It's complicated...

I get it, it's complicated. Some people don't care, some don't know, and others think they can't. I thought for years that I didn't have the money to garden. You need to buy plants and soil and containers. I have since found ways around all of those setbacks, but there are still moments when I wish the budget had an extra $50 to blow on something for the garden. I actually did buy plants the other day for the first time. Until then, I was trying to grow everything from seeds because it was cheaper. But, I am getting off track. That is what I mean, by the way. It is easy to say that organic is the only way to eat and that giving up meat is good for you and the earth, so everyone should do it. But, try telling that to someone who has been told that you need meat their whole life and you will have a long argument on your hands. Even if you wanted to educate them to the contrary, you would be explaining things to them for months. Then, they have to find new foods to eat and learn to like them. Then, they have to care about themselves and the environment enough to be willing to withstand the teasing and controversy. Besides the eating meat, explaining "whole grains" to someone who thinks they only like white bread and doesn't "like" the texture of whole grain noodles is another battle. We were willing to try it, and already ate whole grain bread. We learned to like the taste and soon after realized how much better we felt. I continued to research until I understood why "whole grain" was healthier, and why high fructose corn syrup was bad and what hydrogenated oils are and how they hurt you. I understand that it takes time to change your entire diet and your way of thinking about foods. I want to conserve energy, yet here I sit in an air-conditioned home on a computer. I want to recycle everything, but do I have the resources where I live. Is it worth the gas to drive a county away to make sure that no plastic goes in a landfill. And, I don't work, others do. I have time that others don't. Some people work two jobs and still can't afford a car. Do they have time to worry about recycling and organic foods? Not everyone can grow their own foods or compost. Sometimes the only job that pays the bills is an hour away, and you can't afford to move. I get it. I also understand that those who have run businesses a certain way for so long don't want to see new environmental laws affect their bottom line. It is hard to tell a corn farmer that they are destroying the ocean (at least the Gulf of Mexico) when they are saying, "How else are we going to grow this much food?" Do I want people to starve? No. Do I want to eat polluted fish? No. Do I want my children to get cancer from air pollution? No. Do I want farmers to loose their livelihood? No. But, something has to give. Either we put people first or in the interest of feeding everyone, we poison everyone. I think that there are solutions that help the farmers change and that still feed everyone. But, we need more people on our side. We need better information to get to everyone. It's complicated, but it has to be faced. The only thing that will go away if we ignore it, is us. PS- I read the preface to Human Nature, by James Trefil last night and decided that I needed to write this post before I read farther. I don't want to mix my own thoughts with his ideas from the book. But, I do think this book is going to be very enlightening (and frightening as usual), now that I know what he meant it to be about.

The Garden, finally

I finally took some pictures of what is growing in our yard. I just tucked some edibles in among the existing (and useless) landscaping that came with the new house. I plan on eventually removing some of it and replacing it with useful plants, but until I get the time and money to do that, here's what I've done. There are a few kinds of beans, peppers and tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, and a fantastic toad. Not enough plants for food, yet. But, I am working on it. None of the lettuce or arugula came up. Not sure why. I wish I knew more about it and gardening was easy for me, but I am practicing. Hopefully something will produce produce. ha ha ha

the everyday....

It isn't always this mess exactly, but it is always a mess of some kind. Taylor hides in his room when he isn't "schooling". Without Bubba to instigate games, trouble, or fun, the babies get creative.

To do lists....

OK, who reorganized the desktop, get down from there, don't move that chair there, you're going to break that, you're going to fall, that is not supposed to go in your ear, who unplugged the vacuum, let your brother help, let your sister have that toy, and if you don't stop, well, I don't know, but it won't be good. That is what I sound like on days when I have goals that don't involve the kids or their education. Things that I write on my lists all week, as I note them. I love my little "to do" lists, but they have a flaw. Many, possibly most, of the things on the list can't be crossed off. They really aren't ever "finished". For instance, before 9am today, I had transplanted all but two of the plants that needed a new home, but with two left, it's still on the list. I had also cleaned up the kitchen, but it isn't clean now. Another perpetual member of the list, laundry. Oh, I'm doing it, but it isn't "done". Even if I finish transplanting those plants (which I won't today), the list actually says "gardening" and the beans need a trellis, and there's some weeding.... So, I guess I need to learn that crossing things off is no longer the point of the list. Maybe I just need to make a rotating list. Like a flip book. Then I won't forget anything, and I can just flip it away and move on, eventually getting back around to it. Hot dog! I think I'm on to something. =)

Being a mom, like this, isn't easy...

This explains a lot about me... (not me, by the way)(well, kind of)...

Are ridiculous and dangerous fears a part of human nature?

Or have they been created by teachings that are false? I don't know, but I just can't take this bs.

a jaunt through youtube...

Taylor is in the woods (hunting season). I am supposed to be looking for a science experiment involving biology or anatomy. I found one with bacteria, but I will keep looking. In the meantime, what am I doing. Yep, again with the youtube trap.

the glass

Is a glass that contains 1/2 water and 1/2 air half-full or half-empty. I don't think it matters, the thing to ask is, "Do I need water or air more right now?" If I am not in need of either, the glass doesn't matter at all. If the thing I need is fuel, the glass is useless, if I need air it has some. Now, "Does it have enough of anything I need?" is also a great question. Optimist or pessimist mean nothing. The man I want to talk to is the one who will go get more of what I need.

One day...

Several times I have attempted to note all the things I do in one day. Or even just all the things I do for/with the kids in one day. I usually try to snap pics all day, then use them to remind me of all that was accomplished/destroyed/"done" in that day. This was another failed attempt. I didn't get pictures of the muddy babies or tub that I had to clean after playing outside in the morning. I didn't take pictures of the Biology lesson (all about cell membranes) that Taylor and I studied. I didn't get pictures of the group of kids that showed up at the park and started to play with my kids. It was funny to see them "baby" Jewel. Trevor just tries so hard to play with the big boys, and Taylor made some friends. I even let Taylor go back to the park later to play with them again. I walked them home from the park and they were all very nice and Taylor's age, and they live in our subdivision, so even better. I also didn't get any pictures from dinner or the mess it left or any of the 3 other times I had to clean the table, for that matter. I also didn't get the celebratory "he pooped in the toilet" picture. About the pictures I did get: No, I didn't do that to the chairs, or the monkey; it was all Trevor. Yes, Taylor instigates trouble with the babies; on this day he taught Jewel to say "attack" and then run away when he calls "retreat". And, that is the park we visit most, but we are looking for a bigger one that is close. Finally, no, I don't know exactly what they were pretending when they attacked Taylor on the mat. By the time we made it to the bed to look at our magic cards, I was too tired to even blog about the day. But, I did get one more picture to prove that contrary to his belief, Trent is a nerd, too. Two of these videos end with Trevor testing me. For one I simply didn't allow the door to slam and he gave up. For the other we had to agree that wacking the chair is tolerable, but walking on the poles and ruining them is not. I don't think Trevor got it, but he did stop asking to walk on them. This is why I don't worry too much about them falling, they are really strong and have amazing balance. It can drive you nuts!! More from the pillow fight and all the "cuteness".

Happy Birthday, Taylor!!!