Today’s Observations
For the past three days, I have had the pleasure of taking care of my friend Charisse’s Shih Tzu – Phoebe.  Besides being just about the cutest darn thing you’ve ever seen, she is an example of a life lived with joy and confidence and ease.  She’s a bit of a sleepy head, so while I did my morning yoga routine, she slept in.  But then after all, she wrote the book on ‘Downward Facing Dog’.  Once she wakes up though, she is so excited to go outside for our morning walk and see what the world has to offer.   She runs everywhere she goes. And whether she is running down the street, or chasing the birds on the beach, she literally leaps with joy and runs so fast that it blows her ears back as if she were a model on a set with a special effects fan.  And though she’s only ten pounds, she approaches much larger dogs with a kind of canine confidence that says, I know who I am and I know what I want… and right now I want to sniff you.  Filled with joy and confidence, Phoebe glides through life effortlessly.  Even her work (hunting for squirrels) seems like play.  For her there is no separation between the two.

Some might say that’s a dog’s life, but I like to think it is a people life too, and the kind of life I want to live.  I want my life to be characterized by that same kind of joy and excitement in greeting the day, a confidence that comes from knowing who I am and what I have to offer, and an ease in moving through life where the lines between work and play are blurred.  I think living with this kind of joy and confidence and ease is the way it was meant to be for all of us, canine and homo sapiens alike, and I for one am grateful for my ten pound role model.

Today’s Menu
Fruit Salad for breakfast
Asian Pear Salad for lunch
Snacks – LARA bar, pears, pecans
Guacamole for dinner :)

Today’s New Recipe(s)
I’ve missed writing my blog for a couple days, and I’ve also missed making a new recipe each day, but I have tried two new ones which were excellent – Watermelon Wow! and Greenmarket Salad with Macadamia Nuts.  The Watermelon Wow is the name I gave it after I tried this recipe for a watermelon granita shared with me by my friend Laura Taylor.  It is totally fun and refreshing.  Granita is typically served with a spoon in a bowl, but I like it a bit thinner as a drink.  A cool drink to share with guests.  The Greenmarket Salad from Raw Food Real World is another winner – especially the dressing.  Both will become part of my regular weekly menu.  Enjoy.

Watermelon Wow (4+ Yums)
1/2 petite watermelon (about 2 cups)
1 Tablespoon agave
Juice from 1 lemon
About 6 medium mint leaves, sliced
Ice

Place everything in blender except the ice, blend, and then add enough ice to get to the consistency you want.  Thinner for a beautiful pink drink (garnish with mint) or thicker for a refreshing desert you can eat with a spoon.

Greenmarket Salad (4 Yums)
Dressing
1 small avocado
1 cup OJ
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons lime juice
1 handful cilantro
2 green onions
1/2 small jalapeno
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup olive oil
Freshly ground pepper

Blend everything except olive oil and pepper.  Then, with the blender running, slowly pour in the olive oil until creamy and smooth.  Season with pepper.

Salad
1 large bowl of mixed greens
1 large handful of sprouted sunflower seeds
2 radishes
1/2 cup raw macadamia nuts, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
I also added more avocado and some other stuff I had in the fridge – celery and red pepper

In large bowl, mix salad ingredients and dressing to taste.

Today’s Affirmation
I live a contagious life of joy and confidence and ease.