I have changed my home page to my current post. ai think it will be easier for visitors to access my random thoughts and I will get a better awareness of the actual visitors and viewers. I hope it will also increase the number of comments. I would really like to hear your thoughts on the different posts.
Hope to hear from you soon. Enjoy your life. Live it.
When I was a small child my hair in all its nappy glory refused to grow. My grandmothers made it their mission to get it growing. Modear used every concoction circulated in our community. One such solution was Vaseline and mange treatment. I guess the thought was it made the hair on dogs regrow after suffering from mange so why not my hair. Oh it stunk. It didn’t smell, it stunk. My other grandmother, Muh, plaited my hair so tight it felt like she was pulling it out of my scalp. With all that my hair was never longer than shoulder length. The genetic make-up that I shared with 3 of my cousins gave them long, thick hair and I got the legs. I was jealous, Then.
After high school I wore it short and natural. I occasionally permed it. The last time I did, was THE last time.
After I got married my husband requested that I let my hair grow. I don’t know why because it was short when he met and married me. When I say short I mean 1 to 2 inches long. For me 3 inches was long hair. 😊 We made a deal. As long as he did not shave off his beard I would not cut my hair that short. About 25 years ago I decided we would try dreadlocks. I told him if this didn’t work, I was cutting my hair. He said okay. I kept it about shoulder length. Five years ago I didn’t get my annual spring time cut because the person who normally cut it was lying in a hospital bed. As my hair grew, my curiosity grew. How long can I let it get before I get tired of it. Here we are approaching the cut day. Why?, you ask. I dreamt I was being strangled. I awoke suddenly to find my hair wrapped tightly around my neck. My first thought, My hair is trying to kill me.
I never thought I would have hair this long. I never thought I would let it get this long. Cut day is drawing nigh.
It turned on me and it has got to go.
When I was a meat eater, I used to wonder how a person could be a vegan and obese. Those terms seemed to be contradictory but it can happen. My ignorance has been corrected. I am vegan. That is the healthiest choice I have made in my life. But… I discovered this past holiday season that the weight I lost could easily be regained. How?, you say. Too many carbs, too much processed vegan and too much sugar. Oh yeah, the occasional cheating with non-vegan baked goods. Apparently, I succumbed to the muffin and cookie trap.
I also discovered it is harder to give up white sugar sweetened products after renewing that love affair. Had to go cold turkey. The mental withdrawals are worse than the physical. I now have to renew my mind, get back in the kitchen to make my own “meats” and sweet treats. The purchased “meats and cheeses” must be used in moderation.
So to those who wonder why you can’t lose weight on a vegan eating plan check what you are eating. Balance of carbs and veggies is important. More veggies, fewer carbs; Eliminate white flour and white rice. Don’t get sucked in to your weakness with just a little taste.
Sometimes I find myself questioning God about Carl’s healing. I know without a doubt that he answered my prayer that fateful night quickly and clearly. He confirmed it every step of the way in the hospitals and rehab through nurses, speech therapists and Carl’s progress. Yet, here we are almost 4 years later and there are still areas that are not completely healed. The brain trauma due to a lack of oxygen caused by the several episodes of ventricular tachycardia still affects his memory sometimes. He says it’s like being in a fog and when it clears he remembers. I guess I didn’t think it would take this long. I asked God why was it taking so long? Was I doing something to slow down the progress?
One day while reading Exodus, I believe I received my answer. In Exodus 13:17,18 God says He led the people along the path of the Red Sea rather than the short route through the Wilderness of Sin because the wilderness took them through the land of the Philistines. The Philistines were large in size and proficient in war.
So it happened, when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearer; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war [that is, that there will be war], and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea; the sons of Israel went up in battle array (orderly ranks, marching formation) out of the land of Egypt.
EXODUS 13:17-18 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/exo.13.17-18.AMP
It jumped off the page. He didn’t choose the shortest route. They were not ready for what they might encounter. Think about it. They had not needed to war for 430 years. Egypt handled that. He took them the long way so that they could learn.
More questions. What had I not learned? I realized maybe it wasn’t about me. Maybe there was more for Carl to learn; maybe for us to learn together. Hmmm…
Thank you Lord for “the long way ’round.”
I have been away for a while. I had too many random thoughts that it just tired me out or so I thought. Actually, I was just overwhelmed with life obligations and my brain and body refused to do anything that was not absolutely necessary. I couldn’t organize my thoughts. My randomness was random. I realized one morning that I was suffering from a mild depression. It’s interesting how it can just sneak up on you. I’m fine now. Life is good. So much I want to do and share. More random thoughts are coming.
Why can all other people groups be considered professional looking with whatever hairstyle they choose to wear. Why do we have to apply chemicals and heat to our natural texture to be accepted professionally. The message you are sending is, “no matter how educated or experienced you are, no matter how qualified you are, if your hair doesn’t imitate white European texture to help me overlook your black skin you are not good enough.” Of course those aren’t the words used. You speak in code, i.e., you don’t look professional. Well, I went through this over 40 years ago. Many have proven that their professionalism has nothing to do with their hair texture. It is a product of character and hard work. So just be honest. It’s not professionalism, it’s not white, it’s not straight. I remember the uproar about cornrows in the workplace. Then Bo Derrick sports them in the movie Ten and suddenly it was acceptable. She was a beautiful, white model and actress. I will leave that right there.
My real issue is with “educators” who demean black students during an already vulnerable stage in their lives. Their image of themselves is critical for developing a good mental attitude and that affects academic success. Some choose to chemically or heat relax and that’s okay. What should be equally okay are those who choose to keep the texture with which they were born. Good grooming should be expected and that’s it. Additionally, hairstyles reflect creativity. Creativity requires thinking. Is that what you fear? Thinking black people, especially kids? Embrace them and their uniqueness. When students feel respected and accepted, behavior and production improve.
I invite you to read this Time Magazine article for more incite. http://amp.timeinc.net/time/4909898/black-hair-discrimination-ignorance
You may be denying yourself the experience of greatness shown by your students.
Waking up to the news that this weekend gas prices could rise to $5 a gallon was just another thing that made me wonder how great we will become. There are other things that make me question like the treatment of people of color, but this affects everyone. E-ve-ry-one. If this rise happens and continues through the summer we will experience
Okay now I am getting depressed. Can someone please tell me how this direction is making us great? Our allies feel betrayed. Large consumer markets are in jeopardy like China. I have a lot of smart friends. Can you help me see it please?
Three tasty uses from a big mistake.
How hard could it be? It’s just a form of soybeans. #Tofu. It’s all about tofu. I found a recipe on #Pinterest. It was simple. That was weeks ago. So on Saturday I went to the #99RanchMarket to get some hoisin sauce and I ran across a bag of dry soybeans. I thought now is the time for tofu. On Tuesday I cooked the soybeans in my #PowerPressureCooker. I pureed 1/2 the batch. After all this is an experiment. I added lemon juice from a whole lemon and a little white vinegar so it would kurd. A few bubbles formed but no curds.
What did I do wrong? I didn’t re-read the instructions!
I wasn’tsuppose to cook the soybeans first, so now what? What can I do with this slightly fermented soybean puree?
Those ideas worked so well I am anxious to use the rest of the bean puree in desserts and meat substitutes.
Follow me on this vegan journey.
Tofu next time.
Recently I had a craving for good Chinese Lo Mien. I found a restaurant that does not use MSG. I tried it. It seemed very oily to me. Disappointed. I decided to give them a second try after discussing the oil quantity with the restaurant. They explained how they prepared the lo me in and that much of what I thought was oil was a combination of a small amount of oil and Hoisin sauce.
I am now on a quest to adapt good Asian recipes to our dietary requirements. I am beginning with Thai and Chinese. The resulting dish must be vegan, gluten-free, and oil-free. I welcome all your authenic tried and true suggestions or recipes.
The struggle continues to find substitutes for oil that works in my food. I finally succeeded with my waffles. I have tried pureed applesauce with no success. Tried a blend of pureed applesauce and avocado. That was better but not quite right. Saturday I decided to try just pureed avocado. Success! I added this to my vegan, gluten-free mixture and found success.
Now I will try this with my cornbread. Southern upbringing requires good cornbread. Anyone out there with a good cornbread recipe? Biscuits? Not sure I’m ready for green biscuits.
We Keep The Feast and Observe Sabbath!
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Beauty, Reviews, Swatches, Baking
by David Guerrieri
Herbal Academy
Eating Gluten Free Never Tasted So Good!
Just your average PhD student using the internet to enhance their CV
"Black Soil" Living 