We've had an awesome celebration here this weekend, both for our guests and ourselves...Adytum Retreat and Spa is proving to be a sensuous,beautiful place to connect with your lover and to restore your "self"...it is not only full of peace, but of romance and playfulness...

We've been cultivating living with intention, bringing beauty, luxury and romance into our lives on a daily basis...not saving the best for the 5% of life, but incorporating the things into daily life that make us feel nurtured, nourished and pampered.

Everything is important. Life is in the details...

Adytum: Finding the Ultimate Accessories to Luxury and Indulgence

Wrapped in a perfect, light Kassatex Waffle Robe, warm from a Jacuzzi bath scented with Neroli & Bergamot Dead Sea Bath Salts from the largest, and in my opinion the best salt distributor in the United States …The entire top floor of Adytum smells incredible and I feel exponentially better than incredible.

We are seeking to create a 5-star experience at Adytum. Having visited some of the finest hotels on our travels, we are enjoying the luxury and therapies here. We’re gathering a team of massage therapists, holistic physical therapists, manual therapy practitioners and those skilled in working with micro current stimulation that will be matched individually to personal needs and desires.

Combining massage with the use of the Eucalyptus Turkish Steam Sauna to relax taut muscles beforehand, a long soak with therapeutic Dead Sea Salts in the whirlpool bath, or a session in the Far Infrared Sauna or Salt Water Hot Tub will potentiate the effectiveness of the therapy and increase deep relaxation and healing.

Cleopatra knew of the healing value of the salt from the Dead Sea region thousands of years ago. Dead Sea Salts contain more than 15 natural and unprocessed minerals important to health. The skin is the largest organ and absorbs the health giving properties from the Dead Sea.

This quote is taken from our favorite salt website, “Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, discovered the therapeutic qualities of seawater by noticing the healing effects it had on the injured hands of fishermen. The seawater not only restricted infection risks, but patients who followed treatments involving the use of seawater found that it also promoted pain relief. It is now known that sea salt therapy is an effective treatment that assists in the rejuvenation of the cells and also induces a healthy exchange of minerals and toxins between the blood and the water.”

We’ve found the quintessential bath salt…detoxifying yet sensual and the ultimate in delight. They package in 5 and 25lb sizes for therapeutic soaking to heal psoriasis, eczema, help arthritis and muscle pain, soften dry skin or for detoxification. They just released a smaller size for use at the Spa or home and are infused with delightful essential oils that permeate the air.

From the extravagant Neroli Bergamot: the most popular, Tangerine Sage, Lavender Vanilla, White Grapefruit Eucalyptus, Spearmint Rosemary and White Tea Ginger…. seductive, natural invitations to explore indulgent pampering and re-creation on deep levels.

Life is a moment by moment journey. Learning to elevate each moment in time with acts of grace, health promotion and beauty will make a lovely, healthy tapestry of life to the end. We make a point of practicing this mindfulness at Adytum.

A little bronze plaque with a quotation in the kitchen by Michelangelo reads, “I am always learning”. It’s true of us and most all who visit here. Learning to live well, slowly and with focused thought takes time and, for me, a lot of observation and contemplation.

We are always learning to care for our body/mind/spirit complex better and better. Dead Sea bath salts are most assuredly going on our website when it’s done with construction, for those that wish to use them at home for health and pleasure. If you’re interested learning more, you can email me at kat@nutritionalvisions.com.

Fantasy Chef’s Kitchen

Last night before bed, I put the dry ingredients together for Quinoa Banana Apple Muffins from the cookbook I shared with you, The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook. It took minimal time. This morning it took another 15 minutes to prepare the moist part of these incredible muffins and add them to the dry. Of course, we rarely follow a recipe to the letter here. I added ½ tsp. cardamom and 1 tsp. ground ginger as we like eastern spices quite a lot.

Adytum Retreat and Spa is fortunate to have its own consultant chef on staff, Phillip Gritton, 2003 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, NY. Not only did he help design the half dozen work stations in the huge fantasy chef’s kitchen, but he’s ramping up all the dishes on the menu to bring them to a higher level.

It is nothing short of pure joy to have him at the stove or one of the many prep stations on the holidays. Watching his hands chop an onion in seconds, or seeing him handle a very heavy stockpot WHILE taking a call on his cell…well, pretty inspiring. He makes it look so easy.

Hopefully we will be roping Phil in for some cooking and presentation lessons. Meantime, he can be reached at philgritton@gmail.com if you have private functions that require the penultimate chef.

Part of the joy of creating spectacular meals in a kitchen like the one at Adytum is the degree of organization. I have a dedicated baking station with all my tools in one spot for the most part so time isn’t wasted doing circles around the island. Phil once cooked in a kitchen that was miniscule for a famous restaurant in Vermont. So size really doesn’t matter after all. It is the order and organization you bring to your work that will create fun and awesome meals, or not. The more you cook, the more it evolves.

Here’s the recipe everyone seems to rave about: By the way, it uses a lot of rather expensive Quinoa flour. Consider it a meal as Quinoa is a complete protein and the ingredients are all healthy, and vegan in this case.

Quinoa Banana Apple Muffins

Makes 1 to 1 ½ dozen spectacular, moist gluten free, sugar free, egg free muffins.
½ cup melted virgin coconut oil
½ cup whole cane sugar (I used ½ cup raw local honey)
3 bananas, mashed or run through the Cuisinart
1 cup applesauce
1 medium apple, cored and grated with skin intact
1 cup raisins
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 - 1 ½ cups quinoa flour
1 cup brown rice flour
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ tsp sea salt
(I added the cardamom and ginger)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup chopped walnuts (I used pecans this time)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly oil muffin tins or line with paper muffin cups.
In a large bowl (I used the cuisinart) cream together coconut oil and sugar or in this case, honey. Stir in well ripened bananas (the discounted, black blotchy ones are ripe), applesauce, grated apple, raisins and vanilla.
In a separate bowl (my work station has a KitchenAid mixer right by the Cuisanart for maximum efficiency) mix quinoa flour, brown rice flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt and spice(s) together. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and gently mix, without over mixing. Fold in nuts if using.
Spoon batter into muffin tins, oiled or lined with paper.
Bake for about 20-30 minutes, or until knife inserted comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes then place on wire rack to cook.

Now watch them disappear and know you’ve contributed to the health and wellness of the lucky recipients of your loving time and energy.

Create Your Own Kitchen Dedicated to Health

Serving healthy gourmet breakfast entrees, and afternoon snacks is at the core of Adytum Retreat and Spa’s mission. The Adytum kitchen consistently turns out visually stimulating, healthful and beautiful dishes that leave you feeling fantastic and ready for the day. I love cooking and sharing how to nourish ourselves in new and health building ways. Most everyone leaves with a few recipes and fresh inspiration to take better care of their health.

Some of us love poring through cookbooks and foodie magazines. We’ve collected our share from long rainy afternoons at Powell’s in Portland and on every travel. I’m in the process of putting together the collection of Adytum favorites, but meantime invite you to peruse through ours when you’re staying at Adytum Retreat and Spa; take some recipes home to try or names of our favorites to pick up later. Growing together in health and deeper awareness is the way we all win. Getting the tools to make it happen is the key.

A PA friend of mine introduced me to a new favorite: The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook by Alissa Segersten and Tom Malterre. What we love about it is the emphasis on gluten free, dairy free and even egg free menus. We’ve taken it a step further converting many recipes to sugar free and adding honey or Medjool dates to replace sugar.

Adytum embraces the most successful, healthful diet: The Modified (Gluten and dairy free) Mediterranean diet {MeDi}. That’s what we’ve dedicated the Adytum Retreat and Spa kitchen to serving, with a few exceptions. We feel better knowing that we are contributing to your health, wellness and fitness rather than sabotaging it. How to please the palate, not depart too far from the familiar and still serve up healthy cuisine has been a challenge that authors like Segersten and Malterre have made easier for us. Getting the right tools to create your own healthful kitchen is the key.

About Adytum Retreat and Spa

In 1995, early in our courtship, we were surprised to discover we both shared the common dream of starting a Spa and a think tank style of soiree. We wanted to create an idyllic fantasy; a retreat where one could experience deep rest, rejuvenation and relaxation while simultaneously enjoying expansion spiritually, mentally and physically. We held to this vision and 11 years later acquired 5 acres of virgin forest land overlooking Lake Mayfield, the Cowlitz River (which amazingly means “Spiritual Seeker” in the original Indian) and the Tilton River. We immediately began cultivating the birds, preserving habitat and feeding them while we contemplated construction, and we built a large Koi pond.

As if the lake and surrounds weren’t enough beauty to last a lifetime, territorial views also encompass the DeGoedes Tulip farm and acres of blueberries, neighboring farms and villages and a sweeping view of the mountains surrounding this rich valley with the renowned rich Cinnabar soil that nourishes many Christmas tree farms. Adytum floats above it all in a surreal sea of mists and fogs rising off the lake at daybreak with only her turreted spires visible like an enchanted castle.

In 2006, a three story Chateau very much resembling a little castle sprang up where only native Indians dwelt before leaving only arrowheads to mark their presence. Built by several of our sons, a neighbor recently commented that Adytum is a “fairy tale in the making”, and so it is. Adytum means “inner sanctum or sanctuary” in Greek, but it isn’t a sanctuary in the normal sense of the word. The Greek version denotes a sanctuary entered in by the door of the human spirit. It is a place of refuge and deep communion with oneself, God, nature and all of life.

With Adytum Retreat and Spa’s 65 windows- some allowing one to look right through the house from one side to the other- the house is flooded with light and natural beauty from every angle even on brooding Pacific Northwest days. We co-exist with hundreds of birds of varying species that call Adytum lands their home, viewing them with ease high in their canopy of the maple, alder and ancient fir trees. Despite all this transparency and being sited high on a hill, Adytum enjoys an extravagant privacy and seclusion with only glimpses of a few neighboring homes on the hill.

We acquired nearly 11 more acres of timber lands flowing with natural springs with equally stunning views adjacent to our home site which we manage entirely without herbicides, pesticides or clear cutting methods. We hold a deep respect for the land and a sense of stewardship over that which God has entrusted us and is managed for His glory alone. We became a certified Wildlife Habitat and joke that we were a “bird and breakfast” long before we served people. Inside, we maintain the same stance toward protecting the land and ultimately ourselves in our choices.

Donn is an Optometric Physician as well as obtaining the first Nutritional Therapy Practitioner certification as an optometrist. Katherine is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner as well, working part time at Medical Vision Center and Natural Health Center in Morton. The Adytum kitchen is dedicated to health and offers fresh, organic gourmet meals with an emphasis on the Mediterranean diet. Katherine is skilled in creating beautiful, delicious vegetarian menus that accommodate every diet plan from gluten free, dairy free, sugar free, vegan, raw and so on. Katherine is available for consulting during your stay, or after you leave by email with support and products available through the Adytum website.

It has been our collective labor of intense love to create a place of romantic beauty in anticipation of sharing it with you and welcoming you in. The house is unique and in every way, and not like a traditional bed and breakfast either in the intent or the eclectic décor. We are fine art aficionados and you will enjoy museum quality art and sculpture throughout the house. Adytum reflects a wealth of treasures collected around the world on travel. Adytum was recently described by a real estate appraiser as demonstrating the finest quality of craftsmanship as any she had ever seen. We have www.elitebuildersnw.com to thank for that, our son’s construction company based in Olympia, WA.

Your room or suite has exquisite attention to detail, and everything needed for pleasure and comfort is at hand. Nothing has been overlooked. The décor appeals to men and women equally and will draw you into Adytum’s spirit of grace and beauty instantly. Adytum Retreat and Spa is a destination in itself and you may feel no need to travel further. However, five minutes from your door, Lake Mayfield and the two rivers await kayaking, fishing, biking or hiking. Bring your boat or kayaks! We have several mountain bikes to share and many lawn and indoor games as well.

The DeGoedes bulb fields, in season, are a spectacular vision of beauty and color. We are the gateway to more adventure with Mt. Rainier, Mt St. Helens and multitudes of hiking, biking, skiing and fishing opportunities an hour or less away. We are located just about equally between Seattle and Portland, an hour and half away, for a day trip to the city. Outlet malls are 40 minutes north. The possibilities are literally endless and largely undiscovered locally. We often hike an entire day without seeing another soul…come and experience a return to peace, beauty, fresh inspiration and deep rejuvenation.