child she often felt the coexistence of simultaneous worlds at the same observation point. Worlds which are so difficult to describe. Worlds which do not compete for dominance but rather complement one another.

So she started to paint instead of talking about what she feels, what her dreams are made of.

Rawlicious Kids and Desserts and Hugs

We made chocolate fondue today (twice) for the first time. Raw fondue - now thats exceptional - That was Angus's idea.. we slowly melt Fred's Coffee Cardamom Truffle Chocolate over a tealight warmer, slowly so it doesn't get hot quickly, just enough to melt. It's so delicious!!

One of my favorite things today was an older East Indian woman who came before leaving and asked if sh could give me a hug - she thanked me and said what a beautiful kitchen and that she could feel the love in the food. I got some really great hugs today!!

Blueberry Cheezecake

Rawlicious nursery ; ) ..it's a great place for kids, they love it here!

Our first fondue!

Apple pie

Moving plans, boiled fish, Sushi and Nori and the day before opening

This is a pic of a part of my kitchen that I love .. and I am dismantling it.. and off to make a new home to love. The countdown is on. I have 1 week to move.. game plan is pack up the house fri, a bin to dump furniture in on the weekend, ..move on monday, new furniture to be delivered on tues . ..I'm a little nervous about it because I'm working more than full time these days, and so many other things to do.. but I know it will all get done ..lists are great.

My brother just flew in today and came to Rawlicious to see me.. that was awesome!!

I think I may need to get antibiotics for my finger.. I have the bandage staying off tonight for the first time since I hurt it.. it looks pretty yucky!! But I have been MRSing it like crazy at work and soaking it in 12 ph Kangen water and tonight I had drops of something called Dynamite put on it..will look more into this product when I have more comp time - I am getting up in a few hours so I should go to bed soon.

Oh, Maria and I stopped and bought fish for Angus on the way into work this morning. Inside joke about "boiled fish" Boiled fish I just discovered is a term used to describe something bland, tasteless, boring. Great term!!! So we bought 2 goldfish, who are living in the Zen den right now. I think these fish are actually for us, lol - Maria's fish is orange and called Nori, mine is orange and white and called Sushi.

Tracy and Angus have 2 black cats who live upstairs and don't come into Rawlicous anymore, they used to before we opened.. still, I am a little concerned for the fish. They are in a wide mouthed round bowl. (Maria & I are bringing crystals in for them tomorrow: )

Following pics are from the day before Rawlicious opened. I just want to save them here - great memories!! (Good Night!)





Hard to believe this was only just over a week ago!! Things are moving fast around here!!

Raw food prep with Cherie Soria

On Friday a group of us got together at Toronto Sprouts to work with Cherie Soria, who was here for the Total Health show, and help her prep food for her workshop demonstration. She had sample plates to make for 200 people.
Cherie and her husband Dan Ladermann head the Living Light Institute in California and have trained some of my favorite chefs, including Chad Sarno and Renee Loux-Underkoffler.
In this pic: Deighen, Marie, Cherie and me.

Marie, Luke and I

Cherie and Scott

The kitchen is starting to get busy, we have a game plan and are grouped up to work on different recipes. Luke and I were partners.

Luke was slacking off somewhere yet again when this picture was taken! )

Oh, there - finally, he came back to help me. (lol j/k, Luke!)

We had lots of media come visit us, a few tv stations had people come by to film and interview.
and then Marie had a segment done on her for a tv show that day. It was really busy and lots of cameras around everywhere. The pic below is of Cherie being interviewed by the largest Asian station.

Monica from Organics on Bloor came by to deliver extra produce for us. This is a great shop and they now deliver!!!

Brian Clement, director of the Hippocrates Institute, dropped by to say hi and had lunch with us.
The cafe was closed for the day, but we had so many people drop in that day that it turned into a bit of a party. In this pic, a few of the people who showed up: Fred from Food not Candy and Natasha from Simply Raw.

Cool pics from inside the Sprout Farm

This is the sprout farm at the back of 720 Bathurst. Not everyone gets to come in here, but I took some pics to show you around.. its really great back here. The air feels really fresh and pure, thy are often playing Classical music (the plants love this the most, or Indian or other world music. Its a very serene place amidst the wheatgrass and sunflower and pea sprouts.


Trfor, huge bins of seeds and lots of bags of organic earth (actually soil less mix) to the right.

The roto-tech. These are cool, they are much larger than they look here. These 2 machines, the round things in back,beyond the plastic panel sheets, are where the hydroponic sprouts are grown. They slowly turn on their own. ..& it's fun to watch the people who are on rototech duty in their yellow rubber wetsuits with hoses back there - pretty crazy. I think it looks like more fun than it is, or so I am told. ; )

It's just such a cool healthy space!