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SENT 'ROUND OUR WONDERFUL WORLD ON AUGUST 30th, 2012
We hope you take time to step out into the full moon tonight!
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Because we do not know when we will die,
we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well.
Yet everything happens only a certain number of times,
and a very small number, really.. .
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How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon of your childhood,
some afternoon that is so deeply a part of your being
that you cannot even conceive of your life without it?
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Perhaps 4 or 5 times more, perhaps not even that.
How many more times will you watch the full moon rise?
Perhaps 20. And yet -- it all seems so limitless...
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Our HighJoy Homestead Headquarters for GetWell*StayWell, America! |
The Wilderness Woman
& The HighJoy Horse! |
Our Hygiene Homestead
in The Woods Guesthouse | |
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DEER livefoodfactorfriends!
High & I hope you are healthy & happy today!
THANK YOU FOR OPENING UP OUR LETTER!
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This has been my busiest, most eventful summer since The Health Seekers' YearBook came into print
in 1990! I will tell you all about it in a few weeks with some GRAND OPENINGS we are preparing!
For today, just know that The Guesthouse has been full and overflowing in July and August.
And I have been just too busy to write and still get my Energy Enhancer #4 -- Adequate Rest & Sleep.
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If you are wanting to visit Our Hygiene Homestead in The Woods
during our most warm and sunny month of September,
you will be with 3 Happy Guests to keep you company.
Right now, Denise Ost from France is on her 8th day of fasting on water-only.
She and her husband are missionaries in Paris.
We struck a creative-financing barter. And she will tell you all about it in the following.
Please contact me if you would like to come during our September and/or October Indian Summer!
INTRODUCING 4 OUR livefoodfactorfriends FROM PARIS
-- DENISE OST!
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Good morning, Victoria! And a fine morning it is: "This is the day that the Lord hath made" ... and provided
for (my fasting here) in His grace and mercy and in your kindness! And some grace and mercy on your part,
too! I worked on most of this testimonial last night as soon as I finished the beds, because I was afraid I may
not "feel" like doing it later today or tomorrow as I start my first day of fasting on water-only!
Well... off to do the yard work at Our Hygiene Homestead in The Woods! It's so beautiful out!
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The first time I had the pleasure of "meeting" Victoria was on the phone, in 2009. I'd read about her in a book
(The Live Food Factor) in which her contact information was given. Interested in purchasing some products,
I called the number, expecting to get an employee of some kind to take my order.
To my complete surprise, the voice on the other end of the phone answered -- in a very chipper, upbeat voice:
'This is Victoria!" I was taken aback and sputtered a bit before I got my request out!
She laughed when I expressed my surprise that she'd answer the phone herself,
and we went on to have a very enjoyable conversation.
She took my order, but gave me, oh, so much more, by her friendliness and caring heart.
That is when I realized what a special person Victoria is.
And, my order arrived quickly, in about a week, to France..
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Yes, I live in France, where my husband and I are missionaries.
Victoria put me on her mailing list, and I regularly received testimonials
about The Guesthouse
and updates about GetWell*StayWell America!
I had wanted to go to The Guesthouse myself, but really never thought I'd be able to,
because of the time element involved, but especially because of the finances required, including travel.
So I simply set that desire aside every time it came up.
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Fast forward 3 years to Spring, 2012.
Although I knew better to let it happen, I'd allowed myself to put on some extra, unwanted weight.
I have the beginnings of arthritis, with pain in my knees whenever I sit or stand, as well as what I assume is gout
-- with one big toe completely numb.
At a yearly medical appointment, I found out that my blood pressure level was quite elevated.
The doctor informed me that I would need to start taking medicine for that.
That didn't surprise me, because I'd been having unusual dizzy spells.
My cholesterol and triglyceride levels were also waaay too high. Not good news.
But there was no way I was going to start taking blood pressure medicine
that I would then have to take for the rest of my life!
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That's when the desire to be a "guest" at Our Hygiene Homestead in The Woods was redoubled in my heart.
I knew that it would be the best possible decision that I could make for my health!
I knew that I needed to do this for myself, as well as for my family.
But, there was most certainly no way I could afford it, even at Victoria's already low rates.
That very week, I received another newsletter from Victoria. Oh, how that whet my appetite that much more to go!
A few weeks later, I was offered airline passes at a very reduced rate from a family member,
which had never been offered before. My hopes started rising...
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A month later I received a very unexpected monetary gift in the mail. And while it wasn't nearly enough
to cover even her least expensive rate... I decided to ask and see if I would receive.
I wrote Victoria, explaining to her my situation, and told her that I would be willing to do "whatever"
to be able to be a guest... albeit a "working guest"... at The Guesthouse.
I practically begged: "I'll sleep on a mat on the kitchen floor if you have no spot for me!"
Victoria asked me to call her to talk in person to see if we could work something out.
And after agreeing on the dollars and the weeks and some help
around the two Homesteads, Victoria accepted me!
I've been a very happy guest here at The Guesthouse for 10 days now.
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Victoria picked me up at the airport shuttle bus stop.
She met me with a fresh-squeezed grape juice, diluted with water "to cut the sweetness," she explained.
It was a reviving nectar to this hungry and tired traveler.
We arrived at The Guesthouse around 1 A. M. Seeing it was nothing short of a real treat!
My first words out of the "Black Beauty" P. T. Cruiser were, "The website doesn't do it justice!"
Lights on everywhere, twinkling all the way up the driveway and covering the house.
Beautiful! Absolutely stunning...
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Victoria had been extremely busy that day. And so on the drive in, she asked me to prepare my own bed.
That was fine... I'm a "working guest getting an enormous discount!"
But, no, the housemate whom I was to meet the next day had made it for me.
(THANKS, CHERYL!)
I think that meant more to me than had Victoria done it -- it showed a true caring and solidarity between guests.
I've so enjoyed getting to know my two housemates who are, however, way ahead of me.
They've already finished their 40-day fasts and have been breaking them ever-so-carefully
so as not to regain unwanted pounds or undo all the good accomplished during their fasts.
They've given me great advice and wonderful encouragement.
. .The Guesthouse itself is so very interesting, so full of treasures.
It has a "personality" straight from Victoria's Wilderness Woman imagination!
I've been noticing almost every day something I hadn't seen before... no boredom here!
I got to meet HighJoy-the-Horse as soon as I got to Victoria's headquarters 5 miles up The Skagit River.
He's a trip, with plenty of personality himself!
Maybe it's all the healthful food he gets -- I never knew that a horse would relish all our fruits and veggies!
I've been working these last 10 days, helping Victoria out in different areas
-- some office work, some yard and landscaping work, some kitchen work and some making beds and laundry work.
Not exactly chopping wood and carrying water, but all work that needs to be done, nonetheless.
Not always easy, sometimes tiring, but done with contentment... because I'm grateful to be here!
During this time, a particular Bible verse in the book of Colossians has come to mind:
"Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people."
That's what I've tried to do in my work here, to do the best I can, to try to be a blessing to those around me,
just as they've blessed me. And I have been "well paid," with Victoria's gratitude.
After my 10 days of work and Victoria let me know she, too, had been "well-paid," I, too, was gratified!
During this work-period, I've also been, with Victoria's guidance, wisely preparing my body for the fast.
In other words, eating VERY lightly and healthfully
-- only melons, many sizes and colors and flavors, always sweet and juicy
-- and drinking green juices, some of them lovingly prepared by Victoria for me!
I start my fast on water-only tomorrow. Yes, it will take some effort, some sacrifice,
but I'm looking forward in the months and years to come of reaping the benefits from the effort I'm sowing now.
Victoria has a very extensive library available. And while I haven't been able to read much these last 10 days,
I'm looking forward to accessing that information during my fast.
It will surely help to distract me from hunger! That and Victoria's hugs and her playful and happy self...
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And Now? Brown BagWell Lunch #11
Sweet Summer Corn Choy
.. INGREDIENTS:
1 Cup sweet corn kernels
1 Baby bok choy stalk, chopped into 1"
pieces, greens & all
1/2 Small jicama, cut into matchsticks
1/2 Red bell pepper, diced
10 Cherry tomatoes, halved
3 Ounces cashews
The juice of 1 orange, tangelo, or tangerine
* VITAMIX the cashews and orange juice, until you have the consistency you desire. Add more nuts or juice, accordingly.
This is a dressing Victoria has named "Sweet Cashew Creme."
* Combine all of the ingredients into a bowl. Mix well.
* Pour the Sweet Cashew Creme onto the salad. Mix well, again.
* Plastic contain your salad, and Brown
Bag It Well! Sweet Summer Corn Choy can be eaten with chopsticks, a
fork, of fingers!
INSPIRATION FOR THE DAY FROM MALTIE BABCOCK:
LIFE IS WHAT WE ARE ALIVE TO!
It is not length but breadth.
To be alive only to appetite, pleasure, pride, vanity, and money-making
-- and not to goodness, and kindness, purity and love, health, history, poetry,
music, flowers, stars, God, and hopes eternal --
that is to be all but dead!
And Next? Brown
BagWell Lunch #46
Strawberry Fields -- Forever
INGREDIENTS:
20 - 30 Sweet strawberries, long-sliced
1 Small avocado, diced
1 Inner stalk of celery, minced
1 Nectarine, diced
1 Orange, juiced
6 Outer leaves of a butter lettuce head
Date sugar (optional)
* Gently mix into a bowl the prepared strawberries, avocado, celery, nectarine, and orange juice.
* If the strawberries are not sweet enough on their own, make a "Date Sauce" of orange juice and date sugar in your VITAMIX.
This is not a perfect combination, but it beats forcing yourself to eat a salad that is not tasty!
* If making the Date Sauce, pour it over the fruit salad. Mix well. Place in a contain and BagWell with a spoon.
THE LETTUCE VARIATIONS:
You can pack the lettuce leaves up in a container or baggie. Or -- find an appropriate container
and lid. First, line it with the butter lettuce leaves. Then lay down all of strawberries, next the minced celery, and finally,
the avocado dices. The Date Sauce can be packed separately and poured over this lovely, layered salad before lunching.
Let this Brown BagWell take you down to... Strawberry Fields -- Forever!
INSPIRATION FOR THE DAY FROM VICTORIA BIDWELL:
The Wise Woman doesn't expect to find life worth living.
She makes life worth living!
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We Hope You Share Our livefoodfactorfriends News with Health Seekers in Your Corners of Our Wonderful World!
HAPPY TRAILS to you, until we meet
again!
Remember...
High & I Are Pullin' for ya'll!
We're All in This Together!
May... God Bless Us All!
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