Weekend Cleanse

I decided to take Gina up on her challenge to all of us to do a mini-cleanse and also a little karma yoga.
"Mini" and "little" seemed doable. My mind was set to begin Friday morning eating only fruits and vegetables and drinking only apple juice and water for two days. I started out with cantalope and apple juice at home. Then drove up to my mom's in St. Joseph where I was immediately offered warm chocolate-zucchini cake, fresh out of the oven. How could I refuse my "aging mother" who said she baked the cake just for me. It went downhill from there. Late lunch out with mom included chips and salsa and cheese dip and tacos. Then back to her house for more cake. Then home for beer and chips before dinner and finally more cake with ice cream this time, right before bed. Feeling bad, but not defeated, I started out again on my cleanse voyage the next morning (Sat). Talk about vrittis (is that the word for the shakies when doing balance asanas?), my weak mind was battling with my strong mind all morning, trying to convince me that I couldn't make it through the day....but I did. No headaches this time, since I had given up coffee with the last cleanse. But tired and hungry, yes. Sunday morning I was resolved and so far (it's almost 8pm) I think I'm going to make it. At least my mind feels it's so. I also did some yoga and mediation at home so I could say I did it all. I even drank some of the dandelion tincture and took one glass of the herbal cleanser (uuggghhh, how quickly I remember how bad that shit tasted) One thing I found out is I think I could do another cleanse come fall and maybe not suffer quite as much. I actually think I've moved a tiny step forward. But I have to admit I'm looking forward to milk and cereal in the morning and a piece of toast with butter and homemade strawberry jam.
As far as karma yoga. I decided to do two things, one for Mother Earth and one for humankind.
I bought a clothes line and strung it across two trees in our backyard and have thus far done three loads of wash and hung them out on the line with my vow being to not use the electric dryer unless absolutely necessary. (down with coal-fired power plants, power to the breeze!) I found out that I forgot how much I love to hang clothes out on the line. Talk about a moving meditation. Now I just have to watch out for bird poop.
The second thing I decided to do was to get involved with a group in Columbia, Mo. who make wheelchairs for people all around the world who don't have access to them. We've donated money, but Rich and I are hoping to get our hands dirty by helping to make some of the parts for the wheelchairs. An opportunity for another moving mediation maybe?
I'm sharing all this with you, dear kula, to keep me honest in the days, weeks and months ahead.
Happy Be-lated Birthday Dear Dali and Namaste to all of you.
love, deb