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Pile On

Twwly — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:14:02 +0000

I’ve spent the last few days totally immobilized by a 104′ fever, chills and shakes, headaches, dizziness, vomiting, and a soul wracking cough that produces something that resembles pea soup.

Today my fever has dropped. And now I’ve got mastitis. And my period.

But at least I am out of bed.

Reading Labels

Twwly — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:34:54 +0000

This habit isn’t just for food, eh! All products that come into this house get a quick perusal. When you start taking a peek at all the petrochemicals in basic household products, you kinda start to freak. This stuff gets even trickier because a lot of stuff that’s labeled GREEN and SAFE and NATURAL are just the same ol’ culprits with some new packaging. Those catch phrases MEAN NOTHING. Looking for product certification helps (like certified organic) but just because it’s organic doesn’t necessarily mean you want what is in it.

If you want to read more about the formaldehyde and 1,4 dioxane in baby products, this article from SafeMama is very informative.

Our priority, just like with food is stuff with no labels. This means stuff that we’ve made ourselves or stuff that people we know personally have made. For the stuff with labels, we simply read them. Buying or making safe products does not have to be expensive or time consuming. (Hello white vinegar!) All it takes is a wee bit of effort. I’ll post some of the products we do use in the comments section and I’d love it with others would contribute too.

Here’s an example of keen label reading from TheSmartMama:

A Label Reading Lesson: Johnson’s Head to Toe Baby Wash

I’m always harping on about reading labels. I know it is difficult to read labels while shopping with kids. Who has time to read the label on each product with 2 kids tugging on you, demanding to go to the toy section right now! At least, that is what happens to me if I am shopping at Target. So, not only is it hard to have time to read labels while shopping, it is even harder to figure out what the label says. How do you read a label? They can be a little tricky to decipher. And what about the claims on the packaging? Can you trust them?

Well, let’s look at a baby staple. Johnson’s Head-to-Toe baby wash from Johnson & Johnson. And let’s hope I don’t get sued.

First, let’s look at the claims. The website advertises the product as “an ultra-mild cleanser for your baby’s skin and hair that’s gentle enough even for newborns.” It also proclaims it “the #1 choice of hospitals” and “milder than baby soap.” The “no more tears” formula is “as gentle to the eyes as pure water” and the product is “soap-free, dye-free, hypoallergenic and allergy- and dermatologist-tested.”

None of these claims, including hypoallergenic, allergy-tested and dermatologist-tested have any regulatory meaning. Keep in mind that, according to the Food & Drug Administration, a cosmetic company does not have to prove its claims or the efficacy of the products. There is no regulatory definition of “hypoallergenic” - you think it means that the product will not cause allergic reactions or irritant responses. Keep that thought in mind when we discuss the ingredients. A company can label a product as “hypoallergenic” without having any proof to back up that claim. There are no standardized guidelines for this claim, just as there are no guidelines for dermatologist tested or allergy tested.

Before we can talk about the claim that the product is “as gentle to the eyes as pure water,” we need to talk about the ingredients. The ingredients are: Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG-150 Distearate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Polyquaternium-10, Fragrance, Quaternium-15, Citric Acid.

PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate and PEG-150 Distearate are all ethoxylated compounds. Ethoxylated compounds, unless vacuum stripped, are contaminated with 1,4-dioxane. 1,4-dioxane has been identified as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 1,4-dioxane is not listed on the ingredient list because it is a contaminant from the manufacturing process, not an ingredient. The FDA encourages manufacturers to remove 1,4-dioxane from products, but there is no requirement that it be done. And, testing reported by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics did find 1,4-dioxane in Johnson’s Head-to-Toe baby wash at 5.3 to 6.1 parts per million (ppm). In fact, in its FAQ section of its website, Johnson & Johnson admits that “[s]ome of the ingredients in our products may contain 1,4-dioxane as an incidental ingredient at extremely low levels.”

Further, sodium laureth sulfate can cause eye and skin irritation. Do you think that is consistent with the claim that the product is “hypoallergenic”? Wouldn’t you expect it to be free of any ingredient known to cause irritant responses? As a note, sodium laureth sulfate was widely reported on the web as being a carcinogen, but, at least to date, research by the EPA, OSHA, NTP and IARC has not suggested that sodium laureth sulfate is a carcinogen.

Cocamidopropyl betaine, PEG-80 sorbitan laurate and PEG-150 disterate can all cause allergic reactions. Again, these ingredients aren’t what you would expect in a product advertising itself as hypoallergenic. Cocamidopropyl betaine may also be contaminated with nitrosamines.

Quaternium-15 may release formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen. But, I actually think that Quat-15, as it is called, is more of a problem because it is the number one cause of contact dermatitis from preservatives, according to the American Acadmey of Dermatology’s Testing Tray results. Also, it is identified by the cosmetic industry’s Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel as a sensitizer, but is still considered safe by the CIR as a cosmetic ingredient. (If you want to learn about the function of the CIR, I encourage you to read Stacy Malkan’s Not Just A Pretty Face). It has also been linked to birth defects in laboratory animals when administered orally.

Finally, the product contains “fragrance” – which means synthetic fragrance and, of course, phthalates. Phthalates are used in fragrance to sustain the fragrance and make it adsorb better to the skin. Johnson & Johnson admits that it uses diethyl phthalate (DEP) in its baby products. And, as reported in a recent study, exposure to DEP in baby care products results in the presence of a DEP metabolite in baby urine. Phthalates are endocrine disruptors, which means that they can mimic hormones and disrupt’s the body’s normal function. Phthalates have been linked to premature breast development in girls, deteriorated sperm quality, low sperm counts and poor sperm morphology in men, and a host of other adverse health effects.

So, how can this product claim to be “as gentle to the eyes are pure water” when it contains a host of chemicals known to be irritants, allergens or sensitizers? And do you really want to use it on your baby? I think that this staple baby product should be thrown out with the bath water. But, hey, that’s just me.

If you are looking for phthlate free baby care products, I have some listed here.

Family Bed – A New Horizon

Twwly — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:23:22 +0000

We have finally cracked this co-sleeping thing. I mean, we do it, we’ve done it since day one with Bob. It’s sweet, it’s adorable, it’s safe if not safeR. Co-sleeping with an infant is pretty much all peaches and cream. Nursing is wonderfully easy, infants sleep a lot, they hardly move. Co-sleeping with a toddler is largely totally awesome – it reconnects you to them after what can be trying days… but it can be like a bad dare. You may count the number of times you get a foot in the eye or throat on two hands… in one NIGHT. And if your child is like my son Bob, who cannot stand to have a sheet or blanket touch even a TOE, and therefore sleeps HORIZONTALLY across the bed, you may also find yourself cold. And often awake.

And so ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. May I announce The Ultimate Stupendous Solution to that particular predicament — it is called:

TWO DUVETS!

I know, I know. Simple, yet sheerly brilliant. Scott sleeps on one side with a duvet, Bob sleeps in the middle and Meeps and I share a duvet on the other side. Everyone wins!

Also — keep tuned in for my next blog entry, the working title of which being “Nightmare on Vasectomy Street.”

Smoking in Cars with Boys…. and Girls

Twwly — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:28:47 +0000

So there is a law in Ontario about smoking in cars with children. Police can fine you if you do it. When this law first came out I thought how personally intrusive that type of law is, into people’s private spaces. I thought surely, surely nobody smokes in cars with babies. What a ridiculous thing to legislate. But no, now that I am paying attention I see regular offenders. And while I don’t judge other moms who may chose to vaccinate or use disposable diapers, I think those moms with their windows up and their infant strapped into a seat behind them are fucking assholes and need hefty shake.

We were at the hospital again today (a place we try very hard not to go, for reasons I am still formulating a blog about and will post soon) and I saw quite the sight. A couple were standing in the FREEZING cold outside the hospital (-20’C, or -4’F with windchill), with their toddler on a three foot long leash, smoking butts.

SERIOUSLY. Are you SERIOUSLY DOING THAT RIGHT NOW, FOR REAL.

The kid was trying to run away (can you blame him) and was getting reprimanded. Place your bets on the number of ear infections the little bloke has had. Place your bets.

And in case you have also missed the memo:

SECOND HAND SMOKE IS BAD.

AND ON A BRIGHTER NOTE:

President Barack Obama has stayed Omar Khadr’s trial! A small action, but a big step! I am really hopeful that his case will get reviewed in a court that operates with a shred of justice, annnnd steps are being taken to close Gitmo, as promised. I am really excited about the changes he has made already. Hoping the momentum continues. (In case you are curious: I am all about the US sending more troops to Afganistan, provided they are sent with the initiative Obama has discussed and that they don’t kill many more friendlies).

Holiday Shopping

Twwly — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:20:30 +0000

Not sure how many of you follow CDN health news, but the FDA in Canada (finally) declared Bisphenol A (aka BPA) a toxin. It has already been banned in baby bottles here. We have been on the anti-BPA bandwagon since before Bob was born, but it’s nice to see it finally getting some mainstream press.

What is BPA you ask? It is used to harden plastics. But it has been known to leak into the containers contents and leech into its users. It is a synthetic sex hormone (I know, right?)specifically an estrogen disruptor. Scientists studying BPA in animals have found it can cause various health problems such as cancer, diabetes, hyperactivity, obesity, early onset puberty and other reproductive problems. (The studies are very scary. Seen the movie “Children of Men” where the human race can no longer reproduce? Well the studies are so so crazy they make me think of that movie, which PS I still have nightmares about. Do not watch that movie while pregnant, I made that mistake and regularly have visions).

Where is BPA used? Water bottles, food can linings, and kids toys to name a few.

What do we do about it? In our house we drink from stainless steel refillable Klean Kanteens (even come with baby sippy spouts), Bob has wooden cutlery, we buy only enamel lined tin cans or jar our own food and we keep our house 99% plastic toy free. Since Bob’s birth we have filled two HUGE garbage bags full of plastic toys, bottles, soothers and other goods. (And donated them all).

What? You’re denying your kids TOYS?! Nope, no we’re not. We have toys coming out our wazoos! Baskets and baskets of toys. And baskets. Lots of wooden toys and plastic toys that are BPA and phthalate free. There are lots of safe alternatives on the market from companies like PLAN (made from spent rubberwood trees), HABA, Sevi, Selecta.

There are big online retailers like OOMPA.COM & MOOLKA.COM that are almost entirely stocked with non-toxic toys. But even the Finchers in our little town has lots of options. I always figure if I can buy it locally, it’s gotta be readily available in North America!

Hot off the toy press this year are SPRIG TOYS. Kid powered, made from recycled wood & plastic and totally awesome. We have all of the vehicles and Bob loves them. Also on our wish list are the toys from GREEN TOYS – all BPA & phthalate free. Tea set, gardening, sand play and cook set.

And I have to say, all of the toys we have LOOK NICE. Kids toys do become a part of your decor and I would much rather look at some nicely designed car or natural wood drum. Between the aesthetic appeal and lowering my kids risk of developing cancer, I feel they’re worth the extra penny.

Wishing you happy and safe holiday shopping!

Elimination Communication

Twwly — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:05:27 +0000

Added a new section up top called EC on the topic of early infant pottying.

What do you think? Should I add anything? Pictures? More info? What have I left out?

(Apparently ‘COMMENTS’ on blogs only work with iWeb if you are publishing using MobileMe and not your own…so you will have to email me to give me your $.02)

Junior Doodling Engineer

Twwly — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:07:59 +0000

Bob is prepping to be Scott’s future apprentice I think! The top vehicle is a bus and the lines coming off the back are hitches. He draws all the time, it’s great. He calls Maggie “Mang-O”, thinks he is quite a hoot “Bobby FUNNY”, and calls most things he picks up “HEAVY, HEAVY!” Whenever there’s a noise he doesn’t immediately recognize he says “NOISE!” and he eagerly transfers all of the laundry from the washer to the dryer. After cleaning and replacing the lint trap. Awesome.

Proof that we do sometimes get a chance to bathe the scudgy children. Bob is getting better about washing his hair (it used to make him scream) because he watches me wash Meeps’ hair. Bonus.

As you can see, I’ve been making some changes. Upgraded my iLife to get the new iWeb and have built a new blog. Some of my old entries are currently missing, I’m transferring & fixing some that ‘broke’ in the move, though I am sure it is completely inconsequential.

Play and drool on Daddy time. You’ll notice our new piano in the background. New old piano, actually. It belonged to my parents and I played it as a little girl. They gave it away when my dad upgraded to a baby grand and the family it was given to was looking to rehome it themselves, so we took it back. It is really a beautiful piece of furniture and it sounds OK too. It is missing an ivory and needs a tuning, but we’re really happy to have it here.

As you can see, it has been snowing here. Bob and I have spent all week in the house and it’s beginning to show. We do go outside to play, but we have not been into town to play with any of his little pals. We missed play group this morning as I don’t even consider driving if I cannot see the end of our driveway from the house. Maggie is stuffed up at night (a nightmare for any nursing mother). I think we’ll make some play dough today and hopefully Grandma will come over for a change in entertainment after work. I wonder what the Amish do all winter long. I guess I will ask.

Bob looks SO big, I can’t believe it. I can’t believe how quickly life goes when you’re happy and loving it all. It hardly seems fair.

White Knuckles

Twwly — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:01:52 +0000

I am a big weeny about winter driving.

If the roads are anything but bare, I am white knuckled, scared shitless, tense from tip to tail. I’ve had two winter accidents. Both times driving a vehicle with winter tires, in 4 wheel drive.

The first accident, the roads were slushy. It was early in the morning, pre-plows. I was doing a little under 80km/hour, drivin’ along no problem. I came up over a hill and a farmer’s flock of geese were out in the middle of my road, most in my lane. I’m not talking about small little Canada geese, but tall white geese, mondo-turkey sized. I knew if I hit them head on, I would probably lose control of my vehicle and it would be a big mess, so I took my foot off of the gas, moved SLIGHTLY right, out of the slush tracks I was driving in. I still clipped a couple but instantly lost control of my truck. Spun several times, shot between two telephone poles, and rolled. Landing upside down. My only injury was to my neck, sustained from undoing my seat belt without thinking and landing on my head. The truck crumpled like tinfoil, write off.

The second accident was Christmas Eve last year. The roads were bare and dry. We were all coming home from our annual “Child’s Christmas in Wales” Xmas eve tradition at a close friends house (been doing this Dylan Thomas reading tradition since I was wee). Came up over a hill, hit a patch of black ice, steered into the skid, thought I had control of the vehicle and then the ice patch ended and I was no longer pointing down the road. I was pointing into the ditch, where we landed, upside down on top of a neighbours mailbox. It was a nice slow landing thankfully and we were able to right it and drive it away.

Both times, when the vehicle was moving completely out of my control, I had ‘that moment’. The first time was intense, but the second was truly terrifying. Are we all going to die? Am I going to kill my husband? My son? Leave my family mother-less? Absolutely SICKENING thoughts.

I’ve learned that accidents can happen at any time. That they don’t give you warning. There are always tragic winter traffic fatalities here and I have been extremely blessed to not be one of them. And I am scared shitless about winter driving now. I’m scared about other drivers, particularly those tail-gating S.O.B.s coming or going to the power plant at speeds faster than I am ever going to go, even on a summer’s day. I’m almost dizzy with fear whenever I drive over anything shiny. This can’t be safe either. I don’t know what to do. I’m hoping to take a skid-school driving class next spring or summer…. or something.

All I know is that I need to get a little bit of confidence back, because right now I am at ZERO.

Maaa Maaa Maaa

Twwly — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:04:13 +0000

My little goat whisperer. All of our goats love Bob. I think it must be because they are all about the same height. And arming him with raisins helps the relationship too of course.

Our little goats are enjoying the snow more than I thought they would. They absolutely hate the rain, so I figured they’d be no fans of the snow, but they go out and about. Scott had to make the slats in their hay manger even closer together. He measured, and they were squeezing through an eight inch gap! Sneaky little she-devils.

The kids enjoying our ‘Indian Summer’. It’s now snowy and bitterly breezy. Don’t be fooled by the grass, it is not an accurate depiction of our current climate. There is so much snow there is no visible red of my Focus. It’s gone. Thigh deep on the way to the goat hut. Bob isn’t impressed, despite his mittens & snowsuit. “It’s COLD, Mommy. COLD.” Yeah, I know dude. I’m hoping he’ll like it more once we get out the toboggan, but I’m not holding my breath.

Possibly one of the worst pictures I have ever posted, but so cute. Look at that giant cloth diapered baby butt! So wonderfully round. Absolutely one of my favourite sights, except of course for naked baby butt itself. Which not only looks adorable, it’s quite delicious too. I think I still kiss Bob’s butt as much as the other end. I figure I have to get my bum adoration in now, before he doesn’t even want me kissing his cheek. I mean, face. I mean.

And now a list of the reasons why we use cloth diapers:
(1) The health of our kids. Big ol’ pass on the super absorbent asthma and god knows what else causing dioxins & fillers. I wouldn’t want those chemicals strapped to my crotch for years.
(2) The health of our planet. Over two TONNES of landfill waste per kid, on average.
(3) Price. It’s cheaper to use cloth by a substantial amount, even though we use some of the most expensive diapers on the market. It’s even cheaper since we’re now putting kid #2 through ‘em!
(4) Comfort. Fuzzy soft bottom or crinkly paper. I know what I’d rather sit on.
(5) They’re cute as hell.

And now a list of responses to common questions about using cloth:
(1) “Gross!” Actually, not gross at all. I mean, you have kids, you are resigning yourself to a healthy number of years of wiping, spot cleaning, washing and laundering all kinds of gross things. If you don’t want to touch and smell pee, poo, barf, drool, food schmears, mud coatings etc, you might consider a goldfish instead of a child. Let me return – it’s no grosser than disposable diapers. You have a butt to wipe. You wipe it. You either chuck the newborn poo dipe directly into the wash (to be met with a rinse cycle) or you knock the solid turd into the john (which you are SUPPOSED to be doing with sposies anyway, PS).
(2) “You must have a lot more time than I do.” Yeah, no. But you make time to do laundry just like you make time to raise your kids and clean your house. I don’t think it adds much more than a load or two per week because I am washing clothes all the time anyway. Bob still goes through a lot of clothes. They get covered in paint, lunch, dirt, mystery substances. You have kids, you do laundry.
(3) “Impossible to do on the go!” Nope. We use cloth diapers everywhere. Traveling for weekends away, going to the grocery store, wherever we go. If you’re staying in a hotel, they’ll have laundry machines. If you’re staying with friends, chances are they know where you can do a load if necessary. Out to the store, just pack a little waterproof bag in your bag or your vehicle. We have never actually had to do laundry while we’ve been gone for long weekend trips.

As you can see, Maggie Meepertons has discovered her toes. She’s going to be sitting up and doing stuff way to soon. This all goes by way too fast.

I wear Maggie in a pack pack, Bob also likes to wear a back pack. I called Puppercini ‘ShitForBrains” this morning and a little voice said “ShitBRAINS!” Ack. Must stop swearing, godfuckingdammit.

Scott’s star client Mike (who travels all over the world’s tattoo conventions to show off a gorgeous leg sleeve Scott has done on him) was kidnapped at gun point in Peru and robbed. They took cash, his electronics, and all of his thesis notes. (Including an interview with Filip Leu). All of the gift certificates that Scott sells before Xmas will be donated to Mike to help him out. He’s a great guy, a substitute teacher, a model client and a good friend too.

I’ve just noticed that I haven’t updated the Sugar Shack site since the end of August. Eep, am I ever late. Will have to do that soon.

In the Light

Twwly — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:06:42 +0000

First off I have to thank everyone for their support and suggestions about crying Meeps. We are trying lots of things to get her over the wicked car seat blues.

Secondly, I love blogs. It’s a great way to keep up with my friends and share information. I think it’s really important to remember the cardinal rule of blogging though: If you don’t want to talk about it, don’t blog about it. For me that means I would love to engage in dialogue (or debate) about everything I write. I know we’re into some different stuff and I’m really passionate about all of it. If you’re thinking about trying EC with your baby and don’t know where to start, or think you might decline all vaxes but tetanus and want to discuss that with another mama, or you think you would enjoy fresh eggs from hens of your own but don’t know how to get started…. email me! I’m no expert, and I don’t have hoards of free time, but I love feeling connected to other people with similar interests.

We have had some really wonderful warm weather lately and have been taking advantage of every second. We’ve spent the last two days at the park with friends. And we’ll be there again tomorrow for hours weather permitting.

Scott made great leaps and bounds with the goat hut today. They now have a little manger. Their food bins are all up off the ground so they are sure to not poop in them now (not that they did before – they practically inhale their sweet feed). It’s no longer just the goat hut – oh no, it’s the goat chalet.

I can now sniff the difference between dead chicken and dead coon from the malodorous wafts that are emitted from my dear husbands clothing. And I have learned to GENTLY plunge my hands into my hubby’s pockets – the last time I did so without much care my fingers were met with sharp jabs from a quiet handful of nails that was resting within. Ah the unexpected joys of laundry duty!

Bob was a chicken again this year for Halloween. We only did a touch of trick or treating, but he enjoyed it. “I go out like a chicken and people give me treats? Can we do this again tomorrow night?” He rarely stands still for me for pictures anymore. He used to pose or at least oblige. Now I have to chase him. Though I am sad that it is unlikely my children will ever experience the joys of film (I’ve spent countless hours in the pitch blackness of film closets, feeling by memory, thumbing film into reels and even more in the dark red glow of the print rooms, measuring fix and basking in the glow of my images created in light and silver) I am thankful for the digital era because I must take 50 pictures of Bob to get 1. He’s wearing Daddy’s hat above and showing off one of his hilarious Ministry of Silly Walks shuffly dances. He has never seen Monty Python but I have seen it so many times that I think I passed it to him via cord blood.

These pictures are for my friend Annie in Texas. Her adorable daughter Luna has been sending up her hand me downs and Meeps sure loves them. I wish I could find those little leopard booties in every size – I think I’d keep her in ‘em for years. And the Tina Turner Raccoon hat rocks so hard. I was quite mindful bringing her into Grandpa Ken & Grandma Kates house with it on in case any of their working terriers got excited.

Haba toys are great. Not only are they non-toxic and BPA free, they’re fun for all ages. Bob is demonstrating his great big brother “here let me poke you in the eye with that” skillZ and Meeps is giving a clutching demo on her colourful toy.

There are very few things that get under my skin. Cluster flies are one of them. These shots are for my friend Corrie, another country mama. I am sure this sight looks familiar to a lot of you, actually. They are finally nearing the end, though it feels like I have spent endless months enduring their dozy buzzing. God it shreds your nerves. And no, it’s not that I don’t clean my house or vacuum. I have a Cluster Buster (fly dedicated dust buster jobby) and regularly suck the little bastards out of my windows, but it’s not enough. Cluster flies don’t need dead animal or other tasty snacks, they’re born from the soil and plaster themselves all over the outside of ones house where ever the sun hits it. And then they sneak inside, through the tiniest of holes, to over winter. And they like to return every year. Lucky me.

Here’s me. I’m doing really great. On the surface, my skin is still clear – I had terrible skin through high school but changing my diet (I try to follow what I like to call the DES Diet – Don’t Eat Shit), hardly ever having time to use soap on my face, and having two babies has done me wonders. No more cystic acne. No more foundation. Hallelujah. I’ve been dying my hair for years too and I stopped when I got pregnant with Maggie. My hair has now grown enough that my roots don’t look stupid, and a summer of sun helped blend everything all together. I don’t plan on dying my hair again, ever. As soon as you do it, you have to keep doing it. Or give yourself a buzz cut. Or completely disregard your physical appearance for months on end because you’re busy growing a human being. That helped. Anyway. No more hair dying. The contents are terrible – I mean, I don’t even use toothpaste or shampoo with SLS and there I was slathering chemical slurries all over my noggin once every 4-8 weeks. Watching my mom growing out her hair to a lovely full grey mane after years of chemical treatments was pretty trying and I want to learn from her example and not follow in her footsteps on that one. I’m back into even my skinniest pre-pregnancy jeans and I am excited over the idea of doing some yoga or pilates over the winter while we are all stuck indoors and I am not getting my exercise by way of gardening. So yeah! Feelin’ pretty good over here!

Bought a bushel of apples from a nearby orchard and have been busy making apple cider. I need to make some sauce too. I’ve been drinking the apple cider as fast as I have been canning it though so I only have five 1L containers on the shelf. I’m hoping I can restrain myself with this next batch and actually get some more on the shelves for winter. Made mozzarella & ricotta with my #1 Cheese Pal and we have plans to try making soap as well. Soap seems a bit more daunting than cheese… I guess it’s the fact you have to use LYE! Ah well. We’ll have to make sure to have husbands on hand for kid duty on soap day.

I’ve had to shop at the grocery store lately, and it makes me really quite disheartened. It reminds me how wonderful it feels to be in charge of your own food production and procurement, that’s for sure. The the cow is dry until January, the milking sheep are dry until February and our goats won’t be milking until spring. So I’ve had to buy pasteurized (yuk!!!) milk from the grocery store. At least it’s goat milk. I can’t wait for fresh milk so I can make butter and yogurt as well as more cheese. Delicious cheeeeese….

With such a poor turn out with our garden this year and not having put away much from our neighbours bounties either, I am buying produce at the store too. And it’s expensive and comes from far off places and I find the whole thing quite unfortunate. It’s not hard to be enthusiastic about gardening, but this is only going to add fuel to next spring’s fire. And I am hoping next fall Scott gets us a deer for the freezer for the winter. Wild meat, the best kind. While I think we do a great job keeping our chickens and goats happy, but no doubt an animal from the wild would bequeath unto us the happiest meat.

Scott taking a break from his new passion (firearms) to nibble toes; Bob drawing cats; Bob with Nono Goo Eyes, aka NonoGwise. It’s eyes haven’t cleared up entirely but they are better than before. It is an exceptionally friendly cat, I’m glad it’s here. Especially given that CatCat is growing more crotchety every day that NoNo gets fluffier. She’s really turning back into her old sourpuss self. That’s OK I guess, she’s elderly and between Bob & the dog & the new cat she’s likely on her last nerve. Been reading a little bit about raw food diets for cats, as well that if you’re not feeding raw, that wet food is far better than dry. If anyone out there knows anything about this stuff, please email me.

Here’s one of Bob’s hi-ho drawings. We have to coax the MagnaDoodle out of his hands regularly to snap pictures before he erases them. Great that we’re saving paper, but unfortunate that so many drawings get zippily un-magnified in seconds. Bob has been big into forts lately. Our kitchen chairs get covered with sheets every day for loads of fun. Meeps is doing her flying baby schtick there on the right.

We are very happy Obama is the president elect. I voted for him, absentee. My mom is American and filed for citizenship for me when I was born, so I get to do fun things like work, file taxes and vote in the US of A. He’s got some mess to contend with after the last 8 years of complete chaos at the hands of a dimwit. I heard an interview with him this morning where he was asked about that topic; if he has any apprehension about taking over the presidency when the country is so deeply troubled. And his answer was no, that he it was the best time to be president. And I thought, all right man. I like your message. I don’t care if you want to call it spin, or schtick or total bullshit, but I like it, being a glass is half FULL girl myself.

I don’t know what I am more pleased about – the fact that my kids’ first memory of an American president won’t be a memory of yet another old white dinosaur, OR that the president ISN’T a dimwit, but an intelligent, educated fella. On the topic of intelligence, though I was pleased when Obama pulled ahead of Clinton in the presidential race, I do really feel for Hilary after the Palin debacle. She must have required plenty of valium to get to sleep at night after that. Oy.

I truly believe in a global consciousness and I am very hopeful for change. In Canadian political news, it sure is a hot race here… which old white guy will take over the Liberal party? Wooooooo. We’re all glued to the news coverage on that one.

I am head over heels in love with my husband. And I love him for a lot of reasons, one being that he is hilarious and makes me laugh a LOT. Like last night when he tried going to bed without brushing his teeth.

I was being a bit of a rat “Okay my cavity ridden compadre, let’s brush… You know your dental office calls me ALL the time? [Which they do]. They must be hard up or something. They called again yesterday, they called the week before that, some weeks they call three times a week…”

He goes “Yup, it’s a real game of cat and mouse!”

I was laughing at him until I had tears in my eyes and he was laughing at the You Did NOT Just Say That look on my face and we laughed so hard we nearly woke the kids.

On a different note, check out the International Rescue Committee if you get a chance, eh.