I would love to spend an hour researching for something I don't know that is helpful to maintaining health, but the house is at least 4 hours from my idea of "spotless". My tolerance level is one hour, so I need to catch up. Hmmm, I am seeing a pattern. =)

This week, in which.... Recess happened and Morlynn captured it. Taylor got his first groupie. And, Jewel experienced independence and apples. PS- I don't know why the date in my camera refuses to keep up like it once did. I guess it will be feb. 2 for a while =).

Good Morning, Sunshine

Can it get any better than this?

The key to knowledge is your own research. If you don't believe a claim, look it up yourself. And listen to this. http://www.naturalnews.com/podcasts/HRR017_Badfoods_48.mp3

Great Salad

I just cooked the caps upside down with a spoonful of collard greens inside. I used canned greens and added some of the liquid to the skillet with olive oil and shallots. Also, I used a little provolone cheese in the center. When the mushrooms were cooked (about 20 minutes), I put them on a broccoli and romaine salad. It was fantastic.

Jelly Bean's 1st Birthday!!!

Let's be honest, it really all a ploy to eat cake! Jewel started her party asleep. Naptime waits for no man. Climbing trees and eating cake, what kind of wild party is this!!I really hate to "blah, blah, blah" in the middle of a beautiful birthday post, but the pictures just won't sit where they should unless I add some text. By the way, the lap that Jewel napped on, is Jewel's. Does that freak you out? She shares her first name with her Great Grandmother. "Whoa, mom, we should eat this everyday!" "I'd love to share, but I just don't have any extra."

Some weekend reading

MMMM, some Shermer to soothe the "soul" =)what about those bees? httToxins? Food Additives? This is not an endorsement, I just read it. Don't know what to think yet.

self-sufficiency for it's own sake

There are a million arguments against many of the choices that I have recently begun to implement in my family. Some of them involve how unnecessary the impact I want to make is. Other arguments are that the environmental change I want to prevent isn't happening, studies are wrong, false information, confusing economics. So, maybe there is no global warming (bear with me) there are still very real economic reasons to wean our country off of foreign oil; and definitely selfish financial reasons to get my own home off the electric company's dollar. And, do we really want to dig the entire face of our planet to heck just to keep using something that could be replaced. There are so many studies on every topic (see the links)that it is difficult to sort out the truth. Maybe I haven't, but that doesn't mean that I stop trying. And I don't believe in too late, I believe in "let's try, at least". And, perhaps not everyone will suffer from the foods that I avoid, but do I really want to gamble that I will be lucky. I have already learned (from the death of Ethan) that I can be one of the few unlucky. Besides, simply by lack of knowledge I've taken enough chances. Also, when you really examine the consumerism/ materialism for what it is, who would willingly participate in that system. Not I. At any rate, I am home with 4 kids and they need things to do. A little self-sufficiency never hurt anyone.

what's been going on...

Morlynn made these delicious apple muffins, and we played with the trees. Pretty much business as usual. So far a fun week, and it is only tuesday. I am working on pics from Jelly bean's birthday party. Peace.

Motivation- an addendum...

As much as I love a good audiobook, an even more effective motivator is a good solid deadline (a nagging, fed-up husband can also aid=)). I happen to have a deadline now; so, let me brag about what it made me accomplish. I finally have sorted and prepared our first "we recycled everything" recycling pile. It consists of about 2 months worth of recycling including a Christmas time addition. Next weekend is Jewel's 1st birthday, so it has to go. Trent has threatened to throw it out, and I was forced to use the "I'm new to this, let me get used to fitting it in to the routine, I need to do some more research, and it will impact the kids more to see how quickly it piles up" excuse. But, alas, it was way easier than I expected (as usual) and it is done. Now, I get to meet the man who comes to pick it all up and ask for more boxes. I also want to make sure that everything is acceptable; you know, learn something new. Like, what is the deal with "food contaminated paper". I have been avoiding this because I predict a look of oh no, it's "that crazy lady with too much @#$%; whose kids should be in school and not bothering me with her questions". =) Self confidence is a booger. On a side note, the cloth diapering is going great, the snappi's just came so I have been able to use the prefolds more easily and that helped. peace,