Finally Foods I Can Eat

My newest cookbook....

First, I want to thank Kathyann for the compliments and the kind words - who knew words from someone I've never met would strike such a cord in my heart.....I finally had some good news from my Naturopath doctor today. While some might not think news of this sort was good, to me I was ecstatic - I can finally begin to expand the foods I eat again. To explain, several years ago after going from Doctor to Doctor seeking their opinion as to what was wrong with me (being told it was everything from arthritis, I.B.S., stress, just the change,etc.) I decided to go to a Naturopath - best thing I ever did - after much history taking, an elimination trial diet etc., he was confident that I had a wheat and dairy intolerance as well as a sensitivity to many chemicals. So I eliminated all the dairy and wheat from my diet, threw out any household cleaners/chemical based products, got rid of rugs in my house, checked every inch of my house for mold etc. I felt like my old self slowly over several months - got the energy back, joint, stomach and intestinal pain disappeared, headaches went away and sinus's cleared. But slowly... so slowly I didn't really realize things started to worsen again - almost all the symptoms returned along with feelings of isolation and then mid summer this year I had a serious episode of depression. It really scared me - was I to have to suffer this all the rest of my life??? My good friend finally sat me down one day and ordered me to call the doctor again. My dear husband just blamed everything on Menopause. After extensive tests, it was determined that I was one of the small percentage of people who develop cytoxic reactions involving IgG mediated responses to foods (IgG antibodies are made to defend our immune system) The more frequently I ingested a sensitive food the greater the reactions I had, which lead to increased sensitivity and increased symtoms . The tests determined that not only did I react to wheat and dairy but now to yeast, sugars, most nuts, bananas and pineapple, garlic and EGGS BIG TIME. It was also determined that I had developed an increased sensitivity to molds, dust, petro chemicals, fungicides (traces of which are on most foods you buy) and a whole host of other things. Well, I eliminated all the problems from my diet, started to follow a carefully planned rotational diet, got an air purifier for my home and have become as "green" a consumer as possible (I was already pretty good -now I'm better!) Result -I feel soooo much better -still have a hard time on Mondays at school with the body sprays, perfumes etc. the kids wear -I just avoid it if at all possible. My check up today was the best in YEARS. I still can't begin to reintroduce foods that I can't tolerate right now - that won't happen until the new year, but I can begin to mix foods from the same food family at one meal, which translates to... I can actually begin to try some recipes from the book "Finally Foods I Can Eat" - and monitor my reactions of course. After 3 months of no baked goods I can't wait to try a muffin recipe......maybe Apple Walnut Muffins made with chickpea, arrowroot, tapioca, rice and potato flours......When I shop now I look for the unusual, go to ethnic grocery stores looking for different ingredients. I will try to grow more of my own food next summer - I had drastically cut down after my 2 boys left home. It hasn't been easy......I smell fresh bread and long for it.....I watch my husband eat old cheddar cheese and I just have to leave the room. It is just too difficult to go out to eat even occasionally as you never know what is in the food. We can go out to a Chinese restaurant once in awhile now, after explaining to the owner about all the foods I can't have -he personally alters recipes or cooks something up for me that is on my allowable food list. Great guy!

I picked up the book Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach in the summer from my favourite used book store. I've been reading it every night before I go to sleep....and while I don't agree with everything she says or how to find that authentic self by following everything she recommends.....I do find that I am more conscious of many things. Beginning this blog is my gratitude journal, my beginning to consciously put down in words and pictures the little glimpses of simple daily things that I am thankful for, that make me smile, my observations and explorations, my connections to others.....have a great day....smile......enjoy the sunset........

Sunset on the farm...

First Snow Storm

Wet snow/rain began to fall about 3:30 p.m. on Tues. afternoon.....a view out my back door.....

By 7:30p.m. the heavy wet snow had already blanketed everything - the forecast was for 15 cm., which was dead on by morning....

Just for comparison this is the pool garden -August...

Pool garden - this morning....

Pool garden -August....

Pool garden - this morning....

On a positive note, Nellie LOVES snow!!!

Nellie demonstrating her "Nose shovel" technique.

Surveying the damage to the trees and shrubs in the yard and around the neighborhood this afternoon, was rather depressing - many of our trees sustained broken limbs, some bending to the ground with the weight of the heavy frozen snow. Some trees are so badly damaged they will have to be cut down.....however, it is 4:45p.m. right now and the sun has just peeked through the clouds promising a nice sunset......Eileen

I stood along the banks of the St. Lawrence River this morning with my cousin, both of us waiting to witness yet another sunrise (so I could photograph the moment of course). While we waited, we shared out loud, that, which too many who live around here take for granted - living beside this beautiful river. I never tire of being able to watch it change with the light as each day passes, change with the weather as the seasons pass, watch ships from all over the world pass us by, watch kids and birds fish, kayak on it, exploring the shorelines, listen for the call of loons or the incredible noise that thousands of migrating geese resting for the night on the water or shores can make. I walk along it several times a day with Nellie (my dog), I have to drive along it to get anywhere from my house and I can smell the moisture as I walk out the door. It moderates the climate for up to 2 kilometers from it's edges. It draws the weather systems from the center of the continent - which can be good and bad. I miss it when I travel away from it. It is alive and full of life and affects all of us in so many ways. I am so thankful that I live here, can see it, hear it and feel it. I have lived near it or beside it for more than 45 years since moving to this part of Ontario as a child.

Just after sunrise, the clouds rolled in again and the wind picked up -a blustery sort of day. The sun peeked out off and on, and the rain started steadily falling again towards evening. I felt the domestic urge early today -now that is unusual for me on a Sunday - and by 9 this morning I had 2 pots of homemade soup simmering - red lentil and a potato/leek, a lovely beef stew in the slow cooker, cleaned out 3 drawers in my pantry and made up a shopping list. I hate grocery shopping on a Sunday, but it was too wet outside from yesterdays all day rain to do any fall cleanup, so off I went. John, my hubb, has worked a midnight shift all weekend so he was sleeping all day -that is just no fun at all. I'll be so happy when, in a few weeks he starts his new job with the Engineering Dept. -straight 8 hour days!!! (instead of a 12 hour/7 days /week shift schedule that he has been on for the last few years.) I have spent way too many evenings and weekends alone -which is one of the reasons I got Nellie 2 years ago -for company. I puttered away the rest of the day -watering plants, downloading photos from my camera onto the computer, putting up some more Halloween decorations, knitting and walking around the yard making mental notes of all the things yet to be done before the cold weather sets in. Since we had such a cool VERY WET summer, I'm hoping for a long beautiful fall!!!! Tomorrow I'll have to dig out one of my many "witch" costumes - our staff ALWAYS dresses up for Halloween at school. I love being in costume all day - I get to do crazy things with my kids and blame it on the "witch"!!!

!st peek of the sun through the distant trees.

About 7:30 a.m. -moments before sunrise.

Looking east across the river to New York State, U.S.A.

Looking north/east down the St. Lawrence

A New Thread

“Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailor’s warning” ........ A red sunrise reflects the dust particles of a system that has just passed from the west. This indicates that a storm system may be moving to the east. If the morning sky is a deep fiery red, it means a high water content in the atmosphere. So, rain is on its way......

The sunrise this morning was especially brilliant and as the old adage predicts, the rain began to fall steadily shortly after this picture was taken. The gorgeous view, is one I look upon daily, as I begin my day with a walk with "Nellie," my sweetie pie Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

After following several blogs for awhile, I thought that I might try something new and start my own blog to record my thoughts, observations and explorations of the world around me............