Mom and life changes

The pics a little blurry.. I just took it from Randy (my brother's) facebook page (uploaded from his iphone).. Its me with my Mom outside the hospital. My Mom had a stroke almost 2 weeks ago and I have been here in Moncton, NB (east coast of Canada), since the day after she was admitted.  Its considered a 'major' stroke but fortunately she is not paralyzed on the right side as can often happen - the stroke was on the left side of her brain. Mom has had a history of high blood pressure which she has been keeping under control through the years.. the raw diet helped it a lot when we started 8-9 years ago and so she continued eating raw throughout the years.. but it still was fairly high. She was born with a congenital hole in her heart and had open heart surgery about 20 years ago. just to give some history and to understand that this was a lifelong health concern.

Mom's amazing. She continues to be my spiritual guru through this and stays positive, despite not being able to communicate a lot. We are working on the alphabet and numbers and colors.. how can an artist not know her colors?.. she had had enough of me this afternoon when I walked her past this painting that I always go through the colors with her on.. its a big painting of abstractish flowers.. as we approached it  she said ' oh no, not that painting!!' lol I let her off the hook.. she worked hard today, and she hasnt even officially started her therapy sessions yet.

I was soo happy that she got into intensive rehab - they often only take people under 65 and Mom is 72.. but shes been very independent, living in a big house - same house that I grew up in with her 'wildish' but incredibly loveable dog (personality++) and her 16 year old granddaughter.. driving everywhere, teaching 3 sets of art classes, about to go for her 3rd gold bar on her black belt(maybe I shouldnt say that, she wouldn't, incredibly modest - but I think thats the way, when you get your black belt..humility is also taught.. but hey, I'm her daughter and proud) & mom is an artists artist.. like, she can stay up all night painting, very passionate about it ..its her life and what she loves most.. and so I am here to help her get it back.

I am moving back to NB to live here with her. James is coming and Zoey my cat ..the house is up for sale. My things are all being packed as I type by him (James) and friends and will be on a moving truck in days. Isn't it wild how life can change... expect the unexpected. go figure.. and now to sort it all out.

One thing I know is that its not an option but to be here with my Mom! Honestly, its like an honor for me.

Raw - Mom is amazing.. my guru once again - she is completely raw in the hospital. The dietitian wasn't sure what to do with her. and we worked it out. I make green smoothies everyday and bring those and salads. crackers etc to her. One day stuffed dehydrated marinated mushrooms and tomatoes with an herb coating.. salsa, guacamole.. today it was Indian food, complete with a coconut chai drink. Mom has her own gourmet raw chef here ; )  I made a list of everything she was having for awhile for the dietician.. her smoothie alone was a job to decipher I'm sure for her with all the herbs, superfoods, gojis, maca, blue green algae, medicinal mushrooms etc etc mixed in.. I got the green light and have fridge space to keep her going.  Everyday is a picnic there.. even the nurses come over to check out what we're having.
But life is busy, her dog is raw also and that was an adjustment to get used to taking out a dog 3x a day and making his food.. but I have it down. Its a full day but its flowing, speaking of which, bedtime.

ps. I should have my camera back in a week or so when my things all get here. I hardly brought anything, only a small suitcase so I wouldnt have to check anything on the plane. I had no idea how things were going to play out when I left Toronto, or that I wouldnt be going back. life changes.. gotta flow with it. We just keep doing our best!! peace.

psps. Moms website - http://www.joangregory.ca/

Life - black mud, Spanish, ducks and raw foods ...and lemon water

ok, this is probably a super-crazy picture to come back with after 2 months away. 2 months!! wow, where does time go? (gotta love that question!!) and what have I been up to?? or better asked is probably - What have you been up to?? Ah, but I can only answer for me.

I have been really into my Spanish in my spare time.. and that probably accounts mostly for my lack of blogging. It's been really awesome and enriching, in a different way from raw foods.. like exercising the brain muscles. & now it feels really great that I can understand radio and tv from Spain and Latin America.. and forget that its another language and just have to look words up now and then. But then again I'm having a good day.. there are ups and downs with learning.. I still have moments when I listen to something Spanish and am totally clued out, but for the most part I get along fine.

I am still very into my raw food thing. I dont think I will ever eat again another way, it just makes too much sense to me. That being said I have had my moments this past year or so when I have only considered myself high-raw (instead of the complete raw I used to be, and very likely will be again) and I've slacked off a few times here and there. I know I feel at my best the more raw I am.. I've just gone through some emotional life stuff in the past few years ..but I'm feeling strong and like a duck.. y'know how they just ruffle their feathers and shake it off and float along again. Oh, to be a duck! ; )

I got very into drinking lemon water in the mornings.. and have been almost living on green smoothies. I made some flax crackers this past week.. and have sprouted buckwheat ones sprinkled with sesame seeds in the dehydrator right now & I made some super-hot salsa today with about 5 kinds of peppers in it. I'm so into hot and spicy foods these days!!  & it turned out so good.

The pic above is because there was a cricket match today between India and Pakistan and I live in Little India and it was so loud walking down the street this afternoon, hundreds of flags everywhere, on cars, people, shops.. the traffic was almost at a stand-still it was so packed. It was very loud and busy and fun to walk through.

Tomorrow morning I am going to go for a black-mud super-steam crazy high vibe morning bright and early, where we do just about every good thing there possibly is you can do for yourself. I went a month or so ago also and took a pic, but it was too dark in the steam room to show you.. but picture candles, essential oils, magic black rocks and cedar boughs everywhere and us covered in black mud..  and the best food ever, after that is. Maybe I'll have pics tomorrow.

& 1 more thing. We're building a new website - yes, all raw foods based, the best foods ever! Tell you more later. xo! Peace and love!!