Category Archives: This -n- That

Blogging for good health!, This -n- That

2019 – A Year In Review

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It’s going to be great to see reminders of 2020 blessings when I sit down for the New Year’s Eve Blessings Review less than twelve months from now.

Are you dropping slips of paper into your Blessings Jar for 2020 yet? See the post about that HERE.

Lacking a Blessings Jar to review 2019 activities, I decided to scroll through Fooktalk4you posts from this previous year.

As a result, I can share this past Year in Review:

The Purely Positive

We hit an all-time high last year! Twenty-six posts! That makes an average of one post every other week! The results of major life-changing events smoothed out to allow for a more consistent effort on my part.

Readership for Foodtalk4you is up. We started a welcome package for all new subscribers, and a thank you gift to all, including our first, original followers.

My business site, DeidreEdwards.com, was launched as a central location for information about Foodtalk4you, my books, and seminars.

Two additional books were published – under one cover – as Toolkit for Caregivers. Readers are finding the tips, skills, and ideas to be just what they need as they traverse the often-troubled waters of being a caregiver to a loved one.

Agencies and resources were contacted that could help spread the word about Caregiver Workshops to those who need it.  Very soon, a presentation was given to a group of Stephen Ministers to help give them insight into caregiver’s emotional concerns and how they might help them address those needs.

My first live TV interview was a success! You can see that HERE.

The 2019 Holiday Gift Show booth proved to be a hit, and I was so pleased at least half of my book sales were as gifts to friends, neighbors, or family. I’m so happy to share my experiences and knowledge with caregivers, and those who seek a healthier lifestyle, and all I had to do is look around me.

Several Caregiver Workshops have been booked for the first quarter of the new year. Sheree, my editor, worked on making an awesome PowerPoint to go along with my presentation.

What Needs Tending and Tweaking

This is where I start to use my Word of the Year – POLISH.

Always wanting to improve for my Foodtalk4you readers, I will strive for weekly posts of a more consistent length.

That polishing elbow grease will be liberally applied to book marketing, which has been my weakness. Writing books is not a problem for me, but mastering the marketing they need in order get into reader’s hands has been lacking. I may even seek an agent and a publishing house.

One of the priorities for my Caregiver Workshops is to get into area community colleges, which is already in the works! That could mean continuing education points for students and attendees. My first out-of-state goal will be to hold workshops where I often travel.

Saturating my local market with information about Caregiver Workshops will require consistent outreach, public appearances, and expanding media formats. I’m going to attend a local workshop about marketing and media to learn how to do it.

Onward and upward!

Personal Insights from 2019

I accomplished a fair amount of reaching others by sharing ideas with them, but I have just scratched the surface. Clearly the next steps of “Polishing” will help fulfill the destiny that last year’s projects deserve.

Stepping up to the plate with my best effort daily is what is needed.

I feel ready for the job.

______

To register for a Caregiver Workshop to be held at Craven Community College in New Bern, North Carolina, go to this LINK.

There are three workshop dates currently on the books with different selections to meet the needs of caregivers’ schedules. College students can even earn .25 CEUs for attending.

DOWNLOAD/PRINTABLE CAREGIVER-WORKSHOP INFORMATION PDF

In health-

Deidra

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Blogging for good health!, Habit Building, This -n- That

And We’re Off … !

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It happened again – unbidden and out of the blue.

POLISH

Not relating to the country, but the verb and the resulting noun.

Polish something to make it gleaming. Note the fine polish.

The 2020 Word of the Year just floated into my mind sometime during the scurry and flurry of activities in December.

I put several irons to the fire in 2019 to “REACH others by sharing ideas with them.”

My focus this year is to POLISH each activity with care to reveal its deserved luster and outreach.

There is focused and intense work in polishing something. Consistent effort, pressure, polishing cloth and compound – all judiciously applied to make an object gleam – or make a project fulfill its destiny.

This is easily guiding my actions from timely home renovations; using my talents in the best way to maximize benefits for others; business marketing and even tidying up.

Just getting something done or out there is not enough. Am I polishing my efforts to get the best results? There may be changes – oh, dear! That dreaded word.

It’s okay if the change makes things better … more polished … the best version of itself.

Has your new personal Word of the Year come floating into your consciousness?

Write it down.

A post-it note will do – or something more elaborate to put in a prominent location as a beautiful reminder of your year’s intent.

A Word of the Year approach has far surpassed the fruitless exercise of New Year’s resolutions for me.

Try it.

Let one thought pervade all your activities this year – you’ll note great results because it’s a mindful approach to tweaking some aspects of your life.

No deadline – just a gentle leaning in and a refocus each day.

That’s the first idea.

The second one is going to become a new tradition for me that I hope sparks your imagination, as well.

We’ve all heard of gratitude journals. Do you write down something each night that brought gratitude to your heart that day? It’s been cited as being a practice that promotes a more positive frame of mind.

It’s just that I have so many journals around, I did not want another – and my bedside table does not need one more book on it.

If you can relate, perhaps the approach a dear friend just shared with me may inspire you as well!

As a cancer survivor, my friend participates in a Live Strong support group of fellow survivors. One of them shared the idea of a “good things” or “blessings” jar with her. As with any good idea, I am passing it on to you, my readers.

A new year lays out before us. Good and bad will happen. How about noting the good things each week – or more often – collect them in a jar, and review the blessings each New Year’s Eve?

Now residing in my kitchen is a jar equipped with a pen and baggy of blank blocks of paper ready to have the good things noted and deposited inside. See how I’ve set up my new habit in a way that will ensure success? No searching for a pen or a piece of paper. All set.

There are already several entries! The first was reconnecting with my dear friend on the phone to start the new year!

Take a picture of your jar, or Word of the Year picture/post-it note, and send it to me at foodtalk4you@gmail.com. I’ll share it on FoodTalk4You!

Wishing each of my readers much peace, love, natural health, and renewed focus on the positive in all you do in 2020!

Don’t miss even one FoodTalk4You.com newsletter! Look for the sign up to the left of this page above.

In health,

Deidre

Anti-Inflammatory Foods, Blogging for good health!, This -n- That

Fiber, Poo, and You!

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It’s all about striking a balance!

There’s always a new cliff to jump off. We are hounded by diet philosophy mongers all the time. New buzz words rain down on us until we are buried under an avalanche of do this, do that.

Keto. Whole grain goodness. Intermittent fasting. Vegan. Grass fed. Free range. Organic. Non-GMO. Whole 30. Low carb. Sugar free. Low fat. Non-dairy. Gluten free. Aaaahhhh!

I just want to feel good, keep excess pounds off, maintain a stable blood sugar, keep my bones strong and muscles functioning, avoid poisonous food or activities to allow my body to be naturally disease free, and … something else to be mentioned in a minute.

That’s why I avoided labeling my approach to eating in Toolkit for Wellness as anything other than anti-inflammatory. Labels can be problematic.

It’s just not food either. We are a complex whole. Deprivations or excesses in one area of our life puts everything else out of kilter.

Added to the fact that none of us has ever been this old before …

What worked in our thirties might not work for us in our forties – etc., etc.

Therefore, we seem to always be adjusting to make things balance out. Never a dull moment. Every day sees us coping with physical changes we may not know are even happening.

Which brings me back to my other goal. Usually commercial ads about this are aimed just at the senior sector of our population; but this issue traverses all age categories. It’s something that even concerned my high school students. What is it?

Regularity. Constipation.

Poo.

It’s a topic that’s vital even to infants (I remember my constipated babies – what anguish for everyone) and to everyone, every day – for as long as we live.

Again, it’s a complex topic. The standard approach is:

  1. Drink enough fluids
  2. Get enough exercise
  3. Eat enough fiber
  4. Control stress (that’s my addition)

Chronic constipation can set us up for hemorrhoids, irritable bowel disease, and colon cancer. Also makes for feelings of discomfort and general malaise. Not fun.

There are even issues beyond constipation – this is going to get a little graphic, here – there are issues about the quality or texture of the Bowel Movement (BM).

Let’s delve into this dinner-table-taboo topic with the Bristol Stool Chart

It is possible to be as regular as clockwork, but terribly constipated.

Where are you on this scale?

After going gluten-free and restricting starchy carbs for several years – and feeling so much better – I seemed to enter a new phase of regularity with constipated results. (Talk about airing dirty laundry … but folks, I’m doing this so we can learn).

Were the several years of caregiver stress – followed by widowhood – a factor? Certainly.

But this was no way to live. What could I do? Join the Metamucil-for-lunch bunch? Nooooooo!

After much trial and error, the results are in! LOL

As I sought to restore balance within my body, I have come to soften some of my previous approaches:

  • Gluten-free remains a priority (helps me avoid most sweets at gatherings and unnecessary bread-y starch)
  • I am opening the door to some legumes in regular consumption of hummus and chili beans
  • Eating some 5% fat, plain Greek Yogurt each day, which feeds the microbiome in my gut
  • Eating the whole grain goodness of quinoa – a gluten-free ancient grain that is so versatile hot or cold, sweet/savory/or plain
  • Sauteed, unbreaded okra slices, seasoned with Montreal Steak Seasoning, are a frequent fare and will “cure what ails you”
  • Eating Brussels sprouts year round
  • Modifying my super-low-carb approach by adding a slice of whole-grain, gluten-free bread to my morning or lunch open-faced sandwich (Sam’s brand found at Walmart on the top shelf of their bread isle is my absolute favorite)

The final improvement has come – for me – through the additional, though small, addition of starchy carbs. My research today is showing, as well, that the avocado mash on my morning or lunch time toast is boosting helpful fiber, as well.

So, let’s look at fiber. Most people are getting about half what’s needed. Women should be getting 25 grams of fiber a day and men should be getting 38 grams.

Everything you ever want to know about fiber can be found HERE and HERE!

As a timesaver, let me summarize:

Fiber is the part of food not broken down or absorbed during its journey through the digestive system.

There are two types of fiber categories: soluble and insoluble.

Soluble Fiber

Soluble fiber binds with fatty acids and helps flush them out of the body – thus lowering bad cholesterol – and blends with water forming a gel-like substance in the gut, which helps lower blood sugar spikes.

Insoluble Fiber

Insoluble fiber helps to act as a bulking agent that speeds the passage of waste.

Together, both kinds of fiber slow digestion so that the sugar/glucose from food is absorbed more slowly – thus stabilizing blood sugars.

It’s the difference between eating a piece of candy or eating an equal amount of sugar/glucose in a fiber-filled raw apple. The candy will cause swings in blood sugar as the glucose is rapidly absorbed, insulin is needed, and blood sugar drops as insulin’s effect occurs. The apple will cause a slight rise in blood sugar over time because the fiber slows down the sugar/glucose absorption and the insulin demands are much lower.

Candy vs apple

Then, there are different actions that fiber can take.

Some soluble fibers are fermentable and serve as fuel for the (good) bacteria in our gut. The over 100 trillion bacteria found mostly in the large intestine are ground-zero for zillions of chemical, hormonal, and nerve reactions and communications happening in the body. Research is showing that dysbiosis in the microbiome of our gut (the good bacteria) is resulting in or is a contributing factor to auto-immune disease and much more. Feeding these friendly warriors is very important to good health.

Fermentable fibers are found in beans and legumes. The byproduct of this fermentation is gas. Great.

Then there’s viscous fiber that forms a gel when blended with water. This gel slows down the digestive process which allows for a feeling of fullness and satiety for longer periods.

Think chia seeds in water. Think okra.

This viscus/soluble fiber is also found in legumes, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, oats, and flax. Just a tablespoon of chia seeds in water and flavored – or not – with a dab of honey will turn into a gelatinous treat that will hold you all night and “do your body good.”

Many of you may not have heard of this next one: Resistant starch. Used to be that I’d just shut the door at any idea of consuming starch. Starch is the main carbohydrate in the diet. Think potatoes, foods made with flour, and rice.

Resistant starch is a carbohydrate that functions like fermentable fiber in the gut. Have I grabbed your attention yet?

Yes. Under the right conditions, this starch (boo!) resists digestion and passes through the digestive system unchanged (yay).

Resistant starch improves digestive health; improves insulin sensitivity; lowers blood sugar; and helps to decrease appetite.

Resistant starches can be found in:

  • Green bananas (sure)
  • Legumes (think pinto beans…and gas)
  • Cashews (yay!)
  • Raw oats (Trail mix?)

…and…drum roll…

  • Cooled cooked white potatoes and white rice!

What? Yes! Think cold potato salad. Think white rice in salad. Heck- think sticky rice in nori rolls!

Ah, but remember the balance.

Deidre from Foodtalk4you is NOT saying to sit down to a bowl of potato salad.

What I am saying is that there are options that should be used to strike a balance, and that having a 3 or for 4 Bristol Stool result in the bathroom can be a measuring factor for that balance.

‘nuf said

In health-

Deidre

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Food Talk 4 You!, This -n- That, Titles Worth Reading

There’s No Place Like Home, Toto …

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We interrupt this hurricane to give you the following important announcement. Toolkit for Caregivers, is now published and available for purchase on Amazon! As a bonus, a second book – Toolkit for Caregiver Survival – is included. That’s right. Two books for the price of one and under one cover!

If you are young, healthy, and thinking that becoming a caregiver to your parents or spouse is decades away, the bonus book is for you now. There’s a way to approach caregiving that will make future family dynamic transitions less traumatic for all involved.

You see, we never know when that job description of “caregiver” will be plopped into our laps. Sometimes a slow aging process or predictable disease progression is not what happens.

Sometimes life turns on a dime, and we find ourselves assisting a loved one healing from a sudden accident or surgery.

Sometimes, after a brief period of not feeling well, we are hit with a crushing diagnosis.

Being a caregiver to a loved one at home is not reserved for grandma helping grandpa in his 90s. In fact, the average age of caregivers of loved ones at home is 49 years old.

The new term coined by the Hospice Foundation of America is “Silver Tsunami.” This tidal wave of Baby Boomers becoming Medicare eligible at a rate of 10,000 a day is not only going to need the services of a loving family caregiver, but is also going to become a caregiver for someone at home in the future.

This represents a double-edged sword for the Baby Boomers AND creates family transitions across the generations. Truly, no one is immune from caregiving issues.

The five-star reviews are coming in for this new release, and reflect readers’ appreciation of the information provided in this double book.

Why don’t you check it out yourself here:

The preview feature will give you a meaningful peek inside. You will notice from the table of contents, I have made every effort to answer caregiver concerns that no other book does.

Whether you are decades away from becoming a caregiver to a loved one, or you are starting to see the handwriting on the wall and know you may be entering the world of caregiving, this double offering of Toolkit for Caregivers will guide you through the most challenging job description ever given to someone.

These tips, skills, and wisdom for before, during and after will become a lifeline so you can avoid common pitfalls, make your loved one more comfortable, and enable you to maximize the time you have together.

Toolkit for Caregivers is for you. It’s for your friends and family. It’s for your doctor, nurse. It’s for your home health and Hospice agency. It’s helpful for funeral homes as they support those in pre-planning or those just new to grieving. There’s something for everybody.

Foodtalk4you is all about sharing useful information. I decline offers to monetize this site because I do not want to keep hounding my readers with pop-up ads, op-ins, and buy-this-now offers. I just want to share pertinent information that could make a difference in improving life.

Please share this book link with some of the 40 million plus caregivers of loved ones at home, your families and friends, and with those individuals and organizations that ultimately serve caregivers.

My immediate sharing goals include local presentations to groups in the Carolinas. Because I am just one person, there is an on-line option for Caregiver Workshops that I will be exploring. Anyone interested in a Caregiver Workshop with a book signing, please contact me at: Deidre@ToolkitsForHealth.com.

Now, let’s return to our Hurricane Dorian coverage on the Weather Channel.

Our life in the Carolinas could radically change this week.

Prayers that my lovely historical town will not get flooded again; we are still rebuilding after last year’s Florence.

In health-

Deidre

Blogging for good health!, Recipes, This -n- That

Tidying Up or Who Moved My Quinoa?

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Where’s your clutter? Over time, mine is relegated to the closets and drawers – out of sight to the casual observer.

Fibber McGee and Molly

My mom used to tell me about an old radio show called Fibber McGee and Molly. Apparently, they had a hall closet that was dangerous to open; for when it was opened, its contents spilled out onto the hapless person who had opened the door.

While not quite that bad, my two pantry closets were becoming unhandy to use – clutter and disorganization reigned supreme – the quick grab always deteriorated into major detective work.

I dreaded looking for ingredients. Where was that quinoa? Didn’t I buy some spicy mustard not long ago?

Closet and drawer clean outs are usually done in January at my house. Start the year off organized and all that. Somehow that cold winter day project slipped past me this year.

But really, where was that quinoa? I needed it for a new recipe I was trying out this morning – that recipe is to follow, by the way.

Well, enough was enough. I was in control of this mess, and I was going to fix it – NOW!

Marie Kondo

Following some of Marie Kondo’s advice in her amazing book, the life-changing magic of tidying up, I emptied most of the two offending cupboards. Voila – found the quinoa and oatmeal for the recipe!

While the grains were simmering, I organized, kept what had nutritional meaning to me, and threw out what was either out of date or no longer was a part of my culinary repertoire. Kondo followers will understand. If you are new to her philosophy, I studied each item to evaluate its relevance in my eating habits – if it had a positive meaning to current menu goals, it stayed; otherwise, it was tossed.

The same happened to my drawer for kitchen towels and aprons. I am giving away as many as I kept.

Such a liberating feeling. I’m rewarded every time the drawer is opened or when I need an ingredient from the pantry.

Decluttering and organizing not only what we see walking through a home, but also what we see when using a home – opening closets and drawers – generates positive energy … and … don’t we all need that?

On to that quinoa …

Once every week, our paper features a food section that compliments all of the week’s store ads just coming out.

At times, the featured food columnist’s article is laughable. There are ingredients that are often unpronounceable and virtually unobtainable in the average grocery store. Just because the author enjoyed a marvelous meal in an obscure little bistro in a remote corner of some exotic destination that I can’t afford to visit, doesn’t mean I should be able to duplicate it here in the States – or even want to.

But today, Ari LeVaux (see … cool name) wrote about a whole grain dish that can easily be a part of a wonderful change-of-pace for breakfast or become a savory side dish to dinner.

Chokecherry

He did have to throw in syrup options that were amusing: syrup from rhubarbs, cherries, or chokecherries. Sure. I’ll just grab that chokecherry syrup right out of my clean pantry.

Not.

Many folks enjoy a daily bowl of oatmeal each morning. I tried that routine once and my joints were adversely affected, strangely enough, but I’m willing to have a few bites now and then.

When other grains or seeds are simmered together with oatmeal, one is tippy-toeing into the world of gruel.

Gruel conjures up images of cold, stone orphanages in old England, a la Jane Eyre. Gruel is actually on the watery side. After all, the head mistress squeezes those schillings for all they are worth.

So, as Ari writes, this recipe is on the thick side of porridge and he has termed it to be a “potage” in hopes that people will at least keep reading and not head to the sports section.

Enough. Let’s get to this fun recipe of thick gruel, porridge, potage, pottage, or whatever you want to call it. There are four main ingredients plus water and a pinch of salt. Easy peasy – just don’t burn the gruel.

Potage with Berries

1 cup steel-cut oats (mine were just regular, gluten-free oats)

1 cup quinoa – Ari prefers red quinoa for the color, I used black

Raw. shelled hemp seeds

4 cups water

1 tablespoon untoasted sesame seeds

1 tablespoon raw, shelled hemp seeds – I used hemp seed hearts

Pinch of salt

—————————————————–

Use a heavy-bottomed pot. Throw all the ingredients in and bring to a boil – lid off. After it comes to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, and simmer for 20 minutes. If the water is gone during initial cooking, add a bit more.

Test the grains after 20 minutes – they should be pleasantly chewy. Reduce to the lowest setting to cook off any remaining water.

Do not over stir BUT do not let the bottom of the pot stick and burn. I stirred once every 5 minutes throughout the entire process.

Turn off the heat and let cool before storing in the refrigerator.

———————————————————————-

Greek yogurt

For breakfast: I used a small scoop of “potage” and added strawberries, blueberries, and a dollop of vanilla Greek yogurt. Terrifically tasty and filling.

As a savory side dish to dinner, Ari enjoys it dressed in soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, and green onions. He also likes it with “scape”…there you go again, Ari.

———————————————————————-

Hope you enjoy the “potage” and let me know if you’re inspired to clean a closet!

Remember to click on the subscribe button to get email alerts when a new post is up AND to get your free SUBSCRIBER GIFT of 25 Easy Tweaks for Better Health.

In health-

Deidre

POTAGE WITH BERRIES download and print! (See below)

Potage With BerriesDownload

Blogging for good health!, This -n- That

Whose Team Are You On?

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Are you rooting for a special team right now? With college basketball play offs narrowing down, you may be finding yourself sitting on the edge of your seat, cheering for your team!

Are you hoping that the ball will have just the right amount of spin go in for more points or dance around the rim to keep the opposing team from taking the lead?

Passions runs high. Just look at the faces of the fans in the stands. You see everything from pure ecstasy to total despondency. And the players … every missed shot will be replayed for the rest of their lives.

Actions bring results – every time.  Being good – or bad – depends on the action.

Players work very hard on perfecting their actions. They hone their skills and work so closely with each other every day, they can read and anticipate their teammates’ movements in an instant.

Getting a team to function like a whole does not happen overnight. Each member must be totally committed to the team. Their goals are the same. They are headed in the same direction. Everyone has each other’s back. They pull for each other.

YOU are on a team.

You ARE the team.

Each of us needs our brain, body, and emotions to be working together as a team – pulling in the same direction.

Oh, your body may be dragging along with your brain, but are the decisions your brain is making helping your body?

Is your body being allowed to rest enough to help your brain function and keep your emotions balanced? Are you feeding your team the right food?

Or, are you putting diesel fuel into a gasoline engine and still expecting it to drive smoothly?

Keeping our respective teams functioning smoothly is what foodtalk4you is all about. Food for the body, mind, and spirit!

After an innocent conversation with a fellow patient in a doctor’s office waiting room recently, I felt compelled to remind each of us about the concept of teamwork.

We were just passing the time and making the day by talking about collards, of all things. Her daughter had remarked earlier about wanting some collards. I added that they sounded good to me, too. We exchanged information about where to buy the freshest ones.

As we all gradually moved up the next-patient-to-be-seen pecking ladder, we were ultimately transferred to the inner office waiting room before being called to see our doctors.  We resumed our collard collaborations.

How do I fix mine? I render out a piece of “streak of lean” – that’s Southern for salt pork with a bit of meat in it – followed by steaming cut, cleaned collard leaves, minus the stems, in that same pan. I rely on the moisture of the wet leaves and on gradual small additions of low sodium chicken broth to steam the leaves until tender. The rendered fat will be chopped and added to the cooking leaves. Maybe add some crushed red pepper. Extra salt may or may not be needed. Everyone loves my collards.

My waiting room companion exclaimed, “Oh, you do it healthy!”

She related her method which included generous portions of ham, some type of pig’s tails, lots of fat, and added salt.

Two people. Two choices. Two teams with different results.

You want a lower blood pressure? Your body certainly does! Rather than reach for another blood pressure pill, take the reins and captain your team!

Allow your body to work the way you’d like it to work. You want it to work perfectly – all day, every day, right? Pull in the same direction. All day, every day. Stop putting diesel fuel into your gas engine!

Okay, but there’s Thanksgiving – Christmas – Hanukah – New Year’s – Super Bowl – Valentines – St. Patrick’s – March Madness – birthdays – anniversaries – graduations – (I-could-go-on-and-on).

Clearly, there is no time to avoid justifying going off the deep end.

Every day could be a cheat day – if you think that treating your body is a negative.

Is loving your sweetheart a negative? How about your child? A negative? Looking for a ‘cheat’ day to not love them?

Sounds outrageous, right?

Sometimes it may take an extra effort to do what’s right for our bodies, but we are on a TEAM and we are called to do what’s right because we love our team.

What we put into our bodies, how we treat our bodies, should be a reflection of that love.

Just sayin’-

Deidre –

I’m headed to the kitchen for a workout with Beach Boy oldies playing. There’s too much pollen outside to walk or jog around a la Jane Austen (see last week’s post). Trying to show some love here.

Blogging for good health!, Food Talk 4 You!, This -n- That

Oh, Sweet Day of … Chocolate!

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Are you a dream builder? A builder of your own dreams, that is. You certainly can be!

This is a story covered in chocolate. Really, really good chocolate … and one other very special ingredient.

Stories of people who make their dreams come true always fascinate and inspire me. The Shark Tank profiles of individuals who have an idea – a passion – and those who take action draw me in each week. Tales of the “little guy” who perseveres to bring his/her inspiration to market, charge up my own creative batteries and urge me to do more to make my dreams a reality.

Such is the story of Darlene and Gary Kramer, who hail from a northern California town called Lincoln.

Seems the Kramers held previously unbidden desires to become both chocolatiers and entrepreneurs. With Darlene’s background in accounting, and Gary’s in title and escrow sales, one could hardly see a thriving niche chocolate business being formed, but that is exactly what happened!

But that’s the stuff that dreams are made of, right?

Seems Darlene came home one day declaring, “I want to be a chocolatier.” Many of us would have followed that thought with, but …

There are always buts to our dreams. Those internal and external nay-sayers often derail our efforts to reach out beyond our respective comfortable boxes to g-r-o-w.

Darlene, however, took her initial steps in making her dreams come true by beginning the first of many courses to becoming a professional chocolatier. During her training, she needed a final project to prove her skills. She ended up with a creation that combined the best of both worlds: chocolate and coffee!

That original confection has evolved into seven different coffee bar flavors, in addition to fine chocolates, caramels, truffles, toffee, peanut brittle, and more.

The rest, as they say, is history!

Darlene and Gary started a wholesale business out of their home in 2013, but needed a brick-and-mortar location to expand into e-commerce. Now, in their present location in downtown Lincoln, California, since 2015, the couple continue to grow their business the old fashioned way – one phone call and order at a time.

The name? Oh, the name! Well, these amazing bars, that channel only the best chocolate and premium coffee beans one can ever find, is called … wait for it … BLABBERMOUTH CHOCOLATES!

Seems Gary was eager to discuss their fledgling business plan with his brother, (I’m presuming before Darlene was ready to let the confections out of the bag), so Darlene called him a “blabbermouth,” and the name just stuck!

Their divine chocolates will melt in your mouth. No sticking allowed here! Your taste buds will be delighted as the exceptional Belgian chocolate carries the deep, exotic coffee notes along for the splendid ride. The kick of the cumulative effects of the caffeine will make staying awake for your latest project pure pleasure.

Blabbermouth Chocolates – in any form – a daily treat for me!

If you are a trucker rolling along the interstate, a whole bar over the course of the night may do the trick, and keep you safe and alert for hundreds of miles to come. In fact, they have found their greatest success at truck stops, thanks to their earliest customers. Blabbermouth Chocolates can be found in truck stops in Portland, Oregon; Wyoming; Utah; and one of the biggest, the Iowa-80, according to Gary Kramer.

If truck stops aren’t your style, Blabbermouth Chocolates may be found in some Nugget Markets, Safeway Stores, and Whole Foods. You can also buy them directly from their website, BLABBERMOUTH CHOCOLATES. My discovery happened when visiting friends in northern California who personally know Gary and Darlene.

After that first taste, I became a fan for life. Blabbermouth Chocolates website assures me of a constant supply. Their service is speedy, their thank you samples are delish, and I consider it a privilege to share this tasty information with you.

There’s still time before Valentine’s Day to order your loved ones something unique!

As a special offer for our foodtalk4you readers, Gary and Darlene want to give you a 10% discount on your first purchase from Blabbermouth Chocolates! Just use this coupon code, foodtalk, for your first order.

Have I just become a Blabbermouth? LOL!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

In health-

Deidre

Blogging for good health!, Food Talk 4 You!, This -n- That

2019’s Word of the Year!

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WHAT’S IN A WORD?

Trials. Survival. Trials. Survival.

Is it my imagination, or is every year like that? Seems as if 2018 was R-O-U-G-H, but looking back and contemplating its path, one must see that it’s the power of love that really tells the story – not the grief or the hardships.

The power of love is sustaining and powering us through the best and worst of times.

Whether you were holding a loved one’s hand as they crossed over to eternity, or your hand was being held through yet another round of chemo, the love sustained us all. The love of strangers and neighbors saw us through fires, floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes.

So many are yearning for an easier, brighter, less challenging 2019; but, good or bad, I encourage us all to be the “love glue” that keeps things together.

Be that hand that reaches out to others and accept the hand that is extended to you.

Recharge your soul batteries at every turn, and reflect your values and faith by being its hands and feet.

What matters is the love. Those who have lost some or all of their possessions know that, while we mourn the loss of physical memories and treasures, we are acutely aware that that’s not what counts.

Our earthly situations radically change and we turn around to hug those left standing with us.

In one of last year’s January posts in foodtalk4you, I shared with you about finding my “Word of the Year.” Instead of a resolution that would surely drop by the wayside, I sought a word, a thought, an intention that reflected my soul’s urging for 2018.

Did you have a 2018 Word of the Year? As you look back, did it reflect your path?

Mine did. EMBRACE was 2018’s for me. I strove to embrace my circumstances with grace, my inner self with acceptance in the midst of conflicting emotions, others as they ministered to me, my life as it was, and my faith.

This year, my intention is to REACH.  It’s time for me to reach out for growth, for reconnecting with friends, for physical movement, and to reach out for new goals and opportunities, and to see them through to success.

An intention that could color and shape your year’s activities seems much more fruitful than making resolutions that fade. It was amazing how often I thought about my Word of the Year as 2018 evolved and how it gently guided me through life.

You, too, may find that a Word of the Year may assist you to cope, plan, perceive your experiences with greater clarity, and may serve you on a more solid course.

Aside from just setting an intention for 2019, also consider how you are going to flesh out that intention. Maybe you seek to be more calm. How are you going to do that? How is your calm self going to react and participate in your hectic life? How are you going to walk into the room calm? How are you going to create calm around you?

As an exercise, write down your word or intention of the year and brainstorm every possible application you can imagine. How will this intention for 2019 color how you look at yourself, how you look at the world, and how your actions might be different.

Always include applying your intention to yourself. If your intention for 2019 is patience, aside from the obvious desire to display patience to others, consider how you are going to be patient with yourself. How are you going to do this for yourself as well as others?

Food for thought.

Take a few moments to consider your intention or word for the year for 2019.

You might even want to make a simple little sticky note with your word on it. Put it on the inside of the medicine cabinet or on the refrigerator as a gentle reminder. This could even become a family project. Or you can just tuck your word quietly in your heart.

Happy New Year to all. May 2019 be calmer, brighter, kinder – even if we are the only ones who are calm, bright, and kind.

Make every interaction a positive one.

Recipes for some colorful, nutritious dishes will be coming your way in the coming weeks!

Don’t forget to subscribe to foodtalk4you so a reminder can be sent to you as new posts are written for you.

In health-

Deidre

Blogging for good health!, Food Talk 4 You!, This -n- That

Our Christmas Miracle!

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New Bern, NC – I rarely use the term holiday in place of Christmas, but for ALL listeners of our Craven Messiah Chorus’s 36th presentation of Handel’s Messiah, it was truly a miracle for all faiths.

The Messiah being performed at the Centenary Methodist Church in New Bern, NC

When I attended our local ecumenical service of support for our Jewish friends after the senseless massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, I was blessed to sit next to a Jewish couple who attend our local synagogue just around the corner from that night’s Service of Remembrance.

In the course of conversation, they learned that I sang in the annual presentation of Handel’s Messiah; and it turns out, they are regular attenders! What a thrill it is to know our efforts speak to so many faiths!

After suffering the ravages of Hurricane Florence this fall – our town, community, and most of Eastern North Carolina will be in the throes of recovery for months and even years to come. Many are not recovering in place – they have chosen to simply cut bait and move on.

New Bern, NC after Hurricane Florence

City leaders have pushed heaven and earth to pick up, muck out, tear down, rebuild, put on fresh paint, and put the “open for business” signs right next to the “New Bern Strong” messages spray-painted on temporary shop windows. Our city workers have decorated our town like never before for the holidays.

New Bern Strong

There was a brief conversation about even doing the Messiah this year. Many of our chorus members and our musical directors were devastated by the storm. Maybe we just needed to take a year off to lick our wounds?

That conversation lasted about a nanosecond. Our chorus wanted to do its part in the recovery. We were NOT going to skip this year’s production. If anything, our community needed the Messiah message more than ever.

Fast forward through weekly Monday night rehearsals starting in November and going through the crescendo of practice during our unofficial “Messiah Marathon Week,” which sees over ten hours of concentrated singing.

Messiah Conductor Jim Ogle

Jim Ogle, our conductor for all 36 years, returns to our town from Idaho each year because this presentation is that special. He reminds us that the NC Symphony members who accompany us are not looking for another, “Holiday Pops gig.” They, too, return each year because their hearts, souls, and musical selves are moved by the quality of our production and the message it imparts.

These NC Symphony professionals drive to New Bern on Monday in time for our ticketed open rehearsal atarting at 3 pm the day of our evening performance. Messiah goers enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of this special event as Jim Ogle will take time to talk to them between pieces, explaining instrumentation and various musical nuances. His occasional, “do-be-do-be-dos,” give added color to the rehearsal and offer light-hearted moments for the audience and chorus members.

Here’s where the drama starts.

At approximately 12:30 pm on that Monday afternoon, our conductor learned that the NC Symphony members could not even get out of their driveways from the weekend snow and ice storm that had slammed the western and middle part of the state. Most symphony members live in the middle part of the state.

Oh, my. No violins taking us soaring to the heavens. No oboe. No bassoon. No beat. No pitch.

What did we have?

An accomplished symphony conductor.

A chorus more responsive to keeping its beat than ever, thanks to chest-tapping rehearsals converted to hidden knee, heel, or book patting pulses during performance.

A set of amazing soloists ready to drive the Messiah message into the hearts of all listeners.

Beverly Biggs, Harpsicord

A harpsicord and an accomplished player, Beverly Biggs, who was wisely brought into town before the storm hit her home in Durham.

A piano and a very accomplished player, BJ Oglesby, who is also one of our rehearsal directors.

A tympani player, Jack Bircher, with a tympani to play – but whose soul-stirring passages would sound out-of-place without trumpeters adding to the swirling crescendo of sounds.

A packed house of eager listeners who needed the Messiah message – maybe more than ever.

No pressure.

Right …

Our conductor explained the situation to the afternoon audience who seemed willing, curious, and understanding. Clearly, we were flying by the seat of our pants.

Oh, of course. No symphony = no overture.

Bill Ward, tenor soloist, The Messiah, New Bern, NCC

First up, the tenor soloist, Bill Ward, whose amazing solo was only occasionally supported by the harpsicord music and Jim’s “do-be-do-be-dos” that filled-in for crucial violin passages.

These were trying times, and Bill knocked it out of the park. We practically cried as Jim gave Bill a heart-felt hug of appreciation.

The audience loved it. Somehow, while the stirring and floating sounds of the symphony were absent, the words and message were emphasized.

No harm. No foul.

We strive for something near perfection, you see. We never want our musical faux-pas to distract from the miraculous message Handel divinely created in just twenty-four days of inspired genius.

The chorus was directed to stand. Could we stay on pitch? Would there be a train-wreck of botched entrances? Could we concentrate hard enough to remember all we had perfected? Were we going to stay in time as we secretly tapped out subdivided beats?

We were determined to not let Jim, our audience, or ourselves down.
Success! While the pitch may have subtly dipped a time or two because we were basically singing totally accapella, there were no train wrecks or botched entrances.

Our baritone soloist, Mark Walters, added to the open rehearsal’s blessings by turning to face the chorus from time to time. It was a gift we needed.
The other soloists, Jami Rhodes, Nicole Franklin, and Pat Rowlett each added to the mounting miracle of true professionals rising to unexpected circumstances.

But that was just the beginning of miracles.

As we gathered in the church basement for rest and nourishment before the actual performance slated to start at 7:30 pm, we were faced with the reality of having to perform Handel’s Messiah accapella one more time. Next time would be to folks who paid $25 each for the experience.

Our conductor stared off into space, deep in thought. Was that his life flashing in front of his eyes? I’ll never forget his look.

Our other leader’s faces were set with a look of resolution and giving in to less-than-stellar circumstances.

Mark Walters, however, was busy texting. What was our baritone soloist conjuring up?

To the best of my recollection, it looked something like this:

5:30 pm. Texting.

6:00 pm. Texting.

6:30 pm. Texting.

6:45 pm. Waiting for texts back.

Smiles.

Whispers to our conductor.

Our pianist zooms up to the sanctuary to practice.

What has transpired?

A holiday miracle!

Strings pulled. Friends called. Friends of friends shooting texts into the dark of night.

Kimberly Zimmerman

Kimberly Zimmerman grabs some clothes and her cello. She drives to New Bern from Onslow County.

I think the two trumpeters came from Greenville.

Cold turkey; these professionals drove to our performance, sat down a few minutes before the 7:30 pm curtain, and played the music handed them by our conductor.

Got trumpets? That meant the tympani player could join in. Six instruments instead of twenty.

Never have so many been so grateful for so few instruments.

There was just enough support to keep the air filled with sound and to add just enough glorious sparkle to make the 2018 Craven Messiah Chorus’s presentation of George F. Handel’s Messiah an experience that will be treasured for a long time to come.

For our regular readers, was this a holiday miracle or maybe a God wink? See last week’s post!

May each of you experience your own holiday miracle!

Blessing to all during this season of miracles for all faiths.

The Messiah

Until the New Year-

Deidre

Blogging for good health!, Food Talk 4 You!, This -n- That, Titles Worth Reading

God Winks

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New Bern, NC – Have you done that DNA thing with a registry that will reveal from what part of the world your ancestors came? So tempting. A great gift idea, too. Haven’t taken that swab plunge yet, but sometimes a very Nordic, “Yah,” periodically comes out of my mouth that I wonder, “where did that come from?”

Anyway, I am in the middle of a “domino drop” of sorts that started out with a random cancelation. You know what I mean: some ‘random’ thing that leads to something else that leads to something else? The dominoes keep tipping over in a beautiful opening of blessings?

This past September, I received a call from my minister of music and senior adults, early on a Friday, that a cancelation had just occurred for the senior adult fall trip leaving for Pennsylvania in two days. Would I like to go? Well, sure! Let me pack my bag!

This trip was going to take me over the first bumps in the road to widowhood: my husband’s birthday and what would have been our 42nd wedding anniversary. Coincidence? We’ll see. Keep reading.

Our tour of the lush and rolling landscape of historic Pennsylvania took our group to Hershey, Lancaster, Gettysburg, Sturgis, and other wonderful places. Every day was packed with good food, splendid vistas, great company, laughter, and new experiences.

One evening, we dined with an Amish family who served traditional Amish fare supplied by a local restaurant and who opened up for an honest and frank question and answer period. As a personal thank you gift, I gave her a signed copy of my book, Toolkit for Wellness, as a gesture of sharing, in kind, a bit of myself.

Flash forward to late November, and what should appear in my mailbox but a book from our lovely Amish hostess. She shared in her inscription that someone had given her a copy of the enclosed book when her husband had died in 2010, but that she waited two years to read it. She said that reading the book, When God Winks at You, changed her life.

She said that I will find my God wink when I least expect it.

This is not an attempt to answer questions wondering why God allows “this or that,” when I also believe in God blessing random coincidences at times.

Let the author’s website speaks for itself:

“Squire Rushnell teaches you how to use the power of “God winks” — divine coincidences — to seize certainty in uncertain times and enrich your career and relationships.

Whether you call it synchronicity or coincidence, it is not an accident that you just picked up When God Winks. In fact, you may have suspected all along that there is more to coincidence than meets the eye. These seemingly random events are actually sign posts that can help you successfully navigate your career, relationships, and interests. By recognizing the God winks our Creator sometimes places in our paths, we can understand—and embrace—the journey God has laid out for us.

As my wink let me pass on this random blessing to you in the form of a book-giving idea for the holidays.

Speaking of book-giving at Christmas – where did that tradition come from? I have always loved giving and getting books for Christmas. Yah?

Yah? Well, seems the Icelanders started it all off. Their word for it is Jolabokaflod, which roughly translated is “Christmas book flood.”

Seems that during WWII, books were one of the most un-rationed items readily available to give as gifts at Christmas. Hence, a strong tradition of book ownership, reading, and Christmas gift preferences.

Whether we are from Iceland, Norway, or where ever, I can recommend not only anything from the God Winks books but also Out of the Maze by the author of Who Moved My Cheese.

While change is one of the few constants in this world, it’s the one we tend to like the least. The older we get, the tighter we cling to the old ways and resist anything new.

So many people in my community are being trust into change post Hurricane Florence. Out with the old, in with the new – maybe a new community altogether. Have you lost or changed jobs? Lost a loved one? There’s plenty of change swirling around us.

Want it or not.

I have to say that the simple wisdom found in this quick read of Out of the Maze has helped me in my own transitions of late. It’s a great book to pull off the shelf at the start of each New Year as we all move forward with our lives and pause to reflect on our progress or to consider if we are ‘stuck’ in a maze.

There you go. I’ve given you two great leads for presents for yourself and for your loved ones.

That’s why I call this Foodtalk4you, because these articles are targeted to be ‘food’ for your mind, body, and spirit.

Don’t forget to subscribe by clicking the subscribe button. You’ll get an email when there’s a new post. That’s it. No hard sales and no sharing of your information.

In health-

Deidre