Peace Within the Mayhem

foxglove, cast-glove

2010-05-19T08:45:00.001-04:00

foxglove, cast-glove
Originally uploaded by anniehuntington

Annie took her new camera out for a test-drive and got this wonderfully colorful picture. Love it!
Now that Annie is back home, Jedd's childhood will resume being photographed. There has been an 8 month suspension of that while the girls were away to college.

thinning seedlings

2010-04-14T08:43:00.002-04:00

I just stood at my kitchen sink thinning seedlings from pots of herbs I've started that sit on my windowsill. It was very difficult. I felt like a murderer. I felt like the surviving seedlings were tilting towards me with an accusatory look. Which led me to wondering, "How on earth do people make decisions on selective abortion"?
How could a mother look at a womb-full of babies and say keep that one but expel this one?
Just wondering...

Canadian Premier heads to the U.S. for heart surgery...

2010-02-04T14:21:00.002-05:00

Health Care: A Canadian premier, Danny Williams, said Tuesday he was headed for the U.S. for heart surgery. That's a bit ironic, given that Democrats hail Canada-care as a model for the U.S. and call our system "broken."

Hmmm. For me, the above says it all......
Yes, changes do need to be made to the system. No one that I know argues this. But, perhaps we could start with opening the state borders to choice in insurance carriers. And lets make a huge dent in torte reform.
Let's start small and work our way to this change and see what works, in as real a free market system as we could possibly have, if certain institutions would get out of the way.

True Luxury

2010-02-02T09:27:00.003-05:00

I've got snow puddles by the back door that my aging dog has left there upon re-entry.There is cold leaking into the room through old windows and wall air conditioners which helps me appreciate this fleecy bathrobe and the gas fire to my right. A laptop computer keeps my lap as warm as a lapdog would (shhh! whisper that so that our 137 lb. lab isn't insulted!).
And coffee keeps enticing me to yet another cup. It's so fun to make and so good to drink. Pick a little pod of flavor, press it into the machine and push a button for your choice of strength. Better than a Starbucks in my kitchen. I love to cut the ends off of an orange and then slice into pieces. A little thing I didn't learn till my 30's. Before this I always peeled the orange. Messy job, that.
This is my typical morning hour.
Many, many thanks to Thom for this daily allowance. I know the luxury of this to so many.

billion, trillion...whatever.

2009-12-29T09:19:00.001-05:00

A billion is only a thousandth of a trillion. Huh.
I don't know that my taxes can cover that no matter how high you raise them....take it all & give me back $5 a week allowance, it still won't dent it. Oh, & then you'll have to feed, clothe & shelter me, too.
That wouldn't be the plan by any chance would it? Because I don't like the color gray.

moonless comfort

2009-09-10T07:33:00.002-04:00

Another year of homeschooling started this week. Much quieter than any other. I've made myself stop many habits to try and find a good routine. No more radio in the morning. That was a hard one to break, but I found I often got stuck in one part of the house because I didn't want to "miss" anything. Now I'm trying to get some chores and work done before we crack open books. This is when I feel the real emptiness of the house. The void of the twins departure. No Henley and Chalice visiting the house or stopping by the store. I'm trying to load the weekdays up for Jedd. Book club/bowling with another homeschooling family on Mondays. Music lessons on Wednesdays and co-op on Fridays. I feel peace with it all though. Annie and Emma are so happy about their places right now it would be terrible to begrudge them this joy. And I need to take advantage of this time because Jedd is being extra wonderful about letting me hug and smother him as he knows it's hard for me (and him too, if we're being truthful). Last night he and I walked the dog and it was pretty late and getting downright chilly. I had a giant shawl wrapped around my shoulders and his and we banged and hip-checked our way down to the river and around a few blocks trying to spot a star or two behind the cloud cover. Couldn't even spot the moon much less a star, but we had some good laughs and the darkness allowed a 13 year old boy to cuddle with his mom on a late night walk.

never let a good crisis go to waste

2009-08-18T14:49:00.003-04:00

I've spoken to a few of you whom I know read this blog, so I wanted to link you to this article:

http://www.newswithviews.com/Mary/starrett206.htm

Stand strong in the face of violations to our freedoms.

generations of build up

2009-08-14T09:45:00.004-04:00

Yeah, I know Alex Jones is known for being absolutely over the top and out there, bigtime! But, why was he arrested in America for asking this question? What's going on hasn't started with Obama or Bush. It's been building up for a very long time.....

This was written by William Blase of The Courier:

Baron M.A. Rothschild wrote, "Give me control over a nation's currency and I care not who makes its laws."

All that is needed to effectively control a government is to have control over the nation's money: a central bank with a monopoly over the supply of money and credit. This had been done in Western Europe, with the creation of privately owned central banks such as the Bank of England.

Georgetown professor Dr. Carroll Quigley (Bill Clinton's mentor while at Georgetown) wrote about the goals of the investment bankers who control central banks: "... nothing less than to create a world system of financial control in private hands able to dominate the political system of each country and the economy of the world as a whole... controlled in a feudalist fashion by the central banks of the world acting in concert, by secret agreements arrived at in frequent private meetings and conferences."

The Bank of the United States (1816-36), an early attempt at an American central bank, was abolished by President Andrew Jackson, who believed that it threatened the nation. He wrote: "The bold effort the present bank had made to control the government, the distress it had wantonly produced...are but premonitions of the fate that awaits the American people should they be deluded into a perpetuation of this institution or the establishment of another like it."

Thomas Jefferson wrote: "The Central Bank is an institution of the most deadly hostility existing against the principles and form of our Constitution...if the American people allow private banks to control the issuance of their currency, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all their property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."

Does that not describe the situation in America today?

July 4th

2009-08-13T22:45:00.002-04:00

I knew that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died within hours of each other on July 4th, 1826. I did not know that James Monroe died 5 years later on July 4th,1831. That's gotta have some kind of special meaning to it....

2009-08-10T13:53:00.005-04:00

my mini cow

2009-08-07T07:21:00.001-04:00

my mama's birthday
Originally uploaded by anniehuntington

On Tuesday, I entered my 49th year, celebrating my 48th birthday. I'd asked for a mini-cow for the backyard. Thom knows me better than I know myself though and gave me a Kindle instead and put the mini cow to graze on my birthday cake. He is a wise, wise man.

aahh....

2009-08-05T21:05:00.002-04:00

This sounded like a calm, cool, collected mother to me! Personally, I think this is the perfect way to teach the selfish one a gentle lesson....A little humble pie is good for everyone.And it made me laugh!

How to be a gracious b****...
Jennifer's wedding day was fast approaching. Nothing could dampen her
excitement -- not even her parent's nasty divorce.

Her mother had found the PERFECT dress to wear and would be the
best-dressed mother- of-the-bride ever!

A week later, Jennifer was horrified to learn that her father's new
young wife had bought the exact same dress as her mother!

Jennifer asked her father's new young wife to exchange it, but she refused.
'Absolutely not, I look like a million bucks in this dress, and I'm
Wearing it,' she replied.

Jennifer told her mother who graciously said, 'Never mind sweetheart.
I'll get another dress. After all, it 's your special day.'

A few days later, they went shopping and did find another gorgeous dress.
When they stopped for lunch, Jennifer asked her mother, 'Aren't you
going to return the other dress? You really don't have another
occasion where you could wear it.

Her mother just smiled and replied, 'Of course I do, dear. I'm wearing
it to the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding.'

"13" redeemed from superstition

2009-07-30T11:52:00.002-04:00

Six soldiers hoisted the flag in that famous photo at Iwo Jima. That's twelve hands, 6 pairs of hands. But if you were to look carefully at the bronze statue in Washington D.C., you would count 13 hands raising the flag. When the artist was asked about this, he replied simply, "the thirteenth is the Hand of God".
I like this...

1 vs. 300

2009-07-25T07:22:00.003-04:00

Go back in time to the 1970's when a different swine flu was circling the globe. Big outcry from government for a vaccine. Unproven drug trials.
One death from flu.
Three hundred deaths from vaccine.
Will you be willing to inject this newest vaccine into your family's arm? It is said by the WHO that they will be running a special 5-day trial on it in order to speed things up and get it out there for children over the age of 6 months and up first.Thereby foregoing the usual months of testing.
Not in my family's arm thank you very much.
Start building up natural immunities now. Extra vitamin D will be a good thing to ingest right now. Especially since we've developed a sun phobia and slather ourselves with chemicals to protect our skin from any stray ray of sunshine.
As for myself. I've stocked up on Kleenex and cold medicine. I figure we're gonna face it head-on and be miserable for 10 or 12 days. IF it even explodes like 'they" are predicting and comes our way. We're all relatively healthy with no underlying issues. And I'm not above making a fashion de-statement with a fancy facemask and exchanging sun chemicals for hand sanitizing chemicals...I wonder if we can handpaint our facemasks, make them pretty and artistic and sell them on Etsy?

lovely, lovely drops

2009-07-23T08:12:00.004-04:00

It's raining a lovely, steady rain. I believe it has been over three weeks since the last such rain. It occurs to me that I should run out and scatter some grass seed to replace that which has withered away.
My giant,wet dog lays at my feet. Stinky.
It is so soothing to listen to this patter.
Thank you God. I've missed this so much.

god of destruction for the spark of life?

2009-06-18T08:11:00.004-04:00

I just saw a photograph of the CERN Headquarters, where the most advanced atomic research is done (think Hadron Collider) and outside the doors is a giant lighted statue of Lord Shiva. This is the third god of the Hindu trinity, he is the god of destruction and death. Brahma is the god of creation, and Vishnu is the preserver. So it makes me shudder to think of why Shiva was chosen to represent the research done there. I thought they were trying to find the first spark of life. The creation of the universe...so why pick out a god of death and destruction as your "mascot"?
Just curious....
As for me. I'll stick with the Christian Trinity and place my faith in the word of God, the Hope of Jesus and the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit, rather than a bunch of men outside Geneva smashing atoms together. I already know with certainty how the universe was created...it was the Breath of Life, literally.

an open letter

2009-06-17T11:47:00.003-04:00

I just heard this woman speak on the Glenn Beck program. She put many (all) my thoughts into words. I think many of us agree with her whether democrat or republican...Here they are:
I'm a home grown American citizen, 53, registered Democrat all my life. Before the last presidential election I registered as a Republican because I no longer felt the Democratic Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. Now I no longer feel the Republican Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. The fact is I no longer feel any political party or representative in Washington represents my views or works to pursue the issues important to me. There must be someone. Please tell me who you are. Please stand up and tell me that you are there and that you're willing to fight for our Constitution as it was written. Please stand up now. You might ask yourself what my views and issues are that I would horribly feel so disenfranchised by both major political parties. What kind of nut job am I? Will you please tell me?

Well, these are briefly my views and issues for which I seek representation:

One, illegal immigration. I want you to stop coddling illegal immigrants and secure our borders. Close the underground tunnels. Stop the violence and the trafficking in drugs and people. No amnesty, not again. Been there, done that, no resolution. P.S., I'm not a racist. This isn't to be confused with legal immigration.

Two, the TARP bill, I want it repealed and I want no further funding supplied to it. We told you no, but you did it anyway. I want the remaining unfunded 95% repealed. Freeze, repeal.

Three: Czars, I want the circumvention of our checks and balances stopped immediately. Fire the czars. No more czars. Government officials answer to the process, not to the president. Stop trampling on our Constitution and honor it.

Four, cap and trade. The debate on global warming is not over. There is more to say.

Five, universal healthcare. I will not be rushed into another expensive decision. Don't you dare try to pass this in the middle of the night and then go on break. Slow down!

Six, growing government control. I want states rights and sovereignty fully restored. I want less government in my life, not more. Shrink it down. Mind your own business. You have enough to take care of with your real obligations. Why don't you start there.

Seven, ACORN. I do not want ACORN and its affiliates in charge of our 2010 census. I want them investigated. I also do not want mandatory escrow fees contributed to them every time on every real estate deal that closes. Stop the funding to ACORN and its affiliates pending impartial audits and investigations. I do not trust them with taking the census over with our taxpayer money. I don't trust them with our taxpayer money. Face up to the allegations against them and get it resolved before taxpayers get any more involved with them. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, hello. Stop protecting your political buddies. You work for us, the people. Investigate.

Eight, redistribution of wealth. No, no, no. I work for my money. It is mine. I have always worked for people with more money than I have because they gave me jobs. That is the only redistribution of wealth that I will support. I never got a job from a poor person. Why do you want me to hate my employers? Why ‑‑ what do you have against shareholders making a profit?

Nine, charitable contributions. Although I never got a job from a poor person, I have helped many in need. Charity belongs in our local communities, where we know our needs best and can use our local talent and our local resources. Butt out, please. We want to do it ourselves.

Ten, corporate bailouts. Knock it off. Sink or swim like the rest of us. If there are hard times ahead, we'll be better off just getting into it and letting the strong survive. Quick and painful. Have you ever ripped off a Band‑Aid? We will pull together. Great things happen in America under great hardship. Give us the chance to innovate. We cannot disappoint you more than you have disappointed us.

Eleven, transparency and accountability. How about it? No, really, how about it? Let's have it. Let's say we give the buzzwords a rest and have some straight honest talk. Please try ‑‑ please stop manipulating and trying to appease me with clever wording. I am not the idiot you obviously take me for. Stop sneaking around and meeting in back rooms making deals with your friends. It will only be a prelude to your criminal investigation. Stop hiding things from me.

Twelve, unprecedented quick spending. Stop it now.

Take a breath. Listen to the people. Let's just slow down and get some input from some nonpoliticians on the subject. Stop making everything an emergency. Stop speed reading our bills into law. I am not an activist. I am not a community organizer. Nor am I a terrorist, a militant or a violent person. I am a parent and a grandparent. I work. I'm busy. I'm busy. I am busy, and I am tired. I thought we elected competent people to take care of the business of government so that we could work, raise our families, pay our bills, have a little recreation, complain about taxes, endure our hardships, pursue our personal goals, cut our lawn, wash our cars on the weekends and be responsible contributing members of society and teach our children to be the same all while living in the home of the free and land of the brave.

I entrusted you with upholding the Constitution. I believed in the checks and balances to keep from getting far off course. What happened? You are very far off course. Do you really think I find humor in the hiring of a speed reader to unintelligently ramble all through a bill that you signed into law without knowing what it contained? I do not. It is a mockery of the responsibility I have entrusted to you. It is a slap in the face. I am not laughing at your arrogance. Why is it that I feel as if you would not trust me to make a single decision about my own life and how I would live it but you should expect that I should trust you with the debt that you have laid on all of us and our children. We did not want the TARP bill. We said no. We would repeal it if we could. I am sure that we still cannot. There is such urgency and recklessness in all of the recent spending.

From my perspective, it seems that all of you have gone insane. I also know that I am far from alone in these feelings. Do you honestly feel that your current pursuits have merit to patriotic Americans? We want it to stop. We want to put the brakes on everything that is being rushed by us and forced upon us. We want our voice back. You have forced us to put our lives on hold to straighten out the mess that you are making. We will have to give up our vacations, our time spent with our children, any relaxation time we may have had and money we cannot afford to spend on you to bring our concerns to Washington. Our president often knows all the right buzzword is unsustainable. Well, no kidding. How many tens of thousands of dollars did the focus group cost to come up with that word? We don't want your overpriced words. Stop treating us like we're morons.

We want all of you to stop focusing on your reelection and do the job we want done, not the job you want done or the job your party wants done. You work for us and at this rate I guarantee you not for long because we are coming. We will be heard and we will be represented. You think we're so busy with our lives that we will never come for you? We are the formerly silent majority, all of us who quietly work , pay taxes, obey the law, vote, save money, keep our noses to the grindstone and we are now looking up at you. You have awakened us, the patriotic spirit so strong and so powerful that it had been sleeping too long. You have pushed us too far. Our numbers are great. They may surprise you. For every one of us who will be there, there will be hundreds more that could not come. Unlike you, we have their trust. We will represent them honestly, rest assured. They will be at the polls on voting day to usher you out of office. We have cancelled vacations. We will use our last few dollars saved. We will find the representation among us and a grassroots campaign will flourish. We didn't ask for this fight. But the gloves are coming off. We do not come in violence, but we are angry. You will represent us or you will be replaced with someone who will. There are candidates among us when he will rise like a Phoenix from the ashes that you have made of our constitution.

Democrat, Republican, independent, libertarian. Understand this. We don't care. Political parties are meaningless to us. Patriotic Americans are willing to do right by us and our Constitution and that is all that matters to us now. We are going to fire all of you who abuse power and seek more. It is not your power. It is ours and we want it back. We entrusted you with it and you abused it. You are dishonorable. You are dishonest. As Americans we are ashamed of you. You have brought shame to us. If you are not representing the wants and needs of your constituency loudly and consistently, in spite of the objections of your party, you will be fired. Did you hear? We no longer care about your political parties. You need to be loyal to us, not to them. Because we will get you fired and they will not save you. If you do or can represent me, my issues, my views, please stand up. Make your identity known. You need to make some noise about it. Speak up. I need to know who you are. If you do not speak up, you will be herded out with the rest of the sheep and we will replace the whole damn congress if need be one by one. We are coming. Are we coming for you? Who do you represent? What do you represent? Listen. Because we are coming. We the people are coming.

If this speaks to you, pass it on. It is an open letter and meant to be read by all.

celebrations

2009-05-25T08:21:00.002-04:00

Happy Memorial Day!
To celebrate our friends in North Korea have tested an underground nuclear test and Iran has sent six warships into international waters.
Yippee!
Really though, we appreciate the celebrations, but we as a country are going low key theses days, so thanks, but no thanks! We'd appreciate it if you respected our wishes for privacy. Just family really. Noone else is invited.
So why not keep those very special party celebrations for another time. A very distant time.

Game night!

2009-05-16T08:38:00.002-04:00

Last night the sound of laughter echoed off the walls of our home. Screechy springs screamed across the lawn from the trampoline. Food smells wafted from room to room and dismayed laughs arose when the dog got his snout into the bowl off cheese puffs.
Last night was junior/senior youth group game night and we were the happy recipients of the crowd of kids. Emma pulled out at least twenty games, but I think they stuck to two, with a few breakoff groups playing on their own. Happily I might add.
What a true gift to have watched these kids grow from, for some of them, infancy or toddlers into the young adults they've become.
Hannah and Patrick and Stephanie and Eric brought their baby boys and it was interesting to watch the teenage girls' mothering instincts rise up and out and clamor for a cuddle with an infant. It was so sweet!
My own husband made me question his culinary tastes when he piled meatballs on top of Domino's Pizza. More than once.
But the laughing...how grateful I am to have heard the laughter of this crew. We'll have to have a least one more game night here before the girls take off for college.
Of course we'll still want the kids here in the next years as Jedd moves from junior to senior youth group, but this will be the end of this era and the start of a new one.
Change.

the perfect moment to start

2009-05-13T10:00:00.005-04:00

Picking up one plump red strawberry at a time and rinsing it under cold water, gently shaking it and laying it in a growing puddle on the counter.
Reaching for the next berry and repeating until a nice pile lies in wait.
Opening a drawer and removing a sharp green knife from its sheath and slicing and dicing berries into a cheerful Emma Bridgewater bowl covered in polka dots.
Now a sprinkling of sugar to cover .
Stir gently and let the seeping juices drip throughout the bowl.
Lift spoon to mouth and savor the first bite of sweetness.
Try to eat them slowly, but it's an impossiblility.
This is how to enjoy even the smallest moments of life.
SAVOR the moments. Each and every moment. I know we can't really do this. We're human. We get caught up in all the moments instead of breaking them up into increments of loveliness. But we can try to keep reminding ourselves, and the beauty of a strawberry just may be the place to start all over again.

sheep

2009-05-05T10:05:00.003-04:00

Here we go again...
In my memory it started with the pronunciation of Uranus.
Then it was the word, "harassment".
In the past years we've switched from things "disappearing" to all things "go missing".
And now the media is slowly giving us the British version of closing down stores, banks, you name it. Nothing, according to the media, is closing down anymore. It is all being "shuttered".
It is all so very pretentious.

pretentious.

There's my rant for the day....

Bella Luna

2009-05-02T08:36:00.003-04:00

Steamed mussels, gnocchi, olive tapenade, crusty bread, red wine, strong Italian coffee.
Yum.
This was my dinner last night made better only by the company of Anna and Cetta.
Bella Luna of Cambridge.
Try it.

countdown

2009-04-30T16:41:00.003-04:00

19 minutes till the work day is through. Quiet, still, peaceful day. A few good sales to ring the till and make the bankers and accountants and taxman happy. I've swept the floor,reaaranged stock and made a timely addition to my window display. I've a sad sense of humor so until I'm scolded a black and white pig standing next to a few packs of tissues which read 'bless you' on them stand boldly on a pink bench. My nod to swine flu.

choas begets order.....

2009-04-29T09:02:00.002-04:00

Our ukrainian friend Kolya is taking on Thom's "honey-do" list today. As you can imagine I'm thrilled. Our foyer has had peeling paint from past leaks for years. Today, it will be scraped and prepared for paint. The upstairs bathroom has been being stripped of wallpaper for over a year. A tug here, a pull there. It wasn't even a half-hearted effort. Today, it will be finished, and prepared for painting.
The kids have begged for a dishwasher for years. In this economy, the sales were too great for me to resist. Why, it's practically free! It will be delivered this afternoon. Kolya is preparing the space for it as I write.
So, I've been filling boxes from cupboards and emptying the bathroom for the big scrapdown. My house is now chaos.
My father-in-law will be here for dinner at five o'clock. sigh.....Luckily he's the type of man who comes to see us, not the house. I think he'll be forgiving of the wreck he'll find himself in. It would be more thoughtful, I'm sure to reschedule, but selfish me likes his company. So dinner is on!

Question...

2009-04-18T08:34:00.002-04:00

Why is it that when I wake in the morning I feel "sugar-free? No need to rifle through the cupboards looking for a Reese Cup or other form of chocolate to melt in my mouth.
Why is it then that at 7 p.m. each night I feel like I'm going to hurt people if someone doesn't shove that brown gooey substance into my mouth thereby expanding my backside?!
Just wondering...

sun rotates around the earth?

2009-04-13T10:26:00.002-04:00

Here is my latest pet peeve. People saying with all sincerity that "we are a democracy".
NO! WE"RE NOT!
Were these people sleeping in history class? We are a Constitutional Republic. For ages I have refrained from correcting people because I didn't want to, well, I don't know what I didn't want to do, maybe embarrass them...

If we still said the Pledge of Allegiance to our American Flag in our schools, perhaps people would have no problem remembering this simply by having the words ingrained in their memories. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands.....

A democracy represents mob rule. MOB RULE! No thanks! I prefer my Republic where the government is meant to protect my rights under the Constitution, not grant me rights. Those rights, according to the wisdom of our founding fathers, have been bestowed upon me by God. The government has no authority to grant me anything. It would seem that they and many people of this nation have forgotten that.

But that really shouldn't be surprising. Last night Thom was sharing a poll with me from a magazine he was reading that did a "man on the street" poll. Apparently 23% of Americans believe the sun rotates around the earth. And 18% didn't know and didn't care. These were people who vote for the people who run our country.
Scary.

contortion can be good

2009-03-25T08:07:00.003-04:00

Until yesterday, I hadn't taken a yoga class in 6 or 7 years. I looked for every excuse not to go yesterday morning, but my body kept screaming to be quiet and just go. I'm achy too often and much too young to be so. Excercise is needed.
So I pulled on my now very tight excercise wear and walked into the 9 a.m. class across the street from my shop.

I bended and contorted my body into positions it hadn't seen in quite a while. Some of them used to be normal and now seemed torturous( like sitting on the floor cross-legged, which used to be the simplest).
At the end of the first hour and 15 minutes the instructor strapped us up by tying belts from around our hips through our thighs and around our folded calves. Then pillows were put under our outstretched arms and a very large block was put under our backs. It sounds strange I know, but it was so incredibly comfortable. I remember thinking that the sleep number bed company should figure a way to make all these bumps and lumps built into their system so a bed could be pumped up to these strange dimensions.
I slept deep last night for the first time in along time. I know me. Thursday morning I'll be complaining about going again...but I'm going!

M3

2009-03-23T08:49:00.002-04:00

I've been hearing about the M3 the past few days and its dissapearance from the public view by the Fed. I had no idea what the M3 is, but apparently it's the anniversary of the day they(the federal reserve) decided to save 1.5 million dollars by calling to a halt public disclosure of it. I think I read $1.5m would be the equivalent of less than .065 % of the annual income of the Fed so that seems a bit of a story.
Anyway, if you should stumble upon this story here is the M3 explanation from Fund My Mutual Fund.....

First what is M3?

So what is M3? To understand what M3 is one needs to know what M1 and M2 are as well.

M1 - Money supply that includes all coins, currency held by the public, traveler's checks, checking account balances, NOW accounts, automatic transfer service accounts, and balances in credit unions.

M2 - Money supply that includes M1, plus savings and small time deposits of depository institutions, overnight repos at commercial banks, and retail mutual fund money market accounts.

M3 - Money supply that includes M2, plus large time deposits, repos of maturity greater than one day at commercial banks, institutional money market accounts and Eurodollar deposits of US banks held at foreign branches and at all offices in the UK and Canada.

**********************

More interesting - why is M3 suddenly gone?

Some of the reasons we have seen floated around are as follows:
History has shown that only failing economies e.g. Soviet Union keep data secret (Financial Sense - Toni Straka - Unpleasant M3 Trend, November 12, 2005). An interesting premise and a theme we saw woven amongst a number of writers is that they have something to hide. The claim is that the Fed should be transparent and by not publishing the number the Fed now lacks transparency.
The end of publishing of M3 in March 2006 coincides with the start of the Iranian Oil Bourse. The premise here is that the with the oil bourse trading in Euros there will be a rush out of US$ into Euros and that M3 could drop sharply. A sharp drop in M3 would of course presage a recession as falling M3 is a characteristic of weak economic periods.
M3 is a measure of inflation in the economy. A somewhat unproven rule of thumb is GDP + inflation = M3. Will be able to properly measure inflation going forward if we don't know what M3 really is.
We are about to enter a period of hyperinflation and by eliminating M3 we will not know how much liquidity the Fed is pumping into the system. Remember the Fed doesn't really print money it is the banking system that expands money supply. But the Fed influences it through open market operations. We will have to watch daily Fed repo action very carefully irrespective of whether they are going to publish Repos (RPs) as noted in the bulletin above. The Fed doing repos puts money into the system and the Fed doing reverse repos takes money out of the system. Of course as well this is the exact opposite of the collapse in M3 premised with the oil bourse above.
Further on the theme above a period of hyperinflation would occur as the Fed tries to save us from a collapsing housing market and softer consumer demand. The Fed adds more and more liquidity to the system to stave off a sharp economic decline. By not publishing Repos (RPs) as noticed in their bulletin above the Fed again is hiding what they do on a day to day basis. This will make it difficult for both currency traders and equity traders to know what the Fed is up to.
The conclusion is that the Federal Reserve will be hiding a debasement of the US$.

Just thought I'd share!

wonder

2009-03-22T17:00:00.002-04:00

I rather feel that Mark Twain put my own curiosity quite nicely;

“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on….or by imbeciles who really mean it.”
Mark Twain

Amelie

2009-03-18T12:43:00.003-04:00

I'm standing in the shop right now with the 'Amelie" soundtrack playing. It is so sweet and whimsical and happy with mists of melancholy running through here and there. Well, that just makes sense, since it's from the movie beloved by my daughters and myself for those very traits.
If you've not seen the movie or listened to the soundtrack by Yann Tierson, may I suggest that you make it a priority in your life this month?
Truly, it will make you smile....

a golden birthday

2009-03-12T22:35:00.006-04:00

March 13 is Jedd's golden birthday.

13 on the 13th.

We have strands of golden beads and golden streamers and golden plates and in my opinion we are redeeming friday the 13th to an un-superstitious day.
As usual, the lad doesn't want a big party. Just family. He's requested the usual giant chocolate chip cookie baked on a pizza stone in leiu of a traditional cake.
Annie is picking him up from homeschool co-op and taking him to Salisbury to pick up Chick-Fil-A nuggets for his special dinner.
Thankyou Lord. We treasure this boy and are grateful that you've trusted him with us in our family.
Happy Birthday Jedd!

red wine

2009-03-12T15:55:00.007-04:00

This is my brain at 2a.m. after red wine with dinner...
Staring out my second floor bedroom window, sleepless, listening to the whistling wind, and thinking how barren it looks with no leaves on the tree tops, I ponder that the night is brooding and cold.
hmmm....barren...and broody. Odd. One can relate to a childless woman, while another can relate to a woman deeply desiring children. And they can certainly be both at the same time.
A cold, empty night...barren and broody.
An empty woman...barren and broody.
There you have my brain in the middle of the night.
At 2 a.m. this seemed somehow noteworthy and important. Not so much in the light of the day.
I am exhausted today.
Is it any wonder?
No wine tonight.

sceptical

2009-03-11T08:19:00.006-04:00

Just call me a skeptic or even a conspiracy theorist. But when the curators of the Smithsonian opened Lincoln's pocketwatch yesterday for the first time ever, on rumor that the jeweler in the mid-1800's had inscribed a secret message, and found "Thank God we have a government!" in it....well, sorry, I'm not buying it. I would have believed, "thank God you're our president!" But Government? Nope!
In this time of economic turmoil when so much of America is starting to feel angst and anger against this stimulus package, and towards our politicians double standards on taxation, and taxation without representation,and further stripping of rights for the unborn, the list goes on and on and on.....The government is stripping us of our rights to the pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness on a daily basis....How very convenient to have Obama's hero president's watch opened with a loving message about "government"...
Like I said, just call me a skeptic....

pressie hints

2009-03-09T16:27:00.002-04:00

I'm a bit like a jellyfish right now in this chair. I couldn't be more relaxed. You see I've just returned from the Stillwater Spa where I was massaged and oiled and steamed and cleaned and dried and buffed and sent on my merry way.
I've booked another session for May, so if anyone would like to inform my husband that a gift certificate to the spa would make a perfect Mother's Day present for the woman who birthed all three of his progeny....please feel free to do so.

Slumdog Millionaire

2009-03-08T20:20:00.002-04:00

The girls and I saw Slumdog Millionaire today after church. I wasn't expecting too much or too little. I was going to take it at face value.
It was wonderful! I had read so many reviews that had said it was extremely depressing. Yes, depressing, true. But it was balanced with perfect hits of humor as well. And for all those who said it was an "unbelieveable" storyline, as a Christian I saw nothing unbelieveable in it. God has worked out many stories more "unbelieveable" than this one, that are in fact, amazingly true. I could see this happening with no problem at all. (with the small exception of the wonderful scene at the very, very end. That just brings to film, my love of a good Bollywood movie. That's it. No juicy review today. Just a suggestion that you go decide for yourself while it's still out on the big screen.

forget cash cow, try cash dog. they're opposites

2009-03-05T12:17:00.003-05:00

Over the Valentine weekend, Eli, our 130 pound chocolate lab (he lost 10 lbs.!) attached himself to a little white teddy bear. He would carry it around like a mother cat would her kitten. He would lick it clean incessantly and care for it. Very sweet right? Then, a few days ago, we found that little bear with no head. NO HEAD! Eli loved it to death, so to speak. Then Eli started showing uncomfortable symptoms, no details necessary I'm sure.
This morning Jedd and I took the beast to the vet for a checkup on the situation. They took him for x-rays. Minutes passed. More minutes passed. Jedd and I paced the small room we were in, waiting. On a shelf was a glass jar containing a heart in whatever that type of specimen is preserved in. Riddled with worms. I kept finding myself sickly drawn back to it, and I really didn't want to be. I resolved to go home and give him his heartworm pill which should have been given on the first of the month.
Looking through the door window I can see across the hall through another window to where the doctor and his assistant are slipping x-rays onto a lightboard hanging from the wall. I can see Eli's x-ray. It doesn't look good.. There is a large black mass that the doctor keeps pointing to. I cracked the door a bit so i could hear what was being said. I heard "heart disease" and my own heart sunk. It shouldn't have been a surprise really, the dog is huge. It must be a burden on his heart carrying all that weight.
We kept waiting and I kept trying to hear more.
Finally, we see two nurses gearing up to heft Eli off the x-ray table two rooms over through open doors and windows. Even with the news we heard, we had to chuckle at the sight of them lifting him down.
He was so happy to see us again. I think he thought we were kenneling him there for a while.
The doctor came in and put the x-rays on our lightbox. There was the black mass and there were the blocked bowels. He raised his authoratative finger up to the mass and starts with the news there. " This black spot seen here is normal and as it should be" What!!! Then he points to a tiny white spot. "This is an unknown." But he's not terribly concerned there either. Basically, he thinks at best Eli is blocked up and needs a good bowel movement. So we've started him on high fiber( expensive) dog food and an antibiotic for infection.
On the way out the door I hand over my credit card and say goodbye to $160.00. I don't even like dogs....in general. I'd never felt the urge to own one. But ours is special in his own smelly, lumbering, loveable way. I'm trying hard not to think of the money but to think of Eli....I'm trying, but I am a sinner after all and its not easy......

catsup or ketchup?

2009-03-03T21:13:00.002-05:00

Today Emma had another snow day from school. In Jedd's mind that automatically means he has a snow day as well. I wouldn't dream of arguing this point with him. Our dear friend Henley came over and, along with Annie, we all decided to go to Salisbury (highways are perfectly clear). I figured with that many hands along I could do a mega shopping trip with multiple shopping carts. But, one must feed the mighty belly of the beast first so we started out at Chick-Fil-A. No debate; all in agreement. Five of us, five orders of 12 piece chicken nugget boxes. Mine always comes with cole slaw. I then cut each nugget in half and hide them under the slaw to soak up the juices. Jedd says it's like I'm planning a treasure hunt for my nuggets. Henley put catsup/ketchup on her nuggets! What!? Ewwww..... my kids say that they always do this when I make homemade nuggets. (these are known in our home as "Mrs. Tina Chicken" and that's how the kids request it. Named so after Tina Maddox's utterly divine homemade nuggets that I don't even pretend to come close to re-creating!) I have never witnessed this destruction of chicken before. No matter what my children say. Annie is the queen of the red stuff, and I've never seen her do this. In our home it's honey mustard on nuggets all the way. Except for Jedd, who eats all food dry. No mayo or mustard on ham sandwiches no condiments on hot dogs or hamburgers for this boy. But, today, my daughters tell me I am wrong. That catsup/ketchup is always squirted into deep dipping piles for those tasty gems. Has anyone ever witnessed this on my kids' plates before. I'm really wanting to know. What else have I missed it on? Waffles?

After that odd little lunch, Henley's not mine, we headed over to Super Walmart where I designated Henley's cart the healthy cart, and Jedd's cart the junk food cart. We filled them both. I tried to put oatmeal into Jedd's cart but he rebelled and insisted they go over to the other trolley. Henley was disgusted with him in a loving manner. He wouldn't give in. Spaghettios were allowed into his. (Don't anyone even try to shame me about feeding my children Spaghettios, please. I've loved them since I was 5 years old and will hear nothing against them). I also picked up a new rice steamer which we tried out tonight. It was the fluffiest rice I've ever eaten. I am thrilled with my new purchase! I've always secretly wanted one. Kate Howard once called me a gadget junkie or something to that effect. At first I was mildly offended. But, as I froth my coffee or chop apples into french fry shapes, I'll proudly wear that badge. I AM A GADGET JUNKIE...... (let's amend that to kitchen gadgets though, all other gadgets would belong to my husband.)

another day, hopefully another dollar

2009-02-26T10:36:00.002-05:00

I'm off to work today and then to Pennsylvania tomorrow. I feel like a seasoned country traveler these days. In the past month I've driven to Georgia, NYC, Vermont and now PA. Emma and I are going tomorrow to visit Messiah College for an "accepted student and their parents tour". We'll be up at 5 a.m. and on the road. That is actually my favorite time of the day to start a trip. I really enjoy beginning my journey in the dark and then watching the day open up before me. It rarely happens any other time as I don't usually roll out of bed till 7 a.m., unless I'm in a menopausal state of insomnia. which usually occurs in the middle of the night, therefore knocking me out cold for several hours right at the time I wouldn't mind getting up. Did that makes sense? Hmmmm...

Three Cheers For Skirts!!!

2009-02-23T17:28:00.007-05:00

Skirts. They swish against one's legs and immerse one in femininity. On cold days they wrap around the legs and let the body's own heat rev up a notch and heat the body. On hot days they let a cool breeze blow up to the nether region and cool off naturally. Circulation is key in either form of weather.
They can be an expression of seriousness, playfullness or flirtatiousness. Not limited to certain weighted fabrics as trousers basically are...they can be heavy wool or gossimer chiffon. Layers of ruffles are a personal favorite. While sewn tiers are to be found and often appreciated on others, they aren't a staple in my own closet. I think I wore too many in high school and burned out on the peace, love and hippiness of them the first time around.
If you know me you know my favorite length is below calf. Many might believe this is a modesty issue. They'd be wrong. It's a fat-calf issue. Skirts are perfect for camoflaging different body parts. They, in my humble opinion, give a better balance to the top and bottom of the human form. Feel free to differ in your own opinion.
I think it's a bit sad that so many women "save" their skirts for good occasions. Isn't every day good? My mother laughs that I never "save" any clothing for special ocassions. She's right. When there is something special, I recycle or if it's really special, I buy new. But I get my money's worth out of my clothing. I rarely wear a "special" skirt once or twice and keep it under wraps in the back of my closet awaiting the next big event. I wear my things to the grocery store, library, my store, church, lunch with friends, field trips with kids. You get the idea. It may have started in high school. We were required to wear skirts or dresses every Wednsday from morning to night (it was a boarding school). I remember girlfriends complaining that this was unfair. Not to me! It was my favorite day of the week. Okay, the fact that every Wednesday was a half day of school may have had something to do with that....
When I became a stay-at-home mom, I had a short period of feeling as though I was supposed to wear blue jeans every day. That didn't last long. It felt like a punishment. I do own one pair of blue jeans. Sometimes I even wear them two days in a row. But for me...it's three cheers for skirts!

Hurry Up and Wait!

2009-02-16T07:53:00.003-05:00

...."a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason. "
Sound familiiar? It's from the opening paragraph from "Common Sense, The Rights of Man and Other Essential Writings of Thomas Paine".

I've been calming myself with this thought in recent weeks and months. (and years?) The strength to do so comes directly from the Lord.

It seems the world is turned upside down in its reason these days. Nancy Pelosi is now the queen of "hurry up and wait". Push through this absurd "stimulus package". Quick, quick, quicker! No time to read 1,071 pages! No time to follow through on the 48 hour promise for the American people to look over it. No time for public discussion or amendments. A plane must be caught to Rome for an important award and the sky is falling! Okay....package signed. Whew! Nancy boards her plane and the president will now pick up pen in hand to sign the....dinner bill in Chicago? Huh!? All that rush and the president is having a Valentine meal in Chicago and playing basketball with his buds? He's having a mini vacation 3 weeks into his presidency when the sky is falling around us, and there is no time for the house and senate to read these pages of pork? Sooooo, maybe the president will sign this monstrosity on Tuesday...four days after the big rush. Is it possible that time will help him see reason and he'll refrain from picking up pen in hand and marking that swath of ink on the line and committing us to such error?

I imagine my disgust is shining through these words. When will our society as a whole start questioning this government? Obviously reasoning hasn't worked, so will the passage of time start opening eyes now?

Save my ears

2009-02-08T19:48:00.002-05:00

I have a small annoyance to share with you. Perhaps it's all my problem and something that doesn't bother others. Though, I don't think so. But, in the spirit of openness and transparency (in case it is only me) I don't allow my family to read magazines within 3 feet of me or open any kind of packaging in "my space". So, here goes....

Why is it that parents think the only kind of child created noise that distracts others, say, in church or a movie theater, is talking or crying etc.? By this I mean... preventing your child from creating any type of verbal noise by giving him a paper bulletin to crinkle or a bible to flip through, page by finger-nail-on-the-chalkboard page is not a good "distraction". It's only distracting me from the reason I'm there!

I spent the entire sermon today clasping my hands together tightly so I didn't rip the Good Lord's Word out of some tiny little paws sitting directly behind me. I'm all for keeping children in the sanctuary to teach them how to sit quietly during the sermon( although, I'm not 100% sure I'm being honest about that). But, ahem... key word there is quietly. While I admire the parent who can totally ignore the whiny child begging for more cookies when we're sitting at a park or playground and keep talking to the adults till the child grows bored and wanders back to the swingset, I don't applaud the fact that a parent can zone out their kid and focus on the preaching while darling toddler is WRINKLING PAPER NONSTOP! If your child cannot sit quietly, can't they be given a stuffed Winnie the Pooh or something?

While I'm at it...if you are opening a pack of mints, cough drops, gum, whatever, in a quiet place, please don't drag out the process. Just rip it open quick and get it over with.

Oh, also, how have so many people not figured out that if you crush a bag or paper up into a ball, when you throw it into the trash it's only going to expand again, doubling the original noise. Unneccesary noise is another form of pollution. Stop the Pollution!

word seminars for politicians

2009-02-02T19:02:00.004-05:00

I'd like to host a seminar for our politicians on the meaning of words. In particular, these two words...."mistake" and "choice". And here's why.
In the past few weeks, several politicians have been put forth for key positions in our government. Timothy Geithner as head of the IRS (that would be tax collector, no?) and Tom Daschle for reforming our healthcare system, including medicaid. Apparently they both think they've made terrible, innocent "mistakes" in not paying their taxes. Even though in Timothy Geithner's case the IMF ( International Monetary Fund) stapled his tax check to a form, which he then signed 4 times a year for 4 years stating he understood the checks were to be used for paying his taxes. But, he never did pay them.
In Mr. Daschle's case, he thought his friend "gifted" him a car and driver and didn't know he was required to pay taxes ( over $97,000) on them. And then, for the icing on the cake, this week he paid another $6,000 to Medicaid to cover the back taxes on that for the driver, as he hadn't understood he was supposed to pay that either.

These are the only two men in America for these positions?!
Here's my problem with these innocent "mistakes". My children understand the difference between a mistake and a choice. These men made choices, not mistakes. Nothing was innocent about these choices. They thought (think) they're above the law. The sad part is Timothy Geithner has already been shown he is above the law, as he's been appointed into the desired position.
Will Tom Daschle also slide into position?

I cringe each time I hear a politician caught in a compromising position say it was a mistake. A mistake is when a nickle falls into the quarter slot in my cash register. The next time I hand out change and give someone that nickle instead of a quarter for change and they point it out, I apologise and give them the quarter and we move on. I didn't choose to pay them a nickle instead of a quarter, I did it by mistake. It would be innocent and I'd rectify the situation.
Elliot Spitzer getting caught with a hooker in a hotel room far from home where his wife and daughters are? That is NOT a mistake. That is a choice! A bad one!

Please, can we stop allowing these people to get away with bad choices under the guise of the word "mistake"?

Covenant College for my Covenant Child

2009-01-29T10:34:00.005-05:00

Days ago, I took Annie to Covenant College. She'd been there twice already and dreams of August, when she can go live there and start life without me. I mean start life afresh as a college student. We loaded up the car and set off into the mash of folks headed home from the Obama Inauguration which took place the day before. It was a bit ugly until we got toward the end of Route 66 west. Once we turned left onto 81 south the real joy began. Several hundred miles of pasture, hills and COWS! I adore COWS! Just when several hundred feet had passed since the last herd, there on the hillside would be troops more of cattle grazing. Bless that Annie. She never snickered. Not once. Oh, to be sure there was some eye rolling, but that was easy to ignore.

When Thom and I used to take the family to Sandy Cove for homeschool week, we always sighed when we drove through the gates. Yes, we'd say to each other, Jesus is here in this place. The peace was thick at Sandy Cove.
Covenant gave me that same feeling.

Sienna spent some time showing me Chatanooga. We went to a great Antique mall. I found some things for the shop (if they don't remain in my home by accident).

I'm going to spend some happy days down there visiting my girl.

Oh! And the food in that cafeteria is so good, I think I may put on the "freshman 15" just visiting Annie!

Tag! I'm not it...sorry...

2008-12-18T09:26:00.002-05:00

To the two of you who have tagged me to open my files and show photos, that sounds like an easy enough quest I know. But the sad truth is...I don't have a file to open and share. I would if I did I promise. I am so frustrated with the most basic of these technologies that I have given up. I don't even take pictures with my digital camera anymore because;
a. I can't find it
b. I could never get all the pictures to come off the disc.
c. when I attempted it the disc would get stuck in the computer. Then I would push and pull and ruin the card and have to buy a new one.
d. repeat "c'.
e. I've given up. It's safer for everyone around me.
f. I rely on my children to record my life story in pictorials now.

Go tag my daughters. They're both phenomonal photographers!
Did I mention Annie won first place in the photography show at the Cambridge Art Center? She also sold two of her three photos displayed there. (and not to me or any of our friends... total strangers who loved and appreciated her work bought them!)

The Loss of Liberty

2008-12-17T07:24:00.006-05:00

I've just come to the shocking realization that I must now be living in, perhaps, Nottingham England, where the sheriff is taxing each windowpane. Or perhaps, this is good ole Boston in the 1700's, and that crazy King George is taxing my tea with the stamp act. I wonder this as I've just read that NYC is starting to tax 88 new venues in the coming year, including ipod downloads, non-diet soda, sporting events, radio, cable tv, taxi rides, bus rides (that'll show those poor folks who clean homes or businesses for a living, or wait on tables or behind shop counters and just maybe live above the poverty line and use mass trans!). If it starts there it's just a matter of time before it's here...
Have we gone insane? Or better put, have the people who run our towns, cities, states and country gone insane? Where is that little brain wave known to most as common sense? But then, as a nation, we didn't argue against the politicians when they taxed the rich and the big businesses to give us free everything, because we thought we deserved these riches. I'm really not comfortable with that free use of the word "we". Many Americans have been appalled by the generosity of the government's spreading wealth through programs. But we let political correctness rule the day (again with that "we"). This train isn't stopping. It will be de-railed though; will you be ready to get a new car on the track?
Please, please, stop and think and read and listen. Are you putting goods away now? Maybe you have a bit of savings which can be converted into gold or silver coins....because if devaluation of the dollar hits home (and I believe it will shortly) your savings isn't buying for you then what it could now. Just load up on lightbulbs, shampoo, soup, toothpaste and things you normally use. It's not wasteful if you use it anyway and it's really a comforting way to live. I like never running out of toilet paper and soap. There's always plenty of dish and laundry detergent on hand here. I buy bulk when it's on sale and never need to make emergency runs in a panic. (I actually learned this from my mother-in-law as a new bride. She always had backups of everything. I remember the first time I saw a load of toothpaste and lightbulbs in her hall cupboard. I laughed at it all. Then she took me to my first savings club store in Delaware, I think it was a Costco...Wonder!)
But back to life in America...
This party, I believe, is over. I think the government is stalling the economic collapse as long as possible. President Bush said yesterday he gave up his principles of a free market to save the principles of the free market(?) and the economy, regarding the big three auto-makers. Well, do you really think bailing them out is going to work? Or will they be begging for more in 3-6 months? Their riviters get up to $78.00 an hour with 7 weeks paid vacation and full benefits. For zapping a screw into the side of an auto! How long did they really think that could be sustained? But they have no plans to stop that and start over at $8.00 an hour with one week vacation.
South America just held a global crisis summit where they excluded America and invited Cuba. They have brought Cuba back into their fold; meanwhile Russian warships are now enroute to visit with Cuba. The same warships which just visited Hugo Chavez in Venezuala. Does anyone feel good about this? The Pentagon is giving a show of laughing at the Russians for their antiquated ships. The key word there I think, is "show".
I have a friend who prints money for a living (legally) and he said they printed 331 billion dollars more in the month of November than last year. This is not money connected to the emergency bailout (ha!). This is cash that the Federal Reserve demanded as they had no $100 dollar bills if there were a run on banks, because China is holding $100's. So all printers were on mandatory overtime to print. The printers were all scratching their heads saying, "this ain't good".
Start connecting the dots. Start looking at a big picture. Just think about ways to be prepared if we were to have any sort of monetary collapse to any degree. When the government releases information don't take it a face value. Dig deeper. They have finally admitted we're in a recession and have been since last year. We already knew this! If they're admitting this it is much worse. Just multiply all they tell us. Why are they putting 20,ooo military troops into our cities? They are preparing for something....What?
Wouldn't it be grand if just one politician had read and understood our Constitution and stood up for it. Thomas Jefferson said that within two to three generations if we weren't careful we'd lose our rights. We've lasted a fair bit longer, but it started to deteriorate within those generations. They started giving away our liberties and once that door was opened there was no one strong enough to stand up and close it. Pity.
I'm not putting my faith in our government to fix this. That's just not going to happen. We are living in Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged now. It's here. It is that dire. So my number one suggestion for me and my family and you and yours too.....Get on your knees and PRAY for wisdom and guidance....

the joy of technology

2008-11-26T08:13:00.003-05:00

The thing I appreciate most about computer technology is the ability to get inside my kids minds to a certain degree. I know there are those who think computers actually suck the life out of teenage minds, but it has opened my girls thoughts and humorous sides to my viewing via blogs. I enjoy going over to their blogsites and seeing their worlds through their eyes.Often I am quite happily surprised by what I read. It gives me a view of their days that would otherwise go unknown to me. A little slice of school or what goes on in photo booths to make them laugh.
When I see how people, across the board of all ages, spell in this day and age, it makes me cringe. Humanity has come to accept, seemingly, the letter "U" as a substitute for the word "you". This is not okay. "R" is not an english shortcut for the word"are". I read through comments after online articles, and see adult writings spelled with words like, "your" instead of "you're", and "a" instead of "an" in front of a vowel-fronted word. This is offensive to my eyes. Are they just not checking or are they truly ignorant of the proper spellings and usage? It happens so often. And how about using "effect" when it should be "affect" or vice-versa? Or using "their" or "there" when it should be "they're"? Don't they teach this in school anymore? The list goes on and on....
But...when I see my girls blogs and their friends blogs, it gives me hope! For the most part, they all get it right. I visit my friends blogs and see emotions and opinions that otherwise would pass-by unknown. It gives an opportunity to get back to our writing abilities and stretch our brains a bit. Think about it. As an adult, when would I write for enjoyment normally? In school I always enjoyed writing. Once out of class there seemed no reason aside from the occasional letter.
So here, finally, I find my joy in technology. But I will never program a VCR. Never. Oh, no worries there are there? Aren't they already obsolete? Whew! That was a close one....

Thanksgiving starts today

2008-11-24T08:35:00.003-05:00

I am cozied up in my chair by the fireplace this morning. I've had my coffee and seen both my girls out the door. One to school, the other to workout at the YMCA. Frigid temperatures swept over me each time they opened the door to exit. I live in hope for snow. I don't ask for major accumulation. In fact, last Friday's ongoing snowfall was fine with me. It flurried all day long with nary a flake staying on land for more than a nano-second. It was simply the beauty of the falling through air that gave satisfaction.
Mornings like this push back worries of economic woes and college acceptance letters for children. Life is good. I'm not looking for any problems today. Every crackle of fire reminds me of the security I have right now. I'm married to a man who I still adore after being together for more than 20 something years, and he's never made any bones about the fact that he stills loves me! I have three healthy, happy kids who don't give me any worries beyond finding money to send them to college. I have roof over my head, food in the cupboard and clothes on my back(and lots of backup wear in my bulging closet).
None of us are guaranteed this in life and its never been promised to last forever. God has given me so much more than I have deserved. But for today, for right in this moment, I'm going to simply sit in this chair and reflect and give thanks for this. It's, after all, the right week for doing so. I think we shouldn't wait till Thursday and bombard God with insincere thanksgiving all in one day while stuffed with turkey and pumpkin pie. I want to take stock right now and let my heart fill with gratefulness and burst with happiness while I ponder it quietly....

Midnight Ride

2008-10-25T09:39:00.004-04:00

Last night, just past midnight, Annie walked into our bedroom and whispered, "Mom, Jedd wants you to pick him up?" Mother instinct kicks in past the 2 Tylenol P.M. I'd taken an hour or so previously and I swing my legs out of bed. He was staying at some friends out in the country. Not far...it's literally a 12 minute drive.
I know there are those who say, let them tough it out and stay. I''m not one of them and my kids have never abused this fact. Jedd didn't call, he texted his sisters to ask them to get me. Emma,more than half asleep, refused to get out of bed and texted back, "no". (I think that's funny)
When I was little, I would get freaked if I spent the night at someone's house and then wanted to come home. I have always told my kids I would always get them no matter where they were. Whether it was a sleep over or if they were at a party that went wrong and they wanted out...
When I pulled into the long driveway and around the corner, there was his shadowy face in the door. I motioned for him to come, but he motioned back for help with all his stuff. He didn't want to wake the house so he was trying to be very quiet. As I pulled the door closed behind him and we tip-toed to the car I heard a voice from the patio doors. It was Maria, the boys' mother. We re-assured her and she smiled understandingly and wished us well. Once in the car, my boy thanked me repeatedly for picking him up at this late hour. He really doesn't understand that in my mind, this is one of the gifts of parenting. To give "rescue" to a child and let them see in action that we are there for him, even in this tiny way. Our time on that ride home through a dark cloudy night was precious. The huge hug I recieved from him was more than payment. I could have let him "tough it out" and there are times (even at sleepovers) where that is appropriate. But my boy had a different lesson last night. That when I tell him I'll get him, without grumpiness, but with happiness, I mean it and I'll follow through. God is constantly rescuing me from decisions I've made and He has taught me flexibility. What I wanted Jedd to see in this was not simply that I followed through with my word, but that I did it with a smile and a happy heart to see him at that hour. That he wasn't a burden, but a delight to my heart!

Why I'm voting Democrat

2008-10-20T18:30:00.003-04:00

I'm voting Democrat because I believe the government will do a better job of spending MY MONEY than I would. I think when you spread the wealth around it is good for everybody! It’s Patriotic!
I'm voting Democrat because I believe that business should not be allowed to make profits for themselves. All profits are evil and should be confiscated for Government Redistribution.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe that MORE Government regulations and higher taxes on Business will stop Business from exporting their jobs to Countries with LESS Government regulations and lower taxes.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe terrorists should be allowed to have trials in American courts. And be able to subpoena top secret documents, soldiers, government officials, etc. to cross examine for their defense. They should have ACLU lawyers who can help intimidate Americans who serve on the juries!
I'm voting Democrat because I believe Gay Marriage should be the law of the land and will probably produce better children.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe English should not be the official language of the United States. I don’t mind pushing one for English when I use the phone.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe partial birth abortion is okay but water boarding a terrorist is disgusting.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe having a domestic terrorist like Bill Ayers as a close friend is a good thing. It allows for great relations with foreign terrorists.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe in a FREE government health care system. I believe doctors, nurses, hospitals, drug companies, etc. will gladly donate their time, products, services, facilities, etc. for FREE and that will be a better system.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe in and support trial lawyers, frivolous lawsuits and outrageous jury verdicts.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe 9/11 was an inside job to con the American people to go to war for oil.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe social security is solvent and that there is a social security lock box and I don’t believe social security is a Ponzi scheme.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe MOST AMERICANS are bitter and cling to their guns and religion. Let’s rid our country of guns and religion!
I'm voting Democrat because I believe illegal aliens deserve all the rights of ordinary Americans plus some additional rights Americans do not have.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe corporations should pay higher taxes! I believe higher taxes on business will make the price of their products and services LESS EXPENSIVE.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe groups like ACORN who register felons, drug addicts, wino’s, homeless drifters, illegal aliens, dead people, children, fictional Disney characters, etc. makes my vote count more.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe celebrating the winter solstice shows compassion for the small minority of people that do not celebrate Christmas.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe hard core criminal murders and rapists deserve life and that the innocent unborn deserve death. It’s a choice I can live with.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe Bush caused Hurricane Katrina and he blew-up the levies in the ninth ward of New Orleans.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe that any one who is not partaking in one of the many wonderful government programs obviously has too much money and should pay higher taxes.
I'm voting Democrat because when we pull out of Iraq the terrorists will be happy and now think of us as good people.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe our soldiers are AIR RAIDING villages and killing innocent people.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe sex in the Oval Office with an intern is a private matter and that everybody lies under oath about sex.
I'm votin Demokrat becuse I wus edumkated at a publick sckrool. I lik da Natsionel Edukatshun Assoseeashun!
I'm voting Democrat because freedom of speech is fine as long as it does not offend people. Can’t we all just get along?
I'm voting Democrat because I believe oil companies' profits are wrong. I believe higher taxes on oil companies will produce lower prices at the pump.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe we need to rid ourselves of dependency on foreign oil, BUT I AM AGAINST offshore drilling for oil and natural gas, drilling in Anwar, building nuclear power plants and clean coal technology.
And finally, I'm voting Democrat because I believe Reverend Wright when he said “G-DAMN AMERICA” and “OUR CHICKENS ARE COMING HOME TO ROOST”. Hey let’s make a comfortable nest for those chickens!

(I didn't write ,this some mom did on a response I was reading to Joe Biden today. Mr. Biden said that if elected they would be forced into unpopular decisions due to some kind of attack on our country within six months of being sworn into office. He said noone would be happy with the choices they were going to make and that their poll numbers would be down in single digits, but to please remember this day and this warning and stick by them. They know what they're going to have to do even if we don't think it's right). I thought she hit the nail on the head in her sarcasm, so I'm sharing it with you....)

A New Day, A New Heart

2008-10-17T08:39:00.003-04:00

After days of ridiculous warmth I awoke to a fine chill this morning. Emma was already up and readying herself for school. I remind her to take a cardigan. My morning cup of coffee feels better in my palm today. Like it has real purpose for being there. When I was little we walked about a mile to school every day (can you imagine that today?) Of course we complained about it. Especially on very cold New England mornings. My grandfather, Poppy, used to lovingly scoff at my complaints ( he lived just a few doors away from us) saying he walked at least 3 miles each way. He would tell me that, in the winter, his mother would pull baked potatoes from the oven and wrap them in a cloth and stick them in his pockets where he would stuff his hands for warmth on the long walk. Then at lunchtime he would eat his "handwarmers" for his school meal. The point of this little story is that my hands wrapped around this warm cup of coffee today reminds me of my Poppy's hands wrapped around his baked potato then.
Yesterday, I was having a bit of a freakout day about the economy. I was ordering inventory for the store and stressing about it. We sent in the deposit to Covenant College to save Annie's place there for next year and I was worrying about finding financing for that. My mother called and said 4 people at my brother-in-law's workplace had been laid off and my brother, Chris, called and said there was no work in N.J. (he's an electrician) for him or his friends (plumbers, etc.) and he wondered if Thom had work still. All this together led my mind to melt.
This morning is fresh and new. God has cleared my mind and reminded me that He will provide and protect for all my needs. I have always given donations to everyone who walked through the shop door and asked for them. These past weeks the amount of people asking has multiplied and I've started asking people to leave their "cause's" paperwork and I'd go through them and decide which ones I wanted to give to. Wildlife Turkey Federation, La Leche League, Maryland Charities, local schools, United Way, Habitat for Humanity, Humane Society, every local police department, each local fire department, every church in the county. The list goes on and on. There have been days where I've had more folks ask for donations than I have had sales.
This morning I realize this is not the way. God has given to me and I need to give back to the community as I always have. The economy doesn't make a difference. I'm using that as an excuse not to give abundantly. This has lifted my heart. God promises He will continue to provide for my family as he always has. No matter what happens. It's just that my vision tends to get blurred. Fortunately, neither I, nor you, ever need worry that the Lord's vision will blur...

Dangerously Delicious Pies

2008-10-14T18:25:00.008-04:00

It's 6.20 and the sun is quickly setting on this fall evening. I drink a large cup of decaf pumpkin spice coffee after being a glutton on aproximately 20 lime-tequila chicken wings. Yeah, that's right...20...at least. yum.
I am reflecting on the fun of this past weekend. Thom and I left the kids to their own devices and went to Baltimore where he played with friends at the Patterson Theater as an opening band for Ann Watts and Boister's new album release show. (Jedd and Emma were home and Annie was in Georgia at Covenant College) We had a hotel room at the...I don't really remember what the place was called actually. But it was nice. The next morning we went to Howard Markman's house in Hampden where we also met up with Kevin and Judy Diaz. He lives in a fabulous row house on top of a hill (a hill!) where each house has its own bit of personality. In front of Howard's home there is a giant shrub which has been kept manicured as a topiary. It's truly like a giant bonzai tree. We walked further up the hill and into town and had brunch in the parking lot behind Dangerously Delicious Pies. There was a band playing Hank Williams Sr. ...(they were great and there's an entire small-world story attached to that)! It was so much fun! The pies were truly delectable. Flaky, flaky crusts. As the Scottish would say, this guy has a dab hand at pastry! My chicken pot pie was oven roasted chicken and fresh carrots, corn, peas etc. Thom has steak and onion. But passing by our table are chocolate cream and custard pies along with what I originally mistook for apple, but which was really a potato tart. The chef is some big, burly, tatooed, bald guy who walks around the tilting parking lot from tilting table to tilting table asking if we're satisfied. Oh yeah...we are! Apparently, "Rodney" (the chef, his bowling shirt says Hot Rod) was just signed by the food network to a series on his food. I hope it's true and you can experience this place vicariously through television.
After brunch we shop hopped. Judy finds a palm sized skull that pops out its eyeballs when you squeeze it. Worms come oozing out. I had to have one! I know, it's gross, disgusting. But captivating! (in a sick way) I picked up some great ideas(not gross and disgusting ones) for inventory in my own store . I can't wait to come back here with the kids. There are so many little restaurants and stores. Apparently, right around the corner from the pie shop is Ace's Cakes. It's a Baltimore bakery that excels in works of art in cake baking. Also run by a tatooed bald guy. Jedd loves this program. Well, that is the story of our happy weekend. Hope yours was as fun.

the color of fall

2008-10-07T08:24:00.005-04:00

I will walk with a smile on my face for weeks now. Why? you may ask. Because it's autumn. Which means it's the season of autumnal colors once again. (plus, for a short while I can toss around the word "autumnal"). Start casting your eyes around as you go about your day. It's in the trees and flowers sure, but it is also draped over people's bodies. It seems a natural choice in the morning for people to gravitate towards rusts, chocolates, mossy greens and goldenrod in their clothing choices. I stood in the hallway of church on Sunday and delighted in the coordination of colors on the worshipers. Pumpkin was dotted on almost everyone, whether in a cardigan on a woman or a tie pattern around a gent's neck. It's warm and cozy. It creates cravings for pies and warm quick-breads fresh from the oven. It inspires one to curl up in a corner with a good book and a throw around the knees and toes.
The shadows of autumn cast long fingers and seem to reach in through windows to dull natural light early. We switch on lamps and push those shadows into the corners. Candles are lighted for scent and ambience. It's time to pull down soup and stew recipes from books on the top shelf. Root vegetables will start making their appearances on our tables once again. And Christmas catalogs are filling the mail basket en masse. My son is circling his heart's desire and leaving pages open so we can't miss them. The countdown from this lovely season to the next has already begun in his mind. But not mine....I love these days...

2008-10-03T21:59:00.002-04:00

It's Friday night and my family is sprawled out on the big, red couch. Thom is in the center with Annie on one side and Jedd and Emma on the other. It started with Thom checking his e-bay sale. (He's selling a telephone booth!?) Kids gravitated towards him and now there is nonstop laughter and groaning as they peruse Youtube together. Right now, it's apparently "french beatboxer", there's been narcoleptic babies, Weird Al Yankovitz doing Nirvana, really bad skateboarders having accidents here in Cambridge, Roly-poly fish-heads ( a classic from my 20's) and people doing the hokey-pokey. It is truly astonishing how much time can so quickly dissappear once engrossed in this mindless exercise. But, I'm really happy right now at the sight and sound of my little huddled family next to me. Although I'm a bit concerned at the now ongoing search for the exploding whale....oh geez...really? Go search this one out for yourself...eeewww......you just get sucked into this. The fish category alone can keep you going for hours. Apparently I'm wrong. They're off again. Someone is playing a saw...

cold coffee, heated blood

2008-09-19T08:38:00.003-04:00

My coffee cup sits beside me going cold while I listen to the radio and peruse the Drudge Report. I checked my e-mail, but there are just hate-Palin links from my mother. I sent her a quick e-mail to remind her that I am not talking politics with her. Isn't it interesting how a candidate that gives one person such excitement can make the other want to spew vomit across the room? Well, that was graphic! But I'm leaving it, because frankly I believe that peoples' feelings are that strong.

Emma just left for school, but before she did she asked how the market was doing this morning. (side note: Emma's volleyball team won their third game of the opening season last night. They stand 3-0 now, Em's the co-captain with her friend, Rachel)) I explained that while it isn't open yet, yesterday there was a huge rally. Then I explained that means nothing in reality. That's the wise buying of those who have money to get into a buyer's market. I foresee a huge crash in our near future. I think this is truly the tip of the iceberg.

I know I've been ranting about storing food and toilet paper, but if you haven't, please start. Food prices have soared, but they're going higher yet. Toilet paper, feminine products have all doubled in cost in the past two years. I see it doubling again. It's not as though it will go to waste, if you don't for some reason use it all, you'll have some to share. And people will need it.

Now, just a bit of politics...(I like to talk about it, just not with my mother)

Chris Dodd, Joe Biden and Barack Obama are the top three recipients of political donations from Freddie Mac. Hmmm...... John McCain was down at number 72. Why were any of them getting money from Freddie Mac?

N.Y. Congressman Charlie Rangel is in deep trouble for the tax evasion findings for his vacation home( he claims he didn't know he was supposed to pay taxes on income generated from outside our country), house sales (apparently didn't know he had to pay taxes on income generated from inside our country either), and ownership of 4 NYC apartment leases which are only for low income people. 4! He also sits on the Ways and Means Committee which writes the tax code for the rest of us. No one in the Democratic party is asking him to step down. Where is Nancy Pelosi on her "most ethical party" stance now?

shuttles and service

2008-08-30T08:36:00.005-04:00

What a week! We took the kids to Nemacolin Woodlands Resort for an fantastic family getaway. While there are Chateaus and Lodges to stay in we booked a townhouse where conceivably we could have cooked some of our own meals. But... we didn't. There were restaurants all over the grounds and once we parked the car, shuttles picked us up and took us anywhere we desired on the resort, so we never had the urge to go to the market. It was too simple really...all we did was lift the phone receiver and dial "0", and someone on the other end would answer, " How may we serve the Huntington Family?". (It was tough driving myself to work yesterday!) The girls and I had hot stone massages one day and did the water path ritual. The next day we had facials. Aaaahhh... Jedd, Thom and I shot sporting clays the first morning. The boy's arm is black and blue from the shotgun he used and nothing could make him more pleased! I think he ended up shooting 75 rounds. That was enough gun-time for me so I backed out of "combat paintball" the next day. Actually, I forget my sneakers and they wouldn't let me go in sandals. So the girls and I rented bikes and rode throughout the hills and animals (there are bears, buffalo, zebras, moose, lions, mountain goats, hyenas and more throughout the resort). Actually I'm so out of shape I walked my bike up most of the hills. They were steep! It was a great time, but 3 nights and 4 days were enough for four of us(not Jedd). We were pretty much ready to come home and back to reality.
We returned home in time for Annie to start her fist history class at Chesapeake College.
Thursday was back to work as usual. Friday brought the unbelieveably happy news (in my opinion) of Sarah Palin being chosen as McCain's running mate. For the first time in this election, I am excited! I mean sparks of thrill coursing through my veins. I feel hope about the future of politics again. I have no idea how she can pull this off with all she has on her plate and I hope her family can withstand the pressure, but I'm sure many others will join with me in praying for her on a daily basis.
I am so thankful for the time spent with my family this week. Bonding time is good. I am thankful my husband got to truly rest. I am thankful for a taste of that good life, which I know pales in comparison to what awaits us in eternity. I ask that God would help me to heed His call daily and that I would willingly answer, "How may I serve you,Lord, today?"

birthdays and anniversaries

2008-08-20T08:18:00.005-04:00

This morning I came down to a bouquet of flowers and a very sweet card from my husband of 19 years....as of today. At 5 p.m. on August 20th in 1989 Thom and I were married at the Molly Pitcher Inn, on the deck overlooking the Navesink River, in Red Bank, N.J. It was a beautiful day and I'm very grateful to my parents for giving us such a lovely wedding. I'm not going to get all mushy over Thom, because you all already know how we feel about each other. I'll just say I'm very, very thankful for my life with him. We've been blessed that after all these years not only do we still love each other, we still like each other. It doesn't get any better than that!
Also, an un-named, and frankly unknown, number of years ago, my mother was born on this day, too. So a very happy birthday to my mom! Thanks for sharing your day with us!

I'm scratchin' out "caucasian"

2008-08-16T07:50:00.007-04:00

Last week with the disturbing news that Russia had invaded Georgia, the word "Caucus" came up on the news. Thom asked me, "what are the caucuses?" I replied, "I don't know. Maybe they are having some kind of voting thing right now and that instigated the invasion." I then promptly forgot the conversation.
Well, I'm just sitting here at my computer and the word came up again. And what do you know! There's that word again. I always rather prided myself on my geography skills, but didn't have a clue that Caucasus was a mountain in Georgia and that the Caucuses are the natural dividing line between Asia and Europe. All of the sudden, minutes ago, it struck me that THIS must be where the term, "caucasian" comes from whenever I fill out a form on self-information. So I googled the origin of the word caucasian and sure enough, there it was. Some foolish man, Johann Blumenbach,1752-1840, who must have been related to hitler, thought the people of this region had the most beautiful skulls,and were the most beautiful people and were the Adam and Eve of us all and were white, so he coined the term, caucasian. I've never like ticking that box, and now I like it even less. From now on I'm scratching it out and just writing, "white".

life with a cricket bat

2008-08-15T21:16:00.002-04:00

Let me squeeze the last tear from my eye. Oh...don't worry. It's a happy tear. I've just finished watching the movie, "Wondrous Oblivion" on Netflix instant view. 1960 England, coming of age for a boy and for a village street full of bigots. So often the gifts we grow by, from lessons taught by friends, are the very gifts that threaten to make us shallow and have us toss those friends aside. I loved this movie. Please watch it....

the city of sisterly love

2008-08-13T08:06:00.005-04:00

After months of planning and delays, my girls and I finally were able to take a shopping excursion with Suzanne, Hayley and Rachel Taylor. Our original plan was a simple trip to an Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie on the western shore. We finally had a day set and then a truck drove off the Bay Bridge and made that route un-enticing with rubbernecking delays. So last minute, Suzanne and I decided to go north to Philadelphia. Turns out the stores are just minutes apart from each other there with an H&M and a Zara thrown between them for good measure.
We plugged in the trusty TomTom for assistance with navigation (this was a waste of time and causes more confusion than confidence, but I feel since we have it I should use it) and headed out with a truckload of excited girls and their mothers. We got to the first town and made an emergency stop for coffee, snacks and the bathroom. I think we'd been in the car for 13 minutes. Then it was on the road again, car reeking of Doritos and sour cream and onion Sun Chips at 10 a.m.
Just over two hours later, we pulled off 95 to a slight backup into Philly and Voila!, we were there! It was so simple to drive into the historic district of that city that I am ashamed to say I hadn't been there since my twenties! We found a parking garage that had a lovely circular center graced with potted plants for their attendants to wait in while business was slow. I've never seen the attempt of decoration in a parking garage before. Nice touch.
First it was down to business. We were all trying to be caring of each others desires while searching out a lunch venue so we wouldn't buy stupidly out of complete hunger frenzy. We had to settle the beast of the belly before getting to the serious shopping. We spotted a packed cafe with wood-fired pizzas resting on diner's tables. It was agreed. Lunch was good! I don't remember the name of the establishment but it was on Walnut Street between 16th and 17th streets on the southside of the street, halfway down the block. It will be the one with packed tables. Suzanne and I shared a simple pizza with green peppers, mushrooms and onions. They're made with fresh mozzarella and the thin crust was crispy with that wonderfully gritty fire-grazed blackness brushed on by the flames. Hayley's and Rachel's had squash, peppers and onions with fresh basil leaves. My girls had the homemade raviolis which looked wonderful, but since they shared there wasn't any extra for my tastebuds so I have to take them at their word that it was tasty.
Then it was on to Urban Outfitters where they could part with summer earned dollars. Overall I think we were all dissappointed in the poor quality and high prices on the merchandise. Yeah, we all still spent money there, but I feel as though they are a really bad version of an Anthropologie wannabe. It felt dirty in there as though everything wasn't just designed to look as though it were from the 70's and 80's, but actually had been sitting in its dust on the same uncleaned shelves since those past decades.
We left there after somehow spending at least an hour if not more, and went to Zara's ( I think that's the name, I don't see a bag lying around) It was a breath of fresh air after the previous store. Fresh and CLEAN. We were giddy with the choices, running up and down the stairs with great excitement. Honestly, we were country bumpkins set free in the city. We weren't even trying to be "city-cool". We bagged some treasures and moved onto the queen of all stores, Anthropologie. When my little shop grows up, I want it to be an Anthropologie.
I swiped more onto my plastic than I will ever confess out loud to anyone and I have NO GUILT over it. My favorite purchase was an oatmeal colored tunic length cardigan with chunky floral embellishments and a fabulous button. There are thin creamy stripes running vertically between what appear to be panels, which give it a graceful twirl. Yes, I am wearing it right now, as I write, in case you were wondering.It is so soft I believe there may be a touch of cashmere in it, but I don't want to take it off to look at the tag. When my camera is charged I will take photos and post them. When my girls and I had shopped ourselves out, we walked across the street to a pretty little park to relax and await our friends. It was bustling and deeply green with musicians playing at the gate ( a truly motley bunch. They were having fun, but I can't say anyone else was bowled over by them). We were exhausted and yes, hungry again.
The Taylors crossed the park to meet us and we decided to start heading over to the restaurant that our visiting pastor Len Stuart had talked about Sunday as he preached. It was an Iranian Hookah restaurant called, The Aromatic House of Kebabs. After we'd walked many blocks with our arms burdened with packages we decided after consulting with a passing pedestrian that it would be wise to hail a cab. In our case two cabs. Suzanne and her girls took off in the first cab. Someone stole the second cab so the twins and I walked 2 blocks before another one came by. We were grateful to sink into its hot, smelly interior. Somehow, even though we walked two city blocks closer to our final destination, our cabbie charged us more for our ride. I'm still mulling that over. Okay, Aromatic house of Kebabs. Small place, one server, one bus boy on duty. People scattered about with long ropes from the Hookah pipes to their lips, fragrant scents enveloped us upon entrance, so it was already living up to the "aromatic" part of its moniker. We served ourselves from the soda case and the Taylors all ordered healthy tea. We dithered over our menu choices not having a clue what we were actually ordering, but we all went with chicken or lamb kebabs served either on large naan style bread flats or with basmati rice or baked potatoes. With a starter of hummus and pita, the food started flowing. The hummus was wiped out by all in record time. The kebabs were juicy and covered in a creamy cucumber sauce flavored with mint. Roasted tomatoes were bursting with flavor from the flames. The bill for all six of us to waddle out of there contentedly was $109 and some loose change plus a tip. That's crazy good for all the food we had! I'll be waiting for the next visit. We took cabs back to the parking garage, plugged the TomTom back in so it could be just as unhelpful as ever and set off home. The moon hung over the city as we left and God was praised for His goodness.

big, fat, hairy toes

2008-08-11T15:43:00.003-04:00

I'll start off just stating this thought... Russia worries me. It worries me that they have started bombing Georgian territory in defense of "Russian citizens". These "citizens" were Georgian until they decided to break away from Georgia. Then Russia offered them "russian citizenship". Do you see how that was simply a way to get their big, fat, hairy toes over the territory lines?
Now, maybe it's just my imagination, but isn't that how hitler started out? I believe he stated he was just going over to take what was rightfully Germanys by invading the Sudenland and "taking it" from Czechoslavakia. The Czechs ceded it over to Hitler rather than fight (when told specifically by Chamberlain that England and France would not stand behind them). One year later Hitler had taken over the rest of Czechoslavakia. The rest is history. Is this a repeat of another madman's plan?
In the eighties we backed Afghanistan against Russia in a war that exhausted Russia and left them depleted. That allowed Reagan to help "encourage" Russia to "tear down the wall" and put an end to the cold war. Back then Russia was in debt and desperate for energy sources. Now the roles have reversed. They have a flat tax of 13% which has boost their economy to phenomonal highs. They have planted a flag and claimed the North Pole as russian territory so they can claim any oil that may be there as well as buying up every energy source they can in Europe, Asia and the surrounding seas. There is one oil pipeline through Europe controlled by Russia. They like it that way and are putting out quiet warnings against anyone who may want to buy or sell to the Georgian government who have a secondary pipeline, if I understand this correctly. (And trust me, I may not.)
On the other hand, even though we are rich in natural energy sources our government keeps us dependent on foreign oil, and forbids us to drill widely on our own resources. (Hypocrites). They also tax us into oblivion, turning us into a socialist country. We are on a teeter-totter and right now we are down and Russia is flying high!
I'm not saying I have a clue what the next step should be...but we need to keep our eyes open, because what seems like none of our affairs on the surface, could very well be a repeat of history. I don't believe for minute that Russia cares about peace or being our friends. We are their enemy and Putin wants to see us trounced in the end.
Meanwhile, I'm praying for our friends in the Ukraine. Could they be next in line? Is their freedom at risk?

2008-07-21T07:48:00.003-04:00

It really is difficult to visit the past at times. Last night I took the girls to see a musician I used to see a lot back in the mid eighties. I was astounded to see that he was playing in Easton, Maryland at a coffee house. When he came on stage, (actually, just entered the room and stood in front of us) he didn't look much different than twenty something years ago. He had the same moves and still had a strong voice. But the words he was singing were the words of a twenty something trying to describe his world. This man is now 49. And even the twenty somethings in my world are more centered and grounded in their surroundings to sink to some of the levels of lyrics this guy did.
The twins couldn't stand any more of the 45 year old women in miniskirts swooning so they left to take pictures of the Easton nightlife. I stayed for the next set because there had to be some redemption right? Well, it made me really appreciate my husband's willingness to abandon dreams of musical stardom and focus on raising a family and building a business to provide for the five of us. I appreciate that he would give up late Saturday nights to shepard us all to church early Sunday morning and fill his need to play music in that environment. I know when he gets the opportunity to play out with musicians it fills a desire for him, but he has sacrificed that for us and I love him all the more for it.

vanished

2008-07-03T20:35:00.002-04:00

Could someone please enlighten me as to where the word, "disappear" has gone to? Every day I hear and see places where this word should be used, but instead in its place is the very British term, "gone missing" or "went missing". I hate this. It truly causes a small form of anger to course through my veins. Oh, don't misunderstand. If you are British and saying this it doesn't bother me in the least. But, if you are an American and you are using this term....STOP IT! It's silly coming out of your mouth. It's silly coming out of every broadcasters mouth. It's silly in the newspaper headlines. It's just plain silly. You aren't saving any syllables. And you're making me mad. Oh! and I'm laughing at you inside my head at your pretentiousness too. Unless you're under the age of 12, then I figure you don't know any better.

Messiah visit

2008-07-01T14:08:00.003-04:00

The twins and I took an exploratory trip to Messiah College yesterday. What a place! A beautiful campus on rolling green hills in Pennsylvania just 10 minutes from its capitol city. They have wonderful filled art studios for every imaginable medium. Rooms dedicated to musicians to play their hearts desire on pianos. Theaters that show recent movies to the students for just a buck. There are cinema rooms for film students and cafes for hanging out. There are auditoriums for speakers and shows and a gorgeous indoor swimming pool in a wonderful sports center. There is even a small museum in the science hall that hosts an elephant skeleton, a stuffed crocodile and kodiak bear among other specimens.
What a privilege for those accepted to attend. I wonder if they all realize it? The library took my breath away, literally! You can stand behind a glass wall on a balcony and look down over it. It was enough to cause a bibliophile to swoon.
All that and we were there in just over 3 hours from our front door to theirs. I made the round trip with just over a half tank of gas. Now that is worth considering in the big search for a school.

fruitful recovery and a vegetable mystery

2008-06-13T08:41:00.005-04:00

Well, the boy is on the mend! He ate some grapes and strawberries yesterday, and had a couple of bites of a hot dog. Yeah, don't judge me by that hot dog, I am fully aware that it is the last thing he should have eaten. But, when your kid hasn't eaten in 6 days you give him anything he wants to eat.
The lab called and the doc says it's not mono. Halleluiah!! There is an infection and they don't know what it is, but they've put him on antibiotics and though I haven't checked his fever this morning it was down yesterday. He stayed awake more yesterday and definitely had more energy. He was happy that it seemed to be subsiding as he is tired of all this:) He's ready to be a 12 year old boy on summer vacation.
I'm ready to be a mom who sleeps in her own bed(next to her dear husband) instead of on the couch next to a snoring child who walks in his sleep.
Again, my heart goes out to Damien who has been ill or weakened so often in the past few years for long periods, and to Kate who was so devoted to caring for him in those times. Thank you Lord for an end to Jedd's short tunnel and also that the Howards are truly seeing the light at the end of their extensive tunnel.
In the spirit of good health I report that my gardens are also flourishing. I actually was able to go out yesterday and pick some baby spinach leaves for our chicken salad last night. What a wholesome feeling! We really lose a connection when we never experience growing anything to feed and nourish ourselves. If you don't have anything growing this year, I really encourage you to plant anything, tomatoes, spinach, whatever, in a pot if you must. Just one thing to connect yourselves to the dirt:)
I am amazed by the speed at which some things have grown. I did most things from seed this year. Pumpkins are just growing like Jack's beanstalk. Wildly. Onions, spindly and hardly there yet. Cucumbers and strawberries are showing their little fruitful beginnings. Peas are sending tendrils climbing up the fence, which is truly amazing to observe. God has created these plants to send out feelers to pulls themselves up. Cucumbers too. But not the tomatoes. Why? The tomatoes will just flop over and fall on the ground in their weight if not caged. Well, to be fair so would the others, but give the others some string tied across or a cage and they pull themselves up with those tiny threadlike tendrils. And here's a question for those of you who are real gardeners. Where do the seeds come from for things like carrots and spinach? They haven't flowered. There is nothing inside them as there is watermelons and tomatoes. It is a bit of a mystery to me.

barf bags and birthdays (cheerful, no?)

2008-06-11T08:24:00.004-04:00

I awoke this morning to day 5 of Jedd being ill with a fever hovering around 102. We've spent the past three nights sleeping on the big red wrap-around couch in the living room. He tends to get a bit delirious at night when he's fevered and sleepwalk, talk and generally freak me out by his behavior. His eyes are open, he looks awake, but he's not. So I stay on the same room with him because I really think one of these times he's going to go outside. That's not a thought I relish at 3 a.m. This is a kid who won't go to a different floor of the house alone at night. Can you imagine if he woke up outside alone at night? Hmmm...
We went and had bloodwork drawn yesterday and throat swabbed and a very funny ( from my side of the door anyway) experience of the lad trying to pee into a sterile cup and then dropping the lid into the toilet. The doc said she'd call today with the results. The nurse had her money on thrush. I really thought that was for babies only.... The doctor had her sights set on mono. That would be sad since he's supposed to start his sailing class next week. Oh well. God knows best. Last year he lost his week old eye glasses, in sailing class. Maybe this will prevent him from doing it again.
On a happier note, It's our dear friend Henley's birthday today. 17! And while Jedd and I will stay far away from the planned festivities, she will be in our thoughts and prayers all day long. I will ban Jedd from the kitchen while I make her birthday cake. She wants a giant cupcake for her cake. I mean giant. Like a regular cake size only, a cupcake. There is a mold out there but we couldn't find it so now it's a challenge. And I am game for that! I have all kinds of little toys culled from the shop for party favor bags. I am a party favor fan and I learned from the queen who was Henley's mom. I really miss my friend Crystal today and I know it's a bittersweet day for Henley and her sister, Cavin.
Lord God, today I lift these three up to you, Jedd, Henley and Cavin. I ask for strength in Jedd's body and a spirit of peace for him throughout this illness. I thank you that you have given us a doctor who shares her wisdom with us and really cares about her patients.
And Father, I lift up Henley and Cavin. I ask that you would continue to lighten their hearts and give them peace. In this coming year give them strength to get through the difficult days and find joy in your world. Let them feel your presence and your truth.
Amen.
'

2008-06-06T07:29:00.002-04:00

I really miss writing on this little blog, but I have nothing to say. Nothing. I am reading truly depressing words about the state of the world and how Russia is teaming with Iran and together they could bring about the end of the world. See? Depressing. I'd like to go back to the days of my childhood reading when Trixie Belden and Honey Wheeler would solve a crisis within their own sphere, of the missing bridle from the stable or some such triviality, which would set their world off its axis. But all would always be set straight by the end of the story.
Well, I know the end of my little family's story will end straight, by the grace of God, but I am saddened by the thought that there are those I know whose own stories might not end so well if Iran should send over nuclear warheads in the coming days, months or years. See? Depressing....

oil companies and movie stars

2008-05-23T15:48:00.003-04:00

Two days ago, the senate voted to sue OPEC. If you haven't heard this already, it's not a typo. Our leaders have decided to sue OPEC for breaching American anti-trust laws. Huh?! Does this frighten anyone else? I'm not even thinking of retaliation on the part of OPEC in the sense of them raising oil prices yet again. I'm thinking that this is what Al-Queda keeps accusing us of being...arrogant Americans who think the globe revolves around ourselves.
Did anyone watch any of c-span's coverage of our illustrious leaders interrogating the presidents and ceo's of the leading oil companies of this nation? Patrick Leahy (of Vermont)had the nerve to ask each of the gentlemen their salaries, which ranged from 2.2 to 12 million. Exxon-Mobil's president made the 12 million. He is in charge of 59,000 employees and is the leader of the lergest corporation in the world. Does anyone think he makes too much? And what defines "too much"? How come the senate didn't have Tom Cruise in to explain why he made 20-30 million per movie? Do you think Leahy had these same questions for Ben and Jerry when they made their first millions for selling ice cream?
I am a bit sickened by this turn on business. What came out in these questionings was that government made up to 14 cents on the dollar of gas sold at the pump, while the oil companies made about 4 cents profit on the dollar. And the senators didn't even blush at this. They just stayed the course on their attack. Hannah Singer was watching this with me at 6 a.m. Dear girl just scolded the television right along with me!
The only senator I saw who had any sense at all seemed to be Jeff Sessions (I believe of Alabama). This is a new name for me and I'll be listening for more of him....
All we can do at this point right now...is pray.....please, please pray!

I feel like a storybook character today.

2008-05-17T11:19:00.006-04:00

It is brisk and fresh outside today. A lovely Saturday morning with an entire day of the unkown before me. I've checked the progress of the gardens and made strawberry-cream scones to share with friends from "over the bridge". They've come and gone, after we'd indulged in harmless gossip and page-turning of shop catalogs.
I've ambled my way to the store where I visited with neighboring shopkeepers and discussed the progress of sales for the week. Things are sloooooow. But I'm still smiling. Why, you may ask? Because, it's brisk and fresh outside today. Silly you!

freshfaced

2008-05-07T07:08:00.003-04:00

Do you know the wording, "fresh-scrubbed", which usually implies natural prettiness? It is usually applied to young women. I gotta say that now in my late 40's I have met this saying for the first time in a personal way. If you are in your 40's, go to your bathroom and give your face a good healthy scrubbing. Then, quick! look in the mirror...it only lasts for about 10 seconds, but in that fleeting amount of time, I feel "fresh-scrubbed". I wish there were some way to bottle this. I have no explanation. But my cheeks are rosey, and my skin is creamy. It seems cruel that it is so short-lived. I think my husband is going to have to start standing next to me each morning and evening while I "tidy"up. But then the toothpaste spitting might be a bit of a turnoff.....unless the next saying to make its way to the forefront is to be "spitshine..." Now there's an ugly thought.

tomatoes and oil paints and Ayn Rand

2008-05-05T16:17:00.006-04:00

Jedd and I have just put plants and seeds into the first garden we've ever done together. There is much more work to be done, but it was so exciting. It's good for a kid (and his mom) to feel the dirt between his toes to truly appreciate the veggies that appear on the dinner table.

I've been clearing out the old and sprucing up the yard. The pond has been cleaned out and jedd put together a filter with a little fountain and installed it. Now it gives the impression of a bubbling brook. (It also tends to make us all feel the need for the loo)

I spent an afternoon at the garden shop with Janna picking out new perennials for the shady side of the house. Very exciting. Today, I actually planted one of the seven bought. Usually they sit around in pots till they're dead or dangerously close to death before guilt sets in and I stuff them in a hole. This new streak I'm on is holding staying power so far.

We bought a new battery for the camera so I may be able to actually put some pictures up soon.

Tomorrow is a new session for painting classes. I have no theme picked out to paint yet. Ah well, the right thing will pop up. It always does doesn't it? Yeah, I'm loving my life right now...

The current read is "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. It is time for you to read or re-read this classic which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. It is such an appropriate book for this age. I heard today that a new government committee is being formed to discuss profit limits for corporations. !? Yeah, Ayn Rand had this fear 50 years ago.

major decisions

2008-04-29T08:28:00.003-04:00

After many hours of inner turmoil and debate and yes, prayer, I have come to a monumental personal decision. I am only keeping the shop open 3 days a week. It will be closed the other 4. Amazing how once a decision is concretely made, that one can truly feel as though a boulder has been lifted off the shoulders. The weight of a burden is a true weight. So now the shop will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with Janna working most Thursdays (she'll be going home to London for three weeks during May) . The juggling of shopkeeper and homeschool mom was not working well for me. I want to look back through time and know that I spent my quality time with my kids. I already feel like my house is cleaner and can imagine the weight dripping off my hips at all the free time I'll have to simply take walks with Jedd and the dog. (I'm not fooling myself into thinking because my schedule is lighter that the twins will suddenly find many hours of free time in their days to join us regularly)
I continue to invest money into stocking up on toilet paper, shampoos, soap, laundry detergent etc. These things will not be going down in prices and will not go bad. I feel like it truly is a business investment. We could put our dollars into cd's (bank, not music)that will give us a payback of less than 2% in 6 months or a year. Or put our dollars into products that will most assuredly be rising even further in cost than they already have. By 10, 20, 30% or higher. I, even in my humble little brain, see a better payback on inventory for the home. If you're not already partaking in this happy little mindset, you might want to consider it.....the next time you shop, really think about how much the same things you're buying cost a year ago. What are you paying now? What could the drawback be to this? Even the Wall Street Jouranl came out this week with the same suggestion for the same reasons....and at the same time we are preparing our homes for the future, aren't we stimulating the economy? I would really welcome your comments on whether or not you also are putting by a bit extra in the cupboards.....if not, are you thinking those of us who are are being extreme or is there just no extra cash available...I'm really curious as to where others stand on this. Oh, I'm not talking about running out and loading up on warehouse size bags of rice by the way(unless your family are large rice eaters)....although I confess I bought a 32 ounce bag and stuck it away. But I have stocked condensed milk ( which I use a ton of in macaroni and cheese) and powdered milk for bread making and because if milk goes up any more I' m going to start cutting my milk gallons out with it to make it stretch more. Annie and Jedd are milk junkies. And I always load up on flour and sugar since as you've read in past blogs we are baking fools in this house. King Arthur Flour company has free shipping till the end of April so you may want to take advantage....

a small happy list

2008-04-09T20:29:00.003-04:00

Things I look forward to....almost daily.....
Coffee in the morning...
The return of "The Office"....
visiting blogs...
reading....
Thom's return home from work each evening....
Emma's return home from school each day...
Jedd's head deep in the pages of whatever book he's immersed in...
listening to Glenn Beck go off on whatever his rant (s) of the day will be...
cabbage at the cash register...
deliveries at the store....
Annie's latest essay....
popcorn at night....
a morning egg

obviously this is in no specified order:)

Good Mornings

2008-04-07T08:53:00.003-04:00

My favorite time of each day is morning. The dog usually pads into my room about 7 and gives a lttle whine to be let out and fed. My first words in my head are usually, "idiot dog"...as I push the covers back and shift my weight to an upright position. The words are just habit at this point. In the beginning they were said out of frustration because I couldn't see why he woke me up instead of going down with Thom at 5:30 or 6 and being cared for by him. (thereby letting me sleep another half hour or so, I'm lazy)

But, I realize that I treasure this morning time. I open the back door for Eli, then switch the gas fireplace on to take the chill of the room before scooping kibbles into the dog's bowl. Coffee is started and I clear up glasses from the living room and pull open curtains while it's brewing. I wipe any crumbs off the counter and table and tidy things up happily. Emma comes down and we have time together before she takes off for school. (it's good to have drivers in my girls. I no longer need to dress and drive her across town to school)

The radio is my background noise and I get the news of the world as I sweep the kitchen floor. What a life! This is my time with God now. Its changed throughout the years and I've no doubt it will change again. The seasons of life working the way they do:)....But how priviledged am I to not have to go milk cows and muck out barns and throw slop to pigs? Maybe that's not a good example because I''m sure if that was my lot I could find time in that to appreciate God as well. I think a better example would be, how priviledged that I don't have to send myself or my children off to the streets to beg or sell themselves to survive for another day....

I love my life and am thankful that the Lord has given me eyes to see what a gift my lot is. How does your day start?

chewing gum and sheep

2008-04-02T22:29:00.003-04:00

I am sitting here sniffing...with tears making streams on my cheeks.
I just finished watching Everything Is Illuminated.
It started out a bit crass. I wondered if I should keep viewing it. It wasn't really capturing my attention. I kept on, as you would with a book that didn't grab you in the first few pages; the equivalent of pushing on for a few chapters.
It started to pick up and suddenly I was there. Thinking of the Peipon family driving those Ukrainian roads and seeing the same sights. And then the little shepard boy appeared and had me howling with laughter. I don't do out loud laughter during movies!
And then...Grandpa had my heart tied into his emotional turmoil. And then...and then....I was humbled and drawn into my head full of stories I've read, heard and been told for years.
I'm confused. By the red.
But I'm delighted by the familiar faces that appear in America. I live in that world all the time! Do I know that person? Haven't I seen them somewere before? Are they local or do I know them from a different state, a lifetime ago?
And then.....I'm warmed by the acceptance in the very end of the family's choice of embracing the"other"........
Cryptic? Yep... But it will all be clear when you watch this. And you'd be silly not to. Because it has, I think, blown every other movie off my favorites list and moved straight to the top....I think....
Just remember to be patient. It doesn't start out as it means to go. If you quit, you will be missing a truly remarkable story.

Sneezes and apocolyptic stories

2008-04-01T07:40:00.002-04:00

Sickness has been winding through my family this week. So far, it has not touched me. So far. I stayed home with Jedd on friday and kept the store closed. Thom had a taste of it on Sunday, Annie woke up with it Monday and today Emma is home from school with it. Yesterday, Emma and her friend Rachel worked till 11 p.m. on their science project for regionals. Em started sneezing around 7. I have to confess it was the most irritating sneezing I've ever heard. It was non-stop. She assures me vehemently that she was covering her mouth, but I was in the next room and the walls were reverberating with each mini explosion out of her mouth. I was scolding her to stop. I was imploring her to stop. I was begging her to stop. Of course she had no control and couldn't...but I had to try. Maybe it was all the cleaning yesterday that stirred up dust. I've been frantically trying to keep up with the house sanitizing I had last month by the team of ninja-cleaners. It's not easy, but so far, so good. Except for the sneezing....

I have just read Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank. A classic post-apocalyptic story set in Florida in the 50's. If you've never read this, I highly recommend it. I'm now going to pull out and re-read Neville Schute's , On The Beach.
I also have A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver Van Demille going. Any parent who still has kids they're educating, whether home-school, private school, or public school, this is a must read book. I got out of bed at 11 last night to walk down the hall and read this to Jedd, who was still awake and reading in his room.
"Think of a human pair teaching their child how to walk. There is, on the child's side, strong desire and latent powers: he has legs and means to use them. He walks and smiles; he totters and looks alarmed; he falls and cries. the parents smile throughout, showering advice, warning, encouragement and praise. The whole story, not only of teaching, but of man and civilization, is wrapped up in this first academic performance........"

" All the knowledge, skill, art, and science that we use up and revere, up to Einstein's formulas about the stars, is a mere repitition and extension of the intitial feat of learning to walk. But this extension does not take place by itself. Most of it has to be taught, slowly and painfully. There was a time when Einstein was not quite sure what eight times nine came to. He had to learn, and to learn he had to be taught."
___ Jacques Barzun

It was the last two lines that excited me and that I felt compelled to make sure Jedd understood.
The basis of the whole book thus far, is that we can't force education onto each other. Our children must educate themselves. We must be there to mentor them and provide the means. By mentoring, it means we must continually be re-reading classics and learning along with them. Talking through the classics with them and keeping discussion going. And by classics, we're not talking only literature, but the classics in math and science and history etc., so that students understand the "why" and "how" behind the process.... Fascinating!

baked egg and toast soldiers

2008-03-26T09:35:00.002-04:00

I've been on a baked-eggs-for-breakfast kick for a few months. I found the recipe in Nigella Lawson's newest cookbook. I remembered something similar from childhood and it is my newest comfort food. Try it!
I've been doing this for occasional suppers as well.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and put on a full kettle to boil.
Grease a small ovenproof dish or ramekin with butter (one dish per person about a half cup capacity each)
I put a tbls of shredded cheese in the bottom.
Next break a large or extra large egg on top of cheese. I then add a large pinch of Victoria Taylor's toasted onion herb seasoning. Pour a tablespoon of heavy cream or half and half on top of that.
Put the ramekin(s) in another ovenproof dish and pour the boiling water into the larger dish, (not pouring any into the small ramekins) and put the large baking dish into the oven. Set timer for 15 minutes. In the last 3 or 4 minutes of baking I put a slice of bread into the toaster (preferably a slice from homemade bread out of the breadmachine, which has been made with olive oil and rosemary, Jedd's new favorite to bake).
I slice the toast into slivers and eat the egg with those rather than a fork.
YUM!

The girl scout in me speaks

2008-03-24T18:07:00.004-04:00

When we moved to Cambridge from LA, I kept food stocked in case of earthquakes (really), hurricanes, tornadoes, ice storms...you name the disaster and I had thought of it and prepared for it. Then came Y2k. Yep, I prepared...just in case. I have never regretted this way of living. It doesn't go bad. Well...except for the bins of whole grain.
After 9/11 I started stocking up again. Gas prices started going up and I watched the price of paper products rocket skyward, just like my mom predicted. My kids have laughed and laughed and laughed at my thought processes. I just figure it gives them great stories for the future holidays when they can laugh around the table with their own kids at my "eccentricities". Thom always says, "do what you feel you need to hon, I'm behind ya..." And slips me whatever extra cash he can afford to.
I have begun ratcheting up the buying in the past few weeks once again. This time the kids are not laughing. They watch the news with me and they're starting to question whether I am buying enough. Jedd with his new bread machine and baking habit keeps loading flour and sugar into the cart, because he hears how prices of these items are rising. I don't stop him. I'm trying to teach them the difference between stocking and "hoarding". It's okay to load up now. As long as it's something we use and buy anyway. But if something happens...banks crash, truckers strike, terrorist attack, terrible natural disaster...then it's too late. Then it's wrong. Then it's hoarding.
I'm sure some of you may be shaking your heads. But I have a feeling there are more of you out there considering doing a bit of extra shopping this week or month, than there was before Y2k. Times are shaky and prices aren't going down any time soon. The dollar is weakening. It's weak. I figure I am actually stimulating the economy whilst I'm preparing as well:)
I hope just like the year 2000 and 9/11 and the lack of natural disasters, that this is all un-necessary. But I also hope my children are learning to think about being prepared. Because it can't hurt.

a borrowed poem to ponder

2008-03-21T10:16:00.000-04:00

On a summer morning
I sat down
on a hillside
to think about God—
a worthy pastime.
Near me, I saw
a single cricket;
it was moving the grains of
the hillside
this way and that way.
How great was its energy,
how humble its effort.
Let us hope
it will always be like this,
each of us going on
in our inexplicable ways
building the universe.
- mary oliver -

Jedidiah

2008-03-13T20:53:00.005-04:00

Jedd has turned 12 years old today. He's a night owl who'll often stay up towards midnight reading, so I usually let him sleep in till 8:30 or 9 a.m. (okay! sometimes 9:30-10:00!) Thom usually leaves by 6:30 or so for work and Jedd was determined to get up early so he could open presents. He set several alarms for half past 7. I don't know what happened but he was still sleeping when Thom came home at 10 of 8 for the great unwrapping. I had a plate of muffins baked and waiting. I ran upstairs and called to the boy, and for the first time in his short history he was up, dressed and downstairs in under a minute.
If letting him sleep so late in the morning didn't set you to thinking I'm a bad parent this probably will. He was so excited when he tore into the paper and found a lock-picking kit he'd been longing for. Thom gave him a door lock to practice on. He's been at it off and on all day. very persistent young man. He's gotten it unlocked several times, impressing his dad, who has a kit of his own for work purposes, but has never been able to make it work.
We had to return a couple items that didn't fit or weren't as pictured in the Edmund's Scientific catalog so he rode his new bumble-bee-yellow bike while I walked the dog and we went to the post office. He rode circles around me and eli (the dog) and laughed and repeated throughout the day that it was his best birthday ever! Ever! It was just he and I for much of the day. So simple. We went to Walmart, bought hotdogs for his requested birthday meal, (Steamed only, like the ballpark, please) put gas in the car and cashed some birthday checks. We made a giant chocolate chip cookie on a pizza stone in leiu of a cake, and picked out dvds to watch. I love this boy. I love how happy he is when someone just spends time with him.
When Emma came home from school, she invited him to take a ride to Easton with her for her chiropractic "back crack". Then she came home in more pain than she left in, but apparently, that's okay....huh.....anyway....
Thank you Lord for the gift of Jedidiah. Please bless this year for him. Please draw him close to you and lift new veils for him to glean from your word and truth all that you offer. Please let us always appreciate him and the place he holds in this family.
More importantly, please let him always appreciate YOU and the place he holds in your family.

Love in a body slam or having a baby (or babies)

2008-03-03T10:16:00.002-05:00

We have had such happy news this past week of another young couple ( Eric and Stephanie!)from church sharing the news of their first pregnancy. It all brings back a rush of memories for me. Overwhelming joy and fear all at once. I'd held other people's babies and been loathe to hand them back to their parents because they felt so good in my arms. But I remember thinking, "what if I don't feel this way once it's mine? What if I don't like my own baby!?" It's not like you can go shopping and pick out the cutest, quietest one who smiles daintily as she/he fills the diaper. And let's not pretend that the thought of expelling that baby from the body doesn't fill the head with terror.
When we found out there were actually two babies (two!) I think our heads split into two different directions. I'm sure Thom started thinking, "how on earth do we feed two?" I started wondering how on earth do I feed two. He was thinking monetarily...I was thinking breastfeeding.
I gained about 40- 42 pounds with the girls. I was put on totally un-necessary bedrest for the last three months. I say unnecessary because I was very healthy, it was just the prescribed thing to do with multiple pregnancies at the time. (a side note: when Thom's mom was pregnant with him, her ob told her not to quit smoking or having her nightly gin and tonic as it would cause her to gain weight! At the time they thought any more than 20 pounds was a danger to the infant!) The girls were born 3 weeks early by c-section and just lovely. Annie, at 5lb 6 oz still had little wee curled ears that hadn't yet unfurled. Emma was a whopping 5 lbs 10 oz. They were so tiny that they mewled like kittens when they cried for the first few weeks...
It's amazing how it hits you when those babies are first placed in your arms. Who knew love could do a body slam? That love isn't just emotional, it's truly physical.
When they were four years old and I became prenant with Jedd, I was once again worried. It certainly couldn't be possible that this little one could bear a place in my heart as strong as the girls...I mean my girls were special ! (it's good that I didn't dwell to deeply on this or I'd probably had developed a complex about my relationship with my mother, me being her third and all...)
I remember reading everything I could lay my hands on about giving birth naturally as I was determined to give birth naturally this time.
I remember going to a new ob this time and my very healthy looking twins skipping alongside for our appointment. First he measured my belly and said ,"I think there's more than one baby, actually I think there's more than two." What! Fear strikes the heart. Then he looks at my rosy-cheeked daughters and says, "Have they been ill?" What? My healthy girls?......No,... they're not healthy girls. They have fifths disease, which he is concerned could affect this pregnancy. My heart sinks.
At 14 weeks we find that it was not three babies, but two. One of whom has died in utero. The top baby, who has a chance of miscarrying and thereby taking the healthy baby with it. God gives peace. ( I have no idea if the fifth's had an effect on the baby or not...I tend to think it was all coincidence)
God also gives me a doctor who trusts the woman's body to do its job the way it was created to. He encourages the vbac delivery. I worry when I gain about 30 pounds because I remember my mother- in -law's rules. that was then. My doc says as long as I'm eating healthy and my blood pressure etc. is fine I'm not to worry at all.:) Good man!
He lets me deliver totally natural and the only worry now is how I'll feel when this child is placed in my arms. Yep. Love does a body slam once again. My child. Three children. Love.
( anyone who wants to hear lovely, happy birth stories feel free to call. I LOVE giving birth! LOVE IT!)
I remember my cousin warning me to live life before I give birth, as once the children come life as we know it ends. What crap! Life begins. Life has meaning. I had love for Thom before children. But the deep love that I have for him after children is astounding! Our marital love has grown as the kids have grown. Our love and faith in Christ has grown exponentially with the addition and growth of children.
We are honored to be given the opportunity to raise children. I am humbled that God trusts me with them. And.... I really, really like my kids:)

67,000 miles per hour

2008-02-27T10:31:00.003-05:00

Per the post I posted last night;
Rent, buy, beg to borrow the movie "Martian Child". It was truly wonderful and viewable for the entire family. Imagine that! A movie the whole family can sit together and watch with no squirmy moments.
I'm just going to let this movie play over again and again all day in my brain. And smile dumbly at work when remembering bits of it.
And since my mom is leaving tomorrow for Alaska and just this morning threw out the information of Earth's tilt and it's effect on that portion of the world, I was able to toss back the equally useless morning information that we're spinning around the sun at 67 thousand miles per hour, (which I knew because of this movie, but she can hold tightly to the idea that I know this because of the fabulous education she provided for me:) ) A movie that keeps giving joy to many people on many levels.

family night

2008-02-26T19:43:00.003-05:00

I've been reading the Drudgereport which led me to some article which states that the North of North America has had the largest amount of snowfall since records have been kept. Really? Well, while I'm thrilled to hear this as it may slow down the political bandwagon that is screaming to tax us on carbon-outputs (whatever that means), I'm still standing daily at my window looking for the white flakes to pile up outside my door. Come on. Yes, the schools have been canceled a few times this year, but not for the desired drifts of the white powder in my dreams.....
I am sitting in my rosy wing chair by a snapping fire in my hearth. Jedd and I re-arranged the living room yesterday. It is now much more conducive to coziness. The kids are sprawled out on the red sectional sofa meant to seat at least 12 people at a time, that I bought on an impulse and in my mind never really worked in this room. But now...we have it placed with it's back to the fireplace. A move I formerly rejected as bad since it would put our backs to the flames. But...the flow is actually better this way. For the first time in years, I actually like this room. Annie and Henley have brought home a movie called Martian Child. Should be an interesting evening. But in case it turns out to be as dreadful as its name, I have a pile of books to my left and a laptop on my....lap....Here's the pile:
Fascinating Facts from the World of Discovery
Charlotte Sometime
Tramp for the Lord
Tortured For Christ
All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes
and a King Arthur Baking Catalog
and here comes Thom with a laptop to join the crew.....
Annie is scolding Emma for placing her jug of Iced tea in the middle of the coffee table, thereby presenting an obstacle to Annie's viewing pleasure of American Idol, the preshow to the Martian Movie. Henley's school is on winter vacation so she's spending the night. Annie just got a call that she doesn't have to work tomorrow after all. Now, Emma is lobbying me to let her take the day off of school so she can be with the girls. I'll make her sweat it a bit. I usually try and talk her into staying home because we miss her while she's away. She rarely does though... responsible child:)

chocolate and flours

2008-02-21T08:57:00.006-05:00

It's my free day with the boy today. We have big plans to go purchase proper bread flour (king arthur, of course) powdered buttermilk, fresh yeast....oh the day we'll have with our new bread machine.
We couldn't find the paddle to the other bread machine. I was going to order a new paddle and then remembered all the loaves had been burning anyway which was why we stopped baking to begin with. So, since I had a gift card to William-Sonoma (thanks Henley and Cavin!), I decided to order a whole new machine. Here's why..
Jedd has turned into a little chef. Actually, this past week he has been into confectionary creations. I can't give away his secret ingredients, but he's been creating these candy bars that are truly mouthwatering. They're semi-sweet chocolate with caramel and a secret crunch ingredient added. I've packed a few pounds in the spirit of being a chief tester for my boy. I don't have a double boiler so he melts the chocolate in a small saucepan which rests on an english muffin ring sitting in boiling water in a small frying pan. Sounds dangerous doesn't it? I just ordered 10 pounds of milk and semi-sweet wilbur buds for him to continue the experimentation. All in the name of homeschooling of course.
His birthday is coming in a few weeks. I've been thinking about buying him one of those new silicone bowls which fits into any pot and works as both a double boiler and a baking pan. Then when he's not melting chocolate he can bake a cake!
That said, I figure each day the family can have fresh bread which Jedd can bake for us. Let me give an example of his naturalness in the kitchen...
Over New Year's Annie was cooking dinner for the family. It was a chicken recipe she'd learned from Sarah Meadows while visiting her in Colorado last October. She was splitting the boneless breasts and was frustrated at the thickness of them and trying to pound them thinner. She proceeded to attempt it incorrectly. Her 11 year old brother walked up to her and said, " Annie, you're doing it wrong. You need to butterfly those. " And then he proceeded to butterfly the breasts for her.
Is that not the greatest?

white snow and sour cream

2008-02-20T19:53:00.002-05:00

It is spilling whiteness outside! Happy, happy me! Big, fat, fluffy flakes have been falling steadily for hours now. My new bread machine arrived by UPS this afternoon and Jedd and I are awaiting our first loaf with anticipation and a distinct lack of patience. We're making a plain white loaf. But we didn't have any dry powdered milk so I substituted sour cream. SOUR CREAM?! Why? I have no idea....We immediately started pouring necessary ingredients in the bread bowl and when we got to the second to last ingredient...we didn't have it. Jedd was worried so I did a total improvisation with complete assurance to the lad that it would work. Hunh! Well, we have about half an hour till we see how this turns out.
I confess I'm giggling here. Because my plan if it doesn't work? I'm blaming it on the humidity due to the snow. Which could be true....

adjective-less

2008-02-11T08:14:00.000-05:00

Two weeks ago today, I took Jedd and Emma to the Holocaust Museum in D.C..
I couldn't blog about it then; it was and remains an experience that there simply are no adjectives available in my limited vocabulary to describe our time there. We came out of the building and every once in a while one of the kids would say something to the effect of, "thanks Mom, that was fun." And we'd all kind of go, "uuh, no...wrong word. Not fun. "
Let me put it this way. When we take Jedd to a museum, be it Natural History, Air and Space, whatever, he's good for an hour ,maybe an hour and a half, before the complaints start flying off his tongue. "I'm hungry, my legs hurt, I'm tired, let's go home now....." You get the picture.
We went into the holocaust Museum at 11:30a.m. At 3 p.m., in front one of the last exhibits my stomach gave out a monstrous growl demanding food. Jedd had just started to complain. We'd been there for 3 1/2 hours! We were reading everything on the walls and exhibits. It was so very quiet in there. It was a good day with my children.
We made it into the book store and loaded up on more reading materials. I was just grabbing books and filling my arms. Since the museum is part of the Smithsonian there is no entry fee. I wanted to do my part to support it, so did so by supporting the bookshop. When we got home and Annie and Emma were actually looking through my hurried selections (hurried because we all needed to eat immediately), they laughed because we already owned several of them. The covers had changed so I didn't recognize them.
It did stump me a bit in there (the shop)though, it was actually a small gift shop. Who really wants a key chain or shotglass with the Holocaust Museum on it? Really, who? I'd not want to receive a postcard from there. Or how about a t-shirt? "My grandma went to the Holocaust Museum and all I got was this lousy t-shirt!" No thanks.

conundrum? or stupid technological brain glitch

2008-02-08T22:39:00.000-05:00

Have you ever lost your credit card and couldn't remember your online code to your account to that card. And when you looked for any type of paperwork from which to claim the account number to enter into the computer to retrieve a new passcode, you realize you have no paperwork with any numbers on it, because you are now only doing online business with that credit card company? It's a real problem....I might go as far as calling it a conundrum. And I like to reserve that word for real puzzles of the mind.

fish paste and CAKE

2008-02-07T09:40:00.000-05:00

I'm inspired and brimming with new ideas for the shop which need to be implemented soon, before I lose momentum. NYC was bursting at the seams with vendors and merchandise for me to choose from; and choose I did. I haven't sat down with the numbers yet as I'm sure I went over budget and don't want to burst my balloon of happiness quite yet. We (being Emma, Janna and myself) went to the Metropolitan Pavillion for New York's Newest, which I'd never made it over for previously due to lack of time. It was the most relaxed bit of show I'd ever attended and it made buying sweet. Emma chose 2 lines for the shop. One is a Canadian company called CAKE. They carry high end body care products for young adults. Body butters, hair powders (they sold us!) lip care. The other was a monogramed series from over in handmade ( in the Javitz center). Sterling necklaces with very nice monograms over vintage prints.

We also ordered a monogramming series of stamps and embossers from which we can order addresses, sayings, etc. They'll make wonderful birthday, wedding and housewarming presents. So, we tried to find more consumables that will bring back repeat business.

It was really fun to have Emma with me and get her opinion on products. She has a true sense of purchasing and an eye toward design. She certainly was a valuable asset to the trip, not just a daughter tagging along. She jumped right into the spirit of the time and was endlessly patient. I mean endlessly. These days are exhausting and painful on the body. She never asked for a break or showed any signs of boredom.

Each one of us three chose a line on our own that we felt strongly about, but that for one reason or another the others maybe weren't 100 % sold on. Maybe due to cost or not quite what we've sold in the past so it would be a new direction. It will be fun to watch them...It makes it a bit like a game. Which one will sell best or worst...It's truly impossible to know!

We had dinner at Becco again with my sister in law and niece, who came up from jersey for the night. It was good, but now as exciting as last August. The winner this time was Wan Jo in Korean Way with Thom's brother, Jack. It's a place he frequents often and was gracious to extend an invitation to be his guests there. We arrived at 8:30 and were taken up a flight of stairs to a table set against a wall in a room ful of diners. Most of whom were Korean. That's a good sign! Jack was to meet us there after his last class at NYU where he's a professor of something very technical and way to comprehensive for me to ever figure out how it's taught to others.

We let him order for us and soon many little dishes were scattered around a covered grill in the center of the table and 3 plates of raw marinated beef and chicken were set on the side of the table. There was daikon and seaweed salad, steamed eggs and pressed rice sheets along with marinated cabbage and I think a paste of chickpeas, along with fish and fish paste- covered strips of something mysterious. And more. Someone came and lifted the grill cover and inserted red-hot coals into our table and put some of the meat onto cook and then left. After a few minutes Jack said he'd probably be scolded for doing so, but proceeded to turn the meat. A waitress scurried over and indeed took the tongs from him gently and thanked him like you'd thank a child whose help you really didn't want. We all laughed. It was a good trick as it got their attention to our table. Soon they were back to load our plates with the meat and to add more to the grill. To call it good would be a gross understatement. It was truly a gastronomical treat to the taste buds. We all filled ourselves senseless. Yet still had room for the chilled fruit tray at the end of the meal. I cannot wait to go back for more. It would be worth a day trip just to eat at this resaurant. It's right off Herald square. I think it was 32nd between 5th and 6th. May have been 35th. Just look for the Korean Way sign off the square on Broadway. Thanks again Jack!

off to NYC

2008-02-02T19:33:00.000-05:00

Tiredness courses through my body right now. I'm doing laundry and making preparations for my trip tomorrow to NYC. Trying to imagine everything I need to pack so as to prevent any frustration at forgetfulness in the coming days, while keeping it all contained in one small overnight bag. I know I'll need to lug bags from hotel to parking garage and that could be several city blocks.
I get very excited every six months at this pilgrimage to the Gift Show to see up and coming trends for home decor and to try and determine what will sell here in good old Cambridge. It's all a big game really.
Emma is coming with me. I'm so pleased to have her see this whole process of choosing and buying and trying to stay within some kind of budget. It's easy to get carried away and spend money I don't have. I'm a bit concerned about the economy of course. I know people who aren't going to the show because they think they should hold back until they know which way the wind is blowing with respect to above said economy. I'm of the school of thought that says if I want people to part with their dear dollars I had better have some new and exciting things for them to select from. Who's to know what is the right thing to do. That darn hindsight would come in very handy right now!
We have reservations at Becco, that wonderful Italian restaurant I blogged about back in August. I'm salivating at the thought of another meal there! And of course a trip to Anthropologie is in order. Well, we are to be up and out by 5 a.m. Sunday morning, so I'd best be off to bed. We'll be back in a few days. Talk with you then.

vinegar and dust bunnies

2008-01-31T07:57:00.000-05:00

I walked down the stairs this morning with a happy step. My house is clean. Everywhere I look....cleaness. Thom had a cleaning crew of three(!) come in yesterday. It took them an entire work day to wade through this nightmare we call home. I'm not sure what the problem has been. I just know the need for a dustbunny-free hall has been low on my list, ( otherwise, I'd've cleaned it) while it has been very high in my desires. I hate disorder. I want clutter-free and dust-free and dirt-free environments for myself and my family. But I seem to be incapable of providing them of late. Yeah, I know all you working moms will jump to sisterhood here and explain my busy day as the culprit. And yes, homeschooling and a full time job do sound like they're time eaters. But I know the truth. I know that there are hours in the evening when I have a book opened on my lap and a fire at my feet. I know there is time to clean. I even tell myself, just get up and wipe down the baseboards. It can be done in 10 minutes and then it'll be done! How long can it take to put a load of towels away? If I did a bit each night....well.....I don't. I'm slothful. I'm not proud. I'm horrified with myself.
But now? It is sparkling with an ever so slight smell of vinegar. Wow! These women must take it very serious if vinegar was used. I feel like avian flu was probably a risk factor in corners of this house yesterday morning, but now....zapped by vinegar.
Thank you, Thank you, thank you, Thom. You wonder among men, who takes care of your family so dearly. Maybe we can make it last....maybe.....

I am off to my shimmery shower now....

kate vs. coffee

2008-01-30T12:02:00.001-05:00

My heart is pounding madly and I'm breaking out in sweat beads. Why? I had a second cup of caffeine this morning. I'm now miserable. I want it to stop. It won't. I feel like I have a connection to judy garland and her prescription drug addiction. If there was something available to counteract this pulsing feeling of energy in my limbs I'd take it. Now.

Also...my head feels like a bag full of scrabble tiles all trying to form words at once. I need to s...l...o...w....down.

sickness and fire

2008-01-16T21:10:00.000-05:00

Does anyone remember a few blogposts back when I referred to Haley's blog and seconded the motion on how it would be okay with me if I was to get "sick" for a few days so I could lay around and read and watch television?
Well, let me amend that. I've had some kind of minor flu-bug. I say minor because I imagine the real thing lasts more than a day and a half. I was struck, out of the blue, with an intense headache on Monday afternoon, which lead to nausea and vomiting (sorry if that's too much info). What was I thinking? Noone wants to read or watch tv when they're ill in such a manner. They want to pass over to the next world....
We had a major fire here in town and Thom was there till about 11 p.m. Tuesday night going through one of the buildings, which he had recently finished renovating, trying to assess the damage (extensive). When he came home exhausted, and melted into a chair, I was still so sick I couldn't be near him because the smell of smoke permeated from him and made me feel the need to run for the ivory throne and expell the ice chips I'd been sucking. Just when my husband most needed a loving touch from his wife, I had to stay far away from him, because even after he'd showered the scent of the fire was deep in his skin. So, I'm done with needing some sick days. About 3 a.m. this morning I woke up in the chair I was sleeping in, wondering what was different. Then I realized...my head no longer hurt! Praise the Lord!!!
I can't imagine how I'd cope with a serious illess like our friend Damien. Here I always thought I was tough skinned. Well, I'm not....I'm a full blown baby....When the phone rang Monday night and I looked at the caller i.d. I answered it like this, "mommy, I'm siiiick". Alright, I did it to get a laugh out of Jedd, but still.....
Tuesday I couldn't get comfortable in any position so Jedd and Annie, dear children that they are, brought down Thom's horrid brown plether bark-a-lounger through 5 doorways and a flight of stairs so I could rest comfortably! What did I ever do to deserve these children?
Emma, bless her, wanted to take care of me when she got home from school, but she was afraid I might vomit in front of her and kept fleeing from the room.....
Thankyou Lord, for a quick recovery. I know I did absolutely nothing to deserve you!!!
Please keep burnt out shopkeepers, Kevin and Karen, and Sims and Dennis in your prayers, as well as the tenants that have been temporarily relocated to a motel until Thom can get their apartments re-habitable.

2008

2008-01-08T07:27:00.000-05:00

New Year's Eve was spent with my family in Vermont. It was wonderful- snow fell for days and my aunt and uncle's home is like a northern Disneyland for outdoor sports and indoor relaxation. My brother, Jeff, brought over his snowmobile as well and Jedd will never be the same. I walked by a window and glanced out, I saw my 11 y.o. son sittting ona snowmobile by himself and thought, "how nice of the guys to let him sit on it alone." The next thing I see the lad is driving off to manly cheers. He did a small circle and came back slowly to the guys. My brother said, "take off Jedd! Have fun! Go for it!" and Jedd did. I threw clothes on and went out and jumped on another. It was my uncle's new HUGE one. It was scary. I circled back and asked for a smaller one, please. He brought out my aunt's. Ah yes. This was better. But the snow was beating into my helmut so hard that even with the defogger, I found it disconcerting. Oh, and Jedd outgrew his snowpants but we didn't realize that in time. So he now had my snowbibs tied up and around his neck and back to make them fit. I tried sqeezing into Emma's but the button closing? yeah, that wasn't happening. So I was out in conditions very close to blizzard force in nothing but a pair of bluejeans. Smart? Not so much. I was cozy everywhere else though, just the darn legs.

I returned the snowmobile And the three of them took off. (see 2nd photo)

My dear aunt stuck her head out the door and asked if I wanted a playmate. Of course I did! She whipped on snowclothes and was out pulling toboggans and sleds in an astonishingly quick flash. We went to the hills behind the house and started down. Whoo hoo! The men came around the corner to ferry up the sleds. Jeff comes up with the brilliant idea of tying my rope through the back of the snowmobile and holding on. Oh my gosh! Besides the several feet of snow that piled up on me and the fact that I always ended up in a pile while he kept going...what fun! At one point I realized that the pain in my legs was not going away and I started to wonder what exactly frostbite felt like in it's beginning stages. I threw snowballs at a window to get my mom's attention and pleaded with her to come open the back door. I suddenly didn't think I could make it around to the front or side doors. She helped me peel off the layers. But when it came to the legs, there were no layers My jeans actually stood up by themselves when removed. My legs were like iceblocks. I was an idiot! Who does that? I think she did start to scold me before she took pity on me.

Upstairs for a cribbage marathon. It is my new all-consuming passion. Right word? Probably not, let's just say I learned this a few months back when my mom, aunt and uncle came to visit and I am addicted to this game. Anyone play or want to learn? So far it's just Jedd and I here in the Huntington home who have the bug. And Jedd is amazingly good.

Today, it is back to work. Can I be honest here? I do not want to go back! Anyone want to buy a business? Thom assures me that once I'm back it'll be fine. We'll see....we'll see.......

This photo doesn't belong here, but I'm sticking it in for fun. Me and mom dancing with stuffed animals in our pajamas. Sometimes you need to publicize a photo like this to keep yourself humble....

Christmas part 1

2008-01-07T08:52:00.000-05:00

We'll start with Christmas. I worked until about 4 or so Christmas Eve. That wasn't the plan, but it is amazing how many husbands put off shopping for their beloveds till then! At 3 p.m., when I had intended on closing I had a guy rush in and buy a 215 dollar purse for his wife! That's cutting it close on the big gift! I can understand coming in for a few stocking stuffers or a bar of soap to beef up the pile, but a $215 gift at the last minute??? Thom was there with the kids when the guy came in and had to clamp his hand over Jedd's mouth and physically remove him to the back room because when I told the man his total Jedd started in awe, "How much did she say that was?!"

The candlelight service at church that evening was lovely and tear-moving. Then home to finish wrapping and stuffing stockings. Emma and Jedd had theirs hung by the chimney with care. Annie couldn't find hers so had a pillowcase hanging off a chair arm. But with care.

Our tradition in the morning is to come down and light a fire and make coffee. We light some candles and the kids can come down around 7. Somehow Jedd messed up the setting of his alarm clock and at 6 a.m. music started screaming loud enough that it brought to mind the army's trick of blasting the enemy out of their holes with mega-speakers blowing hard rock at them. Thom and I were up. Somehow the kids went back to sleep. (in fact I don't think Emma budged)

7 a.m. they all giggled their way down, and lumped onto the sofa. I handed round stockings and they dug in. This was an Edmunds Scientific year so they were filled with hand boilers and exploding rocks and electicity globes. Good fun for all. Per tradition in the Huntington family, after stockings Thom read the Christmas Story from a padded book I bought when the twins were toddlers. The one year I couldn't locate the book it was a great disappointment. It's funny how much small things mean to kids. We still read the story from a bible, but it wasn't the same.

What a lovely day. Thom's dad and sister came over and the Howard family and the Ballengers joined us as well. I love a full house on a holiday. Food every where. Kids jumping on the trampoline. Oh... yeah, we surprised the kids with one of those. And I can attest to the fact that 17 years old is not to old for jumping! I can also say 46 year olds can jump but not as gracefully.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-05T09:35:00.000-05:00

We're home from Vermont. No exclamation point. I'm glad to see Annie and Thom, who stayed behind, but I miss the 3 feet of snow and the mother's cozy house and the sister and brother and aunt and uncle and nieces and nephew. Isn't it curious, as I look back on that sentence, that I put snow before family? That deserves an exclamation!
I haven't opened the store since Christmas Eve. I have no intention of opening today. I do think I'll go in and start red-lining for a huge sale starting next Tuesday.
There are lots of vermont photos to upload and stories to tell. But I'll save them for Monday. I just wanted to check in today. There's a tree to be undressed and tossed. SO MUCH LAUNDRY to be washed, dried and put away. Cupboards are bare and need to be restocked. I'm home. Much as I love Vermont, I know I will settle into my routine happily once I'm settled.
Happy New Year!

Blog Vacation

2007-12-16T19:03:00.000-05:00

As much as it pains me, and it really does, I'm taking a short break from my blog world. I have come to realize that I am addicted to my laptop once on it. I need to concentrate on home right now to keep the Holiday stresses at bay by getting my housework/family chores done. I am the great procrastinator, and happily shove everything to a later day without pause.
There are now curtains to be hung in Jedd's room, bookshelves to be filled in the stairway and a dog who desires to be walked daily. I have put these things off with glee to be popping from blog to blog. But I'll be back in the new year. I love checking in on all of you and seeing what's new in your lives. Don't forget me okay? It's simply two short weeks:)!
So... Merry Christmas All!......may Jesus fill your heart this season....

Winterthur anyone?

2007-12-12T08:22:00.000-05:00

Good Day!
Well, it's going to be in the 60's today...60's! What a silly weather for December. I'm going to throw open the shop door and glory in it. Annie's working today for Anne, so Jedd is coming to work with me. It'll be hard to live up to the day his sister gave him yesterday, schooling on the shed roof with hot cocoa, but I think I'm going to come up with chores so he can earn Christmas cash.
Tomorrow is my day off and I plan on keeping Emma home from school and having a play day with the kids. Gift shopping, movie, lunch out. You get the idea. I thought about a field trip to Baltimore or Washington, but I don't want to deal with the crowds... I thought about taking them to Winterthur, but I don't know how enjoyable that would be for any of us with Jedd along. He is all boy and hates things like that. Gardens and pretty houses? No, not so much.
If you've any day trip ideas, please send them along...What do you think? Should I force the boy to Winterthur? Does anyone else want to join us in that trip if we do it?

Burnt Fingers and Aching Backs or The Joys of Christmas Preparations

2007-12-11T08:34:00.000-05:00

I have spent the last half hour wrapping gifts. It must be done craftily (by that I mean sneakily,not martha stewart style) obviously, with an 11 year old bursting with curiosity lurking in the corners. He is the most unusual kid in that he will sleep like a teenager...till 10 if I let him go. When I was his age I was up early looking for peep frogs outdoors or whatever. So, this is my time to wrap. I bring it all down to the kitchen table and spread out, after Emma leaves for school and before the other two awake.
I was at a get-together last night for the women merchants of downtown Cambridge and the hostess was surprised when I told her I used to have it all wrapped by Thanksgiving night. There were a few years there when the kids were little when Thom and Damien would take the kids to the movies on Thanksgiving night and I would stay home and wrap to my heart's content and my back's despair. My hostess said she always waited till Christmas Eve to wrap all the gifts and decorate the tree. HUH! Talk about putting some pressure on one's self! I would be the ghastliest human on earth that night if I did that!
Right now I think the pressure is too great on Jedd as it is. He's wondering where the gifts are hidden this year. I did change the location. How does he know? Has he been peeking when Emma is at school and Thom, Annie and I are all at work? There aren't many times he's totally alone, but there are enough to cause great temptation at this time of year!:)
Tonight I need to bake 13 dozen cookies for a cookie exchange tomorrow night. I always enjoy it while I'm there, but I'm always dreading it this night before. If anyone has a really easy recipe to roll out 100 balls per tray and bake for three minutes or less, I'll pay big bucks if you'll share it by 5 p.m. tonight!
Dear Father in Heaven, please give me wisdom and guidance throughout this day and an extra measure of calm about this baking business tonight I plead....

Seventeen!!!!

2007-12-08T09:13:00.000-05:00

The twins have turned seventeen! Seventeen! Normally I'd go into their birth story here, but they've asked me not to this year. I think they're tired of it. I tell it several times a year:)

December 7th. What a lovely event to redeem the date for those who love us( think grandparents), and were part of the Greatest Generation and heretofore would think of Pearl Harbor.

They can never decide what to do on their day, jointly. This year options were tossed around. Finally, the other day I said,'Stop! We're doing pizza and cupcakes here, invite friends."

It was amazing. They stopped and invited friends. It was as if the decision was too large for them to make and they wanted it taken out of their hands. I had fully expected resistance and instead I got what I took as relief. It was very nice, indeed! (that word is there as an inside joke for Kate Howard:) )

Here are some shots from charades:

And the cupcake queen delivers the goods...... Linnea was thought of here and greatly missed, with her wonderful cupcake wedding cake.....

There were so many memories of past birthday parties with all these girls present. We've missed a few years of parties due to swim team...but some of these Salisbury girls have been to birthday parties here since they were tiny....I love watching these girls grow up and become such interesting people in their own right....not just so and so's daughter. Do you all know what I mean?

Thanks to all of them for coming and making MY daughters' birthday so lovely.... Big hugs to all of them and all of you...

A Happy Heart

2007-12-06T07:32:00.001-05:00

I left with a light heart to go off to work yesterday, because of the prospect of snow.
A customer was standing by the windows and said to the others in the store, "You know they call me weather woman because of my accuracy...it's going to start snowing in the next few minutes." We all kind of said, "that would be nice"..."hope so"....etc. But I'd heard just a few minutes before it would be later in the afternoon before the snow fell...
About 5 minutes later it was coming down like mad!!! Oh happiness in the store with a bunch of grown women jumping and screeching like children.
The three customers were infused with Christmas spirit and their spending expanded! Happy shopkeeper!
...and then holiday happiness continued throughout the day. It just never stopped. At 10 p.m. Jedd and I were walking the dog in amazement as the snow still fell. We went down by the boats and across the park and delighted in it all. Every once in a while a giant snowball smashed my back and a happy boy snorted with glee...The dog was bouncing through it all, licking it , oblivious to the snowballs smashing into his back.
The return trip home was frigid, walking into the wind, but an 11 year old was willing to walk snuggled under his mom's arm for warmth. Joy!
Right now I am sitting in front of my fireplace with a dog at my feet. Some kids are sleeping, one is awake. I have a giant cup of coffee at my fingertips...
Thank you! Thank you, Father, for the happiness in my heart. Please help me to appreciate these moments in the coming weeks. Please help me to not get caught up in the stress of Christmas and miss the joy of your son's birth....

a december haiku

2007-12-02T20:51:00.000-05:00

Where does the snow fall?
blanketing over the earth
why here, is it rain?