The life and times of Susan B.

Now that's homeschooling

2012-02-08T13:59:00.000-08:00

Making, homemade toothpaste, chocolate pie, and an hebal remedy for Daddy, now that is homeschooling.

Making Valentines for Alabama Midwives

2012-02-07T06:43:00.000-08:00

OK, actually we made them for the senators and representatives responsible for sponsoring and voting for the bill that hopefully will allow Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) to practice legally in Alabama. Right now mothers who want to have home births in Alabama either have them without any professional birth attendants or with the assistance of a Midwife that practices illegal with threat of prosecution. Even if a mother wants a Midwife at her birth at a birth center (we don't have any here) that is not an option. A lot of moms drive over the state border to Tennessee where Midwives practice legally and are the norm. Because Midwives are not recognized here in Alabama health insurances will not pay for their care. That leaves the poor out of the picture. Even a family who can live within their easily would find it hard to shell out the thousands of dollars necessary to pay out of pocket for each birth in their family. Why does Alabama deny choices to their mothers. Hopefully all of that will change soon. Too many of the student Midwives that hold the future of births in this state in their hands are moving away to practice in other states. We can't let Alabama's resources slip through our fingers. Click on the blue lotus on my side bar to learn more about the Alabama Birth Coalition to help support Alabama's Midwives.

Eliot working away. Lyn, Annika, and Evan were also helping...

Homemade shampoo

2012-02-05T16:03:00.000-08:00

This is my first attempt at making shampoo. I did not have any castile liquid soap and I was determined to use what I had in the house. It may turn out but it was fun to make. I started with the herbs I wanted to use. I used dried nettle, dried lavender, and fresh rosemary. I used my tiny mortar and pestle to grind the lavender and the rosemary to release some oils. I then put all the herbs into my loose herd tea pot to make a tea. I then got out my melt and pour soap. I melted it and added the tea. I then poured it all into the tall bottle shown above. When it cooled down I added rosemary essential oil and lavender essential oil. I had a lot of tea left over. I will use it for herbal baths and hair rinses.

Annika's plant hunt

2012-02-04T14:16:00.000-08:00

The weather today was really nice. It is way too warm for February. Annika always need a little guidance to help her organize her time so I sent her on a plant hunt so she would have goal while spending some time outside. I gave her a guide to edible plants and sent her out to find 5 different plant. She took a pad and a pencil to take notes. She came back with dandelion, wild onion, holly, gill over the ground, and one plant she couldn't identify. We will need to look up some more information to find out what kind of berries they are. Annika did great....

Bubble and squeak (yes, it is a real recipe)

2012-02-04T13:52:00.000-08:00

I was looking for a recipe using some of the vegetables I had on hand and I came across a recipe for bubble and squeak. The bubble part comes from the sound of the vegetables boiling and the squeak is from the sound of them frying. There are a lot of different recipes out there and I ended up coming up with my own. Here is a list of my ingredients.

can of diced potatoes (fresh works best but I didn't have any)

kale

onion

leek

cabbage

olive oil

coconut oil

salt

black pepper

dried thyme (I was out of fresh)

Annika was my helper today for this recipe. She diced the onions and rinsed and tore apart the cabbage. I cut up the leek and the kale. Minus the potatoes all the veggies were boiled till they became soft but not too limp.I added some salt and olive oil to the water. If you use fresh potatoes you will need to boil them separately because they take longer to cook. I then drained the veggies and added them to an iron skillet (best way to get easy iron in your diet). Already in the skillet was the coconut oil. I didn't really measure any of the ingredients. Let common sense be your guide. As I pan fried the veggies I added the potatoes, pepper, thyme, and some more salt. There is no real set time to cook just heat through and fry for a bit. It turned out so yummy!!! Annika and I ate all of it. I guess I need to make a bigger batch next time. It is best eaten hot. It looses a lot if it cools and needs to be reheated. This recipe is chock full of vitamins and minerals especially vitamin K not to mention the benefits of coconut oil.

Another day at the park

2012-02-03T15:49:00.000-08:00

It was great to be invited to a play date at a park today before the rains started. Ben, Eliot, and Lyn were my tag-a-longs. Everyone else was in school. Eliot met a whole bunch of other 4 year-olds to play with and Ben went up to every person his size and shared his crackers and started up whole "conversations". It is amazing how fast he is growing up. He is no longer my baby. He is such a toddler!

Elderberry juice on a sunny Winter day

2012-02-02T14:44:00.001-08:00

The weather today was way too warm for February. It made me in the mood to start making some Spring tonics even though Spring is way in the future. To balance out I made a more Winter related drink. I made an elderberry juice mix to help protect against viruses and because it just plain tastes good. I started with dried elderberries. (I just don't have a good source for fresh or frozen berries in my area.) I simmered the berries and then drained the liquid. I added the elderberry juice to hibiscus tea and added apple cider, water, and some organic cane sugar. It turned out GREAT! Elderberries are a great source of potassium and vitamin C. And talk about the antioxidant punch... watch out.

Now I remember the book.... it was a book about a Ukrainian princess

2012-02-01T17:41:00.000-08:00

I have been learning about Ukraine lately and it occurred to me that I read a book a few years ago about a Ukrainian princess and a man who goes back in time to save her. It is a classic sleeping beauty story written by one of my favorite authors, Orson Scott Card. It deals a lot with the Old Slovonian language of western Ukraine. Now I really want to reread it as fast as I can.....

http://www.amazon.com/Enchantment-Orson-Scott-Card/dp/0345482409/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328145757&sr=1-6

I wish I lived within walking distance of a library

2012-01-31T11:28:00.000-08:00

The joys of babysitting for a friend are never ending. I feel so lucky to be helping her and her family out. She is in the process right now of adopting a child from Eastern Europe. I am helping out by watching her older children while she and her husband are overseas. Please check out her page on Reece's Rainbow to find more information about their adoption. Feel free to donate to their adoption fund. It may seem like they already have a lot of money raised but every penny counts and is still needed for expenses.....

For my headache last night...

2012-01-31T10:51:00.000-08:00

One of the best natural remedies for a headache is lavender. I had a slight headache that would just not go away last night. Into the bath I went with some lavender essential oil added to my bath. I also added sea salt and about a teaspoon of coconut oil. I relaxed as best I could with the three youngest children in and out of the bathroom. (Ben in and out of the tub.) All of that soaking helped. And the best part is that I came out of the tub super moisturized and smelling great....

Homemade chicken and dumplings

2012-01-29T09:36:00.000-08:00

The chicken is boiling and the vegetables are cut. Today I am adding fresh carrots, kale, leeks, and onions to my chicken and dumplings. It is a bit cold today so a nice big batch of soup sounds great. I'll make enough so we can eat on it all day. Sometimes I make easy chicken and dumplings by adding pieces of torn up tortillas to store bought chicken broth and canned chicken. It is filling but its nutritional punch is really lacking. I was going to cheat a little today and still use the tortillas but I was out so I guess I am making homemade dumplings too. To check out an old post featuring easy chicken and dumplings click on this link http://thelifeandtimesofsusanbetke.blogspot.com/2009/12/easy-chicken-and-dumplings.html

The house smells great and I have a lot of chicken left over for some more recipes. I think it turned out great...

My two year old playing

2012-01-23T09:10:00.000-08:00

Ben just plain amazes me. He played with the bead tracking toy for a good 15 minutes or more. He was concentrating so hard. It feels like he was just born. Where did the last two years go?

My Pa

2012-01-21T15:20:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of me sitting in my grandfather's lap. With my fingers in my mouth like that I look a lot like Eliot. Pa has passed away now but Eliot still asks about him. That is a bit strange because she was just a baby when he died. It is hard to believe she actually remembers him......

Annika's walk

2012-01-21T13:18:00.000-08:00

I was rainy all morning and then the sun came up. Ben is sleeping and Annika is the only other child at home right now. Annika and I had a talk about the importance of sunlight for our health especially in the Winter. I explained to her about vitamin D and how some people do not get enough to the point that they get rickets. The easiest way to get a good dose of vitamin D is to spend some time in the sun. Of course that prompted her to go for a walk in the sun and soak up some rays. The pictures above are some of the things she came across during her walk. We are lucky where we live that we are far enough south to be able to get vitamin D from the sun year round.

New buds on the trees

2012-01-20T13:59:00.000-08:00

Leave it to Alabama to already have buds growing on the trees when Winter really just started. My lemon balm finally withered up but new leaves and shoots are already peeking out under the old. Spring will be around the corner.

Making pudding

2012-01-20T13:55:00.000-08:00

Annika was my helper today making dinner. She was in charge of dessert. It was just simple instant banana pudding but she still struggles with simple tasks like this. She had to check with me continuously to make sure she was doing it correctly. Her thought processes are just all over the place sometimes. OK, most of the time they are all over the place. It amazes me that she does so well in public school. Granted, the level of assignments and tests are more on a 2nd grade level than a 4th grade level so she isn't challenged very much. I worry about the life skills that she needs to master to be a productive adult. I wonder if she will ever drive a car or hold a job that will support her enough to not have to rely on others. I feel that she should be able to have social relationships but I worry that she never will understand what it takes to be a successful professional. That is OK to a degree. She does not have to be a medical doctor or a lawyer. I just want her to be happy and self-sufficient.....

Two years old today!!!

2012-01-18T11:39:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Ben!!

I can not believe where the time has gone.... At 1:41pm two years ago my baby boy was born. He weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces. His birth was easy and held no surprises. In the past two years he has turned into such a special little boy. He is calm and an easy going little boy. Everyone (OK especially Granny) keeps asking me when am I going to get his hair cut. I always put them off and say , "Oh, when he is 2 years old I will". I like his wispy old man hair style. I may wait a little while longer.

Happy birthday Ben!! I love you.

Look how much he has grown!!!

Lyn, my alchemist, is working on making herbal hair dye

2012-01-17T17:02:00.001-08:00

Lyn has been wanting to play around with some temporary hair dye. She chose annatto and dried beet root powder to start with. She ground up the annatto and added some water to it. She took the beet root powder and did the same. That did not do very much after she added it to her hair. She then added a bit of almond oil to the two separate mixes. That did the trick. She applied it to her hair and left it on for a while and voila, she had pink hair. The annatto added some richness but it din't really add any color on its own. Quick, natural, and easy!

What I like to do....

2012-01-14T09:24:00.000-08:00

I make all kinds of stone, shell, and bone jewelry. It can be really relaxing. I like to design necklaces and bracelets with specific themes. I have a friend on her way out of the country right now to start the international adoption process. I am working on matching bracelets for her and her two new daughters.

I know I am getting a bit older because I am able to work on my jewelry in the mornings but if I try to bead after 3pm my hands just don't cooperate. I blame slight arthritis. Annika is my best helper. I can still design jewelry in the evenings and she will string it for me. With Annika's memory and thought processing problems associated with her seizure disorder she has difficulty with a lot of task oriented activities. Helping me helps her focus on a goal where she can see the results. She has trouble with abstract activities but hands on works great for her.

Check out my Etsy site to see what I have on sale there. The link is on the sidebar. I have so much more available then is listed. Just ask.....

Still working on my Postpartum Doula training.

2012-01-09T07:57:00.000-08:00

I am trying to complete all of my Postpartum Doula training before winter is over. I have a lot of independent reading and writing to complete but it should not take me too long to finish. It helps that since I am a CLC (certified lactation counselor) I don't have to participate in a breastfeeding class. In fact I have actually taught a breastfeeding class to Doula students. I participate a little in the birth community in my area but I need to get my name out there more. There are a lot of Labor and Delivery Doulas out there but I haven't met any certified Postpartum Doulas. I am sure there are a few dual certified Doulas out there but I haven't met any. I am hoping that I can fill a niche that needs to be filled. With my experience working with babies born with special needs and their families I am hoping I can be a unique resource for new parents.

Who needs video games?

2012-01-05T10:13:00.001-08:00

This is perfect for Annika. Her weekend is set now. I can't wait to see her teaching the little kids how to play...

2012

2012-01-05T07:05:00.000-08:00

Really, it is really the year 2012? This summer I will have my 20 year high school reunion. I have kept up with a lot of friends from high school through facebook or other internet means. I don't really "hang out" with anyone from high school on a regular basis though. It will be great to see everyone in person. I know I have changed. Who hasn't.

I actually think I like the my accessory in the second picture better.....

What to do when your baby has a cold.....

2011-12-31T16:58:00.000-08:00

When you have an infant under a year old and usually even with a child under two years old it can be just torture when you just cannot offer them any relief. Over the counter medications are not safe or recommended for little ones and a lot of families try not to use medications at all for the common cold and other winter time viruses. A friend of mine has a baby who is 8 and a half months old and he is just plain suffering from congestion. As a Family Herbalist I offered her some of my simple remedies. As I was researching a new homemade vapo-rub I came across a post from one of my favorite bloggers. Here it is with full credit.....

I think I will make up a batch......

Homemade "Vapo-rub" Recipe

Best of all, this is completely natural and safe for people of all ages. Here's what you need:

■5 tbsp. extra virgin coconut oil (a natural anti-viral)

■1 tbsp. evening primrose oil (could use sweet almond, olive, etc. if you want)

■2 tbsp. beeswax

■8 - 10 drops tea tree essential oil (also a natural anti-viral)

■15 - 20 drops rosemary essential oil (aids breathing)

In a small pan over low heat, melt the coconut oil and evening primrose oil. Add the beeswax, chopped up or in granules (mine was in a large chunk, so I chopped) and stir until melted. Add the essential oils and stir to combine. Pour into a 4-oz. glass jar and allow to cool. This mix is not completely solid even when cool, so be careful of that when you open the jar.

Before bed, put this mixture on the feet and then put socks over it. When it's put on the feet, it's absorbed quickly into the body and it goes through the whole system. That's why it works. You could follow this up with a spoonful of raw honey, and the same essential oils in a humidifier (which I did). Worked great, and we all got sleep!

Blogger who posted this information
Modern Alternative Mama
http://www.modernalternativemama.com/blog/2011/1/31/monday-health-wellness-homemade-vapo-rub-recipe.html

Another one of my herbal remedies for this viral season is my homemade elderberry and fennel syrup. I make it to help soothe sore throats and help boost the immune system. I have it for sell on my Etsy site. Feel free to go check it out......

A dream for 2012

2011-12-31T11:38:00.000-08:00

I will be 38 years old in 2012. Yet I still dream about what I want to be when I grow up. Haven't I already made it that far? Hmmm, what doooo I want to be when I grow up? I started my formal education once upon a time when I was 19 years old. At that time I wanted to work with very young children, under age three to be exact. I went to college for a while while I was married to my first husband. I had a baby became separated, had another baby, became divorced. I dropped out of college when my first child was born. In 1999 I went back to school determined to support my young family. I started nursing school and after a year of that while I was pregnant with my 3rd child I decided nursing was not for me. One of the main reasons I chose nursing was for the job security. Deep down though I wanted to be a Midwife. In Alabama the only legal Midwives are Certified Nurse Midwives taht work in the medical setting. I did not know at the time the attitude towards Midwives in Alabama. It is not positive. After I had my 3rd child I started a Doula program. I did not stick with it but I learned a lot about natural birth and the birthing process.I did not drop out of college though. I just switched gears. I graduated on time in 2001 with an AA degree and landed a job believe it or not as a toddler teacher. I taught 2 year olds as well as younger and occasionally a little older children for about 7 years. During that time I had my 4th child. Also during that time I went back to school as I worked full time (most of the time). I graduated with my BS in Socio-behavioral Science in 2004. I stayed in school for a year after that working on a second bachelors in Linguistics. That same year I received a scholarship for a year long program to become a Certified Special Instructor with Early Intervention. I completed that program at the end of 2005. I never completed my Linguistics degree. I then decided to go for my master's degree. In 2006 I started my graduate degree in Education. I also fell in love and started a relationship with my current husband. We had our first child (my 5th) in 2006. I didn't skip a beat and continued with school. I could not have done it without my husband's support. I was still working full time. I was expecting my 6th child when I graduated with my MAE in Early Childhood Education (concentration Infant / Toddler Development) in 2007. I landed a really good job working in early Intervention and gave birth a month later. I worked full time for nearly the next four years. Along the way I had my 7th child. While I was pregnant with him I got the itch to go back to school. I was offered a scholarship to become a Special Education teacher at the graduate level. I tried that but I just was not into it. I never really wanted to work with school aged children anyway. I stopped halfway into my first semester. I would love to get my Ph.D one day but I just can't find a program I like. It would be so cool to be called Dr. Susan one day. Earlier this year I completed my training as a CLC (certified lactation counselor). I have always been a big advocate for breastfeeding. Now I am a trained breastfeeding professional. This past summer I wanted to work part time instead of full time. That wonderful job in Early Intervention was a full time gig and they did not have any part time positions for my job so I walked away from it. I still work in Early Intervention as a contract provider. I get to spend a lot more time with my family this way. We had to downsize a bit but we are making it. But, the question is still what do I want to be when I grow up? A circle in my life has come around again. I have been looking at nursing school again. I am only 9 classes away from becoming an RN. But, I am so not a mainstream individual. I am not sure I could follow all of those rules. I am constantly being drawn back into the birth community. I started doula training again. This time I felt with my background and training and my own special talents that I would be best suited as a Post Partum Doula. I have 2 years to complete the program. I am well on my way. Another route I am drawn to is the one that would take me further into the birth community as a Midwife. This time I am looking at becoming a CPM (certified professional Midwife). They cannot practice legally in Alabama but they are recognized and respected in other states. Alabama Birth Coalition is trying to help change the law so they can practice legally here. Maybe after my training I will be able to help the mothers in Alabama who wish a safer more family centered method of care for the childbearing years. I have the opportunity to start Midwifery training next year. But is that what I really want to be when I grow up????????

Lyn and the Beatles

2011-12-27T11:11:00.000-08:00

Lyn is so into the Beatles right now. She has informed me that she wants to learn all of the lyrics to their songs and learn to play Yesterday on the guitar.

Moon Dough... who thought it would be so much fun.

2011-12-27T11:06:00.001-08:00

Who would have thought that some simple Moon Dough would hold the kids' attention for so long. They literally played with it for hours for a couple of days. I am sure it will come out again today. Some of the best things in life are the simplest.

Happy Winter

2011-12-22T16:12:00.000-08:00

The longest night is upon us

May the return to light be swift and bring the warmth of the sun

Happy Winter Solstice

Happy Birthday Connor and thanks Granny!

2011-12-21T15:57:00.000-08:00

All the kids , Granny, and I went to lunch for Connor's birthday and then headed to Granny's so the kids could open their Christmas gifts from Granny. Connor has grown so much. He is such a mature polite young man. He is a bit concerned about his weight. He informed me he is on a diet now. I reminded him that a lot of boy, including his older brother, usually go through a chunky phase at his age. I am just glad he is aware that he needs to be healthier.

Granny did a great job listening to the kids when they told her what they wanted for Christmas. They got exactly what they wanted!!!

11 years ago....

2011-12-21T00:34:00.000-08:00

11 years ago my second son, Connor, was born. I went to bed knowing I was going into labor. I knew I would get more rest at home so I did not tell my partner at the time so as not to worry anyone. Around 2am I was in enough pain that I could not stay in bed. I paced for a while and decided to go ahead and head to the hospital. I lived about 30 miles away and that seemed like one of the longest drives of my life. The rest is a bit of a blur. My mom arrived as soon as we got to the hospital. She only lived about 2 miles away. She stayed with me the whole time. Connor's birth went pretty quickly. The doctor was a bit impatient and used the vaccum extractor after I only pushed about 3 times. I am pretty sure if she would have let me just shift position and push one more time he would have come right on out. He was born at 7:47 am weighing 8 pounds and 3 ounces. He took to nursing right away. My mom was so surprised at how alert and vigorous he was. He was a pro at breastfeeding from the get go.

Happy Birthday Connor!

My little helper

2011-12-20T14:04:00.001-08:00

Eliot helped me drain the dried herbs from my latest batch of herb infused oil. It is now all ready to made into a healing salve that I sell mainly as a diaper rash treatment. It works great for just about any rash, scrap, or "boo boo". I sell the oil by itself also. Others have used it to make their own salves and balms. Let me know if you want some.

Soothing Herbal Oil

click on the picture to go buy from my Etsy site....

Oh, I have missed the library....

2011-12-19T17:05:00.001-08:00

I have been without a library card for about a year now. I just could not take it anymore. I really like the library system in a different county than I live so we have to pay to have a card. It is so worth it though. Between getting Ben out of the house and Lyn's homeschooling not to mention the fun all the other kids have there it is so worth it. Who could resist a library where you get to check the puppets, larger than a 2 year old, out and take them home!

Family History

2011-12-19T16:21:00.001-08:00

My mom ran into a 4th cousin by accident that she never knew existed. That long lost cousin let her borrow a copy of a book that includes our family's genealogy. It was a bit unnerving yet cool to find my own name in all of the dry census information. The book was written in the 80's so my children were not listed. Lyn has the genealogy bug though. I told her she should flesh out her own immediate family when she gets a chance. This book goes all the way back to the 1500's. It even comes with maps of Ireland and Scotland. I need to get my own copy......

First fire of the season....

2011-12-11T15:15:00.001-08:00

The weather has started to get cooler so we started our first fire of the season. Evan is holding the jar of ashes left from last Winter's fires. We sprinkled some ashes from it onto the fresh fire....

Herbal Diaper Rash (or any kind of rash for that matter) Salve anyone?

2011-12-09T15:57:00.000-08:00

You know you need some! This herbal salve is great for diaper rash but it works for any scrape, rash, or small injury. I make it from herbal infused oil I make myself. Check out my Etsy site Motherly Creations for ordering information. It works wonders on chapped winter skin too. I take custom orders. Don't be afraid to just ask.....

Look what I got!!!

2011-12-07T10:03:00.001-08:00

It is hard to tell but check out what I got in the mail yesterday. I have a friend who lives and England and is awesome!!! She sent me a package filled with all kinds of goodies. There were homemade candles from a shop in Glastonbury, tea, chocolate (of course), a postcard, info about the really old churches in her county, fairy soap, a cider packet, a beautiful Yule card with the Yule badger on it, and a lucky Hagstone found on the beach.....

I am so lucky to have friends such as Michelle. During this season of well wishing I definitely wish her and her family the most.

A fieldtrip to Alabama Power

2011-11-27T16:14:00.000-08:00

I am lucky enough to have a friend that works in the archive at Alabama Power. Lyn and I were treated to a personalized tour of the history of Alabama Power. Pretty cool!!

A new playground in the neighborhood...

2011-11-27T16:01:00.000-08:00

For two days in a row now I have taken the kids to a local playground. It is so toddler friendly. Since Ben is weaning I need to keep him busy and distracted so this worked out great. They were worn out by the time we left......

Something to be proud of....

2011-11-25T13:23:00.000-08:00

Lyn collected all of her recent volleyball stuff to take a picture for her Dad. I can't believe she has been playing for 4 years now. I am so proud of her. She is so mature beyond her years but she still acts like a regular 13 year old at other times. That girl will go far!

Look what I was offered today.....

2011-11-15T16:26:00.001-08:00

I was treated to some wonderful hospitality today. Just look I ate. Yum yum! The olives were the best I have ever had. Next to the olives are two pickled baby eggplants. And the pickle was just wonderful too. Thank you so much to the mom who treated me to these tasty morsels after I was finished working with her son!!!!

Halloween

2011-11-01T06:29:00.001-07:00

I made it out with3 kids last night. We started at trunk-or-treat at the church down the road and then hit some neighbourhood houses. Lyn went with her friends and Ben stayed home with Daddy. I am sure Danny and Connor had fun with their Dad. Hopefully next year I will feel better and have more spirit.

Where have I been?

2011-10-27T05:41:00.000-07:00

That is a good question. I have not been feeling well at all lately. Just making it to work has been a challenge. I have struggled with migraines for years and lately they have been kicking my butt! I am one of those people that experience more of the neurological systems like numbness, aura, and compromised speech, instead of just pain. All that being said I just have not been out and about this Fall much with the kids. I promise when I feel better we will play catch up. Fall is probably my most favorite season and I feel that I am missing it.......

The Southeastern Women's Herbal Conference

2011-10-18T17:54:00.000-07:00

Lyn and I had so much fun at the Southeastern Women's Herbal Conference in North Carolina last weekend. Well, Lyn had a lot of fun. I was a bit under the weather. Migraines and not breastfeeding put me out of commission for some of the activities. Ben is 21 months old and I took this weekend to continue my efforts to wean him at least from some feedings. The little man will nurse all day if I let him. I am OK feeding him but he nurses like a 3 month old if I let him.

Lyn made a lot of friends and learned a lot. I connected with some great women. It was an experience sleeping in a cabin and enjoying Black Mountain.

Paw Paws

2011-10-13T17:08:00.001-07:00

On our way to NC we found a Paw Paw tree!!! I so want to plant one in my yard....

Yes, I am 2 days late...

2011-10-06T06:17:00.000-07:00

My oldest daughter turned 13 two days ago. We spent the day together and she got presents from her granny and her friends. (I slipped her a little something too.) She got everything she asked for.....

A pineapple
Duct tape 9various colors)
A denim shirt

Well, that is what being a teenager is all about!

My favorite time of the year?

2011-10-01T12:21:00.000-07:00

Why yes... I believe it is. fall is in the air. Yes. I am in Alabama and my children rarely wear shoes and are still wearing shorts but it is definitely cooler. It is October and the church at the end of road had their pumpkins delivered today. We walked down to see them. Ben enjoyed playing with the wood farm cutouts and he got used to seeing pumpkins bigger than himself. I know we will begin our family field trips to the pumpkin patch every evening now. Lighting the candles outside a little earlier every night and being able to actually sit outside with COOL air blowing is awesome.....

Late day of September

2011-09-30T19:23:00.001-07:00

Ahh about time...

2011-09-28T08:34:00.001-07:00

That is what happens when you wake up at 2am and then biggest sister walks you around the neighborhood.

My big 4 year old....

2011-09-27T16:22:00.001-07:00

Eliot turned 4 yesterday... Wow, where does the time go?

If you can't appreciate a cotton field why live in Alabama?

2011-09-25T03:02:00.001-07:00

As I work in rural counties I come across a lot of things. This time of year the cotton fields are white and ready to be harvested. Cotton can mean a lot to different people in Alabama. For some it is a respected crop to grow and to others it is a symbol of slavery. I am going to keep it simle. As I gaze at a cotton field and hold a fresh picked piece in my hand I will be greatful for a plant that keeps me in jeans, warms me at night, and wraps my baby's bottom when needed.....

Labor and Delivery Candles

2011-09-24T20:01:00.000-07:00

I am trying something new. I took two simple white candles and etched two designs into them. One is a spiral and the other is a simple mother figure. I then took some beet root powder and mixed it with safflower oil. I rubbed the mixture into the designs and wiped the excess off. These candles burn for 5 and a half hours each. I added them to a Blessingway kit for a friend. No one needs to watch the clock when they are in labor but these may offer some comfort as they burn. I'll be adding them to my Etsy store soon. Tell me what you think?

Happy Fall Equinox

2011-09-23T07:16:00.001-07:00

My favorite time of year has arrived. As I was waiting to go to work today I spotted these growing on the roadside. I picked a few to take home. I am not 100% sure they are Black-eyed Susan's but I am going to say they are. Just seeing them today made me happy.

I could not wait to get home today to update our altar for the season and decorate the house a little. I felt rushed all day. I was able to stop by a friend's house though and drop some apples and apple pie fixin's for her kids. She is letting me borrow some books for my post-partum doula training. I am required to read at least 9. Between her and the library I am set and don't have to buy any except those I really want to own.

This friend of mine is pretty amazing. She is the mother to 4 wonderful children. They are smart, beautiful, and just plain COOL! And because she is such a good mother (and her husband is such a great father) the universe has found two more children that need her desperately!!! She is fundraising to bring these two beautiful girls home. They are so close. Take a moment to visit their blog to see their whole story and consider helping the last little way to bring them home.

There is Mayah and Sharon!!!

My favorite tree..

2011-09-22T18:35:00.000-07:00

The Tulip Tree has always been special to me. It is so different than most other trees. It is almost one of a kind. It is in the Magnolia family. As I was working in a wooded part of St. Clair County I came across a lot of them growing wild. I picked a few leaves just because I felt they are so beautiful. I took a few pictures and just being in the quiet woods helped recharge me that day.

Today I finally decided I could wait no longer. I bought the last tree for sale at the local hardware store. I am going to plant it in my front yard with plenty of space to grow. Hopefully it will bring me a lot of joy with its flowers next Spring....

My version of a homemade hearing screener...

2011-09-21T07:55:00.000-07:00

I made this to screen a child in more detail than my regular screening tool uses. I have had some daycare teachers ask me how to see if a child can hear the "little sounds". Well, this is my version.....

Homemade Hearing Screener for Toddlers

Materials needed:

Bucket of dry real leaves or store bought silk leaves

Small metal bell

CD of animal and environmental sounds (sounds such as snakes slithering, rain falling, and wind blowing)

Sandpaper

Small stones or pebbles

Dried beans

Uncooked rice

Paper

Empty water bottle with top

Plastic bowl

Glass or porcelain bowl

Directions:

This screener is best used in a child’s natural environment when they are in a good mood. Try to avoid naptime or when the child is hungry. Allow the child to play and set up your items out of his reach at first. Make sure the room is quiet and there are minimal distractions. Start exposing the child to one sound at a time. There is no particular order in which to offer each sound. No more than 3 feet away from the child drop leaves into a large plastic bowl or bucket. Try to do this where the child cannot see you. Watch for any response. This can include a look up, a glance toward the noise, a “thinking” look on the child’s face, a “questioning” look on the child’s face, or a verbal response such as the child saying, “What’s that?” At this age a lot of children are verbal yet not using a lot or any words. Any response can show that the child can hear the sound. Next, ring a small metal bell. Remember to not let the child see you do this. Try not to let your own body language give away the “answer”. Scratch on a piece of sandpaper. Follow the same procedure as above. Drop small pebbles or rocks (those decorative ones from the Dollar Tree work really well) into a glass container one at a time. Let there be at least 3 seconds in between each drop. Repeat with at least 5 rocks. Repeat this with a plastic bowl. Do this same exercise with the dry rice and dried beans. With the rice and beans you can dribble them into the containers. Place some of the dried rice (no more than 10 grains) into a small empty water bottle. Gently tilt the bottle from side to side. This should make a sound similar to a “rain stick”. You can repeat this with the beans. With the paper crinkle it slowly into a loose ball. Open it up slowly and repeat. You can use different weights of paper like tissue paper, newspaper, wrapping paper, or magazine paper. Regular computer paper works fine. Using the CD of animal and environmental sounds is optional. It is best used in a group setting such as circle time or at home with siblings listening too. Keep the volume down fairly low. Listen to a sound and stop the recording. Ask everyone what they think it is. Listen to it again. Look to see if the child you are evaluating is trying to listen or just mimicking his friends. Listen to different sounds and label them by telling the children what they are listening to. Start over with sounds they have already heard and look for reactions. Mark down the reactions of the child you are screening with this activity and all of the above activities. If the child did not react to at least half of the sounds a referral to an audiologist for a full range hearing evaluation may be warranted.

You can record your findings on a homemade chart or just write them up in narrative form like a story. Remember to only document what you actually observe. Try not to write what you “think” the child heard. Try to stay away from saying “it looked like he heard something”. Instead write exactly what you see such as. “He raised his head from the book he was looking at and looked around and up at me”.

This screening procedure is not meant to replace a screener from a child’s pediatrician or an examination from an audiologist. If there are any further concerns please contact the doctor for a full hearing evaluation.

Created by Susan Betke, MAE ECE

Yes I can feed myself eggs and no I don't know why there are ants in the house.

2011-09-19T02:00:00.000-07:00

Walk for Midwives

2011-09-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

The kids and I had a great time this morning at The Walk for Midwives sponsored by the Alabama Birth Coalition. This was a great opportunity to make the voices of families known. Having a Certified Professional Midwife attend a mother's homebirth in Alabama is illegal. This walk helped raise money and awareness about this cause. I was proud to walk and lend my support. Besides, I was able to hang out with a lot of great people and meet some new ones. The kids and I made shirts for the little kids and posters for the walk. I am so proud to be a small part of the movement to help bring birth home.

Americans just don't eat enough fermented foods...

2011-09-12T20:22:00.000-07:00

OK, because you probably can't tell this is a tomato sandwich. Yes we eat them here in the South. Traditionally you have a large slice of a tomato on white (yuck) bread with mayonnaise. My sandwich tonight had a bit of a twist and a kick. I used toasted whole wheat bread. I added mayonnaise that had mixed dried dandelion leaves and dried nettle leaves in it as well as a dropper of my homemade fermented liver detox / general health tincture. I added some onion, Swiss cheese, and spinach leaves. Now that was some good eating. I had some fresh raw green beans on the side with a carrot.... yes, most of the kids had a variation of the same.

And volleyball has begun!

2011-09-10T16:09:00.000-07:00

Lyn's team is the Blazers. She is so proud. (Her mom graduated from UAB, you know the Blazers.)

There she is with her new short haircut. It was a little bit of a challenge but her team won. She is playing with the eight graders. She matches a lot of them in height but they definitely have weight on her. She is fast and has pretty much perfected her overhand serve. She has skipped up to 8th grade in her schooling so I guess it all evens up in the end....

Today with at least 4 kids...

2011-09-10T15:54:00.000-07:00

Kids getting all muddy. I joined them....

Pine needles collected for smudges

More Lyn

Lyn posing

The water was so clear I could pick out which stones I wanted to pick out.

Buck Creek clear and full after tropical storm Lee

Dad was somewhere in the background pushing Ben in the swing and the kids' favorite adopted aunt, Aunt Jenna stopped by....

Great day!

(The rest of the kids were at their dad's house for the weekend.he

Mama Beads....

2011-09-07T01:29:00.001-07:00

What do you make? Thanks to wonderful local beadmaker (she made the mama bead) I am able to make these lovely mama beads. I use this one that I made especially for me in mediation and to provide me with grounding and strength. Check out my Etsy site to order your own.....

In the rain...

2011-09-07T01:24:00.001-07:00

Tropical storm Lee dropped a lot of rain on us this week. The kids had to play outside even though the temperature has dropped. I am so ready for Fall this year!

It will come back to you....

2011-09-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

Where to start? Well, at the beginning of course. It is a beautiful day today. I took 5 of the kids down to the Farmer's Market at Old Towne Helena. We looked at everything from fresh vegetables, homemade soap and pottery (I saw a small platter I liked) and headed straight to the playground. The kids played for quite a while. They were giving away free lemonade and tomato sandwiches so we were able to refuel. I sat on a bench and watched the kids play. A mom with a 11 month old son sat beside me. Lyn and I recognized her as a mom we met at Babypalooza. We talked mom talk and watched the kids. Lyn then brought me a wallet she found around the club house on the playground. It belonged to a teenage boy complete with his mom's health insurance card, his driver's licence, love letters, and two dollars. I took his mom's name looked her up online, matched her phone number with the address on the licence (power of the Internet on my phone), and called her. As I was leaving a message she answered the phone. She had just got home from working the night shift as a nurse. She got right back in her car and found her way to the playground. Lyn ran the wallet up to her so she would not have to look for us on the playground. The mom gave Lyn $10 for finding the wallet. Later the mom and the teenager both texted me to thank us for finding the wallet. I reminded the teenager that it was our pleasure and to try and return the favor one day if and when he finds someones wallet. He said he would. As we played in the water afterwards I held a sleeping baby in my arms. As we were driving away I remembered the platter I liked and sent Lyn to buy it for $4.00. That left us with $6.00....

On the way home I talked to Lyn about the law of three. I asked her how much money was in the wallet we found. It was $2.00. I asked her how much was left? $6.00 and a platter.... I told her some people would have taken the $2.00 and thrown the wallet away or taken the $2.00 and then called the family or turned the wallet over to someone else to handle.

I asked Lyn to count how many people were affected positively by us finding the wallet. She came up with at least 5. The mom, the teenager, the potter, herself, and me. I reminded her of even more like, the teenager's friends he tells the story to and the mom's friends and family and all of you that read my blog. Now that is the power of three!!!!

My new henna....

2011-09-02T14:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you Heera!!!

Hanging out with friends and making "clean mud"

2011-09-02T13:54:00.000-07:00

Ingredients needed:
toilet paper (any brand)
Ivory soap (grated)
warm water
kids and / or adults that want to squish and mix everything together. If you are afraid of cotton (you know who you are) stay away from this activity or adapt as needed!! :)

Just keep adding the ingredients to your liking till you get the consistency you want. I like it thick. Some like it squishy and runny. I know, it sounds like fun. The best thing of all is that the kids end up clean and smelling like soap. The whole house can end up smelling that way!!

It can be saved in a Ziploc bag or plastic container or you can just make more!!!!

Vinegar tinctures.....

2011-08-31T05:17:00.000-07:00

Some people are just put off by alcohol tinctures so I am making some vinegar tinctures. Kids and those who choose to skip alcohol or just don't want to ingest the very small amount that is in tinctures are fans of vinegar tinctures. This one is a liver detox and a general health combination....

If you want more details and the actual recipe head over to my Magical Mothering blog to read more.....

Lyn's new haircut.....

2011-08-31T05:04:00.000-07:00

My big girl looks so grown up now. She wanted a pixie haircut and that is what she got. Thank you so much Kate for doing such a good job. Lyn got her hair cut in between cuts Kate was doing to help raise money for her family's upcoming adoption. Please visit her blog and help her bring those two wonderful girls home. They are special needs and their futures are very bleak if they stay where they are.

Babypalooza was a success!

2011-08-29T17:41:00.000-07:00

If you measure success by having fun and making a lot of new contacts in the community Babypalooza rocked! I was able to introduce myself to the mothering community. Hopefully my services in lactation support, herbal training, Blessingway leading, and jewelry making will be put to use.....

A beautiful expecting mom of two showing off her new necklace and her friend showing off her new henna

Of course I had to get a henna too

Some of the lovely baby slings one of my partners had available

Just some of my herbal concoctions and my homemade jewlery

Of course Lyn helped out and demonstrated the use of the slings with a baby doll

And let the volleyball season begin!

2011-08-24T16:33:00.000-07:00

Lyn is playing with the big girls!! 8th graders that is.

Nettles, who knew?

2011-08-23T15:26:00.000-07:00

Actually, I knew but just haven't gotten around to using it much. I have some dried nettles and I think I am going to start with an infusion.....

Nettles are a very common herb but most everyone sees it as a weed. It can't be beat by what it has to offer nutritionally. Vitamins and minerals abound within it. Give it a try. Just adding it to smoothies or cooking or in a tincture is easy....

Homemade Bug Off Oil

2011-08-20T17:17:00.000-07:00

The little girl above is one of my friend's daughter. She had a bad reaction to some mosquito bites. I have been meaning to make some natural mosquito repellent and this was my final inspiration. Poor thing. I wish I could send some to her right away. Hopefully my batch will work well. It is an oil blend consisting of coconut oil and almond oil infused with calendula and arnica. To this I added the following essential oils: spearmint, rosemary, geranium, lavender, and the most important, citronella. I put this batch in a couple of clear glass spray bottles. I dosed my kids and it seems to work fine. You can always order some from my Etsy page....

Making bags for Babypalooza...

2011-08-19T13:40:00.000-07:00

They turned out pretty good. Thanks to Jenna for sewing them and Lyn for stringing and stamping them. Now, all of the jewelry and herbal items we sell at Babypalooza will have cozy little bags for their trip to their new homes.....

It is a Chinese tallow tree

2011-08-18T16:43:00.000-07:00

My dear friend, Jenna, identified the tree right away. It is definitely a Chinese tallow tree. Now, how do I get one to grow officially in my yard and should I? It is an invasive species. I like the way it looks but should I plant a local tree instead?

What kind of tree is it?

2011-08-17T18:49:00.000-07:00

OK, my quest for tomorrow is to identify this tree. It is big enough for a 9 year old to climb. It has spade shaped leaves and some sort of fruit / seed. Hmmm any guesses?

Ahh, Comfrey again....

2011-08-17T13:36:00.000-07:00

Click on the picture to learn more about comfrey....

Comfrey can really smell but it can't be beat for its healing properties. It's not called knitbone for nothing. I usually add it to other oils and lotions I make for healing reasons. Today I set out some oil to be infused with comfrey alone. I set it outside in the hot Alabama sun. I know it will come out very green. Since I am getting ready for Babypalooza my crock pot is taken by other oils being infused. I will add some lavender essential oil to the comfrey to help mask the smell. It may make the best ouchy medicine yet.

(By the way, I never recommend comfrey for internal use. It can cause liver damage. Externally though it ROCKS!)

Story time!

2011-08-15T18:25:00.001-07:00

Our bedtime story tonight is brought to you by Eliot by way of the Hogelands. (By the way go check out their blog and see how the adoption fundraising is going.) This was a great read. I am ordering this book as soon as I can!

Womb Wisdom

2011-08-13T06:39:00.000-07:00

This book is going on my favorite list. It even comes with a CD of life cycle soundscapes. It has so much depth that it is hard to describe. Just go to Amazon and take a closer look......

School has begun!

2011-08-12T19:11:00.000-07:00

Lyn started school on the 1st but Evan, Annika, Connor, and Danny started public school this week. Eliot wanted to get on the bus so badly. Since she has a late September birthday she has 2 more years to go before she starts kindergarten. Even Ben took it all in. Since I am working part time now I was able to put Evan on the bus and be home when he got off. Annika seemed ready for 4th grade. Summer vacation seemed so short this year.

Babypalooza here I come!!

2011-08-10T06:19:00.000-07:00

OK here WE come! Me and two friends of mine are participating in a booth at the baby extravaganza August 27th that is Babypalooza. There will be a wonderful henna artist, Heera, there promoting her art and applying henna designs of your choice then and there.Think about it. How cute would a mom to be's beautiful belly look with a henna design on it? What about matching small henna designs for mom and baby.... I know you can't wait! I will be there promoting my in home Lactation Support Services and my Motherly Creations items. You can't miss us. My other partner and crime is our business and sewing guru. She will be luring you to our table to see all the things you never knew were missing in your life.

Natural Baby Rash Salve (yes it is supposed to be green)

Henna Design on Pregnant Belly

Mother Meditation or Worry Beads

Breastfeeding Meditation Beads

Spirtual lesson at home

2011-08-08T19:45:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday we did not go to church but we decided to have a lesson at home. Annika picked out one called We are all connected... I like using the book Nurturing Spirituality in Children. It has simple lessons to

help children develop character and morality. In this one we all picked out buttons and strung them all together. Everyone said why they picked the ones that they did and what it means to them. We then tied the string together and we talked about how even though we are all different and sometime don't like the same things we are all still family and belong together.

Henna and Autism

2011-08-07T19:49:00.000-07:00

Danny really surprised me on Saturday. I took the big kids to International Day downtown. We stopped by a friend of mine henna booth. He showed some interest and picked out a simple design. I was so proud of him for allowing a stranger to touch him and paint the henna on. Heera did a wonderful job. You can check out her site to see some more of her work. I was so proud of Danny. He was not verbal till he was about 6 years old. He has always had difficulty with social situations. He has come a long way. He will still talk on and on about video games but he also is reading and writing Russian. I am hoping that some of his interests now at 15 years old will turn into functional skills in adulthood. Autism is a multi-faceted diagnosis to live with and challenging but Danny has taught me so much and has helped mold me into the mother that I am today!.

Yes, I am encapsulating my own herbs.....

2011-08-05T15:46:00.000-07:00

It really is not as hard as it seems. And it is so much cheaper than buying a bottle at the store or online. It is actually therapeutic to grind the herbs yourself by hand. I use my mortar and pestle but I really need a nut or coffee grinder to grind the herbs to powder.

Off to the thrift store

2011-08-05T15:22:00.000-07:00

I do believe our new rule will be that if we go to the thrift store we have to bring bags of donated stuff in exchange. We found a lot of good stuff. And to top it off it was tax free weekend so people would spend more before public school starts next week.

Reading Mother Rising

2011-08-04T13:31:00.001-07:00

The kids are playing on the playground. I have a moment to myself. I am reading a book that I have had for a while. I may not have any more babies myself but birth will always be a part of my life. I feel called to support mothers in their journey through motherhood. Maybe starting a woman's circle and helping organizing and offiating at Blessingways will help me support mothers in my community.

Hanging out at the waterfall....

2011-08-03T13:54:00.000-07:00

Well, with record temperatures we had to go cool off at the waterfall in Old Towne Helena. The kids had a lot of fun. I only had 4 with me so my hands were not too full. We caught a crayfish by hand and a man was there with a net catching all sorts of animals. He caught a fairly large red eared slider and a lot of fish of all sizes. We took a fish home to dissect (one of Lyn's homeschool projects). It is such a nice place to spend the day. I remember tubing down the creek into the Cahaba River more than 20 years ago. Sometime everything changes and yet it stays the same. I added a slide show on the side bar to show some more pictures....

Henna!

2011-07-31T20:37:00.000-07:00

I leave Lyn and Jenna alone for a few hours and what do I get? Lyn comes home with henna and a lot of mythology books for her first school project. (Lyn's school starts tomorrow.) All this learning will go to her head.... Oh yeah, that's the point.

Ben's new hiding place

2011-07-31T19:50:00.000-07:00

Ben has found a new hiding place. There is just enough room between the wall and the refrigerator for him to squeeze in with all of his stuffed animals. He has gotten in the habit of sleeping with them and playing with them all day.

Granny said it was one of the best gifts she was ever given.....

2011-07-27T18:04:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I came across this little bag and I thought of my mother. I picked it up for her. She is really good (a lot better than I am) about using reusable bags when she shops. This one is great. It looks like a watermelon when it is wrapped up. And when you need a bag it opens up and voila! You have a bag. Granny uses it all the time.

The Etsy plunge!!!

2011-07-23T18:06:00.000-07:00

I have done it. I now have an Etsy page. Head on over to see what my family has been making. All of the kids have helped in one way or another. We have been making necklaces, bracelets, herbal remedies, and other odds and ends. I have only placed a few things on Etsy so far. I have lots for sell but not all of it has made it on Etsy yet.

Lyn's new skill

2011-07-23T17:03:00.000-07:00

Yes, that is my child knitting!

All done...

2011-07-23T15:08:00.000-07:00

We finished our herb infused oil and made lotion out of it. Check out my Magical Mothering blog to read more....

Drum Circle fun at the library

2011-07-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

I took 5 kids to the library to participate in a drum circle at the library last night. They all had fun but it was a bit much for the little kids. I ended up taking them to the kid's area to explore and play. Tonight they are showing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1. I am all for free movies with free popcorn and drinks!!!

My baby is 18 months old....

2011-07-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it? Ben is 18 months old today. He is talking up a storm and pushing everyone around. He can almost hold his own with Evan, who is VERY hands on. He is breastfeeding still and doesn't seem to want to wean anytime soon. He drinks from a regular open cup. He never really had much interest in the bottle after about 3 months and he doesn't care about sippy cups at all. I figure he will just be one of those kids who straight from the breast to the cup on his own

Happy Birthday to me!!!

2011-07-17T18:46:00.000-07:00

Well, I am officially 37 years old. I was greeted with a plate of cinnamon rolls with a candle stuck in it this morning. After that I went to work for a bit and then made it to church. It was too out of my way to go back home to get the kids so I was all by myself. That was a bit surreal. I am not used to going many places alone let alone to church alone. I stopped by the grocery store and bought some sandwich fixin's. All in all it was a pretty good day. I am feeling my age a bit though. I have discovered that I can not bead in the evenings. My arthritis is a bit too bad then. Good thing I have little ones (Annika this night) to provide me with child labor. The day ended with Lyn making a buttermilk pie for me (I shared with everyone else).

Finds at the yard sale

2011-07-17T18:19:00.000-07:00

The beauty of being one to help set up for an adoption fundraising yard sale is that you get first dibs on the good stuff. I found a shelf that we will paint red of course, a three pillar candle holder, and a wonderful book about herbs.

I belong now...

2011-07-14T13:08:00.000-07:00

I am now a member of The American Herbalist Guild.........

Gypsy dancing and henna art

2011-07-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

How did you spend your last Monday? Well, a friend of mine, Lyn and my friend's niece went to a local library and saw Megha from Devyani Dance Company teach about Gypsy dancing and henna. Of course she danced and we both got a henna tattoo. Mine is simple and it has 7 petals for each of my children. Lyn's is a bit more ornate. Now that was a good Monday......

Two friends

2011-07-10T17:47:00.000-07:00

Today was a good day. We had rain AGAIN and I was able to go to church and see two good friends. I have one friend who in my oldest daughter's words, "Has the same weird sense of humor you do, Mama". And my other friend I was able to touch base with for a moment was there. In her I have found a kindred spirit who shares some of the same mothering ideals that I do. Now since I will have some extra time on my hands I plan on connecting with them more. And to top it all off the sermon at church wasn't half bad. Some of the words touched a cord and made me think of the challenges a family member of one of my friends is going through. These words came into my head....

From the darkness of the womb the light of a child is born

From the darkness of chaos the universe burst into light

From the dark of night the light of day dawns

From the darkest thoughts the light of new ideas spring

What did your kids do yesterday?

2011-06-30T08:27:00.000-07:00

Well, mine took all of the cushions off of the sofas and added pillows from their rooms and created....... OK I am not sure what they created but when I asked the responses I received were... a castle, a tunnel, a pillow fight, and a horsey ride (that means they piled them all up and "rode" the pillows till they fell of).

You just can't find those games at the store and it is hard to play them without at least more 3 children running around. If you do not have at least three kids of your own I highly recommend borrowing a few (with permission) from your neighbors to get the full effect!!

A visitor

2011-06-27T19:27:00.001-07:00

A black widow spider was visiting our vegetable garden. daddy moved it to the drain spout. But this is one itsy bitsy spider we can do without. Daddy moved it out of our yard. I have heard that there have been a lot of black widow spider sightings in our area.

Remember slip and slides?

2011-06-20T11:48:00.000-07:00

The kids wore themselves out. Thank you Grandma for sending it home with Evan and Eliot. Ben would not slide but he enjoyed playing in the water.

The wild flowers are doing well....

2011-06-18T11:09:00.001-07:00

We didn't plant as many seeds as we should have. But we did only spend a dollar on the box. I think we got our money's worth.