The Way to Grace

How cool is this sign? We saw it in Idaho on our drive back home from Arizona.

Happy New Year's Day everyone!! Can you believe it's 2009?! How time does fly and how so many things can manifest in a single year! Change is, indeed, the only constant. Yesterday was a very interesting day. The night before, Michael (my hubby) and I were starting to feel like going over to the east side of the mountains for the new year may not be the best idea. We had been packing...a box full of board games, a big bag of produce in the fridge and a huge pile of warm clothes piling up at our entrance. There were logical reasons and above all, it was a feeling. We figured we would touch base later in the day.

Honey was at work and I was getting ready to go to Yoga class before giving a couple massages. I went to take the compost out (which is quite a trek through knee-high powder!) and take our old doggie out for fresh air and a bathroom break. Our old dog Jaxon just died last month and Hendrix was getting equally old (13!) and unable to get up the stairs and stand up sometimes. It is hard to see someone you love and have climbed mountains with be unable to hold his rear legs under him to stand on our slick laminate flooring. He took a little tumble down the bottom stairs and although he didn't really hurt himself, the fear in his old, cloudy eyes and the desperate cry for help I heard in them began a streaming of tears for the next 5 hours.
I called Michael and tried to gather myself to focus on giving grounded bodywork within the circle of Life and Death and then focus again on what we needed to do for Hendrix. My electric windows wouldn't roll down at the bank, so I used my door. While driving toward work, my window suddenly collapsed into the door. Thank goodness it didn't shatter, but it was 20 degrees and snowing and I had no window. I called our local mechanic, whose # I know by heart and was greeted by a familiar voice (kind of like the show Cheers, but with oil instead of beer). Barely able to talk, I tried to explain I was sad about my dog, rather than my car, but was wondering if he could help. A quick phone call later and he got this "damsel in distress" an appointment and a lift back downtown to work. My husband and I decided it was time to put Hendrix down and allow his Spirit to slide out his withered body into a place of Light. I was able to reschedule my appointments and we were there with him, looking each other in the eyes, gratefully streaming through memories of all the places we have played together. He was happy to let go...ready..and so much easier than holding on to something that isn't working anymore.

My Love had broken through the frost and dug a grave a few days prior, pretty sure Hendrix wasn't going to make it until Spring and aware of the massive snowfall continuing. Wrapped in a beautiful Mexican blanket we lowered first him, then dirt into a resting home for the body that housed his Spirit, lying next to his brother Jaxon by the trees and river...the hillside where they ran, chased squirrels, chased sticks and once got caught in a fox trap (not ours!!)

As I followed my husband (him pulling the orange, plastic sled that carried Hendrix and myself boot packing through very deep snow, with a shovel in each hand, I was so deeply moved by the intense beauty of Life, of our lives and of the lifestyles of Montanans. There is something magical about the depths we go to, to Live and Love in a region where the Winters can be so severe. Something magical about cross country skiing to our neighbors home, who just lost her daughter to shovel snow from her walk and deck. Something magical about seeing fireworks from our window last night as our other neighbors celebrated the New Year. Something magical about the first frost that takes the tomatoes of your dreams and leads you to ripe rosehips in the forest instead and something so magical about fresh buds on trees in Spring...a beauty that is gifted every year, yet seems so new every time!

So, I find myself grateful in a way I didn't expect today and awed by the Mystery of Life. I am leading private Kundalini meditations with a gentleman and he chose Kirtan Kriya as a 40 day personal meditation. The mantra is "Sa Ta Na Ma" which translates as "Infinity, Life, Death, Rebirth"...what an amazing cycle of a beautiful Great Mystery!

(p.s. On the raw food tip, the New Year has begun with an orange, a green smoothie and a yummy salad)

Raw Trail Mix & end of the year musings to come...

Yummy! Here is a big batch of my Raw Trail Mix. My husband always keeps a bag in his lunchbox (yes, he has a little cooler that he uses as a lunch box for his carpentry jobs!), I keep some at work for times I work longer than expected and then, of course for skiing and hiking! It has: dehydrated pears, apples and plums(harvested locally by me this fall), soaked and dehydrated pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and brazil nuts, coconut flakes and goji berries.

Two days ago was the 1 year anniversary of me starting this blog to document my journey. It has been rich...so much happens in a single year! My amigos and I are going away again to welcome in the New Year...a cabin in the middle of the frozen wilderness. I will be taking time to reflect on the past year in a nutshell and goals for the next-I look forward to sharing these musings with you early next week. Until then, Happy New Year to you! May your heart be filled with Love and Light!!
XO, Kelly O :)
p.s. Remember New Year's Eve Day is the last day to get your 20% Holiday discount at the Raw Foods Super Store!

Raw Biscotti Recipe

Happy Holidays! I hope your holidays have been filled with lots of quality time with your loved ones and the True Spirit of the Season! My ma-in-law created this recipe in an off-shoot of the one taught to her at the Tree of Life in Patagonia, Arizona. It is delicious and not too rich because you use nut pulp leftover from making nut mylk rather than ground nuts. Enjoy and thanks to Nadine for the yummy recipe and tasters!

Raw Biscotti

3 cups leftover nut pulp
1.5 cups Truly Raw Carob Powder
1/4 raw Cacao Powder
6 dates (soaked in 1/3 cup water and mushed well)
3/4 cup ground coconut
1 cup whole hazelnuts

Knead together, shape like a loaf and Dehydrate. Slice and return to dehydrator until done to your liking. XOXO!!

Raw Food 20% OFF!!

I almost forgot! Matt Monarch is offering an awesome discount, which is valid thru Dec 31! Just click on the Raw Food World Super Store logo above my photo to the right and type HOLIDAY in the coupon code. Enjoy!! Here's the info from Matt:

20% HOLIDAY Coupon Code - on ANY SIZE ORDER!!!

Never, have I seen more orders placed at www.TheRawFoodWorld.com, like this past week since we put the 20% HOLIDAY discount code out.

Only 7 Days Left to take advantage of this 20% HOLIDAY coupon code!!!

Just type in the coupon code - HOLIDAY - to receive 20% off any size order, excluding all appliances until December 31st.

The mark-up on all appliances is minimal and we would actually lose money if this coupon code was used for purchasing appliances. Unfortunately, we will have to refund any orders that contain appliances. However, that being said, if you want to get a rebounder, a slicer, or a Breville Juice Fountain, I will let the coupon code slide for those, as the mark-up is slightly higher on these products.

So please enjoy 20% off all your foods, books, superfoods. 'at-cost' specials, and any of our other non-appliance products.

Attitude of Gratittude and Smoothie tips!

Happy Coming of the Light...aka Winter Solstice!! This is such a special celebration each year, perhaps more so for us so far North! The darker days and deep snow nurture introspectrion, slowing down and family for us. It has been really cold up here lately and downhill skiing in negative temperatures sounds less attractive, so my Love and I have been having long weekends at home, cross country skiing from the house and doing things inside that we are so happy to get done, but get left behind on yummy, sunny days. Winter Solstice represents the Coming of Light, which means if you have a 9 to 5 job (which I don't), you will eventually see sunshine beyond working hours.
Last night, my good friend hosted a gathering at her house to celebrate. We shared good food (I thawed a gallon of apple cider from our tree) , shared poetry, intentions and quotes and topped it off with a "Sweat your Prayers" Ecstatic Dance! So Fun! I brought a quote from the owners of Cafe Gratitude on Abundance. As we gathered to share our words, I looked to see what the quote was on my Yogi Tea bag..."Gratitude is the open door to Abundance."- How incredibly appropriate! I am so grateful to have a loving family, work that is an honor to share with others, land that we can grow food on, and an amazing community to live in! My intention for the coming year is to be in an Attitude of Gratitude!
On the food note, I have been growing extra masses of sprouts since it's the only food we have growing on the property right now besides wild rose hips. I generally use a blend of clover, radish and fenugreek seeds. To add some veggies to my green smoothies (in addition to Spirulina and Vitamineral Greens), I have been adding a big handful of sprouts, a stalk or 2 of celery and a big pinch of ORGANIC ATLANTIC DULSE flakes. Dulse (a seaweed) is a good source of vegetable protein, iron, potassium, magnesium, iodine, chlorophyll, enzymes, Vitamin A, Vitamin B's, and dietary fiber. I also love to sprinkle it on top of my salads and most everything for a yummy savory flavor! Happy Holidays to you each and all!!!

Dome Greenhouse!!

Yahoo!! The Geodesic dome greenhouse is coming together!! It arrived just a few days before my road trip adventure and the guys have been working hard on it. This was what it looked like right when we got back. Isn't it beautiful?!

This is the inside with raised beds filled with top soil...a bit cold(completely frozen) at the moment!

The panels are getting put on quick, as there is snow and negative degree weather on it's way!

This is my love-it was wicked cold this weekend and we even ended up getting snowed in and stuck in our driveway because the wind created big snow drifts!

My love and our neighbors/good amigos who we are creating this project with...

Yahoo! We are so excited to be able to have this dome on our land and elated to begin planting! I will keep you updated! For more info on the domes, check out www.GrowingSpaces.com

Green Smoothies for Kids!

My mom and sister have jumped on the fabulous Green Smoothie train and my nephew loves it! While enjoying our morning ritual green smoothie of frozen berries, banana, Sun Warrior Protein powder, fresh greens, Vitamineral Greens, Organic Kelp and bee pollen, my nephew asks for more and more! The wide mouth mason jars make for fun green mustaches and it is a great reminder that children want to eat what the people they love are eating (plus, it's delicious!!) I feel so grateful that my family is open-minded to healthy living and adopting these beautiful practices in their lives! Keep up the great work and thank you for sharing it back with me!


Isn't he gorgeous?! Instead of the Gerber baby, he could be the Green Smoothie toddler!!