Living organically & a Life that is sugar-free, white refined flour & rice free.

 I'm feeling a little better each day, now.  I started this life changing venture on Thanksgiving day. 11/26/2021.  Since my concussion, I have been unable to calculate food intake on paper, and slowly the pounds came back on.  It didn't take long to begin eating foods that were available and easy to prepare, and all the weight I'd lost was back. 25 miserable pounds over 4 1/2 years.  It doesn't seem possible that on 10/27/2017 I suffered a traumatic head injury, and still suffer with blurry vision, imbalance, some memory issues, and have a gait abnormality. I can only stand 15 minutes before the legs hurt so badly and I have to sit. It takes a longer time to get my head wrapped around figuring out projects and guaranteed, I have not finish anything I start. But I've finally lost 22 lbs. and will hopefully continue to lose another 20 lbs.  Gardening will help move the pounds.  

Yest I try.  It's more difficult to write, type, and read.  The eyes are very blurry and a magnifying glass has become my closest ally. And the thirst for knowledge is never ending.  Sometimes due to my forgetfulness, I'm re-learning a lot of old things all over again.  

I received a Vitacost coupon today, and immediately went to the website www.vitacost.com.  I finally made the decision to order some ancient wheat flour called einkorn.  After 4 months of being bread-free, I want to try some of this grain as it promises not to be inflammatory.  

                                                     Einkorn bread 

  I also ordered pectin in a box to make sugar-free jams this year.  

Being organic and having a zero-tolerance on any kind of chemical sprays, and studying Phenology of my property, I know that the dandelions will soon appear, as if overnight without notice.  The 3 Spring yellows appear at the same time.  Forsythias, Dandelions, and Daffodils.  

  April 4th the daffodils were in full bright yellow splendor. 

The forsythias starting April 1rst are a blaze of yellow flowers every where you look. Meadowbrook Parkway near Old Country Rd is currently a yellow highway on April 7th. 

and don't be surprised when you soon see dandelions everywhere, and ask yourself, "where did they come from?"  

When you study phenology, and keep a journal, you know that the dandelions are there and waiting in hiding camouflaged in the grasses. Soon - by mid April - buds will appear and then flowers, everywhere.  

Here's a recipe for dandelion jelly.  

3 cups packed very fresh dandelion blossoms – from unsprayed plants! (about 4 oz)

4 cups water

4 cups sugar substitute 

1 box powdered pectin for less sugar recipes

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 drop yellow food coloring if desired (without this coloring is a bit more greenish)

More to come on this non-native plant  Taraxacum officinale brought to America by pilgrims for their kitchen, medicinal, and herb gardens. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~