Under the Maple Canopy

I've Moved

2010-02-20T21:02:00.000-06:00

After blogging for a little over a year here I've decided to make the move on over here.

Folk Music Friday - "You Are My Flower"

2010-02-19T08:29:00.002-06:00

An Herbal Valentine, Part I

2010-02-15T08:11:00.002-06:00

So very excited about a slightly unlikely birthday present for my not so little boy

2010-02-13T09:26:00.062-06:00

After being overrun with wool play food after the in-laws came to visit - seriously overrun here and it's becoming a bit stressful for the kids because it takes so very long to pick everything up even though we try to tidy things up a couple of times a day - I found myself a bit less than thrilled with the prospect of J's birthday. My mother-in-law ended up giving J cash which was a bit of a relief because we could control the mix of things a bit and hopefully prevent any more frustration. So far we've used it for a number of fairly random things like a big fuzzy blanket for J to use under his playstands and on his bed, several pairs of jeans since he hadn't nary a pair without holes in the knees, and some squishy yarn for a new hat and scarf.

Even after all of that there was still a bit of money left plus the money I had set aside for Hubby and I to get J a birthday present. I've really be struggling with just what to get him. Part of me really wanted to get him some neat toys, but I already know there's some stress over the existing quantity (too much of a good thing). I was also feeling a little bit resentful of the in-laws. I realize they live quite a distance away, but I was feeling like they ruined things for us with the shear quantity of things they give J and L for Christmas and L's birthday. What was there left for us, J's parents, to buy?

Of course I'm also struggling with why we have to buy something at all. This present thing can be fun in the short-term, but I wasn't really willing to deal with the aftermath of the short-term fun. That's when it hit me...what about a present that would be a bit on the practical side? Both Waldorf and Montessori educational philosophies encourage children to play a role in the day to day activities of the home. I admit when I first did some reading into things I was a bit skeptical, but I have to admit both J and L are very interested in helping out. More often than not, if given the choice, they will elect to help me over playing on their own with their toys. Sometimes having them help is actually helpful and other times it's a test in my patience.

So with the rest of the birthday gift funds for J I came up with a somewhat unlikely present that will get a great deal of use - his very own child-sized cleaning kit. A bit odd, right? I still struggle with that a bit myself since it seems to fly in the face of everything our culture values for children and their toys. Still, he really does want to help and the adult sized items we already have are a bit unwieldy for him. There are some Montessori websites out there that focus on these sorts of things specifically, but wanting to spread what we have a bit further I decided to check out our local Target. I was able to find the majority of the items I saw on the Montessori websites like the:

Evercare Angle Broom - it's a much smaller head than your standard broom and comes with an adjustable handle. It caught my eye right away on the shelf because at it's most compact it's the perfect length for J.
A squeege (a bit like this one) - we already own a shower squeegee which both J and L have taken a liking to, but again it's a bit on the large size. This one's smaller and combined with a spray bottle (kind of like this one, but the 5oz "Swoosh Sprayer" to limit the amount of water available) will make a perfect window washing kit. What's not to love about spraying water on a window, patio door, or mirror and squeegee-ing it off?
A scrubbie sponge, microfiber cloth, and cotton rags - the first two were from the dollar section and the last one is leftover from the birth kit. Oodles of ways to use these including window washing or cleaning up your own spills. J saw the sponges and thought they were "really cool!"
Evercare Mini Dustpan & Brush Set (kind of like this one) - Combine this with the child sized broom and I think J will appreciate being able to help sweep the kitchen floor even more. As an added bonus it's just the right size for cleaning up crumbs off the table.
A shower caddy - it's a bit on the cheap side, but it's the perfect size for all if the above (minus the broom of course).

We're going to add to these items a carpet sweeper, lambswool duster, and a few basic yet decent quality tools (a bit like the ones found here although probably not as many) that can be used to help Hubby with repairs around the house or other creative projects. Time will tell how any of it does over the long run, but I'm hopeful never-the-less.

Folk Music Friday - "Freight Train"

2010-02-12T08:22:00.003-06:00

Elizabeth Mitchell sings a shorter version of this song on her CD "You Are My Flower" and it happens to be one of L's favorites. It's also the third song that we've heard her singing - it's so cute to listen to her sing.

Distracted

2010-02-11T16:23:00.000-06:00

I'm feeling a bit distracted as of late and the whirlwind days off (aka weekends) Hubby's been having lately haven't been helping. Hubby's working overtime today which adds to the hectic feeling I suppose. L's obsessed with swimming. All of her stuffed friends that have clothes and can have them removed are currently naked. About all I've been able to convince her to do is to leave her shirt and diaper on. Any more clothes than that and she starts yelling "Swimming!" Being two she is less than reasonable. I circumvented a soggy mess when I discovered the stuffed friends in the bathtub with J and L kneeling outside of it. I felt badly about having them shift focus somewhere else (how about this nice big plastic bin?), but I could see where it was going. If I can kick this headache and keep Baby M happy enough I just may break out the bubble bath for the kiddos.

Tomorrow, if Hubby's not called into work early, will be the grand garage door opener installation. Both of the kids are going to "help" which should be entertaining for all...well, maybe just me and the kids. On my list of things to do within the next couple of days? Window stars and some kind of handmade valentine. I really liked the ones posted over at Chiot's Run, but I want to stick with what we have on hand. I'm also working on reading through my digital camera user guide. Although on the cover it says "English" my comprehension as to how to do what I want to do is a bit fuzzy.

Just like pounding my head against the wall

2010-02-10T11:45:00.001-06:00

No really, it is. We decided to get television service again because I missed Public Television and we can't get it without some sort of service - cable, satellite, etc. We tried satellite, but they sent an installer who could barely speak English and wanted to point the dish at the big tree in the backyard (southeast) and we couldn't quite figure out why since everyone else's dish in the neighborhood is pointed southwest (where there's no tree). So we tried Charter...Got quoted one price online and then they downgraded the internet connection without our knowledge in order to make the price online match the price in their computer. ~~Sixty rounds later and we're packing everything up to take back to the local office. Sounds like we'll just have to stick with DSL and no TV.~~ Talked with the local office and they're supposed to be fixing things - it's still not right so I guess we'll just have to see. Hubby's definitely through talking to the 800-number people. It just amazes me how big companies behave when there is viable local competition like there was where we lived before.

Oh...and the gears in the garage door opener shredded so we now need a new one. Life is grand my friends.

Doctrine of Signatures

2010-02-08T08:02:00.005-06:00

One of the Christmas presents I received was a couple of books by Matthew Wood called "The Earthwise Herbal" - one is about Old World plants the other about New World Plants. I found the books absolutely fascinating.

"The Practice of Waking Up to God"

2010-02-07T08:50:00.025-06:00

I'm going to keep this post a bit on the short side because I just realized that I have completely forgotten my plan to write a birthday story for J. His birthday isn't here yet, but we're going to have his party with the family tomorrow and I wanted it done for the big party. We're also headed out tomorrow morning early to go see a train display with my folks. With Dad's cancer having returned and the radiation treatments likely to begin within a couple of weeks we wanted to seize the moment as it were.

I actually like Barbara Brown Taylor's opening chapter here quite a bit because it's a good reminder for me. I, like Frank Schaeffer, am often guilty of looking for the next best thing - that one thing that will cure what ails you.. The thing of it is, there isn't any such thing out there. As Taylor puts it (pg 6) - "The only More out there was more of the same. That, at least is how it looked to those of us who had forgotten that the whole world is the House of God."

Here's to remembering that that often what you're looking for is right in front of you...where you least expect it.

Folk Music Friday - "You Are My Sunshine"

2010-02-05T08:19:00.003-06:00

Elizabeth Mitchell is a recent artist, but one of our family favorites. L got two of her CDs for Christmas this year...which has been a boon for our car rides. Hubby and I were getting tired of the same few CDs. They've been keeping us singing!

2010 Seeds

2010-02-04T14:50:00.007-06:00

The thought of buying seeds this year was a little bit more than I thought I could handle at first. Hubby wanted a "garden meeting" with my folks a couple of weeks ago to see what we liked and didn't like about we grew last year as well as what we'd like to add. I was more than happy to sit and nurse Baby M and let them do their thing as I just couldn't get in the groove. My only input was that we *needed* more tomatillos. There was just not enough Salsa Verde made last year. I've been holding on so very carefully to the one or two pints of it that I have left. Since tomatillos take awhile to mature I really do need to hold on to them for quite awhile yet.

Then came the February/March Mother Earth News with their list of seed catalogs and I knew I needed to get a move on, but again I just wasn't quite ready for it. I have a hard time wrapping my head around how I'll get it all done this year with three little ones under 6. Hubby's just itching to get going on something so he pre-screened all the seed sources listed in the magazine for me. We had already decided we weren't going to be ordering from the same place as last year because we're less than enthused with the customer service we received from them.

In the end we decided not to order our seeds online at all. We ended up going to a couple of local places and got the varieties of seeds we needed as both places sold Botanical Interests. In fact both places pretty much *only* sell Botanical Interests plus a smattering of seeds from 1 or 2 companies. There were a few things I still would like to get and couldn't get locally just yet (Opalka paste tomatoes, a few interesting heirloom slicers and cherries, acorn winter squash, small colored sweet peppers, and a green manure cover crop to go on the beds in the fall and plow under come spring). If in the end I decide to go online I've got to find someone that isn't tied to Monsanto too which is a bit of a difficulty as well. I also need to get together my order for herb seeds from Richter's if I'm going to expand my medicinal herb garden this year.

All this seed buying has begun to get me in the mood. So has coming across WinterSown's "Your Choice Tomato SASE." Once I started reading through all the tomato porn I could begin to feel the slightest itch. Give me time I'm sure I'll be just as excited as everyone else.

Candlemas/Groundhog's Day Sort of to be Continued...

2010-02-03T09:45:00.024-06:00

We celebrated Candlemas/Groundhoug's Day fairly low-key here this year. I always have far grander plans in my mind than what ends up in actuality. I'm hoping that future years will afford me do-overs of a great number of things - and more hands! I don't have any pictures to put up from yesterday just yet ~~because I'm holding off on uploading pictures until the new computer comes~~. ~~I'm hoping that will be sometime next week, but we haven't been able to order it yet so that's still anyone's best guess.~~ We just ordered our new computer today and I'm still rather excited...my first new computer in eight years. Who does that, right? It's another Dell which is a bit sad because I really did want a Mac, but in the end even though I'd like to pretend that price is no issue...it is. Perhaps eight years from now when we buy the next computer it'll be a Mac. As for the pictures? I finally got an external hard drive so I can continue to upload pictures to the computer. Happy days I tell you.

These pictures are from a couple of weeks ago when we tried out the bread recipe on the back of "Sun Bread." Let me save you the trouble...the recipe was not a hit in the slightest. I believe I ended up dumping the whole thing in the trash. We still read the book today, but I used a recipe for Challah I found online figuring it was very similar to what they were going for. J needed a bit of encouragement that this time would be different and boy was it ever!

As you can see we're all struggling with dry skin here - looking forward to Spring!

My Ode to the Public Library

2010-02-02T09:03:00.101-06:00

I don't know why people think that libraries are going out of favor - as if they are some dying relic of days gone by. Before 2008 it seemed like there were a few posts and articles out there about it. Probably not so much any more with the downturn in the economy and all. Me? I've always been a fan of the library.

I suppose if you read a book or two every now and again you might not appreciate the value of savings the library represents. I tend to read a book every couple of days or so when the mood hits. I've always been a fast reader - partly I suppose because if it catches my interest I am unable to put it down until I finish it, but mostly because I can read quickly. You might think that once you have children reading books for your own pleasure would be out of the question. Surprisingly I've found that not to be the case - you'd be amazed at the time you can find along the way.

Nursing mothers for instance often find themselves graced with a comparatively abundance of time. There are evenings after J and L have gone off to bed that I start out laying in bed next to Baby M as she drifts off to sleep while nursing. While I enjoy gazing into her eyes more often than not, sometimes it's nice to use a bit of the time for yourself. Using the computer is certainly a possibility, but since I prefer to nurse her while lying down that's typically out of the question. Reading a book, though, requires no special equipment and no electricity either. During the winter I find this particularly appealing. Who could pass up on cuddling in bed with baby while the wind howls outside your window. More often than not even after the little bean has fallen asleep I choose to remain there listening to the cadence of her breath, my eyes following the words on the page in sync.

When I was younger the books I read were usually works of fiction heavy on the Christian schmaltz (Janet Oke and Lori Wick to name two). To some degree High School and even more so college and it's prerequisite English courses broadened my horizons a bit. The introduction of literary analysis and the assigned works ("My Antonia", "Anna Karenina", and "Glengarry Glen Ross" for just a few) deepened my passion for reading. Nowadays you'll find me in the non-fiction section, though I'm thankful my love for a good story more often than not can still be met.

I have this tendency to read a bit from several different books. Sometimes I'll be reading three or four books at once. Other times I'll have a couple of pages read here and there in a few books before one in particular catches my attention while leaving others in the dust. On the top of my dresser you'll find "Green Metropolis", "Simplicity Parenting", "An Altar in the World", "The Gerbil Farmer's Daughter: A Memoir", and "The Road to Big Brother: One Man's Struggle Against the Surveillance Society". One I've read before, a couple I've made some headway in and the rest wait in the wings. On my nightstand you'll find "Do-Over!: In which a forty-eight-year-old father of three returns to kindergarten, summer camp, the prom, and other embarrassments", "Eating: A memoir", "Wisdom of the Last Farmer: Harvesting Legacies from the Land", and "The Mom & Pop Store: How the Unsung Heroes of the American Economy Are Surviving and Thriving" (yes, I know I'm breaking the rules by putting the commas outside of the quote marks - I don't like the way it looks when you do it the "right" way).

Having access to a public library enables me to read far more than I'd ever be able to if I had to buy each book individually. I also appreciate the fact that I don't have to store any of the books once I've finished them - let alone figure out what to do with a dud. I can be reckless with my choices because if I don't appreciate it I can always return it. Inter-library loan is even more special to me as I've often been able to track down slightly more odd titles or at the very least a wider variety than any of the libraries in our system could themselves realistically afford.

Talk to my kids about going to the library and they'll likely tell you about all the puzzles there are to play with there. Well, that or tell you about the trucks and other vehicles they've checked out. You know, those large wooden vehicles that were it not for the generosity of a certain Uncle we'd never be able to purchase. Before his gift of the wooden semi we only experienced these kinds of toys for a few weeks at a time. Typically a trip to the library begins with a visit to the puzzles and the big wooden barn and ends with a jaunt over to the shelf where the wooden vehicles are kept.

Of course, talk to J about it during the Summer and he'll likely tell you about the large bag of books we bring home every week during the summer reading program. Some of them chosen by me and others gleefully pulled from shelves by J or L. There's no need to be stingy here (although a few less than appropriate choices, think advertising in disguise, find their ways back to the shelves without much notice) as the opportunities are vast.

As for Hubby - I'm not quite sure what his criteria are. More often than not it seems you can find him in amongst the CDs or movies, though he's been known to bring a book or two home here and there. Books on CD were a big favorite of his when he was driving 45 minutes one way to work. Without the library none of it would be possible.

I read recently where one family talked about the wonderful worlds they've been introduced to through television, but to be honest I'd rather read a book. That isn't because I somehow think that books are any less guilty of rampant commercialism (Frank Navasky's ramblings about the death of the mid-list novel in "You've Got Mail" come to mind - I'll leave it to you to mull over the irony of my using a movie as an example here given my less than enthusiastic thoughts on television) or our choices are any less pre-determined by a company's bottom line and profit margins, but rather because I appreciate it's pace.

Rather than being taken along by the quick cuts and fades all predetermined by someone else, I'm able to take things at my own pace. Tracking back to reread a portion of a book is much simpler than trying to rewind to the exact spot in a VHS or DVD in my opinion. Never mind the fact that you can't rewind a broadcast television show without specialized equipment or premium services - the same services necessary to view the "wealth" of shows out there mentioned by that particular blogger. All of which require a certain level of affluence not necessarily in reach of all. Of course, there is some loosening of some constraints given the recent influx of TV shows on DVD (though that still doesn't change my thoughts on television as it concerns my children - my parental philosophy diverges sharply from the blogger linked above).

There's just something about a book that appeals to me - a combination of sensory experiences when you consider the feel of the paper, weight of the book, and smell of the pages. All of which is brought to me by my local library making me far richer in resources than possible on my own.

Queen Anne's Lace

2010-02-01T08:59:00.001-06:00

Finding Space in the World

2010-01-31T08:10:00.069-06:00

I think it gets a bit cliche and redundant to say that any particular season makes one more introspective. I've seen the claim made for Advent and Lent in particular. Let's face it, if you're breathing and have a few silent moments in the day (this can be difficult to find, I know) life in general is going to make you a bit introspective. I suspect that's part of what ultimately makes us human.

At least that's how it is for me. As I struggle with adapting to the new realities of our family I find that it only magnifies the discomfort I feel when it comes to one's faith. Part of me suspects that's also because adding a new family member into your life also brings other family members back into your orbit for awhile and with that comes all sorts of baggage. It comes up with my in-laws, my parents, and my college roommate to name a few. I'm not very good at hiding my discomfort so when someone mentions something like my mother-in-law did about visiting the creation museum I have a hard time keeping my thoughts to myself. With my mother-in-law it was a resounding "no thank you!"

I know this leaves them with some confusion and probably a degree of discomfort of their own. From their perspective "The Truth" has already been decided and locked down centuries ago. It's objective, concrete, and all located within the pages of their Bible which is treated very much like an encyclopedia. If you want to know how the world began and we came to be just turn to the very beginning of the Bible. The pages there say that it happened in seven days and in a particular order. Anything that says anything contrary to that is clearly wrong and so why not create a museum to defend that and even further why wouldn't you want to take your family to visit?

The thing is, the longer I follow this road that I am on the less certain I become of "The Truth." To me it seems a bit foolish to assume that I have all the answers nailed down. A bit limiting to assume that any God worth worshiping or following can be summed up neatly by the words I have at my disposal. If I can describe him accurately with my finite language doesn't that in some way make him a bit finite as well? As for the Bible...isn't it a collection of different forms of writing which makes it wholly inappropriate to treat it simply as a work of non-fiction, capable of being searched as if each item is capable of standing entirely unto itself?

I suppose that's why when it comes to writers I'm more drawn to the people who are less likely to assert "The Truth" and more like to say "I don't know" or "This is what I think." To me that seems like a whole lot more genuine and accurate way to describe life and truth. I've appreciated people like Frank Schaeffer and Barbara Brown Taylor for that very reason, even more so because to a certain degree both have been in some fashion where I've been as well.

The church we've been attending for the last few months - irregularly at best, but in some way that's what fits the most right now - is going to be using Barbara Brown Taylor's book "An Altar in the World: Finding the Sacred Beneath Our Feet" as the guideposts to follow during Lent. I read the book last year, but I'm looking forward to doing so again. I'm hoping that it will help me gain a better perspective on the way things are and bring a bit of clarity into that which challenges my sense of direction. I'm planning on sharing my journey through the book as we the season of Lent and continue through it because I hope there will be greater opportunity to reflect on it if I also have to put a few words down as well. I'm hoping that will give me a bit more clarity. Perhaps my words and journey will be helpful for you as well.

As I'm writing this on Saturday my house looks like a toy explosion went off, Hubby went into work early (shortly after I was able to poke him out of bed), and I have a large headache which is only exacerbated by the crying and screaming so present in a house with a spirited two year old and infant. I think I could use a few moments of silence, but instead I'm going to try and focus on this passage starting on page 6:

The problem is, many of the people in need of saving are in churches, and at least part of what they need saving from is the idea that God sees the world the same way they do. What if the gravel of a parking lot looks as promising to God as the floorboards of a church? What if a lost soul strikes God as more reachable than a lifelong believer? What if God can drop a ladder absolutely anywhere, with no regard for the religious standards developed by those who have made it their business to know the way to God?

I could not possibly say.

An apt set of questions I think for a chapter entitled "The Practice of Waking Up to God."

Our New Pastime

2010-01-30T08:56:00.014-06:00

Both J and L can be considered train lovers. J picked it up when we lived up North. We were about three blocks away from the train tracks and he loved seeing them go through regularly. Some of my favorite memories are of when my parents would be visiting. J would tug on his Buppa's hand and the two of them would head over to the corner of our block where you could see the train crossing. Sometimes J would even convince him to walk a few blocks closer to the train. I really wish I had taken a picture of the two of them. Even though we don't live near the tracks any more we still find occasion to get "stuck" at a train crossing when the opportunity presents itself.

The other day I came across a video on YouTube of a train going through a crossing. I had no idea anyone taped something like that. Not surprisingly both J and L loved it when they saw it. Apparently watching it on YouTube is just about as exciting in person.

Folk Music Fridays - "My Old Man"

2010-01-29T09:10:00.001-06:00

Howard Zinn

2010-01-28T14:53:00.001-06:00

Before I forget, which I'm sure I will, Rabbi Arthur Waskow had a fantastic post today over at Sojourners on Howard Zinn. I think it's worth a read if you're interested. I've never actually read Howard Zinn, but I'm off to request his book from the library.

My Ode to Public Radio

2010-01-28T08:15:00.025-06:00

This probably won't surprise you, but I love public radio. Granted, there is something about radio in general that calls to me which is probably why I majored in it during college (that part probably is a bit surprising). Given that my affinity is more for radio's roots and less for it's modern commercial permutations, public radio more often than not fits the bill.

I thoroughly enjoy shows like Talk of the Nation, On Point, Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, This American Life, Car Talk, and A Way With Words. Of the shows produced regionally I prefer Garden Talk, Here on Earth, Old Time Radio Drama, Simply Folk, Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know, and Chapter a Day.

Chapter a Day in particular I find resonates with me on many different levels. It brings back childhood memories of listening to a particularly good storyteller. It also fills the need for that traditional radio experience as Jim Fleming has the quintessential radio voice. Listening to him read makes me feel a lot like I imagine my cat does when she curls up on the couch for one of her many daytime naps. It's a fantastic way to pause in the middle of the day and slow down a bit.

Listening to public radio (or an archived show) is one of my favorite things to do when Baby M is feeling particularly fussy. More often than not she eschews the rocking chair in favor of being held (or cuddled close in the sling) while I rock and sway back and forth. She enjoys the rhythm and I enjoy the fact that I won't miss out on a scene like I would if I were watching a movie. Instead, all that's required is my ears and a mind that can track with what's being said. The rest of my senses can focus on the baby in question. I can cuddle her close, inhaling her sweet baby smell and listen right along.

Edited to Add: Jim's reading chapters from "Coop: A Year of Poultry, Pigs, and Parenting" right now. Oh, and yesterday Jean (Here on Earth) had Jeremy Rifkin on discussing his book "The Empathic Civilization: The Race to Global Consciousness in a World in Crisis" which was really interesting. So interesting, in fact, that I found a way to get it on Hubby's I Pod so he could listen to it too! I've already got Rifkin's book requested at the library.

Learning to Love the Blurry Picture

2010-01-27T15:14:00.001-06:00

These kinds of photos happen here all the time...usually because I've turned the flash off on the digital camera when I didn't like the way the picture turned out with it on. This, of course, means I have a slower shutter speed which means that when my subject moves I get something like the photos above. The second photo is even more entertaining because said subject was a great deal further away and ran my way because they wanted to see the picture.

*sigh* There's no use complaining or trying to explain to my photographic subjects the issue at hand. Until I have slightly different equipment (or become a better photographer) I've decided that I need to learn to love these pictures because they very much represent my children...who are constantly in motion.

Making a Record

2010-01-26T15:38:00.000-06:00

Towards the end of last year Chiot's Run talked about making a calendar for family members through Lulu. I was in need of something to give the grandparents for Christmas (and one of my sisters who lives quite a distance away) at the time and was thankful for the idea! I made a calendar with photos for each month that we had taken in the previous year. Not surprisingly it was a hit. Just as a big of a hit as the books of pictures I made through MyPublisher the Christmas after J was born (the quality of the Lulu calendar was much better, though).

Just the other day I came across a link on another blog about turning your blog postings into a book. They used Blurb to do it - from the picture on the post the results looked pretty nice. From this video it looks fairly simple:

I suppose it seems a bit odd to turn one's blog into a book at first glance - it's a bit of history, though and certainly an expenditure of time. I don't think I would have even considered it, but while reading "Say Everything" the other day (another interesting library fine - the ability to check out so many different books from the library makes me feel very rich indeed) they made mention of the temporary nature of blogs. This being especially true for people like me who really are at the mercy of the company that owns the service I'm using. It'd be foolish to assume otherwise if one really does want to keep a record for the future.

I don't know that my children would ever be interested in reading what I've written here and I suppose it's possible that I won't somewhere down the road, either. It may very well be one of those somewhat painful moments where you wince at the things you said before time and experience afforded you greater wisdom. I still think it might be worth considering if cost isn't a prohibitive factor.

How to Make an Herb Press and Herbarium, Part II

2010-01-25T08:57:00.001-06:00

Book Review: "Coop: A Year of Poultry, Pigs, and Parenting"

2010-01-23T08:21:00.002-06:00

I've tried to start this post a couple of times now and then stopped - not because I didn't like the book, but because I wasn't quite sure where to begin. Hmmm...now where to begin?

I like Michael Perry's writing, but part of what made it easier for me was that I heard him speak first. I think that helped a bit when it comes to settling into his writing style which I've read is a bit difficult for some. I suppose that's what so great about books these days. The vast number of them published every year just about guarantees that there will a book out there for you. The search should be part of the fun of reading - the hunt for the gem that speaks to you in some way or fashion.

To say that I heard him speak is to mean that I saw him on a local cable access channel back in the day when we had things like that. He was at the local library for one of those "meet the author" type gigs. By watching you get the feeling for the author's cadence (part of the reason I used to watch CSPANs Book TV) which I think helps you get into the flow of the book.

Regardless, what I love the most about Michael Perry's books is that even though I grew up in a different location than he did, there is enough similarity between the two that to read his book is as if I'm reading about home. I don't think I really understood that until recently. There is a section in "Coop" where Perry talks about going to Farm & Fleet (not to be confused with Fleet Farm - although similar in concept, to me they are completely different). He talks about the smell of the store and the memories it invokes. I don't suppose I really gave that too much thought when I first read the section (darned if I can find it now - I think all books should come with an index for these sorts of things).

The other day, though, Hubby and I were in Farm & Fleet to pick up a pair of mittens for J. The selection at other retailers was pretty slim pickings - not so much for Farm & Fleet, which is part of the reason I love going there so much. When we walked into Farm & Fleet I was hit with the smell. It's some combination of tire rubber, automotive chemicals, and who knows what else. It's probably a result of chemicals off-gassing which probably isn't all that healthy. All the same, it literally brought back memories from my childhood.

The fact that he keyed in on that particular smell and other related minutiae of daily living in smaller communities is ultimately why I keep reading. Even without the potential connections I may find with his setting, I still think it's a worthwhile read for just about anyone. And, as an aside I now know why my parents shopped at Farm & Fleet all those years ago. Too bad it took me a few years to remember. You'll find me there more often as I snag a few deals here and there to keep my kiddos clothed.

And, if you pick up "Coop" and found it as good a read as I did then you'll also want to check out Truck: A Love Story (P.S.), Off Main Street: Barnstormers, Prophets & Gatemouth's Gator: Essays, or Population: 485 (P.S.). Perry's also got a website - www.sneezingcow.com.

Folk Music Fridays - "What Did You Learn in School?"

2010-01-22T08:50:00.003-06:00

The Holiday Season in Review, Part II

2010-01-21T09:27:00.009-06:00

Head to botanical gardens just a short car ride North of where you live. See holiday train display for free! Take far too many pictures and enjoy watching the kids more than the trains.

Visit the conservatory (also free) while there. Watch the fish swim and enjoy the tropical weather indoors.

Visit Great-Grandma on the way home from the botanical gardens and play with the marble track at her house.

Head to family get together and watch J unwrap a super cool wooden semi. Handmade by the very same Uncle who made the Advent Spiral.

Watch Hubby and kids a few days later fix the toilet (tank to bowl bolts have rusted and water is dripping on the floor - discover this at night after stepping in the puddle).

Celebrate L's birthday which is more than just a celebration of her birth two years ago...it's also a celebration of who she is becoming.

Clean and organize around the house. Get rid of loads of stuff (How can there be more to get rid of? We do this every year it seems and yet each time we do it we find more). Play with boxes which really is more fun than cleaning anyway. Take a van load (well...packed around the carseats so it's probably less than that) to Goodwill. Chuckle at the worker's surprise as you remove one box after another. Again...where was it all hiding?

Shovel yet more snow. Have as much fun watching L out there for the first time as she does "helping."

Be thankful that both J and L enjoy their new sister. Watch in amazement as L "reads" her favorite book, "Mommies Say Shhh" to her sister complete with the animal sounds (and keeps her occupied with you take a shower). Marvel at all the words she has learned in the past few weeks and months.

Two days later...send Hubby back to work which really does bring the holiday season to an end. It's hard to believe that a couple of months have gone by or more importantly that the four weeks of Hubby's paternity leave have as well.

"Berry" Cute While in Search of Yarn

2010-01-20T19:10:00.002-06:00

Isn't that just the the cutest hat you've seen? My mom made it for Baby M. We had found a pilot cap pattern on Ravelry, but even at it's smallest size it's still way too big for her. She had asked at our LYS to see if they had any suggestions and she suggested this Berry Baby Hat. We added the ties to help keep it in place. My mom's already talking about making more of these including one for L. I was charged with measuring L's head so that she can make sure it will fit. This is actually something I'm looking forward to, L's hat from last year is beginning to get a bit tight on her...well that and she chewed on the chin strap while also eating cheese. It hasn't been the same since.

I don't knit, but sometimes find a particular project would be nice in the knitted variety. I'm glad that I've got my mom to do that for me. It will also come handy in a couple of years when J's in first grade - that's when children are first introduced to knitting in Waldorf type curriculums. I'll stick with the crocheting which thankfully is enjoying a bit of a renaissance. Thanks to places like Ravelry there are a broader range of patterns (it seems anyway) out there that are also easy to find. I've got my eye on a few that I found on there including the Honeycomb Lattice Button Cowl and the Lattice Hat.

The only problem? I don't have enough of any one yarn to make either of these and more yarn is not in the budget. So many folks out there - especially Waldorfy types - seem to always be sewing or knitting one thing or another. Which makes me wonder...how on earth can they afford all of that lovely wool yarn. Yes, I know I could buy some cheap acrylic yarn at the big box craft stores in town, but it's just not the same. It doesn't feel the same and it certainly last the same. Ditto the wool yarns you can find there as well.

While there are several sewing projects I've put on hold, they require a certain degree of attention that I can't commit to right now. If it's not the grouchy toddler who hasn't naped or slept decently in days it's the new baby who needs to be held or rocked or nursed or otherwise attended to. Crocheting is something I can do just about anywhere - combined with the sling it's also something I can do while holding baby. Handwork is an important skill when it comes to a Waldorf-inspired home, but I struggle with how to fit it in.

My next big search? How to get my hands on some decent yarn without breaking the budget as well as a nice pattern to use up all these scraps of yarn that by themselves aren't enough for any one project.

Getting my Mojo

2010-01-19T10:09:00.003-06:00

...or "Mother Jones" magazine most specifically.

It's my new favorite magazine. I don't have a subscription, but it's at the top of my wish list. My birthday is coming up in a few months so you better believe it's at the top of the list. If you've visited my blog in the past I'm sure you're not surprised at this new discovery of mine, but just in case here are a few reasons why I love it so much (they do have article titles that don't end in a question mark even though my sample list seems to imply otherwise):

"Are Starbucks and Whole Foods Union Busters?" by Josh Harkinson
"Thank You, Wall Stree, May We Have Another?" by David Corn
"Too Big to Jail?" by Monika Bauerlein and Clara Jeffery

Oh, and in case you missed it like I did (one of the few reasons I wish we still had access to broadcast TV), two "Mother Jones" journalists were on Bill Moyers Journal recently. Absolutely worth watching!

Well...that and you can't beat the fact that the magazine takes it's name from Mary Harris Jones (aka Mother Jones) who was called the "most dangerous woman in America."

Making an Herb Press/Herbarium

2010-01-18T09:36:00.001-06:00

Adventures in Finding Others

2010-01-17T08:19:00.072-06:00

When I first started this blog it was mostly for my own entertainment - a way to keep track of things that happened in our family and celebrate the little things (like my attempts at crafting as sorry looking as they may be to my perfectionist self). After a little while I got to wondering if it was in fact still something only I ever looked at or if there were others. I had seen the traffic gadgets in the sidebars of many blogs - the ones that show real-time traffic complete with where visitors are coming from. It all seemed a bit obtrusive to me. In the end I settled on Site Meter because it was just this tiny little graphic and it gave the little bit of information I was looking for.

Largely the only information I ever really look at is the weekly email it sends me that gives the number of visitors and page views (27 visitors and 70 page views this week) which makes me feel a bit less like I'm walking down the street and talking to myself.

Along the way I've ended up at some pretty neat blogs I don't think I would have found on my own. I've enjoyed reading each of them -
fotos by Meg - I really like to drool over her harvest totals. I suppose it's not a fair comparison. She's probably been doing the whole gardening thing longer than I have. Well, that and where she lives it's comparatively warm and sunny year round.

Dusty Thorn Farm- I don't think you can go wrong with a title like that. I've always wondered how people come up with names for things...they always seem to be so much cooler than the ones I think up all on my own (the title of my blog being the one exception I think). A really nice day-in-the life kind of blogs which I think are one of my favorites.

A Hug in a Mug - Whose blog header banner is really cool!

And then there are the visitors that come here from search engines. I often wonder what they were really looking for when searching. Searches like "catch the wind," "mapel caopy," "garden harvest blogspot", "advent conspiracy criticism," "felted mitten ornaments," "birthday spiral," "cronewort/mugwort," "advent spiral," "Liberia," or "cookie canopy press."

Then there's the visitor that came from McGraw-Hill and stayed for like 15 minutes and looked at something like 20 pages. I can't quite figure out the reason, but I think it has something to do with a small quote I had this fall from the book "Mrs. McMurphy's Pumpkin."

Of course, I also can't forget Our Lomonte Family or My Freezer is Full - two more blogs I don't think I would have found on my own. I think it's all a bit serendipitous, don't you?

In Celebration of Her Life

2010-01-16T08:39:00.006-06:00

We're going to a celebration of Aunt T's life today. Aunt T was five days shy of her sixtieth birthday in April last year when she found out she had cancer. Part of a several generations line of family members faced with disease that would ultimately take them from their loved ones far too soon. She was bubbly, generous, thoughtful, and true to her family heritage...could start up a conversation with everyone. She loved babies and children - taking great joy in her grandchildren and always wiling to play. She loved art and sought out many forums of expression...drawing, painting, sculpting, and music. She always had a smile on her face showing her up beat perspective with a zest for life. Her faith was a deep well from which she gathered strength for the day. She will certainly be missed.

My New Discovery

2010-01-15T22:11:00.004-06:00

I can be a bit slow when it comes to find out about new things (and a bit of a Luddite as well - I am not getting a Facebook account no matter how much my family begs), but after stumbling upon this really neat blog I learned about an online photo editing site called Picnik. I've always wanted Photoshop...dreamed of owning Photoshop...but let's face it, it's not a real high priority. For my fairly simple needs I think Picnik is going to fit the bill nicely. See the nifty header banner I created?

Combined with this and this, I'm hoping to make some changes so that my vision of what I want to see and the reality will be more closely aligned. I have to say, though, that all of this is bringing back memories from my job in college as a web designer (minus the ColdFusion). Now there's the track I should have stuck with.

Folk Music Fridays - "Sugar Baby"

2010-01-15T08:44:00.001-06:00

The Holiday Season in Review, Part I

2010-01-14T09:00:00.007-06:00

First came Advent, the first Sunday in Advent to be precise with a good reminder of the importance one should place on Advent and Christmas.

Add in the tree and all of it's accompanying excitement - walking through the tree farm, picking the "perfect" tree, taking the tree home, putting the tree up, decorating the tree with so many different ornaments. Add in Nana & Buppa and the kids really get in their groove. Finish it all out with chili for lunch and realize you've now created a tradition given this is the exact same way you did it last year. Enjoy the wonderful pine smell that then fills the house.

Next comes the Advent Sprial which is becoming a favorite way to bring some light into the darkness reminding us of what the season is all about. Watch as small faces light up as the candles and ornaments take their place. Plan on reading "Watch For the Light" during Advent, but end up letting that one go (again). Maybe next year?

Then celebrate St. Nicholas Day. Lament slightly the fact that you still haven't found the right book about the historical St. Nicholas even though you've checked out a few from the library. Ponder why it's so hard to find a decent picture book that references the historical figure without also coupling it with the miracles/supernatural bit. Add to that the fact that the baby hasn't been born yet - what's she waiting for?

Welcome new baby to the household. Wonder again what the child had been waiting for? Perhaps it was the voluminous amount of snow that fell the day before? Maybe it was the fact that Nana & Buppa were out of town and Nana was sick? Or perhaps the nasty GI bug Hubby came down with after labor quieted down and then started up again without warning? Chuckle at the sense of timing these things take and be very thankful that Hubby's adrenaline kicked in making him a great deal more awake and able to help than he was earlier in the day.

Bundle up and head out to the local botanical garden's outdoor holiday lights display. Be sure to buy tickets early as it saves you $1. Dance a little jig after buying the tickets because while you have to pay for J, L is free. Enjoy cookies while watching the indoor train display afterward (and try to figure out which part the kids liked most). Leave Mom and baby at home, though since it's so cold.

Travel up North with one half of the extended family for Christmas away from home. Question the sanity of said idea after the van is packed leaving very little room for human passengers. Question sanity even further when it takes far longer than it should to leave town making one a bit behind schedule to meet up with family. REALLY question the sanity of it when you stop for lunch and realize L has had a case of explosive diarrhea and both her and the carseat need to be cleaned. Ewwww!

When you arrive break out the colored paper and other assorted raw materials to make simple decorations for the tree you brought with. Watch L realize with glee that the strips being used to make paper chains also function as very fashionable bracelets. Be very thankful that in spite of the hiccups along the way everyone seems to be fairly healthy (finally!).

Marvel in the simple tree. While the trip is less than ideal you can't help but appreciate the fact that you never know when Hubby will have Christmas off again in his shift rotation or how Dad's reoccurring Prostate Cancer will turn out.

While on Christmas trip away from home, visit favorite county park at the lakeshore (more pictures here). Miss it because you have to stay in the car with the baby, but enjoy the view from the front seat (could have seen it, but then would have had to so so by myself while everyone waited). Realize that it's been since before L was born that you were there last.

Upon return home from Christmas trip (very uneventful along the way thankfully) come home and find that the house is 45 degrees F. Wonder when furnace stopped working and head to investigate. Find that Filter cover was loose some how (again) . Be *very* thankful that it wasn't cold enough for the pipes to freeze!

Go bowling with same family members you went up North with. Have a blast!

Come back next week for Part II!

Trying to Catch the Wind

2010-01-13T08:03:00.008-06:00

I'm finding that time is slipping away in more ways than one recently. Nap time seems to be getting a great deal shorter than I remember - or at the very least I'm getting far less done during those sweet couple of hours than I did before. As for the rest of the hours on the clock? They seem to be slipping away from me quicker than before as well and there are far fewer of them that are just for me. The amount of sleep I get is probably the only exception, but that's just because it's easier to get Baby M asleep at night it seems if I go to sleep with her. I'm finding myself in bed for the night at 10pm which is great for my own sleep needs, but means now that Hubby's back to work our time alone together has disappeared since he works second shift and is not an early riser.

It's probably cliche to say that it seems that children grow up so quickly, but that's probably doubly true when they're as little as Baby M. She's already around 11lbs and quickly outgrowing the 3M clothes. This outfit is one she got from my sister, it's a 6M outfit. It's a bit big on her, but I doubt it will stay that way for long.

Of course, it's not just with my very own immediate family for whom time it seems has become a black-hole. One of my Aunts was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the beginning of last year. I last saw her in April at my sister's wedding. She was in good spirits in spite of having been diagnosed only a few weeks prior and going through her first round of chemotherapy. Unfortunately when they went in for the hysterectomy and to remove her ovaries a few months after that they found that the cancer had spread much further than they thought and they chose to close her back up. She's had a few rounds of chemotherapy since then and while it successfully brought her numbers down it was really more of a life extending treatment than anything.

By way of last avenues she made a trip to the Mayo Clinic in December, but was told that there was nothing else they could do. Upon return home they got in contact with Hospice to set things up for her at her house. We had plans to visit her - to take both L and Baby M to meet her since she's only ever seen L from a distance at my sister's wedding - but with everyone sick the trip was postponed. Yesterday I got a call from my mom to let me know that my Aunt T has been moved to a local Hospice Care Center because they weren't able to manage things at home. While she is resting comfortably it doesn't sound as if there is much time left.

I'd really like to see her one last time, but I think the time for that is slipping away from me if it hasn't disappeared completely. Visiting her with all the children is not a wise decision and beyond that I don't know what opportunities will remain. The best I can do is send a picture (my Aunt so loves babies/kids and had always planned on coming to see the kids, but we never connected)...but I don't have anything recent. Which means today I'm going to try and wrangle all three children into one place at one time while trying to get them all to sit still and while Hubby is still home. That will give me enough time to get the picture uploaded and printed at Walgreens so my parents can take it with them when they visit her tomorrow.

Edited to Add: ~~It does seem that~~ Time has slipped away ~~for~~ from us when it comes to Aunt T. I got a call this morning while we were eating breakfast to let me know that they don't expect her to last through the day. My parents headed up to the Hospice Center this morning and arrived there just as she passed away at 12:19pm with her family all gathered around her. Aunt L and her husband brought my Grandma with, but they arrived an hour too late.

I'm finding more and more that the Grandma I once knew is fading before my very eyes. Whether she has Alzheimer's, dementia, or something similar is hard to tell. She's never been diagnosed and has resisted all efforts to do so. It was while Aunt T was caring for her after a fall that she learned of her cancer. With Grandma things have been progressive - first she had difficulties with short term memory, but now it seems she's losing grasp of the past as well. We stopped to visit her back towards the end of December. She doesn't remember the visit - telling my Dad in a recent phone call that she hadn't see me or my sisters in months (and asking what grade we were in). I knew that was more than likely, but wanted to take the kids to visit her anyway. Even if she doesn't remember, I wanted them to have something to remember her by in the future.

She's aware that Aunt T is sick, but doesn't remember that it's cancer or know that it's terminal. My other Aunt is going to take her up to see Aunt T today. I suppose she won't remember the visit afterwards and I wonder what will happen after Aunt T passes. When my Grandma saw Aunt T after she passed today it was very confusing as Aunt T didn't look much like herself (understandably). I wonder how Grandma will handle things, but I'm not even sure she'll remember being there today. To lose at child at any age is devastating - we all expect that our children will long outlive us - but to not be able to remember the fact that they have died...will that be a blessing?

In the mix of everything that's happened in the last year we've also discovered that my Dad's PSA levels have risen - a bit higher and quicker than any of us would have liked. He'll be headed in to see his doctor within the next week or so. The next stop being radiation. I can't help but wonder if time will begin slipping away from us with him as well. Thinking positively lately has been a bit of a stretch so mostly I've been trying to put that thought out of my mind.

It all leaves me feeling like I'm trying to catch the wind. 2009 was a doozy of a year and it doesn't seem like 2010 will be any different.

Getting Back Into the Swing of Things

2010-01-12T10:50:00.003-06:00

Hubby went back to work yesterday for the first time since Baby M was born. Having him home with us for the past four weeks really has been such a wonderful blessing. After L was born he was off for four days (two of which were the weekend) before going back - not because he wanted it that way, but because the entire leave was unpaid and we couldn't afford to go without his paycheck given it's our only source of income. He felt like he missed out on so much and I felt completely overwhelmed by the prospect of caring for two children. I'm so glad I didn't have a repeat of that this time around.

It feels like I was eased into the actuality of three children by him being home with us for so long. Taking care of the three of them on my own has certainly made me very thankful for his help earlier on. It's been overwhelming to say the least, but I'm sure things will get easier as time goes on (and M gets a bit older). I'm hoping in the next couple of days to get a few post-holidays recap posts up complete with photos, but that may very well not go as planned.

Mountain Rose Herbs

2010-01-11T09:35:00.000-06:00

Folk Music Fridays - "You Got to Walk that Lonesome Valley"

2010-01-08T08:42:00.001-06:00

The "Minimum Mark Up" Law and an Odd Little Sign

2010-01-07T22:33:00.002-06:00

It all came about because I needed another scrapbook. Just a few months after J was born I started working on a scrapbook for him...I haven't done much with it since. Technically I'm several years behind. I'm a couple of years behind on L's too - in that I've never started it. M's is a bit less behind, but that isn't saying much given she's only a few weeks old. I'd probably just leave things as they are, but my youngest sister has offered to work on it for me when she's on vacation with her in-laws.

I looked first at Target, but they didn't have much in the way of refill pages. Since the first book I bought for J was from Wal-Mart I suggested, somewhat reluctantly, that we might check there. I think I can count on one hand the number of times we've shopped at Wal-Mart since we moved back here. Typically what happens is I reluctantly decide to go there for the rare item (a nursing bra, some pool chemicals, etc) I'm having difficulty locating elsewhere or perhaps think I might find cheaper there. We head on to the outskirts of town, park, and then walk the six miles across the store whereupon we discover one of a few things - they don't have the item, the item isn't all that better of a price or better selection than the other store, or they have one cashier and the line is heading to the back of the store. I'm sure you're not surprised then that even aside from Wal-Mart's other issues why we don't head there very often.

So there we were in the entry way of the local Super Wal-Mart. We're just about to head inside when we notice a big sign taped up on the doors. It's a sign I've never seen before and I find it's placement rather odd. It highlighted our state's "unfair sales act" which sets a minimum mark-up on certain items and how it limited Wal-Mart's ability to match the prices at a Wal-Mart in other states. This state law is not new so I'm left scratching my head a little trying to figure out why they've posted it now....

Enjoying the Last Bits

2010-01-06T10:48:00.002-06:00

Hubby's FMLA leave is drawing to a close (there's a post percolating about that somewhere down the road) so we're doing our best to enjoy these last few fleeting days. I'm trying simultaneously to reingage with my previous responsibilities and enjoy as much time as I can with Baby M.

So...in the meantime I thought I'd share this article with you by Robert Reich..."How Main Street got Shafted While Wall Street Bounced Back" - We'll call it part one of at least a two part series (the second of which will be a summary of some of the good books I've read recently).

St. Johns Wort

2010-01-04T09:32:00.000-06:00

Folk Music Fridays - "Shake Sugaree"

2010-01-01T08:16:00.001-06:00

A Few Thoughts on the Importance of Song

2009-12-30T08:07:00.003-06:00

Anytime we spend a lot of time in the car I am reminded of how important songs are in our daily life. It's not just music, but a song with words that we can understand and sing along with. We discovered that a bit at the beginning of this year when we made the trip out to visit Hubby's family. We had picked up a few Pete Seeger CDs and one from Elizabeth Mitchell. Whereas we might have turned to a portable DVD player in the past, this year we found that the CDs were much more effective. Both J and L listened very closely to the songs that were sung, so much so that they protested very loudly if they thought we were going to turn it off (like when we switched CDs).

As L has gotten older and her grasp of language has increased, we've found that more often than not she will sing through out the day. She does it when she's sad, happy, bored, etc. The first song she started singing was "Abiyoyo" by Pete Seeger. Although when she sings the song it sounds more like "A-yoyo" which provided a bit of comedy when the in-laws were visiting. My mother-in-law thought L was singing "Ee i ee i oh" and then proceeded to sing "Old MacDonald" to her. L looked at her kind of funny and then went back to singing "A-yoyo." I had to explain to MIL when L was saying which I think was a bit disappointing for her. MIL, a retired school teacher, has some expectations of the kinds of things that kids will be doing, singing, learning, etc which can cause some friction given that we tend to shy away from those things.

J and L got a few new CDs for Christmas (and St. Nick's Day) which was really helpful for our Christmas trip. L even picked up the words to a few more songs and has been singing them lately. L's most favorite new song is "Freight Train" which was on the Elizabeth Mitchell CD she got from my parents. The version on the CD is a bit different from the traditional folk song, but we like it nevertheless. It really has a catchy tune!

All of this reminded me of an interview with Pete Seeger printed in the "This is the Way We Wash-a-Day" songbook ("Cante, Cante Elefante" is on my wish list for this coming Fall). Where he was asked why it was important for people to sing. His response:

Singing makes people feel good! Both singing and dancing are good for the brain, body, and lungs; singing gets us active and moving! This is important for both adults and children. I think it is an act of creativity to sing. Singing can help people feel creative. People are losing their creativity. They come home from work, eat drink and watch TV. It's good for people to be active and creative, especially physically. I try to practice being creative and active in my home all the time. One day I even wrote a dish-washing song, since I am the official dish-washer in my house!

Singing also serves and educational purpose, a social purpose, and a unifying purpose when working for a cause. Singing can help awaken peoples' feelings and raise consciousness about issues.

So very true!

After Christmas Wrap Up

2009-12-29T08:34:00.005-06:00

It's hard to believe that Christmas is already over...or that M is over two weeks old. I think I'm finally feeling a bit more like myself which is a good sign. After L was born and we could only afford for Hubby to take off two days given our country's anemic family leave policies (thank goodness she was born on a Friday) it took longer - although not as long as after J was born, but part of that was probably due to the resources your body requires when recovering from major abdominal surgery. We've really been enjoying having Hubby home these last two weeks. He's got two weeks left which I'm sure will fly by very quickly. It's going to be odd switching our family back to a second shift schedule.

As far as Christmas goes, after traveling North for Christmas with my family, I must say I'm glad to be home again. It was nice to have even more adults around to play with and spend time with our children (our three are the only children on my side of the family). Still, it's always nice to be home again - I find it amazing how much one's physical space impacts your mental/emotional space. It's doubly more so for children. While they're presently having difficulty falling back into our usual daily life, I know it will even out a bit more once we're home for a few more days.

Part of our trip North included a visit to a favorite county park. I missed out on most of it given that we forgot my snow boots at home and the fact that someone needed to stay with M in the car (too cold for tiny little ones like her). Hubby took some really good pictures, though:

In the coming couple of weeks while Hubby is home I'm mostly planning on spending time recharging (and enjoying these fleeting moments of babyhood). I am hoping to get started on some planning for homeschooling this Fall. While J is still younger than one would start to see academic type subjects in a Waldorf school, there are a few things I'd like to focus on for "kindergarten" - especially because we didn't get into that as much as I would have liked this "school" year (though part of me is still tempted to enroll J in public school these last couple of months have been really tough). I'm also looking forward to starting my herbal correspondence course again. Maybe I'll be able to get lesson one submitted before March. The fact that I can even begin to consider either thing is something I see as a good sign!

Echinacea and Sauerkraut

2009-12-28T09:27:00.000-06:00

Economic Discipleship

2009-12-27T08:39:00.002-06:00

To learn more about Viv Grigg and the Urban Leadership Foundation go to their website (www.urbanleaders.org).

"O Come O Come Emmanuel" - Joan Baez

2009-12-25T08:40:00.000-06:00

Three children later...or the list of baby gear I've found you actually need

2009-12-22T08:18:00.003-06:00

Hubby and I were marveling over the car seat cover the other day and it dawned on me that we have a fairly odd perspective on baby "gear" - most notably what we've found essential and all the other stuff we've sold along the way.

When J was born we had all the standard baby "gear" courtesy of our very generous friends and family. We probably used the vast majority of it with J and then dutifully stored it until L made her appearance just about three years later. However, by the time L came along we found that we ourselves had changed as well which mostly meant that we needed a lot less "stuff" the second time around.

Here's what we've discovered to be on our "essential" list of baby "gear":

-Infant Carrier Carseat, aka "the bucket": This really is one of those much maligned items. Many people will tell you that they are "useless" and that you're better off just buying a convertible carseat because you'll get more use out of it for the money. I must say I can certainly agree with that...but only if you life in the Southern half of the United States (or the world for that matter) or your baby is born in the Summer.

Here in the Upper Midwest this is an absolute essential. Combine it with a fleece carseat cover (like this one) and you've got the safest transportation option. You can bundle your baby up in the carseat inside where it's toasty and warm, secure the cover on top, and carry the seat on out to the car. No coats or bulky bundling to get in the way of the straps and you don't have to mess around with securing the baby in the carseat when the windchill is -5 to -15 degrees F.

I've actually seen folks (obviously not from around these parts) say that they'd put the child in the sling under their coat out at the car and then carry the child in to the store or what have you that way. I must say I have been guilty of rolling my eyes and chuckling a little bit when I see comments like that. Yeah...you'd totally be doing that! In the meantime, we'll be removing "the bucket" from the car (with the cover on it) and running inside so as to avoid freezing to the parking lot.

-The Bouncy Seat: Another much maligned product amongst more like-minded folks. However I find this little gizmo incredibly helpful...especially for those times when a sling won't really work. I certainly feel much safer cooking when baby is in one of these and I *always* get a shower. Other than that it usually just sits in the corner. For those two reasons, though, it's definitely on my "must-have" list.

-A good sling: I happen to like the Maya Wrap, but you could literally take your pick of any number of slings out there and likely end up with a fantastic option (with the exception of the Snugli). There are times when I like our stroller, but for the most part we go for the sling.

-The portable crib: I actually don't have much use for this for the first year or so, but with L found it very helpful for when she was a bit older and still nursing at night. We all slept a bit more soundly, but she was still within arms (and ears) reach. Time will tell if I find this one all that helpful with M.

That's about it. The list is probably most notable for what's not on it than what is.Your mileage may vary (and your list will likely be different) , but that's my $0.02 on the matter - however cheap it may be.

Comfrey Leaf

2009-12-21T09:26:00.000-06:00

Advent Conspiracy - Liberia Part Three

2009-12-20T08:36:00.001-06:00

To learn more go to Advent Conspiracy's website (www.adventconspiracy.org).

Folk Music Fridays - "Oregon"

2009-12-18T08:14:00.000-06:00

Mullein Infusion

2009-12-15T09:25:00.000-06:00

It's a Girl!

2009-12-14T08:01:00.004-06:00

Welcome to the world, Baby M!

Born at home, in the caul on 12/10.
8lbs 14oz, 21 1/2" long

Advent Conspiracy - Liberia Part Two

2009-12-13T08:33:00.001-06:00

To learn more go to Advent Conspiracy's website (www.adventconspiracy.org).

Folk Music Fridays - "Leaving on a Jet Plane"

2009-12-11T08:59:00.003-06:00

John Denver's songs bring back memories for me. Both my Mom and my Grandma were fans - the very first concert I ever remember attending was actually a John Denver concert.

To say it's been snowing would be an understatement

2009-12-09T11:07:00.003-06:00

Wet, heavy snow has been falling since last night - probably somewhere near a foot by the time it's all said and done. The first decent snow fall of the year and the piles of snow on either side of the driveway are higher than we'd like. Part and parcel of the not having a snow blower (egads are they expensive!) and not being able to heft the snow very far. Hubby spent several hours clearing the driveway this morning - I'm of course very little help at this point. Not like he'd let me help even if I offered.

I'm not sure if you can see it, but the pine tree back there in the neighbor's yard lost several branches. Big ones too!

Everything is weighed down with snow - Hubby said he could hear tree branches breaking in the neighborhood while he was shoveling. Thankfully all of our bushes, now that they've been liberated from their covering of snow, all seem to have made it through ok. There are several thousand people in our area without power. I'm glad we're not one of them.

St. Nicholas Day in Review

2009-12-08T08:38:00.002-06:00

I had planned on posting some pictures to go along with this post, but was disappointed when I uploaded them from the camera. Somehow one of the settings got changed and they didn't quite turn out as I had wanted them to. I will include some links along the way, though.

We had hoped that Hubby would be off of work right now and that the baby would have made it's appearance already. I had plans for Hubby to make cookies with the kids like the ones we made last year while baby and I watched. Unfortunately still no baby and Hubby had to work on Sunday. We ended up opening our presents, having breakfast together while talking about Saint Nicholas, and then went to see the Christmas lights at Target. The kids really get a kick out of seeing the Christmas section of the local Target which I realize probably sounds a bit odd. The popcorn that comes along with it probably plays a role.

This year we're keeping the quantity of gifts to a minimum so there were just a few things in the kids' stockings. J got "The Seven Silly Eaters" by Mary Ann Hoberbman, a chocolate orange bar by Chocolove, a Slinky, and a red pocket gnome. L got "Pelle's New Suit" by Elsa Beskow, a chocolate orange bar from Chocolove, Elizabeth Mitchell's "You Are My Sunshine", and a green pocket gnome.

Hubby and I didn't exchange presents for St. Nicholas Day this year which was just fine by me. My only disappointment is that I didn't really get to do all the things I wanted to when I first considered this upcoming holiday season. I had planned on going all out with a nice breakfast (orange chocolate chip pancakes?), but somehow the thought of any of that seems to require more than I feel like I have to give lately. I must admit I'm having a hard time getting this Advent to measure up to my expectations. I suppose to a certain degree it's been a lesson in letting go for me.

This waiting on baby, though, has been a bit trying on all of us. My patience in dealing with L's tantrums (she's a very high-spirited child) and J's new found whining abilities has been somewhat limited as of late. It's got to be part of a feedback loop. I'm really looking forward to the end of this particular season in our lives.

The Role of Mucous

2009-12-07T09:24:00.000-06:00

Advent Conspiracy - Liberia Part One

2009-12-06T08:32:00.001-06:00

To learn more go to Advent Conspiracy's website (www.adventconspiracy.org).

Our Advent (Birthday) Spiral

2009-12-05T08:06:00.001-06:00

I've often drooled over the gorgeous birthday rings and Advent spirals you see in the catalogs. The birthday rings aren't actually all that expensive, but the Advent spirals are. I suppose we could have just gone with a birthday ring, but my heart was really sold on the spiral.

I have an Uncle who is a phenomenally talented craftsman. Seriously. I, rather sheepishly, approached him earlier this year with a picture of an Advent spiral that I had printed off the internet. I asked him if it would be possible to make something like that...would it be complicated? He told me it would be really easy and he could make it from scrap wood. I was expecting a very simple Advent spiral. As you can see from above, though, what he made is so much more than that.

I think it's gorgeous and am absolutely humbled by his generosity and creativity. He made the ornaments (and bought the candles and a few more candle holders). He also came up with the ideas for the ornaments.

Both J and L are very enamored with the Advent spiral which is exactl why my Uncle went through all this, I'm sure. I'm thinking family heirloom here.

Folk Music Fridays - "Pretty Boy Floyd"

2009-12-04T08:52:00.001-06:00

Yes, as through this world I've wandered
I've seen lots of funny men;
Some will rob you with a six-gun,
And some with a fountain pen.

And as through your life you travel,
Yes, as through your life you roam,
You won't never see an outlaw
Drive a family from their home.

I first heard this song on "'Til We Outnumber 'Em: Woody Guthrie" - I can't help but think how timeless it is.

Garden Harvest Update (as of 11/23/09)

2009-12-02T08:08:00.001-06:00

Small Red Beans - 11oz
Great Northern Beans - 1lb 6oz
Brussel Sprouts - 1lb 8oz
Corn - 1lb 12oz (and none of it was all that fantastic)
Broccoli - 1lb 9oz (there's a few earlier harvests that weren't included in this total)
Eggplant - 1lb 12oz
Radishes - 2lbs 15oz
Hot Peppers (mild) 3lbs 3oz
Onions - 4lbs
Shelling Peas - 4lbs 8oz
Potatoes - 15lbs
Beet Greens - 6lbs 12oz
Green/Orange Peppers 8lb 10oz
Kale - 12lbs 8oz
Beets - 15lbs 11oz
Carrots - 26lbs 1oz
Tomatillos - 27lbs 7oz
Green Beans - 32lbs
Pickling Cucumbers - 41lbs oz (A mixture of vinegar and lacto-fermentation)
Cabbage - 40lbs 7oz
Tomatoes 168lbs 1oz
---------------
Grand Total = 418 lbs 5oz

This is actually my final update. We pulled the last bit of anything out of the garden the day before Thanksgiving...the brussel sprouts. It was actually a bit of a surprise given we didn't think that they'd amount to much. They were pretty small, but made a fantastic Thanksgiving side dish with some bacon, onions, garlic, and balsamic vinegar. It really was pretty sweet!

Putting up the Christmas Tree

2009-12-01T07:49:00.002-06:00

We went to a local Christmas Tree Farm and picked out our tree on Friday. We used to use an artificial tree, but with all of the chemicals in the tree decided to support a local farm instead. This is our second year buying from them and we're really glad to have located it. At the end of the season, instead of putting the tree out to the curb which in our area basically means it's taken to the landfill, we put it out in the backyard. Hubby usually puts it in the compost bin where I'm sure it becomes a nice hiding place for birds. In the end the branches were used for mulch around the blueberry bushes and the trunk was used to make the cat platform.

Both the kids had a blast getting the tree and helping to decorate it. Hubby and I had a hard time keeping up with their demand for ornaments. They preferred to hand them to Hubby to hang up on the tree and then come back with more. L and J adore the lights - they're on pretty much all day long - and so far both the cats and the kids have largely left the tree alone.

We were a bit early this year in getting the tree compared to last year. Not too bad given that the first Sunday in Advent followed right afterward. It's kind of nice to kick off the Advent season with the tree - well, that and the fact that we got it up before the baby came.

Tuesday, if the candles arrive in time, we'll be starting to light our brand new Advent Spiral. My Uncle made it for the kids - it looks amazing. I'm hoping I can get coordinated enough to get some pictures taken of it.

Cold Colds/Hot Colds

2009-11-30T09:23:00.000-06:00

Advent Conspiracy 2009

2009-11-29T08:29:00.001-06:00

To learn more go to Advent Conspiracy's website (www.adventconspiracy.org).

Folk Music Fridays - "House of the Rising Sun"

2009-11-27T08:46:00.000-06:00

Thankful

2009-11-26T08:32:00.002-06:00

There are a lot of things I'm thankful for...the quiet hush of the house after the kids have gone to sleep, the heavy sighs followed by "I love you mom", the increasing number of word L knows which contributes to a bit less screaming on her part, the sweet thoughtfulness of my husband every day but most especially towards the end of pregnancy.

I'm also thankful for the Native Americans because, let's face it, if it weren't for their help the likelihood that any of us would be living here as we are is not all that fantastic. I'm thankful for the Wampanoag and other native groups. We certainly owe them much more than we have given and do so very little to recognize their contributions as a larger society.

I struggle with how to celebrate holidays like today and the Fourth of July because it seems to me as a nation we do so while neglecting their more bittersweet implications. One of these days I'm hoping to find someway of working this in to our greater family gatherings including some practical ways as well.

Warm and Fuzzy

2009-11-25T13:55:00.004-06:00

I'm becoming more miserable every day - I know *every* pregnant woman says this at the end of pregnancy. I suppose it's part of the design so one wants to go through the labor and birthing process. I know I certainly felt it at the end of my pregnancy with J an L.

This time around the sensation is a bit more acute - what started as a little bit of sciatica has turned into a literal pain in the rear. At this point I'm finding it difficult to sit - even after switching out most chairs for the yoga/birth ball. My sewing plans have been halted because it's too painful to sit and push on the sewing machine pedal. I know that they'll wait and all...and that hopefully the pain will go away after the baby's born and there's no longer a head down so low.

I did, out of desperation this morning, call the one local chiropractor I had a recommendation for. I knew it was a long shot given the fact that it's so close to Thanksgiving and all. They were closing early today and then will be closed tomorrow and Friday. The next time they could get me an appointment? *Next* Friday. I chuckled and told them thanks, but I'm hoping I won't be pregnant by then. The receptionist still wanted me to make an appointment. I told her if I was still pregnant then I'd call them back.

I haven't given up hope quite yet as I've heard that reflexology can help. There's a local lady who has also been connected with our local LLL group. Of course, there's no guarantee that she'll be around on Friday or anytime soon, but I at least made a call to see. Here's hoping!

In the meantime I got the little bean an outfit. It's kind of tough given the lack of decent gender neutral clothing at our local Target, but I thought this one would be appropriate:

It's a soft and fuzzy fleece which would make a great first outfit to keep the little one warm in our otherwise fairly cool house. I did get a new onesie for the little one earlier this year, but haven't taken pictures of that yet.

My mom also got some onesies for the baby. One set for a girl and one for a boy. She says she's sure that Maya will look adorable in the pink onesies. She's convinced it's a girl. Hubby thinks it's a boy and said so. My mom replied..."Someone's going to be disappointed, but it's not going to be me!" It's been funny to watch the back and forth as everyone anxiously awaits the new arrival.

As for me...I don't care either way, but I am tired and probably a bit too emotional for my own good. Thank goodness for my Hubby. For the most part he's been very sensitive (he has his moments when he forgets that I'm a bit less than enthused with his good natured teasing - something that would have made me laugh and play back before is enough to bring tears now). He's even volunteered to do a fair bit of the pre-Thanksgiving cooking and have me be the "straw boss." Sounds good to me!

In the meantime, the kids and I have been reading a book by Fran Manushkin called "Baby, Come Out!" which my midwife gave us to read at my last appointment. Along with "Welcome with Love" by Jenni Overend (which is very sadly out of print and ridiculously overpriced by online sellers) it's one of our new favorite books to read while waiting for baby to be born.

The Train Tunnel

2009-11-25T08:28:00.000-06:00

I think the blocks you'll see below are by far one of my favorite presents that J has ever received from my in-laws. It's been a couple of years long battle to help them understand why quality is better than quantity. Last year we suggested that my father-in-law could make some wooden blocks for J. My father-in-law enjoys working with his hands and for a small fraction of the cost of the wooden blocks in the toy catalogs J could have more than a present...he could have a connection...a story.

The blocks have been used for a number of different things in the year he's had them. This was their latest incarnation. J says it's his building. There are two tunnels and a fairly complex set of tracks that go under and around it. He asked that I take a picture. I wasn't really sure they'd turn out given the waning afternoon sunlight, but once they were uploaded I thought the pictures were decent enough to share.

Handmade Christmas Ornaments - Felt Mitten Ornaments

2009-11-24T08:27:00.001-06:00

It's probably almost as traditional as the Christmas gift itself...the Christmas ornament. I assume given the number of ornaments for sale in stores this time of year that many families participate in an ornament exchange - a new one for each family member every year. It's something my parents did and to a certain degree that Hubby's did as well.

In my family we ended up with just about enough ornaments to fill an entire tree by the time it was all said and done. It's a mishmash of all sorts of different ornaments. Some of them are handmade and some store-bought. I've always loved the way it looked once they were all up on the tree because it reminded me a lot of life in general - the mishmash of memories that comprise our lives and the patchwork that it creates.

Hubby's memories are very different. His mom was big into themes. Their main tree had a bear theme. Every year his mom would buy them a new ornament for the tree, a bear of some sort. Hubby and his sister also had small trees in their rooms - again on a theme that his mom had selected. The thing of it is...Hubby didn't get to take any of those ornaments with him when he moved out. His mom still has all of the ornaments. I'm not really sure what happened to the little trees and he was never really attached to the idea enough to want to take it with him.

My mother-in-law did briefly try to resurrect the tradition with our family by sending a small tree for J when he wasn't quite a year old that was completely decorated according to some theme. It was one of those awkward moments. You knew she meant well and was excited about the grandchild thing (her first), but it end up feeling a bit forced. If it had been one of those childhood memories that Hubby remembered fondly we would have kept it. As it was it felt very different from the goals we had for Christmas in our own home.

In the end, Hubby and I decided we would buy a Christmas ornament for the kids every year similar to what my family did when I was a child. He very much wants the ornaments to reflect the child and he wants each child to take them with them when they've grown. In the meantime my family has been trying to make up for the deficit of ornaments Hubby has as compared to mine. He's gotten an ornament from my parents and sisters every year since we started dating. I've also given him one as well. It's been a blast to see his eyes light up as he points out the ones that he likes and the memories they've made along the way. His mom has also given him ornaments every year since he moved out - again, usually on some sort of theme which I'm beginning to think is a theme for her in and of itself.

Since our children are fairly young their ornaments have mostly been something we adults have picked out - although J has expressed his opinion along the way. It's always been a bit of a struggle when it comes to picking the ornaments out, however. While there are a number of ornaments available it seems they're all either some sort of licensed character or they're incredibly cheap. This year in hopes of avoiding the conundrum I made plans to make ornaments for the family. I pointed out some I saw at Target the other day to Hubby - felt mittens and stockings with simple embroidery on them. I figured I could make them and he agreed it was a great idea.

Thus began the search for a more specific idea. A pattern maybe since my drawing abilities leave much to be desired. That's when I stumbled across this pattern from Oliver+S for a Mitten Ornament. I've already got some 50/50 Wool Blend felt on hand that I picked up a few months ago. I still have decided whether I want to go with red, blue, or white. I think that will depend on what kind of fabric I come across for the top of the mitten.

I also came across the Hand Embroidery Network blog which is going to come in hand when it comes time to embellish the ornaments and make them unique to each child. I'm planning on putting their first initial on the front and the year on the back. Depending on how well that goes for J and L I may venture out a bit into adding "Baby's First Christmas" onto the baby's ornament. Or not.

What about you and your family? Do you do a Christmas/holiday ornament exchange?

Boneset Tincture

2009-11-23T08:22:00.000-06:00

Wow...just...wow...

2009-11-21T08:09:00.003-06:00

We own one TV, but it's a standard definition one and we don't own a converter box...so we don't actually watch TV since we kicked Charter to the curb for their ridiculously inflated rates. Over the last couple of weeks I've gotten the picture that we're a bit odd because of this - we can't really participate in discussions at family gatherings because the topic of conversation always revolves around particular shows. I used to listen to Air America and NPR, but then with the close of the gardening season we've had less occasion to be in the car.

I didn't realize the way that both of those forms of media impacted our view of the world. I guess you could say that we're relatively uninformed since we also don't get a newspaper. Part of me feels a bit badly about that, but the other part of me is a bit relieved. It's made for a much more peaceful view of the world around me which certainly helps with stress levels as I come to the end of this pregnancy.

I do get updates a bit here and there from a few bloggers and people that I respect which is where this tidbit comes from. I ran across it the other day on Brian McLaren's blog. It's from the Rachel Maddow show and features an interview she did with Frank Schaeffer, son of Francis Schaeffer (I read Frank's book "Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back" and it was amazing by the way):

My first response (and Hubby's) was one of speechlessness. I get that most people are going to write this off as a fringe/crazy person element, but I think both Frank Schaeffer and Tony Norman in his article make a good case for why it shouldn't be written off. I'm finding myself more apt to be concerned about it as well after I've witnessed a few family discussions with my family.

Why is it so concerning? Take a look at the context of Psalm 109:8...the entire context. No, really. Go ahead, I'll wait. Did you see the most concerning parts?

⁶ Appoint an evil man to oppose him;
let an accuser stand at his right hand.
⁷ When he is tried, let him be found guilty,
and may his prayers condemn him.
⁸ May his days be few;
may another take his place of leadership.
⁹ May his children be fatherless
and his wife a widow.
¹⁰ May his children be wandering beggars;
may they be driven from their ruined homes.
¹¹ May a creditor seize all he has;
may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor.
¹² May no one extend kindness to him
or take pity on his fatherless children.

To echo the calls of Frank Schaeffer, Tony Norman, and Brian McLaren - where is the Evangelical leadership? When is someone going to stand up and say enough is enough? Regardless of how you view the President or his policies I'm hoping you can agree with me that a certain degree of civility has been lost in our public discourse. Where is the respect for President Obama...not because he's the President, but because he's a fellow human being?

Folk Music Fridays - "On Top of Old Smokey"

2009-11-20T08:38:00.000-06:00

Formula-Fed America

2009-11-19T08:28:00.002-06:00

After J was born (via unncessary primary cesarean) we struggled to establish a breastfeeding relationship. It wasn't that anything was wrong, but it was the support...or more accurately the discouragement I received from so many of the medical personnel along the way that ultimately ended up in the switch to formula. Knowing what I know now I never would have made the choices that I did then - and our budget certainly would have thanked us as well. Formula is crazy expensive and the "free" samples and coupons dry up so quickly once they can tell you're a regular customer.

After L was born we were bound and determined to make things work no matter what. It was no picnic for the first 9 or so weeks, but I kept going because the memory of the expense after J was born was at the forefront of my mind. At 10 weeks things just clicked and it became as effortless as you would imagine from then on. Of course, the changes I made in the kinds of people I surrounded myself with ultimately made all the difference.

This movie is looking like it might be one of those must see films - as others have mentioned could it possibly do for breastfeeding what "The Business of Being Born" did for birth? Check out the film's website at www.formulafedamerica.com.

The Nature Table

2009-11-18T08:16:00.002-06:00

After we got the living room paint finished (three coats later) and the walls dry it was time to start putting things back together. A few changes since the last picture of the Nature Table to reflect the change outside. I love how much the items on the mantle stand out against the new paint color versus the old one!

Paint

2009-11-17T08:43:00.002-06:00

This picture is from one of those serendipitous moments where you have to quick take the picture before the moment passes. It literally did just a few minutes after I took the picture. One of the few sunny moments yesterday.

I thought I'd include this picture of our bedroom wall since the previous one, though cool, looked far more gray than blue. Such a difference from the sage-y green that was there from the previous owners.

And of course, the living room. More specifically, the corner of the living room where we keep all of the J and L's toys. The creamy color has really lightened things up in the room. I'm not really sure what the previous owners of the house were thinking with the tan walls. We have a shaded house as it is and issues with getting decent light. The tan walls really sucked up any of the light coming in.

The light hanging from the ceiling is also new. I didn't want to try and hardwire something in and floor lamps are never a good idea here (I've gone through three lampshades as they inevitably get knocked down). This is the Hemma cord set from Ikea along with a lamp shade I picked up there as well (can't find it online, but the pattern on it is embroidered). The shade was about three times as expensive as the cord set which gave us a pretty good chuckle.

I picked it up on Sunday night on our way home from the Wise Traditions conference in Schaumburg. I had Hubby install it right away when I got home. J and L discovered it the next morning - J was so enamored with it he insists upon having the light on anytime he is in the room. He calls it his "play light." I've been semi-successful so far in convincing him that we don't need it on during the day - we want to save on electricity. Of course, only after I promised that we could turn it back on once the sun went down.

It's almost as if we now live in a different house!

How to Make Elderberry Syrup

2009-11-16T09:14:00.000-06:00

This recipe has a few additions to it as compared to the recipe that I use. I like to use raw honey in mine and then be careful not to get the honey too warm so we get the benefits of the raw honey. As for dried Elderberries...I do prefer the ones featured in this video from Mountain Rose Herbs. The seem to be the cleanest ones I've found and lacking in all the little berry stems.

Random Saturday Updates and the Officially "Any Day Now" Moment

2009-11-14T09:59:00.003-06:00

I've been feeling a bit like everything is getting down to the wire as far as the baby is concerned. I suppose the fact that my house is in a bit of disarray after the painting marathon has something to do with it. For the most part, though, it was those last few little things we needed to buy for the birth kit. Yesterday afternoon the kids and I ventured out to the store with hopes of getting everything on our short list. We came home with everything but two items - a five gallon bucket (not sure what part of the water birth supplies this one's for) and some coconut water (for a natural electrolyte beverage.

In spite of those two missing items and a few small housekeeping type things I reached the "any day now" moment. You know, that moment in late pregnancy when you decide that baby can come any time without feeling like you've been caught off guard. I fully expect things to plod along for another couple of weeks or so - three I'm thinking, but (obviously) am willing to take things as they come. Baby will come when baby is ready - it's just nice that we're a bit more ready than before.

My other bit of excitement today comes from the soon to be installed bathroom exhaust fan. When our house was built back in the 1950s building codes did not require a fan if there was an exterior winter. Sure, fine, whatever, but did they realize that since we live in the Midwest that opening the window in the late fall/dead of winter is about the last thing you want to do? Nothing like hoping out of the warm shower into the freezing cold bathroom. It's always been on our "to do" list since moving day - today is finally the day. My Dad and BIL have come over to help Hubby get it installed. Color me super excited for the end result.

I'm also looking forward to the trip I'm taking with my Mom tomorrow. We're headed to Schaumburg, IL to attend Sunday's sessions at the Wise Traditions 2009 Conference. There is absolutely no way I could ever afford to attend the entire conference...super expensive without lodging. I didn't want to let the opportunity pass me by, though. The conference is in the Midwest for the first time ever and I have no idea when/if it will return. Spending the money for the one day was probably not the best financial decision ever, but part of me couldn't pass it up. We'll be attending the "Holistic Cancer Treatments" Track which is certainly timely given my Dad's likely cancer reoccurrence.

Attending the conference is a bit bittersweet with me given a number of the things that have happened within the organization lately. I'm not sure that I can continue to support them given a combination of issues. I'm going to try not to focus on that tomorrow, however. Perhaps I'll have to go into that more later.

Oh, and we're adding in a trip to Ikea on the way home - life really is pretty darn good!

Folk Music Fridays - "Labor's Troubadour"

2009-11-13T08:27:00.002-06:00

An excerpt of the documentary about Joe Glazer.

Paint

2009-11-12T21:05:00.002-06:00

I had every intention of having a post up before now and would have likely worked on one ahead of time if I really knew what we would be doing on Hubby's "weekend." It all started so innocently when my mom suggested - perhaps knowing about the few little projects (ok an entire sheet of notebook paper front and back) that I have lying around - that she would be willing to come over to my house and paint out bedroom.

You see, I've had this gallon of paint sitting in my garage since somewhere around Father's Day. I had plans to paint my bedroom during the summer, but as it typical we never really got around to it. Being the really pregnant woman that I am the idea of getting our bedroom painted was very attractive - nesting perhaps?

Well, one thing lead to another and now instead of just painting my bedroom, we also painted the living room/hallway/entryway. The bedroom went from a green color (sagey maybe?) with what was perhaps some sort of faux treatment to a very light blue - Healing Waters from the Home Depot Freshaire Collection. The living room/hallway/entryway from a light killing tan color to a yellowy cream color - Raw Sugar from Pittsburgh Paints at Menards.

It should be noted that the people who painted the rooms before were *not* good painters. Nope, not even in the slightest. The amount of paint on the trim work and ceiling while slightly noticeable before is glaring now. The ceiling issues have been remedied with a fresh coat of ceiling paint, but the trim will most certainly need to be repainted...at some point anyway.

I feel a bit like I'm living in a completely different house - the brightness of the rooms is truly overwhelming. I wanted to get some links up to color swatches, but haven't been able to find them online. Since it's too late to take pictures now I'll have to work on that later. Perhaps now when I want to take pictures in the living room they will actually turn out!

Sardines

2009-11-11T10:16:00.002-06:00

I've had this package of sardines sitting in my pantry for over a month now and I've yet to gather up enough courage to open it. I bought it because everyone always talks about what a nutrient dense food it is...how wonderful of a snack it is...etc.

The thing is? I don't particularly care for fishy type fish. I'm afraid that these are going to be too fish for me and I really don't want to waste the entire tin. So there they sit...all lonely like waiting for just the right moment. Any bets on when that will come?

Counting Down

2009-11-10T08:24:00.003-06:00

As trite as it sounds, it really does seem like just yesterday that we found out our family of four was going to expand. Reality is beginning to set in, though as we've technically reached "term" meaning the baby can choose to come any day now and no one would bat an eye. Our home visit with the midwife has come and gone, the birth tub on loan from the midwife is in the bedroom closet, and the birth kit is just about complete. The guess date? Still a few weeks away.

I tend to forget that the way we've gone about this pregnancy is all that different from the way anyone else does. Unless of course, I find myself outside of my normal circle of people like we were on Saturday. No, we don't know the sex of the baby. It's amazing how many times people follow that up with "oh, so you don't want to know?" Not really...we just don't see the need for the ultrasound. Oh, that's right most folks assume you've had at least one ultrasound by now even though it's never been proven as safe or improve outcomes.

We tend to avoid the multitude of other "standard" tests and such that most assume you have. It's much easier to not have to go through the constant explanation. Highly unlikely they'd understand and it's not my responsibility to educate them.

Instead? We'll just smile politely and change the subject. We're focusing on more important things right now.

Like playing with the cat through the cat door with a string bag, painting our bedroom and maybe the living room, getting together those last few supplies, washing/sorting the baby clothes, and trying to get some Christmas projects finished early.

Best of all? Looking forward to having Hubby home for three whole weeks after the baby is born (so much better than the three days he was able to take off after L was born, gotta love the family leave policies here in the US). You know...the important stuff.

Herbal Sprial - Permaculture

2009-11-09T09:01:00.002-06:00

Not specifically related to herbalism as the videos I typically focus on, but I thought this video was a really introduction to an "herbal spiral" which is something I hadn't ever really heard of. It's also a little bit of green warmth instead of the cold green that accompanies this season.

A Different Perspective

2009-11-08T14:49:00.003-06:00

Yesterday we had the pleasure of attending my aunt's wedding. It's her second marriage - the first having ended a few years ago. She married her first husband when she was young (he was old enough to be her father) because she found herself pregnant. Shortly after marrying him she miscarried. She remained married to him, though and they had two sons. From what I know of their relationship it was less than ideal - certainly less than I would want for myself or anyone else. They stayed married until their sons were just about out of high school before deciding it was best they part ways.

When she met her new husband we were all very happy for her - it was so nice to see her with someone so very different from her first husband. So very refreshing to see her eyes light up, her perspective change. We were also very happy when she announced her engagement - I suspect from the time they announced it until yesterday was probably only a few months. For both the bride and the groom this is a second marriage and I suppose one's perspective and ideas about a wedding change the second time around.

We knew it was going to be a small wedding and there would be no rehearsal before hand. Watching the day unfold the difference between this wedding and your "standard" wedding was apparent. Instead of the bride waiting off on her own this bride chose to be in the sanctuary visiting with her guests beforehand. Her giddy excitement over what was to come? So very typical.

No processional and no special music. Wedding party members seem to appear from nowhere in their spots and then there's the question of who is going to light the candles. After they are identified they head off with the pastor to get what they need. Wedding party members are still standing there and the bride is still chatting with others. Hmm...light the candles? They won't light. Conference at the candelabra to try and determine why they won't light. Oops! Have to remove the plastic covers. Oh...and then on to the matter of lighting the unity candle tapers. Those folks are casually identified and they go up. Once the wedding begins things don't run any smoother. They can't seem to get the unity candle tapers out of their holders to light the center candle and the bride trips on the way back from lighting the unity candle, laughing the whole way.

In spite of all that it was clear that this was exactly what she wanted...that they were so very much in love and so very glad to have found each other. Theirs was a wedding very much planned and wanted. The groom was choked up as he recited his vows (both my sister and I were sure to point that out to her new husband - I think he's always been a bit embarrassed that he teared up at their wedding) and the bride's eyes shined when she said hers. The pastor talked about them coming into their marriage with an understanding of real life and the different perspective that gives you. So very true.

The reception was a small affair with only five tables. The fact that our table was a bit loud (a combination of our side of the family and my children) seemed so very welcome...exactly what the bride wanted. Small...real...a slice of daily life with a little bit of decoration. The fact that my son got a kick out of clinking his glass so the bride and groom would kiss (egged on by a few family members) - adorable. My uncle and J clinking their water glasses every time they went to take a drink just because it's fun - a priceless memory.

I suppose one could argue that it seemed like everything went wrong and that it was the least organized wedding they had ever been to. I have to admit it was a bit jarring, but only because it stood in such stark contrast to the usual wedding. Still, you couldn't help but leave the day thinking that in the end it didn't matter. That the fact that both the bride and groom had the same giddy smile at the end of the day as they did at the beginning was all that really mattered and perhaps it was a sign of a better outcome. The little hiccups along the way made them laugh. I doubt they'll look back on those kinds of things any differently years down the road. Whereas my wedding day may have gone a bit more smoothly, there are negative parts I'd love to do over again. Regrets that I didn't do things differently. This bride seemed to have no regrets.

Yesterday was a bit bittersweet as well - shortly after announcing their engagement it was discovered that the groom's cancer was to be back. He's had cancer before and gone into remission. These new spots on his lungs are different and there's a future visit to Mayo Clinic coming up. In spite of the uncertainty they got married anyway. I would have too - why wait? Life's much too short to hold off on something like that and dark days are that much easier to handle with someone at your side.

Was the day technically "perfect" in the way our society has come to expect a wedding day? No, but it was perfect never-the-less.

Folk Music Fridays - "St. James Infirmary"

2009-11-06T08:12:00.001-06:00

It's been a rough couple of days...

2009-11-05T20:49:00.002-06:00

I think the light is beginning to show at the end of the tunnel, though. After L got sick, Hubby came down with something similar on Sunday night, with J following on Tuesday morning. So far it seems to have passed me by, but the slight sore throat I have right now is not very encouraging.

The last few days I've been focusing on sleep and Vitamin D. Here's to staying healthy!

Time Flies

2009-11-03T08:08:00.001-06:00

I can't believe how quickly the leaves go from peak color to this:

I haven't changed my header graphic yet because I just put it up and this picture just seems a bit too depressing. Now if I could just figure out how to get the leaves to rake themselves into neat little piles by the curb....

Susun Weed and PPD

2009-11-02T09:49:00.000-06:00

Did you remember to "fall back"?

2009-11-01T08:48:00.002-06:00

I took this picture last week - it was Hubby's last Sunday off for this particular rotation so we decided to head to the park after church. We could have stayed for the Inter-generational Pot Luck/kid's costume party, but decided that some good outdoor activity would be wise. In the end I'm glad we did.

The shadows in this picture remind me very much of fall/winter. It evokes all of those farewell to warmer days and trips to the playground feelings in me all over again.

Oh, and if you've ever wondered about Daylight Savings Time I found a nice description over here.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T08:09:00.003-05:00

One morning, four days before Halloween, Mrs. McMurphy got up to gather eggs, and found a large pumpkin with a wicked, wicked grin sitting in the hall by her front door.

And the pumpkin said, "My mouth is here. I speak to you. When my teeth are here, I'll eat you!" "What a sweet-looking pumpkin," said Mrs. McMurphy, "but pumpkins belong outside." And she carried it out to the porch.

From another Autumn favorite - "Mrs. McMurphy's Pumpkin" by Rick Walton - I'm reusing a picture from last year since the weather has been a bit uncooperative. My best light it outside and it's been raining the past couple of days!

Edited to Add: I did get L's costume done today - well just about except for the elastic in the cuffs and the ankles. Not too bad given how hopeless it all seemed last night. I'm really hoping it will still fit next year...it would be doubly sad to me if she never got to wear it. No pictures yet, but I will get some posted later. So very cute!

On Procrastination and Illness

2009-10-30T21:10:00.005-05:00

This week, in spite of being preceded by a three day weekend for Hubby (one of the things I like the most about his rotating schedule), has felt a bit hectic. Part of me wonders precisely what the issue was when looking back on it. I do know that there were two days that I should have carved some time out of in order to work on L's costume. I also remember that at the end of both, when it came time to head downstairs into the basement (which feels so much like a dungeon and so very un-inspiring) I resisted. After arguing with myself for a bit I won out with the well reasoned excuse that there really wasn't all that much left - just the hood and the elastic for the wrists, ankles, and feet. Something I could realistically knock out in one evening. Besides...there were two days still left.

It's day one of that two and tomorrow is Halloween. I had grand plans of getting started on the costume this morning while Hubby was home and finishing it up while L was napping with this evening as the time to put on the final touches (and work on the trick-or-treat bags). As I'm sure you can guess I haven't done any of that. Instead I'm sitting at the computer sifting through the more than 200 pictures I took this weekend (well, our weekend anyway).

Why? Because L is sick. Hubby discovered this when she woke up early this morning very upset. At first we thought perhaps it was because she hadn't eaten enough the day before (not for lack of offering on my part). Even after she was comforted and back in bed it was clear that something wasn't quite right. She awoke a couple of hours later whereupon she was again comforted and back in bed. In the light of day her rosy red cheeks and slower pace made it clear that my instincts were right. Given her behavior and the height of her temperature I'm sure you can likely determine what I'm figuring it is.

Between Hubby and myself L has been in arms just about the entire time. Her sweet little curly head tucked in against your shoulder. The very fact that she lets you rub her back or massage her head is further testament to how poorly she feels. There have been a few bits during the day (including now) that she has been in her bed and fast asleep when I suppose I could have ventured below ground to finish things up. Part of me figures it's futile since she won't likely be wearing the costume tomorrow anyway. The other part of me doesn't want to be so far away...afraid that I won't hear her if she wakes up.

I still need at the very least to finish a trick-or-treat bag for J. As long as he's still feeling well tomorrow my parents have promised to take him trick-or-treating. I suppose we should all stay home, but just because one of us is sick doesn't mean that all of us will be - typically in our family it stays with just one of us and misses the other. J's been so looking forward to going as he does every year and he's been so disappointed that his sister has been unable to play.

In the meantime I'll find some time between now and tomorrow morning when another adult is in the house. The trick-or-treat bag is so very near completion - it's just an issue of a little craft glue and some bits of felt. In the meantime - Gelsemium, Winter Tonic 1, Elderberry Syrup, Coconut Water, whole-grain crackers, homemade applesauce, homemade chicken and rice soup (with plenty of onions, garlic and ginger), small but frequent doses of Vitamin C, Vitamin D, a few anti-viral herbs, some wet socks, and lots of cuddling fill our day.

That and a few pictures from sunnier days. No sense in worrying or panicking over the maybes and might be. Time and the human immune system have a way of working themselves out.

Folk Music Fridays - "Pick a Bale of Cotton"

2009-10-30T10:09:00.001-05:00

Changing Leaves and a Blogiversary

2009-10-29T09:54:00.008-05:00

It was aumtumn.
In the hush of the forest
a lone yellow leaf
clung to the branch of a great oak tree.

Not ready, thought
the Little Yellow Leaf
as apples grew musky,
pumpkins heavy,
and flocks of geese
took wing.

Still not,
he thought
as the other leaves gathered
into great heaps,
crackly dry,
where children
played.

From our favorite Autumn book - "The Little Yellow Leaf" by Carin Berger

Oh, and it's been one year ago today that I made my very first post. It was originally started to catalog the projects I was working on for Christmas. My how time flies!

The love of a boy for a cat

2009-10-28T08:25:00.002-05:00

The cat in the picture with J is the male cat, Tweedle. He's a good deal bigger than his sister (who I'm figuring must be the runt of the litter). One moment Tweedle was blissfully staring out the patio door at who knows what and the next minute he was cradled in J's lap. J was enjoying this immensely as he loves the cats so very much. Tweedle? Not so much. I don't think catches the look on his face quite as well as the other pictures I took that day did. It very much looked like one of patient tolerance with a bit of annoyance thrown in. Shortly after this picture Hubby and I suggested that perhaps he might like to put the cat down because it didn't look like he wanted to be held anymore. J was disappointed, but thankfully complied - we're working on helping him understand the signals the cats send to let him know when they've had enough.

Oh, and the sweater in the picture? That's actually one my aunt knit for us. I was hoping when the package arrived that it would fit L, but it's much too big for her. She's a bit less than thrilled that J's wearing it now since she tried it on first. I've been meaning since then to work on a sweater for her. I've had my eye on a few of the patterns in "Natural Crochet for Babies & Toddlers" by Tina Barrett for awhile now. I just need to find the funds for some decent wool yarn in the right colorway!

Train City

2009-10-27T08:17:00.002-05:00

This picture is from last week. It was cold, rainy, and dark outside so we were stuck inside (given the lack of appropriate rain gear for all involved). J built a large train track that pretty much took up the entire living room rug. He had a bit of help from Hubby before he headed to work to get it completed, but otherwise it was mostly all J. It brought back memories of when J was about L's age and was just becoming interested in trains.

The bliss, of course, did not last as later in the day some sort of quarrel arose when J wanted one of the trains L had and a tornado of track destruction took place before I could intervene.

Nestlé-Free Week October 26-November 1, 2009

2009-10-26T09:30:00.001-05:00

This week, appropriately the week of Halloween, is Nestlé-Free Week. You can read a little bit about why there's an ongoing boycott of Nestlé over here.

You can see a list of included products (because as I'm sure you know our food supply is becoming increasingly centralized...putting the control of it into the hands of a few multi-national companies) that Nestlé owns here. To see a list of the candy associated with the Nestlé brand, check out this list.

Elderberry Tincture

2009-10-26T08:42:00.000-05:00

Our Elderberry bush is only in it's first year so we haven't gotten any berries from it, but I'm really looking forward to fresh berries in future years!

Family Fall Festival

2009-10-25T08:50:00.002-05:00

I promised a post last week about our "Family Fall Festival." I really did have every intention of taking some killer photos and having lots of wonderful things to say about it. Imagine my disappointment when I upload the pictures from my camera and discovered that of the few pictures I had taken there were very few to share - none of the decorations (which Hubby placed for me and did a fantastic job on) and none of our fellow guests that seemed appropriate to post.

I did get at least one picture of part of the decorations. I dipped these leaves in beeswax for a table centerpiece. This is the first time I've ever done that and let me say I'm now hooked! They turned out so nicely and a number of our family members were impressed. My mom can't wait to dip some of her own. My only disappointment is that all I could find at the time were maple leaves (hehe). When the weather was warmer this past week the kids and I did go on a walk around the neighborhood and were able to collect a few more. I can't wait to dip them - although my biggest issue now is where to put all the fantastic leaves!

Our meal was very simple - roast chicken, brown rice dressing, a couple of warm veggie type dishes, apple slices with caramel, hot spiced apple cider (local), homemade brownies, and cinnamon coconut milk ice cream. It was one of our typical family dinners so I only provided four of the items there. You wouldn't believe how everyone raved about the chicken. I'm still a bit bewildered on that one. Perhaps everyone else is used to bad chicken? It was a very simple recipe: chicken, casein/lactose free ghee, olive oil, onion, celery, salt and pepper. I use the celery as the roasting rack, brush the outside of the chicken with the ghee/olive oil, stuff the onion in the cavity, and sprinkle the salt and pepper on top. I think they key is to cook the chicken first upside down (for an hour) and then right side up (for an hour). It ends up incredibly moist and tasty. I had about 8lbs of chicken and it went fast!

J, L, and my aunt and uncle went outside to play. J latched on to his great-uncle right away from the get go. Both my aunt and uncle really enjoy the kids so it was fun to see them having so much fun. Hubby dressed L to go outside - I thought she was a bit over dressed for the 60 degree weather. I think L thought so too as she ended up barefoot in the sandbox.

Last Sunday really was a lot of fun - even though the prep work for it was a bit more work than I anticipated. Unlike traditional Waldorf style festivals there really wasn't a focus on spiritual themes or reverence per se. It was just a fun time to get together with part of my side of the family...well, that and it met J's need for a party!

Garden Harvest Update (as of 10/24/09)

2009-10-24T09:02:00.003-05:00

Small Red Beans - 11oz
Great Northern Beans - 1lb 6oz
Corn - 1lb 12oz (and none of it was all that fantastic)
Broccoli - 1lb 9oz (there's a few earlier harvests that weren't included in this total)
Eggplant - 1lb 12oz
Radishes - 2lbs 15oz
Hot Peppers (mild) 3lbs 3oz
Onions - 4lbs
Shelling Peas - 4lbs 8oz
Potatoes - 5lbs (this is probably about a third of our harvest)
Beet Greens - 6lbs 12oz
Green/Orange Peppers 8lb 10oz
Kale - 12lbs 8oz
Beets - 15lbs 11oz
Carrots - 26lbs 1oz
Tomatillos - 27lbs 7oz
Green Beans - 32lbs
Pickling Cucumbers - 41lbs oz (A mixture of vinegar and lacto-fermentation)
Cabbage - 40lbs 7oz
Tomatoes 168lbs 1oz
---------------
Grand Total = 406 lbs 13oz

This will be one of the last updates. I suspect there will likely be one more as we're still waiting on the brussel sprouts. They're still pretty tiny so I'm not sure we'll end up getting anything. I had been meaning to harvest more kale, but after looking so gorgeous all summer long what's out there looks pretty pitiful. Otherwise it's just getting around to weighing the potatoes we harvested earlier in the season.

One particular veggie that did very well was our last harvest of carrots. Check out the size of some of them!

They didn't all end up that large, but they did generally end up thicker around than the first harvest. I have two gallon size freezer bags in the fridge full of carrots. Here's hoping they'll last for awhile - though I suspect they won't last long enough!

Lead in Multi-Vitamins

2009-10-23T08:19:00.000-05:00

This bit is actually technically old news since it was a result of an FDA Survey published back in August of 2008. I'm not sure how I missed the original publication, but came across a link to it today. It's been enlightening to say the least.

You can read the FDA report over on their website. As a side note I actually found this link on a blog for the National Association of Manufacturers as it relates to the CPSIA. I don't necessarily agree with their spin on the whole issue (although I do have serious issues with the way the bill was handled and the burden it places on smaller producers), but I appreciate their linking to this particular report as the previous links other people had made were since broken.

I had seen other shorter lists done by places like TreeHugger.com, but wondered how our multi-vitamins measure up. Unfortunately, since we buy a store brand at our co-op the one the kids take is not listed. I've bought it at two different co-ops and the labeling leads one to believe that there's a larger company behind it. There is a vitamin listed on the FDA's report that looks somewhat similar:

MotherNature.com Tiger Bites Tablet/Capsule 0.0352 0.123 Young children (0-6 years)

I can't get their website to load, but in the Google summary and cached page both the description and ingredients look very familiar to the "berry flavored Bengal Bites" we buy at the co-op. The second number in the chart? That's the estimated exposure of lead per day that my kids get just by taking their vitamins.

As for me, I take the Super Nutrition SimplyOne Prenatal which according to the FDA has:

Super Nutrition Simply One Prenatal Tablet/Capsule 0.306 0.638 Pregnant and lactating women

So me and babe are estimated to be exposed to 0.638µg Pb/day just by remembering to take my prenatal vitamin. I don't remember every day, though I am a bit sheepish to admit.

The positive bit here? It could be worse. Neither of the vitamins we've chosen are in the top 10 for lead amounts. And yes, it is true that no one can lead a lead free life - we're exposed to it in our homes, in the air we breath, and in the soil around us. The question is, in spite of the fact that all the vitamins tested were below "tolerable intake levels" is that still acceptable? I suspect the answer to that question may very well vary depending on your family's particular situation - what other exposures to lead are there in your life? Could the multi-vitamin put you over the "tolerable intake level"? Is the FDA's "tolerable intake level" low enough?

As another blog post pointed out after hearing from Garden of Life on the issue the levels in the vitamins come from the raw ingredients themselves. It isn't added per se, but the plants that make the particular components do take the lead up from the soil they grow in. The representative from Garden of Life also mentioned that:

[t]he amount of trace minerals and variable content from lot to lot are beyond
our control and are just part of the nature of the product.

Which does seem to make sense to me - when dealing with natural materials there is going to be some degree of variation. So I'm wondering if I should assume that the levels reported in the FDA report are *technically* only accurate for the batch they were testing and it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that there could be some variation. Which makes my next step a bit more complicated than I had originally assumed.

When I first saw the list I just figured that I would pick one that had the lowest level of lead and call it a day. Now I'm wondering if that would necessarily take care of the issue. Would it be possible for there to be enough variation that a vitamin on the lowest end of the scale (say one where there was no detectable levels) in one batch to end up on the top of the scale in another? The other question being, since the data is a little over a year old has anything changed since then? These are, of course, questions that I'll have to figure out requiring a bit more pondering and head scratching.

Some days I think it's maybe best if I just dug a hole and lived in it - life was much simpler when I was blissfully unaware of these sorts of things. Living mindfully sure has it's drawbacks.

Folk Music Fridays: "This Land is Your Land"

2009-10-23T07:08:00.002-05:00

Arlo Guthrie singing his father's song "This Land Is Your Land." He also pauses in the middle to tell my favorite story about two rabbits being chased by some hounds. I've heard the story told in slight variations, but it generally ends:

So they come out the far end of the tunnel, and running running, run into the end of a hollow log. The log seems very sturdy, but the dogs finally catch up and have it surrounded. The rabbits can hear them sniffling and scratching at the outside, and the hunters arriving and shouting. All their exits are blocked. At this point, one rabbit asks the other, Now what can we do? And he replies to her: We'll stay in here until we outnumber 'em.

Under the Maple Canopy

I've Moved

Folk Music Friday - "You Are My Flower"

An Herbal Valentine, Part I

So very excited about a slightly unlikely birthday present for my not so little boy

Folk Music Friday - "Freight Train"

Distracted

Just like pounding my head against the wall

Doctrine of Signatures

"The Practice of Waking Up to God"

Folk Music Friday - "You Are My Sunshine"

2010 Seeds

Candlemas/Groundhog's Day Sort of to be Continued...

My Ode to the Public Library

Queen Anne's Lace

Finding Space in the World

Our New Pastime

Folk Music Fridays - "My Old Man"

Howard Zinn

My Ode to Public Radio

Learning to Love the Blurry Picture

Making a Record

How to Make an Herb Press and Herbarium, Part II

Book Review: "Coop: A Year of Poultry, Pigs, and Parenting"

Folk Music Fridays - "What Did You Learn in School?"

The Holiday Season in Review, Part II

"Berry" Cute While in Search of Yarn

Getting my Mojo

Making an Herb Press/Herbarium

Adventures in Finding Others

In Celebration of Her Life

My New Discovery

Folk Music Fridays - "Sugar Baby"

The Holiday Season in Review, Part I

Trying to Catch the Wind

Getting Back Into the Swing of Things

Mountain Rose Herbs

Folk Music Fridays - "You Got to Walk that Lonesome Valley"

The "Minimum Mark Up" Law and an Odd Little Sign

Enjoying the Last Bits

St. Johns Wort

Folk Music Fridays - "Shake Sugaree"

A Few Thoughts on the Importance of Song

After Christmas Wrap Up

Echinacea and Sauerkraut

Economic Discipleship

"O Come O Come Emmanuel" - Joan Baez

Three children later...or the list of baby gear I've found you *actually* need

Comfrey Leaf

Advent Conspiracy - Liberia Part Three

Folk Music Fridays - "Oregon"

Mullein Infusion

It's a Girl!

Advent Conspiracy - Liberia Part Two

Folk Music Fridays - "Leaving on a Jet Plane"

To say it's been snowing would be an understatement

St. Nicholas Day in Review

The Role of Mucous

Advent Conspiracy - Liberia Part One

Our Advent (Birthday) Spiral

Folk Music Fridays - "Pretty Boy Floyd"

Garden Harvest Update (as of 11/23/09)

Putting up the Christmas Tree

Cold Colds/Hot Colds

Advent Conspiracy 2009

Folk Music Fridays - "House of the Rising Sun"

Thankful

Warm and Fuzzy

The Train Tunnel

Handmade Christmas Ornaments - Felt Mitten Ornaments

Boneset Tincture

Wow...just...wow...

Folk Music Fridays - "On Top of Old Smokey"

Formula-Fed America

The Nature Table

Paint

How to Make Elderberry Syrup

Random Saturday Updates and the Officially "Any Day Now" Moment

Folk Music Fridays - "Labor's Troubadour"

Paint

Three children later...or the list of baby gear I've found you actually need