Wednesday, March 18th, 2009
Signs of Spring
For the last few days, we’ve been treated to some mighty fine weather in Grey/Bruce! I’m told it got all the way up to 15c yesterday afternoon. Our woodpile is dwindling, and the ice is slowly being overtaken by water on our little scummy pond. Dogs, cats and humans alike have an extra spring in our step, and we’re all breathing in the emerging scents of grass and earth. Around our neck of the woods, one of the greatest signs of spring is my first bike ride of the year.
A Fixer Upper
After a long cold winter, temperatures like this inspire me to throw off the shackles of gasoline and hop on my bike. You guessed it, that’s my old clunker up there. A few years ago, it was given to me by my friend, Ellen at Indira Devi Studio of Yoga. Neither of us thought it would be fit to ride when she pulled it out of the storage room, but since I love fix-up projects, I thought I’d give it a try. I brought the bike to a small shop in Durham (I believe they’ve moved to Owen Sound now), Bikeface Cycling. I had figured that the bike would need a total overhaul, and that only the frame would be salvageable (the most desirable part of course!). When I arrived to pick her up, the owner told me that all he’d had to do was oil the chain, and pump up the tires!
Where to Tune Up
After reading this blog entry, I hope you’ll all haul your bikes out of the garage and take ‘em for a spin! However, you might be needing a tune-up, or perhaps you’ve outgrown your old bike and need a replacement. Here are a few suggestions on where to go in Grey/Bruce:
Bikeface Cycling Owen Sound 519-376-9777
Jolley’s Alternative Wheels Owen Sound 519-371-1812
Wheel Fast the Bicycle Shoppe Scone 519-363-3175
Martin’s Bicycle Shop Southampton 519-797-3645
Please leave a comment and let us know where YOUR favorite bike shop is!
In With the Old
It’s now been about 2 years, and I’ve put a lot of miles on this old bike. It has affirmed what I already knew; we shouldn’t throw away the items of the past in exchange for modern gadgets. Many people might have seen this old bike and sent it to the dumpster without a thought. So here’s your lesson of the day Grey/Bruce: Think twice before you toss that “old piece of junk”, it could definitely turn out to be someone else’s treasure.
Posted in Air Quality, Green Living, Health & Wellness, Transportation | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, January 20th, 2009
You may have been thinking “Hey, it’s been over a week with no posts! Where’s Jody?” Well folks, I’ve been a little under the weather. Ok, a LOT under the weather! I’ve been coughing, sneezing, aching, spinning, and feeling downright miserable for the last 4 days. It’s not all bad though, I’ve reached out to you, the Internet, for some tips and tricks to make myself feel better. Now I’m going to share with you the top 6 ways to survive this cold that’s going around.
6. Hot Lemon Drink
…and I don’t mean Neo Citron! Many friends have recommended this age-old recipe: hot water, a few drops of lemon juice (real lemons are best), and honey. Lemon is rich in Vitamin-C, which increases body resistance and decreases toxicity. The warmth of the drink is also very soothing on your sore throat, and congested chest.
Thanks to: @jmorgandavis on twitter, and Chantelle Nicholls from Squamish.
5. Homemade Vaporub
Those soothing vapors are so nice when you’re sick. It’s even nicer knowing exactly what you’re rubbing on your skin during those trying times. I found this recipe for Homemade VapoRub on “Mom’s Blog”.
Melt a small jar of petromleum jelly (Vaseline) without overheating it. When it turns to liquid, add 2 drops each of Peppermint, Eucalyptus, and Pine essential oils. Stir them in, and mix well. Pour the mixture back in to a clean jar, re-label and seal as soon as it reaches room temperature.
Apply to your chest, back, and the bottom of your feet, then wrap yourself up tight in your favorite blanket and breathe deeply.
Thanks to “Mom’s Blog”.
4. Soup
There’s nothing like a good bowl of soup to make you feel better. The more veggies, the better! Lucky for me, Justin’s mom makes great chicken & beef soups. If possible, make soup from scratch using chicken or beef bones to make your stock, and fresh veggies.
Thanks to Mary for making me soup, and @Qrystal from twitter for suggesting it
3. Rest, and Lots of it
If you know me, you know that I don’t take Advil, NyQuil, Neo Citron, Benidryl, Buckleys, or any other form of medication unless it’s absolutly necessary. I firmly believe that the symptoms we experience are telling us something. Feeling tired and run-down? Rest! Don’t take drugs filled with caffine - they won’t make you better. Most of the over the counter drugs on the market deal only with your symptoms, not with the sickness itself. They will often prolong your body’s recovery by pushing your symptoms aside while you run around.
I’ve spent the weekend with my favorite blanket, a great book, a heap of old movies, two warm cats, and one warm dog. Although my clients are very important to me, I’ve put all projects on hold until I’m better. Even though my job isn’t physical, it takes a lot of concentration, and hours staring at a computer screen. I know that the quality of my work won’t suffer if I take the time to rest, and get better.
2. Light Exercise
I know, I just told you to relax and rest. But if you don’t get up and move around every now and then, you’ll just feel sicker. I’m not telling you to go out jogging, or over exert yourself in any way, just move around enough to keep from feeling stagnant.
There are a few little things that I’ve been doing to keep active during the healing process. I’ll bundle myself up to take Pal outside, and instead of running around and wrestling in the snow, I just throw his rope toy for him. The fresh air does wonders, and I don’t tire myself out. I’ve also taken to doing a few light Yoga moves in front of the woodstove.
1. Singer’s Throat Tea
Call me biased if you like, but my mom makes the best tea in the world! Singer’s Throat Tea was originally developed for a friend of my brother’s, who had been singing all day long and had a sore throat. My mom blended up a pot of tea, and an all natural miracle was born.
Not only is it delicious, but it makes me feel almost normal for at least a couple of hours after drinking a a nice hot cup of Singer’s Throat Tea. Even my sinuses are clear! Among the ingredients are: Spearmint, Ginger Root, Wild Cherry Bark, and Rooibos. I won’t let all of the ingredients slip, to find out more you’ll just have to order some for yourself!
Ahhhh, Much Better Now
Now that I’m feeling mostly back to normal, I can get caught up on my laundry (washing all those wool socks that smell like eucalyptus), and more importantly, design work! My clients need to see their designs! I hope you try some of these remedies, and I hope they work well for you.
As always, everyone is invited to leave a comment! Let me know what YOUR favorite remedies are, and whether or not some of these have been effective for you!
Posted in Eat Locally, Foods & Beverages, Green Living, Health & Wellness | 3 Comments »
Monday, January 5th, 2009
Calling all holistic businesses!
Ellen McLean, owner of Indira Devi Studio of Yoga, has some extra space that would suit a holistic practitioner, massage therapist, or any related professional.
What’s available?
There are two private 125 sq ft rooms available, each with its own mural. They are available for full time use at $350 per month (each), or on a part time basis.
The main yoga studio (1200 sq ft) is also available to host classes and workshops. This room is perfect for a wide range of artistic classes such as yoga, tai chi, music workshops, and many more.
With the rental of any of these three rooms, you can take full advantage of the waiting room, retail area (with debit/credit & telephone services), change rooms, mens & ladies bathrooms, and free parking. There is also a kitchenette stocked with bottled water, tea and coffee with a mini-fridge and small eating area. The community bulletin board is a great way of communicating with your local target market as well.
If you’re looking for a peaceful, creative, vibrant environment to start your holistic business, look no further. Ellen is looking to create a mini community, and a welcoming atmosphere in this location.
What else is going on?
Ellen teaches yoga classes for all skill levels. Courses include Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, All Levels, and Kids & Family. Start your day with Morning Yoga with Diane Joyce. Practise your Tai Chi with Jaclyn Klein, or take part in Meditation with Marilyn Mayo Rabideau.
I have been practicing and teaching Yoga for over 25 years. I discovered Yoga as a healing tool after breaking my back. I am Kirpalu Certified, and have studied extensively under Swami Nityamuktananda in Kerala, India.”
-Ellen Ogg McLean
Interested?
The location is 330 10th St. Upper Unit #2 in Hanover.
Call Ellen at 519-364-6263, or Email her
Check her website for more information about services, fees, and schedules.
More photos
Here are some more photos of the spaces available, as well as common areas that renters would have access to:
Posted in Green Living, Health & Wellness, Local Opportunities, Pictures | No Comments »
