We had a place once. Where Dick and I loved to share a bowl of soup. It was a narrow space sandwiched among upscale shops in Montclair, New Jersey. Making your way from the front door to the ordering counter and kitchen at the back wall required careful navigation down either of two aisles defined by shelves displaying organic groceries and local produce. There were just two or three dining tables in the limited space remaining. It was not uncommon to share a table with a homeless person who knew they could get a bowl of soup for little or nothing. That was the heartbeat of the place. The soul of the proprietors. We happlily slurped our soup in the soup place each year when we trekked across country to visit our daughter. Slurp. Yes. That's exactly how we ate our soup. Not bad manners. Just pure enjoyment. But our soup place closed. It was sad. This year, our daughter was excited to tell us of a new place. We would love it. She just knew. Terra at the Isabel Rose Cafe. Next to the Montclair Public Library. We walked to the cafe. Everyday. For their soup of the day. Hot. Nutritious. Bursting with flavor. The desire to learn more of the soup place and their owners persisted, however. Where would I start my quest? I had noticed framed newspaper clippings hanging on a wall in the soup place, so I emailed the editor of Montclair Patch. Her prompt, sweet response: Hi Adrienne, I would love to help you out but Montclair Patch started in 2010 after the business closed. I think your daughter is right about it having Rainbow in the name. Terra Tea & Fair Trade moved into the spot, but have since moved to serve in the cafe at the Montclair Public Library around the corner from Church Street. Just wanted to make sure you knew about that move. Good luck and if I think of anything I will reach out. -Teresa She could not provide me with clippings, however she affirmed my daughter's remembrance that "Rainbow" was in the business's name AND she cited the thread... connecting the soup place with Terra at the Isabel Rose Cafe. Life's twists and turns... and how they eventually intersect. So fun they are.
One day, I read a sign at the entrance to Terra at the Isabel Rose Cafe. A Montclair homeopathic doctor was offering a magnesium workshop in the evening at the Terra Cafe. I invited my daughter. Pictured above during her presentation, Dr. Linda Robins stressed the importance of magnesium (e.g., strengthens bones and joints, helps balance cholesterol, boosts immune system, lowers blood pressure, regulates blood sugar). She stated that there there is a widespread deficiency in the general population and shared methods of replenishment. She cautioned against taking magnesium supplements, in most cases, because it's easy to get too much which then can upset the delicate balance of magnesium, calcium, vitamin K2, and vitamin D. Getting nutrients from a varied diet of whole, unrefined, unprocessed foods will prevent overconsumption of any one nutrient. Dr. Robins served a lentil soup prepared with a seaweed broth of kombu and seaweed seasoning because lentils and seaweed supply a significant amount of magnesium. Additionally, she provided us with a sampling of seaweed seasonings to sprinkle atop. Here's a chart listing some magnesium-rich foods.
An alternate method, which Dr. Robins demonstrated, is to provide our bodies with magnesium via absorption from a seaweed steam bath and a seaweed facial. So, I did that. For my eldest granddaughter. A rainstorm CD played in the background as the seaweed dried on her face. I listened to her rhythmic breathing slow as it does when one falls asleep. I gently spoke her name. Yes. She had fallen asleep... within a 5-10 minute timeframe. (Magnesium relaxes nerves and muscles.) After 45 minutes, I woke her. Her few adolescent breakouts on her forehead had dried from the seaweed's salt content and her skin looked refreshed. Dr. Robins recommended Maine Seaweed for wild seaweeds and sea vegetables hand-harvested off the coast of Maine. Besides magnesium-rich food sources and a seaweed steam bath and facial, she suggested bath and/or foot soaks using magnesium chloride flakes (not epsom salt which is magnesium sulfate) and magnesium oil and lotion. After attending Dr. Robins workshop and researching online sources, especially the Ancient Minerals website where you may purchase magnesium chloride products, Dick and have established a daily ritual. We... 1)spray our body with 8 squirts of magnesium oil (or spray a few squirts at a time into your hand then rub on body) after our morning shower on areas that have increased transdermal absorption-inner thigh/groin, stomach, neck, armpits as a deoderant, and/or scalp, 2)rub magnesium lotion onto the bottoms of our feet, and 3)add magnesium chloride flakes to warm water for a foot soak using just enough water to cover our feet set in a plastic shoe storage box. The Ancient Minerals website offers a plethora of information such as a pdf explaining how to use magnesium oil, lotion, and flakes. In the document, it explains why they don't recommend making homemade versions of magnesium oil and lotion. However, if you choose to, here's an excellent YouTube video by "BacktoBasics Gal" that explains how to make your own magnesium oil and magnesium lotion. Here's a recipe for magnesium body butter from "Wellness Mama" with links to online ingredient sources and a recipe for magnesium oil.