Liberty Loop

I had a nice dog walk out at the loop. Lots of birds including two Harriers and dozens of tree swallows. I found my first monarch Caterpillar.

Native American Trail Marker Tree

This tree is next to a trail I hike often.  I recently read an article about Native American Trail Marker Trees.  Through out North America and Canada these trees can be found.  Naive Americans bent young trees and tied them down with leather straps,  and then used them as a marking system to denote places where there was good food, water or safe hiking routes. 

Grateful heart

There just aren't enough words to express how incredibly grateful I am to the Universe for feeling better.  The rug was pulled out from under me almost 12 weeks ago.  I now know how debilitating it is to be sick, to not want to see anyone and not feel happy for months at a time.  I have compete sympathy for those that have any sort of illness that takes them out of life.  I have felt ecstatic the last couple of days.  I feel like ME and its wonderful!  I see my part in my illness and I am forever changed.  I will safe guard my health from now on.  I am also now on the quest to get back in shape.  I have visions of snowboarding and mountain biking again!  I will also do a backpacking trip this Fall.  I'm back, try and keep me down!   Shhhh don't tell my hubby yet, this is going to be a great surprise for him!   I am doing this.....I want to live life fully again! 

It's time once again.....

I will be staying off line again for a bit to start my new life.  I have lots of plans that need my total attention. 

1. Hawk Watch & Fall birding!
2. Let the cleaning out of my home and simplifying begin!  I can't wait! 
3. 30 Day Sit Spot Challenge (start day August 24th) 30 minutes each day @ my pond.
4. Time to work out again, I'm ready!  

Bucket List

1. Build our own home
2. Trip to Africa
3. Trip to Hawaii
4. CRESLI 2 day Whale/Pelagic trip
5. Go to camp! Hog Island Audubon Camp in Maine
6. River of Raptors in Veracruz Mexico
7. See Sea Turtles lay eggs and hatchlings take to the sea
8. Swim with Wild Dolphins
9. See every species of whale in the wild.  
10. Attend Black Bear Field Study with Lynn Rogers in Ely MN

Empty Nest

My job as a mom is now coming to a rapid close.  For the first time in 28 years we will have an *empty nest*.  I've had a great time with my boys, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.  They are my favorite people on earth.  I'm so proud of each one of them, all living by their own lights.  The house is soon to be way too quiet and I will have lots more free time.  I will forever miss the chaos, fun and laughter. I will miss cooking for an army.  I will even miss the constant mess.  Time to work on me, get myself back to 100% and get back to immersion in nature, my passion.  My life is my own again and there is a bucket list to start working on.   I will be forever grateful to the universe for entrusting me with these four amazing souls to raise and then set free to go on and do incredible things  with their lives.  There is nothing else I could have done in this life that would have been more important or satisfying then being their mom. It's been a gift so much larger then any I could have imagined for myself.

Thank you Jason~ Thank you~Derek~ Thank you Alec~Thank you Brad!

I've had the time of my life.  Now on to our future!   

Yum

I've been slowly recovering from Lyme disease.  One thing I've totally embraced is eating healthier.  It's become non-negotiable for me to to eat healthy 100% of the time.  I have not cheated even once in  the last two months, and honestly I could care less about unhealthy foods now!  Its becoming quite fun to see what I can prepare that is full of veggies and tastes amazing.  Today I created a cauliflower Pizza crust.  It can be made in the food dehydrator(for raw) or the oven.   I topped it with fresh garden tomatoes, basil, parsley and some roasted leeks.  It was delicious!  

Crust: 

1 medium head cauliflower, broken into florets, processed in the food processor then add and process again:

• 1/2 cup pine nuts
• 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
• 4 fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped or 1 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 cup golden ground flax meal
• 1/3 cup sunflower seeds 
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, softened
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan  salt
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper   
• Make 5 inch round pizzas and bake in 350 for about a 1/2 hour, flipping once or dehydrate for 5 hours at 125.  This makes enough for 4-5 small crusts.  

A few good hikes

I've been getting out there a bit more often, actually every day.  Even if it's for a quick walk in the early am with the pup.  Lots of great wildlife out and about.  The bird migration is upon us and there is always something to see. 

Wood Frog

There is always hope, Monarchs were all but wiped out again two years ago, and this year I'm seeing many!

Did the bear poop in the woods? Why yes, yes it did!

Tiny Grey Tree Frog, thumbnail size

Hiding on Milkweed

You can't see me.

Whale watching trip

I missed an incredible multi day whale watching trip off of Montauk Point. 51 hours on a ship with like minded people.  I haven't seen a full species list yet, but have seen pictures of humpbacks that were mind blowing.  Seeing the pictures made me very sad that I was unable to be well enough to go on my bucket list trip.  I have to look at the bright side, I am better, much better then I was a month ago.  By not going I had an excellent visit with my beloved Aunt and her BF who were visiting from FL.  I made them a special dinner and spent quality time with them.  I also had all my sons who are here in the states over for a family dinner, that is about to become a rare event.  And the icing on the cake.....I saw two different bears 2 days in a row!  Bears are my favorite animals besides dogs.  The second sighting was last night.  They all  took a second hike with me, as we were leaving the park there was a bear near the road foraging.  Just before seeing it, I had a premonition that we would and I was driving carefully and wondering if my future DIL had ever seen one.  And there it was!  I love when things like that happen. We watched it dig up a Yellow-jacket nest get stung and RUN!  At that moment I knew why I had come to the woods, it fills me up like nothing else.  

On the healing road, I feel much better if I get outside often.  I took 2 hikes yesterday and did great. Following my diet and moving forward.  I got this!

My backyard paradise.

Hanging in there.

I'm still struggling to get a handle on my life as it is right now.  I'm having good days and bad days.  I'm not a good sick person.  I've spent my life being basically healthy and when I've been sick I seek answers and treatments that have always worked.  This time around it's taking so long. It's been 9 weeks since I woke up in body hell.  I need to be appreciative of the good days and stay positive. There are times I feel like those around me think I'm making up how horrible I feel, as they all say you don't look sick. How do I get to a better place?

Yesterday I went out for a walk and immediately felt embraced and comforted by the forest, the peace that enveloped me was so soothing.  I know that despite how I feel, I must head back outside as often as possible in order to get well.  There are thousands of people who have done different protocols to heal from Lyme. Everyone has something different for me to try.  I'm so overwhelmed. I've read way too much and it has scared the living crap out of me.  Why isn't anyone in the medical world paying attention to this epidemic? Why hasn't anyone found more effective drugs to kill it?  There are far more people that I know who have had or have lyme then any other disease.   I'm going to try my best  NOT to read another thing about Lyme until I see my PA again in 2 week.  I'm going to continue on my prescribed meds, have bullet proof coffee in the morning, drink an enriched green drink with a grass powder and mushrooms.  Take the OTCs prescribed, Ibuprofen, Alka Seltzer Gold & Benedril.  Bone broth for lunch, fill it will cooked veggies and small amount of meat. Kimchi and Kraut as a side.  Take all my supplements after lunch. Dinner at least 3 different veggies and salad and small serving of meat.  Drink lots of water with lemon and lime and organic green tea. If I feel the need to eat between meals, fresh raw veggies and sprouts.  Detox baths everyday.  Walking in the forest every day with out fail. Staying outside for longer periods of time.  Sun. Yoga. And meditation. Only positive thoughts.   I will have an empty nest two weeks from today, I have the time to take care of ME.  I will beat this and I will be better then ever.