Gluten Free Junk Food

For decades we were the eaters of whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, whole grain crackers and chips. Going gluten free four and a half years ago made finding whole grain products much more complicated. These are some labels from our kitchen. I'm not particularly proud of having purchased some of them.

Food products with many more "starch" ingredients can be found on the grocery shelves in stores. My main point in all of this is: "STARCH" is NOT food!

Nice to know there are no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, but there isn't much real food in this product.
White rice flour and sweet rice flour are pretty much devoid of nutrients or fiber.

And this "whole grain" bread....
 How in the world can it be whole grain with all those "starches"?
 Beats me!

Each of the next 3 labels indicate a soy ingredient.
I question the wisdom of feeding soy to children.

Now how about some real food?
The next three are pasta, cereal, chips:
Whole Grain, NO STARCH

Check this out. Perhaps the prize of all: Whole Grain Quinoa, the grain that has all the amino acids for complete protein, gluten free. Quinoa is easy to cook, versatile to incorporate in meals, nutritious and tasty and gluten free. And of course, oatmeal.....

There is real food that does not come in a package with an ingredient list. I like the idea of food that grows on a plant, not food that is manufactured in a plant.
We eat vegetables, fruit, lean meat (including chicken, turkey, fish). This amazing plate of left-overs includes, chicken with homemade cajun sauce, squash, green beans, spinach with quinoa and organic mustard and a strawberry for garnish.

High Line Garden NYC

Fabulous view of Manhattan as we circled over Brooklyn to land at LaGuardia.

With four and a half hours in New York City, we walked from Penn Station to the amazing garden on the old high line rails, three stories above the street, and a mile long. The garden was featured recently in National Geographic.

Even in April flowers were a delight.

The Empire State Building from the High Line Garden.

Even though hundreds of folks turned out on a Saturday afternoon, there was space for brisk walking.

Here and there, sculptures decorated the gardens.

Nothing boring about the route, with platforms stretching out over city streets

An abundance of varied seating with interesting views

Flowers and flowers and flowers

Glass protection from the wind

More flowers, with some sort of self watering system which I have not studied

These folks are seated over the street, where they can view the traffic passing under, from the left in this picture.

Note the train wheels on the train tack under this seating.

The High Line train delivered food/produce to the third story, out of the way of traffic and pedestrians. Shown here, the train actually passed through some buildings.

Planting among the rails

Great place for children

Displays detail the history

Chalk art

Midway along the mile, looking over Chelsea, where we walked by busy ball parks, and finally to Good Foods store.

Roast turkey in a box and a Starbucks latte for supper before the train ride from Penn Station back to Summit, New Jersey.

Patriots' Day and Taxes

Paul Revere’s Ride

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1860.

"LISTEN, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year."


Patriots' Day: a call for all American citizens to step up and pay their taxes without cheating, with gratitude for bravery of the patriots who served before us and all opportunities and blessings.


... And the running of the Boston Marathon!

Easter at St. Andrew's

Congregational singing of hymns: heart of participation by the people
FIVE Easter Hymns at the 10:00 worship service:

"Jesus Christ Is Risen Today"
"Alleluia! Alleluia!" (Hymn to Joy, Beethoven)
"I Am the Bread of Life"
"Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds"
"Thine is the Glory"

Liturgy leader: Pastor Sarah Breckenridge (a friend!)
Following the sermon, the senior pastor led the affirmation, "CHRIST is risen", "CHRIST is risen, indeed".
(a more life-giving focus than "HE" is risen)

American Sign Language interpreter (on the left)
Bell ringers
Children's choir

Women at the tomb pictured on the service bulletin
By Dr. He Qi, internationally known artist (China)

Music by orchestra, organ, piano, choir:

Prelude: "Coronation March"
"Worthy is the Lamb" from Handel's Messiah
"Simple Gifts" Aaron Copland (St. Andrew's Orchestra)
Postlude "Amen" from "Messiah"

St. Andrew's orchestra at the far left (beyond the altar)
Full senior choir processed to the chairs, bright in the sun, behind the altar
Easter garden of lilies and tulips

Crocus chorus in our yard to wish you a blessed Easter season

Maryland Signs

On I80 in eastern Ohio, car trip to the Annapolis marathon (see previous post.)

On the trail




On the wall of the high school hosting the expo and post-race activities

More signs on the trail



At the historic Annapolis State House, at one time serving as national capitol

Another sign in the school hallway

Art lives at this school!

Back on the trail


No dead ends on the trail. The entire course was well-defined and staffed with volunteers.

Marvelous spring day, March 4, temperature at noon on race day