Black Life

Private Summers

by ladypbwiggins

It is hot here in Texas but it is what you would expect this time of year. Each day we check the temperature and we get two numbers: one is the actual temperature and the other is the “feels like” temperature. But there is a third temperature. It is felt by those who experience “private summers”, most commonly known as hot flashes.

I can only share what I’ve been told because I was blessed to only experience them for a couple of days and then they were very mild. So mild that I only realized what was happening when I had a crying, sobbing breakdown in the middle of a meeting at First 5 Riverside with about 20 other women. Fortunately that lasted only a day.

But back to private summers. Some women turn to pharmaceuticals, others just suffer through it but there is another choice. A natural, non-toxic relief is available. Young Living has several products that offer relief. I asked for referrals from the users and the results are

  1. Progessence Plus blend- serum- blend of bergamot, peppermint, Frankincense enhance progesterone skin penetration. Natural progesterone may help with several things including menapause symptoms.
  2. Sclaressence blend-supports the hormones
  3. Femigen – helps balance hormones- supplement capsules
  4. Clary Sage – affects hormonal system -single oil

There are several others but these were the ones championed the most, listed in the order of highest frequency.

Air conditioning and plenty of water can help the Texas heat and I offer potential relief from those “private summers.”

Click this link privatesummer

Foundations

by ladypbwiggins

Do you remember nursery school? Today they call it preschool. I do. The place: McKenzie Courts Center. The administrator/teacher: Mrs. Henderson. The first lovingly, strong academia influence in my life. She and her staff taught us skills to prepare us for elementary school. It wasn’t just the a,b,c’s, colors and numbers. When I left there I could read and write legibily. They taught us how to behave in social settings outside our home. They required our best in all areas. I never thought of that place as a place for poor, black kids. I never felt the sting of “separate but equal” unequal segregation. Jim Crow overshadowed this sanctuary, but I didn’t know it. I felt safe. Mrs. Henderson and company did that for us. I remember we ate, we slept, we played, we learned. But most of all we were respected and loved. You can’t get much richer than that:My Black Soil. My roots got stronger every day. I was a little kid enjoying life. I believe Mrs Henderson is enjoying a well-deserved rest in heaven. Thank you.

Black Soil Living

by ladypbwiggins

Oftentimes a change in direction or purpose is accompanied by a name change. This season in my life is no different. I am still interested in health and wellness for mind, body and spirit.

Follow me and please share my blog.

Blessed Beyond Abundantly

by ladypbwiggins

Forty-two years ago today I married my best friend who became my lover, my confident, my spiritual leader and the father of my children. We have had our experiences for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. We even had a “til death do we part’ moment followed by a resurrection. We enjoyed the mundane and the miracleous. We have had it all. A glorious ride.

Now we are entering year 43. I love you Carl Wiggins III. The ride continues. ♥♥♥♥♥

Death By Hair

by ladypbwiggins

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.

Raw Onion Rings

by ladypbwiggins

One of the dishes prepared by the Garden Kitchen was onion rings. I thought how hard could it be? Rawmazing had a recipe I chose to try. The directions called for a large sweet onion. Because I was trying this for the first time I used what I had on hand, a small onion. This will explain the size in the picture. I didn’t dredge it twice either as the recipe called for. This was a test run for flavor and dehydration time limit. The recipe uses almond pulp and almond milk. I recommend making your own almond milk and use the pulp left behind. That’s easy too. Homemade almond milk taste so much better than store bought. 

Onion Rings p,55

1 large sweet onion

4 cups almond milk

3/4 cup almond milk pulp, dehydrated

1 cup ground flax seeds, ground

1 Tbls smoked paprika

1/2 tsp ground chipotle

1/2 tsp Himalayan salt

Slice the onions and put in a container with the almond milk. Let it soak.

Dehydrate the pulp left from making the almond milk.

Place dehydrated almond pulp, ground flax seed, spices and salt in the food processor.

Separate the mixture into two batches. Dredge one batch at a time. Place the drained onions in one batch flax mixture. Dip in the milk again then back into the mixture.

Dehydrate at 115 degrees for 6-8 hours or until they are almost dry. The breading should be dry but the onions still moist.

20170429_134500 (1)

Eating Raw 2

by ladypbwiggins

This post was originally written in April at the beginning of my cooking raw journey. Each successive post will bring you closer to my present August experience.

I decided to go all in to this raw eating thing so I bought an inexpensive dehydrator and a raw food cookbook or should I say recipe book. As my very smart husband pointed out, others had tried and tested techniques and flavor combinations, why not take advantage of that. So I did. I was glad to know there were choices beyond salads.

In the following raw eating post I will share my experiences preparing the recipes in Rawmazing authored by Susan Powers. I will note any changes to her recipes to accommodate our taste just in case you decide to buy her book. Her directions are easy to follow and the pictures are vibrant. For the raw purest you will need to find substitutions for the oil. I used tahini and cashew butter(cream). Also, I used Dr. Montgomery’s book The Food Prescription Nutrition Guide

I had not used a dehydrator before and I didn’t know what to expect so I went for something simple. The first thing I tried were Ms. Post’s Kale Chips. It seemed simple enough. She has 3 versions. I chose version 2. The ingredients are garlic, thyme and oil. For the oil I substituted tahini. Mix those ingredients and set it aside. Cut the thick stems from the kale and tear the leaves into chip size pieces. Make sure all excess water is removed from the kale. Then dress the kale with the garlic mix . Put the pieces on the dehydrator trays. Don’t overlap. The suggested time dehydration time was 4-6 hours at 115 degrees. Because of the Houston humidity, it took 8 hours to crisp. My taste tester, hubby, was quite pleased. He wanted to eat them like potato chips.

If you don’t have a dehydrator pop them into your oven on a low heat, 120 degrees if possible. If you put it on a temperature higher than 170 degrees and some say 200 degrees, you will destroy all of the health benefits from eating raw; you will kill the enzymes.

I am so sorry that I don’t have a picture. I lost it somehow.

Kale Chips – Rawmazing p. 41

Dressing

3 Tbls olive oil (I substituted tahini.)

1 cloves garlic

1 tsp of dry thyme

Turn on the food processor or high powered blender. Drop the garlic, thyme and oil into it.

Place on dehydrator sheets and dehydrate 4-6 hours. More longer if you are in a humid area.

Eating Raw 1

by ladypbwiggins

Raw?!!! For how long? That was my initial reaction when told Carl had to go on a raw diet. We just got here and all my expectations to enjoy Cajun cooking especially gumbo went right out the window. How will I survive without my salmon and catfish? I asked again, “How long?” Dr. Montgomery calmly said 30 days. Okay, I can do that. It’s like a Daniel fast on steroids. Do we just eat salads and drink smoothies?, I asked. He said let me introduce you to our Garden Kitchen. He gave us samples of meals they had prepared. They weren’t bad.

The first 3 or 4 days Carl lost 40 lbs of fluid. This was causing heart failure. After that, weight decreased almost a pound a day for a week. We completed the 30 days. I was so excited that we would get to eat food. I saw a catfish dinner in my near future. When the doctor finished his examination he said 2 more weeks. I cried. Not because I couldn’t have it but because Carl couldn’t and I didn’t want to eat it in front of him. 

Forty-seven days later we were still eating raw . I must admit I cheated a few times with cooked beans and my son-in-law’s gumbo. Oh yes, I had a catfish dinner.

If this was going to be our life I had to learn raw meal preparations. That process is continuing.  More on that in Part 2 of Eating Raw.

We both have lost more weight and his heart is getting stronger. The detoxification process is not enjoyable. It would probably have been worse if we had not stopped eating red meat and chicken years ago. But the journey goes on and I will take you on it with us.