Catching Up
Find a box of Teddy Grahams that dad left on the couch the night before while mom is in the bathroom. Take aforesaid box to the kitchen. Try to alert mom by shaking, rattling, crinkling. Mom is just hustling out so just as she appears dump out the entire contents of the box and share with the cat.
Go to the doctor – AGAIN. This time no needles, no pokes, but still fear and loathing.
Look adorable in another Auntie M creation.
Play with friends at Mom’s work.
Play with Dad’s iPod. (Thanks to Auntie M for this shirt as well).
Play with the cat in the laundry bin.
Do some logging with G’ma and Mommy.
Tell them how to do it right.
Drink some milk at Gustav’s.
Be a princess (another of Auntie M’s precious creations).
Go to the library and climb on the chairs like a big girl.
…but still be afraid of the giant tiger in a safety vest outside.
Wear a hard hat with…um…cuteness?
Drive the public utility vehicles in the library parking lot.
“Eat” pudding. If you can call that eating.
Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (2)Food Facts & Cooks Challenge I
First a disclaimer: This post may be a bit like discussing religion or politics. So if you are a firm believer in returning to our roots and eating like it, then skip these posts.
A return to the “golden days” would not make us live longer or healthier lives like so many people seem to believe. If we ate like our ancestors we would get sick more often and die younger. That’s history. How many people do you know who have a vitamin A deficiency, rickets, scurvy? None? Really? No one?
I get sick and tired of people talking about the way “WE” used to do things and how it was so much better for us. Yep, no cancer (or fill in the blank of your choosing) back in the day – cause guess what – everybody DIED before they could get it.
I am all about home-grown, get to the roots, fresh food, and using the best possible ingredients (of course) for very simple food (think bread), BUT that being said…aren’t we getting a tad ridiculous?
Organic – Is it Truly Better?
I think growing your own food is wonderful. I don’t think any store bought veggie can measure up to ANYTHING you grow yourself. But organic milk – for $4-6 per gallon? Eggs? Bananas – come on, you don’t even eat the peel!
Reasons not to choose organic products:
1) It’s a cash cow of the large farms – It does not support small/local farms.
2) Less safe on a microbial level, and although these farms can use natural (organic) pesticides, they are still toxins – and they can use higher amounts than commercial fertilizers/pesticides. It is less healthy in many ways. (Same idea as “natural” medicines – natural does not equal safe)
3) It takes more room (less room for habitat) and it’s more costly for both the farmers and consumers. Organic foods are not better for the environment/economy.
And sometimes it is just utterly ridiculous. For example, sometimes a portion of the milk used to make organic yogurt may be taken from a chemical-free cow in New Zealand, powdered, and then shipped to the U.S.
Buying from local farms and farmers would be arguably better but buying organic is not a good choice all of the time. The only reason I can see why organic would be so much better is if you really feel the taste is superior. Then by all means, pay the price for organic. Just don’t complain when you wind up in the hospital with a massive E.coli infestation.
Some websites with information about organics.
http://www.skragglies.com/article2.html
http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4019?popular=true
http://www.consumerfreedom.com/news_detail.cfm/headline/2334
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_42/b4005001.htm
http://www.reason.com/blog/show/126276.html
Challenge for Cooks
Compare the addresses of organic eggs, milk, fruits, veggies, etc. to the store brand and see how far the organic products are shipped. Buy both organic and non organic and compare the freshness, taste/flavor, color, and texture. What do these differences tell you about each?
Filed under Cooking | Comment (1)garden@home
My garden postings have moved….
garden@home sprouted up recently (2009) as a companion to life@home.
It’s my way to track what’s growing, blooming, and thriving in Oregon’s Willamette valley. This blog is meant to serve as a running (mostly photographic) journal of what I am growing, what’s blooming, and what I do with the bounty of my gardens. Hope this blog inspires you to grow, create, and enjoy the goodness from the garden.
Filed under Garden | Comment (0)There Might be Some Pee in our Pool
Thanks to G’pa and G’ma D the baby not only didn’t have to use her legs for a full 3 days, but she also got a pool. Yep, grandparents ARE exceptionally good at spoiling their grandchildren.
She was a little concerned at first but her dad helped her warm up to it.
This is GREAT!
Hooray!
Splish!
Splash!
Peeking!
I think she coulda stayed in there all night.
She LOVES the dogs.
Clap!
G’ma showed her how to blow bubbles.
She had no fear of sticking her face right in there and tried herself.
Finally, it was time to get out…
It was a lot of fun watching her. Each new thing she does, each skill she picks up, each moment of wonder, for each I am thankful and amazed. Sometimes, I look at her and my breath just catches…she is so precious to me. And she is so loved, thank you to all who love her.
Filed under Home life | Comment (1)A Day at the Zoo
For Jessi’s birthday we took her and the munchkin on a very special trip to the…
Don’t they look excited…well, at least the birthday girl does.
It was a beautiful Saturday morning and it was PACKED!
She was ABSORBED.
She was at least as interested in the ball as the monkey.
The orangutan was very interested in my sweet pea. She, in turn, paid the big female orang great attention and woulda liked to kiss her.
Fish face with dad.
Daddy reminding her the sign for turtle.
What a great day!
Now that’s a tired girl.
She didn’t even wake up when we put her in the car seat.
Happy Birthday my dear best friend!
Filed under Home life | Comment (1)
April Getaway II
Just a few more pics…
Our family
The sweetie-pie got a LOT of stairs practice
Playing with Grandma
Waiting to be commanded
Filed under Travel | Comment (0)Well Sheesh, I Knew She was Cute…
Our sweet girl won a happpiest baby contest. So we get a free Ergo (our baby carrier – which we absolutely love and couldn’t imagine doing without). I entered her on a whim and what-do-you-know, she won! You can see for yourself here if you’d like.
Filed under Home life | Comments (4)April Getaway
We took a semi-civilized camping trip to Emigrant Springs Campground, where we met my parents for the weekend. Being together was wonderful, as was the rest, the weather, and our surroundings.
We stayed in cabins.
There was still snow on the ground but the sun graced us with its face most of the weekend. It was warm enough to sit out on lawn chairs (in the sun) and read. When clouds rolled over or when the wind was a little strong, we played games, lounged, or ate in the cabins.
The cabins were great, much like the yurts we stayed at in Fort Stevens. But these had a fridge, stove, oven, and the heater worked great.
This is where we ate in my parents’ cabin. And boy did we eat.
My dad made most of the meals (my mom had prepared most of them before they came) and they were delicious. I think I gained 10 pounds. My mom and I ate almost a whole pan of brownies in one weekend. This is not right. Camping, hiking – these things should help me lose weight – not gain it!
I think even the kiddo gained weight. She opened her eyes and mouth as wide as can be for the Rice Krispies treats.
The fridge is in the right corner.
The baby’s PeaPod (her sleepy tent) covered by a blanket.
The mattresses were a little hard, but otherwise we were warm and comfy.
G’ma and sweetie-pie playing in the snow.
We had snow fun…
…and reading fun…
…and hiking fun.
G’pa and G’ma D…
…and the dogs.
Some very pretty flowers we saw on the hike.
My mom and a giant tree, it just pulled right out of the ground.
Playing with grandpa’s gloves is fun!
Playing with the dogs is fun!
Especially the tails.
Squishing a pine cone is fun. Well, at least I think it was fun. She kept doing it.
Playing at the hot fire was fun. If you look closely, you can see her blowing with her lips (the sign for hot).
Walking though the park was fun.
After we came back from the showers every night she was exhausted. Too much playing!
She had such a good weekend. And so did we.
Filed under Travel | Comment (0)