tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41929884206138454652024-03-04T23:21:47.662-07:00The Paleo HerbalHerbal Medicine, Women's Wellness, and Doula ServicesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-3946195909532066852013-07-07T10:05:00.001-06:002013-07-07T10:05:44.939-06:00Just Getting Started!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
For the past 15 months, I've been diligently working away at shifting my life work. 2012 felt like the year of change, and 2013 feels like the year of action.<br />
<br />
I'm still working hard behind the background, but I'm pleased announce that my new website is up and running: <a href="http://www.primalground.com/" target="_blank"> Primal Ground</a><br />
<br />
For years I've known that my true passion and true calling in life resides in natural health. As an herbalist for over 25 years, I've long been involved in using medicinal herbs for my own health, the health of my family, and the health of friends and clients. It's always fascinated me how the knowledge of how to use just a handful of plants can reap remarkable benefits and healing from common illness and health issues. When combined with other modalities, people can easily shift imbalance back to wellness. In this day of ever-increasing medical costs, and a lack of access to real medical care, it is becoming even more important for people to feel confident in relying on their intuition, nutritional knowledge, and basic life skills to enhance their own wellbeing.<br />
<br />
As I've progressed through life and all she brings, I've started pulling together all my experiences and expertise under an umbrella I'm calling Primal Ground. It is my intention to weave together my knowledge and expertise in women's health, awareness, self-defense, nutrition, meditation, and the outdoors in order to provide an amazing set of classes, programs, workshops, and retreats.<br />
<br />
I'm so excited to be working on these offerings, and I cannot wait to share them with you.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, while the background work is being completed, I've been busy preparing to present at the <a href="http://www.ancestryfoundation.org/program.html" target="_blank">Ancestral Health Symposium 2013</a>. I'm honored to be presenting a poster titled, "Primal Pregnancy, Primal Birth: Building a Foundation of Optimal Health for Future Generations."<br />
<br />
Please stay tuned for more announcements regarding my program, AHS13, and all the beauty life has to offer!<br />
<br />
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-36214443779530984952013-01-16T14:50:00.001-07:002013-01-16T14:50:52.302-07:00It's That Time of the Year -- Viral infections: Colds and Flu<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been all over the news, and I know many people who have, unfortunately, already had the flu or have been recently exposed. My husband had the the flu last weekend, and exhibited the classic symptoms of a rapid onset, chills, severe joint and muscle pain, headache, fever, and a dry cough. It began last Friday, and by today, Wednesday, he's feeling much better. My treatment plan was simple: stay in bed, monitor fever, antivirals, respiratory tonics, lots of water. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used Andrographis, Yerba Santa, and <a href="http://www.wishgardenherbs.com/herbal-remedies/Kick-Ass-Immune-Activator-399" target="_blank">Kick-Ass Immune Activator </a>by Wishgarden Herbs. The tincture contains Yerba Santa, Baptisia, Goldenseal root, Elderflower, Yarrow, Osha, and Echinacea root. In general, I do not use Goldenseal root for colds. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Many people think of Goldenseal as
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<span style="color: #434343;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A variety of </span></span><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">Phytotherapeutic methods are useful in treating upper
respiratory tract viral infections. In general, I employ Traditional Chinese Medicine
(TCM) approaches with Western clinical herbalism during treatment. During the
very early stages of cold and flu, symptoms of an upper respiratory tract
infection respond to warming and stimulating botanicals, and can be combined
with botanicals that inhibit viral replication:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">•<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><i><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">A</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">ndrographis paniculata</span></b><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;"> (<b>called the King of Bitters in Ayurvedic medicine</b>) In TCM,
Andrographis is considered bitter and cooling. It has immunostimulating
properties, is antipyretic, stomachic, has laxative properties, and is used as
a bitter tonic. This is the first remedy
I choose at the onset of a cold or the flu. Much research on Andrographis has
shown the herb to be effective in reducing fevers and relieving sore throat. It
should not be used for more than 2 weeks at a time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">•<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><i><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">Spilanthes acmella</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;"> (also called Toothache
plant):</span></b><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">
native to Africa and western Asia, this plant is exceptionally high in
immunostimulating isobutylamides, which are also found in Purple Coneflower (<i>Echinacea</i>
spp.) and Prickly Ash (<i>Zanthoxylum spp</i>.). It has a spicy and warming
energy that stimulates glandular and mucosal secretions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">•<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><i><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">Lomatium dissectum</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;"> (also called Biscuit
root):</span></b><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">
Long used by the First Nations people of North America, <i>Lomatium</i> gained the respect of early European settlers for the
treatment of influenza. It has antiviral and antimicrobial properties and is
very safe, although long-term use may produce a rash in some people. It is,
however, endangered, so it is best to purchase cultivated forms if possible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">“<b>Composition Powder</b>,”
a time-honored Thompsonian remedy, was highly utilized at from the mid 1800s through the start of the 20<sup>th</sup>
century. The following recipe is taken from Benjamen Coby’s 1864 book “A Guide
To Health,” and should be in every medicine cabinet in preparation for colds,
flus, and digestive upset. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">Take the powders (finely ground herbs) of:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">•<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">Bayberry bark<i> (Myrica cerifera) </i>2 parts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">•<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">Ginger root <i>(Zingiber officinalis)</i> 1 part<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">•<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">Cayenne fruit <i>(Capsicum spp.) </i>1/8 part<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">•<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">Cinnamon bark <i>(Cinnamomum cassia)</i> 1/8 part<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">•<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">Prickly ash bark <i>(Zanthoxylum americanum)</i> 1/8 part<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">Mix well and sift through a sieve. The dose is one teaspoon in a
half a cup of hot water. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">There are endless variations of this formula, and
instead of powders, tinctures of the same herbs can be combined in the same proportion,
but the dosage can be reduced by half. Other herbs may be added for additional
benefit including <b>Biscuit root</b><i> (Lomatium dissectum), </i><b>Turmeric</b><i>
(Curcuma longa) </i>and <b>White Pine bark</b><i> (Pinus albicaulis).</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;"><b>FEVERS</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">Mamas, I know that nothing freaks you out more than worrying
about a fever in your little one. But I
cannot say this enough, or more firmly, fever is critical to the healing
process!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">Fever is regarded a
friend in herbal medicine, and phytotherapies are used to support the fever and
to enhance the body’s innate response so as to facilitate a more rapid and
thorough recovery. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">Modern medicine, even in the face of sound physiological reasons
to support the fever process, continues to promote therapies to shut down the fever
function. The widespread use of acetaminophen
and ibuprofen are ubiquitous in our culture. Many pediatricians and baby books
will recommend alternating between the two to keep the fever down. As can be seen in the Ayurvedic or the TCM
model, such an approach, while alleviating the symptoms of fever in the short
term, actually drive the pathogen deeper into the body where it can manifest as
a disease at some later point, or can lead to an incomplete or longer recovery
time. This modern medical approach prevents the body from responding fully to the
pathogen through its natural processes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">It takes trust to allow a fever to progress without
intervention, and a fever management plan should be in place. Know when to
intervene! If a fever spikes too
suddenly or climbs too high, febrile seizures can occur. Care should be taken to prevent febrile seizures. A high fever that
lasts for more than 24 hours should be monitored closely and a doctor’s advice
should be sought when your comfort level is breached. Instead of relying on
ibuprofen and acetaminophen, there are several phytoremedies that are useful
for fever management.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial;">Fever management</span></b><b><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">Fever management in herbal medicine rests upon understanding the stages of fever:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">1.</span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">Initial or Prodromal Stage:</span></b><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;"> coldness and chills
begin and indicate that the body temperature is lower than that which is set in
the hypothalamus, and is likely going up. If the fever is having trouble
starting, circulatory stimulants such as <b>Ginger root</b><i> (Zingiber officinalis),
</i><b>Cayenne</b><i> (Capsicum spp.), </i><b>Cinnamon</b><i> (Cinnamomum cassia)</i> and<i> </i><b>Angelica</b><i>
(Angelica archangelica)</i> are useful to raise body temperature. External
therapies can also be included, such as hot fomentations and warm water enema.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">2. <b>Increase Phase</b></span><b><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">:</span></b><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;"> hot, flushed skin and
sweating, indicate that the body temperature is higher than that which is set
in the hypothalamus. In most circumstances nothing needs to be used at this
point, except perhaps sponging with cool water. Ensure ill person drinks plenty
of water. Tea or hot lemon water can be
taken if desired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">3. <b>Climax Phase</b>: Continued feeling of heat and sweating. Temperature does not continue to climb. Person often feels hot and irritable.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">4. <b>Descent Phase</b>: Fever starts to recede. Person often begins to feel noticeably better. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">If the person feels cold and is shivering, monitor the fever
often, and be prepared to use <u>antipyretic</u> therapies to manage progression of
the fever. Initially, it is better to try to use <u>stimulants</u>, such as <b>Lobelia</b><i>
(Lobelia inflata)</i> or <b>Cayenne</b><i> (Capsicum spp.).</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">If the person is hot and irritable, the use of <u>cooling
diaphoretics</u> such as <b>Lime blossom</b><i> (Tilia), </i><b>Catnip</b><i> (Nepeta cattaria), </i><b>Yarrow</b><i>
(Achillea millefolium)</i> and <b>Elder flower</b><i><b> </b>(Sambucus nigra)</i> are all
useful, especially for children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">If the fever remains persistent and high, herbs with an
<u>antipyretic</u> activity such as <b>Aspen</b><i> (Populus tremuloides), </i><b>Willow
bark</b><i> (Salix ssp.), </i><b>Goldenseal</b><i> (Hydrastis canadensis),</i> and
<b>Peruvian bark</b><i> (Cinchona spp.)</i> can be used. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">After a fever has resolved,
<u>stomachics</u> such as <b>Elecampane</b><i> (Inula helenium), </i>and <b>Cardamom</b><i>
(Elettaria cardamomum),</i> and bitter restoratives such as <b>Dandelion root</b><i><b>
</b>(Taraxacum officinalis),</i> and <b>Gentian</b><i> (Gentiana luteum)</i> are all
useful, to restore digestive function and stimulate appetite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">In addition to the timely and appropriate use of diaphoretics,
antipyretics and digestive stimulants, herbs with antiviral properties can also
be used. There are several plants that have antiviral activities, but those
that have the greatest activity upon upper respiratory tract infections include
<b>Biscuit root</b><i> (Lomatium dissectum), </i><b>Osha</b><i>
(Ligusticum spp.), </i>and <b>Yerba Santa</b><i>
(</i></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Eriodictyon californicum</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial;">)<i><span style="color: #434343;">. </span></i><span style="color: #434343;">Additionally, both these herbs have a profound
diaphoretic activity and will promote a fever to break.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">During a fever, one of the most unpleasant side-effects is muscle
and joint pain. Although uncomfortable, such symptoms indicate that interferons
are doing their job, enhancing antiviral and phagocytic activity. Phytotherapies
that can be used to help alleviate some of the side effects of the viral
infection include diaphoretic, <u>antipyretic </u>and <u>antispasmodic</u> herbs such as
<b>Boneset </b><i>(Eupatorium perfoliatum) </i>and <b>Black Cohosh</b> (<i>Cimicifuga
racemosa).</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial;">Once a person starts feeling better and the flu symptoms start tapering off, <u>immunomodulants,</u> herbs that regulate the immune system,
enhance immune activity, and regulate the inflammatory response, can be used to help in the final stages of recovery. Many
immunomodulant herbs are contraindicated in fever and should not be used until
the ill person starts to recover and appetite has returned. These herbs include
<b>Astragalus</b><i><b> </b>(Astragalus membranaceus), </i><b>Marshmallow root</b><i><b> </b>(Althaea
officinalis)</i> and <b>Ashwagandha</b><i> (Withania somnifera)</i>.<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-79773255553211359092013-01-11T15:36:00.003-07:002013-01-14T15:29:34.582-07:00Designing New Endeavors<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XLCWfDMX_Tzc0NzFmfcBJO5v8bqsaIJJ7_NTOJv1qi_nh9p5tFKTg3Vef2rEbK2CI2_b16jHhFVl-YIjqqNPOr6RBBMKBm56TVt7ZB2J5HnEKtCBImLeZZE_LtElKxvxQBR2lfx3BsY/s1600/aspen+leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XLCWfDMX_Tzc0NzFmfcBJO5v8bqsaIJJ7_NTOJv1qi_nh9p5tFKTg3Vef2rEbK2CI2_b16jHhFVl-YIjqqNPOr6RBBMKBm56TVt7ZB2J5HnEKtCBImLeZZE_LtElKxvxQBR2lfx3BsY/s320/aspen+leaves.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
2012 was a truly unique year. The year began with no expectations. I made no New Year's resolutions and I made no plans for any tangible goals. That was unusual for me, as I usually relish goal-making, and enjoy the thought-process required to consider the types of goals I might work towards accomplishing. For whatever reason, I began 2012 without a clear plan for my year.<br />
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As usual, the days and weeks ticked quickly by, and I found myself in the month of April. For several weeks, I'd felt a strange undercurrent in my life. I had this sense that change needed to happen. That change was going to happen. That I had the ability to take charge of this change, before change took charge of me. I have already written about this <a href="http://paleopajarito.blogspot.com/2012/04/an-awakening-of-sorts.html" target="_blank">"awakening,"</a> so I'll leave it at that, for now.<br />
<br />
Quickly, I found myself on a new track. I was losing weight effortlessly. I had eliminated a 20-year habit. I was learning new things, that in many ways, were tied to the things I already had experience with. I began studying <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&ved=0CE8QtwIwBA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dkp1bZEUgqVI&ei=SYvwUIugI4XV0gGZ14EQ&usg=AFQjCNHDhMczLvRscQyTsQOqiYYRgPO6ig&sig2=XG6HI_L8daYsoWF3FUSCOw&bvm=bv.1357700187,d.dmQ" target="_blank">epigenetics</a>, which may explain why many people gain weight as they get older, despite a whole foods diet and exercise. I began learning about the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S_vQZDH9hY" target="_blank">endocrine</a> system, which I have taken for granted, and knew very little about. I started reading about circadian rhythms and how they are both impacted by and impact the endocrine system. I also began practicing cold thermogenesis (CT), and learning about therapeutic uses of CT for athletes, illness, <a href="http://www.nature.com/nrd/journal/v9/n6/execsumm/nrd3138.html" target="_blank">obesity</a>, and hormone imbalance.<br />
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As often happens, when I started focusing my own learning lens on specific topics, those topics seemed to be intertwined in everything. The Journal of the American Herbalists Guild published an article about using circadian rhythms to effectively administer herbs for specific illnesses, such as cancer. Articles about CT seemed to flood the web. Pregnancy and birth sites seemed saturated with information about the importance of labor hormones on a newborn and the mother. Everything seemed to be tying together into a neat, tidy web of information. I was giddy with knowledge and full of inspiration.<br />
<br />
During May, I started journaling with regularity. I used to be an avid journaler, filling up notebooks, journals, and binders full of my mental chatter, insight, and dreams. Years had passed, however, since I religiously utilized my pen and paper to document my life, my experiences, and my aspirations. Prior to beginning to journal regularly, I had read a quick fable, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062515675/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=palepaja-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0062515675%22%3EThe%20Monk%20Who%20Sold%20His%20Ferrari:%20A%20Fable%20About%20Fulfilling%20Your%20Dreams%20&%20Reaching%20Your%20Destiny%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=palepaja-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0062515675%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><i>The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari</i></a>. This easy-to-read story about a high-end lawyer who nearly dies from his wealthy lifestyle, disappears to the Himalaya, and returns a changed man, spoke to me in some very simple ways. Primarily, it reminded me that I am still not doing what I want to be doing. That my life is passing me by, and I've yet to pursue my real passions. This alone had a profound impact on me.<br />
<br />
There I was, 40, wondering what I want to do when I grow up.<br />
<br />
<br />
Journaling, meditation, mindful hiking, and swimming are all helping to guide me towards my new endeavors.<br />
<br />
As a result, I've modified this blog to more accurately reflect my motivations and my services.<br />
<br />
I will continue to lead herbal classes through the <a href="http://www.pajaritoeec.org/index.php" target="_blank">Pajarito Environmental Education Center</a>, and my next one will be the fun and tantalizing Herbal Cordials for Your Valentine class, on February 6.<br />
<br />
I am excited to bring this blog back to life!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-31941921628373986272012-03-07T21:13:00.000-07:002012-03-07T21:13:37.974-07:00A little surprise<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In January, my lovely Grandma Sigrid Violet Lemponen Smith passed away. I always loved her.<br />
I did not always agree with her choice to be highly dependent upon the American medical system. She and my Grandpa, Ernest Edward Smith, were definitive guinea pigs for all that western medicine promised and offered. When I was very young, I remember them divvying up their pills between each meal, ensuring they both took their allotted batch. I always felt a weird sort of distaste for their increasingly odd ritual, that seemed to grow more intense and desperate with each summer visit. I worried that getting older for me might entail the strange dependence upon pharmaceuticals they both touted. Many days of our week-long visit included a visit to the pharmacy to ensure they were stocked up with the latest and greatest drug du jour.<br />
<br />
Rather than focus on the drugs, I preferred to eat my Grandma's upside-down pineapple cake, which she could whip up faster than I could run down the hall. Plus, there was always a surplus of Pringle's chips, King Sooper's sodas, and as much candy as one could put down the throat.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTN3eLKmMP816ivAhML3OpkPsh0vZnIM9MN1O72rszjz3rTN0krvaTNtUzcsrjbVJrwSYKGeTn5Xd_KgHWVnEDPRajqXw1PC41TOn5F9XfkzQl4QB0YAmZfDEJGvRMSAaHXtoQ_3BBx3c/s1600/Pueblo+West.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTN3eLKmMP816ivAhML3OpkPsh0vZnIM9MN1O72rszjz3rTN0krvaTNtUzcsrjbVJrwSYKGeTn5Xd_KgHWVnEDPRajqXw1PC41TOn5F9XfkzQl4QB0YAmZfDEJGvRMSAaHXtoQ_3BBx3c/s1600/Pueblo+West.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;">My Mom, my brother, and me in Pueblo West on our way home after a Grandparent's visit.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Visiting my grandparents, first in Pueblo, CO, and then in Colorado Springs, was always a treat. Between extended shopping trips, and a guaranteed visit to the tourist attraction we'd not yet seen, we always had a blast. <br />
<br />
My beautiful Mother informed me today that I will be receiving a small sum of money that had managed to be preserved despite the tens of thousands of dollars per month cost of my grandparents' care in their later life. I was so surprised! I think I'll buy me a pair of<a href="http://www.zappos.com/multiview/101177/69713"> kick ass boots</a>, and some new <a href="http://www.petzl.com/en/outdoor/ice-climbing-tools/nomic">ice tools</a>. I'm not sure my Grandma would be proud, but I think she'd respect my decision...as good a Finn as she was.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-87574057899324382032011-09-30T15:34:00.000-06:002011-09-30T15:43:57.083-06:00What a summer it has been!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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What started out as an odd weather
rollercoaster June, turned into the disbelief at having to evacuate LosAlamos again due to the Las Conchas Wildfire. I had risen early that Sunday morning, June 26, to take a road ride around "the loop". I hadn't been on my road bike in weeks, save for a little bit of commuting here and there, and I felt a desperate need to take a decent ride. I left the house before 7am, and little nigglin' thoughts kept throwing me for a loop. Should I do this ride, or another one? Should I turn here, or wait to turn over there? Should I go up to the Back Gate and down, or down to White Rock and up? Should I cross at the light, or ride all the way through the gates? I was surprised by these nagging thoughts, as usually I feel light and free while riding. I kept thinking that something bad would happen if I made the wrong choice, like I'd get run over by a car, or something.</div>
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Remarkably, nothing happened on the ride. I remember taking note of previous burn areas from the Cerro Grande and Dome Fires. I admired a herd of deer as they ambled through the juniper-pinon woodlands near TA-54. I noticed how dry it was, and how the wildflowers were suffering...barely an inflorescence could be seen.</div>
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Later, I was helping my girls clean their rooms, and I ran downstairs to get a drink of water, admired the skyline, went back upstairs, and then ran back down a few minutes later to get some cleaner. When I looked out the window this time, I saw this:</div>
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<img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeU1aqtVvqfWMUzYjrOHwFlHlywTWEJjV7GjSjXVLKInlQOHDgoKe00iz2twCu8X5lbEVmF3V5U5YMM96yw3cDIhJYL586f2rlgKRXzfAr2CCCRXH0twVSiSe217_RpfvpEtHyjC7QdY/s320/2011-06-26_13-59-47_177.jpg" width="320" /></div>
"Oh Shit!" I said, which I had said exactly two weeks before at the start of the Borrego Fire. "Not another fire!" I hurried outside and told Jan and Jerry about the smoke. Jerry quickly decided to drive for a better view, because from where we stood it looked like the ski hill was burning, and that's where Scott was.<br />
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Jerry came back and said that it looked like it was further back in the Jemez. I texted Scott and he said they were already dropping water on it, and it looked like it was near Sierra los Pinos or Los Griegos. I went to the store (thankfully for Scott, as he ended up not evacuating) and we could see how awful the fire looked. When we got home, this is what it looked like: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXexP14-0nQlL4zVMizu5hocihyweRMZ1gLAiv0IN2mTwmQOdNy9lP3JrsGxgJ1u2uYRfBsT9RWdvpae8t5wN7RCdAWqwjD6tPGWmx2evQSgT1Ll7hPxVOWU4H8w1eAmN8hnW85d773k/s1600/2011-06-26_20-13-30_425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXexP14-0nQlL4zVMizu5hocihyweRMZ1gLAiv0IN2mTwmQOdNy9lP3JrsGxgJ1u2uYRfBsT9RWdvpae8t5wN7RCdAWqwjD6tPGWmx2evQSgT1Ll7hPxVOWU4H8w1eAmN8hnW85d773k/s320/2011-06-26_20-13-30_425.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
A flurry of activity began on Facebook, with newer Los Alamos residents asking if us older residents thought an evacuation was likely. In absolute denial, I said, "No way, not gonna happen." And boy was I wrong. The girls madly dashed about the house on Sunday night, throwing stuffed animals, random items of clothing, books, hair ties, toys, and other objects into their bags. I was still in denial. The Lab announced it would be closed in the morning, so I figured I'd have time to get stuff together the next day, since I wouldn't be able to go to work. I woke early, drove up the Middle School and took some pictures, noted that it didn't look bad today, and hoped that it wouldn't get too smoky. We'd already spent several weeks in June being smoked out by the Wallow Fire in Arizona. I was smoked out. I casually gathered up those few things I considered important, ignored imminent claims of an evacuation being announced at 1pm, and tried to soothe the fears of my eldest daughter. By noon, ash and debris was raining down, and the smoke levels were severe. I resigned myself to the evacuation, and Scott agreed to stay in town to water the deck, yard, and fencing...along with his parents. The girls and I drove to Pojoaque to head to my folks' house in El Rancho. This was the view of Los Alamos from the El Rancho bridge...or non view, I should say.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPc-wooAHjIEzMUL5mWIw1Sx_3pEzDI3Q3R3pZqFKOs-IX89YbAkq7NK6M8H6p2zw9F8XrZfhgcFoPkWPvUFySYfiMBDN4UN4t8UtuAr6pctscKdT76xekgRSxzsm34D8jdAMhp7r1yJo/s1600/2011-06-28_17-46-00_603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPc-wooAHjIEzMUL5mWIw1Sx_3pEzDI3Q3R3pZqFKOs-IX89YbAkq7NK6M8H6p2zw9F8XrZfhgcFoPkWPvUFySYfiMBDN4UN4t8UtuAr6pctscKdT76xekgRSxzsm34D8jdAMhp7r1yJo/s320/2011-06-28_17-46-00_603.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The next morning, I found pieces of Ponderosa bark and needles all over the ground in the Barrancas. <br />
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So we hung out. And hung out. And hung out some more.<br />
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And we hiked up the hill to see what was going on in Los Alamos several times a day. We went to Santa Fe every day to kill time, and to eat dinner, as I didn't have the motivation to cook while we were evacuated. It was easier to eat out, and enjoy good food.<br />
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We visited the neighbor's and enjoyed their beautiful pool. <br />
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And walked back to Grandma and Grandpa's house via the old trails I know inside and out.<br />
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We endured the disconcerting orange hue that colored our moods and our days.<br />
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Seven days later we finally got to go home, but it was evident that the fire was closer to our home than it had been at its worst. The hot spots were viewed each night, and eventually they fizzled into dot spots. <br />
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We still tried to enjoy the 4th of July.<br />
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Eventually life started getting back to normal. We went swimming A LOT. Signe learned to jump off the low dive, and then surprised us all by walking up to the high dive during the 4th of July party and jumping off. The cool picture below makes it looks like she's balancing on the water. <br />
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Many parts of the forest are still closed, and the summer monsoons brought a lot of geological rearrangement to our local canyons. Water Canyon looked like a lake for a while. <br />
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Eventually things will sort out, and he vegetation will grow again. I truly hope that this is not another severe drought winter, though...I keep feeling a sad sort of dread that we'll have no snow, and frigid temps, and I think we had more than our fair share of that last year. Autumn has arrived. Leaves are turning yellow. The temperatures are falling a little each week. I see the beauty in the fall colors, and I am hopeful that we'll have some winter whites to follow.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-33392993995716621622011-06-21T22:24:00.000-06:002011-06-21T22:24:50.694-06:00Droughts and the Solstice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I was supposed to lead an <a href="http://www.pajaritoeec.org/programs/calendar.php#edible">herb walk</a> this Sunday. My last two scouting sessions indicated that the participants would need to be able to hike more than a couple miles just to reach some goods, and that's not really conducive to a easy herb walk. I ran down into Pajarito Canyon last Wednesday and the yarrow was a mere 2 to 3 inches in leaf length. No flowers, except from a few rogue plants, and the nettles were all tucked down inside the very low creek bed, about 1.5 miles in. Mullein are definitely flourishing, in fact, my garden is a hotbed nursery for baby mullein. But other than general yard weeds, which is not the topic of this particular class (although it does sound like a good one for a future class...), the native medicinal plants are small, sparse, and leaving me feeling like we should wait a few weeks. <br />
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This has certainly been an unusual June. May was odd as well. We've had cold temps, extreme winds, normal hot days, and then more cold temps and more extreme winds. I want to say that I am looking forward to things being more normal and summer-like, but I'm not sure that will happen this year.<br />
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On this Summer Solstice day, I can hope for a decrease in the winds, a typical monsoon season, and some beautiful summer days...summer seems to arrive later each year, and ends too quickly. Here's to trying to make the best of it, no matter what.<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-19313840639503124562011-04-26T14:24:00.000-06:002011-04-26T14:24:49.525-06:00Herbal Medicine and Women's Cycles at Pajarito Environmental Education Center<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I will be presenting a new <a href="http://www.pajaritoeec.org/programs/calendar.php#herb2">Herb Class</a> at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center on May 6, 2011 from 6 to 8 pm. <br />
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From their website:<br />
<h2>Herbal Medicine and Women's Cycles</h2><h3>May 6, 6 - 8 p.m.</h3>This class will present herbs that are useful for nourishing and supporting a woman's body during her monthly female cycles. This class will involve more than a simple discussion of herbal remedies for specific complaints, and rather, will encourage the exploration of cultural ideas, personal histories, and womanly insights into how our monthly cycles affect our overall health and well-being. As the discussion evolves, herbals formulas and how they can be used to maintain balance within the body will be considered. <br />
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$16 members / $20 non-members. Advanced registration is required. There is a minimum and maximum number of participants, so please register early.<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-87585330878518462492011-03-01T13:25:00.001-07:002011-04-26T14:50:26.566-06:00The Magic of Wellness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: purple;">note: This post was written while still very sick. Please pardon the topic shifting and disjointed tone. </span><br />
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"If we ignore the magical level of our herbal tradition, we would be throwing away a great portion of our literature, whether we are speaking of European or Native American or some other kind of lore. In herbal tradition, medicine plants have long been associated with magic." ~~ Matthew Wood, <i>The Book of Herbal Wisdom</i><br />
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Many herbalists say that herbs work on the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels, but I also feel that herbs work on a magical level as well. My early years of learning about medicinal plants involved hours of time spent within and around the plants. Sometimes I would just sit amongst stands of chickweed, or nettles, or red clover, or trillium and listen. Listen to my own internal chatter, listen to the sound of the forest, listen to sound of the plants. Magic can be found easily when one sits amongst the plants deep within the forest. <br />
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Magic is more difficult to see when experiencing the physical agony of illness. When racked with fever, body aches, and chills, the only thing most people desire is for the symptoms to end quickly. It is very difficult to endure sickness with grace and patience. Add a nursing baby, or several young children, household chores, and work obligations to the mix, and one's tolerance slips quickly into the abyss.<br />
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I was raised by a God-fearing Mother, and she believes that sickness comes straight from Satan. When experiencing a throat burning with the embers of unrelenting pain, it's easy to see why.<br />
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When contemplating the origins of our solar system, and thinking about how bacteria and viruses played an important role in the organization and evolution of life, I wish I could feel some philosophical comfort when I can't sleep because of fever, discomfort, or pain.<br />
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The fact is it's difficult to be sick, and it's hard to wait for the sickness to be over.<br />
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Herbs can be very effective at lessening the length of illness, and can help to alleviate symptoms of a variety of ailments. When necessary, herbs can often be combined with over the counter remedies, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, and prescription meds like antibiotics. I have reliably used herbal medicine to soothe symptoms, decrease the duration of illness, and to prevent illness from taking root into deeper, nastier problems like sinus infections and bronchitis. One of the biggest dilemmas most people faced when taking herbs, however, is that they expect some sort of rapid, end-the-symptom result.<br />
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Herbs offer a biochemical synergistic response within the body that will not look like taking a prescription or over the counter medicine that was designed to produce a certain result. If a person takes a certain herb or a set of herbs with the idea that the herb is going to remove certain symptoms promptly, or force the illness to leave the body, they are likely to be disappointed. Although it's a sort of crap shoot with prescription and over-the-counter meds as well, which may cause undesired side effects that are as uncomfortable as the condition being treated. Sometimes herbal preparations will work rapidly and bring prompt relief, and other times they are working subtley and under the surface--bring no obvious response on the outside, but affecting processes on the inside and preventing further problems down the road.<br />
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With herbs, most often people do not take the right preparation, or take enough of the herb for the herb to have much of an effect on the body. Drinking a cup of tea is not the same thing as drinking an infusion. A cup of tea, while generally relaxing and enjoyable, is not a medicinal preparation. An infusion is usually one to up to several ounces of a single herb or blended herbs, steeped in a qt of water. Honey or maple syrup can be added for sweetness, but it often will taste nothing like your favorite cup of chamomile!<br />
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The problem with relying solely on over-the-counter or prescription meds is that they often work to suppress the symptoms the body is experiencing. Symptoms are a part of an illness, but often not the illness itself. A suppression of the symptoms does not help support the body in the healing process. Suppressing symptoms works to alleviate the discomfort associated with an illness, but the body is still working through the suppression to remove the pathogen from the body, and with the symptoms removed, the body may have to work harder to get better.<br />
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Herbs work in conjunction with the body, supporting internal and external systems, as well as working with the specific symptoms the body is presenting. During a fever, some herbs, like lemon balm, catmint, or yarrow, work to open pores to facilitate sweating, thus working with a fever to remove the pathogen, and cool the body from the outside in. Mucilaginous herbs work to moisten and lubricate mucous membranes that may be irritated and inflamed from spasmodic coughing, or from an aching sore throat. <br />
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Sometimes...the results are not so obvious, and the herbs are working at an internal level to facilitate blood circulation, move bile within the liver, and move lymph fluids through the lymphatic systems.<br />
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For five days, I've been experiencing the absolute most severe sore throat I've ever experienced in my life. This pain has been so severe that the only real analogy I have for it is that it is nearly identical to the "ring of fire" a woman experiences moments before giving birth when the head is crowning. The fact that this pain is unrelenting, and can be lessened, but not eradicated, with ibuprofin and aspirin, led me to believe this was not a typical cold caused by a rhinovirus. After doing some research of medical journals, based on the symptoms each of my family members has experienced, I'm pretty certain that this particular virus is an <a href="http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/217146-overview">Enterovirus</a>, most likely a <a href="http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/215241-overview">coxsackie</a> strain, or possibly even an <a href="http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/216564-overview">Echovirus</a> based on the lesions I saw on the back of one tongue in the family. The most interesting aspect to these kinds of viruses are that a person can shed them fecally for up to 8 weeks after an infection has cleared. Alcohol does not break their outer envelope of echoviruses, so hand sanitizers do not kill them. They are generally spread via the fecal-oral route, but can be passed through respiratory droplets from sneezing or coughing. They can also be passed via fomites--things such as towels, toys, books, etc. <br />
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This virus was certainly different in that it began with a severe sore throat immediately--although I did feel somewhat nauseous the day before, but I thought it that was attributed to 4 straight vegetable meals causing a bit of harsh-gut. No other symptoms for several days, with the exception of two--a fever on the second night and several clusters of itchy blisters on my right thigh. Severe pain. No runny nose, no congestion, no cough. Full-on unbearable pain that made me want to crumple up and disappear. The flu had nothing on this illness--for me, anyway.<br />
<br />
My girls each had the exact same symptoms, and the peak discomfort for them lasted but a mere 48 hours. They each began with a sore throat, not severe, and then they had conjunctivitis (that was obviously not bacterial in that it was green, only present in the morning, no itching, and disappeared quickly) in one eye that lasted for about 2 days. Then they each developed a cough. Neither of them experienced what I have been experiencing.<br />
<br />
Day 4 I lost my voice, and during that night I developed a deep bronchial cough.<br />
<br />
Today, is day 5. I feel much better mentally, but I'm still relying on ibuprofen and aspirin to relieve the pain, which is still present, but in the background. Scott developed a severe sore throat, followed by a cough almost immediately. On day 6 he developed large fluid-filled lesions on the back of his tongue. That was my first clue that this wasn't just another cold virus...this was some specifically nasty virus!<br />
<br />
Both my In-Laws contracted it as well, and each of them presented with symptoms in their own way as well. My father-in-Law had what he describes as mostly a bad cold. My dear Mother-in-Law developed fluid-filled blisters around her mouth and inner cheeks. Commonly brushed off as fever blisters, this was yet more confirmation that a possible coxsackie virus is what we are dealing with.<br />
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Virology is a fascinating science for me, and I sometimes fancy the idea of pursuing a career in that field, although that would be quite a feat! The fact that these microscopic beings can have such a profound impact on people is remarkable. The fact that my usual herbal allies that often do bring prompt relief have had no impact was frustrating. But, as an herbalist, I know that the herbs I have been taking have been working to support my inner systems despite the lack of sore throat relief. I quickly felt the burdock and red root formulas removing the swelling from my glands. The cough syrups have been keeping the sap-like green mucous from setting up shop in my sinuses and bronchials. The last couple days of sunshine without wind have helped to restore my state of mind to one that's positive, rather than feeling like this pain will never subside.<br />
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Cheers to good health!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSTzafo1Vph0Uy3FtthjenP7FIpuWWcKcebxCSBX8ojUy1D3kXtvCpE48jePV-GAiz71-Miji00w6ej5h7QGYfgs7zbVw4tI5oCDkkSaaEC5MUvRhSWoxI7ZMZAE4FSzx4XkWeQm04a0/s1600/2-09-2011+Download+269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSTzafo1Vph0Uy3FtthjenP7FIpuWWcKcebxCSBX8ojUy1D3kXtvCpE48jePV-GAiz71-Miji00w6ej5h7QGYfgs7zbVw4tI5oCDkkSaaEC5MUvRhSWoxI7ZMZAE4FSzx4XkWeQm04a0/s320/2-09-2011+Download+269.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-43651352907752621382011-01-07T15:30:00.000-07:002011-01-07T15:30:16.577-07:00New Herbal Class at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrQTqQVW1PRB6LcQSL9pbBfS4h0ePAek3i-ZusUo_eKGzjwYzguR6eaxVHkYfOsHq4-e429947VUAwlGi8BS4vWJe_KuPJ7adF7cI2euwvVvLlQkUrHTtdDGpwXAuqAlE66kGtxR49uM/s1600/herbal+remedies+flyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrQTqQVW1PRB6LcQSL9pbBfS4h0ePAek3i-ZusUo_eKGzjwYzguR6eaxVHkYfOsHq4-e429947VUAwlGi8BS4vWJe_KuPJ7adF7cI2euwvVvLlQkUrHTtdDGpwXAuqAlE66kGtxR49uM/s640/herbal+remedies+flyer.jpg" width="496" /></a></div>Join me on January 22 from 1pm to 4pm at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center, where I'll be leading a class for parents on the effective use of herbal remedies for treating common childhood illnesses.<br />
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I'm very excited about presenting this class and look forward to helping others gain the benefit of having a basic herbal knowledge from which to build upon.<br />
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While understanding herbal medicine can be a complex undertaking, pediatric herbal medicine is usually pretty straightforward and simple.<br />
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To register log on to the PEEC website and register electronically, or visit the center in person.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-41661620286922640032010-10-15T15:07:00.000-06:002010-10-15T15:07:35.544-06:00In My SkinWhile swimming yesterday I wondered, have I ever been comfortable in my own skin?<br />
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I'm comfortable being me, usually, but lately, and pervasively for a while, I've noticed that I just have not been comfortable being me in my own skin. I look at pictures of me now and think, that's not me. I don't look like what I think I look like...and that's probably not a good precursor to what's to come. I'm not exactly sure how I will feel when I look in the mirror and I am an actual old lady, and honestly, that's not <i>that</i> far away!<br />
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As a long-time martial artist, a runner, cyclist, climber, hiker, swimmer, mother, etc. I'm pretty comfortable pushing myself and enduring levels of pain that would make the average couch potato pretty happy to remain there...on the couch.<br />
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But that's the feeling I've had, lately. This odd disassociation between the me I think I am and the me I really am.<br />
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The me I think of, when I envision myself, has blond hair, bluish/green eyes, muscular legs, and a a curvy figure. Describes me pretty well until I catch a glimpse of myself in a window reflection, and I see a wide, rectangular person that looks nearly identical to pictures I've seen of my forebears. Do I really look like that? I ask myself as I quickly turn away.<br />
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I tend to avoid being in front of the picture-taking portion of a camera lens...preferring to find myself snugly behind the lens taking the picture. And recent pictures of me have been even less reassuring of my own image of myself. After subjecting myself to a particularly grueling trail running race, which made me feel very proud of myself for completing it at about my predicted time, the pictures that were collected of me during the event made me want to subject my computer screen to the full force of a cannon. With a torso that looks more like a linebacker than a trail runner, and a backside that could be mistaken for a Mack truck, any pride I felt after the race melted abruptly from my brain. Additionally, the reality of not a single, not a double, but a triple chin seriously makes me think that a cannon is too mild, and maybe a nuclear bomb would be a better option to eliminate the image I see.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6aRgAQ72tfDdYPxGw7gGwRBAixSf9L34TZHB5Iyz9RZkEceTiMzDgv7KYm5Yy19G-3j7o4eoIgm2DRLjZJRC9OH3aXr98ofsP82Y2RqwUm4RsSUS_86wD1NZkLJWvAp7R65Acb4g8TBc/s1600/PTF+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6aRgAQ72tfDdYPxGw7gGwRBAixSf9L34TZHB5Iyz9RZkEceTiMzDgv7KYm5Yy19G-3j7o4eoIgm2DRLjZJRC9OH3aXr98ofsP82Y2RqwUm4RsSUS_86wD1NZkLJWvAp7R65Acb4g8TBc/s200/PTF+2010.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>I'm actually not one to lament my body image. And I don't really mean to be doing it now...thus the attempts at humor. I've never been a skinny-minnie. I've had periods of thinness--mostly during the college years when I bike commuted an average of 14 miles a day and ate mostly salad and rice. I've gained and lost and gained again. But for the most part I've been consistently stable. But, as I've gotten older I've really started thinking that micro-brewed beer should never have been discovered and perfected.<br />
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When I was 12 we moved to Las Vegas, NV and lived there for nearly a year, until the renters my parents left our NM home with abandoned it like reckless white trash. My Mother, who had worked 4 days a week for many years prior to our move, noticed that her bottom was becoming smaller after we'd been in Vegas for several months, "I think it's because I'm not sitting on it all day long," she reflected, "I haven't lost any weight, I think it's just redistributed itself." Well, I've been sitting on my bottom at work for quite a number of years, too, and if this is what redistribution does, I better start a process of once again redistributing!<br />
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Considering the amount of exercise I get, I say this is all just an unfair roll of the dice. I know people a fraction of my size who do nothing every day, drink like fish, and yet maintain a svelte figure. I know very few people who work out as much as I do who maintain a figure like my own. Except for linebackers.<br />
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With all that, I think I'll drink some water and then head off to a double workout of spinning and Power Up for the day...actually it will be my third, as I already hiked the puppy up the hill morning and enjoyed a gloriously-colored fall sunrise.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTGz0j4o57GzlAETouTs3NkJI-tTbVsIgpHYeYFl90r6rFoyoeU95VVup6oMwy6NhbOOihArAIkD6sPDmg4A5oytOmV6ZBU-bCxPO0RDZJXpUSMgqZ4mmOcoEMNmnkVi8tf-_SAQWjKY/s1600/S+and+K+1990+something.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTGz0j4o57GzlAETouTs3NkJI-tTbVsIgpHYeYFl90r6rFoyoeU95VVup6oMwy6NhbOOihArAIkD6sPDmg4A5oytOmV6ZBU-bCxPO0RDZJXpUSMgqZ4mmOcoEMNmnkVi8tf-_SAQWjKY/s200/S+and+K+1990+something.jpg" width="193" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once upon a time, a long time ago...</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-31717149580964363962010-05-11T10:03:00.001-06:002010-05-11T10:03:41.671-06:00Just A Quick NoteYou can click on the photos below to see the larger images.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-20575138807514964742010-05-11T07:39:00.003-06:002010-05-11T13:50:41.159-06:00Cerro Grande Fire - Ten Years Later (Part I)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTVRH2frv8zithMd-jCyKauzEFhxHLjfNEM34X9AbBE5vSKhMMvP9GGn7R_F_qNQDaSC4M7keblIO_jb8PJIkYyS0VN88K40k9C3FThvRPlG1-mmI_pejYX-sn8SBCeSR-6YpkIIsRmE/s1600/Rocks+%26+Mitchell+Overview+1996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTVRH2frv8zithMd-jCyKauzEFhxHLjfNEM34X9AbBE5vSKhMMvP9GGn7R_F_qNQDaSC4M7keblIO_jb8PJIkYyS0VN88K40k9C3FThvRPlG1-mmI_pejYX-sn8SBCeSR-6YpkIIsRmE/s400/Rocks+%26+Mitchell+Overview+1996.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">View of Mitchell Trail Area from LA Mountain, 1997</span></b></div><br />
Ten years ago I watched what started as a narrow plume of smoke on the mountain of Cerro Grande transform into a firestorm of intensity and power. My life, and the lives of my family and many friends, transformed as we saw the remains of our homes and our belongings turned into nothing more than ashes blowing around in the wind.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8NK8h3nU2ZvDMg1PIE6RVkzvd5jQxSfL8jnZF3Ir9S96IyIuMl1WsHB0YuAJcywe8edCc9dMMRY7tBE5sg6VOdGx9kWkuhmbUdU5z5giibYaFhQ9k9lxuA0hb7UxFRbLOyoYtuLJjNU/s1600/Jerry+saying+look+at+my+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8NK8h3nU2ZvDMg1PIE6RVkzvd5jQxSfL8jnZF3Ir9S96IyIuMl1WsHB0YuAJcywe8edCc9dMMRY7tBE5sg6VOdGx9kWkuhmbUdU5z5giibYaFhQ9k9lxuA0hb7UxFRbLOyoYtuLJjNU/s400/Jerry+saying+look+at+my+house.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">4007 Arizona Ave. May 2000</span></b></div><br />
<br />
I learned a lot about instincts, love, family, and loss, and I endured countless hours of frustration, exhaustion, and helplessness. <br />
<br />
<span id="goog_78984025"></span><span id="goog_78984026"></span>But those are not the things I care to focus on now that ten years--an entire decade--have passed since the Cerro Grande Fire of May 2000. I find myself musing more about the paths not taken, about the choices made or not, and about where I might have been if this massive fire had not impacted my life. <br />
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At the dawn of a new millennium, a new century,a new decade, and a new year, the entire world seemed caught up in Y2K frenzy. I didn’t believe it, but I stashed a couple gallons of water just in case. By April, the Y2K frenzy had fizzled into nothing. Life went on as normal. I was working as an environmental consultant, and I worked outside collecting water and sediment samples and data from Canyon de Valle at Technical Area (TA) 16 at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. We collected our samples every Friday. By April, it was becoming evident that a pretty serious drought was already in effect. There had been only traces of snow throughout the winter, and the Pajarito Mountain Ski Area hadn’t even opened for business. As my team member, Donna, and I hiked up and down the canyon that spring, the pine needles crunched underfoot, and the wildflowers seemed sparse.<br />
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Our position at TA-16 afforded us the opportunity to see the first plume of smoke rising into the clear, blue sky on the Friday morning of May 4, 2000. All of the team members I worked with watched in astonishment as the plume rose higher, circling its gray arms above the Jemez ridgeline. We knew the conditions outside as we’d been outside all winter. The lack of snow had enabled a more productive field season and created a tinderbox out of the forests. “What are they thinking?” we all asked upon hearing that a controlled burn had been lit on Bandelier National Monument Property. We rolled our eyes, and got back to work. <br />
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On Saturday, May 5th, Scott and I, having recently discovered an interest in fly-fishing, thought we would take our dogs up into the Jemez to try our hand on a Jemez river. We were turned around before the Pajarito Ski Hill turn off—firefighters told us that the fire was burning on both sides of State Road 4 along the Western boundary of Bandelier. We decided to go to the Los Alamos Reservoir instead, not realizing that it would be the last time we’d see the reservoir intact and healthy. While there, the plume of smoke ballooned into a cumulonimbus of monstrous size. Upon returning home, we went next door to Scott’s parents’ house, and began filming the air tankers and spotter planes as they circled over our house to drop water on the fire that was obviously careening out of control. That was when we all started feeling a bit nervous about the situation.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5MvzCgFjqQHAMs_MfumYMqvVFyJ1evZoTlkg_04-v3Dz9TVBXJF3wWMa-H2MZu80z_KPMhyphenhyphenPLczkGE9Dg_IdxZGZauAeWQnOJJoyTTCwvFLnG8IJDtOrO01wBVE8oQpg2JGlXJtPtfU/s1600/Another+round+5-6-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5MvzCgFjqQHAMs_MfumYMqvVFyJ1evZoTlkg_04-v3Dz9TVBXJF3wWMa-H2MZu80z_KPMhyphenhyphenPLczkGE9Dg_IdxZGZauAeWQnOJJoyTTCwvFLnG8IJDtOrO01wBVE8oQpg2JGlXJtPtfU/s400/Another+round+5-6-00.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Spotter Plane Flying Immediately Over 4007 Arizona Ave. May 5, 2000</span></b> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmuJabm_hSDOThpOjmzTvgdKiavqCHtcwFEB0i3E_RkU3oTON7iujPmm4jTB9WoIxksIr_loXby5nxXrG3hMtIL67GiXLJ10WZ0OfERegOU8uXoINH6k1gG9lT62FizfJlQ8rr59a8Sc/s1600/May+6+2000+4007+Arizona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmuJabm_hSDOThpOjmzTvgdKiavqCHtcwFEB0i3E_RkU3oTON7iujPmm4jTB9WoIxksIr_loXby5nxXrG3hMtIL67GiXLJ10WZ0OfERegOU8uXoINH6k1gG9lT62FizfJlQ8rr59a8Sc/s400/May+6+2000+4007+Arizona.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Tanker 27 Flying Immediately over 4007 Arizona Ave. May 6, 2000</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB09KMG0ZT6fgt2Vs6LJQvbdxWTqVgWR-gKIcPRfMBK1DwZFfkOGLdNqNr97KMsjbl9Xx5myU7SAboXfwJyRufPPhAAjUcswTIeITt8RUZzBbIuPXxyCUZQ4rSO7b5GMkmXWwM3rUR6LA/s1600/Tanker+going+in+5-6-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB09KMG0ZT6fgt2Vs6LJQvbdxWTqVgWR-gKIcPRfMBK1DwZFfkOGLdNqNr97KMsjbl9Xx5myU7SAboXfwJyRufPPhAAjUcswTIeITt8RUZzBbIuPXxyCUZQ4rSO7b5GMkmXWwM3rUR6LA/s400/Tanker+going+in+5-6-00.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Tanker 27 Before Unloading May 6, 2000. (In very center of photo)</span></b></div><br />
Sunday, remarkably, the flames had calmed down, and it seemed like maybe the situation was under control. Monday, while working, we were evacuated from TA-16, the Western Area portion of Los Alamos was also evacuated, and residents of that part of town scrambled to find places to stay while shut out of their own homes. Tuesday was spent in the office and everyone seemed a little antsy. Wednesday evening, May 9th, Scott and I made plans to go fishing in the Pecos while my Toyota truck was being serviced in Santa Fe. We made plans with a friend to meet us there, and thought we’d finish up with dinner and margaritas at Gabriel’s on the way home.<br />
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Overnight, the winds were howling out of control. Unable to sleep due to the thrashing of the Ponderosa’s outside my window, I began to feel real discomfort creeping into my bones. Upon daybreak I told Scott that I didn’t feel comfortable leaving town, and I cancelled my service appt. I went to the office, and Scott and Jan and Jerry, went to our retail shop, The DOME, that we ran together in the Hilltop Shopping Center on Arkansas. At 10am, I couldn’t take work anymore. Everyone seemed very non-chalant, and I felt truly unsettled. I didn’t like the denial that everyone seemed to be in, so I left and went to the shop. At 11:30 I offered to get all of us lunch, and when I drove up-town I could see that the fire was once again ballooning into a monstrous demon. I picked up our lunch at the Hill Diner, and drove back to the shop. On my way back I noticed that every single street and parking lot had a sheriff, policeman, or State Trooper parked in front of it. As I pulled into our parking lot, a State Trooper was sitting in his black cruiser blocking the exit. I went over to him and asked, “Are we being evacuated?” “Not yet,” was his answer. I went into the shop with our food and told everyone what he’d said. We immediately closed down the shop and went to our houses a couple blocks away. I don’t remember if we ever even ate.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wga0vPeXJynGV-ksaxv2DOZWuuA4XEAzJHedLqzIQHV3s5ERui5OgygrVHCx9cQEFKqn3MINIiI7RlCL5xC_tfOiweSkoqKXMr93rJLoDSG0v38skGRU14SI_u50al38IzzhrvV1eeI/s1600/Flames+on+Pipeline+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wga0vPeXJynGV-ksaxv2DOZWuuA4XEAzJHedLqzIQHV3s5ERui5OgygrVHCx9cQEFKqn3MINIiI7RlCL5xC_tfOiweSkoqKXMr93rJLoDSG0v38skGRU14SI_u50al38IzzhrvV1eeI/s400/Flames+on+Pipeline+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Those orange-red spots to the left of the electrical poles are 150-ft flames crossing Pipeline Road. May 10, 2000.</b> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNv9_OlOxvKfSyQzxbs2xu29KwouxL6lS-jYzt898zkoloS_eSbB1ujAgpeGWXwe5d5qRML2kAMHbfLkx3gjWZFPp4mgIMLBBLmd78sHRudSpMoW-St7ZwA0i5VmqahFM1Y-Ivd0tJFM/s1600/Flames+on+Pipeline+5-10-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNv9_OlOxvKfSyQzxbs2xu29KwouxL6lS-jYzt898zkoloS_eSbB1ujAgpeGWXwe5d5qRML2kAMHbfLkx3gjWZFPp4mgIMLBBLmd78sHRudSpMoW-St7ZwA0i5VmqahFM1Y-Ivd0tJFM/s400/Flames+on+Pipeline+5-10-00.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Flames on Pipeline Road. We'd been told to evacuate over 30 minutes prior to this. May 10, 2000.</span></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GAirfuCgY_VL_W_X2htjxjfcvkjP1ie2dXyowVfNakea9FfxpRJsWtqLuPMi1yk38wgNKrU6BAr_BCtTVR3jvNTu2i2ntmKEsRn-o1KrnOSjngb5NYHLSksZ6FMo5RP6OOyScdIAMq0/s1600/Super+Smoke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GAirfuCgY_VL_W_X2htjxjfcvkjP1ie2dXyowVfNakea9FfxpRJsWtqLuPMi1yk38wgNKrU6BAr_BCtTVR3jvNTu2i2ntmKEsRn-o1KrnOSjngb5NYHLSksZ6FMo5RP6OOyScdIAMq0/s400/Super+Smoke.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Looking West to LA Mountain/Pipeline Road from Arizona Ave. The black smoke seen after the huge flames. May 10, 2000</span></b></div><br />
Within minutes of arriving at the house, firemen started driving the streets with their sirens and a loud speaker declaring the evacuation. We were told we had 10-minutes to pack up our belongings and leave. We stayed for about an hour, filming the fire, taking pictures, and packing up random belongings. Instead of throwing all our artwork, or journals, or rare vinyl into boxes, I packed up the stupid Playstation and a few games. We took one bike each. We grabbed our climbing and camping gear thinking we may end up going on a climbing trip if we couldn’t get back into town for a couple days. I packed a bag of random clothes, but nothing that I really cared for. At one point Scott asked if he should take some drums. I said, take a few if they fit. He took his bass drum and a snare. When we left, I locked our door and said, “good bye house.” A burning ember landed on Scott’s arm and created a blister.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7osrB2VT7qrDFlEntJOUD50FwNqxla8RnU-mqR_H80c6bj1tAf7EDjFBbERPasYHi3I_kfW41L2pP_EqgGMcfSWDnrZKPs_S_c-j2ABZbr8q9pTbudaHJkpnXGA8_rTnaB69cn3v_Eo/s1600/5-10-00+Sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7osrB2VT7qrDFlEntJOUD50FwNqxla8RnU-mqR_H80c6bj1tAf7EDjFBbERPasYHi3I_kfW41L2pP_EqgGMcfSWDnrZKPs_S_c-j2ABZbr8q9pTbudaHJkpnXGA8_rTnaB69cn3v_Eo/s400/5-10-00+Sun.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">This was the last picture Scott took of the sun before we left and as a burning ember landed on his arm.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">May 10, 2000</span></b></div><br />
Jan, Jerry, Jan’s Mother Betty, and Jan’s brother Uncle Danne, decided to stay a bit longer to pack stuff up. But of course, they did not pack up their hundreds of pieces of original artwork, or the valuable antiques, or priceless mementos. They took another random smattering of stuff. And they took a lot more pictures. The firemen came again, and told them they had to go, houses on Alabama were burning.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraXhJJolPkjmrIiitEy-TCuX0bni1-KJjNfxBPG3o3JCiESoKEpNbKhNHnZ06ACU34nDFpi-MY7gzq_4E_TiIKvSawyxDer0grVxUthkT90tQx4KV5u5UuLVmzCq5J00JHL7yaexZuns/s1600/As+we+drive+away+5-10-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraXhJJolPkjmrIiitEy-TCuX0bni1-KJjNfxBPG3o3JCiESoKEpNbKhNHnZ06ACU34nDFpi-MY7gzq_4E_TiIKvSawyxDer0grVxUthkT90tQx4KV5u5UuLVmzCq5J00JHL7yaexZuns/s320/As+we+drive+away+5-10-00.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">A snapshot of Boghee as we were driving away. The dogs were stressed out too. May 10, 2000</span></b> </div><br />
Scott and I drove through Rendija Canyon, and Jan and Jerry who’d left nearly 40 minutes after we did, went down the Main Hill road. They beat us to El Rancho. We gathered at my parents’ house. Ironically, my parents had been living in Carlsbad, NM for the previous two years. My Father was driving home that same day--just in time for Scott and me, our two dogs, Jan and Jerry, Uncle Danne, and Scott’s Grandma Betty to descend upon them due to evacuation. The timing couldn’t have been more weird. That night we watched homes on Ridgeway and in Western Area burning through the lens of the TV.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdONANYOMPjhCe9r0LZJPMAn-fHu1euUAelMfGmDY_yhx5MGEcxujKErd6jLmMYva0fr9VWuYHrCo3HbPPSREiMJ0R6t9D1ZPErrFiGkMxLTh3o3fv9ITXHfzFVW8aD6GG9GT6JokdNQ/s1600/Glow+over+LA+from+El+Rancho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdONANYOMPjhCe9r0LZJPMAn-fHu1euUAelMfGmDY_yhx5MGEcxujKErd6jLmMYva0fr9VWuYHrCo3HbPPSREiMJ0R6t9D1ZPErrFiGkMxLTh3o3fv9ITXHfzFVW8aD6GG9GT6JokdNQ/s400/Glow+over+LA+from+El+Rancho.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Looking at the Jemez from El Rancho. May 10, 2000</span></b> </div><br />
I don’t remember sleeping, but I do remember telling Scott at about 2 in the morning, “I think it’s gone.”<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvA5ZFKDYWcouz_4Rp-JcgiqWj_8y7AuNcyRq73a8fZyGZlM-J8Go5U7gdj-yXkr-IwfzYaidyngpH1OidguBOeTfQDNTjsDWL2l_dBJ-7f9PH6eFNrygBlLO7djNPkPtMJHMQJWNGaA/s1600/Cerro_Grande_Fire_Destroyed_Homes_Arizona_St.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvA5ZFKDYWcouz_4Rp-JcgiqWj_8y7AuNcyRq73a8fZyGZlM-J8Go5U7gdj-yXkr-IwfzYaidyngpH1OidguBOeTfQDNTjsDWL2l_dBJ-7f9PH6eFNrygBlLO7djNPkPtMJHMQJWNGaA/s400/Cerro_Grande_Fire_Destroyed_Homes_Arizona_St.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <b>Looking East to Arizona Ave. The foundations of our neighborhood. May 11, 2000 </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>(Photo Courtesy of </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">PD-USGOV-DOE)</span></span></div><br />
At 6:20 in the morning my dear friend Josie called and said, “I think I see your foundation on the news.” Sure enough, we turned to Channel 7, and there it was. The first thought in my head was, “what am I supposed to do about all the bills that were sitting on my table?” and my second thought was, “I want to have kids.” <br />
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A few nights later, after feeling really weird about being without a home, and still living in a sort of unsettled fog of uncertainty, Scott and his family went to visit a good friend who also lived in El Rancho. Despite the darkness, I decided to take a walk with my dogs up in the Barrancas. After nearly a mile, I crested a hill and sat down and watched the flames smoldering along the Jemez. The entire Jemez view was glowing behind a smoky apparition. Hot spots were everywhere and the smoke clung the mountains like a blanket. Finally, the vastness of my reality set in and I was able to cry long and hard. My dogs stood on either side of me and licked my tears. Being able to cry deeply was the first step towards rebuilding.<br />
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Wildfire would not be my first choice in leading to a more comfortable home. But that is the turn taken on our road of life. And things did work out. Our neighbor sold us his property for pennies, and we had a half acre to call our own.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFHwuzNLHbff1O6WxvRlm79t1vKaXKme-wWIqPk3uozhbEcwyylsqCKIgFdMs_KnqQ34n3Xj86-_UuX-7uG_dsrlGlEUNsaG_vkFwKkPWfGylTm3XPF5qSmZ8-DK9N6iSZ8lFz_GO35o/s1600/LA+Mountain+from+the+top+of+Arizona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFHwuzNLHbff1O6WxvRlm79t1vKaXKme-wWIqPk3uozhbEcwyylsqCKIgFdMs_KnqQ34n3Xj86-_UuX-7uG_dsrlGlEUNsaG_vkFwKkPWfGylTm3XPF5qSmZ8-DK9N6iSZ8lFz_GO35o/s400/LA+Mountain+from+the+top+of+Arizona.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Looking West to LA Mountain in April 2001. </span></div><br />
I could not have predicted what lay before us in the rebuilding process. I had no idea how many hundreds of hours I would spend documenting all the possessions we lost, how much alcohol I would consume, how many frustrations we would encounter along the path forward. But now, 10-years later, it all seems to have faded into the dusty recesses of my mind. We plodded forward. We built our own house, we had children. One of our children was born in our new home. The forests have changed. The majority of the remaining trees were either killed by bark beetles or blew down in the winds. Ponderosas planted have started really growing. The drainages have widened or deepened and turned into vast alluvial beds.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJFM-fig962Fm7xh58wzB1PHMnqFiJevRcWwIoXpXi83CnYVitOSOQQhvh8sTlRYhyjLOl-2zW5a1hf4rL96ppPD6gHw-Q8BUgSGSVX73wnNWnWrssGKiNf_0ZULUOf707zoU5tPKLns/s1600/DSCF1336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJFM-fig962Fm7xh58wzB1PHMnqFiJevRcWwIoXpXi83CnYVitOSOQQhvh8sTlRYhyjLOl-2zW5a1hf4rL96ppPD6gHw-Q8BUgSGSVX73wnNWnWrssGKiNf_0ZULUOf707zoU5tPKLns/s400/DSCF1336.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Looking West From the Mitchell Trail Head. April 29, 2010.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VO4fxaYCj4pKk2-NxDsg6UqzTjshHYH5UEVMb_uSH1hCsyYcdygikoSolJ3DCppz9CcGXf6_HU_pCnsmVWEaDvIlK_M7o2vxtQMX3IQh78o__8W86HJBFTkdYDQx9PZLBRfze4ycQk0/s1600/DSCF1301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VO4fxaYCj4pKk2-NxDsg6UqzTjshHYH5UEVMb_uSH1hCsyYcdygikoSolJ3DCppz9CcGXf6_HU_pCnsmVWEaDvIlK_M7o2vxtQMX3IQh78o__8W86HJBFTkdYDQx9PZLBRfze4ycQk0/s400/DSCF1301.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">LA Mountain and the Mitchell/Perimeter Intersection. April 2010</span></div><br />
The anniversary of a catastrophic event is a strange thing. I can look out my window, see the vast beauty of this amazing location where I live, see the aspens we’ve planted shivering with their new spring leaves, and know that fire is yet another cycle, human-caused or not. I can look back and see that we made choices in the last 10 years that enabled us to rebuild our home and settle back into normalcy pretty quickly. There are choices I wish I’d made. There are things we should have done. <br />
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How will life look to the next ten years? It’s nearly impossible to know. In another 10 years, my oldest will be 18 and I will be 49. Who knows what kinds of twists and turns our lives will take over the next decade. It should be an interesting ride.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxbT_6oAqwcgYrtQuHS0VYZQREc0a_Vtoz8dZqaIBPrMImv23Io16E2w5tRgzBwtPtRuiKTTSvS3lo5_ehEFmWo3qZlN5NcZGXcRp-a7T_xErivscuSf8iAh_SgqUyTBmC1uv5t5Epys/s1600/DSCF1414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxbT_6oAqwcgYrtQuHS0VYZQREc0a_Vtoz8dZqaIBPrMImv23Io16E2w5tRgzBwtPtRuiKTTSvS3lo5_ehEFmWo3qZlN5NcZGXcRp-a7T_xErivscuSf8iAh_SgqUyTBmC1uv5t5Epys/s320/DSCF1414.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-5224309609961633522010-04-16T15:19:00.001-06:002011-03-23T21:44:17.127-06:00Spring on the Perimeter Trail<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I've been hiking early each morning for the past several weeks. Very unlike me as I would prefer to revel in my slumber. However, the arrival of a puppy has required that I stumble out of bed and out the door at the crack of dawn, and I've actually discovered that I'm enjoying it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbngqMclp0hxfvkLtjpm8nljh13y7Bz2rCOSy-H_o8CdZYHyfVyvimjgxFpsbo6dl8Hnx8_YknRRp-pczTkIW_cfdZ3sYHRdCje2emPfEd2Wq0rrp5N9cNqTVryXzJg6arH7I8PfEfjU/s1600/DSCF1256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbngqMclp0hxfvkLtjpm8nljh13y7Bz2rCOSy-H_o8CdZYHyfVyvimjgxFpsbo6dl8Hnx8_YknRRp-pczTkIW_cfdZ3sYHRdCje2emPfEd2Wq0rrp5N9cNqTVryXzJg6arH7I8PfEfjU/s320/DSCF1256.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Not only have I had the opportunity to see the snow melt, see the first Turkey Vultures arrive back in Los Alamos, witness some astonishingly beautiful sunrises, experienced that there actually is joy in a windblown hike through pelting graupel, and discover that there really are a lot of early birds in my neighborhood...I've also realized what I've been missing on my local trails for so many years. (Like this red-tailed hawk, for instance)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBjF2MpKy6vLPu9a3COg1_ey3jcMQ0XCXPmjZ8a0e2qj_cNW7w8ZFZx9gNCPQIhQgxuv0SzOs41KaIUT6Y-u9Qsh-YVxP_M1vqd6KTLOh99X_v3SKvJATjK8Ye4Fd_WxPJH0Zfmil8_M/s1600/DSCF1360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBjF2MpKy6vLPu9a3COg1_ey3jcMQ0XCXPmjZ8a0e2qj_cNW7w8ZFZx9gNCPQIhQgxuv0SzOs41KaIUT6Y-u9Qsh-YVxP_M1vqd6KTLOh99X_v3SKvJATjK8Ye4Fd_WxPJH0Zfmil8_M/s320/DSCF1360.jpg" /></a></div>I've become inspired to do a 10-year post Cerro Grande post as well, so stay tuned for that. I'm just sorry that I haven't been taking photos each and every year of how things have evolved.<br />
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Most recently, though, I've been overjoyed to see some of my favorite spring herbs poking their beautiful little faces out of the earth.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uS0C4_e-ArQOYocXJERwAJzqtg3XLBw90yO4B3fqSyMhmZhxu0rnRCN-I7NaVA2CABHThkZ-N1Ogr4L3tqZUIWUe88rgL1oHVo_Cn9-dtjdBHP9-RjHaouWJAcTu7Ysq6doNi5lCAJg/s1600/DSCF1328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uS0C4_e-ArQOYocXJERwAJzqtg3XLBw90yO4B3fqSyMhmZhxu0rnRCN-I7NaVA2CABHThkZ-N1Ogr4L3tqZUIWUe88rgL1oHVo_Cn9-dtjdBHP9-RjHaouWJAcTu7Ysq6doNi5lCAJg/s320/DSCF1328.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwRyKcgXHC8mY_IllmNSVUqe7tRf1PQCtou_Uor66UcTFAVnhLGV0Aiqi6n6DKoCzB7IL7QlhXDba4W4zQrdo8CPFkUtq2kY0tmhP3v3SsNeOHyzEj1eG6nJed9Hvoy53Bzorqq4QhSs/s1600/DSCF1357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwRyKcgXHC8mY_IllmNSVUqe7tRf1PQCtou_Uor66UcTFAVnhLGV0Aiqi6n6DKoCzB7IL7QlhXDba4W4zQrdo8CPFkUtq2kY0tmhP3v3SsNeOHyzEj1eG6nJed9Hvoy53Bzorqq4QhSs/s320/DSCF1357.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pulsatilla</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdBM7q49i9tUNewgcCv9v8Jkx_JAoYlDOVm2wxHlQBxCLIMc2sDUgxRw22JqG9hk0hwkBpCaBSnNOVCSIrd2zSqaqLfit5oxzIAAJ3lbvgec4WioVg6KuUDLZQ_M9s8EhEE4qfrplMKI/s1600/DSCF1355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdBM7q49i9tUNewgcCv9v8Jkx_JAoYlDOVm2wxHlQBxCLIMc2sDUgxRw22JqG9hk0hwkBpCaBSnNOVCSIrd2zSqaqLfit5oxzIAAJ3lbvgec4WioVg6KuUDLZQ_M9s8EhEE4qfrplMKI/s320/DSCF1355.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Valerian</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-72862025167746850442010-02-18T16:29:00.000-07:002010-02-18T16:29:03.308-07:00So Many Blogs, So Little Time to Read (or Write) Them All...I've decided that my interests are too varied, and the very simple reality is that I have not enough time to do all that I wish to do in any given day. Funny how that is. I want to Blog on a minimum of 3 different topics:<br />
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1) Herbs, and their utility in maintaining health and assisting in those times when our health has gone South.<br />
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2) Unschooling, and our progress and experiences through this fascinating voyage into our life of learning through living, exploring, discovering; and the nuts and bolts run down of day-to-day activities.<br />
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3) Pregnancy and Birth, and all the fascinating aspects to both.<br />
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I think I need two more blogs, because it seems silly to try and combine all three into one. However, the reality is that I barely keep up with this blog, and it seems insane to think I could keep up with three! My herbal blogging seems to have gotten trampled as my interests in Unschooling and my path towards Doula certification have grown.<br />
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I'll get back to you soon, and let you know what my resulting decision is...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-79299434925079741932010-01-14T11:28:00.001-07:002010-01-14T11:45:12.523-07:00Soaring<div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnC9CO5XEPNgGggwowPzAXf_WLMjASXffQzCnA_7ssbf5UBTi_OwFqYeepmEJv_gHC0w5O2WSQ4bWWx_0A4Fg0w7-VnH2SOXInOUdam9i9KAp2KyCLzQvKj5U8qHNjSpyPAfA8VR8gi4/s1600-h/Signe+Soulfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnC9CO5XEPNgGggwowPzAXf_WLMjASXffQzCnA_7ssbf5UBTi_OwFqYeepmEJv_gHC0w5O2WSQ4bWWx_0A4Fg0w7-VnH2SOXInOUdam9i9KAp2KyCLzQvKj5U8qHNjSpyPAfA8VR8gi4/s320/Signe+Soulfly.jpg" /></a>Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens. <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Kahlil Gibran<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">My path, like most, has been full of ruts, curves, and hill climbs. But sometimes there is that soaring along—that floating that accompanies the downhill ride—and I am exhilarated. <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">For me, leaving home and taking my first steps as an adult on my own were exhilarating. And before that, falling madly, hopelessly, and wholly in love with Scott. Discovering the joys of cycling and climbing. The birth of my first daughter, and then the second. Most recently, it has been the choice to say no. No, thank you, we have decided not to send our daughter to first grade. She will stay home instead.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">This path was paved a little smoother this past week. I had the opportunity to attend Sandra Dodd’s Unschooling Symposium, and to listen to the insight and experience of several Unschooling heavyweights: Sandra, <a href="http://sandradodd.com/pamsorooshian">Pam Sorooshian</a>, and <a href="http://joyfullyrejoycing.com/">Joyce Fetteroll</a>, and their children—all of whom are adults now. There were also the Unschooling parents who have been doing this a while, and some who are just starting out. And then there was me.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">The insights of these lovely, experienced Unschooling Parents were much what I expected. Unschooling is not difficult, Unschooling takes commitment, Unschooling requires love, and patience, and a willingness to see more than just the schooling part—to see that this really is about life. It is about the kind of life our children will have, and about how we choose to live with our children. It is about so much more than just “homeschooling.” But I knew all that already. I didn’t need to attend a conference to reinforce that in my mind.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRn-sfL7JwFj6T4w-nIDwrMSZBRYE9iLojodUOkUXqF2QogIdiGxiUjui9ACGZ98uKXoF471D0KFoUy7RSxWW3CqV09oSLLHT6N54_D_kMtU_pWNFpS3gfhhVzdvJnrXZUZGaTswfTv1A/s1600-h/kdk_2156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRn-sfL7JwFj6T4w-nIDwrMSZBRYE9iLojodUOkUXqF2QogIdiGxiUjui9ACGZ98uKXoF471D0KFoUy7RSxWW3CqV09oSLLHT6N54_D_kMtU_pWNFpS3gfhhVzdvJnrXZUZGaTswfTv1A/s320/kdk_2156.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The real insight came in my first interaction with Holly Dodd. Nothing more than simple conversation over lunch. But what struck me profoundly was how well-spoken this 18-year old is…how clear, and bright, and engaging. She spoke with well-oiled ease on the subject of Unschooling, as much any one of the main presenters…more so! The final day of the Symposium, the young adult Sorooshians, Dodds, and Kathryn Fetteroll were the presenters. Their discussion was enjoyable. I brought my girls and we enjoyed an enchilada dinner after the talks.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The conference was inspirational, and I can imagine that larger conferences with a variety of speakers would be different but also enjoyable. The small size and ability to interact with everyone present was a bonus for this conference. In reflecting about what I listened to and how the lives of these Unschoolers are rich and joyful based on their decisions and choices in how they have decided to live their family lives, I was able to settle into my own thoughts and know that we have made the right choice. But, like any choice, this choice has alternatives. It may not be fixed, it may not be forever, but at least it has been made mindfully. This is not our last-ditch hope for our kids’ learning…we did not come to this point out of desperation. This is a decision that feels powerful and totally off the grid.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">And the learning continues every single hour of every day.<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-66675069839575870362009-11-27T22:09:00.097-07:002009-11-30T13:04:21.575-07:00Slow School Zone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZBCcrQfNNw7DrHKuyY_UHkbTIQC8_LjTDNWazbjv02TPISt2OWHVrFuXYxqlarsgok1oZ726-1LOMhOGDCiA5X5o6ee_YaFWdlokXxYIY-3lMB3zivavRIKIA5Ol-YG1nkMjL0tMWRA/s1600/11-27-2009+054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZBCcrQfNNw7DrHKuyY_UHkbTIQC8_LjTDNWazbjv02TPISt2OWHVrFuXYxqlarsgok1oZ726-1LOMhOGDCiA5X5o6ee_YaFWdlokXxYIY-3lMB3zivavRIKIA5Ol-YG1nkMjL0tMWRA/s320/11-27-2009+054.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><b>Caution - Students Learning</b><br />
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Today we decided to visit the Pojoaque Valley Elementary School, where the play structures are awesome. Obviously they have been infused with state money, and possibly stimulus money, which hasn't filtered up to Los Alamost schools, most likely because we are too rich up here. The remarkable difference between the new Pojoaque schools and the Los Alamos schools is astonishing, to say the least. The Pojoaque ones are new, loaded with brand new playgrounds, and all the amenities. The Los Alamos ones are outdated, make-shift buildings, where band-aids are applied, but new construction is rare. Considering my property tax bill just increased by approximately $1200 annually to supposedly remedy this, I can only hope that my friends' schoolchildren will have more than veneers and plastic surgery to "fix" the schools ails. But I digress...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCN6LuEFJU6EMlr2SXQKDUimbRlEoais0s_swFWHK1Tb65VdyRKxaGK72QfKSYLVOJek6iSN0NRoLTXCIZrMDUiAc7wq6VC6cRjSYOAhnlJb3Cws9r1Z4kRoWW4BOcZSKYmTvpMnNQms/s1600/11-27-2009+043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCN6LuEFJU6EMlr2SXQKDUimbRlEoais0s_swFWHK1Tb65VdyRKxaGK72QfKSYLVOJek6iSN0NRoLTXCIZrMDUiAc7wq6VC6cRjSYOAhnlJb3Cws9r1Z4kRoWW4BOcZSKYmTvpMnNQms/s320/11-27-2009+043.jpg" /></a><b>It All Starts Here! </b><br />
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Schools have been around in this country for what, <a href="http://www.bls.org/podium/default.aspx?t=113646&rc=0">375 years</a>? Interestingly enough, the founders of America's first public school, the Boston Latin School, <span id="L_c1i0"><span id="L_c1i0_cb264967_ct264967">began the school with the ancient Greek belief that "the only good things are the goods of the soul." Additionally, "from its beginning, <a href="http://www.bls.org/podium/default.aspx?t=113646&rc=0">Boston Latin School</a> has taught its scholars dissent with responsibility and has persistently encouraged such dissent." What happened to <i>these</i> premises? An institution designed to help children learn the goods of the soul, and encouraging responsible dissent? Where did this train derail? It seems that the majority of public schools today are, in fact, in existence for the sole reason of preventing dissent both within the schools and the confines of modern day life. Forget about the goods of the soul. Schools have enough on their hands trying to maintain control of active, little bodies, and ensuring their kids are scoring high on standardized tests, there is no time to pursue Greek philosophy and to even discover what these goods of the soul might be. So, if soul goods and dissent are out...what is it that starts within the walls of education?</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmfxRc55ZdmyKIw6bw6kjMGb4_h5NElxsyHhYcSp5UyXnl7cvVL0rvn9j1fu8QJVC33w-leus5dIWodXuIkOKQkgbOojsVhb2S2snOa7k_Z20LrJw-EzTHfjagK2DU3yysK9pUexcMKA/s1600/11-27-2009+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmfxRc55ZdmyKIw6bw6kjMGb4_h5NElxsyHhYcSp5UyXnl7cvVL0rvn9j1fu8QJVC33w-leus5dIWodXuIkOKQkgbOojsVhb2S2snOa7k_Z20LrJw-EzTHfjagK2DU3yysK9pUexcMKA/s320/11-27-2009+045.jpg" /></a><b> Success. </b>When I was in 4th Grade at Pojoaque Elementary, we had a cheer that we performed all the time: S - U - C - C - E - S - S. That's the way you spell success, who's gonna win it? You can guess...Elks, Elks, the BEST!!!! I loved cheerleading when I was between the ages of 9 and 12. I attended cheerleading camps, and my friends and I pretended to be high school cheerleaders for hours a day. I did, in fact, wish to be a successful cheerleader--one who was pretty, kind, talented, and well, you know, cheery. When I was 9, that's what success meant to me. I wonder what it means to the little 4th graders at Pojoaque these days?<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1v3BbvmRJz2bYlSzxWRxMq_pFpLNQ_usmOm1MAJUkIdHi6Z2TuiauGubgN31Jf3MSNdyljUflu6w3pSjTF5jDcwEGfyekHqxUORKk6mYQhQd2YStO4x6h6PjOJOqb3-iJjWUjD_oy04/s1600/11-27-2009+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1v3BbvmRJz2bYlSzxWRxMq_pFpLNQ_usmOm1MAJUkIdHi6Z2TuiauGubgN31Jf3MSNdyljUflu6w3pSjTF5jDcwEGfyekHqxUORKk6mYQhQd2YStO4x6h6PjOJOqb3-iJjWUjD_oy04/s320/11-27-2009+046.jpg" /></a><b>Excellence</b>. Most people strive for excellence. But what is excellence? According to Webster's, <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Excellence">excellence</a> is the quality of being excellent, or superior. It is considered a <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/virtue">virtue</a>, which is said to be "a conformity to a standard of right; a morality." The virtuous definition makes more sense when it comes to what a school might hope to impart when emplacing a sign that implies that excellence starts at school.Come little children and conform.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioy9OaeT_y2nETtY8vAQp86ihCloKGpiqLYa4CzL0-VFUUs-PKPQF0snuoSOcFCGmiTT3qXBtTDn4OHDFh_5_7DXcFaP5OdfU-AHOIhCvXZ9WV9AJpnEeIhKgRRnLySkbVRzejuhdBEzQ/s1600/11-27-2009+047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioy9OaeT_y2nETtY8vAQp86ihCloKGpiqLYa4CzL0-VFUUs-PKPQF0snuoSOcFCGmiTT3qXBtTDn4OHDFh_5_7DXcFaP5OdfU-AHOIhCvXZ9WV9AJpnEeIhKgRRnLySkbVRzejuhdBEzQ/s320/11-27-2009+047.jpg" /></a><b>Respect. </b>Respect comes from Latin <i>respectus,</i> literally, an act of looking back; from <i>respicere</i> to look back. As I'm moving backwards through these signs that children see every day during classes, it seems like looking back and reflecting before commencing with the future would be an <i>effective</i> use of respect.However, I don't think that's what the administrators are hoping to impart by ensuring that their children see this day after day after day. Most likely the schools are hoping that their wards are engaging in acts of deference, holding their teachers, administrators, and peers in high regard.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6c2uNclzzudyh15Vyh6wu2PYtBrWH3gz9N26XirdsfEKjD5K_0H_3GiLABUmxKJ7z99MClEfLFw4lYZQss_4-YxeOXDc4GE_ZzNzZzoNKvmOXPOYlOnNft8mbRBI8aDbbviM7cSXC8ro/s1600/11-27-2009+048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6c2uNclzzudyh15Vyh6wu2PYtBrWH3gz9N26XirdsfEKjD5K_0H_3GiLABUmxKJ7z99MClEfLFw4lYZQss_4-YxeOXDc4GE_ZzNzZzoNKvmOXPOYlOnNft8mbRBI8aDbbviM7cSXC8ro/s320/11-27-2009+048.jpg" /></a> <b>Pride.</b> Pride is the first thing the young ones at Pojoaque schools are subconsciously absorbing on upon entering school. Once again, I suspect that the school admins are, in their minds, thinking of pride in a positive manner, and not thinking of the word's synonym: conceit. A "<span id="IL_AD1">reasonable</span> or justifiable self-respect<b>; </b>the delight or elation arising from some act, possession, or relationship" seem suited to what a school intends to pass along to its students. Pride in their schools, pride in their buildings, you know...that pre-patriotism stuff.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To be honest, I have no qualms with any of these ideas, or even the fact that Pojoaque schools feel compelled to hang these signs on the main walkway into the elementary school. Most people want their kid to feel pride in his work, to respect others, to have a sense a sense of excellence, and taste success.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was more intrigued by the "Slow School Zone" sign. I suspect the sign intended to read "SLOW. School Zone" as in, slow down you idiot drivers, there are children here who may dash in front of your car. However, that's not how the sign read. Its juxtaposition to the "Caution Children Learning" sign is even more intriguing to me. Caution. Children Learning. Caution? What is there to be cautious about? The sign is placed in the bus drop-off loop, not at the entrance to the building, so I find it even more strange.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But, to go with it... Wouldn't it be nice if schools COULD slow down? If they would let kids be kids so they could have countless hours of play? Could let kids enjoy the success of using their imagination, feel the excellence of using their big muscles (as opposed to the heroic effort it takes to sit in a chair doing busywork), to respect gravity and the other forces of nature, and to have pride in their own creations - whether big or small? Schools should slow down, and become slow school zones. And there should be no caution in our children learning...kids should be encouraged to learn in dangerous (at least to the status quo) ways, as in being allowed the freedom to follow their own interests, and to explore the world at their own pace.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The intent of schools is fundamentally good--they want to impart concepts into the minds of children so they grow into successful, people who strive for excellence, do so respectfully and with pride. But I disagree that it all starts in the hallways of our modern day schools. But, that is an essay for another day. In the meantime, my kids and I will continue to enjoy the playground while we play and explore in our own ways, and with our own "Po - w - e - r" !!! <br />
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</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-26588598756364865062009-11-18T22:41:00.001-07:002009-11-18T22:42:57.615-07:00A Doula I am<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuE_mz4av-3ofIFemFlKXYt4F_vreQMJgYVtHHOYbgmgZGUuLK5kAT9clucN9OVutXihJ_WbI216mrzofTCt_tcp8kJQLFBq2pFSmj5TVNO0xX2q2RJiuqBKiZmCjnn1HGWMvnDdy5jLI/s1600/tolabor+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuE_mz4av-3ofIFemFlKXYt4F_vreQMJgYVtHHOYbgmgZGUuLK5kAT9clucN9OVutXihJ_WbI216mrzofTCt_tcp8kJQLFBq2pFSmj5TVNO0xX2q2RJiuqBKiZmCjnn1HGWMvnDdy5jLI/s320/tolabor+cropped.jpg" /></a>I completed the <a href="http://www.tolabor.com/">ToLabor Doula Training</a> this past weekend and walked away with a profoundly different understanding of who I am, how my own births were, and how every pregnancy and birth should be for all women. I entered the class not really even knowing what a Doula was, much less whether I truly wanted to be one. I actually went into the workshop with the intention of using the knowledge gained towards becoming a birth educator. I still plan on becoming a birth educator. However, since I didn't really understand the whole role a Doula plays in labor and birth, I had no preconceived notions of what a Doula is or is not. In my mind, I thought a Doula was just a woman present during birth. I've read the <a href="http://www.childbirthconnection.org/pdfs/continuous_support.pdf">research</a> that suggests that the simple presence of a woman at another woman's birth helps to create a positive birth outcome. I questioned whether I needed a Doula during my own births, but because I planned on homebirth with Midwives, I assumed I didn't need one. How wrong I was!<br />
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A Doula (pronounced Doo-la) is a term from the Greek language meaning a "woman who serves." They support mothers and their families through the emotional and physical challenges and joys of childbearing. Doulas provide non-medical support and they are the only care providers whose responsibility is to support a laboring woman exclusively and continuously. Studies show that doctors are present only 5% of the time, and nurses only 20-25% of the time, however, labor assistants or birth Doulas provide constant care throughout a woman's entire birth experience. <br />
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The experienced, loving support of sisters, mothers, aunts, and friends has diminished as births have moved into the hospital, and under the medical practice of OB/GYNs. Most women do not share or participate in a birth until they experience their own. This is where Doulas come in. Doulas understand the complexities of birth, work to ease the fears and anxieties of the unknown, and can instill confidence and trust in a woman and her body. Doulas work with the mother and her partner by providing useful comfort techniques for the mother that incorporate the help of the partner. Doulas also help facilitate communication with the labor care team.<br />
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<b>Randomized controlled trials demonstrate that the presence of a Doula is also associated with:</b><br />
<ul><li>Reduced cesarean rates</li>
<li>Fewer forceps/vacuum deliveries</li>
<li>Less requests for epidurals</li>
<li>Shorter labor</li>
<li>Reduced use of Pitocin/Oxytocin</li>
<li>Lower rates of newborn complications</li>
<li>Increased success with breastfeeding</li>
<li>Reduction in postpartum depression</li>
<li>Increased maternal satisfaction</li>
</ul><b>Doulas use a wide variety of pain-management techniques to help women feel more safe and comfortable, including:</b><br />
<ul><li>Massage</li>
<li>Acupressure</li>
<li>Positioning for mother’s comfort and to relieve/avoid back labor</li>
<li>Shower/bath</li>
<li>Birth ball</li>
<li>Hot and cold compresses</li>
<li>Guided imagery/visualizations</li>
<li>Aromatherapy</li>
</ul><b>What Doulas do not do: </b><br />
<ul><li>Perform clinical tasks, such as blood pressure, fetal heart checks, vaginal exams. </li>
<li>Make decisions for the mother. </li>
<li>Speak on behalf of the mother to the medical staff or primary care providers regarding decision matters. </li>
</ul>Before this remarkable workshop was complete, I realized that every woman should have the right to have a Doula, and that Doulas should be made available by all hospitals. Our maternity care system in the United States is a topic all its own, but one simple change to help support positive birth outcomes would be to have Doulas on call in all hospitals and birth centers.<br />
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My certification process has just begun, but I am looking forward to working through it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-52574265274747121022009-11-05T16:52:00.003-07:002009-11-05T16:59:43.743-07:00The Hunter's Moon, and Other Random Thoughts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGw73B13ZAdy0LeRG4WFTRQ6zVX2aozeSvJXJVrvdWQgquFJa625uaj4eGe8c2iRIw4rrrN38pvcigbpBPuHxiMJagapzK9IojEirGbVaA4QXpNIzpi6MIH7CpPUbY2xOldKooFf3Kzk/s1600-h/Halloween+2009+-+the+crew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGw73B13ZAdy0LeRG4WFTRQ6zVX2aozeSvJXJVrvdWQgquFJa625uaj4eGe8c2iRIw4rrrN38pvcigbpBPuHxiMJagapzK9IojEirGbVaA4QXpNIzpi6MIH7CpPUbY2xOldKooFf3Kzk/s320/Halloween+2009+-+the+crew.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_moon#Full_moon_names">Hunter's Moon</a> on Monday seemed to dredge up all sorts of emotional turbulence within me, as well as others I interacted with. My day began with co-worker conflict, and ended in an endless stream of griping and bitching erupting from my brain and mouth. Finally, in sheer desperation for the stream of words flowing forth from my mouth to end, I shut up. I just quit.<br />
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However, gems of wonder were to be found amidst all the rapids. My daughter discovered a fun and creative way to make letters from the mail...she started by making an A and then a W, and then a Y, which progressed into words like MAX, WAX, EAT, which then progressed into finding other object with which to make the letters such as pencils, our Halloween spoon witches, spoons, pens, the fly-swatter. It was a lot of fun to watch and encourage.<br />
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My brain has been literally swirling with thoughts regarding learning without school, parenting, relationships, life’s typical challenges, the weather, finances, conflicts at work, my career, worries about others, opinions about everything, and on and on and on. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3MHT65WhtnAoi2uXPZ_u11uK4I8X9faMiMHNh6Jmu54WFW9q_6MVJJJGPz_JyRlYpOHYkTn_uzCMrH1H2sP-EfxRkKWKq0VEbYuGtyVKwZM_WAa6bNEi20wOkypHyDv5DAXRaCJeTQM/s1600-h/Otowi+Perch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3MHT65WhtnAoi2uXPZ_u11uK4I8X9faMiMHNh6Jmu54WFW9q_6MVJJJGPz_JyRlYpOHYkTn_uzCMrH1H2sP-EfxRkKWKq0VEbYuGtyVKwZM_WAa6bNEi20wOkypHyDv5DAXRaCJeTQM/s320/Otowi+Perch.jpg" /></a>Often it seems, life’s daily flow travels along easily and fluidly and my focus is on each present moment. And then there are those times when all the various things that make up this life are swarming around me like bees hunting for a new hive and it’s impossible to focus on any one thing as they are demanding my attention. Now seems to be one of those times. <br />
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Perhaps I just need a quiet spot to reflect upon things, and calm my busy mind...<br />
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On the plus side, however, I've had the opportunity to read some inspiring articles on learning lately, and feel aware and responsive to how we are approaching this new journey in our life. It's quotes like this, from <a href="http://www.holtgws.com/johnholtpage.html">John Holt</a>, that really just hone it all in:<br />
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<b><i>"It's not that I feel that school is a good idea gone wrong, but a wrong idea from the word go. It's a nutty notion that we can have a place where nothing but learning happens, cut off from the rest of life."</i></b><br />
<b><i>~John Holt</i></b><br />
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I've even taken the leap to really sharing my understanding of this approach with those who most need it, namely my Mother and my In-Laws, who are the most supportive bunch of folks I've encountered recently, and who really need to be on the same page as me since they are primary caregivers to my kids. By sharing <a href="http://www.authenticparent.com/biography.html">Naomi Aldort's</a> amazing, and pretty much mind-blowing CD set, <a href="http://www.authenticparent.com/audio-video.html#trusting">Trusting Our Children, Trusting Ourselves</a>, with my Mom, among others, I am hopeful that my kids will have even more support from their loving grandparents, who are also learning about this new idea for our family. In a family of many PhDs, the concept of homeschooling, and especially without a curriculum and "schoolwork" is a novel concept.<br />
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<b><i>"What children need is not new and better curricula but access to more and more of the real world; plenty of time and space to think over their experiences, and to use fantasy and play to make meaning out of them; and advice, road maps, guidebooks, to make it easier for them to get where they want to go (not where we think they ought to go), and to find out what they want to find out."</i></b><br />
<b><i>~John Holt, Teach Your Own</i></b><br />
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Parenting is probably the most challenging (and possibly unanticipated) aspect to many peoples' lives, and being with our children all day and not relying on others to entertain them, "teach" them, take care of them, "endure" them, etc. has become an important aspect of learning without school, at least in my own eyes. I'm the kind of person that constantly seeks out and eats up as much information as I possibly can so that I can become the very best parent that I can possibly be. I believe that kids thrive in an environment without shame, humiliation, punishment, invoked consequences, rewards, time-outs, and all those other negative "traditional" discipline techniques. Changing myself has become a daily affair, and I work at it really hard. Respecting my kids for who they are is essential. I've included a little snippet of inspiration I found this week, as well: <a href="http://sandradodd.com/respect">How to Raise a Respected Child</a>, by Sandra Dodd.<br />
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Onward!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-12121258037643450462009-10-09T15:27:00.004-06:002009-10-10T16:28:45.380-06:00It's Official - We Really are UnschoolersAnd it's truly no surprise. Being <a href="http://www.evergreen.edu/">Evergreen</a> Alumni and having non-standard views on parenting, learning, and life, this path seems to have flowed seamlessly into our lives.<br />
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I've added a list of Unschooling sites down below for my own sake as well as for those who might be interested in what the whole idea of unschooling is.<br />
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In pulling my daughter out of school, I've already had many people ask me, "why would you take your kid out of school when the schools in Los Alamos are so good?"<br />
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To start with, we just happen to have a child who is not willing to be coerced into a situation she is uncomfortable with, and the situation she was most uncomfortable with was school. If she were like most other kids, we may never have found ourselves in this part of the world. But in many ways I can be thankful that she is different and that we can embark upon this journey of something radical and adventurous. And what an interesting journey it shall be...<br />
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Besides, are Los Alamos schools really so good? I went to Los Alamos schools 20+ years ago, and sure I had a good teacher or two. But I don't think I began any real passionate learning until I got to college. I mostly just cruised it, and did what I needed to do to get through the day to day. <br />
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LA Schools at this point seemed to have fallen under the spell of testing and more testing, homework and more homework. <br />
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I think John Holt said it best:<br />
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<span style="font-style:italic;">"What children need is not new and better curricula but access to more and more of the real world; plenty of time and space to think over their experiences, and to use fantasy and play to make meaning out of them; and advice, road maps, guidebooks, to make it easier for them to get where they want to go (not where we think they ought to go), and to find out what they want to find out."</span><br />
—John Holt, Teach Your OwnUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-2839936261444537202009-06-30T08:36:00.003-06:002009-06-30T09:17:19.152-06:00Summer Nettles<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFKSDMLHZzAtkOxDM6RaWPBFNZnyCg7u1LUmJ5bhzktaRU48Z3H3e4_RSsVuk1iS76Mq4SKDgRZ0EGVN-IyrAGsdXhDO8bN2lMN1LVgP5iUUNQL8wvqDFwkaHDSw58D_ytyQ7SXS6Bjc/s1600-h/nettle_in_bloom_large+copyright+David+Beaulieu.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFKSDMLHZzAtkOxDM6RaWPBFNZnyCg7u1LUmJ5bhzktaRU48Z3H3e4_RSsVuk1iS76Mq4SKDgRZ0EGVN-IyrAGsdXhDO8bN2lMN1LVgP5iUUNQL8wvqDFwkaHDSw58D_ytyQ7SXS6Bjc/s200/nettle_in_bloom_large+copyright+David+Beaulieu.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353139793090588114" border="0" /></a>Summer has arrived.<br />We've had a most unusual June, here in Los Alamos, with much more rain than usual, and some very chilly days. June is generally the hottest, driest month, so all this moisture and cool temps have been quite a surprise. The plants and trees must be soaking up every ounce of the water. Nettles that were a mere few inches off the ground a couple weeks ago, are nearly towering over my head! The grasses too have completely taken off. My native grass front yard looks greener than it ever has, and all grasses must be flowering profusely as I've been more allergized in recent days than I can remember...back to those nettles!<br /><br />Nettles can be useful for allergy relief and they boast significant amounts of chlorophyll, protein, ascorbic acid, calcium, magnesium, Vitamin K1, potassium and zinc. These nutrients are considered to promote healthy skin, bones and joints and encourage a healthy immune and respiratory system. Nettle leaf contains flavonoids such as quercitin, kaempferol, and rutin that help to maintain healthy levels of histamine in the body. Histamine release is associated with allergic reactions, where tissues become damaged and inflamed. Further, nettle leaf extract promotes the healthy modulation of prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and cytokines- which are components associated with normal immune function.<br /><br />I am a sucker for stinging nettles. When I see a patch I get all giggley in my tummy and feel like jumping up and down and shouting for joy. Los Alamos Canyon is ripe with nettles right now, and during a run up the canyon yesterday I simply couldn't help myself and had to stop and commune with one of the large patches growing up alongside the stream bed. I plucked a lovely leaf, folded it upon itself and chewed it up as my friend Susan had taught me a decade and a half ago. The flavor was pure green, with hints of minerals and vitamins. My thumb and forefinger were numb for the rest of the run, and every time I felt the numbness my heart swelled with joy for this lovely soul-sister plant. Now, if I can just convince my daughters to come watch me harvest this bounty!<br /><br />The natives of the Olympic Peninsula used nettles for medicine, charms, and rituals. In order to stay awake through the night, the Quileute would rub nettles over the body prior to heading out on seal hunts. The Makah would use nettles to purify their bodies and to toughen their skin before heading out on whale hunts. I've always found those uses intriguing. My husband once thrashed himself with Nettles prior to driving 18 hours straight, and said it worked quite well for staying awake through the night.<br /><br />Nettles are also a delicious green that can be cooked like spinach. Sautee the fresh leaves with garlic and butter and dash of soy for a nutritious green...Bon Appetit!<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />References:<br />Gunther, E. and J. Janish. Ethnobotany of Western Washington. 1973; 78.<br /><br />Klingelhoefer S, et al. Antirheumatic effect of IDS 23, a stinging nettle leaf extract, on in vitro expression of T helper cytokines. J. Rheumatol. 1999; 26(12): 2517-2522.<br /><br />Mittman P. Randomized, double-blind study of freeze dried urtica dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Planta Medica. 1990;56:44-47.<br /><br />Image copyright David BeaulieuUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-37171799812018509172009-02-27T11:17:00.003-07:002009-02-27T12:01:44.198-07:00<div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMlCVZtyMKRgUP0i42TQHNdJHql5dZzeqEoIf-LSBzALk1lgnwgrk31guUJceRyqDj8E3ST3FGslnSzaiyrLRoFsZj3H_RxuKDdL5UttOu_6YB7UDT7PX5uPtgY1u6OV5v9PQL0kdP-M/s1600-h/flying+van+dream.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMlCVZtyMKRgUP0i42TQHNdJHql5dZzeqEoIf-LSBzALk1lgnwgrk31guUJceRyqDj8E3ST3FGslnSzaiyrLRoFsZj3H_RxuKDdL5UttOu_6YB7UDT7PX5uPtgY1u6OV5v9PQL0kdP-M/s320/flying+van+dream.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307548870406187810" border="0" /></a>My dreams are often tied to phases of the moon and the new moon in particular often leaves my dreamland filled with an odd variety of graphic surprises.<br /><br />This week, in particular, has been an odd week for sleep. Dreams have been vivid, full of color and texture and even flavor. It seems as if a bit of intuitive and uncanny senses have been awakened as soon as I slip into slumber.<br /><br />My dreams last night, however, were disturbing. Slightly menacing, nearly terrifying, and graphic in an unpleasant way. I began riding as a passenger in a car, observing events as if watching them on TV. We pulled over, and sat facing a young black woman as if watching a drive-in movie. We watched as an outside group began discussing the merits of removing the faces, and it was understood that the face belonged to one who was already dead. A pair of large, metal, dangerous scissors began cutting the skin from the face of this beautiful woman--right up the middle from the chin towards the forehead. The blood seemed slow to start and their was no reaction at all from the woman until I screamed, "Wait! She's not dead! you can't cut the faces of people who aren't dead!" and the blood began to flow as the scissors seemed unable to cut further towards the scalp. The scene shifted, and I was back at Evergreen, a dream event that recurs several times a month.<br /><br />Yesterday, while on a hike, I had a glimpse of thought regarding why I always dream that I return to Evergreen, and I am moving, trying to find a house, registering for classes, and always slightly lost. But today I can't remember what that reason was.<br /><br />In any case, back to the dream. My partner and I entered a small, all glass building where people were doing Aikido. There were a few benches on the side, filled with observers, and the floor of the room had a mat with thick blankets on to serve as padding. The Sensei was manipulating people and throwing them on the floor. Several people I remember from my short tenure in Aikido moved to do their thing in the center of the floor. I held my daughters on my lap and we watched from the sides. As we stood to leave, the Sensei came over to me and placed his hands on my back. As he did so I felt all the tension in my shoulders and neck surge to the surface as if trying to escape. And then I relaxed and felt the healing power flow through his hands. I breathed deeply and felt as I do at the end of a Rolfing session. Although this Sensei was not my Rolfer, even though he really does practice Aikido.<br /><br />Lastly, I was walking along a street in White Rock. It was night and I was upset, possibly scared. I kept seeing people getting run over by cars on the street. Most would get up, brush themselves off, and keep going. I saw a mother and her daughter get run over on the opposite side of the street. I ran to them, and was yelling at the driver to stop, which he did. I was helping the mother and daughter to lay down on the sidewalk, and took the young girl's hands in mine. Begging with her, pleading, I kept asking, "where does it hurt, are you hurt?" The mother was fine but wanted to sleep. The young girl was fine too. We sat back with our heads on the curb and saw a white van with a yellow hat flying in the air above us. A teenaged girl was sitting on a chair atop the van and was holding its reins and hollering at us. While it rightly is an amusing and funny sight, it was terrifying. The girl kept flipping the van in the air, doing hundreds of flips and circles. I watched it in absolute terror, certain it would fall on top of us. The girl seemed to know that we were mortified and kept hollering and laughing and flipping. Another flying vehicle began to float over us, and I was sure this one would do us in. And then I woke.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-57699414390402286392009-02-23T13:02:00.007-07:002009-10-09T15:18:09.272-06:00It's About Time...<span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">I was recently made aware of this </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.consumerreports.org/health/medical-conditions-treatments/pregnancy-childbirth/maternity-care/overview/maternity-care.htm">Consumer Reports article on the state of US maternity care</a><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">They even include a handy little quiz to test your knowledge of commonly cited facts and figures regarding standard maternity care.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Childbirth, and specifically natural childbirth, became a passion of mine during my first pregnancy. Having birthed both my babies naturally, the second one at home, has furthered my interest in knowing whether women of today have access to the information they need to make informed choices regarding childbirth.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Consumer Reports cites </span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:100%;color:darkblue;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">this October 2008 report</span> </span><a href="http://www.milbank.org/reports/0809MaternityCare/0809MaternityCare.html">Evidence-Based Maternity Care: What It Is and What It Can Achieve</a></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:darkblue;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">, by Carol Sakala and Maureen P. Corry. This report has all kinds of information, and will hopefully be useful in the new Administration's healthcare reform. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">As I stepped through the portal of 2009, many of my back-burner interests have surged to the forefront. My role in the natural birth community is one of them. Shall I become a licensed midwife? Should I become a childbirth educator? As time permits, should I pursue my degree in Chinese Medicine and focus on women's health and childbirth? Do I continue my herbalist studies and focus on women's and children's health? How about a massage certificate?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">All these ideas have been swimming around fervently in my head for the last several weeks. I'll keep letting them swim for a while, but I imagine at some point some of them are simply going to drown, and I'll have to send the Coast Guard in to rescue those that remain.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">I found some cool new links to post on my blog, and I've included them under Earth Grown.</span><br /></span><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-6845068917537267542009-01-07T11:35:00.009-07:002009-01-07T18:51:01.938-07:00Herbs for the Season -- Yerba Santa, Mullein, and other BronchialsWinter is upon us, and blessing us with an abundance of snow.<br /><br />Fortunately, nature has also provided a bounty of herbal options for those who find themselves under the weather, and caught with the unpleasant situation of a bronchial illness.<br /><br />Coughing is a protective mechanism that helps to clear the lungs and throat of irritants and fluid. Coughing may be also a symptom of more serious upper respiratory conditions such as croup, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Continuous, spasmodic coughing is exhausting, and can cause difficulty sleeping at a time when rest is critical.<br /><br />When the chest is full of congestion, and coughing is not helping to expel the phlegm, a decongestant herb may be useful. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Yerba</span> Santa, <a href="http://www.swsbm.com/Images/D-G/Eriodictyon_californica.jpg"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Eriodictyon</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">spp</span></span></a>. is used as a bronchial dilator and expectorant, and also is considered a mild decongestant <span style="font-size:78%;">(1)</span>. The smoke of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Yerba</span> Santa is an antispasmodic herb, which can be particularly useful when bronchial spasms are rudely persistent. While it might seem contrary to reason to smoke a substance during a respiratory illness, for this particular herb, a scant amount of the smoke can provide a welcome relief from coughing spasm.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Yerba</span> Santa is one of those herbs that smells truly medicinal. It has that turpentine-type odor that seems to dredge up dormant memories of our great-great-great-grandmother's cough syrup--even if we never had to privilege of meeting her--it seems to me to be an instinctual body memory of some sort. Take a sniff and you'll know what I am talking about! While the odor is strong, the taste is somewhat sweet.<br /><br />To prepare a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Yerba</span> Santa <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">decoction</span>, take a tablespoon of the dried, ground leaves and add to 1 cup boiling water. Boil for 10 minutes, let it cool for 20 or so minutes, strain, and drink. Up to 1 ounce of the dried herb can be consumed safely throughout the day <span style="font-size:78%;">(1)</span>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkyBEdYwdPE9wADWlOVbDSq-hSgTmvfLtKGQ8pXhUwALJk2l5xNVq8_cJswj2pHQINCX7IArTVDKLNC8ZFSzeX1jTRWOZ_noMYGxoNozaLlzJH-H5n1bwO3j2RcpCMU5mp_jeo5PWnYQ/s1600-h/erbascum_thapsus.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288715850092126914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkyBEdYwdPE9wADWlOVbDSq-hSgTmvfLtKGQ8pXhUwALJk2l5xNVq8_cJswj2pHQINCX7IArTVDKLNC8ZFSzeX1jTRWOZ_noMYGxoNozaLlzJH-H5n1bwO3j2RcpCMU5mp_jeo5PWnYQ/s320/erbascum_thapsus.jpg" border="0" /></a>Another lung herb is Mullein, <a href="http://www.swsbm.com/Images/T-Z/Verbascum_thapsus.jpg"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Verbascum</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">thapsu</span></span>s</a>. People with a predilection for being outside all summer long, might fondly refer to Mullein as Toilet Paper Weed, as it offers itself up for emergency use. It is also called velvet plant, blanket leaf, and <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Gordolobo</span></span> in NM. Mullein is a sedative to the lungs and also helps to relax bronchial spasms. Mullein leaf smoke is also considered antispasmodic and have been used for centuries in smoking mixtures for asthma and bronchial infections (1).<br /><br />To prepare Mullein tea, take a tablespoon of the dried chopped leaves and add to 1 or 2 cups water and bring to a boil. Immediately remove from heat, add honey or maple syrup, cool to a drinkable temperature, and drink slowly (1).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqNVHqwmywII4DX0as3Wf2d4qkZW5ObCvU9zqVqzXukVYTmIU6lHIhAek4u-1dI4MKgT2qfsEzXX593Cr32-VIKDoIc5C7HfyeMct_axdu79NVHyCX9eynNwphGdLaNJQvtblIZ_116U/s1600-h/Inule_helenium.jpg"><span style="font-size:100%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288715855492545922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqNVHqwmywII4DX0as3Wf2d4qkZW5ObCvU9zqVqzXukVYTmIU6lHIhAek4u-1dI4MKgT2qfsEzXX593Cr32-VIKDoIc5C7HfyeMct_axdu79NVHyCX9eynNwphGdLaNJQvtblIZ_116U/s320/Inule_helenium.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">A third herb that is useful for lung conditions is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Elecampane</span>, </span><a href="http://www.swsbm.com/Images/New4-9-97/Inula_helenium.jpg"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Inula</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">helenium</span></span></span></a></span><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Elecampane</span> is indicated when a cough has lingered much too long, thus turning chronic. It is specifically used for bronchitis and asthma. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Elecampane</span> is an expectorant and due to its warming, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">carminative</span> properties it also helps to decrease mucous in the body <span style="font-size:78%;">(2</span>).<br /><br />A strong <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">decoction</span> of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Elecampane</span> is made by using 1 oz of the dried root to a pint of water. Bring to a boil, and let steep for 20 minutes. 1 to 3 cups of this tea can be drunk throughout the day <span style="font-size:78%;">(2).</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl80DRa5Rg97ppoVv8qVzwagmi-bPr7f6bxN8KZICdWw6oIPxZU3w85Zhufwy7fhiLp1hCG4Kg_Ouljb2K_OOOzQb5a79y8OaFhihQT_eYvPI70sUh59pNGH0PLN0OTnQNCgWc-jte-74/s1600-h/250px-Coltsfoot.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288715847254726994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 189px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl80DRa5Rg97ppoVv8qVzwagmi-bPr7f6bxN8KZICdWw6oIPxZU3w85Zhufwy7fhiLp1hCG4Kg_Ouljb2K_OOOzQb5a79y8OaFhihQT_eYvPI70sUh59pNGH0PLN0OTnQNCgWc-jte-74/s320/250px-Coltsfoot.jpg" border="0" /></a>A fourth effective lung herb is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Coltsfoot</span>, <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Coltsfoot.jpg/792px-Coltsfoot.jpg"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Tussilago</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">farfara</span></span></a>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Coltsfoot</span> is an expectorant, is anti-inflammatory, demulcent--which is soothing to the throat and stomach, and helps to reduce spasmodic coughing. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Coltsfoot</span> should not be consumed by pregnant women, or by children under the age of 6, as it contains very small amounts of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">pyrrolizidine</span> alkaloids (PA). Both the leaves and flowers contain <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">PA</span>, which are known to be associated with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">venoocclusive</span> liver disease with excessive or prolonged use. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Coltsfoot</span> should not be taken during pregnancy and lactation, and should not be given to children under 6 years old. Most herbalists consider short-term use of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">coltsfoot</span> for acute URI quite safe in older children and adults <span style="font-size:78%;">(3).</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Coltsfoot</span> tea is prepared by using one ounce of dried leaves and flowers to a pint of water. Bring to a boil, remove from heat and let steep for 5 to 10 minutes. This can be drunk 1 to 2 times a day for 2-3 days if necessary.<br /><br />Finally, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Lobelia</span>, <a href="http://www.swsbm.com/Images/H-L/Lobelia_inflata.jpg"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Lobelia</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">inflata</span></span></a>, also called <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Koeh-218.jpg">Indian tobacco</a>, is another very effective herb for spasmodic coughing caused by bronchitis and other upper-respiratory infections. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Lobelia</span> is and expectorant and an antispasmodic <span style="font-size:78%;">(2)</span>. Because it is an emetic, and is commonly employed to induce vomiting for other types of illnesses, it is best to use the lowest dosage necessary to help relieve coughing spasms. The leaves and flowers of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Lobelia</span> are commonly employed in smoking mixtures to relieve bronchial spasms, and is particularly suited to certain asthmatic individuals <span style="font-size:78%;">(1).</span><br /><br />Bronchial herbs are generally quite specific in their actions, and are used for short periods of time, until relief is felt. The herbs listed above can be combined with other herbs to create formulas specific for the illness at hand. I've found these particular herbs to be very effective in reducing coughing spasms, and for bringing relief during an upper respiratory infection.<br /><br />I've observed that when a sickness progresses to the chronic stage, that is, when an illness has worsened or continues to linger for more than two weeks, people are often inclined to head to the doctor seeking antibiotics with the hopes that the antibiotics will kill off whatever has been infecting them, and to prevent (as the doctors love to say) the illness from going "deeper".<br /><br />However, this idea that antibiotics are going to cure the chronic cough has not been proven effective, and in fact it may do more harm than good. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the consumption of 235 million doses of antibiotics in 2001. It is estimated that 20-50 percent of these were unnecessarily prescribed for viral infections <span style="font-size:78%;">(4).</span> Antimicrobial drug use rates have been highest for children <span style="font-size:78%;">(5)</span> with inappropriate prescription of antibiotics accounting for at least 40 % of antibiotic prescriptions <span style="font-size:78%;">(6).</span><br /><br />The main rationale for antibiotic prescription, despite the known lack of efficacy, lies in the premise of preventing complications (i.e. pneumonia) from secondary bacterial infection <span style="font-size:78%;">(7).</span> Data suggests that this practice is ineffective, and analysis of five randomized clinical trials concludes there is no substantial evidence of a protective effect against secondary infection <span style="font-size:78%;">(8).</span><br /><br />Moreover, this practice has caused conflict amongst medical experts. It is primarily due to excessive antibiotic overuse that some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">pneumococci</span> are resistant to all oral antibiotics. Recent antibiotic use is now considered a risk factor for developing invasive illness with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">pneumococci</span> and there is increased risk of clinical treatment failure when treating certain pediatric diseases <span style="font-size:78%;">(8, 9, 10, & 5).</span><br /><br />According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">TCM</span>), antibiotics are extremely cold in nature. If a viral illness is presenting with symptoms that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">TCM</span> considers to be cold in nature (i.e., with chills, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">achiness</span>, low-grade fever, and intolerance of cold) antibiotics tend to drive the illness deeper into the body, and generally cause the body to take longer to recover. If an illness is presenting symptoms of heat (i.e., high fever, headache,, irritability) the antibiotics may cause symptomatic relief temporarily, as they work to reduce the heat. However, when an illness is viral in nature, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">antibiotics</span> are really only affecting the symptomatic response to an illness, and not truly working on the sickness at all.<br /><br />In my opinion, it's better to save the antibiotics for those times they are truly needed so as to prevent our bodies and bacterium from developing <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">resistance</span> to these medicines. They truly do serve a purpose, but generally NOT for a viral illness.<br /><br />As this winter progresses, may we all be strong and well, and may we be appreciative of the amazing capacity of our immunity. Herbs can be very useful allies to keep us well and whole, and to be used for specific purposes, as needed.<br /><br />________________________________<br />References:<br />(1) Michael Moore, 2003. Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, Revised and Expanded Edition. Museum of New Mexico Press.<br />(2) Michael <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">Tierra</span>, 1998. The Way of Herbs. Washington Square Press, Published by Pocket Books.<br />(3) Aviva <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">Romm</span>, 2004. Upper Respiratory Infection (URI) in Children: The Emerging Need for Botanical Strategies. Journal of the American Herbalists Guild, Spring/Summer 2004.<br />(4) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">MacKay</span> D 2003, Can CAM therapies help reduce antibiotic resistance? Alternative Medicine Review. 8(1):28-42<br />(5) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">Dowell</span> S, Marcy M, Phillips W, Gerber M, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">Scwartz</span> B 1998, Principles of judicious use of antimicrobial agents for pediatric upper respiratory tract infections Pediatrics. 101(1):163-165<br />(6) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">Besser</span> E 2003, Antimicrobial prescribing in the United States: good news, bad news Annals Of Internal Medicine. 138(7):605-06<br />(7) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1998a, Careful antibiotic use: pharyngitis in children. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA<br />(8) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1998b, Careful antibiotic use: resistance and antibiotic use. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta GA<br />(9) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1998c, Careful antibiotic use: rhinitis versus sinusitis in children. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA<br />(10) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">Rosenstein</span> N, Phillips W, Gerber M, Marcy S, Schwartz B, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">Dowell</span> S 1998, The common cold- principles of judicious use of antimicrobial agents Pediatrics. 101(1):181-184Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-31602123777952092992009-01-03T18:47:00.003-07:002009-01-03T19:22:42.764-07:00New Year--New Ideas--New CreationsI've recently been inspired through unexpected means.<br />Inspired to write fiction--once the passion of my creative soul.<br />Inspired to remove all negative thoughts and speech from my day to day life.<br />Inspired to dwell in all that has to do with true love.<br />Inspired to help those around me.<br />Inspired to pursue those callings that have continued their subdued siren songs in the background of my life even during times when the mundanities of life have clouded my hearing.<br /><br />I feel an upswelling of creative fire growing from deep within and simultaneously I have a very logical desire to pursue my next career in the healing arts.<br /><br />The close of 2008 and the door into 2009 has been starkly real for me. I do not recall any other New Year that has felt so...well, New.<br /><br />Is it the Change that our President elect, Mr. Obama, predicted?<br /><br />Is it the events leading up to my profound need to change my life and my thoughts that have caused the strength of this feeling?<br /><br />Is it simply the ever-continual change that is a part of life?<br /><br />I feel as if I'm on the brink of an amazing new way of being. The threshold is more than a doorway to the unknown, it is to all I've ever known, and all that I've understood, but have never been able to translate into language. Suddenly all that I've been pushing aside is staring at me head-on.<br /><br />What have I ignored that I now must face?<br /><br />As I have witnessed my normally focused self perform such senseless and scattered acts in the last several weeks...from losing my cell phone and ski poles to crashing my car, it became apparent that my choices in thought, speech, and attention were losing clarity. Even while I was encircling myself in an inspiration and absolute deliciousness of love inspired by books I was reading, it was evident that a self-imposed negativity that was so profound in other aspects of my life were contributing to this lack of focus.<br /><br />And then, it seemed, I suddenly woke up. I came through the fog and had these profound and magnanimous feelings of change. Once I changed my thinking, it immediately felt like the train of my life regained its tracks...and I'm pushed to follow through.<br /><br />I'll be very interested to see where this year will go.<br /><br />I'm wishing each and every one of my friends, family, and acquaintances a prosperous New Year, full of Joy, Good Fortune, and Blessings. I am grateful for living a life that is so blessed with amazing people, amazing family, so much love, and such quintessential beauty. I am blessed.<br /><br />Let's Get Some, Get Some, Get Some...Go Again!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192988420613845465.post-37650508252913182982008-11-18T22:06:00.003-07:002008-11-18T22:35:30.297-07:00This Warm WeatherSixty seven degrees today,<br />at 1 o'clock when I climbed into the car<br />hair wet from sweating and even hotter still as I felt the stale car air.<br />Sixty seven degrees and sky so blue the mountains stood out sharp--<br />the rocks jagged and broken alongside the blackened remnants of trees holding tight to the horizon.<br />What is this weather?<br />The bees gone now for over two weeks may start buzzing around again looking for nectar.<br />A lone purple aster jetting out from the morphing patch of thyme that is slowly consuming my strawberry patch.<br />And the sky!<br />No clouds there, only the vast emptiness that causes a blue so deep it pierces my soul.<br />My soul that has begun its annual longing for the sky's gift of snow.<br />A longing that can be soothed only with the darkest gray of snow-filled clouds that continue to provide for hours on end.<br />A longing that rears up once the skies begin to clear--even if only for a moment.<br />Where is that snow?<br />Those clouds?<br />I am yearning to trod through trails laden deep with cover...to feel my heart rate climb while walking at altitude.<br />To stand at the top of an open run, the trees splayed apart as if beckoning me to fall free.<br />And yet, I am ever hopeful. Hoping that soon this will not simply be a longing in my mind, but reality.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0