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.

Time to fill the glass!

So much for spending most of my Summer outside and shunning social media and tv.  Being so sick changed all that. With Lyme it affects your brain, you have brain fog and it's nearly impossible to concentrate enough to read anything with any depth.  The last few days I've had some good clear hours.  I ordered a couple of books from the library and my plan is to get off social media again, and try my best to get outside more.  There are 50 days left to the Summer of 2015.  I'm going to make a Summer for myself! Even if it's just outside in my beautiful nature filled backyard and short hikes up in the parks.  I continue on my recovery path, sticking to everything 1000%.  I did have to cancel the Whale Watching trip.  I'm not well enough to go.  I will go, just not this year. 

Good food.

I'm beginning to enjoy taking good care of myself.  I'm feeling well enough to enjoy the delicious healthy foods that I've been taking the time to prepare for myself.  I realize just how lucky I am to have the time and the funds to get the healthiest foods I can buy to help me on my healing path.  This morning I did my first project since this all started back on June 14th.  I am grateful to finally be feeling better.  It feels like a miracle after feeling so badly for so long. 

Green drink made into cold soup

Kim-chi and Kraut for the gut

Delicious lunch

YUM!

It's been a rough 6 weeks, but I feel like I'm coming up for air now.  I started with a new health care person.  She is a Lyme expert.  She put me on 4 new medications.  I am to drink only Green Tea and Water with Lemon and Lime. I am also on the Alkalizing diet plus a little meat or fish.  Nothing else but vegetables.  I'm embracing it whole heatedly.  I want to be well.   Now to get back outside on a daily basis, no matter what!  I start a Yoga class soon too.  I am kicking this Lyme to the curb! 

Can't bare it.....

The Blackbirds are already gathering in large noisy flocks.  I can't believe were are already to that point of the year!  The Summer is whizzing by with out me!  I am feeling a little bit better each day.  I got this....I am going to be 1000% and fitter then ever before!  

Make the best of it.

Seems I may be sicker then I first imagined. I had an EKG yesterday and it was not good. Next stop  is the cardiologist. I am not allowed to stress myself until I know what is going on. Which means, no hiking, no strenuous anything.   No walking outside alone. Today is perhaps the most glorious day of this year and I can't go out to hike. It is simply magical out, no humidity and sunny.  My 3 sweet backyard deer showed up to brighten my morning.  Nature is everywhere if you only open your eyes and take it all in.  Even the tiniest blade of grass has something for us to see.  I am grateful for my beautiful backyard, it will stand in for my nature fix as I recover.   I will get back  out there, just not now! This has been a wake up call, that the damn phone keeps ringing!  Pay attention! HEALTH IS EVERYTHING!  If you have it, you are beyond blessed, never take it for granted even for a second.  Do all you can to protect it.  I didn't realize this until now, I was so full of BS.  I get it now! 

Nature helps

I feel better when I'm outside.  I can only imagine it must be better for me to breath fresh air and be in nature.  I've read way too much about Lyme Disease and need to STEP BACK from the computer.  It's all such depressing news.  My body didn't get this sick overnight...this was a long time coming, so I can't expect it to get well quickly either.  I must be patient and believe that I will once again feel great, but it will be on my bodies time table, not my minds!  I need to take life one moment at a time, enjoy the small things and not look for anything more then what is happening this moment. Ask myself, what do I need right now to feel better? What can I do to heal myself. I'm finally on the front burner. I feel a little better each day, that's is all that is important now.  I'm heading in the right direction.

I posted on my FB wall that 3 out of 4 of my sons are currently out of the country and that I'm doing really well.  A friend from across the pond wrote: They have a mother who walks among bears. They'll be fine.  I absolutely love it! I will take it one step further.....I walk among bears....I WILL BE FINE.

My poor swollen feet

A little slice of Heaven

Today.....

Today is the first time in a month that I feel like the world is coming back into focus.  Although I'm still wracked with pain and exhaustion my head feels clearer.  I enjoyed my peaceful walk with Monty.  Over the weekend, I did two hikes with hubby in the Co. Park, it's first time I've done any uphills in a month.  I'm on the upswing. When the fatigue and pain take over its time to lay down for a little while.  Rest~rest~rest and more rest.  

I have been waiting for the first bird to take a bath under the water falls in our newly redone pond, it finally happened yesterday, a Scarlet Tanager!  Now every time I look outside there are birds using it.

1 hour

I went for a one hour hike and with in the first 20 minutes I felt better then I had in days. I think for me, it's best I force myself to get up and outside daily and early if it's going to be hot outside.