Life, Thoughts & Coffee - Page 7 of 70

September 6, 2013September 8, 2013

bananas, cinnamon, and . . .

Walking away from the Mercado 10 de Agosto on Calle Larga in Cuenca without carrying a big bunch of bananas is not easy. For one thing, those big bunches of bananas look rather tempting piled so high, and, for another thing, when at the mercado, one bunch doesn’t look like much when next to piles and piles of bananas. So I buy and buy big bunches of bananas and then I’m in a race to eat them.

In the process of eating the big bunch of bananas (20!), I discovered that they’re scrumptious when thoroughly mashed and sprinkled with good quality cinnamon. One early morning, I decided to start the day that way. I shook and shook the bottle on two thoroughly mashed bananas. Then I noticed the color wasn’t quite right, and picked up the bottle – it was cayenne pepper. I looked at those mashed bananas, and wasn’t sure what to do. Then I reached for the cinnamon.

The bite of cayenne, the sweetness of bananas, the delicate taste of cinnamon – you might want to try it. Oh, yes.

I hope you can say it was a wonderful day.

Sweet dreams!

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“As soon as you wake up, take your first conscious breath, stop and say thank you, thank you, thank you.” – Panache Desai
www.panachedesai.com

September 4, 2013November 7, 2014

for different reasons, these are the things I’m pondering this week

“To embrace the power of your Spirit, it’s up to you to support rather than attack your Spirit. Remember that Spirit is not an invader, an interloper, or a lesser god to be dismissed and ridiculed. Spirit is the holy essence with all the Divine breath of life that makes consciousness possible. Understanding that is the most intelligent and enlightened discovery you can make in life. To humble yourself to Spirit is to humble your mind to its true master – your Divine nature. In doing so, both mind and Spirit enter into the Sacred marriage of mind and heart, and profound personal peace begins.” – page 68, The Power of Your Spirit: A Guide To Joyful Living by Sonia Choquette”

“As human beings we are made to surpass ourselves and are truly ourselves only when transcending ourselves.” – Huston Smith

“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” – Albert Einstein

“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds.” – Bob Marley

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@paulocoelho: When we least expect it, life tests our courage. Accept the #challenge

@BradWarner: Real cooperation means being true both to yourself and to those with whom you share a purpose. You share a purpose with everybody.

August 28, 2013January 16, 2015

wondering about all the medicinal plants and bottles at the mercado

Upstairs at the San Francisco Mercado in Cuenca in its own narrow, long aisle is a section of healing plants, and bottles whose contents look a bit mysterious – only because they’re unfamiliar. For someone who loves delving into alternative healing, it’s frustrating. Ahh, but I do know an aloe vera plant when I see one, and there it was, in abundance, in all its glory

I’ll find out what those mysterious looking bottles and healing plants are all about . . . there’s a website, an enormously helpful one, called www.gringotree.com and I saw that someone named Alex gave an Andean Medicinal Plant Workshop in ENGLISH. Next time, guess who’s going.

Today I bought three enormous bunches of different medicinal plants for $2.00, for an injured ankle, from someone sounding confident in her knowledge . . . if only I understood what she said.

I know they’re supposed to be boiled in water. The questions are for how long? And how much to take and how often? And what are the names of those three bunches of plants?

How I wish the tutor I emailed for Spanish lessons would respond. It’s been said life is laid-back here in Ecuador, and that foreigners have to learn patience. There’s no doubt that there are more than a few opportunities in the course of a day to learn. It’s all good.

Sweet dreams all you who are off to bed. Dream big dreams!

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“All the greatest beings who have ever strolled through the Earth’s gardens have been people of transcendent faith. Every one of them had a tranquil attitude and a calm belief in the helpful powers of invisible forces. These forces are always available to everyone.”
– from The Sunfood Diet Success System by David Wolfe

August 27, 2013October 17, 2014

cafe, tinto, por favor. Gracias.

Nescafe is usually served in many restaurants in Cuenca. I can’t help but wonder how that ever happened. Thankfully, there are two places a few busy blocks from where I live, the El Centro area, that have coffee from Loja, the southern part of Ecuador. And that is something to get really excited about.

walking down the block the smell of coffee attacks. I like that.

It was necessary to substitute my wonderful French Press for what is seen in the pitcher in the photo. That’s when I discovered that as long as quality coffee is put into that little white (well, it used to be white) bag, along with the right coffee to water measurement, the end result is as good as making it in a French Press – a little more work, but worth it.

My Spanish is non-existent at the moment, which means I go along the streets and enter shops unable to ask the simplest of questions.

The young person in the photo next to the coffee grinder works at the cafe where people happily purchase a cup, or a pound. She’s very good at pantomiming, and for now that is our form of communication.

I’m still waiting for the sun to stay long enough to warm an apartment made of stone and cement. It’s chilly in Cuenca, Ecuador. Should you decide to vacation here, bring a few warm clothes, oh, yes, and an umbrella.

Let’s wish each other the loveliest of evenings.

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“Not all who wander are lost.” J.R.R. Tolkien

“Ever since happiness heard your name, it has been running through the streets trying to find you.” – Hafiz

“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds.” – Bob Marley

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August 26, 2013August 26, 2013

www.soulseeds.com

It’s Monday! Ready for a fantastic week?
Here’s a tweet for us from www.soulseeds.com as we go along the day creating an outstanding Monday for ourselves and others: FEAR – False Evidence Appearing Real
And more: “Fear pretends its protecting you, when actually its preventing you.”

August 22, 2013October 18, 2014

bob olson and james van praagh

When I clicked on to www.afterlifetv.com a little while ago, there was an impressive list of videos, and when I saw the name, James Van Praagh, the medium and writer of many books, I smiled. I once saw him at a workshop, and had a feeling the interviews would be highly informative and entertaining because he has a relaxed way, is quick to laugh, and has years of experience as a medium.

Bob Olson’s easy style, and his passion about the after life comes through on every interview. He’s also delightfully expressive which makes watching fun. It’s obvious that he wants to get very clear on the subject before the interview ends, and so he always seems to leave no stone unturned. Because of this, watching and listening to him is very satisfying.

If you want to learn more about the after life, and get comfortable with it, click on and listen to the two videos with Bob Olson and James Van Praagh. I’m betting you’ll enjoy and be glad you clicked.

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From a tweet: “You are creative and powerful. Let go of your fixed ideas, change ur inner pictures, & give yourself control over your own life.” – James Van Praagh

Can you say your weekend was wonderful? And say thank you whether it was or wasn’t? Thank you either way . . . because if it wasn’t . . . “Your soul is given many opportunities to develop and expand by living through adversity.” – James Van Praagh

August 21, 2013August 21, 2013

a cleanse, or bread and ice cream?

My son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Alicia, are doing a cleanse. I see their Facebook pictures and read their comments about the weight flying off of them, so to speak. I can imagine the delicious juicing going on in their kitchen.

And I am in Cuenca, Ecuador gaining weight from doing what seems to be a favorite pastime here – eating bread and ice cream. Oh, dear, the temptations are great . . . rarely can you walk down a block without seeing people eating, usually ice cream. Then there’s the passing of one bakery after another on almost every block. Additionally, and unfortunately for me, I met a gringo who told me about Maria’s Alemania at Hermano Miguel 809 y Sucre – it’s all about delicious bread! I could have done very nicely without that information. And to boot, Ecuador has an abundance of luscious fruits, and fruits have their own calories that can add up unless mindful eating is taking place. Ha! – hardly at the moment. So, I’ll say this, right now it’s okay, the enjoyment is nice, and I know how to change it at a moment’s notice . . . when I’m ready.

So, Michael and Alicia, enjoy losing all those toxins and seeing the weight flying off your bodies. Good for you!

As for me, well . . .

I hope you’re having the kind of day that makes your heart sing.

August 11, 2013September 14, 2014

Living in cuenca

July 2013 was a month of packing, and taking care of all the loose ends that come with a move. And it was a month of consciously remembering to stay calm and to trust myself. And it was a month of goodbyes, and not allowing myself to second guess my decision. I think that one of the most important things I had to do was to see this move as another experience in the game of life,
And so I tried and am now in Cuenca, Ecuador. The above photo is a view from my window.

Before moving here, I couldn’t quite zero in on what life would be like for a gringo in Ecuador. Reading and researching another person’s experience is like everything else in life. We bring ourselves, and we’re all different, and so our experiences will be unique to us. It makes me think of the book Wherever You Go There You Are by Jon Kabut-Zinn.

Sumi, thank you for agreeing to be a single working mom for a week as hubby Toshi departed with me to give assistance. It was twelve days ago that I left JFK with my son-in-law. The first stop was a night spent in Panama City, Panama at the lovely Riande Aeropuerto Hotel which is five minutes from Tocumen Airport. When we arrived, the night was still young, and we had a relaxing, tasty dinner surrounded by plants, palm trees, and other happy guests. Nearby the hotel’s large pool shimmered in the soft lights.

Early the next morning the hotel’s van took us to Tocumen Airport for a fairly short flight to Guayaquil, Ecuador. There we surveyed our options for the last leg of the journey – Cuenca. We decided that the four-hour bus ride would be scenic – as in up, up the mountain we would go. It was! We saw incredible views. Steep, steep it was though.

And though I was in Ecuador in 2004, I’ll say that at this moment I’m undergoing what’s called “culture shock” because . . . visiting a place and deciding to live there are two entirely different things.

I’ll close for now by saying thank you dear family of mine for all the love and support that came my way. I knew I could leave because you all know how to be happy, you’re all healthy, and you’re all a rather independent bunch.

And I love you all very much.

July 4, 2013July 4, 2013

lorna byrne

She inspires! And the messages she gets from Angels go around the world with her as she communicates what they tell her. Seeing Angels and receiving their messages, and asking them questions, I can’t image how that must be for her.

On one of her recordings she said that she was in a hotel in the Times Square area of New York and saw the Angel of Hope moving among the skyscrapers and sending hope to the people below.

That is a wonderful message for all Americans to keep in their hearts on this Fourth of July 2013. She said that the Angels tell her that America hasn’t reached its potential yet, but it will.
“@LornaByrne: Happy 4th July! America is a beacon of hope for the world http://bit.ly/1b9GOFH”

She gets and gives lots of hugs, and wants us to open our hearts and send out compassion and love to all the people we’re connected to — and that’s everyone.

Thank you Lorna Byrne for being a messenger of hope around the world.
www.lornabyrne.com

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

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A tweet: “@LornaByrne: Angels are asking me to ask you all to smile a litttle more.”

July 4, 2013May 20, 2014

trust

Much is written about the times when we feel overwhelmed by decisions having to be made, and we try to figure out the best course of action to get from one point to another. Through the years I’ve tried to follow the advice of the wise ones. For me the advice comes in the form of carefully chosen (intuition plays a part here) books, magazines, CDs, and DVDs. I’ve found that the advice of the wise ones actually works. But we have to implant in ourselves a huge dollop of trust since there’s no other way of knowing whether it will work until we put it into practice. And practice, they say, makes perfect.

The advice of the wise ones goes like this: Learn to listen to your intuition and trust yourself. Negativity has no purpose, in whatever form it takes; trust yourself. Do what has to be done, and then know that the best possible outcome is forthcoming. Then trust. They say that when we plant seeds, whether in the ground or in ourselves, if we keep digging them up to see what’s happening, nothing will happen. That makes perfect sense.

The next step for us is to relax and let go; we’ve played our part — time to trust.

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Tweets:

“@maritasteffe: A truly creative person rids him or herself of all self-imposed limitations. – Gerald Jampolsky

“@_NealeDWalsch: If you’re going to do something, do it with gusto. Hold nothing back. In life. Or love. Or anything at all.”

“@DesmondTutuPF: If we have loved well while we were alive our love will go on for generations.”

“@LouiseHay: Remember, they are only thoughts, and thoughts can be changed. The point of power is always in the present moment.”