Self Care and Love

Meeting one's SELF.  Who is that?   The real you, that warm, non affected by this life person that resides inside you  just beautifully "being."  The true soul of the core that is watching and waiting.  The soul that is patience, beautiful and joyful.  That beautiful being, the inner priestess voice otherwise known as "me" or "you" or Self. 

That presence inside is the presence of reason, love and all beautiful things waiting to flow out and spread through the body.  It doesn't judge, but it sends rays of love and understanding within and to the universe.  Finding and connecting with that love is truly the greatest love of all.  Knowing about "it" isn't quite enough.  Knowing and not really connecting just leaves one in want of the seemingly allusive present moment and all good gifts from within.   Knowing about it and not being able to reach .... but then.... finally....

Connecting to it is everything.

A little Self Prayer

Internal priestess
To meet you is lovely.
I have known you forever
How wonderful to let you
reign free in peace.

Internal priestess
To hear you is lovely
To hear through your ears.
How wonderful to hear
your silent gentle vibes.

Internal priestess
To feel you is lovely
I have felt you forever.
How wonderful to feel
compassion through you.

Internal priestess.
To heal with you is lovely.
Your warmth surrounds.
How wonderful to heal
with radiant heat.

Internal priestess
How lovely to love you.
I have loved you forever.
How wonderful to love
through your grace.

Internal priestess
How lovely to connect
through breath and light.
How wonderful that I
completely love and accept you.

Beat the Heat - Trails - Donner Pass - Pacific Crest Trail

June 2017 brought a weeks worth or more of triple digits.  It was a heat wave, it seemed as the concrete didn't ever cool off.  The options for trail running in Auburn were a bit bleak, and I checked the temperatures for the cooler SF Bay area to run and  it was hot there as well in the Marin Hills. All beach trails within driving distance were hot.  The difference was only 10 degrees.  So 106 or 96.. in the sun it just felt hot.  So I went to my weather guide to find the cool spots in California.  Donner Pass in the Sierras was reporting 80 degrees. SOLD.

It is only about 1 hour and 20 minutes away.  So that is where the adventure began.  I set out to hit the Pacific Crest Trail towards Squaw Valley for a bit of out and back trekking/running.  However when I got there, the trail was snowed in.  A few experienced hard core looking hikers with gear and proper hiking boots reported that there was no one yet able to navigate that section of the trail.

So a bit up the road there was a trail and a hiking routes toward Donner Lake.  It wasn't much of a trail for "running" but it worked out for a nice adventure.  The trails were rocks and sometimes just mountain rock.

The altitude was high and the sun was pretty bright.  But not more than 20 minutes into the hike, a gigantic cloud cover appeared over the mountain and the weather dropped to a blissful 74 degrees.  I set off with phone and water bottle.  There were a few places that were rock that I lost my nerve and confidence in my trail shoes and my own legs so I turned back and did some intervals.  I was able to run ok at that altitude whenever I could find a suitable trail.

I was able to hike on my own for a quite awhile and it felt amazing to have confidence. When I got far away and things seemed a little uncomfortable, I hiked back to what I was calling "base" at the time.

Picture time.... Right???  First off ...me peeking at you!

This is Lake Mary.  The property around it was marked private,
I so wanted to see it.

The rocky trail

I kept going back to look up to those green rocks, so 

Much energy swirling around the mountain. The energy
of survivors, and hikers.  It was very big and beyond
words to describe the beauty.

Donner Lake, the view before the cloud cover.

Beautiful snow melt ponds... crystal clear. Very quiet and
soothing.

I took off out on the snow, but it was too hard and slippery.

The cloud on its way to provide sunscreen from heaven.

So I went the other direction... I got a feeling I would encounter 

A bear and there were no travelers in this direction so I turned back.
(If I was a bear, I would be hanging out there....)

 My journey on gps.

Spring in June in the Foothills... one of my favorite pictures of the day.

I will make it out to Donner Lake soon.  There is a road around the lake that goes for about Seven miles. I need to "street" and distance train for a 1/2 marathon.   I keep flaking out and going to the hills and mountain trails, can you blame me.  There is so much beauty and the elevations and up hills are making me so strong.

Have a blissful week. Let the sun, moon and beautiful sky remind you of nature's love.
Be well and be joyful.

Outdoor Pizza Kitchen

It is no secret that the third week of June 2017 rolled in the big  high temps in Northern California.    I proceeded with the good faith that I could satisfy the BBQ Chicken - "pizza" urge without heating up the kitchen to the afternoon blaze.  

I hate to call it pizza, because I think that people, including myself expect it to taste like pizza.  Pizza to me conjures up scent and taste memories of red sauce, crust, cheese....as the base and beginning and end to all good pizza.   This is Pizza derived and cooked like pizza, so we can just call it BBQ Chicken pizza.  But I think that is why some people  have a hard time loving this dish.  It has been quite popular in California for decades.   I had it the first time  over 23 years ago at Planet Hollywood restaurant in a Harrah's casino, in Reno..or was it Tahoe?  Reno?  Tahoe? 

It was too hot to run the oven at high temps for 30 Minutes, so off to the back yard grill where it was already 104 degrees.  The dough was made in the morning and rose like a champion.  I marinated and later grilled bbq chicken pieces to chop up for the topping.   The rest was just a matter of assembling.

I did put the dough on the cast iron pizza dish and  grilled for about 10-12 minutes about 450-500.  I brought it in the house and I flipped it and then assembled the "pizza" and then out it went for another 10-12 minutes at 425-450.

To rise

Rising

Sweet Baby Rays Sauce to marinate the chicken

For later.

Risen...then to the fridge to wait for cooking later.
 

It's grillin' time.

I think these little pieces only took about 10-12

Minutes at 400. Keeping in mind that they are going

To cook again on the "pizza"

 

 

Chopped up Chicken

Olive Oil the pan

Spread dough  with your fingers and poke with fork
 

Grill covered for 10-12 minutes about 450

 

 

Spread a light layer of bbq sauce on crust

Add thin slices of mozzerella cheese, chicken,

Red onion, green onion, a bit of grated mozzerella,

And a light drizzle of bbq sauce.  I used a sandwich

Bag with a little hole in the corner.

 

THE SUPERVISOR
 

 

Grill it with lid down, my indicator for doneness

Is when I can see the mozzerella cheese puff and melt.
 

 

 

 

The perfect crunch

I hope you enjoyed the pics and the photo recipe guide.  As always

Comment, email or PM me with questions.

This is a super easy to make dinner.  It requires a bit of time and a process.  But it is "cheap" and only a few ingredients, and a super tasty meal.   If you wanted it to be more whole food, then make your own bbq sauce.  But really the amount is so minuscule....

If tastebuds allow... add cilantro and/or parsley.

Love and peace

Toni

Mahi Mahi Chili Lime Tacos - WW friendly - a guide

I don't have a  super great recipe, but you can get the gist of it.

Marinate:

About 2-4 tablespoons of fresh lime

About 1-2 tsp chili power

Pinch of salt

Pinch of Pepper...

Mix and marinate the Mahi steaks for an hour or so.

 To cook them I got a small skillet that just fit the two steaks side by side.  I got it really hot, I did a few sprays of cooking spray and put in the steaks. I cooked on that med-high temp for about 3-4 minutes.  When I turned them I put a sliver of butter under each.  I let them cook for a few more minutes.   I reduced the temp and covered for a minute or so.

****kicks self....no pics...hungry from hiking and wanted hot tacos and hot tortillas***

The tortillas are corn.  Organic, the kind you heat up from a "dough" 

and the Mahi was vacuum frozen fillets.

I then made a sauce from Hidden Valley Ranch dressing:

Four tablespoons ranch,

about two tsp of fresh salsa

and a tsp chili powder.  

(Hindsight, maybe lime would have been good in this too).

I chopped lettuce and tomatoes and a bit of avocado.  Then I assembled.

Mahi for 4 ounces  equals about 2 Classic points.  Tortillas are a point each (2) Avocado, dressing and sliver of butter about 3 pts.  So about 7-8 classic points. I abstained on cheese because sometimes in life we have to say no to cheese.  (No we don't, I just do sometimes) Especially if I said yes every day for 4 days......

 

Portions - Crave and behave

Don't let a craving for fried chicken have you off track in your eating program.

Crave and behave.  Have those little nummy bites and have a luscious and tasty salad.

Be brave, have control and indulge without guilt. And if you want to eat six, just remember to work out.

 

Tennessee Cove - Total Beach Craving

Total Beach Craving

I had a serious beach craving come upon me. It started with those darn blue nails.  I bought the blue nail polish with a view that it would be my reminder to look at my hands and the blue nail polish and meditate on the ocean. In my mind, I thought that if I did not at least see the ocean I could go to my minds eye and think and hear the ocean and be refreshed.  It was a good idea, but that then even lead to a further obsession... Like "I must go now.."   I only had the polish on for 48 hours and BAM!

I also needed strengthening miles if I intend at all to be able to participate in a half marathon in four months.  Somehow that situation is looking not so great.  I will see what the time limit is for the race and make some decisions. In the mean time, I wont be caught off guard by not staying strong with challenging 5 mile hikes weekly and bike rides.  So far a few of these training miles have put in at the beach...I mean if you are putting in the miles...

Anyway I found myself on the way to Tennessee Cove in Marin County, CA.  It was a lovely hike and a splendid cove.  Not a lot of people like to hike round trip four miles to  see a bit of the ocean.   But it was what was calling to me and worth every step.   I got there at 5 pm on a Saturday and it was more than I had hoped There was no fog  and the sun was shining bright.  Here are the pictures. 

It starts like this.."I know there is ocean over there..."

Just keep climbing and descending....

In a few short miles..

It just gave and gave back to me....

I loved the noisy water and the ships horn....

 It was hard to say goodbye....

 Those blue nails...they started it all....

Best place to have a beer.

And some miles for my training log..... #1/2marathontraining2017

Two hours to get there..two hours on the trail ...and two hours drive....$10 in gas.... a bag of cheetos...it was worth it.  Long after leaving I can smell it, feel the sand under my shoes, and be healed, happy and fulfilled from the wonderful glory of our earth.  Our earth it sits there and exists so that we can exist.  Let us never forget.