Yes, you guessed it, we slept almost 12 hours! We woke early Tuesday morning, making our way downstairs for our first real Italian cappuccino and pastries. An hour later we were in a taxi trying to explain to our cabbie, in Spanish, where we were to meet our fellow Sierra Club hikers.  Finally we found them near the Spanish Steps and we all boarded the bus.  By noon we were in the picturesque town of Orvieto in the region of Umbria, often referred to as "the green heart of Italy."  We checked into our room and we were thrilled! Nancy immediately threw open the shutters (without screens) and inhaled the crisp, clean Italian atmosphere.

Orvieto is known for its white wines, which tend to be lean and floral.  Most appreciated are Trebbiano and Grechetto. Right behind are Canaiolo Bianca and Malvasia Bianca.  We soon learned wine is consumed at both lunch and dinner, daily.  After lunch we were hoping for a bit of shopping before the hike (yes you eat, drink and then hike here) but lunch hour throughout Italy is from noon to 2:00 or 3:00, depending upon the merchant's mood.  Instead we walked amid the cobbled stone streets then changed into our hiking gear. Our guide took us through the Etruscan caves and burial site.

Nancy and I walked 19,393 steps that day. 

After 2 days in Orvieto our group traveled by bus to Gubbio, where we remain as of today. We have toured our guide's palace, she is a countess, viewed the Feste dei Ceri, from one of the many balconies of the palace. This festival commemorates the town's Patron Saint, Ublado, who is joined in the race by Saint Giorgio and Saint Antonio. You must Google details of this centuries old celebration.

Everyone in the village comes out to celebrate! 

The following day included a morning hike, along a regularly traveled trail of Saint Francis, a most moving hike, done in complete silence, lunch (not so silent) and a tour of the Basilicas of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Nancy, the others and I have hiked through wind, rain, hail and a bit of sunshine (I didn't pack appropriately - though my suitcase is so heavy with clothes I've been asked if I'm hauling gold bouillon. While Nancy, of course packed lighter and smarter).  We have consumed the Italian's gracious offerings of pasta, meat, cheese, salad, grilled vegetables, dessert and wine 

amid long days that start at 8:30 a.m. and end at 9:00 p.m.  We've made our way through meadows, wooded areas, delicately balanced our poles over slippery, loose rocks, traversed up and down steps and hillsides reaching elevations of 1500 feet or more. 

As of today Nancy and I have taken a total of 104,254 steps for Alzheimer's (Alz). Leaving our Alz calling cards wherever we can and giving purple ribbons to those who ask.

Together we are sharing Nancy's story, in an effort to de-mystify this strange memory-robbing disease. Unsure as to whether or not all this walking is enough to off-set all this eating and drinking, we are beginning to see cracks in the reticence associated with Alz.  People are asking questions and we're doing our best to provide answers. Giving hope to those living with their diagnosis, instead of hiding it.

We hope you haven't forgotten to visit our funding site, established to add dollars to the pennies currently awarded to Alz research and support.  Please go to j.mp/FFALZ.

Ciao!! 

Our Journey to Italy

When we said "follow us as we walk along the Franciscan Trail," I had every intention of keeping you informed.  While I can access our Blog site from Italy, I can't exactly read it. It comes through in Italian! So I'll do my best to catch you up via our friend Suzy, who is state-side.

We took the "red eye" from Vegas to New Jersey Saturday night, arriving in Jersey around 7:30 a.m.  With an eight hour lay over, Nancy was gracious enough to patiently answer my, "what time is it?" (The adult version of "are we there yet?,") about every two hours.  Nancy busied herself with writing while I people (and bird) watched and fought with Samsung over the phone.  Trying to pass time wisely we utilized airport charging stations and ate American pizza for lunch, or was it dinner? Actually it was breakfast, but as far as our stomachs knew it was "linner." 

As I munched on the dry crust and under-seasoned slice of pizza I envisioned real Italian pizza. When we finally boarded the plane for Rome, we were exhausted.  Alas, sleeping in coach isn't any more comfortable than sleeping in airport chairs. Perhaps it's even worse. At least I can drape my legs over the arms of the chairs and watch free t.v at the airport.  It was 8:00 a.m. Monday when we landed in Rome.

After checking in to the Marriott Courtyard in Rome, we did our best to stay up instead of sleeping.  We both really wanted to sleep. But adhering to the oodles of advice given, we grabbed a cab and headed for Vatican City. What a zoo!! We didn't buy tickets as the lines stretched around the block. More waiting was not something either of us was interested in.  Food, that's what was on our minds.  While we didn't locate the best restaurant in town, we were somewhat satisfied with our meal, ravioli. After a few hours we decided it was okay to return to the hotel. After standing in the designated location to catch our ride back, it was Nancy who remembered the hotel shuttle does not run from 1:00-4:00.  Yup, that's the lunch "hour" in Italy, for those who don't know. 

Once back at the hotel we showered, changed into our Jammie's with the intention of ordering another glass of wine and perhaps some dessert.  But first, "let's just lay down and rest our eyes," I said.  I suspect you know what happened next . . .

Green The Colour Of Love

The beauty of Green.  As found at the Springs Preserve Butterfly exhibit. 

Exactly what’s so great about eating Green?  While it has almost become a bit of a cliché, evidently, there are a lot of great things about Green.  Not only is Green the colour of the 4^th Chakra, the Anahata, meaning “unstuck,” it is designated as our Heart Chakra or Anahata responsible for moving love through our lives.  If you think about it, we Tree-Huggers and Naturalists are lovers of Nature, and when I conjure up images of nature in my head, I tend to think trees, green trees.  Ever wonder why someone is referred to as “green with envy,” when their heart experiences jealousy? 

But that’s another Blog for another day. 

The definition of eating Green continues to hold up in the realm of good nutrition, healthy lifestyles and smart food choices.  Though, to be honest, those murky green smoothies I subsisted on for several months a couple years back, didn’t really do much for me.  Remember Cheryl and Megan?  I was sick with colds and flu more that particular year than any other in recent past.  Obviously, the ingredients I used weren’t exactly the right ones.  Likely too much banana and peanut butter.  Those tend to be my smoothie staples.

However, Green eating isn’t limited to just thick algae-like beverages and the salad bar.  A plant-based diet offer us an abundance of positive outcomes and is offered to us in a variety of styles.  I don’t want to imply that eating Green is inclusive of only shades of green.  We would all be better served thinking in terms of rainbows.  And I don’t mean Fruit Loops or Fruity Pebbles.  More like, Red – apples, strawberries, cherries, and turnips.  Yellow – of course, my bananas, pattypan and summer squash, grapefruit (Ugli fruit), and those stunning little yellow tomatoes.  Blue – blueberries, blue-purple fingerling potatoes and bluemilk mushrooms (look them up, they’re beautiful), Orange – oranges, butternut squash, carrots, and mangos. 

Because most of us eat with our eyes first, creating a masterpiece of colour and texture on a platter or in a vibrant serving bowl has the potential to draw in even the most loyal of fast-food eaters. 

A Bursting Rainbow of Flavor in a Garden Pot. Forget those itty-bitty offerings, Go Big!

While some of us can jump right in and make drastic changes in our eating behaviors, I certainly am not one of them.  And for those of you, who like me, can subsist on bread and wine or wine and M & M’s, easing into a wholesome diet is a bit of a process.  The benefits of plant-based eating has so many benefits, many of which you already know, but they bear repeating.  With a weekly menu primarily rooted (pun intended) in plant-based foods we will see our blood pressure go down, our cholesterol go down, improve our blood sugar levels, and even lose a little weigh and those excess pounds related maladies. 

One of my recent endeavors has been involved playing around with hummus and pesto.  I love traditional pesto prepared with fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts and good olive oil (uncooked by the way, when it is best for your body), and hummus.  Hummus while not green offers a healthy dose of protein and fiber.  When prepared with some forethought can be lower in fat than commercially prepared brands. 

To get started with that first small step I prepared some garden sweet pea pesto, which can be consumed like pesto or hummus.  Meaning you can eat it as is by simply dipping in some fresh crudités.  Or you can use it traditional pesto, as a condiment on top of a poached chicken breast or other protein. 

Here’s how:

Here I garnished with lemon zest, fresh mint and a bit more grated Gruyere. 

Garden Sweet Pea Pesto

Ingredients

4 cups fresh (or frozen-thawed) garden peas                     ½ cup grated Gruyere cheese

4 tablespoons toasted pine nuts                                             2-3 cloves fresh garlic – peeled

1 teaspoon salt + pepper to taste                                           1 teaspoon fresh mint + leaves for garnish

1/3 – ½ cup good olive oil                                                         zest of one lemon

Process

Using your food processor or a good blender, place peas, grated cheese, pine nuts, garlic, salt, pepper 1 teaspoon of the mint leaves and half the zest of the lemon.  Blend ingredients until partially combined.  With machine running on low, drizzle olive oil through top or feed tube until desired consistency is reached.  Some people like their pesto thicker than others.  But don’t over-blend mixture to a state of runniness.  You may need to stop the machine (especially if you’re using a blender) to scrape down sides of bowl/container.  Taste for additional seasoning. 

Using a rubber spatula, scoop pesto into a large serving bowl and garnish with remaining lemon zest and a few mint leaves.  Use as a dip for your fresh crudités or some veggie chips or even a condiment on chicken or other proteins of your choosing.  

Brainberries and More

An excellent book to help children cope with unexpected changes in a loved one. 

   There’s a children’s book written by the talented and compassionate author Tomie dePaola, entitled One Foot Now The Other.  If you’re not already familiar, it tells the story of the unusually close relationship between a boy and his grandfather.  When he was a toddler, it was Grandpa Bob who taught little Bobby to walk.  Growing up, Bobby and Bob played blocks together, coloured, set up army guys, you know, all the things very young and the rather old boys enjoy doing. 

An image from inside Tomi dePaola's book.

   In this story, Bob lives with Bobby and Bobby’s parents, allowing the bond between child and grandparent to only deepen.  One day when Bobby gets home from school, his grandfather is not sitting in the chair where he often sits reading.  Bobby’s parents sit down to explain to Bobby his grandfather was taken unexpectedly ill and needs to stay in the hospital, for a very long time.  Bobby, is of course, quite upset.  The story only saddens from here.

   When Grandpa Bob returns home, Bobby is shocked to see his best friend, now feeble, can not speak, walk or eat on his own.  Bob suffered a stroke. Tomi dePaola, takes us on a journey of giving back and supporting people you love in whatever means you have.  Bobby is able to slowly get over his fear and discomfort with his grandfather’s condition and becomes the focal point of healing for Bob.  Helping his grandfather to eat by actually feeding him as Grandpa Bob had done for him when he was a baby.  Entertaining Bob by building those blocks into the tall, tall tower and then joyfully knocking it down, just as he and Bob did when they played together. 

   Seeing small indications of response in Bob, that no one else in the family can see, Bobby doesn’t give up.  Finally he is able to coax his grandfather to take a walk with him.  Carefully removing the blanket from his grandfather’s lap and helping him to stand, Bobby instructs Bob to take one step, now another.  As you can probably detect the story does indeed have a happy ending with a picture of Bobby and Grandpa Bob holding hands and walking down the block together.

No explanation needed here, right? 

   I used to read this book to the children in my Pre-k and kindergarten classes.  It was a wonderful way to show children that unexpected changes in our loved ones is not something to be feared.  My own children were introduced to this story at very young ages, as my youngest brother was a paraplegics.  They grew up understanding the subtleties of when to offer help and when not to intervene, to respect independent effort when they encountered someone with an obvious physical disability. 

   Until one is written specific to the changes that occur with Alzheimer’s disease, this book is an excellent tool for us to use when explaining feelings of fear, discomfort with our children.  Showing them how to transforming unease and discomfort  into feelings of hope and creative helpfulness. 

   Of course there are no discussions regarding medications, doctors or nutrition in this little story,  it is my hope that while Bobby was busy taking Grandpa Bob for walks and dazzling him with displays of block towers and army men brigades, Bobby’s mom and or dad were in the kitchen preparing healing foods.  I certainly would be. And to maintain my status as helpful, healing chef here are a couple of good brain foods both Grandpa Bob and Bobby would benefit from and enjoy eating.

YUM!!

   Blueberries are a potent antioxidant.  Considered one of nature’s SuperFoods. Some refer to them as “Brainberries.”  Vitamin E is another Brain Booster and is naturally found in most seeds and nuts. 

Fresh Blueberry and Kale Salad

Ingredients

1 cup quinoa or wheat berries – rinsed, cooked according to package directions and cooled

1 cup sweet peas-fresh or frozen or peeled edamame                       2 cups fresh kale – rough chopped

1 ½ cup fresh blueberries                                                                 ½ cup pine nuts - toasted                      ½ cup crumbled feta                                                                       ¼ cup red wine vinegar                          1 tablespoon Dijon mustard                                                             ½ tablespoon honey                              1 small shallot - minced                                                                  salt and pepper to taste

Process

In a large mixing or serving bowl, combine cooked grain of choice, peas, kale, blueberries, pine nuts and feta.

In a small mixing bowl whisk vinegar, mustard and honey until well blended.  Slowly drizzle in olive oil, while continuously whisking, creating an emulsion.  When oil and vinegar are completely combined, whisk in shallot and season vinaigrette to taste with salt and pepper.   Drizzle over salad.     

                                                                                                                Serves 4

OR

For a wonderfully tasting and energizing snack try this open-faced sandwich.

Ingredients

2 slices whole grain bread, such as Ezekiel                                    4 tablespoon almond butter

 ½ fresh papaya - sliced                                                                a handful of fresh, cleaned blueberries

Process

Lightly toast two slices of whole grain bread, such as Ezekiel.  Spread a generous amount of almond butter on each slice and top each slice of bread with sliced papaya and a few blueberries. 

                                                                                                                 Serves 2   

      

Please don't forget to visit our Funding Site to help raise money for Alz. Awareness and Support at:
 <http://j.mp/FFALZ> j.mp/FFALZ

Ciao

Can you do this?  

How about this?

Certainly you can do this!

So, while Nancy has been up in D.C. learning and talking more about Alzheimer’s (ALZ) with her fellow National Alzheimer’s peers and professionals and I’ve been waiting for the sores on my feet to heal, Brenda, as you can see, has been busy working to build strength and mobility in that leg of hers.  Brenda’s slow progression may sometimes frustrate her, but her walking, stretching, bending and extending are indeed making a difference.  She may not see big changes occurring each day, but it's happening just the same.  I, on the other hand, had to allow time, along with some ointment, for the healing to begin on my feet.  And I can assure you, Nancy is making all kinds of differences in D.C.

They say, in order to make a difference, you must start by taking small steps.  I chuckled when I read that, because that is literally what Nancy and I will be doing in Italy.  Taking small steps along the Franciscan Trail, in order to make a difference in how Alz. is so ignored, underfunded and well, scary.  It has always been important to me live a purposeful life and most of the people I surround myself with adhere to this same principle.  True, we can’t always make what some would consider a big difference, leading them to ask “so why bother?” 

There's a story about hundreds of sea stars that washed up on a beach somewhere.  Well, a couple was walking along the beach and the woman (maybe it was the guy) began picking them up one at a time and throwing them back into the ocean.  Her companion asked why bother throwing them back into the water since most had already died or were close to it, plus there were just so many.  The woman calmly replied, “it will make a difference to one of them, and isn’t that good enough?”  (The story goes something like that.)  Point being, if we can make a positive impact on even one person’s life isn’t that something wonderful to aspire to?  Isn’t that what makes you smile as you walk or drive away after helping someone?  Or being helped by someone?  Even observing one person helping another brings a smile to my face. Especially those random acts of kindness!  Wouldn’t you agree, when you do something kind, be it extraordinary or quite simple, those good feelings can last for days?  And when you share the story, be it hours or years later, whether you were the helper or the helpee, those same feelings of goodness and happiness begin to bubble up like sweet, sticky, popping bubbles of melting caramel?  Yum.  Someone get me a spoon.  

Or at least an apple

So here we are in early April, just five weeks away from our adventure, one that may impact hundreds of sea stars or just a few.  Either way, there will be lessons learned, experiences had and stories to share.  It is our  hope this adventure will in some way touch you, even if you haven’t had any direct contact or interaction with Alzheimer’s disease.  Memory loss isn’t a fun topic to discuss, neither is cancer, mental illness, nor whatever other malady you may have dodged or have been a direct target of; there is something you can do to help.   

Please join us in giving support to the Alzheimer’s Association, to those who have been diagnosed, or work with people diagnosed.  Those caregivers who spend long hours working, lifting, stretching, bending and extending to care for their loved one or charge.  You never know, you may end up giving just one person exactly what they need, right when they need it most.  Trust me, you’ll be remembered.  Please donate by visiting our Generosity Funding Site (a subsidiary of Indiegogo): <http://j.mp/FFALZ>  Log on and donate at the link. (Be careful though, you may want to click on the button of the page, allowing you to change the fee to donate from $10.00 to $0.00)

Meanwhile, here's something that will serve Brenda, or anyone else out there trying to expedite healing an injury. 

 Since vitamin A promotes the production of white blood cells, known as the "keeper (in this case, the caregiver) of the injury" as they help our bodies to fight off infection while increasing the rate of healing, a recipe rich in vitamin A is called for.  I thought using those tasty Sweet Potatoes (yams and sweet potatoes are not the same thing) would work well today.  Sweet Potatoes are chock full of vitamin A, besides, both Nancy and my daughter Sharon love them. Here's a simple dish you can cook up for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  

Notice the discrepancies between the photos?  The bottom one indicates the white interior is the Sweet Potato while the picture above that one, leads you to believe the white interior is the Yam.  Hmmmm.  According to what I learned while in culinary school and what is explained in one of my cooking text books Yams have that brownish colored skin with white flesh inside.  They tend to be sweeter and more moist than Sweet Potatoes but alas, carry less sugar and vitamins A and C than the Sweet Potato.  Sweet Potatoes have that pinkish skin with yellowish flesh while the Dark Sweet Potato has a darker, more reddish color with a true orange interior.  The Darker Sweet Potato (Garnet) also cooks up to be a bit sweeter and more moist than it's lighter kin.  But it's that vitamin A I'm after here.  

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

2 Sweet Potatoes - baked until tender, but not mushy         2 cups shredded/grated Gruyere cheese

4 tablespoons unsalted butter - room temp                              1 teaspoon cinnamon

salt and pepper to taste                                        1 tablespoon ground sage or 3 tablespoons fresh chopped

4 eggs                                                                                 4 slices bacon - cooked and rough chopped

Slice each potato in half, then scoop out the flesh into a large mixing bowl, being careful not to tear the skins.  Combine the potato flesh with half the grated cheese, all the butter, cinnamon and half the sage.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  

Spoon the potato mixture evenly into each potato skin half then top each with one egg.  Divide remaining cheese on top of each potato half along with the cooked bacon then garnish with remaining sage.  

Placing potato halves on a baking sheet, cook in a preheated, 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes, or until eggs are done to your liking.  

                                                               Eat - Enjoy - Heal  

That link to donate again is: <http://j.mp/FFALZ>

Moong Bean Soup

Pretty

Let’s talk food, specifically brain food.  I’m pretty sure it is safe to say, if it’s good for the brain likely it’s good for other parts or organs of the body.  Certainly most of us know cinnamon is a multi-tasker, in that not only is it quite tasty mixed into our oatmeal or as a star ingredient in our cinnamon rolls, it’s loaded with antioxidants.  Originating from the inner bark of the Cinnamomum tree, I learned it's the oily compound cinnamaldehyde that is responsible for cinnamon’s ability to help reduce the buildup of tau proteins, those associated with the plaque that interferes with the cells of the brain communicating with one another and for repairing tissue.  Just one gram of cinnamon can have a beneficial effect on blood markers for those dealing with type 2 diabetes.  If you can, make the effort to find Ceylon cinnamon from Sri Lanka, Madagascar or Seychelles instead of the more prevalent Cassia strain from China and Indonesia.

Turmeric,  probably sitting somewhere in the back of your spice cabinet not only gives curry and rice dishes that beautiful golden, sunburst color but is another champion boxer in the ring of antioxidants.  Best when taken or mixed with pepper, since it’s a tad difficult for our bodies to absorb. The medicinal properties of the curcmin within turmeric, give those nasty free radicals who spend their time and energy creating cancer and wreaking other havoc in our bodies, a run for their money.  Not to mention turmeric also works as an alternative aide in soothing arthritis pain and according to recent research and studies, turmeric is extremely healing for the brain in terms of memory and cognition. Bam!

In it's whole form, turmeric resembles ginger root.  But has a more golden hue. 

While turmeric is not used in American cuisine as much as say, salt and sugar, we can begin to make small changes in our diets that allow us to obtain more of the good and less bad in our weekly intake of food.  Nancy and I now sprinkle a good dash of both cinnamon and turmeric in our coffee grounds when brewing our morning pots. 

Seeing as I can feel the weather just beginning to warm with the evening hours and early mornings still carrying a chill I thought I’d sneak in one more soup recipe before I start talking cold soups and salads.    My go-to choice and Nancy’s as well, is a warm cup of soup with a few wholesome crackers and a cluster of red grapes on the side.  Keeping it light for your last meal of the day allows you to more easily digest the meal, resulting in a more restful sleep and fewer pounds to creep up onto the scale.  

Indian cuisine seems to offer a plethora of recipes incorporating ingredients that are absolutely good for the brain.  One of these is a recent discovery I found at the International Market, the Moong bean or Mung bean.  It looks similar to green lentil beans, which is what I thought I was looking at, yet is used in both sweet, as a paste in pancakes, ice cream and Popsicles and savory dishes, soups and stews.   With a delicate, slightly sweet flavor, you can find these little oval shaped, legumes at Whole Foods and other specialty markets.  You can buy them whole or split and hulled and will find them ranging in color from green to yellow to black.  While they don’t need to be soaked overnight, I did see recipes instructing me to soak them for an hour or so prior to cooking. 

A new fandangled kind of pancake.  Thinking a different type of infused syrup might be called for. 

I'm definitely going to try these!!

After reviewing several recipes and talking to one of my savory chef friends, I decided to prepare a simple Moong and Green Chili soup.  Oooh man! ~ was this ever good!!  Here’s the recipe:

MOONG and GREEN CHILE SOUP

Ingredients

1 cup dry Moong beans                       2 cups vegetable stock                     1 cup water

½ teaspoon turmeric                            salt and pepper to taste                  3 tablespoons ghee*

1 teaspoon mustard seeds                   4 cloves fresh garlic-minced            1 half Spanish onion-minced

2-3 green chilies, seeded and rough chopped             1 fennel bulb – cleaned and thinly sliced

creme fraiche - garnish

Procedure

1)      Rinse beans and soak in clean water for about 1 hour.  Drain, rinse again then set to the side.

2)      To a heavy stock pot or Dutch, over medium heat, add ghee.  Heat until melted then add mustard seeds, cook until seeds start to sputter.

3)      Stir in sliced fennel.  Cook just until fennel begins to soften then add minced garlic, onion and green chilies.

4)      Pour  in vegetable stock and water to pot then add beans.  Bring to a boil then reduce to  simmer.

5)      Season with turmeric, salt and pepper to taste; continue simmering for another 30 minutes.

      Garnish each individual serving with a dollop of creme fraiche.

                                                                                                                     Makes 2-3 Servings

*Ghee:A form of clarified butter - you can purchase at Whole Foods or make yourself.  If you don't know how let me know, I'll include a recipe on our next post :o)

Attention All Slackers (I'll get to you Procrastinators later)

Hmmm . . .

It occurred to me the other day, as I was mentally reprimanding myself for not getting much accomplished the previous day, hey wait a minute! ~ I did get have a productive day!!  I began to wonder why I so frequently admonish myself for wasting precious time, when in fact I fall into bed at day's end completely exhausted.

Well I figured it out.  I have so many wonderful things going on simultaneously I can't possibly get to all of them each and every day.  It dawned on me, after beating myself up inside, that the previous day was in fact, quite eventful.  I woke early and first thing headed to the gym for a good workout.  Then I met with one of the young and most cerebral group of women educators I've ever had the pleasure to work with to pick up supplies and gather details of the upcoming Teachers In-Service sessions we are presenting in April.  I have the honor of being the food component (as always) showing teachers how to incorporate food and food preparation in their curriculum by utilizing the garden classrooms many of our local schools have on site.  I absolutely believe there are a multitude of lessons to be learned from Garden Classrooms besides science.  Math of course with all that measuring and adapting recipes to fit your group size, social studies, the foods of other cultures and of course art.  After that, I released another entry on my personal blog yourcosmicmuffin.blogspot.com, took care of some household chores and walked the dog.

After recharging myself on a grilled cheese sandwich made of mozzarella, ricotta, spinach and minced red onion I headed over to Nancy's house.  There, we finalized room accommodations for our trip, updated and clarified our Crowdfunding site and expanded our Food, Faith and Alzheimer's FaceBook page.

Why is it, almost daily, am I telling myself I'm not accomplishing anything?!  Let's be real and let's be kind to ourselves.  I'm saying "let's" since I'm sure I'm not the only one who does this to themselves. Especially if there are multiple children, family members, friends, a job or two in your life, it's not unlikely one feels like a hamster on the wheel going round and round but not going anywhere.  Let's "stop the madness!" (remember Susan Powder?) and give ourselves some credit.

So what if I took 3 days to walk the beach in Laguna, shopped until I almost dropped and ate and drank with my gal pals like a hedonistic princess with her court of ladies.  Those days were my reprieve and well deserved.

Aboard the U.S.S. Dana Point something or other

Upon closer evaluation it turns out I, and Nancy for that matter, and probably you, are not the slacker's we think we are.    And to prove it, here is some of the fruit of my and Nancy's labor.

# Alzheimer’s

Two women friends hiking a portion of the Franciscan Trail.  Turns into something far greater than just a hike... We find ourselves building Alzheimer's awareness and working to reduce the stigma attached.

Today we ask of you could please take a moment to visit our funding site at;    <http://j.mp/FFALZ>  or j.mp/FFALZ  (they’re case sensitive) and watch our short video.

**Just a note: our funding site at Generosity by Indiegogo self-attaches a fee located just below your contribution amount. You have an option to hit the "edit" button and mark the fee down to $0.00.

#blueriverapple

C’mon, don’t be shy, take a break from the everyday and get involved!  You’ll be part of a day by day travel log as Nancy and Deborah make their way along this historic trail in central Italy, by following along via FB or their blog.  The trip begins on May 14, 2016!!

 <http://www.foodfaithalzheimers.blogspot.com/>
www.FoodFaithAlzheimers.blogspot.com

#one4-ounceserving

Our Facebook page is: Food, Faith, and Alzheimer's