We all had a great Christmas. It was good for us to open presents at home and the boys loved their toys. Aiden is still continuously playing with his 'guys' so way to go! Conor is a nut and doesn't play w/ anything for an extended period of time yet...w/ the exception of knives and batteries.
Gearing up for the New Year I'm excited to enter into a Forget the Joneses bootcamp. :) Wahoo~! I hope I can be successful w/ it and hoping some of my friends join as well for that extra support.
We start on Thursday and will be having a 21 day spending freeze.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Yes I'm still fired...
For being a slacker blogger. Perhaps it'll be a 2009 thing to try and do it more frequently...like more than 10 times a year.
Anyhow...wanted to share this sweet Furoshiki instructional image:
For those of you like me who have yet to finish wrapping (or started) and would like to be a little more green this year. :) (Personally I have to use what I have...next year I'll be greener, I promise)
Anyhow...wanted to share this sweet Furoshiki instructional image:
For those of you like me who have yet to finish wrapping (or started) and would like to be a little more green this year. :) (Personally I have to use what I have...next year I'll be greener, I promise)
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Banana Bread
I just made the best GF banana bread!
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
4 med, ripe bananas, peeled and mashed
1 teaspoon milk
2 cups Wendy Wark's flour mix (I'll share that in a bit)
1/2 teaspoon xanthum gum
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Oven - 350, 5x9 pan (butter it)
Cream butter, sugar, vanilla
Beat in eggs one at a time
mash bananas with a fork (w/ milk) and set aside
combine flour, xanthan gum, baking soda and salt in a bowl
blend dry ingredients w/ the banana mixture into the creamed mixture
Put batter into pan, bake for one hour until toothpick comes out clean. Cool on wire rack in pan for a few minutes and then turn out of pan to cool completely on wire rack...attempt to wait for it to cool before you cut it, but if it's half gone before it cools...well that's ok too (since that is what happened here). LOL
For the flour mix -
1 cup brown rice flour
1 1/4 cup white rice flour
1/4 cup potato startch flour
2/3 cup tapioca starch flour
3/4 cup sweet rice flour
1/3 cup cornstarch
2 teaspoons xanthan or guar gum
(I actually used 3 cups of brown rice flour and omitted the white rice and sweet rice flours)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
4 med, ripe bananas, peeled and mashed
1 teaspoon milk
2 cups Wendy Wark's flour mix (I'll share that in a bit)
1/2 teaspoon xanthum gum
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Oven - 350, 5x9 pan (butter it)
Cream butter, sugar, vanilla
Beat in eggs one at a time
mash bananas with a fork (w/ milk) and set aside
combine flour, xanthan gum, baking soda and salt in a bowl
blend dry ingredients w/ the banana mixture into the creamed mixture
Put batter into pan, bake for one hour until toothpick comes out clean. Cool on wire rack in pan for a few minutes and then turn out of pan to cool completely on wire rack...attempt to wait for it to cool before you cut it, but if it's half gone before it cools...well that's ok too (since that is what happened here). LOL
For the flour mix -
1 cup brown rice flour
1 1/4 cup white rice flour
1/4 cup potato startch flour
2/3 cup tapioca starch flour
3/4 cup sweet rice flour
1/3 cup cornstarch
2 teaspoons xanthan or guar gum
(I actually used 3 cups of brown rice flour and omitted the white rice and sweet rice flours)
Friday, October 3, 2008
An update...
Well I spend so much time spouting off about 'serious' issues that I'm not talking much about 'us' these days. Though I guess we are quiet serious.
I think it's because I am unsure where the line is on what is too personal to put out there in blog land?
Or perhaps because I don't want to sit down and think about it all?
Or is it that if I put here, it becomes permanent, therefore real...and not something that I just think about or discuss in hushed whispers.
Here's a recap version, it will still probably be really long but I promise, it's actually the 'quick' version. Back in April, Aiden's ped recommended a neurological assessment. For those that don't know, Aiden has had Early Intervention, Speech Therapy and inclusion preschool...so we've covered our basis for the most part. We contacted Hasbro and Children's Hospital. Hasbro said "No." Period. They don't take our insurance and won't see us. Children's said "Okay, we don't take your insurance, we will still see you, please expect to pay $3,000 upon walking in the door and oh yeah, there is a 19 month waiting list." Around this time we also had Aiden's second TEAM meeting, which is the one that qualified him for preschool. I asked what they felt about the neurological assessment. This was in a meeting with the head of the Early Learning Center, the woman who gave his educational assessment (later to become his teacher), the Occupational Therapist, and two of his Speech Therapists. They said, they felt that with the addition of Preschool to his IEP that it was enough and we didn't really 'need' the neurological assessment. Sweet...works for me. Honestly, in the back of my mind I think I knew that it shouldn't be that easy, but I didn't need someone to tell me twice, and well I was wrong for that.
Fast forward to last month. Aiden had a private assessment with a local Speech and Language Center and of course qualified for more services (two sessions a week for 45 minutes per session of one on one speech w/ the therapist there). This is on top of the one on one session he receives once a week at school. The therapist asked if we had had a neurological assessment for him. I went through the tale told above. He said he noticed some 'markers' (this was after I told him about Aiden being on a GF diet because it helps his behavior) and said that he encourages it, because if we do get an 'official diagnosis' than he will be able to qualify for more services.
Aiden is very intelligent, we all know that. But he is very scripted and memorized and unable to comprehend part of a sentence/direction and tries to answer/respond as best he can w/ limited info, he has an unusual intonation pattern and doesn't know how to respond to new situations, he also has echolalia and some phonological errors...anyhow...all this is okay when you have to list your colors, numbers, shapes (planets, presidents, national landmarks) but when there is a direction such as 'circle the tree above the line' only parts of that are heard/understood. So he would either circle the line or circle a tree, not necessarily the one asked. Mr. Aiden is also a bit of a perfectionist. Ask him if he wants you to draw a picture for him, sure. Here are examples from two particular occasions - First occasion - he requested Vincent Van Gogh, Starry Night. I'm not joking. Second occasion - requested a picture of the Great Sphinx. He gets upset if they don't look like them. He wanted to draw Starry Night and got VERY upset that it wasn't coming out right. OK, you are four dude...you aren't going to recreate VanGogh the first time you try...sorry. I don't think anyone could! He wanted to play Piano when we were on vacation and we said, sure let's show you how to play a song - no, I don't want to play Mary Had a Little Lamb - I want Beethoven, like this - And he starts humming Beethoven. Forget it when it comes to writing. We are trying to get him to write his name, he'll have no part of it...he tries a few times and then gets so upset that his A looks more like a Mountain than an A that he refuses to continue. I told him it was okay, it doesn't have to be perfect, we are just practicing, nope...nothing is working. He is in the third week of school and now waking up refusing to go...because he is facing challenges that he can't complete. Or at least can't complete perfectly. He is four. My happy boy is turning into someone who is using avoidance rather than the face possibility of failure, this is not the school career that I want for him.
He is actually home today from school, he has an ear infection. We went to the ped earlier this morning and will have a script for him in a bit.
Conor is being Conor and we will be headed Early Intervention soon, we still aren't talking.
Oh and I did finally fill out all the paperwork to get Aiden into Children's Hospital for his neurological assessment, this is the paperwork I had to gather to send in with it:
-Early Intervention
Developmental Profile 10/19/06
Developmental Profile Update 06/07/07
- Public Schools
TEAM Meeting Summary 12/04/07
Special Education Eligibility Determination 11/29/07
IEP 11/29/07
Speech and Language Assessment 11/26/07
Progress Report 03/10/08
TEAM Meeting Summary 4/15/08
Occupational Therapy Evaluation 3/28/08
Educational Assessment 3/24/08
Speech and Language Update 4/03/08
IEP 4/12/08
Progress Report 08/04/08
– Speech, Hearing and Language Center
Initial Speech and Language Evaluation 9/12/08
Thankfully, when Aiden started Early Intervention I decided to keep a binder with all of his formal assessments so I had all the info handy. I'm going to do that with Conor too, just in case. We also had paperwork that the school had to fill out and send in - so I believe four of his teachers met and finished all of that.
It's a lot of work.
It's frustrating.
It's depressing.
It's necessary.
It's going to be okay.
I think it's because I am unsure where the line is on what is too personal to put out there in blog land?
Or perhaps because I don't want to sit down and think about it all?
Or is it that if I put here, it becomes permanent, therefore real...and not something that I just think about or discuss in hushed whispers.
Here's a recap version, it will still probably be really long but I promise, it's actually the 'quick' version. Back in April, Aiden's ped recommended a neurological assessment. For those that don't know, Aiden has had Early Intervention, Speech Therapy and inclusion preschool...so we've covered our basis for the most part. We contacted Hasbro and Children's Hospital. Hasbro said "No." Period. They don't take our insurance and won't see us. Children's said "Okay, we don't take your insurance, we will still see you, please expect to pay $3,000 upon walking in the door and oh yeah, there is a 19 month waiting list." Around this time we also had Aiden's second TEAM meeting, which is the one that qualified him for preschool. I asked what they felt about the neurological assessment. This was in a meeting with the head of the Early Learning Center, the woman who gave his educational assessment (later to become his teacher), the Occupational Therapist, and two of his Speech Therapists. They said, they felt that with the addition of Preschool to his IEP that it was enough and we didn't really 'need' the neurological assessment. Sweet...works for me. Honestly, in the back of my mind I think I knew that it shouldn't be that easy, but I didn't need someone to tell me twice, and well I was wrong for that.
Fast forward to last month. Aiden had a private assessment with a local Speech and Language Center and of course qualified for more services (two sessions a week for 45 minutes per session of one on one speech w/ the therapist there). This is on top of the one on one session he receives once a week at school. The therapist asked if we had had a neurological assessment for him. I went through the tale told above. He said he noticed some 'markers' (this was after I told him about Aiden being on a GF diet because it helps his behavior) and said that he encourages it, because if we do get an 'official diagnosis' than he will be able to qualify for more services.
Aiden is very intelligent, we all know that. But he is very scripted and memorized and unable to comprehend part of a sentence/direction and tries to answer/respond as best he can w/ limited info, he has an unusual intonation pattern and doesn't know how to respond to new situations, he also has echolalia and some phonological errors...anyhow...all this is okay when you have to list your colors, numbers, shapes (planets, presidents, national landmarks) but when there is a direction such as 'circle the tree above the line' only parts of that are heard/understood. So he would either circle the line or circle a tree, not necessarily the one asked. Mr. Aiden is also a bit of a perfectionist. Ask him if he wants you to draw a picture for him, sure. Here are examples from two particular occasions - First occasion - he requested Vincent Van Gogh, Starry Night. I'm not joking. Second occasion - requested a picture of the Great Sphinx. He gets upset if they don't look like them. He wanted to draw Starry Night and got VERY upset that it wasn't coming out right. OK, you are four dude...you aren't going to recreate VanGogh the first time you try...sorry. I don't think anyone could! He wanted to play Piano when we were on vacation and we said, sure let's show you how to play a song - no, I don't want to play Mary Had a Little Lamb - I want Beethoven, like this - And he starts humming Beethoven. Forget it when it comes to writing. We are trying to get him to write his name, he'll have no part of it...he tries a few times and then gets so upset that his A looks more like a Mountain than an A that he refuses to continue. I told him it was okay, it doesn't have to be perfect, we are just practicing, nope...nothing is working. He is in the third week of school and now waking up refusing to go...because he is facing challenges that he can't complete. Or at least can't complete perfectly. He is four. My happy boy is turning into someone who is using avoidance rather than the face possibility of failure, this is not the school career that I want for him.
He is actually home today from school, he has an ear infection. We went to the ped earlier this morning and will have a script for him in a bit.
Conor is being Conor and we will be headed Early Intervention soon, we still aren't talking.
Oh and I did finally fill out all the paperwork to get Aiden into Children's Hospital for his neurological assessment, this is the paperwork I had to gather to send in with it:
-Early Intervention
Developmental Profile 10/19/06
Developmental Profile Update 06/07/07
- Public Schools
TEAM Meeting Summary 12/04/07
Special Education Eligibility Determination 11/29/07
IEP 11/29/07
Speech and Language Assessment 11/26/07
Progress Report 03/10/08
TEAM Meeting Summary 4/15/08
Occupational Therapy Evaluation 3/28/08
Educational Assessment 3/24/08
Speech and Language Update 4/03/08
IEP 4/12/08
Progress Report 08/04/08
– Speech, Hearing and Language Center
Initial Speech and Language Evaluation 9/12/08
Thankfully, when Aiden started Early Intervention I decided to keep a binder with all of his formal assessments so I had all the info handy. I'm going to do that with Conor too, just in case. We also had paperwork that the school had to fill out and send in - so I believe four of his teachers met and finished all of that.
It's a lot of work.
It's frustrating.
It's depressing.
It's necessary.
It's going to be okay.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
From Green Blog - Congrats on your Dodo Palin!
Sarah Palin Wins 2008 Rubber Dodo Award
The former unknown Alaskan Governor who is now running mate with John McCain and, maybe, soon even Vice President of the USA has been awarded the 2008 Rubber Dodo Award.
It is the Center for Biological Diversity that this year gives their unflattering Dodo Award to Sarah Palin. Why? Because she “has sought to remove endangered species act protection for the polar bear, suppressed and lied about state global warming studies, and denied that global warming is caused by greenhouse gas emissions.”
“Governor Palin has waged a deceptive, dangerous, and costly battle against the polar bear” said Kieran Suckling, executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity. “Her position on global warming is so extreme, she makes Dick Cheney look like an Al Gore devotee.”
“All global warming deniers are eventually forced to suppress scientific studies, and Palin is no different,” said Suckling. “To maintain her ludicrous opposition to protecting the polar bear in the face of massive scientific consensus, Palin stepped over the line to lie about and suppress government science.”
“Palin’s insistence that Arctic melting is ‘uncertain’ is like someone debating the theory of gravity as they plunge off a cliff,” said Suckling. “It’s hopeless, reckless, and extremely cynical.”
You can read more about the award and why the Center for Biological Diversity gave the award to Sarah Palin here.
The Guardian has even more shocking news about Sarah Palin and her fight against polar bears. They reveal that Sarah Palin got help from known climate change deniers and the oil company ExxonMobil “to back efforts to stop polar bears being protected as an endangered species.”
“In official submissions to the US government’s consultation on the status of the polar bear, Palin and her team referred to at least six scientists who have questioned either the existence of warming as a largely man-made phenomenon or its severity. One paper was partly funded by the US oil company ExxonMobil.”
Kert Davies, research director at Greenpeace US, says that this “shows that she is completely out of touch with the urgency of the climate crisis.”
Tonight is Sarah Palin’s big debate night against the Democratic Vice President candidate Joe Biden. If you want to know more about the two candidates’s stances when it comes to the environment we got all you need to know: Sarah Palin’s awful environmental record and why the League of Conservation Voters Hails Joe Biden.
By Simon Leufstedt
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
5.4 Earths...
We need 5.4 Earths to sustain us. What? Huh? What do you mean?
I mean, we need 5.4 Earths to sustain us. We are using 5.4 Earths resources to sustain us...hard to imagine right? Sounds weird right? We only have one earth right?? Oh yeah...that IS right. We DO only have one Earth. Have I mentioned that we need 5.4 Earths to sustain us? Are you getting it yet?
However, this year as of September 23rd we used all the resources that the Earth can produce this year. That means we are already using next years resources...and you think we aren't borrowing from our children?
From Green Blog...
Earth Overshoot Day Happens Earlier Every Year
As of September 23 we humans have used all the resources our earth can produce this year. That means we are borrowing resources from 2009 and that we are literally consuming our children’s resources.
And as each year passes Earth Overshoot Day happens earlier and earlier. Last year Earth Overshoot Day happened on October 6. Then we consumed 30% more natural resources than what the earth can reproduce under a whole year. Now in 2008 that number has increased with 10% as the Global Footprint Network expects us to use 140% of the Earths resources.
“Globally, we now require the equivalent of 1.4 planets to support our lifestyles. But of course, we only have one Earth. The result is that our supply of natural resources — like trees and fish — continues to shrink, while our waste, primarily carbon dioxide, accumulates.”
Some countries contribute more to these numbers than others do. If everyone lived like a resident of the following countries we would need this many earths:
* United States 5.4 Earths
* Canada 4.2 Earths
* United Kingdom 3.1 Earths
* Germany 2.5 Earths
* Italy 2.2 Earths
* South Africa 1.4 Earths
* Argentina 1.2 Earths
* Costa Rica 1.1 Earths
* India 0.4 Earths
What do you think? How can we manage to overcome our increasing consumption rate and overpopulation? And how can one personally contribute to ending the Overshoot Day?
So what are those other countries doing? Or what are they NOT doing? What are YOU doing? Think about it.
Please.
Foreign Policy...
I've decided that since I grew up in Maine, and I went to Quebec w/ my French Class freshman year, and I was president of my freshman class and vice president of National Honor society and I lived near Bangor International Airport (do you know how many world leaders have been through the airspace over my head growing up?!) - I therefore have foreign policy experience. Period.
Does anyone think this is in our future at this point?
Hmmm...look it's the VP candidate for 2024!
Does anyone think this is in our future at this point?
Hmmm...look it's the VP candidate for 2024!
For Kara - Picture of Bread from Bread Machine
Different breads come out differently - so I'd experiment with your recipe if you do not like how it comes out in your machine.
From left to right I have a Rye Bread, Parmesean Pepper Bread and Gluten Free Flax bread.
The Rye Bread and the Parm. Pepper bread were made in the same breadmaker and are actually the exact same 'size' loaf - 1.5 lbs. They were made in a breadmaker that has a sideways pan. Rye was made on Sunday and Parm. Pepper was made on Moday. Obviously they look VERY different and well, they should - they are different types of bread.
The GF bread was made in the breadmaker shown previously (a standup pan) - also made on Sunday (had dueling breadmakers going). It's an extremely heavy bread (you would be too if you had all those ingredients) and it was very very humid here after the whole hurricane storms we were getting...so it's kinda sad looking...hehe...tastes the same and well the kids don't care anyway.
Hope that helps Kara! If you need some recipes, let me know - as you can see I make non GF bread too! :)
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Making Bread...
I have had a few people ask about the process of making bread here at the Mahoney's. For those who don't know...we are a Gluten Free Household (except hubby). With two young boys, bread is something we go through quickly...so I make my own. Store bought stuff tastes rather horrific and store bought mixes grow $$ fast (that means expensive, they don't grow money - unfortunately). So here is the process...
I use a breadmaker and have a container where I keep the majority of my bread supplies, so I can just pull it down when it's time to make it (I also keep the recipe in there).
Here are the cast of characters (yes there is a lot).
I mix the dry ingredients in a bowl first, then add it to the breadmaker after I have put in my wet ingredients. Since I've pulled out all those crazy ingredients anyway, I also do up two batches of dry ingredients only (no yeast) in zip locks so that in a few days I don't have to bring out all those ingredients again...this way I only have to pull out all the ingredients about once a week.
Here is the recipe:
Put wet ingredients in the breadmaker first:
3 large eggs
1 2/3 cup water
3 tablespoons corn oil
1 teaspoon vinegar
In separate bowl - the dry ingredients:
1/4 cup brown or white rice flour (I use brown)
1 cup tapioca flour (I buy it by the case from Amazon)
1 1/2 cup corn flour
1/2 cup flaxseed flour (or meal I use meal - keep it in the fridge to keep it fresh)
1/2 cup skim milk powder
3 tablespoons of sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
2 1/2 teaspoons xanthan gum (this stuff is pretty $$ but you don't use a lot and it's a necessity for most gluten free recipes so make the investment! You can't skip out on this!)
Add dry contents to wet and mix (I don't mix because my breadmaker does it for me). With your finger make a depression and add 2 1/2 teaspoons gf yeast. Set breadmaker on whole wheat, light crust and press go.
If you use your breadmaker every three days like I do, it will start to look like mine. It's okay...it's not dirty, it's just bread (and burnt remnants of crazy bread that took over the breadmaker once...we scratched that recipe)...Don't waste your time trying to get it to look like new again, it's not going to happen.
Be sure to drink copious amounts of coffee
I use a breadmaker and have a container where I keep the majority of my bread supplies, so I can just pull it down when it's time to make it (I also keep the recipe in there).
Here are the cast of characters (yes there is a lot).
I mix the dry ingredients in a bowl first, then add it to the breadmaker after I have put in my wet ingredients. Since I've pulled out all those crazy ingredients anyway, I also do up two batches of dry ingredients only (no yeast) in zip locks so that in a few days I don't have to bring out all those ingredients again...this way I only have to pull out all the ingredients about once a week.
Here is the recipe:
Put wet ingredients in the breadmaker first:
3 large eggs
1 2/3 cup water
3 tablespoons corn oil
1 teaspoon vinegar
In separate bowl - the dry ingredients:
1/4 cup brown or white rice flour (I use brown)
1 cup tapioca flour (I buy it by the case from Amazon)
1 1/2 cup corn flour
1/2 cup flaxseed flour (or meal I use meal - keep it in the fridge to keep it fresh)
1/2 cup skim milk powder
3 tablespoons of sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
2 1/2 teaspoons xanthan gum (this stuff is pretty $$ but you don't use a lot and it's a necessity for most gluten free recipes so make the investment! You can't skip out on this!)
Add dry contents to wet and mix (I don't mix because my breadmaker does it for me). With your finger make a depression and add 2 1/2 teaspoons gf yeast. Set breadmaker on whole wheat, light crust and press go.
If you use your breadmaker every three days like I do, it will start to look like mine. It's okay...it's not dirty, it's just bread (and burnt remnants of crazy bread that took over the breadmaker once...we scratched that recipe)...Don't waste your time trying to get it to look like new again, it's not going to happen.
Be sure to drink copious amounts of coffee
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Just an update...
I've only been doing this a few days...cloth diapering sucks. But not giving it up just yet, because I need to give it a few weeks to get the hang of it (and get more supplies...I've started making my own diapers actually and the one I made last night worked quiet well).
Not using the dishwasher is okay but there are times I'd rather just pop stuff in it than stand at the sink scrubbing.
There are items that have been invented by society to make things 'easier', but also to convince us that these things (household'chores') are an inconvenience, we can do better things with our time...like...watch TV for example and see all those commercials for those disposable items that have been invented by society to make things 'easier'. Do you see where I'm going with this? Whatever happened to the time that one took pride in the care of their home, feeding their family, etc, isn't that as important or even more important than the car we drive, the clothes we wear, the title of our job? Is it such a 'chore' to show that your home, your belongings you work so hard to obtain, the place where your children play, crawl, sleep - is it a chore to show that that is a place that is filled with love and deserves as much attention and MORE so actually, then television??
Just curious.
Not using the dishwasher is okay but there are times I'd rather just pop stuff in it than stand at the sink scrubbing.
There are items that have been invented by society to make things 'easier', but also to convince us that these things (household'chores') are an inconvenience, we can do better things with our time...like...watch TV for example and see all those commercials for those disposable items that have been invented by society to make things 'easier'. Do you see where I'm going with this? Whatever happened to the time that one took pride in the care of their home, feeding their family, etc, isn't that as important or even more important than the car we drive, the clothes we wear, the title of our job? Is it such a 'chore' to show that your home, your belongings you work so hard to obtain, the place where your children play, crawl, sleep - is it a chore to show that that is a place that is filled with love and deserves as much attention and MORE so actually, then television??
Just curious.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Holy crap I did it.
I bought cloth diapers. I had some anyhow, but bought those G diapers and stuck an old cloth one in it instead of the disposable ones they come with (yeah ten disposables and two covers for $25 eek) but I think the cover will work with cloth diapers, well we'll find out huh since boy is in bed for the night with one on...he was rather giddy about it...or about the fact that he was finally going to bed after his mom schlepped him all over the place tonight (not so good w/ the no driving thing but hey, I actually never said I wouldn't drive), I'm not really sure which. However he was quite happy.I feel kinda weird about it, like I'm breaking some sort of law/rule or something...how totally twisted is that?
So I want you to read this (forcing you since if you are reading my blog you have to, right?):
The No Impact Philosophy
None of the practical questions about no impact living would be relevant if my wife Michelle, my daughter Isabella, our dog Frankie and I intended to approach the challenge by becoming ascetics. Until now, we have been your typical convenience-addicted, New York City take-out slaves. Asceticism is not a realistic way forward, not for my family and not for the world.
Saving this planet depends on finding a middle path that is neither unconsciously consumerist nor self-consciously anti-materialist. The idea for No Impact Man is not to be anorexic but to be abundant, not to be eco-efficient but “eco-effective,” in the words of the environmental scientists William McDonough and Michael Braungart.
In their book Cradle to Cradle, McDonough and Braungart discuss the Menominee tribe of Wisconsin, who have harvested wood for sale from their forested land for many generations. In 1870, the Menominee inventoried 1.3 billion standing board feet of timber on their 235,000 acres. Since then, they have harvested nearly twice that amount—2.25 billion board feet. Considering the “clear-cutting” methods of the corporate lumber merchants you hear about, which completely strips land of its trees, you’d expect that the Menominee would have barely a single tree left, not to mention any forest wildlife. In fact, they have 1.7 billion board feet left, more than they had in 1870, and a thriving forest ecosystem.
That’s because the Menominee tend to cut only the weaker trees, leaving behind the strong mother trees and enough of the upper canopy for the arboreal animals to continue to inhabit. They have figured out what the forest can productively offer them instead of considering only what they want to take from it.
This is largely how every other species on earth lives—in harmony with the environment. Lions neither starve themselves nor gorge to the point of wiping out the gazelle population. Instead, they promote the health of the gazelle herd by culling its weaker members and preventing herd overgrowth which in turn prevents overgrazing of the savannah. Animal waste does not poison the ground but fertilizes the soil so that it can produce more vegetation for the animals to eat. Bees feed on the pollen of flowers but far from damaging them they provide the crucial service of pollinating them.
This is what I mean by “eco-effective.” The philosophy is based not only on restricting consumption but on changing what is consumed so that it actually helps or at least does not hinder the world. If bees had the idea that they wanted to save the planet, they would not go on crash diets and start eating less pollen. They would continue to live their lives abundantly, because their lives are already eco-effective.
That is the philosophy Michelle and I hope to realize during our no impact experiment. The emphasis will ultimately not be on tightening our belts so that our consumption does not poison the earth—although there will certainly be an element of that—but on trying to change our consumption patterns so that our abundance helps or at least does not harm the planet in the first place. We will, like the Menominee, figure out what our world can productively offer us rather than considering only what we want.
My new hero...that was taken from No Impact Man
See, you want to go buy cloth diapers now too don't you? Even if you are a little frightened....
Oh and don't tell my hubby, he was totally a No on the whole cloth diaper thing...hmmm guess someone has a surprise in store...
Oh and another 'oh'...um yeah, I'm grounded for buying the cloth diapers new (12 diapers and two covers) but shoot me. I'll get some more covers second hand...it's not that gross...you think those from a diaper service are all new? No. Thank you very much.
So I want you to read this (forcing you since if you are reading my blog you have to, right?):
The No Impact Philosophy
None of the practical questions about no impact living would be relevant if my wife Michelle, my daughter Isabella, our dog Frankie and I intended to approach the challenge by becoming ascetics. Until now, we have been your typical convenience-addicted, New York City take-out slaves. Asceticism is not a realistic way forward, not for my family and not for the world.
Saving this planet depends on finding a middle path that is neither unconsciously consumerist nor self-consciously anti-materialist. The idea for No Impact Man is not to be anorexic but to be abundant, not to be eco-efficient but “eco-effective,” in the words of the environmental scientists William McDonough and Michael Braungart.
In their book Cradle to Cradle, McDonough and Braungart discuss the Menominee tribe of Wisconsin, who have harvested wood for sale from their forested land for many generations. In 1870, the Menominee inventoried 1.3 billion standing board feet of timber on their 235,000 acres. Since then, they have harvested nearly twice that amount—2.25 billion board feet. Considering the “clear-cutting” methods of the corporate lumber merchants you hear about, which completely strips land of its trees, you’d expect that the Menominee would have barely a single tree left, not to mention any forest wildlife. In fact, they have 1.7 billion board feet left, more than they had in 1870, and a thriving forest ecosystem.
That’s because the Menominee tend to cut only the weaker trees, leaving behind the strong mother trees and enough of the upper canopy for the arboreal animals to continue to inhabit. They have figured out what the forest can productively offer them instead of considering only what they want to take from it.
This is largely how every other species on earth lives—in harmony with the environment. Lions neither starve themselves nor gorge to the point of wiping out the gazelle population. Instead, they promote the health of the gazelle herd by culling its weaker members and preventing herd overgrowth which in turn prevents overgrazing of the savannah. Animal waste does not poison the ground but fertilizes the soil so that it can produce more vegetation for the animals to eat. Bees feed on the pollen of flowers but far from damaging them they provide the crucial service of pollinating them.
This is what I mean by “eco-effective.” The philosophy is based not only on restricting consumption but on changing what is consumed so that it actually helps or at least does not hinder the world. If bees had the idea that they wanted to save the planet, they would not go on crash diets and start eating less pollen. They would continue to live their lives abundantly, because their lives are already eco-effective.
That is the philosophy Michelle and I hope to realize during our no impact experiment. The emphasis will ultimately not be on tightening our belts so that our consumption does not poison the earth—although there will certainly be an element of that—but on trying to change our consumption patterns so that our abundance helps or at least does not harm the planet in the first place. We will, like the Menominee, figure out what our world can productively offer us rather than considering only what we want.
My new hero...that was taken from No Impact Man
See, you want to go buy cloth diapers now too don't you? Even if you are a little frightened....
Oh and don't tell my hubby, he was totally a No on the whole cloth diaper thing...hmmm guess someone has a surprise in store...
Oh and another 'oh'...um yeah, I'm grounded for buying the cloth diapers new (12 diapers and two covers) but shoot me. I'll get some more covers second hand...it's not that gross...you think those from a diaper service are all new? No. Thank you very much.
The Mahoney's are turning GREEN
I have been trying to be earth conscious for some time now...recycling, changing the lightbulbs, no papertowels, etc...but now I'm pretty sure I may drive us all crazy. But, we'll see. It's worth a shot and I'm happy to try anything once to see if it's doable, even if we have to alter our 'convenient' ways...just to make this world a better place for my boys, and their children in return.
Yesterday I put myself and hubby on the Opt Out list and took our name off lists for distributions of Catalogues...so hopefully within a few months our junk mail accumulation will be far less...We get so much! No joke! And most goes into the trash (shred first) or burned because our recycling doesn't take paper...crazy right? So, I'm working on making a shift and figuring out where I can take our paper because we accumulate a lot of it.
I'm challenging myself to not use the dishwasher for a week. GASP!
I will not buy anything new, only second hand as far as clothes, toys, etc. go (except for underwear and socks...blech).
AND I'm even going to give cloth diapers a whirl...yup! Just have to work on how to get them, where to get them, what I need, etc.
Oh and we've started switching off surge protectors...what doest that take an extra five seconds? So as of right now the downstairs is all off, the playroom is off and the living room...sweet right? Because, here's another new thing...NO MORE TV (during the day to start, I'm not sure I can give it up Cold Turkey)but typically I used to have it on for background noise, one on in the playroom, one on in the living room and sometimes...one on in the bedroom...ALL AT THE SAME TIME! I know, horrible!
So...here you go...here's a new fun thing to watch and snicker at...I may just drive us all crazy...but hey, saving the Earth is a Team Sport ya know?
Yesterday I put myself and hubby on the Opt Out list and took our name off lists for distributions of Catalogues...so hopefully within a few months our junk mail accumulation will be far less...We get so much! No joke! And most goes into the trash (shred first) or burned because our recycling doesn't take paper...crazy right? So, I'm working on making a shift and figuring out where I can take our paper because we accumulate a lot of it.
I'm challenging myself to not use the dishwasher for a week. GASP!
I will not buy anything new, only second hand as far as clothes, toys, etc. go (except for underwear and socks...blech).
AND I'm even going to give cloth diapers a whirl...yup! Just have to work on how to get them, where to get them, what I need, etc.
Oh and we've started switching off surge protectors...what doest that take an extra five seconds? So as of right now the downstairs is all off, the playroom is off and the living room...sweet right? Because, here's another new thing...NO MORE TV (during the day to start, I'm not sure I can give it up Cold Turkey)but typically I used to have it on for background noise, one on in the playroom, one on in the living room and sometimes...one on in the bedroom...ALL AT THE SAME TIME! I know, horrible!
So...here you go...here's a new fun thing to watch and snicker at...I may just drive us all crazy...but hey, saving the Earth is a Team Sport ya know?
Thursday, September 11, 2008
I want to point out...
That my two boys are very different. I have had a small blond boy in this house for over four years now...two of them for a little over fourteen months and here is one of the (many) ways they are different. Not different in a good way, not different in a bad way...but different.
For the first time in the phase of my life that I refer to as 'Mommydom' there are toys EVERYWHERE. There used to be toys...all over the place because well, we had a lot. So when moms complained or mentioned that there were toys everywhere I was like..."Yeah, my house too...there's too many...get the kid a book!" Um, nope, that was a misinterpreted meaning to that phrase.
By everywhere...they mean...everywhere. For example, we spent the majority of the day today out of the house...and when we were in the house...the wee one's were either eating or sleeping (my kind of day!) however, upon my nightly clean up this evening I found:
In the kitchen - a stuffed pink pig, a truck, a large plastic fish and I'm sure there was a ball- because there is always a ball.
In the bathroom - there was a block, a Lightening McQueen and Superman was in the sink...hmmmmm
In the living room - more stuffed animals (dog is actually the culprit for the stuffies as my kids have many but do not play with them...dog on the other hand is quiet enamored with them and well..we are hoping that changes when he gets fixed - you do the math), more trucks and a yellow car....
In the hall - a half eaten chicken...uh huh. Yup, it's a toy. Plastic chicken from the boys play kitchen and well...damn dog!
I'm not even going to talk about the recycling all over the house...plastic bottles in my bed, one under the desk and even the egg package in the hall...oh and for some reason, my gym bag is now dumped on the office floor, the office trash is dumped out...and in the small trash can is a spoon...taken from a drawer in the kitchen. Nope, not even going to talk about that.
That doesn't sound bad right? Well let me tell you, I cleaned up before we went to the library and I believe Conor was on the prowl for all of 32 seconds before I convinced (read wrestled) him to put on his pajama's and a new diaper. Aiden was walking around with his new books from the library (One on India because he requested a book on the Taj Mahal and the other one is about Mount Rushmore...he went to bed hugging that one - I have no idea where he comes from so don't look at me...I hated geography and social studies and all that...shudder) so let's not think he has anything to do with this. He is also why I held the previous misinformed definition of 'toys all over the place'...NOT TO MENTION the fact that they have a playroom that I lock ...errr...I mean have them play in all day when they aren't eating or sleeping (at least I try to and kinda 'wish' I could lock them in...shhhh). So a word to the wise...all you moms out there who are also misinformed...be prepared!
Oh and by the way...when did this kid get tall enough to put things in the bathroom sink??? Man I'm in trouble...gypsies boy...Gypsies!!!
For the first time in the phase of my life that I refer to as 'Mommydom' there are toys EVERYWHERE. There used to be toys...all over the place because well, we had a lot. So when moms complained or mentioned that there were toys everywhere I was like..."Yeah, my house too...there's too many...get the kid a book!" Um, nope, that was a misinterpreted meaning to that phrase.
By everywhere...they mean...everywhere. For example, we spent the majority of the day today out of the house...and when we were in the house...the wee one's were either eating or sleeping (my kind of day!) however, upon my nightly clean up this evening I found:
In the kitchen - a stuffed pink pig, a truck, a large plastic fish and I'm sure there was a ball- because there is always a ball.
In the bathroom - there was a block, a Lightening McQueen and Superman was in the sink...hmmmmm
In the living room - more stuffed animals (dog is actually the culprit for the stuffies as my kids have many but do not play with them...dog on the other hand is quiet enamored with them and well..we are hoping that changes when he gets fixed - you do the math), more trucks and a yellow car....
In the hall - a half eaten chicken...uh huh. Yup, it's a toy. Plastic chicken from the boys play kitchen and well...damn dog!
I'm not even going to talk about the recycling all over the house...plastic bottles in my bed, one under the desk and even the egg package in the hall...oh and for some reason, my gym bag is now dumped on the office floor, the office trash is dumped out...and in the small trash can is a spoon...taken from a drawer in the kitchen. Nope, not even going to talk about that.
That doesn't sound bad right? Well let me tell you, I cleaned up before we went to the library and I believe Conor was on the prowl for all of 32 seconds before I convinced (read wrestled) him to put on his pajama's and a new diaper. Aiden was walking around with his new books from the library (One on India because he requested a book on the Taj Mahal and the other one is about Mount Rushmore...he went to bed hugging that one - I have no idea where he comes from so don't look at me...I hated geography and social studies and all that...shudder) so let's not think he has anything to do with this. He is also why I held the previous misinformed definition of 'toys all over the place'...NOT TO MENTION the fact that they have a playroom that I lock ...errr...I mean have them play in all day when they aren't eating or sleeping (at least I try to and kinda 'wish' I could lock them in...shhhh). So a word to the wise...all you moms out there who are also misinformed...be prepared!
Oh and by the way...when did this kid get tall enough to put things in the bathroom sink??? Man I'm in trouble...gypsies boy...Gypsies!!!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Fired...
I'm totally fired. Like super duper fired...No call...No Show...Fired.
I've been super behind in this blog thing huh? Like there's no way to catch up.
Stuff happened. Things were awesome. Some stuff was probably crap.
My garden has bloomed, gone crazy and is probably going to die from frost soon.
I have pictures but they are over there (nods head in direction of office down the hall) and hubby has this crazy arse set up working for him and I can't even go on the computer. Seriously. Crazy. For some reason there is the regular old desktop computer (you know, monitor, mouse, keyboard, computer down there on the floor) and in front of said monitor and said keyboard is *gasp* another keyboard...wireless...in front of said mouse is *gasp* another mouse...what the!! Oh and wait...I have to hit the second mouse to get the screen to pop up and use the second keyboard and oh wait...they aren't even attached to the computer...there's a laptop over there in the corner that these suckers are running and displaying on the monitor...Why? What's wrong with the laptop? What's going on? Why? Why? Did I say, WHY? So confuddled...me...
Boys are good. Update on boys - Aiden (4 now) happy as ever...doing his thing, going back to preschool and has a private speech consult on Friday to possibly get private speech therapy outside of the therapy he already gets at the Early Learning Center...woo. Conor (this many - 1) is freaking crazy! Love that kid, he cracks me up...but weeeeeeeeeee he is BUSY, TROUBLE, add a bazillion other words of that sort here and it will start to describe him. Spirited...is that the word now? He's a pain in the ass. But awesome, incredibly awesome (love ya kid but seriously you are a pain in the ass - I can say that a. because you probably will never read this - who thinks I'm going to keep this up until the kid can read? and b. if I do keep this up until you can read, you will forgive me, because I haven't sold you to gypsies yet over the past five years....trust me, the thought is there.
Dog is crazy and he really thinks he is one of our kids. I have to keep reminding Sam of that. He is super young...but he's whacked and thinks he's a child. I just have to remember that and give him lots of love...not throw him out a window or something.
Welp, I know you are fulfilled now. Finally I have updated my blog and you can breathe a sigh of relief to learn...um...nothing cause really, my life is all about the same sh*t different day. I get so bored of my own life I can't even talk about it...so let's think for a moment how enthralled you must be right now. Thanks though! I appreciate you taking a peep.
*PEEP*
I've been super behind in this blog thing huh? Like there's no way to catch up.
Stuff happened. Things were awesome. Some stuff was probably crap.
My garden has bloomed, gone crazy and is probably going to die from frost soon.
I have pictures but they are over there (nods head in direction of office down the hall) and hubby has this crazy arse set up working for him and I can't even go on the computer. Seriously. Crazy. For some reason there is the regular old desktop computer (you know, monitor, mouse, keyboard, computer down there on the floor) and in front of said monitor and said keyboard is *gasp* another keyboard...wireless...in front of said mouse is *gasp* another mouse...what the!! Oh and wait...I have to hit the second mouse to get the screen to pop up and use the second keyboard and oh wait...they aren't even attached to the computer...there's a laptop over there in the corner that these suckers are running and displaying on the monitor...Why? What's wrong with the laptop? What's going on? Why? Why? Did I say, WHY? So confuddled...me...
Boys are good. Update on boys - Aiden (4 now) happy as ever...doing his thing, going back to preschool and has a private speech consult on Friday to possibly get private speech therapy outside of the therapy he already gets at the Early Learning Center...woo. Conor (this many - 1) is freaking crazy! Love that kid, he cracks me up...but weeeeeeeeeee he is BUSY, TROUBLE, add a bazillion other words of that sort here and it will start to describe him. Spirited...is that the word now? He's a pain in the ass. But awesome, incredibly awesome (love ya kid but seriously you are a pain in the ass - I can say that a. because you probably will never read this - who thinks I'm going to keep this up until the kid can read? and b. if I do keep this up until you can read, you will forgive me, because I haven't sold you to gypsies yet over the past five years....trust me, the thought is there.
Dog is crazy and he really thinks he is one of our kids. I have to keep reminding Sam of that. He is super young...but he's whacked and thinks he's a child. I just have to remember that and give him lots of love...not throw him out a window or something.
Welp, I know you are fulfilled now. Finally I have updated my blog and you can breathe a sigh of relief to learn...um...nothing cause really, my life is all about the same sh*t different day. I get so bored of my own life I can't even talk about it...so let's think for a moment how enthralled you must be right now. Thanks though! I appreciate you taking a peep.
*PEEP*
Friday, June 20, 2008
Yup, digging in the trash again...
And here is what I got...
Ok, I wasn't really 'digging' in the trash, so please don't get too skeeved out on me.
I found these two dejected items (the lamp and the table) on the side of the road...in a ditch actually, covered in dirt and grass and sad sad sad...sitting in front of a house that is not nice...not nice at all (lots of mean signs - No trespassing and just broke down looking)...
Anyhow, here is what the table looked like...(click on it, make it big...blech!!)
Yummmm!!!!!
Here is what the light looked like...um well I forgot to take pics before I started spray painting...but notice the hideous gold and the sad sad lampshade.
Not bad for free...I just have to play around with the accesories some more...and no the clips (if you noticed them) on the lampshade are not staying, that is just until the glue dries. Oh and the lamp works even!!
PS - here is how the first picture really looked before I had to lighten it a ton so you could see the details...it's 9pm, not a good time for natural lighting... Go ahead, click on it for a close up (notice the whole in the wall we inherited from the previous owner and never fixed - used to have my dresser there) and the missing paint behind the chair from the boys rocking that thing like crazy into the wall the other day...and well a ton of imperfections...go ahead...I'm not scared notice them. But also notice how cute that golf fabric is, I've been wondering what to do with that! Oh and hubby says the lamp may end up in his office at work...I guess I'm not so silly after all picking up trash...
Oh and does anyone have a solution for spray paint trigger finger???
Oh and I made that little box, man I've been working on that for years...I'm still not done...the pattern is 'burnt' on...it's one of those things (wood burning) that I tend to put on a back burner for a long time...get it burner...man I'm hilarious.
Ok, I wasn't really 'digging' in the trash, so please don't get too skeeved out on me.
I found these two dejected items (the lamp and the table) on the side of the road...in a ditch actually, covered in dirt and grass and sad sad sad...sitting in front of a house that is not nice...not nice at all (lots of mean signs - No trespassing and just broke down looking)...
Anyhow, here is what the table looked like...(click on it, make it big...blech!!)
Yummmm!!!!!
Here is what the light looked like...um well I forgot to take pics before I started spray painting...but notice the hideous gold and the sad sad lampshade.
Not bad for free...I just have to play around with the accesories some more...and no the clips (if you noticed them) on the lampshade are not staying, that is just until the glue dries. Oh and the lamp works even!!
PS - here is how the first picture really looked before I had to lighten it a ton so you could see the details...it's 9pm, not a good time for natural lighting... Go ahead, click on it for a close up (notice the whole in the wall we inherited from the previous owner and never fixed - used to have my dresser there) and the missing paint behind the chair from the boys rocking that thing like crazy into the wall the other day...and well a ton of imperfections...go ahead...I'm not scared notice them. But also notice how cute that golf fabric is, I've been wondering what to do with that! Oh and hubby says the lamp may end up in his office at work...I guess I'm not so silly after all picking up trash...
Oh and does anyone have a solution for spray paint trigger finger???
Oh and I made that little box, man I've been working on that for years...I'm still not done...the pattern is 'burnt' on...it's one of those things (wood burning) that I tend to put on a back burner for a long time...get it burner...man I'm hilarious.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Trash to...uh...treasure??
So I saw this on the side of the road.
Brushed it clean, Spray painted it cream - but not thoroughly so as to make it look a little 'weathered'
And put it on the wall as a 'message board/bulletin board' in my office.
What do you think?
Shall I pop it back on the side of the road?
I was thinking I needed a little message board above my desk and well hey, free is better than whatever I would have spent being the usual consumer that I am...Use it people! Don't throw it away, make something new, something beautiful...all it takes is a little bit of time (and spray paint). Be a little green, a little thrifty, a little creative. Just think, this guy would be still sitting in a ditch somewhere, waiting to be thrown in the back of a trash truck...instead he's happily on my wall, holding my pretty things and notes about life.
Brushed it clean, Spray painted it cream - but not thoroughly so as to make it look a little 'weathered'
And put it on the wall as a 'message board/bulletin board' in my office.
What do you think?
Shall I pop it back on the side of the road?
I was thinking I needed a little message board above my desk and well hey, free is better than whatever I would have spent being the usual consumer that I am...Use it people! Don't throw it away, make something new, something beautiful...all it takes is a little bit of time (and spray paint). Be a little green, a little thrifty, a little creative. Just think, this guy would be still sitting in a ditch somewhere, waiting to be thrown in the back of a trash truck...instead he's happily on my wall, holding my pretty things and notes about life.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Stash Busters!!!
{Like Ghost Busters...come one sing it with me}
Ok my husband thought I'd lost my mind when I said I was stash busting...
I have one hundred thousand yards of random fabric that I have done nothing with...because I am weird. Here's the deal...I buy fabric I love, some I like, some I buy because it's cheap...and I look at it and admire it and think about how much potential it has to be something awesome, something beautiful. And then, I pack it away because I'm petrified that I'll F it up...create some wonky looking beastly thing that needs to go under the bed, or eaten by the dog and there goes my beautiful full of potential fabric. Silly right?
Yeah...I agree...
So I started to play around...I bought some plain white tea towels from the XMas Tree Shoppe the other day (love that place lots of trouble!) - only $1 each.
Stash buster! Go get some scraps (or cut them off yards) and voila...new pretty...towel. Ok, almost pretty. One of the reasons I have a hard time w/ my final products is I'm such a rush that I barely measure once...much less twice...and things end up wonky because of it...oh well...They work right? Cute right?
I was reading THIS BLOG last night and found this super cool idea to do with scraps...so of course I had at it...hers are gorgeous, mine is wonky...and I threw it on my dresser w/ too many frames behind it and I totally need to dust/washmirrors/frames/clean...whatever...
It's a little busy...so I may have to find a different location for it. Notice the fabric underneath it though...from the stash...i need to cut it to size but threw it on there to see how it would work, I like it I think, better than the top of that dresser which has seen better days and wasn't worth the cheap money I spent on it (I think I'm still paying for it actually on a credit card somewhere).
Oh and I also stuck some fabric in those two candle holders that are missing their middle child...(broke - dang kids)...because I never light candles in them anyway...
I do have to find something to do for window treatments in that room....I soooo want to paint it (lots of wood!) but I think window treatments will resist that urge, as painting it would probably take an entire lifetime and then I'd hate it and wish it could be it's natural wood again and well, that will never happen.
Ok my husband thought I'd lost my mind when I said I was stash busting...
I have one hundred thousand yards of random fabric that I have done nothing with...because I am weird. Here's the deal...I buy fabric I love, some I like, some I buy because it's cheap...and I look at it and admire it and think about how much potential it has to be something awesome, something beautiful. And then, I pack it away because I'm petrified that I'll F it up...create some wonky looking beastly thing that needs to go under the bed, or eaten by the dog and there goes my beautiful full of potential fabric. Silly right?
Yeah...I agree...
So I started to play around...I bought some plain white tea towels from the XMas Tree Shoppe the other day (love that place lots of trouble!) - only $1 each.
Stash buster! Go get some scraps (or cut them off yards) and voila...new pretty...towel. Ok, almost pretty. One of the reasons I have a hard time w/ my final products is I'm such a rush that I barely measure once...much less twice...and things end up wonky because of it...oh well...They work right? Cute right?
I was reading THIS BLOG last night and found this super cool idea to do with scraps...so of course I had at it...hers are gorgeous, mine is wonky...and I threw it on my dresser w/ too many frames behind it and I totally need to dust/washmirrors/frames/clean...whatever...
It's a little busy...so I may have to find a different location for it. Notice the fabric underneath it though...from the stash...i need to cut it to size but threw it on there to see how it would work, I like it I think, better than the top of that dresser which has seen better days and wasn't worth the cheap money I spent on it (I think I'm still paying for it actually on a credit card somewhere).
Oh and I also stuck some fabric in those two candle holders that are missing their middle child...(broke - dang kids)...because I never light candles in them anyway...
I do have to find something to do for window treatments in that room....I soooo want to paint it (lots of wood!) but I think window treatments will resist that urge, as painting it would probably take an entire lifetime and then I'd hate it and wish it could be it's natural wood again and well, that will never happen.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Thayer Family Burial Yard...
I had mentioned a few days ago to some friends about a burial ground down the street from me and the funky things that happen here in my home. We have had weird occurances specifically with Conor's room, and his music...two different mobiles that played music...both with issues going off and playing music, with noone in the room (before Conor was born) or in the middle of the night when he was here...to the point of not shutting off no matter what we did, until we took it apart completely and removed it's batteries...oh and this was after it stopped working for weeks. Anyhow, that was a long spooky story that the small ankle biter attached to my leg probably won't let me get out...so let me show some pictures. (You can clicky the piccys to make them bigger...but your music will restart...bummer)
So here is what you see from the street. Down there, on the right...
What you don't see anything?
Nothing? Let's move closer...
Still not sure? See that sign? Little bit of a path?
Yup, that sign... Read it? Thayer Family Burial Yard...ca 1732
Here, let's get a little closer:
And some real close ups...
And do you see those ones that look blank? I thought they were too old, or maybe never carved because they are small and small signifies children, usually infants...but when I got around to the back of the burial yard I saw that they were carved...on the backside...only with initials, I'm still guessing that they were infants, especially since S. Ella D.'s was so pronounced and she passed away at a two years old.
I have to say I was pretty at peace looking at these. In wonder yes, awe perhaps that they are pretty intact for how old they are. There are some that are sad...especially the one entirely broken...others have fallen, most so you can still read them, one I couldn't...but it seems they are left alone by vandals or kids, or kid vandals, which is a nice thing. It had been very hot walking there, and I was sweating on my way back, but while I took these pictures I was nice and cool and a great breeze had picked up.
Honestly, it has taken me seventeen years to upload these pictures...Not only has the ankle biter gone to bed, I'm pretty sure he's off to college soon... I do have a ton more pictures I'd love to share, they all probably look the same to you...yup hey, there's another grave, but I totally find this interesting don't you?
But alas, I have no more time on this computer as I have to go get ready to take Ankle Biter to med school...few more pics though...while I do my hair... ;) ...
Notice the family behind my house...notice behind my family is a fence...
Yes I realize it's nasty back there behind my fence but for some reason there is no way to get back there besides jumping the fence and I get poison ivy just looking at it but wait... hey what is that back there?
Yup
So here is what you see from the street. Down there, on the right...
What you don't see anything?
Nothing? Let's move closer...
Still not sure? See that sign? Little bit of a path?
Yup, that sign... Read it? Thayer Family Burial Yard...ca 1732
Here, let's get a little closer:
And some real close ups...
And do you see those ones that look blank? I thought they were too old, or maybe never carved because they are small and small signifies children, usually infants...but when I got around to the back of the burial yard I saw that they were carved...on the backside...only with initials, I'm still guessing that they were infants, especially since S. Ella D.'s was so pronounced and she passed away at a two years old.
I have to say I was pretty at peace looking at these. In wonder yes, awe perhaps that they are pretty intact for how old they are. There are some that are sad...especially the one entirely broken...others have fallen, most so you can still read them, one I couldn't...but it seems they are left alone by vandals or kids, or kid vandals, which is a nice thing. It had been very hot walking there, and I was sweating on my way back, but while I took these pictures I was nice and cool and a great breeze had picked up.
Honestly, it has taken me seventeen years to upload these pictures...Not only has the ankle biter gone to bed, I'm pretty sure he's off to college soon... I do have a ton more pictures I'd love to share, they all probably look the same to you...yup hey, there's another grave, but I totally find this interesting don't you?
But alas, I have no more time on this computer as I have to go get ready to take Ankle Biter to med school...few more pics though...while I do my hair... ;) ...
Notice the family behind my house...notice behind my family is a fence...
Yes I realize it's nasty back there behind my fence but for some reason there is no way to get back there besides jumping the fence and I get poison ivy just looking at it but wait... hey what is that back there?
Yup
My blankie...
Hi, my name is Theresa.
I'm 30 years old (gasp! when did that happen?!)
And I have a blankie...
A sad...tired blankie...
Made with love by my nana...Nana was my dads grandmother...his fathers mother...she made one for all of us...I'd saying using her 70's cast off fabrics from the look of things...Please note the patches that have shrunk...oops! And those that are worn...awwwww...and some that are even missing!
It is definately not pretty by any means...but I love it...I heart it so much I sleep with it every night...yup, even at 30 years old...
I'm 30 years old (gasp! when did that happen?!)
And I have a blankie...
A sad...tired blankie...
Made with love by my nana...Nana was my dads grandmother...his fathers mother...she made one for all of us...I'd saying using her 70's cast off fabrics from the look of things...Please note the patches that have shrunk...oops! And those that are worn...awwwww...and some that are even missing!
It is definately not pretty by any means...but I love it...I heart it so much I sleep with it every night...yup, even at 30 years old...
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