the belly chronicles

a poem for you

Sushi, shrines, and tea

The gypsies wander again

Two years in Japan

Yup, it's official. Well, that's not actually true. It's not official yet, but since I'm heading off in less than a week to find housing in Yokohama, Japan, it feels official.

Papa-san has an opportunity through work, so we're all riding on his magic carpet to experience life on the other side of the world.

So, in case you were concerned that things have been a tad boring around here, no need to worry. I'll have some scenery and stories just for you!

vibrance!

It's been a long of week of resting at home. (Oh, is it only Wednesday?) But yesterday's sun drew us out for some old-fashioned autumn fun. What is better than a maple leaf pile, my friends?

In the spirit of the season, the chilly-warm-sunny-windy-rainy-snowy-cold-and-flu seaon, I wanted to share with you some of the ways we've been taking care of our immune systems and nursing ourselves when the bug has bitten.

First...We have cut out the sugar. I've observed it's our greatest immune system buster. I know that big, spooky day is right around the corner and ever since he got sick on Sunday, all Isaiah wants is to be "better by Halloween." But we're avoiding all the other Halloween-related events that will inevitably involve more sugar. And we'll welcome a visit by the Pumpkin Fairy who takes the children's  "leftover" candy and brings them their hearts' desire. It worked out so well last year.

For prevention:

• echinacea tincture (We're so lucky to have it growing prolifically in our garden, so we've been able to tincture up roots and leaves.)
  
• astragalus cooked in chicken soup (Great in a rice congee for recovery, as well.)
  
• vitamin C...now there's some chewable candy for you!

Once the bug is in house:

• inhalation steams with thyme oil (We run the shower and get the room all steamy, then bring the children in to steam and breathe.)
• elderberry and elderflower tincture and syrup
• Yin Qiao glycerite
  
• aconite and belladonna homeopathics when the fever strikes
• Lots of viewings of The Sound of Music

In general, we've also gotten back to really simple eating. Tonight I made steamed collard greens with balsamic vinegar and roasted potatoes and beets. Of course, no one was thrilled. "That's all there is?" Isaiah  took one look and whined, "I want something else." He insisted he wasn't eating dinner. He went to the fridge, looked around, wandered back to the table, and eventually had two helpings of each. I know the feeling, dude. My brain can easily convince me that I can subsist on coffee, ice cream, toast, and chocolate, but one bite of those greens and the connection is made. Body wisdom takes over.

I know this is a simple list. Truly our go-to remedies. I'd love to hear the things that really work for your family.

loving the cherries

We're in boxes, truly preparing to move on. My heart is full of memory, hope, reminisce. My belly is full of cherries and snap peas! Not only are they in the market and the store, they're in Blue Lake, in our back yard even. And, of course, we can't get enough of them. Our cheeks and lips are rouged.

I'm going to slow things down on this blog as I try to be present to the friends and feelings we have during this last week in California. Not that we rule out returning. We can't really imagine not returning. But for now, our destiny is elsewhere and we're trying to go with that flow.  I had my second growing up in northern California, with 12 years in San Francisco before this 5 years up north. I felt like I had a remedial education here, learning deep lessons of nature, food, healing, and community.

Our community here truly feels like home. Both of our children were born in this comfy house in our sweet neighborhood. Blue Lake will always be their home.  The view of their playroom from the loft...just beginning to be dismantled.

It's been a deep week here, with tragedy close to us, fires all around from a monster thunderstorm, and DEA agents swarming the county. So we appreciate these moments we have, full of life, right now.

summer revels

It's been a little crazy round here. My presentation for the California Society of Oriental Medicine is on Sunday in San Francisco, and I'm going to be away from the family for a few nights while I attend the conference, catch up with my colleagues, and introduce my work on healing disordered eating patterns while healing extended food systems in a 3-and-a-half hour class So, I'm jamming, surrounded by books, clinic notes, and texts while I organize my work into a cohesive whole. (And in spare moments I clean out the garage in preparation for our move.)

But this weekend we managed to sneak away for an entire Sunday to play at the sweet and lovely Southern Humboldt Summer Arts and Music Festival. And it was really summer there, a nice break for the coastal fog. You couldn't really wish for a nicer festival...great food, great kid zone and stage, excellent music (including our friends the Jujubes doing rocking versions of toddler faves), walking across the Eel River, and even finally getting a wedding present for some friends who got married 2 (3?) years ago.

So I'll just share these pictures for now, keep my nose to the grindstone, and tell you that we are soaking up every breath of this California air, trying to fathom our near future and to trust in our gypsy lives.