Jodi's Journal

It's amazing how in less than 12 hours I was waking in my bed on the west coast early at sunrise and now sleepy in bed in NYC. I am here for one week for NGY Teacher Trainings. I am so happy to connect with friends and family while I am here, but I am already looking foward to returning to California air!

This week I had the treat of having my parents visit me in San Diego. We filled it with real Jodi time, doing all the things I do in Cali...beach walks with Chants, yoga, surfing, home-cooked meals with veggies from the garden, friends, laughs and love!

I am so grateful now!

Full moon, summer solstice, extreme low tides...I can feel Mercury Retrograde easing off, life has been very intense this past month. Not just for me, but for so many I know. I trust that all is perfect the way it is supposed to be and I do not resist, but boy do I feel challenged lately. Living so close to the edge of the country, I am so grateful for the sun that consistently sets, for the ocean waves that indefinitely break, for the infinite fresh air that I am able to breathe and for the positivity and many blessings that exists daily in my world.

The garden is growing and I absolutely love spending time in this edible lifestyle. I never thought I would enjoy browsing garden stores, weeding, planting. I always loved harvesting - eating food that is just minutes old, scrumptious. I never wear gloves, I prefer to feel the earth and get dirty like a kid. I am a total newbie (this is my 1st garden) and I love to learn, why there is nothing more satisfying than eating a meal that is 100% home-grown.

In the past week I have found 2 new hobbies: riding a bike & drying wild white California Sage. I love exploring new things and awakening and exercising different parts of my brain.

Like a typical Taurus I committed to buying a bike last weekend, and so I did - I found a sweet deal on craigslist and bought a 1 year old 7 gear Schwinn Beach Cruiser. I have been riding around my neighborhood, visiting friends & made it to the beach on Sunday. When he is not mouthing his leash, Chants is my co-pilot.

My other hobby came about randomly when Shawn & I were visiting a friends' property (33 acres!) somewhere in Escondido (East County, San Diego). I wondered up a hill amongst a 1000 sq foot artichoke bed and on the outskirts, there it was EVERYWHERE! Sage was growing wild, all over the place. I had never seen this plant growing, and was so excited to recognize it, smell it, and yes, cut it!!

Sage has incredible edible and medical properties. I have yet to cook with it, but have gargled with sage tea for my sore throat, tied up lots of adorable bundles and decorated my kitchen, and made lots of smudge sticks that cant wait to be burned.

Oh so fun!

When I think of my life since I moved to Cali and all that I now get to do living here...gardening, surfing, biking...I am so blessed and grateful for my choices.