of Blogger. I have moved this blog. Please update your feedreaders, blogrolls, and links to follow me there.
www.MommyMommyLand.com
All of the old posts and comments have been switched (except any comments posted after midnight last night), even my first blogging attempts over in Myspace have been moved. Look forward to seeing you all there! Please stop in and say hi!
"If in the rare case that the government does this conspiracy(NAIS) and take over our animals, and our food, then rest assured that your ancestral bootlegging blood with kick in to full gear. Stop pissing and moaning, and find a spot in the middle of nowhere and distill your own livestock. There will be be plenty of folks around to drink it up. Brothers and sisters, prepare to drape your cattle in confederate flags and we can all stick it to the man!!!"
Well, guess I am going on The List today!!! Thanks, Aba
Okay, Cite Fuzz is our final sponsor for the week. Like the others, the winner will be anounced on Friday!!!
It has been designed for the colder weather. It would look adorable on any little boy or girl.The yarn used is %100 cotton in red. Then there are stripes in Tuquoise, Orange, Lime, Yellow and Aqua.There is a fur trim in Yellow for an added flare and more softnessThe hat has been lined with ivory super soft micro-fleece.The fleece comes up to about the middle of the hat, for added warmth while still allowing the head to breath.You will love this hat and baby will too! This hat can be made from Newborn to 5T, just let me know at checkout what size you need.(message to seller section) This would make a wonderful gift!All items are: Pre-washed in fragrance and dye free detergent,Machine washable,And come from a clean, smoke free environment.
To enter, please go and visit Cite Fuzz and take a look around her store, then come back here and leave a comment under this post and let me know which of her products are your favorites. Then we will see you on friday to find out who the winner is!!!
Don't forget to enter the Everybody Needs a hat Giveaway below (2 giveaways are currently up! Another one will be added later today!!!)
Okay, so this year I was a little taken back that chanukkah was starting already as in today. Last year it was weeks, later, and actually fell in line with the schools winter break. Sunday was actually my real wake up call, as Aba and I were debating what to do during the 4 1/2 hours we had to be away from the house for showings, and Aba was like lets get Hanukkah presents, and I was all we have plenty of time, um no, I was informed we had 2 days, so off we went, and burned a hole in our credit card (a small hole, but still a hole is a hole).
This was not my idea of fun shopping, the first store we went to we all went inside and Aba and I tried to hide things in the cart from the kids (yeah, that went well). Then I took the kids to the car while Aba paid. Overpaid, and forgot a key item that was to difficult to hide in the cart. Once he got to the car and unloaded, I checked the receipt, and found such a problem!! So back in the store I got to go.
At the next store, it was decided, I would go and do the shopping, and Aba would stay in the van and entertain the kids. That went better, except that the store made a vast mistake in the doll aisle. All of the dolls were bigger than the doll clothes. And since Miss B really wanted this gift, and I was trying to make do with what I could find in the stores (1/2 because I thought it would be cheaper, and 1/2 because I needed gifts now not in 3 weeks) that simply wouldn't do.
So off to a 3rd store, the toy mecca, I figured if anyone had what I needed at this point they would . Well, they were out of duplos, and I mean o-u-t. But I did find the dolly supplies I needed and now we are good to go. (I can't find a picture online - how odd... But it is a 12 inch You & Me doll with hair).
And what happens, when you rush? and your house is for sale? Kids find things. Aba walked in on J playing with Baby B's toys which we had stealthily hid (in the toy store bags in our closet). Baby B has claimed one of J's toys and screams when we take it from her (which I have had the joy of doing 3 times now - it is the first thing I wrapped yesterday when I got the chance). With that much fuss from little miss happy, Aba has decided we will just give it to her, and he is off yet again sometime this week for a 8th gift for J.
This is not how we like to do Chanukah's but with the house sale, and packing, and chanukah being so early this year, things got all a-mush. I will tell you later how I want to do things around here for Birthdays and Hanukkah, to prevent this last minute credit card using rush, another time.
Our 2nd hat is a handmade fleece stocking cap by Susie at Gottahavahat.com .
This cute winter fleece hat for children has fringe and a jingle bell at the end of the tail. It may be worn down or with the tail tied in a soft knot on top of the head for a more "boingy" look! and is available in a variety of colors (see color choices here).
It is simple to enter for a chance to win this fun hat, simply go and visit Gottahavahat and leave a comment on this post about which product of their's is your favorite!
Good luck! The winner will be posted here on Friday. If you are not a blogger, please send me an email so I can contact you if you win!!!
Note: you may enter one contest or all of them.
To start the week of Everybody needs a hat off right, our first hat is a beautiful handmade feathered fuschia hat
This bucket-shaped hat with a slightly rolled brim is knitted from a double layer of acrylic worsted weight yarn and acrylic eyelash yarn, giving the hat a lovely feathered effect. Handmade by Scribbit
Stretchy enough to fit small to large-sized heads.
Entering to win this hat is easy, leave a comment on this post and hop on over to Scribbits blog and leave a comment. The winner will be posted here on Friday. If you are not a blogger, please send me an email so I can contact you if you win!!!
If you are interested in purchasing one of Scribbits creations, you can visit her etsy store, she has a lot of great creations available, so check it out!!!
when it is so simple to make? No need to spend dollars for a bottle when two cheap and simple ingredients most of us have in our cupboards will do just fine. Brown sugar and soy sauce.
Simple mix 1 cup soy sauce with 2 and 1/2 cups brown sugar. Stir together, and microwave for 2 minutes. Stir again, and look at the spoon, if you can still see sugar crystals microwave for anther 30 seconds to 1 minute. Easy to make and keeps well in the fridge, we usually make a batch or two a week. Yummy!!!
Don't forget tomorrow is our first giveaway for everybody needs a hat
I do not know why this happens, maybe it is the lack of sleep over the years that have finally build up, or I have finally gone over the key number of disappearing brain cells from pregnancies, or that I am always multi tasking to the point where I don't know quite what I am doing. Let's recount my idiocracies of the evening, shall we?
I stared at the Tractor supply fence calculator for 20 minutes trying everything I could think of to get the freakin' thing to work, clicking here and there, typing, ctrl + clicking - everything I could think of, and when I finally gave up Aba came over and pushed the power button and it was raring to go (now, how come I didn't see that button in the 20 minutes I clicked on everything else possible on the screen)???
Or the conversation Aba and I were having about the pigs he wants to get, (Walter I think we are going to try and get them from you, and yeah now it is more than 1, Thanks, for that, really, thanks) and how we will keep our animals from running away. Aba said we should just fence in the whole perimeter of the property instead of little pastures, and let the chickens, cow an pigs wander where ever they want - well except for the market garden, that wouldn't be good. I countered with how I thought he wanted wildlife on the land to hunt, so we shouldn't fence in all the land, but then again, we don't really want deers though because they would kill all the animals. Yeah, that's right I said because we don't want the deers to kill all of the animals!!!, that makes tons of sense, right? I meant Bears, not deers, and yes I know they are different. Aba just gave me a weird look and started laughing " Yep, you gotta watch out for those killer deers!
And you don't even want to know how I attempted to put out the salmon tonite that I accidentally flambeed. Note to self: Blowing on the burner will not put out flames, you must turn off the gas, and move the skillet away.
I think I should just go to bed now before I mess something else up.
It looks like we should be having a giveaway a day next week! Please feel free to post the above button on your site to let everyone know about this great opportunity. I have some really cute hats by some awesome people lined up. The first giveaway will be on Monday!!!
Button code:
and hat season is officially here!!!
I am working on something fun for all of you, well rather your kids. With winter weather abounding I have been hat shopping. I have been scanning the Internet and visiting the big box stores for fun head coverings for the kids. And the cutest of all seem to be those that are handmade by talented people, which I definitely am not. I can't knit or crochet a stitch, my sewing gear has all been packed away for the move, and really I can't hold a matchstick to most peoples creative abilities.
I am trying to get some very talented individuals to donate their creations for all of you to win. I am unsure at this point if we will end up with 1 or 5 hats, but it should definitely be fun! So over the next few days while I am sorting all of this out, anyone have any great ideas on a name? I am thinking something like "kids in hats" or "caps for free", but again like I said I suck at the creativity thing.
But I will keep you posted (and if any of you have a hat making talent that I am unaware of, please send me a note so you can participate too!)
Now, that I have warned you, I am going to talk about something I try to stay away from, politics. While this blog is my own personal piece of cyberspace, I was taught that politics are not something to be discussed in polite company. But I am going to break that rule. We all should have a say in how our country is run, and who runs it. And frankly I am not impressed with the "top" candidates so far. However, I feel there is a candidate that is just right for the job, but being overshadowed by the more well known choices.
Hillary, may be a Clinton, but she is not Bill. This is something we should all remember. She and Bill have different views on many aspects, and a vote for her will not bring Bill back to office. Plus Hillary voted for the war in Iraq, and to classify Iran’s 125,000-member Revolutionary Guard Corps a foreign terrorist organization. (Oh and McCain and Obama? They didn't vote at all - I don't want a president that won't commit one way or the other on issues to improve their political status)
Ron Paul, wants to overturn abortion rights, which is not the government's decision (really, why does it matter if a woman wants an abortion, each individual knows their circumstances best and why would anyone want to bring an unwanted child into the world???)
My vote is for Bill Richardson he actually seems to have his head on strait, is grounded in reality, and has a proven track record. But all that is really just talk. When I watch the debates on TV, I saw a real person, one who truly wants to help restore America to it's glory, and help all of us, the little guys who seem to get looked over. Bill is not a political Robot as many of the others seem to be. Go and take a look at his website, take a look around, you may be surprised that you haven't heard of him sooner.
This is not a sponsored post, I was reading another blog and remembered that none of us are to little to make a difference, and it is our responsibility to fight for what we feel is right. Let our voices (and opinions) be heard!!!
has been feeling a bit left out, with Baby B's birthday, and J's birthday and upshirin, so I want to devote today to her.
A beauty, who is comfortable in her own skin, always ready to help, and be a mommy to her baby dolls and little sis. And so smart, writes letters and asks how to spell words, and the world's best color-er. My Princess, Miss B!!!
Don't you love the Colorado winter static? The electricity is in the air, with shocking
kisses
I should be washing the dishes
I should be folding the pile of laundry
I should be searching the Internet for boxes
I should be packing the basement
I should be polishing the stair rails
I should be baking a batch of cookies
I should be mixing some bread
I should be taking out the trash
I should be shoveling the deck
I should be paying the bills
I should be organizing the bookcase
I should be tidying the dishes
I should be waxing the floor
I should be vacuuming the carpets
I should be scrubbing the walls
I should be touching up paint
I should be doing countless things,
But I am not. I am sitting in front of the fire enjoying the peace while the kids are outside and the baby is asleep. Curled up with my dog, heaving a sigh. Sometimes life gives us pause from our stresses and worries, a chance to revive. I am an impatient waiter, and waiting is what I am now doing, the to do list is all in place because of the waiting; waiting for the house to sell, waiting to move, waiting to go on to the next stage of life.
Okay, it is not really made of cardboard. It just tastes like it is. Cardboard and sugar, no flavor whatsoever. I am really glad I had to go to a special bakery 45 minutes away to buy it too, since it is the only place to get a completely kosher cake anywhere near Stepford. My home made ( Okay, okay, Betty Crocker boxed) cakes are much better!!
Oh well at least it was cute, and I did get to design it. Oh, and J was happy.
Today was J's upshirin. A celebration of his transition from baby to boy, that is marked by his first haircut! Yep, he is now 3 years old, and by custom get's his first ever haircut. He no longer looks like a little girl, but rather the boy that he is. Everyone that attended cut a lock of his hair. 
He tasted how sweet torah study is by licking honey off of the Aleph.
He received his first tzitzit and kippah.
When we got home we finished cleaning up his new do.
and curled his new payot.
A baby no longer,
now he is a little boy!!!
His locks of infancy will be donated. 
Today on J's 3rd birthday, lets take a moment to review him over the past year...
Okay, so the grandparents are either going to kill me, or shake their heads and laugh. I am after all known as "the best mom in the family who never wears shoes or puts jackets on her kids". I will readily admit it. And we do seem to do things kinda backwards, like the time Aba and I bought 2 baby pygmy goats, and kept them in the middle of Manhattan Beach. Or tried to raise chickens in a pink bathtub in the bathroom, or... well you get the picture.
Anyways, I love this picture probably because it just kinda sums us up, and I didn't do it.
Please notice the lack of Jacket, gloves, or shirt for that matter (Oh yeah and there were no socks under the snow boots). Notice the several different varieties of Camo all being worn at once on the snow boots, coveralls (at least they are winter weight) and fur lined hat. Yes, a fur lined camo hat with ear flaps hanging down. And don't forget the rasta colored beaded necklace with the huge gold star of David around his neck
Then picture where this took place. No, N was not out on a hunting adventure, in the woods, or on a "man weekend" he was here, at home, in our cul-de-sac of model homes in Stepford, where everyone is perfect at all times. Yeah.
I love my little man, he fits in our family perfectly. A little bit of class, a little bit of a Jew, a little bit down-home, and a whole Lotta himself just being him.
I Just found this great new children's book called I Love you More. Actually, I was contacted by the publisher to review it, imagine that! Well, it finally arrived a few days ago, and it has fast become one of J's top 5.
It is a simple story, one of my favorite types with less than 20 words per page (when each child brings you a book or 3, trust me you want them to be short). It reminds me of the old 50's song My Love, or more recently Deeper Than The Holler .
Anyways, it is a great book, and your kids will love it.
Oh, yeah, and I was not paid to write this post, but I was given a copy of the book to review.
You will notice my blog roll has changed a little (okay, a lot) recently. A lot of it is because I am researching and gathering information, but part of it is also because many of my old blogs stopped posting. I am now also using Google reader so that it takes much less time each day to find all the new posts, and I don't miss any, I have no idea how that affects their reader stats though. Please visit these blogs, maybe you will find one you enjoy as well!
How do you choose which blogs to read? Personally I will read a month or so of posts before deciding if I like a blog or not, and will give them a month of "bad" posts before deleting them (if they just stop posting I keep them in my reader, hoping they will come back, but take them off of the blog roll). How do I choose the ones I like? Some of them are funny, some are informative, some have great pictures. And some are just interesting in an odd sort of way. If there are any blogs you think are great, feel free to leave a comment and I will check them out, and for fellow bloggers, don't forget you comment, I follow.
A homesteading Neophyte
Absolutely Bananas
Adventures in the 100 acre woods
Cauldron Ridge farm
Children in the Corn
Pioneer Woman
Dad Gone Mad
Fast grow the Weeds
Free Range Living
Get in the Car
Home Ec 101
House, Poor. Homesteading Happy
Inner Musings and Misadventures
Irish Sally Garden
Kentucky Hollers
Notes from the Trenches
Oh, the Joys
Pile of O'Melays
Post Secret
Small Meadow Farm
Stuck in Customs
Sugar Creek Farm
Sugar mountain farm
The Bee Buzz
The Mountain Dweller
The Queen of Shake-Shake
The Unusually Unusual Farmchick
Touch the Earth Farm
As most of you know we are trying to sell our home in suburbia in order to finally move to the country, something we tried to do 3 years ago but failed because we had 3 days to find a house, and it was Easter weekend, and there was a record blizzard raging, which prevented our agent from taking us to see the homes on acreage we had picked out, so we ended up in a "planned community" ie tract house in suburbia. Anyways...
The inside of our house is now boring beige and white (goodbye custom harvest colors), half of our belongings are packed (the china, 98% of the kids toys, all family pictures taken down, half our clothes - to make the closets bigger you know?, etc.) Aba dug up all the bulbs we have planted thru the years and stuck them in the fridge (yep, a whole shelf is now full of flower bulbs!!!), the toy room is no more, our dining table is in the dining room, so we now eat standing around the counter, or picnic style on the floor (the dining room is carpeted, not a good idea with kids, especially since it to is beige as well). I scrub all day, and tell the kids not to touch anything, it is tons of fun here!!!
So we have done essentially all we can do. And now we continue to wait. Wait for someone who sees this house as a home for there family. Yes, I know the market is slow, but where we live it is still a sellers market (just barely, but it is). The hardest part though is that our neighbor decided to place their house for sale as well. We both have the same perks, cul-de-sac, walk out basement, 4 beds, 3 baths, etc. etc. etc. But she works, has 2 kids that are in school all day and at her ex's on the weekends, and doesn't cook like I do. So she is not being run ragged by the process like I am. That doesn't really bother me, I know this is all only temporary, but what I don't get is why she had 17 showings last weekend, and we had 0. Yep, zero, she has a showing or 2 everyday, and we have had 1 all week.
Why would some one not look at both? Especially since our asking price is less!!! Okay, sorry with the ranting there... (It has been a long few months).
Anyways we are ready to move on, we know where we want to go, we are hoping no one puts an offer on it before we do, or before our house sells and pushes us out. Aba is ready to go - planning in his head, figuring what he needs to do once there, researching and reading about things he needs to know more of (like bees); the kids are ready to go - dreaming of fishing at our own creek, collecting eggs in the mornings and begging for horses (yeah, we are not getting horses); I am ready to go with seed lists to order; and even Master Hunter is ready to go and have room to roam.
We are living in Limbo, neither here nor there, waiting for the next step, waiting for an offer, waiting for an acceptance, waiting for the next ball to drop. Waiting for our lives to continue. Just waiting...
So we have been doing some extra cooking, actually I have been trying to teach the kids where things come from, like bread and cheese. So this morning, Miss B and I made some homemade from scratch Cottage Cheese
And yesterday N made Children in the Corn's wheat rolls, They are just as good as she says they are, but I must confess we cheated a bit. N threw all the ingredients into the bread machine on the dough setting, and then we just cut into pieces and baked them!!! No refrigerating or anything!!! Aba and I were discussing that they should make great hamburger buns!!!
We have tons, and have decided to repurpose it into....
Today I took N to school. Usually he rides the bus, but I had to hang posters for the Fall festival, so why not give him a ride, right?
So we get to school, drop him off, hang the posters and I am going over details with the principals secretary to make sure everything is approved that needs to be. All the little ones are behaving well.
Then B has to go potty, and the secretary goes to check room availability for this months PTO meeting. That is when it happened. J, the 2 year old has spotted a red lever on the wall, it shone in the sunlight, and had a handle. Apparently, it called to him.
What do you think happened next?
Yep he pulled it.
The alarm rang. Loudly.
People start moving, I apologize, they know he did it, but it is too late.
The fire department is on the way, the sirens are blaring we are asked to evacuate. I apologize again and B comes running from the bathroom.
Again I apologize. Then I go to the car and leave. I feel like I am sneaking away from a crime scene. The sirens are louder now. I pass the fire engine a half a block away from the school.
I feel awful, but what do I do?
On the bright side, I now know with out a doubt if there ever was a fire a N's school the firemen will be there pronto.
Oh, the joys of having a curious 2 year old, that does before he asks.
I have been reading all over the Internet about this new? government (USDA) program that is being implemented, and boy am I confused!!!
From what I understand NAIS is a voluntary program for farmers, homesteaders, and ranchers to register their property and their livestock so that the animals can be tracked from birth to slaughter. Okay, I understand someone might want to know where an animal has been, but what is wrong with just keeping a log? and this is supposed to combat terrorism by preventing terrorists from doing something to our food sources. Now, this is where I started to get confused. A terrorist is going to give a cow TB or something and kill the country???
Then I read where NAIS is completely voluntary, but in Michigan there is a case where they got a search warrant to tag all of the cows and in Colorado kids were banned from participating in the State fair since their parents ranches were not registered with NAIS, What???
Apparently other "industrialized" countries are doing it so, we need to too, but it is expensive, and jeopardizes farmers privacy and requires them to immunize all animals ( say goodbye to antibiotic and hormone free!!!) . Also all animals any one Might think of ever eating including horses ( come on when was the last time you ate horse???) have to be registered. This is insane. And expensive enough that it could put many small farms out of business.
While I am admitting I don't know that much about it, and I am very confused, I am against NAIS. I also think this isn't something we need to leave for the farmers, ranchers, and homesteaders to fight for on their own. Everyone who enjoys freedom, and privacy, and organic, antibiotic free food needs to step up on this one and Just say NO! Apparently it is even being done sneakily some places where it is being hidden inside of a general farm bill.
Anyways, if anyone can give me more information, or help me get un-confused about this please leave me a comment or email me.
My painting friend, who is there for all my painting needs, well at least those that are small. When using Mr. Rickity to paint, it is an adventure all it's own, you sway you wobble and feel like you will fall, it is a constant mode of balance, while holding a painter full of wet paint, and then once you get comfortable and think things are under control...
You jolt the opposite way!
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In these parts, we traditionally get our first snow on Halloween. Usually right in the middle of Trick-or-Treating, but not this year! We awoke this morning to big white flakes covering everything, and by mid morning it was sticking in the street enough to have some fun...
So speech therapy has been going great. J loves his "tea-her Donna" and asks for " my Tea-her?" at least once a day; and can now actually say teacher and Donna! I can understand 98% of what he says without a problem, and if you are listening to him, most people can understand about 75%.
One of the great joys of J learning how to communicate so we can all understand him, is that he likes to complain. A lot. I am now bombarded with a variation of complaints. "Ahi hit me", " Ailey ook my shirt off!!!", "No, mine!", "no, baby! My Juice! and the list goes on and on...
It almost makes me wish he couldn't talk sometimes, but then he will be super sweet and say "Iss baby." "me too" and " chicken peas! " And I am so glad he is finally able to communicate with us.
The woes of house sales with 4 little ones in the house. It is very difficult to keep ones house looking "picture perfect" at all times. The dishes all done, the beds all made, laundry put away, bathrooms tidy with no fingerprints anywhere, the yard clear of toys and whatnot (from the dog) and the toys all picked up!!!
And to top it off, now I have to paint! Now normally I love to paint, however, not when I am trying to keep all the kids busy ( fall break = no school) and the house picture perfect. We are to "neutralize" the colors in our home. Realtors don't care that they are what is shown on HGTV and in the design magazines, and apparently the potential buyers don't like it either, so I am painting.
All this cleaning has really but into my blogging time, and fodder, unless you want to hear the trials and tribulations of making a bathroom sparkle while trying to potty train, or how to cook dinner and keep the kitchen spotless!
So wish me luck today the painting begins!!!
Despite being cloudy all day we went over to Rock Creek Farms to pick a 6 pack of pumpkins. With snow predicted for tomorrow, and Aba working next weekend, we felt it would be more fun to pick the pumpkins before we needed to dig them out of the snow!!! We attempted to follow Grandma with the fishies tradition of allowing the children to pick the largest one they could carry, and it went well with N, but Miss B had some trouble and as she started to cry it was to big, it began to rain! So with 2 other kids to get pumpkins for still as well as our own, Aba gave in and carried it for her. Maybe we will try again next year, although hopefully then instead of carrying the pumpkin to the car, we will be carrying them in from our own field! So for this year I did the best I could under the circumstances to get some pictures and follow tradition. Fortunately they only charged us for the pumpkins, and not for the 15 lbs of mud we brought home on our boots!!!
I have no idea why I signed up to help, probably because I had no idea just how dysfunctional and frustrating they could be!
If I ever try to volunteer again, shoot me!
Somehow I got involved in the fall festival, no I am not the lead, but the lead seems to lack, how do you say it nerve. Less than a a month away from the event and she still didn't have an official proposal, no budget, no estimated costs. It is a good thing that after Aba and I discussed the situation today when he got home we decide that this event better not get screwed up since the Kids are building booths for it! So I made a proposal, got a budget, and worked the particulars. And we got approved for funds. But now incompetent team leader is at the reins again. I would happily take over just to get the thing done with, but she won't share any information, just asked tons of opinions of anyone possible and then doesn't do anything with the info!!! Aaarghh! I am so frustrated.
And to top it off, now she wants to change the date and time yet again! It is less than a month away, we are on break for the next 2 weeks, and the date has already been approved and publicized!
I seriously think after this event, if we haven't sold our house yet, I am removing myself from the PTO. I do not think I can handle there incompetence anymore.
Get set...
Go slippers!!!
Do you think they like there new slippers???
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Inspired b y the post at Absolutely Bananas
The future: we were promised robots and hovercrafts and vacations to mars. But we have none of these. The future was always painted as a happy place where all was perfect. Where is all of that? All I hear about lately is war: Iraq, Afganistan, and now Iran!!! Global warming, how the ice caps are melting, the ocean is rising and stronger hurricanes!
Now I know some people say the American economy is doing great, and others say it is sinking. I don’t really know. But what I do know is that I want to do everything I can to provide my family with food and shelter. Along with a safe place in which to live and grow, and they have a lot of growing left to do! The other day for Breakfast a dozen eggs, 4 potatoes worth of hash browns and a pound of sausage and they were asking for more (Duggars how do you do it?).
It is no wonder so many people are turning back to the land, not to escape, but to try and improve not only their quality of life, but life for all. Now there are many ways of doing this from the most severe of going completely off grid, raising everything you eat and homeschooling, to doing small things like buying locally grown, switching lightbulbs out to fluorescent bulbs, and the 3 R’s : reduce, reuse recycle. Now don’t panic,.We are not going to the extreme here. Personally I am not really into homeschooling; but I am into gardening, and chickens. A garden is easy to grow – if you have the room. Chickens are fun and easy – again if you have the room. A cat would be great (I have always wanted one) especially if it stays outside and keeps the rodents out of the garden. And who knows what else will arrive ( I miss the goats we had to give away in the city). Best of all the food our kids eat will be clean. Organic. Fresh. Pure. Anyways…
Every little change each of us makes can help everyone. It is a combined effort people!!! So one day soon, once our house in suburbia sells (fingers crossed it will be soon) we will move to our own little piece of land and live one of the earliest American dreams.
I have been down for the count with a super high temperature for the past 3 days. During which Baby B became a cling-on which I allowed because a) I was to out of it to do any different b) I figured she might not be feeling well either, and c) I think she is teething on the top now.
So anyways I was unable to get on the computer to read any blogs much less write. Anytime I tried to sit up my head went POUND-POUND-POUND and if I dared to stand it multiplied 10 fold. I even cancelled school for everyone on Tuesday because I couldn’t get in the car to drive.
While the kids were home and I was no help at all, N got Breakfast for everyone, and covered me with a blanket and everyone gave me there lovies; Teddy, koala, and froggy were my new friends. Along with the cold Owie bear. Imagine me on the sofa looking like death, a blanket on top, 3 stuffed animals a ice cold owie bear, and J and B climbing on top of me. Now that is the best way to get better, fast, huh?
You know what else the kids did? They learned how to operate the TV. Now how N went over 6 years not knowing I have no idea, but now they can change channels, change the volume, and even know channel numbers.
Oh course our house got trashed during this and we had a showing Wednesday morning!!! Oh well I got it cleaned in time.
Which shouldn't surprise me in the least actually. Aba works. Alot. And he has friends which build these great magnificent sukkahs that can hold 100 people. And inevitably these friends ask for his help, and he always obliges. Aba also helps the rabbi build the shuls sukkah. So that means we have no time to build a sukkah of our own.
But every year while helping friends build there, loaning out our extension cords and heat dishes so they don't freeze in their sukkahs, allowing them to borrow our folding tables and chairs so they have enough seating for their guests, we go with out. Even if Aba did have enough energy to actually build us a sukkah, we would have nothing to put in it!
This year with our house being for sale I guess it would be kinda odd. I mean if a Goyam were to come and look at our house and we had a roofless shack built outside...
But every year Aba tells me of how our Sukkah will look next year. It will have walls to keep the wind out, tons of branches and greenery on the roof and walls, a table and chairs, heat dishes and lights. It sounds wonderful, and every year the vision gets grander in his head. Now I will just have to wait until the year when work does not force him to work through the holidays, the Rabbi does not need help, and friends to not call to borrow our sukkah supplies. And someday we will have a sukkah of our own.
Yes. you read that right. Aba wants a pig. Yes we are orthodox Jews and have no use for a pig or pork. But Aba wants a pig.
I have told him no on several occasions. But we all know what happens when I tell him no, and he has his heart set on it, like with the TV in his car? He gets it anyways. So Aba wants a pig, although he is not sure what type he wants yet...
He says they are great! They can eat all kinds of leftovers including spoiled milk and rotten meat! ( We have tons of that sitting around, right?) They can turn a pile of manure into compost in the dead of winter! ( yep a pile of manure) All great reasons to get a pig, right?!?!? Oh and he was going to get a pair, but I have talked him out of that since they reproduce every 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days. That is a lot of pigs!
Now don't get me wrong, I love pigs, in fact my first word was Pig ( betcha didn't know that) and I remember playing with the piglets on my uncles farm when I was little. But I also remember the smell, and the flies. And pigs get BIG.
I definitely don't want a pig! But it looks like we will be getting one sooner or later ( yes I know we live in suburbia, but we are moving to the country someday soon...) I have been informed it will be coming home as a "surprise" as well.
Aba will build a pen, get a dog (pig) house, and bring it home. And any questions that I may ask will be answered with a knowing "You'll see" Great. I guess we will be getting a pig.
So does that mean I can randomly bring animals home too? Well as long as I "secretly" build a home for them first?
So when looking for our house just look for the house with a mezuzah bigger than your head, and a pig in the yard.
a summer favorite.
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Shared by Miss B with me on the way home from preschool:
"Momma? 2 boys in my class lost a toof. Now they have a hole in their smiles! Hee Hee Hee!!!"
Okay, I usually try to keep this blog away from politics, and email forwards, but something came across my inbox this morning that I could not ignore!!! An email that said England will no longer teach about the holocaust for fear of offending Muslims who say it never existed. What??? Since when do students, children get to decide what happened in history!!! Here is the email:
Disgrace for England!
This week in England every memorial of the holocaust has been removed from the school study programs, arguing that it hurts the Muslim population that denies the holocaust.
That is a sign of an upcoming worldwide disaster, terrifying evidence of how easily countries can give in to anti-Semitism.
It has been more than 60 years since the end of World War 2 in Europe as England didn't lift a finger to save the Jews that were butchered by the Germans and now they are Boycotting Israel Academics and removing the holocaust from the schools study programs. .
This email has been sent in order to create a chain of memory for those 6 million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians, and 1900 catholic priests, that have been murdered, raped, burnt, starved to death, and humiliated by the Nazis.
Now, more than ever, considering the efforts of Iran and others ' denying the Holocaust, it is most crucial to do whatever it takes to ensure that the world never forgets .
This email should reach at least 40 million people in the world.
Join us and become a link in the chain of memory for those who have past in the terrible events of the Holocaust. Help spread this email around the world so others may understand and help as well.
Please send this message to at least 10 of your friends or contacts. Please do not delete this email; it only takes one minute to pass it on. Thank you for your efforts.
Now, I don't watch the news, but I would think being surrounded by orthodox Jews on a regular basis one of us would have heard about this before now! So my second thought was is this a hoax? And upon googling I discovered that it is real, very real.
But I only found 2 news sources about it! Why are they trying to keep this from the public? Apparently everyone in the world needs to hear several times when Madonna takes her famous friends to Israel for the High Holidays, which has absolutely no impact on the future generations and is purely gossip, yet when a whole nation will no longer learn about the holocaust, only The Daily Mail and The British Times Online are strong enough to report it? Where is the mass media? Why is this not being blown up on news stations everywhere? Why is this being allowed to happen?
Miss B is a dolly girl. She carries her baby dolls around constantly, dresses them and feeds them, takes them for walks and puts them down for nap. I love that she is so kind and gentle and is such a good doll mama, so when we got the American girl catalog in the mail the other day, I knew the perfect Hanukkah gift for her would be a Just Like Me Doll, but apparently as I perused the choices, there is no Just-like-Miss-B doll to be had! Yes they have all the components of a Miss B doll, just not on one doll! Simple though I thought, I will call the company and tell them the combo I would like, and they can piece together the right doll, I mean you would think it would be fairly easy for a doll company to put different hair or eye color on a doll, right?
Apparently not. I described what I needed: Medium skin, Dark brown hair, hazel eyes, and earrings. I mean couldn't they pop the brown eyes out and put hazel in and add earings??? Apparently not. So disappointing on one hand that I can't get this special doll for her, but on the other hand it really shows how special she is, that they do not have a generic doll just like her.
So anyone know where I can get her a doll just like her?
this was declared last night over dinner. A dinner that did not go as smoothly as planned. Yes the children behaved, but Aba decided that we have been being much to nice to the children allowing them to get away with more than is allowed.
This is all my fault I have to admit. I allowed B to skip school yesterday because
A> N gets out of school on Wednesdays at the same time she is supposed to arrive a half hours drive away.
B> I got stuck talking to the principals secretary about PTO mishaps for over a half hour. If she went she would have been in class for less than an hour. So apparently my priorities are a bit messed up.
C> while I was at PTO Tuesday night N used this as a reason to skip his homework (basically he did not tell Aba about it).
I am sure there are more reasons, but those are all I remember.
Upon last nights declaration
1. we will have no more TV on school days and only movies on the weekends.
2.Our families priorities will be Judaism first.
3. All boys must wear Keepas at all times and say hamotzi before eating.
4. Education is our second priority.
5. N must learn to read a book all on his own. And do extra work assigned by Aba.
6. B must go to school everyday , and I will be signing her up for the expensive glorified daycare lunch bunch on Wednesdays so she arrives on time.
7. J must be potty trained N-O-W, despite the fact he still can not communicate properly.
I have been informed by Aba our children are a mess and we are going to be tough on them till they all straiten out and fly right. J sneaking out of bed at night? Not anymore! School trips planned on High Holidays? Not for our kids! School involvement with the PTO? Not if it takes me away from the family!
Lets see how long this lasts, but for now it is Boot Camp with Classical music, Paper and Pens, and Potties all around.
overcast and wet. A great way to start the week. J had his hearing test today and past with Flying colors so it is strickly a speech issue, which is great (and he has been making great strides with his "teacher" speech therapist).
Today is one of those days where warm comfort food is what we all want warm bread and butter, rich soups and fancy coffees .
thought for the day: Why is it that babies always find the one wet spot of paint on the wall to touch?
Aba has been trying to get some end of season fishing in, even though he could fish year round, he prefers to focus on Hunting with Master Hunter once the season opens ( in just 2 weeks!). N has just returned from Camp Jackson and had a great time. While I was scared he was going to loose Teddy (now wouldn't that be a nightmare) he managed to bring him home. Yeah!!!
B did her big recital in the Park yesterday and did a great job (Pictures will be coming soon) and we got the bonus of it being car show day, so we got to spend a few hours wandering through the old cars and tractors. Joy of Joys.
and sometime last week Baby B got her 2nd tooth. I think that is all the new news for now. Last week was really hectic with the Holidays and all, so hopefully I will have more time to blog this week.
is going back in time many many years to bring you a pic of who else but Me!!!
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I love to read, but barely have the time for it anymore, as there is always something to do... But over the summer I scored and got 2 really good books at Costco. If you liked The Red Tent and Memoirs of a Geisha ( The book not the movie, the movie sucked) than you would like these too. The Gilded Chamber which is currently our read aloud book on car trips for Aba, and The Garden of Ruth.
On another note why is Baby B fusing more now that she got her first tooth than before it came in? I wonder if she decided she likes the numb feeling ones gets from Oragel?
early in the morning. A feat all its own.
The first day of Pre-K is today, and B is all set to go as long as we get the immunization sheet and health forms back from Dr. Lujan; if not her first day will be Monday.
Is anyone else as interested in the Duggar family as I am??? It is some kinda sick obsession. I want to know how they do meals, chores, laundry, handle fights, etc. Well, not just how they do, but how all large families do. I read a few blogs by moms of many, and I just have an odd fascination I guess. I like to look at it as research, since with 4 sometimes even the most mundane tasks become monumental. If you are as curious as I am maybe you should take a look over at Larger Families and Notes from the Trenches with me.
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Recently a friend and neighbor of ours found out she was pregnant. While this is great news, she has been put on permanent bedrest and is barely 4 months along, which is difficult to say the least, when she has just become a SAHM to her 2 year old, and released the nanny. With everything going on they are not able to rehire a nanny.
I have no idea what would happen at our house if that happened, how she can stay in bed with an active 2 year old... I guess this is when it takes a village, or community to raise a child. I am now bringing meals over to this child 3 times a day to help out, and while it is difficult, and I complained about it last night when I first found out I was volunteered for the job, I really am glad to help, and try to make this time as easy as possible for the mom to be and the little 2 year old.
turns out to be J, who has rolled out of bed. Good thing he is in the bottom bunk.
(picture taken in July at Mystic Springs Resort in Utah)
a day of laundry.
a day of quiet.
a day of dishes.
a day of cleaning.
a day of errands.
a day like many others.
a day all it's own.
    
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