Kitten Has His Name

Gus Michael

Gus Michael Otto Sherin, to be exact.    Gus Michael reminds us of George Michael from “Arrested Development”.  We love how this name sounds and it seems to fit him well.  What a sunny beautiful day today.  We let him outside for a moment (we have a fenced in yard) with the other animals.  He ate grass, climbed a tree and threw up.  He is officially a cat.  And that was quite enough.

We are going to go hike on the top of the bluffs today.  Hope your weekend is good and beautiful.  Thanks for all your help finding Gus Michael’s name.  That was fun! Thank you!!

A Kind Meal, Made Lovingly

My new life of eating without lactose and nightshade because of sensitivity/allergy issues is an adventure.  My family has always been supportive of my choice to not eat animals (even tho they do once in a while) and have thoroughly enjoyed, even preferred vegetarian meals.  Jeff has always said faux meat/vegetable protein is way better tasting than animal meat.  I haven’t prepared meat in our home for many years. And we have loved the majority of meals I have prepared.

At the beginning of this week I found a recipe I was really excited about, as I am exploring as many new ways as possible to enjoy foods I can eat.

What I made was a stuffed squash recipe I found from the Moosewood Cookbook, 20 year edition.  I won’t post the recipe out of respect for copyright, but I will share what was in it.

I used 3 medium sized acorn squash and the stuffing consisted of organic brown rice, tart apples, oranges, garlic, cinnamon, honey, a little brown sugar and clove powder.

Unfortunately, my husband and daughter did not like it at all.  Jeff really couldn’t stomach the oranges in it particularly.  Oh well.  So it became lunch for me this week.  I loved it!  Yet, I really don’t want to eat solo at home all the time.  I really enjoy sharing a meal with our little family.

Try, try again, so last night I found another recipe from the Moosewood cookbook that we all enjoyed.  Hooray!

It was a version of pasta primavera.

I used lemon parsley pasta, some whole grain pasta, kale, string beans, garlic, pepper, salt, italian seasonings, fresh parsley, oil and crimini mushrooms.  Jeff and Samara topped theirs with parmesan cheese and I topped mine with faux parmesan cheese (a recipe I found in the 10th anniversary edition of How It All Vegan).

We all thought it was delicious. Samara didn’t like the parsley, but all else was success. Yes!

Here it is:

All organic, veggies local and organic apple juice…mmmmmm!

We are thankful for such goodness.

Eating like a Vegan and without nightshade vegetables.

Yum!

Gus or Mike???

Our new kitten, who we named Gus, does not know his name yet, and now we are considering naming him Mike (Michael).  He really looks like a Mike and seems to respond to this name more than Gus.  We really like the name Gus, perhaps it could be his middle name?  What do you think?

 

Every time I say Mike or Michael, he responds now.  With Gus, he acts like I am not even remotely talking to him.  Hmmmmmm…

Well, I just called him to me, saying, “Mike!  Michael…”  And he came running to me, the first time he has ever done so.  Curious.

I Got the Flu and It Offered Me The Chance To Get Healthier!

I would rather call myself a humane-itarian than a Vegetarian or a Vegan, simply because I am not sure where or how I fit into these categories.  I am not a strict anything, except, I am strict in seeking to eat and live in a way that is as gentle to the earth and animals as I can be each day.  There is never a day that is pure success or pure fail.  Rather, I feel I am doing the best I can.  And relationships are far more important to me than perfection.

If I don’t live up to a certain expectation, I still know that the many ways I choose to not support factory farms, cruel animal testing and agricultural pollution each day, is no small thing. Any one person doing this is having a great positive impact for life.

Up to a few months ago I lived as a kind of vegetarian, I suppose.  I didn’t eat any farm animals, I ate some fish and tried to eat only eggs, yogurt and cheese that were organic certified.  Sometimes, I would eat fried rice that did not have organic eggs.

About two months ago, my daughter and I caught the flu.  Whether it was the swine (H1N1) flu or not, I have no idea.  People assume so, because so many have been ill before the regular flu season has even begun. Mine started with an aura migraine (never had one before!) then proceeded into a respiratory flu that lasted for a week with a fever.  Same with my daughter, though her fever was higher, as hers usually are.

One thing that really got me through the flu was drinking 2-3 Tablespoons of Bragg’s organic apple cider vinegar in 6-8 oz. of water with some honey or maple syrup.  I drank this twice a day while I was ill.  I could feel it going right to the virus.  It soothed my throat and my stomach.  My husband doesn’t like it, but I feel it was key to helping me recover.  I also have used this to soothe indigestion and it works right away.  That along with gargling with salt water are timeless ways to protect one’s health.  Well, that and a will to live!

I took the opportunity from being ill to do something that my doctor and others had suggested to me many times to do:  To isolate the foods I eat and determine what I am allergic to.

This is because I have allergy symptoms year-round:  skin reactions that are allergy and genetic based like, eczema and discoid dermatitis, as well as acid reflux (feeling of a lump in the throat, sore throat, ongoing indigestion) symptoms that have been going on for years.

The acid reflux symptoms alone have been an extremely uncomfortable issue for a long time now.  The flu helped me to start over and I stayed away from all dairy products and caffeine for a week.  In addition to no dairy and caffeine, I then began eating simple meals, so I could isolate foods that produced the symptoms I have been having.

Long story short, I found out that I have a sensitivity/allergy to nightshade vegetables.  I tried different forms and varieties (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant and all kinds of peppers-including paprika, chili powder and cayenne) and each time I had terrible acid reflux and my skin issues also flared, along with a flushed face.  After a week of no nightshade veggies, my skin became clear and healthy and no acid reflux!    I introduced a little cheese to see how that would be.  I experienced my allergy symptoms but not as severe as the nightshades.

Because my symptoms were so uncomfortable and troubling, I will no longer eat any form of nightshade.  I accidentally had some last week, from a peanut sauce that had peppers in it.  It only affirmed what I had discovered.  Nightshades have been making me ill.

I am also steering clear of dairy.  I never have liked or used butter or milk.  I love Earth Balance margarines and oat, rice and almond milks.  Cheese has been something I enjoy, and I may still have a bit here and there, but I won’t be purchasing it like I was.  Organic Yogurt I will have once in a blue moon possibly, am not sure yet about that.

So…..I suddenly find myself eating Vegan meals with the added restriction of no nightshades.  There is some grieving involved, as I live in an area that does not, or barely supports Vegan living.   If our Food Co-op wasn’t here, it would be so incredibly difficult.  People live on nightshades here!   Luckily, I enjoy being creative and making my own delicious, organic, local meals.

The other part of this is that, if my daughter or husband wants to eat eggs or fish, I will find sustainable or organic ones and offer that once in a while, and I may or may not eat them as well, I don’t know yet.  I feel really good and healthy and happy this way — the way I am now, eating Vegan-like sans nightshade.  Eating garlic, ginger, fresh vegetables and fruit, drinking green tea and white tea, is such an incredible blessing.  Just preparing the meals is zen for me.  Bliss.

Another thing I learned in my search to heal the acid reflux was that eating foods that are less acidic, that are more alkaline, help one’s general health.  Acidic foods exacerbate illness.  Along with seeking to find balance and healing, in recovering from an acidic diet, I found drinking organic aloe vera juice mixed with apple juice once a day for a month and 1/2 was soothing and healing for my stomach and intestines, as well as my whole being.  (I also avoid corn syrup in foods and drinks.)

I do miss tomato sauce and tomato soup.  There are also many things I cannot purchase now, because paprika is in it or just “spices” is listed and that means paprika is probably included.  But, I have found that sweet potatoes are so much more awesome than potatoes, and they are not related.  And there are ways to get spicy without using peppers.    Ginger, garlic, pepper (from peppercorn, not peppers), onions and cilantro are all wonderful foods I can enjoy.

Also, instead of making tomato sauce I can make mushroom sauce or do a garlic and vegetables stir fry to go with the pasta.  Also, “How It All Vegan”  cookbook has shown me many ways to make homemade faux cheese, eggs and many other wonderful ideas that I can translate into my dietary needs.

The challenging part of this is that I can no longer go out to eat casually, or look to bond with friends and family through meals at their place or by eating out.  Even our Food Co-op’s restaurant offers few Vegan options and the ones they do, use all nightshade veggies. At the same time, I am sure people will understand, and whether they do or not, I will be taking care of my own health.

I feel like I am filled with lots of light and positive energy especially now, as I have eliminated some of the sources that were causing me to feel ill.  This illness was bringing me down.  I had avoided looking for a food allergy for so long because I didn’t want to be any more different from everyone than I already am, and it was inconvenient.

Now, I am so glad I got the flu and was so run down for an entire week……..I grasped the opportunity, the chance to actively seek health and balance because of it.  This was something that no one else could do for me.  The results were important.  There is some loss and a lot of gain involved.  It isn’t always easy being green, as Kermit taught us long ago….    But once your health is given back to you, and thru your choices you maintain it, then, what was hard or inconvenient becomes life giving and rebirth is at hand.

Who knew that the flu could make you healthier?

Moonseeds is Two Years Old Today…Call for Sacred Stories!

Two years ago this blog was born of a soul deep need for compassionate action surrounding the vortex of plastic pollution that is threatening and killing much life in the oceans and beyond.  Through these two years I have come to realize more and more that our commitment to be conscious and present in the now creates miracles and new opportunities for both healing and creative solutions.

These two years have culminated with me sharing the sacred stories of the animals in our family and how they came to be family.  This highlights something else I have understood more deeply.  In the ordinary, if we are patient and attentive and peer closely, listening deeply, we find…….nothing is ordinary.  All is miracle.  Life is miracle.

Submit Your Sacred Animal Story to Moonseeds for the Month of November:

In honor of this blog being born two years ago today, I am asking that you submit a sacred story you have in relationship to animals and/or nature.  How has an animal or animals changed and healed your life?  How has nature brought healing and the Sacred to your life?  How have you witnessed animals and/or nature being healed and growing in love?  Sharing these stories is life affirming and can create yet more love and goodness.  Love only grows!

Sharing your sacred story with others creates the opportunity for us to open our hearts in listening and be changed by the power of the love and healing sealed in the telling.

I will welcome stories to be submitted to this blog for the month of November.   I would be honored.

Please submit your stories to:  cssherin@gmail.com

I will email you with confirmation and then post your story to my blog, which is also shared on Twitter and Facebook.

Thank you!

with love, gratitude and namaste

Chandra S. Sherin

“Ch-ch-ch-Changes”, Anniversaries, Submit Sacred Stories & Meet our new kitten, Gus

I love Bowie!  and how many times has this song come to mind for so many of us??  Many a time…..many a time.  Now is such a time.

Many changes going on within us, around us, everywhere.

One big change in my household:  This past Saturday we adopted a kitten!!  I will introduce him in a moment, first a few announcements.  This weekend marks 13 years since my husband and I started dating. Yay!   And another milestone:

Tomorrow is the 2nd anniversary of this blog!  That is exciting.  I am thrilled.  This blog has been such a gift.  What started out as a heart wrenching attempt to reach out about the plastic pollution crisis in the oceans has grown into a many faceted journey of expression and connections.  I am so thankful for all the hope, generation and networking this blog has given.

The last three posts here have introduced you to our two cats and dog.  I have also written about our fish Clara before.  You can read about her here -Clara has a beautiful little story that gives evidence to fish having compassion.

Animals, nature, rocks…these are parts of life that have inspired, supported and nourished me throughout life.  They are precious to me.  There were times in life when I really didn’t like or love most people.  As one of my friends keenly observed, animals, and my love and connection to them, have been my doorway to loving humanity.  I think their stories are important.  Stories are sacred and a good story can bring about so much positive change.

Now, at the threshold of many changes and new beginnings, I want to honor those basic connections that are so dear to me, us.  Hearing stories of love growing and healing people and animals is an instant pack of love and joy for all.  This is what I am looking for:

If you have a story you want to share, I would be happy and honored to have you submit it to my email: cssherin@gmail.com and I will post it here on my blog.  I would be interested in stories of animals and their connection to you.  Poems would also be welcome.

I will post about this again tomorrow for the anniversary.

Lastly, we have a new family member in our home.  We, once again, have three cats!  This came as a complete surprise to us.  Jeff and I went to look at antiques, as we often do on Saturdays while Samara is at her knitting lesson.  The antique shop we visited is owned by a person who gives foster care to cats as a part of the no kill shelter, Tabby Town USA, based in West Salem, WI.  We were not thinking about cats when we browsed the store, that is for sure!

Jeff found a 50’s style glass that he wanted and we were about to leave, when out of nowhere (!) a kitten appeared before us.  The sight of him stopped us in our tracks.  I really think we both fell in love with him at exactly the same time!  His paws looked so big for his body, and he has funny long hairs sticking out of his ears that make us think of Yoda, and his face is so expressive.  I stooped to pet him and he climbed right into my lap, stretching out both his paws to rest on my heart.  He then cuddled in a ball and started playing with my jacket.

Oh dear, Jeff and I both expressed to each other how cute he is!  how much we like him…we looked at each other and I said, “Ok, I found what I want.”  Jeff said, “Yeah, let’s go tell her we’ll take the glass and the cat.”  We chuckled.

Next thing we knew, that is exactly what we did.  I was really impressed that Tabby Town USA includes with their adoption fee, neutering/spaying, vaccines and a wellness check, all for $95.00.  It is expensive getting an animal and providing for that animal, especially initially.  So that deal is really a helpful one.

Poor Abigail, Boris and Miss Honey are now thrown into change in a big way!  Boris and Abigail are pretty darned angry.  Miss Honey is ok with Gus, but we still have to take it slow.  Gus is only four months old.  He is small and quite playful.  He loves relating to people, other animals and loves to cuddle.  Abi and Boris liked things the way they were.  They don’t like the new smells.  They don’t like a room being closed off from them, especially a bedroom.  I am keeping them separate, giving everyone time to adapt and adjust.  It is a lot of shuffling, a lot of feelings and details to keep track of.  I have been so forgetful in the midst of all this change.  And I have also felt such a great love for all life in the midst of this.  I am sure that in time when all the new-ness wears away, new stories will unfold and love will continue to grow.

Here is our kitty, Gus:

He looks like he could be Boris and Abigail’s child!

This is the face we couldn’t resist.  Heart breaker.

Gus seemed content, peaceful, happy from the moment he came home with us.  We have never had such a whirlwind of love grab hold of us like this.  Usually we are preparing, planning and discussing before making such a big decision.  Wow.

Gus-Gus

Miss Honey: My Sweet Teacher, Mighty Healer

Miss Honey is a sweet teacher for me and a wonderful friend.  Dogs are joy.  When I see a dog, I smile.  I have to.  They are living in the moment with enthusiasm and sweet intensity.  People always note how loyal dogs are.  Of course this is true and endearing.  I just had never experienced the depth of a dog’s loyalty until I met Miss Honey.

It was the end of 2004.  I was longing for a dog.  Boris also wanted a dog.  I could tell.  Some cats are dog-like cats.  They play fetch, they like dogs.  Boris is such a cat.  I knew that having a dog, the right dog, would please and fascinate him.

I hadn’t had a dog in my family life since high school.  My father in law had a dog (always had dogs-a dog saved his life early on), and that only fueled my heart’s longing to befriend one to our home.  The obstacle was Jeff, my husband.  He loves dogs.  He adores them even.  He had a dog growing up who was so special to him, who was his companion.  The loyalty was for each other and no other.  Gomer was his name.  He was part Chihauhua and part Welsh Corgi.  I have seen pictures, and in each one, he is never far from Jeff. The obstacle was, Jeff had lost Gomer after a long life, and he never really felt he could open up his heart again.

It came to be that my longing for a dog was greater than Jeff’s resistance.  I began looking online at shelters, searching for the dog who belonged with us.  I told Jeff I would be in charge of the dog’s care and every bit that goes with it.  He made clear that he would have no part in it.

By June of 2005, I found two dogs online at the county shelter in Sparta who I felt a possible connection to.  One was a little pug mix named Buzz and the other was a beagle mix named Summer.  I showed Samara and Jeff the pictures and they agreed that they were cute and a good size for our family.  Jeff especially thought Summer was adorable, but with a guarded sort of appreciation.

Samara and I drove out to the county shelter.  I hadn’t even known there was one.   A tiny concrete building just off the freeway – the shelter was just barely sheltering all the dogs there.  What a sad place it is.  The two people working there clearly care for animals and they were eager to introduce us to Buzz and Summer.  As I looked back into the kennel area I saw a gorgeous sweet tempered Husky in the first kennel.  My heart went to her and to all of them.  It is heartbreaking.  I pray for them all the time.

Buzz came out first, well named in this case, as we never actually saw his face.  It was a blur as he spun around the room in tight excited circles.  I knew we would never have a compatibility with such a wound up guy.  The cats would never recover.   Then out came Summer, a name that the shelter gave her.  She walked in the room slowly and looked at the people working there.  I thought how she was just the right size for us.  She walked up to me then and lowered her head down against my legs.  I spoke with the people as I held her head and rubbed her satiny ears.

She had been brought in by people who had found her at the Tomah golf course.  She was wandering around there.  Though the person reminded me, these stories are just stories, as sometimes people surrender animals without admitting that is what they are doing.   At any rate, Samara and I knew she was the one.  They told me since she had just been found, we would have to wait two weeks, in case someone would claim her.  Also, she informed me, whoever got here first on that day would be the one adopting.  They have no screening and no preference for adopters.  This frightened me, so I already was planning how I would be the first to arrive on her first adoption day.  I asked when they open, they answered, 6:30 am.  Since I live about 40 minutes away, an early morning awaited me in two weeks time.  As I moved to leave, the dog called Summer tried to leave with me.  I told her that I would return for her as soon as possible.  It was hard leaving that day.

My birthday week that July included me going to get our dog.  The best birthday present of all time.  We named her Miss Honey after the sweet teacher in the book and movie, “Matilda”.  What we noticed about her right away, was that she has the prettiest white eye lashes, and the Beagle traits of singing, dancing, crooning and sighing when she is feeling good.

We found out that Miss Honey had some serious health issues.  She came to us with Lyme’s disease and with large and small stones in her bladder.  She needed to have surgery asap.  The doctors said it was a bad case, with one large stone that filled the bladder and small ones that equaled the big stone.  The vet said that the kind of bladder problem she had comes from not being able to fully empty her bladder and then contracting a urinary tract infection that was never treated.  We had discovered her illness because she was incontinent on our carpet.  We imagined that whoever had her before, had abandoned her because of this issue.

In addition to recovering from these illnesses, we discovered that Miss Honey did not know how to play, is terrified she will be abandoned whenever she is in a car and is deeply threatened by other dogs.

Miss Honey healed well.  I taught her how to play, by getting down on the floor in the dog’s universal play position, and beginning with her, in gentleness and joy – showing her it is ok, and how to begin to have fun.  She still gets self conscious once she has played for a while and starts licking her arm obsessively, yet she initiates play now and enjoys it so much.

When I began caring for Miss Honey, and began those first walks with her, I felt my soul rise up for joy.  It has been so healing to have a dog in my life again.  If I were to give tribute to all elements that have contributed to my empowerment, health, spirituality and healing, this sweet dog, Miss Honey, would have to be given a great portion.  And it doesn’t end there.

Remember Jeff and his unwillingness to open his heart to another dog?  Well, after 3 months of me taking responsibility for everything, and after he witnessed how Honey has complete loyalty for me, something deep within Jeff shifted.  Maybe it began when we were in a large field and I went across the field, and he and Samara held Honey until I waved my hands in the distance.  As they let go of Honey she raced to me at full tilt, wanting only to be at my side.  Jeff loves to see this!  He loves to witness the love Honey has for just me.  I have never had this before.  Perhaps our bond gave Jeff room to feel more, without it edging in on Gomer’s place in his heart.

One day, I walked into the living room and found Jeff laying on the floor by Miss Honey, playing with her, and just the faintest hint of tears were in his eyes.  It was on this day that I knew Jeff had opened his heart again.  From that time on, we have shared the care for Honey equally, and Jeff has since told me that he wants to always have a dog in his life.

Boris loves Miss Honey.  Miss Honey found a friend.